Topic about 'Somewhere in Nowhere'. (I TES 3-1)
Here's a transcription of a one-page "Donald Duck synopsis" in two faxed versions. Identified by Bill Grandey to be by Carl (Barks), as written in a note to John (Lustig) above each version.
Xeroxes supplied by John Lustig, received by post on 18 October 2003.
John Lustig, about the versions: I finally mailed you a copy of the SIN synopsis today. Actually, I mailed you two versions. About an hour after Bill Grandey faxed me the first synopsis, he faxed me a second one which had a larger role for Huey, Dewey and Louie. Apparently Carl felt the boys should be the ones to save the day for Donald. I sent you both version.
(Email. Tue, 14 Oct 2003 23:33:44 EDT)
John Lustig, about the final story: Although this synopsis was the starting point of 'Somewhere in Nowhere,' the final story differs from the synopsis because of additional input from the Carl Barks Studio, Carl Barks, John Lustig and Daan Jippes.
(Email. Fri, 7 Nov 2003 14:21:12 EST)
John Lustig's website www.lastkisscomics.com contains information about how 'Somewhere in Nowhere' was created, and it has Lustig's "director's cut" of the plot.
http://www.lastkisscomics.com/readroom.htm (introduction)
http://www.lastkisscomics.com/reading/sin.htm (creation)
http://www.lastkisscomics.com/reading/sinsyn.htm (Lustig synopsis)
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[First synopsis.]
[Handwritten note on xerox: "First version sent to me. J.L."]
John -
This is Carl's one page synopsis for a 10 page Donald Duck story. Please add to as you like and return for brainstorming editing. Add John Lustig to it. Take it anywhere you want to go. A list of gags to fit will be fun. -Bill
DONALD DUCK SYNOPSIS
Beginning:
HD and L are outside D's house talking with a pig friend. Donald walks by with his head down looking bored. He walks by again with his head down. He walks by a third time. H confesses to his pig friend that D has a very boring job. D is "Sidewalk Superintendent (Inspector)" for Duckburg's McDuck Cement Co. On his most exciting days, D finds a crack in the sidewalk. Not much is expected of D by his boss...Scrooge McDuck. Donald confesses to HD and L that he desperately needs a more exciting job. D puts out job applications everywhere. To H D and Ls' dismay (they want to stay in Duckburg)...In desperation, D decides he'll have to be available to relocate and even leave Duckburg. D finally gets his good news. He receives a contract to deliver mail by dog sled in Alaska.
Middle:
In Bearflanks, Alaska, Donald has three days of humorous happenings delivering mail in record time. Each day he is able to deliver mail faster than the day before. On the third day he is notified that he has set a new delivery record. H D and L are pleased to see D on top of his form. McSwine (appeared in milk man story) is not happy to see D doing so well. He is looking for a way to delay D's mail delivery. Money is in the mail by check. McSwine wants to delay it so he can foreclose on the local Bearflanks oil claim. He slows Ds time with a series of detours and tricks such as sand in the snow, substituting the sled dogs with a rare dog...the "Nodding Nap hound". It has enough hair on the outside to look like a good sled dog...but under X-ray (behind the hair) it looks "Chiwawa like" and is always asleep. D tries eveything, but his sled dogs wont move.
Ending:
D saves the day by getting the mail in before midnight, but has set a new worst record for "late delivery". The town of Bearflanks is mad at D. Three examples of upset people are shown (and why they are mad such as Widow Dish missed the final episode of a soap opera because she missed her TV Guide). D is seen pulling the sled dogs all riding in the sled to finish his route just before midnight. The last panel D is back in Duckburg. H claims to his pig friend that sidewalk superintendent is the most exciting job for D that he can stand. L says he is in suspense about whether D find a crack today...or not. D walks by with his head down on his sidewalk inspecting job.
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[Second synopsis. This faxed page has 'Carl Barks Studio' logo lettering, with Grandey and Morby mentioned as managers. The bottom of the page contains the adress, telephone number and fax-number.]
[Handwritten note on xerox: "This version with HDL playing a bigger role was sent to me an hour or so after the 1st version. J.L."]
John -
This is Carl's one page synopsis for a 10 page Donald Duck story. Please add to as you like and return for brainstorming editing. Add John Lustig to it. Take it everywhere you want to go. A list of gags to fit will be fun. -Bill
DONALD DUCK SYNOPSIS
Beginning:
HD and L are outside D's house talking with a pig friend. Donald walks by with his head down looking bored. He walks by again with his head down. He walks by a third time. H confesses to his pig friend that D has a very boring job. D is "Sidewalk Superintendent (Inspector)" for Duckburg's McDuck Cement Co. On his most exciting days, D finds a crack in the sidewalk. Not much is expected of D by his boss...Scrooge McDuck. Donald confesses to HD and L that he desperately needs a more exciting job. D puts out job applications everywhere. To H D and Ls' dismay (they want to stay in Duckburg)...In desperation, D decides he'll have to be available to relocate and even leave Duckburg. D finally gets his good news. He receives a contract to deliver mail by dog sled in Alaska.
Middle:
In Bearflanks, Alaska, Donald has three days of humorous happenings delivering mail in record time. Each day he is able to deliver mail faster than the day before. On the third day he is notified that he has set a new delivery record. H D and L are pleased to see D on top of his form. McSwine (appeared in milk man story) is not happy to see D doing so well. He is looking for a way to delay D's mail delivery. Money is in the mail bv check. McSwine wants to delay it so he can foreclose on the local Bearflanks oil claim. He slows Ds time with a series of detours and tricks such as sand in the snow, substituting the sled dogs with a rare dog...the "Nodding Nap hound". It has enough hair on the outside to look like a good sled dog...but under X-ray (behind the hair) it looks "Chiwawa like" and is always asleep. D tries everything, but his sled dogs wont move.
Ending:
HD and L save the day by getting the mail in before midnight to defeat McSwine. Their Junior Woodchuck guidebook tells them about the "Nodding Nap hound". It has a diagram about what these dogs look like under their [fur]. However, D sets a new worst record for "late delivery". The town of Bearflanks is mad at D. Three examples of upset people are shown (and why they are mad such as Widow Dish missing the final episode of a soap opera, because she missed her TV Guide). D and H, D and L are seen pulling the sled dogs all riding in the sled to finish D's route just before midnight. In the last panel D is back in Duckburg. H claims to his pig friend that "Sidewalk Superintendent" is the most exciting job for D that he can stand. L says he is in suspense about whether D will find a crack in the sidewalk today...or not. D walks by with his head down on his sidewalk inspecting job.
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Transcription notes
corrections by transcriber, in the second synopsis: typo "fir" replaced with "fur"
version: 20061220.01