James Brighton Society, Chapter 10: Pages 23-25
Page 23, 6 Panels- The Cloak Room, Washington D.C., January 1st
Panel 1: Back to Grem in a similar setting and layout as when we last saw him at the end of the previous page. He nods slightly, flashing a nice grin at the statement. The top half of his body leans forward with his elbows touching a part of the bar countertop as he speaks.
GREM [Cont. glancing from the side at Tasha]: No way some souped-up mercenaries could take that lioness down! I dropped 'em off at a Resistance safe house up in France. That's why I didn't pop back here till early this morning.
Panel 2: Cut to Tasha who perks up at the words "souped-up mercenaries" from Grem's previous statement, intrigued to find what precisely that is. Her back straightens out, and her left arm extends out next to the Cusha glass.
TASHA [looking for clarification, to Grem]: Wait, "souped-up mercenaries?" Are we talking about Captain Americas here?
Panel 3-4: A two-part set of panels that starts out in the same setting and layout as Panel 1. He lets out a quick laugh while reaching over for his messenger bag that lays on the stool next to him. In Panel 4, it moves in setting and layout to the same shot as the top of Page 22. We see Grem grabs the bag and places it on the counter right next to his glass of Guinness as he speaks.
GREM [Panel 3]: If Captain America also had a cybernetic arm, aye. TASHA [Off-Panel, Panel 3]: Wha--?! GREM [Panel 3, Bubble 2]: I'll explain the details of that on another night, along with what happened then, mi amiga... GREM [Cont., Panel 4]: Right now, I got something to show ya.
Panel 5: Cut to a shot from the level of the counter looking out in the former Detective's direction as she waits with bated breath over whatever she's about to receive. You can see a little more of the bar, along with the ceiling and lights of the Cloak Room nearby as well as one of the drunkards walking past to the right.
TASHA [intrigued]: You already finish my own personal flying dirigible? GREM [Off-Panel]: No, but I got ideas on that. This one's a bit more...personal.
Panel 6: Same setting/layout as the previous panel. She seems disappointed and a little confused at what ends up appearing on the counter in front of her- a copy of a set of keys. The drunkard in the background, at this point, has completely faded from view.
GREM [Cont., Off-Panel]: That's the key to my PI office...
Page 24, 5 Panels- The Cloak Room, Washington D.C.
Panel 1: We move back to Mr. Allen's smiling face with his right hand gripping the bartop and his left drifting down to his side. You can see the other side of the bar going down to the wall behind him in the background, along with part of a table nearby.
GREM [Cont., considerate; to Tasha]: This isn't an exclamation of romance, mind you. I just...I figured I owed you a job, given that this whole bloody case led you to lose yours.
Panel 2: Back to Tasha in the same setting and layout as the top of the previous page. She scoffs and reaches out to grab the near half-filled glass. Her other hand already holding the keys in a balled-up fist. A look of "I know..." can be seen subtly on her face as she speaks, looking at him from the periphery. You can see, hitched on
her belt, the Divine Boom device she had used earlier.
TASHA: Thanks...What does it pay? GREM [Off-Panel]: Not as much as the old one, but close enough that you can pay any bills comin' your way.
Panel 3: Cut to Grem a second later in the same setting and layout as the first panel, just hopping off his stool while closing the latch to his messenger bag. His gaze is shifted over to the left of the panel view in the direction of the front door, though he still addresses his friend properly.
GREM [Cont.]: There's also the fringe benefit of the monsters and ghosts and evil demigods you get to punch on a daily basis. Which I imagine is considerably more fun than dealing with bigoted co-workers. TASHA [scoffing laugh, Off-Panel]: That's putting it mildly! GREM [Bubble 2]: So...you want the job? TASHA [Bubble 2, Off-Panel]: I do. Just give me some time to unwind after all of this. GREM [Bubble 3]: Fair enough...
Panel 4-5: Same setting/layout as the previous panel. He reaches over and pulls a pocket watch out of his right trouser pocket, looking down to see the time. In Panel 5, he places the pocket watch back in his pocket and grabs his bag with the opposite hand.
GREM [Cont., Panel 4]: I should go nab some shut-eye before the morning. You can take the time to decide while I'm gone. TASHA [Off-Panel, Panel 4]: Where are you going? GREM [vengeful, Panel 5]: Tulelake in California. One of those internment camps...been meaning to pay those bastards a visit for some time! TASHA [Off-Panel, Panel 5]: Save one of those bombs for me, will you? GREM [Panel 5, Bubble 2]: Consider it done...
Page 25, 3 Panels- The Cloak Room, Washington D.C.
Panel 1: Cut to a side-shot of Tasha giving a nod to the plan, knowing the subtext behind the idea. She raises her glass of booze in the area, pointing it toward her friend with a great deal of respect and love in her eyes.
TASHA [with friendly love]: Happy New Year, Gremlin!
Panel 2: We move to the immortal Irishman a moment later in the same setting and layout as the end of the previous page. He raises his Guinness high in the air as well, with a smile that elicits the same level of respect and love in his eyes as we saw in Ms. Randolph's.
GREM: Happy New Year, Natasha!
Panel 3: Cut to a close-up of both of their respective alcohol glasses clinking one time with the outline of the Cloak Room's front entrance and windows visible in the background, along with the shadows of the other handful of people still there celebrating or passed out. You can see the sound effect "CLINK!" hover just above the glasses at that moment.
THE END