Fairy Dust

Hey there, crime kids. Happy Wednesday -- or for the more banal, 'Hump Day.' Enought dull 9-to-5 nomenclature. It's time once again to take a trip to the dark side, where your most violent fantasies become sins of the flesh, right here, where the hardboiled action is non-stop, at the coolest crime joint in cyberspace ... at That Killing Feeling.

In Chapter 13 of WILSHIRE BOULEVARD, we once again return to born-again wannabe director Ken Rice's 'porn shoot' in a shitty motel room, where transgendered 'talent' Nikki discovers that Ken knows her father, TV-movie producer Roland Yavo ...


INT. SHITTY MOTEL ROOM - DUSK
The shoot is over.
Ken packs up his camera equipment.
Rat sits on the couch reading a comic book.

IN THE BATHROOM
Nikki freshens her makeup.
Does her lips. Opens her compact.

Shakes out some fairy dust.
SNORTS a line. Then ANOTHER.

Shakes her head,
clearing out the cobwebs.

She goes to the door.
Puts her hand on the knob, and --

IN THE NEXT ROOM
the phone RINGS.
Ken places the shoot videotape
on the back of the couch, near Rat.
Picks up his cell.

NIKKI
stays put. Listens.

KEN
answers the call.

KEN
Heavenly Pictures,
this is Ken.
(beat)
Well, hello, David.
(beat)
Just shooting some test footage
of a promising new starlet I discovered.
(beat)
You know the drag review at the Cock Ring?
Guess who’s now in the show --
(beat)
Yavo’s son. Yavo’s SON is a TRANNY.
You know Klaus, the bartender?
He told me -- apparently she was
bragging about her old man
in the movie biz --
(beat)
Last night.
I bought her a drink after the show
and chatted her up.
I didn’t tell her I knew
who her father was.
Told her I liked her look,
and would she like to stop by
the location for a 'test shoot.'
(beat)
You have a filthy mind.

NIKKI’S
eyes go wide. Shit.
This freak knows my FATHER?

She sees Ken over by the window,
his back to us.

Rat on the couch.
Riveted to Action Comix.
Mouth slowly reading the words.

She gets down on her knees.
Crawls over behind the couch.
GRABS the videotape, just as --

KEN
hangs up. Turns.
Looks at Rat. Smiles warmly.

KEN
That was my agent. Nice guy.
(brilliant idea)
Hey. How about getting a bite to eat?
My treat. We could go to Applebee’s.
(notices the tape is gone)
Hey. Where’s the --

He looks behind the couch.
Sees Nikki.

KEN
Hey, what the heck
do you think you’re doing?
Nikki looks up. Wan smile.

NIKKI
I lost a -- an earring.

KEN
No you didn’t,
you have my videotape.
Hand it over, NOW.

Nikki stands.
Holds the tape
behind her back.

NIKKI
I never would have acted in this
if I knew you knew my FATHER.

KEN
Life’s tough, and so am I.
Hand it over, fella.

NIKKI
(winces)
I’m not a FELLA.
(panics)
If my father found out
about this, he’d --

KEN
Rat? I need your help.

Rat sighs.
Puts down the comic.
Damn. Right at the good part.

He stands. Turns. Reaches over.
Grabs Nikki by the throat
with a big, meaty paw.

RAT
Hand it over.
If you like breathing.

Nikki gives Ken the tape.

KEN
See now? That wasn’t so hard.
(to Rat)
Now, would you please
escort 'the lady' out?
Her services are no longer required.

Rat GRABS Nikki by the wrist,
pulls her toward the door.

NIKKI
I’ve got money,
how much do you want?

KEN
See you at the movies.

Rat opens the door --

NIKKI
Please, if my father sees that --

And SHOVES Nikki out.
SLAMS it shut, BANG.

KEN
Well, that was most unpleasant.

RAT
How daya think I feel?
I had to fuck her.