One Act Play Lines

Sam's lines from Front Line.

Opening Line

I really don’t know why I’m even here.  Yeah, I know, the department requires mandatory counseling sessions after a traumatic incident.  I wasn't hurt in any way.  I didn’t cause anyone else to get hurt.  I never drew my weapon.  I was just there. Yes, I guess I was considered to be in charge, at least until the chief was supposed to get there or the city manager or the mayor or the band director or….anyone else who wanted to take charge.  I sure didn’t want to be the one who had to make all the decisions…to decide everyone’s fate…to…

Dana: What can I do Cap?

What do you think you can do? Look around, rookie. Go start checking on the vehicles.

Dana: Yes, ma’am. I’m not a rookie, I’ve been here five years.

Fine, whatever. Just go do your job and I’ll do mine.

Alexis: Chief, can you tell us what happened here?

I’m not the chief.  He’s on his way.  Be here any minute and will answer all your questions. 

Alexis: But, can you tell us how this started?

We have had a series of weather related accidents.  At this time I don’t know how many vehicles have been involved or the number of injuries.  Tell your people to let the viewers know that everyone should stay away from here so we can assess the situation and see that all frontline personnel can do their jobs.  We don’t need anyone down here who doesn’t belong.  Now please step back and stay out of the way.

Sparky: Sam, where’s the chief?

Which one?  Yours or mine?

Sparky: Either one!  We need more help!  Call the state for help…call the guard…call everyone you can.

That’s not my call.

Sparky exits

Joe, it’s Sam.

It’s a real mess out here.  We need more help.  I’ve been trying to get ahold of the chief but it keeps going to voicemail.  Do you know where he is?

He went where?

What time did he leave?

That’s about the time this whole mess started.  That means he could be here. 

No, I mean he either passed here before the first spinout or he’s….Who was with him in the car?

Joe, I gotta help get things done here.  Call the mayor and get the state patrol out.  Maybe even the National Guard.

Yes, we need help.

Riley: Sam, do you need some help?

Riley?  What are you doing here?

Riley: Well, good to see you too, Sam.  I heard the news report and thought I could help.

Sorry, I didn’t mean it that way.  I just don’t know how you can help.  You don’t usually come to these kinds of things.

Riley: Sam, I always come.  Every fire, every accident, any time there are people who need help.  That’s my job. There are going to be a lot of people who need help.  Calling their families, getting home, making notifications…I can help with all of that.

Notifications? Dear Lord, I didn’t think about…

Morgan: Captain, any word on more help?  We’re totally slammed here and it’s not getting any better.  We need more people.

I know.  I’m waiting for the chief to get back to me.

Dana: Sam, we checked all the vehicles.

You already said that.  What are you still doing here?  I need you to go make sure the road is clear.  We should be getting more help soon.  We’ll also need to be sure that the…medical examiner can get in here.

Dana: I will, but Sam.

What? 

Dana: I found the chief.

Great!  When will he get here to take charge so I can get in there to help.  

Dana: He won’t.

Sounds like they need help with getting the kids out of the bus.  Wait, what do you mean he won’t?

Dana: We found his car in the ditch.  It had rolled a couple of times and well, it looked like he had a defective airbag and…

Oh, lord.  I’ll have to call his wife and…

Dana: No, ma’am, you won’t.

Why not?  It should come from me.  I should really go there myself as soon…

Dana: That won’t be necessary, Sam.

No, she was in the car.

Dana: Yes.  I’ll go monitor the road unless there is something else you want me to do.

No, that’s good.

Michelle: My, my young man.  What a start.  This is a day your family will never forget.  And neither will you, believe me.  I wish for a day when I can just wake up and the weight of the world is off my shoulders, but I chose my life. You, dear boy, are lucky…life chose you.

As I walked down the highway, checking the cars, the trucks, the bus, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.  There was so much…it seemed like everyone needed something.  They needed me to take care of it.  They all were asking for things I couldn’t help with.  I wanted to, they were expecting me to, I just couldn’t.  But they kept coming at me.

Alexis: Tell me what’s happening.

Stop. Stop! STOP!!!! Leave me alone!  I can’t do this!

Everyone backs into the shadows

I know.  I know I can’t do everything.  I know I can’t be everywhere.  I want to, but, sometimes, it’s just hard, and some days are just rough…and sometimes you just gotta cry before you can move forward and all of that is okay.  Listen, it’s really helped being able to talk to you about this.  I realize now that it’s okay to be vulnerable.  No one wants to be put in that situation, but I have to accept that I did my best.

Karen: Excuse me, are you in charge here?

No, but what can I do for you?

Karen: Well, if you’re not in charge, who is?

What do you need?

Karen: I need whoever is in charge.

Do you need help?

Karen: Do I look like I need help?

Well…

Karen: Look, I have a flight in an hour. I need my luggage and myself at the airport right away.

Ma’am, as you can see we’re all busy around here.  In case you didn’t realize what was happening here, we have several people with severe injuries and they are our first priority. 

Karen: Yes, I know that.  Someone actually ran into my car and forced me to run my Mercedes into the back of a Chevy.  I still need to catch my flight.  I have to be in Paris for a very important meeting tomorrow.

I can get you to a safe place to wait for transportation, but I just received word that the airport has shut down due to the weather conditions.

Karen: We’ll see about that.

Follow me to the staging area and…

Karen: Remember to send someone back to my Mercedes for my luggage.

We’ll see that you get to the high school gym to wait for a ride.

Jim: Excuse me, oh, Sam it’s you.

Hi, Jim, what do you need?

Jim: What are you doing about getting those kids out of the bus?

How did you get here so fast?

Jim: I was following the team to the game tonight.  I managed to stay out of the way, and got over to the shoulder without getting hit.  I got to the bus right away but couldn’t get any of the doors open.  You’ve got to help me get those kids off the bus.

Jim, you know we’re doing everything we can.  There are a lot of people who need our help tonight.

Jim: Sam, I know that.  I see what’s happening, but my kids are on that bus!

Jim, I know.  Take a breath.  Let’s go see what we can do.

Kristina: Excuse me, are you in charge here?

No… well, yes, I guess I am.

Kristina: Great. I need help rounding up my cargo.

Excuse me?

Kristina :Look, my truck tipped back there and about a dozen of the cattle got loose.

You said cattle?

Kristina: Yeah, I need some help rounding them up.

I’m certainly not a cowboy, but…show me.