Friends With Benefits

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 27 of BLUE HOTEL, hotel front desk manager Bunky recognizes Gill on the TV news report of his wife's murder, and calls the cops. Dannette and Bernie take the call and head over to the hotel. Meanwhile, Alona, Beggar, Holly and Gill are preparing to cut up the dead body, but then see the cops approaching the hotel out the window ...


INT. THE STARLIGHT HOTEL - FRONT DESK - NIGHT
The Grateful Dead wheezes its gnarled tales
of drugged-out hippie glory on a shitty boombox.

A tiny, shitty black and white TV is on the counter
with the sound turned down.

Bunky sits behind the counter
reading one of those free weekly rags.
Slowly mouthing the words.

BUNKY
Fucking Republican asshole
shit-for-brains --

Something on the screen
catches his eye.

BUNKY (CONT’D)
Hey, that guy checked in tonight.

He reaches over, turns up the volume.

ON THE SCREEN
We see a still of GILL.
Some ‘official school photo.’

He looks happy, relaxed.
Glazed smile oozing preppy charm.

ANNOUNCER (O.C.)
-- wanted for questioning in connection with
the shooting death of his wife.
If you see this man,
contact your local precinct immediately.

BUNKY
Holy shit.

He turns the sound back down.
Scratches his chin.

Picks up the phone.
Dials a number.

BUNKY (CONT’D)
Hello? This is Bunky Mertz
over at the Starlight Hotel?
That guy you’re looking for
that killed his wife?
He’s staying here.

INT. VENICE BEACH POLICE SUBSTATION - AT THAT MOMENT
Danette and Bernie sit at a table
near the coffee maker.
Sipping java from styrofoam cups.

Kenny sits across the room,
talking on the phone excitedly.

BERNIE
This is really good coffee. Did you --

DANETTE
I’m still not fucking you, Bernie.

KENNY
Okay, thanks.
(hangs up)
Guys, that was the night manager
of the Hotel Starlight.
The guy who shot his wife
checked in a little while ago.

BERNIE
You mean Gill Sherry?

KENNY
Yeah, guy said he saw
his picture on the news.

DANETTE
Allegedly killed his wife.
In this country, a suspect is
innocent until proven guilty.

BERNIE
Yeah, right -- so why the fuck
did he check into a fleabag hotel?

Danette stares at him. Simmering.
He glares at her.

KENNY
Uh, guys -- don’t you think
we should go over there?

DANETTE
You go on ahead,
question the night manager.
We’ll be right there.

KENNY
Okay --

He salutes, and DASHES out the door.
Danette sips her coffee.
Gives Bernie the fish-eye.

DANETTE
After my shift,
we’ll go back to my place.

BERNIE
Holy shit. Really?

DANETTE
C’mon, let’s go.
Before I change my mind.

They get up.
Start for the door.

BERNIE
Admit it, the chemistry is still there.

DANETTE
(stops, looks at him)
Calm down, Casanova.
I haven’t gotten laid in three months.

BERNIE
So what am I,
a ‘friend with benefits?’

DANETTE
More like, ‘cop with nightstick.’

BERNIE
So -- you’re just gonna use me.

DANETTE
That’s about the size of it.

BERNIE
(shrugs)
Works for me.

INT. ALONA’S SHITTY HOTEL ROOM - AT THAT MOMENT
Beggar and Alona roll Lief’s body up
in the large, imitation Persian rug.

Holly sits on the bed, in a daze,
looks out the window,
drinking vodka out of the bottle.

A pile of BLOODY TOWELS
sits by the wall.

We hear the sound of VOMITING in the bathroom.
The toilet FLUSHES.

Gill comes into the room,
white as a ghost.

GILL
I’m leaving. Going to Mexico.
Come with me, Alona. Please.
We can start a new life together.

BEGGAR
Shut the fuck up, asshole.
Leave my woman alone.

ALONA
(to Beggar)
YOUR woman? I’m NOBODY’S woman.

BEGGAR
What the fuck?

GILL
That’s RIGHT, she’s NOBODY’S woman.
She’s a free spirit, a bird, free to fly.
(to Alona)
Come fly with me, my love.

ALONA
Cut the crap, Gill.
We’ve got a situation here.

BEGGAR
(to Gill)
Yeah, and you’re not going ANYWHERE.

GILL
Oh YEAH? Try and STOP ME.

Gill goes to the door.
GRABS the doorknob.

BEGGAR
You open that door
and I’ll punch your fucking clock.

Holly sees something out the window.
Eyes BUG OUT.

HOLLY
GUYS. There’s a couple of COPS outside.
(watches)
And they’re COMING IN THE HOTEL --