“The bomb under the table”

Written by

Isaac Brooks

Based on the idea by Alfred Hitchcock

Isaac Brooks
15 Eder street
Zip: 34752
Haifa, Israel
(972)-4-811-0991
[email protected]
 1.

FADE IN:

INT. ROOM – NIGHT

Someone wearing latex gloves on his hands is putting together

several sticks of dynamite. He tapes four sticks together
with masking tape, then tapes their fuses together at several
points. He then tapes the bundle of four sticks to a
mechanical device, around the size and shape of a pocket
scientific calculator. It has two buttons – one red and one
blue – a red dial and a small screen. He presses the blue
button, and the screen turns on; it only shows one number – 0.
He turns the dial, and the numbers go up rapidly; the changing
of the numbers then slows down as he turns the dial more
slowly. We don’t see what the final number is.

He takes the fuse from the dynamite and slides it into a hole
in the side of the mechanical device. He puts a strip of
masking tape on it to hold it in place.

He presses the red button; the device starts beeping

periodically.

He puts the bomb inside a small wooden box, and closes the
box. The sound stops entirely. He bends down, beneath the
table he was working on. He holds the box in place, and
starts to try and loosen a piece of masking tape from the roll
in his other hand. He brings it to his mouth and uses his
teeth to tear off some tape. We see his face.

INT. ROOM, LATER – NIGHT

Laughter is coming from outside. The door opens, and four

people come in. ALEX is an odd-looking man who’s rather
short, with black hair, and has a thin goatee and a thick
mustache. SUE is quite young, but her black hair is already
graying slightly. ALAN is tall and thin, with brown hair that
has a tint of red, and is very clean-shaven. He is the
character who planted the bomb in the first scene. HELEN is a
middle-aged woman with blonde hair that’s tucked into her hat
– a rather large one that’s straw-colored.

Alex and Alan are talking in the background.

HELEN
I thought it was fine; beyond
fine even.

SUE
 2.

I know; but some of the things

were really silly.

HELEN
Like what?

SUE
The Mount Rushmore thing was
really contrived. And the whole
merry-go-round out-of-control
was ridiculous!

As the four are talking among themselves they move towards the
table; it is identical to the table in the first scene. It is
a square table with four seats.

HELEN
It’s an old movie.

ALAN
Ladies, shall we get started?

The women pause.

SUE
Sure. Where do you keep the
cards?

ALAN
I’ll get them.

He walks out of the room. The three sit down, the women being
next to each other and Alex sitting opposite Sue. The women
resume their talk.

SUE
That’s not what I meant. Just
the whole idea was absurd.

ALEX
Please don’t keep talking about
that all night.

HELEN
(ignoring him)
It was neat though.

Alex puts his head down on the table rather hardly. We see
that the bomb is under this table.

ALAN (O.S)
 3.

Alex, at least wait until you’ve

lost a few hands before doing
that.

Alex lifts his head. Alan is there holding the cards, wearing
a rather sinister smile. He indicates their seating
positions.

ALAN
Is that how you guys want to do
it? I would have thought we’d
each get out own wives.

HELEN
No, I don’t mind being with you.

ALEX
What’s that supposed to mean?

SUE
I’m stuck with him?

ALAN
You want to draw?

ALEX
Yes.

SUE
Whatever.

Alan spreads the cards on the table face-down. They each pick
a card; Helen drops hers onto the ground.

HELEN
Whoops.

She leans down to pick it up. Alan looks nervous. Helen

doesn’t notice the bomb. She picks up the card and rises back
up. The others have each turned over their cards; Alex has
the 3 of Clubs in front of him, Alan the 5 of Clubs, and Sue
the Jack of Spades.

ALEX
Well?

Helen puts her card on the table. It’s the Ace of diamonds.

SUE
Boys versus girls; this should
be interesting.
 4.

They change their seating. Helen stays in her place, Alex and
Sue switch places, and Alan sits down in the empty seat to
Helen’s right.

ALAN
You deal.

He puts the deck back in order and gives it to her. She

starts shuffling.

