Sentry Duty

By AJ Apelian
Art by Erin Mehlos

Script

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PAGE 1

I want the first two pages to be long rectangular panels stretching from the left end of the page to the right like you were folding a piece of paper horizontally.

Panel 1:

INT. BEDROOM – MORNING

CAPTION BOX: OH BOY! OH BOY! OH BOY!

A war zone of a bedroom. Various articles of CLOTHING engulf the floor, with very little carpet showing. The walls are PLASTERED with posters of famous super heroes. Have fun going nuts with analogues of famous superheroes. Name them whatever the hell you want. In the center of the panel, a bed. The covers are clearly THROWN OFF. To the right there is an END TABLE with an alarm clock flashing 7:00 AM as a teenage boy, JOEY FRITCH (18), LEAPS to his feet out of bed.

Joey is clearly a loser Jersey kid. Torn jeans. Bon Jovi t-shirt. Faint signs of trying to grow a mustache, but to no avail. Blotchy skin — not covered in acne, but some pimples that have not fully cleared. Pale as a ghost. Lanky.

Panel 2

INT. KITCHEN – MORNING

CAPTION BOX: OH BOY! OH BOY! OH BOY!

Joey walks right by his MOTHER (think June Cleaver meets Peggy Bundy. A trashy looking woman done up to look like a 50’s housewife) and a ridiculous BREAKFAST SPREAD on a kitchen table.

MOTHER:
Good Morn —

Panel 3

INT. CLASSROOM – DAY

CAPTION BOX: OH BOY! OH BOY! OH BOY!

History Class. Random facts about RASPUTIN are scrawled on the blackboard. Joey sits at the FRONT of the class. Random generic classmates clearly not paying attention around him. The teacher is really jazzed to be talking about Rasputin.

Joey is deep in thought, chewing on a pen and staring down at his desk. On Joey’s desk we can clearly see an open notebook with SUPER HERO NAMES scrawled hastily in between doodles.

Awesome Man
Captain Awesome
The Awesome Avenger
Justice Lad

(feel free to add more stupid names on the list)

TEACHER:
Stabbed. Poisoned. Hanged.

Page 2

Panel 1

INT. CAFETERIA – DAY

CAPTION BOX: OH BOY! OH BOY! OH BOY!

Joey is CRAMMED into a bench with assorted STUDENTS re-enacting a superhero battle with FRENCH FRIES, oblivious to CONVERSATION around him. Two classmates, JEFF and ROB, sit to either side of him, and talk to each other as if he is not there. Jeff is fat as hell. I’m talking rolls within rolls. Rob looks at least 25 and has clearly been held back quite a few times. Though we don’t know it yet, these two are Joey’s BEST FRIENDS.

ROB:
So there I was, stocking the produce section and BAM – boner time.

JEFF:
Jesus. What’d you do?

ROB:
Well, see, there were these big grapefruits and —

Panel 2

CAPTION BOX: OH BOY! OH BOY! OH BOY!

INT. JOEY’S HOUSE – DAY
Joey stands in the DOORWAY, door WIDE OPEN having just come home from school. We can see STREAMERS and BALLOONS everywhere. Various FAMILY MEMBERS are gathered around behind Joey’s MOTHER, wearing PARTY HATS.

MOTHER:
Happy Birth–

Panel 3

CAPTION BOX: OH BOY! OH BOY! OH BOY!

The same exact scene as above, only Joey is nowhere to be found and the door is closed. In Joey’s place is his BOOKBAG. The happy family now looks dejected.

PAGE 3

This is a full page spread and the title page.

EXT. SENTRY REGISTRATION CENTER – DAY

ON TOP OF THE PAGE: THE TITLE OF THE STORY “THE CALL”

IN THE BOTTOM, CREDITS:

Written by: AJ Apelian
Art by: Erin Mehlos

CAPTION BOX: I’M GONNA BE A SUPERHERO!

Joey stands in front of the entrance of the SENTRY REGISTRATION CENTER. It is a majestic monolithic building that dwarfs Joey. Think a courthouse on crack. Pillars, statues, the works.

PAGE 4

Panel 1

INT. SENTRY REGRISTRATION CENTER — HALLWAY – DAY

Joey whistles, a huge shit-eating grin on his face as he happily saunters down the halls of the anesthetic and plain hallway of the registration center. Random PASSERS-BY look at him like he’s a buffoon.

