
PRIEST | JOE BENNETT | DANNY MIKI | CRIME LAB STUDIOS |
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Christopher J.
Priest Script For 22 Pages: Chapter 2: "Kasper" THE CREW 2 First Draft: February 21, 2003 |
big
trouble in little mogadishu:
kasper
PREVIOUSLY...
Having filed bankruptcy and left to start his life over again, James “Rhodey” Rhodes received word that his sister had been murdered in the notorious section of Brooklyn, NY called “Little Mogadishu,” or simply “The Mog.” Rhodey, a former mercenary and CEO of a major technology company, traveled to The Mog and demanded answers both of the police and the deadly street gangs who rule the lawless territory. Receiving none of the answers he sought, Rhodey took maters into his own hands, teaming with JOSIAH X, a local Muslim minister and community activist, to learn the truth about his sister’s death and to apprehend the men responsible. In pursuing these men, Rhodey crossed paths with KEVIN “KASPER” COLE, a New York Police officer assigned to the Narcotics Division of the Organized Crime Control Bureau (OCCB). An ambitious young officer, Kasper now sees Rhodey as a suspicious character who may lead Kasper to major arrest and a field promotion...
Pages 2-3
(SPREAD) LITTLE MOGADISHU, NIGHT: WHITE TIGER IN COILED FRANK MILLER LEAP.
MAKE THIS A VERY Sin City SPREAD. THE WHITE TIGER NARRATES HIS OWN STORY, SO FIND INVENTIVE WAYS TO PLACE COPY ON THIS SPREAD SO WE DON’T HAVE TO RESORT TO BORING TEXT BOXES ALL OVER. FOR INSTANCE, A GROUP OF BUILDINGS CAN RESOLVE INTO A SINGLE BLACK SHAPE AND WE CAN WRITE THE TIGER’S MONOLOGUE ONTO THAT SHAPE.
THE CITY: GIVE LITTLE MOGADISHU REAL PERSONALITY. THIS IS BASED ON THE EAST NEW YORK SECTION OF BROOKLYN. MASSIVE OVERHEAD ELEVATED SUBWAYS (THE “EL”) CRISS-CROSS (SEVERAL LINES INTERSECT THERE IN EAST NEW YORK, SO THERE’D BE SEVERAL DIFFERENT SUBWAY TRACKS SPIDER-WEBBING AWAY FROM A MAJOR ELEVATED STATION PLATFORM).
THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS VERY OLD, TURN OF THE CENTURY STUFF. LOTS OF TENEMENTS, STOREFRONTS, SOME EMPTY LOTS WHERE BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN BULLDOZED. IT IS NOT A HAPPY PLACE.
IT IS EARLY IN THE EVENING SO REASONABLE TRAFFIC, BUSES, TAXIS. I HAVE REF ON ALL OF THIS STUFF. PLEASE USE REF AND DO NOT MAKE THIS LOOK GENERIC.
WE SHOULD ALSO RE-THINK THE TIGER’S COSTUME. IF YOU GIVE ME AN EMAIL ADDRESS OR FAX NUMBER, I CAN SEND YOU SOME IDEAS, SPECIFICALLY, ON REVISING THE COAT. I’M THINKING MORE OF MICHAEL KALUTA’s Shadow, WHERE HE MADE THE COAT A KIND OF IMPOSSIBLY LONG DUSTER, TAPERED IT AT THE WAIST AND GAVE IT SOME PERSONALITY SO IT WOUND AROUND HIM AND/OR FLUNG OPEN FOR DRAMATIC EFFECT. YOU CAN GET A GREAT MANY INTERESTING SHAPES OUT OF THE COAT, DON’T MAKE IT JUST A COAT.
THE WHITE TIGER HAS TWIN HOLSTERS IN THE SMALL OF HIS BACK. RENT Face Off AND SEE NICHOLAS CAGE’s HOLSTER RIG. THAT’S IT EXACTLY.
THERE IS A GREAT DEAL OF REFERENCE ON WHITE TIGER. PLEASE PROVIDE AN EMAIL ADDRESS AND I’LL SEND THAT OVER TO YOU.
1 CAPTION: Wednesday Evening in The Mog.
2 LEGEND: Stan Lee presents
3 LOGO: < Insert THE CREW logo >
4 TITLE: BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE MOGADISHU
CHAPTER
TWO: KASPER
7 CAPTION: “The Mog.” Short for “Little Mogadishu.” Short for “Hell.”
8 CAPTION: 20 square blocks of Brooklyn owned by gang warlords and drug cartels. The most miserable place under the sun.
9 CAPTION: What we in law enforcement call “A Target-Rich Environment.” A NY cop looking to move himself up gets drawn to The Mog like an ant to a picnic.
10 CAPTION: Plant your flag in human misery, come out with a gold shield. That is, assuming The Mog don’t get you first.
Page 4
1 A SERIES OF AFTER-IMAGES: THE WHITE TIGER EXECUTES SOME IMPOSSIBLE Daredevil-STYLE GYMNASTICS TWISTS. IF POSSIBLE, LET’S SEE A GYPSY CAB ON THE STREET BELOW. LIGHT TRAFFIC.
A GYPSY CAB IS AN UNLICENSED LIVERY VEHICLE, TYPICALLY PRETTY BEAT UP, PERHAPS WITH A STICKER ON THE DOOR, MIS-MATCHED PAINT (LEAVE COLOR NOTE), ETC.
1 CAPTION: Okay, it works like this:
2 CAPTION: Making felony arrests gets me promoted.
3 CAPTION: Getting promoted gets me more money.
4 CAPTION: Getting more money chills Gwen out.
5 CAPTION: Chilling Gwen out is all I live for.
2 TIGER COMES IN FOR PERFECT THREE-POINT LANDING ON THE HOOD OF THE GYPSY CAB. MENACING.
6 CAPTION: Much as I’d like to make these off-duty tours through hell about protecting and serving the people--
7 CAPTION: --truth is, every lowlife skel I hook up brings me closer to domestic tranquility.
8 CAPTION: It’s the circle of life.
3 CUT TO: INT/CAB: TIGER RAKES HIS CLAWS ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD, THE CLAWS SLICING THE THICK GLASS LIKE IT WAS CHEESE. TIGER GLARING. THE CAB DRIVER (MAKE HIM UP) REACTS IN FEAR. HE FIGURES HE’S BEING ROBBED.
