'ONCE UPON A PLANET'

The Dance of a Thousand Skeletons

I can feel, the winds of change.

Blowing cold, against my shoulder.

I am alone, on the road to glory.

At the gates, of the great unknown.

I was the King of the Gypsies

at the dance of a thousand skeletons.

You said listen they're playing our song

and then they did the death march again.

But there was romance in the air

and I would not change that for anything

if we could do it all over again

that would remain exactly the same.

There was romance in the air

at the dance of a thousand skeletons.

Ever since the night that I met you

I have never been the same.

I am the bastard son of a poor man.

You are the Judges daughter.

We went looking for a dream

that was never meant to be.

But when I was, laying down there beside you

I got lost in a sweet sensation

I gave myself to you and you gave yourself to me.

There was a time I thought I knew you.

But then you became a stranger.

I thought I knew you, way back when and so long ago.

I thought I knew you, but then we both started changing.

I thought I knew you, but I guess that it only goes to show.

Now I'm standing by the campfire

and I'm thinking of you.

Flames are rising, into the starlight baby ... but you're not here.

There was a time I thought I knew you.

but then you became a stranger.

I thought I knew you, way back when and so long ago.

I thought I knew you, but then we both started changing.

I thought I knew you, but I guess that it only goes to show.

Musical contribution courtesy of Kevin Borich.

'ONCE UPON A PLANET' 

A YOUTH FOR THE ENVIRONMENT 

ROCK AND ROLL ADVENTURE

  

THE CHARACTERS.

   

 ARTY.

Arty is a junior Rainbow Peace Corp activist who has a dream

in which he visits ‘The Blueprint Design Centre of Creation’.  He is assigned a special mission by the ‘Queen of The Nature Spirits’ so the very next morning he sets off for the environmental frontline.

   ARTY’S FAMILY.

        Arty’s Father Larry Lout is a Supervisor at a toxic waste

        management plant in the desert to the west of Junkville.

        His  mother who’s name is Monica is a devoted and caring

        housemother. Arty’s twin sister Kerry is the only other

        child in the family and she is the absolute opposite to her

        environmentally inspired brother.

   THE QUEEN OF THE NATURE SPIRITS.

   The Queen and all of her Nature Spirits live and work in the

   ‘Central Imagineering Zone’, on a distant planet known as

   ‘Art Star One’.  Arty has been selected by the Queen as an

    Ambassador to her world because he has such a colourful

    imagination.

   THE GLITTER SING.

   The Glitter Sing is the supreme commander of all of the

   Nature spirits and it is through he the Queen

   communicates her instructions.

                                                      

   ARTY’S MAIN FRIENDS AT SCHOOL.

      

         SKATER. 

    BOMBER.

         The only other Rainbow Peace Corp. activists at the school

         besides Arty are Skater and Bomber.  As their names would

         imply one is rarely seen without a skateboard and the other

         is only happy when he is scribing environmental messages

         on any flat surface he can find.                                   

THE ACTIVISTS.

    SPIKER. 

    Spiker is the old dog of the environment movement and he

    earned his nickname from a life of saving old growth

    forests on the frontline.

    Jake.

         The main mistral and poet among the group Jake can come

         out with a spontaneous ditty to describe the situation at

         any given moment.

         SALLY.

    Sal is as hard core as they come in the planet protection

         business, yet she has a soft caring nature equal to the

         scale of her dedication.

         QUIVVER.

    Quivver is a crossbow expert who can puncture the tyres

         of a nuclear waste truck at two hundred metres.

          

         BLUESY NEWS.

         Bluesy is a free lance, Investigative journalist who is embroiled in

         an ongoing battle with the ‘Church of Greed’. His quest in life is to

         initiate it’s downfall as he delivers an un-sensationalised account

         of the environmental crisis.

         PLASTIC JACK.

    Plastic Jack is a famous DJ. in the dance clubs of Junkville.

         CRYSTAL DREAMLINE.

         As the CEO of EarthHeart Crystal is the main sponsor for the

         planned rally and concert at the Junkville stadium. Through the

         years Crystal has poured millions into the efforts of the protest

         movement and she is considered the darling of the afternoon talk

         show audience.

         FLIP CASINO AND THE BAND.

         Flip is a highly successful Rock Celebrity and industry bad boy

         who wants to use his star power to change the world. His band

         are five Bohemian looking cowboy types who are only in it for

         the girls and the good times.

        

         CRITTER.

         Critter if Flip Casinos Head Roadie

    THE INK SWIMMER.

         The Ink Swimmer is the dominant member of a large

         population of predatory, industrial mutants. The earliest

         ancestors of these creatures were lab rats that

         escaped from a genetic research station.  The rodents

         thrived and mutated over countless generations in a

         stormwater drain beside a polluted creek, on the outskirts

         of Junkville.  Over time they evolved into fearsome and

         highly intelligent creatures, that are so advanced they

         can mimic human speech. 

          WILSON .P.KLONDYKE.

          Mr.Klondyke is a graphics animation expert who once worked

          for the C.O.G. Corporation.    

          BEN.T.CROSS.

          Ben.T. is the Company Chairmain and spiritual leader of

          ‘The Church of ‘Greed. He is so desperate to secure some

          environmental credibility for his corporation that he kidnaps

          Miss Dreamline and attempts to force a company merger.

          GOD.

