Over – A romantic comedy online graphic novel by Tyler James

INT. FELIX’S APARTMENT – BEDROOM – NIGHT

Felix grabs a box labeled “Contacts” and spills its contents, dozens of colorful business cards, on the bed. Felix picks up a card and dials a number on his cell.

Stan Lee trots over to Felix, his leash in his mouth.

FELIX
Not now.

Stan Lee sulks off, disappointed.

RICK(VO)
Blood Diamond Publishing. Rick
speaking.

FELIX
(confident)
Rick. How ya doin’, pal? This is
Felix Hughes. We met at the Small
Press Expo in November. I write-

RICK (VO)
Felix! The “Fire of the Pendragon”
guy. How can I help, man?

FELIX
I’ve got a graphic novel looking
for a home.

RICK (VO)
Awesome, man. We’re always looking
for good product. What’s it about?

Felix flips through the pages of his art.

FELIX
It’s a love story. A funny
romance, about a guy and a girl who
fall in love, and-

RICK (VO)
Which one of them has powers?

FELIX
Uh, neither.

RICK (VO)
Then I’m gonna stop you right
there, Hughes. We’re only doing
super hero stuff these days. I’m
sure it’s great, but that’s not our
niche.

FELIX
I see.

RICK (VO)
But if you ever start doing a cape
book, you think of us, alright?
Hey, when’s the next issue of
Pendragon hit the shelves?

Felix hangs up the phone and tosses the business card on the floor. He picks up another card.

Felix on the phone pacing.

FELIX
No, I wouldn’t say it’s set up to
be a franchise.
(beat)
Sorry to hear that.

Tosses the card on the floor.

Felix on the phone, seated in a chair.

FELIX
You don’t see the humor? Will you
at least take a look?

Another card tossed on the pile.

Felix on the phone pacing.

FELIX
Well, it is depressing. But it’s
funny. And it’s got sex. A lot of
sex.
(confused)
What’s the tween market?

Another card tossed on the pile, ten cards large.

Felix on the phone, resting his head against the wall.

FELIX
No, don’t worry. It’s not another
zombie book. It’s-
(frowns)
Oh, you’re looking for a zombie
book? Well, I can add a few
zombies.

Another card tossed, the pile grows.

Felix on the phone, banging his head against the wall.

FELIX
That’s right. They don’t end up
together in the end.
(beat)
No, it has a happy ending. The guy
gets to go on Oprah.
(beat)
Hello?

Another card tossed, the pile is huge.

Felix sits on the bed. One card remains. He picks it up and dials.

TODD (VO)
Jack Rabbit Comics.

FELIX
(deflated)
Todd? This is Felix Hughes. We met
at Wizard World Chicago. I have a
graphic novel. I need a pub-

TODD (VO)
Felix! Send it right over, buddy!
We’re still kicking ourselves for
passing on “FOTP,” so we’ll
definitely take a look! Drop a
hard copy in the mail for us in the
morning.

Felix hangs up the phone and falls back on the bed, exhausted but relieved.

FELIX
Thank God!

EXT. NEIGHBOR’S FENCE – NIGHT

Sootch, Troy, and Matt compare twigs. Sootch’s is the shortest.

MATT
Yes!

TROY
It’s you, Sootch.

SOOTCH
Big surprise.

The boys peer through a tall fence with a SIGN that reads “Beware of Dog.”

TROY
Don’t worry, dude. Brutus is totally asleep.

EXT. INSIDE FENCE
Brutus rests in the yard, eyes closed, just inches from the football.

EXT. OUTSIDE FENCE
Sootch pulls away from the fence.

SOOTCH
You positive, Troy?

TROY
Yeah. He’s out. Let’s do this.

Matt and Troy boost Sootch over the fence.

EXT. INSIDE FENCE

Sootch lands silently, striking a cat-like pose.

SOOTCH
(whispers)
I am ninja.

Brutus lets out a grunt, but his eyes stay closed.  Sootch creeps toward the ball, eyes trained on the sleeping dog.

He carefully bends down and palms the ball, just inches from BRUTUS. He picks up the ball.

Brutus opens his eyes and for a moment, they stare each other down.

EXT. OUTSIDE FENCE

Matt and Troy are mortified.

MATT
He’s dead.

EXT. INSIDE FENCE

Sootch hauls ass toward the fence with Brutus in hot pursuit.  Screaming, he tosses the ball over the fence.

Just as Sootch is about to reach the fence, Brutus leaps. The dog bites down on Sootch’s shorts, but is violently jerked back by his just-too-short chain. Sootch bounds up and over the fence, bareassed.

EXT. OUTSIDE FENCE

The boys congratulate a panting Sootch. An angry Brutus BARKS through the fence.

TROY
You can’t catch, you throw like a
girl, but you sure can run!