Note to artist: All six pages will be in six-panel grid format. Each page will be devoted to a single location with a static/fixed shot for all six panels. No captions or dialogue will be used.
PAGE ONE (Six-Panel Grid Format)PANEL 1
Establishing shot - The storefront of a typical NYC bodega, day. One narrow entrance is flanked by bins of fruits & vegetables on the left and flowers & plants on the right. A canvas overhang protects most of the store's product from direct sunlight. Two pre-teen Latino Hoodlums, clad in baggy jeans and hooded sweatshirts, stand idly outside.
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PANEL 2
Hoodlum #1 approaches the entrance of the store, pulling the hood of the sweatshirt over his head. Hoodlum #2 waits outside, standing guard.
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PANEL 3
Hoodlum #2 stands alone outside the store, keeping a close eye on his surroundings.
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PANEL 4
Hoodlum #1, hood still over his head, dashes out of the store, a forty ounce of malt liquor under each arm. The Bodega Owner, a middle-aged Korean male, is right on his heels.
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PANEL 5
Hoodlum #1 is turning up the street as Hoodlum #2 extends his leg to trip the Bodega Owner.
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PANEL 6
The Bodega Owner lies on the ground, nursing his injured knee as the criminal duo make their victorious escape up the street.
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PAGE TWO (Six-Panel Grid Format)
PANEL 1
Establishing shot - The front of a modest NYC Apartment House, day. A dozen steps extend from the sidewalk to the building's main entrance. A tree resides off to the side of the entrance; the amount of remaining leaves indicates late fall. Miraculously, a prime parking spot remains empty in front of the building. No people are present.
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PANEL 2
A powerful Towne Car is backing into the empty space. The Driver, a large African-American man, is behind the wheel.
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PANEL 3
The Driver, dressed in an elegant black overcoat & suit, pulls a sizable plastic tarp out of the Towne Car's open trunk.
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PANEL 4
With the plastic tarp under his arm, the Driver ascends the stairs towards the building's entrance.
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PANEL 5
The front of the Apartment House and the Towne Car rest tranquilly. The Driver has already entered the building. Again, no one is present.
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PANEL 6
The two young hoodlums, with their liquor in tow, dart up the front stairs of the apartment house.
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PAGE THREE (Six-Panel Grid Format)
PANEL 1
Establishing shot - The rooftop of the same Apartment House, day. A door accessing the building interior rests slightly ajar. Against the wall leading to the rooftop entrance, a cardboard box from a large appliance sits on its side with its closed lid facing out.
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PANEL 2
The lid of the cardboard box opens to reveal its sole inhabitant, an elderly, white Homeless Man.
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PANEL 3
The Homeless Man stands in front of his makeshift shelter and stretches his weary bones. The man has not seen a bath in weeks or a razor in years.
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PANEL 4
Standing against the wall leading up to the rooftop entrance, the Homeless Man relieves himself; although no urine or urinary equipment are visible.
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PANEL 5
Leaving a dark, wet stain on the wall, the Homeless Man crawls feebly back into his cardboard box.
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PANEL 6
With the box lid closed tight, the two young hoodlums explode out the rooftop entrance.
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PAGE FOUR (Six-Panel Grid Format)
PANEL 1
Establishing shot - Outside the Apartment House, looking through a large picture window into a sparsely decorated apartment unit, day. The front door of the apartment can be seen through the window; however, the floor cannot be seen. A robust Sikh, an Indian man with a full flowing beard and a peaked turban, approaches the door. His hand extended towards the knob.
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PANEL 2
The front door is wide open, as if its been kicked. In the doorframe, the Driver stands, pointing a gun with silencer at the Sikh. The plastic tarp is still tucked under the Driver's free arm. The Sikh is in the process of falling backwards, presumably due to the Driver's forceful entry.
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PANEL 3
The Driver hovers over an unseen Sikh, fallen below the line of sight of the window. The gun is fixed on a point of the floor where one can assume the Sikh lies. The front door has been closed.
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PANEL 4
As if he is placing a sheet on a bed, the Driver opens the tarp with a flick of his wrists.
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PANEL 5
The room appears empty of occupants. The Driver has bent down below the window's line of sight.
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PANEL 6
The Driver, with the tarp-wrapped body of the Sikh, over his shoulder heads towards the front door of the apartment.
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PAGE FIVE (Six-Panel Grid Format)
PANEL 1
Establishing shot - Back to the rooftop of the Apartment House, however, as viewed from across the street, day. Hoodlum #1 & #2, both with their hoods down, are relaxing with their forties near the edge of the rooftop as they scan the street below for any Korean pursuit. The appliance box shelter lies in the background.
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PANEL 2
As the Hoodlums enjoy their stolen beverages, the Homeless Man crawls out of his box and eyes the interlopers.
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PANEL 3
To the delight of Hoodlum #2, Hoodlum #1 spits out a massive wad of phlegm towards the street as the Homeless Man slyly approaches the boys from behind.
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PANEL 4
Hoodlum #1 raises his arms in triumph as his spit apparently hits his intended target. Hoodlum #2 takes a swig of his fine malt liquor. The Homeless Man hovers mere inches behind the two Latin boys.
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PANEL 5
The Homeless Man reaches out and places one hand on the inside shoulder of the two Hoodlums. The boys' eyes go wide in surprise. In shock, Hoodlum #2 lets go of his forty ounce.
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PANEL 6
All three look down, following the bottle as it descends towards the ground.
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PAGE SIX (Six-Panel Grid Format)
PANEL 1
Establishing shot - A bird's eye view of the front steps of the apartment house, day. The stairs and the sidewalk in front of the building are devoid of people.
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PANEL 2
The Driver with the wrapped body of the Sikh over his shoulder exits the building and starts down the stairs.
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PANEL 3
The forty-ounce bottle of malt liquor fills the majority of the panel.
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PANEL 4
The bottle has descended towards the ground, its size diminished.
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PANEL 5
The bottle impacts upon the top of the Driver's head. Pieces of glass go flying.
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PANEL 6
The unconscious, possibly dead, body of the Driver has fallen to the bottom of the steps. The partially wrapped body of the Sikh lies next to him; the arm of the victim lies exposed on the ground.
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"UNLIKELY HEROICS" © 2002 Michael Wojciak
