Dystopia
Issue 1 Dialogue
Page 1:
Proposed layout for page 1:
Frame 1a: A hooded figure is hunched over a desk with a mass of screens crowding the wall which are processing information. It is unclear if the hunched figure it human or not.
Tangled wires clutter the space between screens and the space around the desk is unkept and predominantly full of metal objects and broken futuristic looking machines. On the screens are diagrams of earth and satellites that orbit the atmosphere. On one of the screen is an alert warning that says “DANGER: HAZARDOUS OBJECT DETECTED”.
Computer Alert Voice Speech Bubble: Scanning atmosphere.
Scan complete.
Unidentified vessel located.
Frame 1b: The silhouette of an orbiting escape ship is contrasted against the backdrop of a desolate earth. The oceans have drastically receded and the mainland is only desert apart from a few patches of lush oasis’.
Page 2:
Frame 2: Gianas, Unora, Oda and Vihaan are discussing the danger of descending to earth in the control room of the escape ship. The interior of the ship is unkept and rusted. Wires dangle from the ceiling, metal plates are coming loose from the wall and pipes litter the ceiling. Inside the room are a few chairs and a central table. On the table is a mess of paper maps and ship maintenance books. The group has never been to the planet before and has only heard about it in stories told by their ancestors.
Gianas’ Speech Bubble: Vihaan. I’m not risking my life for this!
Vihaan’s Speech Bubble: Earth was a myth. A mere story. But it’s real,and it’s right at our fingertips. We need to go down.
Gianas’ Speech Bubble: Why do you think humans haven’t been here for over five hundred years?
Frame 3: Vihaan is beginning to get inpatient. Gianas remains stern and decided.
Vihaan’s Speech Bubble: Gianas… this is an opportunity we can’t miss. No one has seen earth for years, let alone been down to the surface.
Gianas’ Speech bubble: It’s not an option…I’m sorry.
Frame 4: Oda has her hands on her hips and stands next to her brother (Vihaan).
Oda’s Speech Bubble: Gianas, grow some balls. My brother’s right. I vote we go down.
Unora’s Speech Bubble: No one asked for your vote Oda.
Oda’s Speech Bubble: No one asked for you to be a bitch Unora.
Frame 5: Gianas attempts to calm the group down and reason with everyone.
Gianas’ Speech Bubble: Cut it out Oda! Conflict is the last thing we need right now…
Unora’s Speech bubble: Thank you Gianas. On top of all that, we don’t even have the correct equipment for a descent.
Frame 6: Isa is sitting in the cockpit of the escape ship fiddling with controls. She’s hunched over using a spanner to fix something but still yells to the other room as she is overhearing the argument.
Isa’s Speech Bubble: I keep telling y’all. It ain’t safe.
Page 3:
Frame 7: Back in the control room, Gianas addresses the group (Unora, Oda and Vihaan).
Gianas’ Speech Bubble: We have two options. We go down to the surface and risk our lives. Alternatively we can continue living on this spaceship until we find another, more suitable planet.
Vihaan’s Speech Bubble: We have nothing to lose. We’ve been on this crappy, claustrophobic ship for weeks now and as far as I can see, things won’t get any better from here.
Frame 8: Vihaan is getting angry and stands up to Gianas aggressively.
Vihaan’s Speech Bubble: Who the hell voted you to be leader anyway? You know very well that Oda and I are the reason you got away from that shitty colony. We should be the ones calling the shots.
Frame 9: Unora cuts in and defends Gianas.
Unora’s Speech Bubble: Vihaan, there’s no need for all of this.
Vihaan’s Speech Bubble: Yeah? Well, your boyfriend doesn’t seem to listen otherwise.
Frame 10: Gianas appears embarrassed after Vihaan profiled him as being Unora’s boyfriend.
Frame 11: Gianas cuts in and tries to change from the topic of relationships.
Gianas’ Speech Bubble: I’ve been listening to you the entire time. But I still think that descending on a dead planet, after what happened to it, is a mistake.
Frame 12: Unora backs up Gianas by beginning to tell the story of earth’s downfall.
Unora’s Speech Bubble: Especially after what happened! We all know the story…
Page 4:
Frame 13: A gigantic spaceship hovers above the Eiffel tower in Paris.
