The Big Easy

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 24 of SPIRAL, adult film star Savannah and her stylist Dex travel to New Orleans, where she's scheduled to 'feature dance' at a strip club. Meanwhile, back in LA, Andy has a hard time dealing with their absence ...


EXT. CHURCH / NEW ORLEANS - DAY
A lovely old Catholic church
on Bourbon street.

It's hot and muggy.
Heat rises off the pavement.

A WHITE LIMOUSINE is parked in front.
It's decorated with colorful ribbons,
balloons, and a big sign on the tail
which reads "Forever and Ever."

The church doors FLY OPEN,
and a happy pair of NEWLYWEDS
down the steps.

MEMBERS OF THE WEDDING PARTY
flow out of the church, smiling,
waving, laughing, throwing rice.

The newlyweds JUMP into the limo,
which SPEEDS OFF amidst much
CHEERING and celebration.

EXT. HOTEL ENTRANCE - DAY
Across the street, a
BLACK SUPER-STRETCH LIMOUSINE
pulls up and stops in front of
an older, slightly seedy hotel.

Shannon and Dex pile out of the limo.
Shannon looks extremely out of place
in her white fur coat.

She lights a cigarette,
takes a deep drag.

SHANNON
Fucking non-smoking limo.

DEX
God is it fucking hot.

Shannon and Dex walk into the hotel.

INT. HOTEL LOBBY - DAY
They walk through the quiet lobby,
footsteps echoing on the marble floor.

SHANNON
I need room service.

DEX
I need to get laid.

INT. KITCHEN - MAGIC
Andy sits on the gourmet island.
He hangs up the phone.

ANDY
They're probably at fucking church.

He angrily SNORTS a bump of coke,
then hops off the island
and walks out of the kitchen.

EXT. TERRACE - MAGIC
He stands on the terrace with a beer,
looks at the twinkling lights
of the cars and houses far below.

He SNORTS another bump.

ANDY (V.O.)
It got harder and harder for me
when they were out of town.
It seemed like hanging out
with Shannon and Dex was my whole life.
Hell, it was my whole life.
I was bored out of my skull
in the fucking mansion, work was shit,
and everybody else seemed like,
they were fucking boring,
ordinary, stupid.
(beat)
Of course I was doing enough cocaine
to kick-start Godzilla.
And who's gonna party with Godzilla
when the Fifty Foot Woman
and King Kong're out of town?

EXT. HOTEL ROOM BALCONY - NIGHT
Shannon sits out on the wrought iron
balcony outside her hotel room.

She watches the street traffic.
On a table lie an empty mirror
with a straw and a glass of water.

A jazz band faintly plays
in the distance.

A car HONKS.

Shannon wipes her forehead
with her sleeve.

A nearby door SLAMS.
Raised voices in the distance,
an argument.

She reaches over and dips her finger
in a glass of water and
brings it to her nose.

She INHALES the water in one nostril.
Then the other.

She leans back, closes her eyes.
Rubs her finger over her gums.

SHANNON
Doesn't this town
ever fucking cool down?

Easy Rider

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 23 of SPIRAL, porn star Savannah, her stylist Dex and his best friend Andy stay up all night at Savannah's Hollywood Hills home drinking and doing lines of coke and bond on an even deeper level ...


INT. SHANNON'S KITCHEN - NIGHT
CLOSE UP OF OPEN REFRIGERATOR
Super: "10:04"

A dainty hand with red nails GRABS
a six pack and pulls it out.
The door SLAMS.

INT. SHANNON'S KITCHEN - NIGHT
Shannon puts the beer on the bar.
Andy and Dex each take one.

Sexy rap music plays in the background.
Andy CRACKS open his bottle and raises it in a toast.

ANDY
To Shannon! The best new starlet!

Shannon and Dex raise their beers.

SHANNON
To me!

They CLINK together, but Dex's bottle FLIES
out of his hand and CRASHES to the floor, SHATTERING.

