This is the script for the first part of a five part story I'm producing called "Circus" with a Canadian artist called Anthony Healy. Art should be on its way soon.
Circus
PART ONE: COME ONE, COME ALL
PAGE ONE
Panel One: A spotlight shines on a single figure, Mr Ghede. A black ringmaster clad in classic attire he is skinny and tall with dreadlocks rolling down from beneath his top hat. He wears a devilish smile as he stand with his arms open wide as if to display the darkness that surrounds him.
MR GHEDE
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN YOU ARE HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE YOU DARE TO BE CHALLENGED. YOU ARE PIONEERS, EXPLORERS OF THE REALMS OF REALITY AND SANITY. TONIGHT YOU WILL SEE THINGS THAT MORTALS ARE NEVER MEANT TO SEE, PAST THE MASQUERADE OF NORMALITY INTO THE REALMS OF THE STRANGE AND MYSTERIOUS. WELCOME ONE AND ALL...
Panel Two: View from the top of the tent. The lights have come up and we can now see the circus in full swing. Mr Ghede stands in the centre of the ring looking upwards. Harlequins swings from high wires whilst jesters frolic around the ring. Magicians stand on pillars directing the chaos like generals spouting cards, doves and wands. Elephants rear up at the back off the ring whilst musicians pound massive drums rhythmically.
MR GHEDE
TO MR GHEDE'S CIRCUS OF MARVELS AND MAGIC!
Panel Three: A side view of Mr Ghede still addressing his audience, around him gymnasts cartwheel and the celebrations continue. We can now see the members of the audience, in the centre sits Nathan Andrews and his twin children Thomas and Bethany. Nathan is dressed in sensible clothes for cold weather, as are his children. Nathan has his arms around the two smiling happily as the two children look on in amazement.
MR GHEDE
IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU "THE HARLEQUINS OF BABYLONIA".
Panel Four: Nathan and his children leave are leaving the circus tent. The circus is still going on inside and light pours out of the entrance. The circus tent itself is a dark midnight blue with arcane stars and moons adoring it. Thomas sits on his father's shoulders point to the distance whilst Bethany holds onto his hand attempting to drag him towards her goal. Nathan smiles despite being dragged in opposite directions.
THOMAS
I WANNA GO SEE THE HAUNTED HOUSE OR THE LION TAMER. NO NO WAIT THE LIZARD MAN!
BETHANY
THOSE ARE BOYS THINGS; I WANT TO SEE THE DANCERS!
NATHAN
DONT WORRY YOU TWO WE'VE GOT ALL NIGHT, QUIT PULLING ME ABOUT.
Panel Five: Nathan stands transfixed at a wooden caravan. On the side of the caravan the words "Diotima: Mistress of the Fortunes" is written is fading red paint. The children continue pulling their father frowning at his decision.
NATHAN
HEY LETS CHECK THIS OUT. WADDYA SAY?
BETHANY
BUT WERE GONNA MISS THE DANCERS!
THOMAS
AWW DAD THAT'S ALL JUST FOOEY!
NATHAN
C'MON YOU GUYS. IT'LL BE FUN TO KNOW THE FUTURE. MAYBE I'LL WIN THE LOTTERY AND I CAN QUIT MY JOB HUH, SPEND MORE TIME WITH YOU.
PAGE TWO
Panel One: Interior of the caravan. The creaking wooden shelves are cluttered with various arcane trinkets. On one of the lower shelves sits a wooden Jester, as with the rest of the caravan, the Jester is worse for wear with chipped and faded paint. Nathan is entering the caravan, pushing away the clothe that passed for a door. He is hunched over looking politely to find the inhabitants. His children stand by his side looking bored and unpleased with his decision.
NATHAN
HELLO? ANYBODY IN HERE?
DIOTIMA (OFF)
ENTER OFFICER ANNDREWS. I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU.
Panel Two: View from behind the family now. Nathan has moved deeper into the caravan and now stands at a table holding the hands of his children who look over their shoulders curiously at the Jester who has now become animated ad is cheerfully strolling out of the caravan. Nathan, not noticing the puppet, keeps looking at Doitima, an elderly and frail women in lose draping clothes that her face can barely been seen through.
NATHAN
HOW DID YOU...
THOMAS
ER DAD?
NATHAN
ONE MINUTE TOM, HOW DID YOU KNOW I WAS A COP?
