LA REINA: THE TUTELAGE OF ESTER (concept script)
by Cici Tsumis
13 page comic script. Takes place in a dystopian world in around the renaissance era. There are some kingdoms that remain prosperous and wealthy by being barricaded from the rest of the world. Only few countries have bordered successfully. The protagonist lives in Spain or what was once Spain similar to the 1600s-1900s period.
(Revised 20 May 2019)
CHARACTER NOTES:
Adelyna Aguilar: The new queen of Spain. Want to help the people and tries to. Witnesses Lizbeth come out of the king’s room and says nothing about it.
Invisible King: Only two people living knows his face and name. Whispers to his advisor to speak for him.
Advisor Donasio: Was a mentor of the king and was the one who raised him.
General Joaquín: A loyal bodyguard of the king. The one the king trusts the most. Quiet and people shy. Wears a mask all the time.
Doctor Lucas Rivera: Wise, kind, and calm doctor.
Lizbeth Sorranto: The one who poisons the king. The queen’s maiden in waiting. She is ‘mute’.
Tamar: Israelí refugee who is also one of the Queen’s maiden in waiting but is labeled as a servant by others.
Emperor Archelaus Callesthenes: Currently helping countries and help form new countries like Israel to prosper and wants to form an alliance with Spain to help get the world out of the dystopian state.
Bartholomew: Emperor’s right hand.
ART NOTES:
Art style similar to an anime style. Clothing similar to the 1600s Spanish clothing. Greek clothing also. Israelí refugee female clothing. Below are concept sketches that I drew.
PAGE ONE— 4 panels
A wedding day at a church.
PANEL 1
small panel on the left top side. Creak sound of church doors opening. Angle of camera is below behind the bride, ADELYNA. We see edge of her wedding gown and shot of some people in the aisles.
SOUND EFFECT: Creeakk. (Like big old church doors)
PANEL 2
ADELYNA takes up most of the page. She is in the entryway of a church. Think of a big church in Europe. She is in a glamorous puffy over the top wedding dress. A veil is over her head so we don’t see her face. Just the basic shape of her head and hair. It’s daytime so the sun is shining blindingly behind her. There’s whispering of the guests like “oh look she’s here” and “oh my goodness she is so beautiful!” And stuff like that.
ADELYNA-CAPTION: Today is the day I wed…
PANEL 3
It could be on the bottom or narrow panel that only is about half page wide. It may look like she is stepping on that panel. It’s just a screen behind being silhouette of the king. The KING’S trusted advisor is waiting along with the priest. The priest is dressed in a bunch of robes, clean and embroidered. Church is located next to the Kingdom so it’s easy access for the king without going outside the kingdom.
PANEL 4
Small panel below third panel. Overlaps the edge or something like that. ADELYNA’S eyes looking upward. She is looking at the KING. She eyes are demonstrating her annoyance and displeasure. It looks like she is wasting her time and that’s one of her pet peeves.
ADELYNA-CAPTION: that moronic Invisible King.
PAGE TWO— 5 panels
ADELYNA is taking a stroll or is in her room. She witnesses a group of council men walking towards the throne. They stop and bow to her but then gossip like old women about the queen being a pretty doll and useless like the current king. She appears stoic but her hands are clenched. The only part showing that she is angry at their words.
PANEL 1
sky. Maybe some birds. Slight part of castle in the panel. Vertical panel.
ADELYNA-CAPTION: And it’s been 3 months since then…
PANEL 2
ADELYNNA is taking a stroll but we still cannot see her face. She is taking a stroll in the kingdom’s garden, Jardín de Edén. Her two maidens are behind her, facing down. Speech bubbles or onomatopoeia of laughter is heard opposite of where she is heading towards to.
PANEL 3
Behind of ADELYNNA. Councilmen are heading towards her. And eventually one notices her and nudges others.
COUNCILMAN: I’m telling you! I —
PANEL 4
The councilmen bow down to her as she passes by. Her stoic face can be seen or at least half of it.
COUNCILMEN: Su Majestad.
PANEL 5
In the background, the councilmen smirk and gossip not quietly about the only upside of being the useless king is marrying a beauty like her. ADELYNNA clenches her gown. We don’t see her face.
COUNCILMAN 1: Such a bella doll.
COUNCILMAN 2: Yes. The only thing that I envy of that useless king.
