THE TELLER'S TALES We once again open on a computer screen,which is showing the Teller's Tales website. On the webcam screen in the middle of the page, THE TELLER is sitting in his room of books,comics, and monitors. THE TELLER Hello,and welcome to my latest Tale. This one I found in a comic book,called Speed Freak. The Teller holds the comic book up. THE TELLER Many of us have wished, at one time or another, to be a hero. To fly like Superman, to have the smarts of Batman. To be blessed with powers far and above mortal men. But for one young man, he feels cursed with it. You decide the truth for yourself... We zoom in on the comic book,and it suddenly seems to become animated,flipping open for us. Throughout the Tale,the pages continue to turn for us,as we read- EPISODE 3: Speed Freak:The Running Man 6/24/01 “High speed life” By Vic Rodriguez (A little note, I wrote this way before 911, so the following actions towards the end are unrelated but undeniably creepy, considering.) Issue one-The Life and Times of Sam Preston…at High speed. Opening scene, Page 1: Splash page, city of Detroit Michigan. Busy cars, could be mistaken for a city that never sleeps. Caption-“This is my home, it’s been my home for the past 18 years.” Caption-“That’s how old I am if you haven’t guessed.” Page 2-first panel-Typical people walking. Caption-“Although, you can say…many places can be my home. I’ve been all over the world.” Second Panel-same people, Only now a blur blows right by them, knocking them down. Caption-“And I bet your wondering how some kid could see the world. No I’m not rich, it’s the opposite to be honest.” Third panel-Full figure of SAM PRESTON running, jeans, boots, and a tee shirt. Static electricity flowing all over his body. TITLE-SPEED FREAK “The Life and Times of Sam Preston…at full speed” Caption-“My name is Sam Preston…and sadly…I’m the fastest thing alive.” Page 3-panel one-SAM is seen running into a building. Not many notice, save for a gust of wind. Caption-“I know what you're thinking. “You’re a meta-type, that’s gotta be awesome!” No…not really.” Panel two-Screeching infront of an apartment door, with a pizza. Caption-“It’s a little hard to explain, but to put it in basic terms…being in constant motion…SUCKS.” Panel 3- Person opens the door, with a look of shock. Person-“Damn that was fast, couldn’t of been more than 30 seconds!” SAM-“Well…high speed delivery is their motto…that’ll be $10.50” Person-“Sure…um, your eyes are glowing…” Panel 4-SAM is seen powering his way through, the rest of the world is just speed lines to him. Caption-“I get comments like those a lot. For some reason my eyes glow a bright electric blue…which is amplified when I’m running. No, it’s not as cool as it sounds or looks.” Panel 5-He turns a corner, knocking over a hot dog stand. Caption-“You might think I’m bitching…well I am. Picture this if you can…” Page 4-Splash page, SAM is barreling down on us. Caption-“One day you wake up and you can move faster than anyone you know…and you're only 4.” Caption-“A walk becomes a jog” Caption-“A jog becomes a run” Caption-“A run becomes a mad dash” Caption-“But you never stop…you never slow down cause your body wont let you. It’s so hooked on the adrenalin it pops out, you cant sleep…you gotta move, you gotta go. Can't live a normal life…” Page 5-Panel one-Close up of Sams face. Caption-“But damned if I don’t try…that’s why I got jobs like…” Panel 2-Shows Sam delivering pizza’s Caption-“A delivery boy…” Panel 3-Shows him with a messenger bag Caption-“…messenger…” Panel 4-Screeching in front of RAYS PIZZA. Caption-“Jobs that want speed as a requirement…but even still most places wont take a Meta-human, specially one with GLARINGLY obvious traits.” Panel 5-Enters the pizzaria, as they are cleaning up. Panel 6-leans on the counter as RAY is whiping it down. RAY-“Hey speed freak, back already.” Caption-“My makeshift nickname cause…well, that’s what I am… a speed freak. SAM-“Anything else?” RAY-“Sorry Sammy, I think we are pretty much done for the night.” Panel 7-Sam is starting to zip around the place at superspeed. His afterimages are all over the place. SAM-“Aw come on…theres gotta be something.” “Anything.” “Come on.” Page 6 Panel One-Ray is obviously annoyed now. Ray-“I said we are done Sammy. Go wherever you want, but you cant stay here.” Caption-“I