I've been asked by the occasional artist if I have any old script laying around that they could illustrate -- typically for portfolio pieces. I whipped this one up specifically for that purpose, and fell in love with it. So -- and this is
very long -- here it is.
---
TRIXIE TEMPUS
“Old School”
Script by Eric S. Trautmann
March 18,2008 [Updated Feb 20, 2009]
Version 3.3
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 United States License. To view a copy of this license, visit
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, 171 Second Street, Suite 300, San Francisco, California, 94105, USA.
Page 1 [5 panels]
Panel 1
Horizontal panel. Establishing shot—Nightime, PHALANX CITY. The City is Blade Runner futuristic—towering skyscrapers, smog, rain, blazing neon. Flying cars, people in jet packs, massive dirigibles can all be seen cluttering the swollen, cloud-choked skies.
1.1. CAPTION
THE NATIONAL SOCIALIST NATION OF NORTH AMERICA.
1.2. CAPTION
APRIL 11, 2065 A.D.
1.3. CAPTION
(The 100th anniversary of the death of
World Emperor Adolf Hitler.)
Panel 2
Street level, outside the RED DRAGON BAR. The BAR is, like the rest of the city, dingy and rain-slicked, festooned with neon and graffiti and signs in ENGLISH, GERMAN, FRENCH, JAPANESE or ITALIAN. There's a mirrored bay window along the front of the bar, which means we can't see inside.
In front of the bar, we see a parked POLICE VEHICLE—bulky, angular and bristling with weapons. The POLICE VEHICLE is shining it's spotlight at the front door of the RED DRAGON.
Flanking the door are a squad of SPECIAL POLICE troopers—big, bulky, armored, with riot visors and HUGE automatic weapons. [Note: the uniforms should be really hardcore neofascist, like these.] They're crouched and getting ready to burst into the RED DRAGON.
1.4. Caption/Trixie
Parallel universes. A mainstay of comics and movies with robots and laser swords in 'em.
1.5. Caption/Trixie
For every decision every creature in the universe could possibly make, there's an alternate universe somewheres else that shows the outcome.
1.6. Caption/Trixie
Take this one, f'r'instance. In this particular 'verse, Hitler wasn't born a genocidal loon.
1.7. SPECIAL POLICE LEADER
--hold here.
Bravo Unit has the rear covered--
1.8. SPECIAL POLICE 1 (overlapped)
--heard she's
armed--
1.9. SPECIAL POLICE 2 (overlapped)
--the
hell did she get a
gun?
Panel 3
Closer in on the SPECIAL POLICE troopers. One is barking orders, the rest charging into the bar.
1.10. TRIXIE/Caption
So, a'course, he kicked nine shades of
shinola outta the
entire world. Died of old age.
1.11. SPECIAL POLICE 1 (yelling)
Enough chatter!
Move in!
1.12. SPECIAL POLICE TROOPS (unison)
Sieg Heil!
Panel 4
Horizontal panel—stet panel one, except we can just see the back of the last of the SPECIAL POLICE troopers moving in.
[NOTE: Dialogue here should kind of overlap each other, like we're only hearing fragments of chatter.]
1.13. SPECIAL POLICE (no tail)
Fan out!
Fan out!
1.14. SPECIAL POLICE (no tail)
Check your corners!
1.15. SPECIAL POLICE (no tail)
--kill her on sight--
1.16. SPECIAL POLICE (no tail)
--was that movement? We got
movement--
Panel 5
Horizontal panel, stet Panel 1, except the SPECIAL POLICE are no longer in sight.
1.17. SPECIAL POLICE (no tail)
--happened to the
lights?
1.18. SPECIAL POLICE (no tail)
SWITCH TO NIGHTSCOPES--
1.19. SPECIAL POLICE (no tail, yelling)
Holy sh--!!!
1.20. Caption/Trixie
'Course, this universe's Adolf was still a
jerk.
