The Crowning Touch

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 38 of THE HEISTERS, Kelsey and the gang escape the stadium with the cash in their tricked-out ambulance ... just as the cops arrive ...


EXT. STADIUM - WEST GATE - STREET - NIGHT - FLASHBACK
The ambulance ROARS down the street.
Gets to the first intersection.

The siren STOPS. Drives past the
next corner, then pulls over and parks.

Ludo jumps out.
Opens the rear doors.

Chick gets out, and the two
of them adjust the ramp-boards.

Kelsey sits behind the wheel,
and slowly backs the Triumph
out of the ambulance.

Ludo and Chick get back in,
and Kasper drives off.

EXT. WAREHOUSE DISTRICT - MOMENTS LATER - FLASHBACK
The ambulance pulls up
to an abandoned warehouse. Stops.

Ronan, Ludo and Chick get out,
and head over to the Mercedes,
which we see is parked
behind the big panel truck.

Ronan opens the door.
Gets behind the wheel.

Ludo and Chick pile in,
and they drive off.

KELSEY (V.O.)
We were home free.
Ronan would drive Chick and Ludo
to the motel they were
going to hole up at,
and then ditch the car near
where he was going to stay.

Jefty opens the back of the truck.
Kelsey comes over and helps him
adjust the board-ramps, then
drives the Triumph into the truck.

Jefty closes the doors
and gets back in.

He starts the engine.
Pulls the truck out, does a U-turn
and heads back toward the stadium.

A phalanx of SQUAD CARS
come ROARING toward them,
sirens SCREAMING.

KELSEY (V.O.)
The crowning touch was driving
the truck back in the
direction of the stadium --
travelling in the opposite direction
the heisters would theoretically be going.

INSIDE THE TRUCK
Kelsey sits behind
the wheel of the Triumph.

Lights a cigarette. Leans back.
Thinking. Exhales a cloud of smoke.

Takes off her wig.
Rubs her scalp.

KELSEY (V.O.)
And now for the next week or so,
the dough was my in my care.

The job was successful.
No one got hurt, and we were
flush with a boatload of cash.
(beat)
But this was no time to relax.
Even though I was due a little R&R,
I had to keep my wits about me,
because some serious shit
was about to go down.

One Scary Bitch

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 37 of THE HEISTERS, robbery gang member Chick Faber gets grilled by the cops about the stadium heist, offering him immunity if he spills the beans ...


INT. POLICE STATION - INTERROGATION ROOM - NIGHT
The standard tiny, grey, shitty
cinder block room that we’ve seen
in a zillion movies and TV shows.

Chick sits on a wooden chair
at a piece of crap table.

Detective Nunn sits on
the other side of the table.

Isaacs leans against the wall
working a toothpick in his mouth.

NUNN
(SLAPS the table)
BULLSHIT. We got you, old man.
You had IN YOUR POCKET a list
of all the chicks Jackie Tempel
was dating.

CHICK
I know my rights.
I want to call my lawyer.

NUNN
But we haven’t CHARGED
you with anything yet, gramps.
We’re just QUESTIONING you.

Chick stares sullenly.

ELWIN
It’ll go alot easier on you
if you’d just talk to us.
We’ve got you involved
in a robbery AND a murder --

CHICK
Murder? I’ve NEVER been
involved in killing someone --

NUNN
Well, you have this time, old fella.
We’ve put it all together.
Whoever killed Jackie Tempel
took the money that was stashed
at her joint after the robbery.
And it was ONE OF YOUR CREW --

ELWIN
You give them up,
and we’ll cut you a deal.
If not, you’re looking
at ALOT of time,
which at your age is the
same as a death sentence.
Do you really want
to die behind bars?
Spend the rest of your days
sucking on cocks instead of cigars?

CHICK
Of COURSE not --

NUNN
Oh, look.
He’s starting to crack.

CHICK
What kind of a -- deal?

ELWIN
You give them up, we’ll give
you immunity. Let you walk.

NUNN
Your rap sheet is longer
than the BP oil spill.
From where I stand, that’s
a pretty fucking good deal.

CHICK
Let’s just suppose I did that --
IF I was involved --
these people would hunt me
down to the end of the earth.

ELWIN
That’s what the witness
protection program is for, old man.
For shitheads like you that squeal
on your fucking LOW-LIFE CRONIES.

NUNN
You had THE LIST in your pocket.
That’s as good as a DEATH CERTIFICATE.

Pause.

CHICK
Okay. I’ll give you everything.
But first I want to talk
to my lawyer. Okay?

ELWIN
No can do, pops.

CHICK
You realize this means
my life is over, right?

NUNN
That’s what we’ve been trying to TELL you.

