Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Pin Code Of Honor


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 22 of BLUE HOTEL, wannabe writer Holly Land takes dead agent Oscar Goldman's assistant Feo to a cash machine to drain his account, but what she doesn't count on is the robbery turning deadly ...


EXT. WINDWARD CIRCLE - NIGHT
The bank we’ve seen before.
Across the street from the post office.

Totally deserted at this hour
on a week night.

Feo appears, walking briskly.
Followed by Holly.

Holding the gun in her coat pocket,
pointed at his back.

FEO
Do you mind if I ask why you --

HOLLY
YES. Keep moving.

They get to the bank.
Feo pulls out his wallet.

Takes out his ATM card.
Slides it in the machine.

Punches in his pin code.
Then makes his transaction.

FEO
Then we’re going back to the hotel?

HOLLY
Yeah.

FEO
(looks at the screen)
Not enough FUNDS?
That’s not POSSIBLE.

He punches another button.
Looks again.

FEO
Eighty-four bucks?
That can’t be --
(thinks)
Oh, shit -- that’s right.
(looks at her)
I just paid my phone bill.

HOLLY
I don’t believe you.

FEO
Look at the fucking screen.
It’s right there.
My balance is eighty-four
fucking bucks.

HOLLY
(peers at the screen)
Then take out eighty.

Feo punches another button.
Then another.
Cash slides out.

He grabs it.
Hands it to her.

His card comes out.
He takes it.

Put it back in his wallet.
Turns around.

FEO
Happy now?

HOLLY
Let’s go. March.

FEO
Yes, ma’am.

They start walking west
toward the hotel.

FEO
So can I ask you something?

HOLLY
No. Shut up and walk.

FEO
Okay, chill, chill.

They pass an alley on their right.
Feo looks to his left.

FEO
Holy SHIT.

HOLLY
(turns her head)
What?

Feo TAKES OFF down the alley
at a SPRINT.

HOLLY
COME BACK HERE!

She RUNS after him.

IN THE ALLEY
Feo RUNS, looks behind his shoulder.
Sees Holly in pursuit.

HOLLY
Fucking ASSHOLE.
Come BACK HERE!

Feo gets to the corner, turns left,
and SMASHES into a row of trash cans.

He HITS the ground, BANG.
Holly catches up to him,
gun in hand.

Quivering with rage.

HOLLY
God-fucking-DAMMIT.
Get UP.

Feo GRABS a trash can
with super-human strength.

THROWS it at her, BANG.
She FALLS, HITS the ground.

He TAKES OFF.
Holly JUMPS UP, RUNS after him.

DOWN THE STREET
At the intersection,
Feo RUNS across the street,
Holly in hot pursuit.

He sees a BICYCLE resting against
the front stoop of an
expensive-looking modern building.

He GRABS it.
JUMPS on.

HOLLY
NO!

Feo starts pedalling away.

HOLLY
Raises the gun and FIRES.
BANG. BANG. BANG.

FEO
Gets HIT in the back.
He FALLS OFF the bike, CRACK.

Face in the pavement.
A pool of blood starts forming.

HOLLY
Runs up to him.
Sees he’s dead.

HOLLY
Shit. Not another one.

She looks around.
All is quiet.
Nobody around.

She gets on the bike
and pedals away.

ANGLE ON --
A SECURITY CAMERA on the wall
of the building above the front door.

Red light BLINKING.

Monday, September 29, 2014

A Different Kind Of Blow


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 21 of BLUE HOTEL, drug dealer Beggar Leck and entertainment attorney Lief Scott make their getaway from the dead starlet that OD'd at the party out of bounds, when Beggar gets a call from hooker Alona Tal, looking for more money to pay the Russian mobsters for removing the dead body at her sleazy beachfront motel room ...


EXT. VENICE PIER - NIGHT
Moonlight shines over the
black water of the ocean.

The dull roar of waves
crashing against the shore.

Beggar’s red convertible is parked
in a far corner of the parking lot.
Now almost empty.

INT. BEGGAR’S CONVERTIBLE - CONTINUOUS
Beggar turns up the heat.
Lights a smoke.
Looks at Lief.

BEGGAR
What a fucking night.

LIEF
Tell me about it.
(beat)
So where are we going to go?

BEGGAR
We?

LIEF
I thought maybe I could -- stay at --
(off his stare)
Okay, okay. I get it.
You’ll sell me drugs,
but you won’t help me out.

BEGGAR
I’m not going home, Lief -- I --
(beat)
Have my own crisis to deal with.

LIEF
Your own crisis.
Like it could possibly be as
urgent as a dead body in your house.

BEGGAR
Actually, it is.
(sighs)
You remember my girlfriend?
She was with a client tonight,
this asshole who likes rough stuff.
Well, her NEIGHBOR, this drunken
wannabe screenwriter thought it was real,
and ran in and stabbed the bastard.
(another drag)
Fucking closet case.

LIEF
Holy shit.
What happened?
Did the cops come?

BEGGAR
No. There’s always loud shit
going on in that joint.
We’ve got the body -- hidden,
and we need five-K to pay
some people I know
to get rid of it.
(beat)
That’s why I really need
sell you the blow.
Can we still do it?

LIEF
Shit. I dunno.
Yeah. No. Fuck.
I gotta think --
(beat)
If I go back there,
I’m in deep shit --
but if I run --

Beggar’s cell phone RINGS.
He answers it.

BEGGAR
Hey.

INTERCUT WITH:

INT. ALONA’S SHITTY HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT
Holly sits on the window sill
with a cup of vodka,
looking out at the ocean.

Alona sits on the bed.
Talks on her cell.

ALONA
Where are you?
What's going on?
Did you do the deal?

BEGGAR
No. I was just about to,
but some fucking bimbo
OD’d and fucking DIED.

ALONA
Holy SHIT.
So THEN what happened?

BEGGAR
What do you fucking THINK happened?
We got the fuck out of there.

ALONA
The guy, too?

BEGGAR
Yeah, Lief.
You met him at that
party at his joint.
The condo on the beach?

ALONA
Oh, yeah.
The asshole lawyer.

BEGGAR
(looks at him)
He’s with me right now.
Still deciding what he’s gonna do.
He’s not exactly in the
mood to buy any snow,
if you get my drift.
What’s up on your end?

ALONA
SHIT is up my end.
I tricked with Gill,
and then sent him
to go get more cash,
but the jerk got mugged.
(bitter laugh)
And right now he’s
breaking into HIS OWN house.

BEGGAR
Fuck.

ALONA
Wait. It gets better.
(sips her drink)
Oscar’s ASSISTANT has been
poking around looking for him,
hooked up with Holly,
and figured out the deal,
so SHE pulled her gun on him
and took him back to her room.

BEGGAR
What the fucking FUCK?

ALONA
Chill, it’s okay.
She’s taken him to a cash machine.
We need the money, right?
(sips her drink)
We just have to figure out
what to do with him
when they get back.

BEGGAR
Fuck.

ALONA
I know.
(thinks)
Hey, wait a minute.
The lawyer is filthy rich, right?

BEGGAR
Yeah --

ALONA
Bring ‘em back to the hotel.
I’LL get money out of him.

BEGGAR
(looks at Lief)
Yeah. That’s -- not a bad idea.

ALONA
Then get your ass over here.
I’m tired of hanging out with Oscar.

BEGGAR
Okay, see ya. Bye --

He clicks the phone shut.
Looks at Lief.
A sickly grin.

LIEF
Who was that?

BEGGAR
Alona.
I’m supposed to bring you
over to her place.

LIEF
What for?

BEGGAR
Play your cards right,
and it might be
a different kind of blow.

Friday, September 26, 2014

Till Death Do Us Part


Happy Friday, crime slicksters. TGIF. 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 20 of BLUE HOTEL, private school teacher Gill Sherry breaks into his house to steal money from his wife to help hooker Alonta Tal pay for 'dead body removal,' but when she interrupts him, things turn deadly. Meanwhile, Russian mobsters Vlad and Anya try and rob an exclusive, high-end dungeon, with bloody results ...


EXT. GILL’S BUNGALOW - REAR - NIGHT
Moonlight shines over the back yard.
Gill climbs over the fence.

Walks carefully down the
side of the lot, looking around.

Gets to the back door.
Pulls out his keys.

He opens the door slowly.
Goes in.

INT. GILL’S BUNGALOW - KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS
Lights out. Gill looks around.
Deciding what to do.

He sees Donna’s purse on the counter.
Walks over. Picks it up.

FEMALE VOICE (O.C.)
Don’t fucking MOVE.

DONNA
Stands in the doorway.
A ghostly spectre in her robe.

Pointing a HANDGUN.
She reaches over,
SNAPS on the lights.

GILL
Don’t shoot, DON’T SHOOT.

DONNA
Gill?
What the fuck are YOU doing here?
(sees her purse)
What the FUCK?
Were you going to ROB me?

GILL
It’s not what it looks like, Donna --

DONNA
Do you mean to tell me you
actually snuck back in the house
to STEAL from my purse?

GILL
Donna, please -- let me explain --

Pause.

DONNA
I’m waiting.
(beat)
And it better be good.

GILL
I have this friend
that’s -- in trouble.
I went to the bank
to get some money for her,
and I got mugged.
Then carjacked.

Donna starts walking
toward him, waving the gun.

DONNA
A FRIEND?
Is this the FRIEND you were FUCKING?

GILL
Please put the gun down, Donna.
It might go off.

DONNA
Go OFF? GO OFF?
I’M the one that’s gonna GO OFF.
You didn’t answer my QUESTION.
Is your FRIEND the one you’re FUCKING?

Pause.

GILL
Yes.

DONNA
GODDAMMIT!

She CHARGES him,
raises the gun to hit him.

Gill GRABS her wrist.
They struggle.

He WRENCHES her arm down, down --

The gun FIRES.
Shoots Gill in the foot.

