playwriting project: radio silence
This is my first ten-minute that I turned in today. I'm happy with it, although the people reading it had a hard time reading a lot of the names. Also, one of the guys put on an extremely and hilariously fake Russian accent, that, although it took away from what I meant to be a serious tone, was too funny to annoy me. Anyhow, if you're interested, tell me what you think!
RADIO SILENCE
The setting is the interior of a submarine. It is dark except for the emergency lights glowing along the floor. The ground is covered with a thin layer of water, which flows from side to side as the sub rocks. Occasionally there is the sound of metal creaking above or below them. Around twenty men are seated, standing, or pacing. They are all wet and some are injured. PAVEL TARASOV is seated apart from all of the men, with large headphones on and a transmission radio in his hand. He fiddles with it for a while.
Suddenly, the radio crackles.
TARASOV
Hello? Hello? Can anyone hear me?
It crackles again.
TARASOV
Hello?
A woman's voice, indistinct and professional, answers on the radio.
IVANOVA
Victoriya Ivanova.
TARASOV
Ivanova? Aren't you the-but never mind. This is Pavel Tarasov, a member of the crew of the submarine Zhar-Ptitsa. I-I don't know what happened, there was an explosion, and-
IVANOVA
Pavel Tarasov, are you the captain?
TARASOV
No, that would be Dobrynya Muromets-acting captain, anyway; he's tending to some of the other survivors. There may be an emergency escape for your crew to locate-
IVANOVA her voice high-pitched in surprise
Dobrynya Muromets? He's alive?
TARASOV
Yes, he's acting captain.
IVANOVA
Please put him on the line.
TARASOV
He instructed me to speak with you while-
IVANOVA
Give the line to Muromets, Tarasov. Then leave the vicinity. Are you second-in-rank? Take his place. Care for your comrades.
TARASOV
Dobrynya!
A man, MUROMETS, who was walking amongst the crew looks up and towards TARASOV, who's holding the radio high in the air.
TARASOV
Dobrynya, she would like to speak to you.
MUROMETS
Didn't I delegate to you this task?
TARASOV
She asked for you specifically.
The radio crackles. MUROMETS doesn't answer for a moment, staring blankly at the radio. He hesitates for a moment then starts forward, splashing through the inch or so of water on the ground. Once he reaches TARASOV, he snatches the radio.
MUROMETS while waving TARASOV away.
Sh! Go talk to the men.
TARASOV doesn't move, staring between the radio and MUROMETS.
MUROMETS
Leave me!
TARASOV leaves, and approaches some of the men near the edge of the group.
MUROMETS
This is Muromets.
IVANOVA
Viktoriya Ivanova speaking.
MUROMETS
Vikoriya Ivanova? The deputy prime-? Never mind. It appears we have hit a mine- there was an explosion, and-
IVANOVA
Dobrynya Muromets.
MUROMETS
Yes?
There is a crackling followed by a silence.
IVANOVA
You say you're captain of the Zhar-Ptitsa?
MUROMETS
Yes, acting captain. I and around twenty others down here are stranded, I request immediate assistance.
IVANOVA
I'm sorry, Dobrynya Muromets. We cannot assist you. We have evaluated the situation and it would be impossible to rescue you without killing you, the rest of your crew, and any divers we send.
MUROMETS
You've evaluated the-we've been sunk for thirty minutes!
IVANOVA
The sinking of the Zhar-Ptitsa was a tragic accident.
MUROMETS
You make it sound like we're already dead.
IVANOVA unclearly, as if talking to people in her immediate area instead of into the radio.
Leave! I need speaking to the captain alone. (then, with her voice clearer) Muromets, I have orders to not help you.
MUROMETS
What?!
IVANOVA
I will not help you.
MUROMETS
You have orders to leave twenty men to die?
IVANOVA
Exactly. In fact, you all should have died in the explosion.
