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THE GREAT WORKS PROJECT
a puppet play in many parts
Season 05, Episode 08
By Thomas Typewriter
(c) 2023 thomas typewriter
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FADE IN TO BLACK
From the bottom of the screen scrolls up the following text: “05-08”. It moves upwards, pausing a moment in the center of the frame, then continues upward, exiting the frame at the top edge.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
In the darkness, the sound of TYPEWRITER KEYS CLICK CLACKING sings out.
THE CAMERA PANS DOWN THROUGH THE DARKNESS
The TYPEWRITER ABSTRACT PUPPET STAGE slides into view. It is rotating swiftly in the darkness. It completes three full rotations slowing down to a full rest with the front of the stage facing the camera. The Mid-Stage Curtains start to open.
PAN IN THROUGH A SERIES OF CUTS UNTIL PROPERLY FRAMING THE HIGH-STAGE.
HIGH-STAGE: CURTAINS CLOSED
The High-stage curtains open and the stage lights turn on with the sound of A COMPUTER BOOTING ON revealing…
HIGH-STAGE: HANGER JSN0012
This hanger, while still having the metallic handrail and spaced wall struts along the back, has much more decoration than the previous hangers. Long vines are growing along the pendant lamps, with bits of leaf and tendril dropping down. The center of the room contains a completed vision crystal, squarish and sitting on a base that looks like it is roughly chiseled from flint or granite. Winding cables connect the center crystal with a large boulder off to the side. The boulder has a primitive view-screen and controls cut from the stone. The Inner Space man walks over to the central crystal. He looks at the frozen image of CARL CAVEBUNNY and THE THE DINO-STORE frozen in the crystal. They stand on a prehistoric plateau. Carl looks like stone-age rabbit-man dressed in an animal skin. The Dino-store looks like a hybrid of a hardware store and a Tyrannosaurus Rex. In the background of the scene, THE INFORMATIVE SCUTTLER, which is the SCUTTLER he righted, slips past. The Inner-Space man looks around the crystal, tapping on the glass seeing if communication is possible.
THE INNER-SPACE MAN
“Is this a picture or a window? What was and unchangeable or what is and fluid?”
There is a TAP, TAP, TAP. The Inner-Space Man turns his head at the sound. Over on the rocky control panel we see the Informative Scuttler tapping the control panel.
THE INNER-SPACE MAN
“Oh, hello. Are you the same one as before.”
The Informative Scuttler nods yes. It then uses one of its segment-legs to point at a button on the control panel.
THE INNER-SPACE MAN
“Do you want me to push that button?”
The Informative Scuttler again signals yes. The Inner-Space Man walks over to the control panel. He presses the largest button. A THRIM fills the air as the center crystal starts to glow. It gestures to another button. The Inner-Space Man presses the button and the image in the crystal starts to move. We watch Carl the Cavebunny riding atop the head of the Dino-Store as it walks through the valley.
THE INNER-SPACE MAN
“Maybe a window. (turns to the Informative Scuttler) What else can you teach me?”
TRANSITION FROM THE HIGH-STAGE TO THE MID-STAGE
THE CAMERA UNCOUPLES FROM THE HIGH-STAGE AND PANS DOWNWARD. IT FLIES ACROSS THE CURTAIN OF CLOUDS BELOW THE HIGH-STAGE. LOWER AND LOWER TILL THE TOPS OF THE MID-STAGE SETS SLIDE UP FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE FRAME. THE CAMERA CONTINUES DOWNWARD UNTIL PROPERLY FRAMING MID-STAGE.
