Episode 45

The Mutual Broadcasting System brings you another episode of Life in Hyperion.

Today's episode: "It Only Takes a Moment", Part 4

Yesterday, Thomas, Cy's boarder, received a phone call from Darlene, asking to come over, which she did.  While she was there, she planted a kiss on Thomas and helped him write a song.  When she left, Cy proclaims the beginnings of a romance while Thomas doesn't see it at all. 
As we begin today, Cy and Conrad are walking down the street...

---------------------------------------------------------------------

1:30 pm rolls around and Cy and Conrad are walking their way up to the front of 214 Third Street, the location of a former auto garage, now home to the Sidewinders. As they walk up, Conrad is trying to talk Cy out of his plans for Polly.
"I can't believe you are doing this. You're not Polly's manager or anything else." says Conrad.
"I told you, not yet. Give me time." says Cy.
"Like what you did with my sister." says Conrad.
"Can't you drop this for five minutes already? This must be your way of getting out of boredom." says Cy.
"It is not. I'm just trying to help my sister." says Conrad.
"Why help now, when you had plenty of opportunity to melt her icy core." says Cy.
"She was never that frozen." says Conrad.
"Define never." says Cy as they reach the front door of the building.
"How do we get in, Cy?" asks Conrad, changing the subject.
"Elmer told me there was a key under the mat." says Cy, scanning around the ground.
"You mean the one you're standing on?" says Conrad, pointing out the welcome mat under Cy's feet.
"There it is." says Cy, who then steps off the mat and lifts it up, revealing the key.
"And there's the key." says Conrad.
"Let's go in." says Cy, putting the key in the lock and turning it.
The door soon unlocks and swings open, with a little help from the wind. Cy and Conrad then step inside and close the door behind them. They look around and see that the building is not only the rehearsal space, but living space.
A small set of chairs and tables line the room next to the door. On one table is a small television, with a converter box upon it. Cy and Conrad continue their way inside and find five cots, all set up for sleeping.
"Elmer and his friends sure made a home after what happened to them in New Orleans." says Cy.
"This is their home, Cy." says Conrad.
"And over here is their rehearsal spot." says Cy, walking into an area covered in equipment and instruments.
"I guess we wait for the group to show up." says Conrad.
"I'll watch the television." says Cy as he walks over and sits down in one of the lawn chairs that make up the living room.
"Katrina sure didn't ruin their musical spirit." says Conrad as Cy turns on the television.
"It just gave them another reason to sing." says Cy.
"I've never really heard Elmer sing." says Conrad.
"The band has two vocalists already. They don't need Elmer except to pull that bow across the fiddle strings." says Cy.
"Can we get back to my sister?" asks Conrad.
"Drop it, Conrad." says Cy.
"Alright, alright." says Conrad.
Some time later, Cy and Conrad are watching television as someone walks in the door.
"Hello there." says the man, looking to be in his late 20s, with a thin mustache and dressed in a shirt and vest combo with matching pants.
"Hello. You must be a member of the Sidewinders." says Cy.
"I am. Danny McGuinn, at your service." says the man in a cajun tone.
"Which part are you?" asks Cy.
"I'm the guitarist. Now, I was told to come here by Elmer, with the message that someone named Cy Scott would explain things to me." says Danny.
"I'm Cy Scott and today is your lucky day. You're about to hear the best voice ever to cross your voice." says Cy.
"You mean the guy right there?" asks Danny.
"No, that's my businees associate, Conrad Harris. The voice is a female voice named Polly McIntyre." says Cy.
"The gal that Elmer works with. He tells me she's got a voice but that she doesn't sing in public except to the people in the jail." says Danny.
"She's been making a slow public entry. She wowwed them at Cathy's Tavern last Friday and now, she's gonna perform at Tom's Place this Friday." says Cy.
"She must be incredible." says Danny.
"Believe it." says Cy as two other people enter.
"Hello." says one of them, looking to be slightly rotund with hair that makes it like he stuck a finger in a light socket.
"Same here." says the other, a tall, slender fellow with a slightly receeding hairline and face to match.
"This is John Parsons, our steel guitar player, and Lee Clark, our drummer." says Danny, pointing to the first one and second, in that order.
"Hello, my name is Cy Scott, manager to Polly McIntyre, Hyperion's best singer." says Cy.
"I've heard about her. She did an amazing show at Cathy's Tavern last Friday." says John.
"Thanks. I helped arrange that." says Cy.
"As a manager, you have to." says Lee.
"Where's the little talent?" asks John.
"She'll be here." says Cy as another man walks inside.
"Hello." says the man, a black man, about the same age as the others, with as much as a seventies taste in clothing as Cy, but with black culture in mind.
"This is Garrett Crosby, our bassist. He plays a mean rhythm." says Danny.
"Now, what brings me here today?" asks Garrett.
"Polly McIntyre." says Cy.
"I've heard about her through the grapevine. She's so fine, vocally and musically." says Garrett.
"And you guys will back her at her Tom's Place gig this Friday." says Cy.
"Count me in." says Danny.
"Me, too." says John.
"Ditto." says Lee.
"The same." says Garrett.
"Now, all we need is Polly and Elmer." says Cy.
"That would be us." says Polly, walking inside along with Elmer, cases in hand.
"We'we hewe." says Elmer.
"Now, let's get to our first rehearsal." says Cy.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Next week, the rehearsal begins, a band plays, a voice rings out, a romance takes its first step, and Conrad proves hard to step around.

Join us, won't you?
Yours truly, John Maxwell.

A production of WGN Chicago.  All rights reserved.