Truth or Consequences

Truth or Consequences by Andrew Siañez-De La O | 1
Truth or Consequences
A Full Length Play
Andrew Siañez-De La O
[email protected]
32 Tower St, Apt. #1
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
(915) 383-1277
[www.andrewsianezdelao.com]
Development Draft | JUNE 2021

CHARACTERS
CHAVEZ Female, Mixed Latinx, Mid 20s
Top of her class.
HOGAN Male, White, Early 50s

About to retire from field work.
WATCHTOWER Nonbinary, White, Any Age

Voice of the Bureau.
CELESTE Female, Mexican American, Early 30s

Skipping grief counseling.
MEYER Male, African American, Late 20s

Former Bureau agent. A memory.
FIGMENTS1
MALE VOICE/ Any Race, Any Age.
BOY VOICE
FEMALE VOICE Any Race, Any Age.
SETTING
A Pocket Dimension Locally Recognized as the El Dorado Motel
in lovely Truth or Consequences, New Mexico
NOTES
“—” Indicate a character being cut off by the next line.
“…” Indicates a stillness, whether in thought or staging.
“/” Indicates that the next line should start while this line continues.
1
Figments appear on the other side of the wall. They are akin to mannequins, or when you dream about
people, but can’t see their face. If necessary, the figments can be played by MEYER and CELESTE
respectively.

ACT ONE
Darkness. A rumbling. A hunger.
WATCHTOWER appears in all their bureaucratic

glory, bathed in a deep red light.
They address The Audience. The Board.
WATCHTOWER
Good evening, esteemed members of The Board. I am so very proud to present to you all
today the culmination of all our hard work. We’ve found it.
The sound of distorted breathing can be heard. It

could be confused for pain, maybe fear, but it is
excitement.
WATCHTOWER
Yes, yes! I could barely contain myself. We have hunted down this elusive beast from the
first whispers of a city of gold, to the near endless missing person reports that have crossed
our desks. For decades we have struggled to crack its feeding habits and finally, a
breakthrough. You see, we’ve long suspected that this creature feeds on pain, and now…
Well. The bait has been set. Because, you see, I’ve found the key. Or rather...keys.
Lights up on either side of the stage to reveal

CHAVEZ and HOGAN. They stare out into the
darkness, revealed only briefly by the light before
fading away.
WATCHTOWER
Tonight, we finally kill The El Dorado Motel.
The sound of distorted breathing grows in ferocity

until— blackout.
Lights up on Room 209 at the El Dorado Motel.

The front door and window is stage right, the
bathroom stage left. A closet door sits along the
back wall and a large queen bed sits in the center

of the room, flanked by end tables with lamps.

There is a small round table with two chairs near
stage right. The floor is a faded burgundy carpet,
the window has earth tone paisley curtains, and
the walls are covered in yellowing wallpaper.
There is some art on the wall, depictions of
pueblos and the desert under blue and pink skies.
A television set, which is unseen and would be

sitting against the fourth wall, turns on and paints
the dim room in a flickering light. It’s the intro to
the Truth or Consequences game show, or an
approximation of what the room remembers of it.
The lights of the room gently flicker with the
canned laughter of the intro. The theme plays
briefly, but stops abruptly as someone comes to the
door.
CHAVEZ opens the door, key in hand. MEYER steps

into the room first followed by CHAVEZ who closes
and locks the door behind her. She turns on the
light, makes eye contact with the bed, and sighs
heavily.
CHAVEZ
Jesus Fucking Christ.
MEYER
(He laughs.)
Remember that motel in Tulsa. They didn’t even bother to cover up the burnt carpet.
CHAVEZ
Don’t remind me. I can still smell it. Like old ketchup and charcoal.
They are both wearing black slacks and black

dress shoes, a white button up paired with a thin
black tie and matching suit jackets. CHAVEZ has a
small rolling suitcase and a briefcase handcuffed
to her wrist, both of which are black.

MEYER
Or what about that trailer park in Sedona.
CHAVEZ
The one that was sinking?
CHAVEZ crosses the room and heads to the closet.

She places her suit jacket on a hanger and tucks
the suitcase into the foot of the closet, front pocket
facing out. She stands silently for a moment, the
handcuffed briefcase in her hands. She looks
around the room. She looks under the bed, inside
the bathroom, in each bedside table.
MEYER
That’s the one! Where the bathroom was at a slight angle. Fucked with my head. A minute
or two on that toilet and I thought the room was spinning. And you made fun of me until
your toothbrush kept rolling off the counter.
CHAVEZ laughs. She finally decides to handcuff the

case to the closet cross bar. She secures it, the
suitcase now hanging in the closet. She slides her
suit jacket to the briefcase in an effort to conceal it
and closes the closet door.
CHAVEZ
I ask so little of these places. Give me a bed and a level floor. Is that so much to ask?
MEYER
It took all of my strength to keep you from trying to fix the whole damn trailer. It was
beautiful though, Sedona.
MEYER sits on the edge of the bed. He bounces on

the edge for a moment, testing the springs. He
takes a deep breath and looks out into the
audience.
CHAVEZ

Yeah… sure was.
MEYER
Those mountains.
CHAVEZ
All those colors.
CHAVEZ sits on the edge of the bed closest to the

phone. Both her hands and MEYER’s are thrown
back behind them, propping themselves up. Their
hands are almost touching.
After a moment, CHAVEZ shifts and reaches for the

corded telephone on the bedside table. She dials
000.
MEYER stands and walks towards the edge of the

stage.
WATCHTOWER
(A musical chime plays briefly, something ethereal.)
Hey Sugar, looking for a good time?
CHAVEZ
Sure am, hun. I love the desert this time of year.
WATCHTOWER
Ain’t it just marvelous? I love thunderstorms in the southwest.
CHAVEZ
Rolling waves of light, and thunder that makes your bones ache. Ain’t nothin quite else like
it.
WATCHTOWER
(Almost like flirting.)
What’s your name, Shug?
CHAVEZ

Chavez.
(Beat.)
Train Car. Homestead. Coyote. Azul.
WATCHTOWER
(The demeanor of the voice changes, it’s heavy with authority)
The package?
CHAVEZ
Secure.
WATCHTOWER
Good. Is the room to your liking?
CHAVEZ
(Looking around at the sagging decor and faded colors, hesitating)
Yes.
WATCHTOWER
(Playful chuckle.)
Budget cuts.
CHAVEZ
Yes, of course.
WATCHTOWER
We are so happy to have you back, Agent Chavez. How did medical leave treat you?
CHAVEZ
It was…short.
WATCHTOWER
Yes, well, I’m sure you’re happy to be back at work.
(There is a moment of uncomfortable silence.)
It is unfortunate what happened to your partner.
(MEYER turns to face CHAVEZ. CHAVEZ faces MEYER.)
A terrible thing. I can’t imagine what it must’ve been like. To be there. To see it happen.

The lights around MEYER seem to dim. After a

moment, he smiles and walks out into the
darkness, disappearing.
CHAVEZ
Yes. A terrible thing.
WATCHTOWER
But we are so glad to have you back.
CHAVEZ
Watchtower, I do have one question.
WATCHTOWER
Yes, Agent?
CHAVEZ
You are aware that there is only one bed?
(Silence.)
Isn’t there supposed to be another—
WATCHTOWER
Agent Hogan is not to be told about the package.
CHAVEZ
Right, of course—
WATCHTOWER
Agent Hogan is en route back to Bureau Headquarters for his retirement party and
shouldn’t be troubled with the origin or final destination of the package.
CHAVEZ
I understand—
WATCHTOWER
Agent Hogan has served under the Bureau for an almost unparalleled amount of time in the
field and, while we want to ensure his utmost comfort on the final leg of his journey, we
regret that due to budget cuts—

CHAVEZ
Yes, yes, yes. Message received, Watchtower.
(Silence.)
Watchtower?
WATCHTOWER
Your tone, Agent. I’d be mindful of it.
CHAVEZ
Of course, my apologies—
WATCHTOWER
You’ve shown great promise, Agent Chavez. Only two years in the field, and already your
track record puts you in the top percentile of your class. It’s unfortunate what happened to
your partner, Agent…
(There is a ruffling of paper.)
Meyers.
CHAVEZ
Meyer.
WATCHTOWER
But your completion of the mission despite your partner’s death has gained the attention of
The Board.
CHAVEZ
Umm.
(Gulps.)
The Board?
WATCHTOWER
Yes, Agent. The Board. So, I’d be careful not to disappoint.
(Silence.)
Have a good night’s rest, Agent.
(The line is dead. CHAVEZ hangs up the phone.)
CHAVEZ
(To the closet where the briefcase is hidden.)
Did you hear that, Meyer? The Board.

(She sighs. Looks around. Sniffs.)

You know what this place smells like? Mesquite. This whole time I’ve been trying to figure it
out. My abue used to cook with it. Corn, poblanos, steaks. I can almost feel the bristles of his
mustache on my cheek.
(There is a deep rumbling, maybe from the ground, maybe from the
walls. CHAVEZ doesn’t notice.)
Yeah. Mesquite. And just a little bit of piss. The Bureau really knows how to pick them.
A noise can be heard from outside. Someone is

walking towards Room 209. They have company.
HOGAN
(Off stage:)
Traveling salesman? Do I look like a traveling salesman? Honey, baby, no. I’m way more than
just a salesman.
HOGAN unlocks the door. He takes one step into

Room 209 with one arm wrapped around
CELESTE and his other arm rolling a luggage bag
behind him. It’s a little larger than CHAVEZ’s.
HOGAN is whispering something in her ear when
he enters so CELESTE notices CHAVEZ before he
does. She gives an awkward smile and a little
wave. Finally he turns and sees CHAVEZ.
CHAVEZ
Hi, I’m—
HOGAN
Jesus Fucking Christ.
He rushes out the door, CELESTE in tow. His

luggage bag falls to the floor and sits in the open
doorway.
CHAVEZ
Well, that could’ve gone better.

Lights up on HOGAN downstage right. He’s

wearing the same Bureau uniform as CHAVEZ, but
his tie is thicker, a more classic look. HOGAN is
muscular, but thick. A dense man with broad
shoulders and a wide chest. A bit of a gut that he
keeps sucked in. A thick lipstick mark on his cheek
in deep red lipstick.
CELESTE is standing in the background smoking

in the dark, we can see the glow of her lit
cigarette.
HOGAN pulls out his phone and dials 000.
HOGAN
Uh huh, yeah, I love the desert this time of year.
(He pinches the bridge of his nose.)
Yes, yes, Rolling waves of light and thunder that makes your bones ache. Can you just hurry
up and transfer me to—
(Annoyed.)
Hogan. Pete Moss, Tundra, Buffalo, Amarillo.
[Finally.]
Protocol? You want to talk to me about protocol? What the fuck is with the shared bed. No,
no, let me back track. What the fuck is with the shared room?
(Listening.)
Twenty five years. Twenty five fucking years traveling across this god forsaken country
cleaning up Bureau messes and you’re going to talk to me about budget cuts?
(Listening.)
Fuck you, Watchtower, transfer me to the Director.
(Beat.)
Twenty five years, Watchtower. Transfer me to—
The light above him suddenly turns a deep, dark

red. He is frozen, listening intently to
WATCHTOWER. After a moment the light changes
back to a pale yellow glow.
HOGAN
(Nervously, plays with the end of his tie.)

Yes. Yes. Of course, Watchtower. I’m sorry, I—

(Listening.)
Yes. I forgot my place. I’m sure the room is lovely.
(He hangs up.)
Fuck.
CELESTE
(Coming out of the shadows and into the glow of the street light.)
What kinda business did you say you were in again?
HOGAN
(Deflated.)
The kinda business you don’t wanna know about.
CELESTE
What? You get reamed out by your boss?
(Beat.)
Hey, it’s okay. Forget them. We can get another room. It’s no big deal.
HOGAN
It’s the principal of the thing.
(He mutters to himself.)
Twenty five years…
(Pulling out his wallet and taking out a twenty dollar bill. He gives it to
CELESTE.)
Here, go get us some beers, but take your time. I’ll try and sort this out.
(CELESTE looks at the twenty and gives HOGAN puppy dog eyes. After a
moment he chuckles and pulls out a few more bills.)
Get yourself some smokes too.
CELESTE
Oh, you’re too kind sir.
(She gives a small curtsy. She gets a laugh out of HOGAN.)
Oh, will you look at that?
HOGAN
What?
CELESTE

You’ve got a cute smile.

(She smiles.)
Now, you got a preference?
HOGAN
Whatever is going to get us the biggest bang for our buck.
CELESTE
You got it boss.
HOGAN
Boss? I like the sound of that.
CELESTE
Don’t get ahead of yourself, now.
(Beginning to exit, then:)
Hey, what’s this place called again?
HOGAN
The El Dorado Motel. Room 209.
(He exits.)
CELESTE
The El Dorado...huh.
(Looking back up towards the room.)
I’ve never heard of you before.
CELESTE takes out her phone and snaps a quick

picture of the motel. She types away at something
and we hear the faint chime of a sent message. She
exits.
Lights back up on Room 209. CHAVEZ is nervously

pacing back and forth between the bed and the
bathroom on stage right. She’s chewing her
thumbnail. There is a knock on the door. She turns
to face it.

