Come in, Tower
copyright 2005 Maaike Davidson
copyright 2005 Maaike Davidson
ED standing on step ladder on the tarmac. Waiting. He looks around, sees Harley’s dog and makes note of it. DAN approaches, eating a sandwich that he takes from a paper bag. They are both wearing blue coveralls.
DAN: Hi Ed.
ED: Hi Dan.
DAN: Flight comin’ in today?
ED: Yep.
They wait.
ED: You still datin’ Shirley?
DAN: Yep.
ED: Isn’t hard having her gone all the time?
DAN: If something’s important, you work for it.
ED: Ain’t that the truth.
DAN: Only...
ED: Yeah...
DAN: It doesn’t seem the same.
ED: Things change.
DAN: I mean. I think she’s seeing someone else.
ED: One of those business guys?
DAN: Maybe. Or a pilot at one of them fancy airports. You know how women are suckers for uniforms.
ED: What do you think you’re wearin’?
DAN: A uniform that ain’t covered in grease.
(Pause)
ED: You wanna get a beer after work?
DAN: Shirley’s coming today.
ED: Stayin’ the week?
DAN: Yep.
ED: Bring her along.
DAN: Sure. She’s a sport.
FEMALE VOICE: Tower, this is Flight B. Come in tower. (While the announcement is heard, ED climbs to the top rung of the ladder and Dan picks up the paper bag and holds it above his head to see if there is any wind.)
ED: (Speaking into a walkie-talkie) This is Tower. Come in.
FEMALE VOICE: Hey, Ed. How’s it look?
ED looks back and forth from his position on top of the ladder.
ED: Clear in all directions. Wind is from the...
DAN: North.
ED: ...North. And Harley’s dog is loose again. (Looks around.) Can’t see it right now.
FEMALE VOICE: Roger, watch for Harley’s dog.
DAN tugs on ED’s pants leg.
ED: Oh, hey, Shirl? Dan says Hi.
FEMALE VOICE: Hi Sweetie!
ED: Runway’s yours, Shirl. Tower out.
He remains on the ladder, looks to one side where the plane is coming from and slowly starts waving his arm in a large gesture.
DAN: You could hear it in her voice. I don’t think she loves me any more.
Pause
ED: You can’t stop progress, Dan. You just can’t.
Angel Commandos: Warriors of the Sky
copyright 2005 Maaike Davidson
In an airport in front of the escalators. ULI an angel with halo, wings and army boots carries a walkie talkie.
ULI: G-R-4 to base. Come in base.
BASE: This is base, go ahead GR4.
ULI: Where’s the newbie you’re sending me?
BASE: She left 20 minutes ago. Hang on. G-1-6 this is Base. Come in, G-1-6...(beat) She’s not responding.
ULI: (sighs) There she is, I see her. G-R-4 out.
BASE: Base out.
Enter NELLIE a less experienced commando.
NELLIE: (Dressed the same. She is very happy) Hi! I’m Nellie! I got a little lost in the... (gestures back to where she came from and mimes putting on and off a top hat with both hands.)
ULI: What’s your code?!
NELLIE: Code?
ULI: We address each other in code!
NELLIE: Um...(looking at her halo for identification) Gabriel sixteen. I think.
ULI: G-1-6. I’m G-R-4.
NELLIE: (looking around) I thought there’d be more of us. JFK is a very big airport.
ULI: There’s usually 25 of us in Domestic, but it’s just you and me this afternoon.
NELLIE: Why?
ULI: The group was dispatched to Flight 815.
NELLIE: Why? (Quietly leaning in to ULI) Is the plane going to crash?
ULI: No, food poisoning. (beat) Just you and me deciding where we’re really needed. (She looks at her monitor–NELLIE leans in).
NELLIE: Oh no! Blasmessy!
ULI: What?
NELLIE: Blasmessy. You know, the taking of the Lord’s name in vain.
ULI: Blasphemy.
NELLIE: That’s what I said; blasmessy.
ULI: It’s pronounced blasphemy.
(Pause)
NELLIE: Is it still a sin if you can’t pronounce it?
ULI: Fuck, yeah.
Her halo starts blinking red and blue like police lights. OR there is a loud siren.
ULI: Sorry, just trying to prove a point.
Her halo returns to normal.
NELLIE: (Looking at monitor) Crisis of Faith! Crisis of Faith! What’re we going to do!? (Nellie mumbles...) First we’ll...then I’ll...
ULI: I’ve got it. (Into walkie talkie) G-R-4 to base.
BASE: Go ahead G-R-4.
ULI: Flight 1243 to Pittsburgh needs to experience some faith promoting turbulence.
BASE: We’re on it. Base out.
NELLIE: Wow. You really stay calm during a crisis.
ULI: I’ve been on the job a long time. Stick with me–you’ll learn a thing or two.
BASE: G-R-4 this is Base.
ULI: Go ahead, Base.
BASE: You’re needed in sector 2.
ULI: Roger, that. G-R-4 out. (To Nellie) Ok, I’ll be back in a minute. It’s all yours.
NELLIE: You’re going to...(gulp) leave me?
ULI: You’ll be fine. (Exits).
Nellie talks to herself trying to remain calm. Something happens off stage...like ULI kick something with her boot and there is a muffled “FUCK” from off stage. The sirens start sounding again throwing Nellie into a panic.
Fade out.
No comments:
Post a Comment