Walk The Line

Hey there, crime kids. Happy 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 31 of FILLMORE, after working as on a prison fire crew and saving a family's life during a fire, after several attempts, Fillmore final gets paroled from prison ...


INT. WORK ASSIGNMENT OFFICE - DAY
Slim sits in Johnny’s office again.

JOHNNY
You met HATTIE MCDANIEL?

SLIM
Nice lady. Much prettier in person.
(low, conspiratorial)
And she wanted my ass.

JOHNNY
God-damn. You’ve led quite the life, Slim.

SLIM
Yeah. And look where I am now.

JOHNNY
What would you think about working outside?
Lots of fresh air and exercise? Good food?
(meaningfully)
Conjugal visits?

SLIM
Conjugal visits?

PUSH IN ON Slim’s face. Excited.

EXT. OPEN FIELD - DAY
A beautiful day. Bright blue sky.
Rolling fields of green.

Slim looks at the beauty.
Big, beaming smile.

ANGRY VOICE (O.C.)
Clarence Sims. Wake the fuck up.
We’re fighting a FIRE here.

CAMERA pulls back to reveal --

Slim, wearing an orange jumpsuit,
along with a dozen other PRISONERS.

They’re cutting a fire trail with hoes.
A RAGING WILDFIRE blazes nearby
filling the sky with BLACK SMOKE.

Several GUARDS and PARK RANGERS
watch over them as they chop down the foliage.

EXT. STATE PARK - NIGHT
A row of sleeping bags lie near the picnic tables.
Slim and the other men BEAT the bags with sticks.
BIG SNAKE comes twisting and scurrying out of Slim’s bag.

SLIM
GOT one --

EXT. BARRACKS - DAY
A series of barracks like those on a military base.
Not fancy, but a hell of a lot better than prison.

INT. MESS HALL - DAY
Slim sits with the prisoners eating lunch at long tables.
It’s quite a feast. Fried chicken. Mashed potatoes.
Greens. Rolls. Pitchers of ice tea.

The men chow down, enjoying the hearty fare.
It’s a rowdy bunch, enjoying themselves.

INT. BUNGALOW - DAY
A plain but clean single room.
Slim stands at the front door
saying goodbye to Wife’s Sister,
who we recognize from the visitor’s room scene.

SLIM
(kisses her)
You make this man feel alive again, baby.

PRETTY GIRL
And you make this girl feel --
(shyly)
Kinda naughty.

SLIM
But you said you’d done that before.

PRETTY GIRL
(blushes)
I lied.

He opens the door for her. She walks out.

EXT. BUNGALOW - DAY
We now see that Slim’s bungalow is one of many,
surrounded by chain-link fences topped with barbed wire.
She walks over to the gate and a GUARD lets her out.

INT. PAROLE BOARD HEARING ROOM - DAY
Three PAROLE OFFICERS sit at a table.
Black, white and Hispanic.

All, deadly serious-looking.
Slim gets up from his seat. Looks at them.

SLIM
Thank you for your time, gentlemen.

EXT. PAROLE BOARD HEARING ROOM - OUTSIDE CORRIDOR - DAY
Slim walks down the corridor holding a red slip of paper.
Another INMATE (30’s) walks by, sees it.

INMATE
Sorry, Slim. Maybe next time.

EXT. MOUNTAINS - DAY
Picture-postcard gorgeous.
Except for a FLOOD that’s raging in the valley.

Slim carries a BIG, FAT WOMAN (30’s) on his back,
and her FAT SON (10) under his arm.

EXT. ROADSIDE - DAY
Slim puts Fat Woman and Fat Kid down on the ground, now safe.

FAT WOMAN
Oh, Mr. National Guard Man, thank you so much for saving us.

SLIM
Lady, we’re not with the National Guard. We’re prisoners --

A group of other INMATES nearby hear this, start LAUGHING.

EXT. PAROLE BOARD HEARING ROOM - OUTSIDE CORRIDOR - DAY
Slim walks down the corridor holding a white slip of paper,
smiling and humming to himself.
A GUARD walks by, sees it. Smiles at him.

SMILING GUARD
Congratulations, son.

SLIM
(nods)
You have a nice day, officer.

EXT. JAMESTOWN PRISON - DAY
The main gate opens. Slim walks out,
dressed again in his pimp finery.

Nobody’s there to greet him.
In fact, nobody’s there at all.
He looks up at the sky. Smiles wistfully.

EXT. GREYHOUND BUS - MOVING - DAY
The big bus cruises down the freeway heading south.

INT. GREYHOUND BUS - MOVING - DAY
Packed with STUDENTS, a FAMILY with a CRYING BABY,
SINGLES, a sprinkling of OLD PEOPLE --
And SLIM, sitting in the back,
looking out of place, staring out the window.

SLIM
(mutters to himself)
I wish someone would shut that fucking baby up.
An OLD WOMAN (60’S) sitting next to him gives him a look.

OLD WOMAN

Well, I never.
SLIM
No shit.

THROUGH THE WINDOW
We see a sign. SAN FRANCISCO, 100 MILES.

The Longest Yard

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 30 Of FILLMORE, Slim adjusts to life in prison, which becomes more than a bit dreary for over a year ... until his family finally comes to visit ...


EXT. JAMESTOWN PRISON - DAY
An imposing fortress of cement walls,
barb wire and ARMED SENTRIES.
Looking even more gray on an overcast day.

INT. JAMESTOWN PRISON - WORK ASSIGNMENT OFFICE - DAY
A small, dimly-lit cluttered office.

Seated behind his desk is JOHNNY DAY (50’s)
tall and thin like Slim with a neatly trimmed beard
and wearing tons of gold jewelry.

JOHNNY
I was a pimp, too.
Worked a track in Reno.
Had me a whole stable of fillies.

Slim eyes him. Knows he’s full of shit, but plays along.
SLIM
You don’t say.

JOHNNY
I’m just bullshitting you.
I just like the high style of the playas.
(big smile)
Now let’s get down to your job assignment.

EXT. PRISON - DAY
A big GARBAGE TRUCK pulls up
to trash cans outside the kitchen.

Slim is behind the wheel.
A MAN on the back JUMPS off.

Goes to the cans.
Starts dumping them into the truck.

IN THE TRUCK
Slim looks out the window at the guard tower.


EXT. PRISON EXERCISE YARD - DAY
Groups of PRISONERS hang out.
Lifting weights. Walking the perimeter.

Slim walks into the yard.
People recognize him, whisper to each other.
Acknowledge him as he walks by.

UGLY BRUISER
Fillmore Slim, my MAN.

A GAY LATINO KID (20) comes up to him.

GAY LATINO KID
Oh, Fillmore. I want to be yours. Take me, poppy.

SLIM
Back up off me. I ain’t into that.
Don’t be playing that shit with me.
It’s cool, but I’m not down with that.

A FIGHT breaks out in the background.
A couple of PRISONS go at it, punching each other.

INT. JAIL CELL - NIGHT
A plain, six-by-eight cell. One tiny, barred window.
Slim lies on his bed listening to the radio.

He stares off into space.
His CELLMATE (30’s) a big black guy takes a piss.

DISC JOCKEY (V.O.)
Remember, folks. Smoke Camels. Every inch a real smoke.
(beat)
Now it’s time for a little Sly and The Family Stone --

We hear the familiar strains of EVERYDAY PEOPLE.
Slim faintly smiles, a bittersweet memory.
He sits up. Starts gently slapping his thighs to the beat.

SLY STONE (V.O.)
Sometimes I'm right, then I can be wrong,
My own beliefs are in my songs --

PUSH IN ON Slim’s face. Finding escape. The toilet FLUSHES.

INT. WORK ASSIGNMENT OFFICE - DAY
Slim sits across from Johnny.

JOHNNY
Sly Stone, huh. What was he like?

SLIM
He’s cool, man. A bit high-strung, but a righteous dude.
(touches his nose)
Likes the snow, you know?

JOHNNY
(nods his head, loving it)
Sly and the Family Stone --
(beat)
So how you liking driving the truck.

SLIM
Well, after a year, I don’t notice the smell so much.
You got anything else available?
(quickly, apologetic)
Don’t get me wrong, you done right by me. Was just curious.

JOHNNY
As a matter of fact, something just opened up --

INT. VISITORS’ MEETING ROOM - DAY
A long, long room with a long, long table down the middle of it.
On one side sit PRISONERS. On the other, their FAMILIES.
A chin-length glass partition runs down the middle of it.

GUARDS stand by, keeping an eye on things.
Off to the side, near the entrance stands
Slim with a POLAROID CAMERA.

A GLUM-LOOKING PRISONER (30’s) stands next to his
WIFE (30’s), DAUGHTER (10) and WIFE’S SISTER (20’s),
all of whom are trying real hard for a happy smile.
Slim points the camera.

GLUM-LOOKING PRISONER
This is my wife, my daughter and my wife’s sister.

Wife’s Sister smiles at Slim suggestively.

SLIM
Say cheese --

And he SNAPS the picture.
The BRIGHT FLASHBULB makes them BLINK.
He RIPS the film out of the camera.

SLIM
Now that was a real Kodak moment.

PUSH IN ON the little girl’s face.
Dying to be anywhere else.

IN MONTAGE:
We see a series of VISITOR’S PHOTOS.
A angry-looking YOUNG KID (20) and his BEAMING MOTHER (40’s).

An OLD INMATE (60’s) with his TWO SONS (40’s),
all staring blankly, stone-faced.

An EFFEMINATE INMATE (20’s) with his ‘friend,’ another queen.
Shyly smiling. Dying to hold hands.

