———–<.thom.>———–

THE GREAT WORKS PROJECT

a puppet play in many parts

Season 3, Episode 9

By Thomas Typewriter

(c) 2021

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FADE IN TO BLACK

From the bottom of the screen scrolls up the following text: “03-09”. 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

INT. UNROOM NOT.SEVEN, TWIXTLIGHT

CS OF THE MID-STAGE CURTAINS OF THE TYPEWRITER ABSTRACT PUPPET STAGE.

The TYPEWRITER ABSTRACT PUPPET STAGE sits on a wooden disc in the possible center of the room of an indeterminable size. Radiating out from the disc are a series of semicircular rows of grey hued carpet squares. The carpet squares are set up as if chairs in an auditorium. The entire area is softly illuminated by tall spindly metallic lamps at the ends of rows. The lamp’s power cords snake off, trailing out of sight. On one of the grey carpet squares, THE OUTER ONE patiently sits watching the Typewriter Abstract Puppet Stage.

PAN DOWNWARD AS THE CAMERA SUBTLY SHIFTS FROM CLOSE-SHOT TO POV OF THE OUTER ONE.

The Outer One looks at the scriptbook on the floor next to them. The cover reads as follows:

THE GREAT WORKS PROJECT
a puppet play in many parts
THE COMPLETE SERIES
BY THOMAS TYPEWRITER

The Outer One’s injury has spread across the whole hand. From fingertip to wrist flesh is replaced by scrolling blue abstract text and a glitching outline. Just below the wrist a series of red icons orbit the flesh as a warning that the injury is spreading. A soft BEEPING drifts from somewhere on the Outer One. SCRAPING FOOTSTEPS from off-screen move towards the Outer One.

CAMERA TILTS UP.

Two PRECEDURES with their long mask-like faces emerging from long trailing cloaks, stand before the Outer One. They, in unison, raise up a gloved hand. The pair then point to it with their other hand and then point at the Outer One. Both shake their heads and wiggle their fingers NO.

THE ENTIRE FRAME SHIFTS AS THE OUTER ONE IS FLUNG BACKWARDS BY AN INVISIBLE FORCE AT AN ACCELERATED PACE OUT OF UNROOM NOT.SEVEN.

EXT. UNROOM NOT.SEVEN, TWIXTLIGHT

The Outer One lands in the darkness outside the unroom flung out the free-standing revolving door. The script flies out of door landing on the ground next to the Outer One. Unseen lamps illuminate the area.

THE CAMERA, THE POV OF THE OUTER ONE, STANDS AND WALKS OVER TO THE DOOR

The Outer One pushes on the doors attempting to re-enter the Unroom. They do not budge.

POV ROTATES

In the distance can be seen a small bridge illuminated by an unseen lamp. Nearer sits the scriptbook on the ground, pages splayed open.

POV WALKING OVER TO THE SCRIPTBOOK.

A hand reaches out. Their fingers of blue scrolling text pick up the scriptbook.

POV ROTATES AND WALKS BACK TO THE LOCKED DOOR.

Gently the Outer One sits down. They open the scriptbook which reads:

“CUT TO
MID-STAGE: INT. SKOLNICK’S ICE SCREAM DELI DINING AREA
Three tables sit around the stage: one stage-right, one center-stage, and the last stage-left. The Skolnick’s Ice Scream Deli logo can be seen on the back wall along with various posters of stills from black and white horror movies. Each poster has been altered so that the monster has one of Skolnick’s ice cream sandwiches in his hand. Garlands of black bats and snowflakes drape across the room.
At the first table sits SKOLNIC’S CUSTOMER #12 eating his lunch. The second is empty. At the third table sits SKOLNIC’S CUSTOMER #33 eating her lunch. THOMAS TYPEWRITER, with a look that says really sorry about your hand but don’t give up cause I’m rooting for you, and OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE enter carrying a tray with their orders. They sit at the center table. As they sit, Ophidia takes a small nibble while Thomas hands out some napkins. She takes one and dabs at the side of her face.”

TRANSITION FROM SCRIPTBOOK TO MID-STAGE

CUT TO…

MID-STAGE: INT. SKOLNICK’S ICE SCREAM DELI DINING AREA, DAYTIME

FRAMING SHOT OF MID-STAGE

Three tables sit around the stage: one stage-right, one center-stage, and the last stage-left. The Skolnick’s Ice Scream Deli logo can be seen on the back wall along with various posters of stills from black and white horror movies. Each poster has been altered so that the monster has one of Skolnick’s ice cream sandwiches in his hand. Garlands of black bats and snowflakes drape across the room.
At the first table sits SKOLNIC’S CUSTOMER #12 eating his lunch. The second is empty. At the third table sits SKOLNIC’S CUSTOMER #33 eating her lunch. THOMAS TYPEWRITER and OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE enter carrying a tray with their orders. They sit at the center table. As they sit, Ophidia takes a small nibble while Thomas hands out some napkins. She takes one and dabs at the side of her face.

