annesible (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} annesible) wrote,@ 2006-10-10 17:00:00 |
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| Entry tags: | creative commons, manga, yaoi |
Food for the Soul 1
Taking a page from John Scalzi, Corey Doctorow and others, I've decided to post my manga script online.
Legal Notes: This work is copyrighted by Anne Harris. The work is freely given and may be freely distributed on a non-commercial basis, in whatever electronic format you please, as long as the work remains intact and unaltered and is attributed to me, Anne Harris. All other rights are reserved by me, specifically commercial and derivative rights. If you are interested in commercial and/or derivative rights, contact me.
Here it is, the first half of my boys love manga, about a waiter and a busboy at a magical restaurant where good food heals the heart. Can Samura and Charlie overcome their troubled backgrounds and find happiness? Waiter, heal thyself:
Food For the Soul, Section 1 of 2
By Anne Harris
PAGE 1
Panel 1: Full page. A cityscape at night; tall, dark, brooding buildings. In the distance, one place has a light on. This is the only light on in the street. This place is smaller than the other places around it. It is oddly shaped, with a peaked roof and a crooked chimney. The smoke coming out of its chimney has arcane symbols wound through it. The light from its oblong, five-sided polygonal window stretches out toward a small figure in the foreground who stands dwarfed by the other structures surrounding him. This is Charlie, a young man approximately seventeen years old. He is blond and attractive, though dirty and sporting a nasty black eye. His clothing is ragged -- the cuffs of his jeans are frayed and there's a hole in one of his tennis shoes. (Few of these details will be apparent here, but you'll need them later on.) The light from the window casts Charlie's shadow behind him. His shadow too breaks up into arcane symbols.
1. CAPTION: FOOD FOR THE SOUL
2. CAPTION: BOOK 1: CHAPTER 1
3. CAPTION: WRITTEN BY ANNE HARRIS
PAGE 2
Panel 1: Bird's eye view of Charlie walking down the street. The pavement at his feet is noticeably uneven.
1. CHARLIE (THOUGHT): I'M SO HUNGRY.
Panel 2: Close up on Charlie's face. There are lines around him to indicate that he is shivering.
2. CHARLIE (THOUGHT): AND COLD.
Panel 3: Small panel. Close-up on Charlie's legs. The cuffs of his jeans are frayed and there's a hole in one of his tennis shoes. We also see a place where one section of the sidewalk is considerably lower than the next section, forming a ledge.
3. CHARLIE (THOUGHT): AND TIRED.
Panel 4: Charlie's foot is striking the ledge in the pavement.
4. SFX: TOK.
Page 3
Panel 1: Full body view of Charlie falling. Arms waving to try to catch himself but it's too late.
1. CHARLIE: WAAA!
Panel 2: Closer in on Charlie as he hits the pavement.
2. SFX: THUD.
Panel 3: Close-up of Charlie's face as he lays on the ground.
3. CHARLIE (THOUGHT): I'M GOING TO DIE OUT HERE.
Panel 4: Low bird's eye view of Charlie lying in a patch of light that is the same shape as the oddly shaped window seen on Page 1. Charlie is pushing himself up on one hand and looking up, toward us, with an expression of surprise and curiosity.
Page 4
Panel 1: Charlie's-eye-view of the building with the odd-shaped window. Above the window it says, "Dharma Café" and in smaller letters underneath, "We will give you what you need."
Panel 2: Charlie sitting up, his legs spread straight in front of him. Curls of smoke with tiny arcane symbols in them reach his nose.
1. CHARLIE (THOUGHT): SMELLS GOOD.
Panel 3: Same as panel 1, but Charlie is downcast, with his pockets inside out.
2. CHARLIE (THOUGHT): BUT I DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY.
Panel 4: Long view of Charlie running down the alley next to the restaurant.
3. CHARLIE (THOUGHT): MAYBE I CAN FIND SOMETHING IN
THEIR DUMPSTER.
Page 5
Panel 1: Large panel. Interior of a kitchen as seen from the doorway. Against the wall opposite is a large, old-fashioned stove with many pots boiling and steaming upon it. There are arcane symbols in the steam. Above the stove is a large vent-fan. Hanging from the forward edge of the vent fan is a spice rack. To the right of the stove, in the corner, is a sink and a dish rack. Above the sink is a cupboard. Along the wall to the left of the stove is a counter and above the counter, one of those strips of metal used to hold order slips. Centered in the room is a large wooden table, scarred from many years of use. There is a cutting board on the table, and various piles of vegetables. Agatha, a woman about sixty years of age, with long, unruly hair tied back in a bandana, is cooking. She is floating, cross-legged in midair. Her back is to us and she is sprinkling seasoning into one of the pots on the stove.
1. SFX: BUBBLE.
2. AGATHA (HUMMING): HMMM. HMM. HMMMM. HMMM. HMM.
3. SFX:
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Taking a page from John Scalzi, Corey Doctorow and others, I've decided to post my manga script online.
Legal Notes: This work is copyrighted by Anne Harris. The work is freely given and may be freely distributed on a non-commercial basis, in whatever electronic format you please, as long as the work remains intact and unaltered and is attributed to me, Anne Harris. All other rights are reserved by me, specifically commercial and derivative rights. If you are interested in commercial and/or derivative rights, contact me.
Here it is, the first half of my boys love manga, about a waiter and a busboy at a magical restaurant where good food heals the heart. Can Samura and Charlie overcome their troubled backgrounds and find happiness? Waiter, heal thyself: <lj-cut text = "Food for the Soul, Part 1">
Food For the Soul, Section 1 of 2
By Anne Harris
PAGE 1
Panel 1: Full page. A cityscape at night; tall, dark, brooding buildings. In the distance, one place has a light on. This is the only light on in the street. This place is smaller than the other places around it. It is oddly shaped, with a peaked roof and a crooked chimney. The smoke coming out of its chimney has arcane symbols wound through it. The light from its oblong, five-sided polygonal window stretches out toward a small figure in the foreground who stands dwarfed by the other structures surrounding him. This is Charlie, a young man approximately seventeen years old. He is blond and attractive, though dirty and sporting a nasty black eye. His clothing is ragged -- the cuffs of his jeans are frayed and there's a hole in one of his tennis shoes. (Few of these details will be apparent here, but you'll need them later on.) The light from the window casts Charlie's shadow behind him. His shadow too breaks up into arcane symbols.
1. CAPTION: FOOD FOR THE SOUL
2. CAPTION: BOOK 1: CHAPTER 1
3. CAPTION: WRITTEN BY ANNE HARRIS
PAGE 2
Panel 1: Bird's eye view of Charlie walking down the street. The pavement at his feet is noticeably uneven.
1. CHARLIE (THOUGHT): I'M SO HUNGRY.
Panel 2: Close up on Charlie's face. There are lines around him to indicate that he is shivering.
2. CHARLIE (THOUGHT): AND COLD.
Panel 3: Small panel. Close-up on Charlie's legs. The cuffs of his jeans are frayed and there's a hole in one of his tennis shoes. We also see a place where one section of the sidewalk is considerably lower than the next section, forming a ledge.
3. CHARLIE (THOUGHT): AND TIRED.
Panel 4: Charlie's foot is striking the ledge in the pavement.
4. SFX: TOK.
Page 3
Panel 1: Full body view of Charlie falling. Arms waving to try to catch himself but it's too late.
1. CHARLIE: WAAA!
Panel 2: Closer in on Charlie as he hits the pavement.
2. SFX: THUD.
Panel 3: Close-up of Charlie's face as he lays on the ground.
3. CHARLIE (THOUGHT): I'M GOING TO DIE OUT HERE.
Panel 4: Low bird's eye view of Charlie lying in a patch of light that is the same shape as the oddly shaped window seen on Page 1. Charlie is pushing himself up on one hand and looking up, toward us, with an expression of surprise and curiosity.
Page 4
Panel 1: Charlie's-eye-view of the building with the odd-shaped window. Above the window it says, "Dharma Café" and in smaller letters underneath, "We will give you what you need."
Panel 2: Charlie sitting up, his legs spread straight in front of him. Curls of smoke with tiny arcane symbols in them reach his nose.
1. CHARLIE (THOUGHT): SMELLS GOOD.
Panel 3: Same as panel 1, but Charlie is downcast, with his pockets inside out.
2. CHARLIE (THOUGHT): BUT I DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY.
Panel 4: Long view of Charlie running down the alley next to the restaurant.
3. CHARLIE (THOUGHT): MAYBE I CAN FIND SOMETHING IN
THEIR DUMPSTER.
Page 5
Panel 1: Large panel. Interior of a kitchen as seen from the doorway. Against the wall opposite is a large, old-fashioned stove with many pots boiling and steaming upon it. There are arcane symbols in the steam. Above the stove is a large vent-fan. Hanging from the forward edge of the vent fan is a spice rack. To the right of the stove, in the corner, is a sink and a dish rack. Above the sink is a cupboard. Along the wall to the left of the stove is a counter and above the counter, one of those strips of metal used to hold order slips. Centered in the room is a large wooden table, scarred from many years of use. There is a cutting board on the table, and various piles of vegetables. Agatha, a woman about sixty years of age, with long, unruly hair tied back in a bandana, is cooking. She is floating, cross-legged in midair. Her back is to us and she is sprinkling seasoning into one of the pots on the stove.