Panel 2

INT. SENTRY REGISTRATION CENTER — MAIN LOBBY – DAY

Joey’s sauntering is CRUSHED by a GARGANTUAN line leading up to a SINGLE DESK. We can barely make out the person behind the desk, but they are very unhappy with their job.

Panels 3

INT. SENTRY REGISTRATION CENTER — MAIN LOBBY — LINE – DAY

CAPTION BOX: COME ON!

Quick shot of Joey in line getting more and more angry.

Panel 4

INT. SENTRY REGISTRATION CENTER — MAIN LOBBY — LINE – DAY

CAPTION BOX: COME ON!

Joey, still in line, still angry impatiently tapping his foot.

Panel 5

INT. SENTRY REGISTRATION CENTER — MAIN LOBBY — FRONT DESK – DAY

At the FRONT DESK we see a DODDERING OLD MAN (for extra fun, make him look like STAN LEE) looking confused as he faces the SENTRY REGISTRATION CLERK who is visibly upset.

CLERK:
Sorry, sir. This is no the DMV. You cannot renew your driver’s license here.

Panel 6

INT. SENTRY REGISTRATION CENTER — MAIN LOBBY — LINE – DAY

Back in line, Joey has BLOWN A GASKET.

JOEY:
OH FOR CHRIST’S SAKE!

Panel 7

INT. SENTRY REGISTRATION CENTER — MAIN LOBBY — LINE – DAY

The rest of the line has all turned around to gaze ANGRILY at a red faced, sheepish Joey.

PAGE 5

Panel 1

INT. SENTRY REGISTRATION CENTER — MAIN LOBBY — FRONT DESK – DAY

CAPTION BOX: 43 GRUELING MINUTES LATER

A worn out Joey is SLUMPED over the desk. The clerk looks at him, DISGUSTED.

CLERK:
Can I help you, sir?

JOEY:
Just make me a superhero already.

CLERK
Oh, I’d be absolutely delighted.

Panel 2

INT. SENTRY REGISTRATION CENTER — MAIN LOBBY — FRONT DESK – DAY

Joey’s eyes are wide, and his mouth agape. A PILE of paperwork stands before him, completely blocking our view of the clerk. From behind the pile the clerk still talks to Joey.

CLERK
I just need you to fill out a couple forms. Take your time, and someone will come for you soon.

Panel 3

INT. SENTRY REGISTRATION CENTER — WAITING ROOM – DAY

Various disgruntled PEOPLE angrily fill out large piles of paperwork. Joey sits in the middle of them, huge stack of paper completed shaking out his wrist. To the far right, an OLD MAN IN A LAB COAT, clearly some sort of DOCTOR holds a clipboard.

DOCTOR:
Joey Fritch! Lookin’ for a Joey Fritch, here.

Panel 4

INT. SENTRY REGISTRATION CENTER — HALLWAY – DAY

Joey hops alongside the Doctor, much like a puppy. Wide-eyed and bushy-tailed, so to speak. The Doctor shows little to no interest in Joey, rather he seems to be reading the clipboard as they walk.

JOEY
So what’s next? Kung Fu lessons? Weapons training? Holy shit do I get to test drive some powers?

DOCTOR:
Errr. No. We’re just going to run a battery of test–

JOEY:
What kinds of tests?

Panel 5

INT. FOREBODING ROOM – DAY

CAPTION BOX: Oh, you’ll see.

An ENORMOUS ROOM clearly once used for interrogations. Only a small table and a metal chair in the center. Joey and the Doctor are tiny figures in the foreground.

PAGE 6

For this page, Panels 1-6 take place in the Foreboding Room, so I am not gonna label each panel as such. They are all quick visual gags, with no dialogue.

Panel 1

Joey struggles valiantly trying to put a square peg into a round hole as SCIENTISTS look on.

Panel 2

A scientist holds up a picture of a man PUNCHING AN OLD LADY IN THE FACE. Joey is at the table with two buttons in front of him, one labeled GOOD and one labeled BAD

Panel 3

Joey is running, shirtless, on a treadmill that has magically found itself in the room, hooked up to wires as two scientist pay NO ATTENTION to him, instead focusing on a small television playing SANFORD AND SON. One of the scientists gives the weary Joey a thumbs up.

Panel 4

A Scientist holds up a Rorschach ink blot that for all the world looks like a hand sticking up the middle finger to Joey. Behind him, two other SCIENTISTS try to restrain snickering as Joey stares at the card, contemplative.

