rapid city #25

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RAPID CITY #25

BY JOSH DAHL

[email protected]

Page 1 Earlier. 4 panels

Panel 1Somewhere in the city at night. Piledriver is

embracing Icicle from behind, she is turning her head

and looking up at him. She looks safe and content.

Panel 2 Evening at Icicle's lake lot. Icicle and Piledriver

are walking toward her truck.

PILEDRIVER

We could leave right now, you know.

ICICLE

We have to go back. The plan won't work without

us, they'll all be screwed. We can't abandon them

like that.

PILEDRIVER

What about our plan?

ICICLE

This is our plan.

Panel 3 At the end of the heist from issue 23. In thebackground, Coil is facing off with Kinetic and the

guard. In the foreground, Piledriver is starting to

sink the heist crew into the ground. Claw Hammer has

the bag that Coil threw. Icicle is armored up andcrowding close to Piledriver.

ICICLE

Ok, get us out of here.

PILEDRIVER

On it.

Panel 4 Coil in the foreground grinning evilly. In thebackground, the heist crew is going underground.

COILI'll tie up these loose ends and meet you there.

Page 2 The descent. 4 panels

Panel 1 A small shot of the heist crew crammed into

Piledriver's bubble. They are underground. Maybe one

small shaft of light still coming down from above. It

does not need to be completely clear on this page who

is saying what.

BLACK FLAG

d City #25 by Josh Dahl joshdahl75@g

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How far down are we.

PILEDRIVER

About one hundred yards.

CLAW HAMMER

Hey. It's not in here!

Panel 2 A similar small panel showing the bubble and itspassengers far away.

ICICLE

What? Show me.

Panel 3 Similar again, but not the bubble is almost

completely gone.

ICICLE

Oh.

ICICLE

Sweetheart. I love you

Panel 4 A large panel taking up the rest of the page, and theentire 3rd page as well. This page is all dirt and

darkness. Near the tiny spot of light is a "POOM"

sound effect. It is a font that would be used for a

huge, impressive, explosion, except that it very

small.

Page 3 Boom. 1 panel

Panel 1 The rest of the two-page spread that began on page 2.

We are looking down through a vast expanse of dirtand darkness at one tiny spot of light off to the

right.

Page 4 Snow Day. 6 panels

Panel 1 A shot completely opposite to the crushing darkness

of the previous page. This is Icicle as a ten year

old girl. We are looking up at her as she stands atop

a large plow-driven snow bank. We can't see much of

her surroundings. Just the snow bank and the cool

blue sky behind her. She is wearing clothes that

would be appropriate for Fall, not deep winter. Sheis looking longingly forward.

Panel 2 Now looking from the opposite side of the street. Inthe foreground we see three boys playing and digging

in a big snow drift. They are 15, 12, and 8 and they

are brothers. Unlike young Icicle, they are all very

well dressed for winter. They are all working at the

direction of the oldest boy. In the background we can

see young Icicle watching them. Around the whole seen

we can see a tightly packed, but pleasant, lower-

middle class suburb.


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KELLY 15

No! You're messing up the wall.

DAVID 12

Look. It stays up.

Panel 3 Close on Icicle's face as she watches. Her nose andcheeks are red. She has a hat, but no scarf.

Caption The Bradley boys were building something.

Panel 4 Closer on the snow fort being built. Brian, the 8

year old is leaning against the sloping side of it

and sculpting some snow thing. David is calling into

the ground-level entrance, where he seems to be also

poking a shovel. Kelly, is crouching on top and

yelling down into a tunnel at his feet.

DAVID 12

Is it through?

KELLY 15I can see it!

Panel 5 The three boys all looking up and smiling as their

mom leans out the front door of the house.

MRS BRADLEY

Come on in boys. It's time for lunch.

Panel 6 Icicle ducking down out of sight on the far side of

the snow bank.

Page 5 The fort. 5 panels

Panel 1 Icicle stepping timidly from behind her snow bank.She is stepping into the street, moving toward the

snow fort.

Caption I just wanted to see what it was.

Panel 2 She is leaning on the side where the younger boy was,

looking at what he was making. Nothing clear, just

some shapes.

