runner.py

import pygame

import select
import sys

class TimeoutExpired(Exception):
    pass

def timed_input (prompt, timeout):
    sys.stdout.write(prompt)
    sys.stdout.flush()
    ready, _, _ = select.select([sys.stdin], [],[], timeout)
    if ready:
        return sys.stdin.readline().rstrip('\n') # expect stdin to be line-buffered
    raise TimeoutExpired

def get_screen (inpt):
    if inpt:
        screen = "\n"*10+"           v           \n...........^..........."
    else:
        screen = "\n"*10+"                       \n...........X..........."
    return screen

inpt = None
while True:
    screen = get_screen(inpt)
    inpt = timed_input(screen,2)
    print(inpt)