A GOOD-LOOKING INMATE (30’s) with TWO WOMEN (20’s),
eyeing each other suspiciously.

We see the change in seasons
based on what each person is wearing.

Light spring clothes --
then barely-there summer clothes --
which give way to fall sweaters --
which changes to winter jackets and scarves.

Take No Prisoners

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 29 of FILLMORE, after Lottie and Flora give up Slim to the cops about his involvement about hiding the dead john they killed, he ends up going to court ... and then to prison.


EXT. CITY STREET - NIGHT
Slim’s girls work the stroll.
Lottie pulls out her smokes.

Sticks one in her mouth.
Searches through her purse for a light.
Can’t find one. Looks at Flora.

LOTTIE
Hey, Flora. You gotta light?

FLORA
Yeah.
She starts to go into her handbag,
and gets GRABBED by Dick Gamble.
Norm takes Lottie’s arm.

DICK
Come with us, ladies.

NORM
You’re under arrest.

INT. INTERROGATION ROOM - NIGHT
A plain cement room. A plain wooden table
with two metal folding chairs.

A two-way mirror on the far wall.
Norm sits facing Lottie.
Between them is a piece of paper and a pen.

LOTTIE
I can’t sign that.

NORM
They’ll make your life a living hell.

LOTTIE
It already IS.

NORM
Your kids will go to the state.

LOTTIE
Please. My KIDS. Don’t you dare fuck with my KIDS.

NORM
It’s out of my hands.
All you have to do is sign the complaint
against Slim for pandering.

Lottie breaks down. Starts crying. Norm gets up.

NORM
(as he leaves)
I’m sorry.

INT. INTERROGATION ROOM - DAY
The twin brother of the first room.
Flora sits at a table, facing Dick.
Looks at the piece of paper on the table.

FLORA
I’m fucking tired.
You’ve had me in this room for twelve hours.

DICK
Sign the complaint and you’re back
on the street in five minutes.

FLORA
I need some sleep. Please.

DICK
I’ll keep you in here for a week.
I don’t give a damn if you don’t sleep, ever.
This is your third time.
You’re facing at least three years.
And I’m gonna be at every parole hearing
to make sure you serve every minute of it.
(beat)
Or you can sign this complaint for pimping.

INT. BLUES CLUB - NIGHT
Dark. Smoky. Packed to the gills with
a mixed crowd jamming to the hot music.
Slim’s onstage playing his guitar
with SLY STONE (29) on his guitar.

SLY STONE
(sings)
Thank for lettin’ me be mice elf again --

Suddenly Dick Gamble walks onto the stage.
GRABS Slim by the collar.

Leans into the mike.
The band stops playing.

DICK
(loud, over the PA)
Fillmore Slim, you’re UNDER ARREST.
(to Sly)
Sorry for the inconvenience, Mr. Stone.

Norm takes Slim’s guitar off him.
Gamble, his jacket and hat.
Norm CUFFS his hands behind his back.

EXT. NIGHT CLUB - NIGHT
Gamble and Norm pull Slim
outside the club toward their car.

A throng of SPECTATORS and PRESS fight for a look.
Dick is now wearing Slim’s jacket and hat.

DICK
What do you think? Do I look like a pimp?

SLIM
You’ll never be a pimp. Ain’t got the balls.

EXCITED REPORTER
Is that your new look, Detective Gamble?

DICK
You know what they say, fellas -- when in Rome --

INT. WILLIE BROWN’S OFFICE - DAY
The corner office of a partner in a small law firm.
Nicely decorated. Willie leans back in
his leather chair behind his giant desk.
Slim sits in a wing chair in front him.

WILLIE
We have to take their deal.
They drop the pimping charge,
and you do two-and-a-half to three on the pandering.

SLIM
And if I don’t take the deal?

WILLIE
We go to trial.
We both know that their confessions were coerced,
but they have you by the balls.

INT. VACAVILLE PRISON - COUNSELLING OFFICES - DAY
The usual institutional cinder block walls
painted a pale puke color.

Slim and a BULKY PRISONER (20’s)
sit on metal folding chairs
waiting to speak with a counsellor.

SLIM
Why do they call her San Quentin Sally?

BULKY PRISONER
She sends all the white cons to Jamestown,
which isn’t so bad as prisons go --
and she sends us black folks to San Quentin,
where we do that real hard time.

SLIM
We’ll see about that.

INT. COUNSELLING OFFICES - DAY
SAN QUENTIN SALLY (50) sits behind
her plain desk in her plain office.
Slim sits in front of her in a wooden chair.

SAN QUENTIN SALLY
(looking over his file)
Clarence Sims, let’s see --

SLIM
I’m more well-known as Guitar Slim.

SAN QUENTIN SALLY
Guitar Slim?

SLIM
Yes, ma’am. I play the blues.
I’m a recording artist, too.
You might have heard my songs
BIG BRASS MONKEY and FAMILY MAN.

SAN QUENTIN SALLY
(smiles)
Can’t say I have --

SLIM
That was back in Los Angeles a few years ago.
I was also the house band at The Fillmore in San Francisco.
Opened for Sly Stone, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, The Grateful Dead --

SAN QUENTIN SALLY
(impressed)
I see.

SLIM
So, Miss Sally -- can I call you Miss Sally?
(off her nod)
I need your help, Miss Sally.
San Quentin is full of hardened criminals and violent men.
I’m an entertainer, a musician, and I’m afraid
if I were to be incarcerated there,
something bad might happen to me.

SAN QUENTIN SALLY
(looks at the file)
But it says here you were found guilty of pandering.

SLIM
Miss Sally, that was just a fork in the road
I took that I didn’t plan on.
I just wanted to play my music --
and women kept giving me money.
I didn’t ask them to.
(turns on the charm)
Trust me, I’ve learned the error of my ways,
and once I finish my sentence,
I plan on returning to playing music.

SAN QUENTIN SALLY
I see --

SLIM
Excuse me for asking,
but have you ever done any modeling?

From Brassiere To Eternity

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 28 of FILLMORE, the cops drag Slim to the morgue to identify the dead body of one of his hookers who was killed by the Zodiac Killer. After denying any involvement in her murder, he goes to visit his old friend Eddie, who's now recovering from his Viet Nam war wounds ...


EXT. CRYSTAL PARK - DAWN
A park underneath the Golden Gate Bridge.
And on the ground, a crime scene roped off.

A pair of CRIME SCENE TECHS work the area.
Taking pictures. Looking for evidence.

A FEMALE BODY (20’s) lies on the ground
covered by a sheet.

Two dapper WHITE HOMICIDE DETECTIVES (40’s)
chat with Gamble and Norm.

DARK-HAIRED HOMICIDE DETECTIVE
It’s the Zodiac, alright.
Breasts were cut off,
then all the blood was drained.

DICK
Mind if I take a look?

DARK-HAIRED HOMICIDE DETECTIVE
Go ahead. Knock yourself out.

Dick walks over to the body. Lifts the sheet.
Takes a look. Looks pale. Covers her back up.
Turns to the detective.

DICK
It’s one of Fillmore Slim’s girls.

DARK-HAIRED HOMICIDE DETECTIVE
We need someone to ID the body.

EXT. SLIM’S APARTMENT BUILDING - DAY
Slim comes out the front door.
Walks to his car.

A pair of UNIFORMED COPS (20’s) appear.
One of them grabs his arm.

TALL COP
Come with us.

SLIM
Am I under arrest?

TALL COP
Get in the car.

INT. CITY MORGUE - DAY
Dick and Norm chat with the CORONER (50’s)
a schlubby, white-haired gent standing
in front of a gurney with a body on it.

CORONER
She’s the twenty-fifth victim.

DICK
Fucker’s got it in for prostitutes.

NORM
It’s like he’s is mocking the department.

The Uniformed Cops bring Slim into the room.
Take him over to the Gamble.
He looks at the covered body. Then at Gamble.

SLIM
Why the fuck am I here?

Gamble stares at him. WHIPS off the sheet.
Slim looks at the dead hooker, expressionless.

DICK
You recognize her?
(off his silence)
This girl was murdered by the Zodiac Killer.
She was one of yours, wasn’t she?
(off his silence)
You’re fucking up our future.
Black people’s future.
Our family’s future.
Everything we’re trying to build here,
you’re fucking it up.

SLIM
You don’t get it, do you.
You’re just the same.
You’re a ho, working for The Man.

DICK
I’m trying to give you one last chance.
We know you didn’t kill one of your meal tickets.

SLIM
Can I go now?

Dick nods, stone-faced. Slim walks out.

NORM
Listen, I don’t want to speak out of turn --

DICK
Go ahead. Speak your mind.

NORM
I see what going after him is doing to you.
It’s turning you inside-out.
(off his look)
But where would you be without him?
You can’t get promoted unless you bust him.
We have to let all the respectable johns go.
We’re told who we can bust and who we can’t,
but we can’t even LIVE where we wanna live --
(beat)
What choices do black folks have in this city,
much less the whole country?
We all came here from the south looking for a new life --
and we found the same shit, dressed up differently.
But this is what we got. It was our choice.

DICK
I tried to give him another chance,
but now his ass belongs to me.

EXT. COUNTY MORGUE - DAY
Slim comes out of the building.
Pauses a moment on the steps.

Looks off into the distance.
Thinking. Lights a smoke.

SLIM
The catching comes before the hanging.

He starts down the steps.

EXT. PROJECTS - APARTMENT BUILDING - DAY
Slim pulls up in front a dilapidated tenement
in his Cadillac convertible.

We see a couple bags of groceries on the seat.
LITTLE KIDS come running up to the car.

