DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP? - Comic Book script

Back in 2006, a comic book publishing company from Poland (that was doing very well at the time) was looking for some strong material, preferably backed by a license of some sort. Nothing fancy, a book, an old TV show - something that wouldn?t be very expensive, but at the same time had at least a little bit of recognition and a cult following. Being a long time fan of Philip K. Dick?s ?Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep??, I asked if an adaptation would be a possibility.

Turns out I hit the jackpot. The book is a separate entity from the movie, yet it would obviously garner interest of Blade Runner fans. We had agreed on distancing ourselves from the film as much as possible and present the comic as its own thing, just in time for the DADOES?s 40th anniversary (which is 2008).

The editor-in-chief was to establish communication with the powers that be while I worked on the script. It was to be a comic in European style, large format, with 46 pages of story.

Just as I turned in my work, it became apparent that PKD Trust has no interest in the project. I had feared as much ? there was never a comic based on Dick?s writing before ? but stayed hopeful through the whole process.

2008 is fast approaching, the publisher I worked with is closing its doors and there had been no movement on the project at all since 2006. Therefore, I want to sort of throw the script out there, and what better place to do that than the BladeZone forum.

One thing you should know ? this is what I call a ?rush draft? (which comes even before the first draft). I?ve spent most of the time on figuring out how to structure the comic, what to cut, what to include and how to lay the plot out on 46 pages, so by the time the script was due, I only had enough wiggle room to produce what you can read below. There are typos, some bad English, and frankly, were the project ever to move forward, I would probably rewrite most of the dialogue.

Not to clutter the board with what is understandably a rather long piece of text, I will post only the first six pages now, and then continue with 10 page long chunks. Any comments (good or bad), questions and opinions will be much appreciated.

Please note, that characters aren?t described in much detail ? their appearance was something I wanted to leave to the artist.

All right, here we go:

[UNTITLED]
DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP

Based on a novel by
PHILLIP K. DICK

Adapted by
RADEK SMEKTALA

FIRST DRAFT 08-08-2006

***

PAGE ONE (TWO PANELS)

PAGE 01, PANEL 01. Large. A wasteland created by heat and radiation. Desert full of metal scraps and crumbing hills. In the background, a cityscape of faraway San Francisco. A silhouette of NICK ECKHARDT can be seen here, sitting on a convertible devoured by rust. Another figure approaches him.

NO COPY

PAGE 01, PANEL 02. A close-up of NICK. For the first time we can see his features ? receding hairline, sad grey eyes set deep in the sockets and all the injuries he is to have before the last page of the book. He rests, lost in thought.

NO COPY

PAGE TWO (FIVE PANELS)

PAGE 02, PANEL 01. Someone approaches NICK from behind. We can?t see the man yet, but in the final pages, he will turn out to be WILBUR MERCER.

(01) WILBUR
What brings you here, pilgrim?

(02) NICK
Huh?

(03) NICK
I guess-- I guess I just wanted to be left alone for a while.

PAGE 02, PANEL 02. The figure passes NICK some of his liquor filled tin container.

(04) WILBUR
Does my presence annoy you?

(05) NICK
I?m not sure. There?s so much going on in my head right now.

(06) WILBUR
Then put everything in order. Look at your problems from perspective.

(07) NICK
Fair enough. Let me tell you about my day.

PAGE 02, PANEL 03. Wide. A panorama of the 2021 San Francisco. Hovers ? essentially what one would call ?flying cars? - swoosh by, advertisements catch our eye. The air is filled with radioactive fallout. To us, it looks like a 1960s postcard issued in a world gone horribly wrong.

(08) CAPTION
San Francisco, 2021

(09) CAPTION
Twenty four hours earlier.

PAGE 02, PANEL 04. A large apartment building. It seems that for every taken apartment, two are vacant. Sounds of a TV set can be heard through one of the windows.

(10) BUSTER
(electric)
--ho, ho, folks!

PAGE 02, PANEL 05. BUSTER FRIENDLY, a joyful, hyperactive presenter, speaks. A title card under BUSTER reads: ?BUSTER FRIENDLY AND HIS FRIENDLY FRIENDS?.

(11) BUSTER
(electric)
Time now for a brief note on today?s weather.

PAGE THREE (FIVE PANELS)

PAGE 03, PANEL 01. Pull back to reveal a relatively tidy apartment. BUSTER continues.

(01) BUSTER
(electric)
The Moongose satellite reports that fallout will be especially pronounced towards noon and will then taper off, so all you folks who?ll be venturing out--

PAGE 03, PANEL 02. Reverse shot. NICK ECKHARDT ? fully dressed for work sans jacket ? sits on the edge of his bed watching the TV. Behind him, IRAN ECKHARDT sits up covering herself with a quilt. She?s just awoken and is irritable.

(02) IRAN
Turn it off, cop. You know I can?t stand TV before breakfast.

PAGE 03, PANEL 03. NICK turns to her, unpleased. IRAN seems determined to start an argument.

(03) NICK
How many times do I need to tell you? I?m not a cop.

(04) IRAN
Yeah, you?re worse--

PAGE 03, PANEL 04. NICK jumps to his feet, gesticulating wildly. IRAN, unmoved, prepares to get off bed.

(05) IRAN
--you?re a murderer hired by cops.

(06) NICK
Iran, for God?s sake! I never killed a human being!

(07) IRAN
Just those poor andys.

PAGE 03, PANEL 05. On NICK, as he changes his stance to a more aggressive one.

(08) NICK
I notice you?re much less compassionate when spending the bounty money I bring home on clothes and jewelry.

PAGE FOUR (SIX PANELS)

PAGE 04, PANEL 01. IRAN speaks with a mocking tone. NICK has his back turned to her.

(01) IRAN
Instead of what? Cigarettes and booze?

(02) NICK
Instead of a real sheep, to replace that fake electric one upstairs.

PAGE 04, PANEL 02. NICK has a point and IRAN can?t help to acknowledge that. He sees that and twists the proverbial knife.

(03) IRAN
Oh.

(04) NICK
Don?t you see? For us to have no animal--

(05) NICK
--that violates the basic theological and moral structure of Mercerism!

PAGE 04, PANEL 03. IRAN knows NICK is right, but she desperately tries to paint the world in brighter colors. Her husband, however, is unconvinced.

(06) IRAN
Nick, fake or real, we do have an animal.

(07) NICK
It?s not the same!

(08) IRAN
But almost! You feel the same caring for it. You have to keep your eye on it exactly as you would with an actual sheep.

PAGE 04, PANEL 04. NICK walks toward the front door. IRAN follows him, trying to change his point of view.

(09) NICK
Because if it breaks down, everyone in the building will realize it?s synthetic. That?s the only reason!

(10) NICK
It?s anti-empathic, Iran!

PAGE 04, PANEL 05. NICK has no desire to continue this conversation. He opens the door with one hand, and takes the jacket off the coat-hanger with the other. IRAN is ashamed.

(12) NICK
I have to get to work.

(13) IRAN
But Nick--

PAGE 04, PANEL 06. IRAN bites her lip, feeling guilty, as NICK loudly closes the door.

(14) IRAN
--I?m sorry.

(15) SFX
Slam!

PAGE FIVE (SEVEN PANELS)

PAGE 05, PANEL 01. Establishing shot. A forgotten district of the city. Burnt down buildings and wrecks of old-fashioned cars litter the area.

NO COPY

PAGE 05, PANEL 02. From over the shoulder of JOHN ISIDORE, a tenant of one of these buildings, we can see, through the window, an old and dusty billboard with these words written on it: ?EMIGRATE OR DEGENERATE: THE CHOICE IS YOURS?.

NO COPY

PAGE 05, PANEL 03. Same angle. JOHN turns to us ? we can see his face now. He?s physically ugly and slightly mutated due to the fallout. Though harmless, he is not the kind of person you would like to meet in a dark alley.

NO COPY

PAGE 05, PANEL 04. JOHN approaches a big black box with handles sticking out that stands in the middle of his messy apartment.

NO COPY

PAGE 05, PANEL 05. JOHN grabs the handles--

NO COPY

PAGE 05, PANEL 06. --and suddenly, his surroundings turn into a series of digits flying past--

NO COPY

PAGE 05, PANEL 07. ?only to finally change into something resembling a ravine in the base of a mountain, although rendered in a surreal way. JOHN is still in the same position as he was in the last two panels, but instead of handles, he is now holding hands with a long haired, bearded man ? WILBUR MERCER.

(01) WILBUR
John Isidore. You have come to me again.

(02) JOHN
Of course I did, Mister Mercer. I always do.

PAGE SIX (FIVE PANELS)

PAGE 06, PANEL 01. WILBUR points at the mountain wall which JOHN begins to climb.

