The Family That Plays Together

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In Chapter 10 of LEGS, the plot thickens when private eye Carrie Love's client Bruce Ball, the 'Hearing Aid Guru To The Stars' is found butchered in his home office. Meanwhile, her mother Margo and stepmother Eva are having a vicious fight over who gets to plan her father's funeral ...


INT. THE CHEETAH LOUNGE - BAR - NIGHT
Carrie sits at the far end of the back bar
away from the madness.

Pulls out her cell phone.
Checks her messages.

CARRIE
He called already?
(pushes buttons, listens)
Dick, it’s Carrie Love.
We have to talk --

INTERCUT WITH:

INT. DICK’S MANSION - STUDY - NIGHT
The porn shoot’s long gone.
But not Dick.

He’s at his desk with his throat cut.
Drenched in blood.

A swarm of CRIME SCENE TECHNICIANS
and COPS work the room.

And Bernie’s there.
Talking on Dick’s cell phone.

BERNIE
That makes two of us, Legs.

CARRIE
Bernie?
What are you doing
with Dick’s phone?

BERNIE
Not much.
Just standing here
looking at his dead body.

CARRIE
WHAT?

BERNIE
When I heard on the dispatch
that he was killed,
I raced right over.
He’s the guy who hired you, right?

CARRIE
Uh, yeah --

BERNIE
I pulled his daughter’s rap sheet,
but I didn’t find much.
But it’s too big of a coincidence
that he gets killed
the same day he hires you.

CARRIE
No shit.
(beat)
I talked to her roommate.
She told me he was blackmailing her
with sex tapes of
the two of them together --

BERNIE
Smells like a motive to me --

CARRIE
I dunno.
Why would he hire me to find someone
he was trying to blackmail?
It doesn’t add up.
I’m gonna go check out the apartment --
but first I’m coming over.

BERNIE
NO.
I need you to stay where you are
and check out the club --

CARRIE
No can do, Bernie.
My client was KILLED.
I wanna see the crime scene.
See you soon.

She SNAPS the phone shut.

BERNIE
Carrie, NO --
(listens)
Legs? You there?
(SNAPS the phone shut)
SHIT.

Jonna slides onto the seat
next to Carrie.
Now in her civvies.

Sprayed-on jeans and --
the gauzy baby doll.

JONNA
Ready to split, detective?

CARRIE
Yeah.
But we gotta make a stop first.

JONNA
Where?

CARRIE
Her father’s joint.

JONNA
(alarmed)
Why?

PUSH IN ON Carrie’s face.
CRUNCHING an ice cube.

CARRIE
Daddy’s dead.

INT. CARRIE’S PORSCHE - MOVING - NIGHT
Carrie sits behind the wheel, driving.
Jonna rides shotgun.

Carrie’s cell phone RINGS.
She answers it.

CARRIE
This is Carrie --
(listens)
Oh, SHIT. Really?

INTERCUT WITH:

INT. MARGO’S ESTATE - KITCHEN - NIGHT
A culinary orgy of chrome and steel.
A Sharper Image wet dream.

Nate leans against the ‘gourmet island’
eating a snack while on the phone.

NATE
Yeah.
So mom is hiding upstairs
while Eva and Todd duke it out.
Could you come over
and play Switzerland?

CARRIE
I’m sorry, Nate --
but my client was just murdered,
and I’m on my way to the crime scene --

NATE
Oh, wow.
I’m sorry --

CARRIE
Yeah. So’s he.
Tell you what.
I’ve got one last stop
to make after this one,
and then I’ll swing by, okay?

NATE
Okay, thanks.
(beat)
Sorry to bother you.

CARRIE
Hey.
You’re my brother.
You NEVER bother me.
Got it?

NATE
Got it.

CARRIE
I’ll see you later. Bye.

She CLICKS the phone shut. Sighs.

JONNA
Family problems?

CARRIE
That obvious?

JONNA
Wanna tell me about it?
Sometimes sharing with a
complete stranger can be
oddly comforting.
(off Carrie’s look)
I was a pysch major in college.
I’m not a COMPLETE bimbo --

CARRIE
My father died today.
That was one of my younger brothers.
The other one is trying to control
the funeral arrangements,
and my father’s second wife
has just invaded my mother’s house
because SHE wants to take care of it.
(weak smile)
The family that plays together --

JONNA
Holy SHIT.
Your FATHER died? Today?
(off Carrie’s nod)
Then why are you working?

The car stops at a light.
Carrie turns.

Looks at Jonna.
A tear slides down her cheek.

CARRIE
It’s the only thing that’s keeping me
from having a complete meltdown --