DEX
Shit!

SHANNON
Clumsy idiot!

Dex stares at the mess on the floor, unmoving.

ANDY
It's okay, I'll get it.

Andy grabs a roll of paper towels. Shannon stops him.

SHANNON
(to Andy)
No. Let Dex clean up his own mess.

She offers her arm to Andy like they're at the prom.
Andy takes it and smiles. He likes this.

SHANNON (cont'd)
(to Dex)
We'll be in the ladies room.

Shannon leads Andy out of the kitchen.

INT. KITCHEN - SAME
Dex starts to clean up.
He's simmering with jealousy.

SHANNON
Be sure you get all the glass.
I don't want Daisy's feet to get cut.

IN BEAUTIFULLY SHOT BLACK AND WHITE:

CLOSE UP OF FRAMED PHOTO
Shannon poses with Daisy in the yard.

CLOSE UP OF FRAMED PHOTO
Shannon in a swimming pool, half submerged,
hair up, very classy.

CLOSE UP OF FRAMED PHOTO
Shannon wears a leather biker outfit
astride a Harley, sneering and sexy.

INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
The CAMERA pulls back to reveal Andy
looking at the biker photo.

It's as tall as he is.
Shannon hands Andy a fresh drink.

Super: "12:46 AM"

Dex chops coke on the coffee table,
then SNORTS two lines..
Over the action, throbbing, driving techno music.

SHANNON
I was thinking of doing my biker look in New Orleans.
What do you think?

ANDY
Yeah. You look hot.
(pause)
The Wild One.

SHANNON
Easy Rider.

They laugh.
A beat. Dex looks up.

DEX
Andy?

ANDY
Yeah?

DEX
Another line?

Andy and Dex lock eyes.

ANDY
Let Shannon go first.

INT. SHANNON'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Super: "3:21 AM"

Andy and Shannon sit on the bed
with a tray between them.

SNORTS a line. It burns.
Andy does a line.

Dex sits on the floor in the corner
leafing through a magazine.
Melodic pop music plays. The song ends.

SHANNON
Shit.

Shannon picks up her CD case and opens it.
She pulls out a CD, looks at it, then
suddenly FLINGS it like a frisbee.

SHANNON (CONT'D)
This one sucks!

She pulls out another.

SHANNON (cont'd)
THAT one sucks!

She FLIPS it into the air.
It hits the wall with a CRASH.

Shannon pulls out CD's, glances at them,
then WHIPS them across the room.

SHANNON (cont'd)
This one sucks, this one sucks, this one sucks...

A CD hits Dex in the arm.

DEX
Hey, that hurt!

The case is empty. Shannon HURLS it at the wall with a SLAP.

SHANNON
I hate all my cd's! I'm sick of 'em all!

Shannon looks like she's about to cry.
Andy gently touches her shoulder.

ANDY
What about "Like a Prayer?"
I'd love to hear "Like a Prayer."

SHANNON
Oh, Andy. That's perfect.

Shannon gets up to put it on. Dex rolls his eyes.

SHANNON (CONT'D)
I saw that, fuck-head.

Dex gets up and goes to the door.

DEX
Can I freshen anybody's cocktail?

SHANNON
Go freshen your own cocktail.

INT. SHANNON'S BATHROOM - DAWN
Super" "5:07 AM"
Shannon, Andy and Dex sit on bar stools looking in the mirror.
The light is dim. The dull thud of rap music softly plays.

They're fried. Wasted.
Shannon slides off her stool and pads over to the toilet,
pulls down her jeans and PEES in full view.

SHANNON
I don't want to go to New Orleans. I wanna stay here.

ANDY
You don't? Why not?

SHANNON
I wanna stay here. I don't want to go anywhere.

Shannon finishes peeing, pulls up her pants,
gets back on her stool. She sips her drink.

ANDY
We don't have to go anywhere.

DEX
But we have to go to New Orleans.

