In the first part, JILL TRENT and her friend DAISY SMYTHE are visiting a colleague, DR. WILLIAM MOULTON MARSTON, a psychologist who has done important work in developing the polygraph, (as well as being the creator of Wonder Woman, but we don't specifically mention that).
Dr. Marston isn't in at the moment, but Jill and Daisy meet his wife, ELIZABETH and their friend OLIVE. Suddenly, a couple of THUGS barge into the house. They have been sent to grab an expert on lie detectors. Jill claims that she is "W.M. Marston" in order to protect the others and agrees to go with the thugs, but insists she be allowed to take some equipment from her car along with her.
Daisy is worried, but Jill assures her that she has a plan...
And now, the thrilling conclusion::
PAGE
THREE
PANEL 1
ACTION: Inside the THUG’s car. THUG #2 is driving. Behind him, in the back seat, we see JILL,
with a blindfold over her eyes. THUG #1
is seated next to her with his gun drawn, just in case she decides to get
funny.
1 JILL: So, why do you palookas need a polygraph
expert anyway?
2 THUG #1: You’ll find out soon enough!
3 THUG #2: I thought she was an expert on lie
detectors!
4 THUG #1: Shaddap, dope!
PANEL 2
ACTION: Inside a warehouse. JILL’s blindfold has been removed, and the
THUGS are escorting her – none too gently – into the presence of BOSS KREZNIK,
a tall, broad-shouldered gangster in an expensive, well-tailored suit. KREZNIK addresses his THUGS angrily.
5 JILL: (thought
balloon): My, my! Boss Kreznik! He’s wanted for questioning about that bank
robbery last week!
6 KREZNIK: What in blazes? I told you lugs to get Doc Marston!
7 THUG #1: This is Marston, boss!
PANEL 3
ACTION: JILL faces KREZNIK, putting up a bold front. KREZNIK eyes her skeptically, clenching a
cigar in his teeth.
8 JILL: I usually publish under a male
pseudonym, because some people don’t think a woman can know anything
about science. If you agree,
you can take me home and find another expert.
9 KREZNIK: Keep yer shirt on, toots!
PANEL 4:
ACTION: Close up of KREZNIK, grim and
threatening. He jerks his thumb in the
direction a group of other THUGS standing behind him.. (Two of them we’ve met; there is also a
HANDSOME one and a WEASELLY-FACED one)
10 KREZNIK: It’s like this. Last week, my boys pulled a bank job and
took 300 grand. Thing is, 50
grand of that went missing! Someone’s
been skimming my take!
11 KREZNIK: Naturally, they all deny it. So I want you to hook ‘em up to a lie
detector and see which ones are telling the truth!
PANEL 5
ACTION: JILL turns to head toward the exit. KREZNIK smirks, standing with his arms
folded.
12 JILL: I’ll just need to get my equipment. I had your boys bring it in their car…
13 KREZNIK: No need for that, toots!
PANEL 6
ACTION: KREZNIK gestures proudly to a polygraph
machine set up behind some wooden crates.
(I included some links to visual references at the end, but since real
polygraphs are rather small, we might want to make this bigger and more
intimidating; say, the size of a photocopier).
JILL puts her hand to her cheek in dismay.
14 KREZNIK: I already got the lie detector! I had my boys swipe it from the D.A.’s
office this morning!
PANEL 7
ACTION: JILL explaining thing, trying to be as
persuasive and logical as possible.
KREZNIK reacts with anger and frustration
15 JILL: You have to understand; a polygraph
doesn’t actually detect lies; it detects changes in the body,
like increased heart rate or sweaty palms, which often accompany lying. But those changes could simply mean that the
subject is nervous!
16 KREZNIK: Then that gizmo’s useless!
16 JILL: Not quite!
I can modify your polygraph so that it analyzes the parts of the brain
where lies are created!
PAGE
FOUR
PANEL 1
ACTION: JILL is crouching next to the polygraph,
connecting it to a couple other devices which are in boxes so that their exact
purpose is not clear.
1 CAPTION: Soon…
2 JILL: (thought
balloon): What a load of banana
oil! But they bought it!
3 JILL: (thought): Hooking up this wire recorder to
the polygraph should provide some nice evidence for the police – If
I can get out of here!
4 JILL: (thought): I just hope my other gadget works!
PANEL 2
ACTION: JILL has finished tinkering with the
polygraph. She gestures towards the
chair next to it, inviting KREZNIK to have a seat. KREZNIK stands with his arms folded and seems
amused.
