November 7, 2005
Week 28 - Impossible Dreams 11
Episode 1
Powell runs into the dark basement and frantically looks around. After a moment, he spots Donald Lamont sitting on the floor, next to an open circuit box that hangs on a wall. Lamont's face is covered with soot. A wrench lies on the floor next to him.
"Mr. Lamont! Mr. Lamont!" Powell calls, running to him. "Are you all right?"
"Pan Boy?" Lamont looks around. "Pan Boy? Is that you?"
"Um... Call me Powell... We're... we're in our civilian clothes."
"Yes... Yes, of course..." He shakes his head. "Why is it so dark?"
"The power went out." Powell glances at the circuit box. "Were you..."
"I was right about this building! The entire structure is riddled with evidence of my brother's schemes. I was attempting to disable one of his security devices when... It must have been booby trapped..." Lamont suddenly pats his neck. "My Talisman! Where is my Mystical Talisman!"
"It's right there! Look..." Powell reaches for the chain Lamont is wearing and pulls the plastic fang from under the old man's shirt.
Lamont's face strengthens. "Thank goodness!" Powell grips his arm to help him up, but Lamont brushes him aside. "There's no need, young friend. So long as I wear the Coyote's Fang my strength will never fail me." He stands.
"We should get you cleaned up and find Lucy," Powell says. "She's worried about you."
A man steps into the basement. He is wearing overalls and carrying a flashlight. "Who's there?" he yells.
"Ah, Raphael!" Lamont calls. He turns toward Powell and whispers. "It's the superintendent of the building. Time for my mild mannered act..."
"Mr. Lamont! What are you doing? What happened to the power?"
"Oh, you know me! Always the klutz! I've been thinking of installing a wet bar down here. I was searching for the perfect spot when I accidentally blew a fuse in the electrical system." He gives Powell a sidelong look and winks. "An international playboy like me should know better than to tinker with things I can't understand."
Raphael stares at him. "But... You're an engineer... You're the one who explained the system's maintenance to me..."
Lamont shrugs and wipes the soot from his face. "People change, my boy. People change."