copyright © 2003 J.J. Hickey

HEALING

By J.J. Hickey © April 2003

 

LIGHTS UP

(A Circle of Light containing a Reporter and a Woman)

 

REPORTER

Okay ready to go.  Tragedy struck the quiet streets of Silver Lake this evening.  While en route to battle a blaze a firetruck struck and killed this woman’s only companion for the last 15 years, an innocent little puppy.  Here to tell her tragic tale is Anne Marie Pierce.

(Turns to Ms. Pierce who is sobbing into a handkerchief)

Can you tell us in your own words what happened?

 

ANNE MARIE PIERCE

(sobbing uncontrollably) Oh no…my god, I can’t believe this is happening….

 

REPORTER

What happened, Ms. Pierce?  Take a moment if you need to.

ANNE MARIE PIERCE

(through her tears) Well, you see.  I was watching television when I heard some sirens…. I guess there was a fire down the street ….(sobbing) and when I opened the door to see what the commotion was…oh god….that’s when my puppy raced out the door and ran across ….(sobs) ran across the street and…there was this horrifying screech and a sound…. I’ll never forget that horrible sound…and now my puppy is…dead.  (her heart breaks) My poor little baby is gone…..(wails or keens)

REPORTER

Hold please….yes, yes, yes….okay….that was great.  Do it just like that when the cameras are rolling for real.

 

 

ANNE MARIE PIERCE

(wiping her tears) The cameras weren’t rolling just then?

 

REPORTER

No.

ANNE MARIE PIERCE

No?

REPORTER

No, we like to do a …what we in the industry call a "run-through."  Most people are nervous their first time on t.v.  A run-through helps them relax so we can capture their real nature on film.  Let’s try this for real.  Are you ready?

 

 

ANNE MARIE PIERCE

I guess so.

 

 

REPORTER

Ms. Pierce.  In your own words, what happened?

ANNE MARIE PIERCE

(crying) Well, I heard some sirens…fire sirens…. I guess there was a fire down the street ….and when I opened the door to see what the commotion was…oh god….that’s when my sweet little puppy raced out the door and ran across the street and…there was this horrifying screech and–

REPORTER

Hold please.  (to her)  Airplane overhead.  Waiting on sound.  I’m sorry.  From the top again.

 

ANNE MARIE PIERCE

(sighs, a little sadly)  There was a fire down the block, I heard sirens, and that’s when my sweet little puppy —

 

REPORTER

Roll sound, cameras, in 3-2-and (points to her)

 

 

ANNE MARIE PIERCE

(plainly) My puppy…my little puppy raced out the door and ran across the street and there was a horrifying screech of tires and a thump…I’ll never forget that sound….I ran out to see if puppy was okay but…

 

REPORTER

And cut.  We’re not going to be able to match the two takes.  We’ll have to re-shoot the whole thing.  You don’t mind.  From the top?

 

ANNE MARIE PIERCE

You see there were these sirens–

REPORTER

Changing tape….this will just take a second.

Okay ready to go.  Tragedy struck the streets of Magnolia this evening.  While en route to battle a blaze a firetruck struck and killed this woman’s only companion for the last 15 years, an innocent little puppy.  Here to tell her tragic tale is Anne Marie Pierce.

 

ANNE MARIE PIERCE

(giddy) Ohhhh it’s really the craziest thing when you think about it. ( laughs a little to herself)…There was this fire next door, right, and I opened the door to see what was going on…and my puppy…that silly ball of fur….just zipped across the street without looking and boom! next thing I know it’s flatter than a pancake. (laughs)  oooo….just tragic…

 

REPORTER

There you have it.  A woman shattered by the death of a loved one.  But life goes on.  Here reporting live for KPLA, I’m Trip Pullman.

BLACKOUT

 

"HEALING" IS COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL AND MAY NOT BE DOWNLOADED, TRANSMITTED, PRINTED OR PERFORMED WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF THE AUTHOR


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