Stinkyman No. 2 (Revised, not final)

STINKYMAN
No. 2 – A Fine How Do you Do

PAGE 1

Panel 1 – Inside the Diplomat Lounge. The place is in disarray – tables overturned, front door smashed in, patrons scrambling for cover. Stinkyman stands next to the dead body of a bouncer, our hero’s gun extended at Bones, the proprietor of the establishment, who is seated comfortably at a corner table.

CAPTION: “I was looking for a little girl. The trail led me here.”

BONES: Very impressive entrance. One of the best I’ve seen. Really, I’m not just saying that. On a scale of one to ten, I’d give it at least an eight.

PAGE 2

Panel 1 – Down the barrel of Stinkyman’s gun.

STINKYMAN: Where’s the girl, you bony piece of filth?

Panel 2 – Over the shoulder view from Stinkyman POV toward Bones, who is clearly hurt by the insult.

BONES: I compliment you and that’s what you say to me? A crude insult?

STINKYMAN: You have three seconds before I put a bullet between your eyes.

Panel 3 – Bones, disappointed.

BONES: Really, now? Please, put that thing away. You look ridiculous standing there, and after such a strong opening too.

Panel 4 – Stinkyman, close-up, losing patience.

STINKYMAN: I’m not joking, pal! I’ll splinter that Halloween head of yours all over that wall. Now talk!

Panel 5 – Wide sideways shot of both of them.

BONES: Of course you won’t. That temper of your’s got the best of you when you killed my associate, Mr. Smooth. You won’t make the mistake with me.

STINKYMAN: I won’t? Care to make a bet?

BONES: I’m quite sure. If you kill me, you’ll never find what you’re looking for.

PAGE 3

Panel 1 – Same angle as the previous panel.

BONES: Sit down, Mister…?

STINKYMAN: Smith. John Smith.

Panel 2 – Bones with a grin…

BONES: Yes. Of course, Mr. Smith. Please, have a drink.

Panel 3 - Stinkyman sits

STINKYMAN: No thanks.

Panel 4 – Top-down view of inside the club. Two men drag away the bodies of the fallen bouncers. Things get back to normal at the “Diplomat Lounge.”

BONES: Rusty, music please. Everyone, continue to enjoy your evening. The excitement is over for the night.

RUSTY THE BARTENDER: Sure thing, Mr. Bones, sir.

PAGE 4

Panel 1 – View from outside the Diplomat Lounge. A new bouncer stands at the door and we can see the heels of the first fallen Bouncer being dragged away. A stream of customers, not quite comforted by Bones’s words, spills out to the street.

BONES: Please do have a drink, Mr. Smith. Let’s talk like civilized men.

STINKYMAN: Scotch, no rocks.

Panel 2 – Inside the club, RUSTY has brought two drinks. Wide angle on the corner table with Stinkyman and Bones.

STINKYMAN: ‘Civilized.’ That’s funny. Kidnapping little girls – that’s plenty civilized.

Panel 3 – Stinkyman POV on Bones.

BONES: Eh? Depends on your definition.

STINKYMAN: Of ‘civilized?’

BONES: Of ‘kidnapping.’

Panel 4 – Medium shot of table, Stinkyman leaning in on his forearm getting angry. Bones daintily sips from his glass, very relaxed in his own joint.

STINKYMAN: What the hell does that mean? You steal children from their homes, from their families and force them to do God knows what. That’s kidnapping in any dictionary, Pal.

BONES: I steal nothing. You have no idea what’s happening, do you? No, you don’t. How interesting.

Panel 5 – Bones and Stinkyman

BONES: Anyway, it’s basic economics. Supply and demand. Highest bidder wins, and I’m always listening to offers. I often acquire goods and services and then distribute them to a audience willing to pay a premium for, shall we say, hard-to-find items.

STINKYMAN: Just a simple business man, huh?

BONES: Precisely. It’s none of my business what a customer does with merchandise after he buys it. It’s his money, you know.

PAGE 5

Panel 1 – Stinkyman drains his scotch.

STINKYMAN: You’re one sick bastard. So the girls, where does this ‘merchandise’ come from?

Panel 2 – Bones waves a dismissive hand.

BONES: Nothing to worry about, Mr. Smith. Just a thin cut off the bottom, the forgotten population, the burnt crust society has long since discarded. They won’t be missed.

STINKYMAN: What about their parents?

BONES: Most of them don’t have parents – runaways mainly. Really, this conversation is boring. Let’s talk business.

Panel 3 – Rusty the bartender returns, fills Stinkyman’s tumbler.

STINKYMAN: Rusty? Just leave the bottle. (To Bones) Business?

Panel 4 – Bones smiles wide. This is what he loves.

BONES: Of course. Everything is negotiable. You want something, there is a price to pay.

STINKYMAN: What do I want?

Panel 5 – Bones for the first time looks downright sinister and we see that he can be one scary motherfucker!

