PREVIOUSLY...

Having chosen to reject The White Wolf’s offer of advice and counsel, Kasper burned the Black Panther costume and all of the gifts the Wolf had given him, including a huge file containing evidence of Lt. Sal Anthony’s criminal misconduct. However, when Kasper awoke the next morning, it was all back: the costume, the car, the tools, and the evidence. The White Wolf was not taking “no” for an answer. Kasper was finally reinstated to duty on the police force, but his shift commander, Lt. Sal Anthony, transferred Kasper to menial and humiliating duties. This caused Kasper to fear losing his job altogether, and reinforced his conviction that Sal and his crew must be brought to justice. Kasper, reluctantly, went back into the Black Panther costume, which led him into an encounter with the last man he ever thought he’d meet— King T’Challa of Wakanda, the Original Black Panther.

 

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.

 

T’CHALLA

T’Challa, son of T’Chaka “The Great King” of Wakanda, and the original Black Panther. Currently on extended leave from the Wakandan throne, T’Challa has been out of the public eye for months (although he currently serves as an active duty member of THE AVENGERS).

 

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.

 

GLOSSARY OF TERMS:

Canvas = interviews of local witnesses

RMP = Radio Motor Patrol = Police Car

Set = subdivision

Lew = Lieutenant = Sal Anthony

Panther and Dre first became acquainted in issue #50

Page 2

                CHAPTER HEADING

    1  TITLE:        Take The Canolis

 

1              ESTABLISHING SHOT:  THE WILDLIFE PRESERVE FROM ISSUE #50 PAGE 9:

                TALL GRASS AND SHRUB BRUSH (THIS IS A WILDLIFE REFUGE IN BROOKLYN, NEAR PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE). FEW TREES, BUT LOTS OF WAIST-HIGH GRASS.

 

                AN UNMARKED POLICE CAR (A FOUR-DOOR SEDAN SIMILAR TO THE CHEVROLET CAPRICE CLASSIC) IS PARKED HERE. THE CAR’s HEADLIGHTS ARE ON AND LIGHT THIS SCENE.

 

                THREE MEN ARE PRESENT: THESE CAN BE FAIRLY SMALL FULL FIGURES:

 

                DRE, THE GANGSTA, IS SHOWING SCRUGGS, THE DETECTIVE, THE SPOT WHERE BLACK PANTHER MADE DRE DIG HIS OWN GRAVE (IN ISSUE #50). DRE POINTS MELODRAMATICALLY WITH BOTH HANDS.

 

                A FEW FEET AWAY, SAL ANTHONY TALKS ON A CELL PHONE. SAL WEARS JEANS, SNEAKERS, A BLACK LEATHER JACKET. SIMILAR TO PREVIOUS ISSUES, BUT THE LEATHER JACKET IS NEW. SAL DOES NOT WEAR ANY NYPD POLICE INSIGNIA OR IDENTIFICATION. THIS JACKET IS NOT THE NYPD RAID JACKET FROM LAST ISSUE, BUT IS A STYLISH WAIST-LENGTH LEATHER JACKET.

 

                SCRUGGS IN SUIT, TIE, TRENCH COAT, BUT DIFFERENT TIE AND SUIT FROM LAST ISSUE. DRE IS STILL DRESSED AS PER LAST ISSUE (HE’s BEEN IN CUSTODY).

 

                DRE IS DIGGING HIS OWN GRAVE WHILE PANTHER, IN FERAL CROUCH, HOLDS THE SHOTGUN ON HIM.  THE COP CAR IN B/G.

 

                COLOR: THIS IS A NEW DAY. SAL AND SCRUGGS ARE WEARING DIFFERENT CLOTHES FROM LAST ISSUE. DRE IS WEARING THE SAME CLOTHES.

 

                COLOR: IT IS NIGHT, MOONLIT: LIGHT SNOW FLURRIES. THE HEADLIGHTS OF THE COP CAR ARE OFF.

    2  DRE:          ...yeah, an’ then Panther scooped me up, and stole that cop car--

    3  DRE:          --brought me way the jump out here--

    4  DRE:          --made me dig my own grave, Scruggs--

 

2              MEDIUM: SCRUGGS HANDS DRE A STACK OF $100 BILLS, ABOUT AN INCH THICK. DRE IS ANNOYED AS HE TAKES THE MONEY.

    5  DRE:          --dude be seriously wacked. I’m tellin’ you, Scruggs--

    6  DRE:          --you and our pal Sal over there need to be about yo’ damn business.

    7  SCRUGGS:      Relax, Dre. For your trouble.

    8  DRE:          Yeah, now, see, that’s what I’m talkin’ ‘bout.

    9  DRE:          Mo’ money, mo’ money, mo’--

 

3              SCRUGGS SHOOTS DRE IN THE STOMACH. BLOOD SPATTERS ON THE STACK OF MONEY CLUTCHED IN DRE’s HAND.

 

                SCRUGGS IS USING A .38 CHIEF’s SPECIAL (A SNUB NOSE REVOLVER, THE BARREL IS ONLY AN INCH AND ONE-HALF LONG).

   10  SFX:          BLAM.

   11  SAL:          (Off)  ...yes... Skip’s people are handling the 911 call log and the canvas--[1]

   12  SAL:          (Attach) --I’ll handle ballistics and PSA--

 

4              ON SAL, LEANING AGAINST THE CAR AS HE TALKS ON HIS CELL PHONE,. ANNOYED.

   13  SAL:          --which only leaves about a hundred other details to this mess I gotta clean up.

   14  SAL:          Understood. I’ll send the envelope thru Sandy.

   15  SAL:          Our friends appreciate your help on this.

   16  SAL:          Okay. G’nite your honor.

(More)

5              SAL APPROACHES SCRUGGS. SCRUGGS HOLDS A SMALL PAPER BAG, HE IS PLACING THE MONEY INTO THE BAG. BLOOD STAINS ON THE STACK OF BILLS.

 

                SAL DOES NOT LOOK AT SCRUGGS BUT AT DRE WHO LIES DEAD AT THEIR FEET.

   17  SAL:          Gotta tell you, Scruggsy, this 85 grand is barely gonna cover our expenses, here.

   18  SAL:          Trying to make World War III go away is some major Houdini act.

   19  SAL:          So, the Black Panther-- or, somebody pretending to be him-- brought Dre up here in a stolen RMP--[2]

   20  SAL:          --tried to get Dre to get us on tape--

 

6              ON SAL AND SCRUGGS: SAL GRIM, TRYING TO FIGURE THIS OUT. SCRUGGS PLACES THE GUN HE USED TO KILL DRE INTO THE PAPER BAG.

   21  SAL:          --shoots up the Fortress with rubber bullets--?

   22  SAL:          Why? What’s this guy’s act? Why impersonate some king in a cat suit?

   23  SAL:          Wait-- didn’t Tork used to hang out with the Black Panther...?

Page 3

                CHAPTER HEADING

    1  TITLE:        Sinners

 

1              DETAIL: A TELEVISION SCREEN: ON THE SCREEN, THE LOGO FOR “NICK AT NIGHT,” A CABLE TELEVISION CHANNEL (I WILL PROVIDE REF).

    2  ON SCREEN:    NEXT: MY THREE SONS

    3  SFX:          ZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzz.

    4  SFX:          KNOCK--!!  KNOCK--!!  KNOCK--!!

    5  SFX:          ZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzz.

 

2              NEW ANGLE: TORK, AWAKENING. TORK IS SLOUCHED ON HIS SOFA, HE HAD FALLEN ASLEEP WATCHING TELEVISION. TORK WEARS A PLAID BATH ROBE OVER A TEE SHIRT AND BOXER SHORTS. HE HAS A BAG OF FRITOS (A SNACK, SEE REF) CLUTCHED TO HIS CHEST, AND CRUMBS FROM THE BAG ARE SCATTERED ACROSS HIS CHEST.

