A is A

This is my script submission to Avatar Press. The submission guidelines said that you had to use a character owned by Avatar, so I took on Pandora and tried to do something different with her. Obviously, it didn’t fly because I’ve heard nothing back from Avatar about it…

Pandora is Copyright Avatar Press and used entirely without permission.

A IS A

PAGE 1:

1: We open on a wide shot of an apartment building somewhere in New York. It’s early-morning; the sun is out, the birds are singing and all is well with the world.

VOICE (from window):

–WORK TODAY?

2: We’re inside the bedroom behind that window. Lying in the bed are two of our characters, PETER SMITH and CARRIE WILLOWS; Carrie is a pretty girl in her late twenties, with short red hair, and a slightly bohemian air to her; she’s wearing an over-sized t-shirt. Peter, a seriously good-looking guy, is a year or two older than her with dark hair. Both of them are just genuinely happy to be sharing each others space.

The room is a pretty neat looking, but modern bedroom. There’s some prints on the wall, a partially open closet, and odd pieces of clothing (socks etc) are scattered on the floor; a dresser sits next to Peter’s side of the bed with all the usual things. Peter’s jacket is draped over the bedpost; it’s a black leather one, three quarter length.

PETER:

NO, THOUGHT I’D TAKE THE DAY OFF FOR, YOU KNOW, THAT WHOLE ANNIVERSARY THING.

CARRIE:

YOU REMEMBERED?

3: Peter lays on top of Carrie, smiling a smile that she returns. They’re genuinely happy to be there together.

PETER:

‘COURSE I REMEMBERED. TWO YEARS AGO TODAY I FOUND THE WOMAN I WANT TO SPEND THE REST OF MY LIFE WITH.

 

CARRIE:

OH, YEAH? DO I KNOW HER?

 

PETER:

I’VE GOT A TABLE BOOKED FOR TONIGHT. YOU SHOULD COME ALONG SO YOU CAN MEET HER.

 

CARRIE:

WHAT ABOUT THE REST OF THE DAY?

PETER:

I’M THINKING…MAYBE A PICNIC IN THE PARK…?

4: Similar panel, but Peter looks down at Carrie quizzically.

PETER:

WHAT?

 

CARRIE:

NOTHING. JUST THINKING ABOUT HOW LUCKY I AM.

5: Carrie gets out of bed. Peter watches her, smiling.

PETER:

YOU, TOO, HUH?

CARRIE:

I’M GOING TO HIT THE SHOWER.

6: Peter, out of bed, is rifling through the pockets of his jacket.

CARRIE (off panel):

THAT WAS A HINT, PETER…

PAGE 2:

1: Peter turns around to see Carrie standing in the doorway of the bathroom, smiling devilishly back at him

CARRIE:

… FOR YOU TO COME AND, YOU KNOW, JUMP IN.

 

PETER:

I KNOW, BABY, I KNOW. JUST GIVE ME A MINUTE, OKAY?

2: Peter turns back to his jacket as Carrie walks back into the bathroom.

3: Peter pulls a ring box from his pocket.

4: He opens the box and looks at the ring inside, smiling to himself.

5: Something catches his attention outside the window.

6: Peter looks down into the street grimly.

7: On the street outside stands PANDORA, beckoning Peter.

PAGE 3:

1: Peter pulls his jeans on as he talks.

PETER:

CARRIE?

 

PETER:

I’M GOING TO HAVE TO GO OUT FOR A LITTLE WHILE, OKAY?

2: In the bathroom. Carrie has the shower door open and is leaning out to talk to a slightly worried looking Peter; he’s pulling his jacket on, over a simple t-shirt.

PETER:

I, uh, JUST GOT A TEXT FROM BOBBY. I HAVE TO GO INTO THE OFFICE.

 

CARRIE:

OKAY.

 

PETER:

I’LL TRY AND BE AS QUICK AS I CAN, OKAY?

3: Carrie and peter kiss.

PETER:

I LOVE YOU.

4: Carrie smiles to herself as Peter leaves the room.

