Strange Ways Grounds for Divorce Part 1
Strange Ways: Grounds for Divorce
Chapter One
PAGE TWENTY-TWO
All black page, “Chapter One-Grounds for Divorce” written in plain white letters across the center.
CAPTION
“The Supernatural Question has finally come to Central Illinois.”
PAGE TWENTY-THREE
The panels on this page are small with rounded corners, like an old analog television screen.
1- Television, a b-roll shot of Jordan Harper the vampire standing next to the President at a press conference. Doesn’t matter how you want to draw the president, just make sure he looks president-like. There are News graphics around the screen: “Action News 19 Top Story”
This is a great opportunity to show that even the most human looking of the Supernaturals are still completely alien next to a living breathing human.
ANCHOR (O.P.)
Is Peoria ready for non-human neighbors?
2- Handsome television anchor, name CG underneath. Big smile. I haven’t decided on the Anchor’s name, it has to be something ridiculously hard hitting. Really over the top anchor-y sounding, Charles Steele just isn’t flat enough.
ANCHOR
Good Morning, I’m Charles Steele and this is Action News 19.
(2) Our top story: The Bionel Home for Supernatural Children has officially opened but the facility’s presence has already drawn high level criticisms from community leaders and even the Governor’s office.
(2) Mindy Micheals has the rest of the story:
3- A peppy blonde smiles like an idiot, microphone in hand, standing on a down town side walk as people begin their morning commute.
MINDY
It’s been almost two years since the revelation that humanity is not the only intelligent species to evolve on this planet.
(2) Hundreds of strange creatures once believed to be nothing more then myth and legend have stepped out of the shadows to stand side by side with the rest of society.
(3) But is the world ready for them? During the Governor’s Convention earlier this year, Governor Kinsey made his views on Supernatural Integration very clear.
4- Wide B-Roll shot of Governor Raymond Kinsey, a fat white guy in a nice suit standing at a podium shaking his fist.
KINSEY
These…things are going to be in our schools, marrying in our churches.
(2) I won’t stand for vampires and werewolves and god knows what other monsters to integrate with our proud society.
(3) And the people of Illinois won’t stand for it either.
5- Another B-roll shot from the same convention; people are clapping and cheering in support of the Governor.
MINDY (VO)
And it would seem the Governor has made good on his promise as several pieces of supernatural legislation are already in danger of a veto at the statehouse.
(2) A position that’s protested by a former chairman of the SSRA and the founder of Bionel House, Father Anthony Bionel:
6- Tight close up of Tony sitting for an interview. He looks very stern, no nonsense.
TONY (Television)
The Governor can do whatever he likes but I have a letter from the President and the support of the Federal Marshals.
(2) Bionel House is opening and those children will go to a public run school like any other American citizen.
(3) Kinsey can sit on it-
TONY (Off Panel)
Ping, turn off the television!
PAGE TWENTY-THREE
1- Ping, the giant yeti three year old is sitting in front of the television with a tiny cereal bowl between his fingers. Tony, wearing an apron, walks into the tv room and starts laying down the law.
PING
Mr. Tony, you are on TV!
TONY
Yes I know that, turn off the television and brush your teeth.
PING
Are you famous?
TONY
Yeah, I’m famous. I’m a regular Brangelina, now brush your teeth.
2, 3, and 4- Tony starts walking through the house towards the front staircase. Everywhere you turn there are monster children running and laughing and generally goofing off when they should be getting ready for school.
Use this panel to show some of the various powers and abilities these kids have been born with.
TONY
Missy no running on the ceiling!
(2) Leland stop hypnotizing people.
(3) Osiris, no fireballs in the house.
(4) Rodrigo, we do not eat couches!
(5) Samuel, leave Abena’s tail alone!
(6) Yoshi, stop bench pressing my coffee table!
(7) MISSY IF YOU DON’T GET OFF THE CEILING SO HELP ME…
5- Louie is collapsed on his bed, a bottle of Maker’s Mark in one hand and a copy of Playboy covering his face. It was a slow night for him. The room is messy and there’s a picture of Hugh Hefner hanging in a place of honor near the door. Tony pops his head into the room.
TONY
If you’re done being a drunken fool, breakfast is on the table and I need you to help take the kids to school.
