Mice with lice
All that can die
Better they shine
No refunds for overtime
Larger than patience
All that can design
Move the conveyance
Mettle the temperance
Maze. Mustard. Rye.
-by Thomas Typewriter
mice
“Moments of the Mice (or twoinks #3)” by Thomas Typewriter – a new painting
paintings
a new script: “The Great Works Project: Season Four, Episode Twelve” by Thomas Typewriter
scripts, The Great Works Project scripts———–<.thom.>———–
THE GREAT WORKS PROJECT
a puppet play in many parts
Season 04, Episode 12
By Thomas Typewriter
(c) 2022
———–<:type:>———–
FADE IN TO BLACK
From the bottom center of the screen scrolls up the following text: “04-12”. It continues upward, pausing briefly in the center then exits off the top of the frame.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
INT. THE DEEPEST HALLWAY
LS OF THE DEEPEST HALLWAY FROM OUTSIDE B-MOUSE’S OFFICE DOOR
A long wood grain beige hallway, the Deepest level contains a series of frosted glass widows and doors to the various Alphabet Mice’s offices. The other side of the hallway is illuminated by wall sconces and also contains a water fountain and two vending machines. One of the vending machines is for Satelite Soda while the other is for various candies and bagged snacks such as Wowies, Tip Chips, Zappers, and Cheesy Weezys. B-Mouse’s office is in the center of the hallway across from the water fountain and vending machines. Both ends of the hallway have a set of double doors leading to stairwells connected to the other levels. The door opens and out steps B-MOUSE busily scribbling notes into a small notepad. He pauses writing to reach inside and turn off the office’s lights. He shuts the office door and finishes his note. Down the hall N-MOUSE exits his office. B-Mouse looks up from his notes and waves. M-MOUSE leaves his office at the end of the hallway while B-Mouse and N-Mouse are waving. He closes the door and leans against the wall. B-Mouse and N-Mouse walks towards M-Mouse.
PAN DOWN HALLWAY FOLLOWING B-MOUSE
N-Mouse and B-Mouse stand by M-Mouse.
M-MOUSE
“You guys ready for this meeting.”
N-MOUSE
“Yup.”
B-MOUSE
“Yup.”
CUT BETWEEN CS OF EACH SPEAKER AS EACH SPEAKS
M-MOUSE
“What do you think the meeting will be about.”
N-MOUSE
“Writer’s block if anything like before.”
M-MOUSE
“Remember those all-nighters we’d pull when Thomas was in high school.”
B-MOUSE
“I remember how we still didn’t finish a single essay.”
N-MOUSE
“What about that Mutant Cat story.”
M-MOUSE
“Stumpy the Mutant Cat?”
N-MOUSE
“Yeah. I thought that was the one essay we finished?
B-MOUSE
“Nope. Stumpy was in the middle of talking to the pickles in Pickle Heaven when the story stopped. Like mid-sentence. Thomas said screw it and turned it in anyway.”
M-MOUSE
“Did we every finish anything.”
N-MOUSE
“Those scripts that no studio wanted.”
B-MOUSE
“Can you blame them. The spy who had to gain weight so there was enough mass to duplicate him.”
N-MOUSE
“Yeesh. That one was bad.”
M-MOUSE
“Or how about Thomas Typewriter: World’s Worst Stuntman.”
N-MOUSE
“Yeah, he was pretty desperate and frustrated by the time he wrote that one.”
CUT BACK TO LS OF THE GROUP FROM DOWN THE HALLWAY.
C-MOUSE and K-MOUSE exit from C-Mouse’s office. V-MOUSE exits his office. The two sets of Alphabet Mice wave at each other. C-Mouse, K-Mouse and V-Mouse walk down the hallway joining N-Mouse, M-MOUSE, and B-Mouse.
B-MOUSE
“You guys ready for the meeting?”
C-MOUSE
“Is anybody?”
They chuckle.
C-MOUSE
“Seriously, if things have reached the point we are pulling an all-nighter, the problems are bigger than one cram session.”
K-MOUSE
“True.”
The others nod in agreement. They start walking through the doorway to the stairwell.
CUT TO
INT. CTRL-SHIFT-ENTER STAIRWELL, EVENING
THE CAMERA PANS FROM WALKING ALONGSIDE THE GROUP TO FOLLOWING BEHIND THEM AS THEY PASS THROUGH THE DOOR.
