Panel One

Late at night, Dr. MIKE Atkins and GWION Bach come into MIKE's apartment, both of them laughing and joking.  MIKE wears a brand new t-shirt that reads "1982 Irish Festival."  GWION carries his harp case over his shoulder.

            For background details:  MIKE's apartment is a nice one-bedroom, decorated a few levels above "starving college student": while none of the furniture is "ratty," it obviously does not belong to any coherent decorating scheme.  The only decorating motif is various pictures and statues of black panthers.  In particular, there is a poster of a black panther stretched out on top of an ebony grand piano; the caption reads "Black on Black" (see reference pictures).  An old, well-worn, stuffed panther cub also resides somewhere in the living room, usually on the couch or the floor.  In addition, there is a small table beside the door with an ANSWERING MACHINE on it (remember that it's 1982 and draw an appropriate style of machine); the message light on the ANSWERING MACHINE is blinking.

            Prominently displayed somewhere in the apartment is a recent photograph of MIKE and his younger sister Heather.  Beside that is a posed portrait of MIKE and Heather with their parents, taken at MIKE's college graduation: MIKE was twenty-two, and Heather was sixteen.  Heather is a vibrant young woman who is more cute than beautiful; both Heather and her parents have light hair and blue eyes.  Try to get this photograph "unobtrusively" in the background of various shots throughout the story.

            Because GWION is staying at MIKE's place for a few days, there will be a spare pillow on the couch.  Also on the couch is a green, rectangular, wool cloak (about five feet by six feet) trimmed with silver Celtic knotwork (it was serving as a blanket).  GWION's army surplus duffle bag sits on the floor beside the couch, filled with the remainder of his worldly possessions.

1.   MIKE:                                     I've never heard you play before, Gwion--you're really good.

2.   GWION:                                  I do occasionally earn a living at the harp, Michael.

Panel Two

As MIKE closes the door, he notices that BARNABAS is standing behind the door and peering intently into the corner.  In the background, Gwion puts his harp case down on the floor in front of the couch.

3.   MIKE:                                     Barnabas?  You're on the wrong side of the door again, stupid.

4.   GWION:                                  Not necessarily--

Panel Three

GWION sits cross-legged on the living-room floor.  He leans on his harp case, musing.  In the background, BARNABAS walks over to GWION.

5.   GWION:                                  --there's a Voodoo spirit who lives behind the front door.  I can't remember which one ...

6.   GWION:                                  I might have to track down my mother sometime and ask her.

Panel Four

Laughing, MIKE reaches to turn on the ANSWERING MACHINE.  In the background, GWION looks up at MIKE with amusement.

7.   MIKE:                                     You have a mother?  You're kidding!

8.   GWION:                                  What did you think?  That I was hatched?

9.   MIKE:                                     You said that, not me.

Panel Five

As MIKE listens to the ANSWERING MACHINE, he becomes completely depressed.

10.  ANSWERING MACHINE:         Hi, it's Beth.  I checked around as much as I could, but I didn't turn up anything.  Sorry, Mike, but there's nothing else I can do.  beep

11.  MIKE (whisper):                       Damn.

Panel Six

MIKE collapses onto the couch while GWION watches him curiously.  BARNABAS stands in GWION's lap and knits/kneads his claws into GWION's thigh.

12.  GWION:                                  What was that about?

13.  MIKE:                                     Beth was looking into a murder--I mean, I think it was a murder--

14.  GWION:                                  Why don't you tell me about it?