Panel 5

Joey plays with HAND PUPPETS as a PSYCHIATRIST complete in Freudian clothes scribbles notes on a pad.

Panel 6

Joey plays CHECKERS with a very mangy looking GORILLA. The gorilla is losing and is clearly angry about this.

Panel 7

INT. ???

Joey is no longer in the Foreboding Room, he is surrounded by whiteness

Panel 8

EXTREME LONG SHOT

A tiny Joey is seen in a BIG MAZE as scientist look on from A CONTROL BOOTH above it.

PAGE 7

Panel 1

(for this panel, I want it to be the same size as the ones used on pages 1 and 2)

INT. SENTRY REGISTRATION CENTER — MAIN LOBBY — FRONT DESK – DAY

An exhausted Joey is in a similar position – once again SLUMPED on the Desk. The Clerk, however, is not as disgusted as he previously was. He holds a CERTIFICATE in his hand.

CLERK:
Based on your completion of all mental, physical, and psychological tests, I am proud to inform you that are now enrolled in the Sentry Program. Congratulations!

Panel 2

A Single, large, borderless panel that takes up the rest of the page

INT. SENTRY REGISTRATION CENTER — MAIN LOBBY — FRONT DESK – DAY

Joey TRIUMPHANTLY holds the certificate high above his head. He is almost glowing.

JOEY:
YES!!!

PAGE 8

Panel 1

Just a caption box reading: SIX WEEKS LATER

Panel 2

CLOSE-UP ON JOEY

Joey is noticeably irked

JOEY:
THIS SUCKS!!!

Panel 3

INT. LIVING ROOM – DAY

Joey, Rob, and Jeff are slumped on a couch, playing some sort of video game (not the Wii. If you draw the Wii, you are fired). Rob and Jeff roll their eyes – clearly they have heard this spiel before.

JOEY:
Seriously. I get these super powers and now nothing’s going on.

ROB:
You live in New Jersey. All the superheroes are in New York. What’d ya expect?

JEFF:
Geography: Your arch-nemesis.

Panel 4

INT. LIVING ROOM – DAY

Cut and paste of the same scene, only with Jeff and Rob having un-rolled eyes.

JOEY:
You guys don’t understand. You didn’t go through the program.

ROB:
Look, I’m twenty-fou–I mean nineteen. Never been called up once.

JEFF:
That’s because you’re a convicted se–

JOEY:
Man, you guys suck. I’m out of here.

Panel 5

EXT. JERSEY STREETS – DAY

Joey walks down the street like a petulant child. Head is low in a kind of a scowl. Hands in his pockets. Kicking a ROCK.

JOEY
Stupid friends. They don’t know nothin’ about nothin’. I wanna battle a super villain, not hang around with a tubby loser and a dang rap–

Panel 6

CAPTION BOX: JOEY FRITCH, YOU HAVE BEEN ACTIVATED FOR SENTRY DUTY

A beam of light ENGULFS Joey

PAGE 9

(don’t worry about backgrounds for this page other than the Commandant Gobbledy panel, as it will be mostly close-ups or Joey awashed in light)

Panel 1

CAPTION BOX: THIS IS SATELLITE SD-105. I WILL BE YOUR GUIDE. A THREAT HAS BROKEN OUT AT THE LOCAL S-MART.

Joey is still AWASHED in light. His eyes are full of wonder

Panel 2

GRAINY VIDEO EFFECT

EXT. SUPERMARKET – DAY

CAPTION BOX: COMMANDANT GOBBLEDY, A NAZI WAR CRIMINAL HAS ESCAPED HIS TRIAL FOR WAR CRIMES AND IS HEADED YOUR WAY. YOUR DUTY IS TO NEUTRALIZE THIS THREAT.

COMMANDANT GOBBLEDY, an anthropomorphic turkey in a NAZI UNIFORM runs away from a screaming CONVENIENCE STORE CLERK. An ARMY of CHICKENS with little NAZI ARM BANDS goosestep behind him.

Panel 3

CLOSE-UP ON JOEY

CAPTION BOX: I HAVE SELECTED A SUITABLE SET OF POW–

JOEY:
I wanna be able to drop kick Saturn!

Panel 4

CLOSE-UP ON JOEY

CAPTION BOX: I AM SORRY, THAT IS WELL BEYOND WHAT IS NEEDED FOR THIS TASK

Joey looks disheartened at this news.

Panel 5

CLOSE-UP ON JOEY

Joey has a huge smirk on his face.

