GE 1995 Season 2 Episode 5: Blackout '94
Note: this is not a transcript, but a working draft of the script, so there may be differences in the aired version.
BLACKOUT `94
ERLING: The most recent host of The Great Eastern, Paul Moth, had his
most memorable moment in one of this province's most
memorable moments - what has come to be known as Blackout
`94.
Here is Paul Moth, from the Great Eastern, Saturday, January 15,
1994, four days into his marathon broadcast.
PAUL: ... as we hit night on the fourth day here at BCN Blackout HQ. I'm
your host by force, heh-heh-heh, no one can get in to or out of the
studio ... I guess most people are snowbound in their homes.
Please conserve your water and your food, aot hueo uecrg.c,py
... sorry, folks, getting a little groggy here ... there is no let up in
sight to the snowfall. All areas of the province have reported the
complete collapse of infrastructure. All minor roads in the
province are blocked, and complete power outtages are being
experienced ...
SEGUE
It's been over five days since I've seen another face besides
Hollis Duffett's, here at the BCN ... not that I'm complaining, Hollis
... mind you ... but we work at pretty close quarters here. The
BCN is the solitary voice on the airwaves, due to our coal-fired
transmitter and our brave stokers ... all praise to them up on Mt
Scio ... at least they are warm ... as long as there is something to
burn up there, we'll be on the air ... hair ... air ball, hair ball ... I got
a hair ball ... ha ... ha-ha-ha ... (giggling fit) sorry ... must have
sleep ... Mom, I'm afraid, Mom ... the dark ... Rhonda, leave the
shoes on ... yum ... slurp ... pumps ... god, I'm sorry, did I say that
? Must hold it together, must continue broadcasting ... must be in
to triple time by now ...
SEGUE
SFX: RECORD ON TURNTABLE RUNNING ON INNER GROOVE
Z-z-z-z-z, z-z-z-z-z, z-z-z-z-z ... wha' ... Oh my god ... Hollis,
wake up ! I'm sorry people, how long have we been asleep ? ...
Hollis is in the studio with me now, we're sharing body heat ...
there's no telling how long we've been out, the clocks don't run
here anymore ... no food left in the chip machine, we broke in to it
a couple of days ago ... have been living on chips and bars ever
since ... Hollis has a face full of pimples, and neither of us has
had a bowel movement in what ... three days, Hollis ? It's pretty
desperate here, so I can imagine what it is like at your home. But
keep the faith, friends, this can't last forever.
SEGUE
Day seven, friends, we've played every record in the BCN library,
Hollis isn't talking to me ... he's left the microphone open ... I don't
know if there's any body out there who can hear me ... Hollis has
been looking at me strangely since yesterday morning ... we
haven't had anything to eat ... for ages. And I must confess he is
looking good to me, too ... but there's not much left to burn ...
we're saving the drapes for tonight in case it snows again.
SEGUE
Day nine dawns in Blackout `94. Is there any body left ? Can
anybody hear me ? Perhaps every battery in every radio in every
home in every community in the province is dead. Perhaps every
body is dead.
SEGUE
I'm not a doctor ... I did have my appendix out once ... so make
sure you have plenty of towels, hot water ... tear up some
bedsheets or something. Now, get a sharp knife, or a razor ...
well, let's see, the scar starts on the right hand side ... that's your
left ! yeah, right, just below my left nipple ... now, press firmly ... I
don't know what you're going to find in there, I was out when it
happened to me ... but whatever it is that's going bad should look,
what, enflamed or enlarged or dirty. That's what you got to hook
out in one quick motion ... I guess ...
SEGUE
And the lights have come on ! Thank god ! I can hear the
radiators bubbling ! Hollis, on your feet, man ! We can go home !
God bless Nfld !
ERLING: The patient ... and the province ... survived, thanks to Paul Moth.