————- (new readers start here) ———— Chapter 1
8
9
Next, Chapter 2Detective Warlock: Warlock Detective
2011 Draft; Zane Austin Grant
Page 1
Panel 1
Close up of a skeleton hand lighting the first candle in six piece candelabra.
Panel 2
The face of Tina Hesser, a punk in her early 20′s, looks over her shoulder in fear as she runs through a small clearing filled with creosote soaked telephone poles. It’s night and the clearing is lit by streetlamps. She has blood splattered on her face.
Panel 3
Tina is running as hard as she can up a hill towards a hole in the fence.
Panel 4
She ducks through the hole and into the parking lot of the Stop and Go gas station.
Page 2
Panel 1
A police officer drinks coffee and eats ‘ho ho cakes’ at the counter of the Stop and Go. He flirts with the woman working at the counter. She looks haggard and wears a nametag with her last name: Hagardy. He points to the trucker speed next to the register.
1. Officer Sanchez
You know teeny boppers snort these to get high.
2. Hagardy
They aren’t illegal.
Panel 2
The officer looks at Hagardy with penetrating eyes as he pontificates. She stands back with her arms crossed.
3. Officer Sanchez
If you ask me, they’re a gateway to a bathtub of crystal meth.
4. Hagardy
Nobody asked you.
5. Officer Sanchez
I thought you did. I was just talking about the-
6. Officer Sanchez
-What the hell?
Panel 3
A cutaway of the gas station. Tina is past the pumps and almost to the door. Sanchez and Hargardy are both looking out the glass storefront. Hagardy points to Tina.
Panel 4
Tina bursts through the door screaming. The teenwolf is in the background.
7. Tina
(screaming font)
Help!
Panel 5
Officer Sanchez has his gun out and is firing in the direction of the teenwolf, who stands only a few feet away.
Page 3
Panel 1
Splash page of the dead teen-wolf lying in a mess of gas station food and blood. His blood flows from the bullet holes. Nutty bars, Little Debby snacks, chips, and Reese’s Pieces outline his body from a collapsed food stand. This should be from a high angle. The Stop and Go woman stands silently screaming. Tina squats cowering.
1. Caption
(Detective Warlock)
When a shadow falls across a forgotten town, most people just go on with their business.
2. Caption
(Detective Warlock)
They can’t foresee the coming darkness. Maybe what I got is a gift, maybe a curse…
3. Caption
(Detective Warlock)
…but I can feel it, heating up like the fires of Babylon.
4. Caption
(Detective Warlock)
And that’s when they summon me…
. 5. Officer Sanchez
Looks like we got another one.
6. Officer Sanchez
Better call in the warlock.
Page 4
Panel 1
Large panel, long shot. PERRY WARLOCK drags a dead buck across a field to a single oak. Warlock’s cell phone rings in his pocket. (The oak has a set of stairs leading down into its base that we can’t see from this distance. The opening is large enough for Warlock to descend into without ducking down too much. The tree is giant to facilitate the opening)
1. Caption
Meanwhile…
2. SFX
Beep Beep
Panel 2
Same shot, but he has dragged the buck closer to the tree. His pocket still rings.
3. SFX
Beep Beep
Panel 3
Closer up on the Perry and the buck. Warlock stands over the deer out of breath in front of the hole in the tree. He looks at the screen of his phone.
2. Warlock
(smaller font for breathing)
-gasp-
Panel 4
Dragging deer into the hole with one hand putting cell phone back in pocket with the other.
3. Warlock
I have to stop eating those lady fingers.
Page 5
Panel 1
Warlock descends the stone stairs dragging the buck.
Panel 2
At the base of the stairs Warlock places the buck at the center of a makeshift alter on the ground with candles lit around it and a symbol in the floor. The candles are the main light source in the cavern.
Panel 3
Darkness of a shaft beyond warlock and the candles, framed by dirt and twisted roots.
Panel 4
Warlock looking at his watch in front of the darkness.
