Post by shaxper on Sept 12, 2015 22:02:08 GMT -5
Back in the early 2000s, right around the time Crispus Allen was taking up the Spectre mantle, I decided that I wanted to tell a different kind of Spectre story.
I did this for my own amusement and don't claim to know anything about script writing. I gave no consideration to story length, to plot structure, or even to page layout (though I do describe panels). It's careless and amateur, but I still think it holds up as a good story.
Here it is:
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Legacy of the Spectre #1
Reckoning p.1 – A Bedtime Story
Panel: Page size, worm’s eye view. A small room in an orphanage. Spectre is just out of camera, walking into it. Rhiane, an adorable seven year old black/latino girl on bed, looking toward Spectre with glee.
Spectre: Hello, Rhiane.
Rhiane: Spectre!
Panel: Reverse angle panning up from behind Rhiane’s upper back. Spectre silhouetted in shadows, standing over a chair. Should look somewhat haunting, but with an unreadable, smiling face.
Spectre: How are you today?
Panel: Close up on Rhiane. Her gleeful mood has not changed.
Rhiane: I’m fine, Spectre!
Panel: Same angle close up on Rhaine. She has tightened up her face to show distaste with something. She is still utterly comfortable in the Spectre’s presence.
Rhiane: Except Jadea was picking on me again.
Panel: Medium far shot from behind Spectre’s upper back. He has sat down at the chair beside Rhiane’s bed. Rhiane’s eyes are drifting as she recounts her story.
Rhiane: She kept saying I tore the head off of Tina’s bear, but I didn’t do it. Jordi did it.
Panel: Reverse angle and closer up on Spectre. Rhiane is not in the panel.
Spectre: That’s too bad. Did you tell Tina what happened?
Panel: Close up on Rhiana’s face. She’s looking down, sad.
Rhiana: I told Sister Mary Anne, but she doesn’t believe me.
Panel: Same close up. Rhiana’s face has suddenly shifted to gleeful as she looks at Spectre (off camera) again.
Rhiana: Are you gonna tell me a story tonight?
Panel: Far shot, Spectre and Rhiane facing each other, both at profile. Spectre’s hands are folded in his lap, but he leans forward, excited. Rhiane is similarly leaning forward toward Spectre.
Spectre: Don’t I always?
Panel: Far shot of the two, just over the shoulder of a barely noticable shadowy figure in the doorway. Rhiane has her arms out, expecting a hug.
Rhiane: YEY!
Panel: Closeup of Spectre looking at his right hand with concern.
Panel: Far shot of Rhiane attacking Spectre with a hug, Spectre looking terrified.
Rhiane: You tell the best stories no one tells stories like yours everybody tries to but I tell them yours are the best!
Panel: Spectre’s hands reluctantly approaching Rhiane’s back
Panel: Spectre’s hands reluctantly embracing Rhaine’s back
Panel: Close up of Rhiane’s eye, shocked
Panel: Close up of Rhiane’s eye, comforted.
Panel: Profile. Spectre hugging Rhiane.
Rhiane: You have the best hands, Spectre!
Panel: Spectre’s face, surprised
Spectre: Do I?
Panel: Rhiane, grabbing Spectre’s hands in front of her and looking up at Spectre
Rhiane: They’re so cold and funny. I like to warm them.
Panel: Profile, Rhiane climbing back into bed, facing away from camera, Spectre standing, confused.
Rhiane: Everybody else’s hands are already warm. I like giving my warm to you.
Panel: closeup from above, Rhiane throwing herself back on the bed in glee.
Rhiane: I wanna hear a good story. Your best story! I wanna hear one you never told me before!
Panel: Spectre’s face, compassionate and happy
Spectre: Did I ever tell you the one about Dorothy and the yellow brick road?
Panel: Rhiane’s face from above. Looking aside to Spectre, annoyed.
Rhiane: A billion million times!
Panel: Rhiane looking up, wistful
Rhiane: I want a different story.
