Tricky Jack #5
Based on Dark Horse GN "Lazarus Jack"
INT. SUNNYSIDE RETIREMENT HOME - ROOM 307 - NIGHT
The lamp on Jackson’s nightstand lights up, jolting the old man awake.
Mafeesh has returned. He places a small suitcase on Jackson’s bed. Opens the snaps and reaches into the case.
MAFEESH: If you wish to reunite with your family, I’ll need your full cooperation. You do understand what’s required, don’t you? (beat) Maneuvering through dimensions, encountering other worlds, their inhabitants, their terrors—it’s not a mission for just any virtuous paladin. Certainly not for a reckless daredevil. Definitely not for the trickster you once were.
Jackson, barely awake, locks eyes with Mafeesh.
MAFEESH: I will prepare you as best I can, Mr. Pierce. And I promise to provide the necessary resources for safe passage, but you, in turn, must follow my every instruction. Understand?
Jackson nods his acceptance.
MAFEESH: Very well. (beat) We begin our journey by introducing you to the Sha.
Like a magician pulling a rabbit from his hat, Mafeesh extracts a slender, hairless canid/reptilian creature with a jade coat from his suitcase.
This is a SHA.
MAFEESH: The Sha is widely considered to be the fierce totem animal of the Egyptian God Set. But the Sha is not the dangerous dark beast depicted in hieroglyphics. These creatures are green, not black. They have floppy ears and, well, they’re quite lovable. Also, as you will soon discover, their saliva contains restorative qualities.
The Sha sniffs at Jackson, then licks his face.
MAFEESH: It‘s my belief that the Sha were raised by Renpet, the goddess of spring, youth, fertility, and eternity. They fed on scarab bee—
Jackson loudly groans.
MAFEESH: Yes, well, I won’t bore you with my theories. But I will tell you this—the great beauty Cleopatra swore by them.
Mafeesh grabs the Sha by the scruff of its neck and carefully returns it to the suitcase. He snaps the case shut.
MAFEESH: Tomorrow morning. The parking lot. Be there.
JACKSON (bewildered): Help me.
Mafeesh shuts off the lamp. The room goes dark.
MAFEESH (O.S.): I assure you, I am.
INT. SUNNYSIDE RETIREMENT HOME - ROOM 307 - NEXT DAY
Curtains are spread open, letting in morning light.
NURSE: Good Morning, Mr. Pierce. Breakfast time.
The Nurse rolls a cart near Jackson’s bed.
NURSE: Hungry?
Jackson sits up, startling the Nurse. He looks much, much younger. His hair has grown back and it’s darker. His wrinkled skin has smoothed over.
JACKSON: I think I’ll feed myself, if you don’t mind.
NURSE: Mr. Pierce!
JACKSON: Any solid food on your cart?
Jackson throws back the bedcovers.
JACKSON: I’m thinking about a sizable piece of red meat. So rare it moans when you cut into it. A baked potato ––mmm –– drowning in butter.
Jackson stretches.
JACKSON: And plenty of salt. Haven’t had salt in ages.
INT. SUNNYSIDE RETIREMENT HOME - HALLWAY
The Nurse watches in amazement as Jackson joyfully glides, spins, prances and leaps past stunned residents.
EXT. SUNNYSIDE RETIREMENT HOME
Elderly folk stare out windows, watching Jackson run, and occasionally cartwheel, across the lawn. Chased by Orderlies and Nurses.
INT. SUNNYSIDE RETIREMENT HOME - PARKING LOT
Mafeesh is waiting, as promised. Standing next to a vintage automobile.
MAFEESH: See there, Thaddeus. I told you.
THADDEUS, a sullen teenage boy in a chauffeur uniform, opens the vehicle’s back door.
INT. MAFEESH’S AUTOMOBILE
Jackson, who can’t stop smiling, dives into the backseat.
JACKSON: This is amazing. Thank you, Mafeesh. Thank you so much.
Jackson locks the door, then raises the window, shutting out the baffled nursing home staff.
NURSE (muffled): You okay, Mr. Pierce?
ORDERLY (muffled): That’s not him. Can’t be.
JACKSON: I don’t know how you did this, but I’m young again. Young. Again. And... I’m truly, truly grateful.
Mafeesh, from the front seat, turns around to hand Jackson a clipboard and pen.
MAFEESH: Once I have your signature, we’ll be on our way, Mr. Pierce.
JACKSON: Please, call me Jackson.
Jackson quickly reads over the contract, then without hesitation signs it.
JACKSON: This? This is why you’re helping me?
MAFEESH: I need you to recover the gauntlet. The one you lost. The one with the eye of RA branded in the palm.
JACKSON: I have no idea where it is, but if you do, I’ll retrieve it for you. (returns contract) I’ll do anything. Anything to see my family again.
THADDEUS (pops open champagne): This is your first escape in some years, I’d guess.
Thaddeus fills a fluted glass and passes it back to Jackson.
JACKSON (raises glass): Vive la liberté!
TO BE CONTINUED
Tricky Jack © Mark Scott Ricketts, based on the Dark Horse graphic novel “Lazarus Jack” created by Mark Ricketts (writer) and Horacio Domingues (artist).
Love this art!
I've read the physical comic version before, but It's so much fun to read the script, so many more details! I already loved the story, but now you're adding more to love. 😁 And as APP pointed out, Horacio's artwork is fantastic.