The Case

2012, 10 minutes

After chatting to a stranger in a bar, Joe steals his case, desperate to know what's inside.

Joe, a working-class man, is enjoying a quiet drink alone in a bar when a man, Edward, asks if he would look after his case while he gets a drink. A bit perplexed, Joe reluctantly agrees. Upon Edwards's return they start chatting, with Joe interested in Edward's occupation and particualrly his case. Edward, a somewhat private and unusual man in demeanour repeatedly refuses to disclose the case's contents, becoming almost hostile, before leaving the table for another area of the bar. Seeing Edward leave his case unattended soon afterwards Joe seizes his chance and steals it. Upon returning home he is faced with girlfriend Carrie's complaint of his forgetting to take her out that afternoon. The conversation turns to the case, with Joe lying about it, yet admitting he doesn't know what's inside. After returning from the toilet Joe finds the case open and Carrie gone. What was in the case? "Never you mind," says Joe.