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THE GREAT WORKS PROJECT

a puppet play in many parts

Season 04, Episode 01

a prologue

By Thomas Typewriter

(c) 2022 thomas typewriter

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FADE IN TO BLACK

From the bottom of the screen scrolls up the following text: “04-01”. It moves upwards, pausing a moment in the center of the frame, then continues upward, exiting the frame at the top edge. Shortly thereafter, from the bottom center of the screen scrolls up the following text: “a prologue”. It moves upwards, pausing a moment in the center of the frame, then continues upward, exiting the frame at the top edge.

FADE OUT

FADE IN

THE VELVET CURTAINS

The darkness slowly transitions to a backdrop of dark black and deep purple velvet curtains. THE VELVET TOUCH, a Helping Hand wearing black fingerless gloves and black fingernail polish, comes into frame. It grips the side of the frame.

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
(Voice-over) “Have you ever looked inside something while it was too close?”

The Velvet Touch pulls image in the frame loose as if printed on a large card. The card rotates around. On the back of the card is the image of The TYPEWRITER ABSTRACT PUPPET STAGE.

LS OF THE TYPEWRITER ABSTRACT PUPPET STAGE.

The main curtains of the The Typewriter Abstract Puppet Stage part.

TRANSITION FROM THE TYPEWRITER ABSTRACT PUPPET STAGE TO THE HIGH-STAGE.

PAN FROM LS TO MS TO CS OF THE TYPEWRITER ABSTRACT PUPPET STAGE. AS THE CAMERA NEARS THE STAGE IT ALSO PANS UPWARD TO EVENTUALLY FACE THE HIGH-STAGE AREA.

HIGH-STAGE: CURTAINS CLOSED

The Narrator’s Door opens. A light from beyond the doorway spills out as a faint breeze blows past rippling the High-stage curtains.

THE CAMERA SOFTLY PANS UP AND LEFT SO AS TO ALLOW A MORE DIRECT VIEW INTO THE AREA BEHIND THE NARRATOR’S DOOR

A small apartment spreads out behind the Narrator’s Door. We can not see all of it but we can see the room immediately behind the door. It is the kitchen/living room combo of a studio apartment. The kitchen stands off to stage-left and the living room to stage-right. An L-shaped counter divides one area from the other. A wicker couch sits off the stage-right. Across from the Narrator’s Door we can see a sliding door and part of a deck beyond that.

TRANSITION FROM HIGH-STAGE TO APARTMENT Y

THE CAMERA PANS IN TOWARDS AND THROUGH THE NARRATOR’S DOOR. IT CONTINUES THROUGH THE KITCHEN/LIVING ROOM, MOVING THROUGH THE SLIDING DOORS TO THE DECK OUTSIDE.

EXT. APARTMENT Y’S DECK, EVENING.

A wrought iron deck of the edge of the apartment, the deck contains an art deco inspired metal railing. A deck chair and small table sit off to the side from the sliding door. The view from the deck looks out at sloping hills of autumnal trees. Their fiery colors flow across the treetops like living oceans.

THE CAMERA ROTATES TO THE RIGHT

Y-MOUSE sits in the deck chair, holding a yellow Memory-stone in one hand and a small drink in the other, looking out at the sunset on the hills. Lost in thought, he rubs his thumb across the thin stone in his hand.

Y-MOUSE
“Why did you come to talk to us? What is going on in that head of yours?”

The stone starts to glow. It takes a moment for the light to catch Y-Mouse’s attention. He sets down his drink and looks into the glow.

CS OF Y-MOUSE LOOKING DOWN INTO THE STONE. YELLOW HIGHLIGHTS SPREAD ACROSS HIS FACE AS THE STONE’S GLOW INCREASES.

CUT TO CS OF STONE.

Shapes and figures start to appear in the inner glow of the stone. Images of Thomas Teenager’s bedroom begin to form.

