Spinning Tales


Independence Day

Greg: Looks late 20s. Brown hair, slightly flipped-up bangs. Glasses. Maybe a slight goatee... He’s, of course, incredibly handsome in his own offbeat way. Wait a minute, this is starting to sound familiar... Understated clothes. Wears shorts on July 3, cargo pants on July 4 with slightly different colored plain t-shirts.

Dan: Looks early 30s. Neuvo West Village. Hispanic, dark brown hair, close-cropped. Soul patch. Broad shoulders, big arms, obvious gym-boy. Think Diesel. Button-up shirt, unbuttoned in all the fashionable places, and shorts (good legs, of course).

Tal: Early 30-something from North Carolina. Think indie-rock Brooklyn. Bushy red hair. Generic dark-blue numbered t-shirt that looks like it should have a sports team’s name on it, but doesn’t. Kinda skinny, kinda tall. Think Urban Outfitters. T-shirt and jeans.

Page 1
Panel 1: First narrative tier. Two panels. Greg’s apartment. Greg sits on folded futon, phone cradled to his ear, VCR control in his hand. Panel 1 wider.

SFX: (On page/panel border) rrring

Cap: Thursday, July 3, 9:55 pm

Greg 1: (Into phone) You are soooo late. “Boy Meats Drama Queen” is on in ten minutes, so get your...

Greg 2: (into phone) What do you mean it’s not a good idea?

Panel 2: Greg holds the phone down in one hand, while cradling his head in the other hand. His boyfriend has hung up.

Greg: (low) Why are you doing this?

Panel 3: Tier 2. Three panels. Greg on folded futon, torso only, hasn’t changed clothes. Lights off. Staring off into space looking sad. (There should definitely a tightening of the shot in these panels, focusing more on Greg’s face and he goes through the various emotions: confused/sad, depressed/resigned, angry).

Cap: Friday, July 4, 12:10 am

Panel 4: Tighter shot of Greg on folded futon. He looks more resigned depressed. His eyes are still open, but slightly more tired looking.

Cap: 2:23 am

Panel 5: Focus on Greg’s face. He’s still on futon. His eyes are tired, bloodshot, and looking away from the the panel, obviously kinda angry.

Cap: 5:54 am

Panel 6: Tier 3. 1 panel. Wide shot of Greg half asleep on futon (still folded), picking up phone.

SFX: (Breaking left panel border as above.) rrring

Cap: 10:12 am

Greg 1: (soft, sleepy) hello?

Dan (on phone) 1: Sources say that you’re likely to spend the long weekend reading Keats and eating Chunky Monkey in the dark.

Greg 2: Yeah kinda...

Dan 2 (on phone): So meet me for brunch...

Panel 7: Tier 4. 2 panels. Dan and Greg at Indigo Diner (Adventures in Chelsea). Greg looks depressed, but better than before. They’re eating.

Cap: 11:33 AM

Greg 1 : it’s just that I was crazy about him...

Dan 1: And he was just crazy...

Greg 2: Yeah

Dan 2: You going to be okay?

Greg 3: I dunno.

Panel 8: Focus up toward the tops of their heads.

Dan 1: You’ll mope yourself to sleep tonight, so no use doing it all day.

Greg 1: Why not?

Dan 2: Cause there’s a sale at Lola Rhythm

Greg 2: Okay...

Greg 3: But no show tunes...

Page 2

Panel 1: Top tier, 1 panel. Lola Rhythm Music Store. They’ve been joined by Tal who is flipping through CDs, while Greg rest on his shoulder. Dan is not far away.

Tal 1: So this is how many time he’s dumped you?

Greg: Twice.

Dan: (muttering) Twice this month

Panel 2: 2nd tier. Two panels. First panel. Same setting, close up on Greg giving Dan a dirty stare. Dan, knows he’s said something wrong and looks penitent.

Panel 3: Greg smirks slightly as Dan changes the topic. Tal reaches over to pat Greg on the shoulder.
Dan: ... is there Cher in the bargain bin?

Tal: And here I thought you were a top.

Panel 4: Tier 2, 2 panels. 1st panel. Dan and Tal start to bicker, but not seriously. Greg looks on with increasing amusement.

Dan: And what does that John Mellencamp thing make you?

Tal: Well, Mr. Greatest Hits of Shirley Bassey, I prefer the word versatile.

Panel 5: Continuing.

Dan: Sure you don’t mean “flexible”?

Tal: Versatile!

Panel 6: Tier 4. 1 panel. Wider shot -- Continuing, Greg outright smiling as he watches them.

Dan: Oh versatile... you can do it on your back, doggy style...

