Barefoot In The Dark

Happy Tuesday, 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 36 of BLUE HOTEL, realizing something bad must of happened to rookie cop Kenny Speed, homicide dick Bernie Keko and patrolwoman Danette Day start going door to door at the hotel looking for him. Meanwhile, now that they have a third dead body to hide, hooker Alona Tal and boozy writer Holly Land roll it up in a carpet and stick it under the bed ...


EXT. THE STARLIGHT HOTEL - VENICE BOARDWALK - NIGHT
Danette stands in front of the hotel.
Looks up at the windows.

Bernie appears at
the end of the side alley.

BERNIE
Went around the entire perimeter.
No sign.

DANETTE
So that rules out
a dead cell phone battery.

BERNIE
I’ve got an idea,
but I don’t think
you’re gonna like it.

DANETTE
Spill it.

BERNIE
I’ve got a hunch all our
answers are in the hotel.
We should search door-to-door.

DANETTE
We don’t have a warrant.

BERNIE
Probably cause.

DANETTE
An officer has disappeared.

BERNIE
At a building he was watching.
That we were staking out.

DANETTE
Let’s do it.

INT. ALONA’S SHITTY HOTEL ROOM - AT THAT MOMENT
Beggar’s body lies on the floor,
rolled up in the bedspread.

Alona holds his head.
Holly, his feet.

There’s a large bulge
where the lamp still is.

ALONA
Okay, ready?

HOLLY
(nods)
You sure he’ll fit?

ALONA
He’ll have to.
We’re running out of room.

HOLLY
Three bodies, no waiting.

ALONA
(rolls her eyes)
On three.
One -- two -- THREE.

They lift him up.
Carry him over to the closet.

Alona leading the way.
She motions to Holly.

ALONA
Okay, gently put down your end,
and help me over here.

Holly puts him down.
Goes to Alona.

ALONA
Help me lift him up straight.

She does.
Grabs ahold of the lamp
under the comforter.

HOLLY
Look.
He’s got a handle.

Alona stares.
Starts to smile. Stops --

ALONA
That’s sick.

Then giggles.
Holly smiles.

HOLLY
Weebles wobble but
they don’t fall over.

ALONA
C’mon, let’s just do this.

They maneuver Beggar into the closet.
Close the door.

ALONA
That’s one way to
get rid of a boyfriend.
(beat)
I’m scared, Holly.

HOLLY
Me, too.
(beat)
Could you -- hold me a sec?

Alona nods.
Fights back tears.

Puts her arms around Holly.
Holly closes her eyes.

Nestles her head
against Alona’s neck.

ALONA
What are we gonna do?

Soft voice are heard
outside in the corridor.

Then the sound of
KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCKING next door.

DANETTE (O.C.)
This is the police.
Please open the door.
We need to ask you some questions.

ALONA
Holy SHIT.

She races to the door.
Looks through the peephole.

Freaks out.
Turns and looks at Holly.

ALONA
(loud whisper)
There’s two cops out there.
What are we gonna do?

HOLLY
(points at the window)
The roof.

Alona nods.
Grabs her purse.

They move over to the window.
Holly starts climbing out
on the fire escape --