Mr. Sandman
Page 14
Page 11 (6 panels)
Page 11 panel 1
Dream Lord: Stacy...oh, God...I can smell him. It's like before...when he stabbed me on the battlefield... only a thousand times worse... a thousand times stronger...
Lullaby: Hey, don't let it bother you. He's gonna be tough, right? You already knew that. You're just gonna have to be tougher.
Page 11 panel 2
Lullaby: And don't forget, you've got your secret weapon along this time--the Lullaby Special. I'll let nobody kick your bucket, buster!
Dream Lord: Neither will I.
Page 11 panel 3
Lullaby: So, what does this place look like? How will we even find it?
Dream Lord: Stacy, I don't think we'll have any trouble.
Page 11 panel 4
Wide shot of Dream Lord flying into the dark sky, carrying Lullaby. In the distance is a dim, thin tower--at first just a speck of light.
Dream Lord: Cancer always leaves a trail of corpses...
Page 11 panel 5
Dream Lord: ...lots of suffering...
Another wide shot, with the pair getting much closer to the tower. It appears to be a high, brightly lit castle tower.
Page 11 panel 6
Dream Lord: ...and a great big tumor in the middle of it all.
Large panel showing the Bogeyman's terrible fortress, with the Dream Lord and Lullaby in the foreground, flying down to it. They are dwarfed by its enormity. Once more, however, the Bogeyman's dark sense of humor has been at work. The place is a massive, exact replica of the Magic Kingdom castle in Disneyland--the one shown at the beginning of every Wonderful World of Disney program. It is beautiful and sparkling, with flags flying from the ramparts and gold trim everywhere. It is on top of a high hill, with a drawbridge extended from the gate, leading into nowhere. There is no moat and no land for the other side of the bridge to cross.
Lullaby: Whoa! This is it? No way!
Page 12 (6 panels)
Page 12 panel 1
Dream Lord and Lullaby glide to a landing on the tip of the drawbridge.
Lullaby: This might be Snow White's pad, or Sleeping Beauty's--but this is not that Bogeyman's place! Uh-uh!
Dream Lord: The wolf in sheep's clothing, Stacy. Believe me, this is it.
Page 12 panel 2
Dream Lord (pointing to a big neon sign over the huge gateway to the castle): See? The Dream Lord knows all!
The neon sign reads, in flashing letters: Bogeyman Resorts International and Elks Lodge Welcome The Dream Lord & Co.
Lullaby: Wow! He really spared no expense to disguise this place, did he? That must mean he's real scared of us.
Page 12 panel 3
Dream Lord walks briskly across the drawbridge, through the gate, and into the glittering castle hallway beyond. He gestures for Lullaby to follow him in, and she does.
Dream Lord: Let's go. We're off to meet the Wizard.
Lullaby: I guess that makes you the munchkin and me the lion, huh?
Page 12 panel 4
At the end of the entrance hallway, a butler stops the pair, holding out his hands.
Butler: Take your wrap, sir? Madam?
Dream Lord: No, thanks. We prefer to remain wrapped.
Lullaby: Yeah, we like wrapping--like the way we're gonna wrap up your boss!
Page 12 panel 5
Butler: Very good, then. Could I see your invitations, please?
Dream Lord brushes past the Butler and into the castle and Lullaby follows, poking a finger at the Butler's chest.
Lullaby: Why don't you go starch your eyelashes? We are V.I.P.'s, junior! Our faces are our invitations!
Dream Lord: Looks like we're just in time, Stacy...
Page 12 panel 6
Large panel showing the room that the Dream Lord and Lullaby have entered--a huge, elegant ballroom, complete with chandeliers, statuary, a fountain at the center of the room, and a winding marble staircase at the far end. The room is filled with people, dressed in colorful costumes like those worn in the 1600's by British and French nobility. It is a huge masquerade ball, with lots of powdered wigs and elaborate jewelry and shiny silk masks that are held before the guests' faces by rods. In a corner of the room, a man in a mask plays a harpsichord. Butlers circulate through the crowd, carrying trays of food. A long table sits along one wall, crammed with foods and desserts of all kinds.
Dream Lord: ...the party just started.
Voice (off-panel): Oh-ho! Honored guests, if I may direct your attention to the vestibule, won't you just look who we have here!
Page 13 (7 panels)
Page 13 panel 1
Bogeyman stands on a raised dais at one end of the ballroom. He is overjoyed, eager for his sport with the Dream Lord, and he stands with his arms spread wide in welcome; he is playing the role of host to the tee. He is dressed in a fancy black costume out of the 1700s, complete with a long black cape, black knickers over white stockings, a black shirt with lots of ruffles at the sleeves and neck, a black mask, and a black tri-cornered hat.