ELWIN
Who organized the heist?

Pause.

CHICK
Guy by the name of Ronan. Ronan Kenny.
Then he brought on this big shot planner.
Name’s Kelsey Hazard.
One of the best in the business.

NUNN
A BROAD? Really?

ELWIN
Wait a minute.
Wasn’t that the chick
that gave Mart Volok
the business at his house?
I heard she was one scary bitch.
Was packing heat.
Threatened to hurt his family.

CHICK
(nods, grimaces)
That would be Kelsey --

Dandy Warhol

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In Chapter 36 of THE HEISTERS, Kelsey arrives at Doll Montana's apartment, ready to confront the bitch that murdered her boy toy and stole the loot from the stadium robbery. We then flashback to the heist, where the gang makes their escape the cash ...


EXT. VENICE BEACH - APARTMENT BUILDING - NIGHT
We see Doll Montana’s apartment building.
Light from a single street lamp
makes it glow in the thick fog that’s rolled in.

Kelsey’s car drives by.
Parks in the alley. She gets out.
Starts walking toward the building.
Grim. Determined.

EXT. STADIUM FINANCE OFFICE - PARKING LOT - NIGHT - FLASHBACK
The ambulance pulls up next the building and stops.

INT. STADIUM FINANCE OFFICE - NIGHT - FLASHBACK
Chick and Ronan finish tying up
the girl who counted the money.

Chick then leads her in the back
to join the others.

Kelsey ties a rope to the
handles of the duffle bags.

Drags them over to the window.
Then ties the other end
to the leg of a desk.

Ronan helps her carry them
over to the window.

EXT. STADIUM FINANCE OFFICE - PARKING LOT - FLASHBACK
The bags come out the window,
then down the side of the building
to where Kasper is waiting for them.

Kasper takes the cases and puts them
in the trunk of the Triumph Spider
nestled inside the ambulance.

Then, one by one, Kelsey, Ronan, then Chick,
and finally Ludo come down the rope
and walk up to the vehicle.

Ludo, still in his guard uniform,
gets in the passenger side next to Kasper.

Ronan and Kelsey squeeze behind
the back of the seat and the Triumph,
and Chick gets into the car.

Kasper starts up the ambulance,
HITS THE SIREN and starts driving it
toward the west gate.

KELSEY (V.O.)
Now that we were in the stadium,
we didn’t have to leave
the same way we came in.
We could exit through the
west gate near the backstage area,
which had been closed to
vehicles during the concert,
but was now open so the bands could leave.

The ambulance ROCKETS
toward the gate, then slows.

A long, black limousine
starts to go through. Then stops.

IN THE AMBULANCE
Kasper HITS the brakes.
POUNDS on the steering wheel.

KASPER
What the FUCK. MOVE it --

KELSEY
They can’t hear the siren because of the music --

RONAN
Goddammit.

LUDO
What are we gonna DO?

THE LIMO’S BACK DOOR
Opens. A tall, thin ROCK MUSICIAN (20’s),
dressed like an Edwardian dandy FLIES OUT.

Projectile VOMITS a spew of brown slime.
Weaves a little. Shakes his head.

A BANDMATE gets out. Walks over.
Checks to see if he’s okay.

IN THE AMBULANCE
Kelsey looks at Kasper.

KELSEY
Gimme the mike to the PA.

Kasper grabs it. Offers it to her.

KASPER
Here --

She leans over the seat.
SNATCHES IT from his hand.
CLICKS it on.

NEAR THE GATE
Bandmate tries to pull Edwardian
back in the limo, but the rocker
still looks shaky.

KELSEY (O.C.)
(LOUD)
Hey, DANDY WARHOL.
Get the FUCK back in the vehicle and MOVE IT.
We’ve got an EMERGENCY here. A man is DYING --

They WHIP their heads in her direction.
Freak out. SCRAMBLE back in. SLAM the door.
The limo TAKES OFF like a rocket.

IN THE AMBULANCE
Kasper puts the car into gear.
Starts following the limo.

KASPER
Good work, boss.

PUSH IN ON Kelsey’s face. Pissed off.

KELSEY
It’s only rock and roll, but I steal it.

The Big Bounce

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 35 of THE HEISTERS, we flash back to the Kelsey and the gang's rock concert stadium robbery, which goes goes off without a hitch ... until it's time to make their getaway ...


EXT. STADIUM - EAST GATE - DUSK - FLASHBACK
The ambulance drives up to the gate.
A guard in the security booth sees it.
Opens the gate and waves it through.

INT. AMBULANCE - MOVING - DUSK - FLASHBACK
Kasper sits behind the wheel
in an EMS uniform.

