Countdown - Part 1

Enter Jenna

Jenna arrives (late as usual) and has smuggled a small tape-recorder into the missile command post. She wants to play a tape for Charlie.

Lights come up on a command post of the Launch Control Center of NORAD (NORAD is the North American Aerospace Defense Command - jointly staffed by the US and Royal Canadian Air Forces - It's mission is to determine whether the USSR has launched a missile or bomber attack against North America. The warning which NORAD provides triggers the Launch Control Center, a part of the SAC [Strategic Air Command], to execute preplanned retaliatory strikes.).
There is a bank of computer terminals along one wall.
Center stage is a very large display screen with a map of the world.
The lighting is dim and tinged with the greenish glow from the computer displays.

A large clock is prominently displayed.
It is 9 PM.

CHARLIE, a Captain, sits at his desk stacking papers.
His manner lets us know that he's impatient.
He watches the clock.
As the clock ticks from 9:01 to 9:02, JENNA arrives, slightly breathless.

JENNA: Hi, Charlie!

(no response. Charlie evens up the edges of his stack of papers); What's the matter? You're not saying hi to me tonight, Charlie?

CHARLIE: You're late.

JENNA: How 'bout that?

CHARLIE: Five times this week, five times last week, and you're batting a thousand.

JENNA: I didn't know I could be that consistent.

CHARLIE: We've got a job to do here

JENNA: Right !

CHARLIE: Doesn't look good for the unit.; Doesn't look good on your record.; Looks like you've got a problem with authority !

JENNA: (looking over his shoulder); You don't write that down, do you, Charlie; Ninety seconds here, two minutes there?

CHARLIE: It adds up.

JENNA: But you don't mean you really write it down?

CHARLIE: That's my job, Jenna.

JENNA: It's petty, Charlie.

CHARLIE: That's my job, Jenna.

JENNA: It's petty, Charlie.

CHARLIE: Looks like you got an attitude.

JENNA: I got a real good attitude ! Real good !

CHARLIE: Looks like you got an attitude, Jenna.

JENNA: I got a real good attitude ! Charlie.; And you know it !

CHARLIE: You know that this world was not created for your pleasure, Jenna.

JENNA: You've got that on higher authority?

CHARLIE: You don't take me seriously, do you now?; Do you, Jenna?

JENNA: Why should I?

CHARLIE: Do you now?

JENNA: You are serious enough for both of us...; But I plan to change all that...
(she takes out a small tape recorder and sets it on Charlie's work station.)

CHARLIE: (amazed); How on earth did you get that in here, Jenna?

JENNA: You may have noticed that I'm young and female.

CHARLIE: Right !

JENNA: You may have noticed the guys on Missile Security are young, restless, males and they are really bored to death !

JENNA: You know I could smuggle your mother in here, Charlie...
(she reaches over to turn the tape on. Charlie stops her); Oh, Charlie!

CHARLIE: You know that music is forbidden here.

JENNA: Oh, come on, Charlie!

CHARLIE: The guys next door will...

JENNA: Oh, come on, Charlie!

CHARLIE: ...will hear us, Jenna.

JENNA: Who cares if anyone can hear, Charlie?

CHARLIE: The guys in the next office will hear us.

JENNA: Who cares if anyone can hear, Charlie?

CHARLIE: I care if anyone can hear, Jenna!

JENNA & CHARLIE: They will hear us !

Playback Tips: The sound files are in mono format. I am using Sound Machine as a "Helper Application" to play these au format files back on the Macintosh. I have noticed on my system (which is optimized for stereo playback) that unless the volume of the empty channel is disabled or turned all the way down, the empty channel will add hiss to the channel with the sound. If you experience hiss during playback, you should try to disable playback of the empty channel. If you are listening through external amplification as I am, this may merely require panning your balance control all the way to one side.

Graphics, text, sounds, etc.  Copyright  © Christopher Yavelow  1987 and 1994