A tall stairwell with three walls of cement and one wall of striated stone, as if the stairwell was cut into the side of mountain or large rock and part of the rock was left bare. The rock wall sits opposite the doors stairwell doors. Round globe lights posted on every landing. The stairs run up the center, rails of metal, moving from dark red at the bottom through the spectrum to pale violet at the top. Moving from dark violet to pale red at the top. The stairwell uses a fairly standard stairs up to a landing halfway between the floors then snaking to the other side to walk up to the next floor. N-Mouse, M-Mouse, B-Mouse, V-Mouse K-Mouse and C-Mouse start to climb the stairs. The sound of DOORS OPENING AND CLOSING click out. X-MOUSE walks to the stairwell pulling on a rope tied to something trailing behind him.
X-MOUSE
“Hey guys, hold up.”
X-Mouse starts to climb up the stairs. What he is pulling comes into view. The other end of the rope is tied to a floating cloud. Z-MOUSE is asleep on the cloud.
C-MOUSE
“You got stuck hauling Zees?”
X-MOUSE
“Not like any of you were volunteering.”
N-MOUSE
“Sorry about that.”
M-MOUSE
“Yeah. We’ll get him next time.”
The group ascend the stairs moving from The Deepest or bottom floor to the Deeper or second floor. S-MOUSE, D-MOUSE, F-MOUSE, G-MOUSE, H-MOUSE, J-MOUSE, K-MOUSE, and L-MOUSE exit the Deeper’s stairwell to join the group. The larger group continues up the stairwell to the landing for the Deep or the third floor. Q-MOUSE, W-MOUSE, R-MOUSE, T-MOUSE, Y-MOUSE, U-MOUSE, I-MOUSE, O-MOUSE, and P-MOUSE exit the stairwell doors and join the group. The assembled mass continues up the stairs to a set of doors for the Numetarium or fourth floor. The stairwell opens to a landing larger than the previous landings. The stairwell going upward shrinks to a single person stairwell behind a metal screen. If one continued upward they would end up in the Y-Apartment. The door to the Numetarium is covered in numbers and formulas in a fun and whimsical way. The group opens the doors and walks through.
INT. THE NUMETARIUM
XLS OF THE GROUP AS THEY PASS THROUGH THE DOORS OF THE STAIRWELL ON THE STAGE-LEFT TO THE THE DOUBLE DOORS JUST OFF CENTER.
The Numetarium appears like a planetarium, with sloped rows of reclining chairs situated around a projector in the center. Across the domes ceiling various planets and their rotations are being projected, only the planets are circular centers with numbers from 0 to 9 in the center. Then each planet has a set of rings orbiting it. Each ring has a number os sides equal to the number in the planetoid center while their are a number of rings equal to the number in the center. Zero has no rings. One has a single circle. Two has two convex lenses spiraling around it. Three has three triangles spinning around it. Four has four squares…etc
In the controls of the projector sits #-MOUSE. He is writing figures in a book, when the crowd walks in. He notices them, watches them exit, dogears the page before closing the notebook, and stands to join them. #-Mouse leaves through the central exit doors.
CUT TO
INT. WRITER’S ROOM EVENING
A long meeting room decorated in light brown wood tones. An elongated hexagon of a table fills the center of the room. The entry doors for the Control-Shift-Enter Stairwell are a set of double doors opposite one of the tables short sides. The entry doors from the Control-Shift-Tab Stairwell are on the opposite side of the room. The longer sides of the room hold a series of cabinets and wooden paneling on one side and a series of large windows behind thick curtains on the other. When looking at the windows, the Control-Shift-Enter Stairwell doors are to the left and the Control-Shift-Tab Stairwell door is to the right. Each corner of the room holds a large potted plant and a trash can. The room is illuminated from three rows of pendant lamps. The light switches are next to the entrance doors.
LS OF ROOM FROM OPPOSITE THE DOORS, LOOKING AT SIDE OF THE ROOM WITH THE DOORS.
Y-MOUSE is already standing at the head of the table nearest the doors.
Y-MOUSE
“Come in. We’ll get get started once everyone is seated.”
Q-Mouse, W-Mouse, R-MOUSE, T-MOUSE, U, MOUSE, I MOUSE, O-MOUSE, and P-MOUSE are already sitting down at the table. S-MOUSE, D-MOUSE, F-MOUSE, G-MOUSE and H-MOUSE are near their respective chairs. J-MOUSE, K-MOUSE, L-MOUSE, C-MOUSE, and K-MOUSE walk over to their chairs. V-MOUSE, B-MOUSE, N-MOUSE, and M-MOUSE emerge through the double doors followed by X-MOUSE and #-MOUSE. The pair help direct Z-MOUSE on his floating cloud, asleep, through the door and over to his chair before sitting down in their chairs. Once everyone is sitting down, Y-Mouse addresses the group.
CUT TO MS OF Y-MOUSE
Y-MOUSE
“Thank you everyone for coming out at such a short notice. I know you prefer we schedule these cram sessions ahead of time, but I think circumstances warrant it. A-Mouse and E-Mouse were suppose to be back with food for everyone. They’re not and I am sorry for that. We’ll order some take-away later, but lets get started for now and get a little work done before taking a break.”
