The Body in the Basement - Alex Broun
The Body in the Basement - Alex Broun The Body in the Basement - Alex Broun
34EILEEN:MAX:EILEEN:MAX:EILEEN:MAX:EILEEN:MAX:EILEEN:MAX:EILEEN:MAX:Yes but how do you know – for sure ? You’re not going mushy on menow Max ? You know what happens when you go mushy. People takeadvantage. You get used, abused and then murdered. Or blown to bitswith her bomb.It was just a feeling.And since when have you had “feelings” ? So what did you tell her todo ? “Hit the road Sister.” “On yer bike.”I didn’t say anything. I’m not sure if she speaks English.She’s a foreigner. Well then it’s settled – she definitely is a terrorist.Would you stop saying that ? She’s not a terrorist.Says you.She’s just a very terrified woman who is obviously in some need. Icame down the stairs, slowly this time, making sure not to drop thecandle. I reached the bottom and looked around, holding the candle upto try and illuminate the room. It’s a very large space down there. Mustrun right under the whole house. I’m amazed I never knew it was there.Yes, yes – you were raising the candle.Then I saw her – over in the corner. A large black object, shuffling.Ha, ha. Scuttling. I told you it was scuttling.At first I thought it was a dog or maybe a wombat.EILEEN: A wombat ?MAX:EILEEN:I wasn’t thinking straight. My heart was pounding so fast. I thought Iwas going to die.(ASIDE) No such luck.MAX: What ?EILEEN:MAX:EILEEN:(TURNING BACK WITH A SMILE) Continue darling.But whatever it was I knew I had to find out. Couldn’t come up againwithout knowing could I ?Too right, because then I would’ve killed you.
35MAX:So I pressed on. Small steps – one after the other – towards the corner.Then as I got closer I heard a sound. At first I thought it was awhimper like the dog –EILEEN: Don’t you mean wombat ?MAX: Was hurt in some way. I was petrified now but I kept going –EILEEN:MAX:EILEEN:MAX:EILEEN:MAX:EILEEN:MAX:So brave.And then I realised the sound wasn’t a whimper. It was a voice – ahuman voice – whispering – in a language I didn’t understand.See ! She is a terrorist.Then I realised the whisper wasn’t a whisper – it was a prayer. She waspraying.To the Dark Lord. There’s probably a trap door to hell down there.I suddenly realised I was still holding the knife. Stupid. If she saw that,what would she think ? It would scare her more. So I put down theknife.Even though you didn’t even know it was a woman at this stage, eventhough it could’ve been Sanchez Bin Laden himself.So I put down the knife and raised the candle up in front of my face soshe could see my eyes. That’s the way you communicate when youcan’t use words. Through your eyes.EILEEN: You could’ve held up a sign – “Terrorist – Go Home !”MAX:EILEEN:Then it happened. The candle was in front of my face, lighting up myeyes. She must’ve sensed something about me too – somethingpeaceful –Debil.MAX: And she suddenly raised her head and looked at me. Our eyes met –and in that moment the communication flowed between us – muchmore than words could ever hope to contain.EILEEN:MAX:EILEEN:You sound like you fancy her.“Don’t be scared. I’m not going to hurt you.” That’s what my eyessaid. “I am frightened. I need help” her eyes replied.”What are you talking about ? Stupid man.
- 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 and 32: 31EILEEN: Exactly. So are you going
- Page 33: 33EILEEN: A … A … wo - … Wo -
- 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
35MAX:So I pressed on. Small steps – one after <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r – towards <strong>the</strong> corner.<strong>The</strong>n as I got closer I heard a sound. At first I thought it was awhimper like <strong>the</strong> dog –EILEEN: Don’t you mean wombat ?MAX: Was hurt <strong>in</strong> some way. I was petrified now but I kept go<strong>in</strong>g –EILEEN:MAX:EILEEN:MAX:EILEEN:MAX:EILEEN:MAX:So brave.And <strong>the</strong>n I realised <strong>the</strong> sound wasn’t a whimper. It was a voice – ahuman voice – whisper<strong>in</strong>g – <strong>in</strong> a language I didn’t understand.See ! She is a terrorist.<strong>The</strong>n I realised <strong>the</strong> whisper wasn’t a whisper – it was a prayer. She waspray<strong>in</strong>g.To <strong>the</strong> Dark Lord. <strong>The</strong>re’s probably a trap door to hell down <strong>the</strong>re.I suddenly realised I was still hold<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> knife. Stupid. If she saw that,what would she th<strong>in</strong>k ? It would scare her more. So I put down <strong>the</strong>knife.Even though you didn’t even know it was a woman at this stage, eventhough it could’ve been Sanchez B<strong>in</strong> Laden himself.So I put down <strong>the</strong> knife and raised <strong>the</strong> candle up <strong>in</strong> front of my face soshe could see my eyes. That’s <strong>the</strong> way you communicate when youcan’t use words. Through your eyes.EILEEN: You could’ve held up a sign – “Terrorist – Go Home !”MAX:EILEEN:<strong>The</strong>n it happened. <strong>The</strong> candle was <strong>in</strong> front of my face, light<strong>in</strong>g up myeyes. She must’ve sensed someth<strong>in</strong>g about me too – someth<strong>in</strong>gpeaceful –Debil.MAX: And she suddenly raised her head and looked at me. Our eyes met –and <strong>in</strong> that moment <strong>the</strong> communication flowed between us – muchmore than words could ever hope to conta<strong>in</strong>.EILEEN:MAX:EILEEN:You sound like you fancy her.“Don’t be scared. I’m not go<strong>in</strong>g to hurt you.” That’s what my eyessaid. “I am frightened. I need help” her eyes replied.”What are you talk<strong>in</strong>g about ? Stupid man.
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