———–<.thom.>———–

THE GREAT WORKS PROJECT

a puppet play in many parts

Season 3, Episode 8

By Thomas Typewriter

(c) 2021

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FADE IN TO BLACK

From the bottom center of the screen, the following text scrolls upward: “03-08”. It moves up the center of the frame eventually exiting the top center of the frame.

FADE OUT

FADE IN

INT. THE UNROOM NOT.SEVEN IN THE UNDOCUMENTED SPACE

A large cavernous room of indeterminate volume, the Unroom Not.Seven bears few decorations. In the possible center of the unroom sits a wooden disc. Surrounding the wooden disc on one side, like radiating waves, are rows of grey hued carpet squares. A faint light radiates from spindly metallic lamps at the ends of each row. On one of the carpet squares THE OUTER ONE sits looking at the floor.

OPEN ON POV OF THE OUTER ONE

The Outer One is stacking golden coins in various arraignments, seeing the different patterns that emerge. As they move the coins, the injury on their right hand is visible. The flesh of the fingers and a portion of the knuckles have been replaced with a bluish glow. The glow is filled with scrolling abstract text in a different hue of blue. The injury does not impair the Outer One’s ability to use the hand. From off-camera the sound of TYPEWRITER KEYS CLICK CLACKING sounds out.

POV OF THE OUTER ONE LOOKING UP FROM THE FLOOR TO LOOK AT THE WOODEN DISC.

In the center of the wooden disc, and facing towards the Outer One, sits THE TYPEWRITER ABSTRACT PUPPET STAGE. Unseen lamps above it slowly turn on.

PAN IN TOWARDS THE TYPEWRITER ABSTRACT PUPPET STAGE.

The main curtain starts to open as the camera pans in.

TRANSITION FROM THE UNROOM TO THE HIGH-STAGE

PAN IN TOWARDS THE HIGH-STAGE AREA OF, STOPPING ONCE THE HIGH-STAGE IS PROPERLY FRAMED.

HIGH-STAGE: CLOSED CURTAINS

The High-stage curtains part revealing…

HIGH-STAGE: EXT. THE FOREVERCAGE

A vast field of nothingness empty and frozen, the Forevercage spreads in all directions. A small sparkle, THE SPACE EGG, glints stage-left.

CUT TO LONG SHOT OF THE SPARKLE

The Space Egg slowly spins in the distance as it drifts across the Forevercage.

THE INNER-SPACE MAN
(barely audible from off-screen) “…1, 098, 896…”

CUT TO MEDIUM SHOT OF THE SPACE EGG AS IT DRIFTS ACROSS THE FRAME.

THE INNER SPACE-MAN
(faintly from off-screen) “…1, 098, 897…”

Now that we are closer, we see the middle band on the Space Egg briefly HUM and light up.

CUT TO CLOSE SHOT OF THE SPACE EGG AS IT DRIFTS ACROSS THE SCREEN.

THE INNER SPACE MAN
(off-screen) “…1, 098, 898…”

The mid-band of the Space Egg briefly lights up while also emitting a soft HUM. It drifts off screen stage-right.

TRANSITION FROM HIGH-STAGE TO MID-STAGE

THE CAMERA PANS DOWNWARD FROM THE HIGH-STAGE TO THE CURTAIN OF CLOUDS, ALONG THE CURTAIN TO THE TOPS OF THE MID-STAGE SETS, OVER THE TOPS AND DOWN TILL FRAMING THE MID-STAGE.

MID-STAGE: INT. SKOLNIC’S ICE CREAM DELI’S FRONT COUNTER, DAYTIME

A counter, for ordering, stands on stage-left while a series of ropes and standards, for customers waiting to order, stretches across the width of the stage. An “ORDER HERE” sign over the counter while a “ENTER HERE TO ORDER” sign hangs at the end of the customer queue. Menu boards hang behind the ordering counter. ABELARD ABLE stands behind the counter ready to take orders. Five customers currently stand in line waiting their turn to order.

ABELARD ABLE
“Next.”

The first person in line, SKOLNIC’S CUSTOMER #1, approaches the counter. Everyone else moves forward. THOMAS TYPEWRITER and OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE enter from stage-right and stand at the end of the queue.

SKOLNIC’S CUSTOMER #1
“Could I have a Reuben on Waffle Cookies with a small Cesar Salad Shake.”

Abelard punches in the order.

ABELARD ABLE
“That’ll be $6.98”

He pays. Abelard hands him a receipt.

ABELARD ABLE
“Here is your receipt. Your order number is 8896. Pick it up at the other counter. Next.”

Skolnic’s Customer #1 exits Stage-left. SKOLNIC’s CUSTOMER #2 walks up to the counter. All the other customers in the queue move forward. From stage-right enters SKOLNIC’s CUSTOMER #7. She enters the queue behind Thomas Typewriter and Ophidia Operahouse.

SKOLNIC’S CUSTOMER #2
“A Monte Cristo on sugar cookies, with a scoop of ranch on the side please.”

ABELARD ABLE
“That’ll be $4.76”

Skolnic’s Customer #2 pays and Abelard hands her a receipt.

ABELARD ABLE
“Here is your receipt. Your order number is 8897. Pick it up at the other counter. Next.”

