A GROUP OF MILITARY PERSONNEL ARE IN A HIGH-TECH COMMAND ROOM. AN ALARM GOES OFF, A RED LIGHT FLASHES

ANALYST 1: The mainframe! It’s being hacked by someone!

ANALYST 2: Or something..! I’ve never seen anything like this!

A GENERAL BURSTS IN THROUGH THE DOORS

GENERAL: What’s going on? Why is there a Code Red?

ANALYST 1: The mainframe’s been hacked! We’re losing control of our defense systems!

ANALYST 2: There’s this weird code on screen; I don’t know what it means. I’ve never seen it before!

GENERAL: Jackson! You’re the expert!

JACKSON HAS BEEN PAYING NO ATTENTION WHATSOEVER. WE SEE THE ONLOOKING CROWD OF MILITARY PERSNNEL OVER HIS SHOULDER AS HE HEARS HIS NAME AND CHOKES ON HIS SIP OF COFFEE BEFORE FOLDING AWAY HIS SUDOKO PUZZLE. HE LAUNCHES UP ONTO HIS FEET. SILENCE.

GENERAL: What’s it mean?

JACKSON: Oh, um… the code…

GENERAL: Yes! What is it?

JACKSON: It means um, let me see… um… yep, yep. It means, eh…

THE CROWD’S ANTICIPATION IS TANGIBLE. JACKSON LOOKS VERY NERVOUS.

JACKSON: It means… ahem… it means, ‘Hello’. Yes, it means ‘Hello’.

GENERAL: Who’s doing it?

JACKSON: Oh, um… the, eh, the Armenians.

SHORT PAUSE

GENERAL: Ok then, panic over, send a nice reply. Back to work everybody!

THE SILENCE IS BROKEN AS EVERYONE STOPS STARING AT JACKSON. NORMALITY RETURNS. STILL WITH HIS BACK TOEVERYONE, JACKSON SLOWLY SLIDES BACK INTO HIS SEAT, EYES SHIFTING NERVOUSLY TO SEE IF HE’D BEEN RUMBLED.


END

I always knew Jackson was a chancer! I see this working very well if it could be seen acted out. I played it through in my head and found it very funny

You could take Jackson anywhere, recurring character, different settings. The stock exchange would work well. I like it.