Unora’s Speech Box: Almost six hundred years ago, extraterrestrial ships descended upon earth to harvest the planet’s resources.
Frame 14: People running in the streets away from mecha suits which are shooting at them.
Unora’s Speech Box: They didn’t care about peace…
Frame 15: Streets ridden with bloody human corpses.
Unora’s Speech Box: …and they wouldn’t let anyone get in their way.
Frame 16: Skyscraper crashing into another skyscraper.
Unora’s Speech Box: Cities were obliterated, families were torn apart and the human race was becoming extinct.
Frame 17: A small alien spacecraft is laser cutting into the Statue of Liberty. In the background, smoke is billowing out of New York city.
Unora’s Speech Box: The entire planet was effected, and the aliens killed every living thing in sight.
Frame 18: A large alien ship hovering above the ocean with a large pipe sucking in water.
Unora’s Speech Box: Some say that they even tried to suck the oceans dry.
Frame 19: A father and daughter crouched behind a car. An alien is on the other side of the car looking for them.
Unora’s Speech Box: No one knew where they came from or why they
choose earth.
Page 5:
Frame 20: Wealthy looking people are boarding luxury spaceship cruisers in a hurry. Pampered dogs and cats are being carried aboard. Women are wearing fur scarfs and glamorous dresses and men are wearing suits and hats.
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Unora’s Speech Box: The only people to make it off earth alive were the rich.
Frame 21: Inside the luxury spaceship cruisers, people are drinking martinis and lounging on couches.
Unora’s Speech Box: Those people were our ancestors.
Frame 22: Close up of someone pouring a glass of champagne, however it is empty and only a drop of liquid comes out.
Unora’s Speech Box: Before long, they began to run out of supplies.
Frame 23: Inside the luxury spaceship cruisers, people have collapsed all over the floor and have died of starvation.
Unora’s Speech Box: Some of them perished, they couldn’t make a way to survive.
Frame 24: Luxury spaceship cruiser descends upon a luscious looking planet with forests and oceans.
Unora’s Speech Box: The rest found a new planet to inhabit.
Page 6:
Frame 25: Back in the control room of the escape ship, the group is listening to Unora while she’s telling the story. Oda looks bored, Vihaan is ignorantly disregarding the story and Gianas is listening.
Frame 26: Close up of Unora, she has a serious look on her face.
Unora’s Speech Bubble: And we all know what happened after that, the
colony was founded.
Frame 27: Vihaan promptly respond, disbelieving the story.
Vihaan’s Speech Bubble: Nice story, my abuela told it to me once. But you know very well that it’s no more than that, a story. It’s complete and utter bullshit!
Frame 28: Vihaan continues on his rant.
Vihaan’s Speech Bubble: Oda and I were born and raised to be realistic
individuals, and some mierda myth about aliens will not dictate my life.
Oda’s Speech Bubble: If aliens were real, don’t you think we would’ve seen some by now, Unora. We’ve been travelling in this tin can for weeks.
Frame 29: Unora tries to defend her point but is cut off by Oda.
Unora’s Speech Bubble: Not necessarily…
Vihaan’s Speech Bubble: Cut the crap. You know very well that it’s safe to go down to the surface. You’re just a puto imbécil!
Page 7:
Frame 30: A beep from off frame in the direction of the cockpit alerts the attention of the group.
Frame 31: Isa calls Gianas and Unora to come to the cockpit.
Isa’s Speech Bubble: Gianas…Unora! Y’all might want to check this out.
Frame 32: Vihaan and Oda look on as Gianas and Unora leave the control room. They look annoyed at being left out.
Oda’s Speech Bubble: I suppose they don’t need us.
Vihaan’s Speech Bubble: Of course they don’t…
Frame 33: Inside the cockpit, Isa is explaining to Gianas and Unora that she has picked up a signal.
Isa’s Speech Bubble: The receiver just picked up an energy signal and it’s coming from the surface.
Frame 34: Gianas looked surprised and concerned. Unora asks questions straight away.
Unora’s Speech Bubble: What? That’s impossible! The planet’s dead. Are you sure?
Isa’s Speech Bubble: This piece of junk is old. I can’t be certain, but it seems too precise to be an error.
Frame 35: Outside the escape ship, a bright laser-like beam strikes it coming from the direction of earth.
