Page one

((The setting is a 1930's era city. Think Chicago or New York.))

Panel 1 : ((establishing shot of city)) Caption--*It's been at least forty years since Gideon cleaned up this town.*

Panel 2 : ((people, dressed in 1930's clothes, window shopping at downtown stores)) Caption--*Thank the good Lord for sending him too.*

Panel 3 : ((flashback- 40 years, 1890, same shot of the same street but this time there are men shooting and beating people)) Caption--*Forty Years Earlier.* Caption--*The Midian Gang had people terrified to walk out on the streets.

Panel 4 : ((flashback- Gideon and ten men tearing down a statue of Baal)) Caption--*God told Gideon to get rid of the idol that he and his folks had been worshipping...*

Panel 5 : ((flashback- a fight scene, Gideon, dressed in slacks, button-up shirt with sleeves rolled up and suspenders, signals to his men who are chasing the Midianites)) Caption--*...and then to bust up the Midian Gang.*

Panel 6 : (flashback) richly dressed, terrified men (the princes or kings of Midian, mob bosses in our version), cornered in an alley: Caption (top of panel)--*It was a deadly war.* Caption (bottom of panel)--*But mostly for the Midian Gang.*

Panel 7 : (forward to the 1930's again) shot of man walking down lamp-lit street at night, pieces of paper blowing and swirling in the wind: Caption (top left of panel)--*I remember it well, what Gideon did for us, how God saved our city.* Caption (bottom right of panel)-- *Some people forgot, however, and they paid for their--shall we say?--ingratitude. They suffered...*

Page two

Splash page: Title (on floating piece of paper)--...Jotham's Curse!

Shot of a bent, metal filing cabinet lying in the street as if it had been thrown out a window; maybe with some drawers fallen out, at least one drawer open. Blood on one corner of the filing cabinet. We see a hand that belongs to someone (Abimelech) lying outside the panel. Papers and file folders flying everywhere with one close to us that has the title written on it. Fire all around, some of the papers may be on fire.

Page Three

Caption at top left--*Gideon had seventy sons. Seems like a lot, doesn't it? He also had one son by his maid. He named that one Abimelech. After Gideon died, Abimelech got too big for his britches and moved back to his ma's neighborhood.*

Panel 1: Abimelech ( mid 30's, black hair, blue eyes, large build) hugging his Uncle Joey ( 50's, light brown hair, blue eyes, broken nose, large build w/slight pot belly) in a room with a fireplace.
Abimelech--I missed you Uncle Joey. It's been a longtime, huh?
Joey--What brings you back ta Shechem? Shouldn't you be playin' tennis an' sippin' ma'tinis wit' da rest of da society types?

Panel 2:Medium shot of Abimelech with a sly sneer on his face, hands folded.
Abimelech--I think it's time for a change, Uncle. But I need your help.

Panel 3: Joey and three other uncles.
Abimelech from off panel--I need my uncles to make some calls.

Panel 4: Joey, about to take a drink of wine, the fireplace burning behind him.
Joey--Leave it ta us. Everyone in town'll be callin' you boss by d' enda da week.

Panel 5: Abimelech lighting a cigarette with a match.
Abimelech--I need ta hire some men too. Reckless men.

Page Four

Panel 1: Close-up of a molotov cocktail (liquor/wine bottle full of flammable liquid with a rag hanging out the end) being lit with a match.

Panel 2: interior of library/study (in Gideon's mansion) with lit molotov cocktail smashing through the window.

Panel 3: Wide angle of mansion on fire with sons of Gideon running out the front door.

Panel 4: Two gangsters with tommy guns blazing. One in the foreground, one in the background.

Panel 5: Gideon's sons getting shot (You can show this however you want) with one young man fleeing.

Panel 6: Gangster w/smoking gun standing in front of 1930' Buick. The back window of the car is rolled down through which we can see Abimelech.
Goon w/gun--I tink dat's all o'dem boss!
Abimelech--Good! Now leave 'em for the crows!

Panel 7: Jotham ( 20's, black hair, dark eyes, built like a young man) terrified by what he has escaped and seen, peeking out from the bushes as the cars drive away.

Page Five

Panel 1: Interior of a living room. Man (messenger) bursts in on a despondent Jotham who is sitting with head in hands.
messenger--Jotham!

Panel 2: Close-up of man whispering into Jotham's ear. Jotham is shocked.
Jotham--They what? Get my car!

Panel 3: A picnic scene. Abimelech, dressed in slacks, casual shoes, a v-necked sweater over a polo shirt and an English driving cap, rests against a tree with his arm around a woman. There is a picnic blanket set before him. Another couple, a man and one of Abimelech's goons sit around the blanket eating. (If it's not too hard, draw some other people walking around talking or at their own picnic blankets. Try to establish that this a large gathering.)
goon--Hey, boss. Wit' ya bruddas outta da way, youse practically a king around he'e!

Panel 4: Medium shot of Abimelech and woman. Woman raises glass of wine with smile on her face.
woman--Hail King Abimelech!

