Transgression is the obsession
The artist would say
that brings the words into play.
Yet they…
…knocked…
…kneaded…
…self-betrayed…
Question the sessions
Asking is there a different way
to discover the words to convey.
———–<.thom.>———–
THE GREAT WORKS PROJECT
a puppet play in many parts
Season 04, Episode 11
By Thomas Typewriter
(c) 2022
———–<:type:>———–
FADE IN TO BLACK
From the bottom center of the screen scrolls up the following text: “04-11”. It continues upward, pausing briefly in the center then exits off the top of the frame.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
INT. B-MOUSE’S OFFICE, EVENING
LS OF B-MOUSE DOWN THE END OF THE AISLE
B-Mouse sits at a simple semi-circular writers desk in the center of his office. Stacks of blank notebooks sit to the side of the desk. He has one open, pen in hand ready to write. Rows of bookcases line the room on either side of his desk. His desk is set up in a center aisle made from the rows of book cases. The bookcases are filled with alternating rows of books and banker boxes. At the back of the center aisle is visible the door to B-Mouse’s apartment. On the door hangs a motivational poster of a giant book smashing through the middle of a brick building with the caption “Books break bricks.”
CUT TO A MS OF B-MOUSE
B-MOUSE
(thinking out loud) “In a time past. Past times. No. At the edge of a town called Smokestacks. No. Outside the town of smoke and bricks, of crowds and distraction. Not right. A witch in a town of magic.”
B-Mouse makes a wrinkled face like smelling something bad. He scribbles in his notepad.
B-MOUSE
(to self) “Outside a town of smoke and ash, whose numerous citizens call the Smokestacks, outside the shadow of the mountains made from a time past not all who escape the city seek a better life. No. How about in the cursed woods outside…nope that is just as bad.”
He stands and paces the center aisle. Back and forth. Back and forth. Back and forth. Then he pauses. Something on a shelf has caught his eye. He walks to the shelves towards the back, the back stacks, and out of sight.
CUT TO MS OF ONE OF THE SECTIONS IN THE BACK STACKS
B-Mouse walks in from stage-left. He walks over to a shelf and pulls out from a shelf of books and binders a neon splatter paint decorated trapper keeper. He opens it and peruses its contents.
B-MOUSE
“Nope.”
He puts back the trapper keeper. He grabs another from the shelf and starts to read the handwritten pages inside.
B-MOUSE
“Nope.”
He closes and re-shelves the trapper keeper. Then he spies a box on the shelf above. A simple cardboard box, with an overlapping top flap design. On one side, written in a marker with a poor penmanship is the word “Amosha”.
B-MOUSE
“What do we have here. Another relic from Thomas’ stupid years?”
B-Mouse pulls the box down. As he does, an unseen pamphlet for babysitting sitting on the top of the box falls down. B-Mouse opens the box. He shifts through the contents of the box, looking at the various index cards of juvenile drawings of anthropomorphic fantasy creatures. A few of the card he looks through include Rabbitfrog, Hand Dragon, Calibre, Eelectric, Horse Eel, Rook and Geo Wizard.
B-MOUSE
“Maybe.”
As B-Mouse considers the characters on the cards an announcement rings out over the speakers in the hallway.
Y-MOUSE
(over speaker system) “Hey everyone, lets start the emergency meeting. If you could come up to the Writer’s Room. This will probably last all night, so A-Mouse & E-Mouse should be back with the food soon.”
B-Mouse closes the box. He notices the pamphlet on the floor and picks it up.
B-MOUSE
“Now, where did this come from?”
B-Mouse reads over the pamphlet.
B-MOUSE
“We’ve never really ever done any babysitter stories. I wonder why? Probably because Thomas never babysat. (pauses) Oh wait, he was always babysitting his younger brother. (pauses) So why haven’t we written a babysitter story yet? (pauses) Maybe it’s time.”
B-Mouse holds the Amosha box one hand and the Babysitting pamphlet in the other.
CUT TO SHOT OF HIS HANDS
B-MOUSE
(moving the Amosha box closer) “But on the other hand wizards and magic are pretty cool.” (moves the Babysitter pamphlet forward in emphasis) “Yet, babysitting is something new. What to work on. Babysitter? Magic? Babysitter? Magic…”
B-Mouse moves the box so it is touching the pamphlet.
