PANEL 1

A solitary roll-top desk takes center stage against a grey wall, its curving shape contrasting with the straight lines of the room.

To the right of the desk, a window is framed by rich blue curtains that drape down just below the windowsill. They provide a bit of colorful splash against the neutral tones of the room.

The room feels spacious but lacking in warmth. The absence of a companion chair next to the desk creates a sense of emptiness.

Partially off-panel, CAT stands with her left hand holding a paper.

PANEL 2

CAT holds up the paper.

CAT: (reading) “Unlock the desk and find letter #1. Read it fully to get a better understanding of the place.”

PANEL 3

CAT’s hand is in view as she unlocks the desk.

PANEL 4

The perspective shifts to an upward view from inside the desk. She rolls up the top with her right hand, and lowers the writing surface with her left. Her expression is calm yet curious.

SFX: TUNK CLUNK

PANEL 5

The opened desk looks a little different now. The interior reveals a unique design with the writing section folding up and locking at an angle. As for where the rounded rolling top is now, is anyone’s guess.

Envelopes fill the cubbies, while a small box labeled “OPEN FOR LAST” sits in the centermost space. The assortment of envelopes and the intriguing box add a sense of mystery and anticipation to the scene.

PANEL 6

CAT’s hand pulls back from the off-screen desk. She holds an envelope with “#1” in the upper-right corner. In the center, in Irish script, is A chara.

PANEL 7

A small shadowy figure hangs over the sloping half-wall of the staircase, spying on CAT as she sits on the couch, reading the letter.

BARTY: (in letter) Dear Ms Modean,

BARTY: (in letter) Greetings from the afterlife! You’ll forgive me for not being there to meet you in person, but the thing about being dead is that you’re sort of confined to a certain plane of nonexistence.

BARTY: (in letter) As soon as I figure out the mechanics of haunting––and bypass any bureaucratic red tape associated with such––I may pop in for tea. In a purely metaphysical sense, of course.

PANEL 8

CAT continues reading the letter, her face neutral but her eyes wide.

BARTY: (in letter) Welcome to my home––and yours, if you’ll have it. Over the years, it’s come to be known by many different names:

BARTY: (in letter) Griffin Place, Griffin Sanctuary, The Hub Between Worlds, The Stopover, Barty’s Domain, and so on.

BARTY: (in letter) It’s been a haven not only for myself but for many friends and acquaintances, both ordinary and supernatural.

PANEL 9

A side view of the living room. From this angle, part of a bookcase beside the fireplace can now be seen. Judging from the two little ancient Irish figurines and a porcelain dog, it could contain various bric-a-brac.

BARTY: (in letter) Coming from other sides of the Atlantic, we might have different ideas about hospitality. Still, it’s my hope that for as long as you reside here, you’ll continue my tradition of keeping my home open to others. (For as long as it’s possible, of course.)

PANEL 10

The wall showcases three picture frames. Two of the frames are single, while the third frame stands out with its three pieces of glass, allowing for multiple pictures to be displayed.

BARTY: (in letter) I’ve some idea that American homes don’t tend to keep many magical items around, so allow me to describe a few of them, particularly in the areas that see the most foot traffic.

BARTY: (in letter) The picture frames are enchanted to include the memories of those who touch them. Instructions are included in letters #2 and #3.

PANEL 11

A cornucopia hangs on the wall, with the opening resting at the top instead of the bottom. Three bulbous ribbons curl upward out of it.

BARTY: (in letter) The Horn of Many Colours (which I’ve nicknamed the cornucopia) senses the three most prominent emotions in the room. Our supernatural cousins were rather taken with mood rings in the 1970s and jumped on the bandwagon. I’d wanted a wall clock originally but the changing colours obscured the numbers. In any case the cornucopia is very handy in changing topics of discussion. (Though if all three ribbons are black, especially when powerful gods are present, I would leg it out of there.)

PANEL 12

CAT regards a piece of angled wall positioned near the couch. A blue gradient indicates a blue sky. A single cloud and a Celtic style sun hang in the “air”. Spanning the entire left side is a thin strip of blue with white lines that could be numbers if viewed up close.

BARTY: (in letter) The wall clock by the sofa is literally a wall clock. It also tells the weather.

PANEL 13

CAT looks down at the letter again. Peering around the staircase wall, is a tiny figure with rusty red hair and big eyes.

BARTY: (in letter) Most importantly, there is Bitsy. She’s not only part of the house, this is her home, and she will live here no matter who owns the property. I’ll let her introduce herself. But be patient. She is a bit shy and not very talkative. But you’ll find no friend or confidante more loyal than herself.

PANEL 14

CAT: Bitsy?

PANEL 15

The viewer now sees BITSY. The brownie swiftly removes herself from sight before CAT can spot her, pinning herself against the staircase wall. She has spiky rusty red hair, eyes of the same color, and a tannish color to her skin. She wears a purple neckerchief, teal overalls, and tiny brown boots.

PANEL 16

CAT looks down at her purse. Something inside it is vibrating.

PANEL 17

The viewer gets a look at CAT’s phone screen. An app has opened, featuring a centaur rearing up in a classic Greek-style circle. In classic Greek font, the text reads, “Your ride is here.”

CAT: Oh, geez.

PANEL 18

CAT walks toward the front (and only) door, purse over her shoulder. BITSY peers out from behind the staircase wall again.

CAT: Bitsy will have to wait.

PANEL 19

BITSY watches wide-eyed as the door closes off-panel. Her pointy ears turn upward and twitch.

SFX:

PANEL 20

The view shifts to a position from the stairs, looking down at BITSY. The brownie looks up, determination on her little face.

PANEL 21

A bedroom with bland grey walls. An elegant, feminine four-poster bed with light yellow paint and powder blue curtains. A matching nightstand has a Tiffany-style stained glass lamp. CAT’s orange suitcase lies near the footboard. BITSY’s right foot stands in the foreground.

PANEL 22

BITSY has put on an anti-static bracelet, wearing the cloth as a belt and the coiled cord as an arm accessory. The clip is pinned to a stick which is wielding an electrician glove. She walks forward with purpose, grim yet eager.

PANEL 23

The suitcase opens, surrounded by pale blue magical sparks.

PANEL 24

The gremlin’s paw slips out of the suitcase.

PANEL 25

The gremlin gives a mighty, arching stretch, looking more like a cat than some odd furry creature.

PANEL 26

The gremlin notices his guest. His ears twitch.

PANEL 27

BITSY bares her tiny teeth.

PANEL 28

BITSY bangs the electrician glove stick like she’s pounding out a battle tattoo. The gremlin’s fur turns bushy. The two are about to face off.

GREMLIN: HisssZZZZZTT!