Page · 4 panels
Page 5/ 19
Layout — 4 panels
[art pending]
Jesse, looking at Dev. Dev — beside him on the crate, fingers still tapping the shuffle, face neutral.
- JESSE(very quiet)Dev.
- DEVYeah.
- JESSEThey could just give us 2260.
- DEV…
- DEVYeah, Jesse.
- DEVThey could.
[art pending]
The Operative, across the floor, hearing this exchange. They have not heard Dev's qualifier. They have not noticed the tapping. They are smiling small.
- OPERATIVETake your time, boys.
- OPERATIVEThis is a significant decision.
- OPERATIVEI have all afternoon.
[art pending]
Dev, leaning in, very quiet, so the Operative cannot hear:
- DEV(whisper)Jesse.
- DEVListen to me.
- DEVThey want the USB.
- DEVThey want the USB because there is only one in existence.
- DEVIf we hand it over they keep us out of every other time period. The dad we just met. The Lou. Forever.
- DEVAnd the 2260 show they're promising us isn't ours.
- DEVIt's theirs. They write the rules. They write the venue. They write the audience. They could shoot us on stage and call it a malfunction.
- DEVThey don't lose. They never lose. They have never lost.
- DEVThere is no scenario where we hand them the USB and we win.
[art pending]
Jesse, looking at Dev. Then at the Operative. Then back at Dev. He breathes out, very slowly. Allred — the panel where Jesse comes back to himself. The armor settling back into place — but a different armor this time. Steel, not fear.
- JESSE(very quiet)What's the plan.