Cross and Pike
Promotional issue

Page one
On page one we find Georgia and Samuel at the side of the road having car trouble. Georgia is working on the engine, Samuel offers her a hand but she declines because she is angry at him for driving too fast and ruining the engine. So Samuel sits there and plays with his coin.

Panel one
A picture from above taking up a third or so of the page. This is an Ariel view, it is a green lush valley shown in wide screen fashion. There is a rough road running through it, a car is broken down at the side of the road, it is small in comparison to the landscape,  we can not see the people in and around it. The car looks different from our own cars, but we can not quite see the detail on it. There is one speech bubble in the panel.

PIKE
Need any help?

Panel two
Hal the size of panel one, it is much closer to the car. We now see why the car is different, it is powered by steam and much bigger than our cars. Georgia is leant over the front of the Auto (This is what cars are called in Cross and Pike), she is looking at the burnt out engine, steam is coming up from it still. She has her back to us. Samuel is sat in the drivers seat facing outwards, looking at Georgia, he is smirking slightly as if he finds all this funny. There is a coin in his hand.

CROSS
No!

PIKE
Why not?

CROSS
Because this is all your fault!

PIKE
So I should be helping.

Panel three
In this Panel we see Georgia’s face working on the car, she has her hands buried in the engine, her red hair is being kept mostly out of her hair by her “Alice band”, she has oily smears on the front of her dress, and on her nose.

CROSS
No. Good Jehovah you really  broke this thing.

PIKE
So? It’s nice out here.

CROSS
So we won’t be getting to London any time soon.

PIKE
Oh.

Panel three
The last third of the page, a close up on Samuel rolling the coin between his fingers skilfully.

PIKE
How did you learn about autos anyway?

CROSS
My father helped invent them.

PIKE
Oh.

Page two
On page two Pike decides he should go and visit the nearest village looking for help, Georgia disagrees and thinks she should go because she knows what the part is. Georgia says they should flip for it, she calls tails and loses.

Panel one
Half the top third, Georgia is now stood up looking at Samuel she looks a bit sulky, but not angry, Pike is still smiling away. Georgia’s hand is on her forehead as if wiping away sweat, Samuels hands are in his pockets.

PIKE
Look ill go and find help in the next village.
It can’t be that far off.

Cross
I will go, I know what part we are looking for.

PIKE
Show me then!

Panel two
Same size panel, more close on Georgia holding the broken piece of engine in her hand, it is a coil that looks quite rusty and old. She is less sulky now she has an idea.

CROSS
Alright toss that coin of yours to see who goes.

PIKE
Fine.

Panel three
A third of the page, Georgia and Samuel stand across from each other as he flicks the coin in the air, it rotates in an arc. They both watch it, Georgia watches it eagerly, Samuel does not look that botherd.

PIKE
Call it.

CROSS
Tails!

Panel four
The Coin lands on its side and spins around.
Panel five
A full panel on it landing on heads.

CROSS
Sod!

Page three
In Page three Samuel is walking along on his own following the road, he is whistling and laid back. He is dwarfed by the scenery around him and looks very small. He suddenly hears a baby crying, he is worried about it so tries to find where the sound is coming from. It is coming from behind a large rock, he looks around and is knocked unconscious by a  rock being held in an iron hand. He is dragged away by a cloaked figure.

Panel one
Samuel Walks along on his own following the road, the great English country side surrounds him, the auto is not in sight.

Panel two
Samuel is whistling to himself in a laid back manner his hands are in his pocket and his hair and jacket are blowing in the wind.

Panel three
From behind a rock in front of him Samuel hears the sound of a baby crying.

Panel four
Samuel stops in his tracks, he looks confused as to why there would be a baby out here. He looks to where the sound has come from.

PIKE
(Thought)
What’s a baby doing out here?

Panel five
He pears behind the rock where the crying is coming from, he leans round wearily, we do not see what is behind the large stone.

Panel six
A jagged nasty looking rock fills the panel being held in an iron hand.

Panel seven
Pike is lay at the side of the road, he is bleeding from a cut just above his left eyes, his eyes are closed  and he is not moving.

Panel eight
A clocked figure takes his ankle and begins to drag him away.

Figure
Not as young as I like.
But he has magic in him,
Should be a fine meal.

Page four
Georgia is sat waiting for Samuel to get back, she waits for a long time before she becomes too frustrated and decides he has got himself lost. She sets off after him, not long into her walk she sees some thing glinting in the distance, she finds it is Samuels coin, it is double headed so he cheated to win. She sees a little way up the hill a cave.

Panel one
Georgia is sat on her hands on the autos bonnet, swinging her legs around she looks bored. The sun is above the car.

Panel two
Georgia sat in the front seat facing outwards she is absently polishing the blade of her carving knife and looking very bored. The sun it closer to setting.

Panel three
Georgia has jumped up with frustration, she can no longer sit and wait for Samuel to return she decides to take things into her own hands.