          God first appears as a kindly old man singing down from the

          clouds, but mid song he morphs into a host of well known deities

          and he ends his colourful, ecumenical display as ‘The Queen of

          The Nature Spirits’.

Introduction.

 

The year is 2025 and the Earth has been mostly depleted of its resources.  Pollution levels across the planet are deemed unsafe for human habitation and a global ban is imposed on the burning of fossil fuels.  The rising waters of climate change have rendered many of the worlds great cities uninhabitable and an increasing population of environmental refugees are moving to higher ground.  An alliance of world governments is formed to deal with the crisis and an international state of emergency is declared.  The first initiative of the newly elected, superpower is to introduce a survival strategy known as ‘The Grid Net Plan’. This is a co-operative effort which it is hoped will provide the base level needs of a hungry and anxious, global population.  Well in advance of the crisis the corporate giants of the world opened up the new frontier of space with a vast network of mining stations and research facilities extending deep into the cosmos.  The great divide that always separated the rich from the poor can now be measured in space miles, as low orbit tourism flourishes and spawns an ever increasing number of permanently populated resorts.

 

The environment friendly sector are among the last remaining contenders on the international stock market floor, as the traditional flow of business comes to grinding standstill.  Only large scale producers of food capsules, portable dwellings and alternative energy systems continue to do business as contractors to The Grid Net Plan.  In the decades leading up to the crisis a small and relatively unknown public company known as ‘EarthHeart’ PTY. LTD. climbed the corporate ladder to become the new market leaders.  Born out of the EarthHeart rise in popularity came an environmental conservation group called ‘The Rainbow Peace Corp’ and it’s through the adventures of a junior cadet known as ‘Arty’ our story shall now be told.

 THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS AS THEY APPEAR IN THE MOST RECENT DRAFT OF THE

‘ONCE UPON A PLANET’ SCREENPLAY.

NOTES FOR SCENES INCLUDING DIALOGUE,

SONGS AND MUSICAL SOUNDTRACK.

Scene 1.

A portable radio sits on a kitchen divider playing Seventies classics as Arty’s Mother Monica flutters around in the kitchen preparing the evening meal.

DIALOGUE.   The voice of Plastic Jack a celebrity DJ in the nearby city of Junkville.

Now you all, get ready to have yaw eardrums blasted with the dirtiest guitar sound that will ever escape a rattling speaker cone. It’s the call to the revolution for those who can hear it and those who don’t will be lost forever in the Court of the Crimson King.

Music Soundtrack.  Twenty First Century Schizoid Man / King Crimson.

An international state of emergency has been declared on planet earth and news media response is dominating the airwaves.  On the TV a swirling, multi-levelled montage of interviews and heartbreaking environmental images spew forth, but they are barely heard over the din at the heatwave afflicted, Lout household. 

DIALOGUE.    The voice of Bluesy News a television News Broadcaster.

For more than half a century our civilisation has ignored warning signs about the depletion of the earths riches and now it would seem our resource squandering past has caught up with us.  The Age of Enviro-Crime is well and truly underway as once untouchable corporate giants start to buckle to new and far reaching legislation concerning the natural world. The latest global company to feel the pinch is the C.O.G. Corporation best known for international mining interests and a dominant position on the religious television network.  The Company Director of the C.O.G. or Church of Greed as it is known is Ben.T. Cross a one time Wall Street broker who has preached his ‘Greed Equals Salvation’ philosophy to a generation.  Ben Cross lives a reclusive life in his private space station and he rarely gives interviews, but in light of recent events he has agreed to a satellite linkup through our low orbit correspondent.

Crossing live now to the C.O.G. space station.  Mr. Cross it’s so good of you to speak with us. Now are the rumours true that you will be returning to earth sometime soon and basing your operations in Junkville to address the state of Emergency that has been declared.

Ben.t.Cross.

Yes that is correct. My loyal following will need increased guidance through these troubled times and there are many who have not as yet seen the light. It seems appropriate that I should be there to deliver the key to eternal salvation to them in person.

Bluesy News.

But Reverend Cross isn’t it rampant, out of control Greed that has caused the mess we are currently in, and how can such an ideal be allowed to exist in the real world?

Ben.t.Cross.

The cosmos as you will soon see is filled with infinite wonders and it is a boundless resource for those who know how to harness it.  All I can say for now is the earth is but an emptied hamburger wrapper in the vastness of space and there’s fully stocked  drive-in takeaway just around the corner for those with the faith to believe it’s there.

Bluesy News.

Yes but!

Scene 1. Continued.

The digital image on the screen begins to break up and the sound becomes intermittent then Ben.T.Cross is no longer visible.

Bluesy News.

Well as you can see viewers it doesn’t get any more pie in the sky than that.  Let’s all pray that the millions who believe greed is salvation come to their senses and go environment friendly like the rest of us.  This is Bluesy News signing off till next time and remember ‘use less to give the planet a fighting chance’.

Scene 1. Cont...

Larry Lout has finished work for the day and he is in the front yard of his company owned duplex suspended on a spinal adjustment rack. He is attempting to read the newspaper and sip on a cold beer while hanging upside down.  On either side of the Lout family home similar houses can be seen up and down the street and the neighbourhood is out and about enjoying the cool of the evening. Just outside a high security fence surrounding the neighbourhood a group of permanently stationed protestors wave placards and banners at the relaxing waste facility employees.

