HORRORWOOD ISSUE 4: CURTAIN CALL

FINAL VERSION

Written by: Brandon Terrell

Illustrated by: Brent Schoonover

Brandon Terrell
Houdini11@msn.com
651.341.6556
HORRORWOOD ISSUE 4: CURTAIN CALL

PAGE 1, SPLASH PAGE: Pierce, standing in shock as he looks

down the aisle at the stage, where Sophia stands next to The
Father, wearing a cloak.

Everyone is staring at Pierce.

PIERCE
What has he done to you, Sophia?!

PAGE 2, PANEL 1: A long, horizontal panel. On stage, The

Father looks out and sees the man in the aisle. He has his
hand out, motioning to a nearby Sophia.

THE FATHER
Who is that man?

PANEL 2: Sophia looks out and scrutinizes Pierce, but cannot

tell who he is because of the mask.

SOPHIA
I do not know, Father.

PANEL 3: Bruno stands behind the small crowd, trying to see

what's going on.

BRUNO
Aww crap, Pierce.

PANEL 4: An over the shoulder as Pierce has become the center

of attention. The cultists nearby, including Square Jaw, have
turned to look at him.

PANEL 5: Pierce, stunned, cannot move. He drops his duffel

bag.

PANEL 6: Close up as the bag hits the floor and a small

sphere (the object Sophia examined in issue 1) rolls out.

SFX: Tink! Tink!

PAGE 3, PANEL 1: The Father addresses Pierce.

THE FATHER
Who are you?

PANEL 2: Pierce in close up. We can see the sweat has begun
to affect his mask significantly. Pieces of it have begun to
peel from his face.

PIERCE
I...I am...
 2.

PANEL 3: The Father is furious.

THE FATHER
I asked you a question! You are not
one of my children!

PANEL 4: Pierce begins to hyperventilate. Behind him, Square

Jaw, among others, have closed in on him.

PANEL 5: Square Jaw clocks Pierce on the back of the head,

knocking him forward.

SFX: Thunk!

PANEL 6: A black frame, or almost black, as Pierce slides

into unconsciousness.

THE FATHER (V.O.)

Bring him to me...

PAGE 4, PANEL 1: Pierce coming to. He pulls himself off the

boards of the theater floor, part of his mask sticking to the
wood.

PIERCE
Ugghh...

PANEL 2: The Father and Michael hover over Pierce, Sophia

standing behind them.

THE FATHER
How dare you enter into my domain
and disrupt my family? Speak -- who
do you think you are?

PANEL 3: Michael pulls Pierce to his feet, holds him in front

of The Father and Sophia.

PIERCE
Anthony...please...

THE FATHER
What did you call me?

PANEL 4: The Father moves in closer.

THE FATHER
That name means nothing to me. How
does a worthless piece of filth
such as you even know that wretched
name?
 3.

PIERCE
Please...my daughter...I just want--

PANEL 5: The Father reaches out, snatches a piece of the

drooping mask in his hand.

THE FATHER
What is this? What are you made of,
abnormal?

PANEL 6: He peels a long strip of wax from Pierce's face.

THE FATHER
A disguise. You cunning, foul
creature.

PAGE 5, PANEL 1: Both hands on Pierce's face, The Father digs

his claws into the wax.

PIERCE
No. No! Please!

PANEL 2: The Father's hands pull away from Pierce's face, and
it looks as if Pierce's entire face goes with him.

THE FATHER
It...it cannot be.

PANEL 3: Pierce's real face is revealed, clumps of wax still

stuck in places, around the chin and cheeks.

PIERCE
Anthony...I just...I just want my
daughter.

PANEL 4: The Father steps back, grins, and throws his hands
up in triumph.

THE FATHER
The one and only Pierce Jackson, on
my stage! Come to rescue your
beloved Patricia from the belly of
the beast, haven't you?

How noble.

PANEL 5: The Father turns and indicates Sophia.

THE FATHER
As you can see, she clearly does
not need your help. Am I correct,
Sophia?
 4.

PANEL 6: Sophia smiles as she nods her head.

SOPHIA
Yes, Father.

PANEL 7: Pierce's face is deflated.

PIERCE
(barely audible)
Sophia...what has he done to you?

PAGE 6, PANEL 1: Bruno stands back from the crowd of cultist

onlookers. There are others behind him, as well.

