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Sprocket/Susanâs yelling âFire!â provided just the right distraction for Madsen to look away from Audie. It wasnât planned that way, Iâm sure, but it was effective.
Was Sabrina pulling her car keys out of her purse when they were suddenly confronted by Madsen? Thatâs how I read the middle panel.
She may have been comfortable playing the phone scammer game, but in a situation where she knows sheâs gotta clear out âcause the cops are coming she still wants to warn people about a potentially deadly fire! She really is good people inside!
(throws hands up in the air) What did I just read?
In fairness, this is very obviously case of a set deadline, and these have to be rigidly enforces in cases such as continuity/continuing strips. Iâm not carping about the other writer, but the fact that the story is running up to the end of the allotted window and they are attempting to avoid a last-minute log-jam..
Today (for me) today created a mayor flaw. I feel (and this is strictly my opinion) there needed to be, say, 2 additional days devoted to set-up both linear flow and suspense for what is a clearly key dramatic scene.
DAY ONE:
Possibly a shadowy hand on a back door knob. No identity clearly given way. Who is it? Madsen, transported on the wings of the booze fairies? Ernesto, trying to give Tracy a helping hand? Another unsuspected baddie about to be introduces in divergent plotline for future use? Sarge? Rosemary the telephone operator?
A character (seen from their visual POV) entering. Hands on the server case, removing it with a screwdriver. Possibly with brief, set-up overlaying dialog from outside to suggest urgency (maybe on the lines of âtaking care of loose endsâ in the server room roomâ).
DAY TWO:
Final set-up to today. Baldy about to enter the room, giving , say, a âGive me a handâ to his female second-in-command. Then a reverse shot through the opening door, possibly with the pair still in discussion, Baldyâs head turned as he is still addressing her and not looking straight head .
Last panel a shocked facial reaction.
In this version, thereâs no indication that Madsen actually reached the building or explanation how he entered unseen. Things just happen.
Overall, I feel it would have been better to go with the other writee and leave me out of this.
Who am I supposed to root for here? The scamming con artists taking money from folks on a fixed income or the murderous goofus trying to shake them down? All I want is for Sprocket to get out of there and run back to her husband and be a good girl.
That Audie is a fast one. Both of his hands are moving as soon as Madboy looks to the door. If his left fist hits Madsenâs face, he may very well be down for the count. The ladies better run while they have a chance.
Since I suspect my original ending will have to be replaced by a standard âand Tracy arrives and arrests them allâ ending, due to the number of characters now involved, here is the plot progression in my script, minus the two points that ended my script:
1) Having found a partial theft report of communications electronics during his all-nighter, Tracy heads to Argos to check on the address of the recipient of the hijacked equipment to determine why they didnât file a report.2) Given a false address, Tracy heads back to HQ, having called in the address for confirmation.3) Notified of the shooting at Argo by Rigerâs drone, which was en route to Argos and spotted the police car, Tracy returns and finds the stucco clue. At this point, Anders as dead in the original version.4) Reasoning it comes from the one pocket of the chief remaining stucco-fronted buildings in the city, Tracy heads there.5) Samâs ready for the case to be closed, figuring the Nomar district will be riot of colors, so finding the appropriately colored building will be a snap. 6) No such luck. The color seems to be largely universal. Sam is abashed.7) Madsen has had time to arrive via bus, and is heading back to the call center (in a closed low watt TV station building). Spotting a police car and already paranoid from his âmisplacingâ a bullet at Argos, Madsen ducks into cover, then reaches the closed TV station once the car is out of sight.8) Tracy approaches Ernesto, a habitually laconic local who spends much of his time watching the world pass by, to ask if heâs noted any unusual (either foot or truck traffic).9) Tracy has asked HQ to check with the utilities to see if any closed buildings in the area have been using uncounted-for electricity â the results found are the warehouse and closed TV station.Due to posting limits, I add the rest in comments below.
Iâm serious here.Iâm writing but nobodyâs listening. Am I getting through out there? This is 198.23.5.11, who had to change his password on a glitch.
Well, itâs a free for all and itâs anybodyâs guess whoâll get caught and whoâll get away.Baldy was sure he could "handle " Madsen, but itâs turning out to be more difficult than he thought. Sabrina seems to have lost a few inches in height.