Panel: Rhiane’s eyes wandering to side
Rhiane: I want a story about…
Panel: Close up on Spectre’s hands, folded in lap
Panel: Rhiane excited, head up, looking off camera to Spectre
Rhiane: Spectres! I want a story about Spectres.
Panel: Bird’s eye view, Spectre (back to us) and Rhianne (sitting up in bed) looking at each other
Spectre: Spectres?
Panel: Spectre’s face, unsure
Panel: Spectre’s face, still unsure
Spectre: Well I do know one…
Panel: From above, Jim Corrigan sitting on the side of his bed, looking down and loading a gun. This and all flashback panels that follow should be tinted to indicate that they are flashbacks.
Spectre (off camera): Once upon a time, there was a man named Corrigan.
Rhiane (off camera): That’s a pretty name.
Panel: Corrigan punching a crook holding a gun. A young boy is tied up in the background.
Spectre (off camera): Corrigan had dedicated his life to stopping bad people
Panel: Corrigan looking over the fallen crook (off camera)
Rhiane (off camera): Is Corrigan the good guy?
Panel: Corrigan aiming a gun at the crook (off camera)
Spectre (off camera): He believed he was.
Panel: Corrigan surrounded by three armed crooks as Boss Gats Benson stands triumphant in background.
Spectre (off camera): Well one day, Corrigan took on more evil than he could handle.
Panel: Two crooks pouring cement into barrel
Spectre (off camera): The bad people hurt Corrigan very badly.
Rhiane (off camera): Did they make Corrigan cry?
Panel: Worm’s eye view of barrel drifting underwater to seabed
Spectre (off camera): He cried very much, Rhiane.
Panel: Bird’s eye view of barrel drifting in a vast void of water
Rhiane (off camera): This is a very sad story.
Panel: Close up of barrel, settled in seabed, brilliant light striking it from an unknown source.
Spectre (off camera): It’s about to change.
Spectre (off camera): You see, God had been watching Corrigan, and he knew that Corrigan had meant well
Panel: Corrigan, unconscious and floating in dark barrel
Spectre (off camera): He said “I’m not done with you yet”
Panel: Etheral Corrigan rising from barrel
Spectre (off camera): And he sent Corrigan back to stop the bad people
Panel: Worm’s eye view, Corrigan’s spirit rising above the terrified criminals, eyes of death
Spectre (off camera): This time, with amazing powers.
Panel: Close up on Corrigan’s menacing eyes of death
Rhiane (off camera): I told you he was the good guy
Panel: Far shot, big panel, profile of Spectre talking to Rhiane. Rhiane is being silly and Spectre is smiling
Spectre: You see, God had sent Corrigan back with a purpose
Rhiane: To tell bedtime stories to little girls?
Spectre: No, not to tell bedtime stories to little girls.
Panel: From above, similar to first Corrigan panel. Now Corrigan is sewing the Spectre outfit instead of holding the gun.
Spectre (off camera): He became the first Spectre, sworn to eliminate all evil on Earth.
Panel: Spectre punching a demon, surrounded by a mob of villains, some crooks, some monsters and demons he encountered in the past, all looking like they are about to leap on him.
Spectre (off camera): He fought many bad guys over the years, from ordinary crooks to monsters and demons
Panel: Close up of Spectre from same panel
Rhiane (off camera): And he always won?
Panel: Close up of Spectre from same panel, eyes are more savage this time
Spectre (off camera): And he always won.
Spectre (off camera): Until one day…
Panel: Wide panel, semi-profile, Rhiane extending her arms and tilting her head back in silliness and glee. Spectre wearing a less jovial expression. Serious, but not grim.
Rhiane: He fell in love!
Spectre: Why don’t you let me tell the story, Rhiane?
Panel: - Identical panel (smaller size)? Rhiane’s head is down. Spectre’s head has not moved, but he is smiling.
Rhiane: Sorry
Spectre: Until one day…
Panel: - Flashback Spectre in mid-air. Something off camera to the right has caught his attention
Spectre (off camera): The Spectre sensed a terrible evil, unlike one he’d ever felt before.
Panel: Flashback Spectre flying forward right, concerned facial expression.
Rhiane (off camera): Call him “Corrigan.” It sounds prettier.
