INT. GRAY OWL COFFEE – DAY

Jordan steps inside Gray Owl Coffee. He has a brief chat with the staff while they work on his drink.

EXT. GRAY OWL COFFEE – DAY

Jordan takes a seat and enjoys a sip of coffee. Across the street in the parking lot, Jordan sees The Painter waving the paintbrush high above their head with a few people (the CHARACTERS) dressed in costume. He rushes across the street to see what is going on.

THE PAINTER
It’s the non-believer!

Jordan laughs a confused laugh.

JORDAN
You filming a movie or a tick-tock?

THE PAINTER
I am changing the world through the power of the arts!

WESTERN FOLKS
(chanting)
The Arts! The Arts!

JORDAN
(playing along)
Yeah, the arts are pretty powerful.

THE PAINTER
(confused)
You agree?

JORDAN
If you caught me earlier, I wouldn’t have, but I’ve had some rather insightful conversations after I blew it with my date.

The Painter takes off their hood to reveal that they are Avery.

AVERY
You really mean that?

JORDAN
I do. Look, I’m sorry for being a jerk earlier. The arts are part of life.

CHARACTERS
(chanting)
The arts will conquer all! The arts will conquer all!

JORDAN
That’s not what art is about.

CHARACTERS
(whispering)
The arts will turn all into art.

The Characters move like zombies toward Jordan and Avery.

JORDAN
Avery?

CHARACTERS
(whispering)
The arts will turn all into art.

Avery looks at the paintbrush.

AVERY
This is not what art should be.

Avery breaks the paintbrush. The people from the murals disappear.

JORDAN
How did you do that?

AVERY
That’s the power of the arts for you. You want to catch a play? Namron Players Theatre is doing a one-act show at Yellow Dog Coffee.

JORDAN
There’s no murderous cowboys, right?

AVERY
No, it’s a comedy. I promise.

JORDAN
Why not? I could use some laughs.

Jordan leads the way to OPOLIS while across the street. Loki and Raven watch the couple walk away.

RAVEN
It appears this time, Avery destroyed the paintbrush before I could initiate any chaos.

LOKI
I’m impressed Jordan talked Avery down. I thought he would’ve gone down a dark path on this route.

RAVEN
Me too. This scene was like a mashup of Sooner Con and the Medevil Fair. Now, what ending should we make canon?

LOKI
Perhaps, we let the universe decide.

THE END