CHAVEZ
Yes?
HOGAN
It’s, uhh, it’s me. Can I come in?
CHAVEZ
Yeah, of course.
We can hear the jingle of his key as he tries to

unlock the door. He drops the keys.
HOGAN
Fuck.
We can hear him pick them back up, he grunts as

he bends over. He unlocks the door and steps
inside. He looks around the room and sees his bag
sitting on the edge of the bed closest to him.
HOGAN
Oh, my bag. Thanks, I hadn’t even realized I, uhh—
CHAVEZ
No problem, I was happy to.
HOGAN
(An awkward silence, and then.)
We’re cool, right?
CHAVEZ
Cool?
HOGAN
Yeah. I mean, you didn’t cause this mess. Watchtower and all those other penny pinchers in
their Scarlet Keep did this. Not us. I’m Hogan.
(He extends his hand, CHAVEZ crosses the room to shake it.)
CHAVEZ

Chavez. It’s good to meet you.
HOGAN
(He takes note of the small blood stain on the end of her sleeve, right by
her wrist.)
What division?
CHAVEZ
Blue.
HOGAN
(A little surprised. Didn’t hide it well.)
Blue!
CHAVEZ
Yeah! Almost two years now.
HOGAN
How old are you?
CHAVEZ
That’s rude.
HOGAN
(Sucking at his teeth.)
When did you graduate from the academy?
CHAVEZ
(Knows what he’s getting at.)
Two years ago. I was placed in Blue right after graduating.
HOGAN
That’s impressive. It usually takes years to qualify for Blue placement. Your qualifying exam
scores must’ve been good.
CHAVEZ
(A little proud, as she should be.)
They were. Yeah. In fact, I was top of my—

HOGAN
(He gives her a smile, a little stiff.)
Good for you.
(Gesturing to her shirt.)
You should do something about that.
CHAVEZ
Excuse me?
HOGAN
Your shirt, the sleeve. Blood.
CHAVEZ
(Looking at her sleeve and noticing the blood.)
Oh...oh! Umm, it’s old. The blood, it's been a bitch trying to get it out.
HOGAN
Don’t worry, I’ve got something for that.
HOGAN crosses to his luggage bag, which is still

sitting on the bed. He opens the front pocket and
pulls out a Tide To Go Pen. He crosses to CHAVEZ,
his outstretched hand offering the Tide To Go Pen.
Right before she is about to take it, he pulls it
away.
HOGAN
That’s pretty sloppy for a Blue.
(He smiles and hands CHAVEZ the Tide To Go Pen.)
Bit of that and some cold water, you should be all set.
(He gives her a small wink.)
CHAVEZ
Yeah. Thanks.
CHAVEZ turns away and rolls her eyes. She makes

her way to the motel room bathroom and closes
the door behind her. We can still see her as she

takes off her white button up, she’s wearing a

white a-frame shirt underneath.
The rest of the bathroom is illuminated to reveal

MEYER sitting on the edge of the bathtub,
brushing at his dress shoes with shoe polish.
CHAVEZ tends to the shirt with the Tide To Go Pen

as HOGAN continues to talk.
HOGAN
(Speaking slightly louder to cover what he is about to do.)
When I was young, I was never big on uniforms either, but my old man was. Me and him,
we’d sit down and watch old football games. He’d recorded dozens, maybe hundreds of
games.
CHAVEZ turns on the faucet and begins to wash

the sleeve in the sink. This is what HOGAN was
waiting for.
He quickly crosses to the other side of the bed and

opens the closet door. He pulls out her rolling
suitcase. He continues to talk as he goes through
CHAVEZ’s bag.
HOGAN
He wouldn’t fast forward through the commercials either. Instead he’d use that time to
check on my mom. He’d have her behind the couch ironing his uniform.
He opens the suitcase. It’s mostly clothes. A pair of

walking shoes. A small toiletries bag. Next, he
opens the front pocket. He finds a few candy
wrappers, bus ticket stubs, and a pack of smokes.
American Spirits, Blue. He takes one, and tucks it
into his pocket. He puts the pack back in the
pocket and closes it.
HOGAN

I’d sit there watching old ads for movies or beer and he’d be inspecting every stitch. Every
crease. He was, uhh, well. He loved the way he looked in that uniform. Said the dark green
brought out the color of his eyes.
CHAVEZ shuts off the running water. HOGAN

freezes and looks over his shoulder. She is now
patting dry her shirt sleeve with a bathroom
towel. She softly sings Elvis Presley’s, “Any Day
Now.” HOGAN listens to her. Something about the
song… He shakes it off.
HOGAN
I can’t really picture them anymore. His eyes.
HOGAN quietly puts the luggage bag back in the

closet, the front of the case is facing the wrong
way. CHAVEZ pulls a small, dingey hair dryer from
under the sink and plugs it in. She begins to dry
the shirt sleeve.
HOGAN
Watching those games with him, after a while, I’d just tune them out. Started focusing on
my mom, listening to the iron as she guided it along every fold. She was, uhh, well she was
gentle. You know?
HOGAN is about to close the closet door when he

catches a glimpse of the briefcase. He touches the
metal cuffs briefly before the hair dryer turns off.
HOGAN hurries back to the other side of the bed

and begins to unpack his suitcase. CHAVEZ, with
her cleaned and dried shirt back on, reenters.
HOGAN
It come out?
CHAVEZ
Yeah! Yeah. It did.
(Toying with the Tide To Go Pen.)

All you Yellows have one of these pens handy?
HOGAN
Not just Yellows, people with common sense. Besides, without us—
CHAVEZ
Yeah, yeah, yeah. “A Yellow on the scene keeps a crash sight clean.”
HOGAN
I’ve never heard that one before.
CHAVEZ
It’s a good one. Gets right to the point doesn’t it.
(She tosses the Tide To Go Pen back to HOGAN who catches it and
returns it to his bag.)
I like picturing Yellows with little mops and buckets. You got yours stashed around here
somewhere?
HOGAN
I get it.
CHAVEZ
(She sighs.)
I should get some rest.
HOGAN
The blood. Was it your partner’s?
(CHAVEZ is caught off guard by this.)
My condolences.
CHAVEZ
Um, thank you.
(Beat.)
The mission was top secret, how did you—
HOGAN
(Laughs.)
Every mission is top secret, kid. But us Yellows, we keep in touch. We clean up your messes
after all. Blues get to do all the flashy stuff. All the fighting and investigating, but us Yellows,

we’ve gotta clean up after it all. Wipe the memories, fill out the paperwork. That’s not to say
what happened to Meyers was a mess—
CHAVEZ
Meyer.
HOGAN
Hmm?
CHAVEZ
His name was Meyer.
HOGAN
Right. Sorry. Umm, again, my condolences.
CHAVEZ
Can we change the—
HOGAN
What’s your poison?
(On CHAVEZ’s reaction.)
You a wine, gal? Beer?
CHAVEZ
Whiskey, actually.
HOGAN
(A big smile.)
Whiskey! I wouldn’t’ve pegged you as a whiskey drinker.
CHAVEZ
(A small laugh.)
And I wouldn’t’ve pegged you as a soccer mom.
HOGAN
Easy now, kid. Not when we’re about to become friends.
CHAVEZ
(Almost playful.)

Friends? How do you figure that?
HOGAN
Because I’ve got a little something special packed in my bag. Now, you and I, we didn’t get
off to the best start. I was a little confrontational, I’ll admit it, my skin isn’t so thick that I
can’t, umm, you know, but why squander this opportunity?
(Reaching into his bag.)
I was gonna save this for the retirement party, but why share it with a bunch of suits and
ties in a stuffy office when we can split it between two boots on the ground, right?
(He takes a plastic Walgreens bag out of his suitcase. From the bag, he
pulls out a tall glass bottle in its own cloth bag. The cloth bag is covered
in dried mud. He makes a show of untying the cinch at the top.)
We aren’t really supposed to accept gifts, but sometimes, well, sometimes people are just
really grateful for our services.
CHAVEZ
Grateful for what a Blue does, you mean?
HOGAN
(A small, annoyed smile.)
To civilians, there isn’t a difference between the two of us. Us, “Men in Black,” we all just
blend together. That’s part of our allure after all. A few years back, almost a decade now,
the, uhh, well, La Chupa was in heat so—
CHAVEZ
Wait, wait. La Chupa? You mean the Chupacabra?
HOGAN
(A wide smile.)
The very one. The old girl was in heat and causing all sorts of trouble along the Rio Grande
Valley. She was tearing through cattle ranches like a kid in a candy store, just gobbling up
everything in sight. Back then, Bureau rules still stipulated that Agents could not interfere
with, undermine, or endanger registered cryptids so the Blues I was tagging along with set
up, this uhh—
(He laughs to himself as he remembers.)
God, they built this big ole monstrosity, this ugly looking thing that they covered with goat
pheromones. This“approximation” of what a male chupa might look like and, well. They let
her have at it.

CHAVEZ
That. Is. Disgusting.
HOGAN
I know! Right? It was unreal. And the sounds she made! Like a wolf if it had a mouth full of
tin foil and engine grease. Anyway, folks were real grateful for us saving their cattle. This
one rancher, really nice guy, Jorge I think, right before I wiped his memory, he gave me this.
(Finally, he pulls out the glass bottle. It is tall and pristine. It is filled
with clear liquid. It has a faded parchment label on it.)
Said he was saving it for his daughter’s wedding, but that if it wasn’t for me, well…
(Motioning between the two of them, but meaning The Bureau.)
“Us.” There would be no cattle. No cattle, no money. No money, no wedding, so…
(Looking the bottle over.)
He gave me this beautiful bottle of Mezcal de Conejo2.
(Takes it in.)
But, we can’t accept gifts, so I buried this guy out in the river bed of the Rio Grande. Figured
now was the time to go dig it up.
CHAVEZ
Oh, tequila does not agree with me.
HOGAN
It’s mezcal and you have to try it. I promise it’s unlike anything you’ve had before.
(Motiong to the closet.)
Can you see if the ice bucket is in there?
(CHAVEZ checks the closet and finds an ice bucket on a shelf on the far
right. She tosses it to HOGAN.)
Sweet.
(HOGAN crosses to leave the front door.)
It’s best chilled. I’ll be right back!
HOGAN opens the front door and, instead of an

exit, there is a brick wall. He closes the door and
opens it again. Bricks.
HOGAN
Chavez—
2
Double distilled espadin mezcal blended with wild fruits, herbs and nuts, and, on the final pass in
distillation, two white-tail rabbit carcasses are placed in the still.

CHAVEZ
Holy shit.
HOGAN places the empty ice bucket and the bottle

of mezcal down on the small round table near the
door. He crosses to the window and pulls apart its
curtain. Through the vertical blinds we can see
that the window is also bricked up. CHAVEZ
crosses to the bricked up doorway and runs her
fingers along the grooves.
CHAVEZ
The cement isn’t wet, it’s completely dry.
HOGAN
Stand back.
(HOGAN moves past CHAVEZ and places his shoulder against the brick
wall. He begins to shove his weight against it.It doesn’t budge.)
Fuck!
(HOGAN kicks the brick wall, hurting not only himself, but the room. The
walls around them seem to shift and there is a deep groaning coming
from inside them. HOGAN and CHAVEZ look around the room, stunned.)
What the fuck is going on here?
Suddenly, the hotel room phone begins to ring.

CHAVEZ and HOGAN lock eyes and then slowly
look at the phone. It buzzes. There’s a slight echo
to it. HOGAN begins to cross first, CHAVEZ motions
for him to wait, but he brushes her away. He picks
up the phone. He is silent for a moment, then:
HOGAN
(After a moment.)
Yes, Watchtower. I’m putting you on speaker.
(He presses a button and puts the receiver down by the phone.)
WATCHTOWER appears at the edge of the stage.

WATCHTOWER
Good evening, Agents. I’m sure by now you’ve noticed that your lovely, lovely room isn’t
quite what it appears to be. Since the Southwest Branch of The Bureau opened in ‘47, we’ve
been tracking a…location, of sorts. You see, the El Dorado Motel is the Bureau’s Moby Dick.
Our very own great white mystery hidden away in the desert.
CHAVEZ
Watchtower, what are you—
WATCHTOWER
Agent Chavez, I’d appreciate it if you allowed me to finish your briefing.
CHAVEZ
Briefing?
WATCHTOWER
Agent Chavez, do you remember who gave you your room key?
(Beat.)
What about you Agent Hogan? Do you remember the front desk? Did you speak with a
clerk? Perhaps you remember ringing a little bell?.
(Beat.)
Do either of you remember how you got your room key?
CHAVEZ HOGAN
No, I don’t. Uhh, no.
WATCHTOWER
The Bureau sent two agents to a small town with no place to stay. The El Dorado Motel
sensed a hole that needed to be filled and, well, here you are. So, shall I continue with your
briefing?
CHAVEZ
Yes, Watchtower.
WATCHTOWER
The first recorded manifestation of the El Dorado was as a phone booth in 1890. Since then,
we’ve confirmed appearances as a laundromat, voting booth, bakery, thrift store, and even a

taco pop-up. Each one carrying some variation of the El Dorado monicor and all in lovely
Truth or Consequences. Agents, I want to stress to you that this has been a mission in the
making for decades. We only just cracked its feeding pattern.
HOGAN
Feeding—
WATCHTOWER
See, from what little information we have, the El Dorado Motel only reveals itself every few
years and, until now, we’ve never understood what made it appear. We’d always assumed it
was some combination of the stars, planets, perhaps climate, or even local elections, but
then, we had a breakthrough.
(Beat. To CHAVEZ:)
We can’t let an opportunity like this be squandered. And, since Bureau policy stipulates that
no agent can go on a mission alone… Well.
(Beat.)
Congratulations are in order for Agent Hogan. You’re finally getting what you’ve always
wanted just 25 years and 18 applications later.
HOGAN
Excuse me?
WATCHTOWER
A promotion. Agent Hogan, by direct order from the Board, you are hereby promoted to a
Blue tier agent. Congratulations. And welcome to your first mission. Kill the El Dorado
Motel.
The line cuts out and WATCHTOWER disappears

into a darkness that consumes the entire stage.
A cell phone rings.
Lights up on CELESTE. She is standing near the

edge of the stage. She has a six pack of beers in one
hand and her phone in the other.
CELESTE
Yeah, hello?

COUNCILOR (V.O.)
Celeste, where are you?
CELESTE
Oh! Father Michael—
COUNCILOR (V.O.)
You didn’t come to tonight's session, is everything okay?
CELESTE
Yeah, about that, did you get my picture?
COUNCILOR (V.O.)
Yes, I did. What is this?
CELESTE
It’s a motel—
COUNCILOR (V.O.)
Uhuh—
CELESTE
The El Dorado—
COUNCILOR (V.O.)
Okay?
CELESTE
Weird, right?
COUNCILOR (V.O.)
Celeste, what’s going on? Is something wrong?
CELESTE
Yes something is wrong! The El Dorado Motel, that’s what.
COUNCILOR (V.O.)
Celeste, I’m sorry, I’m really not following.

