Sins Of The Father

Hey there, crime kids. Happy Labor Day. Family driving you crazy? Stuck in traffic? Or just need a little hardboiled-pulp-noir fix before the big barbecue ... ?

Then 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 16, born again wannabe producer Ken Rice has lunch with tiny TV-movie titan Roland Yavo at a tony oceanside joint in Santa Monica, where he pitches a 'most unusual' project involving a father and son ...


EXT. THE LOBSTER - NIGHT
An outre joint right
at the Santa Monica Pier.

Riot of color as the sun
sets over lapping waves.

Titles read
‘MEANWHILE, RIGHT DOWN THE STREET.’

INT. THE LOBSTER - CONTINUOUS
The place is packed.
Yavo and Rice sit a table for four
in front of a huge window.

The view is breathtaking.
The meeting, not.

YAVO
I only agreed to meet with you
because you said the project
involved my son.

KEN
And I thank you for seeing me
on such short notice.
I know your friend Mickey Sennet.
He said this story would be
right up your alley.

YAVO
Mickey Sennet is a used-car salesman.
He just brings us the property,
half the time he’s STOLEN it.
We never let that cocksucker
do any real ‘producing.’
(suspicious)
So why didn’t Mickey
bring it to me?

KEN
Well, right now he’s on location
in Nova Scotia.

YAVO
Working on WHAT?

KEN
A Vanna White biopic
for the Family Channel.

YAVO
Who’s playing Vanna?

KEN
That girl from American Idol.
She was first runner-up
in season eight.
(SNAPS his fingers)
What’s her name?
Great set of pipes --

YAVO
I don’t watch that shit.
(sips his cocktail)
Tell me about your project.
And how my son is involved.

Ken reaches down,
takes a envelope from his briefcase.

Pulls out a treatment.
Hands it to Yavo with a flourish.
KEN
‘Sins of the Father’
is a working title.
It’s the true story
of a teacher who has
a homosexual affair
with one of his students,
who turns out to be
his long-lost son.
It’s edgy, but touching.
A sure ratings-grabber.

YAVO
(leafing through the text)
This is one of the WORST ideas
I’ve ever been PITCHED.
(THROWS it at Ken)
GAY doesn’t play at the NETWORKS.
Not unless they DIE.

A couple at the next table look.

KEN
But --

YAVO
And INCEST?
Between a FATHER AND SON?
What, are you fucking CRAZY?

More people look.
Hushed whispers.

KEN
I’m already in talks
with Bruce Boxlietner
to play the father.

YAVO
Bruce BOXLIETNER?
That washed-up HAS-BEEN?
(over his shoulder)
CHECK, PLEASE.

Ken reaches down.
Pulls out a sheaf of
eight-by-ten glossies.
FLIPS them onto the table.

KEN
(low, urgent)
I just shot a tranny porn
with your son Nikki,
in DRAG, Roland.
So if you want me
to keep it a secret,
you agree to make
Sins of the Father.

Yavo THROWS his drink
in Ken’s face. Stands.

YAVO
You fucking BLACKMAILING
piece of SHIT.
I could GIVE a FUCK
if you release a PORNO
with my FAGGOT SON.

A SMOOTH, EURO MAITRE’ D approaches.

SMOOTH, EURO MAITRE’ D
I’m sorry, sir --
but I’m afraid I’m going to
have to ask you to leave.
You’re creating quite a scene --

YAVO
A SCENE?
You want to see a SCENE?

He GRABS the edge
of the table with his fists.

LIFTS it, and TOPPLES IT onto Rice.
China, glasses, silverware
go FLYING onto Ken,
who HITS the floor,
screaming like a girl.

YAVO
And YOU can pay the CHECK.