 

                TORK’s SHOTGUN— HIS BEST FRIEND— LAYS ACROSS HIS LAP.

    6  TORK:         ZZzzzz-- Whuzzat--?

 

3              CUT TO: TORK’s FRONT DOOR (THIS IS A BRICK TENEMENT BUILDING, A SHORT FLIGHT OF STEPS IN FRONT. THIS IS A REALLY BAD NEIGHBORHOOD IN HARLEM).

 

                THE DOOR OPEN, TORK IS THERE, HOLDING HIS DOUBLE-BARRELED SHOTGUN. HE IS NOT AIMING THE GUN AT HIS VISITOR.

 

                HIS VISITOR IS SAL ANTHONY. SAL IS STILL DRESSED AS PER PAGE ONE.

    7  TORK:         --?!  Lew--?

    8  SAL:          Hiya, Tork.

    9  SAL:          If you got a minute-- wanted to talk about your boy-- about Kasper.

 

4              CUT TO: INTERIOR: A BAR. TORK AND SAL SIT AT THE BAR COUNTER, HUNCHED FORWARD A BIT. SAL TALKS, TORK SNARLS AS HE BITES INTO A HERO SANDWICH  (TORK NEVER TURNS DOWN FREE FOOD).

   10  SAL:          It’s not his work, Tork-- it’s Kasper’s attitude. Got some kinda chip--

   11  SAL:          --maybe over his old man getting sent up--

   12  TORK:         Squeezin’ Kasper’s shoes pretty regular, Lew.

   13  SAL:          He had it comin.’

 

5              ON TORK, WIPING HIS MOUTH WITH HIS SLEEVE, AN EVIL SMILE: TORK’S WONDERING WHAT SAL IS UP TO.

   14  TORK:         Did he? Or did his lieutenant try to work him a little-- some nonsense about your wife’s clock and the like.

   15  TORK:         Kasper’s been in narcotics long enough to recognize a hype when he sees one.

 

6              THE TWO OF THEM, TORK CONTINUES. HE’S NOT ANGRY, JUST EXPLAINING THINGS TO SAL.

   16  TORK:         Now you got him writing traffic tickets and washing cars.

   17  TORK:         So, yeah, maybe his ‘tude is a bit out of alignment.

Page 4

1              RE-ESTABLISH THE BAR: SMALL FIGURES OF TORK AND SAL AT THE BAR, ESTABLISH THEIR SURROUNDINGS.

    1  TORK:         Look, lieutenant, I’m no virgin.

    2  TORK:         I’m a sinner just like you.

    3  TORK:         On this job, on these streets, sometimes a cop does what a cop does to keep the world right.

    4  TORK:         I think Kasper understands that. I think you can ease up on him.

 

2              ON SAL, SMILING AS HE SIPS HIS BEER.

    5  SAL:          So.

    6  SAL:          You vouch for the guy.

    7  TORK:         I vouch.

    8  TORK:         Boss-- the kid just wants his gold shield. But he’s not joinin’ your crew to get it.

    9  TORK:         He’s not ratting your crew to get it, either.

 

3              NEW ANGLE: SAL COUNTS MONEY, PAYING THE BAR BILL. TORK CONTINUES EATING.

   10  SAL:          So he washes cars until I tell him otherwise. And he keeps his damned mouth shut.

   11  TORK:         Yes.

   12  SAL:          Well... maybe I let him go back to work, then. See what happens.

   13  TORK:         Lew--

 

4              IN CLOSE ON TORK: TURNING TO FACE US: GET SOME PART OF SAL ANTHONY’s BODY IN EXTREME FOREGROUND, SO WE KNOW TORK IS TURNING TO TALK TO SAL.

 

                TORK HAS A SERIOUS EXPRESSION HERE: HE IS BEING TRULY GENUINE.

   14  TORK:         --he’s a good kid. A good cop.

 

5              CUT TO: OUTSIDE THE BAR: SAL GETTING INTO HIS CAR WHILE TALKING ON HIS CELL PHONE.

   15  SAL:          What do we got, Scruggsy--?

 

6              CUT TO:  TORK’s APARTMENT: SCRUGGS SQUATS NEXT TO THE BIG BOX OF NON-LETHAL AMMUNITION KASPER BROUGHT TO TORK’s HOUSE (SEE ISSUE #51). SCRUGGS HOLDS ONE OF THE ROUNDS UP TO EYE LEVEL, INSPECTING IT, WHILE TALKING ON HIS CELL PHONE.

   16  SCRUGGS:      Rubber bullets, boss-- only a few boxes, but they’re here--

   17  SCRUGGS:      --along with at least 40 cases of... something else. Looks like-- gel­ bullets--

   18  SCRUGGS:      Either way, I think we found our guy--

Page 5

                CHAPTER HEADING ACROSS.

    1  TITLE:        Responsibility

 

                FLASHBACK SEQUENCE: ROUNDED PANEL BORDERS.

                COLOR:  JENNIFER: THROUGHOUT THIS ISSUE, THERE WILL BE SEVERAL CUTAWAY INTERLUDES TELLING THE STORY OF BLACK JACK COLE. IF THE LOOK OF THESE FLASHBACKS ALL MATCH, IT WILL HELP WITH THE STORYTELLING.

 

                THINK OF THIS LIKE THE FILM “The Godfather Part II,” WHICH HAD A PARALLEL STRUCTURE OF PRESENT DAY AND THE STORY OF MICHAEL CORLEONE’s FATHER: SEPIA OR MUTED COLORS ON THE “B” STORY OF BLACK JACK COLE.

 

                SEPIA OR MUTED COLORS, BUT PLEASE DO NOT DROP THE BLACK PLATE. THANKS.

 

1              CITY STREETS: FULL FIGURES: BLACK JACK COLE, DRESSED IN NYPD UNIFORM, WALKS DOWN THE STREET, HOLDING HIS SON’s HAND. KASPER IS ABOUT 8 YEARS OLD. KASPER LOOKS UP AT HIS FATHER AS THEY WALK. BLACK JACK LOOKS STRAIGHT AHEAD, SAME GRIM EXPRESSION BLACK JACK HAS TODAY.

 

                KASPER IS INNOCENT: HE HAS NOT LEARNED TO HAVE THAT PREDATOR LOOK, YET.

 

                COLOR: IT IS SUMMER OF 1989. A HOT DAY IN BROOKLYN. JACK WEARS A SHORT SLEEVE POLICE UNIFORM SHIRT, NO TIE, COLLAR OPEN, A BADGE RACK WITH BADGE, AWARD BARS AND NAME PLATE.

 

                COLOR: NOTE, IN 1989, POLICE SHIRTS WERE LIGHT BLUE, LIKE A 50% BLUE. OSCAR: LEAVE THIS UNIFORM SHIRT OPEN FOR COLOR (MODERN NYPD SHIRTS SHOULD BE MATTE BLACK).

    2  CAPTION:      There once was the greatest cop who ever lived.

    3  CAPTION:      A proud and noble warrior, someone to be both feared and respected.

    4  CAPTION:      Jonathan Payton Cole.

 

2              UP ANGLE: MEDIUM CLOSE-UP OF JACK’S FACE: HE IS NOT LOOKING DOWN AT US, BUT LOOKING AHEAD, VIGILANTLY, AS THEY WALK. GRIM. THE BRIGHT SUNSHINE CAUSES THE BRIM OF HIS HAT TO CAST A SHADOW ACROSS HIS FACE, MAKING HIM LOOK EVEN DARKER.