BANG.
He SCREAMS.

GILL
You fucking BITCH.
You SHOT ME.

He PUNCHES her in the head. HARD.
She FLIES backwards.

The gun skitters to the floor.
Gill picks it up.

GILL
You fucking SHOT me.

Donna opens a drawer.
Pulls out a BUTCHER KNIFE.

DONNA
Now I’m going to cut off
your fucking HEAD.

GILL
(aiming the gun at her)
Stay back, Donna.
I don’t want to shoot you.

DONNA
You’re spineless. Weak.
You don’t have the fucking GUTS
to shoot me.

She raises the knife.
A manic gleam in her eye.

Gill SHOOTS her in the stomach.
BANG. BANG. BANG.

She hits the linoleum, THUD.
A pool of blood starts forming.

GILL
Holy shit.
(gasps)
Till death do us part --

Somewhere in the distance
a siren starts WAILING.

Gill panics.

Pulls her wallet out of her purse,
SHOVES it in his pocket --
and RUNS out the door.

INT. CLUB FETISH - NIGHT
Vlad and Anya huddle in front of a door
in the bowels of the club.

Pull out their guns.

VLAD
Time to pop cherry.

ANYA
Ready, willing and disabled.

They kiss. Smile.
Vlad RAISES his gun.
KICKS the door.

They storm into --

INT. CLUB FETISH - OFFICE - CONTINUOUS
A swanky room Larry Flynt would love.
Art-directed sleaze.

A LARGE, UGLY SLAVE (30’s)
next to a gorgeous, black-haired
LEATHER-CLAD DOM (40’S)
sitting at her desk.

On the desk is a large stack of MONEY,
which she is counting.

A MOUND OF COKE is also in view.
An open safe sits nearby.

Vlad and Anya BURST into the room,
weapons drawn.

They CHARGE up to the desk.

VLAD
Do not MOVE.
This is ROBBERY.

ANYA
Put hands up or we SHOOT.

DOMINATRIX CLUB OWNER
You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.
You’ll never get out of here alive.
(to the slave)
Sick ‘em, Bruno.

Bruno raises an UZI SUB-MACHINE GUN.
Looks behind Vlad and Anya.
Grins a sickly smile.

BRUNO
Fredo.
Glad you could join us.

Anya turns and looks.
Bruno SPRAYS her with bullets.

She FLIES in the air like a rag doll.
Hits the wall, THWUMP.

Enraged, Vlad FIRES at Bruno, BANG.
He goes down, THUD.

VLAD
You killed MY LITTLE FLOWER.

Dominatrix raises a gleaming 357 Magnum.

DOMINATRIX CLUB OWNER
And you killed my fucking SLAVE.

She SHOOTS Vlad,
BANG, BANG, BANG, BANG, BANG.
He hits the floor, THWUNK.

She looks at the bodies.
Shakes her head.

DOMINATRIX CLUB OWNER (CONT’D)
Asshole.
Do you know how HARD IT IS
to find a good submissive?

Thursday, September 25, 2014

Party Out Of Bounds


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 19 of BLUE HOTEL, drug dealer Beggar Leck and entertainment attorney Lief Scott make their escape from the aftermath of the wild Venice Beach rooftop party. Moments later, police officers Danette Day and Kenny Speed arrive on the scene and inspect the dead starlet that OD'd ...


EXT. BEACHFRONT CONDO - YARD - NIGHT
Lief stands in the shrubbery.
Watches Beggar hit the ground.

LIEF
Over here.

BEGGAR
(sees him, comes over)
My car is parked on Speedway.

LIEF
So we’ll walk.

BEGGAR
You don’t get it.
There’s a fucking
KILO OF BLOW in my trunk.

LIEF
Oh, shit.
That’s right.
(beat)
So what are you gonna do?

BEGGAR
I’m gonna very quietly
go to my car
and get the fuck
out of here.
The sirens stopped,
so the cops
must be inside.
I gotta do it now
before they find -- her.
(beat)
You with me?

LIEF
Are you fucking kidding me?
I’ll walk down to the pier
and wait for you.

BEGGAR
Spoken like a true attorney.

IN THE HOUSE
Danette and Kenny slowly move
through the living room, guns drawn.
Kenny looks at the lux digs in awe.

KENNY
Nice crib.

DANETTE
Shhhh.
(looks around)
C’mon. Upstairs.

IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE
Beggar tip-toes up
to his BMW convertible.

Looks around.
Opens the door.

Carefully gets in.
Quietly closes it.

ON THE ROOF
Danette and Kenny see
Emaciated Starlet’s dead body
the blood-soaked bed.

Empty bottles and
glasses everywhere.

KENNY
Holy SHIT.

DANETTE
‘Party Out of Bounds.’

KENNY
Huh?

DANETTE
Skip it.
(pulls out her cell)
Dispatch, this is unit
one-adam-thirteen --
we’ve gotta code twelve,
up on the roof.
Send lab techs and
the coroner, do you copy?
(listens)
Roger that.

A car engine STARTS UP
down below.

They RACE over to
the edge of the roof.

Look down.

BEGGAR’S CAR
Starts to drive away.

ON THE ROOF
Danette shakes her head.
Speaks into her cell.

DANETTE
I need you to put out an APB
on a red, late-model
BMW convertible,
north on Speedway.
(listens)
Sorry. Didn’t get the license.
(listens)
Roger that.
(hangs up, to Kenny)
C’mon, let’s go check out
Paris Hilton.

They walk over to the bed.
Look at the body.

KENNY
She looks kinda peaceful.
(beat)
I mean, you know --
despite all the blood.

DANETTE
(shakes her head)
Another young girl who’s potential
was snuffed out too early.

KENNY
Yeah.
(wistful)
Must have been SOME party.

INT. HOLLY’S SHITTY HOTEL ROOM
Alona looks at Holly.
Pointing her gun at Feo on the bed.

ALONA
That was Gill.
He got carjacked.
AND mugged.
We are SO fucked.

FEO
Who’s Gill?

HOLLY
None of your fucking business.

ALONA
I need a drink.

She walks over to the kitchenette.
Pours herself a plastic cup of vodka.

Takes a big hit.
Looks at Holly.

ALONA
You want one?

HOLLY
Yeah. Thanks.

FEO
I could use a --
(beat)
Never mind.

Alona pours one for Holly.
Brings it to her.

ALONA
Here’s blood in your eye --

They both drink.
Stare at Feo.

ALONA
What should we do with him?

HOLLY
I’ve got an idea.
(to Feo)
How much money do you
have in the bank?

FEO
Uh, a couple hundred bucks --

HOLLY
(to Alona)
I take him to a cash machine.
Drain his account.
Then bring him back.

ALONA
But that would be -- armed robbery.

HOLLY
And your point is?

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

The Usual Suspects


Hey there, crime kids. Happy Hump Day. 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 18 of BLUE HOTEL, we meet Venice Beach police officers Dannette Day and her rookie partner Kenny Speed, who eagerly respond to a call about the drug overdose at entertainment attorney Lief Scott's wild rooftop party. Meanwhile, private school teacher Gill Sherry calls hooker Alona Tal and give her the bad news about him being mugged and carjacked ...


EXT. VENICE BEACH POLICE SUBSTATION - NIGHT
A circular brick building off the boardwalk.

A kid’s play park on one side.
Basketball courts on the other.

INT. VENICE BEACH POLICE SUBSTATION - CONTINUOUS
A tiny, small, cluttered room
filled with the usual suspects.
A couple desks, filing cabinets, lockers.

A gorgeous, black female UNIFORMED COP (40’s)
shuffles through a book of mug shots.

Meet DANETTE DAY, cougar in blue.
Tough. World-weary. Has seen it all.

Several times.

A YOUNG ROOKIE COP (20’s)
appears with two mugs of coffee.

Meet KENNY SPEED.
Tall and gangly. Moon-faced.

Fresh out of the academy.
Strong. Eager.

And not terribly bright.

KENNY
(hands her one)
Here’s your coffee, Danette.

DANETTE
Thanks, Kenny.

KENNY
Sure is a hot one tonight, huh?

DANETTE
Tell me about it.
The natives are restless.
When the Santa Annas
are blowing, things get crazy.
First that liquor store holdup.
Something else is gonna happen.
I can feel it in my bones.

KENNY
I say bring it on.
I want some ACTION.

The phone RINGS.
Danette answers it.
Listens. Eyes FLASH.

DANETTE
Ten-seventy-eight.
Drug overdose at a wild rooftop party.
Fifty two-eighteen Speedway.
We’re on our way. Code three.

She BANGS down the phone.
Gets up.

DANETTE
You got your wish.
Ready to rock and roll?

KENNY
Fuck, yeah.
A DRUG OVERDOSE.
(beat)
Code three.
That means -- lights and siren?

PUSH IN ON Danette’s face.
Nodding with amusement.

DANETTE
And if you’re really good,
we’ll get ice cream afterwards.

EXT. VENICE BEACH POLICE SUBSTATION - NIGHT
Gill walks up to the door.
Hesitates. Turns around.

GILL
What was I thinking?

He walks over to a bench.
Sits down.

Pulls out his cell phone.
Punches a number. Listens.

INTERCUT WITH:

INT. HOLLY’S SHITTY HOTEL ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Alona stares at Holly.
Then at Feo.

ALONA
What the fuck are we gonna do NOW?

Her phone RINGS.
She pulls it out of her pocket.
Answers it.

ALONA
Hello?

GILL
Alona, it’s me, Gill.

ALONA
Where are you?
What’s taking so long?

GILL
I got mugged, AND carjacked.
They got my wallet AND my car.

ALONA
SHIT.
Are you okay?

GILL
I’m fine.
Sort of.
(beat)
Finally stopped shaking --

ALONA
So are you coming back
to the hotel?

GILL
Not yet.
I have an idea.
(looks around)
I’m gonna sneak into my house --

ALONA
And ROB it?
What, are you fucking CRAZY?