MID-STAGE: INT. ELMHOUSE UPSTAIRS ART STUDIO, DAYTIME
A small desk sits in the middle of a wooden panel wall. The wall is decorated with a framed Alphonse Mucha print. THOMAS THEATREMANAGER sits at his desk, typing on a laptop. He writes in a word editing program. On the screen the following is displayed:
“MID-STAGE: EXT. BORDERTOWN JUNIOR HIGH PARKING LOT. EVENING
The parking lot spreads across the stage flanked by the red brick back corner and some of the back wall of the Junior High along the stage-right of the stage. This area of the parking lot is empty of parking spots, so only one car is visible off to the stage-left side of the stage. The Border Town High School Show Choir, The Sparkling Songbirds, stand waiting for their upcoming performance during the homecoming football game’s half-time. Dressed in silvery blue outfits, they mill about in a large crowd speaking to themselves. The group consists of eleven teens and one teacher: JOHN, EMILY, AMY, SCOTT, LEXICA BOOKMARK, LUNA WITCHESCROWN, THOMAS TEENAGER, SHELLY, KATHY, MATT, RYAN AND MR TRUMPET. Lexica and Luna are conversing about the appeal of Ancient Greek literature and culture. Mr. Trumpet, Scott, and Annie are reviewing the set-list. Ryan, Matt are discussing their post-game plans. John, Emily, Shelly and Kathy are reviewing the small choreography for tonight’s performance. Off to the side of the group, Thomas Teenager paces back and forth, hoping to mask his overwhelming anxiety at a public performance. Arms outstretched he tries to pretend he is somewhere else: someplace relaxing and controllable. As he walks back towards center-stage he moves near Luna Witchescrown and Lexica Bookmark.”
SECONDO TYPEWRITER-OPERAHOUSE enters from stage-left. He walks over to the desk as Thomas reviews his writing. He crawls into Thomas’s lap. They hug. Secondo settles in and looks at the screen.
SECONDO TYPEWRITER-OPERAHOUSE
“What are you doing Father?”
THOMAS THEATREMANAGER
“Working on my scripts. Did you just get up?”
SECONDO TYPEWRITER-OPERAHOUSE
“Yes.”
THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“Well good morning.”
SECONDO TYPEWRITER-OPERAHOUSE
“What are you writing about.”
THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“Oh, how I met my sister.”
SECONDO TYPEWRITER-OPERAHOUSE
“Have I met her? Is she the animal doctor?”
THOMAS THEATREMANAGER
“No, that is your mom’s sister. You’ve never met my sister.”
SECONDO TYPEWRITER-OPERAHOUSE
“Why?”
THOMAS THEATREMANAGER
“She moved away then she got sick, like really sick.”
SECONDO TYPEWRITER-OPERAHOUSE
“Is she okay?”
THOMAS THEATREMANAGER
“It’s not one of the diseases you get better from. She’s probably dead by now.”
SECONDO TYPEWRITER-OPERAHOUSE
“How do you not know?”
THOMAS THEATREMANAGER
“Two reasons. Firstly, I didn’t know that my attention span made it hard to stay in touch with people. I want to but my brain just loses awareness. This was before I was diagnosed and learned how to deal with my brain. Secondly, her sickness made it so she lost the ability to talk and move over time.”
SECONDO TYPEWRITER-OPERAHOUSE
“That’s sad. Do you need a hug?”
THOMAS THEATREMANAGER
“Sure.”
Secondo Typewriter-Operahouse turns around and hugs Thomas. Thomas hugs him back, and holds the comfort of the embrace for a long moment. He then releases Secondo, wipes his eyes, and then looks at Secondo.
THOMAS THEATREMANGER
“Thank you. Now if you’re hungry you can grab a snack from the fridge till I finish here. I’ll be down in a moment to make breakfast.”
SECONDO TYPEWRITER-OPERAHOUSE
“Can I pick cherry tomatoes?”
THOMAS THEATREMANGER
“Do we have cherry tomatoes?”
SECONDO TYPEWRITER-OPERAHOUSE
“Oh yeah. Mother bought some yesterday.”
THOMAS THEATREMANGER
“Wow, that was an enthusiastic answer. You sure love your tomatoes don’t you.”
SECONDO TYPEWRITER-OPERAHOUSE
“I sure do.”
SECONDO TYPEWRITER-OPERAHOUSE
“Can I watch TV?”
THOMAS THEATREMANAGER
“Only if you watch PBS kids.”
SECONDO TYPEWRITER-OPERAHOUSE
“Okay.”
THOMAS THEATREMANAGER
“I’ll be done in a moment and then I’ll come down and we can see about breakfast.”
SECONDO TYPEWRITER-OPERAHOUSE
“Okay, bye.”
Secondo exits stage-left. Thomas turns back to his computer screen.
