AGONIST
ARTIST
DISTEAL
DESCRIPTION
Hamifi momentarily loses her nerve during sword training.
SCRIPT
PAGE 1
INT. CORPORATE TOWER FENCING SALLE - EARLY MORNING
We open with a close-up of Hamifi’s face, glaring towards the viewer. This is a young Hamifi, at most a few months into transition. Her hair is in a neck-length braid, out of which stick out a few loose hairs. She wears eyeliner, but not her trademark heavy eyeshadow. Her earlobes sport the utilitarian stainless-steel studs of a fresh piercing. Fat beads of sweat run down her brow, her neck. Her expression is one of reflexive anger - she’s been caught unaware, and she’s not happy about it.
Bisecting the space in front of Hamifi’s face: Secily’s sword. In the space above Hamifi’s head, in Secily’s trademark syntax and text color, floats the comic’s title: Focus.
We zoom out to find Hamifi and Secily inside a harshly lit fencing salle. The windows, through which the light of the twin suns streams into the room, are bright to the point of being nearly pure white. Secily has her fencing saber pointed at Hamifi’s eyes; Hamifi’s sabre aims off to the side, blocking a hit that never arrived. The duelists’ shadows are delineated in chiaroscuro around the floor.
HAMIFI
I am focused.
SECILY
You’re lowering your guard after every attack.
PAGE 2
The dojo's white light transforms into a vivid memory of Hamifi inside the Executive’s vault-bedroom. Hamifi listens as the Executive, off-screen, rebukes her bid to become an alchemist.
THE EXECUTIVE (OS)
Alchemy has cost the people of Repiton a price that we, hundreds of sweeps later, are still paying.
SECILY
Hamifi.
THE EXECUTIVE (OS)
Someone of your talents has an exceptional future ahead...
THE EXECUTIVE (OS)
...in whichever other role he chooses.
HAMIFI
It’s Enthal.
In the space behind Secily, a shade in the shape of the Executive looms.
SECILY
Which one?
Hamifi and Secily speak as they walk around each other, entering their respective stances. Secily’s traditional fencing form is monumental, imposing. On Hamifi's limber frame, this methodical squaring-up looks stiff and underwhelming. Her sabre is broad enough to wholesale block Secily's attacks; instead, it's limited to a thrusting position. She strains and wavers to match Secily's height.
HAMIFI
...Sestro takes on too much work. I worry.
SECILY
Then let fighting in his name soothe you.
PAGE 3
SECILY
En garde.
SECILY
Pret.
SECILY
Allez!
Secily takes the initiative with a pair of thrusts. Hamifi stumbles to counter with a lunge of her own. Secily stomps on the ground as she advances. Hamifi winces away, eyes closed. Instantly, Secily taps her blade atop Hamifi’s heart, despite Hamifi all but curling up in fear. The startled Hamifi bats Secily’s sword away.
HAMIFI
I’m not in the mood to be mocked.
SECILY
Will those looking to end Sestro’s life care about your moods?
PAGE 4
We close in on Hamifi’s grip on her blade: white-knuckled. Next to it, in memory, we close up on Hamifi's hands too. They shake, betraying her practiced poise.
MEMORY!HAMIFI
I hope all these changes don’t prove overwhelming.
Sestro presses a soft kiss to Memory!Hamifi’s knuckles. In both the present and the past, Hamifi’s hands are rough and calloused from sweeps of harsh blade training.
MEMORY!SESTRO
hamifi is a lovely name. i look forward to saying it many, many times.
Memory!Sestro looks up at Memory!Hamifi, eyes glittering with adoration.
MEMORY!SESTRO
everything you do...
MEMORY!SESTRO
...only makes me love you more.
PAGE 5
As Secily parries Hamifi’s attacks, she guides both of their blades upwards, then goes for a low slash. Hamifi backflips out of the way. Secily slips effortlessly past Hamif’s guard and pummels her in the stomach with her sword’s guard. As Hamifi doubles over, hairs fly out of her braid and drape asymmetrically like a curtain across the side of her face.
