[PW] Mystery Short Story: Two guys in a room with a button

[BETZ-ZALL, JONATHAN]

I remember seeing a filmed version of a story much like this in the
early 1970s. The characters receive a message that seems to order the
launch of their missiles but they can't get confirmation and each goes
back and forth over whether to launch. (Both of their keys have to be
turned simultaneously, so neither can launch on his own.] Finally, one
purposely insults the other one into killing him, thus preventing the
launch. When communications are restored, it was a false alarm. I've
tried IMDB without success; will keep looking.
Cheerio!  Jonathan 

-----Original Message-----
From: project-wombat-bounces at lists.project-wombat.org
[mailto:project-wombat-bounces at lists.project-wombat.org] On Behalf Of
Angelica the Librarian
Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2008 8:21 AM
To: list at project-wombat.org
Subject: [PW] Mystery Short Story: Two guys in a room with a button

Dear Wombats,

I've been trying to solve this mystery for years and am hoping The Great
Brain has some suggestions for me. During my junior year of high school
I read a short story whose title and author I can't for the life of me
remember. Here's what I know:

The story was about two men locked in a room. In the room is a button
and it's never explicitly stated but the reader gets the impression that
the button, if pressed, will detonate some kinda of bomb. The men are
going crazy from stress and alternately loathe one another and cry and
hold one another in tender embraces.

I read the story in a textbook that was a collection of short stories,
book excerpts, poetry, images, and literary analysis-type questions. My
junior year of high school was from 1992-1993, to help with the time
frame.

 Since this story was in a textbook I thought it would be pretty famous
but I've scoured anthologies and have been unsuccessful. My google-fu
fails me.
I've asked the local public library for help. I've emailed both my high
school English teacher and librarian and never received a reply. As far
as I know, the Short Story Index only works if you have a title or
author and I can't remember those.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Angelica
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