"What does one of your plots look like?"
Here. :-) This is the plot for SILVER SURFER #6.

(Obvious spoiler: Don't read unless you've already read SILVER SURFER #6).
If you HAVE read the issue, you will notice some changes here and there from the plot to the finished script. And that's part of the fun of this process too.

SILVER SURFER #6
“Imperfections”
Plot for 21pgs.
Dan Slott
6/4/14

PAGE 1
SPLASH!
Giant SPLASH of SILVER SURFER’S head as he surfs through space. His face is in shock—as if he has just heard the most disturbing thing ever.

SURFBOARD LOCATOR: The Milky Way Galaxy.
LOCATOR TEXT: Now.

VOICE (off panel, behind the Surfer. BIG.): Surfer, I’m hungry. Find me a planet.

TITLE: IMPERFECTIONS
CREDITS

Mike, if you don’t want to go that close in on Surfer’s head, feel free to pull back on Surfer as much as you want—as long as DAWN (and every part of her) is cropped out of the shot, so she can be the reveal on the first panel of the next page.


PAGE 2
Panel One
We pull back and see it was DAWN saying that (and not Galactus!). She’s behind SURFER on his surfboard and this is the new status quo: the two of them surfing around the universe—together.
The SURFER stops the board and turns to her with a stern look of disapproval.

SURFER: What?!
DAWN: Um. I said I was hungry. Can you find us a planet?
DAWN: Y’know. Somewhere to eat.

Panel Two
SURFER changes course and starts flying them towards a nearby planet.

SURFER: All right. But don’t ever phrase it like that again.

Panel Three
On that planet, at an alien roadside food-stand, an ALIEN FOOD VENDOR is giving DAWN some bizarre space-sandwich (something tasty looking—we’ll save scary alien food for later in the issue).
SURFER is at the register, he’s holding an alien space-sandwich too. The ALIEN COUNTER LADY is asking SURFER for alien currency to pay for the meal.

Panel Four
The SURFER aims his other hand at the space-sandwich he’s holding—and uses his Power Cosmic to turn it into the same sandwich, but now made out of gold.
The SURFER says that this amount of Rigellan-grade gold should more than cover it.
The ALIEN COUNTER LADY is more than pleased by this transaction.

Panel Five
Moments later, SURFER and DAWN are sitting on a park bench by the food-stand. (Board is leaned up against the bench too.) SURFER is looking up at the night sky. DAWN is munching on the sandwich.
(Mike, if you want, in the background the FOOD VENDOR and the COUNTER LADY could be dancing a happy jig because they now have a sandwich made out of pure gold. OR they could be fighting each other for it. Or they don’t have to be in the background at all. Your call.)

SURFER: We’ve barely moved at all. I can still see Earth from here.
DAWN: Mmph. Really? I can’t.
SURFER: My eyes are better than yours.


PAGES 3 and 4 (Double Page layout.)
Three tiers of five panels each. Light on text. Heavy on repetition.

TIER ONE
Panel One
With DAWN back on the board with him, SURFER shoots through space—one arm stretching forward—his fingers splayed open! His face excited for the next adventure!

SURFER: Ready, Dawn Greenwood? And we’re OFF!

Panel Two
DAWN taps on his shoulder and tells SURFER they need to make a stop.

DAWN: Norrin, can we make a pit stop? I gotta pee.

Panel Three
Close up of the SURFER’S face. He’s disappointed.

SURFER: Very well.

Panel Four
Cut to an alien gas station. DAWN is coming out of the restroom. Instead of symbols for “Men” and “Women” on the lavatory doors, there’s one for “Humanoid” and one for “Octopoid” (squid-like-alien creatures).
DAWN says she’s ready.

DAWN: Okay. Good to go.

Panel Five
Match shot of Panel One.

SURFER: Ready, Dawn? And we’re OFF!


PAGES 3 and 4 (continued.)

TIER TWO
Panel Six
Match shot of Panel Two. DAWN’S tapping SURFER’S shoulder again.

DAWN: Um. Can we get something to eat?

