HAVOC, INC # 14
“Smoke And Mirrors,” Pt. II
c 2000, Mark Barnard/Terrie Smith

PAGE ONE: One large top-to-bottom panel from the left, with a vertical strip of four smaller facial shots set one over the next, up the right margin.

MAIN PANEL: Night shot of the shed exploding. Dazzling light stabs out in all directions, cutting between the trees. The shack is high in the panel, with a steep incline below it. The four are straggling down this, at the very bottom of the page, in various stages of falling.

FACIAL STRIP: Each character reacting in shock to the blast. OR you can put them in ragged-edged, irregular inserts around the edges of one central panel.

PAGE TWO:

UPPER TIER PANEL (across the page): The bank ends several feet above the churning river, at scene right. Ragged grass overhangs the edge, and the sloping terrain (what’s visible of it) is patterned by the shadows and light cast by the explosion.  The group is being catapulted over the edge, into the water.

MIDDLE TIER LEFT PANEL: Underwater shot of Deck, trying to get his orientation, as the water churns past. The light of the flames wavers across the surface of the river above him.

DECK (thinking): Water! It’s always WATER!!

MIDDLE TIER RIGHT PANEL: Medium wide shot of the river extending into the distance, where it’s lost in and out of the darkness. The four are visible as heads and possibly an arm or shoulder spotting the surface.

CHESTER: It’s…FASTER than I thought!

MIDORI: Just try to keep your feet under you!

BOTTOM TIER LEFT PANEL: Midori, with Jan struggling to swim closer.

JAN:  Midori’s looking back, being carried along backwards as she addresses the off-scene Deck and Chester.

JAN: Wait up, Midori!

MIDORI: That’ll keep your heads…

BOTTOM TIER RIGHT PANEL: Midori disappears under the surface in a splash as her feet encounter a tangle of submerged brush. Jan lunges forward in alarm.

MIDORI (cut off abruptly): …glurp!

JAN: Midori!

PAGE THREE:

UPPER TIER LEFT PANEL: Chester and Deck’s heads, seen water-up. Chester looks concerned. Deck is glancing around.

CHESTER: Chris?

UPPER TIER RIGHT PANEL: The pair in the background, reacting as Jan surges mid-chest high out of the water, one hand gripping Midori by her forearm. Midori is less further out of the water.

JAN/MIDORI: GASP!!

MIDDLE TIER LEFT PANEL (a little taller than the usual tier): High, angled shot down onto the group, clustered amidst the churning fury.

JAN: She snagged on some sunken brush. The current’s too strong!

MIDDLE TIER RIGHT PANEL “A”: Facial of Jan, looking intent.

JAN: We’ll never make it another fifteen miles!

MIDDLE TIER RIGHT PANEL “B” (below “A”): Facial of Deck, reacting.

DECK: Look!

BOTTOM TIER LEFT PANEL: Shooting along the river, past the four bobbing heads. A tangle of branches and other brush is snagged on rocks in the middle of the river ahead.

DECK:  That tangle of brush! Grab it as we pass! 

MIDORI: Will it hold us?

BOTTOM TIER RIGHT PANEL: Reverse shot of the four approaching the now-dominant tangle.

CHESTER: At least it should slow us down!

PAGE FOUR:

UPPER TIER LEFT PANEL: Chester and Deck fetching up hard against the mass, Deck being tossed up out of the water a little way in the impact. Jan and Midori (Jan is still holding her partner by one hand) reach out for the tangle from slightly past them.

DECK: OOF!

JAN: Got…to…

UPPER TIER RIGHT PANEL: Overhead shot of the four, clinging to the fringes of the brushwood. Chester’s trying to crawl up onto it, out of the water.

JAN: MADE it!

CHESTER: Watch out. It’s starting to shift!

MIDDLE TIER LEFT PANEL (to bottom of the page): High shot over the river as the dominant mass twists around on its axis and breaks free. Deck nearly loses his grip in the spin.

DECK: Whoa!

CHESTER: Hold on!

MIDDLE TIER RIGHT PANEL: Close shot of the group as Jan and Chester grab Deck’s hands and start pulling him from the water. Midori, stretched out atop the tangle, looks away in the direction they’re taking.

MIDORI: At least this’ll keep us together for a while…

BOTTOM TIER RIGHT PANEL: The tangle sweeping off into the darkness.

MIDORI: …wherever we’re heading!

PAGE FIVE:

UPPER TIER LEFT PANEL: A concrete embankment, seen at ground level. Some distance away, a parallel ridge (the far side of the trough) is visible. Possibly dark, churning water shows between these.

UPPER TIER RIGHT PANEL: Duplicate layout, but three hands emerge from “below” to grip the lip of the near side.

MIDDLE TIER LEFT PANEL: The four, half hauled up over the edge, looking wet, worn and/or ticked off.

JAN: We’ll let’s make a pact not to try THAT again!

CHESTER: At least we’re still alive. Roughly.

BOTTOM TIER LEFT PANEL: Facial of Chester, looking to left and slightly away from the viewer, POV a little low.

CHESTER: And we dodged the helicopters.

MIDDLE TIER RIGHT PANEL: The group seated limply on the bank.