Panel 3 Now on top, she is looking curiously down the hole.

Panel 4 From her point of view, we can see that the hole runs

down a few feet and connect to the ground floor

entrance. To make this clear, we can see the tip of

the shovel coming in from the direction of the

entrance.

Caption They were all working together on a fort.

Panel 5 Now from inside, we see her moving the shovel aside

and crawling into the ground level entrance.


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I just wanted to see what it was like.

Page 6 In the tunnel. 6 panels

Panel 1 In the entrance to the tunnel, Icicle is stopping to

inspect the mittens that David left behind.

Panel 2 Now she is crawling past the gloves. The tunnel isjust barely big enough for her to move (and it gets

smaller as it goes further)

Caption I tried to squeeze through, but I couldn't

Panel 3 She now has both arms reaching up over her head

through the tunnel. It is a very tight fit.

Caption And then I couldn't go back.

Panel 4 Very tight shot on her face pressed against snow. Sheis crying.

CaptionI couldn't move my arms. It was hard to breathe.

Panel 5 Shot of her pressed tight into the small tunnel.

Caption I knew it was cold, but it didn't really feel

cold.

Panel 6 Shot of her eyes closing.

Caption It felt like I was dead.

Page 7 Death. 5 panels

Panel 1Back underground. Tight close on adult Icicle's face.

She is covered in glowing ice-armor. Her eyes are

wide in terror and disbelief.

ICICLE

No. No.

Panel 2 Pull back slightly. We can see that she is a bubble

about 8 feet across. The walls are dirt and the only

source of light is her armor which glows slightly

from its most dense points. Around her is a

nightmare. The walls are covered and dripping with

gore. Parts of smashed bodies run down the walls and

gather at her feet. In this mess is Claw Hammer. He

is also covered in gore, so we can't tell yet just

what his condition is.

ICICLE

No.

Panel 3 She touches the face of an unrecognizable malecorpse.

Panel 4 She realizes that her armored hands are covered with


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blood. She is looking at them. Claw Hammer's balloon

comes from off panel.

ICICLE

Oh god, no.

CLAW HAMMER

Stop it.

Panel 5 Shot of Claw Hammer wiping blood from his chest and

looking at her sternly.

CLAW HAMMER

Stop crying.

Page 8 The situation. 5 panels

Panel 1 Icicle yelling at Claw Hammer in the dark and bloody

hole in the ground.

ICICLE

He's dead! They're all dead!

Panel 2 Claw Hammer talking.

CLAW HAMMER

Yeah, and if we don't....

Panel 3 Icicle interrupting with screams.

ICICLE

It was Coil! He did this. He killed them all!

ICICLEIt was Coil.

Panel 4 Claw Hammer grabbing her roughly by the shoulders.

CLAW HAMMER

You're right. But if we don't start digging out

right now...

CLAW HAMMER

and I mean now....

Panel 5 Close on Claw Hammer getting close to Icicle's face.

CLAW HAMMER

Then he killed us, too.

Page 9 Snow rescue. 6 panels

Panel 1 All black panel. Maybe just slightly gray at thecenter. Hazy word balloons float over it.

DAVID 12

Who is it?


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BRIAN 8

Is she dead?

Panel 2 Shot of young Icicle looking up at Kelly as hecarries her. If the other kids can fit in the panel,

they are running ahead, if not, then just their

words.

KELLY 15No. Her eyes are open.

DAVID 12

Get her inside.

BRIAN 8

Mom!

Panel 3 Inside the Bradley house. The boys are standing in

order of height gawking at Icicle. Icicle sits of a

kitchen chair with a big blanket wrapped around her.

She looks scared. Mrs Bradley is crouching down in

front of her and offering a mug of co-co.

MRS BRADLEY

It looks like you'll be fine, sweety. But you

shouldn't be playing out there all by yourself.

Panel 4 Shot of little icicle getting sad.

ICICLE

Sorry.

MRS BRADLEY

It's ok, dear. We're just worried. You could havebeen hurt. And with no winter jacket? You almost

turned into an popsicle.

