Jesse Moses: Dragonbelt

CHARACTERS:

Jesse Moses, martial arts student at Dojo-A-Gogo
Sensei Whitemin, teacher at Dojo-A-Gogo
Ninja Ned
Ninja Greg
Ninja Kyle
Scribbles, drug addict and drug "connoisseur"
Big Biggie, drug dealer
Ronin Romeo, gangster and leader of the ninjas


SCENE:
The three ninjas arrive at Dojo-A-Gogo intent on breaking in and
stealing a valuable sword.

Page 1

Panel 1:
Exterior shot of Dojo-A-Gogo, a run-down storefront in a stripmall.
It is the middle of the night.

Panel 2:
Ninja Ned waits in an alley for Ninja Greg to crawl through a side
window into the dojo.
Ned: "Hurry up!"
Greg: "I'm ninja-ing as fast as I can, Ned."

Panel 3:
Interior shot of the dojo, in darkness. Ned is silhouetted as he crawls
through the open window. Nothing else can be seen except the eyes of
the other ninjas.
Ned: "Aw man, I think I dropped my weed!"
Greg: "It smells like fat camp and soy sauce in here."
Kyle: "Shut up, you two! Ninjas are supposed to be silent but deadly, remember?"

Panel 4:
The three ninjas look up toward a katana on a decorative stand.
Kyle: "Gentlemen, our prize is before us."
Greg: "Ooh... shiny."
Ned: "I'm gonna cut so much coke with that thing."


Page 2

Panel 1:
Textbox: THE NEXT DAY
Jesse Moses, top student at Dojo-A-Gogo, walks into the main room in his gi,
talking on a cellphone to his girlfriend.
Jessie: "Girl, you know how I do.
And when I do what I do how I do it, it stays done. Ya heard me?"
Girlfriend's voice: "What are you talking about?"

Panel 2:
Jesse reacts with shock at the sight of the missing sword.
Jesse: "I do the do, you know what I... ZOMG!"
Girlfriend's voice: "Did you just say 'zoh-emm-gee'?"

Panel 3:
The empty decorative stand is seen in background. Jesse frowns darkly
in foreground.
Jesse: "I'mma have to call you back, babe. This is SERIOUS BUSINESS."
Girlfriend's voice: "What? Did you just say 'This is... *CLICK*

Panel 4:
Jesse rushes to Sensei Whitemin's office to tell him the bad news.
Jesse: "Sensei! Sensei Whitemin! Someone stole the 1000 Claws of the
Tiger-Eagle-Dragonsword!"
Sensei Whitemin: "The what?
Oh, yeah - the sword thing. Bummer."

Panel 5:
Jesse is frantic. Sensei Whitemin is not.
Jesse: "Do you know what this means?!"
Sensei: "Yeah- I'll have to open letters by hand from now on."
Jesse: "No! My Dragonbelt is worthless now! What good's a Dragonbelt
without a Dragonsword to draw its power from?"
Sensei: "Well, it holds up your pants, for one thing. Look on the bright side,
kid- at least they didn't steal our plasma screen!"


Page 3

Panel 1:
Jesse drops his right fist into his open palm, full of resolve.
Sensei is in background, reading a handful of letters.
Jesse: "To defend the honor of the dojo, I must retrieve the sword!"
Sensei: "Sure, whatever. Just pick up my dry cleaning while you're out."

Panel 2:
Jesse walks into the side alley next to the dojo, looking for clues.
Jesse: "The front door was locked, so they probably went around..."

Panel 3:
Closeup of a closed window with graffiti tags on it. Jesse runs his hand
along the windowsill.
Jesse: "Ah-ha! The paint from this graffiti is cracked along the window's
edge. Them fools musta' come through here."

Panel 4:
Jesse picks up a spilled bag of weed off of the ground.
Jesse: "Wacky Tobaccky! One of the fiends likely dropped it while making
their getaway. If I had a lab, I might be able to trace the drugs back to
their source.

Panel 5:
Jesse cocks an eyebrow.
Jesse: "Luckily, I got the next best thing."

Panel 6:
Jesse opens a door to a filthy, dilapidated room.
Jesse: "Scribbles! Where you at, man?"
Scribbles (offpanel): "Mmmghn... go away, Ghost Hunters. I'm alive.
I can prove it... shhhrrrm."


Page 4

Panel 1:
Scribbles awakes from a deep sleep, covered by piles of clothes and junk.
Jesse (offpanel): "Wake up, Scribbles! It's noon!"
Scribbles: "You can't be here without a warrant! I watch C.S.I.!
I know stuff! Joseph?"
Jesse: "Jesse."