Y-MOUSE reaches down and flips a switch in a hidden compartment in his desk or he presses down and up pops one of those 60’s style control consoles. He presses a button.
CUT TO LS OF WALL ALONGSIDE LONG SIDE OF ROOM
A panel on the wall slides up revealing a large board for writing on. Y-Mouse walks over to the board and writes “Thomas?”. He then turns to the group.
CUT TO MS OF Y-MOUSE
Y-MOUSE
“When we last saw Thomas, he claimed he was fine. But was he really? Losing all his script options coupled with the stress of getting married has him rattled. He tends to cling onto bad experiences like awards in a trophy case.”
L-MOUSE
“I’ll say.”
Everyone laughs at that.
Y-MOUSE
“So he is most likely going to interpret these events as failures instead of parts of a process and let his creativity dry up.”
K-MOUSE
“Why does he blame himself. Its not his fault. Every writer has moments when the craft is good and moments when the craft is bad.”
Y-MOUSE
“Yes, but he does not know that yet. That part of his life is not written yet.”
L-MOUSE
“Okay, so how do we help then.”
Y-MOUSE
“Short term, we can try to get ahead of things on these plot holes we’ve noticed last meeting. Long term, those of you working on side projects, keep working on them. It is not important that we get finished projects right now. What is important is we keep that joy and excitement alive until Thomas is ready again. “
Everyone agrees.
CUT TO CS OF EACH ALPHABET MOUSE AS THEY SPEAK
Y-MOUSE
“Okay. So what were some of the plot holes or unanswered questions?”
D-MOUSE
“The lost astronaut from the commercial.”
Y-MOUSE
“Right”
Y-Mouse starts to write it down on the board when the writer room doors burst open. A-Mouse and E-Mouse are each wheeled in on medical stretchers. Each one has a pile of food bags on their chest. Also a SCRIPT DOCTOR is pushing them in.
E-MOUSE
“Did somebody order some food”
ALPHABET MICE
“Food!”
Y-MOUSE
“Are you two okay?”
E-MOUSE
“Had a little trouble that required medical intervention, but we made it.”
A-MOUSE
“We would of been here sooner but the ambulance rang over some glass in the road and got a flat tire.”
E-MOUSE
“Everyone come and get it.”
CUT TO LS OF THE WRITER’S ROOM
The Alphabet Mice get up and walk over to A-Mouse and E-Mouse. The food is moved to the cabinet tops by B-Mouse and X-Mouse. The Script Doctors wheel A-Mouse and E-Mouse over to their respective spots at the Writer’s Table.
PAN OUT
FADE TO BLACK
a new script: “The Great Works Project: Season Four, Episode Four” by Thomas Typewriter
scripts, The Great Works Project scripts———–<.thom.>———–
THE GREAT WORKS PROJECT
a puppet play in many parts
Season 04, Episode 04
By Thomas Typewriter
(c) 2022 Thomas Typewriter
———–<:type:>———–
FADE IN TO BLACK
From the bottom center of the screen scrolls up the following text: “04-04”. It continues upward, pausing briefly in the center, and exits off the top of the frame.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
INT. THE DEEPER HALLWAY, EVENING
A hallway of wood paneling, soft fluorescence, and frosted glass spreads out before us as we view the Deeper or the third floor of offices under the Alphabet Mice Writer’s Room. Stairwells bookend the hallway with A-Mouse’s, S-Mouse’s, D-Mouse’s, F-Mouse’s, G-Mouse’s, H-Mouse’s, J-Mouse’s and K-Mouse’s offices in between.
MS OF S-MOUSE’S OFFICE DOOR
The door opens and out walks A-Mouse. She walks down the hallway to D-Mouse’s door.
PAN TO FOLLOW
A-Mouse KNOCKS on the door of D-Mouse’s office.
D-MOUSE
(off-camera) “Come in.”
A-Mouse enters D-Mouse’s office.
CUT TO SHOT OF D-MOUSE’S OFFICE FROM THE DOORWAY
D-Mouse’s office is like a dance studio with a delicatessen in the back. The left and right side walls are floor to ceiling mirrors with a dancer’s beam across the middle. A deli counter with display case fills the majority of the back wall except for a space to the left for an entryway to the deli and doorway. The doorway is solid wood. It leads to D-Mouse’s apartment. On the doorway is a poster of an anthropomorphic donut hanging from a tree branch with the following caption: “Don’t discount determination”. The entire space is brightly illuminated by rows of recessed ceiling lights. The deli counter’s lights, by contrast, are turned off. On top of the deli counter’s display case is a CD Stereo. As A-Mouse enters the office, she finds D-MOUSE stretching his legs on the beam.