BRUNO
All right, this has gotta stop.

PANEL 2: He reaches under his robe, grabbing the item he and

Pierce discussed earlier.

BRUNO
It may not be time, but it's close
enough.

CULTIST (O.S.)
What's going on up there? I must
see.

PANEL 3: The cultist clamoring to see on stage bumps into

Bruno, causing Bruno to lurch forward. The item clatters to
the ground.

It is what appears to be a timer, a rectangular contraption

with a red button on top.

SFX: Clink! Clank!

BRUNO
Oof! Hey!

CULTIST
Apologies...so sorry.

PANEL 4: Bruno squats down and sees the timer on the ground.
It is in the foreground, large.

CULTIST (O.S.)
Let's get closer. Come.

PANEL 5: Same panel, but now Bruno is reaching for the timer.
Only someone has kicked the timer away from his hand, toward
the seats.
 5.

SFX: Thunk!

BRUNO
Son of a bitch.

PANEL 6: Bruno tries to push through the crowd of cultists,

shouldering them aside.

BRUNO
Excuse me. Watch out. Coming
through.

PANEL 7: A close-up of Bruno. His mask has started to melt,

as he is now sweating. He looks up at the stage.

BRUNO
Hold on, Pierce. Hold on.

PAGE 7, PANEL 1: Back on stage, Square Jaw clocks Pierce

across the face.

SFX: Crack!

PIERCE
Uuhhh...

PANEL 2: The Father stands next to Square Jaw.

THE FATHER
That is sufficient. We wish him to
be conscious when we string him up
next to O'Malley.

PANEL 3: Michael holds Pierce by the arms, hoisting him up.

He holds him in front of The Father.

THE FATHER
You've waited enough, Michael. The
man took away your career, your
life. He made you the...man you are
today.

Do the honors.

PANEL 4: Michael carries Pierce toward O'Malley body, where

cultists have prepared another noose.

THE FATHER
Soon, when Sophia's transformation
is complete, she will forget all of
this. She will lead a better life,
under my care.
 6.

PANEL 5: A close up of The Father.

THE FATHER
Do you wish to say goodbye, Sophia?

PANEL 6: Sophia walks to The Father's side. He has produced

his knife from under his robe.

SOPHIA
I said goodbye long ago. Pierce has
always treated me as an
afterthought.

PANEL 7: Sophia in close up.

SOPHIA
He killed my mother, and I was just
a reminder of his stupidity.

PAGE 8 PANEL 1: The Father hands Sophia the knife. Between

their hands, as they exchange the weapon, Pierce struggles.

PIERCE
Sophia! No! Please, Anthony, don't
do this to her!

PANEL 2: Pierce turns his head back to The Father.

PIERCE
This has...nothing to do with her!

PANEL 3: The Father laughs at this.

THE FATHER
Sophia, it is time. Excise him from
your life forever.

PANEL 4: Pierce's head droops in the noose. The Father

follows Sophia to stand by his side.

PIERCE
I'm...sorry...

THE FATHER
I have no pity for you, old friend.
You killed your wife, burned my
child beyond recognition, and
turned your own daughter against
you.

PANEL 5: Pierce is sobbing.

 7.

PIERCE
Helen...so sorry...

PANEL 6: The Father clutches Pierce's hair, pulls his head

up.

THE FATHER
Watch. Don't turn your eyes.

CULTIST #1 (O.S.)
Father?

PAGE 9, PANEL 1: The Father turns as two cultists stand to

the side. One holds Pierce's duffel bag out, offering it.

CULTIST #1
We discovered his things amongst
the aisles.

PANEL 2: The second cultist steps forward, opens his palm.

CULTIST #2
We were unsure what this was.

PANEL 3: A close up of his palm. In it is the sphere from

issue one.

CULTIST #2
It does not appear valuable,
Father.

PANEL 4: Bruno sees the cultist holding out his palm. He

rushes into a row of seats.

BRUNO
Come on, Bruno. You got this.

PANEL 5: He dives to the ground, squashed between the seats

and the garbage cluttered on the floor. Amidst the debris is
the timer.

PANEL 6: A close-up of Bruno's hand, as he grabs the timer.

BRUNO
It's time to yell fire in a crowded
theater.

PANEL 7: His thumb presses the button on the timer.

SFX: CLICK!
 8.

