They Check In, But They Don't Check Out

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 17 of LEGS, private eye Carrie Love is tied up and unconscious in a shitty motel room as stripper Jonna James hides murder suspect Dina Daerr, also tied up, in the trunk of her car, but when Carrie wakes up, she does what she does best ... she KICKS ASS ...


INT. SHITTY MOTEL ROOM - NIGHT
A shower curtain is spread on the floor.
Dina lies on it, scared shitless.
Tied up like a pot roast.

Jonna starts rolling her up
like some kind of ungodly burrito.

IN THE OPPOSITE CORNER
Carrie lies on the bed, out cold.
Wrists tied behind her.

JONNA
Finishes. Picks Dina up.
Carries her toward the door.
Opens it. Walks outside --

EXT. SHITTY MOTEL - PARKING LOT - NIGHT
Jonna looks around.
Makes sure the coast is clear.

Heads over to her car.
Puts Dina down on the gravel.
Opens the trunk.

INT. SHITTY MOTEL ROOM - NIGHT
Carrie’s eyes open.
She looks around. No one. Huh.

She sees the open closet door.
Realizes.

She slides onto her back.
Raises her legs, and slowly, like a snake,
starts to work her wrists forward
across her ass, then up her legs.
Slowly. Painfully.

IN THE PARKING LOT
Jonna picks up Dina.
Puts her in the trunk.

IN THE MOTEL ROOM
Carrie’s almost there.
Suddenly her stomach muscles CRAMP.

CARRIE
Ow --

IN THE PARKING LOT
Dina SLAMS the trunk. Nods.
Exhausted. Starts heading back.

IN THE MOTEL ROOM
Carrie hears the trunk slam.
Starts to panic. Closes her eyes.

Fights through the pain.
Wrists now half-way across
the balls of her feet.
Almost there --

She hears Jonna’s high heels
CLICK-CLICK-CLICKING outside.

OUTSIDE THE MOTEL ROOM
A GIANT DRUNK REDNECK BIKER (40’s)
appears out of nowhere.

Gets in Jonna’s face.
Hefting a six-pack of cheap beer.

GIANT DRUNK REDNECK BIKER
Well, hello there, lil’ lady.
Wanna party?

JONNA
In your dreams --

She tries to get by him,
but he blocks her way.

GIANT DRUNK REDNECK BIKER
Aw, c’mon. You smell so nice --

JONNA
Beat it, Billy Bob.
Get THE FUCK out of my face.
You smell like ASS.

IN THE MOTEL ROOM
Carrie hears this. Grunts.
Uses all her might. Pushing --

And her hands FLY OVER her feet.
She DID IT. She rolls over.

Gets off the bed. Stands.
Scans the room for a weapon.

OUTSIDE THE MOTEL ROOM
Giant Redneck GRABS Jonna by the hair.
Pulls her head back.

GIANT DRUNK REDNECK BIKER
I think you owe me an APOLOGY.
That was awfully RUDE.

Jonna KNEES Giant in the crotch.
He REELS BACK in pain.

DROPS the six-pack, CRASH.
Bottles SMASH.

GIANT BIKER-LOOKING DUDE
GAAA --

JONNA
Take THAT, motherfucker.
Now go fuck your SISTER.

She steps around him,
goes to her door, opens it.

IN THE MOTEL ROOM
Carrie stands next to the doorway,
holding a lamp awkwardly
in her tied hands.

Jonna walks in.
Carrie SMASHES IT on her head. CRACK.

The bulb POPS.
Jonna reels back.
HITS the floor.

Carrie pulls a foot back to kick her,
but Jonna GRABS the other ankle
and YANKS on it.

Carrie FALLS TO THE FLOOR.

Jonna GRABS her by the throat.
Starts SQUEEZING.

Carrie SHOOTS UP her tied hands.
CLIPS her under the chin. HARD.

Jonna’s head JERKS BACK.
She lets go of Carrie’s throat.

Shakes her head.
Tries to get her bearings --

As Carrie LEAPS UP --
and CHARGES HER --
PUSHING HER across the room --
and right INTO THE WINDOW.

She FLIES THROUGH THE GLASS
as it SPRAYS out into the night.

Carrie looks at the broken window.
Sneers.

CARRIE
They check in, but they don’t check out.

She walks over. Looks. Sees --

OUTSIDE THE ROOM
Jonna. Lying in a pool
of blood and broken glass.

THE MOTEL MANAGER
Stands near the body.
In shock. Horrified.

Carrie appears next to him.
Tied wrists in front of her.

FREAKED OUT MOTEL MANAGER
What the fuck DID YOU DO?
I’m calling the FUCKING COPS.

CARRIE
I think that would be a good idea.

FREAKED OUT MOTEL MANAGER
Huh?

CARRIE
I’m a private detective,
working a case.

She raises her wrists in explanation.

FREAKED OUT MOTEL MANAGER
You did that -- tied up like that?

PUSH IN ON Carrie’s face.
A hint of a smile.

CARRIE
You should see me WRESTLE.