How Jimmy Met Dolly...
This is another comic script draft, things are still subject to change. I am always open to feedback and will make adjustments in case I've make a mistake, misrepresented something, or written something incorrectly (like slang words/phrases of languages I myself do not speak). Though, I try to do my research before writing different cultures. I apologise if anything may be incorrect.
How I interpret glottal "t" sounds (like "startle" becoming "star'-le, "little" becoming "li'-le", etc.) is with a dash "-", dropped "h" like the word "home" becomes "'ome", dropped "g" from the suffix "ing" becoming "in'" (like "nothing" to "nothin'") This also works for any word I write that ends unfinished with an apostrophe, to infer that it's a slurred consonant or glottal sound, making the accent have a softer sound when spoken ("Just to" becoming "jus' to", so you don't have to make two "t" sounds back to back). Basically, it's like sped-up English. Dropping consonants to flow the words better together, to make the reader hear the accent in their mind. That's how my mind works anyway... I do agree, this is very difficult. What else is new for me, eh?
[Random scenes that come to mind, fill in as needed]:
Open scene with our main partners coming to their humble home after a long day doing fieldwork with plague victims. Jimothy is bubbly and happy, though tired. Tobias is exhausted from having to reign in Jimmy all day since he’s an unhinged handful most days.
[Jimothy]: “Ah! Finally! Good to be ‘ome, yeah? I gotta say, today has me knackered, but I’m in a good mood!” His long legs make wide exaggerated steps into their small house just at the edge of town, after just having kicked the door in. Jimmy sets his bag down and, while still fully dressed in his plague doctor outfit, animatedly gestures to his work partner Tobias “D’you wanna know why?” turning and pointing a little too close to his partner’s face.
[Tobias]: Sighs, rolls his eyes and sore shoulders, also removing his coat and reaching to take his shoes off. “Your gonna bloody well tell me whether I care or not anyway...” he grumbles out in a tired voice.
[Jimothy]: “There’s a brand spankin’ new bakery in town, eh! Least, tha’s wot I been told. I been ‘earin’ it’s fantastic! I was finkin’ about goin’ all day.” Jimmy expresses, animated. Even behind the mask his expression is excited. “You know ‘ow I like to mooch all the li’-le food stalls at the market! Some of the most bostin’ fi’-le I fink I ever ‘ad!” Jimothy’s Brummie tends to slip out whenever he’s excited or in a good mood... or a bad one.
[Tobias]: “Right, well don’t go shirkin’ your quarantine. We need to clean up before you even think of heading into the main part of town. Lord knows those new Peelers will be on our heels for deviatin’ protocol. You know that.” He eyes Jimmy carefully, still holding his coat, as if his glare should be warning enough.
[Jimothy]: “Ah-! You’re always aggin’... I ain’t gon’ do nufin’! I promise. On me mom an’ dad’s grave!” Jimmy holds a hand over his heart and the other up in oath. The glimmer of his late parent’s wedding bands hanging from the necklace around Jimmy’s neck can be seen.
Tobias notices the small childhood keepsake briefly. Sighing, he concedes, nodding.
[Tobias]: *Sigh*... “Fine. Quick wash up and protocol, and you can go have a mooch.”
Tobias makes air quotation marks with his fingers on the word ‘mooch’. His expression is tired and slightly defeated, but it’s always a loosing battle with his unorthodox partner.
[Tobias]: “I better hear your shoes hit the floor of this house by the beginin’ a’ sundown. Or else I’m gonna have to drag you back here by your ears--and I mean it this time!” He points an accusatory finger in warning towards Jimothy, eyes narrowed and brows furrowed.
[Jimothy]: “Oo am ya’? Me ol’ man?” Jimmy scoffs, putting his hands on his hips. “I’ll be back for tea before ya’ know it!” He waves a dismissive hand in the air and turns to head for the bathroom. He claps his gloved hands, rubbing them together, excited for his plans for the day.
[Jimothy]: “Right! Wash up! ‘ead out! Bob’s your uncle!” He gestures as he walks away animatedly. Turning around swiftly to snap finger-guns towards an increasingly exasperated Tobias. Then disappears quickly behind the interior doorway.
[Tobias]: Sighs again, rubbing the back of his neck, furrowed brows and overall defeated posture. “What am I gonna do with this kid...”
...
Open scene with panel of the local market. Small market stalls and shops lined down the bustling streets of London. Afternoon. A stout young woman with dark skin, thick kinky black hair styled in an updo, and a pink working gown with a white apron tied around her plump waist can be seen. Her soft smile shows her tooth-gap at the front as she carries a box of baked goods to her counter. She has a beauty mark on the left side just below her mouth. She has a fuller figure, though she has powerful musculature underneath, unassumingly. Her stall is located a little off to the side of the main street, next to an empty alleyway, but still in full view of the market.
[Enter Miss. Dolly Comfort Seacole Smith, the new local baker]: Age 20-something, 5’3”, British-Jamaican, warm medium skin tone, brown eyes, voluptuous figure.