GILL
It’s still MY house, Alona.
(beat)
Haven’t you heard of
community property?

EXT. LIEF’S CONDO - NIGHT
A police cruiser is parked on Speedway
in front of Lief’s building.

Danette and Kenny jump out of the car.
Draw their guns.

Make their way toward
the side entrance.

KENNY
I thought it was a loud party.
I don’t hear anything.

DANETTE
Dead bodies kinda
clears out the crowd.

They get to the front door.
See it’s ajar.

DANETTE
Follow me slowly,
keep me covered and --

KENNY
Be quiet.
I know, I know.

DANETTE
And do me a favor.
Don’t shit your pants again, okay?

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Room Service


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 17 of BLUE HOTEL, it's a clusterfuck of epic proportions when wannabe writer Holly Land brings dead agent Oscar Goldman's assistant Feo back to the scene of the crime at hooker Alona Tal's motel room at gun point and reveals what happened to his boss ...


INT. HOLLY’S SHITTY HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT
Feo stumbles into the room,
scared to death.

Holly follows him in.
Pointing the gun at him
through her purse.

She closes the door.
Pulls it out.
Waves it at him.

HOLLY
Sit, on the bed.

FEO
(sits)
Look, I’m sorry you --
got in trouble.
If you let me go,
I promise I won’t
tell the cops anything.

HOLLY
Yeah, right.

FEO
I promise.
(beat)
Please don’t shoot me --

HOLLY
Shut up.
I have to think.

FEO
I have an idea --

HOLLY
I said SHUT THE FUCK UP.

Feo gulps.
Stares at her balefully.

Holly goes to the kitchenette,
keeping the gun on him.

Pours a glass of vodka.
Takes a big glug.

Wipes her mouth.
Looks at him.

HOLLY
Stupid jerk and
your stupid script.
(beat)
Why couldn’t you just
mind your own business?
(off his silence)
Hello?
I asked you a QUESTION.

FEO
(low)
You told me to shut up.

HOLLY
Not NOW.

FEO
I have to get
this script to him,
it’s a matter of
life and death --
Scarlet Stone is
reading it tonight,
and --
(beat)
Wait a minute.
Why don’t I
give you the script,
can give it to him,
and I’ll just -- go away.
I won’t say ANYTHING
to the cops, I promise.
Please, this is gonna
cost me my job --

HOLLY
(takes another sip)
That’s -- not possible.

FEO
Not possible?
What do you mean?

HOLLY
(softly)
Oscar’s dead.

FEO
What?
You robbed the liquor store
AND killed my boss?

Holly drains the glass.
Pours another.

Takes a sip.
Weaves a little.

Walks over to him.
Shaking the gun back and forth.

HOLLY
I didn’t ROB
the fucking liquor store,
I just had the bad luck to
BE there when those
chollo GREASEBALLS did.

FEO
But I saw you, on the tape,
with the gun.

HOLLY
Shut the fuck up
and LISTEN TO ME.
It was self-defense.
he Rasta shot the
first gang-banger,
and his gun flew away
and landed on the floor
next to me -- and then
I shot the second one
as he came in.
(hiccups)
It was self-defense.

Pause.

FEO
And -- what happened to Oscar?

HOLLY
(eyes tear up)
I thought he was attacking Alona --
I was just trying to save her --
and I --
(beat)
Stabbed him in the back
with a pair of scissors.

She breaks down.
Starts crying.

FEO
Hey, it’s okay --

He gets up.
Starts to come to her.

HOLLY
DON’T MOVE.
(aims the gun at him)
Stay right the fuck
WHERE YOU ARE.

A soft KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK
at the door.

ALONA (O.C.)
Holly?
It’s me, Alona.
Who’s in there with you?
Are you okay?

Holly smiles strangely.
Goes to the door.
Opens it.

HOLLY
Come on in
and join the party.

Alona walks in, sees Feo.
Stops.

ALONA
Who’s he?

HOLLY
Oscar’s assistant.

FEO
(to Holly)
Who’s she?

HOLLY
Oscar’s date.

ALONA
Holy shit.

HOLLY
Tell me about it --

Monday, September 22, 2014

Got Coke?


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 16 of BLUE HOTEL, drug dealer Beggar Leck tries to sell a kilo of blow to entertainment attorney Lief Scott at his raging rooftop Venice Beach party, but the shit hits the fan when a haughty starlet OD's on the pharmaceutical grade booger sugar ...


EXT. BEACHFRONT CONDO - ROOF DECK - NIGHT
Beggar sits on the bed with Lief,
sipping cocktails.

Emaciated Starlet sits at the other end,
rolling a joint with a GIRLFRIEND (20’s),
a haughty Rodeo Drive type.

LIEF
I’ll buy the whole fucking thing
if it’s as good as you say it is.
(chortles)
Have a few clients that
love to ride the slopes.

BEGGAR
Anyone famous?

LIEF
Sorry, attorney-client privilege.
(beat)
What the fuck. Jackie Tempel?
MAJOR coke whore.
How do you think she got
that new sitcom?

BEGGAR
No way.

LIEF
Way.
(beat)
So come on, let’s sample the merchandise.

BEGGAR
Thought you’d never ask.

He pulls a glassine bag
out of his jacket pocket.

LIEF
That’s -- kinda small.

BEGGAR
It’s locked up in the car.
Think I’m gonna walk around
with a kilo in my pocket?

LIEF
Of course, of course --

BEGGAR
I need a mirror,
something to chop it up on.
(holds up the bag)
Rock candy, kiddo.

LIEF
(to Emaciated)
Hey, Cherie -- gimmee your mirror.

Cherie turns around, looks.
Passes the joint to her friend.

CHERIE
What for?
Need to powder your nose?

LIEF
Yeah, my makeup is shiny.

CHERIE
Oh, shit. ME, TOO --

She comes to their side of the bed,
pulls a compact out of her bag.

Hands it to Lief, grinning.
Haughty slides over.

HAUGHTY RODEO DRIVE TYPE
Me three.
(giggles)
Got coke?

Beggar dumps out a large rock on the mirror.
Starts chopping it up with a credit card.

Expertly fashions four big, fat lines.
Pulls a rolled up bill out of his pocket.

BEGGAR
Counselor, we await your verdict.

LIEF
Sustained.
He leans over, HONKS up a line.
Shakes his head.

LIEF
Court is IN SESSION.

Hands the bill back to Beggar.
He does one, SNORT.

BEGGAR
Got it from some Ukrainians I know.
Only been stepped on once.
(hands it to Cherie)
Here you go, doll.
Take a rocket to Russia --

Cherie greedily GRABS the tube.
Bends over. SNARFS up a line.

Then the other, SNORT.
She THROWS her head back and LAUGHS.

HAUGHTY RODEO DRIVE TYPE
Hey, what about ME?

CHERIE
Oh, I’m sorry -- did you want some?

Suddenly her face turns GREEN.
Her eyes roll back into her head.

Blood POURS out her nose.
She SPRAYS a green viscous
FLUID all over the bed.

CHERIE
GAAAAAAA --

Beggar, Lief and Haughty JUMP back.

LIEF
SHIT.

BEGGAR
What the FUCK?

Cherie goes into a SEIZURE.
Her body JERKS on the bed like a
rag doll in herky-jerky SPASMS.

HAUGHTY RODEO DRIVE TYPE
(looks down)
I got her spew on my DOLCE!

MALE VOICE (O.C.)
Holy shit, she’s OD-ing!
I’m gonna call 911!

FEMALE VOICE (O.C.)
I’m getting the fuck OUTTA HERE.

Cherie’s body JERKS one last time.
Then lays there. Dead.
Blood starts flowing out of her mouth.

LIEF
Holy Jesus fucking Christ.
I’ve been cluster-fucked.

HAUGHTY RODEO DRIVE TYPE
Ohmigod, she’s DEAD. She’s DEAD!

BEGGAR
Alright everybody, stay calm.
We’ve gotta figure out what to do.

HAUGHTY RODEO DRIVE TYPE
What to do? WHAT TO DO?
I’m gonna get THE FUCK OUT OF HERE.

A siren WAILS somewhere
off in the distance.

Beggar puts the baggie in his pocket.
Gets off the bed.

LIEF
Wait a minute, where are you going?

BEGGAR
The fuck outta here.
I’ve got outstanding warrants,
AND a controlled substance.

LIEF
But, but --

BEGGAR
Stay here if you want to,
but I’m SPLITTING.

Lief JUMPS off the bed.
They look around.
Everyone’s gone.

LIEF
Okay, let’s book.
We’ll say we were out
buying more booze or something.

BEGGAR
WE?

Lief starts for the corner of the roof.

LIEF
Yeah, you’re my alibi.
(pulls out a gun)
Come on, there’s a ladder over here.

BEGGAR
(follows after him)
This is like Miami Vice.

Lief gets to ladder.
Looks back at Beggar.

LIEF
Then hurry up and move your ass,
Sonny Crocket --


Friday, September 19, 2014

Stimulous Package


Hey there, crime kids. TGIF. 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 15 of BLUE HOTEL, private school teacher Gil Sherry goes to a Venice Beach cash machine to get money to give to Alona Tal to help her get rid of the dead body in her hotel room, and gets mugged. Meanwhile, kinky Russian mobsters Vlad and Anya inspect the various acts of depravity at a new dungeon 'opening,' and then get ready to rob the joint ...


EXT. VENICE BEACH - WINDWARD AVENUE - NIGHT
A circular street two blocks
from the boardwalk.

A cream-colored Saab
pulls in front of the bank
across the street from
the Venice post office.

INT. SAAB - CONTINUOUS
Gill is behind the wheel.

He shuts off the engine.
Gets out.

AT THE CASH MACHINE
Gill slips his card in.
Punches his pin code.

The machine CHING-CHING-CHINGS,
and his cash slides out.