Panel 5 Mrs Bradley looking suspicious and concerned.

MRS BRADLEY

Don't you have a warmer jacket?

Panel 6 Icicle shedding the blanket and running for the door.

ICICLE

No.

Page 10 Down in a hole. 4 panels

Panel 1 Claw Hammer still talking to adult Icicle.

CLAW HAMMER

No one will ever know what happened to us. No one

will care.

CLAW HAMMER

Getting out of here is the only way to make Coil


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pay.

Panel 2 Icicle looking scared. Starting to get it together.

ICICLE

How?

Panel 3 Claw Hammer plunging a fist into the mud above him.

Not straight overhead, but at about 45 degrees.

CLAW HAMMER

Dig.

Panel 4 Icicle starting to help by using her ice to open the

hole that Claw Hammer made.

Page 11 Back at home. 4 panels

Panel 1 Young Icicle is standing in the doorway to her house.The door is closed behind her. Her clothes and jacket

are still wet. In the foreground, her mother is

sitting in the kitchen and laughing at something herboyfriend is saying.

Caption She never knew.

Panel 2 Identical layout. Some of the house decor has

changed. There is no one in the shot but Icicle, who

is now 15 years old and a sullen punk. It is night

time and she is quietly closing the door behind her.

Caption She never cared what I did.

Panel 3 Similar layout, but now a 17 year old Icicle is being

escorted onto a teen detention unit. She is wearingmonochrome sweats and a t-shirt.

Caption So neither did I.

Panel 4 Dressed the same, she is sitting in a poorlyappointed clinical office. There is a hippy-looking

clinician and a stern looking doctor with some

technical equipment in an open brief case.

Caption I didn't know what the tests were, all I knew was

that someone was paying attention to me.

CLINICIAN

We just have to run some tests on you.

DOCTOR

It's all very routine.

Caption But it didn't last.

Page 12 Digging it. 3 panels

Panel 1 Large panel of Icicle and Claw Hammer up in the new


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tunnel they are forming. He is attacking the dirt

ahead of them and she is using her ice to hold the

tunnel open.

Panel 2 Icicle looking down toward what they left behind.

Panel 3 Claw Hammer calling back to her.

CLAW HAMMER

Come on. We have to keep moving.

Page 13 Doing time. 5 panels

Panel 1 15 year old Icicle in her jail clothes in a 5x10cell. There is a metal bed bolted to the wall, a

toilet, and a sink. There is a small window in the

door. She looks very small and alone.

Caption They put me all by myself and I didn't know why.

Caption When no one knows you're alive....

Panel 2 Close of her lying with her face on the floor of the

cell.

Caption you start to feel like you're dead.

Panel 3 Similar to the shot of her being led onto the youth

detention unit, but now it is with prison guards at a

prison. Careful to show that her hair has not

changed. This is not a huge jump forward in time.

Just place.

Caption When they took me out, I was in a different place.

Panel 4 Big shot of the dining hall. 17 year old Icicle is

eating with her head and shoulders sagging. None of

the other women are sitting within ten feet of her.

Amidst the chaos, she is completely isolated.

Caption I was 17, I hadn't been convicted of anything, and

I was sitting in adult prison....

Panel 5 Shot down at her level. She is in the foreground

looking profoundly sad and isolated. Off behind here

are the other convicts. Either eating, talking, or

staring at her.

Caption but nothing had changed.

Page 14 Hates and Fears. 6 panels

Panel 1 Close on Icicle moving some peas across her tray witha little plastic spoon. Words come from off panel.

KATY

Hey.

Panel 2


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Looking up from Icicle's POV at Katy, the woman

standing across from her with a tray. She is a wiry

white woman in prison issue sweats and a t-shirt. She

has short cropped hair and small bandages criss

crossing her fingers, her hands, her arms, and all

the way up to her neck.

KATY

Anyone sittin' here?

ICICLE

No.

KATY

Good. You mind?

ICICLE

No.

Panel 3 Katy sitting down across from Icicle.

KATY

You'll get used to the food. Just drink lots of

water.

ICICLE

Uh.... Ok.

KATY

You know why you're getting the solo treatment?

