The Body in the Basement - Alex Broun

29EILEEN:Back so soon.THE DOOR STOPS MOVING. EILEEN FREEZES IN TERROR.EILEEN: Max – is that you ? (SILENCE. EILEEN GULPS) Max ?THE DOOR SWINGS OPEN TO REVEAL MAX STANDING IN THEDOORWAY, KNIFE STILL IN HAND BUT NOW CANDLELESS.HE STANDS STILL FOR A MOMENT THEN TRUDGES SLOWLY INTOTHE ROOM.EILEEN: Close the door ! Close the door !MAX TURNS SLOWLY AND CLOSES THE DOOR.EILEEN: So did you kill it ?NO RESPONSE FROM MAX.EILEEN: Max – there’s nothing on your knife. Did you squash it with your feet ?Show me your soles.MAX STILL DOES NOT RESPOND.EILEEN: Max, darling. Speak to me. What is it ?MAX:There’s something down there.EILEEN: No kidding but the question is what is it ?MAX:EILEEN:MAX:I’m not sure.You mean you went all the way down there and you didn’t find outwhat it was.It’s some kind of animal – I think.EILEEN: How do you know that ?MAX:I got about halfway down the stairs and I heard a …EILEEN: A scuttling ?MAX:EILEEN:MAX:No. I heard a …A what ? (GRABBING KNIFE AND HOLDING IT TO HISTHROAT) For God’s sake tell me what you heard.A … whimper. I was so surprised I dropped the candle.