(01) WILBUR
Then let?s once again begin our climb, from this pit of sorrow, which I had been thrown into, towards the salvation that awaits on the top.

PAGE 06, PANEL 02. JOHN climbs higher. A rock falls, missing him by inches. WILBUR is here too, but the ascent seems to be effortless for him.

(02) WILBUR
You and I are one now, John Isidore. Us and thousands of people, who are grasping the handles of an empathy box just as you are at this very moment.

PAGE 06, PANEL 03. JOHN looks up to see black silhouettes with wide smiles and silver fangs throwing the rocks at him.

(03) WILBUR
Our enemies are numerous, and the perils lethal, but only through suffering can we achieve bliss.

PAGE 06, PANEL 04. ISIDORE gets hit in the hand by one of the stones and the background begins to blur.

(04) JOHN
Ugh!

(05) WILBUR
Do not be afraid, for-- krzzt--

PAGE 06, PANEL 05. JOHN is once again in his apartment, holding his injured hand.

(06) JOHN
Ouch.

Also, if you have any pointers on how to format the text so it reads better, be sure to let me know. Thanks.

PAGE SEVEN (SIX PANELS)

PAGE 07, PANEL 01. JOHN looks at his hand. Blood begins to pour from the wound. We now see there are countless scars on his arms, possibly caused by earlier adventures with the box.

(01) JOHN
Again.

PAGE 07, PANEL 02. A sound comes from behind JOHN?s front door.

(02) SFX
Crash!

(03) JOHN
Huh?

PAGE 07, PANEL 03. Carefully, JOHN makes his way towards the door.

(04) JOHN
Is anybody there?

PAGE 07, PANEL 04. JOHN sticks his head out to the corridor.

(05) JOHN
Hello??

PAGE07, PANEL 05. A close-up of a page from Sidney Catalogue held by NICK. The picture shows a sheep priced at 30 000 $.

NO COPY

PAGE 07, PANEL 06. NICK sits outside SEREGANT HENRY BRYCE?s office paging through the catalogue. HENRY opens the door and invites him in with a gesture.

(06) HENRY
Thinking of buying another pet?

(07) ECKHARDT
If only I could afford it.

(08) HENRY
Maybe you will. Something big came up. Come in.

PAGE EIGHT (SIX PANELS)

PAGE 08, PANEL 01. BRYCE takes his place behind a desk. NICK closes the door behind him.

(01) HENRY
Danny Holz is in Mount Zion Hospital with a bullet lodged in his spine.

(02) NICK
But he?s the best bounty hunter the department has! What happened?

(03) HENRY
One of those new, extra clever andys the Rosen Association is turning out have got him. A Zeta model.

PAGE 08, PANEL 02. NICK sits down in front of HENRY, who is searching for something in his desk.

(04) NICK
A Zeta? Here on Earth?

(05) HENRY
Eight have rebelled and fled The Colonies. Danny got the first two.

(06) NICK
Which leaves me with six.

PAGE 08, PANEL 03. HENRY puts a file on the desk and opens it. He points at the photograph included therein.

(07) HENRY
Correct.

(08) HENRY
Those are Holz?s notes, they were in his desk. Apparently, all he managed to find out is here.

PAGE 08, PANEL 04. NICK leans over the file ? the page shows information about MAX POLOKOV, including a picture. MAX is a large, burly man with hard-chiseled features.

(09) HENRY
Take a look at this one. It shot Danny.

(10) NICK
Max Polokov?

(11) HENRY
That?s what it calls itself anyway. And there are more dangerous targets on your list.

PAGE 08, PANEL 05. NICK closes the file and turns to HENRY. BRYCE lights up a cigar.

(12) NICK
Peachy. When do I start?

(13) HENRY
Not so fast. First, I want you to fly to Seattle and talk to the Rosen people. Have them supply you a representative sampling of Zeta types.

(14) NICK
So I can put them through the empathy test?

PAGE 08, PANEL 06. HENRY seems worried, concerned. NICK gets the point.

(15) HENRY
Nick, you need to understand, Zeta?s brain unit is capable of selecting within a field of two trillion constituents, or ten million separate neural pathways.

(16) HENRY
If the test proves inaccurate, we will have no reliable analytical tool and may never find the ones who?re already escaping.

PAGE NINE (FIVE PANELS)

PAGE 09, PANEL 01. NICK stands up, ready to leave, and puts his hand on the file.

(01) NICK
Let?s hope it won?t come to that.

(02) HENRY
Uh-huh. Use a department car and fuel yourself at our pumps.

(03) NICK
Thanks.

(04) NICK
Can I take Danny Holz?s notes with me?

PAGE 09, PANEL 02. NICK approaches the door and waves at HENRY.

(05) HENRY
I don?t see why not.

(06) NICK
Great. I?ll keep you informed.

PAGE 09, PANEL 03. As NICK grabs the doorknob and starts to open the door, HENRY calls out to him one more time.

(07) HENRY
One more thing, Nick.

(08) NICK
Yeah?

(08) HENRY
I think I?ll talk to the Rosen organization myself while you?re on your way.

PAGE 09, PANEL 04. HENRY walks up to NICK, still chomping on his cigar.

(09) NICK
What for?

(10) HENRY
I?m going to discuss with them a possibility of including several humans, as well as their new androids.

(11) HENRY
But you won?t know who ? or what ? you?re dealing with.

PAGE 09, PANEL 05. HENRY puts his hands on NICK?s shoulders and looks him straight in the eyes.

(12) HENRY
This is the first time you?ll be acting as senior bounty hunter, Nick--

PAGE TEN (SIX PANELS)

PAGE 10, PANEL 01. Change of surroundings. A worn down door to one of the apartments in the same building JOHN ISIDORE occupies. We can see his hand, knocking.

(01) CAPTION
--do not disappoint me.

(02) SFX
Knock! Knock!

PAGE 10, PANEL 02. The door slowly open. PEG STRATTON is on the other side, eyeing the visitor with suspicion.

(03) PEG
?yes?

PAGE 10, PANEL 03. Reverse shot. JOHN introduces himself with excitement.

(04) JOHN
Hello.

(05) JOHN
My name?s John Isidore and I work for a well-known animal vet, Mr. Hannibal Sloat. I drive his truck, see?

PAGE 10, PANEL 04. Establishing shot. JOHN stands in the hallway and talks to PEG through a half open door. There should be also a fire axe visible on the wall nearby, shielded by a piece of glass (this will come in play at the end).

(06) PEG
So??

(07) JOHN
So, I?m reputable! I?m a friend! And it?s good to have neighbors. Heck, until you came along, I didn?t have any!

PAGE 10, PANEL 05. JOHN steps forward inside PEG?s apartment, much to her dismay. We can see BUSTER on the TV.

(08) BUSTER
(electric)
It?s now only ten more hours to my special expose! I?m revealing something that will amaze you--

PAGE 10, PANEL 06. JOHN points at the TV set in the back of the room.

(09) JOHN
Good old Buster. I used to watch him every morning and then again at night, when I got home.

(10) JOHN
At least until my TV set broke.

PAGE ELEVEN (FIVE PANELS)

PAGE 11, PANEL 01. PEG steps out to the corridor, pushing JOHN outside and closing the door behind her.

(01) PEG
How do you manage? Alone in this building, with no one to keep you company?

(02) JOHN
I?m into Mercersim now. Don?t you participate in fusion? Don?t you own an empathy box?

PAGE 11, PANEL 02. PEG looks down, as if caught red handed.

(03) PEG
?

(04) PEG
I didn?t bring mine with me.

(05) JOHN
But an empathy box is an extension of your body! It?s the way you touch other humans, the way you stop being alone.

(06) JOHN
Mercer even lets people like me--

PAGE 11, PANEL 03. PEG seems disgusted by JOHN?s confession. Now he?s the one having to explain himself.

(07) PEG
Like you?

(08) JOHN
Well--

(09) JONH
--I never passed the IQ test. I?m not very special, just moderately. But that?s what Mercer doesn?t care about, miss--

PAGE 11, PANEL 04. PEG takes a few steps back, opening the door again.

(10) PEG
Stratton.

(11) PEG
Peg Stratton. But you call me Miss Stratton.

(12) JOHN
Right. Could you maybe fix dinner for us? If I--

PAGE 11, PANEL 05. PEG slams the door right in front of JOHN.

(13) SFX
SLAM!

(14) JOHN
Oh. Okay then.

(15) JOHN
See you later.

PAGE TWELVE (FIVE PANELS)

PAGE 12, PANEL 01. ECKHARDT?s department hover nears the top of Rosen Association HQ. Next to the landing bay, there are dozens of glass domes, under which exotic animals live, surrounded by lush flora. That makes the roof contrast with the rest of the grim landscape.

