Retail Hell

Happy Tuesday, 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 12 of RIDGEWAY, Kayla takes Cate to the gallery/gift shop she works at where she meets Kayla's coworker Vivi, who Cate quickly realize is going to be trouble. Then, shortly afterwards, Cate has to navigate the steep uphill walk up the mountain to return to her new home ...


EXT. MAIN STREET - DAY
Kayla, Cate and Bobby
walk down the narrow,
picturesque main drag
lined with shops.

It’s like out of a movie,
with a breathtaking view
of the mountains above
the storefronts.

CATE
This is amazing.

A SCRUFFY TROUBADOUR (20’s)
wearing hippie threads
and a stovepipe hat
carrying a guitar walks by. Nods.

SCRUFFY TROUBADOUR
Hi.

KAYLA
(to Cate)
Told ya.

INT. DREAMLAND - DAY
Kayla and Cate stand
in the middle of the store.

Vivi sits at a work table
sifting through a
tray of jewelry parts.

Clumsily trying to assemble
a cheap plastic necklace.

CATE
(looks at the paintings)
Love the colors.

KAYLA
Cate, this is Vivi.
I told you about her.

CATE
Oh, yeah. Hey.
Nice to meet you.

KAYLA
Be right back.

She heads off to
the back office.

VIVI
(weird grin)
I suck at this.
(beat)
But I guess Kayla
told you that.

CATE
Yes, she did.
(beat)
Kidding. I’m kidding.

Kayla returns.

KAYLA
Ready to go?

CATE
Yeah.
(to Vivi)
Nice meeting you.

VIVI
You, too.

They head toward the door.
Vivi watches them go.

VIVI
Bitch.

EXT. PINE STREET - A LITTLE LATER
Kayla and Cate walk
back up the steep hill.

Cate, huffing and puffing.
Red in the face.

CATE
Hold on a sec.
(stops)
Smoke too much --

KAYLA
Wanna sit down?

CATE
(catching her breath)
I’m okay --