hate it when they call me Sammy.” Panel 2-SAM is waving good bye, and speeding out the door. SAM-“Yeah alright, guess I’ll see you tomorrow. Or whatever.” Panel 3-Sam running, a little anger in his eyes. The world is still nothing but a blur to him. Caption-“Figures they’d be done so early. So now I got to keep myself busy…which is never fun for the boy who doesn’t sleep.” Panel 4-A streak of him running through a crowd, an obviously Chinese crowd. Caption-“There’s China…nah. Caption-“England?” Caption-“South America? California?” Panel 5-Screeching to a halt on paved road. Gravel and dirt is kicked up. Caption-“Screw it, I’ll stay home. Have a chat with some of my… 'friends'” Panel 6-Walking over to a stoop of hoods. Caption-“I use the term loosly…cause cool as they are…they’d shoot me if they had the chance.” Panel 7-Close up of SAM smiling. Caption-“Like they’d have the chance”. Page 7 Panel 1-Hood pointing at him, FADE, cornrows, black bandanna, jean jacket. FADE-“Look at this fellahs, it’s Sammy paying us a visit.” Panel 2-Sam is giving “high fives” and “pounds”, faster than a normal person would. SAM-“Chill Fade, you act like I don’t stop by everyday.” FADE-“Even so, you still stick out.” Panel 3-Sam is grinning SAM-“It’s the hair, maybe I should get them braided. Haha” Panel 4-Fade and the rest of them are laughing FADE-“Oh yeah, then the change will be complete.” HOOD-“Yo, so Sammy…you turn super-hero on us yet?” Panel 5-SAM waves them off. SAM-“No, what for? No need for that useless shit, I’m just trying to be me.” Panel 6-Fade is just shaking his head. FADE-“An’ trying to make an honest living too, can you believe that?” HOOD 2-“Yo if I had your skills, shit I’d be one rich motherfucker.” HOOD-“Man if you hooked up with us, you know how much you could be makin???” Page 8 Panel 1-SAM is giving a half smile. Caption-“More than minimum wage I bet.” Panel2-See the hoods, all sitting on the stoop. Caption-“Shit, I’m not sure what I want…but that’s not me.” SAM-“Prolly a whole lot, but I’m cool where I am at.” Panel 3-FADE, smoking. FADE-“Suit yourself man, theres those who give and those who take… you cant play the middle forever.” Panel 4-Next day, it’s nearly 10 AM. Full shot of the city. Caption-Tomorrow 10 AM Caption-“What Fade said played back in my mind as I did laps around the world. Yes I can do that, and no it’s not cool. You getting the picture yet?” Panel 5-SAM zipping around a city street, obviously frustrated with all the free time on his hands. Caption-“Whats worse is that He was right, and he usually is right for some reason. I hate that. I am playing the middle, sooner or later I guess I’ll have to make a choice. Shit, things just keep on piling on for me, I love my life.” Panel 6-Just a cloud of smoke, dust and electricity. Caption-“Not.” Page 9 Panel 1-Speeding away from us. Caption-“Oh and did I forget to mention I’m an orphan? Not that it’s a big deal, I could care less basically, but I still stop by at the orphanage cause they like me to. See…I’m not legally free from them, but they cant really stop me. SO we sorta have this agreement, that I’ll check in here and there.” Panel 2-Entering the office, stopping on a dime exactly at the receptionist desk. Caption-“Plus chatting with her isnt so bad.” Panel 3-A beautiful black haired, green eyed girl, sat behind the desk. Her name was Christine Frost. Christine-“Hey Sam just checkin in and off you go I bet right?” Panel 4-SAM holds a hand to his chest, bends down and fakes sickness, and puts a hand to his head in mock shock…all at high speed. SAM-“*GASP* I tell ya Christine, that hurts me.” “It really does.” “Maybe I just wanna talk with ya.” OFF PANEL-“You gotta stand still long enough to do that don’t ya Sammy?” Panel 5-Sam Grimaces, and behind him is the director of the orphanage, Nate Van Holten. Caption-“Jeez, the only thing I hate more than that name.” Panel 6-Whips around with a smile. SAM-“Morning sir…” NATE-“Yes Sam, you ever thought that maybe if you tried to slow down you wouldn’t have this problem?” Page 10- Panel 1-Sam and Nate standing parallel to each other. SAM-“I don’t see it as more of-” NATE-“Right and maybe you wouldn’t complain so much then, hmm?” Panel 2-SAM is growing angry as NATE is passing him NATE-“Christine I’ll be making rounds, hold my calls.” OFF PANEL-“Yes