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 42 of FILLMORE, a mayor's office rep, the DA and the chief of police meet to discuss how to take down Slim's massive street walker business. Meanwhile, Slim appears in court again, and when the case against him gets thrown out, he packs a bag to leave town ...
INT. COURT BUILDING - CORRIDOR - DAY
Kenneth and Slim stand outside the courtroom.
KENNETH
The judge decided he needs more time to consider
whether or not this new evidence is admissable.
He adjourned the trial until a week from today, nine-AM.
INT. FANCY RESTAURANT - DAY
A lux restaurant on the top floor
of a skyscraper overlooking the city.
The District Attorney, a Police Captain
and a rep from the Mayor’s Office sit eating lunch.
MAYOR’S OFFICE REP
So what’s the fucking problem?
The mayor’s been up my ass about this.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY
I didn’t anticipate the witness not showing up --
or that slick-ass pimp bringing that recording --
and then the fucking judge is probably going to allow it.
You know that liberal-ass Judge Kramer.
MAYOR’S OFFICE REP
You should have. You knew the stakes going in.
We got developers ready to transform the Tenderloin
like we did with The Fillmore.
(to the Police Captain)
Captain. And what about this Gamble?
I thought you said he could get it done.
POLICE CAPTAIN
We did our job. We’ve busted him several times.
We can’t help it if the DA’s are incompetent.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY
You’re the one that’s bringing us drugged-out witnesses.
MAYOR’S OFFICE REP
Hold on. We’re getting away from the point.
The Tenderloin has become as valuable as the Fillmore District.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY
In order for us to make money,
we’ve got to push all this scum out of the way.
Fillmore Slim is the biggest pimp in the city;
he’s got over a hundred girls.
I want this sonofabitch out of the way.
Then the other bastards will be easy to get rid of.
MAYOR’S OFFICE REP
Hey. Isn’t Willie Brown his attorney?
DISTRICT ATTORNEY
He was, at one point --
MAYOR’S OFFICE REP
I know he’s got some dirt on Willie.
Cut a deal with Fillmore if he’ll talk.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY
Yeah. Willie’s stepping way out of his place.
I thought we had him after that Guyana fiasco
and the press got wind that he was one of Jim Jones’ backers,
but that slippery motherfucker wiggled out it.
MAYOR’S OFFICE REP
The city’s image took a hit after that mess.
I want all those jungle bunnies run over to Oakland.
Let ‘em kill each other over there.
POLICE CAPTAIN
Don’t worry. We’ll get it done.
MAYOR’S OFFICE REP
I just got back from New York,
and you should see their long-term plans for Harlem.
Those guys are gonna make a fucking fortune.
Can you imagine how much we’re gonna make?
San Francisco is MUCH more valuable
than the island of Manhattan.
(off their nods)
If you two don’t get this done,
I’ll bring in the big guns.
INT. SLIM’S APARTMENT - NIGHT
Slim sits on the couch watching a basketball game on TV.
Chilling with a beer, a joint and a few fat lines.
SLIM
(at the TV)
GO, GO, GO, motherfucker --
Someone POUND-POUND-POUNDS on the door.
ANGRY MALE VOICE (O.C.)
POSTAL INSPECTOR, open up.
SLIM
(looks at the door)
What the fuck?
POUND-POUND-POUND.
ANGRY MALE VOICE (O.C.)
POSTAL INSPECTOR, open the door, NOW.
Slim gets up. Walks to the door.
SLIM
Fuckin’ Nazi motherfuckers --
He opens it.
Dark-haired and Blonde Postal Inspector RUSH into the room.
Dark-Haired GRABS him. Starts cuffing him.
DARK-HAIRED POSTAL INSPECTOR
Clarence Sims, you’re under arrest for passport fraud.
BLONDE POSTAL INSPECTOR
You have the right to remain silent.
Anything you may say can and will be
held against you in a court of law --
INT. CRIMINAL COURT BUILDING - JAIL CELL CORRIDOR - DAY
Dark-Haired and Blonde drag Slim down a corridor of jail cells.
Latin Postal Worker watches from a distance.
As they put him in a cell, Blonde looks at her. She nods.
EXT. COURT BUILDING - DAY
Slim stands in the lobby, talks on a pay phone.
SLIM
Hey, baby. It’s me. Can you come pick me up?
(listens)
Lawyer bailed me out.
(listens)
Twenty-K --
INT. JUDGE’S CHAMBERS - DAY
A small office in the bowels of the court building.
Old Fart has taken off his robe, and is finishing
eating a sandwich while having a conference
with Kenneth and the DA,
who both make a face like something stinks.
OLD FART JUDGE
(looks at them, realizes)
Sorry. Pickled herring. One of my guilty pleasures --
INTERCUT WITH:
INT. SLIM’S APARTMENT - BEDROOM - DAY
Slim goes into his closet, pulls out a suitcase.
Puts it on the bed. Zips it open.
OLD FART JUDGE
Looks at the DA. Points a finger at him.
OLD FART JUDGE
You don’t have enough evidence for a conviction.
And your witness is a liar.
SLIM
Goes to his closet. Starts taking out suits
and putting them in the suitcase.
Then some shirts. Then some ties.
OLD FART JUDGE
Looks at Kenneth.
OLD FART JUDGE
I shouldn’t allow your evidence,
but I’m going to make an exception.
(to the DA)
I know you’ve been after this character for a long time now,
but you can’t keep bringing him in
with these bullshit charges, understand?
INT. SLIM’S APARTMENT - DAY
Slim finishes packing. Zips up his suitcase. Carries it out.
INT. JUDGE’S CHAMBERS - DAY
They continue their conversation.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY
He’s a slippery son of a bitch, your honor.
OLD FART JUDGE
I’m going to dismiss the case --
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