Shades of Grey

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 14 of AFTERHOURS, after stopping Sky and Easy's attempt to grab Danny and Vin's guns and blowing off Easy's arm at shoulder, Danny has to deal with stopping the gushing wound ...


INT. AFTER HOURS CLUB - EARLY MORNING
Casey stares in horror at the blood.
Easy's missing arm on the floor.

CASEY
Holy fucking SHIT.

ANGEL
(to Mia)
TOWELS. GET SOME TOWELS.

MIA
They’re IN THE LAUNDRY.

ANGEL
PAPER TOWELS, NAPKINS -- ANYTHING. HURRY.

Mia reaches under the bar,
grabs a stack of paper towels,
hands them to Angel.

He RACES over to Easy.
SHOVES them on the gushing wound.

Danny gets up.
Thumbs a couple of shells
into the sawed-off.

KA-CHINKS them into the chamber.
Aims it at Easy.

DANNY
And I thought we were
getting along so well.
(aims it at Sky)
And YOU. You’re PATHETIC. Weak.
This isn’t a fucking MOVIE.
(to Vin)
You okay?

VIN
Yeah.

EASY
Joke’s on you.
Movie star’s got HIV.

VIN
Who gives a shit.
So we got another faggot.
Fucking Hollywood --

DANNY
He means the blood on your face.

Vin reaches up. Touches his face.
Looks at his hand. Sees it.

VIN
What the FUCK?

He RUNS toward the men’s room.
Danny aims his gun at Sky.

DANNY
Okay, junkie. Go sit with the others.

Sky slowly gets up.
Trudges over to the bar. Sits.

CASEY
(nods at Easy)
We’re gonna have to cauterize his wound.

DANNY
Or what? He’ll lose his arm?

ANGEL
No, she’s serious.
He’ll lose too much blood.

DANNY
(looks at Easy)
Hope that wasn’t your jerking off hand.

Vin walks back in, wiping
his face with a paper towel.

Walks over to Sky.
JAMS his gun against his head.

VIN
If I get AIDS, I’m gonna fucking
KILL you, fucking FAGGOT.

DANNY
Vin. He’s not gay. He’s a junkie.
(off his look)
Needles?

VIN
Oh.
(beat)
Right.

DANNY
(nods at Easy)
We gotta cauterize the wound.

VIN
Why? Just let him bleed out.
He fucking attacked you for crissakes.

DANNY
(to Mia)
What kinda stove you got in the kitchen,
gas or electric?

MIA
Electric.

DANNY
Perfect.

EASY
Oh, no. You can’t -- do that.

DANNY
Oh yes we can. You wannna live, right?

EASY
Can I get back to you on that?

DANNY
(to Angel)
GQ. Help me bring him into the kitchen.

Angel nods. Walks over.

DANNY
(to Vin)
You keep an eye on the gang from Cheers.

VIN
Okay.

Danny and Angel help Easy up.
Start walking toward the back.

EASY
Why are you helping me?

DANNY
Shades of grey, Mr. Pro Athelete.
Sometimes the bad guy
shows a glimmer of compassion.

VIN
What about his arm?

DANNY
You deal with it.

They leave. Bettie slides out of the booth.
Starts weaving toward the bar.

VIN
(sees her)
And just where the fuck
do you think YOU’RE going?

BETTIE
(sits)
Excuse me, but that was some intense shit.
I need a drink.

CASEY
I don’t think that’s a good idea.

BETTIE
Like I could give a flying fuck
what you think.

MIA
She’s right.
It’s probably not a good idea.
You’ve had a lot --

BETTIE
Pour me a fucking DRINK, barkeep.
I’m a ROCK STAR. It’s what we DO.
(sees the powder on the bar)
You guys were DOING COKE?

She licks her finger,
wipes it through the residue.
Rubs it on her gums.

BETTIE
Now we’re fucking TALKING.
Is there any more?

VIN
(points his gun at her)
Shut the fuck up.
You’re giving me a headache.
(to Mia)
Give her a fucking drink.
Maybe she’ll pass out again.

Mia’s eyes flash angrily.
She grabs a glass.
Starts pouring.

From the kitchen, we hear Easy
CRY OUT IN PAIN.
EASY (O.C.)
AHHHHHH --