“The Great Works Project: Season Seven, Episode Seven – An Intermission” by Thomas Typewriter

scripts, The Great Works Project scripts

———–<.thom.>———–

THE GREAT WORKS PROJECT

a puppet play in many parts

Season 07, Episode 07

an intermission

By Thomas Typewriter

FADE IN TO BLACK

From the bottom of the screen scrolls up the following text: “07-07”. It moves upwards, pausing a moment in the center of the frame, then continues upward, exiting the frame at the top edge. Immediately following that text’s exit, up scrolls “an intermission” from the bottom of the frame. It scrolls upward pausing in the center of the frame before continuing up and out of the top of the frame.

FADE OUT
FADE IN

INT. BIFFOLLOMEW’S PLAYROOM, AFTERNOON
A large playroom done in a minimalist style. A closet with folding doors sits in the center of the room. Bookshelves filled with toys and books line the angled walls jutting off from the closet. On one shelf of toys sits a stuffed toy of the villainous Logical Fallacy. It is a simple stuffed-sock toy wearing a fedora hat. It has a fake mustache and chest-plate made from paper taped onto it. The chest-plate has the letters L and F written in marker on it. A small couch sits off to one side. Natural light from a window out of frame behind the couch illuminates the room. BIFFOLLOMEW THE RABBIT, a young boy with a cape made from a blanket tied around his neck, runs in from stage-left.

BIFFOLLOMEW THE RABBIT
“Quickly Headcheese, we must use our psychic powers to scan the city for trouble.”

BIFFOLLOMEW hops onto the couch and starts bouncing up and down. He scans around the room. ROCKFORD THE PET ROCK enters from Stage-left. He rolls across the room and jumps onto the small couch.

ROCKFORD THE PET ROCK
“Over there by the water tower Mindgames!”

BIFFOLLOMEW THE RABBIT
(looks towards one of the bookshelves with the Logical Fallacy toy) “I see him.”

INSERT CLOSE-SHOT OF THE TOY

BIFFOLLOMEW THE RABBIT
(voice-over) “Our old nemesis Logical Fallacy.”

CUT BACK

BIFFOLLOMEW THE RABBIT
“Oh-no. He is attempting to poison the city’s water supply with Conspiracy Juice!”

ROCKFORD THE PET ROCK
“That criminal!”

BIFFOLLOMEW THE RABBIT
“Should we crimefight?”

ROCKFORD THE PET ROCK
“Oh, we absolutely should.”

BIFFOLLOMEW leaps of the couch.

BIFFOLLOMEW THE RABBIT
(shouting) “CRIMEFIGHT!”

Rockford the Pet Rock leaps off the couch.

ROCKFORD THE PET ROCK
“Crimefight!”

They run towards the toy.

BIFFOLLOMEW THE RABBIT
“Cease and desist Logical Fallacy or we will be forced to use our psychic powers to teach you to mind your manners.”

A SOFT CHIMING TONE rings out. The digital voice of the Butler speaks.

BUTLER
(voice-over) “Reminder, the next episode of The Babysitter Tales is starting.”

BIFFOLLOMEW and Rockford stop. Look at each other and smile, making excited yes gestures.

BIFFOLLOMEW THE RABBIT
“Butler, please cancel the current reminder.”

The chiming tone ends.

BIFFOLLOMEW THE RABBIT
“Butler, please set the room to TV mode.”

The closet doors open revealing a small television. It turns on to station 78. BIFFOLLOMEW and Rockford approach the TV. They pull out soft squares of grey padded carpet from a bin under the TV and sit down. The title sequence of The Babysitter Tales starts to play on the TV.

PAN IN ON THE TELEVISION SCREEN

TRANSITION FROM THE PLAYROOM TO THE BABYSITTER TALES TV SHOW.

On the TV screen the last bit of The Babysitter Tales opening sequence plays. The sequence ends and transitions to an establishing shot of a model of Gloomarella’s house.

SHIFT FROM LOOKING AT IMAGE ON TV SCREEN TO BEING “LIVE” IN THE SHOW.

LS OF GLOOMARELLA’S HOUSE

CUT TO…

INT. GLOOMARELLA’S KITCHEN, MORNING
GLOOMARELLA THE DOOMWITCH enters the room from stage-left. She has just woken up and is not very alert. She wanders over to the counter by the sink. She pulls down a coffee cup, fills it with coffee from the coffee maker, and leans against the counter. She takes a slow sip and smiles. She finishes the coffee and rinses it out in the sink. Then she looks around as if something is wrong, noticing that the sink is empty. All the dishes are clean. She then looks around the kitchen and notices it is clean.

GLOOMARELLA THE DOOMWITCH
“Where is the grime? Where are the spider-webs? Everything looks shiny and new. Who cleaned this place?”

Then she notices the doom baby in his high chair eating breakfast peacefully.

GLOOMARELLA THE DOOMWITCH
“What are you doing up?”

SMILES GOODSON enters from stage-right carrying a bouquet of flowers. He walks over to put them in a vase near the sink.

SMILES GOODMAN
“Oh good, you’re up. I’ll make you some eggs.”

She grabs a pan and hits him in the head. He spins, falls and hits his neck on the counter with a loud CRACK. He goes limp as the life suddenly leaves his body. There is A RESET NOISE accompanied by a flash of light. Smiles hops right back up.

SMILES GOODMAN
“Well aren’t you a lively one in the morning.”

The Doomwitch screams again and shoots him with lightning. He flies out of the room. The RESET NOISE and flash of light occurs off-camera. Smiles Goodson walks back into the room.

SMILES GOODMAN
“Who wants toast? I have an excellent sourdough cooling on the counter. I had to get up early to make it but I know just one bite and you will agree it was worth the effort.”

He walks to Gloomrella and gently places his hand on her, guiding her. They walk over to the table where he sits her down.

SMILES GOODMAN
“You’re going to love this bread. It is an old family recipe, made with a special ingredient.”

Smiles leans into whisper a secret to Gloomrella.

SMILES GOODMAN
(whisper) “I am not suppose to tell, but since we are such good friends, it’s (pauses to look left and right then whispers even softer) love.”

Smiles whistles and gets out the bread.

GLOOMRELLA THE DOOMWITCH
(to self) “What is going on.”

Smiles slices the bread and plates up one slice. He hands it to her. She takes the plate and tries the bread.

GLOOMARELLA THE DOOMWITCH
“Wow, this is really good. Normally, I hate love, but I can’t complain about this.”

SMILES GOODSON
“Why, thank you.”

Rod Pocalypse reaches for Gloomrella’s slice.

ROD POCALYPSE
“Gimme! Gimme!”

SMILES GOODSON
“Now, how do we ask?”

ROD POCALYPSE
“Please?”

Smiles goes and gets Rod a slice. Gloomarella the Doomwitch chokes on the bread.

GLOOMARELLA THE DOOMWITCH
“Did he just say please?”

SMILES GOODSON
“Yes. I taught him that this morning before you got up. I find there is always time to be polite.”

GLOOMARELLA THE DOOMWITCH
“So you taught this baby, the doombaby, he who is the key fated to release those trapped beyond form and shape ushering in a thousand years of darkness where the screams of the tortured will form the new landscape. The instrument of the apocalypse. You taught him manners?”

The baby gets the bread, and Smiles rubs his head.

SMILES GOODSON
“It was not easy, let me tell you, but I just reminded myself that anything worth doing is worth a little extra effort.”

GLOOMARELLA THE DOOMWITCH
“This will not do.”

Gloomarella shoots a lightning bolt at Smiles, knocking him out of the room.

GLOOMARELLA THE DOOMWITCH
“This will not do at all.”

CUT TO AD-BREAK

The ad-break still fills the screen.

GLOOMARELLA
(voice-over) “We’ll be right back after this short break. Change the channel and I’ll curse your soul!”

PAN OUT FROM THE AD-BREAK CARD

TRANSITION FROM INSIDE THE TV SHOW TO THE PLAYROOM

THE CAMERA SHIMMERS AS IT PANS OUT FROM THE TV SHOW. PAN BACK BEHIND BIFFOLLOMEW AND ROCKFORD.

INT. BIFFOLLOMEW’S PLAYROOM, DAYTIME
BIFFOLLOMEW THE RABBIT AND ROCKFORD THE PET ROCK sit infront of the TV cabinet in the closet watching the commercials. An ad for Star Families brand Seed Rolls plays on the screen. BIFFOLLOMEW looks to the side and sighs. He stands and walks off screen. After a moment Rockford notices he is missing.

ROCKFORD THE PET ROCK
“Are you going to finish watching this?”

CUT TO SHOT OF BIFFTHOLOMEW

BIFFOLLOMEW sits by the window looking outside.

BIFFOLLOMEW THE RABBIT
“I was just thinking, it is such a nice day.”

CUT BACK TO SHOT OF ROCKFORD

ROCKFORD THE PET ROCK
“You want to go outside.”

CUT BACK TO SHOT OF BIFFOLLOMEW

BIFFOLLOMEW THE RABBIT
“Yeah. I don’t know what it is, but I want to be outside. Feel some sun on my fur.”

Rockford enters comes over next to BIFFOLLOMEW.

ROCKFORD THE PET ROCK
“That sounds great. Let’s do it.”

BIFFOLLOMEW THE RABBIT
“Really.”

ROCKFORD THE PET ROCK
“Really.”

BIFFOLLOMEW hugs up Rockford and squeezes him.

BIFFOLLOMEW THE RABBIT
“Thanks.”

He sets down Rockford.

BIFFOLLOMEW THE RABBIT
“Butler, turn off the playroom television.”

The Butler chimes off-screen and the television shuts off. Biffollomew and Rockford walk off frame.

PAN TO WINDOW.

A gentle breeze blows through the grassy backyard. Sunshine beams down on the yard. A butterfly drifts from flower to flower. From the edge of the window frame, Biffollomew and Rockford come running into view. Rockford chases after Biffollomew, who laughs and jumps. Every time Rockford gets close, he leaps to the side and rolls. After the fourth roll across the grass, Biffollomew unfurls onto his back. He giggles looking up at the clouds. Rockford catches up to him and jumps on his chest. Biffollomew grunts and pulls Rockford into a hug.

TRANSITION FROM BIFFOLLOMEW’S BEDROOM TO THE ALEXANDRIAN LIBRARY

DISSOLVE FROM THE BACKYARD TO THE CURTAIN OF CLOUDS OF THE TYPEWRITER ABSTRACT PUPPET STAGE

JOIN THE CAMERA IN THE MIDST OF PANNING DOWN THE CURTAIN OF CLOUDS. IT SLIDES DOWN AND DOWN FURTHER, STARTING AT A BREAKNECK PACE AND SLOWING. SOON THE TOPS OF THE MID-STAGE SETS PEAK UP FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE FRAME. THE CAMERA CONTINUES PANNING DOWN UNTIL PROPERLY FRAMING THE MID-STAGE

MID-STAGE: INT. ALEXANDRIAN LIBRARY SECOND FLOOR MAIN ROOM, MORNING
The stage is divided into two sections. On stage-right sits a table with a series of platforms on it. A sign reading “New Releases” sits on a sign post in the center of the table. Various books stand arraigned around the table. The other side of the stage contains a portion of the bookcases for the Adult Fiction section.

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
(Off-stage) “Guess time to get home. Not that I have anything to do once I get there.”

THOMAS TYPEWRITER emerges from behind the bookcase. He strolls across the stage. As he passes the new releases table, something catches his eye. He stops and picks up “Runaways from Randomness” by Jonathan J. Wheelwright

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“A sequel to that Latchkey kids? Interesting. Maybe I don’t have to rush home just yet.”

Thomas picks up the book and exits stage-right. The Mid-stage lights turn off to the sound of A LIGHTSWITCH CLICKING OFF. The Mid-Stage curtains close.

FADE OUT

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“The Great Works Project: Season Seven, Episode Six” by Thomas Typewriter – a new script

scripts, The Great Works Project scripts

———–<.thom.>———–

THE GREAT WORKS PROJECT

a puppet play in many parts

Season 07, Episode 06

By Thomas Typewriter

FADE IN TO BLACK

From the center bottom of the frame scrolls up the following text: “07-06”. It scrolls up to the center of the frame, pauses, then continues scrolling. It exits the frame in the top center. Across the dark screen drifts the sound of TYPEWRITER KEYS CLICK CLACKING. From the bottom of the frame, the fingers of the VELVET TOUCH curl up. They grip the darkness as if a solid object, and bring it forward. It takes on a shape like a large card sign. The Velvet Touch rotates the card 180 degrees. On the back of the card is a still photo of THE TYPEWRITER ABSTRACT PUPPET STAGE on the wooden disc in the Unroom Not.Seven. The Velvet Touch places the card back into place and pulls its fingers out of view.

INT. UNROOM NOT.SEVEN, BETWIXTIME
The unroom Not.Seven is a room of indeterminable size. In front of the doorway are semi-circular rows of grey carpet squares. They radiate out from a wooden disc sitting near a possible center of the space. The TYPEWRITER ABSTRACT PUPPET STAGE sits on the wooden disc, facing towards the grey carpet squares. The entire scene is softly illuminated by spindly metallic lamps at the end of the rows. The lamp’s cords snake off into the distance.