LOUIE
Mmm…five more minutes.
TONY
No more minutes, now.
6- Ashley’s room couldn’t be more different from Louie’s and Ashley is wide awake doing one handed push ups while wearing a tank top that says “Kill ‘em all, Let god sort ‘em out.” There’s a picture of Ronald Reagan hanging in a place of honor near the door. Tony pops his head into the room.
TONY
Ashley I need your…are you listening?
ASHLEY
Breakfast, table, school, got it.
(2) 102, 103, 104, 105…
7- Tony walks away shaking his head.
TONY (muttering)
This was a dumb idea.
FIONA (O.P.)
Unacceptable!
PAGE TWENTY-FOUR
1-Fiona is pounding on the bathroom scowling; Colin is standing behind her holding his tooth brush. He’s got that same dopey, clueless look on his face, handsome but not the sharpest knife in the drawer.
This is the perfect end to Tony’s morning so remember to give him that queasy but angry look on his face.
TONY
Fiona, what’s wrong?
FIONA
It is bad enough that a person of my standing is forced to live in such…low conditions
(2) But to endure the never ending humiliation of sharing a bathroom is intolerable!
TONY
We’ve been over this, Fiona; I’m not putting in a private bathroom.
2- She’s pointing at the bathroom door, her body tense with anger. Tony rolls his eyes.
FIONA
I am the crown princess of the Were-Cat Clan!
(2) Crown princesses do not share a toilet!
TONY
Then you’re the first, congratulations.
FIONA
When my father hears of this…
TONY
He’ll tell you to do as I say.
3- Tony’s walking back down stairs just as the doorbell rings, Fiona glares at him while his back is turned.
S.E.
Ding-dong!
TONY
Oh dear lord, what now?
4- He opens the door…
5- …standing on the doorstep are dozens of Federal Marshals and SWAT team members in tactical armor. Tons of police cars are all over the street, lights flashing.
FED 1
Father Bionel? We’re ready when you are.
6- Tony turns into the house again and yells…
TONY
Kids…the bus is here!
PAGE TWENTY-FIVE
1-A small, television shaped panel with a young Indian woman in a pant suit looking off panel at some unseen person.
Her name is Nishi Gupta, a reporter for Action News 19.
NISHI
Brent, are we on?
(2) We are?
2- Television shaped. Nishi turns to face the camera with her microphone held high and a wide smile on her face. There’s a name CG along the bottom edge of the panel with a station logo embedded next to her name.
NISHI
…There’s a tense feeling in the air as the crowd awaits the arrival of seven Supernatural students, enrolled here two weeks ago in defiance of the Governor’s executive order banning all non-humans from public schools.
3- Television shaped. Same shot as 2.
NISHI
But despite the legion of protestors now organized in support of non-human segregation, Local Police and Federal Marshals have vowed to fully integrate the Peoria school system.
(2) By force if necessary.
(3) Reporting from Woodrow Wilson High School, I’m Nishi Gupta.
4-Big panels, not tv shaped. Ashley is sitting in the front seat of the minivan, turning to look at the kids behind her.
ASHLEY
Everybody ready?
5- Seven of the kids, all the high school age children from the house (Suki, Leland, Yoshi, Colin, Fiona, Clive, and Vlad). Some of them are excited, some are nervous, Colin looks terrified, and Fiona looks bored. Vlad’s covering himself with a thick blanket to keep the ambient sun off his skin.
6- Tight on Ashley.
ASHLEY
I’ll assume the blank stares mean “yes”.
(2) When you get out, keep your eyes forward, walk in a straight line…
(3) …DO NOT deviate from that line…
(4) No talking, no stopping, move quickly, and above all show no fear.
7- Big panel, the kids climb from the minivan. It’s mass chaos outside the school, hundreds of anti-integration protestors wave banners and hurl rocks at cops in riot gear while federal marshals holding shotguns wait to escort the kids up the front steps of the high school. Reporters and camera men are off to the side, behind a forest of fully extended live truck antennas.
