Mr. Sandman (4 page)

 

Page
14
p
anel 1

 

The Dream Lord and the Stranger are seated at opposite ends of a long table, eating their dinner. The table is covered with plates of food, sumptuous delicacies and elaborate decorations. They are dressed as they were in the study.

 

Dream Lord: So, what do you think?

 

Stranger: A great many things, Kubla. I couldn't begin to unfurl them all now, though. It would be more, I fear, than you could comprehend.

 

 

 

Page
14
p
anel 2

 

Dream Lord: I meant, what do you think of the meal?

 

Stranger: I'm sorry, I misunderstood. My answer still applies, however.

 

 

 

Page
14
p
anel 3

 

Dream Lord: What?

 

Stranger: Did I lose you again? Please forgive me, Kubla, I get carried away. I simply mean that all food creates a host of thoughts in the eater.

 

 

 

Page
14
p
anel 4

 

Stranger: There are many physical sensations from food, both pleasant and unpleasant. There are comparisons, to food you have eaten in the past. Foods invoke memories, feelings, even, sometimes, mystical experiences.

 

 

 

Page
14
p
anel 5

 

Dream Lord: Did you like it, or not? That's all I want to know.

 

Stranger: Is that
all
you want to know? Have you finally given up wondering who I am?

 

 

 

Page
14
p
anel 6

 

Dream Lord: As a matter of fact, no. Have you finally decided to unveil yourself?

 

Stranger: In answer to your question, Kubla...yes. Yes, I have enjoyed the dinner.

 

 

 

Page
14
p
anel 7

 

Dream Lord: What's your problem? Why are you so evasive? If you have something to hide, then why have you brought yourself to my attention? Until now, I had no idea that you even existed.

 

Stranger: Oh, yes you did.

 

 

 

Page
14
p
anel 8

 

Dream Lord: What do you mean?

 

Higgins (entering the dining hall behind the Dream Lord): Excuse me, Dream Lord sir. Is the wine satisfactory?

 

 

 

 

Page 1
5 (9
panels)

 

Page
15
p
anel 1

 

Dream Lord (irritated, not expecting Riggins' question--or entrance): Of course it is, Riggins. If I had any qualms, you know I could correct them myself. The Bordeaux is fine.

 

Riggins: Very good, sir.

 

 

 

Page
15
p
anel 2

 

Dream Lord (turning back to the Stranger): Now, what were you saying about my knowing you before?

 

Stranger: You're putting words in my mouth! I said no such thing!

 

 

 

Page
15
p
anel 3

 

Dream Lord: Yes, you did. You said that I knew you existed, and...

 

Stranger: So, tell me about yourself, Kubla. Who are you? Where do you come from?

 

 

 

Page
15
p
anel 4

 

Dream Lord (quietly, subdued and angry): You know, this is beginning to annoy me

 

 

 

Page
15
p
anel 5

 

Stranger: Now, Kubla, is that any way to behave with a guest? Innocently and openly, I inquired about your past...and you snap off like a turtle. Now why should I trust you with any of
my
secrets, hmmm?

 

 

 

Page
15
p
anel 6

 

Dream Lord (still angry): Yes, you
are
a guest, aren't you? An
uninvited
guest, as I recall...perhaps unwelcome. Maybe, if you would confide your identity and purpose here, I would be more open as well.

 

Stranger: I never submit to blackmail, Kubla. My secrets have
much
greater value than yours.

 

 

 

Page
15
p
anel 7

 

Dream Lord: How so?

 

Stranger: Oh, check your bluebook, Adams! The prices are all listed, and
mine
are much higher. You won't swindle me, you horse trader!

 

 

 

Page
15
p
anel 8

 

Dream Lord (grim and threatening): Sid...maybe I should remind you. You're in
my
domain, now. If I tire of you, I can simply blink you away.

 

 

 

Page
15
p
anel 9

 

Stranger (smiling, cocky): I'd like to see you
try
...sleepyhead.

 

 

 

 

Page 1
6 (8
panels)

 

Page
16
p
anel 1

 

Closeup of the Dream Lord's stern, angry face. He looks nearly emotionless, but is boiling inside.

 

 

 

Page
16
p
anel 2

 

Another, identical closeup of the Dream Lord, as he calls out.

 

Dream Lord: Phelps? Come in here a moment, will you?

