Fast, Cheap & Out Of Control

Hey there, crime kids. 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 LEGS, former homicide detective Carrie Love, after being thrown off the force, starts a new career as a private eye, and when she gets her first case -- a missing stripper -- she's more than a little excited to sniff out clues -- at a porn shoot ...


EXT. CRAFTSMAN BUNGALOW - DAY
A funky, brightly-colored,
hundred-year-old bungalow
on a leafy walkway street
on the north end of Venice Beach.

A sign on the gate reads
‘Carrie Love, Private Investigations.’

CARRIE (V.O.)
So I did what any self-respecting
former homicide detective
that was thrown off the force
for illegal and immoral activity WOULD do --
(beat)
Put up my own private eye shingle.
(beat)
Hey. It worked for Phillip Marlowe, didn’t it?
(beat)
Okay, okay -- so I’m more like Jim Rockford --

INT. CARRIE’S BUNGALOW - LIVING ROOM - DAY
A bright, airy space with funky, comfortable furniture.

Big fireplace. Giant sound system. Big-screen TV.
Pin-up art. Movie posters of iconic female action heroes.

In the corner sits Carrie’s office area.
Right now she’s rocking the laptop,
working the mouse, studying the monitor.

CARRIE (V.O.)
So now here I am,
after years of catching
LA’s most notorious serial killers,
rapists and murderers,
I’ve been reduced to posting an ad
for my services on fucking Craig’s List.
(clicks on an email)
A MISSING CAT? I think NOT.
Buh-bye, MORRIS -- Kibbles and SHITS.
(PUNCHES delete)
The plan was to take easy, simple cases --
missing persons, spouses who cheat,
stuff like that.
Just wanna the pay the rent, folks.
(beat)
I thought about bounty hunting --
I mean, that's where the real bucks are --
but I like breathing, thank you very much.
(beat)
Problem was, the only people answering my ad
were an endless parade of losers.
I hadn’t had a single client yet,
and the bills were piling up higher
than Andy Dick on a Saturday night.

Her phone RINGS.
She looks at it.
Then up at the ceiling.

CARRIE
So you were listening to my voiceover?
(picks it up, into the receiver)
Carrie Love Investigations, this is Carrie --

INTERCUT WITH:

EXT. SUNSET BOULEVARD - COFFEE BEAN - DAY
Sidewalk tables overflow with hip,
young film biz posers.

And a liberal sprinkling of Eurotrash.
Five-dollar coffee, ahoy.

In the mix sits DICK DAERR (60).
Short and stocky, barrel-chested, shirtless.
Jet-black hair. Smug, self-importance.

Seated nearby is a GOLDEN RETRIEVER
wearing a scarf.

Right now he’s on his cell phone.
He holds up a business card.
Squints at it in the bright sunlight.

DICK
Yeah, hi. Dick Daerr here,
'Hearing Aid Guru To The Stars' --

Carrie makes a face.
Looks at the phone.

CARRIE
(mumbles, to herself)
Here we go again --

DICK
I’m sure you’ve heard of me --

CARRIE
Of course. So what’s up?

DICK
(stares at the card)
Your slogan --

CARRIE
Yeah. What about it?

DICK
'Fast, cheap and out of control?'
Is that any way to advertise your business?

CARRIE
Marketing gimmick.
Criminals love it.
And you called, didn’t you?

DICK
Yeah. You were recommended by Irv Lipbaum --

CARRIE
Oh, yeah -- how is ol’ Irv?

DICK
Bastard’s dead.

CARRIE
REALLY?

DICK
Jew-bastard shyster got offed
by one of his clients. LONG story --
(beat)
So listen. I need your help.
My daughter is missing.

CARRIE
When was the last time you saw her?

DICK
About a week ago.
She moved out of the house
and started working as a stripper
at The Cheetah Lounge on Sunset.
Owner said she hasn’t
reported for work the last few days.

CARRIE
The Cheetah Lounge --

DICK
Yeah. You know it?

CARRIE
Too well --

DICK
That’s right, Irv said you were a --
(beat)
Uh, anyway -- can you help me?

CARRIE
Business first.
I charge five-hundred bucks a day,
plus expenses, with a retainer --

DICK
No problem.
I’m fucking rolling in it.
Can you come over now?

CARRIE
Hold on. Let me check my schedule.

Carrie holds the phone away from her.
Taps her foot.

Waits a beat.
Then gets back on.

CARRIE
You’re in luck.
I just had a cancellation.
Where you located?

DICK
I’m at sixteen-twenty-two Queens Road,
in the Hollywood Hills.

CARRIE
Solid. I’ll be there in thirty minutes.

DICK
Oh. One last thing --

CARRIE
What.

DICK
There’s a porn film
shooting there right now.
Just wanted to warn you.

CARRIE
Really?

DICK
Yeah. When you get there,
just knock on the front door
and ask for me.
I’ll be in my office.

CARRIE
Okay --
(beat)
What kind of porn film?

DICK
Light bondage. All-girl --

CARRIE
Oh.
(beat)
What’s the title?

DICK
'Learning The Ropes.'
Catchy, huh?

PUSH IN ON Carrie’s face.
Her impish grin.

CARRIE
I certainly hope so --