DIOTIMA
YOUR PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE ARE BUT THREADS THE TAPESTRY OF YOUR LIFE NATHAN. I SIMPLY PICK AT THE THREADS I WANT TO FOLLOW.
Panel Three: Nathan stands with a look of confusion on his face transfixed on Diotima, who proceeds to play the tarot card; the Hermit. Thomas has released his father's hand and has begun to make his way to the caravan door. Bethany watches him leave over her shoulder with a look of concern on her face.
BETHANY
DAD THOMAS...
NATHAN
HOLD ON HONEY. WHAT IS THIS?
DIOTIMA
SHALL WE START? "THE HERMIT REVERSED". AN ACT OF PAST WEAKNESS LEADING TO YOUR CURRENT STATE. GREED?
Panel Four: a view from the door way as Bethany stand momentarily to look back at her father before she tries to retrieve her brother. In the background the reading continues. Nathan hasn't noticed the children leaving him but is now paying close attention to the seer.
NATHAN
I DONT KNOW WHAT YOUR TALKING ABOUT.
DIOTIMA
PERHAPS THE NEXT CARD WILL SHED SOME REVELATIONS.
Panel Five: a long shot. In the foreground we see the Jester still happily marching. Behind him Thomas is making ground and still further behind him Bethany has begun pursuit. The light from the caravan floods out into the now empty fairground.
JESTER
DO-DO-DO-DAH, DAH-DO-DE
THOMAS
HEY WAIT UP MR CLOWN!
PAGE THREE
Panel One: Inside the caravan the reading continues. Diotima sits at her table presenting the cards to Nathan, her arm gliding through the air as she does. On the table we can see the Hermit, and Chariot cards with the deck remaining to on her right facedown.
DIOTIMA
THE PRESENT. "THE CHARIOT REVERSED". A MISSUSE OF POWERS AND TALENTS. IS THERE SOMETHING YOU'RE NOT TELLING YOUR SUPERIORS OFFICER?
NATHAN
HOW'D? LISTEN LADY I DONT KNOW WHAT YOUR TRYING TO IMP BUT STOP IT.
Panel Two: The Jester has ceased his march and stands on the right of the panel. He leans with on foot forward, a hand resting on his hip and the other hand offered out in explanation. Opposite him stands Bethany whilst Thomas crouches, they both have inquisitive looks on their faces.
BETHANY
ARE YOU MAGIC MR CLOWN?
THOMAS
DONT BE STUPID, THERES NO SUCH THING!
JESTER
FIRSTLY MY NAME IS VIVERE, BUT YOU CAN CALL ME VERE. AND SECONDLY YOUNG SQUIRE, IF THERES NO SUCH THING AS MAGIC HOW IM I TALKING AND WALKING.
THOMAS
IT MUST BE A TRICK!
JESTER
HAHA! MOST INTUITIVE ALAS INCORRECT. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE HOW MAGIC REALLY WORKS?
Panel Three: Nathan, on the right of the panel now stands with a scornful look at the seer, shrugging his shoulders at her divinations. Diotima continues the reading despite his protests.
DOITIMA
"JUDGEMENT" YOU WILL FACE A TEST, A CHALLENGE.
NATHAN
REALLY? A CHALLENGE IN MY FUTURE? NOT EXACTLY NOSTRADAMUS.
DIOTIMA
THIS CARD IS NOT YOU FUTURE, IT IS YOUR PRESENT.
NATHAN
WHATEVER. WE'RE OUT OF HERE.
DIOTIMA
"WE"? IT WOULD APPEAR YOUR CHILDREN HAVE ALREADY BEEN TAKEN OFFICER.
Panel Four: In the foreground Bethany looks back towards the caravan off panel, whilst in the back ground Thomas and the Jester have begun to walk in the direction of more circus attractions. Bethany looks apprehensive at following them but can't resist the opportunity.
JESTER
THIS WAY MY YOUNG WARDS. OFF TO SEE THE ALVISIO, FELLOW OF WITCHCRAFT AND MAGICIAN EXTRAORDINAIRE.
BETHANY
HEY WAIT UP YOU TWO!
Panel Five: Nathan angrily grabs on the table baring his teeth at Diotima, still unfazed his indicates with her hand to the general direction of the Big Top tent. All three cards can now be seen on the table.
NATHAN
WHERE ARE THEY?!
