Tom
Where are my manners?
My name is Tom, Tom P.
Barbara's one, and only true boyfriend.
James
(Tom P…If I remember correctly, he was Barbara's only ex that hasn't been killed yet…)
I guess it's a pretty safe assumption that you killed all those men?
Tom
Correct!
Barbara
Tho-Tom!? That was you!?
But-but How could you?!
I trusted you!
Tom
Aw, shucks
Do you really mean it?
Trust is an important foundation for any healthy relationship!
James
Murdering your ex's boyfriends isn't what normally sets the tone for a relationship; Neither does holding them hostage at knifepoint.
Tom
SHUT THE HELL UP!
WHAT DO YOU KNOW!
WE'RE IN LOVE!
THAT'S ALL THAT MATTERS!
Besides, I'm just doing this until I can kill you!
Tom points the knife at James
Barbara
But…But why are you doing this?
We stopped dating seven years ago…
Tom
I know.
Seven years.
Four months.
Twenty-one days.
I've counted every second since you left me
I didn't know what I was gonna do with myself when you left me…
But, that's when he appeared before me!
James
He?
Who's he?
Do you mean your Manifesto?
Tom
A manifesto…
Is that what this is called?
Well, no.
He was like an angel, sent down to lift my spirit out of the depths of despair…
And he gave me this power.
He told me:
Mysterious man
There we go
Don't be sad, rejoice
For you have been chosen by me to lead the world into this new era of prosperity.
With this power, all that you wish for shall be yours…
Tom
And so, I took his words to heart, and decided to claim my one and only true love.
But…
Then I found out she had found herself some new man to play around with…
At first, I thought she'd come to her senses and leave him…
But no…
YOU JUST WOULDN'T STOP!!!
And so…
Panels show Tom approaching the man from the back
I decided to do something about that, using my new power…
The manifesto crawled itself into the man's back, and snapped it in two!
Back in the kitchen, the Manifesto reveals itself, crawling partially out of James' back
This is my Manifesto, I call it: Cygnus!
James
(What in the-?)
(When did it attach itself to my back?)
(Wait, don't tell me!)
(That pain in my back when I entered the bedroom…)
(He also called me Barbara's new boy toy…he must assume that I'm her boyfriend!)
Tom
Cygnus has the ability to attach itself to someone's spine.
It can then stay with them until I decide to kill them.
I snap their back like a twig.
Once, I followed a guy for a month straight, just waiting…
He was a great guy overall, which is why I couldn't bring myself to kill him immediately.
I think his name was Bobby? Or something like that…
James
Robert…
Robert Martinez…
19, a medical student…
(You…you…monster!)
(You couldn't even have the decency to remember your victims' names!?)
Tom
Yeah! That's the one!
And you wanna know why I feel comfortable telling you all this?
That's because I know you won't be walking out of this room…
Barbara! You didn't get the message when I killed your boyfriends behind closed doors!
But maybe if I kill this one right in front of you, then you'll have no choice but to come back to me!
James
(Did he say he snapped their backs in half?)
(If it was something that would stab me, or if it was next to him…)
(Then I'd be able to shoot him before he got too close to me)
(What do I do?)
(It's embedded itself into my spine!)
(That must be what this back pain has been!)
(Think! Keep a cool head, and think!)
(There must be something you can do!)
(For now, I've just got to keep him talking…)
James
That man that you said gave you this power…
What if I were to tell you that I know where to find him?
Tom
Really?!
You know where I could find him?!
James
(Of course not, but, I'll say anything until I can come up with a plan to save Barbara and myself)
Of course I do!
He's actually in this city,
He's a real charitable gentleman!
He's been going around town helping people by giving them Manifestos, just like you and I
Tom
Yep!
That's just the kind of person he is!
Of course he would be helping guys like us!
Wait…
Did you say you have a Manifesto too?
James
(I wish I didn't have to reveal my ace like this…)
(But I have to do everything I can to save us!)
Of course I do…
He brings out Lacerta
This is my Manifesto, Lacerta.
It helped me claw my way out of poverty, and establish myself as a P.I.
Tom
That only makes sense!
He only choses people with a lot of potential like us!
Wait…
What's your power?
James
Hm? What do you mean?
I don't have any kind of special power like you…
(c'mon…just move the knife a bit further away from Barbara…)
(Just give me a clean shot of the knife…)
Tom
No…no I'm not buying it!
He wouldn't give someone a useless Manifesto!
C'mon tell me now!
Or does Cygnus need to break one of your ribs before you tell me!?
Tom points the knife at James
James
(There!)
(That's the shot I've been waiting for!)
You want to see my power?
So be it…
Lacerta!
Ready!
Tom
(I-I knew it!)
(He was planning on attacking after all!)
James
Aim!
Tom
Cygnus! Go back into his spine!
James
Fire!
James fires a bullet at his spine!
…
Nothing…
Tom
Huh, I expected more from all of that build up…
That was kinda disappointing…
But now!
I can give all my attention to you, my love!
Barbara
NO! PLEASE!
SOMEONE HELP ME!
A bullet flies by and shoots the knife out of Tom' hand
Tom
Huh! What was that!?
Who did that!?
(to Barbara) Did you bring someone else here!
Was this all a set up!?
James
In a way…
But now…
Without your knife…
Or your power…
Lacerta holds up Cygnus by its tail
What are you?
Cause right now…
To me…
You look like an easy target…
I won't kill you cause I believe in second chances…
But this isn't gonna tickle either!
Lacerta proceeds to pummelled Tom into a bloody pulp on the ground…
James
Barbara, are you ok?
Does this house have a horn? somewhere we could call the police?
If so, could you please let them know we caught an intruder in the house.
(whispers to Tom) Listen closely, if you even dare to lie to the police, then I will come back for you.
Don't think I won't.
Now, when the police ask you what happened, tell them exactly what you told us.
And we'll have no problem.
With your clear instability, I don't think you'll receive the chair if you cooperate…
Do we have a deal?
Tom
Y-yes s-sir…
James
Good
Now, don't cause us anymore trouble until the police get here.
Barbara
Thank you very much sir…
Now…maybe now I'll be able to live a happier life without being cursed by Tom.
I've included the payment in full.
I even included a little extra as a thank you for all that you had to go through.
James
Thank you very much for your consideration,
But it isn't needed, as long as you're safe and the justice system can do its job,
Then that's all that matters.
And remember, I said to call me "James" not "Sir"
Barbara
Thank you, James.
Have a good rest of your day.
James
(I'm glad I could help someone…)
(And I'm glad that I could take down another Manifesto and stop a serial killer…)
(Yet, I can't say I'm satisfied…)
(Who is "He"?)
(someone who has the ability to give others a Manifesto…)
(Does he have some kind of connection with that "Casa Dei Re"?)
(Could he be their leader?)
Well, nothing's gonna get solved by just sitting here
James stands up
(I wonder…if maybe…just maybe…)
(I've repaid my sins, even just a little…)
Silhouette
Boss, It's done.
I've covered up any potential loose ends with Eve.
Good call to not trust him,
He started spilling his guts the minute he got intimidated by that gumshoe.
Sinatra
Well then, even if it was some new recruit,
There's no telling what could happen if we let this gumshoe act upon his own accord…
Perhaps it's time we began taking him more seriously…