Past The Static: A Survival Audio Drama (Scene 1)

Written by Niomi Dylan Sass

Scene 1: The End of The World as We Know It

Setting: It has been a few weeks, tops, since the end of the world as we know it. An abandoned radio station with its Frequency Modulation, 91.1, in big letters outside, somewhere in the farmlands of the Midwest. It was affiliated with a branch of the Department of Homeland Security that informed the local public of safe zones. Outside the radio station is leftover carnage from when it got decimated. The backup generator is still intact, but almost out of gas. A male, mid-twenties, with a backpack, a handheld firearm, and a crowbar appears. He hears the Emergency Alert System alarm ring three times inside. He attempts to find a way to enter as the dialogue goes on.

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Emergency Broadcast 

Attention. This is not a test. This station's regularly scheduled program has been interrupted to participate in the emergency alert system. Attention. This is not a test. This is an emergency alert system. There has been a confirmation of the collapse of the United States Government. Our country is the third to fall victim, and at this rate, it won’t be the last. This message is on behalf of the Department of Homeland Security. We failed the citizens of this country. The pathogenic contagion spread amongst Americans much more rapidly than our armed forces could contain it. The data we were able to gather about the infected from the CDC before it fell could be lifesaving. Infected will exhibit irritable and aggressive behavior. Normal brain functions cease to operate, and they are verbally unresponsive, but physically dangerous. It’s imperative not to come in bodily contact with these individuals. There have been reports of healthy people becoming infected with this deadly pathogen from as little as being scratched. The only known action to successfully eliminate the infected is blunt force trauma to the head. Absolutely, under any circumstances, do not engage, unless that is your last option. Unfortunately, all known evacuation centers have been rendered contaminated. The U.S. Military does not have any safe zones for civilians. Seek shelter and stock only the necessary supplies that will aid in your survival. Secure all possible entrances and exits. Trust no one. And may God be with you. 

The Emergency Alert System alarm rings three times. He sees a window on the upper-level and grabs a crowbar out of his duffel bag. As he wedges the window open, the following dialogue is at a noticeably louder level. He enters through the top and hurriedly makes his way through the set cautiously until he finds the radio.  

Attention. This is not a test. This station’s regularly scheduled program has been interrupted to participate in the emergency alert system. Attention. This is not a test. This is an emergency alert system. There has been a confirmation of the collapse of the United States Government. Our country…  

The radio signal gets interrupted by a male character. He appears to be frantically out of breath.  

91.1

HELLO! Please let there be someone. HELLO! Is there anyone there? HELLO!?

Static. Beat. He flips to a different channel.

I got separated from my group, man. Beat I didn’t want to. I had to, man. Beat They were, they were just everywhere. 

Photo from the show The Walking Dead

Static. Beat. He flips to a different channel. Static.

I don’t know how I was the only one who saw them coming. I tried to run back to tell everyone. There was only a total of six of us, including me. It was my watch to secure the perimeter. I was doing my rounds, and after I secured it on the first lap, I thought I could stop for a minute and smoke a cigarette. This shit’s fucking stressful, man. I never smoked before the world went to shit, not tobacco at least. I finished smoking and went on to do another lap. Once I got to the halfway point, there they were… Everywhere… They were blocking the entrance, so I tried to run back. I heard Sammie scream… It wasn’t just any scream; the sound that left his body made me freeze right in my fucking tracks, man. I don’t know how long I stood there for. It could have been a second or 10 minutes. When I finally unfroze, I was able to see the back of the camp, but it was too late. They were surrounded… I got the hell out of there, man… hello? What was I supposed to do? Beat. HELLO!?

A female voice, mid-twenties, appears. Her voice is sarcastic but friendly.

88.8

Maybe not leave your friends for dead?

(END OF SCENE)