Screen is black.
Door shutting noise, rustle of plastic bags.
JACK: FINN, you'll never guess what happened at the store today!!
FINN, distractedly: Hm?
JACK, not noticing that FINN isn't paying attention: Okay, so I was in the sandwich aisle. You know how I've been trying to be healthy lately?
FINN: Mm.
JACK: Well, I wanted to try out some of that weird-ass nut butter that isn't made out of peanuts. No more JIF for this guy, no sir. Did you know how much sugar is in that stuff?
**As Jack says this line, we fade up on a fantastical forest comprised of partially organic matter and partially strange machines that seem to ceaselessly be in motion and in perfect harmony.
A small, blobby creature wanders about, enjoying his setting.
FINN: ....
JACK: A LOT. So anyway, all the organic stuff is on the top shelf. I'm feeling bold, but not THAT bold, so I skip the sunflower butter. Sounds like nonsense to me. I decide to go for an almond butter - I've tried almond milk and it's halfway decent, so the butter's got to be okay too, right? Only this stuff is apparently suuuuuper popular and there isn't any very close to the edge so I have to really reach back there to even touch it with my fingertips. Let me tell you, I STRUGGLED. When I finally shimmied this fancy-ass nut butter to the edge of the shelf, I suddenly lost my balance! And here's the thing FINN: fancy nut butters are better than your basic peanut butter, so they're not in plastic jars. They're encased in the finest glass. It falls, hits the ground, it shatters, and old lady gives me the stink eye, and did you know that almond butter is more liquid-y than normal peanut butter? It's oozing everywhere-
FINN, interrupting: Did you remember to get me some soda?
**Suddenly, a ball falls off of its track into the track of another machine. The machine makes worrisome noises, smokes a little and stops moving. Its demise starts off a chain reaction of other machines not functioning.
JACK: Ahhhh, no.
FINN, whining: Come on, JACK. I asked you to get that right as you were going out the door.
JACK: I know, I know, you’d think that would mean I’d remember, but the thing about that is-
FINN: Ugh. Next time I should staple a note to your shirt.
**As the two speak, the internal world falls more and more into disarray. The creature is running about frantically trying to fix things, but it clearly doesn't know what it's doing. In a moment of stress, the creature sprouts an arm to try and hold a malfunctioning machine in place.
FINN: Speaking of which, have you seen my stapler? I could've sworn I left it on the couch the other day.
JACK: No, have you checked between the cushions?
FINN: Yes.
JACK: Under the couch?
FINN (sarcastically): Wow, brilliant detective work. Of course I checked under the couch! Actually, I found my favorite coaster down there.
JACK: Between the couch and the wall?
rummaging noises
FINN:...There it is! Thanks, mate!
**As more time passes from the point the story was derailed the forest falls more and more apart.
JACK:...
FINN:...
FINN: Say, weren't you telling me something about the store?
JACK: Umm, yes. Where was I?
FINN: I dunno.
**By now, our creature has sprouted about ten new arms in an attempt to slow the disaster, but it is clear that the creature can't hold things for much longer.
JACK: Oh yeah! The nut butter! Well, it was oozing everywhere, and I didn't know what to do about it, so I went to make a quick escape. I turn around, and who do I see but Judy from church! She was giving me this look like she knew and she was ashamed. I try to play it cool like I didn't just commit a crime and run, but...
JACK's voice fades away to an indistinct murmur.
**While Jack is speaking, the forest slowly reassembles itself, leaving the creature to drop its many arms limply in relief. Broken parts float back into place as though by magic, and fluid movements once more begin while the creature watches in wonder. Once everything is assembled and functioning, JACK speaks again at full volume:
JACK: And that's how my mom found out from all the way across the country that I broke a jar of nut butter before I even got to tell her.
FINN:...
FINN: Dude, you've got to work on your storytelling.
JACK: Well, I thought it was a good one.
Bantering continues, fades away as visuals also fade to black and credits roll.
**These sections will be fleshed out and written in greater detail in the future when I get to the set designing and building phase.