The Body in the Basement - Alex Broun
The Body in the Basement - Alex Broun The Body in the Basement - Alex Broun
32MAX ENTERS FROM THE KITCHEN, AGAIN WITHOUT THE CANDLEBUT HOLDING THE KNIFE.HE WATCHES EILEEN FOR AWHILE THEN:MAX:I’m back.EILEEN SPINS AROUND SUDDENLY AND IN DOING SO LOSES HERBALANCE AND TUMBLES TO THE FLOOR.MAX COMES OVER AND HELPS HER UP.EILEEN: So ?MAX DOES NOT REPLY, HE GOES OVER TO THE TABLE AND SITS.HE POURS HIMSELF A GLASS OF WATER.EILEEN: Did you find anything ?MAX NODS.EILEEN: (BURSTING WITH SUSPENSE) What is it ?MAX:It’s not an “it.”EILEEN: Well, what is it then ?MAX:EILEEN:MAX:EILEEN:MAX:EILEEN:MAX:EILEEN:MAX:It’s a she.I knew it. A local alley cat is it – on heat – crawled into our basementto fart out its little rodents.It’s not a cat.One of the local bitch mongrels then. I told the council they should’verounded them up and gassed the lot.No.It’s not a rat is it ? A filthy grey she rat chugging out its evil spawn.I’m afraid not.Then what the hell is it ? A pigmy hippopotamus, crawled up out of thesewer.It’s a woman.EILEEN IS STUNNED. SHE REELS BACKWARD SLOWLY AND SITSON A CHAIR.
33EILEEN: A … A … wo - … Wo – man ?MAX:Yes.EILEEN: Well who is she and how did she get in our basement ?MAX:I don’t know. She didn’t speak. I think she was too frightened.EILEEN: I’d be frightened down there as well. Well what did she look like ?MAX:EILEEN:Hard to say. I could only see her face. She seemed quite young, midthirties,but her eyes seemed old – like she had a great sorrow.Being stuck in our basement would cause anyone great sorrow. Butwhat do you think ? Is she some local dero ? Although I must say Ididn’t think they were that common around these parts. Is she an addict? A neighbours dark secret, the lost daughter gone off the rails.Wouldn’t put it past some of them. (SUDDENLY) Jesus ! She’s not a… Not a …MAX: A what ?EILEEN:MAX:EILEEN:It’s so terrifyingly terrifying I can’t even say the word. (WHISPERS)A terrorist ?I don’t think so.Yes but how do you know. How do we all know ? Did those socialistson that train in Spain know ? Although now that I know they wereSocialists there death does seem somewhat less consequential. Shecould have a (WHISPERS) bomb.MAX: A what ?EILEEN:MAX:(LOUD) Bomb ! If she’s got a bomb tell her this is the wrong place.The train station is two blocks down on the left. Or tell her to go andblow up Renee’s place. I’ll give her the address. (GRABBING APENCIL) In fact I’ll even draw her a map.I don’t think she’s a terrorist and I don’t think she has a bomb.EILEEN : Yes but how do you know ?MAX:It was just a feeling I had while I was down there – near her.EILEEN: How near ?MAX:Near enough. I don’t think she wants to hurt us.
- Page 1 and 2: 1The Bodyin theBasementA Suburban C
- Page 3 and 4: 3Lights up on EILEEN making the fin
- 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: 31EILEEN: Exactly. So are you going
- 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
- Page 53 and 54: 53MAX:EILEEN:SOLDIER:Eileen, quiet.
- Page 55 and 56: 55THE SOLDIER BEGINS TO SING “WAL
- Page 57 and 58: 57MAX:You have to re-load.EILEEN: H
- Page 59 and 60: 59EILEEN:(CALLING AFTER THEM) Don
33EILEEN: A … A … wo - … Wo – man ?MAX:Yes.EILEEN: Well who is she and how did she get <strong>in</strong> our basement ?MAX:I don’t know. She didn’t speak. I th<strong>in</strong>k she was too frightened.EILEEN: I’d be frightened down <strong>the</strong>re as well. Well what did she look like ?MAX:EILEEN:Hard to say. I could only see her face. She seemed quite young, midthirties,but her eyes seemed old – like she had a great sorrow.Be<strong>in</strong>g stuck <strong>in</strong> our basement would cause anyone great sorrow. Butwhat do you th<strong>in</strong>k ? Is she some local dero ? Although I must say Ididn’t th<strong>in</strong>k <strong>the</strong>y were that common around <strong>the</strong>se parts. Is she an addict? A neighbours dark secret, <strong>the</strong> lost daughter gone off <strong>the</strong> rails.Wouldn’t put it past some of <strong>the</strong>m. (SUDDENLY) Jesus ! She’s not a… Not a …MAX: A what ?EILEEN:MAX:EILEEN:It’s so terrify<strong>in</strong>gly terrify<strong>in</strong>g I can’t even say <strong>the</strong> word. (WHISPERS)A terrorist ?I don’t th<strong>in</strong>k so.Yes but how do you know. How do we all know ? Did those socialistson that tra<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong> Spa<strong>in</strong> know ? Although now that I know <strong>the</strong>y wereSocialists <strong>the</strong>re death does seem somewhat less consequential. Shecould have a (WHISPERS) bomb.MAX: A what ?EILEEN:MAX:(LOUD) Bomb ! If she’s got a bomb tell her this is <strong>the</strong> wrong place.<strong>The</strong> tra<strong>in</strong> station is two blocks down on <strong>the</strong> left. Or tell her to go andblow up Renee’s place. I’ll give her <strong>the</strong> address. (GRABBING APENCIL) In fact I’ll even draw her a map.I don’t th<strong>in</strong>k she’s a terrorist and I don’t th<strong>in</strong>k she has a bomb.EILEEN : Yes but how do you know ?MAX:It was just a feel<strong>in</strong>g I had while I was down <strong>the</strong>re – near her.EILEEN: How near ?MAX:Near enough. I don’t th<strong>in</strong>k she wants to hurt us.
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