Agon Animi [Comic Book Script]

PANEL 1 - WIDE ESTABLISHING SHOT - NIGHT EXT. CHICAGO SKYLINE

Dark, moody cityscape reminiscent of superhero comics but with a lighter undertone. Stars twinkle above the city lights.

CAPTION: "A short time ago..."

PANEL 2 - ESTABLISHING SHOT EXT. HIGHWAY

A quiet highway stretches away from the city, streetlights creating pools of light.

CAPTION: "In a town pretty close..."

PANEL 3 - AERIAL VIEW EXT. SUBURBAN TOWN

A peaceful suburban neighborhood. Holiday lights twinkle in some windows.

PANEL 4 - ESTABLISHING SHOT EXT. LOVESLYN RESIDENCE

A modest two-story house in a middle-class neighborhood. A bicycle leans against the garage. Wind chimes move gently on the porch.

PANEL 1 - MEDIUM SHOT EXT. BEDROOM WINDOW - NIGHT

Through the window, we see DALE LOVESLYN (40s, tired but kind-faced) looking at his young daughter's crib. Only the crib and his silhouette are visible.

PANEL 2 - CLOSE UP INT. BEDROOM DOORWAY

Dale peers through the crack in the door, fingers visible on the edge. His expression is gentle, loving.

PANEL 3 - CLOSE UP

Same shot. Dale's expression changes to wonder and amazement.

PANEL 4 - SAME ANGLE

The doorway is empty, just darkness where Dale stood.

DALE (O.S.) "Honey! You've got to see this!"

SPLASH PAGE INT. CHILD'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

POV from the doorway. YOUNG STEF (age 3) stands in her crib, hands grasping the bars. The entire room has transformed into a magical wonderland. Stuffed animals have come alive, playing together. Toy blocks float in the air, forming impossible structures. A miniature dragon flies around a princess castle. Stars and galaxies swirl on the ceiling. Everything has a dreamy, watercolor quality.

In this moment, Dale Loveslyn discovered his daughter was special. He just didn't know how special.

PANEL 1 - TRACKING SHOT INT. HALLWAY - NIGHT

Dale stands at the doorknob, excited energy radiating from him. JUDY LOVESLYN (late 30s, practical, wearing reading glasses) has her arms crossed, wearing a skeptical but affectionate expression.

DALE "There are no words to even prepare you for this!"
JUDY (playful skepticism) "Mhm..."

PANEL 2 - MEDIUM SHOT INT. HALLWAY

Dale throws the door open wide, hand still on knob. His face shows triumphant enthusiasm. Judy stands beside him, arms still crossed but with an indulgent smile.

DALE "Wait until you see..."

PANEL 3 - CLOSE UP

Dale's expression shifts from excitement to confusion. Judy's smile remains unchanged.

PANEL 4 - WIDE SHOT - POV FROM DOORWAY INT. CHILD'S BEDROOM

A perfectly normal child's bedroom. Young Stef is nestled in her sheets, peacefully sucking her thumb. Toys are scattered about - blocks, stuffed animals, a rocking horse. Typical children's artwork decorates the walls. Everything is completely ordinary.

PANEL 5 - REVERSE ANGLE

POV from the crib, looking up at Dale and Judy. Dale's confusion has softened into tenderness. Judy holds him lovingly, both gazing at their daughter with deep affection.

PANEL 6 - SAME ANGLE

Dale now smiles, accepting what he thinks he saw (or didn't see). Judy squeezes his shoulder gently.

DALE (softly) "Beautiful, isn't she?"
JUDY "She really is."

SPLASH PAGE - DREAMSCAPE EXT. VAST FIELD - NIGHT

A sweeping vista seen from behind STEF (now 14, wearing casual clothes that hint at her personality). She stands confidently beside her cat, which has transformed into a majestic lynx. In the distance, a massive, ethereal structure looms - part ancient temple, part cosmic anomaly. It pulses with strange lights and swirling energies, both beckoning and warning.

The borders of this panel should have a dreamlike quality, with reality seeming to bend at the edges.

...Buzz... ...Buzz...

Bottom right corner caption: A dream that would soon become more than just a dream.

PANEL 1 - WIDE SHOT INT. STEF'S BEDROOM - MORNING

Stef sits up suddenly in bed, covers pooled around her waist. Her expression shows recognition - she's had this dream before. Her now-normal-sized cat watches from the foot of the bed. A Clint Eastwood "Unforgiven" poster dominates one wall. Her phone buzzes on the nightstand.

JUDY (O.S.) "Honey, it's time to get up!"

PANEL 2 - CLOSE UP

Stef's hand reaches for her phone, showing a text from her brother.

PHONE SCREEN: "Good luck at school today kiddo"

PANEL 3 - SAME SHOT

Another text appears.

