Bob’s Birthday

Margaret calls Bob at his dentist's office and explains that the plan is a surprise birthday celebration. She tells him they are going to a restaurant, keeping the real party at home hidden for now. Bob is shown at the office in a state of quiet mid-life doubt while the preparations unfold.

Back at the office, Bob stares at a young woman, revealing his restlessness. A patient comments that dentists have the highest suicide rate and presses him about his hours and salary as he works.

At home, Margaret fills a closet with decorations and organizes the space for the planned surprise. She moves around the house, trying to keep the party secret and ready for the guests. The atmosphere hints at both excitement and tension in their marriage.

Bob's friends arrive and Margaret watches the clock, then glances out the window to see him driving home. She signals the guests to hide behind furniture until he is ready to join the celebration. The staged secrecy sets up the moment Bob will enter.

Bob arrives, goes straight to the kitchen, and largely ignores Margaret's presence. He questions whether they should have children and whether he should quit his job, signaling a growing mid-life crisis. The party's tension rises as he speaks.

The friends remain hidden behind couches as Bob goes upstairs to change clothes. The hidden audience listens to his unsettled monologue about their life and relationships. The home feels like a stage for an unraveling celebration.

Bob comes downstairs not wearing pants, triggering Margaret's frantic instruction to put pants on. He takes offense, recalling that she used to enjoy when he did that trick. The moment deepens his sense of inadequacy and the party's collapse.

Bob declares that their friends are not really friends, suggesting Margaret should find another husband. He vents about how hollow the supposed social circle is. The party atmosphere dissipates as his words cut through the room.

From the bedroom, Bob yells at Margaret that they should have children and asks if she finds him attractive. The argument underscores his insecurity and the fragility of their relationship. The birthday surprise collapses under the weight of his crisis.

Margaret brings down pants and trousers, trying to salvage some order in the chaotic moment. The gesture underscores the power dynamic and the mismatch between their expectations. The scene marks the party's disintegration.

Bob walks outside and waits in the car, still convinced they are going out for dinner. His resolve hardens as he interprets the moment as a failed celebration. The home becomes a backdrop for a mounting personal crisis.

Margaret follows Bob, realizing the surprise has collapsed and the party is ruined. She decides to leave with him, turning away from the guests and the failed celebration. The story closes with the couple choosing a different path amid dysfunction.