THIS IS A ROUGH VERSION OF A CHAPTER JUST TO GET SOME THOUGHTS.
LEGEND ON HOW TO READ
NUMBERED SENTENCES ARE PANELS.
ALL CAPS ARE CAPTIONS.
SENTENCES PROCEEDED BY A NAME: IS DIALOGUE.
BOOK II CHAPTER I
PAGE 1
HEADING - 1986
1. Mark’s bedroom covered in heavy metal posters ranging from Quiet Riot to Def Leppard to Motley Crue. On the desk are notebooks with all the same names scribbled on the covers. All over the floor the cassette tapes of these same bands. The place is a mess as well. Food wrappers etc…
WHEN I DECIDED TO MOVE BACK WITH MY DAD I HAD MY OWN ROOM. I WAS WAY INTO METAL. HAIR METAL. I HAD YET TO KNOW ABOUT REAL METAL LIKE SABBATH, ZEPPELIN AND THAT STUFF, BUT I WOULD SOON FIND OUT. I ALWAYS FELT SAFE WITH ALL THE POSTERS SURROUNDING ME. CUT OUTS. MAGAZINES. THEY WERE MY FRIENDS LIKE MY TV SHOWS WHEN I WAS A KID.
2. Mark is hanging in front of a convenient store. The sign reads Cumberland Farms. Him and two other teenagers named JOHN who we will know as BIRDY and TERRENCE who will be called TR. They are doing…nothing but smoking cigarettes, and up to no good.
I IMMEDIATELY FELL IN WITH SOME PALS. BIRDY AND TR WOULD BECOME MY NEIGHBORHOOD BOYS. MY PARTNERS IN CRIME. WE’D LISTEN TO THE BOOMBOX ALL DAY, DRINK DURING THE DAY AND WAIT FOR OLDER KIDS TO BUY US BEER.
3. An OLDER KID named SKIDDER hands the guys a case of Bush beer.
4. Mark, Birdy, TR and Skidder drink behind the store listening to the boombox. Out of the boombox comes “Bad Company.” (Lyrics)
YEP. THIS WAS PRETTY MUCH MY DAY TO DAY, EVEN SCHOOL DAYS.
PAGE 2
1. The boys walking into the high school.
2. The boys walking right out of the backdoor.
WE LIVED ON A LAKE AND WE’D WALK HOME RIGHT ACROSS IT IN THE WINTER
3. The guys walking across the lake, passing some other KIDS playing hockey on it.
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WAS KIND OF SPLIT INTO TWO FACTIONS. JOCKS AND BURNERS. I SEEM TO BE A BURNER, BUT A LIGHT BURN, AS YOU’LL SEE.
4. A burnout KID. He stands in frame with leather jacket, long hair, earring and a cigarette in hand. His jacket has band patches like The Who and OZZY.
BURNERS WERE KIND OF THROWBACKS. THEY LEARNT ABOUT MUSIC THROUGH THEIR OLDER BROTHERS AND GOT STONES AND USUALLY GOT ARRESTED EVERY WEEKEND. COPS HATED THEM AND WOULD STEAL ALL THEIR…WELL OUR BEER WHEN THEY BUSTED US.
5. COPS putting cases of beer in their trunks while TR, Birdy and Mark standby, pissed off.
PAGE 3
BUT THAT DIDN’T STOP US. WE’D GET INTO SOMETHING ELSE BY THE END OF THE NIGHT. ALL SORTS OF THINGS. THIS IS WHERE THE REAL FUN STARTED.
1. The guys in TR’s room rolling a joint. His room is covered in Who, BOC and LedZep posters. There’s a weight set in the corner
WE’D GET STONED AFTER SCHOOL, IF WE WENT TO SCHOOL. I WASN’T REALLY GOOD ON POT.
MARK: I THINK I’M REALLY FUCKED UP GUYS. I FEEL WEIRD.
BIRDY :YOU’RE FINE. SMOKE SOME MORE
The guys laugh at Mark.
BUT IT DIDN’T STOP WITH POT. THEY SAY IT’S A GATEWAY DRUG AND IT WAS FOR US. WE STARTED IN ON EVERYTHING WE COULD FIND, ESPECIALLY ACID. LCD.
