Daylight Saving, Issue 5: Part 3.3

Page 117

Panel 1: We jump to Senator Skjei's in line at a coffee shop in Sacramento days later, waiting to make her order; a few other people in line in front of her at that point in time.

Caption

(Cont., Brie)

"I'll handle the good Senator myself, see if I can’t break the logjam."

Panel 2: The sound of commotion from outside a short time brings the attention of the customers from the previous panel, as well as the Senator who's less enthusiastic than the others are.

SEN. SKJEI

Huh...

Panel 3: We see Brie walking up toward the entrance while also trying to avoid the rush of paparazzi cameras tracking their every move.

Caption

(Sen. Skjei)

"I told you no, Mx. Benoit. So I gotta ask, fly 500 miles to meet me in person for yet another rejection..." 

Panel 4: Back to the Senator at a table minutes later, raising her coffee cup to take a quick sip as she speaks.

SEN. SKJEI

(Cont.)

This a future thing, or are you just a glutton for punishment?

Panel 5: With a chai latte and a chocolate chip oatmeal raisin cookie, Mx. Benoit fires back calmly as they explain the full point of why they're here.

BRIE

I simply wanted to speak to you face-to-face...get an idea why you’re not a fan of the bill. It a Denier thing, or a “Oil funds my political ambitions” thing?

Panel 6: The middle-aged woman lowers the cup back to the table, having taken a sip in the previous panel. She raises her eyebrow in mild surprise, respectful for the young person's ingenuity.

SEN. SKJEI

That’s how you wanna play it? Okay. I’m a fan of the concept on paper. My main point of contention with your institute is that your scope is, although noble, still too narrow.

Page 118

Panel 1: Brie tilts their head befuddledly, seeking a little more clarification on the good Senator's criticism; their hand touching the edge of the cookie as they're speaking.

BRIE

What do you mean "too narrow?"

Panel 2: Patty leans forward slightly as she goes deeper into her point. To her right is a map of the United States, with 4 stars pointing to different parts of the country.

SEN. SKJEI

It wasn't that long ago, back when people still thought you were a UN plot for world domination by way of Jerry Bruckheimer, that this institute would be one of many that’d stretch out all over the country, focused on different energy sources.

Panel 3: Same setting/layout as the previous panel, taken a beat later. The map to her right has changed to one of the state of California; a single point seen just outside of Fresno.

SEN. SKJEI

(Cont.)

But the past few months though, you've focused squarely on one primary location just outside Fresno.

Panel 4: Mx. Benoit nods, chewing a little nibble of cookie they had during the previous panel.

BRIE

Yeah. The solar output in that area is the perfect base to power the school using primarily solar power.

SEN. SKJEI

(Off-Panel)

True. But to me, and a good deal of my constituents, it's a cop-out.

BRIE

(Bubble 2)

Cop-out? What of all the things A Better Normal's achieved on the ground all around Los Angeles, like the community farms in Inglewood, would make you think--?

Panel 5: Back to the good Senator a short time later, hammering in her point with the similar level of finality of thought as before.

SEN. SKJEI

Those are perfectly fine and good things, Mx. Benoit. But will they move the needle locally, nationally over the next year or two? 

Panel 6: The young person looks away nervously, hit by the level of truth to Patty's point. 

SEN. SKJEI

(Cont., Off-Panel)

Till you can answer that question properly, I'm afraid your plane ride- or whatever way you took to get here- was for naught.

BRIE

(sighs)

You're right. I can't promise that this alone will move the needle in that time frame. Or are my goals gathered in such a small time frame. 

SEN. SKJEI

(Off-Panel, Bubble 2)

Like a time traveler from the 22nd century?

BRIE

(Bubble 2)

…Fair point!