James Brighton Society, Chapter 3: Pages 1-2
Page 1, 6 Panels- Living Room, Grem's Apartment Panel 1: We open with a shot of Mr. Allen standing behind the couch reading over the page that the good Detective (who is seen in the foreground of the shot seated on the aforementioned couch) gave her at the end of Chapter Two. There's a look of gidddy fascination at the text as he silently reads it to himself. In the background, you can see a tall bookcase stretching to the top of the panel along with a framed piece of abstract art next to it. GREM [geeking out]: Look at you, beautiful! A piece of an old sorcerer's book written in the...early Roman empire. I haven't seen one of these bad boys in years. Panel 2: Same setting/layout as the previous panel. A second later, the Irishman stops pacing and turns his attention properly toward Ms. Randolph's direction. His amazement shifting toward one of genuine, excited curiosity as he speaks. In the foreground, Tasha has completely faded from view. GREM [Cont., to Det. Randolph]: Where'd you say you got this from? Panel 3: We move to a shot of the Detective seated on the other end of the couch. She looks on with the same type of steadfastness in her eyes that she had at the end of the previous chapter. Her coat is off and laid casually out on the cushions next to her. You can see part of Grem's messy dining room table behind her in the background, along with the windows glowing yellow with the shielded sun. DET. RANDOLPH [to Grem]: Georgetown. I was investigating a robbery last night at the apartment of some Senate staffer named Steve Brennan, found it in a floorboard of the bed. Panel 4: Back to Grem in a similar setting and layout to what we saw in Panel 2. He has arms folded over his chest and lets out a silent chuckle at the statement, shaking his head with a mild degree of disbelief. The paperis seen laying out on his right upper arm as he speaks. GREM [somewhat disbelieving]: Has it been that long? Merry Christmas, Detective! Gods, completely lost track of... Panel 5: Same setting/layout as the previous panel. A split second later, his train of thought changes when the last part of the Detective's sentence starts to come into play. He puts his arms back down to his side at the moment, returning to his prior quizzical stance. GREM [looking for clarification, to Det. Randolph]: Wait, did you say Georgetown? That wouldn’t be anywhere near Avalon Arms, would it? Panel 6: Same setting/layout as what we saw in Panel 3. Tasha nods quickly at the statement as if it were nothing. Her left hand resting on the bottom edge of her coat. In the background, you can see Athena hop onto one of the chairs in a random action of felinedom. DET. RANDOLPH: Yeah. How did you know about that? GREM [Off-Panel interjecting]: Because I...was at the same place just before it happened. Page 2, 6 Panels- Grem's Apartment, Downtown Washington D.C. Panel 1: Same setting/layout as the last panel of the previous page. Upon hearing the answer from the Irishman, you can see the Detective's body language start to tense up ever so slightly. Her body shifting forward toward him as she reaches upstage to grab something strapped to her waist. DET. RANDOLPH [suspiciously]: Should I ask why you were there, Mr. Allen? Panel 2-3: A two-part set of panels that centers back on Mr. Allen over the course of a few seconds. The background behind him is similar to what we saw near the end of the first page. In Panel 2, he hems and haws slightly, looking for the right way to frame what he's gonna say next by the time of Panel 3. All the while, you can see him reach down for something as he speaks. GREM [to Detective Randolph, Panel 2]: We met at a party in Dirksen a time ago. He called me last night while I was at a bar and... GREM [Cont., Panel 3]: I know that look, Detective. It's not what you-- Panel 4-6: A three-part set of panels that center on the same type of long side shot showing Tasha (on the left) and Grem (on the right) frozen in a dueling pose with their respective weapons (Tasha's retractable staff and Grem's Fragarach). They stay in this pose for all three panels as they speak. In Panel 6, you can see Ms. Randolph glance down slightly in a curious fashion at the tip of the immortal Irishman's sword as he speaks. DET. RANDOLPH [confrontational, to Grem; Panel 4]: Mr. Allen, you are under arrest for the murder of-- GREM [trying to defuse things, to Det. Randolph; Panel 4]: I didn't murder the guy, I've only talked to the bloody guy once! He was looking for help with some bad guys he was up against at his place. When I got there, all I saw was the same mess you did. DET. RANDOLPH [Panel 4, Bubble 2]: What makes you think I can trust you? That you're not just lying to get my guard down and kill me the second my back's turned? GREM [matter-of-factly, Panel 5]: Firstly, I'm a naturally curious bloke, and this Brennan situation has mine enraptured unlike anything in a while. And secondly, I’m not in the business of double crossing a fellow immigrant, especially one lucky enough to get through this country’s absurd damn quotas.
DET. RANDOLPH [Panel 5]: How do you know I'm an immigrant?
GREM [smiling; Panel 6]: I'm a pretty damn good investigator, Detective. Besides.. look at the blade.
GREM [Panel 6, Bubble 2]: If I was guilty and looking to kill you, I'd have already done it by now.