Panel 5: Jotham's car pulls up as the rest of the party takes up the chant.
picnickers--Hail King Abimelech!

Panel 6: Jotham looks out car window, shocked and upset

Page 6

Panel 1: Jotham's car driving up a hill.

Panel 2: Wide angle of Jotham standing on hill beside car.
Jotham-- Listen to me you men of Shechem and God might just listen to you!

Panel 3: Trees standing around talking. Caption--The trees once went out to pick a king.

Page 7

Panel 1: Olive tree with raised "eyebrows" holding his "hands" out as if he's asking a question. Caption--They went to the olive tree, but he said,  Dialogue--olive--Should I stop making my oil, with which they honor God and men, to go be king of the trees?

Panel 2: Fig tree pointing to himself with one "hand" and holding other "hand" out as if he's asking a question. Caption--Then they went to the fig tree, but he said,  Dialogue--fig--Should I stop making my sweet fruit just to be the king of a bunch of trees?

Panel 3: Grapevine shrugging his shoulders. Caption--Then they went to the grapevine, but he said,  Dialogue--grape--Should I stop making my grapes for wine, which brings joy to the hearts of God and men, to be King of Trees?

Page 8

Panel 1: A talking, thorny tree. Caption--Then the trees went to the bramble and he said, Dialogue--bramble--If you truly want me for your king, then you can come and rest in my shade.  But if you betray me then fire will come out of me and you will be consumed!

Panel 2: Jotham standing in front of car with door open.
Jotham--Now, if you truly want Abimelech for your boss and you've done right by my father and brothers, then I wish you all happiness.
Dialogue (another speech balloon)-- But if not...

Panel 3: Close-up of Jotham's face fading into fiery bramble.
Jotham--...may fire come out of Abimelech and consume you,  Dialogue(another balloon)--and may fire come out from you... Dialogue(another balloon)--...and consume... Dialogue(yet another balloon)--...him!

Panel 4: Jotham's car speeding away, tires screeching. A paper is blown into the air by the rush of wind.

Page 9

Panel 1: Shot of people walking down a lamp-lit sidewalk at night. At least one person should be nearing an alley.  Caption--So Jotham ran away.  Abimelech ruled like a king now with his half brothers out of the way.

Panel 2: Person or people now closer to alley.  Three pairs of eyes stair out of dark alley.  Caption--Piece of cake, right?

Panel 3: Person or people get pulled into alley by three thugs.  Caption--Well the cake turned stale real fast when God stuck His nose in and the boys at Shechem started getting a little "unruly."

Panel 4: Casino scene (craps tables, roulette, big band, bar, whatever) with people sitting at tables.  One table has a number of well-dressed, extremely intoxicated men sitting around it.  One man, Gaal (very round but very strong looking, dark brown hair, green eyes), is shooting his mouth off.  Caption--Abimilech's power wasn't so certain anymore and a man named Gaal thought he could use that uncertainty to his advantage.
Gaal--Abimilech? I ain't nevah hoid o' him! But I ain't takin no oidah's from no son o' Gideon! And his little puppet dut we call da mayah can kiss my...

Panel 5: Man, Zebul (very slick and sophisticated, very well dressed, light hair, dark eyes) looking over his shoulder with an angry scowl on his face, listening to Gaal's tirade.  Caption--Too bad he couldn't keep his yap strapped!
Gaal--...foot! ho-ho!  I say we just bump "King Abimelech" off and take ovah da joint!  I'd say ta him, "Abimelech," I'd say, "Wheah's ya ahmy now shuggah!" HAHAHA!!!

Page 10

Panel 1: Zebul, still in casino, writing a note.

Panel 2: Zebul gives the note to a lackey(draw him however you want but make him easily recognizable) while whispering in his ear.

Panel 3: Lackey leaving casino (night) and getting into a Buick.

Panel 4: Lackey walking from Buick into a gym (a regular building but with a sign that says "Gym")

Panel 5: Lackey walking toward Abimelech (shorts, tank top, sweating, no boxing gloves) who is resting one hand on a heavy bag as if he just stopped punching to listen to lackey.
lackey--Mr Abimelech, I need to speak with you.  Zebul sent me.

Page 11

Panel 1: lackey and Abimelech talking. Abimelech is now patting sweat off his arms with a towel.
Abimilech--So, Zebul thinks he's a threat?
lackey--Yes, sir.
Abimilech--And what does Mr. Zebul Propose?
Lackey--An ambush.
Abimilech--An ambush?

Panel 2: extreme close-up of Abimelech, either his eyes or his mouth. Make him sly and smiling.
Abimilech--Good.

Panel 3: The next day. Gaal and two of his brothers sit in a cafe with Zebul (early morning). The cafe is on the outskirts of town. Gaal is looking out the window.  Caption--The next day.
Zebul--I'm sure you are wondering why I've called you here so early.
Gaal--We...Hey! What's that?

Panel 4: Zebul, now looking out window, sipping coffee.
Zebul--It's early.  You're just seeing shadows.

