———–<.thom & ophi.>———–

UP LATE, LATE AT NIGHT!

Season 01, Episode 01

ACT V

By Thomas Typewriter & Ophidia Operahouse-Typewriter

(c) 2020 thomas & ophidia

———–<:typehouse:>———–

———–ACT V————

FADE IN

OPEN ON A CLOSE SHOT OF THE FUNDRAISER FLYER WITH THE STAGE CURTAIN BEHIND IT. THE FLYER ZOOMS AWAY AND THE CAMERA MOVES DOWN TO THE BEHIND THE STAGE

INT. BACKSTAGE OF THE LASER JUDGE’S GARDEN STAGE. AFTERNOON.
The stage curtain lines the back of the stage. D-COP, B-COP, B-RAY and MR. PUPPETS, CLAMSHELL, CASS-E, V-HESS, JEWELCASE, GRETAL and HANSEL are gathered behind stage ready to preform. Everyone is dressed in white and red and stationed with an instrument except B-ray. He is off to the side dressed in a very wide lapeled suit.

B-COP is holding a guitar and wearing a white suit, red vest and pants. Cass-E has her hair down, dressed in white shirt with red vest and pants, stands at a portable organ. Jewelcase is dressed in a red suit with a white undershirt and giant carafe. She stands in front of a keyboard. Hansel sits at a drum kit dressed in white shirt and matching red vest and pants. Clamshell holds a bass guitar and wears a white shirt and red vest/pants outfit similar to the others. Gretel wears a red and white jumper and holds a tambourine. B-COP is dressed in all black, black pants black tee with sleeves cut off and a loosely tied black tie. She is holding a guitar. B-Ray is wearing a head mic and earpiece while holding Mr. Puppets. Mr. Puppets wears a similar ear piece while holding a clipboard.

MR. PUPPETS
(looking at notes on clipboard) “Were on in five Big D.”

D-COP
“Everyone ready?”

All the others nod yes.

D-COP
“And let me remind everyone this is probably my last chance to trick the Laser Judge into giving me a chance to earn her love. Play like my love life depends on it.”

B-COP
“Hopefully you all play better than you drive.”

D-COP
(looking over at B-Ray & Mr. Puppets at the side of the stage ready to work the curtain) “When I count to three, open the curtains.

B-RAY
“Got it.”

D-COP
“1…2…wait. Clamshell, is that Paddles in your coat.”

CLAMSHELL
“Yes.”

D-COP
“Why isn’t he back at the house?”

CLAMSHELL
“I thought he’d get lonely. Besides, he loves to rock out. Isn’t that right Paddles.”

PADDLES
“Woof Woof”

D-COP
“If Laser Judge sees us with her stolen dog, she is going to know we stole the dog.”

B-COP
“You stole.”

D-COP
“I stole. Now get Paddles out of here before anyone sees him. Hide him in the car for now.”

Clamshell and Paddles exit stage-left.

TRANSITION FROM BACKSTAGE TO THE FRONT ENTRANCE

CUT TO…

EXT. FRONT GATES OF LASER JUDGES MANSION, AFTERNOON
A brick wall, the Laser Judge’s property’s fence, runs across the stage. There is a large metal gate and driveway to the stage-left side. A larger cardboard box sits outside the front gate. “FOR DONATION” is written on the outside of the box in large letters. On the stage-right are some cars parked along the grass embankment.

CLAMSHELL enters through the garden gate, walking from the party to where he parked on the road outside the Laser Judge’s estate. PADDLES is still in his shirt. He walks over to the second car, opens the door, and places Paddles inside. The second car’s license plate reads “DCOPS CAR”.

CUT TO MS OF CLAMSHELL AND PADDLES

CLAMSHELL
“Now be good and wait here.”

CUT TO CS OF PADDLES

Paddles wimpers.

CUT TO CS OF CLAMSHELL

CLAMSHELL
“Oh, don’t cry. I’ll be back soon I promise.”

Paddles jumps licking Clamshell’s face

CLAMSHELL
“Oh, that tickles. I love you too boy.”

CUT TO MS OF CLAMSHELL AND PADDLES

Clamshell pushes Paddles into the car and shuts the door.

CLAMSHELL
“Be a good boy while I am gone okay.”

Paddles nods yes. Clamshell walks away.

CS TO PADDLES

Paddles reveals he stole the keys for the car from Clamshell.

PADDLES
(gives a laugh)

He moves over to the steering wheel and starts the car. The Car drives out of frame, stage-left.

CUT TO MS OF CLAMSHELL AT THE GATES

Clamshell is returning to the party, walking up to the front gates. He passes by the box, stops, and backtracks to look inside the box. He removes some clothes and walks through the gate.

TRANSITION FROM FRONT GATES TO PARTY ENTRANCE

EXT. THE PARTY ENTRANCE, AFTERNOON

LS OF PARTY ENTRANCE

NATE TRACK, an eight-track cassette dressed as a security guard, stands at a podium erected on the top of the driveway. This would be in an area of to the side from the driveway, that could serve as access to a path along the side of Laser Judge’s house leading to the garden in the back. The party itself is being held in the back lawn garden. An arch of balloons acts as the gateway to the party. Nate Track stands in front of the archway. CLAMSHELL, dressed in a tux with tails and tophat. Now the thing is that Clamshell’s tux looks all wrinkled since he pulled it was stuffed into a box.

CUT TO MS OF NATE TRACK AND CLAMSHELLS

Clamshell attempts to go through the archway, but Nate blocks his path.

NATE TRACK
“Reservations.”