MUROMETS
But-
IVANOVA
You were headed straight for the mine. Apparently, your navigator had a weak heart and changed course.
MUROMETS
You murdered hundreds of men, Ivanova.
IVANOVA
I didn't issue the command.
MUROMETS
But you carried it out.
IVANOVA laughing
Muromets! Do you want us to assign blame here? Because if you want to go back that far, we can blame you, for that little cut-and-dagger work you're doing on the side.
MUROMETS is silent, and his hands flinch on the radio, nearly turning it off. This catches TARASOV's attention from next to the group; he moves closer to the conversation.
IVANOVA
We are the Russian government. You don't think we would have found out? Those weren't exactly low-profile assassinations, Muromets. Think of this as a mercy. Instead of defaming your name and your family, you die in a tragic accident. A hero.
MUROMETS
Fine. Kill me, then. But there are twenty men here with families that you can rescue.
IVANOVA
That is impossible.
MUROMETS
Viktoriya! I know you have two children in the Armed Forces. They could be here now. Would you still have all of us die?
IVANOVA doesn't answer.
MUROMETS
So I've murdered. Then murder me back, if that's what you want. But leave it at that, and let's waste no more bread.
IVANOVA her voice quieter
Please hold.
The radio cuts off. MUROMETS sighs and leans backwards into the wall behind him.
Once more, he is approached by TARASOV.
TARASOV
Dobrynya.
MUROMETS
Yes.
TARASOV
You caused this.
MUROMETS
No.
TARASOV
Then explain to me what I heard! Murder me back, if that's what you want, you said!
MUROMETS
The ones who caused this are not here, Tarasov!
TARASOV
To the devil they're not! You're right here!
The other men looked around in interest at their yelling.
MUROMETS standing and putting his arm around TARASOV's shoulders, leading him further away from the prying ears of the men.
Shh! You don't have a dick of a clue what's going on here.
TARASOV his voice hushed
Don't I? I heard enough to know that if you were dead that the rest of us may make it out of here.
MUROMETS
You're angry at me? For them wanting to kill me and by that thinking it's necessary to blow up an entire ship full of men?
TARASOV
The government is there to be evil. The officer is there to protect his men. The former is fulfilling its duty; the latter isn't.
MUROMETS
You're a dumb son of a bitch. What do you think I'm doing? Who was it that gathered us all in here and sealed the airlock doors? Who is trying to convince the brass to send men after us? Me. As an officer yourself, you're not doing shit.
TARASOV:
You want me to do something? Why don't I just go back to the men and tell them exactly what I heard-
MUROMETS
No, you won't do that.
TARASOV
What are you going to do, drown me?
MUROMETS
No. Although our prime minister Ivanova may. You want to know what she'll say if all the men find out that our government ordered our death? Do svidaniya, she'll tell us. Keep them out of the know, if you want to be an officer and protect your men, just as I've been doing.
TARASOV is silent, staring at MUROMETS.
MUROMETS
You're understanding me now. I am willing to take responsibility for this crew, if it's true that my actions against corrupt politicians is worth enough to kill over three hundred sailors. I'm willing to die.
TARASOV
Are you?
MUROMETS doesn't answer. Just then the radio crackles again, and MUROMETS pushes TARASOV away from him, and ducks closer to the wall, covering his head and pressing the radio to his mouth.
TARASOV watches him from a close distance, unwilling to leave.
MUROMETS
Muromets.
IVANOVA
The situation is too difficult, Muromets. You have to die by accident. We cannot order another man to kill you because it raises suspicion. Suspicion we don't need.
MUROMETS
I can still die by accident! You already told me it's too dangerous, I could die in the rescue attempt, or-
IVANOVA her voice snappy
It is shallow water. Out of twenty survivors, nineteen make it out safely? Not to mention that it gives you too much leeway to play your little games and escape us once more. I'm sorry Muromets. I wish there was more I could do, I truly do. This is the only way. Unless a piece of equipment falls on your head and kills only you without risking the structural integrity of your air pocket, you will all be remembered as tragic heroes.