2. The guys in TR’s room taking a hit of acid at the same time.
TR: Here we go.
Birdy: One…
TR: Two
Mark: Three?
3. In the bedroom that is now spinning wit colors and moving posters while Pink Floyd lyrics float through the room – “The lunatic is on the grass…”
WE WERE FUCKED UP. IT WAS AT ONCE THE SCARIEST AND MOST BEAUTIFUL EXPERIENCE I HAD EVER HAD. I NEVER WANTED IT TO END AND AT TIMES IT SEEMED LIKE IT WOULDN’T.
4. Mark crying.
5. Mark and the guys laughing waving their own hands in front of their faces.
Mark: Holy shit. I’m seeing so many thing. I feel like I’m on a Tug Boat. You guys hear the bells?
Behind Mark is a multi colored Tugboat ala Yellow Submarine.
PAGE 4.
1. Mark, alone in TR’s house, on acid. He sees Lennon again.
Lennon: It’s a trip eh?
Mark: Am I ok?
Lennon: I told you I’d always take care of you. It’s not a freak out. Ride the ship.
2. The guys walking through the neighborhood streets. They are whacked on acid. The streets are lined with colors and characters. Bands and TV people. All the cool, pop culture items they live for. The boom box cranks LedZep now.
WE’D SPEND ENTIRE NIGHTS JUST WALKING AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD ALL FUCKED UP ON ACID, BUT IT WAS AMAZING. THIS WAS SOMETHING THE JOCK KIDS DIDN’T APPROVE OF.
3. In frame a JOCK. He has a high school hockey jacket on and a mullet. He’s kind of mean looking.
IT’S NOT THAT WE WERE ENEMIES WITH THE JOCKS. WE JUST DID DIFFERENT THINGS. WE WERE ACTUALLY ALLIES IN A LOT OF WAYS. WE’D EVEN HANG OUT AND PLAY STREET HOCKEY SOMETIMES, BUT WE WERE USUALLY STONED.
4. The Jocks playing with the Burners who can barely get a hold of the hockey ball while the Jocks take mean slap shots, scoring many times over.
PAGE 5
1.Mark coming home to his dad who has a letter in his hand a and a pissed of look on his face.
MY DAD WAS STILL A PRICK. HE WASN’T VERY COOL ABOUT ME HANGING WITH TR AND BIRDY AND HE DEFINITELY WASN’T COOL WHEN THE LETTERS CAME IN FROM ME SKIPPING SCHOOL.
2. Jim slapping Mark around.
I STILL HAD TO TAKE HIS BEATINGS, BUT I WAS ABLE TO SHAKE THEM OFF EASIER THAN I DID WHEN I WAS A KID.
3. Mark sneaking out his window.
DIDN’T STOP ME FROM GOING OUT THOUGH. I HAD DRUGS TO DO.
4. Mark and his boys getting stoned in the park on the jungle gym.
Mark: I think I could hang in this park all night, or forever. I hope we’re friends forever.
TR: Shut up. You’re trippin’.
Birdy: We will be.
Mark: I’m peaking.
TR: We all are.
PAGE 6
1. The guys gathered around a stove. They are heating up butter knives on the stove.
OF COURSE ONE DRUG LED INTO ANOTHER. POT TO ACID. ACID TO THIS. HOT KNIVES.
2. The guys smush hash in-between their knives and inhale the smoke in a crack fashion.
3. TR’s MOTHER standing in the kitchen looking at the burnt tips of her knives.
TR’S Mother: What the hell is happening to all my knives.
4. The guys doing cocaine.
FINALLY THE BIG ONE. BLOW. COCAINE. SKIING. THIS WAS THE ONE THAT REALLY KILLED THINGS FOR US.
PAGE 7
1. The guys are sitting around TR’s high on cocaine watching TV.
SO AT THIS POINT I’M SKIPPING SCHOOL, DOING BLOW AND BASICALLY WASTING MY YOUTH…BUT I LOVED IT.
2. Mark sleeping in the library in school.
WHEN I WAS IN SCHOOL I WAS EITHER SLEEPING OR CHECKING OUT CHICKS AND THAT WAS WHEN I SAW HER.
