This issue takes place immediately after the end of the previous issue.
The setting is West Texas in early December. Scenery, weather, and clothing should be appropriate. Most of the action takes place at night but exterior scenes will be well lit; the sky is clear and the Moon is full.
Most narration in this issue is in the form of FRED's WEB LOG ("BLOG"). This should be indicated by a common but distinctive computer font. These captions will be marked in the script as "FRED's BLOG".
FRED, on his motorbike, speeds over open ground. A trail of dust shows his speed. He is talking on the phone (this isn't visibly obvious, because of course he has the phone receiver in his helmet). (Like a Bluetooth ear piece, ok?)
1. VOICE (from helmet phone):
Fred! Sara's gone. So has the sheriff.
FRED skids to a halt.
2. FRED:
Great. Wait 'til I'm almost back to town before you tell me!
3. SFX:
SCREEEEEEEEEE
FRED sits on his bike, stationary, visor lifted while he looks back the way he came.
4. FRED:
Where are you now?
5. VOICE (from helmet phone):
We're following your route out of town.
6. FRED:
Ok. Take a track to the north after three clicks. Look for a dried-up creek.
FRED snaps his visor down.
7. FRED:
I'll meet you there.
8. VOICE (from helmet phone):
Ten-four.
9. CAPTION (FRED's BLOG):
"Ten four"? Nobody really says that.
FRED is speeding back the way he came, hunched low over the bike.
10. CAPTION (FRED's BLOG):
I should get to the creek before them, the way James drives.
11. CAPTION (FRED's BLOG):
Everything by the book, that's him.
The team's RV flying, yes, FLYING through the air. The panel's POV is from below, so we see the vehicle but not the ground beneath it.
1. CAPTION (FRED's BLOG):
He makes my granny look reckless.
2. VOICE (from back of vehicle):
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
The RV crashes to the ground after what has evidently been a "controlled" leap over a low ridge. Yes, by-the-book JAMES is taking a twelve-ton bus off-roading...
3. SFX:
KERRRUNCHHHHH!!!
Small close-up of JAMES, in full costume, gripping the RV's steering wheel. (The panel should be small, possibly superimposed in a corner of the previous panel, so the page is effectively two half-page action panels.)
4. VOICE (from back of vehicle):
Warn us to strap in before you do something like that!
5. JAMES:
You should be strapped in already in a moving vehicle, Wane.
FRED's bike skids to a halt at the top of a steep drop into a ravine. In this panel we should see the full Moon for the first time. It has risen above the horizon behind FRED. (Note that this tallies with the position of the setting sun LAST ISSUE, though the directions were not made explicit then.)
1. CAPTION (FRED's BLOG):
Damn it, too far south. I can't get down here—
2. CAPTION (FRED's BLOG):
Hold on—
From a high POV (i.e. FRED's), we see JAMES, PAUL, and WANE making their way on foot along the bottom of a rocky, dried-up river bed. JAMES is slightly in the lead.
3. CAPTION (FRED's BLOG):
They're ahead of me!
From a lower POV behind JAMES, we see him stooping in the cover of a large rock and peering cautiously over it. He is making an up-and-down motion with his clenched fist.
No dialogue.
Still in our low (i.e. not FRED's) POV. WANE and PAUL have halted in cover, somewhat behind JAMES. They look at each other, mystified. WANE mimics JAMES's hand signal (his two captions should be placed one either side of the gesture, if you see what I mean).
4. WANE:
What does—
5. WANE:
—mean?
6. PAUL:
Search me.
JAMES looks over his shoulder at his comrades.
7. JAMES:
It's ok. It's Sara. She's chained up but she looks ok—
WANE has broken cover and is striding forwards, a grin on his face.
1. WANE:
Oh, thank—
Something hits WANE with massive force! We don't see what struck him, all we see is WANE being flung backwards through the air.
2. SFX:
WHUMP!
JAMES sets off towards WANE at a run, as WANE smashes into a large boulder.
3. JAMES:
What—?
4. SFX (WANE):
SPLAT!
5. CAPTION (FRED's BLOG):
What the hell is he doing?
As JAMES runs across open ground, something hits him too! We still don't see what, but the impact is flinging him sideways through the air.
1. SFX:
WHUMP!
2. CAPTION (FRED's BLOG):
He's crazy!