MUROMETS
That's not good enough, Victoriya.
IVANOVA
It's the best I can do.
MUROMETS
These men will die without knowing what they're dying for.
IVANOVA sharply
None of them are aware of this situation, correct? Because then we really can't help you, even if you're crushed or electrocuted by hardware.
He catches sight of TARASOV, who had been watching the conversation with no expression. They hold gazes for a moment.
MUROMETS
No. Of course no one else knows.
IVANOVA
Good. Pray for a miracle. Pray that you die. Then, hopefully, one of your men has the brains to contact me.
The radio cuts off. MUROMETS stares at it in his hand for a moment. Then he snaps to attention.
MUROMETS
You mentioned something about an emergency escape?
TARASOV
We think we remember one in the corridor before us, and it's accessible if the corridor is blocked on the other end, so water can't get through. I was planning on telling the rescue crew how to-
MUROMETS
There will be no rescue crew.
TARASOV
I think there will be.
They stare at each other.
MUROMETS
What does that mean?
TARASOV
It's obvious. I kill you. I tell Ivanova you died by accident. We get rescued.
MUROMETS
She'll know that you know. There will be no rescue, no matter who you kill.
TARASOV
I'll take our chances
MUROMETS
And that's what you want to do, is it? Cooperate with a government that is willing to murder you? Murdering me may get you out of here alive, Tarasov, but it's sure as the devil not going to-
TARASOV
Stop! Stop trying to talk your way out of it. You said you were willing to die for us. You offered to die for us. And now that that's the only option, you're willing to have the rest of us die.
MUROMETS
I'm willing to have the rest of us live, and on our own terms! You, me, all the crew-
TARASOV
You're a coward.
MUROMETS pausing, then pulling out a gun, handing it by the barrel to Tarasov.
Fine. Kill me. There's three rounds in here, two for when you miss. Be a real man and murder me while I stand here.
TARASOV handling the gun gingerly
I-I should. I will.
MUROMETS
Shoot me.
TARASOV
I'll be saving lives.
MUROMETS
Yes you will. You'll be saving lives by murdering me in cold blood. Shoot me.
(TARASOV doesn't do anything.)
Why are you hesitating? Not as easy as you thought? If you want to be a good officer, follow through with your convictions, Tarasov.
MUROMETS reaches for the gun, abruptly. TARASOV is surprised and pulls off an accidental shot, which imbeds itself in MUROMETS's shoulder. MUROMETS cries in pain, and TARASOV recoils. They have the attention of the rest of the survivors, and those who can stand, yelling and panicky, make their way over to the scene.
MUROMETS lunges at TARASOV and they fall to the floor, struggling for the gun, the wound in MUROMETS's shoulder apparently not a hindrance in his rage. They struggle for a few seconds, and just as the crew reaches them to pull them apart, another gunshot sounds. MUROMETS slumps for a split second before he is heaved off of TARASOV, who is covered in water and blood. He is pale and his hand holding the gun trembles, so much that the gun falls into the shallow layer of water and slides away. He is hoisted to his feet but seems unable to stand on his own, and he clutches a nook on the wall.
TARASOV in response to the questions and demands of his crew
He didn't want us to escape. He was-he was-was trying to kill me.
TARASOV looks once more at MUROMETS's body, and he vomits.
TARASOV
Someone hand me his radio. Do it! Bystra!
A CREWMAN silently pushes the radio into TARASOV's pale hand.
TARASOV
Now leave me. … Go!
(A moment passes, and he turns the radio on.)
Prime Minister? This is Pavel Tarasov. I'm acting captain of the Zhar-Ptitsa.
IVANOVA with a surprised voice
What happened to Muromets?
TARASOV
He's dead. There was-there was an accident.
IVANOVA her voice is professional again
I'm sure there was.