LS OF THE TYPEWRITER ABSTRACT PUPPET STAGE

PAN IN ON THE TYPEWRITER ABSTRACT PUPPET STAGE, MOVING CLOSER AND CLOSER TO THE MID-STAGE AREA. THE CAMERA STOPS PANNING FORWARD WHEN IT LOCKED IN PROPERLY FRAMING THE MID-STAGE.

MID-STAGE: CURTAINS CLOSED
The Mid-Stage curtains part and the stage lights turn on to the sound of A LIGHTSWITCH CLICKING ON, revealing…

MID-STAGE: EXT. THE ALEXANDRIAN LIBRARY, AFTERNOON
The front entrance of the multi-level flagstone and glass Alexandrian Library stretches across the back of the stage. The squarish carved letters of the building’s name loom over the triple set of doors adding to the solidness of the building. A sculpture of an open book balancing on the top of a pyramid stands just out front among ornamental grasses. We hear A CAR DRIVE UP AND PARK. The ENGINE SHUTS OFF. The CAR DOOR OPENS then SLAMS SHUT. FOOTSTEPS APPROACH. THOMAS TYPEWRITER, with a hardback copy of “Pandora’s Star” by Peter F. Hamilton under his arm, enters from stage-right. He walks past the ornamental grasses, past the sculpture, and up to the front doors. He uses his free hand to open the door and slips right in.

THE CAMERA DETACHES FROM PROPERLY FRAMING THE MID-STAGE AND PANS UPWARD. IT GLIDES UP AND OVER THE MID-STAGE SETS TO THE CURTAIN OF CLOUDS BEHIND THE SETS. IT CONTINUES UPWARD MOVING ACROSS THE CURTAIN OF CLOUDS, HIGHER AND HIGHER. SOON THE BOTTOM OF THE HIGH-STAGE SLIDES IN FROM THE TOP OF THE FRAME. THE CAMERA CONTINUES PANNING UPWARD UNTIL LOCKING INTO PROPERLY FRAMING THE HIGH-STAGE.

HIGH-STAGE: CURTAINS CLOSED
The High-Stage curtains open and the stage-lights turn on to the sound of A COMPUTER BOOTING ON, revealing…

HIGH-STAGE: HANGER JSN076
In the center of the room stands a large cylinder of frosted glass. It stands on a pedestal of orthogonal crystals and abstract circuitry. Off to the side stands a control panel made of a similar crystal and tech mix. The room is painted in bright primary and secondary colors. Three pendant lamps hang from the ceiling illuminating the room. THE INNER-SPACE MAN enters from stage-right.

THE INNER-SPACE MAN
“This is what I wanted to show and tell you.”

BIFF THE RABBIT and ROCKEY THE PET ROCK follow, entering from stage-right.

BIFF THE RABBIT
“The whole room or something in it.”

ROCKEY THE PET ROCK
“Is it me or does this look like the designs we drew on the boxes when we were pretending we were those superheroes.”

BIFF THE RABBIT
(looks around) “It does.”

THE INNER-SPACE MAN
“Yes, exactly.”

BIFF THE RABBIT
“What do you mean?”

THE INNER-SPACE MAN
“This whole place is somehow tied to your pretending.

BIFF THE RABBIT
“How is that even possible?”

THE INNER-SPACE MAN
“I do not know exactly how the link works, but it is there.”

BIFF THE RABBIT
“That makes no sense.”

The Inner-Space Man walks over to the control panel and presses a button. The frosted glass of the cylinder turns clear. Inside is the suspended form of the superhero MINDGAMES.

THE INNER-SPACE MAN
“How about now?”

BIFF THE RABBIT
“Mindgames! Rocky, it’s Mindgames. Exactly as I imagined he looked like.”

ROCKEY THE PET ROCK
“Eerie.”

BIFF THE RABBIT
“Okay, hit the button that lets him out. I have so many questions.”

THE INNER-SPACE MAN
“Sorry. I don’t know how.”

BIFF THE RABBIT
“No seriously, let him out.”

THE INNER-SPACE MAN
“I can not.”

Biff turns to look at the Inner-Space Man.

BIFF THE RABBIT
“What do you mean. You wandered this place for days before getting us or so you claimed.”

THE INNER-SPACE MAN
“I did and never found a release button. Only room after room like this one.”

Biff walks over to the control panel. Rocky stays at the cylinder looking at Mindgames.

BIFF THE RABBIT
“But you got out. How? How come you are free? Why you?”

THE INNER-SPACE MAN
“I don’t know. MAybe some quality you added to us when you pretended us allowed us to escape.”

BIFF THE RABBIT
“Maybe you just didn’t hit the right buttons.”

Biff starts to press on the buttons. Various lights in the room turn on and off.

PAN OVER TO ROCKEY

ROCKEY THE PET ROCK
“What are you thinking in there?”

CUT TO CS OF THE MINDGAMES’ FACE.

Mindgame blinks.

CUT BACK TO ROCKEY

ROCKEY THE PET ROCK
“Arhh. Guys we have a problem. He just blinked.”

BIFF THE RABBIT
“What do you mean he blinked.”

ROCKEY THE PET ROCK
“I mean exactly that. He blinked. Look.”

Mindgames blinks again. Biff turns to look at The Inner-Space Man

BIFF THE RABBIT
“You mean he is aware.”

THE INNER-SPACE MAN
“Well, I was. Good chance in nine nine nines everybody else is. I hope not because it was torture.”

Biff becomes a little frantic and starts tapping buttons.

BIFF THE RABBIT
“We have to get him out. We have to get them all out.”

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

THE CAMERA UNCOUPLES FROM PROPERLY FRAMING HIGH-STAGE AND PANS DOWNWARD. IT GLIDES TO THE CURTAIN OF CLOUDS LOCATED BELOW THE HIGH-STAGE. IT CONTINUES PANNING DOWNWARD THE CURTAIN OF CLOUDS. SOON THE TOPS OF THE MID-STAGE SETS POKE UP FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE FRAME. CONTINUE PANNING DOWNWARD UNTIL PROPERLY FRAMING MID-STAGE.

MID-STAGE: INT. THE ALEXANDRIAN LIBRARY FICTION SHELVES, AFTERNOON
A long bookshelf runs across the back of the stage. THOMAS TYPEWRITER enters from stage-right. He slowly walks across the stage, looking at the books. He runs his fingers across the various books as he contemplates.

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
(to self) “What am I doing? Am I really moving forward? Ophidia, she’s moving forward. She’s working herself to exhaustion. What have I ever worked myself to exhaustion on?”

He walks a short distance and then answers himself.

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
(to self) “Nothing.”

Thomas takes a step back to view all the books on the shelves. His body language shifts to painful introspection. Thomas exits stage-left. The Mid-stage curtains close and then repopen revealing…

MID-STAGE: INT, SECOND FLOOR MAIN ROOM, AFTERNOON
The stage is divided into two sections. On stage-right sits a table with a series of platforms on it. A sign reading “New Releases” sits on a sign post in the center of the table. Various books stand arraigned around the table. The other side of the stage contains a portion of the bookcases for the Adult Fiction section.

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
(Off-stage) “Guess time to get home. Not that I have anything to do once I get there.”

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“A sequel to that book. Interesting. Maybe I don’t have to rush home just yet.”

Thomas picks up the book and exits stage-right. The stage lights turn off to the sound of A LIGHT SWITCH CLICKING OFF. The Mid-Stage curtains close.

FADE OUT

“Up Late, Late At Night: Episode Two, Act Two” – a new script by Thomas Typewriter

Puppet play, scripts, Up Late, Late at Night

———–<.thom.ophi>———–

Up Late, Late At Night

an abstract on treasure versus trash in modern film

Episode 002

Act II

By Thomas Typewriter & Ophidia Typewriter-Operahouse

FADE IN TO BLACK

FADE IN

EXT. TRUCC NUTZ HIGHWAY AND ON-RAMP, DAYTIME

LS OF THE HIGHWAY AND ON-RAMP

The highway stands empty. From stage-left enters a semi-truck covered in logos for KON-SATOSHI ELECTRONICS. It drives down the highway exiting stage-right. A few moments after, from the on-ramp, quickly drive up the three souped-up street racing cars of The Tuna Sandwich No Crust Boys criminal gang. Each car bears the logo of the gang: the letters “TSNCBOIYZ” and a cartoon image of a tuna fish with thick hair on the side of its head but a bald spot across the top of its head. They speed after the semi, exiting stage-right.

TRANSITION FROM HIGHWAY TO THE OFFICE

INT. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF’S OFFICE, DAYTIME
A flicker goes across the frame as the image shifts to the appearance of an image on an older television.

PAN OUT

The image of the highway is now shown to be a video playing on a small television in the offices of LASER EDITOR, the editor-in-chief and publisher of “The Modern Sexy Little Miss’s Information Tabloid”. The office is lined with filing cabinets and taxidermy eagles, turkeys and one hummingbird. All the taxidermy eagles and one hummingbird are holding American Flags in their talons or beaks. The mounted turkeys are holding the Don’t Tread On Me flags. A large potted plants sits nestled between two filing cabinets. Laser Desks very solid looking desk sits over by the filing cabinets. The television sits on top of a rolling dolly. The main wall of the room contains the door and frosted windows. On the door is written in letters, in reverse to those inside the room, “LASER EDITOR – EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & PUBLISHER” The Laser Editor walks across to the television and turns it off.

CUT TO LS OF THE ROOM

B-Reporter and D-HACK are sitting in chairs watching Laser Editor turn off the TV.

B-REPORTER
“Why are you turning it off? There has been a 300% increase in electronic thefts in Dieselvania county, almost entirely from shipping trucks. Additionally there has been a surge in stolen bicycles. Something is going on. This is news.”

LASER EDITOR
“No, this is boring. We need something that can sell the papers. Something modern. Something sexy. Something little.”

B-REPORTER
“Are you hearing this D-Hack. I can’t believe this. You talk me into coming to your Aunt’s paper claiming she’s changing the paper. Real reporting. A real chance to make a difference. Do you remember that? Cause it sure sounds like that was a lie.”

D-HACK
“Yes, I said that but maybe she has a good point. She always has the best ideas.”

LASER EDITOR
“Stop sucking up you spineless wimp. Why can’t you be more like your friend? She actually has a drive and purpose. Principals.”

D-HACK
“Those are good points. B-Reporter, can I borrow your notebook so I can write this down.”

B-Reporter reaches over the Laser Editor’s desk and grabs a pen and notepad. She hands it to D-Hack.

LASER EDITOR
“Oh, now you’re being petty.”

D-HACK
“Ok, what was I supposed to be more like.”

B-REPORTER
“More like me. Beautiful, charming, intelligent, talented, gifted, determined to break the big story that changes the world and uncover the true grime hidden under the stones that civilization is built upon.”

CUT TO CS OF D-HACK WRITING ON THE NOTEPAD

D-Hack is trying to write down all these notes on a notepad that is much too small. He twists and turns the thing trying to fit all the notes on it.

D-HACK
(notes to self as scribbling away) “Be more beautiful…going to need to order some facial masks maybe for that one, charming, intelligent…do they make brain pills? Need to look that up.”

CUT BACK TO MS OF LASER EDITOR

Laser Editor gets frustrated with D-Hack and grabs the pen and notepad out of his hands and throws it away.

LASER EDITOR
“Cut that out. And you, you could stand to be more like D-Hack. He has no morals, no outrage, nothing getting in the way of writing a story that will sell. And that is what we need, what you need. You think you are going to write some story about greed and corruption that is going to change everyone’s life. Well Mister Investigative Reporter, how can you do that if no one is reading the paper your story is in? Answer me that? And more importantly, how can I have a hot tub installed in my private helicopter if my paper does not sell millions and millions of issues.”

B-REPORTER
“A hot tub in a helicopter? That makes no sense. The downwash is like over sixty miles per hour. All the water would blow out of the tub. Additionally, everyone would slosh out when it makes turns.”

D-HACK
“That’s a great idea.”

LASER EDITOR
“Thank you, nephew. Now, take a look at this. Just came into my possession today. I have a contact over at the local news affiliate in Dieselvania. I may have made his quote-unquote wife disappearing potential homicide story into a giant sewer alligator eats local wife story.”

B-REPORTER
“That is awful.”

D-HACK
“Good job Aunt. You’re always thinking of the angles. Making the smart bets.”

LASER JUDGE
“You bet I am. And it always pays off. Here, take a look at this.”

Laser Judge walks over to her desk and pulls out a videocassette from within a bottom drawer. She puts it into the TV and presses play.

ZOOM IN ON THE TELEVISION AND CUT TO…

EXT. THE LONELY DOOR IN THE WOODS, DAYTIME
A door frame sits alone in a wild and deep woods. In the distance can be heard the sounds of freeway traffic because all the forests and woods in Dieselvania are near highways and interstates. BRO-POD, an mp3 player wearing a college athletic jersey and proud member of the Omega Omega Ohm fraternity, enters the frame drinking multiple beers. His beers are a six-pack with the beer still on the plastic ring. All six are open and slosh beer into his mouth, face, and shirt when he attempts to drink. Out of the frame is Bro-Pod’s fellow fraternity brother FRAT-DECK. If he were to be seen, he would be a Tape Desk wearing a college athletic jersey similar to Bro-pod’s.

