Open Sesame

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 26 of LITTLE GIRL BLUE, white slave traffickers Gero Chill and his son Tolly find the secret underground tunnels leading out of the secret room in Margo's basement. Meanwhile, Eva and Layla make their escape, pushing an unconscious Margo in her wheelchair ... while Seth and Blue ... and Carrie and Bernie have a tender, private moment ...


INT. MARGO'S MANSION - BASEMENT - MAIN ROOM - NIGHT
Mad Dog SWINGS the sledge hammer against the wall, BANG.
The wood CRACKS, pieces go FLYING.

MAD DOG
Piece a cake.

He swings again, BANG.
The exposed drywall CRACKS.

MAD DOG (CONT’D)
We’ll get through in no time.

GERO
This is a real mess.

TOLLY
I know, pop. I said I was sorry.

GERO
Sorry’s not good enough.
Now you’ve dragged me into this shit --
I’m TOO FUCKING OLD for this,
and on CHRISTMAS.
(beat)
I’m thinking of grounding you.

TOLLY
But I’m -- 35, pop.
What are you gonna do,
bend me over your knee?

GERO
Don’t tempt me, sonny.
Never too old for corporal punishment.

INT. BASEMENT - SECRET ROOM - AT THAT MOMENT
Eva and Layla watch with horror
as the wall starts to buckle with each BANG.
Margo’s asleep, drugged to the gills.

LAYLA
What are we gonna DO?

EVA
We’ve got two choices.
We can either stay here and fight them --
or we can escape into one of the tunnels.

BANG. The wall SHUDDERS.

LAYLA
I say we get THE FUCK OUTTA HERE.

EVA
What about MARGO?

LAYLA
She’s on wheels --

EVA
Let’s get the hell out of here.

BANG. The wall CRACKS.
Layla grabs the back of Margo’s wheelchair.

LAYLA
Which tunnel, left or right?

EVA
Left -- the way Carrie and Bernie went.
You go first.

Layla nods, pushes Margo into the tunnel.
Eva follows.

The fireplace slides back into place behind her.
BANG. A big hole in the wall COLLAPSES
In a cloud of plaster and dust.

Mad Dog crawls in the opening.
Then Tolly and Gero.

They stand up. Brush themselves off.
Look around.

GERO
What the fuck?

TOLLY
I heard them, they were IN HERE.

MAD DOG
They ain’t now.

GERO
Goddammit to HELL. You fucking IDIOT.
(goes to the fireplace)
I’m gonna bash your SKULL IN.
(grabs the poker)
FUCK-HEAD.

The fireplace slides open.
Revealing the tunnels.

TOLLY
Holy fucking shit.

GERO
Open Sesame.
(pulls out his gun)
Tolly, you take the left tunnel,
Mad Dog and I’ll take the right.

TOLLY
(takes out his)
Let’s get ‘em.

They race down the tunnels.

INT. NORTH TUNNEL - AT THAT MOMENT
Seth and Blue walk down the tunnel.

SETH
So these guys killed your sister?

BLUE
Yeah. Carrie thinks Tolly did.
Jonna must have found out
about what he does.

SETH
What does he do?

BLUE
He’s a white slave trafficker.
They were auctioning off
underaged Romanian girls at the party.

Pause.

SETH
After this is -- over with,
I was wondering if --
(beat)
If you’d like to -- go on a --

BLUE
A DATE?

SETH
We could just -- go for coffee.

BLUE
Gee. I’d prefer dinner and a movie.

They stop.

SETH
Really?

BLUE
Really.

She leans over.
Kisses him on the cheek.

He gently puts his hands on her shoulders.
Leans in to kiss her, and --

MAD DOG (O.C.)
How much farther do you think this goes?

GERO (O.C.)
Oh, so you’re TIRED?
I’m the old man, and I’m FINE.

Seth and Blue stare at each other.

SETH
Someone’s coming.

BLUE
Run.

And they TAKE OFF down the tunnel.

INT. SOUTH TUNNEL - AT THAT MOMENT
Carrie and Bernie get to the end.
See a flight of stairs leading up
to an oblong door on the ceiling.

BERNIE
(gestures)
Ladies first.

CARRIE
(gestures)
After you.

BERNIE
You always were a contrarian.

CARRIE
You always were a male chauvinist pig.

They stare at each other.
He leans in. Kisses her.

She responds.
GRABS him passionately.

They go at it.
Then pull away from each other.

CARRIE (CONT'D)
Nah. Bad idea.

BERNIE
Kinda scary.
(beat)
Worth a try, though.

CARRIE
Temporary insanity.
(beat)
Follow me.

And she starts up the stairs --