[Intro – PA hum, two-tone bell, chairs scraping] [Male 1, Spoken, over PA] Good morning, students. Today is a special day. At one o’clock, all classes will join the national broadcast. This is a civics lesson. Please return your permission slips. [Verse 1 – piano enters, very slow] [Female 1, Spoken, close] Okay, everyone. Eyes front. Mr. Dowd is bringing the television. Thank you, Mr. Dowd. Today we are going to watch something that the government says is important. Does anyone know what a consequence is. [Child 1, spoken] A consequence is what happens after. [Sample, 1986 news audio] “—students across the nation are watching—” [Female 1, Spoken] When I was your age we watched a rocket. It was also a lesson. Eyes front. [Verse 2 – broadcast reverb, telemetry bleeps] [Male 2, Spoken, anchor] Good afternoon. It is one o’clock Central. Same time. Same Thursday. Seventeen years and one month later. The weather at the base is clear. The squad is in position. A firing squad of soldiers. [Sample] “—as it should be—” [Male 2, Spoken] And here he comes now. [Female 1, Spoken, quietly] Eyes forward children. [Male 2, Spoken] The condemned is unable to walk. He is being wheeled to the post. Two soldiers are pushing. [Female 1, Spoken] Shh. Eyes front. This is the lesson. [Hymn – organ and piano, drifting apart] [Children, Sung, unison] My country, ’tis of thee, sweet land of— [they lose the tune, trail off, organ continues alone] [Countdown – telemetry bleeps, snare rudiment under] [Male 2, Spoken] Ten. Nine. [Female 1, Spoken] Hands on your desks. [Male 2, Spoken] Eight. Seven. [Child 2, Spoken] Miss, can he see us. [Female 1, Spoken] No, sweetheart. [Male 2, Spoken] Six. Five. [Male 1, Spoken, over PA, cheerful] Reminder, the cafeteria will be serving pizza. [Male 2, Spoken] Four. Three. Two. One. [gun shot] [Female 1, Spoken, very quiet] Okay, children. [Verse 3 – piano returns, slower] [Male 2, Spoken, warm] And there you have it. Serious consequences. A proud day. We’ll be right back after this. [Female 1, Spoken] Mr. Dowd, you can take it away now. Take out your worksheets. Question one. What did we learn today. [Child 3, spoken] A consequence is what happens after. [Female 1, Spoken] Question two. How did it make you feel. [child crying] [Female 1, Spoken] You can leave that one blank. [Outro – PA bell, chairs] [Male 1, Spoken, over PA] Thank you, students, for your attention. Attendance has been recorded. We'll see you same time next Thursday. [two-tone bell] [cart squeak, far away, once] [silence]
