Bates Motel

This is the writing guide for the Bates Motel. It contains some do's and dont's of writing for the series as well as character information.

Questions and enquiries should be directed at [email protected]

By and large any Bates writer will have a relatively free hand in what they can do. But by the nature of the format (ie a soap opera) there are some rules that writers will have to adhere to:
1 - Honour any existing plots
2 - Do not kill characters off without clearance from the producer
3 - Adhere to the soaps text formatting style
4 - Burning down the Motel everytime you want to change the sets isn't allowed :-)

It is also important to note that the Producers decision is final and he may choose to amend any problems in the script. Although it is the Producers policy to not edit scripts whenever possible.

Scripts for Bates *must* be submitted by prior arrangement only. The final script should be received by the Producer no later than 6PM GMT on the Wednesday before transmission. If your script is not received by then other arrangements will be made.

The soap itself is a tribute to Crossroads and the Bates Motel should be visualised as such. If you are familiar with Crossroads then you will not find it difficult to script episodes of Bates. Bates also pays homage to Triangle and Howards Way. There is also a strong Who theme throughout.

Although the Motel is situated in Bournemouth (on the south coast) it refers to itself as "The West Midlands top source of quality board and lodgings".

Characters

There are many weird and wonderful characters who work and stay at the Motel. Here are the outlines for the main characters:

Alden Bates: Motel owner. Calm, but secretly power crazed. He's also rich and always has a (fake) suntan. He doesn't really like Marcus but will tolerate him as long as Marcus has a hold on the Motel. He also has an unhealthy obsession with small loud red-heads called Mel.

Marcus Durham: Motel shareholder. Smoothie moustachioed charmer Marcus has been a long standing shareholder in the Motel of which he is the manager. He has been around longer than Alden and knows the place inside out. Although he appears to have no interest in anything other than the bar or his boat, it is Marcus who keeps the Motel afloat.

Random Companion: Receptionist. Power crazed maniac who man's the reception desk. Alden and Marcus would like rid of her. She wants control of the Motel and she is much more than she seems. Marcus suspect's she is not who she says she is.

Miss Alison: Head Waitress who has been working at the Motel since the mid 1970's. One of the only people who is friendly with Random. She also keeps an eye on Dai as it was her who brought him to the Motel.

Dai: On a visit to her Uncles farm in Wales during 1975 Miss Alison came across a strange farm worker who was slightly simple. She brought him back to the Motel where he has worked ever since doing odd jobs and looking after the garden.

Chuck Foster: Restaurant Manager. Pretends to have worked in many famous restaurants all over the world. He's also one for the fake suntan and he tries to put on a fake French accent although he cannot speak a work of French.

Tina J Perrett: Owns a stake in the Motel. Glamorous, ruthless and a constant thorn in Aldens side.

Aidan Folkes: Manages the Motels advanced electronics systems. Most of these systems are hidden behind a secret door in Aldens study which only Alden and Aidan know about.

Stephen Bray: Head Waiter and Chucks sidekick.

Dave Stone: Head security guard. Spends most of his time locked in his office watching television.

Large: Works with Dave in security and is even more ineffective at his job than Dave is.

Jason: Alcoholic bar manager.

Peter Goddard: Head chef and general big hatted Caledonian wierdo.

Soldeed: Guest at tbe Motel. He firmly believes the Nimon are situated within the Motel.

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Last updated on the 11th of March 1997. Soldeed says "You fools, this page is (c)opyright 1997 Marcus Durham".