MARKED 2:
Tax Paid
By Zachary Smith
PAGE 1. PANEL 1.
KALLISTE WALKS INTO HER PLACE, SHE LOOKS EXHAUSTED.
CAPTION: Los
Angeles, CA. 2013.
KALLISTE: Forgot how
tired you are. Just one more step.
PAGE 1. PANEL 2.
KALLISTE LOCKS THE DOOR.
NO DIALOGUE.
PAGE 1. PANEL 3.
SHE COLLAPSES ON THE FLOOR.
NO DIALOGUE.
PAGE 1. PANEL 4.
A SHOT OF HER LYING ON THE FLOOR, NOT ATTPEMPTING TO GET
UP.
KALLISTE: Can’t pass…
PAGE 1. PANEL 5.
KALLISTE IS ASLEEP ON THE GROUND. NO DIALOGUE.
HER DOG, NIKKO,
IS APPROACHING HER.
PAGE 2. PANEL 1.
TIGHT SHOT OF KALLISTE’S FACE. SHE IS SCREAMING IN PAIN.
A CHARACTER ONLY KNOWN AS BOY, A YOUNG MAN AROUND 17, IS
HELPING KALLISTE. HE CRADLES HER WITH
HIS RIGHT ARM, HIS LEFT ARM IS DOING SOMETHING OFF PANEL.
CAPTION:
Atlantis. 2,300 B.C.
BOY: I can fix
this! Just hold still.
KALLISTE: I’m dying.
BOY: No, you will
live…unlike mother. Unlike all of us if
they earthquake is
any
indication of our future.
PAGE 2. PANEL 2.
THE BOY’S MOTHER LIES DEAD IN THE CORNER OF THE HUT THEY ARE
IN.
BOY: She stabbed you
with the divining knife, this is no normal wound, but I will heal
it.
KALLISTE: She tried
to kill me! Just protecting myself.
BOY: I should not have
been with you, this is my fault. As the
conduit I have more
responsibilities to Atlantis.
KALLISTE: -kk-
PAGE 2. PANEL 3.
THE BOY IS CUTTING HIS PALM.
NO DIALOGUE.
PAGE 2. PANEL 4.
BLOOD POURS DOWN INTO ASH AND CLAY. NO DIALOGUE.
PAGE 2. PANEL 5.
THE BOYS MIXES THESE TOGETHER.
BOY: You will have a
mark, but this will save your life.
PAGE 2. PANEL 6.
KALLISTE IS SWEATING, NERVOUS, AS THE BOY APPROACHES HER
WITH THE MIXTURE.
PAGE 2. PANEL 7.
HE APPLIES THE MIXTURE TO HER WOUND, RUBBING IT AROUND. HE IS MUMBLING WORDS. KALLISTE CRIES OUT IN PAIN AGAIN.
PAGE 3. PANEL 1.
KALLISTE IS BEING WATCHED OVER BY THE BOY. HE LOOKS AT THE DIVINING KNIFE. KALLISTE’S FEVER IS HIGH.
PAGE 3. PANEL 2.
SPIRITS WAID IN AND OUT OVER THEM.
SPIRIT: You have made
a mistake, boy.
SPIRIT 2: She now is
bonded with one of us.
SPIRIT 3: She cannot
die, as long as that mark remains. She
will outlive you all. And
soon.
BOY: So be it.
PAGE 3. PANEL 3.
THE SPIRITS LAUGH AND GODE HIM.
SPIRIT 4: You only
say this, one who lives on a fraction of eternity. You do not
comprehend the pain you have brought here.
BOY: Should I have
just let her die.
ALL SPIRITS: YES!.
PAGE 3. PANEL 4.
KALLISTE SHOOTS UP.
TERRIFIED.
KALLISTE: Who?
PAGE 3. PANEL 5.
THE BOY EMBRACES HER.
BOY: You are
okay. Everything is now okay.
KALLISTE: What
happened?
BOY: I saved
you.
PAGE 3. PANEL 6.
THE BOY PULLS BACK, HIS HANDS ON HER UPPER ARMS.
BOY: I must inform
the council of what happened. This is
terrible news, but I will not
have it
placed upon the one I love.
DIALOGUE CONT.
KALLISTE: Love? Me?
BOY: We live in this
paradise, I will do everything I can to prevent it’s ruin.
PAGE 4/5. TWO PAGE SPLASH PAGE.
THE ISLANDS IS DESTROYED BY
A GIGANTIC TIDAL WAVE. NO DIALOGUE.
PAGE 6. PANEL 1.
