'The Trolley Problem' - a Micro-Play - Freewrite #8

A single chair sits in the middle of the stage. Beside it is a large, metal lever. The seats for the audience are grouped into two sections, both aligned in neat columns. Group One should contain around eighty percent of the seats, and Group Two the remaining twenty. The two groups are clearly separated by an aisle.

The voice of the OPERATOR is played over a speaker system. It has been created using text-to-speech software.

Stage lights up.

OPERATOR:
Test Subject Number 102, step forward please.

The TEST SUBJECT is pushed on-stage, squinting into the light.

TEST SUBJECT:
Hello? What’s going on?

OPERATOR:
Take a seat, 102.

TEST SUBJECT:
Who’s there?

OPERATOR:
There’s nothing to be afraid of. Please, take a seat.

TEST SUBJECT:
I’m not doing anything until you tell me where I am. I’ve got rights! I’ll have you know I’m the senior vice president of a very important cardboard manufacturing company in Southwest Bakersfield, and when the sheriff’s department hears about this-

OPERATOR:
Sit down, 102. The quicker you cooperate, the quicker your assessment can begin.

TEST SUBJECT:
I will not! You hear me? I will not! I will NOT!

OPERATOR:
Guards...

The stage lights go out instantly. The sound of a taser can be heard, followed by the thump of a body hitting the floor. After a few moments the lights start to come up again, slowly. The TEST SUBJECT is sitting in the chair at the centre of the stage.

OPERATOR:
Are you sitting comfortably, 102?

TEST SUBJECT:
(staring at the floor) Yes.

OPERATOR:
Do you agree to cooperate with the remainder of the test?

TEST SUBJECT:
(after a pause) Yes.

OPERATOR:
Good. Then we can begin. Tell me, 102, are you familiar with the Trolley Problem?

TEST SUBJECT:
(looking up) Like at the supermarket?

OPERATOR:
No. Not like that at all.

The stage lights go out again, and at the same time, separate floodlights positioned above Groups One and Two of the audience come on.

OPERATOR:
No doubt you will recognise some of these people. All of them were aboard flight sixteen-twelve to Los Angeles yesterday morning, as, perhaps you now recall, were you. But that’s irrelevant for our purposes. Don’t worry, they can’t hear you, or see you even - the glass is one way. And shock proof. For good reason.

The floodlights go out, and the stage lights come up again. The TEST SUBJECT has risen from their chair and is standing near the front of the stage, a hand held over their mouth.

OPERATOR:
SIT DOWN, 102.

The TEST SUBJECT rushes back to the chair.

OPERATOR:
Pay attention. This is important. Taped underneath the seats of each of your fellow travellers is a small parcel of C4. In one minute, the parcels underneath the group to your left (the floodlight over Group Two comes on) will be detonated.

TEST SUBJECT:
Fucking hell - what?!

OPERATOR:
Beside you is a lever. Should you choose to pull the lever, this group will be spared, and instead the group to your right (the floodlights alternate to Group One) will have their parcels detonated.

TEST SUBJECT:
This has to be a joke...

The floodlights go out.

OPERATOR:
This is no joke, 102. You have fifty seconds remaining.

TEST SUBJECT:
So that’s it? Where’s the choice in that? It’s simple math.

OPERATOR:
We were hoping you would ask. Please consider that every member of the larger group has been infected with an incurable, undetectable virus. They will all be dead within six months. Make your choice, 102.

TEST SUBJECT:
(rising to their feet) You’re a bunch of fucking lunatics, you know that? (they pause, waiting for a response) Hello? (they pause again) No, no, no, no, no - you can’t make me do this! Alright, calm down, deep breaths, that’s it. Ok, let’s be logical.

The TEST SUBJECT walks over to the lever, and places a hand on it.

TEST SUBJECT:
Come on... come on...

They look questioningly at Group One.

TEST SUBJECT:
Six months versus twenty seconds. Simple math.

Their grip tightens on the lever.

TEST SUBJECT:
Alright, after three. One, two, three... three and a half... christ.

Their hand slips from the lever.

TEST SUBJECT:
I can’t do it. (turning, shouting at the ceiling) I won’t do it! You hear me?

OPERATOR:
Five seconds, 102.

TEST SUBJECT:
I don’t care.

OPERATOR:
Three seconds.

TEST SUBJECT:
Get bent. I am Not. Your. Psychopath.

The lights go out.

OPERATOR:
Pity.

Two figures appear in the darkness and take the TEST SUBJECT by the arms.

TEST SUBJECT:
Wait! Can I try again? Please, stop!

Exit TEST SUBJECT.

OPERATOR:
Test Subject Number 103, step forward please.

@lazarus-wist_{My eighth entry to the daily freewrite project kindly hosted by @mariannewest,
with the prompt, "trolley".}

_{Thanks for reading.Image}