PREVIOUSLY...

Unable to face the consequences of turning his boss, Lt. Sal Anthony, over to Internal Affairs, Police Officer Kasper Cole reluctantly decided to rely on his new “Black Panther” disguise to help him seek justice for Sal’s attempted murder of Kasper’s partners in the narcotics division. A clumsy midnight raid on The Fortress— the Sheepshead Bay stronghold of the 66 Bridges gang— led to an all-out firefight between the Panther and dozens of heavily armed gang members. The White Wolf appeared in the midst of the chaos, offering his aid, which Kasper initially accepted. Ultimately, however, at the strong advice of his trusted friend, Sgt. Tork, Kasper decided to walk away from “The Black Panther”, consigning the Panther costume, the car, and all of the White Wolf’s aid to flames.

 

BLACK PANTHER

Kevin “Kasper” Cole, son of hero cop “Black” Jack Cole, was an ambitious young narcotics officer who’d been suspended from the force following a disastrous unauthorized drug bust. Kasper “borrowed” one of The Black Panther’s old costumes from Sgt. Tork— Kasper’s boss and Panther’s former ally. He only needed it for three days.

 

SGT. TORK

Tork is a field supervisor with the Organized Crime Control Bureau, Narcotics Division of the NYPD, assigned to the 74th Precinct in the New Lots section of Brooklyn. A long-time ally of the original Black Panther, Tork is Kasper’s supervisor and friend.

 

HUNTER: THE WHITE WOLF

Hunter is Chieftain of the outlawed Hatut Zeraze tribe (“Dogs of War”), the Wakandan Secret Police, and T’Challa’s adopted brother. Disbanded by King T’Challa shortly after his father’s death, Hunter and his operatives continued to operate globally as freelance intelligence agents.

 

LT. SALVADORE VERASCE ANTHONY

is a shift commander for the Patrol Services Bureau (the uniformed force) of the 74th Precinct. Sal is secretly a contract agent of the 66 Bridges Gang. Sal has a small inner circle of corrupt officers, DETECTIVE BERNIE SCRUGGS chief among them.

 

66 BRIDGES GANG

Founded in the late 1970's, 66 Bridges (also called "Bridges") is a virtual secret society with active chapters in 40 cities. The organization primarily deals in wholesale narcotics traffic, extortion and bootlegging operations.

 

GLOSSARY OF TERMS:

RIP = reprimand, anything from Warned & Admonished to Vacation Day Loss to Suspension, Bag = police uniform, House = police precinct

Shangri-La = New Lots, Brooklyn = the 74th Precinct, commanded by Lt. Sal Anthony.

Six-One = 61st Precinct, Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn

Skels = criminal element = gang members

OCCB = Organized Crime Control Bureau

PSA = Police Service Area 1, which services both the 61st precinct (where the Fortress is) and the 74th Precinct (where Sal and Kasper work)

ESU = Emergency Services Unit

CSI = Crime Scene Investigative Unit

Rat Squad = I.A.B. = Internal Affairs Bureau

Sit = meeting

Lew = Lieutenant = Sal Anthony

Lefrack = Lefrack City, apartment tower development in Queens, N.Y., where the NYPD psychiatric unit is based.

The Hill = The Leslie N. Hill Housing Project, 2793-2831 Wortman Avenue, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11207. The Black Panther was once headquartered at this housing project, which is in the 74th precinct, where Tork and Kasper work. Kasper and Tork LIVE in Harlem, but they WORK in Brooklyn.

Page 2

                CHAPTER HEADING

    1  TITLE:        Intervention

 

1              DETAIL: A MAN’S HAND HOLDING A PHOTOGRAPH OF A LARGE BOAT. THIS IS NOT QUITE A YACHT, BUT IT IS BIGGER THAN A SPEED BOAT. IT HAS A UPPER DECK WHERE THE CONTROLS ARE, AND IT IS LARGE ENOUGH TO HAVE SLEEPING QUARTERS BELOW DECK.

 

                IN THE PHOTO: SKIP TAYLOR, A MIDDLE-AGED WHITE MAN. HE WEARS A BASEBALL-STYLE CAP WITH THE NYPD SHOULDER PATCH LOGO ON THE FRONT OF THE CAP. TEE SHIRT AND SHORTS. THE MAN IS SMILING, POSING FOR THIS PICTURE, VERY PROUD OF HIS BOAT.

 

                NEXT TO HIM: SAL ANTHONY, ALSO DRESSED IN SUMMER CASUAL CLOTHING. NEXT TO SAL IS SAL’s WIFE (MAKE HER UP: A PLEASANT LOOKING MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN), AND SKIP TAYLOR’s WIFE STANDS NEXT TO TAYLOR, ON THE OTHER SIDE.

 

                IN THIS PHOTOGRAPH: FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: SAL’S WIFE, SAL, SKIP, SKIP’s WIFE. IN BACKGROUND: SKIP’s BOAT, DOCKED AT THE MARINA.

 

                COLOR: IT IS DAY: SUMMER.

    2  SKIP:         (Off) ...42-foot, three decks, 390hp-- named her “Jess”, after my wife--

    3  SKIP:         (Attach) --they’re both a lotta work--

    4  SAL:          (Off) Still showing off the old rust bucket, Skip--?

 

2              ESTABLISH: THE BATHROOM FROM LAST ISSUE: BULLET HOLES AND OTHER SIGNS OF A GUN BATTLE. SAL ANTHONY ENTERS, DRESSED EXACTLY AS HE WAS LAST ISSUE (WHEN HE WAS WALKING HIS DOG).

 

                THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IN SAL’s CLOTHING IS HE IS NOW WEARING A RAID JACKET. A RAID JACKET IS A LIGHTWEIGHT “WINDBREAKER”-STYLE JACKET WITH THE WORDS “NYPD POLICE” WRITTEN IN LARGE BLOCK LETTERS ON THE BACK. THIS JACKET ALSO HAS STANDARD NYPD PATCHES (SEE REF) ON EACH SHOULDER.

 

                THERE IS NO BADGE OR AWARDS OR ID BAR ON THIS JACKET. OTHER THAN THE PATCHES ON THE SHOULDER AND THE WORDS “NYPD” ON THE BACK, IT IS A PLAIN NAVY BLUE JACKET.

 

                SAL HAS HIS DOG WITH HIM, ON A LEASH.

 

                SKIP TAYLOR, THE MAN IN THE PHOTO, STANDS IN THE BATHROOM. HE IS SHOWING THE PHOTO TO BERNIE SCRUGGS, THE MIDDLE-AGED BLACK DETECTIVE FROM ISSUE #50.

 

                TAYLOR IS A POLICE DETECTIVE. HE WEARS A SUIT AND TIE, A TRENCH COAT OVER THE SUIT. HIS DETECTIVE’S BADGE (SEE REF) IS MOUNTED UPSIDE DOWN ON A BLACK LEATHER WALLET (THE BADGE NUMBERS, USUALLY AT THE BOTTOM, ARE AT THE TOP AND ARE UPSIDE DOWN). THE ENTIRE WALLET IS CLIPPED TO THE LAPEL OF THE TRENCH COAT. SKIP DOES NOT WEAR A HAT OF ANY KIND.

 

                SKIP IS WEARING LATEX GLOVES TO PREVENT LEAVING FINGERPRINTS.

 

                SKIP DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE SAL AS SAL ENTERS, BUT CONTINUES SHOWING OFF PICTURES OF HIS BOAT.

    5  SKIP:         Yeah, Sally-- and my boat, too.

    6  SKIP:         Long way from Shangri-La, aren’t we?

    7  SAL:          Well, I figure you boys at the six-one would appreciate a real cop on the scene.[1]

    8  SAL:          What’s this-- gang banger’s delight--?

 

3              2-SHOT: SKIP, AMUSED, TALKS TO SAL, HANDS HIM A BLACK, MISSHAPEN PIECE OF RUBBER, ABOUT THE SIZE OF A MARBLE. THIS IS A SPENT ROUND, A RUBBER BULLET THAT WAS CRUSHED ON IMPACT.

 

                SKIP IS AMUSED, SAL REMAINS STOIC AS HE TAKES THIS RUBBER BULLET FROM SKIP.