The kids excitedly yells out things like ‘It’s Slim!’
He tosses them some candy bars,
grabs the groceries and goes in.

INT. TENEMENT BUILDING - CORRIDOR - DAY
Slim knocks on the door. An ELDERLY WOMAN (70’s) opens it.
Sees him. Clasps her hands together with joy.

ELDERLY WOMAN
Clarence Sims.

SLIM
Hello, Mrs. Jackson.
How are you this bright, sunshiny day?

INT. JACKSON APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - DAY
Clean, but threadbare.
Out of a time warp from a forgotten era.
Slim carries the groceries in.

Sees MR. JACKSON (70’s), her husband,
a thin, old guy who smiles at him.

MR. JACKSON
Well, if it isn’t Clarence Sims.

Mrs. Jackson takes the groceries from him,
hustles off to put them away in the kitchen.

SLIM
Good afternoon, Mr. Jackson.
It’s nice to see you again.

MR. JACKSON
You too, Clarence.

SLIM
How you doing today?

MR. JACKSON
Same ol’ same ol.’

INT. EDDIE’S BEDROOM - DAY
Eddie’s boyhood room. Kept just like he was a kid.
We see trophies, pennants and sports posters.

Eddie sits in a wheelchair, looks out the window.
Slim comes in. Sits next to him. Looks out the window.

SLIM
Hey, Eddie.

EDDIE
(turns and looks)
Slim. I didn’t hear you come in.

Slim pulls out a joint. Lights it. Takes a hit.
Hands it to Eddie, who takes it. Takes a big toke.

EDDIE
You look tired.

SLIM
I am tired. Been workin’ too hard.

EDDIE
At least you can work.

SLIM
I told you, fuck the military.
Nam fucked you up. Stupid war.

EDDIE
I was doing my duty.

SLIM
Yeah, but now you got nothin.’

EDDIE
Thanks for sending money to my parents every week.

SLIM
That’s what friends are for. We go way back.

EDDIE
So how’s the music going? Doing any shows lately?

SLIM
Eddie --
(beat)
He killed one of my girls.

Slim is on the verge of tears.
Eddie puts his hand on his shoulder.
We hold on this a long beat.

The Wild, Wild West

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 27 of FILLMORE, after putting on his vintage cowboy outfit, complete with six-shooters, Fillmore gets even with Big Curtis for stealing his girls by shooting up the coffee house he hangs out at ...


EXT. PENNY’S COFFEE SHOP - NIGHT
Slim pulls up to the curb in a
burnt orange Cadillac convertible.
Gets out. Walks in.

INT. PENNY’S COFFEE SHOP - NIGHT
Slim CLOMP-CLOMPS inside.
Stands in the doorway.

Hands on his holsters.
The pimps turn and look.
BURST into laughter.

GIANT PIMP
Look, Gene Autry just walked in.

BIG CURTIS
What the fuck is WRONG with you?
Stupid cowboy motherfucker.
You want another slap, bitch?

Slim DRAWS his guns.
Starts SHOOTING up the place.

Bullets go FLYING.
Everyone DUCKS, HITS the floor. BANG.

A flower pot SMASHES. BANG.
A cup of coffee EXPLODES.

Slim starts walking toward Curtis, still SHOOTING.
Curtis DODGES bullets as they PING-PING-PING
around the room. He HITS the floor.

Hides behind a turned-over table.
Bullets HIT the wood, splinters go FLYING.

Curtis SCRAMBLES away -- gets to the front window --
JUMPS -- and CRASHES through it.

EXT. PENNY’S COFFEE SHOP - NIGHT
Curtis SCRAMBLES across the pavement,
covered in broken glass.

RUNS to his parked car. JUMPS in.
JAMS his key in the ignition, HITS the gas --
and TAKES OFF, tires SCREECHING.

Slim trots outside.
Dashes over to his car. Gets in.
Drives off after him.

CURTIS’ CAR
RACES down a hill.
FLIES UP in the air.
CRASHES back down, BANG.

SLIM’S CAR
Follows him. Slows a bit.
Avoids making that move.

SLIM
Drives with one hand.
Pulls bullets off his belt
and reloads his gun with the other.

CURTIS
Sees a CITY BUS ahead of him
crossing the intersection,
SLAMS on the brakes. SCREECH.

SLIM
Catches up with him. Starts SHOOTING.

THE BUS
Passes by. Curtis HITS the gas.
TAKES OFF. His rear window EXPLODES.

BIG CURTIS
SHIT.

EXT. CITY STREET - NIGHT
Slim’s car follows Curtis’.
Curtis takes a turn into an alley.

SMASHES into a mailbox on the corner.
Takes out his front right headlight.
Slim’s car turns wide, follows.

IN THE ALLEY
Curtis’ car HITS a big oil puddle.
It SPLASHES onto his windshield.

His vision blocked, the car SWERVES,
SCRAPES against a brick wall, sparks FLYING.

He turns on the windshield wiper.
Clears off the oil.

Slim's car hangs back a bit.
He leans out the window. SHOOTS at him.
Bullets PING-PING-PING off the rear of his car.

Curtis HITS the gas, gets out of the alley,
and turns left, going downhill again.

EXT. CITY STREET - NIGHT
Slim’s car makes the turn, follows him.
An OLD DRUNK (60’s) is jaywalking
in the middle of the street,
moving at a glacial pace.

Big Curtis’ car SWERVES to miss him,
SCRAPES against a parked car,
then keeps going, tires SCREECHING.

Slim’s car carefully turns to the side,
passes the old man, then keeps going.

EXT. CITY STREET - BUS STOP BENCH - NIGHT
The cars FLY BY a young COUPLE
waiting for their bus.

EXT. CITY STREET - NIGHT
Big Curtis’ car SCREECHES to a stop
in front of his place.

Slim pulls up behind him.
Starts SHOOTING at him.

Curtis JUMPS out of his car.
RUNS into the house. SLAMS the door.

Slim sits in his car. Reloads again.
Then JUMPS out. RUNS up to the door.

Tries to open it, but it’s LOCKED.
He KICKS it open, then CHARGES in.

INT. BIG CURTIS’ JOINT - NIGHT
Big Curtis RUNS toward the kitchen --
just as Slim RUNS into the living room,
which we see is COVERED IN DOG SHIT.

Slim SLIPS on it, HITS the floor --
and SLIDES the length of the room --
as he SHOOTS at Curtis --
who RUNS out the back door.

He CRASHES into the wall. BANG.
The back door SLAMS.

Slim sits on the floor. Covered in dog shit.
Looks at the mess around him. Shakes his head.

SLIM
You filthy motherfucker.

Then looks at his cowboy outfit.

SLIM
Cost me twenty-five hundred.

EXT. SLIM’S JOINT - BACK YARD - NIGHT
Slim stands in the grass, holding his arms up
while one of his HOOKERS sprays water
on him with a garden hose.

A couple other GIRLS watch,
trying not to laugh.

SLIM
Hurry up, hurry up.
Before it STAINS it.

INT. DICK GAMBLE’S UNDERCOVER VEHICLE - DAY
Dick and Norm sit in the car
sipping to-go cups of coffee.
A VOICE comes over the police radio.

DISPATCHER (O.C.)
All available units, eleven-six at
Penny’s Coffee Shop on Geary Street.
Shots fired at Penny’s on Geary.
Send all available units.

NORM
Penny’s Coffee Shop?
That’s that pimp hang-out.

DICK
Goddammit. Things are getting out of control.
It’s getting to be like the Wild West around here --

True Grit

Hey there, crime kids. Happy 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 26 of FILLMORE, when rival Pimp Big Curtis tries to steal Fillmore's girl Beverly, he grabs her and take her 'home' and cuff her to his bed for safekeeping. But when Curtis takes her again, Fillmore starts planning revenge ...


EXT. THE STROLL - NIGHT
A group of pimps are hanging out,
watching their girls, shooting the shit.

Beverly walks up to Big Curtis.
Hands him a wad of money.

BEVERLY
Slim ain’t been doin’ right by me.

BIG CURTIS
You made a wise decision, baby.

He takes the money.
Stuffs it in his pocket.
Takes her hand.

BIG CURTIS
Let’s take you out for a spin.
Sample the merchandise.

Beverly giggles. He squeezes her ass. They walk away.

EXT. CITY STREET - NIGHT
Slim walks up to a group of his girls working the track.

SLIM
You ladies seen Beverly?

HOT BLONDE HOOKER
She gave Big Curtis her money.

SLIM
God-DAMMIT.

He turns on his heel and heads off.

EXT. STREET CORNER - NIGHT
Beverly works a new corner
with a couple of Big Curtis’ girls.
Slim comes up to her. Big smile.

SLIM
Baby. There you are.

BEVERLY
I got nothing to say to you.
Get your sorry ass back to Nikki.
That’s who you chose.

SLIM
You got it all wrong, baby.
Nikki’s nothing to me but business.
YOU’RE my girl -- that’s two different things.
(off her look)
Haven’t I been good to you?
Didn’t I get you clothes, taken you
to the finest restaurants and lived in high style?

BEVERLY
There’s more to it than that.
You ain’t been treating me right.
You got lots of other things on your mind.
Big Curtis just got ME on his mind.

SLIM
Pretty soon Big Curtis gonna have you
doing twenty tricks a day.
(off her silence)
You can’t go from a Cadillac to a Volkswagon.
I’d do anything for you, girl.
You’re my number one honey-bunny.

Beverly hugs him. Slim hugs her back. Relieved.
Then watches a HOT CHICK (18) go by.

INT. SLIM’S JOINT - BEDROOM - NIGHT
Slim and Beverly walk in the room.
She goes to the bed. Sits.