3. MARLO – the hottest girl in school walks into the library in her cheerleader outfit. Mark is all eyes.
THIS GIRL WAS THE HOTTEST GIRL IN SCHOOL. SHE WAS CAPTAIN OF THE CHEERLEADERS AND AND I WAS A BURNER. NO WAY THIS WAS EVER GOING TO HAPPEN.
4. Mark and Birdy are roaming the mall.
5. Mark sees Marlo working at a cookie shop – COOKIES COOKIN’.
THEN THERE SHE WAS AND THIS WAS MY CHANCE.
BIRDY: Dude go talk to her.
MARK: What? She’s from another planet.
BIRDY: Fuck those jocks. Use your charm. Ya gotta try
PAGE 8
1. Mark at the Cookies Cookin’ counter. Marlo sees him.
Mark: You guys hiring?
Marlo: I know you. You sleep in the library.
Mark: It’s the best place for a nap.
I HAD HER.
2. Mark working at Cookies Cookin’
SO I DID WHAT I HAD TO DO. I GOT A JOB THERE. I OF COURSE WAS THE WORST EMPLOYEE.
3. Mark throwing away the pans and dishes he’s supposed to be cleaning. Marlo sees this.
Marlo: Hey. You’re supposed to wash those.
Mark: Really? I thought this stuff got thrown out.
Marlo laughs.
4. Mark and Marlo making out in the kitchen.
I WON HER OVER WITH MY CHARM LIKE BIRDY SAID. I FOUND THIS WOULD HELP ME MORE THAN ONCE WITH WOMAN.
PAGE 9
1. Mark and Marlo walking down the hall together. Mark, punked out and Marlo in her cheerleader outfit.
NOW WE WERE AN ITEM. A STRANGE ONE AT THAT. HERE I WAS BUDDING PUNKER AND HER THE MOST POPULAR GIRL IN SCHOOL. THE JOCKS HATED THIS. SEE I WAS DISCOVERING ALL SORTS OF NEW THINGS, ASIDE FROM DRUGS.
2. Mark looking through CD racks at the record shop. He sees bands like R.E.M and The Smiths.
ALL THESE NEW BANDS WERE AROUND. THEY CALLED IT COLLEGE RADIO AND I FELL RIGHT IN LINE WITH IT.
3. Mark putting up posters of U2, Depeche Mode and The Violent Femmes, in his room.
I WAS NO LONGER A METAL HEAD OR CLASSIC ROCK KID, THOUGH I STILL HAD AN ALLEGIANCE TO BOSTON AND THE WHO, I WAS ALL ABOUT ALTERNATIVE MUSIC NOW. BUYING IT, SEEING IT.
4. Mark at a concert. On stage The Cure plays.
I LOVED THE CURE. MARLO NOR MY PALS REALLY GOT IT BUT I DIDN’T CARE. THAT’S WHEN I STATED TO SEEK OUT FRIENDS THAT DID. THAT’S WHEN I MET MATTY D.
PAGE 10
1. MATTY D. in a framed panel. A raw looking kid with a Mohawk and tattoos.
MATTY AND I BECAME PARTNERS IN CRIME. HE WAS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN BURNER AND PUNK, BUT MOSTLY JUST TROUBLE.
2. Matty and Mark at a punk club. The sign reads The Rat. On stage a punk band does their thing.
WE STARTED DOING EVERYTHING TOGETHER. GOING TO PUNK CLUB
3. Matty and Mark drinking in the park.
4. Matty and Mark doing blow.
5. Matty and Mark in the principals office
INCLUDING GETTING IN TROUBLE AT SCHOOL TOGETHER.
PAGE 11
1. Mark in bed with Marlo. They are half dressed and getting it on. They are in Marlo’s girly bedroom.
Mark: You sure you’re ready?
Marlo: Mark, this isn’t my first time.
Mark.: Oh. Me neither.
TECHNICALLY IT WAS. SEE I HAD TRIED BEFORE.
2. (FLASHBACK) Mark in a car with a bigger GIRL
TR AND BIRDY TRIED TO GET ME LAID, BUT IT DIDN’T TAKE.
3. Mark comes out of the car with the girl who’s laughing shaking her head “nope.” The guys laugh.
Mark: Fuck off.