Tal: I love you so much... Bite me!

Page 3
Panel 1: Tier 1. 2 panels. Wandering around in SoHo. Greg’s looking a little glum/solemn again.
Cap: 5:30 pm

Dan 1: So I’m thinking snack.

Tal 1: It’s almost time for supper...

Dan 2: Exactly, let’s stop here.

Panel 2: Close up of sign. Logo of Otter holding an ice cream cone.

Sign: Gel’Otter: Fight Global Warming!

Tal: (0ff panel) Ice cream?!

Dan: (off panel) Shh... We’re in SoHo!!!

Panel 3: 2nd tier. 1 panel. View of Tal and Dan, Greg looks off panel with curiosity. Tal’s face is mock aghast at his faux pas. Neither is looking

Tal 1: Sorry... gellato!

Greg 1: (soflty) Guys....

Dan 1: You’re going to get our unfashionable asses kicked

Greg 2: (regular tone) uh guys...

Tal 2: Hemp nut delight? Cocoa paprika sorbet?

Greg 3: Guys... What’s that?

Panel 4: Two tiers of panels of alternating close ups and establishing shots of the weird robot-costume July 4th parade. One panel should have pictures of a woman and two young men in silver body paint with some kinda metallic leather pants, and funky headgear of some sort, one beating a drum, the other two waving blank flags.

Panel 5: Close up of Greg looking on, Dan standing over his shoulder. Greg’s grinning. Dan looks bewildered.

Dan: Some kind of July 4th parade thing?

Panel 6: Man peering out from the chest of a robot costume, the head of the costume attached to his back. He holds the wands for long spindly puppet arms.

Panel 7: (Second tier) Wide shot of several other people in robotic costumes (and otherwise scantily clad to escape summer heat), walking down the street, at least one juggling.

Panel 8: (narrower than previous panel) Close up of Greg , as above. He’s smiling widely.

Greg: Man, I love New York.

Page 4
Panel 1: Top tier, 1 panel. The three ar heading into a bar, rear shot of them going in. Greg looking in as the others hold the door.

Sign: Moonlight Lounge

Greg: Kinda slow...

Dan: Kinda early...

Cap: (right side of panel) 10:25

Panel 2: 2nd tier, 3 panels. The three are sitting at a small table, Tal and Dan flanking Greg. Closer up on Tal and Greg. Tal leans into to Greg, discretely indicating someone off panel.

Tal: I think he’s checking you out.

Panel 3: Close up on handsome dark-featured guy (Arabic or Southeast Asian features) across the bar whose looking toward Greg (off panel) flirtatiously.

Panel 4: Back to the three, closer up on Dan and Greg. Greg looks dubious.

Greg: I think if I flirted with anyone I’d get physically ill.

Dan: I think you should test that hypothesis.

Panels 5-8: Tier 3. These bounce back between the dark-featured guy and Greg. In panel 5, the guy is looking to Greg with a slight sly smile. In the next, Greg is looking back at him smiling bashfully. In 7, the guy looks over at Greg with a more warm, genuine smile. In 8, Greg looks down and bites his lip.

Panel 9: Tier 4, 1 panel. Wider shot of panel 8, Greg in same position, looking a little more dejected. Dan and Tal look on, Tal’s hand on Greg’s shoulder.

Greg: Maybe I should just head home.

Tal: I’ll walk you.

Page 5
Panel 1: Top tier. 2 panels. Greg and Tal are entering Greg’s studio. Greg is turning on the lights.

Cap: 11:17 pm

Tal: Home safe and sound.

Greg: And alone.

Panel 2: Greg sits on his folded futon, starts taking off his shoes. Tal sits beside him.

Tal: Gonna be okay?

Greg: Yeah. Wanna have brunch tomorrow?

Panel 3: Tier 2. Two panels. Continuing. Tal smiles, pats Greg’s shoulder.

Tal: Sure. I’m gonna get going... Call me?

Greg: You got it.

Panel 4: Greg and Tal are at the door. Hugging, Tal on his way out. Both smile.

Greg 1: Love you, Tal!

Tal: Love you, too, G.

Greg 2: Call me that again and I punch you.

Panel 5: Tier 3, 2 panels. Greg lies down on the unfolded futon couch, looking exhausted but less stressed, lights back out. His eyes open.

Cap: 11:32 pm

Panel 6: Closer up on Greg, his eyes half closed, shirtless. Looking slightly more relaxed.

Cap: 11:56 pm

Panel 7: Last tier. 1 panel. Greg lies stretched out on his futon, completely asleep.

Cap: Saturday, July 5, 12:11 pm