BRO-POD
“You getting this man.”

FRAT-DECK
(from off-camera) “Yeah man, I am getting this. This is going to be great.”

BRO-POD
“We’re going to be legends.”

FRAT-DECK
“Let’s do it. Misanthrope University Rules!”

BRO-POD
“I am Bro-Pod and I am going to open the lonely door in the forest. This is for all my boys at Miskatonic University. Love you guys. Screaming Nyarlathoteps forever!”

FRAT DECK
(from off-camera, shouts) “OMEGA OMEGA OHM!”

BRO-POD
(shouts) “OMEGA OMEGA OHM!”

Bro-Pod starts pushing on the door but it won’t budge.

FRAT-DECK
(from off-camera) “Come on man, open the door.”

BRO-POD
“I’m trying man.”

FRAT-DECK
(from off-camera) “You’re ruining it man.”

Then there is a loud roar from behind the door

FRAT-DECK
(from off-camera) “What was that?”

BRO-POD
“Its the door. I think I budged it.”

Just then the door explodes off the frame and flies into the camera Frat-Deck is holding. Bro-Pod can be seen knocked into the air. The door knocks over and lands on Frat-Deck.

THE CAMERA SPINS THROUGH THE AIR AND LANDS AT AN ANGLE.

The broken door and part of Frat-Deck can be seen in front of the camera. COMBO-STEIN, a Frankenstein like monster made from a VCR/DVD combo player, in silhouette, can be seen screaming and running through the busted door and out of the frame. Bro-Pod is just visible sticking out of a shrub in the distance.

BRO-POD
“Miskatonic University…”

FRAT-DECK
“Omega Omega Ohm…”

CUT BACK

ZOOM BACK OUT OF TELEVISION TO FULL SHOT OF ROOM

The Laser Editor ejects the tape.

LASER EDITOR
“Now that is a story that will sell papers.”

B-REPORTER
“Story? How is that a story? A door fell on some dudes.”

LASER EDITOR
“Yes. A door falls in the woods and no one hears it, no story. But a door falls in the woods and two nut sacks hear it, that’s a story.”

D-HACK
“That’s a great idea aunt. Headline: Monster Rampages honor students in the woods. Are you next?”

LASER EDITOR
“Yes, yes, YES! I knew you’d get it. but you (points at B-Reporter) You are going to need a little sweetness to say yes. Get me this story and you can finally write that piece you’ve been bugging me about.”

B-REPORTER
“Wait. Are you serious? I’ll finally be able to write about how the MK Ultra program worked to brainwash everyone into thinking Inception is a nesting doll story of layered realities when in actuality it is the linear story of what happened to Jack Dawson after Rose pushed him off that door. When he sank into those frozen waters.”

D-HACK
“Really. That’s what you’re going to use your blank check on. That doesn’t even make sense. ”

B-REPORTER
“It makes perfect sense. At the end of Titanic, Jack sinks into the water and then Inception opens with him washing up on shore. The currents where the Titanic sunk would have pulled his body towards Europe with its sandy beaches, which match the sandy beach he wakes up on in Inception.”

LASER EDITOR
“Okay, well that is something.”

B-REPORTER
“Makes more sense than a hot tub in a helicopter.”

LASER EDITOR
“Don’t test me B. Now, here are your tickets and accommodations. You leave right now.”

D-HACK
“I’ll have to stop back at the apartment to pack.”

B-REPORTER
“I’ll ride with you.”

They leave the office. Laser Editor watches them leave and then goes to sit down at her desk.

CUT TO MS OF LASER EDITOR AT DESK

Opening a drawer she pulls out a bottle of alcohol and a glass. She starts to pour herself a drink when the potted plant behind her starts to wiggle. The plant moves up revealing MR. COIN, an oversized novelty coin wearing a fedora, sunglasses, and a trench coat. He looks over at Laser Editor

MR COIN
“Now, you’re not going to actually publish that article on Titanic and Inception are you. It would not do for attention to be brought to our group’s efforts to persuade the public of what is true and not true as it pertains to those particulars.”

LASER EDITOR
“Nope. I’ll tow the line.”

MR COIN
“Excellent.”

Mr. Coin lowers his head back down into the potted plant. Laser Editor drinks her glass slowly. Once done, she sets the glass down on her desk.

CUT TO CS OF THE EMPTY GLASS

FADE OUT

“The Great Works Project: Season Seven, Episode Five” by Thomas Typewriter – a new script

Puppet play, scripts, The Great Works Project scripts

———–<.thom.>———–

THE GREAT WORKS PROJECT

a puppet play in many parts

Season 07, Episode 05

By Thomas Typewriter

FADE IN TO BLACK

From the center bottom of the frame scrolls up the following text: “07-05”. It scrolls up to the center of the frame, pauses, then continues scrolling. It exits the frame in the top center. Across the dark screen drifts the sound of TYPEWRITER KEYS CLICK CLACKING.

FADE OUT
FADE IN

LS OF THE TYPEWRITER ABSTRACT PUPPET STAGE

THE TYPEWRITER ABSTRACT PUPPET STAGE appears in the black void.

PAN IN ON MID-STAGE TILL PROPERLY FRAMING IT

MID-STAGE: CURTAINS CLOSED

The Mid-stage curtains part and the stage-lights turn on to the sound of A LIGHTSWITCH CLICKING ON revealing…

MID-STAGE: INT. PENCIL CHICKS STUDIO, DAYTIME
A long desk spreads across the stage. It has a monitor, keyboard, mouse and scanner on the desk. A stack of papers sits next to the scanner. Behind the long desk is a drawing table with an animator’s lightbox at an angle to the desk. The long desk has a simple office chair while the drawing desk has a padded high stool. A doorway sits to the stage-left side of the desk. OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE sits at the animator’s lightbox, furiously drawing animation cells. THOMAS TYPEWRITER enters from stage-left. He hangs up his coat and then walks over to Ophidia. He places a hand on her shoulder.

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“Hi.”

Ophidia stops bopping, pulls down her headphones, and smiles at Thomas.

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“Hey, good looking.”

Ophidia points to her lips. Thomas takes the hint and kisses her.

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“You’re sure in a good mood.”

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“Oh yeah. I love how it feels to animate.”

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“Have you been working long?”

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“Maybe. Probably. I came home from dinner and could not sleep. So I started working.”

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“So, you never went to bed?”

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“Nope. I am full of electricity.”

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“Okay electric girl, is there anything I can do to help?”

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“Could you get me some fresh coffee?”

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“Sure. Are your parents okay with me being in the kitchen.”

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“Oh, it’ll be fine. They love you.”

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“Okay. Fresh coffee coming right up.”

Thomas Typewriter exits stage-left. Ophidia puts back on her headphones and starts bopping to the music.

TRANSITION FROM MID-STAGE TO HIGH-STAGE

THE CAMERA DISCONNECTS FROM PROPERLY FRAMING THE MID-STAGE. IT PANS UPWARD GLIDING OVER THE MID-STAGE SETS TO THE CURTAIN OF CLOUDS BEHIND. THE SETS DISAPPEAR OFF THE BOTTOM OF THE FRAME AS THE CAMERA ASCENDS. IT GLIDES UP AND UP, OVER THE CURTAIN OF CLOUDS. SOON, THE HIGH-STAGE AND NARRATOR’S DOOR AT THE TOP OF THE CURTAIN OF CLOUDS SLIDES INTO VIEW. THE CAMERA SLOWS AND MOVES INTO PROPERLY FRAMING THE HIGH-STAGE.

HIGH-STAGE: CURTAINS CLOSED
From behind the curtain, the sounds of A BAND PLAYING MUSIC leak. The High-Stage curtains open and the stage-lights turn on to the sound of A COMPUTER BOOTING UP revealing…

HIGH-STAGE: INT. OBSERVATION DECK OF THE FLUTE MEDICALSHIP, DAYTIME
A large curve window runs across the back of the stage, showing the sparkle of the sparks drifting through space. Some components of the Flute are visible in the periphery of the window. A long curved couch runs under the window curving around a circular rug. Additional couches wrap around the circle coming out of stage-left and stage-right. The center of the observation area is free of couches, being the main entry point for those wishing to sit in the observation lounge. The entire area is decorated in yellow, amber, and beige. The rug is a contrasting red. A group is currently assembled playing music to practice and get in tune. LUCIDO OBSIDIAN, in his Medi-pod stands in the front of center on the carpet playing guitar. Behind him, CEDAR WAXWINGS plays drums. On the stage left side of the carpet CARRO, in their Medi-pod, plays keyboards. To the stage-right side of the carpet MINTHRIL MOUSTACHE plays trumpet. Next to him, ELDER GRIM plays the upright bass. The group is currently not doing very well playing in harmony. Meanwhile, PANACIA FLAUTO sits on one of the Observation decks couches listening.
HYGENNIA FLAUTO and two ORDERLI-BOTS enter from stage-right. Hygennia walks over to Panacia and sits down with her. They start to chit-chat. The ORDERLI-BOTS clean the couches. The musicians start to musically line up. They can play longer stretches of harmonious music before hitting discordant notes. IASA FLAUTO enters from stage-right holding a tray filled with three simple coffees from the ship commissary. She hears the music and starts to softly sway to the music. She waves to the musicians and they wave back. Their music clicks even further, lining up to the rhythm of Iasa. She walks over to Hygenia and Panacia. Hygenia takes the coffees. Iasa pulls Panacia up from the couch and starts to get her to dance along with her. Hygenia laughs and takes a coffee and starts to sip. The Orderli-Bots stop cleaning and watch the music and dancing. Panacea and Iasa laugh. Hygenia smiles and joins in.

FINNOCHIO and his sister BALLERIA enter stage-left clapping enthusiastically along with the music. They are followed by some REPAIR-BOTS, lulled up from the Maintenance Tunnels by the sweet tunes, sway to the music. The music goes louder as does the crowd’s response. On each of the Medi-pods the three top lights turn to green over the course of playing. When the third light turns green, the Medi-pod beeps. Carro, Cedar, and Lucido’s robotic arms go limp. They fall out of the melody. The Medi-Pods crack open along a low seem like an egg cracking open. Out pours the fully repaired Lucido, Cedar and Carro, coated in fluid and sliding across the floor. Carro now has a robotic body after the Medi-pod process, where in the earlier episodes he was just a face on a view screen.

As the three slide out of their Medi-pods, Elder and Minthril abruptly stop playing. Iasa, Panacia, and Hygenia swiftly rush to the newly emerged bodies and start to run medical checks. 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 UNCOUPLES FROM PROPERLY FRAMING THE HIGH-STAGE AND PANS DOWNWARD. IT GLIDES OVER AND ACROSS THE CURTAIN OF CLOUDS. DOWN AND DOWN IT PANS. EVENTUALLY THE TOPS OF THE MID-STAGE SETS SLIDE UP FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE FRAME AS THE CAMERA HAS REACHED THE BOTTOM OF THE CURTAIN OF CLOUDS AND THE MID-STAGE. IT PANS DOWN LOCKING INTO PLACE PROPERLY FRAMING THE MID-STAGE.

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
(off-stage) “I’ve got your coffee.”

THOMAS TYPEWRITER enters from stage-left, carrying a tray with a coffee cup and a carafe of coffee. There is also a glass of water on the tray. He enters backwards to navigate the door, balancing the tray best as he can.

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“Sorry it took as long as it did for me to get the coffee. Your Mom came out and we had a nice talk. She asked if I could make her some tea so I did. Let me know if you want any and I’ll go get you a glass. Your Mom asked me if we set a date for the wedding, which is the funniest thing because my Grandma was just asking me the same thing this morning.”

Thomas places down the tray.

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“Isn’t that the craziest thing? Are they sharing a wavelength?”

He picks up the coffee cup and turns to give it to Ophidia.

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“And you’re asleep.”

Thomas straightens looking at Ophidia. He shrugs and takes a sip of the coffee. He spits it back out into the cup.

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“Ugh, yuck. How does anyone like that?”

Thomas sets the cup back onto the tray. He then exits Stage-left returning with a blanket. He places the blanket over Ophidia. He gently kisses her on top of her head.

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“You get your rest, you deserve it. I’ll be over here reading.”

Thomas moves to the chair to the side and pulls out a copy of “Pandora’s Star” by Peter F. Hamilton.

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
(to self) “Thank goodness I have one of Hamilton’s space operas. This will definitely keep me busy.”

Thomas props his feet up on the desk and relaxes into a comfortable reading position. He starts to read, briskly moving through pages then slowing down. He turns back two pages and rereads what he had read. He thinks a moment and then starts to read at a brisk pace. As he is reading he starts to fidget, starting with turning his body left and right. Then he switches to gently swinging his feet left-right. The Mid-Stage stage lights turn off to the sound of A LIGHTSWITCH CLICKING OFF. The Mid-stage curtains close.

