Bat Outta Hell

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In Chapter 25 of BLUE HOTEL, homicide detective Bernie Keko and officer Danette Day watch the security footage taken from outside the high rise condo where Holly killed Feo, and recognize her from the liquor store robbery. Meanwhile, the body count rises at hooker Alona Tal's sleazy beachfront motel room when entertainment attorney Lief Scott decides to turn himself in, which causes Holly to take deadly measures ...


INT. EXPENSIVE CONDO - SECURITY OFFICE - NIGHT
Danette, Kenny and Bernie huddle around a
monitor in the tiny security office in the lobby.

The SECURITY GUARD (20’s),
a skinny young Hispanic kid,
stands behind them.
Leans over. Presses a button.

SKINNY YOUNG SECURITY GUARD
Check it out.
I’ll be right back,
gotta go take a piss.

He walks away.

ON THE MONITOR
We see the scene unfold earlier
between Feo and Holly
in black and white.

Feo RACES over the bike.
HOPS ON it.

Then gets SHOT in the back.

BANG. He FALLS OVER.
Holly RACES into the frame.

JUMPS on the bike,
and pedals away like a
bat outta hell.

IN THE OFFICE
Danette and Kenny exchange glances.

DANETTE
That’s the girl from
the liquor store holdup.

KENNY
It sure as shit is.

BERNIE
I saw that story on the news.

DANETTE
She must live around here.

KENNY
So what are we gonna do,
start knocking on doors
at three in the morning?

Danette sighs. Shakes her head.

BERNIE
Busiest night I can remember.
Just came from a homicide off Main Street.
school science teacher,
shot dead in her kitchen.
And the husband’s missing.

DANETTE
Maybe it’s connected --

BERNIE
Nah. I don’t think so.

DANETTE
We have maybe five murders
a year on Venice beach,
and there’ve been three tonight.
That we know about.

BERNIE
You have coffee at the substation?

DANETTE
Is there a brother
in the White House?

BERNIE
Whaddaya say we go grab a cup
and do some brainstorming.

DANETTE
Okay.
(beat)
But it’s OVER, Bernie.
I’m not fucking you.

KENNY
(does a ‘take’)
You mean you two --

DANETTE
Zip it, officer.
That case is CLOSED.

INT. ALONA’S SHITTY HOTEL ROOM - AT THAT MOMENT
The boozy, sax-drenched death-swoon
of Morphine plays on the boombox.
Eerie. Spooky. Sexy.

Beggar and Gill sit on the couch.
Lief sit on the window sill,
looking out at the beach.

Now pensive.
He holds the bottle of vodka.
Takes a swig. Wipes his mouth.

Holly and Alona sit on the floor
in front of the coffee table.
Alona HONKS up a line. Then Holly.

HOLLY
It BURNS.

BEGGAR
Now look who’s a big girl.

ALONA
(to Beggar)
I’ve got an idea --
(manic grin)
That old hippie down at the desk
knows EVERYBODY in the nabe.
I’ll go down there and tell him
you and I were playing handcuff games,
and that we lost the key.
(sweetly)
Please, Mr. Natural, do you know
where I can get a hack saw
this late at night?

BEGGAR
(nods)
But what are we gonna
put the -- pieces in?

ALONA
Trash bags.
(big smile)
Don’t get mad. Get GLAD.

HOLLY
(giggles)
Now we’re talking trash.

Lief turns around. Glares at them.

LIEF
You people are fucking CRAZY.
(hops off the sill)
I’m going to the cops.
Turning myself in.
I’m an officer of the court.
(stares at Holly)
And I didn’t KILL anyone.
(to the group)
And you’re all joking around about
cutting up a fucking DEAD BODY.
Fucking SICK.

ALONA
What the fuck?
(to Beggar)
You said he was an asshole --

LIEF
WHAT?

ALONA
You’re not going anywhere,
'officer of the court.'
You know too much.

LIEF
Oh YEAH?

ALONA
Yeah.

LIEF
Watch me.

He starts for the door.
Beggar gets up, RACES over.

Gets in front of him.
Puts his hand on Lief’s chest.

BEGGAR
I’m sorry, Lief.
I’m not letting you go.

LIEF
Out of my way, you fucking drug dealer.

BEGGAR
Oh, so now you’re the high and mighty
lawyer who buys COKE from
'the fucking drug dealer?'

LIEF
That may be, but at least
I’m not fucking a WHORE.
(beat)
Now get the FUCK out of my way.

ALONA
WHAT did you call me?

Alona LEAPS off the bed.
CHARGES at Lief.

GRABS him around the neck.
Tries to CHOKE him. SCREAMS.

ALONA
Fucking ASSHOLE.

Lief GRABS her hands,
FLINGS THEM away.

SPINS AROUND, and PUNCHES
her in the stomach. HARD.

She FLIES BACK,
hits the floor with a CRACK.

ALONA
OW!

LIEF
You fucking ASSHOLE.

Beggar CHARGES at Lief,
GRABS him around the chest,
pushes him to the floor, BANG.

They GRAPPLE, writhe on the carpet.
Lief GRABS Beggar around the throat.
Starts CHOKING him.

BEGGAR
GAAAAA --

ALONA
(tries to get up)
STOP IT.

Holly LEAPS off the bed.
GRABS a letter opener off the table,
and PLUNGES it into Lief’s neck.
PUNCTURING an artery.

A GEYSER OF BLOOD SPRAYS.
Lief lets go of Beggar.

GRABS his neck.
Stares in disbelief.

LIEF
You fucking -- stabbed me.

He hits the floor, THWUNK.
His hand falls away.

Blood SPURTS.
Slows, keeps pumping.
A dark stain grows on the carpet.

GILL
Holy fucking shit.

ALONA
HOLLY.

BEGGAR
Jesus Christ.

Pause.

HOLLY
He was -- gonna kill you.

BEGGAR
I know, but --

ALONA
Goddamit, Holly.

Holly stares.
A strange smile
flickers across her face.

HOLLY
'Case dismissed.'