The Talking Dead

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 2 of ZOMBIE & JULIET, after Gaga gets ejected from the republic of Manhattan after getting infected, she's unceremoniously dumped into the wilds of New Jersey. Meanwhile, the local news touts the big sporting event of the day ... a black vs. white 'fight to the death' in the coliseum ...


EXT. HIGH SCHOOL ROOFTOP - DAY
A BLACK HELICOPTER sits on the roof.
Blades WHIRRING.

The troopers race out of the
rooftop exit with the body bags.

Load them onboard.
The copter TAKES OFF.

EXT. LOWER MANHATTAN - CHOPPER POV - DAY
We see the giant wall around the city.
The chopper flies over the Hudson river.

On the other side,
in what was New Jersey,
is now a series of burnt-out slums.

EXT. NEW JERSEY - BURNT-OUT WATERFRONT - STREET CORNER - DAY
In front of what was an apartment building,
now a pile of smouldering ruins,
a body bag lies on the sidewalk.

It ZIPS open. Gaga crawls out.
Looks around. Deserted. Huh.

GAGA
Not TOO scary --

A PACK OF ZOMBIES appear down the street.
Hideously disfigured. About half-way gone.
They SCREAM at her.

Gaga WHIPS her head
in their direction.

GAGA (CONT'D)
Omigod, omigod, omigod --

She starts RUNNING --
and they CHASE AFTER HER.

INT. NEWS STUDIO - NIGHT
A GLOSSY, AIRBRUSHED ANCHORMAN sits
behind his desk with a
PERT, SMILING BLONDE ANCHORWOMAN.

SMILING BLOND ANCHORWOMAN
Drilling commenced in Harlem today,
where officials believe there might
be enough oil to keep government vehicles
in operation for another few years --
and for private citizens that can afford
one-hundred dollars a gallon.
(shakes her head)
I can remember when it was ten bucks --

GLOSSY, AIRBRUSHED ANCHORMAN
This just in. The Department of Health Control
estimates that there still might be several
thousand Infected-Americans in the republic.
(looks at Smiling)
I don’t know about you,
but that reward money
is sure an incentive --

SMILING BLOND ANCHORWOMAN
Tell me about it.
I turned in my mother-in-law,
and it paid for my vacation to Central Park.

They both laugh.
Glossy suddenly looks serious.

GLOSSY, AIRBRUSHED ANCHORMAN
In other news, tonight in Times Square,
another fight broke out
between the Monts and Kapps.
Fortunately, police officers arrived
and broke up the fight
before anyone was badly injured.

SMILING BLOND ANCHORWOMAN
Due to a recent rash of such incidents,
Republic of Manhattan president Don Gotti
has declared that anyone involved in
future acts of violence will be shot on sight.

GLOSSY, AIRBRUSHED ANCHORMAN
I must say, Nobu --
it’s a sad state of affairs
to have this trouble on the eve
of the tenth of October weekend.
What a way to start celebrating
the birth our republic --

NOBU
Indeed, Brock --
(beat)
We now go to Paul David Brazill,
live at The Madison Square Coliseum,
where the Ultimate Extreme Gladiator
finals are just getting underway.
Tonight, it’s black vs. white
in a fight to the death.

BROCK
Again?

The look at each other. Big smiles.

Separate But Unequal

Hey there, crime kids. Happy Monday. 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 1 of ZOMBIE & JULIET, in the year 2033, Manhattan has become a walled-in city state after a zombie invasion. Today we take a trip to a local high school, where the students' lecture gets interrupted by stormtroopers after one of the students gets infected ...


INT. CLASSROOM - DAY
Your standard public high school joint.
Pale puke walls.

A giant flat-screen monitor hangs
where the blackboard would normally be.
The screen reads THE REPUBLIC OF MANHATTAN.

A calendar on the wall reads 2033.
A flag on the wall has a series of
red, white and blue stripes. No stars.

The TEACHER (30’s), a hip-looking
public radio kinda guy
is lecturing the class.

Sits on the front edge of his desk.

HIP-LOOKING TEACHER
The outbreak began in 2023
when the HIV virus mutated
into something stronger,
deadlier, the HIZ virus,
which also kills you slowly --
but doesn’t let you die.

Within six months, the whole
planet was infected --

A YOUNG HOTTIE in the back row
raises her hand. SNAPS gum.

YOUNG HOTTIE
Why don’t the zombies
die, Mr. Domino?

MR. DOMINO
We don’t say 'zombies,' Seven.
That’s like using the N-word.
They prefer to be called
Infected-Americans --
(beat)
It mirrors the HIV virus.
The symptoms aren’t that bad
for the first six months,
but then sometime during
the next few months,
the infection becomes full-blown,
the person dies, and is reborn,
so to speak -- as a ravenous mutant.
(sighs)
But unfortunately, sometimes
it progress MUCH more quickly.

