PDA

View Full Version : In Sante Fe


Bornieo: Fully Loaded
07-07-2005, 09:08 AM
So this is a story that was to appear in an "anthology" title. It's written in script form, somewhat, but I was just revisiting this today, and I thought I'd post it and get some swanky remarks. Let's hear it! :cheers:

Lingo key:: Panel = a comic panel or frame.
Cap = Caption - inner monologue etc.

in santa fe
written by mark robert bourne
[c]2004


page one
panel 1: establish shot of an automotive section of a car dealership - daytime.

cap: new mexico, 1987.

cap2: it was the middle of summer when our 1975 Bronco broke down.

mechanic: it’ll be a day or so. We need to get parts from Albuquerque and that won’t be until tomorrow at the earliest.

panel 2: inside the shop we focus on 17 year old Max. Geeky, but handsome behind large bottle glasses which hang off his small pug nose- brown hair cut in a bowl style but sort of pushed to the side. He’s standing by his father, who's face we can’t see, and is always looking down, hands in his pockets- shifting around alot.

father: 2 days huh? Dang it we’re supposed....

cap: we were on our way back from a trip to California when the fan broke off and went directly into the radiator about 2 miles outside of Santa Fe. I call it a fan because that’s what it is, I suppose. I don’t know for sure. Anyway, that’s me wanting to be back in the hotel room watching tv.

panel 3: From outside the store, we see Max peering outside. In the reflection in the window we see across the street to a small diner. Not a big dennys but a small mom & pop type place in a strip mall that doesn’t have a parking lot, but buts up against the street. The sun also reflects causing Max to squint.

father:---do about that. What do you all have around here for some breakfast?

cap: instead, i’m here in this building that smell like someone mixed **** and 25 year old grease, then sat it out in the sun for a day or two. Speaking of the sun, it burns my eyes.

PAGE TWO

panel 1: inside the diner max and the father sit among 15 other small round tables that have checkered table cloths, and all the usual ‘things’. There are only 2 other tables with people although we can’t see the faces of any of them. Max is buried behind the menu as the waitress takes the order.

cap: this place smells like strawberry’s. It might be from the homemade strawberry jam sitting on the table. i’m hungry but i don’t want to be here. I want to skip ahead about an hour when I’ll be back in the hotel room.

father: and a cup of decaf. Max, how do you want your eggs?

max: scrambled.

father: so he’ll have..

cap: whatever you want me to have, as usual.

panel 2: cut to a few minutes later as someone leaves nearby, they bump max who is eating his eggs.

father: and if you’re going to go through with it, in the bible it says...

panel 3: from the back room though a doorway, we see a girl around 16, brown hair, naturally beautiful dressed in t-shirt and jeans with an apron on, carrying a dirty dish basket and a rag.

cap: if this were a movie, the music would swell as the big lump in my throat did. i think i actually said wow.

panel 4: cut to Max staring at her. True puppy love.
max: wow.

cap: it took me a few minute to start breathing again as she walked to the table next to me. it was the first time i felt that way within 2 seconds of seeing someone.

panel 5: (small) cut to the girl looking at him. Almost a smile but not quite.

panel 6: Max looks back down quickly.

page three:
panel 1: pulling back we see she’s right behind max, cleaning off the table. Max is looking down at his food.

Panel 2: on his food from Max’s pov.

cap: i want to say something to her, but what.

Panel 3: same shot only the food begins to transform to a large ham and cheese omelet.

VO: Max? Hey!

Panel 4: we pull back revealing an older Max, mid 60’s sitting in the same spot. The waitress is calling to him, but we can’t see her face either.

waitress: so you want more tea or what?

Max: yes, thank you, please.

Panel 5: While Max still looks down into his plate, behind him over his shoulder, we see the same girl, dressed the same but older, cleaning off dishes. as before.
CAP: i want to say something to her, but what?

Page four;
panel 1: large panel:- High angle view of the diner. Max sitting in the same spot. this is a few years later.