1.21. Caption/Trixie
Welcome to the
Thousand Year Reich.
Page 2 [Splash]
Splash page—full page.
A female figure—TRIXIE TEMPUS—crashes backwards through the mirrored window and into the street. She's firing a pair of COLT .45 1911 PISTOLS John Woo-style back into the bar, grinning like a maniac the whole time.
TRIXIE is dressed like a 1930s pulp adventurer—Leather Jacket with fur collar and an embroidered tiger emblem on the back; jodhpurs and high, shiny black boots; pistol holsters on both hips. She's got her red hair in a long pony tail.
Story title and credits block goes here, ideally shaped in the shards of broken glass.
2.1. SFX: BROKEN GLASS
KKKKRAASH
2.2 SFX: TRIXIE's GUNS
BLAM BLAM BLAM BLAM BLAM BLAM, etc.
2.3 TRIXIE (yelling)
YYYYYEEEEEEE-HAAAAAAAAAA!2.4. Trixie/Caption
Name's Trixie. I'm a time traveller and dimension-hopper.
2.5. Trixie/Caption
Fair to say I'm also a
thief an'
gunrunner.
2.6. TRIXIE/CAPTION
Fairer to say I'm runnin' guns to the Resistance here.
2.7. TRIXIE/CAPTION
Kinda makes the local goosesteppers a mite
irritable.
Page 3 [5 panels]
Panel 1
TRIXIE hits the ground in a crouch; she's haloed by broken glass.
3.1 TRIXIE (panting)
--pant--
--pant--
3.2 Trixie/Caption
One of the handy things about fascist goon squads? They're
predictable.Panel 2
Still grinning, we see TRIXIE ejecting the spent magazines from her pistols.
3.3. SFX: PISTOLS
KACHAK! KACHAK!
3.4 Trixie/Caption
They come at you
head on.
Panel 3
TRIXIE looks startled as three new RIOT VEHICLES arrive—hovering on cushions of excited ions, a la Star Wars landspeeders.
3.5 RIOT VEHICLE LOUDSPEAKER (LOUD!)
FREEZE! DROP YOUR WEAPONS!3.6 SFX: VEHICLES
HHHHHRRRRRRMMMMM
Panel 4
A GUNNER atop one of the RIOT VEHICLES shouts orders at her, as he racks the bolt on the massive MACHINE GUN emplacement he mans on top of the VEHICLE.
3.7 TRIXIE/CAPTION
Like I said:
predictable.
3.8 TRIXIE/CAPTION
And I s'pose you're askin' yourself, 'Self? How's a little gal like Trixie gonna take on so
many bad, bad men?'
3.9 GUNNER (YELLING)
This is your
last warning! You are in violation of Reich Code 7167/18, and I am authorized to employ
deadly force--
3.10 GUNNER (YELLING)/LINKED
Stand down!3.11 SFX: GUN CHARGING
CHAK-CHAK!
Panel 5
TRIXIE puts two fingers in her mouth and whistles.
3.12 TRIXIE/Caption
It's a fair question, I reckon.
3.13 TRIXIE/Whistling
[Render as a single musical note, to signify she's whistling]
Page 4
PANEL 1
Cutaway—we see TRIXIE's TIME CYCLE, parked in the shadows of a nearby street. Imagine the biggest, nastiest Harley Davidson you think of, and add a bewildering array of pipes, conduits, and crazy chrome mechanical jumble to the engine assembly.
4.1 TRIXIE/CAption
'Course, I'm not exactly
solo here.
4.2 TRIXIE (whistle)
[As prior page, but very small, signifying that she's some distance away.]
PANEL 2
The front light of the TIME CYCLE lights up, as if the CYCLE is “waking up”.
4.3 SFX: TIME CYCLE
RUMBLERUMBLERUMBLERUMBLERUMBLERUMBLERUMB
LE
4.4 TIME CYCLE COMPUTER (TCC) (elec)
Audio cue recognized.
