conky over screen in one line

dot.conkyrc

-- ~/.conkyrc
conky.config = {
    out_to_x = false,
    out_to_console = true,
    total_run_times = 1 -- must be 1, screen will do the refreshing, not Conky.
};
-- EVERYTHING MUST BE ON A SINGLE LINE!
conky.text = [[${time %H:%M}|free space:${fs_free /}|$loadavg|free mem:$memeasyfree]]

dot.screenrc

# ~/.screenrc
hardstatus on
backtick 1 5 5 conky -c /home/<user>/.conkyrc
hardstatus alwayslastline "%=%1`"

Installation:

1. remove the 'dot' prefix from each filename
2. replace with actual username
3. drop the files in username's home directory
4. run screen

As needed: edit the single line in the first file with your own conky items