Panel 5: Shot of everyone at the table.  Gaal is now standing up. Zebul is leaning back and smirking.
Gaal--No, deyh's people all right!  Deyh's right by dat tree! Dey got guns!
Zebul--Where's your smart mouth now Gaal?  It's just Abimelech!  Didn't you say something about bumping him off?  Now's your chance!

Page 12

Panel 1: All four men running out of the diner. Zebul runs to a waiting car. Make sure Zebul's car is easily recognizable

Panel 2*: Gaal and brothers run to their own car. There are four other cars parked by theirs with various thugs leaning on them, smoking, talking.
Gaal--Ok, youse guys. It's time!

Panel 3: Everybody takes violin cases and tommy guns out from their cars. (FYI Zebul has already driven away.)

Panel 4*: Gaal and his men are now out in the street shooting at Abimilech's approaching cars.

Panel 5: Abiliech's gang is now upon gaal's gang which is now fleeing to their cars to escape from gunfire.

Panel 6: Gaal's cars drive away, leaving some men behind, wounded, fleeing or still shooting.

Page 13

Panel 1: Gaal's cars racing down road.

Panel 2: Inside Gaal's car. Gaal and two brothers in back seat. Driver and gun-toting thug in front seat.
Gaal's brother--I tink we lost Abimelech.
gun thug--Hey! Ain't dat Zebul's car?

Panel 3: Gaal's cars race through an intersection. Zebul's car and some reinforcements come around corner to chase Gaal. They are shooting out their windows.

Panel 4: Close-up of Gaal, fear in his eyes. 
Gaal-- Get me out of here!

Panel 5*: Gaal's car speeds around corner.

Panel 6: Zebul's cars stop on the road that Gaal is driving away on. They watch as Gaal drives of toward horizon. Some men are out of the cars cheering. Caption--Gaal never came back to Shechem.

Page 14

Panel 1*: Bird's eye view of shoot out.  Four men shoot out from behind corner of building at six men who hide behind two cars. Bystanders fleeing.
Caption--But it didn't end there. The people of Shechem rose up against Abimelech.

Panel 2: Abimilech's men shooting people who are fleeing. Caption--So Abimelech decided to kill them...  Caption at bottom--...all of them.

Panel 3: Crane with wrecking ball demolishing a building.  Caption--He leveled the city.

Panel 4:Abimilech and his men stand outside bank surrounded by trees.
Caption--Some people ran and hid in the only building left stand, the temple of their god.
thug--We can't get in boss.

Panel 5: Abimelech running toward his car.
Abimilech--I have an idea.  Do what I do.

Panel 6: Abimelech pulls an ax out his car's trunk.

Page 15

Panel 1: Abimelech chopping a big brach off a tree.
Abimilech--Come on boys! We're gonna have a weenie roast!

Panel 2: Thugs piling branches around bank.

Panel 3*: Abimelech ordering thugs.
Abimilech--Bring me a cocktail!

Panel 4: A cigar-smoking thug hands Abimelech a Molotov cocktail.

Panel 5: Abimelech grabs cigar thug by the hair and uses cigar to light cocktail. Thug looks very surprised.

Panel 6: Cocktail thrown against piles of wood which burst into flames.

Page 16

Panel 1: The bank in flames. Caption--A thousand people burned to  death. But that wasn't enough for Abimelech.

Panel 2: Cars driving down a freeway.  Caption--He moved on to a city names Thebez.

Panel 3: People hurrying into high-rise.  Caption--When Thebez heard that Abimelech was in town, the people hid.

Panel 4: Cars pull up to tower.

Panel 5*: Abimelech steps out of car smiling.

Panel 6: Abimelech standing among his thugs.
Abimilech--This'll be easier than I thougt. Bring me some fire!

Page 17

Panel 1: Close up of cocktail being lit by match.

Panel 2: Abimelech walking toward building with lit cocktail.

Panel 3: Woman pushing filing cabinet out of upper-story window.

Panel 4*: Cabinet about to hit Abimelech. Thug near-by points at cabinet.
thug--Look out, Boss!

Panel 5: Thugs looking shocked and frightened as we hear a loud crunch.

Page 18

Panel 1: Thug running toward downed Abimelech. Fire burning behind bent cabinet and papers.
thug--Boss!

Panel 2: Thug kneeling by Abimelech, propping his head and shoulders up.
Abimilech--Who did this to me?
Thug--Some dame!

Panel 3: Bird's eye view of scene
Abimilech--You gotta shoot me, Jonny, so no one can say I got offed by a broad!
thug--No, Boss!
Abimilech--Do it, Jonny!

Panel 4: Close up of Jonny looking very distraught.

Panel 5: Jonny walking away from us with a smoking hand-gun.
Caption--Shechem was destroyed and Abimelech was killed.  Their plans came to naught and peace returned to the land.

Panel 6: Burning, bent bloody filing cabinet.  Caption--On them was visited...  Caption at bottom--...Jotham's Curse.