1. SFX: BUBBLE.
2. AGATHA (HUMMING): HMMM. HMM. HMMMM. HMMM. HMM.
3. SFX: <MUSICAL NOTES TO ACCOMPANY THE
HUMMING.>
Panel 2: Facing the doorway into the kitchen. A young man stands in the doorway facing us. This is Samura. He is dressed as a waiter. He is tall, broad-shouldered, with a dark eyes and a serious expression. He holds an order pad in his hand.
Panel 3: Close up of Samura pulling off the top slip on his order pad. We can see that written on it is: "Coffee. Customer says he needs more love in his life."
4. SFX (QUIET): RIP.
Page 6
Panel 1: Samura handing Agatha the order slip.
1. SAMURA: TABLE 5, SENSEI.
Panel 2: Agatha looks at the slip. She is frowning.
2. AGATHA: HASHIGAWA-SAN ONLY THINKS HE NEEDS
LOVE.
Panel 3: Agatha looks at Samura, who looks nervous about being asked.
3. AGATHA: WHAT DO YOU THINK HE NEEDS,
SAMURA-KUN?
Page 7
Panel 1: Samura standing in the doorway of the kitchen. He is looking down, embarrassed because he doesn’t think he can possibly have it right.
1. SAMURA: CONTENTMENT?
Panel 2: Agatha looking really happy. In the background, the pots and pans on the stove are still bubbling.
2. AGATHA: VERY GOOD! THE REALIZATION OF THE VALUE OF WHAT HE ALREADY HAS. YOU SHOULDN'T BE SO SHY, SAMURA-KUN. YOU ARE A VERY GOOD WAITER!
3. SFX: BUBBLE.
Panel 3: Side view as Samura bows, clearly pleased. Agatha smiles at him wistfully.
4. SAMURA: THANK YOU, SENSEI.
5. AGATHA (THOUGHT): YOU DON'T KNOW YOUR OWN VALUE,
SAMURA.
Panel 4: Agatha dishing up a plate of food from the stove. It's steamed green beans, dumplings with paprika sauce and red cabbage. Everything is steaming hot, and the steam has arcane symbols in it. Samura stands beside her holding a tray.
6. AGATHA: HERE IS TABLE NINE'S ORDER.
Page 8 & 9
Panel 1: Two-page spread. The dining room of the Dharma café. There are several tables, with candles on them. Four tables are occupied, each by a single customer. One customer has long, frizzy blond hair. Another customer is African-American. A third customer has a large mole on his forehead. A fourth is dressed in a suit and tie. (The reason for these details will become apparent later.) The room is dark but in a comforting way. Samura stands facing us in the doorway to the kitchen. He is holding the tray, upon which is the plate of steaming food.
1. AGATHA (OP): "OH, AND THE TRASH NEEDS TO BE THROWN OUT, SAMURA-KUN."
Page 10
Panel 1: Samura sets the plate of food down in front of the customer in the suit. This man has his hands folded on the table and appears to be in a state of meditation.
1. SFX: TINK.
Panel 2: The customer smells the food and smiles. Samura stands beside the table.
2. CUSTOMER #1: JUST WHAT I WANTED.
Panel 3: Customer #1 looks up at Samura with an expression of inner peace.
3. CUSTOMER #1: THANK YOU.
Panel 4: Samura bows. In background, another diner is eating happily.
4. SFX (QUIET): MUNCH, MUNCH.
Page 11
Panel 1: Outside, at the back of the restaurant. We see a small door stenciled with the words, "Dharma Café." There is an alley, and on the other side of the alley, we see the corner of a large dumpster. There are force lines indicating that the dumpster is jiggling slightly.
1. CHARLIE (OP): YIPPEE!
Panel 2: Charlie hanging over the edge of the dumpster. All we see are his butt and his legs. His upper body is inside the dumpster.
2. CHARLIE (OP): WOO HOO! THERE'S TONS OF FOOD IN HERE AND IT ALL SMELLS FANTASTIC. I'VE FOUND THE MOTHERLOAD!
Panel 3: Samura stands silhouetted in the doorway to the Dharma Cafe, a garbage bag in his hand. His shadow spills out onto the pavement.
Panel 4: Close-up of Samura's face. He's horrified.
3. SAMURA (THOUGHT): OH NO!
Page 12
Panel 1: Charlie has surfaced. He's basically bathing in the dumpster, a blissful look on his face and a luscious cannoli roll in one hand. There are swirly lines around his head indicating his state of drunken bliss.
1. CHARLIE (THOUGHT): DUMPSTER OR NO DUMPSTER, THIS IS
THE BEST FOOD I'VE EVER HAD!
Panel 2: Samura standing in the doorway to the Café, looking appalled. He's dropped the garbage bag and it is falling.
2. SAMURA: STOP!
Panel 3: Samura speeds toward Charlie
3. SAMURA: DON'T EAT ANY MORE!
Page 13
Panel 1: Charlie, waist-deep in garbage, poised to take another bite from the cannoli.
Panel 2: Samura running across the alley. In the background, we see Charlie, the cannoli still raised in his hand, watching Samura come toward him with a look of surprise on his face.
1. CHARLIE: WHA--?
2. SFX (RUNNING): TAK, TAK, TAK, TAK.
Panel 3: Samura vaulting over the edge of the dumpster. His expression is grim.
3. SFX: SWOOP.
Panel 4: Samura knocks the cannoli out of Charlie's hand. Charlie looks shocked and outraged.
4. CHARLIE: MY CANNOLI! YOU ASSHOLE!
Page 14
Panel 1: Samura grabs Charlie around the waist. Samura looks determined, Charlie looks alarmed.
1. CHARLIE: WHAT THE--?!?
Panel 2: Samura hoists Charlie over his shoulder. Charlie look's pissed off.
2. CHARLIE: HEY!
Panel 3: Samura climbing out of the dumpster with Charlie slung over his shoulder.
3. CHARLIE: WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
Panel 4: Side view of Samura and Charlie standing next to the dumpster, both of them looking at each other in anger.
4. SAMURA: THAT STUFF IS REALLY BAD FOR YOU.
5. CHARLIE: FUCK YOU, YOU HEALTH NAZI. I'M
STARVING! I'LL EAT ALL THE PASTRY I WANT!
Page 15
Panel 1: Front view of Charlie with his hands braced on the edge of the dumpster, poised to jump back inside.
1. CHARLIE (THOUGHT): SCREW THIS GUY.
Panel 2: Back view of Charlie, his shoulders hunched as he starts to lift himself up. Samura's hand is on his shoulder, holding him back.
2. SAMURA: WAIT.
Panel 3: Close-up of Charlie's face. He's pissed off.
3. CHARLIE: GRRRR.
Panel 4: Charlie turning and throwing a punch at Samura.
4. CHARLIE: LEAVE ME ALONE!
5. SFX: WHOOSH.
Page 16
Panel 1: Charlie hits Samura square on the jaw.
1. SFX: THOCK!
Panel 2: Samura reels from the punch. Where Charlie hit him, his jaw is already reddening.
2. SAMURA: OW!
Panel 3: Charlie winds up for another punch, giving it all he's got.
3. CHARLIE: MAKE ME DROP MY CANNOLI, WILL YOU,
YOU... YOU...
Panel 4: Close-up on Charlie's face. He looks ill.
4. CHARLIE (THOUGHT): I DON'T FEEL SO GOOD.
Page 17
Panel 1: Charlie throwing his punch. Samura stepping out of the way.
1. SFX (PUNCH): SWOOSH.
2. SFX (FOOTSTEP): TEP.
Panel 2: Charlie, his arm at full extension. His eyes are wide.
3. CHARLIE: OH...
Panel 3: Charlie's eyes are rolled up. He's fainted. Force lines show him falling.
Page 18
Panel 1: Samura catches Charlie as he falls.
Panel 2: Charlie lays unconscious in Samura's arms.
1. SAMURA (THOUGHT): HE'S SO SKINNY.
Panel 3: Samura stares at Charlie's unconscious face. We see the bruise on Samura's face, and we see Charlie's black eye.
2. SAMURA (THOUGHT): AND SOMEBODY BEAT HIM UP PRETTY
BAD RECENTLY.
Panel 4: Close up on Charlie's face. He's still unconscious.
3. SAMURA (WHISPER, OP): WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?
Page 19
Panel 1: Full page. Samura walking toward doorway with Charlie in his arms. They are backlit by the light from the doorway.
1. CAPTION (ITAL): WE WILL GIVE YOU WHAT YOU NEED.
Page 20 & 21
Panel 1: Two-page spread. Charlie lays across both pages, diagonally, with his head in the upper right corner. He is delirious with fever. Inset are several smaller panels.
1. AGATHA (CAPTION): HE'S VERY ILL. HE'S INGESTED A GREAT DEAL OF PSYCHIC ENERGY THAT WAS NOT INTENDED FOR HIM.
Panel 2: Small panel showing a child with frizzy blond hair crying as she is slapped by her mother.
Panel 3: Small panel showing an African-American teenager sitting stoically as a teacher tears up his art project.
Panel 4: Small panel showing a man with a large mole on his face in a bar, a group of women nearby are pointing and laughing at him.
