Before I go on with the summarized screenplay, I encourage those who have not seen this short to stop reading here. To fully enjoy it, you should know little.
Morning. Husband prepares to go to work while wife is immersed in solving a crossword puzzle on the kitchen table. From the chatter we learn the husband is a lawyer. He leaves for work.
A moment later the wife hears a noise in the living room. She thinks it's her husband. He often forgets something. At the door to the living room, a suited man appears and embraces the woman. She is surprised but glad to see him. It's her lover. She is concerned that her husband may come back to pick up a forgotten item. Her lover reassures her. They will be done before he comes back.
Before the man leaves, he hands the woman a present. It's a pocketbook sized, blue satin covered package. The woman unfurls the sides. It is a beautiful diamond necklace. The woman is delighted and thankful. But... How is she going to justify the necklace to her husband? The man is not too concerned. He is confident that this clever woman will concoct a good explanation. From the chatter we learn the man is also a lawyer. In fact he and the husband are partners in a law firm.
Next we see the woman flipping through the yellow pages. She finds the address of a pawnshop. She goes there to hock the necklace. The pawnbroker is no fool. He is at first a little reluctant to accept it. The woman insists she has debts to pay but as soon as she has the money she will come back to reclaim the necklace. Isn't what pawnshops are about? she asks.
The pawnbroker offers her three hundred dollars. She accepts, seemingly uninterested on what the amount is. The pawnbroker prepares to fill the receipt. He asks her name. She would like the receipt to have no name. The pawnbroker warns her that it is not safe. If she loses the receipt, anyone could collect. She is undeterred. No name. And besides, can you also leave out the type of object being hocked. The pawnbroker acquiesces. She leaves with the numbered but blank receipt.
Evening. The wife has prepared the living room for her husband's arrival. On one corner of the coffee table, a small stack of books. At the other end, nothing except the wife has carefully placed the pawnshop's receipt face up and very visible.
Husband arrives. The two seat on a sofa facing the coffee table. They drink wine. They chat. The husband talks about his day at work. The cases, the secretary that has misplaced an important file, etc. The glasses are emptied. She offers to refill them. She turns away to reach for the wine bottle. The husband's eyes fall on the receipt. What is that, darling? Oh, something I picked up on a sidewalk. I'm using it as a bookmark. The husband studies the receipt. The address says it is a pawnshop. The wife wonders aloud what the hocked object might be. Power tools? A fur coat? Jewelry? The husband is also curious. Given the receipt is anonymous, he decides to visit the pawnshop the next day. It is conveniently located a couple blocks away from his workplace. The wife agrees with the plan. She is also "curious" about what the object is.
Next day afternoon. Wife and husband are on the phone. He tells her she will be delighted with the object he reclaimed from the pawnshop. He remarks it is a girl's best friend, but doesn't specify what it is. They agree to meet at the husband's workplace. He will surprise her then.
Husband's office. The wife enters with a slight smile and continues her little charade. He plays with her expectations. Close your eyes. Extend your hands. The camera faces the woman, the hands in close up. We don't see the husband. His hand comes from behind the camera. Pinched between two fingers, a small black velvety cube.
The woman opens her eyes. Her smile morphs into surprise and dismay. The husband, always upbeat, encourages the wife to open the box. She does. Two small diamond earrings. The husband is pleased with himself.
The stunned wife manages to bumble of few words of thanks. She walks slowly out of the office. She steps in front of the husband's secretary desk. She looks at the young svelte brunette. She is wearing the diamond necklace.
In the final scene, the wife has stepped back to the office door. She stares at the husband trying her best to hide her feelings. The husband has a smug and enigmatic smile on his face. The wife and we are not sure what the husband knows.
This delightful short is based on a short story. Regrettably I have forgotten the name of the author. This person deserves some of the credit for making this short so delectable. But a lot of credit should also be given to a competent director and fine actors.
Morning. Husband prepares to go to work while wife is immersed in solving a crossword puzzle on the kitchen table. From the chatter we learn the husband is a lawyer. He leaves for work.
A moment later the wife hears a noise in the living room. She thinks it's her husband. He often forgets something. At the door to the living room, a suited man appears and embraces the woman. She is surprised but glad to see him. It's her lover. She is concerned that her husband may come back to pick up a forgotten item. Her lover reassures her. They will be done before he comes back.
Before the man leaves, he hands the woman a present. It's a pocketbook sized, blue satin covered package. The woman unfurls the sides. It is a beautiful diamond necklace. The woman is delighted and thankful. But... How is she going to justify the necklace to her husband? The man is not too concerned. He is confident that this clever woman will concoct a good explanation. From the chatter we learn the man is also a lawyer. In fact he and the husband are partners in a law firm.
Next we see the woman flipping through the yellow pages. She finds the address of a pawnshop. She goes there to hock the necklace. The pawnbroker is no fool. He is at first a little reluctant to accept it. The woman insists she has debts to pay but as soon as she has the money she will come back to reclaim the necklace. Isn't what pawnshops are about? she asks.
The pawnbroker offers her three hundred dollars. She accepts, seemingly uninterested on what the amount is. The pawnbroker prepares to fill the receipt. He asks her name. She would like the receipt to have no name. The pawnbroker warns her that it is not safe. If she loses the receipt, anyone could collect. She is undeterred. No name. And besides, can you also leave out the type of object being hocked. The pawnbroker acquiesces. She leaves with the numbered but blank receipt.
Evening. The wife has prepared the living room for her husband's arrival. On one corner of the coffee table, a small stack of books. At the other end, nothing except the wife has carefully placed the pawnshop's receipt face up and very visible.
Husband arrives. The two seat on a sofa facing the coffee table. They drink wine. They chat. The husband talks about his day at work. The cases, the secretary that has misplaced an important file, etc. The glasses are emptied. She offers to refill them. She turns away to reach for the wine bottle. The husband's eyes fall on the receipt. What is that, darling? Oh, something I picked up on a sidewalk. I'm using it as a bookmark. The husband studies the receipt. The address says it is a pawnshop. The wife wonders aloud what the hocked object might be. Power tools? A fur coat? Jewelry? The husband is also curious. Given the receipt is anonymous, he decides to visit the pawnshop the next day. It is conveniently located a couple blocks away from his workplace. The wife agrees with the plan. She is also "curious" about what the object is.
Next day afternoon. Wife and husband are on the phone. He tells her she will be delighted with the object he reclaimed from the pawnshop. He remarks it is a girl's best friend, but doesn't specify what it is. They agree to meet at the husband's workplace. He will surprise her then.
Husband's office. The wife enters with a slight smile and continues her little charade. He plays with her expectations. Close your eyes. Extend your hands. The camera faces the woman, the hands in close up. We don't see the husband. His hand comes from behind the camera. Pinched between two fingers, a small black velvety cube.
The woman opens her eyes. Her smile morphs into surprise and dismay. The husband, always upbeat, encourages the wife to open the box. She does. Two small diamond earrings. The husband is pleased with himself.
The stunned wife manages to bumble of few words of thanks. She walks slowly out of the office. She steps in front of the husband's secretary desk. She looks at the young svelte brunette. She is wearing the diamond necklace.
In the final scene, the wife has stepped back to the office door. She stares at the husband trying her best to hide her feelings. The husband has a smug and enigmatic smile on his face. The wife and we are not sure what the husband knows.
This delightful short is based on a short story. Regrettably I have forgotten the name of the author. This person deserves some of the credit for making this short so delectable. But a lot of credit should also be given to a competent director and fine actors.