Page 8:
Frame 36: Inside, the ship is complete chaos. Panels and wires on the walls have come adrift. Everything is violently shaken. Vihaan is aggressively asking what is going on.
Vihaan’s Speech Bubble: WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT!?
Frame 37: Gianas tries to calm everyone down.
Gianas’ Speech Bubble: EVERYONE HOLD ON!
Frame 38: Isa is strapping herself into the pilot’s seat in the cockpit.
Frame 39: Unora is holding onto a pipe running up the side of the wall in the control room.
Frame 40: Vihaan has lost his footing and is falling over (almost airborne).
Frame 41: Oda is slamming into a wall.
Frame 42: Gianas has wrapped some rope around his hands and is clutching onto a pipe on the wall.
Page 9:
Frame 43: View from the cockpit of the entire group. They are being knocked around the ship. Gianas is still holding tight to a pipe in the control room. Isa is strapped into the pilot’s seat and is bracing herself for impact. Vihaan and Oda are airborne and are being thrown around the ship as it crashes. Unora is holding onto the back of one of the two seats in the cockpit. Her legs are in the air.
Frame 44: View from the desolate surface of the earth looking into the sky, in the foreground, partially sticking out of the ground is a rusty highway sign with the words “PORTLAND 50 MILES”. The layout of the sign is similar to this: https://imgur.com/a/s2iB5lt (the direction is EAST however). In the sky, the crashing ship which has smoke billowing out of it can be seen. However, it is very small.
Frame 45: Same view as Frame 44 however the ship is closer to the ground.
Frame 46: Same view as Frame 45 however the ship is almost crashing into the earth.
Page 10:
Frame 47: Gianas is unconscious but is still secured to the pipe with the ropes he attached himself with.
Frame 48: Gianas slowly wakes up.
Gianas’ Speech Bubble: Ugh…
Frame 49: Gianas suddenly jolts and is fully awake, aware of the carnage around him.
Gianas’ Speech Bubble: Oh god…
Frame 50: Isa’s head is smashed through the cockpit glass window. There is blood splattered everywhere. She is dead.
Frame 51: Vihaan’s body is limp, lying on the floor. His right arm is twisted abnormally and his left arm is broken and bone is sticking out of it. He is dead.
Frame 52: Oda is slumped against a wall. There is blood trickling out of her nose and her body is visibly battered and bruised. She is dead.
Frame 53: Unora is lying on the ground. Her leg is broken and there is a bit of bone sticking out down on her shin. She is starting to wake up.
Unora’s Speech Bubble: Ugh…
Frame 54: Gianas realises that Unora is still alive.
Gianas’ Speech Bubble: Unora! Are you ok? I’m coming, hold on!
Page 11:
Frame 55: Gianas crouches through the destroyed ship, moving towards Unora.
Frame 56: Gianas has a worried look on his face and puts his hand on Unora’s shoulder.
Frame 57: Gianas tells Unora that they have to get out of the ship.
Gianas’ Speech Bubble: We can’t stay here. It’s not safe. This ship could blow at any second.
Frame 58: Close up of Unora’s face. She looks in pain but she is trying to tough it out.
Unora’s Speech Bubble: Gianas, I don’t think I can move…
Frame 59: Gianas tears a section from the bottom of his shirt.
Gianas’ Speech Bubble: Here, I need to stop the bleeding.
Frame 60: Gianas wraps the fabric around Unora’s broken ankle.
Page 12:
Frame 61: Gianas and Unora are standing in a large, gaping hole in the side of the ship. Unora has her arm wrapped around Gianas’ shoulder for support. She is limping on her good leg.
Frame 62: Gianas and Unora begin to move away from the crash site, passing bits of debris from the ship.
Frame 63: Gianas and Unora stop next to a small boulder.
Frame 64: Unora sits and rests on the boulder in pain, while Gianas looks around the landscape.
Unora’s Speech Bubble: Where do we go now?
Frame 65: Close up of Gianas pointing towards to front of the frame.
Gianas’ Speech Bubble: There.
Frame 66: View of the city of Portland in the distance. It is in a state of ruin and the buildings are now skeletons of their former constructed condition. In the city centre is a tall, futuristic, alien building that looks as if it was brand new. Surrounding the city are suburbs, also decimated and collapsed. Beyond that is just endless desert.