SHANNON
I don't want to. I'm tired.

Andy looks at his watch.

ANDY
It's after five. I bet the sun is coming up.

EXT. SHANNON'S BALCONY - SUNRISE
They stand on the balcony with their drinks looking down.
It's a beautiful view. The Valley is still, quiet.

EXT. PRIVATE ROAD - SUNRISE
A young, healthy JOGGER runs down the road below them,
smiling and chipper.

EXT SHANNON'S BALCONY - SAME
Dex holds his hands up and shields his eyes.

DEX
It's the work of the devil.

ANDY
I used to jog.

A beat. They stare into space. Shannon sips her drink.

SHANNON
We're at the top of the hill, looking down on everyone,
they're all just little ants. We don't need them.
We don't need anybody.

ANDY
We're above all the bullshit.

DEX
We're really high.

SHANNON
I don't want to come down.

Andy takes Shannon's hand in his.

SHANNON (CONT'D)
I love you guys.

Shannon's eyes well with tears.
She looks scared, vulnerable.

SHANNON (CONT'D)
Will you swear we'll always be together? Will you?
For ever and ever? Will you swear?

Star Struck

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 22 of SPIRAL, now that the three of them have been partying all night and doing drugs for a few weeks, Andy confesses to Dex that he has feelings for adult film star Savannah, a/k/a Shannon ...


EXT. SUNSET BOULEVARD - NIGHT
The strip is clogged with traffic.
The CAMERA pans across nightclubs,
billboards, PEOPLE on the sidewalk.

Over the action, 80's "new wave" music,
something like A Flock Of Seagulls.

ANDY (V.O.)
Things started to get a little messy.
I mean, friends fight sometimes,
but we had fights like we were
lovers or something.
Sometimes I thought maybe it was
all the drugs we were doing.
But then I was too high most of time
to really think about it that much.

EXT. SUNSET BOULEVARD / DEX'S JEEP - NIGHT
Dex's Jeep rolls through Sunset Plaza
with the top down.

ANDY (V.O)
Maybe it was because I was starting
to have some feelings for Shannon.
I knew it couldn't lead to anything,
I tried to ignore it,
but I couldn't help it.
I kinda felt like she needed me.

INT. DEX'S JEEP / SUNSET BOULEVARD - NIGHT
SUPER: "9:37"

Andy does a bump of coke,
then gives it to Dex.
They smile at each other.

ANGLE ON:
A billboard for the film "Johns,"
with a cute young Lucas Haas' face
smiling hopefully.

INT. DEX'S JEEP / SUNSET BOULEVARD - NIGHT
Dex points at the billboard.

DEX
I'd pay seven bucks to see male hustlers.

ANDY
You pay twenty bucks to do male hustlers.

Dex laughs.

ANDY
I'd pay a hundred to do Shannon.

The Jeep stops at a light.
Dex PUNCHES the stereo off.

DEX
What?

ANDY
I was kidding. It was a joke.

Dex stares at Andy,
who turns beet red.

Andy avoids his gaze
and looks out the window.
Dex can't believe it.

DEX
You're blushing like a school boy.
You've got the hots for her.
Boy, if she found out --

ANDY
I don't have the hots for her.
I said I was kidding.
It was a fucking joke.
Now cut it out

The light changes.
Dex hits the gas.
Andy PUNCHES the stereo back on.

ANDY
I'm not like everybody else.
I love her like she was my sister.

DEX
Well you know what they say,
"incest is best."

ANDY
Very fucking funny.

A beat.

Andy reaches down
and pulls out a six pack,
breaks off two cans,
hands one to Dex.

He POPS open his beer.

ANDY
Don't say anything about it
to Shannon, okay?

Snow Blind

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 21 of SPIRAL, Andy prepares for another night of partying with Dex and Savanahh ... by calling his cocaine dealer ...

INT - RESTAURANT - NIGHT
Andy and Dex sit a table on the patio
at El Coyote with margaritas and nachos.