D-MOUSE
“What brings you to my humble studio?”
A-MOUSE
“Y-Mouse is calling an all-nighter so I am on food. You want anything.”
D-MOUSE
“No thanks. I’ll make myself something later.”
A-MOUSE
“Okay.”
A-Mouse leaves. D-Mouse goes over to the stereo and presses play. A LOW RUMBLING CHANT emerges from the speakers. He starts to spin on one leg. He spins and spins.
CUT TO HALLWAY
A-Mouse reemerges from D-Mouse’s office and walks to the next office. She KNOCKS on the door to F-Mouse’s office..
F-MOUSE
(off-camera) “Come in.”
A-Mouse opens the door and enters.
CUT TO SHOT OF D-MOUSE’S OFFICE FROM THE DOORWAY
The inside of the office is dominated by a large table covered in various books and maps. A globe stands to the side of the table. The walls of the office are wooden shelves covered in a selection of books, maps, anatomy diagrams of mythical beasts, and illustrations of various fey folk. F-MOUSE stands at his desk looking through a magnifying glass at stills from the Patterson Bigfoot film. A-Mouse enters.
F-MOUSE
(without looking up) “What is so important that you disturbed my research.”
A-MOUSE
“Y-Mouse is calling a writer’s conference.”
F-MOUSE
(looks up) “That is serious. I take it you have been tasked with retrieving our food orders.”
A-MOUSE
“Yes.”
F-MOUSE
“And where are you going?”
A-MOUSE
“Guttenberg’s Deli.”
F-MOUSE
“A little pedestrian, but it will have to do. I’ll take a Farro salad.”
A-MOUSE
“Farro Salad? Nothing else.”
F-MOUSE
“If I wanted more I would have said more. Just a Farro Salad if you please.”
A-MOUSE
“Okay, Farro Salad.”
A-Mouse writes it down and exits.
CUT TO LS OF HALLWAY
She enters, reemerging a moment later, then walks to the next office, G-Mouse’s. She KNOCKS on the door.
G-MOUSE
“Come in.”
CUT TO OVER SHOULDER SHOT OF G-MOUSE’S OFFICE
G-Mouse’s Office has a look very similar to a greenhouse. Frosted glass panels make up the left and right walls. Poles run along the sides filled with many plants in hanging planters. Under the hanging plants are wooden greenhouse benches. The stage-right side has a a collection of gardenia seedlings in small pots, a few bags of potting soil, and a few tools. One can see that G-Mouse is in the process of replanting the seedlings into larger pots. The stage-left bench bears a few finished replanted seedlings in their larger pot. G-MOUSE, dressed in a smock and wearing gardening gloves, is in the process of moving some more larger pots over to the stage-right bench.
G-MOUSE
“Hey A-Mouse. What’s up.”
A-MOUSE
“I’m going on a food run. What would you like?”
G-MOUSE
“Where you going?”
A-MOUSE
“The Guttenburg Bagel”
G-MOUSE
“Ok. I’ll have a Gyro and Garden Salad.”
A-MOUSE
(writing in notepad) “Got it.”-she writes it down.
A-Mouse turns to leave.
G-MOUSE
“Could you make sure you shut the door on your way out. The seedlings are sensitive to the cold when I transplant them.”
A-MOUSE
“Absolutely.”
A-Mouse exits.
CUT TO LS OF HALLWAY
She reemerges and walks to H-Mouse’s office. She knocks on the door.
H-MOUSE
“Hold on, I’m not decent.”
A-MOUSE
“I don’t need to come in, I just need to know what you want to eat tonight.”
H-MOUSE opens the door dressed in a Santa’s costume and holding a jack o’lantern.
H-MOUSE
“Why, is something going on?”
A-MOUSE
“Wait. Why are dressed like that.”
H-MOUSE
“Like what?”
A-MOUSE
“The suit and the pumpkin.”
H-MOUSE
“Oh, this. I’m stuck on idea and doing some research to hope I can get unstuck.”
A-MOUSE
“What’s the idea?”
H-MOUSE
“The King of Mars comes to earth.”
A-MOUSE
“Sounds interesting.”
H-MOUSE
“Yeah, it is suppose to be a holiday story but I can not decide what holiday. You got any ideas.”
A-MOUSE
“Oh no. I’m stuck myself. In fact I was trying to unstuck myself when Y-Mouse called.”
H-MOUSE
“What was your story idea and also what did Y-Mouse want.”
A-MOUSE
“Y-Mouse is calling an all-nighter abnd wants me to get food orders.”
H-MOUSE
“Hoagie with cheese and chips.”
A-MOUSE
“Got it.”
H-MOUSE
“What was your story idea?”
