"Nice place you got here, malek." "You're moving up in the world." "Hmm." "Suits my work." "Your work?" "I guess if your work's panhandling." "You know, you used to be a writer." "Guess i ain't paying you enough." "What the fuck are you doing down here?" "Eh, different strokes, i guess." "Speaking of... i don't want to spend all night in this shithole." "Let's do it." "Shit's good, huh?" "It'll knock you out." "Come to daddy." "Ohh." "Where'd you get this?" "What's wrong?" "Ohh." "Nothing's wrong." "It's the best goddamn blow i've ever had in my life!" "Ha!" "Hh." "Sometimes i wonder where you writers" "Come up with some of that sick shit you come up with." "Whew." "What, you got somewhere to be?" "Oh, no, no." "I was, uh... just thinking about this girl." "Oh, yeah?" "Ere." "Take some and go fuck her brains out." "Oh, no." "It's all yours, mr." "Glissberg." "Ha!" "Call me stan." "You know what, malek?" "I rethought my opinion of you." "You're not just some shithead genre guy." "You're a shithead genre guy who's gonna go far." "Hey, stanley... guess what?" "I'm still thinking about that girl." "You remember katherin." "You ready to talk?" "It's been a half an hour, don." "You're not gonna say anything?" "I haven't decided." "you really are an asshole." "Everybody has one." "An opinion, i mean." "What is it?" "You just didn't think i'd find you down here?" "What's going on?" "Hmm." "I'm tired." "You should be." "It's the middle of the night." "What are you doing down here?" "Jesus christ, don." "Hey." "You need another drink?" "No, i just need more ice." "Right." "I'm just gonna leave." "Hmm, so soon?" "It's fucking bizarre, don." "Please tell me what you're doing here." "Well, she didn't ask." "Oh, please, spare me the cryptic fucking bullshit." "This is supposed to be a professional relationship." "I'm not your babysitter and i'm definitely not your fan." "Well, since you put it that way," "Maybe you shouldn't be my agent." "Really?" "S that what this is about?" "Do you want me to cut you loose," "Tear up your contract?" "'Cause we can do that." "I definitely don't need to track my writers down" "At the edge of skid row in some fucking crack den" "In the middle of the night." "I know you're a fucking great writer." "But there's a line of good writers" "That stretch from here to torrance" "That would kill to fill your shoes." "Think they're any good?" "You know i can throw a stone" "And hit a good writer here." "What about a killer?" "What?" "A killer." "Could you find a great killer?" "I can find anything i need." "And when i do, rest assured" "There's always someone or something better" "Just around the corner, ready to fill their shoes." "Hmm." "You're probably right." "But, you know, right now," "I'm about the best you'll find anywhere." "Really?" "Ell, the proof's in the pudding, don," "And you haven't written a thing in two fucking years." "Look in the bathroom." "What?" "Look in the bathroom." "Why?" "It's my latest work." "Yeah?" "Ou want me to flush it for you?" "My work is in the bathroom, ava." "Don, if it's a shit joke... you and i are done, okay?" "Absolutely fucking ridiculous." "Stanley." "Don, what the fuck is this?" "Told ya." "My newest creation." "More performance art than narrative, really." "All right" "But there is a story," "If you're paying attention." "I am paying attention." "I got it." "It's an intro." "Stanley, what the fuck are you doing" "Down here in this part of town?" "I've never seen a guy in your position" "Go this far for a gag." "All right, fine." "I'm intrigued." "Do you have a script?" "In the refrigerator." "Oh." "You guys are too much." "Good job, stanley." "I'll tell you, this is a fucking first." "All right, where is it?" "Right here." "Of course it is." "Okay." "What?" "I get the joke." "The joke's over." "It's not funny anyway." "What is this?" "Uh, open it." "What do you think?" "What the fuck is it?" "It's glissberg's appendix." "Are you guys kidding?" "I mean, really, it's a fucking joke?" "Does it look like i'm kidding?" "You wanted to see what i'm up to." "Here it is." "Hope you like it." "You ain't seen nothin' yet." "Okay, let me get this straight." "Black market body parts," "Stolen organs, a man in a tub." "Retelling of burke  hare?" "We can do this, as long as you stay in the present." "Contemporary is where it's at." "If we do a period piece, i can't sell it," "I can't pitch it." "Nobody wants that," "Especially not from you on this comeback thing." "So is that where we're going?" "If you insist." "All right." "It's good, don." "It's pretty fucking good." "I like the scenery" "Shitty, seedy hotel thing." "I like it." "It can attract names." "Yeah." "What do you think, asshole?" "Oh." "Mumbling." "Well, you know, that died with brando." "But you're not bad at this whole acting thing." "I can get you, you know, classes," "Get you maybe a discount... for your new calling." "aren't you freezing?" "Awesome." "Okay." "It'll be really bad for business" "If the head of your studio dies" "While acting out a scene from your script." "Isn't any press good press?" "Yes, it is." "But any funding is not easy to come by," "Especially when you