Spectre (off camera): Well, actually, this was a different Spectre by this point. It’s a little hard to explain.
Rhiane (off camera): Oh.
Panel: Spectre phasing through a factory roof.
Rhiane (off camera): I still think he needs a girlfriend.
Spectre (off camera): Do you want to hear the story or not?
Panel: A small boy, standing in a frigid position with vacant eyes, just off center and looking left of camera on the factory floor. He casts an eerie shadow in the Spectre’s direction. The Spectre is descending from the left.
Rhiane (off camera): Sorry.
Panel: Spectre stands, looking puzzled at dumb boy. Boy’s stance and expression do not change.
Spectre: Hel…
Panel: semi-worm’s eye perspective. Boy’s head thrown back, mouth wide open, spewing blackness that seems to be a mix of smoke and oil. The blackness is extraordinary in volume, far greater than the boy’s total size. Evil’s words spew forth in a rumble from the cloud. The Spectre is bent down, throwing the cape over his form to protect himself.
Evil: LITTLE ONE, I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU
Panel: Spectre, still huddled under cape, enveloped in total blackness. Evil’s words rumble forth from the void.
Spectre: What are you?
Evil: I AM EVIL
Panel: Spectre from semi-profile with face more visible than usual (upper face still eclipsed by shadow), mouth open, genuinely concerned
Evil: AND I HAVE TAKEN AN INTEREST IN YOU
Panel: Far shot, Spectre in center of void, creating a sphere of brilliant light around him. It illuminates nothing other than itself within the darkness
Evil: YOU WHO HAVE SWORN TO DESTROY ME
Panel: Close up over Spectre’s right shoulder, looking across to his left. His left arm is up, seemingly holding the sphere together. The sphere is dissipating into smoke
Evil: YOU WHO HAVE BATTLED ME COUNTLESS TIMES IN COUNTLESS FORMS
Panel: Far birdseye shot, Spectre’s back as he floats helplessly in void
Evil: YOU WITH WHOM I HAVE ENJOYED TOYING
Panel: Spectre, thrown to the floor of the factory, still to the left of the frozen boy, vomiting his last spew of black, beginning to wrinkle and sag from the drain.
Evil: YOU WHO HAVE NEVER HURT ME,
NEVER DISSUADED ME
NEVER CAUSED ME TO KNOW FEAR
Panel: Close up of boy’s face, still frozen in it’s expression, almost melting from the drain, blackness still spewing forth
Evil: MY WORTHIEST SELF-PROCLAIMED ENEMY
Panel: Spectre, still on the floor, but looking to left, boy has crumpled to floor like a deflated airbag, blackness barely continuing to trail out of him, dissipating into the air. Evil’s words are similarly visually fading.
Evil: THE GAME HAS JUST BEGUN.
Panel: Spectre and Rhiane again. Rhiane is sitting straight up at attention (in awe), eyes focused intently on Spectre. Spectre’s eyes are somewhere on the ceiling.
Panel: Same shot. Rhiane’s expression has changed to that of excitement.
Rhiane: So then what?
Panel: Reverse angle, from the back of Rhiane’s head, Spectre leaning forward, left hand out, gesturing. Spectre is smiling again, but with reserve.
Spectre: Well the Spectre knew he had encountered Evil itself.
Panel: Close up of Spectre’s face from perfect profile, facing right
Spectre: Not just some form of evil
Panel: Close up of Spectre’s face from perfect profile, facing left toward the other profile (perfect symmatry)
Spectre: But the real thing itself.
Panel: Bird’s eye view. Spectre standing on factory floor in flashback, faced in some direction other than that of the crumpled boy
Spectre (off camera): He knew then that he’d been wrong about everything.
Panel: Same flashback image from before, Spectre punching a demon, surrounded by a mob of villains, some crooks, some monsters and demons he encountered in the past, all looking like they are about to leap on him.
Spectre (off camera): All that fighting…
Panel: Corrigan pointing the gun down at the criminal again
Spectre (off camera): All that vengeance
Panel: Same image, but with a “bang” and a slight tightening of Corrigan’s facial expression
Spectre (off camera): He’d been fighting Evil with evil.
