PAGE ONE (Four Panels)
PANEL 1
Establishing shot. The plains of the Old West. A lone Horseman makes his way towards the setting sun. The ending of every Western movie worth its salt.
CAPTION: HE ALWAYS RODE ALONE.
PANEL 2
Night. In the distance, the same Horseman sits next to a blazing campfire. His horse stands patiently off to the side. The rest of the environ is shrouded in utter darkness.
CAPTION: A CONSEQUENCE OF HIS PROFESSION.
PANEL 3
Morning. In the distance, the same campsite is exposed to the light of day. The Horseman is repacking his ride. Smoke lightly drifts up from the remnants of the fire.
CAPTION1: BEING FEARED, BEING DESPISED…
CAPTION2: …RESULTING IN SOLITUDE.
PANEL 4
Afternoon. On a barren hilltop, the same Horseman rests in his saddle. Off in the distance, a small frontier town awaits below. One main street runs through the town; storefronts and houses line the street.
CAPTION1: THE MOST HATED MAN IN THE WEST.
CAPTION2: ALONE.
PAGE TWO (Six Panel Grid Format.)
PANEL 1
A ragged scoundrel of a man, Dirt, is running across the main street towards the town's General Store. Dirt has earned his name entirely from his lack of hygiene.
NO DIALOGUE.
PANEL 2
Over the shoulder of Dirt as he enters the General Store. Behind the counter, a balding Shopkeep lords over his tiny domain.
DIRT: I HEARD HE'S COMING.
PANEL 3
Dirt and the Shopkeep occupying both sides of the counter. The Shopkeep on the left.
SHOPKEEP: HE IS DUE HERE TODAY.
DIRT: OH.
PANEL 4
Close-up of the Shopkeep.
SHOPKEEP: YOU YELLOW?
PANEL 5
Full shot of the store's interior. Bags and barrels of various goods occupy the main floor area of the shop. Dirt and the Shopkeep continue their conversation.
DIRT: NO, I'LL BE READY.
SHOPKEEP: YOU BETTER BE.
PANEL 6
The Shopkeep leaning heavily on the store counter. His expression is stern and serious.
SHOPKEEP1: HE NEVER COMES TO THESE PARTS.
SHOPKEEP2: THIS COULD BE YOUR ONLY CHANCE.
PAGE THREE (Six Panels – Two Tiers of Three)
PANEL 1
The lone Horseman, wearing his prerequisite cowboy hat and duster, makes his way down the main street of the town. A few onlookers seem surprised by his arrival.
NO DIALOGUE.
PANEL 2
In front of the General Store, the Horseman dismounts his steed.
NO DIALOGUE.
PANEL 3
The Horseman is taking his saddlebags off his horse, as a small group of young boys begins to congregate behind him.
NO DIALOGUE.
PANEL 4
The group of boys nudges their elected “delegate” forward towards the mysterious Horseman.
BOY DELEGATE1: EXCUSE ME..
BOY DELEGATE2: SIR?
PANEL 5
Close-up of the face of the Boy Delegate, accentuating the space where his two front teeth should be.
BOY DELEGATE1: ARE YOU THE…
BOY DELEGATE2: THE…
PANEL 6
Pull back to over the shoulder of the menacing Horseman. Reveals that the Boy Delegate now stands alone, the rest of his group have deserted him. A look of shock and surprise occupies his face.
NO DIALOGUE.
PAGE FOUR (Five wide screen panels.)
PANEL 1
Outside the front entrance of the General Store, the Horseman is about to the reach the front door, his saddlebag draped over his shoulder. The Boy Delegate is shown running off, presumably after his cowardly compadres.
NO DIALOGUE.
PANEL 2
Over the shoulder of the Horseman as he enters the interior of the shop. The Shopkeep occupies his customary location in the store, behind the counter.
HORSEMAN: EVERYTHING READY?
SHOPKEEP: IT'S ALL SET UP. IN THE BACK.
PANEL 3
Close-up of the store's countertop. The Horseman's gloved hand places a large silver coin on the counter.
HORSEMAN (OP): THANKS.
PANEL 4
Still carrying his bags, the Horseman solemnly heads towards the rear of the store; specifically, a door leading to the store's back room.
NO DIALOGUE.
PANEL 5
Close-up of the Horseman's turned head. He is looking back towards the unseen Shopkeep.
HORSEMAN1: SEND THEM BACK ONE AT A TIME.
HORSEMAN2: THE DRUNKEST ONES FIRST..
PAGE FIVE (One Splash Panel.)
PANEL 1
Reveal the back room. A quaint room. Its walls are lined with shelves filled with books and boxes. Lanterns hang from the ceiling and illuminate the room. In the center of the room, rests an antique barber's chair, composed of wood and metal. It is tilted back, almost in a recline angle. A tray filled with unclean dental & medical equipment is situated atop a ramshackle folding table. A large clay jug, presumably alcohol, sits at the side of the chair. This is a dentist's office. It should remind one of their last visit to the tooth doctor. The room is currently unoccupied.
NO DIALOGUE
PAGE SIX (Six Panel Grid Format.)
PANEL 1
The back room of the General Store, still set up for dentistry. Dirt uncomfortably occupies the barber chair. The Horseman has lost his hat and duster. He is wearing a matching set of leather pants and vest, over a white cotton shirt. The sleeves of his shirt are rolled up over his sleeves. He is also wearing an apron; once white, now stained with blood.
DIRT: WELL?
PANEL 2
Medium shot of the Horseman hovering over his array of dental tools. He is contemplating which utensil to use.
HORSEMAN: I HAVE TO PULL.
PANEL 3
Close-up of Dirt's scared face; his mouth barely open.
DIRT1: PULL?
DIRT2: HOW MANY?
PANEL 4
Medium shot of the Horseman. He has selected the required tool, a truly menacing pair of pliers.
HORSEMAN: THREE.
PANEL 5
Wide shot of the back room. The agitated Dirt is about ready to jump straight out his chair. The Horseman makes his way towards his patient.
DIRT: THREE?
PANEL 6
Close-up of Dirt's terrified face; his mouth wide open. His mouth only holds three teeth. The rest have long been vacated.
DIRT: BUT I ONLY GOT THREE.
"MOST HATED, MOST FEARED" © 2002 Michael Wojciak
