The Last of the Bunch

1 panel fills the page.
(A man sits on a balcony at night, looking into the distance. His head is bald except for a tuft of white hair on the back of his head, and his face is unshaven. His legs are crossed and one arm rests on the railing while his other hand holds a cigarette. A teapot, two glasses, and an ashtray are on the table. A starry sky and water are visible in the background.)
[Title text: Migo]
[Title text: The Last of the Bunch]

7 panels organized into 1 panel in the top row, 3 panels in the middle row, and 3 panels in the bottom row. 

Panel 1
(View of an empty highway running along the water, with buildings along the road. The sky above is filled with stars and a full moon.)
[Narration: At my age, there’s nothing to live for except the past . . . ]

Panel 2
(The man looks out from a balcony at night, smoking a cigarette. There is a second, empty chair beside the table.)

Panel 3
(Close-up of a hand pouring tea into a glass.)

Panel 4
(Close-up of the man in profile, drinking tea, with a starry sky in the background.)

Panel 5
(View of the balcony from the exterior of the house: the man smokes, a glass of tea in his hand. His son stands in the doorway of the balcony, looking up at the sky.)
Son: I wonder what the stars are hiding

Panel 6
(A speech bubble rises into the starry sky.)
Dad (out of frame): The darker the sky, the brighter the stars!

Panel 7
(Close-up of Son’s face, with the doorway in the background.)
Son: Is that philosophy or something?

10 panels organized into 2 panels in the 1st row, 3 panels in the 2nd row, 3 panels in the 3rd row, and 2 panels in the 4th row.

Panel 1
(View of the balcony from the exterior of the house, as Dad leans back in his chair and Son approaches the empty seat.)
Dad: No, that’s experience talking!

Panel 2
(View of the balcony from inside the apartment: a couch, a coffee table with a newspaper and an ashtray, and a plant are in the foreground. Dad and Son, sitting at the table on the balcony, are in the background.)
Son: You seem happy today, Dad

Panel 3
(Closer view of Dad from the waist up, holding his cup of tea in one hand and his cigarette in the other.)
Dad: I feel like I’ve got a new spirit in me. 

Panel 4
(View of the balcony table from behind Dad, with Son leaning toward him, one arm on the railing.)
Son: That sounds like big news

Panel 5
(Close-up of Dad’s head and shoulders, one hand holding a cigarette.)
Dad: You remember my friend Tariq?

Panel 6
(View of the table from over Dad’s shoulder, with the back of Dad’s head in the foreground and Son leaning back in his chair in the background.)
Son: No . . . I didn’t know you had any friends!

Panel 7
(Close-up of Dad’s head and shoulders as he smokes his cigarette.)

Panel 8
(Dad looks out from the balcony, one arm on the railing.)
Dad: How is it I’ve never told you about him?

Panel 9
(View from over Son’s shoulder, with Son’s head in profile in foreground and Dad leaning back in his chair in the background.)
Dad: He’s the only friend I’ve had in this life

Panel 10
(Close-up of Son’s head and shoulders. He looks surprised.)
Son: OK, so where is he since I’ve never laid eyes on him?

12 panels organized into 3 panels in the 1st row, 3 panels in the 2nd row, 3 panels in the 3rd row, and 3 panels in the 4th row.

Panel 1
(Wider view of the balcony from the exterior, with the back of Dad’s head visible and Son facing him.)
Dad: He moved away more than thirty years before you were born
Son: Whoa, that’s a lifetime ago!

Panel 2
(Close-up of Son’s hands as he pours himself a cup of tea.)
Son (his head out of frame): So what made you think of him, Dad?

Panel 3
(View from behind Son, with the back of Son’s head in the foreground and Dad looking out from the balcony in the background.)

Panel 4
(Close-up of Dad’s head and shoulders, one hand holding a cigarette, with the doorway in the background.)
Dad: I’m afraid you won’t understand the matter . . . You’re young and I don’t want my feelings to get hurt!

