Tuesday, October 26, 2010

The Spy Who Left Me



Happy Tuesday, crime-busters! It's time once again to take a trip to the dark side, where the girls are hot, the drinks are cold, and the hardboiled-pulp-noir action is non-stop, right here, at the coolest crime joint in cyberspace ... at That Killing Feeling.

In Chapter 31 of NOWHERE GIRL, former stripper Cherry Nation and Homeland Security agent April Street get into a deadly high-speed chase down Hollywood Boulevard with black op spooks in a Hummer, and then arrive at evil criminal mastermind Sledge Crafton's above-ground lair at the Capitol Records building ...


INT. BOMB DISPOSAL TRUCK - NIGHT
The truck is RAMMED from behind.
Cherry and April JERK in their seats.

CHERRY
What the FUCK was that?

APRIL
(looks in rear view)
We’re being tailed --
(another BANG)
By a fucking HUMMER.

CHERRY
But this truck’s bigger than a Hummer.

APRIL
Exactly. Hold onto your tits.

April JAMS on the breaks -- SCREEEEECH.

EXT. SUNSET BOULEVARD - CONTINUOUS
The Hummer SMASHES into the back of the truck.

IN THE TRUCK
April JAMS it into reverse --
and HITS THE GAS.

ON THE STREET
The truck starts PUSHING the Hummer backwards.
Cars HONK. SWERVE to get out of the way.

IN THE HUMMER
The DRIVER curses.
Pulls out an AUTOMATIC WEAPON.
Sticks it out the window. PUMPS it.

THE TRUCK
Gets SPRAYED with bullets.

IN THE TRUCK
April hands Cherry her Sig Sauer.

APRIL
Here ya go, love --
shoot his fucking nuts off.

CHERRY
MOTHER-FUCKER.

Cherry takes the gun.
Opens her window. Leans out.

Starts FIRING at the Hummer.
SPRAYS it with bullets.

THE DRIVER OF THE HUMMER
Aims for the truck’s rear tires.

Gets the left. BANG.
Then the right. BANG.

IN THE TRUCK
April SWERVES the wheel.

APRIL
He’s shooting our TIRES. Get HIS!

CHERRY
Leans further out the window.
SPRAYS bullets on the Hummer’s front tires.

THE HUMMER
Swerves.

THE TRUCK AND THE HUMMER
Reach an intersection.
The truck’s wheels SCREECH on their rims,
PUSHING the Hummer into ONCOMING TRAFFIC.

A CITY BUS
SMASHES into the Hummer -- BANG.
Bye-bye.

IN THE TRUCK
April pulls the truck over to the curb.
Looks at Cherry.

APRIL
Nice shooting.

CHERRY
Nice driving.

APRIL
You okay?

CHERRY
Well, since you asked --
I feel like I’m gonna puke.
(realizes, turns her head)
Peeler? You back there? You okay?

Cherry swivels in her seat.
Looks in the rear.

THE BACK DOOR
Is open. The compartment is empty.

CHERRY
He’s gone. Story of my life.

APRIL
Welcome to the world of espionage.
The Spy Who Left Me.
(beat)
C’mon, we gotta get new wheels.

EXT. CAPITOL RECORDS BUILDING - MORNING
The famous circular landmark
gleams in the morning light.

April and Cherry pull up
in a red Mini Cooper convertible.

INT. MINI COOPER - CONTINUOUS
April shuts off the engine.
They jump out of the car.

EXT. VINE STREET - CAPITOL RECORDS BUILDING - CONTINUOUS
April looks down at John Lennon’s plaque
on the Walk of Fame.

APRIL
Look. Lennon’s star.

CHERRY
Hey. Give Violence A Chance.

They walk to the front door.
It’s LOCKED.

Cherry peers in the window.
Sees a GUARD sitting at a desk.

CHERRY
I’ve got an idea.

She KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCKS on the glass.

THE GUARD
Looks up. Shakes his head.
Mouths WE’RE NOT OPEN.

CHERRY
STOMPS her foot. Shouts --

CHERRY
We’re here for the RECORDING SESSION.

THE GUARD
Looks puzzled.
'What recording session?'

CHERRY
POUNDS on the glass.

CHERRY
MICHAEL JACKSON!
Hurry up and LET US IN.

THE GUARD
Walks over to the door.
Unlocks it. Opens it a crack.

GUARD
Did you say MICHAEL JACKSON?

CHERRY
Yeah. We’re background singers.
And we’re late.

GUARD
You’re full-a-shit.
There’s no recording here anymore.
And he’s DEAD.

CHERRY
EXACTLY. Quincy Jones is mixing
Michael’s final tracks.
That’s why he’s using the basement studio.
You know how he is about secrecy --

1 comment:

  1. Ummm... forgot to ask... can I let go of my tits now? HAHAHA!! Not that I really mind.... just this one handed typing thing..... hehe!!

    So... black ops spook meets city bus.... I'm thinking, he didn't make it.... damn! They just don't make spies like they used to...

    Hey... what happened to Peeler? Did he fall out? Wasn't he still with us in the last chapter? Darn.... Cherry, honey... all the men in your life are disappearing... you know... if you're lonely and want some company.... (just kidding, Tina... hehe!)...

    I am very excited to see what is next for Cherry and April.... but, I won't peek ahead!

    I really love the sense of humor you gave Cherry... it is so cool!!! "background singers for the (rest in peace, Michael) King of Pop!" Long Live The King!!

    I saw the Capitol Records tower a few years ago, when we went to SCal to see Disneyland... I think it was when we drove out to Universal... not sure since we were all over the place... LA is frickin' huge! Cool building even from a distance... I loved the scene in Independence Day when the alien ship vaporized it...

    Okay... getting near the end, aren't we? I'm wondering how many ops Crafton has left... seems like he ought to be running low... body count pretty high in this story...

    Carole, this has been an amazing story!! I am so looking forward to seeing the graphic novel... and on the screen... :)

    xoxoxo <3 <3
    Ronnie

    ReplyDelete