9 CAPTION: All right you hump-- baby needs pay-per-view.
10 CAPTION: Time to get my thing on.
4 NEW ANGLE ON THE CAR: THE CABBIE EXITING, OFFERING HIS WALLET TO TIGER, TIGER SLAPS THE WALLET AWAY, ANNOYED AT THE DRIVER FOR INSULTING HIM.
11 CAPTION: Remember the accent...
12 TIGER: You dare insult the scion of Wakanda with your petty lucre?! Begone!
13 CAPTION: ‘Fore I smack you upside your head, fool.
5 NEW ANGLE: THE GYPSY CAB TAKES OFF, TIGER CLEARLY AT THE WHEEL, THE WINDSHIELD RUINED FROM TIGER’s CLAWS. TIGER HAS STOLEN THE MAN’s CAB.
14 CAPTION: The difference between cops and crooks is cops have 401k’s and dental.
15 CAPTION: Steal car-- fight crime-- get raise.
16 CAPTION: Works for me.
Page 5
1 VIEW
OVER TIGER’s SHOULDER: WE SEE THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE BACK SEAT. THIS GUY
IS SPIKE, A LOWLIFE DRUG COURIER. WIDE EYED DAVE CHAPPELLE (Blue Streak).
1 CAPTION: Spike. Low-end mule for the Rain Man.
2 SPIKE: Who-- who--
3 SPIKE: --yo, man-- I got eight bucks in my pocket-- it’s all yours--!
4 CAPTION: Fear. Acidic. Smells like urine.
2 TIGER AT THE WHEEL. HE DOES NOT LOOK BEHIND HIM AT SPIKE. SNARLING, MENACE.
5 TIGER: Do not insult me, Spike-- there will be consequences.
6 SPIKE: (Off) Who-- are you, man?!? How you know me?
7 TIGER: I am an acolyte of the Panther Cult--
8 TIGER: --A White Tiger.
3 EXTERIOR: THE TAXI PASSES IN FRONT OF JOSIAH’S MUSLIM RESCUE MISSION (SEE LAST ISSUE). JOSIAH OUTSIDE, SWEEPING THE SIDEWALK. WE DO NOT NEED TO GET A VERY GOOD LOOK AT HIM, HERE. THIS SHOULD SEEM RATHER INCIDENTAL: A MAN SWEEPING THE SIDEWALK.
9 TIGER: (From Taxi) You are a courier for the drug trafficker Rain Man.
10 TIGER: (From Taxi) You will aid me in bringing him to justice...
4 NEW ANGLE: TIGER NOW REACHING BACK, AIMING A PISTOL POINT BLANK AT SPIKE, SPIKE REACTS WITH FEAR. NOTE: THE TIGER USES SPECIFIC PISTOLS, WO-TONED SIGARMS .9MM AUTOMATICS. I HAVE REF ON HIS GUNS.
11 SPIKE: (Off) Nah-- nah, man-- no way-- Rain Man’ll kill me--
12 TIGER: Indeed.
13 SPIKE: (Off, Burst) HEY-- what-- what’choo--!!
3-PANEL
SEQUENCE: FIXED CAMERA ANGLE:
5 CUT TO: EXTERIOR OF THE CAR, NOW PARKED IN AN ALLEY. BRIGHT LIGHT FROM WITHIN, FROM GUNFIRE.
14 SFX: BLAM. BLAM.
6 STAT/REPEAT: THE DRIVER DOOR OPEN NOW, WHITE TIGER GETTING OUT OF THE CAR.\
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7 STAT/REPEAT: WHITE TIGER WALKS PAST US, SMOKING GUN IN HAND. WITH HIS FREE HAND, HE PULLS HIS MASK OFF, REVEALING KASPER COLE’s FACE. GRIM.
15 CAPTION: Should buy me about an hour.
16 CAPTION: And, since we’re in the neighborhood, let me chat up--
Page 6
1 CUT TO: EXT/ SHABAZZ MISSION CENTER FOR ALL PEOPLE, A STOREFRONT MINISTRY SOMEWHERE IN THE MOG. JOSIAH X SWEEPS THE SIDEWALK IN FRONT.
1 CAPTION: --Josiah X, my favorite Muslim activist.
2 VOICE: (Off) Whatcha say there, preacher.
3 JOSIAH: What I usually say to the police--
4 JOSIAH: --nothing.
2 NEW ANGLE: KASPER ARRIVES, GRIM. KASPER LOOKS LIKE VIN DIESEL. HE WEARS VERY EXPENSIVE KARL KANI/SEAN JOHN URBAN WEAR. HE LOOKS LIKE A STREET THUG. DENZEL IN Training Day.
5 KASPER: All cops, or just us Jewish ones?
6 JOSIAH: (Can be off) Your hangup, Kasper, not mine.
7 JOSIAH: What can I not do for you?
3 DETAIL: A PHOTO OF RHODEY. TAKEN FROM THE FUNERAL LAST ISSUE. MAKE THIS AN ACCURATE PORTRAIT SHOT SO WE GET A GOOD LOOK AT RHODEY.
8 CAPTION: This is what you call multi-tasking.
9 KASPER: (Off) This dude-- James Rhodes. Bankrupt CEO. You were at his sister’s funeral.
10 KASPER: (Same) Few hours before, I found the skels who killed her tied upon the street.
4 JOSIAH KEEPS SWEEPING, SMILING A LITTLE, NOW, AMUSED AT THIS GUY.
11 CAPTION: Pursue Case 1 While Case 2 Sleeps It Off In The Cab.
12 JOSIAH: Which means what, Officer Cole?
13 KASPER: Maybe our friend here is puttin’ in a little work-- a local hero. Maybe I can help.
5 JOSIAH: AMUSED, HE’S STOPPED SWEEPING, BUT STILL HOLDING THE BROOM, NOW LOOKING AT KASPER (KASPER CAN BE OFF-PANEL).
14 JOSIAH: Kasper-- since when have you been interested in helping anybody but yourself?
15 JOSIAH: Your tour ended, what, three hours ago-- but you’re still hunting down here in The Mog--
16 JOSIAH: --looking to score that promotion to detective.
6 NEW ANGLE: THE TWO MEN
17 JOSIAH: Star, Rhodey’s sister, got thrown out a window. Rhodey went after the bad guys.
18 JOSIAH: We kind of bumped into each other.
19 KASPER: Big bump, little bump?
20 JOSIAH: Kasper, I don’t know the guy--
Page 7
1 CUT TO: INT/SUBWAY TUNNEL: A MAINTENANCE GUY WALKS ALONG THE TRACKS. HE USES A NORMAL LOOKING FLASHLIGHT AND WEARS REFLECTIVE SAFETY VEST AND SO FORTH. NOTHING UNUSUAL ABOUT THIS GUY.
