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CATARACT Issue 6: Scene 1
 Notes
 [Prof. Fustering’s Office.  The professor’s office is not markedly any nicer than his students’.  It is filled as much as possible with books and artifacts, although they are very neatly arranged.
 [PROF. FUSTERING sits dwarfed behind his desk, JOE on the only chair on the other side.  TAFFY stands behind her, still holding AM-BAIU, and PUN finds himself a place amongst the artifacts.]
PROF F:Now, kids, you know how bureaucracy works.  Most likely they had already decided to merge the departments long before the final vote.
TAFFY:But Professor—
PROF F:[Smiles up at her.]  You all worked very hard, I know.  I think you did very well.
JOE:So they’re not just eliminating our department, but kicking us out of our office?  The merger doesn’t even go through until next semester!
PUN:If they need to revamp the network . . . [Trails off as JOE glares at him.]
PROF F:[Nodding.]  And surely that will be good for everyone.
JOE:Except us.
PROF F:I’m sure something can be worked out once the merger goes through.
 [JOE stares at him in disbelief.  PUN and TAFFY look unhappily at each other.]


Grad Student God Wars CATARACT


Issue 6

In which the antagonists’ circumstances are more fully revealed, much to the annoyance of all concerned.


CATARACT Issue 6: Scene 2
 Notes
 [Classical Archaeology Dept Office.  There is a small hole in the door where JOE shot it before, but otherwise the outside looks the same.]
 [The door opens and, from the other side, we see the TRIAD enter, carrying boxes.  AM-BAIU is at TAFFY’s heels.]
 [The Classical Archaeology room also serves as an office supply closet, and consists of a single shared table surrounded by shelves, mostly occupied with said supplies.  The departmental computer, out-of-date and bearing a large "Property of Bitterman University" sticker, resides on the table.  Some suitable decoration has been attempted around the office and includes a Mycenaean "Dolly" terracotta figure, as well as other possibilities such as Minyan ware, relief-beads, etc.]
 [The TRIAD and the five core members of the SEVEN come face-to-face and stop.  WALLY and ROMAN are behind the table as there is not enough room in front.  Both sides look to their respective JOEs for direction.]
JOE:[Annoyed.]  Well?
JOE B.:[Deliberately off-hand.]  We made some space back there.  [Gestures toward the far corner.]
 [JOE follows his indication, but the view is blocked by the shelves.  She looks back at JOE B., not moving.  JOE B. ignores her and moves back to the table.]
QUINCEY:[Hesitantly, with a glance at DORCAS.]  It's this way . . . .
 [QUINCEY ushers the TRIAD around the shelves while the others stand watching.  AM-BAIU mutters threateningly at them as he passes.]
 [Turning the corner around the shelves, the TRIAD find a space with three chairs with folding writing desks.  JOE makes several faces before finally speaking.]
JOE:Thank you.
 [JOE puts her box next to the wall, and PUN and TAFFY cooperatively stack theirs on top of it.  JOE then scoops up AM-BAIU and deposits it on the top of the pile.]
JOE:Stay!
 [AM-BAIU sits up at attention.  JOE nods approvingly, then looks significantly at QUINCEY as she passes with PUN and TAFFY in tow.  QUINCEY looks nervously at AM-BAIU, who growls at him.  QUINCEY quickly follows the TRIAD out.]

CATARACT Issue 6: Scene 3
 Notes
 [Classical Archaeology Dept Office, hence the Antiquities Dept Office.]
 [JOE enters and promptly trips over some boxes inside the door.]
JOE:What the—?
 [JOE kneels to look at one of the scattered boxes.  It contains phone message pads.  Through the still-open door, WALLY is seen approaching the office, but he pauses when he sees JOE.]
WALLY:[Greeting her reluctantly.]  Good morning.
 [JOE looks up and sees WALLY.]
WALLY:[Seeing the boxes.]  Oh.  [Gathers the boxes and starts putting them in various spots on the shelves.]  They deliver supplies in the morning.  Whoever gets in first puts them away.
JOE:[Following with the box of pads, but ignoring the hint.]  Here.
 [As soon as WALLY takes the box, JOE quickly moves around the shelves to the Egyptology side of the room.  PUN is already present, attempting to work at one of the folding desks.  The moving boxes there are still partly packed.  JOE clears a path around the edge of the space.  She recites a protective spell.
PUN:Do you think it will work?
JOE:It makes me feel better, anyway.  [Grins at him.]  Had to do something.  There aren’t any wires to pull in here!
 [JOE picks up the bulletin board and tries to find someplace to hang it.  The walls are concrete and hanging from the shelves would block access, so finally JOE puts one of the larger boxes against the wall and props the board on top.]

CATARACT Issue 6: Scene 4
 Notes
 [Antiquities Dept Office.]
 [An overhead view shows the office arrangements:  DORCAS, JOE B., QUINCEY, ROMAN, and WALLY are all at the one table on their side of the shelf-partition; JOE, PUN, and TAFFY at their chairs on the other side.]
JOE:[Annoyed.]  All right.  This isn’t over yet.  We’ve still got until next year to get them to reverse the merger.
PUN:The petition didn’t seem to help, though.
JOE:Yeah, but a petition doesn’t really prove anything.  I figure if we can get enough students to ask to enroll in Egyptology courses next semester, specifically, that should get some results.
PUN:But if enough students don’t register in the Antiquities classes, they won’t need to keep us all as TAs.
TAFFY:You mean they might break us up?
JOE:Well, they’d have to keep ONE of us, if they want to cover Egypt.  [Pointedly looks off into space while PUN reddens.]  The rest of us will probably be flipping burgers for a living.  So I guess we’d better—
VOICE:Hey, guys, got any masking tape?
JOE B.:[From behind the shelves.]  Who’s up?
ROMAN:[From behind the shelves.]  Got it.
 [ROMAN comes around the shelves.  The TRIAD watch silently as he pulls a roll off the shelves behind TAFFY.  He smiles and winks at TAFFY as he leaves, but she pointedly turns away looking pouty.]
VOICE:Thanks, Roman.
ROMAN:[Behind the shelves again.]  Any time.
 [There is a brief pause, during which the TRIAD sit looking toward the door beyond the shelves.]
PUN:That could get . . . distracting.
JOE:Hmph.  Let them try working in the hall every time the network acts up.
 [TAFFY giggles and the TRIAD relaxes, returning to work.]

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