COUNCILMAN 3: Too bad. We would appreciate her better than him. Haha..
PAGE THREE— 8 panels
ADELYNA and her narration? She thinks they are despicable. Her two maidens stay quiet, looking down. ADELYNA thinks that they should fear the KING instead of mocking them. But in the other she agrees that the KING has only stayed hidden without doing anything meaningful. And that she herself hasn’t seen his face.
PANEL 1
ADELYNA continues walking forward with her head held high, her two maidens following nervously behind her. Long horizontal panel.
ADELYNA-CAPTION: They should cower down and fear the king.
PANEL 3
Passing other servants that bow them. ADELYNA’s back view as she approaches them. Her head not in panel.
ADELYNA-CAPTION: How dare they…
PANEL 4
ADELYNA’S front view as she passes them. Her face is not viewed. Dark faces with mocking smiles are on the servants.
ADELYNA-CAPTION: ridicule their own king….
PANEL 5
ADELYNA stops abruptly. Her face is not shown. Maidens surprised.
PANEL 6
ADELYNA turns to look at the KING’S quarters. Her back view.
ADELYNA-CAPTION: Then again…
PANEL 7
Small panel and close shot of the KING’S quarters.
PANEL 8
ADELYNA’s front view. She is looking at the KING’S quarters. But darkness is half of the panel. As if she is about to be consumed.
ADELYNA-CAPTION: Am I even married to the KING of Spain?
PAGE FOUR— 7 panels
ADELYNNA tries to help the people, only to be reprimanded. A small subtle flashback is shown.
PANEL 1
ADELYNA notices a servant with a barrel full of food waste being thrown out to the pigs. Some of the food look fresh.
PANEL 2
A pastry catches her attention. It’s a half eaten Flores manchegas(flores de semana santa) a Spanish pastry.
PANEL 3
The vision blurs a bit. The same pastry. But a child’s hand is in the panel, holding the pastry to another child. This child is in a poor state of clothes and has dirty scarred hands. Just the hands are shown.
PANEL 4
Side view. It’s a little girl with a pretty fancy dress and a bonnet. Her hair is in a long braid. She is offering the pastry to the poor child. It’s a boy with dark unruly hair that covers his eyes.
PANEL 5
The boy is about to take the pastry from the girl’s hand. When the vision disburses because ADELYNA’S attendant calls to her attention.
TAMAR: My Reina?
PANEL 6
She turns to both her lady attendants. They both look worried. LIZBETH signs: Are you ok?
PAGE FIVE –
ADELYNA ignores her maidens and goes to take action.
PANEL 1
ADELYNA walks away from the two maidens and goes up the servant.
PANEL 2
She tells a servant to pack the extra food in a carriage. And tells knight to be ready to deliver food to the outside.
ADELYNA: You there! I would like you to package this food properly for me.
ADELYNA: And you there! Please prepare a cart to deliver this food to the outside.
PANEL 3
Later, the same knight tells her that it was a success and that the people received it joyfully.
PANEL 4
ADVISOR DONASIO comes in and scolds her for doing an absurd thing without even his approval. The King’s approval.
ADVISOR: My Reina! What on earth did you just commit?
ADVISOR: Why are you taking our precious goods to the heathens of the outside?
PANEL 5
He becomes flustered at her boldness and is about to say something else. Fortunately doctor comes to interrupt.
ADELYNA: Those ‘goods’ were about to be thrown to the rats. I believe I did something meaningful to contribute the good of the kingdom unlike you sir.
ADVISOR: W-why? H-h-how dare-
DR. LUCAS: Advisor Donasio, I believe the KING would like to see you. He said something about a council meeting?
PANEL 6
ADVISOR DONASIO goes running to the KING’s chambers. ADELYNA and DR. LUCAS watch him. Their dark silhouettes shown.
ADVISOR: Ah! Right! This is great importance!
PANEL 7
DR. LUCAS admires her good heart but subtley warns her to not get caught into the ADVISOR DONASIO’S blacklist. ADELYNA’s eyes widen at the DOCTOR’s meaning.
DR. LUCAS: I admire your stand, my Reina. However, I’d be wary of that advisor.
PAGE SIX —
A messenger comes rushing through the kingdom doors with a message from their enemy. ADVISOR DONASIO asks what’s the ruckus and to see the document. Exclaims of a possible alliance.
