Cornspike by Carly Shooster
Page 1:
Panel 1: It reads, “Buenos Aires, 1802” in white text set against a landscape of Buenos Aires at sunset. It is mountainous and forested with tropical plants in the foreground. There are palm trees and the sunset illuminates the Rio de la Plata estuary in the background.
Panel 2: Boats float serenely on a dock with buildings behind.
Panel 3: Only the boots are visible of someone walking along the water on an uneven, cobblestone street.
Page 2:
The boots belong to a pregnant woman. She screams, “Aaghhh” as she walks.
Page 3:
Panel 1: An onlooker observes from a balcony. She remarks, “Could that be…? No… But she is headed for the abbey.”
Panel 2: The pregnant woman screams again, “Aghhhh!” Another onlooker scolds the woman. Trembling text reads, “Quiet down, you’ll wake our children!”
Panel 3: The woman continues walking.
Panel 4: The woman grunts, “Achgrrrr.”
Panel 5: Another onlooker on the balcony says, “Poor dear…”
Panel 6: An older man watches silently from the balcony.
Page 4:
Panel 1: The pregnant woman continues walking through the town.
Panel 2: She stops in another wave of agony, “Nnngghhh…”
Panel 3: She looks on through vegetation at the abbey illuminated by the setting sun.
Page 5:
Panel 1: A nun sits reading in the window. A voice says, “h-help, please.”
Panel 2: The nun looks up from her book. The voice says, “HELP ME!”
Panel 3: The voice is from the pregnant woman. She yells, “SISTER CAMILA! ABBESS MARIA!”
Panel 4: The nun drops her book in surprise. She thinks, “It can’t be… Cornspike?!”
Panel 5: While rushing down the stone stairs, the nun orders, “LET HER IN!”
Panel 6: Two other nuns look onwards at the door. There are frantic sounds of knocking. The rushing nun orders, “Open the door! Now!”
Page 6:
Panel 1: Two young nuns appear distressed. One with curly hair says, “Sister Camila, we just think-” The other with long, straight hair, blurts, “Ella es una bruja!”
Panel 2: Sister Camila replies, “Get your superstitious tails out of the way, girls!”
Panel 3: Only Sister Camila’s hands are visible as she opens the door to see the pregnant woman. Her face is twisted in pain as she greets the nun. “Long time-no see-errggh-Sister Camila.”
Page 7:
Panel 1: In the light of a chandelier, the two young nuns beg, “How can you let her in here?!” The pregnant woman remarks, “Ahh! I’m in too much pain to hex them, Sister.” Sister Camila orders, “Go get the Abbess, girls!”
Panel 2: The young nun with curly hair tugs at the other’s arm. She says, “Let’s go. Come on, Luica.”
Panel 3: The Abbess, an older woman, appears with a lantern and says, “dead God in heaven… Cornspike?!”
Page 8:
Panel 1: Sister Camila, the Abbess, and Cornspike walk up the stone stairs. Sister Camila reassures Cornspike, “Come now, all will be well.” Cornspike screams again, “Aghh!”
Panel 2: As they walk through the door to a room, Sister Camila comforts Cornspike. “This will be over in no time, dear.”
Panel 3: A large candle illuminates a desk. The light of a lantern adds to the illumination as the Abbess places it on the desk.
Panel 4: The Abbess wrings out a wet cloth. Sister Camila stands with Cornspike, who sits on a chair in preparation.
Panel 5: Above the illuminated desk with the candle and lantern are shelves with myriad bottles.
Panel 6: In front of a mortar and pestle are various herbs in shallow dishes.
Panel 7: The candle diminishes as time passes.
Panel 8: The Abbess holds a bowl of water and looks on at Cornspike, grunting in pain as Sister Camila comforts her.
Panel 9: The candle continues diminishing as time passes.
Page 9:
Panel 1: The Abbess says, “We thought we’d never see you again.” Sister Camila interjects, “Oh hush, Maria. Just push, dear.” Cornspike looks at Abbess Maria indignantly.
Panel 2: Seen from above, Cornspike lies in anguish. Sister Camila says, “Push! Push! Push!” Abbess Maria says, “Cornspike, dear, we need to know.”
Panel 3: A large oval panel centered on the page. Sister Camila holds Cornspike as she gives birth. “Just two more pushes! BIG ONES!” Abbess Maria asks, “I’m sorry to ask you right now. I know this is painful, but we must know.”
Panel 4: As Abbess Maria delivers the baby, she says, “Camila and I are old. The abbey needs an heir.” Sister Camila scolds, “MARIA! FOCUS!”
Panel 5: Abbess Maria in profile asks, “Will you stay?” Cornspike replies with a scowl on her face, “Is this thing out of me, yet?”
Page 10:
Panel 1: Abbess Maria holds the baby. Sister Camila looks on fondly and says, “May God bless you, little one.” Abbess Maria says, “Greetings, new, small life.”
Panel 2: Cornspike says while resting on the bed, “Abbess, Sister Camila, I’m sorry. I can’t stay.” Someone replies, “But look at her! She’s precious!”
Panel 3: The baby cries, “gaaaaa.” Abbess Maria implores, “Rest. Stay the night, at least.”
Panel 4: A close up of the baby’s eyes. Cornspike’s voice, “I’m sorry, little one. I can’t be your mother.”
Panel 5: Cornspike sits up.
Panel 6: Cornspike stands up.
Page 11:
Panel 1: Cornspike walks away from the abbey under a starry sky. Abbess Maria’s voice, “What will we do, Camila?
Panel 2: Sister Camila looks at the baby and says, “We will call her Pepita.” Abbess Maria holds the baby and says, “You know I mean about the abbey.”
Panel 3: “And Cornspike leaving again. How do we protect her from here?” Cornspike continues walking along a path away from the abbey and into darkness.
Panel 4: Abbess Maria says, “Where does she go? How will she manage? How will we?”
Panel 5: Cornspike’s face looks concerned as she looks back toward the abbey. Sister Camila’s voice, “Your head is spinning. Rest. All will be well. Pepita will save us.”
Panel 6: Abbess Maria’s face, “God above. Don’t let her die.”