He PUNCHES a remote. We now see
a map of the Republic on the screen.

It’s been divided into northern
and southern territories
with a neutral zone between them.

MR. DOMINO (CONT’D)
Our founding fathers erected a wall
around the island to stem the outbreak,
and christened the new land
The Republic of Manhattan.
But there was a
power struggle for control --
so it was decided that the Kapp family
would control the Northern half
of the republic -- and the Mont family
the southern half -- with Times Square
becoming a neutral zone between the two --

SEVEN
Separate but equal --

MR. DOMINO
Ten points for Seven.
(beat)
The Monts and Kapps have
existed peacefully together for years,
but they’re now at odds over
a controversial piece of legislation
that the Kapps have been trying to pass --
the shoot on sight bill.

WISE-ASS KID
I saw that on the news.
They want to kill anyone who’s infected.

MR. DOMINO
What do you think about that?
Is it fair?

WISE-ASS KID
Who gives a shit about FAIR?
I say kill the fuckers.
I don’t wanna get infected --

MR. DOMINO
But what about human rights?
Why not just quarantine them
while we look for a cure?

A SICK-LOOKING GIRL sitting
next to Seven rubs her nose.
HACKS a horrible-sounding COUGH.

SEVEN
Ew. Don’t you DARE fucking
cough on me, FREAK.

MR. DOMINO
Are you feeling okay, Gaga?
Would you like to go see the nurse?

GAGA
I’m fine, Mr. Domino. I’m just --

She suddenly PROJECTILE VOMITS
a geyser of RED-BROWN PUKE all over Seven,
who starts SCREAMING.

The classroom door EXPLODES off its hinges,
and a dozen PARAMILITARY TROOPS
in black Hazmat suits with assault rifles
STAMPEDE into the room.

One of them, the LEADER
goes up to Mr. Domino.
Points his rifle at the students.

PARAMILITARY LEADER
NOBODY MOVE. This in an INFECTED AREA.

Two troopers GRAB Gaga.
Wrestle her into a body bag.

Carry her away, SCREAMING.
Two more GRAB Seven,
now covered in puke, also SCREAMING.

SEVEN
Let me GO, let me GO --
I didn’t DO ANYTHING.

A trooper runs a hand-held
scanner over her body.

Takes a reading.
Nods. Looks at Leader.

SCANNER TROOPER
Negative, sir.

PARAMILITARY LEADER
Take her in for testing.
We need to be sure --

SEVEN
TESTING? What kinda TESTING?

A pair of troopers stuff
her into a body bag,
kicking and screaming.
Then haul her away.

Another trooper takes a reading
of the chair Gaga was sitting in.
Turns, looks at Leader.

TROOPER
Infection level four, sir.

PARAMILITARY LEADER
Quarantine the room.

MR. DOMINO
Wait a minute, you can’t do that --

Paramilitary WHIPS out a syringe.
Jabs it in Mr. Domino’s neck.
He falls to the floor, THWUMP.

PARAMILITARY LEADER
Sleep tight, and don’t let
The Bill Of Rights bite, professor --

Scanner Trooper turns and looks at Leader.

SCANNER TROOPER
What’s The Bill Of Rights?

PARAMILITARY LEADER
Ancient history, soldier --

A Clean Break

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 the final Chapter of THE HEISTERS, Kelsey makes a deal with the devil, gets away scot-free, and heads off into the sunset with a cool million ...


EXT. VENICE BEACH PARKING LOT - NIGHT
A patrol car sits idling at the very
north end of the lot near the entrance.

Kelsey trots over to it, limping a bit.
She gets in. SLAMS the door.

INT. PATROL CAR - NIGHT
Elwin sits behind the wheel.
Smiles at Kelsey.

ELWIN
Ding, dong, the bitch is dead?

KELSEY
Follow the yellow brick smashed on her head.
(beat)
You got the dough?

ELWIN
Does a bear shit in the woods?

KELSEY
Solid. Where to, the airport?

ELWIN
Charter flight to Mexico awaits --

He puts the car into gear. Starts driving.

ELWIN (CONT’D)
You never told me. What are you
gonna do with your half-mil? Retire?

KELSEY
Thought I’d go cruise around Europe
for a year or so. Never been.
(beat)
But I’ll be back. A half-million
isn’t going to last forever.
(beat)
And besides, I’m a heister. It’s in my blood.

Elwin nods. Turns east on Navy Street.

EXT. CONSTRUCTION SITE - NIGHT
Mart, Nunn and Isaacs find Ronan’s body.
Ren and Meg examine Doll’s corpse.

They call it in.
Start combing the area for evidence.

A trio of SQUAD CARS pull up,
lights FLASHING.

