The Community, Issue 5: Part 2.1

Page 112

Panel 1: We move back to Jesminder, taking a sip of her cup of tea a moment later; the setting and layout similar to Panel 5 of the previous page.

JESMINDER

(knowing, to Joely) Still stuck on the tone- hopeful or going dark?

JESMINDER

(Bubble 2; reacting to Panel 2, Bubble 1) So, what's the problem?

Panel 2: A two-part set of panels that moves back to Joely; the setting and layout similar to the end of the previous page. As she speaks, she scoops up a bit of cereal from the bowl.

JOELY

(shakes her head, with certitude; to Jesminder) No, I know I want to go dark with it. The story is a "What If?" on the virus; if our response globally was more of a chaotic, unending shitshow. Going dark is the only way to hammer the point home.

Panel 3: In the second part a second later, she finishes the rest of her thought as she chews; the spoon dropping back down to the table.

JOELY

It's the department. They're worried that it will anger the Conservative government who don't want to be reminded of their mistakes--

JESMINDER

(interjecting, Off-Panel) And they'd target the Arts' pandemic-related funding for cuts in the next Chancellor's Speech.

JOELY

(Bubble 2) Exactly...bloody cowards!

Pane; 3: Back to Jes a moment later; the setting and layout similar to the top of the page. She shifts from side-to-side slightly as she speaks.

JESMINDER

I'm not that well skilled in the theatrical arts. But I'm pretty good in terms of basic negotiation and diplomatic stuff. Any help you need to smooth things out, just say the word.

Panel 4: Slight close-up on Joely's face a beat later. She flashes an appreciative half-grin at the offer; her eyes catching something popping up on TV.

JOELY

I appreciate it, roomie. Hey...

Panel 5: We move to a similarly framed close-up on Ms. Gupta's face a few beats later. Something on the TV catches her eye, eliciting an intrigued look on her face and in her words.

JOELY

(Cont., Off-Panel) Your crush is on TV!

JESMINDER

La Dedo Médio...swoon!

Page 113

Panel 1: Joely chuckles at the statement- one she's heard plenty of times in the past. Her hand reaches over to the now half full juice glass as she speaks.

JOELY

(disbelieving, to Jesminder) Still hard to believe you have that big a crush on someone who doesn't exist.

JOELY

(Bubble 2; reacting to Panel 2, Bubble 1) Technically, I have a crush on Tatiana Maslany. But...point taken!

Panel 2: Jesminder leans forward slightly in the defensive tone of someone who is a big fan; her left elbow resting on the table next to her dish.

JESMINDER

(defensive, to Joely) Don't you have a crush on She-Hulk?

JESMINDER

(Bubble 2; reacting to Panel 1, Bubble 2) Besides, Dedo Médio obviously exists...!

Panel 3: Cut to a shot of the story playing out on TV as this is going on. It shows CCTV footage outside of an administrative building, showing Celia/La Dedo Médio decked out in ultra tough steel holding a panicked CEO by the scruff of the neck; a portal popping up all around her.

Caption

(Cont., Jesminder)

"Beating up corrupt, sexist, rich assholes for sport: very much my sexual orientation, honestly. No one on the Internet's good enough to fake something as intricate as that."

Panel 4: The layout is similar to the previous panel, though the setting has changed slightly to show nothing but yellow-ish gray walls all around the scene. We see a new story on a pilot program for a UBI system in the California Legislature. Off-Panel, you can hear silent vibrations emanating from Seanna's phone.

Caption

(Joely)

"I don't know, some people on TikTok are pretty brilliant in terms of special FX."

Caption

(Cont., Jesminder)

"Seriously- you wouldn't want to see a real life superhero?

Caption

(Joely)

"Yeah. If/when there's proof of it."

Panel 5: Cut to Seanna seated on a chair in the small waiting room of the Sac State Admissions Dept., typing a response on their cell phone. You can see their bag on the lower right of the panel view in front of an empty chair.

LYNN

(text bubble, right above the phone) Hey, bud! Sorry I didn't get back to you earlier. Been busy with a lot of stuff...how are ya?

SEANNA

(text bubble, just below Lynn's text) No worries- I'm good. Been busy with therapy stuff, which I finished yesterday!

LYNN

(text bubble 2, below Seana's text) Congrats...

SEANNA

(text bubble 2, just below Lynn's 2nd text bubble) Thanks! Now I'm at Sac State, hoping I'll be school in the new year. We should get lunch sometime- are you working tomorrow?

LYNN

(text bubble 3, just below Seanna's 2nd text bubble) I'm free tomorrow. 1 o'clock at that cafe good?

SEANNA

(text bubble 3, just below Lynn's 3rd text bubble) Sounds good...see ya then!

LYNN

(text bubble 4, just below Seanna's 3rd text bubble) See ya then! Good luck with the school. I know you'll knock 'em dead.

Panel 6: Same setting/layout as the previous panel. It takes place a beat after Watkins finishes up the last text in the chain.

SEANNA

(Cont., text bubble just above the phone) Thanks...should be only slightly less a pain in the ass than it was with the state!

RECEPTIONIST

(Off-Panel, to Seanna) Seanna Watkins...?