House Calls - a comic script

House Calls

Written by Christopher Michael Carter

House Calls issue #1. Gangster Tony Mazzoratto has just been shot down in an alley with only his two girls with him (Trixie, who’s sweet but soft [if not a little ditzy], and Sherri, who’s hard edged and no nonsense). They know they can’t call the cops or even an ambulance so they call underground doctor Dr. John Duckly, aka Dr. Duck. Consider him a vigilante MD if you will.

Page 1.  [5 panels]

Panel 1: A wall with blood splattered on it.

Panel 2: Blank with “AAHHH!!” across.

Panel 3: Tony’s feet (in boots) lying on the ground.

Sherri: I can’t stop the bleeding.

Panel 4: Trixie’s mouth.

Trixie: We have to call the cops.

Panel 5: Sherri’s eyes enlarged.

Sherri: ARE YOU NUTS!? We can’t call the cops.

Page 2. [4 panels]

Panel 1: Tony lying down holding his bloody stomach, he’s shown from the chest down.

Trixie: Well we’ve gotta call 9-1-1 or something.

Panel 2: Sherri’s face in an O-shape.

Sherri: NO.

Panel 3: Sherri’s pointing her finger.

Sherri: We can’t call 9-1-1.

Panel 4: The man’s bloody hands.

Sherri: Just call him already!

Page 3. [4 panels]

Panel 1: Trixie just biting her bottom lip.

Trixie: He doesn’t want to speak to me.

Panel 2: Sherri’s lighting a smoke.

Panel 3: Sherri pointing her hand, with cigarette, at her.

Sherri: Do you know what will happen if Big Sal hears of Tony’s death?

Panel 4: Sherri’s pointing her finger in the shape of a gun at her temple.

Sherri: We’ll all be missing more than a few brain cells.

Page 4 & 5 (splash page) [3 panels]

Panel 1: Trixie has a finger to her unsure mouth.

Trixie: Hmm… I don’t know.

Panel 2: Tony’s eyes are wide open.

Panel 3: This pic takes up the rest of 4 and all of page 5. Tony’s enraged in pain, bloodied, and is aggressively grabbing Trixie by the throat. She’s scared and choking.

Tony: You better call that damn Duck before I bleed to death, you bitch!

Sherri (off page): TONY!

Page 6. [3 panels]

Panel 1: Trixie is holding her throat.

Trixie: *GASP!*

Panel 2: Tony’s face as he’s resting his head back. Sherri’s hand is on his forehead.

Tony: Jesus Christ…

Panel 3: Rest of the page. Trixie’s cell phone is larger, closer to us on the ground while she’s smaller in the background on her hands and knees coughing up.

Page 7. [5 panels]

Panel 1: The door to the Duck’s office: wooden framing with the glass window, writing states “JOHN DUCKLY” and has a picture of a yellow rubber ducky.

Panel 2: Feet propped up on a desk.

Duck: I know and I’m sorry, Mrs. Johnson, but I’m not a vet. I can’t help no matter how much he looks like Mr. Johnson.

Panel 3: Hand hanging up the phone.

Duck: Alright, well call me when you get caught in the fence. Good night, Mrs. Johnson.

Panel 4: John Duckly’s standing, stretching.

Duck: Sigh.

Panel 5: His mouth pulling a cigarette from the pack in his hand.

Duck: Damn calls. No one’s got a damn problem that needs attention beyond a first aid kit.

Page 8. [6 panels]

Panel 1: His hand holding the lit cig.

Duck: Ugh. I gotta quit.

Panel 2: His eyes looking at the lit end.

Duck: Old friend, we gotta talk.

Panel 3: A cat on the desk.

Panel 4: His cell phone ringing and shaking on the desk.

Panel 5: His eyes looking over at the phone.

Panel 6: His hand scratching the cat’s head.

Duck: Well, who is it, girl?

Page 9. [6 panels]

Panel 1: His eyes looking down.

Panel 2: His lip snarling.

Duck: Hmph.

Panel 3: Trixie biting her lip.

Trixie: C’mon… Pick up.

Panel 4: The cat in Duckly’s office.

Duck: …What?

Panel 5: The cat yawning.

Trixie: Um, hi, John… I know you told me you didn’t want me calling you anymore.

Duck: Yes, I remember this.

Panel 6: Tony’s lying boots.

Trixie: But this is kinda an emergency... My friend really needs your help.

Page 10. [6 panels]

Panel 1: Duckly sitting back down in his chair.

Duck: Help?

Panel 2: Duck’s feet propped up like earlier.

Duck: My help.

Trixie: …Yeah.

Panel 3: His arms – one down on the desk and the other holding the phone. Panel ends at his wrist.

