The Body in the Basement - Alex Broun
The Body in the Basement - Alex Broun The Body in the Basement - Alex Broun
54SOLDIER:EILEEN:MAX:EILEEN:Johnny Turk ? You’re schemin’with him.No silly, not Johnny Turk. Johnny … something to do with money.Old guy but his hair’s still jet black. Must dye it.Cash.Johnny Cash that’s it. (SINGING) “I shot a man in Reno, just to watchhim die.” Or in my case (SINGING AGAIN) “I shot my son in theliving room just to see how it feels.” What do you reckon ?SUDDENLY THERE IS A LOUD THUMP FROM BELOW THE STAGE.EILEEN: What the crap was that ?SOLDIER:MAX:They’ve found me. You told them where I was.I don’t think that was artillery Jez.ANOTHER LOUDER THUMP FROM BELOW THE STAGE.EILEEN:MAX :Sounds like it’s coming from the basement.But we don’t have a basement any more.THE THUMP AGAIN, LOUDER ONCE MORE.SOLDIER:Take cover.THE SOLDIER CRAWLS ACROSS THE FLOOR AND HIDES UNDERTHE TABLE.EILEEN:Sounds like someone’s coming up the stairs.MAX: Yes, but who ?THUMP AGAIN, STILL LOUDER.EILEEN:MAX:EILEEN:Maybe she’s not …No, she was definitely … … her body was in that corner, her head wasin the other and her legs were (POINTING UP) …Spare me the details please.THUMP AGAIN, EVEN LOUDER.SOLDIER:You won’t get me you bastards. I ain’t dying for those Pommie traitors.
55THE SOLDIER BEGINS TO SING “WALTZING MATILDA” QUIETLYTO HIMSELF.EILEEN:What ever it is it’s getting closer.THUMP AGAIN, NOW VERY CLOSE. THE DOOR FRAME TO THE“BASEMENT” HAS BEGUN TO SHAKE.MAX:EILEEN:Maybe she wasn’t …Let’s hope she was – or she’s going to be very, very pissed.THUMP AGAIN, VERY LOUD AND CLOSE. THE DOOR FRAMESHAKES AGAIN.MAX:EILEEN:It’s almost here.Don’t worry. I’ve got her number.EILEEN AIMS HER GUN AT THE DOORWAY.EILEEN:(SINGS)”I shot a black bitch in the living room, just to see how shebleeds.”A FINAL THUNDEROUS THUMP. THE WHOLE STAGE SEEMS TOSHAKE.SILENCE EXCEPT FOR THE SOLDIER’S SONG.THE WOMAN APPEARS IN THE DOORFRAME. SHE IS INDIGENOUSAUSTRALIAN IN HER MID-THIRTIES BUT SHE WEARS A BLACKCHADOR FROM HEAD TO FOOT.THE ONLY SKIN WE SEE IS HER FACE, WHICH IS COVERED INBLOOD STREAMING DOWN FROM A WOUND ON THE TOP OF HERSKULL.SOLDIER:EILEEN:MAX:EILEEN:(SCREAMING) Jesus and Mary save us.Well blow me, the stupid bitch is still kicking.How ? I saw her …Clearly you didn’t.THE WOMAN TURNS HER HEAD SLOWLY, SCANNING THE ROOM.EILEEN:(AIMING GUN) That’s far enough, love. Now git back down therewhere you came from.
- 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 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: 53MAX:EILEEN:SOLDIER:Eileen, quiet.
- Page 57 and 58: 57MAX:You have to re-load.EILEEN: H
- Page 59 and 60: 59EILEEN:(CALLING AFTER THEM) Don
55THE SOLDIER BEGINS TO SING “WALTZING MATILDA” QUIETLYTO HIMSELF.EILEEN:What ever it is it’s gett<strong>in</strong>g closer.THUMP AGAIN, NOW VERY CLOSE. THE DOOR FRAME TO THE“BASEMENT” HAS BEGUN TO SHAKE.MAX:EILEEN:Maybe she wasn’t …Let’s hope she was – or she’s go<strong>in</strong>g to be very, very pissed.THUMP AGAIN, VERY LOUD AND CLOSE. THE DOOR FRAMESHAKES AGAIN.MAX:EILEEN:It’s almost here.Don’t worry. I’ve got her number.EILEEN AIMS HER GUN AT THE DOORWAY.EILEEN:(SINGS)”I shot a black bitch <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> liv<strong>in</strong>g room, just to see how shebleeds.”A FINAL THUNDEROUS THUMP. THE WHOLE STAGE SEEMS TOSHAKE.SILENCE EXCEPT FOR THE SOLDIER’S SONG.THE WOMAN APPEARS IN THE DOORFRAME. SHE IS INDIGENOUSAUSTRALIAN IN HER MID-THIRTIES BUT SHE WEARS A BLACKCHADOR FROM HEAD TO FOOT.THE ONLY SKIN WE SEE IS HER FACE, WHICH IS COVERED INBLOOD STREAMING DOWN FROM A WOUND ON THE TOP OF HERSKULL.SOLDIER:EILEEN:MAX:EILEEN:(SCREAMING) Jesus and Mary save us.Well blow me, <strong>the</strong> stupid bitch is still kick<strong>in</strong>g.How ? I saw her …Clearly you didn’t.THE WOMAN TURNS HER HEAD SLOWLY, SCANNING THE ROOM.EILEEN:(AIMING GUN) That’s far enough, love. Now git back down <strong>the</strong>rewhere you came from.
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