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A Rose In Bloom Springboard
A mystery woman is terrorizing the red light district of BlŸdhaven; pimps are being found brutally beaten. Nightwing discovers "Jill the Ripper" is none other than a runaway Rose Wilson Worth, daughter of Deathstroke the Terminator, sister of Nightwing's late teammate Jericho and briefly a member of Roy Harper's Titans team. Nightwing befriends her, but is torn between his instinctive need to help a vulnerable young girl and concern that she may in fact be a cold-blooded killer. Angry and suspicious, Rose tries several times to run away, but Nightwing is persistent and after a series of mishaps, including a rooftop struggle where Rose demonstrates powers similar to Jericho's, succeeds in winning her trust. Rose learns of their shared experience of seeing a parent murdered, and for the first time feels someone understands her pain. Dick gradually uncovers the reason for Rose's attacks in the red light zone; she wants revenge on Rando Carson, a pimp who she believes killed her prostitute friend, Ginger. He realizes that the best way to help her is to help her seek justice, and agrees to help her track down the killer. First, however, he gives her a crash course in crimefighting, including a training session in the Batcave, which spotlights how different Nightwing's approach to training his from Batman's. Rose adopts the code name Winter Lily.
The importance of justice versus revenge becomes clear once they go on the trail of Ginger's killer, and find it leads to an unexpected resolution. With the help of Donna Troy and Oracle, Dick is able to reunite Rose with her trusted friend Col. Wintergreen, Deathstroke's former assistant who had previously tried to adopt her. She departs for her new home, finally at peace with herself and her turbulent past.
Dick Grayson's history as Robin, his experience as the Titans' leader and his present life in BlŸdhaven all come together as he tries to understand Rose. As they search for the killer, he draws on his experiences both as a sidekick and as a team leader, but within the setting of BlŸdhaven, where he normally is neither. The seedy nightlife of the whaling district provides the backdrop for the adventure, and the corruption in the police force is a pivotal factor. Although Rose Wilson shows the most character development as she transforms from an embittered runaway to a competent junior crimefighter, it is Dick's guidance that leads her there. In helping her reconcile her past, he finds a bit more peace with his own, as he realizes mistakes of the past need not be repeated. Even Batman learns a bit of that lesson, as he realizes Dick's approach is best for Rose, and that he's avoiding the mistakes Batman made with Jason Todd.
The story in designed to cover five issues; four set in BlŸdhaven, one in the Batcave. One page-summaries of each of the five books in the series are enclosed, along with two pages of sample script from each book.Book 1- Snapshots
While unpacking his last box in his BlŸdhaven apartment, Dick runs across memorabilia from his New York days, and muses on the differences between then and now. That afternoon, Hogan's alley is abuzz with stories of a 'Jill-the-Ripper' roaming the old whaling district, attacking pimps. On patrol that night, Nightwing runs across an unconscious victim, named Leon McCarthy, and notes that many of the man's injuries are self-inflicted.
The next morning Dick visits Rabe Memorial Hospital where he learns that the other Jill victims were not self-mutilated, and that Leon McCarthy had died during surgery. Authorities are not sure whether to classify him as a Jill victim or not.
During that night's patrol, Nightwing encounters a young girl fighting off two men with a makeshift quarterstaff. He swoops down to assist her, noticing that she's defending herself remarkably well. The girl runs off into an abandoned building, and Nightwing goes after her. She attacks, but he eludes her and recognizes her as Rose Wilson. She initially rejects his offer of help, but he persuades her to come back to his apartment.
While Rose showers, Dick gets undated information on her from Oracle. She had been placed in foster care and after running away, had been sent to a juvenile detention center, from which she had escaped some four months earlier. He offers her his couch for the night, then calls Donna Troy for advice.
She awakes just before Dick has to leave for work. He surprises her by trusting her to stay in his apartment alone, but Oracle, of course, is watching, and pages Dick when she runs away. Nightwing tracks her back to the whaling district and confronts her. They struggle and finally he picks her up and soars up to a building ledge. Terrified by heights, Rose locks eyes with Dick and dematerializes, occupying his body with powers like Jericho's. Dick lunges for his jumpline, but then is left dangling over the streets of BlŸdhaven with his body under a panicky Rose's control.Page 11, panel 1
UPPER LEFT 1/6. A SHABBY, BOARDED-UP BUILDING. ROSE IS SLIPPING BETWEEN TWO BOARDS OVER A WINDOW. THE BACK OF NIGHTWING'S HEAD IS VISIBLE IN THE LOWER RIGHT CORNER.
Cap: You know, I don't think that "Come back!" line ever works.
Cap: Fortunately, I see where she's gone.
Page 11, panel 2.
UPPER RIGHT 1/6. NIGHTWING STANDS, BACK TO US, PULLING BOARDS OF THE WINDOW.
Cap: Jill or not, she needs help. She looks younger than Robin.
Nightwing: Kid, it's all right! I'm not going to hurt you.
Page 11, panel 3.
NEXT 1/3 OF PAGE IS DIVIDED INTO THIRDS. LEFT PANEL IS FRONT HEAD SHOT OF NIGHTWING AS HE COMES THROUGH THE WINDOW. BACKGROUND IS DARK, BECAUSE THERE'S NO LIGHT IN BUILDING. HE REELS AS THE HEEL OF ROSE'S HAND STRIKES HIM IN THE RIGHT JAW.
Cap: Judging from her welcome, she doesn't buy that either.
Page 11, panel 4
SILHOUETTE OF NIGHTWING, ROLLING ONTO HIS LEFT SIDE AS HE PRESSES HIS RIGHT INDEX FINGER TO HIS TEMPLE, NEXT TO HIS MASK. VERY DARK PANEL, EXCEPT FOR HIS EYES, WHICH ARE LIT UP RED.