    9  SKIP:         Here-- at the Fortress?

   10  SKIP:         Sal-- this is a safe house for 66 Bridges. Even we don’t put out hits on 66 Bridges.

   11  SKIP:         These kids make the Gambinos look like The Flintstones. They got more lawyers than guns.

   12  SKIP:         And that’s a lot of guns.

 

4              ON SAL: GRIM AS HE EXAMINES THE BULLET.

   13  SKIP:         (Off) That’s riot ordinance-- rubber bullets.

   14  SKIP:         (Attach) That’s special order stuff-- unless you’re on the job.

   15  SKIP:         (Same) We’re runnin’ it down, but, a few missing boxes are not likely to be noticed by anybody.

   16  SAL:          So-- you’re thinking a badge did this--?

 

5              THE ROOM, SKIP GESTURES AROUND THE BATHROOM.

   17  SKIP:         No-- the skels are screaming

                     Black Panther--[2]

   18  SKIP:         --say that the king guy broke in here and started shooting up the place.

   19  SKIP:         Yay him, so far as that goes.

   20  SAL:          Skip-- that boat of yours--

 

6              IN CLOSE: SAL TALKS TO SKIP, GIVING HIM A VERY SERIOUS LOOK: SAL IS MAKING A SECRET DEAL, HERE. SKIP DOES NOT LOOK AT SAL DIRECTLY, BUT LOOKS AT THE PHOTO OF HIS BOAT. WE DO NOT NEED TO SEE THIS PHOTO (THE BACK OF THE PHOTO CAN BE FACING US).

   21  SAL:          --what do you figure it’d cost to get her running again-- ten-- twelve--?

   22  SKIP:         Oh, geez, Sally-- this boat--? Take a lot. Need to see a lot of people.

   23  SKIP:         I figger-- to really clean things up-- say, forty--

   24  SKIP:         --plus, y’know, downtown-- fees and such.

Page 3

1              RE-ESTABLISH THE BATHROOM: SKIP EXITS, LEAVING SAL TO CONFER WITH SCRUGGS. SAL EXAMINES THE RUBBER BULLET.

    1  SAL:          I dunno, Scruggsy--

    2  SAL:          --the king of Wakanda busts in here, sprays the joint with rubber bullets--?

    3  SAL:          Any of this sound right?

    4  SCRUGGS:      Super-heroes tend to be non-lethal, boss--

 

2              DRE, THE HOOD FROM LAST ISSUE (SEE REF) ENTERS: SAL HAS GRABBED HIM BY THE ARM, PULLING HIM INTO THE BATHROOM. MAKE SURE DRE IS WEARING A SHIRT AND THE SHIRT IS BUTTONED UP.

    5  SAL:          Ah-- Dre. My noogie.

    6  SAL:          Just the rat bastard I wanna see.

    7  SAL:          Dre-- why you cousins tryin’ to jerk my chain with this “Black Panther” crap?

    8  DRE:          Yo, Sal, just ease the jump off, yo--

    9  DRE:          --my nerves be all shot as it is--

 

3              ON DRE, ANNOYED

   10  DRE:          --damn Panther-- come in shootin’ up the joint--

   11  DRE:          --bust this: y’all mugs gots to do better than this.

   12  [3]DRE:         You can’t handle Panther, we goin’ cross the street-- cut a deal with Skip annem.

   13  SCRUGGS:      (Off) Black Panther? Isn’t he dead--?

 

4              ON SAL: WINCING AS HE SCRATCHES HIS NECK. HE’S TIRED AND FRUSTRATED AND JUST WANTS TO GO HOME.

   14  DRE:          (Off) Dead?  Dead? This look like “dead” to you, pig-face mother?!?

   15  DRE:          (Attach) Scruggs-- I’m tellin’ you-- you and your Keystone Cops’d better get yo’ act together--

   16  DRE:          (Attach) --‘fore somebody makes that phone call--

   17  SAL:          Restrain him.

 

5              SCRUGGS, NOW BEHIND DRE, HOLDS DRE’s ARMS, RESTRAINING HIM. DRE ENRAGED, SCREAMING.

   18  DRE:          Wha-- what the hell is this--?!

   19  SAL:          (Off) It’s what you asked for, Dre--

 

6              MEDIUM: SAL: GRIM, SCREWS A SILENCER INTO THE END OF HIS PISTOL.

   20  SAL:          --it’s us, getting our act together.

Page 4

1              ON DRE, WINCING, PANICKED, AS A MIRROR BEHIND DRE EXPLODES FROM SAL’s GUN FIRE.

 

                PLEASE BE SURE SCRUGGS IS LEANING OUT OF THE (IF THE BULLET PASSES THE LEFT SIDE OF DRE’s HEAD, SCRUGGS SHOULD BE LEANING TO THE RIGHT OF DRE’s HEAD).

    1  DRE:          Hey-- hey-- HEY--!!!

    2  SAL:          (Off) Where is it?

    3  DRE:          Where’ what--?!?

 

2              SAME:     A BULLET GRAZES DRE’s EAR, TAKING OFF PART OF HIS EAR. BLOOD SPURTS, DRE SCREAMING NOW.

    4  DRE:          (Burst)  GEEEZAAAZ--!! YOU CRAZY WHITE BASTID--!!

    5  SAL:          (Off) Where.

    6  DRE:          (Burst) SCREW YOU-- COP--!!

 

3              NEW ANGLE: GET SAL IN HERE NOW: SAL HAS NOW SHOVED HIS PISTOL INTO DRE’S MOUTH, SAL’s FREE HAND UP UNDER DRE’S JAW, FORCING HIS HEAD BACK AND SQUEEZING THE SIDES OF HIS JAW (WHICH FORCES THE MOUTH TO OPEN).

    7  SAL:          Who shot Dre?

    8  SCRUGGS:      Panther shot Dre.

 

4              DETAIL: DRE’s HAND REMOVES A SMALL MICRO-CASSETTE TAPE RECORDER FROM INSIDE THE WAISTBAND OF HIS PANTS. THIS SHOULD NOT BE SOMETHING HIGH-TECH, BUT A COMMON TAPE RECORDER ANYONE COULD BUY AT THE STORE.

 

                IF WE SEE THE TAPE HUBS, BE SURE TO SHOW THAT THERE’S AN EQUAL AMOUNT OF TAPE ON BOTH HUBS, INDICATING THE RECORDER HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR A LONG TIME.

 

                COLOR: CAN WE HAVE A RED LED LIGHT OVER THE WORDS “REC”, TO HELP GET IT ACROSS THIS THING IS A RECORDING DEVICE.

    9  DRE:          (Off) [Ital.] Urrrkkk--!! Nmmphhff--!!

(More)

5              ON SAL, GRIM, HOLDS THE RECORDER: HE HAS REMOVED THE CASSETTE INSIDE, STUDYING THE RECORDER. DRE NOW FREE, CHOKING, GASPING FOR BREATH, PANICKED.

   10  SAL:          Yup.

   11  SAL:          “Panther,” I presume.

   12  DRE:          .. >cough--!!<  Made me do it, man-- said he’d kill me--!

   13  SAL:          Dre-- near-term, they’re gonna find you in a dumpster. Nothing personal.

   14  SAL:          Scruggsy-- grab up Liddy.

Page 5

1              NEW ANGLE: A NEW GANG MEMBER ENTERS THE ROOM, ESCORTED BY ONE OF THE RIOT COPS. THIS GUY IS THE LOCAL GANG LEADER. MAKE HIM A TOUGH GUY: HE’S NOT A PUNK LIKE DRE BUT A STRONG, TALL, THREATENING SORT.

 

                SAL APPROACHES HIM, STILL EXAMINING THE TAPE RECORDER, NOT LOOKING AT THE GANG MEMBER BUT AT THE TAPE RECORDER. SAL IS UNEMOTIONAL, NO EXPRESSION.

    1  SAL:          So-- Liddy-- I need a little inter-agency cooperation.

    2  SAL:          Skip Taylor runs the OCCB task force at the 61st squad. He’s got a boat.[4]

    3  SAL:          Chilling out Skip and his crew is gonna cost a nickel or two.

 

2              ON SAL AS HE CONTINUES EXAMINING THE TAPE RECORDER.

    4  [5]SAL:         I’m gonna need 85G at our Hoboken drop in an hour, Liddy-- [Bold Ital.] one hour--

    5  SAL:          --or everybody’s in fashionable orange jump suits tonight, you understand me?

    6  SAL:          Scruggsy--

 

3              SAL CONFERS WITH SCRUGGS, SHOWING HIM THE TAPE RECORDER. IN B/G: ZAY IS RELEASED, HE EXITS THE ROOM.

    7  SAL:          --cheap, plastic-- 20 bucks at Wal-Mart.

    8  SAL:          What’s wrong with this picture?

    9  SAL:          When did rich, high-tech king types start using rubber bullets and dime-store crap like this?

   10  SAL:          Trick or treat, Scruggsy-- we got us a ringer.

 

4              NEW ANGLE: SAL RUNS A HAND THRU HIS HAIR, FRUSTRATED, EXASPERATED. SCRUGGS NOW EXAMINES THE TAPE RECORDER.

