Workshop Wednesday

Today we're tackling the last part of the third episode. This will actually mark the end of the opening "Etiquette Trilogy" as the first three episodes tell the story of Follower and Etiquette. From here a different villain would rise to terrorize the heroes for the rest of the season (not that most of that season was written at the time). So sit back and enjoy the finale of "Etiquette Goes Down".

Remember to catch up on the previous adventures of The Follower in the Works of Mike FinkelsteinWhat's that, you want to read various creative works from Asteroid G Lead Editor Mike Finkelstein? Well, if that's what you want... archive before reading this section.

The Follower: Episode 3, Part 3

"Etiquette Goes Down" Concludes

FADE IN.

EXT: CITY STREETS, FOLLOWER VAN, DAY.

We see the heroes are getting back in their van. The COP says a few final words to the heroes.

COP:

The van BRUISE was driving was stolen a while ago, so I don't know how good a lead that will prove.

FOLLOWER:

He's lost for now, but we will catch him soon.

COP:

I'm not going to give you a ticket. Just, watch your speed on high speed pursuits next time.

COP starts to walk away, then comes back.

COP:

ETIQUETTE... You use to work with him, didn't you?

FOLLOWER nods.

COP:

He's a bad guy now? Damn. I worked a case that he helped solve-

FOLLOWER smiles and nods.

FOLLOWER:

The Laughing Doctor.

COP:

Yeah!

FOLLOWER:

Officer O'Reily, I remember you. How're your two kids... Elizabeth and... Brianna?

COP smiles wide.

COP:

How'd you remember?

FOLLOWER:

It pays to pay attention to the heroes of the city.

EXT: ETIQUETTE'S CLUB, DAY.

We see BRUISE drive up in his van and pull around back.

INT: ETIQUETTE'S CLUB, BACK OFFICE, DAY.

BRUISE walks in to the office. ENEMY and ETIQUETTE are already there.

ENEMY:

You properly outmaneuvered the people following us?

BRUISE laughs.

BRUISE:

Yeah, they got pulled over by the cops. I cleared out as fast as I could then. Drove around for a bit just to make sure, then came back.

ETIQUETTE:

What do we do now!?

ENEMY:

We reevaluate the plan to come up with a more equitable solution. Obviously we can't just trust the cops.

BRUISE:

What about the dame?

ENEMY:

We need her for now but I don't think we attempting another exchange.

BRUISE:

You mean we gotta waste her eventually.

ENEMY:

A less eloquent way to put it, but yes.

ETIQUETTE:

Just, go deal with her for now. We'll need her voice for any phone calls before we get the money. Make sure she is well tended to.

INT: FATHER JOE'S PIZZA, MAIN ROOM, DAY.

APATHY and OBVIOUS are at a booth, eating some garlic wafers, while FOLLOWER is poking around behind the counter in the kitchen area. He eventually gets a pizza together and throws it in the oven.

SFX: Phone ringing.

FOLLOWER:

Thank You for calling Father Joe's. Today if you buy any pizza you'll get a free basket of garlic wafers. Will this be for carryout or delivery?

OBVIOUS:

We shouldn't have lost the van.

APATHY:

Damn cops.

OBVIOUS:

He was just doing his job. I mean, think about it from his side. A van with three young males, a bullet hole in two separate windows, and a high speed pursuit. The fact that he was willing to talk with us took bravery.

APATHY shrugs, dismissing the point.

APATHY:

We coulda had the weird leather dude otherwise.

OBVIOUS nods.

INT: ETIQUETTE'S CLUB, BASEMENT CELLS, DAY.

A bunch of the gang members are hanging out in a couple of redecorated cells, one of which is a very nice lounge complete with a pool table. Bruise just stares at the pool table.

BRUISE:

How did she build that?

VIC:

Out of a bed.

BRUISE:

But how?

VIC:

She fashioned the felt out of a sheet and made the balls by hand.

BRUISE:

Yes... but how?!

