Marked 9

MARKED 9

By Zachary Smith

PAGE 1.  PANEL 1.

A NEWS WOMAN, MARIA SUZUKI, IS TALKING TO THE AUDIENCE.  BEHIND HER WE SEE A PICTURE OF MARS.  ON THE PICTURE OF MARS IS A CLICK HERE ICON:  CLICK HERE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT MARS AND IT’S HISTORY.

MARIA:  Wonderful report from the terraforming on Mars.  Can you believe it’s been almost

                three hundred years since the first pioneers left to set up a new planet for us? 

PAGE 1.  PANEL 2.

MARIA CONTINUES TO TALK TO THE AUDIENCE.  BEHIND HER IN THE VISUAL WINDOW IS A PICTURE OF KALLISTE, FULLY TATTOOED.  THERE IS ALSO A CLICK HERE ICON:  CLICK HERE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT KALLISTE MCCARTHY AND/OR THE HISTORY OF TATTOOS.

MARIA:  Speaking of pioneers, we have a story about one of the pioneers in the newest fashion

                trend, nano-bite tattoos.  Say hello to Kalliste McCarthy.

KALLISTE:  Hello to all of you out there.

PAGE 1.  PANEL 3.

WE MOVE INTO KALLISTE’S APARTMENT, WHICH IS VERY BASIC: CHAIRS TO SIT, TABLE TO EAT AT. SCREENS THAT ARE A PART OF THE FURNITURE, IN THE WALL ON THE WINDOW.  A BOOK SHELF.  PAINTINGS, AND A DRAWING BOARD WITH A CHAIR.  A HOLOGRAM OF MARIA IS WALKING THROUGH THE OFFICE.

MARIA:  Beautiful place you have here.

KALLISTE:  Thank you. 

MARIA:  One thing I have to note: You have a full bookshelf.  I haven’t seen one of these

                outside of characters in movies.  You don’t own a reader?

KALLISTE:  Haha.  I do, but I also like my old books.  The smell replicators on the ereader just

                      aren’t the same.

PAGE 1.  PANEL 4.

KALLISTE WALKS MARIA’S HOLOGRAM OVER TO HER DESK.  THERE ARE PICTURES OF TATTOO ART WORK ON HER BOARD.  ONE IS OF A SWALLOW.

MARIA:  And you still work with actual paper and pencils?

KALLISTE:  A mixture of the drawing pad and the drawing screen.  I like having both.  I’ll

DIALOGUE CONT.

                      come up with a drawing on my art pad, then press it to screen to scan it.  From

                      there I’ll fine tune the illustration.

PAGE 1.  PANEL 5.

KALLISTE IS SCANNING THE PICTURE OF THE SWALLOW BY JUST PRESSING IT AGAINST HER DRAWING BOARD.  ON HER WINDOW AND WALL SCREEN WE SEE THE SWALLOW COME UP.

KALLISTE:  And if we look over here, the drawing comes up in larger detail.

MARIA:  Fascinating.  Can we see the view from your window?

KALLISTE:  Oh yes, of course.  Screen down, window up.

PAGE 2.  SPLASH PAGE.

WE SEE THE ISLAND THAT SHE LIVES ON, FULL OF PEOPLE AND ACTIVITY.  THERE ARE HOUSES, MARKETS, A TOWN SQUARE, AND IN THE DISTANCE IS A VOLCANOE.

MARIA:  This is quite the view.

KALLISTE:  It’s my life’s work, so I like to be able to have a complete view of it.

PAGE 3.  PANEL 1. 

MARIA’S HOLOGRAM AND KALLISTE WALK THROUGH THE TOWN.  THE TOWN IS BUSY, THERE ARE MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN, DIFFERENT SIZES, AGES, AND ETHNICITIES ALL OVER THE PLACE.  MOST OF THE MEN AND WOMEN HAVE TATTOOS.

MARIA:  With the money you made on pioneering nanotech to alter tattoos you decided to start

                 this nation.  You could have spent you money in many different ways.  Why use it to

                 help people?

KALLISTE:  When I was young I grew up on a place like this.  I loved the ocean and freedom it

                      lent to you.  It also made me feel infinite, which might be a little hard to

                      understand.

PAGE 3.  PANEL 2.