PANEL 1
ADELYNA is on the balcony. She is surprised out of her thoughts. There is a shout below. Where the entrance is at.
MESSENGER: A message! From the Empire of Greece!
PANEL 2
The messenger is waving the scroll in the air while cupping his other hand around his mouth.
MESSENGER: A message written and sealed by the Emperor himself!
PANEL 3
ADVISOR DONASIO is coming towards the MESSENGER. A few councilmen from before are behind him.
ADVISOR: What’s this you say young lad?!
PANEL 4
ADVISOR rips the scroll off the MESSENGER’s hands and opens it right then and there.
MESSENGER: A message from the Emperor of Greece, sir.
PANEL 5
ADVISOR exclaims and the councilmen are at first spooked but then agree eagerly.
ADVISOR: The Emperor wants to create an alliance with us!
COUNCILMAN #1: An alliance?
COUNCILMAN #2: That’s excellent news!
PANEL 6
Side view. ADELYNA is pondering at the news.
CAPTION: An alliance? With Greece? Our enemy?
PAGE SEVEN— 5 panels
It’s night time. ADELYNA cannot sleep and decides to take a stroll through the Jardin de Eden. She thinks about the EMPEROR and wonders why he wants an alliance. Could the resources be running out? Would he want to help the people outside the borders? Would the KING want to?
PANEL 1
The moon is gleaming through the window of ADELYNA’s room. But we see the bed is empty.
PANEL 2
Footsteps are walking through the halls.
CAPTION: An alliance…
PANEL 3
We are at the entrance of Jardin de Eden. The back silhouette of ADELYNA is shown.
CAPTION: Would that cowardly KING agree to it?
PANEL 4
A white rose is being caressed.
CAPTION: Are the Emperor’s intentions sincere?
PANEL 5
Before the petals are slowly becoming plucked.
CAPTION: Or is it a trap to steal the remaining resources we have?
PAGE EIGHT— 5 panels
She hears a commotion coming from the KING’s chambers. She goes near and almost runs into LIZBETH. ADELYNA is confused to see her there. LIZBETH leaves urgingly. She hears the ADVISOR yelling and she goes closer to the chambers.
PANEL 1
ADELYNA hears a commotion. She is surprised by the noise in the middle of the night.
SFX: CRASH!!
PANEL 2
Backview. It is dark. She goes near the corner, towards the path that will take her to the noise.
PANEL 3
ADELYNA nearly bumps into someone in a hood. Person falls down.
PANEL 4
Behind the fallen person. Their hood fell. ADELYNA is shocked to see who it is.
ADELYNA: Wh-what? L-Li-
PANEL 5
LIZBETH puts her hood back on and flees. ADELYNA has her hand towards the direction that LIZBETH runs off. ADVISOR DONASIO is yelling in the background.
PANEL 6
Zoom in to the symbol on her cloak. This symbol is meaningful and represents the symbol of the infamous fallen rebellion that started years ago.
ADELYNA-CAP: That- That symbol?
ADVISOR: GUARDIAS! GUARDIAS!!
PAGE NINE— 6 panels
ADVISOR DONASIO is outside out, yelling MY KING! Your highness! Guards!The KING has been poisoned! DOCTOR goes rushing inside with his supplies. ADVISOR notices ADELYNA. He asks ADELYNA if she saw anyone, she is quiet for a bit then she replies no.
PANEL 1
ADVISOR DONASIO is right outside of the open chambers of the KING. He is hysterical and pulling on his own clothes.
ADVISOR: Guardias! Go look for the assassin! Where is the doctor?!
PANEL 2
DR. LUCAS comes rushing inside with his supplies. And ADVISOR DONASIO urgently tells him to go inside.
ADVISOR: DR.! DR.! HURRY INSIDE!
PANEL 3
ADELYNA is near the doorway and confused of what is happening. ADVISOR DONASIO notices her.
PANEL 4
ADVISOR grabs her on her shoulders. He is emotionally unaware of how inappropriate he is acting towards the queen. ADELYNA is shocked of his touch.
ADVISOR: Mi Reina! Mi Reina! Do you know what has happened?! Have you seen anyone suspicious around?!
PANEL 5
ADELYNA stays quiet for a while (looking unsure).
PANEL 6
ADELYNA looks down and eventually replies.
ADELYNA: … No I have not.
