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James Brighton Society, Chapter 5: Pages 13-14

Page 13, 7 Panels- Elevator, Hart Senate Office Building

Panel 1-3: A three-part set of panels that follows Mr. Allen's path over the course of a few minutes, passing some aides and secretaries by without all that much of a second glance at the immortal Irishman. You can see the elevator in Panel 2 off in the upper left section of the panel, moving closer in the next panel as he arrives at the elevator. A gentleman in a dark blue bellman uniform is seen in Panel 3 opening the doors, seeing the man arrive.

GREM [caption, Panel 1]: "The shite American accent worked...hanging out with actors finally paid off nicely!" GREM [Cont. caption, Panel 2]: "Here's hoping I can keep it going."

Panel 4: Cut to an action shot of the two of them entering the elevator with its red and blue carpeting area on three sides of the box area. We see a little more of the bellman's dark complexion, including the back of the dark blue hat with gold trimming at the bottom, along with Grem's wavy blonde locks moving ever so slightly.

GREM [pleasantly, to the Bellman in an American accent]: Good day... BELLMAN [nod, equally pleasant; to Grem]: Good day...

Panel 5-7: A three-part set of panels that centers in the same setting and layout as the previous panel. Grem stands in the right and the Bellman (showing his wrinkled and partially bearded egg-shaped face to the reader) to the left of the panel view as it moves up to the fourth floor, in nothing but silence through Panel 5. In the next panel, he initiates a bit of conversation as it nears its destination, interrupted by the "DING!" of the destination achieved as it reaches its conclusion.

GREM [Panel 6]: How long have you been here? BELLMAN [Panel 6]: Twenty years, sir, this coming February. GREM [Panel 6, Bubble 2]: Huh...impressive. You married? BELLMAN [Panel 6, Bubble 2]: Yes, sir. 18 beautiful years. GREM [Panel 6, Bubble 3]: Any children? BELLMAN [Panel 6, Bubble 3]: Yes, four. GREM [Panel 6, Bubble 4]: Wow. They've never really been my cup of tea, but I respect those who do so. Especially with what I imagine is less than satisfactory. GREM [Cont. shifting back to his natural Irish accent, Panel 7]: And please, call me Grem. BELLMAN [thinking Grem's about to pay him off, shakes his head; Panel 7]: I--I'm sorry, sir--Mr. Grem. I can't accept that. BELLMAN [Cont.; Panel 7, Bubble 2]: Accepting cash payments is a violation of the employee agreement. I don't wanna get fired. GREM [reassuring chuckle, Panel 7]: Of course, I'd never dream of doing that to ya. This is just my card...

Page 14, 6 Panels- Hart Senate Office Building/Sen. Connally's Office, Washington D.C.

Panel 1: Cut to a framed shot of the elevator with its doors opened wide, revealing the Bellman to the left. His eyes peeled squarely on the little notecard Mr. Allen (who has disappeared from view) had given him moments earlier.

GREM [Cont., caption]: "In case you need help. Or if people who look like me give you shite."

Panel 2-3: We move to an action shot a minute later, showing the back of the immortal Irishman as he nears the entrance to the Senator's office. A couple of seconds later, in Panel 3, the layout shifts toward the doorway from inside as Grem takes his first steps inside the office. You can hear the sounds of a radio playing off-panel.

Panel 4: Same setting as the previous panel. The layout widens toward the whole office, particularly the front desk to the office. He looks over in the direction of the off-panel receptionist, checking out the area tangentially within his periphery. You can see, in the background, the eyes of someone glancing in Grem's direction. Though not paying a great deal of attention or care to him.

GREM [to the receptionist, shifting back to an American accent]: Excuse me, I'm looking to speak to Charles Briggs.

Panel 5: Cut to the receptionist on the other end of the desk. A mecha in her own right, sculpted to resemble a folksy old Southern grandmother (a feature that the Senator chose himself to "better represent my constituency as well as the welfare of the South"). She looks over at the Irishman through spectacled eyes with a degree of apathy mixed with stonewalling.

RECEPTIONIST [to Grem in a Texas accent]: And you are?

Panel 6: We move back to a shot of Grem in a similar setting as the one we saw in Panel 4, though this time more squarely focused on him. He nods slightly in apparent acquiescence at the command, exhibiting every level of courteousness and pleasant affability to the mecha while he thinks and speaks.

GREM [pleasant]: The name's Evander Linus. I'm with the...Chamber of Commerce. I was hoping to get some time with the Senator later-- RECEPTIONIST [Off-Panel interjecting, robotically reading from a pre-made script]: I'm sorry, but you must first schedule an appointment before you're allowed to speak to Mr. Briggs or the Senator. GREM [pleasant]: Entirely fair, darling. Are you sure there isn't anything I can do to help get me in the door? Maybe...

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