1. Warlock
Can we get this started? I’ve got a thing I need to take care of…
Panel 5
Black. Darkness.
Page 6
Panel 1
Glowing eyes in the darkness of Warlock’s familiar, a jaguar in darkness and bunny in light. The familiar’s voice should be written in a raspy font.
1. Familiar
You’re late.
Panel 2
Warlock speaking over the deer corpse into the darkness.
2. Warlock
Listen, it’s been a slow season. Deer have all but vanished.
3. Familiar
(off panel)
We speak not of your offering, pitiful though it may be. A dungeon escapes the horizon.
Panel 3
The deer corpse has been drug further into the darkness. The familiar’s voice from the darkness:
4. Familiar
As the leaves descend into the aeons of the eternal bog, cattails sing of untold winters. A madman seeks an early dawn.
5. Familiar
A new age rides the northern winds.
6. Warlock
Will the new age be a good market for us?
7. Familiar
You seal your coffin with frivolity. I speak of unrelenting agony, a whore in the moon’s path. The papyrus will turn to rot.
Panel 4
The deer corpse has been consumed by the darkness. The warlock stands in front of the alter. From the darkness:
8. Familiar
(from darkness)
A boy has died. Call the police. They have your work.
Page 7
Panel 1
The gas station is now crowded by police cars and an ambulance. Detective Jackson Stewart opens the door for Warlock. He is an African American man in his 40′s.
1. Jackson
Thanks for joining the party Warlock.
Panel 2
Warlock and Jackson stand over the dead teenwolf.
2. Jackson
That’s three this month. Any ideas about where they’re coming from?
3. Detective Warlock
I’ve been a warlock most of my adult life, and, honestly, I’ve never seen anything like it.
4. Detective Warlock
The werewolf disease is spreading like wildfire through the young men in this town.
Panel 3
The Warlock squats down and picks up a nutty bar.
5. Jackson
So, you think it’s a young man thing.
Panel 4 (beat a)
Warlock smells the nutty bar package.
Panel 5 (beat b)
He flings the bar to the side moving towards the teenwolf’s face.
Panel 6 (beat c)
Close up of Detective Warlock using his fingers to open the teenwolf’s lips and look at it’s teeth.
6. Detective Warlock
I can’t say anything for certain at this point, but Genetic Generalized Hypertrichosis is usually related to a mystically induced hormone imbalance…
Page 8
Panel 1
Warlock pokes a bag of cool ranch chips.
1. Detective Warlock
… and that would make teenage boys most susceptible.
Panel 2
Jackson looks confused. Warlock stands up from his squatting position with some difficulty.
2. Jackson
Speak English Warlock, what’s the verdict?
3. Detective Warlock
None of the food smells in here.
4. Jackson
I’m talking about the boy. Who cares about food smells?
5. Detective Warlock
What I’m saying is, I’m sure there’s a fragrance, but it’s all wrapped up in plastic.
Panel 3
The tequito rotator between Warlock and Jackson.
6. Jackson
What about the taquitos, they smell.
Panel 4
Warlock points at the teenwolf. Jackson looks at Warlock.
7. Detective Warlock
Sure they do. The thing that bothers me is nothing around him smells.
8. Jackson
I’m not sure I follow.
Panel 5
Warlock takes a taquito.
9. Detective Warlock
Well detective, a natural wolf-person will reek of wolf’s bane. That’s to say genetically…
Page 9
Panel 1
Warlock waves the taquito as he speaks.
10. Detective Warlock
…This wereboy here may have been created unnaturally, through the dark arts. Maybe a black wizard or…
Panel 2
The warlock holds the door open for the Jackson.
1. Detective Warlock
…tell me Mr. Stewart, have you had any cemetery vandalism reported lately?
2. Jackson
No. Nothing like that. Why?
Panel 3
They stand at the ambulance, between the station and a Church’s chicken. Tina sits in an ambulance nearby.
3. Detective Warlock
Oh, it’s probably nothing…
4. Walkie Talkie
-Jackson, you read?