3. CAPTION (FRED's BLOG):
He left himself wide open to that. Didn't even use his shield.
JAMES is on the ground, struggling to rise but apparently too dazed or injured to manage it.
4. CAPTION (FRED's BLOG):
Come on! Come on!
5. CAPTION (FRED's BLOG):
Why doesn't he just roll? Can't he see it's—
Close-up of FRED. His visor is raised so we can see his horror-stricken face.
6. CAPTION (FRED's BLOG):
Oh my God! He can't!
Full-page splash of the action, see again from FRED's high POV. JAMES is still on the floor, paying no attention to the MONSTER towering over him. The MONSTER is huge, four metres tall and correspondingly wide. It is basically humanoid but its shape has very little definition -- like a crudely-moulded clay figure, for example. It glows an intense white but strangely does not illuminate the creek or cast shadows. It has no features on its head but it should be obvious from the stance that it is looking down at JAMES. Both fists are raised high, about to come down and smash the life out of the puny human lying at its feet. To the side, we can see PAUL running in to help JAMES. But he's also paying no attention to the MONSTER -- his attention is fixed on his fallen friend.
1. CAPTION (FRED's BLOG):
They can't see it!
JAMES is lying stunned on the floor and PAUL is kneeling over him. They are both completely ignoring the huge MONSTER towering over them and poised to smash them (yes, it's taking its time for dramatic effect). Note that WE can still see the MONSTER even though they can't. (We're going to keep switching between visible/invisible portrayals of the MONSTER in different panels, depending on whose perceptions we are trying to represent. Hopefully this is going to be obvious to a reader and not too confusing.)
1. PAUL:
What is it?
2. JAMES:
I think it's invisible!
3. DISEMBODIED THOUGHT:
Paul! It's right behind you! Do something!
PAUL is looking over his shoulder -- and now we no longer see the MONSTER.
4. CAPTION (FRED's BLOG):
Paul's weighing up his options. Jerome is unbeatable in a fight but can't fight what he can't see. So—
5. CAPTION (FRED's BLOG):
Then my mental link is cut. Paul has changed personalities — but not to Jerome.
PAUL crouches protectively over JAMES. The MONSTER (which we can see once again) smashes its fist down on PAUL's back -- with no apparent effect!
6. SFX:
WHUMP!
7. CAPTION (FRED's BLOG):
He's changed to Jesse. Jesse believes he's protected by the will of God.
PAUL (actually now JESSE, so that's how I'll label his captions from now on) is standing and facing the MONSTER (still visible to us), which hits him again with no effect. Behind him, JAMES is climbing to his feet.
1. SFX:
WHUMP!
2. JESSE:
But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me!
3. CAPTION (FRED's BLOG):
And right now I'd even believe that's true.
JAMES is on his feet and looking around. We can also see WANE off to one side, slowly rising. We won't show the MONSTER in this panel.
4. JAMES:
Jesse, where is it? Tell me where to hit!
5. JESSE:
I—
6. SFX:
WHUMP!
7. JESSE:
I don't see it! I only feel its blows!
JAMES and WANE are both striking at the empty air in front of JESSE.
8. WANE:
I got nothing.
9. JAMES:
Me either.
10. JESSE:
Wait! It's gone!
11. CAPTION (FRED's BLOG):
No it hasn't. It's just moved. It's going for—
A little further down the ravine, SARA is chained by her wrists to the slab of rock which FRED found LAST ISSUE. She is straining against her chains.
1. CAPTION (FRED's BLOG):
Sara!
The MONSTER (visible to us now) is stomping down the ravine towards SARA. From SARA's attitude it should be obvious that she can't see it.
2. SFX (off-panel):
Vrrrrrrooooooooommmmmmmm
3. CAPTION (FRED's BLOG):
I can't believe I'm doing this. I must be—
FRED is leaping from the edge of the ravine on his motorbike, aiming the machine directly at the MONSTER (which we can currently see).
4. SFX:
Vrrrrrrooooooooommmmmmmm
5. CAPTION (FRED's BLOG):
Craaaaaaaaaaaazy!
The bike sails clear through the MONSTER with no apparent effect. It appears to be completely insubstantial. FRED had leaped clear of the bike just before the "impact" and is now falling to the ground (which is some three or four metres below).
No dialogue.