Arty and his sister Kerry are having an evenly matched arm wrestle on an outside table and Arty is trying his hardest not to get beaten, again.  The solar powered microwave signals that dinner is ready in the precise moment where Kerry flattens Arty’s arm to the table with a triumphant cheer.  The noise startles Larry just as he is about to take a sip of his beer and he falls from the adjustment rack in a pile of ale soaked newspaper.  Arty’s Father picks himself up then he breaks into song about the problems of raising kids.  The parents of all the kids in the neighbourhood join in the chorus and it ends with a group of overweight fathers belly flopping into an undersized kids swimming pool. 

SONG TITLE : New Generation. 

PERFORMED BY: The parents of the neighbourhood kids.

Scene 2.

 

Seated at the dinner table the usual brand of family banter is exchanged until it is interrupted by ‘Breaking News’ on the TV. Larry turns up the volume on his remote control as details of the crisis are broadcast. As they eat their meals the family focus on what is being said. 

 

DIALOGUE.   A Television News Announcer.

 

Word has just been received at the station that the proposed ‘Grid Net Survival strategy’ has been made official and it will commence as law after a brief twelve month transition period.  From this day on in one years time if any person in any country uses a non renewable fuel in their vehicle they will incur hefty fines or possible imprisonment. High on the list of new Grid Net laws is the outlawing of a range of products that we all take for granted in our everyday lives.  The bottom line it would appear is if anything is deemed environmentally unfriendly by the new global alliance you can rest assured it will be made illegal. To tackle the problem of increasing food shortages the alliance has announced it will be funding the production of supplementary food capsules which will be made available to all who are displaced by the changes.  This is the News Hour and I am your host Clive Harding wishing you all a good evening.

 

An advertisement promoting the newly completed Club Med space resort fills the screen and the dinner table conversation changes to the crisis with Arty the most vocal in expressing his concerns.  

 

DIALOGUE.

Arty. Hey Dad ... What are you gonna do when the waste plant closes down,

        will you still have a job?

Larry Lout. Who says it’s going to be closed down.

Arty. Well all that toxic stuff that usually gets dumped here is going to be made illegal

        so there won’t be anything for you to do when the Grid Net plan kicks in.

Larry Lout. I wouldn’t worry about it son there’ll always be a job here for me Iv’e been

                 with the company for nearly twenty years.

Arty and his sister Kerry raise their eyebrows in unison as their mother starts clearing the table. A family favourite comes on the radio and it isn’t long before the whole household is singing along as they do the dishes. 

SONG TITLE.  Rock and Roll by Led Zeppelin.

 

After dinner Arty heads upstairs to his room where he jumps on his laptop and clicks to the website of his favourite band ‘Flip Casino’ and The Neon Farmboys.  Once he has checked out the latest gossip on the ‘Music Industry Bad Boy’ he sets about scanning the net for more information on the environment crisis. He follows a link to a the Grid-Net official web site and hears of how it will see every man woman and child re-employed in a history making quest to venture into the heavens, in search of a new home for humanity.

 

DIALOGUE.  The serene voice of a female presenter.

The Grid Net is the result of years of dedicated planning by the world’s brightest minds in a unified alliance of participating countries.  It offers a valuable safety net to our combined civilisations as the earth struggles to support it’s vast populations and provide for our ever increasing needs.  Within this decade our low orbit colonies will form stepping stones to the moon and the wealth of resources that lie beyond.  Already the prospector 1 has located minerals that can be mined and turned into metal and others that can convert into fuel for the long journey ahead. A number of ancient underground lakes have also been discovered which will allow for the production of food as we venture towards the stars.  Thank you for visiting the Grid Net information site and please enjoy the following transmissions.

Arty’s mind is racing as he lays his head down and tries to go to sleep with a flood of crisis related information echoing through his brain.  Eventually the blaring news broadcasts give way to slumber as he falls into a deep sleep and begins to dream.  The first indication he is walking through dreamland is when he hears the sound of flowing water and sees a hint of blue sky at the end of an underground tunnel.  As he moves towards the light he has to carefully avoid jagged limestone structures and skip over small pools of flowing water that are following a broken course towards the entrance of the cave.  He walks around a cascading waterfall in front of the cave and once out in the daylight he finds the small trickle has become a large pond. As he walks around the perimeter of the pond he sees that he is at the base of a large valley, surrounded on all sides by high ridges. 

Arty is pondering where to go next when he spots an object flying over the ridges to the east.  It descends over the escarpment towards him and he can just make out that it’s some kind of flying machine, with large spinning propellers. The aircraft lands beside the pond and the pilot jumps out to greet him.  It’s a strange little elf like creature called the ‘Glitter Sing’ who introduces himself before singing a ditty about his home on Art Star One. 

 

DIALOGUE.

 

SONG TITLE : Art Official Art.       

PERFORMED BY : The Glitter Sing.

The jovial little character says has come to escort Arty to meet the ‘Queen of the Nature Spirits’. Confident he is not any kind of threat Arty jumps into the flying machine and they zoom off into the heavens. Far beyond the valley the flying machine comes to a bumpy stop in the middle of a large city, where all of the buildings are the shapes of other worldly plants and animals.  Arty is led into a tall skyscraper that looks like a gigantic cactus and he is taken to meet the Queen.  A friendly conversation takes place between Arty and the Queen of the Nature Spirits and she gently explains what he has to do when he returns to his home. The Glitter Sing is instructed to accompany Arty in his travels and render any assistance he can.