Cap: I taste blood on my lip as a roll with the punch. I activate my night lenses.
Cap: Now, Lady Jill, the advantage is mine.
Page 11, panel 5
RIGHT PANEL. ROSE IS HUDDLED IN THE CORNER OF THE ROOM, HER KNEES DRAWN UP TO HER CHEST. FAIRLY DISTANT SHOT. BACKGROUND IS LIGHTER, THOUGH STILL BLUE. WE'RE SEEING THE SCENE THROUGH THE NIGHT LENSES.
Cap: She can't see me In this light. She doesn't think I can see her.
Nightwing: (off) Well, what have we here?
Page 11, panel 6
BOTTOM LEFT 1/6 PAGE. CLOSER VIEW OF ROSE, STILL THROUGH NIGHT LENSES. HER CHIN RESTS ON HER ARMS, AN SHE GLARES SUSPICIOUSLY. SMUDGES ON HER FACE, A CLEAR BRUISE ON HER CHEEK AND A CUT ON HER LOWER LIP. EYES SLIGHTLY TEARY. HAIR IS STRINGY AND CLINGS TO HER SKULL.
Cap: But I make out the details of her face for the first time. Suddenly, it all clicks.
Nightwing: (off) I don't think we've formally met. My name's Nightwing.
Cap: I wonder if she'll recognize it.
Page 11, panel 7
ROSE'S EXPRESSION HAS TURNED MUCH ANGRIER, HER MOUTH CURLED INTO A SNARL. ANOTHER FRONT VIEW, BUT SHE'S LEAPING TOWARDS US, HER HANDS POISED AS IF SHE INTENDS TO CLAW SOMEONE'S EYES OUT.
Cap: She does.
Nightwing: (off) Hey, hold it…
Cap: She senses my movements in the dark.
Page 12, panel 1
TOP 1/3 PAGE DIVIDED INTO THIRDS. LEFT PANEL IS PROFILE OF NIGHTWING AND ROSE. STILL DARK AND MURKY. THEY'RE FACING EACH OTHER, HIM LEFT, HER RIGHT. SHE'S REACHING UP, AS IF TO ATTACK HIM, BUT HE'S CAUGHT BOTH HER WRISTS IN HIS HANDS. ROSE COMES ABOUT UP TO HIS SHOULDER IN HEIGHT AND IS MUCH SLIGHTER; SHE SHOULD LOOK VERY MUCH A CHILD, COMPARED TO HIM.
Nightwing: I'm not your enemy. Don't fight me.
Page 12, panel 2
MIDDLE PANEL. ALMOST THE SAME AS PREVIOUS, EXCEPT NIGHTWING HAS PUSHED ROSE'S HANDS TO WAIST LEVEL.
Nightwing: I said, don't fight me…Rose Wilson.
Cap: I hear her gasp in surprise.
Nightwing: Yes, I know who you are. I'm not sure what you're doing in BlŸdhaven…
Page 12, panel 3
FACE SHOT OF ROSE, AGAIN SEEN THROUGH THE NIGHT LENSES. HER RIGHT HAND IS HELD UP, AS IF SHE WERE RECOILING IN FEAR, BUT THERE'S A SCORNFUL SNEER ON HER FACE.
Nightwing (off) …but if you'll tell me, I'll try to help.
Rose: Why would YOU help ME?
Page 12, panel 4
THE REST OF THE PAGE. NIGHTWING STANDS TO THE LEFT, ONE HAND HOLDING A FLASHLIGHT, WHICH IS AIMED AT ROSE, PUTTING HER IN SORT OF A SPOTLIGHT. LOTS OF LIGHT HERE, AS OPPOSED TO OTHER PANELS. NIGHTWING IS RELAXED, AND HIS EXPRESSION FRIENDLY. ROSE KNEELS ON ONE KNEE, OTHER FOOT PLANTED ON GROUND. ARMS ARE UP DEFENSIVELY AND HER EXPRESSION SHOULD REFLECT BOTH FEAR AND SUSPICION. HER CLOTHES ARE DIRTY AND RAGGED AND SHE LOOKS EVERY BIT THE STREET URCHIN.
Nightwing: Because in my day we had a saying…
Nightwing: (lettering larger, with red color) TITANS TOGETHER!Book 2- With the Greatest of Ease
Nightwing draws on his experiences with Jericho, and manages to talk Rose down, and she vacates his body once they're on the ground. He takes the distraught Rose home, and once there, tries to apologize, but she punches him in the stomach and locks herself in the bathroom. Dick calls Donna for more advice.
Rose emerges from the bathroom and collapses on Dick's bed. Falling asleep, she has a nightmare in which she relives her mothers' death, though at the hands of her father Deathstroke, not the Ravager, who actually killed her, and whom Rose in turn killed. She wakes up screaming, and Dick rushes to her side.
Remembering what Alfred used to do for him, Dick makes her hot cocoa, and tries to get her to talk. She finally opens up to him when he tells her of their shared experience; he witnessed his parents' murder, too, and is able to share some advice for how to deal with the pain. He also has a different perspective on her father; Rose sees him as the source of all her troubles; Dick knew him in better times, and knew how much he cared for his children. Finally, although she is repulsed and frightened by her powers, Dick takes them in stride. "Some of my best friends have special powers! Actually, when I was your age, almost all my friends had special powers!" He discovers his was only the second time her powers had manifested themselves; the first was two nights ago, when Leon McCarthy had attempted to rape her. Not knowing what was happening, she tried to fight her way out, making him claw his face and beat his head against the pavement. Dick is relieved to hear the death was accidental, and in self-defense, but is disturbed that she feels no regret about it. Finally she asks him to tell her about Jericho, and falls asleep as he talks.
