INT. RECORDING STUDIO – DAY

All the lights are…actually, most of the lights are out.  A single spotlight is pointed at a disco ball on the ceiling, the reflections from which faintly illuminate DJ 3000′ as it boots up…

…to an empty studio.  As we watch, DJ 3000”s console flashes the text "TCP-IP connection request sent..." shortly followed by "TCP-IP connection secured...receiving data..." before cutting to display the image of a decorative background, overlaid with a rangefinder.  It becomes clear that the DJ 3000”s point-of-view is now coming from through the lens of a digital camera set up to take photographs of the Soscatee High School Students arriving at the prom. A couple steps into frame, and we hear the sound of a camera shutter closing several times.

PHOTOGRAPHER [OFF SCREEN]: All right, looking good!  Okay, who’s next?

There is the sound of a commotion off-screen.

DEEP VOICE [O.S.]: Prom royalty coming through!

HUNTER RENFROW [O.S.]: Hey, knock it off!

DEEP VOICE [O.S.]: Get out of the way, dorks.

HUNTER RENFROW [O.S.]: You have to wait your turn like everybody else.

DEEP VOICE [O.S.]: We’re not waiting here with you filthy peasants.  Just beam yourself five minutes into the future when you’re at the front of the line.

HUNTER RENFROW [O.S.]: [scoffs] The Enterprise transporter doesn’t work that way, you imbecile.

DEEP VOICE [O.S.]: Tell it to the hand, nerd.

A meaty hand crosses into the camera’s view.

DEEP VOICE [O.S.]: Ha ha, live long and SUCK IT.

HUNTER RENFROW [O.S.]: Hi Angie.

ANGIE MARTINEZ [O.S.]: [makes huffing noise]

PHOTOGRAPHER [O.S.]: Come on kids, let’s move it along.  We don’t have all night.

RACHEL DUNBARTON [O.S.]: Just let them go, Hunter.

A couple steps into the camera frame and the photographer snaps their picture.

PHOTOGRAPHER [O.S.]: Um…hang on a second…

There is a pause as he evidently fiddles around with the settings on the camera, but RICHIE INCOGNITO and ANGIE MARTINEZ’s appearance remain the same.

RICHIE INCOGNITO: What, is my date too hot for your camera?

PHOTOGRAPHER [O.S.]: In a manner of speaking, yes.

HUNTER RENFROW [O.S.]: What’s going on?

Somehow it becomes evident that HUNTER RENFROW is peering over the PHOTOGRAPHER’s shoulder. Maybe like a shadow or something or a reflection in the camera screen? I don’t know, but you get the idea. 

HUNTER RENFROW [O.S.]: Oh, I know what’s going on.  DJ 3000′, is that you?

The word "YES" sheepishly scrolls across the viewfinder screen. 

HUNTER RENFROW [O.S.]: Yeah, that’s just my buddy messing with you and putting a filter on top of the display image.  The base files should be fine.

PHOTOGRAPHER [O.S.]: How did he…?

HUNTER RENFROW [O.S.]: He’s, uh, really good with computers. DJ 3000′, show him the real image.

The image in the viewfinder changes to display RICHIE INCOGNITO and ANGIE MARTINEZ’s real appearance.  The PHOTOGRAPHER pronounces the image satisfactory and moves on to the next several couples.  As he snaps pictures we hear HUNTER RENFROW and his date RACHEL DUNBARTON conversing. 

RACHEL DUNBARTON [O.S.]: …so she’s going to prom with her cousin?

HUNTER RENFROW [O.S.]: Second cousin, I think.

RACHEL DUNBARTON [O.S.]: That’s, uh…well I don’t want to say “gross” because I don’t want to imply anything really unsavory, but it’s certainly odd. Isn’t she worried that people will talk?

HUNTER RENFROW [O.S.]: You mean like we’re doing right now, ha ha?

RACHEL DUNBARTON [O.S.]: [abashedly] Oh. Right.

HUNTER RENFROW [O.S.]: He’s a former professional football player, I highly doubt anybody is going to say much of anything.  Certainly not while they’re in earshot.  But I don’t think she had much choice. Originally she was going to go with her college boyfriend, but you heard about that OnlyFans thing, right?

RACHEL DUNBARTON [O.S.]: I’ve heard conflicting things. That originally he swore up and down that it was deepfaked but now he’s doing it for real?

HUNTER RENFROW [O.S.]: Yeah, apparently after the first few videos went viral he got contacted by a bunch of other performers looking to do collaborations so he stopped claiming it was fake.  I guess it worked out okay for him.  And by that time everybody else in school had already paired up so Angie didn’t have anybody else to go with.

RACHEL DUNBARTON [O.S.]: And she couldn’t go stag?

HUNTER RENFROW [O.S.]: Well, no, the anti-woke committee banned everything other than boy-girl couples.

RACHEL DUNBARTON [O.S.]: Oh, that’s right.

HUNTER RENFROW [O.S.]: I’m sorry I dragged my feet so long about asking you.  I hope you didn’t get too nervous – I wanted to make sure my prom-posal was 100% perfect before I pulled the trigger.

RACHEL DUNBARTON [O.S.]: It was unforgettable.  Like, even a neuralizer ray couldn’t erase those memories.

HUNTER RENFROW [O.S.]: [chuckles] Oh!  It’s time, are you ready?

HUNTER RENFROW and RACHEL DUNBARTON step into the camera frame and the PHOTOGRAPHER snaps their picture. 

PHOTOGRAPHER [O.S.]: [grumbles]

HUNTER RENFROW: Same problem?

PHOTOGRAPHER [O.S.]: Not quite the same, but, uh, yeah, similar problem.

HUNTER RENFROW: Cut it out, DJ 3000′.

The image resolves, along with a bit of text.

PHOTOGRAPHER [O.S.]: That’s better.  So…your friend says that you need to send him a topic for Request Line?

HUNTER RENFROW: Yeah, it’s this thing we do.  DJ 3000′, let’s do “photography”.  Mr. Photographer, maybe you’ve got a song you can get  us started with?

PHOTOGRAPHER [O.S.]: Sure! I’ve always been partial to the J. Geils Band.

HUNTER RENFROW: Consider it done!

— [fifteen minutes and several songs later] —

The PHOTOGRAPHER crosses into frame several times as we see him beginning to take down the backdrop.  He notices something and takes a few steps toward the camera, eventually passing off-screen. 

PHOTOGRAPHER [O.S.]: Hey, I’m sorry, we’re done here. You’ll have to…stop! Put that down! You can’t…NOOOOOOOOOO!

There is a loud “THUMP” and through the camera’s viewfinder we see…

Today’s theme is “Photography”.  We’re looking for songs about photographs, cameras, and film.  Please post links as “https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t!(KaTcHpHR453 and they should embed in the comments after you refresh.  Last week’s puzzle answer of “Let the Eagle Soar” by John Ashcroft was reluctantly solved by BeefRiverLives.  Let’s make this a night to remember!