He grabs it.
Then feels something
in his back.

GRAVELLY MALE VOICE (O.C.)
Hand over the cash, asshole --
or I’ll fucking shoot.

GILL
Okay, okay --
please don’t hurt me.

He holds up the money.

A FIGURE IN BLACK (20’s),
hoodie pulled down,
SNATCHES it from his hand.

FIGURE IN BLACK
Now gimmee your keys.
Nice ride you got there --

GILL
Please, not my car.
I need that to --

Figure In Black CRACKS
him in the head with his gun.

Gill goes down, THUMP.
Figure KICKS him in the stomach.

GILL
OW!

FIGURE IN BLACK
Your KEYS, NOW --

Gill winces in pain.

Digs his keys out of his pocket.
Holds them up.

Figure SNATCHES THEM.
RUNS to the car.

FEMALE VOICE (O.C.)
Ohmigod, that guy just got MUGGED!

MALE VOICE (O.C.)
And they’re stealing his CAR!

Figure JUMPS IN.
Starts the engine.

ROARS away in a SCREECH
of rubber like a madman from hell.

A YOUNG COUPLE (17)
RACE OVER to Gill.

Trendy skateboard kids
with multi-colored hair,
piercings in baggies and sneakers.

SKATEBOARD CHICK
Hey, mister -- are you okay?

HIPSTER GUY
(pulls out his cell phone)
Don’t worry, I’m calling the cops.

Skateboard Chick helps Gill stand up.
He holds his stomach.
Hipster punches 911. Listens.

GILL
My car -- he got my CAR --

HIPSTER GUY
Yeah, hi -- so listen,
a dude was mugged, and they,
like, stole his car --
(listens)
On the Windward circle.
In front of the bank --
(listens, looks at Gill)
He looks okay to me --
(to Gill)
You okay?

PUSH IN ON Gill’s face.
More than upset.

GILL
Oh, I’m just peachy.
Top of the world, ma.

INT. CLUB FETISH - NIGHT - AT THAT MOMENT
Nasty, filthy club music over --

A catacomb of perverted horrors
run amok.

A labyrinthine maze of cubicles,
each containing unspeakable
acts of depravity.

IN ONE STALL

A MAN (50’s) lies in a bathtub, naked.

A group of CLUB PATRONS
stand in a circle and pee on him.

IN ANOTHER STALL

A WOMAN (20’s) lies on a table.
Bound and gagged.

A GIANT DOM raise a cat ‘o nine tails,
CRACKS IT against her pale flesh.

IN THE DJ BOOTH

The DJ (30’s), hair scooped
into red devil horns,
nods to the music,
SNORTS a fat line of meth.

IN ANOTHER STALL

A MAN IN A DIAPER,
on his hands and knees,
licks the boots of a
GORGEOUS DOMINATRIX (40’s).

She JERKS his leash.
Laughing.

VLAD AND ANYA
Stroll through the Dionysian splendor
like gods. Regal.

Inspecting the display
of twisted desires.

ANYA
It is, how they say in New York,
‘bridge and tunnel.’

VLAD
Well, we ARE behind Orange Curtain.

They chuckle. Stop.
Watch the GIANT DOM at work.

ANYA
(shaking her head)
No finesse. No -- style.
Is like Gitmo. No imagination.

VLAD
That may be -- but Little Miss Muffet
will get welt on her tuffet,
and she will go home to
safe suburban hell
with naughty memory --

They continue walking.

ANYA
I see your point.
Is like MacDonald’s of dungeons.

Vlad stops.
Puts one hand on Anya’s breast.

The other on her throat.
Pushes her up against the wall.
Smiles, evil.

Anya swoons with pleasure.
Licks her lips.
Eyes flashing.

VLAD
Enough of field trip.
You ready to rock n’ rolla,
my dark goddess?

ANYA
Take me to cash machine, bab-ya.

She pulls out her gun.
Rubs it on his crotch.

He pulls out his.
Sticks it in her mouth.

VLAD
Is what I love about you.
(beat)
What I call -- stimulus package.

Thursday, September 18, 2014

A Stiff One


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 14 of BLUE HOTEL, after hooker Alona Tal and private school teacher Gill Sherry make love, he discovers dead agent Oscar Goldman's body under her bed, and recoils when she asks him for money to pay the Russian mobsters to remove it for her. Meanwhile, wannabe writer Holly Land and the agent's assistant Feo flirt over cocktails, until Feo recognizes her from the TMZ video of her robbing a liquor store ...


INT. ALONA’S SHITTY HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT
Alona and Gill lie in her bed,
making love, Alona on top.

They both reach an earth-shattering orgasm.
Clench each other for dear life.

Stop. Silence.

Alona reaches for her smokes.
Lights one up.

Blows a lazy smoke ring.
Gill closes his eyes. Sighs.

GILL
You send me, my angel --
(opens them)
I think I hurt my back.
What you got under the bed?
A suitcase?

Alona picks up her cup of vodka.
Takes a big hit.

ALONA
That’s Oscar.

GILL
Oscar? I don’t -- understand.

ALONA
Another -- client.
(off his stare)
Earlier tonight, things got a little rough --
Holly thought I was in danger --
and she came in and --
(beat)
Stabbed him.

GILL
What the FUCK? There’s a --
(looks down)
Dead body under the bed?

ALONA
Surprise.

GILL
We have to call the police.

ALONA
No. No cops.

GILL
But what are you going to --

ALONA
GILL. Be quiet, listen to me.
Some people are on their way here to --
take care of it.
(beat)
Problem is, they’re expensive.
I need your help.

Pause.

GILL
H-how much?

ALONA
Five grand. We’ve got almost a third.
Beggar and Holly are out getting more --
don’t ask -- and I thought maybe --
(beat)
You could go to a cash machine?

GILL
Jesus Christ, Alona -- a DEAD BODY?

ALONA
You say you love me?
Now’s the time to prove it.
I need your help, Gill --

GILL
(head spinning)
Okay, okay -- yeah, sure -- I, I, --
(thinks)
But I can only take out
five-hundred at a time --

ALONA
Yeah, but that plus the three-hundred
you gave me makes a nice dent.

GILL
Can I stay here with you?
Until -- they get here?

ALONA
I’m not sure when Beggar’ll be back.
You know how he is.

Gill gets up.
Starts putting his jeans on.
Scared. Angry.

GILL
Yeah, I get it.
Beggars CAN be choosers --

INT. THE STARLIGHT LOUNGE - AT THAT MOMENT
The joint is deserted,
except for Holly and Feo,
with fresh cocktails.

The BARTENDER cleans glasses,
watches some old movie
on the TV above the bar.

HOLLY
That’s gotta be exciting,
working for an agent.

FEO
It was at first, but living on
four-hundred bucks a week gets old fast.

HOLLY
I’m writing a screenplay --

FEO
Everyone and their sister is --
(catches himself)
That’s -- great. What’s it about?

Feo’s smart phone RINGS.

FEO
Hold that thought.
(answers)
This is Feo --
(eyes wide)
Uh, not yet. He’s -- in a meeting.
(listens)
I know it’s late --
(beat)
I’ve got the script with me.
I’m gonna give it to him
as soon as he’s done.
(beat)
I’ll call you.
(CLICKS the phone shut)
Shit.

HOLLY
What’s wrong?

FEO
My boss is missing --
(low)
He was meeting a hooker at this hotel,
but no one’s seen him.
It’s like he -- disappeared.

Holly flinches.
Tries to act casual.

HOLLY
W-what’s he -- look like?
Maybe I’ve -- seen him.

FEO
He’s tall. Bald, with a big gut.
Goatee. Decent-looking.
(low)
And really kinky.
Into, you know -- rough stuff.

HOLLY
(averts her eyes)
I haven’t seen him. Sorry --

FEO
Yeah, well --
(sips his drink)
I’ve got this script Oscar’s
supposed to read tonight.
Scarlet Stone wants to star in it.
(beat)
I am SO fucked.

HOLLY
Oscar?

FEO
That’s his name -- Oscar.
Oscar Goldman.

She gulps her drink.
Freaking out.

HOLLY
Nice -- name.

FEO
What a weird night.
Oscar disappears,
then the robbery at the liquor store --
(beat)
And then I meet you.

He takes a sip of his drink.
Stares at her. A lightbulb POPS.

FEO
Wait a minute.
I thought you looked familiar --

UNDER THE BAR
Holly pulls the gun out of her purse.

HOLLY
Smiles strangely.

HOLLY
Familiar? How?

FEO
The video of the liquor store on AMZ --

HOLLY
JAMS the gun in his crotch. HARD.

FEO
Winces in pain.

FEO
OW. What the --

HOLLY
(sharp whisper)
It’s a gun.
And I’ll use it if you
don’t shut the fuck up.
Pay the bartender, and then
we’re going up to my room.

FEO
Please don’t shoot.
Can’t we -- talk about this?

PUSH IN ON Holly’s face.
Blinking back frightened tears.

HOLLY
(low, throaty)
Do what I say, or I’ll
blow your fucking nuts off.
I’ve already killed two people tonight,
I’m really drunk,
and I’m not in the fucking MOOD.

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Holy Whips And Chains, Batman


Hey there, crime kids. Happy Hump Day. 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 13 of BLUE HOTEL, kinky Russian mobsters Vlad and Anya arrive at the grand opening of a new dungeon with plans to rob the joint. Meanwhile, drug dealer Beggar Leck goes to a swinging, decadent rooftop Venice Beach party to meet with entertainment lawyer Lief Scott and sell him some coke ...


EXT. LONG BEACH DOCKS - WAREHOUSE - NIGHT
A shitty, old crumbling building
at the far end of the docks.

A cluster of expensive CARS
and LIMOS are parked in front.

A BLACK HUMMER pulls into a space.
Stops.

INT. HUMMER - CONTINUOUS
We see Vlad behind the wheel,
rakish in black leather and studs.

