radio drama script

1. SIEGE
An original radio drama
Written by
Sam Carpenter

2. Scene One: Narrator Voiceover
NARRATOR: (EVERY NARRATOR LINE HOT ON MIC) The
following show is a fictional broadcast of
the mockumentary ‘Siege’ by Sam Carpenter.
All events and characters portrayed in
this show are entirely fictional. This
show contains some strong language.
MUSIC: AMBIENT SINGLE NOTE BEHIND THE NARRATOR’S
VOICE IN THIS SCENE.
NARRATOR: In October of 2013, a group of soldiers
from the US and British Army were overrun
in a vehicle convoy by terrorists in the
south-east of Afghanistan.
The operation was a joint effort between
United States and British forces –
specifically the 2nd Armoured Infantry
Brigade, and the 75th Ranger regiment.
Scene Two: Interview
SGT WALLCROFT: It was a simple operation. We were moving
up towards our destination, where we
thought the hostiles were – about 2 klicks
north of where it happened.
Scene Three: INT. TV News Broadcast – Evening
MUSIC: News broadcast background music plays
throughout the bulletin.
NEWS HOST: 29 UK and US military personnel are
unaccounted for after an alleged explosion
in Helmand Province earlier today. A
supposedly routine patrol was hit by a
terrorist ambush in the early hours of the
morning, and it is thought that it claimed
the lives of the soldiers inside the
vehicles. There has been no statement from
either the UK or US authorities at this
time, but if true, it will be the largest
loss of life in a single isolated incident
since the USA became involved in conflict
in Afghanistan in 2001.
Scene Four: Narrator Voiceover
MUSIC: Ambient music starts playing again
throughout narrator section.

3. NARRATOR: As soon as it happened, there was
conflicting reports, and confusion between
media outlets.
Scene Five: INT. Various TV News Broadcasts (overlapping)
NEWSREADER 1: We are now getting reports that some of
the soldiers may have actually survived…
NEWSREADER 2: There has been an alleged video released
by the soldiers’ attackers, showing beaten
and bloodied Americans being held in
custody of the people capturing the video…
NEWSREADER 1: The Americans in the video have been
identified as members of the 75th Rangers
regiment who were reported missing on the
day of the explosion…
NEWSREADER 3: The insurgents in the video appear to be
holding advanced weapons and technology.
MI5 is currently attempting to identify
the main speaker in the video, but any
rescue attempts have not been publicly
discussed.
Scene Six: INT. Narrator Voiceover
SOUND: THE NEWSREADERS’ VOICES FADE OUT AND WE
RETURN TO THE NARRATOR WITH THE AMBIENT
MUSIC IN THE BACKGROUND.
NARRATOR: The World now knew exactly what was
happening. They knew that there were
survivors from the incident, but they also
knew that it was an intentional ambush and
at least some of the soldiers were being
held hostage.
The situation of these hostages quickly
became the largest story on the planet –
and this would last for a long time, as on
November the 1st, the situation became
complicated.
MUSIC: THE AMBIENT MUSIC FADES OUT, AND A NEWS
INTRO THEME PLAYS.
Scene Seven: INT. News Broadcast
NEWSREADER 1: Welcome to A-Z News at 6, you’re listening
to the World Headlines. A 2nd video has

4. been released from Afghanistan from the
suspected attackers of the 29 UK and US
soldiers that went missing on the 19th of
October this year.
The clip contains threats towards the
military forces and governments of the
occupying countries, which is followed by
the torture and execution of an alleged
captured American Ranger.
MUSIC: AMBIENT MUSIC FADES BACK IN – WE RETURN TO
THE NARRATOR
Scene Eight: INT. Narrator Voiceover
NARRATOR: It didn’t stop there. Over the next 2
months, an additional 4 soldiers, 2 of
which being British Army soldiers, were
executed on camera by the captors.
This caused uproar from the British and
American population, who criticised their
governments for ‘ignoring the slaughter’
and ‘letting the terrorists win’. In
reality, there was a lot of planning as
well as a huge manhunt taking place
behind-the-scenes.
Scene Nine: INT. News Broadcast
NEWSREADER: The head of MI6, Sir John Sawyers, has
issued a statement on the Afghanistan
Captives situation, which has been
described as ‘extremely vague’ – Sawyers
mentioned that MI6 were doing ‘all they
can’.
MUSIC: AMBIENT MUSIC FADES BACK IN
Scene Ten: INT. Narrator Voiceover
NARRATOR: 3 more months passed. The story got cold –
the terrorists’ online presence
disappeared, and there were very few news
reports on the story for weeks.
LONG FADE OUT & PAUSE. NEWS REPORT FADES IN.

5. Scene Eleven: INT. and EXT. Studio and Afghanistan
NEWSREADER: Good morning, this is BBC Breakfast. John,
our war correspondent, is in Afghanistan
for us this morning near the location
where the currently captive soldiers were
ambushed. So John, what is the current
situation?
NEWS REPORTER: (FILTER) Thanks Jeremy. Now I’m here today
because new rumours and leaks have arisen
regarding the location of the men keeping
these soldiers in captivity, and a
possible special forces operation taking
place today…
SOUND: NEWS REPORTER VOICE FADES OUT AND WE HEAR
CHATTER AND ORDERS FROM SOLDIERS IN THE
BACKGROUND
SAS SOLDIER: (OFF MIC) Baseplate, we have possible
hostiles 200 metres Northwest.
SAS SOLDIER 2: (OFF MIC) Contact left. Foot-mobile. He
hasn’t seen us.
SAS SOLDIER: (OFF-MIC) Sir, we’re going to need you to
get down.
SOUND: MIC DROPS TO THE FLOOR.
MUSIC: NARRATOR’S AMBIENT MUSIC FADES IN.
NARRATOR: Jonathan Ramirez and his film crew were
taken under protection by he SAS for the
rest of the day and the following night.
The SAS did not disclose what they were
doing.
Overnight, a rescue operation by the SAS
was launched on a nearby housing compound
which was thought to contain the captured
British and American soldiers. In the
early hours of the morning, multiple
gunshots were exchanged.
MUSIC: NARRATOR’S AMBIENT MUSIC FADES OUT.

6. NEWSREADER: This morning we’re back with John Ramirez
in Helmand Province, who is currently
under the protection of SAS operatives
approximately half a mile from the
compound. Now John, what’s the situation
over there?
SOUND: QUIET GUNSHOTS FROM A DISTANCE
NEWS REPORTER: (FILTER) Well Jeremy, the situation over
past few hours has deteriorated from our
point of view. There have been multiple
bursts of gunfire recently as an assault
team has entered the nearby compound.
NEWSREADER: So… so is the situation of the hostages
known?
SOUND: GUNSHOTS GET LOUDER AND MORE FREQUENT
SAS SOLDIER: GET THE F*** DOWN!
NEWS REPORTER: (FILTER) (INTERRUPTION) Sorry… we can hear
more shots now, and some seem to be
heading in our direction…
SOUND: LOUD GUNFIRE, BULLETS WHOOSH PAST
SOUND: STATIC