IT IS NIGHT, ON A BEACH.
THE WAVES LAP ON THE SHORE.
VOICES ARE HEARD OFF PANEL
CAPTION: GREECE. 2,300 B.C.
SAILOR 1: Paradise exists.
Even within our country we have Arcadia. And I have
heard tales of the island
of Atlas, beyond the
pillars of Hercules. They were
repelled by Athens,
but many speak of their superiority in the water and
warfare.
SAILOR 2: If they are
so superior how come we have not seen them since their defeat?
PAGE 6. PANEL 2.
WE PULL OUT MORE, WE SEE THAT THERE IS A SHIP NEARBY. THE WAVES CONTINUE TO LAP.
SAILOR 1: Misfortune
I am told. That storm from the other
night, maybe it had
something to do with them. It
would be sad to never see such a marvelous
place, where all things are equal
and everything is wonderful and fair.
SAILOR 2: Personally,
I’ve been to Arcadia,
just some mountains and trees. These
miraculous
places do not exist. People cannot live
in such beauty without
damaging
it.
PAGE 6. PANEL 3.
THE SHIP IS OFF TO THE SIDE, AS 2 SAILORS OF THE SHIP ARE
SITTING AROUND THE FIRE, WARMING THEMSELVES.
THE WAVES CONTINUE TO LAP.
SAILOR 1: I disagree,
friend. When presented the chance, we as
people would rise to
the occasion to preserve such splendor.
SAILOR 2: You’re
young. You know nothing.
SAILOR 1: Maybe my
youth is what allows me to see--
PAGE 6. PANEL 4.
KALLISTE WASHES UP ON SHORE.
THE SAILORS NOTICE. SHE IS
COVERED IN SEAWEED.
SAILOR 1: Gods! Look at that!
SAILOR 2: A siren.
SAILOR 1: Or a nymph.
PAGE 6. PANEL 5.
KALLISTE’S EYE SHOOTS OPEN AS THE MEN STAND CLOSER TO HER.
SAILOR 1: You touch
her.
SAILOR 2: No. I will not be cursed by the gods for messing
with one of their own.
PAGE 7. SPLASH PAGE.
KALLISTE HAS STOOD HERSELF UP, SEA WEED AND KELP FALLING
FROM HER. SHE LOOKS MAGNIFICENT. WE SEE THE ABDOMEN HAS HEALED, BUT THERE IS A
MARK THERE.
SAILOR 2:
Kalliste! Most beautiful.
SAILOR 1: Get the
chains.
PAGE 8. PANEL 1.
SAILOR 1 IS LOOKING AT KALLISTE, BOUND IN THE NECK AND WRIST
CHAINS.
SAILOR 1: Such
beauty, and it is ours!
SAILOR 2: I think we
should get rid of her as soon as possible.
I only understand a little of what she is saying. What is this Atlantis she keeps repeating
about.
PAGE 8. PANEL 2.
SAILOR 1 LOOKS TRIUMPHANT.
SAILOR 1: Don’t you
see my friend, this a member of that fabled isle, where perfection is seen
every day.
SAILOR 2: That mark
doesn’t make her seem flawless.
SAILOR 1: Merely skin
discoloration from being in the water for so long.
PAGE 8. PANEL 3.
SAILOR 1 GRABS HER BY THE HANDS.
SAILOR 1: I have an
idea! Maybe we can have her take us to
this land. We could be rich beyond our
wild—
PAGE 8. PANEL 4.
KALLISTE PULLS BACK FROM HIM. SHE LOOKS ANNOYED.
SAILOR 2: Hah! I like her tenacity.
PAGE 8. PANEL 5.
SAILOR 1 GRABS HER HARD BY THE FACE, HE LOOKS ANGRY.
SAILOR 1: Listen
wench, you will do as I say or else I will—
PAGE 8. PANEL 6.
KALLISTE HEAD BUTTS THE MAN.
NO DIALOGUE.
PAGE 9. PANEL 1.
SAILOR 1 GOES FLYING BACK, SAILOR 2 JUST WATCHES. NO DIALOGUE.
PAGE 9. PANEL 2.
SAILOR 1 HITS HIS HEAD UPON THE EDGE OF THE BOAT, BREAKING
HIS NECK.
SAILOR 2: NO!
PAGE 9. PANEL 3.
SAILOR 2 LOOKS AT KALLISTE.
SHE IS CALM AS SHE LOOKS OUT TO THE SEA.
SAILOR 2: I knew you
were a curse.
PAGE 9. PANEL 4.