    5  CAPTION:      “Jack” Cole. Called him “Black” Jack because he was so dark.

(More)

3              DOWN ANGLE: YOUNG KASPER, LOOKING UP AT US, STUMBLING A LITTLE AS HE TRIES TO KEEP PACE WITH THE MASSIVE, GIANT BLACK JACK. SMILING. KASPER’S MISSING SOME TEETH AND HE HAS A BRUISE AROUND ONE OF HIS EYES: HE’S BEEN BEATEN UP BY OTHER KIDS.

    6  CAPTION:      Just like they called his kid “Kasper,” because he was so light.

    7  KASPER:       Pop--

    8  KASPER:       --POP-- c’mon, just let it go.

 

4              AN URBAN PLAYGROUND: FOUR OR FIVE VERY SCARY BLACK HOODLUMS, “GANGSTA” TYPES, IN THEIR EARLY 20’s, SIT ON PARK BENCHES. THESE APPEAR TO BE MEMBERS OF A STREET GANG.

 

                TWO OF THE GANG ARE PLAYING CHESS. THERE IS A LARGE PORTABLE RADIO (“BOOM BOX”) SOMEWHERE. ALL OF THESE MEN HAVE THE “PREDATOR” LOOK.

    9  HOOD:         Check this, yo.

   10  CAPTION:      The Seventh Avenue Mob was a Crip set.[3]

   11  CAPTION:      Murders, drug dealers and thieves. Very dangerous, very angry young men.

Page 6

1              BLACK JACK CONFRONTS THE BOYS. HE DOES NOT DRAW HIS WEAPON. HE KEEPS HOLD OF YOUNG KASPER’s HAND.

 

                THE STREET GANG MEMBERS GLARE AT BLACK JACK MENACINGLY.

    1  JACK:         I got your message, Tory.

    2  HOODLUM:      --?  Message?  What message?

    3  JACK:         My boy come home with a black eye--

 

2              BLACK JACK. GRIM.

    4  JACK:         --I take that as a message from you.

    5  JACK:         Message say, “I wan’ my ass kicked.”

 

3              THE HOODLUM, ANNOYED AT JACK, NOW.

    6  HOOD:         Man-- I ain’t had nothin’ to do with your little white kid getting’ whupped.

    7  HOOD:         Now get your Porky Pig self to steppin’--

 

4              DETAIL: THE “BOOM BOX” RADIO IS SMASHED BY BLACK JACK’S BATON (“NIGHT STICK”).

    8  SFX:          SSSSMAAAASSSHH!!

(More)

5              NEW ANGLE: THE GANG MEMBERS FORM A SEMI-CIRCLE AROUND BLACK JACK: SURROUNDING HIM. THEY DO NOT DRAW WEAPONS YET, BUT BLACK JACK IS CLEARLY OUTNUMBERED.

 

                JACK CASUALLY HOLDS HIS BATON BY ITS GRIP, HOLDS KASPER’S HAND IN THE OTHER.

 

                OSCAR: NOTE THESE BATONS HAVE A SMALL HAND GRIP THAT EXTENDS OUT PERPENDICULAR TO THE WOODEN BATON. THIS GRIP IS MOUNTED ON A SWIVEL. POLICE OFFICERS WHO BECOME SKILLFUL WITH THE BATON CAN BREAK YOUR ARM WITH IT IN A BLINK OF AN EYE. IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS WEAPON WHEN PROPERLY USED.

 

                TORY, THE HEAD GUY, REMAINS CALM, IN CONTROL. JACK HAS NOT MOVED, JUST STANDS THERE, SHOWING NO AGGRESSION AT ALL. JACK KNOWS NOT TO REVEAL ANYTHING OF HIS EMOTIONAL STATE TO THESE PUNKS..

    9  TORY:         Look, Black Jack-- you’re a decent brother and I respect what you do an’ allat.

   10  TORY:         The beef was between them little kids, man-- had nothin’ t’do with us. Now just squash the drama and go on home--

   11  TORY:         --‘fore the spit gets too deep.

   12  JACK:         You de head of the set that runs this street, Tory--

Page 7

1              KASPER: CLINGING TO HIS DAD’s HAND, BUT A BIT FEARFUL.

    1  JACK:         (Off) --means you, like, the mayor.

    2  JACK:         (Attach) An’ I hold you responsible for everyt’ing goes down on this street.

    3  JACK:         (Same) Especially Kasper.

 

2              TORY: THE PREDATOR LOOK, TRYING TO REMAIN COOL: HIS BODY LANGUAGE: HE LOUNGES ON THE PARK BENCH, PRETENDING TO IGNORE JACK.

    4  TORY:         You trippin’, fool.

    5  TORY:         Better take your little white son and step ‘fore you get some.

    6  JACK:         (Off) Maybe I want some.

    7  TORY:         >Pish< You weren’t a cop, I--

 

3              BLACK JACK REMOVES HIS BADGE RACK AND GUN. NO AGGRESSION, BUT HE HAS A PREDATOR’s EYES.

 

                OSCAR: NOTE HE WOULD REMOVE HIS ENTIRE BADGE RACK: THE BADGE, NAMEPLATE AND AWARDS BARS ATTACH TO A LEATHER HOLDER. THIS ENTIRE RACK COMES OFF OF HIS SHIRT.

— no copy —

 

4              NEW ANGLE: THE BADGE AND GUN LANDS ON THE BENCH NEXT TO TORY, TOSSED IN FROM OFF PANEL.

 

                OSCAR: THE GUN IS A STANDARD S&W .38 SPECIAL REVOLVER, 2-INCH BARREL, I BELIEVE.

 

    8  NAME PLATE:  COLE

 

5              NEW ANGLE: ON BLACK JACK: A CALM, ALMOST BENIGN EXPRESSION: HIS EYES LOCKED ON TORY. STILL HOLDING HIS SON’s HAND.

    9  JACK:         No cop now.

   10  JACK:         Jus’ Black Jack an’ Mayor Tory.

Page 8

1              ON TORY: THE PREDATOR: TRYING TO NOT SHOW HE IS AFRAID.

    1  JACK:         (Off) Go on--

 

2              NEW ANGLE: THE BADGE RACK AND GUN ON THE BENCH.

    2  JACK:         (Off) --pick it up.

 

3              BLACK JACK: NO MENACE, BUT HIS EYES ARE A PREDATOR’s EYES. HE IS CALM, BUT READY TO KILL EVERY MAN SURROUNDING HIM: ALL OF THE TENSION IS IN HIS EYES.

    3  JACK:         Go ahead.

    4  JACK:         Show me what a man you are.

 

4              NEW ANGLE: ONE OF THE OTHER GANG MEMBERS REACHES FOR JACK’S GUN.

    5  GANGSTA:      Shee-- I take the mug--

 

5              SAME: JACK’s NIGHT STICK WHIPS INTO THE PANEL, SMASHING THE GANGSTA’ HAND AS HE REACHES FOR THE GUN. LIGHTNING QUICK PRECISION, SHATTERING THE GANGSTA’S WRIST.

    6  SFX:          KEEEE-RAAKKK--!!

    7  GANGSTA:      (Burst)  --AAAAAIIEEEEE--!!!

 

6              ANOTHER GANGSTA, THIS ONE BEHIND BLACK JACK, REACHING FOR A WEAPON: BLACK JACK’s BATON EXTENDS INTO PANEL, LODGING UP UNDER THE MANS CHIN, AT HIS THROAT: HE’S NOT HITTING HIM WITH THE BATON, BUT MORE LIKE THREATENING HIM WITH IT.

