THE MISTAKE OF THE 6TH BULLET
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
The First Lady, The harmless dispatcher
Charles Chenn, an Assassin
Curtis, An Assassin, the disguised Professor
Keen, An Assassin
Gutler, An Assassin
Dan, An Assassin
Steve, The fake Bishop
Guards I, II, III, IV and V, Guards to the Bishop
Cashier, The Private Banker to the First Lady
Agents I and II, Policemen in SCI
Secretary, The First Lady’s confidential secretary
SCENE: The City of Lotte and her Colossal Suburbs.
ACT 1, SCENE 1. (A ROOM IN KEEN’S HOUSE)
KEEN: For 20 Million U. S. Dollars I can kill my mother, so what’s the deal?
CURTIS: If the deal were that of 20 Million U. S. dollars, I wouldn’t have called it a deal. The contract’s worth is more than 40 Million U.S. Dollars.
KEEN: Holy Moses! (His phone fell off his hand… he picked it up again)
CURTIS: Are you there?
KEEN: Sure, I’m here! (The connection was gone)
Kai! This is a private number!
O! Anonymous caller, call again,
My lips will shout, Amen and Amen,
To your orders, I’m commanded, again and again. (The phone rang again)
Yes! The call is here again, yea, you were saying-
CURTIS: Yea! Sorry, security!
KEEN: This deal is real (He whispered to himself)
CURTIS: The call got up to 50 seconds
I had to terminate.
So, no traces on my voice box and mail.
KEEN: So, what’s this deal?
CURTIS: C’ est le professeur.
Shall we meet over it?
KEEN: Ah! The professor! When? Where? How?
CURTIS: I’ll tell you shortly. (The connection was gone again)
ACT 1, SCENE 2. (A ROOM IN GUTLER’S HOUSE)
GUTLER: The pact is huge.
But that’s not why the trunk should fall;
That tree is too sacred for such so meager a dime.
CURTIS: Now, what’s the next act of this drama?
How sharp would you love the hatchet to be?
GUTLER: I have perilous and precarious agents that can fell
That tree without a crack.
CURTIS: Just hit the nail.
GUTLER: 60 million dollars can turn off that light!
CURTIS: The deal is done. C’est le Professeur.
I’ll meet you tonight: Cemetery of X. T. McCarthy.
72 Kachi Avenue, 103. 19th Tomb, West Gate. 12:17 am.
GUTLER: 00: 00: 59: 77. This ghost is virtuoso, a mastermind- the professor.
59 seconds, 77 nanoseconds.
No traces. Security!
But this mobile number -00025977?
Not a plus fore? Well, a silent revolver and a tweed jacket; a black tank top and crimson hand gloves, Nicon Boots and hood; a denim jeans.
ACT 1, SCENE 3.
(A ROOM IN KEEN’S HOUSE)
KEEN: “An unread flash text”
(He reads) “Tonight: 12:33 am Cemetery of X. T. McCarthy; 72 Kachi Avenue, 103, 105th tomb, South Gate” I’ll be there.
ACT 1, SCENE 4. (ROOM 188, 66 McSCOTH AVENUE –LOTTE)
KEEN: The scene has got to be very few and far between, atypical! Double archers; double dart –A bull’s eye!
ACT 2, SCENE 5. (CEMETRY OF X. T. McSCOTH) (The only light at the graveside, where the scene opens, is the red pointer light from behind the tombstone of Dr. Sir. Edward MacBride (19th tomb) by CURTIS)
CURTIS: Stop at the foot of the tomb. Sit at the edge of the tomb. Watch what’s between your legs! (Gutler sits) Please read out in hushed tones!
GUTLER: (He reads)
“30 Million Dollars advance Payment: an uncrossed cheque attached.
Villa 77- Lawrence Crescent Downtown.
Two Guards at the gate: Armed in long Sickles.
Two guards at the Lobby: armed in baton.
Doors always unlatched; the desolate Bungalow, first room left.
A single guard armed in spikes.
Most Rev. Dr. Peter Akoor rests his bones alone at 9.00pm there till 6.00am.
Let his spirit rest there forever at and from 12: 17 am tomorrow -9th January, 2017.
Quit every life that interferes.
Cash the cheque before noon.
Let your sixth sense guide you in your dangerous quest.
YOUR HEAD FARES YOU WELL IF HIS DOESN’T!!!”