TRANSITION FROM MID-STAGE TO HIGH-STAGE
THE CAMERA DISCONNECTS FROM HIGH-STAGE AND PANS UPWARD. IT GLIDES OVER THE MID-STAGE SETS AND ONTO THE CURTAIN OF CLOUDS ALONG THE BACK OF THE MID-STAGE. UPWARD IT CONTINUES TO THE HIGH-STAGE AT THE TOP OF THE CLOUD OF CURTAINS. IT PANS INTO PROPERLY FRAMING THE HIGH-STAGE.
HIGH-STAGE: THE CENTRAL LANDING IN THE WARDROBE OF A THOUSAND AND ONE COSTUMES
The stage is still set up the same as in the earlier section of this episode. The large crystal on a pedestal sits near stage-front stage-right, with the concentric rising rings spreading out in an almost ovoid appearance. THE SPACE EGG stands to the side of the crystal looking into it. It turns the light in its central “eye” on and off. Each time the light flashes in the crystal, the crystal starts to glow as if attempting to activate.
THE CAMERA SUBTLY PANS OUTWARD ENOUGH TO INCLUDE THE NARRATOR’S DOOR.
Y-MOUSE leans over the edge of the Narrator’s Alcove, dressed in pajamas and eating a cheese sandwich.
Y-MOUSE
“You should keep doing that.”
The Space Egg freezes.
THE CAMERA PANS IN BLOCKING THE NARRATOR’S DOOR FROM VIEW.
THE SPACE EGG
“Hello?”
THE SPACE EGG looks left and right.
THE SPACE EGG
“Did somebody say something?”
Satisfied no one is in the room, the Space Egg resumes flashing light into the crystal.
THE SPACE EGG
“What would happen if I kept the light on?”
The Space egg switches from flashing the light to a steady beam of light into the crystal. The crystal’s interior glow starts to build. It begins to slightly vibrate and shimmer. The crystal glows brighter and brighter until bursting with white light.
WHITE LIGHT SPREADS FROM THE CRYSTAL FILLING THE ENTIRE FRAME. ALL DETAILS FADE AWAY. SOON THE LIGHT FADES AND THE DETAILS SLOWLY RETURN.
A series of lights built into the pedestal glow. As the bright light fades from the crystal it is actually flowing down into the pedestal and the surrounding concentric rings. A device activates. The pedestal glows and soon the lights spread out to the edges of each concentric ring surrounding the crystal. The Space Egg turns off its light and watches the spreading change. A GIGGLE seems to escape from the crystal. A second GIGGLE soon follows. The Space Egg turns towards the sound seeing that images float in the crystal now. Inside the crystal, we can see BIFF THE RABBIT reading comics.
PAN IN ON THE CRYSTAL THEN THE CAMERA ENTERS THE CRYSTAL
TRANSITION FROM THE WARDROBE OF A THOUSAND AND ONE COSTUMES TO BIFF’S BEDROOM
INT. BIFF’S BEDROOM, DAYTIME
Biff’s bedroom is a squarish room located in the north corner of the second floor. The room has a bed in the center against an outside wall, with a nightstand on one side. Posters for the Cosmic League, The Lamp of Night, and Babysitter Tails decorate his walls. Opposite his bed is the wall with more posters, shelves and a wardrobe. The wall with the window has a small built-in seat under the window. Part of the ceiling curves down in this section, being that the roof comes down, eaves. BIFF THE RABBIT sits on the floor next to a large smooth stone with a set of eyes drawn on it with marker. Spread around him are the large sheets of comics from the newspaper. Biff giggles at the comics and points out funny punchlines to the smooth stone.
BIFF’S MOTHER
(off-camera) “Biff, Dinner time.”
BIFF THE RABBIT
“Be right there Mom.”
Biff folds and sets aside the comics. He stands and moves towards the door. Rocky follows closely behind.
CUT TO
INT. DINING ROOM, EVENING
A large room. One large bay window along with smaller windows built on top of bookcases, ¾ of way up the wall. Dishes and glassware in the bookcases – more like cabinets with glass doors or display cases. Biff walks in and sits down next to his sister DIAN who is already sitting down. His younger brother JAFF walks in.
DIAN
(to Biff and Jaff) “Be on your best behavior. Mom and Dad are in a bad mood tonight.”
Biff is deep in thought and does not register her statement. He absent-mindedly nods.
