Art Imitating Life

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 8 of AFTERHOURS, while rogue cop Vin Vargas gets his gunshot wound attended to by Silverlake hipster drug dealer Mickey Mertz, crazed gunman Danny Peel chats up his hostages, especially Oscar-winning screening Casey Montana ...


A CHYRON reads ‘August 16, 5:06 AM’ over --

INT. THE EXIT ROOM - MAIN LOUNGE - EARLY MORNING
Danny sits at the bar
nursing a cocktail.

One of his shirt sleeves
has been cut off.

The gunshot wound on his arm
has been dressed and bandaged.

Vin sits in a booth
with his bloody pants leg sticking out,
pointing his gun at Mickey.

MICKEY
Cutting your jeans would be stupid.

VIN
I’m not taking them off.
You cut Danny’s shirt,
you can cut my pants.

MIKEY
But it’s different.
Danny can put a jacket on,
but it’s gonna look really stupid
with one long leg and one short leg.

VIN
I could give a rat’s ass.
(aims his gun)
Cut the fucking pants. NOW.

MICKEY
Okay, okay.
Stop pointing that thing at me.

VIN
Shut the fuck up and
CUT MY FUCKING PANTS.

MICKEY
Okay. Calm down.
(beat)
Would you mind standing up?
I can’t get to them with
you lying down like that.

VIN
Alright.
But if you touch my junk,
you’re a dead man, got it?

AT THE BAR
Danny sits at the far end.
Looks at Sky, Easy and Angel
at the other end.

Mia looks down.
Like she’s going to cry.

DANNY
(to Mia)
Why so glum, gorgeous?
Play your cards right and
you’ll get out of this alive.

MIA
My mother had a stroke.
I need to go the hospital
and see her.
If you let me go,
I promise I won’t say anything.

DANNY
Sorry, doll.
Ain’t gonna happen.

Casey comes over.
Plops in a stool.
Looks at Mia.

CASEY
Can I get a drink?
I’m starting to sober up.

DANNY
How’s she doing?

CASEY
She’s breathing.
But I really think she
should go to the hospital.
She could die.

DANNY
Yeah, but then her record sales
would go through the roof.

Mia hands Casey her drink.
She takes a sip.

CASEY
So what did you guys do?
Rob a bank?

DANNY
Nah. Don’t do banks.
(beat)
Why do you wanna know?
Think it would make a good movie?

CASEY
Maybe.

DANNY
You wrote ‘Wilshire Boulevard.’

CASEY
Guilty as charged.

DANNY
Great fucking movie.

CASEY
Thanks.

DANNY
I love the part where the intruder
rapes the rich bitch,
but turns out to be the guy
she’s having an affair with.

CASEY
She was based on my boss’s wife
at my last job.

DANNY
(smiles)
What’s that expression?
‘Art imitating life?’

CASEY
(smiles)
Ten points.

The Silence Of The Clams

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 7 of AFTERHOURS, after reviving alcohol-poisoned goth rocker Bettie Black, gunman on the run Danny Peel instructs gay drug dealer/former nurse Mickey Mertz to dress rogue cop Vin Vargas' gunshot wound, much to Vin's dismay ...


INT. AFTER HOURS CLUB - NIGHT
Bettie lies motionless on the floor.
Easy takes her pulse.

EASY
SHIT.

CASEY
What’s wrong?

EASY
She’s got no PULSE.

He starts giving her CPR,
PRESSING his hands on her chest.

Sky and Casey kneel nearby.
Casey grabs her wrist.

SKY
Holy shit.

CASEY
Still nothing.

Easy PUMPS his hands HARDER.

CASEY
Nothing. HARDER.

Easy PUMPS her chest
for all he’s worth.

Bettie JERKS back to life.
COUGHS. Opens her eyes --

BETTIE
Need -- a drink.

And passes out again.
Easy strokes her forehead.

EASY
C’mon, baby.
Stay with us.
(to Sky)
Help me move her
over to a booth.
Make her more comfortable.

Easy and Sky pick her up.
Take her over to a booth.