4.5 TCC (elec)/linked
Activating maneuver Delta-04.
PANELS 3-4
We watch as a pair of rocket engines fold down from the engine assembly, and ignite.
4.6 TCC (elec)
ENGAGED!
4.7 SFX: TIME CYCLE RUMBLE
(As before, but louder)
4.8 SFX: ROCKET ENGINES UNFOLDING
KLK-WHIRRRRRR
4.9 SFX: ROCKET ENGINES IGNITING
FFFFWOOOOOSH!
Page 5
PANEL 1
Cut back to the street scene—the RIOT POLICE GUNNER is still yelling at TRIXIE. In the foreground, we can see her slapping fresh clips into the pistols.
5.1 GUNNER (yelling)
--Lady, I'm not telling you again. Drop your weapons--
PANEL 2
We're looking at TRIXIE through the RIOT POLICE GUNNER's gunsight, as she points her two pistols up, racking the slides forward with the slide-release.
5.2 TRIXIE
Fat chance, Fritz. I've been kickin' Nazi butt longer'n you've been alive.
5.3 SFX: Gun Slides engaging.
KA-CHAK! KA-CHAK!
PANEL 3
Inset panel—the RIOT GUNNER's finger starts to tighten on the trigger.
5.4 GUNNER (off panel)
Have it your way, lady.
5.5 Gunner (off panel)/linked
Heil Hitler--
PANEL 4
Up angle view of the RIOT gunner, as the TIME CYCLE swoops over the vehicle and knocks the gun aside. The RIOT GUNNER looks startled and a bit scared.
5.6 GUNNER
Wha-?!!!
5.7 SFX: TIME CYCLE
VRRRRROOOOOOOM!
5.8 SFX: CYCLE HITTING GUN
CHANK!
Page 6
PANEL 1
TRIXIE charges forward, in a sprint. The other RIOT POLICE open fire, and we see bullets chewing up the pavement around her.
6.1. SFX: Gunfire
BRAK BRAK BRAK BRAK
6.2. TRIXIE
Sorry, boys--
PANEL 2
TRIXIE leaps, her foot finding purchase on the RIOT POLICE vehicle in front of her; the startled RIOT POLICE GUNNER is starting to recover, and is just beginning to draw his sidearm.
6.3. TRIXIE
--but it looks like--
PANEL 3
TRIXIE flips through the air, tumbling. (Might be cool to do one of those old-school Spider Man riffs, where we can see him tumble in a series of “ghost outlines”.)
6.4. TRIXIE
--my ride is here.
PANEL 4
TRIXIE's guns blast the sidearm out of the RIOT POLICE GUNNER's hand, still in midair.
6.5. SFX: TRIXIE'S .45s
BLAM! BLAM! BLAM!
6.6 GUNNER
--OW!
Panel 5
TRIXIE lands on the TIME CYCLE, still shooting and grinning. She LOVES this.
6.7. TRIXIE (yelling)
YAHOOOOO!
6.8. SFX: GUNFIRE
BLAM! BLAM! BLAM!
Panel 6
Inset panel: Trixie winks.
6.9. Trixie
It's been fun. Give my regards to der Fuehrer.
Page 7
[Note: this page should just be a series of stacked, horizontal panels.]
PANEL 1
Horizontal panel. The rocket engines of the TIME CYCLE fire up massively, and the vehicle just RIPS forward. TRIXIE is leaning forward, her hair blowing back, and the city background is nothing but a blur.
7.1. SFX: TIME CYCLE
VVVVRRROOOOOOOOM!
7.2. TCC/elec
Warning: Mission clock becoming critical.
7.3. TCC/elec/linked
Query: Mission status?
PANEL 2
Still on the cycle; TRIXIE talking.
7.4. Trixie/Caption
Guess I should tell you what I'm doin' here, huh?
7.5. Trixie
It'll be tight, but we'll make it if we hurry. Inform Nexus Central that we're heading for the NEO-Reichstag now.