The next day, they apparently bond further during a trip to the mall. As they're leaving, a seemingly embarrassed Rose asks to make a quick stop at the drugstore. Dick waits outside for her, but when she doesn't return, he realizes she's tricked him and taken off again.Page 14, panel 1
TOP 1/4 PAGE, DIVIDED IN TWO HALVES. LEFT. ROSE SITS UPRIGHT IN BED, FACING UP. SHE'S SCREAMING, HER FACE CONTORTED, EYES SQUEEZED SHUT. RUMPLED BLANKET COVERS HER LAP. BACKGROUND DARK.
Rose: NOOOOOO!
Page 14, panel 2
RIGHT. DICK HAS BEEN SLEEPING ON COUCH, COVERED WITH WHITE SHEET. HE SITS HALFWAY UP, HIS EXPRESSION ALARMED. STILL DARK.
Dick: Rose?!
Page 14, panel 3
NEXT 1/4 PAGE. VERY SMALL PANEL ABOUT 1/4 PAGE IN WIDTH OR LESS. DICK'S RIGHT HAND, FLIPPING ON A LIGHT SWITCH.
Cap: I fully expect to have to fight off a supervillain.
Page 14, panel 4
IMMEDIATE RIGHT, WIDTH APPROXIMATELY 1/2 PAGE. SIDE VIEW OF THE BED. FROM THE LEFT, DICK IS MOVING TO ROSE'S SIDE. SHE'S SITTING UPRIGHT, FACING LEFT HER KNEES DRAWN TO HER CHEST, HEAD BOWED CLUTCHING HER TEMPLES WITH HER HANDS. HER HAIR SPILLS OVER HER SHOULDERS, MOSTLY HIDING HER FACE.
Dick: Rose, take it easy!
Rose: (whisper) No…
Page 14, panel 5
REST OF QUARTER PAGE. FRONT VIEW OF ROSE, WITH DICK'S HANDS ON HER SHOULDERS. HER EYES ARE OPEN NOW, BUT TEARY AND BEADS OF SWEAT ARE SEEN ON HER BROW. EXPRESSION SHATTERED AND VULNERABLE.
Dick: (off) It was only a dream.
Cap: The second I say it, I know I'm wrong.
Page 14, panel 6
NEXT 1/4 PAGE, LEFT, 1/2 PAGE IN WIDTH. THIS IS A DREAM-MEMORY OF DICK'S AND AS SUCH SHOULD BE GREY-OUTLINED OR OTHERWISE FUZZY. HE'S A SMALL BOY HERE. ON THE LEFT SIDE OF PANEL, HE'S CROUCHING ON A SMALL WOODEN PLATFORM, WITH THE CENTER RING OF A CIRCUS BELOW HIM. HIS BACK'S TO US, BUT HE STRETCHES HIS LEFT HAND TOWARD THE GROUND. WE SEE THE SURREAL OUTLINE OF TWO FIGURES FALLING TO THE FLOOR BELOW, AND TWO TORN ROPE ENDS OF A TRAPEZE SWINGING ABOVE. DICK'S WITNESSING HIS PARENTS' FATAL FALL.
Young Dick: Nooooooo!
Cap: Dreams don't scare a kid her age that easily…
Page 14, panel 7
RIGHT PANEL, 1/2 PAGE IN WIDTH. THIS IS ALSO A MEMORY, BUT NOT A DREAM, SO NOT AS SURREAL AS PANEL 6. DICK'S WAYNE MANOR BEDROOM. FAR LEFT IS AN OPEN DOOR, IN WHICH ALFRED STANDS, CARRYING A TRAY WITH A SMALL TEAPOT AND CUP. ON RIGHT IS DICK, SITTING UP IN BED, SCREAMING, HIS HANDS STRETCHED OUT IN FRONT OF HIM. BETWEEN THEM IS BRUCE WAYNE IN A RED BATHROBE, MOVING FROM THE DOORWAY TO DICK'S BEDSIDE, HIS EXPRESSION ON OF QUIET CONCERN.
Cap: …unless they're rooted in reality.
Page 14, panel 8
BOTTOM 1/4 PAGE IS DIVIDED IN EQUAL THIRDS. LEFT PANEL: CLOSE-UP VIEW OF ROSE, QUARTER PROFILE, FACING LEFT. SHE'S STILL HUDDLED ON THE BED. THE LOWER HALF OF HER FACE IS HIDDEN BY HER ARMS, WHICH ARE RESTING ON HER DRAWN-UP KNEES. NO TEARS VISIBLE NOW, BUT HER HAIR LOOKS DAMP AND DISHEVELED, AND SHE'S STILL SWEATING. EXPRESSION STILL FEARFUL, BUT GRIEVING AS WELL.
Cap: Rose's reality makes mine look like a Saturday morning cartoon.
Page 14, panel 9.
MIDDLE 1/3. A MORE DISTANT VIEW OF DICK AND ROSE. HE SITS LEFT, ON THE EDGE OF THE BED, HIS LEFT HAND ON HER RIGHT SHOULDER. SHE'S NOW SITTING CROSSLEGGED ON THE BEDCLOTHES, HER HEAD BOWED AND HER FACE IN SHADOWS, NOT REALLY VISIBLE. HER BODY LANGUAGE MAKES IT LOOK LIKE SHE'S ASHAMED OR EMBARRASSED BY THE DISPLAY.
No dialogue.
Page 14, panel 10.
RIGHT. DICK'S FACE, QUARTER PROFILE, FACING RIGHT, SMILING REASSURINGLY.
Dick: C'mon, I know what might help.
Page 15, panel 1
SMALL PANEL, 1/6 PAGE HEIGHT, 1/4 WIDTH. DICK'S HAND HOLDS A PAPER PACKET LABELED "SWISS COCOA," POURING A BROWN POWDER INTO A COFFEE MUG. FEEL FREE TO PLUG ANY PLACE, ORGANIZATION, WHATEVER YOU WANT IF YOU WANT THE COFFEE MUG TO SAY SOMETHING.
