June 13, 2005
Week 8 - Impossible Dreams, Prelude 1
Episode 1
Rantz is chatting with Powell in the offices of Fiddle and Burn when Harry Cunningham rushes in.
“This is amazing!” Harry says. “I still don’t believe it… I just got off the phone with the daughter of Donald Lamont!”
Powell’s eyes shoot open. “Donald Lamont!”
Rantz looks at them. “Who’s he?”
“Donald Lamont is a legend!” Harry says. “He’s this rich old guy... Made his money on some kind of hippie environmental thing…”
“His... Uh... His company sells energy generated by wind power, I think…” Powell says.
“Wind power, right, whatever, he’s got gobs of money… And he used all his cash to build the largest comic book collection in the world!”
“All right…” Rantz says.
“He’s got ‘em all,” Harry continues. “First appearance Superman, first appearance Batman, first appearance Spiderman… everything… But he’s, like, a recluse…” He looks at Rantz. “Lives on the North Shore of the Island, not too far from you, I don’t think… But he stopped coming to the conventions a few years ago, refuses to speak to anyone, doesn’t let anyone see the comics….” He puts his arm around Powell’s shoulder. “And now you’re going to interview him!”
“Me!” Powell’s face turns white. “I’m... I'm going to be in the same room as the first appearance of Superman!”
“Yeah, focus on the comics,” Harry says, “that’s what the readers’ll care about… But don’t lose sight of the human angle… Find out what he’s been doing all these years… why wouldn’t he talk to anyone?”
“You think we could get a good cover out of it?” Rantz asks. “Doesn’t matter how big a story it is… It won’t increase newsstand sales unless we get a good cover…”
“God!” Powell says. “Um... Do you think he’ll let me touch them? Can you imagine, touching Detective Comics Number 27?”
“Nah!” Harry says. “The guy’s got any brains, he’s got ‘em sealed in some kind of air tight display case. No way he’ll let you get your cooty covered finger acids on ‘em.”
“If it’s really such a big deal, maybe we can work a reference into the new direct mail piece we’re designing…,” Rantz says.
Powell frowns. “I could bring a pair of surgical gloves…”