OPERAHOUSE
“Thanks.”

Thomas closes his eyes, clasps his hands and starts to prey. Ophidia joins in.

TRANSITION FROM MID-STAGE TO HIGH-STAGE

THE CAMERA PANS UPWARD. IT MOVES UP PAST THE TOP OF THE MID-STAGE SETS BRINGING THE STAGE’S BACKDROP, THE CURTAIN OF CLOUDS, INTO VIEW. IT CONTINUES UPWARD ALONG THE CURTAIN OF CLOUDS. IT FINALLY STOPS AT THE HIGH-STAGE NEAR THE TOP OF THE CURTAIN OF CLOUDS.

HIGH-STAGE: CURTAINS CLOSED

The Narrator’s Door opens. Y-Mouse steps out.

Y-MOUSE
“How injurious a moment of distraction, unable to see the overlapping orbits of past, present, and future.”

Y-Mouse turns and leaves. The Narrator’s Door closes. The curtains of High-stage start to open. Once fully parted the stage lights turn on with a noise like A COMPUTER TURNING ON revealing…

HIGH-STAGE: INT. ROOM 302 ON THE MEDICALSHIP THE FLUTE, DAYTIME.

A room of space age smoothness and plastic accentuated with baroque style trim work is divided into three sections by three Medi-pods. Each ovoid device is person size with three red blinking lights on the top, three circular ports around the middle and three wheels on the bottom. To the stage-left side sits a large curved window. The starscape outside The Flute can be seen outside. A small spaceship flies across the window. In-between the first Medi-pod and second is the bathroom door, while between the second and third is the main door. On the stage-right side a Vid-screen wall curves across. The red blinking lights on top of the Medi-pods turn green one at a time. Each color change is accompanied by a BEEP noise.

LUCIDO OBSIDIAN
(mildly electronically distorted voice)”Where am I?”

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

TRANSITION FROM HIGH-STAGE TO MID-STAGE

THE CAMERA PANS DOWNWARD FROM FRAMING HIGH-STAGE TO FRAMING MID-STAGE, MOVING DOWNWARD ALONG THE CURTAIN OF CLOUDS, UP OVER THE TOPS OF THE MID-STAGE SETS, FINALLY RESTING WHEN MID-STAGE IS FRAMED REVEALING….

MID-STAGE: INT. SKOLNICK’S ICE CREAM DELI DINING AREA DAYTIME

Three tables sit around the stage: one stage-right, one center-stage, and the last stage-left. The Skolnick’s Ice Scream Deli logo can be seen on the back wall along with various posters of stills from black and white horror movies. Each poster has been altered so that the monster has one of Skolnick’s ice cream sandwiches in his hand. Garlands of black bats and snowflakes drape across the room.
At the first table sits SKOLNIC’S CUSTOMER #12 eating his lunch. The second finds THOMAS TYPEWRITER and OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE. At the third table sits SKOLNIC’S CUSTOMER #33 eating her lunch.

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“Can I ask you something? Maybe you don’t want to talk about it.”

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“No. What is it? Go on.”

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“Well, when you proposed you said you had no job, all your scripts had their options let run out.”

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“Yes. And I don’t have any new scripts. I am stuck.”

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“Well, I was thinking that I could use some help on my short and I have extra grant money, so I could hire you. Would you come work for me.”

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“I don’t know. I kind of like doing my own thing.”

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“You don’t have to answer me now. Think it over for and let me know.”

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“Okay. I can at least think about it.”

Ophidia stands up and gathers her tray.

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
(bumping Thomas with her hip)”Come on it’ll be fun. You done with your food.”

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“Yes.”

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“Let me take your trash away.”

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“Sure, thanks.”

Ophidia leans in and kisses him on his cheek. He touches his face where she kissed him and smiles. Ophidia walks to the trashcan off-screen stage-left. Thomas watches her walk away smiling. Then there is a loud STOMACH GURGLE and he grips his stomach. An alarmed look spreads across his face. Ophidia reenters and Thomas hides his alarm with a face smiling and bright.

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“Ready to see a movie”

Thomas nods his head yes. They both stand and exit stage-right. The lights click off with a sound of A LIGHT SWITCH BEING CLICKED OFF. The curtains close.

FADE OUT