ScriptSuperhero.com

A little spy action can really help a story that’s otherwise dragging, although it of course depends on the kind of script or story you’re writing. But NBC’s Chuck proved that spy action can take place even in a rather mundane setting like a computer electronics store.

Imagine a scene where a customer comes into a store specializing in MP3 players, wearing a diamond ring. On the surface, they talk about the standard stuff, like which MP3 player is best, but that could all be code for passing along spy information.

Then, the salesperson notices the diamond ring and the customer asks him if he likes it. Sure do, he tells her, but I can’t get anything like that on my salary. The customers smiles and tells him it’s not as spendy as you think, and besides, there’s a coupon code for 10 percent off.

The salesman is skeptical, so the customer gives him the code in order to check it out: THTM10P801321 at JewelElegance.com. In the show, that would be a key plot device, what Alfred Hitchcock called the McGuffin. But it’s also a real code that works at that Web site. (Not a bad idea, what with Mother’s Day coming up and all.)