PANEL 1

A mist-shrouded forest. A quaint single-story house emerges amidst the low-hanging clouds. A tree with vibrant teal leaves stands behind the house, casting an otherworldly glow.

In the backdrop, a slender clearing cuts through the trees, unveiling skeletal white trees further in the distance. Emerging from this clearing, a crow gracefully swoops in.

PANEL 2

The crow prepares to fly through an open window. Through the window, the viewer can see a table with a buzzing cell phone.

SFX: BZZZ BZZZ

PANEL 3

The crow glides gracefully through the open window, bathed in an ethereal teal glow that emits subtle sparks. In the room, there are two vertical abstract paintings on either side of the table. Each painting boasts eye-offending colors, giving an unfortunate glimpse into the artist’s taste.

PANEL 4

The crow has transformed into a man who is still giving off magical sparks. He is unclothed. Reaching from off-panel, he retrieves his phone from the table.

PANEL 5

The man, TAB, strolls through the studio, phone pressed to his ear. Two additional abstract paintings serve as a backdrop—one dominated by calming green and yellow hues, while the other boasts vibrant hot pink, accentuated with splashes of yellow and purple, providing a more visually appealing contrast from the earlier samples.

TAB: How’s she cuttin’, Chancer?

CILLIAN: (on the phone) You’re not going to believe this, Tab. Everything you predicted is coming to pass.

PANEL 6

CILLIAN sits on a sectional sofa with a chaise lounge, holding a large bowl of greens and sunflower heads. Beside the sofa is a tree stump that has been modified to be a side table. The room has rich wood paneling and green carpeting. It looks like CILLIAN has tried to recreate the forest indoors.

CILLIAN: I found her! I found Barty’s heir!

PANEL 7

TAB, facing away from the viewer, pulls on a pair of sweatpants, his phone jostling in surprise. On his left stands an unfinished clay sculpture on a base, while a table in front of him holds a shirt hanging off the side.

PANEL 8

TAB looks into space, a look of supressed surprise in his bright green eyes. He sports a curious patch of chest hair that’s in the shape of a heart.

TAB: No way.

CILLIAN: (on the phone) “Shorter by the stag’s head, with hair of burnt gold. A timid laugh and fearful eyes hide a soul fierce and bold.” I met her on the plan back here. She fits, Tab.

PANEL 9

TAB rests his elbows on the table, the studio’s shadows enhancing the brightness of his eyes. They sparkle like green stars, reflecting his escalating joy.

TAB: Cillian, you marvelous bastard!

PANEL 10

CILLIAN talks to the phone, still holding his salad bowl.

TAB: (on the phone) Is she exactly as I’d seen? Could you really tell?

CILLIAN: She’s a wee thing. Goes up to my chin. Dark golden hair. Nervous as all get-out. Laughed at a joke she knew she messed up. Big, cautious, brown eyes like a doe’s.

PANEL 11

TAB, still leaning on the table, wears an expression of subdued affirmation rather than surprise. His hand is raised in a neutral, open-palm gesture.

CILLIAN: (on the phone) And it helped that she was carrying the letter from Griffin’s solicitor.

TAB: Well, then, there you go.

PANEL 12

CILLIAN picks up a sunflower head from the bowl and observes it.

TAB: (on the phone) So is that why you haven’t been talking? You’ve been busy inside the house? Or the van?

CILLIAN: Nnnnno. Not yet.

PANEL 13

The viewer sees CILLIAN from the other side. He’s plucking petals from the sunflower head.

TAB: (on the phone) You eejit. You had an open and you didn’t take it?

CILLIAN: Let me put it to you this way… I wasn’t being droll when I described her as a doe.

PANEL 14

Flashback. A red-tinged filter envelops the scene. CILLIAN and CAT sit in their plane seats, looking out the window. CAT appears nervous. Beyond the glass, the gremlin clings to the metal, claws embedded, peacefully asleep.

CILLIAN: (V.O.) There was a guarded air about her, as if she felt like she wasn’t allowed to be on that plane. You can’t just rush up to a doe and get her to feed from your hand. You act too rashly, she’s going to bound away, and good luck getting her to come back.

PANEL 15

TAB has set the phone down and is now holding the shirt, preparing to slip it on.

TAB: So use your stag magick and charm your way onto that property.

PANEL 16

A frontal view of CILLIAN on the chaise lounge, bare feet somewhat in focus. He clutches an object in his hand.

CILLIAN: I laid down the path already. Remember Bitsy?

TAB: (on the phone) Couldn’t forget that midge if I tried.

PANEL 17

A look over CILLIAN’s shoulder as he handles a bunch of acorns.

CILLIAN: I’m guessing Bitsy might not appreciate a newcomer in her old master’s domain. So I left Ms. Modean my card, and told her to give me a call if she needed help with the paranormal or Otherworld.

PANEL 18

CILLIAN smiles as he crunches into an acorn.

SFX: CRACK

CILLIAN: Shouldn’t be too long until I get a call. And I’ll come trotting in like a mighty stag.

PANEL 19

TAB, fully dressed, holds the phone to his ear, a smile brightening his face.

TAB: Tell me about everything. And let me know if you need a hand. Or a wing.