CHESTER: What do we do now?

BOTTOM TIER LEFT PANEL: Mid-chest up shot of the four, Deck at far left and a ticked Jan at scene right.

DECK: I’m for cutting out. Chester and I got what we were after!

JAN (antagonized): Uh-uh. It’s not that easy, pal!

BOTTOM TIER RIGHT PANEL: Jan, crowding past a rather discomforted looking Chester, as she faces off against Deck at close range.

CHESTER: What?

JAN: You’re still not off the hook! Until this is all over, you’re still under arrest!

DECK: For WHAT?!

PAGE SIX:

UPPER TIER LEFT PANEL: Facial of a determined Jan.

JAN: Collusion! Suspicion! Destruction of police property!

UPPER TIER CENTER PANEL: Facial of Jan, looking satisfied.

JAN:  After all, we COULD have saved our ‘bike if you hadn’t been in such a rush!

UPPER TIER RIGHT PANEL: Deck, looking noncommittal as he takes this in. 

MIDDLE TIER LEFT PANEL: Jan’s head and shoulders, with the black, varying shapes of a number of large buildings across the lower portion of the panel behind her. Many lights across the silhouetted buildings.

JAN: Right, then. We’ve got to move quickly, while Von Leech’s still relaxing from ‘killing’ us.

BOTTOM TIER LEFT PANEL: High view of the jetty, with a standing Jan addressing the others.

JAN: First, we’ve got to sneak into police HQ. There’re a few odds and ends we need to borrow to do this right.

CHESTER: ‘Sneak’?

MIDDLE TIER RIGHT PANEL: Full figure of Jan, taking charge. The others are visible, behind her (Midori and Chester still on the ground, Chester helping her up).

JAN: Well, I don’t want to have to explain losing the ‘cycle until we can deliver the goods on Von Leech. That should take some of the edge off. Captain Brace usually can’t see the forest for the trees.

BOTTOM TIER LEFT PANEL: Deck, shoulders raided in aggression, glaring. He’s not in the mood for games. Jan stands nearby, her back to him, a little smile on her face as she waves a hand dismissively.

DECK: Meaning?

JAN: What he doesn’t know won’t hurt us. 

PAGE SEVEN:

UPPER TIER PANEL (across the page and about 2 inches high): High shot of the area, with the group straggling out as they exit, Jan in the lead, with Midori scampering to catch up. Deck and Chester lag well behind.

JAN: Let’s get rolling!

CHESTER: Let me guess…

MIDDLE TIER LEFT PANEL: Profile of Deck and Chester, waist-up, walking right-to-left. Chester is on the far side and is glancing at Deck, who’s still scowling a bit.

CHESTER: …you two don’t see eye to eye, right?

DECK: And you do?

MIDDLE TIER RIGHT PANEL: Frontal two-shot, as they continue on.

DECK:  This is THEIR problem. We’ve just gotten out of two tight scrapes, and we were lucky to do that!

BOTTOM TIER LEFT PANEL: Two-shot frontal of Midori (who obviously has something to say but is hesitant) and Jan, who looks a bit unwilling to hear anything just now. Deck and Chester are in the background.

DECK: All I want to do is get away before anything else catastrophic happens.

MIDORI: Umm.

BOTTOM TIER CENTER PANEL: Jan, rolling her eyes.

JAN: <sigh>

BOTTOM TIER RIGHT PANEL: Profile shot, Midori dominant. Jan, beyond, glances over.

JAN: All right. Out with it.

PAGE EIGHT: 

UPPER TIER LEFT PANEL: The pair walking toward the viewer. Midori has her hands linked behind her back and is looking pointedly away from Jan as she speaks. Jan looks as if she just got a sucker punch that’s taken the wind out of her.

MIDORI: Don’t you think you’re being a little hard on them?

JAN: HUH?

UPPER TIER RIGHT PANEL: The girls seen at some distance, framed by Deck and Chester’s backs.

MIDORI: I man, it’s fairly obvious they ARENT in league with Van Leech.

MIDDLE TIER LEFT PANEL: Midori, fingers tented in front of her, her arms at her sides and raised from the elbow.

MIDORI: It’s not actually their fight.

MIDDLE TIER RIGHT PANEL: Jan, one fist raised so that she points at herself with the thumb.

JAN: Well, I’m making it their fight. I’m still not sure they’re lily pure!

BOTTOM TIER LEFT PANEL: Two-shot.

MIDORI: At least go a little easy on them. The…one with the tail is…kind of cute.

JAN (sees it all now): AHA! So that’s it!

PAGE NINE:

UPPER TIER LEFT PANEL: The group, still in divided pairs, framed by the narrow mouth of the alley they’re walking down, frontal shot with the edges of the framing buildings intruding into the shot on either side.

JAN: May I remind you Lover Boy’s a SUSPECT?

MIDORI: I’m just saying they’re not that BAD. The other one’d probably be a lot of fun, if you’d stop pushing all the wrong buttons and let him loosen up.

UPPER TIER RIGHT PANEL: Jan, looking as if she’d been slapped.

JAN: Him?! He’s arrogant! Domineering!

MIDDLE TIER LEFT PANEL: Deck and Chester.

