The Pleasure Chest

Hey there, crime kids. Happy Hump Day. 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 6 of DAZED, BEAUTIFUL & BRUISED, homicide detective Carrie Love arrives at the porn shoot at a mansion in the Hollywood Hills, and unexpectedly meets the woman of her dreams. Meanwhile, teenage serial killer Sparkle Plenty shops for handcuffs at a sex shop, and gets accosted by wannabe director Bruce Ball ...


INT. MANSION - FOYER - DAY
Laura stands at her mark
in a cheap Chanel knock-off
that flies off her curves.
Studies her lines.

CARRIE (V.O.)
It was one of those moments
that only happen a
couple of times in your life.
If you’re lucky.
All of a sudden I was
face to face with the most
incredibly stunning creature
I’d ever seen.

LAURA
(off the script, without feeling)
'Oh my god.
It’s so fucking huge.
I don’t think I can take it all.'
(closes her eyes, memorizing)
'Oh my god.
It’s so fucking huge -- '

Carrie watches.
Stopped in her tracks.

LAURA
Fuck.

CARRIE
(stupid smile)
'I don’t think I can take it all.'

LAURA
(opens eyes)
What?

CARRIE
The rest of the line.

LAURA
Oh. Right.

They both stare.

CARRIE
Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt.
I was just passing through --

Chemistry percolates.
A clock CHIMES somewhere.

LAURA
You’re -- visiting someone?

CARRIE
(trying to be casual, not successful)
Yeah, uh -- Zette,
the make up girl?

LAURA
(intense smile)
So you’re 'Legs.'

CARRIE
(blushing)
Uh, yeah.
Actually, it’s -- Carrie.

LAURA
I see why.

CARRIE
I’m sorry?

Bruce charges in.

BRUCE
Laura, there you are.
We’re ready to do the, uh --
strap-on thing.

LAURA
Oh, alright. If you insist.
(to Carrie)
And you, Miss Legs.
(a whisper)
I need to have a word
with you -- later.

CARRIE
Uh, yeah --sure thing.
(beat)
A -- word.
(beat)
Later.

INT. THE PLEASURE CHEST - FLASHBACK - DAY
Sparkle looks at a boxed strap-on harness.
Makes a face.

Continues down the aisle,
until she sees --

CHROME HANDCUFFS.
'Police issue.'

She smiles, reaches for them.
A MALE VOICE behind her --

MALE VOICE (O.S.)
Are those for work -- or play?

Sparkle turns, faces the intruder.
It’s BRUCE BALL. Smiling.

SPARKLE
They’re for a movie.

BRUCE
A movie, huh?
Isn’t that funny.
I’m in the movie business myself.
Commercials, mostly -- for now.

SPARKLE
(deadly serious)
It’s an industry town.

Pause.

BRUCE
Yeah.
So, listen -- here’s my card.
I’m always casting something.
You’ve got a nice look.

She stares.
Ignores the card.

SPARKLE
What do I look like? 'Talent?'