Panel 4 Icicle looking up at Katy.

ICICLEBecause they hate me?

Panel 5 Katy leaning in and smiling.

KATY

No. They saw where you came in from and who

brought you....

Panel 6 Katy looking knowingly over her shoulder at all the

cons back there.

KATYThey're afraid of you.

Page 15 A connection. 5 panels

Panel 1 Shot of Icicle looking stunned and not believing.

ICICLE

Why? I didn't do anything. I don't even belong

here.

Panel 2 The two of them talking.


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KATY

According to the D.O.C. you do. Remember that test

you took at in-take? They scanned you with some

kinda machine?

ICICLE

Yes.

KATYWell that's why you're here. The girl's units

can't handle power cases, so you got to graduate

early.

ICICLE

What's a "power case"?

Panel 3 Katy talking.

KATY

You are. I am. Everyone on our floor is. You're

here because this is the only women's facility inthe state equipped to handle powers.

Panel 4 Icicle worried and Katy smiling.

ICICLE

But I'm not... I don't have powers.

KATY

And I didn't attack a state senator, but we're

still here. Ask around, no one here actually did

what they're locked up for.

ICICLENo, really, I'm...

KATY

Hey, doesn't matter. I just wanted to let you know

that this school yard BS doesn't last. They're

just feeling you out.

Panel 5 Katy confidently extending a fist, and Icicle shyly

bumping it.

ICICLE

Thanks.

KATY

No doubt. What's your name?

ICICLE

Stephanie.

Page 16 Dirty work. 5 panels

Panel 1 Claw Hammer still tearing upwards and adult Icicle

still supporting him and their small tunnel with ice.


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CLAW HAMMER

Hrr.

ICICLE

I can't...

Panel 2 Icicle slipping and holding herself up with herhands. She looks dazed. From this panel on, more and

more of her ice armor gradually crumbles off.

ICICLE

losing....

Panel 3 Claw Hammer reaching back and scooping her up.

CLAW HAMMER

No. Come on.

Panel 4 He has her tucked against his chest with one arm and

is using the other to tear away at the dirt.

CLAW HAMMERCan't -uhn- be far now.

Panel 5 Close on Icicle, her eyelids drooping, wearing what

might be a look of contentment.

Page 17 Hard knock life. 5 panels

Panel 1 18 year old Icicle sitting in the dining hall. Herhair is now chopped short and spiky. Katy and several

other woman are around her. One of them is playfully

reaching for something form Icicle's tray. She is

smiling and throwing her arm over the tray to blockit.

ICICLE

No way. You got yours.

Panel 2 Tight shot of Icicle at night in her cell. It is

quite dark but we can see that she is awake and

sitting on her bunk pressing her ear to the wall. She

looks concerned and is tapping her finger on the

wall.

SOUND EFFECT

ti ti ti

Panel 3 Very similar shot, but now she is not tapping and sheis smiling contentedly. These sound effects are

tapping on the other side of the wall.

SOUND EFFECT

tuh tuh tuh

Panel 4 Icicle in her cell focusing intently on her hand as

ice crystals form on the backs of her fingers.


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Outside. Back on the street from page 4. Now it is

spring time and Icicle is standing on the sidewalk in

front of her house. She is wearing a hoodie, jeans,

and work boots and carrying a small duffel bag. She

is looking at the house like there is something

wrong. The word balloon comes from off panel.

MRS BRADLEY

Stephanie? Is that you?

Page 18 Home coming. 5 panels

Panel 1 Icicle looking over at the speaker. It is Mrs.

Bradley, slightly older. She is clearly standing in

front of the house from the earlier scene.

ICICLE

Mrs. Bradley! Yeah, it's me. How you been?

Panel 2 The two of them smiling and talking to each other.

MRS BRADLEYOh, I'm just fine, dear. How are you?

ICICLE

I'm doing good.

MRS BRADLEY

You're back visiting the old neighborhood?

Panel 3 Icicle suddenly looking sad.

ICICLE

My mom moved, didn't she?

Panel 4 Mrs Bradley approaching with a hug, Icicle puttinghands up and turning away.