CELESTE
I’ve never heard of it. I’ve lived in this town my entire life and this place, this motel, I’ve
never heard of it.
(Waiting for a response.)
Hello?
COUNCILOR (V.O.)
Celeste, we’ve talked about how detrimental it is to miss nights with the support group—
CELESTE
Right, right, bereavement and all that—
COUNCILOR (V.O.)
Celeste.
CELESTE
Look, I’m sorry, okay. I just…
COUNCILOR (V.O.)
I’m worried about you.
CELESTE
No. No, no, don’t do that.
COUNCILOR (V.O.)
We’re all worried about you, Celeste. We’re in your corner.
CELESTE
I’m tired.
(Beat.)
I am. And I’m tired of listening to them—
COUNCILOR (V.O.)
It’s not just about you, Celeste.
(Beat.)
It’s important for people to feel stable in times like this. You know how important it is to
have familiar faces helping guide you along the path. It’s been years since Mason passed on,
but others here are experiencing their grief for the first time—

CELESTE
So what? I should be all better now?
COUNCILOR (V.O.)
No, of course not, that’s not what I’m—
CELESTE
Celeste should be all smiles and hugs by now, right? Celeste should be what, their rock? A
shoulder to cry on?
COUNCILOR (V.O.)
You’re putting words in my mouth—
CELESTE
Then how long should it take?
COUNCILOR (V.O.)
This is not the time.
CELESTE
How long Father? A year? Two?
COUNCILOR (V.O.)
This is ridiculous.
CELESTE
When you read our file, do you write a little guesstimate? Do you have a system? If it’s a
spouse that’s passed, that’s four years. An older relative, one year. What about a son?
COUNCILOR (V.O.)
Celeste, I’m sorry. I misspoke. I shouldn’t have pressed, but you have to understand that—
CELESTE
Look, Father. I’ve got a case of beer, a pack of American Spirits, and a hot date. I’ll see you
next week.
CELESTE hangs up the phone.

Lights out on CELESTE and lights up on MEYER

who stands on the opposite side of the stage. Near
him is CHAVEZ sitting on the edge of the bed. The
two are dimly lit. It feels like a private moment.
We can barely make out HOGAN pacing in the
background. As MEYER speaks his first line, the
light slowly spreads, fully illuminating Room 209.
MEYER
Do you remember Dr. Feynman? Our teacher for Introduction to Cryptozoology? Strange
guy, sad eyes, big bottle glasses. We had him first thing in the morning on Mondays and
Wednesdays. Whenever we’re on these stakeouts, I think of him.
HOGAN
(To himself.)
This has to be some sort of joke.
CHAVEZ
Let me think.
MEYER
He’d go on and on about the mating calls of Bigfoot. Had all these tapes and during his
lunches he’d listen to them with these big old headphones.
CHAVEZ
(Under her breath.)
God fucking dammit.
MEYER
And you dared me to ask him what he was doing.The other trainees thought it was like a
kink thing, that he got off to those mating calls, but nah, you knew there was something
more.
(Beat.)
You had a good instinct for that kind of thing. You knew which rock had the best bugs
underneath it.
CHAVEZ
Just let me...

MEYER
He just looked at us with those big sad eyes.
(Beat.)
He said, they weren’t just mating calls. They were maps.
(Beat.)
Directions on how to find them. Details about how the river bent or how thick the tree line
was. They were singing about how beautiful the forest was from their point of view.
Something dawns on CHAVEZ. She slowly starts to

stand as the pieces fall into place.
MEYER
When we’re on these stakeouts, I think about him and his big sad eyes. I listen to all the cars
honking and the distant sirens and I try to imagine the world from their point of view.
CHAVEZ
(To HOGAN.)
How did you get into town?
HOGAN
Twenty-five years I’ve been wearing this suit, twenty-five years—
CHAVEZ
Agent.
(He is still.)
Focus.
(Beat.)
I took a bus into town. Greyhound. Thirteen, no, twelve passengers. Got on in Las Vegas.
Stopped in Albuquerque, then Socorro, then here. You?
HOGAN
(Sitting on the edge of the bed now.)
I, uhh, I…
CHAVEZ
Deep breath.
HOGAN
(Takes a deep breath.)

Rental. I got a rental car. Picked it up in Odessa. Drove, drove straight, no, I stopped in
Esperanza first.
CHAVEZ
Texas?
HOGAN
Yeah. To dig up the, uhh—
CHAVEZ
Mezcal—
HOGAN
Yeah, and then a pit stop in El Paso, then straight here.
CHAVEZ
What kind of car?
HOGAN
A Lincoln. Black. 2010 I think.
CHAVEZ
And where did you park it?
HOGAN
Out front, motel parking lot.
(He motions to the bricked up window.)
CHAVEZ
Keys.
HOGAN
What?
CHAVEZ
Toss me your keys.
HOGAN
(He tosses them to CHAVEZ.)

We’re locked in here—
CHAVEZ
Shh.
CHAVEZ moves to the wall space between the

bricked up front door and window, moving
furniture if she has to. She raises the car keys into
the air with one hand, and cups her ear to the wall
with the other. The room is very still. HOGAN,
without realising it, is holding his breath. She
presses a button on the car keys. Faintly, just
outside the brick wall, we hear the distinct sound
of a car lock beeping.
HOGAN
What are you—
CHAVEZ
Wait.
She presses the button again. Faint beeping. And

once more. Faint beeping. She turns back to
HOGAN, discreetly pocketing the keys.
CHAVEZ
Three times I pressed the button, three times the car beeped. So, we’ve confirmed that your
rental car is still outside, or rather, that we’re still outside your rental car.
HOGAN
What are you talking about? Of course we are.
CHAVEZ
If Watchtower is right… Well, the moment we stepped into this room, the moment we
closed that door, we stopped being in our world.
(There is a moment of stillness as CHAVEZ lets this settle, then:)
HOGAN
(He begins to roll up his sleeves.)

I remember stairs, do you? To get up here.
CHAVEZ
Yes! Yes, stairs. We’re on the second floor. At the top of the stairs I took a left turn and
passed two rooms.
HOGAN
I remember three. 206, 207…
(Crossing to the back wall, placing a hand on it.)
208. Right?
CHAVEZ
If this is 209 then…was there a room after ours?
(Looking out into the audience.)
I don’t remember if there’s a 210. The guard rail, did it stop?
HOGAN
I don’t know. I don’t remember. But here’s a question. Which will be thinner? The floor, or
the wall?
CHAVEZ
Excuse me?
HOGAN
I’m getting out of this room, Chavez.
(He pulls a flip knife from his back pocket and switches out the blade.)
The front of the room is bricked up and all I’ve got is this knife. My money is on this wall.
CHAVEZ
Hogan, you cannot just start tearing through walls. We don’t even know if these are real
walls. We don’t know what’s on the other side.
HOGAN
You just said our car is out there.
CHAVEZ
Yes, out front, but that’s outside of the motel. You’re trying to cut your way into another
room.

HOGAN
(Beginning to roll up his sleeves.)
I was on clean up duty for that sentient mold out in Reno. I spent the better part of a month
tearing down walls. This’ll be a piece of cake.
CHAVEZ
Hogan, wait—
HOGAN turns to the back wall and swiftly plunges

his knife into the wall paper. He pulls down,
cutting a slit into the wall about a foot long. He
looks pleased, almost impressed with himself, until
the wall begins to bleed.
HOGAN
What the fuck…
From the wall oozes thick red blood. CHAVEZ and

HOGAN are watching the thin stream. HOGAN
steps closer and reaches out to catch a drop when
a long tentacle bursts from the slit, grabbing
HOGAN.
CHAVEZ
Oh my God—
HOGAN
Chavez, help—
The tentacle swiftly pulls him towards the wall.

HOGAN hits his head against it. The tentacle
releases him as he collapses onto the floor. Before
he can stand back up, another tentacle writhes out
from beneath the bed and latches onto HOGAN’s
throat, choking him.
HOGAN
(Struggling to breathe.)
Cha…Vez… Help…

CHAVEZ
Fuck.
Suddenly, the ceiling light turns off. Replaced by

the dim yellow lights of the bedside lamps. The
room is much darker than it was before.
The television set turns on. Illuminating the room

with its pale white glow.
CHAVEZ
Is that you? The El Dorado?
(Slowly raising her hands.)
I’m sorry for what he did.
The room groans in approval.
CHAVEZ
So, El Dorado, can I call you that? El Dorado?
The unseen television seems to change channels.

We can hear the distorted intro of “Dora the
Explorer,” a brief, static encrusted snippet:
FEMALE VOICE as DORA

D-d-d-d-d-Dora, D-d-d-d-d-Dora—
CHAVEZ
(Taken aback, but going with it.)
Dora? Okay, I can work with that. Dora, we’re not here to hurt you.
The bedside lamps flicker as a buzz plays from the

television, the kind a game show would play when
the contestant has given the wrong answer.
CHAVEZ
Okay, okay, yes. We were sent here to hurt you, but we didn’t know! We didn’t know until we
were already here!

(Silence.)
You can trust us—
Buzz. Wrong answer. The lamps flicker again, and

this time they take a little longer to return to
normal.
CHAVEZ
(She gulps.)
You can trust me, because…because…
MEYER enters from the bathroom. He is wiping his

hands dry on his pants. He is muttering to himself
as he crosses the stage towards CHAVEZ.
MEYER
You had a good instinct for that kind of thing.
CHAVEZ
Because…
MEYER
You knew which rock had the best bugs underneath it.
(He exits.)
CHAVEZ
Because…you want something.
(Silence.)
You need something from…me?
The television set tunes once more.

Need your help— Need your help— Need your help—
CHAVEZ
Yes! I can help! I’ll help you! What can I do?

Grab your backpack!
CHAVEZ
What?

Grab your backpack!
CHAVEZ
Dora, what does that mean, I don’t have a backpack—
HOGAN
(About to pass out.)
Cha….vez…..
CHAVEZ
Dora, let him go!
The room groans with anger. The bedside lamps

flicker.
CHAVEZ
You know the rules, Dora. You heard them. I can’t do this job without a partner. Let him go
and I’ll help you.
Silence. DORA thinks. Finally the room starts to

brighten as the ceiling light turns back on.
Suddenly, groaning. The tentacles release HOGAN.
He collapses to the ground, gasping for air, his

hand rubs at his neck as he coughs.
CHAVEZ quickly runs to him, trying to help him up.
CHAVEZ
Hogan? Hogan, you okay?
HOGAN
What the fuck—

CHAVEZ
Hogan, come on—
HOGAN
Get the fuck away from me.
(Beat.)
What the fuck is this shit—
CHAVEZ
Hogan, look at me. Hogan.
HOGAN
What.
CHAVEZ
Look at me, Hogan.
(He looks at her.)
You good?
HOGAN
(Rubbing at his throat.)
Yeah. Yeah, I’m fine.
CHAVEZ
Good. Now apologize to her.
HOGAN
You can’t be serious.
CHAVEZ
(Quietly. Stern.)
You pissed her off. Keep the peace.
(Beat.)
Apologize to Dora.
HOGAN
(Turning to look at the gash in the wall.)

Right. Umm. Dora, I uhh— You know, things were really intense there for a second and I
may have— You know what, I have the perfect thing for that.
(He goes to his bag and, from the front pocket, pulls out two or three
small bandages.)
I’m just gonna do this nice and slow, okay. So no, uhh, tentacles, please.
(Slowly, he places the bandaids gingerly along the gash in the wall.)
There you go, that’s, uhh, better. Right?
(He looks around the room, no response.)
Okayy.
CHAVEZ
You didn’t apologize.
HOGAN
I just did.
(He stops for a moment and looks her in the eyes. This isn't easy.)
And, uhh, thank you. For uhh, the assist—
CHAVEZ
Bureau rules, right? Always work in pairs. That’s it.
HOGAN
(Something about this makes him sad. Or is he angry. He can’t tell, but
he pushes it aside.)
Right. Bureau rules.
CHAVEZ
From here on out, we do things my way. Understood?
HOGAN
You got it boss.
CHAVEZ
Don’t start—
Suddenly, CHAVEZ’s knees buckle. She nearly falls

to the ground. HOGAN rushes to her side and helps
her stand.

HOGAN
Hey, hey, you okay?
CHAVEZ
(Taking his arm and standing.)
I’m fine. I just…need to lie down.
HOGAN
Okay, okay I got you.
HOGAN helps CHAVEZ across the room. He helps

her into the bed, removing his suitcase so there’s
more room. He takes a small glass from a bedside
table and goes to the sink to fill it with water. He
brings her the glass and she drinks.
CHAVEZ
Thank you.
HOGAN
There’s something seriously wrong with this place.
CHAVEZ
Yeah, no kidding.
HOGAN
Do you mind if I…
(He points to the other side of the bed.)
CHAVEZ
Sure, go ahead.
HOGAN
(Crossing to the other side of the bed, he lays down.)
This is not how I pictured this night going.
CHAVEZ
(A genuine, but rough, small laugh.)

No? This is exactly what I imagined. In a dusty bed next to a cranky old man in a smelly
motel room. No offense, Dora.
HOGAN
No offense, Dora? What about me?
CHAVEZ
Complete offense to you. Total offense.
(They both laugh.)
Oh, God. Weren’t you with a woman? Was she a hooker?
HOGAN
Her name is Celeste, and no. She’s not a hooker. I met her at the gas station.
CHAVEZ
Cute.
HOGAN
Shut up. She was trying to buy beer and her card was declined. I told her we could go out
for drinks after I dropped my stuff off. I wanted some company. Wanted to impress
someone with stories from the job, you know?
CHAVEZ
Hogan, you can’t tell people about what we do.
HOGAN
What? You’ve never wanted to talk to someone? Someone outside of all this. I’m about to
retire, Chavez. I don’t give a shit about the rules. I just wanted to talk with someone for the
first time in...well, a long time. That’s it.
CHAVEZ
So you weren’t trying to sleep with her?
HOGAN
I didn’t say that.
(They laugh.)
I gave her some cash for beers. She probably just took it and left.
(Beat.)
Would you believe that wasn’t even the first time something’s tried to eat me?

