PRIDE

Writer: Terrence Willitts

Date: June 17, 2004

Note: This is a B&W story, with only the blood being coloured – red for fresh blood, reddish-brown for dried blood and scabs.  The lion’s captions are rough-edged, the man’s are smooth in border.  In the last page, the young lion’s captions are smooth, like the man’s. 

PAGE ONE (3 panels)

Panel One  Daylight.  Jungle scene, looking over the head of a male lion.  We see trees and shrubbery, vines and various leaves. 

Caption (Lion): Pant Where is he?  Pant  He’s near, I can smell him.

Panel Two We’re now looking at the front of the lion.  He’s bleeding from the face, a huge gash, as well as from a foreleg, upper.  Blood runs down both his face and leg.  Dirt and mud matte his hair. 

Caption (Lion): Where are you?  It’s time to finish this.  I’ve been gone too long.  My pride needs me. 

Panel Three Side view as the lion begins moving.  In addition to the two wounds we’ve already seen, there are a variety of wounds on his body.  Some are bullet wounds, some are gashes.  Several of the gashes have scabbed over – they’re not recent, but neither are they too old. 

Caption (Lion)  Nama, Maka, Sika, even young Joto.  They need me. 

PAGE TWO (4 panels)

Panel one  Through a scope, we see the hindquarters of the lion. 

Caption (Man): Ah, my pretty, now I’ve got you.  Just a little closer. 

Panel two  Still looking through the scope; same shot as before, but the lion is looking over his shoulder at us. 

SFX:  crack!

Caption (Man):  Bloody branch!

Panel three  Side view, man and lion on opposing sides of long panel.  The lion is in mid-turn, as the man fires his rifle.  He’s dressed as a big-game hunter.  The bullet catches the lion in the hindquarters.

SFX: BLAM!

Lion: ROAR!

Man:  Bastard!

Panel Four  Same set up as before, except the man is backpedaling, the lion is mid-panel charging at him.  Blood flows from hindquarters.  The man’s gun is still aimed at the lion.

Caption (Lion): Now you’re mine.

Man: Oh, God, no!

PAGE THREE (5 panels)

Panel One  Same as last panel, the lion’s head has snapped back as a bullet impacts. 

SFX: BLAM!

Man: Die, bastard!

Panel two  Looking down at lion, who is lying upon its side.  The visible eye has been shot, blood pouring from eye socket.  The man’s boots are visible next to the lion (we’re basically looking through his eyes.) 

Caption (Man):  Damn, that’s a lot less money I’ll be getting. 

Panel three Side view, as man kneels next to lion.  Rifle is on ground, a knife is in the man’s hand. 

Caption (Lion):  Gotcha.

Panel four  Lion is straddling man, but we only see their lower bodies.  Off-panel, lion is ripping out man’s throat.  Blood splatters into panel view. 

Caption (Lion): Now I can go back. 

Man(off-panel): Aiiiyeeeeee!

SFX:  RRRRRRRRIP!

Panel five Night has fallen, the moon his high in the sky.  The Lion walks across a grassy plain.  The eye has scabbed over. 

Caption (Lion): There, ahead.  My pride.  They need me.  I.  I need them. 

PAGE FOUR (7 panels)

Panel one  The lion approaches his pride.  There are three lionesses, and one younger male, his mane not quite as full as the wounded lion.   The young lion stands between our protagonist and the females, his face contorted in a snarl.  We’re looking from the side of the elder lion, his wounded eye visible. 

Caption (Lion): What’s this, Joto? 

Caption (Young Lion): Your time is past. 

Panel two  Close up on the two lions, their faces only inches from one another, both snarling. 

Caption (Lion): I am master here!

Caption (Young Lion): Not any more, old one.

Panel three The young lion pounces on the elder, biting him on the back of the neck.  The elder lion tries to bite at the younger, but can’t get a grip.

SFX: ROAR

Panel four  The elder lion lies on its side, the younger straddling him, blood dripping from his mouth. 

Caption (Young Lion): You’re too weak to lead us.

Caption (Lion): I am weak because I protected you…. My pride!

Caption (Young Lion): No matter.

Panel five  Elder lion staggers to his feet.  Young lion stands near, at the ready, but not attacking. 

Caption (Lion): Then allow me to die.

Caption (Young Lion): That is for you to do.  Leave now, you are no longer needed.

Panel six  Elder lion looks to females, but they all turn their heads from him.

NO COPY

Panel seven  Pride watches as elder lion limps away, wounded and bleeding. 

Caption (Lion):  I have no pride.  I am nothing. 

CREDITS