The scene is familiar: our Hero Detective’s supervisor – a lieutenant in an American show or a superintendent in a Commonwealth show – having had his arse chewed out by his superior, seeks out our Hero Detective in the bullpen.
Spotted recently on the box:
INT. DETECTIVES’ BULLPEN – DAY
Detectives are scattered about the open-plan office, a hubbub of conversations throughout.
Our Hero Detective’s supervisor, THE SUPERINTENDENT, strides through the entrance:
THE SUPERINTENDENT
Where’s Hero Detective?
RANDOM DETECTIVE
He’s on a call, sir.
THE SUPERINTENDENT
(fumes)
Get him to see me when he comes in.
RANDOM DETECTIVE
Yes, sir.
As The Superintendent heads for his office, the Random Detective turns to a colleague:
RANDOM DETECTIVE
(sing-song)
Someone’s in trouble!
I was like, WTF? What happened to this oldie-but-goodie:
INT. DETECTIVES’ BULLPEN – DAY
Detectives are scattered about the open plan office, a hubbub of conversations throughout.
Our Hero Detective’s supervisor, THE SUPERINTENDENT, strides through the entrance:
THE SUPERINTENDENT
Where. The fuck. IS HE?
The bullpen is silenced, its occupants afraid to move or speak.
THE SUPERINTENDENT
I want him in my office NOW!
The bullpen springs into action as --
-- The Superintendent continues to his office and SLAMS the door behind him.
Sure it’s a cliche that’s been parodied endlessly, but at least it doesn’t look and sound like a bunch of school kids hearing that Mr So-and-So is on the warpath.
