World's Oldest Profession

Happy Tuesday, crime motherfuckers! Feeling bored? Mad as hell, and can't take it anymore? Then get your tight little asses over to the coolest hardboiled joint in cyberspace, where the drinks are cold, and the chicks are hot ... at That Killing Feeling.

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

When we last left homicide detective Bernie Keko and patrolwoman Danette Day, they have followed clues to the various murders earlier that evening ... right to the Hotel Starlight, where our merry band of killers are right now trying to dispose of a couple of dead bodies ...


INT. HOTEL STARLIGHT - FRONT DESK - NIGHT
Kenny stands chatting with Bunky.
Scribbling something in his note pad.
Danette and Bernie walk in.

BUNKY
Evenin’, officers.
I was just givin’ my statement to your compatriot here.

KENNY
(to Danette)
He’s on the second floor, in room 25.
Checked in a little before midnight.

DANETTE
Has he left his room?

BUNKY
He went out about twelve-thirty,
that’s when I first saw him.
I’m the night man, midnight to eight.
He was with another guest,
young girl named Holly. Holly Land.

BERNIE
How long was he gone?

BUNKY
‘Bout an hour, I guess.

DANETTE
(to Bernie)
That’s when he got mugged and carjacked,
then came to the station.
(to Bunky)
Did he go out again?

BUNKY
Yeah, he did -- right away.
Then came back forty-five minutes later.
Looked spooked. An’ he was limpin.’
Now I know why.

BERNIE
He’s up there now?

BUNKY
Far as I know.

DANETTE
What’s the story with Holly?

BUNKY
Nice kid. Don’t know that much about her,
only been here a couple of weeks.
Said she was a writer.
Hangs out sometimes with Alona,
one of our permanent residents.

BERNIE
What’s her story?

BUNKY
Alona’s okay -- for a lady of the evening.

DANETTE
She’s a hooker?

BUNKY
World’s oldest profession.
She’s good people.

BERNIE
What room is Holly in?

BUNKY
Room 24, right next to Gill’s.
(beat)
Excuse me. Gotta go the head.

He turns, goes into the next room.

DANETTE
Okay, thanks.
(to Bernie)
C’mon, let’s go up.
(to Kenny)
Do me a favor and keep watch outside?

KENNY
Yes, ma’am.
To protect and serve --
(smiles)
You.

Kenny salutes. Trots off.

DANETTE
Ah, to be a rookie again.
So full of energy, hope, promise.

BERNIE
Well there’s that --
and he wants to fuck your brains out.

DANETTE
Guess there’s a lot of that going around, huh.

INT. ALONA’S SHITTY HOTEL ROOM - AT THAT MOMENT
Beggar looks at Alona. Then Holly.
Gills sits on the floor with his head in his hands.

BEGGAR
Okay, think, think -- what do we do?

ALONA
Stash Lief under the bed with Oscar.
Then, after the cops leave,
I’ll go down to the desk
and talk to Jerry Garcia about a hacksaw.

Holly sits on the bed.
Looks spooked. Haunted.

HOLLY
What about the fire escape?
We could always go up on the roof.

GILL
And what do we do once we’re up there?
My god, are you stupid.

HOLLY
Shut up, asshole.

ALONA
Keep your voices down.
They might be coming upstairs.

Beggar goes to the door.
Looks through the peephole.

BEGGAR
(whispers)
Shit, they’re HERE --