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Harry Falcon has run his talent agency for
20 years, supplying various types of acts
from strippers to singers. The magic has begun
to wear off for him, and of late following
his wife's departure, he has let the business
suffer. To compound his problems, he is suffering
from the medical effects of too much scotch
over too long a period. He hasn't paid Mary,
his secretary, in over three weeks, and he's
starting to mix up the agency's bookings.
Chas, his friend and Doctor is concerned about
Harry's health and tries (yet again) to stop
him from drinking.
 Harry
on the other hand still feels in control,
and wants nothing more than to be left alone
in his room with a bottle of scotch and his
classical music. Robin Parkes, the boyfriend
of one of his best-liked strippers calls round
and tells Harry that Jaz (the stripper) is
giving up the act, so Harry reluctantly stops
giving her any work. Three weeks later, when
Jaz visits to find out why all her work has
dried up, she is incensed to be told the reason,
and Harry is amazed to discover afterwards
that he is developing feelings for her - a
girl half his age.
On a pretext, Jaz visits Harry - again raising
his hopes. Realising this, she gently but
firmly tells him their relationship must be
platonic, as even though Robin was in the
wrong, she forgave him. She takes an unusual
interest in Harry's relationship with his
ex-wife - a conversation which is cut short
by her need to go to work. Shortly afterwards,
Robin arrives at Harry's flat and firstly
accuses him of trying to have an affair with
Jaz, then proceeds to tell him that he has
a new job - booking acts at the Brunswick
Club - and that Harry's contract with them
is now terminated. The Falcon agency's acts
are rubbish and Harry never returns phone
calls. This isn't the first contract Harry
has lost of late and he becomes very dispirited
and hits the bottle, hard. On Chas's next
visit, his condition has worsened considerably,
to the point where, finally refusing any treatment,
Chas washes his hands of his friend accusing
him of wallowing in self-pity.
Harry later reveals to Jaz that after all
his setbacks and problems he wants nothing
more than quiet solitude - like a submarine
rigged for 'silent running'. He cannot understand
why she keeps vivisting him, a drunken old
has-been. 'Does there have to be a reason,
isn't being a friend in need ,enough?'. Jaz
comforts him as he stares at his imminent
death - a simple cuddle is (just about) all
he wants; to feel close to another human being.
Robin arrives to confront Jaz about her presence
there, he cannot understand it at all. They
argue, and in the middle of their exchanges,
Harry dies, alone at last.
'Silent Running' is a black comedy; a moving
insight with humourous flashes depicting one
man's descent into depression, cloaked with
the stench of scotch and filled with the destruction
of his relationships, both personal and professional.
However, 'Silent Running' is a comedy, it
says so right there on the front cover. It
is not a tragedy and should not be played
as one. If it contains an element of tragedy,
then this should emerge only as a by-product
of the action. |
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| Harry Falcon
- 45-55, a broken extrovert, alcoholic, lonely,
runs an entertainment agency |
| 'Jaz' Carter
- 20's, one of Harry's strippers, tries to
help him, kind-hearted |
| Robin Parkes
- later 20's, the boyfriend of Jaz, jealous
type |
| Dr 'Chas' Bowler
- 40-60, Harry's friend and Doctor |
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| Duration |
: 85 mins |
| Acts |
: 2 |
| Principals |
: 3m, 1f |
| Sets |
: 1 |
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