BEVERLY
You want a little ‘welcome back home’ sugar?
He goes to the dresser. Pulls out a couple things.
Puts them in his pockets. Walks over to her.

SLIM
First we gotta TALK.

Fast as lightning he WHIPS OUT a pair of handcuffs.
SNAPS one on her wrist, CLICK.

FLIPS her over on her stomach, facing down.
SNAPS it to the brass headboard.

BEVERLY
What are you DOING?

He pulls out another pair of cuffs.
SNAPS them on her other wrist, CLICK.
SNAPS it on the other side. CLICK.

BEVERLY
HEY. What the FUCK?

SLIM
You still belong to me.
Big Curtis never called.
He disrespected me.
Let’s see you get back to him NOW.

BEVERLY
(strains against the cuffs)
You fucking ASSHOLE.

SLIM
Now you just sit tight.
Big Curtis and me have some business.
(big grin)
Then you and me can party.

He leans down and tries to give her a kiss.
She WHIPS her head away from him.

EXT. PENNY’S COFFEE SHOP - NIGHT
Slim walks down the street, looking around.
Trying to find Curtis. He goes into the coffee shop.

INT. PENNY’S COFFEE SHOP - NIGHT
Slim looks at the customers. No Curtis. He leaves.

EXT. CITY STREET - NIGHT - LATER
Slim stands on a street corner chatting
with a couple of his HOOKERS (20’s),
collecting money, getting the lowdown.

SLIM
You SURE you haven’t seen him?

Suddenly a Cadillac comes SCREECHING around the corner.
Big Curtis is behind the wheel, driving like a maniac.

Beverly is in the passenger seat,
still handcuffed to the brass headboard,
hanging out the window, bouncing up and down,
SCRAPING the pavement, leaving a trail of SPARKS.

SLIM
Fat bastard.

Slim walks down the sidewalk. Gets to his car.
Unlocks the door. Gets in. Drives off.

INT. PENNY’S COFFEE SHOP - NIGHT
Big Curtis sits at a table holding court
with five other PIMPS in all shapes and sizes,
each one wearing a more outrageous outfit than the next.

Slim walks calmly into the restaurant.
Gets in Curtis’ face.

SLIM
You didn’t call me about Beverly.
That’s in direct violation of the code.

BIG CURTIS
You can go FUCK your code.

SLIM
We have to settle this.

BIG CURTIS
She gave me money, BOY.
I don’t need to tell you SHIT, motherfucker.

He SLAPS Slim in the face. HARD.

GIANT PIMP
Ooh. Someone just got bitch-slapped.

Slim stares at him.
Shakes his head with quiet anger.
Turns on his heel and walks out the door.

INT. SLIM’S JOINT - BEDROOM - NIGHT
We hear the strains of classic country cowboy music over --

Slim. Standing in front of his dresser mirror
wearing a pair of blue jeans in his socks.

There’s a series of boxes on top.
He RIPS one open. Separates the tissue paper --

and pulls out a dress denim COWBOY SHIRT
with fancy stitching on it.

Slowly puts it on. Starts SNAPPING up the buttons.
Tucks it in. Checks himself out in the mirror.

Then opens another, bigger box.
Pulls out a pair of brown leather CHAPS.

Slowly puts them on over his jeans.
Ties them on at the waist.

Steps back from the mirror. Check. Then a black box.
Pulls out a pair of ostrich COWBOY BOOTS
with gleaming metal spurs. SPINS one. Smiles.

Takes them over to the bed. Sits. Slides them on. Stands.
CLOMP-CLOMPS back over to the dresser.

He RIPS open another box.
Inside is a giant, black TEN-GALLON COWBOY HAT.

It looks almost too big, but when he puts it on,
it looks amazing. Another check in the mirror.

Goes to another box. RIPS it open.
He slowly, carefully pulls out a jewel-encrusted HOLSTER.

Ties it to his waist. Another mirror check.
Turns to the side. Yep. Lookin’ good.

Then he opens a polished wooden box.
Gingerly takes out a pair of pearl-handled
Colt 45 LONG-BARRELLED GUNS.

He TWIRLS them in his hands like a pro.
SLAPS them into his holsters.

He opens a dresser drawer.
Pulls out a small derringer and a knife.

Slips the derringer in his back pocket.
The knife in his boot. Looks in the mirror.

Adjusts his hat. Then heads for the door.
A BURNT ORANGE POODLE trots up to him happily.

Wants to go with him.
Slim pats his head and leaves, a man on a mission --

Above The Law

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 25 of FILLMORE, even though the girls escape after killing the John that tried to knife them, the get in trouble with the law after Fillmore helps them move the body, and have to go to court ...


EXT. DOWNTOWN FRESNO - NIGHT
The girls are back on the strip.
Dorothy chats up a storm with her PIMP.
He shakes his head with disgust. Walks away.

A bit further down the street, Lorraine is in
complete hysterics, chats up Cathy, gesticulating wildly.
Cathy’s eyes bug out. Shakes her head in disbelief.

INT. BRENDA’S MOTEL ROOM - NIGHT
Brenda sits on the bed. Talks on the phone.
Smoking a joint. Still freaked out.

BRENDA
I’m sorry, baby. I fucked up. Big time.

INT. SLIM’S APARTMENT - BEDROOM - NIGHT
Slim talks on the phone. Eyes wide as saucers.
He SLAMS down the phone. GRABS his keys. RUNS out the door.

INT. SLIM’S CAR - MOVING - NIGHT
He drives like a maniac, joint clenched between his teeth.
Eyes burning with anger. On fire.

We see the clock reads three-fifteen.
And the speedometer reads one-hundred-twenty.

EXT. BRENDA’S MOTEL - NIGHT
Slim’s Cadillac ROARS into the parking lot.
SCREECHES to a halt in a CRUNCH of gravel.

He HONKS the horn. Brenda RUNS out the door, RACES over to the car.
JUMPS in. Slim HITS the gas -- and they ROAR off into the night.

INT. - BOOKER T WASHINGTON HOTEL - LOBBY - DAY
Slim stands in the lobby using a pay phone.

SLIM
I think we’re cool. It’s been a week, and nothing’s happened.
(listens)
Thanks. You, too.

He hangs up. Walks toward the entrance.

EXT. BOOKER T WASHINGTON HOTEL - DAY
Slim comes out the front. Stops.
Looks at the bright blue sky. Smiles. Exhales.

MALE VOICE (O.C.)
Fillmore Slim, you’re under arrest.

Slim turns, looks, sees --

JACK KELLY (40’s) undercover homicide cop from Fresno.
Natty in a sharp suit and stingy brim hat.

A local UNIFORMED COP appears. SNAPS a handcuff on Slim’s wrist. CLICK.
WHIRLS him around. SNAPS the other wrist behind his back, CLICK.

Turns him back around. Another UNIFORMED COP (30’s) appears. Big smile.
Grabs his arms. Start walking him to their patrol car.

SLIM
I DEMAND to know what the charge is.
(off their stares, to the uniforms)
Who the hell IS this guy?

JACK
Jack Kelly, homicide, Fresno.

The uniforms hustle him toward their car.

Parked in front of it is GAMBLE’S CAR.
He sits on the hood, smiling. Waves at Slim. Then starts chuckling.

DICK
Beautiful day, huh?

As they pass Dick’s car, Slim sees Brenda in the back seat,
also handcuffed. She sees Slim.

BRENDA
I didn’t talk, I SWEAR. It was Dorothy, you gotta BELIEVE me.

Slim shakes his head, looks disgusted,
as the cops push him into their car.

INT. FRESNO COURT ROOM - DAY
Slim stands before the OFFICIOUS WHITE JUDGE (50’s).
Next to him is his PUFFY WHITE ATTORNEY (40’s).

OFFICIOUS JUDGE
Clarence Sims, you have been charged with accessory to murder
for moving the body of Juan Martinez.

He BANGS the gavel.

INT. COURT BUILDING - LOBBY - DAY
Slim and Puffy huddle in a corner.
Slim hands him an envelope stuffed with cash.
Puffy puts it in his jacket pocket.

SLIM
That’s three-thousand. You sure you can get me off?

PUFFY ATTORNEY
Child’s play.

INT. COURT ROOM - DAY
Slim and Puffy Attorney appear before the judge again.

JUDGE
Case DISMISSED.

He BANGS the gavel.

EXT. COURT HOUSE - DAY
Slim and Puffy walk out the front entrance, all smiles.

A pair of PLAINCLOTHES DETECTIVES (40’S) grab Slim.

ANGRY DETECTIVE
Fillmore Slim, you’re under arrest.

SLIM
What for THIS time?

ANGRY DETECTIVE
Accessory after-the-fact.

The cops drag Slim back in the court house. Puffy follows.

EXT. COURT BUILDING - DAY
It’s a bright, sun-shiny day.
Slim and Puffy come back outside. Look at each other.

PUFFY ATTORNEY
Bail was a bit high.

SLIM
And I ain’t gonna take any more chances.
I need you to follow me to the freeway.

PUFFY ATTORNEY
It’s the start of the fourth of July weekend.
Do you know what the traffic is gonna be like?

Slim pulls out his wallet. Starts counting out bills.

INT. COURT BUILDING - DAY
Brenda appears before a STERN JUDGE (50’s) with her
SERIOUS-LOOKING ATTORNEY (30’s), a frumpy, chubby white woman.
Slim sits in the spectator section, watching.

STERN JUDGE
(to Brenda)
I’m sentencing you to seven years in the state penitentiary.
Which facility will be determined at a later date.
(BANGS the gavel)
Merry Christmas.

