Written by Zeferovic
Episode 1: "Welcome to Sunset Valley"
FADE IN.
EXT. SUNSET VALLEY MOTEL – EVENING
A neon sign flickers: SUNSET VALLEY MOTEL. The sky is frozen in golden hues, as if the sun never fully sets. ELLIOT MARSH (30s, disheveled journalist) stands at the door of Room 6, staring at his key.
He frowns. Turns it over in his hand. The number is slightly worn, like it's been used a hundred times before.
INT. MOTEL ROOM – CONTINUOUS
Elliot steps inside. The air smells faintly of oranges. A ceiling fan spins overhead. The room is unremarkable—except for a newspaper on the nightstand.
He picks it up. The date is tomorrow.
HEADLINE: ELLIOT MARSH FOUND DEAD IN MOTEL ROOM.
Elliot exhales sharply, flips through the paper—but the rest is blank.
A knock at the door.
EXT. MOTEL – NIGHT
JONAS KEENE (40s, rugged, grease-stained hands) leans against a gas station across the street. Watching.
SHERIFF BILL HARLOW (50s, grizzled, watchful eyes) stands near his cruiser, sipping coffee. He notices Elliot and tips his hat.
INT. MOTEL ROOM – NIGHT
Elliot hesitates, then opens the door.
MARGOT VANCE (17, sharp-eyed, full of restless energy) stands there, holding a notebook.
MARGOT
You’re new in town.
I—guess so.
MARGOT
You should leave.
ELLIOTExcuse me?
MARGOT
Before it happens again.
She flips her notebook open, revealing dozens of sketches—Elliot’s face in different places, different times.
ELLIOT
What is this? Why do you have multiple sketches of me? You have never met me before.
MARGOT
I don’t know. That’s the problem. Since I was younger, images pop in my head and I just… decide to draw them to see if I can find a way to explain it.
EXT. GAS STATION – NIGHT
Jonas watches from the pump. He turns to DR. SYLVIA LANG (40s, composed, hiding something), who stands beside him.
JONAS
He's back. Thought we would have more time before he returned.
Sylvia exhales, troubled.
SYLVIA
I know. Guess it's moving quickly this time.
INT. MOTEL ROOM – NIGHT
Margot flips through more sketches—Elliot in different clothes, standing in front of places he doesn’t remember.
MARGOT
You were here last year. And the year before. And before that.
Elliot tenses.
ELLIOT
That’s not possible. I just arrived in town today. I haven't traveled to this side of the country in all my life.
MARGOT
No? Then how do I know your name? And how do you look?
He shakes his head. His gaze flickers back to the newspaper. The headline.
Margot follows his stare.
MARGOT
Oh, you're scared... You saw it, didn’t you?
What?
MARGOT
The news of your death.
The motel clock on the wall has no hands. It clicks forward. A single movement.
The room flickers—just for a second—like an old film reel skipping a frame.
Elliot staggers back.
MARGOT
If I were you, I’d get out before the clock strikes twelve.
ELLIOT
What happens at twelve?
A distant SIREN WAILS outside.
Margot backs toward the door.
MARGOT
You die.
CUT TO BLACK.
TO BE CONTINUED...