Kid's Stuff

Hey there, crime kids. Happy Monday. 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 17 of FRANKENSTEIN IN LOVE, Vita's mother Peggy tells CDC agent Beck Driver about Frankie's 'experiments' in his basement lab. Meanwhile, Vita confronts Frankie about his bringing Shayla back to life and 'dating her,' and tells him she won't turn him in ... if he dates her instead.


EXT. VITA’S HOUSE - DAY
A bright, sunny day.
Birds are chirping.

The wind whistles through the trees.
All that’s missing is ‘The Beaver.’

Chet and Beck stand at the front door,
side by side.

He takes off his shades.
Slips them in his shirt pocket.
RINGS the doorbell.

CHET
Remember, let me do the talking.

BECK
(bristling)
Of course --

PEGGY (O.C.)
(faint)
Just a minute --

The door OPENS.
Peggy’s smile fades.
Disappointed.

PEGGY
Officer Beverage.
Nice to see you again.

CHET
(tips his hat)
Mrs. Heck --

PEGGY
Please. Peggy.
(beat)
Are you here -- about the rat again?

CHET
Yes, Ma’am.
(gestures to Beck)
This is Beck Driver,
from the Center For Disease Control.

PEGGY
Oh, dear --

CHET
Nothing to be alarmed about.
We’re just trying to --

BECK
This is going to sound strange,
but do you know of anyone doing
any medical experiments in the neighborhood?

PEGGY
Medical experiments?

BECK
Yeah.
Believe it or not,
the rat was brought back from the dead --
and we’re looking for the person who did it.
(conspiratorial)
It’s a major medical breakthrough.

CHET
You’d be doing your duty for your country,
Mrs. -- Peggy.

Peggy blinks.
Looks at them.

PEGGY
Well, there’s young Frankie Stein next door.
They say he’s a genius.
Has a laboratory in his basement
and everything.

BECK
A -- basement lab?

PEGGY
Oh, yes.
His mother Julie isn’t allowed down there,
but she’s told me he does all kinds of
top-secret things down there.
(brightly)
I hope that’s helpful.

BECK
That’s VERY helpful.
Thank you.

INSIDE THE HOUSE
Standing in the doorway to the kitchen is Vita.
Listening.

VITA
(whispers)
I’ve got you NOW, Frankie Stein --

She grabs her backpack
and heads toward the door.

INT. HIGH SCHOOL CORRIDOR - DAY
The joint is clogged with kids.
Frankie stands at his locker
working the combination.
Vita comes up behind him.

VITA
Frankie, we need to talk.

FRANKIE
(turns, looks)
Hey, Vita.
Sorry, can’t talk now,
don’t wanna be late for class.

He turns to leave.

VITA
I saw you with Shayla last night.

FRANKIE
(stops, stares)
That’s crazy.
She’s -- dead. Missing.

VITA
No, she’s not.
She’s in your tree house.

FRANKIE
I, I can explain --

VITA
You fucking BETTER --
(grabs his hand)
Come with me.

She drags him into --

INT. GIRLS’ ROOM - DAY
Empty except for a YOUNG GIRL WITH BRACES
drying her hands with a paper towel.
She sees Frankie and BOLTS for the door.

VITA
What the FUCK, Frankie.
Did you bring her back to life?

FRANKIE
Yeah, but wait, I can explain --

VITA
A cop and woman from the CDC
were at my house this morning
asking my mother about the DEAD RAT
that was running around
like crazy in my basement.
Did you do that, too?

FRANKIE
(sighs)
I was doing a dead-cell
reanimation experiment -- and it worked.
And then when Shayla got hit by a car --

He trails off.
Gestures helplessly.

VITA
I can’t fucking BELIEVE it.
Do you realize how much trouble you’re in?
My mother told them about your basement lab.

FRANKIE
Oh, SHIT.
(realizes, freaks out)
Did you tell them you saw --

VITA
No, no, no.
I’d never do that.
I want to help you.

FRANKIE
You w-want to help me? Why?

VITA
Don’t you remember the ceremony?

FRANKIE
We were TEN, Vita.
That was kid’s stuff.

VITA
It doesn’t have to be --
(a whisper)
I never stopped loving you.

Frankie stares.
Be careful here.
You need her help.
He takes her hands in his.

FRANKIE
Can we -- talk about that later?
I’m kinda -- freaked out right now.

VITA
Of course, of course.
(thinks)
Here’s what you do.
Go to the nurse, say you’re sick,
then go home and hide anything in your lab
that can be used as evidence.
(realizes)
Oh, shit. Wait.
The cop and the CDC lady
are probably there right now --

FRANKIE
No, it’s okay.
My mom’s still at work.
She doesn’t get home until ten.
She did a double shift last night.

VITA
Perfect.

FRANKIE
Yeah. Okay --

VITA
Don’t worry.
We’ll figure this out.

FRANKIE
I don’t know what to say.

She puts her hands on his hips.
Draws him close --

VITA
Thank you would be nice --

And grinds into his crotch.
Kisses him deeply.
She pulls back.

Frankie looks at her.
Aroused. Confused.

FRANKIE
(throaty)
Thank you.

VITA
Play your cards right,
and there’s more where
that comes from.

FRANKIE
I’d -- like that.

VITA
We can make up for lost time.
(off his stare)
She’s no good for you, Frankie.
She’s dead. I’m alive --

FRANKIE
(head spinning)
Yeah --

VITA
Now go, scoot -- go see the nurse.
Hurry.

He stares at her a long beat.
Nods. Then hurries out.

VITA
(watches him go)
You’re mine now, Frankie Stein.
All mine.