PHONE SCREEN: "Don't do anything I wouldn't do"

PANEL 4 - SAME SHOT

Stef's reply appears.

PHONE SCREEN: "Haha, thanks! I'll text you later. I had one of those dreams again 🙃"

The texts should feel personal and warm, contrasting with the morning's family dynamic.

PANEL 1 - FULL PAGE SPREAD INT. LOVESLYN KITCHEN - MORNING

A lived-in kitchen during a rushed morning routine. Stef sits at the breakfast table eating cereal with a glass of orange juice in front of her. The table is scantily set - no family breakfast today. Her parents bustle about the first floor, too busy to really engage.

Mother is behind Stef, facing towards the sink, cleaning something. Stef's head is down, shoulders slumped, hood on, looking sad.

PANEL 2 - INSET TOP LEFT CORNER

View of the kitchen door.

DALE (O.S.) "Honey have you seen my blue tie?"

PANEL 3 - INSET TOP RIGHT CORNER

Back view of the mother doing something in the sink.

JUDY (yelling) "It's probably with all of your other ties!"

PANEL 4 - INSET BOTTOM LEFT CORNER

Same as Panel 2.

DALE (O.S.) "I don't see it!"

PANEL 5 - INSET BOTTOM RIGHT CORNER

Same as Panel 3.

JUDY "..."

The inset panels should frame the main image, emphasizing how the parents' busy morning routine boxes in Stef's isolation.

PANEL 1 - POV SHOT INT. LOVESLYN HOME - MORNING

POV of Stef grabbing her backpack, which is lying on the floor.

PANEL 2 - CLOSE UP

POV of Stef's hand grabbing the front door knob, the door is ajar as she is opening it.

Creeeek

PANEL 3 - EXTERIOR SHOT

Show front door closed.

Thwump

PANEL 4 - WIDE SHOT INT. KITCHEN

View of the kitchen entrance, the now vacated chair of Stef stands out. The mother is still looking in the sink. The stairs going to the second floor are on the left side.

DALE (O.S.) "I'm not seeing it honey!"
JUDY "..."

PANEL 1 - WIDE SHOT EXT. SUBURBAN STREET - MORNING

View from behind Stef. She walks with slumped shoulders, both hands on her backpack, head facing the ground. Empty street in front of her. The atmosphere is gloomy. The sun is rising.

PANEL 2 - MEDIUM SHOT

Side view of Stef but closer up.

PANEL 3 - CLOSE UP

Same shot closer up of hooded Stef.

DWIGHT (O.S.) "Hey!"

PANEL 4 - MEDIUM SHOT

Same as panel 2.

DWIGHT (O.S.) "Wait up, Stef!"

This is the first time we get Stef's name, and the fact that she has a friend.

PANEL 1 EXT. DWIGHT'S HOUSE - MORNING

Front shot of Dwight's house from the street. In the foreground, Stef is still walking, head down. Dwight's at the door waving. His mother is behind him, getting him ready for school. He's a squirrely kid, thin, thick glasses, short, looks like a child.

DWIGHT "Stef, wait up"

PANEL 2

Same view. Mom is kissing Dwight as he struggles to break free and run toward Stef.

MOM "Have a wonderful first day at school honey!"
DWIGHT "I will, mom!"
MOM "Come right home after school."

PANEL 3

Same view. Dwight is running now, halfway down his walkway toward Stef. Mom is in the doorway waving, father is next to her also waving. They are admiring their son, lovingly. Stef has turned to face him with a half smile. She's still in her own head.

DWIGHT "Stef!"
MOM "We love you!"

PANEL 4

Dwight catches up to Stef. Stef waves to Dwight's parents. Parents are still waving.

STEF "Your parents sure do care about you."
DWIGHT "Yeah, sometimes a little too much."
MOM (to DAD) "He's such a good boy. I hope the other kids can see that"
DAD "Stef will look after him."

PANEL 5

Front view of Stef and Dwight walking to school. They're both looking forward, Stef has a better, happier look on her face than she did before.

DWIGHT "How was your summer? Did you do anything... interesting?"
STEF "Uh... actually yea. I got some new skills I want to show you."
DWIGHT "Oh awesome, that is so cool!"

PANEL 6

Side view of the kids as they approach the front of the school. There are kids everywhere, laughing, having fun.

DWIGHT "Are you nervous about the first day at our new school?"
STEF "Eh, it's just another thing to get through."
DWIGHT "Man there are so many kids here. This is like 10 times bigger than grade school. What if I don't make any friends, what if no one likes me?"
STEF "You'll be fine, Dwight. Just be yourself."

PANEL 1 - WIDE SHOT EXT. SCHOOL GROUNDS - MORNING

Stef and Dwight are walking together, she towers over him. A large bully, round and mean looking approaches them. In the background, the cool kid leans against the tree, surveying the scene with his arms crossed.

