Cash And Carry

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 33 of AFTERHOURS, just as crazed gunman on the run Danny Peel starts to split the loot with would-be rogue cop Luther James, more cops arrive and start pounding on the door ...


INT. THE EXIT ROOM - MAIN LOUNGE - EARLY MORNING
Everybody sits around the bar.
Looks at the giant stack of cash
sitting on it.

CASEY
Isn’t it beautiful?

LUTHER
You underestimated.
Two-point-three million.
That means I get one-point-one-five.

DANNY
Check out the math major.

The police radio SQUAWKS to life.

POLICE DISPATCHER (O.C.)
Attention, all units.
The perp is holed up at Croci’s
boutique in Sunset Plaza,
one-five-oh-one Sunset.
All available units respond.

LUTHER
(under his breath)
Shit.
(into the radio)
Copy that.
We’re on our way.
Are units on the scene yet?

POLICE DISPATCHER (O.C.)
Roger that.

LUTHER
How’d they find him?

POLICE DISPATCHER (O.C.)
Homeless person found a ‘help’ note
in the window well outside.
Wanted to know if there was a reward.
(chuckles)
Maybe we should hire him.
Did a better job than our guys did.

LUTHER
Copy that. Over.

He clicks the radio off.

LUTHER
You’re fucked.

DANNY
So are you.

POUNDING on the door.

ANGRY COP (O.C.)
POLICE, OPEN UP.
WE KNOW YOU’RE IN THERE.

CASEY
Shit.

SKY
Fuck.

BETTIE
Motherfucker.

DANNY
Okay, everybody.
Calm down.
Let me think.

LUTHER
Think?
They’ve got the place surrounded.

DANNY
But I have hostages.

LUTHER
You got co-conspirators.

DANNY
But they don’t know that.
(smiles)
And I’ve got you.
Gimme your weapon.

LUTHER
Are you fucking kidding me?

DANNY
If I’ve got your weapon,
they’ll think you’re a hostage,
not a co-conspirator.

ANGRY COP (O.C.)
Open the door RIGHT NOW,
OR WE’LL BREAK IT DOWN --