Based on a piece written for a written in my first year of university for my Writing for Radio module. The title, a small, cruel joke.
SCENE 1
SFX INTERIOR, CHURCH. A FUNERAL DIRGE PLAYING AND COMING TO AN END
Vicar: And now for a final word from Natalie.
SFX FOOTSTEPS, HEELS ON STONE THEN STEPS
Natalie: (CLEARING THROAT)(GIVING SPEECH) The stars, that’s what he told me. Beautiful even in death. Light, that’s what he was, my light, my star. (PAUSE)(HEAVY EXHALE) Space, that’s what he needed, but out there he shone and still lit up everything around me. It was everything to him, that darkness, he used to say “maybe not us and maybe not our kids, but maybe theirs, they’ll be out there, they’ll get to discover the infinite black that we just get to scratch the surface of.” (HEAVY EXHALE, COUGH) And now…(STARTS TO CRY)
Vicar: (HUSHED) Are you ok?
Natalie: (HUSHED) Yeah…yeah.(PAUSE)(HEAVY BREATH)(GIVING SPEECH) I remember the, the first time I met him. It was a small bar and we’d both had a bit to drink, but we knew. It wasn’t for a while till he called but you all know what he was like (PAUSE). It wasn’t always easy for us, but I truly loved him, each thought, each word, each hair, each atom of him. I knew that that was all that really mattered to me anymore. Each of us, I know, have been blessed by his presence in one way or another and I know now that each of our lives will be dimmer and duller without the star that we have learnt to love. So (PAUSE) Tim (PAUSE AND BREAKING DOWN) you will be missed. (CRYING)
SFX A PIANO RENDITION OF HALELUJAH STARTS PLAYING THEN FADES OUT
SCENE 2
SFX EXTERIOR, SPACE. THE SOUND OF BREATHING THROUGH A MACHINE. THE OCASIONAL BEEP AND ATMOSPHERE NOISE
Tim: (INTERNAL MONOLOGUE) Space, the great nothing. I can’t really believe I made it, I’ve got to thank Natalie when I get home.
Jan: (THROUGH COMMUNICATIONS) Tim, how’s the repair work going? Over.
Tim: It’s going well, not too much longer, maybe another five minutes, over.
Jan: (TRHOUGH COMMUNICATIONS) Ok, just keep an eye on your oxygen. Over and out.
Tim: (INTERNAL) Space debris, that’s the biggest problem, always causes havoc with the tech up here. It’s pretty to watch it go by sometimes, but it’s more hassle than it’s worth. The stars are the real beauties though. Of course by the time you see the light, the star itself is dead, but at least they’re beautiful while they’re alive.
Mac: (AUTOMATED VOICE, FEMALE) Oxygen at 20%.
Tim: (EXTERNAL) Thanks Mac. (PAUSE)(INTERNAL) Alive. Funny word really, but it’s up here that I am truly alive. I just wish she could see it with her own eyes, not just the pictures I send. (PAUSE) What do we have here? You aren’t supposed to be here are you? You must be a piece of the regulator that went missing the other day. (EXTERNAL) Ground control, I found a piece I think is from the regulator mixed in with one of the communication pieces, requesting extra time to search the regulator? Over.
Jan: (TRHOUGH COMMUNICATIONS) Permission granted, please keep an eye on your oxygen levels, over.
Tim: Will do, over and out. (INTERNAL)(PAUSE) I could get used to it up here. There’s no noise, no Natalie nagging. Ha, if she could hear my thoughts, I think if any women could read a man’s thoughts society would break down pretty quickly. (SMALL LAUGH TO SELF) (PAUSE) It’s kinda lonely though I guess. The closest anyone is up here is about, (PONDERING PAUSE) maybe London to Scotland. I think it’s the Chinese station, I wonder if they speak English. Not that I’ll ever meet them.
Mac: Oxygen at 15%
Tim: (EXTERNAL) Thanks Mac. (PAUSE)(INTERNAL) All the people I’ll never meet. The world seems so small from up here, like nothing down there exists and this is it. That ball of blue, green and white, so small I could just crush it between my fingers. (DREAMILY) But she exists. The only reason I really need the sun, just to see her, her eyes meeting mine when I wake up. The low light, a whisper, a hand forming an expression of love. (SHAKING HEAD) Come on Tim, onl-(CUT OFF)
Jan: (TRHOUGH COMMUNICATIONS)(CONCERNED) Tim, ground control recommends returning to the OV and finishing for the day, over.