   11  SAL:          A ringer with an interest in 66 Bridges and the job. Wonderful.

   12  SAL:          Loogadis-- gotta take care of Skip, PSA, ESU, CSI--[6]

   13  SAL:          --Rat Squad all over the joint...

 

5              IN CLOSE ON SAL: NOW TALKING ON AN EXPENSIVE, HIGH-TECH CELL PHONE.

   14  SAL:          ...god, somedays, I just hate being me...

   15  SAL:          .. yo Triage-- I need a sit, baby.[7]

Page 6

 

                CHAPTER HEADING ACROSS.

    1  TITLE:        Amazing Grace

 

                A SERIES OF EXTREME CLOSE-UP IMAGES OF A WOMAN’s FACE. THIS IS A BLACK WOMAN. HIS IS NOT GWEN. SHE IS BEING PLAYFUL AND LOVING, THIS IS  MOMENT OF INTIMACY BETWEEN THIS UNKNOWN WOMAN AND US, THE READER.

 

                THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL YOUNG BLACK WOMAN, AGE 16-18. THIS IS A RECURRING FANTASY FROM KASPER’s YOUTH,. THE GIRL WHO GOT AWAY. WE HAVE NOT SEEN THIS GIRL BEFORE.

 

                THIS GIRL IS ALWAYS NAKED, BUT WE DO NOT EMPHASIZE HER NUDITY. SHE IS NAKED BECAUSE, IN MANY WAYS, SHE DOES NOT TRULY EXIST. HER NUDITY IS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE FACT SHE DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH SUBSTANCE TO BE COMPLETELY FORMED IN OUR IMAGINATION.

 

                COLOR: SURREALISM: GIVE THIS SEQUENCE A SPECIFIC TEMPERATURE, AS THIS IS A RECURRING FANTASY OF KASPER’s.

 

1              ECU: HER EYE: STARING AT US. NOT HOSTILITY, MORE LIKE CURIOSITY. LIKE SHE’S STUDYING US.

    2  CAPTION:      I remember you.

 

2              ECU: HER SMILE: LIPS CLOSED, BUT SHE IS CLEARLY SMILING, A BIT AMUSED.

    3  CAPTION:      The one I used to know.

 

3              ECU:

    4  CAPTION:      The one I used to love.

 

5              DETAIL: A HIGH SCHOOL YEAR BOOK (AN OVERSIZED HARD COVER BOOK), A SINGLE ROSE LAID ACROSS THE CLOSED BOOK. MAKE SURE WE CAN READ THE BOOK COVER.

    5  BOOK COVER:  ERASMUS HIGH SCHOOL ‘97

    6  CAPTION:      The one who got away.

    7  CAPTION:      You’re back, again.

(More)

6              ECU:  HER EYE: CURIOUS.

    8  CAPTION:      Reminding me of what I’ve lost...

    9  GRACE:        Two days from now you go see Lew. Apologize. Do what he say.[8]

   10  GRACE:        Then decide what kind of cop you be--

   11  GRACE:        --in Lew’s pocket-- or in I.A.B.’s.

 

7              PULL BACK TO A NORMAL CLOSE-UP: HER HEAD TILTS BACK WITH A GENTLE LAUGH, HER HAIR, LONG HAIR, IN HER FACE A LITTLE. THIS IS CLEARLY BEDTIME PLAY BETWEEN THESE TWO. THIS IS HIS FIRST LOVE, NOW HIS GHOST LOVE.

   12  CAPTION:      Nobody owns me, Grace.

   13  CAPTION:      Not even you.

   14  GRACE:        I know.

   15  GRACE:        It’s why he chose you.

 

8              OVERHEAD ANGLE: TIGHT CLOSE-UP: KASPER COLE, TODAY, THE PREDATOR LOOK: HIS EYES GLARING AT US. SOME ANGER.

 

                ANGER ABOUT WHAT HE’S MISSED IN LIFE, ABOUT WHAT’S GOING ON IN IT TODAY.

   16  KASPER:       “He”--?

Page 7

                CHAPTER HEADING

   1a  TITLE:        Of Mice And Men

 

1              SERGEANT TORK HAS INVADED KASPER’s BEDROOM, AIMING A .9MM GLOCK IN STANDARD 2-HANDED COMBAT GRIP. KASPER IGNORES HIM. GWEN ROLLS OVER, A HAND WIPES HER EYES AS SHE YAWNS LIKE A RHINOCEROS, UNGLAMOROUS AND UN-SEXY.

 

                TORK WEARS A BADGE HUNG AROUND HIS NECK BY A BEADED METAL CHAIN. IF WE SEE THE BADGE NUMBER, IT IS 62783.

 

                GWEN IS TOPLESS (THOUGH TORK’S BODY PROBABLY OBSCURES OUR VIEW OF HER BREASTS). NEITHER KASPER NOR GWEN CARE THAT TORK CAN SEE HER NAKEDNESS. HE’S PART OF THE FAMILY, IT IS A NON-ISSUE FOR THEM.

 

                THE BLACK PANTHER COSTUME STILL DRAPED ACROSS THE FOOT OF THE BED. NOBODY HAS NOTICED IT, YET.

 

                COLOR: JORGE & JENNIFER: THIS BADGE AROUND TORK’S NECK IS NOT TORK’S BADGE. IT IS NOT HIS GOLD SERGEANT’S BADGE, BUT IS A STANDARD NICKEL PATROLMAN’s BADGE.

    1  TORK:         No sudden moves, Kasper.

    2  TORK:         You’ve really done it his time, kid.

    3  GWEN:         Jesus, Tork-- it’s 6 am--!  {Ital.]

                     > yawn!<

    4  TORK:         Hey, little girl.

 

2              IN CLOSER: KASPER AND TORK: TORK AIMING THE PISTOL AT KASPER. KASPER IGNORES HIM. TORK GRIM.

    5  TORK:         Give it up, soul brother--

    6  TORK:         --you know what this means.

    7  KASPER:       Yeah, I think I do, actually--

 

3              KASPER TAKES THE GUN FROM TORK. THIS IS A CASUAL MOVE, NOT A COMBAT MOVE. KASPER SHOWS NO EMOTION, BUT SCRUTINIZES THE GLOCK AS HE TAKES IT FROM TORK.

 

                MAKE SURE WE SEE THE PATROLMAN’s BADGE AROUND TORK’s NECK.

    8  KASPER:       --that’s my gun you’re holding.

    9  KASPER:       And my shield around your neck.

   10  KASPER:       Which can only mean...

 

4              TORK KISSES KASPER ON THE FOREHEAD. TORK’s EYES JAMMED SHUT INTO AN ODD GRIMACE: HE IS BEING COMICAL, HERE.

   11  TORK:         --welcome back, kid.

   12  SFX:          SMEK.

   13  TORK:         Get it in gear, you gotta go see Lew first thing.

   14  GWEN:         (Off) [Ital.} >yawn!<  Y’know, I remember a time--

 

5              NEW ANGLE: GWEN SITTING UP, NOW, TALKING TO THE MEN. AT SOME ANGLE TO US SO WE DO NOT SEE HER BREASTS BUT THEY OBVIOUSLY CAN. GWEN’s HAND RUN THROUGH HER HAIR, SWEEPING IT OUT OF HER EYES (WE DO NOT NECESSARILY SEE HER FACE, IN THIS SHOT).

   15  GWEN:         --when having a naked woman in bed with you meant something.

   16  TORK:         Gwen-- you’re, like, six.

   17  TORK:         I’ve got toast oldern’ you.

   18  TORK:         And the whole big belly thing suggests that cupboard’s already been stocked.

 

6              NEW ANGLE: GWEN SLEEPILY SHUFFLES OFF, LEAVING THE ROOM TO GO TO THE BATHROOM. HERE’S OUR FIRST REALLY GOOD LOOK AT HER: SHE’S STILL BEAUTIFUL AND SEXY, EVEN PREGNANT. STAY IN CLOSE ENOUGH THAT WE DO NOT SEE HER BREASTS, BUT WE GET A GOOD ENOUGH LOOK AT HER FACE. SHE IS ONLY HALF-AWAKE.