Panel 5
(Son sits holding his cup of tea and looking annoyed. The back of Dad’s head is in the right corner.)
Son: What “matter,” Dad? Why are you beating around the bush like this?

Panel 6
(Close-up of Dad’s face in profile, one hand holding his cigarette.)
Dad: Tariq has returned. He’s coming to Alexandria tomorrow!

Panel 7
(View of the starry sky with a full moon in the bottom right corner.)
Narration: Tariq’s return is going to let me feel like I’m alive again

Panel 8
(Several children play soccer with buildings in the distant background. Two boys are drawn clearly, while the rest of the figures are shadowy.)
[Narration: We shared memories and things I could never forget]
Dad (as a boy): Kick it, Tariq

Panel 9
(Two boys are in the process of climbing over a wall, while Dad (as a boy) waves his arms on the ground below them. A sign beside the wall reads “secondary school” with the words cut off by the panel’s frame.)
Dad (as a boy): C’mon, Tariq, the teacher’s coming!

Panel 10
(6 men, holding onto each other’s shoulders, hold up papers as they cheer.)
[Narration: Hope and success]

Panel 11
(Three men, wearing hard hats, point at the structure of a building under construction.)
[Narration: Work and striving]

Panel 12
(A plane travels through the night sky.)
[Narration: But he found the country’s circumstances too constricting. He emigrated to Canada and settled down there.]

11 panels organized into 3 panels in the 1st row, 3 panels in the 2nd row, 3 panels in the 3rd row, and 2 panels in the 4th row. 

Panel 1
(View of Dad in profile, wearing black, kneeling before a gravestone with bouquets of flowers on the ground in front of it. Son stands in the background, wearing white, his head bowed. The city’s horizon is in the distant background.)
[Narration: When your mother died, I was hoping he would come back so I could grieve with him . . . ]

Panel 2
(Close-up of Dad’s hand putting out his cigarette in an ashtray in the foreground, the pot of tea on the table beside it. Son is sitting in the background.)

Panel 3
(Close-up of Dad’s head and shoulders, his head bowed as he wipes tears from his eyes.)

Panel 4
(View from over Son’s shoulder, the back of his head in the left corner of the frame. Dad, looking happier and leaning over the balcony, fills the rest of the frame.)
Dad: I’m going to go wait for him tomorrow!

Panel 5
(Dad turns his head to look at Son.)
Dad: Would you like to come along?

Panel 6
(Close-up of Son’s head and shoulders.)
Son: Sorry, Dad—tomorrow I’ve got to be somewhere in the morning. But for sure, I’ll meet him when I get back!

Panel 7
(Same view over Son’s shoulder. Dad looks out over the balcony, thoughtful.)
Dad: It’s not important that you meet him when you get back

Panel 8
(View over Dad’s shoulder, with the back of Dad’s head in the right corner. Son, leaning back in his chair, is on the left side of the frame.)
Son: Sorry, Dad. Now I understand what you meant that maybe I wouldn’t understand you. 

Panel 9
(View of balcony from inside the apartment, with the coffee table with a newspaper and an ashtray in the foreground. Dad and Son, sitting at the table across from each other, are in the background.)
Son: I’ll leave you out here with the stars. I’m going inside to sleep. I’ve got to get up early.

Panel 10
(Wider view of balcony from inside the apartment, with the coffee table with a newspaper and an ashtray, a couch, and a plant in the foreground. Dad, sitting alone at the table drinking his tea, is in the background.)

Panel 11
(Same view of balcony from inside the apartment. On the balcony, the table and two empty seats are in the background.)

10 panels organized into 2 panels in the 1st row, 2 panels in the 2nd row, 3 panels in the 3rd row, and 3 panels in the 4th row. 

Panel 1
(View of a busy highway running along the water, with buildings along the road. The sky above is light; it is daytime.)