FADE OUT

“The Not So Puppet Show #003: The Broken Book of Beasties, Book One: A Book by Any Other Cover, Part One” by Thomas Typewriter – a new script

scripts, The Not So Puppet Show

———–<.thom.>———–

THE NOT SO PUPPET SHOW

An asymmetry without apologies

Episode #3

“The Broken Book of Beasties
Book I: A Book by Any Other Cover
Part 1”

By Thomas Typewriter

———–<:type:>———–

FADE IN

The Not So Puppet Show’s short title sequence plays.

FADE OUT
FADE IN

THE BROKEN BOOK OF BEASTIES TITLE SEQUENCE
The title “The Broken Book of Beasties” appears far off in the dark screen, written in bright red flowing script. The word Beasties, unlike the rest of the title, is written in a thick slashing font. The title flies towards the camera and past the edge of the frame. The dark screen is filled with a shimmer as the following text appears in white block letters: “Book I: A Book by Any Other Cover”.” It fades away in a shimmer. In the absence appears the following text: “Part One.” It lingers in the center of the frame.

PAN DOWN

The dark screen fades to light grey as the “Part One” slides off the top of the screen from the camera panning

TRANSITION FROM TITLE TO THE OVERLAPPING HILLS

The dark grey shifts in tone changing to dark clouds.

CONTINUE TO PAN DOWN

EXT. THE OVERLAPPING HILLS, DAYTIME
A series of forested hills in front of a wooded snow-capped mountain slides into view. This is the Overlapping Hills, one of many realms created by the great wizard Orgle. They all share the word Overlap in their names due to how he constructed them. Orgle folded multiple different dimensions over each multiple times until a pocket dimension was formed. The Overlapping Hills are not as well known as Orgle’s other overlaps such as the Overlapping Hotel, the Overlapping Waves, or the Overlapping Trail. Yet, they do contain one of his greatest treasures: The Trilibris. It can be seen in the distance, over the hilltops and at the base of one of the mountains. Its three towers twist and flow creating a kind of hourglass hyper-dimensional shape.

SHIFT TO XLS OF THE TRILIBRIS
CUT TO LS OF THE TRILIBRIS
CUT TO MS. OF THE TRILIBRIS
CUT TO CS OF THE TRILIBRIS DOORS

TRANSITION FROM THE OVERLAP HILLS TO THE TRILIBRIS

ENTER THE BUILDING AND MOVE TO THE MAIN ROOM THROUGH A SERIES OF QUICK CUTS AND FADES

INT. THE TRILIBRIS MAIN ROOM, DAYTIME
The Main Room is a teardrop-shaped dome. The walls are covered in bookcases. Spiral staircases are scattered around the circumference. The bookcases are designed in a way that the books are stacked horizontally and vertically giving the impression of the folds in a human brain. The center of the room is a large open space filled with thick tables and chairs. The top of the dome is glass, stained a light blue, allowing natural light to illuminate the space. The bookshelves are illuminated by pendant lights within the rows. Each desk has a bulbous table lamp to illuminate in case the dome is not allowing enough light. Across from the entryway the bookcases stop. A large alcove is built into the wall. A dark wood wall decorated with gold and brass metal in long blocky snaking patterns illuminated by two torches. In the center of the alcove is a podium holding THE CODEXIAN. A very special book, it is separated from the rest of the main room by golden chains and small golden pedestals. A “Do Not Disturb” sign hangs off the chains.

CUT TO LS OF THE CODEXIAN’S ALCOVE
CUT TO MS OF THE CODEXIAN’S ALCOVE
CUT TO MS OF THE CODEXIAN

The Codexian is a thick book, with covers of a patina encrusted brass. The front cover has a vertical row of three circles made from gold wire on the binding side. The other side is a snaking angular pattern similar to the patterns on the alcove walls. The pattern snakes down to two horizontal lines across the bottom portion of the front cover.

CUT TO CS OF THE CODEXIAN

A TRIUMPHANT MYSTICAL MUSICAL SCORE plays. The score plays a few moments and then it stops with A RECORD NEEDLE SCRATCH.

PAN TO LEFT OF THE CODEXIAN.

A GREY MOUSE crawls up onto the podium. It tentatively approaches the Codexian.

CUT TO MS OF THE GREY MOUSE

The Grey Mouse sniffs along the Codexian, moving to the top corner. It starts to nibble on the edges of the pages.

THE CODEXIAN
“OWWWW!”

CUT TO MS OF THE CODEXIAN

The Round circles on the left of the cover open revealing non-organic golden eyes. The two golden lines along the bottom of the cover move as if lips or a mouth. The Grey Mouse stops chewing.

THE CODEXIAN
“Who did that?”

The Grey Mouse steps away from the Codexian

THE CODEXIAN
“Come on, I know you are there. Who is biting me!”

The Codexian’s eyes scan around the room. Ultimately they settle on the Grey Mouse.

THE CODEXIAN
“Oh, hello there. Were you the one chewing on my corners?”

The Grey Mouse blankly looks at the Codexian. It sneezes. A golden shimmer flickers in the air.

THE CODEXIAN
“Bless you.”

The Grey Mouse stands upright and nods at the Codexian.

THE CODEXIAN
(to self) “Well that’s new.” (to the Grey Mouse) “Let’s try this. Maybe what you’re truly hungry for is a story. If I tell you a story will you stop chewing on me.”

The Grey Mouse nods and then sits down.

THE CODEXIAN
(to self) “Definitely new.” (to the Grey Mouse) “I will need to open up to tell the story, so you may want to adjust your position.”

The Codexian opens and the Grey Mouse moves to the bottom of the podium top. The pages start to move, quickly moving to the middle of the book in a blur.

THE CODEXIAN
“Ahhh, here we go.”

The Codexian is open to a set of pages bordered in golden illumination but the actual area inside the border is blank.

THE CODEXIAN
“The Broken Book of Beasties.

From somewhere in the Trilibris A CHIMING TONE rings out. The blank page starts to fill with an illustration in a style that is a mix of woodcut block print and medieval illuminated scripts. A vast city fills the page.

TRANSITION FROM THE LIBRARY TO AN ILLUSTRATED STORYBOOK STORY

PAN IN ON ILLUSTRATION TO FILL THE FRAME

THE CODEXIAN
(voice-over) “Once there was a vast city filled with magic, wonder and charm.”

The illustration changes to the city in ruins with a giant burst of light exploding from the center of the city. Prismatic storm clouds fill the sky, raining storms. down on the city.

THE CODEXIAN
(voice-over) “The city of magic became a city of too much magic, as the Great Rupture ravaged the city. Magic rained down like storms. melting what was known and unknown equally.”

The illustration changes to people on hills outside the city fleeing. The city gripped in storms. can be seen in the distance.

THE CODEXIAN
(voice-over) “Those who were able fled the city. The Great Rupture lasted decades driving one group further and further from the city.”

The illustration changes to a long stretch of landscape. Hills on the right give way to grasslands, then forests, and then mountains to the right. A group of refugees appears in the hill section. Fade to the group in the grasslands section and prismatic storms in the hills. The illustration changes more with a fade to the refugees in the forests The prismatic storms now fill the hill and grassland sections. The illustration shifts again. The refugees are now in the mountains section. The prismatic storms fill the hills, grassland, and forest sections. The illustration changes one last time. The refugees are gone and the prismatic storms fill the entire page. A THUNDER BOLT CRACKS. The Codexian turns the page.

THE CODEXIAN
(voice-over) “Past landscapes that ate lives, the refugees found a place of safety, or at least which they hoped offered peace.”

The illustration area is filled with many tree branches. Colorful flowers grow along the base of the trees while animals can be seen peeking their faces out of the upper branches. The illustration changes with the trees sliding. They part in the center moving left and right. In the center of the screen sits a valley made from five rivers feeding into a lake in the center. There is a large island in the center of the lake along with a few small islands in sandbars scattered around the lake. The illustration changes again with the sun emerging in the clouds above the valley. Bright sunlight beams. across the page. The illustration changes one last time with the illustrations of the refugees moving in from the left and right side of the frame and walking down to the valley. The Codexian turns the page.

THE CODEXIAN
“Having found sanctuary, the people set about building a new home for themselves.”

The illustration is blank but then small illustrations of people enter from the left and right sides. They break off into five groups, with the fifth group in the center made from the remaining few from each group. Each group then disappears into a cloud of construction dust. CONSTRUCTION SOUNDS can be heard. Slowly simple houses emerge from the construction dust. Once a house is finished the construction dust cloud disappears and the group looks at their work. Once all five houses are completed, the people CHEER.

THE CODEXIAN
“And grow they did. It was as if some creative spirit had been unleashed.”

The small people in the illustration then go to the area behind the houses and start constructing again. Rows of houses emerge from the dust. Once a house is finished, each group builds another behind it. Soon the houses recede into the distance. The construction dust finishes and the houses sit. The sun sets and the people go into their homes. The stars come out and then dawn breaks. Small people exit their houses and do daily chores. The sun rises and sets. Everyone goes back to bed. The day/night cycle speeds up to a blur until sixty days have passed. Time returns to its regular speed on the sixtieth day. The illustration shifts zooming in on a house in the background. A lady leaves at sunrise and walks two houses down to a bakery. She enters the shop and starts baking. Smoke starts to emerge from the bakery’s chimney. As the sun rises to mid-morning, the sign in the window changes from closed to open. The illustration changes to looking in through the window of the bakery. The Baker stands at the counter.

THE CODEXIAN
“And while everyone else was moving forward, one person was stuck looking back. Little did anyone realize she would change the direction of everyone’s life.”

The illustration changes to the baker at the counter. She has a sad far away look in her eyes.

ZOOM IN ON THE BAKER’S FORLORN EXPRESSION

FADE OUT

The Great Works Project: Season Seven, Episode Four” by Thomas Typewriter – a new script

Uncategorized

———–<.thom.>———–

THE GREAT WORKS PROJECT

a puppet play in many parts

Season 07, Episode 04

By Thomas Typewriter

FADE IN TO BLACK

From the center bottom of the frame scrolls up the following text: “07-04”. It scrolls up to the center of the frame, pauses, then continues scrolling. It exits the frame in the top center. Across the dark screen drifts the sound of TYPEWRITER KEYS CLICK CLACKING.

FADE OUT
FADE IN

TYPEWRITER ABSTRACT PUPPET STAGE, ANYTIME

Fade in to the TYPEWRITER ABSTRACT PUPPET STAGE getting ready to present a new episode.

MS OF THE TYPEWRITER PUPPET STAGE

The Typewriter Abstract Puppet Stage’s main curtain slowly opens.

PAN IN TO PROPERLY FRAME THE MID-STAGE

MID-STAGE: CURTAINS CLOSED
The stage lights turn on with the sound of A LIGHT SWITCH CLICKING ON revealing…

MID-STAGE: INT. SLICE O’PIE RESTAURANT, EVENING
Three booths run across the stage left to right. Along the back of the stage is a soft pastel colored wooden panel wall. Various size photos of fruits, vegetables, and slices of pie hang on the wall. One frame in particular has a still from the Patterson Bigfoot footage. The photo has been altered so that Bigfoot is holding a slice of pie. The booths are currently empty. From stage-right enters THE HOSTESS followed by THOMAS TYPEWRITER and OPHIDIA OPERA HOUSE. The Hostess is carrying two menus. She gestures to the middle booth.

THE HOSTESS
“Here is your booth.”

Thomas Typewriter sits on one side while OPHIDIA sits on the other. The Hostess hands both menus to Thomas who then passes one to Ophidia .

THE HOSTESS
“Your server will be with you shortly.”

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“Thank you.”

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
(avoiding direct eye contact with the Hostess) “Yes, thank you.”

THE HOSTESS
“You’re welcome.”

The Hostess exits stage-right.

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“Been a long time since I’ve been to a Slice O’Pie.”

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
(Jokingly) “Bad memories, eh.”

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“Something like that.”

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“Oh! I was only kidding. I am so sorry. We can always leave if it is too much. We don’t have to eat here.”

Thomas looks around taking a deep breath.

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“No, no. Today is your day, your celebration. I’ll be fine.”

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“Good, cause I really want some pie.”

Thomas Typewriter opens his menu.

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“So what are you going to order?”

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“I don’t know. There are so many choices.”

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“Take all the time you need. I am just glad to be here with you.”

Thomas reaches across the table and grips Ophidia’s hand. She squeezes it in return. They release their hands and return to reading the menus.

TRANSITION FROM MID-STAGE TO HIGH-STAGE.

THE CAMERA DETACHES FROM THE MID-STAGE AND PANS UPWARD. IT GLIDES OVER THE MID-STAGE SETS, ACROSS THE CURTAIN OF CLOUDS LINING THE BACK OF MID-STAGE AND UP TO THE HIGH-STAGE. IT STOPS WHEN PROPERLY FRAMING HIGH-STAGE.

