A Perfectly Good Cocktail

Happy Thursday, crime slicksters. 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 26 of WILSHIRE BOULEVARD, transgendered party girl porn star Nikki Yavo comes home to get her things after her father throws her out of the house, but then is confronted with an unspeakable evil ... her mother.


EXT. LAGUNA BEACH - COAST - NIGHT
A row of LUX MANSIONS
at the top of the cliffs
overlooking the ocean.
The exclusive, expensive seats.

EXT./INT. - NIKKI’S JAGUAR - MOVING - AT THAT MOMENT
Nikki’s wheels ROAR
down the coastal drive.

NIKKI
(on her cell)
Just put it on my tab.
(beat)
You think you’re the
only dealer in Laguna?
(beat)
Think of all the business
I’ve brought you --
(beat)
Trade? I wouldn’t stoop to --
(beat)
That much?
(beat)
The Boom-Boom Room.
At midnight.

She hangs up with disgust.

NIKKI
The things a gal
has to do for
recreational drugs --

INT. YAVO ESTATE - KITCHEN - AT THAT MOMENT
A huge, gleaming expanse of
restaurant-quality culinary perfection.
All chrome, tile and glass.

GLORIA YAVO (40’s)
is perched on a stool.
Gimlet-eyed.

Once a beauty,
now watered down.
Unlike her cocktail.

Clothing, hair, makeup, perfect.
If only someone was home.

She CLACK-CLACKS
on a laptop computer.
Puffs on a cigarette.

GLORIA
It’s mine, Goddammit.

ON THE SCREEN
we see an Ebay auction.
Letters read YOU’VE BEEN OUTBID.

GLORIA
furiously PUNCHES in a number.

GLORIA
Five hundred DOLLARS.
You happy now?

NIKKI
walks in.

NIKKI
Hello, Mother.

GLORIA
(looks up)
Nicholas.
WHY are you
DRESSED like that?
You look RIDICULOUS.

NIKKI
(STOMPS her foot)
I told you,
my name is NIKKI.
And I’m beautiful.

GLORIA
(eyes on the monitor)
Not in my house,
you aren’t.

NIKKI
I’m going upstairs
and get some of my things.
I’m moving out.

GLORIA
Bullshit.
Your father just called.
You’ve been kicked out.
I’m not supposed
to let you in.

Nikki goes to the counter,
rummages through Gloria’s purse.

NIKKI
Don’t worry,
I’m not going to stay.

GLORIA
You better hurry.
He’s on his way home --
and if he finds you here,
dressed like that --

NIKKI
(finds cash, counts it)
What?
He’ll HIT me?

GLORIA
(looks up)
What THE FUCK
do you think
you’re doing?
Put THAT BACK.

NIKKI
Shut the fuck up,
you old hag.
Have another drink.
On me.
(squints)
That’s quite a shiner.
I’d put a little more
concealer on that.
Wouldn’t want the
neighbors to find out.

GLORIA
Wait a minute,
that’s MY dress.
it off, RIGHT NOW --
you, you -- FREAK.

Nikki goes to the doorway
into the living room.

NIKKI
Like it would
still fit you.

Gloria HURLS her
glass at Nikki.
It hits the wall -- CRASH.

GLORIA
Fucking FAGGOT!

NIKKI
(smiles)
Now look what you did.
That was a perfectly
good cocktail.

Gloria LEAPS off her stool.
RACES over to Nikki. S

tarts BEATING her
with her fists.
Nikki GRABS her wrists.

NIKKI
Back off.
Before I do
something I regret.

GLORIA
I HAVE no son.
You are DEAD to me.

Nikki PUSHES her.
Gloria LURCHES back.

TRIPS on the rug.
HITS the floor
with a CRACK.

GLORIA
You can’t DO that!
I’m YOUR MOTHER.

Nikki goes to the staircase.
Stops. Turns.

NIKKI
Watch me.