Death Takes A Holiday

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 42 of WILSHIRE BOULEVARD, the shit hits the fan when private eye Carrie Love learns the true identity of Harvey Flender's killer, just as wannabe torture-porn director Phillie Pfugg arrives on the scene demanding 'payment' ...


INT. FLENDER MANSION - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
Jenny stares at Carrie. Face turns red.
Nods her head at Gay.

JENNY
You -- SLEPT with her?

CARRIE
(to Gay)
Everybody makes mistakes.
(to Jenny)
Sorry, babe.
Never said I was perfect.

JENNY
You -- slept with -- HER.

Their eyes lock.
Jenny clenches her teeth.

Her face, a dark cloud.
Eyes glowing.

Carrie slowly aims her gun at Jenny.

CARRIE
(quietly)
You killed Harvey Flender.
And framed me.

JENNY
You’re crazy.

CARRIE
(to herself)
It was right there,
staring me in the face
the whole time.
(beat)
What was your motive?
Better benefits package?
Not enough vacation time?

JENNY
I don’t know what you’re talking about.

MODI
Harvey stole her script,
said he’d pay her off.
(to Jenny)
And I bet the cheap fuck
never did, did he.
Must really be frustrating,
now that DEATH TAKES A HOLIDAY
is up for three Emmys.

JENNY
How did you know about that?

MODI
Small office, babe.
Legal not only knows where
the skeletons are buried,
we negotiate who uses the shovel.
(to Carrie)
She’s been obsessed with you
since the Christmas party last year.

JENNY
Modi!

CARRIE
But we just -- made out.

JENNY
You said you were going to CALL ME.

MALE VOICE (O.C.)
Looks like a party.

PHILLIE PFUGG
stands in the doorway.
Sporting a sawed-off shotgun.

An evil grin.
He walks toward Carrie and Gay.

PHILLIE
If I had known
I would have brought something.

GAY
Who the fuck are YOU?

CARRIE
(to Phillie)
This is a private matter, Frankenstein.
So I suggest you let your
boot heels go a-wanderin,’
if you know what’s good for you.

MODI
(whispers)
That’s -- the hit man.
(to Phillie)
What are you doing here?
We no longer require your services.

PHILLIE
Funny thing about that.
I only got my up front payment.
I’m here to collect the balance.

GAY
But we called it off.

MODI
I left a message on your voice mail.

PHILLIE
Message? What MESSAGE?

Phillie aims the shotgun.
PUMPS it, CLICK-CLICK -- BANG.

The family portrait
above the fireplace SHATTERS.

MALE VOICE (O.C.)
Santa Monica Police!
Everybody stay right where you are!
DON’T MOVE!

BERNIE
stands in the doorway
with two REVOLVERS.

Aya to the side, SIG SAUER
in a two-handed grip.

JENNY
pumps GUN SHOTS at them.
Bernie and Aya ROLL to the side.

She RACES to the patio doors.

CARRIE
JENNY!

But she’s gone.

PHILLIE runs to the door.
SLAMS it shut.

PHILLIE
Think, think --

CARRIE
CRACKS Phillie on the head
with her piece.

PHILLIE
Ow!

She GRABS his gun.
KNEES him in the groin.
A soft POP.

PHILLIE
GAAAAA --

A large red, bloodstain forms
in his crotch. He keels over.

Carrie TEARS ASS toward the patio.
RACES outside --

As Bernie KICKS down the front door.
He and Aya look at Phillie.
Then Gay. Then Modi.

GAY
Detectives, I’m so glad you’re here.
Jenny Lane, she --

MODI
Fucking bitch ASSAULTED me.

BERNIE
Shut UP, BOTH of you.
(to Aya)
Cuff ‘em.

MODI
(as Aya cuffs him)
OW. Listen to me.
Jenny Lane killed Harvey.
She raced out the back door --

GAY
And Carrie Love,
she’s out there, too --