Happy Friday, 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 20 of Frankenstein In Love, after Vita sees Frankie secretly bringing Shayla, the dead cheerleader he brought back to life, up into his tree house to hide her, she comes up with a plan to win back his heart. Meanwhile, local deputy Chet Beverage and CDC agent Beck Driver interview Vita's mother about the dead rat Frankie brought back to life ...
INT. TREE HOUSE - NIGHT
A surprisingly large room. Carpeted.
A futon in one corner.
Table and two chairs in another.
A small boombox.
Small love seat in front of a portable TV.
Half-size refrigerator.
The door OPENS.
In walks Frankie and Shayla.
She pulls down her hoodie.
Looks around. SQUEALS with joy.
SHAYLA
So CUTE.
FRANKIE
I thought you might like it.
(phone VIBRATES in pocket)
Hold on a sec.
(pulls it out, answers)
What’s up?
(listens)
Brilliant. Thanks. See you tomorrow. Bye.
He CLICKS it shut. Gestures to the couch.
FRANKIE
Have a seat. Take a load off.
Shayla smiles. Goes to the couch. Sits demurely.
Pats the cushion next to her invitingly.
He sits down. She takes his hands in hers. Leans in.
SHAYLA
Love nest.
And they kiss.
IN THE WINDOW
We see Vita’s face. HORRIFIED.
OUTSIDE
Vita pulls away from the window.
VITA
(whispers)
What the fuck?
EXT. VITA’S HOUSE - DAY
A bright, sunny day. Birds are chirping.
The wind whistles through the trees.
All that’s missing is ‘The Beaver.’
Chet and Beck stand at the
front door, side by side.
He takes off his shades.
Slips them in his shirt pocket.
RINGS the doorbell.
CHET
Remember, let me do the talking.
BECK
(bristling)
Of course.
PEGGY (O.C.)
(faint)
Just a minute.
The door OPENS. Peggy’s smile fades. Disappointed.
PEGGY
Officer Beverage. Nice to see you again.
CHET
(tips his hat)
Mrs. Heck.
PEGGY
Please. Peggy.
(beat)
Are you here about the rat again?
CHET
Yes, Ma’am.
(gestures to Beck)
This is Beck Driver, from
the Center For Disease Control.
PEGGY
Oh, dear.
CHET
Nothing to be alarmed about.
We’re just trying to --
BECK
This is going to sound strange,
but do you know of anyone doing any
medical experiments in the neighborhood?
PEGGY
Medical experiments?
BECK
Yeah. Believe it or not, the rat
was brought back from the dead --
and we’re looking for the person who did it.
(conspiratorial)
It’s a major medical breakthrough.
CHET
You’d be doing your duty for
your country, Mrs. -- Peggy.
Peggy blinks. Looks at them.
PEGGY
Well, there’s young Frankie Stein next door.
They say he’s a genius. Has a laboratory
in his basement and everything.
BECK
A -- basement lab?
PEGGY
Oh, yes.
His mother Julie isn’t allowed inside,
but she’s told me he does all kinds of
top secret things down there.
(brightly)
Is that helpful?
BECK
That’s VERY helpful. Thank you.
INSIDE THE HOUSE
Standing in the doorway
to the kitchen is Vita.
Listening. She grabs her backpack
and heads toward the door.
INT. HIGH SCHOOL CORRIDOR - DAY
The joint is clogged with kids.
Frankie stands at his locker
working the combination.
Vita comes up behind him.
VITA
Frankie, we need to talk.
FRANKIE
(turns, looks)
Hey, Vita. Sorry, can’t talk now,
don’t wanna be late for class.
He turns to leave.
VITA
I saw you with Shayla last night.
FRANKIE
(stops, stares)
That’s crazy. She’s dead. Missing.
VITA
No, she’s not. She’s in your tree house.
FRANKIE
I, I can explain.
VITA
You fucking BETTER.
(grabs his hand)
Come with me.
She drags him into --
INT. GIRLS’ ROOM - DAY
Empty except for a YOUNG GIRL WITH BRACES
drying her hands with a paper towel.
She sees Frankie and BOLTS for the door.
VITA
What the FUCK, Frankie.
Did you bring her back to life?
FRANKIE
Yeah, but wait, I can explain.
VITA
A cop and woman from the CDC were at my
house this morning asking my mother about
the DEAD RAT that was running around
like crazy in my basement.
Did you do that, too?
FRANKIE
(sighs)
I was doing a dead-cell poly-zygote
electro-rejuvination experiment --
and it worked -- and then when
Shayla got hit by a car, I just --
He trails off. Gestures helplessly.
VITA
I can’t fucking BELIEVE it.
Do you realize how much trouble you’re in?
My mother told them about your basement lab.
FRANKIE
Oh, SHIT.
(realizes, freaks out)
Did you tell them you saw --
VITA
No, no, no. I’d never do that.
I want to help you.
FRANKIE
You w-want to help me? Why?
VITA
Don’t you remember the ceremony?
FRANKIE
We were TEN, Vita. That was kid’s stuff.
VITA
It doesn’t have to be.
Frankie stares. Be careful here.
You need her help.
He takes her hands in his.
FRANKIE
Can we -- talk about that later?
I’m kinda -- freaked out right now.
VITA
Of course, of course.
(thinks)
Here’s what you do.
Go to the nurse, say you’re sick,
then go home and hide anything
in your lab that can be used as evidence.
(realizes)
Oh, shit. Wait. The cop and the CDC lady
are probably there right now.
FRANKIE
No, it’s okay. My mom’s still at work.
She doesn’t get home until ten.
She did a double shift last night.
VITA
Perfect.
FRANKIE
Yeah. Okay.
VITA
Don’t worry. We’ll figure this out.
They hug. She secretly pulls out
a tiny pair of scissors.
Then, as they pull apart,
she deftly CLIPS a lock of his hair.
Shoves it in her pocket.
VITA
Now go, scoot -- go see the nurse. Hurry.
He nods. Then hurries out.
VITA
(watches him go)
You’re mine now, Frankie Stein. All mine.
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