4. Back with Marlo. They are doing it.
1 MINUTE LATER.
5. Mark and Marlo lay in the bed. It’s awkward.
PAGE 11
1. Mark in a gym with the wrestling team.
I FIGURED SINCE I WAS DATING MARLO I’D TRY TO FIT INTO HER WORLD A BIT. THE CAPTAIN OF THE TEAM WAS THIS REAL PRICK, JENNINGS.
2. Mark trying out for the team. He’s on the floor with another WRESTLER, locked in a move he can’t get out of.
Mark: I give. I give.
Jennings: Come on Phinney, you fat fuck.
Mark: Let me out. I give.
3. Mark is in the locker room with his radio. From the radio comes “The Boy With Thorn In His Side” by The Smiths. The other wrestlers stare at him.
Mark: hey dudes.
LEAST TO SAY I WASN’T MAKING THE CUT. I TRIED THOUGH. I EVEN GOT THE TEAM HAIRCUT.
4. Mark in a barbers chair with a mohawk.
THE ONLY ONE WHO DUG IT WAS MATTY
5. Mark, TR and John in the caf. The wrestlers walk by.
TR: When you going to quit that fag team?
Mark: I can’t quit. They’ll hate me even more.
Birdy: I don’t think that’s possible.
PAGE 12
1. Mark and Matty at a party that is wall to wall jocks. They are with Marlo.
Matty: What the fuck are we doing here?
Marlo: Come on Matty. It’ll be fun. Just don’t start any trouble.
2. Jennings and another WRESTLER walks up, beers in hand.
Jennings: Phinney, who invited you and psycho here.
Matty: What’d you say to me faggot.
Jennings: I said get the fuck out of this house before I put you out
Mark: Guys…
3. Matty and Jennings brawl.
4. Jennings has Matty in a move. Mark doesn’t know what to do.
Marlo: You guys!
5. Mark jumps on Jennings.
Mark: You motherfucker.
PAGE 13
1. Mark and Matty running down the street from the party and wrestlers.
Matty: I guess you’re off the team.
Mark: I think you’re right.
Matty: Go get fucked up?
Mark: Fuck yea. Let’s grab TR and Birdy.
ONCE I QUIT THE TEAM, I LOST ANY SEMBLANCE OF TRYING TO FIT IN OR BEHAVE. AS A MATTER OF FACT I WENT ON A STRING OF BAD DECISIONS THAT WOULD ALL COME TO ONE EVENTUAL ENDING.
1. Mark smoking pot.
2. Mark doing cocaine.
3. Mark skipping school
4 Mark being arrested for drinking.
PAGE 14
1. Mark in his room. His dad shuts the bedroom door, leaving alone.
NONE OF THIS SAT WELL WITH MY DAD.
2. Mark listening to his bands.
FUNNY THING WAS SOME ALONE TIME DID ME SOME GOOD. I STARTED ACTUALLY FINDING OUT ABOUT OTHER THINGS IN THE WORLD AND ABOUT MYSELF, THROUGH THESE BANDS OF COURSE.
3. Mark at the library reading different books. On the desk are Rimbaud, Wilde, Joyce and Bukowski.
FIRST IT WAS THE BOOKS.
4. Mark at The Brattle rep theater. The marquee reads: La Dolce Vida.
THEN IT WAS THE FILMS.
5. Mark at The Smiths concert with Matty.
AND OF COURSE ALWAYS THE SMITHS. THE SMITHS WERE THE CONSTANT. MORRISSEY ALWAYS BEING AT THE CRUX OF IT ALL. MY EVERYTHING.
PAGE 15
1. Mark’s room is now covered in Morrissey and Smiths posters, cut outs and album covers.
I WAS TRANSFORMED AT THIS POINT. I STILL HUNG WITH BIRDY AND TR AND MATTY BUT EVEN MARLO COULDN’T DO IT ANYMORE.
2. Marlo and Mark sit in the high school, gym. Behind them the cheerleaders practice. Mark is dressed exactly like Morrissey to a T.
Marlo: I just don’t think we fit anymore.
Mark: What do you mean?
Marlo: Well, I mean, look at you and look at me. We’re just different Mark. You’re different.