Panel: Closeup, Spectre in flashback, hood removed, tears streaming from his eyeless eyes as he cries upward toward heaven. it is raining.
Rhiane (off camera): Did God get angry with him?
Panel: Medium shot, Spectre with hood removed in silhouette in rain, center, walking toward camera.
Spectre (off camera): God doesn’t get angry, Rhianne. He just waits for us to learn.
Panel: Extreme closeup, Spectre’s cheek, his eye semi-visible above, tears running down.
Spectre (off camera): And the Spectre learned.
Panel: Far shot, Spectre center, arched back, arms extended, ghostly spectre forms flowing out from chest
Spectre (off camera): He decided to divide himself into a thousand pieces, each carrying a small part of his powers.
Panel: Various Spectres, all facing camera, floating in space, tranquil but serious, barely indicating that they are floating with their limbs. Each has a somewhat different face, but each are the same size, the same complexion, and none have facial hair of distinguishing physical characteristics.
Spectre (off camera): Each would go out into the world, join with the most enlightened, good people of Earth, and assist them in their works and deeds.
Spectre (off camera): The Spectre had a new purpose.
Panel: Rhiane upright in bed, attentive and smiling, Spectre smiling back.
Spectre: And do you know what that purpose was?
Rhiane: What?
Panel: Spectre’s arm extended over Rhiane’s head, lovingly patting her with his ghostly hand
Spectre (off camera): To spread love to a world that desperately needed it.
Spectre (off camera): And especially to little angels named Rhiane.
Panel: Far shot, semi-worm’s eye view. Spectre walking toward camera (upper body off camera), stage right, Rhiane in left background on bed.
Rhiane: Spectre, you tell the best stories.
Spectre (semi-off camera): Good night, Rhiane.
Epilogue (entitled “Prologue”):
Panel: Semi-worm’s eye view of Spectre (full body) walking toward camera-right. It is night time, but there is still some light in the air. For the first time, the garment under the Spectre’s hood is clearly visible. He wears an all black suit and a priest’s collar. This should be made very obvious to the reader.
Panel: Bird’s eye view of Spectre (back to camera) approaching a small, suburban church. The church is quaint, but not without it’s beauty and charm.
Panel: The Spectre’s ghostly hand on the door
Panel: Darkness. Center, light pours in from the doorway and the silhouette of the shadow stands amidst it, his dark shape amorphous beneath his cape, his eyes glowing with sincerity and passion.
Spectre: Father, I am home.
Panel: click of a light switch. Closer up. Spectre still stands in the door, his hand on the light switch, mouth gaped open, vulnerable.
Panel: Reverse shot. Back of Spectre’s head, dead center facing the inside of the church, which has been ransacked in the most brutal of ways. Writing is clearly visible across the chest of a large rendering of Christ on the cross, though it is difficult to read from this distance.
Panel: Close up of writing on chest. It is spelt out in what looks like black blood and reads "“Nice story. You left something out”.
Panel: Close up of Spectre’s face again.
Panel: Identical panel
Spectre: Rhiane…
Panel: large panel similar to first panel of story, with someone walking toward bed with Rhiane on it. This time, Rhiane’s face looks disinterested.
Visitor (off camera): Hello, Rhiane.
Rhiane: Hello.
Panel: Close up on Rhiane, still disinterested and a bit confused
Visitor (off camera): I’ve come to tell you a bedtime story.
Panel: Far shot, visitor’s hand on back of chair beside bed. Rhiane looks a bit uncomfortable to see him easing toward it.
Rhiane: Spectre Abrahms already told me one.
Visitor (off camera): Well what’s wrong with hearing two?
Panel: Close up of Rhiane scrounging up face as if tasting something unpleasant
Rhiane: Spectre Abrahms tells the best stories.
Rhiane: I don’t like yours so much.
Panel: Far shot behind visitor’s right shoulder (head and feet spanning off camera). Rhiane looks on from bed, slightly annoyed and unsure whether she should tolerate this company much longer.
