The Body in the Basement - Alex Broun
The Body in the Basement - Alex Broun The Body in the Basement - Alex Broun
2CharactersMAXEILEENTHE MAN IN BLACK/THE SOLDIERTHE WOMANSettingThe dining room of Max and Eileen’s well appointed, somewhat old fashioned homein a well off suburb in Sydney. A door leads off right to the kitchen and a passagewayoff left leads to the front door.There is also a door in the middle of the back wall amongst the ornately framedpictures and other bric a brac. We will discover later this leads to the basement.The centrepiece is a well looked after antique dining table with two equally welllooked after antique chairs.TimeA Thursday evening. The present.
3Lights up on EILEEN making the final adjustments to the lavishly set Spanish themeddinner table with two places. She hums happily to herself as she goes about her work.She exits to the kitchen and returns moments later with some fresh red roses, whichshe places in the vase on the middle of the table.Moments later we hear a key turning in the door off left. EILEEN’s head snaps up.EILEEN:MAX:EILEEN:Wait just a moment.(OFF) I’m home.I heard but just wait.MAX: What ?EILEEN:I’m not quite ready.PAUSE.MAX:(EXCITED) Oh.EILEEN FINISHES PLACING THE ROSES IN THE VASE.SHE QUICKLY RACES BACK TO THE CENTRE OF THE ROOM ANDTAKES UP HER POSITION – ARMS CROSSED, HEAD RAISED, EYESABLAZE.EILEEN: Ready !SHE PLACES THE LAST REMAINING ROSE IN HER MOUTH ANDBITES DOWN BARING HER TEETH.MAX ENTERS CARRYING HIS BRIEFCASE AND COAT. HE STOPSSUDDENLY WHEN HE SEES EILEEN.MAX:Goodness me.EILEEN: Are you ready ?MAX: Should we – before dinner ?EILEEN: Yes !MAX:EILEEN:But I haven’t even had anything to drink. You know I’m not very goodat it when I haven’t had anything to drink.I don’t care. We must do it. Now.EILEEN RAISES HER ARM DRAMATICALLY AND POINTS ACROSSTHE ROOM.
- Page 1: 1The Bodyin theBasementA Suburban C
- Page 5 and 6: 5EILEEN:MAX:EILEEN:MAX:EILEEN:You c
- Page 7 and 8: 7EILEEN:But then you spoiled it by
- Page 9 and 10: 9EILEEN IS FLUSHED AND BREATHLESS,
- Page 11 and 12: 11EILEEN: What kind ?MAX:EILEEN:MAX
- Page 13 and 14: 13EILEEN:MAX:Must’ve been that ho
- Page 15 and 16: 15MAX: Why ever not ?EILEEN:MAX:EIL
- Page 17 and 18: 17MAX:EILEEN:MAX:EILEEN:MAX:EILEEN:
- Page 19 and 20: 19EILEEN:MAX:Tennis. Oh you know ?
- Page 21 and 22: 21EILEEN:MAX:EILEEN:MAX:EILEEN:MAX:
- Page 23 and 24: 23MAX:EILEEN:Some bread.No - it’s
- Page 25 and 26: 25MAX:And due to more public pressu
- Page 27 and 28: 27MAX:I’ll need a torch. As you s
- Page 29 and 30: 29EILEEN:Back so soon.THE DOOR STOP
- Page 31 and 32: 31EILEEN: Exactly. So are you going
- Page 33 and 34: 33EILEEN: A … A … wo - … Wo -
- Page 35 and 36: 35MAX:So I pressed on. Small steps
- Page 37 and 38: 37EILEEN:Yes I am. Scrounging aroun
- Page 39 and 40: 39EILEEN: Well you couldn’t reall
- Page 41 and 42: 41MAX:EILEEN:MAX:I’m not indulgin
- Page 43 and 44: 43EILEEN:That’s telling him.THE M
- Page 45 and 46: 45EILEEN:Ooooh - that’s gotta hur
- Page 47 and 48: 47MAN IN BLACK:One more thing.HE GO
- Page 49 and 50: 49EILEEN:MAX:EILEEN:MAX:I was going
- Page 51 and 52: 51EILEEN:MAX:SOLDIER:EILEEN:SOLDIER
3Lights up on EILEEN mak<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> f<strong>in</strong>al adjustments to <strong>the</strong> lavishly set Spanish <strong>the</strong>medd<strong>in</strong>ner table with two places. She hums happily to herself as she goes about her work.She exits to <strong>the</strong> kitchen and returns moments later with some fresh red roses, whichshe places <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> vase on <strong>the</strong> middle of <strong>the</strong> table.Moments later we hear a key turn<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> door off left. EILEEN’s head snaps up.EILEEN:MAX:EILEEN:Wait just a moment.(OFF) I’m home.I heard but just wait.MAX: What ?EILEEN:I’m not quite ready.PAUSE.MAX:(EXCITED) Oh.EILEEN FINISHES PLACING THE ROSES IN THE VASE.SHE QUICKLY RACES BACK TO THE CENTRE OF THE ROOM ANDTAKES UP HER POSITION – ARMS CROSSED, HEAD RAISED, EYESABLAZE.EILEEN: Ready !SHE PLACES THE LAST REMAINING ROSE IN HER MOUTH ANDBITES DOWN BARING HER TEETH.MAX ENTERS CARRYING HIS BRIEFCASE AND COAT. HE STOPSSUDDENLY WHEN HE SEES EILEEN.MAX:Goodness me.EILEEN: Are you ready ?MAX: Should we – before d<strong>in</strong>ner ?EILEEN: Yes !MAX:EILEEN:But I haven’t even had anyth<strong>in</strong>g to dr<strong>in</strong>k. You know I’m not very goodat it when I haven’t had anyth<strong>in</strong>g to dr<strong>in</strong>k.I don’t care. We must do it. Now.EILEEN RAISES HER ARM DRAMATICALLY AND POINTS ACROSSTHE ROOM.
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