SECILY
Parlor trickery?
SECILY
You're the Enthal bloodline's protectress!
SECILY
Show me something worth respecting!
PAGE 6
Hamifi rises to her feet, heaving with effort. She breathes heavily. Her eyeliner is smudged at the corners. What happens next is a short montage of Hamifi’s defeats, each highlighted with a critique hurled by Secily. Hamifi is thrown to the ground, back-first, knocking the air out of her lungs -
SECILY
Sluggish!
Hamifi is slashed across the cheek -
SECILY
Inept!
Secily twists Hamifi’s arm behind her back, forcing her blade out of her hands -
SECILY
Feeble!
PAGE 7
Hamifi, on her knees, panting, bruised, bleeding. Her sabre lays uselessly on the ground next to her. Secily takes a purposefully wide swipe at her.
SECILY
FOCUS!
HAMIFI
I can’t!
HAMIFI
I’ve tried everything, and I keep losing, and...
HAMIFI
If I lose, is he going to die?
PAGE 8
Hamifi’s kneeling figure is dwarfed by a tidal wave of light, within which lies the memory of Sestro, collapsed from exhaustion inside his office. He rests in the cradle of Hamifi’s arms - Hamifi’s expression is worried, desperate, curled protectively around him.
SECILY
Is he?
Hamifi lifts her eyes to find Secily’s, as always, laser-trained on her.
SECILY
Are you going to let him die?
SECILY
If your answer is “yes”, then stay down and be a good victim.
SECILY
If your answer is “no”, Ms. Hekrix...
SECILY
then grab your sword,
SECILY
get up,
SECILY
and focus.
Memory!Hamifi holds a small blue pill in her hand. Her head slumps, and quiet tears run down her cheeks. She raises Sestro’s hand to her face and rests gently against it.
PAGE 9
In the present, Hamifi takes a deep, deliberate breath. She gets up and takes her sabre, then moves into a completely new guard, sword arm raised above her head, curved blade pointed down. When Secily strikes, Hamifi dodges it easily; waterlike. She counters with an askew blow that takes Secily by surprise, forcing her backward.
PAGE 10
Hamifi takes advantage of the opening and rolls forward, blade poised ahead of her. She comes out of the roll with a sideways slash, ripping Secily’s coat across her midsection. A thin line of teal blood dribbles out of the wound.
PAGE 11
At the same time, Secily, having the longer reach, has wedged the tip of her blade beneath Hamifi’s chin. The match is over. Both combatants pant; Secily, at last, is sweating, out of breath.
SECILY
Good.
HAMIFI
I lost.
SECILY
That would have killed anyone who wasn’t me.
HAMIFI
And if I ever have to protect Sestro from someone as good as you?
The ghost of a smile haunts the corners of Secily’s lips. It is impossible to tell if she is smug or proud.
SECILY
Strength begets strength.
PAGE 12
Secily produces two clean rags and hands one to Hamifi. Hamifi fixes her hair with one hand as she takes Secily’s cloth with the other. The two trolls speak as they wipe their respective swords down.
SECILY
You are not the weakness you once were.
SECILY
You can’t be.
SECILY
Take pride in that.
HAMIFI
I don’t suppose you have any more maxims for me?
SECILY
No. Class is dismissed.
PAGE 13
Secily gets up and heads for the exit, sheathing her blade as she goes. When she nears the door, Hamifi calls out.
HAMIFI
Make sure to send us the bill for your coat, Ms. Iopara.
SECILY
Will do, Ms. Hekrix.
PAGE 14
Secily leaves the room. Hamifi closes her eyes. The day has gone on, and the light in the room has softened to a gentle glow.
In the dark behind Hamifi looms a vision of the Executive’s airlock, huge, foreboding. Hamifi pays it only a glance, then leaves behind the airlock and walks towards the light.
