Treatment
The narrative of Killing a Southern Belle follows the taciturn midlife-crisis, Detective Waites, from the point of view of an overzealous intern who documents everything with his camera. From the opening scene, we gather that Waites has landed his first homicide, and his veteran partner is leaving Waites with just an intern while he hits the tracks.
After this brief introduction, the film drifts into witness accounts, cutting from account to account with no narrative order. These accounts entail three men and three women, each a typical stereotype turned on it’s head. Each character accuses another of murder while dropping hints as to their own motives. Each character also belittles their late friend, Katie, for her classically moral and chaste sentiments.
Following all six witness testimonies, Waites gets a call from his partner, who has taken a break from the ponies to read out the coroners report. At this point, Waites hears a noise from inside the house and roams from room to room, suspect to suspect, in an attempt to squelch the noise. As he enters each new room, voice over of the coroner’s report reveals each of six causes of death. Waites announces that he’s quitting his job.
Character Bios
Detective Waites: is sick of being a cop, but he just made homicide. Being around college-aged kids really gets his goat, but tries to humor them.
Levi, the Jock: rummages through Katie’s fridge, eating what he pleases while Waites asks him questions. Levi recently started up his own business and owed Katie, who loaned him seed money, a great deal of vig.
Carson, the Marine: cleans his boots while listening to his standard-issue radio. Carson is the most level-headed of the group and argues with Waites about the Epimenides paradox.
Max, the Nerd: goes through Katie’s computer, and he and Waites get a little caught up writing a RIP post on behalf of her facebook. Comically Machiavellian. Killed Katie because she wouldn’t sleep with him.
Chloe, the Recovering Sorostitute: goes really off topic and recounts her days in her sorority with a cult-like revelry. Has to call up her Big, interrupting the interview. She killed Katie because they were wearing the same dress.
Mary-Anne, the Hipster: goes through Katie’s room and bookshelf while she gives her account. Mary-Anne acts really enlightened but is constantly making erroneous references and malapropisms. She meant give poisoned tea to Chloe, but Katie ended up drinking it.
Casandra, the Home-Body: really identifies with Waites on a misanthropic level and speaks with depth before going on a rant about how much she loves anime. Killed Katie just because she likes cats more than people.