FRED hits the ground hard. In the background, we see his bike hit equally hard. The MONSTER, oblivious, has taken another stride towards SARA.
1. SFX (bike):
Craaashhh!
2. SFX (FRED):
Thud
3. FRED:
Uhhh
FRED is getting painfully to his knees as JAMES reaches him.
4. JAMES:
What was that?
5. FRED:
Absolutely futile.
FRED, still on his knees, points towards SARA. We can see the MONSTER approaching her.
6. FRED:
It's going for Sara!
JAMES has his SHIELD in his right hand and his arm drawn back to throw it.
7. FRED:
Wait! You can't touch it!
8. JAMES:
That's ok—
Close-up of SARA chained to the slab. The MONSTER swings a fist at her. She appears completely unaware of it, looking past or through it and not even straining at her chains to pull away from its blow.
No dialogue.
Same scene. JAMES's spinning SHIELD arrives an instant before the MONSTER's fist, striking and shattering the chain holding SARA's left arm to the slab.
1. CAPTION (VOICE-OVER):
"—I'm not aiming to."
2. SFX:
CRACK!
SARA swings involuntarily to one side, still held by her right arm (which is now painfully stretched). The MONSTER's huge fist hits the slab where she previously hung.
3. SARA:
Ow!
4. SARA:
Thanks a bunch, Ja—
5. SFX:
WHUMP!
Back to JAMES and FRED as JAMES recovers his rebounding SHIELD.
6. JAMES:
Fred, can you see it?
7. FRED:
Not see exactly. It's more like—
Extreme close-up on FRED's eyes. They show an image of the MONSTER.
1. FRED:
Thoughts!
2. FRED:
It's not real. It's pure thought.
Wider view shows the MONSTER towering over the helpless, dangling SARA. JAMES and FRED are further back, with JAMES getting ready for another throw.
3. FRED:
And that means I can do—
Same view. The MONSTER is now thrashing around, as if in pain, with SARA completely forgotten.
4. FRED (thought):
—This!
Same view. The MONSTER, arms thrashing wildly, is stomping towards FRED.
5. FRED (thought):
Die, you son of a—
WANE has now reached SARA and is tugging on the chain that still holds her. (He's probably had to climb up to do this, his feet braced on the slab and his weight leaning against the chain.) She is looking past him, down the ravine. We don't see FRED, JAMES, or the MONSTER in this panel.
1. WANE:
When you're free, move fast. There's some kind of invisible dude—
2. SARA:
Wane, look! It's not invisible any more.
We now see from their POV to where the MONSTER is stomping down the ravine towards FRED. JAMES is nearby and from his posture it seems obvious that he can see it too.
3. SARA (off-panel):
Do you see that?
4. WANE (off-panel):
I see it, but I don't believe it!
FRED grips a rock for support, staring up the MONSTER which now towers over him.
No dialogue.
Close-up on FRED's face. Blood is trickling from his nose and sweat runs down his face. The MONSTER is clearly visible in his eyes -- but instead of blinding white it's blood-red.
5. FRED:
Nnnngh!
Same view. The MONSTER has completely vanished from FRED's eyes.
6. FRED (softly):
Ahhhhh
From the POV of FRED lying on the ground, we see JAMES and SARA looking down at him.
1. SARA:
Wakey-wakey!
2. JAMES:
Are you all right?
3. SARA:
What was that thing?
FRED is struggling to his feet, helped by JAMES and SARA.
4. CAPTION (FRED's BLOG):
Blacked out. I've pushed myself before but never that hard.
5. CAPTION (FRED's BLOG):
I hope I never have to do it again.
6. CAPTION (FRED's BLOG):
But it's not finished. I can feel it out there.
7. FRED:
Drive me back to town. We need to talk to Sheriff Friendly.
FRED is limping back down the ravine. In the background, we see WANE lifting the bent and battered bike upright.
8. WANE:
Your bike's totaled.
9. FRED:
Doesn't matter. I can fix it.
Inside the RV, JAMES is driving. FRED sits in the passenger seat. His chin is down on his chest, as if he's sleeping.
10. CAPTION (FRED's BLOG):
"Monsters from the Id".
11. CAPTION (FRED's BLOG):
That's a phrase my prof used one time. He was talking about the human mind manifesting as a physical force.
12. CAPTION (FRED's BLOG):
That's something I can't do. I can touch other minds but I can't affect the physical world with my thoughts.