   19  GWEN:         So I’m a has been, now.

   20  GWEN:         Kasper, you idiot-- at least pretend to be uncomfortable about Tork seeing my whole deal...

   21  GWEN:         ...again...

Page 8

1              THE FELLAS: TORK NOW LYING IN BED, IN GWEN’s PLACE, AIMING THE TELEVISION REMOTE: ONE EYE JAMMED SHUT AS HE EFFECTS A MANIACAL GRIMACE (A COMBINATION OF A SMILE AND A SCOWL): TORK IS CHANNEL SURFING: CHANGING CHANNELS RAPIDLY, TRYING TO FIND SOMETHING HE WANTS TO WATCH ON TELEVISION. WE DO TO NEED TO SEE THE TELEVISION ITSELF.

 

                KASPER LIES NEXT TO HIM, CHECKING OUT HIS PISTOL, PULLING THE SLIDE BACK, TRYING TO SEE WHAT KIND OF SHAPE THE GUN IS IN.

    1  KASPER:       Yeah... whatever...

    2  KASPER:       ...at least they kept the thing clean...

    3  TORK:         So-- you go in, apologize to Lew-- bend over a little.

    4  TORK:         You’re a real cop, now, Kasp. Learn the rules.

    5  TORK:         (Smaller) ...goddamn Regis...

 

2              NEW ANGLE: THE TWO MEN IN BED: KASPER STILL FIDGETING WITH THE GUN, TORK STILL AIMING THE REMOTE AT THE TV.

 

                IN THIS SHOT, WE CLEARLY SEE THE BLACK PANTHER COSTUME ON THE BED. KASPER STILL HASN’T NOTICED IT, YET.

    6  KASPER:       Sal Anthony-- our lieutenant-- is a dirty cop, Tork. He put my crew in the hospital-- and me almost in the morgue

    7  KASPER:       --because I wouldn’t let him recruit me.

    8  TORK:         Sally just wants a little dirt on you, Kasp-- enough to make him feel secure.

    9  TORK:         True believers make guys like Sally squirrelly. And, speaking of which--

(More)

3              SAME: KASPER NOW SEES THE BLACK PANTHER COSTUME: TORK CONTINUES AIMING THE REMOTE.

   10  TORK:         --when did you become so casual with this “Black Panther” business?

   11  KASPER:       --?!

   12  GWEN:         (Of) Kasper-- if you two men wouldn’t mind getting out of my bed--

 

4              NEW ANGLE: GWEN HAS RE-ENTERED THE BEDROOM, NOW WEARING A BATH ROBE TO COVER HER NUDITY. KASPER PANICS, RIPPING THE BED SHEETS OVER TOWARDS HIM, COVERING THE BLACK PANTHER COSTUME. TORK IGNORES ALL OF THIS, CONTINUING TO BE FRUSTRATED BY WHATEVER IS ON TELEVISION.

   13  GWEN:         --us unsexy pregnant folk would like to get back to sleep.

   14  KASPER:       (Burst) --CRIPES--!!

 

5              NEW ANGLE: GWEN, ANNOYED, KASPER HAS THE SHEETS BUNDLED UP BY HIM, TORK IGNORES BOTH OF THEM, STILL CHANNEL SURFING WITH THE REMOTE CONTROL.

   15  KASPER:       ---

   16  KASPER:       --I found a mouse.

Page 9

1              IN THE KITCHEN: KASPER’s MOM DROPS A PAN FULL OF EGGS. SHE’S STARTLED BY A SCREAM FROM OFF PANEL.

    1  SFX:          AAAAIIIEEEEEEEEEE--!!

 

2              INT/BEDROOM: IT’S JUST TORK AND KASPER, NOW: TORK HAS NOT CHANGED POSITION, CONTINUING TO CHANNEL SURF WITH THE REMOTE CONTROL. STOIC EXPRESSION ON TORK AS HE STARES STRAIGHT AHEAD AT THE TV (WHICH CAN BE OFF-PANEL).

 

                KASPER’S HEAD BOWED A BIT, HE RUBS HIS FOREHEAD, STRESSED OUT.

    2  TORK:         Smooth.

    3  KASPER:       Bought us a minute or two.

    4  KASPER:       --cripes, Tork--

 

3              IN CLOSER ON KASPER: EXAMINING THE COSTUME. KASPER ANGRY.

 

                MIKE/JORGE: THIS COSTUME HAS BEEN REPAIRED. THIS CAN BE THE FINAL COSTUME DESIGN OR A TWEAK OF THE COSTUME DESIGN IF WE NEED TO MAKE ANY CHANGES, THIS IS THE PLACE TO DO IT.

    5  KASPER:       --why the hell’d you bring this thing in here?!

    6  KASPER:       If Gwen or my ma found out--

    7  TORK:         (Off) Hold the phone, Kasp--

 

4              WHATEVER WORKS: TORK CAN BE TALKING DIRECTLY TO KASPER, HERE.

    8  TORK:         --I didn’t do nuthin.’

    9  TORK:         That was here when I got here.

   10  KASPER:       But-- I burned this thing last night...

 

5              KASPER: ANGRY. CLUTCHING THE COSTUME.

   11  KASPER:       ---Hunter. The White Wolf.

   12  KASPER:       He tried to turn me last night--

   13  KASPER:       --gave me everything I need to bust Sal Anthony and his crew--

   14  VOICE:        (Off) What mouse--?

 

6              NEW ANGLE: MEDIUM: MOM IN THE DOORWAY, HOLDING A SLIPPER IN HER HAND (HOLDING IT LIKE A WEAPON: SHE’S COME TO HUNT THE MOUSE).

 

                GWEN IS BEHIND HER, LOOKING OVER HE SHOULDER IT US, ANNOYED.

   15  MOM:          Where is this mouse? Show me this mouse!

   16  KASPER:       (Off) Ma-- we got it.

   17  MOM:          I will not live with infestation, Kevin--!!

Page 10

1              NEW ANGLE: KASPER MOVES TOWARDS HIS MOTHER WHILE TOSSING THE BUNDLED UP PANTHER COSTUME TO TORK IN SUCH A WAY THAT MOM DOES NOT SEE.

 

                JORGE: THIS SHOULD BE SOME MANNER OF SURREPTITIOUS BEHIND-THE-BACK TOSS.

    1  KASPER:       Ma... we’re cops.

    2  KASPER:       Pest control is our life.

    3  MOM:          I’ve got a half-dozen perfectly good eggs on the kitchen  floor, Kevin--

 

2              NEW ANGLE: GWEN, ANNOYED, PUSHES PAST KEVIN, RE-ENTERING THE BEDROOM.

    4  KASPER:       And that’s probably where Mickey is-- eatin’ my breakfast--

    5  KASPER:       --now that you’ve got the door all open and what-not--

    6  GWEN:         That’s it-- I’ve had it.

 

3              NEW ANGLE: GWEN ON THE BED: GWEN PULLS THE BED SHEETS BACK ONTO THE BED. SHE IS ANNOYED.

 

                TORK STANDING, LEANING AGAINST THE WINDOW AS HE AIMS THE REMOTE CONTROL AT THE TELEVISION.

 

                THE WINDOW IS OPEN. A SLIGHT BREEZE BLOWS THE CURTAINS.

 

                GWEN GLARES AT TORK AS SHE PULLS THE BED SHEETS.

    7  GWEN:         You’ve got five seconds to get out of my bedroom.

    8  GWEN:         Then I shoot everything male in sight.

    9  GWEN:         And why is the window open--?!

   10  TORK:         Mouse.

(More)

4              GWEN LYING IN BED NOW, TURNING HER BACK TO TORK, WRAPPED IN THE BED SHEETS AS SHE FUTILELY TRIES TO GO BACK TO SLEEP.

 

                MOM STALKS AROUND THE ROOM, SLIPPER IN HAND, HUNTING THE MOUSE. SHE IS VERY SERIOUS ABOUT HER WORK.

 

                TORK CONTINUES CHANNEL SURFING WITH THE REMOTE, STANDING BY THE OPEN WINDOW.