Mark: Different how?
3. Mark in his room listening to Morrissey
AND AGAIN IT GOES BACK TO NOT NEEDING ANTHING BECAUSE MORRISSEY WOULD ALWAYS BE THERE FOR ME.
4. Mark laying on the floor amongst all his records, books and magazines. He is in heaven.
PAGE 16
1. Mark completely decked out in alternative wear now. Black t shirts. Done up hair. Combat boots. The whole bit. He’s at the mall with Matty.
NOW I PRETTY MUCH LEADING THE ALTERNATIVE/PUNK LIFESTYLE. GOING TO SHOWS. LISTENING TO THE MUSIC AND MOST PUNK OF ALL…HANGING AT THE MALL.
2. Matty and Mark in the record shop looking through albums. We see all the usual suspects. Robyn Hitchcock. Morrissey. The Fall.
WE CAM TO BUY RECORDS, BUT MOSTLY TO MEET GIRLS AND THAT WE DID.
3. Mark is talking to another alterna-chick, JEN. They are getting cosy. Next to them is her friend ROSE, who MATTY tries to hit on her. Her looks is of utter disgust.
Mark talk to Jen.
Jen: You like Michael Hutchence?
Mark: The fag from INXS?
Jen: he's not a fag. he's hot.
Mark: I'm not into INXS.
Jen: You like Depeche Mode?
4. Matty still tries to work Rose.
Matty: You like Black Flag?
Rose: No.
Matty: 7 Seconds?
4. Mark, Rose, Jen and Matty at an outdoor concert. People all around them look like they are big Depeche Mode fans.
Jen: I've seen Depeche Mode 5 times.
Matty: Too many fags here.
5. Depeche Mode is on stage singing "Precious."
PAGE 17
1. Mark at a series of concerts seen over the next panels.
U2. Robyn Hitchcock/REM/The Pogues/Violent Femmes.
I WAS GOING TO SHOWS LEFT AND RIGHT. BE IT CONCERTS OR AFTERNOON ALL AGES PUNK SHOWS WITH MATTY.
2. Mark and Matty at The Rat seeing Gang Green (Boston punk band) The mosh with other all ager punks.
3. Mark having sex with Jen.
MY LIFE HAD BECOME PRETTY COOL SINCE BECOMING A PUNK OF SORTS. I WAS BANGING JEN. GOING TO SHOWS AND...GETTING INT TROUBLE AS USUAL.
4. Mark at a payphone at the mall.
Mark: (into phone) I said there's a bomb.
SPLIT PANEL: MARLO ON THE OTHER END AT COOKIES COOKIN'.
Marlo: Who is this? is this real? I'm going to call the mall security.
I DIDN'T THINK SHE ACTUALLY WOULD.
PAGE 18
1. Mark standing in the middle of the mall mall SECURITY evacuates the place. The loudspeaker steams "Please evacuate the mall due to a bomb threat."
Mark: What the fuck.
2. Mark standing outside the mall as Bomb squad trucks and fire engines roll in. People wait outside for the chaos to be answered. Mark sees Marlo.
3. Mark talk to Marlo.
Mark: That was me. Why did you calls security?
Marlo: Well I didn't know it was you. Why would you do something so stupid? Is it because I broke up with you?
Mark: What? No.
I HAD TO MYSELF-WAS IT? EITHER WAY I GOT FUCKED FOR THAT. I GOT SCARED AND ADMITTED IT WHEN I GOT QUESTIONED. MARLO TOLD HER BOSS AND HER BOSS RATTED ME OUT.
4. Mark cleaning the side of the freeway.
I GOT 4 MONTHS COMMUNITY SERVICE. I WAS LUCKY I DIDN'T GET 10 YEARS THE JUDGE SAID CAUSE I WAS 16 AND STILL A MINOR. MY DAD WAS VERY VERY PLEASED.
PAGE 19
1. Mark in a dressing booth in the mall. He's stuffing a shirt in his art bag.
I STARTED IN ON THIS CRIME SPREE AFTER THAT. I GUESS THE BOMB THREAT WASN'T ENOUGH.
2. Mark, TR and Birdy walking the streets at night. They peer into cars.
TR: Here. This one.
