PAGE ONE (Five Panels)
PANEL 1
Looking though the windshield of a battered Jeep Wrangler. DUTCH, a stocky man, is driving, transporting two degenerate passengers. FRY, a pasty white male rides shotgun as OAT, a semi-typical granola type, lounges in the back enamored with the sun-lit scenery. It is difficult to tell if the trio is in desperate need of a drink or, rather, victim of entirely too much alcohol.
NO DIALOGUE
PANEL 2
Repeat of Panel 1.
FRY1: We could’ve died back there.
DUTCH: No. That wasn’t even close.
FRY2: That car came out of nowhere.
PANEL 3
Same POV as Oat acknowledges the conversation and begins to make his way to the center of the back seat.
DUTCH1: If we almost died..
DUTCH2 (small type): ..which we did not..
DUTCH3: ..I would be lording over you both the fact that I saved your lives.
PANEL 4
Oat has made his way to the center of the back seat and is leaning partially into the front seat, a clichéd indication of his desire to partake in the conversation.
NO DIALOGUE
PANEL 5
Repeat of Panel 4.
OAT: I almost died once.
PAGE TWO (Four Panels)
PANEL 1
A 747 is flying though an utterly nasty storm. Rain and dark, ominous clouds surround the winged vehicle.
CAPTION1: We were flying down to Cabo..
CAPTION2: ..and this storm was just killing us, right.
PANEL 2
The interior of the plane, filled with nervous yet seated passengers. No one, not even the flight attendants, are up on their feet.
CAPTION1: The plane would just drop like ten, twenty feet ever minute or so,
CAPTION2: Scaring the shit out of everyone.
PANEL 3
Oat and DWIGHT sit, occupying the window and aisle seats of a typical row in the coach section. Dwight, a sizable male with a large, warm smile, has so much mass that he his literally spilling over into the empty middle seat and the aisle.
CAPTION: Almost everyone.
PANEL 4
Same as Panel 3, except the emergency oxygen masks have descended causing Oat to appear more nervous. Dwight, however, remains unphased.
CAPTION: I was flying with my buddy, Dwight.
PAGE THREE (Four Panels)
PANEL 1
Back in the Jeep with our trio of earthbound travelers.
FRY: Big Dwight or Little Dwight?
OAT: Big Dwight.
DUTCH: You guys know more than one Dwight?
PANEL 2
Looking down on the Jeep from a bird’s eye view as it charges down the barren highway.
OAT: Funny thing is they’re both the same size.
FRY: Except below the waistline.
PANEL 3
Tight on Oat’s face as he takes great glee in retelling his story.
OAT: So we’re facing eminent aerial death and Big Dwight is just laughing his ass off.
PANEL 4
Same angle as Panel 3, as we now look on Dwight’s face as he takes great glee in his eminent aerial death.
CAPTION: Laughing at the top of his lungs.
PAGE FOUR (Five Panels)
PANEL 1
From Dwight’s POV as he is looking towards the front of the plane. Oxygen masks are hanging form the overhead and a few lights have shorted out.
CAPTION: Well, everybody upon hearing his laughter just stop their screaming and shouting..
PANEL 2
Same as Panel 1 with all the passengers in front of them looking back at the laughing fool.
CAPTION: ..and they look back at this laughing fool.
PANEL 3
Back to the same POV as Page 2, Panel 3, looking at Oat and Dwight. Even Oat has stopped looking nervous and turns his dumbfounded attention towards Dwight.
CAPTION: And with that, Dwight goes…
DWIGHT: Oh, come on now. This is fantastic.
PANEL 4
Tight on Dwight’s cherubic face.
DWIGHT1: What a way to fucking check out.
DWIGHT2: Blaze of fucking glory.
PANEL 5
Repeat of Panel 2.
CAPTION: And he just kept on laughing.
PAGE FIVE (Four Panels)
PANEL 1
Again, looking through the front windshield of the jeep at the three weary voyagers.
FRY: So, you guys landed ok?
OAT: No, you’re talking to a ghost.
PANEL 2
Same POV as one as Fry turns his attention to Oat in the rear seat.
OAT1: We had an emergency landing in San Diego.
OAT2: Where some guy offered Dwight a job.
PANEL 3
Same POV as Fry extends his finger toward Oat in an attempt to certify Oat’s corporeal presence.
OAT1: Since Dwight showed such grace under pressure.
OAT2: I tell you, courage is easy when you polish off a bottle of Jack Daniels.
PANEL 4
Same POV as Oat swats Fry’s finger away in annoyance.
DUTCH: That actually reminds me of a story.
PAGE SIX (Four Panels)
PANEL 1
A Jumbo 747 just about to touch down on a runway.
CAPTION: My parents went to Bermuda for their honeymoon.
PANEL 2
A young couple stroll down a beautiful sun-drenched beach. Hand clasped in hand.
CAPTION: They were only going to stay a week.
PANEL 3
Close on the pairs’ hands lovingly entwined.
CAPTION: But, on the last day..
PANEL 4
In a secluded cove, the young couple lie on the beach embracing one another in a homage to the famous beach kiss from “From Here to Eternity.” Behind them, the landmass of Bermuda juts out into the ocean.
CAPTION: My Mom convinced my Dad to stay an extra couple of days.
PAGE SEVEN (Three Panels)
PANEL 1
Back to the jeep as Oat turns to speak with Dutch.
OAT1: And let me guess..
OAT2: ..the plane they were supposed to be on..
PANEL 2
Repeat of Page 6, Panel 4 with the addition of a huge fireball over the jutting landmass of Bermuda.
CAPTION: ..CRASHED?
PANEL 3
From the back of the Jeep, looking over Oat’s left shoulder at Dutch and the empty road ahead.
DUTCH: Yeah, did I tell you that story already?
OAT: No, but where else were you going to go after my story?
PAGE EIGHT (Five Panels)
Note: Pages One and Eight have the same exact layout and perspectives.
PANEL 1
The three tired travelers gaze out the front the window of Jeep; looking past the perspective of the reader.
DUTCH: Anyhow, the plane did crash and my Dad hasn’t flown ever since.
PANEL 2
Repeat of Panel 1.
NO DIALOGUE
PANEL 3
Same POV as Fry turns inquisitively to his two companions.
FRY1: If he wouldn’t fly, how’d he get home?
FRY2: Bermuda’s an island, Dude.
PANEL 4
Again, same POV as Dutch and Oat turn towards Fry, amazed that he does not know the answer to his own query.
NO DIALOGUE
PANEL 5
Repeat of Panel 1.
NO DIALOGUE
"BERMUDA" © 2004 Michael Wojciak