IN HIS FREE HAND, HE CARRIES WHAT APPEARS TO BE A SMALL TOOL BOX.
1 CAPTION: [Ital.]
“--for all we know, he did his payback bid and went home.
2 CAPTION: “I’d just drop it if I were you.”
2 NEAR A RAIL SWITCH: THIS GUY SQUATTING NOW, WORKING ON HIS TOOL BOX. WE DO NOT NEED TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT HE IS DOING. A RAIL SWITCH IS A SEGMENT OF TRACK WHERE ONE SET OF RAILS SPLITS INTO TWO SETS, ONE SET GOING IN ONE DIRECTION, THE OTHER TYPICALLY GOING TO THE LEFT OR THE RIGHT. SEE ANY HOBBY STORE CATALOG FOR AN EXAMPLE OF A RAILROAD SWITCH.
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3 IN FOR A PROFILE VIEW OF THIS GUY. LOTS OF SHADOW, SO WE’RE STILL NOT QUITE SURE WHO THIS IS. HE IS WORKING. NO EXPRESSION. JUST A DAY AT THE OFFICE.
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4 SAME ANGLE: ONLY NOW THE GUY’S FACE TURNS TOWARDS US. HE IS NOT LOOKING AT US PER SE BUT IS GLARING AT SOMETHING OFF-PANEL: AN APPROACHING TRAIN. WE DO NOT NEED TO SEE THE TRAIN HERE.
THE ILLUMINATION FROM THE HEADLIGHTS OF THE (OFF-PANEL) TRAIN LIGHT THIS GUY’S FACE AND HERE WE CLEARLY SEE IT IS RHODEY. MAKE SURE WE CAN CLEARLY SEE RHODEY’S FACE HERE, AS WE WILL IDENTIFY HIM IN A COUPLE OF PAGES.
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5 NEW ANGLE: WHAT RHODEY SEES: AN APPROACHING GARBAGE /MAINTENANCE TRAIN. I WILL PROVIDE REF ON THIS. IT IS A SINGLE ENGINE, A DIESEL. VERY LOUD, VERY DIRTY-LOOKING. THERE IS A GRATED CATWALK-STYLE DECK ON TOP OF IT WITH RAILING AROUND THE PERIMETER SO MEN CAN WALK FROM THE FRONT OF THIS CAR, WHERE THE MOTORMAN SITS, TO THE REAR, HOLDING ONTO THIS RAILING.
PUT ONE MAN ON THIS DECK. LIKE RHODEY, HE APPEARS TO BE A NORMAL TRANSIT WORKER. HE HAS A DUFFEL BAG OR SOME SUCH SLUNG OVER HIS SHOULDER. THIS BAG SHOULD BE LARGE ENOUGH TO CONCEAL AN UZI (BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT IS INSIDE IT).
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6 MASTER SHOT: THIS SUBWAY TUNNEL: RHODEY, NOW DRAPED IN SHADOW, CALMLY WALKS AWAY AS THE MAINTENANCE TRAIN APPROACHES THE RAIL SWITCH. I SUGGEST BUILDING HIS SECTION OF TUNNEL O A CURVE FOR MORE DRAMATIC IMPACT AND ANGLES VERSUS LIGHT POSSIBILITIES.
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Page 8
(SPLASH) THE TRAIN DERAILS. SLAMS INTO A WALL AND/OR KNOCKS OUT A ROW OF THESE IRON PILLARS, THE CEILING BUCKLES, DEBRIS FALLING, THE TRAIN TOPPLING OVER ON ITS SIDE, THE GUY ON THE CATWALK FALLING OVER THE SIDE: MAKE A BIG DEAL OUT OF THIS.
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Page 9
1 TALL DOWN THE LEFT SIDE OF THE PAGE: EXTERIOR OF A HOUSING PROJECT: THE WHITE TIGER EFFORTLESSLY SCALES THE EXTERIOR OF THE BUILDING, CARRYING THE STILL-COMATOSE SPIKE OVER HIS SHOULDER.
NOTE THERE IS A LOT OF COPY IN THIS PANEL BECAUSE I AM ASSUMING IT RUNS THE LENGTH OF THE PAGE.
1 CAPTION: “Rhodey.”
2 CAPTION: Calls him, “Rhodey,” like they play golf and the like.
3 CAPTION: More going on between X and “Rhodey” than meets the eye. Maybe something leads to a high profile arrest--
4 CAPTION: --onnem press conference arrests. Every cop dreams of The Press Conference Arrest.
5 CAPTION: Be grinnin’ at ma and so forth. Chief pins a shield.
6 CAPTION: [Ital.] “Rohhhh-deeee.”
2 CUT TO: MEDIUM CLOSE/UP ON SPIKE: WATER DUMPED ON HIM, WAKING HIM UP.
7 CAPTION: Spike’s cheap cologne making my eyes water.
8 CAPTION: Still learning to sort the smells out. Emotions... like colors...
9 CAPTION: Read this skel...
10 SPIKE: > sputter--!! < Wh-- WHAAAT--?!?
3 REVERSE ANGLE: WHAT HE SEES: WHITE TIGER, BRANDISHING HIS ENERGY DAGGER, SHOWING IT TO US IN A THREATENING MANNER. THE BLUE HOLOGRAPHIC BLADE (NO BLACK LINE) EMITS FROM THE ORNATE, PHYSICAL, ANCIENT KNIFE HILT.
