PANEL 1

Night time. Interior. The waiting area of a concourse at Norfolk International Airport. Rows of mass-produced, dull, grey seats. Our heroine, CAT MODEAN, sits on the far end of one of these rows, to the right, with her legs crossed at the ankles.

She is in the early stages of middle age, with slight lines under her dark brown eyes. She has a generous head of dark blonde hair that curls up at the edges, bangs that swoop over her left eye, and a short, pointy nose. She wears no makeup.

She wears a heather navy blue t-shirt, cool grey jeans with the cuffs rolled up, and black sneakers with white caps and laces.

She’s looking at her teal smartphone, not quite smiling, but not moody. Pleasantly neutral.

Her burnt orange backpack takes the end seat. Her suitcase, a buttercream rectangle on wheels, stands nearby.

Sitting two seats away from her is another passenger, a WOMAN who seems to relish being at the height of middle age. She sits ladylike, her legs crossed at the knees. She has a bluish-grey bob, pale blue eyes, and bright pink lipstick.

She wears a hot pink v-neck top with 3/4 sleeves, lavender leggings, and orange strap heels. Long, pink press-on nails.

She’s looking at her plum smartphone. To her right is her carryon case, a light rose trapezoid.

The women’s surroundings are an equal clash of colors. The carpet is a navy blue plane with a riot of orange and yellow circles; it’s not as offensive as most commercial carpeting, but it’s trying.

A bank of floor-to-ceiling windows show the tarmac and the opposite side of the airport building. It’s in the deep of night, with a bright moon out of sight highlighting the clouds in a bright blue. Close to the windows, the loading bridge is just in sight.

Closer to the viewer, to their right, is part of a wall. A poster with a stylized green plane flying across a white cloud and blue sky. The text implores the viewer to “FLY!… away from here”.

In front of this wall portion is the main part of the concourse. The floor is light grey with darker grey speckles. Not as offensive as the carpet described earlier, but still somewhat unsettling.

PANEL 2

CAT and the WOMAN look up from their phones. Three figures are running from the left side. From left to right, there are two security guards, both decked in blue button-up shirts, ties, and black slacks. They’re incredibly overweight, sporting big bellies. The man on the left has grey hair and is breathing through pursed lips as he pumps his arms. His partner, ahead of him, leans into the run. He yells into his walkie-talkie. They’re both pursuing a gremlin.

The creature looks more like a scraggly, grey cat with a thick tail tip and pronounced claw-like digits. The insides of his folded ears are teal. The viewer can see its right yellow eye with a teal pupil. It looks determined to escape its chasers

GUARD: Code Sparky Nibbles! I got a gremlin in concourse B! I’m gonna need the pet carrier with the anti-static padding!

PANEL 3

The WOMAN in pink sits in the seat to CAT’s right. She looks positively ecstatic, like she’s going to share in some savory gossip. CAT stares ahead, worry on her face

WOMAN: Oh, boy, just what we need, right?!

CAT: Yeah.

WOMAN: I’d hate to have one of those things on my plane!

WOMAN: Oh, lordy, just the idea of having one of those gross little creatures biting through all the wires, clawing up the wings, it makes me want to swim to the tropics!

PANEL 4

The page-wide panel shows a gradient flowing from white to dark brown behind CAT. She looks worriedly at the WOMAN.

WOMAN: I can’t imagine having the plane plummet into the ocean where all those poor souls will be lost to the depths forever while the nasty hairball gets to destroy other planes!

WOMAN: Oh, Lord in Heaven, I don’t know why you let such a devil exist, but please send it to another plane where the people deserve it!

PANEL 5

The WOMAN leans in, mouth and eyes disconcertedly wide. CAT leans away, nervous.

WOMAN: ANYWAY, HOW ARE YOOOUUU?

WOMAN: Where ya goin’?

WOMAN: I’m going to Cancun to see some girlfriends!

PANEL 6

CAT simply looks back at the WOMAN. Her expression is neutral again.

CAT: Ireland.

PANEL 7

The WOMAN’s eyes and mouth are round with shock.

WOMAN: Ohhhhh, you are soooo buh-raaave!

CAT: W-why?

PANEL 8

The WOMAN has her hand on CAT’s shoulder.

WOMAN: Oh, honey, with all the pipe bombs and drive-bys, you’d be lucky to make a grocery run without getting killed?

WOMAN: Bless your heart, you’re just marching right into the devil’s playground!

CAT: I’m sorry?

PANEL 9

CAT’s eyebrows lower.

CAT: The Troubles ended in 1998!

CAT: (thinking) Bless your heart!

PANEL 10

The WOMAN twists her mouth in a confused manner, looking down and off.

WOMAN: Oh, did they? Guess I should watch the news more.

PANEL 11

The WOMAN clasps her hands together, grinning at CAT. CAT herself looks down and off.

WOMAN: Anyway, why’re you heading over there?

WOMAN: Family research?

WOMAN: ROMANCE?!

PANEL 12

A series of rough ink sketches and watercolor stains. The top row has three images of a cartoon-style CAT.

In the first image, she holds a gas can over her head and dribbles a generous amount of gas on the ground.

In the second image, she strikes a match against her hip. A sound effect reads “SSHP!”

In the third image, she tosses the match into the air. Her mouth is open in a fanged smile.

The last image shows a chasm. On the far side is a sign that reads, “Old Life.” A bridge connecting the two cliffs is on fire. CAT stands on the other side. The fire casts her shadow on the ground.

CAT: (V.O.) Pleasure.