Things Are Getting A Bit...Emotional (Part 11)

PART ELEVEN

PAGE ONE

Panel One: Jamal is carrying a box full of stuff down the hallway, and he looks tired.

(There is a picture in the hallway that Jamal is close to passing, this picture frame is very important to the shift of the story. There is a faded out picture of a man deadlifting weights.)

Thought bubble: “Oh man I really couldn’t control myself there for a moment, I felt like I was going to burst if I didn’t get that out.”

Panel Two (SPLIT)

Split One: Jamal has turned his head to the right and has noticed the picture hanging on the wall.

Split Two: (POV) Jamal is standing in the hallway in front of the picture frame.

Jamal: “Dad.”

Panel Three: POV of the picture frame, it is a big strong man deadlifting a heavy amount of weight. There is a coach next to him yelling, the coach’s facial expression shows that he’s encouraging the bodybuilder as he’s lifting the weight.”

Jamal: “Where did this picture come from? I could have sworn mom had this at her house.”

Panel Four: Jamal’s face softens as he looks at the picture.

Jamal: “Look at you Pop, I remember being in the crowd and watching you lift all of that weight when I was little. You were like my own personal Superman.”

Panel Five (SPLIT):

Split One: Jamal puts the box down.

Split Two: Jamal is now holding the picture in his hands.

Panel Six: Jamal has his hand on the picture over his father.

Jamal: “What was it you always used to tell me?”

PAGE TWO

Panel One: FLASHBACK: Jamal is a small child and is crying. He’s fallen off of his bicycle and hurt is knee.

Panel Two (SPLIT)

SPLIT ONE: Close up of Jamal’s young face as he’s crying

SPLIT TWO: His dad’s big hand is on his face, Jamal isn’t crying but his eyes are full of tears as he’s looking at the reader.

Panel Three: His muscular dad is knelt down eye level with Jamal and his hand is still on his face.

Pop: “You had quite a fall there.”

Jamal: “My knee…it…it hurts!”

Pop: “I know son. Let’s see if you can stand up so we can get you cleaned up.”

Jamal: “I can’t Pop, it hurts to much.”

Pop: Well see if you can try son.”

Panel Four SPLIT:

Split One: Jamal is trying to stand.

Split Two: Jamal falls but his dad catches him.

Panel Five: Jamal is in his dads arms and is starting to cry again.

Jamal: “See Pop, it hurts. I’m not strong like you are, I’m too weak.”

Pop: “You’re not weak son. We all get hurt and feel pain, even your big strong Pop. But you have to take that pain and use it to make yourself stronger and learn from it.”

Panel Six: Jamal is looking up at his Pop as he’s in his arms.

Pop: “Don’t let pain or your mistakes keep you down. And never think you’re not strong enough to do something. Strength is something you gain by working through the pain and not giving up. Never give up son, you know I will always be here to help you.”

PAGE THREE

Panel One: Jamal is now a young teenager, they’re in the gym and his dad is young Jamal workout.

Narration Bubble: You weren’t lying Pop, you would always be there for me. And you made me so strong both physically and as a man.”

Panel Two: Jamal and his dad are sweating, but Pop has his arm around Jamal as they’re walking.

Pop: “Damn son! Look at you! You’re killing it I’ve never been so proud of you. My son ain’t no shrimp no more!”

Panel Three: Jamal is cleaning the gym equipment while his dad is sweeping.

Narration Bubble: This gym was more than a business to the both of us, it was a second home. It was where I grew up and it was where you taught me so much.

Panel Four: Jamal, his dad and his mom are sitting at a dinner table laughing, Jamal looks happy while he’s chewing his food.

Narration Bubble: You were always to strong and provided a good life for mom and me.

Panel Five: Jamal and his mom are looking at his Pop as he’s coughing really hard and is using his hand to cover his face.

Narration Bubble: But little did Mom and I know…

Mom: “Are you alright sweetheart?”

Pop: “Yeah…cough…I think I swallowed wrong…cough…I just need some water.”

Panel Six: Pop is standing at the kitchen sink filling up a glass of water. His face looks worried and theirs a small tear in his eye.

Narration Bubble: “You knew it was already to late because it had progressed. And you didn’t tell us because you wanted us to think you were so strong. You didn’t want us to know you were in so much pain.”

PAGE FOUR

Panel One: PRESENT DAY: Jamal is carrying the box down the hallway, he has tears in his eyes but he looks determined and strong.

Narration Bubble: “You gave me this gym, this second home. And I will do whatever it takes to keep it and make it a second home for my boys.”

Panel Two: Jamal is knocking on the woman’s restroom.

Jamal: “Miss, is everything okay? It’s been over an hour.”

Panel Three: A woman comes out of the bathroom; she has short hair and is a bit chubby but she’s wearing workout clothes.

Jamal: “Oh I’m sorry miss, did you by chance see my friend?”

Lady: “No sugar I’m the only one that’s in there.”

Jamal: “Okay sorry about that.”

Lady: “You’re fine sugar, I think I left something in there.”

Panel Four: When the woman opens the bathroom door, Jamal notices that the window and the window screen is open.

Panel Five: Jamal is driving, his face looks determined, and the back of his truck is full of boxes.

Jamal: “I’m going to fix things and make sure that my boys will have something to call their own. I’m not going to let you down Pop.”

Panel Six: Pop’s ghost is sitting next to Jamal, but it goes unnoticed.

Pop: “You’ve never let me down Jamal…but I am disappointed with what you’ve been doing behind Becky’s back.”

PAGE FIVE

Panel One: Jamal is back at his booth and he has all his boxes ready to get things set up.

Jamal: “Alright Jamal, let’s do this!”

Panel Two: The man that sold Jamal the booth is starting to walk by and Jamal notices him.

Jamal: “Hey sir excuse me! Have you seen my booth assistant Anna?”

Panel Three: The man looks at him and is confused.

Man: “Your what?”

Jamal: “The booth assistant that you all gave me, Anna. I can’t find her anywhere and I was hoping to get her help.”

Man: “We don’t have booth assistants and the only Anna that works here is the janitor and she’s off work until tomorrow.”

Jamal: “Oh, well sorry about that sir.”

Man: “Right…you have two days left to get set up and ready.”

Panel Four: Jamal is unloading a box when a man approaches him.

Man: “So what are you selling?”

Jamal: “Oh hey, how are you? I’m selling a discounted gym membership.”

Panel Five: The man is laughing, and Jamal looks confused at him.

Man: “A gym membership!? You are joking, you have to be joking. No one comes to these events to work out, they come here for the pills that they think will make them look like the freaks that will be on that stage in a few days.”

Panel Six: The man is walking away and Jamal is looking at him angrily.

Man: “Well, good luck with your gym membership we will be over here actually making money.”

Jamal: (Whispering) “Yeah fuck you too buddy. Fuck that guy Jamal, you’re doing this for Becky and the boys, don’t forget that.”