Hi all — here’s my take on the “time travel” edition of Sketchwar….<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
“Technology”<\/p>\n
FADE IN:\u00a0<\/p>\n
EXT. FILM SET – NIGHT<\/p>\n
A DIRECTOR walks down an old city street.<\/p>\n
He reads some papers while walking past the stuff you’d find on a film shoot: a trailer, some spare lighting equipment, and so on.<\/p>\n
Behind him there’s a sudden PUFF OF SMOKE.<\/p>\n
Out of it appears a TIME TRAVELLER wearing futuristic clothes.<\/p>\n
He beelines to the director.<\/p>\n
TIME TRAVELLER<\/p>\n
Pardon, sir, are you Dave?<\/p>\n
DIRECTOR<\/p>\n
No. I’m the director, mate.<\/p>\n
TIME TRAVELLER<\/p>\n
But I was told to meet David Warrington at these exact coordinates in spacetime.<\/p>\n
The director goes back to reading and walking.<\/p>\n
The time traveller trails along behind him.<\/p>\n
DIRECTOR<\/p>\n
Em, talk to the AD.<\/p>\n
Another PUFF OF SMOKE brings us TIME TRAVELLERS #2 and #3, dressed in some futuristic version of a ‘tweedy academic’ look.<\/p>\n
They stop the director.<\/p>\n
TIME TRAVELLER #2<\/p>\n
Sir! The Thatcher event -- is it nearby?<\/p>\n
DIRECTOR<\/p>\n
Don’t know what you’re talking about, mate.<\/p>\n
TIME TRAVELLER #3<\/p>\n
She’s giving a speech of great historical significance at this place and time.<\/p>\n
TIME TRAVELLER #2<\/p>\n
This is Wednesday night, isn’t it? The 15th?<\/p>\n
DIRECTOR<\/p>\n
Look. You both sound very confused, but I can’t help you.<\/p>\n
He resumes walking and reading.<\/p>\n
The others follow.<\/p>\n
Puff of smoke: TIME TRAVELLER #4, TIME TRAVELLER #5, and TIME TRAVELLER #6 appear, wearing robes.<\/p>\n
TIME TRAVELLER #4<\/p>\n
Mister? This is the orgy, right?<\/p>\n
DIRECTOR<\/p>\n
People, this is a closed set. All of you lot shove off!<\/p>\n
The director finally arrives at --<\/p>\n
THE MAIN SET<\/p>\n
TECHNICIANS point lights and cameras at a brickwork colonnade alongside the street.<\/p>\n
The director sits in his empty director’s chair.<\/p>\n
DIRECTOR<\/p>\n
Cue the music. Let’s go, Rick.<\/p>\n
80’s-era RICK ASTLEY walks onset wearing a beige trenchcoat over all-black.<\/p>\n
TIME TRAVELLER #2<\/p>\n
Oh, no.<\/p>\n
A sound system PLAYS BACK “NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP”.<\/p>\n
Rick dances for the camera and sings along.<\/p>\n
RICK ASTLEY<\/p>\n
Never gonna give you up \/ Never gonna let you down \/ Never gonna run around \/ And hurt you...<\/p>\n
And so on.<\/p>\n
SUPER: “Technology. We just wind up using it for stupid crap.”<\/p>\n
Meanwhile --<\/p>\n
-- the various time travellers shrug and start dancing.<\/p>\n
-- a gray-skinned alien appears in a PUFF OF SMOKE, takes in the scene, makes a rude gesture, and stalks off.<\/p>\n
FADE TO BLACK.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n