TARASOV
Are you sending a rescue crew?
IVANOVA
You and your men will need to wait.
TARASOV
What does-fine. We're waiting.
There is more white noise from the radio, and it cuts off.
RADIO SILENCE
The setting is the interior of a submarine. It is dark except for the emergency lights glowing along the floor. The ground is covered with a thin layer of water, which flows from side to side as the sub rocks. Occasionally there is the sound of metal creaking above or below them. Around twenty men are seated, standing, or pacing. They are all wet and some are injured. PAVEL TARASOV is seated apart from all of the men, with large headphones on and a transmission radio in his hand. He fiddles with it for a while.
Suddenly, the radio crackles.
TARASOV
Hello? Hello? Can anyone hear me?
It crackles again.
TARASOV
Hello?
A woman's voice, indistinct and professional, answers on the radio.
IVANOVA
Victoriya Ivanova.
TARASOV
Ivanova? Aren't you the-but never mind. This is Pavel Tarasov, a member of the crew of the submarine Zhar-Ptitsa. I-I don't know what happened, there was an explosion, and-
IVANOVA
Pavel Tarasov, are you the captain?
TARASOV
No, that would be Dobrynya Muromets-acting captain, anyway; he's tending to some of the other survivors. There may be an emergency escape for your crew to locate-
IVANOVA her voice high-pitched in surprise
Dobrynya Muromets? He's alive?
TARASOV
Yes, he's acting captain.
IVANOVA
Please put him on the line.
TARASOV
He instructed me to speak with you while-
IVANOVA
Give the line to Muromets, Tarasov. Then leave the vicinity. Are you second-in-rank? Take his place. Care for your comrades.
TARASOV
Dobrynya!
A man, MUROMETS, who was walking amongst the crew looks up and towards TARASOV, who's holding the radio high in the air.
TARASOV
Dobrynya, she would like to speak to you.
MUROMETS
Didn't I delegate to you this task?
TARASOV
She asked for you specifically.
The radio crackles. MUROMETS doesn't answer for a moment, staring blankly at the radio. He hesitates for a moment then starts forward, splashing through the inch or so of water on the ground. Once he reaches TARASOV, he snatches the radio.
MUROMETS while waving TARASOV away.
Sh! Go talk to the men.
TARASOV doesn't move, staring between the radio and MUROMETS.
MUROMETS
Leave me!
TARASOV leaves, and approaches some of the men near the edge of the group.
MUROMETS
This is Muromets.
IVANOVA
Viktoriya Ivanova speaking.
MUROMETS
Vikoriya Ivanova? The deputy prime-? Never mind. It appears we have hit a mine- there was an explosion, and-
IVANOVA
Dobrynya Muromets.
MUROMETS
Yes?
There is a crackling followed by a silence.
IVANOVA
You say you're captain of the Zhar-Ptitsa?
MUROMETS
Yes, acting captain. I and around twenty others down here are stranded, I request immediate assistance.
IVANOVA
I'm sorry, Dobrynya Muromets. We cannot assist you. We have evaluated the situation and it would be impossible to rescue you without killing you, the rest of your crew, and any divers we send.
MUROMETS
You've evaluated the-we've been sunk for thirty minutes!
IVANOVA
The sinking of the Zhar-Ptitsa was a tragic accident.
MUROMETS
You make it sound like we're already dead.
IVANOVA unclearly, as if talking to people in her immediate area instead of into the radio.
Leave! I need speaking to the captain alone. (then, with her voice clearer) Muromets, I have orders to not help you.
MUROMETS
What?!
IVANOVA
I will not help you.
MUROMETS
You have orders to leave twenty men to die?
IVANOVA
Exactly. In fact, you all should have died in the explosion.
MUROMETS
But-
IVANOVA
You were headed straight for the mine. Apparently, your navigator had a weak heart and changed course.
MUROMETS
You murdered hundreds of men, Ivanova.
IVANOVA
I didn't issue the command.