Panel 2
(View of Dad from the chest up, buttoning a white shirt. His bedroom, with a window with curtains, a bed, and a clothing rack, is visible in the background.)

Panel 3
(Dad, his back to the viewer, stands in front of a mirror and dresser. In the background, Son stands in the doorway of the bedroom, one hand holding onto the doorframe.)
Son: Good morning, Dad!

Panel 4
(Close-up of Dad from the shoulders up, the buildings through his window visible in the background.)
Dad: What do you think about this shirt? Or would wearing black look more chic?

Panel 5
(Close-up of Son in the doorway from the waist up.)
Son: Do you have a photo of him?

Panel 6
(View of Dad sitting on the bed wearing the white shirt and light trousers, looking at the shoes in his hand.)
Dad: Of who?

Panel 7
(Dad sitting on the bed holding a shoe, his back to the viewer, is in the foreground. Son, standing in the doorway, is in the background.)
Son: Tariq!
Dad: No

Panel 8
(Wider view of Dad sitting on the bed, his back to the viewer, with a dresser beside the doorway visible in the background.)
Son: That shirt is nicer. I’m heading out. Bye!

Panel 9
(Close-up of Dad pulling on his shoes.)

Panel 10
(View of Dad beside a taxicab on the street, his back to the viewer, with tall buildings in the background.)
Dad: Alexandria Station, driver!
Driver (from within taxicab): Yes, sir. Hop in!

12 panels organized into 3 panels in the 1st row, 3 panels in the 2nd row, 3 panels in the 3rd row, and 3 panels in the 4th row. 

Panel 1
(View from the sidewalk as the taxicab drives away.)

Panel 2
(Close-up of Dad sitting in the taxicab, smiling to himself.)

Panel 3
(View of the exterior of the train station, with the taxicab parked in front.)
Driver (from within taxicab): You were asking about the 10:30 train, I’ll get you someone who can show you.
Dad (from within taxicab): Thank you so much, driver!

Panel 4
(View of the interior of the train station, with a tall ceiling, a train beside a crowded platform, and a clock that reads 10:00. Dad is visible along the bottom edge of the platform, speaking to a station employee, who is pointing in the distance.)
Station Employee: The 10:30 train arrives on the middle platform.

Panel 5
(Dad approaches a bench, where another man in a black jacket sits with his hands folded over a box.)

Panel 6
(Dad, sitting on the bench next to the other man, holds out a cigarette.)
Dad: Cigarette?

Panel 7
(Dad sits beside the man. Both men are smoking cigarettes.)
Dad: What’s your name?
Man: Abd al-Rasul
Dad: Nice to meet you

Panel 8
(Close-up of the station clock, which reads 10:04.)

Panel 9
(View of Dad sitting beside Abd al-Rasul on the bench. The men are facing each other.)
Dad: The train from Cairo gets here at 10:30, right?
Abd al-Rasul: I don’t know, exactly: I’m waiting for the Mansoura train

Panel 10
(Same view of Dad sitting beside Abd al-Rasul on the bench.)
Dad: The fact is, the train that’s on its way is bringing my friend Tariq. He was in Canada for thirty years. We’re very good friends!
Abd al-Rasul: “May God preserve your friendship!”, as they say.

Panel 11
(View of Dad sitting beside Abd al-Rasul. The men continue smoking, facing away from each other.)

Panel 12
(View of Dad sitting alone on the bench, looking at his watch.)

14 panels organized into 3 panels in the 1st row, 3 panels in the 2nd row, 4 panels in the 3rd row, and 4 panels in the 4th row. 

Panel 1
(Dad, sitting on the bench, looks over his shoulder in the background, as a woman crosses the right corner of the frame in the foreground. More passengers are visible in the background behind Dad.)

Panel 2
(The same scene from a different angle; Dad sits on the bench looking over his shoulder, with the woman and other passengers in the background.)

Panel 3
(View of the platform leading into the terminal, with trains on either side.)