In response to this question, Clamshell pulls out a monocle and puts it on.

NATE TRACK
“Sir, If you do not have a reservation, I am going to have to ask you step aside.”

To this Clamshell responds by pulling out a second monocle from his jacket. He places the second monocle over the first.

NATE TRACK
“Two monocles! Only the wealthy can afford such eccentricities. I am sorry sir, I didn’t notice your wealth originally. Please accept my sincerest apologies and enjoy the party.”

Nate Track steps to the side of the archway. Clamshell nods and walks through the archway.

CUT BACK TO…

INT. BACKSTAGE OF THE LASER JUDGE’S GARDEN STAGE. AFTERNOON.
Everyone is waiting at their instruments, except B-Ray and Mr. Puppets. They stand off to the side by the curtain and light controls.

B-COP
“What is taking Clamshell so long?”

D-COP
“We don’t have time to wait. Everyone, we go live on the count of three. One…Two…Three…”

B-Ray starts to open the curtains.

CUT TO (OR REVERSAL)

EXT. LASER JUDGE’S GARDEN STAGE

LS OF STAGE FROM AUDIENCE

The curtain opens as we hear a slow beat. Everyone in the band faces towards the audience while D-Cop has his back to the audience. The rest of the band is arranged around him in a semi-circular fashion. D-Cop bops to the beat a few times and then turns around. He moves up to the microphone to speak. In the Audience, near the front of the stage stands LASER JUDGE. Towards the back of the audience stands CLAMSHELL.

D-COP
“Hello everyone, I am D-Cop and together with these fine folks behind me, we are Vega’s Lemons, your entertainment tonight. When the Laser Judge asked us to help out with tonight’s fundraiser to find that lost little bundle of joy, Paddles, well, I’ll be honest, I shed a tear. Thinking of that poor scared dog definitely lost and not taking a bath in someone’s house, well we had to say yes. (Turns to look directly at someone) Laser Judge, I will always say yes to you.”

B-COP
“Ahem”

D-COP
“Oh yes. Enough seriousness, this is a party. Lets enjoy ourselves. Now those youngsters in the audience may not know this one, but trust us old timers when I say, in our day, this song rocked our world. (turns to band) Okay on three. One, Two,…”

The band starts to poorly play Rock-A-Bye Baby.

D-COP
“Rock-a-by baby on the tree top. When the wind blows, the cradle will rock. When the bough breaks…”

CLAMSHELL, dressed in his rumpled found tux and holding a plate of fruit and hors d’oeurves, stands up.

CLAMSHELL
(shouts) “YOU SUCK!

D-COP
“Oh, you know that one. Well, how about this one.”

They start to play Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

D-COP
“Twinkle, twinkle, little star…”

CLAMSHELL
“GET OFF THE STAGE!”

Clamshell throws food at the band. D-COP gets hit by food. Then the rest of the audience joins in throwing food at the band.

INSERT CS OF THE VARIOUS MEMBERS OF THE BAND BEING HIT BY FOOD.

The band recoils and tries to shield themselves behind their instruments.

SLOW-MOTION

Then a LOUD CRASH as D-Cop’s car crashes through the wall of the back of the stage. PADDLES, dressed in a rock star outfit, flies out of the windshield. Paddles flies out and lands on the stage, guitar in paws. He slides across the stage to the astonished looks of the band and audience

INSERT VARIOUS CS OF THE SURPRISED LOOKS ON THE AUDIENCE MEMBERS AND BAND MEMBERS

He reaches the front of the stage and starts to shred on his guitar.

SLOW-MOTION ENDS AND REGULAR SPEED RESUMES

Everyone stands frozen and silent, in shock at Paddles arrival. Paddles finishes his guitar solo and stands. He bows the audience.

LASER JUDGE
“Paddles! That’s my Paddles.”

PADDLES
“Woof”

LASER JUDGE
“Come here boy, I’ve missed you so much.”

Paddles jumps off the stage and onto the lap of Laser Judge. They excitedly snuggle.

CLAMSHELL
“Everyone, he must of escaped in the car of the dognapper.”

D-COP
“Now, lets not jump to any incriminating conclusions. The important thing is they are reunited right.”

CLAMSHELL
“The car’s license plate says DCOP. Everyone, D-Cop is the dognapper. DOGNAPPER! DOGNAPPER!”

LASER JUDGE
“He’s right. Dognapper!”

The audience starts to chant “Dognappers!”.

D-COP
“Thank you everyone, you’ve been a great audience, but our time here has come to a close, and let me say…”

CLAMSHELL
“Get them!”

B-COP
“Cheese it fellas!”

The band runs off stage. The audience follows chasing behind them. The audience now has torches and pitchforks.

ONCE EVERYONE HAS LEFT THE FRAME PAN IN ON THE CAR CRASHED THROUGH THE BACK OF THE STAGE.

Pinned under the car, B-Ray hopes help finds him soon.

CS OF B-RAY PINNED UNDER THE CAR

B-RAY
(to Mr. Puppets) “It’s all up to you Mr. Puppets to get help. You’re my last hope.”

CUT TO MS OF B-RAY, WITH THE CAMERA ON THE STAGE OR FLOOR LEVEL.

B-Ray tosses Mr. Puppets.

B-RAY
“Go Mr. Puppets. Run for help.”

Mr. Puppets lands on the stage, next to the camera so that the crumpled Mr. Puppets is in the foreground of the shot and the crushed B-Ray is in the background. Hold the shot a few moments.

B-RAY
“I’m screwed.”

FADE OUT