Sir.” Panel 3-Sam leans on the desk. SAM-“Oh god I HATE that guy.” Christine-“He has a point, why don’t you just try and stop moving.” SAM-“You think I haven’t thought of that?” Panel 4-Close up of Sams face as it’s turned to the side. SAM-“Maybe I’m afraid to come down. You know what they say right? The higher the high, the bigger the fall…I don’t want to crash like that…not when I can avoid it.” Panel 5-Christine, tidying up her desk. Christine-“Well…at least have breakfast with me.” SAM-“You're joking right.” Panel 6- Christine is standing next to him, holding a pair of sunglasses. Christine-“Just wear these if you're worried about your eyes.” SAM-“The last thing on my mind is my eyes, I’ll lose it if I’m sitting for too long.” Panel 7-Christine is dragging him. Christine-“Jeez, I’m only asking for two minutes!” SAM-“WHAT?! That’s like…like an eternity!” Christine-“Oh stop being so dramatic.” Page 11 Panel one-Sam is seen sitting nervously in a little café. Full view of the establishment, he is infront of Christine. Most of the people are staring at him. Panel 2-Sam sitting slouched, angry, and fidgety. SAM-“Shit, do they have to stare at me?” Christine-“Well you did accidentally shock the waiter…” SAM-“Theres the key word ‘Accidentally’” Panel 3-Christine staring ahead at him, coffee in one hand. Christine-“It’s ok Sam, you know how people are…” SAM-“Yeah…” Panel 4-Sam is looking away. SAM-“…and I gotta be the one to pay for it. You finished yet?” Panel 5-Christine looks down into her drink. Caption-“Smooth move Sam.” Panel Six-She looks up. A bit of a sorry look in her eyes. Christine-“I’m sorry…I guess I just need to understand…how did you get like this?” Page 12 Panel 1-SAM is Running a hand through his hair. SAM-“Not sure…just woke up one day and I had it. But I DO remember the night before, me and my sister where watching a comet pass by. One could assume that could of done it…wow…you know that was the last time I saw Jessica,” Panel 2-Side view of both of them seated at the table. Christine-“Jessica? You mean your sister? She’s listed as deceased on the files…” SAM-“Yeah I know…but I don’t know. I think she ran away.” Panel 3-SAM is leaning back. SAM-“I remember…that night, with the comet…she seemed so scared. Up until the comet came and after it left…she was afraid of something, might of caused her to run.” Panel 4-Christine is leaning forward. Grinning. Christine-“You hide too much.” SAM-“Meaning?” Christine-“You’re a big softie but you got this big wall in front of you Sam.” Panel 5-Sam’s head is back, smirking. Hand beginning to tap the table. SAM-“What are ya talkin about? I’m an open book.” Christine-“Only if you're turning the pages right.” Panel 6-SAM looking at her, face more serious now. SAM-“What’s wrong with that?” Christine-“Nothing.” Panel 7-Christine is smiling. Christine-“Your always on the move and on the go. Yeah you got no choice, but…don’t forget to smell the flowers, you know?” Page 13 Panel 1-Sam has a hand behind his hand. SAM-“Yeah I guess…” Panel 2-Close up of his hand, its starting to shake. SAM-“Uh…” Panel 3-Side view of them at the table. Christine-“You better go huh?” SAM-“Yeah…I’m starting to get stiff…and…ancy. Sorry.” Christine-“No big, I understand.” SAM-“Gotta find me some odd jobs, there’s this CD I got my eye on…” Panel 4-Sam is gone, only wind blowing up the table cloth and peoples hair is present. SAM-“Later.” Christine-“Yeah…later.” Panel 5-Christine is turned away, going for her bag. Christine-(Thinking) “Wonder if I’ll get used to that…” Panel 6-SAM is running. Caption-“Jeez, someone who “gets” me, wonder if I’ll get used to that. Shit, I’m not even sure if I even like that idea.” Page 14 Panel 1-Sam runs past a street merchant, knocking him and all his stuff down. MERCHANT-“HEY!” Panel 2-Same scene, only Sam has come back to it. SAM-“What?” Merchant-“What do you mean ‘what’ freak??” Panel 3-Sam’s angry face Caption-“FREAK?!” Panel 4-Guy is picking up his stuff. Merchant-“You keep running all over the place, knocking people over, who the hell do you think you are?!” Sam-“I…” Panel 5-Sam kneels down to help. SAM-“Look, I’m sorry…it was an acci-“ Panel 6-The man throws his hands at him, making Sam move back. Merchant-“GO on get out of here, I don’t need your help freak. You’ve done enough damage.” Page 15 Panel 1-Sam stands