Mean Streets

Welcome back, my friends, to the new, G-rated version of That Killing Feeling.

Just kidding.

But still, since Facebook pulled the plug on my account, and I had to start all over again with a new one, I've become a little gun-shy. Censorship is a terrible thing, and surprising to see after all these years of civil rights progress. So please bear with me if the graphics on this blog are a tiny bit toned-down.

Last night I screened a French horror film, MARTYRS. It was very well done, and very scary, but after 60 minutes of watching young women being slaughtered and slaughtering, I had to shut it off. I'm about as hardboiled as they come, but I'm not into torture-porn. Sorry, Charlie. Only the real tuna gets to be star-fucked.

Onto today's installment from DAZED, BEAUTIFUL & BRUISED. In it, we meet private eye Carrie Love deep in the bowels of Venice Beach. Alone, on the street -- with a bottle of something brown.

***

EXT. VENICE BEACH ALLEY - DAWN

Title Card reads ONE YEAR LATER.

An acid-jazzy crime theme bubbles under --

The barest light of dawn.

A streetlight SNAPS off.

In a filthy alley behind 'Hollywood Pizza,' a Boardwalk dive.

A WOMAN sleeps -- a living pile of rags.

FEMALE VOICE (V.O.)

The worst part about sleeping outside

is that you never feel rested when you wake up.

You just lie there because there’s nowhere to go.

And besides, it’s fucking cold out.

We recognize her voice from the opening voiceover.

CAMERA PUSHES IN on her.

Underneath, despite the filth, we see she’s young.

Pretty.

FEMALE VOICE (V.O.) (CONT'D)

So you just lie there and remember

what it was like before this happened.

You think about things like a hot shower. A hot breakfast.

Reading the paper with a cup of coffee and a pack of smokes.

A HOMELESS MAN approaches on tip-toes, touches her blanket --

And she LEAPS UP, FLASHES her badge, POINTS her gun at him.

WOMAN

Hold it RIGHT THERE, motherfucker!

You just messed with the wrong chick.

ASSUME THE POSITION.

HOMELESS MAN

Shit, lady -- I mean, officer,

I wasn’t doing nothing, I was just --

He looks down at the big wet stain

spreading on his crotch.

WOMAN

Jesus fucking Christ, LOOK AT YOURSELF.

Get outta here. Don’t let me see you around here again.

The man hobbles away in a panic.

The chick sits back down.

WOMAN (CONT'D)

(into the camera)

You didn’t think I was homeless, did you?

(pulls out a bottle)

The name’s Carrie, Carrie Love.

I carry a badge.

(toasts, takes a sip)

Just getting into character.

***