POWERLESS #3

POWERLESS

A Composite Graphic Novel exclusive to Absinthe Hour.

PAGE THREE

“Desperate and Afflicted”

1 – Small panel.  Close on a single television in a small, TV shop.  It’s stacked on others, others are stacked on it.  The news is playing and a reporter describes the news James Tulley freshly delivered.  A small preview box at the top of the screen next to the reporter’s head shows an illustration relating to the incident.

NARRATOR (JT): I see the news reports.

2 – Wide panel.  Long shot.  A simple expansion or zoomed-out shot of panel one.  A silhouetted man is focused intently on the array of televisions, which all display a profile shot (from a security camera, for perspective) of James Tulley.  An ELDERLY COUPLE walks into panel, arms linked.

NARRATOR (JT): I hear the people.

OLD WOMAN: He saved another one.  Thank the Good Lord for him.

NARRATOR (JT): They call me a SUPERHERO.

NARRATOR (JT): THEIR superhero.

3 – Medium panel.  James Tulley looks at the backs of the elderly couple who passed by him.  The iridescence of the televisions reaches out for him, touching his face and chest, barely.

NARRATOR (JT): I hate it.

NARRATOR (JT): I’m not FOND of it and I never WANTED it.

NARRATOR (JT): But it’s what THEY need.

4 – Small panel.  Extreme close-up on James Tulley’s half smile.

NARRATOR (JT): What I need.

5 – Small panel.  James Tulley starts away from the television screens, which now have the images of the cops surveying the crime scene at the seven eleven, the bodies covered by blankets, the cops lingering, some loitering.  Maybe only one or two televisions are prominently in view (preferably one).  Tulley is sunken into the popped collar of his jacket, looking off panel.

NARRATOR (JT): This community, it’s overrun by the DESPERATE and AFFLICTED—

6 – Small panel.  A group of litigators and political fat cats share a bottle of Champaign before entering a stretch limo.  Maybe there are a couple of scantly clad prostitutes, maybe not.  Either way, they’re all laughing and having fun.

NARRATOR (JT): EVEN at the HIGHEST level—

NARRATRO (JT): Who simply don’t give A DAMN.

7 – Large panel.  Similar to panel 5.  Tulley is walking straight ahead; his face is a hidden by the night’s natural darkness, for the most part, but his features exude an indefinite amount of determination (through maybe the narrowness of his brows, his strong jaw, his mouth).  The televisions in the back, still playing the news, are unanimously showing Chief Harrison speaking gloomily to the press.  Maybe this time (preferably this time), there are a wealth of televisions visible.

NARRATOR (JT): This community, they need SOLIDITY and STRUCTURE,

NARRATOR (JT): A RELIABLE sense of LAW and ORDER,

NARRATOR (JT): SOMEONE who CARES.

NARRATOR (JT): And if I’m that

NARRATOR (JT): -- THEIR SUPERHERO --

NARRATOR (JT): Than I AIM to deliver PROPER JUSTICE.

NARRATOR (JT): THEIR Justice.