2. AGATHA (CAPTION): EVEN GOOD THINGS LIKE LOVE,
COURAGE AND CONFIDENCE CAN TURN INTO THEIR OPPOSITES IF TAKEN IN EXCESS, OR IN THE WRONG COMBINATION.
Page 22
Panel 1: Interior of a bedroom. Agatha sits at Charlie's bedside, a bowl in her lap. She holds a cloth over Charlie's forehead. Samura stands at foot of bed. There is another bed in the room, also a dresser, a desk and chair, and two doors, one of which leads to a bathroom, the other into a hallway. There is a window. (Note: not all of these details need to be in this panel, they are here for your reference.)
1. SAMURA: WILL HE RECOVER?
Panel 2: Agatha looking up at Samura, with Charlie in the background.
2. AGATHA: HE'S VERY STRONG, BUT HE HAS
WOUNDS THAT CONCERN ME.
3. SAMURA: FROM EATING THE FOOD FROM THE
DUMPSTER?
Panel 3: Agatha rinsing cloth in bowl. Samura looking quizzical.
4. AGATHA: NOT JUST THAT. SOMETHING DEEPER.
5. SAMURA (THOUGHT): ?
6. SFX: SPLISH.
Page 23
Panel 1: Bird's eye view of the room, with Agatha wiping Charlie's brow and Samura standing with his arms crossed, and Charlie laying in bed.
1. AGATHA: IT'S GOOD THAT YOU FOUND HIM, SAMURA, EVEN IF HE HADN'T PUT HIMSELF IN DANGER BY DUMPSTER DIVING BEHIND THE CAFÉ.
Panel 2: Samura looking like he wants to ask a question but can't find the words.
2. SAMURA (THOUGHT): .......
Panel 3: Samura looking at Charlie, with Agatha watching him watch Charlie. She has a shrewd look on her face.
3. AGATHA (THOUGHT): AS GOOD FOR YOU AS FOR HIM,
SAMURA-KUN.
Page 24
Panel 1: Samura turning to leave.
1. SAMURA: I'LL PUT A LOCK ON THE DUMPSTER.
Panel 2: Agatha still seated beside Charlie's bed, smiling.
2. AGATHA: GOOD IDEA, SAMURA. YOU'RE SUCH A SMART BOY!
Panel 3: Samura on his way out the door, blushing.
Panel 4: Door closing behind Samura.
3. SFX: CLICK.
Page 25
Panel 1: Large panel. Charlie on bed, tossing and moaning. Agatha at his side.
1. CHARLIE: MOAN.
Panel 2: Agatha looking at Charlie.
2. AGATHA: YES, THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT YOU, LITTLE DUMPSTER DIVER. I THINK YOU MAY BE VERY HELPFUL TO US HERE.
PAGE 26
Panel 1: Exterior of the Dharma Café. The sun is rising. The Dharma Café is situated on a main thoroughfare and there are cars driving up and down the street. It is a small building with a peaked roof, a crooked chimney and a five-sided polygonal window. Adjacent to the Café are large, impersonal buildings. One is a bank, the other is an insurance agency. In front of the Dharma Café, a tree grows in a large wooden tub. Birds sing in the tree.
1. SFX (TRAFFIC): ZOOM, ZOOM.
2. SFX (BIRDS): TWEET, TWEET.
Panel 2: Sunlight coming in through the window of the bedroom Charlie is in.
3. SFX (OP): ZOOM, TWEET.
Panel 3: Bird's eye of Charlie laying in bed. He's resting peacefully now. His black eye is still apparent. Clothes are folded neatly at the foot of the bed.
4. CHARLIE: SIGH.
Panel 4: Charlie stretches.
5. CHARLIE (THOUGHT): I HAD SOME VERY STRANGE DREAMS.
Page 27
Panel 1: Bird's eye of Charlie in bed. His eyes are still closed. A little smoke comes in from off the page and reaches Charlie's nose. There are arcane symbols in the smoke.
1. CHARLIE (THOUGHT): SOMETHING SMELLS GOOD.
Panel 2: Charlie sitting up in bed, his eyes open.
2. CHARLIE (THOUGHT): I'M STARVING.
Panel 3: Charlie sitting up and stretching some more. He's looking around himself with a quizzical expression.
3. CHARLIE (THOUGHT): WHERE AM I?
Page 28
Panel 1: Charlie eye view of the room. Samura is coming out of bathroom, a towel around his waist, another in his hands. He is toweling his hair dry.
1. SFX: RUB, RUB.
Panel 2: Charlie's look of surprise.
2. CHARLIE (THOUGHT): NICE BODY, BUT I DON'T REMEMBER
GOING HOME WITH ANYONE LAST NIGHT.
Panel 3: Charlie eye view of Samura's unmade bed.
3. CHARLIE (THOUGHT): OH. THEN I GUESS WE DIDN'T...
Panel 4: Samura, his head emerging from the towel. He still has the bruise on his jaw from where Charlie hit him. He sees that Charlie is awake and he looks surprised.
4. SAMURA (THOUGHT): I THOUGHT HE'D STILL BE ASLEEP.
MY BACK...
Page 29
Panel 1: Close-up of a shirt and trousers laid out on the empty bed.
Panel 2: Samura grabs the shirt, a dark long sleeve cotton T-shirt. He is facing us and Charlie.
1. SFX: SWIP.
2. SAMURA (THOUGHT): I'M NOT USED TO HAVING A ROOMATE.
Panel 3: Front view of Samura's head emerging from neck of T-shirt.
3. SAMURA (THOUGHT): I'LL HAVE TO BE MORE CAREFUL WHILE HE'S HERE.
Panel 4: Front view of Samura pulling the shirt down over his torso with a look of relief. We see the bruise on his face from when Charlie hit him. The back of Charlie's head is in the foreground.
4. SAMURA (THOUGHT): THAT'S BETTER.
5. CHARLIE: WAIT A MINUTE...
Page 30
Panel 1: Charlie sitting up in bed pointing at Samura. He's excited, partly because he figured out who this guy is and partly because he's mad.
1. CHARLIE: YOU'RE THE GUY WHO MADE ME DROP MY CANNOLI!
Panel 2: Samura glaring at Charlie. He still has his towel wrapped around his waist.
2. SAMURA (THOUGHT): WE SAVED HIS LIFE, AND ALL HE CAN DO IS COMPLAIN. WHAT AN IDIOT.
Panel 3: Charlie sitting up in bed, frowning, arms crossed. Samura standing with arms crossed. They're having a glare-off.
3. SAMURA: IT WASN'T YOUR CANNOLI.
4. CHARLIE: WHAT DO YOU CARE? YOU WERE THROWING IT AWAY ANYHOW.
Panel 4: Samura grits teeth in frustration and rolls his eyes.
5. SAMURA: THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEAN.
6. SAMURA (THOUGHT): HE DOESN'T KNOW ANYTHING.
Page 31
Panel 1: Charlie is picking up his clothes, which are folded at the foot of his bed. Samura stands at the dresser combing his hair.
1. CHARLIE (THOUGHT): MY CLOTHES! THEY'RE WASHED AND
MENDED.
Panel 2: A flashback panel. Charlie laying in bed, on his side, leaning over and throwing up in a bucket which Samura is holding. Agatha is behind him, holding his head. Both Agatha and Samura have grossed out looks on their faces.
2. SAMURA (CAPTION): THAT FOOD MADE YOU VERY SICK.
PANEL 3: Charlie, sitting with his feet over the edge of the bed, his jeans around his knees because he's in the middle of pulling them on. His mouth is a small 'o.' One hand is to mouth.
4. CHARLIE: THAT FOOD WAS SPOILED? BUT IT TASTED SO GOOD.
Panel 4: Charlie and Samura.
5. SAMURA: NOT SPOILED. JUST...
Page 32
Panel 1: Flashback panel. Interior of the dining room. We see the patrons eating. Again, it is the woman with the frizzy blond hair, the African-American guy and the guy with the mole.
1. SAMURA (CAPTION): NOT FOR YOU.
Panel 2: Side view of Charlie, his jeans on now, leaning forward, angry. Samura stands opposite him with his arms crossed. He's still wearing the towel around his hips.
2. CHARLIE: YOU MEAN YOU POISON THE FOOD YOU THROW OUT? THAT'S SICK!
Panel 3: Samura looks like he wants to hit Charlie.
3. SAMURA: HOW DARE YOU INSULT THE DHARMA CAFÉ?
Panel 4: Samura advancing on Charlie, fists clenched.
4. SAMURA (SFX): GRRR.
Panel 5: Close-up on Charlie's face. He looks scared.
5. CHARLIE (QUIET): OH SHIT.
Page 33
Panel 1: Agatha walking through the bedroom door. Force lines show that she's swept in. In foreground, Samura looks surprised and embarrassed. Charlie surprised and relieved.
1. AGATHA: NOW BOYS, DON'T ARGUE!
Panel 2: Samura with his hands behind his back. He looks sheepish.
2. SAMURA (THOUGHT): IF SHE HADN'T COME IN JUST NOW...
Panel 3: Agatha, plopped down next to Charlie on his bed, looking at Charlie. Charlie looks completely confused.
3. CHARLIE (THOUGHT): WHO IS THIS?
Panel 4: Agatha shaking hands with a stunned-looking Charlie with one hand, while indicating Samura, still standing in his towel, with the other hand. There is a ring on the finger of her left hand.
