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Oh Yeah. (1 page)
The whole story takes place in a park at a picnic table. Each panel will have the same POV of the characters sitting on opposite sides of the table. In the far background of trees and rolling hills people pass by doing ‘park-like’ activities. ANNE, in her mid-30’s, is wearing a ‘housewife’s’ dress circa 1950, has less-than shoulder length red hair pushed back behind her ears, and is skinny, plain looking, and thoroughly depressed. HANK, in his late-60’s, is MUCH more energetic in his all white tennis outfit circa 1989 complete with knee high socks (although you don’t see them as they are on his feet under the table), 3 button collared shirt (with one button missing), and MAYBE wristbands has a grey, well maintained 1940’s Frank Sinatra do and is very skinny. HANK has Alzheimer’s.
Page 1, 12 Panels:
Panel 1:
ANNE doesn’t move very much at all. She may have an arm on the table or holding her head up. She appears to be distracted by something internally and will look very bored as she picks at the table or looks over her shoulder. She almost sighs after every sentence. HANK’S movements are always exaggerated and energized. His face is always very emotional.
We’re looking from one end of the table to their end. ANNE is on the left, HANK is on the right.
ANNE: Yes, Dad. I know.
HANK: What do you know?
Panel 2:
ANNE: Whatever you were just saying.
HANK: There! You see? You weren’t listening because I’m very sure I wasn’t saying anything!
[HANK points a finger at ANNE.]
Panel 3:
ANNE: You think I’ll never get married.
HANK: Yes!
Panel 4:
ANNE: I was married.
HANK: Oh yeah. Where’s he been?
Panel 5:
ANNE: He died six years ago.
HANK: What about grandchildren?
Panel 6:
ANNE: William and Paul?
HANK: Oh yeah. Why haven’t I seen them around?
Panel 7:
[ANNE trying to change the subject...]
ANNE: You have, but you’ve been very busy working out lately.
HANK: Oh! You can tell?
Panel 8:
ANNE: Oh yes.
HANK: A few of the ladies at the gym have been taking the time to watch me exercise.
Panel 9:
ANNE: Any cute ones?
HANK: Oh yeah, but I couldn’t do that to your mother. Where is she anyway? I’ve lost a button...
[HANK stretching his shirt and trying to look at it.]
Panel 10:
ANNE: She’s dead too, Dad.
HANK: Oh yeah. I miss her.
Panel 11:
ANNE: Me too, Dad.
HANK: Want to see me flex?
[HANK with both hands on the table, elbows back and up.]
Panel 12:
ANNE: Sure.
[HANK flexes.]
Joseph Reynolds, 2002
__________________ joe
aspethorania (or theusweare)
i'm sorry, this didn't really turn out to be THAT funny.
Oh Yeah. (2 pages)
The whole story takes place in a park at a picnic table. Each panel will have the same POV of the characters sitting on opposite sides of the table. In the far background of trees and rolling hills people pass by doing ‘park-like’ activities. ANNE, in her mid-30’s, is wearing a ‘housewife’s’ dress circa 1950, has less-than shoulder length red hair pushed back behind her ears, and is skinny, plain looking, and thoroughly depressed. HANK, in his late-60’s, is MUCH more energetic in his all white tennis outfit circa 1989 complete with knee high socks (although you don’t see them as they are on his feet under the table), 3 button collared shirt (with one button missing), and MAYBE wristbands has a grey, well maintained 1940’s Frank Sinatra do and is very skinny. HANK has Alzheimer’s.
Page 1, 12 Panels:
Panel 1:
ANNE doesn’t move very much at all. She may have an arm on the table or holding her head up. She appears to be distracted by something internally and will look very bored as she picks at the table or looks over her shoulder. She almost sighs after every sentence. HANK’S movements are always exaggerated and energized. His face is always very emotional.
We’re looking from one end of the table to their end. ANNE is on the left looking at her hands, HANK is on the right looking over his shoulder and smiling at something.
No dialog.