NO COPY

PAGE 12, PANEL 02. Hover lands--

NO COPY

PAGE 12, PANEL 03. --and NICK, holding a briefcase, gets out. RYAN ROSEN, a well-dressed female in anti-dust glasses, approaches him. She may have a completely different hairstyle and make-up than PEG, but a careful reader will notice that their bodies (and faces) are virtually identical.

(01) RYAN
I?m Ryan Rosen. You must be Eckhardt.

(02) NICK
Uh-huh.

PAGE 12, PANEL 04. NICK and RYAN walk towards the elevator. NICK can?t help admiring the animals around him.

(03) NICK
Incredible.

(04) NICK
This place looks like one of those pre-war Zoos.

(05) RYAN
We have our own naturalists up in Canada. You may not know this, but there?s still a good deal of forest left.

PAGE 12, PANEL 05. The elevator door opens, as NICK glances at RYAN with disbelief.

(06) NICK
Wait. Those aren?t artificial?

(07) RYAN
No more than I am, Mr. Eckhardt.

PAGE THIRTEEN (FIVE PANELS)

PAGE 13, PANEL 01. A large, exquisitely decorated room. EBENEZER ROSEN watches the view.

NO COPY

PAGE 13, PANEL 02. EBENEZER turns around as NICK and RYAN enter the room.

(01) RYAN
Mr. Eckhardt, this is Ebenezer Rosen.

(02) NICK
Sir.

PAGE 13, PANEL 03. EBENEZER and NICK shake hands. The elder ROSEN points to a nearby table.

(03) EBENEZER
You can set up your equipment there.

(04) NICK
Where?s the subject?

(05) EBENEZER
Patience.

PAGE 13, PANEL 04. NICK sits by the table and opens his briefcase, speaking to EBENZER. RYAN approaches the chair in front of NICK.

(06) NICK
With all due respect, I?m not paid to be patient.

(07) NICK
I was assured that I will have full cooperation--

PAGE 13, PANEL 05. RYAN sits down and surprises NICK with a question.

(08) RYAN
I?ve never seen an empathy test being administered. What do those things you have there measure?

(09) NICK
Uh?

PAGE FOURTEEN (FIVE PANELS)

PAGE 14, PANEL 01. NICK holds up the flat adhesive disk with its trailing wires.

(01) NICK
This measures capillary dilation in the facial area. The so called ?shame response?.

(02) RYAN
And the other thing?

PAGE 14, PANEL 02. NICK shows RYAN a pencil-beam light.

(03) NICK
That?s for recording the tension within the eye muscle.

(04) RYAN
Which can?t be found in androids??

(05) NICK
Potentially, it can, but it?s not engendered by the stimuli questions.

PAGE 14, PANEL 03. RYAN leans over to ECKHARDT, whispering into his ear. EBENEZER smirks.

(06) RYAN
Give me the test.

(07) NICK
What? Why?

PAGE 14, PANEL 04. Close on EBENEZER.

(08) EBENEZER
Don?t you get it, Mr. Eckhardt?--

PAGE 14, PANEL 05. Wide, establishing shot. JOHN ISIDORE, holding a plastic cage, enters HANNIBAL SLOAT?s electric animals workshop. There are dozens of synthetic animals in the room, some of them working, some defected, with their mechanical parts exposed. Over HANNIBAL, we can see an old, barely working TV set that plays a muted Buster Friendly show.

(09) CAPTION
--we selected her as your first subject.

(10) JOHN
Hello, Mr. Sloat.

(11) HANNIBAL
Isidore. What do you have there?

(12) JOHN
A cat with a short in its power supply.

PAGE FIFTEEN (FIVE PANELS)

PAGE 15, PANEL 01. HANNIBAL takes the box away from JOHN.

(01) HANNIBAL
Did you try to recharge its battery?

(02) JOHN
I opened it up, but couldn?t even find one.

(03) HANNIBAL
Let?s see.

PAGE 15, PANEL 02. HANNIBAL puts the box on the workbench. JOHN points at the TV screen.

(04) JOHN
Is that Buster?

(05) HANNIBAL
Why?

(06) JOHN
Sir, what if--

(07) JOHN
--Buster Friendly and Mercer are fighting for control of our psychic souls?

PAGE 15, PANEL 03. HANNIBAL seems amused by JOHN?s comment. He proceeds to open the box.

(08) HANNIBAL
Then Buster is winning, isn?t he?

(09) JOHN
He?s winning now, but ultimately he?ll lose. Because Wilbur Mercer is always renewed. He?s eternal. And us with him.

(10) HANNIBAL
They?ve never admitted it of course, but Buster is immortal too.

PAGE 15, PANEL 04. JOHN starts getting worried. HANNIBAL looks inside the box with horror.

(11) JOHN
Is that how come Buster Friendly can do a twenty-three hours of show a day.

(12) HANNIBAL
?

(13) JOHN
Is something wrong, Mr. Sloat?

PAGE 15, PANEL 05. HANNIBAL takes out a real, massacred cat. He shows it to JOHN - blood dripping from his hands - with an angry expression.

(14) HANNIBAL
Isidore, you chickenhead!

(15) HANNIBAL
Haven?t you noticed--

PAGE SIXTEEN (SIX PANELS)

PAGE 16, PANEL 01. Close on NICK?s face back in Rosen HQ. He?s just finished the test.

(01) CAPTION
--this cat isn?t false!

(02) NICK
You?re an android. Beyond doubt.

PAGE 16, PANEL 02. NICK puts his tools back in the briefcase. RYAN, uncomprehending, takes the disc off her face. EBENEZER just watches, expressionless.

(03) RYAN
That-- That can?t be right.

(04) NICK
I?m sorry.

(05) RYAN
You must have made a mistake. I grew up aboard Salander 3. It?s only four years since I came to Earth. Maybe that could have altered--

PAGE 16, PANEL 03. NICK closes the briefcase and rises, talking to EBENEZER. RYAN looks down, her mouth covered with her hand.

(06) NICK
Does she know?

(07) EBENEZER
No. We programmed her completely.

(08) NICK
False memories?

(09) EBENEZER
You are a very resourceful man, Mr. Eckhardt.

PAGE 16, PANEL 04. EBENEZER embraces RYAN, trying to calm her down. NICK confirms his words.

(10) RYAN
My God?

(11) EBENEZER
Don?t be afraid of him.

(12) EBENEZER
You?re the property of Rosen Association, used as a sales device for prospective emigrants, not an escaped android.

(13) NICK
He?s right. I?m not going to retire you, Miss Rosen.

PAGE 16, PANEL 05. NICK walks towards the door with his back turned to EBENEZER and RYAN.

(14) NICK
Since the test proved adequate in her case, it?s clearly still effective. You can call off the other subjects.

(15) NICK
Good day.

PAGE 16, PANEL 06. For a moment, NICK stops. He asks EBENEZER one last question.

(16) NICK
One more thing. Those animals on the roof. Are they real?

(17) EBENEZER
No more than her, Mr. Eckhardt.

(18) EBENEZER
No more than her.

(19) CAPTION
Where are you calling from, Nick?

[Kipple]

Great job! Lots of potential here!

Great job! Lots of potential here!

Thank you very much, but there are some cringe worthy scenes ahead - things that were to be sorted out in later drafts.

Below are pages 17-26:

PAGE SEVENTEEN (SIX PANELS)

PAGE 17, PANEL 01. Close on NICK, using an old, demolished model of vidphone (a phone with a built in two way camera).

(01) NICK
Molotov?s apartment. I found the address in Holz?s notes.

PAGE 17, PANEL 02. Over NICK?s shoulder ? we can now clearly see that the speaker is HENRY.

(02) HENRY
(electric)
You mean you have already dealt with the Rosens?

(03) NICK
I got what you sent me for, yeah.

(04) HENRY
(electric)
All right, then. Any luck on Polokov?

PAGE 17, PANEL 03. Wide, revealing that NICK is in POLOKOV?s apartment ? rather untidy, dark, uninviting. He?s paging through Holz?s file.

(05) NICK
Nah. Most likely sprung the city right after he shot Danny. Probably skipped all the way to the Antarctic Circle.

(06) HENRY
(electric)
Damn. Who?s next on your list?

(07) NICK
Luba Luft. An opera singer. Must have a good voice to make connections so fast.

PAGE 17, PANEL 04. HENRY speaks. NICK smiles morbidly.

(08) HENRY
(electric)
You have a thing for opera, don?t you Nick? That may come in handy.

(09) NICK
Only if one can get rid of an andy by overloading his brain with historical trivia.

PAGE 17, PANEL 05. NICK glances at his hand watch.

(10) NICK
I?d better get going. Luft?s show had already started, but I may still be able to catch her backstage.