MARIA STOPS TO ADMIRE THE PHOENIX ON A MAN’S ARM.

MARIA:   Is it mandatory to have a tattoo to live here?

KALLISTE:  Not at all.

MARIA:  Was this a work done with your nanites? 

KALLISTE:  Jason, show her.

PAGE 3.  PANEL 3.

THE PHOENIX COMES BURSTING OFF OF HIS ARM, FULL OF FLAME AND SCREACHING IT’S BIRTH.  NO DIALOGUE.

PAGE 3.  PANEL 4.

THE PHONIX IS NO MORE, NOW IT’S JUST JASON’S TATTOO GLOWING RED.

KALLISTE:  You can program the nanite’s to have characteristics of the tattoo.  The phoenix is

                      a symbol of rebirth and healing, as well as fire.  So Jason’s immune system is

                      really fantastic because the nanite’s help to fight any viruses, as well as keeping his

                      body temperature up.

JASON:  I haven’t been sick since I got the tattoo.

PAGE 3.  PANEL 5.

MARIA AND KALLISTE CONTINUE TO WALK.

MARIA:  Can you give us a little background on how and why you came to be here?

KALLISTE:  Trystero Inc. heard about my idea and wanted to invest.  We copyrighted our

                      specific ink and began selling it to tattoo shops.  From there other companies

DIALOGUE CONT.

                      wanted to modify the tech, but they had to purchase it from us.  I agreed, and then

                      the money really began to roll in.

PAGE 4.  PANEL 1.

MARIA AND KALLISTE ARE NEAR THE BEACH, AND WE CAN SEE THE VOLCANOE FROM THERE.

MARIA:  You opened battered women’s shelters, as well as addiction treatment centers for both

                 men and women.  You adopted over one hundred kids since you settled here.  When

                does the giving stop?

PAGE 4.  PANEL 2.

KALLISTE IS LOOKING UP TO THE VOLCANOE.

KALLISTE:  It doesn’t.  Not really.  I’ve had a lot of good fortune in my life, and want to share

                      it with people. 

MARIA:  It is well known that you started most of this after you contemplated suicide.  Could

                you elaborate on why that had such an impact on you?

PAGE 4.  PANEL 3.

WE SEE KALLISTE STILL LOOKING UP, BUT NOW WE SEE INTO HER THOUGHTS, THE VOLCANOE EXPLODING, AND HER FLYING OUT OF THERE.

KALLISTE:  I had come to a pointe where life seemed to be pointless.  I had caused so much

                      harm, and not a lot of good.  I thought: “Why not just pack it in?”  But this little

                      voice in the back of my head kept telling me something different.

PAGE 4.  PANEL 4.

MARIA LOOKS CONCERNED.

MARIA:  What did it say?

KALLISTE:  It told me to think about the good times.  The things that made life worth living. 

                      And that sometimes, to be honest, life is full of pain.  It might seem like it won’t

                      ever get any better for a while, but eventually you realize, “I’m alive, so live.”

PAGE 4.  PANEL 5.

MARIA IS WIPING A TEAR AWAY FROM HER FACE.

MARIA:  Is this why you have so many shelters and clinics?

KALLISTE:  I’m an addict.  I’ve been one my whole life.  What these represent to me is that

                      everyone deserves a second chance, and as long as they’re willing to work on it

                     they should get that chance to succeed.

MARIA:  One last question for today’s segment.  Does everyone succeed?

PAGE 4.  PANEL 6.

KALLISTE LOOKS DOWN, DISAPPOINTED.

KALLISTE:  No.  I wish I could say we had a full proof program and method, but there is no

                      such thing.  We lose people all the time, and it’s sad.  You just want so badly for

                      them to succeed, but it doesn’t always work out that way.  I wish them the best, and

                      they can come back any time they want.

PAGE 5.  PANEL 1.

A YOUNG MAN, JESSE ALVIDREZ, HAS BEEN WATCHING THE NEWS CAST FROM A PARK BENCH.  IT WAS BEING PROJECTED FROM HIS WATCH.  MARIA IS BACK IN THE NEWS OFFICE, THE SAME PICTURE OF KALLISTE IS IN THE BACKGROUND AGAIN.