haven't had a screen credit" "In two years." "Be smart about this, don." "You have one of hollywood's most powerful men" "Buried up to his neck in ice" "In a crack den on skid row at 2:00 a." "M." "It's not smart." "Take him out of there, dry him off," "Get him warm, make sure he's at the office tomorrow." "We'll seen the deal." "I'm already sold." "Get him to sign the deal," "And then we can discuss why you went behind my back" "After my percentage is in the bag." "If you insist." "I do insist." "Now, please... can i have the screenplay?" "Come back tomorrow." "Fuck you, don." "I'm still fine-Tuning." "When?" "Tomorrow?" "What time?" "No, 8:00." "And don't pull my dick." "I'm not going back down here" "To see another fucking stage play." "I'll take any draft you have," "But i'm not leaving empty-Handed." "Stanley, i'm leaving." "Just don't die before tomorrow." "Oh, you don't look so good." "Can you hear me?" "Do you feel anything?" "!" "you're not... gonna get away with this." "I already have, you son of a bitch." "Fuck... you." "I'd be real careful what you say to me," "You rotten prick." "I can pick you apart for weeks" "And keep you awake for every second of it." "Let's see what we can remove today." "Don't... kill me." "What?" "I don't want... to die." "Don't worry, stanley." "You're not gonna die." "Not for a long time." "Oh, yeah." "Oh, yeah." "Bartender, can i have a shot, please?" "Vodka." "Hello, how are you?" "I'm fucking loving your ponytail, man." "Didn't that go out in, like, 1978" "On a thursday afternoon or something?" "Yeah, that's what i thought." "God bless you." "My new album's coming out, man." "Please buy it, listen to it and love it." "Yeah?" "Hello." "Yeah, you." "Drinkin' the beer all alone." "You see really deep in thought, man." "Want to come over, sit down and have a little chat?" "Hey, come on over." "Let me buy you a drink, will ya?" "I'm not trying to annoy you, but come on." "All alone." "I'm a lone." "All right, don't." "Cheers." "ou have something for me?" "Beer?" "Script." "Come in." "Where's it at, don?" "Mm." "I need your opinion on something first." "No, no, we're not doing that." "Put a script in my hand," "And then we can talk." "We can talk about whatever the fuck you want." "Hmm." "Where is it?" "Um... it's still at the printers." "What printers?" "I'll go pick it up." "Around the corner." "There's nothing around the corner." "What's it called?" "Uh, i forgot." "Jesus, don." "You're gonna have to find someone else" "To represent you." "Hmm." "That's what you want?" "Obviously that's not what i want." "I came down here again, alone." "You think this is fucking fun?" "It looks like night of the living dead out there." "It's because i believe in you" "And i believe that you put out good shit." "But you're dicking me around here" "And making me look like an asshole, don," "Playing these fucking games." "Oh, and by the way, i called stanley's office today" "To get the deal done and all that shit, and he wasn't there." "Why?" "Aybe you killed him." "Your little game fucking might've killed somebody." "I didn't kill him." "How do you know?" "You talk to him?" "We spoke today." "What'd he say?" "Hmm." "Well, he's tough to understand sometimes." "Right." "Please just put a script in my hand" "So i can go home." "Oh!" "Ell, would you look at that?" "Well, i guess i have some explaining to" "Aah!" "Jeez!" "Aah!" "What the fuck did you do?" "!" "Oh, my god!" "Jesus christ!" "Calm down!" "I can't fucking calm down." "Sit down and i'll explain everything." "Is this fucking for real, don?" "Don't worry." "I'm not gonna do anything to you." "Goddamn, this shit burns!" "What did you do to him?" "Fuck him!" "Ou don't like him any more than i do." "What the fuck does that have to do with anything?" "Well, you don't have to be so upset, for one." "Upset?" "!" "Don, what the fuck did you do?" "!" "I did to him" "Exactly what he did to me." "I'm tearing him apart, piece by piece." "You gonna call the police?" "Look, ava, nobody knows that he's here," "And no one has to know." "Are you gonna kill him?" "Yes!" "We can't stay in here." "It needs to air out." "Here." "Hmm." "You're still here?" "You must be enjoying yourself." "Ohh!" "Ahh, that ain't good." "Ohh." "Eww." "You know what?" "I think it's time we send you back." "What do you think?" "Uh-Uh." "You can't go back in this condition." "You look too good." "What?" "!" "Hey, spitz." "It's don." "Hold on!" "God damn it." "Shit!" "How you doing?" "What do you want?" "!" "I need a favor." "What kind of favor?" "A big one." "Can you help me out?" "Well, it might help if you didn't show up to beg empty-Handed." "Where's your fuckin' decorum?" "Right." "Um..." "what are you drinking?" "Well, bring it in!" "Ohh." "Here, take the fuckin' thing!" "How the hell long are you gonna have it again?" "Uh, i'm not sure." "A couple hours." "Couple of hours?" "Take it as long as you want." "I don't care." "All right, spitz." "Thanks a lot." "Go fuck yourself." "Hey, shut the fuckin' door!" "Faggot." "It's time go back to work," "You fat fuck." "Hey, it's ava." "No." "Heard what?" "Is he alive?" "Jesus christ." "What hospital is he