SAILOR 2 IS TALKING TO A FARMER. SAILOR 2 POINTS AT KALLISTE. SHE JUST WAITS, CHAINED. THEY ARE NEAR A MODERATE LEVEL HOUSE AND
FIELD OF BARLEY. NO DIALOGUE.
PAGE 9. PANEL 5.
SAILOR 2 LEADS HER BY THE CHAIN, BUT WITH ENOUGH LENGTH
BETWEEN HIMSELF AND HER.
SAILOR 2: Here.
FARMER: Welcome to
heaven.
PAGE 10. PANEL 1.
THE FARMER IS TRYING TO COME BEHIND KALLISTE AS SHE WORKS ON
THE BARLEY WITH A SICKLE.
FARMER: Oh how lovely
you will be. You already know how to
farm, and you look so…
PAGE 10. PANEL 2.
AS KALLISTE SWINGS THE SICKLE, THE CATCHES THE FARMERS HAND
AND GETS SOME OF HIS FINGERS.
FARMER: …
PAGE 10. PANEL 3.
THE FARMER IS CRYING IN PAIN ON THE TABLE. KALLISTE IS HOLDING HIS HAND DOWN. HER OTHER HAND IS REACHING INTO THE FIRE TO
FETCH A KNIFE.
PAGE 10. PANEL 4.
THE FARMER SCREAMS AS SHE CAUTERIZES THE WOUND WITH THE
BURNING HOT KNIFE.
FARMER:
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!
PAGE 10. PANEL 5.
THE FARMER IS ANGRY, HE IS STANDING.
FARMER: You will pay
for this, you—
PAGE 10. PANEL 6.
KALLISTE STANDS THERE HOLDING THE BURNING KNIFE. THE FARMER BACKS AWAY FROM HER.
FARMER: Oh gods, what
have I let into my house.
PAGE 11. PANEL 1.
KALLISTE LOOKS HAGGARD AND EMACIATED AS SHE HARVESTS BARLEY
IN THE FIELD. A FINGER ON THE MANGLED
HAND OF THE FARMER IS POINTING TO HER FROM OFF PANEL.
FARMER: Take that
one. She brings me no pleasure, only
fear.
PAGE 11. PANEL 2.
THE SLAVE TRADERS GIVE HIM THE MONEY, AND KALLISTE IS BEING
ESCORTED AWAY, WITH A CHAIN AROUND HER NECK.
NO DIALOGUE.
PAGE 11. PANEL 3.
KALLISTE IS ON DISPLAY IN THE SLAVE MARKET. ANOTHER FINGER POINTS TO HER FROM OFF PANEL.
MAN 2: I’ll take that
one. She looks pleasurable.
PAGE 11. PANEL 4.
THE NEW OWNER, A RICH
CHINESE LORD, PAYS THE SLAVE TRADER.
SLAVE TRADER: She is
the most exquisite of my slaves, you are walking away with a
bargain, I
guarantee it.
MAN 2: I hope so, for
I will take her to the finest of places.
PAGE 11. PANEL 5.
KALLISTE IS BEING TATTOOED WITH THE TAX PAID PHRASE ON HER
LEFT UPPER ARM, NEAR THE SHOULDER. HER
FACE DOES NOT GRIMACE. NO DIALOGUE.
PAGE 11. PANEL 6.
THE NEW SLAVE OWNER IS EXITING HIS TENT, WITH A BLOODY FACE,
AND IS MISSING HIS NOSE.
CAPTION: CHINA. 2,300 B.C.
MAN 2: AGGGG! KILL HER!
PAGE 12. PANEL 1-6.
SHE FIGHTS BACK, BUT EVENTUALL THE NEW SLAVE OWNER’S
SERVANTS OVER POWER HER AND BEGIN BEATING AND WHIPPING HER. THEY BEAT IN THE HEAD AND BODY WITH CLUBS,
AND WHIP WHILE SHE WRITHES IN PAIN ON THE GROUND. ONE OF THEM CUTS HER NOSE OFF. THEY EVENTUALLY DECIDE TO HANG HER. THEY ARE STRINGING HER UP ON A TREE. THIS WILL BE A BRUTAL, AWFUL PANEL.
PAGE 13. TOP PANEL.
KALLISTE IS HANGING FROM THE TREE. IT IS DAY TIME. THE SERVANTS ARE LEAVING THEIR HANDIWORK IN
THE TREE. WE ARE PULLED BACK, AND WE SEE
A LOT OF THE SCENERY IN THIS PANEL. NO DIALOGUE.
PAGE 13. MIDDLE
PANEL.