PAGE TEN— 6 panels
ADVISOR wails for a bit then targets his anguish toward the GENERAL. DR. LUCAS comes out a few moments later. advisor asks how is he? Critical but still alive.
PANEL 1
ADVISOR slowly lets the queen go. He looks a bit defeated.
ADVISOR: I see…
PANEL 2
GENERAL JOAQUIN comes in. He is coming out of the shadows. He has wavy hair into a low ponytail. The length of his hair is a little beneath his shoulders. He has a white mask on with the royal seal marked on his forehead. The only general in this whole country with such. And is why he is automatically recognizable. He is wearing dark clothing with some armor on him.
PANEL 3
Both ADELYNA and ADVISOR are looking at him. ADVISOR seems to be angry.
ADVISOR: ….you…
PANEL 4
ADVISOR yells and throws a torch at the GENERAL.
ADVISOR: This is all your fault! Where were you when the KING needed you most!! Where?!!
PANEL 5
GENERAL JOAQUIN was about to block ADVISOR’S hits. DR.LUCAS yells in the background.
DR. LUCAS: That’s enough!
PANEL 6
DR. LUCAS in the panel only.
DR. LUCAS: The KING is alive. He is in critical condition but still alive. Only time will tell if he will be able to recover.
PAGE ELEVEN— 4 panels
ADVISOR wails and says what they are going to do. What if he dies. The EMPEROR is coming in three days, etc. DR. LUCAS tries to calm him down. ADELYNA notices GENERAL JOAQUIN trembling and going for his sword.
PANEL 1
Full view of the front chamber entrance. Full figures of ADELYNA, DR. LUCAS, ADVISOR DONASIO, and GENERAL JOAQUIN. ADVISOR grabs his head. He is panicking.
ADVISOR: What are we to do?! Will the King live? Will he recover?
PANEL 2
DR. LUCAS puts his hand on ADVISOR’s shoulder.
ADVISOR: What are we to do? The Emperor will come in three days!
PANEL 3
ADELYNA looks anxiously at the advisor and doctor. Their silhouettes only.
PANEL 4
ADELYNA then notices the GENERAL’s hand twitching close to his sword.
PAGE TWELVE— 5 panels
GENERAL JOAQUIN is about to commit suicide for failing to protect the KING. But ADELYNA yells stop, stopping him and tells him and the ADVISOR that if they truly wants to help the KING then they need to do as she says. ADVISOR tries to but in. But ADELYNA commands them as their REINA OF SPAIN.
PANEL 1
GENERAL takes out his sword. Top view of the general. Sword in the air.
PANEL 2
Extreme close up of ADELYNA’s eye. Her pupil reflects what the GENERAL is about to do. GENERAL turned the sword in his hand towards himself.
ADELYNA: Wait! Stop!
PANEL 3
ADELYNA is clutching her hands into fist. Her back side. Down view. Look up. GENERAL, DR. LUCAS, and ADVISOR pause and look at her.
ADELYNA: Everyone, I command you stop!
PANEL 4
ADELYNA is glaring. Waist up.
ADELYNA: I know we have a crisis at our hands but you need to listen to me right now.
ADVISOR: What do you mean-
PANEL 5
Close up of ADELYNA’s fired up eyes.
ADELYNA: As your Reina, you will obey my command.
PAGE THIRTEEN—
ADELYNA introduces herself to the EMPEROR ARCHELAUS and also introduces her husband, GENERAL JOAQUIN as KING of Spain. She signs under his palm and he speaks what she tells him to say.
PANEL 1
New day. Birds are flying in the air. Sun is shining bright.
PANEL 2
EMPEROR ARCHELAUS is waiting in the throne room. He is standing. Quarter view.
PANEL 3
ADELYNA comes in. Waist down silhouette. EMPEROR turns around.
ADELYNA: Emperor Archelaus, forgive us for making you wait.
EMPEROR: That’s no problem at all.
PANEL 4
ADELYNA is smiling and holding the GENERAL’s arm. But it’s just her in view. She has an extravagant dress on.
ADELYNA: As a show of our trust in your excellency and this alliance between us…
PANEL 5
GENERAL is posing as THE KING OF SPAIN. We finally see the his face. He has almost shoulder length wavy hair. Look at sketch from page 1.
ADELYNA: The King is meeting you personally whereas very few has barely caught a glimpse.
Cici Tsumis 
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