How to Properly Deactivate a Bomb

Movies have been made for decades -- many of"Sir, No, Sir!"
them involve a bomb being deactivated. When I"Then why are you still standing here, Lieutenant?"
see a scene in which a bomb is deactivated 1-3"Sir, I'll go start the dialing sequence immediately!"
seconds before it's about to explode, I'm notWithin minutes, Lieutenant Jefferson has the
impressed by the script writing. If I ever write aStargate online and a wormhole open. He calls
screenplay that includes a scene in which a bombdown to Major Davenport, "Sir, I've established a
has to be deactivated, creativity will be mystable connection with an uninhabited planet."
primary objective. In my story, the bomb will"Good job, Lieutenant."
have one wire. That wire will be cut and the timerAs the Lieutenant watches him, he realizes
will stop. The timer's digital display will read no lesssomething has just gone horribly wrong. The
than sixteen hundred seconds remaining.Stargate shuts off automatically, and he races
My idea lacks suspense, but it contains originality.down to the Major.
I'm confident I'll be able to write some intensity"Major, that was the turkey."
into the remaining 118 minutes of the film. I have"What are you saying, Lieutenant?"
ideas for other methods of building an original"You sent the turkey millions of lightyears from
sequence of events into a script. For your readinghere, but the bomb is still here, and I think it's
enjoyment, I present you with an excerpt ofabout to explode."
thoughts from my head."May God have mercy on our souls."
"Major Davenport, permission to speak freely?"The Lieutenant walks over to the bomb, switching
"Can it wait Lieutenant Jefferson? I'm trying tothe alarm clock to the off position. The timer
deactivate this bomb."shuts off. The General suddenly enters the room.
"No sir, I don't believe it can wait, Sir.""Lieutenant, I was just about to eat the lunch I
"Very well, Lieutenant, go ahead."ordered. The cook says he had it delivered it here
"Major, Sir, that's not a bomb. That's a turkey,from the mess hall. Have you seen a turkey
Sir."anywhere?"
"What did you say, Lieutenant?"The Major steps in, "General, the meat
"Sir, that's a turkey, Sir."thermometer showed that it was undercooked.
"A turkey? Good Lord, Lieutenant, who wouldThe Lieutenant and I agreed that sending it to
plant a bomb inside a turkey?"another planet would be the best course of action
"No, Major, I mean that's only a turkey. Theto keep you safe, and we sent the turkey to
bomb is over there, next to the device that lookswhere it couldn't harm anyone."
like an alarm clock.""Good work, Major! Lieutenant... Jefferson is it?"
"Lieutenant, I swear if you're wrong I'll have you"Sir, Yes, General Stevens!"
cleaning toilets until you're so high from the fumes"Lieutenant Jefferson, I think I see a promotion
that you'll need a parachute to get back down!"coming your way."
"Sir, I'm quite sure, Major, Sir.""Sir, thank you, Sir!"
"Lieutenant, look at this timer! There's only 100"Lieutenant, why are you sweating?"
seconds before this bomb goes off!""Sir, I was in the immediate vicinity of the turkey,
"Sir, that's not a timer, Sir. That's a meatwhich was about 100 degrees Fahrenheit at the
thermometer. The internal core temperature istime when we disposed of it, General!"
slowly dropping, but I can say with absolute"I see. Well, why don't you hit the showers, then
certainty that the turkey won't explode. With allyou and the Major report to my office in one
due respect, Sir, I suggest we call in a bombhour for a debriefing."
disposal unit."The General walks away, as Major Davenport
"I have a better idea, Lieutenant Jefferson. Fire upturns to the Lieutenant, and with a smile on face
the Stargate."says, "All's well that ends well, eh, Lieutenant?"
"Sir?""Sir, yes, Sir!
"You have a hearing problem, Mister?"