Waves back as he drives
into the stadium.

INT. STADIUM - DUSK - FLASHBACK
A giant stage set up at one end.
A ROCK BAND plays at a DEAFENING
volume over the PA system.

The stands are filled to capacity.
But so is the field. Stadium seating.
The ambulance comes onto the field. Stops.

INT. AMBULANCE - DUSK - FLASHBACK
Kasper looks at the throng of people.
Starts to freak out.

KASPER
Shit, shit, shit --

He pulls out his cell phone.
Punches a number. Listens.

KASPER (CONT’D)
Pick up, pick up --

INTERCUT WITH:
INT. STADIUM FINANCE OFFICE - DUSK - FLASHBACK
Kelsey’s phone RINGS in her pocket.
She looks at Ronan.

KELSEY
SHIT.

RONAN
Fuck.

She whips it out. Answers it.

KELSEY
What’s wrong?

KASPER
There’s no fucking room, man.
There’s too many fucking kids
on the field. What am I gonna do?

KELSEY
Shit.

RONAN
What’s up?

KELSEY
(to Ronan)
The stadium’s filled with kids.
There’s no room for the
ambulance to get to us.

RONAN
Greedy bastards oversold it.

KELSEY
Wait. I’ve got an idea --
(into the phone)
Kasper.
Tell the kids someone’s OD’d,
and you need to get through.

KASPER
That won’t work. Half of them
are on their way to OD’ing themselves --

KELSEY
It’ll work if you tell them it’s BONO.

KASPER
Nah. He’s not that big anymore.
(beat)
But they’ move if I tell ‘em
Jay-Z had a fuckin’ HEART ATTACK.

KELSEY
Perfect. DO IT.
Call me back if you have any problems.

KASPER
You got it, baby. I mean -- chief.

He hangs up.
Grabs the radio mike.

CLICKS it on.
Raises it to his lips --

EXT. STADIUM GROUNDS - NIGHT - FLASHBACK
LOUD ROCK MUSIC. Throngs of TEENAGE KIDS
yell and scream and sing along.

Jumping up and down.
Dancing. Drinking. Partying.

The ambulance starts moving very slowly.
Kasper’s voice comes BOOMING
over the loudspeakers.

KASPER (O.C.)
(electronic)
ATTENTION, ATTENTION.
Jay-Z has had a HEART ATTACK.

Please move out of the way
and let the VEHICLE THROUGH.

The kids hear him.
Turn and look in horror.

Suddenly the crowd
parts like the Red Sea.
Kasper starts driving through.

Motel Hell

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 34 of THE HEISTERS, robbery/homicide detectives scope out the sleazy beachside motel where Kelsey shot and killed Kaspar ...


INT. VENICE MOTOR COURT HOTEL - FRONT DESK - NIGHT
Ren Rosen and Elwin Marr
speak to the NIGHT CLERK,
a small, thin slip of guy.
Typical fussy queen.

Meg Stark and Mart Volok
hang back and look around.

GAY NIGHT CLERK
Of course, detective.
I’ll help in any way I can --

ELWIN
We’re looking for a Hispanic guy.
He would have arrived here
in the last hour or so.

REN
He was probably very agitated.
Upset. Ring any bells?

GAY NIGHT CLERK
Oh, yes. There was this
horrible-looking Mexican guy.
But he didn’t come to the desk.

ELWIN
You don’t know which room
he went to, do you?

GAY NIGHT CLERK
No. But he took the elevator
up to the second floor.

REN
How many rooms on the floor?

GAY NIGHT CLERK
Ten, five on each side.

ELWIN
(to Ren)
Our luck it’s a small place.

REN
(nods, to the clerk)
Can we see the register,
see who’s in each room?

GAY NIGHT CLERK
Sure thing.

He gets the register.
Opens it. Looks up. Realizes.

GAY NIGHT CLERK
Is this person -- dangerous?

ELWIN
Very --

REN
And the people he’s visiting
are even more dangerous.

GAY NIGHT CLERK
There won’t be a --
shoot-out or anything, will there?

ELWIN
(smiles)
We usually try to avoid that.

GAY NIGHT CLERK
(sighs)
Thank god for THAT --

He looks in the book.
Scans the room numbers
with his finger.
Looks up. Smiles.

GAY NIGHT CLERK
You’re in luck, gentlemen.
It’s off-season.
Only two rooms are occupied
on the second floor.

REN
Who’s in the first room?

GAY NIGHT CLERK
(looks, reads)
Yuri and Olga Chechnikov.
Russian tourists, I guess.

ELWIN
And in the second room?

GAY NIGHT CLERK
(reads)
Uh -- John Smith.