MARIA:  What an inspiring message.  And you heard her, even if you’ve fallen off the wagon

                again, you’re still welcomed back with open arms.  Tune in tomorrow as we continue

                our profile of this magical island.  

PAGE 5.  PANEL 2.

KALLISTE IS FINISHING TATTOOING A HISPANIC WOMAN’S, LUPE, BACK.  ON THE BACK WE SEE A SERIES OF WOLVES.

KALLISTE:  Hope you’re family likes it, Lupe.

LUPE:  I hope so too.

KALLISTE:  Five kids, you’re a trooper.  And you don’t look a day over twenty five.  You all

                      looks so much better now.

LUPE:  Who?

PAGE 5.  PANEL 3.

KALLISTE IS TAKING OFF HER GLOVES. 

KALLISTE:  People in general.  Can you believe there was a time when forty was ancient? 

                     When you were the toughest S.O.B. around if you lived that long.

LUPE:  I can’t imagine.  My grandmother was still kicking around at 115.  My grandfather was

            110.

PAGE 5.  PANEL 4.

KALLISTE SMILES AS SHE TAKES A PICTURE OF THE WORK ON HER WRIST RESPONDER. 

KALLISTE:  It’s so nice that we get more time with each other. 

LUPE:  I agree.  I hated watching my grandparents go, but it’s a reality, isn’t it?

KALLISTE:  The cruelest there is.  That’s why this is my next work.

PAGE 5.  PANEL 5.

KALLISTE HAS PULLED UP AN IMAGE OF THE EUROBUROS ON HER PROJECTED SCREEN ON HER WRIST RESPONDER. 

DIALOGUE CONT.

LUPE:  I thought that meant infinity.

KALLISTE:  In some circles, but it also could be Jorgumund, the death of Thor, and the sign of

                      Ragnarok.  We all die at some point, just like it will eventually eat itself and be no

                      more.

PAGE 6.  PANEL 1.

MARIA’S HOLOGRAM IS IN KALLISTE’S LAB AS MACHINES ARE GIVING KALLISTE THE EUROBOROS TATTOO.

MARIA:  I’m surprised you’re letting a machine do this.

KALLISTE:   Wanted to see what it was like.  Mainland talks about it all the time.  It’s definitely

                        not the worst one I’ve received.

PAGE 6.  PANEL 2.

KALLISTE IS WALKING WITH MARIA THROUGH A CLASSROOM, EACH CHILD HAS A WRIST RESPONDER, TOUCHSCREEN DESK, HOLOGRAMS PROJECTING FROM THE DESK, AND THREE TEACHERS ARE IN THE ROOM.  THE TEACHER IS INSTRUCTING A GROUP OF YOUNG BOYS AND GIRLS.

MARIA:  You have classrooms, how wonderful.

KALLISTE:  We’re trying to get it through to boys, and especially girls, you can be whatever

                       you want, and no one should stand in your way.  We also teach socialization. 

PAGE 6.  PANEL 3.

THE TEACHER HAS A PUPPY ON THE DESK, AND NEXT TO THAT PUPPY IS A SUM OF MONEY WITH A KNIFE NEXT TO IT.

KALLISTE:  Like it’s wrong to take advantage of the weak, they are the ones who need

                      protection.  But it’s easy to say all that, what’s hard is when you’re put to the test.

TEACHER:  You can have all this, all you have to do is hurt Max.

PAGE 6.  PANEL 4.

THE CHILDREN LOOK UNCOMFORTABLE.

TEACHER:  That same feeling you have now?  Don’t forget it.  There might be another time in

                      your life where there is something you want, but if you have to hurt someone to get

                      it, was it right?

PAGE 6.  PANEL 5.

KALLISTE AND MARIA’S HOLOGRAM ARE WALKING AWAY.

MARIA:  That seemed rather harsh.

KALLISTE:  What’s harsh is the realization that you were taken advantage of the next morning. 

                      We don’t teach children not to rape or harm, we teach them how to avoid it. 

                      Shouldn’t it be the other way around?

PAGE 7.  PANEL 1.

KALLISTE AND MARIA WATCH A SELF DEFENSE CLASS FOR CHILDREN.

