Transcript For Strip 216

Panel 1
A woman is standing next to a console with a large, wide viewscreen. At this angle we see a dull, rocky landscape with a very short horizon, and a dark sky with stars. The woman is facing away from the large viewscreen and looking at her personal Screen. So her face is in shadow, although silhouetted against a lighted panel on the far side of her. We can only tell that she has long, medium-blonde hair.
Caption: Far, far away ...
Voice from Screen: … love me for my mind, darling.
Woman: Hm.
Panel 2
Shift angle so now we see the first woman (Dr. Diamondi) from a 3/4 rear view. On the right, another, dark-haired, middle-aged-appearing woman steps in through a doorway, carrying her own Screen under her arm.
2nd woman: Dr. Diamondi, I – oh!
2nd woman: Sorry if I'm interrupting a call.
Panel 3
The 2nd woman (Karen) stands before Dr. Diamondi, holding her Screen forth, with the leading edge angled towards the doctor, who we still see from a 3/4 rear view.
Dr. Diamondi: No, it's all right, Karen, I was just listening to voice-mail.
Karen: You wanted me to personally notify you when the R-84-gamma results were in.
Panel 4
Two-shot of Diamondi and Karen, from the necks down. Now Diamondi is holding forth her Screen, so that the two screens' leading edges are only a few inches apart. We can see a light-beam running between the two tablets at those edges.
Diamondi: Thanks. Just load them into my Screen and I'll review them after lunch.
Karen: You also asked me to remind you about the meeting with Sheridan and Trotman at 14:30.
Panel 5
Two-shot of Diamondi and Karen. Karen is turning to leave. Diamondi has a hand covering her face, in a gesture of weariness.
Diamondi: Ah. Right. I suppose I have to do this, don't I?
Karen: Perhaps it's best to get it done and out of the way, doctor.
Panel 6
Now Diamondi has turned towards the console – she rests her palms (and her Screen) on it, looking away from Karen, who is starting to walk away.
Diamondi: I wouldn't be lucky enough to see those two beaned by some stray meteors, would I?
Karen: They'd simply be replaced by a pair of new irritants.
Panel 7
Karen is walking out the door. Now we see Diamondi's face for the first time – high, broad forehead, broad cheekbones, pointed chin, generally elfin-looking, apparent age about 30.
Diamondi: Careful, Karen, you're becoming cynical.
Karen: Just being practical, doctor.

Panel 8
Reverse angle, truck back. We see Diamondi looking at the wide screen, which shows more of the landscape and just off center, the planet Saturn in quarter-phase.
Diamondi: Being practical is harder than it looks.

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