Noisesssssssss
Two technicians operate a vital and dangerous machine. The power goes to their heads.
A short play for two people.
Noisesssssssss
A Short Play For Two People
by Sean Dance Fannin
At rise, a bunker. Brown noise, a low rumble that occurs through the end. XEO and YAO are sitting at control panels.
XEO
All sounds good.
YAO
If it sounds good to you.
XEO
The point of our job is to verify each other.
YAO
I'm verifying you.
XEO
Verify yourself.
YAO
I thought that was your job.
Something of a moment. They listen.
XEO
I hear something.
YAO
What?
XEO
The same.
YAO
It's just a wall of nothing.
XEO
That's what I'm saying.
YAO
It's like I can't hear anything anymore.
XEO
Why'd you get this job?
YAO
I mean...it's just a job.
XEO
Pretty good just a job.
YAO
Not really. Worst, in my opinion.
XEO
Yeah? Why aren't you doing something else?
YAO
I don't know. Control? I like control?
XEO
You don't control anything.
YAO
I control thousands of people's lives.
XEO
Do you?
YAO
One flick of this switch.
XEO
More than thousands, millions.
YAO
You said it not me.
XEO
But you need me for that. I have to flip mine too.
YAO
But it wouldn't work without me flipping mine.
XEO
Mine either.
YAO
Either way, doing what we're supposed to? That's power.
XEO
Explain.
YAO
If we didn't, same thing. Millions dead.
XEO
It wouldn't be a flash neither.
YAO
No it would be slow.
XEO
Years even.
YAO
No undoing it though. Once I flip this.
XEO
But see you're powerless to it. I have the reigns.
YAO
You only have the power of doing nothing.
XEO
But it's me doing nothing that settles the matter.
YAO
It would take me doing the thing before you had an option.
XEO
I've already told you what I would do.
YAO
But only because I brought it up!
XEO
This is easily flipped.
YAO
The switch?
XEO
The situation. I could do it.
YAO
But only because I did first.
XEO
Not if I beat you to it.
YAO
But then it would be my idea. I started this.
XEO
But you wouldn't have unless I already told you I would.
YAO
That didn't come till later.
XEO
I'm winning I have the power.
YAO
You don't like this job.
XEO
I do now.
YAO
What if I flipped it right now?
XEO
Then I wouldn't flip it and I'd be in control. Simple.
YAO
But you'd only be making that choice because I made you.
XEO
You made the situation not the decision.
YAO
So you will flip it?
XEO
You don't know what I'd do.
YAO
I do and I'd be making you do it.
XEO
How?
YAO
You just told me.
XEO
The only reason I have power here is because I won't do it.
YAO
SO I'm right.
XEO
You didn't make that decision because I would have anyway.
YAO
But you wouldn't have had to.
XEO
I wouldn't.
YAO
You wouldn't keep control of the situation?
XEO
I would.
YAO
But if I flip it and you don't you loose.
XEO
There's a time and a place for it and the moment isn't now.
YAO
But if I forced the moment.
XEO
You can't. Or at least wouldn't. Because you know.
YAO
Know?
XEO
Know I wouldn't.
YAO
Do I?
XEO
You do.
YAO
Let's see.
(YAO flips the switch. Two moments later...XEO flips theirs.)
XEO
I WIN!
End of play