 

                KASPER’s HEAD BOWED, A HAND OVER HIS FACE: HE HATES HIS LIFE.

   11  KASPER:       Only works once, Tork.

   12  MOM:          Don’t worry, dear-- I have an instinct for these things...

 

5              CUT TO: THE LIVING ROOM: TORK, AMUSED, THUMBS BACK OVER HIS SHOULDER. KASPER, GRIM, DISTRACTED, NOT PAYING TORK A LOT OF ATTENTION.

   13  TORK:         You live with that much longer, they’re gonna have you down at Lefrack.[9]

   14  KASPER:       Costume in the alley--?

   15  TORK:         Yeah.

   16  TORK:         Think I hit some guy’s Lex, though--

Page 11

1              OVERHEAD VIEW: THE ALLEY BEHIND TORK’s BUILDING: THE BLACK PANTHER’S LEXUS GS-400 IS PARKED IN THE ALLEY. THE BLACK PANTHER COSTUME HAS LANDED ON TOP OF THE CAR, LAID OUT SO WE CLEARLY UNDERSTAND THIS IS PANTHER’s COSTUME (AND, THEREFORE, PANTHER’S CAR).

 

                JORGE: THE CAR IS COMPLETELY UNDAMAGED. SPOTLESS, CLEAN.

— no copy —

 

2              NEW ANGLE: TORK AND KASPER:  KASPER HAS THE PREDATOR GLOWER. TORK HAS A PLATE OF MOM’s EGGS, EATING A FORKFUL OF EGGS, INDIFFERENT TO KASPER’s DISCOMFORT.

 

                TORK IS STILL DRESSED IN WHAT HE WORE TO BED LAST NIGHT. WHEN WE SEE HIS LEGS, HE IS WEARING SHORTS AND HE IS BAREFOOT.

    1  KASPER:       This is a nightmare.

 

3              NEW ANGLE:  KASPER HAS THE DRIVER’s DOOR OPEN, LOOKING INSIDE THE CAR.

 

                I REMIND YOU: FROM NOW ON, THIS CAR HAS DIPLOMATIC LICENSE PLATES.

    2  KASPER:       I torched this car last night--

    3  KASPER:       --less than six hours ago-- left the costume in it.

    4  KASPER:       There’s no way Wolf could have had this car rebuilt that fast--

 

4              INT/CAR: DETAIL: SAL ANTHONY’s FILE FOLDER (SEE LAST ISSUE) LYING ON THE PASSENGER SEAT.

    5  TORK:         (Off) Kasp-- the White Wolf is the adopted brother of King T’Challa of Wakanda--

    6  TORK:         (Attach) --the Avenger they call the Black Panther.

    7  TORK:         (Same) The guy you’ve been impersonating the last few days, during your suspension from the police force.

 

5              TORK: INDIFFERENT, ENJOYING THE EGGS.

    8  TORK:         Wakanda is one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world-- and one of the richest.

    9  TORK:         Hunter was the head of the Hatut Zeraze-- the Wakandan Secret Police. Very scary fellows, they.

   10  TORK:         You piecin’ this together, Sherlock--?

Page 12

1              THE SCENE: THE TWO MEN AND THE CAR: KASPER FLIPS THROUGH THE FILE FOLDER, TORK EATS BREAKFAST.

    1  TORK:         You got scary black cat dude and even scarier white dog dude. You got the technology and the cash to turn ya lights out.

    2  TORK:         Makin’ a car you torched six hours ago appear on your doorstep probably took all of one phone call.

    3  TORK:         Wolf could bring down Sal and his entire crew between holes on the fairway. Kasp--

 

2              IN CLOSER: TORK NOW LOOKING AT KASPER, TRYING TO REASON WITH HIM.

    4  TORK:         --you’re in way over your head. I know Hunter. I know Panther...

    5  TORK:         ...or, knew him... he’s presumed dead, after all.

    6  TORK:         (Off) Every time you put that costume on, you’re ringin’ the dinner bell for these mutts.

 

3              KASPER: THE PREDATOR. GRIM. HOLDING THE BLACK PANTHER COSTUME, LOOKING AT IT.

    7  TORK:         (Attach) Yeah, the Wolf can handle Sally for you-- but then he’ll own you.

    8  TORK:         (Same) If you report Sally to Internal Affairs-- they’ll own you.

    9  TORK:         (Same) If you play ball with Sally, he’ll own you.

 

4              KASPER PUSHES TORK INTO THE LEXUS, IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT.

   10  KASPER:       You’ve gotta get this thing out of here.

   11  TORK:         Me?! It’s your car--

   12  KASPER:       It’s Panther’s car-- those diplomatic plates are registered to the Wakandan consulate.

   13  KASPER:       Parked outside of Kasper Cole’s house-- bad news, yes--?

 

5              NEW ANGLE: THE LEXUS DRAMATICALLY ZOOMS PAST OUR POINT OF VIEW, TORK DRIVING. KASPER WAY IN B/G.

   14  KASPER:       Park it over on The Hill-- the projects where Panther used to live. [10]

   15  KASPER:       I’ve got everybody there thinking that’s his car, so they don't mess with it.

   16  KASPER:       I’ll meet you at the house[11]--

 

6              KASPER: GRIM: HOLDING THE COSTUME CLUTCHED IN HIS FISTS, STARING AT IT.

   17  CAPTION:      --soon as I figure out what the hell I’ve gotten myself into.

Page 13

                CHAPTER HEADING

    1  TITLE:        Lew

 

1              INT/THE LIEUTENANT’s OFFICE: MEDIUM VIEW, SIDE ANGLE: SAL, STANDING BY AN OPEN FILE CABINET, LOOKS THROUGH KASPER’s EMPLOYMENT FILE.

 

                SAL IS LOOSELY BASED ON HAL LINDEN FROM THE OLD TV SITCOM Barney Miller. I WILL PROVIDE REF. SAL IS AN EXTREMELY AFFABLE FELLOW, A WARM SMILE, PLEASANT, DOWN-TO-EARTH guy. THICK MUSTACHE, WARM EYES.

 

                SAL IS THE TOUR COMMANDER OF THE 74th PRECINCT. HE WEARS A LONG-SLEEVED WHITE SHIRT WITH THE SHIRT SLEEVES UNCEREMONIOUSLY ROLLED UP AND HIS TIE LOOSENED TO GIVE HIM THAT “EVERYMAN” NEIGHBORLY LOOK. A SINGLE LIEUTENANT’s BAR ON EACH COLLAR. MATTE BLACK TIE. BADGE RACK WITH AWARDS BARS AND ID TAG.

 

                HE DOES NOT WEAR A JACKET OR HAT WHEN HE IS IN THE OFFICE.

 

                SAL’s PERSONALITY: HE’S BARNEY MILLER. FRIENDLY. HE IS DAD. PLAY HIM TOTALLY AGAINST TYPE: YOU WOULD NEVER KNOW THIS GUY IS A VILLAIN..

 

                COLOR: LIEUTENANT’s SHIRTS ARE WHITE, BADGE IS GOLD, EXACTLY LIKE THE GOLD DETECTIVE’s BADGE, BUT WITHOUT THE ID NUMBER RACK ATTACHMENT (I WILL PROVIDE REF).

    2  CAPTION:      My Pop told me, [Ital. Quote] “Go, see Lew. Apologize. Do what he say.

    3  CAPTION:      “Then decide what kind of cop you be--“

    4  SAL:          Well, now.

    5  SAL:          Somebody hasn’t been playing well with others--

 

2              SAME: NOW SAL HAS REALLY NOTICED US, LOOKING AT US RATHER THAN AT THE FILE FOLDER, HIS HEAD BOWED A BIT AS HE STARES AT US, LOSING HIS SMILE SOMEWHAT, AS THOUGH TO SAY, “I BEG YOUR PARDON...?”

    6  CAPTION:      I never got the chance.

    7  SAL:          --?

(More)

3              WHAT HE SEES: KASPER, IN TYPICAL EXPENSIVE URBAN STREET FASHIONS. IN SOME MANNER OF ARROGANT SLOUCH, PREDATOR’s GLARE: IN OTHER WORDS, JUST KASPER BEING KASPER.

 

                KASPER DOES NOT WEAR OR DISPLAY A BADGE IN HIS OWN PRECINCT. EVERYBODY KNOWS WHO HE IS.