Carefully lie her down.
Casey walks over.
Sits next to her.

Holds her hand.
Studies her face.

CASEY
She doesn’t look good.
We need to get her
to the hospital.

DANNY
You can take her
after we leave.

Mia comes back in.
Takes her place
behind the bar.

Hands a box of
rice cakes to Danny.

MIA
Here you go.

DANNY
(take it, makes a face)
Great.

MIA
They’re blueberry.

DANNY
Yummy.

He takes one out.
CRUNCHES a bite.

Chews.
SPITS IT OUT.

DANNY
Tastes like fucking cardboard.

VIN
Maybe we could order a pizza.

DANNY
Are you TRYING
to look like an idiot?
We’ll figure out something later.
The first order of business
is getting ourselves patched up.
(to Angel)
You good with that first aid kit?
Take care of a couple gunshot wounds?

ANGEL
I could try.

MICKEY
I can.
I used to be a nurse.

VIN
Why doesn’t that surprise me?

MICKEY
I was a trauma nurse, asshole.

VIN
Hey.
Who you calling an assole, FAGGOT?

DANNY
Enough with the name calling.
Let Florence Nightengale
do his thing and shut the fuck up.

VIN
I’m not gonna let him touch me.

DANNY
You want your leg to get infected?
Get gangrene?

VIN
No, of course not.
(beat)
Okay, okay.

MICKEY
I promise I’ll be gentle --

Nights Of Wine And Roses

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 6 of AFTERHOURS, crazed gunman Danny Peel makes bartender Mia Tanaka go back to the kitchen for food, but on the way she slips into the bathroom and writes a note asking for help. Meanwhile, faded rock star on the skids Bettie Black's binge drinking leads to disaster ...


INT. AFTER HOURS CLUB - NIGHT
Mia starts pouring shots for everyone.
Vin and Angel return,
Angel carrying a first aid kit.

VIN
(to Danny)
Got quite the set-up back there.
Office. Kitchen. VIP room --

DANNY
Any phones?

VIN
In the office.
Disabled it.
(smiles)
One step ahead of you.

DANNY
Good work.
(to Mia)
You got a kitchen.
I’d fucking kill for a
cheeseburger about now.

MIA
(pouring shots)
Sorry.
We don’t serve that.

DANNY
Well, what DO you have?

MIA
Tapas.

DANNY
What the fuck are tapas?

MIA
Spanish appetizers.

DANNY
Then bring me some tapas, barkeep.
I’m positively famished.

VIN
Yeah, I’m starving.

MIA
All we’ve got left
are pickled anchovies.

DANNY
Anchovies?
I fucking HATE anchovies.

CASEY
(smiles)
Why do you think
that’s all that’s left?

DANNY
(to Mia)
You have any crackers or peanuts,
you know, something edible?

MIA
I think we have some rice cakes.
I can go look.

DANNY
Rice cakes?
(beat)
Alright. Whatever.

VIN
Want me to go with?

DANNY
Nah.
There’s no way for
her to get out.

Mia nods.
Heads off to the back.

Bettie watches her go.
Grabs the bottle.
Starts pouring more shots.

BETTIE
This round’s on me.

She DOWNS hers.
Makes a face.

Then PROJECTILE VOMITS
an ARC OF BROWN SPEW
into the air.

FALLS off her stool.
HITS the floor, THWUMP.
Starts going into CONVULSIONS.

CASEY
Holy SHIT.

Easy JUMPS off his stool.
RUSHES over to her.
Takes her hand.

EASY
Somebody gimme a spoon
or something, QUICK.

INT. LADIES’ ROOM - NIGHT
As gorgeous as the rest of the joint.

Mia hurries into a stall.
Grabs a piece of toilet paper.
Takes it to the sink.

Pulls a pen out of her pocket.
Quickly scribbles on it.

Climbs up on the sink.
Reaches up, opens a
casement window.

Flings the note outside.

