The Scratch Over

Grace Swan watches the screen.

Sprocket looks over her shoulder.

That's me eating a date ball, while I'm driving the HiLux, says Sprocket

How are the viewers to know you're eating a date ball? asks Grace.

It's subtle, says Sprocket. See my head moving up and down?

Could be the road surface, says Grace.

There'll be a voice-over, says Arthur.

Oh yes? Who will do it? asks Grace.

Lavender says Arthur. She sees things from a different perspective.

That could work, I suppose, says Grace Swan.

Moving on, this is me learning the difference between a thrombolite and a stromatolite, says Sprocket.

It's the top of your head again, says Grace. Who filmed this? Never mind. What is the difference?

If you listen you can hear what I'm hearing , says Sprocket. That's Gaius's voice.

It needs enhancing, says Grace. I just caught the word clotted.

Yep, says Sprocket. We can do that. Can't we Arthur?

Grace hopes Sprocket is not becoming too reliant on Arthur.

Now these are artistic, says Grace. She has seen the photo of the empty table at Café Moka, and the photo of the marina through a glass bottle.

A bit retro, says Sprocket. That was Baby Pierre.

Grace now sees a video of Sprocket trying to open a gold paint tin.

You'll have to cut this, says Grace. That's stolen property.

There's no proof, says Sprocket. Anyway I thought it was PICA's.

Well it wasn't, says Grace. Unless you have some way of disguising that fact, it must go.

We'll do a scratch-over, says Arthur.

And what pray is that?

Like graffiti over a video, says Arthur.

All right, says Grace Swan. That sounds progressive.

Now the video switches to Sprocket explaining his artistic vision. Hidden connections. Gold paint as a metaphor.

Serious stuff.

Nice change of tone, says Grace Swan. If a bit pretentious.

Thanks ma, says Sprocket.

There follows a photo of three Rabbit Gnocchis.

Our lunch the first day, says Sprocket.

A bit Instagrammy, says Grace.

It's all about loss, says Arthur.

Is it? says Grace Swan.

Has she missed something important?

Move on. Sprocket climbing a tuart at night......Sprocket ziplining.... gold toenails.... rope.... white flowers.... Gaius's shadow.

Elodie filmed this. It's dark and suggestive of danger.

But...

Sprocket, show me your toenails at once! says Grace Swan.