FIRE !

FIRE!

(Time is early Sun morn. Characters are Ed, a greenhorn, and Joe, an old hand at
fire. Ed has just finished pouring gasoline all around a large shed from a bright
red gas can.)

JOE
“Pour gas all around that shed, Ed.”
ED
“Like this Joe?”
JOE
“Like a pro, Ed.”
ED
“What next?
JOE
“Be careful with that gas can.
Place it farther away from the shed. ..... No, not in the SUV.”
ED
“Why’s that, Joe?”
JOE
“Throw a match into the shed and you’ll see.”
ED
“Wow! What a flare-up. Whooooosh. So that’s what napalm was like in Vietnam.”
JOE
“Yeah, but now look toward the gas can.”
ED
“What am I supposed to see, Joe?”
JOE
“A finger of flame shooting out towards the gas can.”
ED
“It almost reached the can. Good thing you had me move it far away from everything.”
JOE
“Didn’t they teach you younger guys anything in Volunteer Fireman School?”
ED
“The whole shed’s burning now. Bursts of flame, then white steam, then black, black
billows rolling upwards.”
JOE
“I sure like those flames shooting skyward. Reminds me of the barns I’d set on fire when I was in grade school. And soon the sirens will sound.”
ED
“Rrrrrrrrr. They’re starting now.”
JOE
“Quick, hop in the SUV and let’s get out of here.”
ED
“It’s so early in the morning, we probably woke them up at home in bed.”
JOE
“Imagine that. At home in bed with their wives on a Sunday morning.
ED
“Yeah.”
JOE
“No matter, they really enjoy putting out the flames. We’ll come back in a few minutes to help clean up.”
ED
“But won’t they suspect something, Joe.”
JOE
“Naw, and in any case, we got to pick up our gas can before they find it.”


THE END



© Sherman K. Poultney 19 June 2006


Notes: (assignment from Clay at SLC Summer Playwriting Workshop based on newspaper brief about subject.)