Party Out Of Bounds

Hey there, crime kids. Happy Hump Day. 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 38 of SPIRAL, adult film star Savannah shows up at her sometimes boyfriend Danny Boy's estate unannounced, and discovers that he's out of town ... and ends up partying with his house sitter Jason ...


INT. SHANNON'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Shannon lies on her bed holding a Stoli
and orange juice, talking on the phone.

SHANNON
Stupid fucking machine.
(pause)
Andy, it's me, Shannon. Where are you?
Why don't you call me back?

INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT
Andy sits on his bed drinking a beer.
He looks at the answering machine.
He reaches over to grab the phone, then stops.

SHANNON (O.S.)
(on the machine)
Are you mad at me? What did I do?
I want to talk to you, I miss you.

Andy's heart is breaking, but he doesn't move.
A tear trickles down his cheek.

EXT. DANNY'S HOUSE/WOODLAND HILLS - NIGHT
SUPER - July 11, 1994
A faux Tudor-style monstrosity high up in the hills.

Shannon stands at the front door in a little dress.
She grips a large, overstuffed shopping bag.
Music faintly THUMPS from within.

The amber-colored lamps above the door
shine off her blonde hair,
she glows in the darkness of the night.

She RINGS the bell.
The music goes down a notch.
The door opens.

JASON SWING, Shannon's passenger at the
beginning of the story, stands in the doorway.

He's relaxed, blase'.
Girls like this are frequent visitors.

SHANNON
Hi, it's me, Shannon, I'm here to see Danny.

JASON
Hi, Shannon.
(polite, gentle)
I'm sorry, he's not here.

SHANNON
Oh. Where is he, is he out somewhere?

JASON
He's uh, he's on tour.
He'll be back in a couple of months.

SHANNON
Oh.

An awkward silence. She covers her embarrassment.

SHANNON
And who are you?

JASON
I'm Jason. I watch his house and shit while he's away.

He looks at the bag.

JASON
Well, since you're here, come on in.

Shannon goes into the house.

INT. FOYER - NIGHT
Shannon and Jason stand in the large foyer.
Shannon hands Jason the shopping bag.

SHANNON
I brought Danny some videos and T-shirts and stuff.

JASON
Cool.

Shannon gives him the once-over and decides he's cute.

SHANNON
But you can have it.
I'll bring some more for Danny another time.

Jason puts the bag on a side table.

JASON
Cool, thanks.

They look at each other.

JASON
So you want to hang out? Have a beer, do some blow?

INT. DANNY'S DEN - NIGHT
A manly den, very GQ, by way of the hood.
A big pool table, juke box, animal prints,
neon beer signs, sports paraphernalia.

Gold records are lit by pin spots above the bar.
Smooth, sexy rap plays on the high-tech sound system.

Shannon and Jason sit on the sofa with beers.
Jason does a line of coke off a tray on the coffee table.

JASON
You were really good in the video.

Jason hands a silver straw to Shannon.

SHANNON
You think so? Thanks.

Shannon SNORTS a line.

JASON
Yeah, really.

SHANNON
That was just the start. Did Danny tell you I'm gonna be a singer?

JASON
No, cool.

SHANNON
Yeah. No more porno!

She SNORTS another, hands the straw to him.

SHANNON
So are you doing anything tonight?

Careful. This is one of his boss' girlfriends.

JASON
I dunno, I was thinking about checking out Renaissance.

SHANNON
Renaissance, yeah, I heard it's twitchin',
in Santa Monica, right?

INT. RENAISSANCE NIGHTCLUB - NIGHT
The dark exclusive club PULSES, dance music at 100 BPM.
It's hot, sweaty, and packed to the gills.

INT. DANCE FLOOR - SAME
Shannon and Jason RAGE on the dance floor.
Jason's cool, Shannon's giving a performance.

JASON
(shouts)
Wanna another drink?

SHANNON
(shouts)
Yeah! I gotta go to the ladies' room!

JASON
Meet you at the bar!

Shannon and Jason each start their slow trek
through the mob, in opposite directions.

INT. BATHROOM - NIGHT
A crowd of young, hot girls in club gear
fight for a piece of the mirrors,
fixing their makeup.

INT. BATHROOM STALL - SAME
Shannon sits on the toilet peeing.
She pulls out a pill vial and swallows a few,
then holds up a syringe.

INT. BAR - NIGHT
Jason PUSHES through the throng at the bar,
money and YELLS at the bartender.

EXT. RENAISSANCE NIGHTCLUB - NIGHT
Shannon and Jason stagger out of the club
completely, totally, trashed.

A VALET approaches. Shannon fumbles in her purse for her ticket.
She DROPS it on the ground, bends down on the sidewalk
and rummages through her things. Jason helps her.

He picks up the syringe.

JASON
You a diabetic?

SHANNON
No, I'm just fucking sweet.