at?" "Fuck, that's insane." "Oh, my god." "Um, all right." "I'm not gonna come in." "Just take messages for me." "And, um... yeah, i gotta make calls." "All right." "Fuck." "Who is it?" "t's me." "Ava?" "Open the door, don." "Are you alone?" "In the universe?" "They found stanley outside the studio this morning." "Oh, my god." "You're kidding." "Your idea of a joke?" "I don't know what you're talking about." "He's in intensive care." "He's alive." "They don't know the extent of the injuries yet." "What do you think happened?" "Are you fucking nuts?" "Take off your shirt." "What?" "Ou think i'm wired?" "Why would i think that?" "Cut the shit, don." "Take off your shirt." "Satisfied?" "Ood?" "Why'd you come back here, ava?" "I don't know." "You kidnapped stanley glissberg," "Turned him into a game of operation," "And then dropped him off at the studio's doorstep." "I don't know what you're talking about." "I haven't talked to anyone." "You're giving me an intro, aren't you?" "Oh, damn it." "I didn't think you'd come back." "Neither did i." "Why did you?" "I don't know." "Peter called an hour ago," "Said they found stanley at the bus stop." "Security didn't even recognize him." "It took an assistant to." "He was like a fucking zombie." "Then the medics came and took him away." "That's classic." "What about the cameras?" "I used protection." "Don, he's still alive." "He can tell them things." "I wouldn't worry about that." "Even if he can't talk," "He can't point you out, he can write your name." "He has motor functions." "Not anymore, he doesn't." "Why?" "What did you do?" "Just something i've been reading up on." "Worked like a charm." "Anyway... he won't be pointing any more fingers." "He'll have a tough enough time" "Remember he has any." "Well, now what?" "I'm gonna go back to sleep." "I've been burning both ends." "And then?" "Well, then... i got something else i need to take care of." "Are you gonna stay here?" "Why all the questions?" "I'm just saying i'd like to know where to find you," "In case i need you." "After all, you're still my client, right?" "So... dissecting the head of starlight studios" "Hasn't hurt my career after all." "That's yet to be determined, don." "Do you have a script?" "Yes." "It just hasn't been written." "Well, how about this?" "You write the script," "Then you come and give it to me when you're done." "That's why i'm here." "And that's what i'm here for." "Hey, ava!" "Yeah?" "Don't be a stranger." "I won't." "Oh, jesus." "Fuck." "Aah!" "You owe me, remember?" "What the hell happened?" "It doesn't matter!" "I'm cashing in." "Move!" "What's going on, spitz?" "Fuckin' whore cut me!" "Who cut you?" "Go see for your goddamn self!" "You go to my room and make that bitch disappear." "Make who disappear?" "Some fuckin' cunt!" "What do i care?" "Jesus christ!" "You got anything for this?" "You need stitches." "I am not going to the fuckin' hospital," "You fuckin' idiot." "Do you have any glue?" "Krazy glue!" "Nah, fuck it." "I got some." "Go to my room and get it... after you take care of her." "You take her out back." "And if she makes so much as a fuckin' peep," "You pop her in the goddamn chin." "She can't take a punch!" "Goddamn fuckin' whore!" "And when you get down there, you take a brick" "And you smash her fuckin' head into the ground" "With that or something else heavy." "I don't give a holy shit what it is." "I'm not smashing anyone's head in." "Well, then give her the fuckin' crazies!" "What do i care?" "Do i look like i care?" "!" "Make her gone!" "It's okay, it's okay." "It's okay!" "I'm not gonna hurt you!" "It's okay!" "'M not gonna hurt you!" "Listen to me." "Listen to me!" "I'm getting you out of here." "I'm getting you out of here." "Who are you?" "It doesn't matter." "You need to get dressed." "I'm not leaving till i get paid." "How much?" "100." "Did i kill a cripple?" "No." "But i don't think" "He's gonna make it to morning." "Good." "Sick fucking bastard." "I hope he dies." "Are you a betting girl?" "yeah, you like that?" "Yeah, i know you fuckin' do, you pig." "Yeah!" "Take it!" "What the fuck is this shit?" "Oh, man." "This is complete shit." "Fucking cunt." "Well?" "She's gone." "Gone?" "Gone gone?" "Or is she gonna come back later with her nigger pimp" "To finish the fuckin' job?" "I didn't kill her, if that's what you're asking." "Yeah, that's what i'm asking!" "Fuck!" "If i had my fuckin' legs," "I'd have chopped the bitch up in the bathtub" "And let the trash men get in the fuckin' morning." "But i settled." "'Cause i ain't half the man i used to be." "Well, we need to do something about that." "Yeah." "Heh." "Where the hell you goin'?" "We are stitching you up." "We?" "Me." "You are gonna sit still" "And shut up." "Yeah." "Whoa, whoa, whoa." "What the hell is all this shit?" "You know... you have your hobbies," "I have mine." "Like stitching?" "Among other things." "Whoa!" "Ain't you got something for the pain?" "You're holding it." "Look, if we don't close that up," "It's gonna get infected." "Or you'll slip into a coma from loss of blood." "It's your call." "Okay." "Fuck it." "All right, hold still." "No sudden