Panel 2:
Jesse stands over Scribbles as he sits up, rubbing his face.
Scribbles: "Whatchu' here fo'? Poppers? Droppers? Uppers and downers? I'm
runnin' a special on Screamin' Meamies."
Jesse: "Actually, I'm here to get your expert opinion on something."

Panel 3:
Scribbles looks up. Jesse holds the bag of weed at him.
Scribbles: "You know, I'm not a registered pharmacologist per say... I'm
more of a home-schooled situation."
Jesse: "School yourself on this."

Panel 5:
Scribbles pours some of the bag's contents into his hand.
Scribbles: "Hm. I'd say it's weed."
Jesse (offpanel): "I'd say 'Duh.'"

Panel 6:
Scribbles holds his hand up to his mouth and licks some of the weed.
Jesse (offpanel): "That was on the ground!"
Scribbles: "Hints of blueberry. It's fresh. Like, just-picked fresh.
Traces of juniper and thyme. That means locally grown. And just a
smidge of... charcoal?"


Page 5

Panel 1:
Scribbles looks down at his hand casually.
Scribbles: "Nope, that's a cigarette butt."
Jesse: "Can you tell who sold it?"
Scribbles: "Well, there is a slight discoloration. Sorta... a blueish...
no, I'd say this was more aquamarine, wouldn't-"

Panel 2:
Scribbles suddenly jumps up and pushes Jesse towards the door.
Scribbles: "Nope, it's too vague. Coulda' come from anywhere.
Sorry I couldn't help. Haveaniceday BYE!"
Jesse: "But... the color?"
Scribbles: "Wrong. I was wrong. Bad lighting in here. My glassy's are
foggy. The sun was in my eyes."

Panel 3:
Jesse goes into a martial-arts pose. Scribbles puts his hands up defensively.
Jesse: "You know who's weed this is, don't you?"
Scribbles: "If I did, and I told, I'd be dead- and then I wouldn't know
anymore... so it's a moot point, really, when you think about it."
Jesse: "No one knows I came here. No one has to know."

Panel 4:
Scribbles is clearly panicing.
Scribbles: "But you did come here. The universe knows, man. And some people
can read the signs. Probability. There's only so many people who could have
told you."
Jesse: "So if I just started beating up every drug dealer in the city- when
I got to the one who sold that weed, he'd assume you told me anyway, right?"

Panel 5:
Jesse looks knowingly at Scribbles, as he tries to work out the scenario
in his head.
Jesse: "By your logic, I mean. You're screwed either way, RIGHT?"
Scribbles: "Big Biggie. He processes the weed in an old printshop- leaves a

bluish tinge. You just- you gotta take him down, okay?. Make sure he doesn't
come after me."
Jesse: "You're a drug dealer, Scribbles. Like I care what happens to you."


Page 6

Panel 1:
Jesse, who now has sunglasses on for reasons of coolness, walks out of
Scribble's crumbling tenement building as Scribbles wails behind him.
Scribbles (offpanel): "Jesse? JESSSSSSSSSSE!!!"

Panel 2:
Textbox: LATER
Jesse walks up to a muscular bouncer outside an apartment building.
Bouncer: "Appointment?"

Panel 3:
Jesse stands face-to-chest with the enormous bouncer.
Jesse: "I need to rap with Big Biggie about one of his clients.
Bouncer: "Mr. Big sees no one without an appointment."
Jesse: "So this IS his place? Thanks."

Panel 4:
Interior of Big Biggie's apartment. Biggie sits on a couch, casually
counting stacks of cash with a revolver on the table in front of him.
From outside, Jesse can be heard fighting the bouncer.
WHAM! THGG! KRRSH!
Bouncer (offpanel): "No, wait! I need that to live! Arrgh!"

Panel 5:
Biggie picks up the gun and points it at the door as Jesse enters.
Jesse: "Somebody should call a ambulance."
Biggie: "I have a doctor onsite. Descretion is the heart of my business.
What do you want?"


Page 7

Panel 1:
Jesse folds his arms over his chest.
Jesse: "I got no beef with you."
Biggie: "Tell that to Cedric."
Jesse: "He was in my way. I removed him.
All I want is some info on a client of yours."

Panel 2:
Biggie cocks an eyebrow, still pointing the gun.
Biggie: "You thick? As I just told you: I'm discrete."
Jesse: "But you ain't stupid. I just took out your bodyguard,
and I could easily take that gun from you."
Biggie: "That so?"