HIGH-STAGE: CURTAINS CLOSED
The High-Stage curtains open. The stage lights turn on to the sound of A COMPUTER BOOTING ON revealing…

HIGH-STAGE: INT. OBSERVATION DECK OF THE FLUTE MEDICALSHIP, MORNING
A large curved window lines the back of the stage. Through it we can see outside the ship to space, the twinkling of sparks drifts by. In the distance, some of the lights from the nine bio-habitat Hills, and even glimmers from the tops of the multi-fold towers of the Palace of Stars, can be seen. In the distance the twinkle of the two torches of the dual door entrances to The Mounds. The room itself is decorated in deep reds and oranges. A variety of musical instruments, microphones, amps and speakers are spread out across the open area of the Observation lounge. From stage-left to stage-right there are: A set of keyboards, a drum kit, a microphone with a bass guitar, a microphone and trumpet in a stand, and lastly ELDER GRIM tuning up his upright bass. LUCIDO OBSIDIAN, in a Medi-pod, enters from stage-right.

LUCIDO OBSIDIAN
“Morning.”

ELDER GRIM
“Morning.”

Lucido rolls over to the front most microphone stand and starts putting on the bass guitar. CARRO, in a Medi-pod, rolls in from stage-left.

CARRO
“Morning gentlemen.”

LUCID OBSIDIAN
“Morning.”

ELDER GRIM
“Morning.”

Carro rolls over to the keyboards. They start to turn on the keyboards and testing the notes, making adjustments as they go along. Lucido is struggling with his guitar. Elder sets his upright bass in its stand and walks over to help. As he holds up the guitar for Lucido to grip, MINTHRIL MOUSTACHE rolls in from the stage-right in his wheelchair.

MINTHRIL MOUSTACHE
“Morning gentlemen. Ready to blow the cobwebs off this place.”

They grunt yes, most of their concentration focused on preparing their instruments. Minthril rolls over to the stage-right. He picks up his trumpet and starts getting it ready. CEDAR WAXWINGS, in his Medi-Pod, and PANACEA FLAUTO enter from stage-right. They are holding hands.

MINTHRIL MOUSTACHE
“The lovebirds have arrived. Glad you could join us Cedar.”

CEDAR WAXWINGS
“Morning everyone.”

PANACIA FLAUTO
“Morning everyone. Is it okay if I sit and listen.”

LUCIDO OBSIDIAN
“I’m fine with that.”

ELDER GRIM
“Sure.”

MINTHRIL MOUSTACHE
“Sure.”

CARRO
“Fine with me.”

Cedar rolls to behind the drum kit. Having finished helping Lucido put on his guitar, Elder returns to his upright bass.

LUCIDO OBSIDIAN
“Everyone ready.”

CARRO
“Ready.”

MINTHRIL MOUSTACHE
“Ready.”

ELDER GRIM
“Ready.”

CEDAR WAXWINGS
“Ready.”

LUCIDO OBSIDIAN
“Cedar, count it down.”

CEDAR WAXWINGS
“Okay everyone lets do this. (starts hitting drumsticks together) A ONE. A ONE TWO. A ONE TWO THREE!

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 UNCOUPLES FROM HIGH-STAGE AND PANS DOWNWARD. IT DESCENDS ONTO THE CURTAIN OF CLOUDS BELOW THE HIGH-STAGE. IT GLIDES DOWN AND DOWN. SOON THE TOPS OF THE MID-STAGE SETS ROLL UP FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE FRAME. THE CAMERA CONTINUES PANNING DOWNWARD UNTIL PROPERLY FRAMING THE MID-STAGE.

MID-STAGE: INT. SLICE O’PIE RESTAURANT, EVENING
Three booths run across the stage left to right. Along the back of the stage is a soft pastel colored wooden panel wall. Various size photos of fruits, vegetables, and slices of pie hang on the wall. One frame in particular has a still from the Patterson Bigfoot footage. The photo has been altered so that Bigfoot is holding a slice of pie. OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE sits to one side of the center booth. THOMAS TYPEWRITER sits on the opposite side of the central booth. The two other booths are currently unoccupied.

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“Really, years?”

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“Yup. Years since I have been in a Slice O’Pie, eaten here. How about you?”

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“I tried to take a break after waitressing.”

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“What do you mean by tried?”

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“My mom loves this place. It is her ideal idea of casual fast food, so I kept getting dragged back.”

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“Sure it is casual, but is not exactly fast.”

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“Well, she went to a lot of tea rooms growing up, so figure what you will. Something I recall about this place, and I don’t know if it was the same where you grew up, but when I was a teenager, this was the hangout spot.”

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“Oh yeah. Same where I grew up. It had two qualities a certain group of teens desired: open 24 hours and allowed smoking. All the quote-unquote interesting kids flocked there.”

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“I know those kids.”

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“I bet you were one of those kids.”

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“Me? If anyone here was one of those kids, it was you.”

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“Well, maybe. More likely interesting adjacent.”

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“Hah.”

Ophidia takes a few bites of her food. Thomas picks up his sandwich and takes small bites. He finishes chewing and looks over at Ophidia as he sips from his straw. His face lights up as he stares at Ophidia. She notices and becomes self-conscious.

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“What?”

Thomas wiggles his eyebrows. Ophidia giggles.

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“Interesting adjacent my butt.”

Thomas wiggles his eyebrows some more. Ophidia giggles. He sits back up and starts to eat his sandwich. Ophidia, beaming, cuts a bite of sirloin and takes a bite. They continue eating, happy in each other’s presence. The Mid-Stage stage-lights turn off to the sound of A LIGHT SWITCH CLICKING OFF. The Mid-Stage curtains close.

FADE-OUT

The Great Works Project: Season 07, Episode 03 by Thomas Typewriter – a new script

scripts, The Great Works Project scripts

———–<.thom.>———–

THE GREAT WORKS PROJECT

a puppet play in many parts

Season 07, Episode 03

By Thomas Typewriter

FADE IN TO BLACK

From the center bottom of the frame scrolls up the following text: “07-03”. It scrolls up to the center of the frame, pauses, then continues scrolling. It exits the frame in the top center. Across the dark screen drifts the sound of TYPEWRITER KEYS CLICK CLACKING.

FADE OUT
FADE IN

TYPEWRITER ABSTRACT PUPPET STAGE, ANYTIME

FADE IN TO THE TYPEWRITER ABSTRACT PUPPET STAGE GETTING READY TO PRESENT A NEW EPISODE.

MS OF THE TYPEWRITER PUPPET STAGE

The Typewriter Abstract Puppet Stage’s main curtain slowly opens.

PAN IN TO PROPERLY FRAME THE MID-STAGE

MID-STAGE: CURTAINS CLOSED
The stage lights turn on with the sound of A LIGHT SWITCH CLICKING ON revealing…

MID-STAGE: INT. TWIGTOWN CHURCH OF THE GOOD FAITH CHAPEL, EVENING.
Along the back of the stage runs a wooden panel wall. The overall design is minimal. A large wooden cross is mounted in the center of the wall. The cross is not attached directly to the wall, but out from the wall by way of metal rods. This is to allow lights installed on the back of the cross to create a halo-like illumination on the wall behind the cross. The remainder of the stage is decorated with six sets of wooden pews. Three on stage left and three on stage right leaving a small aisle in the center. The pews are orientated facing towards the cross. There is a soft lighting in the room, with the brightest light coming from the lights on the back of cross. THOMAS TEENAGER, dressed in a boy scout uniform, enters from stage-left and sits in the second row of pews, near the aisle. He looks up at the cross in silent contemplation for a few moments before letting out a SOB.

TRANSITION FROM MID-STAGE TO HIGH-STAGE

THE CAMERA DETACHES FROM FRAMING MID-STAGE AND PANS UPWARD. IT GLIDES OVER THE TOP OF THE MID-STAGE SETS. IT CONTINUES UPWARD MOVING ONTO AND OVER THE CURTAIN OF CLOUDS LINING THE BACK OF THE MID-STAGE. IT PANS HIGHER AND HIGHER. AT THE TOP OF THE CURTAIN OF CLOUDS IT REACHES THE HIGH-STAGE. THE CAMERA LOCKS IN TO PROPERLY FRAMING THE HIGH-STAGE.

HIGH-STAGE: CURTAINS CLOSED
The High-Stage curtains part and the stage lights turn on to the sound of A COMPUTER BOOTING ON revealing…

HIGH-STAGE: INT. OBSERVATION DECK OF THE FLUTE MEDICALSHIP, MORNING
A large curved window lines the back of the stage. Through it we can see outside the ship to space, the twinkling of sparks drifts by. In the distance, some of the lights from the nine bio-habitat Hills, and even glimmers from the tops of the multi-fold towers of the Palace of Stars, can be seen. In the distance the twinkle of the two torches of the dual door entrances to The Mounds. The room itself is decorated in deep reds and oranges. The lounge has a circular shape. ELDER GRIM enters from stage-right pushing a stack of amphora-crates on a wheeled dolly. He rolls them to the side. He exits and returns with a new stack. Ultimately he rolls five amorphous-crates into the lounge. He leaves and returns then rolls a taller stack of speakers, amps, and sound equipment. In his mouth, he is holding a paper bag while in his left hand he holds a coffee cup. Rolling the sound equipment to the back far corner, he reaches up and takes the paper bag out of his mouth. Sitting down near the window, Elder opens the paper bag. He pulls out a bagel and lox with extra dill. Slowly eating the bagel and sipping the coffee, Elder takes the opportunity to look out the window.

ELDER GRIM
“Reassuring to see the world still has moments of wonder.”

Elder finishes his coffee and bagel. He stands, picks up his trash, and moves off-frame to throw it away. He returns and moves to the amorpha-crate closest to the front of the stage. He opens it and starts to remove the contents, which consist of a guitar stand and a skeletal bass guitar. As he sets up the stand and guitar, 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 DETACHES FROM FRAMING HIGH-STAGE AND PANS DOWNWARD. IT MOVES ONTO THE CURTAIN OF CLOUDS. GLIDING DOWNWARD ACROSS IT, SOON THE TOPS OF THE MID-STAGE CURTAINS COME INTO VIEW. THE CAMERA CONTINUES PANNING DOWNWARD OVER THE MID-STAGE SETS UNTIL PROPERLY FRAMING THE MID-STAGE.

MID-STAGE: INT. TWIGTOWN CHURCH OF THE GOOD FAITH CHAPEL, EVENING.
THOMAS TEENAGER sits in a middle pew near the aisle, softly sobbing. He looks up to the illuminated cross.

THOMAS TEENAGER
“Hello God. I hope you’re listening. Other people tell me you are. They say to me if you have a problem, turn it over to God. Goodness, what does that even mean. I think I have a problem, but how do I turn it over to you when I am the problem. I am broken structurally, something is wrong with me. I keep making mistakes and can not stop. Disappointing everyone around me, everyone who cares. My parents. I got into another argument with them. I don’t mean to upset them but I do. Not on purpose. But eventually I will forget something or screw up. It seems to be happening more lately. The forgetting. The arguments. It hurts so much to see the disappointment in their faces. The anger. Physical pain, like knives in my throat. They say they are trying to help me reach my potential. My teachers talk about my potential. Everyone has a comment on how much I am not living up to it. Yet no one has any answer about how I can live up this supposed potential. What am I suppose to do. No one knows. I thought I was a nice person. Why isn’t that enough. God, if you are there, please tell me why. Why do I hurt? Why do I keep making mistakes? Why am I not good enough?”

Thomas starts to cry but swallows it down. He sits in silence for a few moments. A voice beckons from off-stage.

SCOUT
(off-stage) “Hey Thomas, you coming. Glen is about to cut his cake.”

Thomas hastily wipes his eyes.

THOMAS TEENAGER
“Yeah, I’ll be right there.”

He stands and exits stage-left. The stage-lights, and cross lights, turn off to the sound of A LIGHT SWITCH CLICKING OFF. The Mid-Stage curtains close.

FADE-OUT

“The Great Works Project: Season Six, Episode Thirteen” by Thomas Typewriter – a new script

scripts, The Great Works Project scripts

———–<.thom.>———–

THE GREAT WORKS PROJECT

a puppet play in many parts

Season 06, Episode 13

an epilogue

By Thomas Typewriter

———–<:type:>———–

FADE IN

From the bottom of the screen scrolls up the following text: “06-13”. It moves upwards, pausing a moment in the center of the frame, then continues upward, exiting the frame at the top edge. A second set of scripts follows. From the bottom of the screen scrolls up the following text: “an epilogue”. It moves upwards, pausing a moment in the center of the frame, then continues upward, exiting the frame at the top edge. A third set of script scrolls up once the second has left the screen. From the bottom of the screen scrolls up the following text: “The Keys to Sadness”. 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

EXT. THE DOWNHILL, MORNING
The Downhill is the region just past the Hilltop. A traveler through these realms will usually appear in the Sand Dunes, walk to the Hilltop across a landscape that shifts from sand to scrub. They will encounter the Ghostly in the forested area of the Hilltop. Continuing along the trail, they will emerge from the forested Hilltop to a more open gentle downward slope, the Downhill, on their way to the mixed grassland and prairie of The Flatland.