CARRIE:

I KNOW.

PAGE 4:

1: Outside the apartment building. Peter stands on the busy sidewalk looking at Pandora. He doesn’t look happy about seeing her, but there’s a determination about him.

Around him, people go about their daily business, completely oblivious to what’s going on.

2: Peter stands next to Pandora, looking her directly in the eye, as if to make his point. He’s seriously pissed off, but she fixes him with a steely glare: she’s all business.

PETER:

PANDORA.

 

PETER:

I ALMOST DIDN’T RECOGNISE YOU WITH YOUR CLOTHES ON.

PANDORA:

YOU KNOW WHY I’M HERE.

3: Peter looks down at the ground, deciding on his next choice of words. Pandora waits patiently.

4: Similar panel.

PETER:

YES.

5: Peter walks away Pandora. She raises a questioning eyebrow.

PETER:

NOT HERE.

PAGE 5:

1: Back in the apartment with Carrie now. She’s in the bedroom, a towel wrapped around her (and another

around her head, dancing happily to some tune on the stereo.

CAPTION:

TWO YEARS!

 

CAPTION:

I MEAN, WHERE DID ALL THE TIME GO?

2: Carrie falls back on the bed.

CAPTION:

I CAN’T EVEN IMAGINE MY LIFE WITHOUT HIM NOW.

 

CAPTION:

IT’S LIKE – GOD THIS IS SUCH A CLICHÉ – BUT IT’S LIKE I FOUND THE MISSING PIECE WITH PETE. HE’S JUST…

 

CAPTION:

GREAT!

3: Carrie lies on her back on the bed, looking up at the ceiling, a huge grin on her face.

CAPTION:

I WONDER IF…

 

CARRIE:

HEH.

 

CAPTION:

WOULD IT BE TOO MUCH TO ASK HIM TO MARRY ME?

 

CARRIE:

PETER, WOULD YOU DO ME THE GREAT HONOUR OF BEING MY HUSBAND?

4: Carrie giggles to herself happily.

CAPTION:

C’MON, GIRL, ONE SURPRISE AT A TIME.

PAGE 6:

1: Back outside. We’re in Central Park now, with Pandora and Peter. It’s a busy day, and people are out and about, walking their dogs, jogging, having romantic strolls etc.

Peter pleads with Pandora, trying to get her to see his side of things, but she just looks at him sceptically.

PETER:

I’VE CHANGED, PANDORA.

PANDORA:

I CAN SEE THAT. I THOUGHT YOU HAD SCALES AND HORNS.

 

PETER:

NO, NO, I MEAN I HAVE A JOB HERE, FRIENDS, A LIFE.

2: Pandora, arms at her sides, clenches her fists, expecting a fight. Peter waves a hand at her, dismissing what she’s saying.

PANDORA:

YOU’RE GOING BACK IN THE BOX.

 

PETER:

DON’T YOU UNDERSTAND?

3: Peter turns his back to Pandora, eyes closed. Pandora looks shocked by the confession.

PETER:

PANDORA… I MET SOMEONE. I…

 

PETER:

I LOVE HER.

4: Similar panel. Pandora looks thoughtful for a moment.

5: Peter turns around and pleads with Pandora, but she just looks at him with a steely determination. She doesn’t care.

PANDORA:

EVEN IF I DID BELIEVE YOU, I CAN’T ALLOW A DEMON TO RUN AROUND FREE.

 

PETER:

I’VE DONE NOTHING FOR ALL THE TIME I’VE BEEN HERE EXCEPT TRY AND LIVE A NORMAL LIFE!

 

PANDORA:

YOU ARE WHAT YOU ARE.

 

PANDORA:

I WON’T LET YOU RUIN SOME POOR GIRL’S LIFE.

6: Peter yells at Pandora, indignant. Around them, people wonder what’s going on as they walk by.

PETER:

RUIN HER LIFE?!

PETER:

IN THE TIME I’VE BEEN WITH HER, ALL I’VE WANTED IS TO MAKE HER HAPPY!

 

PANDORA:

YOU ARE WHAT YOU ARE.