Dick (off) When I was a kid, this was Alfred's patented nightmare cure.
Page 15, panel 2
SAME SIZE, IMMEDIATELY BENEATH. DICK'S HAND NOW HOLDS A TEAKETTLE, POURING A STEAMING STREAM OF WATER INTO THE MUG.
Dick: (off) Of course, he's be appalled to see me using instant…
Page 15, panel 3
LARGER PANEL, IMMEDIATELY TO RIGHT. 1/3 PAGE IN HEIGHT, 1/3 WIDTH. DICK'S HANDS AND FOREARMS EXTEND FROM UPPER LEFT TO CENTER OF PANEL. HE'S HANDING THE STEAMING MUG INTO ROSE'S, WHICH ARE REACHING UP FROM THE LOWER RIGHT CORNER.
Cap: Mindless prattle.
Page 15, panel 4
UPPER RIGHT CORNER OF PAGE, AGAIN 1/3 WIDTH BY 1/3 HEIGHT. A VIEW FROM MUCH FURTHER BACK. DICK STANDS IN PROFILE ON LEFT, FACING RIGHT, LOOKING DOWN AT ROSE. SHE'S SITTING ON THE COUCH, AMID DICK'S STILL-RUMPLED SHEETS, HER HEAD BOWED AS SHE RAISES THE MUG TO HER LIPS. DICK'S EXPRESSION IS ONE OF CONCERN, ROSE'S SUBDUED.
No dialogue.
Page 15, panel 5
NEXT 1/3 PAGE IS DIVIDED INTO 2 HALVES. LEFT. SIMILAR TO PANEL 4, ONLY ROSE HAS LOWERED THE MUG TO HER LAP AND NOW WEARS A TRACE OF A WISTFUL SMILE. DICK'S SHOULDER'S ARE A BIT MORE HUNCHED, AND HIS HANDS IN HIS POCKETS, AS IF HE'S FEELING INCREASINGLY AWKWARD ABOUT KNOWING WHAT TO SAY.
Rose: With my mom it was jasmine tea, extra honey.
Dick: I see…
Page 15, panel 6
RIGHT. CLOSER VIEW OF ROSE, FROM CHEST UP. HER EYES HAVE SQUEEZED SHUT AND ARE TEARY AGAIN. HEAD STILL BOWED, EXPRESSION PAINED.
Cap: Grayson, you sound like a complete idiot.
Dick: (off) I have some red zinger around someplace…
Rose: It's not the same…
Page 15, panel 7
SMALL INSET IN BOTTOM RIGHT CORNER OF PANEL 6. ROSE'S HANDS, BEGINNING TO TREMBLE. THE MUG TIPS FORWARD, SPLASHING ITS CONTENTS OUT AS IT BEGINS TO FALL FROM HER HANDS.
Dick: (off) Hey!
Page 15, panel 8
THIS TAKES THE ENTIRE BOTTOM 1/3 OF PAGE. FRONT VIEW OF THE COUCH. DICK SITS ON THE LEFT, HOLDING ROSE TENDERLY. SHE'S TURNED AWAY FROM US, PRESSING HER FACE ON DICK'S SWEATSHIRT AS SHE CLUTCHES FISTFULS OF ITS CLOTH. DICK'S ARMS ENCIRCLE HER SHOULDERS IN A BROTHERLY AND PROTECTIVE EMBRACE. HER FACE IS SEEN IN PROFILE, FACING LEFT, CRYING. KITCHEN AREA OF DICK'S APARTMENT IS VISIBLE IN BACKGROUND.
Cap: Maybe this is a time not to say anything.
Book 3- Breaking Through Locked Doors
A homeless woman informs Dick that Rose has gotten on the bus to the whaling district. This time, Dick Grayson trails her, and finds her trying to pry open a basement window of a shabby apartment whose door is sealed with crime scene tape. He drags her back home, interrogating her angrily about what she's been up to. She refuses to talk and rejects any help from him. Exasperated and feeling taken advantage of, he finally explodes and threatens her with a spanking if she tries to run away again, and she locks herself in the bathroom again.
Dick calls Oracle and asks her to find out the story behind the crime scene tape in the apartment Rose was trying to enter. When Dick sees it, he apologizes and coaxes Rose out, and surprises her by asking what her relationship to Virginia Lenoir is. Rose tells him she was a prostitute who Rose had saved from a violent john her first night in BlŸdhaven, Ginger had befriended Rose, and together they had planned to leave BlŸdhaven to get away from Ginger's abusive pimp, Rando Carson, But Rando had discovered Ginger skimming money from him, and killed her. Rose's attacks on pimps had been in search of information on him; she wanted revenge for her friend's death. Dick talks to her of the importance on justice, not revenge, then informs her that Carson had been arrested for Ginger's murder, and was in fact in jail all the time she was hunting him. Unfortunately, he had since been released, all charges dropped without explanation. Rose vows to go after him again, and warns Dick not to try to stop her.
Dick promises to help her find Carson, if she agrees to play by his rules. She agrees, and Dick smiles that she's going to have to get over that fear of heights first.
Page 22, panel 1
FIRST PANEL IS 1/4 PAGE IN HEIGHT, 1/3 IN WIDTH. SIDE VIEW OF DICK AND ROSE, IN THE FRONT SEAT OF HIS CAR. DICK IS IN BACKGROUND, LOOKING STRAIGHT AHEAD, TIGHT-LIPPED AND GRIM AS HE GRIPS STEERING WHEEL. ROSE IS IN FOREGROUND, EYES DOWNCAST, ARMS FOLDED, MOUTH PRESSED INTO THIN LINE.