    8  CAPTION:      Sal went from zero to shoe-squeeze in about an eyeblink.

    9  KASPER:       ---

   10  KASPER:       --what--?

 

                CHAPTER HEADING ACROSS

   11  TITLE:        Lew Redux

 

4              REPRISE PANEL 1: SAL HOLDING THE FILE. SMILING NOW, BUT STILL NOT LOOKING AT US: HIS GAZE REMAINS FIXED ON THE FILE FOLDER

   12  SAL:          Much better.

 

5              REVERSE: WHAT SAL SEES: KASPER, NOW IN STANDARD-ISSUE NEW YORK PATROLMAN’s UNIFORM, STANDING AT ATTENTION, HIS HAT UNDER HIS ARM.

 

                JORGE: THIS IS LATE FALL/EARLY WINTER, SO KASPER AND THE OTHER UNIFORMED COPS SHOULD BE WEARING JACKETS. KASPER’s JACKET IS A BLACK LEATHER WAIST-LENGTH JACKET, WITH NYPD PATCHES ON THE SHOULDERS, HIS BADGE RACK AND BARS CLIPPED TO THE BREAST OF THE JACKET.

 

                BENEATH THE JACKET, THE MATTE BLACK UNIFORM, TIE, ETC. PISTOL, CUFFS, BATON, KEYS, ETC.

   13  SAL:          (Off) So, Kasper, having seen the light-- having repented of your sin and having made your decision for the Almighty--

   14  SAL:          (Attach) --I think maybe we take it slow for awhile. See how it goes.

   15  SAL:          (Same) Plainclothes narcotics can be so stressful, after all--

Page 14

                CHAPTER HEADING

    1  TITLE:        How It Goes

 

1              ANGLE: AN NYPD TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT SCOOTER. THIS IS A HUMILIATING VEHICLE, AN ELECTRIC-POWERED VEHICLE DESIGNED FOR ONE PASSENGER, USED BY TRAFFIC OFFICERS TO SCOOT AROUND AND HAND OUT TICKETS.

 

                THIS IS NOT A CYCLE OR MOTORCYCLE. IT IS A UNIQUE VEHICLE, A NARROW, SINGLE-OCCUPANT ELECTRIC CART. YOU CAN FIND REFERENCE FOR THIS VEHICLE IN THE LINKS I SENT FOR POLICE VEHICLES.

 

                COLOR: SO FAR AS I KNOW, THESE SCOOTER CART-THINGS ARE STILL BLUE WITH WHITE LETTERING AND TRIM.

    2  CAPTION:      Even harder than becoming a cop is staying a cop.

    3  CAPTION:      If the skels and the wife-beaters and the hypes and the dead babies in dumpsters don’t get you--

    4  CAPTION:      --the bureaucratic shoe squeezing just might.

 

2              NEW ANGLE: KASPER, IN COP UNIFORM, GLARING: HE’S GLARING AT THE OFF-PANEL SCOOTER.

    5  CAPTION:      This is Sal asking a question: [Ital.] Is Kasper Cole an I.A.B. rat?

    6  CAPTION:      Two choices: punch Sal out, leave my shield on the desk--

    7  CAPTION:      --or find a way to squeeze into this

                     thing--

 

3              SAME: HE LOOKS UP, HAVING HEARD SOMETHING OVERHEAD.

    8  CAPTION:      --now what--?

(More)

4              WHAT HE SEES: AN AVENGERS QUINJET SOARS OVERHEAD. WE NEED TO CLEARLY SEE THE “A” INSIGNIA ON THE TAIL FIN AND/OR WINGS.

 

                MIKE: CHECK WITH TOM IF THIS IS EVEN REMOTELY POSSIBLE: I’M NOT EVEN SURE THE AV’s ARE HQ’ed IN NY ANYMORE.

— no copy —

 

5              NEW ANGLE: KASPER GLARING AT THE SCOOTER (GET BOTH IN THIS SHOT).

— no copy —

 

6              LONG SHOT: KASPER’s SCOOTER TRUNDLES DOWN THE STREET, MOVING SLOWLY AWAY FROM US.

— no copy —

Page 15

                CHAPTER HEADING

    1  TITLE:        The Well of Souls

 

1              OVERHEAD ANGLE: KASPER AND GWEN IN BED. VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING. KASPER IS AWAKE, GLARING UP AT US, PREDATOR’s GLARE. GWEN IS ASLEEP, OBLIVIOUS TO KASPER, THE BED SHEETS AGAIN TWISTED MAINLY AROUND HER.

 

                JORGE: MAKE IT CLEAR SOMEHOW THIS IS SEVERAL DAYS LATER, NOT A RETURN TO THE BEGINNING OF THE ISSUE. CHANGE THE BED SHEETS AND LINEN SO IT IS APPARENT THAT THIS IS ANOTHER DAY.

 

                COLOR: PER ABOVE, THIS IS ANOTHER DAY. CHANGE COLORS OF BED SHEETS AND LINEN, CLOTHES, ETC.

— no copy —

 

2              FLASHBACK: ECU:  KASPER’s MYSTERY GIRL, SMILING AT HIM.

                JORGE: WE SHOULD ALWAYS GET CLOSE-IN SHOTS OF HER, NEVER A COMPLETE SENSE OF HER FACE OR IDENTITY. SHE IS MORE FANTASY THAN REALITY.

 

                COLOR: FANTASY GIRL (GRACE) IS BLACK.

— no copy —

 

3              CUT TO:  CITY STREETS: HARD, DRIVING RAIN: TWO CARS HAVE BEEN IN A MINOR TRAFFIC ACCIDENT. A POLICEMAN, WEARING A RAIN SLICKER, WRITES UP AN INCIDENT REPORT AS THE TWO DRIVERS ARGUE.

 

                JORGE: A RAIN SLICKER IS AN OVERSIZED PONCHO. IT IS BRIGHT YELLOW. NYPD POLICE PATCHES ON EACH SHOULDER, AND THE WORD “POLICE” IN BOLD BLACK LETTERS ACROSS THE BACK.

 

                THE OFFICER’s HAT IS A STANDARD NYPD PATROLMAN’s HAT, BUT IT IS COVERED IN CLEAR PLASTIC TO PROTECT IT FROM THE RAIN.

— no copy —

 

4              ZOOM IN ON THIS OFFICER AS HE WRITES: IT IS KASPER. SCOWLING. THIS IS SUCH BULLSHIT.

— no copy —

(More)

                FOUR PANELS ACROSS BOTTOM: FIXED CAMERA ANGLE, STAT AND REPEAT BACKGROUND.

 

5              CUT TO: KASPER, GWEN, AND MOM SITTING AT THE TABLE IN THE KITCHEN OR DINING AREA (WHATEVER YOU’VE DESIGNED FOR KASPER’S TINY APARTMENT). THE THREE OF THEM EATING.

 

                GWEN DISPLAYS A PIECE OF PAPER, HOLDING IT SO KASPER CAN SEE IT WHILE GLOWERING AT KASPER. THIS PAPER IS AN OVERDUE BILL, WITH “PAST DUE” IN LARGE, OBVIOUS RED LETTERS ON IT.

 

                KASPER CONTINUES TO EAT, IGNORING GWEN.

 

                MOM EATS, IGNORING BOTH. SHE IS TALKING TO HERSELF. NOBODY CARES.

    2  BILL:         PAST DUE

    3  MOM:          ...so, Estelle says, [Ital. Quote] “Why bother with Albee Square?

    4  MOM:          [Ital.] Who shops at Albee Square?!

 

6              STAT/REPEAT PREVIOUS PANEL. NOW THERE IS AN INSECT CRAWLING ON THE WALL SOMEWHERE IN VIEW. MOM, WHILE CONTINUING TO EAT, REMOVES ONE OF HER SHOES.

    5  MOM:          Like King’s Plaza is just the end-all.

    6  MOM:          I said, [Ital.] “So, I shop Albee Square. What am, I now, an outcast--

 

7              SAME: MOM, STRIKING LIKE LIGHTNING, SMASHES THE BUG ON THE WALL, USING HER SHOE AS A CRUDE FLY-SWATTER, HOLDING THE SHOE BY THE TOE AND HAMMERING THE BUG WITH THE HEEL.

    7  SFX:          WHAAAAPP!!

 

8              STAT/REPEAT PANEL 5: THE THREE CONTINUING EATING AS THOUGH NOTHING HAD HAPPENED. THE SMASHED BUG ON THE WALL.

