"Bomb Runs Hurt"
by Mark L. Stinson
David Knarlorn: A 17-year-old high school student
Frank Knarlorn: David's stepfather
Betty Knarlorn: David's mom.
Jane Knarlorn: David's 13-year-old sister
Johnny Knarlorn: David's 12-year-old brother
(Scene opens in the kitchen/dining room of a suburban household. It is a sunny June Wednesday, and everyone is at home. Everyone but Johnny is in the room...1:55 PM)
DAVID: Mom...come on. My room's not that messy. I'll pick up my clothes and spray for bugs later...but, right now I'm supposed to be at Matt's...
FRANK: (interupting) Matt who? I told you you're not to associate with that Matt Osgood. He's a...(cutting off sharply as the air raid sirens come on)...uh,...oh! Its Wednesday. Its just a test. For a minute there....
(Johnny runs into the room.)
JOHNNY: (huffing and puffing) On...the radio...they said...to take shelter...WAR!
BETTY: Oh, shit! Frank, what are we going to do?
FRANK: (shortly) David, you get water and trashbags. Uh...Johnny, you get some bags and fill them with canned goods, and don't forget something to open them with. Betty you go and get all the clothes you can find. Jane, you stay with me.
(David, Johnny, and Betty all leave right after receiving their individual instructions. Jane remains.)
JANE: What are we going to do, Dad?
FRANK: Go get your radio and meet me in the basement. I got to build a shelter or something.
(A dingy basement. Damp and stuffy. Frank is franticaly stacking furniture in the corner.)
FRANK: I'm done. I'm glad we live in the suburbs. We'll be out of the blast radius.
(Jane enters and turns on her radio.)
JANE: All the stations sound normal.
FRANK: There's nuclear war and what are they doing? They're playing music.
(enter David and Betty.)
DAVID: We got our stuff.
BETTY: (screaming) What have you done to my basement!?!
FRANK: (soothingly) Cool down, Betty. It's no big thing. I had to build a shield. Now we have only minutes to go. Do exactly what I say.
(Later, same basement. All the clothes are laid out on the shelter and all the supplies are inside.)
FRANK: (bellowing) Johnny! Where are you!?! The bombs could impact any moment.
JOHNNY: (from offstage) Coming!
(Johnny comes down the stairs as his family starts to enter their homemade shelter. A bright flash blinds the Knarlorn Family as they all...)
KNARLORN FAMILY: Screams! (improvise)
FRANK: Get in the shelter before the shockwave hits!
JOHNNY: (laughing) Oh, boy, you guys are a joke!
BETTY: What do you mean?
(everyone notices the camera with the spent flash bulb hung around Johnny's neck)
FRANK: Johnny. I'm going to kill you!
(They all chase Johnny "the little liar" Knarlorn up the stairs)