Double Feature

Hey there, crime kids. Happy Monday. 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 21 of WILSHIRE BOULEVARD, homicide detectives Bernie Keko and Aya Meir get ready to check out the crime scene were producer Roland Yavo was killed. Meanwhile, private eye Carrie Love is distraught over losing her home, and Jenny Lane tries to comfort her.


INT. UNMARKED CAR - AT THAT MOMENT
Aya and Bernie sit in the car,
parked in front of a designer coffee joint.
Sipping java.

AYA
Isn’t it a little late
to be visiting the widow?

BERNIE
Element of surprise.
In case there’s any
monkey business,
catches ‘em off guard.

The police radio SQUEALS.

DISPATCHER (V.O.)
All units in the vicinity of
Ocean Avenue and Colorado.
We’ve got a 10-54 at the
Hotel California, 1670 Ocean Avenue.
See the night clerk.

BERNIE
Shit. That’s right nearby --
(grabs the transmitter)
This is unit three-twelve.
We’ve got it. On our way.
(to Aya)
Come on, let’s go.

Aya starts the car.
Pulls out of the parking lot.

INT./EXT. UNMARKED CAR - MOVING - CONTINUOUS

BERNIE
Take Wilshire all the way to the ocean.

DISPATCHER (V.O.)
Bernie, it’s me, Roger.

BERNIE
(into the transmitter)
Hey, Roger. Who’s the stiff?
Some tourist?

ROGER (V.O.)
You know that movie producer
that got snuffed this morning?

BERNIE
Yeah?

ROGER (V.O.)
It’s his partner.

BERNIE
Great. Now it’s a double feature.

INT. JENNY’S APARTMENT - A LITTLE WHILE LATER
Chet Baker’s THE THRILL IS GONE
plays softly on the stereo.

Carrie and Jenny sit on the couch.
More than a little looped.

CARRIE
There’s a couple of
decent places at the beach.
The Venice Motor Hotel, maybe.
Reasonably cheap, not too sleazy,
and right near --
(hiccups)
The Boardwalk.
(drains her glass, stands)
I’m gonna go freshen my --

A fire engine SIREN SCREAMS.
Carrie DROPS her glass.

It hits the hardwood floor. CRASH.
She races to the window.

CARRIE
NOOOOOOO!

JENNY
It’s okay, it’s okay!
It’s just a --

Carrie watches the fire truck go by.
Socked in the gut.

She WHIRLS AROUND.
Clenches her fists.
The shock balloon POPS.

CARRIE
NO, It’s NOT OKAY.
It’s NOT -- OKAY.
I lost EVERYTHING.
My music, my books, my movies,
my clothes, my -- SHOES.
Ohmigod, my SHOES!
My fucking SHOES.
(gasps)
I lost EVERYTHING, Jenny!
I lost EVERYTHING I had in THE WORLD.
(beat)
And now I --
(beat)
I have --
(quietly)
Nothing.

And she LOSES IT.

Wrenching, heart-ripping SOBS of pain.
Spilling, gushing out like
blood from a violent wound.

Jenny races over to Carrie.
Hugs her. Strokes her hair.

Carrie cries. And cries.
And cries --

INT. HOTEL CALIFORNIA - FRONT DESK - NIGHT
Bernie stands with Aya at the desk.
Bernie flips his badge at Grotesque Clerk.

Grotesque checks it out.
Scratches herself.

BERNIE
Detective Keko, homicide.
This is my partner, Aya Meir.

AYA
(nods)
When did you find the body?

GROTESQUE CLERK
About fifteen minutes ago.
The guy in the room below
called to complain about
blood leaking through the ceiling.
Poor guy’s on his honeymoon.
At first he thought he
broke his wife’s cherry.
But when she told him she
really wasn’t a virgin,
well, hello --

BERNIE
Did Yavo have any visitors,
anybody suspicious-looking?

GROTESQUE CLERK
Another detective, a woman.
Checked out the dead guy’s room,
then left in an hurry.
Drove a big, old, white car,
Cadillac, I think.
Didn’t say her name --

BERNIE
Tall, thin, long hair,
big boobs, smart mouth?

GROTESQUE CLERK
Yeah, that’s her.

AYA
You know this person?

BERNIE
Yeah. And now she’s
in a shit-load of trouble.
(to the clerk)
What’s the room number?

GROTESQUE CLERK
24. You can’t miss it.
Place is crawling with pig --
uh, cops.