Cap: We make most of the drive home in silence.
Cap: I'm hoping an old-fashioned guilt trip will loosen her tongue.
Page 22, panel 2
REST OF HORIZONTAL. FRONT VIEW OF DICK'S CAR, LOOKING THROUGH THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. ROSE SITS LEFT, EXPRESSION AS BEFORE: SHE'S DELIBERATELY NOT SPEAKING. DICK SITS RIGHT, BUT IS LOOKING SLIGHTLY TOWARDS HER.
Cap: Finally…
Dick: Rose, why were you breaking into that apartment?
Cap: It doesn't work.
Page 22, panel 3
NEXT HORIZONTAL IS 1/3 PAGE IN HEIGHT, DIVIDED INTO THIRDS, WITH CENTER PANEL SLIGHTLY WIDER THAN OTHER TWO. LEFT. QUARTER PROFILE OF NIGHTWING, FACES RIGHT. HEAD TURNED SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT. RIGHT HAND IN STILL ON STEERING WHEEL, LEFT RESTING AGAINST IT, OPEN WITH PALM FLAT. EXPRESSION IS ONE OF INCREASING IRRITATION.
Dick: You have something personal against the pimps, or are you just trying to make me crazy?
Page 22, panel 4
MIDDLE. FRONT SHOT OF ROSE, CLOSER VIEW THAN PANEL 2. ROSE'S EYES HAVE NARROWED AND SHE'S GLOWERING EVEN MORE. ALL WE SEE OF DICK IS SIDE AND CROOKED RIGHT ELBOW.
Dick : (off) I don't like being taken advantage of. I want answers. Now.
Page 22, panel 5
LEFT. FACE SHOT OF ROSE. RESENTMENT AND BITTERNESS EVEN MORE APPARENT. BROW FURROWED, EYES ALMOST CLOSED.
Rose: Screw you.
Page 22, panel 6
THIS PANEL TAKES UP REMAINDER OF PAGE. ENTIRE CAR IS VISIBLE, RUNNING DIAGONALLY, RISING TO RIGHT. DICK HAS GOTTEN OUT AND SHUT HIS DOOR, AND HE'S WALKING AROUND THE FRONT OF THE CAR. ROSE IS GETTING OUT, ON THE RIGHT SIDE. SHE'S FACING UP, AND WE CAN SEE SHE LOOKS A BIT GUILTY NOW. DICK IS CLEARLY ANNOYED.
Cap: And it's home, sweet, home.
Dick: Up until now I could believe what you did out there was self-defense. But I won't be played for a fool.
Dick: Get upstairs, now!
Page 23, panel 1
1/4 PAGE WIDTH, 1/3 HEIGHT. WE'RE IN DICK'S APARTMENT, LOOKING AT THE DOOR OPENING. WE SEE DICK'S HAND ON IT, PUSHING IT OPEN. ROSE IS ALREADY COMING THROUGH, AS IF HE WAS PUSHING HER IN AHEAD OF HIM. SHE FACES LEFT, RESENTMENT OBVIOUS ON HER FACE.
No dialogue.
Page 23, panel 2
1/2 PAGE IN WIDTH. SIMILAR SHOT, BUT FROM FURTHER AWAY. DICK IS IN BACKGROUND, SHUTTING DOOR BEHIND HIM. IN THE FOREGROUND, WE SEE HALF OF HIS COUCH, COMING IN FROM RIGHT. ROSE IS IN FRONT OF IT, CROSSING FROM LEFT PANEL TO RIGHT, LIMBS STIFF AS IF SHE'S STOMPING. FISTS CLENCHED.
No dialogue.
Page 23, panel 3
REST OF HORIZONTAL. DICK'S HANDS, FASTENING THE CHAIN LOCK ON THE DOOR.
Dick: (off) Rose, this is ridiculous.
Page 23, panel 4
1/3 PAGE IN HEIGHT, 2/3'S IN WIDTH. HERE WE SEE ALMOST THE FULL LENGTH OF THE COUCH. DICK STANDS BEHIND IT, HIS RIGHT HAND ON THE BACK, HIS LEFT OUTSTRETCHED, PALM UP. ROSE SITS FAR RIGHT, EYES DOWNCAST, FACE RESENTFUL, ALMOST POUTING, ARMS FOLDED.
Dick: You have to know how dangerous that area is…
Rose: Just drop the big brother act, will you?
Page 23, panel 5
QUARTER PROFILE OF DICK, WAIST UP. BOTH HANDS AR NOW ON SOFA BACK. EXPRESSION IS MUCH ANGRIER, AND IT'S CLEAR HE'S SHOUTING.
Dick: I'm trying to be your friend! You'd rather be enemies, fine! But get this straight…
Page 23, panel 6
REST OF PAGE IS DIVIDED INTO THREE EQUAL PANELS, WITH THE MIDDLE FURTHER DIVIDED INTO TWO: TOP AND BOTTOM. RIGHT. THIS PANEL IS MOSTLY ROSE; ALL WE SEE OF DICK IS HIS HAND IN UPPER RIGHT CORNER WITH INDEX FINGER POINTING TOWARD HER. ROSE HAS TURNED HER HEAD SIDEWAYS, GLANCING BACK AT HIM, STILL RESENTFUL BUT SLIGHTLY STARTLED TOO.
Dick: You take off one more time and I will personally put you over my knee for a spanking you won't forget!
Page 23, panel 7
MIDDLE TOP. ANOTHER FACE SHOT OF ROSE GLOWERING. LIPS ARE PARTED, TEETH CLENCHED, AS IF CHALLENGING HIM. HER EXPRESSION SAYS "YOU WOULDN'T DARE!"
No dialogue.