A timely distraction by Sprocket âSusanâ Nitrate! Inept Audie is saved, for the moment, from an armed killer, Leeland Madsen. Then, Audie seizes the opportunity for a defensive strike! Will it work for him, and for Sabrina, who is in momentary shock and unable to react cogently?
Neil Wick over 1 year ago
Good morningâ˘, everyone!
Sprocket/Susanâs yelling âFire!â provided just the right distraction for Madsen to look away from Audie. It wasnât planned that way, Iâm sure, but it was effective.
Was Sabrina pulling her car keys out of her purse when they were suddenly confronted by Madsen? Thatâs how I read the middle panel.
Brian Premium Member over 1 year ago
Sprocket saves the day! âWho was that masked woman?â
BreathlessMahoney77 over 1 year ago
Audie seems to have gotten Madsenâs gun. But is he prepared to shoot it out with Tracy?
Gweedo -it's legal here- Murray over 1 year ago
Good morningâ˘, death dealer diverters !
For that Sprocky deserves to get away, provided Mike told the sub writers to Leave her alone. Sheâs mine !
Johnny Q Premium Member over 1 year ago
âfire.â so he didâŚ
IvanB.Cohen over 1 year ago
Madsen did not think someone would interrupt him. The other guy is going to mop the floor with him.
IvanB.Cohen over 1 year ago
Black76Manta over 1 year ago
Fire, yes, but fire in the warehouse or fire from the gun!
Knightman Premium Member over 1 year ago
Cliffhanger!!! Wait til next week!!!
Sporteric11 over 1 year ago
Letâs hope he splits Banana Brain with his fist and then puts a bullet in him !!!
adekii over 1 year ago
She may have been comfortable playing the phone scammer game, but in a situation where she knows sheâs gotta clear out âcause the cops are coming she still wants to warn people about a potentially deadly fire! She really is good people inside!
crobinson019 over 1 year ago
Sprocket provides a diversion. But Iâll bet her bare feet are REALLY suffering
cmerb over 1 year ago
WOW ! Terrific Images by Shelley today BIG ! time : )
Chris over 1 year ago
thanks for the saving distraction. :D
Wizard of Ahz-no relation over 1 year ago
armed robbery, attempted murder, felon in possession of a gun and this bad boy is being brought down before tracy can even clear his holster.
Wichita1.0 over 1 year ago
(throws hands up in the air) What did I just read?
In fairness, this is very obviously case of a set deadline, and these have to be rigidly enforces in cases such as continuity/continuing strips. Iâm not carping about the other writer, but the fact that the story is running up to the end of the allotted window and they are attempting to avoid a last-minute log-jam..Today (for me) today created a mayor flaw. I feel (and this is strictly my opinion) there needed to be, say, 2 additional days devoted to set-up both linear flow and suspense for what is a clearly key dramatic scene.
DAY ONE:
Possibly a shadowy hand on a back door knob. No identity clearly given way. Who is it? Madsen, transported on the wings of the booze fairies? Ernesto, trying to give Tracy a helping hand? Another unsuspected baddie about to be introduces in divergent plotline for future use? Sarge? Rosemary the telephone operator?
A character (seen from their visual POV) entering. Hands on the server case, removing it with a screwdriver. Possibly with brief, set-up overlaying dialog from outside to suggest urgency (maybe on the lines of âtaking care of loose endsâ in the server room roomâ).
DAY TWO:
Final set-up to today. Baldy about to enter the room, giving , say, a âGive me a handâ to his female second-in-command. Then a reverse shot through the opening door, possibly with the pair still in discussion, Baldyâs head turned as he is still addressing her and not looking straight head .
Last panel a shocked facial reaction.
In this version, thereâs no indication that Madsen actually reached the building or explanation how he entered unseen. Things just happen.
Overall, I feel it would have been better to go with the other writee and leave me out of this.
Wichita1.0 over 1 year ago
So, sheâs telling Madsen to shoot âem? ;
Old Time Tales over 1 year ago
Who am I supposed to root for here? The scamming con artists taking money from folks on a fixed income or the murderous goofus trying to shake them down? All I want is for Sprocket to get out of there and run back to her husband and be a good girl.
markwillman4 over 1 year ago
That Audie is a fast one. Both of his hands are moving as soon as Madboy looks to the door. If his left fist hits Madsenâs face, he may very well be down for the count. The ladies better run while they have a chance.