Tim: (EXTERNAL) Just a minute, reconnecting the regulator, over.
Jan: (THROUGH COMMUNICATION)(CONCERNED) New news, a small amount of space debris is heading in your direction, collision time estimate one minute, board the O.V. ASAP. Over and out.
Tim: (INTERNAL) One minute? They usually know in advance. (SOUNDS OF MOVEMENT, CLICKING OF BUTTONS) (EXTERNAL) Ground control, there’s a problem with the door, the hatch won’t open, over.
Jan: (TRHOUGH COMMUNICATIONS) Ground control is looking into the problem, over.
Tim: (CONCERN) I have a visual on incoming debris, over.
Jan: (TRHOUGH COMMUNICATIONS) Stay there an-(CUT OF BY STATIC THEN COMPLETELY SILENT)
Tim: (PAUSE) Ground control, can you hear me? Over. (PAUSE)(MORE URGENT) Ground control, can you hear me? Over. (PAUSE) Grou-(LOUD GARBLED SOUND)(GRUNT OF PAIN)(INTERNAL) Come on open.
SFX CLICKING OF BUTTONS FOR A WHILE
Tim: Come on! (BREATHING HEAVILY)(HITTING OF BUTTONS STOPS)(INTERNAL) Ok, it’s gonna be fine. (PAUSE WITH JUST BREATHING, SWALLOW) (WHISPERED) It’s gonna be fine, it’s gonna be fine, it’s gonna be fine. (EXTERNAL)(BOLD) Ground control, can you hear me? Over. (PAUSE AND BREATHING)
Mac: Oxygen at 10%.
Tim: (WORRIED) Thanks Mac. (INTERNAL) Calm down, just think nice things like in training, think of her. (PAUSE) Oh Natalie, why did you let me come up here? (PAUSE) Oh God! (SHARP INHALE WHILE BRACING FOR IMPACT)
SFX SILENCE
SCENE 3
SFX INTERIOR, BEDROOM. TELEVISION COMMERCIALS QUIETLY PLAY IN BACKGROUND
Natalie: I can’t believe you’re leaving tomorrow.
Tim: Please, not tonight.
Natalie: (NESTLING INTO TIM) Ok. (PAUSE) I’m gonna miss this.
Tim: So am I. (PAUSE) Three months though, then I’m all yours. Is that so bad?
Natalie: (PAUSE) You’re all mine now.
Tim: (SMALL LAUGH) I guess I am. I’m gonna miss those eyes. (SOUND OF KISSING) Can we turn that off?
SFX COMMERCIALS BECOME SILENT, MORE KISSING, PAUSE
Natalie: (QUIET CRY)
Tim: Please don’t cry.
Natalie: I’m, I’m sorry.
Tim: You’re setting me off now.
Natalie: (SAD GIGGLE)(EXHALE) This won’t ever change will it?
Tim: Huh?
Natalie: Us.
Tim: No. What makes you say that?
Natalie: (PAUSE) Just an omen.
Tim: Please, not tonight.
Natalie: I’m sorry. I’m just worried about the whole space thing. I…I saw a documentary on it and…and…
Tim: (REASURING) Honey, it’s gonna be fine.
Natalie: I…I know but I’m just a little scared.
Tim: I promise you, when I get back we’ll be happy and I’ll just get a desk job with BIS? How does that sound?
Natalie: Ok. (GIGGLE, SLIGHTLY HAPPIER)
Tim: Now come here.
SFX BED SHEETS RUSTLING AND SPRINGS, FABRIC MOVING
Natalie: Not too tight.
Tim: (STRAIN AS HE SQUEEZES) Oh come on.
Natalie: (SERIOUS) No.
Tim: What’s wrong?
Natalie: Look, I didn’t want to say anything with the mission and everything but. (PAUSE)
Tim: But what?
Natalie: But…(PAUSE)
Tim: (HARSHER) But what?
Natalie: I’m…(HAPPY) I’m Pregnant.
Tim: (PAUSE)(HUSHED EXCITEMENT) I’m…I’m gonna be a dad?
Natalie: (HUSHED EXCITEMENT) Yeah.
Tim: (PAUSE, AIRY LAUGH OF ASTONISHMENT, HUSHED EXCITEMENT) You weren’t gonna tell me?
Natalie: The mission and everything, I just didn’t want to throw you off. I thought if you knew it would…I’m sorry.
