April 2, 1990
GET SHORTY
Novel by Elmore Leonard
Synopsis by Brian Aldrich
ERNESTO "CHILI" PALMER is a hood for the Florida mob. Years ago, he and RAY BONES, a nasty hood, got into an argument and a gunfight. Chili creased Ray's skull with a bullet. Ray survived, but has never forgiven Chili despite the mob's demand that they forgive and forget. Presently, there is a guy named LEO who runs a dry cleaners and owes the mob some gambling debts. He misses his plane which crashes and he is presumed dead. His wife, FAY, collects $300,000. Chili, who is the collector for the mob, is ordered by Bones to collect the gambling debt from Fay's insurance money. Fay tells Chili that Leo didn't die and ran off with the $300,000. Chili tracks Leo to Vegas. Leo takes off for Hollywood. Chili finds him at the Beverly Hills Hotel and takes the $300,000 back. Chili keeps enough to pay off the debt owed and send the remainer back to Fay. Meanwhile, Chili is supposed to collect a gambling debt from HARRY ZIMM, a has-been producer of low budget horror flicks. Chili breaks into Harry's ex-girlfriend's house. She is KAREN, an attractive, but fading scream queen who has remained Harry's friend. Chili and Harry become acquainted. Chili becomes attracted to the movie business and wants to get involved. Harry has another problem that Chili might be able to help him solve. It seems Harry took his investor's money for his new film and wasted it on gambling. Now, the investor, CATLETT, a black murderer and owner of a limo company, wants to know when the film is going into production. Also, Harry has a different script which he is busy trying to get Karen to convince her ex-boyfriend and movie star, MICHAEL WEIR, to become attached to the property. Chili accompanies Harry to a meeting with Catlett and his associate BEAR. Chili and Harry let them know that they have another project which must be put in production first. Catlett is aware of Chili's background and is threatened enough to keep the peace, but he asks to be involved in the new project. Harry and Chili refuse.
Chili gets an introduction to Hollywood and is a capable student. He takes meetings and lunches alongside the best of them as he, Harry, and Karen try to package Harry's script and get a production deal. Meanwhile, Catlett and Bear pick up a drug drop and the DEALER at the airport. The dealer is angry that he can't get his money out of the locker due to the presence of the cops. Catlett gets mad and kills him. Also, Catlett breaks into Harry's office and reads the script. Meanwhile, Chili has tracked down Michael Weir by himself and become acquainted. Chili provokes Michael's interest by sharing with Michael the details of his latest triumph in the collecting trade with Leo. Michael agrees to do the movie. Catlett contacts Harry and tells him about the money in the locker which he wants to invest in the new project, but really Catlett is trying to set up Harry for a bust, so he and Chili can produce the movie themselves. Meanwhile, Bones shows up. Chili is wise to Catlett's move and gets Bones to go pick up the money and get arrested. Chili and Karen become involved sexually. Chili, Karen, Harry and Michael take a meeting with ELAINE, the head of a studio. They are all ready to sign on the dotted line until Michael reveals that he doesn't want to do Harry's script--he wants to do Chili's script about the collector. Elaine still gives them a development deal and Chili is in Hollywood to stay.
Summary Criticism: While the story of an outsider making it in Hollywood is a familiar device, the novel is witty and the characters attractive.
Get Shorty - imdb
Elmore Leonard - imdb
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