Duck: Now why would I help your friend? Hm? HUH!?

Panel 4: Sherri’s hand to her head as a gun.

Trixie: Please… John.

Panel 5: Trixie’s face sad.

Trixie: Please, Duck, I’m begging you.

Panel 6: His face looking down thinking.

Trixie: Please.

            Caption: Silence.

Page 11. [6 panels]

Panel 1: The cat licking a paw.

Trixie: I know you’re mad and you have every right to be…

Panel 2: Tony’s hand on his bloody stomach.

Trixie: But… But this isn’t about us right now. Th-there’s a man’s life on the line.

Panel 3: Duck’s hand on the phone.

Trixie: And you’re the doctor, the fixer. You never let people die.

Panel 4: His eyes.

Panel 5: His ash tray with cigarette butts.

Trixie: C’mon Dr. Duck, you’re his only hope right now…

Panel 6: Sherri’s got her hand on Tony trying to stop the bleeding.

Page 12. [3 panels]

Panel 1: Sherri’s bloody hands.

Panel 2: Sherri’s bugged eyes.

Panel 3: Rest of the page – Sherri pushing Trixie away but taking the phone from her.

Sherri: You listen to me, you piece of shit. I don’t care what happened with you two. You get your ass down here and fix this man! You got that, Dr. Fuck!? That’s what you do, right? Then get down here and do it. Now!

Page 13. [6 panels]

Panel 1: Sherri looks confused.

Sherri: Hello?

Panel 2: Duck’s fist pounding on the desk.

Duck: You, get her, back on the phone, NOW.

Panel 3: Sherri’s hand holding out the phone.

Sherri: Rrrrgh.

Panel 4: Trixie’s mouth.

Trixie: Hey.

Duck: How bad is he?

Panel  5: Trixie’s eyes looking down (at an off page Tony).

Trixie: Uh, shot in the stomach, he’s losing a lot of blood.

Panel 6: His hand holding a pen to a notepad.

Duck: Alright. Give me the address.

Page 14. [7 panels]

Panel 1: Tony’s bloody hands.

Panel 2: Tony’s boots.

Panel 3: A rat scurrying through the alleyway.

Panel 4: A street light.

Tony: AAGH!

Panel 5: Tony’s face in severe pain. Sherri’s arm in panel comforting him.

Sherri: Shh, it’s okay. Help is on the way.

Panel 6: Sherri’s eyes glaring up.

Sherri: At least, it better be.

Panel 7: Trixie’s face. She looks nervous.

Page 15. [4 panels]

Panel 1: Trixie’s feet.

Trixie: He’ll be here.

Panel 2: Trixie’s excited looking off to the side.

Sherri: He better, or else-

Trixie: Duck!

Panel 3: The brick wall with their shadows on it.

Trixie: I knew you’d come.

Duck: Like you said, it’s what I do.

Trixie: I’m so sorry for everything that happened with us.

Duck: It’s—

Sherri: Hey! Dying man over here!

Panel 4: His eyes glaring over at her.

Duck: Right.

Page 16. [3 panels]

Panel 1: Tony’s bloody hands on his stomach. Duck’s legs standing over/behind him.

Panel 2: Duck’s crouched down looking at Tony- who’s in the same position as the previous panel.

Duck: Hrm.

Panel 3: Same pic only Duck’s looking upwards to the girls – up at the reader.

            Duck: You should have called me sooner.

Page 17. [5 panels]

Panel 1: Duck’s hand is moving Tony’s.

Duck: What’s his name?

Trixie: Tony.

Panel 2: The bloody bullet hole.

Duck: Okay…

Panel 3: From the wound’s view, Duck’s looking slightly down but direct with a thinking face.

Duck: Tony, my name is John Duckly…

Panel 4: Duck getting into his medical bag.

Duck: …I’m going to fix you.

Panel 5: Tony’s face tired and eyes going up.

Tony: Oh…o…

Page 18. [4 panels]

Panel 1: A syringe held up.

Duck: Tony, I’m gonna have to give you a little something.

Panel 2: The two women standing there.

Duck: You ladies might wanna turn away or go have a smoke.

Panel 3: Duck’s hand putting a rolled towel in Tony’s mouth.

Duck: Now, what I gave you can only dull the pain slightly so I need you to bite down on this.

Panel 4: His hand holding a pair of clamps.

Duck: Alright, champ, this’ll hurt a bit.

Page 19. [4 panels]

Panel 1: Tony’s eyes bugged out and bloodshot.

Panel 2: The two woman at the end of the alley smoking, looking scared.

Tony: AAAAAHHHK!

Panel 3: Duck’s hand holding Tony’s head down.

Sherri: Everything alright?