there and then runs off. Panel 2-Worms eye view of him Running. Caption-“I hate people.” Panel 3-Night. A figure sat at the edge of one of the buildings overlooking the sky. Smoking a cigarette. Caption-Later that night. Caption-“Yeah, a typical day in my life. The day is waning down for everyone else,which means major slow down for me.” Page 16 Panel 1-Sam with a cig in his mouth. Caption-“Shit I didn’t even go to work tonight. Like I care… like they care for that matter.” Panel 2-He’s smiling now. Caption-“If I go in now, Imagine the irony. ‘Speed Freak is late’ heh” Panel 3- View of Sam from behind, a few buildings in a the background. Caption-“Hm I can be a comedian, they’re on the road all the ti-“ Panel 4-Building in the background, the top floor, has exploded. Panel 5-Sam’s face, wide eyed. SAM-“Whoa.” Panel 6-Sam is standing, hair is blowing back. Caption-“Should I do something? I got the power, it’s like what I’m supposed to do right?” Panel 7-Close up of his face. Caption-“nah…” Page 17 Panel 1-Sam is turning and walking away. Caption-“Screw it, I’m not messing with my principles. It’s not me.” Panel 2-Sam comes back speeding down the building. Caption-“Then again… …Just who am I?” Panel 3-Top view, Sam comes to a halt infront of the building. A crowd is gathering, debris and fire are coming down. Caption-“Ooo, I think I’m scared…” Panel 4-Sam smiling. Caption-“And fear pumps the heart…heh” Page 18-Three panel Splash page Panel 1-Long View, Sam is running up the building, dodging various debris. Caption-“What…” Panel 2-Close view, still running up the building. Caption-“…a…” Panel 3-Even closer now, we can see the grin on his face. Caption-“…RUSH!” Page 19 Panel 1-Sam is cannonballing through a window, into a burning office building. Panel 2-He barely lands on his feet, low angle view on this. SAM-“Hello?” OFF PANEL-“ugh….” Panel 3-Close up of a persons hand, firing is engulfing the entire area. Sadly, you can see bodies that are burning. Sam is far into the background, but he notices the hand. But the floor is cracking! Panel 4-Nearly the same scene, except now the floor has caved in beaneth where the person was! Panel 5-Same scene, Sam has gone into action, sliding down to the same area at full speed, reaching his hand into the hole. Sam-“UGH!” Panel 6-Top view, Sam has the person! SAM-“Come on, don’t go all stiff on me…” Panel 7-close up of persons face, they are unconcious. SAM-“Shit.” Page 20 Panel 1-Low angle, Sam is struggling to bring the person up. Suddenly the boards start cracking again. SAM-“Oh damn…” Panel 2-The floor caves in! Panel 3-Sam and the man are in free fall, Sam still has his grip on the person. Caption-“Think think…why did I do this?!” Panel 4-Sam smirks, and brings the person closer to him. Caption-“Cause it’s fucking cool…” Panel 5-Sam begins to twist himself, creating a vortex. Caption-“…That’s why.” Panel 6-SAM Shoots out of the twister and ping pong’s off a wall… Page 21 Panel 1-…and out through another window! Panel 2-Sam and the man are falling again, good medium view on both of them as they are once again in freefall. Sam is showing no real fear. Caption-“I’ll say it again…this is a fucking rush!” Panel 3-Sam pistons his legs, creating a small air cushion for himself so he can land safely. Panel 4-Paramedics rush to him and take the body off his hands and see if they can save him. Caption-“For all the fuss I made…damn, that felt damn good. I’ve never been this high before.” Panel 5-Reporters rush to him, with flashing lights and he covers his eyes. Reporter lady-"Who are you? What made you just do that?!” SAM-“Um…I…” Panel 6-Sam looks back and see’s the paramedics shaking their heads. Page 22-Two panel splash page. Panel 1-Persons face is being covered with a cloth. Caption-“Figures…” Panel 2-Reporters and the crowd look on, but SAM has disappeared in a burst of speed. Leaving behind a small cloud of dust. Caption-“…that with all my speed, not even Sam Preston is fast enough to stop death.” End. The comic closes,and we're once again looking at The Teller's webcam screen. THE TELLER Poor Sam Preston, such a power and he cannot even enjoy it. What else can I say that the last line didnt already cover? Nothing. So with that my friends I'll leave you for now. I'll see you all again, next time, next Tale. The screen goes dark. THE END