 

Once back in the flying machine the pair embark on a journey which takes them cruising through the vast expanses of deep space, until they reach the earth.  The Glitter Sing lands the aircraft on the front lawn of Arty’s house and allows him to jump out.  Then he vanishes into thin air. 

 

Arty is suddenly woken by the sound of whirring propellers coming from the front yard, but when he looks out of the window there is nothing there.  He struggles to remember the details of the dream he was having as he hurriedly pulls his Rainbow Peace Corp uniform out of the wardrobe.  He doesn’t really know why he is putting it on instead of his school uniform, but that doesn’t seem to matter because he knows that he has been selected to participate in something very important. As he is leaving the house in the early morning light Arty’s sister Kerry suddenly intercepts his passage near the back door.  She wants to know what kind of mischief he is planning, but he says he can’t tell her because he doesn’t quite know just yet know.

DIALOGUE.

Well before the start of school Arty text messages his friends Bomber and Skatesy and he tells them to put their Peace Corp uniforms on and meet him at their secret meeting place. The kids hideout is a large section of crumpled space junk that has crashed to earth close to the settlement.  When they arrive at the meeting place Arty tells his buddies about the dream he had with The Queen of the Nature Spirits and says they have to run away with him to help save the planet.  The two boys are intrigued but not totally convinced until they hear the sound of whirling propellers and see the Glitter Sing flying high above them.  He leaves a green vapour trail behind the flying machine that reads ‘Save The Earth Children’ and gives the familiar Peace Corp salute before he flies off.  The flying machine circles the campsite of the protestors then a large, rainbow lit, neon arrow is lowered from the underside of the flying machine on ropes and pulleys.  The arrow points towards the campsite of the activists and the children are left to assume that this is where their mission is meant to begin.

Arty and his friends leave the concealment of their space junk hideaway and move off quietly through the dunes.  At the campsite of the activists they find everyone hurriedly preparing a convoy of buses, cars and trucks to leave.  Amid hurried preparations to depart everyone is too busy packing to notice the three young runaways hiding under a large tarpaulin, on the roof rack of a bus.  The convoy is well on it’s way to by the time the kids are discovered and it is agreed by a vote of the clan they can stay until the convoy gets to Junkville.

DIALOGUE.

Arty and his buddies are crammed into the cabin area of a vintage, all terrain fire truck with a group of activists known as Spiker, Quiver, Jake and Sally.  As they are motoring along a call comes over the two way radio with an invitation to help save the last remaining river gums in the Junkville shire.  The crew are quick to agree and a trip to the ‘Junkville Bad Lands’ is voted in as the next stop on the journey. As the travellers clock up the miles on the dusty desert highway the kids find the protestors are real fun to be with as they joke around with each other and sing traditional protest songs.

SONG TITLE: The Cause. 

PERFORMED BY : The Activists.

All of the convoy crew are exhausted from the journey and everyone hits the sack straight after the evening meal.  Arty is so exited by all that has happened he can’t get to sleep, so he climbs out of his sleeping bag and goes for a walk down by the water.   He is sitting on a fallen tree that is half in and half out of the murky water when he notices a movement just off the bank. 

He shrugs it off thinking “There wouldn’t be any fish in there” then he sees the unmistakable shape of some living thing diving and surfacing the same way a dolphin does. He is just about to stand up for a better look when the tree branch he is sitting on begins to shake and move down the embankment. It descends further and further into the filthy water and Arty doesn’t know what is happening. It’s impossible to jump off the log because he would end up in the water so he just holds on and calls out for help.  Within seconds the whole convoy crew are stirred from their slumber and standing on the riverbank. 

Sally manages to grab hold of Arty and rescue him, waist deep in disgusting toxic slime.  The creature is bellowing with an almost human laugh as it pulls the loosened log completely into the water.  Then it jumps onto the floating tree in a crouching position like a medieval gargoyle and sneers at the onlookers in a menacing and contemptible fashion.  

 

Other creatures of a similar appearance have started appearing from out of the shadows on the other side of the river and they too are taunting the crowd in a rowdy chorus of ridicule.  The thing in the water points a commanding finger to the night sky and the others on the far bank fall silent.  It then commences to warn the travellers of the perils they will face if they attempt to defeat the ‘Metal Skin Creepers’.

DIALOGUE.

SONG TITLE : Metal Skin Creepers. 

PERFORMED BY: The Ink Swimmer and his Army.

 

Some of the protestors saw an opportunity as Arty was being rescued by Sally and they broke away from the main group.  An old car body wedged at the base of the dammed up rubbish has a metal rope fastened to it and the other end is attached to the rear of the fire truck.  On Jakes command the truck takes off up the track and the car body is quickly dislodged from its position.   The water around the creature begins to swirl and move as the river breaks the dam wide open and pours over it.  The Ink Swimmer is swept away in the torrent along with his howling pack when the corroded riverbank they are standing on is crumbled into the cascading flow.  Arty and Sal dry themselves by the campfire surrounded by their friends and they cheerfully re-count the events of the evening. 

In the morning the convoy arrives at the scene of the planned protest and they find a blockade action is in full swing.  There are two creepers moving across the open plain towards the river gums and they are surrounded on all sides by protest vehicles.  Some of the activists have managed to climb up onto the monstrosities and they are trying to do anything they can to immobilise them, but it all seems to no avail. The fire truck crew are quick to jump into action with all attention being given to an ancient water cannon mounted on the roof of the cabin.  Spiker is at the wheel as the truck thunders down the track with Jake at the water cannon controls and quiver loading up his bow for action. 