Panel Seven
SURFER turns to DAWN in disbelief.

SURFER: Again? You just ate.
DAWN: I’m a human. I eat three times a day.

Panel Eight
SILENT PANEL. DAWN, SURFER, and BOARD on a planet by an alien fruit tree. DAWN is eating one of the strange alien fruits.

Panel Nine
Match shot of Panel One. Except now SURFER’S excitement level is a tiny bit dampened.

SURFER: Ready? And we’re OFF!

Panel Ten
Match shot of Panel Two. DAWN taps SURFER’S should again.

DAWN: Bathroom? Number two this time.


PAGES 3 and 4 (continued.)

TIER THREE
Panel Eleven
Match shot of Panel Three. Except now SURFER’S face is frustrated. HE JUST WANTS TO SOAR THROUGH THE SKY! IS THAT SO MUCH TO ASK?!

SURFER: Fine.

Panel Twelve
Match shot of Panel One. Except the excitement is gone. He just wants to leave.

SURFER: And we’re off.

Panel Thirteen
Match shot of Panel Two. DAWN taps SURFER’S shoulder.

DAWN: Dinner?

Panel Fourteen
Close up of DAWN eating some really creepy small animal creature… deep fried… on a stick.
It does not look appetizing. DAWN eats it to be polite.

Panel Fifteen
Match shot of Panel One… except now DAWN (or her hand if we’re closer in) is tapping SURFER on the shoulder.

SURFER: And we’re—
DAWN: Surfer?


PAGE 5
Panel One
An exasperated SURFER turns to DAWN and asks her “What now?!”
DAWN is rubbing her throat with one of her hands and winces in discomfort.

SURFER: What now?!
DAWN: Ooh. I think it’s my tonsils.
DAWN: We might have to go back to Earth.

Panel Two
Shot of the two of them standing there on the board. Floating in space. Not going anywhere. DAWN is still rubbing her sore throat. And SURFER is simmering. He’s had enough.

SURFER: “Back to Earth”?
DAWN: Yeah. So I can see my doctor and get this checked out—

Panel Three
SILENT PANEL
CLOSE UP on SURFER as he holds one of his hands out, palm-side up, and he starts charging it up with the Power Cosmic.

Panel Four
SILENT PANEL
Like the Vision or Kitty Pride, the SURFER takes his Cosmically Charged Hand (still palm-side up) and phases it inside DAWN’S throat.
DAWN’S face is wide-eyed with shock!

Panel Five
SILENT PANEL
The SURFER pulls his still Cosmically Charged Hand (still palm-side up) out of DAWN’S throat.
Levitating above his palm, held in little spheres of Cosmic Energy, are both of Dawn’s tonsils.


PAGE 6
Panel One
A flabbergasted DAWN starts yelling at SURFER… who doesn’t know exactly what it was he did that set her off. He stands there with Dawn’s tonsils still levitating above his outstretched hand.

DAWN: WHAT DID YOU DO?!
SURFER: I removed your tonsils. Now we don’t have to go back to—
DAWN: WHO SAID YOU COULD DO THAT?!
SURFER: What? I used the Power Cosmic. There was no pain. You’re perfectly fine. I don’t see what the—

Panel Two
DAWN stops yelling. She’s stern now. Her eyes narrowing. And this should feel worse than being yelled at.
SURFER is feeling very ill at ease. He moves his hand (with Dawn’s tonsils still levitating over them) towards Dawn’s throat. Like he’s about to put them back in, but he’s not sure if he should.

DAWN: That was so not cool.
SURFER: Should I put them back?
DAWN: No.
SURFER: So… What is the problem exactly?

Panel Three
SILENT PANEL
DAWN glares at SURFER. And he winces, knowing he’s done something wrong… but he’s still not sure what that is…
Maybe traveling through space with an Earthgirl wasn’t the smartest thing to do…

Panel Four
Straight on shot of DAWN (as if we’re seeing it from SURFER’S P.O.V.).
She’s defiantly crossed her arms.
Her face is locked into a VERY angry pout.
Her eyes are GLARING.
And she says one thing.