Star Struck

Hey there, crime kids. Happy Friday. 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 5 of AFTERHOURS, killer on the run Danny Peel holds the group of celebrities in the club hostage at gun point ... but then buys them a round of drinks and chats them up.


INT. AFTER HOURS CLUB - NIGHT
Vin goes to the duffle, zips it open.
Grabs a banded wad of cash.
TOSSES it to Danny.

DANNY
Which one of you is the bartender?

MIA
I am.

DANNY
(SLAPS it down on the bar)
What’s the most expensive scotch you got?

MIA
M-Mcallan’s.

DANNY
I wanna buy a round for the house.

Mia goes behind the bar
to get a bottle and some glasses.

DANNY
(to Sky)
Hey. You’re that movie star.
You’re in all those independent films.

SKY
Guilty as charged.
(weak smile)
With the occasional studio tentpole.

DANNY
Hey. Gotta pay the bills, right?
(nods)
I used to wannabe an actor,
but I really like eating.
(looks around)
Whoah, Nelly. This is celeb-city.
(to Easy)
Easy Washington. My man.
really sorry to hear about your injury.

EASY
Not as much as I was.

Mia gives Danny his glass. He takes a sip.

DANNY
Holy shit is that smooth.
(eyes Bettie)
And what do have we here? Bettie Black.
Big fan. Lost my virginity to your first album.

BETTIE
Really?

DANNY
Nah. Just fuckin’ with you.
I’m more of a classic rock kinda guy.
(sings)
Takin’ care of business --
(sips, looks at Casey)
And who is this lovely creature?

Danny and Casey lock eyes. She blushes.

CASEY
Nobody.
(beat)
I’m a writer.

BETTIE
Shut up.
(to Danny)
She won the Oscar, hello?

DANNY
Oh, yeah.
The media gave you shit
about your tattoos.

CASEY
My agent wanted me to wear
a long-sleeved dress,
but I said ‘fuck that.’

DANNY
Rebel outlaw girl.

Danny drains his glass.
to Mia for another.

DANNY
You gotta first aid kit in this joint?

ANGEL
In the back office.

DANNY
Is there a back entrance?

ANGEL
No.

DANNY
The only way out is the way we came in?

ANGEL
Yeah.

DANNY
Isn’t that against the fire code?

ANGEL
Owner’s tight with the city.

DANNY
You the bouncer?

ANGEL
Yeah.

DANNY
(to Vin)
Vin, go with him to the office
and get the first aid kit
and scope out the rest of the crib.

VIN
(drains his glass)
You got it.

He gets up. Nods at Angel.
They head off toward the back.

Danny sips his drink. Looks at Mickey.

DANNY
What’s your story?

MICKEY
I’m a dealer.

DANNY
Check it out.
Not afraid to admit it.
I like that.

MICKEY
Thanks.

DANNY
What do you deal?

MICKEY
You name it.
Weed, X, coke, shrooms, pills --

DANNY
Maybe I’ll hit you up later.
(off his look)
Don’t worry, I’ll pay for it.
I may be a fugitive from the law,
but I don’t steal from other criminals
unless they fuck with me.

MICKEY
That’s -- great.

DANNY
Are you a top or a bottom?

MICKEY
Excuse me?

DANNY
You heard me. Do you pitch or catch?

MICKEY
I’m -- versatile.

DANNY
I’ll keep that under advisement.

MICKEY
Okay --

DANNY
Relax. Just fucking with you.
(looks around)
C’mon, everybody.
Stop looking like the dog just died.
Let’s PARTY.
(to Mia)
Barkeep. Another round for my friends.

Stand Your Ground

Happy Thursday, 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 4 of AFTERHOURS, crazed criminal on the run Danny Peel bursts into the after hours club and holds the celebrities hostage at gun point ... and then buys them a round of drinks.


INT. AFTER HOURS CLUB - NIGHT
Two BIG MEN BURST INTO THE ROOM.

The bigger guy holds
a sawed-off shotgun,
the other a chrome handgun
and a giant duffle bag.

Bigger Guy aims the shotgun
at the girls at the bar.