LS OF THE DOWNHILL

THOMAS TYPEWRITER emerges from the forest and works his way down the slope. He follows the trail to a point where it splits. A signpost stands at the split. It is a tall pole covered in a colorful collection of Morning Glories. There are two signs on the post, each pointing down a different trail. One sign has the following text: “THISville”. The other has the following text: “THATville”. The region between the two diverging paths is a prairie grassland filled with many tall grasses and colorful wild flowers.

VARIOUS SHOTS OF THOMAS WALKING DOWN THE TRAIL AND APPROACHING THE SIGN.

MS OF THOMAS LOOKING AT THE SIGN

Thomas stops and looks at the signs.

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“Thisville or Thatville? Thisville? Thatville? Not really a lot to go on there.”

CUT TO CS OF EACH INDIVIDUAL SIGN AND THEN PANNING TO LOOK DOWN THE TRAIL.

Down the THISville trail is a city in the distance filled with many tall white-ish buildings against a background of dark smoke and clouds. The many buildings seem to be built with outlines of golden light. Glittering shapes can be slighly seen moving through the skies over THISville. Down the THATville trail in the distance is many tall dark colored buildings against a backdrop of greyish white smoke and clouds. The buildings are filled with windows illuminated by harsh flourescent lighting. Glittering shapes can also be seen flittering over the skies here also.

CUT BACK

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“Which way do I go. She was not very short on details when it came to which was which. One way looks to be cheerful buildings but the sky is so dark and ominous. The other way has a bright sky but those buildings look so harsh. Is either way better than the other? Do I go that way or the other?”

Thomas looks back and forth down the trails.

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“This is so my luck. I find some clue and guide on what to do next and but it turns out it wasn’t enough. Why does this keep happening to me. (pauses) Deep breath. Panicking and self-pity will get me no closer. Okay, take stock of what is known, then act. (A little drawn out as he is thinking out loud) I know there are two paths. Additionally that ghostly lady said there were two different cities ahead. She also said I needed to choose carefully. Yet, did she really offer any insight into which city was a better choice. She claimed she did, but I don’t know. Is this even a choice I should be making. Am I suppose to be on some mystical otherworldly vision trip to discover a deeper meaning to my life or another one of those deep dreams I get every week?”

Thomas Typewriter sits down.

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“I’ll just sit here till I figure this out. (to self) Okay so you follow the trail, meet the lady, get told there are two paths and then have to choose a path. The path splits to two choices. A bright-dark city or a dark-bright city. It is just so binary. I hate being forced to choose. Yet…do I have to? Is it really only two choices or have I just limited my view. Forwards is backwards. There are no fences or walls, so in theory I could go any direction.”

Thomas looks around.

CUT TO MONTAGE OF WILDFLOWERS AND GRASS. SEE BIRDS AND INSECTS.

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
(voice-over) “This place is so peaceful. Reminds me of the hay fields where I grew up.”

Thomas’s breathing slows. He extends his breathe in and extends his breathing out. He settles into a four count in, pause, four count out, pause, repeat rhythm.

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“I know what I am going to do. Instead of walking one of the two paths, I am going to keep walking forward.”
Thomas leaves the trail and starts walking through the grasses and prairie. Butterflies, Dragonflies, Moths and Lacewings buzz around him. Songbirds flitter through the air over him. Thomas smiles at all the beauty around him.

MONTAGE OF THOMAS WALKING THROUGH THE PRAIRIE BETWEEN THE TWO PATHS.

As Thomas walks he the grasses are getting higher and higher. They are ankle high at the start but soon they are shown up to his rib cage. He is actually sweating from the exertion to move through the thicker parts of the prairie.

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“Really starting to doubt my choice here. This is hard.”

In front of Thomas is a glitter of metal in the grasses. Thomas stops and looks down, parting the grass.

CUT TO CS OF AN OLD KEY IN THE SOIL.

Thomas picks up the key and starts to clean it off.

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“What is this doing here? What’s your story?”

Thomas sinks into the grass and down into the soil. He is too focused on the key, turning it over and over, to notice the sinking.

PAN DOWN FOLLOWING THOMAS WHILE ALSO ZOOMING IN ON THE KEY.

In the soil we see Thomas drift one way and the key drifts out of his hand.

PAN DOWN FOLLOWING THE KEY AS IT SINKS

The key sinks through the soil. The dirt grows darker and darker transitioning to a black field.

PAN STOPS

The key falls through the darkness exiting through the bottom of the frame.

CUT TO A SERIES OF CLOSE SHOTS OF THE KEY TUMBLING THROUGH DARKNESS

TRANSITION TO THE LOW-STAGE

THE LOW-STAGE: EXT. THE WIDE WATERS OF THE CIRCULAR RIVER, NIGHT
The Low-Stage is initially dark. A crescent moon rises. It’s soft light illuminates a small sailboat, THE MONUMENT, on the wide section of the CIRCULAR RIVER. The figure of WILLIAM SCOTT FRANCIS KEYES falls in from above the frame landing in the boat. The boat rocks from the vibration, soon settling back into the gentle quiet rhythm of the waves. The title card or title graphic appears superimposed over the scene. It reads “THE KEYS OF SADNESS”. It fades away. The moon sets and the sun rises. As the sun fully crests the horizon, William wakes. He can be seen sitting up in the boat, stretching, and reaching for the rudder. William raises the sail, secures the line. First he secures the rudder. The sail billows, capturing wind. The boat sails exiting stage-left.

CUT TO MS OF WILLIAM SAILING THE BOAT.

CUT TO LS

The Monument sails in from stage-left, sails across the frame, and exits stage-right.

PAN TO THE LEFT SIDE PANEL

The left paneling on the Low-Stage slides open. Inside is a smaller stage displaying the Circular River in the past. From stage-left enters a small sailboat, THE MOMENT, piloted by GRANDPA KEYES. YOUNG WILLIAM sits next to him.

LS OF THE MOMENT MOVING ACROSS THE WATER.

CUT TO MS OF WILLIAM AND GRANDPA

YOUNG WILLIAM
“Grandpa?”

GRANDPA KEYES
“Yes.”

YOUNG WILLIAM
“Thank you for taking me sailing with you.”

GRANDPA KEYES
“My pleasure.”

YOUNG WILLIAM
“Grandpa?”

GRANDPA KEYES
“Somebody was bit by the question bug this morning.”

YOUNG WILLIAM
“Sorry.”

GRANDPA KEYES
“No, I didn’t mean it that way. Go ahead and ask your question.”

YOUNG WILLIAM
“Okay. How do you know where to go? Isn’t it confusing?”

Grandpa Keyes looks away from the horizon and down at Young William.

GRANDPA KEYES
“Here, hold this please.”

Young William takes hold of the rudder. Grandpa Keys then reaches to the box and grabs out a map.

GRANDPA KEYES
“The first step is a map. Know the symbols and you will never be lost. Anyone shown you how to read a map?”

YOUNG WILLIAM
“No.”

GRANDPA KEYES
“You want to learn?”

YOUNG WILLIAM
“Yes.”

GRANDPA KEYES
“Okay. Okay, the first thing we want to look for is landmarks. Then we want to find the rose, or north point, to orientate.”

PAN BACK FROM LEFT SIDE PANEL TO THE LOW-STAGE

The Monument sails into the frame from stage-left. William Francis Scott Keyes is consulting a map. He alternates between scanning the horizon and scanning the map, gently nudging the rudder to course-correct as he goes. When the Monument reaches the center of the frame, the wind dies down. The sails deflate and the boat comes to a stop in the center of the frame. The sky darkens and the stage lighting takes on a grayish color.

PAN TO THE STAGE-RIGHT.

The Right Side Panel slides open. It is filled with a dark void. Down floats THOMAS TYPEWRITER. He hovers in the darkness looking at what is occurring on the LOW-STAGE and LEFT SIDE PANEL.

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
(voice-over) “Is this a vision?”

PAN BACK TO LOW-STAGE

A light rain advances across the stage. A gust of wind hits the sails pushing them. William reaches to steady them, but lets the map slip. It flutters off exiting the frame stage-left.

PAN STAGE-LEFT FOLLOWING THE MAP AS IT BLOWS OUT OF THE CENTER LOW-STAGE AND INTO THE LEFT SIDE PANEL.

FRAME IN ON THE LEFT-SIDE PANEL

In the left-side panel, Grandpa Keyes is still sailing with Young William Keyes in the Moment.

CUT TO MS OF GRANDPA KEYES AND YOUNG WILLIAM

GRANDPA KEYES
“Now, the map is a starting point. It can get you were you need, but it relies on your observations. Can you match the symbols to the landscape around you? Not always so easy. To help us we have the second tool, and possibly one of the most important, the compass.

YOUNG WILLIAM
“I thought the compass was on the map?”

GRANDPA KEYES
“Yes, there is a compass on the map, but I am talking about a physical compass. The compass on the map only tells you where North is relative to the landmarks on the map. A physical compass always points north, and through that you can figure out or set your heading.

YOUNG WILLIAM
“How does it work?”

CUT TO CS OF THE COMPASS IN GRANDPA KEYES HANDS

GRANDPA KEYES
(voice-over) “First you hold it flat and let the needle settle pointing north…” (voice over trails off)

PAN FROM SIDE-PANEL BACK TO LOW-STAGE

Go back to the Monument sailing into some rain. William is tying off the sail when we return. A light rain falls down on him. He puts on a raincoat and reaches into a dry box for his compass.

INSERT CS OF THE COMPASS.

WILLIAM FRANCIS SCOTT KEYES
(voice-over) “Like Grandpa showed us. Hold level. Let the needle settle. Remember the compass wants to help us find our way, it just needs our help.

William grips the center ring of the compass with a finger tip resting on North-East.

WILLIAM FRANCIS SCOTT KEYES
(voice-over) “Let it know where home is. I was heading North-East before I lost the map, so that is home little friend.”

William rotates the compass ring until North-East lines up with the north facing end of the compass needle.

WILLIAM FRANCIS SCOTT KEYES
“Now let the compass show you the way.

He then turns his hand until the North facing point of the needle lines back up with north.

CUT BACK TO MS OF WILLIAM

WILLIAM FRANCIS SCOTT KEYES
(pointing) “That way.”

He loosens the sail line a short bit and grabs the tiller. He does all this with one hand since the other is holding the compass.

CUT TO LS OF THE MONUMENT

The boat slowly changes direction in the rain. Lightning starts flashing in the distance. As the boat sails, the lighting grows closer. THUNDER can be heard. The first rumble is far off. The second strikes closer. The third boom is close, with little gap between lighting and thunder. A lightning bolt hits the water next to the Monument.

CUT TO MS OF WILLIAM

William throws up his hands to shield his face from the light. THE THUNDER detonates, rocking him back into his seat. His arm with the compass flies up, the compass slipping from his grip.

CUT TO CS OF THE COMPASS. FOLLOW IT.

It arcs through the air landing in the water, quickly sinking below the waves.

CUT BACK TO LS OF THE MONUMENT

The Monument floats in the water. There is a burn mark on the side nearest the lightning strike. Luckily, the boat was only singed and not on fire. William is lying back on the floor of the boat recovering from the intense flash of light and loud noise.

PAN OVER FROM LOW-STAGE TO THE LEFT SIDE-PANEL

LS OF THE MOMENT SAILING THE CIRCULAR RIVER

CUT TO MS OF GRANDPA KEYES AND YOUNG WILLIAM

Young William is holding the compass while Grandpa Keyes is navigating the boat.

GRANDPA KEYES
“There you go, you’re getting it. (pause) Now, at some points in your life, you’ll find yourself without a map or a compass or any tools.”

YOUNG WILLIAM
“Then what.”

GRANDPA KEYES
“You do like your ancestors and use the stars.”

YOUNG WILLIAM
“How so.”

GRANDPA KEYES
“There are patterns in this world, and if you know how to read them, you can get a sense of where you’ve been, where you are and just possibly where your going. When we are sailing, the stars are an alternate guide we can use.”

YOUNG WILLIAM
“They are patterns?”

GRANDPA KEYES
“We can see patterns in them, yes, and use those patterns to help us. It is too bright to see all of them right now, but the starting point star we can make out during the day. Tonight, when we get back home, I’ll take you out to the backyard and show you the constellations. But for now, let’s focus on the North Star.”

YOUNG WILLIAM
“Does it point north?”

GRANDPA KEYES
“It is always in the north, and bright enough to see during the afternoon and evening. Why don’t you use your compass to find north, and then see if you can spot it.”

Young William looks and uses the compass. Finding the north direction, he looks up and starts to scan the horizon.

CUT TO LS OF THE MOMENT

The Moment sails out of the frame, exiting stage-left.

PAN FROM THE LEFT-SIDE PANEL TO THE LOW STAGE

Night has fallen and there is a break in the storm clouds. The sky is filled with stars. William Francis Scott Keyes comes to and gets up. He rubs his head and looks around, checking on the state of the boat. Deeming it still sea-worthy, he sits at the back. He places his hand on the rudder, but hesitates to move it. He looks around trying to remember which way he was previously headed. He can not recall.

WILLIAM FRANCIS SCOTT KEYES
“Okay. Look for the patterns and you might be able to tell where your headed. First find the North star.”