Sally makes sure the kids are safely out of harms way on the rear seats then she jumps into the front seat next to Spiker. By this stage the control operators inside the cabins of the creepers have become annoyed by the hindrance of the activists and several vehicles have been unceremoniously crushed.  Protestors are fleeing in all directions as Spiker manoeuvres the fire truck so it is directly under one of the creepers, between the revolving tracks. Quiver takes aim and projects an arrow with pin point precision so it penetrates the aluminium casing of an external computer terminal which operates the steering controls. 

The creeper instantly starts to veer from left to right uncontrollably with Spiker franticly trying to move in the same direction, so as not to get crushed under the revolving tracks. Jake and Sally climb out of the windows and get up onto the roof of the cabin, so they can manually aim the water cannon towards looms of electrical wiring on the underbelly of the creeper.  When this is done Spiker hits the release button and sends a high pressure blast of water deep into the under carriage.   Now soaking wet and laughing Sally and Jake scramble back into the cabin as Spiker jumps on the accelerator and races out from under the mortally wounded Creeper.  The control operator can be seen making a hasty exit from the smoke filled cabin and he waves a violent fist at the activists as they speed off.

A lone activist who scaled the creeper loses his footing and falls towards the ground.  Quick to the rescue the fire truck crew aim the water cannon and project a high pressure blast so it catches him mid fall. The protestor is cushioned by a rainbow reflecting water fountain to the cheers of those below.  The Glitter Sing swoops in from out of nowhere in the flying machine and offers the lad a ride. Shaken but unhurt the daring young activist jumps off the water spout into the flying machine and is kindly shuttled back to ground level. 

The Glitter sing gives a friendly wave to Arty and his friends then he takes off in the direction of the second creeper.  The crew prepares to advance but Arty suggests they wait and see what the little magic space traveller has up his sleeve.  Just as expected the Glitter sing moves in on the creeper and bombards it with a million self germinating seeds.  Spiker sees an opportunity to lend a hand and re-activates the water cannon to shower the metal skin creeper until it is dripping wet.  No longer rock hard and lifeless the red dirt of the desert sends forth a multitude of sprouting tentacles that grow so fast and strong they turn the creeper on it’s side.  The operator narrowly escapes injury when he jumps out of the cabin and clutches for dear life onto a passing branch.

The saving of the red gums is a victory worth celebrating so in the evening as the activists camp for the night there is much merriment into the early hours.  The following day sees the convoy leave the Badlands and continue the journey towards Junkville. The numbers have swelled considerably as they are joined by the Badland protestors but ‘the more the merrier’ is what is going to be needed if they are going to have any luck against the corporate giants they are about to tackle.   

 

The sun has by now started to light the day so breakfast is prepared and the convoy sets off.  As they are passing through the outer suburbs of Junkville a brightly painted touring coach pulls up beside the fire truck at a stop light.  Along the side of the bus the words ‘The Flip Casino Roadshow’ are painted and the bands music is blaring out of duel megaphone horns on the roof.  Arty can’t believe his eyes. His absolute number one hero the legendary Flip Casino is stretched out in the passenger seat of the bus with his cowboy boots up on the dashboard. 

Arty and his young friends begin shouting out of the opened windows and Flips famous but extremely hungover face appeares from under a sequin and stud encrusted cowboy hat. To return to his slumber in the shortest possible time Flip signals his Head Roadie Critter in the seat directly behind him and a bulging wad of complimentary concert tickets are produced.  The lights change at that moment so Critter has to lean out of the window to pass them over to the fire truck.  Quiver is hanging out of the rear window ready to grab the tickets and the appropriate number are gratefully received.  Arty and the others are overjoyed at their good fortune and start looking forward to the ‘World Environment Day’ concert with new enthusiasm

 Once through the sprawling suburbs of Junkville the travellers come to a stop in the gardens of the Community Art Centre.  This is to be their base camp for the duration of the Junkville campaign and all agree it’s the nicest place to be in the whole metropolitan area.  The collective who run the art centre are also activists and it is they who are orchestrating the World Environment day concert and rally scheduled to take place in two days time.  While they are preparing for the rally the community receives a welcomed visit by Crystal Dreamline the lady CEO of EarthHeart and she has come to encourage them in their efforts.  When Arty and his friends meet Crystal they are her instant fans and she responds with a song in the gardens of the Art centre.

DIALOGUE.

SONG TITLE : The Rainbow Dream.

PERFORMED BY : Crystal Dreamline.

The Flip Casino Roadshow pulls up at the front of the ‘Age of Luxury’ Hotel and the crew floods out the door to the comfort of their hotel rooms.  Flip engages in some kung fu practice with the paparazzi at the hotel entrance before he jumps into the lift headed for the penthouse.  The first thing he does when he gets to his suite is rip off his dusty clothes and slip into a hot spa.  There is chilled Champaign in a diamond encrusted bucket beside the bubbling spa, so he pours a glass and sips vigorously before completely submerging his head under the bubbles. After re-emerging from the warm, soothing water he reaches for the remote control to see if his concert is being promoted properly on the local channels.  He scans through the stations until he finds the relevant advertisement and his vanity is instantly appeased by what he sees.  The ad finishes in a high pitched scream he is exceptionally proud of, then the programme goes to an interview with Crystal Dreamline.  Flips is instantly transfixed by Crystals good looks and strong presence, so he puts the remote aside and lays back to listen to what she has to say. 