Page 13:
Frame 67: Gianas and Unora are walking through the desert. Gianas is still supporting Unora due to her broken leg. Throughout the desert landscape there are a few visible objects sticking out of the sandy earth such as dead trees, highway signs and vehicles. The sun is beaming down, scorching the ground.
Frame 68: Unora is feeling weak and tired. She is visibly sweating and looks as if she is about to faint. Gianas is determined to keep going.
Unora’s Speech Bubble: Gianas…I don’t know how much longer I can go for. I…I just can’t.
Gianas’ Speech Bubble: We need to keep moving. We can’t stay out here in the middle of the desert. It’s not safe.
Frame 69: Unora is confused as to why Gianas doesn’t think it’s safe out in the desert considering there are no obvious threats.
Unora’s Speech Bubble: We can breathe. That’s a start. Maybe it is safe.
Gianas’ Speech Bubble: We don’t know that. Our supplies are almost gone. Water is nowhere to be seen and, right now I’m not sure how long we can last out here.
Frame 70: Unora is still looking weak and is gazing towards the ground.
Frame 71: Unora looks up.
Frame 72: View from behind her shoulder, Unora sees something not to far off in the distance in front of her, an abandoned petrol station.
Frame 73: Approximately 200 metres behind Gianas and Unora, there is a woman (Kaia) watching them, crouched behind a small sand dune. She is using old, rusted looking binoculars to survey them.
Page 14:
REFER TO DESIGN DOCUMENT FOR DETAILED ENVIRONMENTAL DESCRIPTIONS
Frame 73: Unora and Gianas have arrived outside a degraded, derelict, rusted looking petrol station. The outside is bare and stripped of some exterior accessories such as light fittings.
Frame 74: Gianas ponders about what they will do.
Gianas’ Speech Bubble: Looks like we’ll be spending the night here.
Unora’s Speech Bubble: What is this place?
Frame 75: Gianas and Unora do not know what a petrol station is. They continue on past some old gas pumps towards the door into the building.
Gianas’ Speech Bubble: I’m not sure, I never saw a building like this on the colony.
Frame 76: Unora reassures Gianas that everything will be ok. Gianas still looks concerned and wary.
Unora’s Speech Bubble: Hey Gianas, everything is going to be OK. If we can survive a crash from space, we can survive on a new planet.
Gianas’ Speech Bubble: I hope you’re right, because if you’re not, we won’t last long.
Frame 77: Back view of Gianas and Unora entering the petrol station.
Page 15:
REFER TO DESIGN DOCUMENT FOR DETAILED ENVIRONMENTAL DESCRIPTIONS
Frame 78: Inside the petrol station, light is seeping in between the cracks in the boarded up windows.
Frame 79: Gianas helps Unora to sit down against a wall near the door.
Gianas’ Speech Bubble: I’m going to check this place out a little, make sure it’s safe for us to stay in.
Unora’s Speech Bubble: OK.
Frame 80: Gianas moves through the petrol station building, seeing burnt down candles and rubbish scattered everywhere.
Frame 81: Gianas kneels down next to what appears to be a makeshift bed made out of rags and different materials.
Gianas’ Speech Bubble: Did someone sleep here?
Frame 82: Gianas picks up half of a polaroid photo which had been torn down the middle, the other half is missing. The polaroid photo is of a woman (Kaia). A man’s arm (Zenith’s) is around her shoulder but the rest of his body cannot be seen due to the polaroid’s missing half.
Page 16:
Frame 83: Gianas returns to Unora and hands her the polaroid photo.
Gianas’ Speech Bubble: What do you make of this? Found it on the ground over there.
Unora’s Speech Bubble: What is it?
Frame 84: Unora examines the polaroid.
Gianas’ Speech Bubble: Looks like a photo of some sort.
Unora’s Speech Bubble: Well, it could of belonged to someone before the well all of this…
Frame 85: Gianas sits down next to Unora.
Gianas’ Speech Bubble: Wouldn’t it be dust by now?
Unora’s Speech Bubble: Yeah, it should be but…what other explanation is there?
Frame 86: Unora lies down and rests her head on Gianas’ lap. He puts his hand on her head to comfort her.