EXT. COURT BUILDING - CORRIDOR - DAY
Slim chats with Puffy Attorney.

SLIM
Seven years for being an accessory. That’s pretty harsh.

PUFFY ATTORNEY
Well, Judge Willis usually gives more.

SLIM
What about the other girls?

PUFFY ATTORNEY
Dorothy got ten years for murder, and Lorraine
got three for being an accessory after-the-fact.
(beat)
You’re free to go.

INT. SLIM’S APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - DAY
Slim sits on the couch watching NIKKI (20’s) a new white girl,
modelling clothes for him. She looks amazing.

BEVERLY (20’s), Slim’s new main squeeze,
a tall, buxom beauty stares at her, pissed off.

NIKKI
You like?

SLIM
I don’t like --
(off her look)
I LOVE.
(pinches her ass)
Now go get back to work.

She grins. Trots out the door. Beverly gets in Slim’s face.

BEVERLY
Nothing for me? Huh?

SLIM
She’s new and didn’t have anything to wear.

BEVERLY
I’m your main girl, Daddy. You could’ve gotten something for me.

SLIM
Are you questioning me? Shut the fuck up.
Just for that, you have to earn DOUBLE tonight.

BEVERLY
DOUBLE? That’s not FAIR.

SLIM
I SAID, shut your skanky-ass UP.
Now get to the fuck back to WORK.

Beverly STORMS out. SLAMS the door.

Home On The Range

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 24 of FILLMORE, Filmore's hooker Brenda goes to Fresno to check on his stable of girls, and then goes on a 'sister act' trick with two other girls and a farmer, which quickly turns deadly ...


EXT. FRESNO - FARMLANDS - DAY
Rolling farmlands as far as the eye can see.

Dozens of MIGRANT FARM WORKERS
pick artichokes in the hot, blistering sun.
We see a modest FARM HOUSE in the distance.

EXT. DOWNTOWN FRESNO - NIGHT
On the outskirts of town where the businesses
start to fade into a residential area
is the hooker’s stroll.

Brenda’s working the track
with some of Slim’s GIRLS.

She turns and looks at CATHY (20’s)
a fresh-scrubbed farm girl.

BRENDA
Business always this bad?

CATHY
(shrugs)
Have good days and bad days.
But we always clean up
when the farm workers get paid.

DOROTHY (27) a local tough white girl
walks up to Brenda.

DOROTHY
Slim pickins, huh.

BRENDA
Tell me about it.

DOROTHY
So you’re one of Slim’s girls?

BRENDA
Yeah. Who’s your man?

LORRAINE (23), another local girl interrupts them.

LORRAINE
Ladies, check it out.
See that guy across the street?

Brenda and Dorothy look. Across the street, JUAN,
a Mexican farm worker is standing in front of
a beat-up piece-of-shit pickup truck.
He smiles and waves at them.

LORRAINE
He wants the two of you to go with me
and party with him.

BRENDA
The three of us?

DOROTHY
Great. Let’s do it.

BRENDA
I don’t know --

DOROTHY
C’mon. I really need the dough.
Just got outta the joint,
and I need a stake.

Brenda looks at her. Thinking. Can’t decide.

CATHY
If you won’t go, I will.

LORRAINE
(points at Brenda)
He wants her.

BRENDA
Okay. Let’s go.

EXT. COUNTRY ROAD - NIGHT
The pickup truck’s headlights cut a bright path
in the dark of night as it passes the farm we saw earlier.

We see the same farm house in the distance.
The truck pulls over in front of an empty field.
Everyone gets out.

EXT. EMPTY FIELD - NIGHT
The deed has been done.
Juan pulls up his pants.
Zips his fly. Buckles his belt.

DOROTHY
Can we get our money now?

JUAN
I ain’t paying you bitches SHIT.

BRENDA
I knew it --
(beat)
I broke the first rule.
Always get paid up front.

DOROTHY
If you don’t pay us, you’re gonna have to
deal with my man.

JUAN
FUCK your man.

He pulls out a GIANT, GLEAMING KNIFE. LUNGES at them.
The girls SCREAM. Start RUNNING into the field.
Dorothy STOPS. WHIRLS around.

DOROTHY
Wait a minute. Little bitch ain’t got nothing but a knife.
I fought tougher girls than him in the joint.

She RUNS toward him. He smiles, waving the knife at her.

JUAN
You want some of this, bitch? Come and get it.

Dorothy JUMPS on him. They HIT the ground.
She GRABS the knife, tries to wrestle it away from him.

He STRUGGLES to hold onto it.
Brenda and Lorraine trot over, watch them.

Juan PUNCHES her in the face with his free hand.
She SCREAMS. GRABS his hand, BITES it.

He SCREAMS, lets go of the knife. She GRABS it.
Starts STABBING him in the chest over and over again,
SPRAYING blood. She stops. Growls.

Wipes the blood off her face. Struggles to get up.
Looks at his lifeless body. Then at the girls.

DOROTHY
C’mon. Let’s get the fuck outta here.

BRENDA
Hold on a sec.

Brenda goes to the body, gets down,
pulls his wallet out of his back pocket.
Stands. Rifles through it.

BRENDA
Bastard had over five hundred bucks.

LORRAINE
Come ON. Let’s get OUTTA here --

The A Team

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 23 of FILLMORE, Fillmore gets into a beef of epic proportions with rival pimp International G when he starts stealing his girls ...


EXT. LOS ANGELES - THE SUNSET STRIP - NIGHT
The pounding beat of LAWDY MISS CLAWDY over --

The Sunset Strip. Sidewalks PACKED with
party people on a Saturday night tear.

An endless stream of CARS cruise past
the endless stream of clubs, bars and hot spots.

The night is pulsing with the energy
of people on the prowl.

EXT. PIONEER CHICKEN - NIGHT
Slim and Brenda bop down the sidewalk.

A SCUZZY ROCK MUSICIAN (20’s) passes them,
looks at Slim’s zebra-striped suit.
Gives him the thumbs up.

SCUZZY ROCK MUSICIAN
Cool threads, man. Where’d you get ‘em?

SLIM
(over his shoulder)
My tailor, motherfucker --

He laughs. Keeps walking.

BRENDA
(sees the restaurant)
Ooh, could we get some chicken? I’m starving.

SLIM
Ask, and ye shall receive.

Brenda opens the door for him,
he goes in, and she follows.

INT. PIONEER CHICKEN - NIGHT
Slim and Brenda sit at a table eating.
SANDY (20’s) a cute flower girl walks in,
comes up to the table.

SLIM
I know that look. Somethin’s goin’ on.

SANDY
Don’t freak out, but --
(low)
International G knocked five of your girls.

SLIM
He WHAT?

SANDY
I know I’m supposed to be in charge of the LA team,
but there was nothin’ I could do about it.
Pimps told ‘em how could you protect ‘em
if you weren’t here?

SLIM
I’ll show that fat bastard.
You two hit the street.

EXT. SUNSET BOULEVARD - NIGHT
INTERNATIONAL G (30’s) stands on a corner
with a couple other PIMPS (30’s).

A mountain of a man wearing tons of flashy jewelry.
He and his friends are shooting the shit.
Slim walks up behind him.

SLIM
I smell PORK.

International G turns, sees Slim.
Smiles a toothy grin.

INTERNATIONAL G
There he is. The blues man from Frisco.
Havin’ a hard time keepin’ track of your hos
when you’re outta town?

He ROARS with laughter.

SLIM
You listen to me, International House of Fat --
your days of knockin’ my girls are OVER, you hear?

INTERNATIONAL G
Oh, they are, are they?
And just what do you plan on doin’ about it?

SLIM
You think that’s all I got, motherfucker?
I’m giving you a warnin.’
Watch your back, two tons of fun.

EXT. SUNSET BOULEVARD - NIGHT
Slim stands in a phone booth, talking into the receiver.

SLIM
Cricket, send me the A-Team.

He BANGS down the phone.

SLIM
Time to fight a pussy with pussy.

EXT. SUNSET STRIP - NIGHT
IN SLOW MOTION, we see Slim,
followed by eight of the hottest WOMEN
you’ve ever seen marching down the sidewalk.

We’re taking Playboy centerfold material.
All stripes and sizes. They stop.
Slim CLAPS his hands three times.

SLIM
Alright. Get to WORK.

The girls spread out. Move to the curb.
Cars SCREECH to a halt. One of them HITS a lamp post.

They go up to the cars. Lean in the windows.
Start closing deals with eager, excited JOHNS.
Slim watches. Nods to himself. Then heads off.


INT. PIONEER CHICKEN - NIGHT
International G meets with a group of other pimps.

INTERNATIONAL G
Fillmore Slim has taken over the strip.
We gotta figure out how to stop him.

FAST BLUE
There’s no way.
He’s got the hottest fucking girls, fresh off the boat.

FRANKIE
Yeah. They came from Frisco.
(shakes his head)
I’m gonna stick to my territory down on Santa Monica.
He knocked one of my girls already.

FAST BLUE
He knocked two of my girls -- AND got two of his girls BACK.
I’m heading down to Wilshire, work that track.
Gettin’ too hot around here.

INT. SUNSET BOULEVARD STRIP CLUB - NIGHT
A small, dark, strip club.
Slim and his girls have taken over the joint.

There’s at least a couple dozen beauties
sitting in booths and at tables.

Slim stands in the middle of the joint
holding a bottle of champagne,
surrounded by a group of girls holding glasses.
He raises the bottle in victory.

SLIM
Ladies, the Strip is OURS.

Everyone starts CLAPPING.