4. AGATHA: I AM YOSHI AGATHA, AND THIS IS MY WAITER, NAGAKI SAMURA. WHAT'S YOUR NAME?
5. CHARLIE: CHARLIE DAVIS.
6. CHARLIE (THOUGHT): IT'S LIKE SHE READ MY MIND.
7. AGATHA: NICE TO MEET YOU, CHARLIE-KUN. WHAT SAMURA-SAN IS TRYING TO SAY IS THAT THE FOOD WE PREPARE HERE AT DHARMA CAFÉ IS VERY SPECIAL.
Page 34
Panel 1: Flashback panel. We see Agatha in the kitchen cooking. Above the stove is a spice rack.
1. AGATHA (CAPTION): EACH DISH IS MADE INDIVIDUALLY FOR
EACH PATRON...
Panel 2: Continuation of flashback. This time it is a close-up of Agatha reaching for a spice bottle. The bottle is labeled Love. We can see some other bottles on the rack too. They are labeled things like Hope, Generosity, Kindness, Truth, etc.
2. AGATHA: ... ACCORDING TO WHAT THE PATRON NEEDS.
Panel 3: Agatha still sitting on Charlie's bed, looking very serious. She's waving an admonishing finger in Charlie's face. Charlie looks embarrassed and confused, and Samura is looking at Charlie with smug contempt.
3. AGATHA: IT CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS TO EAT A DISH THAT WAS PREPARED FOR SOMEONE ELSE.
4. CHARLIE (QUIET): BUT IT TASTED SO GOOD.
Panel 4: flashback panel. Agatha's hand (she has a ring on her hand that can identify her in these panels) holding a jar labeled Love. She's pouring out a generous portion.
5. AGATHA (CAPTION): THAT'S PROBABLY BECAUSE IT CONTAINED SOMETHING THAT YOU NEED, BUT IN THE WRONG AMOUNT.
Panel 5: Flashback panel. Agatha's hand again, this time pouring from a jar labeled Pride.
6. AGATHA (CAPTION): OR IN COMBINATION WITH SOMETHING ELSE THAT YOU HAVE TOO MUCH OF ALREADY.
Page 35
Panel 1: Agatha, Charlie and Samura all in frame. Charlie looking embarrassed.
1. CHARLIE: I HAD NO IDEA. I WAS JUST HUNGRY.
Panel 2: Agatha smiling. Charlie looking surprised.
2. AGATHA: AND IF YOU'D COME IN, WE'D HAVE FED YOU. NO CHARGE.
Panel 3: Charlie looking suspicious.
3. CHARLIE (THOUGHT): NO CHARGE? WHAT'S THE CATCH?
Panel 4: Samura, looking supremely satisfied.
4. SAMURA: YOU ASSUMED WE POISONED YOU. NEXT TIME YOU WANT TO MAKE AN ACCUSATION, REMEMBER THAT YOU DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING. THEN MAYBE YOU WON'T EMBARRASS YOURSELF.
Panel 5: Samura with his back to us. He is facing Charlie and Agatha, who are still sitting on the bed. We see part of Samura's butt as the towel slips off. There are wavy embarrassment lines all around Samura's head and he's frantically trying to grab the towel. Charlie is laughing. Agatha has her hand to her mouth, trying not to laugh.
5. CAPTION THE END... OF CHAPTER 1
Page 36
Panel 1: The kitchen of the Dharma Cafe. Charlie and Samura sit at the table. Agatha is standing at the stove cooking.
1. CAPTION: DHARMA CAFÉ, CHAPTER 2
Panel 2: View of Agatha. She stands with her back to the stove. In each hand she holds a plate of scrambled eggs with chives. One plate has a grilled tomato on the side. The other one has hash browns. All of the food is steaming hot and the steam has arcane symbols in it.
2. AGATHA: I HOPE YOU'RE HUNGRY.
Panel 3: Charlie with a sweat drop on the side of his face.
3. CHARLIE: YEAH!
Panel 4: Agatha's hand holding the plate with the tomato, putting it down in front of Samura.
4. AGATHA (OP): THIS IS FOR YOU.
Panel 5: Samura bows head.
5. SAMURA: THANK YOU, SENSEI.
Panel 6: Agatha's hand again, setting the plate with the hash browns down in front of Charlie.
6. Agatha (OP): AND THIS IS FOR YOU.
Page 37
Panel 1: Charlie and Samura, side by side at the table. Charlie has a knife and fork in his hands and is poised for action. Samura sits before the food in an attitude of reverence and meditation. Chopsticks rest beside his plate.
1. CHARLIE: SMELLS GREAT!
Panel 2: Charlie and Samura, side by side at the table. Charlie gobbles food. Samura eats sedately, using the chopsticks.
2. SFX: GOBBLE! GOBBLE!
3. SFX: MUNCH.
Panel 3: Charlie and Samura, side by side. Charlie gobbles food. Samura looks at Charlie with contempt.
4. SAMURA: WHAT ARE YOU, A SWINE? SHOW SOME RESPECT.
5. SFX: GOBBLE!
Panel 4: Charlie and Samura, side by side. Charlie still gobbling. Bits of food fly out of his mouth as he speaks. Samura looks surprised, and regretful that he said anything.
6. CHARLIE: FUCK OFF, MISS MANNERS. I HAVEN'T EATEN IN THREE DAYS.
Panel 5: Charlie and Samura, side by side. Charlie gobbling, Samura eating sedately. Samura is eyeing Charlie out of the corners of his eyes.
7. SAMURA (THOUGHT): HE'S STARVING. AND THEN THERE'S THAT BLACK EYE. WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM?
8. SFX: GOBBLE!
Page 38
Panel 1: Agatha, returning to the table with her own plate of food -- scrambled eggs and chives with sauteed peppers on the side. She raises one eyebrow.
1. AGATHA (THOUGHT): THEY QUARREL A LOT, BUT THEY ALSO
HAVE A LOT IN COMMON.
2. AGATHA: THERE'S MORE WHERE THAT CAME FROM,
CHARLIE-KUN, SO TAKE YOUR TIME. DON'T MAKE YOURSELF SICK.
Panel 2: The three of them eating.
2. AGATHA, CHARLIE, SAMURA (THOUGHT): MMMM.
Panel 3: Charlie pushed back from table, belly bulging.
3. CHARLIE: THAT'S THE BEST MEAL I EVER HAD. THANK YOU, MA'AM.
Panel 4: Close on Agatha, elbows propped on either side of her empty plate, her chin resting on her hands, a look of eagerness in her face.
4. AGATHA SO, CHARLIE, WHY ARE YOU HOMELESS?
Page 39
Panel 1: Charlie reacts to Agatha's question with suspicion.
1. CHARLIE: HOW DO YOU KNOW IF I'M HOMELESS OR NOT? AND WHAT BUSINESS IS IT OF YOURS ANYWAY?
Panel 2: Agatha smiles. Behind her, Samura, who has risen and is taking his plate to the sink, is scowling.
2. AGATHA: YOU JUST SAID THAT YOU HADN'T EATEN IN THREE DAYS. AND YOUR CLOTHES WERE RAGGED AND DIRTY. AND YOU HAVEN'T ONCE ASKED ABOUT CALLING HOME TO LET THEM KNOW WHERE YOU ARE.
Panel 3: Charlie hangs his head, embarrassed. Samura, standing at the sink, looks on with concern. Agatha smiles patiently.
3. CHARLIE: ........
Panel 4: Agatha takes Charlie's hand.
Panel 5: Close on Charlie as he looks at her.
4. CHARLIE (THOUGHT): IT'S NONE OF THEIR BUSINESS, BUT
THEY HAVE BEEN KIND TO ME. RESCUED
ME, FED ME, CLEANED AND MENDED MY
CLOTHES. I'LL HAVE TO MOVE ON
SOON, BUT...
Panel 6: Charlie shrugs.
5. CHARLIE (THOUGHT): WHY NOT PLAY ALONG, FOR A LITTLE
WHILE?
Pages 40 & 41
Panel 1: Two-page spread. Charlie's impassive face is centered on the first page. Inset are smaller panels (borderless).
1. CHARLIE: I DROPPED OUT OF SCHOOL AND MY PARENTS KICKED ME OUT OF THE HOUSE... THAT WAS A FEW MONTHS AGO.
Panel 2: Inset, borderless. Charlie dressed in a school uniform, looking at a cute boy in an athletic jacket. Boy is looking back.
Panel 3: Inset, borderless. The cute boy in the athletic jacket gives Charlie a note.
Panel 4: Inset, borderless. The note reads, "Meet me in the woods behind the school. Bring lube."
Panel 5: In the woods, Charlie approaches the cute boy in the athletic jacket.
Panel 6: Other boys in athletic jackets stepping out from the trees.
Panel 7: Charlie being beaten by the boys.
2. CUTE BOY IN ATH. JACKET: FAG!
Panel 8: Charlie leaving the school.
3. CHARLIE (THOUGHT): I'LL NEVER GO BACK!
Panel 9: Charlie being confronted by his angry parents. The father is waving a note that says, "Notice of Delinquency."
Panel 10: Charlie and parents, sitting down now.
