Bingo Night
A game you may not want to win.

Ah – Bingo. If ever there was a breezy game to play, B.I.N.G.O’s it.  Forever associated with the – er – “life seasoned” (translate: “Older”) crowd, there’s no strategy in Bingo.  Really just an excuse to socialize, Bingo’s a carefree activity fueled by random luck.

But what if Bingo were played for stakes far higher than pocket cash or some flimsy trinket, like you’d find at any county fair? Then maybe the ramifications of winning would be the OPPOSITE of what one would describe as “luck.”

Such seems the case at Fair Oaks Elderly Living Facility, at least where Herman Pruitt (76) is concerned.

Herman and multiple other residents huddle around a table. As Mike Murphy’s script opens, the game’s already ongoing. 

But this is no ordinary Bingo interlude. At Fair Oaks, something DIFFERENT’s at play. Behind each resident stand ominous “Observers”, burly men whose job is… what?

Whatever’s going on, Herman seems ill at ease. Especially after the Agent calls the first number:

AGENT 
B-6. 

Yup, B-6 is on Herman’s card. Reluctant to put his chip down, he only does so after his Observer rebukes him in a stern – almost threatening - tone.

And the game continues…

AGENT 
O-70.  

Then N-42. Herman gulps. He’s….won.

AGENT 
Congratulations, Mr. . . 

OBSERVER 
Pruitt. Herman Pruitt. 

AGENT 
Congratulations, Mr. Pruitt. 
(beat)
Your choice, sir? 

In games – both the easy and the more complex – winning is generally cause to celebrate. So why does Herman act like he’s drawn a Joker in a game of cards?

Pruitt has a “choice”? For what? And if forced – what will he select?

Bingo Night is single location and easy to shoot. But there’s more to this little gem. A dark short with a deliciously evil twist, Bingo weaves a surprisingly humanistic thread through it’s twisted tale. You can’t win much with regular Bingo. But a director who does justice to its subtheme will win audience accolades for sure!