Land Of A Thousand Flakes

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 9 of SPIRAL, Andy and Dex return to porn star Savannah's Hollywood Mansion again to party ... but this time, Savannah serves not only cocktails, but also some 'fresh white powder' ...


EXT. YARD - DAY
The Bel Air mansion's small, sloped
back yard ends abruptly at a cliff.

Andy sits near the pool in a Jacuzzi.
The pool area is fenced and juts out into the sky.
The view is breathtaking.

ANDY (V.O.)
Life was incredible.
I was so excited to meet Shannon.
And even more excited to see her again.
All of a sudden work wasn't so bad.
Living alone at the mansion wasn't so bad.
I had something to look forward to now.
Something glamorous. Something sensual.
I was hanging out with a celebrity.
I felt like I had the world by the balls.

Andy stands and raises his beer in salute.

ANDY
Look out Hollywood, here I come!

He leans forward, chugs the beer, loses his footing,
and slips and falls into the water.

Andy resurfaces, choking.

ANDY
Fuck.

INT. SHANNON'S FRONT DOOR - NIGHT
Andy and Dex stand on the stoop.
Shannon opens the door.

She looks radiant.
Andy shyly gives Shannon a paper bag.

ANDY
I brought you a little something.

SHANNON
Oh Andy, you shouldn't have.

DEX
That's my playboy.

INT. KITCHEN - NIGHT
The trio gather at the bar.
Rap music thumps invitingly.

Shannon opens the bag like a
little girl at Christmas and
pulls out a bottle of Stolichnaya.

SHANNON
You in the psychic friend's network or something?
That's my favorite. Thank you!

Shannon hugs Andy.

ANDY
My dad taught me to always bring something.
Makes a good impression.

DEX
I'm always impressed with vodka.

She hands the bottle to Dex.

SHANNON
Dex, would you be a dear and make the drinks?

Shannon takes Andy by the arm
and pulls him toward the door.

INT. LIVING ROOM - SAME
Shannon and Andy sit on the couch.
Happy dance music chirps on the stereo.

SHANNON
I don't know what the fuck she was
doing with fucking Warren Beatty.
"Dick Tracy" sucked. I like her
dance stuff like "Like A Prayer."
That's my favorite.

ANDY
Mine too. That's her best album.

SHANNON
I'm not so crazy about the
religious stuff on it, though.

ANDY
Me neither. I was raised Catholic.

SHANNON
No wonder you're so polite.
I bet you were an altar boy.

ANDY
No way. I'm a recovering Catholic.
Haven't touched a rosary in fifteen years.

Shannon laughs.

Dex walks into the room with the drinks.

DEX
Cocktail time. Anybody thirsty?

Dex hands Shannon and Andy their cocktails.
Dex sits in a chair across from them.

Shannon clinks her glass with Andy's.
Dex reaches over with his, unnoticed.

SHANNON
You're the most normal guy I've ever met.
It's so rare to meet someone in
this fucking town that's for real.
How long have you been in L.A.?

ANDY
I guess about six years now.
It feels like I'm still
getting used to it though.
Most people here are so phony.
Everybody wants something from you.

SHANNON
Tell me about it.
Most guys just want to fuck me.

Shannon looks at Dex.

SHANNON
Thank god for Max Factor over there.
I can count my true friends on my chest.
(pause)
I'm so glad you could make it.
My left boob was getting lonely.

Shannon and Andy laugh. Dex smiles.

ANDY
I know what you mean. I've had a hard
time making friends since I moved here.
(pause)
They should change the state slogan to
"Land of a Thousand Flakes."

Shannon cracks up.
Andy looks at Dex, who winks back.

Shannon pulls a plastic bag out of
her pocket and holds it up. Cocaine.

SHANNON
I think it's time to hit the slopes.

ANDY
Fresh powder. I love it.

SHANNON
Dex. Would you do the honors?

DEX
Your wish is my addiction.

Dex starts the ritual of preparing the coke.
He chops up the rocks with a credit card
on the glass table, then scoots
the powder into six fat lines.

He hands a rolled up bill to Shannon.
She leans down and snorts a line.

ANDY
So Dex tells me you're gonna be a singer.

Shannon does another line.

SHANNON
Yeah. I'm gonna leave porno-land.
I'm gonna cross over.

DEX
You should see her at the clubs.
They go fucking nuts.

Shannon basks in the compliment
and flashes Dex a smile.

She hands the bill to Andy.

ANDY
Thanks.

Andy does a line. Then another.

ANDY
That's so cool. What kinda stuff? Like Madonna?
SHANNON
Yeah. But better. Much better.
(pause)
I'm so much better looking, don'tcha think?
.