Chapter Text
January 10, 1969. Twickenham Studios. It’s a tense day for the legendary British rock band The Beatles, with the deadline for their concert with new and rehearsed songs coming faster than it appears. John Lennon is the most aloof, making snarky comments in uncomfortable situations even though he means well, sitting in the corner with his fiancée Yoko Ono; a Japanese avant-garde artist who convinced John to divorce from his other family. George Harrison is the most stressed out; he’s the one who doesn’t even want to do the concert. After days of wondering, he finally decides today’s the day announces to his Beatles brethren that he’s quitting for good; at least until the concert thing blows over. The only Beatle who’s pumped for the concert is Paul McCartney, who’s ecstatic behavior and nitpicking comes off to the rest of the Scouse boys as domineering. He sports his beard with pride, with future wife Linda Eastman playing with occasionally. Then there’s Ringo Starr, the precious little bean. He never had the most character out of all Beatles, but his presence was enough to make the tensest situations calmer.
George knew today would be the day he quit The Beatles, but how and when would he bring up the announcement? He wasn’t just called the Quiet Beatle for no reason. He knew it was the right decision, but his stomach churned at every moment he wondered when he’d ask. “Another take of ‘Don’t Let Me Down’!” Paul said in his thick Scouse accent. George muttered under his breath, “At least it ain’t another take of ‘Maxwell.’” Paul knew exactly what George was muttering about but soldiered on anyway. John whispered something in Yoko’s ear, and she began to laugh. “What’s she laughing about, John? What did you tell her?” asked Paul in a sincere voice. “Oh nothing, just a silly little joke.” John replied in his nasal accent. “Can we hear it?” Paul said. John was quick to answer, “Oh no, it’s far too daft.” “Nonsense, I love a good joke.” Said Paul. John relented and said, “Don’t Let Me Down, famous last words of King Edward VI.” No one laughed. “It was funny to us.” John said.
During a lunch break, George confided with Ringo. “Can I tell you something, mate?” Ringo replied, “Of course, George, you can tell me anything.” “I’m only telling you now because I wanted to wait till there weren’t any cameras or recording equipment.” George said. “So…I’m thinking of quitting the band. Today.” “What?!” Ringo was shocked, but not appalled. He knew Paul’s domineering would get to George eventually. “Well, I know there isn’t much to change your mind. Is it because of the concert?” “Yeah, but there’s other things too.” George replied. “I don’t get enough freedom in the band, and I can tell the duo over there don’t respect me songs. Even after this whole concert thing blows over I think I’ll stay away.” Ringo was looking for what to say. “Well…George…remember last year when I quit the band for a couple weeks? And when I decided to come back you decorated my drum set? Well, if you leave I don’t know if that moment will still live in my head with the same scent. Like, everything about that will be different once you’re gone, y’know?” “Now Ringo,” George gently told Ringo, “Me leaving the band won’t change the fact we’re still brothers. When I make an LP you’ll play on drums, and when you make an LP I’ll play on guitar. Because I’m gone doesn’t mean we’re not friends anymore, remember that Ringo.” “Okay, George. I..I love you, man.” Ringo began to tear up as he said that. “I love you too, man.” George also began to water up a little. The two embraced in a hug that no one could see.
After lunch, Paul cried out, “Alrighty! Another take of “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer!” George & Ringo rolled their eyes, while John said with food still in his mouth “No, I’m still eating.” “You shouldn’t be such a slow eater, John.” Paul said. “We have to start practicing now.” “Can’t you just wait for me to finish my food, Paul?” John replied. “Just like we keep waiting for her to leave.” George snarked audibly. It’s like he wanted to be kicked out. An angry John approached George, saying “How dare you! Yoko’s my one love! And if I didn’t have a decent bone in me body at all I’d smash yer face in and that’s all the papers will write!” George stood up to John at this, saying “I’d still like to see you try, ya ass!” Ringo interrupted, “Guys stop this! This is stupid!” John & George realized how silly what they were saying was and recomposed themselves. Film director, Michael Lindsay-Hogg, who is filming The Beatles for his TV programme, asked the cameraman under his breath, “Are you getting any of this?” The cameraman said, “I’m seeing it but I’m not filming.” “Bloody damn!” Lindsay-Hogg cursed under his breath. “I’m sorry George,” John said. “Yoko means a lot to me & I didn’t appreciate your comment about her.” George couldn’t bring himself to say sorry because he thought he was in the right. Instead, he just sat down without a sound. John started to get tense again. “I said I’m sorry.” He spoke. “Aren’t you gonna say sorry back?” “Apology accepted”, was all George said.