Unora’s Speech Bubble: Gianas. Why did we leave the colony? It was safe there. We had food, water….families.
Frame 87: Close up of Gianas.This face has a concerned look.
Gianas’ Speech Bubble. We were also in prison. While most of the things Vihaan said were crap, he was right about us getting off the colony. There was no life for us there anymore. The Council wasn’t going to release us and, to be honest, I don’t think they cared about us at all.
Anyway, get some rest. Tomorrow morning we’re going to continue on towards the city.
Frame 88: Unora closes her eyes.
Unora’s Speech Bubble: OK, goodnight.
Page 17:
Frame 89: The next day, Gianas and Unora trudge through the desert towards the city. They are close to the suburbs (real life location: Hillsboro) surrounding the city.
Frame 90: Gianas continues to support Unora while they walk through the sandy landscape.
Gianas’ Speech Bubble: How are you doing?
Unora’s Speech Bubble: Leg still hurts like hell. Haven’t drank any water since yesterday and I’m stuck on a deserted planet, so not the best.
Frame 91: Close up of Gianas realising that Unora isn’t in the best mental state.
Gianas’ Speech Bubble: Fair.
Frame 92: Close up of Gianas who sees something coming towards them out in the desert wasteland.
Gianas’ Speech Bubble: Holy shit. We need to move. NOW!
Frame 93: View of a raging sandstorm on the horizon, sweeping across the landscape.
Frame 94: Unora is looking towards the storm. She has a petrified look on her face.
Unora’s Speech Bubble: Oh my god…
Page 18:
Frame 95: Gianas runs through the decimated, barren suburbs, past houses, while carrying Unora in his arms. Around him, the wind is picking up and loose objects are starting to blow around.
Frame 96: Behind Gianas and Unora the sand storm is getting closer to them.
Frame 97: Gianas and Unora continue to run through the desolate suburban streets past rows of collapsed houses and lifeless front yards.
Frame 98: Gianas sees something.
Frame 99: A house just off the street is still standing, but still decrepit. Gianas, holding Unora, runs towards the front door which is hanging off its hinges.
Frame 100: Gianas and Unora burst inside the unstable structure and crash towards the floor, narrowly escaping the raging sandstorm passing through.
Page 19:
Frame 101: Gianas is standing at the front window in the house, watching the vicious sandstorm pass through the street outside, blowing debris with it.
Frame 102: Unora is rested against a wall, looking content but cautious.
Unora’s Speech Bubble: Looking out that window isn’t going to make it go away. You need to rest. You haven’t slept since the crash…
Frame 103: Gianas turns to look in the direction of Unora.
Gianas’ Speech Bubble: I know but-
Frame 104: Unora has a strict look on her face.
Unora’s Speech Bubble: Don’t make excuses. I know you’re trying to help me but you’re tired and worn out. Just sleep…please…
Frame 105: Gianas is accepting of Unora’s point.
Gianas’ Speech Bubble: Ok, fine.
Page 20:
Frame 106: Outside view of the house. It’s now nighttime and the sandstorm is gone. Everything is calm.
Frame 107: Inside the house and both Gianas and Unora are sleeping. The moonlight shines through the window frame.
Frame 108: Close up of Gianas snoring.
Gianas’ Speech Bubble: zzZ…
Frame 109: Crouched in the rafters of the house is a woman (Kaia). She is sneakily watching the two sleep, almost like a cat.
Frame 110: Close up of Kaia’s face. She has her goggles on, covering her eyes and has an unsettling smile on her face.
Page 21:
Frame 111: Outside view of the house. It is now morning and the sun rises behind the house.
Frame 112: Sunlight shines through the window of the houses onto Unora and Gianas who are still asleep on the floor.
Frame 113: A loud bang suddenly wakes Gianas out of his slumber.
Frame 114: View of Unora. There is a gruesome bullet wound on her upper chest, ripping some of her body open. Her lifeless expression on her face is cold and emotionless. Blood is dripping from the side of her mouth.
Page 22:
Frame 115: Gianas has a look of absolute horror on his face. Both devastation, shock and fear rush through his body.
Gianas’ Speech Bubble: WHAT THE F-
Frame 116: An alien hunter stands in the doorway of the house with his futuristic guns raised (pointing towards the front of the frame). The barrel of one of the guns is smoking.