———–<.thom.>———–
The Great Works Project
a puppet play in multiple parts
Season 01, Episode 04
By Thomas Typewriter
(C) 2020
———–<:type:>———–

FADE IN TO BLACK

Across a dark field the following text scrolls up: 01-04. It scrolls up from the center of the bottom of the frame, ascending vertically until finally exiting the center of the top of the frame.

FADE OUT

FADE IN

INT. UNROOM NOT.SEVEN

A large wooden disk sits in the center of the room with rows of grey carpet squares surrounding it.

POV OF AN OUTER ONE SITTING ON A CARPET SQUARE LOOKING AT THE WOODEN DISK

The disk stands unilluminated. TYPEWRITER KEYS CLICK CLACK as unseen lamps turn on bringing the TYPEWRITER ABSTRACT PUPPET STAGE into view.

TRANSITION FROM THE UNROOM TO MID-STAGE

PAN IN TO THE MID-STAGE TILL IT IS PROPERLY FRAMED.

MID-STAGE: CURTAINS CLOSED

The Mid-Stage curtains open and stage lights turn on with the sound of a LIGHTSWITCH CLICKING ON revealing…

MID-STAGE: EXT. THE RETRO MOVIE PALACE, NIGHT

The Retro is a former movie palace built in an earlier age when some believed Art Deco would save the world. Recently restored and renovated, it now serves as a celluloid beacon. The front entrance frames the stage left with a large marquee visible to the audience. The theatre’s marque reads as follows:

70MM FILM FESTIVAL THIS WEEKEND!!!
FRI BEN-HUR NOON 6PM
2001 3PM 9PM
SAT WEST SIDE STORY NOON 6PM
LAWRENCE OF ARABIA 3PM 9PM
SUN TRON NOON 3PM
6PM 9PM
NEXT WEEKEND – ROCKY HORROR RETURNS
NEXT MON MASH-UP GULLIVER SULLIVAN’S TRAVELS

A line stretches from the rope barrier in front of the box office out and off stage-left. In the line, near center-stage, waits OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE. THOMAS TYPEWRITER enters from stage-left. He calls out to Ophidia and she waives him over. He joins her in line.

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“Thank you for inviting me.”

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
(She pretends to doff her hat) “Your welcome.”

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“Hope you weren’t waiting long. I tried to get here sooner but had to park a couple blocks away.”

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“It’s okay, and I’m not surprised you. The 70mm film fest is popular, especially 2001.”

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“I’m excited. I’ve never seen it.”

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“Seriously. Never.”

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“Nope.”

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“But you’re a big science-fiction loving screenwriter nerd. You even have NASA themed sheets and decorations.”

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“True.”

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“You even quoted Apollo 13 when you first hit on me.”

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“I did. That and Mister Ed. Can’t believe it worked. And what kind of nerd does that make you that you went with it.”

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“Bigger and better.”

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“True. And while I am revealing embarrassing facts about myself…”

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“Oh don’t stop on my account. Continue, continue.”

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“I’ve never watched the Godfather, never watched Citizen Kane, none of the greats.”

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“Seriously.”

Thomas shakes his head yes.

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“This isn’t one of your jokes.”

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“Nope. Honest Thomas.”

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“This still sounds like one of your jokes. Like that time you pretended that that spoiled candy tasted good to get me to eat one.”

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
(Chuckles) “No, not this. No fooling. I am woefully uneducated when it comes to art. I did not have a vast exposure to art growing up. I watched the Muppets, read comic books, and took lots of naps in the sun.”

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“Like a cat.”

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“Yup, even had a favorite windowsill.

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“Not that that isn’t weird. Anyways, which Muppet was your….”

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“Fozzy Bear!”

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“…favorite. Wow you just jumped right in there. No hesitation.”

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“Wakka. Wakka.”

Ophidia busts out laughing. Thomas starts laughing as well. THE USHER enters the stage through the front doors of THE RETRO. He walks up to the front of the line.

THE USHER
“Thank you everyone for joining us tonight. On behalf of the staff and management of the Retro we want to thank you for attending our 70mm film festival tonight. (everyone claps). Now enough chit-chat, lets get you into the theatre.”

The Usher unclips the rope, allowing the line to enter the theatre.

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“I’m so excited.”

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“Me too.”

Thomas reaches out and takes hold of Ophidia’s hand as they walk towards the door.

