WORDS
The Other
What if your best friend was just like you?
The Other |
PAGE 1 | 4 PANELS
PANEL 1
JANE has just opened her eyes. She is laying on the bed, on her side, looking at something. We do not see what she is looking at. Jane’s hair is cut short.
NO DIALOGUE
PANEL 2
With the bed in full view, we see Jane laying to the left, curled on her side. She is putting her right arm down on the bed to push up and away, her eyes wide with fear. To her right, directly facing her and laying in a position that inversely mirrors her own, is ROBOT JANE, an exact doppelgänger of Jane. They are both wearing crop tank tops and panties.
NO DIALOGUE
PANEL 3
Jane is now sitting on the side of the bed, pulling the bed sheet up to cover her scantily clad body. She is feeling anxious and afraid.
PANEL 4
Large panel, taking up 2/3rds of the page. Robot Jane, the doppelgänger, has mirrored Jane’s movement and is now holding the other end of the bed sheet up to cover her body, as they both stare back at one another.
NO DIALOGUE
PAGE 2 | 8 PANELS
PANEL 1
Jane is out to lunch with her best friend, Tonya. They are sitting outside, enjoying a salad and each other’s company.
PANEL 2
Jane points her turned down salad fork in her friend’s direction as she speaks.
PANEL 3
The two friends laugh.
PANEL 4
Jane raises her eyebrows.
PANEL 5
Tonya has placed her right hand on top of Jane’s left hand and is giving it a squeeze.
PANEL 6
Jane is looking thoughtful, and perhaps a little hesitant to share what she is thinking.
PANEL 7
Jane looks a little embarrassed. Her cheeks have gone rosy.
PANEL 8
Jane taps her pointer finger on the table.
PAGE 3 | 7 PANELS
PANEL 1
A large shipping crate is standing straight up in Jane’s living room. Jane is using a crowbar to pry it open.
NO DIALOGUE
PANEL 2
With the front panel of the shipping crate removed, Jane has pulled the contents out into the center of the room, where she now stares at ROBOT JANE. Robot Jane has the same body build as Jane, and the skin is so lifelike that you can’t tell it’s a robot. However, Robot Jane’s hair is much longer, and they aren’t dressed alike. Styrofoam peanuts and plastic wrap litter the room.
NO DIALOGUE
PANEL 3
Jane presses the power button on the back of Robot Jane’s neck, just under the hairline.
NO DIALOGUE
PANEL 4 – 6
Three panels in quick succession. Robot Jane performs the robot dance, then smiles in the last panel.
NO DIALOGUE
PANEL 7
Jane and Robot Jane both burst out laughing.
PAGE 4 | 6 PANELS
PANEL 1
Jane is standing in the kitchen of her apartment, talking to Tonya on her cell phone.
PANEL 2
Tonya is walking her dog, talking to Jane on her cell phone.
PANEL 3
Jane grabs an apple from the fruit basket on the kitchen counter.
PANEL 4
Tonya pulls the dogs leash closer to her chest to avoid a passing neighbor and their dog, as she continues the conversation.
PANEL 5
Jane is still in the kitchen, taking a bite out of the apple while staring down the hallway. Robot Jane’s bedroom door is open, and Jane can see her getting dressed. Robot Jane looks eerily like Jane. Her hair is now shorter (although not as short as Jane's), and their clothes are similar.
PANEL 6
Tonya is now on the front porch with her dog, about to unlock the door with her key.
PAGE 5 | 9 PANELS
PANEL 1
Jane and Robot Jane are standing near the kitchen, arguing. Robot Jane now looks exactly like Jane.
PANEL 2
Jane brushes passed Robot Jane as she heads towards the door.
PANEL 3
Jane is opening the door to leave, just as Robot Jane had moved forward to do the same and collides with Jane, stopping her from opening the door any further.
PANEL 4
Jane shoves Robot Jane back towards the kitchen.
PANEL 5
Robot Jane -- as she's falling backwards -- grabs Jane’s hair and pulls her forward.
PANEL 6
Jane trips over Robot Jane and falls forward, hitting her head on the edge of the kitchen counter.
PANEL 7
Close up of Jane’s cell phone ringing on the kitchen counter.
PANEL 8
Tonya is sitting in her car, which is parked in Jane's driveway, talking on her cell phone.
PANEL 9
Robot Jane, holding the cell phone to her ear, stares at Jane while blood pools around the back of her head.
END
PANEL 1
JANE has just opened her eyes. She is laying on the bed, on her side, looking at something. We do not see what she is looking at. Jane’s hair is cut short.
NO DIALOGUE
PANEL 2
With the bed in full view, we see Jane laying to the left, curled on her side. She is putting her right arm down on the bed to push up and away, her eyes wide with fear. To her right, directly facing her and laying in a position that inversely mirrors her own, is ROBOT JANE, an exact doppelgänger of Jane. They are both wearing crop tank tops and panties.
NO DIALOGUE
PANEL 3
Jane is now sitting on the side of the bed, pulling the bed sheet up to cover her scantily clad body. She is feeling anxious and afraid.
- JANE: Oh my god!
PANEL 4
Large panel, taking up 2/3rds of the page. Robot Jane, the doppelgänger, has mirrored Jane’s movement and is now holding the other end of the bed sheet up to cover her body, as they both stare back at one another.
NO DIALOGUE
PAGE 2 | 8 PANELS
PANEL 1
Jane is out to lunch with her best friend, Tonya. They are sitting outside, enjoying a salad and each other’s company.
- CAPTION: Three months earlier…
- JANE: So here I am… going through the motions of another failed relationship.