moves." "Ah-Ah-Ah-Ah." "Ah, yeah." "Eh-Eh-Eh-Eh." "There." "There you are." "That-That ain't so bad." "Yeah, the first couple are the worst." "Then your body will start to numb itself." "I know." "So you, uh" "You probably save a fortune" "In fuckin' medical bills." "Ha!" "Huh." "You could say that." "Yeah?" "Hat's good." "'Cause i'm into the fuckin' county for thousands, man," "With some of the shit i've been through and into." "Oh!" "And then there's the surgery" "After the accident." "I'm in fuckin' debt to the state" "And they fuckin' know it." "Oh, they tell you what they're gonna do" "And what you're gonna owe," "And that's about fuckin' it." "Military service... ain't worth shit." "Fuck 'em." "And they never fuckin' did anything anyway!" "I'm never gonna get out of this fuckin' chair," "And i have to pay for the cocksucker!" "All they wanted to do was fuckin' keep me alive" "So they could get my goddamn money." "Commerce, right?" "But... a man has got to eat." "Hmm?" "Nd this man's got to drink." "And he's gotta have entertainment." "Ah, i can't even fuckin' do that." "They took it away from me, too." "I can't get a fuckin'" "All i can do is eat pussy." "And i gotta pay for that." "Did you tape that girl, spitz?" "What girl?" "The one who did this." "Yeah." "Why?" "Hmm... i happened to see some of it." "And i saw those tapes under your bed" "With all the girls' names on them." "Why'd you go fuckin' around, rootin' in my room?" "You told me to look for krazy glue." "Oh, yeah." "They all hookers?" "What do you think?" "I don't know." "I don't know, either." "You think i can't get pussy?" "I am the silver-Tongued devil, motherfucker!" "I can put those little girls up there" "And just- Just open 'em up." "I just fuckin' suck it down for fuckin' hours!" "I'm doing fine!" "Just keep doing what you're doing!" "Stop moving." "I'm doing fine." "You just keep doing what you're doing." "They say that they don't want to." "They say, "i don't want... "" "But they open it up for fuckin' spitz." "You know, i like when they squeal." "They make these little fuckin'" ""Oh, fuckin' do it!" Fuckin'" "Ow!" "You son of a bitch!" "I said stop moving." "Fuckin' watch it!" "You're almost done." "All righty." "I'm gonna give you a shot." "A shot of what?" "Something to keep that from getting infected." "I don't trust you to take care of it." "Yeah, well, fuck you, too." "Oh." "Ha ha!" "Now you're taking me back." "Yeah, i used to" "I haven't rode the rails in, like, seven years," "But, you know, i'd be willing to get back on," "Just for a ride or two." "Just-Just" "Oh." "Somebody knows what he's doing." "That's good, man." "All right." "That'll take effect in a couple of minutes." "What effect is that?" "Oh... you'll, uh... lose all muscle function," "But remain totally conscious," "Unable to move or talk." "What-What do you mean?" "I mean in a couple of minutes," "You're gonna be completely paralyzed." "You'll be aware of everything happening to you," "But you won't be able to do a thing about it." "Fuckin' comedian, right?" "Right?" "You know... just so you know, uh... you really fuckin' owed me, but... our deal is square, brother." "You saved my ass tonight." "Right?" "Mm-Hmm." "Yeah." "Hmm." "All right." "Is she gone?" "She's gone." "Yeah." "All right." "I'm gonna, uh... go on back to, uh, my room" "And, uh" "Right." "Thanks, doc!" "Thanks." "So how are things going with sheldon gwynn?" "I'm really amazed that you were able to sign him." "How were you able to do that?" "We just talked to him." "You know, he was really distrustful of the industry," "And we told him that we're not about just collecting names," "Racking up numbers, that we actually care about our talent," "That we want to get great writers," "Showcase their work to the world," "That kind of thing." "And he bought that bullshit?" "It's not bullshit." "It's the truth." "Have you sold him yet?" "Uh, no, but we're pretty close." "What are you waiting for?" "The right deal." "The right deal?" "Why not strike while the iron's hot?" "Because i want to make sure our talent gets what they're worth." "I thought you weren't about the numbers, ava." "I'm not, but i'm not a pushover, either." "I want to make sure they get what they deserve." "What's going on with don malek?" "He's writing." "Any idea what?" "Oh, i trust don." "And you think he can come back?" "Oh, i know he can." "He had promise, i'll say that." "But two years" " That's a long time in this town." "If anybody deserves a break, it's don malek." "If all writers took a break" "Whenever they felt like they deserved one," "You and i would be brokering mcmuffin deals at mcdonald's." "Wouldn't we?" "Nurturing talent... is about nurturing them," "Not sucking every last drop of blood from their body" "And then moving on to the next victim." "I like your style, miss collins." "Ava, i wanted to be the first one" "To let you know this." "Jane schimmel wants out of her contract." "She's coming with me." "Is that right?" "Yes." "And why didn't she tell me this?" "Because i'm telling you." "Well, i'm telling you to go fuck yourself." "Why do you have to be so unprofessional?" "Unprofessional?" "Ha ha!" "I don't think you