BIGGER GUY
Cell phones ON THE FLOOR, NOW.

Meet DANNY PEEL (40’s).
Would be a dead ringer
for George Clooney,
except you can tell
he parties too much.

Arm a bloody mess.
Eyes wild and desperate.
But still kinda hot.

DANNY
CELL PHONES. NOW.

He aims the shotgun
at the ceiling.

FIRES. BANG.
Plaster RAINS DOWN.

Mia SCREAMS.
Bettie and Casey
TOSS their phones.

Sky and Easy TOSS theirs.
Mia DROPS hers.

ANGEL AND MICKEY
Appear in the doorway.

ANGEL
(low)
Holy shit.

MICKEY
(a whisper)
Ohmigod.

Smaller Guy,
bleeding from the leg,
aims his gun at them.

SMALLER GUY
Glad you could join the party.
Toss your phones, NOW.

Meet VIN VARGAS (30’S),
your typical grunt cop
gone to seed. Paunchy.

Dark circles under his eyes.
Sweating like crazy.

Eyes darting back and forth.
Pumped with adrenaline.

ANGEL
Okay, okay.
Don’t shoot.

Angel and Mickey
TOSS their phones.

DANNY
Okay.
Everybody go sit at the bar.
(to Vin)
Smash ‘em.

VIN
You got it.

He drops the bag.
Starts CRUNCHING them
with his boot.

Sky, Easy, Angel and Mickey
move to the bar. Take stools.

DANNY
Okay, everybody.
We’re gonna be here
a little while,
so I want you to get
nice and comfortable.
Do exactly what I say
and nobody gets hurt.
(off their terrified looks)
Just because I’m holding a gun
and covered in blood
doesn’t mean I’m not a nice guy --
so, in the interest of
all of us getting along,
the next round’s on me.
(to Vin)
Vin?

VIN
Yeah?

DANNY
Can I get some of that cash?

VIN
Yeah. Sure.

He goes to the duffle,
zips it open.

Grabs a banded wad of cash.
TOSSES it to Danny.

DANNY
Which one of you
is the bartender?

MIA
I am.

DANNY
(SLAPS it down on the bar)
What’s the most expensive
scotch you got?

MIA
M-Mcallan’s.

DANNY
I wanna buy a round
for the house --

Better Late Than Never

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 3 of AFTERHOURS, we meet the bouncer, Angel Diaz, who reveals to the bartender Mia Tanaka that he owes the mob money and plans to pay them back by selling coke to the celebrities at the club from ... Silverlake hipster/dealer Mickey Mertz, who arrives on the scene, just as someone starts POUNDING on the front the door saying they need help ...


INT. AFTER HOURS CLUB - NIGHT
Sitting at the far end of the bar
is ANGEL DIAZ (20’s),
the bouncer, big and burly.

Also great-looking, like a model.
But looks a bit frayed around the edges.
He chats up Mia.

ANGEL
I’m so fucked.
They’re gonna break my knees.
(low, to himself)
Where the fuck IS he?

MIA
Who you waiting for?

ANGEL
Mickey, my dealer.
He’s gonna give me some credit.

MIA
But you already have coke.

ANGEL
I did, but my apartment
got burglarized last night.
Now I need more to sell
so I can make the vig.

MIA
And you wanna sell it here?
Are you crazy?
You’re lucky Klaus didn’t
fire your ass when
you got caught last time.

ANGEL
I got no choice, Mia.
I’m outta options.
I need to make the vig.

MIA
(nods at the customers)
What makes you sure
they’re gonna buy it?

ANGEL
Please.
Wasted celebrities in an after-hours joint?
We should have a fucking vending machine.

MIA
I don’t get why anybody does a drug
that won’t let you get it up. Stupid.

ANGEL
I told you.
That’s never happened before.

MIA
Well, it’s not gonna happen again,
that’s for sure.

The buzzer RINGS.

ANGEL
That’s him.

He RACES to the door. Unlocks it.
MICKEY MERTZ (30’s) walks in.

Tall, blonde and rakish
in the lastest hipster threads.

