Judge Anderson - Parallel Lines - R.A. Wonsowski

(Inspired by, and dedicated to, Ben Rosenthal - Your last week's script is to blame for this...)

Set-up:  X-Force members DEADPOOL, PSYLOCKE and WOLVERINE, in their black and white costumes, are separated from their team and shunted into the future, only to find themselves in Mega-City One!  Psylocke's mental abilities alert Psi-Ops, and the three are captured by JUDGE ANDERSON of Psi-Division!

Panel 1 - Background:   DEADPOOL, PSYLOCKE and WOLVERINE are sitting on the sidewalk, backs against a wall, hands behind their backs because they're cuffed.  Foreground:  JUDGE ANDERSON is leaning against her motorcycle, helmet off, talking on her radio.

VOICE ON RADIO:  They don't match any of the genome records, Judge.

ANDERSON:  No ID's either.  I'll see what I can glean psi-wise.

Panel 2 - JUDGE ANDERSON sits on her haunches in front of DEADPOOL, the two of them staring into each other's eyes.

NO COPY

Panel 3 - Same as panel 2

DEADPOOL (thought balloon, with musical notes):  Call Me! - Whoa, call me - call me any day or night...

DEADPOOL (thought balloon, with musical notes):  One Way - Or Another - I'm gonna find ya...

Panel 4 - Same as above

DEADPOOL (thought balloon, with musical notes):  ...I'm gonna getchagetchagetchagetcha one way...

DEADPOOL (thought balloon, with musical notes):  ...Tide is High but I'm holdin' on...

Panel 5 - Same as above

DEADPOOL (thought balloon, with musical notes):  ...I'm gonna be you're number one...

DEADPOOL (thought balloon, with musical notes):  ...nu-u-umber one...

Panel 6 - JUDGE ANDERSON is back on her feet, looking at PSYLOCKE and WOLVERINE.  She's back on her radio.  PSYLOCKE's face is hard, but WOLVERINE has his head cocked with a "I-know-her-from-somewhere" look on his face.

JUDGE ANDERSON:  I'm getting nowhere with the strange singing in the first one's head.  I'm going to try the other two...

PSYLOCKE (thought balloon):  (image of a brick wall)

WOLVERINE (thought balloon, with musical notes):  ...nu-u-umber one...


(Oh, c'mon, you can't tell me no one else has noticed:
...really?)

Judge Anderson - Hands To The Sky - Niel Jacoby

Panel 1: We see a gang emptying a storehouse, and one of the containers is cross-sectioned so we see Judge Anderson hiding inside it. The gang leader is issuing an order, and the underlings are all turned to face him.

Leader: THAT'S IT BOYS, WE'RE ALMOST DONE! ONCE THE LAST OF THE PACKAGES IS LOADED, WE'LL GET A MOVE ON!

Inset Panel: Close-up. Judge Anderson, in the box, is resolute.

Anderson: AH! HERE'S MY CHANCE! THE CONTRABAND IS NEATLY PACKED, AND NO DOUBT THEY'VE LEFT FINGERPRINTS

Inset Panel 2: Anderson, 2 fingers to her left temple, is concentrating. We can see the psychic energy radiating.

SFX: VRUMMMMMMMMMMM

Panel 3: This should take up most of the page. The Leader, the same psychic energy radiating around his head, pulls a gun on the rest of his men.

Leader: EVERYBODY, PUT OUR HANDS UP! WE ARE ALL UNDER ARREST!

Cap: NEXT PROG -
A MIND IS A TERRIFIC THING TO USE!
-OR-
THE MEDIUM AND THE MESSAGE!

Judge Anderson - Bomb Squad - J.D. Coughlan

Panel 1: A scruffy-looking man with an impressive bomb strapped to him shouting hysterically.

BOMBER: I want the Justice Department to hear my demands! Now!

BOMBER: No more fascists! Or I blow this whole City Block to atoms!

Panel 2: Judges Dredd and Anderson pointing their lawgivers at the Bomber. They are both stoic, calm. Anderson has her helmet off.

DREDD: Anderson?

Panel 3: Long horizontal panel. Close-up of Anderson's eyes. She is concentrating, using her psychic abilities, but not too strained.

NO TEXT

Panel 4: Another long horizontal panel. Close-up of the Bomber's eyes. He is noticeably more nervous.

NO TEXT

Panel 5: Close on Anderson. She remains grim.

ANDERSON: The bomb is real.

Panel 6: Close on the Bomber. Grinning madly.

NO TEXT

Panel 7: Same as Panel 5, Anderson grinning slightly this time.

ANDERSON: His threats are not.

Panel 8: Same as Panel 6, except the Bomber's face has fallen.

BOMBER: Drokk.

END OF PAGE

This next page would, of course, be Dredd and Anderson blowing the Bomber away.

Judge Anderson – Legacy – MK Stangeland Jr.