MuddyUSA Premium Member over 1 year ago
Finally some actionâŚâŚ..great art work!
Don Bagert Premium Member over 1 year ago
I canât find the strip for August 10.5 :)
General Trelane (Ret.) Premium Member over 1 year ago
Shazam !
jrankin1959 over 1 year ago
Oh â you meant as in stuff burning, didnât you?
avenger09 over 1 year ago
After weeks of enduring endless, boring babble (the strip, not Firestrike) we finally get a very good dayâs strip!
Finally!
trainnut1956 over 1 year ago
Donât yell âfireâ at somebody who is aiming a gun at your friends. Just sayinââŚ
jim_pem over 1 year ago
Good old Sprocket: Honor among thieves, I guess. At least she isnât a murderer like Mad⌠oh, wait.
Wichita1.0 over 1 year ago
Since I suspect my original ending will have to be replaced by a standard âand Tracy arrives and arrests them allâ ending, due to the number of characters now involved, here is the plot progression in my script, minus the two points that ended my script:
1) Having found a partial theft report of communications electronics during his all-nighter, Tracy heads to Argos to check on the address of the recipient of the hijacked equipment to determine why they didnât file a report.2) Given a false address, Tracy heads back to HQ, having called in the address for confirmation.3) Notified of the shooting at Argo by Rigerâs drone, which was en route to Argos and spotted the police car, Tracy returns and finds the stucco clue. At this point, Anders as dead in the original version.4) Reasoning it comes from the one pocket of the chief remaining stucco-fronted buildings in the city, Tracy heads there.5) Samâs ready for the case to be closed, figuring the Nomar district will be riot of colors, so finding the appropriately colored building will be a snap. 6) No such luck. The color seems to be largely universal. Sam is abashed.7) Madsen has had time to arrive via bus, and is heading back to the call center (in a closed low watt TV station building). Spotting a police car and already paranoid from his âmisplacingâ a bullet at Argos, Madsen ducks into cover, then reaches the closed TV station once the car is out of sight.8) Tracy approaches Ernesto, a habitually laconic local who spends much of his time watching the world pass by, to ask if heâs noted any unusual (either foot or truck traffic).9) Tracy has asked HQ to check with the utilities to see if any closed buildings in the area have been using uncounted-for electricity â the results found are the warehouse and closed TV station.Due to posting limits, I add the rest in comments below.
charles.d.brown over 1 year ago
MOVIE QUOTEâ-
âHe was medically rejected. Heâs a borderline manic depressive with schizophrenic tendenciesâ
âYou canât reject a man over a little thing like that!â
Army Psychiatrist&Bob Hopeâ-OFF LIMITSâ1953
charles.d.brown over 1 year ago
Iâm serious here.Iâm writing but nobodyâs listening. Am I getting through out there? This is 198.23.5.11, who had to change his password on a glitch.
Well, itâs a free for all and itâs anybodyâs guess whoâll get caught and whoâll get away.Baldy was sure he could "handle " Madsen, but itâs turning out to be more difficult than he thought. Sabrina seems to have lost a few inches in height.
So what comes next, and written by who?
Dean over 1 year ago
A gunman should never move closer than within an armâs length of the intended victim.
Another Take over 1 year ago
1-CHAINRING: I GOTTA GET TO SAFETY!
2-âŚOoops. Wrong door. Carry on! Donât mind me. I was never here. Talk about your "Bullwinkle Wrong Hats!
3-AUDIE TORIUM:* Ooooh! Iâm going to give you such a smack!!! SABRA: SCRATCH HIS EYES OUT, AUDIE!
Aladar30 Premium Member over 1 year ago
Good thing she opened the door.
Gweedo -it's legal here- Murray over 1 year ago
To be followed by the Sisyphos wrap up.
Sisyphos over 1 year ago
A timely distraction by Sprocket âSusanâ Nitrate! Inept Audie is saved, for the moment, from an armed killer, Leeland Madsen. Then, Audie seizes the opportunity for a defensive strike! Will it work for him, and for Sabrina, who is in momentary shock and unable to react cogently?