A-MOUSE
“There was a brother and sister and the sister was in a band. And that is where I got stuck. I can see them clearly and how it opens but I can not see what happens after that.”
H-MOUSE
“Maybe we should help each other out. Compare notes.”
A-Mouse smiles.
A-MOUSE
“Serious.”
H-MOUSE
“Sure. It couldn’t be any worse than this suit. It is itchy like crazy. I’m dying in here.”
A-MOUSE
(giggles) “Sure, I’d like that.”
H-MOUSE
“Awesome. Let’s see how late this meeting goes and then we’ll figure out a time to get together.”
A-MOUSE
“Got it.”
H-MOUSE
“Well, I need to change.”
A-MOUSE
“And I have to get the other orders.”
H-Mouse closes the door. A-Mouse does a little skip of joy and moves down the hallway.
J-MOUSE
(off-camera) “You getting food?”
CUT TO SHOT OF H-MOUSE’S AND J-MOUSE’S OFFICE DOORS
J-Mouse is leaning in the door to his office, looking at A-Mouse.
A-MOUSE
“You saw that?”
J-MOUSE
“Oh yeah.”
A-Mouse’s expression shifts to embarrassment.
J-MOUSE
“It’ll be our secret and good luck.
A-MOUSE
“Thank you.”
J-MOUSE
Where you going?”
A-MOUSE
“Guttenberg Bagel.”
J-MOUSE
“Bagels and lox.”
A-Mouse writes the order down. She then walks past J-Mouse.
A-MOUSE
“Got it.”
J-MOUSE
“And some of those potato squares.”
A-MOUSE
“Potato squares, got it.”
J-MOUSE
“Better make it a triple order. I know people are going to want me to share.”
A-MOUSE
“Triple potato squares.”
AS A-MOUSE REACHES THE EDGE OF THE FRAME THE CAMERA PANS LEFT SO AS TO FRAME J-MOUSE’S OFFICE AND K-MOUSE’S OFFICE.
J-Mouse goes back into his office and shuts the door. A-Mouse KNOCKS on K-Mouse’s door. There is no response. She tries again with still no response. Opening the door, she peeks inside.
A-MOUSE
“Hmmm.”
She closes the door and walks over to L-Mouse’s office. KNOCK KNOCK go her knuckles on the door.
L-MOUSE
“It’s open.”
A-Mouse walks inside, shutting the door behind her.
A-MOUSE
(off-camera) “Have you seen K-Mouse?”
FADE OUT
new script: “The Great Works Project: Season Four, Episode Two” by Thomas Typewriter
scripts, The Great Works Project scripts———–<.thom.>———–
THE GREAT WORKS PROJECT
a puppet play in many parts
Season 04, Episode 02
By Thomas Typewriter
(c) 2022
———–<:type:>———–
FADE IN TO BLACK
From the bottom center of the screen scrolls up the following text: “04-02”. It continues upward, pausing briefly in the center, and exits off the top of the frame.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
INT. A-MOUSE’S OFFICE
OPEN ON A LS OF THE OFFICE LOOKING IN FROM THE DOOR
A-Mouse’s office sits on the Deeper, or the second floor of the Alphabet Mice offices. The offices are situated across five floors in total, each with their own designation. The Writer’s Room is on the fifth or top floor. The next floor down or the fourth floor is the Numbertarium, housing the office of #-Mouse. Below the Numbertarium is The Deep or the third floor, housing the offices of Q-Mouse, W-Mouse, E-Mouse, R-Mouse, T-Mouse, Y-Mouse, U-Mouse, I-Mouse, O-Mouse and P-Mouse. The Deeper, or the second floor, houses the offices of A-Mouse, S-Mouse, D-Mouse, F-Mouse, G-Mouse, H-Mouse, J-Mouse, K-Mouse, and L-Mouse. Below The Deeper is The Deepest, housing the offices of Z-Mouse, X-Mouse, C-Mouse, V-Mouse, B-Mouse, N-Mouse and M-Mouse. There is also a level below The Deeper, reached by descending a long staircase, called The Subterranean. The Alphabet Mice prefer to avoid The Subterranean, except Z-Mouse who swam in the Circular River flowing through its depths. Each office, except for the Numbertarium, have similar layouts. All are wider than deep, with a door to the hallway on one side, and a door to the office holder’s apartment on the opposite wall.
The office itself features a wooden desk topped by a small TV with a built-in VCR, a lamp, and a rotary phone in the back center of the room. Behind the desk stands a door flanked by wooden cabinets alternating in style between Art Nouveau and Art Deco. The cabinets spread out along the outside walls of the office. A motivational poster hangs on the door. It depicts an aardvark hanging on a tree branch with the caption “ALWAYS ATTEMPTING”. A-MOUSE stands stage-right getting a vhs cassette and an abacus from one of the cabinets. She returns to her desk.