Andy looks at his watch.

ANDY
It's started.

DEX
She'll win.
(beat)
Hey, see that busboy over there?

ANDY
Which one? That one?

DEX
Yeah.

The BUS BOY comes to the table
next to theirs and starts cleaning it up.
He glances at Dex.

ANDY
Well don't just sit there, go for it!

DEX
Time for a little Mexican take out.

Dex stands up and addresses the busboy.

DEX
Excuse me. Hi.

BUS BOY
Yes?

DEX
Would you mind showing me
where the bathroom is?

BUS BOY
The bathroom?

The pair lock eyes.
The bus boy smiles.

BUS BOY
Sure. Follow me.

DEX
Gracias.

Dex winks at Andy as he
leaves with the bus boy.

A tall Mexican WAITRESS
wearing a ridiculous, long
flowery dress approaches the table.

MEXICAN WAITRESS
Can I get you anything?

ANDY
I'll have what he's having.

INT. OFFICE - DAY
Andy sits in a chair
in George Stuart's office.
George is talking on the phone.

GEORGE
Christie Hefner? Of course.
(to Andy)
This'll just take a minute.

Andy picks lint off his wool pants,
pretending not to listen.

GEORGE
Oh. No. I'm George Stuart.
You want Jim Stuart,
in business affairs.
(beat)
Accounting.
(beat)
Thanks, you too. Bye.

George hangs up the phone quietly,
hiding his embarrassment.

GEORGE
Where was I?

ANDY
You were saying you couldn't put me
on warning because technically
I'm still a temp.

INT. KITCHEN - MAGIC
Andy walks into the kitchen.
Dex holds the phone in his hand.

ANDY
I'm gonna take a quick shower.
You gonna call Nickie?

DEX
I'm one step ahead of you.

ANDY
I'll be ready in fifteen.

INT. BEDROOM - MAGIC
A crummy bedroom. NICKIE VEGA, small,
thin, and bird-like talks on the phone.

Speeded-up, faceless Euro-disco
quietly plays on a small boom box.

NICKIE
Half an ounce?
Whattya, going skiing?

Nick bites his fingernails.

SPLIT SCREEN OF DEX AND NICKIE
Dex talks on the phone.

DEX
Call me a ski bunny, Nickie.
Can you deliver?

NICKIE
You just caught me,
I'm going over the hill.

DEX
Cool. I'm at the Bel Air place.
Check still okay?

Nickie leans over and SNORTS
a line, then another.

DEX
Nickie? You still there?

NICKIE
You Hollywood guys
fucking crack me up.
I'll be there in jiffy.

Nickie hangs up.
Dex looks at the phone, puzzled.

Red Carpet Muncher

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 20 of SPIRAL, Andy, Dex and notorious porn star Savannah recuperate 'the morning after' their all-night drug binge, but there's no rest for the weary when Savannah attends the AVN awards, the adult film version of the Oscars, where she's nominated for 'best new starlet' ...


INT. ANDY'S BEDROOM - MAGIC
Andy checks his answering machine. No messages.
He lies on his bed and fidgets,
unable to sleep from the speed.

Andy dials the phone. He gets a machine.

PEGGY BERNARDI (O.S.)
Hello, you've reached the Bernardi residence,
no one's here to...

INT. SHANNON'S BEDROOM - DAWN
Shannon and Daisy sleep on her bed like the dead,
Shannon SNORING.

ANGLE ON:
Prescription pill bottles on the nightstand.

INT. DEX'S BEDROOM - DAWN
Dex and a skinny, young STREET HUSTLER negotiate.

DEX
Twenty, right?

Dex pulls his wallet out.

STREET HUSTLER
Twenty five.

DEX
Okay.

STREET HUSTLER
And I don't do no kinky stuff.

INT. PLAYBOY / ANDY'S CUBICLE - DAY.
Andy's cubicle is empty. Two FEMALE COWORKERS,
who we saw earlier, stand nearby kibitzing.