BULLY "Hey! Nerdlinger!"

PANEL 2 - MEDIUM SHOT

Closer up, full profile side view of the bully as he stands in front of Stef and Dwight.

BULLY "What's up loser?"
DWIGHT (frightened) "Oh... hey Biff."
BULLY "The biggest dork from grade school finally growing up? I see you haven't gotten any bigger! Ha Ha"

PANEL 3 - CLOSE UP

Closer shot (torso), side view. The bully gets right in front of Dwight, looking down on him.

BULLY "I'm gonna make your life a living hell here, squirt!"

PANEL 4 - SAME VIEW

Same view. Stef gets in between the bully and Dwight.

STEF "Back off dingus!"
BULLY "Who's this? Your girlfriend?"
STEF "I'm the girl who's gonna make your day really bad if you don't leave him alone."
BULLY "Ha ha! I'd like to see that."

PANEL 1 - MEDIUM SHOT

Same view. Stef raises her fist at him as if she's going to hit him. Bully has a look of fear on his face as he starts to lean and step backward.

PANEL 2 - EXTREME CLOSE UP

Close up of Bully's foot taking a step back, not yet on the ground.

PANEL 3 - SAME SHOT

Same view, except now there's a rock there, and he steps right on it.

PANEL 4 - WIDE SHOT

Wide shot showing the school yard again. Bully's on the ground, Stef is standing over him. Dwight has a huge smile on his face. Cool kid in the background also has a big smile on his face. Kids in the background are snickering and pointing at the bully.

Buzz: goes the bell in the background against the school

PANEL 5 - SAME SHOT

Same shot, except the bully is standing up now, looking disheveled, livid, glaring at Stef.

BULLY "Grr... I'm gonna make you pay for that! You'd better watch out after school!"
STEF (with a big grin) "I'm looking forward to it!"

PANEL 1 - MEDIUM SHOT - ⅓ TALL INT. CLASSROOM - 8:00 AM

Front view of Stef in class at her desk, with a random assortment of kids scattered about her. The clock is above her head, showing 8am. The alarm bell is next to it. She has her head down on her desk, her arms folded over one another. She's totally disinterested.

PANEL 2 - MEDIUM SHOT - ⅓ TALL INT. CLASSROOM - 12:00 PM

Same as Panel 1 but with different assortment of kids. The clock now says 12PM. She has her face in her hand, leaning to the side. She's still disinterested.

PANEL 3 - MEDIUM SHOT - ⅓ TALL INT. CLASSROOM - 3:00 PM

Same as Panel 1, different assortment of kids again. The clock now says 3PM. Stef is confidently sitting, fingertips touching in front of her mouth. She has the look of someone who is pondering, preparing. She has a knowing smirk on her face.

Ringgggg: Goes the alarm bell, positioned next to the clock

PANEL 1 - MEDIUM SHOT - ⅓ TALL INT. SCHOOL HALLWAY - AFTER SCHOOL

Empty school hallway. Full shot of Stef at her locker looking in, Dwight is next to her.

DWIGHT "Do you think Biff will do anything?"
STEF (with a big grin) "I hope he tries."

PANEL 2 - MEDIUM SHOT - ⅓ TALL

Same shot. The cool kid sidles up from the other side of Stef (think of the x-men recruits guy).

COOL KID "Hey! I'm So-and-so. That was really cool the way you punked that kid earlier."
STEF "That was nothing. He was messing with my friend."

PANEL 3 - MEDIUM SHOT - ⅓ TALL

Same shot, Stef shuts her locker door.

COOL KID "Right on. Well, if he messes with you again, I got your back."
DWIGHT "Stef can handle anyone!"
STEF "That's a kind offer, thanks."

PANEL 4 - WIDE SHOT

Entire hallway. Biff and two of his dufus cronies are stampeding towards the heroic trio. The trio stands confident.

BIFF "Hey Nerdlinger! It's time for your punishment. You and your girlfriend."
CRONIE 1 "Heh Heh. Yeah! You're gonna get it!"
CRONIE 2 "Get ready for a beat down!"

PANEL 1 - WIDE SHOT INT. SCHOOL HALLWAY

Heroes in same pose as prior scene. All the characters are dressed up in wild west clothing, long jackets, hats.

PANEL 2 - WIDE SHOT

Bullies look at each other in disbelief. The bullies are in western clothes too, but have no weapons, like the heroes do.

PANEL 3 - WIDE SHOT

Dwight and cool kid also look at each other in disbelief but go with it.

PANEL 4 - WIDE SHOT

Same scene.

STEF "Howdy partners, I reckon you're here for a shootout."
STEF "On the count of three"

PANEL 1 - EXTREME CLOSE UP

Close up on Stef's determined face, good-bad-ugly style.

