"Conan, I need to talk to you after the show. It’s really important." Something was obviously wrong. Andy was close to tears.
During the show, Conan could tell Andy was trying to hide his distress, but he just wasn’t himself. After a missed cue and a failed sketch, Conan was getting worried. As soon as the filming was done, he led Andy to an empty conference room.
Once they were alone, Andy broke down and sobbed. Conan sat beside him and waited. Once Andy collected himself, he began,
"Conan, I need your help. Remember Stacey?"
"Of course," Conan replied, "Your little sister is adorable, and she’s great when she helps with the show." Andy took a deep breath and said,
"Well, Conan, she’s sick. It’s really bad. We don’t know what it is, and Conan, unless we can find someone who can help her, she’s going to die." Conan was silent for a few seconds, then called for Max. They explained the situation, and Max agreed to do whatever it took to help.
"Ok," Conan said, "We’re all in this together. Andy, I promise you, we are going to save Stacey. I don’t know how, but we will do it. Together."
Chapter 2
"I’ve got it."
"What the…. Conan, It’s two in the morning."
"Maxwell, don’t even start. I know how we can save Stacey." Max bolted upright.
"How?"
"Max, it’s going to be hard work, but it’s Sunday. We have two days to do this. We need a Save Stacey special. Everyone loves her. I’m sure if we can get enough exposure, we can find someone that can help."
"You’re right. I bet I have some songs I can modify just for Stacey. You could sing too."
"That’s great! Like you said, though, it’s two in the morning. I’ll be up working on this, but let’s not call Andy. He needs all the sleep he can get."
"Okay Conan. I’ll dig out those songs, and I’ll see you in the studio at 9:00?"
"That’s fine."
Andy stared out the window to the street below. He had been awake all night, thinking about Stacey and Conan. He was glad to be friends with such a sweet guy, but he knew Conan. Things didn’t always go the way he planned. Looking up at the sky, he saw a large crescent moon. At that moment, he felt strangely calm, and was finally able to go to bed. The clock read 2:01.
Chapter 3
Conan let himself into the building and thought of the last few years. He and Andy had made it through hard times before, especially in the beginning. Andy was always there for him, and Conan wasn’t about to let him down now. He looked around the studio, thinking about their shaky start. Two unknowns, trying to replace a man who’d already made it in comedy.
A look of determination crossed over Conan’s face.
"Conan!" Andy ran toward the desk where Conan was standing. Out of breath, he was silent for a few moments, then he spoke.
"Conan, Do you have any ideas? I was up half the night, but I just couldn’t think." Conan turned toward the backdrop for a second, then looked back over his shoulder at Andy. He smiled, and rowled. Andy jumped and screamed,
"I knew it! I knew you’d think of something!" The two hugged, just as Lynn, Conan’s girlfriend, walked in. The two immediately separated, looking guilty. She walked over to Conan and told him to sit down. Conan and Andy quickly moved to sit on the couch, both missed, and ended up simultaneously falling on the floor. When Lynn’s laughter subsided, she was able to tell, them
"I got confirmation of the talent for your Stacey show." Andy gave Conan a questioning look. "You won’t believe it. I don’t even. We’ve got Craig Kilborn, the Spice Girls are going to do a song for Stacy, plus, we got Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. It’s going to be huge!"
As Lynn ran off, Andy gave Conan a huge hug.
"If we were Russian, I’d kiss you!"
"Sorry, sir, " Conan replied, "I’m Irish. We don’t tolerate that kind of crap." They both laughed, and hugged once more. A loud laugh made them both jump. Max was found spying from behind a curtain. The three friends set down to work.
Chapter 4
After about 2 ½ hours, they decided to take a break. They were making good progress. Max’s songs were set, and NBC was going to run promos all the next day. Andy set out to find a Taco Bell, and Max decided to call a band rehearsal. Conan however, had some free time.
He found himself looking up at a building that was dauntingly tall- even to Conan. At the front desk, he was directed to room 6a.
Stacey was obviously very sick, but she was awake. She smiled when she saw Conan. She immediately told him,
"I’m in room 6a, just like you." He saw piles of tapes next to the VCR. All were marked Conan Reruns. He sat by the bed, and he told her,
"I’ve got a surprise for you. You know Tuesday’s show? The whole show is going o be about you." "She was astounded. She then went into a coughing fit, but as soon as she could speak, she asked who the guests would be.