SLIM
I’d like to propose a toast --
(beat)
To the power of pussy.

He pours himself a glass. Goes to Brenda.

SLIM
I’m going back to San Francisco.
I need you to go to Fresno and check on my girls there.

BRENDA
Okay, Daddy.

Be It Ever So Humble

Hey there, crime kids. Happy MLK Day. I have a dream -- that 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 22 of FILLMORE, Slim visits his parents back in New Orleans with a few of his girls, which makes things more than a little uncomfortable ...


EXT. SLIM’S PARENTS’ HOUSE - DAY
A much nicer place
than they lived before.

In a much nicer neighborhood.
stories. A nice yard.

A giant yellow Cadillac sedan
sits parked in the driveway
next to a Buick.

INT. SLIM’S PARENTS’ HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - DAY
Slim stands in the middle
of the room with four girls.

ANGELA (20’s) a creamy blonde,
and JANICE (19), a fiery redhead,
along with Brenda and Lottie.

They’re all dressed fairly normally,
not like hookers.

John stares at them uncomfortably.
All the curtains are drawn.

Idola shuts the last one.
Looks at the girls. Sighs.

SLIM
I told ya, Pop.
They’re my background singers.
(points them out)
Brenda, Janice, Lottie and Angela.

They nod. Smile. Idola and John
shoot each other a look.

JOHN
We’re glad to see you, son.
(beat)
Good to meet you, ladies.

IDOLA
(brightly)
Can I get you ladies
anything to drink?

SLIM
While we’re here, Momma,
I don’t want you to lift a finger.
(gestures)
Angela and Janice
will take care of you.

They look at Slim.
Nod sweetly.

SLIM
(to the girls)
Why don’t you fix us
some ice tea, then straighten up
the kitchen and do the dishes?

IDOLA
But my kitchen’s clean --

SLIM
Well, then they can do the laundry,
clean up a bit.

He takes her hand.
Guides her over the sofa.
Makes her sit down.

SLIM
Now you just relax
and set a spell.

Brenda and Janice head off
toward the kitchen.

Slim sits down next to Idola.
Lottie and Angela sit
on the other couch.

Motions for John
to sit next to them.

He does, reluctantly, confused,
trying desperately to
hide his excitement.

SLIM
Sure is great to see you
after all this time.
We gotta lotta catchin’ up to do.

EXT. SLIM’S PARENTS’ HOUSE - FRONT PORCH - NIGHT
Slim sits on the porch
veranda with John.

They sip from cans of beer.
Look out at the night sky.

JOHN
That sure is a nice car, son.
I’m glad to see you
doin’ well for yourself.

SLIM
You want one?

JOHN
Thanks, but I’ll stick with my Buick.

An awkward silence.

SLIM
Say, if you want, you could
have some of that white stuff.

JOHN
White stuff?

SLIM
You know --

JOHN
I can’t do that, son.
I’m married.

Slim nods. Sips his beer.

SLIM
Look at your hands.
All fucked up from manual labor --
(off his look)
And they still call you 'boy.'
(shakes his head)
I ain’t gonna live like that.

JOHN
Colored folks never be equal
with white folks, son.

SLIM
Hey.
I got white girls
workin’ for me --

John shakes his head.
Looks off into space. Thinking.

SLIM
So how’s the cement business?

Black Coffee In Bed

Hey there, crime kids. Happy 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 21 of Fillmore, patrolman Dick Gamble does surveillance on the coffee shop where Fillmore runs whores out of the back room and then bustst the joint, but when he gets off with a slap on the wrist from the judge, he vows to do 'whatever it takes' to take him down ...


EXT. COFFEE SHOP - DAY
An ordinary neighborhood coffee shop with big glass windows.
A small sign in the corner reads SHOE SHINE.

INT. COFFEE SHOP - DAY
A nice if fairly simple coffee joint
that also serves snacks and candy.

A smattering of tables and chairs filled with CUSTOMERS.
Slim chats with a HOT YOUNG GIRL (18).
Ben shines a BUSINESSMAN’S (40’s) shoes.

EXT. FILLMORE DISTRICT - VACANT LOT - DAY
Dick Gamble and Norm sit in their undercover car
watching the coffee shop through binoculars.

IN THE CAR
Dick lowers his binoculars. Sips his coffee. Looks at Norm.

DICK
Coffee’s fucking cold.

NORM
Kinda ironic, wouldn’t you say?

DICK
What’s that?

NORM
(nods at the coffee shop)
The guy we wanna bust is sitting in there drinking fresh, hot coffee.

EXT. FILLMORE STREET - NIGHT
Slim comes walking down the street.
Lottie walks up to him, tries to give him a roll of money.

LOTTIE
Here you go.

Slim SWATS it away.

SLIM
What the hell is wrong with you, girl?
Don’t put no fucking money in my hand.

He looks around. Makes sure no one is looking. Then takes it.

EXT. FILLMORE STREET - NIGHT
Lottie stands on the corner, working. MONEY,
a red-colored poodle RUNS up to her. BARKS.

She smiles, leans down, puts a roll of money in his mouth.
The dog RUNS AROUND THE CORNER --

EXT. GEARY STREET - NIGHT
Slim sits behind the wheel of his red Cadillac convertible.

Money RUNS up to the car. JUMPS in the front seat.
DROPS the roll on Slim’s lap. He smiles. Pets the dog.

SLIM
Good boy. Man’s best friend.

INT. GAMBLE’S UNDERCOVER VEHICLE - NIGHT
Dick looks at Norm.

DICK
I figured it out.

NORM
What?

DICK
I’ve been keeping track.
For every five people that go in that coffee shop, only one comes out.
That means the other four are johns.
They do their business with the whores, then go out the back.
(beat)
We’re going in.

NORM
I’ll call for back-up.

EXT. COFFEE SHOP - NIGHT
Gamble walks in the front door. Norm hangs back,
standing guard on the street just outside the door.

INT. COFFEE SHOP - NIGHT
Gamble goes up to Slim, gets in his face.

DICK
You’re under arrest.

SLIM
For what? I’m in my place of business.

Dick PUNCHES him in the stomach.

DICK
Shut the FUCK up.

Slim staggers back, GRABS a coffee pot, CRACKS Dick on the head,
DRENCHING him with hot coffee.

ROARS with anger, PUNCHES Slim in the nose.
They start going at it, hand to hand, vicious.
KICKING and HITTING each other.

The uniforms run in from the back and join Dick,
who’s still fighting Slim.

Slim DROPS to the floor, curls up in a little ball.

SLIM
OW. Stop HITTING me. STOP it, you’re HURTING me,
stop HITTING me, that HURTS --

Norm runs in and joins the fight. In the confusion,
the cops start hitting each other. We hear a loud RIP.

DICK (O.C.)
My JACKET.

INT. COURT ROOM - DAY
Slim stands before the JUDGE with Willie Brown next to him.

We see Gamble and Norm in the spectator section in the back.
The place is a zoo, with assorted HOOKERS, DRUG DEALERS
and other assorted lowlifes awaiting arraignment.

WILLIE
He didn’t know anything about those rooms in the back, your honor.
He doesn’t own the building, he’s just renting.
Just running a coffee shop.

JUDGE
(to Fillmore)
Mr. Sims, I’m going to dismiss this with the stipulation
that you replace detective Gamble’s suit.

He BANGS the gavel.

SLIM
Thank you, your honor.

Gamble looks at Norm. Smoke coming out of his ears.

DICK
No JAIL TIME? He just has to replace my fucking SUIT?

NORM
Well, it was kinda old --

DICK
Shut the fuck up.

EXT. COURT BUILDING - NIGHT
Slim and Willie leave the building.

SLIM
Didn’t get a scratch. Those fools were hitting each other.

WILLIE
I suggest you cool it for awhile, okay?

SLIM
Maybe I’ll go to Baton Rouge, see the house I bought
for my folks after I moved them out of New Orleans.
Then check on my girls in LA --

Go Ask Alice

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 20 of FILLMORE, two of Fillmore's hookers get busted and he has to go to court to bail them out. Meanwhile, policemen Dick Gamble and his partner Norm keep an eye them. Then, later that night, Fillmore plays his nightly gig at the Fillmore Auditorium, this time opening for The Jefferson Airplane ...


EXT. STREET CORNER - DAY
Two of Slim’s girls work the corner,
Lottie and FLORA.

They CALL OUT to the cars going by,
but they aren’t having much luck.

Suddenly a pair of VICE COPS (30’s)
swoop in and GRAB them.
DRAG them off to their car.

BIG VICE COP
You’re under arrest, sister.

NASTY VICE COP
C’mon, let’s go.

EXT. COURT HOUSE - DAY
Slim comes down the steps with Lottie,
Flora and his ATTORNEY (50’s),
wearing a thousand-dollar suit.

Meet WILLIE BROWN, attorney-at-law.
Chomping on a big cigar.

SLIM
That was fast.

WILLIE
Harassment, plain and simple.
Didn’t even catch ‘em in the act.

Across the street, Dick and Norm in their car.
Watching them.

IN THE CAR
Norm turns to Dick.

NORM
Who’s the guy in the fancy suit?

DICK
That damn Willie Brown.
Fucking lawyer.

EXT. THE FILLMORE AUDITORIUM - NIGHT
A big, brown building on the corner.

A CROWD OF PEOPLE are waiting in line to get in.
The line snakes around the block.

Everyone is excited, chatting in small groups.
Next to the entrance is a big wooden barrel
filled with apples.

People take one as they walk in,
and are then greeted by a
SMILING WHITE HIPPIE (20’s).

SMILING WHITE HIPPIE
(to someone walking in)
Welcome to The Fillmore.