Skolnic’s Customer #2 exits stage-left. SKOLNIC’S CUSTOMER #3 walks up to the counter. Everyone in the queue moves forward. From stage-right enters SKOLNIC’S CUSTOMER #8 and enters the end of the queue.

SKOLNIC’S CUSTOMER #3
“Could I have a Ceasar Salad Shake and a Chicken Noodle Sunday.”

ABELARD ABLE
“That’ll be $7.12.”

He pays Abelard, who then hands him a receipt.

ABELARD ABLE
“Here is your receipt. Your order number is 8898. Your order will be ready at the other counter. Next.”

Skolnic’s Customer #3 exits stage-left. SKOLNIC’s CUSTOMER #4 walks up to the counter. The rest of the customers in the queue step forward. SKOLNIC’S CUSTOMER #9 enters from stage-right and stands behind Skolnic’s Customer #8 in the queue.

SKOLNIC’S CUSTOMER #4
“Do you still have Bacon Cheeseburgers?”

ABELARD ABLE
“Yes.”

SKOLNIC’S CUSTOMER #4
“Good. I’ll take that on a Chocolate Chip cookie with a large Beet Salad Shake.”

ABELARD ABLE
“That will be $8.02”

SKOLNIC’S CUSTOMER #4
“Here you go.”

She pays Abelard. He hands her a receipt.

ABELARD ABLE
“Here is your receipt. Your order number is 8899 and will be ready at the other counter.”

SKOLNIC’S CUSTOMER #4
“Thanks. Have a great day.”

ABELARD ABLE
“You too. I can help who’s next.”

Skolnic’s Customer #4 exits stage-left. SKOLNIC’S CUSTOMER #5 walks up to the counter. Everyone in the queue moves forward. SKOLNIC’S CUSTOMER #10 enters from stage-right and stands at the back of the queue.

ABELARD ABLE
“Hi.”

SKOLNIC’S CUSTOMER #5
“Hi. Could I have a Lobster Bisque Sunday with a large Oyster Cracker Cookie.”

ABELARD ABLE
“Sure. That’ll be $7.78”

He pays. Abelard hands him a receipt

ABELARD ABLE
“Here is your receipt. Your order number is 8900. You can pick it up at the other counter. Next.”

Skolnic’s Customer #5 exits stage-right. Thomas Typewriter and Ophidia Operahouse step forward to the counter. Everyone in the queue behind them moves forward. SKOLNIC’S CUSTOMER #11 enters from stage-left and stands at the end of the queue.

ABELARD ABLE
“What can I get you today?”

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“Oh, thank you. Let’s see. I’ll have the Gyro on a Waffle with a Garden Salad Shake, please.”

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“And, I’ll have an Italian Beef on Wafer Cookies with a small Cracker Cookie.”

ABELARD ABLE
“No problem, and thanks for visiting today. Will you be paying separately or together?”
Ophidia and Thomas look at each other in surprise and shrug.

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“Together. I’ll pay.”

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“Okay, but I get the movie tickets to even it out.”

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“(looking at Ophidia) Deal. (turns to Abelard) Sorry, how much was it?”

ABELARD ABLE
“No problem. $17.54 is the total.”

Thomas Typewriter pays. Abelard hands him a receipt.

ABELARD ABLE
“Okay, so here is your receipt. Your order number is 8901 and will be ready at the the other counter. Next.”

Thomas Typewriter and Ophidia Operahouse exit stage-left.

TRANSITION FROM MID-STAGE TO HIGH-STAGE

THE CAMERA PANS UPWARD, UP OVER THE TOPS OF THE MID-STAGE SETS TO THE CURTAIN OF CLOUDS BEHIND. IT CONTINUES UPWARD ALONG THE CURTAIN OF CLOUDS TO THE HIGH-STAGE AT THE TOP. THE CAMERA SLOWS AND STOPS WHEN FRAMING THE HIGH-STAGE.

HIGH-STAGE: THE FOREVERCAGE

The static void of the Forevercage spills across the screen. A few moments pass before the Inner-Space Egg enters from screen-right.

PAN IN UNTIL THE EDGES OF THE HIGH-STAGE ARE NOT-VISIBLE. THE BLACKNESS OF THE FOREVERCAGE SHOULD FILL THE SCREEN.

THE INNER SPACE MAN
(off-screen) “…1, 098, 899…”

There is a short HUM noise from the Space Egg as its middle band partially lights up then shuts off.

THE INNER SPACE MAN
(off-screen) “…1, 098, 900…”

Again a short HUM noise from the Space Egg as its middle band partially lights up then shuts off.

THE INNER SPACE MAN
(off-screen) “…1, 098, 901…”

This time the HUM noise is loud and long as the entire middle band and eye-ring of the Space Egg light up. It stops drifting and comes to a halt. We can hear MORE BUTTON PUSHING and SYSTEMS POWERING UP.

THE SPACE EGG
“Finally.”

THE INNER-SPACE MAN
(off-screen) “Tell me about it.”

THE SPACE EGG
“So what now.”

THE INNER-SPACE MAN
“We see if forever has an end.”

The Space Egg flies off exiting stage-right. The High-stage curtains close.

FADE OUT