DIOTIMA
THE TEST BEGINS. YOU WILL HAVE TO OVERCOME YOUR OWN SELFISHNESS TO SAVE YOUR CHILDREN.
NATHAN
GODDAMMIT! TELL ME WITCH!
DIOTIMA
YOU CHALLENGE BEGINS IN THE BIG TOP. GHEDE AWAITS YOU THERE.
PAGE FOUR
Panel One: Nathan stands at the entrance of the Big Top. He stands legs apart ready for action. His face is keen and sterns
MR GHEDE (OFF)
AHH OUR BRAVE CHAMPION ARRIVES TO FACE THE EVILS OF GHEDE.
Panel Two: Nathan springs forward with arms outstretched from the left to the right of the panel his face contorted in rage. Mr Ghede stands opposite, leaning nonchalantly on a cane whilst inspecting his fingernails. His attire is similar to previous except his jacket and hats are now white, and his faces has white skull painted onto his face.
NATHAN
WHERE ARE THEY YOU BASTARD!?
MR GHEDE
THE CHILDREN ARE FREE FROM HARM.
Panel Three: Nathan is crashing into the floor face first, he body lifting up the sand on the centre right as he skids towards the reader. Ghede stand the background with his back to the reader and Nathan, of his hands is outstretched as his continues to examine his nails. He is split at the mid-drift where Nathans passed through him as he lunged. Smokey tendrils follow Nathans trajectory.
MR GHEDE
PLEASE, THE SOONER YOU STOP THIS BOISTEROUS CHILDISHNESS THE SOON YOU CAN HAVE YOU LITTE CHERUBS BACK.
NATHAN
OOOHHFF!
Panel Four: Nathan, now standing and filthy, holds a hand to his lip that trickles blood. His face shows his pain, both from the fall and from the embarrassment.
NATHAN
WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?
Panel Five: Ghede stand with his cane resting across the back of his shoulders, a hand at either end of it pulling the cane down. He smiles menacingly as he is slowly reformed by the smoke.
MR GHEDE
THIS IS THE "JUDGEMENT". HOWEVER I LIKE TO THINK OF IT AS REDEMPTION. YOU ARE A WICKED MAN OFFICER ANDREWS. EXTORTION. CORRUPTION. MURDER. THESE ARE YOUR SINS. THESE ARE THE REASONS THAT I WILL TAKE YOUR CHILDREN FROM YOU, UNLESS THAT IS YOU PASS MY TESTS.
PAGE FIVE
Panel One: Ghede stands on the left opposite Nathan who is angry but helpless. Ghede has his hands out in front of him; in one he holds a battered teddy bear, in the other a pistol. His cane floats in the air as his hands are occupied.
NATHAN
WHY PUNISH ME? THERE MUST BE HUNDRED OF CROOKED COPS OUT THERE?
MR GHEDE
AH AH OFFICER ANDREWS ALL IN GOOD TIME. NOW I CONSIDER MYSELF A FAIR MAN AND AS SUCH I'LL EVEN OFFER YOU A LITTLE TOOL TO HELP YOU THROUGH THIS TASK. YOUR PISTOL OR THIS CHILDS TOY?
Panel Two: Small panel of a hand grabbing the pistol.
Panel Three: Nathan stands with the gun to Mr Ghede's head. Nathan looks appropriately serious whilst Ghede smiles jovially holding his hands up. The teddy bear remain in his hand. His cane continues to float around.
NATHAN
WHERE ARE THEY!?
MR GHEDE
YOU REALLY THINK THAT'LL DO ANYTHING TO ME AFTER YOUR LITTLE FALL.
NATHAN
WHERE?!!
MR GHEDE
"ANA'S SEE ALL SHOW TENT". THE DANCER THERE WILL SHOW YOU THE WAY. REMEMBER? BETHANY WANTED TO SEE THE DANCERS. OH HOW REMISS OF ME. YOU HAVE TIL MIDNIGHT TO COMPLETE THE TASK OTHERWISE I KEEP THE CHILDREN.
Panel Four: Nathan blows Ghede's head away. There is a splatter of tenebrous shadows and tendrils.
Panel Five: Ghede stands at the forefront of the panel. His face slowly reconstructs itself in the same manner as earlier. He looks down at the teddy bear still in his hand with half his face. In the background we can see the Nathan exiting the Big Top at pace.
MR GHEDE
HE'LL REGRET THAT, THEY ALL DO.