PAGES 10 & 11 SPLASH PAGE: The stage, from a low angle. On

the left, the two cultists are rocked back as the sphere
blasts open, releasing a plume of smoke and flash of light.
The robe of the cultist holding the device has burst into
flame. The Father shields himself from the blast. Sophia is
rocked backward, the knife flying from her hand. Pierce
remains strung up.

SFX:

CULTIST #2
AHHHHH!!

PAGE 12, PANEL 1: Smoke fills the stage, the theater. The
cultist on fire is engulfed in flames now. He waves around
frantically.

CULTIST #2
Help me! Help me! Someone! Father!

PANEL 2: Sophia hits the ground, her head collided against

the wood.

SFX: Crack!

SOPHIA
Oof!

PANEL 3: The Father lifts his collar over his mouth.

THE FATHER
Fools! I must finish the job!

PANEL 4: The Father cuts the rope.

PANEL 5: Pierce's noose tightens, his fingers clawing at his

neck.

PIERCE
Hur--! Akk--!

PANEL 6: A wider shot of Pierce struggling against the rope.

PANEL 7: A dagger slices through the rope, severing the

noose.

PANEL 8: Pierce hits the ground, hard.

PIERCE
Ooff!

PAGE 13, PANEL 1: Pierce looks up, and through the smoke sees
Manos.
 9.

MANOS
Seems I arrived at the appropriate
time.

PANEL 2: Cultists swarm Bruno as he stands up, his mask

peeling off his face. One of them points at him.

CULTIST
Another interloper! He must be
stopped!

PANEL 3: The group rushes Bruno, who peels off the wax mask
in preparation.

BRUNO
Oh, this is gonna be fun.

PANEL 4: Bruno begins swinging fast and furious, parts of the

mask still clinging to his cheeks and hair.

PANEL 5: Pierce stands, pulling the noose off his neck.

PIERCE
Kaff! Kaff!

PANEL 6: Square Jaw, out of no where, knocks Pierce back, off

his feet.

PANEL 7: Square Jaw hovers over Pierce, fists clenched.

SQUARE JAW
How dare you attack our Father! Do
you know nothing?!

PAGE 14, PANEL 1: A close up of Pierce.

PIERCE
I suppose I know one thing.

PANEL 2: He stands suddenly, his shoulder connecting with

Square Jaw's chin. Foam shoots out of the cultist's mouth.

PIERCE
I am quite aware of the effects of
cyanide.

PANEL 3: Pierce rushes to Manos, as Square Jaw's face hits

the wooden floor in the foreground, eyes wide, cyanide foam
spilling from his mouth.

MANOS
Find Valmont! We cannot let him
escape into this mist!
 10.

PANEL 4: A two shot of Manos and Pierce. They look into the
crowd, and through the haze see Bruno being attacked from all
sides.

BRUNO
You haven't beaten me yet!

RANDOM CULTIST
Kill him! For The Father!

MANOS
Attend to your daughter. I'll
assist Bruno and manage these
misguided souls.

PANEL 5: Bruno is surrounded by cultists. He is swinging away

at them, but there are many, and they claw at him. Behind
him, Manos can be seen leaping from the stage.

BRUNO
Come on! That all you got?!

This is for Getrude! And Junior!

And this one's for Gill!

PANEL 6: Manos is at Bruno's side, his hands and fingers

outstretched, four or five flashes pop in front of the crowd,
holding them at bay.

SFX: POP! POP! POP! POP!

MANOS
Stand back, you fools!

PANEL 7: Bruno wipes blood and tattered pieces of wax off his
face.

BRUNO
Thanks.

PANEL 8: Pierce rushes toward Sophia, as she pushes herself

up with one hand. The other is rubbing her head. She is
dazed.

PIERCE
Sophia! I'm coming, dear!

SOPHIA
Pierce...?

PAGE 15, PANEL 1: A large hand swipes across Pierce, knocking

him across the stage.
 11.

PANEL 2: Michael towers over Pierce, The Father standing in

his shadow.

THE FATHER
Yes, Michael! Take your revenge!
Finish him!

PANEL 3: Overhead, a close up of a sprinkler head. Water

begins to spray from it.

SFX: Fssshhhhh!

PANEL 4: Water rains down on everyone as Michael lifts Pierce

off the floor.

PANEL 5: Michael punches Pierce, who flies into the curtain.

Pierce crumples to the floor as The Father watches.