INT. CORPORATE TOWER FENCING SALLE - EARLY MORNING
We open with a close-up of Hamifi’s face, glaring towards the viewer. This is a young Hamifi, at most a few months into transition. Her hair is in a neck-length braid, out of which stick out a few loose hairs. She wears eyeliner, but not her trademark heavy eyeshadow. Her earlobes sport the utilitarian stainless-steel studs of a fresh piercing. Fat beads of sweat run down her brow, her neck. Her expression is one of reflexive anger - she’s been caught unaware, and she’s not happy about it.
Bisecting the space in front of Hamifi’s face: Secily’s sword. In the space above Hamifi’s head, in Secily’s trademark syntax and text color, floats the comic’s title: Focus.
We zoom out to find Hamifi and Secily inside a harshly lit fencing salle. The windows, through which the light of the twin suns streams into the room, are bright to the point of being nearly pure white. Secily has her fencing saber pointed at Hamifi’s eyes; Hamifi’s sabre aims off to the side, blocking a hit that never arrived. The duelists’ shadows are delineated in chiaroscuro around the floor.
HAMIFI
I am focused.
SECILY
You’re lowering your guard after every attack.
PAGE 2
The dojo's white light transforms into a vivid memory of Hamifi inside the Executive’s vault-bedroom. Hamifi listens as the Executive, off-screen, rebukes her bid to become an alchemist.
THE EXECUTIVE (OS)
Alchemy has cost the people of Repiton a price that we, hundreds of sweeps later, are still paying.
SECILY
Hamifi.
THE EXECUTIVE (OS)
Someone of your talents has an exceptional future ahead...
THE EXECUTIVE (OS)
...in whichever other role he chooses.
HAMIFI
It’s Enthal.
In the space behind Secily, a shade in the shape of the Executive looms.
SECILY
Which one?
Hamifi and Secily speak as they walk around each other, entering their respective stances. Secily’s traditional fencing form is monumental, imposing. On Hamifi's limber frame, this methodical squaring-up looks stiff and underwhelming. Her sabre is broad enough to wholesale block Secily's attacks; instead, it's limited to a thrusting position. She strains and wavers to match Secily's height.
HAMIFI
...Sestro takes on too much work. I worry.
SECILY
Then let fighting in his name soothe you.
PAGE 3
SECILY
En garde.
SECILY
Pret.
SECILY
Allez!
Secily takes the initiative with a pair of thrusts. Hamifi stumbles to counter with a lunge of her own. Secily stomps on the ground as she advances. Hamifi winces away, eyes closed. Instantly, Secily taps her blade atop Hamifi’s heart, despite Hamifi all but curling up in fear. The startled Hamifi bats Secily’s sword away.
HAMIFI
I’m not in the mood to be mocked.
SECILY
Will those looking to end Sestro’s life care about your moods?
PAGE 4
We close in on Hamifi’s grip on her blade: white-knuckled. Next to it, in memory, we close up on Hamifi's hands too. They shake, betraying her practiced poise.
MEMORY!HAMIFI
I hope all these changes don’t prove overwhelming.
Sestro presses a soft kiss to Memory!Hamifi’s knuckles. In both the present and the past, Hamifi’s hands are rough and calloused from sweeps of harsh blade training.
MEMORY!SESTRO
hamifi is a lovely name. i look forward to saying it many, many times.
Memory!Sestro looks up at Memory!Hamifi, eyes glittering with adoration.
MEMORY!SESTRO
everything you do...
MEMORY!SESTRO
...only makes me love you more.
PAGE 5
As Secily parries Hamifi’s attacks, she guides both of their blades upwards, then goes for a low slash. Hamifi backflips out of the way. Secily slips effortlessly past Hamif’s guard and pummels her in the stomach with her sword’s guard. As Hamifi doubles over, hairs fly out of her braid and drape asymmetrically like a curtain across the side of her face.
