Nights Of Wine And Roses

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 6 of AFTERHOURS, crazed gunman Danny Peel makes bartender Mia Tanaka go back to the kitchen for food, but on the way she slips into the bathroom and writes a note asking for help. Meanwhile, faded rock star on the skids Bettie Black's binge drinking leads to disaster ...


INT. AFTER HOURS CLUB - NIGHT
Mia starts pouring shots for everyone.
Vin and Angel return,
Angel carrying a first aid kit.

VIN
(to Danny)
Got quite the set-up back there.
Office. Kitchen. VIP room --

DANNY
Any phones?

VIN
In the office.
Disabled it.
(smiles)
One step ahead of you.

DANNY
Good work.
(to Mia)
You got a kitchen.
I’d fucking kill for a
cheeseburger about now.

MIA
(pouring shots)
Sorry.
We don’t serve that.

DANNY
Well, what DO you have?

MIA
Tapas.

DANNY
What the fuck are tapas?

MIA
Spanish appetizers.

DANNY
Then bring me some tapas, barkeep.
I’m positively famished.

VIN
Yeah, I’m starving.

MIA
All we’ve got left
are pickled anchovies.

DANNY
Anchovies?
I fucking HATE anchovies.

CASEY
(smiles)
Why do you think
that’s all that’s left?

DANNY
(to Mia)
You have any crackers or peanuts,
you know, something edible?

MIA
I think we have some rice cakes.
I can go look.

DANNY
Rice cakes?
(beat)
Alright. Whatever.

VIN
Want me to go with?

DANNY
Nah.
There’s no way for
her to get out.

Mia nods.
Heads off to the back.

Bettie watches her go.
Grabs the bottle.
Starts pouring more shots.

BETTIE
This round’s on me.

She DOWNS hers.
Makes a face.

Then PROJECTILE VOMITS
an ARC OF BROWN SPEW
into the air.

FALLS off her stool.
HITS the floor, THWUMP.
Starts going into CONVULSIONS.

CASEY
Holy SHIT.

Easy JUMPS off his stool.
RUSHES over to her.
Takes her hand.

EASY
Somebody gimme a spoon
or something, QUICK.

INT. LADIES’ ROOM - NIGHT
As gorgeous as the rest of the joint.

Mia hurries into a stall.
Grabs a piece of toilet paper.
Takes it to the sink.

Pulls a pen out of her pocket.
Quickly scribbles on it.

Climbs up on the sink.
Reaches up, opens a
casement window.

Flings the note outside.