5. Jackson
Hold on Warlock. I’m here Tommy, what do you need?
Panel 4
Jackson’s walkie talkie interrupts.
6. Walkie Talkie
There’s trouble out at the skating rink. Some guy saying something about a weird skeleton in the bathroom.
7. Walkie Talkie
Chief says take Warlock and get out there as fast as you can.
Panel 5
Jackson speaks into the walkie talkie.
8. Jackson
Probably just some science fair kids playing a prank. We’ll check it out.
Page 10
Panel 1
Establishing panel of Jackson’s car passing Tina Hesser.
Panel 2
Exterior shot of Warlock and Jackson in Jackson’s car together. Warlock looks out the window at Tina.
1. Warlock
That’s the girl?
2. Jackson
(leading into next panel)
Yep. The Hesser kid. Daughter of the tire magnate.
Panel 3
Front view of Jackson driving and Warlock sitting in the passenger seat, facing ahead.
3. Warlock
She’s got a unique style–
4. Jackson
–And a hate the police attitude. Couldn’t get her to talk for anything.
5. Jackson
People are saying she went away to college for a semester and came back funky.
6. Warlock
Seems alright to me.
Panel 4
Same panel but with shifting eyes. An awkward silence.
Panel 5
Continued awkwardness.
7. Jackson
Yeah… well… what brought you back here?
Page 11
Panel 1
Jackson looking at Warlock
1. Warlock
I don’t know. It had been forty years. My parents died while I was in Nam.
2. Warlock
Guess I’d seen enough of this town, so I swore it off to experience the world.
Panel 2
Side view of Jackson warming up to this veteran information with the car door and window in the background. Warlock, introspective.
3. Jackson
A vet, huh? I did tour over there. Saw some hell. But, you know… those were different times.
4. Jackson
At least we both made it out in one piece. Which branch did you serve with anyway?
5. Warlock
…
Panel 3
Sweeping landscape of a young Warlock walking through the jungle (see Brooklyn Rail photo).
6. Caption
(Warlock)
I fought for the Viet Cong.
Panel 4 (small)
Front view of Jackson and Warlock. Jackson looks uncomfortable.
7. Jackson
Oh.
Panel 5 (small)
A Vietnamese hut.
Panel 6 (small)
Jackson’s hand turning the keys to the car to off.
8. SFX
KLICK
Panel 7
Jackson looking at warlock and Warlock looking up, purposely not making eye contact. Car in the skating rink parking lot.
9. Jackson
Which branch?
Page 12
Panel 1
A birch branch leading into the skating rink sign ‘Clanton’s Skate Skate’
Panel 2
Large long shot panel 1970′s skating rink with 80′s signage reading ‘Clanton’s Skate Skate’. A group of youth group kids run out the doors of the skating rink. A green mist follows them of the way out of the to the first row of cars door. Bill Clanton, a fat man, stands at the door in the green fog with a ‘cool’ grungy youth minister. Clanton yelling at the youth minister.
1. Bill
I don’t care if she’s Broom Hilda’s love child! You’re their youth minister for Christ sake!
Panel 3
Bill Clanton holding the youth minister by his collar in front of the skating rink door.
2. Bill
You go back in there and use your holy powers to get her out of my goddamn skating rink!
Panel 4
Bill Clanton pushing the youth minster out of the way. Jackson and Warlock approach.
3. Bill
Jesus. About time you showed up. Is he the ghost booster?
4. Jackson
This is Perry Warlock, he’s our new occult consult.
Panel 5
Warlock and Jackson walking past Bill who leans in screaming into the skating rink.
5. Bill
You know what I charge hourly for a private party?
6. Bill
Honestly, it varies, but it’s never cheap. I want that thing out!
7. Warlock
It’s a skeleton. We’ll take care of it.
Page 13
Panel 1
Panel 1
Wide shot of the skating rink. Two kids skate around a floating graveyard hag. DJ BJ stands in the back, elevated booth. Green fog covers the floor.