NOTE: PANTHER/TIGER’s ENERGY DAGGER HAS RARELY BEEN DRAWN CORRECTLY: IT IS A CEREMONIAL KNIFE, AFRICAN CARVING ON THE WOODEN HILT, BUT THE BLADE ITSELF IS NOT METAL BUT IS MADE OF LIGHT ENERGY.
11 CAPTION: This is what, punk. Best to recognize.
12 TIGER: I have not much time, Spike.
13 CAPTION: Before Gwen gets to set trippin’...
14 TIGER: There must now come a swift conclusion to these matters.
15 CAPTION: [Ital.] “Rhohhhh-deeee.”
4 ESTABLISH THE ROOM: A RATTY APARTMENT IN A HOUSING PROJECT. SPIKE IS TIED TO A CHAIR AND WET.
16 SPIKE: Man... you... you shot me--
17 CAPTION: Paralytic enzyme gel bullets, you mope. Clocks you out for about an hour.
18 TIGER: Rain Man.
19 SPIKE: Man-- I give him up-- he’ll kill me--!!
5 TIGER UNCEREMONIOUSLY GRABS A FISTFUL OF SPIKE’s SHIRT, YANKING HIM DOWNWARD. SPIKE REACTS IN FEAR.
20 CAPTION: Red. Anger-- rage.
21 CAPTION: Out in the hall.
22 CAPTION: Boots on the fire escape.
23 SPIKE: Hey-- what-- what are you--?!
Page 10
1 THE ROOM ERUPTS WITH GUNFIRE, COMING THROUGH THE DOOR AND FROM A WINDOW. SPIKE’S CHAIR BREAKING AS HE HITS THE DECK. TIGER REACHES UNDER HIS COAT (HE IS REACHING FOR HIS SHOT GUN).
1 CAPTION: Now we’re talking.
2 CAPTION: Rain Man’s decided Spike is worth more to him dead than alive.
2 TIGER FIRES THE SHOTGUN. IT’S A SAWED OFF OR SOME OTHER SHORT-BARREL SHOTGUN. BIG MUZZLE FLASH.
3 CAPTION: Makes me no never mind. Long as I collar up.
4 CAPTION: Yeah.
5 CAPTION: Yeah, you mothers.
6 CAPTION: Let’s go.
3 CUT TO: EXTERIOR OF BUILDING: A GUNMAN ON THE FIRE ESCAPE IS HIT BY THE SHOT GUN BLAST, TOPPLES OVER, LOSES HIS GRIP ON HIS WEAPON, AN ASSAULT RIFLE. THE RIFLE CAN FIRE A SHORT BURST AS THE GUNMAN IS HIT.
7 SFX: BWWWOOOOOOM!!
4 BACK INSIDE: FLOOR LEVEL: SPIKE, STILL BOUND TO THE BROKEN CHAIR, GRIMACING, DEBRIS ON HIM AND ON THE FLOOR. TIGER’s BOOTS WALK PAST HIS HEAD (TIGER IS LEAVING).
8 TIGER: (Up and off) Be here when I return--
9 TIGER: --or face the consequences.
5 CUT TO: THE BASEMENT, SOMEWHERE NEAR THE LAUNDRY ROOM: TWO OR THREE MORE GUNMEN, GANG BANGER TYPES, RUNNING, GUNS IN HAND.
MAKE ONE OF THESE GUYS RAIN MAN-- THE (REGIONAL_ GANG WARLORD. HE’S PROTECTED BY THE OTHERS. RAIN MAN LOOKS TOUGH, BU, C’MON, WE KNOW HE’S A PUSSY.
10 CAPTION: The best thing about skels is they’re stupid. It’s on their skel resume.
11 CAPTION: Rain Man-- come to do Spike personally.
6 SMALL-ISH PANEL: REACTION SHOT FROM THE GANG BANGERS: THEY’VE SPOTTED SOMETHING.
12 CAPTION: Law of averages says I round up enough skels, somebody will roll over on Rain Man.
13 CAPTION: Forget that [Ital.] CSI: Miami bull. Truth is, police work is 2% Car Chase--
14 CAPTION: --98% Skel Flip.
15 GANG BANGER: Sheee--
Page 11
1 (2/3 PAGE: WHITE TIGER STALKING US. HE’S GOT THE SHOT GUN. HE EMERGES FROM STEAM OF LAUNDRY ROOM (A SIGN POINTING TO LAUNDRY ROOM, INDICATING IT IS NEARBY, WILL HELP EXPLAIN THE STEAM).
HE CAN EITHER BE WALKING OR LEAPING OR WHATEVER WORKS FOR YOU. I’M THINKING Terminator 2, SCHWARZENEGGER STALKING TOWARDS US, THE BARREL OF THE SHOTGUN POINTED DOWN OR MAYBE HE’S COCKING IT: I’M NOT SURE WHAT’S BEST HERE, BUT MAKE WHITE TIGER OMINOUS AND FRIGHTENING.
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2 CUT TO: DETAIL: TIGER’S GLOVED HAND WRITES A NOTE PINNED TO SPIKE’S SHIRT.
1 CAPTION: Sirens. Dammit.
2 NOTE: MY NAME IS RAIN MAN. I HAVE 12 OZ. OF DOPE UP MY BUTT. ARREST ME.
3 CAPTION: The whole point was to collar Rain Man myself. Now there’s no time--
3 NEW ANGLE: TIGER LEAPS OUT OF A WINDOW. THE GANG BANGERS TIED UP ON HE FLOOR. SPIKE CAN STILL BE TIED TO THE BROKEN CHAIR. SPIKE THE ONLY ONE AWAKE, CALLING AFTER TIGER.
