Comic Transcript: Chapter 2, Page 2
Overview & Visual Setting
A two-panel watercolor comic illustrating the immediate aftermath of Captain Duco’s decree. While Lady Penelope Peacock vents her outrage at the departing guards, Professor Genevieve secretly picks her leg shackle lock and makes a break for an open window.
Panel 1
Visual Description: Wide shot of the dim room. In the background, the silhouettes of Captain Duco and his guards depart through a doorway. In the foreground, Lady Penelope Peacock sits on the floor waving a rolled-up document in protest. Beside her, Professor Genevieve quietly works a small metal tool into the keyhole of her heavy iron leg shackle.
A circular inset panel zooms in on the professor’s hand picking the lock mechanism of the wooden and metal shackle.
Captain Duco (Off-panel):
“Your copy of the papers of impressment; we’ll keep the other copy. You’ll be unchained tomorrow, after we weld on the accreditation committee collars. They’re just a formality, of course.”
Lady Penelope Peacock:
“Why — why — I warn you, I’ll draft a strongly worded memorandum about this! I may even call a meeting!“
Sound Effect (Inset):
CLICK
Panel 2
Visual Description: Medium shot looking over Lady Penelope Peacock’s shoulder. She watches in utter shock as Professor Genevieve, now completely freed from her shackles, climbs up onto a window sill to make her escape.
Lady Penelope Peacock:
“What are you — … how did you —”
Professor Genevieve:
“Being able to pick locks goes a long way toward protecting the free press, Lady Penelope.”
Lady Penelope Peacock:
“Wait, Professor Genevieve! You can’t — you wouldn’t leave me here all by myself, would you?”