    8  BLACK JACK:   (Off) Private conversation.

Page 9

1              RE-ESTABLISH THE SCENE: BLACK JACKAL SURROUNDED, HOLDING HIS SON’s HAND. THIS WHOLE SCENE SHOULD BE VERY MUCH LIKE Lone Wolf & Cub.

 

                ONE OF THE GANGSTAS NURSES HIS HAND, IN GREAT PAIN. THE GANGSTA BEHIND BLACK JACK IS NO LONGER REACHING FOR HIS GUN (AND, PROBABLY, NO LONGER EVEN THINKING ABOUT IT).

 

                TORY, STILL SLOUCHED ON THE BENCH, HAS A DISMISSIVE AND ANNOYED LOOK ON HIS FACE, TRYING TO REMAIN COOL.

    1  TORY:         >Pish< Just walk, man, aight--?

 

2              IN CLOSER: BLACK JACK LEANING IN, NOW: BRACING HIS FOOT ON THE LIP OF THE PARK BENCH BETWEEN TORY’S LEGS, LEANING RIGHT IN ON TORY, POI TING HIS INDEX FINGER RIGHT AT TORY’s FACE. TORY CONTINUES LOOKING AWAY, HE WON’T LOOK JACK IN THE EYE.

 

                JACK CONTINUES TO HOLD KASPER’s HAND.

    2  JACK:         You da mayor, boy. Got responsibilities.

    3  JACK:         My child come home with a black eye, I break your arm.

 

3              IN CLOSER: TORY: TRYING TO NOT LOOK AFRAID, JACK IN CLOSE, JABBING THE FINGER AT HIM.

    4  JACK:         He come home with broken arm--

    5  JACK:         --I break both your knees.

    6  JACK:         He end up in hospital--

 

4              SAME: JACK NOW PEELS $20 BILLS OFF A ROLL OF MONEY, HIS EYES CONTEMPTUOUSLY LOCKED ON TORY AS HE DISRESPECTFULLY PAYS HIM OFF FOR THE BROKEN RADIO, THE BILLS FLUTTER IN THE AFTERNOON AIR, DRIFTING DOWN ONTO TORY’s LAP.

 

                OSCAR: THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DISRESPECTFUL GESTURE ON JACK’s PART: THIS IS LIKE PAYING OFF A HOOKER.

    7  [4]JACK:        --you end up in [Bold Ital.] maargue.

    8  JACK:         For the raadyo.

(More)

5              DOWN ANGLE: THE SCENE: BLACK JACK WALKS HIS SON THROUGH THE GANG MEMBERS, THEY MAKE WAY FOR HIM WITHOUT OBJECTION.

 

                BLACK JACK NOW HAS HIS BADGE RACK AND GUN, BOTH IN PLACE WHERE THEY BELONG.

    9  KASPER:       Pop--

   10  KASPER:       ---

   11  KASPER:       --thanks.

   12  [5]JACK:        Two days from now you go see Lew. Apologize. Do what he say.[6]

   13  JACK:         Then decide what kind of cop you be--

   14  JACK:         --in Lew’s pocket-- or in I.A.B.’s.

   15  CAPTION:      Okay... okay, pop-- I heard you the first time--

Page 10

                CHAPTER HEADING

    1  TITLE:        Generations

 

                RETURN TO PRESENT NOW: NORMAL PANEL BORDERS AND COLOR:

 

                PLEASE NOTE, WHEN I SAY “PANTHER,” I’M ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT OUR GUY, KASPER, THE NEW PANTHER. IF I MENTION T’CHALLA, OF COURSE, WE MEAN T’CHALLA. I WILL NEVER REFER TO T’CHALLA AS “PANTHER.”

 

1              INT/HOUSING PROJECT: MEDIUM: PANTHER LIFTS A DROP CLOTH OFF OF A SOPHISTICATED COMPUTER CONSOLE.

    2  CAPTION:      --your advice, about solving my problem with Sal Anthony-- my corrupt station chief--

    3  CAPTION:      --has taken on a life of it’s own. Following me... like luggage... even here--

    4  CAPTION:      The Leslie N. Hill Housing Project in New Lots Brooklyn...

    5  VOICE:        (Off)  Why are you still here...?

 

2              ESTABLISH THE ROOM: THIS IS A HUGE ROOM, JORGE. SEVERAL OF THESE APARTMENTS HAVE BEEN GUTTED, THE WALLS REMOVED, TO FORM A LARGE OPERATIONS CENTER. I THINK WE GOT A GLIMPSE OF THIS PLACE IN Panther #31, BUT IT’S NEVER REALLY BEN ESTABLISHED.

 

                THIS WAS PANTHER’S OP CENTER IN BROOKLYN. DOZENS OF THESE SOPHISTICATED WORK STATIONS. A LOT LIKE A HIGH-TECH BROKERAGE HOUSE. DOZENS OF MONITORS AND KEYBOARDS AND WHATEVER ELSE MAKES SENSE.

 

                ONLY, IT’S ALL BEEN ABANDONED. IT’S ALL COVERED IN DROP CLOTHS AND HAS BEEN, ESSENTIALLY, MOTHBALLED.

 

                T’CHALLA, PAJAMAS AND BATHROBE, UNSHAVEN, HAIR UNCOMBED, BUT HE HAS A STEELY GLARE. STILL A VERY DANGEROUS PERSON.

 

                COLOR: THE ROOM IS DARK. IT IS NIGHT. THE ROOM HAS A GHOSTLY FEEL.

    6  CAPTION:      ...Headquarters of the fearsome Black Panther. Whom I found unshaved in his bath robe...

    7  PANTHER:      (Off) Waiting for my answers.

    8  T’CHALLA:     I have none to offer you, Officer Cole.

    9  PANTHER:      (Off) Yeah, well, but see, I think you do.

 

3              PANTHER, ACCUSING.

   10  PANTHER:      I’ve heard you’re a man who plays mind games-- like, making me believe this is all coincidence.

   11  PANTHER:      -- becoming the Black Panther-- meeting Hunter --

   12  PANTHER:      --The White Wolf seems convinced you arranged all this.

   13  PANTHER:      That you chose me.

 

4              T’CHALLA: STOIC. GLARING. REMINDS ME OF CLARENCE WILLIAMS III.

   14  T’CHALLA:     Hunter is a deranged zealot.

   15  T’CHALLA:     He resents my father for loving me more than him.

   16  PANTHER:      (Off) And, that’s his whole act--?

   17  T’CHALLA:     He is singularly transparent.

(More)

5              T’CHALLA

   18  PANTHER:      (Off) Look-- I’m working this thing-- dealing with some crooked cops on my job.

   19  PANTHER:      (Off) A bullet-proof costume and a mask come in handy for this sort of thing. But, when I’m done--

   20  T’CHALLA:     You are not of royal lineage. You are not even Wakandan.

   21  T’CHALLA:     By wearing that uniform, you blaspheme an entire people.

 

6              PANTHER, CHECKING HIS CELL PHONE. HE LOOKS AT THE DISPLAY (SEEING WHO’S CALLING ON THE CALLER I.D.). WE DO NOT NEED TO READ THIS DISPLAY.

   22  PANTHER:      Fine. I’ll paint it green with zebra stripes.

   23  PANTHER:      Call myself the Emerald Iguana.

   24  PANTHER:      Just tell Wolf to back off--

   25  CAPTION:      Nag alert-- it’s Gwen calling.

   26  CAPTION:      Eight dollars in my pocket and she’s demanding a bucket from the Colonel.

Page 11

1              DOWN ANGLE: THE ROOM: PANTHER IS ALONE, T’CHALLA IS GONE. PANTHER WHIRLS ABOUT, WONDERING WHERE T’CHALLA’s GONE TO. PANTHER STILL HOLDS THE CELL PHONE IN HIS HAND.