Panel 3:
Jesse doesn't blink.
Jesse: "You know it. I just want the name of a customer who stole
something from me."
Biggie: "And then you leave?"
Jesse: "Just like that."

Panel 4:
Closeup on Biggie as he cocks the gun.
Biggie: "Counter-offer."
Sound effects: KLIK. creeeeeeaak.

Panel 5:
The creaking sound in the last panel was a back door swinging open.
At that moment, all three ninjas enter the room. Ned is carrying the sword.
Ned: "Yo, Biggie! I need some mo' weed! I dropped mine while we were
burglarizing that dojo on 43rd and Park last night at 11:37 in the..."


Page 8

Panel 1:
Jesse goes into a badass full-body kung fu pose.

Panel 2:
The ninjas bolt out the back door. Ned shouts over his shoulder.
Ned: "You can't prove NOTHING!"

Panel 3:
The ninjas spill out into the street. Jesse follows.
Ned: "Wait, why am I runnin'? I got a sword!"

Panel 4:
Ned slashes at Jesse while Jesse deftly dodges.
Jesse: "Fool, I'm a Dragonbelt!"
Ned: "I don't think that's a thing."

Panel 5:
Ninja Kyle and Ninja Greg both attempt to punch Jesse, and are deflected.
Kyle: "Yeah, shouldn't you be a black belt or something?"
Greg: "Dude, that's racist!"

Page 9

Panel 1:
Ned swings the sword wildly.
Ned: "Stand still! This is only gonna hurt A LOT!"

Panel 2:
Jesse holds up his hands in one of those cool martial arts stances.
Jesse: "Give me the sword."
Ned (offpanel): "Bad choice of words!"

Panel 3:
Ned swings the sword down to the ground, showering Jesse with sparks.
Meanwhile, Jesse fends off the other two ninjas simultaneously.

Panel 4:
Ninja Greg blocks a blow with his forearm.
Greg: "Resistance is... what's that word? Futon!"

Panel 5:
Ninja Kyle blocks a punch by crossing both arms in front of his face.
Kyle: "I think it's time for a new strategy..."


Page 10

Panel 1:
(extrawide panel) The ninjas, seen from ground-level in mid-action, bolt.
Ninjas: "RUN AWAAAAY!"

Panel 2:
Jesse, looking down, grabs a trashcan lid.

Panel 3:
Jesse hurls the lid mightily.

Panel 4:
The lid connects with the back of Kyle's head.

Panel 5:
Jesse's feet and shadow can be seen over Kyle's face-down body.


Page 11

Panel 1:
Jesse grabs Kyle's head by his ninja mask and pulls him upright.
Jesse: "Who do you work for? Where are they taking the sword?"
Kyle: "Yo mama, and straight up yo"

Panel 2:
Jesse punches him to the ground.
Sound effect: Ka-THWAM!

Panel 3:
Kyle pushes himself up.
Kyle: "I ain't no snitch!"
Jesse (offpanel): "No..."

Panel 4:
Jesse pulls off Kyle's mask and snaps a photo with his cell phone.
(Kyle's back is towards the viewer)
Jesse: "I'm gonna make you a celebrity!"

Panel 5:
Jesse (foreground) types on his phone's keypad. Kyle (background, blurry)
reaches towards him desperately.
Jesse: "Youtube, here I come."
Kyle: "Noooo! My street cred!"

Panel 6:
Jesse stands up, triumphant.
Kyle: "Stop! Don't post! They're taking it to the brothel on Rhode Street."
Jesse: "Ronin Romeo's brothel? ISH JUST GOT REAL."
Kyle: "Did you just say 'ish'?"

Panel 7:
Jesse's foot knocks Kyle unconscious.


Page 12

Panel 1:
A shot of Ronin Romeo's crumbling brothel.

Panel 2:
Jesse walks up to the shabby old house.
A doorman talks to him through the door.
Doorman: "Whaddya want?"
Jesse: "*Ahem* I'm, uh, here to have the sex. With a lady.
In exchange for money... which I have."

Panel 3:
Jesse steps cautiously through the opening door.

Panel 4:
The unseen doorman points Jesse towards debauchery.
Doorman (offpanel): "Feel free to browse."
Jesse: "...Right.
I am going to enjoy the sex I will be having!"

Panel 5:
Jesse pauses in front of an open doorway. The contents of the room
are entirely blocked by a black CENSORED box.