know the definition." "You know what?" "I wanted to sit down with you, as your friend," "And let you know what's happening here." "I didn't have to." "I could've let it hit your desk on monday in the trades," "But i didn't want that." "It's 'cause i wanted to do the right thing." "Do the right thing?" "Be my friend?" "God, you're a pompous fuckin' asshole." "you know, if that's the way you want it, fine." "Ha!" "Jesus christ!" "You are one smug son of a bitch." "If you want jane, take her." "Good luck with that." "You want a war with me," "I highly advise against it." "It's not war, ava." "It's just business." "So don't take it personal." "Oh, i don't take anything personally." "I'll let you know when i do." "Thanks for the cocktail." "Fucking cocksucker." "Thank you." "Well, hello." "How are you?" "Fantastic." "You got a fine ass." "By the way, i'm jasper." "Yeah!" "It's me, open up." "What the hell happened to you?" "Nothin'." "I feel great." "Who the hell is this?" "Ha ha ha ha!" "A friend." "Do you always just sit in silence like this?" "Better than watching the brain drain." "Maybe, but you're missing a lot of press" "On your friend." "Any leads?" "No." "I doubt it." "Unless he did something stupid," "Like drive up showing his license plates" "Or left traces of d." "N.A." "Hmm." "Stanley wasn't my friend's type." "And i have it on good authority" "That he takes the subway." "You didn't take him on the subway." "Do you know how many surveillance cameras are in there?" "Little cameras are watching us" "Wherever we go now, aren't they?" "Orwellian babylon." "What's a boy to do?" "Straighten up and walk tall." "Don't be a loner." "don't keep to yourself." "Join the workforce." "Be an upstanding citizen." "God-Fearing." "Have pure thoughts." "Are your thoughts pure?" "Not even close." "Well, what are we gonna do about that?" "Haven't decided." "Do you know carter ball?" "From c." "A.A.?" "Yeah." "Yeah, i met with him a couple of times" "Before i signed with you." "Why?" "He's a piece of shit." "Problems?" "He's stealing my clients" "Namely jane schimmel." "Got her convinced that her career took a shit" "Because of bad representation," "Not her $400-A-Day drug habit." "Got in her ear, told her what she wanted to hear." "Doesn't matter." "It's his problem now." "He asked me about you." "Hmm." "Yeah?" "Yeah." "Hmm." "Well, i couldn't care less." "I don't play that game anymore." "He does." "Well, good for him." "What would you do if he, um... sought you out?" "If he finds me here," "I'll be suitably impressed." "What if, say, he... found you here... looking to talk to you?" "Now, how would he find that out?" "I don't know." "Maybe... a little bird would tell him." "I already told you, i'm not for hire." "And i'm not hiring." "I just was wondering what you would do" "If someone like carter ball" "Just happened to show up." "The more pressing question is... what would you like to see happen?" "Bartender, can i have a shot, please?" "Vodka." "How are you?" "You know my friend spitz?" "He was in a wheelchair." "You can't mistake him." "He's been gone for a little bit," "And i'm getting a creepy vibe from you." "You want to have a seat?" "I'll take that as a no." "All right, all right." "Cheers to you being mute." "Hmm, you know... i just thought about something." "I saw you wearing, like, a mask or something." "Something on your face, a mask." "And you were- It is you." "I know i'm pretty pissed out of my head right now," "But it has to be you, yeah?" "You really don't talk at all, do you?" "Kind of a rebel with a cause, aren't you?" "All right, all right." "I won't say a word to you." "Hey, do you like my piece?" "Nice, huh?" "Yeah." "Silence is golden, isn't it?" "Well, here's to silence." "Cheers for me." "A toast?" "Okay." "Here's to your silence, man." "Here's to your silence." "It's like the wizard of oz." "Hocus-Pocus." "Fucking suspicious." "Something weird." "Still jacked, gonna crash," "And nobody knows." "Who cares?" "Ou're in a bar?" "They're all drunk hoes!" "What the fuck?" "!" "No!" "Is that me or you?" "I don't know." "It's yours." "Your timing couldn't be any better today." "I got a meeting in an hour," "And it's a big one." "I know." "Fuck, i have an appointment later, too." "Yeah?" "Ho is it?" "Oh, come on." "You know nothing leaves this room, right?" "Right." "So who is it?" "Do you know don malek?" "I do." "I almost signed up when he first started." "How long have you been seeing him?" "Couple of months." "He's a nice guy." "I'm surprised he's not a gazillionaire" "By the way that he works." "His place is creepy." "Why, where is it?" "Silver lake?" "Skid row." "He rents fuckin' weekly." "Skid row?" "Does he have a habit?" "Yeah, writing." "I've never seen anyone like he does." "He sits around on a bunch of unsold shit." "He likes the ambience down there." "Really?" "What's the name of this place?" "The new terminal hotel." "New terminal hotel." "Well... delightful as always, rebecca." "Hey, baby." "I'm good." "It was real chill." "Yeah, i gave him the info." "No, he didn't suspect a thing." "All right." "Bye." "There he is!" "Ou!" "Caught holding the bag here." "What do you