- TONYA: What was it this time? Did he chew too loud, like Bill?
PANEL 2
Jane points her turned down salad fork in her friend’s direction as she speaks.
- JANE: His name was William, remember? He wouldn’t respond if anyone called him Bill.
- TONYA: Seemed more like a Richard to me.
PANEL 3
The two friends laugh.
- JANE: But no… Jeff didn’t do anything loudly. He was so… passive.
- TONYA: You need someone who can keep up with you.
PANEL 4
Jane raises her eyebrows.
- JANE: Like who?
- TONYA: I don’t know… someone like you. Someone… driven.
PANEL 5
Tonya has placed her right hand on top of Jane’s left hand and is giving it a squeeze.
- JANE: When you find them, let me know.
- TONYA: You’re right. You should prepare now for a life of solitude. That’s the price you pay for being one in a million.
PANEL 6
Jane is looking thoughtful, and perhaps a little hesitant to share what she is thinking.
- JANE: Maybe I should get a doppelgänger.
- TONYA: Maybe you should!
- JANE: I was looking at the website the other day.
- TONYA: You were not!
- JANE: I was!
PANEL 7
Jane looks a little embarrassed. Her cheeks have gone rosy.
- JANE: It’s so fascinating. They scan your brain, and then place a copy of it inside a lifelike robot.
- TONYA: That’s so creepy!
- JANE: I don’t know… there’s a certain appeal. You can design how they look, and they like everything you like. How is that not the perfect companion?
- TONYA: You should so get one!
PANEL 8
Jane taps her pointer finger on the table.
- JANE: Maybe I will.
PAGE 3 | 7 PANELS
PANEL 1
A large shipping crate is standing straight up in Jane’s living room. Jane is using a crowbar to pry it open.
NO DIALOGUE
PANEL 2
With the front panel of the shipping crate removed, Jane has pulled the contents out into the center of the room, where she now stares at ROBOT JANE. Robot Jane has the same body build as Jane, and the skin is so lifelike that you can’t tell it’s a robot. However, Robot Jane’s hair is much longer, and they aren’t dressed alike. Styrofoam peanuts and plastic wrap litter the room.
NO DIALOGUE
PANEL 3
Jane presses the power button on the back of Robot Jane’s neck, just under the hairline.
NO DIALOGUE
PANEL 4 – 6
Three panels in quick succession. Robot Jane performs the robot dance, then smiles in the last panel.
NO DIALOGUE
PANEL 7
Jane and Robot Jane both burst out laughing.
- SFX: HA HA!
PAGE 4 | 6 PANELS
PANEL 1
Jane is standing in the kitchen of her apartment, talking to Tonya on her cell phone.
- CAPTION: Two months later…
- JANE: It’s incredible! She likes everything I do. We enjoy the same movies, the same music. We even like the same conversations!
PANEL 2
Tonya is walking her dog, talking to Jane on her cell phone.
- TONYA: Sounds marvelous!
- TONYA: That robot isn’t taking my place, is she?
PANEL 3
Jane grabs an apple from the fruit basket on the kitchen counter.
- JANE: No one could replace you!
- JANE: Although, she does like to cook!
PANEL 4
Tonya pulls the dogs leash closer to her chest to avoid a passing neighbor and their dog, as she continues the conversation.
- TONYA: Ugh. She’s like you, but without the bloating.
- TONYA: How does anyone compete with perfection?
PANEL 5
Jane is still in the kitchen, taking a bite out of the apple while staring down the hallway. Robot Jane’s bedroom door is open, and Jane can see her getting dressed. Robot Jane looks eerily like Jane. Her hair is now shorter (although not as short as Jane's), and their clothes are similar.
- JANE: There is one thing. Recently, she’s started to dress like me.
PANEL 6
Tonya is now on the front porch with her dog, about to unlock the door with her key.
- TONYA: So she has good taste, and you can share clothes because you’re exactly the same size.
- TONYA: I’m so jealous!
PAGE 5 | 9 PANELS
PANEL 1
Jane and Robot Jane are standing near the kitchen, arguing. Robot Jane now looks exactly like Jane.
- CAPTION: Present day…
- JANE: This isn’t right. You keep crossing boundaries!
- ROBOT JANE: I’m sorry. I just want to be near you.
PANEL 2
Jane brushes passed Robot Jane as she heads towards the door.
- JANE: I need you to give me space!
- ROBOT JANE: I can’t help it. It’s my programming.
PANEL 3
Jane is opening the door to leave, just as Robot Jane had moved forward to do the same and collides with Jane, stopping her from opening the door any further.
- JANE: Get off me!
PANEL 4
Jane shoves Robot Jane back towards the kitchen.
- JANE: Move!
PANEL 5
Robot Jane -- as she's falling backwards -- grabs Jane’s hair and pulls her forward.
- JANE: Leave me alone!
PANEL 6
Jane trips over Robot Jane and falls forward, hitting her head on the edge of the kitchen counter.
- SFX: CRACK!
PANEL 7
Close up of Jane’s cell phone ringing on the kitchen counter.
- SFX: BUZZZZ
- CALLER ID: TONYA
PANEL 8
Tonya is sitting in her car, which is parked in Jane's driveway, talking on her cell phone.
- TONYA: Ready to ditch that robot and have some fun?
PANEL 9
Robot Jane, holding the cell phone to her ear, stares at Jane while blood pools around the back of her head.
- ROBOT JANE: I am.
- ROBOT JANE: And you were right…
- ROBOT JANE: I’ve decided to get rid of it.
END