The Community, Issue 3: Part 2.2

Page 60

Panel 1: Moving back to the stream of action from Page 56, Jes hops off the bed and takes a few steps away from the side of the bed; the telephone line stretching out slightly from right to left.

IRA

(from the receiver, to Jesminder; translated from Hindu)

Right. I have a few questions we ask any applicant. First- how old are you?

JESMINDER

(settling down, to Ira; translated from Hindu)

17​

IRA

(Bubble 2)

Excellent. The next question- do you have transportation to get to the Lok Sabha?

JESMINDER

(Bubble 2)

Yes, I do.

IRA

(Bubble 3)

Good, good...are you available for an interview this coming Thursday?

Panel 2: Slight close-up on the young girl's face after a few moments of thought though she has a good idea what her answer is. You can see a little spark of giddy anticipation as she tries to figure out what it's about.

JESMINDER

Um, I can do Thursday. What time?

IRA

(from the reciever)

About 11-11:30.

JESMINDER

(Bubble 2)

I could do it then. I'd have class then though. So I'm gonna need to get permission from the principal--

IRA

(interjecting, Bubble 2)

No need to worry about that, my dear. The MP will call him up after she gets done with a vote. What's his name?

Panel 3: Back at the office, Ira chuckles and flashes a slightly yellowed smile connected to Jesminder's response. The setting and layout behind him is similar to when we last saw him in the previous page.

JESMINDER

(from the receiver, surprised)

Principal Kohli...wow, that is quite generous! She must have a lot of other things on her plate to worry about that.

IRA

It's her pleasure, Ms. Borah.

Panel 4: Cut to the next day after school with Ms. Borah standing at the front desk to the principal's office, smiling as she watches the call go down. You can see part of the hallway in the background.

Caption

(Cont., Ira)

"She only does it for those she really likes."

Caption

(Jesminder, narrating)

'Those she really likes...' That one was--I believe the kids called it a 'biggie.'"

Panel 5: A three-part set of panels that focuses on Jesminder grinning from ear to ear in the center of the shot, though the setting changes in each panel. In the first one, we see her at the dinner table back home.

Caption

(Cont. Jesminder, narrating)

"The greatest female politician in India since Indira Gandhi...likes me?"

Panel 6: In the second part, we see her seated in the middle of a classroom, listening to a lecture; a smattering of classmates on all four sides of her.

Caption

(Cont. Jesminder, narrating)

"A girl from a working class part of Delhi? It was an affirmation, a sign that I was on the right path in life."

Panel 7: In the third and final part, we see her on that Thursday stepping out of the elevator on her way to MP Rai's office. She's dressed in a nice looking pantsuit that you might find pieced together from a secondhand store- because it was.

Caption

(Cont. Jesminder, narrating)

"I don't remember much of what happened after that...I pretty much floated to Thursday."

Page 61

Panel 1: On the tail end of the picture series, she's seated minutes later in the office waiting room; the smile on her face just as bright as before. In the background, you can hear "Dum Dum Dede" by Nazia Hasan play.

IRA

(Off-Panel, to Jesminder, translated from Hindu)

Jes Borah...?

Panel 2: Cut to a side shot from the reception desk of Ira glancing over at the girl with a slight smile. He signals to the little hallway area leading to her office.

IRA

(Cont.)

Nice to put a name to the...excitement. The boss is ready for ya.

Panel 3: Action shot of Jesminder opening the door in order to step inside. You can see part of her head poking through the doorway, as well as a section of the hallway behind her in the background.

MP RAI

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

Have a seat. I'm just meditating- I'll be with you in a minute.

Panel 4: We pull out a little wider showing a section of the office as well as Taravinder seated in the Dhanya position in the lower half of the panel; a cloud of incense drifting up from the candle and wine glass placed in front of the MP. Jes takes a few cautious steps inside, smelling around the area.

JESMINDER

(thought bubble, translated from Hindu)

Vanilla, red wine, and...is that marijuana? Always wondered what that smelled like.

Panel 5: A little bit later, Taravinder opens her eyes and spots the young girl standing a handful of feet in front of her. As she speaks, you can see her slowly pushing up to her feet.

MP RAI

(sly grin, to Jesminder)

You must be Jesminder- very nice to meet you!

MP RAI

(Bubble 2; reacting to Panel 6, Bubble 1)

Flattery is nice, though you should know- not a guarantor of employment.

Panel 6: Cut to a slightly framed close-up on Ms. Borah a beat later, half focusing on the politician and half on the chair partially visible off-panel to the lower right.

JESMINDER

(partly reverential, to MP Rai)

This is an absolute honor, Madam Rai. I've followed your career since you were elected in 1982.

JESMINDER

(Bubble 2; reacting to Panel 5, Bubble 2)

Of course. It's not flattery toward trying to land a job with you- I genuinely am a fan.