Deck (looking outraged):’Damsels in distress’?! Not the blonde! She’s obnoxious! Stubborn! A real…

MIDDLE TIER LEFT PANEL: Deck, looking shocked as he unexpectedly walks straight into Jan’s outstretched, restraining hand, which (elbow-on) extends in from the side of the panel. Chester looks surprised.

DECK: What the…?!

JAN (off-scene) Freeze!

MIDDLE TIER RIGHT PANEL (actually it also extends down to fill the bottom tier); JAN STANDING AGAINST A WALL AT SCENE RIGHT, HOLDING Deck back. The others partly visible, space permitting?

A police squad car passes visible in the extension of the bottom of the panel.

PAGE TEN:

UPPER TIER LEFT PANEL: Frontal shot of the windshield of the passing car and the roof, looking slightly down. Two figures are visible inside. Behind at to scene left, Jan, Midori, and Chester’s head protrude around the edge of the building being passed.

UPPER TIER MIDDLE PANEL: Close-up of a sternly impassive-faced officer (Capt. Brace from the pilot story), sipping coffee.

UPPER TIER RIGHT PANEL: The edge of the building, All heads are missing, except Chester’s. He’s glancing up.

JAN (off-scene): Whew!

MIDDLE TIER LEFT PANEL: Midori and Jan, with Deck to one side, and Chester framing on the left.

MIDORI: Capt. Brace.

JAN: Uh-huh.

MIDDLE TIER RIGHT PANEL: The group, with Midori facing Chester. Deck is squaring off against Jan to a somewhat lesser degree.

DECK: Someone we really don’t want to meet.

JAN: Not really. He’s the head of the Helicopter Police.

MIDORI (undertone directed to Chester): You wouldn’t BELIEVE that man…!

BOTTOM TIER LEFT PANEL: Jan, brightening, as Deck looks on.

JAN: But, if he’s out HERE, that’s a break for us!

DECK (uneasy at her tone): How so?

BOTTOM TIER RIGHT PANEL: Jan striding happily forward, gripping Deck’s collar and tugging him along in tow, backwards. Chester and Midori sprint-start after her.

JAN: That just makes breaking into headquarters all that much easier!

DECK: !

DECK: Here we go again.

PAGE ELEVEN:

UPPER TIER LEFT PANEL (narrow): A chain link fence at close range, ending at scene right at a brick corner of a building. The area beyond the fence is dark, but the side of Jan’s face is visible, carefully checking out the area.

JAN: We’re in luck. Looks like Maintenance’s off playing cards, again.

UPPER TIER RIGHT PANEL (wide): The four crouched and/or standing along a shadowed section of wall, Jan in the lead, at the fence at scene right.

DECK: I seem to be missing the point of all this. Tell me again why we’re breaking into the police garage?

MIDORI (to Chester, in an undertone): Is he always this dense?

CHESTER (undertone): He boggles easily.

MIDDLE TIER RIGHT PANEL: Jan, dominant at far right, head down, fumbling to open a little case she’s had stashed on her. It’s her ‘special tool kit.’ Deck looks on from behind, clearly not sold on the plan.

JAN: As I said, we have to tackle Von Leech’s HQ from above. That means e need wings. Or a ‘copter.

BOTTOM TIER LEFT PANEL: Close shot of Jan, on one knee, fussing at the anchors of the fence post nearest the wall (it’s attached to the brickwork with bolts). Midori and Chester peer in from behind.

JAN: Not that getting one’s the end of our problems. We still have to transfer to the roof hid private skyscraper.

BOTTOM TIER RIGHT PANEL: Deck, shot up and over the concentrating Jan’s head. He has his arms folded.

DECK: What’s so tough about that?

PAGE TWELVE:

UPPER TIER LEFT PANEL: Jan, shot through a wedge shaped opening caused by her now being able to pull the fence support post away from the wall at the top. One foot is raised and is starting through the gap. The others are partly visible behind her.

JAN: You haven’t seen the building. If things go right, you’ll see in about twenty minutes.

UPPER TIER RIGHT PANEL: The group in single-file, mostly in silhouette, creeping across the front of the near hangar. There’s a wide door at scene right, through which the nose of a helicopter is visible in the interior gloom. Invisible, overhead lights pick out curves on the body. The exterior of the building is partly visible due to a couple of lights mounted on the upper facade, but it’s a pooling light.

JAN: It doesn’t matter what evidence we get. ANYTHIN on him’d be a real plus. Once we present it to the Chief, we’ll be back on the force, and there’s nothing Brace can do about it!

MIDDLE TIER LEFT PANEL: The group, framed in the wide hangar door, with the rounded nose of the ‘copter at extreme panel left. The interior of the hangar is mostly gloom with various details catching a little light.

DECK: And you don’t see stealing a police ‘copter as a problem?

JAN (aloud): We’ll bring it back before dawn!

JAN (thinking): I hope!

BOTTOM TIER LEFT PANEL (side shot, partly from the back): Jan, standing at the side of the helicopter, lifting and inspecting a clipboard hanging from one side.

JAN: Midori! This one looks like it’s ready. They just replaced a rotor balance rod. Crank open the roof!

