Revised: 8 Page Script

[thenextlee]

So, I've just edited this up a bit. The ending was just too flat, and hopefully with the new changes it'll hit a higher note.




PORTERS' PLACE, Short Answer 8 page script!
by ~johnmecca

PORTER'S PLACE

(Rough Draft By George Myers June 25, 2012)

(1st Revision, George Myers June 27, 2012)

(2nd Revision, George Myers June 29, 2012)

PAGE 1

Panel 1- PORTERS' PLACE BAR-interior

A very cozy, open, neighborhood style bar interior. A long oak bar with round spinning stools bolted to the floor in front of, runs parallel to the walls. The stools and the bar have heavy duty springs and arm supports underneath, but they don't need to draw attention, just be there. The bar decor, again, is very tried and true, very iconic. However, mixed amongst these relics (pinball machines, large bar mirrors, rows of bottles, pool table, high cocktail tables towards the back. A dull, barely reflective bar floor, etc.), are also things of a super hero nature. Easily recognized homages to well known superheroes are interspersed among the more mundane pub accoutrements (think of any scene from Top Ten, or the trophy room scene from Future Imperfect for inspiration and visual stimulus). Again, they're not meant to be obtuse and glaring, but to mix and meld with the other brick-a-brac, to appear is if its all been there for a while, and by its sheer staying power has become normal, a common thing. A huge metallic man in some form of team seeming uniform sits near the bar corner, holding a large bucket glass in one over-sized hand, and a cell phone in the other. He appears to be quite agitated as he yells into the phone.

THICKSKIN

You're kidding--- You're f@cking kidding! No, you're right, you're right, it's ALL an act, all an act I've been putting on for you--- Oh no. No, no I'm not being SARCASTIC. Seriously, I've fought the best, I picked shit up. I've been planning this since before I KNEW you, that's how deep this goes, I-

Panel 2-

THICKSKIN stares at the phone angrily, as his mind catches up to the fact that yes, the person on the other end did INDEED hang up on him.

Panel 3-

THICKSKIN wears the same expression on his face, but the cellphone snapped to bits in his hand.

Panel 4-

From the far side of the panel, the bartenders arm appears, setting a shot down in front of THICKSKIN.

BARTENDER(OP)

Here, on the house man, sounds like you need it.

THICKSKIN
You have NO idea...

PAGE 2
Panel 1-

PORTER (the bartender), stands facing us. He's a tall man with wavy brown hair, lanky and a little above average height. Think Peter Parker plus 15 or 20 years. The most distinguishing feature about PORTER, are the large, round insect eyes replacing the two normal ones the rest of us get. Other than that, he wears a faded t-shirt, jeans, and has a bar towel slung over his shoulder. His affable smile tells us, and THICKSKIN, 'you sure about that?'

PORTER:
Oh, I'm guessing I can relate... You're Thickskin right? With, the... uh... Help me out here.

THICKSKIN
The Gene Teens.

Panel 2-
A shot from behind the left shoulder of THICKSKIN, a little from above. PORTER has both his hands on the bar, leaning forward a little, a goodnatured grin on his face, snickering wickedly.

PORTER:
No, I know... I just wanted to hear you say it, but enough about your lame team name...

Panel 3-
THICKSKIN shoots his head up, a look of perfected annoyance on his face...

Panel 4-

...Which changes quickly when he realizes he's staring at empty space.

Panel 5-

Worms eye view, kind of up the side of a bucket glass PORTER is setting down for THICKSKIN. PORTER himself is clinging to the ceiling, apparently holding on with his feet. THICKSKIN meanwhile has started backwards a bit, surprised by the vertical appearance of his barkeep.

PORTER
Kidding, I'm kidding! No, I just wanted to know what's up. You just destroyed a few hundred dollar phone, and I've seen your work, you know your own strength. So, what's the haps?

Panel 6-

THICKSKIN has the new drink to his lips, slugging a big swig from it. In the foreground, off to one side, we see the silhouetted form of PORTER dropping back to the floor.

PAGE 3
Panel 1-

Front shot of THICKSKIN. He looks tired, one arm on the bar as he leans forward on it a little, his shoulders low. The other hand holds his bucket glass, as he points his finger at PORTER, O.P.


THICKSKIN
Thanks. It's- Look, I've been dating this chick right, 'nother hero. So we're seein' each other for like, three weeks now. Everything's great. She's great, movie nights great, whole package right?

PORTER (OP)
With you so far.

Panel 2- C.A.D. Warehouse- interior

THICKSKIN and his 'girlfriend' are battling a tide of men all wearing semi sci-fi armor and hi-tech weapons. These men are the forces of C.A.D. THICKSKIN is plowing through them, energy blasts ricocheting off him. To his side, the girlfriend is morphing a hole in her torso to let a blast through, while stretching one arm out as she shifts her arm into a blade, slicing a gun in half. The other arm has taken the shape of a shield, and is engaged deflecting a blast. Of course there's men swarming all over them. The setting is some form of standard, large-scale warehouse, the like of which villains and secret organizations are always so prone to use.