WE STARTED TESTING CAR DOORS AND THE ONES THAT WERE OPEN WE'D TAKE THE CHANGE OR WHATEVER WE COULD FIND.
3. In TR's bedroom, his bed is filled with stuff they found in cars. Radios. Change. Clothes.
4. The guys running. A police car is behind them.
IT CAUGHT UP WITH US EVENTUALLY. I WAS NO RENT BOY. OR WAS I?
PAGE 20
1. Mark and the guys behind bars.
GETTING ARRESTED IS WHAT FLIPPED THE SWITCH ON MY GOOD TIME.
2. Mark getting slapped around by his dad.
Jim: You wanna be a fucking punk with those assholes? You wanna be a fuck up? Not in my house.
THAT MOTHERFUCKER STARTED TAKING LIBERTIES AGAIN WITH HIS FISTS. I MEAN SOMETIMES I DESERVED IT FOR THE SHIT I PULLED AT THAT AGE, BUT HE WAS A SON OF A BITCH.
3. Mark working at McDonalds. A shot of him in his uniform.
Mark: Would you like fries with that?
I HAD TO GET A JOB. THIS WOULD START A WHOLE STRING OF HIRINGS AND FIRINGS.
4. Mark's BOSS questioning him in the back room.
Boss: You just left in the middle of your shift.
Mark: I know, but I had to get B-52's tickets. I knew they'd sell out before tomorrow. I came back.
PAGE 21
1. A series of jobs Mark worked. Mark in a pizza apron./Mark in some GIRL'S face yelling at her. Matty is in the back round laughing.
PIZZA SHOP. FIRED FOR CALLING A GIRL A CUNT.
2. Mark behind the counter of a drug store./Mark ripping the store off.
PHARMACY. FIRED FOR STEALING CHIPS AND CANDY AND SMOKES AND SODA AND...
3. Mark at a diner.
DINER. FIRED FOR COMING IN TO WORK STONED.
4. Mark in the back of the diner eating everything in site.
PAGE 22
1. Mark and Matty, punked out and looking high, at school. They see the principal MR. GRANT down the hall.
AT THIS POINT ME AND MATTY WERE HIGH EVERYDAY. I WAS EVEN OUT DOING BIRDY AND TR. THEY WE'RE ACTUALLY TRYING TO SLOW DOWN. NOT ME AND MATTY THOUGH.
Mark: Oh, there's Grant.
Matty: Fuck him.
2. Grant walks by Matty and Mark.
Grant: What are you two doing? Don't you have a class to be in?
THIS WOULD BE THE DAY THAT EVERYTHING CAME TO HEAD. I TOLD YOU EARLIER IT WAS HEADING TOWARD THIS.
3. Matty gets in Grant's face.
Matty: Fuck you Grant.
Mark: Matty. What the fuck man?
Grant: What did you say to me?
Matty: You heard me. Fuck you.
4. Grant grabs Matty by the shirt. Mark is nervous now.
Matty: Get the fuck off me man.
Grant: You're out of here Dolan.
Matty: So are you.
THIS IS WHERE IT GOT BAD.
5. The Misfits play "All Hell Breaks Loose" behind the scene.
PAGE 23
1.Mark sitting in the living room while his dad chews him out.
Jim: You think you're a real wise ass. Now you're kicked out of school.
Mark: It's not my fault.
Jim: never is, right? I don't know what to do with you.
2. Mark taking all his posters.
WELL JIM FIGURED OUT WHAT TO DO.
3. Mark saying goodbye to TR and Birdy.
Mark: I'm only going to be in Bridgewater. I'll hang on the weekends.
TR: Good weed out there.
Mark: Cool.
Birdy.It's the fucking sticks, but they have a good hockey team.
TR: Get laid there.
4. Mark and his dad driving in the station wagon.
SO ANOTHER CHAPTER HAD COME TO A CLOSE, BUT I HAD NO IDEA WHAT MORE LIFE HAD IN STORE FOR ME. BYE OLD FRIENDS.
5.As Mark drives off all his people from the chapter stand along the road saying goodbye to him. Marlo, TR, Matt, Birdy, Jen and Rose. Finally Morrissey.