VO: are you done with that?

panel 2: change angle. the girl reaches for his plate and asks again.

VO: can i take you’re plate?

Panel 3: Max stares at her like he did the first time.

cap: what should I say to you?

Panel 4: cut to another day, same place. Max is done and is looking around.

cap: I think i know what i would say to her.

page five: The waitress comes to the table (still can’t see her face)

waitress: are you done with that?

panel 2: max looks up almost hoping to see the girl.

waitress: can I take that?

panel 3: Max looks down knowing its not her. From over his shoulder we see the figure of the waitress walking away.

max: wha-- what.

waitress: Yeah, what do you need.

Max: what, uh, what, where is the, uh other woman, who.

panel 4: Max still looking down at the table, the waitress stands next to him, still holding the plate.

waitress: oh, her?

max: ..who did the..yeah..

waitress: oh, she passed on, i’m afraid.

Panel 5: closer on max as he’s filled with emotion.

waitress: she didn’t show up one day and since she has no family we sent...

page six:
panel 1: in a cemetery on the outskirts of santa fe max stands in front of a grave with flowers.

panel 2: closer on max, tearful and looking down.

panel 3: pulling back we see the sun setting over the desert floor.

cap: i just wanted to tell you that i think i’m in love with you.

panel 4: cut to the plate of food.


page seven:
panel 1: back in the present, the father is standing holding his wallet and the bill. Max is still looking down.

father: i’m gonna pay, you finish up your toast.

panel 2: on max, emotion is in his eyes and almost to the verge of crying

vo: are you done with that?

panel 3: the girl is now standing beside the table with her hand on the plate. SHe is sort of smiling.

girl: can i take you’re plate?

max: ...

girl: are you okay?

panel 4: on the girl sort of concerned>

max: i’m not crying.

cap: stupid.

girl: do you want me to wrap up your toast?

panel 5: pull back to both. Max looking up.

max: you’re beautiful.

page eight:
panel 1: same shot only the father has walked in the shot.

father: ready to go son?

panel 2: Close up on Max looking down and in a dream like state. we see reflections on the window of buildings blurring by.

cap: the next day we left new mexico and went home. I never saw that girl again.

panel 3: cut to his hand holding a bag with the toast in it.

cap: i kept the bag of toast in my room for a week until my mom found the bag and tossed it.

panel 4: pull back to the green and white bronco driving down the desert highway, max peering out of the back seat.

cap: I’ve been through Santa Fe many times since. i don’t remember what i ate that day and i don’t even know where in Santa fe the small diner is. I remember the strawberry jam, the toast, a adolescent dream and a face that I have yet to forget.

Cadaverous Pallor
07-08-2005, 10:02 AM
Sorry I didn't get to this earlier!

Very, very nice. :snap: The multiple cuts to "future" Max can be a bit confusing, but when viewed as a screenplay, it works rather well. Max's point of view is well stated, characters are well defined. Solid.

He’s standing by his father, who's face we can’t see, and is always looking down, hands in his pockets- shifting around alot.Minor nitpick - it's a bit confusing as to who is "always looking down" etc., Max or his father.

So this is a story that was to appear in an "anthology" title. An anthology of your own? Do you have more to share? We'd love to see it!

Bornieo: Fully Loaded
07-09-2005, 03:24 AM
Thanks CP!

It was pitched for a book called Metal Hurlant which was published by this company I was working for. That was the french anthology title that came to America as Heavy Metal. I also had a self published Anthology going, so maybe in the future I will see it published there.

Max is always looking down. ;)

Basically there is a discription of what the artist would draw in the panel and the captions and such would be the dialogue.

Any other comments? Anyone? Can you guess that this was based on a true story? I was going to say how much Max like going to California and Disneyland, but that might give too much away! ;)

Cadaverous Pallor
07-10-2005, 06:23 PM
Heehee, everything is based on a true story. ;)