TRANSITION FROM MID-STAGE TO HIGH-STAGE

THE CAMERA PANS UPWARDS UP OVER THE MID-STAGE SETS TO THE CURTAINS OF CLOUDS BEHIND THE SETS. IT CONTINUES UP ALONG THE CURTAIN OF CLOUDS TO THE TOP. AT THE TOP OF THE CURTAIN OF CLOUDS, IT FINDS THE HIGH-STAGE AND FINISHES MOVING PROPERLY FRAMING THE HIGH-STAGE.

HIGH-STAGE: CURTAINS CLOSED

The Narrator’s Panel opens and out emerges Y-Mouse.

Y-MOUSE
“Beyond the Palaces, beyond the sands of the Houses, beyond the waves of Bridges, beyond the clouds of the Crowds, out to the orbits of glittering Sparks, the idle stir.”

Y-Mouse turns and exits. The Narrator’s Panel closes. The curtains part and the stage lights turn on to the sound of a COMPUTER TURNING ON revealing…

HIGH-STAGE: EXT. OUTER SPACE, DAYTIME

A model of the sparkship THE CARRO moves across the stage in front of a background of blackness and sparkles. The Carro flies from stage left to stage right. Once it reaches the stage right edge the curtains close.

HIGH-STAGE: INT. OBSERVATION DECK OF THE CARRO SPARKSHIP, DAYTIME

LUCIDO OBSIDIAN and CEDAR WAXWINGS sit on either side of CARRO’s computer terminal. Lucido and Cedar both have their feet propped up and have dozed off. Carro is also asleep, with it’s electronic eyes closed. A vinyl record plays on a record player soon finishing. The arm and needle automatically return to their resting position. The record stops spinning, turning off with a SOFT CLICK. Silence fills the Observation Deck. A few moments of bliss pass by. Then Carro’s display changes replacing the electronic eyes with an alarm clock. The alarm RINGS loudly.
Lucido is the first to stir. He stands, stretches, and then walks over to Carro’s terminal. He pushes a button and the alarm turns off. Carro’s display reverts back to the electronic eyes which are slowly opening. He then walks over to the sleeping Cedar and gently nudges his feet off the counter. Opening a drawer previously blocked by Cedar’s legs, Lucido pulls out a box of Triple Checkers. He gives Cedar a gentle shake.

LUCIDO OBSIDIAN
“Hey.”

Cedar opens one of his eyes.

LUCIDO OBSIDIAN
“Work time. I’ll handle Carro’s analytive-emotive check if you could check the storage decks.”

Cedar yawns and nods his head. He gets up and walks off stage-left. Lucido pulls out a small tray table from behind Carro’s terminal. He then pulls over his chair and sits down. Carro watches as Lucido sets up the Triple Checkers.

CARRO
“Analysis time.”

LUCIDO OBSIDIAN
“Fraid so.”

CARRO
“Can I be red this time.”

LUCIDO OBSIDIAN
“Sure.”

Cedar walks back onstage. He goes to the record player, unplugs it, and then carries it back off-stage. Lucido and Carro track him with their eyes. When he’s gone they look at each other and shrug.

The stage-lights turn off with the sound of A COMPUTER TURNING OFF. The curtains close.

TRANSITION FROM HIGH-STAGE TO MID-STAGE.

THE CAMERA PANS DOWNWARD FROM THE HIGH-STAGE. IT GLIDES DOWN THE CURTAIN OF CLOUDS, OVER THE TOPS OF THE MID-STAGE SETS, FINALLY RESTING WHEN FRAMING MID-STAGE.

MID-STAGE: EXT. THE RETRO MOVIE PALACE EXT, NIGHT

Thomas Typewriter and Ophidia Operahouse exit the theatre hand in hand.

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“Wow. You we’re right. Great film.”

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
(Taking a bow) “Thank you. Thank you.”

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“Thanks for this. I really needed to get out. Out from behind my desk. Out from my mind.”

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“I’m glad too.”

They stand for a few moments holding hands and looking at each other.

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“You smell really nice tonight.”

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“Thanks, You too. Apricot shampoo?”

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“Yeah. I remembered how you liked the smell of apricots.

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“I do.”

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“I know.”

They lean in and kiss. Thomas breaks away and puts out his arm. Ophidia locks arms with him. They skip off stage right, arm in arm. The Mid-stage stage lights turn off with a sound like a LIGHT SWITCH CLICKING and the curtains close.

FADE OUT