Strip Search

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 32 of BLUE HOTEL, drug dealer Beggar Leck goes out to his car to get some ecstasy, and runs into officer Kenny Speed, who makes the fatal mistake of asking to search the trunk. Meanwhile, homicide dick Bernie Keko and patrolwoman Danette Day check into their hotel room and start playing 'stop and frisk.'


EXT. HOTEL STARLIGHT - REAR ALLEY - NIGHT
The back door to the hotel opens.
Out walks Beggar.

He looks around.
Walks over to his car.
Sticks his keys in the trunk.

MALE VOICE (O.C.)
Excuse me, sir.

Beggar turns, looks, sees --

KENNY
Standing at the end of the alley.

BEGGAR
Officer.

KENNY
(walks over)
Can I ask you a question?

BEGGAR
Sure thing.
What's up?

Kenny pulls out a picture.
Shows it to him.

KENNY
Have you seen this woman tonight?

ANGLE ON --
The PHOTO.
A grainy still capture
from the liquor store robbery.

HOLLY. Holding a gun.
Face a rictus of death.

BEGGAR
Feigns nonchalance.
Studies the picture.
Shakes his head.

BEGGAR
No, sorry.
Looks kinda dangerous.
What did she do?

KENNY
You don’t watch the news?
She held up a liquor store,
then shot some dude on a bike.
three people tonight.
Maybe more.

Beggar tries for a smile.
Doesn’t quite make it.

BEGGAR
Guess I’d better be careful, huh?

Kenny studies him carefully.

KENNY
You a guest at the hotel?

BEGGAR
Yeah.

KENNY
It’s kinda late, isn’t it?
What were you getting
out of the trunk?

BEGGAR
Ran out of smokes.
Just grabbing another pack.

KENNY
People don’t keep
cigarettes in the trunk.
They’d be on the seat,
in the glove compartment.
But not in the trunk.

Beggar’s heart starts racing.
This is NOT going well.

BEGGAR
You want me to show you?

KENNY
Please.

He turns the lock.
Opens the trunk.

It’s empty, except
for the spare tire.

A couple of tools.
Emergency gas can.

BEGGAR
That’s funny.
I could have sworn --

KENNY
I’m going to have to ask you
step away from the vehicle, sir.

BEGGAR
But I --

KENNY
Step AWAY from the vehicle, NOW.

Beggar stares.
Wheels spinning.

All the coke, booze and pot
working their strange magic.

BEGGAR
Okay, officer.
I’m sorry --

He feints to the side, then
GRABS Kenny around the waist.

SLAMS him against the car.
His head CRACKS against the
edge of the trunk
with a sickening THUNK.

BANG, he goes down,
face first in the gravel.

BEGGAR
(whispers)
Holy SHIT.

Beggar gets down.
Feels his pulse. Nothing.

BEGGAR
I’ve just been fucked.

He reaches into a side
compartment in the trunk.

Pulls out a small white envelope.
it in his pocket.

Picks up Kenny’s body.
Puts it in the trunk.
Quietly closes it.

CLICK. He looks around.
No one. Whew.

BEGGAR
I can’t believe --
I just did that.

He looks down.
Sees blood on the ground.

Starts kicking gravel
over it with his foot.

BEGGAR
My momma warned me
not to date hookers.

INT. DANETTE AND BERNIE’S HOTEL ROOM - AT THAT MOMENT
Danette walks into the room.
Then Bernie.

He shuts the door.
Walks up to her.
They stare at each other.

BERNIE
Shitty room.

DANETTE
It’ll do.

BERNIE
Been too long, Net.

DANETTE
(throaty)
Way too long.

She GRABS him.
They go at it,
hot and heavy,
fall onto the bed.

Start RIPPING each
other’s clothes off.

BERNIE
Time for your strip search.

DANETTE
Better not be shooting blanks.

BERNIE
Why do you think they call me
a PIECE officer?

DANETTE
Shut up and fuck me.

BERNIE
Now you’re talking.
(whips out handcuffs)
Assume the position,
and spread ‘em.