Dialogues / Sci-Fi
One Seat Left
A failing orbital station has eleven hours of air and one suit for the last shuttle down. Hale has flown that shuttle for fourteen years. Quinn built the casing that bought them the eleven hours. The committee has sent Quinn to talk to him.
A cramped airlock antechamber. Red standby lights. A single pressure suit hangs on the rack. HALE stands beside it, arms folded.
QUINN enters, a datapad under one arm.
HALE
They sent you.
QUINN
They sent me.
HALE
To talk me out of it.
QUINN
To talk. That's all the brief said.
HALE
Fourteen years I've flown that shuttle. You've done the sim. Twice.
QUINN
Three times.
HALE
Three. Good. Then you know the re-entry window on a cold burn is nine seconds. You ever felt nine seconds, Quinn? In your teeth?
QUINN
No.
HALE
Then sit down, and let's not waste the air.
Quinn does not sit.
QUINN
The reactor casing on Deck Two. You know what that is?
HALE
It's a reactor casing.
QUINN
It's my reactor casing. I redesigned it after the last inspection. It's the only reason we have eleven hours instead of four.
HALE
And I'm grateful. I'll say so at the memorial.
QUINN
Whose memorial?
Beat.
HALE
Look. This isn't personal. The shuttle needs a pilot. That's the whole equation.
QUINN
The shuttle needs a pilot for forty minutes. The colony needs an engineer for forty years.
HALE
The colony has engineers.
QUINN
Not with the casing specs. They're in here.
Quinn taps the side of their own head.
HALE
So write them down. You have eleven hours.
QUINN
I have ten and a half. I spent the first half hour arguing with the committee.
HALE
About what?
QUINN
About who was gonna tell you.
Hale unfolds his arms.
HALE
Tell me what?
QUINN
They've decided, Hale. They decided an hour ago. The brief said "talk" because nobody wanted to write the other word.
HALE
Which word?
QUINN
Inform.
Silence. The red light cycles.
HALE
They picked you.
QUINN
They picked the casing. I just come with it.
HALE
And the nine seconds?
QUINN
Auto-burn. You wrote the routine. It's a good routine.
HALE
It's a good routine with a hand on it.
QUINN
I know.
Hale looks at the suit. Then at Quinn. Then at the suit.
HALE
You'll wanna take in the shoulders. It's cut for me.
QUINN
Hale.
HALE
And the left glove seal is soft. Tape it before you go out. There's tape in the locker. Second shelf.
QUINN
I didn't come here to take it from you.
HALE
No. You came here to take it. The "from you" part is just where it was.
Quinn takes the suit down. It is heavier than they expected.
QUINN
Is there anything you want me to tell them? Down there.
HALE
(beat)
Tell them the burn was clean. Whatever happens. Tell them it was clean.
QUINN
It will be.
HALE
Nine seconds. In your teeth. Then it's over and you're falling like everyone else.
Quinn nods. Goes to the locker for the tape. Hale sits down on the bench, in the place Quinn would not take.
End of script
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