CHAVEZ
(Smiling)
You’re joking.
HOGAN
(Trying to be sly.)
Tell you what, we get out of this, I’ll tell you the whole story. Deal?
CHAVEZ
Deal.
(Looking up at the ceiling.)
This room. This motel.
(She sighs.)
We have to help her, Hogan.
Lights down on Room 209.
Lights up on CELESTE. She’s on her phone again,

drinking one of the beers she bought. The rest of
the pack dangles from her hand and swings wildly
as she talks with her hands.
CELESTE
Hey Chuy, yeah hi, it’s Celeste, from the circle
Yeah, yeah, three years, listen
I’ve been trying to get a hold of Denise, do you have her number?
What?
Just…gone?
I…
No, no, I was just looking for a place

A, uhh, flower shop that she talked about
Do you remember anything about that?
Yes! Yes, El Dorado Florists, that’s it

She talked about it all the time…
Chuy, what do you mean by…gone?

Vanished? She didn’t tell anybody?

God, I just saw her, what, a month ago…
Jesus.
What about Eric? The trucker. He was at the circle what, a few months ago—
Him too? Was he local?
Oh, Chuy, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were close.
I…don’t mean to pry, but…did he mention anything about an El Dorado Motel?
I thought maybe, since he knew other truckers they might’ve talked about—
A laundromat? El Dorado Cleaners?

Chuy, that’s strange right?
Chuy?
Yeah, of course. I’m sorry.

No, yeah, it’s hard.
When I lost Mason it…well, it still hurts.
Listen, thank you Chuy

And hey
Next week, at the circle
Let’s grab a drink after, okay?
Yeah, see ya Chuy.
CELESTE hangs up the phone and exits.
Lights up on the bed of Room 209. HOGAN and

CHAVEZ are fast asleep. The room begins to groan,
but neither of them stir.
Suddenly, the bedside lamp next to HOGAN flickers

red. He stirs and, after a moment, wakes up. He
wipes at his eyes and looks around the room,
squinting. A light turns on over the small window
side table. WATCHTOWER sits at it, though they
are largely hidden by shadows.

WATCHTOWER
Agent Hogan, please come in.
HOGAN
(Standing suddenly, almost at attention.)
Watchtower, is that you?
WATCHTOWER
(Gesturing at the darkness around them.)
This is my office, isn’t it?
HOGAN
Uhh, yes, of course.
WATCHTOWER
You are here for your annual review, aren’t you?
HOGAN
My review? Yes! Yes, I am.
WATCHTOWER
Please. Sit.
(Beat.)
How long have you been with The Bureau, Hogan?
HOGAN
Twenty five—
WATCHTOWER
Twenty five years! Wonderful. And I understand you’re planning on retiring soon?
HOGAN
Yes, that’s right.
WATCHTOWER
That’s wonderful.
(Beat.)
Hogan, can I be frank with you?

HOGAN
Yes, Watchtower. Of course.
WATCHTOWER
I love my office.
HOGAN
Excuse me?
WATCHTOWER
My office. Isn’t it lovely? I worked hard to earn it. Climbed the ladder, as they say. Do you
know how long I’ve been with The Bureau?
HOGAN
I can’t say that I do—
WATCHTOWER
Ten years.
HOGAN
Oh.
WATCHTOWER
Yes. Only ten. And in that time I found myself here. In this lovely office. Isn’t that
impressive?
HOGAN
Yes, Watchtower.
WATCHTOWER
Some people, Hogan, just have a sort of drive about themselves. Do you know what I mean?
HOGAN
Yes, Watchtower.
WATCHTOWER
See, Hogan, I don’t think you do. I look at your file and I think, what a waste.
HOGAN

Excuse me?
WATCHTOWER
Twenty five years a Yellow—
HOGAN
Well, I have of course applied to—
WATCHTOWER
Be a Blue yes, but Hogan, why not a Red?
HOGAN
Well. I’ve of course thought of it, but being a Blue…
WATCHTOWER
You can say it.
HOGAN
That’s where the glory is.
WATCHTOWER
Hmm. It seems you take after your father. Do you agree, Hogan?
HOGAN
My father?
WATCHTOWER
He felt the same way, didn’t he? The glory of being on the front lines?
HOGAN
How do you know about—
WATCHTOWER
I’ve been reviewing your file for a little side project of mine and well, I’ve discovered some
very interesting things.
(Beat.)
See, unlike you, I have drive. As nice as this office is, I have my eyes set on something a few
floors up if you catch my drift.

HOGAN
The, uhh, The...
WATCHTOWER
Yes, The Board, but do you know what that means?
(HOGAN shakes his head.)
There will be an empty office. My office.
HOGAN
Are you saying—
WATCHTOWER
Nothing is guaranteed of course, but like I said, I’ve been looking over your file and, well, I
have something special in mind for…a last hurrah, if you will, for an Agent as seasoned as
you.
Lights down on HOGAN as we return to CHAVEZ

who is still lying in bed. She is propped up against
the headboard. After a moment, MEYER appears,
army crawling out from the foot of the bed until
his head and shoulders are exposed. He is wearing
large goggles whose lenses are painted red. There
may be small lights along its side. They should
look high tech. He props himself up on his elbows
as he speaks.
MEYER
You know, I knew that being a Blue meant that we’d be on the front lines, but no one ever
said that being on the front lines meant that sometimes you’re covered in mud and sitting
in a deer blind hunting down goblins in, Wherever-the-fuck-we-are, Kentucky.
CHAVEZ
What? This isn’t the glorious, front line action you were looking for?
MEYER
Nothing glorious about goblins. I could punt them into next year if I wanted to.
CHAVEZ
What were you expecting when they sent us out to Kentucky?

MEYER
I don’t know, but I sure as hell wasn’t expecting to have to rub deer piss all over myself.
(Beat. CHAVEZ snickers.)
You put the deer piss on too, right?
CHAVEZ
No. I absolutely did not.
MEYER
And you didn’t tell me?
CHAVEZ
I didn’t think you would put it on!
MEYER
What happened to Agent “we gotta do this by the book” Chavez, huh?
CHAVEZ
I’ve got the mud on, don’t I?
MEYER
(He laughs.)
I hate you.
(CHAVEZ chuckles.)
Seriously though. “On the Front Lines Defending America Against the Occult, Perverse, and
Grandiose. The Board Needs You!” Crock of bullshit. Should’ve listened to my old man.
CHAVEZ
Why’s that?
MEYER
He said no one goes poking around neighborhoods like ours unless they’re looking for
cannon fodder. Bureau’s no different than the Army or Navy or anyone else trying to stick
us in a uniform.
CHAVEZ
Yeah. Maybe.
MEYER

At least I got paired with you. Don’t know how long I would’ve lasted with a white partner,
that’s for sure. Leave that shit for the movies.
CHAVEZ
(Playfully.)
Stop it.
(Beat.)
Besides, don’t forget where we are.
MEYER
Ugh.
CHAVEZ & MEYER

Kentucky.
CHAVEZ
We’re still well within horror movie territory.
The sound of a branch shaking makes them both

go silent. A twig snaps. Some leaves rustle. Then,
the sound of a raccoon chittering before running
away.
They both laugh.
MEYER
Jesus Christ.
CHAVEZ
Scared of a raccoon, Meyer?
MEYER
I was so ready to beat the hell out of a goblin.
CHAVEZ
America can rest soundly knowing that you’re on the front lines.
Night sounds continue. After a moment.

MEYER
Bet the other agents don’t get sent on missions like this.
CHAVEZ
Sure they do.
MEYER
Not the white ones.
CHAVEZ
The young ones do.
MEYER
It’s not because we’re young.
CHAVEZ
Okay.
MEYER
It’s true.
CHAVEZ
I said okay.
MEYER
You believe in aliens and monsters, but you can’t believe that the Reds in charge of sending
us on missions aren’t racist?
CHAVEZ
I believe they put the right agents on the job.
MEYER
We’re covered in mud and piss. Is this the best use of our skills?
CHAVEZ
You didn’t have to put on the piss.
MEYER
(He laughs, but he’s done trying.)

Alright, alright. Tell you what. I’ll take the first watch. Don’t need both of us falling asleep
and getting our eyes eaten by goblins.
Suddenly, CHAVEZ bolts awake. MEYER recedes

into the bed as the lights of the room come on fully.
CHAVEZ
Hogan, we fell asleep! Hogan? Hogan, wake up!
HOGAN sits asleep at the window side table.

WATCHTOWER is gone. CHAVEZ quickly gets out of
bed and crosses to HOGAN. She tries to wake him
up, shaking him at first, and very nearly slapping
him awake.
HOGAN
What— What!
CHAVEZ
We fell asleep!
HOGAN
How the hell did we fall asleep? How long have we been out?
CHAVEZ checks her watch and, after looking

confused, checks her phone.
CHAVEZ
They’re both dead.
HOGAN
What?
(He checks his phone.)
Fuck. Mine too. That can’t be good.
CHAVEZ
No, definitely not.

The sound of a door slamming on the other side of

the wall. Room 208 is occupied. They sound like a
young couple, college age possibly. They are
giggling, laughing out loud at times. He’s tickling
her, and she’s laughing for him to quit it.
CHAVEZ
Stop, stop, you hear that?
HOGAN
Looks like we’ve got company.
CHAVEZ
Shh, shh—
HOGAN stands and moves the end table on the left

side of the bed so he can lean against the wall,
pressing his ear up against it. CHAVEZ gets up and
kneels in the bed, ear against the wall above the
headboard.
The voices on the other side continue as muffled

voice overs.
MALE VOICE
You’re absolutely gorgeous.
FEMALE VOICE
(Laughs.)
Am not.
MALE VOICE
Are too! The most beautiful person I’ve ever met.
FEMALE VOICE
You say that to all the girls.
MALE VOICE
Sometimes, sure. But this time, I mean it.

FEMALE VOICE
Jeff, that is the biggest crock of shit I’ve ever heard.
MALE VOICE
Sarah, I love you.
FEMALE VOICE
What?
MALE VOICE
It’s true. I love you.
The sound of muffled kissing takes over.
HOGAN
(He chuckles.)
It’s just a couple of kids.
(He raises his fist and bangs on the wall.)
Hey! Hey!
(The kissing continues.)
Quit your smacking and listen to me!
MALE VOICE
Ow!
FEMALE VOICE
Sorry—
MALE VOICE
You bit my lip, fuck—
FEMALE VOICE
I just got a little excited Jeff, that’s all.
MALE VOICE
Fuck, you split my lip. Shit.
FEMALE VOICE

Jeff…
MALE VOICE
And now there’s blood on my collar. Jesus Fucking…
(Heavy breath.)
You know what. You’re gonna wash this.
FEMALE VOICE
Sure. Yeah, of course. I’m sorry—
MALE VOICE
Sinks over there. And use cold water.
HOGAN
(Under his breath.)
What a fucking asshole.
(Banging on the wall again.)
Hey! Asshat! We’re stuck in here!
Across the stage, a young woman appears in a

sundress, she is facing away from the audience. We
can hear water running as she rubs away at a
dark green button up. We should be able to see
this person through the walls of the motel room
itself.
She begins to sing. “Any Day Now,” Elvis Presley.
FEMALE VOICE
Any day now, I will hear you say
Goodbye my love
You'll be on your way
Then my wild beautiful bird
You will have flown
Any day now I'll be all alone /
Oh, oh, oh
HOGAN
What the fuck—

FEMALE VOICE
Any day now, when your restless eyes
Meet someone new /
CHAVEZ
I know this song.
MALE VOICE
Hey, is it coming out?
FEMALE VOICE
Yeah, it’s all out. Here.
MALE VOICE
What am I going to do with a wet shirt? Iron it.
We hear the squeaking metal sound of an ironing

board unfolding. The woman appears again, this
time, through the wall that HOGAN is standing in
front of. He’s facing her and, although her face is
covered in shadows, she is looking at HOGAN.
She is ironing. She sings. HOGAN joins shortly after

she begins.
FEMALE VOICE & HOGAN

I know I shouldn't want to keep you
If you don't want to stay
Until you've gone forever
I'll be holding on for dear life
Holding you this way
Begging you to stay /
HOGAN
Mom?
FEMALE VOICE
Any day…now…

The woman looks at the wall between HOGAN and

her. She begins to raise a hand to it.
CHAVEZ
(Turning to HOGAN, slowly rising.)
Hogan.
HOGAN
(Almost like he’s in a trance.)
It can’t really be her, can it?
CHAVEZ
It’s not, you know that.
HOGAN
This place—
CHAVEZ
Look at me, Hogan. Breathe.
The woman suddenly fades away and the wall is

opaque once more.
A sitcom laugh track suddenly plays from the

television set.
HOGAN
What? You think this is funny?
Upstage, another figure appears behind the wall. A

young man wearing a dark green uniform. He is
facing away from us. He makes two sharp clicks
with his mouth. HOGAN freezes, stunned. He slowly
turns to face the man behind the wall.
MALE VOICE
Sarah. Sarah, I’m talking to you. Look at me. Look. At. Me.
(Beat.)

You know how much this uniform means to me, don’t you? The shirt, it’s more than just a
shirt. It’s a calling. It’s a fucking creed.
(Beat.)
I’m sorry, I— I don’t mean to yell, but you just get me so worked up. I—
(Beat.)
Go wash your face. Your makeup is running.
The figure fades away once more. HOGAN is left

staring at the opaque wall. He is seething.
HOGAN
What did you say its name was?
CHAVEZ
Dora.
HOGAN
(Under his breath.)
Dora, huh? You having fun, Dora?
CHAVEZ
Maybe we shouldn’t provoke her, right?
HOGAN
(He sucks at his teeth. Is he about to cry?)
This fucking…
(He straightens his sleeves. Slowly.)
Dora. Dora. Dora…
Suddenly, HOGAN rushes to the bathroom. He

slams the door shut behind him.
CHAVEZ
Hogan!
He grabs the sink tightly and stares at himself in

the mirror. Then, he screams. Loud. Ugly. Then he’s
done. He wipes away tears. He lowers himself to
the ground and leans his back against the tub.

