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?