KELSEY (V.O.)
The plan was simple. I knew every detail
about the heist because I planned it --
and where the money would end up afterward.

INT. PATROL CAR - MOVING - NIGHT
Elwin drives. Kelsey looks out the window. Thinking.

KELSEY (V.O.)
We knew there was going to be a double-cross,
so all Elwin had to do was tail Ronan
and see what he was up to --
and then between the two of us
working both sides of the law,
we could connect the dots.
It got a little hairy there for awhile,
but we pulled it off.

EXT. SIDEWALK CAFE - DAY - FLASHBACK
Kelsey and Elwin sit at a table outside.
It’s deserted. Late. No one else around.

ELWIN
Give me one reason I don’t take you in right now.

KELSEY
How about a half-a-million reasons.

Elwin sips his coffee. Narrows his eyes.

ELWIN
How I do I know I can trust you?

KELSEY
I’ve never been caught.
And I’ve got a score to settle.
With you on my team, it’s a slam-dunk.
(beat)
Word on the street is you’re into
Jimmy Two-Fingers for fifty-K
betting on the ponies,
and I had funny feeling
offering you a half-million
tax free would be a home run.

He stares at her a long beat.
Then breaks into a big smile.

ELWIN
Let’s play ball.

INT. BAR - NIGHT - FLASHBACK
Kelsey sits at a booth,
Ronan across from her.

Talking earnestly. Kelsey smokes.
Watching him, stone-faced.

KELSEY (V.O.)
I knew something was up when Ronan
first approached me about the job.
A little over a year ago we’d had
what I thought was a minor fling
after a big heist.
It was New Year’s Eve, I had too
much to drink, and got careless.
The first rule of Heist Club
is don’t get involved.
(beat)
But the kicker was,
he’d fallen in love with me.
And after I ended it, he mooned
around like a teenage kid.
They only way I could make a
clean break was to leave town --
so when he contacted me through
my go-between about a new job,
red flags started flapping in the breeze.
INT. PATROL CAR - MOVING - NIGHT
Kelsey lights a cigarette. Rolls down the window.
Feels the warm night air blow on her face.

KELSEY (V.O.)
I learned a valuable lesson.
NEVER fuck a heister.
(beat)
Because if you don’t watch out,
they’ll fuck you right back.

Kelsey says something to Elwin.
He pulls the car over to the side of the road.

She smiles. Opens the car door --
WHIPS OUT her pistol.
SHOOTS him in the chest.

BANG. BANG. BANG.
Elwin slumps over. Dead.

KELSEY (V.O.) (CONT'D)
Oh, yeah. One last thing.
(beat)
Never trust a heister --

Goodbye, Dolly

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 46 of THE HEISTERS, the shit hits more than the fan when Kelsey and Doll fight to the death, high atop a building under construction ...


EXT. CONSTRUCTION SITE - ROOF - NIGHT
Kelsey hobbles up the stairs
holding the steel pipe,
emerges onto the roof.

Sees Doll standing on the
opposite side of the building.
Brandishing a shovel with both hands.

DOLL
Stay the fuck AWAY FROM ME.

Kelsey holds the pipe
like a baseball bat.

Takes a practice swing.
Starts limping toward Doll.

KELSEY
Sorry, kid.
It’s time for act three.
The final curtain.
Have any last words?
(beat)
Oh, wait.
That would imply you could THINK.

DOLL
I said STAY AWAY FROM ME.

KELSEY
Did you really think you
could get away with it?
Ripping off a PROFESSIONAL HEISTER?
Is your brain that DRUG-DAMAGED?

Doll holds the shovel to her side.
JABS the air in front of her with it.

Moves back toward the
edge of the building.

DOLL
Ronan said you were an arrogant BITCH,
and now I see he was RIGHT.

Kelsey moves closer to her,
swinging the pipe.

KELSEY
Now that I see you up close,
I can’t believe he’d fuck
such a filthy skank.
I can smell you from HERE.
(beat)
Love the nose ring.
Great for tugging on with a LEASH.

Doll SNAPS.
She CHARGES at Kelsey with the shovel.

Kelsey SWINGS the pipe down
on it with a CRACK,
sending it FLYING out of
her hands to the ground --

Doll LEAPS into the air
and GRABS Kelsey in a bear hug.

The pipe goes FLYING and hits
the tar paper with a CLANG.

DOLL
ARRRRGHH --

Kelsey FALLS BACKWARDS,
Doll on top of her.

They roll around on the roof.
Kelsey HEAD BUTTS her in the face.

Doll FLIES away from her.
Holds her bloody nose in her hands.

DOLL (CONT’D)
You broke my --

Kelsey stands. Raises her fists.

KELSEY
Oh, we’re just getting started, hot stuff.
It’s your choice. Wanna go over the side,
or should I finish you off right here?