ALEX
Remind me again, weak or strong
twos?

ALAN
Weak twos, Texas and Jacoby
transfers, Roman keycard and
inverted minor raises.

SUE
We’ll do the same?

HELEN
Sure.

She starts dealing out the cards. As she does the bomb stays
the same, making no movement and staying innocently silent.

ALAN
Anyone want a drink?

ALAN
Beer.

HELEN
I’ll have a diet coke.

SUE
I’m fine, thanks.

Alan walks off. Helen finishes dealing.

HELEN
Now that he’s gone, does anyone
know why he brought us here?

ALEX
Huh?

HELEN
 5.

This isn’t about the bridge; we

could have all just stayed at
the club.

SUE
It was noisy, I prefer it here;
we also get to be more social,
not have to go quickly and
silently.

ALEX
Actually, I’ve never known Alan
to mind the club. He likes the
quiet atmosphere.

I don’t know; I’m gonna enjoy

the bridge. Speaking of which,
it’s your bid, Helen.

Helen looks back to her cards. She pauses as she thinks.

HELEN
One spade.

INT. KITCHEN – SAME TIME

Alan is there, sweating profusely. The drinks are on a

counter next to him. He is taking deep, long breaths. He
looks at his watch, and sighs; he then wipes his brow, takes
the drinks, and goes back out.

INT. ROOM – CONTINUOUS

Alan walks into the room holding the drinks.

ALAN
Is it my bid yet?

ALEX
One spade double to Sue.

SUE
Pass.

ALAN
Okay, just a second...

He passes the drinks around, sits down, and looks at his hand
momentarily. Meanwhile, the bomb stays the same under the
table.
 6.

ALAN
Pass.

ALEX
(surprised)
What?

ALAN
You doubled one spade, right?

ALEX
Yeah.

ALAN
Well, this is that rare time
when it’s not forcing.

SUE
I think someone’s giving out too
much information.

ALAN
Right, sorry.

HELEN
Pass.

ALEX
Pass.

SUE
(To Alex)
Okay, your lead.

The bomb is there under the table. Alan glances at his watch.

Alex puts a card down on the table. Sue lays out her hand on
the table.

HELEN
Thank you partner.

She plays a card from the dummy (Sue’s cards) and Alan
follows. Helen plays a card from her hand and gathers the
four cards. She starts playing the next trick from her hand,
but is frowning.

HELEN
Alan, are you feeling all right?
 7.

Alex follows with a card of his own. Play continues to

proceed throughout the next bit of dialogue.

ALAN
I’m fine.

ALEX
You don’t look it.

ALAN
I’m fine!

SUE
Hey, don’t be so grumpy. If I
wanted that kind of opponent I’d
have stayed at the club.

ALAN
Sorry.

The play continues in an awkward silence. Alan looks at his

watch again.

ALEX
Why do you keep looking at your
watch?

ALAN
Are you trying to pick a fight?

ALEX
Hey, what’s your problem!

HELEN
Calm down...

ALAN
Why do you keep picking at me
over every little thing?

ALEX
I was just wondering!

By this time they are already practically standing.

SUE
Should we switch partners?

ALEX
(calming)
No; I apologize.
 8.

ALAN
Me too. Let’s keep going.

They play a few more tricks, and finish the hand. Helen gets
a score-sheet and starts writing down the score of the hand.
As she does this we get another glance at the bomb underneath
the table. It is still completely motionless and silent.

HELEN
Down one – fifty points to you?

ALAN
A hundred, I doubled.

HELEN
Oh right.

She crosses something out and writes something else instead.

She passes the deck onto Alex.

Alex starts shuffling the deck.

ALEX
So, I guess your bid wasn’t
awful after all.

ALAN
Trump stack, you turn the
takeout into a penalty.

HELEN
What, did you see that in last
week’s column?

ALAN
Three weeks ago, actually.

Alex hands the deck to Helen, who cuts it. Alan makes a
subtle glance at his watch; his face pales.

ALAN
You guys finished with your
drinks?

