Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Chernobyl Virus ❯ Introduction ( Chapter 1 )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHERNOBYL VIRUS

A One-Act Play

by Patience Harper

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHARACTERS

 

 

 

 

OLIVIA: Reactor core monitor who had voted to change the pressurized nuclear reactor in Shearon Harris to an RBMK reactor. She is extremely stubborn and carries herself in a way that outwardly says “I'm smarter than you”.

FABIEN: OLIVIA's coworker of three years, who has worked beside OLIVIA long enough to know about her stubborn streak. He had voted against changing the pressurized nuclear reactor to the RBMK reactor because of the RBMK's significance in the Chernobyl meltdown.

NADIA: Newscaster for channel 2's Breaking News.

CAMERAMAN: NADIA's partner in both job and life, but they've been having a few marital issues.

3 FIREFIGHTERS: Three firefighters who worked to put out the reactor fires.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Scene one: Fade in to OLIVIA and FABIEN, C, inside a control room overlooking the reactor chamber inside Shearon Harris.]

OLIVIA

So… Whaddya think?

FABIEN
(looking out a window that overlooks the reactor)

Dunno.

OLIVIA
(frowns and stands beside FABIEN, looking out the window as well)

It'll increase output capacity. We could power 80 times more with the RBMK than we did with the pressurized reactor.

FABIEN

It's all too risky. There's a reason that they're considered obsolete-

OLIVIA
(interrupting)

Shut up. With such a low number of RBMK reactors in the world, our change would be valued. Especially when we start producing more power. I mean, think of it. The Ignalina in Lithuania was rated at 1500 megawatts per reactor. We have space enough for four of them. Do the math!

FABIEN
(groans)

6000 Megawatts...

OLIVIA
(smugly)

Whereas a week ago we were… (waiting for him to finish her sentence.)

FABIEN

Generating 900 Megawatts in the entire facility.

OLIVIA
(pats him on the back)

See? I'm right. Nothing to worry about.

FABIEN

But-

OLIVIA
(interrupting him again)

But what, Fabien? What could you possibly have to say after I have so thoroughly taken your theory and thrown it back in your face?

FABIEN
(glare)

The RBMK reactor was the same kind that caused the Chernobyl meltdown- (panel starts to beep in warning.)Ohmygod…

OLIVIA
(jumps at the sound of the beeping)

Wh-what's going on?

FABIEN
(snaps)

What do you think!?

OLIVIA

Well what are you waiting for?! Start the emergency shutdown!

FABIEN

You're closer! (XCR and pulls the red painted lever.)

LOUDSPEAKER

Emergency shutdown initiated. Twenty seconds until completion.

FABIEN
(XCL, pushing Olivia toward the door)

We have to get out of here!

OLIVIA
(resisting)

We're supposed to stay here until it's finished!

FABIEN
(angry)

How the Hell do you end up working in a reactor monitoring station for a nuclear power plant without knowing how Chernobyl melted down? The circumstances are exactly the same!

LOUDSPEAKER
(counting down)

14… 13… -Warning. Warning. Power surge detected.

OLIVIA
(panicked)

What's happening?!

FABIEN

(Overpowers OLIVIA, and pushes her out the door as an explosion is heard and the lights shut off. Viewer can see the emergency shutdown panel blinking a red light and hear an ominous siren sounding in the dead silence.)

[END SCENE]

 

 

[Scene two: Fade in to a reporter, NADIA, speaking to a camera man in front of Shearon Harris.]

NADIA

(standing C with the camera man and talking over the sirens)

How about… (turns and indicates the range she wants the camera to cover) get me, and then behind me the plant… I don't think we've got much time until the other crews start getting here.

CAMERAMAN

(nods XDL, pointing the camera at NADIA)

NADIA

(brushes her hair aside and smoothes down the front of her skirt, straightens her composure and takes a breath, holding the microphone to her mouth.)

CAMERAMAN

(gives NADIA a thumbs up)

 

NADIA

This is Nadia Marshall with Channel 2's Breaking News. I'm here at Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant. Just moments ago, the Emergency Shutdown System was engaged. (consults a notepad) Just two days ago, the pressurized reactor was replaced with a Reaktor Bolshoy Moshc… Moschn… (tries to recover by taking a deep breath) High Power Channel Type Reactor, or RBMK. The technology used in these reactors was developed in the 1950s and very few reactors of this type are still in use today. The switch made here, in Shearon Harris, was debated on for months by the superiors of the company and is still highly opposed by some of the higher-ups. (explosion resounds from behind NADIA as she ducks in reaction)

NADIA

(stands shakily)

Come on! Let's go! (covers her mouth and ducks her head as she pulls CAMERAMAN off stage left.)

CAMERAMAN

(from off stage)

You ruined my shot!

FABIEN & OLIVIA

(Stumble in from offstage CR,)

FABIEN

(coughing into his sleeve, recovers and looks at OLIVIA)

OLIVIA

(walks past FABIEN, XC, staring transfixed at fires that have started UR)

We did this, Fabien… We let this happen.

FABIEN

(XC, shaking his head)

No, you did it. You and your board of higher-ups who decided that they wanted to switch and risk safety for output capacity. There's no telling what's going to happen now.

OLIVIA

(looks at FABIEN, upset)

No way of telling? Why don't you just tell me a few more of those Chernobyl facts?! (pushes him away from her, angry) If you're so damn genius, why don't you give me some supernatural reason for why it happened, or some strange coincidental fact! Come on, Fabien! (pushes him again, screaming) TELL ME THAT IT'S ALL MY FAULT! GO AHEAD! I KNOW YOU'RE THINKING IT!