Doll whips her head back and forth
looking for a weapon. Can’t find one.

She raises her fists. Starts hopping
on the balls of her feet like a boxer.

DOLL
Fuck YOU. Come and get it --

Kelsey starts rolling her fists.

KELSEY
I was hoping you’d say that.

She gets nearer. Doll takes a SWING.
Kelsey feints to the left,
then SMASHES her fist into
Doll’s face with a CRACK.

She FLIES back wards.
Staggers a bit.

KELSEY (CONT’D)
Saw that one in RAGING BULL.
Ready for more?

Doll SCREAMS. CHARGES at her, fists flying.
Kelsey JUMPS to the right.

Doll goes FLYING across the roof,
TRIPS on a board. Hits the ground.

Kelsey resumes her stance. Doll gets up.
Blood dripping from a gash on her forehead.

DOLL
(low, feral)
I’m gonna fucking KILL YOU.

She CHARGES again.
Kelsey SPINS AROUND
and KICKS Doll in the stomach,
knocking the wind out of her.

She FLIES backwards,
feet trip on the ledge,
and she FALLS OVER THE SIDE.

We hear her SCREAM as she goes down.
Then a sickening CRUNCH.
Kelsey goes to the ledge, limping.

KELSEY
Thank god. Don’t think I
could have done that again --

She looks over the side.

CLOSE ON --
Doll’s body. Lying near Ronan’s
on a pile of broken bricks.

ON THE ROOF
Kelsey starts for the stairs,
then hears --

MART (O.C.)
Over there.
It came from the constructions site.
(beat)
All units, they’re at the construction site --

She turns. Dashes over to the opposite side.
Starts climbing down the scaffolding
at the rear of the building.

KELSEY
Goodbye, Dolly --
it’s so nice to have you
dead where you belong.

Dough Re Mi

Hey there, crime kids. Happy Monday. 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 45 of THE HEISTERS, the local cops and the feds are delighted to find the cash from the stadium robbery that Doll left in the trunk of her car, but the question is, who gets to keep it ... ?


EXT. VENICE ALLEY - DRIVEWAY - NIGHT
A cluster of COPS and FBI
clog the driveway.

EVIDENCE TECHS are going over the car.
Yellow tape surrounds the perimeter.
Mart and Elwin huddle with Meg and Ren.

REN
The money on the ground
suggests that she was in a hurry.

MEG
Yeah, but why?

MART
Someone was chasing her?

ELWIN
Maybe she was trying a double-cross
and got busted --

MART
Makes sense.

ELWIN
(looks at the car)
Why don’t I take the cash
to the station and log it
into the evidence locker?
Makes me nervous
just sitting there like that.
Never know what could happen.
Those heisters might try something --

MART
Good idea.
We’ve got Nunn and Isaacs
canvasing the area.
We’ll join ‘em.

ELWIN
Keep me posted.
I’ll come back later if you need me.

MART
You got it.

Elwin goes the car.
Grabs the bags of money.

Carries them over to his squad car.
Puts them in the trunk. Drives off.

REN
(to the group)
Okay.
Everybody fan out
and canvas the area.
I’m going to stay here
and monitor the feed
from the satellite.

MART
You think we’ll be able to find her?

MEG
Oh, yes.
Spy satellite can track a mole
on Rush Limbaugh’s ass
from a hundred miles.

MART
Really.

MEG
Really.
Remember that trip he took down to --
(beat)
Never mind.

Fight Club

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 44 of THE HEISTERS, it's a clusterfuck of epic proportions when Kelsey and Doll go mano-a-mano high atop a dangerous construction sight ...


EXT. CONSTRUCTION SITE - NIGHT
Kelsey climbs up the scaffolding,
making it to the third floor.
She rolls inside onto the cement.

INT. CONSTRUCTION SITE - NIGHT
She looks around in the spooky darkness.
Walks over to the stairwell
in the middle of the room, which now
has temporary wooden plank stairs.

She calls up to the next floor.

KELSEY
Did you really think you get away
with stealing MY MONEY? Huh, BITCH?

ON THE THIRD FLOOR
Doll stands near the stairwell opening.
Looks around. Sees a bucket filled with tools.

She GRABS it. Tip-toes toward the opening,
and DUMPS it in the direction of Kelsey’s voice.

ON THE SECOND FLOOR
The tools FLY DOWN. Kelsey sees them,
starts to JUMP out of the way,
but a hammer HITS her on the shoulder.

KELSEY
OW!

DOLL
Hears her. Smiles. Evil.
Looks for something else to throw.

She finds a long two-by-four.
Walks over to the stairwell.

KELSEY
Rubs her shoulder.
Looks up into the opening.

KELSEY
You just made the biggest mistake of your LIFE --
(beat)
Which is now about to END.

She starts up the stairs --
Just as the two-by-four comes
FLYING DOWN like a missile.