After a few seconds, George continued. “Actually…”, he looked at Ringo for a few seconds. He gave George a nod of approval. Then George said, “I’ve been wrestling with this for a while…” Paul knew exactly what George was going to say next, and deeply feared it. “And…now I’ve finally decided. As of right now, I–” Then Yoko interrupted him. “Wait! I want to show you all something I found in the market!” “Dammit, bitch!” George spouted out in frustration. “Shut up, George!” John shouted. “What is it, honey?” “It’s an ancient box.” Yoko replied. The four Beatles approached the box and examined it. “Looks more like a chest to me.” Ringo said. “Well, what’s it matter?” Paul said. “Both boxes and chest are square or rectangular.” “Yeah, but chests have that half cylindrical top. And this is a chest.” Ringo said. Paul rebutted, “Well chests are usually bigger I thought.” “What, boxes can’t be big, either?” Paul said. This conversation went on a while before John interrupted, saying “She said it’s a box so it’s a box. If it was a chest she would’ve said chest.” Paul & Ringo silently agreed. “Anyway, honey, where’d you find this box again?” “In one of the flea markets.” Yoko replied. “The vendor was a real nice man, but he had a bit of a messed up face.” The box had three gems & a frog engraved upon it. “Maybe it’s French.” George quipped. Paul & Ringo couldn’t help but laugh at that. Michael Lindsay-Hogg took the camera from the cameraman, saying, “I want a piece of this action.”
So there were The Beatles, surrounded by Yoko Ono & Michael Lindsay-Hogg, viewing this mysterious box with the frog insignia. “Which one wants to open it?” asked Ringo. “I’d open it, but I can’t with the account I have a camera in my hand.” said Lindsay-Hogg. “I guess I’ll open it.” Said John. Before opening it, he saw a hand crank on the side of the box. “Ah, it’s a music box. Take notes, Ringo, not a music chest.” George, for as flustered as he was, couldn’t help but snicker slightly at John. Everyone watched in silence & anticipation for John to open the box. Finally, he said “Anyone else feeling an aura of darkness around them?” Everyone muttered a bit, “Yeah, me too.” Said Paul. “Well, here goes nothing.” concludes John. He opens the box. Immediately, a flash of light shines from out of the box. Everyone is blinded by the light, and for a second it feels like they’re ascending to heaven. Then it feels like everyone is falling from out of the sky. A thud. The blinding light fades away.
John realizes he’s fallen in some grass. The weather is hot & humid. He gets up, still bruised from the fall. “Yoko! Yoko can you hear me?! Yoko!” But Yoko is nowhere to be found. All he can see are Paul, George & Ringo lying on the forest floor. “Where are we?” John questioned. Paul got up next. “You’d know, you opened the bloody box!” “Well I didn’t buy the box, Yoko did and she’s nowhere to be found!” John answered back. John & Paul quickly stopped bickering when they heard George & Ringo groaning. They helped them to their feet. “Where the hell are we?” asked George. Suddenly, the four noticed a giant dragonfly flying above them. “The…the Jurassic period?” Ringo tried his best to answer. “Was the Jurassic period ever this…cartoony?” John commented on how animated this land felt when compared to his three-dimensional skin. “Oh my god are we dead? Did we fucking die?!” a scared Paul asked. “I hope not.” John said. But wherever we are, it’s not Earth.”