PANEL 3
We're watching the TIME CYCLE from behind now, as it races toward a massive structure in the center background. The building is HUGE—stretching what seems like miles into the sky. It has that weird art deco look of old Albert Speer Nazi architecture.
7.6. Trixie/Caption
Well, first off, I'm running some guns from the QA-17 universe to the Resistance here.
7.7. TRIXIE/CAPTION
Nexus Central -- the outfit I work for -- isn't fond of Nazis, so they figure some weapons from a universe where Nikola Tesla perfected death rays in the 1930s might cause some suitable mischief.
7.8. Trixie/Caption
Me? I have a, uh, secondary objective.
7.9. TCC/elec
Query: Operative Trixie Tempus, the NEO-Reichstag is not a mission-specific coordinate. Why are you Deviating from Mission plan?
Page 8
Panel 1
Horizontal panel, side view of TRIXIE buzzing over city streets, as passersby duck for cover.
8.1. TRIXIE/Caption
Technically, I'm breakin' the rules a bit. The energy budgets for time travel don't allow for a lot o' flexibility.
8.2. TRIXIE
We'll make it. Just need to make one quick stop on th' way.
Panel 2
The TIME CYCLE swoops up, flying parallel to the side of one of the city skyscrapers.
8.3. TCC/elec
Operative Tempus, this course of action is not advised.
8.4. TCC/elec
Flight plan / time window schedule indicates rendezvous with Resistance leaders is imminent.
8.5. Trixie
Trust me. I've got a plan--
Panel 3
The TIME CYCLE skids to a halt (skidding on air, just like a dirt bike would on ground). The TIME CYCLE is being illuminated from off panel by some kind of spotlight.
8.6. SFX: SKID
SCREEEEEEEEE
Panel 4
Close up on TRIXIE's very startled face.
8.7. Trixie (very quiet)
--aw, hell.
Page 9
Splash/full page.
We see, in the background, close by, the sci-fi Neo-Reichstag established on page 7. In front of it, along it's bordering security wall, we see large towers—brushed steel, with lots of hatches and mounts for a blistering array of weapons. The towers themselves (sort of a futuristic flak tower) seem to be part mechanical—rising and leaning forward a bit, and pointing weapons and spotlights at TRIXIE, who we see from behind, in the foreground of the panel. (We're basically taking an elevated view, and we see the building looming and it's defenses active).
More TROOPS line the wall, aiming machine guns and assault rifles at TRIXIE.
Leaping from the walls are several PANZERMECHS—twenty-foot high walking tanks. (Essentially, imagine crossing a Star Wars scout walker/AT-ST, with the turret from a Tiger tank. Instead of just the big cannon on the front, you can sidemount gatling cannons, rocket pods, and so on. Fascist imagery – falcons/eagles and death's heads most likely – decorate the PANZERMECHS.
9.1. TCC/elec
Query: Is this part of your plan?
9.2. Trixie (quietly)
Not exactly, no.
Page 10
Panel 1
The TIME CYCLE skids ahead, as TRIXIE guns the motor, her expression determined now.
10.1. Trixie
'Course, no plan is perfect. So, it pays to improvise.
10.2. SFX: MOTOR
VRRROOOOOOM!
Panel 2
Small panel, inset, focusing on her hand as she opens a small pouch on her belt.
10.3. TRIXIE/Caption
Running guns through time is a bit tricky. You need to be able to balance energy and mass, and calculate when the time charge is going to wear off and send you back.
Panel 3
Small panel, inset, and we see that TRIXIE has removed a small cylindrical object from the belt pouch, roughly the size and shape of a large pen. On the top, like with a ballpoint, is a small button (though this button glows green).
9.6. Trixie/Caption
So the Nexus boys cooked up some cute tricks to make it possible to transport stuff back through time and across dimensions.
Panel 4
Small panel, inset. We see TRIXIE's thumb press the button, which now glows red.