    8  MOM:          --and then, Estelle says--

Page 16

1              OVERHEAD: KASPER IN BED. THIS IS SEVERAL DAYS LATER.

 

                COLOR: THIS IS, ONCE AGAIN, SEVERAL DAYS LATER. CHANGE COLORS ON CLOTHES AND LINEN.

— no copy —

 

2              FLASHBACK FANTASY GIRL, LAUGHING. STAY IN CLOSE: KEEP HER MORE FANTASY THAN REALITY.

— no copy —

 

3              CUT TO: A MAN WASHING POLICE CARS IN THE BACK LOT OF THE PRECINCT, USING A GARDEN HOSE AND SPRAY NOZZLE. A BUCKET OF SUDS AND SPONGES AND TOWELS SOMEWHERE NEARBY.

 

                THE MA N WEARS NYPD UTILITY COVER-ALLS: A SINGLE-PIECE UTILITY SUIT, WITH NYPD PATCHES ON BOTH SHOULDERS, THE WORD “POLICE” IN LARGE WHITE LETTERS ACROSS THE BACK. HE HAS A SHIELD EMBLEM EMBROIDERED ON THE CHEST, BUT IS NOT WEARING AN ACTUAL BADGE. HE WEARS A BASEBALL-STYLE CAP WITH NYPD logo on it.

 

                COLOR: THIS JUMPSUIT IS DARK BLUE.

— no copy —

 

4              ZOOM IN TO SEE THIS MAN’S FACE: HE IS LOOKING UP AT THE SKY, HAVING SPOTTED SOMETHING IN THE SKY.

 

                HERE WE SEE THIS MAN IS, OF COURSE, KASPER. PREDATOR’s GLOWER.

— no copy —

 

5              (BIG PANEL) WHAT HE SEES: SPIDER-MAN SWINGS PAST OVERHEAD. OBLIVIOUS TO KASPER’S HUMILIATION BELOW.

 

                COLOR: SUPER-HERO PALETTE: BRIGHT COLORS ON SPIDER-MAN, DANK, DREARY BROOKLYN BELOW HIM. THIS IS KASPER’s BAT IN THE WINDOW.

— no copy —

 

6              SMALL PANEL OR INSET: KASPER’s REACTION: PREDATOR’s GLOWER, BUT HE IS CLEARLY ENVIOUS ON SOME LEVEL.

— no copy —

Page 17

1              OVERHEAD: KASPER AND GWEN IN BED. ANOTHER DAY. GWEN SLEEPING, KASPER GLARES UP AT US.

 

                COLOR: IT IS THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. BLUES OR SOME OTHER TECHNIQUE TO HELP THIS ALONG..

— no copy —

 

2              FLASHBACK: THE FANTASY GIRL, HER EYES CLOSED THIS TIME, IN ECSTASY, AS THOUGH SHE WERE MAKING LOVE TO US.

— no copy —

 

3              FLASHBACK GWEN HOLDING THE OVERDUE BILL, ANNOYED AT US.

    1  BILL:         PAST DUE

 

4              FLASHBACK: PANTHER HOLDING THE FIST FULL OF CASH (FORM ISSUE #50).

    2  PANTHER:      --for this.

    3  PANTHER:      For worthless paper.

 

5              FLASHBACK: HUNTER: EVIL, AMUSED, TRYING TO TEMPT US.

                COLOR: IT IS NIGHT

    2  HUNTER:       The Black Panther is dead.

    3  HUNTER:       He chose you.

 

6              FLASHBACK: FROM PAGE 8: SGT. TORK, WARNING US.

                COLOR: IT IS DAY

    4  TORK:         Every time you put that costume on, you’re ringin’ the dinner bell for these mutts.

    5  TORK:         Get out. Get out now.

 

7              RETURN: IN CLOSER ON KASPER. MOUNTING INTENSITY.

                COLOR: IT IS NIGHT

— no copy —

(More)

8              FLASHBACK  CITY STREETS: SPIDER-MAN SWINGING PAST.

                COLOR: IT IS DAY

— no copy —

 

9              RETURN:  ECU: KASPER’s EYES.

                COLOR: IT IS NIGHT

— no copy —

Page 18

                (SPLASH) THE BLACK PANTHER (OUR NEW BP) IN BROOKLYN: IN MID LEAP, OR SCALING A WALL, OR WHATEVER JORGE WANTS TO DRAW.

 

                A DYNAMIC POSTER SHOT OF OUR NEW BP, BACK ON THE PROWL.

 

                JORGE: NOTE PANTHER DOES NOT USE HIS CLAWS. HE HAS NOT DISCOVERED THEM YET. HE MAY GRAB HOLD OF RAIN GUTTERS, PIPING, OUTCROPPINGS, FIRE ESCAPES, ETC. AS YOU SEE FIT.

    1  CAPTION:      Even harder than becoming a cop is staying a cop.

    2  CAPTION:      Forget the gold shield-- gotta work on hanging onto the silver one.

    3  CAPTION:      I don’t make a move, I’m the clerk typist in the motor pool.

    4  CAPTION:      Between Sal, I.A.B., and Hunter-- my only way out may be borrowing the identity of a dead man.

 

Page 19

1              DETAIL: A METAL SIGN BOLTED TO THE WALL.

    1  SIGN:         LESLIE N. HILL

                                                NYC DEPT. OF PUBLIC HOUSING

                                                JOHN H. LINDSAY, MAYOR

                                                VISITORS AND RESIDENTS SUBJECT TO WEAPONS SEARCH

 

2              DOWN ANGLE: THE BLACK PANTHER LEAPING DOWN AND AWAY FROM US. BELOW: THE PANTHER’s LEXUS GS-400, PARKED ON THE GROUNDS OF THE HOUSING PROJECT.

    2  CAPTION:      Well, being dead, I doubt he’ll mind.

    3  CAPTION:      Dre should’ve had his sit with Scruggs by now-- got him on tape.

    4  CAPTION:      As good a time to shake that tree as--

    5  CAPTION:      --wait-- what did Hunter say--?

 

3              FLASHBACK: HUNTER: AN EVIL SMILE.

    6  HUNTER:       You want to wear that uniform, Officer Cole--?

    7  HUNTER:       --then come to terms with who the Black Panther is.

    8  HUNTER:       The Panther studies his prey. And waits...

 

4              FLASHBACK: FROM LAST ISSUE, PAGE 12:

                THE BATHROOM: HUNTER STANDS AT THE DOOR, ABOUT TO EXIT.

    9  HUNTER:       It’s why he chose you.

(More)

5              ESTABLISH: THE TWO TOP FLOORS OF ONE OF THE BUILDINGS IN THIS HOUSING PROJECT. PANTHER HAS MANAGED TO GET ONE OF THE WINDOWS OPEN ON THE TOP FLOOR, IS ABOUT TO CLIMB IN.

   10  CAPTION:      This is stupid.

   11  CAPTION:      I’m being very stupid, now.

   12  CAPTION:      --I mean, Panther’s dead-- right--?

   13  CAPTION:      Years ago, the Black Panther moved into this public housing project.

 

5              CUT TO: INT/THIS APARTMENT: PITCH BLACK PANTHER’S EYES GLOW, AND LIGHT FROM THE STREET BACKLIGHTS HIM AS HE CLIMBS IN THROUGH THE WINDOW.

   14  CAPTION:      And then, months ago--

   15  CAPTION:      --he just vanished. Presumed dead.

   16  CAPTION:      “He” [Bold Ital.] who--?!

Page 20

1              SUDDENLY: AN ATTACKER IS BEHIND PANTHER, GARROTING PANTHER WITH A SHORT LENGTH OF WIRE, PANTHER’S HEAD SNAPPING BACK FROM THE TENSION OF IT.

    1  PANTHER:      [Ital.] --ghhrrukk--!!

    2  CAPTION:      Lowlife junkie skel.

    3  CAPTION:      A squatter. Has to be--

 

2              IN CLOSE: PANTHER MANAGES TO TWIST AROUND SO HE IS FACING HIS ATTACKER. WHAT PANTHER SEES: THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BLACK WOMAN WE HAVE EVER SEEN IN OUR ENTIRE LIVES. IN THIS INSTANT, AT THIS VERY MOMENT, KASPER FALLS IN LOVE WITH HER.

 

                THIS IS AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT SHOT.