The room is silent. CHAVEZ walks to the closed

bathroom door and lowers herself to the ground.
HOGAN
(Sensing her sit down.)
It wasn’t them.
CHAVEZ
I know.
HOGAN
It can’t have been them.
CHAVEZ
Exactly.
HOGAN
How could Dora know?
(CHAVEZ is silent.)
Chavez. How could she know?
CHAVEZ
I don’t know.
HOGAN stands and looks at the mirror. He

straightens his shirt. His belt. He pulls at his shirt
where it is tucked into his pants, evening it out. He
undoes his cuffs and rolls his sleeves up, folding
them above his elbows. He starts to wash his face.
HOGAN
They sounded so young. They were young, I mean, it’s just. You never meet them when
they’re young.
(Beat.)
My parents, they…you know. Whose parents are happy, right? Like, really happy.
(Beat.)
I grew up at the end of this dirt road. This little house sitting all out on its own. Empty lots
and unfinished houses all around us. It was all supposed to be some up and coming suburb.

Vista Hills or some shit. But the neighborhood never got built. Road never got paved. We
didn’t even get the paper.
(He runs his wet hands through his hair.)
When I think of my parents, I think of that empty road. A home that was over before it even
started.
(He stares into the sink.)
Sorry, youngblood, I don’t know why I’m—
CHAVEZ
I never knew my dad.
(Beat.)
It was just my mom and me, for a long time. Really kind woman. A school teacher. Our
whole apartment was filled with plastic bins packed with school supplies. Post-its, crayons,
notebooks. My mom couponed like crazy. Saved it all for students who couldn’t afford the
supplies.
(Beat.)
Growing up, my favorite time of year was the Springtime, because she taught this music
class for First Graders. Found object instruments and tissue box guitars, stuff like that.
She’d sit in the living room with me and a box of junk and we’d just make music, testing out
what she’d take to class.
(Beat.)
I uh…it just sounds like we both had pretty gentle moms. You know?
HOGAN
Yeah. Gentle.
(Turning and opening the bathroom door. Facing CHAVEZ.)
And who needs Dads? Fuck‘em.
CHAVEZ
(Smiling.)
Yeah. Fuck‘em.
HOGAN
(He smiles and begins to cross the room.)
So. The El Dorado.
(He sucks at his teeth.)
What are we going to do, Chavez?
CHAVEZ

Well. Dora’s old. Ancient even. She can control the television, so we can assume that goes
for other electronics in the room.
HOGAN
Lamps, clocks, outlets.
CHAVEZ
Exactly. And the walls—
HOGAN
The walls have tentacles.
CHAVEZ
And if she drained the batteries in our phones and watches—
HOGAN
Then it stands to reason she’s draining us too.
CHAVEZ
Which would explain how we fell asleep.
HOGAN
And doesn’t bode well for how long we have.
CHAVEZ
That’s some great detective work there, Hogan.
HOGAN
Thanks, but it doesn’t tell us anything about those…people.
CHAVEZ
Hogan, I have to ask. How accurate were they?
HOGAN
Pretty fucking accurate.
CHAVEZ
Emotions aside, Hogan. Think carefully. Tone of voice, rhythm, colloquialisms—

HOGAN
Chavez. It was them. It’s like Dora pulled them right out of a memory, but…they were
young. I wasn’t born then. It wasn’t my memory.
CHAVEZ
So, Dora can what? Show us the past?
HOGAN
Or something that looks like it.
CHAVEZ
An imitation.
(She thinks.)
HOGAN
Have you seen anything? Anyone that you shouldn’t be seeing?
CHAVEZ
(Beat.)
No. No, I haven’t.
HOGAN
(Definitely not buying it.)
Chavez—
Suddenly, the motel room phone begins to ring,

startling both HOGAN and CHAVEZ. They turn to
the phone. HOGAN slowly walks towards it.
CHAVEZ
Wait.
HOGAN
It’s probably Watchtower—
CHAVEZ
Watchtower or…an imitation.

HOGAN
We can use—
CHAVEZ raises a finger to her lips, shushing him,

but she nods in agreement. CHAVEZ pulls the
phone from the receiver and presses the
speakerphone button, but does not say anything.
WATCHTOWER appears in a column of red light.
WATCHTOWER
Agent Chavez? Hello?
CHAVEZ
(After a moment. Cautious.)
Who is this?
WATCHTOWER
Who is this? It’s Watchtower, Agent.
HOGAN
(Coughing.)
Are you looking for a good time?
WATCHTOWER
Is this a joke?
HOGAN
A good time, Watchtower, are you looking for a good time?
WATCHTOWER
Oh, I see now.
(Clears their throat.)
I love the desert this time of year.
CHAVEZ
Ain’t it just marvelous? I love thunderstorms in the southwest.
WATCHTOWER

Rolling waves of light, and thunder that makes your bones ache. Ain’t nothin quiet else like
it.
HOGAN
What’s your name?
WATCHTOWER
Watchtower.
(After a moment, they sigh.)
Sheet Metal. Refinery. Owl. Rojo. Are you happy now?
CHAVEZ
Thank you, we just—
HOGAN
We had to make sure it was you.
WATCHTOWER
Who else would it be, Agent Hogan?
CHAVEZ
We have reason to believe that the room can manifest, well, people.
WATCHTOWER
Corporeal? Tangible?
CHAVEZ
We aren’t sure, we can just hear them in the other room.
WATCHTOWER
Interesting. And you’re sure these aren’t just other guests? The El Dorado after all is a beast
with many mouths.
CHAVEZ
No, no these weren’t just other people. They were…well…
HOGAN
They were my parents.

WATCHTOWER
Oh. Very interesting.
(They snap their fingers in the air and continue.)
Chavez, I called for a status report.
CHAVEZ
Yes, of course. Agent Hogan and I have confirmed that Dora is seemingly able to—
WATCHTOWER
Wait, wait, Dora?
HOGAN
The motel. It’s her name. After the explorer.
WATCHTOWER
Oh? The motel has a…sense of humor...
CHAVEZ
Yes. It certainly seems like it.
Suddenly, from the shadows, a manilla folder is

presented to Watchtower. It is thick and worn.
Filled with papers covered in sticky notes and
clips. WATCHTOWER opens it and begins to read
out loud.
WATCHTOWER
Jeff and Sarah Hogan. Thompsonville, Texas. Is this all correct so far, Agent Hogan?
HOGAN
(Clenched teeth.)
Yes.
WATCHTOWER
Sarah Hogan, maiden name Ornelas. Housewife most of her life. Tailoring and mending on
the side. Cleaning lady when times were tough. A series of restraining orders filed against
your father all dropped fairly close to their issuing.
CHAVEZ

Watchtower—
WATCHTOWER
Jeff Hogan. Originally worked for your grandfather's cement company. Then as a truck
driver, plumber, mechanic and…oh, that’s interesting. Despite a pile of battering charges
against him your father secured a job with the Border Patrol—
CHAVEZ
I’m struggling to see the point of all this.
WATCHTOWER
Well, I just wanted to know if these, let’s call them…figments, added up to the real deal. Did
they, Agent Hogan?
HOGAN
(Beat.)
Yes.
WATCHTOWER
Very interesting.
(She hands the folder back to the shadows.)
It seems we may have underestimated the El Dorado’s abilities. I have always likened it to a
mouse trap, but perhaps…perhaps these figments act more like the sweet and sticky venus
fly trap.
HOGAN
You’re saying these figments are part of the—
WATCHTOWER
Feeding process, yes.
HOGAN
But why show me my parents?
WATCHTOWER
I suspect it’s for the pain.
(Beat.)
It was painful, wasn’t it? After what happened to them…yes, hearing their voices must’ve
been very painful. You never did get to say goodbye.

HOGAN
And whose fault is that?
WATCHTOWER
Watch your tone, Agent Hogan.
(They laugh.)
Agent Chavez. Have you seen any of these figments? Parents, friends? Colleagues.
CHAVEZ
(Beat.)
No, I haven’t.
WATCHTOWER
Shame.
(They snap their fingers.)
I’d be very interested in seeing what Dora, cooks up for you.
(Beat.)
Hogan, please leave the room.
HOGAN
Excuse me?
WATCHTOWER
I must relay some classified information to the senior agent in the room.
HOGAN
Senior?
WATCHTOWER
She does have two years of experience over you, Hogan. Or, did you already forget you were
a Blue?
CHAVEZ
Watchtower, I’m sure there’s no need to—
WATCHTOWER
Take the receiver, Chavez and let me know when Hogan has left the room.

HOGAN
Where the hell am I supposed to go?
WATCHTOWER
I’m certain your room has a bathroom, Agent.
HOGAN looks to CHAVEZ who doesn’t know what

to do. After a moment, she moves to grab the
receiver and takes WATCHTOWER off of
speakerphone. As she does this, HOGAN moves
towards the bathroom, but he grabs a water glass
from one of the bedside tables without CHAVEZ
noticing.
HOGAN makes a show of going into the bathroom.

Loudly closing the door and stomping about. Once
the door is closed, however, he takes the drinking
glass and holds it to the door, listening.
CHAVEZ now has the phone to her ear. After she

sees that HOGAN has closed the door, she speaks to
WATCHTOWER.
CHAVEZ
Watchtower?
WATCHTOWER
Are you still in possession of the briefcase?
CHAVEZ
Yes, I am.
WATCHTOWER
I’m officially clearing you to access the contents of the briefcase should the situation be dire
enough to warrant it.
CHAVEZ
What is in—

WATCHTOWER
No, don’t speak. Only Yes or No. Understood?
CHAVEZ
Yes.
WATCHTOWER
Should you and Agent Hogan fail in your mission to kill the motel, you may open the
briefcase and use its contents to…resolve your situation. Is that understood?
CHAVEZ
Yes, Watchtower.
WATCHTOWER
Good. Now, hang up the phone, and return to your mission.
CHAVEZ
Understood.
(Hanging up the phone.)
Hogan, you can come out now.
HOGAN
(Exiting the bathroom.)
The fucking nerve.
CHAVEZ
I know, I’m sorry—
HOGAN
Who the hell does Watchtower think they are?
CHAVEZ
Let’s just forget about it, Hogan. We need to figure out how to—
HOGAN
Have you ever actually met Watchtower? They’re a fucking spectre that gets off to budget
reports and personel files.
CHAVEZ

Hey, hey. Look at me.

(Beat.)
Fuck them.
HOGAN
(He smiles, cocks his head. Surprised.)
Fuck them?
CHAVEZ
They aren’t here. We are. And we’re caught in a trap. What are we going to do?
HOGAN
You’re asking me?
CHAVEZ
Yeah, Agent Hogan. What are we going to do?
HOGAN seems caught off guard by this. He thinks

for a moment.
HOGAN
Okay. Okay. Let’s see. You said Dora wants our help.
CHAVEZ
Right, but we don’t know what she wants.
HOGAN
Well, I know what I want.
(To the room.)
Dora? You listening?
The room groans.
CHAVEZ
Hogan—
HOGAN
Good, that’s what I thought. Now, you want our help, but I want a little something first, let’s
call it a peace offering. I want some ice.

The room groans, almost a question.
HOGAN
That’s right. Ice. I’ve got a bottle of mezcal I want to crack open, but I want it chilled. Then,
let's say we each have a glass and talk things over, because I’ve got an idea. I’ve got a feeling
you don’t want to die.
(Beat.)
And we got that in common, okay? I don’t want you eating me either. So let’s say we discuss
an exchange. You let us live, and we help hide you from The Bureau.
CHAVEZ
Hogan, what are you talking about?
HOGAN
Roll with it, youngblood.
(To DORA.)
You spend enough years cleaning up crime scenes, you can sure as hell fake them. You give
me some ice, and Chavez and I here can come up with a way to hide you from the Bureau for
good.
(Beat.)
How does that sound?
The walls groan and the ground shakes as DORA

thinks. After a moment, the television clicks on and
plays the opening theme to “The Price is Right.”
Studio laughter and static.
CHAVEZ
What is this?
HOGAN
Jackpot, baby. The Price is Right.
CHAVEZ
We need to talk about this.
From the bathroom we can hear ice clattering into

the tub from the faucet.

HOGAN
(Turning to the bathroom, beaming.)
Ha! Now we’re in business!
HOGAN crosses the room and grabs the ice bucket

and bottle of mezcal from the table near the front
door and runs back to the bathroom, scooping ice
out of the tub and filling the bucket.
While he does this, CHAVEZ turns to the room,

looking at the ceiling and walls, marveling at
them. Turning to HOGAN.
CHAVEZ
Hogan, hey, Hogan—
HOGAN
What?
CHAVEZ
Thank her—
HOGAN
What?
CHAVEZ
The room, thank her—
HOGAN
Yeah, yeah, whatever. I’ll pour one out when the mezcal is chilled.
(He continues scooping ice.)
CHAVEZ turns to the room and, softly, thanks her.

She turns back and enters the bathroom, closing
the door behind her. Quietly:
HOGAN
You gonna thank me? I just saved our asses.

CHAVEZ
(Quietly.)
What’s your plan here, Hogan? How the hell are you going to fake killing the El Dorado?
HOGAN
(Hushed.)
Oh no, we’re not faking anything. We’re killing this bitch.
CHAVEZ
Then what the hell is your plan.
HOGAN
We play along until we figure out what makes her tick. She’s gotta have a weakness, right? A
heart or some sort of core.
CHAVEZ
And then what?
HOGAN
You tell me, Blue. After all, you’re the one with all the experience,right?
End of Act One.