know about this?" "!" "I don't know what you're talking about, mr." "Diangelo." "You know what i'm talking about." "Scumbag." "This guy knows something." "How goes it today, partner?" "Fine." "Mr. Diangelo, step in here with the officers." "He's a fuckin' perv!" "Get going." "He did it!" "I'll bet!" "Quiet, now." "Is spitz okay?" "You guys hang out?" "No." "We don't hang out, but i see him all the time." "yeah, he sees him!" "I seen him pushing him around!" "Heh." "You push him around?" "You mean, like, wheel him?" "Yeah, whenever he needs a hand and i'm around." "He's in a wheelchair?" "Mm-Hmm." "Find me a wheelchair in there, okay?" "If it's not there, it's gotta be someplace." "Unless, of course, what we have here" "Is a chair-Jacking." "Is spitz okay?" "No." "He's dead." "Trash man had a hell of a surprise this morning." "Spilled your buddy's parts all over the back alley." "Must have been ripening in the dumpster" "For several hours, looks like." "Oh, my god." "What's your name?" "Don malek." "Malek." "M" " A-L-E-C?" ""K"." ""K"." "How long have you lived here?" "Uh, a couple of months." "When's the last time you saw spitz, if you recall?" "Uh... a couple of days ago?" "Did you see or hear anything strange lately?" "I mean, anyone suspicious catch your eye?" "Anything odd?" "Heh heh." "Well, odd things happen here" "Just about every day, so, uh..." "No." "Not any one thing in particular" "That i can think of, no." "Mind if my officers get your contact information?" "No." "Good." "I might want to talk to you again sometime, mr." "Malek," "Or maybe not." "Is that okay with you?" "Sure." "And, since we have talked," "If you would suddenly check out or disappear," "It might seem a little suspicious, right?" "I mean, i might have to put you" "High on the top of my priority list" "If something like that happened." "Well, if my neighbors are turning up in pieces," "Is it okay for me to stay here?" "Good point." "Well, we'll see." "In the meantime, keep your eyes open," "And give me a call if you want to talk about anything," "Anything at all." "Somebody's been working out!" "Finding out what room you were in" "Was really interesting." "All i did was drop your name at the front desk" "And the whole guy down there is, like," ""He did it." "It was him. "" "Anything going on i should know about?" "Um... ahem." "My neighbor was murdered last night." "My god." "Wow." "Don, if you don't mind me asking," "What the hell are you doing here, man?" "I like the ambience." "Yeah, that's what i hear." "But people are getting married." "And did you hear about stanley?" "Yeah, ava told me." "Crazy, huh?" "I've said it before- If anybody had enemies," "It was stanley glissberg." "I wonder if it was a tryst gone bad." "You know, stanley used so many people." "He traded promises for sex and he broke them all." "So it's not hard to imagine him" "Burning the wrong person." "And what about that dunlap girl fiasco a couple of years back?" "The wannabe actress." "Talk about bad mojo." "God." "Ohh." "Anybody could've come out of the woodwork" "To collect on that one." "And let's face it" " He killed that girl, and we all know it." "I mean, you kill a chick in the real world," "You go to prison." "Kill a chick in hollywood, well... you pay your $200 fine at window number 4." "They don't prosecute guys like stanley." "Anyways, nobody in this town" "Is losing sleep over stanley glissberg." "That's part of his legacy that won't make it" "Into the television retrospective at year's end." "And those of us who knew the man" "Knew what a prick he was, right?" "I am this character." "I know i can do it." "Mmm." "Of course you can." "You think i got it?" "Heh." "What?" "I don't think i've ever seen you this excited." "Wait till i get the phone call." "If i get that phone call" "Ohh!" "Can't take the suspense." "You're this close, whichever way it goes." "I don't want to be that close." "I want the part." "Relax." "We'll find out tomorrow." "It's my third callback." "Is that good or bad?" "Well, the other option being no callbacks," "It's good." "But it also means you have some competition." "Fuck her." "I wonder who it is." "I believe you got the part." "So... grapevine tells me you've been writing like a fiend." "Is that true?" "You could say that." "Anything you'd like to share?" "How are things going with ava, by the way?" "In what regard?" "Are you happy?" "Is that why you're here?" "Listen, let me cut to the chase." "I do want to represent you." "Say the word, and i'll buy out your contract." "My agency's had a banner year," "And our purse strings are loose, don." "I want to put you back up on top where you belong." "You write, i want to know about it." "You have a draft, i want to option it, okay?" "Your current situation" "Doesn't seem particularly fruitful, anyways." "And, no offense to ava," "But don needs to take care of don." "You want to read something?" "Oh, i'd love to." "I gotta stop by the printers." "Can you come back tomorrow?" "Yeah." "What time?" "8:00?" "Is it safe?" "Not particularly." "Then you're on." "I believe we can do great things together." "We'll see." "Want another drink?" "You really kill