IT IS EVENING, THERE IS STILL NO CHANGE IN KALLISTE AS SHE
HANGS IN THE TREE. LESS SCENERY IN THIS
PANEL AS WE GET CLOSER TO KALLISTE.
PAGE 13. BOTTOM
PANEL.
CLOSE UP OF HER FACE AS THE LIFE ENTERS BACK INTO HER. HER NOSE IS STILL DISFIGURED.
KALLISTE (SOUND FX):
‘GASP’
PAGE 14. PANEL 1.
KALLISTE’S LEGS KICK, WE DO NOT SEE THE STRUGGLE OF HER
TRYING TO DISLODGE HERSELF FROM THE NOOSE.
IT IS NIGHT. NO DIALOGUE.
PAGE 14. PANEL 2.
HER LEGS ARE DANGLING AGAIN.
SHE HAS DIED AGAIN. IT IS
NIGHT. NO DIALOGUE.
PAGE 14. PANEL 3.
KALLISTE’S LEGS START KICKING AGAIN. IT IS GETTING CLOSER TO FIRST LIGHT.
PAGE 14. PANEL 4.
KALLISTE FALLS TO THE GROUND.
PAGE 14. PANEL 5.
KALLISTE LAYS ON THE GROUND.
HER NOSE HAS STARTED TO HEAL, SHE HAS ROPE BURNS AROUND HER NECK. THE MARK ON HER SIDE IS VERY DARK, AND SHE
LOOKS INCREDIBLY ANGRY. IT IS ALMOST
DAWN. NO DIALOGUE.
PAGE 15. PANEL 1.
KALLISTE IS IN THE EMCAMPMENT OF THE NEW SLAVE OWNER, SHE
WATCHES AS TWO GUARDS WATCH THE MASTER’S TENT.
SHE HAS PUT A HOOD OVER HERSELF.
HER NOSE IS STILL HEALING. HER
ROPE BURNS HAVE DECREASED. NO DIALOGUE.
PAGE 15. PANEL 2.
SMALL PANEL. SHE HAS
TAKEN A GORD OF WINE INTO HER HAND. NO
DIALOGUE.
PAGE 15. PANEL 3.
THE GUARDS ALLOW HER TO PASS WHEN SHE SHOWS THEM THE WINE.
NO DIALOGUE.
PAGE 15. PANEL 4.
INSIDE THE LAVISH TENT SHE HAS BUNDLED A PIECE OF CLOTH INTO
A BALL AS SHE APPROACHES THE NEW SLAVE MASTER.
HE IS ASLEEP. NO DIALOGUE.
PAGE 15. PANEL 5.
KALLISTE SHOVES THE CLOTH INTO HIS OPEN MOUTH, HE IS AWAKE,
BUT CANNOT SCREAM. SHE STILL HAS HER
HOOD COVER HER FACE STILL.
PAGE 15. PANEL 6.
HER HOOD IS NOT TAKEN OFF, HER NOSE IS ALMOST COMPLETELY
HEAL, WHERE AS HIS IS UGLY AS EVER. SHE
PUTS A FINGER TO HER MOUTH, SIGNIFYING TO HIM TO BE QUIET.
KALLISTE: Shh. I am going to show you why I am no one’s
slave.
PAGE 16. PANEL 1.
KALLISTE LEAVES THE TENT, HER HOOD UP. ONE GUARD LOOKS AT HER CURIOUSLY. THE OTHER IS ENTERING THE TENT.
PAGE 16. PANEL 2.
THE OTHER GUARD HAS COME BACK OUT AND IS VOMITTING ON THE
OTHER.
GUARD 1: Why would
you do that?
GUARD 2:
Don’t….look…the master…
PAGE 16. PANEL 3.
GUARD 1 ENTERS THE TENT.
PAGE 16. PANEL 4.
THE MASTER IS HORRIBLY CUT UP AND MUTILATED. HE HAS BEEN CASTRATED, SHAFT AND BALLS, AND
THIS IS STICKING OUT OF HIS MOUTH. HIS
ENTRAILS HANG OUT. ON HIS CHEST IS
CARVED THE SAME TAX PAID PHRASE THAT WAS PUT ONTO KALLISTE.
PAGE 17. PANEL 1.
KALLISTE IS WALKING THROUGH MOUNTAINOUS WINTER COLDS, SHE IS
COVERED IN RAGS, AND A HOOD, THE SAME ONE SHE TOOK FROM THE NEW SLAVE OWNERS
ENCAMPMENT. NO DIALOGUE.
