Dark Passage

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 32 of SPIRAL, as porn star Savannah, her stylist Dex and his best friend Andy lurch into day three of their booze and drug binge, secrets are revealed, which makes them think they're 'getting closer' ...


INT. SHANNON'S BATHROOM - NIGHT
Super: "3:13 AM"

The trio sits in the dim candlelight
looking at themselves in the mirror.

They're sleepy, drunken, punchy.
Spacy trip-hop music plays on the stereo.

SHANNON
We're based out, boys.

ANDY
Bases out.

Andy laughs a strange laugh.

DEX
We could try smoking the crystal.

SHANNON
Smoke the crystal? Can you smoke crystal?

ANDY
I dunno, it's worth a try.

SHANNON
You go first, it was your idea.

DEX
I don't see why you can't.

Dex spoons some speed into the pipe, then FIRES up the torch.
He aims the torch at the bowl. It starts COOKING.

SHANNON
I've never heard of anyone smoking crystal.

CLOSE UP OF PIPE
The white powder takes a few moments to start BURNING.
It starts to BUBBLE.

Black smoke fills the bowl, rests there a moment,
then SHOOTS up the glass tube into Dex's mouth.

INT. BATHROOM - SAME
Eyes closed, Dex SUCKS in the smoke

His cheeks BULGE. He holds it in. Shannon and Andy watch.

SHANNON
He looks like he's gonna explode.

ANDY
He looks like Kenny G.

Suddenly Dex COUGHS violently, RETCHING, HACKING. He stands up.

DEX
Owh...I'm gonna be sick.

He LURCHES forward, white knuckles GRIP the edge of the counter.

SHANNON
Not here, go to the toilet!

Dex THROWS UP all over the sink, the counter,
the drugs, the drinks, everything.

SHANNON
You fuckhead, you puked all over the stuff!

INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT
Andy and Shannon sit on the bed holding drinks.
Shannon is crying. Andy holds her hand.

An acoustic "unplugged" Nirvana song plays softly on the stereo.

SHANNON
He just stuck a gun in his mouth and fucking shot himself,
did have to do that?

ANDY
I guess he couldn't take the pressure.

SHANNON
Kurt said that if hadn't met Courtney, he would have been with me.

ANDY
It's okay, Shannon, it's okay. Just let it out.

Shannon starts SOBBING. It subsides...

SHANNON
He was so sweet, he was my friend.

A beat.

SHANNON
He was writing a song for me, you know.

Shannon pulls away, looks at Andy wide-eyed.

SHANNON
Now I'll never get to hear it.

They sit in silence for a moment.

ANDY
Maybe we should crash.
You'll feel better after you get some sleep.

SHANNON
I don't want to crash yet.

ANDY
But you can barely keep your eyes open.

A beat. Shannon's lip trembles.

SHANNON
I'm afraid.

ANDY
Afraid? What are you afraid of?

SHANNON
Promise not to make fun of me.

ANDY
I'd never make fun of you, you know that.

He reaches over and sweetly touches her cheek.

ANDY
Okay? You can tell me.

SHANNON
I'm afraid of the dark.

ANDY
You don't have to be afraid, I'm here.

SHANNON
I always have bad dreams, really bad dreams.

She breaks down, SOBBING.

SHANNON
I've never told anyone, please don't tell anyone.

Andy GRABS her in his arms and holds her.

ANDY
I won't tell a soul, I promise.

He strokes her hair.

ANDY
(whispers)
Do you know how much I love you?
It's gonna be okay, I'm here, I'm here, I'm here --