The protestors are a mixture of local fear mongers and out of town trouble makers from all races (black or white, humans hate monsters). The Westboro Church is there, making their usual disgusting display and holding “God Hates Freaks” signs. One group stands out from the others: four or five men dressed in all black and wearing ski masks. These men represent the Crusade, an organization that’s been killing monsters for hundreds of years. They don’t throw rocks or wave signs because these men are professional bigots. This is a scouting mission for them, they watch and observe.
CROWD
No Freaks! No Freaks! No Freaks! No Freaks! No Freaks! No Freaks! No Freaks! No Freaks!
PAGE TWENTY-SIX
1- A rock flies past Clive’s head and he grimaces at the chanting crowd, beside him Colin is trying not to throw up.
CLIVE
Gotta love the Midwest.
COLIN
I think we should go home.
CLIVE
Suck it up Colin, in a few weeks they’ll legalize gay marriage or open an abortion clinic somewhere and these idiots will forget all about us.
2- Three shot, Fiona walks past them with her nose upturned and her posture perfect.
FIONA
Why worry what these savages think? They have nothing to offer us.
COLIN
They don’t like it when you call them savages.
3- Tight on Clive, watching the crowd.
COLIN (O.P.)
I think it makes them angry.
4- The crowd is throwing garbage and rotten fruit now, it’s almost impossible for the kids to avoid getting pelted. One of the Westboro people waves his “God Hates Freaks” sign right in the center of the picture.
5- Same shot as 3, Clive looks disgusted.
CLIVE
Can you think of a different word?
PAGE TWENTY-SEVEN
1- Tight on Colin, he frowns at Clive.
COLIN
These people don’t represent their entire species.
(2) There are good humans out there, it’s our job to help our people find those humans and become their frie-
2- Same shot as 1, a bottle smashes into the side of Colin’s head and blood pours from his temple. He reacts in pain and surprise.
S.E.
CRASH!
3- Colin falls backward but Clive catches him before he hits the ground. Then Federal marshals form a protective circle around the kids. The police line moves to push back the crowd. This is officially a riot.
4- The marshals try to push the kids towards the school but the police line breaks just in front of them. There are angry protestors blocking the way.
PAGE TWENTY-EIGHT
1- At the back of the protest, two young protestors are getting ready to light a Molotov cocktail.
2- TASER wires extend from off panel, striking one of the protestors. He starts convulsing as the electricity burns its way through his nervous system.
3- On the other end of the TASER, Louie’s gently squeezing the trigger every time it looks like the protestor’s going to get up again. In his other hand he’s holding his cell phone to his ear.
LOUIE
Ash? Make tracks.
(2) No, it’s cool; I think the cops can handle it.
4- Inside the minivan, Ashley’s on her phone cradling a gigantic assault shotgun in her arms. She looks really disappointed.
ASHLEY
*sigh* If you insist.
PAGE TWENTY-NINE
1- Another school, another riot outside the school. First grade kids are watching the police round up the protestors with brutal force just outside their window.
KID 1
Miss Wallace, you gotta come see this!
2- A tall, African-American woman stands at the front of the class and motions for them to take their seats. Tony is behind her with his hand on Ramona’s shoulder. Ramona is looking around the room with apprehension, she’s never seen this many humans at once.
Miss Wallace is another “running joke”, she’s modeled on Nikki Giovanni, the famous poet and teacher.
MISS WALLACE
I don’t want you to worry about that right now.
(2) We have a guest today and I want you to give him your full attention.
3- Miss Wallace is still in the foreground as Tony steps forward and smiles at the children. They begin to take their seats. Ramona is trying to hide behind Tony, using him like a shield.
MISS WALLACE
This is Father Bionel and his special friend, Ramona
(2) Ramona’s going to be with us for the rest of the school year and I thought it would be nice if Father Bionel came in and talked about how special your new classmate is.
4- One of the kids raises a hand. He’s a fat little fucker, one of those ball shaped little guys.
KID 2
Can I go to the bathroom?
5- Back to three, tighter on Miss Wallace. She looks a little annoyed, Tony tries not to laugh.
MISS WALLACE
Not right now, Billy.
6- The teacher stands next to her desk while Tony and Ramona move to where she was just standing. Ramona is still trying to use Tony to block the children’s gaze, she’s very shy.
TONY
Ah, well, thank you for that lovely introduction, Miss Wallace.