13. CAPTION (FRED's BLOG):
But just because I can't doesn't mean somebody else can't.
The interior of the bar that our heroes ate in LAST ISSUE. It's night (the lights are on). And the bar is packed -- several dozen people are here, possibly most of the town's population. But none of them are drinking or talking or doing any of the things one would normally do in a bar. They just sit in silence, as if waiting for something. We should clearly see SHERIFF FRIENDLY and DEPUTY STRAIGHT-ARROW in the foreground.
1. CAPTION (FRED's BLOG):
And Sheriff Friendly is going to tell me who it is that can.
Close-up on FRIENDLY, STRAIGHT-ARROW, and a couple of men seated near them. STRAIGHT-ARROW looks at his watch.
2. STRAIGHT-ARROW:
Midnight.
3. MAN #1:
Must've been done by now.
4. MAN #2:
God rest her soul.
5. SFX (off-panel):
CRASH!
Looking from the POV of the seated men, we see what made the crash -- the outside door has been flung open. In the doorway stands an angry and disheveled SARA. (The others are just behind her, not necessarily all visible in this panel.)
6. SARA:
Her soul is alive and kicking and very pissed off!
Back to a view of the assembled townsfolk. They are looking generally surprised and/or scared. Mostly scared.
1. MAN #3:
She got free!
2. MAN #4:
It'll come for us!
3. MAN #5:
Sheriff—!
SHERIFF FRIENDLY is on his feet and approaching our heroes (who are all now inside). His hand rests on the butt of his gun.
4. FRIENDLY:
You folks don't know what you're messing with here—
FRED confronts the SHERIFF, face-to-face.
5. FRED:
Oh I've got a pretty good idea. And you're going to come with us and—
6. FRIENDLY:
Like hell I will!
7. FRED:
Yeah. You will. And don't even think of pulling that gun.
Close up on FRED's face. We see FRIENDLY's face reflected in his eyes.
8. FRED:
Or you'll find I'm way more scary than that monster out there.
DEPUTY STRAIGHT-ARROW is starting to rise from his chair.
1. STRAIGHT-ARROW:
Sheriff?
STRAIGHT-ARROW is forced back down to the seat by JAMES's hand clamped firmly on his shoulder.
2. JAMES:
Please, deputy, stay there. I won't fight an officer of the law—
Back to a view of SARA, WANE, and JESSE, who are standing between FRED and the SHERIFF and the rest of the room and looking grim.
3. JAMES:
—but I can't speak for my friends right now.
4. JESSE:
James, go with the others. I'll keep these people here.
SARA and WANE are following FRED and FRIENDLY outside. JESSE stands in front of the door, facing the room, arms folded. JAMES is walking towards the door.
5. JAMES:
You're sure?
6. JESSE:
I grew up with people like this. I know how to deal with them.
7. JESSE:
And God is on my side.
Outside, the group is entering the RV.
8. VOICE (from inside building):
Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven!
9. SARA:
I'd rather face the invisible monster!
Inside the RV. JAMES is driving, FRIENDLY is sitting next to him. FRED, WANE and SARA are standing behind the front seats.
1. FRED:
Take the north road.
2. FRIENDLY:
Where are we going?
3. FRED:
To find it and stop it.
4. CAPTION (FRED's BLOG):
I don't know exactly where it came from. But I got an impression of direction from its mind. And I think the Sheriff will give me a better idea.
Close-up on FRIENDLY.
5. FRIENDLY:
You can't stop it. It was killing when I was a kid. It was killing when my granddaddy was a kid. This night every month, it kills.
6. FRIENDLY:
It's invisible, immortal. Unstoppable. All we can do is try to make sure...
Same close up. His mouth is clamped shut.
No dialogue.
Same view, but now SARA is leaning over FRIENDLY's shoulder, speaking in his ear.
7. SARA:
Make sure that nobody you know gets killed?
8. SARA:
Gee. You're a real hero.
FRIENDLY turns his head so he's looking her right in the eye.
9. FRIENDLY:
Yeah. In this town I am.
10. FRIENDLY:
I do what I have to do.
11. FRIENDLY:
What would you do?
A wider view of all of them.
1. WANE:
What are we going to do? How do we fight a 200-year-old ghost?
2. JAMES:
It can't be 200 years old.