MARIA:  I thought you said…

KALLISTE:  Aversion is our goal, but that’s not the reality for everyone.  There is a point where

                      you’ll need to defend yourself, so we teach you how.

PAGE 7.  PANEL 2.

KIDS ARE RUNNING AROUND IN A V.R. ENVIROMENT, WITH GOGGLES ON.  IT LOOKS LIKE A STAR TREK HOLODECK TO US ON THE OUTSIDE.  IT HAS TWO COMPARTMENTS, ONE WITH A BOY AND ONE WITH A GIRL.

MARIA:  Here?

KALLISTE:  Fun form of exercise.  You become your favorite video game character, and you

                      have to move around like they do.

MARIA:  Who are they playing as?

PAGE 7.  PANEL 3.

THE BOY IS STRIKING, AND MIRRORING THAT IMAGE IS KALLISTE’S VIDEO GAME SPRITE, BUT WITH REALISTIC ARMOR, MIRROS THE STRIKE IN THE GAME.

KALLISTE (CAPTION):  No clue.  They have a wide variety of options.

PAGE 7.  PANEL 4.

ART DEPARTMENT.  CHILDREN ARE DRAWING, BUILDING, CONSTRUCTING ON  COMPUTERS AND HOLOGRAM TECH, NEW INVENTIVE THINGS.

MARIA:  You’re a big supporter of the arts, obviously.

KALLISTE:  I wear it on me everyday.

PAGE 7.  PANEL 5.

MARIA AND KALLISTE WALK THROUGH THE GARDENS ON THE ISLAND.

MARIA:  These are beautiful.

KALLISTE:  I’ve learned a few things over my many years, and one thing that I was always

                      proud of was a good garden.  With all the volcanic soil we get some nice crops.

PAGE 8.  PANEL 1.

MARIA STANDS IN THE GARDEN, KALLISTE IS ON A BENCH.

MARIA:  Can I ask a personal question?

KALLISTE:  Do I have to answer it?

MARIA:  Hah.  I guess that is up to you.

KALLISTE:  Go ‘head.

PAGE 8.  PANEL 2.

LARGE PANEL.  MARIA WAVES WITH HER ARM, SHOWING THE MAJESTY OF THE ISLAND.

MARIA:  Is there a special someone you have to share all this with?

KALLISTE: …People come and go.  I have a sex life, if that’s what you’re asking.  But nothing

                     romantic right now.

MARIA:  No one particular catches your fancy?

PAGE 8.  PANEL 3.

THE SAME YOUNG MAN, JESSE ALVIDREZ, FROM THE PARK BENCH IS NOW ON A SHIP, WATCHING THE BROADCAST AGAIN.  THERE IS A FOCUS ON KALLISTE’S FACE FROM HIS WRIST RESPONDER.

KALLISTE:  Not in a while, no.

PAGE 9.  PANEL 1.

MARIA IN HER NEWS ROOM, SIMILAR TO PAGE 1, PANEL 1.  KALLISTE IS THE PICTURE THAT IS IN THE BACKGROUND.

MARIA:  When asked what she planned for the future, Kalliste had this to say:

PAGE 9.  PANEL 2.

BACKGROUND OF MARIA’S NEWS MONITOR HAS EXPANDED TO SHOW KALLISTE IN THE FOREGROUND.

KALLISTE:  I don’t like to plan ahead, it tends to be a bunch of things that don’t happen.  But

                      this whole island started as a foolish plan, and I guess it worked.  I don’t know. 

                      Take it one day at a time. 

PAGE 9.  PANEL 3.

JESSE IS FLUSHING LIQUID DOWN THE TOILET IN HIS ROOM.

NO DIALOGUE.

PAGE 9.  PANEL 4.

JESSE SITS IN THE CHAIR IN HIS ROOM, IT IS DARK.  NO DIALOGUE.

PAGE 9.  PANEL 5.

THE SAME AS PANEL FOUR, BUT ONE BIT OF DIALOGUE.

JESSE:  One more day.

PAGE 10.  SPLASH PAGE.

A VIGNETTE OF KALLISTE TRAINING WITH HER KATANNA FROM ISSUE 3.  SHE LOOKS LIKE SHE IS IN AWESOME FORM AND SHAPE STILL.

ONI RYU (CAPTION):  These are the days I like best.