1. DJ BJ
(from DJ booth)
Okay everybody!
Panel 2
Third tier panel of DJ BJ, an obese 30-something skating rink DJ whose eyes are glazed over by the witch’s spell. He speaks into a microphone from the DJ booth that overlooks the skating rink floor and puts a record player needle on a record.
2. DJ BJ
This is a crazy song! DJ BJ wants you to get real crazy!
3. SFX
(floating from the record needle)
Friday night I crashed your party
Panel 3
Third tier panel of two pairs of roller skates skating.
4. SFX
KLACK KLACK
5. SFX
(music)
Saturday I said I’m sorry
Panel 4
Third tier panel of two teenage kids holding hands. The boy has gold glasses with a bar across the bridge and a polo shirt. The girl looks like a surf era Annette Funicello. The graveyard hag floats behind them.
6. SFX
(music)
Sunday came and trashed it out again.
6. Skate Girl
Please lady, just let me stop and rest.
7. SFX
(graveyard hag maniachal laughter floats across panel)
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
8. SFX
(skates)
KLACK KLACK
Page 14
Panel 1
The skating rink door closing.
1. SFX
(music)
I was only having fun! Wasn’t hurting anyone! And we all enjoyed the weekend for a change!
2. SFX
(door)
KLACK
Panel 2
Warlock and Jackson in front of the skate check out. Skates fill cubby holes by size behind them. Warlock squints to see the graveyard hag and Jackson looks at Warlock. The green fog covers their legs.
3. Warlock
Looks like a graveyard hag. Rhyming variety.
4. Jackson
No one said anything about a hag. You sure you know what you’re doing?
5. Warlock
Well, Detective Stewart-
6. Jackson
Call me Jackson.
Panel 3
Warlock patting Jackson on the back and leading him past the concession stand.
7. Warlock
Okay then, Jackson. Warlocking, it isn’t an exact science. It’s more like an art and a science.
8. Jackson
What’s that supposed to mean?
9. Warlock
Just stay low and follow me.
Panel 4
Warlock and Jackson duck walking past a row of video games. Ghost and Ghouls, Punch Out and Gauntlet knock offs and a Big Choice machine. (Punched Out instead of Punch Out, Goblet instead of Gauntlet, etc.)
10. SFX
I ‘ve been stranded in the combat zone! I walked through Bedford Stuy alone. Even rode my motorcycle in the rain…
Page 15
Panel 1
Warlock and Jackson crouching behind the skating barricade.
1. Warlock
Let’s get a look at her.
2. Jackson
What if she sees us?
3. Warlock
We run.
Panel 2
Warlock and Jackson peaking over the wall.
Panel 3
The graveyard hag rounding the skating rink end.
4. SFX
(skates)
KLACK KLACK
5. Hag
Grind the bones,
Bake the bread,
Eat the infant’s severed head!
Panel 4
Warlock and Jackson squatting and reconvening.
6. Warlock
She looks really old.
7. Jackson
Is that bad?
8. Warlock
Well, it’s not good.
Panel 5
Warlock holding up a bag of sacred sand Jackson looking offended.
9. Warlock
How are you at rapping?
10. Jackson
What? Just because I’m black you think–
11. Warlock
–Stop. No. It’s just the type of hag. One of us has to get her rhyming while the other makes the binding circle.
12. Warlock
So what’ll it be?
Page 16
Panel 1
Jackson is pouring the sand on the skating rink floor and walking backwards past the skating sign board (see reference, it says doubles, ladies only, hokey pokey, etc. and lights up)
Panel 2
Warlock stands in the skating rink issuing the challenge.
1. Warlock
By the law to which you’re bound,
I speak to thee in words of sound…
Panel 3
The hag turns away from the kids and looks at Warlock.
Panel 4
Warlock stands before the floating graveyard hag and looks up at her hands in the air like Frazetta’s sorceror.
2. Warlock
…Gothar Machtum Annarectus
I challenge over who owes breakfast
Page 17
Panel 1
The graveyard hag hovers in the air and looks down on Warlock.