In the passenger seat is Anya,
resplendent in vinyl, rubber and
chrome against milky white flesh.

VLAD
Welcome to hell,
my little turtle-dove.

ANYA
Is new dungeon.
My heart is all a-flutter.

He pulls out a pair of black masks.
Hands her one.

They put them on.
Look at each other. Smile.

ANYA
Holy whips and chains, Batman.
(laughs)
I’m wet already.

Vlad pulls out a bottle of pills.
Flips it open with a thumbnail.

Chugs a fistful.
CRUNCHES them in his mouth.

Reaches under the seat.
Pulls out a sawed-off shotgun.

Anya opens the glove box.
Takes out a gleaming, chrome 44 Magnum.
They both CLICK the safeties.

VLAD
Ready to fuck perverts?

ANYA
Can we perhaps --
sample merchandise first?

VLAD
But of course.
Anything for my dark angel.

He takes her gloved hand.
Kisses it.

VLAD
You are a vision of unholy beauty.
A luscious flower in urban decay.

ANYA
Oh, Vlad.
Moonlight becomes you.
VLAD
I would die without you.
(raise his gun)
Let’s go rob kinky
motherfuckers blind.

Anya puts her hand on his gun barrel.
Strokes it.

ANYA
How you say -- Vlad the Impaler?

EXT. BEACHFRONT CONDO - NIGHT
The wind off the ocean WHIPS
the palm trees in front of --

A gleaming, silver three-story
single residence right on the sand.
Lights BLAZING.

We can see through the windows
that a party is raging.
Loud MUSIC blares.

EXT. BEACHFRONT CONDO - ROOF DECK - CONTINUOUS
Eerily lit by tiki torches.
Nasty, throbbing techno.

A giant four-poster bed
in the middle of the patio,
facing the ocean.

A gaggle of HARD-CORE PARTIERS,
a rough-looking crowd,
circle around it smoking, drinking.
And watching --

A COUPLE
On the bed.
Fucking their brains out.

The GUY (30’S) is LIEF SCOTT,
flabby ‘attorney to the stars,’
giving it really hard to
an EMACIATED STARLET (17),
who is SHRIEKING with abandon.

A giant MOUND OF COKE
Sits on a glass table nearby.

A SLUTTY CHICK
Scoops up a chunk on a
long, purple fingernail.
INHALES it.

SLUTTY CHICK
(rubs her nose)
Whoah, got a fucking ROCK.

BEGGAR
Appears in the doorway
to the roof with a beer.

He scans the crowd.
Shakes his head in disbelief.

BEGGAR
I’ve died and gone to
Kid Rock heaven.

He walks over to a pale,
meth-skinny GLAM ROCKER
checking his eye-makeup.
Taps him on the shoulder.

BEGGAR
Hey, Fall Out Boy --
you seen Lief?

Meth-Skinny turns and looks.
Grins a sickly smile. Points.

METH-SKINNY
Right there, on the Sit N’ Sleep.
(chuckles)
I mean, the fuck and suck.

Beggar looks at --

THE COUPLE
Rapidly approaching lift-off.

AN EMACIATED BIMBO
(20s), all legs, hair
and Dolce and Gabana,
sidles up to Beggar.

Points her cigar at him.
Nods at the bed, eyes gleaming,
swirling on Ecstacy.

EMACIATED BIMBO
Hallo, Mickey Roarke.
Vant to go next?

BEGGAR
(sips his beer)
No thanks, baby.
(looks her up and down)
Already took out the Eurotrash tonight --

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Kiss And Tell


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 12 of BLUE HOTEL, private school teacher Gill Sherry tries to convince hooker Alona Tal to run away with him. Meanwhile, wannabe screenwriter Holly Land grabs her gun and head out into the night with a view to getting some money to help pay for removing the dead body in Alona's hotel room ...


INT. HOLLY’S SHITTY HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT
Holly walks in the room
carrying a bottle of vodka,
goes to her desk. Sits.

Pours two fingers.
Downs it.

Punches PLAY on her boombox.
The anguished, brittle, tortured sound of
Portishead oozes out the speakers
like a wound.

She opens her laptop.
Boots it up.
Looks at the screen.

ON THE MONITOR
We see the screenplay
she’s working on.

It reads:

INT. MOTEL ROOM - NIGHT
Molly leans against the wall.
Listening to the sound of
love-making in the next room.

She reaches down.
Touches herself.

HOLLY
SLAPS the computer closed.

HOLLY
Fucking SHIT.

She pours another one. Downs it.
Stands. A bit wobbly.

HOLLY
Need to get -- more money.

Holly pours one more for courage.
Slugs it down.

Grabs her purse.
Pulls the gun from the robbery out.
Checks it.

HOLLY
Time to cut to the chase.

INT. BEGGAR’S BMW CONVERTIBLE - NIGHT
Beggars sits in his car
in the rear parking lot of the hotel.
Dials a number on his cell. Listens.

BEGGAR
Lief, hey -- it’s Beggar.
(beat)
I just got a kilo of
primo booger sugar,
and I thought of you --
(beat)
You having a party?
Well, that’s even better --
(beat)
You know I’m cool.
I won’t tell anyone --
(beat)
WHO?
(beat)
You’re shitting me.

INT. THE STARLIGHT LOUNGE - NIGHT
Some strange 60’s lounge classic plays
like Yma Sumac on the jukebox.

Alona and Gill sit at the bar
with cocktails.

ALONA
So what are you gonna do now?

GILL
Well, I still have my job --
(beat)
And I still have you.

ALONA
Gill, I’m with Beggar.
You know that.
You’re a friend.

GILL
I know to you I’m just a client,
but I can tell you feel something
when we make love.
I can feel it.

ALONA
My dear, sweet Gill --
the incurable romantic.

GILL
I wish you’d let me take you
away from all of this, Alona.
(gestures)
This place is a dive.
A cesspool --

The BARTENDER looks up.
Pissed off.

ALONA
Gill, I like my life
just the way it is.
No strings.
Nothing to tie me down.
If I get tired of it,
I can just split.
(beat)
And I like sex too much.

GILL
(finishes his drink)
Speaking of sex, let’s go upstairs.
I need to quench my thirst
from your heavenly fountain.

ALONA
Heavenly fountain?
(drains her drink)
Kitchen sink is more like it.

EXT. STARLIGHT HOTEL - NIGHT
Holly comes down the front steps.
Weaving a little.

She stops.
Looks around.

Sees a crowd of ONLOOKERS
in front of the
liquor store crime scene.

Feo, still sitting
on the park bench, sees Holly.

FEO
Hey, there.
(smiles)
We’ve got to stop meeting like this.

HOLLY
(sees him)
Oh. Hey.
(points at the crowd)
What’s -- going on?

FEO
Some chick knocked off the liquor store
with a couple of gang-bangers,
then shot one of ‘em.
(holds up I-phone)
Wanna see the footage?

She stares. He saw it?
But doesn’t recognize her?

HOLLY
(trying to be casual)
Sure.

Holly sits down.
He holds up the phone
in front of her.

ON THE SCREEN
We see grainy, black and white
footage of the robbery,
with Holly seen from the rear.

She SHOOTS the gang-banger.
BANG. He falls.

She grabs the liquor,
RUNS into the back.

HOLLY
Looks at Feo.

HOLLY
Huh. Looks kinda like me.

FEO
Nah. She looks vicious.
You’re kinda cute.

HOLLY
You really --
(hiccups)
Really think so?

FEO
Yeah. If I didn’t have a --
situation to take care of,
I’d ask you if I could
buy you a drink.

HOLLY
(points)
Hotel’s got a bar, right there.
Buy me a drink, we can talk about it?
(weird smile)
Maybe I can help.

FEO
You’re on.
(beat)
Don’t worry,
I don’t kiss and tell.

HOLLY
That’s a shame.
I do --

Monday, September 15, 2014

Dead Weight


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 11 of BLUE HOTEL, drug dealer Beggar Leck, hooker with a heart of coal Alona Tal and wannabe writer Holly Land count their cash to see if they have enough to pay the Russian gangsters to get rid of the dead body in Alona's hotel room ... but when they find out Alona's trick Gill is on his way over, they realize they need to hide the body ...


EXT. STARLIGHT HOTEL - PARK BENCH - NIGHT
Feo sits on the bench.

Watching the commotion
at the crime scene.

Starts flipping through websites
on his smart phone.

FEO
(looks)
Maybe I can find something about it --
(stares)
Holy SHIT.

ON THE PHONE
We see the robbery at
Davey Jones’ Liquor Locker
unfolding in grainy black and white.

And there’s our plucky little killer,
Holly -- blowing gang-banger’s brains out.

FEO
Stares at the screen.

FEO
I just SAW her somewhere.

Gill walks up to the bench
carrying a suitcase.

Gestures toward the news vans,
the cops, the onlookers.

GILL
What’s going on over there?

FEO
Liquor store holdup.

GILL
Why all the media?

FEO
Three people were killed.
Tworobbers and the clerk.
(looks at the screen)
What I can’t figure out
is how the girl was involved.

These guys were serious gang-bangers,
and she looks like Tori Amos.

INT. ALONA’S SHITTY HOTEL ROOM - AT THAT MOMENT
Beggar shuts off his phone.

Looks at Alona and Holly,
sitting on the bed together.
Sipping vodka in their plastic cups.

BEGGAR
It’s all set.
Vlad’ll be here at five AM.
Problem is, he wants
five grand to take care of it.

ALONA
FIVE THOUSAND?
We don’t have that kind of scratch.

BEGGAR
How much do you have?

ALONA
I’ve got a couple hundred saved,
but that’s for an emergency.

BEGGAR
What the fuck do you think THIS is?

ALONA
Alright, alright.
Don’t get your speedo in a bind.

She gets up goes to the desk.
Opens up a drawer.

Takes out a book. Opens it.
We see it’s hollowed-out.