KALLISTE (CAPTION):  Me too.

PAGE 11. PANEL 1.

KALLISTE IS IN A JAPANESE STYLE SHOWER, SHE HAS EVEN MORE TATTOOS, SHE IS BASICALLY COVERED NOW. 

PAGE 11.  PANEL 2.

ALL THE TATTOOS HAVE DISAPPEARED, EXCEPT FOR THE ONI RYU ON HER BACK.

ONI RYU (CAPTION):  Smart aesthetic choice.

KALLISTE:  It’s better than just hiding all of them, or having them all on display, then you lose

                      a little something.  ‘Sides, I’m feeling a little Japanese today.

PAGE 11.  PANEL 3.

KALLSITE HAS A BIG PLATE OF SASHIMI SHE’S EATING FROM.  SHE’S IN A KIMONO, SITTING ON THE FLOOR IN A JAPANESE STYLE ROOM.  THERE IS A BOTTLE OF SAKE NEXT TO HER, AND A CUP OF TEA.  HER ASSISTANT, ROGER, STANDS IN THE CORNER READING FROM HIS WRIST RESPONDER.

ROGER: …Several requests to see for stays and vacations here.

KALLISTE:  Ignore them Roger.  The island is for recovery or housing, not for some richer to

                      hang out on.

ROGER:  I said that, but in slightly nicer words.

KALLISTE:  I love that you are nice for me.

PAGE 11.  PANEL 4.

ROGER CONTINUES TO TALK AS KALLISTE TAKES A DRINK OF SAKE.

ROGER:  There were several new recovery patients on the last ship.  We’ve got alcohol, slam,

                 heroin, saltzy, methadone, swag.

PAGE 11.  PANEL 5.

KALLISTE APPEARS TO ALMOST CHOKE ON HER DRINK.  ROGER RUNS OVER TO HER.

ROGER:  Ma’am…

KALLISTE:  -hcckk-  Fine…

PAGE 11.  PANEL 6.

KALLISTE GAINS HER COMPOSURE.

KALLISTE:  The-cough-name, hrrmm, of the methadone-kk- patient.

DIALOGUE CONT.

ROGER:  Jesse Alvidrez.

PAGE 12.  PANEL 1.

KALLISTE IS NOW DRESSED, ON A MISSION, ROGER FOLLOWS AS QUICKLY AS HE CAN BEHIND HER.

ROGER:  What is it ma’—

KALLISTE:  I swear to Thor if you call me ma’am again I will smash.

ROGER:  My-my goddess.

KALLISTE:  I guess that would be okay.

PAGE 12.  PANEL 2.

KALLISTE SLAMS OPEN THE DOOR OF A PATIENT ROOM, JESSE LOOKS UP STARTLED, THE NURSE IS ALSO IN SHOCK.

KALLISTE:  Adrine, please leave us for a moment.

ADRINE:  Yes.

KALLISTE:  Son of a bitch.

PAGE 12.  PANEL 3.

KALLISTE IS IN JESSE’S FACE.

KALLISTE:  So you finally decided to come back.

JESSE:  You said all were welcome.

KALLISTE:  That’s if they wanted to get better.  I don’t have time for a junkie.

JESSE:  Then how do you run a recovery clinic.

PAGE 12.  PANEL 4.

KALLISTE’S FACIAL TATTOOS BEGIN TO EMERGE AS SHE IS TALKING.

KALLISTE:  Because these people want to get better, not pretend too.

JESSE:  I tried.

KALLISTE:  Not very hard.

JESSE:  Looks like you need to.

PAGE 12.  PANEL 5.

KALLISTE LOOKS AT HERSELF IN THE MIRROR, AND SEES HER FACIAL TATTOOS.

KALLISTE:  Hmmm…

PAGE 12.  PANEL 6.

KALLISTE PLACES HER FINGER TO HER FOREHEAD, THE TATTOOS BEGIN TO RECEDE.

JESSE:  You have gotten better.  I’m not bleeding at all.

KALLISTE:  You caught me on a good day.

PAGE 13.  PANEL 1.

MID MORNING.  KALLISTE AND JESSE ARE OUTSIDE IN THE GARDEN, ON THAT SAME BENCH FROM PAGE 8.  THEY DON’T LOOK AT EACH OTHER.  NO DIALOGUE. 