1. Hag
Begin the challenge ancient told
That your fortune may unfold
Panel 2
The record playing on the record player. The song coming from the needle:
2. SFX
You may be right
Panel 3
Warlock continues to concentrate. The Hag floats around beside him.
3. Warlock
I may be crazy
4. Hag
But it just might be a lunatic you’re looking for
5. Hag
Turn out the light.
Panel 4
Jackson keeps pouring but looks concerned.
Panel 5
Same panel.
5. Warlock
Don’t try to save me. You may be wrong for all I know.
6. Hag
I perspire and blood pours from my nose. He owns a black hat like I own.
7. Warlock
Remember how I found you there. Alone (squiggly lines for mumbling).
Panel 6
Close up of Warlock. His eyes have turned green like the fog.
8. Warlock
Ah crap.
Page 18
Panel 1
Wide shot. Warlock is frozen. The hag turns toward Jackson who is looking at her and pouring the sand all out in one place.
1. Hag
I’m coming for you.
Panel 2
Jackson dropping the sand bag and running. The hag floating behind him.
Panel 3
Jackson running into the bathroom.
Panel 4
A tall skeleton towers over the bathroom stall reaching out with nachos toward Jackson, who is shocked.
Page 19
Panel 1
Jackson pulls the skeleton’s arm off with ease, balancing the nachos in the skeleton’s hand.
1. SFX
CRRCK
Panel 2
The hag floats into the bathroom.
Panel 3
She reaches out to Jackson and her teeth have gotten sharper and longer.
Panel 3
Jackson holds the skeleton arm.
1. Jackson
Here’ your breakfast!
Panel 4
He is swinging the skeleton arm hitting her in the head. Chips fly.
2. SFX
KLOCK
Page 20
Panel 1
Warlock leans on the bathroom doorway, exhausted, holding his arms in a position of focused wizardry.
1. Warlock
Sade-hu Mantos Di-dormammu!
Panel 2 (Beat A)
The hag becoming desiccated.
Panel 3 (Beat B)
The hag’s fleshless body.
Panel 4 (Beat C)
A pile of dust.
Panel 5
Jackson and Warlock standing in the bathroom. The armless skeleton stands looking at them from the bathroom stall clacking his teeth. Jackson points.
1. Jackson
How do we kill him?
2. Warlock
With her gone, he’ll collapse with the sunrise. Until then, I’d say let him have the run of the rink and then bury him out back.
3. Jackson
You mean in the graveyard.
4. Warlock
Hold on, you mean there’s a graveyard behind Skate Skate?
Page 21
Panel 1
A cemetery gate in the woods behind the skating rink that reads: Old Waverly Memorial Cemetery. Some moss covered Cypress trees shade the entrance.
Panel 2
Through the vast overgrown swampy graveyard.
Panel 3
Past a demonic looking memorial, overgrown with moss and wisteria, a raven whispers into the ear of Tina, who is partially off panel.
1. Raven
(Sumerian characters for City Gate)
Page 22
Panel 1
Tina from behind. She is sitting on a corpse with a raven on her shoulder between monuments. Warlock speaks from off-panel.
1. Warlock
Not too often I see a kid your age waiting for Shakti.
Panel 2
The raven is flying off. Tina looks suspiscious. Warlock leans on a headstone.
2. Warlock
Unfortunately, it’s not fresh enough for her to show. But I’m here.
3. Warlock
So why don’t you tell me why you did all this.
Panel 3
Tina is standing up and faces Warlock.
4. Tina
You’ve got it backwards, I’m the only one trying to stop him.
5. Warlock
Stop who?
6. Tina
The night mayor.
Panel 4
The night mayor stands over a model of the town laughing maniacally.
7. Night Mayor
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HO HA HA HA
Panel 5
The skeleton is skating beneath a skating rink style crystal ball and holding nachos.
8. SFX
(skates)
KLACK KLACK
