THE LICENSE

CHAPTER ONE

PAGE ONE (SIX PANELS)

PANEL ONE:
This panel will, eventually, parallel the last panel of the story: a full-width tight shot of the eyes of BRONSON TRACY. Bronson's sort of a cross between Clint Eastwood, John Wayne and John Henry. He's a bit like every stereotype of the "tough just man" you've ever seen. These are the eyes of a man who has seen a lot of violence in his time, but posseses the inner serenity of knowing that he's the man his momma raised right. 

(NO DIALOGUE)

PANEL TWO: 
A  “zoom out”, and our first look at BRONSON TRACY, sitting at a table in Fulsom Prison, eating ice cream from a small plastic dish. Bronson himself is not overly big – six feet or so – and is muscular, but it's working muscle. Imagine an exceptionally strong farmhand or blacksmith rather than a traditional superhero or bodybuilder. 

This will be important later: the chair Bronson sits on is the kind with a space between the back and the seat. 

CAPTION:
(TYPE)
February 23. Folsom. 

MR. K.
(CAPTION)
What was that name again?

PANEL THREE:
Pull back further: now we're in a room that overlooks the prison cafeteria. Meet MR. K., who looks like Elvis would look today if he hadn't died. He's a bit overweight, but very confident; he wears lots of rings and sunglasses. He's talking to the WARDEN. Both men are smoking. The only important details about this room are (a) it overlooks the cafeteria, and (b) there's a phone on the wall for internal communications. 

WARDEN
Bronson Tracy. Due out today, theoretically.
MR. K.
Ahuh. Theoretically?

PANEL FOUR:
We're back on Bronson. Four large men are coming up behind him... mixed races. The lead is a dark-haired man with a goatee, MICK FLYNN. He, unlike Bronson, is weight-lifter big. The smallest of the four men is carrying another dish of ice cream.

WARDEN
(CAPTION)
First week in, Bronson saved two guards during a riot. Broke that big piece of meat's nose doing it.

PANEL FIVE:
The WARDEN drags on his cigarette.

WARDEN
Now every time Bronson gets close to getting out, Flynn gets him in a fight, and Bronson gets more time. Bronson's doing year fifteen of a three-year term.

PANEL SIX:
FLYNN leans in over Bronson, holding the ice cream. 

MR. K.
(CAPTION)
Ain't there something...
WARDEN
(CAPTION)
Rules are rules. Five for fighting. Here we go.

PAGE TWO (SIX PANELS)

Pretty standard layout, all leading up to the Big Hit on Page Three, Panel Five. Feel free to convert pages 2 & 3 into a two-page spread if you're more comfortable with that.

PANEL ONE: 
FLYNN is speaking to Bronson, holding the ice cream under his chin.

FLYNN
Heard you was gettin' out today, Tracy.

PANEL TWO:
FLYNN tilts the bowl and smears it on BRONSON's face.

FLYNN
Gotcha a goin'-away present.

PANEL THREE:
BRONSON sits silently with ice cream on his face.

PANEL FOUR:
BRONSON licks the ice cream from his lips. He is still using both hands to eat his ice cream – one on the bowl, one on his spoon.

BRONSON
Thank you, Flynn. 
BRONSON
(2)
I surely do love ice cream.

PANEL FIVE:
MR. K. reacts with shock, looking at the WARDEN.
MR. K.
You're gonna set there an' let this...
WARDEN
Yep.

PANEL SIX:
The WARDEN is still smoking, smiling. Not a nice man.
WARDEN
I don't make the rules, mister. I suggest you enjoy the show.

PAGE THREE (FIVE PANELS)

PANEL ONE:
FLYNN is still leaning over Bronson, smiling. He LOOKS like someone you'd want to smack in the head. 
FLYNN
Had to give you a gift before I said goodbye, Bronson.

PANEL TWO:
BRONSON grabs the sides of the seat of his chair. 

PANEL THREE:
Close on FLYNN's hand. He's palmed a knife.

PANEL FOUR:
BRONSON is still in his chair, holding the sides of the seat, as FLYNN draws back the knife to stab him (underhanded and subtle, underneath the back of the chair.) 
FLYNN
Goodbye, Bronson.

PANEL FIVE:
BRONSON – ice cream still dripping from his face – rocks forward onto his feet, lifting the chair behind him, SMASHING FLYNN hard in the face with the BACK OF THE CHAIR. 