Boyish looks a bit fuzzy
due to hard-partying.

Eyes burning from the combination
of chemicals dancing in his head.

MICKEY
I made it.

ANGEL
Got here just in time.
We’re closing soon.

MICKEY
You know what they say,
‘better late than never.’

ANGEL
(fake smile)
Yeah, right.

MICKEY
So where we gonna do this?

ANGEL
VIP room.

MICKEY
Lead on, Macduff.

They head off toward the back.
The buzzer RINGS again.

MIA
Angel, the door.
ANGEL
(over his shoulder)
Tell ‘em we’re closed.

They disappear.
Mia shakes her head.
Walks over to the door.

MIA
Sorry. We’re closed.

ANGRY GUY (O.C.)
It’s an emergency. Open up.

MIA
We’re closed.

ANGRY GUY (O.C.)
I need help. I’m bleeding.

MIA
Then call nine-one-one.

ANGRY GUY (O.C.)
I don’t have a phone.
PLEASE. I need your HELP.

Mia’s cell phone RINGS.
She looks. Answers it.

MIA
Hey, sis. What’s up?
Calling kinda late --

Distracted, she opens the door, listening.
We hear WILD CHATTER on her phone.

MIA
Mom had a STROKE?

Two BIG MEN BURST INTO THE ROOM.
The bigger guy holds a sawed-off shotgun,
the other a chrome handgun
and a giant duffle bag.

Bigger Guy aims the shotgun
at the girls at the bar.

BIGGER GUY
Cell phones ON THE FLOOR, NOW --

Welcome To Hollywood

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 2 of AFTERHOURS, we meet indie hunk movie star Sky Masters, who's sharing a bottle of single malt scotch with pro basketball player Easy Washington ... as well as their big secrets that are going to destroy their careers the next morning ...


INT. AFTER HOURS CLUB - NIGHT

Across the way in a big,
red-leather booth --

Sit a pair of GOOD-LOOKING GUYS
drinking glasses of top shelf
single malt scotch,
deep in conversation.

SKY MASTERS (30’s)
indie hipster movie hunk,
smallish, thin, carefully
ratty-looking takes a sip.
Eyes bleary.

SKY
Nah.
I was a drama nerd.
Couldn’t play worth shit.

EASY WASHINGTON (30’s),
African-American pro baseball player,
big, even better-looking,
swirls his glass.

EASY
Lucky for you --
(takes a sip)
You get injured, you can still act.
I get injured, I get fucking traded.

SKY
There’s other ways you can
fuck up your career.

EASY
Please.
You’re the golden boy.
Critics and audiences love you.

SKY
Yeah, well --
(sips)
They don’t know.

EASY
Know what?
(off his stare)
C’mon, man.
Out with it.
What’s the big secret?

Sky stares at him.
Raises his glass.
Drains it in one gulp.

SKY
Found out I’m HIV-positive.

EASY
Damn.
(beat)
That doesn’t necessarily mean you’re --
I mean, look at Magic Johnson.

SKY
I didn’t get it from fucking.

EASY
You shooting SMACK?

SKY
You wanna say that a little louder?

EASY
Sorry.

SKY
And you wanna know the REAL clincher?
(pours more)
I’m getting married tomorrow.

EASY
Does she know?

SKY
No.

EASY
(raises his glass)
The truth will set you free.

He downs it.

SKY
Now you know what I’m doing here
at five in the morning
instead of being with my fiance.

EASY
Bet that’s a big load off your mind.
(off his look)
Sharing your deepest, darkest secret.

SKY
I guess.

Easy grabs the bottle.
Pours them another.
EASY

The media’s gonna break
a big story about me today.
Major scandal.

SKY
What.
You cheated on your wife?
There’s no way it can be as bad as --

EASY
Wanna bet?
(off his look)
It wasn’t with another woman.

SKY
You’re sleeping with another dude?
Big fucking deal.
Welcome to Hollywood.

EASY
The dude’s another player.

PUSH IN ON Easy’s face.
Resigned to his fate.