BOTTOM TIER RIGHT PANEL: Midori, with the wide, open door behind her, half turning to address Chester, who stands a bit behind her.

MIDORI: I’m going to roll back the roof port. It’ll make noise, so keep an eye open for anyone coming!

PAGE THIRTEEN:

UPPER TIER LEFT PANEL: Wide. The building, slightly angled, with a bit of courtyard visible in front. Chester’s visible, poking his nose out of the side of the main door. Atop the one-floor structure, a section of the roof is rolling back along rollers set at each side.

SOUND EFFECT: HMMMMMM…

UPPER TIER RIGHT PANEL: Facial of Chester, just enough back into the interior shade that only the tip of his muzzle and part of one ear are clearly visible.

CHESTER: So far, so good!

MIDDLE TIER LEFT PANEL: Chester dominant at one side of the panel, turning to look at Jan, who’s striding forward from the back of the hangar, a large duffel bag in one hand.

JAN: Everybody on board. I’ve rounded up the trinkets we’ll need.

BOTTOM TIER LEFT PANEL: The group, piling into the ‘copter through a side door. Jan is settling into the pilot’s seat, and Midori is standing, hunched down, behind her. 

MIDORI: You DID remember to check the fuel this time, right?

JAN (undertone): Drop it!

BOTTOM TIER RIGHT PANEL: Deck, being pushed forward into the front seat by Midori, who’d beaming innocently.

MIDORI: You sit up front. Er…where Jan can keep an eye on you!

PAGE FOURTEEN:

UPPER TIER LEFT PANEL (wide): The ‘copter, seen nose-on, starting to rise and tip to the side. Deck largely falls into his seat. Jan looks determined as she holds the control stick in both hands.

DECK: Whoof!

MIDORI: JAN!

JAN: Can’t help it! I’m not used to compensating for this much weight, and this ship’s twice as large as our patrol chopper!

UPPER TIER RIGHT PANEL: Overhead shot of the hangar as the helicopter rises through the roof.

MIDDLE TIER LEFT PANEL: The ‘copter sailing easily away above the low rooftops of the police station.

JAN: Next stop, Van Leech Tower!

BOTTOM TIER LEFT PANEL: The right side of the chip. Seen largely from below. Deck and Chester are both visible inside, looking downward. It’s a long drop.

DECK: What about patrols?

JAN:  They fly the city in 90 degree quadrants. There’s a narrow corridor between each zone. We’ll just fly in low, along that.

BOTTOM TIER RIGHT PANEL: Jan and Deck frame Midori, who has the bag open on her lap and is digging deeply into it. Not that much of her is clearly visible through the gap between the front seats.

MIDORI: Jan! Where’d you GET all this gear?

JAN: Evidence locker.

PAGE FIFTEEN:

UPPER TIER LEFT PANEL: Chester, holding up a couple of items in approval. Midori looks over at him from the far side of the seat, clearly interested in Mr. Charm.

CHESTER: There’s some really prime equipment here, Chris!

UPPER TIER RIGHT PANEL: Jan, one eyebrow cocked as she flies.

JAN: Spoken like a true expert!

DECK (leaning over - he’s tired of this attitude): Hey, give it a REST! 

MIDDLE TIER LEFT PANEL: Deck, dominant, looking back as he backs away from Jan. Midori is leaning against Chester, obviously smitten, in the back seat.

MIDDLE TIER RIGHT PANEL “A”: Deck, frowning worriedly.

MIDDLE TIER RIGHT PANEL “B” (under “A”): Side shot of Deck, looking thoughtful, as Jan is visible beyond him.

DECK: Can’t you keep your partner on a leash?

BOTTOM TIER LEFT PANEL: Jan, brightening as she realizes what this is all about.

BOTTOM TIER RIGHT PANEL The two, angling down and across, with Jan seated at lower right and Deck at upper left. He has his arms folded.

JAN: Oh? Afraid of a little competition?

DECK (undertone) Hardly! He’s a sacred virgin, and I’m his guardian.

PAGE SIXTEEN:

UPPER TIER LEFT PANEL: Facial of Jan, looking rattled by this.

JAN: What?!

UPPER TIER RIGHT PANEL: Deck, leaning sideways in his seat to address the wide-eyed Jan in a low tone which he hopes won’t carry into the back seat.

DECK (undertone): Really! His people have pinned their hopes of a…bountiful harvest on him. It’s a VERY great honor, and they take it EXTREMELY seriously.

MIDDLE TIER LEFT PANEL: Deck, visibly relaxed, leaning his head back on against his crossed arms. His eyes are closed, and he’s making an effort to look completely innocent.

DECK: Yep, they frown on temptation. Seems like they’re always hacking off a hand here, an ear there…

MIDDLE TIER RIGHT PANEL: Midori happily scritching Chester’s near ear. The filch has his eyes closed, and a bit of a smile on his face.

CHESTER: <sighhhh>

BOTTOM TIER PANEL (across the page): Full profile of the ‘copter in the sky, the occupants not visible. Possibly lines of buildings backing the shot, most of their windows dark?

JAN (a roar): MIDORI! CHANGE PLACES! I NEED YOU UP HERE!

