The Tell-Tale Heart - A Comic Strip Retelling
Storyboard Text
- Hi. I'm the narrator, and even though you think I'm crazy, I'll prove to you that I'm not. Although I'm a nervous sort, I'll tell you this whole story more calmly than you can imagine.
- You see, I live with this old guy. He's super nice. In fact, I actually can say that I love him, but I have "made up my mind to take the life of the old man." I don't want his money or anything like that. He just has this sketchy eye, and it really creeps me out. Murdering him will allow me to "rid myself of the eye for ever." HE will never suspect my plan though, because, Boy, oh boy, am I nice to him!
- That young fella who rents my spare room sure is a nice guy...
- Every night for a week, I crept into his room as he slept with my lantern in hand to see if I could shine a light on that old Blue vulture eye, but he never stirred. Every morning, I treated him with the utmost kindness. The wisdom and caution of my dissimulation should prove to you that I am not at all mad! "Madmen know nothing."
- On the eighth night, my luck changed. the old man stirred in bed as I peeked through the door. I did not retreat; I stayed the course, halfway in and halfway out of his room. I opened the lantern so it would shine a single thin ray of light upon the eye, which I sensed would be open. Spurred on by the sight of the hideous eye and the sound I recognized as the beating of the old man's heart, I resolved to remain still.
- Ooaaaah...
- As the sound intensified, I feared it would be heard by a neighbor, So, "With a loud yell, I threw open the lantern and leaped into the room. He shrieked once - Once only. in an instant I dragged him to the floor, and pulled the heavy bed over him...[and] I then smiled gaily, to find the deed so far done". I listened to his heart until it ceased to beat before dismembering him and carefully sealing his remains within the floorboards. A mad person would not have been so careful as I was. I thought I had nothing to fear when I heard a knock from below.
- EEEEEEEEEEK!
- Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! ...
- Knock! Knock!
- I explained everything to the officers, and they believed me. Then, the "low, dull, quick sound" I heard as the old man gasped for breath returned after I had shown the officers that all was well. It gained volume and intensity - the officers, no doubt, could hear it too. They were villains who were hiding the truth behind their calm demeanor. I could take the sound no longer. Suddenly I shrieked my confession!
- "A shriek [was] heard by a neighbor during the night."
- "Suspicion of foul play [has] been aroused...and [we have] been deputed to search the premises."
- "'dissemble no more! I admit the deed! Tear up the planks...it is the beating of his hideous heart!'"
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