Visitor: Then I promise you, Rhiane…
Visitor: This story beats them all.
END
I did this for my own amusement and don't claim to know anything about script writing. I gave no consideration to story length, to plot structure, or even to page layout (though I do describe panels). It's careless and amateur, but I still think it holds up as a good story.
Here it is:
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Legacy of the Spectre #1
Reckoning p.1 – A Bedtime Story
Panel: Page size, worm’s eye view. A small room in an orphanage. Spectre is just out of camera, walking into it. Rhiane, an adorable seven year old black/latino girl on bed, looking toward Spectre with glee.
Spectre: Hello, Rhiane.
Rhiane: Spectre!
Panel: Reverse angle panning up from behind Rhiane’s upper back. Spectre silhouetted in shadows, standing over a chair. Should look somewhat haunting, but with an unreadable, smiling face.
Spectre: How are you today?
Panel: Close up on Rhiane. Her gleeful mood has not changed.
Rhiane: I’m fine, Spectre!
Panel: Same angle close up on Rhaine. She has tightened up her face to show distaste with something. She is still utterly comfortable in the Spectre’s presence.
Rhiane: Except Jadea was picking on me again.
Panel: Medium far shot from behind Spectre’s upper back. He has sat down at the chair beside Rhiane’s bed. Rhiane’s eyes are drifting as she recounts her story.
Rhiane: She kept saying I tore the head off of Tina’s bear, but I didn’t do it. Jordi did it.
Panel: Reverse angle and closer up on Spectre. Rhiane is not in the panel.
Spectre: That’s too bad. Did you tell Tina what happened?
Panel: Close up on Rhiana’s face. She’s looking down, sad.
Rhiana: I told Sister Mary Anne, but she doesn’t believe me.
Panel: Same close up. Rhiana’s face has suddenly shifted to gleeful as she looks at Spectre (off camera) again.
Rhiana: Are you gonna tell me a story tonight?
Panel: Far shot, Spectre and Rhiane facing each other, both at profile. Spectre’s hands are folded in his lap, but he leans forward, excited. Rhiane is similarly leaning forward toward Spectre.
Spectre: Don’t I always?
Panel: Far shot of the two, just over the shoulder of a barely noticable shadowy figure in the doorway. Rhiane has her arms out, expecting a hug.
Rhiane: YEY!
Panel: Closeup of Spectre looking at his right hand with concern.
Panel: Far shot of Rhiane attacking Spectre with a hug, Spectre looking terrified.
Rhiane: You tell the best stories no one tells stories like yours everybody tries to but I tell them yours are the best!
Panel: Spectre’s hands reluctantly approaching Rhiane’s back
Panel: Spectre’s hands reluctantly embracing Rhaine’s back
Panel: Close up of Rhiane’s eye, shocked
Panel: Close up of Rhiane’s eye, comforted.
Panel: Profile. Spectre hugging Rhiane.
Rhiane: You have the best hands, Spectre!
Panel: Spectre’s face, surprised
Spectre: Do I?
Panel: Rhiane, grabbing Spectre’s hands in front of her and looking up at Spectre
Rhiane: They’re so cold and funny. I like to warm them.
Panel: Profile, Rhiane climbing back into bed, facing away from camera, Spectre standing, confused.
Rhiane: Everybody else’s hands are already warm. I like giving my warm to you.
Panel: closeup from above, Rhiane throwing herself back on the bed in glee.
Rhiane: I wanna hear a good story. Your best story! I wanna hear one you never told me before!
Panel: Spectre’s face, compassionate and happy
Spectre: Did I ever tell you the one about Dorothy and the yellow brick road?
Panel: Rhiane’s face from above. Looking aside to Spectre, annoyed.
Rhiane: A billion million times!
Panel: Rhiane looking up, wistful
Rhiane: I want a different story.
Panel: Rhiane’s eyes wandering to side
Rhiane: I want a story about…
Panel: Close up on Spectre’s hands, folded in lap
Panel: Rhiane excited, head up, looking off camera to Spectre
Rhiane: Spectres! I want a story about Spectres.
