Hi, everyone! I'm really sorry if you haven't seen the movie Psycho because this chapter may be a bit confusing for you. To better understand what's going on, I'll give you a brief summary of the movie. If you're planning on watching it later, don't read this, as it will most likely spoil the film. It is a Hitchcock movie, perhaps the most famous of them all. A woman on the run stays for a night at The Bates Motel, run by Norman Bates (played by Anthony Perkins) and his mother. The mother doesn't approve of Norman speaking to this woman, so, while the guest is in the shower, Mrs. Bates sneaks into her room and stabs her to death. Later it is discovered that Mrs. Bates died a while before, leaving Norman alone. He developed a split personality, one as himself and one as his mother. So, he is the one that killed the guest. He was psycho. Anyway, in order to understand this chapter better, you should go online and look up the shower scene (there is nothing graphic or R-rated about this part).
Please review and enjoy!
Chapter 4 Twist in the Plot
The gang rushed into the film museum, Mary close behind. They discovered a map, directing them toward the second floor where all Hitchcock related items were on display. Props from nearly all of his famous movies were crowded into the second story of the building. Rear Window, Rebecca, Vertigo - all productions that were in some way referenced on that floor.
"Where do we start?" Daphne asked nervously, a growing sense of panic spreading over her.
"We have to find the props from Psycho," Fred pointed out. Following a gut feeling, he ran down a corridor to their left. Thankfully, that seemed to be the right direction. "Follow me, gang," he told them, leading the group into a room that was eerily dark and quiet.
Daphne walked forward slowly, examining the tribute to her favorite movie. "Ah," she squealed, noticing the figure of a person out of the corner of her eye. She sighed with relief, realizing that it was merely a mannequin dressed in Anthony Perkins' costume. "Jeepers, this place is creepy," she whispered. Silence enveloped the room, any slight sound causing everyone to jump.
Fred walked over toward a replica of the shower they had used in the most famous scene. He noticed that they had created a shadow behind the shower curtain to make it seem as though Norman's mother was sitting just on the other side. He admired this for a moment before furrowing his brow. This was all wrong. Norman Bates wasn't sitting during that scene. No, if anything, they should have made it so the shadow was standing with a knife in its hand. That would have made the whole thing more authentic. But why would a film museum make such a poor choice with one of their displays? Fred slowly pulled back the curtain, finding an unconcious Chief Kessler strapped down to a chair inside the tub.
"Hey, gang, over here," he shouted, waving his friends over.
Fred struggled to loosen the knots binding the woman to the chair, but he was unsuccessful. Luckily, Scooby-Doo came in to help. The dog knawed on the ropes for a few minutes, finally allowing the string to fall to the floor, the chief free at last.
Kessler's eyes slowly started to open. She took in the scene around her, utterly perplexed. "What happened? Where are we?"
"There'll be plenty of time to explain that later," Fred said, ushering the woman up from her seat. He looked around nervously, not trusting the situation. "Does anyone else feel like this was a bit too easy?"
Suddenly, before answers could be given, a big, sharp knife embedded its blade in a nearby table. Fred slowly walked over, watching his back at all times. He noticed that, attached to the blade, there was a note, similar to the many they had received before. This one was slightly different, however, in the sense that it was addressed to Mary. Not reading it, Fred handed it over to the strange man who had accompanied them on their journey.
Mary, Mary, quite contrary, I fear it's your time to go.
This test was for the children only,
So now you must leave them alone.
My fan, my enemy and friend,
For you this must be the end.
As you know the test has it's price,
And now you must be sacrificed.
I know you'll be watching from the sky.
But for now, dear Mary, this is good-bye.
-Morte
Mary read the note aloud, his eyes growing wider with each word. He began to laugh that wicked, crazed laugh of his just as shrill, intense music began to play. Daphne immediately recognized it as the song that played during the killing scenes of Psycho. She gasped, knowing what was going to happen, but, by then, it was too late.
Another knife soared down from an unknown location. It's blade landed directly in Mary's chest, blood oozing slowly from the wound as Mary, still cackling madly, fell to the floor, breathing his last breaths.
Everyone gasped. Daphne even began to cry a little. Each person was shocked, their minds not fully able to grasp what had just happened. Daphne hung limply at Fred's side, Velma doing the same with Shaggy. Scooby was cowering at Kessler's feet, his ears drooping and his tail between his legs.
Chief Kessler was the first to make a move. Her actions were numb and mechanical. She lifted the note from Mary's cold, dead hand. A few spots of blood stained the paper, the deep red a startling contrast to the bright white. She turned the paper over, looking at the back of it sadly.
"I'm afraid there's more," she told them, her voice hollow and pitying.
Fred took the paper from her outstreched hand, wondering what Kessler could possibly be talking about. He saw the twisted, eerie rhyme, indicating Morte's plans to dispose of Mary. Then, copying what Kessler had done a few seconds earlier, he slowly looked at the backside of the paper, noticing more cramped, uneven script. Morte had left them another note on the back of Mary's death sentence.
Phase Three is now complete.
Two more till the test is beat.
Sorry about Mary's unfortunate end.
He really was a dear, dear friend.
I suggest you all get some rest.
You will need to do your best.
That's all I ask - it's not much.
Goodnight, I'll be in touch.
-Morte