PANEL 2 - EXTREME CLOSE UP

Close up on Dwight's nervous but trusting face.

PANEL 3 - EXTREME CLOSE UP

Close up on Cool Kid's excited, game-for-anything face.

PANEL 4 - EXTREME CLOSE UP

Close up on Biff's terrified face.

PANEL 5 - EXTREME CLOSE UP

Close up on Cronie 1's scared face.

PANEL 6 - EXTREME CLOSE UP

Close up on Cronie 2's frightened face.

STEF "THREE"

PANEL 1 - WIDE SHOT

Frontal view of the bullies, shocked, reach down to grab any weapons, but realize they have none.

PANEL 2 - WIDE SHOT

Frontal view of the heroes. Stef grabs her bullwhip.

PANEL 3 - MEDIUM SHOT

Stef's bullwhip flies into the air.

PANEL 4 - MEDIUM SHOT

The bullwhip snaps hard at the feet of the bullies.

PANEL 5 - WIDE SHOT

The bullies run furiously back away from the fight.

The Western elements should feel both real and magical - a manifestation of Stef's imagination that affects reality. The transition from the normal school hallway to Western scene should be seamless but noticeable.

PANEL 1 - WIDE ESTABLISHING SHOT EXT. SUBURBAN STREET - AFTERNOON

Similar to Scene 4, but walking in the opposite direction with a completely different mood. The trio walks down the same street that Stef walked down to get to school. The sun is high in the sky, starting towards its descent.

The lighting and atmosphere should contrast with the gloomy morning walk - now bright, hopeful.

PANEL 2 - WIDE SHOT

View from behind the trio. Stef is flanked by her new team. The older cool kid on the left, smaller Dwight on her right.

PANEL 3 - MEDIUM SHOT

Profile shot of the trio. Stef is smiling. Cool kid is a head taller than Stef, Dwight is a head shorter. In this profile view you can see all three profiles.

COOL KID "How'd you do that?"

PANEL 4 - CLOSE UP

Same shot closer up on Stef.

STEF "I just... imagine it... and it happens"

PANEL 5 - MEDIUM SHOT

Same as Panel 3.

DWIGHT "Stef can do all sorts of cool things"

This scene mirrors Stef's lonely morning walk, but now shows her with friends and hope. The empty street is now filled with companionship.

PANEL 1 - ESTABLISHING SHOT

EXT. MYSTERIOUS CASTLE - TWILIGHT
External view of this "castle"/"hideaway" - Looks like the image from Stef's earlier dream.

PANEL 2 - CLOSE UP

INT. CASTLE - ARTIFACT CHAMBER
Close up on an ancient artifact. Think something from Star Gate.

PANEL 3 - SAME SHOT

The artifact has registered a notification. A blinking red dot that fits the style of an ancient artifact.

PANEL 4 - BLACK PANEL

HENCHMAN 1 "Did you notice that?"
HENCHMAN 2 "Notice what?"

PANEL 5 - WIDE SHOT

INT. MUSEUM STYLE ROOM
Dimly lit room with only one object, centered. Two henchmen flank the doors looking inward.

HENCHMAN 1 "I think it did something"
HENCHMAN 2 "Are you sure? You've said this before."
HENCHMAN 1 "Yea it definitely did something. I have to tell her..."

PANEL 1 - WIDE SHOT

INT. CASTLE CORRIDOR
Henchman running through a dark corridor.

PANEL 2 - WIDE SHOT

INT. GRAND CORRIDOR
Henchman running through a grander corridor.

PANEL 3 - WIDE SHOT

INT. THRONE ROOM ENTRANCE
Henchman approaching massive doors.

PANEL 4 - ESTABLISHING SHOT

INT. THRONE ROOM
A large open door with a mysterious figure (shrouded in darkness) sitting on a throne, well out of view (tiny). Think of the Game of Thrones throne.

PANEL 1 - WIDE SHOT

INT. THRONE ROOM
Elevated throne on the left, the lord is in darkness. Henchman is small on the right, very far away.

HENCHMAN "Lord, it registered activity"
HENCHMAN "This is not the first time..."

PANEL 2 - MEDIUM SHOT

View from the door, the henchman in the foreground, the lord sitting, still shrouded in complete darkness on the throne. Her eyes turn angry.

PANEL 3 - OVER THE SHOULDER SHOT

Over the shoulder of the lord, with only a corner of the throne's backing visible. The henchman's face is clear and terrified.

PANEL 4 - SAME SHOT

The place where the henchman was standing is now engulfed in flames and we see a burning outline of the henchman where he stood.

PANEL 5 - CLOSE UP

Close up view of the throne, Lord still shrouded in darkness, but you can make out an outline of her.