Page 34 of Keeping Time


Panel 1: Caption reads, "Then." An establishing shot of the piano bar Daniel works at, Keys on the River, seen from outside on a sunny winter day. Some patches of snow linger in the shadows on the sidewalk at the foot of the brick buildings. A small figure in a yellow winter parka stands off to the side, looking up at the Keys on the River sign. The narration starts, "I guess you could say..."

Panel 2: The figure is Daniel. His expression is unsure. The narration continues, "...that I lived my life in fear."

Panel 3: Daniel walks into the piano bar, sunlight streaming in from behind him. He's wearing a band shirt (The Smiths). As he looks around the seemingly empty room, he calls, "Hello? I called about your Craigslist ad...?"

Panel 4: Elena, a woman of indeterminate age, looks up from signing a form on a clipboard. A delivery man in a uniform of a brown cap, vest, button-up shirt and khakis leans on a dolly stacked with boxes. Elena is standing in the back of the bar, near the stage where flight cases for music equipment are lined up against the wall. Elena calls back, "Oh, hey! Back here! Just give me a sec!"