DECK: (a happy little musical note in a balloon)

PAGE SEVENTEEN:

UPPER TIER LEFT PANEL: The roof of a building, possibly an antenna mast to one side. Night sky beyond it. A large, freestyle building with a large oval opening in its side, near the top. It’s some distance back, but it still dominates. Crisscrossing searchlights playing on the upper portion of the structure? Maybe a huge letter “V” mounted in the opening, held in place by several struts which project from the edges of the opening at intervals.

Maybe the tops of one or two buildings in the mid-range background, suggesting a wide avenue between them and the near rooftop?

UPPER TIER RIGHT PANEL: Ditto layout, but the helicopter is coming up into view from beyond the far side of the flat roof.

JAN (from inside the chopper): We’ll hover up here while we review the plan.

MIDDLE TIER PANEL (across page and to the bottom, with a small insert at the bottom right corner): Frontal shot of the group. Jan is working over a clipboard, Midori (clearly still somewhat miffed at being parted from Chester) leans across to see, and Deck and Chester peer in from behind.

JAN: That building with the ‘V’ is Von Leech’s headquarters.

DECK: I see your point about this not being easy.

CHESTER (glancing to scene left): The man’s got a certain flair!

JAN: <snort> With HIS money, he can afford to flaunt it. Nobody’s been able to pin anything on him and make it stick.

INSERT: Facial of a determined Jan.

JAN: Until now!

PAGE EIGHTEEN:

UPPER TIER LEFT PANEL: The back seat, with the back of the front seats at extreme scene left. Midori glances back from the far seat, and Jan leans slightly back over the back of her seat, her pen held out by way of illustration.

In the back, Deck’s pulling got a long coil of rope over one shoulder. Chester stands beyond, holding some gear and watching Jan.

JAN: Midori will get us in close to the tower.

DECK: The patrols?

UPPER TIER RIGHT PANEL: Jan, sitting and looking down, seen from above, as she loosens her safety belts.

JAN: We won’t run into any. Von Leech used his clout to get a three block no-fly zone around the building, and the surrounding three-blocks of park land is off-limits to anyone during the night hours.

MIDDLE TIER PANEL: Interior of the ship, as Jan comes back into the back, squeezing through between the seats.

DECK: Won’t that make us just a little conspicuous?

JAN: Not really. This ship is geared for low radar profile and is silenced. If she drops us off, then retreats to wait for our signal, she’ll be all right.

BOTTOM TIER LEFT PANEL (narrow): Facial of Midori, listening.

CHESTER: Once we’re there…?

BOTTOM TIER MIDDLE TIER (wide): Jan, sticking her head through the gap between the seats, to address Midori, who has her attention on the sky ahead. Behind them, the pair are getting settled. 

JAN: Once we’re on the roof, you’ll enter through the air vents and have a quick look around. Fast but thorough!

BOTTOM TIER RIGHT PANEL: Jan’s face enters the narrow panel from right. The freeform building, some distance away, dominates the small panel.

JAN: Your friend’ll stay with me to ensure your cooperation!

PAGE NINTEEN:

UPPER TIER LEFT PANEL: Shooting down and forward over the tip and forward part of the ship, as the large, odd building looms ahead.

JAN: The vents are concealed in the lower rim of that cut-out containing the logo.

DECK: Uh. It’s going to be tight drop to get in there!

UPPER TIER RIGHT PANEL: The ‘copter approaching the structure, the edge of which looms dominant at scene right. The helicopter is slightly further away on the far side of the panel.

JAN: The real trick is dropping the last few feet and trying to jump across as you fall.

MIDDLE TIER LEFT PANEL: Shooting through the insert. The hovering ‘copter is visible through the support rods holding the letter. Jan has the near door open and is attaching a silver cylinder over the door frame.

JAN: We’ll see if you’re good enough for it.

BOTTOM TIER LEFT PANEL: Jan, seen from inside the ‘copter, framed in the open doorway. The duo are positioned behind her.

JAN: Midori, swing in close to the wall, and keep about twenty feet above the rooftop.

MIDORI: Check!

MIDDLE TIER RIGHT PANEL: Low shot of the ‘copter, with the lowered winch line (weighted at the end) dangling straight down’ Above, Jan is extended out of the chopper, one hand on the line near the winch. Chester is peering out of the opening, around her.

JAN (balloon # 1): Mmm. Forty feet. That’s IT for the winch. We’ll slide down the cable. 

JAN (balloon # 2): If Midori can hold her steady, it’ll only be about a four foot jump into the opening.

PAGE TWENTY:

UPPER TIER LEFT PANEL (slightly narrow and half down the page as an overlay on the panel below it). Chester, near the top, reaching out of the doorway to grip the line. Below on the cable, only her head and shoulders visible, is Jan.

CHESTER: Getting out of here’s going to be the tricky part.

JAN: The rim of the cut-out is rounded. Coming out, that’ll help build up momentum for the jump across to the cable. 

UPPER TIER LEFT PANEL: Overhead of Deck gripping the cable, as Chester and Jan string out along the length, below him. The bulk of the building is dark below, the insert with the letter lit by lights concealed within the opening itself.

JAN: I’m more concerned about dropping down onto it.

