THE WRITING CHALLENGE

THE WRITING CHALLENGE

Danny Nolan

Two violent prisoners think they have escaped punishment when they sign up for an educational program only to find themselves victims of an evil experiment.

 ART by Ken Best

Published FutureQuake (UK) December 2020

PAGE ONE:

 

6 panels on this page

Panel 1:

Establishing shot. This panel takes up the full width of the page. Exterior view of a penitentiary: a large imposing cement structure, blocky in appearance, with high walls, many security cameras and barbed wire to complete the picture. A sign is prominent.

HAXENDALE HIGH-SECURITY PRISON COMPLEX

 

Underneath

 

KEEPING OUR COMMUNITIES SAFER.

 

Underneath that:

 

A DIVISION OF KHEMLANI ENTERPRISES.

 

Panels 2 – 4 equal size running underneath the first panel

 

Panel 2: 

The exterior of one of the prison wings. Once again a large block-shaped slab of cement with few windows and many cameras. Another sign is visible on the wall near the entrance. The sign has the prison’s logo and the words: REHABILITATION AND DEVELOPMENT.

 

Panel 3:

 

Looking down a corridor at a heavily fortified door. A loosely attached sign says: TRAINING ROOM.

 

Panel 4

Same shot but the sign falls to the floor to reveal a more permanent sign saying :

 ISOLATION CHAMBER. OBSERVE ALL WARNING SIGNALS AND SIGNS.

 

Panel 5:

 

A black and white photograph, a thumb is visible indicating it is held by someone. The picture shows a moonlit night. There is a silhouetted figure standing on a bridge shrouded in mist. Any real detail is vague.

 

NICK: (off)

WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO AGAIN?

 

Panel 6:

Two in their men mid-twenties are seated opposite each other at a table in a bare room. Each has a blank piece of paper and a pencil in front of them.

Nick, who is holding the picture, is broad-shouldered with a large face and has a nose that looks like it has been broken many times. Mark, the other inmate, has a scar under one eye that runs down his cheek; he could be considered handsome to Nick’s roughness. Both have crew cuts and a few days stubble. Both look physically fit and strong.

For future reference: Both are wearing boiler suits with the letters ‘HP’ and the Khemlani logo embroidered on the back.

Both are staring at the photo in confusion.

MARK :

WW HAVE TO WRITE A STORY ABOUT THIS STUPID PICTURE.

 

 

PAGE TWO

6 panels on this page

 

 

Panel 1:

 

Both men seated and facing each other. Nick is now absent-mindedly scratching his ear with the blunt end of a pencil.

 

NICK:

HUH?

 

MARK:

YEAH, I KNOW. IT’S SUPPOSED TO BE SOME LEARNING CHALLENGE THING. IT’S WHAT GOT US OUT OF DOING SOLITARY.

 

 

 

Panel 2:  

 

CU - Nick holds the picture up to have a closer look. There is writing on the back of it - at this stage it is legible but faded, Mark has leant forward and is reading off the back of the picture

NICK:

A PERSON ON A BRIDGE, WHOOPEE.

 

MARK (reading):

WRITE A STORY ABOUT ANYTHING USING THE PICTURE AS INSPIRATION.

 

Panel 3:

 

Nick smiles because he thinks he’s made a funny comment. He is now holding the pencil between his thumb and forefinger. He has absentmindedly snaps off the lead point and it falls to the table. Mark has now taken hold of the picture .

 

 

NICK:

HOW ABOUT USING THE PHOTO TO WIPE MY ARSE (BUTT), ‘CAUSE THIS IS ALREADY GIVING ME THE SHITS. (RUNS)

 

Panel 4:

 

Mark turns the picture towards Nick if he’s discovered something. Nick looks, forgetting that his funny line has gone unnoticed.

MARK :

HEY MAN, LOOK, DOES THE PERSON IN THE PHOTO LOOK FAMILIAR?

 

 

 

NICK:

WHO?

MARK:

LOOK CLOSER.

