All In The Family

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 19 of BABY HEISTER, Kelsey, Doc, Simon Rusty and Reno finalize their plans for the armored car hijacking at the diner: securing transportation, weapons and a getaway plan. Later that night, en route to getting their guns, Kelsey mourns the loss of her parents, killed trying to rob a bank ...


INT. DOC’S FARMHOUSE - KITCHEN - DAY
The gang sits around the big table
eating a hearty breakfast.
Doc sits at the head, holding court.

DUSTY
I do believe she looked almost happy.

KELSEY
I thought she was gonna bust a gut
when you told her she’d have to
stay at the diner and meet us
later at her place.

DOC
She needs to stay and finish her shift.
Otherwise she’ll lead the cops right to us.

SIMON
And Freddie hangs out at the diner
to establish his alibi.

DOC
Yep. It’ll give us plenty of time
to split up the dough,
change the signs on the truck --
and more importantly,
prevent them from trying a cross.
(beat)
Okay. Job assignments.
Dusty, I need you to
get the crime scene mace,
then go see a guy I know
who’ll make the new signage.

He hands him a slip of paper.
Dusty takes it. Looks it over.
Nods. Sticks it in his pocket.

DUSTY
I’m on it.

KELSEY
What’s a mace?

DOC
A vehicle that’s not hot.
Has a clean chain-of-title with fake paperwork.
That way we can travel in it safely,
or in the case of the big truck,
leave it behind.
(to Reno)
Reno, can you get the big one?

RENO
Piece a cake.

DOC
Good. Don’t go nuts.
It can be a piece of shit.
We’re not keeping it.
(to Simon)
Simon.
I assume you can jack a set of wheels?

SIMON
We guarantee. In thirty minutes or less.

DOC
Make sure it’s fresh.
Get it the day of the job.
And nothing flashy.

SIMON
Okay. You figured out the parking maneuvers?

DOC
Yeah. We park the van to the right
of their spot and the car to the left.
When the first guy goes in, the car pulls out,
and then the big truck pulls into it’s place.

KELSEY
Why do the bit with the car?
Why not just park the big truck there right away?

DOC
If they start to pull in and see
they’re boxed in like that,
they might park somewhere else.

KELSEY
Right.
(beat)
So what am I gonna do?

DOC
You’re gonna come with me to get the guns.
Then we’ll stake out the diner.
Watch the can do it’s run.
Make sure it’s kosher.
Sound like a plan?

KELSEY
Works for me.

INT. DOC’S PICKUP TRUCK - MOVING - DAY
Kelsey’s behind the wheel. She looks at Doc.

KELSEY
Griff and Chelle never took me anywhere.
I was always left to fend for myself.

DOC
They were cowboys.
Never did the big jobs,
so they had to keep working.
That’s why when they tried to do one --

Pause.

KELSEY
Sometimes it feels like they’re up there
watching me, you know?

DOC
You’re wondering if they approve?

KELSEY
I dunno if 'approve' is the right word.

DOC
They loved you very much, Kelsey.

KELSEY
Sure had a funny way of showing it.
Everyone else I knew
called their parents 'mom and dad.'

Doc looks out the window. Deep in thought.

DOC
All families have secrets.
Ours are just a bit -- trickier.