Panel 2:
ANNE: Yes, Dad. I know.
HANK: What do you know?
[HANK swings his head around.]
Panel 3:
ANNE: Whatever you were just saying.
HANK: There! You see? You weren’t listening because I’m very sure I wasn’t saying anything!
[HANK points a finger at ANNE.]
Panel 4:
ANNE: You think I’ll never get married.
HANK: Yes!
Panel 5:
ANNE: I was married.
HANK: Oh yeah. Where’s he been?
Panel 6:
ANNE: He died five years ago.
HANK: What about grandchildren?
Panel 7:
ANNE: William and Paul?
[WILLIAM and PAUL run behind the table chasing each other. They’re twins, about 10 years old.]
WILLIAM: Hi Grandpa!
PAUL: Hi Granpa!
HANK: Oh yeah.
Panel 8:
[WILLIAM is already sitting next to ANNE (closer to us) and PAUL is in the act of sitting next to HANK (closer to us as well).]
WILLIAM: We were just over...
PAUL: ...at the lake.
ANNE: What is that smell?
[ANNE’S nose is scrunched up.]
Panel 9:
WILLIAM: Hmmm? Oh, I’m sure we just need to take a bath.
PAUL: We are growing boys, Mom.
[WILLIAM and PAUL smile slyly at each other with their hands on the table.]
ANNE: What is leaking from your pockets?!
[ANNE is finally showing some emotion.]
Panel 10:
[WILLIAM and PAUL, heads tilted, are looking through their arms with elbows bent out (hands still on the table) into their own laps. They are mirror images of each other.]
WILLIAM: Oh! That’s something...
PAUL: ...for our school project!
ANNE: Bull! Take that stuff out now.
HANK: Smells like Hell, boys.
Panel 11:
[They begin to take out dead frogs, fish, and small birds covered in pond scum from their pockets. Again, mirror images of each other.]
No dialog.
[ANNE looks as if she’s biting her lip. HANK looks shocked.]
Panel 12:
[ANNE rests her head in her open left hand as if she’s seen this before. HANK folds his arms, puffs out his chest, and looks down at the boys over his nose. WILLIAM and PAUL have their hands on the table again and are leaning their heads down looking quite sad. Mirror images.]
WILLIAM: We...we just wanted to try...
PAUL: ...to bring them back to life.
Page 2, 12 Panels:
Panel 1:
[WILLIAM, PAUL and HANK in same position. ANNE raises her head to look at them, her hand still holding its place in the air.]
WILLIAM: We know...but this time it was going to be different... PAUL: ...we were going to try harder.
Panel 2:
[Everyone same position.]
WILLIAM: We just wanted to be ready...
PAUL: ...for next time.
Panel 3:
ANNE: Boys, listen, there won’t be a next time.
HANK: Next time?
Panel 4:
[ANNE ignores HANK.]
ANNE: Just go clean up in the bathroom. We’re leaving in a few minutes.
[WILLIAM and PAUL are getting up and leaving the panel in different directions. Mirror images.]
Panel 5:
HANK: Next time?
ANNE: They killed their father.
Panel 6:
No dialog.
Panel 7:
[ANNE trying to change the subject...]
ANNE: Looks like you’ve been very busy working out lately.
HANK: Oh! You can tell?
[HANK already forgets the last few minutes.]
Panel 8:
ANNE: Oh yes.
HANK: A few of the ladies at the gym have been taking the time to watch me exercise.
Panel 9:
ANNE: Any cute ones?
HANK: Oh yeah, but I couldn’t do that to your mother. Where is she anyway? I’ve lost a button...
[HANK stretching his shirt and trying to look at it.]
Panel 10:
ANNE: She’s dead too, Dad.
HANK: Oh yeah. I miss her.
Panel 11:
ANNE: Me too, Dad.
HANK: Want to see me flex?
[HANK with both hands on the table, elbows back and up.]
Panel 12:
ANNE: Sure.
[HANK flexes.]
Joseph Reynolds, 2002
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