The Community, Issue 3: Part 3.3

Page 68

Panel 1: Slight close-up on the two of them: the Speaker lifting his colleague back to her feet. You can see a mix of shock and concern on his face as he speaks.

SPEAKER

(to Jesminder, translated from Hindu)

You don't look well. Tell me you're not...

JESMINDER

(interjecting, to the Speaker; translated from Hindu)

I'm not. At least, according to the last game.

SPEAKER

(Bubble 2)

Still. You're gonna have to leave the building straightaway though: Lok Sabha policy.

JESMINDER

(Bubble 2)

I know...

Panel 2: Cut to Ms. Borah a moment later, getting her senses back together as she finishes the rest of her thought; her left hand extending the folder to her colleague

JESMINDER

(Cont.)

I just wanted to talk to you about the amendment though before I left. You're one of the decent ones in your party, and I...I was hoping maybe your good standing with your party could help...persuade some of your colleagues.

Panel 3: A two-part set of panels that moves back to the Speaker. In the first part, he gives her suspicious side-eye to the statement from the previous panel; his right hand moving to open and start reading.

Panel 4: In the second part, it consists of him reading the first few paragraphs of the document. His brow furrows and his teeth grit with every word.

SPEAKER

150,000 Rupees a month for every adult in the country...not the worst of ideas. But there's no way some of my more conservative colleagues will agree to this.

Panel 5: Back to Jesminder on the other side, mounting a spirited defense of the bill.

JESMINDER

(defensive)

42,000 people were infected with the virus yesterday; 4,000 of them passed away. These are the days where we have to reach for the stars; where we can't be hamstrung by fear of a--

Panel 6: Back to the Speaker a beat later; the setting and layout similar to what we saw in Panel 4. The top of the folder has closed up once again, and he hands the contents back to his colleagues.

SPEAKER

(interjecting)

I say this with more respect than many of my colleagues on the front benches have for you: You don't need me, you need a magician to get this bill passed and signed.

Page 69

Panel 1: We move back to Jesminder a moment later, glancing back at the folder with a slightly dejected look on her face regarding the answer.

JESMINDER

(thought bubble, translated from Hindu)

Crap...I'll find a way to get it in somehow.​

Panel 2: Action shot of the veteran MP stepping off the last step of the legislative building a short time later to the sidewalk.

Caption

(Cont., Jesminder)

"Even if I'm puking into a bucket as I'm doing it."

Panel 3: Cut to a shot of a car waiting on the curb a handful of steps from her. You can see her wife NEHA waving with a look of love that's noticeable through her light brown mask; the side passenger door clicking open.

Panel 4: We move to an interior shot of the car moments later after it gets going; Jesminder buckled in to the left side seat. You can see a makeshift plastic covering separating the two of them.

NEHA

(to Jesminder, translated from Hindu)

Hello, my love. How are you feeling?

JESMINDER

(slight nod, to Neha)

Bit better...but not a lot.

NEHA

(Bubble 2)

There's a mobile testing spot fifteen minutes from here. If you're feeling up to it, I'd really like for you to get tested- just as a precaution.

Panel 5: Slight close-up on Ms. Borah a beat later, shaking her head at the statement. She glances over to the window off-panel left in thought as she speaks.

JESMINDER

Maybe tomorrow. Right now, I just want to go home and get to bed. Maybe some of your world famous Mulligatawny soup.

Panel 6: At the driver's seat, a few beats later, Rahul flashes an accommodating glance back at her wife.

NEHA

I'll get the burner on the moment we're home.