Hey there, crime kids. Happy President's 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 41 of FILLMORE, Slim gets questioned about the veracity of this fraudulent passport application, then has to appear in court to face charges about the 'kidnapping' of his hooker Angie, who finally shows up to give her testimony ...
INT. SLIM’S APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - DAY
Slim sits on the couch, strumming his guitar.
SLIM
(sings)
You ain’t nothin’ but a ho --
The doorbell RINGS. He puts down the guitar.
Gets up. Goes to the door. Opens it.
A pair of WHITE POSTAL INSPECTORS (30’s) stand there.
Very serious. They FLIP open their badges.
BLONDE POSTAL INSPECTOR
Clarence Sims?
SLIM
What do you want?
DARK-HAIRED POSTAL INSPECTOR
We’re postal inspectors.
BLONDE POSTAL INSPECTOR
We’d like to ask you some questions.
DARK-HAIRED HOMICIDE DETECTIVE
Do you mind if we come in?
SLIM
I was just leavin.’ What’s this about?
Blonde Inspector pulls out a piece of paper. Holds it up.
The passport application reads SAMUEL T. BROWN.
Next to it we see Slim’s picture.
Blonde Inspector shoves it in his face.
BLONDE POSTAL INSPECTOR
We have reason to believe that you applied
for a passport with false information.
SLIM
(looks at it)
That’s not me.
DARK-HAIRED HOMICIDE DETECTIVE
It’s a federal crime, Mr. Sims.
BLONDE POSTAL INSPECTOR
With a harsh penalty.
SLIM
You got the wrong man.
DARK-HAIRED HOMICIDE DETECTIVE
The picture does look alot like you --
SLIM
How would you know? You think we all look alike.
(off their stares)
Now get out of my face. I got some shit goin’ on.
He SLAMS the door.
SLIM
How many different kinda cops gonna fuck with me?
Frisco, Fresno, LA, Secret Service --
(beat)
Shit. What’s next, the CIA?
INT. COURTROOM - DAY
A packed courtroom. JURY off to the side.
SPECTATORS sitting in the rear.
We see the BAILIFF and a COURT REPORTER.
Slim sits at the defendant’s table with Kenneth White.
Over at his table, the DISTRICT ATTORNEY (30’s),
a sharp-looking Irish gent in a sharp suit stands.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY
Your honor, the state would like to request a recess,
as our witness has not arrived.
SLIM
(leans over, whispers to Kenneth)
Maybe she died.
KENNETH
Stranger things have happened.
(stands up, to the judge)
Your honor, it’s been a year.
It’s not our fault their witness did not show.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY
I’m sorry, your honor. She promised she’d be here.
OLD FART JUDGE
I’m going to grant your recess.
Court is adjourned until nine-AM tomorrow morning.
INT. COURT ROOM - DAY
The same cast of characters as before.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY
Your honor, the state calls Angela Jefferson to the stand.
Angie walks into the room. Goes over to the witness stand.
Takes a seat. Looks defiant, and more than a little high.
The BAILIFF (30’s) swears her in, hand on the bible.
SLIM
Damn.
BAILIFF
Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth,
and nothing but the truth?
ANGIE
Right on.
Old Fart shoots her a look.
ANGIE
Yeah. Sure.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY
(goes to the witness stand)
Angela Jefferson, would you please tell us in your own words
what happened on June fourteenth, nineteen seventy-five?
ANGIE
Are you kidding? That was over a year ago.
Chuckling from the spectators. The judge BANGS his gavel.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY
I’m talking about the kidnapping, Miss Jefferson.
KENNETH
Objection, your honor. Alleged kidnapping.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY
The alleged kidnapping --
ANGIE
I told you already.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY
Would you please tell the court.
ANGIE
Fillmore Slim and Chocolate Z abducted me off the street
and took me to their house in Daly City,
where they raped me and held me against my will --
(trying to cry)
And gave me liquor and drugs --
(bites her lip)
It was awful, just awful. I never been so scared in my life.
SLIM
(low, to Kenneth)
They told her to say that. She don’t talk like that.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY
Thank you, Miss Jefferson. That will be all.
She smiles. Gets up. Walks back to her seat.
Kenneth White stands up. Address the judge.
KENNETH
Your honor, with your permission, I’d like to introduce
some new evidence that’s just been given to me.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY
Sidebar, your honor.
OLD FART JUDGE
Please approach the bench.
Kenneth and the DA walk over to the bench.
OLD FART JUDGE
(to Kenneth)
What does this pertain to, counsellor?
KENNETH
It concerns the reliability of the witness, your honor.
OLD FART JUDGE
Given the imperfect attendance of the witness, I’ll allow it.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY
But your honor, this goes against the rules of the court.
We haven’t seen --
OLD FART JUDGE
I said I’d allow it.
The DA and Kenneth return to their tables.
Kenneth smiles. Picks up a piece of paper and a tape.
KENNETH
Your honor, please accept the defense’s Exhibit A into evidence --
Walks over to the judge. Hands it to him. Comes back.
Picks up another copy. Hands it to the DA.
KENNETH
This is a photocopy of a money order in the amount of
seven-hundred dollars payable to Angela Jefferson
that the defendant gave to her to ensure she told the truth --
that in fact, Clarence Sims’ arresting officers TOLD her
to make a false kidnapping claim against Mr. Sims --
when in fact she accompanied them to Mr. Sims’ Daly City house
under her own volition.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY
Your honor, Mr. White is now testifying.
Does he have a question for the witness?
OLD FART JUDGE
Mr. White, do you have a question for the witness?
KENNETH
If it please the court, I would like to first introduce
the defense’s Exhibit B, which is a tape recording
the defendant made asking the witness how much money
she wanted in exchange for telling the truth about what happened.
OLD FART JUDGE
(looks at him, narrows is eyes)
Would counsel please approach the bench?
District Attorney and Kenneth both walk over to the Judge.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY
This is most unusual, your honor --
OLD FART JUDGE
(to Kenneth)
Why are you giving me this at such a late date?
KENNETH
The defendant only recently gave the tape to me, your honor --
and with all due respect, this HAS been continued to death.
It’s been over a year since he was charged.
OLD FART JUDGE
(nods)
I’m going to take a recess to consider this new evidence.
I want to see both counsels in my chambers in an hour --
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