ALEX
Almost; one No-trump.

SUE
Pass.
 9.

ALAN
Two hearts.

HELEN
Pass.

ALEX
Three spades.

SUE
Pass.

Alan thinks for a moment nervously.

ALAN
Pass.

ALEX
Helen?

HELEN
Pass.

ALEX
Sue’s lead.

Sue leads, and Alan puts his hand out. He has five spades
lead by the King, four diamonds lead by the ace, and doubleton
hearts and clubs with no honors.

Alex frowns at the hand.

ALEX
You passed with that?

ALAN
Only five.

ALEX
But I showed four-card support.

ALAN
Still, seven high-card points
isn’t invitational with only
five.

HELEN
I agree with Alex; that’s a
four-spades bid.

ALAN
 10.

Then why don’t you play?

HELEN
Whatever.

ALAN
Anyone want a drink?

ALEX
Sure.

Alan collects the drinks, but as he tries to collect Helen’s

he accidentally knocks it over.

ALAN AND HELEN

I’ll get it!

Helen bends down to get it, and in the process drops her whole
hand.

HELEN
Damn. Nobody look!

Alan’s face is ghost-pale. Helen gets off her chair and sits
down on the ground and starts collecting her cards, some of
which are face-up. She is sitting right underneath the bomb.
As she rises to look for any more, she hits her head on the
box.

HELEN
Ow!

SUE
You okay?

HELEN
Yeah, I just hit my head on the
table.

She comes back out from under it with her hand and her drink,
which she hands to Alan. He takes the drinks and practically
runs to the kitchen with it.

SUE
Okay; what’s up with him?

INT. KITCHEN – SAME TIME

The kitchen sink is lined with vomit; Alan is pacing rapidly,

breathing heavily. He wipes his brow. He glances at his
watch, and an odd look comes over his eyes.
 11.

INT. ROOM – SAME TIME

They’re playing as they talk.

ALEX
I don’t know; all last week he’s
been edgy.

HELEN
I’ve barely seen him outside the
bridge club.

ALEX
Did you notice anything weird,
Sue?

SUE
I really wouldn’t know what to
look for.

INT. KITCHEN – SAME TIME

A slightly manic smile appears on Alan’s face as he checks his

watch.

ALAN
(to himself)
Almost time.

INT. ROOM – SAME TIME

SUE
It’s been a while since he’s
really been himself, but of
course you know how Alan is.

ALEX
That’s what I don’t understand;
he’s just been behaving weirdly,
but I can’t think of anything
that would explain the behavior.

Last time he acted like this I

understood it, with all his work
pressure. Now I don’t.

INT. KITCHEN – SAME TIME

Alan beats his fingers on the counter rapidly, nervously.

 12.

INT. ROOM – SAME TIME

SUE
You know, he’s taking a while to
get the drinks.

HELEN
I’m sure he’s fine.

ALEX
You want to go check?

Sue leans back against her chair, peering at the door to the
kitchen. She sees nothing. We have another glance at the
bomb.

SUE
Is he even there?

ALEX
I’ll go check.

He puts down his cards and starts to stand up.

HELEN
Sit down. Play.

ALEX
But Alan-

HELEN
He’ll be back with the drinks;
let’s play.

Reluctantly, Alex sits down and resumes play.

INT. KITCHEN – SAME TIME

ALAN
(to himself)
Any minute now...

INT. ROOM – SAME TIME

The play is commencing silently. Suddenly

SUE
No!

I’m going to check up on him.

 13.

HELEN
Whatever.

Sue gets up to go to the kitchen. She barely takes two steps

when-

The main door BASHES in! A man in a beige coat is standing

there, running towards them.

MAN
Get away! It’s a bomb!

Before they have a chance to move, he kicks over the table.

One of its legs break. Underneath they can all see the box.

Sue screams. The man tries to pull the box off the table, but
the tape holds. He takes the table and throws it out the
window. Another leg – which doesn’t make it through – breaks
as the table goes flying out. In mid-air outside it explodes,
spraying wood shivers in all directions.

FADE OUT.