It HITS Kelsey in the stomach, OOF --
and she goes FLYING BACKWARDS
onto the floor with a CRACK.

KELSEY
Okay. Now I’m MAD --

She slowly gets up. Raises a fist.

KELSEY
Prepare to DIE, fuck-face.

And she CHARGES UP THE STAIRS.

DOLL
Hears her coming up, and
RACES UP to the next floor.

INT. CONSTRUCTION SITE - FOURTH FLOOR - NIGHT
Doll looks around.
What to do? Where to hide?

What can I use as a weapon?
She sees a sledgehammer. Picks it up.

Crouches down behind a stack of sheetrock.
Kelsey comes FLYING UP the stairs into the room.
Looks around, searching.

KELSEY
You can run, but you can’t hide,
you fucking CUNT. WHERE ARE YOU?

BEHIND THE SHEETROCK
Doll clutches the sledgehammer.
Eyes darting madly.

She pulls a coke snifter
out of her pocket.
Does a quick bump.

KELSEY
Circles the room. Looking for her.
Sees a trash can. Takes off the lid.

Holds it like a shield.
Finds a length of pipe.
Picks it up. Brandishes it like a sword.

KELSEY
This is your last chance, girlie.
Show yourself NOW.

Kelsey walks near the stack of sheetrock.
Doll LEAPS UP and SMASHES
the sledge hammer at Kelsey’s head --

She BLOCKS the blow with the garbage can lid,
but the impact drives it into her head
and KNOCKS her over, THWUMP.

DOLL raises the sledgehammer over her head.
Wild-eyed, face contorted in a bizarre grimace.

DOLL
Time to meet your MAKER --

Kelsey shakes her head. Sees Doll,
and THROWS the pipe at her.

It SMASHES into her chest. She FLIES
backwards into the sheetrock, CRACK.

Kelsey slowly gets up. Head pounding.
Doll raises the sledgehammer again.

KELSEY
Not so fast, BITCH --

She WHIPS the garbage can lid
at her like a frisbee.

It HITS Doll in the neck with a CRACK --
she lets go of the sledge hammer --
and it FLIES DOWN and hits Kelsey on the FOOT.

KELSEY
OW!

Doll stares at her wild-eyed,
clutching her neck, trying to breath --
and RUNS to the stairwell and FLIES UP the steps.

Kelsey gingerly puts her foot on the floor.

KELSEY
FUCK --

She tries to walk, but it’s hard.
She’s in PAIN. Picks up the pipe.

Hobbles over to the staircase.
Grabs the hand rail.

Looks up into the darkness
of the black sky above.

KELSEY
Yo, GIRLIE. Got some great news.
Just called Hell and made you a reservation.
I hear Satan gives great room service.

Off in the distance,
we hear police sirens WAILING.

B-Movie

Hey there, crime kids. Happy Monday. 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 43 of THE HEISTERS, the cops recover the cash from the rock concert robbery ... and help themselves to a couple thousand ...


EXT. VENICE ALLEY - DOLL’S DRIVEWAY - NIGHT
Isaacs shines his flashlight
into the car. Searching.

Nunn speaks on his cell phone.

NUNN
Mart, it’s Nunn --

INTERCUT WITH:

INT. VENICE MOTOR COURT HOTEL - RONAN’S ROOM - NIGHT
Ren Rosen and Meg Stark supervise
the crime scene technicians.

Kasper’s corpse is zipped up
into a body bag.

Placed on a gurney.
Wheeled out.

Mart Volok and Elwin Marr
stand near the window, smoking.
Mart talks on his cell phone.

MART
What ya got?

NUNN
Oh, not much --
(beat)
Just the fucking STADIUM JOB cash.

MART
What THE FUCK?

NUNN
You heard me --

MART
WHERE?

NUNN
In the trunk of one of the bimbos
the stiff was fucking, where else?

MART
Which bimbo?

ELWIN
(to Mart)
What’s going on?

NUNN
Doll Montana.
(chuckles)
Right out of a B-movie --

MART
Don’t remind me --
(cups the phone, to Elwin)
Isaacs and Nunn got the cash
from the stadium job.

ELWIN
They DID?
Did they get the perps?

MART
I dunno --
(into the phone)
Did you get the bimbo?

NUNN
Nah. She split --

MART
(to Elwin)
They just got the cash --

Meg looks at them.

MEG
Did I just hear what
I thought I heard?

MART
Yeah. Couple detectives
got the stadium job cash --

REN
(turns, looks)
WHAT? Where? When? HOW?

MART
Hold on --
(into the phone)
What’s your location?

NUNN
Thirty-two Ozone Avenue.
A block south of Navy --

MART
We’re on our way --
(beat)
Good job, detective.
The captain is going
to be VERY happy.
Sit tight.
We’re on our way.