4. CHARLIE: MOM, DAD, I'M GAY.
Panel 11: Charlie getting thrown out of the house.
5. FATHER: YOU'RE NO SON OF MINE!
Page 42
Panel 1: Charlie and Agatha sitting at table in the kitchen of the Dharma Café. Samura is in the background, washing dishes at the sink. He's watching them. Agatha looks skeptical. Charlie is blushing.
1. AGATHA: OH, AS SIMPLE AS THAT, HUH?
2. CHARLIE (THOUGHT): IT'S LIKE SHE KNOWS. BUT THAT'S
IMPOSSIBLE.
Panel 2: Charlie standing, bowing to Agatha, who looks at him with a wicked grin. Samura, at the sink, looks appalled.
3. CHARLIE: YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU FOR TAKING CARE OF ME, AND FOR THE MEAL.
4. AGATHA: THAT'S OKAY, CHARLIE-KUN. YOU CAN PAY ME BACK BY WORKING FOR ME.
5. SAMURA (THOUGHT): ?!?
Panel 3: Charlie standing, with Samura behind him. Charlie looks surprised. Samura looks surprised and upset.
6. CHARLIE: WHAT?
7: SAMURA (THOUGHT): NO!
Panel 4: Force lines show Samura storming out of the kitchen. Agatha and Charlie look at each other in surprise.
8. CHARLIE & AGATHA: HUH?
Page 43
Panel 1: Samura in bedroom. He is packing. There's a dark cloud over his head.
1. Samura (THOUGHT): I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THIS WOULD
HAPPEN. I TRUSTED AGATHA. HOW CAN SHE DO THIS?
Panel 2: Samura still packing.
2. SAMURA (THOUGHT): OF COURSE, CHARLIE IS GOOD
LOOKING. MAYBE A GOOD-LOOKING WAITER WILL DRAW MORE BUSINESS.
Panel 3: Samura closing the suitcase.
3. SAMURA (THOUGHT): I SHOULDN'T BE SO SELFISH.
AGATHA-SAMA HAS DONE SO MUCH FOR ME ALREADY. I CAN'T HOLD HER BACK. IF SHE NEEDS A GOOD-LOOKING WAITER LIKE CHARLIE, INSTEAD OF ME, I WON'T STAND IN THE WAY.
Panel 4: Samura, very small in an almost empty panel. He's holding the suitcase. The panel is dark except for a patch of light that surrounds Samura, and bleeds into the darkness.
4. SAMURA (THOUGHT): WHERE WILL I GO?
</lj-cut>
Legal Notes: This work is copyrighted by Anne Harris. The work is freely given and may be freely distributed on a non-commercial basis, in whatever electronic format you please, as long as the work remains intact and unaltered and is attributed to me, Anne Harris. All other rights are reserved by me, specifically commercial and derivative rights. If you are interested in commercial and/or derivative rights, contact me.
Here it is, the first half of my boys love manga, about a waiter and a busboy at a magical restaurant where good food heals the heart. Can Samura and Charlie overcome their troubled backgrounds and find happiness? Waiter, heal thyself: <lj-cut text = "Food for the Soul, Part 1">
Food For the Soul, Section 1 of 2
By Anne Harris
PAGE 1
Panel 1: Full page. A cityscape at night; tall, dark, brooding buildings. In the distance, one place has a light on. This is the only light on in the street. This place is smaller than the other places around it. It is oddly shaped, with a peaked roof and a crooked chimney. The smoke coming out of its chimney has arcane symbols wound through it. The light from its oblong, five-sided polygonal window stretches out toward a small figure in the foreground who stands dwarfed by the other structures surrounding him. This is Charlie, a young man approximately seventeen years old. He is blond and attractive, though dirty and sporting a nasty black eye. His clothing is ragged -- the cuffs of his jeans are frayed and there's a hole in one of his tennis shoes. (Few of these details will be apparent here, but you'll need them later on.) The light from the window casts Charlie's shadow behind him. His shadow too breaks up into arcane symbols.
1. CAPTION: FOOD FOR THE SOUL
2. CAPTION: BOOK 1: CHAPTER 1
3. CAPTION: WRITTEN BY ANNE HARRIS
PAGE 2
Panel 1: Bird's eye view of Charlie walking down the street. The pavement at his feet is noticeably uneven.
1. CHARLIE (THOUGHT): I'M SO HUNGRY.
Panel 2: Close up on Charlie's face. There are lines around him to indicate that he is shivering.
2. CHARLIE (THOUGHT): AND COLD.
Panel 3: Small panel. Close-up on Charlie's legs. The cuffs of his jeans are frayed and there's a hole in one of his tennis shoes. We also see a place where one section of the sidewalk is considerably lower than the next section, forming a ledge.
3. CHARLIE (THOUGHT): AND TIRED.
Panel 4: Charlie's foot is striking the ledge in the pavement.
4. SFX: TOK.
Page 3
Panel 1: Full body view of Charlie falling. Arms waving to try to catch himself but it's too late.
1. CHARLIE: WAAA!
Panel 2: Closer in on Charlie as he hits the pavement.
2. SFX: THUD.
Panel 3: Close-up of Charlie's face as he lays on the ground.
3. CHARLIE (THOUGHT): I'M GOING TO DIE OUT HERE.
Panel 4: Low bird's eye view of Charlie lying in a patch of light that is the same shape as the oddly shaped window seen on Page 1. Charlie is pushing himself up on one hand and looking up, toward us, with an expression of surprise and curiosity.
Page 4
Panel 1: Charlie's-eye-view of the building with the odd-shaped window. Above the window it says, "Dharma Café" and in smaller letters underneath, "We will give you what you need."
Panel 2: Charlie sitting up, his legs spread straight in front of him. Curls of smoke with tiny arcane symbols in them reach his nose.
1. CHARLIE (THOUGHT): SMELLS GOOD.
Panel 3: Same as panel 1, but Charlie is downcast, with his pockets inside out.
2. CHARLIE (THOUGHT): BUT I DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY.
Panel 4: Long view of Charlie running down the alley next to the restaurant.
3. CHARLIE (THOUGHT): MAYBE I CAN FIND SOMETHING IN
THEIR DUMPSTER.
Page 5
Panel 1: Large panel. Interior of a kitchen as seen from the doorway. Against the wall opposite is a large, old-fashioned stove with many pots boiling and steaming upon it. There are arcane symbols in the steam. Above the stove is a large vent-fan. Hanging from the forward edge of the vent fan is a spice rack. To the right of the stove, in the corner, is a sink and a dish rack. Above the sink is a cupboard. Along the wall to the left of the stove is a counter and above the counter, one of those strips of metal used to hold order slips. Centered in the room is a large wooden table, scarred from many years of use. There is a cutting board on the table, and various piles of vegetables. Agatha, a woman about sixty years of age, with long, unruly hair tied back in a bandana, is cooking. She is floating, cross-legged in midair. Her back is to us and she is sprinkling seasoning into one of the pots on the stove.
1. SFX: BUBBLE.
2. AGATHA (HUMMING): HMMM. HMM. HMMMM. HMMM. HMM.
3. SFX: <MUSICAL NOTES TO ACCOMPANY THE
HUMMING.>
Panel 2: Facing the doorway into the kitchen. A young man stands in the doorway facing us. This is Samura. He is dressed as a waiter. He is tall, broad-shouldered, with a dark eyes and a serious expression. He holds an order pad in his hand.
Panel 3: Close up of Samura pulling off the top slip on his order pad. We can see that written on it is: "Coffee. Customer says he needs more love in his life."
4. SFX (QUIET): RIP.
Page 6
Panel 1: Samura handing Agatha the order slip.
1. SAMURA: TABLE 5, SENSEI.
Panel 2: Agatha looks at the slip. She is frowning.
2. AGATHA: HASHIGAWA-SAN ONLY THINKS HE NEEDS
LOVE.
Panel 3: Agatha looks at Samura, who looks nervous about being asked.
3. AGATHA: WHAT DO YOU THINK HE NEEDS,
SAMURA-KUN?
Page 7
Panel 1: Samura standing in the doorway of the kitchen. He is looking down, embarrassed because he doesn’t think he can possibly have it right.
1. SAMURA: CONTENTMENT?
Panel 2: Agatha looking really happy. In the background, the pots and pans on the stove are still bubbling.
2. AGATHA: VERY GOOD! THE REALIZATION OF THE VALUE OF WHAT HE ALREADY HAS. YOU SHOULDN'T BE SO SHY, SAMURA-KUN. YOU ARE A VERY GOOD WAITER!
3. SFX: BUBBLE.
Panel 3: Side view as Samura bows, clearly pleased. Agatha smiles at him wistfully.
4. SAMURA: THANK YOU, SENSEI.
5. AGATHA (THOUGHT): YOU DON'T KNOW YOUR OWN VALUE,
SAMURA.
Panel 4: Agatha dishing up a plate of food from the stove. It's steamed green beans, dumplings with paprika sauce and red cabbage. Everything is steaming hot, and the steam has arcane symbols in it. Samura stands beside her holding a tray.
