Act 2, Scene 1: Dogless Dogfight


TECH PREROLL

%LIG% LX 0099 - Work Light OFF (Static Playbacks)
%LIG% LX 2100 - Blue reading Light with dim blue CYCs ON

%MIX% Check Levels
%MIX% Prepare "Radio-EQ" for Haku and Pre-Recs
%MIX% Unmute Desk

%MIX% Pan: ON
%MIX% Eisfuchs: ON

%MIX% Haku: OFF
%MIX% Tani: OFF
%MIX% Telepathic FX: OFF


DIALOG

%HND% Curtain stays closed

%LIG% UV Lights on

%ATT% This is a black light scene. No lighting except strong UV light. Everything visible is painted with UV sensitive paint. The whole scene is being played on the main stage, in front of the puppet stage. Actors are clothed in black so they become more or less invisible. The "friendly" plane (the one Florence and Cal are in), is painted green, with a happy shark face. The "enemy" plane (the one their attacker is in) is painted blue, with a fierce shark face.

%ATT% The illusion of long distance being traveled is achieved by having the planes "circle" the stage. When the planes are "near" the audience, full sized plane rigs with puppets are used. They are on wheels, and will be pushed from [7] to [1] across the full length of the stage. Since the rigs can not turn, the way "back" is achieved by hand-operated small aircraft props that are in the "far distance" from the audience, being moved from [1] to [7]. All actual flight maneuvers are being performed while the planes are in the "distance". Puppet action and dialogue is performed while the planes are "near".

%ATT% Since the full sized "near view" plane rigs can only travel one way, they have to be moved into their starting position on the other side of the stage unseen. This is achieved by having the puppeteers dismount, and moving the rigs back through the puppet stage area, behind the closed curtain. The same is done with the small "far view" plane props, but the other way around. Enough dialogue / flight maneuvers must take place to create enough time to bring the planes back into position for their next run.

%HND% IN THE DISTANCE: Friendly plane flies from [1] to [7]

%AMB% AMB-0501 - Wind

%SND% SND-0501 - Friendly Plane Far Flyby

%MUS% MUS-0501 - Cue 1

Cal (off): "Are we there yet?"

Florence (off): "Where?"

Cal (off): "Wherever we are going!"

Florence (off): "All I know right now is that we're somewhere above the sea."

Cal (off): "The western sea?"

Florence (off): "I sure hope so, because we're heading east."

Cal (off): "It's not going to get any more specific than that?"

Florence (off, bugged): "What do you expect? It's pitch black out there. I have no landmarks, no coastline, only the goddamn compass. If we manage to reach the shore, maybe we can spot something we know, like the lighthouse at Port Ospen. But until then, no, it's not going to get any more specific than that. Harrington & Welsh Airlines is terribly sorry for the inconvenience and our customer service will gladly give you a full refund!"

Cal (off): "It's just that our fuel won't last forever, you know?"

Florence (off): "Look, Mr. Smartypants, I'm enough of a nervous wreck already, so will you please JUST … SHUT … UP?"

Cal (off): "Coward."

Florence (off): "Asshole."

Cal (off): "HRMPF!"

%HND% CLOSE UP: Friendly plane flies from [7] to [4]

%SND% SND-0502 - Friendly Plane Approach Close

%SND% SND-0501 FADE

Florence: "Cal. Cal? I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you like that."

Cal: "Fuck you!"

Florence: "I'm thankful that you saved me. Really! I'm just also very … VERY … scared. I'm shaking so much I can barely fly in a straight line!"

Cal: "Well too bad for you."

Florence: "Oh come on! You love to talk big like a man, but the moment someone dares to come back at you, you stomp off in a huff like an injured prima donna! If you're trying to pretend this doesn't affect you at all, you're doing a pretty bad job. You're just as frightened as I am."

Cal: "If you say so."

Florence: "What makes it so hard for you to admit that you actually have a heart?"

Cal: "The heart is weak. Strength and intelligence makes you a man."

Florence: "Unbelievable! It's like you WANT people to think you're an asshole. You saved my life. And you set Ortha free. If that didn't come from the heart, what kind of manly rational bargain were you hoping to get out of it? I think we can rule out job security."

Cal: "What the fuck do you want from me? I don't have to justify myself to you."

Florence: "I just had hoped there's at least a little bit of compassion left in you. That's a good thing, you know?"

