Dennis O'Neil; Format: Paperback ISBN 0823010279; 128 pp, Publisher: Watson-Guptil Publications, pub date: 2001
Zorikh Lequidre, 182 Graham Ave Bklyn, NY 11206, (718) 782-0228
Note to artist: This story takes place in the 1360's. Please make the clothing, furniture, architecture, etc. as accurate as possible. See me for reference material if necessary.
Page 1
Splash
Slight upshot of the forecastle (front) of an English cog (ship) sailing on the English Channel. Standing at the rail are three squires.
Jack, the main character of our story. 16 years old. Tousled blond hair, blue eyes, slender, 5' 9". The picture of youth and eagerness. His clothes are new, but not ostentatious. He wears them with the air of a kid who just got his first pair of long pants.
Thomas, the eldest of the three, is 26. Straight black hair, blue eyes, not fat, but heavy in a solid way, 5' 8", starting to look older than his years. His clothes are of good quality with some slight fanciness, but they are also a little old.
Arthur, age 20. Handsome, strong, wavy light brown hair, brown eyes. At the peak of physical fitness and confidence. He is dressed in the newest clothes of the latest style.
Caption (blurb): DURING THE REIGN OF THE PLANTAGENET KINGS OF ENGLAND, THERE DEVELOPED A DISPUTE OVER THE RIGHTFUL KINGSHIP OF FRANCE. IT CAME TO PASS THAT THE KING OF ENGLAND DECLARED HIMSELF KING OF FRANCE, AND THIS SET OFF A SERIES OF WARS LASTING A CENTURY.
DURING THIS PERIOD, ROYALTY WOULD LEAD CAMPAIGNS ACROSS THE ENGLISH CHANNEL, FOLLOWED BY KNIGHTS, SQUIRES, MEN-AT-ARMS, AND ARMIES OF FREEBOOTERS. THEY WOULD SEEK, GLORY, HONOR, AND RICHES. SOME NEVER RETURNED, SOME LIVED LONG ENOUGH TO LEARN...
Title: THE LESSON
Jack: I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! SOON WE'LL BE IN FRANCE! WE'RE ON CAMPAIGN, WE'LL BE FIGHTING BATTLES, MAYBE WE'LL ALL GET KNIGHTED AFTER WE CAPTURE THE FRENCH KING! HOW SOON DO YOU THINK WE'LL HAVE OUR FIRST BATTLE?
Zorikh Lequidre, 182 Graham Ave Bklyn, NY 11206, (718) 782-0228
Page 2
Panel 1
Close-to-medium depth-of-field shot of the three squires by the rail, Jack is closest, then Arthur, then Thomas. Arthur and Thomas are looking at Jack.
Arthur: (smiling) RELAX, JACK. WE KNOW IT'S YOUR FIRST CAMPAIGN, BUT TRUST ME, IT WILL BE SOON ENOUGH.
Thomas: I MUST ADMIT, I'M EAGER TO GET TO A BATTLE MYSELF. I'VE HAD TO SPEND SO MUCH TIME HELPING MY DRUNKEN ELDER BOTHER MAINTAIN THE FAMILY MANOR I'VE NOT BEEN ABLE TO BE THE BEST OF SQUIRES...
Panel 2
Close up of Thomas, pensive.
Thomas: WHEN I GET KNIGHTED, I WANT IT TO BE FOR THE RIGHT REASONS, FOR SOMETHING I'VE DONE.
LIKE YOU, ARTHUR, YOU'VE BEEN ON CAMPAIGNS, COMPETED IN TOURNAMENTS, YOU'VE DONE SO MUCH, YOU SHOULD BE KNIGHTED AFTER THE FIRST BATTLE.
Arthur: (off camera) OH, COME NOW, THOMAS...
Panel 3
Medium shot of the squires, angled slightly so that Thomas is closer to the camera and Jack is in the background. Arthur pats Thomas' shoulder, smiling. Jack is looking dreamily out to sea.
Arthur: YOU'RE AS FINE A SQUIRE AS EVER THERE WAS. WE BOTH KNOW THAT WHAT IS IMPORTSNT TO US SQUIRES IS SERVING OUR KNIGHT AS BEST WE CAN, THUST PREPARING US FOR KNIGHTHOOD. WHEN OR HOW HAT HAPPENS IS IN GOD'S HANDS...
Jack: WELL, I JUST CAN'T WAIT TO DO SOME DEED OF HONOR...
Zorikh Lequidre, 182 Graham Ave Bklyn, NY 11206, (718) 782-0228
Panel 4
Long shot of the ship on the water, several other ships in the convoy can be seen. In the clouds are ghostly, dreamlike, romantic images of mounted knights in shining armor charging, banners flying, battling, etc.
Jack: (word balloon coming from lead ship) IMAGINE US CHARGING THE FLOWER O FRENCH CHIVALRY, THE GLITTERING ARMOR, THE CLASH OF STEEL, THEN THERE, SHOUDED BY DUST, THE FRENCH BANNER!
WE BREAK THROUGH THEIR LINES, GAINING NOBLE WOUNDS AS WE FIGHT FOR THE PRIZE, THEN AGAINST THE MARSHAL OF FRANCE WE PROVE OUR TRUE METTLE...
Panel 5
Close up of Arthur and Thomas looking at each other and smiling with amusement as Jack is acting out his fantasy in the background.
Jack: THAT THE CHIVALRY OF ENGLAND (AND HER SQUIRES) CAN NEVER BE BEATEN!
THEN, OF COURSE, AFTER COUNTING UP WHAT THE RANSOM FOR OUR PRISONERS WILL BE, WE CELEBRATE! THE FINEST FRENCH WINES! THE NOBLEST OF SONGS...
Panel 6
Close up of Arthur, smiling, putting his hand on Jack's shoulder, stopping him mid-sentence. Jack's head spins and looks at Arthur. Thomas is watching in background, still leaning on rail, smiling.
Jack: THE COMELIEST OF W...HUH?
Arthur: JACK...
WE'RE NOT THERE YET.
Sailor: (off-camera) LAND HO!
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The Dc Comics Guide to Writing Comics
Dennis O'Neil; Format: Paperback ISBN 0823010279; 128 pp, Publisher: Watson-Guptil Publications, pub date: 2001
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