6. AGATHA: HERE IS TABLE NINE'S ORDER.
Page 8 & 9
Panel 1: Two-page spread. The dining room of the Dharma café. There are several tables, with candles on them. Four tables are occupied, each by a single customer. One customer has long, frizzy blond hair. Another customer is African-American. A third customer has a large mole on his forehead. A fourth is dressed in a suit and tie. (The reason for these details will become apparent later.) The room is dark but in a comforting way. Samura stands facing us in the doorway to the kitchen. He is holding the tray, upon which is the plate of steaming food.
1. AGATHA (OP): "OH, AND THE TRASH NEEDS TO BE THROWN OUT, SAMURA-KUN."
Page 10
Panel 1: Samura sets the plate of food down in front of the customer in the suit. This man has his hands folded on the table and appears to be in a state of meditation.
1. SFX: TINK.
Panel 2: The customer smells the food and smiles. Samura stands beside the table.
2. CUSTOMER #1: JUST WHAT I WANTED.
Panel 3: Customer #1 looks up at Samura with an expression of inner peace.
3. CUSTOMER #1: THANK YOU.
Panel 4: Samura bows. In background, another diner is eating happily.
4. SFX (QUIET): MUNCH, MUNCH.
Page 11
Panel 1: Outside, at the back of the restaurant. We see a small door stenciled with the words, "Dharma Café." There is an alley, and on the other side of the alley, we see the corner of a large dumpster. There are force lines indicating that the dumpster is jiggling slightly.
1. CHARLIE (OP): YIPPEE!
Panel 2: Charlie hanging over the edge of the dumpster. All we see are his butt and his legs. His upper body is inside the dumpster.
2. CHARLIE (OP): WOO HOO! THERE'S TONS OF FOOD IN HERE AND IT ALL SMELLS FANTASTIC. I'VE FOUND THE MOTHERLOAD!
Panel 3: Samura stands silhouetted in the doorway to the Dharma Cafe, a garbage bag in his hand. His shadow spills out onto the pavement.
Panel 4: Close-up of Samura's face. He's horrified.
3. SAMURA (THOUGHT): OH NO!
Page 12
Panel 1: Charlie has surfaced. He's basically bathing in the dumpster, a blissful look on his face and a luscious cannoli roll in one hand. There are swirly lines around his head indicating his state of drunken bliss.
1. CHARLIE (THOUGHT): DUMPSTER OR NO DUMPSTER, THIS IS
THE BEST FOOD I'VE EVER HAD!
Panel 2: Samura standing in the doorway to the Café, looking appalled. He's dropped the garbage bag and it is falling.
2. SAMURA: STOP!
Panel 3: Samura speeds toward Charlie
3. SAMURA: DON'T EAT ANY MORE!
Page 13
Panel 1: Charlie, waist-deep in garbage, poised to take another bite from the cannoli.
Panel 2: Samura running across the alley. In the background, we see Charlie, the cannoli still raised in his hand, watching Samura come toward him with a look of surprise on his face.
1. CHARLIE: WHA--?
2. SFX (RUNNING): TAK, TAK, TAK, TAK.
Panel 3: Samura vaulting over the edge of the dumpster. His expression is grim.
3. SFX: SWOOP.
Panel 4: Samura knocks the cannoli out of Charlie's hand. Charlie looks shocked and outraged.
4. CHARLIE: MY CANNOLI! YOU ASSHOLE!
Page 14
Panel 1: Samura grabs Charlie around the waist. Samura looks determined, Charlie looks alarmed.
1. CHARLIE: WHAT THE--?!?
Panel 2: Samura hoists Charlie over his shoulder. Charlie look's pissed off.
2. CHARLIE: HEY!
Panel 3: Samura climbing out of the dumpster with Charlie slung over his shoulder.
3. CHARLIE: WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
Panel 4: Side view of Samura and Charlie standing next to the dumpster, both of them looking at each other in anger.
4. SAMURA: THAT STUFF IS REALLY BAD FOR YOU.
5. CHARLIE: FUCK YOU, YOU HEALTH NAZI. I'M
STARVING! I'LL EAT ALL THE PASTRY I WANT!
Page 15
Panel 1: Front view of Charlie with his hands braced on the edge of the dumpster, poised to jump back inside.
1. CHARLIE (THOUGHT): SCREW THIS GUY.
Panel 2: Back view of Charlie, his shoulders hunched as he starts to lift himself up. Samura's hand is on his shoulder, holding him back.
2. SAMURA: WAIT.
Panel 3: Close-up of Charlie's face. He's pissed off.
3. CHARLIE: GRRRR.
Panel 4: Charlie turning and throwing a punch at Samura.
4. CHARLIE: LEAVE ME ALONE!
5. SFX: WHOOSH.
Page 16
Panel 1: Charlie hits Samura square on the jaw.
1. SFX: THOCK!
Panel 2: Samura reels from the punch. Where Charlie hit him, his jaw is already reddening.
2. SAMURA: OW!
Panel 3: Charlie winds up for another punch, giving it all he's got.
3. CHARLIE: MAKE ME DROP MY CANNOLI, WILL YOU,
YOU... YOU...
Panel 4: Close-up on Charlie's face. He looks ill.
4. CHARLIE (THOUGHT): I DON'T FEEL SO GOOD.
Page 17
Panel 1: Charlie throwing his punch. Samura stepping out of the way.
1. SFX (PUNCH): SWOOSH.
2. SFX (FOOTSTEP): TEP.
Panel 2: Charlie, his arm at full extension. His eyes are wide.
3. CHARLIE: OH...
Panel 3: Charlie's eyes are rolled up. He's fainted. Force lines show him falling.
Page 18
Panel 1: Samura catches Charlie as he falls.
Panel 2: Charlie lays unconscious in Samura's arms.
1. SAMURA (THOUGHT): HE'S SO SKINNY.
Panel 3: Samura stares at Charlie's unconscious face. We see the bruise on Samura's face, and we see Charlie's black eye.
2. SAMURA (THOUGHT): AND SOMEBODY BEAT HIM UP PRETTY
BAD RECENTLY.
Panel 4: Close up on Charlie's face. He's still unconscious.
3. SAMURA (WHISPER, OP): WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?
Page 19
Panel 1: Full page. Samura walking toward doorway with Charlie in his arms. They are backlit by the light from the doorway.
1. CAPTION (ITAL): WE WILL GIVE YOU WHAT YOU NEED.
Page 20 & 21
Panel 1: Two-page spread. Charlie lays across both pages, diagonally, with his head in the upper right corner. He is delirious with fever. Inset are several smaller panels.
1. AGATHA (CAPTION): HE'S VERY ILL. HE'S INGESTED A GREAT DEAL OF PSYCHIC ENERGY THAT WAS NOT INTENDED FOR HIM.
Panel 2: Small panel showing a child with frizzy blond hair crying as she is slapped by her mother.
Panel 3: Small panel showing an African-American teenager sitting stoically as a teacher tears up his art project.
Panel 4: Small panel showing a man with a large mole on his face in a bar, a group of women nearby are pointing and laughing at him.
2. AGATHA (CAPTION): EVEN GOOD THINGS LIKE LOVE,
COURAGE AND CONFIDENCE CAN TURN INTO THEIR OPPOSITES IF TAKEN IN EXCESS, OR IN THE WRONG COMBINATION.
Page 22
Panel 1: Interior of a bedroom. Agatha sits at Charlie's bedside, a bowl in her lap. She holds a cloth over Charlie's forehead. Samura stands at foot of bed. There is another bed in the room, also a dresser, a desk and chair, and two doors, one of which leads to a bathroom, the other into a hallway. There is a window. (Note: not all of these details need to be in this panel, they are here for your reference.)
1. SAMURA: WILL HE RECOVER?
Panel 2: Agatha looking up at Samura, with Charlie in the background.
2. AGATHA: HE'S VERY STRONG, BUT HE HAS
WOUNDS THAT CONCERN ME.
3. SAMURA: FROM EATING THE FOOD FROM THE
DUMPSTER?
Panel 3: Agatha rinsing cloth in bowl. Samura looking quizzical.
4. AGATHA: NOT JUST THAT. SOMETHING DEEPER.
5. SAMURA (THOUGHT): ?
6. SFX: SPLISH.
Page 23
Panel 1: Bird's eye view of the room, with Agatha wiping Charlie's brow and Samura standing with his arms crossed, and Charlie laying in bed.
1. AGATHA: IT'S GOOD THAT YOU FOUND HIM, SAMURA, EVEN IF HE HADN'T PUT HIMSELF IN DANGER BY DUMPSTER DIVING BEHIND THE CAFÉ.
Panel 2: Samura looking like he wants to ask a question but can't find the words.
2. SAMURA (THOUGHT): .......
Panel 3: Samura looking at Charlie, with Agatha watching him watch Charlie. She has a shrewd look on her face.
3. AGATHA (THOUGHT): AS GOOD FOR YOU AS FOR HIM,
SAMURA-KUN.
Page 24
Panel 1: Samura turning to leave.
1. SAMURA: I'LL PUT A LOCK ON THE DUMPSTER.
Panel 2: Agatha still seated beside Charlie's bed, smiling.
2. AGATHA: GOOD IDEA, SAMURA. YOU'RE SUCH A SMART BOY!
Panel 3: Samura on his way out the door, blushing.
Panel 4: Door closing behind Samura.
3. SFX: CLICK.
Page 25
Panel 1: Large panel. Charlie on bed, tossing and moaning. Agatha at his side.