She pulls out a wad of cash.
Starts counting it.

BEGGAR
(to Holly)
What about you?
How much do you have?

HOLLY
I don’t know -- about fifty bucks?
I don’t get paid at the book store
until day after tomorrow --

BEGGAR
Well, you better figure out
how to get more, because YOU
got us into this mess.

Alona finishes counting.
SLAPS the money in Beggar’s hand.

ALONA
Three hundred and twenty-six bucks, bucko.
Don’t spend it all in one place.

BEGGAR
Okay, so with Gidget’s fifty bucks,
we’re close to four hundred --

He takes out his wallet.
Counts his money.

BEGGAR
I’ve got hundred and ten --
(grins)
Wait a minute.
I’m freaking out, I’m not thinking.
I just got a bag of blow to sell.
I’ll make some calls --
(thinks)
Yeah. There’s that yuppie lawyer
asshole in Santa Monica --
(looks at Holly)
And if Gidget here can dig up some more,
we might be okay.

HOLLY
How am I supposed to get more money?

ALONA
Lay off her, Beggar.
She’s just a kid.
I can turn a couple of tricks --

A soft KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK at the door.
They all look at each other, scared.

GILL (O.C.)
Alona? Are you in there?
It’s me, Gill. Donna kicked me out --

ALONA
(whispers)
What the fuck?
(goes to the door)
Right now’s not a good time, Gill.
I’m kinda busy.

BEGGAR
(whispers)
Gill? The teacher? The trick?
(off her nod)
Tell him to meet you in the bar,
we’ll get outta here,
and you can do him.

GILL (O.C.)
Alona?

ALONA
I have company, Gill.
Beggar’s here.
Meet me downstairs in the bar
in a couple minutes, okay?

GILL (O.C.)
Okay, okay -- thank you, my love.
I’ll see you down in the bar.

BEGGAR
(looks at Holly)
Okay, we’re outta here.

HOLLY
What about --
(points at the body)
Him?

BEGGAR
Shit.
(thinks)
Under the bed.
(to Alona)
C’mon, help me.

ALONA
Over my dead --
(beat)
Okay.

Beggar and Alona each take an end
of Oscar’s body.
Start to slide it toward the bed.

ALONA
He’s so -- stiff.

BEGGAR
Why do you think they call it
a fucking STIFF?

They start to push him under the bed,
but his stomach’s too big.
Doesn’t quite fit.

ALONA
Shit.

BEGGAR
C’mon, PUSH.

Beggar and Alona put their hands
on his side, and PUSH.

It doesn’t move.

BEGGAR
HARDER.

They PUSH again. Nothing.

HOLLY
Let me try.

ALONA
You fucking kidding me?

BEGGAR
(stands back)
Be my guest.

Holly takes a few steps back,
races toward the body,
and KICKS it with animal strength.
It POPS under the bed, THWUNK.

ALONA
Holy shit.

BEGGAR
How did you --

HOLLY
(faint smile)
Used to play soccer.

Alona pulls the bedspread down, hiding it.

ALONA
Okay, you guys split.
Time for me to get in character.

BEGGAR
Oh, yeah? What character?

PUSH IN ON Alona.
Resigned to her fate.

ALONA
Used to be Lady Madonna.
(beat)
Now it’s Lady Macbeth --

Friday, September 12, 2014

The Human Remains Of The Day


Hey there, crime kids. Thank god it's Friday. 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 10 of BLUE HOTEL, drug dealer Beggar Leck gets a return call from crime boss Vlad Vlaovic about getting help with removing the dead body from hooker Alona Tal's dive hotel room, but flips out when Vlad tells him that not only will it cost him 5k, but then he'll also become 'part of the family' ...


INT. ALONA’S SHITTY HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT
Alona and Holly sit on the bed,
drinking vodka from plastic cups.

Beggar looks out the window
at the action outside.

Takes hits of a joint.
Passes it to Alona.

ALONA
(takes it)
Thanks --

HOLLY
It seemed to happen
in slow motion --

ALONA
(takes a hit)
Fucking unreal.

HOLLY
It all happened so fast.
There was no time to think.

BEGGAR
(turns, looks)
Our little girl’s good
with knives AND guns --

Beggar’s phone RINGS.
He pulls it out.
Answers it.

BEGGAR
About fucking time --
(listens)
Vlad, hey.
Yeah, it’s urgent.
We’ve got a -- a situation here.
We need your help.
(listens)
There was a -- an accident.
Someone was killed.
We need help getting
rid of the body.
(listens)
Yeah.
The Starlight Hotel,
right on the boardwalk.
(listens)
What do you mean
it’s on the news?
Nobody knows about it --
(realizes)
That’s something else.
Somebody jacked the
corner liquor store --
(listens)
Well, yeah --
there’s cops around.
But they’ll go away.
(listens)
In the morning? But --
(listens)
FIVE GRAND?

INTERCUT WITH:

INT. SLEAZY APARTMENT - NIGHT
Vlad sits on an overstuffed sofa
in his opium den of a joint.

Smoking a cigarette.
Talking on his phone.

VLAD
Did you think we would
provide service for FREE?

BEGGAR
Well, since you put it that way --

VLAD
And you do realize we will
ask you to return the favor?
That you will become
part of family?

BEGGAR
Yeah.
Of course.

VLAD
Good.
We’ll be there at five AM.
Before sunrise.

BEGGAR
Okay.
Thanks.

VLAD
No.
Thank you --

He hangs up.
Pours a shot of vodka.

DOWNS it.
Calls out.

VLAD
Anya, I have news.

ANYA (O.C.)
Oh, yeah?
What is news?

ANYA TURGENEV (20’s)
walks into the room.

Hot. Cold. Curvy.
Raven-haired.

Blood red lips.
Former stripper.

Miles of milk white legs.
Serpent tattoo near the hemline.

Ouch.

VLAD
Road trip.

ANYA
Ooh. Goody. Where to?

VLAD
Venice Beach, baby.

ANYA
What is job?

VLAD
Disposal of -- human remains.

ANYA
Ahhhhh.
You know how to
make girl happy.

VLAD
Come to Poppa, my kinky one.

She does.
Crawls into his lap.
He strokes her hair.

ANYA
(sings softly)
'They asked me how I knew,
my true love was true -- '

VLAD
(sings)
'I of course replied,
when a true love dies -- '

ANYA
'Blood gets in your eyes.'
They stare at each other. Then ERUPT with mad laughter.

Thursday, September 11, 2014

From Brassiere To Eternity


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 9 of BLUE HOTEL, wannabe writer Holly Land returns to hooker Alona Tal's dive hotel room on the Venice boardwalk after the liquor store robbery with vodka splattered with blood. Meanwhile, private school teacher Gill Sherry's wife Donna discovers he cheated on her with Alona, and throws him out of the house.


INT. ALONA’S SHITTY HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT
Alona sits on the bed.
Beggar paces the room.

CLICKS his cell phone
shut with disgust.

BEGGAR
Fucking Russian bastard --

A soft KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK
at the door.

ALONA
Holly?

HOLLY (O.S.)
Yeah.

Beggar goes to the door. Opens it.
Holly comes in carrying her box.

Stares at them.
Looking spooked.

ALONA
Holly?
What’s wrong?

Holly goes to the bed. Sits.
Puts down the box. Stares.

HOLLY
There was -- a robbery.

Alona opens the box.
Looks inside.

Takes out the vodka bottles.
Sees that they’re blood-splattered.

ALONA
What the hell HAPPENED?

BEGGAR
What did you DO?

Holly takes out
a bottle of vodka.
Unscrews the cap.

Takes a long drink.
Sighs. Wipes her mouth.

HOLLY
I went to the liquor store --
a-and these gang-bangers
robbed it --
(another drink)
And they, and they --

She breaks down. Sobbing.
Alona takes her in her arms.

Comforts her.
Strokes her hair.

ALONA
There, there.
It’s okay.

A siren WHOOP-WHOOPS outside.
Beggar goes to the window.
Opens it. Looks out.

BEGGAR
Holy fucking shit.
It’s like an episode of COPS
out there --

INT. GILL’S BUNGALOW - BATHROOM - AT THAT MOMENT
A cloud of steam swirls
around the bathroom.

Behind the rippled
glass of the door,
we see a MALE FIGURE.

IN THE SHOWER
Gill is soaping
and scrubbing himself.

His face stuck under
the hot spray of water.
Eyes closed.

GILL
(sings, ala My Sharona)
'M-m-m-my Alona --- '

Soapy hands reach down.
Massaging his manhood.
He smiles.

GILL
'Never gonna give it up,
never gonna stop,
such a dirty mind -- '

His body JERKS.

GILL
'Ooh, you make my
motor run, motor run -- '

DONNA (O.C.)
GILL!
Get THE FUCK out
of the shower RIGHT NOW!

Gill’s eyes FLY OPEN.
He stops jerking off.
What the fuck?

He turns off the water.
Opens the shower door.

DONNA
Stands in the bathroom doorway.
Eyes blazing.

GILL
What’s wrong?
Jesus Christ, you scared
the fucking shit out of me.

He grabs a towel.
Wraps it around his waist.

DONNA
I called Sheila,
Brub’s wife --

GILL
What?

DONNA
(hisses)
You didn’t have
drinks with him.
He’s HOME SICK.

GILL
Did I say Brub?
I mean Bob --

She holds up a pair
of his underwear.

DONNA
And I found these
in the hamper.
They're ENCRUSTED
with COME STAINS.

GILL
Donna, I can EXPLAIN --

DONNA
Bull-fucking SHIT.
You’ve been fucking
CHEATING ON ME AGAIN,
and I want you OUT OF
MY FUCKING HOUSE -- NOW!

GILL
Wait, can’t we talk about this?