MRS BRADLEY

They didn't tell you? Oh, sweety, that is just

awful. How could she do that?

ICICLE

Nah. It's ok.

MRS BRADLEYNo it is not. What will you do? Where will you go.

Panel 5 Icicle turning and starting to walk away.

ICICLE

Thanks, Mrs. Bradley. I got some friends I can

stay with.

Page 19 Through the dirt. 5 panels

Panel 1 Claw Hammer still carrying the barely conscious


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Icicle as he digs ahead with his arm, shoulder, and

head. There is a sound effect as his shoulder strikes

something.

SOUND EFFECT

tump

Panel 2 Claw Hammer using his arm to clear dirt away from the

wide flat surface. It is rough looking cement.

CLAW HAMMER

Cement. I think I can....

Panel 3 Inside a man-sized sewer tunnel. The walls are madeof old tiles and there is about 2 feet of water

standing in the tunnel. There is a tiny, muted, sound

effect.

SOUND EFFECT

tun.

Panel 4 Another shot in the sewer, similar angle, but closeron just a random patch of water near the tunnel wall.

Claw Hammer's huge fist is crashing up through the

wall, tiles, and sewer water.

SOUND EFFECT

KA-ROOOSH

Panel 5 Shot of Claw Hammer pulling himself up through the

hole. Sewer water is pouring down over him and

Icicle.

Page 20 Friends in low places. 4 panels

Panel 1 Inside a deserted bar, which now functions as a

villain hide out. Icicle has just stepped through the

door. A skinny guy is closing it behind her and

peeking out to see if anyone had followed her. A

bigger guy is smiling at her.

BIGGER GUY

Katy mentioned you. Said you might come by. What's

your name?

ICICLEStephanie.

BIGGER GUY

That's your "gove'ment" name. you got another one,

dontcha?

ICICLE

I don't.... Not yet.

Panel 2 Later, a different hairstyle and some visible tattoos

mark the passage of time. Icicle is sitting with


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Piledriver in civilian clothes. They are sitting on

the roof of a car at night. She has just taken a swig

from a whiskey bottle and is grimacing up at the sky.

He is smiling at her and reaching for the bottle.

Panel 3 Icicle, Piledriver, Claw Hammer, and two other randomvillains, all in full villain gear, running away from

a flipped over and gutted armored car.

Panel 4 A very dark panel of Piledriver and Icicle kissing.

Page 21 Breathe. 5 panels

Panel 1 Tight close on Claw Hammer's huge face doing mouth tomouth on Icicle. His mouth covers her nose, mouth,

and chin.

Panel 2 Claw Hammer holding Icicle. She is looking pained andstruggling. He is looking scared.

CLAW HAMMER

Breathe.

Panel 3 Claw Hammer screaming a full hulk-scream in her face.

CLAW HAMMER

BREATHE!

Panel 4 Icicle, covered in blood, mud, and sewer water flailsand ices up (just a little bit) randomly. Claw Hammer

is still holding her and smiling down at her.

ICICLE

Guh.. huu..huu

Panel 5 Icicle collapsed on her hands and knees in the sewer,

Claw Hammer standing over her. She is huffing and

red-eyed. Her words are tiny.

ICICLE

I'm....

ICICLE

hu...hu..

ICICLE

I'm going to.....

Page 22 Swear to me. 3 panels

Panel 1 Small panel across the top of the page. Up on herknees in the sewer and looking up at Claw Hammer. She

looks deadly serious.

ICICLE

I'm going to kill Coil.

Panel 2 A wide panel stretching across the page, this is the


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final flashback. Piledriver and Icicle have folded

down the back seat of her truck and are laying

together in the bed. They have some grungy blanket

covering them. She is cuddled up against him and he

is gazing dreamily up into space.

PILEDRIVER

Just think, this time tomorrow we'll be half way

to Blue Ridge.

ICICLE

Just you and me, baby.

Panel 3 As big a panel as the page will allow. Claw Hammer

standing in the foreground, he has to nearly crouch

to fit in the tunnel. Icicle is walking away down the

tunnel.

ICICLE

I'm gonna kill him.

Caption The End

rapid city #25

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