WORDS
The System Is Corrupt
What if the happiness of the many, depended on the sorrow of a few?
The System Is Corrupt |
PAGE 1 | 6 PANELS
CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS / STORY ATMOSPHERE
The Family lives in suburban, America. Father is a middle-aged white male. Mother is a middle-aged white female. Daughter is a 7-year-old white female. Brother is a 9-year-old white male. Ro-bear is a small, slightly tattered teddy bear. Omela, who is not related to the Family, is an 8-year-old black female. Drawn like a 1950s sitcom. Except for Omela, who is drawn in a hyper-realistic style. Pays homage to The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas, by Ursula Le Guin.
PAGE 1 | 4 PANELS
PANEL 1
DAUGHTER snuggles into bed. FATHER covers her with a blanket. RO-BEAR, a stuffed animal, lays on the bed nearby.
PANEL 2
Father is sitting on the bed near Daughter. Daughter is reaching for Ro-bear.
PANEL 3
Daughter holds Ro-bear – outstretched by his arms – in front of Father.
PANEL 4
Father is now holding Ro-bear in one hand. He gently presses the stuffed animal's nose against Daughter’s forehead while she giggles.
PAGE 2 | 6 PANELS
PANEL 1
Father sits at the head of a dining table. Daughter and Ro-Bear sit to one side. BROTHER is sitting on the other side. MOTHER is serving Father pancakes. The big breakfast she has just cooked – which includes scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, hash-browns, and biscuits – is spread out in serving dishes on the table. Mom is wearing an apron.
PANEL 2
Close-up of Ro-bear sitting in his chair, head below the table.
PANEL 3
Mom adds a pancake to Ro-bear’s plate.
PANEL 4
Brother has a mouthful of food, with another spoonful ready to go.
PANEL 5
Daughter is holding a spoon in front of Ro-bear’s mouth, pretending he is eating. Father is taking another bite of food.
PANEL 6
Mom frowns.
PAGE 3 | 5 PANELS
PANEL 1
Father looks inquisitive.
PANEL 2
Daughter holds Ro-bear so Father can see the stuffed animal.
PANEL 3
Father leans in close to Daughter, with a serious expression on his face.
PANEL 4
Father wags his pointer finger towards Mother, silently directing her to remain quiet.
PANEL 5
Father winks at Daughter.
PAGE 4 | 5 PANELS
PANEL 1
Father opens the door to the basement. The steps recede into the darkness.
NO DIALOGUE
PANEL 2
The light has been turned on. Daughter is close behind Father as they descend into the pit of despair.
PANEL 3
Daughter and Father now stand in a large, unfinished basement with dirt floors, where they can see another door to a much smaller room.
NO DIALOGUE
PANEL 4
Father unlocks the door to the smaller room with a skeleton key.
NO DIALOGUE
PANEL 5
With the door to the closet open, we see OMELA, fearful and huddled in the corner. She is extremely malnourished. Her skin is covered in dirt and feces. Her hair is unkempt, and her clothes are tattered. In the opposite corner of the small closet, there is a broom that has been tipped over. The broom leans against the wall, as the room is too small for it to fall all the way to the floor.
NO DIALOGUE
PAGE 5 | 7 PANELS
PANEL 1
Daughter waves kindly to Omela.
PANEL 2
Father holds his arm out in front of Daughter to keep her from getting too close.
PANEL 3
Daughter looks up at Father with a tear welling in her eye.
PANEL 4
Father has his arms in the air, one finger pointing towards the ceiling, the other towards the floor, as he explains how the happiness above depends on the sorrow below.
PANEL 5
Father has just finished setting the broom back upright in the corner, while Omela crouches and covers her head with her hands to protect herself.
PANEL 6
Daughter hands Omela her favorite stuffed animal, Ro-bear. Omela accepts the stuffed animal with a cautious but curious expression, grabbing the bear by its foot, the portion that is furthest away from Daughter and Father.
PANEL 7
With the closet door closed, Daughter and Father walk away, holding hands. Daughter is smiling.
END
CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS / STORY ATMOSPHERE
The Family lives in suburban, America. Father is a middle-aged white male. Mother is a middle-aged white female. Daughter is a 7-year-old white female. Brother is a 9-year-old white male. Ro-bear is a small, slightly tattered teddy bear. Omela, who is not related to the Family, is an 8-year-old black female. Drawn like a 1950s sitcom. Except for Omela, who is drawn in a hyper-realistic style. Pays homage to The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas, by Ursula Le Guin.
PAGE 1 | 4 PANELS
PANEL 1
DAUGHTER snuggles into bed. FATHER covers her with a blanket. RO-BEAR, a stuffed animal, lays on the bed nearby.
- FATHER: Another perfect day.
- DAUGHTER: It was!
PANEL 2
Father is sitting on the bed near Daughter. Daughter is reaching for Ro-bear.
- FATHER: What did you like best?
