The Desperate Hours

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In Chapter 33 of AFTERHOURS, the cops finally find Danny and his celebrity hostages ... and send in a rather unusual hostage negotiator ...


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.

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?