Judge Anderson – Legacy – MK Stangeland Jr.

(7 Panels)

Panel 1: JUDGE ANDERSON is standing with her younger clone, JUDGE ANDERS. JUDGE ANDERSON looks old, is wearing an instructor’s outfit instead of a JUDGE’s uniform, and is standing with the aid of a cane. JUDGE ANDERS looks like a very young JUDGE ANDERSON. No words are coming out of their mouths, but they are looking at each other as though they’re still having a conversation anyway.

Panel 2: JUDGE DREDD’s head as he looks on.

Panel 3: JUDGE ANDERSON and JUDGE ANDERS are seen from over JUDGE DREDD’s shoulder. JUDGE ANDERSON and JUDGE ANDERS have a hand on each others shoulders.

Panel 4: JUDGE ANDERS approaches JUDGE DREDD. She is in the process of putting her helmet on.

JUDGE DREDD: …

JUDGE ANDERS: (Interrupting Judge Dredd.) It’s because I’m her clone.

Panel 5: JUDGE DREDD looks like he’s attempting to say something else, but is a second time cut off.

JUDGE DREDD: …

JUDGE ANDERS: (Again interrupting.) You were going to say I look just like her.

JUDGE DREDD: …

JUDGE ANDERS: Psychic conversation. That’s also how I’m answering your questions before you ask them.

Panel 6: JUDGE DREDD does not look amused. JUDGE ANDERS looks apologetic.

JUDGE ANDERS (1): Sorry.

JUDGE ANDERS (2): Sir.

JUDGE DREDD: I don’t like people inside my head.

Panel 7: JUDGE DREDD looks at JUDGE ANDERS as they walk side by and points at her.

JUDGE DREDD: You may look like her, but so far you’re not acting like her.

(END PAGE)

Judge Anderson -Peace At Last- Dan Hill

As it's appropriate I purposefully tried to ape Wagner's style and formatting here.

PAGE ONE

All of the panels bar the last one are filled with disembodied balloons that almost crowd out the art.

1. CLOSE UP on a digital alarm clock going off on a bedside table. We’re in an apartment, bathed in shadow.

FX: BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP

VOICE: --BREAKFAST, ANYWAY--

VOICE: --JUST ONE SUGAR--

VOICE: --TELL ME TO WAKE UP--

2. Fixed panel. A female hand from the left side of the panel slams down on the alarm clock.

FX: BEEP--

VOICE: --EVERY DAY WITH THIS--

VOICE: --I SAID WAKE UP!--

VOICE: --GONNA BE LATE--

3. Cut to Anderson in a small white, pristine bathroom. She looks into the bathroom mirror, brushing her teeth.

VOICE: --I’M ON TIME--

VOICE: --WE’LL SPEAK LATER--

VOICE: --I’M AWAKE!--

4. One of Anderson’s boots from her Judge uniform sits in the foreground of the panel as she pulls it on. In the background we can see a locker room.

VOICE: --DON’T FORGET--

VOICE: --I LOVE YOU--

VOICE: --YOU NEVER LISTEN--

5. Anderson, in full Judge uniform, rides towards us on her Lawmaster down the streets of Mega City One.

VOICE: --JUDGES ARE ALREADY THERE--

VOICE: --JUST ANOTHER RIOT--

VOICE: --SO TIRED OF THIS--

6. Tight on Anderson standing in the street with Dredd. Both of them are looking up at the block towering above them. Debris and missiles rain down towards them. In the background we can see other Judges and a cordon keeping out inquisitive civilians.

VOICE: --THEY’RE DOWN THERE--

VOICE: --I SEE ‘EM!--

VOICE: --GET READY--

CAPTION: FINALLY...

7. Wide panel. Tight on Anderson and Dredd as they burst through an apartment door somewhere high up in the block. Both of them have their Lawgiver's drawn and are firing wildly.

CAPTION: ...PEACE AT LAST.

FX: BLAM BLAM BLAM BLAM

Judge Anderson - Out to Lunch - Grant McLaughlin

1 - A wide shot of a huge cafeteria.  It's virtually empty, with only a few Psi-Judges sitting at tables or ordering food.

CAPTION (JUDGE ANDERSON) (1): The Cafeteria of the Grand Hall of Justice.

CAPTION (JUDGE ANDERSON) (2): You don't need to be a precog to know it's only people from Psi-Division who eat here.

2 - A look behind the cafeteria counter.  It's a labyrinth of computers, machines, wires, blinking lights, and miscellaneous mechanics that is difficul to make heads or tails of.  Let's say its appearance has more in common with a torture chamber than it does a kitchen.

CAPTION (JUDGE ANDERSON) (1): Years ago, the entire cafeteria staff was replaced with an intricate computer system.

CAPTION (JUDGE ANDERSON) (2): Done in the name of efficiency, the problem was that all the food the computer made was completely inedible.

