Home Fires

Hey there, crime kids. Happy Monday. 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 36 of SPIRAL, Andy's friends from Playboy throw him a goodbye party where he's been house sitting in Bel Air, but he's still haunted by the memory of his former friend, porn star Savannah. Meanwhile, Savannah calls her actress 'friends' in the adult film industry to see if they want to hang out, and gets the cold shoulder ...


EXT. ANDY'S HOUSE - BACKYARD - DAY
Andy's having a barbecue. Tons of GUESTS
are enjoying the food, the drink, the music.

A large banner strung along the side
of the mansion reads "Goodbye, Bel Air!"

A group of Playboy employees
pose for a group photo.

PHILLIP, late 20's, thin, good-looking,
holds a tiny dog in his arms.

PHILLIP
Where's Andy?
He's missing the picture.

The dog SQUEALS.

PHILLIP
It's okay, Mary, it's okay.

VOICE (O.S.)
Okay, everybody, gimmee a smile
like you just got laid!

The group freezes, grinning wildly.
A flashbulb POPS.

ANGLE ON:
Phillip's shirt.
A round wet stain slowly expands.
The dog is PEEING.

PHILLIP
Jesus Christ, Mary, you fucking bitch!

INT. ANDY'S BATHROOM - DAY
The shower is on. A murky figure
stands behind the rippled glass.

Phillip comes into the bathroom.
He's surprised.

PHILLIP
Andy?

ANDY
Yeah?

The door opens a crack,
Andy sticks his head out.

ANDY
Hey.

PHILLIP
Why are you taking a shower?

ANDY
What's that on your shirt?

PHILLIP
Mary peed on me again. Fucking bitch.

Phillip grabs a towel,
it in the sink, dabs his shirt.

ANDY
I told you not to go to the pound.

PHILLIP
What are you doing in here?
You're missing your own party.

ANDY
All those people...
in the jacuzzi... you know...

PHILLIP
Well, get your ass out of there
and come join the party.
Everybody's wondering where you are.

Andy smiles.

ANDY
Okay.

PHILLIP
I'll go fix you a plate.

Phillip leaves.

The water stops. Andy grabs a towel,
wraps it around his waist and steps out.
A beat. He looks in the mirror.

ANDY (V.O.)
I couldn't stop thinking about her.
Sometimes I felt she was
in the bathroom with me.
I kept wondering how she was doing,
if she was okay.

INT. BEDROOM - DUSK
Shannon lies on her bed wrapped
in a towel talking on the phone.

She sips a beer and pets Daisy,
who's sleeping nearby on the bed.

INT. BATHROOM - DUSK
MINA FOXX, young, gorgeous, and brunette,
stands naked in her bathroom talking on the phone,
a single fake eyelash just applied.

MINA
Oh, sorry, Shannon. I can't.
I gotta work late tonight.
Two girls called in sick.
I gotta do a couple extra shows.

SPLIT SCREEN OF SHANNON AND MINA

SHANNON
Oh. Okay. Call me tomorrow?

MINA
Sure thing.

Mina hangs up the phone.
Shannon dials another number

MINA
Yeah, right.

INT. BEDROOM - SAME
Shannon dials another number.
Takes a swig of her beer.

SHANNON
Hello, Leena?
(pause)
Hey, howya doin'?

SPLIT SCREEN OF SHANNON AND LEENA
LEENA, young, blonde, curvy, stands in a bathrobe
rummaging through her costume-clogged closet
talking on the phone.

LEENA
I've been better. Wha's up?

SHANNON
I was wondering if you
wanna hang out tonight. You busy?

LEENA
Yeah, I got an outcall.
(pause)
And I've got nothing to wear.

SHANNON
Okay, have fun. See ya.

LEENA
Later.

The both BANG down their phones.

SHANNON
Much later.

LEENA
As if.

Shannon sips her beer and pets Daisy.

SHANNON
Fucking bimbo. 'Nothing to wear.'
She's just gonna take it off anyway --