EXT. CEDAR RUN

Music: "One of the few"

Scenography (Sc.)

A sign reads The Village of Cedar Run

The village has two buildings, across the street from each other

Cedar Run Inn and Cedar Run General Store

There is nobody in sight, no cars, no utilities poles or wires

The village is surrounded by tall trees

A railroad track crosses the street just beyond the buildings

You are our main character – although we never see you

You stand in front of the Inn looking toward the General Store

You hold an envelope that reads: To whom it may concern, because. 

You walk across the street and open the door to the store, which rings a bell.

CUT TO:

INT. GENERAL STORE

Music: “One of the few” (Slow, instrumental version)

Sc.

An old-fashioned general store

A counter with six stools

Three booths to the side

Rows of shelves contain assorted Judaica

Menorahs, hanukkiahs, mezuzahs, yarmulkas, tallit, tefillin – even torah scrolls

Books for preparing for your Bar and Bat Mitzvah

On the wall behind the counter are two signs:

Our Signature Hot Chocolate

Neuropsychopharmacuticals

The Proprietor is a small woman in her 70’s, thin with white hair

She approaches you from behind the counter

Proprietor:

(Kindly)

So nice to see you again

Sc.

The Proprietor makes two mugs of hot chocolate

Proprietor:

Last time we met you were about ten years old

I was one of your mother’s professors

And then she became my lawyer – I had some troubles

So sorry she passed

Sc.

You and the Proprietor sit in a booth; you sip the hot chocolate

Proprietor:

You’re probably wondering what’s in the hot chocolate

(I wasn’t, but I am now)

You’ll be briefed thoroughly

Now, a few tips before you go through

Sc.

You notice a door close by with a sign that reads: Staff Only

Proprietor:

There’s nothing supernatural here

Just very clever technology

Tools can be dangerous, though

And there are risks associated with your visit

We could be a dangerous cult

You might become, well, radicalised

But you can leave at any time

Simply follow the exit signs

Sc.

The Proprietor walks over to the Staff Only door

She opens it a few inches, pauses, looks over at you

CUT TO:

INT. GOLDEN CALF ELEVATOR & CAFÉ

Sc.

You materialize within a dimly lit Parisian-style café, circa 1933

In this myth, we discern two immortality projects:

The virtual representation of the self we each leave behind

The virtual environment in which that virtual self resides

The Mother enjoys cafes, museums, universities, musical theatre and movies

She has accordingly curated this version of the Golden Calf Elevator & Cafe

Small, round tables in the interior and booths around the exterior

A bar runs along one side; people are drinking, talking and laughing

Two large screens display Cecil B. DeMille’s Ten Commandments

We see the “golden calf” sequences from his two filmed versions of the story

On the left, 1923

On the right, 1956

A large neon sign in cursive font: The Golden Calf Elevator & Café

After Five Thousand Years

Sc.

The Mother steps up onto the stage and sings her signature song

During this song we are given a tour of the café

We periodically flash on the mother’s face projected onto the plastic head

This reminds us that the experience is taking place at the mother’s desk

During the song, emphasise two instances of “Modern men”

Music: "After Five Thousand Years"

Mother:

(italicised words are sung by the all-male backing musicians) 

After five thousand years (of civilization)

More than five thousand years (of civilization)

There is still ignorance (ignorance)

Violence (violence)

Intolerance (intolerance)

Superstition and disease 

And national (hostilities)'

Racial (hostilities)

Ideological (hostilities)

Religious (hostilities) 

Knowledge hasn’t abolished fear

(And we’re not brothers)

Knowledge hasn’t abolished fear

(No we ain’t brothers)

Modern man, modern man, modern man

Is so confused

Modern man, modern man, modern man

About his place in the world

Modern man, modern man

Modern MEN

He no longer has faith

In his powers of reason

He no longer has faith

In science or his gods

He no longer has faith

In himself

Knowledge hasn’t abolished fear

(And we’re not brothers)

Knowledge hasn’t abolished fear

(No we ain’t brothers)

Modern man, modern man, modern man

Is so confused

Modern man, modern man, modern man

About his place in the world

Modern man, modern man

Modern MEN

After five thousand years

More than five thousand years

Music:

Repeat the last two lines several times

Then continue with an instrumental version

Sc.

The mother notices her son, smiles and waves

Mother:

That’s my son!

Sc.

Several patrons look up, wave at you and drunkenly cheer

Our main character is now sitting in a booth in the café

The Master of Scenarios appears as your waiter

His face is projected onto the plastic head

The music ends with a crescendo

The room erupts in applause

Master of Scenarios:

Nice to see you again 

Music: “Nice to see you again”

When “nice to see you again” is spoken, sung or seen in the text

Follow immediately with its jingle: A chromatic descent from E to D