Double-Hoodwinked
Written by Rohan Lingam
Act 1
Act 1, Scene 1
The scene shows a shop decorated with beautiful jewelry. A jeweler is admiring a piece of one unique bracelet. Time-7:30 p.m.
Jeweler (with a Southern accent): Ah, what a wonderful bracelet. It’s definitely one of a kind! Probably worth millions of money, money, money…(slurps)
He trails off. Meanwhile, a hooded figure enters the shop. The hood over his or her head is concealing the face underneath the hood.
Oh, a customer! (He drops the bracelet in surprise.) Come on in! I got just the thing for ya. (He picks up the bracelet.) It is surely great for ya, ‘cause you can’t just put nothin’ on that face. Nu-uh! Only worth 1,000,000.00 bucks.
The hooded figure shakes his or her face.
How ‘bout $5,000.00? Shortened it a lot for ya.
Hooded figure: May I examine it?
Jeweler: You betcha!
(He hands the bracelet over to the hooded figure’s hands.)
Hooded figure: I’m going to keep it with me.
Jeweler: Go-ood! I’m gonna need some money. Cash, check, credit, or debit?
Hooded figure: How about injury? (He punches the jeweler. The jeweler collapses, and the hooded figure’s hood comes off.We only see his back)
I’m coming for you, Chief Brown! (He walks calmly out of the store and puts his hood on.)
Act 1, Scene 2
After the robbery, at the jeweler’s store-7:24 a.m.
Officer James: (Looking at the shop) What happened here? (She looks into the store. She sees the close-to-dead jeweler and jumps back in shock.) Oh! (Into her walkie-talkie) We found our spot, I repeat, we have found our spot, Chief Brown! Over.
Act 1, Scene 3
At the police station-10:20 a.m.
Officer James (Running inside) : Chief Brown, Chief Brown!
Chief Brown: Yes, Officer?
Officer James: I found the spot where the suspect almost killed the jeweler! Right now, he's in the hospital. But after surgery, we can interrogate him.
Chief Brown: Great idea, Officer. But were there any security cameras in the shop?
Officer James: No, sir
Chief Brown: Any witnesses?
OJ: No, sir, except the hospitalized jeweler.
Chief Brown looks down, thinking hard
Pardon me sir, but do you think anyone has struck again?
CB: Perhaps… Check the files.
Officer James checks the files of cases. After hurriedly scrambling through files, he or she finds two files with the same thing: robberies like this.
OJ: I found some!
CB: Good job. (He reads the files.) 10 years ago? Cases EXACTLY like this?
OJ: This is our first clue to the case.
Act 1, Scene 4
At the hospital-7:15 p.m.
Chief Brown and Officer James head into the jeweler’s room.
CB: So, let’s not put any stress on him as he’s just finished surgery.
OJ gives him a thumbs-up sign as they enter the room.
Hello, _____. How are you doing?
Jeweler: (In a very weak voice) Well, I’m not feeling great.
Officer James: So………............................................about the robbery-
Jeweler: Oh! The guy-or girl-just took the bracelet and WHAM! I found myself here.
Officer James was noting down key pointers given from the jeweler on a notepad. Chief Brown was listening attentively.
CB: How did the suspect look like?
Jeweler: Oh, I didn't see his or her face.
CB: How was it concealed?
Jeweler: It was a hooded face.
OJ stops writing.
OJ: Did you say hooded?
CB looks at OJ.
CB: What do you know about that?
OJ: Um, well, I didn’t hear him. (Facing the jeweler) Hooded, right?
The jeweler nodded. For the rest of the discussion, CB looked inquiringly at Officer Brown.
Jeweler: So, that’s it! Thanks for bein’ here. Now, I need to get some rest.
OJ: But-
CB: Let him have his rest, James. (Facing the jeweler.) Thank you so much for helping. You are our only witness, by the way. (Facing OJ.) Come on, let’s go. Oh! It’s 7:30 p.m. Let’s call it a day, okay?
Act 1, Scene 5
At the outskirts of town-1:00 a.m.
Hooded Figure (With hood off): Jamie, why did ya hafta bring me here this late?? She yawns noticeably long, loud, and deliberately.
OJ: First of all, (in the middle of HF's yawn, looking slightly disgusted) why did you steal that bracelet, anyway? Mom wouldn’t want you to do all this!
HF: Well, I want - no, I won’t tell you, Jamie! You’re just going to blurt it out to th-th-those police people!
OJ: I won’t! You almost killed someone too!
HF: I didn’t mean to.
OJ put her hands on her hips.
I’m telling the truth!
A car horn honks in the distance followed by a police car’s siren.
OJ: Oh, I’d better leave or the police are going to see me! They know about the hood, so try not to wear it.
With that last word she dashed off to her house.
Act 1, Scene 6
At the police station-7:37 a.m.
Chief Brown thinks to himself while pacing back and forth in his office by himself.
CB: We need to find more about the case. We definitely need more evidence to find suspects and find the right person. But how should we find evidence? Let’s see...hmmm....
Well, we can find fingerprints, or search people. I’ll tell Jamie to get ready to go back to the jeweler’s place. OFFICER JAMIE!!!!
Act 1, Scene 7
At the jeweler’s shop-11:23 a.m.
They enter the shop and read a sign.
OJ: ‘Closed for Renovation.’ (with boredom and sarcastically) How ironic.
CB: Really? This is a case we’re working on.
They enter the store. They hear rustling and back away.
OJ: (whispering) What was that?
CB: I don’t know, but keep the arms ready.
They both put their hands at their hips, showing that they have an arm.
WHOEVER’S THERE, PUT YOUR HANDS BEHIND YOUR HEAD, AND SLOWLY COME OUT!
A person came out, with their hands on their head, and looked embarrassed.
OJ: Oliver, you?
CB: (whispering out of the corner of his mouth to Officer James) Uh, who is Oliver again?
OJ: (whispering out of the corner of her mouth to Chief Brown) The florist down Woodland Street, gives everyone in the morning flowers,-
CB: OH!, Oh, yeah! Anyway, (facing back to Oliver) What are you doing here?
