The Body in the Basement - Alex Broun
The Body in the Basement - Alex Broun The Body in the Basement - Alex Broun
4MAX: But –EILEEN: Now !MAX:(EXCITED BY EILEEN’S FIRMNESS) If you insist.MAX GOES OVER TO AN OLD FASHIONED RECORD PLAYER INTHE CORNER. HE PLACES THE NEEDLE DOWN ON THE RECORD.MAX RACES BACK TO EILEEN AND ASSUMES HIS POSITION,STANDING BEHIND HER ARMS AROUND HER WAIST.SUDDENLY THE MUSIC BEGINS AND PERFECTLY IN UNISON MAXAND EILEEN’S HEADS SNAP BACK, THEN FORWARD AND THEYBEGIN TO TANGO – QUITE EXPERTLY.THE MANY LONG NIGHTS OF TANGO LESSONS HAVE PAID OFFAND THEY DANCE WITH FIRE, PASSION AND SOME SKILL.THERE ARE TWISTS AND TURNS, DIPS AND SPINS – A TOUR DEFORCE OF TANGO-ING.THE DANCE ENDS AS THE MUSIC CLIMAXES WITH MAX RIPPINGTHE ROSE FROM EILEEN’S TEETH AND SPITTING IT TO THEGROUND.HE THEN DIPS HER LOW AND KISSES HER PASSIONATELY ON THELIPS BEFORE HIS HEAD SNAPS BACK UP AND HER ARMS DROP TOTHE FLOOR, AGAIN IN PERFECT UNISON, AS THE MUSIC HITS ITSFINAL NOTE.THERE IS A DRAMATIC PAUSE, THEN:MAX:EILEEN:MAX:EILEEN:MAX:EILEEN:That was pretty good.It was fantastic.I think I stepped on your toes.I hardly noticed.But I’m sure I did. Twice.Stop it.MAX: It was when we –EILEEN:MAX:Please. Stop. You know I can’t stand it.Sorry. (COVERING HIS MOUTH) Oops.
5EILEEN:MAX:EILEEN:MAX:EILEEN:You can’t help yourself.Sorry. I mean – I’m not sorry. I mean sorry for saying I’m sorry. Imean I’m not sorry for saying I’m sorry. (SLIGHT PAUSE) Sorry.I can’t believe you.Sorry. (COVERING MOUTH) I did it again.Why can’t you just be like when you are when we dance ? Strong,masculine, silent. (COVERING HIS MOUTH) Don’t say it. Why doyou always have to go and spoil it ?MAX MUMBLES THROUGH EILEEN’S HAND.EILEEN:By opening your mouth. I hate it.MAX MUMBLES THROUGH EILEEN’S HAND.EILEEN:MAX:EILEEN:MAX:EILEEN:MAX:EILEEN:(REMOVING HER HAND) The fact that you are someone who wouldsay sorry. The person you are when we dance would never think ofsaying that word.Not even if he stepped on your toes.Never.Not even if he did it twice ? (EILEEN SHAKES HER HEAD) Threetimes ? (EILEEN SHAKES HER HEAD) Five times ? (EILEENSHAKES HER HEAD) Ten times ?Not even if he trampled on my toes till they bled all over the floor likea vat of Andulasian Gazpacho.Not even then ? Goodness.Débil, pathetic, desesperado.MAX: Sorry ? I mean – pardon ?EILEEN:You heard me: “Débil, pathetic, desesperado.”MAX: Is it a song title ?EILEEN: Weak, pathetic –MAX:EILEEN:I got that one.Hopeless. Desesperado – hopeless.
- Page 1 and 2: 1The Bodyin theBasementA Suburban C
- Page 3: 3Lights up on EILEEN making the fin
- 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
- Page 53 and 54: 53MAX:EILEEN:SOLDIER:Eileen, quiet.
5EILEEN:MAX:EILEEN:MAX:EILEEN:You can’t help yourself.Sorry. I mean – I’m not sorry. I mean sorry for say<strong>in</strong>g I’m sorry. Imean I’m not sorry for say<strong>in</strong>g I’m sorry. (SLIGHT PAUSE) Sorry.I can’t believe you.Sorry. (COVERING MOUTH) I did it aga<strong>in</strong>.Why can’t you just be like when you are when we dance ? Strong,mascul<strong>in</strong>e, silent. (COVERING HIS MOUTH) Don’t say it. Why doyou always have to go and spoil it ?MAX MUMBLES THROUGH EILEEN’S HAND.EILEEN:By open<strong>in</strong>g your mouth. I hate it.MAX MUMBLES THROUGH EILEEN’S HAND.EILEEN:MAX:EILEEN:MAX:EILEEN:MAX:EILEEN:(REMOVING HER HAND) <strong>The</strong> fact that you are someone who wouldsay sorry. <strong>The</strong> person you are when we dance would never th<strong>in</strong>k ofsay<strong>in</strong>g that word.Not even if he stepped on your toes.Never.Not even if he did it twice ? (EILEEN SHAKES HER HEAD) Threetimes ? (EILEEN SHAKES HER HEAD) Five times ? (EILEENSHAKES HER HEAD) Ten times ?Not even if he trampled on my toes till <strong>the</strong>y bled all over <strong>the</strong> floor likea vat of Andulasian Gazpacho.Not even <strong>the</strong>n ? Goodness.Débil, pa<strong>the</strong>tic, desesperado.MAX: Sorry ? I mean – pardon ?EILEEN:You heard me: “Débil, pa<strong>the</strong>tic, desesperado.”MAX: Is it a song title ?EILEEN: Weak, pa<strong>the</strong>tic –MAX:EILEEN:I got that one.Hopeless. Desesperado – hopeless.
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