36 Floors Up: How to Fool Grandma?

36 Floors Up: How to Fool Grandma?

Selected Scene

INT. BEN DODGER’S OFFICE – DAY

BEN DODGER sits behind his desk, shielding a SECRET PLAN with his hands.

A HOLOGRAPHIC SCREEN floats in front of him. GRANDMA DODGER fills the main window. Ben’s brothers, ROBBY and BOBBY, appear in two smaller windows.

GRANDMA DODGER
Good morning, Ben!

Ben doesn’t look up from his papers.

BEN DODGER
What about the will, Grandma?

GRANDMA DODGER
Don’t start, Ben. I want us to make peace. And to celebrate our little truce, let Grandma treat you to breakfast.

BEN DODGER
I don’t have time to eat.

GRANDMA DODGER
Grandma just wants to feed you, my little boy. Remember? One bite for Grandma, one for the fishy, one for your inheritance...

Ben finally looks up.

BEN DODGER
My inheritance?! I always finish everything on my plate, and I still haven’t inherited anything!

BOBBY
I never leave my pizza crusts!

ROBBY
Neither do I! And I love celery, just like you taught us!

GRANDMA DODGER
I taught you to work, not to eat! Ben, I’ve already sent a courier with your breakfast, and I’m not turning him around halfway there!

BEN DODGER
No couriers in my office! Nobody gets into my office!

Grandma leans closer to the camera.

She raises a tiny HAMSTER until its face fills the screen.

GRANDMA DODGER
All right, then. I’ll feed the hamster. He listens to Grandma and never says no to her.

Grandma kisses the hamster on the nose.

GRANDMA DODGER (CONT'D)
And once I’ve fed him...

BEN DODGER
Enough!

Ben glares at the hamster.

BEN DODGER (CONT'D)
Fine. But if I don’t get my breakfast at today’s coffee break—

Ben’s stomach GROWLS.

Grandma smiles.

GRANDMA DODGER
—then you’ll take the hamster’s place, Ben. I’ll send my secretary over immediately with a will naming you as my heir.

(cheerfully)

Enjoy your breakfast! Meeting adjourned.

Grandma disappears from the chat.

ROBBY
Why does the will only have your name on it?

BOBBY
And why are you the only one getting cappuccino and croissants?!

BEN DODGER
Because I’m the only one with a secret plan called “How to Fool Grandma,” and Grandma wants to steal it!

Robby and Bobby stare at him.

ROBBY AND BOBBY
What secret plan?!

BEN DODGER
Never mind. I haven’t finished writing it yet. And the croissants and cappuccino are just a clever cover to get someone into my office!

ROBBY
Ben, brothers are supposed to share their secret plans.

Robby puts on a TUXEDO.

ROBBY (CONT'D)
Get dressed, Bobby!

BOBBY
We don’t need a cover!

BEN DODGER
Don’t even think about it! I’ve doubled security!

The holographic screen collapses.

Ben immediately calls SECURITY.

BEN DODGER (CONT'D)
Nobody gets into this skyscraper!