COWORKER NO. 1
But Andy said Savannah doesn't do the kinky stuff.

GEORGE STUART, (40's), approaches the women.
Andy's boss is quiet, but clearly upset.

GEORGE
Have you seen Andy?

COWORKER NO. 2
I think he said something about a
dentist appointment this morning.

GEORGE
Really. Well, tell him to come see me when he gets in.

INT. ANDY'S BEDROOM - DAY
Andy lies in bed, still clothed, dead to the world.

ANGLE ON:
His bedside table. The clock reads "11:30."
Lying next to it is copy of the "AVN News,"
the porn trade publication.

Shannon's on the cover.

INT. HOTEL BALLROOM - NIGHT
A Las Vegas hotel ballroom filled with revelers.

On stage, a leather-clad foursome plays
cheesy heavy metal at a DEAFENING VOLUME.

ANGLE ON:
A big sign over the stage reads "Adult Video News Awards."

INT. HOTEL BALLROOM - NIGHT
The ballroom is BUZZING with PORN DIRECTORS
and EXECUTIVES in suits, PORN ACTORS in tuxes
and PORN ACTRESSES in outrageous gowns.

ANDY (V.O.)
The AVN Awards is like the Oscars
for the adult entertainment industry.
And just like at the Academy Awards,
there's best picture, best director, best actress...
(beat
...but there's also awards for best oral, best anal,
best gang bang, and my favorite,
best bisexual three-way come shot.
(pause)
I'll leave the rest up to your imagination.
(pause)
Shannon was really excited.
She was up for "best new starlet."

ANGLE ON:
A group of STUDS in Chippendale-like outfits carry
300 pound drag queen CHI CHI LA RUE up to the stage
high atop a divan, like an absurd pharaoh.

They climb the stage, then start a big production number,
Chi Chi singing "Don't Fuck Me There."

The crowd ROARS.

ANDY (V.O.)
I was dying to go, but I couldn't afford the trip.
I really wanted to see Shannon in all her glory.

INT. BATHROOM STALL - NIGHT
Shannon sits on the toilet and SNORTS a bump of coke.

INT. BATHROOM - NIGHT
She comes out of the stall, goes to the mirror
and fixes her makeup.

BEVERLY BOULEVARD, (late teens), a sexy newcomer,
to the mirror and does her lipstick.

BEVERLY
Hey, Savannah! You look great! Good luck tonight!

SHANNON
Thanks, darling, but luck has nothing to do with it.

INT. STAGE - NIGHT
SHAUNA GRANT and SHANNA LYNN, (early 20's),
gorgeous porn stars, stand at the podium
with big, bright pageant smiles.

The crowd CHEERS and WHISTLES.

SHANNA
Okay. The next category is "Best New Starlet."

A smattering of applause. A few catcalls.
Shauna reads off a card.

SHAUNA
And the nominees are, Topanga Canyon, Eternity,
Savannah, Beverly Boulevard, and Barbie Dahl.

Shanna opens the envelope.
SHANNA
And the winner is...

A beat. Shanna is not pleased.

SHANNA (cont'd)
Savannah.

Some applause, few boos and hisses.

INT. STAGE - NIGHT
Shannon glides up to the podium, smiling, triumphant.
She GRABS the award from Shauna and BEAMS.

A beat. The faint applause dies out.
Shannon clutches the gold statuette to her bosom.

SHANNON
Hello, everybody! Aren't you happy for me?

CLOSEUP OF SHANNA AND SHAUNA
The women stand to the side with glazed smiles.

SHANNA
Cunt.

SHAUNA
I can't believe the bitch won.

INT. STAGE - SAME

SHANNON
Thank you all so much! I love you!

She BLOWS a kiss, turns to leave, then stops.
Shannon leans into the mike.

SHANNON (cont'd)
I'd like to thank all the critics who voted for me.
(beat)
And to those of you who didn't...
(beat)
Fuck YOU.