DONNA
(screams)
What the FUCK is
there to TALK ABOUT?
You’re screwing ANOTHER WOMAN,
AGAIN.
(hisses)
If it’s one of
your fucking students,
I swear I’m gonna
call the cops myself.
(STOMPS her foot)
Get the FUCK out of
my house, NOW.

GILL
But --

Donna GRABS a bottle of shampoo.
THROWS it at him.
It HITS him in the chest, THWAP.

DONNA
GET OUT! NOW!

GILL
Okay, ALRIGHT.
(eyes tearing up)
No need for you get violent --

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Balls For Breakfast


Hey there, crime kids. Happy Hump Day. 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 8 of BLUE HOTEL, dead agent Oscar Goldman's assistant Feo checks with the front desk at the Venice Beach dive hotel where he was killed, to no avail. Meanwhile, wannabe writer Holly Land goes to the local liquor joint to score some vodka ... and walks right into an armed robbery ...


INT. THE STARLIGHT HOTEL - FRONT DESK - NIGHT
A tiny room. Beyond old and weathered. Peeling paint.
A single desk lamp shines over --

THE CLERK (50’s), a tall, skinny,
strange-looking ex-hippie with a
of long white hair.

Bad false teeth.
A hawk-like nose.

Which right now has a finger in it,
digging for gold.

Meet BUNKY MERTZ,
glory days now long-gone.

Natty in a tie-dyed Grafeful Dead T-shirt
and parachute pants.

Film Biz walks up to the counter.
Sees Bunky. Looks worried.

BUNKY
Evenin’. Can I help you?

FILM BIZ ASSISTANT
Hi. I’m looking for my boss.
He’s a guest at your --
(looks around distastefully)
Hotel.

BUNKY
What’s his name?

FILM BIZ ASSISTANT
Oscar Goldman.

BUNKY
(opens the register)
When did he check in?

FILM BIZ ASSISTANT
Last night.

Bunky scans the names with a
long, nicotine-stained finger.

BUNKY
Goldman, Goldman --
(finishes)
Nope. No Goldman.

FILM BIZ ASSISTANT
Did you did that kinda quickly.
Do you mind checking again?

BUNKY
Only one person checked in tonight.
(squints)
Greta Bruckheimer.
(grins)
German tourist.

FILM BIZ ASSISTANT
(to himself)
Shit. That’s right --
(to Bunky)
Wait a minute.
He was visiting a guest of yours,
not checking in.
Maybe you saw him.
He’s average height, dark hair,
wearing an expensive suit?

BUNKY
Sorry, just got here.
I’m the night man.

FILM BIZ ASSISTANT
(sighs)
Okay. Thanks --
(pulls out his card, gives it)
If you see him,
would you please call me?
It’s REALLY urgent.

BUNKY
(nods)
Will do.
(smiles)
Have a good night, man.
(watches him leave, under his breath)
Yuppie capitalist pig --

EXT. STARLIGHT HOTEL - NIGHT - MOMENTS LATER
Film Biz stands on the boardwalk
talking on his smart phone.

FILM BIZ ASSISTANT
Hey, it’s Feo.
I’m flipping out here.
I’ve got the new Parker script
for Oscar to read tonight,
and I can’t find him.
Did he call Nigel,
say where he was going?
(listens)
Shit.
(listens)
Yeah, the new Parker script.
You know what’s gonna happen
if I DON’T get it to him tonight?
(listens)
'Balls for breakfast'
doesn’t BEGIN to cover it --

EXT. DAVEY JONES’ LIQUOR LOCKER - NIGHT
An old, nasty liquor store
on a cobblestoned side street.

A hand-lettered sign in the window
reads NO CHECKS.

A pair of tiny, VICIOUS-LOOKING
GANG-BANGERS (20’s) loiter outside.

Holly eyes them.
Hurries into the store.
In a daze.

INT. DAVEY JONES’ LIQUOR LOCKER - CONTINUOUS
Holly glides over to the counter.
Looks at the row of vodka bottles.

The CLERK, a tall Rasta in shades (30’s)
with dreads down to his waist ambles over.
'No woman, no cry' indeed.

RASTA WEARING SHADES
What can I get you, mon?

HOLLY
Can I get --
(looks)
Two bottles of Absolut?

RASTA WEARING SHADES
(grins)
Absolutely.
(turns, grabs the bottles)
You havin’ a party?

The gang-bangers BURST into the store.
Holding small, piece-of-shit gats.

The taller one RUSHES the counter.
PUSHES Holly out of the way.
She hits the floor, THWUMP.

TALLER, VICIOUS-LOOKING GANG-BANGER
(SHOVES the gun in Rasta’s face)
Open the register, homes -- NOW!

Rasta stares at him wide-eyed.
Must be the sticky kush.

UNDER THE COUNTER
With one hand, he reaches
for a sawed-off shotgun.

BEHIND THE COUNTER
With the other, he opens the drawer.
Starts to grab the cash.

TALL RASTA
Okay, mon -- easy now.
I give you the money --

HOLLY
Lies on the floor.
Staring at them. Freaking out.

TALLER, VICIOUS-LOOKING
Waves the gun, impatient.

TALLER, VICIOUS-LOOKING GANG-BANGER
Hurry up, MOTHERFUCKER.

RASTA
FLIPS the gun up.
SHOOTS Tall’s head off. BANG.

Blood, brains and bone SPLATTER
the display behind him.

His piece goes FLYING,
skitters across the floor --

Landing right next to Holly.
She GRABS it.

SHORT, UGLY GANG-BANGER
Races toward the counter. SCREAMING.

Shoots Rasta in the head.
BANG. BANG. BANG. BANG. BANG.

RASTA
Falls over, dead. THWUNK.

SHORT, UGLY
Races over to the counter.
Scoops up the money into
a plastic shopping bag.
GRABS a bottle of something expensive.

HOLLY
Stands behind him.
Holding her gun in both hands.

HOLLY
(screeches)
DON’T MOVE!
Or I’ll fucking SHOOT!

SHORT, UGLY GANG-BANGER
(whirls around)
Fuck you, BITCH.

Holly SHOOTS him in the shoulder.
BANG. He DROPS the bag.

SHORT, UGLY GANG-BANGER
What THE FUCK?

HOLLY
SHUT UP!

And she FIRES again.
BANG. BANG. BANG.

Gets him in the arm.
The leg. He falls, GASPING.

The bottle hits the floor. POP.
Booze and blood start to form
a sick-looking puddle.

SHORT, UGLY GANG-BANGER
Fucking CUNT. You SHOT ME --

He lies there. Bleeding.
Struggles to raise his gun.

SHORT, UGLY GANG-BANGER
I’m gonna -- kill ---

She moves closer.
Fires again. BANG.

Gets him right between the eyes.
Lights out. Holly SCREAMS.

HOLLY
FUUUCK!

MALE VOICE (O.C.)
Holy SHIT.

Holly turns. Looks.
Sees a CROWD OF PEOPLE outside the door.

sticks the gun in her pants.
GRABS the bottles of vodka --

And RACES into the back of the store.

CLOSE ON --
A video camera on the ceiling.
Red light BLINKING.

IN THE BACK ALLEY
Holly runs toward the street.
Stops. Sees a small cardboard box.

Puts the vodka bottles in it.
Hurries on her way.

ON THE BOARDWALK
Holly walks carefully, looking around.

Sees a big CROWD gathering ahead.
POLICE OFFICERS. A NEWS VAN pulls up.

HOLLY
I need a DRINK --

She gets to entrance of the hotel.
RUNS up the stairs.

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

A Little Stress-Reliever


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 7 of BLUE HOTEL, in the absence of 'help' from his Russian criminal friends, drug dealer Beggar Leck tells hooker Alona Tal and wannabe writer Holly Land they're gonna have to take care of the dead agent's body themselves. But the plot thickens when Holly goes out to get more booze, and runs into the agent's assistant ...


INT. HOLLY'S SHITTY HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT
A KNOCK-KNOCK on the door.
Alona walks over.

Opens it.
Beggar stumbles in.

BEGGAR
Honey, I’m home --

ALONA
Hey, babe.

BEGGAR
(looking at Holly)
How’s Junior Miss holding up?

ALONA
She’s okay.
(looks at Holly)
Right, hun?

HOLLY
I guess so.

BEGGAR
(looks at the body)
I called Vlad,
left a voice mail.
Hasn’t called me back yet.

ALONA
Shit.
What are we gonna do?

BEGGAR
We’ve got two choices --
either wait for him
to call back, or
take care of it ourselves.

ALONA
Take care of it OURSELVES?

BEGGAR
I say we get high,
screw our brains out,
and wait for him to call.
(smiles)
Be a lot more fun than
disposing of a dead body,
don’t you think?
(looks at Holly)
Whattya say, girlie?
A little stress-reliever?

HOLLY
Oh no, I can’t --
(looks at the body, shivers)
Not with --

ALONA
Horny bastard.
Not with a dead body
in the room.
(beat)
Can’t you see
she’s freaked out?

BEGGAR
(looks at the body)
Guess you’re right.

He goes to the table.
Picks up the
empty vodka bottle.

BEGGAR
We need more booze.

HOLLY
(jumps up)
I’ll go.
I need to get some air.

ALONA
Good idea.
I’ll roll up a couple of joints
for when you get back.

Beggar pulls out his wallet.
Gives Holly some cash.

BEGGAR
Here.
Get a couple of liters
of the good stuff,
Absolut or Grey Goose. Plain.
None of that flavored shit.

HOLLY
(takes it)
Okay.
I’ll be right back.

She goes to the door.

ALONA
It’ll be okay, babe.
Hurry back.
We’ll figure it out.

Holly flashes a
strange smile. Leaves.

Beggar sits next to
Alona on the bed.
Strokes her hair.

BEGGAR
How about a quickie
while she’s --

ALONA
(WHACKS his hand away)
Didn’t you hear me?
Not with a fucking
dead body in the room.

BEGGAR
Alright, alright.
(pulls out phone)
I’ll try Vlad the Impaler again.