3 - Judge Anderson stands at the front of the queue, ordering her food.  The cafeteria computer serves up a brick of black and brown goo that looks wholly unappetizing.  Judge Anderson wears a look of mild disgust on her face.

CAPTION (JUDGE ANDERSON) (1): And due to some programming glitch, what you ordered had no relation to what you ended up getting.

JUDGE ANDERSON: I'll have a grilled cheese.

CAF COMPUTER: Here is your [error: entry not found].

CAPTION (JUDGE ANDERSON) (2): There's literally no way to know what you'll be eating.

4 - Judge Anderson sits down at a table with some other Psi-Judges.  They look up to her questioningly.  She looks back with a face beaming excitement.

CAPTION (JUDGE ANDERSON) (1): What keeps everyone else away keeps us coming back day after day.

MISC JUDGE: What'd you get?

JUDGE ANDERSON: I have no idea.

CAPTION (JUDGE ANDERSON): When you can see the future and read people's minds, that tiny bit of unpredictability makes it worth eating this sorry excuse for food.

5 - Judge Anderson takes a bite of her brick of goo.  It's super gross and her face reflects this fact.  She tries her best not to gag.  The other Psi-Judges around the table are having similar difficulties with the awful food that they're trying to keep down, with many of them turning various shades of green.

CAPTION (JUDGE ANDERSON): ...most of the time.

Judge Anderson - Rebirth - Ben Rosenthal

1. A badly beaten and ageing Judge Anderson is slumped against a wall. An unseen figurepountspistol at her face. 

CAPTION (Judge Anderson)

I saw this coming.

2. A close up of Judge Anderson's badly swollen face.  She is looking up at the pistol through bruised eyelids.

CAPTION (Judge Anderson)

I saw it again and again. Played out in every single  way.

3. Same as Panel 2, however a brilliant white light now pours from Judge Anderson's eye sockets. 

CAPTION (Judge Anderson)

Except for this.

Judge Anderson – To Sleep Perchance To Dream – Shaun Richens.

PAGE ONE

5 PANELS.

1. A page wide panel. The sprawling, industrial mass of twisting metal that is Mega City One dominates the panel. A full moon hangs low in the sky. Pockets of smoke billow from the streets of this decaying metropolis. To the left hand side of the panel the Grand Hall of Justice stands as the only symbol of law in the city.

         CAPTION JUDGE ANDERSON:

The noise of four hundred million people is enough to keep anyone awake.

2. We pull in on the Grand Hall of Justice.

         NO COPY

3. Pulling in even tighter on the building, we are now outside of a window looking in on an apartment bedroom. This is JUDGE ANDERSONs home. We can see a figure lying in bed. It is ANDERSON.

         NO COPY.

4. We are inside her room now. Looking down from above at her in bed. Her eyes are open looking up at us. Her body modestly covered. Her hair flows around the pillows cushioning her head.

         CAPTION JUDGE ANDERSON:

         But it’s the noise in here that keeps me awake.

5. Same angle as 4. We have now pulled in closer on ANDERSON. Her face in pain, eyes closed tight. All around her head are psychic visions, Dark Judges killing innocents, Anderson sees herself in a coma, Visions of her fellow Judges torn and broken. All of this torments her mind.

         NO COPY.

Why Judge Anderson?

Sylvester Stallone.

Yep him. His portrayal of Judge Dredd in the 1995 film of the same name is the only experience I had had with the world in which this week’s character inhabits. So not a promising start then.  

However with Judge Anderson being the pick for the week, and the co-star in the new Dredd flick, I dove in to research mode.

So why Judge Anderson I hear you ask. Well I’ll tell you what I’ve learnt on my quest to understand her and it will become very clear why Judge Anderson.

It is her differences to Judge Joseph Dredd that make her a much richer and frankly more interesting character to work with than I had expected. In contrast to Dredd, Judge Anderson isn’t a cog in the judicial system of Mega-City One; she can see its flaws and tries to over come them. She is strong willed and persistent. Normally going against the grain of such a vast and all encompassing law enforcement agency would bring you only trouble, and well it does, however Anderson happens to be so damn good at her job, that consequences for her actions are never that bad. Also in comparison to the straightforward, somewhat cold Dredd, Anderson has a sense of humour; she can be warm and friendly, she forms real and personal relationships. She also shows fear, doubt and remorse. It is these human aspects of the character that make her so compelling, especially when you consider the very dark and lawless vision of the future in which she inhabits.

Furthermore Judge Anderson isn’t just your average Judge; she works as part of the Psi-Division. This department deals in supernatural phenomena, making use of Judges with a variety of psychic abilities.

So we are dealing with a complex, deep human character in a dangerous world in which she is the law. Then add to that her innate psychic abilities, and we have a recipe for some explosive scripts.

So welcome to Mega City One, I hope you enjoy your stay.

As always anyone who wants to join in the fun and play along at home can. Just write your one page script about this week’s character and post it in the comments below.