Dog Day Afternoon

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 34 of AFTERHOURS, things take a surprising turn when Danny and the celebrities let a very strange hostage negotiator into the club ...


INT. AFTER HOURS CLUB - EARLY MORNING

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

Danny races over to the door. SHOUTS.

DANNY
You might not want to do that.
I’ve got seven hostages.
Three celebrities, three cops
and a bartender.

ANGRY COP (O.C.)
Three celebrities and three COPS?

DANNY
That’s right. So I certainly hope
you’ve got one hell of a hostage negotiator.

ANGRY COP (O.C.)
He’s on his way. Who are the celebs?

DANNY
Sky Masters, Bettie Black and Casey Montana.

ANGRY COP (O.C.)
Who’s Casey Montana?
(to someone else)
Already?
(to Danny)
Negotiator’s here.
Get away from the door.
He’s coming in.

Danny unlocks the door.
Moves away from it. The door OPENS.

In walks MARKO MAISEL (50’s), medium-height,
buff, balding and fierce-looking.

Wearing a skin-tight black jumpsuit.
Red-tinted shades.

He smiles brightly,
eyes burning with menace.

MARKO
Did somebody order a hostage negotiator?
(off his look)
You’re the crazed gunman, I take it?

DANNY
I wouldn’t use the word ‘crazed.’

MARKO
Marko Maisel, LAPD, at your service.
(nods)
Wish I could say I was pleased to meet you,
but given the circumstances,
this being work-related and all --
(examines him)
But still, you look like
a fairly decent fellow.
No frothing at the mouth --

DANNY
Haven’t frothed in years.

MARKO
And you have a sense of humor.
That’s good. Might just save your life.
(beat)
Do you know how long I’ve
been a hostage negotiator?

DANNY
No, but I’ve got a funny feeling
you’re gonna tell me.

MARKO
Twenty-five years.

DANNY
That’s a lot of hostages.

MARKO
Do you know how many I’ve
lost in all those years?

DANNY
Let me guess. None?

MARKO
Smart lad. I like that. Smart.
(sighs)
If only you’d applied yourself
in a different field, who knows
what you could have accomplished.

DANNY
Guess we’ll never know.

Marko looks at everyone at the bar.
Sees their guns.

MARKO
I was told there were celebrities in here,
but I didn’t believe it.
(looks around)
This is a nightclulb, I take it.
Open kind of late -- or should I say early?

DANNY
After-hours club.

MARKO
(sees Biff)
There’s one officer --
(looks at Luther)
And there’s another one.
(looks at Danny)
Where’s the third?

DANNY
In the VIP room getting a table dance.

MARKO
I must say, that’s quite impressive.
You’ve kept three hostages at bay
and overpowered three cops all by yourself?

DANNY
When I came in, I had a partner.

MARKO
Where is he now?

DANNY
I’m afraid he’s no longer with us.

MARKO
But still, three cops. I’m impressed.

DANNY
Let’s just say I’m resourceful.

CASEY
He had some help.

BETTIE
We’re not hostages. He’s our friend.

SKY
He’s not a bad person
once you get to know him.

CASEY
He was upset.
The guy slept with his wife.
His partner was the one
that did all the shooting.

Marko stares at them.
Slowly nodding his head. Thinking.

DANNY
So what happens now?

MARKO
Well, this is the point where
I ask you to give yourself up
and come with me quietly,
tell you I’ll try to get you
the best deal I can --
(beat)
But somehow I don’t think
you’re gonna go for that.

DANNY
That would be correct.

MARKO
Then I assume you have demands?
You’d like transporation out of here?
Safe passage so you can
make your escape? Maybe a pizza?

DANNY
No thanks.
I’ve seen Dog Day Afternoon.
We’ve got our own tranporation.
Just want you to back off and let us split.

MARKO
I see.

MIA
They’re taking my car.

MARKO
You must be the bartender.
That’s very generous.
I assume you’re also generous
with your cocktails?

MIA
(half-smile)
Sometimes.

Pause.

MARKO
Tell you what I’ll do.
If you let me escort
the officers out of here,
I’ll go ask my boss.

DANNY
Sorry. The officers stay.

Marko stares at him.
Then at the others. Thinking.

MARKO
I’ll just be a few minutes.

He leaves.

CASEY
Jesus Christ. That guy’s fucking weird --