(11) HENRY
(electric)
I won?t keep you, Nick. Good luck.

PAGE 17, PANEL 06. Ready to leave, NICK switches the vidphone off.

(13) NICK
Thanks, Sergeant.

PAGE EIGHTEEN (FIVE PANELS)

PAGE 18, PANEL 01. The roof of an apartment building. All the animal cages here are abandoned - some feathers and blood can be seen in a few of them. Besides NICK?s, there?s only one more hover here ? an ancient one, covered with rust. NICK steps out of the elevator--

NO COPY

PAGE 18, PANEL 02. --and heads in the direction of his own hover, glancing at the remains of this once prosperous structure.

NO COPY

PAGE 18, PANEL 03. NICK opens to door to the car.

NO COPY

PAGE 18, PANEL 04. A view from inside ? NICK is shocked to see someone else in the driver seat.

(01) MAX
(off panel)
It?s rude to use other people phones without asking, tovarisch.

PAGE 18, PANEL 05. MAX POLOKOV jumps out of the car knocking NICK down with a mighty kick.

(02) MAX
Hiyaa!

(03) SFX
Wham!

PAGE NINETEEN (SIX PANELS)

PAGE 19, PANEL 01. On the ground, NICK is frantically looking for his gun while MAX slowly approaches him.

(01) MAX
You don?t get it, do you?

(02) MAX
I?m stronger than you, bounty hunter.

(03) MAX
Faster.

(04) MAX
Smarter.

(05) MAX
Why do you think I would be the one to run?

PAGE 19, PANEL 02. Finally finding his pistol, NICK shots at MAX getting him on the shoulder.

(06) SFX
Blam!

(07) MAX
Urrk!

PAGE 19, PANEL 03. MAX glances down at the gaping wound--

NO COPY

PAGE 19, PANEL 04. --and then looks back at ECKHARDT, putting his hand to his ear as if wanting to hear better. He doesn?t seem affected by the injury.

(08) MAX
Come again?

PAGE 19, PANEL 05. MAX grabs NICK by the throat--

NO COPY

PAGE 19, PANEL 06. --and yanks him upwards.

(09) MAX
You can?t hurt me, hunter!

(10) NICK
Eyaghh!

PAGE TWENTY (SIX PANELS)

PAGE 20, PANEL 01. NICK stabs MAX in the eyes with his thumbs. The latter lets out a scream.

(01) MAX
Aargh!

PAGE 20, PANEL 02. MAX covers his eyes with his hand as NICK runs off panel.

(02) MAX
You?re dead, worm! We?re not finished yet.

PAGE 20, PANEL 03. POLOKOV stumbles about for a bit. A stream of blood runs through his face.

(03) MAX
Euugh!

PAGE 20, PANEL 04. Close-up. MAX finally opens his eyes ? red and bleeding ? to see something off panel that actually makes him taste fear.

(04) MAX
No?

PAGE 20, PANEL 05. Large. MAX screams in bewilderment as NICK?s hovercar is speeding right at him, only a few meters above ground.

(05) MAX
You madman!

PAGE 20, PANEL 06. Black, with a big onomatopoeia in the middle.

(06) SFX
Crash!

PAGE TWENTY ONE (FIVE PANELS)

PAGE 21, PANEL 01. IRAN lies on the couch, opening one of her eyes. In the background, a vidphone can be seen.

(01) SFX
Brring!

(02) IRAN
Hmm??

PAGE 21, PANEL 02. Reluctantly, IRAN walks to the phone.

(03) SFX
Brring!

(04) IRAN
Coming, coming.

PAGE 21, PANEL 03. IRAN pushes a switch to pick up the call.

NO COPY

PAGE 21, PANEL 04. Close-up of IRAN?s face ? she covers her mouth with her hand, shocked.

(05) IRAN
Oh my--

(06) IRAN
Nick!

PAGE 21, PANEL 05. Reverse shot. On the screen, NICK sits behind the wheel, sprayed with blood. POLOKOV, his body broken, is placed in the passenger seat.

(07) NICK
(electric)
Don?t worry, Iran, I?m all right.

PAGE TWENTY TWO (FIVE PANELS)

PAGE 22, PANEL 01. Both IRAN and NICK are in the panel. A hint of perverse pride can be seen in his face.

(01) IRAN
But that man--

(02) NICK
(electric)
It?s just an andy.

(03) NICK
(electric)
A new type of andy that apparently no one can handle but me.

PAGE 22, PANEL 02. Inside NICK?s hover ? he continues speaking.

(04) NICK
The department already owes me ten grand for this one and it?s just a beginning.

(05) NICK
You know what we?re going to have before I?m through?

PAGE 22, PANEL 03. A view from behind NICK?s shoulder.

(06) IRAN
(electric)
I know what you?re going to have. A widow.

(14) NICK
I was thinking of something a bit more cuddly, but a divorce may also be in the cards if you won?t stop that kind of talk.

(14) IRAN
(electric)
Nick-- Just be safe, okay?

PAGE 22, PANEL 04. NICK prepares to switch the vidphone off.

(15) NICK
Sure.

(16) NICK
Anyway, I just call to say I may come home late tonight--

PAGE 22, PANEL 05. LUBA LUFT is taking off her make-up in the opera?s backstage.

(01) CAPTION
--I got more bounty to collect.

PAGE TWENTY THREE (SIX PANELS)

PAGE 23, PANEL 01. NICK, all tided up, opens the door, knocking on them at the same time. He has a pleasant, polite expression on his face. LUBA much less so.

(01) NICK
Miss Luft? Do you mind if I come in?

(02) LUBA
I?m busy as you can see.

PAGE 23, PANEL 02. Closing the door behind him, NICK ventures further into the room. He?s holding a briefcase.

(03) NICK
This will only take a while. I?m from San Francisco Police Department. I have been sent here to administer a certain test to you.

(04) LUBA
An IQ test?

(05) NICK
No. Empathy.

(06) LUBA
?

PAGE 23, PANEL 03. LUBA opens a drawer. NICK sees that and, dropping his briefcase, prepares to make a move.

(07) LUBA
Just let me put on my glasses.

PAGE 23, PANEL 04. NICK catches LUBA?s hand and talks down to her ? confidently, but without aggression. We can see there?s a pistol in the drawer.

(08) NICK
That won?t be necessary, Miss Luft--

(09) NICK
And I think you know it.

PAGE 23, PANEL 05. LUBA uses her other hand to push a buzzer on her desk.

(10) LUBA
Service?

(11) SPEAKER
(electric)
How can I help you, Miss Luft?

(12) LUBA
Is there a policeman in the building? I would like one to come to my wardrobe.

PAGE 23, PANEL 06. As LUBA speaks, NICK steps away. He?s not quite sure what she?s trying to achieve, but doesn?t allow himself to lose his cool.

(13) SPEAKER
(electric)
Is something wrong?

(14) LUBA
There?s a suspicious man here, claiming to be someone he obviously isn?t.

(15) NICK
That won?t change anything. You know you?re finished.

PAGE TWENTY FOUR (SIX PANELS)

PAGE 24, PANEL 01. NICK takes a comfortable position against the wall, crosses his hands and observes LUBA. She?s looking at his reflection in the mirror.

(01) LUBA
I still don?t know what you?re talking about. You think I?m an android?

(02) NICK
Aren?t you?

(03) LUBA
Of course not. I haven?t even been to Mars!

(04) NICK
But my colleague, Danny Holz--

PAGE 24, PANEL 02. A police officer, big and sturdy, enters the wardrobe. NICK extends his hand towards him.

(05) CRAMS
That the troublemaker?

(06) NICK
Glad to see you officer. Name?s Eckhardt.

PAGE 24, PANEL 03. Officer CRAMS is mightily unfriendly. NICK, seeing his indifference, reaches for an ID card.

(07) CRAMS
Let me see your ID.

(08) NICK
Here. I?m a bounty hunter with the department.

PAGE 24, PANEL 04. CRAMS skeptically reads the card.

(09) CRAMS
I thought I know all bounty hunters.

(10) NICK
My supervisor is Inspector Henry Bryce. Just check it, I?ll wait.

PAGE 24, PANEL 05. CRAMS uses his radio, while NICK glances at the digital clock installed in the room.

(11) CRAMS
Officer Crams calling in.

(12) CRAMS
Is there an Inspector Henry Bryce connected with the department?

(13) CRAMS
What about a bounty hunter named Eckhardt?

PAGE 24, PANEL 06. Putting the radio down, CRAMS grabs NICK violently by the shoulder. NICK raises his hands, as to show that he won?t fight.

(14) CRAMS
They never heard of you, pal. Let?s go down to the Hall of Justice so I can book you.

(15) NICK
With pleasure. This matter should be straightened out.