DIALOGUE.

The interviewer is ‘Bluesy News’ the investigative reporter who has the corporate giants of the world running scared.  Crystal explains the reasons for the phenomenal rise of her environment friendly corporation and she goes on to describe how EarthHeart is the principal sponsor of the forthcoming Environment Day concert and rally.  The interview cuts away to footage of the Neon Farmboys with a voice over by the renowned DJ Plastic Jack celebrating their popularity in his usual hyped up style.   Flip gives a self satisfied little chuckle as the news broadcast ends and another concert promotion fills the screen.

The next day.

Crystal jumps out of her bio-fuel limousine in the rear stage area of the Junkville stadium to speak with the organisers about her presentation at the concert.  She is greeted with open arms by her hosts and then scuttled off to an office complex to go through the plans. 

DIALOGUE.

SONG TITLE : The Age of Luxury.

PERFORMED BY : Flip Casino and The Neon Farmboys.

The Neon Farmboys are doing a sound check on the main stage and Crystal’s arrival does not go unnoticed by Flip.  Before the sound check is complete Flip slips away in the direction of the office complex to find out where Crystal is located.  They are formally introduced by a fluttering gaggle of industry types before they manage to break free of the nonsense and head towards the coffee machine to talk.  The first meeting of our winning, youth culture, superstars is electrically charged from the first moment and both spare no time in displaying their seductive charms.  It’s mutual attraction from the word go and as Crystals limo departs the arena with Flips boots protruding from the rear window, the band shake their heads and the paparazzi go into a feeding frenzy. 

Ben. T. Cross. is the CEO and spiritual leader of the ‘Church of Greed’ which has it’s global headquarters in the business district of Junkville.  With ever increasing wealth the former stock market consultant lost the plot and now he sees himself as ‘The Money God’ in the world of high finance.  In his long career as a scheming corporate con man Ben Cross has never encountered the degree of transparency the public requires before they hand over their hard earned cash. 

Now with all this talk of an ‘International State of Emergency’ the government is threatening to close him down.  Daily he sees the rise in popularity of the Environment friendly sector and it makes him cringe with raw jealousy and contempt.  In the seclusion of his private space station he indulges in warped fantasies where he gains control of EarthHeart shares and reclaims his position as the master of the corporate universe. The C.O.G. has released information through it’s religious television network that one of their deep space, research stations has detected a habitable planet possible for humanity to colonise.  Tickets to the ‘Promised land are selling like hot cakes among Church of Greed followers and C.O.G. share prices go into an unprecedented growth curve. To promote the new campaign Ben Cross makes one of his rare visits back to planet earth and conducts his business from the penthouse suite of C.O.G. headquarters in Junkville.

DIALOGUE.

Wilson.P.Klondyke is an animated graphics genius who began his illustrious career with the Disney corporation in the early nineteen fifties. He rose to greater notoriety as the man who animated the evolution of the human species for the BBC and now he is the big secret that Ben.T.Cross wants to keep from the world. Mr. Klondyke is holding information so potentially devastating to the C.O.G. that he is living in hiding and waiting for his chance to expose the truth.

Ben Cross has been exposed to more publicity than he cares for about the World Environment Day celebrations and anger is percolating to the surface more with each advertisement he has to endure.  With the very next image he sees of Crystal Dreamline and her flag waving friends he snaps and goes completely over the edge.  He hits the red button on his staff console and summons his henchmen who are only ever called upon in last resort situations.   Ben Cross gives explicit instructions that Crystal Dreamline should be brought to him before the sun goes down, then he sits back sipping on a three hundred year old port wine, repeating the mantra in his head “She’ll come around” … “She’ll come around” .

Crystal and Flip are so madly in love they have been inseparable since first they met.  With the concert so close however they have to force themselves apart so as to fulfil their obligations in the world. As Crystal is leaving the foyer of the hotel to link up with her limo she is grabbed from behind by persons unknown and man handled into a waiting car.  Blindfolded and gagged she is driven to the headquarters of the C.O.G. where Ben.T. Cross. is eagerly awaiting her arrival.  Crystal is locked in a concealed section of the penthouse with no idea who her captors are or the reasons for her abduction. 

The convoy have enjoyed a welcome rest in the Perme-culture gardens of the art community.  Arty has been camping with his friends in a giant tipi near a waterfall and he has been learning how to sing environmental anthems from Jake.  Excitement grows as tomorrow will bring the big day of the concert, with a rally to follow that is destined to break the attendance record for anything the environmental lobby has ever put on. 

The fire truck crew head out from the gardens with the others in convoy formation and they travel across town towards the stadium.  As they approach the arena the crew delight in the fact the streets are filled with people, on foot and in cars, all heading in the same direction.  There are tents and other makeshift shelters erected all over the car park area and it looks like a gathering reminiscent of the love festivals of days gone by.  At the security check point Jake lets out a hoot and jumps out of the fire truck when he notices the guard on the gate is an old pal.  He explains to his friend how the whole crew have back stage passes, to which the gates are opened to let them all in. Once through the security barriers the convoy comes to a stop amid a large, circle of vehicles.  A tipi circle is established on the inner circumference and fires are lit as the festivities begin.

DIALOGUE.