PAGE 13.  PANEL 2.

AFTERNOON.  THEY CONTINUE TO LOOK IN EVERY OTHER DIRECTION THAT IS NOT EACH OTHER’S FACES.  NO DIALOGUE.

PAGE 13.  PANEL 3.

EARLY EVENING, THEY ARE LOOKING AT THE GROUND.

JESSE:  Look: I fucked up.  Let’s both agree.  I let the pressure of trying to help others

             overwhelm me, and I fell back on bad habits.

KALLISTE:  You gave up.  You became a coward.

JESSE:  Yes.  I deserve that.

PAGE 14.  PANEL 1.

JESSE STANDS, KALLISTE LOOKS UP.

JESSE:  And I don’t know if I deserve forgiveness or a second chance.  But to make life

              bearable, I have to believe in both. 

KALLISTE: …

PAGE 14.  PANEL 2.

KALLISTE LOOKS AWAY FROM JESSE.

JESSE:  I have to believe that you might want me back, and that you will not freeze me out

             forever.  That the hate you feel, will subside, and you can let me back in.

KALLISTE:  And if I don’t?

PAGE 14.  PANEL 3.

JESSE LOOKS TOWARDS THE VOLCANOE.

JESSE:  …I don’t know.  I would say life is short, but that’s not the case for you. 

KALLISTE:  In the context of things, my life is still brief.

JESSE:  Not compared to us.

PAGE 14.  PANEL 4.

JESSE LIGHTS UP A CIGARETTE.

JESSE:  I threw out the rest of the methadone on the way here.

KALLISTE:  And?

JESSE:  I’ve been clean for

KALLISTE:  A day?

PAGE 14.  PANEL 5.

JESSE PUTS HIS HAND OUT, IT’S SHAKING.

JESSE:  One more day.

KALLISTE:  Don’t you say that to me.

JESSE:  I need to.  Who knows when you might get pulled away?

PAGE 15.  PANEL 1.

FLASHBACK.  KALLISTE IS IN HER LAB, WORKING.  JESSE IS WATCHING HER.

JESSE (CAPTION):   Work was all that mattered and I came second.  Do you know how that

                                    feels?

PAGE 15.  PANEL 2.

JESSE IS BLOWING OUT A CANDLE ON A SMALL, PERSONAL SIZE, BIRTHDAY CAKE.

JESSE (CAPTION):  I spent my last birthday alone, while you were working.  That kinda fucks

                                   with someone’s self worth, you know.

PAGE 15.  PANEL 3.

KALLISTE LOOKS ANGRY.  JESSE HAS HIS HANDS UP, EXPRESSING THAT HE’S JUST SAYING WHAT’S ON HIS MIND.

KALLISTE:  Don’t belittle my work with your pity party.

JESSE:  I’m not.  Your work is important.  That’s why I still believe in it, and why I’m here.  I

              know you can help me to get better.

PAGE 15.  PANEL 4.

JESSE SITS ON THE BENCH FACE IN HIS HANDS.  KALLISTE LOOKS DOWN AT HIM.

JESSE:  I need you though.  Can you do that?  Could you be there for me?  This problem can’t

             be punched away, and we both know that.  I need love and support.  Specifically, yours.

PAGE 15.  PANEL 5.

KALLISTE LOOKS AWAY, JESSE STILL HAS HIS FACE IN HIS HANDS.  NO DIALOGUE.

PAGE 16.  PANEL 1.

KALLISTE SITS BEHIND A DESK.  ROGER IS TAKING NOTES.

KALLISTE:  Move the 3 o’clock meeting up to 12,  I have somewhere to be then.

ROGER:  Anything else.

KALLISTE:  Have the sheets in the extra room changed.

PAGE 16.  PANEL 2.

KALLISTE IS SITTING IN THE MEETING WITH JESSE.

JESSE:  Thanks for being here.

KALLISTE:  You’re not going to fall apart on me if I need to take a business call? 

JESSE:  Fuck you.

PAGE 16.  PANEL 3.

KALLISTE LEANS BACK IN THE CHAIR, CONFIDENTLY.

KALLISTE:  You wish.

PAGE 16.  PANEL 4.