PAGE TWENTY FIVE (FIVE PANELS)

PAGE 25, PANEL 01. An empty district of San Francisco ? it has the markings of a ghost town even more so than the rest of the city. A baroque building stands among the ruined structures. It?s the Mission Street Hall of Justice, and we can see a tiny silhouette of PHIL RESCH sitting behind his desk in one of the rooms.

(01) BARBARA
(disembodied)
Phil, can I talk with you for a moment?

PAGE 25, PANEL 02. PHIL, a tall man with hard-etched features, wearing glasses and a beard, looks up from behind his desk at BARBARA, one of his fellow workers.

(02) PHIL
Sure, Barbs. What can I help you with?

(03) BARBARA
Could you look over my annual report? I?d like to know if the list of andys you retired last year is in order.

PAGE 25, PANEL 03. As PHIL takes the report from BARBARA, an incoming call notification appears on his vidphone.

(04) PHIL
No problem.

(05) BARBARA
Thanks.

(06) SFX
Brring!

PAGE 25, PANEL 04. Close on PHIL as he?s speaking with his boss - an older, but healthy looking man ? through his vidphone.

(07) PHIL
Yeah?

(08) TIMOTHY
(electric)
Garland here. Have a minute, Resch?

(09) PHIL
What?s up, boss?

PAGE 25, PANEL 05. PHIL?s boss, TIMOTHY GARLAND, is in his office, speaking to PHIL. NICK is there too, sitting in front of TIMOTHY, but we can?t see him yet.

(10) TIMOTHY
There?s a man ? or android ? in my office. Calls himself Eckhardt.

(11) PHIL
(electric)
Never heard of him.

(12) TIMOTHY
Well, he comes to us from a nonexistent police agency allegedly operating out of old departmental HQ on Lombard.

PAGE TWENTY SIX (FIVE PANELS)

PAGE 26, PANEL 01. Bird?s view. On TIMOTHY?s desk, there?s Holz?s list opened on a page about GARLAND, as well as NICK?s opened briefcase, with all its contents scattered around.

(01) PHIL
(electric)
Sounds serious.

(02) TIMOTHY
That?s not all. He carries a hit list with him. Apparently, I?m the next target.

PAGE 26, PANEL 02. Back to PHIL?s office, as he?s taking his gun out of his drawer.

(03) PHIL
I reckon you want me to get down there and test this joker?

(04) TIMOTHY
(electric)
We?ve had escaped andys turn up posing as bounty hunters in the past, hadn?t we?

PAGE 26, PANEL 03. TIMOTHY switches the vidphone off.

(05) PHIL
(electric)
I?m on it.

(06) TIMOTHY
Don?t take too long.

PAGE 26, PANEL 04. TIMOTHY?s office. CRAMS stands behind NICK, who, as previously noted, is sitting in front of TIMOTHY.

(07) NICK
That?s not going to make any difference. The test will prove I?m human, and then it will be your turn.

(08) TIMOTHY
You really believe I?m an android, don?t you?

(09) NICK
You are on my list, aren?t you? Besides, two parallel police agencies never coming in contact? Ridiculous.

PAGE 26, PANEL 05. TIMOTHY sighs heavily. NICK glances at CRAMS.

(10) TIMOTHY
I knew it was a bad day the minute I saw Crams here bringing you in.

(11) NICK
Is that an admission of guilt?

(12) TIMOTHY
Guilt? Is it a crime to exist?

[Kipple]

That's my Phil (Resch)

I like it. If no one wishes to "publish" this...it's great fan-fiction for KippleZone.

Any artists out there?

The following chunk contains a sequence that probably bothers me most in this early draft ? the deus ex machina scene in which Phil Resch enters Garland?s office at the most convenient moment. Still, I?ve opted for a ?workprint? approach in presenting the script, so I left it as it appeared when the project was scrapped.

Pages 27-35:

PAGE TWENTY SEVEN (FIVE PANELS)

PAGE 27, PANEL 01. Unable to answer, NICK changes the subject. For a moment, TIMOTHY seems lost in thought.

(01) NICK
You shouldn?t have tried to cover for Luft. Androids are no good at this kind of thing.

(02) TIMOTHY
You may be right. It would appear we lack a specific talent you humans posses. I believe it?s called empathy.

PAGE 27, PANEL 02. TIMOTHY opens a drawer in his desk. CRAMS puts his hands on NICK shoulders as if to stop him from trying to get up.

(03) TIMOTHY
Anyway, I?d better hurry before Resch gets here.

(04) NICK
Excuse me?

(05) TIMOTHY
The way I see it, you are attempting escape.

(06) NICK
You are going to shoot me.

PAGE 27, PANEL 03. NICK faces the barrel of TIMOTHY?s gun.

(07) TIMOTHY
How observant.

(08) NICK
Why the rush? Isn?t that Resch an andy too?

(09) TIMOTHY
Nah. I had to keep him after I?d took over the department or he?d become suspicious. Eventually, he?ll share your fate though.

PAGE 27, PANEL 04. What TIMOTHY didn?t realize, is that PHIL had already entered the room. For a while, the two men just stare at each other.

(10) PHIL
Now that?s unexpected.

(11) TIMOTHY
Huh?

PAGE 27, PANEL 05. Large panel, taking up most of the page. TIMOTHY fires at PHIL and misses, being shot in the head at the same time ? a high velocity bullet makes his ?retirement? instant. Meanwhile, NICK gets off the chair, while CRAMS is removing a pistol of his own from the holster.

(12) SFX
Blam!

(13) SFX
Bang!

PAGE TWENTY EIGHT (FIVE PANELS)

PAGE 28, PANEL 01. NICK jumps on the desk. CRAMS is aiming at PHIL, his head is turned towards NICK.

NO COPY

PAGE 28, PANEL 02. NICK leaps at CRAMS and grabs him by his arm, twisting it in such a way that CRAMS?s gun is now pointed at its owner.

NO COPY

PAGE 28, PANEL 03. NICK and CRAMS fall on the floor. The pistol fires, resulting in CRAMS?s head being blown off. PHIL runs towards them.

(01) SFX
Blam!

PAGE 28, PANEL 04. PHIL helps NICK up.

(02) PHIL
Phil Resch.

(03) NICK
Eckhardt.

(04) PHIL
I used to joke that the best place for an android would be with a big police organization like this one. Who would have thought--

PAGE 28, PANEL 05. TIMOTHY?s phone rings. NICK and PHIL exchange glances.

(05) SFX
Brring!

PAGE TWENTY NINE (SIX PANELS)

PAGE 29, PANEL 01. Close-up of the phone. LUBA?s face can be seen on the monitor.

(01) ANSWERING MACHINE
(electric)
You have reached the office of Police Inspector Timothy Garland. Please leave a message.

(02) LUBA
(electric)
Tim, it?s Luba. Thanks for taking that hunter off my back. I?ll be at that Munch exhibit we talked about later this evening. Hope you?ll be able to join me.

PAGE 29, PANEL 02. PHIL addresses NICK with a knowing smile.

(03) PHIL
You know, I?m practically jobless now--

PAGE 29, PANEL 03. A futuristic museum. Holographic reproduction of Munch?s ?Puberty? is being displayed by the wall. A female hand ? that of LUBA LUFT ? can be seen in the panel pointing at it.

(04) CAPTION
--think your department will take me on?

(05) LUBA
(off panel)
That one.

PAGE 29, PANEL 04. Pull back. LUBA is talking with a LADY in a souvenir booth still pointing at the painting.

(06) LUBA
Do you have a print of that one?

(07) BOOTH LADY
Only in this book of collected work. Twenty five dollars.

PAGE 29, PANEL 05. Unexpectedly, PHIL and NICK appear behind LUBA. She is startled.

(08) NICK
We?ll take it. I?ll pay for the lady.

(09) LUBA
You! I thought you were arrested.

PAGE 29, PANEL 06. NICK pays the BOOTH LADY, his head turned towards LUBA. PHIL leads her in the direction of a nearby elevator.

(10) NICK
The harness bull that came to your dressing room was an android, just as his superior. Did you know an Inspector Garland?

PAGE THIRTY (SIX PANELS)

PAGE 30, PANEL 01. PHIL and LUBA stand by the elevator. RESCH pushes the button.

(01) LUBA
We all came here in one ship as a group.

(02) PHIL
So I guess the department which you called is the organizing agency by which your group gets in touch??

(03) LUBA
You?re pretty bright for a bounty hunter.

PAGE 30, PANEL 02. The elevator door open. NICK approaches LUBA and hands her the book.

(04) NICK
There you go, Miss Luft.

(05) LUBA
?

(06) LUBA
There?s something very nice and touching about humans. An android would never have done that.