TRANSITION FROM APARTMENT Y TO THOMAS TEENAGER’S BEDROOM

ZOOM IN ON THE IMAGES IN THE MEMORY STONE

INT. THOMAS TEENAGER’S BEDROOM, EVENING

An unmade bed covered with folded blankets runs long ways across the stage. To the stage-left side of the bed sits an old-style bankers desk and a pair of windows. To the stage-right side of the bed sits a vintage lamp lamp, an old chair, and the bedroom door. On the wall over the bed various shelves of stuffed animals and action figures attempt to share space with posters of teddy bears. From off-stage we can hear MUFFLED YELLING mixed with CHRISTMAS SONGS. The door opens and THOMAS TEENAGER enters the room. He slams the door behind him.

THOMAS TEENAGER
“I hate him. Hate him. Hate him.”

Thomas falls onto his bed.

THOMAS TEENAGER
(softly)“…hate myself…”

Thomas draws a deep breath.

THOMAS TEENAGER
“Why does he always say that I am greedy and selfish. Why can he see it but I can’t. I thought I was doing good, that I was finally being a good boy at Christmas. I stopped asking for presents, pretended I was happy at all the events, laughed when everyone else laughed, did my chores…but still…(chokes up)”

Thomas starts to cry, but just as quickly it passes. He looks even more upset.

THOMAS TEENAGER
(narration) “Why can’t I cry. I was about to but then something shifted and I stopped. No tears. No release. Still feel sad. Feel even worse. (takes a deep breath) Three years. Three years of no escape. Swallowing everything, stuffing it down. Feeling worse every day.”

Thomas lays down on the bed clutching his stomach and rubbing his throat.

THOMAS TEENAGER
(narration) “Maybe I can’t cry because I haven’t gotten sad enough. Maybe I need to overload my emotional dam and break it. Shock my system.”

Thomas sits up and wipes his eyes. He walks over to the desk. He opens the lid and moves some comics and RPG notes out of the way. He pulls out a piece of paper and a pen then sits down and starts to write.

THOMAS TEENAGER
(narration) “List of bad things I have done. 1. I ask for too many toys at Christmas, 2. I do not finish my school assignments 3. I said mean words to my brother 4. I did not compliment my mother on her new haircut soon enough. 5. I forgot to wash the dishes yesterday 7. I shoved a broom at Sadie when a toddler. 8. I burned that pizza that one summer because I was distracted playing Mario Brothers. 9. I feel awkward around my classmates. 10. If I wasn’t born my Dad wouldn’t have to work a job he hates. That should be number one.”

Thomas grabs a new sheet of paper and starts to recopy the list.

THE SCREEN CHANGES TO A BRIGHT YELLOW GLOW

TRANSITION FROM THOMAS TEENAGER’S BEDROOM TO APARTMENT Y

EXT. DECK OF APARTMENT Y, EVENING

THE BRIGHT GLOW FADES OUT RETURNING US TO A CS OF THE YELLOW STONE IN Y-MOUSE’S HAND.

The stone stops glowing.

CUT TO CS OF Y-MOUSE’S FACE

Y-MOUSE
“Oh Thomas…”

CUT TO MS OF Y-MOUSE

Y-Mouse stands and walks over to the sliding door. He goes inside.

CUT TO LS OF…

INT. APARTMENT Y KITCHEN/LIVING ROOM, EVENING

Y-Mouse enters through the sliding door, closing the door behind him. He holds the Memory-stone in his hand. He walks over to the couch and pulls a case out from under the sofa. Inside is a large amount of foam padding with slots. In each slot sits a stone similar to the yellow stone but in different colors: red, blue, green, orange, purple, white, black, brown and one empty spot. Y-Mouse places the yellow stone into the empty slot. He closes the case and slides it back under the sofa. Walking over to the phone, he picks it up. DIALTONE. BUTTON BEEPS FOR DIALING 3 3 *. RINGING. RINGING. CLICK OF PICKUP ON OTHER END.

Y-MOUSE
“Hi. Busy. No, good. You better go and get food for everyone. Going to be all-nighter. Yeah, it’s that serious. Have A-Mouse help you. Thanks.”

Y-Mouse hangs up the phone and walks off camera

FADE OUT