CLOSE UP OF REPORTER
A REPORTER scribbles in his notebook and shakes his head.

Lost In The Supermarket

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 19 of SPIRAL, now that their drug and booze-filled binges start lasting all night into the morning, Savannah, Dex and Andy have to venture out into the real world to stock up on 'supplies' ...

INT. SHANNON'S BATHROOM - NIGHT
Shannon, Andy and Dex sit on bar stools
facing the mirror. They sip drinks.

ANDY
But Cathy's cool. She's gonna try, I swear.

SHANNON
I won't get the fucking cover, I know it.
They don't want some fucking porn star.
(pause)
You can't trust anyone.
Everyone sucks. The world sucks.

ANDY
We don't need anyone else.

DEX
Yeah.

SHANNON
You guys are my world, all I have, all I need -- my family.

Shannon fires up the pipe, inhales a hit,
then closes her eyes, rushing on the drug.

ANDY
What about your family?
How come you never talk about them?

Her head JERKS at hearing the word "family."
She opens her eyes, bitter eyes BURNING in the mirror.

SHANNON
I have no family. They're dead. I killed them.

EXT. STREET - NIGHT
A faceless suburban street
somewhere deep in the Valley.
Shannon and Andy sit in Dex's Jeep
in front of a tiny, shitty bungalow.

ANDY (V.O.)
The parties started lasting longer and longer,
and sometimes we'd run out of stuff,
so we'd go on a run.
After being inside all night,
it was great to get out.

INT. DEX'S JEEP - NIGHT
Shannon leans her head back and closes her eyes.
The radio plays a vintage top forty ballad.

ANDY (V.O.)
It was so quiet, so perfect,
the streets were so dead,
it seemed like a different city.
It felt like everyone else had disappeared,
and we were the only ones left in the world.

INSIDE THE CAR - SAME

SHANNON
He always takes so long.

Andy takes her hand with mock-sincerity.

ANDY
Don't be impatient, my Little flower.
It's more time for us to be alone together.

Shannon opens her eyes and laughs.
Dex comes out of the house and gets in the car.

SHANNON
What took you so fucking long?

DEX
The guy is fucking weird. He never shuts up.

SHANNON
But you got the stuff, right?

DEX
Yeah, well, sorta. All he had was crystal.

SHANNON
You got fucking SPEED?

ANDY
Speed? I've never done speed.

DEX
Hey, look. It was either that or nothing.

SHANNON
Fucking idiot.
That stuff's for druggies, for addicts.

DEX
What was I supposed to do?
Come back with nothing?
Besides, it was cheaper.
Now we got more money for Stoli.

INT. SUPERMARKET AISLE - NIGHT
It's empty. The brightness of it seems surreal, haunted.
Obscenely peppy Muzak plays, a bit too loud.

Dex holds a cart. Andy puts a half gallon
bottle of Stoli in the shopping cart.
Dex GRABS it and unscrews the cap.

ANDY
Can't you wait 'till we get home?

DEX
Uh-uh. I'm starting to get sober.

Dex CHUGS vodka straight from the bottle.

INT. CHECKOUT / REGISTER - NIGHT
A pair of ROCKERS dig into their pockets
to pay for a twelve pack.

ROCKER NO. 1
I've got two bucks.

INT. SUPERMARKET AISLE - SAME
Shannon approaches the cart with an
armload of feminine hygiene products.

DEX
I'm not helping to pay for fucking douche.

SHANNON
Don't worry about it. I got a plan.

INT. CHECKOUT / REGISTER - SAME
The rockers GRAB the twelve pack.
One of them sees something.

ROCKER NO. 1
Hey! Isn't that that porn chick, wha's her name?

INT. SUPERMARKET EXIT - NIGHT
Dex pushes the cart at a fast clip.

SHANNON
Just look casual.

ANDY
We can't do this. We'll get caught.

