� | � |
CHARLIE |
What do you reckon, Bert? |
� |
� | � |
BERT |
Dunno, Charlie.� You�re the expert. |
� |
� | CHARLIE scans the door and its surrounds. |
CHARLIE |
No alarm system; no bolts; no padlocks; no nuffing. |
� |
� | � |
BERT |
You�re right, Charlie. |
� |
� | � |
CHARLIE |
A doddle. |
� |
� | � |
BERT |
To work? |
� |
� | � |
CHARLIE |
To work. |
� |
� | BERT takes out from the bag a small collapsible card-table and sets it up centre-stage.� From the bag, BERT also takes out a tool-roll and unrolls it on the table.� Meanwhile, CHARLIE is methodically putting on a pair of rubber gloves and flexing his fingers.� The two adopt an air of professionalism, as if they were surgeons at an operation.� CHARLIE is the �chief surgeon�, BERT is his assistant. | � | � | � |
� | CHARLIE holds out hand to BERT. |
CHARLIE |
Spray. |
� |
� | BERT clasps his hands and bows his head in prayer. CHARLIE looks wonderingly at BERT then cuffs him round the head. | � | � | � |
� | � |
CHARLIE |
I said, �spray� � the spray. |
� |
� | BERT takes an aerosol can from the tool-roll and hands it to CHARLIE. |
BERT |
Sorry, I thought �.Spray. |
� |
� | CHARLIE sprays into the keyhole of the door. |
CHARLIE |
Keys. |
� |
� | BERT hands CHARLIE a large bunch of keys from the tool-roll. |
BERT |
Keys. |
� |
� | CHARLIE looks expertly at the keys before choosing one.� He tries it in the lock only to find that it doesn�t fit.� He glances over his shoulder to see if BERT has noticed before selecting a second choice, then a third, then a fourth.� BERT loses interest and starts to read a comic.� CHARLIE eventually hands back the keys with a casual toss of the head. |
CHARLIE |
I � er � think we�ll try the picks. |
� |
� | BERT hands CHARLIE a bunch of angled wires of various sizes. |
BERT |
Right you are, Charlie.� Picks. |
� |
� | CHARLIE flexes his fingers before delicately choosing a pick.� He tries this in the lock with no success.� As before, he tries various others to no avail.� BERT, meanwhile, is picking his finger-nails meticulously. |
CHARLIE |
Of course � should have seen it earlier.� Screwdriver. |
� |
� | BERT hands CHARLIE a screwdriver from the tool-roll. |
BERT |
Of course.� Screwdriver. |
� |
� | CHARLIE makes an attempt to unscrew the lock.� No success. |
CHARLIE |
Philips screwdriver. |
� |
� | BERT looks puzzled. |
BERT |
Philip�s got it. |
� |
� | � |
CHARLIE |
Doh!� Philips screwdriver � with the little star thingy on the end of it. |
� |
� | BERT hunts for screwdriver and passes it to CHARLIE. |
BERT |
Oops!� Philips screwdriver. |
� |
� | CHARLIE now works his way through a succession of tools, becoming slightly more frantic with each new demand.� He shields what he is doing from BERT and the audience but loud thumping, clanking, bashing noises betray that it lacks finesse. |
CHARLIE |
Pliers. |
� |
� | � |
BERT |
Pliers. |
� |
� | � |
CHARLIE |
Hammer. |
� |
� | � |
BERT |
Hammer. |
� |
� | � |
CHARLIE |
Chisel. |
� |
� | � |
BERT |
Chisel. |
� |
� | � |
CHARLIE |
Drill. |
� |
� | BERT now resorts to the tool-bag and hands CHARLIE a drill |
BERT |
Drill. |
� |
� | � |
CHARLIE |
Jemmy. |
� |
� | � |
BERT |
Jemmy. |
� |
� | � |
CHARLIE |
Sledge. |
� |
� | BERT producies a snow-sledge from the tool-bag. |
BERT |
Sledge. |
� |
� | � |
CHARLIE |
SledgeHAMMER! |
� |
� | BERT hunts in the bag to find the tool. |
BERT |