Panel 5:

 

As Nick lowers his face to about six inches from the photo, Mark grabs the back of Nick’s head and slams it into the table.

SFX: SLAM!

 

NICK:

OOOFFFF!

 

Panel 6:

 

Nick rebounds off the table and is now on his feet, his nose hopelessly broken and bleeding profusely. His eyes are watering as he tries to focus on Mark who looks rather innocent.

 

NICK (yelling):

WHAT WAS THAT FOR?

MARK:

YOU BROKE MY PENCIL.

PAGE THREE:

 

7 panels on this page to highlight speed and confusion.

 

Panel 1:

 

Nick circles the table to get to Mark who keeps moving to counter his strides. Mark is taunting him.

MARK:

NYAH ,NYAH, CAN’T GET ME.

 

Panel 2:

 

Nick is faster than Mark and has a longer reach. He lunges for the pencil on the table.

No dialogue

 

Panel 3:

 

Mark moves to stop him but Nick scoops up the pencil and drives it through Mark’s hand.

 

SFX:  SPLUURT!

 

Panel 4:

 

Mark rears up holding his hand in pain. Nick moves around.

 

Mark:

AGGHHH!

 

Panel 5:

 

Nick picks up the second pencil and drives it into Mark’s right eye.

No dialogue.

 

 

Panel 6:

 

Mark let out an ear piercing scream. He rears up and hits the wall behind him.

 

MARK SFK::

AGGGHHHH!

 

Panel 7:

Nick assesses his damaged nose.

PAGE FOUR

6 panels on this page.

 

Panel 1:

 

A wider shot as Nick doesn’t see Mark as he desperately slams into him.

 

No dialogue

Panel 2:

 

Mark slams Nick’s head into the wall, causing his skull to crack with the impact. Blood flies everywhere. Mark pushes the pencil further into his brain when tackles Nick.

 

Panel 3:

 

Both of the convicts slide to the floor dead; Nick with a crushed skull, Mark with the small piece of pencil poking out of his eye.

 

 

Panel 4:

 

Pull out to reveal the room is a mess, even with so little furniture. Blood is sprayed everywhere from the men’s injuries. The two men lie sprawled out where they fell. Above on the ceiling two exhaust fans can be seen.

 

 

Panel 5:

 

Pull in closer to highlight the exhaust fans.

 

 

Panel 6:

 

Close up of the fans starting up at full bore.

 

SFX: WHIRRR!

 

PAGE FIVE

5 panels on this page.

 

Panel 1:

 

Wide shot, just to left of the carnage caused by the two inmates.

A line appears in one of the walls to reveal a hidden room.

 

SFX: High pressure hissing noise and sliding sounds.

 

Panel 2:

 

The rear wall opens to reveal a console room and a row of theatre-style chairs occupied by top military brass. The room that Nick and Mark had just battled to death in was actually a test room that was fully isolated and vacuum sealed.

 

VOICE SFX OFF: AREA CLEAR OF TOXINS

Panel 3:

 

PHILLIPS a skinny middle-aged man with dark hair and dressed in a white lab coat. He stands to address the assembled military men as they look around the room. The military brass all nod and agree with mumbles and sighs as they get up to leave except for one who goes over to the table to inspect the photo.

 

 

PHILLIPS:

 

WELL, GENTLEMEN. I THINK THAT SHOULD BE PROOF POSITIVE OF THE ACTIVE KILLING AGENT IN PRODUCT NG011.

 

LINK

THE ENEMY WILL NEVER GET TO ENGAGE WITH OUR TROOPS AS THEY WILL BE TOO BUSY KILLING EACH OTHER.

Panel 4:

 

The general holds up the photo to one of his peers and makes an off-the-cuff comment as if he were at the office water cooler.

GENERAL:

 

JUST LIKE MY KIDS,

 

Link

DO ANYTHING TO GET OUT OF HOMEWORK.

 

PAGE FIVE (CONT.)

 

Panel 5:

 

The group of military men are walking away, nodding in agreement.

 

No dialogue

FIN

ART SAMPLE