the cripple?" "He's dead." "How'd you do it?" "Long story." "Heh." "You're weird." "Hmm." "You don't look like you belong here." "What do you do?" "Hmm." "I don't know anymore." "Well, what do you do to make money?" "I sell cars." "Bullshit." "What do you really do?" "don!" "Heh." "Hold on!" "It's my agent." "Excuse you." "Excuse me?" "That's what i said, bitch." "We need to talk." "About what?" "That's the company you keep?" "Yeah." "Where is everything?" "Uh... it's, uh" "I'm closed for business." "Not closed for all business." "Did i interrupt?" "Just in time." "We were about to bond." "God forbid." "How are you?" "If i didn't know better," "I'd think that was genuine concern, ava." "Where's my script?" "Same place it was yesterday." "You know, funny" "Carter ball wanted to read it, too." "Ah, so he is trying to snipe my clients." "You told him where i was." "No, i didn't. " "Our mutual friend did." "Exactly how many people know i'm here?" "Exactly... three." "You... carter ball, um" "Who's the third?" "It's confidential." "What is she, an escort?" "What would make you think that?" "What possible other confidential link between you and ball" "Between you and ball could there be?" "So he was here?" "This afternoon." "I don't suppose he's sitting at a bus stop right now." "Is that what you want?" "I want a lot of things." "What'd you talk about?" "I'm sure you have a pretty good idea." "Look... i can't say that i didn't see it coming," "But, uh, i'm not particularly happy" "About these people knowing i'm here, ava." "I want you to forget about me." "So what are you gonna do for a living?" "Hmm, i'll make it." "This business isn't for me anymore." "I'm only contemplating where to go from here." "No script?" "You have a remarkable one-Track mind." "You know that?" "It's job territory." "And you do it well." "You deserve people who want to be here." "That's not me anymore." "I still think you have a hell of a story to tell." "And with your style" "I mean, don't you want to take a shot at your masterpiece?" "Most writers are lucky if they get one shot." "It's from your passion." "And this- It's quintessential." "You've reached the fringes of... existence." "It's a razor blade's edge." "Channel it with your words onto paper" "And give it to me." ""You can throw a stone and hit a great writer. "" "I want your story." "Well, you can't win them all." "I know about katherin, don." "Who?" "Katherin dunlap" "The girl stanley was exonerated of murdering" "A few years ago." "I know she was your girlfriend," "That you guys were engaged." "I'm sorry." "Don, i know." "She was an aspiring actress" "Working in a coffee shop." "She served the right person," "And before she knew what hit her," "She was auditioning for the lead" "In a starlight production." "She caught the eye of stanley." "Stanley pulled that shit he always pulls." "Invites her back to the house... for a callback." "She shows up high on something." "He dismisses her, but she won't leave." "She's aggressive, borderline-Psychotic." "She knows she's blown her chance." "She won't accept it." "He calls security, but before he knew it," "She throws herself off the second-Floor balcony" "Into the foyer... to her death." "That's all just minutes before security got there." "Only you and i know... that's not what happened." "I know that's why you did it, don." "That's why i haven't gone to the police." "I know the bastard got what he deserves." "Maybe you should write." "You've got quite an imagination, you know that?" "What happens?" "He's dead, she's avenged." "But you had to stop somebody else." "Somebody else got in your way." "You know, if you just took care of this one... teeny little problem," "Things could be a lot better for both of us." "By "little problem"," "Are you talking about carter ball?" "What's in a name?" "I already told you, i'm not for hire." "So work on spec." "Like i said, i haven't gone to the police," "And i don't want to." "But if you leave me no other choice," "It's, uh, not the end of the world." "No, that happened a long time ago." "Let's work together." "What makes you so sure you're gonna walk out of here?" "A third party knows where i'm at." "If, for some reason, i disappear," "This was my last-Known destination." "I know i'm talking to a murderer." "But you're a strangely noble one." "Now, this redefines our professional relationship." "Change is necessary" "In the life of a successful business venture." "Carter ball is gonna be paying me another visit tomorrow night." "Wow." "How convenient." "Care to join us?" "Nah." "Plans." "I insist." "Are you sure you're in any position" "To make demands?" "You want someone dead," "But you want to keep your distance?" "I'm not a hit man!" "I think you're missing out." "You want to be partners?" "You gotta get your hands dirty." "I'll spin the web," "But you're the black widow." "Take it or leave it." "What time?" "Don malek, good evening." "Detective turkovich." "Looks like you just woke up." "Ohh." "Actually, i was just going to bed." "Good, i'm glad i caught you." "Mind if i have a quick word with you?" "I told you this might happen." "Minimal." "The way i like it." "How