10.4. Trixie/Caption
We can package stuff--like arms for the local resistance cell--into little artificial universes, pocket sized.
Page 11
Panel 1
Horizontal panel. Side view of TRIXIE and the TIME CYCLE as they race ahead. The background is a blur, but we can see incoming fire all around her. In her right hand, we see the small pen device, which she's holding up a bit, almost like a riding crop. Above the glowing red button, a glowing orb appears, about the size of a large melon.
11.1. Trixie/Caption
Their quantum batteries hold enough charge to use 'em twice. One to load 'em up with something--
Panel 2
We see TRIXIE's hand reach into the orb, disappearing inside. She's in up to her elbow; her hand SHOULD be appearing on the other side of the orb, but it isn't—it should be clear that she's reaching deep inside something that's more or less physically impossible, a hole in the air.
11.2. Trixie/Caption
--and the second time--
Panel 3
TRIXIE rears back, and she's now holding the BIGGEST DAMN GUN you can think of it. It's huge, and ugly, and is covered with bolts, and rivets, and glowing Jacob's Ladders, glowing vacuum tubes, and so on. It shouldn't look too modern – it's a death ray created in an alternate 1930s, so it should look all sorts of crazy retro mad-scientist weird.
11.3. Trixie/Caption
--that's for pullin' stuff out.
Panel 4
Close up on TRIXIE's face, as she smiles wickedly, squinting through the crosshairs on the weapon's scope, pointed right at the reader.
11.4. Trixie
Watch the birdie, boys!
Panel 5
View from underneath the TIME CYCLE, as it reaches the edge of the rooftop she's on, and vaults her toward the FLAK TOWER walls of the REICHSTAG.
11.5. SFX: TIME CYCLE
VWWWWOOOOSH!
Page 12
Panel 1
Wide splash panel (eats most of page; leave room for remaining panels to run horizontally below panel 1).
TRIXIE (still in flight, from piloting the TIME CYCLE off the edge of the building roof) shoulders the TESLA RAY GUN and fires. A half dozen lightning bolts fork from the end of the gun, striking the PANZERMECHS, the FLAK TOWERS, the assembled troops.
12.1. SFX: TESLA GUN
SSSSHHRRRRVVVZZZZAAAAAAAAK!
12.2 TRIXIE/Caption
On the downside, that's one weapon won't be going to the Resistance.
Panel 2
We see several PANZERMECHS explode.
12.3. Trixie/CAption
The upside is, ¨ don't get dead.
12.4. SFX: Explosion
Ka-BOOOOM!
Panel 3
The FLAK TOWERS detonate, sending men and wreckage flying.
12,5 TRIXIE/CAPTION
I call that a big damn upside.
12.6. SFX: EXPLOSION
BA-WHOOOOM!
Panel 4
We see several of the assembled TROOPS flung into the air, electricity wrapping around them, and sending their boots shooting off, their helmets flung way, their hair standing on end...
12.6. SFX: ELECTRICAL BLASTS
SSSSHAAAAAAKKKK!
Page 13
Panel 1
Close up of the front wheels of the TIME CYCLE as it lands on the ground. In the background, we can see a massive hole blasted into the SECURITY WALL.
13.1. Trixie/Caption
The reason I like hittin' these Nazi universes is that there's one thing the same from place to place.
Panel 2
TRIXIE whistles nonchalantly, tossing aside the melted TESLA GUN.
13.2. Trixie (whistling, quietly)
[[[Render as small musical note.]]]
13.3. SFX: Gun hitting ground
Thunk.
13.4. Trixie/Caption
It's th' little things. Like how the goosesteppers love their pretty uniforms. Their big guns. Their huge buildings.
Panel 3
TRIXIE draws her pistols, running forward through the hole.
13.5. Trixie/Caption
They also have a fondness for art. Doesn't matter which universe you're in, the Nazis just have to have their pretty things.
Page 14
Splash panel/full page.
