June 24, 2005
Week 9 - Impossible Dreams, Prelude 2
Episode 5
Powell sits at his desk, flipping though a comic book. Harry Cunningham walks over to him.
“Well… the new issue, with your story about that fruitcake Lamont, is off to the printer…” Harry says. “It’ll hit the newsstands in a week.”
“Okay,” Powell answers.
“That was damn good work kid. That article’s dynamite!”
“Mmmm…” Powell turns a page in the comic.
“What is that, Action number six? One of the first appearances of Superman…”
Powell nods. “A reprint… Mr. Lamont had an original. Not in a plastic bag or anything… just lying open on a table.”
“Worth thousands! Just proves the guy’s a looney tune!”
“Um… I don’t think he’s really that crazy.”
“The guy can’t distinguish fantasy from reality… thinks superheroes exist! He’s nuts!”
Powell looks at him. “Who’s… who’s a better starship captain… Kirk or Picard?”
“What?”
“Who’s better, Kirk or Picard? We spend an awful lot of time talking about stuff like that… We think it’s important… What’s the difference?”
“The difference is, we know it’s not real… it’s just make believe.”
Powell shrugs. “Mr. Lamont said we should all try to be more like the superheroes. That we should never stop battling for truth and justice.”
“You forgot the American Way… This story is gonna send newsstand sales skyrocketing. It’s gonna make us a fortune… And, it means a fat Christmas bonus for you. That’s real! That’s what’s important!”
“Mmm…”
“Now finish your Superman story and get back to work. I’m not paying you to sulk.” Harry pats Powell on the back and leaves. After a moment he returns. “And another thing… Kirk could whup Picard’s sorry bald butt!” He leaves again.
Powell takes a deep breath and shakes his head. Then he closes the comic book and turns back to his word processor.