Bogeyman: What a splendid, unmitigated surprise! What a perfect coup for our
felicitous gathering! With a wistful tear at my eye, may I present to you... reverently...these most recent and auspicious of visitors...
Page 13 panel 2
Bogeyman (off-panel): ...the Little Rascals! Come on now, let's make some
noise for our celebrities!
A huge round of applause thunders through the ballroom as everyone, even the waiters, turns and claps. There are also many cheers and shouts, such as Bravo!, Hip-hip-hoorah!, and Marvelous! Dream Lord and Lullaby stand at the entrance to the room, watching the applauding crowd, both remaining wary and determined.
Lullaby: The Little Rascals? Who's been dustin' his muffins?
Dream Lord: He's a madman. He's a walking, talking virus--concealing his sickness with all this idiotic clowning. This is the same monster who made that hell outside...the same demonic bastard.
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Bogeyman (raising his hand toward the crowd): Ahem. Will you restrain your applause for a moment, my ostentatious compatriots? Much obliged.
The loud clapping dies in mid-panel.
Page 13 panel 4
Closeup of Bogeyman bellowing at the top of his lungs at Dream Lord and Lullaby.
Bogeyman: I heard that, Alfalfa!
Page 13 panel 5
Bogeyman (suddenly calm, restrained, smiling pleasantly): And I must say, I am flattered beyond words. You wily courtier! I should have expected such magnanimous panegyrics from such a flamboyant performer as yourself! Compliments like that shall certainly earn you points in this household!
Page 13 panel 6
Bogeyman: Ladies and lords, once again--the Little Rascals!
Again, the room erupts with loud applause and a chorus of cheers and Bravos.
Lullaby: Okay. I've figured it out--this guy is a big-time loon. He's definitely a few bubbles off plumb.
Dream Lord: This is only the beginning, Stacy. Be ready for anything.
Page 13 panel 7
Bogeyman (stepping down from the dais to walk through the crowd toward the Dream Lord): Ha ha! I'm so thrilled that you could attend our soiree, you big stars! As they say, variety is the spice of life, and among the nobility--these inbred ingrates--there is so little variation. Film stars contribute just the right touch, don't you think? A dash of notoriety, a bit of the freakish.
Page 14 (8 panels)
Page 14 panel 1
Bogeyman (walking up some short steps to stand by Dream Lord and Lullaby at the entranceway): Tell me, freaks, would you consent to privilege this assembly with some of your wonderful routines? You know--a madcap chase across the dance floor--a spunky caper through the punch bowl--or perhaps a few pies in the face? Oh, we've plenty of pies!
Man in crowd: Yes, please perform for us! We adore your films so much!
Woman: Won't you do a skit or two, Rascals?
Man: We would die for
a pie in the face!
Page 14 panel 2
Lullaby: How about a fist in the face, ugly?
Bogeyman (putting an arm around the Dream Lord's shoulder): You precocious little gangsters have acquired quite a following among the upper crust, as you can see. Your goofy mischief is considered the finest art, right alongside the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and the simple tunes of Chopin. Why not grace us with a scene? Perhaps little black Buckwheat could shave your head and paint you up with chicken pox.
Page 14 panel 3
Lullaby: Hey! I resent that, you crud!
Dream Lord (tensely removing Bogeyman's arm from his shoulder): Sorry, no scenes. We're not here to amuse you.
Bogeyman: No? Then why come at all? For that matter, why exist?
Page 14 panel 4
Dream Lord: We came here to stop you.
Bogeyman: Oh, I see! Then you are here to amuse! What a ridiculous premise!
Page 14 panel 5
Dream Lord (angry, trying to force Bogeyman into a confrontation, to end the silly routine): Listen to me, you son of a bitch! You have violated thousands of minds, and I will not...
Bogeyman (cutting him off and turning to the crowd): 'Scuse me, noble merrymakers! There will be no escapades from the Rascals...not yet, anyway...but this festival shall dauntlessly continue! I implore you all to eat voraciously, quaff profusely, and dance like wild pagans!
Page 14 panel 6
Bogeyman (turning back to the Dream Lord): And as for you, silly Kubla, why not make yourself at home amidst the elegance? It is all quite the opulent manse...actually, reminiscent of your old digs. Ask and you shall receive! You can have absolutely anything you desire!
Page 14 panel 7
Dream Lord: All right. I want you dead.
Bogeyman: Sorry, we're fresh out of that. How about some Chateaubriand?
Page 14 panel 8
Dream Lord: I'd rather have some answers.
Bogeyman: Ah-ha! There, you're in luck! We just rounded some up this morning, roaming the royal preserve. How about "nine," "Ulysses," and "maranatha?" There are many more where those came from!
