August 30, 2005
Week 18 - Impossible Dreams 5
Episode 2
Powell stares at her.
"If you became his sidekick you could watch him," Lucy says. "You could keep him out of trouble."
Powell shakes his head. "Donald Lamont needs professional help... like... um... a psychiatrist or something."
"If I brought in outsiders, my cousin would find out. I know the bastard is spying on us. If I called in a doctor or had... had my father committed... Mark would use that to convince the minor shareholders to give him control. I have to be very careful... keep things very quiet."
"But what do you expect me to do!"
"Go out with my father. Just... stop him from getting hurt or... or hurting anyone else. And whatever you do, make sure no one finds out who he is!"
"It wouldn't work. Sooner or later, he'd get... he'd get caught or something. We couldn't... we couldn't keep it up indefinitely."
"It wouldn't have to be indefinite. Just two months."
"Uh... what happens in two months?"
"In two months, Lamont Energy holds its annual shareholder's meeting. And it's the twenty fifth anniversary of the company. Daddy always said he'd retire at that time. It won't look odd to anyone if he steps down and gives all his shares to me. Once that happens, I'll have my own authority, my cousin won't be able to touch me. You just have to keep a lid on things till then."
Powell stares at her. "But... I mean... even if it could work... uh... I have my own life... I have... I have a job... You're asking a lot."
Lucy smiles. "Mr. Powell... Coyote Man is a big story for your magazine, isn't he?"
"Well... Our readers are interested in superheroes. They love the idea of a real one... of one actually existing... even if... even if he is delusional."
"What would you say if I promised you complete exclusivity?" She takes his hand. "Don't let my father get hurt or discovered. Keep it out of print till the shareholder's meeting in two months. And then... you can write whatever you want. Interview us, we'll tell you anything you want to know. And we won't talk to anyone else... Just you." She looks into his eyes. "Help me, Mr. Powell, and you'll own the Coyote Man story."