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.