Behind The Music

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In Chapter 16 of AFTERHOURS, Danny starts grilling his celebrity hostages about why they're hanging out in an after hours club at five in the morning on a 'Sunday night,' but just as they start revealing their deep, dark secrets, someone starts pounding on the door, demanding to be let in ...


INT. AFTER HOURS CLUB - EARLY MORNING
Danny looks at Vin.

DANNY
Get a couple loaves of bread,
some cold cuts and chips and shit.

VIN
Okay.

He starts heading for the door.

DANNY
Be careful.

Vin nods.
Unlocks the door.

Slowly opens it.
Peers out.

Then leaves.
Shuts the door behind him.

CASEY
Thanks.

DANNY
Yeah, well --
I figure if things go south,
maybe they’ll go easier on me
if I treat you like human beings.

EASY
Right. Like blowing off my arm?

DANNY
You tried to grab my gun.
That was your fault, not mine.
I was giving you lines of coke, remember?

CASEY
You seem like too nice a guy to be --

DANNY
What. A cold-blooded killer?
You surprise me. As a writer, you
of all people should know
people are complicated.
(beat)
What I want to know
is why you’re all here.
You’ve got great careers,
tons of dough, and yet
you’re hanging out in an
after-hours club on a weeknight
at five in the morning.
What’s up with that?

BETTIE
I was doing an Amy Winehouse
until you interrupted me.

DANNY
Makes sense.
Your last album tanked,
and I saw that video on YouTube.
Ouch. You really clocked that kid.

BETTIE
Label’s gonna drop me.
My band won’t speak to me.
There’s nothing to live for.
Music is my life.

DANNY
Gonna make a hell of a
‘Behind The Music.’
(to Easy)
I think I got you figured out.
The press is going to out you, right?

EASY
He shoots, he scores.

DANNY
Wasn’t a detective for nothing.
(to Sky)
And you, Mr. HIV-positive.
Just found out?

SKY
Yeah.

DANNY
Then why come here?

SKY
Getting married tomorrow.

DANNY
So the wife doesn’t know.

SKY
What do you think?

DANNY
I think they should rename
this place ‘The Hideout.’
(to Casey)
What’s your deal?
Looking for your next story?

CASEY
More like avoiding trying.

DANNY
But you found it, didn’t you.

CASEY
Maybe.

DANNY
If you live through this,
you’re gonna write about it.

CASEY
I’m thinking about it.

DANNY
Maybe Ethan Hawke here can play me.

CASEY
Nah. Too scrawny.
Thinking more of a George Clooney type.

DANNY
I’ll take that as a compliment.

CASEY
So why did you rob the dirty cop?
You know him?

DANNY
Know him?
He was my fucking partner.

CASEY
What did he do to you?

DANNY
If I tell you that,
you could testify against me
in a court of law.

CASEY
C’mon. I’m curious. I wanna know.

DANNY
You know what they say about curiosity --

They stare at each other.
The buzzer RINGS. Everyone looks.

DANNY
Too soon to be Vin --
(to Mia)
Go see who it is.
Tell ‘em we’re closed.
If it’s a cop, stall him.
If it’s the loan shark guys,
tell ‘em Angel’s gone.

Mia nods. Gets up.
Walks over to the door.
Danny follows her.

MIA
Sorry. We’re closed.

EXCITED MALE VOICE (O.C.)
I’m looking for Mickey.
I know he’s here.

Angel breathes a sigh of relief.

MIA
I said WE’RE CLOSED.

EXCITED MALE VOICE (O.C.)
C’mon, man. I know he’s here.
Let me in. It’s an emergency.

MIA
He’s not here. He left.

EXCITED MALE VOICE (O.C.)
Oh, yeah?
Then why’s his car still here?
If you don’t let me in,
I’m gonna call the cops.

DANNY
(to Mia)
Step aside.

She does.
Danny unlocks the door.

YANKS it open.
Aims his sawed-off
at Excited Male Voice.

DANNY
Shut the fuck up
and get your ass in here --