4 CAPTION: --for me to invent enough probable cause--
5 CAPTION: --for OCCB Narcotics Officer Kasper Cole to be here.
6 CAPTION: So I toss Night Watch a ground ball--
7 SPIKE: Hey-- hey--!!
Page 12
1 ESTABLISH: EXTERIOR OF KASPER COLE’s APARTMENT IN HARLEM. KASPER LIVES OVER A STORE (SEE REF).
1 CAPTION: --and scurry home to Harlem--
2 CAPTION: --where the psychotic fight of the evening has already begun.
2 CUT TO: THE HALL OUTSIDE KASPER’S DOOR. KASPER GRIM, LOOKING AT THE DOOR.
3 CAPTION: Ma’s been cooking again.
4 CAPTION: I can tell by the cats running circles in the alley.
5 CAPTION: Insert key. Leave genitals at door.
3 CUT TO: INSIDE THE APARTMENT (SEE REF): RUTH COLE AND GWEN LEE BICKERING. RUTH (KASPER’S MOM, SEE REF) DRESSED IN A SLIP AND BRA. GWEN, ABOUT SIX MONTHS PREGNANT, DRESSED N A BATH ROBE.
GWEN HOLDS UP WHAT APPEARS TO BE A BABY’S SHIRT, SHOWING IT TO RUTH. RUTH SEEMS TO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY GWEN IS UPSET.
IMPORTANT COLOR NOTE: PLEASE DO NOT MAKE GWEN YELLOW. ASIAN ARE NOT YELLOW. WE REALLY NEED TO STOP DOING THAT. PLEASE COLOR GWEN NORMAL CAUCASIAN COLORS. THANKS!
6 CAPTION: My guess is... it’s the shirt.
7 GWEN: Kasper-- will you talk to your mother?!?
8 GWEN: Will you?!?
9 MOM: No need to shout, dear...
4 GWEN SNARLS AT KASPER, SHOWING HIM THE SHIRT. KASPER TOWERS OVER GWEN. KASPER HAS NO EXPRESSION: HE IS COMPLETELY TUNED OUT TO THESE PEOPLE.
10 KASPER: What, Gwen-- Ma bought the baby clothes you don’t like--?
11 GWEN: Kasper-- this is my shirt.
12 GWEN: All of my clothes are this size now-- thanks to her.
5 ON RUTH, STIRRING POTS ON THE STOVE. BRA AND SLIP. SHE LIVES ON PLANET MOM, OBLIVIOUS TO HOW SHE AFFECTS OTHER PEOPLE.
13 MOM: An honest mistake, Kevin.
14 KASPER: C’mon, Ma-- we talked about this.
15 KASPER: A robe. Minimum.
16 KASPER: You’re freaking me out, man.
6 KASPER WALKS TOWARDS THE BEDROOM, GWEN PURSUES, ANNOYED.
17 GWEN: I put my stuff in the wash --she changes the temperature--
18 KASPER: We’re late, Gwen.
19 GWEN: Screw Lamaze class-- you have to take me shopping--
Page 13
1 CUT TO: INT/KASPER AND GWEN’S BEDROOM. OVERHEAD ANGLE: KASPER LIES IN BED, FULLY CLOTHED AND STILL WEARING HIS JACKET. HE’S LOOKING AT A SMALL PHOTO (NO FRAME).
NOTE: A FULL-SIZED KOREAN FLAG IS MOUNTED ON THE WALL OVER THE BED (NOT IN A FRAME, JUST KIND OF HELD UP THERE BY PUSH PINS OR SOME SUCH).
1 MOM: (Off) Oh, I don’t think so, dear-- Visa just suspended your credit--
2 MOM: (Attach) -I, uh, [Ital.] accidentally looked at your bill...
3 CAPTION: Let this be a lesson to you, kid--
2 DETAIL: THE PHOTO IN HIS HAND: A SONOGRAM OF IS UNBORN CHILD. THIS IS WHO KASPER TALKS TO IN HIS NARRATIVE.
4 CAPTION: --keep it zipped up. If you know what’s good for you.
5 CAPTION: Learn from your old man what he should have learned from his--
3 NEW ANGLE: A FRAMED PHOTOGRAPH OF BLACK JACK COLE, FROM THE DAYS WHEN HE WAS ON THE FORCE (SEE REF). A PROUD, BACK COP.
6 CAPTION: --Jonathan Payton Cole. Called him “Black Jack” because he was so dark--
7 CAPTION: --just like they called his kid “Kasper,” because he was so light.
4 CU KASPER: STARING AT THE SONOGRAM.
8 CAPTION: Some bad guys set your granddad up-- sent him to jail... disgraced.
9 CAPTION: In an effort to clear his name, I started impersonating the Black Panther--
10 CAPTION: --this rich, African king who moved to Brooklyn to fight skels. Go figure.
11 CAPTION: Panther gave me this--
5 DETAIL: A PLASTIC BAGGIE WITH SOME HERBAL ROOTS IN IT. NOT A LOT, ONLY A COUPLE OF OUNCES. LOOKS LIKE OLD, BAD MARIJUANA.
12 CAPTION: --the heart-shaped herb that grants Panther enhanced senses, strength, speed and agility.
13 CAPTION: Makes me a sort of Panther-in-training-- what he calls a “White Tiger.”
14 CAPTION: Yeah, the tights are itchy, but the mask helps me go places a cop can’t.
6 NEW ANGLE: KASPER ON HIS CELL PHONE. STILL HOLDS THE PHOTO.
15 KASPER: Daz. It’s Cole.
16 KASPER: Who got credit for the Rain Man collar?
17 ELECTRIC: [Ital.]
Rain Man’s in the wind, Kasper.
18 ELECTRIC: [Ital.]
Every uniform in The Mog is at the derailment.
19 KASPER: Derailment--?
20 CAPTION: Ho
ho ho-- it’s Christmas--
Page 14
1 CUT TO: AN ABANDONED BUILDING, SOME WALLS TORN DOWN, CRAP HANGING FROM THE CEILING. SPIKE RACES ACROSS THE FLOOR, PUDDLES OF MUD SPLASH UP. SPIKE IS TERRIFIED.
1 CAPTION: Every cop in The Mog’s gone down the subway.
2 CAPTION: Gives me another shot at arresting Rain Man myself.
3 SPIKE: C’mon, man-- leave me alone-!!
4 CAPTION: So we head back down to “Skels ‘R’ Us”...
2 SPIKE GETS HIT BY A VOLLEY OF ENERGY DAGGERS. SEE REF FOR THIS EFFECT.
IMPORTANT COLOR NOTE: THESE DAGGERS ARE BLUE (NON-LETHAL).
