Statue Rentals #4: Waiting

Finally, Stacy will no longer be a blockhead. (Blockbody? Blockperson?) Observant folk will have noticed the first panel here shows one of the statues Heather visits during her journey. More evidence of a shared universe? Or maybe Meredith just imagined Heather's journey.

Bonus - The studio panorama

See above.

Transcript

PAGE 4 – Waiting

Panels 1-7 are a ‘single panoramic view’ divided into 4 day panels and 3 night panels. Meredith (and Noriko) appear(s) only in the day panels. The night panels show the studio is empty at night. The middle of the shot is the marble block, still untouched.

Panel 1 – Meredith is drawing at an easel.

Narration: Monday...

Panel 3 – Meredith is at a different table.

Narration: Next Monday...

Panel 5 – Meredith is sitting on a yoga mat in a difficult yoga pose.

Narration: A Month Later...

Panel 7 – Evening, Meredith and Noriko dressed for a night on the town

Meredith: Are you taller now?

Noriko: Platforms. We can't all be leggy, former models.

Meredith: Don't hate me because I can still pull off this dress.

Noriko: It'll get pulled off you, I'm sure. Night club's tequila is calling my name. Let's go.

Panel 8 – Meredith’s Bedroom. Sunlight shines in her face. She’s sleeping.

Narration: The Next Morning, 8 am…

Phone (too far from bed): Dee-da-dee-da... Dee dah doo....

Phone (still too far from bed): Dee-da-dee-da... Dee dah doo....

Meredith (thinking): Who calls anyone at eight o'clock? On a weekend!

Male Voice Recording: Miss Fuller? This is Brian Tellani. A friend of a friend told me you lease living statues for up to six months. I am in desperate need of a statue. If you can provide a figure by this Thursday, we need to talk, ASAP...

Panel 9 – Meredith is hungover checking her phone

Narration: 11:34 am...

Meredith (thinking): This is great news. We can probably charge him a rush fee. I need to call Noriko. I'll call him back first... He didn't answer... Maybe I'll just head over to the address he left.

Male Voice: ... Please leave your message....

Meredith (leaving a message): I guess we're playing phone tag, Mr. Tellani. It sounds like we should meet today if you want a custom statue by Thursday. I'm available any time today. You left me your address so just text when you'd like me to arrive...

Panel 10 – Meredith talking to Noriko

Narration: Later, that afternoon, after securing the contract...

Meredith: I can’t believe how much they’re willing to pay. Stacy will be well-compensated for the extra time spent in stone.

Noriko: Are you sure they’ll be okay with it? The minimum time is six months on top of the nearly three months so far. What if they want the six month extension?

Meredith: We can’t ask. Hopefully, there’s forgiveness when it’s over.