James Brighton Society, Chapter 1: Pages 5-6

Page 5, 5 Panels- The Cloak Room, Washington D.C. Panel 1: Action shot taken a split second after the last panel of the previous page, showing a close-up of the beer glass crashing hard into the side of Grem’s face by the drunkard. His face pulling over to the right of the panel view as a spray of the yellow Budweiser blurs it. You can see chunks of glass breaking and cutting deep into Mr. Allen’s cheek. DRUNKARD [angered]: You godless COMMIE!... Panel 2: Cut to a shot moment slater of the Drunkard moving toward our protagonist just as he’s tumbled onto a table behind him. He has a strong look of purpose that is heightened by the high amount of alcohol currently moving through him. An immediate fight circle forms around them as Dorian, visible partially in the background, looks on and plots what the hell he’s going to do next. DRUNKARD [threateningly to Grem, dropping the rest of the glass]: You sssided withose ssstrike breakers...cosstt me my job, my wife--my family! You fucking Mick…you ruined my life! Panel 3: Same setting/layout as the previous panel. He’s stopped in front of his prey a few moments later, glaring down at the Irishman with full bloodlust and hellfire in his eyes. He’s pulled out a switchblade, waiting for the perfect time to get in what he believes to be the killing blow. DRUNKARD [Cont., with a menacing roar]: Now I’ll end yours! Panel 4-5: A two-part set of panels centered on a side shot of the two of them within a matter of moments. In Panel 4, we see the drunkard lunge forward and stabs Grem straight in the right section of his ribcage. A close-up of the action a split second later though, in Panel 5, shows the circle of red that hits the shirt. At the same moment, off-panel to the left, you can hear the sound of a metal cage appearing and locking into place. DORIAN [Off-Panel, to the Drunkard; Panel 5]: Hey, boozie... Page 6, 6 Panels- The Cloak Room, Washington D.C. Panel 1: Cut to a shot of Dorian standing six steps away from the scene that took place in the last page. He looks over in the direction of the Drunkard with a stern, steely demeanor. His left arm outstretched, crossing over the bottom of the panel view in a sea of gray. You can see over his shoulder a square sign hanging on the long mirror behind the bar. DORIAN [Cont., pointing at the sign slightly with his head; to the Drunkard]: You see that sign there? Panel 2-3: Cut to a shot of the Drunkard's face in the same spot we left him in at the end of the last page. He leans his head forward, as much as can, given the strong metal constructs wrapped around his body. You can see the deep red in his eyes, and the wooziness of his condition as he speaks. In the next panel, the attempt at laughter is stifled by the slight tightening of the chains around him, leaving the thirtysomething man only to gag and let out a few coughs in response. DRUNKARD [snarky, to Dorian; Panel 2]: No...what's it say, "Two Drink Minimum?" DORIAN [sarcastic chuckle, Off-Panel; Panel 3 stretching into Panel 2]: Funny! Panel 4: Back to Dorian in a setting and layout similar to what we saw in the top of the page. The Mecha-man's head turned back straight with his quartz red eyes still, as was the case in Panel 1, focused on the Drunkard with the same steely determination and stoicism as before. There's even a touch of anger that can be heard in his voice as he speaks. DORIAN [Cont.]: No...It says, "The fight's out there, not in here." Something that is the foundation of how The Cloak Room on a daily basis while the world's teeters on the brink of hell. Panel 5: Same setting/layout as the previous panel. The sarcastic chuckle has faded in the face of the Mecha-man a beat later. In the background, out of sight, you can hear the sound of a person moaning and groaning in pain. That person being Grem, though the reader has no idea of it at this point. DORIAN [Cont.]: Do you know what that means though right now? Panel 6: We move back to a close-up of the Drunkard's face. The setting and layout behind him similar to what we saw back in the middle of the page. For the first time, you can see a touch of panic and paranoia over what may happen to him next in his face as he tries to speak. The gears and wheels of Dorian's arms can be heard moving off-panel, jolting the man's thought before it can be fully enunciated. DRUNKARD [to Dorian]: I-- DORIAN [Off-Panel]: It means this bar is a neutral nation, free of the bigotry and the bloodshed that occupy so damn much of this planet!