Page 23, panel 8
MIDDLE BOTTOM. FACE SHOT OF DICK, EYES NARROWED IN ANGER, BUT A SLIGHT SMILE ON HIS MOUTH, AS IF HE WAS CALLING HER BLUFF.
Dick: Think I won't? Just try me.
Page 23, panel 9
RIGHT. COUCH HERE RUNS DIAGONAL, FALLING TO RIGHT. ROSE IS IN FOREGROUND, RUNNING LEFT, HER LEFT HAND RAISED TO HER CHEEK AS IF TO WIPE AWAY A TEAR, THOUGH THE REST OF HER FACE IS STILL ANGRY. DICK STANDS BEHIND COUCH, ALSO FACING LEFT AND LOOKS A BIT SURPRISED AT HER SUDDEN BOLT.
No dialogue.
Page 23, panel 10
VERY SMALL NARROW PANEL, INSERTED INTO LOWER RIGHT CORNER. AS BEFORE, WE SEE THE BATHROOM DOOR SLAM SHUT.
Cap: (covers panels 9 & 10) Well, that's twice in two days. Nice work, Dr. Spock.
Book 4- Flight School
In the Batcave, Dick has Rose learning the art of the trapeze, for the dual purpose of getting her over her fear of heights and helping her get used to using her superpowers. Tim Drake arrives to help them, while Batman watches everything with a disapproving eye. Dick assumes he's annoyed by Dick's "fun" approach to training, or by the fact that Rose knows their identities, Bruce's private conversation with Alfred reveals that he sees Rose as more like Jason Todd than Dick, and is afraid she's too consumed by anger to be an effective crimefighter.
Rose and Tim spar with their quarterstaffs, but Rose loses her temper when Tim playfully tricks her and attacks him. Nightwing intervenes, disciplines Rose, and makes her apologize. Then he send her off with Harold to come up with a costume. While they're lifting weights, Batman questions Nightwing about his motives, and suggests that he's trusting Rose too much. Dick gets defensive and reminds Bruce about Jean-Paul Valley. Batman clams up, and Nightwing apologizes for hitting below the belt. He tells Bruce he wants to do for Rose what Bruce did for him. Bruce tells him he trusts his judgment and they shake hands.
Rose enters with her new costume and code-name, Winter Lily. Dick gives her her "final exam" which is to take down Batman, anyway she can. She tries, but he easily disarms and subdues her. Then she makes eye contact with Dick, dematerializes and uses his skills to knock Batman flat on his back. He slowly gets to his feet, then congratulates them before exiting. Dick informs Rose she's passed the course and the next day they'll be heading back to BlŸdhaven.Page 13, panel 1
THIS TAKES UP ENTIRE LEFT HALF OF PAGE. BOTTOM 1/3 IS VERY SIMILAR TO PREVIOUS PANEL, EXCEPT NIGHTWING IS AT LOW POINT OF HIS PUSH-UP, AND BATMAN HAS LIFTED WEIGHT ALL THE WAY UP. IN THE REST OF BACKGROUND THE CHIN-UP BAR, OTHER EQUIPMENT AND WALL OF BATCAVE ARE SEEN. MULTIPLE SPEECH BALLOONS HERE, STARTING AT TOP WITH THIN CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THEM.
Batman: But is she ready for this? You could have put this guy away yourself by now.
Nightwing: He killed someone close to her. She needs to be part of bringing him down.
Batman: Three days isn't a lot of time to train her.
Nightwing: She's had training before. She was a Titan.
Batman: Not one of YOUR Titans.
Page 13, panel 2
OTHER HALF PAGE IS DIVIDED INTO 4 PANELS, TOP TO BOTTOM. IN TOP, CLOSE UP OF NIGHTWING'S FACE, BEADED WITH SWEAT, GRIM LOOKING. HIS ARM IS STRAIGHT, AND HE LOOKS STRAIGHT DOWN AT THE MAT.
Cap: Bruce knows how to push my buttons.
Batman: (off) She can take care of herself. I don't doubt that.
Page 13, panel 3
BATMAN'S HEAD AND ARMS, WEIGHT IN MID-PUSH.
Batman: But she's an angry girl. Her outburst with Tim proves that. And from what you told me, she's killed before.
Nightwing (off) In self-defense.
Page 13, panel 4
BATMAN IN SIMILAR VIEW, ARMS STRAIGHT.
Batman: So you've been told. But what is she loses control when she faces this guy? With those powers of hers, the blood could wind up on your hands.
Page 13, panel 5
BACK TO VIEW OF BOTH NIGHTWING AND BATMAN. BATMAN AGAIN IN MID-PUSH, NIGHTWING IN LOWEST POINT.
Batman: Literally
Nightwing: She won't do that.
Page 14, panel 1
TOP 1/3 OF PAGE DIVIDED INTO QUARTERS. BATMAN'S UPPER BODY, HOLDING WEIGHTS AT HIGH POINT. THIS TIME BENCH IS HORIZONTAL, AND WE'RE LOOKING FROM THE SIDE.
Batman: Can you really take that chance? She's Slade Wilson's daughter.
Nightwing (off) She's also Joey's little sister. I owe it to him to help her.
Page 14, panel 2
NIGHTWING HAS SWITCHED ARMS. HE'S AT THE TOP, HIS LEFT ARM STRAIGHT, BUT RATHER THAN LOOKING AT THE MAT HE'S LIFTED HIS CHIN AND HIS FACE HAS AN ANGRY EXPRESSION.
Batman: (off) Terra had an honorable half-brother, too. She still betrayed you.
Nightwing: Are you going to throw every failure of mine in my face now?
Rose is nothing like Tara!
Page 14, panel 3
BATMAN, SIMILAR TO PANEL 1. WEIGHT IN MID-PUSH.