He CLICKS his phone shut.
Isaacs stares at the money.

Picks up a banded wad of hundreds.
Stuffs it in his pocket.

NUNN
(sees him)
Hey. What the fuck
do you think you’re --

Isaacs pulls out another stack.
Tosses it to Nunn.

ISAACS
I can’t -- keep this.

NUNN
So who’s gonna know?

ISAACS
I will.

NUNN
And your point IS?

Isaacs looks at the money.
Nods. Stuffs it in his pocket.

ISAACS
Almost lost my head
there for a minute --

Bed Time Story

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 42 of THE HEISTERS, Kelsey has her final showdown with sleazy B-girl Doll Montana high atop a building under construction ...


EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING - NIGHT
Kelsey climbs up the scaffolding.
Pissed-off. On fire.

KELSEY (V.O.)
They say men think with their dicks.
They also double-cross with them, too.
(beat)
I’d heard a gunshot nearby.
Hopefully it was some gang-banger.
If it was the cops, I was fucked.
(beat)
The money was so close I could taste it.
All I had to do was get the car
keys from the bitch up above me --
but given what she did to Ronan,
I knew it wasn’t going to be easy.
I just had to watch my back --
(beat)
And my head.

She pulls out her cell phone.
Punches a number. Listens.

KELSEY
It’s me. I’ve got her.
Four-story building under construction
a couple blocks away --
(listens)
YOU’RE gonna get it -- ?
(listens)
Okay. Gotcha. That’ll work.
Let me just wrap up this loose end
and I’ll meet you somewhere --
(listens)
Parking lot at the north end.
Got it. See you there.

She keeps climbing.

ON THE ROOF
Doll looks down over the edge.
Hears Kelsey climbing.

She grabs some scraps of wood.
Starts HURLING them down at her.

DOLL
Stay AWAY FROM ME or
I’ll fucking KILL YOU.

KELSEY
DUCKS under the scaffolding
planks above her.

The scraps of wood
HIT above her.

KELSEY
You’re gonna have to do
better than THAT, Goth-ip Girl.

She looks around in the darkness.
Something metal glistens
in the moonlight. A CROWBAR.
She GRABS it. Continues her climb.

KELSEY (CONT’D)
Mommy’s home, and she’s PISSED --

A police siren WHOOP-WHOOPS
in the distance. Kelsey turns. Hears it.

Clutches the crowbar like a bat.
Starts climbing.

KELSEY (CONT’D)
Time for your bed time story --
(beat)
But I’m afraid you’re not
going to like the ENDING.

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 41 of THE HEISTERS, robbery homicide detectives Nunn and Isaacs trace the dough from the stadium job ... and find it in the trunk of sleazy B-girl Doll Montana's trunk ...


EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING - NIGHT
Nunn and Isaacs stand in the foyer.
Nunn RINGS Doll’s bell.

ISAACS
She’s not in, I tell you --

NUNN
Intel said she’s home every night.
Whattaya say we snoop around?

ISAACS
Yeah. Let’s go check around the back.
Could use the fresh air and exercise.

NUNN
Good idea.
Work off those donuts --

ISAAC
(smiles)
Fuck you.

They walk towards the alley
between the buildings.

EXT. BACK ALLEY - NIGHT
Isaacs and Nunn walk over to
her rear window. Look in.

ISAACS
Funny.
All her lights are on --

NUNN
Foul play?

ISAACS
(sees her car)
Car’s here --

NUNN
So what?
This is Venice.
People WALK --

Isaacs stares at the car.
Narrows his eyes.

ISAACS
Wait a MINUTE --

He walks over to the trunk.
Looks down at the ground.

Picks up a pair of bills.
Waves them at Nunn

ISAACS (CONT’D)
Check it out.
Couple of C-notes on the ground.
In VENICE?

NUNN
The STADIUM JOB --

Isaacs pulls out his service revolver.
SHOOTS at the trunk, BANG. Opens it.
Sees the open duffle bag stuffed with cash.

ISAACS
Holy fucking SHIT.

NUNN
Somebody’s getting a promotion --

ISAACS
No worries.
I’ll share the credit with you.

NUNN
Really?
You’d do that for me?

ISAACS
Fuck, yeah.
You’re my partner.
Now go call it in
before you get all
weepy-eyed and shit.

Little Miss Controlled Substance

Hey there, crime kids. Happy Monday. 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 41 of THE HEISTERS, Kelsey discovers that Ronan set her up, and that he got Doll to steal the money and kill her boy toy Jackie, who was also in on the scam ... then confronts both of them, with deadly results ...


AT THE CORNER
Doll sees a four-story apartment
building under construction.

It’s covered with a maze of
scaffolding, like catacombs.
She starts climbing up.

