A ChatGPT-generated screenplay: Michio and Michiko — Click “Raw” to avoid sideways scrolling

michio-and-michiko.fountain

Title:
    _**Michio and Michiko**_
Credit: written and directed by
Author: Chad Jeept
Source: Based on the novel by Toni Morrison
Copyright: (c) 2003 Columbia Pictures
Date: 2022

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*Note: This is ChatGPT output from a prompt to **"write a screenplay, in Fountain format, about a fill-in at a speaker's bureau named Dana who confuses bureau clients Michio Kaku with Michiko Kakutani".** It kept hitting its space limits, so I just told it "go on" several times and then "finish up". Then I told it to write a title page, crediting "Chad Jeept" which I added here. I had to fix some Fountain syntax errors; I may have missed some. --@treyethan*

INT. SPEAKER'S BUREAU - DAY

DANA sits at her desk, typing frantically on her computer. She looks flustered and stressed. The phone rings and she answers it.

DANA
Speaker's Bureau, this is Dana.

CALLER
Hi Dana, this is Michiko Kakutani. I'm calling because I just arrived at the event and it's not what I expected.

DANA
(realizing her mistake, putting a hand over her mouth)
Oh no, I'm so sorry, Ms. Kakutani. There seems to have been a mix-up. You were supposed to be at the event for Dr. Michio Kaku, not the one on dystopian literature.

CUT TO:

INT. LITERATURE EVENT VENUE - DAY

DR. MICHIO KAKU is on stage, giving a lecture on string theory to a confused and disappointed audience.

DR. KAKU
So, the fundamental building blocks of the universe are not particles, but tiny vibrating strings...

AUDIENCE MEMBER #1
(muttering)
This panel _was_ supposed to be about dystopian literature, but when will he get to the point?

AUDIENCE MEMBER #2
(muttering back)
Well, he said he's faculty at CUNY. What do you expect?

CUT TO:

INT. SPEAKER'S BUREAU - DAY

Dana is on the phone, trying to fix the situation.

DANA
Yes, I understand how frustrating this must be for you. I'll do my best to get you to the right event as soon as possible. Can you please hold for a moment while I arrange transportation?

CUT TO:

INT. SCIENCE EVENT VENUE - DAY

MICHIKO KAKUTANI is sitting in the audience of a high-energy physics panel, looking bored and out of place. She checks her watch and sighs.

CUT TO:

INT. SPEAKER'S BUREAU - DAY

Dana is on the phone with a transportation company, trying to book a car for Ms. Kakutani.

DANA
(into phone)
Yes, I need to book a car to take a client to the event on dystopian literature. Can you please send a car as soon as possible?

CUT TO:

INT. LITERATURE EVENT VENUE - DAY

DR. KAKU
...the building blocks of all matter, fused in the cores of stars...

CUT TO:

INT. PHYSICS EVENT VENUE - DAY

Michiko is looking startled, then interested. She reaches into her duffel bag for a reporter's notebook and a pencil.

INT. SPEAKER'S BUREAU - DAY

DANA
(into phone)
So I've sent a car to pick you up and get you right to the other venue, Dr. Kaku. Please call back as soon as you get this.

Dana hangs up and starts to dial another number.

CUT TO:

INT. PHYSICS EVENT VENUE - DAY

Michiko is scribbling furiously in her notebook. 

TIGHT ON notebook with a hand writing equations and science diagrams. In the background we see a phone with an incoming call: "Dana". It goes unanswered as Michiko continues to write.

CUT TO:

INT. LITERATURE EVENT VENUE - DAY

LIT PROFESSOR
(at microphone)
Would you say these strings you kept referring to are more like Foucault's intertwining of knowledge and power, or like threads in Campbell's tapestry?

Dr. Kaku looks puzzled. He opens his mouth to speak--

CUT TO:

INT. PHYSICS EVENT VENUE - DAY

Michiko stands up suddenly.

MICHIKO
(excited)
I've got it!

The physicist at the stage stops speaking. The audience looks at Michiko Kakutani, enraged.

MICHIKO
The third equation! It has a missed term!

The physicist looks at Michiko's notebook. Michiko strolls onto the stage.

PHYSICIST
You did it, Michiko Kakutani! You solved physics!

TIGHT ON Dr. Kaku. He stands up and begins to clap, slowly.

One by one, the audience rises, clapping, until it's a standing ovation.

CUT TO:

INT. LITERATURE EVENT VENUE - DAY

DR. KAKU
I see your point, but we usually call them "lightcones", not "alternative histories". But it is likely that we exist in one now. Lots of versions of you and me doing slightly different things because subatomic particles behaved in slightly different ways. Every possible way. All simultaneously.

INT. SWEDISH CEREMONY HALL - DAY

A MAN wearing a tuxedo with gold and silver medals speaks into a microphone.

MAN
And so the Nobel Prize for Physics goes to Michiko Kakutani and Michio Kaku, for their groundbreaking work in solving physics.

DR. KAKU and MICHIKO smile as flashbulbs go off.

INT. SPEAKER'S BUREAU - NIGHT

DANA
So again, Ms. Kakutani, if you could just get back to me I'd appreciate it. The car has been waiting for some time.

FADE TO BLACK.

> THE END <