Noirvember - Old School

1 – A young man is exiting a convenience store. It’s late at night. He looks nervous and uncomfortable. He holds his jacket awkward – he’s doing a bad job of hiding the various sundries he’s stolen (some of them might be poking out and visible to the reader - nothing high value, chips, candy bars, and the like). In the background, an old man (think kindly grandpa-esque) fishes through a coin purse in front of a bored store clerk (maybe flipping through a magazine). If it’s visible, the old man’s item is very inexpensive (pack of gum type of thing). While the clerk is paying no attention, the old mine might be looking back towards the kid.

OLD MAN: I must have a dime…

2 – The young man is walking away quickly from the store. A bag of chips falls (has fallen?) from his coat and trails behind him. He doesn’t notice.

NO COPY

3 – Having turned a corner, the young man leans back against the wall, exhaling in relief (maybe have a little puff of breath coming from his mouth)

NO COPY

4 – Repeat panel, but someone calls from off-panel, causing the young man to open his eyes in surprise / fear.

OLD MAN (off-panel): Excuse me…

5 – The old man is there, holding the bag of chips out to the young man. The young man is confused, but trying to put on a brave / aggressive face.

OLD MAN: I think you dropped these.

YOUNG MAN: So what?

OLD MAN: So I think you’ve got potential.

6 – The old man opens his jacket to reveal some stolen goods within (in pockets, liner, etc) – his items are much higher value (cigarettes maybe?). The young man is surprised / doesn’t know what to do with this new information.

OLD MAN: And I’m going to teach you how to do it right.