MUROMETS
But you carried it out.
IVANOVA laughing
Muromets! Do you want us to assign blame here? Because if you want to go back that far, we can blame you, for that little cut-and-dagger work you're doing on the side.
MUROMETS is silent, and his hands flinch on the radio, nearly turning it off. This catches TARASOV's attention from next to the group; he moves closer to the conversation.
IVANOVA
We are the Russian government. You don't think we would have found out? Those weren't exactly low-profile assassinations, Muromets. Think of this as a mercy. Instead of defaming your name and your family, you die in a tragic accident. A hero.
MUROMETS
Fine. Kill me, then. But there are twenty men here with families that you can rescue.
IVANOVA
That is impossible.
MUROMETS
Viktoriya! I know you have two children in the Armed Forces. They could be here now. Would you still have all of us die?
IVANOVA doesn't answer.
MUROMETS
So I've murdered. Then murder me back, if that's what you want. But leave it at that, and let's waste no more bread.
IVANOVA her voice quieter
Please hold.
The radio cuts off. MUROMETS sighs and leans backwards into the wall behind him.
Once more, he is approached by TARASOV.
TARASOV
Dobrynya.
MUROMETS
Yes.
TARASOV
You caused this.
MUROMETS
No.
TARASOV
Then explain to me what I heard! Murder me back, if that's what you want, you said!
MUROMETS
The ones who caused this are not here, Tarasov!
TARASOV
To the devil they're not! You're right here!
The other men looked around in interest at their yelling.
MUROMETS standing and putting his arm around TARASOV's shoulders, leading him further away from the prying ears of the men.
Shh! You don't have a dick of a clue what's going on here.
TARASOV his voice hushed
Don't I? I heard enough to know that if you were dead that the rest of us may make it out of here.
MUROMETS
You're angry at me? For them wanting to kill me and by that thinking it's necessary to blow up an entire ship full of men?
TARASOV
The government is there to be evil. The officer is there to protect his men. The former is fulfilling its duty; the latter isn't.
MUROMETS
You're a dumb son of a bitch. What do you think I'm doing? Who was it that gathered us all in here and sealed the airlock doors? Who is trying to convince the brass to send men after us? Me. As an officer yourself, you're not doing shit.
TARASOV:
You want me to do something? Why don't I just go back to the men and tell them exactly what I heard-
MUROMETS
No, you won't do that.
TARASOV
What are you going to do, drown me?
MUROMETS
No. Although our prime minister Ivanova may. You want to know what she'll say if all the men find out that our government ordered our death? Do svidaniya, she'll tell us. Keep them out of the know, if you want to be an officer and protect your men, just as I've been doing.
TARASOV is silent, staring at MUROMETS.
MUROMETS
You're understanding me now. I am willing to take responsibility for this crew, if it's true that my actions against corrupt politicians is worth enough to kill over three hundred sailors. I'm willing to die.
TARASOV
Are you?
MUROMETS doesn't answer. Just then the radio crackles again, and MUROMETS pushes TARASOV away from him, and ducks closer to the wall, covering his head and pressing the radio to his mouth.
TARASOV watches him from a close distance, unwilling to leave.
MUROMETS
Muromets.
IVANOVA
The situation is too difficult, Muromets. You have to die by accident. We cannot order another man to kill you because it raises suspicion. Suspicion we don't need.
MUROMETS
I can still die by accident! You already told me it's too dangerous, I could die in the rescue attempt, or-
IVANOVA her voice snappy
It is shallow water. Out of twenty survivors, nineteen make it out safely? Not to mention that it gives you too much leeway to play your little games and escape us once more. I'm sorry Muromets. I wish there was more I could do, I truly do. This is the only way. Unless a piece of equipment falls on your head and kills only you without risking the structural integrity of your air pocket, you will all be remembered as tragic heroes.
MUROMETS
That's not good enough, Victoriya.