THE FATHER
He ruined your father's life,
Michael. He ruined your life. I
want him dead!

PANEL 6: Michael kicks Pierce in the midsection, knocking him

back to the floor.

PIERCE
Ooof!

THE FATHER
You should have stayed under your
rock, Pierce.

PANEL 7: A close up of Pierce as blood sprays from his mouth

as Michael delivers yet another punch.

THE FATHER (O.S.)

You see what happens when you reach
out and try to connect with a world
that has moved on without you?

PAGE 16, PANEL 1: Another punch.

THE FATHER
Pain!

PANEL 2: Another punch.

THE FATHER
Fear!

PANEL 3: Yet another brutal punch.

 12.

THE FATHER
Death!

PANEL 4: The crowd has begun to thin. Manos continues a

barrage of flash illusions, pushing them back. Bruno is
clocking one with his cast. Many unconscious cultists lay
around them.

MANOS
Bruno! They're fleeing! Now let's
hurry and leave this wet place!

BRUNO
I'll get the truck!

PANEL 5: Michael holds Pierce up, eye level, so Pierce can

stare into the eyes of the behemoth.

THE FATHER
Show him! Show him what he turned
you into! Let it be the last thing
he sees!

PANEL 6: Michael pulls back his hood, and we see the horrible
visage of a burned man with tufts of hair and skin melted and
grafted along his cheeks and forehead. We have seen hints of
it, but not all of it in all its glory. He is hideous!

MICHAEL
You....did....this....

PANEL 7: A metal pipe clanks across the back of Michael's

head.

SFX: Clang!

SOPHIA (O.S.)
Hey! Mikey!

PAGE 17, PANEL 1: A big panel. Sophia stands amongst the

wreckage of the tank, the water. We see her and Michael, who
has turned, still holding a battered Pierce. She is holding a
long metal pipe, and looks small against the hulking cultist.

SOPHIA
Why don't you pick on someone your
own size?

PANEL 2: She cracks him across the cheek with the pipe.
Stunned, he lets go of Pierce.

PANEL 3: She wails on him again, this time driving him to his
knees. The Father stands watching in horror.
 13.

THE FATHER
Noo! What are you doing?

PAGE 18, PANEL 1: The front of the theater. The doors burst
open and cultists, smoke, and Bruno come rushing out.

PANEL 2: Bruno runs headlong for the truck.

BRUNO
Hang in there. I'm coming.

PANEL 3: His foot slams on the gas.

PANEL 4: The truck shoots out of the alley, narrowly missing

a couple of panicked cultists.

PANEL 5: He screeches the truck into a tight turn, so the bed

of the truck swings around and is facing the doors from which
the cultists flee.

SFX: Sccrreeeeeeecchhh!

PANEL 6: Bruno sticks his head out of the window, looking

back at the doors to the theater.

BRUNO
Sorry about this, Soph.

PAGE 19, PANEL 1: The lobby of the theater, as the back of

the truck smashes through the door, backing into the lobby.
One of the cultists is knocked down by the crash, others
thrown out of the way.

PANEL 2: Sophia up on stage, swinging the weapon and knocking

Michael across the face hard enough to loosen teeth.

SOPHIA
Let this be the lesson to you.

PANEL 3: She strikes him in the side.

SOPHIA
Never--

PANEL 4: Another blow.

SOPHIA
--mess with--

PANEL 5: The last hit sends him back, onto the floor.

SOPHIA
--my father!
 14.

PANEL 6: Pierce, bloody, stumbles to his feet. He is near the

ropes and sandbags.

PAGE 20, PANEL 1: The Father is outraged.

THE FATHER
What have you done to my Michael?!
My dear son!?

You'll pay for this, harlot!

PANEL 2: He brandishes his knife, lunging in Sophia's

direction.

THE FATHER
My life, my work! Ruined!

Die!

PANEL 3: Pierce's fingers fumble with a set of tied ropes.

They are loose.

PIERCE
Sophia! Move!

PANEL 4: Sandbags sail into the air.

PANEL 5: The corpse of Seamus O'Malley falls from its hanging

position, falling atop The Father, knocking him to the
ground. Sophia falls out of the way.

SFX: THUD!

THE FATHER
Nooo!!!

PAGE 21, PANEL 1: Sophia holds Pierce up, as water sprays

them and smoke surrounds them.