(2) Before I begin I want to know how many of you know what the word “Supernatural” means?
7- Nobody raises their hand.
8- Same shot as 6, little tighter on Tony. Play with Tony’s features in this one, it’s hard enough for a man as brilliant as Tony to relate to normal people, it’s even harder to relate to children. He doesn’t look entirely comfortable.
TONY
Okay. Supernatural used to mean “above nature” or “above normal”.
(2) It applied to mythology and folklore…that pretend stuff that grown ups don’t believe in…
(3) More recently the term has come to encompass...er.... represent a group of very fascinating non-human life forms once believed to be fictional.
PAGE THIRTY
1- Wide shot over Tony’s shoulder as he addresses the kids.
TONY
Supernatural beings come in a wide range of forms, ranging from nearly human to completely alien but their names are often very familiar: vampire, werewolf, shapeshifter, and so on.
(2) But they aren’t scary; in fact most of them are really just like you or me.
2- Tight on Ramona, the light glinting from her razor sharp teeth.
TONY (off panel)
Take Ramona for instance, she’s eight years old and her favorite book is Harry Potter, she likes cartoons, likes coloring, and she likes candy.
(2) What makes Ramona special is that she’s from a family of supernatural beings called Varcolâcs, a sub species of vampire from Eastern Europe often known as a “Mountain Biter”.
3- Tony makes an effort to push Ramona forward but the girl resists a little.
TONY
Some of you may have noticed Ramona’s teeth.
(2) They’re supposed to be used for chewing rocks but usually she just uses them to eat everything in my fridge, isn’t that right sweetie?
4- Medium shot, on the heater box near the window. There’s a small hamster cage with a metal wheel inside it, Ramona is instantly drawn to it. Tony continues his lecture.
TONY
Some Supernaturals are also known for their rather…unusual abilities.
5- Tight on Ramona again, she’s enraptured by the cage and the hamster inside looks up at her with curiosity.
6- With a wave of her hand Ramona makes the hamster get on hind legs and dance.
TONY
Any questions?
7- The fat kid is raising his hand again.
8- Tony turns to Miss Wallace with a heavy sigh.
TONY
Seriously, just let him use the bathroom.
Chapter One
PAGE TWENTY-TWO
All black page, “Chapter One-Grounds for Divorce” written in plain white letters across the center.
CAPTION
“The Supernatural Question has finally come to Central Illinois.”
PAGE TWENTY-THREE
The panels on this page are small with rounded corners, like an old analog television screen.
1- Television, a b-roll shot of Jordan Harper the vampire standing next to the President at a press conference. Doesn’t matter how you want to draw the president, just make sure he looks president-like. There are News graphics around the screen: “Action News 19 Top Story”
This is a great opportunity to show that even the most human looking of the Supernaturals are still completely alien next to a living breathing human.
ANCHOR (O.P.)
Is Peoria ready for non-human neighbors?
2- Handsome television anchor, name CG underneath. Big smile. I haven’t decided on the Anchor’s name, it has to be something ridiculously hard hitting. Really over the top anchor-y sounding, Charles Steele just isn’t flat enough.
ANCHOR
Good Morning, I’m Charles Steele and this is Action News 19.
(2) Our top story: The Bionel Home for Supernatural Children has officially opened but the facility’s presence has already drawn high level criticisms from community leaders and even the Governor’s office.
(2) Mindy Micheals has the rest of the story:
3- A peppy blonde smiles like an idiot, microphone in hand, standing on a down town side walk as people begin their morning commute.
MINDY
It’s been almost two years since the revelation that humanity is not the only intelligent species to evolve on this planet.
(2) Hundreds of strange creatures once believed to be nothing more then myth and legend have stepped out of the shadows to stand side by side with the rest of society.
(3) But is the world ready for them? During the Governor’s Convention earlier this year, Governor Kinsey made his views on Supernatural Integration very clear.
4- Wide B-Roll shot of Governor Raymond Kinsey, a fat white guy in a nice suit standing at a podium shaking his fist.
KINSEY
These…things are going to be in our schools, marrying in our churches.
(2) I won’t stand for vampires and werewolves and god knows what other monsters to integrate with our proud society.
(3) And the people of Illinois won’t stand for it either.