Le professeur.
Thank you! The “very much” comes when the contract is sealed with his blood.
CURTIS: Your head fares thee well if his doesn’t. Fare thee well… may your stars be benevolent, this forth night. (Gutler exits)
ACT2, SCENE 2.
(At the 105th tomb, the darkness is dense and tightly packed. Keen could only see the convergent rays of the red pointer lighter as the scene opens and he immediately heard…)
CURTIS: Stop at the foot of the tomb. Sit at the edge of the tomb. Watch what’s between your legs! (Keen sits) Please read out in hushed tones!
KEEN: (He reads) “20 Million Dollars advance Payment: an uncrossed cheque attached.
Villa 77- Lawrence Crescent Downtown.
Two Guards at the gate: Armed in long Sickles.
Two guards at the Lobby: armed in baton.
Doors always unlatched; the desolate Bungalow, first room left.
A single guard armed in spikes.
Most Rev. Dr. Peter Akoor rests his bones alone at 9.00pm there till 6.00am.
Let his spirit rest there forever at and from 12: 17 am tomorrow -9th January, 2017.
Quit every life that interferes.
Cash the cheque before noon.
Let your sixth sense guide you in your dangerous quest.
YOUR HEAD FARES YOU WELL IF HIS DOESN’T!!!”
Le professeur.
It has been my favourite hobby, since 18. I’ll bring you tidings soon.
CURTIS: Your head fares thee well if his doesn’t.
Fare thee well… may your stars be benevolent, this forth night. (B and A exeunt)
ACT 2, SCENE 3. (CURTIS’ ROOM)
CURTIS: Two strong heads are off the equation!
50 Million dollars gone for good, the master gets the rest.
The 450 Million dollars! Men’s prospects are always obscure in the affairs of money.
I’ve got to be fast before Charles does something faster.
ACT 2, SCENE 4. (CHARLES’ SITTING ROOM)
CHARLES: …Yea! He lives there alone. Room 188, 66 McScoth Avenue –Lotte.
DAN: Down the colossal suburbs?
CHARLES: Yea! He’s a very close pal and cohort. He settles there tonight.
That’s our heinous rendezvous. We’ve got a sinister tete-a-tete tonight.
He has a code-protected door; this is also a dial code.
This is it: (He writes on a pad) -00025977. (Dan writes it down on his jotter.)
Enter the code into the dial and then press the enter key. He’ll know I’m the person.
No other person, except me and his estate agent, knows the location.
No other person, except I, knows the code.
Four seeds are to be sown: 2 into the skull; 2 through the cardiac.
That phoenix won’t yield to iron bullets. (He hands him a square Styrofoam; the edges of four glittering bullets protruding.)
These are mercury seeds. Our schedule is at 12:30 am.
Be there at 12:27 am; strike at 12:30am.
It’s always thrilling to quit life when it is the most thrilling.
This is a cheque of 10 million dollars.
Let your gun guide you through this peril. (E and D exeunt)
ACT 2, SCENE 5. (A Room in GUTLER’s house)
GUTLER: This is 30 Million Dollars cash. Tonight! Tonight!!
Be quick, the light of the day! Money spurs men into action.
A fortunate head must leave its neck this eve. (Loads six bullets into his revolver)
ACT 2, SCENE 6. (A ROOM IN KEEN’S HOUSE)
KEEN: Five iron bullets for the five unlucky guards; a mercury bullet for My Lord Spiritual.
Lest he proves immortal to silver coins.
For 20 Million U. S. Dollars I can kill my mother; my own Mama! Who is the Bishop for 50 Million US Dollars, that loquacious church leader?
ACT 3, SCENE 1. (AT THE GATE OF VILLA -77)
GUARDS A and B: Who’s there? (They slump)
KEEN: Till we meet to part no more; I remain who am. Adieu Brothers!
ACT 3, SCENE 2. (AT THE LOBBY OF VILLA -77)
Guard C: This night’s the darkest since the ides of this month.
Guard D: The air smells of blood.
Are you sure the morning will meet us again?
My nerves are restless. I’ve got some bean-size goose pimples.
Excuse me! Who…? (He falls – darkness fell on his eyes).
Guard C: Guard? Are you…? (His soul eludes him. Keen drags their carcasses to the dinning.)