"We’ve got Craig Kilborn, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, and the Spice Girls are going to sing for you. At that point, Stacey was falling asleep, so Conan said goodbye and kissed her on the cheek. The look on her face was once of pure bliss.
Chapter 5
Conan knew after his visit that for Stacey’s sake, the show had to be perfect.
Andy, much cheerier knowing Stacey had been checked on, and having consumed four burritos, was bursting with ideas. He and Conan decided to work in one of the offices, because Max had gathered the band to rehearse. They went home that night, satisfied with their work.
By Monday evening, things seemed to be falling into place fairly well. The show was going to be very funny, and very appealing. An ad had been running all day, and several calls had come in, already wanting to give money. There were still a few problems, such as- Craig Kilborn couldn’t arrive in New York until only an hour before the show, meaning there would be no rehearsal time. There was also some trouble finding an appropriate picture for the Clutch Cargo, which would certainly be interesting. (Andy decided to add a surprise for Conan.) All in all, though, things were running very smoothly for such short notice.
Conan and Andy were proud of their work, because even though everyone on the show was involved, they had written all the sketches themselves. They were giving it their all for Stacey, and it was going to be one of the best shows ever.
When it was time to begin taping, they were ready, but once the show started, it was up to the viewers. If people didn’t try to help, the whole thing would have been in vain.
Chapter 6
Conan ran out to the stage as usual, but he was carrying a large folded paperboard behind his back. He told part of the monologue, then explained what they were trying to do for Stacey. Opening the board, he revealed a huge picture of Stacy sitting in the audience. Max began one of his songs while Conan moved to the desk.
"And now live, via satellite, President Bill Clinton showing his support for Stacey!" The screen came down, but to Conan’s surprise, his own face was on the screen. Bill Clinton’s voice, but Conan’s face. Weird.
"All you folks out there gonna help out poor Stacey?" While Conan/Bill gave information about how to help, Conan was laughing at the strange effect.
During the commercial break, contributions were accepted from the audience. Everyone seemed to be having a great time. Craig Kilborn made a donation himself. In the middle of the show, Conan announced,
"I’m very sorry, Richard Simmons was supposed to appear tonight, and I know how disappointed you’ll all be, but he couldn’t make it. We do, however, have some Emergency Replacement Guests. Please welcome Matt Damon and Ben Affleck!"
Just as the interview was ending, a stagehand rushed up with a phone. This had not been planned, so Conan didn’t know what to expect. A weak voice said, "Conan? I know you’re filming the show right now, and I wanted to thank you and Andy and Max." Conan looked up at the audience.
"We now have Stacey on the phone, calling from the hospital. Say hi to her." When Conan put the phone back to his ear, a nurse told him that Stacey couldn’t talk any more, but to have Andy call her later.
The Spice Girls came out and did a song that they had written on the plane from LA. They too, made a donation.
When the show was over, everyone agreed that it had been a success. All that was left was up to the viewers. Sitting in his office later on, Conan, along with Andy, was greeted by one of the interns, Katie. She told him,
"I was sent to let you know that after the broadcast, a surgeon called who thinks he can help Stacey. Also, we raised enough money to pay for it. Conan and Andy smothered Katie in hugs and kisses. (You don’t have to be Russian for that one.) She finally managed to tell them that if they wanted to speak with him, they would have to meet at the hospital at noon. They left immediately to tell Stacey.
Chapter 7
Conan, Andy, and Max sat in the crowded waiting room. The surgery was delicate and dangerous, but if it went well, it would save Stacey. After a few hours of old magazines and rock, paper scissors, they were informed that the operation was done. Dr Olsen emerged and talked to Andy. He said that there were some complications, but that they had been dealt with. Stacey was going to be okay. All three were glad to hear him say,
"I let you know when she wakes up."
Stacey awoke to a room with walls plastered with get well cards and pictures of Conan. Dr. Olsen informed them that she would have to stay in the hospital for a few more days, but that she was fine. Conan and Andy settled on a simple handshake.
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