CUT TO A MS OF A-MOUSE AT HER DESK
A-Mouse pops a videocassette out of its case and inserts it into the VCR slot on the TV. Static bursts dance onto the screen before the first images of the “Yes, Virginia there is such a thing as an Abacus” instructional tape starts playing.
CUT TO OVER SHOULDER VIEW OF MONITOR
PAN IN TO MONITOR
TRANSITION FROM A-MOUSE’S OFFICE TO INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO
INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO
FADE IN TO LS OF THE SCHOOL
EXT. POTSANDPANSTOWN’S SCHOOL FOR IMPOVERISHED CHILDREN
Over the school, in the center of the screen, in an ornate Edwardian font, appears the following title: “Yes Virginia, There is an Abacus.” The title stays on the screen for a few moments, then fades away.
PAN FROM LS TO MS OF SCHOOL DOORS
A 1910’s style schoolhouse of all stone, more angle than graceful curve, The Potsandpanstown School for Impoverished Children has ended another day. Children, excited and playful, spill out of the school’s doors. They dance away in their restitched patchwork clothes and grimy faces. VIRGINIA WESTVIRGINIA exits the school.
PAN FOLLOWING VIRGINIA WESTVIRGINIA AS SHE LEAVES THE SCHOOL GROUNDS.
At the front gate, Virginia’s pace quickens, trying to avoid THE CAROLINA TWINS leaning against the fence. As she steps past them they call out.
SOUTHANNE CAROLINA
“Hey Virginia.”
NORTHENGALE CAROLINA
“Where you going so fast.”
Virginia stops, face scrunching at a bad taste, and turns.
CUT TO MS OF THE THREE
VIRGINIA WESTVIRGINIA
“Carolina. Carolina.”
NORTHENGALE CAROLINA
“What, you don’t have time for your friends?”
VIRGINIA WESTVIRGINIA
“I have to get home. My dad is…”
SOUTHANNE CAROLINA
(interrupting Virginia)”You still believe in Abacuses?”
NORTHENGALE CAROLINA
“Yeah, still believe in that fairy tale?”
VIRGINIA WESTVIRGINIA
“Yes they are real. My dad told me so.”
NORTHENGALE CAROLINA
“No uh, they’re not.”
VIRGINIA WESTVIRGINIA
“Uh-huh.”
SOUTHANNE CAROLINA
“Nuh-uh.”
VIRGINIA WESTVIRGINIA
“Uh-huh.”
NORTHENGALE CAROLINA
“No they’re not.”
VIRGINIA WESTVIRGINIA
“Yes they are.”
SOUTHANNE CAROLINA
(interrupting) “Only babies believe in faerie tales.”
NORTHENGALE CAROLINA
“You a baby Virginia. You wearing a diaper. You like rattles. Are your skull bones still fusing.”
VIRGINIA WESTVIRGINIA
“I am not a baby, and Abacuci are real.”
NORTHENGALE CAROLINA AND SOUTHANNE CAROLINA
“Baby butt windshield wiper! Look at the diaper. Look at the crier! Baby butt windshield wiper! Look at the diaper. Look at the crier!”
Virginia runs away.
TRANSITION FROM SCHOOL TO APARTMENT
INT. APARTMENT 41, AFTERNOON
CUT TO LS OF APARTMENT 41
Apartment 41 is a drab sparse apartment, almost stereotypical, located in a tenement that is low price as it is run down. Peeling paint barely covers the wood panel walls. The Westvirginia’s have few appliances and furniture. Oddly, the furniture they do have is made up of smaller bits of the same furniture. The television is a small black and white set on top of a larger console television. The kitchen table is made up of smaller tables and stools stacked on top of each other and taped together. Lines of laundry hang across the open front room, dividing the kitchen area from the living room. OLD DA, Virginia’s father sits in his chair. It is cobbled together from parts of many different chairs, feet propped on a coffee table constructed from a broken espresso machine and empty coffee cans. He relaxes reading his favorite newspaper “The New News Newspaper”. Off to the other side of the apartment stands OLD MA, Virginia’s mother, at the kitchen sink washing dishes. A CLICK OF THE DOORKNOB and VIRGINIA WESTVIRGINIA runs into the room. She throws herself on the table sobbing. Old Ma and Old Da exchange glances.
CUT BETWEEN ALTERNATING SHOTS OF OLD MA AND OLD PA
Old Ma gestures for Old Da to console Virginia. He shakes his head no and gestures for Old Ma to do. She responds gesturing more emphatically he should. He gestures no, you really should. They go back and forth a few more times until Old Ma gives him a hard stare and he relents.
LS OF ROOM.
