Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Give Violence A Chance



Hey there, crime kids. Happy Hump Day. It's time once again to take a trip to the dark side, where your most violent fantasies become sins of the flesh, right here, where the hardboiled action is non-stop, at the coolest crime joint in cyberspace ... at That Killing Feeling.

In Chapter 35 of NOWHERE GIRL, Homeland Security agent April Street and her long-lost sister, stripper Cherry Nation arrive at black ops spook Sledge Crafton's secret lair, hidden inside the Capitol Records building in Hollywood, to confront him about his dastardly deeds ...


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 (CONT'D)
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 (CONT’D)
We’re here for the RECORDING SESSION.

THE GUARD
Looks puzzled. What recording session?

CHERRY
POUNDS on the glass.

CHERRY (CONT’D)
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
some new tracks that were just discovered.
That’s why he’s using the basement studio.
You know how he is about secrecy.

April KICKS the door into the guard’s face, THWUNK.
He goes down.

She pushes it open.
Walks in. Cherry follows.

INT. CAPITOL RECORDS BUILDING - LOBBY - CONTINUOUS
April and Cherry drag the guard over to his desk.
Prop him up in his chair.

Dash over to the elevator banks.
Push UP.

A SECURITY CAMERA
On the ceiling moves in their direction.

INT. INTELLIGENCE OFFICE - LOBBY - AT THAT MOMENT
A FEMALE OPERATIVE (20’s) sits at a desk
in the lobby of Crafton’s suite of offices
watching video monitors.

She dials a number. Listens.

FEMALE OPERATIVE
Chief? We’ve got company.

INTERCUT WITH:

INT. CRAFTON’S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS
Crafton WHIRLS his chair around.
Leans into his speakerphone.

SLEDGE
Who is it Donner, Street?

DONNER
Yeah. And she’s got someone with her.
Some chick dressed like a go-go girl.

SLEDGE
I had a feeling.
Put them in the interrogation room.
Tell them I’ll be right there.

DONNER
Yes, sir.

Sledge WHIRLS around in his chair.
Faces a table behind his desk.

He leans over.
SNORTS a line of coke.
Then ANOTHER.

SLEDGE
(rubs his nose)
Alright, ladies -- it’s SHOWTIME.

INT. ELEVATOR - CONTINUOUS
April and Cherry arrive at the top floor.
The doors OPEN.

They walk out into the corridor.
A LARGE METAL DOOR faces them.

No name. No number.
Just a small lit button on a silver panel.

April pulls out her Sig Sauer.
Raises it.

APRIL
Ready?

Cherry pulls out her Glock.

CHERRY
Let’s do it.

April presses the button.
The door SLIDES OPEN.

INT. INTELLIGENCE OFFICE - LOBBY - CONTINUOUS
They walk into the lobby.

We now see that Donner’s desk is in
a bullet-proof glass cubicle
in a corner of the room.

CHERRY
What is this, Austin Powers?

APRIL
He always had a flair for the dramatic.

Donner’s voice comes over hidden speakers.

DONNER
Ladies, glad you could join us.
Mr. Crafton has been expecting you.

April walks over the cubicle.
Stares down Donner.

APRIL
Well, isn’t that a coincidence.

A steel door SLIDES OPENS in the wall.

DONNER
Right through that door, please.
He’ll be right with you.

The girls look at the open doorway suspiciously.

APRIL
How do we know this isn’t a trap?

CHERRY
Cover me, and I’ll go take a look.

APRIL
Okay.

Cherry walks over to the doorway.
Stops. Looks in.

INT. INTERROGATION ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Steel walls. A table with chairs.
Glass window. Shades drawn.

CHERRY
Turns her head.

CHERRY
Looks fine to me.

April marches over, and they walk in --

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