Tim: I’m gonna be a dad.(PAUSE) When did you find out?
Natalie: (SMALL LAUGH) You remember that weekend we spent at the Northern Lights?
Tim: (SMALL LAUGH) Oh.
Natalie: I think.
Tim: I’m gonna be a dad.(PAUSE) Is it a boy or a girl?
Natalie: I don’t know, I thought we could find out when you got back.
Tim: I need to know though. You have to find out and tell me.
Natalie: I will.
Tim: I love you so much.
Natalie: I love you too.
SFX MOVING OF SHEETS
Tim: (PAUSE) Why am I leaving tomorrow?
SCENE 4
SFX INTERIOR, KITCHEN. A KETTLE BOILING. MUSIC PLAYING QUIETLY, THE SOUND OF WASHING UP
Tim: (IN ANOTHER ROOM OF THE HOUSE, CALLING OUT) Hey, I’m home.
Natalie: (CALLING OUT) I’m in the kitchen.
SFX DOOR OPENING
Tim: Smells delicious.
SFX SOUND OF KISSING
Natalie: (WHILE BEING HELD UNEXPECTANTLY) Hello?
Tim: (EXCITED) I’ve got some news. I’m heading up with the VX-371.
Natalie: (UNSURE HOW TO FEEL) Oh, that’s, that’s great. (PAUSE) When do you go?
Tim: (EXCITED) In two months.
Natalie: Is, is this the one year mission?
Tim: (EXCITED) No, it’s the three months.
Natalie: Umm…
Tim: (CONCERNED) What’s wrong?
Natalie: (STRUGGLING TO FINISH SENTENCE) It’s, uh, I, I, umm. (PAUSE) I don’t want you to go.
Tim: (QUESTIONING) What?
Natalie: I, I…
Tim: (ACUSINGLY) What?
Natalie: I don’t want you to leave me.
Tim: (STARTING TO GET ANGRY) This is my dream, how could you not want me to go?
Natalie: (STARTING TO TEAR UP) I, I just don’t want to lose you.
Tim: I’ve been dreaming of this before I was ten, and now you don’t want me to go?
Natalie: No, it’s, it’s just. (PAUSE) I love you.
Tim: That’s your answer to everything isn’t it.
Natalie: (GASP, CRYING, TAKEN ABACK) You, you’re an asshole.
SFX WALKING TOWARDS THE DOOR AND A SLAM
Tim: (ANNOYED EXHALE) Natalie!
Natalie: (BEHIND DOOR) No!
Tim: Natalie!
(BEAT)
Tim: (SOFTER) Natalie.
SFX THE DOOR OPENS
Tim: Look, (SWALLOWS) I’ve wanted this all my life, it’s etched into me, I was born an astronaut and to have someone, someone I love so much tell me no, it just tears me apart. I’m sorry but I have to go.
(BEAT)
Tim: Please stop crying.
Natalie: How would you feel if I left?
Tim: You-, you’d leave me?
Natalie: No, but, what about the Northern Lights?
Tim: Look, it wasn’t the Northern Lights, it…it was him.
Natalie: You can’t even say his name can you?
Tim: (STRESSFUL SIGH) Toby, you happy now?
Natalie: And what about Jan?
Tim: She’s just a colleague, you know that.
Natalie: So was Toby. So what’s the difference?
Tim: Him.
Natalie: It’s always a ‘him’ isn’t it? But I mention a ‘her’ and I’m blowing everything out of proportion.
Tim: You are.
(BEAT)
SFX DOOR SLAMS
Tim: (EXASPERATED SIGH) Natalie?
(BEAT)
SFX DOOR OPENING
Tim: (INTIMATELY) Natalie, let’s go to the Northern Lights together.
Natalie: (LONG PAUSE) You promise?
Tim: Promise.
Natalie: What about your training.
Tim: I’ll sneak it into my work schedule somehow. I mean, I owe you that at least. Now come here, I love you.
SFX MUSIC FADES
SCENE 5
SFX EXTERIOR, SPACE. THE SOUND OF BREATHING THROUGH A MACHINE. THE OCASIONAL BEEP OF A MACHINE AND ATMOSPHERE NOISE
Tim: (INTERNAL) Oh Natalie, why did I have to leave you? I know we had moments where everything fell apart but, but…(STARTS TO CRY) And now, now, all I want is you, that last night, it should have lasted forever, just in your arms. The sun just having to rear its ugly head. All I had was one week left in the cosmos and yet it forsakes me. The little one too, this part of me that I’ll never get to meet. I…I…
Mac: Oxygen at 5%. Warning, please return to O.V.