A psychedelic sign near the door
reads THE JEFFERSON AIRPLANE,
and underneath it in tiny letters, FILLMORE SLIM.

INT. THE FILLMORE AUDITORIUM - NIGHT
A beautiful, cavernous space.
Giant chandeliers hang from the ceiling.
It’s about half-full of FANS.

Slim plays guitar with his band onstage.
Colored lights FLASH in time with the music.
The crowd is digging it.

SLIM
(sings)
You got the balls of a big brass monkey.

The song ends. The crowd CLAPS and CHEERS.

EXT. THE FILLMORE AUDITORIUM - BACKSTAGE - NIGHT
GRACE SLICK (20’s), tall, dark and intensely good-looking
and PAUL KATNER (20’S), MARTY BALIN (20’s)
and the rest of THE JEFFERSON AIRPLANE
wait in the wings, passing around a joint.

Slim comes backstage.
Stops. Looks at Grace.

PAUL KATNER
(takes a hit, passes it)
Righteous blues band.

SLIM
Thanks, man.
(sees Grace)
You’re Grace Slick.

GRACE SLICK
On this planet.

SLIM
You still looking
for somebody to love?

Paul and Marty look at each other.
Grace chuckles.

GRACE SLICK
(passes him the joint)
You got balls, bluesman.

SLIM
(takes it)
You got any of those pills
that make you larger?

The Age Of Aquarius

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 19 of FILLMORE, Slim hangs out with Jerry Garcia in the Haight, where they're offered a hit of acid from a hippie girl flower child, but when the drug takes affect a few hours later, more than Fillmore's mind expands ...


EXT. HAIGHT STREET - NIGHT
The neighborhood adjacent to the Fillmore district.
Same rows of town houses, but these
are infested with WHITE HIPPIES.

Lounging around, smoking joints.
Playing guitars in little ad-hoc bands.

It’s the dawn of the Age of Aquarius.
Slim and JERRY GARCIA (20’s) an Irish/Hispanic kid
with a big head of curly hair
walk down the sidewalk together.

JERRY
It’s so cool that you’re opening for us, man.
The blues is a true American art form.
We originally were a jug band, you know --
before we went electric.

They walk by a HIPPIE GIRL (16), very cute.
She hands them each a flower.

Then she realizes.
Her eyes bug out.

HIPPIE GIRL
Wow. You’re Jerry Garcia.

JERRY
Flower-power, girl.
Peace and love.
Can you dig it?

SLIM
I can get behind that.
If we all could just get along,
the world would be a better place.
White folks and black folks.

JERRY
Right on.
There’s gonna be a revolution, man.

They pass a skinny LONG-HAIRED HIPPIE (20).
He sees them. Grins.

Holds up tiny pieces of paper in his palm.

LONG-HAIRED HIPPIE
Check it out, man. Owsley blotter.
(grins)
Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test --

Jerry sticks out his tongue.
Long-haired gives him a hit.
Slim looks at him.

JERRY
Don’t worry, man, it’s righteous.
It’ll expand your mind.

Slim nods. Sticks out his tongue.
Long-Haired places a blotter on it.
Slim swallows it.

SLIM
My mind could use some expanding --

Down the street, Dick Gamble stands
in a doorway reading a newspaper.

Briefly lowers it.
Watching him.

INT. SLIM’S APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
Slim sits on the couch watching TV with Cricket.

SLIM
Fucking bullshit LSD.
Ain’t done nothing yet.

CRICKET
How long ago did you take it?

SLIM
About an hour --

He blinks. Shakes his head.
Stares at the TV.

SLIM
Holy SHIT.
The monster’s comin’ OUTTA THE TV.

He LEAPS UP on the couch.

SLIM
Stand back, motherfucker.
I’ll mess YOU UP.

CRICKET
What’s wrong?

Slim looks at her.
His eyes BUG OUT.

SLIM
Cricket.
You got SNAKES comin’ out your HEAD --

CRICKET
WHAT?
(realizes, laughs)
It’s the acid, Slim.
Relax. Enjoy it.

Slim WHIRLS AROUND.
Crazed look in his eyes.

SLIM
RELAX? ENJOY it?
Motherfucking walls are BLEEDING.

He JUMPS off the couch.
Looks at the ceiling.

SLIM
Now the ceiling’s dripping.
Jerry said it would expand my mind,
not my fucking HOUSE.

INT. SLIM’S APARTMENT - BEDROOM - NIGHT - LATER
Slim sits up in bed with Cricket
huddled under a blanket.

SLIM
I ain’t never doin’ that shit again.
Been goin’ on six hours now
and I still can’t think straight --

Lottie passes him a joint.

LOTTIE
Here. Have some more.
It’ll help you come down.

Slim takes the joint.
Takes a big hit.
Holds it in --

SLIM
'Grateful Dead.'
What the fuck they so grateful for?

And EXHALES.

Keep On Truckin'

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 18 of FILLMORE, Peach decides to leave the game, as it's making her 'old before her time.' Later that day, Slim jams in his garage with Booker T., then later that night at their first gig, he meets Bill Graham, who offers him a gig as the house band at the Fillmore West
opening for The Grateful Dead ...


INT. SLIM’S APARTMENT - PEACH’S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Peach stands at her dresser. Taking out clothes
and putting them in a suitcase on the bed.
Slim stands in the doorway, watching her, looks sad.

SLIM
You sure I can’t change your mind?

PEACH
You know I love you, Slim --
but I’m tired of The Game.
It’s making me old before my time.
I wanna go back to Texas and smell the roses.
Kick back and enjoy life.
(smiles)
Besides, who wants an old hooker anyways?

SLIM
You AIN’T old.

PEACH
You know what I mean.
The johns like the fresh young fillies, not the old hen --

Slim walks over. Puts his arms around her.

SLIM
Some men prefer a fine wine that gets better with age.

PEACH
You always were a sweet-talker.
My bus leaves in an hour, and I gotta finish packing.

Slim pulls a small wad of cash out of his pocket.
Hands it to her. Peach looks at it. Her eyes grow wide.

SLIM
Your retirement package. After five years of service.

PEACH
(hugs him)
Oh, Slim --

SLIM
A little something for all the good times we’ve had.

INT. SLIM’S APARTMENT BUILDING - GARAGE - DAY
The garage is filled with brand-new musical instruments and amplifiers.
Slim holds an electric guitar, talks with BOOKER T (20’s)
a good-looking guy sitting behind a Hammond organ.
Behind them, the DRUMMER (30’s) and BASS PLAYER (20’s) watch.

ACROSS THE STREET
Over the music, we see Dick and Norm
sitting in an undercover vehicle, watching them.

IN THE GARAGE
Slim looks at sheet music on a music stand.

SLIM
It’s really that simple, Booker T?

BOOKER T
(nods)
Once you learn those three chords,
you can play almost every blues song there is.

BASS PLAYER
(smiles)
And most rock n’ roll, too --

BOOKER T
That’s right.

SLIM
A, D and E --

BOOKER T
Come on, let’s give it a whirl.
I’ll nod my head when it’s time to change chords.
Just follow my lead --

Slim nods. The bass player and drummer start playing a beat.
Booker T starts playing an A chord -- Slim strums along.

Booker T NODS, then plays a D chord. Slim follows.
Booker nods again, changes to an E chord. Slim follows, smiling.

BOOKER T
He’s GOT it. My man is playing THE BLUES.

They go back to A, then D, then E.
Slim tests the waters. Starts singing.

SLIM
The thrill is gone, the thrill is gone, the thrill is gone away --
The thrill is gone, baby, the thrill is gone away --
You know you done me wrong, baby, and you'll be sorry someday --

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. FILLMORE STREET BLUES CLUB - NIGHT
A small, local joint. Dark. Smoky.
Tight, packed with people, hot and sweaty.

Slim and his new band play onstage, Slim on guitar.
The crowd watches them cook.

SLIM
(sings)
The thrill is gone, it's gone away for good --
Oh, the thrill is gone, baby, baby its gone away for good --
Someday I know I'll be over it all, baby --
Just like I know a man should.

They finish. The crowd CLAPS, WHISTLES.

AT THE BAR
Slim and the band are having cocktails. Enjoying themselves.
BILL GRAHAM (30’s), dark, Eastern-European, intense-looking,
taps Slim on the shoulder. He turns and looks.

BILL GRAHAM
That was a great show.

SLIM
Thanks, man.

BILL GRAHAM
The name’s Bill Graham. I run The Fillmore Auditorium.

He offers his hand to shake. Slim takes it. Shakes.

SLIM
Wow, man. It’s great to meet you.

BILL GRAHAM
I’ve been looking for a house band to open for the headliners --
and when I saw your name on the marquee,
I thought I’d come in and check you out.

SLIM
(smiles)
I get it. The man who runs The Fillmore
comes to see Fillmore Slim play.

BILL GRAHAM
So whattaya say? Do you want to be my house band?

Slim looks at his band mates. They all stare, open-mouthed.

SLIM
Hell, yeah.

BILL GRAHAM
Can you start Saturday night?

SLIM
Does a chicken have skinny legs?
(beat)
Who’s playing?

BILL GRAHAM
Local band, The Grateful Dead --

The Game

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 17 of FILLMORE, Fillmore Slim hangs out at a neighborhood bar with Big Curtis, another pimp, watching their girls peddle their wares out on the street through the window. Meanwhile, patrolman Dick Gamble hangs out with his cop friends at a nearby watering hole, where he lays out his plans on how he's gonna make detective ... by bringing down Fillmore.


INT. FILLMORE STREET BAR - NIGHT
A big joint bustling with activity.
Giant windows along the street give
a great view of the action going on outside.