THICKSKIN (CAPTION)
So tonight we're out, and we bust up this C.A.D. arms deal. Buncha nerds in body armor, real 'low-rent' stuff.

Panel 3-C.A.D. Warehouse- interior cont.

THICKSKIN and his 'girlfriend' stand victorious against the forces of C.A.D., throwing each other knowing smiles over the mounds of passed out C.A.D. Soldiers.

Panel 4- Large metropolitan city, rooftops, night

The two lover are going at it pretty heavily, lying on the roof next to the supports for a water tower, and the heating vents poking out of the ground. The girlfriend is pulling the top of the uniform off of THICKSKIN. She herself seems to be in a pretty thorough state of undress, but she's angled so we can't see anything.

THICKSKIN (CAPTION)

Next thing you know we're on a rooftop six blocks down tearing off spandex...

PORTER (CAPTION)
Rooftop Sex?

THICKSKIN (CAPTION)
Shoulda been...

PAGE 4

Panel 1- PORTERS PLACE- interior

PORTER looks at THICKSKIN awkwardly, almost disappointed. For his part, the 'Gene Team' member has sunk farther towards the bar, his height level seeming a great barometer for his mood.

PORTER
No Rooftop Sex!? No bueno...

THICKSKIN
Not at all, no.

Panel 2-

PORTER leans in confidentially, close enough so only he and the broken THICKSKIN can hear.

PORTER
Problem was...?

Panel 3-
THICKSKIN has raised his posture a bit, but not his mood. He straightens only as a result of tipping his drink towards PORTER, the universal symbol for 'gimee another'. THICKSKIN, poor fellow that he is, still looks pretty deflated as he continues to explain his woes.

THICKSKIN

Look, I haven't gotten laid since my powers kicked in, I hadn't considered the... finer points involved... Grab me one more? I mean, I'm invulnerable, I don't feel f@ckin' TANK rounds!

THICKSKIN

Who ever thought that'd be a BAD thing y'know?

Panel 4-
PORTER has raised his chin towards the roof in speculation, while THICKSKIN has returned his head (and brow) dejectedly towards the bar.

Panel 5-

Suddenly, the math comes together as PORTER looks at THICKSKIN with a look of surprise and empathy.

PORTER
Duuuuuude...


PAGE 5

Panel 1-

THICKSKINS head has continued its attempt at escape, and has now been buried behind the arm on the bar. His other arm is raised, index finger pointed towards the sky. PORTER looks on, interested.

THICKSKIN
Which brings us back to the phone call a few minutes ago, wherein she accused me of not 'changing back', because I didn't WANT to have sex with her. I am 23 years old and I beat up WMD's with mental issues and dorks with militia complexes, FOR A LIVING. There are exactly zero times in the course of a day that I do not want to be getting laid.

Panel 2-

PORTER cleans a bucket glass with his bar rag, appearing to close his eye and squint at the bottom, as he looks askance at his patron.

PORTER

So... You can't change back?

Panel 3-

Profile shot of both of them, as PORTER (on the right of the panel) continues to pretend to clean the glass, facing slightly away from THICKSKIN (left), who is just staring at him, completely flabbergasted.

Panel 4-

Same shot as above, except for a slight change to PORTER, who's moved a little as he's cleaned the glass.

THICKSKIN
Clearly you weren't listening to me at all there...

PORTER
No, I gotcha, I gotcha... It's just, well, that IS a, forgive the pun here, a 'sticky' situation...

Panel 5,6,7

Bottom of the page, three consecutive, equal sized panels, each showing one more almost empty (maybe the remnants of some ice or a crushed piece of fruit left over) bucket glass than the last.



PAGE 6

Panel 1-

PORTER sets down another drink, tossing a coaster in front of THICKSKIN as well. The younger hero isn't sloshed, but his facial expressions and postures should show a little bit of wobble here and there. The man has been drinking for a while... In the background, where before there were people milling about here and there, now there are none. Chairs appear to be stacked on tables, and everything has the general feeling of closing time, or near there (from this point on I'd like a few lights in the background to go out each panel, where applicable. This all raps up on Page 7, where the only lights left will be the ones lighting the bar over our characters.

PORTER
So I've been thinking, about your 'problem', and I have two solutions for you. It's THIS, or Neil....

Panel 2-

THICKSKIN has the coaster in front of his face, tipped back a little as if he's trying to see over it. His face has a LITTLE more cheer to it now. PORTER, now on the patron side of the bar, mills about near him, wiping off bar tables.


THICKSKIN
Hilarious. But I don't think she'll go for that. Who's Neil?

PORTER
No?

Panel 3-

THICKSKIN has swiveled his stool around, allowing him to throw his elbows onto the bar top and lean back a bit. He watches PORTER continue bustling around, now mopping the floor.

