———–<.thom.>———–

THE GREAT WORKS PROJECT

a puppet play in many parts

Season 03, Episode 13

“The William Cell Overture”

By Thomas Typewriter

(c) 2021

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FADE IN TO BLACK

From the bottom of the screen scrolls up the following text: “03-13”. It moves upwards, pausing a moment in the center of the frame, then continues upward, exiting the frame at the top edge. Once the first text exits the frame, the following text scrolls up from the bottom center of the screen: “The William Cell Overture”. It scrolls up to the top of the screen, pausing a moment in the center. The second text resumes scrolling exiting through the center top of the frame. From off-screen the sound of TYPEWRITER KEYS CLICK CLACKING sounds out.

FADE OUT

FADE IN

THE TYPEWRITER ABSTRACT PUPPET STAGE

LS OF THE ENTIRE TYPEWRITER ABSTRACT PUPPET STAGE THEN PAN IN TOWARDS THE MID-STAGE AREA UNTIL PROPERLY FRAMING THE MID-STAGE.

MID-STAGE: CURTAINS CLOSED

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

MID-STAGE: INT, THE ELMHOUSE LIVING ROOM, DAYTIME.

A couch sits to the stage-left side of the stage, while a large flat-pack bookcase stands to the stage-right. Various toys and laundry are scattered about. THOMAS TYPEWRITER is pacing while talking on the phone. He maneuvers around unseen toys on the floor.

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“So you’re all done. Great. What did the they say. Oh. Uh-huh. Wow. Well, we always suspected something was going on and now we know. I’ll be right over to pick you two up. See you soon. Love ya. Bye.”

Thomas hangs up. He puts the phone into his pocket.

TRANSITION FROM MID-STAGE TO SLIDING TUBE TRANSITION

CUT TO…

INT. THE SLIDING TUBE

The Sliding Tube is basically a tube or slide of some fashion that allows transition from the pants pocket to The Pocket Dimension.

CS OF BEGINNING OF THE SLIDING TUBE

At the beginning of the sliding tube, it looks like a regular pants pocket. From the top slides in the cell phone Thomas Typewriter was speaking on. Given Thomas’ finances at the time it is not a smartphone, but a more generic flip phone.

FOLLOW THE CELL PHONE AS IT SLIDES DOWN THE SLIDING TUBE

The cell phone slips out of the bottom of the pocket and slides through a tube of crinkled frame and blinking lights. Midway through the sliding, the cell phone goes through a series of unilluminated sections. As it passes through the darkness it changes from a regular phone to WILLIAM CELL. He reaches the bottom of the Sliding Tub and slides out.

CS AS WILLIAM CELL SLIDES OUT OF THE END OF THE TUBE AND OUT OF THE FRAME.
TRANSITION FROM THE SLIDING TUBE TO THE LOW-STAGE

CUT TO MS OF THE AREA BELOW THE MID-STAGE OF THE TYPEWRITER ABSTRACT PUPPET STAGE.

The lower part of the Typewriter Abstract, the typewriter keys area, splits in the middle and opens up revealing a hidden stage. This is the LOW-STAGE. It takes up most of the area hidden behind the keys, but it does have a decorative side panel on each side of the stage, and under the front of the stage.

PAN INTO PROPERLY FRAMING THE LOW-STAGE.

LOW-STAGE: EXT. THE POCKET DIMENSION, DAYTIME

A flat grassy hill sits in front of a backdrop of rolling hills. The hills recede into the distance. The front of the stage is decorated with small wildflowers.

WILLIAM CELL falls in from the top of the stage. lands on a flat plain. He gets up, dusts himself off, and then starts to pace and think. He pushes one of his number buttons. It makes a BEEP. William shakes his head at it. He hits a different number, making a different beep. He nods approval. Tying different buttons, he begins composing his symphony.

SLOWLY PAN OUT SO AS THE LOW-STAGE AND MOST OF THE PANEL BENEATH ARE VISIBLE.

The UNDER-PANEL, or the panel under the Low-stage, opens revealing the ORANGE SCREAMER. It is a floating head against a dark background, illuminated by a green light.

ORANGE SCREAMER
“Chirp.”

The noise startles William Cell. He looks for the source of the noise but does not see anything. William shakes his head and goes back to composing.

ORANGE SCREAMER
“Chirp. Chirp.”

