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THE GREAT WORKS PROJECT

a puppet play in many parts

Season 07, Episode 02

By Thomas Typewriter

(c) 2026 Jason Arcand

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FADE IN TO BLACK

From the bottom of the screen scrolls up the following text: “07-02”. 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 HILLTOPS, NIGHT

LS OF THE CLEARING AND FIRE.

A small clearing along a trail running past a thick forest finds Z-MOUSE and THE GHOSTLY sitting around a campfire. Sparks rise off as the logs in the fire loudly POP AND SIZZLE.

MS OF Z-MOUSE AND THE GHOSTLY

Z-MOUSE
(to the Ghostly) “You think he’s okay.”

The Ghostly shrugs in response to Z-Mouse’s question. Z-Mouse sighs softly and then reaches for some supplies on the ground next to him. He pulls up a bag of chocolate bars, graham crackers, and marshmallows. FINGERS SNAPPING can be heard very softly in the background. He reaches down again and pulls up a stick to roast marshmallows. FINGERS SNAPPING returns only louder.

Z-MOUSE
“You hear that?”

THE GHOSTLY
(while pulling out her stick for roasting marshmallows) “Hear what?”

Z-MOUSE
“Like crickets or cicadas. Yeah cicadas. Do you have those here?”

THE GHOSTLY
“No. Maybe it’s something going on back at your physical body.”

Z-MOUSE
“Physical body?”

Realization dawns on Z-Mouse

Z-MOUSE
“Oh yeah, I am asleep right now. Funny how I forgot I was dreaming.”

Z-Mouse disappears with a POP. Small Dream-bubbles which quickly fade away are left behind in his space.The stick and bag he was holding hover in the air for a moment then drop to the ground. The Ghostly scoots over and picks up the bag. She places a marshmallow on her stick and begins to roast it in the fire.

ZOOM IN ON THE FLAMES. IN THE BRIGHTNESS DISSOLVE TO THE NEXT SHOT.

TRANSITION FROM THE HILLTOPS TO THE WRITER’S ROOM

INT. THE WRITER’S ROOM, NIGHTTIME

At a long conference table in a conference room, Z-MOUSE is asleep at the table.

FADE IN TO A CS OF Z-MOUSE’S FACE.

A set of fingers are SNAPPING in front of Z-Mouse’s face. Z-Mouse’s eyes start to slowly open.

PAN OUT

Y-MOUSE is snapping his fingers in front of Z-Mouse’s face. The Writer’s Room is nearly empty with just Y-Mouse and Z-Mouse at the long table. X-Mouse and C-Mouse , the only other people in the room, are exiting through the doors.

Y-MOUSE
“Wakey wakey. The meeting is over.”

Z-Mouse rouses himself up.

Z-MOUSE
“Did I miss anything?”

Y-MOUSE
“No. Not really. We’re still stuck on the scripts. Finally, I had to end the meeting because we were getting nowhere. Plus, I have to be somewhere in an hour.”

Z-MOUSE
“At least nowhere is somewhere.”

Y-MOUSE
“You would say that wouldn’t you.”

Y-Mouse starts to walk to the door and Z-Mouse follows. Since he is not sleeping, his cloud chair dissolves as he stands.

Z-MOUSE
“I was having the most wonderful dream.”

Z-Mouse is outside the door with Y-Mouse just inside.

Y-MOUSE
“Oh, really. Why don’t you tell me as we walk.”

Y-Mouse turns of the lights with a SNAP. The sound of fingers snapping can be heard very very faintly in the background. The entire frame has gone black except for the light in the open door. The silhouettes of Y-Mouse can be seen walking through the door and closing it.

Z-MOUSE
“So I was roasting marshmallows and he came out. Looked like he was dreaming too.”

Y-MOUSE
“You don’t say.”

Y-Mouse fully shuts the door and the screen goes black.

TRANSITION FROM THE WRITER’S ROOM TO MID-STAGE

MID-STAGE: INT. PENCIL CHICKS STUDIO, AFTERNOON

THOMAS TYPEWRITER is asleep at a long desk, using his arms as a pillow.

CS OF THOMAS TYPEWRITER’S FACE. OPHIDIA’S SNAPPING FINGERS ARE ALSO JUST IN THE FRAME.

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE SNAPS her fingers in an attempt to gently wake up Thomas.

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“Thomas. Thomas. Time to wake up.”

Thomas’ eyes crack open.

CUT TO FRAMING SHOT OF MID-STAGE

Thomas raises his head and shifts himself awake in small movements across his body and face.

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“What time is it?”

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“Time to celebrate.”

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
(low-energy delivery) “Whoo. Celebration.”

Thomas starts moving his shoulders and arms in a poor imitation of dancing.

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“You’re hilarious when you wake up.”

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“Was I talking in my sleep again?”

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“Not sure. Maybe a little.”

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“Oh. (pauses) So what are we celebrating?”

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“Only this!”

She holds up an animation cell pencil sketch while Thomas yawns and stretches. He then looks closer at the animation cell Ophidia is holding.

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“And what am I looking at?”

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“It is the last cell.”

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“The last cell?”

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“The last one! I am all done with the pencil stage.”

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“That is a cause for celebration.”

Ophidia starts to dance in joy. Thomas stands and joins her. She dances over to the animation desk and puts the last cell on the stack with the others. Thomas opens his arms and she spins to him. They join arms and start into a waltz. As they move towards the exit, Ophidia steps on Thomas’s foot. He winces.

OPHIDIA OPERAHOUSE
“Sorry.”

THOMAS TYPEWRITER
“No, it is okay. Even roses have thorns.”

They dance out exiting stage-left. The Stage-lights turn off to the sound of a light-switch clicking off. The Mid-stage curtains close.

FADE OUT.