Free Clockwork Angels: Comic Script by Kevin J. Anderson Page A

here. So predictable.
    OWEN
    You … you’re the man from the steamliner!
    PANEL 4
    Close-up of the Anarchist with his devilish smile, he holds up his hand to gesture, and we can prominently see the Precipitate symbol tattooed on his hand.
    ANARCHIST
    I am many things and many places. You never know who, where, or when.
    [LINK]
    That’s the whole point of freedom, Owen Hardy. Extreme order will kill us all.
    PANEL 5
    With the Anarchist behind him, Owen turns and looks at the distant lights of the carnival camp. Now the steamliner tracks are beginning to glow a pale blue (because a steamliner is coming).
    ANARCHIST
    Think of all you’ve seen and done since you left your boring little town. You’ve LIVED. It’s nonsense to regret that.
    OWEN
    How would you know? My heart is broken. I’m all alone. I never should have left my home.
    PAGE 18
    PANEL 1
    They walk together down the brightening tracks heading toward the hazy lights of Crown City. Behind them, still small and far away, a steamliner is coming.
    ANARCHIST
    You’ve been brainwashed by the Watchmaker’s Stability. Freedom is necessary, but it’s not free—or easy.
    ANARCHIST
    The Watchmaker is the problem. Crown City is the problem. Too much order is a crutch—and I intend to knock that crutch away.
    PANEL 2
    Anarchist close-up. His expression is like broken glass.
    ANARCHIST
    The thing about getting back up and standing on your own two feet …
    [LINK]
    You have to FALL first. And I intend to make all of Crown City fall. For our own good.
    PANEL 3
    Owen draws away from the Anarchist who keeps walking down the tracks. Owen is unsettled, standing up for himself, hands on his hips. The steamliner is getting closer.
    OWEN
    You’re d’Angelo Misterioso! Tomio warned me about you. He said you’re dangerous.
    ANARCHIST
    And I say Tomio is a coward, worries too much about people. But are you brave enough, Owen Hardy? Do you have the nerve to help me?
    PANEL 4
    Owen steps off the tracks and stands on the siding, while the Anarchist keeps walking along. The rails are blazing blue with coldfire now and the steamliner is getting close. The Anarchist pays no attention to it whatsoever.
    ANARCHIST
    It’s simple, really. Any alchemist could do it. Like resetting the clock.
    [LINK]
    Destroy Chronos Square. Destroy the coldfire nexus. Destroy the Watchmaker’s tower.
    [LINK]
    That should do the trick.
    OWEN
    But that would wreck civilization! It would be chaos! Complete—
    PANEL 5
    The Anarchist stands at the side of the track, reaching out his hand toward the oncoming steamliner, but not even bothering to look at it. The steamliner isn’t in this panel, just the Anarchist’s figure, but he is bathed in an eerie, brightening blue glow.
    ANARCHIST
    Yes, ANARCHY! And all is for the best.
    PANEL 6
    Big panel, the thundering steamliner swoops past, huge and chugging, half-levitated by colorful balloons, connected with freight cars. The Anarchist has grabbed a bar next to an open cargo car and is swept up, calling back at Owen.
    ANARCHIST
    It’ll be glorious! Think about it.
    PAGE 19
    PANEL 1
    It’s dawn, Owen is outside of Crown City, approaching it from alongside the tracks. He looks rumpled, has been trudging for days.
    CAPTION
    Two days later …
    CAPTION (OWEN)
    How can all be for the best? And who decides that?
    CAPTION (OWEN)
    The Watchmaker?
    CAPTION (OWEN)
    The Anarchist?
    CAPTION (OWEN)
    Or me?
    PANEL 2
    Owen enters the city streets, which are vibrant and bustling as before in Issue 2, but now the colors are muted. We can see a few more shadows, a little more drabness. At some point, either here or in Panel 4, please put in the “Permanent Waves” woman (from the album cover of Permanent Waves , but probably in the position she is on the album cover of Exit Stage Left .
    CAPTION (OWEN)
    I’m too far from home, but I can’t go back to Barrel Arbor.

    CAPTION (OWEN)
    Or the carnival.
    CAPTION (OWEN)
    Francesca …
    PANEL 3
    Close-up of Owen’s face, tight