Two Shy Guys
Chapter 2

Sixth Avenue Stalker

Page 1: (Starts with title panel of some sort on tier 1)

Panel 1: Long panel covering all of tier 1 not covered by title panel. Craig scampering into the 8th Street N/R station as if he’s just heard a train arriving. Headphones on, No Doubt blaring. He’s carrying some kind of courier bag.

Conductor: This is Eighth Street...

Cap: It’s not that I’d really plan just to have nights alone...

Headphones: I’m holding signs up... on your street corner stops

Panel 2: Tier two. 2 panels. Craig swiping card at turnstile.

Cap: ... I mean, a boyfriend of something would be kinda nice...

Headphones: excuse me mister, I’ve been waiting in line...

Conductor: Next stop on this downtown...

Panel 3: Craig just making it into the train through closing doors.

Conductor: Step in and stand clear of...

Headphones: I’m very anxious, eager, willing

Cap: But another part of me knows...

Panel 4: Craig standing in the middle of a semi-crosded train, skinny, older guitar player in the background

Cap: This is my time.

Headphones: Please make room for me in the time yet to be... Excuse me...

Conductor: This is Canal Street

Guitar player: “Have you ever seen a robin weep...”

Panel 5: Craig standing in the middle of a crowded Chinatown street near Canal stop, headphones off, qiet smile.

Cap: My time alone in the city.

SFX: Honk (etc.)

Page 2:
Panel 1: Top tier. 1 panel. Craig sits reading Finder in a chinese restaurant called Spicy Sweet while eating orange chicken with chopsticks.

Cap: If there’s one reason to keep my shit job...

Panel 2: 2nd tier. 1 panel. Craig, walking up toward the Lower East Side, looking at a folded copy of The Daily News, drinking a bubble tea, passing a Chinese woman on a bike.

Cap: It’s because it lets me be here.

Panel 3: 3rd tier. 1 panel. Craig passes through the East Village, the newspaper stuck in his bag, the bubble tea tossed away. He’s passing a gay bar with a neon sign. A tres East Village gay couple is walking away from him, holding hands. Street singer off to one side.

Cap: Nights like this, I don’t think there’s anything that could blow my cool.

Singer: He was married when we first met, soon to be divorced...

Sign: Grope

Panel 4: 4th tier. 2 panels. Longer panel. At the corner or 2nd Ave and St Marks, Craig sees something that surprises - no - shocks him.

Cap: Almost nothing.

Craig (to self) 1: Oh crap!

Craig (to self) 2: It’s that cute guy...

Craig (to self) 3: Brian!

Panel 5: Shorter panel. Brian standing on opposite corner, oblivious.

Craig (to self, off panel): I gotta hide!

Page 3: Craig starts to follow Brian through the East Village, past Washington Square, to 6th Avenue. Possibly interpose scenes from “AIC”?

Cr 1 (think): Of course, I’ve no idea what I’m hiding from.

Cr 2 (think): He doesn’t even know I have his number...

Cr 3 (think - ducking behind car door): I feel like Audrey Hepburn chasing Cary Grant in Charade!

Cr 4 (think - hiding in doorway as Brian stops to look at an 8th street sex shop): or that cowboy chasing Casey Donovan in The Back Row.

Cr 5 (think - stand in front of abandoned store front - the glass shows his reflection): God, I’m derivative.

Cr 6 (think - looking at reflection): Does this shirt make me look fat?

Page 4: Craig follows Brian into Lola Rhythym.

Cr 1 (thinks) : At least he has good taste in music...

Cr 2 (thinks): stores

(Brian starts to turn toward Craig, Craig ducks behind a rack of CDs)

Cr 3 (thinks): Ooops

Clerk 1: Can I help you?

Cr 4: Uhm

Cr 5 (thinks): Think fast, think fast...

Cr 6: The guy in section D-I.... what’s he looking at?

(Clerk gives Craig a withering glare)

Cr 7: Dude. Grow a pair!

(Craig gives her a plaintive look)

Clerk 2 (mutters): Queer boys!

(Craig , still hiding, looks worried as Clerk sticks head back in panel)

Clerk 3: The Indigo Girls

Craig 8 (shrugging, looking front): Could be worse.

Page 4: Craig follows Brian out of the music store, up 6th Ave.

Cr 1 (thinks): There he goes...

(Brian gets out of music store and down the street a bit but stops to look at a book vendor around 14th street. Craig ducks behind a potted plant near the vendor)

Cr 2 (thinks): Why don’t I just say hi to him?

(A woman and her child pass by)

Girl: Aunt Annie?

AA: Yes sweety?

Girl: Why is that homosexual hiding?

AA: Probably plotting to overthrow the government dear.

Girl: Cool.

(Aunt Annie stops, appraises what’s going on and then, over her shoulder to Craig says:)

AA: Look, if you’re going to flaunt your sinful, hellbound lifestyle in public, at least grow a pair and talk to him.

Cr 3 (Recognizing): Hey, aren’t you...

AA (to niece): Let’s go sweety.

Girl: What should he grow a pair of?

Cr 4 (thinks - looking back toward Brian): No where’s he going?