The Landlady - Short Film

Sam Thomas

21 Dec 201608:00

Summary

TLDRIn this intriguing script, a weary traveler inquires about a spare room at a quaint lodging. The host, eager for company, offers a room for 56 pounds a night, including breakfast. The guest, Mr. Weaver, is welcomed into a meticulously kept home, where he finds a guest book with entries dating back years, featuring handsome and memorable guests like Christopher Mulholland and Gregory Temple. The host, with a penchant for taxidermy and a keen eye for detail, engages in conversation with Weaver, revealing a mysterious and somewhat eerie atmosphere that leaves one wondering about the fate of past visitors.

Takeaways

🏠 The script involves a guest house setting where a host is welcoming a new guest, Mr. Weaver, into their home.
💷 The cost for a room is 56 pounds a night inclusive of breakfast, or 50 pounds without it.
🧳 The host is particular and choosy about guests, and the house is always ready for new visitors.
📝 There is a guest book that visitors must sign, which is a legal requirement.
🕊️ The host has a fondness for past guests, Mr. Mulholland and Mr. Temple, who were both described as handsome and young.
📖 The host mentions that the last entry in the guest book was over two years ago, indicating a lack of recent guests.
🦜 The host has a stuffed parrot named Basil, which they created themselves.
🦷 Mr. Weaver is complimented on his teeth, but he mentions he has fillings in the back.
🍵 The host prepares tea for Mr. Weaver, and there is a mention of Mr. Mulholland's love for tea.
📖 The script includes a moment of reflection on the passage of time and the host's reminiscing about past guests.
🔍 The host seems to have a keen interest in the details of the guests, such as their age and physical appearance.

Q & A

What is the initial interaction between the guest and the host?
-The guest, Mr. Weaver, inquires about a spare room, and the host confirms a room is ready for him, inviting him inside out of the cold.
How much does the host charge for the room per night, and what does it include?
-The host charges 56 pounds per night, inclusive of breakfast. Without breakfast, the charge is reduced to 50 pounds.
Why does the host mention she is particular about her guests?
-The host explains she is inclined to be rather particular and choosy, suggesting she only accepts certain guests.
How often does the host have visitors?
-The host mentions it isn't very often she has the pleasure of taking a visitor into her home these days.
What is the significance of the guest book according to the host?
-The host insists that Mr. Weaver sign the guest book as it is the law, and she uses it to remember the names of her guests.
Who are Gregory Temple and Christopher Mulholland, according to the host?
-The host describes them as extraordinarily handsome, tall, and young men, similar to Mr. Weaver, and mentions they stayed at her place before.
What oddity does Mr. Weaver notice about the guest book entries?
-Mr. Weaver notes that the last entry was over two years ago, and Christopher Mulholland's entry was nearly three years ago, indicating a long gap between guests.
What details does the host reveal about Mr. Mulholland and Mr. Temple?
-The host reveals that Mr. Mulholland was a Cambridge undergraduate who loved tea and had a lot of it. She also mentions that Mr. Temple was older, about 28 years old, and had perfect skin.
What does the host do with her pets after they pass away?
-The host mentions that she stuffs all her little pets when they pass away, indicating she practices taxidermy.
How does the host use the guest book on a daily basis?
-The host states she uses the guest book to look up the names of her past guests, specifically mentioning that she looks up Mr. Mulholland and Mr. Temple almost every day.

Outlines

00:00

🏨 Checking into a Cozy B&B

A visitor inquires about a room at a B&B and is warmly welcomed inside. The host explains the room rates, with breakfast included, and offers a reduced rate without breakfast. The visitor, Mr. Weaver, decides to stay and is shown his room. The host, who takes pride in her hospitality, remarks on the rarity of having guests and reminisces about previous visitors, Gregory Temple and Christopher Mulholland. She mentions her tendency to be particular about her guests, hinting at a personal connection or preference.

05:00

☕ An Eerie Conversation

As they continue talking, the host comments on the handsome appearance of past guests, Temple and Mulholland, comparing them to Mr. Weaver. The conversation turns slightly ominous when Weaver realizes the last guestbook entry was from over two years ago. Despite the unsettling feeling, the host remains cheerful and insists on serving tea. She reflects on Mulholland's tea-drinking habits and discusses the differences between her past guests and Mr. Weaver, noting their ages and physical appearances. Weaver is struck by the strangeness of it all but continues to engage with the host, who proudly reveals she stuffs her pets after they die, adding to the unsettling atmosphere.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Spare room

A 'spare room' refers to an extra room in a house that is not being used for its primary purpose and can be made available for guests. In the video's theme, it is central to the plot as the main character inquires about a spare room, indicating the beginning of a mysterious encounter. The script mentions, 'I saw a sign in the window, just wondering if you had a spare room,' which sets the stage for the unfolding events.

