Guerilla Writing: Manila Unseen - Buried Past
PAGE TWO:

Seven Panels: Row 1 - 3 panels; Row 2 - 3 panels; Row 3 - 1 wide panels.

Panel 1
Drenched elderly woman sitting in the backseat of the Benz with Emerson. She looks regal, like a well-preserved woman in her 50s. Her clothes are modern-timeless, and she holds a dripping wood-handled umbrella. She's Mrs. Martinez.

Emerson sits beside her, offering his handkerchief... which she accepts.

Caption: Emerson insisted we give her a ride, of course.

Mrs. Martinez: Thank you so much for your help. I didn't think the rain would catch me out.

Emerson: Don't mention it, Mrs. Martinez.

Caption: Bernardo didn't argue, and I needed someone who might have some clue as to what road I was driving on.

Panel 2
In the back, Mrs. Martinez is on her cellphone, gesturing grandly. Lenard drives in the back, looking at the two in the rearview mirror.

Caption: Naturally she insisted that she take us to her home and feed us dinner.

Mrs. Martinez: ... no, Nenita. Four of us for dinner, and please use the silverware we were about to pack tomorrow.

Caption: Naturally, we accepted.

Panel 3
In the back, Mrs. Martinez is sitting primly. Lenard drives in the foreground, pointing at something.

Caption: She was rich, apparently. She divided her time between her house in Batangas and her main residence in Makati. Her nephew lived nearby.

Lenard: Is that it? Is that your house?

Caption: It took us another hour to find the house in the rain. With no idea how to get back.

Panel 4
Very old house with a garden with plants and bamboo clumps and wrought-iron gates in the foreground. Shadows play across the front.

Mrs. Martinez: Yes, it is.

Panel 5
The Benz slides through the wrought-iron gates which are held open by rain-drenched helpers whose faces are hidden by hoods and shadows.

Mrs. Martinez: Welcome to my home.

Panel 6
The gates close, and the car nears the lit front door of the mansion.

Mrs. Martinez: I do hope you enjoy your dinner.

Panel 7
Wide shot of the interior of the house. They are just inside the front door, in the background of the center of the panel. It is a house that is old, and has signs of being remodeled. There are boxes with pictures and trinkets strewn about. In the foreground, the foyer has shelves half-filled with memorabilia. Old pictures line the wall, with gaps in between.

Caption: As soon as we stepped in, the storm intensified. The house groaned softly in protest.