BRUNO (O.S.)
Sophia!? Pierce!?

SOPHIA
Bruno?! We're over here!

PANEL 2: Cultists attack Bruno and he knocks them back. They

still have fight in them, but Bruno handles them easily.

BRUNO
Hurry up! Let's get outta here!

PANEL 3: Sophia and Pierce break through the smoke.

 15.

SOPHIA
Bruno! Help us!

PANEL 4: Sophia climbs into the bed of the truck as Bruno

hefts Pierce next to her.

PIERCE
Where's...Manos...?

SOPHIA
Manos?

PIERCE
He was...helping...he's...

SOPHIA
I don't see him, Dad. He must of
gotten out. Lay back.

PANEL 5: Bruno jumps behind the wheel of the truck.

BRUNO
Hold on, guys!

PANEL 6: The truck barrels away from the theater. Smoke

rushes out, as do more cultists. Bruno drives them off into
the night.

PAGE 22, PANEL 1: A close up of Pierce's eye.

BRUNO (O.S.)
This is gonna sting.

PANEL 2: Pull back to see Bruno dabbing iodine on a large cut

below Pierce's left eye. He is sitting on the alien autopsy
table in Pierce's warehouse.

BRUNO
You took one helluva beating there,
Pierce. You sure you're okay?

PIERCE
Yes. Yes. I suppose I deserved
Michael's rage.

BRUNO
Bull. We're lucky we all got out of
there alive.

PANEL 3: Sophia steps up, oversees the process.

SOPHIA
He gonna be all right, Bruno?
 16.

BRUNO
Right as rain. He'll be lumpy for a
while, but that may actually be an
improvement.

Gotta get more iodine.

PANEL 4: It's just Sophia and Pierce, an over the shoulder of

Pierce. Sophia is fidgety.

SOPHIA
Um, well...It took a lot of courage
to do what you did, Pops.

PIERCE
As long as you're all right, it was
worth it.

SOPHIA
I'm sorry, you know.

PANEL 5: A close up of Pierce.

PIERCE
You have nothing to apologize for.
It was Valmont's doing.

PANEL 6: The two shot again.

SOPHIA
It's a little hazy, but I'm pretty
sure I said some horrible things.
They weren't true.

PIERCE
It's okay, Sophia. It opened my
eyes, showed me what's really
important.

PANEL 7: Another angle of the two shot.

SOPHIA
The thing with Mom...we could have
found a way past it, instead of
acting like strangers all these
years.

PIERCE
Yes, well... Sophia? I...I'm sorry
about Roger. I'm sorry for what you
went through.
 17.

SOPHIA
Thanks, Pops. Means a lot.

PANEL 8: Bruno is back, holding a bottle of iodine.

BRUNO
You think the cops found Valmont?

MANOS (O.S.)
I'm afraid that's not very likely.

PAGE 23, PANEL 1: Manos stands before them.

BRUNO
Holy jeez! Scared the daylights
outta me.

MANOS
I do have a tendency to do that. I
must apologize for involving you
all in tonight's excitement.
Sophia, I had no knowledge of your
estranged love, and I had no
intention of placing anyone's life
in danger.

PANEL 2: A shot of the four of them.

MANOS
I returned to the theater to find
Valmont gone. Michael as well. But
I do not believe he is dead.

We must also not forget about his

'children'.

PANEL 3: A city street, where a number of people bustle by,

on their way to wherever, not a care in the world.

MANOS (O.S.)
They could be anywhere, anyone. And
they are out there. Waiting for him
to return.

PANEL 4: The inside of the theater. A number of cops search

the place. One large burly cop stands on stage, amidst the
ruins of the water tank and fight. The only body there is
Seamus Jr.'s. A young cop calls from back stage.

YOUNG COP
Ain't no one here, Chief! Place is
cleaned out!
 18.

MANOS (O.S.)
He is weakened, but I fear that
will not stop him. Eventually, he
will have the nerve to once again
overstep the bounds of justice with
his brutal vendetta.

PANEL 5: Back to Pierce's warehouse. A shot of all four of

them.

SOPHIA
And what do we do when that time
comes?

PAGE 24, SPLASH PAGE: A sweet ass shot of all four of them,
the three main characters in the foreground, but still in
Pierce's warehouse. Behind them is Manos and his glorious
cape.

PIERCE
Then we go out and find him!

THE END!!