Page 15 (8 panels)
Page 15 panel 1
Dream Lord: No. I want the answers. I want to hear what you know about me--the truth you keep teasing me with. I'm sick of your coy crap.
Bogeyman: Well, I suppose it could be arranged...but it will hurt you a great deal. I do believe the knowledge may even induce heart failure.
Page 15 panel 2
Dream Lord (gritting his teeth, very uptight): I'm already hurt...remember? As for my heart, you already put a sword through it.
Bogeyman: Oh, did I do that? How careless of me!
Page 15 panel 3
Dream Lord: It can't get much worse.
Bogeyman: Oh, I beg to differ with that brilliant assessment. It can. Much, much worse. But if you don't mind some more unbearable agony...
Page 15 panel 4
Closeup of Bogeyman, looking eager and totally evil.
Bogeyman: ...then I certainly won't complain.
Page 15 panel 5
Suddenly, Bogeyman whirls into action, shouting commands to his servants and hustling away from the Dream Lord and Lullaby.
Bogeyman: Bentley, lower the screen! Jenkins, set up the slide projector! Carter, douse them lights! Everyone, we're going to view a slideshow!
Man: Bravo! Delightful!
Woman: What a vivacious plan!
Page 15 panel 6
Bogeyman (addressing Dream Lord as he walks to a long, marble table where a butler is setting up the slide projector): I believe you'll enjoy this, Kubla. You seem to like crippling anguish. Feel free to close your eyes at any point, if it gets to be too much for you. I did put a lot of work into this project, though--hours and hours of thankless labor just so I could make you scream like a banshee.
Page 15 panel 7
Bogeyman (as he sits down behind the slide projector and marble table): You see? I really do care. (He smiles demonically.)
Page 15 panel 8
The butler flicks a switch on the projector and it comes on, emitting a bright beam of light from its lens.
Jenkins: There we are, sir. All ready to go.
Bogeyman: Thank you much, Mr. Jenkins. We can begin as soon as Carter finishes turning down the lights.
Page 16 (8 panels)
Page 16 panel 1
Carter is standing below a chandelier full of candles. He uses a candle douser on the end of a long, gold pole to quench each one, leaving little wisps of smoke above each unlit candle. He's about halfway through with the chandelier
Carter: That'll be just a moment, sir. Almost done.
Bogeyman: Heavens! Pardon me, Carter...l thought I'd made myself fully clear. What I meant to say was...
Page 16 panel 2
Bogeyman (screaming and furious): ...lights out!!
Page 16 panel 3
Carter: As you wish, sir.
He swings the long pole at the chandelier, as if he is trying to hit a piñata, and shatters it into thousands of glass shards. The shards fly out into the crowd and everyone ducks out of their way.
Page 16 panel 4
Bogeyman (once again placid and relaxed, as if he had never shouted): Thank you. And now, without further ado, let us embark on this hypnotic, splendiferous entertainment--this unparalleled, extravagant bonanza of grins and wonders!
Page 16 panel 5
Wide shot of the ballroom. The crowd is now all seated in organized rows of chairs, as if in a movie theatre. They are all watching the screen intently, and most have boxes of popcorn in their hands. This shot is from behind the crowd, revealing the large screen on which Bogeyman is showing his slides.
The first slide is up--a title slide written awkwardly in crayon, as if by a 3-year-old. It says: The Life and Crimes of the Happy Dream Lord.
Bogeyman (off-panel): I present to you my latest cinematic achievement--destined for Academy recognition! Welcome to the premiere of The Life and Crimes of the Happy Dream Lord--or, The Story of a Mad Dog. It's the sequel to In Cold Blood.
Page 16 panel 6
Bogeyman: Our tale begins in Crandall, Ohio, where the adorable infant Dr. Adams first left the womb. At the time, of course, his Ph.D. was in its very early stages.
Chubby woman: Oh, isn't he precious? What an angel!
Other woman: Those chubby little cheeks!
Another slide is on the screen, this one a baby picture--a typical portrait of a newborn.
Page 16 panel 7
Medium shot of Dream Lord and Lullaby standing at the rear of the crowd, still by the entrance, watching the slideshow. Dream Lord is grim and humorless, his arms crossed and his eyes trained straight at the screen. A lady in the row of people in front of them turns around to talk to him.
Lady: Alfalfa, would you be disturbed if I pinched those dollbaby cheeks? Just once? I simply must!
Lullaby (Dream Lord ignores the lady): Hey, lady, he's a big star. No autographs and no cheek pinching--unless you've got a multi-picture deal for him! Buzz off.
Bogeyman (off-panel): As you can see, even in those primal years, our hero sported something of an insidious, scheming veneer.