💡Inclusive

The term 'inclusive' is used to indicate that something is included as part of a deal or offer. In the context of the video, it is used to describe the price for the room which includes breakfast, as stated, '56 pounds a night inclusive at breakfast.' This term helps to establish the nature of the accommodation service being offered.

💡Particular

'Particular' describes someone who has specific preferences or is very selective. In the script, the host mentions being 'rather particular and a little bit choosy,' which suggests a certain level of exclusivity or selectiveness in choosing guests, adding to the eerie and selective nature of the host's interactions.

💡Guest book

A 'guest book' is a book kept by the host where visitors can sign their names and often leave messages. In the video's narrative, the guest book serves as a record of past visitors, with the host mentioning the need to 'sign the guest book,' which is a common practice in B&Bs and hotels, but here it takes on a more ominous tone due to the sparse entries and the host's fixation on them.

💡Familiar

When something or someone is 'familiar,' it means that it seems known or recognizable, even if one cannot quite place why. In the script, the host finds the names of previous guests 'charming' and somehow 'familiar,' which hints at a deeper connection or pattern that is not immediately clear, adding to the suspense.

💡Stuff

To 'stuff' in this context refers to the process of preserving an animal's body, typically by removing the internal organs and treating the skin to prevent decay. The host's mention of 'stuffing' their pets after they pass away is a chilling detail that reveals a peculiar and unsettling hobby, exemplified by 'I stuff all of my little pets when they passed away.'

💡Pleasure

'Pleasure' denotes a feeling of happy satisfaction or enjoyment. The host expresses 'pleasure' in having a visitor, which is unusual given the lack of recent guests, as indicated by 'it isn't very often I have the pleasure of taking a visitor into my little Nest these days.' This suggests a lonely or isolated existence for the host.

💡Cozy

Cozy refers to a warm, comfortable, and inviting atmosphere. The script describes a setting as 'cozy' when the host offers tea by the fire, 'there this is cozy isn't it,' which contrasts with the unsettling revelations about the host's past guests and habits, creating an eerie juxtaposition.

💡Handsome

Describing someone as 'handsome' means they are physically attractive, often in a masculine way. The host repeatedly refers to past guests as 'handsome,' such as 'both of them I can promise you that,' which may imply a pattern in the selection of guests or an underlying motive.

💡Perfect teeth

The phrase 'perfect teeth' is used to describe someone's teeth as being flawless or exceptionally attractive. The host comments on the guest's teeth, 'you do have the most perfect teeth Mr. Weaver,' which could be a sign of obsession with physical appearance or a comparison to previous guests.

💡Time flies

The expression 'time flies' is used to convey that time passes quickly, often without one realizing it. The host reflects on the passage of time with past guests, 'dear me I've never thought that strange how time just flies away from us,' which underscores the loneliness and the longing for company.

Highlights

The protagonist is a foreigner looking for a spare room to stay.

The host offers a room for 56 pounds a night inclusive of breakfast, or 50 without.

The host is particular and choosy about guests but always keeps the house ready for potential visitors.

The guest is introduced as Mr. Perkins, but he corrects the host, stating his name is Weaver.

The guest book reveals previous visitors named Gregory Temple and Christopher Mulholland.

The host reminisces about the handsome and young previous guests, comparing them to the current guest.

The last entry in the guest book was over two years ago, indicating a lack of recent visitors.

The guest expresses concern about the connection between the names Mulholland and Temple.

The host prepares tea for the guest, mentioning Christopher Mulholland's love for tea.

The guest is 17 years old, the same age as Christopher Mulholland was when he visited.

The host comments on the guest's perfect teeth, which contrasts with Mulholland's less white teeth.

Gregory Temple was described as older, 28, with flawless skin.

The host has a realistic-looking stuffed parrot that initially fooled the guest.

The host reveals she stuffed all her pets when they passed away.

The guest is asked if he signed the guest book, which the host uses to remember names.

No other guests have been hosted in the past two or three years besides the mentioned ones.