William twists looking for the source of the noise, losing his place again. A little more frustrated, he returns to composing the melody.

ORANGE SCREAMER
“Chirp. Chirp. Chirp.” (pauses then repeats)

William Cell lurches. In a fit he starts to jump and shout. He rips away at the plants. He rages.

WILLIAM CELL
“Shut up. Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!”

The Orange Screamer shrinks back at William’s outburst. It falls silent. William goes back to composing and pacing.

SLOWLY PAN OUT ENOUGH OUT TO ALLOW THE LOW-STAGE, THE UNDER-PANEL, AND THE LEFT-PANEL IN THE FRAME.

The LEFT-PANEL or the stage-left side panel of the Low-Stage, slides open revealing the GREEN SCREAMER. Another head floating in an empty space, only this one is illuminated by a green light.

GREEN SCREAMER
“Ring.”

William Cell glares stage-left.

ORANGE SCREAMER
(looking to at Green Screamer)”Shhh.”

The Green Screamer winks at the Orange Screamer. The Orange Screamer nods back.

GREEN SCREAMER
(softly)”Ring. Ring. Ring” (repeats)

ORANGE SCREAMER
(softly) “Chirp. Chirp. Chirp.” (repeats)

William stops pacing. His fingers hover over the keypad, waiting for the Screamers to stop. When they do not, he rubs the sides of his head, takes a couple deep breaths, then goes back to pacing and composing. Every time he walks to the left, the RIGHT LOW PANEL slides a little more open. Inside is the PURPLE SCREAMER watching him pace.

PURPLE SCREAMER
(Once the panel has fully receded) “Notification. Notification. Notification.”
William is startled. The Green and Orange Screamers, look towards the stage-right, excited to see the Purple Screamer.

ORANGE SCREAMER
(loudly) “Chirp. Chirp. Chirp…” (repeats)

GREEN SCREAMER
(loudly)”Ring. Ring. Ring…” (repeats)

PURPLE SCREAMER
(loudly) “Notification. Notification. Notification…” (repeats)

William puts his hands over his ears trying to block out the Screamers cacophony. He falls to his knees. Unable to take it anymore, he starts to pound on the keypad, hoping to drown out the din with his own bedlam of mangled notes.

WILLIAM CELL
“STOP IT! STOP IT! STOP IT!”

THE CAMERA PANS OUT,UNTIL MID-STAGE AND LOW-STAGE ARE IN THE FRAME.

Up in MID-STAGE…

MID-STAGE: INT. DOCTOR’S OFFICE WAITING ROOM, DAYTIME

A row of chairs sits in front of a sterile wall. A door stands at one end of the chairs, potted plants the other end. A table covered passes the time in front of the chairs. THOMAS TYPEWRITER sits calmly and patiently in a chair reading a magazine. A nervous jitter betrays his anxiety.

Meanwhile down in LOW-STAGE…

William continues blaring notes hoping to overcome the Screamers continued noises. The noise from LOW-STAGE fills the two stages, building to an uncomfortably loud level.

Meanwhile back up in MID-STAGE…

Thomas’ nervous jitter grows as the volume increases. When the sound reaches a crescendo, the Doctor’s office door opens. The CLICK OF THE DOORKNOB TURNING supersedes all other sounds.

Meanwhile down in LOW-STAGE…

The Screamers fall silent. All the PANELS start to slide shut as the light illuminating each Screamer dims. William stops as well, surprised by the silence. He looks around in surprise.

While at the same time up in MID-STAGE…

Thomas looks to the door. He sets down his magazine and stands. Out runs PRIMO TYPEWRITER-OPERAHOUSE, followed by OPHIDIA TYPEWRITER-OPERAHOUSE. Timbre runs over to hug Thomas. Ophidia gives each a kiss on the head. They start walking stage-right.

ZOOM BACK IN TILL FRAMING ONLY LOW-STAGE, NOT LOW-STAGE PLUS THE SIDE PANELS.

William looks around in disbelief. It is silent. It is peaceful. He stands. He tentatively plays a note on his keypad. It rings through the air and William smiles. He plays another note. Smiling, he returns to the peace of composition.

THE CAMERA SLOWLY PANS OUT FROM THE LOW-STAGE

The lower part of The Typewriter Abstract Puppet Stage that had parted to reveal the LOW-STAGE, slides back into place.

FADE OUT.