CounterConspiracy Comics: Holy Driver

Issue #1

“Take My Hand Part 1”

PANEL 1 – SPLASH PAGE

OPEN ON Inside action shot of OLE’ HAND. FREDDIE looking in the rear view mirror as he turns the wheel hard to avoid a demolition derby car attempting to ram him from the front. Another derby car can be seen approaching from behind and a monster truck is coming from the driver’s side. Also visible in the rear view mirror is an old lady(LORENE GOODFAITH). She is sitting in the backseat NOTE: Lorene can only be seen in the rearview mirror.

CAPTION:

Now.

FREDDIE:

Grandma?!

TITLE:

HOLY DRIVER: TAKE MY HAND PART 1

PANEL 2 – SPLASH PAGE

A  graveyard behind a large Gothic church. It is a sunny afternoon in mid September. FREDDIE is sitting in the front row of a funeral. (Attendees include: COYOTE LIGHTINGSTORM, UNCLE BUD, SARAH “SNAKE” LIGHTINGSTORM, FATHER KILPATRICK, SHERIFF MCGREGOR, FIRE MARSHALL FREEMAN and LUCKY (Boston Terrier). There is a picture of the departed on a stand at the head of the casket (LORENE GOODFAITH). FATHER KILPATRICK stands holding a Bible. NOTE: SNAKE is dressed in a tasteful black dress with a deep neck line trimmed with lace that covers here ample cleavage and a veil attached to a small hat. She looks very sad and very gorgeous. 

CAPTION:

Earlier.

FATHER KILPATRICK:

…with Lorene’s passing we have lost the strongest pillar of our community.  She was a beacon of light that guided all lucky enough to see her. Let her life serve as an inspiration to all here for the rest of your lives.

We commit her body to the ground; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust.

PANEL 3

FREDDIE stands over the open grave watching the casket descend. SNAKE is standing next to him.

SNAKE:

There’s no way she started that fire Freddie. She’s been lighting candles in that chapel every night since.. well, forever. She would never put her sweater somewhere it would catch fire!

FREDDIE:

She was old. It was late. She made a mistake.

PANEL 4

SNAKE facing FREDDIE. The picture of LORENE can be seen between them. SNAKE is upset. Her eyes are fierce and full of tears. FREDDIE has a sad & surprised expression. He doesn’t understand why she is so angry with him.

SNAKE:

Silly mistake! She burned down her orphanage while it was full of sleeping children! Dad and I barely got them out!

FREDDIE:

You’re right. I’m sorry. I just meant.. Accidents happen.

PANEL 5

Closeup of SNAKE. Tears streaming down her face. Her eyes are wide and filled with anger. Her makeup is starting to run.

SNAKE:

I’m telling you this was no accident. When I left she had already lit the candles. Her sweater was hung over the pew like always. Someone did this Freddie!

PANEL 6

Closeup of FREDDIE and SNAKE talking.

FREDDIE:

What!? Have you told Bill? C’mon Snake. No one would do that.

SNAKE:

Of course I told him!

FREDDIE:

Look, I know how much she meant to you and she felt the same. It’s not easy letting go, but we have to say goodbye and move on.

PANEL 7

SNAKE standing close to FREDDIE. She is looking up at him and shouting.

SNAKE:

You don’t care!

The women that raised you was murdered and all you care about is starting your life in the big city! When did you become so selfish?! Was your life so awful here?! Were we so bad to you?!

FREDDIE:

Murdered!?

PANEL 8

COYOTE stands behind SNAKE with his hand on her shoulder.

COYOTE:

Come now my little water snake. That’s enough for now. Let him say goodbye.

We will see you at the wake Freddie.

PANEL 9

FREDDIE standing over the grave hands in his pockets. Wind blowing his hair and tie. Leaves blowing through the air. A man stands behind him in the background. (SAMSON GOODFAITH).

FREDDIE:

I know you can’t hear me, but just in case.. Here it goes.

We saw things differently… I didn’t share your beliefs, but I always admired your conviction. You lived by a code. Your actions we’re guided by your morals and values.

You did good in this world. You helped people.

Despite what I said.. Boy, I wish I could take it back.  You did a good job raising me. I see that now.

I appreciate everything you did for me and I will always love you.

Goodbye Grandma.

PANEL 10

SAMSON beside and just behind FREDDIE. He is looking up.

SAMSON:
Hey momma. I bet you never thought God would let you die in a church fire!

Say “Hi” to dad for me.

PANEL 11

FREDDIE looking at SAMSON with an expression of shock..

FREDDIE:

Momma!? Dad!?

Uncle Samson!?

SAMSON:

That’s right.

PANEL 12

SAMSON walking away from the grave smiling (towards reader). FREDDIE is facing him in the background.

FREDDIE:

She said you were dead!

SAMSON:

I was just dead to her.

PANEL 13 – Half Page

Outside mid-height aerial shot of the GOODFAITH HOUSE. A couple of cars are driving away (the last friends to leave the wake). LUCKY is sitting on the porch step. FREDDIE stands behind the porch railing with his hand raised waving goodbye.

PANEL 14

Freddie sitting at a round table eating pineapple upside-down cake out of a battered old sheet pan in an old fashioned farmhouse kitchen. Lucky stares up at him from the floor. There is a large flower arrangement in the middle surrounded by casserole dishes. There is a stack of papers laying on top of a manila envelope. The words “Last Will and Testament” are printed in Old Gothic on the top page.

