Audio Drama Script - Countdown to Meltdown

By Brian Comerford

Mike Masters is on his first day as anchorman at CMN News TV Studio in Atlanta, Georgia.
Professor Jeff Harman announces live on air, that a comet will devastate north-eastern USA in less than 30 minutes. He has already notified the White House and the President has fled on Air Force One, leaving behind the Vice-President and Major Fenton, the holder of the nuclear codes briefcase. Chaos ensues.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brian Comerford
• Release date: Nov 17, 2011
• ISBN: 9781465926906

Brian Comerford

Resident in Ireland, Brian Comerford has written for the theatre, screen, audio dramas and poetry. Please come back to Brian's Smashwords pages as new work is constantly being added.

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Audio Drama Script

COUNTDOWN TO MELTDOWN

By Brian Comerford

Copyright 1996 Brian Comerford

Smashwords Edition.

Synopsis is on the final page.

Cast

(in order of speech)

TIM

MIKE MASTERS

DONNA

PROFESSOR JEFF HARMAN

BUTCH CALLENDER

PROFESSOR RICHARD FLEMING

CALDER BELL

GARY MITCHELL

MAJOR FENTON

GENERAL SMACHT

VICE-PRESIDENT BENNIS

THE QUEEN

JAY TURNER

MOSES KATINSKI

Production note: Because of the context, this piece is played at a furious pace.

-o0o-

SCENE ONE.

FX: TELEVISION NEWS BROADCASTING STUDIO. FRANTIC ACTIVITY.

Tim: Sorry about this, Mike. Chuck has never rung in sick before.

Mike: Don't apologise, Tim...this is the biggest break in my life! If my Mom could see me now...anchor man on CMN live, Cable Metro Network broadcasting from Atlanta, Georgia!

Tim: On this show your Mom should leave you in diapers. This is seat of the pants television! Your job is to handle any story as it breaks.

Mike: You're making me nervous!

Tim: So much the better. You'll need adrenalin by the bucketful.

Mike: What's the top of the hour story?

Tim: First things first...your earpiece...put it in. It's your lifeline to the control room.

Mike: I've done this before you know.

Tim: Live?...to a worldwide audience?

Mike: (GULPS) Ahhhh....no!

Tim: Check your earpiece....sixty seconds to live transmission.

Mike: O.K. earpiece installed. Who's my linkman in the control room.

Donna: (EARPIECE FX) Linkperson, pig!

FX: ALL DONNA'S DIALOGUE IS MIKE'S EARPIECE ACOUSTIC.

Mike: Oh God, what a start!

Donna: I heard you...Mommy's boy!

Mike: Look...I'm sorry...I'm nervous...I don't want to screw...

Donna: Forget the sexist talk, buster. We've work to do!

Mike: What's your name? I'm really sorry.

Donna: Donna, if you must know.

Mike: O.K. Donna, let's get cracking!

Donna: Jerk!

Mike: Look...just tell me what's happening in (PANICS) thirty seconds!

Donna: We've scrapped everything that was planned. A Professor Harman from the Texas Space Institute is coming in. Lives in Atlanta. Says he's made an earth shattering discovery.

Mike: What's it about?

Donna: No time for detail...something about a comet. It's up to you to carry the story Mister anchorperson. He's due at your desk in five seconds.

Mike: Tim, this