Dolly packs up a custom order of her best baked goods. Holding a card paper box, looking down with a content smile.
Beginning to pack away her market stall for the day. Some passers-by give her looks, curious or otherwise, though she appears unbothered and uninterested.
Placing the box of treats down on the wooden countertop and turns around not looking up as she turns to get ready to leave.
Jimothy pops up, seemingly out of nowhere.
[Jimothy]: “Hello!” Jimmy greets loudly in a singsong voice. He appears suddenly in front of her, a little too close to Dolly’s face. He was never quite good about personal space around other people. He’s still wearing his Plague Doctor mask and uniform from earlier. Just not carrying his work bag with him, only his doctor staff.
[Dolly]: “AHHH--!” Dolly screams in surprise and immediately clocks Jimothy with a swift and powerful right hook in the jaw with a crack, easily knocking him back and toppling him over. He falls backwards with a shout, his hat goes flying off his head and he’s knocked on his back, literally head-over-heels as his feet are sent in the air and landing after he’s already on the ground.
Dolly, startled, has her fists up ready to fight. But then immediate regret hits her, and her hands cover her mouth in shock, her eyes soften after realizing what she’d just done.
Jimmy groans in pain as he’d just been laid out by this unknown woman. He’s practically seeing stars. His mask was knocked askew, loosened by her punch. His hat somewhere on the ground, having flown off by the impact.
[Jimothy]: “Ooh...oww...okay...yep, I deserved that...” He groaned out, winded. Jimmy slowly raises his lanky body to rest on his elbows to try to get back up. A hand coming up to gingerly touch the area he was hit.
[Dolly]: *GASP* Bomboclat! Ya scyar mi like notin’ else! Mi sorry, but ya popped up outta nowhere-!” Dolly rushes out, her Patois coming to the forefront of her accent in her surprise. She stops herself, a quieter gasp this time, “Oh, y-you’re a Plague Doctor! Oh no, I am so, so, so sorry, doctor!” Dolly frets, composing her voice again to sound more formal, moving to give the disoriented doctor a hand to help him back up.
Jimmy moves, without looking up at her yet, to remove the mask and assess the damage to his most-likely busted lip and bruised jaw. The mask comes off easily, the straps coming loose and the black fabric layer underneath revealing his chestnut hair and rogue curlicue on top of his head. Jimmy then looks up at his assailant with wide blue eyes.
[Jimothy]: “Ah- no, no, I’m okay. I’m sorry I-...” he cuts himself off once he finally looks up.
Dolly stares at him a little as well, hand still out. Jimothy, however, has become immediately infatuated. He probably got hit a little too hard. His face starts to flush a little, it being easily visible thanks to his fair skin. His curlicue is heart shaped.
They stare at each other for a few seconds in silence.
[Dolly]: “Do... do you need help getting back up? I hope I didn’t hit you too hard. You look like you could be concussed... Are you okay?” Dolly seems oblivious to Jimmy’s romantic awakening.
[Jimothy]: “N-no, no, I-I, I’m... I’m good.” Eyes still trained on Dolly, starstruck. He absent-mindedly lifts his gloved hand to take her offered one to help him to his feet again. In his mind he thinks, *Bloomin’ ‘ell, what a right hook!*
Dolly pulls him back up, without a sweat. She blushes, embarrassed. She straightens out her apron anxiously. Jimmy is still staring at her, like an idiot. Standing to his full height, however, Dolly’s eyes widen, scrolling along his whole frame as he stands up, taking in just how tall he is. She thinks *holy god, he’s bloody tall* briefly intimidated.
[Dolly]: “My, you’re a lanky one.” She blinks a few times at him. “Are- are you sure you’re okay? You’re just staring at me...”
[Jimothy]: Shakes his head as if to clear it, snapping out of it finally, “Ah- Sorry!” He blinks a few times, giving her a lopsided grin.
Dolly looks up at him, eyes also wide.
[Jimothy]: “I, uh... didn’t mean ta’ star’-le ya’... I deserve that, don’t I?” His voice trails off softly. He smiles, wobbly, chuckling a little. A hand coming up to awkwardly rub the back of his neck. His new bruise on his jaw and bloody lip send a shock of pain.
[Jimothy]: “Ah- *hisses, wincing* Ouch... Heh-heh! Tha’s quite the swing, ya’ got there!” He chuckles, hand coming up to touch gingerly at his sore lip.
Dolly’s expression is worried for having punched this stranger. She glances away a few times as she explains herself, still embarrassed.
[Dolly]: “I deeply apologise for... having clocked you as hard as I did... But you came out of nowhere and scared me half to death! Where did you even come from?” Dolly asked, confused by this whole situation. She firmly props her fisted hands on her hips. Looking around a little, lips pursed.
[Jimothy]: Jimmy perks up at this, “Oh, yeah, I usually just travel ‘round town through the gullies. I know this place inside n’ out!” He juts a thumb behind him, gesturing to the dark alleyways. “It’s faster...uh...for me.” He adds, awkwardly smiling.