THICKSKIN
I'm getting the feeling it'd be BAD, asking her to morph her lady parts into... What'd you write?

Panel 4-
He looks down at the coaster again, shaking he head.

THICKSKIN
"A jagged chasm of molten hot love." Yea, no. I don't even think a shape shifter could DO that honestly... And who the f@ck is Neil?

Panel 5-

PORTER has now stopped his mopping, he leans on the handle casually as he speaks to THICKSKIN.

PORTER
Neil, is my A-hole insurance.

PORTER

NEIL!

Panel 6-

Panel runs the width of the page; PORTER has taken a seat next to THICKSKIN, as he's reaching behind him and grasping a bottle of booze, and a glass in the other hand. There would appear to be about ten feet between THICKSKIN and PORTER, and the far side (left) of the panel. There, just having appeared in view, is a dwarf with a full head of combed back hair and a full, well-trimmed goatee. He's wearing slacks, nice shoes, a button up collared shirt and a button up vest over that. This, is NIEL.

Panel 7-

Panel runs the width of the page. This panel however, is very skinny in terms of height. An entirely black background is bisected by two thin lines of light that meet in the middle in a blinding pinpoint.

SFX

ZZZZZZZZAAAAAAMMMMM!!!

Panel 8-

Roughly the same as Panel 6, except NEIL is now standing just a foot or so away from the other two, PORTER no longer has insect eyes (and is setting the bottle of booze back, full drink grasped firmly in his other hand), and THICKSKIN has turned into a much smaller, non-metal, 20-something Asian man in an extremely ill-fitted uniform.


PORTER
This is Neil. Neil negates powers, this is a useful skill-set to have around in my business. By the way, never would've guessed you were Asian. Awesome.

PAGE 7

Panel 1-

The last lights on are now the ones over the bar, everything else has finally been shut off. Full front shot of THICKSKIN. It's a dual movement shot, movement taking place from the waist up, as the lower half of his body is stationary. As he starts turned to the left of the Panel, he appears to have a mock look of sweetness on his face, and his hands are joined together in the sign of a heartfelt thank you or a prayer. His head is cocked to the side, increasing the appearance of asking a sappy question. As he turns and we find ourselves on the right side of the Panel, this THICKSKIN has a more 'hopefully optimistic expression, as if he's asked something he REALLY wants, but isn't that sure he's going to get. His right hand is giving the thumbs up, while his left hand is held low, parallel to the ground like he's showing the height of something.

THICKSKIN (LEFT DIALOGUE)
So it's either, "Baby? Would you mind using your power to create possibly the most DISTURBING description of your reproductive organ EVER..."

THICKSKIN (RIGHT DIALOGUE)

OR, "Lets have sex with a power-stealing dwarf, five feet away?" No offense Neil.

Panel 2-

PORTER leans forward a bit, both his hands held out. One, holding his cocktail, is slightly higher than the other (with palm face up), as if he were judging the quality of fruit.

PORTER
Well you could try and play it off, but I think coming clean about the power stealing dwarf is the best way to go. I was with this metamorph once, she climaxes, next thing I know she's lost all control of her body. Here she is, literally dripping off the bed, and I'm jumping up thinking only MY rogues would attack at a time like that. Honestly, I thought she was dead until the puddle started moaning...

THICKSKIN
...Whoa...

Panel 3-

PORTER leans back once more, the arm holding the drink resting on the bar top. His other hand gestures towards NEIL, who's leaned against a bar stool listening to the conversation.

PORTER
Exactly. Now imagine your little shifter pulls the same stunt. She's pooled up on the floor after the time of her life, then one of her eyes rolls over and spots Negato the Half-Man here under your box-spring. Trust me, that will not end well.

Panel 4-

NEIL is no longer leaning on the stool, but waving both his hands back in forth in front of him as a look of worry creeps across his features.

NEIL
No way. I am NOT getting tossed out a window again man, full disclosure or no deal.

Panel 5-

THICKSKIN has hunched over a bit again, one hand ruffling his own hair as he seems a bit confused. PORTER on the other hand has both is arms back in a gesture of, well to use 'net parlance, WTF!?

THICKSKIN
Yea... I dunno...

PORTER
I'm sorry, didn't you give a whole speech awhile ago about the personal goals of a 23 year old male super hero?

Panel 6-

Profile shot, or near enough. THICKSKIN raises a hand to respond, but mouth agape the words catch in his throat. PORTERS brow's raised, waiting intently for an answer.

THICKSKIN

I-

Page 8

Panel 1- Splash

Close-up on THICKSKINS' face, as his brows pull down near his temples and he takes on the saddest 'hopeful pleading' expression anyone, anywhere, has ever seen.

THICKSKIN
...Phone?

TITLE BLOCK (BOTTOM RIGHT)

"Short Answer..."