5- Another B-roll shot from the same convention; people are clapping and cheering in support of the Governor.
MINDY (VO)
And it would seem the Governor has made good on his promise as several pieces of supernatural legislation are already in danger of a veto at the statehouse.
(2) A position that’s protested by a former chairman of the SSRA and the founder of Bionel House, Father Anthony Bionel:
6- Tight close up of Tony sitting for an interview. He looks very stern, no nonsense.
TONY (Television)
The Governor can do whatever he likes but I have a letter from the President and the support of the Federal Marshals.
(2) Bionel House is opening and those children will go to a public run school like any other American citizen.
(3) Kinsey can sit on it-
TONY (Off Panel)
Ping, turn off the television!
PAGE TWENTY-THREE
1- Ping, the giant yeti three year old is sitting in front of the television with a tiny cereal bowl between his fingers. Tony, wearing an apron, walks into the tv room and starts laying down the law.
PING
Mr. Tony, you are on TV!
TONY
Yes I know that, turn off the television and brush your teeth.
PING
Are you famous?
TONY
Yeah, I’m famous. I’m a regular Brangelina, now brush your teeth.
2, 3, and 4- Tony starts walking through the house towards the front staircase. Everywhere you turn there are monster children running and laughing and generally goofing off when they should be getting ready for school.
Use this panel to show some of the various powers and abilities these kids have been born with.
TONY
Missy no running on the ceiling!
(2) Leland stop hypnotizing people.
(3) Osiris, no fireballs in the house.
(4) Rodrigo, we do not eat couches!
(5) Samuel, leave Abena’s tail alone!
(6) Yoshi, stop bench pressing my coffee table!
(7) MISSY IF YOU DON’T GET OFF THE CEILING SO HELP ME…
5- Louie is collapsed on his bed, a bottle of Maker’s Mark in one hand and a copy of Playboy covering his face. It was a slow night for him. The room is messy and there’s a picture of Hugh Hefner hanging in a place of honor near the door. Tony pops his head into the room.
TONY
If you’re done being a drunken fool, breakfast is on the table and I need you to help take the kids to school.
LOUIE
Mmm…five more minutes.
TONY
No more minutes, now.
6- Ashley’s room couldn’t be more different from Louie’s and Ashley is wide awake doing one handed push ups while wearing a tank top that says “Kill ‘em all, Let god sort ‘em out.” There’s a picture of Ronald Reagan hanging in a place of honor near the door. Tony pops his head into the room.
TONY
Ashley I need your…are you listening?
ASHLEY
Breakfast, table, school, got it.
(2) 102, 103, 104, 105…
7- Tony walks away shaking his head.
TONY (muttering)
This was a dumb idea.
FIONA (O.P.)
Unacceptable!
PAGE TWENTY-FOUR
1-Fiona is pounding on the bathroom scowling; Colin is standing behind her holding his tooth brush. He’s got that same dopey, clueless look on his face, handsome but not the sharpest knife in the drawer.
This is the perfect end to Tony’s morning so remember to give him that queasy but angry look on his face.
TONY
Fiona, what’s wrong?
FIONA
It is bad enough that a person of my standing is forced to live in such…low conditions
(2) But to endure the never ending humiliation of sharing a bathroom is intolerable!
TONY
We’ve been over this, Fiona; I’m not putting in a private bathroom.
2- She’s pointing at the bathroom door, her body tense with anger. Tony rolls his eyes.
FIONA
I am the crown princess of the Were-Cat Clan!
(2) Crown princesses do not share a toilet!
TONY
Then you’re the first, congratulations.
FIONA
When my father hears of this…
TONY
He’ll tell you to do as I say.
3- Tony’s walking back down stairs just as the doorbell rings, Fiona glares at him while his back is turned.
S.E.
Ding-dong!
TONY
Oh dear lord, what now?
4- He opens the door…
5- …standing on the doorstep are dozens of Federal Marshals and SWAT team members in tactical armor. Tons of police cars are all over the street, lights flashing.
FED 1
Father Bionel? We’re ready when you are.
6- Tony turns into the house again and yells…
TONY
Kids…the bus is here!
PAGE TWENTY-FIVE
1-A small, television shaped panel with a young Indian woman in a pant suit looking off panel at some unseen person.