ACT TWO
CHAVEZ and HOGAN are still conspiring in the

bathroom when the front door of the motel room
opens. The bricks are gone and, in their place,
stands CELESTE. She pokes her head in, gently
knocking on the door as she takes a step in.
CELESTE
Hello?
She can hear HOGAN and CHAVEZ in the

bathroom. She closes the front door behind her,
quietly. CELESTE is wearing a large, baggy
windbreaker from the University of Arizona. She is
carrying a six pack of beer, probably Miller High
Life, with two beers already missing.
She sits at the small table near the front door. She
eyes the small ‘no smoking’ sign and flips it over
before pulling out a pack of cigarettes. She lights
one and sits in silence. After a moment, she goes
for another beer. She pulls one from the plastic
rings and opens it, loudly.
The whispering in the bathroom suddenly stops.

CHAVEZ and HOGAN both look towards the closed
door. After a moment, HOGAN slowly stands and
opens the bathroom door. Peeking out, he sees
CELESTE. She smiles, gives a small wave, and
drinks.
CELESTE
Hey, handsome.
HOGAN
What the fuck? How did you get in here?
CELESTE

Rude.
(She produces a motel room key from her jacket pocket.)
You gave me your room key, remember?
HOGAN
What? No I didn’t.
(He reaches into his pocket and produces an identical key.)
CELESTE
(She considers this. Then shrugs.)
Huh, strange.
HOGAN
Celeste, how did you—
CELESTE
You know, it wasn’t easy finding this place. Which is weird. Did you know I grew up here
and, for the life of me, I’ve never seen The El Dorado Motel before. I knew something
sounded off about it. Thought it might be new, but look at this place. It’s practically falling
apart.
CHAVEZ
(Coming out of the bathroom.)
Hi, Celeste right?
CELESTE
There you are, I was beginning to wonder where you were.
CHAVEZ
Celeste, I just want to ask you a few questions, okay?
CELESTE
Funny, I was about to say the same thing.
CHAVEZ
Excuse me?
CELESTE

Like I said, this wasn’t an easy place to find. Handsome over here gave me a name and room
number, but no address. And it’s not like Truth or Consequences is some big city, it’s not.
Got a population somewhere in the five thousands and I’ve been one of them since the day I
was born.
CHAVEZ
Celeste, I’m sorry to interrupt you, but—
CELESTE
Then don’t, easy as that.
(Something in the room has changed, there’s a charge to the air.)
For a few years now, I’ve been part of this club of sorts. Lots of people lose loved ones, even
in a small town like this, and we all sorta gravitate towards each other. Thursday nights,
weak coffee, box of tissues, whole shebang. Normally, I tune other people out. My own pain
is enough, but something Handsome said tonight got me thinking.
(Beat.)
The El Dorado Motel. Now, I’d never seen this motel before, but the name, the El Dorado, I
recognized that. But when I heard about it, it was a flower shop, or a laundromat, or a
bakery. See, all these little places, people would come and tell us about it at our little circle,
try and get us to go with them, saying something about the places seeming inviting, but you
think I want to spend even more of my time with people like me? No. And no one else does.
But those folks, they’d go and they’d disappear. And so would the flower shop. The
laundromat. The bakery—
CHAVEZ
That’s why it’s important that we talk to you, Celeste.
CELESTE
See, I think I’ve stumbled onto something here.
HOGAN
You’re right about that.
CELESTE
Oh, I’ll get to you handsome, believe me. But you, pretty thing, I’m gonna ask you a question,
and I want you to tell me the truth, okay?
(CHAVEZ is silent, but gives a small, almost imperceptible nod.)
Who do you two work for?

CHAVEZ
Celeste, I know you think that’s an important question, but—
CELESTE
No! You don’t get to tell me what’s important right now. I decide. Me. I don’t know what this
place is. It shouldn’t exist, but it does, and I’m standing inside it, right now. All these people,
disappearing, and no one else notices, but you know what? I noticed. Me.
Celeste-Fucking-Martinez. I noticed, because I pay attention.
And now, here we are, the same night handsome over here just strolls into town, this thing
pops up. That tells me you two have got something to do with this. Am I right?
CHAVEZ
You’re right.
CELESTE
I am?
CHAVEZ
Yeah. This place. It just appears, whenever it wants. And when it does, people disappear, but
I assure you, we don’t have anything to do with it.
CELESTE
Bullshit.
HOGAN
She’s telling the truth, Celeste.
CELESTE
(Sharply facing HOGAN.)
You. Did you come looking for me?
HOGAN
What?
CELESTE
Me, were you looking for me?
HOGAN

No!
CELESTE
Because I can’t figure out how I got wrapped up in all this. I was just minding my own
business when you strolled up and brought me into the fold.
HOGAN
Into the fold? What the fuck are you talking about?
CELESTE
Are you two government agents?
CHAVEZ
Celeste, please calm down.
CELESTE
Answer me.
CHAVEZ
Yes.
HOGAN
Chavez—
CHAVEZ
We’re government agents that investigate things like this. Strange occurrences.
Like…well…
HOGAN
Like aliens, Celeste! Bigfoot, poltergeists, Nosfer-fucking-ratu!
CELESTE
Oh, fuck off. You think I’m an idiot? You think I’m going to believe that you two here
investigate ghosts and aliens and shit? What is this place? Some sort of safe house? A cover
for something?
HOGAN
No, Celeste, it’s some of the weird shit we investigate.

CELESTE
Fuck you.
CHAVEZ
Celeste, please.
CELESTE
I’m going to expose what you have going on here.
HOGAN
And what do we have going on here?
CELESTE
I don’t know! Drug smuggling, trafficking! I don’t know, but I found it!
HOGAN
Okay, go blow the lid off then.
CELESTE
You stay away from me.
HOGAN
Go tell every news outlet you can, alright? Tell them the government is investing its money
in dingey motels all across the country to what? Do something strange?
CELESTE
I’m warning you.
CHAVEZ
Hogan—
HOGAN
Go, Celeste! Go warn them all!
CELESTE
I will!
CELESTE turns and runs towards the door. She

pulls it open and we all see that the brick wall has

returned. She stands confused and, after a

moment, rushes to the window. She pulls the blinds
apart and again we see the brick wall has
returned.
CELESTE
What the fuck…
HOGAN
That’s what we’ve been trying to tell you.
CELESTE
What’s going on?
CHAVEZ
It’s the motel, Celeste. You’re right, it doesn’t belong here. It’s something otherworldly.
Something that can change what it looks like.
HOGAN
It’s a trap.
CELESTE
A trap?
HOGAN
And you just sprang it.
CELESTE
What does that mean?
CHAVEZ
Celeste, I’m going to tell you something and I want you to stay calm, okay?
(Beat.)
Are you with me, Celeste?
CELESTE
(Dazed, but trying to understand.)
Yes. Yeah.

CHAVEZ
Hogan and I have been trapped in this room all night. We were sent here to investigate it,
but instead, we’ve been held captive and, Celeste, listen closely now. If we don’t get out, the
motel will eat us.
CELESTE
What?
HOGAN
It’s going to eat us, Celeste. It’s gonna digest every inch of you until there’s nothing left.
CELESTE
Oh God—
CHAVEZ
Hogan, that’s not helping.
CELESTE
Why me?
(Silence.)
Why did you come up to me, Hogan? Why did you bring me into this?
HOGAN
I don’t know what to tell you.
CELESTE
Is it because I grew up here? Because, I had all the pieces? I, uh, just needed to put them all
together, figure this place out, right?
HOGAN
Celeste…
CELESTE
Why me, Hogan? Was I…special?
HOGAN
(He softly shakes his head.)
No. You were just a pretty face.

CELESTE
(Weakly.)
Oh.
CELESTE collapses into one of the chairs at the

window side table.
CHAVEZ
(To HOGAN, a forced whisper.)
Jesus Christ, Hogan.
CHAVEZ crosses to CELESTE and kneels beside her.

She’s looking for the right words to say.
The lights in the room fade, focusing only on

CHAVEZ and MEYER who now stands across the
stage. MEYER’s hands are stained blue with some
sort of strange blood. He wipes at his face and
leaves a smear along his cheek.
MEYER
This isn’t right, Chavez.
CHAVEZ
It’s the job.
MEYER
They were worshipping it.
CHAVEZ
We had our orders.
MEYER
So what? What harm was it doing?
(Beat.)
Their crops were dying, it made it rain. Their elders got sick, it healed them. What harm was
it doing?
CHAVEZ

It was upsetting the ecosystem, Meyer.
MEYER
You get that out of our pamphlet?
CHAVEZ
I can’t do this right now.
MEYER
Because you know I’m right. We didn’t just kill a cryptid, Chavez. We killed this people’s
culture. Their entire way of living. Shattered. And for what?
CHAVEZ
I don’t know.
MEYER
(He looks at his hands.)
Fuck, Chavez. I’m going to go wash this blood off.
CHAVEZ
Okay.
MEYER
And you…you can think about what you’re going to tell them. Explain to them how things
are going to be okay. That the sun will come up like it always does, because I guarantee you,
right now, they're not sure they’re ever going to see tomorrow again. I don’t want any part
of that.
CHAVEZ
Blood’s on both our hands.
MEYER
I know. I know.
MEYER exits into the darkness as the lights return

to normal. CHAVEZ is still kneeling besides
CELESTE, a hand on her knee.
CHAVEZ

Celeste, I know you’re scared right now.

(CELESTE nods weakly.)
Because I’m scared too. And that’s probably not what you want to hear, but I want to tell
you the truth, okay? I’m scared, because this room, this motel. She’s ancient. She’s powerful.
But she needs our help.
(CELESTE looks at CHAVEZ.)
Earlier tonight, she told me that there’s something I can help her with and I intend to do
that, because I’m scared, and I want to live, and I don’t want to see you hurt. And I mean
that. Right, Hogan?
HOGAN
Yeah, right.
CHAVEZ
But there’s another thing. I need your help, Celeste.
CELESTE
My help?
CHAVEZ
Yeah. Because you’re right. You are special. You grew up here. We didn’t.
CELESTE
(Nodding.)
Okay.
(She sniffles.)
What can I do?
CHAVEZ
Let’s start off by getting you a glass of water okay?
CHAVEZ motions to HOGAN who goes to the

bathroom and brings CELESTE back a glass of
water. He hands it to her and she drinks. After a
moment.
CHAVEZ
Now, look around this room and see if anything stands out, okay?

CELESTE
Okay.
(She stands and begins to walk about the room.)
I mean, I’ve been in places like this, they all sort of look the same. Same smell, same stains,
same…
HOGAN
Jesus, what’s the point of this, Chavez.
CHAVEZ
Shush. Keep going, Celeste.
CELESTE
I mean…
(After a moment, something catches her attention.)
Wait. Is that…
CELESTE crosses to the painting that hangs just

above the bed. It depicts a lush, green forest and a
mountain looming over it, but has it always?
Earlier, wasn’t it a pueblo? A desert?
She stands on the bed and inspects the painting

closely.
CELESTE
Yeah, I’ve been here. That’s San Mateo Peak.
CHAVEZ
Okay, tell me more about it, Celeste. Why is it special?
CELESTE
It’s not really, but…when I was little, my family would go camping here. And there was a
summer camp…oh.
CHAVEZ
What is it?
CELESTE

No, no. It’s nothing. I don’t want to talk about it.
CHAVEZ
It could be important, Celeste.
CELESTE
No. Not this.
CHAVEZ
Celeste, it’s okay, I’m here with you.
(CELESTE looks to CHAVEZ.)
I’ve lost someone too. It’s not easy thinking about them, but this place, it has a way of
making you face them.
(Beat.)
You can do this.
CELESTE
(Thinking. She looks at the painting, then back to CHAVEZ.)
Three years ago I, uhh, the veteran’s home was downsizing, cutting staff. They let me go.
Money was tight, but a friend got me a job at the Comfort Inn.
(Beat.)
But the hours… I wouldn’t have been able to take care of my son, so, there was this summer
camp—
The walls groan as a figment appears behind the

walls. This figment acts and sounds very young.
BOY VOICE
Everyone at camp bullies me.
(Beat.)
I’ve told the counselors, but they haven’t done anything about it. I think it’s because one of
them is Brian’s older sister. He’s been waking me up at night and making me walk out into
the woods without a flashlight.
CELESTE
Mason?
BOY VOICE

But, Brian says he’s going to take me out to the gorge later. Says as long as I don’t tell
anybody, he’ll show me where all the big kids go to smoke. I know, I know, I won’t smoke, I
promise, but I wanna see what it’s like to be one of the cool kids.
CELESTE
(To HOGAN.)
What is this?
(To CHAVEZ.)
What the fuck is this?!
BOY VOICE
Brian’s gonna take me to the gorge Friday, after sundown, and I was thinking maybe you
could pick me up Saturday.
(Beat.)
I miss you.
CELESTE
(Facing the figment.)
Mason, don’t go!
HOGAN
He can’t hear you.
BOY VOICE
I know it would’ve been hard, but I wish we could’ve spent the summer together instead.
CELESTE
Mason, please—
BOY VOICE
Love you, Mom! Bye.
The figment fades away. CELESTE is shaking as

she walks closer to the wall. After a moment, she
turns back to HOGAN.
CELESTE
(To HOGAN.)
Get me out of here.