Deep inside a concrete bunker/chamber in the REICHSTAG, we find a room filled with artworks—the MONA LISA, Picassos, Da Vinci statues, etc. A giant art repository. Unconscious / dead troops lie all around the room, and her pistols are smoking from recent firing.
14.1. Trixie/Caption
And they do so love to put it all in one place.
Page 15
Panel 1
TRIXIE pulls another pen-shaped device from her belt pouches.
15.1. Trixie/Caption
Makes it easier on a gal like me.
Panel 2
Close up on her hand, as she thumbs down the button.
15.2. SFX: Device
CLICK!
15.3. Trixie/Caption
Just power up a spare dimensional pocket (which I just happened to, um, liberate before departure)--
Panel 3
We see her kneel and jam the device into the stone floor.
15.4. SFX: Device jammed into floor
CHUNK!
15.5. Trixie/Caption
-- count to five --
Panel 4
The glowing orb appears, and the various artworks and goodies are stretched and distorted as the orb sucks them inside.
15.6. SFX: Device hum
VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVMMMMMM
15.7. Trixie/Caption
--and let the magic happen.
Panel 5
The orb disappears with a “POP!” leaving nothing behind save bare concrete/stone walls and dead/unconscious guards, and an amused looking TRIXIE.
15.8. SFX: Pocket universe closes
POP!
15.9. Trixie
Voila!
Page 16
Panel 1
Close-up on Trixie's face, grinning as she holds up the pen-sized dimensional pocket, the top button of which is now green.
16.1. Trixie/Caption
Jus' a hop, skip, an' a jump, and I can dump the rest of the Resistance's merchandise to 'em, get home, and count my cash.
16.2. Trixie/Caption/linked
A good day, and a good plan, if I do say so myself. An' I do.
16.3. Voice/Offpanel (render in a differentiating way—a Germanic calligraphy script, or unusual wavy balloon border or some such)
--Obersturmführer Gretcsch: you will Inform Science Brigade that their findings were correct. They have successfully detected and identified the first known cross-dimensional invader.
Panel 2
STET panel, but it's now in black and white, with TV scanlines running through it. Text on the screen reads: SECURI-CAM DELTA-NINE. Another line reads “TARGET SIGHTED”. A steel-gauntleted hand can be seen near the screen, clenched in a fist.
16.4. Voice/offpanel
They have done well. Cancel their executions.
16.5. Gretsch
Jawohl, my Count. They should be pleased. And the invader?
Panel 3
Splash panel. We see the source of the off-panel voice now LEOPOLD VON BISMARCK, THE IRON EXECUTIONER—a tall, wide-shouldered figure in a stylized NAZI OFFICER'S UNIFORM. He is wearing no hat, so we can see his head clearly, which appears to be a face-covering mask, in the shape of a skull. A line of small horns or spikes, also in steel runs across the crown of the head, and two glittering steel curved tusks protrude from the appartion's mask, as well. He's standing in standard super-villain pose, surrounded by monitors, all of which show TRIXIE, grinning. He's holding his fist, clenched in the air. In the background, we can see a legion of SHOCK TROOPS, preparing for battle. Behind him, we see a bored looking young blonde man, also in a stylized Nazi with a clipboard, transcribing what VON BISMARCK is saying.
16.6. VON BISMARCK
Track her biosigns. She will lead us to the accursed Resistance cell soon, and when she does --
16.7. VON BISMARCK / linked / loud
--she will find that she brings them only destruction.
16.8. Von BISMARCK / linked / very loudspeaker
Destruction at the hands of COUNT LEOPOLD VON BISMARCK, THE IRON EXECUTIONER!
TO BE CONTINUED...
(...someday. Maybe.)
---
UPDATE: Brian Rogers, the latest illustrator to take a crack at Trixie (after Jared Souza, who sort of started this whole thing) just sent me some sketches of Trixie.
Very nice. Makes me realize I should've included
goggles in the character description. :/