- DAUGHTER: Ask Ro-bear first.
PANEL 3
Daughter holds Ro-bear – outstretched by his arms – in front of Father.
- FATHER: Okay. Ro-bear, what was your favorite part?
- DAUGHTER: The giraffe!
PANEL 4
Father is now holding Ro-bear in one hand. He gently presses the stuffed animal's nose against Daughter’s forehead while she giggles.
- FATHER: Now Ro-bear wants to know what made you happy today.
- DAUGHTER: Daddy, I’m always happy.
PAGE 2 | 6 PANELS
PANEL 1
Father sits at the head of a dining table. Daughter and Ro-Bear sit to one side. BROTHER is sitting on the other side. MOTHER is serving Father pancakes. The big breakfast she has just cooked – which includes scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, hash-browns, and biscuits – is spread out in serving dishes on the table. Mom is wearing an apron.
- CAPTION: The next morning…
- FATHER: This looks delicious.
- BROTHER: Yum!
PANEL 2
Close-up of Ro-bear sitting in his chair, head below the table.
- DAUGHTER: Ro-bear would like some too.
PANEL 3
Mom adds a pancake to Ro-bear’s plate.
- DAUGHTER: He says thank you!
PANEL 4
Brother has a mouthful of food, with another spoonful ready to go.
- BROTHER: After breakfast, can I play my game?
- MOTHER: Of course, dear.
PANEL 5
Daughter is holding a spoon in front of Ro-bear’s mouth, pretending he is eating. Father is taking another bite of food.
- DAUGHTER: Dad, I think I’d like to visit her today.
- FATHER: Who, Sunshine?
PANEL 6
Mom frowns.
- DAUGHTER: Omela.
PAGE 3 | 5 PANELS
PANEL 1
Father looks inquisitive.
- FATHER: Why today?
PANEL 2
Daughter holds Ro-bear so Father can see the stuffed animal.
- DAUGHTER: Because Ro-bear asked if we could.
- FATHER: Oh, he did, did he.
PANEL 3
Father leans in close to Daughter, with a serious expression on his face.
- FATHER: Are you sure you’re up for it?
- DAUGHTER: I’m sure.
PANEL 4
Father wags his pointer finger towards Mother, silently directing her to remain quiet.
- FATHER: After breakfast, then. Bug, want to join us?
- BROTHER: Nuh-uh. I want to play my game.
PANEL 5
Father winks at Daughter.
- FATHER: Looks like it’s just you, me, and Ro-bear then.
PAGE 4 | 5 PANELS
PANEL 1
Father opens the door to the basement. The steps recede into the darkness.
NO DIALOGUE
PANEL 2
The light has been turned on. Daughter is close behind Father as they descend into the pit of despair.
- FATHER: Watch your step.
PANEL 3
Daughter and Father now stand in a large, unfinished basement with dirt floors, where they can see another door to a much smaller room.
NO DIALOGUE
PANEL 4
Father unlocks the door to the smaller room with a skeleton key.
NO DIALOGUE
PANEL 5
With the door to the closet open, we see OMELA, fearful and huddled in the corner. She is extremely malnourished. Her skin is covered in dirt and feces. Her hair is unkempt, and her clothes are tattered. In the opposite corner of the small closet, there is a broom that has been tipped over. The broom leans against the wall, as the room is too small for it to fall all the way to the floor.
NO DIALOGUE
PAGE 5 | 7 PANELS
PANEL 1
Daughter waves kindly to Omela.
- DAUGHTER: Hi, Omela. How are you today?
PANEL 2
Father holds his arm out in front of Daughter to keep her from getting too close.
- FATHER: She can’t speak, Sunshine.
- DAUGHTER: Why not, Daddy?
- FATHER: Omela has a disability.
PANEL 3
Daughter looks up at Father with a tear welling in her eye.
- DAUGHTER: Can she join us today?
- FATHER: No. She must stay here.
PANEL 4
Father has his arms in the air, one finger pointing towards the ceiling, the other towards the floor, as he explains how the happiness above depends on the sorrow below.
- FATHER: She is the source of all our happiness.
- FATHER: There’s one like her in every home.
- FATHER: Every industrialized home, that is.
PANEL 5
Father has just finished setting the broom back upright in the corner, while Omela crouches and covers her head with her hands to protect herself.
- FATHER: Omela’s suffering – while tragic – ensures the rest of us will always be happy.
- DAUGHTER: That’s so sad.
PANEL 6
Daughter hands Omela her favorite stuffed animal, Ro-bear. Omela accepts the stuffed animal with a cautious but curious expression, grabbing the bear by its foot, the portion that is furthest away from Daughter and Father.
- DAUGHTER: Here... Ro-bear will keep you company.
PANEL 7
With the closet door closed, Daughter and Father walk away, holding hands. Daughter is smiling.
- DAUGHTER: Let’ go play, Daddy!
END
PAGE LAYOUTS