INT. CHECKOUT / REGISTER - SAME
The CASHIER sees them.

CASHIER
Hey! You! Stop!

ROCKER NO. 2
It's Savannah!
(to Shannon)
Hey! SAVANNAH!

INT. SUPERMARKET EXIT - NIGHT
Shannon turns her head.

SHANNON
Shit! Run!

Dex starts RUNNING with the cart.
Andy FLIES out the door.

Shannon stops, turns around, lifts up her shirt,
FLASHES HER BREASTS and RUNS out the door
LAUGHING hysterically.

EXT. SUPERMARKET PARKING LOT - NIGHT
The three RUN into the night, LAUGHING.

Two Scoops Of Vanilla

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 18 of SPIRAL, when Playboy Entertainment executive Cathy Gordon tells Andy that she wants to produce a special featuring adult film star Savannah, he gets excited, but when the three of them meet at a swanky Beverly Hills restaurant for lunch, more than sparks fly ...


CLOSE UP OF VIDEO MONITOR
In an elaborate dungeon, a gorgeous amazon
in black vinyl ties a beautiful young
naked women to a cross.

The naked woman SHUDDERS with pleasure.

INT. CATHY GORDON'S OFFICE - DAY
Andy sits in a chair across from Cathy's desk.
They are watching the S&M video on the monitor.

ANDY
My god. That's not on the channel, is it?

CATHY
No. From my private collection.

Cathy PUNCHES the remote.
The screen changes to a smiling Jenny McCarthy
in a bikini bouncing in the waves at the beach.

CATHY
That's the channel. Two scoops of vanilla.

Andy laughs.

ANDY
So what's up? What did you want to see me about?

CATHY
I've got this idea. I want to do a special,
"A day in the life of a porn star."
People love that behind the scenes kinda stuff.

ANDY
That's a great idea.

CATHY
Thanks, I think so. You know, we show them
shopping for groceries, at the gym,
at the beauty parlor, whatever.
Then, after the special, we show
a marathon of the star's best movies.

A beat. Cathy sips her coffee.

CATHY (CONT'D)
I'd like to do Savannah first.

ANDY
Wow, cool.

CATHY
You've been hanging out with her.
Do you think you could do me a favor
and set up a meeting?

ANDY
Are you kidding? Of course! She'd love it.
"A day in the life of a porn star."

CATHY
And then, a "Savannah-thon."

ANDY
I'll call her tonight.

INT. ANDY'S BATHROOM - NIGHT
Andy is grooming himself for the big night.
He's wearing a nice, casual suit.

ANDY (V.O)
I couldn't believe it,
she was gonna have her own special.
I just knew she and Cathy
were gonna hit it off.
This was just the kinda break
she needed, talk about exposure.
The best part was that
this was the first time
I was gonna get to see her
as Savannah.

INT. MAPLE DRIVE RESTAURANT - NIGHT
It's a classy, exclusive place in Beverly Hills
for Hollywood's movers and shakers.

Dinner time. The place is packed. Suits at every table.
AGENTS. PRODUCERS. DIRECTORS. EXECUTIVES. TALENT.

The soft strain of classical music
plays on the P.A.

Andy and Cathy sit at a booth
in the rear sipping margaritas.
Not a power table.

ANDY
This place is amazing.

CATHY
It's nice, huh. Where else can you see
Barry Diller and John Ritter in the same room?

ANDY
And you eat here all the time.

CATHY
Yeah, but my power lunches involve a discussion
of the amount of sex in the running time
of my supplier's product.
Not exactly a hot scoop for Variety.

Cathy looks at her watch.

CATHY (cont'd)
She's half an hour late.

Andy scans the room.

ANDY
There she is.

INT. THE HOSTESS DESK - SAME
Shannon and Dex stand at the front of the restaurant.
Shannon is stunning in white vinyl and bare skin.
The HOSTESS points across the room. Andy WAVES.