MIDDLE TIER LEFT PANEL: Jan, hanging just beyond and looking at the viewer.  She’s a little high in the view. One of the supports angles off to the left, and the bottom of the scene is framed by the smooth lower lop of the oval. Two gridded ovals, side by side, are set in the bottom surface of the rim. 

MIDDLE TIER RIGHT PANEL: Overhead shot as Jan, still holding the cable close with both hands, kicks her legs far out towards the building. She’s planning on the momentum the action provides to boost her towards the target.

BOTTOM TIER LEFT PANEL: Jan in midair, twisting, hand outstretched.

BOTTOM TIER CENTER PANEL: Jan’s hand, scraping loosely against the rounded curve of the opening.

JAN (off-scene - thinking): NO!

BOTTOM TIER RIGHT PANEL: A hand (Chester’s) griping her wrist.

PAGE TWENTY-ONE:

UPPER TIER LEFT PANEL (high shot looking down and across): Chester, dominant, on the curve, his legs spread wide to balance him against Jan’s weight. She looks up.

NOTE: A loosely curving line leads down from above, to connect at Chester’s waist. This is not the winch line. Chester also has a small bag over one shoulder.

JAN: How did you…?!

CHESTER: I had a better angle from above. Besides, I had to get here to make arrangements for Chris!

UPPER TIER RIGHT PANEL: Chester, hauling her up, as she glances back and down.

JAN: ‘Arrangements’?

MIDDLE TIER LEFT PANEL: Jan standing on the curve of the oval, looking up as Chester fastens the end of his line to one of the support beams holding the initial in place.

CHESTER: This line will pull the winch line in close enough for him to just slide the rest of the way, then I’ll release it.

MIDDLE TIER RIGHT PANEL (two-shot): Chester, dominant, explaining.

CHESTER: Chris’s deathly afraid of heights.

BOTTOM TIER LEFT PANEL: Jan ducks instinctively as Deck slides down the line, which has pulled the winch line to a curve. Chester stands ready to unwrap the end of his line, the minute the canine is down.

CHESTER: Watch it! All hands on deck!

BOTTOM TIER RIGHT PANEL: Deck, clinging to the support beam as Chester tosses the loosed end of the cable away. Deck’s eyes are tightly closed. Jan crouched in the background?

CHESTER: There goes our way up. We’d better get out of here before a breeze springs up.

PAGE TWENTY-TWO:

UPPER TIER LEFT PANEL: Vertical shot down at the two round grids set into the curved swell of the opening. Jan is on her knees to one side, and Chester stands behind a crouched Deck at the far side.

CHESTER: Are you all right?

DECK (undertone): I’m…fine.

UPPER TIER LEFT PANEL: Close shot of Jan kneeling, and the grid before her. She’s looking to scene right at the unseen duo. The fingers of one hand are through the grid of the vent screen.

JAN: Here’s where it gets tricky. One of these vents will cover the lower floors. The other should strictly service the penthouse and private offices.

MIDDLE TIER RIGHT PANEL: Deck and Chester, both crouched, looking across at her.

DECK: Okay, but which one do we want?

JAN (looking down at the openings): The exhaust on this one is coming with more force. This must cover the upper floor system!

BOTTOM TIER LEFT PANEL: Jan and Deck, lifting one side of the nearer grille.

JAN: That canister’s filled with an extremely caustic gel. Put it onto any stubborn locks sparingly and back off. It’ll eat through any door, AND the floor beneath, in under two minutes.

BOTTOM TIER CENTER PANEL: Overhead shot of Deck on his knees, looking disbelieving and concerned.

DECK: Nothing’s THAT caustic!

BOTTOM TIER RIGHT PANEL: Jan, reaching up with one hand as a crouching Chester gingerly passes over the cylinder.

JAN: New military sample. DON’T ask why we have it. Take it from me. A cup of this stuff will burn down fifty feet in five minutes, before it’ll disperse into the air.

PAGE TWENTY-THREE:

UPPER TIER LEFT PANEL: The cut-out and the area around it, from some distance away and slightly low. Jan and Chester are standing on either side of a seated Deck, who is only visible waist-up. He’s accepting a cylinder from Jan.

JAN: Here’s where YOU come in! You’ll like this, since it gets you onto solid ground.

UPPER TIER RIGHT PANEL: High shot, looking down, the group central. Deck is easing down into the vent, while Chester holds one end of a rope attached to his waist, and is intently stringing it over one of the letter supports.

JAN: Just follow the shaft down. Just follow it and make sure you don’t come down through one on the outside, corridor vents.

DECK: Right. Then just scoop up clues?

MIDDLE TIER LEFT PANEL: Jan and Deck.

JAN: Grab ANTHING suspicious. Maybe he let’s down his guard a bit, in his office.

MIDDLE TIER CENTER PANEL: Facial of Jan.

JAN: And watch that canister. It’s ceramic. One good KNOCK, and…

MIDDLE TIER RIGHT PANEL: Shooting up the shaft, past Deck, who’s mostly 
horizontal across the shaft (largely in silhouette against the circle of night sky above him). He’s bracing his feet against the wall of the shaft and is holding the rope tightly. The others’ heads and shoulders show, above.

DECK: You don’t have to tell me.