DAWN: Ice cream.

Panel Five
Side shot of the two of them. DAWN is locked in the same pose and expression from the previous panel.

SURFER: Come again?
DAWN: Ice cream. When you get your tonsils out…
DAWN: You. Get. Ice Cream.

PAGE 7
Panel One
SURFER thinks this is crazy, but DAWN won’t budge.

SURFER: But you’re perfectly fine. My Power Cosmic healed all the tissue.
SURFER: You’re better than before. You don’t need any—
DAWN: Ice cream.
DAWN: You, Norrin Radd, owe me ice cream.

Panel Two
The SURFER throws up his hands in futility. And DAWN smirks, knowing that she’s won this round.

SURFER: FINE! I will use my COSMIC SENSES and find you THE GREATEST ICE CREAM IN THE UNIVERSE!

Panel Three
DAWN holds on as the SURFER zips through the cosmos at insane speeds! The SURFER’S eyes glow with power, surround by Kirby Krackle as he tries to detect where in the universe one can find the greatest ice cream ever!

Panel Four
The SURFER points towards a planet in the solar system that they’re entering.

SURFER: THERE!

 


PAGE 8
SPLASH PAGE.
A few minutes later…
DAWN and SURFER are sitting in a cosmic malt-shop on PLANET PRIME. And DAWN is eating—with awe and delicious wonder—the GREATEST ICE CREAM IN THE UNIVERSE! OH DEAR, GOD, it is soooooooo good!!!
SURFER is smiling. For all their bickering, he’s glad he’s made her so happy, and he remembers why he enjoys her company.

IMPORTANT: All the aliens here are from Planet Prime and they are all from the same species—the same blue-skinned species that WARRIOR ONE is from (the alien Surfer is fighting on the cover to SILVER SURFER #6).
All the aliens of Planet Prime are all masters of one discipline-- or someone who is the 2nd best master of that discipline. All of them wear a GOLDEN BADGE over their heart that has either a large “1” or “2” on it.
Prominently in the shot, near SURFER and DAWN, is the owner of the cosmic malt-shop and the maker of the greatest ice cream in the universe. His badge has a “1” on it. And he is… ICE CREAM MAKER ONE.

SURFBOARD LOCATOR: Planet Prime.
LOCATOR TEXT: That time Norrin got Dawn the Greatest Ice Cream In The Universe.
DAWN: OhhhhmygodthisisAMAZING!
DAWN: You HAVE to silver down and try this.
SURFER: Maybe later. Are we good now, Dawn Greenwood?
DAWN: YES! YES! YES! Uhhhh!



PAGE 9
Panel One
Moments later…
Between panels, the Surfer turned his ice cream sundae to gold. NOW, in this panel, SURFER pays ICE CREAM MAKER ONE with the golden sundae. ICE CREAM MAKER ONE thinks that’s very generous!
In the background, another alien in the malt-shop suspicious watches this transaction take place. She is BANKER ONE, the greatest banker and financial mind on Planet Prime.

Panel Two
Closer in on BANKER ONE. She pulls out the Planet Prime version of a cell phone and contacts someone about her fears about the Surfer. She says she had to call this in right away. Their entire planet is in peril!

Panel Three (big panel)
Big establishing shot of the bustling main street of the capital city of Planet Prime.
SURFER, BOARD, and DAWN step outside of the door of malt-shop and onto the street. DAWN marvels at how perfect everything is.
These are the most perfectly constructed buildings and shops anywhere in the Universe. What is this place?

Panel Four (inset panel)
TOUR GUIDE ONE, the ultimate tour guide in the universe, approaches DAWN, SURFER, and BOARD, introduces himself and says that he can help explain.
DAWN says that his timing is perfect.
“Of course it is,” he tells her, “On Planet Prime, we’re all perfect.”


PAGE 10
Panel One
TOUR GUIDE ONE explains that here on Planet Prime they have a small population, only a small city’s worth, and every being here dedicates themselves to one discipline and masters it. These buildings were designed by ARCHITECT ONE, built by BUILDER ONE, and painted by PAINTER ONE.

