———–<.thom.>———–

THE GREAT WORKS PROJECT
a puppet play in many parts

Season 06, Episode 02

By Thomas Typewriter

(c) 2024 thomas typewriter

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FADE INTO BLACK

GRIGIO COLORI
(voice-over) “Where did we leave off? Oh yes, here was where we left off. Ready? Here we go. Fade into black and then from the bottom of the screen scrolls upward the following text of zero six dash zero two.”

From the bottom of the screen scrolls up the following text: “06-02”. It moves upwards, pausing a moment in the center of the frame, then continues upward, exiting the frame at the top edge. The sound of TYPEWRITER KEYS CLICK CLACKING rings out from somewhere in the dark.

GRIGIO COLORI
(voice-over) “Fade out then fade in to the Typewriter Abstract Puppet Stage. Specifically the Mid-stage area of the Typewriter Abstract Puppet Stage.”

TRANSITION TO THE TYPEWRITER ABSTRACT PUPPET STAGE

FADE OUT

FADE IN

THE TYPEWRITER ABSTRACT PUPPET STAGE
The Typewriter Abstract Puppet Stage sits in a dark field as if floating in a void. No other room or setting is visible surrounding it.

THE CAMERA MOVES CLOSER THROUGH A SERIES OF CUTS WITH A CRYSTALLINE FILTER.

TRANSITION FROM THE TYPEWRITER ABSTRACT PUPPET STAGE TO THE MID-STAGE

MID-STAGE: CURTAINS CLOSED

THE CAMERA PAUSES THE CRYSTALLINE ZOOM CUTS PROPERLY FRAMING MID-STAGE.

The curtains of Mid-stage fill the frame. A soft light bounces from somewhere beyond and below the front of the Mid-stage across the curtains. The curtains part from the center and stage lights turn on to the sound of A LIGHTSWITCH CLICKING ON revealing…

MID-STAGE: EXT. HIGHWAY ROUTE 17, DAYTIME
A section of the Route 17 highway stretches across the stage. This section, in particular, passes through farmland surrounding Thomas Teenager’s hometown of Bordertowne, Illinois. A route marker sign and telephone pole form the main set of stage decorations. The route marker sits to the stage-right of the center. The telephone pole sits stage-left of center. In the background, we can see acres and acres of farmer fields covered in snow. From stage-left a black minivan enters, drives across the stage, and exits stage-right. The curtains close and then reopen revealing…

MID-STAGE: INT. THOMAS TEENAGER’S BEDROOM, DAYTIME
A bed stands at the corner of the stage along with a small desk. It is in the style of an old-time banker’s desk with a roll-top. A three-legged stool with elaborate carved legs and feet sits under the desk in the area for the chair. A stereo boombox sits on top of the writing desk along with a corded phone. On the other side of the stage, shelves line the wall filled with books, comic books, toys, and stuffed animals. Next to the shelving is a poster of teddy bears holding hands. On every flat surface in the room, even the bed, sits piles of paper and comic books. The paper is various school assignments and artwork. THOMAS TEENAGER enters stage-right. In one arm he holds a duffel bag while in the other he holds a stack of mail. Thomas sets down the bag and then moves over to his bed. He sits on the edge of the bed going through his mail.

THOMAS TEENAGER
“Junk. Junk. Junk. University? What is this?”

Thomas opens the letter, first setting down the other mail and grabbing a blade from the pencil holder on his desk. He gently cuts the end of the envelope and slides out the letter.

THOMAS TEENAGER
(reading from the letter) “We regret to inform you that due to your failing grades, you are hereby expelled from Bulldog University. Normally, you would be allowed to appeal this decision and be placed on Academic Probation, but due to your academic credit hours exceeding your honor points, you will not. Please have all your belongings and personnel effects removed from your dormitory residence before classes resume on January 15th. The dorms will reopen on January 4th. Before we end, may we recommend that a four-year college is not for everyone and may not be for you. Community college may be more your speed. Sincerely Bulldog University.”

Thomas slumps back onto his bed. He lays unmoving, stuck in a state of shock. After a moment he picks up the phone and dials. The phone RINGS and RINGS before being picked up.

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“Hi, may I please speak to Samarica? Yes, I can wait. Thank you. (pause as he waits). Hi, Samarica? It is me, Thomas. Fine and how are you? Good. Did you have a good Christmas? Me, too. Well, I am back in town, so we can go on that next date we talked about. What do you mean sorry? You have bad news? Oh. Oh. I see. Your old boyfriend. I see. Back together. How long now. Before we went on our first date. And you didn’t think to mention that before now. You found it too awkward to bring up. Well, good luck with that, and happy new year. Goodbye.”

Thomas hangs up the phone. He stares off into space. The stage-light slowly shift to a red tint. Thomas SCREAMS building to A PRIMAL SCREAM. The sound of METAL RENTING AND GLASS SHATTERING reverbs as the red light turns to a deep red. Thomas stops screaming. The red light and metal and glass sounds fade away. The stage-lights return to regular illumination and hue. He looks around the room. Thomas gets up and walks over to his CD collection. He pulls out “Live Through This” by Hole and places the CD in his CD player. He presses play and listens to the music start. Thomas then exits stage-left. We hear the door to his room OPEN AND CLOSE. FOOTSTEPS and CABINET DOORS OPENING AND CLOSING from off-stage. Thomas’ bedroom door OPENS AND CLOSES. He renters stage-left holding a package of garbage bags.

THOMAS TEENAGER
“Look at all this. What a delusion.”

Thomas opens the bottom of the writing desk and starts to pull out papers, worksheets, and school folders.

THOMAS TEENAGER
“Keeping every paper, every scrap, I ever used. Every assignment. Why? Because I thought I was going to be a great writer. Because I thought scholars would want to study them as they write biographies on my genius. Hubris. A giant pile of hubris and I am suffocating under it. Suffocating under what others expect me to be. Suffocating under what others don’t want me to be. Expected to be a genius. Expected to get a degree. Expected to get a good job. Expected to get the girl. Ha, yeah right. Something is broken inside me. I am a fuck-up now and will always be.”

From the stuffed animals on the selves comes a soft voice. Thomas pauses and listens.

CREAMY
(faint) “Don’t give up hope yet. One foot in front of the other and you’ll cross this bridge.”

Thomas nods his head.

THOMAS TEENAGER
“Yeah, you’re probably right.”

Thomas resumes filling the trash bags. He gathers all the stacks of papers, setting the artwork to the side, but everything else goes into the trash. He opens all the cabinets on the desk removing all the paper. He goes through every surface in the room. Once he has filled his fourth trashbag, he takes a deep breath and exhales. He sets down the trashbag and works his way over to the phone. Thomas picks up the phone, listens for the DIALTONE, and then dials the number for Luna Witchescrown.

THOMAS TEENAGER
“Hey, sis. You got a minute? I’ve had a really bad day and need to talk about it. You do. Thank you.”

The stage lights turn off to the sound of A LIGHT SWITCH SWITCHING OFF. The Mid-stage curtains close.

FADE OUT.