The Community, Issue 3: Part 1.2

Page 54

Panel 1: Action shot of the two of them walking down a hallway on the way to the vote. Jesminder glances down at a set of papers stapled together.

JESMINDER

(despondent sigh, to Anika; translated from Hindu)

1,500 dead today...5,000 new cases in Sikkim.

ANIKA

(slight nod, to Jesminder; translated from Hindu)

My friend who works in the Health Dept. says they're thinking those numbers double by the end of the week.

JESMINDER

(Bubble 2)

Argh...no way this ends well! Any more support for my bill?

ANIKA

(Bubble 2)

Unchanged, just like last week and the week before.​

Panel 2: Slight close-up on Anika a few moments later, trying to gleam a little reality to the development.

ANIKA

(Cont.)

I know you don't wanna hear it. But with some alterations, we could possibly get it to a vote in a couple more weeks--

JESMINDER

(interjecting, Off-Panel)

We don't have the time to sit around and wait as poor people get sacrificed by this government. If we have any semblance of hope to contain this, it has to be done. Now!

ANIKA

(Bubble 2)

I'm with you, boss.

Panel 3: Back to a similarly framed close-up on Jes a moment later, shifting the pile of papers back to its original configuration.

JESMINDER

(Cont.)

Besides, I'd rather have my lady parts impaled on a rusty fish hook than give anything away to that sanctimonious, nationalist--

Panel 4: Same setting/layout as the previous panel. The display of anger is tempered a beat later upon seeing someone walking by; her facial expression shifting to an artificial pleasantry.

CHANDRAN

(Off-Panel, to Jesminder; translated from Bengali)

Madame Borah!

JESMINDER

(through fake smile, to Chandran)

Chan...a pleasure.

(thought bubble)

Holier than thou benchod!

Panel 5: Cut to a shot of CHANDRAN standing a few feet from the pair. A younger politician, dressed in a respectable black suit; his hair smartly styled. To the right of the panel, you can see the bathroom where he stepped. And in the background, far down the hallway, you can see the entrance to the Parliament floor.

CHANDRAN

(smug)

You planning to bother the Health Minister with that Chicken Little nonsense again? I could use the chuckle this morning.​

Jesminder scoffs, rolling her eyes at the statement. You can see the fraction of a smile come over part of her face as she speaks.

JESMINDER

Your party's apathy to the lower castes still scrapes the proverbial barrel.​

Page 55

Panel 1: Chandran chuckles at the proclamation, not sold on any type of threatening inclination behind it.

CHANDRAN

(to Jesminder, translated from Bengali)

And you're still the "Red Sheep" in your party. What more do you think they can do? Success will come squarely from the actions of the governor of Sikkim. If you want to harangue someone, I suggest starting with him.

CHANDRAN

(Bubble 2; reacting to Panel 2, Bubble 1) Oh come on!

Panel 2: Jes rolls her eyes at the response; the setting and layout similar to Panel 6 of the previous page.

JESMINDER

(to Chandran, on the attack; translated from Hindu) And when cases start to mount in Goa and Manipur and Punjab and the rest of the country...

JESMINDER

(Bubble 2; reacting to Panel 1, Bubble 2) We are not as different as any of the other three dozen countries dealing with this virus.

Panel 3: The veteran politician moves on to the attack, sparked by the last statement she had at the end of the previous panel.

JESMINDER

(Cont.)

In each one, it started small in one part of the country before stretching to hit every inch of their countries. It's a given eventuality their fate will be ours- we have to be prepared!​

Panel 4: We move to a shot of Chandran walking away from the scene, shaking his head and only partially listening to the rest of her statement.

JESMINDER

(Cont.)

Just 'cause your buddy in America is allergic to planning doesn't mean we have to accept that fate.

CHANDRAN

Thank you, Jes- as always...!

JESMINDER

(Bubble 2)

For what?

Panel 5: Action shot of Ms. Borah reaching her desk on the opposition benches. She places the papers on the desktop, glancing up off-panel right in anticipation for what the plan might be.

Caption

(Chandran)

"For showing the BJP have nothing to worry about in the next election."

Caption

(Jesminder, narrating)

"After high school, I sought work experience with an MP in the Lok Sabha; try to build up my resume simultaneously with college."