5 CAPTION: Light ‘em up.
6 SPIKE: (Burst) --NNGGAAARRGGHH--!!
7 CAPTION: Hit the accent.
8 TIGER: (Off) Soon, the drugs hidden in your bowels will pass out of you.
3 DOWN ANGLE: SPIKE LYING IN THE MUDDY CRAP, TIGER’s BOOT ON HIS NECK.
9 TIGER: (Off) Then you will be many years in the prison.
10 CAPTION: Ice blue ammonia.
11 TIGER: (Off) Unless you’d care to explore alternatives.
4 UP ANGLE: THE TIGER: GRIM, EERIE. HEAVY SHADOW. HE DISPLAYS THE ENERGY DAGGER, BRANDISHING IT THREATENINGLY. IN HIS OTHER HAND, HE SHOWS US HIS KIMOYO CARD.
THE KIMOYO CARD HAS RARELY BEEN DRAWN THE SAME WAY TWICE. IT IS A SIMPLE CREDIT CARD-SIZED COMPUTER INTERFACE.
12 TIGER: On it’s lowest setting, the energy dagger acts as a marker.
13 TIGER: My Kimoyo Card can track that marker anywhere on the globe.
5 TIGER LEANS IN, THREATENING SPIKE WITH THE ENERGY DAGGER.
14 TIGER: We shall have an understanding between us, Spike. Speak of it to no man.
15 TIGER: From this day to your last, you shall serve me--
16 TIGER: -and I promise not to carve your heart like a roast...
17 SPIKE: Wait-- wait--
6 SPIKE, DESPERATE
18 SPIKE: --if you give me a break--
19 SPIKE: --I’ll tell you about the train-- the TRAIN--!!
Page 15
1 DETAIL: TIGER’S KIMOYO CARD. A DIAGRAM OF THE SUBWAY SYSTEM AND WHERE THE DERAILMENT IS (IN THIS DIAGRAM, REMEMBER THE DERAILMENT IS AT A RAIL SWITCH, WHERE A TRACK SPLITS IN TWO DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS). TIGER’S THUMB OR WHAT HAVE YOU ON THE CARD, INDICATING HE IS HOLDING IT.
1 CAPTION: My Kimoyo Card is tied into the Wakandan Satellite Network.
2 CAPTION: Not that I’d need it to find the derailment--
2 TIGER SPRINTS OR LEAPS OR WHAT HAVE YOU, MAKING HIS WAY THROUGH AN UNDERGROUND TUNNEL. THIS CAN BE A SUBWAY TUNNEL OR MAINTENANCE ACCESS, WHATEVER MAKES THE MOST SENSE TO YOU.
A NOTE ABOUT THE TIGER’s COSTUME: ALTHOUGH IT IS WHITE, IT IS ALSO HIGHLY REFLECTIVE. HE VANISHES IN SHADOW, THE COSTUME TURNING MATTE BLACK AND MELDING INTO SHADOWS. HE SHOULD NOT STICK OUT BUT RATHER BLEND IN TO HIS SURROUNDINGS.
3 CAPTION: --but, in terms of avoiding the army of cops trying to get to the train, it’s a pretty good deal.
4 CAPTION: Part of that tunnel has collapsed, so it’s taking time to get to the train--
3 THE TIGER STAGGERS A BIT, LEANING AGAINST A WALL OR COLUMN, SUDDENLY INCREDIBLY NAUSEOUS.
5 CAPTION: ---
6 CAPTION: --not sure I can do this...
7 CAPTION: ...the noise... the stench down here...
4 IN FOR A CLOSE UP: TIGER HAS PULLED HIS MASK OFF, REVEALING KASPER’s FACE. KASPER SNARLING, BEADS OF SWEAT. HE’S TRYING TO TOUGHEN UP, BUT THIS CRAP’S REALLY GETTING TO HIM.
8 CAPTION: ...Jesus...
9 CAPTION: ...a million rats scurrying... dead things... vomit... urine...
10 CAPTION: ...trains passing... deafening...
11 SFX: BLEEP-- BLEEEP-- BLEEEP--
12 CAPTION: ...cell phones...
5 NEW ANGLE: TIGER, MASK STILL OFF, ON THE PHONE.
13 CAPTION: Now what.
14 ELECTRIC: [Ital.]
So.. that’s where we’re at, Kasper? You just up and split...?
15 TIGER: Gwen-- I’m a police officer.
16 TIGER: I’m out policing.
6 CUT TO: GWEN AT THE APARTMENT, ON THE PHONE: SHE IS NOW WEARING CLOTHES THAT OBVIOUSLY BELONG TO KASPER’s MOM. THE SILLIER THE BETTER. RUTH (MOM) FUSSES WITH GWEN’s OUTFIT AS GWEN SCREAMS AT KASPER OVER THE PHONE.
17 GWEN: Kasper-- she’s your mother.
18 GWEN: Mine won’t speak to me anymore because I got myself done by a soul brother.
19 ELECTRIC: Little busy now, Gwen.
20 GWEN: Makes two of us.
21 MOM: No, dear, the strap goes in front...
Page 16
1 THE WHITE TIGER: IN CLOSE: TIGER: SNARL. HE NOW BRANDISHES HIS CLAWS, POPPING THEM. NOTE, TIGER ONLY HAS CLAWS ON ONE HAND (I BELIEVE IT IS HIS RIGHT HAND, BUT PLEASE MAKE SURE). TIGER STILL ON THE PHONE.
1 CAPTION: Between the tunnel and them-- I’ll take the tunnel...
2 KASPER: Okay, I’m hanging up now.
3 ELECTRIC: KASPER--!!
4 CAPTION: Yeah, that’s it, baby-- inspire me--
2 TIGER SINKS HIS CLAWS INTO A WALL OR SOME SUCH, BEGINNING THE PROCESS OF CUTTING THRU THE WALL.
5 CAPTION: Anti-Metal claws-- razor sharp, all but indestructible--
6 CAPTION: --and they break down all known metals on contact.
7 CAPTION: Allowing me a little shortcut--
3 CUT TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS WALL: IN CLOSE: TIGER CAUTIOUSLY CRAWLS THROUGH THIS CRUDE OPENING. STAY IN CLOSE SO WE SEE HIS EYES (HE HAS THE MASK BACK ON NOW): WE’RE MAKING A POINT ABUT HIS NIGHT VISION.
