Dilraj Mann's 014 - Triptych - P. A. Nolte

1/ Through a window, a man and a woman are being intimate on a bare mattress in an otherwise unfurnished apartment.  Still-packed cardboard boxes are strewn haphazardly across the room.

Him: Welcome home.

Her: Yeah, ...

Her: Home.

2/ A floor below, there is a party in full swing.  Some people dance alone or together.  Some argue.  Some also share moments of intimacy, though without the immediate privacy currently afforded the couple upstairs.

3/ Below the revelry, another quiet apartment.  The decorations are modern.  Stark patterns, oddly-shaped knick-knacks punctuated with thick volumes of who knows what, and a pair of chairs that look uncomfortable to sit in for very long.  An older woman cradles a cup of tea as she gazes out the window.  Behind her, down a hallway, is a man with slumped shoulders carrying a knife.

Him: Honey?  Your food is getting cold.

Her: ...

Her: What does it matter?

Dilraj Mann's 014--"Lover's Embrace"--David Press

This starts off from an semi-autobio story of my second to last night in living in New York City. 

4.1: I’m climbing the steps that outlet onto BLEECKER STREET. A taco stand to my left and the main strip in front of me.

DISPLAY LETT[LEFT]:  BLEECKER STREET.

4.2: I’m joining a crowd of people trying to get into the HOUSING WORKS BOOKSTORE. There are a bunch of lingerers smoking cigarettes and chatting. The door is quite clogged.

1. CAPTION [LOCATION]:    Housing Works Bookstore.

4.3: SPLASH! Inside of the bookstore: filled with books and large dance floor. Tons of people are everywhere. There is a GIRL pushing herself out of the crowd towards me.

2. GIRL:             DAVE!

4.3: The GIRL is up to me now. She has dreadlocks and wire-frame glasses. She’s wearing a black shirt and some khakis.

3. GIRL:             Glad you could make it.

4. ME:               Thanks for inviting me, Mac! Relieved to be out of school?

4.4: We’re heading over to the bar on the far side of bookstore.

5. MAC:              Feels great! How does it feel to be done with grad school?

6. ME:               Awesome! I never thought I would make it…

7. MAC:              I hear ya!

4.5: At the bar, we’re holding two Stella Artois bottles.

8. MAC:             So, what are you going to do your last night in town?

9. ME:               Second to last night.

9B. ME:             I’m thinking about just spending it with you.

Dilraj Mann's 014 – Violent Night – MK Stangeland Jr.

(5 Panels)

Panel 1: Panel built around the lowest floor of DILRAJ MANN’S 014. MUSIC NOTES populate the top of the panel. The scene is much like what is seen in the original piece, with the man we see the legs of designated ‘HARVEY’ and the woman looking out the window designated ‘LAURA’.

HARVEY (1): I’m going to go upstairs and stab them.

HARVEY (2): All of them.

LAURA: Harvey, go put the knife away.

Panel 2: Continuation of PANEL 1.

HARVEY (1): This is not what we were promised with this apartment.

HARVEY (2): This is the exact opposite of what we were promised.

LAURA (1): Harvey, just call the building manager.

HARVEY (3): The building manager is up there with them.

LAURA (2): Is he?

HARVEY (4): Yeah.

LAURA (3): Oh.

Panel 3: Continuation of PANEL 2.

HARVEY (1): I could kill all of them if I really wanted to.

LAURA (1): Harvey, go put the knife away already.

HARVEY (2): Stab them all.

HARVEY (3): Stabbity stabbity stab.

LAURA (2): I said put the knife away, Harvey.

Panel 4: Continuation of PANEL 3. Beat panel.

Panel 5: Continuation of PANEL 4, though HARVEY has disappeared from the panel, having walked out of view.

HARVEY (1): (Off-Panel) You know I could do it if I really wanted to.

LAURA: Yes dear, I know.

HARVEY (2): Stabbity stab.

(END PAGE)

Dilraj Man's 014 - Life of the Party - Grant McLaughlin

1 - Establishing shot of a party not unlike that featured in the middle level of Dilraj Mann's page.

CAPTION: Why do we party?

2 - A young woman dances wildly on the dance floor.  Eyes closed, she's in her own world.  While there are others around, she stands out.

CAPTION: It's the freedom to be brave...

3 - A young woman awkwardly stands along the wall, holding a red Dixie cup.  She surreptitiously looks towards another woman who stands near him along the same wall, confidently talking to someone who's mostly off-panel.

CAPTION: ...or to work up the courage.

4 - A group of friends stand with their arms wrapped around their shoulders, singing loudly to the music that's playing.

CAPTION: It's time with those you know best...

5 - A young man and woman talk to each other.  Both wear nervous smiles, blushing and struggling to maintain eye-contact.  One of them may be reaching to their hair to re-place a stray curl.

CAPTION: ...or those you may want to know better.

6 - Two men makes out by the window with the gusto that only young lovers can, without regard for what others may think of their very public display of affection.

CAPTION: It's an occasion for something more...

7 - A woman slaps an over-eager man.

CAPTION: ...and sometimes, something less.

8 - A woman is doing a keg stand, two people standing nearby to support her legs and someone holding the tap to her mouth.

CAPTION: It's the chance to lay it all out there...

9 - A few friends sit on the couch, chatting.

CAPTION: ...or play it more lowkey.

10 - Shot of the apartment building, further out to still be able to see the figures partying, but also others parts of the city.

CAPTION (1): It's a place where you can be yourself...

CAPTION (2): ...or try out who you might want to be.

Why Dilraj Mann's 014?

Guys, I'm really into Alison Sempel and Ian MacEwan's .

For the unfamiliar, it's basically an ongoing art project where different creators are slowly discovering a new "city", one picture at a time.  Every new piece is built upon the preceding one in some capacity, while having lots of room to diverge and experiment.  If you haven't already seen it, you owe yourself to check it out.

I love seeing the connections from one entry into the next, watching as the city evolves along with its contributors.  I love seeing how each person puts their own spin on the idea, while holding true to the overall concept.  Most of all, I love poring over each and every piece to discover the story held within.

I could have pitched Think of a City as the week's pick, but considering how much there is to choose from (50 entries and counting), I knew that, while such a broad selection would create a week of beautiful, excellent scripts, I wanted something slightly more unifying (not to mention the ability to come back to this idea down the line, if I so choose).

Therefore, I want to hone in on a single piece: .

I could tell you everything about it that grabs me, but I'm more interested in knowing what draws you in.  Therefore, this week we'll be writing up one-pagers inspired by this gorgeous piece of art.  As always, we'd love to see your take, so if you want to play-at-home, don't hesitate to add your script to the comments below.