BONES: You came for a girl, right? To rescue some broken doll from the land of misfit toys? Is that right, Mr. Smith? Isn’t that why you barged into my place and killed two of my men? Why you insult me, threaten me? Violence will get you nowhere in here, Mr. Smith, but you can certainly have anything you want.

Panel 6 – Stinkyman is now flanked by two Super-size bodyguards, each holding guns. There will be no element of surprise for our hero this time. Stinkyman gives an annoyed glance toward one of the guards.

STINKYMAN: For a price of course.

PAGE 6

Panel 1 – Bones, back to his charming persona, tugs on the lapels of his immaculate suit. Big grin.

BONES: Armani doesn’t give away suits, Mr. Smith.

STINKYMAN: How much?

Panel 2 – Wide shot from inside the club. We can see Stinkyman, Bones and the guards.

BONES: How much are you being paid to find this runaway?

STINKYMAN: Would Macy’s tell Gimbels?

BONES: Oh, don’t misunderstand. I don’t care about your fee. I’m sure you’re worth every penny. I just wonder if you know.

Panel 3 – Tight on Stinkyman, frowning.

Panel 4 – Tight on Stinkyman.

BONES (off camera): Mr. Smith?

PAGE 7

Panel 1 – An alley hidden deep in the darkest parts of some unknown city. Stinkyman, dressed in the uniform of a typical bum, slumps against a makeshift shelter of garbage cans, trash and a cardboard box. He is passed out with a drained bottle lying on the pavement beside him.

CAPTION (BONES): Tell me about the little girl. What does she look like? Surely her grieving parents provided you a snapshot of their little angel, or at least gave you a description. How else would you know how to find her?

Panel 2 – Similar to Panel 1, except for the shadowy figure cast over Stinkyman in the tiny bit of light cast by the full moon.

CAPTION (BONES): Mr. Smith, do you hear me. . .

SHADOW: . . . You hear me? I said get up. We’re losing time.

Panel 3 – Stinkyman awakes, his eyes are mere slits.

SHADOW: You don’t have much time. You’ve got to find her. You must find her soon or all is lost.

STINKYMAN: I look like a cop? Get lost, Pal.

Panel 4 – Bright shining light washes out the frame.

Panel 5 – Stinkyman’s alley is lit up like a Hollywood spotlight. He shields his eyes from the glare. The shadow is gone, replaced by the source of the incredible light.

BRIGHT LIGHT: The darkness threatens everything! Find the girl. Protect the light. It’s up to you. Salvation hangs in the balance. You control the future!

PAGE 8

Panels 1-4 – The light slowly fades until Stinkyman is left in near total darkness in the alley.

SHADOW (Invisible in the darkness): When the time comes, you must make a decision. The path you choose will determine the course of everything you understand to be reality.

STINKYMAN: Wait! I don’t under. . .

Panel 5 - Black

PAGE 9

Panel 1 – Medium on Bones from Stinkyman POV.

STINKYMAN: She’s … She’s here. I know that. And I also know that I’m not leaving without her.

BONES: John Smith. Interesting name. Like living on Main Street or having a dog named Spot. Did you have a name picked out when you walked in here or did you make it up on the spot? Not very creative.

Panel 2 – Medium on Stinky, over the shoulder from Bones’ POV. Another swig of scotch.

Panel 3 – Big wide shot of the club. Stinkyman stands.

PAGE 10

Panel 1 – The young woman helps a bleeding Stinkyman into the passenger seat of a sleek sedan.

CAPTION: 2007

Panel 2 – The woman is driving. Stinkyman slumps against the passenger-side window.

YOUNG WOMAN: It’s getting worse. Five days you were out, and the whole thing’s going to—

Panel 3 – Tight on the young woman’s eyes in the rearview mirror. Red and blue flashing lights are behind them.

YOUNG WOMAN: Shit!

Panel 4 – The sedan is pulled over, the cop car parked behind. A cop in riot gear approaches from the driver’s side, while another stands by the cop car with a hand on his sidearm.

YOUNG WOMAN: Be cool. I got this.

STINKYMAN: Hnnnnnnhhh.

PAGE 11

Panel 1: Side of car. The woman has the window rolled down. She flashes a smile to the cop.

YOUNG WOMAN: What? Was I speeding?

COP: You better have some paperwork, Sweetie.

Panel 2: The woman’s smile is gone. She holds up a badge.

YOUNG WOMAN: You mean something like this?

COP: Oh. I’m sorry, Ma’am. I’ve made a mistake. Don’t get many cars down this way. Know most of the regulars, didn’t recognize this one. Sorry to hold you up. You’re, of course, free to y’know, uh, go.

YOUNG WOMAN: Thanks. Sweetie.

Panel 3 – Car speeds off. The cop looks sick. His partner says...

COP’S PARTNER: What the hell was that?

COP: Corporates. One of ‘em was tore up pretty bad. Don’t know what they’re up to down here, but I’m not sticking my nose where it don’t belong.

COP’S PARTNER: Jesus. Let’s get outta here.