FLYNN
Can't say I'll m-- UGGH! 

PAGE FOUR ( SIX PANELS)

While Mr. K. and the Warden are in the same room, they never actually talk to each other on this page. 

PANEL ONE:

The WARDEN is watching out the window as MR. K. talks into a cell phone.

WARDEN
We'll let 'em scrap for a few minutes. Better than satellite, I tell you what.
MR. K.
It's me. Ahuh.

PANEL TWO:

The WARDEN pumps his hands in the air like a guy watching a boxing match.
WARDEN
Good hit! Oh! 
MR. K.
I want the subject released. 
MR. K.
(2)
No, now.

PANEL THREE:
The WARDEN gets on the wall phone.
WARDEN
Okay, Gordie, settle 'em down. You owe me $20.
MR. K.
Wake him up, then. Get this done.

PANEL FOUR:
The WARDEN has hung up the wall phone and now turns to Mr. K., but Mr. K is leaving the room.
WARDEN
Quite a show, hey?
MR. K.
Wouldn't know. Wasn't here.

PANEL FIVE:
The WARDEN looks at the door MR. K. left through. Behind him, the wall phone rings.
WARDEN
Yes sir, you freaky government sumbitch...

PANEL SIX:
The WARDEN picks up the phone. 
WARDEN
Yeah?
WARDEN
(2)
Mr. Governor. Yes.
WARDEN 
(3)
You want me to WHAT?

PAGE FIVE(FIVE PANELS)

PANEL ONE
Bronson is eating an ice cream sundae at a diner, at the counter with other trucker-types around him. MR. K. is sitting next to him, but the reader shouldn't notice that yet.

CAPTION
July 18: Highview Diner
COWBOY
(off)
...I wuz gonna order the ribs, but y'all got enough rack right here...

PANEL TWO:
A COWBOY in a booth is harassing the young and passably pretty (but not devastating) WAITRESS.

COWBOY
I figger I could just gobble you up instead, sweetheart...
WAITRESS
Excuse me, SIR...

PANEL THREE:
We're back to Bronson, who is clenching at his sundae glass as the diner customer next to him – MR. K in a plaid shirt and a truckers' cap and, as always, wearing sunglasses.
MR. K.
Somebody oughtta do somethin' bout that jackass.

PANEL FOUR:
Close on the sundae glass as it starts to crack. 
SF/X:
crrrrk

PANEL FIVE:
Bronson is visibly controlling himself, and straining to do so.
WAITRESS
(off)
...or I'll call the POLICE!
COWBOY
(off)
Whoo! Sccaaarrr-EEE!
BRONSON
Cops'll handle it. Sir. 

PAGE SIX (FIVE PANELS)

PANEL ONE
A shot of the outside of the Highview Diner as the Cowboy exits. A CAPTION takes us in to Mr. K's dialogue in Panel Two.
COWBOY
An' SEE if I come back, BITCH!
CAPTION
Pardon me for sayin', son...

PANEL TWO
Mr. K is scrutinizing Bronson. 
MR. K
...but you don't seem the type t' sit idly by.
BRONSON
Did some time for fightin' some time back, sir.

PANEL THREE
Bronson is eating his ice cream, but still furious.
BRONSON
Promised my momma it wouldn't happen again.

PANEL FOUR
Mr. K nods in appreciation.
MR. K
I hear that. 
BRONSON
Say...

PANEL FIVE
Bronson looks closer at Mr. K while Mr. K turns his head down towards his coffee.
BRONSON
...I seen you somewhere before?
MR. K
Not as I can recall.

PAGE SEVEN (FOUR PANELS)

PANEL ONE
Inside the cap of a pick-up truck, driving through a country morning. BRONSON is driving, and his dog, HOPPER, sits in the front seat beside him. A POLICE SIREN threads itself along the top of the panel. 

SFX
WEEEOOOOWWEEEEOOOOWEEEOOO
BRONSON
(truck)
Musta been speeding. Calm down, Hopper.
CAPTION:
September 16: Gordon County (2005)

PANEL TWO
Bronson's truck is being followed by a state patrol vehicle with a loudspeaker mounted on the roof.

TROOPER
PLEASE PULL OVER AND TURN OFF YOUR IGNITION!

PANEL THREE
Bronson's truck and the police car at the side of the road, the police car at least twenty feet back. 