Panel: Bird’s eye view, Spectre (back to us) and Rhianne (sitting up in bed) looking at each other
Spectre: Spectres?
Panel: Spectre’s face, unsure
Panel: Spectre’s face, still unsure
Spectre: Well I do know one…
Panel: From above, Jim Corrigan sitting on the side of his bed, looking down and loading a gun. This and all flashback panels that follow should be tinted to indicate that they are flashbacks.
Spectre (off camera): Once upon a time, there was a man named Corrigan.
Rhiane (off camera): That’s a pretty name.
Panel: Corrigan punching a crook holding a gun. A young boy is tied up in the background.
Spectre (off camera): Corrigan had dedicated his life to stopping bad people
Panel: Corrigan looking over the fallen crook (off camera)
Rhiane (off camera): Is Corrigan the good guy?
Panel: Corrigan aiming a gun at the crook (off camera)
Spectre (off camera): He believed he was.
Panel: Corrigan surrounded by three armed crooks as Boss Gats Benson stands triumphant in background.
Spectre (off camera): Well one day, Corrigan took on more evil than he could handle.
Panel: Two crooks pouring cement into barrel
Spectre (off camera): The bad people hurt Corrigan very badly.
Rhiane (off camera): Did they make Corrigan cry?
Panel: Worm’s eye view of barrel drifting underwater to seabed
Spectre (off camera): He cried very much, Rhiane.
Panel: Bird’s eye view of barrel drifting in a vast void of water
Rhiane (off camera): This is a very sad story.
Panel: Close up of barrel, settled in seabed, brilliant light striking it from an unknown source.
Spectre (off camera): It’s about to change.
Spectre (off camera): You see, God had been watching Corrigan, and he knew that Corrigan had meant well
Panel: Corrigan, unconscious and floating in dark barrel
Spectre (off camera): He said “I’m not done with you yet”
Panel: Etheral Corrigan rising from barrel
Spectre (off camera): And he sent Corrigan back to stop the bad people
Panel: Worm’s eye view, Corrigan’s spirit rising above the terrified criminals, eyes of death
Spectre (off camera): This time, with amazing powers.
Panel: Close up on Corrigan’s menacing eyes of death
Rhiane (off camera): I told you he was the good guy
Panel: Far shot, big panel, profile of Spectre talking to Rhiane. Rhiane is being silly and Spectre is smiling
Spectre: You see, God had sent Corrigan back with a purpose
Rhiane: To tell bedtime stories to little girls?
Spectre: No, not to tell bedtime stories to little girls.
Panel: From above, similar to first Corrigan panel. Now Corrigan is sewing the Spectre outfit instead of holding the gun.
Spectre (off camera): He became the first Spectre, sworn to eliminate all evil on Earth.
Panel: Spectre punching a demon, surrounded by a mob of villains, some crooks, some monsters and demons he encountered in the past, all looking like they are about to leap on him.
Spectre (off camera): He fought many bad guys over the years, from ordinary crooks to monsters and demons
Panel: Close up of Spectre from same panel
Rhiane (off camera): And he always won?
Panel: Close up of Spectre from same panel, eyes are more savage this time
Spectre (off camera): And he always won.
Spectre (off camera): Until one day…
Panel: Wide panel, semi-profile, Rhiane extending her arms and tilting her head back in silliness and glee. Spectre wearing a less jovial expression. Serious, but not grim.
Rhiane: He fell in love!
Spectre: Why don’t you let me tell the story, Rhiane?
Panel: - Identical panel (smaller size)? Rhiane’s head is down. Spectre’s head has not moved, but he is smiling.
Rhiane: Sorry
Spectre: Until one day…
Panel: - Flashback Spectre in mid-air. Something off camera to the right has caught his attention
Spectre (off camera): The Spectre sensed a terrible evil, unlike one he’d ever felt before.
Panel: Flashback Spectre flying forward right, concerned facial expression.
Rhiane (off camera): Call him “Corrigan.” It sounds prettier.
Spectre (off camera): Well, actually, this was a different Spectre by this point. It’s a little hard to explain.
