Frame Story Zarina Philips, Shane

Frame Story

Zarina Philips, Shane Matthews, and Katerina Esperanza are waiting for the a-line on the morning of February 9. Were it not for their coincidental schedules this day, their lives couldn't be on more different trajectories. Gus Tiller narrates our story about disparate lives that intersect in both space and time. When the public service announcement blares, "Red alert: the New York City police have declared an emergency. All passengers must now leave the station," Zarina, Shane, Katerina, and Gus are about to go on an unexpected ride together.

Philips, a bitter yet passionate doctor, makes her way to the free medical clinic with the firm belief that she changing the world. She gazes stoically ahead and averts eye contact even as her fellow subway passengers from the turn style unfurled. Everything seems to irk Zarina: the billboard ads for hamburgers and instant soup spark fierce criticism of the American diet. She thinks everyone would love tofu if they'd only just try it. A poster for eye makeup angers her more. When she spies Katerina Esperanza leaning against the tiled wall, Zarina hates her to the core. Although by no means unattractive, Zarina downplays her physicality by dressing rather dowdy. The result is a persona that many have referred to as cloudy. At the same time, Zarina shines when she works, transforming her misanthropic tendencies into healing the poor. She clearly follows her calling and, though her social skills may need polishing her professionalism couldn't improve any more.

Unlike Zarina, Shane Philips entertains himself by actively engaging with those around him wherever he goes. As a busker and professional musician, Shane hoists his guitar case on his shoulder and wipes his nose. He then lights up a cigarette and manages one puff. He exudes kindness even though his tattooed exterior appears rough. When the security guard tells him that smoking is banned from all subway stations, he sympathetically smiles. The guard and he both look over at the brunette leaning against the tiles. Left to himself, Shane hums a tune. This is one he's been working all afternoon. He can hone it while he plays on the street. At the club with his band, he'll have to stick to the set and be more discreet.

Like most men at the station, Shane eyes Katerina, a 21-year-old brunette bombshell. Though he's well-practiced at flirting, Katerina can easily tell. Well used to the attention, she briefly makes eye contact with Shane and coquettishly looks down at her leather boots. She'd never let on that thinks Shane is cute. On her way to a job interview in a tweed miniskirt, Katerina contemplates what she might say. Job interviews make her nervous and she inwardly prays. A devout Catholic, Katerina wants to work with kids. The preschool she is heading toward is, in her words, in the middle of "the skids." Katerina is more street smart than she would appear. Her upbringing taught her to cultivate strength over fear.