VIC:

Well, first she built a rudimentary lathe, and-

BRUISE walks away at this point, heading over to the cells instead of listening. STEINGARDEN and the PA are furiously working on the wood frame of the bed in that cell.

BRUISE:

What are we up to here?

STEINGARDEN:

We're trying to figure out the best way to make a kitchenette in this room.

PA:

I keep warning you that we're not going to be able to build a microwave.

STEINGARDEN:

All you need is a little science, dear.

BRUISE:

Well, do you need anything?

STEINGARDEN:

A jigsaw would speed up the process.

BRUISE:

No, I mean, food or water?

STEINGARDEN:

Well, I am feeling a bit peckish, dear.

BRUISE:

...Hungry, you mean?

STEINGARDEN nods.

BRUISE:

Lemme see what I can do.

INT: ETIQUETTE'S CLUB, BACK HALLWAY, DAY.

BRUISE walks up the stairs to the back office. We can hear arguing inside.

SFX: Door knock.

BRUISE knocks on the door, and the arguing stops. ENEMY throws open the door.

ENEMY:

Yes!?

BRUISE:

The dame is hungry.

ENEMY:

Then find a way to feed her.

BRUISE:

Like what?

ETIQUETTE:

I don't know. Just get some food for her!

BRUISE:

Okay. Can do.

INT: FATHER JOE'S PIZZA, MAIN ROOM, DAY.

SFX: Phone ringing.

Follower is just pulling the pizza out of the oven when the phone rings.

FOLLOWER:

Thank You for calling Father Joe's. Today if you buy any pizza you'll get a free basket of garlic wafers. Will this be for carryout or delivery?

INT: ETIQUETTE'S CLUB, BACK HALLWAY, DAY.

BRUISE:

Delivery. (pause) Hrmm, I want a large with pepperoni and sausage. I get those garlic breads? (pause) Good.

INT: FATHER JOE'S PIZZA, MAIN ROOM, DAY.

FOLLOWER:

Just to make sure I have this right, we've got a large with pepperoni and sausage, a free garlic wafer... anything to drink? (pause) All right. Well, just let me get your phone number.

FOLLOWER types into the little computer/register thing.

FOLLOWER:

Okay, we've got you. It'll be... oh, about half an hour. (pause) Thank you, sir.

FOLLOWER cuts his pizza up and brings it over to the table.

FOLLOWER:

Eat up quick, guys. I gotta get a pizza ready and get it out.

APATHY:

Why you? You're not officially on duty.

FOLLOWER:

The other guy is already out with pizzas. I'll give him a bit of a break.

APATHY:

Fine, but if we're riding along I expect part of the tip.

EXT: ETIQUETTE'S CLUB, DAY.

BRUISE is waiting out front as the heroes drive up. FOLLOWER gets out with a pizza. We see OBVIOUS watching. As FOLLOWER walks up to BRUISE, OBVIOUS taps APATHY on the shoulder, mumbles something, and they both get out.

FOLLOWER:

All right, that'll be $16.50.

BRUISE fishes out some money as OBVIOUS and APATHY walk over.

BRUISE:

Keep the change... say, your van looks familiar.

APATHY:

Oh, really?

BRUISE catches on just a little too late as APATHY's fist catches him on the jaw.

FOLLOWER:

APATHY! He's a customer!

OBVIOUS:

Dude, look at him for a second.

FOLLOWER stares at the sprawled BRUISE.

FOLLOWER:

Ohh...

INT: ETIQUETTE'S CLUB, MAIN ROOM, DAY.

Thugs come up from the basement as FOLLOWER, OBVIOUS, and APATHY fight their way into the building. FOLLOWER fights with a bit of skill, a style he's gleaned as much from Kung Fu movies as boxing and wrestling matches. OBVIOUS is far more controlled, fighting with solid martial arts. APATHY just fights dirty. It's a good thing the heroes are as well “trained” as they are, because there are a lot of goons.

