The Scene: A basement workshop, in an anonymous suburban home. Anywhere, USA. It is some undetermined hour in the middle of the night. Let’s say 2ish.
Norman Commal works feverishly at a cluttered workbench, beside which is a large piece of machinery, hidden under a tarp. It emits an occasional electronic noise, and the odd flash of light, visible through the covering.
Norman: That should do it… yeah, a little more solder there, and…
{Voice from OS}: Norm? You coming to bed, or not? It’s like… let’s say 2ish. You’ve got a class to teach in the morning, you know.
Norman: Yes dear, I’ve just got a couple little things to finish up. I’ll be up in a bit.
Norman retouches the bit of electronics in his hand, looking back and forth from the part to the covered machine, making minute adjustments. This goes on for quite a while.
{Voice from OS}: Norm, come to bed! You’re going to sleep right through your first two classes at this rate!
Norman: Yes dear.
Norman lifts the edge of the tarp, and snaps the last bit of circuitboard into place. The machine makes a small humming noise, and a few extra lights come on, highlighting the shape of the device through the tarp.
Norman: There, that should do…
Suddenly, in a burst of cheap special effects smoke, a machine looking much like the one under the tarp is lowered down on mostly invisible wires from above stage. When it touches down (and when Norman recovers from his coughing fit) a door opens on the front of the machine. Out steps a woman dressed in a fuzzy red robe, her hair tied back with a black kerchief.
Woman: Dammit, Norman, I told you to come to bed three hours ago, and I meant it!
Norman: Yes dear.
Exuent all
[sub]I’m thinking something along these lines, anyway.[/sub]