IVANOVA
It's the best I can do.
MUROMETS
These men will die without knowing what they're dying for.
IVANOVA sharply
None of them are aware of this situation, correct? Because then we really can't help you, even if you're crushed or electrocuted by hardware.
He catches sight of TARASOV, who had been watching the conversation with no expression. They hold gazes for a moment.
MUROMETS
No. Of course no one else knows.
IVANOVA
Good. Pray for a miracle. Pray that you die. Then, hopefully, one of your men has the brains to contact me.
The radio cuts off. MUROMETS stares at it in his hand for a moment. Then he snaps to attention.
MUROMETS
You mentioned something about an emergency escape?
TARASOV
We think we remember one in the corridor before us, and it's accessible if the corridor is blocked on the other end, so water can't get through. I was planning on telling the rescue crew how to-
MUROMETS
There will be no rescue crew.
TARASOV
I think there will be.
They stare at each other.
MUROMETS
What does that mean?
TARASOV
It's obvious. I kill you. I tell Ivanova you died by accident. We get rescued.
MUROMETS
She'll know that you know. There will be no rescue, no matter who you kill.
TARASOV
I'll take our chances
MUROMETS
And that's what you want to do, is it? Cooperate with a government that is willing to murder you? Murdering me may get you out of here alive, Tarasov, but it's sure as the devil not going to-
TARASOV
Stop! Stop trying to talk your way out of it. You said you were willing to die for us. You offered to die for us. And now that that's the only option, you're willing to have the rest of us die.
MUROMETS
I'm willing to have the rest of us live, and on our own terms! You, me, all the crew-
TARASOV
You're a coward.
MUROMETS pausing, then pulling out a gun, handing it by the barrel to Tarasov.
Fine. Kill me. There's three rounds in here, two for when you miss. Be a real man and murder me while I stand here.
TARASOV handling the gun gingerly
I-I should. I will.
MUROMETS
Shoot me.
TARASOV
I'll be saving lives.
MUROMETS
Yes you will. You'll be saving lives by murdering me in cold blood. Shoot me.
(TARASOV doesn't do anything.)
Why are you hesitating? Not as easy as you thought? If you want to be a good officer, follow through with your convictions, Tarasov.
MUROMETS reaches for the gun, abruptly. TARASOV is surprised and pulls off an accidental shot, which imbeds itself in MUROMETS's shoulder. MUROMETS cries in pain, and TARASOV recoils. They have the attention of the rest of the survivors, and those who can stand, yelling and panicky, make their way over to the scene.
MUROMETS lunges at TARASOV and they fall to the floor, struggling for the gun, the wound in MUROMETS's shoulder apparently not a hindrance in his rage. They struggle for a few seconds, and just as the crew reaches them to pull them apart, another gunshot sounds. MUROMETS slumps for a split second before he is heaved off of TARASOV, who is covered in water and blood. He is pale and his hand holding the gun trembles, so much that the gun falls into the shallow layer of water and slides away. He is hoisted to his feet but seems unable to stand on his own, and he clutches a nook on the wall.
TARASOV in response to the questions and demands of his crew
He didn't want us to escape. He was-he was-was trying to kill me.
TARASOV looks once more at MUROMETS's body, and he vomits.
TARASOV
Someone hand me his radio. Do it! Bystra!
A CREWMAN silently pushes the radio into TARASOV's pale hand.
TARASOV
Now leave me. … Go!
(A moment passes, and he turns the radio on.)
Prime Minister? This is Pavel Tarasov. I'm acting captain of the Zhar-Ptitsa.
IVANOVA with a surprised voice
What happened to Muromets?
TARASOV
He's dead. There was-there was an accident.
IVANOVA her voice is professional again
I'm sure there was.
TARASOV
Are you sending a rescue crew?
IVANOVA
You and your men will need to wait.
TARASOV
What does-fine. We're waiting.
There is more white noise from the radio, and it cuts off.