Bates Motel Page #9

fall over because you’re walking to

fast!

(noticing)

Hell. The blood is soaking through

again -

NORMAN:

That’s why I’m hurrying -

NORMA LOUISE:

Just -- be quiet. Here, number

four is open -

She backs into room #4.

INT. ROOM #4 - MAIN ROOM - CONTINUOUS

As they carry the body across the threshold and into the dark

room with great effort. Norman, exhausted, catches the top

of his shoe in the doorjamb and topples forward. The blanket

unfurls and the body falls from it, THUDDING to the floor,

ROLLING OVER on the CARPET and COVERING it with BLOOD.

NORMA LOUISE:

Jesus, Norman!

Norman picks himself up. Quickly picks up his end of the

body. The blood is oozing out into the CARPET -

NORMAN:

How can there still be more blood?!

But it’s too late. When they move the body they see the

HUGE BLOOD STAIN covering the center of the room. F***.

They stand there and look at it a moment. Despondent.

Then...

NORMA LOUISE:

(re:
body)

Get him in the tub first. Then

we’ll figure everything else out -

INT. ROOM #4 BATHROOM - MOMENTS LATER

The body is dropped in the tub. THUNK. FIND Norma and

Norman, catching their breath. They just stare down at the

wrapped body for a long moment, blood still soaking through.

It’s all so horrifying. After a long beat, Norman looks at

his Mom. Sort of pleading.

45.

NORMAN:

(how are we going to live

with this?)

Mom, what are we going to do?

She looks at Norman, worried. Looks at the body. Gets that

he’s asking a larger, philosophical question. But, f***.

She has no answer. She has no idea how they’re going to live

with this secret. So she goes to the only thing she can

control in the moment.

NORMA LOUISE:

We’re going to deal with the rug.

She starts to leave, then on a last instinct, reaches back

and CLOSES the SHOWER CURTAIN.

INT. ROOM #4 - MAIN ROOM - MOMENTS LATER

There is now one small table lamp on in the room. Norma and

Norman stand over the blood stain, staring at it. Then...

NORMA LOUISE:

We’re going to have to pull up the

whole carpet -

NORMAN:

Tonight? It’s already midnight -

NORMA LOUISE:

And not just this one. We’re going

to have to pull up 4 through 7 --

they all have the same carpet.

That way if this creep goes

“missing” and anyone comes and

starts asking us questions, nothing

will be out of the ordinary here.

We’re just doing renovations. Re-

carpeting -

NORMAN:

How the hell do you pull up

carpeting?

INT. ROOM #4 - LATER

Norman, exhausted and dazed, now alone, kneels on the floor

prying up carpet tacks with a flathead screwdriver. With

great effort he takes a corner of the pried up carpet and

starts RIPPING. It’s physically hard. FIND...

A SMALL NOTEBOOK

46.

Pocket size. Dog-eared. Apparently, at one time, stuffed

under the carpeting for some reason...

NORMAN picks it up, curious. OPENS IT...

NORMAN’S POV -- The “book” is a type of hand-drawn manga -panels

(one per page -- it’s small) with bubble captions, in

Chinese, telling a story. It’s rough and sketchy, but still

the art is compelling and disturbing. We see IMAGES OF

YOUNG, ASIAN GIRLS - maybe fifteen years old -- in various

states of “sexual slavery” (ie: manacled to a wall, held at

gunpoint on a bed, being shot up, etc.)

CLOSE ON NORMAN --- flips through it quickly, fascinated,

then -

THE SWEEPING LIGHTS OF AN APPROACHING CAR FILL THE ROOM.

STARTLED HE LOOKS UP. FREEZES. HOLY CRAP -- He quickly

tucks the book away -

EXT. MOTEL DRIVEWAY - CONTINUOUS

A COP CAR pulls up. Nearby, we see Norma’s car -- rolled up

carpeting sticking out of all the windows.

INT. ROOM #5 - CONTINUOUS

Norma, also on the floor pulling up carpeting, is now frozen.

Heart thumping. Sees the lights. She looks out the window

and sees it’s a cop car. Holy God. Stay calm. Stay calm -

EXT. MOTEL PORCH/WALKWAY - MOMENTS LATER

Two cops exit the car. One, SHERIFF ROYCE ROMERO (45), dark

and edgy. Eyes that see everything. Nothing in his face

that let’s you off the hook. About anything. Ever.

Something almost sinister about him. With him, DEPUTY ZACK

SHELBY (35). Shelby is a nice looking guy, compassionate

eyes. A “likability” to him. They are both glancing in the

car with the rolled up carpets when Norma appears on the

porch, all smiles.

NORMA LOUISE:

Good evening, Gentlemen. I was

about to tell you we’re not open

for business yet but I’m guessing

you’re not looking for a room -

She walks to them and extends her hand. Charming.

47.

NORMA LOUISE (CONT’D)

Norma Bates. We just moved in a

few days ago.

Shelby takes her hand. Smiles. Makes total eye contact with

her. Clearly finds her attractive. (She sees this and works

it. All very subtle.)

SHELBY:

No, not looking for a room tonight.

(introducing)

Deputy Zack Shelby. This is

Sheriff Royce Romero.

Romero just nods. Barely.

ROMERO:

We wanted to make sure everything

was alright here. We didn’t know

anyone had moved in yet and we saw

the lights on.

NORMA LOUISE:

That’s so kind of you. But, yes,

we’re all fine. My son and I are

just working a little late.

Pulling up some carpeting we’re

replacing. Doing some updating.

God knows it could use it -

Shelby smiles. Romero is blank. Then...

ROMERO:

You have a son?

NORMA LOUISE:

Yes, my son Norman. He’s 16.

A silent moment, then...

ROMERO:

Norma and Norman. That’s --

unusual.

NORMA LOUISE:

Boys take their father’s name all

the time -

ROMERO:

(but that makes sense)

Yeah.

(then)

You know it’s almost two in the

morning?

(MORE)

48.

ROMERO (CONT'D)

Your son has school tomorrow. You

really think this is a good idea to

have him up doing remodeling for

you at this hour?

NORMA LOUISE:

Gosh is it that late already? I

had no idea. Thank you so much

for telling me. I’ll go close up

shop right now. Thanks for coming

by -

She starts walking off, her back to them. WE ARE FACING HER -

the terror seeping through her face -- the prayer that they

are leaving now. JUST KEEP WALKING. KEEP WALKING. YOU’LL

HEAR THE ENGINE START ANY SECOND -

ROMERO:

Mrs. Bates?

Her face falls. Her heart starts THUMPING. She turns,

transformed, a sweet smile -

NORMA LOUISE:

Yes, Sheriff?

ROMERO:

You wouldn’t mind if we take a look

inside, would you?

ON NORMA. HOLY F***.

NORMA LOUISE:

(smiles)

Not at all.

SMASH TO:

INT. ROOM #4 - MAIN ROOM

NORMAN’S POV - FROM THE FLOOR as the door opens and Romero

and Shelby walk in, followed by Norma, who makes instant eye

contact with him. Her eyes saying “Be careful. Take my

lead.”

ON THE BATHROOM DOOR

Slightly ajar. The presence of the dead body hangs over the

room...

ON NORMAN:

49.

As terrified as he’s ever been in his life. Hoping they

can’t hear his heart thumping out of his chest. He stands

up, very polite. He’s not as good at faking it as his mom.

He looks a little bit like a deer caught in the headlights

who’s trying to act like everything’s cool.

NORMAN:

Evening.

NORMA LOUISE:

Norman this is Sheriff Romero and

Deputy Shelby. They saw the lights

on and were kind enough to stop by

and check on us.

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