PANEL FOUR
As panel three, but with Bronson's door slightly open and his foot sticking out.
TROOPER
(loudspeaker)
REMAIN IN YOUR VEHICLE!

PAGE EIGHT

PANEL ONE
Bronson looking off in awe. Hopper is also stunned. They are both looking towards us and up, through their windshield at the sky. A helicopter rotor becomes audible (a small sound effect that builds across the panel.
BRONSON
What the hell does he think... he's...
SF/X
whup whup WHUP WHUP WHUP WHUP WHUP WHUP WHUP

PANEL TWO
Bronson's truck is in the foreground – ahead of him, over the rise, are three standard-issue Spooky Black Helicopters rising straight up. 

SF/X:
WHUPWHUPWHUPWHUPWHUPWHUP

PAGE NINE (FIVE PANELS)

PANEL ONE
One of the black helicopters hovers above the ground, its skids slightly akimbo.

PANEL TWO
The helicopter has landed; the door to the helicopter is open and stairs are folding down. 

PANEL THREE
Men in black suits are swarming out of the helicopter – six or seven, all with standard MiB sunglasses and little headsets. 

PANEL FOUR
The President of the United States (not necessarily OUR president) is in the doorway. The MiBs all salute him. 

PANEL FIVE
The President of the United States knocks on the window of Bronson's truck.
PREZ
Mr. Bronson, this is the President. I'd like a word.

PAGE TEN (NINE PANELS)

I know it's a lot of panels, but it's mostly talking heads.

PANEL ONE
Bronson is out of his truck. And thoroughly bewildered. 
BRONSON
I'm Bronson Tracy. Sir. And this here's my dog Hopper.
PREZ
I know.

PANEL TWO
PREZ
Mr. Tracy, this country's in trouble. And I think you can help.

PANEL THREE
BRONSON
Sir?
PREZ
I've been watching this country get all balled up for years now, Mr. Tracy. Crime, corruption, moral turpitude. And you know what gets me the most?

PANEL FOUR
PREZ
Rudeness, Mr. Tracy. Plain and simple rudeness. I watch the news and talk to folks and there's a lot of people out there that need ... how do I put this... 

PANEL FIVE

PREZ
...a smack in the head.
BRONSON
Sir?
PREZ
And while we can't get that done officially, we can bend things around somebody that can. You're that guy, Bronson. You've got strong morals, you're polite, and you're good in a scrap. 
PANEL SIX
PREZ
So we've got... well, it's sort of... hell, I'm no good with the legal crap. Jasper?

PANEL SEVEN
JASPER, a prim man, reads off a piece of paper. 
JASPER
Bronson Tracy, you are hereby licensed as a paralegal agent, authorized to apply non-lethal and unarmed force under any circumstance you deem appropriate, to maintain the civility and moral integrity of our nation. This License guarantees you will face no criminal charges or legal complications as a result of your actions.

PANEL EIGHT
JASPER takes Bronson's photo.
CAMERA SF/X
Pop!

PANEL NINE
Jasper hands Bronson his License.
JASPER
Give it a second to dry.

PAGE ELEVEN (TWO PANELS)

PANEL ONE
Bronson looks at his License.

PANEL TWO
Bronson looks up...
BRONSON
This here's a License to kick ass.

PAGE TWELVE (SIX PANELS)

PANEL ONE
Jasper looks at a piece of paper. 
JASPER
There are, of course, some rules...
BRONSON
No there ain't.

PANEL TWO
A moment of minor confrontation between Jasper and Brosnon. The President interrupts.
BRONSON
You give me this job, you trust my judgement.
JASPER
Mr. Tracy, if you think --
PREZ
Fair enough, Mr. Tracy.

PANEL THREE
Bronson shakes hands with the President. 
BRONSON
Well okay, then.

PANEL FOUR
Jasper and the President are climbing into their helicopter. Mr. K is already inside, sitting comfortably. 
JASPER
I hope you know what you're doing.
MR. K
Trust me, Jasper.

PANEL FIVE
The President frowns and looks at Mr. K, who is wearing larger aviator-style sunglasses.  
PREZ
I just hope he lasts longer than the last one.
MR. K
Well...

PANEL SIX
Close on Mr. K, mysterious behind his aviator glasses. 
MR. K
That ain't entirely up to us, is it?