When Crystal fails to attend a board meeting of the EarthHeart corporation her colleagues become concerned and start making enquiries into her whereabouts.  It soon becomes public knowledge that she has gone missing and the global media has a field day, blowing the story out of all proportion before any actual details are revealed.  Abruptly woken to the news by Critter, Flip jumps out of bed and rallies his entire security crew to help rescue Crystal.  

DIALOGUE.

Flip and his squadron of minders and roadies hit the nightclub district of Junkville in the hope they might dig up some underground information on where Crystal is.  At one of the more exclusive dance clubs in the area they are introduced to Plastic Jack the resident DJ. Jack tells Flip that “The word around the campfire” is that “Crystal has been de-moleculized and transported back to heaven where she came from by her fellow angels”, who believe she is … “too good for this bad old world we all livin in”. 

DIALOGUE.

Flip receives little comfort from the praise that his missing lover has been given. He leaves the club with his troops despairing more with each passing minute as they head back towards the hotel.

The Church of Greed global network is working around the clock, to sell as many tickets to the new planet as they possibly can. A high rotation television and internet campaign features  Ben.T.Cross inviting all ‘True Believers’ to secure their passage to paradise and eternal salvation.  He declares himself to be ‘The Money God’ and a financial messiah who will provide infinite wealth and prosperity to all who join him.

DIALOGUE.

Bluesy News has travelled to Junkville to cover the rally, he is also doing some investigative sniffing around in his unending quest to bring the Church of Greed to it’s knees.  As he is enjoying a cold beer in the garden bar of the Age of Luxury Hotel he gets talking to an ex staff member of the C.O.G. 

DIALOGUE.

The guy has had a few too many drinks and he freely shares just the kind of information Bluesy is looking for.  He tells the reporter that a bloke by the name of Wilson Klondyke has gone into hiding for fear of his life, because he has evidence that the discovery of a new planet is a scam.  Bluesy is given a phone number where Mr. Klondyke might be contacted if he hasn’t already been disposed of by C.O.G. henchmen.  Happy with the breakthrough Bluesy breaks into song which gets the whole saloon singing.

SONG TITLE : The News.

PERFORMED BY : Bluesy News and the other hotel patrons.

The day of the concert has finally arrived and Arty is up with the sunrise, trying as hard as he can to contain his excitement.  The area around the convoy camp circle is buzzing with activity as an army of roadies and other concert staff prepare for the day ahead. People have started flooding into the stadium from all directions, under a dome of clear blue sky and an atmosphere which hints history in the making.  By mid morning the first of the bands start performing and the crowd is up dancing from the moment the first guitar note is struck. 

 Flip and the band are scheduled to perform at about six o’clock in the evening, but the way things are looking it is going to take a miracle to snap the Star out of his depression.  There has been no word of Crystal’s whereabouts and everybody has started to fear the worst.  No amount of “The show must go on” or “Damn the torpedoes, full steam ahead” from the band can get Flip the slightest bit motivated to perform. There has even been talk by the concert organisers of cancelling all of the headline acts in honour of Crystal and the good work she has done in the world.

DIALOGUE.

Ben Cross enters the secret apartment where Crystal is being held and he is in the company of a woman who is identical to Miss Dreamline in every way. Crystal looks up from the magazine she is reading and is deeply shocked by the person standing before her.  The self proclaimed Money God jokes about how infinite wealth can buy anything, as he introduces Crystal to the latest innovation in human replication.  He tells Miss Dreamline because she has been so hesitant in handing over control of EartHeart the new Crystal Dreamline will be announcing the forthcoming merger. 

DIALOGUE.

The large digital clock in the back stage area of the stadium reads five fifty two and nobody has so far been able to motivate flip to perform.  Arty and his young mates have heard of the crisis as it buzzes through the crowd, so they decide to do something about it.  The three make their way through a maze of long corridors to Flips change room where they find him staring blankly into a mirror and emptying a bottle of whisky.  The kids barge right past personal minders and Arty demands to know why his all time hero is acting like a pussy, when he is supposed to be helping to save the world. 

DIALOGUE.

Arty receives great vocal support from his pals Skatesy and Bomber as he tells Flip that Crystal would want him to be singing his heart out for the people.  These it seems were the magic words that snapped Flip out of his lovesick blues and reignited his confidence to go on. The clock reads one minute to six as Flip acknowledges the truth in the words spoken by the youngsters and he rises to his feet.  Arty and his buddies lead Flip and the band through a clapping and cheering crowd of concert organisers, stage crew and others and they run up the long ramp that leads to the stage.  The stadium is filled to capacity and when the Neon Farmboys come into view the roar is heard so far away that Crystal looks at the penthouse window and gives a wistful smile.

 SONG TITLE : This world. 

PERFORMED BY : Flip Casino and The Neon Farmboys.

The Band is on fire from the first note as they open with ‘This World’ their most popular hit.  At the end of the song Flip invites all of Arty’s friends from the convoy to join him on the stage. 

DIALOGUE.

The crowd becomes even more frenzied and ecstatic as the activists deliver an anthem of hope and optimism with Flip being the most hopeful of all that things will turn out ok. 

SONG TITLE : Once upon a Planet. 

PERFORMED BY : Arty and the Protestors.

DIALOGUE.

At the end of the song as the applause is subsiding Plastic Jack hits centre stage and is given a microphone.  The roar of the crowd increases again, over which the DJ attempts to introduce a special guest, who has some important information to share.

DIALOGUE.

