Burn
by D. Deeley
This is Act I scene I of my radio play. It has been accepted and will be produced by Radio Free Theater on Ball State Campus.
BURN
The Players:
Orator: Congress frontman who introduces all the speakers
Lobbyist: The proponent of all groups in the play. Wants to see Sobrevivdos destroyed.
Nick: Reporter raised in a small town sent, against his will, to the town to report on the volcano. Pissed to be in a little hick hellhole once again.
Allen: Resident of small town and old friend of Nick. Angry with Nick for coming back to the small town. Caustic and sarcastic about almost everything.
Frank: Mexican resident of Sobrevivdos. Owns coffee shop, Frank's Cup o' Joe. Can't speak, but understands English.
SFX: FIRE RISES/FADES TO GAVEL AND MURMURS OF A LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE.
ORATOR
Gathered representatives, the second session of the House for this fifth day of May 2005, will now begin. The speaker for United Religion Inc. will now address the House.
LOBBYIST
Thank you. Congressmen, I come to you today with a very grave matter. The protectorate of Mexico faces a great disaster at the hands of an angry and vengeful god. The volcano the residents call 'Burning Hill' is on the verge of a cataclysmic and world-shaking eruption. The village at the foot of the volcano, Sobrevividos will be flooded with lava leaving its residents at the mercy of luck and the benevolence of god. Now, the lobbyist for the village has already asked the government for support and assistance in the form of a pre-disaster relief bill. United Religion Inc. would like to ask you to deny the passing of that bill so that the unbelievers may perish in the fires that will be their eternal futures. This, gentlemen, is the end result of ten years of preparation. We have successfully converted this country. Will we now throw aside all that work for the benefit of a few heathens? I hope not, not if this is truly a country under God.
SFX: MURMURS RISE/FADE. LIGHTER SPARKS. DEEP INHALE/EXHALE. FOOTSTEPS ON GRAVEL
NICK
Hey Allen. (quiet) I'm back.
ALLEN
Hello Nickolaus, chronicler of the lives of the village of Sobrevividos, master of our fates, and seer for our generation.
NICK
It's not my fault the Chronicler sent me down here. I swore I'd never come back.
ALLEN
But this is my hometown. You didn't even grow up here, you just showed up one day. Explain the why of that to me. (beat) You forgot what was.
NICK
I didn't forget. I wanted to disconnect myself from the small town and small mind. They sent me back. (sighs) And your house looks right at the volcano that I'm reporting on.
SFX: VOLCANO RUMBLES
ALLEN
Yes it does. So does the asylum. Does that mean anything to your journalistic mind?
NICK
It means we're all insane to be staying at the foot of a live volcano. Not too tough.
ALLEN
No. It means we're all insane for staying at the foot of this government. Insane for being at their beck and call. Insane for allowing them to decide how we live our lives, what we do with our lives, and now, how we end our lives. I will deny them that. They will not plot out my life. Only one person will decide how Allen Holder goes out. I will. Me and me alone.
NICK
Some would attribute that decision to God.
ALLEN
And what of God? Where is God in this? What is His great plan? Please explain to me how, if all this comes down to what I believe as the goodness and purity of humanity's belief in God, explain to me how the intentional destruction of an insignificant city, a city that doesn't affect any other in the world, will fulfill this divine plan of (mocking) God.
NICK
Who said it was God's will to see everyone here die? I never did.
ALLEN
No, but your newspaper did. The politicians did. The lobbyists did.
NICK
Where's the religion in that? You'd have as much luck finding religion in a church. It's all politics. It all depends on who the bureaucracy is working for. If it's not on your side, I'd suggest you find a God to pray to fast because the bureaucracy is an unforgiving one, and it doesn't accept prayers.
ALLEN
But it will accept checks. Even bad checks just like every idea the media gives it. That's why you're so important Nickolaus. You can be the voice of all the people in this town. You can represent us to the world. You can be the spokes person for our cause.
NICK
Mexico has been a five-year protectorate of America. Do you think the American public cares about the fate of a thousand or so Mexicans?
ALLEN
There are children to consider.
NICK
That's the defense of every protest without a point. (sarcastic)"Think of the children!" "What about the children?" The children are as screwed as the rest of us. The only difference is they're smaller.
ALLEN
You've changed. You used to care.
NICK
So did the country. But you know what? The country doesn't care anymore. Caring went out a long time ago. It left and never came back just like I wanted to. "It occurs to me that I am America." However, I, unlike Ginsberg, am not talking to myself. I am talking to you. I am telling you how it is. If you can't handle it, sorry. (beat) Not even sorry, because sorry is more concern than I can muster. This is a frightening age Allen, a truly horrific one. People hate now. They really hate. And they do it well. I saw some people burning down a coffee shop on my way down here. I didn't even stop to take pictures because hate isn't news anymore.
SFX: CAR PASSES
ALLEN
(beat) What was the name of the coffee shop?
NICK
How should I know? It was some stupid coffee name like "Couple Joe's" or some crap like that.
ALLEN
It mighta been Frank.
NICK
Who?
ALLEN
The owner of the coffee shop. I have a friend, Frank, who owns a coffee shop called Cop o' Joe's.
NICK
Yeah, that was the place.
ALLEN
Well let's get over there.
NICK
Why?
ALLEN
He might need help.
SFX: CAR DOOR OPENS/CLOSES x2
You didn't think to tell me this?.
SFX: CAR STARTS DRIVES
NICK
Why would I care? I didn't care when I left. I come from the real world where people die everyday.
ALLEN
People die here too.
NICK
Yeah. Only difference is it's important here.
ALLEN
It's a life.
NICK
And another one's gone. I've seen children skinned alive for their parent's religious views. I still don't care. If I did, it would prove detrimental to my mental health.
ALLEN
Why did you leave?
NICK
My dad moved. I didn't have a choice.
ALLEN
And out in your real world people respect you. (beat) You died out there. You shouldn't have looked me up. (beat) Here's the shop. Wow. They really did a job on it. There's Frank. He can tell us what happened.
SFX: CAR DOOR OPENS/CLOSES X2 FOOTSTEPS ON GRAVEL MAN CRYING
ALLEN
Frank, what happened?
FRANK
Some bastards torched the place. They beat me up. Called me a dirty spic!
NICK
Hmm, it's all gone. They were really thorough. Whoever did this belongs in the asylum.
FRANK
No kidding pal. Hey Allen, who is this guy?
ALLEN
Maybe the lava should take you all.
ALLEN
What?
NICK
Nothing, I just have to go to the asylum tomorrow, interview the patients to see what they think about the volcano. Boss thinks it'll be a clever "Silence of the Lambs" thing.
ALLEN
I'll go with you. I know the perfect person to see. I need to get back home. John's gonna wonder where I am.
NICK
Your son?
ALLEN
Yeah. You gonna be all right Frank?
FRANK
I'll survive. What else can we do?
ALLEN
There's plenty we can do.
SFX: CAR DOOR OPEN/CLOSE X2 ENGINE STARTS AND FADES CAR DOOR OPEN/CLOSE X2
ALLEN
I'll see you at the asylum Nickolaus; I just need one last smoke.
NICK
Why, are you taking me?
ALLEN
Yeah. (beat) You need to be shown.
SFX: FOOTSTEPS ON GRAVEL FADE CAR DOOR OPENS/CLOSES LIGHTER CRICKETS FADE.
Email: Nick Fenris
last updated 6/23/98
The Tunnel