8 CAPTION: --pitch black.
9 CAPTION: Which used to mean something.
10 CAPTION: Not anymore...
4 LARGER PANEL: A TOUGH ONE: THE DERAILMENT SCENE: A GENERAL IDEA OF WHERE THIS WORK CAR IS, THE COLLAPSED TUNNEL, ETC.
BUT THIS SHOULD ALL BE RENDERED IN “NIGHT VISION” GREENS. BIG OPEN SHAPES, ALMOST A NEGATIVE EFFECT. TO TIGER, THIS SCENE IS BRIGHTLY LIT AND VERY CLEAR. THIS IS WHAT HE SEES.
11 CAPTION: Night vision. Courtesy of Panther’s bag of dirt.
12 CAPTION: Sounds like a great power to have. It ain’t.
13 CAPTION: It just reminds you of how different you are.
5 THE TIGER. INCOMING GUNFIRE TEARS UP THE WALL AROUND HIM, SOME OF THE GUNFIRE HITS HIM AROUND THE SHOULDERS.
14 SFX: BRAAATATATATATAT--!!
15 CAPTION: The cops assigned to the train-- probably scared spitless.
16 CAPTION: Hard to separate real emotion from urine when everything smells like urine.
Page 17
1 NEW ANGLE: A MAN WEARING AN ORANGE SAFETY VEST OVER UTILITY COVERALLS: HE APPEARS TO BE A SUBWAY WORKER BUT HE IS IN FACT A POLICE OFFICER. HE IS IN SOME DEFENSIVE POSITION, AIMING AN UZI.
AN INCOMING VOLLEY OF ENERGY DAGGERS KNOCKS HIM BACK OFF OF HIS FEET.
COLOR: INCOMING ENERGY DAGGER EFFECT: BLUE (NON-LETHAL) ENERGY.
1 CAPTION: Looks like a subway worker, but this guy’s a badge.
2 CAPTION: A bad badge.
3 VOICE: (Tailless) Safety your weapons and lay them on the ground.
2 NEW ANGLE: TIGER LANDS IN A CROUCH, BRANDISHING HIS ENERGY DAGGER (SE WE KNOW WHAT THAT PREVIOUS EFFECT WAS).
4 TIGER: I am come that you might live.
5 CAPTION: Though I’m tempted to leave you here. Lowlife dirty scum.
6 CAPTION: Maybe you get what you got coming.
3 NEW ANGLE: THE TIGER TURNS HIS ATTENTION TO THE TRAIN ITSELF. HE SLICES INTO A SIDE PANEL WITH THE ENERGY DAGGER IN HIS HAND. USE THE ENERGY DAGGER AS A LIGHT SOURCE.
7 COP: (Can be off) My partner-- we’re trapped-- not much ammo--
8 CAPTION: --and probably worth more dead than alive to the crooked cops and politicians you work for...
4 DETAIL: THROUGH THE RUINED SIDE PANEL, WE SEE SEVERAL LOCK BOXES. THINK SAFETY DEPOSIT BOXES AT A BANK OR SIMILAR. EACH BOX HAS A HIGH-SECURITY KEYHOLE ON IT.
9 CAPTION: ...the corrupt ring that feeds off of Little Mogadishu.
10 CAPTION: This is the Money Train-- the monthly payoff for crooked judges, cops and politicians.
11 CAPTION: An urban legend-- nobody ever believed it was real...
12 CAPTION: Hidden lock boxes on a garbage scow. Guarded by the NYPD.
5 TIGER SINKS HIS CLAWS INTO THE BOXES (HE CAN BE CUTTING INTO MORE THAN ONE BOX AT A TIME).
13 CAPTION: Couple dozen points along the way, men with keys pull individual boxes off the scow.
14 CAPTION: No two people have the same key, nobody knows anybody, everybody has deniability.
6 TIGER, HOLDING ONE OF THE RUINED LOCK BOXES, H’S PULLED A HANDFUL OF CASH OUT OF IT.
15 CAPTION: Screw Spike and Rain Man.
16 CAPTION: I bust this crew, instant gold shield...
17 CAPTION: ...The Press Conference Arrest...
Page 18
1 TIGER SNAPS OUT IN RAGE, SLAMMING THE LOCK BOX AGAINST THE TRAIN. MONEY FLIES EVERYWHERE. THE COP STARTLED BY THE FEROCITY.
1 CAPTION: Yeah, but it’d be a gold shield in Internal Affairs.
2 CAPTION: A rat with a gold shield is still a rat--
3 CAPTION: --whoa--
2 NEW ANGLE: TIGER TURNS HIS ATTENTION TO SOMETHING ELSE: LOOKING TOWARDS THE REAR OF THE TRAIN. HE HAS PICKED UP RHODEY’s SCENT.
4 CAPTION: --in all the stench down here... I almost missed it...
5 CAPTION: ...something familiar...
3 TIGER SQUATS BY THE TRACKS. THE TRACKS ARE WARPED AND HAVE BEEN RIPPED OUT OF THE TRACK BED AND TWISTED.
6 CAPTION: ...a scent.
7 CAPTION: Somebody I met. Somebody I know...
4 DETAIL: RHODEY’s PHOTO IN TIGER’S HAND.
8 CAPTION: ...this guy.
9 CAPTION: Mr.
Ex-moneybags. [Ital.] “Rohhhh-deee...”
10 CAPTION: Got his scent at his sister’s funeral. Now it’s like his face on a milk carton.
5 CLOSE UP: TIGER: SNARL.
11 CAPTION: He was here.
12 CAPTION: He may still be here.
13 CAPTION: Sleigh bells ring, are ya listnin’.
Page 19
1 NEW ANGLE: THE TIGER LEAPS OR CLIMBS OR RACES OFF. REMEMBER HE CAN SCALE WALLS EFFORTLESSLY. IF YOU HAVE HIM SCALING A WALL, PLEASE HAVE THE SOLES OF HIS BOOTS GLOW BLUE (LEAVE COLOR NOTE).