PAGE 30, PANEL 03. The group enters the elevator. PHIL chooses the ground floor.

(07) NICK
Who knows. Your kind tends to surprise me lately.

(08) LUBA
At least we have that going for us. The element of surprise.

(09) LUBA
See, ever since I got it here from Mars, my life has consisted of imitating the human, doing what she?d do. As if I had the thoughts and impulses a human would posses.

PAGE 30, PANEL 04. PHIL pulls out his gun. LUBA just stares at it. NICK eyes RESCH with disgust.

(10) PHIL
I heard enough.

(11) NICK
The hell do you think you?re doing?

(12) PHIL
It?s admitted it?s an android.

(13) NICK
So?

PAGE 30, PANEL 05. NICK shouts at PHIL, unpleased. LUBA seems more terrified by ECKHARDT?s words than PHIL?s intentions.

(14) NICK
Whatever. Exterminate it. Just squash it like you would a fly back when they weren?t extinct!

(15) LUBA
People used to do that?

PAGE 30, PANEL 06. PHIL pushes LUBA towards the wall while pointing at her with his pistol. NICK extends his hand to stop him.

(16) NICK
Wait! I was just--

PAGE THIRTY ONE (SIX PANELS)

PAGE 31, PANEL 01. Ground floor. People who wait for the elevator to arrive are looking at each other in puzzlement. A loud sound comes from behind the door.

(01) SFX
Blam!

PAGE 31, PANEL 02. Same angle. Everyone steps back as NICK, angry, exits the elevator ripping the book he gave LUBA to shreds. PHIL follows him. The elevator is splattered with blood and LUBA?s body can be seen in a corner.

NO COPY

PAGE 31, PANEL 03. NICK stops, reflecting on recent events. PHIL catches up with him.

(02) PHIL
You could have kept the book. That cost you--

(03) NICK
Do you think? Do you think androids have souls?

PAGE 31, PANEL 04. PHIL smiles. NICK looks confused.

(04) PHIL
Oh, I see what this is about. You?re in a spot. It?s sex.

(05) NICK
What?

(06) PHIL
It?s that she ? it ? was physically attractive. A textbook situation, really.

PAGE 31, PANEL 05. NICK turns to face PHIL. Surprisingly, he is quite prepared to listen him out.

(07) PHIL
You wanted to go to bed with a female type of android. What happened is that you got your order reversed.

(08) PHIL
Don?t kill her ? or be present when she?s killed ? and then feel physically attracted. Do it the other way.

(09) NICK
You mean? Go to bed with her first--

PAGE 31, PANEL 06. NICK pats PHIL on the shoulder.

(10) PHIL
--and then kill her, yeah.

(11) NICK
I guess you?re a good bounty hunter, Phil. You seem to be.

(12) NICK
But where does that leave me?

PAGE THIRTY TWO (SIX PANELS)

PAGE 32, PANEL 01. Close-up. JOHN ISIDORE?s face. He?s looking straight at us.

(01) JOHN
M-M-Mrs. Pilsen? I want to talk about your c-c-c--

(02) JOHN
Your cat.

PAGE 32, PANEL 02. From over JOHN?s shoulder. He?s using a vidphone, and on the monitor, there?s a mildly attractive housewife in her forties.

(03) PILSEN
Oh yes, you picked up Horace. Did it turn out to be pneumonitis?

(04) JOHN
You cat has died.

(05) JOHN
We?ll replace it of course. How about an electric duplicate? We can have a superb handcrafted replica by--

PAGE 32, PANEL 03. Mrs. PILSEN is visibly shaken.

(06) PILSEN
There?s only one cat like Horace.

(07) PILSEN
He used to ? when he was a kitten ? stand and stare at us as if asking a question. Maybe now he knows the answer.

PAGE 32, PANEL 04. Mrs. PILSEN seem to be coming to terms with her loss. JOHN is giddy to assist her.

(08) PILSEN
Err?

(09) PILSEN
Listen, could it be so faithful a reproduction that my husband won?t be able to tell?

(10) JOHN
If it doesn?t work out, Mister Hannibal Sloat, the owner of our firm, will personally pick out a real cat in Horace?s place.

PAGE 32, PANEL 05. Pull back to reveal that HANNIBAL is standing right next to JOHN. He is proud of how ISIDORE is able to handle the situation.

(11) PILSEN
How long will it take?

(12) JOHN
We can have it ready in ten days. We?ll deliver it during the day your husband is at work.

(13) PILSEN
All right, thank you.

PAGE 32, PANEL 06. HANNIBAL switches the phone off for JOHN with one hand, while patting him on the head in a friendly manner with the other.

(14) HANNIBAL
I?ll be damned, Isidore. That was pretty good for a special.

PAGE THIRTY THREE (SIX PANELS)

PAGE 33, PANEL 01. Wide shot. The roof of ECKHARDT?S building seen from above. IRAN just made her way up here and is walking towards NICK. He is standing near his car watching two men in white suits open the back door of a truck they flew here in. The sun is setting, making the shadows rather long.

(01) CAPTION
You deserve a rest after pulling that off.

(02) IRAN
Nick? What?s going on, honey? Who are those men?

(03) NICK
Don?t worry, Iran. Everything?s all right. In fact--

PAGE 33, PANEL 02 . NICK holds IRAN by her hand. She looks on in awe as the men in white suits lead out a sheep from the back of the truck.

(04) NICK
--it?s more than all right.

(05) IRAN
Oh my?

(06)IRAN
Is that what I think it is?

PAGE 33, PANEL 03. IRAN kneels in front of the sheep and caresses her. NICK stands by her, holding his hand on her shoulder.

(07) NICK
A real sheep, baby. And there?s more where that came from. I told you I had hit the jackpot.

(08) IRAN
Okay, I?ll take care of everything here. Meanwhile, you should go downstairs. We have a guest.

(09) NICK
A guest?

PAGE 33, PANEL 04. JOHN ISIDORE walks down the stairs in his apartment building. The fire axe is still there. He slowly approaches the door to PEG?s apartment. They appear breached.

(10) CAPTION
A woman. Says she works for the Rosen Association.

(11) JOHN
Miss Stratton? Something extraordinary happened at work today. Would you like to hear about it?

PAGE 33, PANEL 05. From inside the apartment as JOHN enters. The room is dark and he takes his steps carefully.

(12) JOHN
Umm? Miss Stratton??

PAGE 33, PANEL 06. Suddenly, JOHN gets pale with fear as an unseen person addresses him.

(13) IRMGARD
(off panel)
And who might you be?

PAGE THIRTY FOUR (SIX PANELS)

PAGE 34, PANEL 01. Back at NICK?s apartment. He?s leaning on the door frame. In the foreground, RYAN sits in a comfortable chair sipping coffee.

(01) NICK
What do you want?

(02) RYAN
Mister Eckhardt. It?s good you?ve finally arrived.

(03) RYAN
Unfortunately, I?m afraid you won?t have the luxury of rest this evening.

PAGE 34, PANEL 02. NICK takes a seat in front of RYAN.

(04) RYAN
Your recent string of successes is starting to garner a lot of media attention. This is not something we, as a company, are willing to accept.

(05) NICK
You still think you can convince me to abandon my job?

(06) RYAN
Quite the opposite. I was sent here to assist you.

PAGE 34, PANEL 03. NICK smiles. RYAN continues.

(07) NICK
Go on.

(08) RYAN
The sooner the deed is done, the quicker we can go back to business as usual. The remaining androids must be taken care of before dawn.

(09) NICK
How am I supposed to know where to find them?

(10) RYAN
Don?t worry about that.

PAGE 34, PANEL 04. NICK puts the file he got from the department on the table. RYAN points at it.

(11) RYAN
Could you please take a look at the dossier you were provided with?

(12) NICK
Of course.

(13) RYAN
I believe your next target calls itself--

PAGE 34, PANEL 05. The face of blonde IRMGARD BERGER with an enchanting subtle smile. She seems to be in her mid-thirties.

(14) CAPTION
Irmgard Berger.

(15) IRMGARD
You seem lost, little man.

(16) CAPTION
Something of an experiment, that one.

PAGE 34, PANEL 06. Pull back. IRMGARD walks slowly towards ISIDORE ? the scene takes place in PEG?s apartment. JOHN backs away.

(17) JOHN
I-I-I?m sorry, miss? I must have entered the wrong a-a-apartment.

(18) JOHN
I?m special, you know. I?m no trouble.

(19) CAPTION
Irmgard was conceived as an insurance of sorts. A loving companion designed to tame the most unstable of units--

PAGE THIRTY FIVE (SIX PANELS)

PAGE 35, PANEL 01. JOHN bumps into RON BERGER. Tall, handsome, built like a Greek god. He has a face of a barbarian and eyes of a philosopher.

