———–<.thom.>———–

THE GREAT WORKS PROJECT

a puppet play in many parts

Season 05, Episode 13

an epilogue

By Thomas Typewriter

(c) 2024 thomas typewriter

———–<:type:>———–

FADE INTO BLACK

From the bottom of the screen scrolls up the following text: “05-13”. 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 of the screen scrolls up the following text: “an epilogue”. It moves upwards, pausing a moment in the center of the frame, then continues upward, exiting the frame at the top edge. The sound of TYPEWRITER KEYS CLICK CLACKING rings out in the darkness.

FADE OUT

FADE IN

OPEN ON A DARK VELVET CURTAIN

Three spotlights focus on the curtain, all in a row. The center one is in the center of the curtains, where the two meet. The other two lights are on either side of the center. From below the frame emerges THE VELVET TOUCH, a Helping Hand wearing ripped fishnet gloves and uneven black fingernail polish. The Velvet Tough is holding a cue card. As it comes up, the side of the cue card we see is blank. They rotate the cue card around and on the other side is written the following: “05-13”. After holding the cue card stationary for a few moments, allowing the viewer time to read the card, they rotate the card around once more. The other side now has writing on it. As if part of some magic trick the card has the following written on it: “an epilogue”. The Velvet Touch again holds the cue card stationary for a moment. A second HELPING HAND reaches down from the top of the screen. The other Helping Hand grips the top of the cue card. The Velvet Touch lets go of the cue card and exits sinking below the bottom of the frame. The second Helping Hand exits, sliding out of view, along with the cue card, through the top of the frame. The velvet curtains open revealing…

INT. WRITER’S ROOM. LATE AT NIGHT

Z-MOUSE sits at the end of the table in the Writer’s Room. He leans over his floating cloud chair, head propped on an arm. His other arm is stretched out to the desk attempting to take notes. His writing slows and eventually halts, as his head nods forward.

OPEN INITIALLY IN A SOFT FOCUS MS OF Z-MOUSE AS HE TRIES TO STAY AWAKE.

He attempts to stay awake but sleep’s siren call is too loud.

SHIFT BETWEEN IN-FOCUS AND OUT-OF-FOCUS ON THE SHOT OF Z-MOUSE. AS HE STARTS TO FALL ASLEEP, GO OUT-OF-FOCUS. THEN WHEN HE CATCHES HIMSELF NODDING OFF PULL BACK INTO FOCUS.

Z-Mouse drops his pencil and rests his head on his arms. Soon he is fast asleep.

FADE OUT THROUGH GOING OUT OF FOCUS

FADE IN

EXT. THE GRITTY OVERLAP, DAYTIME

Lands of yellowish-white sands meet grassy scrub hills. A footpath runs across the center of the stage. The stage itself is on the crest of a gentle hill. In the distance, stage-right is rolling dunes of white and yellow sands. In the other direction, stage-left, there are low rolling grassy hills. In the center of the stage stands a signpost showing that the path splits in two directions. A small lamp burns off the top of the signpost. The post appears as a Tiffany lamp on top of multiple posts nailed together. The stage is dark like night and the lamp glows bright, glows bright, glows bright, and then the stage-lighting changes as if night turns to day, or dusk to dawn. Z-MOUSE enters stage-right. He walks up to the signpost and reads the choices. THE ETHEREAL PRESENCE, a woman dressed in flowing robes of pale otherworldly fabric and hair of red streaked with grey, materializes behind him.

THE ETHEREAL PRESENCE
(in a spooky-voice) “Choose wisely traveler for you have an important choice to make. Listen to my tales…”

Z-MOUSE turns and holds out his hand shaking the The Ethereal Presences hand. She is startled

Z-MOUSE
“Hi there, Z-Mouse’s the name. A swell place you have here.”

THE ETHEREAL PRESENCE
(in a spooky voice) “You have a choice to make.”

Z-MOUSE
“Choices, I love choices. Have you worked here long?”

THE ETHEREAL PRESENCE
(regular voice) “What are you doing?”

Z-MOUSE
“Being polite. Asking questions.”

THE ETHEREAL PRESENCE
“Why?”

Z-MOUSE
(pulls out a notebook) “You seem interesting. Got this whole spooky thing going on.”

THE ETHEREAL PRESENCE
“Nobody has ever said that before. Are you sure you’re not the least bit scared? Most people ignore what I have to say and can’t move on fast enough.”

Z-MOUSE
(starts writing in a notebook) “And if they stuck around, what would you tell them?”

The Ethereal Presence stares at Z-Mouse for a moment trying to figure out if he is being genuine or playing a trick on her. Finally, she decides to believe him and gives in to the conversation.

THE ETHEREAL PRESENCE
“Okay, I’m game but we may be here awhile. We might as well be comfortable.”

The Ethereal Presence pulls two chairs or stools from somewhere unseen. She hands one to Z-Mouse and they sit down. A campfire appears.

Z-MOUSE
“Thank you.”

THE ETHEREAL PRESENCE
“Your welcome.”

Z-MOUSE
“Okay, so you appear and then what?”

THE ETHEREAL PRESENCE
“For as long as I can recall, well mostly as long as I can recall, I’ve appeared and warned travelers that they have to choose a path and they should choose wisely.”

Z-Mouse nods and writes down notes.

Z-MOUSE
“Go on, tell me everything.”

THE ETHEREAL PRESENCE
“Don’t you have somewhere to be?”

Z-MOUSE
“Oh, no. Those meetings go on forever and whatever we write their going to change it later. No, I think it is much more interesting speaking with you.”

THE ETHEREAL PRESENCE
“Oh wow, that is really nice. Where was I”

Z-MOUSE
(rereading notes) “You appear and warn the travelers but no one listens.”

THE ETHEREAL PRESENCE
“Yes, and it is so frustrating!”

PAN OUT

The Velvet Touch re-enters the frame as the camera pans out. They appear as one hand at each end of the frame. The Velvet Touch reaches off-screen left and off-screen right grabbing hold of something. The Velvet Touch then pulls the item, velvet curtains, inward closing the curtain on this episode. Three spotlights illuminate the curtain. The Velvet Touch waves goodbye and exits, sinking down out of view. Each of the spotlights turns off one by one.

FADE OUT