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THE GREAT WORKS PROJECT

a puppet play in many parts

Season 05, Episode 11

By Thomas Typewriter

(c) 2024 thomas typewriter

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FADE INTO BLACK

From the bottom of the screen scrolls up the following text: “05-11”. 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

THE CAMERA PANS DOWN. THE DARKNESS SHIFTS TO THE CURTAINS OF THE MID-STAGE.

THE MID-STAGE IS PROPERLY FRAMED

MID-STAGE: CURTAINS CLOSED

The Mid-stage curtains open. As they part the Mid-Stage lights flip on with the sound of A LIGHT SWITCH CLICKING ON revealing…

MID-STAGE: EXT. THE SUPPLY CLOSET OFFICE SUPPLY STORE PARKING LOT, DAYTIME.

MS OF THOMAS AT THE TRUNK

THOMAS TYPEWRITER stands by his car, looking into the open trunk. He shuts the trunk and then hops up to sit on top of the closed trunk. From his coat pocket, he pulls out a HANDY-BAR candy bar and a can of SATELLITE SODA. He opens the soda, takes a sip, and sets it down on the trunk. He then unwraps the candy bar and slowly chews. He stares out into nothing. A BUTTERFLY enters stage-left and flies past him.

CAMERA PANS OUT TO LS OF THOMAS ON TRUNK.

The butterfly flits around the parking lot. Thomas watches it.

TRANSITION FROM MID-STAGE TO HIGH-STAGE

The butterfly flies upwards past the tops of the Mid-stage sets.

THE CAMERA DISCONNECTS FROM THE MID-STAGE AND PANS UPWARD. THE CAMERA TRACKS THE SLOW FLIGHT OF THE BUTTERFLY UPWARD.

It flies upwards along the Curtain of Clouds, lazily left and right, ultimately flying out of the frame.

THE CAMERA CONTINUES PANNING UPWARD ALONG THE CURTAIN OF CLOUDS. IT GAINS SPEED SWIFTLY REACHING THE TOP OF THE CURTAIN OF CLOUDS AND THE HIGH-STAGE LOCATED THERE. IT CLICKS IN PLACE FRAMING THE HIGH-STAGE AND THE NARRATOR’S DOOR.

HIGH-STAGE: CURTAINS CLOSED

The Narrator’s Door opens and Y-MOUSE enters. He is dressed casually and sits down. He relaxes and observes the High-Stage.

THE CAMERA SHIFTS TO EMPHASIZE THE STAGE AREA EXCLUDING THE NARRATOR’S AREA.

The High-stage curtains open. The stage-lights turn on to the sound of A COMPUTER BOOTING ON revealing…

HIGH-STAGE: INT. OBSERVATION LOUNGE OF THE FLUTE MEDICALSHIP, AFTERNOON

A large curved window stretches out across the back of the stage. Twinkling lights out in space can be seen through the window. The window itself is framed by soft yellow framing. The floor and walls are in peaceful hues of yellow and brown. Three plush chairs sit at the edges of the stage. Two chairs on stage-right and one stage-left. CEDAR WAXWINGS, inside his Med-pod, sits in the center of the stage looking out the windows. The twinkling lights move across the space beyond. MINTHRIL MOUSTACHE enters from stage-left. He approaches Cedar.

MINTHRIL MOUSTACHE
“Okay if I sit down.”

CEDAR WAXWINGS
“Sure.”

A moment passes in silence.

MINTHRIL MOUSTACHE
“That is some view.”

CEDAR WAXWINGS
“Absolutely. Really gets you thinking.”

MINTHRIL MOUSTACHE
“Sure does. If I may inquire, what does it get you thinking about?”

CEDAR WAXWINGS
“Like how we’re in a spaceship right and all hurt and bandaged. Our focus is on healing and it hurts and it sucks. Our world is one of pain right, but maybe not really. Maybe we just forgot that we are surrounded by all this beauty. All this wonder.”

MINTHRIL MOUSTACHE
“Truthfully told.”

CEDAR WAXWINGS
“Thanks.”

They look a moment and then Cedar turns towards Minthril.

CEDAR WAXWINGS
“I’m Cedar by the way. Sorry I didn’t introduce myself earlier.”

MINTHRIL MOUSTACHE
“Minthril. Glad to meet you. ”

Minthril leans over as Cedar extends a manipulator arm out of his Medi-Pod. They shake. Once finished, Minthril sits in a chair next to Cedar. They sit in silence for a couple minutes as the constellation of lights twirls outside the window.

MINTHRIL MOUSTACHE
“So, pardon my inquiry, but what brings you to this ship?”

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

TRANSITION FROM HIGH-STAGE TO MID-STAGE

THE CAMERA UNCLICKS FROM PROPERLY FRAMING THE HIGH-STAGE AND PANS DOWNWARD. IT MOVES DOWN ONTO THE CURTAIN OF CLOUDS BELOW THE HIGH-STAGE. IT CONTINUES DOWN AND DOWN.

The BUTTERFLY flies in from stage-left. It flies downward.

THE CAMERA SLOWS AND TRACKS THE BUTTERFLY MOVING DOWNWARD.

The Butterfly flies past the top of the Mid-Stage sets.

THE CAMERA GLIDES DOWN LOCKING INTO PLACE PROPERLY FRAMING THE MID-STAGE.

MID-STAGE: INT. THOMAS TYPEWRITER’S APARTMENT, LATE AFTERNOON

The apartment is arranged in such a way that the living room and Thomas’ studio are visible. The front third of stage-left is the studio area with its desk and typewriter. The rest of the stage is the living room with its bookshelves and entryway. The desk is topped by a typewriter and a stack of papers. A large wastecan sits to the stage-right side of the desk, while a tall floor lamp sits on the stage-left side. The living room area has three bookcases, each filled with graphic novels, music CDs, books, artwork, and houseplants. The three run in a line stage-left to stage-right. The first and second are touching, with the second parallel to the stage-front and the first at a slight angle. There is a gap between the second and third. This gap leads to the entryway and front door of the apartment behind the second bookcase. The third bookcase sits at a 45 degree angle. The Butterfly flies into the room from the top of the frame and flies out of frame exiting stage-right. APPROACHING FOOTSTEPS emerge from off-stage. KEYS UNLOCK and A DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES. THE DOOR RELOCKS. Thomas Typewriter enters the living room, emerging from the gap between the second and third bookcase. He is carrying packages of moving boxes. He strides stage-right and sets them down on the floor in front of the third bookcase’s corner. He then slowly looks around the room.

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“Sigh.”

Thomas walks to his writing desk. He extends his arm and in one sweeping motion pushes the typewriter and stack of paper off the desk and into the wastecan. He walks away exiting the living room stage-right. After a moment he walks back into the room and pulls the typewriter out of the trash. He gives it a kiss.

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
(soft whisper) “I’m so sorry about that. Please forgive me.”

He gently sets the typewriter on the floor and then exits stage-right. The stage-lights turn off to the sound of A LIGHT SWITCH CLICKING OFF. The Mid-Stage curtains close.

FADE OUT