(To CHAVEZ.)
I want to leave.
CHAVEZ
I know. We’re trying.
CELESTE
(To the wall.)
Was that— God, he felt real.
(Beat.)
No one, but the cops knew about that message. I—
CHAVEZ
I’m sorry for your loss, Celeste.
CELESTE
It still… It feels so fresh. Everytime I think the wound is healing something comes and tears
it wide open, but this…this is different.
(Beat.)
The room did that?
HOGAN
(Looking to CHAVEZ, she nods.)
Yeah. Yeah it did.
CHAVEZ
(Looking to HOGAN.)
It’s shown us people too.
HOGAN
My parents.
(Beat.)
Five years ago, they, uhh, died in a house fire. My dad was drunk, slept right through it, but
my mom. Well, she started it.
CHAVEZ
Oh, Hogan…
HOGAN

This place, it doesn’t play by the rules. It goes for the low blows.
(Realizing something.)
You know, we don’t actually know how it works, these shadows. These figments. They’ve
only ever been on the other side of this wall.
(Running his hand along the yellowing wallpaper.)
I wonder… Celeste, do you want to see your boy again?
CHAVEZ
Hogan, no—
CELESTE
Yes. Yes I do.
CHAVEZ
Celeste, that’s not your little boy.
HOGAN
(Crossing to CELESTE. Taking her by the hand.)
He seemed like a sweet kid, Celeste.
CELESTE
He is! He was…
HOGAN
Ask her to bring them back.
CELESTE
I…
HOGAN
You do want him back, don’t you?
CHAVEZ
Hogan, stop this—
CELESTE
How do I…
HOGAN

Ask her, the room, Dora. Ask her to bring him back.
CHAVEZ
Celeste, don’t do this. We don’t know what will happen—
CELESTE
(Loudly.)
I want to see him again.
CHAVEZ
Celeste, please—
CELESTE
My boy, I want to see my boy again!
The room groans with hunger.
CHAVEZ
(Reaching out to CELESTE.)
Celeste, please stop.
HOGAN
Keep going, Celeste, it’s working!
CELESTE climbs onto the bed and puts her hands

on the picture frame of San Mateo Peak.
CELESTE
Please, I want to see my boy! Mason! Mason can you hear me!
CHAVEZ
Celeste, please!
The room groans as the figment appears behind

the wall again.
BOY VOICE
I know it would’ve been hard, but I wish we could’ve spent the summer together instead.

CELESTE
I know, baby! I know! I’m sorry! Momma’s sorry! But I’m here! We can spend the summer
together, every summer Mason! Please, come to momma!
BOY VOICE
I miss you—
CELESTE
I miss you too, Mason! I love—
Suddenly, CELESTE screams. She looks down at

her feet. We can’t see it, but something’s grabbed a
hold of her. She grabs at her legs, but it’s too late.
She begins to sink into the mattress as something
pulls her in, dragging her out of the motel room
and into the depths of DORA.
CELESTE
Help me! Help!
CHAVEZ lunges for her, grabbing CELESTE’s

hands, but the force is too strong. CELESTE is
slowly pulled into the mattress, disappearing
where the pillows meet the headboard, as if she’s
being pulled into the wall behind the bed.
CHAVEZ
Hogan, help!
(Beat. Louder.)
Hogan!
HOGAN
(Stunned.)
Oh my, God.
CHAVEZ
Hogan!

The force is too strong. CHAVEZ can barely hang

on. We don’t even see CELESTE anymore. She’s
been completely consumed by the bed and, slowly,
so is CHAVEZ. She screams as the bed also pulls her
into the depths of DORA.
HOGAN
Chavez! Fuck— Chavez!
The stage goes dark as CHAVEZ sinks deeper into

DORA. Suddenly, she bursts out of the bed, gasping
for air. She looks around the room, but something
is different. HOGAN is gone and the walls seem to
glow.
MEYER appears from the bathroom, a mission

briefing in his hands.
MEYER
Watchtower suspects the cult is in possession of a magical artifact—
CHAVEZ
Meyer?
MEYER
The Reds at the Bureau think we may be dealing with some sort of timeline altering object
of power.
CHAVEZ
(Remembering.)
This could be it, Meyer. The big one.
MEYER
Right, the big one.
CHAVEZ
Come on, this proves it! The Board loves us!
(Meyer looks concerned.)
Why are you looking at me like that?

MEYER
Let’s leave.
CHAVEZ
What?
MEYER
You. Me. Let’s just go.
CHAVEZ
What’s gotten into you?
MEYER
I don’t feel good about this, Chavez.
CHAVEZ
Of course you don’t.
MEYER
Don’t—
CHAVEZ
You really think The Board is out to get us, don’t you?
MEYER
Not just The Board, Chavez. All of them. We’re a play thing to them.
CHAVEZ
It’s our job, Meyer.
MEYER
These are our lives! Please. Let’s leave.
CHAVEZ
Drop it.
MEYER
No, I’m not—

CHAVEZ
Drop it, Meyer.
MEYER
Chavez…
CHAVEZ
(Beat.)
This is our big ticket, Meyer. Don’t you see that? The biggest mission of our careers. We
bring this home, we prove them all wrong.
MEYER
It’s not worth it, Chavez.
CHAVEZ
It is to me. If you don’t want to go, then fine. Stay. But I’m going to finish this mission, with
or without you.
(Silence.)
Well?
MEYER
Okay. One more mission. But after that, I’m gone. With or without you.
MEYER fades away into the bathroom. CHAVEZ,

tearing away from the memory, runs to him.
CHAVEZ
Meyer! Wait! Please! Meyer!
Lights up on the table near the window. The BOY

FIGMENT sits at the table, enshrouded in
darkness, eating cereal. CELESTE is revealed. She
is wearing hiking clothes.
CELESTE
Chavez? Is that you?
CHAVEZ

(Crossing to CELESTE.)
Oh my, God, Celeste, are you okay?
(Embracing her.)
CELESTE
(Caught off guard.)
Oh! Okay!
(Patting her back.)
I suppose it's been a long time.
CHAVEZ
(Pulling away.)
What do you mean?
CELESTE
Chavez…I haven’t seen you in months.
CHAVEZ
I just…you were just…
CELESTE
Oh, I see. Well. That is strange isn’t it.
The room groans with urgency.
CELESTE
Yes! Of course, of course. Dora wanted me to tell you something.
CHAVEZ
You can, understand her?
CELESTE
Somewhat. I’ve picked up some things while I’ve been here, she’s actually quite talkative.
CHAVEZ
What does she say?
CELESTE
She says she needs your help.

CHAVEZ
I know that, but what does she need me to do?
The room groans intensely.
CELESTE
Oh! Oh, I’m so sorry, I didn’t— That’s embarrassing.
(To CHAVEZ.)
I misheard her. She doesn’t need your help, she says you need her help.
CHAVEZ
What?
CELESTE
Chavez, it’s okay to miss him.
CHAVEZ
What are you talking about?
CELESTE
Dora knows about Meyer.
CHAVEZ
That’s impossible.
CELESTE
Impossible? Chavez, look around, all of this is impossible.
The BOY FIGMENT taps his spoon against his now

empty cereal bowl.
CELESTE
Oh, sorry Mason, we’ll leave in just a moment, let momma finish talking with her friend.
(To CHAVEZ.)
Sorry, we’re going camping today, he’s been looking forward to it all week.
CHAVEZ
Camping?

(Looking at the figment.)

Is that…
CELESTE
Yup, my little pride and joy.
(CHAVEZ looks to CELESTE.)
He’s here too, Chavez. Meyer.
CHAVEZ
No.
CELESTE
It’s true. You know it is.
CHAVEZ
None of this is real, Celeste.
CELESTE lets out a heavy sigh. She looks from

CHAVEZ to the FIGMENT then back to CHAVEZ.
CELESTE crosses closer to CHAVEZ and speaks in a
hushed whisper.
CELESTE
That’s my boy, Chavez. He’s as real to me as he ever was. Maybe more so. And we’re going
camping today. And you can’t stay here. You have to go back.
CHAVEZ
I don't understand.
The room groans. As CELESTE talks, she begins

ushering CHAVEZ to the bathroom.
CELESTE
She says this isn’t your room. It’s mine. Mine and my boy’s. Besides, you aren’t finished yet.
CHAVEZ
Finished with what, Celeste?
CELESTE

I don’t know, but Dora says there’s still something you don’t know. She says Watchtower is
hiding something. I don’t know what that means, if that’s a person or a place, but she says
you’re close—
CHAVEZ
Close to what?
CELESTE
The truth. Now get in the shower.
CELESTE has led CHAVEZ into the bathroom and

ushers her into the tub. She pulls the curtain
closed as CHAVEZ yells.
CHAVEZ
Celeste, come with me! Celeste!
CELESTE
Goodbye, Chavez. And goodluck.
CHAVEZ
Celeste, please!
The walls groan and the lights turn a deep green

as CHAVEZ is sent back to the other side, to our
world. To Room 209.
Lights return to normal in Room 209. HOGAN sits

at the window side table, the bottle of mezcal sits
open in front of him.
Suddenly, CHAVEZ pulls back the tub curtains and

bursts out, gasping for air. She is covered in a thick
green slime. She collapses onto the bathroom floor.
HOGAN
(Standing and facing the bathroom.)
Chavez? Holy shit, is that you?

CHAVEZ
(Shivering.)
Hogan?
HOGAN crosses to CHAVEZ and pulls a towel from

the rack, wrapping it around her shoulders.
CHAVEZ
God, it’s so cold.
HOGAN
Come on, let’s get you cleaned up.
CHAVEZ begins to wipe the slime off using the

towel. HOGAN helps however he can. After a while,
CHAVEZ goes into the room and retrieves her
luggage bag, looking for a new shirt. She notices
that the bag wasn’t in the same position she left it.
She notes this, and moves forward with grabbing a
new shirt from the bag and changing.
CHAVEZ
How long have I been gone?
HOGAN
What?
CHAVEZ
How long—
HOGAN
An hour, if that.
CHAVEZ
Did I miss anything?
HOGAN
(Almost laughing.)
No, it’s been quiet without you, youngblood.

(Beat.)
I thought I lost you.
CHAVEZ
Sorry to disappoint.
HOGAN
So, uhh, what happened?
CHAVEZ
I was on the other side. Whatever is on the other side of the walls.
HOGAN
Did you, uhh…was she—
CHAVEZ
Why did you push her, Hogan?
(He doesn’t answer.)
I saw her. She was there, but…it had been months. And she was with her boy, Hogan. He
was there. Or, part of him was…I…I don’t know.
HOGAN
I just. I wanted to know how all this works.
CHAVEZ
She could’ve died, Hogan. She might still die. We didn’t learn anything.
HOGAN
We learned something.
CHAVEZ
What?
HOGAN
You came back out. We can escape.
CHAVEZ
I got out, because Dora let me.

HOGAN
She…let you? Why?
CHAVEZ thinks for a moment. She looks at the

closet, then HOGAN.
CHAVEZ
Call Watchtower.
HOGAN
What?
CHAVEZ
Call them.
HOGAN crosses to the phone and dials 000. He

places the phone on speaker. We can hear it
ringing.
WATCHTOWER
I hope you have good news for me, Agent.
CHAVEZ
Did you and The Board know what the El Dorado really was?
WATCHTOWER
I don’t know what you mean, Chavez.
CHAVEZ
Cut the crap. The El Dorado. It’s always been more than just a place, hasn’t it. I’ve dealt with
places of power before. Staircases that appear in forests. Doors that lead to other countries.
Buildings that are bigger on the inside. But this. Dora. She’s more than a place, isn’t she.
WATCHTOWER
I’d watch your tone, Agent.
CHAVEZ
I should’ve never trusted you.

WATCHTOWER
Agent Chavez, let me remind you that this mission was approved of and directly set in
motion by The Board themselves. Your personal feelings aside, the success of this mission is
paramount to—
CHAVEZ
Fuck you, Watchtower.
WATCHTOWER
Agent!
CHAVEZ
Meyer was right about you. I should’ve listened to him. If I had, he’d still—
WATCHTOWER
It’s unfortunate, truly. Meyers was an outstanding—
CHAVEZ
Meyer!
WATCHTOWER
Yes, well, his death was certainly a setback—
CHAVEZ
You weren’t there. You didn’t see what happened to him. The way the artifact tore him
apart. Every part of him ripping and tearing and burning and, God, it was so bright
and…and it was beautiful.
HOGAN
Chavez…
CHAVEZ
But it was slow. I wanted it to be over, I wanted to look away, but I couldn’t do that to him. I
stood there and watched as my—
WATCHTOWER
Agent—
CHAVEZ

No, Watchtower. You’re not getting it.

(Beat.)
I’m not going back to the Bureau.
WATCHTOWER
Is that your final decision, Agent Chavez?
CHAVEZ
Yes.
WATCHTOWER
So, am I to understand that you are refusing to complete the mission as presented, Agent
Chavez?
CHAVEZ
Yes.
WATCHTOWER
So be it, Agent Chavez. I sincerely thank you for your dedication to The Bureau. Hogan.
Open the briefcase.
HOGAN
Excuse me?
WATCHTOWER
The briefcase, Hogan. The one Chavez has stored away. Open it.
HOGAN looks to CHAVEZ.
CHAVEZ
You don’t have to play along, Hogan. We can do this without them.
HOGAN
Come on, youngblood. Don’t do this. Give me the keys.
CHAVEZ
Hogan, don’t.
HOGAN

I’m not dying in here, Chavez. I know about the briefcase. I know where you stashed it.
(CHAVEZ doesn’t answer.)
Come on. Hand them over.
Finally, CHAVEZ hands him a small set of keys.

HOGAN crosses to the closet and removes the
briefcase from its handcuff. He brings it to the bed
where he unlocks and opens the briefcase.
WATCHTOWER
It’s unfortunate, Agent Chavez. What happened to Agent Meyers, truly, but what will happen
to you pales in comparison. I assure you.
Inside it is a single manilla folder containing two

sheets of paper. One of which is a typed letter, the
other a handwritten note from WATCHTOWER
themselves. HOGAN takes the handwritten letter
and begins to read it, stepping away from the
briefcase. CHAVEZ looks over the typed report still
left in the folder.
HOGAN
(Beginning to read the letter.)
To Agent Chavez and Hogan, I had hoped that it wouldn’t come to this…
(To WATCHTOWER.)
Watchtower, what is this?
WATCHTOWER
Keep reading, Hogan. I suspect it will clear itself up.
HOGAN
(Returning to the letter.)
We have long suspected that the El Dorado was more than just a place. In fact, all evidence
points to it being a god. An ancient being with a singular purpose, to provide a window into
another world. A realm where our loved ones are returned.
Of course, the Bureau can’t let something this powerful operate in the American Southwest.
It must be stopped, but, in the event of mission failure, a gift is to be presented to the El
Dorado. An offering. An olive branch.