Alona opens a cigar box
on the bedside table.

Pulls out a bag of weed.
Some rolling papers.
Starts making a joint.

ALONA
Fucking Russians. Unreliable.
(licks the paper)
And they call themselves ‘criminals.’

EXT. VENICE BOARDWALK - STARLIGHT HOTEL - NIGHT
Holly walks out the front entrance.
Stops. Looks at --

A STREET PERFORMER (30’s),
a small, compact black guy,
wearing nothing but
a black thong and sneakers,
hair tied back in a bun.

Ambling down the boulevard.
Commuting home.

She stares. Shakes her head.
Turns. Starts walking.

Coming right toward her is a
FILM BIZ ASSISTANT (25),
geeky in a black suit and tie.

Carrying a big envelope.
He sees Holly.

FILM BIZ ASSISTANT
Excuse me, Miss -- ?

HOLLY
(stops)
Yeah?

FILM BIZ ASSISTANT
Is there a hotel near here?

HOLLY
(points behind her)
Yeah. The Starlight.
Just a few doors down.

She weaves a little.
Tries for a smile.

FILM BIZ ASSISTANT
(looks, sees it)
Thanks.

HOLLY
Sure.

Holly continues walking.
He watches her.

FILM BIZ ASSISTANT
God, I love this neighborhood --

Monday, September 8, 2014

She Blinded Me With Science


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 6 of BLUE HOTEL, private school teacher Gill Sherry returns home to his wife Donna after his tryst with hooker Alona Tal, smelling of sex. Meanwhile, at the Starlight motel on the Venice Beach boardwalk, Alona and wannabe writer Holly Land start preparing to move the dead agent's body ...


EXT. SANTA MONICA SIDE STREET - NIGHT
The moon glows like ghostly spectre
through dark velvet clouds.
Not a star in the sky.

A leafy avenue a few blocks
from Main Street.

Not the cheap seats, but close.
But still only ten blocks
from the ocean.

A late-model Volvo comes
tooling down the street.
Turns into -

EXT. SUBURBAN BUNGALOW - NIGHT
A small, neat bungalow
with a manicured lawn.

And yes, with a white picket fence.
The kinda joint I’ll be able to buy
when I sell this screenplay.

The car pulls into the driveway.
Stops. Gill gets out.

Weaves up the sidewalk into
the front door of the house.

INT. GILL’S BUNGALOW - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
A small, neat room with the
typical funky decor of a liberal teacher.

Rows of books on shelves.
African art.

Right now, in shadows.

Gill walks into the room.
Puts his briefcase down.

FEMALE VOICE (O.C.)
Student conferences run late?

The light SNAPS ON.
In the entranceway stands
DONNA (40’s), Gill’s wife.

Still attractive, but looks weary.
Worried. Alabaster skin. No makeup.
Could be a cougar, if she tried.

GILL
Hey, hon.
(yawns)
Yeah.
Then I had a couple of beers
with Brub.

She walks up to him.
Puts her arms around him.
He tenses.

DONNA
'A couple of beers?'
You reek of booze --

GILL
Yeah, well --
we had a couple of shots.
He needed to talk.
Guy stuff, you know.
How was your day?

DONNA
The usual.
Another exciting day
in the chem lab.

GILL
(faint smile)
She blinded me with science --

DONNA
There’s Thai food in the fridge.
I could nuke some for you --

GILL
(pulls away from her)
Thanks, but I’m beat.
I’m gonna hit the sack.
Gonna go jump in the shower.
See you upstairs.

DONNA
(faint smile)
Be there in a sec.

He nods. Turns, and walks away
into the rear of the house.

PUSH IN ON Donna’s face.
Watching him suspiciously.

INT. ALONA’S SHITTY HOTEL ROOM - AT THAT MOMENT
The dead agent’s been
turned over on his stomach.

We can see the scissor handles
sticking out of his back.

Alona mops up the blood with a towel.
Holly sits on the bed, staring.
Holding the bottle.

ALONA
God, this is disgusting.
It’s all I can do not to puke --

She tosses the towel
into a plastic bucket.

Now filled with bloody towels.
She looks at Holly.

ALONA
Can I get a hit of that?

Holly holds it up-side down.
Empty.

HOLLY
All gone.
Sorry --

ALONA
Shit.
(thinks)
I’ve got some weed.
We’ll smoke one when we’re done.
Let’s wrap him up, okay?

HOLLY
Okay.
Be right back --

She slides off the bed.
Puts the bottle down.
Pads into --

THE BATHROOM
Where she RIPS the shower curtain
off its rings. She stops.

Looks at her reflection
in the mirror.

Haunted.
Scared.

HOLLY
Mirror, mirror, on the wall --
(hiccups)
Who’s the most fucked-up of all?

IN THE BEDROOM
Holly drags the curtain behind her.
Walks over to Alona and the body.
Places it down on the floor.

ALONA
Some fucked-up picnic, huh?

HOLLY
How can you make jokes
at a time like this?
Aren’t you -- scared?
I am --

ALONA
Watching daddy beat mommy
as a little girl gives a gal
a strange sense of humor.

HOLLY
Ohmigod, I’m sorry.
That must have been -- horrible.

ALONA
It was long time ago, baby.
C’mon, let’s roll up Oscar.
Get him ready for shipping.

HOLLY
That was -- his name?

Alona nods.
Goes over to the body.

Starts rolling him
onto the shower curtain.
Singing softly.

ALONA
My baloney has a first name,
it’s O-S-C-A-R --
(looks at Holly)
Could you give me a hand?
Fucker’s heavy.
(beat)
Dead weight --

She BURSTS into insane laughter.
Holly stares. Shakes her head.

Gets on her knees next to her.
They roll him onto the edge
of the curtain.
Alona grabs the edge.

ALONA
Okay, now --
like a fruit roll-up,
let’s wrap ‘em up.

They hold the curtain
against his side,
and start rolling him up like
some kind of ungodly burrito.

He goes over and over,
making a sickening THUMP each time.
They finish. Exhausted.

Holly goes to the bed. Sits.
Puts her head in her hands.

HOLLY
I’m going to hell for this --

Alona sits next to her.
Cradles her in her arms.

ALONA
Honey, didn’t you know?
(beat)
We’re already there --

Friday, September 5, 2014

My Bloody Valentine


Happy Friday, 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 5 of BLUE HOTEL, hooker Alona Tal and wannabe writer Holly Land have to deal with the dead body of the agent Holly killed in Alona's hotel room, so Alona calls her boyfriend, drug dealer Beggar Leck for some help ...


INT. ALONA'S SHITTY HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT
Alona goes over to the dead body.
Stares at it.

Holly sits on the bed.
Head in her hands.

HOLLY
I’m so sorry, Alona -- I fucked up.

ALONA
It’s okay.
He was a jerk.

HOLLY
(looks up)
So who was he?

ALONA
A rich, kinky asshole.
Scum of the earth.

HOLLY
A, a -- lawyer?

ALONA
Worse --
(beat)
An agent.
(thinks)
I gotta call Beggar.
He’ll know what to do.

Alona gets her cell phone.
Dials a number. Listens.

ALONA
Hey, baby -- it’s me.

INTERCUT WITH:

INT. BEGGAR’S BMW CONVERTIBLE - MOVING - NIGHT
Beggar drives with the top down.

BEGGAR
(on the phone)
What’s wrong?
You sound funny.

ALONA
Well, seeing as how there’s
a dead body in my room --
you’d 'sound funny,' too.

BEGGAR
What the FUCK?

ALONA
My trick, the agent.
We were playing
‘What’s My Bondage,’
Holly heard the commotion
and came in to rescue me --

Holly stares.
Fighting back tears.

Goes to the table.
Gets Alona’s bottle of vodka.

Opens it.
Takes a long slug.

ALONA
(watches her)
And stabbed him
with a pair of scissors.

BEGGAR
Jesus fucking CHRIST.

ALONA
No big loss.
The guy was a real asshole.
The world’s a better place
without him.

BEGGAR
But shit, Alona.
There's a dead guy
in your ROOM.

ALONA
Hey -- life gives you a lemon,
you make lemonade.
(beat)
Where are you?

BEGGAR
I’m on the 405,
getting near the 90.
I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.
Wrap him up in the shower curtain
start cleaning up the blood --

ALONA
Can’t YOU do that?

BEGGAR
Time is of the essence, Alona.
You want blood seeping through
the floor to the room below?

ALONA
Shit. Okay, okay.
(beat)
Are you gonna call your friends?

BEGGAR
Yeah.
They’ll TAKE CARE of it.

ALONA
You -- mad at me?

BEGGAR
No, not you.
It’s just -- they want me
to work for them full-time,
and if they help with this,
I’m gonna owe them.

ALONA
Owe them what?

BEGGAR
Let’s just say the new guy
to do the dirty work.
(sighs)
Just get started,
and I’ll be there soon.

ALONA
Out, out damn spot.

BEGGAR
Huh?

ALONA
Never mind.
Just hurry up and get
your ass over here,
my bloody valentine.

INT. ALONA’S SHITTY HOTEL ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Alona looks at Holly.
Drinking vodka from the bottle.

Grimacing. Looking lost.
Then at Oscar’s dead body.

And the growing pool
of blood around it.

ALONA
Gimmee some of that.
We’ve got our work cut out for us.

HOLLY
(hands her the bottle)
What -- do you mean?

ALONA
Beggar’s on his way.
He said we gotta mop up the blood,
then wrap up the body.
Do me a favor, and go down
to the front desk and
ask for some extra towels?

HOLLY
What should I say they’re for?

ALONA
(takes a swig)
I dunno, make something up.
Tell ‘em we’re having
a slumber party.

HOLLY
What are we gonna
wrap him up with?

ALONA
Shower curtain.

HOLLY
You mean -- like in Goodfellas?

ALONA
Nah.
More like Motel Hell --