SCENE: EXT. THE COMMON.
A MILITARY MAN AND A CIVILIAN ARE STANDING BACK TO BACK WITH LOADED PISTOLS. THEIR SECONDS STAND BY.
FIRST SECOND
Gentlemen, you will take ten paces, you will turn and you will fire.
THE OFFICER STARTS WALKING. The CIVILIAN TURNS AND FOLLOWS HIM.
OFFICER
What are you doing?
CIVILIAN
Er... Turn, take ten paces...
OFFICER
No, you take ten paces and then you turn!
CIVILIAN
Oh! You know, that does make more sense.
OFFICER
Doesn't it? Let's try again.
THEY RETURN TO THE START.
OFFICER
Take ten paces, turn and fire. Got it?
CIVILIAN
Absolutely. Turn, take ten paces...
OFFICER
No, take ten paces then you turn!
CIVILIAN
I knew that. D'oh! Ten paces, turn, fire.
OFFICER
Now shall we start?
THE OFFICER TURNS.
OFFICER
Ten paces.
THE OFFICER GLANCES OVER HIS SHOULDER.
OFFICER
In the opposite direction to me!
CIVILIAN
Oh, right!
THE CIVILIAN TURNS. THEY START TO WALK AWAY FROM ONE ANOTHER. THE CIVILIAN STOPS.
CIVILIAN
Sorry to be a pain...
OFFICER
What is it this time?
CIVILIAN
I lost count. Did anyone see where I had got to?
FIRST SECOND
Four wasn't it?
SECOND SECOND
I thought five.
CIVILIAN
(TO OFFICER} How many were you on?
OFFICER
Five... Or was it six? I don't know! Blast it - you've made me lose my place!
CIVILIAN
You too? Best start again, eh?
OFFICER
Oh very well!
THEY GO BACK TO THEIR STARTING POSITIONS, BACK TO BACK.
OFFICER
And this time count off the steps out loud; then you won't lose your place.
CIVILIAN
Good thinking.
THEY BEGIN WALKING AWAY FROM ONE ANOTHER
CIVILIAN
One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven. Eight. Nine. Ten.
THE CIVILIAN SHOOTS AND ONLY THEN TURNS. THE OFFICER, HIS PISTOL LEVELLED, LOOKS ON IN ASTONISHMENT.
CIVILIAN
I should have turned and then fired, shouldn't I?
OFFICER
Oh, for pity's sake, man!
CIVILIAN
You'd best take your go.
OFFICER
Honour unfortunately decrees otherwise.
THE OFFICER DISCHARGES HIS PISTOL INTO THE AIR.
OFFICER
We will try again.
CUT TO THE SECONDS HANDING THE DUELLISTS THEIR RELOADED PISTOLS.
OFFICER
Right, ten paces, we turn, and then once we have turned, and only once we have turned, we fire.
CIVILIAN
Turn and then fire. I'm with you.
OFFICER
Right, good.
THEY STAND BACK TO BACK. THE OFFICER BEGINS PACING. THE CIVILIAN TURNS AND SHOOTS HIM IN THE BACK.
CIVILIAN
I forgot the ten paces didn't I? What am I like?! Shall we have another bash? Hello? Hello?
END.