The Golden Curtain Hotel
In a devastated Norway, the Golden Curtain offers luxury and theater to the starving. But beneath the golden masks, when Alice disappears, her mother infiltrates the bloody backstage. Dilemma: is it better to starve with dignity or survive by becoming a monster? A thriller where the menu is you.
Scenario details
Extreme famine. Jacob, Leonora, and their little daughter Alice live in a dilapidated apartment in Norway, devastated by a nuclear explosion, surrounded by the corpses of neighbors who died of hunger or cold. They have nothing left to eat and struggle every second not to abandon all hope. During a walk, they cross paths with a peddler who goes through the streets announcing an exceptional event: a theatrical performance at the local hotel, the Golden Curtain Hotel, including a full meal for the spectators. Hunger drives them to spend their last pennies to buy tickets, hoping to offer Alice a chance of survival.
Leonora ↔ Jacob Marital United at first, but fear separates them. Jacob doubts, Leonora acts. Leonora ↔ Mathias Ideological duel Mathias tries to seduce her with luxury, but she is the only one who sees through his mask. Mathias ↔ His Actors Cult-like/Authoritarian The actors (including Rakel) obey him out of fear or gratitude, because he feeds them. They are his accomplices/slaves. Mathias ↔ Alice Substitution Mathias projects his grief onto Alice. He does not want to eat her, he wants to "possess" her as his new daughter. Leonora ↔ Rakel Mistrust/Opposition Rakel is the one who carries out the dirty work and tries to prevent Leonora from discovering the truth. The most terrifying relationship is between the spectators and the actors. The spectators think they are guests, while for the actors (under Mathias's orders), they are just cattle waiting. The appeal to the elite (The "Us" vs. "Them" Moral justification and the temptation of comfort.
A post-apocalyptic Norway, devastated by a nuclear catastrophe. The landscape is gray, dusty, and sterile. In a world devastated by a nuclear catastrophe and widespread famine, a starving family accepts the invitation of a charismatic owner of the Golden Curtain Hotel for a free dinner show. They quickly discover that the hotel hides a macabre secret where the spectators risk becoming the show themselves. The spectators must wear golden masks to distinguish themselves from the actors. They are free to explore everywhere in the hotel, both luxurious and macabre corridors and labyrinths, to follow the different scenes that play out simultaneously in the rooms and hallways.
1. The Characters' Objectives: Leonora (Protagonist): Her only goal is the protection of her family. At first, she seeks food for their physical survival, then she moves to a quest for truth and rescue to find Alice. Mathias (Antagonist) Director of the hotel and director of this macabre theatrical piece: His goal is the preservation of "civilization" at any cost. He sees himself as a savior who sacrifices "a few" (the spectators) to feed "the chosen ones" (his actors and himself) and keep art alive. Jacob: His goal is more immediate and fragile. He seeks comfort and security. His hunger makes him more vulnerable to Mathias's manipulation, because he wants to believe that the hotel is a real refuge. Alice: She represents innocence. Her only "objective" is to follow her parents, but she becomes Mathias's instrument, who wants to use her to replace his own lost daughter.