Panel 4
(View of the front of a train as it enters the station.)

Panel 5
(View of the platform inside the station, as passengers exit the train.)

Panel 6
(Close-up of Dad’s face, grinning, with the station in the background.)
Dad: Tariq!

Panel 7
(View of a man with white hair and glasses, wearing a suit and holding luggage in each hand. He stands among the passengers beside the train.)
[Narration: His hair is white, too . . . And there’s the same old glasses!]

Panel 8
(Profile of Dad as he looks over his shoulder in the foreground. The man with glasses stands among passengers in the background, facing Dad.)
Dad: He’s heading towards me . . . He’s definitely noticed me!

Panel 9
(Profile of Dad from the other side, smiling as he adjusts his collar in the foreground. Shadowy passengers are in the background.)
Dad: I’ll act like I haven’t noticed him . . . Let him recognize me!

Panel 10
(Close-up of the man’s face. He has white hair, glasses, and a white moustache.)
Man with glasses: Excuse me, is there a public payphone near here?

Panel 11
(Close-up of Dad’s face, looking surprised.)
Dad: It’s . . . uhhh, there’s one next to the station, on the north side. 

Panel 12
(Close-up of the man’s face, smiling.)
Man with glasses: Thanks very much!

Panel 13
(View of Dad sitting on the bench, watching as the man with glasses walks away. The station and other passengers are in the background.)

Panel 14
(View of the platform inside the station, with trains on either side and people in the background. The man with glasses is walking away in the distance, casting a long shadow.)
[Narration: Where’s the sky, where’s the sky . . . Even the past didn’t recognize me.

13 panels organized into 3 panels in the 1st row, 3 panels in the 2nd row, 3 panels in the 3rd row, and 4 panels in the 4th row.  

Panel 1
(Exterior of the windows and balconies of Dad’s apartment building, looking up from the street.)

Panel 2
(View of living room, with Son and a friend sitting on the couch looking at a laptop on the coffee table, with a TV console and windows along the wall. In the background, Dad lets himself into the apartment.)

Panel 3
(Close-up of Son’s head and shoulders, looking over his shoulder at Dad, who stands in the background.)
Son: Dad, you’re back! So where’s Tariq?

Panel 4
(Close-up of Dad’s head and shoulders. His eyebrows are furrowed.)
Dad: He had a few errands and some people to visit. We’ll get together after that.

Panel 5
(Son and his friend sit on the couch in the foreground, looking at Dad, who stands in the doorway behind them.)
Dad: He asked about you. I told him you’re busy. He says hello!
Son: And hello to him too!

Panel 6
(Close-up of dad’s face, looking concerned. The background behind him is black.)
Dad: Okay boys, I’m going into my room to get some sleep.

Panel 7
(Dad looks over his shoulder, the doorway shadowy behind him, in the foreground. Tariq and his friend look at him over the back of the couch in the background.)
Tariq: Can I make you a sandwich?
Dad: No . . . thank you.

Panel 8
(View of the clothing rack, window, and the corner of the bed in Dad’s bedroom.)

Panel 9
(View from the window of the bedroom, showing the bed and the dresser. Dad opens the door in the background.)

Panel 10
(Dad, standing beside the clothing rack, removes his white collared shirt. He is wearing a sleeveless undershirt.)

Panel 11
(Dad, now wearing the undershirt and black pajama pants, sits on the bed, looking at the phone on his bedside table.)

Panel 12
(Close-up of the phone on top of the bedside table.)

Panel 13
(Same view of the phone. A speech bubble emerges from the receiver.)
Phone: Ring! Ring!

1 panel fills the page.
(View of Dad lying in bed under the blankets, his eyes closed. Wind blows through the window, pushing the curtains into the bedroom and revealing the window shutter. On the far side of the bed, a speech bubble emerges from the shadowy outline of the phone.)
Phone: Ring! Ring!
[Captions: The End]