PAGE 17. PANEL 2.
SHE HAS COLLAPSED.
HER BREATHING IS VERY HEAVY.
THERE IS A FIRE UP AHEAD.
KALLISTE: Just…one
more…day. Make it…
PAGE 17. PANEL 3.
SHE SEES THE BLURRY IMAGE OF THE FIRE AHEAD OF HER, BUT
CAN’T MAKE OUT ANYTHING ELSE.
KALLISTE: …there…to…
PAGE 17. PANEL 4.
SHE UTTERS ONE LAST WORD AND IS OUT COLD IN THE COLD, AS
SOME FEET COME UP TO HER. SOMEONE HAS
FOUND HER.
KALLISTE: …paradise.
PAGE 17. PANEL 5.
KALLISTE IS WAKING UP, BLURRY EYED, AND THERE IS SOMEONE
WITH THEIR HAND ABOVE HER, AND IT LOOKS OMINOUS.
PAGE 18. PANEL 1.
KALLISTE SHOOTS AWAKE, STARTLING THE KINDLY OLD WOMAN TAKING
CARE OF HER. THE OLD WOMAN HAS SOME
VISIBLE TATTOOS OF ANIMALS, BOTH REAL AND MYTHICAL. ONE OF WHICH IS A HARPIE.
KALLISTE: Ahhhh!!!
OLD WOMAN: Ahhhh!!!
PAGE 18. PANEL 2.
KALLISTE HAS BACKED INTO THE CORNER, HER KNEES IN FRONT OF
HER. THE OLD WOMAN REACHES OUT
POLITELY. ON THE HAND SHE REACHES OUT
WITH IS A HARPIE.
OLD WOMAN: I don’t
know if you can understand me, but I mean you no harm.
PAGE 18. PANEL 3.
KALLISTE EYEBALLS THE HARPIE AS THE HAND REACHES TOWARDS
HER.
OLD WOMAN: That’s it,
it’s okay. You look like you’ve been
through a lot.
PAGE 18. PANEL 4.
KALLISTE SEIZES THE OLD WOMAN’S ARM, HER HANDS AROUND THE
HARPIE.
OLD WOMAN: Do you
like it? We all have them. It’s a part of our…What is it?
PAGE 18. PANEL 5.
KALLISTE REVEALS HER LEFT SHOULDER ‘TAX PAID’ TATTOO. THE OLD WOMAN LOOKS ON, SYMPATHETICALLY.
OLD WOMAN: Oh
dear. Come up from Greece have you. –TT-.
They truly make a
mockery of what could be a beautiful thing.
PAGE 18. PANEL 6.
THE OLD WOMAN PUTS HER HAND TO THE TATTOO.
OLD WOMAN: That won’t
do.
PAGE 19. PANEL 1.
THE OLD WOMAN IS FINISHING UP A HARPIE TATTOO OVER THE TAX
PAID. IT IS FRESH, AND TERRIFYING.
OLD WOMAN: That looks
better.
KALLISTE: I…like?
PAGE 19. PANEL 2.
THE OLD WOMAN HOLDS UP A BRONZE MIRROR TO SHOW THE GIRL.
OLD WOMAN: Got this
in a trade. Take a look.
PAGE 19. PANEL 3.
KALLISTE LOOKS BEHIND HER.
SHE SEES THE HARPIE.
KALLISTE: I…
PAGE 19. PANEL 4.
KALLISTE SMILES.
KALLISTE: …love.
PAGE 20. PANEL 1.
KALLISTE IS STILL PASSED OUT ON THE FLOOR OF HER
APARTMENT. NIKKO IS LICKING HER FINGERS. NO DIALOGUE.
PAGE 20. PANEL 2.
HER EYE OPENS, SLIGHTLY.
NIKKO IS
BARKING.
KALLISTE:
Get…up…gotta…leave…
PAGE 20. PANEL 3.
COPS CARS CAN BE SEEN PULLING UP FROM HER WINDOW. KALLISTE IS STARTING TO PUSH HERSELF UP FROM
THE FLOOR. NIKKO IS BARKING MUCH LOUDER.
KALLISTE: Not…be
a…bound…again…
PAGE 20. PANEL 4.
NIKKO
IS BARKING EXTENSIVELY AS KALLISTE BEGINS TO PUSH HERSELF UP OFF THE FLOOR.
KALLISTE: What?
PAGE 20. PANEL 5.
IN THE HALLWAY OUTSIDE HER DOOR, POLICE ARE QUIETLY MOVING
DONW THE HALL. NO DIALOGUE.
THE END
