Short screenplay from the Done Deal "Devil's Deadline" contest,
Sept 2008
"Vice Squad"
FADE IN:
EXT. GHETTO STREET - NIGHT
Music blares, families argue, a baby cries, dishes shatter,
a frightened woman screams, a dog barks, some poor bastard
whimpers as he dies with a needle in his arm.
The full Moon casts ink-black shadows across this shitty
suburban landscape. A burly shape lurks in one of those
shadows. DETECTIVE MARTY FINK, face like cracked stone,
lips that don't know how to smile. Fink's dead fish eyes
stare at a 2nd-floor apartment window across the street.
The light in the window goes off. Fink watches. Ten seconds
later the apartment entrance opens and ALIZE steps out, a
skinny junkie ho wearing a shiny boob tube and a cheap leather
skirt so short it's technically a handkerchief. Alize clicks
down the street in her oversize high heels.
Further up the street, a pimpmobile turns on its lights and
peels out. It catches up with Alize in seconds and slows to
cruise alongside her, matching her pace. Alize takes deep
breaths, she doesn't want to face this. She stops, and the
pimpmobile stops too. She bends down to talk to the DRIVER,
a large shadow wearing a wide-brimmed hat.
DRIVER
Bitch, you been trying to dodge me?
ALIZE
I had the flu. Been in my bed all
day. On my own.
DRIVER
Give me any of that crap, I will
stick the barrel of my gun between
your skinny legs and pull the trigger.
You owe me.
ALIZE
Just gimme a couple hours. Tonight
for sure.
DRIVER
Crackhead ho, you spend my money on
dope?
ALIZE
I had to get my act together, you
know?
DRIVER
Ah shit. Now I'm gonna have to kill
you.
The Driver opens his door, his bulk eases out from behind
the wheel. Alize steps back, scared. She fumbles in her
purse.
ALIZE
I got it, I got some money here.
A knife glints. Alize shudders in fear. The Driver presses
her up against the wall. No escape.
DRIVER
Want you to scream, scream loud as
you can. Gotta set my other bitches
an example.
Fink crosses the street, moving fast, coming up from behind.
Alize sees Fink, her eyes widen. The Driver spins round,
pulls out a silver howitzer. Fink swings a baseball bat
with all he's got, the wet impact is horrific, the Driver is
blasted onto the pimpmobile's hood. He lies there for a
moment, arms spread wide, unseeing eyes staring up at the
Moon, the side of his head crushed and leaking. Then he
slides down off the hood, tumbles onto the street like a
giant sack of jello, leaving a gleaming black smear.
Fink tosses the bat away. He grabs Alize by the arm and
hussles her down the street, into a...
EXT. DARK ALLEYWAY - NIGHT
...where Fink's car sits waiting, pointing the other way.
Fink opens the passenger door, pushes Alize inside, slams
the door shut. Fink climbs into the driver's seat, starts
the engine, zooms away.
INT. FINK'S CAR MOVING THROUGH GHETTO STREETS - NIGHT
Alize stares at Fink. As he drives, Fink peels off latex
gloves and slips them into his inside coat pocket.
ALIZE
What am I supposed to say when the
cops ask questions?
FINK
They might not do that.
ALIZE
Suddenly you own the entire police
force?
Fink back-hands Alize across the mouth. The blow stuns her
but doesn't seem to bother her. She wipes blood from her
lip, smiles.
ALIZE
Where'd you get the bat?
FINK
Hector's crackhouse.
Takes Alize a couple seconds to figure things out...
ALIZE
You think the cops will blame it on
Hector?
FINK
Why not? Him and your pimp hate
each other. Known fact.
ALIZE
You pick up anything else while you
were there?
FINK
Look under your seat.
Alize bends and reaches under her seat, pulls out a carryall,
unzips it. Filled with thousands of little plastic packets
containing white powder.
FINK
It's all for you, baby.
Alize is overcome with emotion, she looks out the window,
eyes brimming with tears.
ALIZE
You really do love me, don't you?
FINK
As much as a vice cop can ever love
a ho, yeah.
EXT. CITY STREET - NIGHT
Fink's car zooms into the night, becomes one with the blaze
of the city.
FADE OUT:
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