Her name is Nishi Gupta, a reporter for Action News 19.
NISHI
Brent, are we on?
(2) We are?
2- Television shaped. Nishi turns to face the camera with her microphone held high and a wide smile on her face. There’s a name CG along the bottom edge of the panel with a station logo embedded next to her name.
NISHI
…There’s a tense feeling in the air as the crowd awaits the arrival of seven Supernatural students, enrolled here two weeks ago in defiance of the Governor’s executive order banning all non-humans from public schools.
3- Television shaped. Same shot as 2.
NISHI
But despite the legion of protestors now organized in support of non-human segregation, Local Police and Federal Marshals have vowed to fully integrate the Peoria school system.
(2) By force if necessary.
(3) Reporting from Woodrow Wilson High School, I’m Nishi Gupta.
4-Big panels, not tv shaped. Ashley is sitting in the front seat of the minivan, turning to look at the kids behind her.
ASHLEY
Everybody ready?
5- Seven of the kids, all the high school age children from the house (Suki, Leland, Yoshi, Colin, Fiona, Clive, and Vlad). Some of them are excited, some are nervous, Colin looks terrified, and Fiona looks bored. Vlad’s covering himself with a thick blanket to keep the ambient sun off his skin.
6- Tight on Ashley.
ASHLEY
I’ll assume the blank stares mean “yes”.
(2) When you get out, keep your eyes forward, walk in a straight line…
(3) …DO NOT deviate from that line…
(4) No talking, no stopping, move quickly, and above all show no fear.
7- Big panel, the kids climb from the minivan. It’s mass chaos outside the school, hundreds of anti-integration protestors wave banners and hurl rocks at cops in riot gear while federal marshals holding shotguns wait to escort the kids up the front steps of the high school. Reporters and camera men are off to the side, behind a forest of fully extended live truck antennas.
The protestors are a mixture of local fear mongers and out of town trouble makers from all races (black or white, humans hate monsters). The Westboro Church is there, making their usual disgusting display and holding “God Hates Freaks” signs. One group stands out from the others: four or five men dressed in all black and wearing ski masks. These men represent the Crusade, an organization that’s been killing monsters for hundreds of years. They don’t throw rocks or wave signs because these men are professional bigots. This is a scouting mission for them, they watch and observe.
CROWD
No Freaks! No Freaks! No Freaks! No Freaks! No Freaks! No Freaks! No Freaks! No Freaks!
PAGE TWENTY-SIX
1- A rock flies past Clive’s head and he grimaces at the chanting crowd, beside him Colin is trying not to throw up.
CLIVE
Gotta love the Midwest.
COLIN
I think we should go home.
CLIVE
Suck it up Colin, in a few weeks they’ll legalize gay marriage or open an abortion clinic somewhere and these idiots will forget all about us.
2- Three shot, Fiona walks past them with her nose upturned and her posture perfect.
FIONA
Why worry what these savages think? They have nothing to offer us.
COLIN
They don’t like it when you call them savages.
3- Tight on Clive, watching the crowd.
COLIN (O.P.)
I think it makes them angry.
4- The crowd is throwing garbage and rotten fruit now, it’s almost impossible for the kids to avoid getting pelted. One of the Westboro people waves his “God Hates Freaks” sign right in the center of the picture.
5- Same shot as 3, Clive looks disgusted.
CLIVE
Can you think of a different word?
PAGE TWENTY-SEVEN
1- Tight on Colin, he frowns at Clive.
COLIN
These people don’t represent their entire species.
(2) There are good humans out there, it’s our job to help our people find those humans and become their frie-
2- Same shot as 1, a bottle smashes into the side of Colin’s head and blood pours from his temple. He reacts in pain and surprise.
S.E.
CRASH!
3- Colin falls backward but Clive catches him before he hits the ground. Then Federal marshals form a protective circle around the kids. The police line moves to push back the crowd. This is officially a riot.
4- The marshals try to push the kids towards the school but the police line breaks just in front of them. There are angry protestors blocking the way.
PAGE TWENTY-EIGHT
1- At the back of the protest, two young protestors are getting ready to light a Molotov cocktail.