Panel Two
As they walk along they pass STREET DANCER ONE who is doing the most perfect spinning-on-her-head move ever while street dancing to an alien beat-box. A small crowd is applauding. DAWN and SURFER stop to applaud too.

Panel Three
FOCUS on STREET DANCER ONE as she stops to wave to the crowd and thank them. We can clearly see her “1” badge.
In the background, DAWN asks if that means there’s a Street Dancer Two?

Panel Four
TOUR GUIDE ONE explains that there are Twos, Threes, sometimes even Fours. But those are mainly for emergency’s-sake. To fill in if a One is sick, injured, or passes away in an untimely fashion.
It is the nature of the Primeans to excel and accept nothing short of perfection. It is the rare Primean who can bear the burden of being anything less.
“We are a very driven lot,” he concludes.

Panel Five
THE SURFER thinks that is a very admirable lifestyle. A society of perfect people… so much better than the alternative.


PAGE 11
Panel One
BANKER ONE comes running into frame! She’s wagging a finger at SURFER and telling him to stay right there! He’s about to face the full force of Primean justice—and for what he’s done to their perfect planet!
SURFER is confused. He doesn’t know what’s going on.

Panel Two
TOUR GUIDE ONE intercedes on the Surfer’s behalf. He asks BANKER ONE what she’s going on about.
BANKER ONE pulls out the golden sundae! She says the Surfer has been transmuting elements on their planet!

Panel Three
Close up on BANKER ONE and the golden sundae. She explains that Surfer has been creating rare and precious metals! By increasing the supply of Rigellian gold, he has DEVALUED the rest!
This alien is destroying their planet’s very economy!

Panel Four
The SURFER thinks this is absurd. Whatever. He tells DAWN that they’re leaving.
BANKER ONE says they can’t go! She’s called in the authorities on them! TOUR GUIDE ONE can’t believe that she’d bother Constable One for such a minor infraction.

Panel Five
All of them are covered in shadow as something BIG flies in off panel above them. The engines of the off panel ship kick up dust—as well as make everyone’s clothes and hair blow about.
BANKER ONE says that she didn’t call in the police. This isn’t a domestic matter. That man’s an alien! This threat is the first move in an alien invasion! She called in the military!
“No!” says TOUR GUIDE ONE, “tell me you did not call in—“


PAGE 12
Panel One
Worm's eye view as SURFER, DAWN, and the others in the street look up to see WARRIOR ONE’S Drop Ship come in—and WARRIOR ONE himself repelling out of it—announcing his arrival in a fierce battle cry!
“WARRRRRIOR ONE!”

Panel Two
WARRIOR ONE lands in an intimidating stance—already drawing an insanely huge alien-rifle! He tells the alien invaders to surrender, disarm all weapons, and put their hands in the air! NOW!

Panel Three
SURFER puts his hands up in the air and tells DAWN to do the same—which she does.
SURFER says this all just a misunderstanding and he’s sure they can sort it all out—

Panel Four
Cut to a point of view shot from WARRIOR ONE’S P.O.V.
Just like seeing something from The Terminator’s P.O.V. in TERMINATOR, we see all kinds of energy readouts and scans of SURFER and DAWN…
…and the energy coming off of THE SURFER—the core of his body—and each of his hands—is IMMENSE! The Power Cosmic (in both THE SURFER and BOARD) is reading as a weapon of Near-Infinite destructive power.


PAGES 13 and 14 (Double Page Layout)
Panel One
WARRIOR ONE yells at SURFER telling him to disarm! He can see that he’s still armed to the hilt!
SURFER, his hands still in the air tries to explain that Warrior One is reading his Power Cosmic, and he can’t shut his Power Cosmic off because—

Panel Two
WARRIOR ONE fires his MASSIVE WEAPON at SILVER SURFER blasting him back through the buildings on the street! MASSIVE JACK KIRBY-STYLE ACTION! KA-CHOOOOOOOM!
Everyone on the street crouches and shields their eyes from the blast!
BOARD zips over to DAWN and acts as a shield just in case!