As the fight rages on, ENEMY and ETIQUETTE come out to the main hall to see what's going on. Soon enough, most of the goons are down for the count... or at least, smart enough not to get in the fight anymore and are laying down pretending to be down for the count. As we watch, ETIQUETTE has a moment of recognition when he sees his former sidekick.

ETIQUETTE:

FOLLOWER?

FOLLOWER:

Boss? I thought that was you!

ETIQUETTE:

What are you doing here?

FOLLOWER:

I'm sure you know you'll never get away with this kidnapping! Where's STEINGARDEN?

ETIQUETTE:

Kidnapping? I mean... I... Well, hell, you've figure out a lot of my plan, haven't you?

OBVIOUS raises his hand.

OBVIOUS:

That was actually me.

ETIQUETTE:

Are they your sidekicks?

FOLLOWER:

Team mates. Stand down, ETIQUETTE. You're going to jail.

By this point, ENEMY has started working her way slowly towards the door. As she clears the building, many of the lesser goons clear out as well, leaving only a small knot of the really stupid goons left. BRUISE is among those fleeing.

ETIQUETTE:

I will not. I will have my day!

FOLLOWER shrugs and then runs at ETIQUETTE. We get the climactic fight now between master and student (as the case may be). They have similar fighting styles, although ETIQUETTE is still a little more polished than Follower. As the fight rages on, FOLLOWER is knocked back.

ETIQUETTE:

You won't be able to stop me.

OBVIOUS has at this point walked around behind ETIQUETTE. He politely taps him on the shoulder. As ETIQUETTE turns, OBVIOUS hits him across the face and ETIQUETTE drops.

OBVIOUS:

Maybe he can't, but then, he's not fighting you alone.

EXT: ETIQUETTE'S CLUB, DAY.

The cops are hauling Etiquette into a police car. OBVIOUS and APATHY are making statements while FOLLOWER walks out of the building with two other officers, STEINGARDEN, and the PA. There is a small amount of thanks, and then STEINGARDEN goes off for her inevitable interview with the camera crews.

The three heroes cluster together by the Follower van.

FOLLOWER:

Feels good to save the day.

OBVIOUS:

We did a good job.

APATHY:

Now what?

FOLLOWER:

We could always go patrol.

APATHY:

No, I mean, we took out the villain. There's no one left. Again.

FOLLOWER:

We didn't get all the goons. Heck, even if they never come back, I'm pretty sure we haven't seen the last villainy in this fair city.

APATHY:

You're not about to give a super-heroic speech, are you.

FOLLOWER:

For you see- (pause) No, I guess I don't have to.

APATHY:

Fine, let's go on patrol.

INT: DINGY MOTEL ROOM, NIGHT.

We see, in the shadows of the room, ENEMY and BRUISE.

ENEMY:

Once we gather your constituents we can begin preparations for the next maneuver.

BRUISE:

Which is?

ENEMY:

Oh, I have plans. Oh yes... Hahahahahahaha!

BRUISE:

Hahahaha!

ENEMY:

Stop laughing. This is my moment. Hahahahahaha...

FADE TO BLACK.

CREDIT ROLL.

End Episode 3, Part 3:

And that's it for the complete scripts for the series. I have two more partially written, so my plan right now to is to take those scripts and finish them -- we'll see how that goes.

The reason those scripts aren't done is that the original plan was that we (my friends and I) would co-write a bunch of these scripts to put together the first season. Then, since we were all radio people, we'd record the audio for a couple of the scripts, create a few animated storyboards for those tracks, and then pack it all together to try and sell it to a production company to become a series. Sadly, I was the only one to ever finish any of the scripts and the project died from there. The two partials were scripts I was going to co-write, but that never happens so they just sit there, sad and undone.

I want to get those two scripts completed at least. After that I'll likely post the notes for the season plan we had in place before moving on to a different project entirely. I have a few other things I've written over time that I really want to post here. We shall see where it takes us.