(01) RON
You little fool...

(02) CAPTION
--Ron Berger. Combat model. More than just a soldier. The leader of leaders, extremely intelligent and chillingly efficient.

PAGE 35, PANEL 02. NICK turns the page in the dossier ? he seems surprised. RYAN sits in the background, smirking.

(03) RYAN
And then we have Peg Stratton.

(04) NICK
You got to be kidding me.

(05) RYAN
Looks familiar, hm?

PAGE 35, PANEL 03. This panel should be composed similar to the previous one. RON takes the place of NICK, choking JOHN, while PEG appears in the background.

(06) RON
You thought you could sneak in here? We heard you coming from miles away.

(07) PEG
Relax, Ron. It?s just that neighbor of mine I was telling you about.

(08) CAPTION
Peg was supposed to be our representative on Mars. However, her transport was assaulted by a group of hostile androids that were able to persuade her to join their pack.

PAGE 35, PANEL 04. PEG helps JOHN up as RON and IRMGARD look on.

(09) PEG
John, these are my friends.

(10) JOHN
F-f-f-friends?

(11) PEG
Yes, John. Why don?t you introduce yourself.

(12) CAPTION
What should interest you most, Mister Eckhardt, is that--

PAGE 35, PANEL 05. RYAN drops the proverbial bombshell as NICK tries to digest the information she?s giving him.

(13) RYAN
--we know where they?re hiding.

(14) NICK
What? How?

(15) RYAN
Sufficient to say, our detectives are being paid a great deal more than even the best hunters on SFPD payroll.

PAGE, 35 PANEL 06. RYAN leans over to NICK and puts her hand on his knee, trying to seduce him.

(16) RYAN
Alas, you still have a couple of hours to spare.

(17) RYAN
Would you mind dropping me at my apartment on your way there?

Sorry for the delay, I had an unexpected phone call.

The last part (pages 36-46):

PAGE THIRTY SIX (SIX PANELS)

PAGE 36, PANEL 01. PEG?s apartment. She sits in front of RON and IRMGARD. The latter is comforting her.

(01) PEG
And Luba?

(02) RON
Gone too, it was on the news. I think we?re the only ones left.

(03) BUSTER
(electric, off panel)
--Krzzt?Ho, ho, folks! -- krrzt-- krrrzzt--

PAGE 36, PANEL 02. IRMGARD pulls PEG closer. RON is looking at JOHN, who?s fidgeting with an old TV set (the same one we already caught glimpse of on page 10) in the background.

(04) IRMGARD
Don?t worry, we?ll come through. Ron has already installed the alarm, and--

(05) RON
He?s starting to annoy me?

(06) BUSTER
(electric)
--Krzzt-- the announcement-- krrzt-- fake--

PAGE 36, PANEL 03. RON shouts at JOHN. IRMGARD tries to calm him.

(07) RON
Hey, dimwit! We?re having a conversation here!

(08) IRMGARD
It?s okay, Ron. I want to watch.

(09) JOHN
I, uh? I think I?ve finally fixed it.

PAGE 36, PANEL 04. Everyone gathers in front of the TV. On the screen, next to BUSTER, a visage of WILBUR MERCER can be spotted.

(10) BUSTER
(electric)
You heard right, folks! Wilbur Mercer is a fake.

(11) JOHN
What?

(12) BUSTER
(electric)
An elaborate simulation made by one of Rosen Association subsidiaries possibly with government funding.

PAGE 36, PANEL 05. JOHN covers his ears and starts to cry. The androids ignore him.

(13) JOHN
No! I don?t believe it! It?s a ruse.

(14) BUSTER
(electric)
We managed to get in touch with Al Jarre, a washed out performer that claims to have served as a model and voice actor for the character of Wilbur Mercer.

PAGE 36, PANEL 06. JOHN gets agitated and starts yelling. IRMGARD tries to hold him, while PEG and RON look at him in amusement.

(15) JOHN
It?s a lie! Has to be!

(16) BUSTER
(electric)
After a short and uneventful career, Mr. Jarre went into exile, finding solace in alcohol and taking residence in the wastes just outside San Francisco. Here?s what he had to say?

PAGE THIRTY SEVEN (SIX PANELS)

PAGE 37, PANEL 01. NICK, his shirt off, stands in front of the window in an expensive penthouse suite. The cityscape is being reflected in the glass.

NO COPY

PAGE 37, PANEL 02. RYAN, naked, is just awakening after a short nap. NICK turns to face her.

(01) RYAN
Nick? Why are you up?

(02) NICK
I still have work to do, don?t I?

(03) RYAN
Well, I thought--

(04) RYAN
I mean, you still want to do it?

PAGE 37, PANEL 03. NICK kneels in front of RYAN. She sits up in her bed.

(05) NICK
Excuse me?

(06) RYAN
No bounty hunter ever has gone on after being with me.

(07) NICK
What are you trying to say?

(08) RYAN
You really think I slept with you because I felt attracted to you?

PAGE 37, PANEL 04. NICK stands up, taken aback. RYAN starts yelling.

(09) NICK
Still want to stop me? I don?t get it. Are you doing this for Ebenezer?

(10) RYAN
I?m doing this for my kind, you clueless bar-steward! I?m doing this so Luba Luft can sing Le Nozze instead of toiling across the face of barren rock-strewn field without fear of someone like you shooting her in the back.

(11) NICK
B-but I thought you didn?t even knew that you?re an? an andy.

PAGE 37, PANEL 05. NICK takes his shirt and jacket off the chair. He seems to be in a hurry.

(12) RYAN
Of course I did. I always did. Did you have to be told you?re human?

(13) NICK
Whatever, I?m out of here.

(14) RYAN
That?s right, murderer! Just go ahead and get yourself killed, so all of us can finally rest.

PAGE 37, PANEL 06. Close on NICK as he exits the room.

(15) NICK
Yeah, well, we?re all due for an early retirement.

PAGE THIRTY EIGHT (SEVEN PANELS)

PAGE 38, PANEL 01. As the door slam shut, RYAN looks at the file NICK left behind.

(01) SFX
Slam!

PAGE 38, PANEL 02. A moment later, she pushes a button on a vidphone.

(02) RYAN
Ryan here. I?m sorry I failed you, sister, but it? It didn?t work. I wasn?t able to talk him out of it, so you have to do what we discussed.

PAGE 38, PANEL 03. NICK is descending the staircase in ISIDORE?s building with his gun drawn. A careful reader should be able to notice that the fire axe is no longer in its holder and the glass that used to shield it is broken.

(03) CAPTION
He?s heading your way as we speak? Peg.

PAGE 38, PANEL 04. NICK kicks the door to PEG's apartment wide open.

(04) SFX
Bam!

PAGE 38, PANEL 05. We see the room from behind an old and devastated armchair in which JOHN is sitting - only his hand is visible. NICK points his gun at him.

(05) JOHN
It's a t-t-t--

PAGE 38, PANEL 06. From over NICK's shoulder. He looks around the room. His guard down, he lowers the gun. JOHN looks at him as in a trance.

(06) JOHN
A t-t-t-t--

PAGE 38, PANEL 07. From above. It turns out there's a man-sized hole in the ceiling and RON is kneeling by it's edge, taunting NICK. The hunter looks upwards, but is too slow to target his foe.

(07) RON
I believe the word the gentleman is looking for may be--

PAGE THIRTY NINE (SIX PANELS)

PAGE 39, PANEL 01. RON falls on NICK, knocking him on the floor.

(01) RON
--"a trap".

PAGE 39, PANEL 02. PEG and IRMGARD emerge from the shadow, the latter holding a fire axe. RON stands tall, keeping NICK under his foot. ECKHARDT is reaching for his gun - it fell nearby.

(02) RON
Well, well, well. Look who stayed for dinner.

PAGE 39, PANEL 03. IRMGARD throws the axe to RON. NICK touches the gun with the palms of his fingers.

(03) RON
Honey.

(04) IRMGARD
Here you go, sweetheart.

PAGE 39, PANEL 04. In one quick swipe RON cuts off four of NICK's right hand fingers, successfully stopping him from reclaiming the pistol.

(05) SFX
Slam!

(06) NICK
Arggh!

PAGE 39, PANEL 05. JOHN, tears in his eyes, gets off the armchair and starts running towards RON.

(07) JOHN
That?s enough! You said you only wanted to--

PAGE 39, PANEL 06. An elbow to the face, courtesy of PEG, knocks JOHN out for a good while.

(08) PEG
Sit!

PAGE FORTY (FIVE PANELS)

PAGE 40, PANEL 01. IRMGARD helps barely conscious NICK stand up. RON shouts at him.

(01) RON
Tell me something, hunter.

