History of the Trap: May Shadows Part 6

SYNOPSIS:  After being visited in prison by Morgan LaDona Tigh, Lance Martin has agreed to Dr. Duncan's request to detail what happened in the time that Lance is calling "the Trap."  Lance begins his journal by describing the morning before the trap fell, where we learn his father was the Principal of Loren High, that Lance is a Junior, and has a sister named Diane who is a sophomore.  After a couple hours at school that morning, where we see how different is relationship with Morgan is, we also meet Lance's best friend, Artie Pentler, and their gang. Just as Lance is ready to ask Ginny Estill out, the Trap falls, and they witness the horrible death of two P. E. students as they are caught in some kind of electrical storm.  The students soon realize, as April marches on, that the so-called storm is something more, and that they may be trapped at the school and it's grounds for a very long time.  As May starts up, a grizzly murder is discovered.  Mr. Franks, the substitute math teacher is found dead in a janitorial closet. The murder remains unsolved, as Lance's father and staff struggle to come to grips with events.  They decide to schedule more activities for the students to become involved, including a dance Friday.  Lance tries to ask Ginny out to the dance, but he fails and the dance turns into a disaster for him, as Ginny seems to spend more time with Artie.  Several days after the dance, there is a second murder, this time of a school secretary.

6

"Hey, Everybody! It's time for the Lookouts!  The Loren High Lookout Variety Hour of Power starring the incredible Bob Short, and featuring the Lookout Crew!  This first edition is brought to you by your friendly neighborhood school administrators." Ronald Houseley looked into the camera with a vibrant enthusiasm that made some suspect he had a secret stash of alcohol somewhere.  "And now, here comes...the Bob!"

The small studio audience broke into wild applause, helped just by the excitement of something that was new but also reassuring to those trapped in the school.  We were going to have a by god TV show and we were going to do it ourselves!

Bob reached his spot in our small studio and smiled at the camera.  "Welcome, one and all!  We've all had a rough go of it these past few weeks, especially the plumbing!" Rim shot.  "Seriously, I know it's been intense, but we've cooked up a little something to help us unwind and relax a little, set our worries aside for an hour.  Get ready for some great music, some laughter, and a little bit of storytelling.  So tell me!  Who's ready to lookout with the Lookout Crew?"

More wild applause as Bob sat down at the same desk he used to anchor the morning newscast.  "We'll start off things with a song from the fabulous Franny Cranfield, who will sing a number from the current Broadway smash hit The Lullaby Mob." A brief pause.  "Well, it's still a smash hit...AS FAR AS WE KNOW!"  The audience laughed, partly out of duty, partly due to the laugh sign, and partly because...everyone was just ready to laugh.

Franny sang perfectly, with animation and playing up to the camera.  Despite it being a "hit Broadway tune" I don't think many of us were familiar with it.  It was more of a Franny thing. Something about a mobster's girlfriend wanting to put all the mobsters to sleep? 

Then there was a long interview with Coach Bullard and Mark Granite, talking in great detail about the upcoming sports leagues.  I admit that I zoned out a bit in this part.  My main job was to help write the newscast, but I also assisted Phil Irman with Camera Two.  Okay, basically I tried to keep the power cords out of the way as he moved the camera around.  I had trouble doing even that as I lost focus during the sports interview. I know that this was of great interest to some, but I wondered how pertinent it was to a "variety" show. 

That finally wrapped up and they brought on Brassy Jazz, a group of students from the band.  We had a very good band at our school and they sounded pretty good, except for just about overwhelming our speaker system.  Almost had a New Orleans quality to them.

The applause was loud enough that you could hear it throughout the school, the first sign that our show was having a positive impact.

Bob smiled at the camera again.  I could imagine girls in the school taking a slight swoon.  On the surface, Bob didn't seem much to look at.  Heavy set with jowly cheeks, it helped me realize how important a good voice and charisma could be.  Come to think of it, Artie shared that in common with Bob.  He just wasn't on TV to show it off.  Maybe if he was he would have so many more girls interested in him that he wouldn't be able to focus on Ginny.

"And now for a special treat!  Our library was nice enough to lend us a copy of a book entitled Great Comedy Routines.  Con you imagine that?  The library loaning us a book - what will they think of next!"  More laughter.  "It has some of the all-time greats in here, including Martin and Lewis, Randall Hodgeworth, Abbott and Costello.  But we've picked out a routine to recreate from perhaps the greatest comedy duo of all time, Daniels and Smith!  Here to recreate it, two of our Lookout Crew - Oliver Sanders and Franny Cranfield!"

It was hilarious, not just because of the comedy and lines, but because Franny was dressed up as a man, playing the beanpole with a mustache, Daniels.  She was very entertaining, hitting all the right notes and expressions.  Even the crew, including Phil and myself, were doubled up with laughter.  I had no doubt if we ever got out of this school, Franny would make it big.

The last performance was a small choral group singing the school fight song.  The studio audience stood up and put their hands on their hearts like it was the national anthem.  And come to think of it, the way things were now, maybe it was.