A Little Breather

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 15 of SPIRAL, Andy and Dex stay up all night bingeing on coke and booze with porn star Savannah at her Hollywood Hills mansion and 'bond' on a very deep level ...


INT. SAVANNAH'S ESTATE - MASTER BEDROOM - DAWN
Savannah, Andy and Dex sit
on the floor chattering away.

We don't hear what they're saying, though...
Over the action, a top-forty type "power ballad."

ANDY (V.O.)
I'll never forget that first time I freebased.
It was like everything was speeded up,
but clear, peaceful, but alive, you felt so alive,
and it was like you were coming,
but you didn't need sex, it was like, uh...
(beat)
I wondered what heroin was like.
That's supposed to be the best.
Like you see Jesus, and Mary.
Then have a three-way.
(beat)
But then we only did drugs recreationally.
Heroin was for addicts, junkies.

Shannon does a line,
wets a finger in her drink, and SNIFFS.

SHANNON
I always feel so alone.
My family is fucked up... Slash dumped me...
Danny's always busy... the porno people use me...
all I have is Daisy.
(beat)
And you guys.

ANDY
I've been here four years and I'm still single...
my family and friends are back east...
the people at work are nice, but boring...
all I've had is Dex.
(beat)
Now I have you.

Andy smiles and touches Shannon's leg.
She takes his hand in hers.

DEX
All I seem to get is sex.
(pause)
All I want is sex...

Dex would rather die than cry. He gets up.

DEX
I gotta pee.

He goes into the bathroom.

SHANNON
The sun is coming up.

Andy looks at his watch.

ANDY
It's six.

SHANNON
I want this night to never end.
I only want to be with you.
Always. For ever and ever.
We don't need anyone else.

ANDY
Nobody else.

EXT. BEL AIR MANSION - DAWN
Andy's car pulls into the garage.
He gets out of the car and goes inside.

ANDY (V.O.)
I never wanted it to end.
It was a rollercoaster ride that
only stopped when the train gave out.
Even the strongest machinery
starts to break down after awhile.
Even the best party has to take
a little breather after awhile.

INT. ANDY'S GUEST HOUSE - DAWN
Andy walks through the dim light of the empty foyer,
his footsteps echoing on the marble floor.

CAMERA follows him down the hallway
and into his bedroom.

He takes a handful of pills out of
his pocket and stares at them.

CAMERA follows Andy into the bathroom
where he fills a glass with water,
swallows the pills, then splashes his face.

CAMERA follows Andy back into bedroom
where he sprawls out on the bed.

He grabs the phone and punches a number.

PEGGY (O.S.)
Hello...Bernardi residence.

ANDY
Muh-Mom.

PEGGY (O.S.)
Andy? Is that you?
What are you doing up so late?
Are you sick? You sound funny.

ANDY
I couldn't sleep.
I was hanging out with Shannon and...

PEGGY (O.S.)
I'm sorry, darling. I'm on the other line.
Call me later, okay, hun? I love you.

ANDY
I love you too. buh-Bye, Mom.

Andy gingerly puts the phone on its cradle,
then FLOPS on the bed and passes out cold --