As you were, Charlie.� Sledgehammer. |
� |
� | CHARLIE now sets about trying to demolish the door, but to no avail.� He then turns his attention to digging around the base of the door. |
CHARLIE |
Spade. |
� |
� | � |
BERT |
Spade. |
� |
� | � |
CHARLIE |
Pickaxe. |
� |
� | � |
BERT |
Pickaxe. |
� |
� | � |
CHARLIE |
Pneumatic drill. |
� |
� | � |
BERT |
Pneumatic drill. |
� |
� | CHARLIE finally turns from the door, exhausted.� Tools litter the ground.� Sweat drips from his forehead. |
CHARLIE |
This one�s slightly more difficult than usual, Bert. |
� |
� | BERT is still chirpy |
BERT |
If you say so, Charlie. |
� |
� | � |
CHARLIE |
It�s a little extreme, perhaps, but �. Pass me the jelly! |
� |
� | BERT reaches into the tool-bag to produce a plate of jelly |
BERT |
Ho-ho, jelly, eh, Charlie. |
� |
� | � |
CHARLIE |
Not jelly �. Gelly �. Gelignite! |
� |
� | BERT roots around in the bag. |
BERT |
Sorry, Charlie, my mistake.� Gelignite. |
� |
� | CHARLIE fixes the gelignite to the door. |
CHARLIE |
Detonator. |
� |
� | � |
BERT |
Detonator. |
� |
� | CHARLIE eases the detonator into the gelignite. |
CHARLIE |
Cable. |
� |
� | � |
BERT |
Cable. |
� |
� | CHARLIE attaches the cable to the detonator. |
CHARLIE |
Plunger. |
� |
� | BERT produces a rubber sink-plunger. |
BERT |
Plunger. |
� |
� | CHARLIE is exasperated and forms his hands into fists.� He starts to advance on BERT but checks himself and turns his fists downwards to mime the plunging action. |
� |
� | � |
� | BERT looks quizzical � then likewise makes a plunging action � realises � and turns to produce a plunger-detonator from the tool-bag. |
� |
� | � |
� |
CHARLIE attaches the end of the cable to the plunger mechanism.� Carrying the plunger, CHARLIE and BERT retreat to the far side of the stage � perhaps even to the back of the hall.� BERT puts his fingers in his ears. |
� |
� | � |
� | � |
CHARLIE |
Fingers. |
� |
� | BERT does not hear, because he has his fingers in his ears. |
BERT |
� | � |
� | CHARLIE removes BERT�s fingers and repeats � |
CHARLIE |
Fingers. |
� |
� | BERT now stands behind CHARLIE and places his fingers in CHARLIE�s ears as CHARLIE prepares to operate the plunger to detonate the explosive. |
BERT� |
Sorry, Charlie. |
� |
� | CHARLIE plunges!� There is a loud explosion!� Bursting a balloon just offstage is quite effective.� Alternatively, a large jagged �flash-card� printed with the word �BANG� appears near the door.� The door stands intact.� CHARLIE and BERT make their way back to the door.� CHARLIE sinks to a seated position on the floor. |
CHARLIE |
� | � |
� | Weakly |
CHARLIE |
Bucket. |
� |
� | BERT produces a bucket of water from the bag |
BERT |
Bucket. |
� |
� | � |
CHARLIE |
Sponge. |
� |
� | BERT produces a sponge from the bucket |
BERT |
Sponge. |
� |
� | � |
CHARLIE |
(Sighs.) |
� |
� | BERT squeezes the wet sponge over CHARLIE�s head.� BERT sinks to the ground beside CHARLIE. |
BERT |
(Sighs.) |
� |
� | � | � | � | � |
� | Without a word, a young CHILD enters and walks across to the door.� The CHILD steps over BERT and CHARLIE and knocks firmly on the door.� The door opens and the CHILD enters.� CHARLIE collapses even further to lay full-stretch on the ground.� BERT takes CHARLIE's legs and drags him from the scene. | � |
� |
� |
� |
- END - |
� |
�
Jesus said, �I am the door.� (JOHN 10:9)
��to him who knocks it will be opened.�� (LUKE 10:10)