1. CHARLIE: MOAN.
Panel 2: Agatha looking at Charlie.
2. AGATHA: YES, THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT YOU, LITTLE DUMPSTER DIVER. I THINK YOU MAY BE VERY HELPFUL TO US HERE.
PAGE 26
Panel 1: Exterior of the Dharma Café. The sun is rising. The Dharma Café is situated on a main thoroughfare and there are cars driving up and down the street. It is a small building with a peaked roof, a crooked chimney and a five-sided polygonal window. Adjacent to the Café are large, impersonal buildings. One is a bank, the other is an insurance agency. In front of the Dharma Café, a tree grows in a large wooden tub. Birds sing in the tree.
1. SFX (TRAFFIC): ZOOM, ZOOM.
2. SFX (BIRDS): TWEET, TWEET.
Panel 2: Sunlight coming in through the window of the bedroom Charlie is in.
3. SFX (OP): ZOOM, TWEET.
Panel 3: Bird's eye of Charlie laying in bed. He's resting peacefully now. His black eye is still apparent. Clothes are folded neatly at the foot of the bed.
4. CHARLIE: SIGH.
Panel 4: Charlie stretches.
5. CHARLIE (THOUGHT): I HAD SOME VERY STRANGE DREAMS.
Page 27
Panel 1: Bird's eye of Charlie in bed. His eyes are still closed. A little smoke comes in from off the page and reaches Charlie's nose. There are arcane symbols in the smoke.
1. CHARLIE (THOUGHT): SOMETHING SMELLS GOOD.
Panel 2: Charlie sitting up in bed, his eyes open.
2. CHARLIE (THOUGHT): I'M STARVING.
Panel 3: Charlie sitting up and stretching some more. He's looking around himself with a quizzical expression.
3. CHARLIE (THOUGHT): WHERE AM I?
Page 28
Panel 1: Charlie eye view of the room. Samura is coming out of bathroom, a towel around his waist, another in his hands. He is toweling his hair dry.
1. SFX: RUB, RUB.
Panel 2: Charlie's look of surprise.
2. CHARLIE (THOUGHT): NICE BODY, BUT I DON'T REMEMBER
GOING HOME WITH ANYONE LAST NIGHT.
Panel 3: Charlie eye view of Samura's unmade bed.
3. CHARLIE (THOUGHT): OH. THEN I GUESS WE DIDN'T...
Panel 4: Samura, his head emerging from the towel. He still has the bruise on his jaw from where Charlie hit him. He sees that Charlie is awake and he looks surprised.
4. SAMURA (THOUGHT): I THOUGHT HE'D STILL BE ASLEEP.
MY BACK...
Page 29
Panel 1: Close-up of a shirt and trousers laid out on the empty bed.
Panel 2: Samura grabs the shirt, a dark long sleeve cotton T-shirt. He is facing us and Charlie.
1. SFX: SWIP.
2. SAMURA (THOUGHT): I'M NOT USED TO HAVING A ROOMATE.
Panel 3: Front view of Samura's head emerging from neck of T-shirt.
3. SAMURA (THOUGHT): I'LL HAVE TO BE MORE CAREFUL WHILE HE'S HERE.
Panel 4: Front view of Samura pulling the shirt down over his torso with a look of relief. We see the bruise on his face from when Charlie hit him. The back of Charlie's head is in the foreground.
4. SAMURA (THOUGHT): THAT'S BETTER.
5. CHARLIE: WAIT A MINUTE...
Page 30
Panel 1: Charlie sitting up in bed pointing at Samura. He's excited, partly because he figured out who this guy is and partly because he's mad.
1. CHARLIE: YOU'RE THE GUY WHO MADE ME DROP MY CANNOLI!
Panel 2: Samura glaring at Charlie. He still has his towel wrapped around his waist.
2. SAMURA (THOUGHT): WE SAVED HIS LIFE, AND ALL HE CAN DO IS COMPLAIN. WHAT AN IDIOT.
Panel 3: Charlie sitting up in bed, frowning, arms crossed. Samura standing with arms crossed. They're having a glare-off.
3. SAMURA: IT WASN'T YOUR CANNOLI.
4. CHARLIE: WHAT DO YOU CARE? YOU WERE THROWING IT AWAY ANYHOW.
Panel 4: Samura grits teeth in frustration and rolls his eyes.
5. SAMURA: THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEAN.
6. SAMURA (THOUGHT): HE DOESN'T KNOW ANYTHING.
Page 31
Panel 1: Charlie is picking up his clothes, which are folded at the foot of his bed. Samura stands at the dresser combing his hair.
1. CHARLIE (THOUGHT): MY CLOTHES! THEY'RE WASHED AND
MENDED.
Panel 2: A flashback panel. Charlie laying in bed, on his side, leaning over and throwing up in a bucket which Samura is holding. Agatha is behind him, holding his head. Both Agatha and Samura have grossed out looks on their faces.
2. SAMURA (CAPTION): THAT FOOD MADE YOU VERY SICK.
PANEL 3: Charlie, sitting with his feet over the edge of the bed, his jeans around his knees because he's in the middle of pulling them on. His mouth is a small 'o.' One hand is to mouth.
4. CHARLIE: THAT FOOD WAS SPOILED? BUT IT TASTED SO GOOD.
Panel 4: Charlie and Samura.
5. SAMURA: NOT SPOILED. JUST...
Page 32
Panel 1: Flashback panel. Interior of the dining room. We see the patrons eating. Again, it is the woman with the frizzy blond hair, the African-American guy and the guy with the mole.
1. SAMURA (CAPTION): NOT FOR YOU.
Panel 2: Side view of Charlie, his jeans on now, leaning forward, angry. Samura stands opposite him with his arms crossed. He's still wearing the towel around his hips.
2. CHARLIE: YOU MEAN YOU POISON THE FOOD YOU THROW OUT? THAT'S SICK!
Panel 3: Samura looks like he wants to hit Charlie.
3. SAMURA: HOW DARE YOU INSULT THE DHARMA CAFÉ?
Panel 4: Samura advancing on Charlie, fists clenched.
4. SAMURA (SFX): GRRR.
Panel 5: Close-up on Charlie's face. He looks scared.
5. CHARLIE (QUIET): OH SHIT.
Page 33
Panel 1: Agatha walking through the bedroom door. Force lines show that she's swept in. In foreground, Samura looks surprised and embarrassed. Charlie surprised and relieved.
1. AGATHA: NOW BOYS, DON'T ARGUE!
Panel 2: Samura with his hands behind his back. He looks sheepish.
2. SAMURA (THOUGHT): IF SHE HADN'T COME IN JUST NOW...
Panel 3: Agatha, plopped down next to Charlie on his bed, looking at Charlie. Charlie looks completely confused.
3. CHARLIE (THOUGHT): WHO IS THIS?
Panel 4: Agatha shaking hands with a stunned-looking Charlie with one hand, while indicating Samura, still standing in his towel, with the other hand. There is a ring on the finger of her left hand.
4. AGATHA: I AM YOSHI AGATHA, AND THIS IS MY WAITER, NAGAKI SAMURA. WHAT'S YOUR NAME?
5. CHARLIE: CHARLIE DAVIS.
6. CHARLIE (THOUGHT): IT'S LIKE SHE READ MY MIND.
7. AGATHA: NICE TO MEET YOU, CHARLIE-KUN. WHAT SAMURA-SAN IS TRYING TO SAY IS THAT THE FOOD WE PREPARE HERE AT DHARMA CAFÉ IS VERY SPECIAL.
Page 34
Panel 1: Flashback panel. We see Agatha in the kitchen cooking. Above the stove is a spice rack.
1. AGATHA (CAPTION): EACH DISH IS MADE INDIVIDUALLY FOR
EACH PATRON...
Panel 2: Continuation of flashback. This time it is a close-up of Agatha reaching for a spice bottle. The bottle is labeled Love. We can see some other bottles on the rack too. They are labeled things like Hope, Generosity, Kindness, Truth, etc.
2. AGATHA: ... ACCORDING TO WHAT THE PATRON NEEDS.
Panel 3: Agatha still sitting on Charlie's bed, looking very serious. She's waving an admonishing finger in Charlie's face. Charlie looks embarrassed and confused, and Samura is looking at Charlie with smug contempt.
3. AGATHA: IT CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS TO EAT A DISH THAT WAS PREPARED FOR SOMEONE ELSE.
4. CHARLIE (QUIET): BUT IT TASTED SO GOOD.
Panel 4: flashback panel. Agatha's hand (she has a ring on her hand that can identify her in these panels) holding a jar labeled Love. She's pouring out a generous portion.
5. AGATHA (CAPTION): THAT'S PROBABLY BECAUSE IT CONTAINED SOMETHING THAT YOU NEED, BUT IN THE WRONG AMOUNT.
Panel 5: Flashback panel. Agatha's hand again, this time pouring from a jar labeled Pride.
6. AGATHA (CAPTION): OR IN COMBINATION WITH SOMETHING ELSE THAT YOU HAVE TOO MUCH OF ALREADY.
Page 35
Panel 1: Agatha, Charlie and Samura all in frame. Charlie looking embarrassed.
1. CHARLIE: I HAD NO IDEA. I WAS JUST HUNGRY.
Panel 2: Agatha smiling. Charlie looking surprised.
