Margot the Inventor
by Rachael Smith
Margot
is a very determined fox cub who wants to be an inventor when she
grows up. Her best friend is a little flying robot called Scout that
Margot built herself. Margot wants to prove to the forest animals how
clever she is, and so is always looking for problems within the
forest that she can solve by building things. Her ideas are always
over-complicated and ambitious, and the forest animals always finds a
way to solve the problem themselves naturally, before Margot can put
her plans into action. Kids will learn a little bit about how animals
naturally work, e.g. beavers building dams, as well as being inspired
by Margot's weird and wonderful contraptions.
As
well as the inventing strips, some strips could explore Margot and
Scout's friendship, their adventures in the forest, and how these two
very different creatures relate to each other and help each other
through their troubles.
(please click the images to make them bigger)
Episode 1 script
Page ONE
Panel 1
Margot straight into
the camera, introducing herself. We can see a pretty woodland scene
behind her.
Margot: Hi! My name is
Margot! I'm a fox cub and I want to be an inventor when I grow up.
Panel 2
A closer, more cropped
shot of Margot, with a flat colour background. She has her paw on her
chest and her eyes closed.
Margot: I am very
clever.
Panel 3
The woodland scene in
back. Same shot as panel 1. Margot with her arm around Scout, a
small, round robot. She's gesturing to him with her other paw.
Scout's speechbubbles are differently shaped, with a different
typeface.
Margot: This is my
robot, 'Scout'.
Scout: Hullo.
Panel 4
Margot now has her
other paw over Scout's face.
Margot: He was my very
first invention.
Scout: Your first
invention that worked.
Margot:
Shush!
Panel
5
Camera
moves a little closer to Margot. She's got both paws out, as if about
to tell a long story, and is looking up in the corner of the panel.
Margot:
So, like, basically, Scout and I live in the forest and get up to
many zany antics such as-
Panel
6
The
sfx is going over the top of the panel. Margot & Scout underneath
looking hella shocked. As shocked as Scout can look anyway.
Sfx:
SCREAM!!
Panel
7
Scout:
Sounds like some zany antics are goin' down right now...
Margot:
Rats, I hadn't finished my introduction speech to our new readers! Oh
well.
Panel
8
Margot
suddenly looking very confident and excited.
Margot:
Scout – you know the drill!
Page
TWO
Panel
1
Scout
transforms into a flying hat for Margot – the door on each of his
sides have opened to reveal some handlebars, Margot is reaching up to
grab them.
Panel
2
He
lands on Margot's head, his propellor starts to go faster, making the
sfx.
Sfx:
VMMMMMMMMMMM!
Panel
3
They
fly off, high over the pretty woodland scenery, away from us.
Margot:
Wheeeeeeeee!
Sfx:
VMMMMMMMMMMM!
Panel
4
We're
below them now, we can see the clouds and sun. Margot is pointing at
something below.
Margot:
The scream came from the river – look there!
Panel
5
A
baby bear is trapped on a collapsing dam in the middle of a river. We
can't see Margot or Scout but can see their speechbubbles.
Margot:
The dam is falling in! That baby bear is in trouble!
Scout:
I'm landin' now, hang on.
Page
THREE
Panel
1
They
land with a flourish (from Margot).
Panel
2
The
baby bear is in the foreground, Margot and Scout in the background.
Margot is heroically pointing upwards as she speaks.
Baby
bear: Help!
Margot:
Don't worry, baby bear! I'll have a plan in a jiffy!
Panel
3
Margot
standing in an over-dramatic thinking pose with her eyes closed.
Beaver:
Excuse me-
Margot:
Not now – let me THINK! I am very
clever
after all!
Panel 4
V small panel of Margot with her eyes closed.
Panel 5
Same shot, but Margot's eyes have snapped open. She's grinning.
Margot: RIGHT.
Panel 6
Margot's plan – different colour palette to differentiate from the
'real' story. Margo's face is floating over the pictures as she
explains what her plan is. All these shots are a little like
blueprints, and side on to the action.
Margot: Step one! We assemble an anti-gravity ray which we'll mount
on a tripod at the edge of the river.
Panel 7
Margot: Step two! Scout hovers above the baby bear holding a large
fruit bowl (which we'll have to pinch from my Mum's house).
Panel 8
Margot: Step three! We fire the anti gravity ray! I hypothesise that
the baby bear will float upwards at 90° and be caught in Scout's
(Mum's) bowl.
Panel 9
Margot: Step four! Scout flies the bear to safety, we fire the
anti-gravity ray again, thus turning gravity the right way round –
the baby bear is now safe on dry land...
Panel 10
We're no longer in Margot's plan – the colour palette is back to
normal. Margot looks very smug and is pointing at herself.
Margot: All thanks to-
Page
FOUR
Panel 1
Long shot. Beavers are dotted about cheering, carrying logs, etc.
Margot: Huh!??
Panel 2
Beaver: I tried to tell you. Beavers are excellent at building –
and fixing – dams. It took us 30 seconds.
Panel 3
The baby bear is in the river. He's really happy, splashing around.
Bear: And I remembered I actually really like water!
Panel 4
Margot looking lost as the beavers mill around her.
Beaver: I'm surprised you didn't know these things already...
Beaver 2: Yeah...you must be sort of...not very clever?
Panel 5
Close up on Margot grinding her teeth.
Margot: Grrrrrrrrrrrr!
Panel 6
Margot and Scout are walking, towards us, away from the animals now.
Margot has her paws on her head, she's frustrated.
Margot:
How am I meant to get good at inventing things when this stupid
forest keeps on solving its own problems?
Scout: I'm sure somethin' will come up, Margot.
Panel 7
Margot and Scout in the background walking away from us. The baby
bear and the beavers are in the foreground having a lovely time
splashing around in the river.
Margot: It best do!
END.
Examples of finished comic pages (please click to make bigger):
Thought Bubble Anthology, published by Image Comics, 2015
Doctor Who: Tenth Doctor comic series, published by Titan Comics, 2014
Doctor Who: Tenth Doctor comic series, published by Titan Comics, 2015
The Rabbit, published by Avery Hill Publishing, 2015
The Rabbit, published by Avery Hill Publishing, 2015
Flimsy's Holiday, personal project, 2015