SECILY
Parlor trickery?
SECILY
You're the Enthal bloodline's protectress!
SECILY
Show me something worth respecting!
PAGE 6
Hamifi rises to her feet, heaving with effort. She breathes heavily. Her eyeliner is smudged at the corners. What happens next is a short montage of Hamifi’s defeats, each highlighted with a critique hurled by Secily. Hamifi is thrown to the ground, back-first, knocking the air out of her lungs -
SECILY
Sluggish!
Hamifi is slashed across the cheek -
SECILY
Inept!
Secily twists Hamifi’s arm behind her back, forcing her blade out of her hands -
SECILY
Feeble!
PAGE 7
Hamifi, on her knees, panting, bruised, bleeding. Her sabre lays uselessly on the ground next to her. Secily takes a purposefully wide swipe at her.
SECILY
FOCUS!
HAMIFI
I can’t!
HAMIFI
I’ve tried everything, and I keep losing, and...
HAMIFI
If I lose, is he going to die?
PAGE 8
Hamifi’s kneeling figure is dwarfed by a tidal wave of light, within which lies the memory of Sestro, collapsed from exhaustion inside his office. He rests in the cradle of Hamifi’s arms - Hamifi’s expression is worried, desperate, curled protectively around him.
SECILY
Is he?
Hamifi lifts her eyes to find Secily’s, as always, laser-trained on her.
SECILY
Are you going to let him die?
SECILY
If your answer is “yes”, then stay down and be a good victim.
SECILY
If your answer is “no”, Ms. Hekrix...
SECILY
then grab your sword,
SECILY
get up,
SECILY
and focus.
Memory!Hamifi holds a small blue pill in her hand. Her head slumps, and quiet tears run down her cheeks. She raises Sestro’s hand to her face and rests gently against it.
PAGE 9
In the present, Hamifi takes a deep, deliberate breath. She gets up and takes her sabre, then moves into a completely new guard, sword arm raised above her head, curved blade pointed down. When Secily strikes, Hamifi dodges it easily; waterlike. She counters with an askew blow that takes Secily by surprise, forcing her backward.
PAGE 10
Hamifi takes advantage of the opening and rolls forward, blade poised ahead of her. She comes out of the roll with a sideways slash, ripping Secily’s coat across her midsection. A thin line of teal blood dribbles out of the wound.
PAGE 11
At the same time, Secily, having the longer reach, has wedged the tip of her blade beneath Hamifi’s chin. The match is over. Both combatants pant; Secily, at last, is sweating, out of breath.
SECILY
Good.
HAMIFI
I lost.
SECILY
That would have killed anyone who wasn’t me.
HAMIFI
And if I ever have to protect Sestro from someone as good as you?
The ghost of a smile haunts the corners of Secily’s lips. It is impossible to tell if she is smug or proud.
SECILY
Strength begets strength.
PAGE 12
Secily produces two clean rags and hands one to Hamifi. Hamifi fixes her hair with one hand as she takes Secily’s cloth with the other. The two trolls speak as they wipe their respective swords down.
SECILY
You are not the weakness you once were.
SECILY
You can’t be.
SECILY
Take pride in that.
HAMIFI
I don’t suppose you have any more maxims for me?
SECILY
No. Class is dismissed.
PAGE 13
Secily gets up and heads for the exit, sheathing her blade as she goes. When she nears the door, Hamifi calls out.
HAMIFI
Make sure to send us the bill for your coat, Ms. Iopara.
SECILY
Will do, Ms. Hekrix.
PAGE 14
Secily leaves the room. Hamifi closes her eyes. The day has gone on, and the light in the room has softened to a gentle glow.
In the dark behind Hamifi looms a vision of the Executive’s airlock, huge, foreboding. Hamifi pays it only a glance, then leaves behind the airlock and walks towards the light.
CONCEPT ART
PAGES