2. AGATHA: AND IF YOU'D COME IN, WE'D HAVE FED YOU. NO CHARGE.
Panel 3: Charlie looking suspicious.
3. CHARLIE (THOUGHT): NO CHARGE? WHAT'S THE CATCH?
Panel 4: Samura, looking supremely satisfied.
4. SAMURA: YOU ASSUMED WE POISONED YOU. NEXT TIME YOU WANT TO MAKE AN ACCUSATION, REMEMBER THAT YOU DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING. THEN MAYBE YOU WON'T EMBARRASS YOURSELF.
Panel 5: Samura with his back to us. He is facing Charlie and Agatha, who are still sitting on the bed. We see part of Samura's butt as the towel slips off. There are wavy embarrassment lines all around Samura's head and he's frantically trying to grab the towel. Charlie is laughing. Agatha has her hand to her mouth, trying not to laugh.
5. CAPTION THE END... OF CHAPTER 1
Page 36
Panel 1: The kitchen of the Dharma Cafe. Charlie and Samura sit at the table. Agatha is standing at the stove cooking.
1. CAPTION: DHARMA CAFÉ, CHAPTER 2
Panel 2: View of Agatha. She stands with her back to the stove. In each hand she holds a plate of scrambled eggs with chives. One plate has a grilled tomato on the side. The other one has hash browns. All of the food is steaming hot and the steam has arcane symbols in it.
2. AGATHA: I HOPE YOU'RE HUNGRY.
Panel 3: Charlie with a sweat drop on the side of his face.
3. CHARLIE: YEAH!
Panel 4: Agatha's hand holding the plate with the tomato, putting it down in front of Samura.
4. AGATHA (OP): THIS IS FOR YOU.
Panel 5: Samura bows head.
5. SAMURA: THANK YOU, SENSEI.
Panel 6: Agatha's hand again, setting the plate with the hash browns down in front of Charlie.
6. Agatha (OP): AND THIS IS FOR YOU.
Page 37
Panel 1: Charlie and Samura, side by side at the table. Charlie has a knife and fork in his hands and is poised for action. Samura sits before the food in an attitude of reverence and meditation. Chopsticks rest beside his plate.
1. CHARLIE: SMELLS GREAT!
Panel 2: Charlie and Samura, side by side at the table. Charlie gobbles food. Samura eats sedately, using the chopsticks.
2. SFX: GOBBLE! GOBBLE!
3. SFX: MUNCH.
Panel 3: Charlie and Samura, side by side. Charlie gobbles food. Samura looks at Charlie with contempt.
4. SAMURA: WHAT ARE YOU, A SWINE? SHOW SOME RESPECT.
5. SFX: GOBBLE!
Panel 4: Charlie and Samura, side by side. Charlie still gobbling. Bits of food fly out of his mouth as he speaks. Samura looks surprised, and regretful that he said anything.
6. CHARLIE: FUCK OFF, MISS MANNERS. I HAVEN'T EATEN IN THREE DAYS.
Panel 5: Charlie and Samura, side by side. Charlie gobbling, Samura eating sedately. Samura is eyeing Charlie out of the corners of his eyes.
7. SAMURA (THOUGHT): HE'S STARVING. AND THEN THERE'S THAT BLACK EYE. WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM?
8. SFX: GOBBLE!
Page 38
Panel 1: Agatha, returning to the table with her own plate of food -- scrambled eggs and chives with sauteed peppers on the side. She raises one eyebrow.
1. AGATHA (THOUGHT): THEY QUARREL A LOT, BUT THEY ALSO
HAVE A LOT IN COMMON.
2. AGATHA: THERE'S MORE WHERE THAT CAME FROM,
CHARLIE-KUN, SO TAKE YOUR TIME. DON'T MAKE YOURSELF SICK.
Panel 2: The three of them eating.
2. AGATHA, CHARLIE, SAMURA (THOUGHT): MMMM.
Panel 3: Charlie pushed back from table, belly bulging.
3. CHARLIE: THAT'S THE BEST MEAL I EVER HAD. THANK YOU, MA'AM.
Panel 4: Close on Agatha, elbows propped on either side of her empty plate, her chin resting on her hands, a look of eagerness in her face.
4. AGATHA SO, CHARLIE, WHY ARE YOU HOMELESS?
Page 39
Panel 1: Charlie reacts to Agatha's question with suspicion.
1. CHARLIE: HOW DO YOU KNOW IF I'M HOMELESS OR NOT? AND WHAT BUSINESS IS IT OF YOURS ANYWAY?
Panel 2: Agatha smiles. Behind her, Samura, who has risen and is taking his plate to the sink, is scowling.
2. AGATHA: YOU JUST SAID THAT YOU HADN'T EATEN IN THREE DAYS. AND YOUR CLOTHES WERE RAGGED AND DIRTY. AND YOU HAVEN'T ONCE ASKED ABOUT CALLING HOME TO LET THEM KNOW WHERE YOU ARE.
Panel 3: Charlie hangs his head, embarrassed. Samura, standing at the sink, looks on with concern. Agatha smiles patiently.
3. CHARLIE: ........
Panel 4: Agatha takes Charlie's hand.
Panel 5: Close on Charlie as he looks at her.
4. CHARLIE (THOUGHT): IT'S NONE OF THEIR BUSINESS, BUT
THEY HAVE BEEN KIND TO ME. RESCUED
ME, FED ME, CLEANED AND MENDED MY
CLOTHES. I'LL HAVE TO MOVE ON
SOON, BUT...
Panel 6: Charlie shrugs.
5. CHARLIE (THOUGHT): WHY NOT PLAY ALONG, FOR A LITTLE
WHILE?
Pages 40 & 41
Panel 1: Two-page spread. Charlie's impassive face is centered on the first page. Inset are smaller panels (borderless).
1. CHARLIE: I DROPPED OUT OF SCHOOL AND MY PARENTS KICKED ME OUT OF THE HOUSE... THAT WAS A FEW MONTHS AGO.
Panel 2: Inset, borderless. Charlie dressed in a school uniform, looking at a cute boy in an athletic jacket. Boy is looking back.
Panel 3: Inset, borderless. The cute boy in the athletic jacket gives Charlie a note.
Panel 4: Inset, borderless. The note reads, "Meet me in the woods behind the school. Bring lube."
Panel 5: In the woods, Charlie approaches the cute boy in the athletic jacket.
Panel 6: Other boys in athletic jackets stepping out from the trees.
Panel 7: Charlie being beaten by the boys.
2. CUTE BOY IN ATH. JACKET: FAG!
Panel 8: Charlie leaving the school.
3. CHARLIE (THOUGHT): I'LL NEVER GO BACK!
Panel 9: Charlie being confronted by his angry parents. The father is waving a note that says, "Notice of Delinquency."
Panel 10: Charlie and parents, sitting down now.
4. CHARLIE: MOM, DAD, I'M GAY.
Panel 11: Charlie getting thrown out of the house.
5. FATHER: YOU'RE NO SON OF MINE!
Page 42
Panel 1: Charlie and Agatha sitting at table in the kitchen of the Dharma Café. Samura is in the background, washing dishes at the sink. He's watching them. Agatha looks skeptical. Charlie is blushing.
1. AGATHA: OH, AS SIMPLE AS THAT, HUH?
2. CHARLIE (THOUGHT): IT'S LIKE SHE KNOWS. BUT THAT'S
IMPOSSIBLE.
Panel 2: Charlie standing, bowing to Agatha, who looks at him with a wicked grin. Samura, at the sink, looks appalled.
3. CHARLIE: YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU FOR TAKING CARE OF ME, AND FOR THE MEAL.
4. AGATHA: THAT'S OKAY, CHARLIE-KUN. YOU CAN PAY ME BACK BY WORKING FOR ME.
5. SAMURA (THOUGHT): ?!?
Panel 3: Charlie standing, with Samura behind him. Charlie looks surprised. Samura looks surprised and upset.
6. CHARLIE: WHAT?
7: SAMURA (THOUGHT): NO!
Panel 4: Force lines show Samura storming out of the kitchen. Agatha and Charlie look at each other in surprise.
8. CHARLIE & AGATHA: HUH?
Page 43
Panel 1: Samura in bedroom. He is packing. There's a dark cloud over his head.
1. Samura (THOUGHT): I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THIS WOULD
HAPPEN. I TRUSTED AGATHA. HOW CAN SHE DO THIS?
Panel 2: Samura still packing.
2. SAMURA (THOUGHT): OF COURSE, CHARLIE IS GOOD
LOOKING. MAYBE A GOOD-LOOKING WAITER WILL DRAW MORE BUSINESS.
Panel 3: Samura closing the suitcase.
3. SAMURA (THOUGHT): I SHOULDN'T BE SO SELFISH.
AGATHA-SAMA HAS DONE SO MUCH FOR ME ALREADY. I CAN'T HOLD HER BACK. IF SHE NEEDS A GOOD-LOOKING WAITER LIKE CHARLIE, INSTEAD OF ME, I WON'T STAND IN THE WAY.
Panel 4: Samura, very small in an almost empty panel. He's holding the suitcase. The panel is dark except for a patch of light that surrounds Samura, and bleeds into the darkness.
4. SAMURA (THOUGHT): WHERE WILL I GO?
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