    1  CAPTION:      Yeah, well, that’s why God created voice mail--

    2  CAPTION:      --hey--

    3  PANTHER:      Panther--?

    4  PANTHER:      Panther--!

 

2              CUT TO: EXT./BUILDING: T’CHALLA, IN BATHROBE AND PAJAMAS, RUNS FULL TILT ACROSS HIGH-TENSION TELEPHONE WIRES. HE IS BAREFOOT.

 

                IN B/G: IN AN OPEN WINDOW\, PANTHER LEANING OUT THE WINDOW, SHOUTING AT T’CHALLA.

    5  PANTHER:      Look-- I get it-- you want me to chase you.

    6  PANTHER:      Yeah. But see-- running across Brooklyn on live wires--?

    7  PANTHER:      Not doing that.

    8  CAPTION:      [Ital. All quotes] “By the way, your chauffeur, Okoye? I think I love her--”

 

3              BACK INSIDE: PANTHER, ARMS FOLDED, ANNOYED. HE HATES THIS SHIT.

    9  CAPTION:      “--‘cause she reminds me of a girl I loved in high school.

   10  CAPTION:      “If only she would you leave the rich nutty guy--

(More)

   11  CAPTION:      “--and move in with me, my ma, and my pregnant annoying girlfriend--

 

4              PANTHER CHECKS HIS CELL PHONE. STILL NOT TAKING THE CALL.

   12  CAPTION:      “--who keeps calling me every five seconds!!”

 

5              EXT/BUILDING: PANTHER, IN A RAGE, FLINGS THE CELL PHONE OUT THE WINDOW.

   13  PANTHER:      (Burst)  YAAAAHHHH!!!

 

6              NEW ANGLE: PANTHER LEANS ON WINDOW SILL, LOOKING OUT OF THE WINDOW, DOWN AT THE STREET.

   14  CAPTION:      Okay.

   15  CAPTION:      Probably shouldn’ta done that.

Page 12

1              CUT TO: PANTHER ON A PAYPHONE. KIND OF BRACING HIS FOREARM AGAINST THE PHONE OR THE BOOTH: AN EXASPERATED AN ANNOYED BODY LANGUAGE.

    1  CAPTION:      Got to find him... and her...

    2  PANTHER:      Yeah, Gwen, what is it-- Popeye’s or Domino’s--

    3  ELECTRIC:     [Ital.] Kasper--

 

2              CUT TO: GWEN ON THE PHONE. SHE’S BEEN CRYING.

    4  GWEN:         It’s Black Jack.

 

3              FLASHBACK: ROUNDED CORNERS, PLEASE: FROM LAST ISSUE:

                TORK AND KASPER IN BED: KASPER STILL FIDGETING WITH THE GUN, TORK STILL AIMING THE REMOTE AT THE TV.

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

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

 

4              FLASHBACK: ROUNDED CORNERS, PLEASE: FROM LAST ISSUE:

                KASPER & TORK IN THE ALLEY: TORK LAYING IT OUT FOR KASPER, WHILE KASPER HOLDS THE BP COSTUME, LOOKING AT IT.

    7  TORK:         The White Wolf can handle Sally for you-- but then he’ll own you.

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

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

(More)

5              FLASHBACK: ROUNDED CORNERS, PLEASE: FROM ISSUE #50:

                AT TORK’S PLACE: TORK VERY SERIOUS AS HE GIVES KASPER ADVICE.

   10  TORK:         Kasper-- if they find out you’re the guy in the Panther suit, they’ll kill your mother. They’ll kill Gwen.

   11  TORK:         They’ll kill Black Jack.

 

6              ZOOM IN ON TORK (MAYBE BLOW UP THE IMAGE SO THE LINES START BREAKING UP).

   12  TORK:         They’ll kill Black Jack.

 

7              ENLARGE THE IMAGE AGAIN.

   13  TORK:         They’ll kill Black Jack.

Page 13

1              (BIG POSTER SHOT)  BLACK PANTHER, HIGH ABOVE BROOKLYN NOW, IN DYNAMIC LEAP. HE’S GOING FULL-TILT, RACING ACROSS NEW LOTS, LOOKING FOR T’CHALLA.

 

                ACROBATIC STUFF: PANTHER LEAP/FLIPS WHATEVER. HE DOES NOT SCALE A WALL BECAUSE HE DOESN’T KNOW HE HAS CLAWS YET, AND HE STILL DOESN’T REALIZE HE CAN RACE ACROSS HIGH-TENSION LINES, SO AVOID THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

    1  PANTHER:      (Burst)  PANTHER!!

    2  PANTHER:      (Burst) C’MON, DAMMIT-- I KNOW you can HEAR ME--!!

    3  PANTHER:      (Burst) PANTHER--!!

    4  VOICE:        (Off) He does hear you--

 

2              PANTHER COMES IN FOR A LANDING ON A ROOFTOP: THE WHITE WOLF, IN COSTUME BUT COWL PULLED BACK SO WE SEE HUNTER’s FACE.

    5  WOLF:         --but he chooses to let you endure this struggle.

    6  WOLF:         It is his way.

    7  WOLF:         His selfish, manipulative, scheming, compassionless way of--

 

3              PANTHER LANDS, SWINGING AT WOLF OR KICKING AT HIM, WHATEVER WORKS. WOLF EFFORTLESSLY EVADES PANTHER.

    8  PANTHER:      (Burst) SHUT UP--!!

    9  PANTHER:      This is all on you, Hunter--!!

   10  WOLF:         Step one, my young friend: never attack in anger.

   11  WOLF:         Step two: respect a superior opponent.

   12  WOLF:         I achieved mastery of deadly combat at the age of six. You--

(More)

4              HUNTER COUNTER-STRIKES, TAGGING PANTHER VICIOUSLY, AND SENDING PANTHER OVER THE SIDE OF THE ROOF.

   13  WOLF:         (Off) --have much to learn.

   14  CAPTION:      Just getting B-slapped all night long... This “hero” crap... harder than it looks.

   15  CAPTION:      C’mon, Kasp-- wake up-- grab something-- reach--

 

5              PANTHER GRABS THE WALL WITH HIS LEFT HAND-- THE ARM THAT IS FULLY COVERED BY THE PANTHER COSTUME AND HAS THE PANTHER’s ORIGINAL UNIFORM GLOVE ON IT.

 

                JORGE: MAKE SURE YOU ARE CLEAR ON THIS: PANTHER’s RIGHT ARM,. HIS BARE ARM, DOES NOT HAVE THE ORIGINAL UNIFORM GLOVE, BUT HAS A STORE-BOUGHT LEATHER GLOVE. PANTHER DOES NOT HAVE CLAWS IN HIS RIGHT HAND, ONLY IN HIS LEFT.

 

                PANTHER’s CLAWS INSTINCTIVELY POPPING, GOUGING DEEP TRACKS INTO THE OLD CEMENT, SLOWING HIS DESCENT.

   16  CAPTION:      --?!?

   17  CAPTION:      Claws-- built into the glove--?!

   18  CAPTION:      Y’know, Tork-- you could’ve mentioned that...

   19  CAPTION:      ...wish this getup came with a damned owner’s manual...

Page 14

1              PANTHER LANDS IN A CROUCH ON A FIRE ESCAPE AS WOLF LANDS IN A CROUCH ON A STREET LAMP. WOLF’S POSITION IS MORE PRECARIOUS AND HIS LITHE, CAT-LIKE LANDING MORE IMPRESSIVE.