PAGE 40, PANEL 02. RON hits NICK with the blunt end of the axe in the stomach.

(02) RON
Why do you hate us so much?

(03) SFX
Whack!

(04) NICK
Oomph!

PAGE 40, PANEL 03. This time, NICK gets hit in the face, losing a few teeth in the process.

(05) RON
What have we ever done to you?

(06) SFX
Crack!

(07) NICK
Augh!

PAGE 40, PANEL 04. NICK is on the floor again, unable to move. RON holds the axe over his head ready to deal the fatal blow.

(08) NICK
N-nothing! Wait! It?s just my job!

(09) RON
Your job is our life, mister!

PAGE 40, PANEL 05. The blade lands in the floorboard, just inches away from NICK?s head.

(10) RON
How does it feel to be on the receiving end?

PAGE FORTY ONE (FIVE PANELS)

PAGE 41, PANEL 01. RON picks NICK up from the floor with his left hand, still holding the axe in his right. He addresses PEG, while IRMGARD stands proudly by his side.

(01) RON
Let?s commence with the festivities.

(02) RON
Peg, clean up this mess and take care of the dimwit.

(03) PEG
But I want to watch!

(04) IRMGARD
You can join in later. We intend to take our time with him.

PAGE 41, PANEL 02. IRMGARD and RON, motionless NICK hanging over his shoulder, enter another room. Small, undecorated, with only a wooden chair in the middle.

(05) IRMGARD
What shall we do with our little plaything?

(06) RON
Can we cut his head off? Please, let?s cut his head off.

(07) IRMGARD
No, not yet. Let?s save the best for last. But an ear? He could live without an ear/

PAGE 41, PANEL 03. RON puts NICK on the chair. IRMGARD looks giddy.

(08) IRMGARD
Maybe we should cut his hands off, make him run around like a chicken??

(09) RON
Or take off the feet, see how he runs.

PAGE 41, PANEL 04. IRMGARD and RON stop paying attention to NICK, choosing instead to discuss the following course of action.

(10) IRMGARD
We could do both. How much blood can a human lose before dying?

(11) RON
You have markings of a great scientist, wife.

PAGE 41, PANEL 05. The BERGERS look off panel, where NICK should be sitting.

(12) NICK
(off panel)
Uhh?

(13) IRMGARD
It would seem the subject of our research has something to add.

PAGE FORTY TWO (FIVE PANELS)

PAGE 42, PANEL 01. Struggling not to fall, NICK faces the androids holding a chair he sat on by its leg. RON and IRMGARD find it hard to hide their amusement. The male android takes a few steps towards ECKHARDT.

(01) NICK
Please? Don?t?

(02) RON
Come on, kiddo, no need to be a pain in the--

PAGE 42, PANEL 02. NICK hits RON with the chair making it fall apart. IRMGARD almost bursts into laughter witnessing this pathetic attempt.

(03) SFX
Wham!

PAGE 42, PANEL 03. RON stands indifferent. NICK looks up at him with only a sharpened chair leg in his hand.

(04) RON
What was that supposed to do?

PAGE 42, PANEL 04. Letting out a desperate scream, NICK impales RON by the skull with the stake. BERGER drops his axe.

(05) NICK
Yaaargh!

PAGE 42, PANEL 05. With the piece of wood still sticking from his head, RON turns to a shocked IRMGARD, extending his hand. NICK is reaching for something in the background.

(06) RON
Irmgard.

PAGE FORTY THREE (FIVE PANELS)

PAGE 43, PANEL 01. RON falls. IRMGARD just looks at him, in denial of what just happened.

(01) NICK
(off panel)
Mrs. Berger.

PAGE 43, PANEL 02. IRMGARD turns to NICK. He?s holding the axe, his swollen eyes set firmly on her.

(02) NICK
Please? Run.

(03) IRMGARD
No.

PAGE 43, PANEL 03. Just a shadow on the wall. The blade sinks in IRMGARD?s forehead.

(04) SFX
Slunk!

PAGE 43, PANEL 04. NICK?s bloodied face takes up half of the panel. With the corner of his eye, he notices PEG standing in the door.

(05) PEG
?

(06) PEG
No.

PAGE 43, PANEL 05. PEG starts to run towards NICK like a wild dog let off his leash. He does his best to stand his ground and covers his face with his hands.

(07) PEG
Nooooo!

PAGE FORTY FOUR (SIX PANELS)

PAGE 44, PANEL 01. Unexpectedly, PEG falls at NICK?s feet, with a big smoking hole in her back.

NO COPY

PAGE 44, PANEL 02. NICK looks up to see his savior.

NO COPY

PAGE 44, PANEL 03. JOHN stands before NICK, crying, holding the same gun ECHARDT dropped earlier.

(01) JOHN
I-i-it? It wasn?t supposed to end like this.

(02) JOHN
I thought? I think?

PAGE 44, PANEL 04. JOHN drops to his knees. NICK approaches him.

(03) JOHN
I think I loved her.

(04) NICK
It?s a, uhm? It?s a textbook situation, kid?

PAGE 44, PANEL 05. NICK sits down by the wall, right next to sobbing JOHN. He puts a hand on his shoulder.

(05) NICK
What happened is that you got your order reversed.

PAGE 44, PANEL 06. Close on NICK?s battered face.

NO COPY

PAGE FORTY FIVE (FIVE PANELS)

PAGE 45, PANEL 01. Wide. NICK is on the roof sitting in the back of an ambulance as the medics address his wounds. In the background the bodies of the androids are being carried out.

NO COPY

PAGE 45, PANEL 02. HENRY BRYCE approaches NICK.

(01) HENRY
Nick, I have some bad news. Iran called.

(02) NICK
Is she all right?

(03) HENRY
She is fine, but your sheep? dead. Pushed off the roof.

PAGE 45, PANEL 03. NICK, expressionless, looks up at HENRY.

(04) NICK
How?

(05) HENRY
Ryan Rosen. Apparently, she?s gone rogue after your visit today, maybe even involved herself with the group you were after. Probably holds a grudge. Obviously, The Rosen people want us to keep a lid on it.

(06) NICK
That? That explains a lot.

PAGE 45, PANEL 04. NICK stands up, shoving the puzzled medics aside. HENRY is just as confused.

(07) NICK
I need a break.

(08) HENRY
You shouldn?t drive in this state, Nick. I?ll have one of the boys drop you home.

(09) NICK
No. Call Iran back and tell her I?ll be okay.

(10) HENRY
But where are you going?

PAGE 45, PANEL 05. Wide. NICK from behind, as he slowly walks towards his hover car.

(11) NICK
Elsewhere.

(12) CAPTION
Do you understand now? Why should I continue to do what I do if I know it?s wrong?

PAGE FORTY SIX (FIVE PANELS)

PAGE 46, PANEL 01. We?ve come full circle now. It?s dawn and NICK is in the wastes outside the city. WILBUR is in the panel too, but due to a piece of junk in the foreground blocking our view, we still can?t recognize him.

(01) WILBUR
What else can you do?

(02) NICK
Quit my job, I guess. Emigrate.

(03) WILBUR
You will be required to do wrong no matter where you go, my friend.

PAGE 46, PANEL 02. WILBUR continues, again concealed, this time by NICK himself, as he is listening on.

(04) WILBUR
It?s the basic condition of life, to violate your own identity. At some time every creature that lives must do so.

(05) WILBUR
But that?s the defeat of creation!

PAGE 46, PANEL 03. NICK gives WILBUR his tin container back, as the old man stands up.

(06) WILBUR
Yes, the ultimate shadow. The curse at work, the curse that feeds on all life. Everywhere in the universe.

(07) WILBUR
But then again, what do I know.

PAGE 46, PANEL 04. And for the first time, we look at MERCER through NICK?s eyes. WILBUR is smiling.

(08) WILBUR
I?m just some drunkard. An old man climbing a hill to his death.

PAGE 46, PANEL 05. Now, NICK?s the one that smiles. Though the shot is wide, WILBUR is nowhere to be seen.

(09) NICK
That makes two of us.

(10) CAPTION
The end.

And that?s it, thank you very much.

If there is enough interest, I will gladly write a commentary, with a list of changes I made to the original plot, my reasons for incorporating them, thoughts on what works and what doesn?t, and so on.

I?m especially interested in hearing from people that haven?t read the book. Is the storytelling clean? Is the pacing good?

I like it. If no one wishes to "publish" this...it's great fan-fiction for KippleZone. :wink:

Not a bad idea. I?m not one to scavenge my own scripts, so I doubt I will ever use anything from here again, especially since it?s a fairly close adaptation. Although maybe it would be a nice idea to attach some concept sketches to the script first (not to mention dealing with my faulty English), assuming there are artists out there willing to take a shot at the material.