Old Da folds up his paper and stands. He crosses over to the table.
OLD DA
“Everything okay honey.”
VIRGINIA WESTVIRGINIA
“They made fun of me daddy.”
OLD DA
“Who did?”
VIRGINIA WESTVIRGINIA
“Some kids at school. All because I said I believe abacus are real.”
OLD DA
“Oh. Is that all. Here I thought it was something serious.”
INSERT MS OF OLD MA AND OLD DA.
Old Ma gives Old Da a giving a withering glance at his answer. She then gestures for him to try again. He notices the gesture and winces.
CUT BACK…
OLD DA
“I mean that is horrible.”
VIRGINIA WESTVIRGINIA
“How do I convince them daddy?
Old Da thinks a moment then answers.
OLD DA
“The New News Newspaper. Write to the paper and when they say it’s true then everyone will know your right.”
VIRGINIA WESTVIRGINIA
“But, I thought their slogan was all the news fit to wrap a fish with. Nobody is going to believe me if it is printed in that.”
OLD DA
“You’re thinking of the Monday, Wednesday and Friday editions. On Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday its Truth, truth, and more truth.”
VIRGINIA WESTVIRGINIA
“ Wait, what their slogan on Sunday’s”
OLD DA
“Id rather be fishing.”
VIRGINIA WESTVIRGINIA
“Oh.” (thinks a moment) “Can we go fishing Sunday? I need some new boots.”
OLD DA
“Sure thing honey.”
CUT TO CS OF VIRGINIA WRITING AT THE TABLE BY CANDLELIGHT.
VIRGINIA WESTVIRGINIA
(voice over) “Dear Editor. My father says if it is in The New News Newspaper it has to be true. My problem is my friends make fun of me for believing in something no one has ever seen. But I say just because we haven’t seen it does not mean it doesn’t exist. I have never seen tomorrow before it arrives, but every sunrise I find a new day. So I ask, am I wrong to believe in abacuci? “
Virginia finishes writing and steps away from the table. A few moments later, the paper is caught in a draft and blows off the table.
CAMERA FOLLOWS THE PAPER
The paper drifts across the room and out an open window. It continues across the city. It reaches the docks and continues out to sea. Moving past dolphins and rainbows it drifts to an island.
CUT TO…
INT. ABACUS MANOR MAIN OFFICE, DAYTIME.
LS OF THE OFFICE
A large library study, the main office of Lord Abacus sits on the ground floor of Abacus Manor. Various suits of armor and stuffed trophy animals line the walls. The manor’s main butler, CALCULATOR THE BUTLER, stands at the ready with a silver platter. LORD ABACUS sits at his desk busily working on paperwork. The letter drifts through the open window and lands on the silver platter.
CUT TO MS OF CALCULATOR THE BUTLER.
He looks down and notices the letter.
CALCULATOR THE BUTLER
“Sir, another letter has drifted to you.”
CUT TO CS OF LORD ABACUS
LORD ABACUS
(turning and looking over sunglasses) “Well, bring it over my good man.”
CUT TO LS OF DESK.
Calculator the Butler brings the latter to the desk. He lowers the silver platter towards Lord Abacus. The Lord takes the latter and starts to read it. His face turns grim.
LORD ABACUS
“Calculator, get my walking shoes ready.”
CALCULATOR THE BUTLER
“Excellent sir. Shall you be gone long.”
LORD ABACUS
“Only as long as it takes to restore a young girl’s faith in the world.”
CALCULATOR THE BUTLER
“So, forever.”
CUT TO MONTAGE OF HIM DRESSING IN RUNNING GEAR WITH A SERIES OF QUICK CUTS.
Lord Abacus, in his full running gear and with water bottle and running waist pack, gives a thumbs up to Calculator the Butler. He then power walks out the door.
EXT. ABACUS ISLAND DOCKS, DAYTIME
A long dock runs out from the sandy beach of Abacus Island. A path leads from Abacus Manor on the hilltop to the base of the dock. There are only two boats currently tied up at the dock. A sporty speedboat named the MAGNUM PIE and a larger sailboat named ROCKFORD FLYER. The dock has a series of crates in the gap between the sailboat and the speedboat.
LS OF DOCK FROM END LOOKING UP THE TRAIL WITH THE MANOR IN THE DISTANCE
Lord Abacus power walks down the trail, heading for the Magnum Pie.
CUT TO SHOT OF THE DOCK AND CRATES WHERE A GROUP OF ARMED MEN COME OUT.
THE MENTAL MATH TOUGHIES GANG emerges from the shipping crates and hiding places on the dock, stopping LORD ABACUS. There are ten gang members, each wearing a windbreaker emblazoned with a number from 1-10 and the letters MMT. Lord Abacus skids to a stop. BOSS DRIFTING DIGITS emerges from the crate clapping.