Batman: I'm not trying to be critical, chum. I'm just concerned you're putting too much trust in the wrong person.
Page 14, panel 4
NIGHTWING HAS STOPPED HIS PUSH-UPS AND KNEELS ON MAT, HANDS ON KNEES. HE'S EVEN ANGRIER AND CLEARLY NEAR SHOUTING NOW.
Nightwing: You can tell me that with a straight face after Jean-Paul Valley?
Page 14, panel 5.
REST OF PAGE DIVIDED INTO 6 PANELS, 3 TOP, 3 BOTTOM. TOP LEFT.. CLOSE UP OF BATMAN. WEIGHT IS AGAINST CHEST, FACE IS GRIM, LIPS PRESSED TOGETHER.
Cap: Apparently, I've touched a nerve of my own.
Page 14, panel 6
BATMAN'S UPPER BODY ON BENCH. HE'S REPLACED THE WEIGHT ON THE RACK AND STILL HAS HIS HANDS ON THE BAR. NIGHTWING STANDS BEHIND BENCH, LOOKING DOWN AT HIM, TOWEL DRAPED AROUND NECK AND HOLDING IT WITH BOTH HANDS.
Nightwing: Sorry, Bruce. That was below the belt.
Batman: Your point is well taken.
Page 14, panel 7
TOP RIGHT.. NIGHTWING STANDS IN PROFILE, TOWEL AROUND NECK, FACING RIGHT. BATMAN HAS SAT UP AND IS STRADDLING BENCH, FACING LEFT, HIS BACK TO NIGHTWING.
Nightwing: This isn't an attempt to recapture my glory days, Bruce. I've learned from my mistakes.
Batman: I just hope you've learned from mine, too, Dick.
Page 14, panel 8
BOTTOM LEFT. NIGHTWING STILL FACES RIGHT, HEAD BOWED, BUT BATMAN HAS TURNED AROUND.
NOW HAS BOTH LEGS IN FRONT OF THE BENCH, AND HE'S LOOKING BACK AT NIGHTWING.
Nightwing: I only want to do for Rose what you did for me. Help her find peace.
Batman: So you're going through with this, no matter what I say?
Page 14, Panel 9
QUARTER PROFILE CLOSE-UP OF BATMAN, CHEST UP. HIS LOOK IS CALM. NIGHTWING HAS TURNED AROUND TO FACE HIM, ALSO IN QUARTER PROFILE, CHIN LIFTED CONFIDENTLY. EXPRESSION IS DETERMINED, NOT ANGRY.
Nightwing: Yes.
Batman: Good. If you're that certain, I have full confidence in you.
Page 14, panel 10
NIGHTWING'S UNGLOVED HAND REACHES DOWN FROM UPPER RIGHT CORNER. BATMAN'S GLOVED HAND REACHES UP FROM LOWER LEFT, AND THEY MEET IN THE CENTER IN A FIRM HANDSHAKE.
Batman: (off) Best of luck, to both of you.
Book 5. Safe Haven
Nightwing obtains copies of the DNA tests that implicated Carson and discovered they'd been faked. He and Rose go undercover to find Carson, then track him to his apartment. Winter Lily occupies Carson, taps into his memories and finds that though he had beaten Ginger, he had not killed her. Rose gets a wake-up call as she realizes how close she came to taking lethal revenge on an innocent man.
At Nightwing's insistence, she reviews the police file thoroughly, and recognizes the name of the cop who has arrested Carson as the violent john from whom she had rescued Ginger at their first meeting. Nightwing and Winter Lily track the john, confirm that he is the guilty party, and intimidate him into confessing everything to his captain.
Case closed, Dick is left with the problem of what to do with Rose. She can't keep sleeping on his couch, particularly after it becomes clear she's developed a crush on him. When he calls Donna for advice on this, she tells him she knows of one person who might be able to care for Rose.
The next day, Col. Wintergreen shows up to "baby-sit" Rose while Dick goes on a mission of his own, and she's delighted to see him. Armed with a hefty file from Oracle, Nightwing confronts Sarge Steel, who has legal custody of Rose. Nightwing has uncovered evidence that Steel deliberately placed Rose with a foster father who had a history of sexual abuse, hoping she'd attack him and he'd have the leverage he needed to place Rose in a high security detention center, where he thought she belonged. He blackmails Steel into signing over guardianship to Wintergreen.
In the epilogue, Dick meets Rose and Wintergreen at the airport; they're flying back to Wintergreen's home in Malaysia. Rose gives Dick a pair of Mickey Mouse ears from her vacation with Wintergreen and Dick has two presents for her: her mother's picture, which he retrieved from Ginger's apartment, and a cloisonnŽ bracelet, fashioned of interlinked red roses and white lilies.Page 7, panel 1
2/5'S PAGE HORIZONTAL, DIVIDED INTO THIRDS. LEFT. NIGHTWING IN QUARTER PROFILE, FACING LEFT, SEEN FROM CHEST UP. HIS EXPRESSION IS ANGRY AND HE POINTS OFF-PANEL WITH ONE ACCUSING FINGER.
Nightwing: That gave you the excuse to do what you've wanted to do ever since you found out Rose Wilson existed. Lock her up.
Page 7, panel 2
MIDDLE. SILHOUETTE OF NIGHTWING'S RIGHT SHOULDER ON LEFT SIDE OF PANEL; HIS BACK'S TO US. FRONT VIEW OF SARGE STEEL, FACING NIGHTWING. HE STANDS, HIS CLENCHED FISTS ON HIS DESKTOP. HE'S HOSTILE, BUT BEADS OF SWEAT ARE VISIBLE: HE'S NERVOUS, TOO. THE ADOPTION PAPERS NIGHTWING SHOWED HIM BEFORE ARE VISIBLE ON THE DESK.