2- TASER wires extend from off panel, striking one of the protestors. He starts convulsing as the electricity burns its way through his nervous system.
3- On the other end of the TASER, Louie’s gently squeezing the trigger every time it looks like the protestor’s going to get up again. In his other hand he’s holding his cell phone to his ear.
LOUIE
Ash? Make tracks.
(2) No, it’s cool; I think the cops can handle it.
4- Inside the minivan, Ashley’s on her phone cradling a gigantic assault shotgun in her arms. She looks really disappointed.
ASHLEY
*sigh* If you insist.
PAGE TWENTY-NINE
1- Another school, another riot outside the school. First grade kids are watching the police round up the protestors with brutal force just outside their window.
KID 1
Miss Wallace, you gotta come see this!
2- A tall, African-American woman stands at the front of the class and motions for them to take their seats. Tony is behind her with his hand on Ramona’s shoulder. Ramona is looking around the room with apprehension, she’s never seen this many humans at once.
Miss Wallace is another “running joke”, she’s modeled on Nikki Giovanni, the famous poet and teacher.
MISS WALLACE
I don’t want you to worry about that right now.
(2) We have a guest today and I want you to give him your full attention.
3- Miss Wallace is still in the foreground as Tony steps forward and smiles at the children. They begin to take their seats. Ramona is trying to hide behind Tony, using him like a shield.
MISS WALLACE
This is Father Bionel and his special friend, Ramona
(2) Ramona’s going to be with us for the rest of the school year and I thought it would be nice if Father Bionel came in and talked about how special your new classmate is.
4- One of the kids raises a hand. He’s a fat little fucker, one of those ball shaped little guys.
KID 2
Can I go to the bathroom?
5- Back to three, tighter on Miss Wallace. She looks a little annoyed, Tony tries not to laugh.
MISS WALLACE
Not right now, Billy.
6- The teacher stands next to her desk while Tony and Ramona move to where she was just standing. Ramona is still trying to use Tony to block the children’s gaze, she’s very shy.
TONY
Ah, well, thank you for that lovely introduction, Miss Wallace.
(2) Before I begin I want to know how many of you know what the word “Supernatural” means?
7- Nobody raises their hand.
8- Same shot as 6, little tighter on Tony. Play with Tony’s features in this one, it’s hard enough for a man as brilliant as Tony to relate to normal people, it’s even harder to relate to children. He doesn’t look entirely comfortable.
TONY
Okay. Supernatural used to mean “above nature” or “above normal”.
(2) It applied to mythology and folklore…that pretend stuff that grown ups don’t believe in…
(3) More recently the term has come to encompass...er.... represent a group of very fascinating non-human life forms once believed to be fictional.
PAGE THIRTY
1- Wide shot over Tony’s shoulder as he addresses the kids.
TONY
Supernatural beings come in a wide range of forms, ranging from nearly human to completely alien but their names are often very familiar: vampire, werewolf, shapeshifter, and so on.
(2) But they aren’t scary; in fact most of them are really just like you or me.
2- Tight on Ramona, the light glinting from her razor sharp teeth.
TONY (off panel)
Take Ramona for instance, she’s eight years old and her favorite book is Harry Potter, she likes cartoons, likes coloring, and she likes candy.
(2) What makes Ramona special is that she’s from a family of supernatural beings called Varcolâcs, a sub species of vampire from Eastern Europe often known as a “Mountain Biter”.
3- Tony makes an effort to push Ramona forward but the girl resists a little.
TONY
Some of you may have noticed Ramona’s teeth.
(2) They’re supposed to be used for chewing rocks but usually she just uses them to eat everything in my fridge, isn’t that right sweetie?
4- Medium shot, on the heater box near the window. There’s a small hamster cage with a metal wheel inside it, Ramona is instantly drawn to it. Tony continues his lecture.
TONY
Some Supernaturals are also known for their rather…unusual abilities.
5- Tight on Ramona again, she’s enraptured by the cage and the hamster inside looks up at her with curiosity.
6- With a wave of her hand Ramona makes the hamster get on hind legs and dance.
TONY
Any questions?
7- The fat kid is raising his hand again.
8- Tony turns to Miss Wallace with a heavy sigh.
TONY
Seriously, just let him use the bathroom.