———–<.thom.>———–
The Great Works Project
a puppet play in multiple parts
Season 01, Episode 05
By Thomas Typewriter
(C) 2020
———–<:type:>———–

FADE IN TO BLACK

Across a dark field the following text scrolls up: 01-05. 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

Grey carpet squares surround a wooden disc in the center of the room. The carpet squares, illuminated by spindly lamps off to the sides, spread out like seats in an auditorium.

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

The disk stands unilluminated, just outside the lamp light. TYPEWRITER KEYS CLACK as unseen lamps turn on bringing the TYPEWRITER ABSTRACT PUPPET STAGE into view. Surprising since before the unseen lamps lit, one would assume the wooden disc was empty.

TRANSITION FROM THE UNROOM TO MID-STAGE

ZOOM IN TO THE MID-STAGE

MID-STAGE: CURTAINS CLOSED

The curtains open and the stage lights turn on with the sound of a LIGHT SWITCH CLICKING revealing…

MID-STAGE: THOMAS TYPEWRITER’S STUDIO, NIGHT

Center stage sits a writing desk topped by a typewriter and a pad of typing paper. On one side of the desk stands tall a floor lamp, while on the other side stands a small trash bin. A bookcase, topped by various houseplants, sits askew off to stage-right.
THOMAS TYPEWRITER sits at the desk humming “Also Sprach Zarathustra” to himself as he loads paper into the typewriter. Stretching his fingers, Thomas begins to feverishly type.

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
(narration) “Fade in. INTERIOR BIFF’s BEDROOM, DAYTIME. A bed sits center in the room, flanked by an end table on one side and a steamer trunk on the other. Posters of various characters from the Cosmic League comic books and the Babysitter Tails television show adorn the walls. A window sits to the side. Sunlight streams in. Biff and Rockey are sitting on the floor drawing when we join them. (pause) Biff reaches for a new crayon from the large box of crayons nearby while Rockey studies the crystalline palace he is drawing. Narration: “Biff was taken aback when his crayons turned black.””

TRANSITION FROM MID-STAGE TO HIGH-STAGE

THE CAMERA PANS UPWARD OVER THE MID-STAGE SETS TO THE CURTAIN OF CLOUDS BEHIND. IT CONTINUES ALONG THE CURTAIN OF CLOUDS UP TO THE HIGH-STAGE.

HIGH-STAGE: CURTAINS CLOSED

The NARRATOR’S PANEL opens and Y-MOUSE leans out. He is still in his pajamas.

Y-MOUSE
“Has anyone seen the script book?”

A HELPING HAND comes up and nods no.

Y-MOUSE
“Is it in the back somewhere?”

The Helping Hand ducks down out of sight. It comes back up and nods no again.

Y-MOUSE
“Well keep looking. It has to be somewhere.”

The Helping Hand exits. From off stage we hear someone KNOCKING ON A DOOR.

Y-MOUSE
“Excuse me will you.”

Y-Mouse walks off stage through the Narrator’s Panel. It closes. We can hear the sound of a DOOR OPENING.

Y-MOUSE
(from off stage) “Hello, can I help you. Hey, long time no see. How have you been.(pause as he listens to a response) Sorry to hear. Oh, sure you can pass through. Can’t blame you. Who wants to travel through that space. First stairs on left then second hall on the left then third door on the left. Good luck.”

We hear FOOTSTEPS going down stairs, then FOOTSTEPS down a hallway, and lastly the sound of a DOOR CLOSING. The curtains open and the stage-lights turn on with the sound of A COMPUTER BOOTING UP.

MID-STAGE: EXT. OUTER SPACE, AFTERNOON

A model of the Carro flies across a background of the blackness and sparkle of outer space. It flies from stage left to stage right. As it crosses the stage, a bird-like shadow moves across the background. Once the ship reaches the stage right edge the curtains close. The curtains then reopen.

MID-STAGE: INT. THE OBSERVATION DECK OF THE CARRO, AFTERNOON

Lucido sits near Carro’s terminal setting up a game of Triple Checkers on a small table tray. Once he finishes he reaches into a nearby desk retrieving a clipboard.

LUCIDO
“Do you want to go first?”

CARRO
“No, you can go first.”

Lucido checks a box on the form on his clipboard. He sets aside the clipboard and makes his first move. Carro makes its move. Lucido then takes his turn. A shadowy shape can be seen flapping in the distance through the observation window behind Lucido. Carro notices this but Lucido does not.

LUCIDO
“Your move”

CARRO
“Oh. Sorry.”

Carro makes his move. Lucido then takes his turn. He waits as Carro has become distracted staring out the window.

LUCIDO
“Carro. Your move”

CARRO
“Oh. Yeah. Sorry.”

Carro takes his turn. Lucido makes his next move. Carro starts to make his follow-up move but his eyes drift. He places his piece in a different spot than intended. Lucido grimaces but then makes his move. He manages to jump two of Carro’s pieces removing them from the board. Carro does not react. He is lost in thought staring out the window.

Lucido makes a mark on the clipboard. He then clears his throat to get Carro’s attention. Carro fails to notice. Lucido’s gaze starts to follow Carro’s. They both stare out the observation window.

LUCIDO
“What are you looking at?”

The stage-lights turn off to the sound of a COMPUTER TURNING OFF then the High-stage curtains close.

TRANSITION FROM HIGH-STAGE TO MID-STAGE

MID-STAGE: INT. THOMAS TYPEWRITER’S STUDIO, NIGHT

Thomas Typewriter is still sitting at his typewriter typing.

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
(narration)“Biff examines the crayon carefully. Puzzled by how it could turn black when previously it was purple. Red and blue mixed no more. He turns his gaze to the box of crayons as searching for a foothold, something stable to help explain these sudden changes. What…..”

Thomas slows down typing

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“What (trails off) What does happen next.”

Thomas stops typing. He stares at the keyboard. Moments pass. He lays his head down and pecks away at the keys. Thomas sits at the typewriter a little longer hoping to reclaim the thread of the story.

Unfortunately Not today.

Thomas stands up and exits stage-right

The stage lights turn off with the sound of a LIGHT SWITCH CLICKING OFF and the Mid-Stage curtains close.

FADE OUT