FABIEN

(slaps OLIVIA)

I could tell you all sorts of “coincidental” things about this disaster and Chernobyl. But I'm not. And though I do think it's your fault, I'm not going to sit here and scream at you.

OLIVIA

(holding her face with a shocked expression)

I-

FABIEN

(interrupts)

I'm not finished. You've interrupted me Christ knows how many times, and I think that I've earned at least one free interruption just for enduring your “holier-than-thou” attitude. You need to get a hold of yourself, straighten up and hope to high Hell that you're going to survive. Now tell me if anyone you're close with uses well water.

OLIVIA

(visibly taken aback by the sudden subject change, drops her hand from her face)

Well… water?

FABIEN

(rolls his eyes)

Yes. Well water. You know, as in water… That comes from a well?

OLIVIA

(wiping her eyes on her coat sleeve)

Shut up… Being rude isn't going to fix anything.

FABIEN

(impatiently)

You haven't told me yet.

OLIVIA

(sighs)

Yeah. Our entire neighborhood is on a well system. Which means my house uses one and so does yours.

FABIEN

Is your mom home?

OLIVIA

(exasperated)

I don't know WHAT you're talking about half the time. You know that? Is my mom home? I don't know. Why?

FABIEN

First you dismiss everything I say and now you question it. For once just shut up and listen! It's going to rain.

OLIVIA

What? How do you know that?

FABIEN

(points up)

There are things called rain clouds. They're gray. And they have rain in them. Also, there's this magical thing called a television. Sometimes, when you turn it on, it'll tell you the future. It's called a weather forecast, Olivia, really.

OLIVIA

God, Fabien, being sarcastic isn't helping at all. What does rain have to do with wells and where I live?

FABIEN

Oh please. I KNOW you're not that stupid. Nuclear disaster equals nuclear fallout, fallout plus rain equals acid rain which will drain into the well system which in turn will be consumed by everyone who uses well water.

OLIVIA

Then… we have to get someone to report it… get a broadcast out. That would keep people from drinking the water wouldn't it?

FABIEN

Not everyone watches the news and word of mouth doesn't travel fast enough… Someone will ALWAYS drink the water. It's just the way that humankind works. (another explosion) Where's that reporter…? (exit stage left with OLIVIA)

[END SCENE]

[Scene three: Fade in to FABIEN & OLIVIA walking up from CR, exhausted, to NADIA & CAMERAMAN outside a news van, Center]

NADIA

(leaning against the door and looks up as FABIEN & OLIVIA approach)

Who are you?

OLIVIA

Can you broadcast live?

NADIA

I'd… Have to contact the station… And they'd have to approve it… why? (clutches her microphone closer to her as if afraid that OLIVIA will take it from her)

FABIEN

We need to get out a warning.

NADIA

(pushes off of the van door, excited)

About the explosions?

OLIVIA

No, about the purple people eaters taking over the world. Yes the explosions!

NADIA

(shoots off a glare at OLIVIA)

Find some other news van. I'm not giving up my air time to a bitch.

OLIVIA

(eyes widen and huffs)

FABIEN

Look. I hate to break up your little fight. But stop it. (to NADIA) You can hog your camera and your network and pretend to be completely airheaded and oblivious to EVERYTHING going on around you OR you could save lives.

CAMERAMAN

… I'd like to save lives.

FABIEN

Good. Now, Miss Marshall, you're not really needed to get a warning out. So if you would kindly- (stops talking as thunder rumbles)

OLIVIA

(shouts)

It's going to RAIN!

NADIA

(gives the two of them a very strange look)

CAMERAMAN

(goes into the van to hook up a few cables to connect them to the station)

OLIVIA

(glares at NADIA)

Stop looking at me like that or you're gonna be broadcasting with a black eye…

NADIA

(sneers and looks DL, focusing a glare on someone in the audience, looking extremely displeased)

CAMERAMAN

(stepping out of the van with the camera on his shoulder)

We're ready to go when you guys are… (looks back at NADIA) Are you-

NADIA

(without looking up from DL)

No. (thunder rumbles again, louder this time)

FABIEN

Change of plans… Get in the van…

CAMERAMAN

(frowns)

NADIA

Oh, no. Who said I would share my van with you?

CAMERAMAN

Get over it Nadia…

NADIA

I… What? How dare you!

CAMERAMAN

Ugh, I wish I had never married you.

NADIA

Now is NOT the time to discuss marital problems!

CAMERAMAN

(hands the camera to FABIEN who places the camera in the back)

Word of advice… Never marry your partner.

FABIEN

(exchanges an awkward glance with OLIVIA)

FABIEN & OLIVIA

(simultaneously)

No thanks… (climb into the van's back and slide the door closed)

CAMERAMAN

(gets into the driver's seat of the van)

Get in, Nadia.

NADIA

No.

CAMERAMAN

If you don't get in the van right now, I'm divorcing you.

NADIA

No you won't! You can't leave me.

CAMERAMAN

Really? Watch. (closes the door and starts the car, driving it off stage left)

NADIA

(looking off CL staring in disbelief. Thunder rumbles. NADIA covers her head and exits DL, running through audience)

[END SCENE]

[Scene four: firefighter standing outside the reactor building, after the fire has been put out]

FIREFIGHTER

(talking into a walkie-talkie, standing DC, looking out into the audience)

The body count's rising… We found twenty before we even got to the central fire… The fourth reactor was the first to experience meltdown. The other three followed right after but melted down one at a time. The remains are being covered with concrete right now. (turns facing upstage)

FIREFIGHTER 2 & 3

(X from UL to UR, carrying someone in a body bag)

FIREFIGHTER

(coughs violently and drops the WALKIE-TALKIE to the ground exit XCL, doubling over)