June 16, 2005
Week 8 - Impossible Dreams, Prelude 1
Episode 4
“Ever since my mother died,” Lucy says, “my father has been… off…”
“Um… Off?” Powell repeats.
“He lost all interest in his work, he never leaves the house, he won’t speak to anybody about anything but his comic books…”
“Oh…”
“I always tried to… to push him back to the things that are important, but he won’t listen… so I thought… maybe doing the opposite, maybe letting him just… just talk about what he wanted to would help him to open up… to get back…” She looks down. “Just… to open up.”
“So you called my magazine to do an interview?”
Lucy leans forward and rests her fingers on Powell’s hand. “Please, Mr. Powell! Just speak with him… he can’t wait to talk to you… As soon as he saw your magazine he…”
“Lucille!” A thin, squeaky voice calls from the hallway. “Lucille! Is the reporter gentlemen here?”
Lucy squeezes Powell’s hand. “Please,” she whispers, “just be gentle with him…” She lets go and leans back. “Yes, daddy, he’s in here!”
Donald Lamont steps into the room. He is tall and gangly, with patchy grey hair, and a gaunt, wrinkled face. When he sees Powell his eyes light up and he smiles.
“Ah! The intrepid journalist from that fine gazette, Fiddle and Burn!”
“Dad, this is Mr. Powell. Mr. Powell, this is my father, Donald Lamont.”
“It’s really an… an honor to meet you, Mr. Lamont,” Powell says. “I’ve admired you for years.”
“Ridiculous!” Lamont says. “I’m simply a humble businessman! There are many far, far more worthy of admiration than I!”
“Well, I’ll leave the two of you to get to it,” Lucy says. “I’m sure you have quite a lot to discuss.” She turns toward Powell, her face silently pleading. Then she leaves.
Lamont puts his arm around Powell’s shoulders and leads him out of the room. “Come, Mr. Powell!” he says. “Let us speak of the heroes!”