THOUGHT BUBBLE (FREDDIE):

FUCK!

PANEL 15

Cake shot (Imagine the view a piece of pineapple on top of the cake would have of FREDDIE). FREDDIE stuffing his face with cake looking anxious.

THOUGHT BUBBLE (FREDDIE):

She left it all to me. The farm, the secondhand store, the apartment building, the orphanage,… Lucky. All of it. I am… I mean I was.. I guess? ..the last Goodfaith.

PANEL 16

Moth shot (view from a moth perched on the ceiling fan above). One quarter of the square sheet cake is gone. A massive bite of cake is on the fork. LUCKY is eating cake off of the floor near FREDDIE’S feet.

THOUGHT BUBBLE (FREDDIE):

What I am going to do with it?

I start work next week 5 hours away! I’m supposed to leave tomorrow!

I don’t want it.

PANEL 17

Flower shot of FREDDIE (View from an Orchid in the flower arrangement). More of the sheet cake is gone. Another massive bite is on the fork.

THOUGHT BUBBLE (FREDDIE):

Okay. I’ve got it!

I’ll give the farm to Coyote. The store and Lucky go to Snake. I’ll get Uncle McGregor to manage the apartment building for me.

The Church gets what’s left of the orphanage. Boom! Done.

PANEL 18

Refrigerator shot (View of FREDDIE from inside of the refrigerator). He is grabbing a half gallon milk carton and looks relieved. There is a missing child’s picture facing the reader (MISSING CHILD).

THOUGHT BUBBLE (FREDDIE):

It’s sad, but she was old. Old people die. She had a good life.
Life goes on!
She wouldn’t want me to be sad. She’d want me to live my life and that’s what I’m going to do.

Come next Monday, I start my new life as junior software engineer at the biggest bank in the country!

PANEL 19

FREDDIE drinking a large glass of milk over the sink. COYOTE stands in the open doorway that leads outside behind him.

PANEL 20

COYOTE in the doorway. FREDDIE facing COYOTE with an expression of surprise and spitting milk out of his mouth

PANEL 21

FREDDIE and COYOTE standing in the kitchen. FREDDIE has a resigned look on his face and has milk all over his chin, neck and shirt. COYOTE is laughing.

SOUND (COYOTE):

HaHaHaHa!

FREDDIE:

Jesus! Every damn time! Man… Coyote. You’ve snuck up on me a thousand times and I never see it coming.

COYOTE:

It’s so easy!

FREDDIE:

It apparently never gets old either…heh heh.

PANEL 22

FREDDIE wiping milk off his shirt with a dish towel at the sink. COYOTE stands behind him at the table looking at LORENE’S will.

FREDDIE:

Did you know she was leaving it all to me?

COYOTE:

Yes.

FREDDIE:

Of course you did. She tells.. uh.. told you everything.

Well, I don’t want this place. You should have it. No one has been here as long as you. It should be you and your people’s land again. I’m giving it back to you.

PANEL 23

COYOTE stands with his hand on FREDDIE’S shoulder. He has a look of pride on his face. FREDDIE looks distraught.

COYOTE:

My people will remain where they have always been. Next-door on the reservation. Yes. There are spirits of my ancestors that reside here, but so do yours. This farm was built by your great-great-grandparents.

Now it is yours.

PANEL 24

FREDDIE and COYOTE facing each other. FREDDIE has his hands together fingers interlocked pleading to COYOTE.

FREDDIE:

I don’t want it. I’m leaving in the morning. I’m starting my first big job in the city. It’s time for me to start my life! Away from here.

COYOTE:

She wanted you to have it. It’s yours Freddie.

FREDDIE:

Now’s not a good time! It’s too much for me!

Please take it.  Please!

PANEL 25

FREDDIE holding COYOTE in an embrace. He looks relieved.

COYOTE:

How about this? I’ll remain the caretaker. I’ll make sure that you inheritance is here when you’re ready.

PANEL 26

FREDDIE and COYOTE sitting in rocking chairs on the back porch. COYOTE is holding a pipe. There is smoke in the air.

COYOTE:

I need you to drive me somewhere.

FREDDIE:

What? When? Now?

COYOTE:

Yes.

PANEL 27

FREDDIE still sits in the rocking chair. COYOTE is walking out of the screen door towards a barn in the distance.

FREDDIE:

Where to?

COYOTE:

The fairground.

FREDDIE:

Hey! My cars in the front.

PANEL 28

COYOTE stands in front of a barn door grasping the handle and looking at FREDDIE standing next to him. FREDDIE eyes are wide and his mouth is open (SURPRISE).

COYOTE:

We are taking your other car.

FREDDIE:

My other car?

You mean….?!!

PANEL 28

FREDDIE standing in the open barn door. COYOTE is standing next to a light switch. Shop lights illuminates a black 1969 Dodge Charger R/T 426 Hemi. Note: The BARN contains a fully equipped automotive shop along with all manners of other cool things).

FREDDIE:

OLE’ HAND!!!

Written by Will Kilpatrick

Holy Driver created by Will Kilpatrick

Copyright 2023 Holy Driver. Owned by Counterconspiracy Comics. All rights reserved. No portion or elements of this project may be reproduced or transmitted, in any form or means, 
without the express written permission of Counterconspiracy Comics LLC.