The Usual Suspects

Happy Hump Day, crime humpsters. You say you're feeling a little frustrated? Angry? Ready to blow your stack? Then maybe it's time to strap on your shoulder holster, slip in your favorite piece and head on out to the coolest hardboiled joint in cyberspace ... at That Killing Feeling.

Onto today's steamin' hot slice of noir, courtesy of BLOOD GETS IN YOUR EYES ...

When we last left boozy screenwriter Holly Land, her hostage Feo leans that she had killed his boss, which understandably freaks him out. Meanwhile, officer Dannette Day responds to the call about the OD at the rooftop party that drug dealer Beggar Leck escaped from ...


INT. HOLLY'S SHITTY HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT
Feo gets up off the bed. Starts to come to her.

HOLLY
DON’T MOVE.
(aims the gun at him)
Stay right the fuck WHERE YOU ARE.

A soft KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK at the door.

ALONA (O.C.)
Holly? It’s me, Alona.
Who’s in there with you?
Are you okay?

Holly smiles strangely.
Goes to the door. Opens it.

HOLLY
Come on in and join the party.

Alona walks in, sees Feo. Stops.

ALONA
Who’s he?

HOLLY
Oscar’s assistant.

FEO
(to Holly)
Who’s she?

HOLLY
Oscar’s date.

ALONA
Holy shit.

HOLLY
Tell me about it.

EXT. VENICE BEACH POLICE SUBSTATION - NIGHT
A circular brick building off the boardwalk.
A kid’s play park on one side.
Basketball courts on the other.

INT. VENICE BEACH POLICE SUBSTATION - CONTINUOUS
A tiny, small, cluttered room filled with the usual suspects.
A couple desks, filing cabinets, lockers.

A gorgeous, black female UNIFORMED COP (40’s)
shuffles through a book of mug shots.
Meet DANETTE DAY, cougar in blue.
Tough. World-weary. Has seen it all.
Several times.

A YOUNG ROOKIE COP (20’s) appears with two mugs of coffee.
Meet KENNY SPEED. Tall and gangly. Moon-faced.
Fresh out of the academy. Strong. Eager.

And not terribly bright.

KENNY
(hands her one)
Here’s your coffee, Danette.

DANETTE
Thanks, Kenny.

KENNY
Sure is a hot one tonight, huh?

DANETTE
Tell me about it.
The natives are restless.
When the Santa Annas are blowing, things get crazy.
First that liquor store holdup.
Something else is gonna happen.
I can feel it in my bones.

KENNY
I say bring it on.
I want some ACTION.

The phone RINGS.
Danette answers it.
Listens. Eyes FLASH.

DANETTE
Ten-seventy-eight.
Drug overdose at a wild rooftop party.
Fifty two-eighteen Speedway.
We’re on our way. Code three.

She BANGS down the phone. Gets up.

DANETTE (CONT’D)
You got your wish.
Ready to rock and roll?

KENNY
Fuck, yeah. A DRUG OVERDOSE.
(beat)
Code three.
That means -- lights and siren?

PUSH IN ON Danette’s face.
Nodding with amusement.

DANETTE
And if you’re really good,
we’ll get ice cream afterwards.