KELSEY
Follows right behind.
Starts climbing up after her.

KELSEY
Better watch your back, BITCH,
cause I’m RIGHT BEHIND YOU.

DOLL
Looks down. Sees Kelsey climbing up.
Sees a bucket lying on the next level.
GRABS it. THROWS it down --

It HITS Kelsey in the head. BANG.
She FLIES off the scaffolding.
Hits the ground, BANG.

Ronan races up to the building. Panting.
Out of breath. Kelsey gets up. Sees him.

KELSEY (CONT’D)
You goddamn fucking ASSHOLE.

RONAN
SOMEBODY had to break your streak, baby.

KELSEY
We were DRUNK, Ronan.
It was NEW YEAR’S EVE.
We’d just done a JOB.
I wasn’t looking for a RELATIONSHIP --

UP ABOVE
Doll looks down. Listens. Motionless.

ON THE GROUND
Ronan glares at Kelsey.

RONAN
You REJECTED ME. Arrogant BITCH.

KELSEY
I gotta admit, it was almost brilliant.
So how did you get Jackie and Doll
on the hook?

RONAN
Are you KIDDING? It was EASY --

INT. BAR - NIGHT - FLASHBACK
Ronan sits at the bar with Jackie Tempel.
Pours them beers from a big pitcher.
SLAPS him on the back.

RONAN (V.O.)
I’d heard from Jackie’s boss that
he dumped his druggy girlfriend,
so I made him an offer he couldn’t refuse.

JACKIE
Seriously?

RONAN
Easy money. You rock her world,
and there’s ten large in it for ya.

JACKIE
But how do I know she’ll go for me?

RONAN
Trust me. After a job
she’s like a cougar in heat --

INT. DOLL’S APARTMENT - NIGHT - FLASHBACK
Doll and Ronan sit on the couch.
Ronan finishes chopping up a few
lines of coke on the coffee table.

RONAN (V.O.)
And then reeling in Amy Winehouse
was like shooting fish in a rehab --

Doll SNARFS up a big, fat one.
Then another. Shakes her head.
Rushing on the drugs. Eyes BLAZING.

DOLL
Holy shit, is that UNCUT?

RONAN
Just like me, baby --

DOLL
(puts her hand on his knee)
So let me get this straight.
I kill the cocksucker,
and we split a MILLION BUCKS?

RONAN
Yeah --
(big smile)
And I get to split YOU.

Doll smiles. Evil. Reaches over.
GRABS Ronan’s crotch.

DOLL
Ooh. I see big boy is PACKING.
This is getting better and better --

EXT. CONSTRUCTION SITE - DAY
Kelsey stares at Ronan.
Shakes her head with disgust.

KELSEY
Wait. Let me guess. And you had
Little Miss Controlled Substance
convinced you were gonna run off
with her and live happily ever after?

RONAN
What do YOU think?

KELSEY
(yells up above)
You hear that, Doll-face?
Your boyfriend was gonna
double-cross you.
You weren’t gonna get SQUAT.
Whattaya think about THAT?

DOLL’S
Eyes bulge. Her face turns red.
She sees a pick-axe.

Picks it up. Moves closer
to where they’re standing.

RONAN
Calls up to her.

RONAN
Don’t listen to her, baby.
She’s a lying, filthy, rotten CUNT.
She thinks her shit don’t --

The axe goes WHIZZING through the air.
It HITS Ronan on the top of the head
with a sickening CRUNCH --

RONAN (CONT’D)
Stink.

And he falls over, THUD.
Blood starts pouring down his head.
Kelsey LEAPS BACK.

DOLL
There’s plenty more where
that came from, BITCH.
So if you know what’s good
for you, STAY AWAY FROM ME.

Kelsey goes to the scaffolding.
Starts climbing up.

KELSEY
Step into my parlor,
said the spider to the fly --

Run For Your Life

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 40 of THE HEISTERS, Kelsey discovers that sleazy B-girl Doll Montana stole the loot from the stadium robbery, and chases after her ...


EXT. VENICE ALLEY - DRIVEWAY - NIGHT
Doll’s got the trunk open.
Tries to pull out one of the duffle bags,
but has a hard time with it. Too HEAVY.

DOLL
Shit.
(beat)
I can’t run with these --

She unzips it.
Starts stuffing bundles
of cash in her jacket pockets.
Down her jeans. In her purse.

THROUGH THE HEDGES
Kelsey watches.

KELSEY
(to herself)
The MONEY --

PUSHES her way through the hedges.
Comes out the other side.

KELSEY (CONT’D)
BITCH. That’s MY MONEY.

Doll turns. Looks. Sees Kelsey.

DOLL
Fuck YOU, cunt --

She SLAMS the trunk shut.
Starts RUNNING AWAY.
Kelsey TAKES OFF after her.