come?" "No reason." "I've got everything i need." "You're a writer." "Mm-Hmm." "You wrote some of those... stanley glissberg productions, didn't you?" "Yeah." "How do you feel about what happened over there?" "Hmm." "Whew." "Tragedy." "Yeah, i'll say." "Hey, hope you don't mind me asking" "Why am i staying here" "On a screenwriter's salary?" "Just wondering." "Well, actually, i'm working on a new story," "And, uh... the ambience is perfect." "Hmm." "Ambience." "It helps me to write." "Going somewhere?" "No." "What's in the boxes?" "oh, yeah." "Things." "Um, there's no storage space." "No storage?" "Stanley glissberg ever come up here and see you?" "no way." "This, uh, really wasn't stanley's kind of place." "He wasn't up here once?" "Uh-Uh." "The reason i ask was, um... i recently saw the security camera footage," "And what surfaced was you walking up in here" "With stanley glissberg... on the night of the 14th." "Does that jog your memory?" "Oh!" "Yeah, yeah, yeah!" "That's right." "I remember." "What do you remember?" "He did come here, but... he didn't normally." "So he was here." "Yes." "It just slipped your mind." "Yeah, yeah, yeah." "Ha ha ha!" "Hh." "Whew!" "It's been a rough couple of days." "That's understandable." "You wouldn't happen to remember" "How long he stayed, would you?" "Hmm." "A few minutes." "A few minutes?" "'Cause the tape doesn't show him" "Ever leaving the hotel." "I didn't walk him out." "He could've gone..." "out the back door." "And why would he do that?" "That's where he parked his car." "Then why not come in from the back?" "It's exit-Only." "You can only get back in with a master key." "Why park in the back?" "Stanley was, uh," "Real paranoid about his car." "And, you know, there's almost always some sketchy people" "Hanging out in front at night." "Was there a sketchy bunch that night?" "Mm-Hmm." "Anyone you knew?" "Um... not by name." "Would you recognize them." "Some of them." "Gang-Affiliated?" "I wouldn't know." "Did glissberg and spitz ever meet?" "No." "'Cause you said" "That you didn't walk glissberg out that night" "And he had to navigate the building by himself," "Only if to get his car." "I wonder if glissberg and spitz ran into each other that night." "I guess it's possible, but, uh... i can't imagine what they would have to say to each other." "The reason i say this is, the hotel now figures prominently" "In both of these men's deaths." "We know spitz died on the premises." "And now, after viewing the tape," "This was the last location known" "That stanley glissberg was seen alive." "And you hung out with both of them." "Again, i wouldn't say necessarily" "That i hung out with them." "Why did glissberg come see you that night?" "He wanted some blow, and i had some." "Cocaine." "You a dealer?" "Mm-Mm." "Addict?" "No." "Recreational?" "Yeah." "Oh." "Where do you get your stuff." "Outside." "Pick a corner." "Steady supplier?" "No, no." "I don't do that much." "No bad debt?" "No." "Well, listen, you know," "There is one more strong link" "Between these two murders, mr." "Malek." "What's that?" "Both these men- Glissberg and spitz" "Had recently-Stitched wounds on their bodies," "Laced by the same style" "In the exact same sutured thread," "Which would lead anyone to believe" "That both of these men met their fate" "By the same hand." "Well, you'd know better than me, detective." "And right now, the only common link i have" "Between these two murders... is you." "Wastebasket?" "Uh, in the bathroom." "Be right back." "Aaah!" "Hey, knock, knock, buddy." "It's carter." "You're unlocked out here." "I didn't mean to catch you with your pants down, dude." "Let's do this." "Stop it!" "Aah!" "Somebody help!" "Please!" "Fuck!" "No!" "Fuck!" "Fuck!" "Your fucking- Fucking" "Fucking clients!" "Don, look!" "Don, look." "Aaaaah!" "Ha ha!" "# Not gonna stop her now" "# Never gonna stop her now" "# Take away all that she ever had #" "# Call her a whore, make anyone sad #" "# Still gonna take you down" "# We're all gonna take you down #" "# Won't last long, gonna roll you over #" "# Garbage dumps and unmarked graves #" "# Hate to disappoint, but there's no running for cover #" "# I know you like to think that she's a saint #" "# Not gonna stop her now" "# Never gonna stop her now" "# Take away all that she ever had #" "# Call her a whore, make anyone sad #" "# Still gonna take you down" "# We're all gonna take you down #" "# You're a decider, well, i'm a songwriter #" "# My job's to knock you down like a prize fighter #" "# You've paid all your friends, now there's nowhere to run #" "# Now it's time to pay the world back #" "# For all you've done" "# Not gonna stop her now" "# Never gonna stop her now" "# Take away all that she ever had #" "# Call her a whore, make anyone sad #" "# Still gonna take you down" "# We're all gonna take you down #" "# Not gonna stop her now" "# Never gonna stop her now" "# Take away all that she ever had #" "# Call her a whore, make anyone sad #" "# Still gonna take you down" "# We're all gonna take you down #" "# We're all gonna take you #" "# We're all gonna take you #" "# We're all gonna take you #" "# We're all gonna take you down #"