(Turning the page over in his hand, looking for more.)

That’s it? What’s the gift?
(To CHAVEZ.)
What does that say?
CHAVEZ is still kneeling, reading the typed report.

She is stunned by what it says.
WATCHTOWER
Oh, Hogan. You never cease to disappoint me. You and Chavez are the gift.
HOGAN
What? That doesn’t make any sense?
WATCHTOWER
Like I said, the El Dorado feeds on emotion. Pain. Vulnerability. I felt that, should the agents
we send fail to kill the El Dorado, we should ensure that those agents are as delectable of a
treat as they can be.
HOGAN
Fuck you, Watchtower! We had a deal!
WATCHTOWER
You wanted glory, Hogan.
HOGAN
You promised me an office!
WATCHTOWER
Hogan. You were never going to be a Red. And your promotion to Blue was merely a
formality. You agents, never looking at the bigger picture. The moving parts. That's the
difference between you and I, Hogan. You could never look past your own ambitions.
HOGAN
No. No, no, no. I’m coming for you, Watchtower! No motel is eating us! Right, Chavez?
(Turning to CHAVEZ who is still reading. Her hand on her mouth.)
Chavez?
CHAVEZ

(To Watchtower.)
Is this true?
WATCHTOWER
Every word, Agent Chavez.
The line dies as WATCHTOWER hangs up the

phone.
HOGAN
What does it say?
CHAVEZ
(To HOGAN.)
Hogan, you knew my mom?
(HOGAN freezes.)
How did you know my mom?
Suddenly, singing. CHAVEZ and HOGAN are still as

two figments appear on the other side of the wall.
A young man, dressed like a Bureau agent, with his
back to the audience. A woman in a blouse and
jeans is tending to a wound on the man’s arm. As
the man speaks, it is HOGAN’s voice. Younger,
lighter, but his.
The rest of the world seems to darken, giving us a

clarity to these figments we’ve never seen before.
MALE VOICE
Any day now I will hear you say
Goodbye, / my love
FEMALE VOICE
Oh, you sing now too?
MALE VOICE
You'll be on your way
Then, my wild beautiful bird

You will have flown—

Ow!
FEMALE VOICE
Well, if you stayed more still I wouldn’t accidentally poke you. What did this to you anyway?
MALE VOICE
You wouldn’t believe me even if I told you, which I shouldn’t!
FEMALE VOICE
Try me.
MALE VOICE
Well…it was a Thunderbird—
FEMALE VOICE
(Laughing.)
You’re lying!
MALE VOICE
It’s true! A giant hawk, dark as night with great big wings, damn near the size of this trailer!.
FEMALE VOICE
And what makes this big bird so special?
MALE VOICE
Aside from the fact that it can create thunderstorms?
(He laughs and then winces at a sharp pain.)
Ow!
FEMALE VOICE
Oh, sorry—
MALE VOICE
No, no. It’s okay.
(Silence.)
Thank you, by the way. I appreciate this.
FEMALE VOICE

(She smiles.)
Did you get this from fighting this big, bad Thunderbird?
MALE VOICE
No. I, uh, I’m just the guy transporting the bird. We hit a bad patch of road. I think it
spooked him so I went to check on him, calm him down, but one of his talons nicked my
arm.
(Beat.)
Looking into the eyes of something so ancient and powerful and seeing…fear? Confusion?
You don’t get used to that.
FEMALE VOICE
Where’s home for you?
MALE VOICE
The Southwest branch of the Bureau is in—
FEMALE VOICE
No, no. Your home.
MALE VOICE
I, uh…you know, I haven’t really decided.
FEMALE VOICE
(Finishing up the bandaging.)
What about tonight? Where are you staying?
MALE VOICE
They’ve got me in a motel room. Oceanview or something like that.
FEMALE VOICE
(Snorts.)
The Oceanview? That place is a shithole, no. You’re staying with me tonight.
MALE VOICE
I really shouldn’t—
FEMALE VOICE
You have such beautiful eyes.

(Beat.)
You don’t have to be scared.
The figures fade away.
CHAVEZ
Hogan…
HOGAN
The room is playing another game—
CHAVEZ
You met her—
HOGAN
How could Dora know—
CHAVEZ
She knows. She’s known this whole time.
(To the room.)
It’s true isn’t it?
HOGAN
Chavez, I—
CHAVEZ
(Back to Hogan.)
Did you know my mom?
HOGAN
(After a long moment.)
She found me at a drug store.
CHAVEZ
No—
HOGAN
I was scrambling for bandages, peroxide, a sewing needle. I must’ve been such a mess, scary
even, but she helped me.

CHAVEZ
You went home with her—
HOGAN
Chavez—
CHAVEZ
My mom took you home… Does that mean—
HOGAN
No! No, it—
CHAVEZ
Hogan. Look at me.
(Beat.)
Are you…
(Beat. After a moment, he nods.)
Oh, my God—
HOGAN
It doesn’t change anything.
CHAVEZ
It changes everything!
(Disgusted.)
She told me all these stories of the brave agent who changed her life.
HOGAN
Well, I did—
CHAVEZ
Don’t you start.
HOGAN
Your mom wasn’t a one time thing, Chavez.
CHAVEZ
And that’s supposed to make me feel better?

HOGAN
I wrote letters under a fake name. Got her a PO Box. We kept in touch and I saw her every
chance I could. Any moment I could get away from the Bureau I gave to her.
CHAVEZ
Did you know about me?
HOGAN
Not…I knew she was pregnant.
CHAVEZ
And?
HOGAN
I stopped writing. I didn’t want to— I couldn’t bring her— couldn’t bring you into this life.
CHAVEZ
But here I am, Hogan!
HOGAN
That’s not my fault!
CHAVEZ
All I wanted as a kid was to meet you. Get to know you. Find the man.
HOGAN
Meet the myth? You joined the perfect job then. That’s all we do. Meet the myths then bag
them and tag them.
CHAVEZ
No. You’re no myth. You’re just a man. A Yellow.
HOGAN
Enough, Chavez—
CHAVEZ
You left her—

HOGAN
Enough of this—
CHAVEZ
You chose The Bureau over her.
HOGAN
Of course I did! The Bureau was my life. I spent years in training to get to where I was. I
couldn’t stop, not when I had the whole world ahead of me. Twenty five god damn years I’ve
given to it—
CHAVEZ
And what did that get you, huh? You’ve been a Yellow for twenty five years, Hogan. You
what, thought you were going to become a Blue? Get a fancy badge and a company car—
HOGAN
You’re damn right I did! I deserved that promotion! I’ve done my time, paid my dues, played
my part! But now all I see are candidates like you. Young and—
(He stops himself.)
CHAVEZ
Say it.
HOGAN
(Slowly.)
It’s been clear to me, and other agents in the field, that recently The Bureau has been going
out of their way to recruit candidates like you and Meyer.
CHAVEZ
What are you saying, Hogan?
HOGAN
I don’t care what diversity initiative The Bureau tries to implement, I worked hard to earn
my spot and youngbloods like you took it from me.
CHAVEZ
(Letting this settle.)
You never had a spot, Hogan. You were destined to be a glorified custodian cleaning up my
messes.

HOGAN
(Gesturing to the room.)
Damn fine one we’re in now, Chavez!
CHAVEZ
My mom said you were a hero.
(Beat.)
That you were someone trying to make a difference. That you were trying to save the
world—
HOGAN
Grow up. Is that why you joined? Huh? Because of all the fairy tales your mother told you?
CHAVEZ
I joined, because those stories…because you inspired me.
HOGAN
Sorry to let you down, youngblood.
(Beat.)
I’m not dying in here, Chavez. I don’t care if I have to tear my way out of Dora myself. I’m
getting out of here.
CHAVEZ
No. You’re not.
HOGAN
What are you going to do to stop me?
CHAVEZ
Not me. Her.
Tentacles burst out from beneath the bed and

wrap themselves around HOGAN’s ankles. They
pull him down to the ground where two more
tentacles wrap around his wrists, forcing HOGAN
to his knees, arms stretched out before CHAVEZ. An
offering not to DORA, but her.

HOGAN
What the fuck is this?
CHAVEZ
I’ve learned something, Hogan.
HOGAN
Let me go!
CHAVEZ
The Bureau, all it’s done is destroy what makes the Southwest beautiful. All its magic. All its
power. It doesn’t come from us. It comes from them, the creatures we’ve hunted down.
HOGAN
Cut the crap, Chavez. Let me go!
CHAVEZ
And I have to wonder, after all of these monsters are gone, where will The Bureau turn its
gaze next. Meyer was onto something, but I thought I knew better. How could an agency, so
rooted in the world of mysticism and the occult, still be so backward in its thinking? People
in the agency, like Watchtower, like you. You’ve all got this idea of what The Bureau and its
people look like. And they don’t look like me. They don’t look like Meyer.
HOGAN
Chavez…please.
CHAVEZ
Celeste told me something, while I was on the other side. Said that I had it wrong. Dora
didn’t need my help. She never did. But I needed hers. She knew what you were. What The
Bureau was. And she chose to help me. And this whole time I’ve been trying to figure out
why.
HOGAN
Chavez…
CHAVEZ
It’s because I’m part of this land too, Hogan. Just like Dora. Just like my mom, I’m what
makes this world special. Not you.
(Beat.)

Do you know what happens to people that walk into the El Dorado, Hogan?
HOGAN
Chavez please—
CHAVEZ
They don’t die, Hogan. They get to move in. Live out the rest of their lives with their loved
ones. Dora was never here to torture people. She was here to help them.
(Beat.)
Imagine, Hogan. Being reunited with your parents. Getting to finally say your goodbyes.
(Beat.)
But I don’t want you to have that. I want you to die.
HOGAN
Chavez! Wait—
CHAVEZ
Goodbye Hogan.
HOGAN
Chavez! Don’t do this! Chavez!
CHAVEZ
Take him.
The room groans. It laughs
HOGAN
No! Noooo!
The tentacles pull on HOGAN, bringing him down

to the ground and then draggining him under the
bed. We can still hear him scream as he is torn
apart.
CHAVEZ suddenly lets out all the pent up tension

in her body, almost bringing her to her knees. She
cries out into the empty room.

She stands in the center of Room 209.
MEYER appears in front of the bathroom door.
MEYER
Hey, Chavez.
CHAVEZ
(Pivoting to face MEYER, but not moving closer to him.)
Are you really…
MEYER
No. I’m Dora. But…you can have Meyer. If you want.
CHAVEZ
I… Meyer and I. It wasn’t right, the way we left things.
MEYER
I know. But you can have a second chance. A new beginning.
CHAVEZ
That’s the thing, Dora. You’re not him. The real him, he’s still up here. In my head. Scolding
me. Reminding me that I can be better. He’s not you. And you’re not him. What you do…
MEYER
I help people.
CHAVEZ
You trap them in their own grief.
MEYER
I’m their home.
CHAVEZ
You’re their prison.
The front door opens slowly. No brick wall. The

sounds of the desert at night spill through.

MEYER
Then go.
CHAVEZ
(Looking at the open door, then MEYER.)
I never got to say I was sorry. I never got to say goodbye.
MEYER
You don’t have to say goodbye.
CHAVEZ
I know. I know.
Lights out.
END OF PLAY.

Truth or Consequences

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Truth or Consequences

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Truth or Consequences by Andrew Siañez-De La O | 1

Development Draft | JUNE 2021

HOGAN Male, White, Early 50s

WATCHTOWER Nonbinary, White, Any Age

CELESTE Female, Mexican American, Early 30s

MEYER Male, African American, Late 20s

FEMALE VOICE Any Race, Any Age.

Development Draft | JUNE 2021

Darkness. A rumbling. A hunger.

WATCHTOWER appears in all their bureaucratic

They address The Audience. The Board.

The sound of distorted breathing can be heard. It

Lights up on either side of the stage to reveal

The sound of distorted breathing grows in ferocity

Lights up on Room 209 at the El Dorado Motel.

Development Draft | JUNE 2021

of the room, flanked by end tables with lamps.

A television set, which is unseen and would be

CHAVEZ opens the door, key in hand. MEYER steps

They are both wearing black slacks and black

Development Draft | JUNE 2021

CHAVEZ crosses the room and heads to the closet.

CHAVEZ laughs. She finally decides to handcuff the

MEYER sits on the edge of the bed. He bounces on

Development Draft | JUNE 2021

Yeah… sure was.

CHAVEZ sits on the edge of the bed closest to the

After a moment, CHAVEZ shifts and reaches for the

MEYER stands and walks towards the edge of the

Development Draft | JUNE 2021

Development Draft | JUNE 2021

The lights around MEYER seem to dim. After a

Development Draft | JUNE 2021

Development Draft | JUNE 2021

(She sighs. Looks around. Sniffs.)

A noise can be heard from outside. Someone is

HOGAN unlocks the door. He takes one step into

He rushes out the door, CELESTE in tow. His

Development Draft | JUNE 2021

Lights up on HOGAN downstage right. He’s

CELESTE is standing in the background smoking

HOGAN pulls out his phone and dials 000.

The light above him suddenly turns a deep, dark

Development Draft | JUNE 2021

Yes. Yes. Of course, Watchtower. I’m sorry, I—

Development Draft | JUNE 2021

You’ve got a cute smile.

CELESTE takes out her phone and snaps a quick

Lights back up on Room 209. CHAVEZ is nervously

Development Draft | JUNE 2021

We can hear the jingle of his key as he tries to

We can hear him pick them back up, he grunts as

Development Draft | JUNE 2021

Chavez. It’s good to meet you.

Development Draft | JUNE 2021

HOGAN crosses to his luggage bag, which is still

CHAVEZ turns away and rolls her eyes. She makes

Development Draft | JUNE 2021

takes off her white button up, she’s wearing a

The rest of the bathroom is illuminated to reveal

CHAVEZ tends to the shirt with the Tide To Go Pen

CHAVEZ turns on the faucet and begins to wash

He quickly crosses to the other side of the bed and