William scans the sky, finally locating the North Star.

WILLIAM FRANCIS SCOTT KEYES
“There it is. Okay, Mama Bear is leading Baby Bear north except the Dragon crawls between them to the west. There, Baby Bear and Mama Bear. Between them is the Dragon. And if his head is over there, and he is heading west, then east is the other way. That means North-East is that way.”

William points and moves the rudder.

CUT TO LS OF THE MONUMENT

The Monument slowly corrects course as it sails out of frame, exiting stage-left.

CUT TO LS OF THE CIRCULAR RIVER FURTHER ALONG

It sails back into the frame further down the vast Circular River. The night sky has a gap in the storm clouds allowing the stars to be seen shining in the sky. The approaching storm clouds are significantly darker than the receding storm clouds. A heavy storm approaches.

LS OF THE MOMUMENT. PAN WITH THE MONUMENT SO AS IT STAYS IN THE CENTER OF THE FRAME.

The heavy storm rolls across the stage. Heavy rains batter the boat while strong winds push at the sails. William Francis Scott Keyes struggles to pull in the sails and secure the lines. The water becomes choppier. The storm pushes waves of increasing size against the boat.

CUT TO MS OF WILLIAM FRANCIS SCOTT KEYES

William is struggling to secure the gear but the waves are cresting over the side of the boat knocking him back and forth. He finally gives up and grabs onto the seat.

CUT TO CS OF WILLIAM FRANCIS SCOTT KEYES’ FACE

William closes his eyes and grips tight.

WILLIAM FRANCIS SCOTT KEYES
(to self) “Hold on.”

PAN OVER TO THE LEFT SIDE-PANEL

LS OF THE CIRCULAR RIVER IN THE PAST

The Moment sails in from stage-right. Young William is looking ahead, while Grandpa Keyes is at the rudder.

GRANDPA KEYES
“There is one last thing to discuss if you want to learn how to sail.”

WILLIAM KEYES
“Does it apply to life as much as sailing.”

GRANDPA KEYES
“Everything in sailing applies to life, but yes this most definitely does.”

YOUNG WILLIAM
“What is it then?”

GRANDPA KEYES
“Here it is: Hold on.”

YOUNG WILLIAM
“That’s it?”

GRANDPA KEYES
“That’s it.”

YOUNG WILLIAM
(looks at Grandpa for a moment) “Is this a joke?”

GRANDPA KEYES
“No, I am serious.”

YOUNG WILLIAM
“I don’t get it. When would I need to do that?”

GRANDPA KEYES
“Oh, you’d be surprised. Sometimes, in spite of all your preparedness, all your skill, you end up in trouble. And when that happens, the only thing you can do is grab hold of something and endure until the trouble passes.”

YOUNG WILLIAM
“Oh. Okay.”

GRANDPA KEYES
“But it is also hold on to the good moments in your life. Memories of time with loved ones, memories of success, memories of forgiveness, moments of kindness, connection. A good memory can keep up your strength while you hold on, while you waiting out the storm.”

YOUNG WILLIAM
“What do you think of Grandpa?”

GRANDPA KEYES
“Your Grandma.”

YOUNG WILLIAM
“Really.”

GRANDPA KEYES
“Absolutely. I think back to when we were kids and I remember her laugh. It was a great laugh. Her whole face filled with joy. I also think about how even though I was not the nicest to her, she still took a chance on me. If she, a person who could be filled, beaming, with joy and good saw something good in me, maybe I can believe there is.”

YOUNG WILLIAM
“That’s pretty cool Grandpa.”

They sail in silence for a few moments.

YOUNG WILLIAM
“If it is alright with you, I think I’d like to remember this. Our time together.”

Grandpa Keyes reaches over and puts a hand on Young William’s shoulder. He squeezes it then lets go.

PAN OUT SO AS BOTH THE LOW-STAGE, THE LEFT SIDE-PANEL, AND THE RIGHT SIDE-PANEL ARE VISIBLE.

In the left Side-Panel, The Moment lazily sails down the Circular River. In the Low-Stage, the Monument struggles in the storm. The rain stops and the waves sink. The water grows calm. Meanwhile over in the Right Side-Panel, Thomas Typewriter floats in a void watching the events unfolding in the Low-Stage and the Left Side-Panel. Back in the Low-Stage, William Francis Scott Keyes sits up. He takes a moment to look around and see the storm has passed. He cheers in triumph at having survived the storm. He reaches under the bench and pulls out a bucket. He starts to scoop out the water in the boat. In the left Sid-Panel, Young William hears William Francis Scott Keyes shout and looks at him bailing out water. He leans over and says something to his grandfather. Grandpa Keyes nods in agreement. He then hands the map to Young William who folds the map into a boat shape. When finished, Grandpa Keyes hands him the compass. He puts it into the boat and leans over the side of the boat supported by Grandpa Keyes. The paper boat bobs on top of the water. Young William gives it a gentle push and it sails towards the Low-Stage, exiting the Left Side-Panel. Young William and Grandpa Keyes return to their seats. The Moment sails out of frame and the Left Side-Panel closes.

PAN AWAY FROM THE LEFT SIDE-PANEL, SO AS TO FRAME JUST THE LOW-STAGE AND THE RIGHT SIDE-PANEL.

In the Low-Stage, William Francis Scott Keyes continues to bail out the boat. From the side of the frame closest to the Left Side-Panel drifts in the boat made from the folded map. The paper boat bumps into the Monument. William sees it as he dumps a bucket of water. He leans over and retrieves the little boat. He takes out the compass and sets it down near the rudder. He then unfolds the map and looks around the horizon. He sits down at the rudder and turns the boat. It sails out of frame. The curtains on the Low-Stage close.

PAN OVER TO FRAME ONLY THE RIGHT SIDE-PANEL.

Thomas Typewriter floating in the void, drifts up and out of view of the Right Side-Panel.

PAN OUT TO SHOW ALL OF LOW-STAGE AND THE TWO SIDE-PANELS

The lights illuminating the Low-Stage and Side-Panels dim and flicker turning off.

FADE OUT.

today in the studio: July 9th, 2025

today in the studio

“The Great Works Project: Season Six, Episode Nine” by Thomas Typewriter – a new script

scripts, The Great Works Project scripts

———–<.thom.>———–

THE GREAT WORKS PROJECT

a puppet play in many parts

Season 6, Episode 9

by Thomas Typewriter

———–<:type:>———–

FADE IN

From the center of a blank screen scrolls upward rapidly the following text: “06-09”. It enters from the bottom of the frame and moves up, pausing in the center before continuing upward. It exits through the top of the frame.

FADE OUT
FADE IN

GRIGIO COLORI
(voice-over) “Fade-in to exterior of the Unroom Not.Seven. Long shot of the revolving door to the unroom Not Dot Seven.”

FADE IN

EXT. UNROOM NOT.SEVEN’S REVOLVING DOORWAY, TWIXTLIGHT

LS OF THE REVOLVING DOOR

The revolving door entryway to the Unroom Not.Seven sits center. The wall it is built into is not visible, giving the doorway the illusion of free standing. A bright round globe is attached to the invisible wall above the revolving door. The door itself is a cross shaped revolving door, made from two lines crossing at ninety-degree angles on a central round pipe. There are four sections in the door allowing up to four people to use the door at one time. Each section is glass panel with a horizontal hand hold or push bar mid-center. Above the push bar painted on the glass is the following symbol: “ .7 ”. The bottom of each interior glass panel has a rubber skirt. Semi-circular glass enclosures wing out from either side of the doorway. There is enough space between them to allow one person using the doorway to exit or enter at a time.

GRIGIO COLORI
(voice-over) “Pan inward from outside the Unroom to inside to the Typewriter Abstract Puppet Stage through a series of cuts.”

The sound of TYPEWRITER KEYS CLICK CLACKING drifts through the doorway.

TRANSITION FROM THE DOORWAY TO THE TYPEWRITER ABSTRACT PUPPET STAGE

PAN IN TOWARDS THE DOORWAY AND THEN INTO THE UNROOM NOT.SEVEN THROUGH A SERIES OF CUTS. EACH CUT IS ACCOMPANIED BY THE SOFT SOUND OF A PIECE OF PAPER BEING DRAGGED ACROSS ANOTHER.

INT. UNROOM NOT.SEVEN, TWIXTLIGHT
The unroom Not.Seven is a room of indeterminable size. In front of the doorway are semi-circular rows of grey carpet squares. They radiate out from a wooden disc sitting near a possible center of the space. The TYPEWRITER ABSTRACT PUPPET STAGE sits on the wooden disc, facing towards the grey carpet squares. The entire scene is softly illuminated by spindly metallic lamps at the end of the rows. The lamp’s cords snake off into the distance, of which you wonder the distance.

LS OF THE UNROOM FROM JUST INSIDE THE DOORWAY

PAN IN TO THE MID-STAGE AREA OF THE TYPEWRITER ABSTRACT PUPPET STAGE THROUGH A SERIES OF CUTS. PAN IN UNTIL PROPERLY FRAMING THE MID-STAGE. EACH CUT IS ACCOMPANIED BY THE MODERATE SOUND OF A PIECE OF PAPER BEING DRAGGED ACROSS ANOTHER.

MID-STAGE: CURTAINS CLOSED
The Mid-stage curtains part, and the stage-lights turn on with THE LOUDER SOUND OF A PIECE OF PAPER BEING DRAGGED ACROSS ANOTHER and also A CLICK OF A LIGHSWITCH TURNING ON, revealing…

MID-STAGE: A STACK OF PAPERS

CS OF A STACK OF PAPERS.

A tall stack of cells or paper illustrations for Ophidia Operahouse’s short film sit before the camera. From stage-left, THOMAS TYPEWRITER’S fingers come into view and grab the top sheet. They drag and lift the top sheet out of the frame. It makes the PAPER SCRAPING ACROSS PAPER sound we have been hearing before now.

CUT TO

MID-STAGE: INT. PENCIL CHICKS STUDIO, DAYTIME
A long desk runs across the stage while a drawing desk sits behind the long desk. On the long desk is a computer monitor, small desktop, keyboard, mouse, a scanner, a bin, and a large stack of papers. THOMAS TYPEWRITER sits at the desk moving pages from the stack of papers to the scanner. Thomas leans over grabbing the top page from a stack of papers to the side of the computer. He opens the scanner lid and places the paper inside. After closing the lid, he fiddles with the computer. The HUM AND WHIR of the scanner activating goes out. Thomas opens the scanner lid when it finishes. He removes the sheet of paper and places it in a bin to the opposite side of the desk. Behind him sits OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE at the second desk. It is an animator’s desk with full light table. Various pencils and squares and drawing guides sit on top of the desk. To her side is a shelf of pull-out bins. Various papers and extra drawing materials fill the bins. Ophidia focuses on her drawing, leaning over to finish a drawing while Thomas scans. As he scans his third piece of paper, Ophidia stretches in her chair. She gets up and walks behind Thomas, tenderly placing her hands on his shoulders. He reaches up one hand, the one not using the computer mouse, and places it on top of her hand.

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“I’m going to stretch my legs and get a snack. You want anything?”

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“Something to drink would be nice, if your offering.”

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“Oh, I am offering.”

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
(looking at Ophidia) “Then I am accepting.”

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“Be right back then.” “Then I’ll be right back. “Be right back.”

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“Okay.”
Ophidia exits stage-right. Thomas puts away the sheet he is currently scanning and reaches for a new one.

TRANSITION FROM THE MID-STAGE TO THE HIGH-STAGE

THE CAMERA DETACHES FROM PROPERLY FRAMING MID-STAGE AND PANS UPWARD. IT GLIDES UP AND OVER THE SETS, GLIDES OVER THE CURTAIN OF CLOUDS, UPWARD AND UPWARD. ONCE IT REACHES THE TOP OF THE CURTAIN OF CLOUDS AND THE HIGH-STAGE LOCATED THERE, IT STOPS PANNING WHEN PROPERLY FRAMING HIGH-STAGE.

HIGH-STAGE: CURTAINS CLOSED
The High-Stage curtains open then the stage-lights turn on with the sound of A COMPUTER BOOTING ON revealing…

HIGH-STAGE: INT. PANACEA FLAUTO’S OFFICE IN THE FLUTE MEDICALSHIP, EARLY EVENING.
Panacea’s office is a desk sitting in the middle of the stage with the back walls lined by filing cabinets of various heights. On top of each filing cabinet are multiple stacks of books and papers. Crammed between the stacks of books, in any open spaces are various rolled up medical charts, boxes, and medical equipment. There is one succulent emerging from the filing cabinets on the stage-left, its long leaves dropping out causing a splash of color in the office. Panacea’s desk is a large metal affair, covered in stacks of medical charts and paperwork. Two spare Med-scanners sit on the side of the desk amidst a collection of empty coffee cups. PANACEA FLAUTO sits at her desk, feet propped up, reading through a stack of files. She has a small black and white Vid-screen, in an antiquated case, sitting on top of the files in one of the pulled out filing cabinet drawers. The Vid-Screen is on but not actually set to a channel yet. It is displaying a static snow signal. There is a KNOCK ON THE DOOR from off-stage.

