‘Marvel Style’ Plot by Daniel Warner Based on Original Idea by Che S.
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Note to Collaborators:
I interpreted the theme of Che’s story as being about metamorphosis, betrayal, and distrust of expectations. Those expectations can be ones that we put on ourselves, or those heaped onto us by outside forces. The concepts used to explore these themes are cuckolding, heritage, and gender fluidity. Rather than insert any one of these elements as a ‘punchline’ or twist, I chose to lay them all down as foundational elements in the plot.
There are four characters:
Alex – The person reading the letters Oscar – Alex’s recently deceased grandfather Simone – Alex’s deceased grandmother André – The third person in the Oscar/Simone love triangle.
I’ve structured the plot as three letters (one letter per page) from different points in the life of the characters. The three letters and corresponding points in time are:
1926 — A letter written by Oscar to Simone two days after their wedding day in Cleveland. 1935 — A letter written by Simone to Oscar and André on the day she moves out of their shared apartment in Paris. 1950 — A letter written by André to Oscar and Simone, in advance of Oscar and Simone coming to NYC (where he lives) from Cleveland (where they live).
Each page consists of several panels with illustrations and captions depicting what is happening in the letters, as well as several panels dedicated to showing Alex’s transformations as they react to what they are reading.
The strength of Che’s concept is in the sense of personal crisis. I’m hoping that we can preserve that even as we impose a narrative structure.
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Page 1
On this page Alex should be depicted as a woman.
Panel 1
Old house on a rainy day with a light on in the attic.
Panel 2
Alex standing in the attic of her grandparent’s house among boxes filled with relics from the past. She is looking down at the papers in her hands.
Panel 3
Close up on Alex’s hands holding a wedding picture from the 1926. A bride and groom posed for the camera (people didn’t usually smile for the camera in those days) and a hand-written letter.
Panel 4
Flashback to the wedding day in 1926. Oscar (the groom from the wedding photo) shocked to discover Simone (the bride from the wedding photo) having sex with André a young male Parisian with curly black hair in a hidden corner of the reception hall.
CAPTION: excerpt from a letter written by Oscar to Simone a few days after the fact, describing how he thought their wedding would be the happiest day of his life, but it turned out to be the most tragic.
Panel 5
Flashback continues. Oscar fleeing the wedding reception, torn up by emotion.
CAPTION: excerpt from the letter in which Oscar describes his feelings of anger, confusion, and helplessness.
Panel 6
Flashback continues. Oscar, still fraught, retrieving his father’s WWI Lugar from a drawer in the study.
CAPTION: excerpt from the letter in which Oscar’s describes his urge to kill.
Page 2
On this page Alex should be depicted as a man.
Panel 1
Alex looks up from the letter when he hears his phone buzzing.
Panel 2
A text on Alex’s phone from someone saying “I’m sorry.” The person who sent the text doesn’t have a name. Just a heart emoji.
Panel 3
Alex picks up another pile of old letters.
Panel 4
Flashback to 1935 — 9 years after the wedding. Simone sits in a Paris cafe, writing a letter to Oscar and André.
CAPTION: An excerpt from the letter Simone is writing, describing how she has been happy living as a threesome with Oscar and André in Paris for the past year, and how she will always cherish their time there together.
Panel 5
Flashback continues. Oscar and André in bed together. They look a little older. André is sleeping.
CAPTION: excerpt from the letter describing how Simone has decided she is going to travel back to the US and give herself some space. She feels like André’s perception of her is encroaching on her ability to define who and what she is. She wants to focus on a new art project.
Panel 6
Flashback continues. Simone is walking away down a Paris street with travel bag in hand.
CAPTION: Excerpt from the letter in which Simone expresses minor regrets about not having explored the deepening connection with Oscar.
Page 3
On this page Alex should be depicted as a woman.
Panel 1
Flashback to 1950. It’s been 15 years since paris. André is a buttoned down businessman, looking out the small window of a NYC office building.
CAPTION: an excerpt from a letter from André to Oscar and Simone. They have not been in contact since Paris. He congratulates them on settling down together in Cleveland, and finding happiness. He has received their message and knows they will be visiting NYC in a few weeks.
Panel 2
Flashback continues. André sitting at his medium sized desk in his medium sized office.
CAPTION: an excerpt from André’s letter telling Oscar and Simone that he doesn’t want to see them when they are in town because it would be too painful.
Panel 3
Flashback continues. André at lunch with his co-workers. They are barely distinguishable from one another.
Caption: An excerpt from the letter in which André tells Oscar and Simone that he is trying to forget what he was before he got to NYC. He asks them to burn his letters including this one.
Panel 4
Alex sitting in her car. Head resting on the steering wheel. The sun is setting. She is looking down at her phone.
Panel 5
Alex texts back… “me too”
Panel 6
Close up on the wedding photo from page one. Alex has framed it and hung it on the exposed brick wall of her apartment.