Tons of HOOKERS peddle their wares
amongst the heavy pedestrian traffic.

Johns in cars pull up to the curb
and choose girls, who then get in and drive off.

Several groups of PIMPS sit at tables.
Slim and Big Curtis sit in front of a window
in the corner drinking champagne,
watching the girls on the corner.

BIG CURTIS
(raises his glass)
Welcome to The Game, my man.

Slim nods. Takes a sip.

INTERCUT WITH:

INT. NEIGHBORHOOD BAR - NIGHT
A neighborhood joint where the local cops hang out.
Not as nice as the pimps’ bar,
but still cozy, with neon beer signs,
a dart board, juke box, etc.

Dick Gamble sits at a table drinking beer
with a few other cops:

PRENTICE (40’s) a stocky fireplug of a man,
NORM (20’s) his rookie partner,
and ROGER (30’s) a former Marine.

DICK
The wife and I want the kids to go to a good college,
but I’m not gonna be able to afford it
unless I make detective.

PRENTICE
I’m shooting higher. I’m becoming chief.

BIG CURTIS
Looks at Slim.

BIG CURTIS
You know the guerrilla group over there --
(points)
They liked to beat on the girls. I can’t stand ‘em.
They give The Game a bad rap.
(points)
And those are escort boys over there. They soft

SLIM
And then there’s you.
You’ve got the best table in the place.

BIG CURTIS
How many girls you got now?
(off his silence)
What, ten -- fifteen?

NORM
Looks at Dick.

NORM
How you gonna do that?
There’s only a couple dozen colored cops in the whole city,
and they’re gonna make one of us CHIEF?

PRENTICE
As the song says, the time’s they are a-changing.
Pretty soon it will be politically expedient for them to do so.

ROGER
Politically expedient? Look at you with the two-dollar words.

BIG CURTIS
Continues explaining.

BIG CURTIS
There’s a hundred and one rules to pimping, but the most
instrinsicant one is about when you get knocked --

SLIM
Instrinsicant?

BIG CURTIS
It means when a girl leaves you for another pimp --

SLIM
I know, I know --

BIG CURTIS
Yeah, but she can’t just choose him. She’s gotta give him money.
Then the new pimp’s calls the old pimp and tell him the score.
You just got knocked. That way it’s all above-board
and nobody gets hurt. No harm, no foul. It keeps the peace.

SLIM
Nobody’s gonna be knocking my bitches.

BIG CURTIS
Well, you gotta be careful now that you’ve got that many girls,
cause that’s more for you to watch --
and they play as many games as the pimps do.

DICK
Starts getting excited.

DICK
-- and we just have to keep playin’ these politicians.

NORM
Maybe they’re playing us.
Using us as pawns to show the world how liberal they are.

DICK
Look. In order for us to make a name for ourselves,
we’ve gotta get a high-profile collar.
(sips his beer)
I’ve got my eye on someone I want to get.
He’s a pimp who fancies himself some kind of entertainer.
Once I get him, I get my promotion to detective.

PRENTICE
It’s people like that are hurting our city,
living the high life with their fancy cars and clothes.
They’re ruining too many lives.

DICK
Tell me about it. And everyone turns a blind eye.

BIG CURTIS
Sips his drink. Then --

BIG CURTIS
A couple of things you should keep in mind.
It’s important to keep the peace.
The cops won’t bother you too much.
San Francisco’s pretty much an open town.
Just keep your head down and don’t make waves.

DICK
Shakes his head sadly.

DICK
We’ve even got city officials coming down here to pick up whores.

ROGER
That reminds me. I need your help with something.
I’ve got a nephew who wants to get on the fire department.

PRENTICE
Good luck. Those Irish bastards aren’t gonna let a colored man --

ROGER
That may be, but if we talked to a certain city official
that comes round here and samples the wares of a certain
prostitute --

DICK
Lets do it.

BIG CURTIS
Suddenly looks serious.

BIG CURTIS
It’s all about the money. Understand?

Slim stares at him. Sips his champagne.

DICK
Sips his beer. Looks at them.

DICK
In the meantime, Norm and I are gonna get this pimp.
We’re gonna stick to him like glue.
I get this collar, I can take it to the bank.

PRENTICE
What’s his name?

Out the window, we see a car pull up. Slim and Curtis notice. Watch.
The DRIVER eyes a tall, FOXY HOOKER (29). Says something to her.
She smiles. Cricket walks by. He says something to her.
She nods, excited. Gets in. The car drives away.
Foxy Hooker looks PISSED. Slim smiles. Curtis frowns.
Slim finishes his drink. Pulls out a big roll of money.

SLIM
Don’t worry. I got this.

He slaps down a hundred. Gets up. Walks away.

IN THE COP’S JOINT
Dick narrows his eyes.

DICK
Fillmore Slim.

Cash And Carry

Hey there, crime kids. Happy 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 16 of FILLMORE, now that Fillmore has a giant wad of cash from his new career as a pimp, he gets himself a big Cadillac, a fancy new suit and a luxurious apartment ... then goes down to the bus station to find another girl for his stable ...


INT. USED CAR DEALER - NIGHT
A brightly-lit car showroom
packed with ‘gently used’ Cadillacs
a year or two old.

Slim stands in front of a
mint-condition blue convertible
talking to the DEALER (40’s)
a weary-looking chubby white guy.

SLIM
You sure this ain’t no repo?

CHUBBY DEALER
It’s not a repo.
I promise.

SLIM
Good. Can’t have no repo.
Don’t want any trouble with the cats
on the street about me taking their car.

CHUBBY DEALER
I promise you, it’s a trade-in.
Only has thirty-thousand miles on it.

Slim pulls a giant wad
of cash out of his pocket.

SLIM
I’ll take it.

EXT. USED CAR DEALER - NIGHT
Slim drives the car off the lot.
The dealer watches him go.

INT. BUS STATION - DAY
A swarm of PEOPLE scurry about.
Arrivals. Departures.

SAILORS waiting on benches.
FAMILIES greeting RELATIVES.

Slim stands in a corner, smoking.
Watching all the girls.

DISPATCHER (O.C.)
Bus number twenty-five arriving from
Mobile, Alabama at Gate Three.
Bus twenty-five from Mobile, Gate Three.

Slim tosses his cigarette.
Heads for the gate.

EXT. BUS STATION ARRIVAL GATE - DAY
Slim stands near the bus as PASSENGERS get out.
He sees a HOT SOUTHERN GIRL (18) come out.

He walks up to her.
Gestures at her bag.

She smiles, lets him carry it.
They start walking.

He says something to her.
She giggles.

INT. BLUES CLUB - NIGHT
Slim sings a number onstage.
Hot Southern Girl watches from the bar,
a cocktail, stars in her eyes.

INT. BLUES CLUB - NIGHT
Slim sits at the bar with her, chatting her up.
She LAUGHS. He pays their tab.
They get up. Walk out, arm in arm.

EXT. FILLMORE STREET - NIGHT
Slim talks to a SEXY MEXICAN GIRL (18)
carrying a cheap suitcase.

Hands her a flower. Bows.
She smiles shyly.

INT. FANCY CLOTHING STORE - DAY
Slim gets measured by ARTHUR (50’S),
a distinguished-looking white tailor.

He shows Slim a swatch of fabric. Slim nods.
Then shows him an array of ties.

Slim nods again, says something.
White Tailor smiles.
Slim takes them all.

INT. FILLMORE STREET BAR - NIGHT
Slim sits at the bar wearing
a sharp new snakeskin suit,
smoking a cigar and sipping a cocktail.

Hot Southern Girl comes in.
We almost don’t recognize her,
now that she’s in hooker drag.

She sits two stools away from him.
an envelope on the stool between them.
Winks. Slim nods.

Puts his hat on the stool.
She gets up. Leaves.

EXT. FILLMORE STREET - CURB - NIGHT
Slim sits in his used Caddy.
Sexy Mexican Girl walks over to the car.

Drops a roll of money on the passenger side seat.
Blows him a kiss. Sashays away.

Slim looks around, then grabs the roll.
Stuffs it in his pocket.

ON THE CORNER
Chocolate Z and ANOTHER PIMP
watch Sexy Mexican Girl walk by.

Chocolate points at Slim’s parked car.
Says something to him.

INT. SLIM’S APARTMENT - NIGHT
He stuffs a fifty-dollar bill in a red envelope.
Puts a fancy-looking stamp on it.
Smiles. Sticks in his pocket.

EXT. CADILLAC DEALERSHIP - NIGHT
A giant lot filled with brand-new Caddies,
sparkling under the bright lights.

Slim sits behind the wheel of a
giant red convertible with leather upholstery
and giant tail fins.

The DEALER (40’s) a sharp-looking WHITE GUY
in a suit shakes his hand.
Slim nods, and drives the car off the lot.

THE ODOMETER
Reads ‘thirteen miles.’

INT. SHITTY MOTEL ROOM - DAY
Cricket’s mother sifts through her mail.
Sees the red envelope.

Reads who it’s from.
Excitedly RIPS it open.

Pulls out the fifty-dollar bill.
Opens her mouth with surprise.

INT. FANCY APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - DAY
Slim stands next to a REALTOR (30’s)
a hot-looking woman in a business suit.

She hands him a key. He smiles.
Says something to her. She LAUGHS.
Shakes his hand, then leaves.

INT. FANCY APARTMENT - BEDROOM - DAY
Slim walks around, inspecting the fancy digs.
Then pulls a GIANT WAD OF CASH
out of his pocket and THROWS it on the bed.
ROARS with laughter.