%MIX% Haku: ON
%MIX% Haku: Radio EQ - ON

%HND% IN THE DISTANCE: Enemy plane flies from [1] to [7]

%MUS% MUS-0502 - Cue 2

Pilot: "*crackle* Hotel-Whiskey-3-2-9 - do you read me? Hotel-Whiskey-3-2-9 - do you read me?"

Cal: "Don't answer them!"

Florence: "Don't they already know where we are?"

Pilot: "*crackle* Hotel-Whiskey-3-2-9, we have located you by your radio beacon. We are now going to escort you to Port Ospen Airfield. Reduce airspeed."

Florence: "What are they going to do if we don't?"

Cal: "First they'll hunt us down. Then they will kill us. And then your mother. If they didn't already do that."

Florence: "Are you kidding me?"

Cal: "I wish I were."

Florence: "This isn't funny! What the hell has my mother to do with all this?"

Cal: "More than you think."

Florence: "You'd better talk straight to me, or I will personally throw you …"

%MUS% MUS-0503 - Cue 3

Pilot: "*crackle* Hotel-Whiskey-3-2-9, the Harrington & Welsh company has the exclusive air sovereignty over the skies of Astar, and we have authority to use any means necessary to stop you. This is our final warning."

Florence: "Okay, this is it. I'm giving up."

Cal: "Don't fall for it! They think you're a terrorist from Vanos! Once we get in their firing range, we're toast!"

Florence: "I'm not a goddamn fighter pilot! I'm not even a normal pilot!"

Cal: "SHUT UP AND FLY!"

Florence: "SHIT!"

%HND% CLOSE UP: Friendly plane flies from [4] to [1] and exits

%SND% SND-0503 - Friendly Plane Close Depart

%SND% SND-0502 FADE

%HND% CLOSE UP: Enemy plane slowly flies from [7] to [1]

%MIX% Haku: Radio EQ - OFF

%SND% SND-0504 - Enemy Plane Close Approach

%SND% SND-0503 FADE

Pilot: "Hotel-Whiskey-0-0-1, Hotel-Whiskey-3-3-0 reporting radio silence from Hotel-Whiskey-3-2-9. Requesting further instructions."

%SND% PRE-0501 - Radio: "*crackle* Hotel-Whiskey-3-3-0, rogue pilot is a Vanosian terrorist. Keep the plane from falling into the enemy's hands. Deadly force authorized. Repeat: Deadly force authorized."

Pilot: "Roger Hotel-Whiskey-0-0-1, I'm on their tail!"

%SND% SND-0505 - Plane Chase Motor Sounds

%MUS% MUS-0504 - Cue 4

%SND% SND-0504 FADE

%MIX% Haku: OFF

%HND% CLOSE UP: Enemy plane exits at [1]

%HND% IN THE DISTANCE: Friendly Airplane enters from [1] - performing maneuvers trying to shake off Enemy Airplane

%HND% IN THE DISTANCE: Enemy Airplane follows Friendly Airplane effortlessly, and opens fire

Florence (off): "*screams*"

%HND% CLOSE UP: Friendly Airplane flies from [7] to [3]

%MIX% Haku: ON
%MIX% Haku: Radio EQ - ON

%SND% SND-0506 - Friendly Plane Approach Close

%SND% SND-0505 FADE

Florence: "Hotel-Whiskey-3-3-0, Stop shooting! We surrender! I repeat: We surrender!"

Cal: "ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?"

Florence: "NO, I JUST DON'T WANT TO DIE!"

Cal: "BUT NOW WE ARE GOING TO DIE!"

Pilot: "Hotel-Whiskey-3-2-9, good to hear you've regained your voice. Let me catch up and I will help you navigate to Port Ospen. Try anything funny, and I will blow you out of the sky."

Florence: "Hotel-Whiskey-3-3-0, roger, will comply. (to Cal). I don't think they are going to wreck one of their own planes if they don't have to."

Cal: "You naive little fool. Welsh doesn't give a fuck about the plane! He cares about me, and the things I know!"

Florence: "It's always about you, isn't it?"

%HND% CLOSE UP: Enemy Airplane flies from [7] to [5]

%SND% SND-0507 - Enemy Plane Approach Close

Cal: "But it fucking is! I know a lot of things most people don't. Welsh used to trust me like a member of his family, but now I'm on a plane with the enemy! Do you realize what that means?"

Florence: "And you gave all this up … for what?"

%MUS% MUS-0505 - Cue 5

%ACT% Enemy Plane shoots at Friendly Plane (RATS!)