    1  WOLF:         I will presume this is about what happened to your father.

    2  PANTHER:      You know everything, don’t you?

    3  WOLF:         Everything I need to know.

    4  WOLF:         The question is--

 

2              ON HUNTER, EVIL.

    5  WOLF:         --what do you need to know--?

    6  PANTHER:      (Off) I need to know who did this to Black Jack.

    7  WOLF:         That you already know.

    8  WOLF:         Ask the right question, Officer Cole--

 

3              ON PANTHER: SNARLING.

    9  WOLF:         (Off) --step outside of yourself-- then ask.

   10  PANTHER:      ---

   11  PANTHER:      --what would you do?  No, wait--

   12  PANTHER:      --what would he do?

(More)

4              CHAPTER HEADING

   13  TITLE: What He Did

 

5              A HIGHWAY: THE PANTHER’S LEXUS ROCKETS NORTH INTO UPSTATE NEW YORK.

   14  CAPTION:      Thank the Lord for diplomatic plates.

 

6              INT/LEXUS: BLACK PANTHER, FULL MASK, DRIVES. SNARLING.

   15  CAPTION:      Between the plates and the mask I can worry less about some yahoo state trooper--

   16  CAPTION:      --and concentrate on what happened to my pop--

   17  CAPTION:      --to Black Jack--

Page 15

                CHAPTER HEADING

    1  TITLE:        Barabus

 

                FLASHBACK SEQUENCE: ROUNDED CORNERS, PLEASE

                COLOR: SEPIA OR MUTED TONES, PLEASE DO NOT DROP BLACK PLATE.

 

1              REPRISE THE OPENING MOMENTS OF LAST ISSUE: KASPER’S FANTASY GIRL.

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

    2  CAPTION:      I remember you.

    3  CAPTION:      The one I used to know.

    4  CAPTION:      The one I used to love.

 

2              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.

 

3              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.

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

    9  BURST:        (From Off)  POLICE!! SEARCH WARRANT!!

 

4              BREAK THE SPELL HERE: NOW WE SEE KASPER, AGE 17 OR SO, UP IN HIS ROOM WITH GRACE, ALSO AGE 17 OR SO. GRACE SCRAMBLES TO PULL HER BLOUSE ON (SHE’S WEARING A BRA UNDERNEATH AND STILL HAS HER PANTS OR SKIRT OR WHATEVER ON: THIS WAS HIGH SCHOOL HEAVY PETTING, NOTHING MORE SERIOUS THAN THAT.

 

                KASPER DRESSED LIKE A HIGH SCHOOL KID IN LATE 90’s. HE WAS A JOCK, SO HE’S IN GOOD SHAPE, TALL, MUSCULAR, LEAN. HE’S ALARMED.

   10  GRACE:        Kasper--?!?

   11  KASPER:       I dunno, Grace-- let me see what’s goin’--

(More)

5              NEW YORK COPS BURST INTO KASPER’s BEDROOM, GUNS DRAWN, SCREAMING AT KASPER AND GRACE. GRACE PETRIFIED, RAISING HER HANDS. KASPER DEFIANT: HE DOES NOT RAISE HIS HANDS, BUT SCOWLS THAT STREET CRED PREDATOR LOOK.

 

                THE COPS IN RIOT GEAR.

   12  COP:          (Burst)  GET ON THE FLOOR!!

   13  COP:          (Burst) GET ON THE FLOOR, FACE DOWN, INTERLOCK YOUR FINGERS--!! DO IT NOW!!

   14  KASPER:       Ey, yo, my pop is Black Jack Cole!

   15  KASPER:       Y’all fools got the wrong house.

 

6              NEW ANGLE: ONE OF THE COPS, HOLDING HIS GUN ON US, DISPLAYS A KILO OF COCAINE, WRAPPED IN PLASTIC. THE COP GLARES EVILLY.

 

                THIS POLICE OFFICER IS A SERGEANT, THREE STRIPES ON EACH ARM BENEATH THE SHOULDER PATCH. ALSO NOTE SERGEANTS HAVE UNIQUE BADGES, A GOLD SHIELD WITH AN EAGLE CREST ON TOP (PLEASE SEE REFERENCE).

 

                JORGE: THIS COP IS FRANKLIN de LaGUARDIA, A CHARACTER WE WILL INTRODUCE IN ISSUE #55. HE IS A SHORT, STOCKY WHITE MAN, AGE 45 OR SO. PLEASE MAKE SURE WE CAN CLEARLY SEE HIS BADGE RACK WITH AWARDS BARS, SHIELD, AND NAME PLATE.

               

                COLOR: SERGEANT’s BADGES ARE GOLD TONE. ALSO, THE BAND OF THIS OFFICER’s HAT IS ALSO GOLD AS IS THE SHIELD HAT INSIGNIA.

   16  COP:          Oh, no, kid.

   17  COP:          We got the right one.

   18  NAME PLATE:  de LaGUARDIA

Page 16

1              CUT TO: EXT/BROOKLYN BROWNSTONE: BLACK JACK, DRESSED IN HIS POLICE UNIFORM, IS BEING HANDCUFFED IN PLAIN SIGHT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHILE THE ARRESTING OFFICERS, IN RIOT GEAR, HOLD GUNS ON HIM, ONE COP READING HIM HIS RIGHTS.

 

                BLACK JACK GLOWERS, RAGE IN HIS EYES, BUT HE DOES NOT RESIST. THIS IS A FRAME-UP IF WE’VE EVER SEEN ONE.

 

                JORGE: NOTE, HOOKING BLACK JACK UP IN PLAIN SIGHT IS A DELIBERATE ACT TO HUMILIATE AND DISCREDIT HIM. BLACK JACK HOLDS HIS HEAD UP WITH DIGNITY. THIS IS A STREET EXECUTION.

    1  CAPTION:      My pop was the greatest cop who ever lived.

    2  CAPTION:      As hard as his job tried, they never could break him.

    3  CAPTION:      And nobody in the sector ever believed Black Jack Cole never took a dime from anybody.

 

2              IN CLOSER ON BLACK JACK: ONE OF THE COPS RIPS HIS BADGE OFF OF HIS UNIFORM. BLACK JACK ENDURES THE HUMILIATION.

    4  CAPTION:      It was a public execution.

    5  CAPTION:      [Ital.] Crucifixion.

    6  CAPTION:      See, behind the blue wall of this job is a culture of loyalty over law.

    7  CAPTION:      The law is the NY penal code, but loyalty is the bible.

 

3              KASPER BURSTS OUT OF THE HOUSE, HIS HANDS CUFFED BEHIND HIM, SCREAMING FOR HIS DAD.

    8  CAPTION:      Comes a day in every cop’s life when he has to distinguish between the two.

    9  CAPTION:      Whichever choice he makes will cost him his soul.

   10  KASPER:       (Burst) POP!!  POP!!

 

4              CUT TO: BLACK JACK, NOW IN PRISON GARB, BEHIND THE GLASS, TALKING ON THE PHONE. ANNOYED.

   11  CAPTION:      But Black Jack kept his.

   12  BLACK JACK:  Why you bring him.

   13  ELECTRIC:     [All electric Ital.] He’s your son, Jonathan.

   14  BLACK JACK:  No son, now. Not in here.

 

5              NEW ANGLE: WE SEE RUTH (MOM) AND KASPER. KASPER IS FURIOUS, BUT HE CAPS HIS ANGER, HOLDING IT INSIDE, BUT WE SEE THE RAGE IN HIS EYES. TO SEE HIS FATHER, HIS HERO, IN PRISON JUMP SUIT IS MORE THAN HE CAN BEAR. KASPER IS ON THE PONE, TALKING TO BLACK JACK, GLARING AT HIM, FURIOUS ABOUT THIS INDIGNITY.