BOTTOM TIER LEFT PANEL: Slightly low two-shot of the kneeling pair, Jan looking down in the opening and Chester looking across at her.

CHESTER: Well, that was relatively painless.

JAN: I just hope he hurries. I couldn’t get any details on the alarm system.

BOTTOM TIER RIGHT PANEL: The two shrinking back as Deck calls urgently.

DECK (alarmed): HEY! PULL ME UP! NOW!! 

PAGE TWENTY-FOUR:

UPPER TIER LEFT PANEL: Low shot of Jan and Chester leaning back and hauling on the rope connected to the off-scene Deck.

CHESTER: PULL!

JAN (undertone): I’m trying, for pity’s sake!

UPPER TIER RIGHT PANEL: Chester, still kneeling. Deck now has his head and one supporting arm visible - the arm draped over the lip of the opening. He’s making a ‘come here’ gesture with his other hand, directed at Jan.

CHESTER:  Chris! What happened?!

DECK (to Jan): You. I wanna’ talk with YOU!

MIDDLE TIER LEFT PANEL: Deck, snarling up at Jan from his precarious perch, as Chester looks on.

DECK: Your facts were just a tad off. The reason the air is coming out of this vent HARDER…

MIDDLE TIER RIGHT PANEL: Deck up and sitting on the edge of the opening.

DECK: …is that it’s the serves the lower levels. They have big fans set across the line at intervals, to help pull the stale air out.

BOTTOM TIER LEFT PANEL: Jan, looking somewhat contrite but still determined to get the job done. Deck and a solicitous Chester look on.

DECK: BIG fans, with really, really BIG blades!

JAN (undertone - balloon # 1): Ohh!

JAN (aloud - balloon # 2): Well, shall we try again?

BOTTOM TIER RIGHT PANEL: Deck, seated, watching Jan start to pry up the other grid. Chester to one side.

DECK: Well, why not? I’m still alive, but maybe we can remedy that before midnight.

PAGE TWENTY-FIVE:

UPPER TIER LEFT PANEL “A”: Shooting across a neat if somewhat gaudy office, largely covering the ceiling, which sports a conspicuous, rectangular vent cover.

UPPER TIER LEFT PANEL “B” (beneath “A”): Same layout, except that the grid is hinging down and to one side, kicked loose by Deck’s booted foot.

UPPER TIER RIGHT PANEL: Deck, hanging upside down, his head and part of his shoulders visible. He’s feeding excess line down into the room as he glances about.

DECK (thinking): So far, so good. Only one pressure alarm sensor in the vent.

MIDDLE TIER LEFT PANEL: Deck landing on the carpeted floor in a crouch, next to the coiled rope.

DECK (thinking): With that reattached to the top of the vent, I don’t think it’ll be giving us any trouble. Now to get busy!

BOTTOM TIER LEFT PANEL: Deck, uncinching the line from his waist, and glancing over at a very visible vault door. This largely dominates one wall, with possibly a potted tree on a stand at either side of the door.

DECK (thinking): Well, you certainly wouldn’t miss THAT! I’d have figured a big time operator like Von Leech’d be more subtle. 

BOTTOM TIER RIGHT PANEL: Deck, seen from the front and at a slight angle, across the room, approaching cautiously.

DECK (thinking): The alarm system must be murder!

PAGE TWENTY-SIX:

UPPER TIER LEFT PANEL: Deck near the wall, to one side of the vault door, peering intently at the potted plant.

DECK (thinking): Now, this’s strange!

UPPER TIER CENTER PANEL: Deck’s face partly visible between the pot and the wall, His fingertips are brushing the smooth curve of the container.

DECK (thinking): The logical place for a photo cell would be in these pots, but there’s nothing!

UPPER TIER RIGHT PANEL: Deck, slightly parting the fronds, and leaning forward to inspect something (the cylindrical upper hinge which supports the huge steel door).

DECK (thinking): HELlo! The hinges have been painted over!

MIDDLE TIER LEFT PANEL: Deck, inspecting the hinge assembly closely, being careful not to touch it.

DECK (thinking): Not a crack to the finish. Nobody’s opened this door in months! I THOUGHT this was a little too conspicuous.

MIDDLE TIER RIGHT PANEL: Deck at the boor, turning, The edge of a large desktop is across the bottom of the panel. To one side, several books are held upright by a pair of bookends.

DECK (thinking): Now, that’s a distinct possibility! 

BOTTOM TIER LEFT PANEL (narrow): Deck, crossing to the Deck.

DECK (thinking): The vault is too obvious. Anyone seeing that’d never even THINK to check the desk. 

BOTTOM TIER CENTER PANEL: Deck coming around the corner of the desk and leaning on one hand as he looks down at the drawers up one side. His arm brushes the stacked books, slightly dislodging them.

DECK (thinking): Oops! Can’t get careless now.

BOTTOM TIER RIGHT PANEL (narrow) Deck’s face over the top of the books. A small light is blinking low on the face of the bookend facing her viewer. Deck is oblivious to this.

DECK (thinking): Now, let’s see what Mr. Von Leech does while he’s at work.