THE CAMERA FOCUS SHIFTS FROM BIFF IN THE FOREGROUND TO THE KITCHEN IN THE BACKGROUND.
In the kitchen Biff’s parents, BIFF’S MOM and BIFF’S DAD, are plating the food and arguing. Ultimately the mom throws a plate down in anger and walks away. The dad says something with an angry expression and then starts to dish the food. The Mom rejoins them and they walk in and put food on the table. The food starts to be passed around.
FOCUS BACK ONTO BIFF IN THE FOREGROUND
Biff is looking at his plate and starts to mentally drift. A thought bubble appears over his head as the noise of the room fades out. In the bubble we see the comic Biff was reading earlier. A bowl of mashed vegetables can be seen being passed from Din to Biff. Biff takes it without thinking and absent-mindedly scoops some onto his plate as he remembers the comic strip. Each panel is shown in turn till we get to the final panel and the punchline. Biff lightly chuckles.
BIFF’S DAD
“You think this is funny?”
QUICKLY PAN, LIKE A SNAP, BACK TO LS OF TABLE
BIFF
“what?”
The brother and sister look away.
BIFF’S MOM
“Ricc.”
BIFF’S DAD
“No Debe. He’s laughing and that really bothers me. Does he think it was easy for you to put this food together? For me to find work. How little we have. (turns to Biff) Do you?”
BIFF
“I wasn’t laughing at you. I just remembered a joke.”
BIFF’S DAD
“That’s no excuse. You have your head in the clouds. Are you even capable of thinking of other people? Noticing how they feel, that maybe a laugh would be ill-timed.”
BIFF’S MOM
(to Biff) “Maybe it is best you go to your room now.”
Biff looks around the room. His face starts to scrunch up and he leaves the table.
MS OF BIFF IN THE CENTER OF THE SCREEN. KEEP THE CAMERA ON HIS CHAIR WHILE BIFF GETS UP AND LEAVES.
BIFF’S MOM
“Happy now?”
BIFF’S DAD
“Not really.”
CUT TO…
INT. BIFF’S BEDROOM, EVENING
LS OF ROOM FACING DOOR
The door opens and Biff rushes in. He closes the door behind him and jumps onto his bed. He stuffs his face into his pillow and starts to sob. One of his pillows falls off the bed from the recoil of his landing on the bed.
CUT TO CS OF BIFF
Biff’s sobbing dies down. He looks up to the rock on his bookcase.
BIFF THE RABBIT
“Why do I keep getting in trouble?”
Biff wipes his eyes and starts to straighten up his bed. He looks around for the missing pillow. He leans over the bed and sees it on the ground. As he picks it up he sees a spider on the pillow.
CUT TO CS OF SPIDER
CUT BACK TO CS OF BIFF
BIFF THE RABBIT
“Hey there little cousin. That’s not a safe place for you. Let me help.”
Biff scoops up the spider in his hand.
CUT TO LS OF BIFF’S BEDROOM. FACE THE CAMERA TOWARDS THE AREA BETWEEN THE BED AND WINDOWS, PLACING EACH AT THE EDGES OF THE FRAME, BUT STILL IN VIEW.
Biff gently scoots off the bed and walks over to his window. He opens the window.
CUT TO CS OF BIFF AT WINDOW.
Biff gently sets the spider down outside the window.
CUT TO XCS OF SPIDER CRAWLING OFF BIFF’S HAND
The spider slowly walks off Biff’s hand, testing the ground before fully committing.
THE CAMERA PANS OUT A SMALL BIT. AROUND THE EDGES OF THE FRAME CRYSTAL CAN BE SEEN.
TRANSITION FROM IMAGES IN THE CRYSTAL TO THE WARDROBE OF A THOUSAND AND ONE COSTUMES.
CUT BACK TO CENTRAL LANDING OF THE WARDROBE OF A THOUSAND AND ONE COSTUMES.
Zoom out a little bit so that we can see the scene in the crystal with the Space Egg watching it unfold. The Space Egg watches its face has a sad, concerned, interested look. A mix of equal parts concern and interest. The High-Stage lights turn off to the sound of A COMPUTER BOOTING OFF. The High-Stage curtains close.
FADE OUT