Rhiane (off camera): Oh.
Panel: Spectre phasing through a factory roof.
Rhiane (off camera): I still think he needs a girlfriend.
Spectre (off camera): Do you want to hear the story or not?
Panel: A small boy, standing in a frigid position with vacant eyes, just off center and looking left of camera on the factory floor. He casts an eerie shadow in the Spectre’s direction. The Spectre is descending from the left.
Rhiane (off camera): Sorry.
Panel: Spectre stands, looking puzzled at dumb boy. Boy’s stance and expression do not change.
Spectre: Hel…
Panel: semi-worm’s eye perspective. Boy’s head thrown back, mouth wide open, spewing blackness that seems to be a mix of smoke and oil. The blackness is extraordinary in volume, far greater than the boy’s total size. Evil’s words spew forth in a rumble from the cloud. The Spectre is bent down, throwing the cape over his form to protect himself.
Evil: LITTLE ONE, I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU
Panel: Spectre, still huddled under cape, enveloped in total blackness. Evil’s words rumble forth from the void.
Spectre: What are you?
Evil: I AM EVIL
Panel: Spectre from semi-profile with face more visible than usual (upper face still eclipsed by shadow), mouth open, genuinely concerned
Evil: AND I HAVE TAKEN AN INTEREST IN YOU
Panel: Far shot, Spectre in center of void, creating a sphere of brilliant light around him. It illuminates nothing other than itself within the darkness
Evil: YOU WHO HAVE SWORN TO DESTROY ME
Panel: Close up over Spectre’s right shoulder, looking across to his left. His left arm is up, seemingly holding the sphere together. The sphere is dissipating into smoke
Evil: YOU WHO HAVE BATTLED ME COUNTLESS TIMES IN COUNTLESS FORMS
Panel: Far birdseye shot, Spectre’s back as he floats helplessly in void
Evil: YOU WITH WHOM I HAVE ENJOYED TOYING
Panel: Spectre, thrown to the floor of the factory, still to the left of the frozen boy, vomiting his last spew of black, beginning to wrinkle and sag from the drain.
Evil: YOU WHO HAVE NEVER HURT ME,
NEVER DISSUADED ME
NEVER CAUSED ME TO KNOW FEAR
Panel: Close up of boy’s face, still frozen in it’s expression, almost melting from the drain, blackness still spewing forth
Evil: MY WORTHIEST SELF-PROCLAIMED ENEMY
Panel: Spectre, still on the floor, but looking to left, boy has crumpled to floor like a deflated airbag, blackness barely continuing to trail out of him, dissipating into the air. Evil’s words are similarly visually fading.
Evil: THE GAME HAS JUST BEGUN.
Panel: Spectre and Rhiane again. Rhiane is sitting straight up at attention (in awe), eyes focused intently on Spectre. Spectre’s eyes are somewhere on the ceiling.
Panel: Same shot. Rhiane’s expression has changed to that of excitement.
Rhiane: So then what?
Panel: Reverse angle, from the back of Rhiane’s head, Spectre leaning forward, left hand out, gesturing. Spectre is smiling again, but with reserve.
Spectre: Well the Spectre knew he had encountered Evil itself.
Panel: Close up of Spectre’s face from perfect profile, facing right
Spectre: Not just some form of evil
Panel: Close up of Spectre’s face from perfect profile, facing left toward the other profile (perfect symmatry)
Spectre: But the real thing itself.
Panel: Bird’s eye view. Spectre standing on factory floor in flashback, faced in some direction other than that of the crumpled boy
Spectre (off camera): He knew then that he’d been wrong about everything.
Panel: Same flashback image from before, Spectre punching a demon, surrounded by a mob of villains, some crooks, some monsters and demons he encountered in the past, all looking like they are about to leap on him.
Spectre (off camera): All that fighting…
Panel: Corrigan pointing the gun down at the criminal again
Spectre (off camera): All that vengeance
Panel: Same image, but with a “bang” and a slight tightening of Corrigan’s facial expression
Spectre (off camera): He’d been fighting Evil with evil.