B-MOUSE
“Magic babysitter?”
CUT BACK
B-Mouse is thinking, nodding his head as the idea starts to take form.
B-MOUSE
“But we need to make it different than any of those Nanny or Poppins stories. Got to put a unique spin on it, or at least do the opposite.”
B-Mouse starts slowly walking to his desk thinking out loud.
B-MOUSE
“Okay. Lets see. Previous stories had a normal person get a magical babysitter to help. They also had kids were more out of control than evil. Okay B-Mouse, think. Think. Creativity is merely taking what exists and twisting. It is all merely a bunch of parts that can be removed and resized. Think. What can we flip. Okay. What if the kids actually were evil. Or the parents have magic but the babysitter does not. Or what if the babysitter never left. Hmm. Those are interesting. Better jot them down.”
He sets the box and pamphlet on the desk. Reaching into the top drawer he pulls out a pen and notebook. He starts jotting down ideas. He walks up the aisle towards the camera. He turns and walks off-stage stage-right. The office DOOR OPENS as he exits the office. The lights turn off. The DOOR CLOSES.
FADE OUT
Testing out some new painting and production methods.
I observed you in the corner of my eye
thinking my attention had slipped you by.
You writing those thank you letters
so conceited, so renowned
to answered prayers profound.
Reminding you in simple sounds.
That all your efforts will turn to dust.
That you never had anyone’s trust.
That you are unequivocally a creature of disgust.
———–<.thom.>———–
THE GREAT WORKS PROJECT
a puppet play in many parts
Season 04, Episode 10
By Thomas Typewriter
(c) 2022 thomas typewriter
———–<:type:>———–
FADE IN TO BLACK
From the bottom center of the screen scrolls up the following text: “04-10”. It continues upward, pausing briefly in the center then exits off the top of the frame.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
EXT. HIGHWAY X, DAWN
Highway X flows across a changing landscape. Vast fields of flowers and cropland give way to suburban cityscapes. The Dionysian transitions to the Apollyon. The outer edges of THE DREAM CITY manifest as a mélange of multi-story brick apartments and cathedral crowned bungalows. The E-MOBILE enters the frame driving, alone, on one side of the road. A steady stream of pastel hued cars from all different eras drive the opposite direction on the other side of Highway X.
A-MOUSE
“Must be near wake-up.”
E-MOUSE
“Must be.”
A-MOUSE
“Will Mall X still be open?”
E-MOUSE
“Oh, I’ll get us there on time. Don’t worry about that.”
E-Mouse drives faster turning at an intersection. She drives down a side street to the rounded outer lanes surrounding the Mall X. She takes the corners fast and tight, the E-Mobile threatening to tip as the wheels leave the ground only to jam back down as it swerves a new direction.
INSERT SHOTS OF E-MOUSE DRIVING AND A-MOUSE HOLDING ON BEING WHIPPED AROUND IN THE CAR.
A-MOUSE
“Over there. An entrance!”
CUT TO MS OF ENTRANCE
CUT BACK TO TRACKING SHOT OF E-MOBILE
E-MOUSE drives towards it. She turns into the parking area of the main entrance. A rogue shopping cart sits at the end of the lane. She pulls her emergency brake and spins so the tail of the E-mobile hits the shopping cart, sending it rolling breakneck towards the front door.
CUT TO CS OF EMERGENCY BRAKE BEING PULLED
CUT TO MS OF E-MOBILE SPINNING
CUT TO CS OF IMPACT WITH CART
CUT TO MS OF SHOPPING CART SPINNING OFF
CUT TO TRACKING SHOT OF E-MOBILE AND THE SHOPPING CART
She then corrects her spin and races up the lane, just behind the shopping cart.
CUT TO MS OF A-MOUSE AND E-MOUSE
E-MOUSE
“You got the list.”
A-MOUSE
“Yes. Uh, don’t you think we should park.”
E-MOUSE
“I think you should put the list somewhere real secure and be ready.”
A-MOUSE
“Ready for what?”
CUT BACK TO TRACKING SHOT
The Shopping cart hits the curb and pops into the air. E-Mouse spins the wheel of her car. As the car spins, A-Mouse’s door flips open. E-Mouse presses the release on her seat belt.
CUT TO CS OF E-MOUSE
E-MOUSE
“This!”
