PHOTO ONE
(A Captain and his three soldiers are at the front line of battle.
They have been fighting for hours. They look tired and fearful. The
Captain is leaning on his kit with his rifle cocked over it. He is
looking back at his men and appears to be shouting to them. He has
the walkie-talkie in his hand.)
VOICE OVER: CAPTAIN: Men! We’re in trouble! Backup’s been delayed.
We’ll have to fight our way out.
SOLDIERS: Yessir!
CAPTAIN: Do what I say and what I do, and I promise I’ll get you all
out of here!
SOLDIERS: [two are slightly uncertain] Yessir!
CAPTAIN: Right! Blakeney, you have rear guard. Diamond
formation. On your bellies men and
follow me.
PHOTO TWO
(The Soldiers form a diamond-shaped formation low on the ground. The
Captain is in front. Two soldiers are on each side of, and slightly
behind, the Captain. Blakeney is still in the same spot as in the
first photo with a look of angry disdain on his/her face.)
VOICE OVER BLAKENEY: No way! [slight pause] Sir!
CAPTAIN: Excuse me?
BLAKENEY: How do I know that you’re gonna come good? For all
I know, you’ll lead us into a trap and we’ll be strung up like a whole
bunch of onions by those blokes over there! How do I know that you’re gonna
deliver.
CAPTAIN: Just ssh-up and follow me? I will get you out of here.
I promise.
PHOTO THREE
(The Captain and his Soldiers begin to move forward. One of the
other soldiers “Jones”, leans over as if whispering to Blakeney, the other
soldier “Jerrick” is looking at them and appears concerned at their hushed
conversation.)
VOICE OVER JONES: Just do it Blakeney. Don’t argue with
him. He is the Captain for goodness sake! If he leads us up
a garden path, then we die heroes, and he’ll get the blame! And if
you’re like me and don’ wanna die, then just look like you’re following
'im; dump 'im if he gets us out of here!
JERRICK: You’re both wrong! He’ll do it! I know he will.
He promised and I believe him. Just trust him will you. Come On!
PHOTO FOUR
(Blakeney is on his/her knees with his/her back arched. He is
clutching his chest and has an expression of shock and pain on his face.)
VOICE OVER BLAKENEY: Aagghh! I’ve been hit! I’ve been hit!
PHOTO FIVE
(The Captain is cradling Blakeney is his arms and looking at him with
great sorrow on his face. The others are laying low near by, Jones
is looking off into the distance as if to get away.)
VOICE OVER CAPTAIN: Why didn’t you trust me? Ya foolish kid!
I would have got you out of here if only you’d believed in me!
PHOTO SIX
(The Captain and Jerrick are crouching. Jerrick is looking forward
but the Captain is looking at Jerrick.)
VOICE OVER CAPTAIN: We’ve almost made it! Where’s Jones?
JERRICK: I don’t know Sir. He bolted just as we came up over
that last ridge.
CAPTAIN: So Jones didn’t believe in me either! He was just
keeping up appearances. Well! Jerrick, it looks like it’s just you and
me.
JERRICK: I never doubted you for a moment Sir!
PHOTO SEVEN
(The Captain and Jerrick are standing and have taken off their rifles and their
helmets. The Captain is drinking from his flask. Jerrick is looking up
into the sky. He has a walkie-talkie to his ear.)
VOICE OVER CAPTAIN: We’re safe now! Our boys are coming to get us.
We did it Jerrick. We did it!
JERRICK: Yessir! You promised. I believed. You delivered.
That was the deal wasn’t it?
CAPTAIN: Yes it was Jerrick! Yes it was.
....................................................................................
© Michele Pitman 1999, all rights reserved
This play may be performed free of charge, on the condition that copies are
not sold for profit in any medium, nor any
entrance fee charged. In exchange for free performance, the author would appreciate
being notified of when and for what
purpose the play is performed. She may be contacted at: michelle_pitman@hotmail.com