JESSE IS UP ON THE PODIUM.

JESSE:…in high school, when my mom died.  It was an easy way to avoid dealing with the pain.  I went to medical school because I knew I’d have easy access…

PAGE 16.  PANEL 5.

KALLISTE IS GETTING A CALL ON HER WRIST RESPONDER, SHE LOOKS AT IT.

JESSE: …to the methadone.  I finally woke up from the haze when I almost let a baby die because I wasn’t paying attention to…

PAGE 16.  PANEL 6.

KALLISTE DENIES THE CALL, AND CONTINUES TO LISTEN TO JESSE.

JESSE:…their dosage, I was too worried about where and when my next fix was coming from.

PAGE 17.  PANEL 1.

JESSE IS SHAKING IN BED, CRYING OUT IN HIS SLEEP.

JESSE:  …stop…mom…

PAGE 17.  PANEL 2.

KALLISTE HAS OPENED THE DOOR, AND SHE IS WATCHING HIM.

JESSE:  break…lights…blood…my face…

PAGE 17.  PANEL 3.

KALLISTE HAS PULLED THE COVERS UP TO CLIMB IN WITH HIM, REVEALING A BIG SCAR FROM A SEAT BELT.

JESSE: Ah!

KALLISTE:  Shhh.

JESSE:  What are you—

KALLISTE:  Just shut up.

PAGE 17.  PANEL 4.

KALLISTE IS HOLDING JESSE.  NO DIALOGUE.

PAGE 17.  PANEL 5.

THEIR FINGERS ENTWINE.

JESSE:  Thank you.

PAGE 18.  PANEL 1.

JESSE IS CHECKING THE VITALS ON A YOUNG GIRL, HE HAS A SENSOR GLOVE ON.

JESSE:  Everything seems fine.  Probably just some bad fish.

PAGE 18.  PANEL 2.

THE YOUNG PATIENT EXITS, A CANDY IN HAND, JESSE IS THROWING AWAY THE GLOVE.  KALLISTE AVOIDS THE PATIENT AS SHE LEAVES.

JESSE:  Don’t tell your mom I gave you that.

KALLISTE:  Still sneaking them candy.

PAGE 18.  PANEL 3.

JESSE IS HITTING THE CLEANSE BUTTON ON THE BED, IT CLEANS ITSELF AS THEY TALK.

JESSE:  I don’t care what medical breakthroughs have happened, a kid will always act better if

             they get candy at the end.

KALLISTE:  Where’d you learn that?

JESSE:  My mom.  Always said I’d get a candy bar after the check up.

PAGE 18.  PANEL 4.

KALLISTE LOOKS SAD, JESSE DOES TOO.  NO DIALOGUE.

PAGE 18.  PANEL 5.

KALLISTE TAKES HIS HAND.

KALLISTE:  Let’s go!

PAGE 19.  PANEL 1.

THE TWO OF THEM SIT ON THE BEACH.

JESSE:  Hah.  I didn’t think—

KALLISTE:  I’d remember?  Are you kidding me?  I had to save your ass from that big ass

                      wave.

PAGE 19.  PANEL 2.

KALLISTE IS PULLING AN UNCONSCIOUS JESSE FROM THE WATER.

JESSE (CAPTION):  I bet I made a good first impression. 

KALLISTE (CAPTION):  You had nice lips, so I didn’t mind giving you mouth to mouth.

PAGE 19.  PANEL 3.

JESSE STANDS UP.

JESSE:  I think I’m ready.

KALLISTE:  For?

JESSE:  For that thing you always wanted me to get?

KALLISTE:  Serious?

PAGE 19.  PANEL 4.

JESSE IS WALKING AWAY, KALLISTE IS BEHIND HIM.

JESSE:  Better hurry up before I change my mind?

KALLISTE:  Do you know what you want?

JESSE:  I have something in mind.

PAGE 20/21. DOUBEL PAGE SPREAD.

WE ARE IN KALLISTE’S TATTOO OFFICE, SHE HAS A TATTOO MACHINE IN HAND.  JESSE IS ON HIS BACK, THE TATTOO IS BEING APPLIED TO HIS CHEST.  IT IS A SMALL PHOENIX.

KALLISTE:  Do you like it?