   15  BLACK JACK:  You listen good, now boy.

   16  JACK:         You the man now. Be the man.

   17  JACK:         Put away childish things.

 

                FLASHBACK ENDS HERE.

Page 17

                CHAPTER HEADING

    1  TITLE:        Childish Things

 

                RETURN TO PRESENT: NORMAL PANEL BORDERS AND COLOR:

 

1              A SEWER PUMP ROOM: SEVERAL LARGE SUMP PUMPS, WATER PIPES, SEWER GRATES, ETC. NOT MUCH TO LOOK AT.

— no copy —

 

2              STAT.

    2  CAPTION:      That oughtta be enough.

 

3              NEW ANGLE: IN THE CEILING, AMONG THE PIPES: THE BLACK PANTHER: HE’S GOT A TINY DIGITAL CAMERA AND WAS FILMING THE PUMP ROOM. A SURVEILLANCE CAMERA IS NEAR PANTHER, BUT IT IS AIMED AT THE ROOM NOT AT THE CEILING SO PANTHER IS NOT ON CAMERA.

    3  CAPTION:      Hunter’s little digital camera should transmit a loop of this room for the surveillance system--

 

4              NEW ANGLE: PANTHER LANDS BY AN ACCESS HATCH OR SOME SUCH.

    4  CAPTION:      --and, assuming the code-smashing “worm” Hunter provided has gotten into the facility’s computer systems --

    5  CAPTION:      --none of this should show up on the boards in central control.

(More)

5              PANTHER EFFORTLESSLY SHREDS THE HATCH OR GRILL OR WHATEVER THIS IS. HIS ANTI-METAL CLAWS CUT THROUGH IT LIKE BUTTER.

    6  CAPTION:      The rest is up to the Anti-Metal claws in my glove.

    7  CAPTION:      “Antarctic Vibranium” breaks down most any metal it comes in contact with.

    8  CAPTION:      Which really comes in handy--

 

6              THE BLACK PANTHER INVADES SING-SING, STALKING THROUGH THE DARKENED CORRIDORS.

    9  CAPTION:      --when you’re breaking into prison in the middle of the night.

   10  CAPTION:      Ok, pop.

   11  CAPTION:      We’re gonna handle this... what they did to you tonight...

Page 18

                CHAPTER HEADING

    1  TITLE:        Four Hours Ago

 

                FLASHBACK SEQUENCE: ROUNDED PANEL CORNERS, SEPIA OR MUTED COLORS:

 

                ARTIST: TIME TO FREELANCE THIS A BIT. I’M NOT *EXACTLY* CERTAIN WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN HERE, BUT WHAT I’M GOING FOR IS THE INTENSITY OF DAVID MAZZUCHELLI’s Daredevil WORK, SPECIFICALLY THE LOCKED PRISON CELL SCENE FROM THE Born Again ARC.

 

                THIS SEQUENCE SHOULD HAVE A POETIC GRACE TO IT WHILE BEING TERRIBLY VIOLENT (BUT NOT NECESSARILY GRAPHICALLY SO: SUGGESTING MORE HEINOUS ACTS THAN WE CAN SHOW WITH A PG RATING).

 

                I’VE SET THIS UP IN THE LAUNDRY ROOM, BUT THIS COULD BE ANYWHERE IN THE PRISON THAT WORKS FOR YOU. FEEL FREE TO IMPROVISE AND GO YOUR OWN WAY HERE, JUST MAKE SURE TO DELIVER THE GOODS. THIS IS A BRUTAL ATTACK AND A BRUTAL RESPONSE FROM BLACK JACK COLE: A VERY TOUGH MO FOE.

 

1              ESTABLISH: THE LAUNDRY ROOM: BLACK JACK COLE WORKING HIS DETAIL. SEVERAL OTHER INMATES MULL AROUND, FOLDING, LOADING/UNLOADING INDUSTRIAL-SIZE WASHERS AND DRYERS.

    2  VOICE:        (Off, Burst)  GET YOUR HAND OUTTA MY POCKET--!!

    3  VOICE:        (Same) BOY-- I’LL BREAK YOU IN HALF--!!

 

3              ANGLE: A PAIR OF INMATES FIGHTING, A PRISON GUARD RUNNING TOWARDS THESE TWO MEN TO BREAK IT UP.

    4  GUARD:        All right, ladies-- let’s break it up--!

 

4              ANGLE: BLACK JACK TURNING TO LOOK AT THE FIGHT (WHICH CAN BE OFF-PANEL): ANOTHER INMATE MOVING AROUND OR BEHIND BLACK JACK WITH A GARROTE MADE FROM SHOE LACES BRAIDED TOGETHER.

    5  GUARD:        (Off) --hold hands and sing “Kumbya” or somethin’--

(More)

5              THE INMATE GARROTES BLACK JACK, SNAPPING BLACK JACK’s HEAD BACK BY THE FORCE OF THE SHOESTRING GARROTE CHOKING BLACK JACK.

 

                TWO OTHER BURLY INMATES CLOSE IN ON BLACK JACK, BOTH HAVE JAILHOUSE SHIVS. THEY’RE GOING TO SHANK HIM.

— no copy —

 

6              BLACK JACK TWISTS AROUND, SWINGING THE GUY STRANGLING HIM SO THAT ONE OF THE SHIV GUYS ACTUALLY STABS THE GUY STRANGLING BLACK JACK.  AT THE SANE TIME, BLACK JACK VICIOUSLY BACKHANDS THE SECOND SHIV GUY, SMASHING HIS HEAD INTO THE OVERSIZED GLASS “PORTHOLE” DOOR OF A COMMERCIAL DRYER. THE GLASS SPLINTERS FROM THE IMPACT.

— no copy —

Page 19

1              BLACK JACK THROWS SHIV GUY 1 INTO AN OPEN DRYER (COULD BE THE SAME DRYER WITH THE CRACKED GLASS, THE DOOR LIKELY REBOUNDED OPEN FROM THE IMPACT).

 

                A PRISON GUARD ARRIVING NOW, ABOUT TO HIT BLACK JACK WITH HIS BATON.

— no copy —

 

2              BLACK JACK SPINNING, BREAKING THE PRISON GUARD’s ARM AS HE DISARMS HIM, TAKING HIS BATON AWAY.

 

                JORGE: THERE IS A PECULIAR ART TO USING A POLICE BATON. IT IS VERY POETIC AND GRACEFUL. I CAN’T DESCRIBE IT HERE, BUT I’LL TRY AND FIND SOME PICTURES OF PROPER FORM.

    1  GUARD:        (Burst)  YEEEEEAAARRRGGHH!!!

 

3              MORE GUARDS ARRIVE AS BLACK JACK GOES ON THE ATTACK, SWIVELING THE BATON AROUND LIKE A PRO.

    2  CAPTION:      It wasn’t the first time they tried to shank Black Jack.

 

4              BLACK JACK VALIANTLY BATTLES THESE GUARDS, BUT ONE OF THE GUARDS MANAGES TO CRACK A BATON AGAINST BLACK JACK’s HEAD, BLACK JACK GRIMACES IN PAIN AND BLOOD SPURTS.