3. SARA:
No. Anything that old would have ended at the Event.
Similar view.
4. WANE:
Huh?
5. FRIENDLY:
Huh?
6. WANE:
Which event?
Close-up on JAMES, just to add some variety.
7. JAMES:
Sheriff, the killings halted twenty years ago, didn't they?
8. FRIENDLY (off-panel):
Yes, but—
Close-up of SARA as realisation dawns.
9. SARA:
And started up again recently?
10. SHERIFF (off-panel):
Yes, but—
Close-up on FRED.
11. FRED:
It's someone young. Someone born with a power.
12. FRED:
The town legends were just the inspiration.
Wide view again.
1. FRIENDLY:
I don't know what you're talking about.
2. WANE (softly):
Glad it's not just me.
Just a view of FRIENDLY and FRED. The SHERIFF is looking puzzled by FRED's question.
3. FRED:
Tell me about Peter Reede.
4. FRIENDLY:
Peter? He's got nothing to do with—
5. FRED:
Take the next left, James.
6. FRIENDLY:
Petey's a good kid.
Exterior view of DOCTOR REEDE's house, as seen LAST ISSUE. It's still night and the Moon is now high. A single light is showing through a front window.
7. CAPTION (FRIENDLY's voice-over):
"There's no way he's mixed up in any of this. He's—"
Interior of REEDE's living room, also seen last issue. DOCTOR REEDE sits hunched forward on a couch, head in his hands. On the table in front of him is a half-empty bottle of whiskey and a glass. A lamp in the corner illuminates him.
8. CAPTION (FRIENDLY's voice-over):
"He had it all going for him. Great kid. Loved football."
REEDE has lifted his head from his hands and is looking over at the door to PETER's room.
9. CAPTION (FRIENDLY's voice-over):
"Until I hit him. In my car, chasing some punks from the next county. I didn't even see him."
Now the interior of PETER's room. It's a typical teenage boy's room: single bed, cluttered desk with a TV, posters of cheerleaders on the walls. Standing next to the bed is an empty wheelchair. Lying asleep in bed is PETER REEDE. The curtains are open (so we can see the scene in the moonlight) but the window is closed.
1. CAPTION (FRIENDLY's voice-over):
"I broke his back. The hospital said he'd probably never walk again."
Back in the RV, JAMES doesn't take his eyes off the road but there is a certain grim set to his (square) jaw.
2. JAMES:
Did the recent killings start after his accident, Sheriff?
3. FRIENDLY (softly):
Yes.
4. FRED:
You've always known who's doing it.
5. FRIENDLY (softly):
Yes.
In the living room, REEDE has opened a desk drawer and is taking out a large revolver.
6. CAPTION (FRIENDLY's voice-over):
"I'll talk to Petey. Make him stop."
The RV is pulling up in front of the REEDE house -- this needs to be an exterior view to make that obvious, but we should still be able to make out who is speaking.
7. FRED:
He doesn't even know he's doing it. What I felt was pure subconscious rage. A monster from the—
Same scene.
8. SFX:
BANG!
The bar in town. The door is open and SHERIFF FRIENDLY enters, escorting a handcuffed DOCTOR REEDE.
1. FRIENDLY:
Straight-arrow, open up a cell. The doc has confessed.
STRAIGHT-ARROW is standing, looking confused. Behind him are the townspeople with various shocked and confused reactions.
2. STRAIGHT-ARROW:
Confessed? I don't get it. Confessed?
NOW JAMES is in the doorway.
3. JAMES:
There is no way I can force you all to admit the truth here. I wish there was.
4. JAMES:
But think long and hard while you're waiting for the FBI.
5. JAMES:
And ask yourselves: who was the monster?
Close-up on JAMES
6. JAMES:
The boy who couldn't control what he was doing?
7. JAMES:
The father who took his own son's life?
8. JAMES:
The sheriff who lured innocent victims to their death?
JAMES has turned and is walking out the door.
9. JAMES:
Or was it a whole town who looked the other way and said—
Back to a view of the clustered townspeople -- FRIENDLY, STRAIGHT-ARROW and REEDE standing in the foreground, the others standing or seated behind them.
10. CAPTION (voice-over):
"At least it didn't come for me."
Next: Dr. Smithsteen's Casebook
All comments to: editor@heroes.force9.co.uk
© 2007 by David Meadows