Panel 6:
Jesse makes his way to a back door labeled EMPLOYEES ONLY. He looks
cautiously to the side as he nudges it open.


Page 13

Panel 1:
Jesse starts to ascend a set of stairs behind the door, looking over
his shoulder to make sure he is not followed.

Panel 2:
Jesse suddenly bumps into Sensei Whitemin, who is counting a wad of cash.

Panel 3:
Jesse is stunned.
Jesse: "S-Sensai Whitemin? What're you doin' here?"
Sensei: "I'm... uh... what do you think I'm doing? I'm doing chicks! Yeah,
and I was just counting this money... from my wallet... to make sure none
of them nicked any
I STOLE THE SWORD, ALRIGHT?"
Jesse: "But WHY?"

Panel 4:
Jesse begs for an explanation.
Jesse: "That sword is your heritage! It's a gift from your ancestors! It gives
my Dragonbelt its power!"
Sensei: "Oh would you shut up about the- the Dragonbelt is a bunch of bullcrap!
It's a marketing gimmick I came up with to steal students from Nguyen's
Laundromat and Self-Defense School! And I'm only like one-sixteenth Japanese."
Jesse: "Gasp!"

Panel 5:
Sensei Whitemin continues to rave at Jesse.
Sensei: "It's all a sham, kid! You're only my best student because you're
practically my only student! Dojo-A-Gogo is gogoing down the drain, so I helped
Romeo steal the sword so I could get his money and the sword insurance. Now
outta my way!"

Panel 6:
Jesse refuses to let him pass.
Sensei: "And where's my dry cleaning? Oh, you thought I forgot about that-
huh, punk?"
Jesse: "You have brought dishonor upon your house."
Sensei: "I'm gonna bring my fist upon your face!"


Page 14

Sensei and Jesse battle, hand-to-hand. Jesse manages to dodge all the blows,
and finally backhands Sensei unconscious. He opens the door at the top
of the stairs.


Page 15

Panel 1:
Ronin Romeo sits in a throne, Ninjas Ned and Greg behind him. The sword hangs
on the wall above his head.
Jesse (offpanel): "I've come for the 1000 Claws of the Tiger-Eagle-Dragonsword,
Romeo. And I must warn you..."

Panel 2:
Jesse bares his fists of fury.
Jesse: "I'm an Nth level Dragonbelt."

Panel 3:
Romeo sneers.
Romeo: "Yeah... that's not a thing. Trust me. I'm Asian."
Jessie (offpanel): "You ain't nothin' but a two-bit pimp."

Panel 4:
Ninja Greg stands up in the background. Romeo (foreground) ignores him.
Greg: "Dannng, holmes. You gonna let him say dat, ese?"
Romeo: "Greg, we've talked about this. You're not hispanic. You're like
the least hispanic guy I know. You're antispanic."

Panel 5:
Romeo points defiantly at Jesse.
Romeo: "That's right, I am a pimp. Best pimp in the Tri-State Area, two
years running! I'm so hip, I break when old ladies fall down. I'm so fly,
every time with me counts as joining the Mile High Club! And your so-called
skills meaning nothing to me, you know why?"

Panel 6:
Closeup of Romeo's hand, holding a gun.
Romeo: "Because I own a gun. Kung-fu THIS, motha-"


Page 16

Panel 1:
Jesse whips his hand forward, throwing some shurikens at Romeo.
Jesse: "I choose YOU, shuriken!"

Panel 2:
The shurikens cause the gun to fly into the air, along with a trail of blood.

Panel 3:
Romeo clenches his fists in rage.
Romeo: "Fine! I'll tear you apart with my bare hands!"

Panel 4:
Romeo punches Jesse with brutal force.

Panel 5:
Ninjas Greg and Ned watch on the sidelines.
Ned: "Dude, that shuriken thing was awesome!"
Greg: "Yeah, he was all Fwoosh! And they were all wshh! wshh!
No gun for you!"


Pages 17 and 18

The battle rages on. Eventually, Jesse is triumphant.


Page 19

Panel 1:
Jesse stands over Romeo's body.

Panel 2:
Jesse takes the sword.

Panel 3:
Ned cowers in fear.
Ned: "Dannng! Who are you, man?"

Panel 4:
Jesse puts on sunglasses for no reason.
Jesse: "I'm Jesse Moses, Dragonbelt."

Panel 5:
Jesse walks off. Ned and Greg watch in the foreground.
Ned: "That was dramatic. Well, what do we do now?"
Greg: "Find a new boss, I guess. But first: snow cones!"
Ned: "Yay!"