    3  CAPTION:      But this was the first time the fix was in.

 

5              BLACK JACK GOES DOWN AS THE GUARDS’ FERVOR HEATS INTO A VIOLENT FRENZY OF BATONS CLUBBING BLACK JACK.

    4  CAPTION:      The shank was an excuse--

 

6              PULL BACK AS THE GUARDS MALICIOUSLY CLUB BLACK JACK, WHO IS NOW COMATOSE AND OFFERING NO RESISTANCE. THIS IS VERY RODNEY KING.

    5  CAPTION:      --for the real contract killers to go to work.

Page 20

                RETURN TO PRESENT: NORMAL PANEL BORDERS AND COLOR:

 

1              PANTHER INVADING THE LOWER FLOORS OF THE PRISON, CRAWLING ALONG THE CEILING A LA SPIDER-MAN, USING HIS CLAWS AND VIBRANIUM BOOTS.

    1  CAPTION:      Has the stink of powerful connections.

    2  CAPTION:      Like, somebody with a gold shield.

    3  CAPTION:      Well, enough of that spit.

    4  CAPTION:      Hang on, pop-- your one-man parole board is here.

 

2              HE ARRIVES AT A SOLID STEEL DOOR. THIS IS A SOLITARY CONFINEMENT CELL, WITH A  TINY WINDOW IN IT.

    5  CAPTION:      Between the claws and the Vibranium-soled boots, I can manage to stay out of sight--

    6  CAPTION:      Wolf said Black Jack was in the hole.

    7  CAPTION:      Now what?

    8  CAPTION:      “Hi, pop-- sorry I almost got you killed.”

 

3              PANTHER DISABLES THE LOCK. JORGE: I’M NOT SURE HOW THE DOORS WORK IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT (TYPICAL TIER CELLS SLIDE OPEN AND ARE OPERATED BY LEVERS AT THE END OF THE TIER). I WOULD IMAGINE THIS DOOR AND MECHANISM TO BE VERY OLD AND LOW-TECH. THERE WOULD NOT BE ANY KEYS INVOLVED, MORE LIKE COUNTER-WEIGHTS AND LEVERS, BUT THE LEVERS ARE LIKELY A GOOD DISTANCE AWAY.

 

                PANTHER’S CLAWS CAN CUT THROUGH MOST METAL, SO HERE HE COULD BE SEVERING SOME PART OF THAT PULLEY SYSTEM.

    9  CAPTION:      “Hi pop. Guess what I’ve been up to, lately.”

   10  CAPTION:      “Hi, pop, I’m thinking of dumping my pregnant girlfriend...

   11  CAPTION:      “...for some girl I’m sure Panther deliberately set me up with--“

(More)

4              INTERIOR OF THE PRISON CELL: THE DOOR OPENING, REVEALING PANTHER. PANTHER SNARLING AT US AS HE IS ABOUT TO ENTER.

   12  CAPTION:      --Jesus.

 

5              STAT

   13  CAPTION:      In way over my head, here...

   12  PANTHER:      So... where were we--

Page 21

1              INT/CELL: WHAT PANTHER SEES: T’CHALLA. IN PAJAMAS AND BATH ROBE, BAREFOOT. SITTING ON THE FLOOR.

    1  PANTHER:      (Off) --PANTHER.

    2  T’CHALLA:     You are reckless. Dangerous.

    3  T’CHALLA:     Wholly unworthy of that uniform.

    4  PANTHER:      (Off) You set this up... Wolf was right...

    5  T’CHALLA:     You will leave this place at once and destroy that uniform.

 

2              NEW ANGLE: PANTHER DOESN’T WANNA HEAR T’CHALLA’S BULLSHIT. HE JABS AN ACCUSING FINGER AT T’CHALLA.

    6  PANTHER:      This is all your little B.S. soap opera--!

    7  PANTHER:      Some kinda test--

    8  PANTHER:      --you beat my pop half to death-- just to see what I’d do?!?

    9  PANTHER:      (Burst) WHAT KIND OF LUNATIC ARE YOU--?!?!

 

3              T’CHALLA: VERY ZEN, UNEMOTIONAL.

   10  T’CHALLA:     I am told your father was taken from you at an early age. As was my own.

   11  T’CHALLA:     A mighty warrior of the realm.

   12  T’CHALLA:     A man of great wisdom and faith.

(More)

4              THE TWO OF THEM: PANTHER ACCUSING T’CHALLA.

   13  PANTHER:      And this is how you honor him--

   14  PANTHER:      --hanging out in New Lots in your

                     pajamas--?

   15  T’CHALLA:     I see to the security of my homeland.

   16  T’CHALLA:     I serve humanity with the Avengers.

 

5              WHATEVER: PANTHER PISSED OFF.

   17  PANTHER:      --and I write traffic summonses and fetch burgers for crooked cops.

   18  PANTHER:      I get it, okay-- you’re better than me.

   19  PANTHER:      You wanna “save” me-- teach me your ways.

   20  T’CHALLA:     I want nothing from you.

   21  PANTHER:      Yah. Look-- you can have the cat suit-- I’m not leaving without Black Jack.

 

6              T’CHALLA: GRIM.

   22  T’CHALLA:     You must.

   23  T’CHALLA:     To do otherwise would dishonor him.

   24  PANTHER:      (Off) They’ll kill him.

   25  T’CHALLA:     Then let him die.

Page 22

1              IN CLOSE ON T’CHALLA: PANTHER’s FIST SMASHES IN THE SIDE OF HIS FACE, PANTHER WINCES A BIT, SNARLING. HE MAKES NO EFFORT TO DEFEND HIMSELF.

    1  PANTHER:      (Off, Burst)  SHUT UP!!

 

2              SAME:  ANOTHER PUNCH, LIKELY FROM THE OTHER ARM NOW, SMASHES T’CHALLA IN THE HEAD AGAIN, T’CHALLA’s HEAD SNAPPING AROUND OR WHATEVER WORKS FOR YOU.

    2  PANTHER:      (Off, Burst)  JUST SHUT UP!!

 

3              SAME: THIS TIME: T’CHALLA CATCHES PANTHER’s FIST IN A GENTLE OPEN PALM GESTURE. EFFORTLESSLY STOPS PANTHER’S FORCEFUL BLOW. T’CHALLA SHOWS NO EMOTION, JUST A KIND OF INTENSITY IN HIS EYES, GLARING AT THE OFF-PANEL PANTHER.

    3  T’CHALLA:     Let him die.

    4  T’CHALLA:     Let him keep his soul.

 

4              FLASHBACK: ROUNDED CORNERS PLEASE:  FROM PAGE 14: BLACK JACK BEHIND THE GLASS, ON THE PHONE (PERHAPS KASPER REFLECTED IN THE GLASS).

    5  BLACK JACK:  You listen good, now boy.

    6  JACK:         You the man now. Be the man.

    7  JACK:         Put away childish things.

 

5              RETURN TO PRESENT: NORMAL PANEL BORDERS AND COLOR:

                ON PANTHER: SNARLING, HIS OTHER FIST COCKED AND READY TO HAMMER T’CHALLA AGAIN.

    8  CAPTION:      Let Black Jack die.

    9  CAPTION:      Or let him live the rest of his life on the run.

   10  CAPTION:      And what happens to his family if Kasper Cole is found scurrying around the state penitentiary at 3 A.M. in black tights.

(More)

6              STAT.

   11  PANTHER:      Why are you here?

   12  PANTHER:      Why do you give a damn?

 

7              THE CELL: T’CHALLA EXITS, PANTHER WATCHES HIM GO.

   13  T’CHALLA:     ---

   14  T’CHALLA:     --perhaps--

   15  T’CHALLA:     --I wish, long ago, someone had stopped me.

   16  NEXT:         NEXT: KASPER COLE BUYS A CLUE

 

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