Panel Three
DAWN looks at BOARD. We can see BOARD “talking” to Dawn by being Dawn’s reflection. The reflection of Dawn in the board looks nervous, as if he’s worrying if she’s all right.
“Thanks, Board,” says DAWN, “I’m fine. Go to him. Help Norrin. Okay?”

Panel Four
BOARD zips off to help his master… flying away from DAWN and the others and into the hole/destruction in the buildings where the Surfer was blasted through.

Panel Five
And WARRIOR ONE watches in disbelief as the SURFER on his BOARD flies out of the wreckage, his clenched fists glowing with the Power Cosmic!

Panel Six
In a mighty blast of energy, the SURFER shoots WARRIOR ONE’S gun out of his hands!

Panel Seven
WARRIOR ONE runs headlong towards the SURFER and leaps up. He laughs and tells the SURFER that he doesn’t need a gun to take him on…

Panel Eight
…he is WARRIOR ONE! The Perfect Soldier! He IS the ultimate weapon!
WARRIOR ONE lands on the BOARD and immediately begins grappling with SURFER.


PAGE 15
Panels One, Two, and Three
The BOARD spirals around in a corkscrew loop trying to shake WARRIOR ONE, but he seems unaffected.
In Panel One, while they spin around, SURFER tries to punch WARRIOR ONE with a glowing Power Cosmic fist, but WARRIOR ONE blocks it!

In Panel Two, WARRIOR ONE throws a punch…

And in Panel Three, he connects, snapping SURFER’S head back.

Panel Four
Back on the street, REPAIRMAN ONE shows up saying he can start fixing these buildings right away…
But SAFETY INSPECTOR ONE is there—with a bullhorn—and they tell everyone that they have to get off the street until the battle’s over.
Standing by BANKER ONE and TOUR GUIDE ONE, DAWN says she’s not going anywhere till she’s sure NORRIN and BOARD are okay.



PAGE 16
Panel One
SURFER and WARRIOR ONE continue to fight on top of BOARD as they zip through the skyline of Planet Prime!

Panel Two
Even when SURFER lands a blow, it doesn’t seem to have an effect on WARRIOR ONE at all!
SURFER says he’s met and heard of many champions from planets in this sector. This Warrior One is just like a Battlejack of Jackstar9.

Panel Three
As WARRIOR ONE continues to land blows—and hurt—the SILVER SURFER, he laughs.
“A Battlejack of Jackstar 9?” he scoffs, “They dream of dying in battle. A Warrior One’s fate is to die in his bed—because he WINS every battle he’s ever in!”

Panel Four
WARRIOR ONE begins to choke the SURFER—and the SURFER can’t break his grip! This soldier from Planet Prime, this “Warrior One”, might just be the man who finally kills him! NORRIN doesn’t know what to do!


PAGE 17
Panel One (Big Panel)
Back on the street, it’s chaos. STREET CLEANER ONE wants to clear away the rubble, but SAFETY INSPECTOR ONE is yelling at him through his bullhorn to get off the street.
BANKER ONE and REPAIRMAN ONE are calculating how much this is all going to cost to fix.
TOUR GUIDE ONE is showing people the destruction that was just caused in Warrior One’s latest battle.
ICE CREAM MAKER ONE sees that DAWN is distraught and offers her some ice cream to cheer her up. DAWN is flabbergasted. She doesn’t want ice cream now…

Panel Two
DAWN asks if anyone is going to do anything?! REPAIRMAN ONE says he’d love to help, but look at this mess. It’s going to take him weeks. This is way more than a one man job.
Standing next to REPAIRMAN ONE is REPAIRMAN TWO. He says “and I can’t help with that because I’m Repairman Two.”

Panel Three
DAWN says that’s insane! None of this makes any sense at all! Standing next to her is a WOMAN in a uniform that’s identical to WARRIOR ONE’S. Except she has a badge that says “2”.
“Tell me about it,” says WARRIOR TWO, “He didn’t even proper procedure. I’d stop him. But what can I do. I’m just Warrior Two.”

