1Oh! My, it is a bit cramped in here, isn't it?…Oh, yes, thank you, um…Yes, nice to meet you, Major James. I suppose you've heard why I'm here…No? Well, then, you must really be wondering what's going on, mustn't you? I'm Jane Parker, you know, from the Washington Post? I'm here to do a story on the military action here-had a simply terrible time getting here, Major, honestly. All the way to Korea seems a little far to go to give military support to me, but (giggles) Oops! I'm not an opinion writer!
Start the what? Oh, yes, all right. (jerks with sudden start) Oh! (laughs nervously) My, it is a bit jerky, isn't it? (sits up, looks out window) Well, wait until the readers hear about this! Oh, it's so nice of you to take me for a ride in a real live tank, Major…Battle?…Oh, dear, I do think there's been some mistake, I wasn't supposed to be going…Well, Major, really!
Perfectly safe! Well, Major I hardly…Too late? (uneasy) WELL…
(loud bang) (screams)Oh, my! (breathing heavily) Major? Major, what's that popping noise? (half crouches out of chair as if pulled) Major, why?… (louder bang) (falls over, whimpering, whispers) Oh, God…(turns) What did I expect?…Well, I've seen the serials, you know, in the movie theatre, but it seemed so much…
(softer bang) quieter…(slides back into chair) What do you mean, war is loud? This isn't war, it's a military action! (presses lips together tightly) More popping…(holds onto bottom of chair) (very loud bang, loudest so far) (looks down at floor, then slowly glances towards window, looks to Major, widens eyes, uneasily) Major James? (reaches out to touch his shoulder) Major, you're stark whi…(looks out window, then sees and puts a hand over her mouth, then covers her eyes)
Pug? Who's Pu…(looks back to window) Oh… (looks up) Major, please sit down. No, Major. No, Major, please… (looks up at ceiling, then slumps in chair) He left me…he left me…but who will take care of me? I shouldn't be here, oh no…(sits up and plasters herself to window) There he is…Oh, no, Major, don't go over there…You can't help him, Major! (looks up at ceiling, mouths) pop pop pop… (ducks) (loudest bang of all) (looks up slowly, moans) Aou…Major…(breaths heavily, looks at notebook, flips through it, looks back and forth from it to the window quickly) This isn't war…This isn't war…This isn't war…(stops, looks at notebook, reads) "A government sponsored military action against the spread of Red control…" (another bang) (looks slowly up to window - long pause, looks down to the notebook again, as if reading, bites lip, winces at muffled bang, flips notebook closed, sets jaw, stands on chair, opens door in ceiling, then throws it out, slams door, gets back in seat, curls up and rocks a little as more muffled bangs sound)
End