KELSEY
COME BACK HERE --

FURTHER ON DOWN THE ALLEY
Ronan hears the yelling.

RONAN
SHIT --

And he races toward Doll’s driveway.

INT. UNMARKED POLICE CAR - NIGHT
Isaacs and Nunn sip their coffee.

ISAACS
I think we should tell
her we’re out here.
Might get spooked if
she sees us watching her.

NUNN
Yeah. Good idea. Let’s go.

They get out of the car.
Walk toward the building.

IN THE ALLEY
Doll TAKES OFF
down the alley on foot.

Kelsey sees her.
CHASES AFTER her.

Ronan FLIES through the bushes.
RUNS AFTER both of them.

AT THE CORNER
Doll sees a four-story apartment
building under construction.

It’s covered with a maze of
scaffolding, like catacombs.

She starts climbing up.

KELSEY
Follows right behind.
Starts climbing up after her.

KELSEY
Better watch your back, BITCH,
cause I’m RIGHT BEHIND YOU --

A Swell-Looking Babe

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 39 of THE HEISTERS, murderous B-girl Doll Montana makes a hasty exit ... just as the cops start closing in on her ...


INT. DOLL’S APARTMENT - NIGHT
The woozy, sax-drenched cocktail swoon
of Morphine plays on the hi-fi.

The TV’s on with the sound off.
Some nature show.

Doll lights a joint.
Takes a big hit.
Then cocks her head.

She hears something outside.
Gets up, goes to the window.
Looks out. Sees --

EXT. SPEEDWAY - NIGHT
An unmarked COP CAR sits
idling across the street.

DOLL
Stares with horror.

DOLL
Fucking COPS.

Doll races to the coffee table.
Stubs out the joint.

Hides it under the ashtray.
Looks around the apartment wildly.
Thinking. Then stops. Realizes.

DOLL (CONT'D)
The fucking MONEY.

She turns and heads for the kitchen.

IN THE KITCHEN
Doll goes to the back door.
Opens it. Goes outside to --

THE REAR ALLEY
Where her piece of shit pea-green
Dodge Dart Swinger is parked.

She goes to the trunk.
Fishes out her keys. Opens it.

EXT. VENICE ALLEY - NIGHT
Ronan’s car pulls up behind Kelsey’s.
Parks. He gets out.

Pulls out his gun. Starts
walking toward Doll’s building.

INT. HOTEL CORRIDOR - NIGHT
Ren Rosen and Elwin Marr stand
on either side of the
door to room twenty-three.

Guns raised.
Ren KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCKS loudly.
SHOUTS.

REN
This is the FBI.
OPEN THE DOOR.
We’ve got the place SURROUNDED.

Silence.

He BANG-BANG-BANGS again.

REN (CONT’D)
I repeat, THIS IS THE FBI.
Open the door NOW,
or we’re COMING IN.

Silence.

Elwin pulls a pass key
out of his pocket.
Ren nods.

He puts the key in. Turns it.
Carefully unlocks it, staying
against the wall outside --

Ren KICKS it open with his foot.
It FLIES open. They wait. Listening.

Nothing.

He nods at Elwin, and they RACE IN --

INT. RONAN’S HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT
To find it empty.

REN
Shit.

ELWIN
Fuck.

Ren goes to the closet. Opens it. Nothing.
Elwin goes to the bathroom. Looks. Empty.

Ren goes the bed. Gets down.
Looks under it. Smiles. Evil.

REN
We gotta dead heister under the bed.

ELWIN
Is it the chick?

REN
Nah. Some Hispanic guy.
Ugly sonofabitch.

ELWIN
Crime doesn’t pay.
Or get you laid --

Elwin pulls out his radio.
Speaks into it.

ELWIN (CONT'D)
Hey, Mart. You and Stark
come on up. They’ve flown the coop.

INTERCUT WITH:

EXT. VENICE MOTOR COURT HOTEL - NIGHT
Meg and Mart stand in the alley
outside the window.

Mart looks up.
Speaks into his radio.

MART
Damn. You guys find anything?

ELWIN
We gotta stiff. Come on up.

MART
Roger that. Over.

He puts the radio away. Looks at Meg.

MEG
So?

MART
They’re gone. Except for one, who’s dead.

MEG
(big smile)
Now we’re TALKING.

MART
You’re -- happy about that?

MEG
It’s a fucking LEAD, detective.
Of COURSE I’m happy --
(beat)
C’mon, let’s go.

They start walking back to the hotel.

MART
So -- you married?

Meg stops dead in her tracks.
Stares at him. Eyes burning.

MEG
Yeah. To my JOB.

She continues on.

MART
Hey, I’m sorry. I just --
like a woman who’s strong. In control.

PUSH IN ON Meg’s face. Amused.

MEG
So do I, detective.
(beat)
So do I --