Venkataswamy: Dora, don’t we know which side of the public bread has political butter?
Mallesam Gowd: Dora, don’t you know they’re postmasters at licking off the butter and throwing the crumbs at the rich and poor alike.
Venkataswamy: Don’t tell me you’re any political novices.
Papa Rao: How can there be novices in the cesspool of leeches that is politics?
Mallesam Gowd: Sour grapes Papa Rao Patel.
Venkataswamy: Set aside party politics, we’ve to admit that our public stock is low.
Muthyal Rao: Why not you people do something about improving your worse than ‘the last resort of the scoundrels’ image?
Venkataswamy: You won’t say that dora, if you’re in politics even for a day. Where’s the scope for that, and moreover why is it needed? Won’t people have to choose between a rogue of a Gog and a moron of a Megog? Well, the blessing that is electoral politics hands them power on a platter, well in turns. And five years is not too long a period to make good the lost opportunities. Is it Gowd garu?
Papa Rao: He’ll respond on the floor of the house or raise a hell of it in the well of it.
Venkataswamy: Well, that’s not going to happen till either of us changes the constituency. What do you say Gowd garu?
Muthyal Rao: It’s no joking matter Swamy Saab. If your Greyhounds don’t hunt them in their hideouts, they’re sure to hound us out of the villages. And that would be curtains down on your party propped up by the landlords.
Venkataswamy: Are we naïve not to understand that dora. Wait and watch, it will be thumbs up for us any way. But isn’t it time we cheer up with cheers, why don’t I see any preparations.
Muthyal Rao: Why not, some Scotch might drown our sorrows a little. What do you prefer, Johnnie Walker or Chivas Regal?
Mallesam Gowd: Maybe Johnnie Walker as any way they’re on the way out.
Venkataswamy: Dora why not let poor Gowd garu dream over Chivas Regal.
Muthyal Rao: And to keep both of you in good humour, won’t we have both.
Venkataswamy: Well, with three cheers to the Greyhounds on the hunt. [Curtains down]
Scene - 17
[Curtains up: Narsimma, Mallanna, Srisailam, Renuka, Sarakka, Nirmala and others in the jungle hideout of the scenes-12, 13 & 15. Sitting by a transistor as Nirmala is impatient for the news, Narsimma looks at his watch restlessly, and others wait in anxiety. As the beeps heralding the news are aired, all hold their breath.]