Panel Four
SILENT PANEL
DAWN turns and looks at WARRIOR TWO in shock and disbelief.

Panel Five
DAWN has a “eureka moment.” She knows what to do! She grabs the bullhorn away from SAFETY INSPECTOR ONE…


PAGE 18
Panel One
CLOSE UP on DAWN as she holds up the bullhorn and calls out to Norrin!

Panel Two
As SURFER continues to be choked by WARRIOR ONE, he hears Dawn tell him that Warrior One’s weak spot is his badge! Take out his badge!

Panel Three
Cut to SURFER’S hand grabbing WARRIOR ONE’S badge and using his Power Cosmic to start melting it…

Panel Four
Match shot as the badge is destroyed.

Panel Five
Cut to WARRIOR TWO… as her badge starts to morph from a “2” badge…

Panel Six
…into a “1” badge.


PAGE 19
Panel One
WARRIOR ONE releases his grip and stares down in shock in horror. He asks the SURFER, “What have you done?!”

Panel Two
Cut to DAWN standing next to the woman who is now the NEW WARRIOR ONE. That WARRIOR ONE is now holding the bullhorn and she orders the previous Warrior One to stand down.

Panel Three
Later…
Everyone is standing on the street. The NEW WARRIOR ONE tells SURFER & DAWN that while the Primeans settle things down here, it’s probably for the best if the two of them leave.
DAWN asks if the Previous Warrior One is now the New Warrior Two.
The NEW WARRIOR ONE says that it doesn’t work that way.
The PREVIOUS WARRIOR ONE looks devastated. He stands there in shock and dismay.

Panel Four
He looks up at SILVER SURFER with scorn in his eyes, he says that no one on Planet Prime has EVER lost their badge of office before. There is no precedent for it. From now on… he is an outcast. He is WARRIOR ZERO.
And he will have his revenge. SURFER has made a powerful enemy this day.

Panel Five
SURFER says he understands how that works. SURFER tells DAWN to join him on the board. It’s time they were leaving.


PAGE 20
Panel One
After a choppy start, SURFER and DAWN have finally had their first big adventure since leaving Earth. And now they’re ready to head out into the cosmos to whatever’s waiting for them next!
With PLANET PRIME right behind them, SURFER, DAWN, and BOARD soar into space. SURFER’S outstretched arm and hand are in the same pose as they were back on PAGE TWO in Panel One.

SURFER: Ready, Dawn? And we’re OFF—

Panel Two
DAWN taps him on the shoulder and asks him to wait.

DAWN: Surfer? Wait.

Panel Three
SURFER is about to uncork and lose it—but he stops himself. If this last adventure has shown him anything, it’s that there’s a very real danger to single-mindedness.

SURFER: Great Galaxies! What do you—
SURFER: Sorry.
SURFER: What is it, Dawn?

Panel Four
DAWN points off panel behind them. All kinds of colorful lights are coming in from that direction.
SURFER looks behind him—and sees all the colorful lights too. Lights that he would have missed if he just kept surfing and staring forward.

DAWN: What’s that?
SURFER: That… is a five star system…
SURFER: …going through a synchronous supernova cascade.

Panel Five
The SURFER puts his hands on DAWN’S shoulders as the two of them continue stare at the off panel lights.
DAWN can’t see the SURFER’S face behind her. He looks blissful—on the verge of crying because he’s happy.

SURFER: A pentagonal cascade happens once in a millennia. Never thought I’d see—
SURFER (small): And I would have flown straight past it.
DAWN: Can we stay and watch?
SURFER: Yes, please.


PAGE 21
SPLASH

Five stars go supernova, their blast patterns interweaving to form celestial art.
SURFER and DAWN float in space. Small figures sitting side-by-side on the surfboard, their legs dangling over the edge, and their backs to the readers.
They watch together, like people enjoying a fireworks display.

In SURFER’S captions he thinks that it wasn’t perfect.
Some moments are better than perfect.

THE END

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