Family Comic

Yay for super vulnerable comics! I've mainly written ridiculous silly comics so I thought this would be a good opportunity to get a little more vulnerable. Which is really scary, but also really liberating to write about memories that have been stewing in my mind for over a decade that I've never talked about to anyone.

Script under the cut...



BROKEN DISHES
Written by Cassidy Aquilino-Berg
4 Page Comic Script
Revised 2/28/2014

CHARACTER NOTES

MICHELLE / MOM: Early 30's, heavy set, tired. Easily set off, huge mood swings, anger issues. Screams loud enough for the neighbors to hear.

FRED/DAD: Late 30's, thin, extremely tan, works hard labor and it shows. Stays quiet in arguments, hates confrontation. Just waits for the storm to pass.

CASSIDY: 8 years old. Very small, shy.

ART NOTES
The comic should only be in black, white and gray tones, and noir style color as needed. Lines should be kept loose. Finding opportunities to break the panel frame is encouraged. Render in a kind of fuzzy, watercolor quality.

PAGE ONE -- FOUR PANELS

LAYOUT:

PANEL ONE
In CASSIDY's room; the whole room is shown with an emphasis on the contrast of the dark underneath the bed with a little leg sticking out.

1. FX: SMASH
2. FX: SMASH

PANEL TWO
A close up of plate is shattering on the ground, the floor already covered in broken shards.

PANEL THREE
Close up of CASSIDY hiding under the bed in the dark, crying.

1. MICHELLE: (yelling from downstairs) FUCK YOU, FRED.
2. MICHELLE: (yelling from downstairs) GODDAMN YOU.

LETTERING NOTE: Have the lettering be handwritten, manic looking and not in a bubble. Make sure it's clear where it is coming from.

PANEL FOUR
Same shot of CASSIDY under the bed, but now MICHELLE's silhouette is in front of the bed looking under it. A hand reaching under to pull CASSIDY out.

1. MICHELLE: Why are you under the bed? Get out.
2. MICHELLE: Stop crying. You are being ridiculous.

PAGE TWO --SPLASH PAGE

PANEL ONE
Shot of the kitchen. All the cabinets are open. Broken dishes are all over the floor. FRED is sitting at the kitchen table looking to the side out the window. MICHELLE and CASSIDY are going down the stairs. MICHELLE is almost out of frame going down the stairs. CASSIDY is standing at the top of the stairs looking at FRED.

PAGE THREE -- FOUR PANELS

LAYOUT: 

PANEL ONE
MICHELLE and CASSIDY are outside by the car.

1. MICHELLE: We're leaving. Get in the car.

PANEL TWO

MICHELLE and CASSIDY sitting in the car together driving. The windshield is visible and where they are driving. It is raining and night.

1. CASSIDY: Where are we going?
2. MICHELLE: I don't know.

PANEL THREE

MICHELLE and CASSIDY are still driving. Should look similar to panel two. Through the windshield on the side of the road there is a church with a huge cross on the top lit up.

1. CASSIDY: Can we go home?
2. MICHELLE: No.

PANEL FOUR

MICHELLE and CASSIDY are driving, pulling over into a parking lot. Now it is pulled out and you can see the car parked in the church parking lot.

1. CASSIDY: Are you mad at me?
2. MICHELLE: No.

PAGE FOUR -- SPLASH PAGE

PANEL ONE

CASSIDY and MICHELLE are sitting in pews inside the church. The whole church is drawn, but most of the image is taken up by a giant cross.

1. MICHELLE: You know those "bedtime stories" your Grands tells you from that stupid book aren't real right?
2. MICHELLE: God is just made up.