 

 

 

Page
16
p
anel 3

 

Phelps (entering the chamber): Sir? Funny, your ears must have been burning! We were just now discussing you, and Marietta pointed out how wonderfully wise you are!

 

Dream Lord: Oh, thank you, Phelps.

 

 

 

Page
16
p
anel 4

 

Closeup of the Dream Lord's eyes, as he blinks.

 

Dream Lord: By the way, I'm afraid we have to let you go, Phelps.

 

 

 

Page
16
p
anel 5

 

Phelps (as he is consumed by a brilliant burst of energy--the Dream Lord's attempt to intimidate the Stranger with a show of force): Sir? Couldn't I just give you my two weeks' notice?

 

 

 

Page
16
p
anel 6

 

Phelps is gone, leaving behind a pile of ash and a plume of smoke.

 

Stranger (laughing uproariously): Ha ha ha! Excellent, Kubla! Such an intimidating display!

 

 

 

Page
16
p
anel 7

 

Dream Lord: Now, I'll tell you my story. Yours will follow, I'm sure.

 

Stranger (still giddy): Oh yes, of course, mighty one! Ha ha ha ha!

 

 

 

Page
16
p
anel 8

 

Dream Lord: I'll conjure some images to help you follow along.

 

Stranger: How magnanimous, Kubla! Will there be Dolby stereo sound as well?

 

Dream Lord: My name is Emmett Adams, and I was born on Earth.

 

The Dream Lord motions over his shoulder, and a swirl of mist appears. There is an opening in the center of the mist, where the scenes he describes are shown. The first scene is a baby (Adams) in a crib in a hospital viewing room, surrounded by other babies.

 

 

 

 

Page 1
7 (7
panels)

 

Page
17
p
anel 1

 

Dream Lord: I was always quite intelligent, and grew up to become a researcher at UCLA, specializing in sleep disorders.

 

The memory image shows Adams as a young man in a lab coat, carrying a clipboard and checking equipment in a lab.

 

 

 

Page
17
p
anel 2

 

Dream Lord: The work fascinated me, and I gave it my total attention and devotion. Eventually, my efforts paid off: I came up with a device that could actually
tap into
people's dreams and project them
visually
on a screen!

 

Stranger: Oh, really?

 

The image this time shows Adams watching someone's dream on a big monitor screen. The subject of the monitoring sleeps on a couch beside him, with a strange apparatus strapped around his head.

 

 

 

Page
17
p
anel 3

 

Dream Lord: It was an unprecedented
breakthrough!
I worked feverishly to conclude my experiments and perfect the mechanism. When I finally revealed the Dream Screen, I would become the most prestigious and sought-after scientist in the
world!

 

Stranger: Not to mention the
wealthiest
, eh?

 

The image shows Adams laboring over parts of a dismantled monitor, working late at night with a single light glowing over his bench.

 

 

 

Page
17
p
anel 4

 

Dream Lord: Then, I was interrupted. Government agents stormed into my lab and dragged me and my equipment away. I was taken to Washington, D.C.

 

Adams is hauled, kicking and screaming, from his lab. Agents tear apart his Dream Screen device behind him.

 

 

 

Page
17
p
anel 5

 

Dream Lord: In a secret lab somewhere, my abduction was explained. The president of the United States was sick, submerged for
48 hours
in a deep sleep, nearly a
coma
. Nothing had been able to rouse him, and his life signs were growing steadily weaker. Doctors predicted he would
die
within a day.

 

Stranger: Incredible! So they brought you to help?

 

The image shows Adams talking with doctors over the President's comatose body.

 

 

 

Page
17
p
anel 6

 

Dream Lord: Yes. They believed that the President was trapped in a
Gordian Nightmare
, a dream sequence which somehow took control of his mind and would not release it. The nightmare would have to be severed by someone other than the dreamer himself.

 

The image shows the President's contorted, dreaming face.

 

 

 

Page
17
p
anel 7

 

Dream Lord: That someone was me. The doctors and scientists planned to connect my Dream Screen to apparatus developed by something called
Project
Goodnight
. In this way, they hoped I could
enter
the President's nightmare and
release
him from his coma!

 

Scientists fire a particle beam at Adams, who is dressed in a body suit studded with electrodes and devices.

 

 

 

 

Page 1
8 (8
panels)