CUT TO FOLLOWING A-MOUSE
A-Mouse flies out of the car and lands in the shopping cart. She races towards the doors of Mall X.
TRANSITION FROM OUTSIDE MALL X TO INSIDE MALL X
INT. SOUTH ENTRANCE OF MALL X, DAYBREAK
MS OF SPACE BETWEEN THE INNER DOORS AND OUTER DOORS
The South Entrance of Mall X is a double set of four doors. The inner set of four doors leads to the south hallway of Mall X. That particular portion of Mall X has no shops but does have a gumball machine stand and a large mall map standee. The area between the two set of four doors has two soda vending machines and a set of coin operated lockers. The soda vending machines are stocked with Satellite Soda in one and Kooky Kola in the other. MR. CHICKENS, an older mall security officer leans against the inner set of entrance doors sipping a coffee. He looks at his watch and starts to pull out his large ring of keys on a retractable wire.
MR. CHICKENS
“Ahh, closing time. The best part of the day outside payday.”
Before he can reach the outer set of four doors, A-Mouse in a shopping cart explodes through the door. She blasts past him, sending him spinning, and through the inner set of doors.
TURN TO FOLLOW A-MOUSE
A-Mouse rockets down the south hallway, hits the gumball machine, does a full flip in the air, lands and goes down an escalator.
CUT TO…
INT. MALL X FOOD COURT, DAYBREAK
A-Mouse, in a shopping cart, rolls down the escalator bounces on the bottom flying out of the shopping cart. She lands and skids across the floor to The Guttenberg Bagel. She passes by a Twinkleland Family Restaurant and a Grub From Grubs Dinery. BAGEL ARTIST MELCHI stands at the counter of The Gutenberg Bagel ready to pull down the locking gates when A-Mouse skids to a stop in front of the restaurant. She throws a list into the air. Bagel Artist Melchi grabs it.
A-MOUSE
(injured) “i’d like everything on the list. to go.”
BAGEL ARTIST MELCHI
“This is a big order. I don’t think I can fill this…”
A-Mouse, from on the ground, tosses a bunch of money on the counter.
BAGEL ARTIST MELCHI
“…In one bag. In one bag is what I meant to say. We’ll get started right away. (yells to someone behind the counter) Hey, we got a big order!”
A-Mouse lays there while Bagel Artist Melchi starts preparing the order. A WHISTLE grows louder from off-screen. Mr. Chickens runs in, blowing his whistle.
MR. CHICKENS
“Hey you! Someone’s trying to break into the mall. Female. You seen her?”
Bagel Artist Melchi points downward. Mr. Chickens jumps back in surprise. He steps closer to A-Mouse and nudges her with his foot.
MR. CHICKENS
“You gave old Mr. Chickens a fright. What are you doing crashing into…”
Then there is A LOUD CRASH.
PAN 180
The E-Mobile is upside down in the middle of the food court next to the coin operated animal rides. It is upside down, slowly spinning on its dented roof. Smoke is rising from the rear wheels. E-MOUSE, thrown from the vehicle, is sprawled on the ground off to the side.
E-MOUSE
(weakly) “did we make it?”
A-Mouse holds up a thumbs up.
E-MOUSE
(weakly) “awesome. i’ll be over here if you need me.”
A-Mouse gestures another thumbs up. Mr.Chickens starts to yell at them but his voice muffles and fades out as the screen goes dark.
FADE OUT
Tears in the night
Fight or flight
Hold her close
Hold her tight
Soon a new day
Soon a new sight
Before Success comes to stay
His three brothers clear the way.
Failure arrives first, claiming he only needs the smallest bed,
But will take two and then three instead.
Confusion arrives next with too much luggage for his claim of an overnight stay.
Excuse after excuse he generates, staying for days and days.
Disappointment arrives last with nothing to his name.
Seeing everything you have he will complain and complain.
They will bicker and argue with no delay,
Destroying your house and disrupting your ways.
But in the end they, as much as you, will grow tired
Claiming each other has an unbearable situation made.
They will leave not with a thank you said.
A broken home is their parting gift instead.
But it is a gift, their visit as much as their departure.
In home repairs you will be employed
Even the areas you would normally avoid.
So when Success finally does visits, he enters with words so kind
Thanking you for making your home such a comfortable find.
He continues saying If I may
Could I stay a few extra days?
Thomas Typewriter 
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