Florence: "*shrieks*"

Cal: "DUCK YOUR HEAD!"

Florence: "Aaargh! What are you doing? You promised us to stop shooting if we surrendered!"

Pilot: "*laughs* What did you expect? A slap on the wrist, and no dessert? We don't negotiate with terrorists! DIE, VANOSIAN SCUM! DIE!"

%MUS% MUS-0506 - Cue 6

%ACT% Enemy Plane shoots at Friendly Plane (RATS!)

%SND% SND-0508 - Friendly Plane Hit / Stuttering / Burning

%SND% SND-0506 FADE

%HND% Part of the friendly plane's rudder and tail fin is torn to shreds

%HND% A fountain of smoke erupts form a hole in the fuselage

%HND% Part of the plane catches on fire

Cal: "Fuck! We just lost the rudder!"

Florence: "Oil Pressure's falling … "

Cal: "Our fucking tail's on fire!"

Florence: "This is bad … this is really bad …"

Pilot: "The Harrington & Welsh company wishes you a safe landing! *laughs some more*"

%ACT% Pilot shoots another salve (RATS!)

%MUS% MUS-0507 - Cue 7

%MIX% Haku: Radio EQ - OFF

%HND% Ortha flies in from [7], lands/hovers on the Enemy Plane

%SND% SND-0509 - Wing Flaps (If not done with RATS, otherwise skip)

Pilot: "WHAT THE FUCK?"

Florence: "ORTHA!"

%ACT% Ortha lets out her fiercest battle cry, then digs her teeth into the pilot's neck.

Pilot: "AAAAAAARGH!"

%ACT% Ortha shakes the pilot

Pilot: "AAAAAAAAAAH!"

%ACT% Ortha pulls the pilot out of his seat, and throws him overboard

Pilot: "YAAAAAIIiii……"

%ACT% Ortha takes off again.

%HND% CLOSE UP: Enemy Airplane backs up to [7] (and exits)

%MIX% Haku: OFF

%SND% SND-0507 FADE

%SND% Sounds of a plane going down fast

Florence: "Ortha! Over here!"

%MIX% Telepathic FX: ON

%ACT% Florence waves

%ACT% Ortha flies across to the other plane, and lands/hovers on it.

%ACT% Ortha touches Florence

Ortha: "Your flying machine looks unhappy …"

Florence: "Help meeeeee!"

Ortha: "We're not far from the shore. I think I can carry you … but only one at a time. How long will this thing keep flying?"

Florence: "Not long enough!"

Cal: "Florence? Why aren't you saying anything?"

Florence: "Shhh! I'm talking to Ortha!

Cal: "And what does she say?"

Florence: "She says … that you have to use the parachute!"

Ortha: "Hey, that's not what I …"

Florence: "She will carry me to the ground, and then pick you out of the water."

Ortha: "Oh all right, I can totally do that! I have very good night vision!"

Cal: "Why me?"

Florence: "Because you're a strong man! You can handle it!"

Cal: "(determined) Of course! (squeamish) But it's kinda wet down there …"

%SND% SND-0510 - The motor dies.

%SND% SND-0508 STOP

Florence: "Come on Ortha, let's go!"

%SND% Ortha makes a happy Ortha noise

%ACT% Ortha grabs Florence, and flies off

%MUS% MUS-0508 - Cue 8

Ortha: "Are you sure he will be okay?"

Florence: "Oh yes. A little cool down will do him good …"

%MUS% MUS-0509 - Cue 9 (one!)

%MIX% Pan: OFF

%MIX% Tani: OFF

%MIX% Telepathic FX: OFF

Cal: "So that's what I get for letting you out of your goddamn cage, you ungrateful bitch! All right then … one … two … two and a half … three … two …. oh fuck it!"

%ACT% Cal jumps

Cal: "Geronimoooo!"

%HND% CLOSE UP: Friendly Airplane exits to [1]

%SND% SND-0511 - Double Crash

%HND% IN THE DISTANCE: Enemy Airplane comes in at [1] and crashes

%HND% IN THE DISTANCE: Friendly Airplane comes in at [1] and crashes

%LIG% LX 2199 - UV Lights out

%MIX% Fade Ambience

%MIX% Mute all but Video

%LIG% LX 0099 - Work Light ON (Static Playbacks)

%MIX% Reset "Radio-EQ" on Haku to "PPS-Std"