ACT 3, SCENE 3 (AT THE GATE OF VILLA -77)
GUTLER: The guards at the gate are anew dead; fresh wounds at their diaphragms. Who has done this?
ACT 3, SCENE 4. (AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE BISHOP’S BEDROOM, VILLA- 77)
Guard E: Ah! Ah! (He falls supine)
Who shot me?
Am I dying?
KEEN: You are not dying, young Man!
You are dead.
Welcome to the land of silence!
The 6th bullet, the mercury bullet; the Bishop.
I wish I never got this contract. No! I can’t touch the man of God.
But wait. No, No, No! My head can’t fare me well that his may stand.
My family is there. Who takes care of it?
I’ve got the contract anyway; I must execute! (He pushes the door open)
ACT 3, SCENE 5. (AT THE LOBBY, VILLA – 77)
GUTLER: Is there another Villa -77?
The faithful guards of this man of God have failed him.
Just imagine, no guards at the lobby?
The Lord is good; though some of the times.
Let’s check on the last man standing.
ACT 3, SCENE 6. (INSIDE THE BISHOP’S CHAMBERS)(His Lordship was on the Glory Be of the fifth decade of the sorrowful mystery – Jesus dies on the cross. His bible was opened to 1Chronicles Chapter 16 verse 22 of his Holman Christian Standard Bible. He panted, puffed heavily and sweated profusely. He had heard “you are dead” from the murderer of his sworn sentinel. A closes the door behind him)
STEVE: To…to…touch no…not ma…my anointe…ted and do my pro…pro…phet no harm. (His hands were on the bed. He slides his left hand down the sheets.)
KEEN: That’s 1Chronicles Chapter 16 verse 22.
Father, forgive me my sins before you die. But wait a little, have I committed any sin?
I have neither come to touch nor harm the anointed, no, God knows I can’t;
I have only come to kill the anointed. (A draws his weapon, there was a footstep behind him)
Who’s there? (Thinking swiftly, aloud and turning sharply)
“Quit every life that …” “Quit every life that inter…” “Quit every life that interferes” (He thought aloud again)
Take the Bishop’s Dime, you fool! (The last bullet was lost for the wrong life. Gutler dies)
STEVE: (The Bishop pulls his trigger. Keen dies) Die! (He shoots again) Die again and again! Greedy fraidy-cats!
ACT 4, SCENE 1. (CURTIS ROOM)
CURTIS: Our schedule is 12:30 am; this is 12:25 am.
CHARLES: I’m already swerving into your avenue.
CURTIS: Sure?
CHARLES: I sure am.
CURTIS: Alright! (The connection was gone.)
CHARLES: I’ll be there, indeed, but in another identity.
ACT 4, SCENE 2. (A ROOM IN A’S HOUSE: FIVE BOTTTLES OF LUTZ MORITZ SET, AN UNCORKED BOTTLE OD MARACUJA. A POURS THE MARACUJA INTO THE POISONED SECOND GLASS)
CURTIS: A whooping 450 Million Dollars. You will surely drink and celebrate; but the money must be mine. I did the whole job. I’ll etch your own cheque on your tombstone.
(12: 29am. The dialer cackles. Dan enters, disguised in Charles’ outfit.)
CURTIS: The two of them are dead men, mehn!
The Bishop has joined the Saints in Heaven.
It’s our celebrating time. 450 cool Millon Dollars is no joke.
DAN: (He shoots at him.) That’s two mercury bullets passing through your medulla. (Curtis dies)
(He shoots again at him)That’s two mercury bullets replacing your heart.
Luke chapter 12 verse 19 to 20, I quote,
“‘Then, I will say to myself, Lucky man!
You have all good things you need for many years.
Take life easy, eat drink and enjoy yourself’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool!
This very night you will have to give up your life; then who will get all these things you’ve kept for yourself?’” My Client gets all of them you fool!
You should have known that in the first letter of St. Paul to the Thessalonians, told them that they themselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.(He takes the second wine glass)
Cheers! The son of the creator! Let’s drink to victory. (He drinks from the poisoned glass. He reached for the door handle and slumped)
When am I going to wake up from this slumber? Am I not dying? (He dies.)
ACT 4, SCENE 3. (A ROOM IN CHARLES’ HOUSE)
CHARLES: He’s not picking up his call.
Let me call Curtis (He waits.)
The call’s not connecting.
Maybe both are gone. Who knows?