Steel: You can't protect her forever, hero!
Nightwing: (off) Alone, no.
Page 7, panel 3
RIGHT. NIGHTWING'S GLOVED LEFT HAND HOLDING A THICK MANILLA FILE, TAB LABELED "ROSE WILSON."
Nightwing: (off) But a copy of this information has been sent to every Titan who ever knew Rose or her brother Joseph.
Page 7, panel 4
REMAINING 3/5'S PAGE IS DIVIDED INTO QUARTERS. TOP LEFT. REVERSE VIEW OF PANEL 2. STEEL'S SHOULDER SEEN RIGHT AS NIGHTWING FACES US. LEFT HAND RAISED, AS IF BRANDISHING THE FOLDER. EXPRESSION SMUG.
Nightwing: That's a lot of spandex in your face if you ever darken her door again.
Page 7, panel 5
UPPER RIGHT. SIDE VIEW OF STEEL AND NIGHTWING, CHEST UP, FACING EACH OTHER. NIGHTWING LEFT, STEEL RIGHT. EXPRESSIONS SHOULD BE SIMILAR HERE, AND HOSTILE. THIS IS A STAND-OFF, TO SEE WHO'LL BLINK FIRST.
Steel: You'll never prove this. Not a thing you have there will stand up in court.
Nightwing: It doesn't have to.
Page 7, panel 6
SIMILAR VIEW, BUT FROM FURTHER AWAY. BOTH MEN ARE NOW SEEN FROM WAIST UP. POSES SIMILAR; BOTH REST HANDS ON DESK, ARMS STRAIGHT. NIGHTWING WEARS SLIGHT SMILE HERE; STEEL LOOKS A BIT MORE NERVOUS.
Nightwing: As I see it, there's only one person we have to convince. Deathstroke.
Page 7, panel 7
VIEW FROM EVEN FURTHER BACK, AND SLIGHTLY ABOVE. WE'RE LOOKING DOWN ON THE ROOM. STEEL'S IN QUARTER PROFILE, TURNED AWAY FROM US. HIS RIGHT FINGER POINTS ACCUSINGLY AT NIGHTWING. NIGHTWING STANDS LEFT. HE'S TURNED AWAY FROM STEEL TO FACE US, TUCKED FOLDER UNDER LEFT ARM AND IS EXAMINING THE FINGERNAILS OF HIS RIGHT HAND NONCHALANTLY.
Steel: Empty threats! Slade Wilson probably doesn't remember he has a daughter!
Nightwing: You want to take that chance? It's your funeral.
Page 8, panel 1
1/3 PAGE HEIGHT, 1/3 PAGE WIDTH. FRONTAL VIEW OF STEEL, CLEARLY GETTING ANGRIER AND MORE DESPERATE. RIGHT HAND RAISED IN DISMISSIVE GESTURE.
Steel: You don't scare me, Wing-boy! You're no one's team leader anymore!
Page 8, panel 2
MIDDLE 1/3. FRONT VIEW OF NIGHTWING, FROM WAIST UP. HIS POSE IS SIMILAR TO WHAT WE SAW BEFORE… STILL HOLDING RIGHT FIST UP AS IF LOOKING AT FINGERNAILS. BUT HIS HEAD IS COCKED AS HE GLARES RIGHT AT STEEL (OFF PANEL)
Nightwing: You want a team? Call the Justice League. The Titans are family.
Page 8, panel 3
RIGHT 1/3. ANOTHER SIDE VIEW OF THEIR FACE OFF, BUT THIS TIME NIGHTWING (LEFT) IS LEANING ACROSS DESK, HANDS ON DESKTOP BUT ARMS BENT. STEEL HAS STRAIGHTENED UP AND TAKEN A SLIGHT STEP BACKWARDS, CLEARLY UNNERVED. NIGHTWING IS SNEERING NOW.
Nightwing: That makes Rose Wilson our little sister. And I think I speak for all of us when I tell you…
Page 8, panel 4
LARGE PANEL, TAKING UP REMAINING 2/3 PAGE VERTICALLY, AND 3/4'S PAGE HORIZONTALLY.
NIGHTWING AND STEEL, FROM WAIST UP. NIGHTWING HAS GRABBED FISTFULS OF STEEL'S JACKET AND YANKED STEEL TOWARD HIM, IN A CLASSIC "I'M THREATENING YOU" POSE. STEEL IS SLIGHTLY TALLER THAN NIGHTWING, BUT STILL LOOKS INTIMIDATED. HIS ARMS ARE AT HIS SIDE, AND BEADS OF SWEAT ARE VISIBLE.
Nightwing: I don't like the what you did to our little sister!
Page 8, panel 5
REMAINDER OF PAGE IS DIVIDED INTO HALVES, TOP AND BOTTOM. TOP. NIGHTWING HAS RELEASED STEEL, BUT HIS JACKET'S STILL RUMPLED. HE STANDS IN PROFILE, FACING LEFT, LOOKING DOWN AT HIS DESKTOP, WHERE THE ADOPTION PAPERS ARE VISIBLE. HE'S BRISTLING WITH RESENTMENT, BUT HE'S CAVING IN. ALL WE SEE OF NIGHTWING ARE HIS FOLDED ARMS AND FACE AT THE FAR LEFT OF THE PANEL, HIS EXPRESSION DETERMINED.
No dialogue.
Page 8, panel 6
BOTTOM. STEEL'S HAND, HOLDING PEN AS HE SIGNS ADOPTION PAPERS. NIGHTWING'S GLOVED HAND EXTENDS DOWN FROM UPPER LEFT OF PANEL, HIS INDEX FINGER POINTING AND RESTING ON THE PAPERS AS HE DIRECTS STEEL TO SIGN.
Nightwing: (off) Thanks.
Steel: (off) Damn you.
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