 

PANDORA:

YOU’RE GOING BACK IN THE BOX.

PAGE 7:

1: Peter clenches his fists together, his anger at the situation rising.

PETER (small):

NO.

2: Peter throws a punch at Pandora, but as he does, his arm changes into that of a demon. Use as many panels as needed here to make the change.

PETER:

LEAVE– US–

3: Huge panel. Peter is now in his true form, a big (but not huge) demon. His fist thunders into Pandora knocking her off her feet.

PETER:

– ALONE!

PAGE 8:

1: Back to Carrie now. She’s pulling on a t-shirt, getting ready to go out.

CAPTION:

THE MORE I THINK ABOUT IT, THE MORE IT ALL JUST SEEMS…RIGHT.

2: Carrie looks up as a sound from outside catches her attention.

CAPTION:

WE CAN USE THIS AS A WHOLE NEW START.

 

CAPTION:

MAYBE FINALLY GET OUT OF THE CITY.

3: She stands at the window, watching police cars scream past, through the city traffic.

CAPTION:

THERE’S TOO MUCH…WEIRDNESS HERE.

PAGE 9:

1: Peter holds Pandora by the throat with both of his claws, choking her.

PETER:

DAMN YOU, PANDORA! DAMN YOU FOR MAKING ME DO THIS!

2: Pandora slams her knee between Peter’s legs, making him let go of her.

PANDORA:

I ALREADY AM DAMNED!

3: Pandora punches Peter in the jaw savagely. In the background of the scene, we can see people watching, stunned. Some cops stand with their guns drawn and their jaws open at the scene in front of them.

PANDORA:

DAMNED TO MAKE SURE THAT CREATURES LIKE YOU DON’T WALK THIS WORLD!

4: Pandora kicks the side of Peter’s head, but the demon blocks it with his wrist.

PETER:

I’VE MADE A LIFE FOR MYSELF, PANDORA!

5: Peter punches Pandora hard in the face.

PETER:

I’VE RENOUNCED EVERYTHING I AM FOR HER!

6: Peter stands over Pandora, menacingly, ready to put her on her ass again if he has to.

PETER:

WHY CAN’T YOU SEE THAT?

PAGE 10:

1: Pandora kicks out, smacking her feet into Peter’s knees.

PETER:

AAARRRRRGGGHH!!

2: Peter lays on the ground, holding his knees in absolute agony. Pandora stands over him now, looking even more menacing than he did a moment ago.

PANDORA:

YOU’RE A DEMON.

3: Pandora takes a tight grip on one of Peter’s horns.

PANDORA:

I WON’T ALLOW YOU FREE REIGN HERE.

4: Pandora rips the horn from Peter’s head, leaving him screaming in agony.

PAGE 11:

1: Close on Pandora’s hand as her dagger appears there.

2: Close up of Peter looking up pitifully.

PETER (small):

I LOVE YOU, CARRIE.

3: Pandora strikes the dagger down into the top of Peter’s head.

4: Peter vanishes, banished to the box.

5: Pandora walks away through the gathered and gawping crowd, pleased that her job is done.

PAGE 12:

1: Back in the apartment with Carrie again. She’s in the bathroom, in front of the sink, looking at herself in the bathroom mirror mounted on a cabinet.

CAPTION:

WE’VE NEVER REALLY TALKED ABOUT IT.

 

CAPTION:

IT’S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WE SEEM TO CONSTANTLY DANCE AROUND.

2: She opens the cabinet and reaches in for something.

CAPTION:

I GET THE IMPRESSION THAT IT’S SOMETHING HE NEVER REALLY WANTED, THOUGH.

CAPTION:

I WONDER HOW HE’LL TAKE IT?

3: Carrie looks down at the thing in her hand, smiling, but we can’t see it yet.

CAPTION:

JESUS, I CAN HARDLY GET MY OWN HEAD AROUND IT!

4: Close up of what Carrie’s holding: it’s a positive pregnancy test.

CAPTION:

I’M GOING TO BE A MOM!