Cross
That’s it!

Panel four
She is walking alone down the same patch of road Samuel walked down this panel is almost the same as the first panel on the last page, but it is Georgia trudging along.

Panel five
As she walks past the rock where Samuel was captured, she sees something shiny near the rock and is drawn to it.

CROSS
(Thought)
Oooo shiny, what is it?

Panel six
Georgia picks up Samuels coin, she turns it over and sees that it is heads on both sides. She narrows her eyes in annoyance at being tricked.

Panel seven
She looks around the horizon for Samuel and sees a cave up a hill not far off.

Panel eight
Georgia starts to walk to said cave.

Page five
Georgia Looks in through the cave entrance it is dark and long but at the end of the cave she sees Samuel still out cold. He also has a chunk bitten out of his leg. Georgia takes out the knife from her sock, we see the inscription on it “For our Georgia”, it is a normal knife but very sharp, the inscription is on the blade near the hilt. She walks into the cave tiring to  reach Samuel looking around the cave wearily. From the shadows behind her appears the “Black Annis”.  She is a retched old Crone, her face is ancient, only sparse patches of white hair on her head, he teeth sharp and black. Around her waist are the skins of children and her right hand is tipped by iron fingers.

Panel one
The top third of the page. It is the whole cave with Georgia looking into it, there are small human bones in the cave, and lots of auto parts.  The ceiling of the cave has stalactites hanging from it. At the very back of it is Samuel lying down not moving. His leg has a chunk bitten out of it.

Panel two
Close up on Georgia taking her knife from her sock, we see the inscription on it “For our Georgia”.

Panel Three
Georgia looks worried as she pushes further into the cave, she wants to get to Samuel quickly but does not want to be caught by whatever bit Samuel, she crouches low.

Panel four
The horrifying “Black Annis” Steps out of the shadows, the Light behind her casts even more ghastly shadows over her.

Page six
On this page a struggle takes place between Georgia and the Annis. The Annis explains that she is a ancient witch who feeds on children. She then jumps at Georgia, who manages to move and slash the witch, but Georgia stumbles and the hag presses the advantage. She is upon Georgia in moments and hits her with the rock.

Panel one
Georgia turns to see the Annis advancing on your, she is shocked by the sight. Her eyes go wide.

CROSS
What are you?

Annis
I am the Black Annis deary

Panel two
Close up on the Annis staring at Georgia intently. Her mouth over flowing with salvia.

Annis
I have hunted and fed her for hundreds of years.
Its been slim pickings recently.
But you an him are special you will last me a long time.

Panel three
The Annis lunges at Georgia, but she just manages to step aside, Georgia slashes the hag with her knife.

Panel four
The Annis lands in a heap with a large cut on her face, she screams at Georgia.

Panel five and six
First panel showing Georgia’s foot slip and the next Georgia loses her footing and falls back wards.

Panel seven
The hag is on top of Georgia, Georgia tries to shy away but can not move, her face is panicked.

Panel Eight
The Annis Bring a rock down on her head.

Page seven
The hag is ready to bite Georgia and tear her throat out , this is just as Samuel starts to stir, he sees the Annis on top of Georgia. He sees Georgia is knocked out, he calls to the Black Annis and stands up she turns to meet him. She taunts him because she knows he is a Warlock, he points his index and little finger to wards a Stalactite. It comes lose and impales the Hag through the mouth.
Panel one
The Hag is low over Georgia her jagged teeth are soon to be closed around Georgia’s young throat. In the background Samuel stirs.

Panel two
He surveys the scene quickly (in small separate panels focused on what he is seeing in the cave, the stalactite and where it would fall and in the pile of engine pieces he sees the coil that they need to work the car.)

Panel three
He stands and calls the witch. He is uneasy on the leg with the chunk taken out of it. She looks at him.

PIKE
Excuse me, I don’t believe you were finished with me.

Panel four
The witch and Samuel face each other.

Annis
Ah, the Warlock awakes, I thought your kind were wiped out.

Pike
Apparently not.

Panel five
Samuel points his index and little finger at the stalactite above the hag.

PIKE
occurro

Panel six
The spike falls through the Black Annis’s mouth and impales the creature straight through. Black blood starts to seep out of the hag.

Page eight
Samuel leaves the cave carrying Georgia with him, and one of the pieces from the pile of engine pieces in his hand. Georgia wakes up in the car with Samuel beside her driving slowly.

Panel one
Pike carrying Georgia in his arms is walking down the hill. He again looks small compared to the landscape around him. He has in one of his hands the coil that they need for the engine.

Panel two
Georgia opens her eyes slowly, looking at Samuel. She is covered in blood from her head wound and still is oily.

CROSS
What happened?

Panel three
Samuel looks at Georgia and smiles he moves the hair out of her eyes.

PIKE
I learnt my lesson about speeding.


END