REN
Bingo.

ELWIN
Room number?

GAY NIGHT CLERK
Twenty-three. At the end
of the hall on the left.
It’s a suite.
Has two entrances.

Elwin looks at Ren.
Narrows his eyes.

ELWIN
Great. Two escape routes, no waiting --

The Big Bounce

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 33 of THE HEISTERS, wheelman Jefty prepares the escape vehicle for after the robbery, but things get tricky ... when he gets a flat tire ...


INT. STADIUM FINANCE OFFICE - DUSK - FLASHBACK
The office gal sits at the table
counting the last of the money
and putting it in the duffle bags.
Kelsey and Ronan stand nearby
in their guard uniforms, watching.

KELSEY (V.O.)
We were almost done.
We had all the money from the gate,
the sun was setting and the concert
was kicking into high gear.
(beat)
I’d normally be interested
in checking out the bands,
but since I was robbing the joint,
that wasn’t an option.

EXT. NEARBY STREET - DUSK - FLASHBACK
A side street near the stadium,
which we can see in the background.

The truck drives up to the curb.
Parks. Jefty gets out.

Walks around to the rear
and opens the back doors.

He climbs inside. Pulls out the
ramp-boards and puts them in place.
Then gets back in.

Moments later the Mercedes
backs out and down the ramp.

THUMP-THUMP-THUMPING on a flat tire.
Jefty gets out. Looks at the flat.

JEFTY
SHIT.

He opens the trunk. Searches it.
But there’s no spare tire.

JEFTY
Fuck --

Jefty looks around. Street’s deserted.
He walks down the sidewalk,
looking at the cars.

Comes across an old, beat-up VW van.
With a spare tire mounted on the back.

JEFTY
Thank you, JESUS.

He pulls a wrench out of his pocket.
Starts taking it off.

DEEP MALE VOICE (O.C.)
Want me to change the tire for ya?

Jefty WHIRLS AROUND.
Sees a FILTHY HOMELESS MAN (30’S)
pushing a shopping cart.
Giving his best toothless smile.

FILTHY HOMELESS MAN
(nods)
I just needs two dollars --

Jefty stares at him.
Freaking out. Pulls out his wallet.

CLOSE ON -
The wallet. In it,
a lonely twenty-dollar bill.

JEFTY
Grimaces. Yanks it out.
Shoves it in Homeless’ face.

JEFTY
Here’s twenty.
You never saw me. Got it?

FILTHY HOMELESS MAN
(SNATCHES it)
Thank you, JESUS.

He scuttles away.
Big, goofy grin.

Jefty watches him.
Shakes his head.
Gets back to work on the tire.

An Ace Up My Sleeve

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 32 of THE HEISTERS, Kelsey and Ronan decide on what to do with Kaspar's dead body ... and their next move.


INT. SHITTY HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT
Kelsey and Ronan stand over
Kasper’s dead body.

She lights up a smoke.
Shakes her head.

KELSEY
This job just went from
bad to worse to FUCKED.

RONAN
So what do we do with the body?

KELSEY
I’m thinking --

She exhales a cloud of smoke.
Starts pacing around the room.

KELSEY
Little fucker. I have an ace
up my sleeve that I was gonna play,
and that refried beaner
had to gum up the works --

RONAN
What’s the ace?

KELSEY
There was one name that the police
had that wasn’t on the cell phone.

RONAN
Really?

KELSEY
Yeah. Figured Jackie deleted it
because of a bad breakup,
and that maybe she was
some kind of unstable bitch.
(smiles)
Just the kinda broad that would
pull this kinda stunt.
Know what I mean?

RONAN
Uh -- yeah.
(beat)
What’s her name?

KELSEY
Doll Montana.
Right out of Raymond Chandler, huh?

RONAN
No shit.

KELSEY
Figured I’d wait until late
at night and surprise her.
(gestures at the body)
But now, this --

RONAN
Tell you what.
Why don’t I stick him
under the bed for now,
you go talk to this Doll broad,
and then when you get back
we’ll dispose of Dirty Sanchez.

KELSEY
Good idea.
You should be here
when the others come back.

RONAN
Yeah.

KELSEY
Okay. I’ve got my cell
in case of an emergency.

She goes to the door.
Puts her hand on the knob.

KELSEY
Hang tight. I’ve got a
gut feeling about this.

RONAN
You know what they say.
Always trust your gut.

Kelsey nods. Opens the door.
Leaves. Ronan waits a beat.

Goes to the door. Takes off
the ‘do not disturb’ sign.

Opens it.
Peers down the hallway.
Puts it on the outside.

Goes out into the hallway.
Quietly shuts the door.
Then starts following her.