INT. MIDSHOT / RESTAURANT
Shannon slowly STRUTS through
the middle of the restaurant,
head held high. All heads TURN. Time stops.

CLOSEUP: AGENT
A young, hunky AGENT peers over his glasses
and murmurs something under his breath.

MIDSHOT IN SLOW MOTION / RESTAURANT
Shannon GLIDES across the carpet
like a gazelle, white thighs flashing.
She's totally aware of the impact
she's having and loving it.

CLOSEUP: EXECUTIVE
A middle-aged EXECUTIVE stares,
takes a sip of water, then licks his lips.

MIDSHOT IN SLOW MOTION / RESTAURANT
Shannon nears Andy and Cathy's booth,
turns sideways to look at someone,
her hair swirling softly around her head,
framing her beaming, beautiful,
red-lipped face. Her eyes flash.

CLOSEUP: FEMALE EXECUTIVE
A pretty FEMALE EXECUTIVE lightly touches her plunging neckline with her hand,
causing her elbow to KNOCK OVER her wine glass.

INT. THE BOOTH - SAME
Shannon and Dex stand at the booth.

SHANNON
Hi Andy.

ANDY
Hello, gorgeous. Hey, Dex.

DEX
Hey.

ANDY
This is Cathy. Cathy, this is Savannah.

Cathy stands and shakes Shannon's hand.

CATHY
Hi. It's great to meet you.

Shannon likes what she sees.

SHANNON
Hi, Cathy. It's nice to meet you.

Shannon and Dex sit opposite Cathy and Andy in the booth.

ANDY
This is so great. All my favorite people at the same table.

SHANNON
So let's the chase. What's this about?
Andy mentioned something about a special.

CATHY
Yeah. It's a behind the scenes kinda thing called,
"A day in the life of an adult star."
We'd show you grocery shopping, washing your dog,
going to the gym, you know,
doing the things you do in your real life.

SHANNON
But I look like shit when I wash Daisy.
Who'd wanna see that?

CATHY
Oh, no. We'd stage it. You know, we'd fake it.
You'd look gorgeous.

SHANNON
I see.

CATHY
After the special we'd show a marathon of your best films,
a "Savannathon"

Cathy smiles hopefully. Shannon considers it.

SHANNON
I'll do it if I can be on the cover of the magazine.

CATHY
On the cover of Playboy?

SHANNON
Yeah. I'll do it if I can be on the cover.

Cathy looks at Andy. Andy looks helpless.
Shannon looks at Cathy expectantly.
Dex looks around the restaurant, restless.

CATHY
I'm sorry, I'm afraid that's not possible.

SHANNON
Not possible?

CATHY
I'm afraid Hefner has a policy against using adult talent
on the cover...or anywhere else in the magazine.
I know it's bullshit, but he's the boss.
(pause)
I'm sorry. My hands are tied.

SHANNON
Then I'm sorry. No cover, no special.

An awkward silence falls over the table.

SHANNON (CONT'D)
What are those bracelets you're wearing?
They look like handcuffs.

CATHY
Well, they are, sort of.

Cathy holds her arm up toward Shannon.
A small chain dangles connecting two
sterling silver rings around her wrist.

CATHY (cont'd)
It's just a pair of bracelets
connected with a little chain...

She slips one ring off.
It dangles on the chain.
Shannon's eyes widen.

CATHY (cont'd)
I think they're better than handcuffs...
No key to lose.

SHANNON
Sounds like fun.

A beat. The women look at each other.
You can cut the sexual tension with a knife.

A WAITER suddenly appears.

WAITER
How are we doing tonight?
My name is Richard, and I'll be your...

SHANNON
We're not staying for dinner.

She stands up. Cathy is surprised. Dex stands up.

ANDY
(to Shannon)
I'll call you when I get home.

SHANNON
It was such a pleasure to meet you.

CATHY
It was a pleasure to meet you too.

SHANNON
You'll let me know?

CATHY
I'll let you know --