Panel: Closeup, Spectre in flashback, hood removed, tears streaming from his eyeless eyes as he cries upward toward heaven. it is raining.
Rhiane (off camera): Did God get angry with him?
Panel: Medium shot, Spectre with hood removed in silhouette in rain, center, walking toward camera.
Spectre (off camera): God doesn’t get angry, Rhianne. He just waits for us to learn.
Panel: Extreme closeup, Spectre’s cheek, his eye semi-visible above, tears running down.
Spectre (off camera): And the Spectre learned.
Panel: Far shot, Spectre center, arched back, arms extended, ghostly spectre forms flowing out from chest
Spectre (off camera): He decided to divide himself into a thousand pieces, each carrying a small part of his powers.
Panel: Various Spectres, all facing camera, floating in space, tranquil but serious, barely indicating that they are floating with their limbs. Each has a somewhat different face, but each are the same size, the same complexion, and none have facial hair of distinguishing physical characteristics.
Spectre (off camera): Each would go out into the world, join with the most enlightened, good people of Earth, and assist them in their works and deeds.
Spectre (off camera): The Spectre had a new purpose.
Panel: Rhiane upright in bed, attentive and smiling, Spectre smiling back.
Spectre: And do you know what that purpose was?
Rhiane: What?
Panel: Spectre’s arm extended over Rhiane’s head, lovingly patting her with his ghostly hand
Spectre (off camera): To spread love to a world that desperately needed it.
Spectre (off camera): And especially to little angels named Rhiane.
Panel: Far shot, semi-worm’s eye view. Spectre walking toward camera (upper body off camera), stage right, Rhiane in left background on bed.
Rhiane: Spectre, you tell the best stories.
Spectre (semi-off camera): Good night, Rhiane.
Epilogue (entitled “Prologue”):
Panel: Semi-worm’s eye view of Spectre (full body) walking toward camera-right. It is night time, but there is still some light in the air. For the first time, the garment under the Spectre’s hood is clearly visible. He wears an all black suit and a priest’s collar. This should be made very obvious to the reader.
Panel: Bird’s eye view of Spectre (back to camera) approaching a small, suburban church. The church is quaint, but not without it’s beauty and charm.
Panel: The Spectre’s ghostly hand on the door
Panel: Darkness. Center, light pours in from the doorway and the silhouette of the shadow stands amidst it, his dark shape amorphous beneath his cape, his eyes glowing with sincerity and passion.
Spectre: Father, I am home.
Panel: click of a light switch. Closer up. Spectre still stands in the door, his hand on the light switch, mouth gaped open, vulnerable.
Panel: Reverse shot. Back of Spectre’s head, dead center facing the inside of the church, which has been ransacked in the most brutal of ways. Writing is clearly visible across the chest of a large rendering of Christ on the cross, though it is difficult to read from this distance.
Panel: Close up of writing on chest. It is spelt out in what looks like black blood and reads "“Nice story. You left something out”.
Panel: Close up of Spectre’s face again.
Panel: Identical panel
Spectre: Rhiane…
Panel: large panel similar to first panel of story, with someone walking toward bed with Rhiane on it. This time, Rhiane’s face looks disinterested.
Visitor (off camera): Hello, Rhiane.
Rhiane: Hello.
Panel: Close up on Rhiane, still disinterested and a bit confused
Visitor (off camera): I’ve come to tell you a bedtime story.
Panel: Far shot, visitor’s hand on back of chair beside bed. Rhiane looks a bit uncomfortable to see him easing toward it.
Rhiane: Spectre Abrahms already told me one.
Visitor (off camera): Well what’s wrong with hearing two?
Panel: Close up of Rhiane scrounging up face as if tasting something unpleasant
Rhiane: Spectre Abrahms tells the best stories.
Rhiane: I don’t like yours so much.
Panel: Far shot behind visitor’s right shoulder (head and feet spanning off camera). Rhiane looks on from bed, slightly annoyed and unsure whether she should tolerate this company much longer.
Visitor: Then I promise you, Rhiane…
Visitor: This story beats them all.
END