PAGE TWENTY-SEVEN:

UPPER TIER LEFT PANEL: Deck, seen over the desktop, settling into the large chair and picking up a letter opened from the blotter.

DECK (thinking): No need to use the gel! I don’t trust anything that powerful, when a little old fashioned ingenuity should do the trick.

UPPER TIER RIGHT PANEL: High overhead shot of Deck, bent over and working at the upper drawer. A think stream of vapor begins to waft from a small (dominant) wall vent above and behind him.

MIDDLE TIER LEFT PANEL: The drawer sliding open. Inside are several rolls of film and a thick, hard-bound book.

DECK (off-scene): Ah! Got it!

MIDDLE TIER RIGHT PANEL: Deck, low angle, hefting his prizes. He’s inspecting the spine label of the book. The mist is spreading out and lowering above/behind him.

DECK (thinking): The film I can understand, but why would anyone keep a thesaurus in a locked drawer?

BOTTOM TIER LEFT PANEL (narrow): Deck, pausing to sniff. He looks intent.

DECK (thinking): That smell! GAS!

BOTTOM TIER RIGHT PANEL (wide): Deck, legs spread wide, now standing at the side of the Deck, looking up at the spreading cloud. The dangling rope from the overhead vent is at the far right side of the panel.

DECK (thinking): I’d be tempted to think it was knockout gas, but I recognize that odor! Time to get out of here!

PAGE TWENTY-EIGHT:

UPPER TIER LEFT PANEL: Deck, looking up and stuffing the film and book into his jacket - framed by the darkness of the overhead vent.

DECK (thinking): The film’ll have to do!

UPPER TIER RIGHT PANEL: Low shot of Deck, kicking and swing slightly as he goes, swarming up the rope. The wavering fingers of the leading edge of the lethal gas move in on him from the side of the panel.

MIDDLE TIER LEFT PANEL: Deck, inside the square tube, lifting himself through the lower opening. Faint wisps of the vapor intrude around his waist.

DECK (thinking): The gas is spreading FAST! I’m going to have to fight to outrun it!

BOTTOM TIER LEFT PANEL: Deck, scrambling along right-to-left and forward, on his hands and knees, as the gas now pours along the shaft behind him.

DECK (thinking): Another fifteen feet and then I cut upwards. That should buy me a few minutes!

MIDDLE TIER RIGHT PANEL (to the bottom of the page): Deck swinging in abrupt transition from the horizontal shaft up into the darkened vertical one, gripping the ropes. The gold canister breaks loose and bounces off the wall below him. Wisps of the vapor pursue him into the main shaft.

NOTE: He’s been using the line, but it’s no longer tied to him. This is a plot point.

DECK (thinking): NO! No telling what’ll happen, now!

PAGE TWENTY-NINE:

UPPER TIER LEFT PANEL: Deck, starting to come up, through the opening into the insert.

DECK: We’ve got to get out of here, NOW!

UPPER TIER RIGHT PANEL: Deck crouched, seen high POV as if that of someone to one side and looking down. He’s glancing up over his shoulder in alarm.

MIDDLE TIER PANEL (across the page and to the bottom with one upper left insert and another in the lower right corner).

MAIN PANEL: Deck dominant, on the lip of the opening, one leg still inside it, looking away at two dark clad figures in bizarre helmets, carrying weapons. There’s a previously invisible open doorway in the far side of the cutout. The sky beyond contains four or five black helicopters, hovering menacingly.

FIGURE # 1: No sudden moves. Let’s go have a few words with your friends.

FIGURE # 1 (balloon two): Black Shadow doesn’t care to be kept waiting!

UPPER INSERT: Low POV looking up at two individuals in neat black suits with somewhat angular (don’t you love it when I leave ‘futuristic’ touches up to you?) bow ties. Their heads are encased in identical dark metal helmets (slightly round. The front lens extends up and across from the chin to somewhere over the wearers’ unseen eyeline. Each helmet has a stylized white image of an eye on the left side of this dark visor, and there’s possibly a red number stenciled on the other side of the curving pane. These numbers would be different for each wearer.

LOWER RIGHT INSERT: The foot Deck’s had pulled under him visible slipping on the edge of the opening.

PAGE THIRTY:

UPPER TIER LEFT PANEL: Deck, arms thrown up, beginning to vanish into the opening. Wisps of the poison gas rise around him.

FIGURE # 1 (off-scene): !

UPPER TIER RIGHT PANEL: One of the two figures leaning forward past the other.

FIGURE # 2: LOOK OUT, you fool!

MIDDLE TIER LEFT PANEL (somewhat wide and to the bottom of the page): Interior of the darkened shaft, with deck (large image) plummeting down towards the viewer). The ignored line hangs down to one side. The opening is far above, and the side channel (and gas stream) are above and to one side.

MIDDLE TIER RIGHT PANEL (to about two inches from the bottom of the page): The two helmeted figures leaning close together and staring down and off-scene.

FIGURE # 1: That finishes him!

FIGURE # 2: Just as well. We didn’t need another prisoner.

BOTTOM TIER RIGHT PANEL: Small panel of the pair turning and vanishing into the open hatch.

FIGURE # 2: Now let’s contact Control for instructions!

EXPOSITORY BLOCK: TO BE CONCLUDED