BOSS DRIFTING DIGITS
“Off to help another troubled child in the world Lord Abacus. Everyone clap for the good Samaritan.”
The Mental Math Toughies Gang claps. They clap too long so Boss Drifting Digits sharply gestures them to stop.
BOSS DRIFTING DIGITS
“Always so willing to help the children of the world. All children. Like you helped my children. MY CHILDREN! Where are they, Lord Abacus!”
LORD ABACUS
“Somewhere you can never hurt them again.”
BOSS DRIFTING DIGITS
“Wrong answer. Get him.”
The Mental Math Toughies gang members run down the dock towards Lord Abacus, weapons drawn.
LORD ABACUS
“Oh well if you’re looking for the correct answer, then I would have to say…MY FOOT!.”
Lord A jumps into a flying kick that shoots across the dock cutting through six gang members. He then pivots into a handstand, sticks his foot in a seventh gang member’s mouth and proceeds to spin. The seventh gang member is spun around like a weapon knocking the remaining three gang members. Lord Abacus flips up to a standing position, crouched and ready for more action.
CUT TO BOSS DRIFTING DIGITS
Boss Drifting Digits pulls a missile launcher. He starts yelling at Lord Abacus as he takes aim.
BOSS DRIFTING DIGITS
“NOT TODAY LORD ABACUS! TODAY YOU BURN! YOU BURN IN THE HOT SPOT!”
He launches a missile.
CUT TO LORD ABACUS
Lord Abacus looks left and right quickly taking stock of the situation. He starts to run left and whistles. He jumps off the edge of the dock while the missile zooms towards him.
CUT TO SLOW MOTION OF LORD ABACUS JUMPING OFF THE EDGE OF THE DOCK AND OUT OVER TO WATER.
A dolphin jumps up out of the water in response to Lord Abacus’ whistle. He lands on the dolphin. The missile races in close. Spinning on one foot, he kicks the missile back towards Boss Drifting Digits.
CUT TO THE MISSILE RACING TOWARDS BOSS TROUBLE.
INSERT CS OF BOSS DRIFTING DIGITS
BOSS DRIFTING DIGITS
“Gulp, looks like I forgot to carry the one.”
The dock is consumed in a fiery explosion as Boss Drifting Digits is vaporized by the missile.
CUT TO A SECOND DOLPHIN JUMPING OUT OS THE WATER.
CUT TO LORD ABACUS FINISHING HIS SPIN KICK ROTATION IN TIME TO PLACE HIS FOOT ON THE SECOND DOLPHIN.
Lord Abacus rides the two dolphins into the sunset.
CUT TO…
EXT. POTS’N’PANTOWN DOCKS, MORNING
VIRGINIA WESTVIRGINIA and OLD DA are at the dock fishing. From the distance speeds Lord Abacus straddling two dolphins. He reaches near the dock and the dolphins launch into the air. He flips, landing softly on the dock next to Virginia. The dolphins land back in the water and swim away.
LORD ABACUS
(holds up the letter) “Are you Virginia Westvirginia? The Virginia Westvirginia who wrote this letter?”
VIRGINIA VIRGINIA-WEST
“Yes.”
LORD ABACUS
“Good, because I am here to tell you, yes Virginia there is such a thing as an abacus…”
VIRGINIA WESTVIRGINIA
“Yes! I knew it!”
Then the scene splits in two behind Lord Abacus. It moves off to the sides, off screen, revealing the new setting.
VIRGINIA WESTVIRGINIA
“Wait, what is going on here?”
INT. LEARN-U-CATIONAL EDU-STUDYMENT CLASSROOM, DAYTIME
A bland college classroom, Lord Abacus stands in front of the classroom addressing a group of students. Virginia Westvirginia and Old Da are in the front rows, a little confused as to what is going on. Every student has an abacus on their desk.
MS OF LORD ABACUS FROM THE BACK OF CLASSROOM
LORD ABACUS
“…and anyone can easily learn how to operate it. Okay students, pick up your abacus and prepare to learn with me over the course of the next twenty-two easy lessons.”
TRANSITION FROM VIDEO TO OFFICE A
A-Mouse sits at her desk. Following along with the video, she pulls out her abacus. The PHONE RINGS. A-Mouse pauses the video and answers the phone.
A-MOUSE
“Hello. (pause)He said what? Sure, I’ll help. Let me ask everyone on this floor what they want and then I’ll meet you at the elevators. Ok. Cool. Bye.”
A-Mouse hangs up the phone then leans over and grabs a pad of paper and pencil from the desk along with a set of car keys. She turns off the monitor and puts on her jacket. She walks out of the office and turns off the lights.
FADE OUT
Thomas Typewriter 
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