Wilson. P. Klondyke is escorted onto the stage by Bluesy News and he is handed the microphone by Plastic Jack.  Mr. Klondyke tells the crowd that he was a graphic animation artist for the Church of Greed and he was personally instructed by Ben.T.Cross to fabricate images and other data supporting the story about a new planet in outer space.  An explosive howl ignites from the crowd as Flip Casino grabs the mike and vents his anger over the abduction of Crystal.  He shouts to his million strong army of adoring fans that they are going to rally to the headquarters of the Church of Greed, because that’s where crystal is and that is where the party is going to be happening tonite.

 Flip hoists Arty up onto his shoulders and jumps off the stage into a waiting convertible limousine parked just inside the security barrier. Plastic Jack drives the limo through the parting crowd with Bluesy News beside him and they are closely followed by the convoy of activists. The vehicles depart the stadium headed for the Church of Greed with the entire flag and banner waving audience behind them, angry for justice and ready for any kind of action.  As the rallying crowd approaches the high, solid gold doors of the C.O.G. Flip raises his arm and gives a Custer’esque signal to halt. In the excitement of the moment Plastic Jack breaks into song to the accompaniment of the crowd.

SONG TITLE : The Mess-Age. 

PERFORMED BY : Plastic Jack and those gathered at the Church of Greed.

As the crowd are summoning the villain in song the most hardline of the activists spring into action with their abseiling equipment and commence to scale the high glass exterior of the building.  Like a swarm of human flies they manage to penetrate a lower level of the monolith and disable the security monitors throughout the complex.  The huge, golden doors come swinging open and a cheering crowd enters the building, seeking out the Money God and his disciples.     

The entire C.O.G. security staff made a hasty retreat through a rear fire door when they saw the crowd coming and Ben.T.Cross can’t get a response from anybody on his staff console. He quickly decides he has been abandoned and it’s time to get out.  He ponders the best of his options and wonders if he is capable of chauffeuring himself and Miss Dreamline to safety in the anti-gravity, space limo he has parked on the roof. 

The replicant is the only other person in the penthouse beside Ben Cross and the real Crystal.  Bored and in need of company Crystal number two has gone to where the rightful owner of her identity is incarcerated and she makes the silly mistake of forgetting to laser zip the security door.  The real Miss Dreamline wastes no time in exploiting the error.

DIALOGUE.

 She indulges in a brief conversation with her counterfeit self then knocks her off her feet, before racing for the door.  When Crystal enters the main penthouse suite Ben.T.Cross grabs her and drags her into the lift that leads to the roof.

Flip and his army kick down the doors to the penthouse and find Crystal struggling and screaming out from behind the closing doors of the lift.  Flip and the others set off up the stairs where they find Ben Cross attempting to put his captive into the space limo. 

DIALOGUE.

Crystal is kicking and screaming for all it’s worth as Flip her heroic new boyfriend makes short work of the evil Ben.T.Cross. Now humiliated and defeated the snivelling ‘would be’ messiah is tied up by Spiker and Jake in a long length of abseiling rope and held at the edge of the roof garden for all to see. The lads are preparing to lower him down the side of the building to the waiting crowd, when the Glitter Sing zooms in out of the sky and hovers close by.  The rope is tied to the underside of the flying machine and Ben.T.Cross is hauled the entire length of Junkville Parade to the boos and hisses of every person on the street.  

Flip Kisses Crystals broken fingernail better and then gives all his attention to her waiting lips, as a victory party kicks off on the roof of the Church of Greed. 

DIALOGUE.

Critter has been eyeing the space limo off since they arrived and he says he is positive he would be able to operate it.  In just the right mood for a moonlight ride the young lovers agree, so Critter fires up the aircraft and does an experimental circle of the building. 

DIALOGUE.

Once satisfied his main man has everything under control Flip assists Crystal into the back seat and they prepare to take off for a tour of Junkville by night.  Arty and his friends are quick to jump in beside the roadie, and once everybody is on board Critter hits the lift off button. Fireworks explode all around the space limo as they cruise along and it appears that the whole world is partying from the business district of Junkville right back to the stadium and beyond.

SONG TITLE : Reason or Rhyme.

PERFORMED BY : God/The Queen and the entire gathering.

Without warning the heavens open up to reveal God Almighty perched high in the clouds and singing in full gusto for those gathered below. A chorus of angels are singing at God’s side and they are joined by the party goers in ‘Reason or Rhyme’ the closing song for the show. As God sings he begins to transform into a host of cosmic deities ending in the form of a smiling Queen of the Nature Spirits blessing the scene with rainbows.

 As their joyride comes to an end the group fly low over the crowd in the city centre being cheered along as they go. Arty spots his father at the precise moment his old man spots him and he tells Critter he thinks that they should stop.  Both of Arty’s parents are there along with Kerry his sister and the families of Bomber and Skatesy.  T

HAVING MY BUSKING PERMIT REVOKED AND GETTING MUSCLED OUT 
OF CAIRNS BY THE SHIRE COUNCIL FOR BEING TOO POLITICAL 
AND ALLEGEDLY SMELLING LIKE FISH.  

he kids think they are in big trouble for running away but instead they are showered with affection for being such brave little heroes.

DIALOGUE.

SONG TITLE : The Wind Through The Banners.

PERFORMED BY : The unknown Protestor.

THE 'STREETFIRE CABARET' BOOK BY STEVEN TRIPP