He notices her stall behind her and the boxes and baskets it’s filled with.
[Jimothy]: “You packin’ up?” he asks, pointing a finger to her bakery stall.
[Dolly]: Turning to look where he’s pointing. “Oh! Well, yes, I was just about to leave for the day. Did you want to purchase anything? I think I have a few baked goods left.”
[Jimothy]: “Oh! Are you that new baker in town! Oh, bostin’! ‘Ow much ya’ want, bab? I’ll take wuteva’ ya’ got left!” Jimmy starts, excitedly, moving his lanky body over to the stall.
[Dolly]: Intrigued by this man’s odd behaviour, especially to someone who just punched him out. “Uh, well...” she blinks a few times, caught off guard, but moves over to her goods again, “I have some cinnamon twists left, a couple small cakes, some scones and crumpets, a few bread rolls and a pretzel.” She lists them all off as she moves to open a few baskets covered by a layer of cloth. As she speaks she brightens up a bit more.
Jimmy’s gaze finds its way to her, smiling warmer than normal. Dolly, not noticing his gaze, pulls out the aforementioned goods.
Jimmy waltzes closer to her, his eyes light up at the beautiful array of baked goods. It’s almost as if they sparkle.
[Jimothy]: “’Ow much for the ‘ole lot?” he points at the basket, glancing over at Dolly. She looks up at him.
[Dolly]: “Oh my...um...five shillings?”
[Jimothy]: “I’ll give ya’ ten!” He concludes matter-of-factly, smiling, rather pleased with himself. He reaches into his suit pocket and pulls out the amount needed.
[Dolly]: Blinks at him a few times, “Are you sure? I can sell it for less. And these are the leftovers...”
[Jimothy]: “Well, I was finkin’ I give you more so you ‘ave extra t’buy supplies t’make more for lay-‘a. Tha’s just proper business, innit?” He states heartedly, trading the money for the basket. “An’ I’ll give this back t’you in the morrow, ‘owzat?” he adds, nodding to the basket, grabbing a bread roll and taking a bite.
[Dolly]: “Oh! Um... Well, alright then. That’s very kind of you...uh...” she trails off, realising they hadn’t even exchanged names.
[Jimothy]: After swallowing the bite of bread, he puts his other hand out, that’s not holding the basket, in offer to shake hands, “Jimothy! Dr. B. Jimothy Doktor! Or just Jimmy. Tobias calls me Jimbo. Jus’ don’t call me Jim an’ we’ll be orright!” he wags a finger at her in jest.
Dolly takes his hand and gives a firm shake. She smiles.
[Dolly]: “Dolly Comfort Seacole Smith! Dolly Smith, if the name is too much of a mouthful. But, you can call me Dolly.”
[Jimothy]: He locks eyes with her as he shakes her hand. “Dolly Comfort... tha’s a beau’i-ful name.” he parrots, voice gone soft and trailing off dreamily, as he says her name
[Dolly]: she blushes, giggling, “Why, thank you Mr. Doktor- Or, should I say Dr. Doktor? You’ll have to forgive me, it’s such an unusual name...” she chuckles a little, then looks away embarrassed that she’s laughing, not wanting to be rude.
[Jimothy]: “Ah- no ‘arm done! I’m used to it! You can jus’ call me Jimothy. Or Jimmy, if ya’ fancy?” he grins, playfully, leaning in a little and lowering his tone.
[Dolly]: She giggles a bit, bringing a hand up to try to stifle a laugh delicately, “Alright,” she smiles back at him, eyes warm, “thank you, Jimmy.”
Jimothy’s smile wobbles and he blushes as well. He’s downright smitten.
...
[LATER]:
[Jimothy]: “God, I need ‘er to ‘it me like tha’ again... but this time right in the--”
[Tobias]: --“Okay, you need to stop immediately.”
...
I did my best to make my characters sound like what their accents would be. I wanted to use this as a way to explore the Brummie accent and Jamaican Patois. It's hard since I am not from these cultures, but they are ever-so charming and I could listen to Jamaican Patois and Brummie all day! Please, forgive me if there are any inaccuracies or mistakes in how the phrases were used. It's also kind if hard to write how these accents would sound way back during the Victorian Era in 1880s Britain. I'll also mention that I am aware accents are very organic and change over time. But, it's hard to find resources of your average citizen with a solid Brummie accent that is generally accepted as truly from Brum or is more like Black Country (Yam-Yam). Additionally, I also struggle to find good resources for accurate Patois phrases and slang terms, but again, I am trying to be respectful and not accidentally make stereotypes, while also wanting to write characters that don't all sound the same.
Frankly, that's boring.
I'm sure I'll improve as I go with the more I learn! I think different accents in characters really make them stand out as memorable. So, this will be mainly used for important characters, but I think having a whole swath of accents all mingling in the chaotic streets of Victorian London to be most accurate!
Cheers
