The Sniper

A theater script based on the short story by O'Flaherty.

The Sniper

Original story by: O’Flaherty

Scene 1

Narrator: Dark was the night, and cold was the ground ... I’m now going to bring to you all a tragic tale of misunderstanding, brotherly love, and the bitterness and pain that war inflicts upon its victims, the poor soldiers who are forced to give up their humanity, morality, and sensitivity as they kill each other in the name of politics. Enjoy ...

(Rooftops at night, Ireland, Dublin, a republican lay watching on a rooftop near O’Donnell bridge with his rifle. He lights a cigarette, and just then a bullet barely misses him.)

Republican: Darn it, they have spotted me.

(He puts out his cigarette, and peers over the rooftop, and below on the streets he sees a few soldiers aiming for him)

Republican: Ah, there you guys are. Better prepare yourself fellas, since tonight will be your last ... (Aims his rifle at the street below)

(On the street below)

Enemy soldier: Curses! I’ve missed! Men, take cover,quickly! We must not let him live, let alone take our lives off the face of this earth!

(The enemy soldiers scatter to take cover, but the republican manages to shoot down all of them with his incomparable percision and speed, except for the leader of the enemy troop)

Enemy soldier: Gods, this isn’t good at all. (While hiding behind a barrier, gasping)

(On the rooftop)

Republican: Blast! I missed one of them. This is getting dangerous...(Still carefully scanning the streets below)

(On the street below)

Enemy soldier: It’s now or never, all or nothing ... (Prepares his own rifle, c***s it, and jumps out of protection) Death to the republicans! (shoots his rifle with equal percision and speed)

(The republican gets hit on the forearm)

Republican: Argghhh! No ... this ain’t right! He’s good ... (gasping) Arrrgh! (Drops his rifle to the floor of the rooftop, and while holding his pain, grabs his forearm)

 (On the streets below)

Enemy soldier: Yes! I hit him! Though not as planned ...

(On the rooftop)

Republican: I can’t die here ... I must not let my comrades down! I MUST NOT DIE HERE! (looks at his wound)

Narrator: At that moment, the wounded, sorrowful republican grabs his arm and clenches his teeth in hopes of making the pain go away. He realized that there was no way and no reason for him to give up right then and there. So, amidst the wave of pain he spins his brain, desperate to find a solution. Finally, he finds one ... he decides to take off his army jacket and hat and dress his rifle to make a fake puppet soldier. He pushes it upwards so that his enemy could see and aim, and alas, his enemy falls for that very trap, for the darkness and unclarity of the bleak night was on the republican’s side.

 

(On the streets below)

Enemy soldier: Bah, idot! Haha ... so long comrade, if I were you, I suggest you say your final prayers now, hahaha ... (takes aim and fires; the bullet hits the center of the soldier cap put on the head of the puppet that the republican just made) Finally! Success! One step closer to victory against the republicans!

 

(On the rooftop)

Republican: Haha, you fool! You’ve fallen right into my trap! Adios amigo! Sayonara! Prepare to meet your maker! (Jumps up, quickly pulls out his revolver, and takes aim)

(On the streets below)

Enemy soldier: What the??!! He’s still ... (gets hit in the chest)

(On the rooftop)

Republican: Yes! Haha ... so long comrade ... you’ve thought that tonight ... I will be the one to meet dear sweet lord, but sadly you are mistaken...(climbs down the building and approaches his fallen enemy)

(On the streets below)

Narrator: It is here that the republican realizes a shocking fact that pierces his heart, inflicting pain upon his heartmore intense than the mere bullet wound he received earlier.

Enemy soldier: *gasp*

Republican: T-This can’t be ... you’re ... you’re my ...

Enemy soldier: B-brother? H-how .. w-what ... why ...

Republican: I can’t believe this ... I haven’t seen you since we were separated as kids ... brother ... (wraps his arm around his dying brother)

Enemy: I ... I ... I can’t ... brother ... you’ve shot me ... I ... I can’t ... (tearfully)

Republican: N-no! Oh, dear sweet lord, take my soul instead! This can’t be! Surely this can’t be true! Surely there is no way in the name of this bitter and painful reality ... that I just shot my own dear brother ...

Enemy soldier: Wow ... this ... this is so shocking ... I c-can’t believe ... it ... either ... oh, brother ...

Republican: Ah, can you please forgive me ... brother ... ah ... how ... w-we promised we would see each other again and share stories of our success! Don’t die now ... don’t let our dream die, and please ... don’t let our beautiful childhood memories be a painful sore on my already bleak heart ... please ...

Enemy soldier: I ... I can’t brother ...I’m slipping away ... but, do understand this ... I forgive you, and I know you didn’t mean for any of this happen either ... perhaps ... in another life, we will be able to catch up and sort all of this out, and have a ... good laugh ... maybe ... just maybe ...(dies in the republican’s arm)

Republican: Noooo .... (cries and breaks down)

Narrator: So ... that ends our tragic tale of misunderstanding amidst the stress and frightening reality of war. Violence ... it helps nobody, and only creates painful upon painful scars, both psychologically and physically upon the poor soldiers who have no choice but to take part in it. That’s just the truth of it. A harsh truth that some people cant realize ... or perhaps, just simply can’t find an alternative solution to. That’s it from our group, thankyou so much for your attention, comrades.