5 JILL: Before I test your men, I want to calibrate
the machine; have a different person make some truthful and false
statements to make sure it’s operating properly.
6 JILL: Would you like to do the honors?
7 KREZNIK: Ha hah!
I have a better idea, toots!
PANEL 3
ACTION: Close-up of JILL, looking shocked
8 KREZNIK: (off-panel): You can be the guinea pig!
PANEL 4
ACTION: Similar to the splash panel on Page 1,
although perhaps a bit less dramatic.
JILL is sitting in the seat next to the polygraph; (a regular chair, not
an electric chair). A cuff is around her
arm to measure her blood pressure, and a band is around her head with
electrodes attached to the machine. She
looks apprehensive. A WEASELLY-looking
thug is monitoring the polygraph needle.
KREZNIK stands over JILL, holding a microphone attached to the machine.
9 KREZNIK: Let’s see how this works. We’ll start off with a simple question. What is your name?
PANEL 5
ACTION: Close-up of JILL in the chair. Her eyes are
shut and her brow furrowed in concentration.
10 JILL: My name… my name is… Jill Trent!
PANEL 6:
ACTION: KREZNIK is startled. He did not expect her to say that! In the foreground, WEASEL watches the line
drawn by the polygraph needle spike.
11 KREZNIK: What?
The Science Sleuth?
12 WEASEL: No, Boss!
Lookit the needle! The
machine says she’s lying!
PANEL 7
ACTION: Tight close-up of JILL allowing herself a
sphinx-like smile.
13 JILL: (thought
balloon): Actually the machine says
I’m nervous! But since they think
I was lying, now I can relax!
PANEL 8
ACTION: Scene in the Marston living room. DAISY is operating a RADIO SET while ELIZABETH and OLIVE stand
around her.
14 CAPTION: Meanwhile, at the Marston home:
15 RADIO: (spiky
radio balloon): Ha ha. That’s right.
Really, I’m Doctor Marston.
You kidnapped me to help you recover the money you stole from the
bank.
16 RADIO: (radio
balloon): I know all that! Let’s get on with it!
17 DAISY: I don’t know how Jill set up that radio
transmitter right under their noses, but if she can stay on the air, I can pin-point
their location!
PAGE
FIVE
PANEL 1
ACTION: Now a HANDSOME THUG with a Clark Gable
mustache is in the seat hooked up to the polygraph. The polygraph needle is again spiking as HANDSOME
flirts with JILL, who is seated by the machine and holding the microphone. Behind them, KREZNIK is pulling his hair in
frustration
1 CAPTION: Back at the Warehouse
2 HANDSOME: Sure, doll, I’d be glad to tell you about
the bank job. You doin’ anything later?
3 KREZNIK: Nuts!
This isn’t getting us anywhere! I
think you’re stalling for time!
PANEL 2
ACTION: THUGS #1&2 burst into the room,
frightened. KREZNIK is so startled he
drops the cigar from his teeth. In the
foreground, we see JILL in close-up, smiling!
4 THUG #2: Boss!
The cops just showed up!
This place is surrounded!
PANEL 3
ACTION: KREZNIK is in the process of pulling a gun on
JILL, but she clocks him with a sock to the jaw.
5 KREZNIK: You did this somehow, you filthy
little --
6 KREZNIK: Ow!
7 JILL: Never underestimate a scientist – Or
a woman, “Toots”!
PANEL 4
ACTION: The POLICE are here and arresting KREZNIK and
his THUGS and putting them in handcuffs.
A POLICE DETECTIVE, dapperly-dressed, handsome, but a bit condescending,
chats with JILL as DAISY stands nearby.
8 DETECTIVE: This was one of your crazier stunts,
Trent! Broadcasting the crook’s
confessions on the Police car radio band!
9 JILL: It got you here, didn’t it?
PANEL 5
ACTION: A more intimate panel of JILL talking to
DAISY. DAISY laughs.
10 JILL: I’m sorry I put you through all that worry,
Daisy. It must have been terrible
waiting to hear from me.
11 DAISY: That’s all right, Jill! I’ve thought of a way you can make it up
to me!
12 DAISY: Y’see, while I was waiting, I was reading
some of Dr. Marston’s funnybooks…
PANEL 6
ACTION: Circular panel, suggesting an “iris
out”. Close-up of JILL and DAISY, not
directly facing each other, but glancing in each other’s direction. JILL has a look of surprise on her face. DAISY has a mischievous smile, and she holds
a coiled lasso in her hands.
13 DAISY: You were right; he does have some
interesting ideas!
14 CAPTION: Fin
