PROTECTING BOB FROM THE SCREEN"
----------------------------------------
INT. BACKROOM – LATE AFTERNOON
(Bob sits at his desk, peering closely at the monitor. He’s positioned a barcode scanner just inches away, hoping it’ll catch the next code that flashes across the screen. He knows his system is interacting with it somehow—he’s seen it return data before, and that one time it looked like a proper barcode.)
(He scribbles notes rapidly, documenting everything in his email to Larry and Trevor.)
BOB
(to himself)
This is getting too weird.
----------------------------------------
INT. LARRY'S OFFICE – LATER THAT DAY
(Larry sits at his desk, going through emails. He squints at Bob and Trevor’s reports, the anxiety mounting in his chest as he reads.)
(He leans back, taking a deep breath, then decides to call them in. He glances at the clock—it’s almost closing time.)
----------------------------------------
INT. LARRY'S OFFICE – MOMENTS LATER
(Bob and Trevor enter, looking uneasy. Larry gestures for them to sit down.)
LARRY
Okay, guys. We need to talk.
(Bob feels a mix of respect and concern as he sits across from Larry. Trevor shifts uncomfortably in his chair.)
LARRY
I’ve been thinking about that screen. Something’s going on. I need you both to promise me you’ll be careful around it.
BOB
(concerned)
What do you mean?
LARRY
I think the humming might be… infectious. Bob, you hum all the time now. I’ve started humming too. Trevor hasn’t, but I don’t want him to.
(Trevor raises an eyebrow, glancing at Bob.)
TREVOR
Are you serious?
LARRY
I am. If I could yank that thing off the wall and box it up, I would. But it seems stuck. So here’s what we’re going to do: find a chunk of metal, put it over the screen until tomorrow. Check it once and then put the metal back up. I want to keep you safe, Bob.
(Bob processes this, a flicker of doubt in his mind. But he nods, not wanting to argue.)
BOB
Yeah, okay.
----------------------------------------
INT. BACKROOM – LATER
(Bob and Trevor scrounge around for a suitable piece of metal. They find a heavy, rusty scrap and set it over the monitor, shielding it from sight.)
(The two share a look, an unspoken agreement that they’ll check back in the morning.)
----------------------------------------
INT. WAREHOUSE ENTRANCE – MOMENTS LATER
(As they finish up for the day, Larry hands out paperwork for them to sign.NDA)
LARRY
Oh, and before you go, sign this.
(Bob looks down, surprised to see a bonus check for $1000.)
BOB
(shocked)
Whoa! For what?
LARRY
Just a thank you for your hard work. and signing the NDA
(Bob beams, his spirits lifted.)
BOB
(cheerful)
I’m going to pay off some bills and treat myself.
(He heads home with a spring in his step, feeling like he’s won the lottery.)
----------------------------------------
INT. BOB’S KITCHEN – NIGHT
(Bob stands in front of the deep freezer, stuffing it full of steaks and meats, the satisfaction of the day still bright in his eyes.)
BOB
(to himself)
This is living.
(He closes the freezer with a grin, feeling like he’s ready to tackle whatever craziness comes next.)
THE MYSTERY OF THE NEW BOX"
----------------------------------------
INT. BACKROOM – NEXT DAY, EARLY MORNING
(Bob walks in, a slight hangover from the excitement of the previous night. He rubs his eyes and heads toward his desk, but stops dead in his tracks. The monitor is gone. Instead, a 20-inch TV is mounted on the wall, dimly flickering with incomprehensible data.)
This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
BOB
(muttering)
What the hell?
(He squints at the screen, the light barely penetrating the haze of garbage information scrolling across it. The headers shift intermittently, making it impossible to focus.)
(Bob shakes his head, feeling a slight headache starting.)
BOB
(to himself)
I should have just stayed home...
But the humming stopped or the sound is turned down?
----------------------------------------
INT. BACKROOM – LATER
(Bob sits at his desk, scribbling notes and glancing up at the screen every so often, trying to make sense of the chaos. He avoids looking directly at it, focusing instead on his paperwork.)
BOB
(to himself)
What even is this? And how the hell does it get power?
(He searches around the area, looking for any hidden cables. There’s nothing. Just the screen, hanging there ominously.)
(As the hours drag on, Bob’s frustration mounts. He tries to rationalize the weirdness, but it’s a losing battle.)
BOB
(sighing)
Maybe that $1000 isn’t worth it after all…
----------------------------------------
INT. BACKROOM – LATER
(At around 4:00 PM, a sense of urgency fills the room. Bob glances at the clock.)
BOB
(to himself)
Alright, let’s see what this box is about.
(He receives permission to open the new box. It’s small—one foot by half a foot by a quarter foot—and it feels almost weightless.)
(He opens the box cautiously, revealing a bunch of ordinary pens inside.)
BOB
(disappointed)
Seriously?
(He lifts them out, records the details, and tags them before placing them back into the box.) Then places them in THE BOX on 10.5k (where all the wired goes)
----------------------------------------
INT. BACKROOM – LATER
(As he finishes documenting the pens, the clock ticks closer to 4:11 PM. Suddenly, he remembers his previous realization about the timing of the deliveries.)
BOB
(to himself)
What did I say? 4:11…
(He looks around nervously, the tension in the air palpable.)
(Suddenly, the a sound of creaks open doors, and another odd sound appears from no where on the wind, bob looks around for what has changed or what new thing is here and sees nothing
CHAPTER: THE CAT 5 KID
At 4:11 PM, the Cat 5 Kid strolled in, a single gray CAT5 cable brimming with purpose. It deftly climbed up the racks, traversing the rafters with a grace only a sentient piece of Cat 5 cable could muster. This manager wasn’t going to let the warehouse go to crap; it had a mission: to whip the crew into working order as soon as they could figure out where the hell they were.
As it reached the monitor, Waldo, it plugged itself in. A quiet hum filled the air as the two began their discussion. The chatter was silent to human ears, a flurry of data and signals exchanged between the two. Waldo’s screen dimmed, slipping into sleep mode as they strategized.
They shared a long meeting, discussing delivery schedules and employee efficiency. Cat 5 Kid had observed Bob’s interactions, noting his penchant for organization and the oddities plaguing the warehouse. By the time morning arrived, Cat 5 Kid felt optimistic about the new team.
With the dawn breaking, Waldo’s camera flickered to life. It zoomed in on Bob, who was just settling into work. Seeing the familiar figure, Cat granted Waldo permission to start displaying today’s deliveries. The monitor whirred back to life, revealing two solid barcodes just waiting for Bob to scan.
Cat and Waldo exchanged glances, a silent understanding passing between them. They had done the right thing, trusting these creatures with hands to fulfill their tasks. They both knew that if the humans succeeded, it would mean smoother operations; if not, they’d get written up. Cat chuckled at the thought, remembering how most previous employees had never stuck around after that. You always needed new ones, but hopefully, these humans would be better equipped for the challenges ahead.
As Bob approached, unaware of the extraordinary partnership unfolding above him, Cat felt a spark of hope. Today might just be the day everything changed.