The money is mine, anyway! I laughed last! To the Bank then!
ACT 5, SCENE 1.
(AT THE BANK’S PRIVATE BUSINESS COUNTER)
CASHIER: Correct account number and password! I. D. card, please? (He shows it) Mr. Charles Chenn, it’s four bonds and a half inside the brief case. Each bond is 100 Million Dollars. It’s 450 Million Dollars in all.
CHARLES: Merci!
CASHIER: But you got to be certified
CHARLES: What do you mean by certified?
CASHIER: These are the official seals of the First Lady of the state on the bonds and the briefcase. No one takes them away without an alert on her were her instructions this morning!
CHARLES: Then, call her. That’s my Boss!
CASHIER: Really?
CHARLES: Yea!
CASHIER: Here I go then… (He picks the receiver and dials)
SECRETARY: Who’s here? (In a deep baritone) The secretary to the First Lady of Lotte speaks.
CASHIER: This is the First Lady’s confidential banker at Banque de Modritchet.
Is there any clearance permit of 450 Million Dollars by the First Lady?
SECRETARY: Not at all! (Cashier stares sternly at Charles).
Her second instruction this morning is that any payee that comes by today should be arrested.
She said the payee must likely be one Mr. Charles Chenn.
He’s a lanky, tall man; with a suspicious moustache and blue almond eyes. (The cashier studies the man) Is he there?
CASHIER: Yea! He’s here!
SECRETARY: Get him arrested by the Special Criminal Intelligence Agents at the bank. They know what next to do.
CASHIER: I’ll do that.
CHARLES: What says her?
CASHIER: That was her Secretary. I’ve got to get the Branch Manager sign the withdrawal-payee slip.
CHARLES: I’m going to be the most patient man you may ever meet in your life.
CASHIER: Wow! That’s nice! (She smiles and exit and enters again with two armed SCI Agents.)
That’s Charles!
AGENT 1: You are under arrest!
CHARLES: I hope this is not some kind of cheap joke?
Agent 2: Yea! We’ve got to make it expensive. (Charles is handcuffed and led away).
ACT 5, SCENE 2. (AT THE FIRST LADY’S DUNGEON. D is on his birthday suit; tied to a sit in strong metal bars hooked to the floor and bolted in strong metal bars. The first lady sits before him with a golden pistol.)
THE FIRST LADY: Thanks for your services all these years.
Greedy men never make it to hell.
Ambitious men never make it to heaven.
You are both. You will make neither.
Since I can’t trust you with 500 Million Dollars, how can I then trust you with my anonymity?
Don’t bother asking why.
No Bishop lives at Villa-77.
That’s the seat of the three-day trap you guys fell into.
It’s a pity you have to end this way.
CHARLES: But Madam- (She shoots him at the legs) aaaah!!
THE FIRST LADY: When next we meet, I know we won’t, but in case we meet;
I pray you be my Boss and I your Lady.
But you have to die before that will be possible.
CHARLES: But why? Why? (He sobs sorrowfully)
THE FIRST LADY: That’s because I love you!
You told me you have executed the mission;
that you’ve killed the Minister of finance just last December.
You rather stole him away to Italy
and took the double of my pay from him and mine and had a wonderful yuletide. (She sobs and left tears dancing down her cheeks)
Your leniency, soft heartedness and greed have got my name on the local tabloids on murder attempt last week. You have to die but I’ll still die by that same gun that you died and at this same place.
The only difference is that you’ll die first. (She releases two bullets into his skull and two into his heart.)
CHARLES: Forgive me Madam, I’m sor… (He dies)
THE FIRST LADY: Unless evil men and their sinister plans die, life will be uneasy for the good men.
I’ve learnt only two things after 46 years of my earthly sojourns:
Never to trust men and their greedy wits and never to be a woman in men’s task. (She picks up her pad and pencil and wrote on a torn sheet).
“If you get this sheet here send it to the Governor.
‘My love, grief has swallowed my life, sorrow has replaced my heart.
I have followed death. I would have loved to remain in your love but death’s lust urges me more.’
(She shoots herself and dies)
THE END
THE MISTAKE OF THE SIXTH BULLET: QUESTIONS
1. What’s this bullet in sparing the Finance minister’s?
2. What was the 6th Bullet’s mistake?
3. What is this 6th bullet that died in the arms of the First Lady and her boys?