JOEY:
Fine, then I want six arms and laser eyes!

Panel 6

CLOSE-UP ON JOEY

CAPTION BOX: YOU CANNOT ALTER YOUR SKELETAL MAKE-UP IN ANY WAY

JOEY:
Damn!

Panel 7

CLOSE-UP ON JOEY

JOEY:
Fine, I wanna be as strong as you can possibly make me, and also be able to melt people with the power of my mind.

Panel 8

CLOSE-UP ON JOEY

CAPTION BOX: THE SUPERHUMAN STRENGTH IS GRANTED. MELTING POWERS, DENIED.

Panel 9

Joey snaps his fingers in defeat

JOEY:
Rats!

PAGE 10

Panel 1

EXT. S-MART – DAY

Commandant Gobbledy stands still as his ARMY OF NAZI CHICKENS peck and claw at the poor CONVIENCE STORE CLERK.

COMMANDANT GOBBLEDY:
Yes, Yes my minions! Deliver unto this swine the death of one thousand cuts! Cleanse this world of filth who overcharges for carbonated beverages!

Panel 2

EXT. S-MART – DAY

SIRENS blare and Commandant Gobbledy and his minions are covered in red and blue light.

COMMANDANT GOBBLEDY:
We must make haste! The vermin wish to imprison the truth!

Panel 3

EXT. ALLEYWAY – DAY

Commandant Gobbledy waddles behind a dumpster, his army of nazi chickens goose stepping right behind him.

Panel 4

EXT. JERSEY STREETS – DAY

Joey RUNS down the street, his chest puffed out, looking like a boss.

JOEY:
Hey, I just realized I don’t have a cape. Can you beam me a cape, satellite?

CAPTION BOX: NO, THAT IS BEYOND MY MEANS

JOEY:
Some all powerful satellite you are!

Panel 5

EXT. JERSEY STREETS – DAY

Joey is panting, out of breath. He has stopped running.

CAPTION BOX: CITIZEN JOEY FRITCH, YOU MUST MAKE HASTE

Panel 6

CLOSE – UP OF JOEY

Joey stares up at the sky angrily.

Panel 7

EXT. JERSEY STREETS – DAY

Joey sits down on the sidewalk sucking on an INHALER.

JOEY:
You know, super speed would make this a lot faster, satellite.

CAPTION BOX: GRANTED

Panel 8

EXT. JERSEY STREETS – DAY

A BLUR as Joey ZOOMS along.

JOEY
THIS. IS. SO. COOL.

PANEL 9

EXT. ABANDONED FACTORY – DAY

Joey has stopped running. He is clearly lost.

JOEY:
Oops. Overshot it.

CAPTION BOX: CITIZEN JOEY FRITCH, I CAN GUIDE YOU BACK TO COMMANDANT GOBB–

JOEY:
Nah, it’s cool, I know a shortcut.

PAGE 11

Panel 1

EXT. ALLEYWAY – DAY

Commandant Gobbledy PEERS over the dumpster to see POLICE OFFICERS combing the area. He looks down at his army of chickens, who look up at him with worry.

COMMANDANT GOBBLEDY:
Never fear, my pets. We shall escape this inconvenience with nary a scratch. Mark my words.

Panel 2

EXT. JERSEY STREETS – DAY

Joey BLURS through.

JOEY:
Question: If I run into anything at this speed, will I get hurt?

CAPTION BOX: NO, YOUR POWER SET WILL PREVENT THIS

JOEY:
Cool. Check this out.

Panel 3

EXT. ALLEYWAY – DAY

Joey closes his eyes

CAPTION BOX: CITIZEN JOEY FRITCH, THAT IS MOST UNWISE

JOEY:
Aw, crammit.

Panel 4

EXT. ALLEYWAY – DAY

A RUMBLING and Commandant Gobbledy stares off to the left of the panel.

COMMANDANT GOBBLEDY:
MEIN GOTT!

Panel 5

EXT. ALLEYWAY – DAY

Another BLUR as Joey comes RACING towards the Commandant, eyes still closed.

JOEY:
Dang, I can’t wait to fight that super villain!

Panel 6

A BIG BANG SOUND EFFECT. Feathers and garbage flying everywhere.

CAPTION BOX: THREAT NEUTRALIZED. SUPERHUMAN ABILITIES RESCINDED.

Panel 7

INT. LIVING ROOM – DAY

Joey SULKS on the couch as Jeff and Rob play video games.

JOEY:
This SUCKS!