Here's Looking At You, Kid

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 25 of LITTLE GIRL BLUE, private eye Carrie Love and her family are hiding in the secret basement room planning their escape, as the bad guys try to break in ...


INT. MARGO'S MANSION - BASEMENT - SECRET ROOM - NIGHT
Margo jabs a finger at Eva. Layla looks alarmed.

EVA
Don’t point your finger at me.
It’s not polite.

MARGO
You cheated me out of what was MINE.

EVA
I didn’t ask him to change his will, Margo.

MARGO
Bull-SHIT.

LAYLA
Shhhh, calm down.

MARGO
I WILL NOT calm down.
This whore got ALL HIS MONEY.
FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS. I got SQUAT.

EVA
How DARE you call me a WHORE.
I loved my husband.
Maybe you should take a cue
from your daughter,
and stop with the drinking and drugging.
Maybe if you were SOBER,
you’d see what a BITCH you are.

MARGO
A BITCH?

EVA
Yeah, A BITCH.
I’ve been nothing but nice to you.
I even invited you to the funeral.

MARGO
It wasn’t YOUR PLACE to invite ME
to my HUSBAND’S FUNERAL -- it was --

Margo’s body SPASMS.
She starts having another seizure.

LAYLA
SHIT.

EVA
NO.

Layla reaches into her bag.
Pulls out a syringe and a small vial.
Starts preparing an injection.

EVA (CONT’D)
What are you giving her?

LAYLA
Ten cc’s of dilaudid, like before?

EVA
(feels Margo’s pulse)
Better make it twenty.

INT. BASEMENT - AT THAT MOMENT
Tolly and Mick cup their ears against the wall.

TOLLY
It’s them.

MICK
Yeah, but there’s no door.

TOLLY
So we make one.
Knock down the fucking wall.

GERO (O.C.)
You fellas down here?

GERO
Appears at the top of the stairs,
with Mad Dog.

TOLLY
Down here, pop.

They start coming down.

GERO
Goddammit.
You drag me out of bed on Christmas Eve --

TOLLY
Relax, pop -- we found ‘em.
They’re there in the next room.
Heard em arguing.’

MICK
There’s no door,
so we gotta bust in.

GERO
Great. Fucking great.
(to Mad Dog)
Go back to the car
and get the sledge hammer.
(to Tolly)
If you wanna get something done right,
you gotta do it yourself.

EXT. SUNSET BOULEVARD - AT THAT MOMENT
Fish is wearing Tip’s uniform.
It’s a bit tight on his bulky frame.

He SLAMS the trunk.
Gets in the car.

INT. SECURITY PATROL CAR - CONTINUOUS
He sees the flask on the seat next to him.

FISH
Nice.
(takes a hit, raises it)
Here’s looking at you, kid.
(a sip, winces)
Cheap shit --

A KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK on the window.
Fish rolls it down.

It’s a POLICE OFFICER.
Red lights flashing on his cruiser.

Looks pissed off.
Having to work on the holiday.

ANGRY COP
You call in the 10-25?

FISH
The ten-what?

ANGRY COP
Home invasion.
Private cop called it in.

FISH
Wasn’t me.
Everything’s quiet here.
I mean, shit -- it’s Christmas Eve.

ANGRY COP
Fucking kids.

FISH
(holds up the flask)
Wanna belt?

ANGRY COP
What the fuck.

He takes a long pull.
Gives it back.

FISH
To protect and swerve, huh?

ANGRY COP
Yeah, thanks.
You have a good one.
Try and stay warm.
(winks)
But not dry.

The cop goes to his cruiser.
Drives off. Fish watches.

FISH
And you try and stay stupid --