Duck: Peachy. Almost done.

Panel 4: The two again.

Sherri: So is he really good?

Trixie: Yeah, he’s good. He won’t talk or nothin’.

Sherri: Better not. I don’t wanna end up paralyzed or some shit because of Doogie Howser back there.

Trixie: Don’t worry.

Page 20. [6 panels]

Panel 1: Sherri’s hand holding a lit cigarette.

Sherri: If he’s so good, why does he do this? Why isn’t he making tons working at a clinic or some shit?

Panel 2: Trixie is unsure.

Trixie: Well… I don’t know. I guess it’s kinda complicated.

Panel 3: The clamp holding the bullet – everything covered in blood.

Panel 4: The street light.

Duck: Gotcha.

Panel 5: His hands holding the needle and thread for the stitching.

Panel 6: Duck wiping sweat off his forehead.

Duck: Whew, done.

Page 21. [4 panels]

Panel 1: Duck’s hand with this stethoscope on Tony’s chest.

Duck: Oh yeah. We’re good.

Panel 2: Duck approaching the two women.

Duck: Okay, ladies.

Panel 3: His hands taking the rubber gloves off.

Duck: I’m all through.

Panel 4: Tony passed out with a coat over his body up to his head.

Trixie: How is he?

Duck: He’s out right now. He’ll be fine, but he’ll need his rest for awhile. You’ll wanna get him home soon. The man needs to sleep in a warm bed.

Page 22. [5 panels]

Panel 1: Sherri’s hand extended.

Sherri: Thank you.

Panel 2: Them shaking hands.

Duck: No problem.

Panel 3: Trixie’s eyes with her eye brows up.

Duck: And you…

Trixie: So can I call you?

Panel 4: Duck chuckling.

Duck: Yeah… Yeah you can call me.

Panel 5: His nose and mouth’s profile.

Duck: Thanks for the exciting evening. Your friend will be as good as new here soon. Just make sure he gets plenty of rest.

Page 23. [6 panels]

Caption: Epilogue.

Panel 1: Duck’s feet on the desk.

Cat: Meow.

Panel 2: Duck behind an unfolded newspaper.

Duck: I know, girl, I know.

Panel 3: The door.

Sound: Knock. Knock.

Panel 4: Duck’s hand on his coffee mug.

Duck: It’s open.

Cat: Meow.

Panel 5: The door opening.

Panel 6: The man stands there in his nice suit and an overcoat holding his hat.

Tony: Mr. Duckly, my name is Tony Mazzoratto.

Page 24. [4 panels]

Panel 1: Duck’s eyes peering over the top of the newspaper.

Panel 2: Their upper bodies as they’re shaking hands.

Tony: I just wanted to thank you for that night in the alley.

Duck: Hey, don’t mention it. How ya feelin’?

Panel 3: Tony’s hand on his stomach.

Tony: Good. I’m good.

Panel 4: Tony’s wrist watch.

Tony: But I better get goin’. Errands and all, ya know.

Page 25. [3 panels]

Panel 1: Duck sitting back against, almost on, his desk. One arm’s down tucked under the other arm. The other hand’s up.

Duck: Hey, it’s cool. I understand the art of the busy schedule.

Panel 2: From the side, Tony’s head slightly down with his hand slightly down with his hand putting his hat on.

Tony: I believe that… Be seeing you, Doc.

Panel 3: Duck’s holding his cup of coffee and winking.

Duck: Stay clear of gunfire. Doctor’s orders.

Page 26. [6 panels]

Panel 1: Tony’s hand in his jacket.

Tony: That reminds me. I almost forgot.

Panel 2: Duck’s eyes widen, nervous.

Panel 3: Tony’s hand pulling out a paper bag.

Tony: Consider it a token of appreciation.

Panel 4: The bag exchanging hands.

Duck: Should I open it now or wait for Christmas morning?

Tony: That’ll be your decision.

Panel 5: The cat sniffing the bag in his hand.

Duck: Should I ask what it is?

Panel 6: Tony’s about to leave but he’s turned back smiling.

Tony: I’ll give you a hint: it’s green and it goes with everything.

Page 27. [3 panels]

Panel 1: The bag, still closed, in Duck’s hand.

Duck: I gotcha.

Panel 2: Duck’s feet up, back to reading the paper. The bag by his feet.

Panel 3: His eyes, looking over the paper.

Page 28. [5 panels]

Panel 1: Duck at his desk looking in the open bag, smiling.

Panel 2: His face seen from inside the bag.

Panel 3: The cat sitting on the desk.

Panel 4: A cigarette in his mouth and a lighter lighting it.

Duck: Business… is good.

Panel 5: The phone or the cell phone on the desk ringing and shaking.