 

                SHE HAS A SPARKLE OF INNOCENCE AND YOUTH AND CURIOSITY IN HER EYES, BUT SHE IS A DEADLY, TRAINED ASSASSIN. LONG HAIR, SHE IS ABOUT 20 YEARS OLD, BUT SHE LOOKS MORE LIKE SHE’S 25.

 

                JORGE: I’M NOT KIDDING: THIS WOMAN MUST, ABSOLUTELY, BE : THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BLACK WOMAN WE HAVE EVER SEEN IN OUR ENTIRE LIVES.

 

                COLOR: THIS IS : THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BLACK WOMAN WE HAVE EVER SEEN IN OUR ENTIRE LIVES.

    4  PANTHER:      [Ital.] --ghhrrukk--!!

    5  PANTHER:      [Ital.]  Grrrr--!!

    6  PANTHER:      [normal] --Grace--

 

3              FLASHBACK: KASPER’S FANTASY GIRL, LAUGHING.

    7  CAPTION:      Grace.

    8  CAPTION:      [Bold Italic] Grace.

 

4              FLASHBACK: DETAIL: A HIGH SCHOOL YEAR BOOK (AN OVERSIZED HARD COVER BOOK), A SINGLE ROSE LAID ACROSS THE CLOSED BOOK. MAKE SURE WE CAN READ THE BOOK COVER.

    9  BOOK COVER:  ERASMUS HIGH SCHOOL ‘97

   10  CAPTION:      ...Grace...

   11  CAPTION:      ...I remember you...

(More)

5              RETURN: BREAK THE HOLD:  THE GIRL RAMS HER ELBOW INTO PANTHER’S THROAT.

 

                — OR— THIS CAN BE ANY MARTIAL ARTS MOVE YOU WANT IT TO BE. JUST BREAK THE SPELL AND GET THE FIGHT GOING AGAIN.

   12  CAPTION:      Okay.

   13  CAPTION:      Probably not Grace.

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1-4           KARATE FIGHT: VERY JAPANESE, VERY ECONOMICAL: THIS WOMAN IS AN EXPERT ASSASSIN AND SHE KNOWS MORE ABOUT PANTHER’S CAPABILITIES THAN PANTHER DOES.

 

                MAKE IT A LOGICAL PROGRESSION OF PANELS, THRUSTS AND FLIPS AND TURNS, ETC. PANTHER TAKING THE WORST OF IT: HE IS WHOLLY UNPREPARED TO FIGHT HER AND IS STILL WOBBLY FROM KEEPER’s ATTACK.

 

                THE APARTMENT IS A VERY UNDER-FURNISHED, RUN-DOWN PLACE: NO ONE LIVES HERE. THERE CAN BE WHATEVER PROPS YOU WISH TO USE FOR THIS FIGHT.

 

                COLOR: LOW-LIGHT, BUT ENOUGH TO SEE WHAT’s GOING ON. IT’s FAIR TO ASSUME OUR EYES HAVE ADJUSTED TO THE LOW LIGHT NOW, SO WE CAN CHEAT THE LOGIC OF IT A BIT.

 

                OKOYE

                JORGE: THIS WOMAN IS OKOYE, T’CHALLA’s FAITHFUL BODYGUARD (DORA MILAJE).IGNORE ***ALL*** PREVIOUS APPEARANCES OF THIS CHARACTER. SHE HAS NEVER BEEN DRAWN CORRECTLY. YOU HAVE TO RE-INVENT HER FOR THIS SERIES, AS SHE WILL BECOME KASPER’S OBSESSIVE LOVE INTEREST.

 

                OKOYE IS BARELY 20 YEARS OLD. SHE IS JUST ABOUT SIX FEET TALL, AND HAS A MODEL’s FIGURE. SHE HAS LONG-ISH HAIR THAT YOU CAN ARRANGE IN ANY HAIR STYLE YOU WANT.

 

                GIVE HER BIG DIMPLES AND MAKE HER, I CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH, : THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BLACK WOMAN WE HAVE EVER SEEN IN OUR ENTIRE LIVES.

 

                OKOYE WEARS EXCLUSIVELY EXPENSIVE DESIGNER MINI-DRESSES. **PLEASE** RESEARCH THIS: CLINGY FASHIONS BY ARMANI AND BILL BLASS AND DKNY AND SO FORTH. SOME OF THESE FASHIONS SHOULD BE ORIGINALS BOUGHT IN PARIS, COSTING TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS OR MORE.

 

                THIS WOMAN DOES NOT SHOP AT THE LOCAL SHOPPING MALL, JORGE.

 

                SHE TYPICALLY WEARS MATTE BLACK BIKER-STYLE SHORTS UNDER HER MINI DRESSES, SO WHEN SHE FIGHTS (SEE Black Panther #2 OR The Client TPB),. ALL YOU SEE IS MATTE BLACK UNDER HER SKIRT WHEN SHE HIGH KICKS AND SO FORTH.

 

                HER PANTY HOSE AND UNDER GARMENTS AND THE LINING OF HER CLOTHES ALL HAVE THE SAME VIBRANIUM MICROWEAVE, SO EVEN THOUGH SHE SEEMS TO BE EXPOSED TO GUNFIRE, SHE IS STULL FAIRLY BULLET-PROOF.

 

                OKOYE IS A DANGEROUS, TRAINED KILLER. SHE IS TOTALLY AND COMPLETELY DEVOTED TO T’CHALLA. SHE SHOWS LITTLE OR NO EMOTION.

 

                AND SHE IS DEEPLY OFFENDED BY KASPER WEARING THE PANTHER COSTUME. IT IS THE HIGHEST INSULT TO THE KING.

— no copy —

(More)

5              IN CLOSE: PANTHER’s FIST COCKED, HE’S HAD ENOUGH OF THIS BITCH, OKOYE READY FOR HIM. A VOICE CALLS FROM OFF.

    1  CAPTION:      And so, Grace, or whoever--

    2  CAPTION:      --time to go down for the long nap--

    3  VOICE:        (Tailless) I should apologize.

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1              BEHIND OR AT SOME ANGLE TO PANTHER, HE TURNS, LOOKING IN A NEW DIRECTION, AT A VOICE FROM OFF-PANEL.

    1  VOICE:        (Tailless) Okoye can be fairly... zealous... in defending me.

    2  VOICE:        (Tailless) She is deeply offended by your wearing that uniform. It is the highest insult to her king.

    3  PANTHER:      I’m not sure why. After all, Hunter says--

    4  PANTHER:      --you chose me...

 

2              WHAT HE SEES: A LONE MAN, SITTING BY ANOTHER WINDOW, IDLY GAZING OUT OF THE WINDOW. HE HAS NO EXPRESSION AND SEEMS TO IGNORE PANTHER.

 

                THIS MAN IS UNKEMPT AND UNGROOMED. HE WEARS A BATH ROBE OPEN TO REVEAL WRINKLED PAJAMAS.

 

                HE HAS SHORT HAIR, BUT IT IS UNCOMBED. AN UNGROOMED, FULL BEARD.

 

                THIS IS A MAN WHO HAS GIVEN UP ON LIFE. A MAN WHOSE ENTIRE WORLD IS SITTING BY THE WINDOW.

 

                HEAVY SHADOWS ALL AROUND, THE ROOM IS VERY DARK, BUT LIGHT ILLUMINATES HIM FROM THE WINDOW.

— no copy —

 

3              IN CLOSE ON PANTHER AS HE CREEPS FORWARD, GETTING A GOOD LOOK AT THIS GUY.

    5  PANTHER:      Is he right...?

    6  PANTHER:      Did you set all of this up--

 

4              CUT TO: THE MAN: HE’s TURNED HIS HEAD SOMEWHAT, HIS STEELY EYES NOW RIVETED TOWARDS THE OFF-PANEL PANTHER: WE FINALLY GET A GOOD LOOK AT THIS MAN: A BIT OF A GLOWER IN HIS EYES, HE IS ANNOYED BY THIS INTRUSION.

 

                HIS RUN-DOWN, UNKEMPT CONDITION IS SHOCKING TO US, NOW THAT RECOGNIZE HIM:

 

                THIS IS T’CHALLA, THE ORIGINAL BLACK PANTHER.

    7  PANTHER:      (Off, Burst, Caps) --BLACK PANTHER--?!

    8  NEXT:         NEXT: SHADRACH IN THE FURNACE

                     Panther and Panther come to terms...

 

 

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