PANACEA FLAUTO
“Who is it?”

CEDAR WAXWINGS
(off-screen) “Cedar.”

PANACEA FLAUTO
“Oh, come on in.”

Panacea puts the folder away and starts to move the paperwork from her desk. CEDAR WAXWINGS, inside a Medi-pod, rolls into the room from stage-right. He enters holding a bag of food from the ship’s cafeteria.

CEDAR WAXWINGS
“I didn’t know which salad you preferred so I got both. Sorry if that is a problem.”

PANACEA FLAUTO
“That’s no problem. That was nice of you.”

Cedar sets the bag on the desk. Panacea reaches into the bag and pulls out two containers of salad and two cans of Nutri-Soda. She reads the labels on both salads and picks one.

PANACEA FLAUTO
“Did you grab any napkins.”

CEDAR WAXWINGS
“No, sorry. Was I suppose to?”

PANACEA FLAUTO
“That’s okay. I’ve got some in my desk.”

CEDAR WAXWINGS
“From all your desk dinners.”

PANACEA FLAUTO
“Hey, I have a lot of paperwork with this job.”

CEDAR WAXWINGS
“I can see that.”

Cedar holds up his hands in mock surrender. Panacea shakes her head but smiles. She reaches into a drawer and pulls out some napkins. She then turns to the Vid-screen and turns to Channel 200 “The Bird House”. The title credits for the movie “North by North by Northwest” play across the screen.

CEDAR WAXWINGS
(while trying to grab the other salad off the table) “So what’s on tonight?”
Panacea pushes the other salad to the edge of the desk, so as to be closer to Cedar’s reach. Cedar is then able to pick up the salad container.

PANACEA FLAUTO
“Soap Bubble Medical Theatre is on hiatus this week, so I thought we’d watch this oldie, North by North by Northwest. Ever seen it?”

CEDAR WAXWINGS
(pouring salad container into a drawer that opened on the front of his Medi-pod) “No, what is it about”

PANACEA FLAUTO
“It is about a young boy who decides to travel the world looking for new parents but is mistaken for a spy and pursued by shadowy agents.”

CEDAR WAXWINGS
“Sounds interesting.”

PANACEA FLAUTO
“It is. Just watch and you’ll see.”

They turn towards the Vid-screen as the opening sequence for “North by North by Northwest” plays.

NORTH BY NORTH BY NORTHWEST OPENING SEQUENCE:
INT. ATTIC PLAYROOM, DAWN
Open on a nondescript Attic that has been converted to a children’s playroom. The rafters have been covered in a medium-dark paneling with a the top half painted in white to increase the feeling of openness in the space. Green vines and leaves are hand painted along the edges of the white painted areas to add a soothing decorative element. A window is situated at each end of the playroom. The window facing the dawn has shafts of sunlight pouring through it, illuminating strips of the room. A short table with a train set sits in the center of the space. Around the room, various toy vehicles sit scattered among various buildings made of building-block toys. The selection of toys and buildings can vary but there will need to be a cab, a commercial plane, a crop-duster prop plane, a bicycle, a dogsled, a car, a cruise ship, a skyscraper with reflective windows, Mount Rushmore, a country manor, a mall, an igloo, and a hotel.

PROGRESS THROUGH A MONTAGE OF CLOSE-SHOTS OF THE TRAIN AND THE SPECIFIED TOYS AND BUILDING MODELS. EACH SHOT DISSOLVES INTO THE NEXT. END THE SEQUENCE ON AN ANGLED SHOT OF THE SKYSCRAPER.

MATCH DISSOLVE FROM THE IMAGE OF THE MODEL SKYSCRAPER TO A SHOT OF AN ACTUAL SKYSCRAPER. THE PLACEMENTS AND ANGLES OF THE WINDOWS NEED TO BE THE SAME BETWEEN THE MODEL AND THE REAL BUILDING. THE FIRST DETAIL TO COME IN WILL BE THE REFLECTION OF TRAFFIC IN THE WINDOWS. ONCE THE DISSOLVE COMPLETES HOLD THE SHOT TO SHOW THE TRAFFIC AND COMMUTERS IN THE STREET SCUTTLING BY.

CUT TO

EXT. HITCHLEH REIBEL CITY, RUSHHOUR
Hitchleh Reibel City is a large metropolitan city in the midst of rushhour. Countless people are getting off work and heading home for the day. They flood out of buildings at the heart of city, that stab at clouds, to huddle in buses, subways, cabs and cars that flow through routes branching like veins. The oxygen is leaving the city to be distributed to the outlying districts.

PROGRESS THROUGH A MONTAGE OF SHOTS OF PEOPLE LEAVING BUILDINGS, WALKING IN LARGE GROUPS DOWN STREETS, GETTING ONTO BUSES, GETTING ONTO SUBWAYS, GETTING INTO CABS, AND GETTING INTO TRAINS.

CUT TO CRANE SHOT OF GRANTWOOD AVE

NORTH NORTHERLY, a young child of around eleven dressed in a youth ice hockey uniform, is walking down the street.

IRIS IN ON NORTH NORTHERLY

CUT TO A MONTAGE OF NORTH NORTHERLY WALKING ACROSS VARIOUS STREETS AND BRIDGES AND PATHS IN THE CITY AS HE MAKES HIS WAY TO…

INT. THE ROSE & COMPASS MALL, DAYTIME
The Rose & Compass Mall is a large multi-story mall. Glass lined ceilings overlook three levels of shopping. Tiled floors lead to small landscaping beds, tranquil fountains, and a sensible layout of escalators.

FOLLOW NORTH WALKING ACROSS THE MALL TO THE MESSAGE CHAIRS THROUGH A SERIES OF MEDIUM SHOT AND LONG SHOT CUTS.

The Message Chair section of the mall is near the end of one wing of the Rose & Compass Mall. It is located in the common area outside the Old Timerz achor store. On one side can be seen a Skolnic’s Ice Crem Sandwich Parlor, a Huskyberry clothes store, a couple Satelite Soda vending machines and a few benches. The Messaging Chair section itself has four messaging chairs with accompanying coin operation slots. Three of the chairs are occupied by SOUTH SOUTHERLY, WEST WESTERLY, and EAST EARLY. South is a young girl of around ten dressed in a little league baseball uniform. West is a young boy of around ten dressed in a youth football uniform. East is a young boy of around nine dressed in a youth track outfit. They are all in the middle of a circle of chair messages. North walks up, puts some money in the unoccupied chair, and then sits down. The chair starts to shift and then vibrate as the messaging mechanisms kick in.

NORTH NORTHERLY
“Oh, I needed this.”

SOUTH SOUTHERLY
“Tell me about it. I had the worst day.”

WEST SOUTHERLY
“Sorry, but no way you had the worst. I had the worst.”

EAST EARLY
“With all due respect, your both wrong. I had the worst.”

SOUTH SOUTHERLY
“You two don’t know what your talking about. How about you North. You going to claim you had the worst and then we get into this whole one-upmanship thing.”

WEST WESTERLY
“I’d never do that.”

EAST EARLY
“You’d absolutely do that.”

NORTH NORTHLY
“I don’t get it. Just don’t understand.”

WEST WESTERLY
“Understand what?”

NORTH NORTHLY
“Why don’t they like me? I get perfect grades, pitch perfect games, and deliver a perfect Shakespearean soliloquy. What did I do wrong? These are all traits of values to others but not them.”

In the background of the frame, MALL CLERK enters searching for someone.

MALL CLERK
“Mr. Carlson? Mr. Arthur Carlson?”

SOUTH SOUTHERLY
“I stand corrected, your having a worse day.”

WEST WESTERLY
“Worse than mine.”

EAST EARLY
“Definitely.”

MALL CLERK
“Mr Arthur Carlson? Is there a Mr. Arthur Carlson present?”

North leans forward in the messaging chair and throws his arms up in exasperation.

NORTH NORTHLY
“I don’t understand! Owww.”

North recoils his arm and grips is shoulder wincing in pain.

SOUTH SOUTHERLY
“Are you okay?”

WEST WESTERLY
“That looks like it hurts.”

NORTH NORTHLY
“I might have thrown out my shoulder in the game due to the stress of my ongoing existential crisis.”

EAST EARLY
“At least its not an ontological crisis.”

The Mall Clerk sees North gestures and walks over to him.

MALL CLERK
“Mr. Carlson, I have been looking all over the mall for you.”

NORTH NORTHLY
“I’m not Carlson. “

MALL CLERK
“Sorry.”

NORTH NORTHLY
“Do you know somewhere I can buy some aspirin?”

MALL CLERK
“Second floor over by Ramblewoods is a drugstore.”

NORTH NORTHLY
“Okay. Thanks.”

CUT TO

MS OF THE SOFTLY-DRESSED MAN AND LOUDLY-DRESSED MAN

Down the hallway, near the escalator and maps, stand the SOFTLY-DRESSED MAN and the LOUDLY-DRESSED MAN. They are observing the Message Chair Area.

LS OF THE MESSAGE AREA FROM THEIR ANGLE OF VIEW

The events of North Northly walking up to the Message Chairs and speaking with the other children plays out. The Mall Clerk comes in and starts asking for Mr. Carlson. When North raises his arm they look at each other.

INSERT CS OF THEM NODDING AT EACH OTHER.

This should be enough to play in the background of the main scene as Cedar and Panacea eat lunch.

END OF NORTH BY NORTH BY NORTHWEST OPENING SEQUENCE

CEDAR WAXWINGS
“This is nice.”

PANACEA FLAUTO
“Yeah, it is.”

CEDAR WAXWINGS
“I meant the salad, but this is nice too. Can you turn it up?”

PANACEA FLAUTO
“Sure.”

She stands and leans over increasing the volume on the vid-screen. She then sits back down, steals a glance at Cedar and smiles. The stage-lights turn off to the sound of A COMPUTER BOOTING OFF. The light from the Vid-screen stays on. The High-stage curtains close.

TRANSITION FROM HIGH-STAGE TO MID-STAGE

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“I am back.”

Thomas stops reaching for a new sheet and scoots his chair back, allowing Ophidia room to walk in. She sets the tray down on the computer desk.

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
(handing Thomas a glass) “This is for you.”

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
(taking glass) “Thank you.”

Ophidia retrieves a stool from off screen stage-right and sits down. She picks up the bowl and takes a bite. She then offers some to Thomas. He takes a small handful.

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“So, hows it going.”

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“Okay I guess. I never realized how monotonous animation was.”

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“Yes, but I like it.”

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“No, I didn’t mean that as an insult. I am sorry if it was. I was just thinking that maybe it was a blessing in disguise that I lost the ability to draw or cartoon.”

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“That is kind of dark.”

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“Yeah, but not as much as it sounds. Just more of realizing this would not of worked for me. Also it makes you even more amazing in my eyes that you are able to do this. You are something special.”

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“Aww, thank you. So, I watched this funny show last night.”

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“So we’re changing subjects. Okay. What was it?”

Thomas reaches for some more snacks.

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“Campus Ladies.”

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“My mom was just going on about that show when I talked to her yesterday. How is it?”

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“Funny.”

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“So what is it about?”

Thomas scoots his chair closer to Ophidia. She scoots her stool closer to Thomas.

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“Well, these two older ladies decide to go back to college.”

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“Like take night classes or move into a dorm full-time?”

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“Dorm full time, in fact that is part of the joke. Like their roommate thinks they’re Moms dropping off their kids.”

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“Really.”

Ophidia starts to giggle and Thomas moves in closer.

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“Okay, so the ladies decide to go to a party down the hall, to try to meet people. They get blasted and stumble back to their room super late. They find their roommate crying and start tucking her in and kiss her goodnight. I laughed and laughed.”

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“Did you now?”

Thomas takes a hold of Ophidia’s hand. She returned the gesture with her other hand.

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“I did.”

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“Then what happened?”

Thomas and Ophidia lean in closer to each other, about to kiss. The stage-lights turn off with the sound of A LIGHT SWITCH CLICKING OFF. The Mid-stage curtains close.

FADE OUT

Thomas Typewriter

An artist attempting to process life and art through the only way he knows how…puppet plays and silly geometries.

screenwriter

“The Great Works Project: Season Seven, Episode Seven – An Intermission” by Thomas Typewriter

“The Great Works Project: Season Seven, Episode Six” by Thomas Typewriter – a new script

“Up Late, Late At Night: Episode Two, Act Two” – a new script by Thomas Typewriter

“The Great Works Project: Season Seven, Episode Five” by Thomas Typewriter – a new script

“The Not So Puppet Show #003: The Broken Book of Beasties, Book One: A Book by Any Other Cover, Part One” by Thomas Typewriter – a new script

The Great Works Project: Season Seven, Episode Four” by Thomas Typewriter – a new script

The Great Works Project: Season 07, Episode 03 by Thomas Typewriter – a new script

“The Great Works Project: Season Six, Episode Thirteen” by Thomas Typewriter – a new script

today in the studio: July 9th, 2025

“The Great Works Project: Season Six, Episode Nine” by Thomas Typewriter – a new script

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