1 CAPTION: Screw this.
2 CAPTION: I’ll take Gwen to the damned mall.
3 COP: --?!? Y--you’re leaving...?!
4 TIGER: I am.
2 NEW ANGLE: THE TIGER PASSES THRU THE HOLE HE MADE IN THE WALL. HE CAN BE BACKING INTO IT SO WE CAN STILL SEE HIS FACE. PERHAPS HAVE HIM POINTING IN SOME DIRECTION.
5 TIGER: The consequences of your evil will find you.
6 CAPTION: Between the gangs, the bad cops, and the press, it’s a race to see who gets to those mopes first.
3 CUT TO: THE WHITE TIGER, NOW ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WALL, MAKING HIS EXIT. RUNNING, LEAPING, WHATEVER.
7 CAPTION: Getting arrested is the best thing that could happen to those guys.
8 CAPTION: Assuming their crooked partners don’t get to them first.
9 CAPTION: Or, worse, the press.
4 MORE OF THIS, THE TIGER LEAVING.
10 CAPTION: Nothin’ in this for me.
11 CAPTION: No way to collar up-- how do I explain Kasper Cole even knowing about this?
5 IN CLOSE ON TIGER, SNARL.
12 CAPTION: Whole thing’ll turn into an I.A.B. cluster grope--
13 SFX: BLAAAAAAMM--!!
14 CAPTION: ---
15 CAPTION: --blood--
Page 20
1 CUT TO: THE COP TIGER LEFT IN THERE: CONVULSING, DROPPING HIS WEAPON AS BLOOD SPURTS FROM HIS SIDE: HE’S BEEN SHOT.
1 CAPTION: Blood... tearing flesh... liquefying viscera... gas... bile...
2 CAPTION: ...200 feet away and I can still smell it...
3 CAPTION: ...taste it...
2 TIGER CONVULSES, HIS MASK PULLED BACK, ABOUT TO VOMIT. THE DRY HEAVES.
4 CAPTION: ...dry heaves... get out of my head... out of my mouth...
5 CAPTION: ...Jeez... how does Panther live like this?!?
6 CAPTION: Wait-- getting better-- losing my sense of the guy--
3 CUT TO: THE COP KEELS OVER AS GUNFIRE RIPS THROUGH THE SCENE.
7 CAPTION: --shock. He’s going into shock. Purple... a fog...
8 CAPTION: Seen people shot before...
9 CAPTION: ...never like this...
10 CAPTION: ...never...
4 DOWN ANGLE: THE TIGER CLIMBS A LADDER, HEADING UP TOWARDS US.
11 CAPTION: Screw him. He’s a crook. A crooked cop.
12 CAPTION: Like the ones who set my dad up.
13 CAPTION: That is the life he chose.
14 CAPTION: I’ve got two psychotic women waiting for me...
5 BACK AT THE TRAIN: MEN BREAKING THROUGH THE DEBRIS. FLASHLIGHTS AND GUNFIRE. WE CAN’T TELL IF THESE ARE GOOD GUYS OR BAD GUYS. MOSTLY SHADOWY SHAPES, A LARGE GROUP OUTLINE OR SOME SUCH.
15 CAPTION: They’ve broken through. Too many to sort out.
16 CAPTION: Others approaching from another tunnel wall. Gangs...? Cops...?
17 CAPTION: Seven million in cash and drugs on that train.
6 THE SHOT COP: BARELY ALIVE, TRYING TO RETURN FIRE.
18 CAPTION: Evidence of collusion between cops and crooks.
19 CAPTION: Two guys guarding it.
20 CAPTION: 18 gang sets, three police precincts and the New York Post coming after it.
Page 21
1 (LEFT 2/3 OF PAGE OR WHATEVER WORKS FOR YOU) POSTER SHOT: THE WHITE TIGER LEAPING INTO ACTION, FIRING BOTH PISTOLS. INCOMING GUNFIRE HITS HIM BUT DOESN’T EVEN SLOW HIM DOWN.
1 CAPTION: Aww...
2 CAPTION: ...what the hell.
2 THE TIGER GRABS THE DOWNED COP, DRAGGING HIM WHILE FIRING AT THE OFF-PANEL ASSAILANTS.
3 COP: You-- you came back--
4 CAPTION: Yup.
5 CAPTION: Trading in my future-- my kid’s future--
6 CAPTION: --because I can’t stand smelling you die.
Page 22
1 IN CLOSE: TIGER SNARLING AS HE FIRES.
1 CAPTION: Too many scents to count... lost my way somewhere around 300.
2 CAPTION: And, the good news is, I’m about to throw up.
2 NEW ANGLE: TIGER TAKES UP A POSITION CLOSE TO THE TRAIN AS GUNFIRE HITS THE TRAIN. HE’S GOT THE WOUNDED COP TO (RELATIVE) SAFETY. MONEY ALL OVER THE FLOOR WHERE THEY’RE HIDING.
3 CAPTION: Pinned. Surrounded.
4 CAPTION: This getup is bullet proof, but wasn’t designed to fight armies.
5 CAPTION: Pistols loaded with useless, non-lethal gel bullets.
6 SFX: BLEEEP-- BLEEP-- BLEEP--!
7 CAPTION: And, this just in...
3 HIGH OVERHEAD: TIGER PINNED DOWN BY THE TRAIN, MOBS OF ASSAILANTS CLOSING IN. DO THE “NIGHT VISION” GREEN TRICK, HERE. AGAIN, THE GUNMEN CAN BE A LARGE OPEN SHAPE, MORE OMINOUSLY SUGGESTIVE THAN INDIVIDUALIZED.
TIGER TALKS ON HIS CELL PHONE.
8 ELECTRIC: Kevin--
it’s your mother.
9 ELECTRIC: Listen,
dear, about the laundry... you know how she over-reacts.
10 ELECTRIC: Besides,
I have lots of clothes I don’t wear anymore. Plenty in her
size, dear.
11 ELECTRIC: When will you be home? I’ve got some nice A Gahntze Tzimmes in the oven...
12 NEXT: NEXT: DANNY
-- 30 --