Tim: (EXTERNAL) Thanks Mac.
Mac: You’re welcome.
Tim: Thank God I’ve got you hey?
Mac: Sir, please stop crying.
Tim: I wish I could, how would you understand, you’re just a robot?
Mac: Sir, look at the stars.
Tim: I don’t want to, all I want is her. Right now, the low light in that night we were together, staring into that green that danced. The green, her eyes, her…
Mac: She is not here sir.
Tim: (HARSHLY)I know that, (WHISPER) I know. (SAD) And look at me, I’m talking to a robot, let me guess, low oxygen?
Mac: Please remain calm sir.
Tim: You know what, I’ve gotta get in, I’ve got to. (PAUSE) Mac, what can I do?
Mac: Sir, I do not know.
Tim: Ok. (PAUSE)
SFX CLICKING OF BUTTONS
Tim: What am I looking for?
Mac: I do not know sir.
Tim: Of course not, you’re not really saying anything, are you? You’re just in my head.
Mac: Oxygen at 3%. Emergency, return to O.V.
Tim: Come on!
SFX CLICKING OF BUTTONS BECOMES MORE RIGOUROUS
Tim: (CRY OF SORROW, HEAVY BREATHING)
SFX CLICKING STOPS
Tim: (DFEATED) I guess that’s it then, isn’t it?
(BEAT)
Mac: Yes.
(LONG PAUSE)
Tim: (SINGING, FADING IN) It goes like this, the forth the fifth, the minor fall the major lift, the baffled king (CRYING AND SINGING) composing hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelu—–jah (JUST CRYING FOR A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME)
Jan: (BROKEN IN STATIC)-an you hear me? Over!
Tim: (BREATHING HEAVILY) Jan? Jan!
Mac: Oxygen at 2%. Severe warning, death imminent.
Tim: (ANGER, HEAVY BREATHING) Shut up!
Jan: (THROUGH COMMUNICATIONS) Tim, calm down, you need to preserve the remaining oxygen you have. We’re working on the door as we speak and, (PAUSE) your wife’s here.
Tim: Natalie?
Natalie: (THROUGH COMMUNICATIONS) I’m here.
Tim: (STARTS CRYING)
Natalie: (THROUGH COMMUNICATIONS) They called me and told me to come. I…(STARTS CRYING) I don’t know what to say.
SFX JUST THE SOUND OF THEM CRYING
Tim: I…I love you so much.
Natalie: (THROUGH COMMUNICATIONS) I love you too.
(BEAT)
Natalie: I…I’ve got some news. The baby…it’s a girl.
Tim: (HAPPY THROUGH TEARS) Ah, I can picture her now, your eyes. (SAD LAUGH) Have you thought of any names?
Natalie: No, I was waiting for you to come home.
Tim: Then we’ll keep waiting cause I’m getting home an-(CUT OFF)
Mac: Oxygen at 0%. Please return to O.V. Death imminent.
Jan: (THROUGH COMMUNICATIONS) Tim, you need to stop talking, you’ve only got the oxygen left in your suit. Just stay calm, we think we’ve got the doors open in a second.
Tim: (PAUSE) Aurora.
Jan: (THROUGH COMMUNICATIONS) Huh?
Tim: If…if I don’t make it, call her Aurora.
Natalie: (THROUGH COMMUNICATIONS)(WAIL) Ok.
SFX DOOR OPENING
Tim: It’s opening. I’m getting in. I lov-(CUT OUT BY STATIC)
(BEAT)
Jan: (THROUGH COMMUNICATIONS) Tim, can you hear us? Over. (PAUSE) Tim, can you hear us? Over.(PAUSE)(MORE PRESSING) Tim, can you hear us? Over! (PAUSE)
(BEAT)
Mac: Oxygen at 0%. Heart monitor indicates heart rate dropping. (PAUSE) No heart rate detected.
(BEAT)
Jan: I’m…I’m sorry.
Natalie: (THROUGH COMMUNICATIONS)(HEAVY BREATHING) Tim? (PAUSE)(STARTING TO PANIC) Tim? (PAUSE) Come on time, speak to me, come on. Tim? (SCREAMING)
Tiiiiiii-!(Cut off by static)
SFX STATIC STOPS ABRUPTLY. SILENCE.
AF Cowlin 