Episode description[edit | edit source]
What A Big Building, I Can’t See The Top
By 1898, construction had begun on several boardwalk-side buildings that so exceeded the previous maximum building height that they caused a city-wide stir. Of course, early skyscrapers had been constructed before, closer to the city centre, but these new buildings’ proximity to the ocean was a cause for excitement and, in some cases, concern. Would the ocean winds knock them over? Was it an act of hubris to situate such a tall building so close to the waves?
These questions, however, were the purview of city folk. Those on the boardwalk were mostly disinterested by the whole situation, or irritated by the construction noise, or confused as to why the skyscrapers were called for at all.
Elliott Callahan, writing in the summer of 1898, and seized with the “skyscraper spirit”, asked a local organ grinder to “let loose a tune commemorating the new buildings that [he] might put it to paper.” The resulting tune did not reflect the spirit in which it was requested.
Some kinds of buildings are houses.
Some kinds of buildings are shops.
Sometimes they even take the shops that I mentioned,
And they put a little house right on the top. (Combination!)
Everybody loves buildings.
Everybody loves ‘em tall.
Everybody needs buildings,
And the highest ones up are best of all.
Today I will sing about the skyscraper.
Today, I will sing and never stop.
I’m looking over there at the great big building.
And I cannot - no, I cannot - see the top.
Contents[edit | edit source]
Plot[edit | edit source]
Pomp creates a sign advertising three cents off funnel cakes for people who can give him information about “watch deliveries”. Hanke Crystal, the boardwalk security guard approaches, offering information about “watch trucks” and asks why Pomp wants to know. Pomp says that he is a watch enthusiast. Hanke believes this, and says that there is a delivery from the Aberthrat watch truck that has been waylaid by a flood, and that it’s delivery was set to be small in any case. Hanke also tells him about a new type of truck tops that are collapsible. He then pays three cents for the funnel cake, which Pomp is forced to give him (even though it would be twelve cents with the discount).
A little boy, Crispy Boone, approaches, offering information in exchange for the discounted funnel cake. Crispy wants the funnel cake up front and when Pomp refuses, Crispy offers to give half the information, then funnel cake, then the rest of the information. Pomp tentatively agrees. Crispy says that the truck driver is inexperienced as it is his first time driving a truck. Pomp does not really see the value in this.
Josephine Joy approaches, saying that she knows which truck will be late and why. She unloads the trucks as they come into town, and this will be about the fifth trip, around which time the wheels fall off the trucks. The truck owners haven’t figured out how to prevent it, but the staff don’t mind it as it gives them a longer lunch break. Josephine estimates that the trucks wheels will fall off somewhere after Missouri or Arkansas Ave (near the hospital). When Josephine asks why he wants the information, Pomp says that he is a truck enthusiast.
AP Garriet approaches, telling Pomp that the truck companies have begun sending two trucks each time for expensive items (such as watches) - a real truck and a “decoy” truck - in an effort to prevent theft. Pomp thanks him for the information and tells him to come back any time.
Meanwhile, Eloise returns to Melinda covered in mayonnaise and ropes which she got from the Hellmann Sisters Boating Shop. Melinda is surprised but delighted that Eloise is on board for the plan, and Melinda tells her that her father told her that what they’re doing “isn’t even a crime” because “they’re not being owned by [anybody]”. Eloise is still slightly reluctant to take part in the actual theft as she is nervous about doing the crime and also scared by trucks, but asks if they could use some of the money to help the pier. Melinda agrees.
Elousie and Melinda go to the hot air balloon to attach the ropes in order to begin their plan, which she tells Luce is for safety reasons, as she has heard Luce’s rope isn’t very good. Luce is offended by this. Eloise doubles down and says that they need to add the ropes for legal reasons. She ties the ropes, but unfortunately is so nervous about lying that she ties them both to the basket instead of leaving an end free. Luce notices this but decides to let it happen.
Meanwhile, Sank is following the two men that he scammed earlier, in order to get more information on the watch heist they’re planning. He walks over to them, asking how they’re going, they demand their watches back but Sank says he won them fair and square but that he is willing to help them get new watches. They tell him about the watch delivery truck they have heard about and their plan of running up and robbing the truck quickly while it was at a stoplight. They have clearly not really thought through this plan, although one of them does have a large piece of driftwood to use as a weapon. Sank says that their plan sounds great but that it just needs a little fine-tuning, telling them that they should wait until the truck stops and that they should both have a weapon. The two men say that this is against their brand, as they are “Stick and Legs”. Sank tries to pitch different names which would allow them both to have weapons, including Robin and the Batman. Both men love that idea, and set off to find a cricket bat for “the Batman”.
In order to create an alibi, Melinda goes to visit Gerhart, a barrel organ player. They put on Old Mister, Old Mister as they talk. Melinda says that she and some of her friends are planning on taking the evening off work, implying that they will cause trouble at the new pier, and asks him to say that she and her friends were at Kingfish Pier if anybody asks. Gerhart agrees.
Pomp takes a break after the rush of customers caused by his discount, and the others join him. Eloise asks about the sign, and Cattie says that she thinks it sounds like an unreliable way to get information. Pomp tells them to make their own funnel cake if they want some. The group discuss their mornings - tying the ropes to the hot air balloon, the location of the truck, and that Melinda’s father said that what they’re doing isn’t a crime. Sank and Cattie still believe it’s illegal, and the group gets into an argument over it. Melinda consoles Eloise, reassuring her that it’s not illegal, and that she doesn’t need to do anything more for the heist.
The group discuss their plan of attack on the truck - wait for the two men Sank scammed to do their heist, then use the hot air balloon to hook up the watches and make their escape. They decide to also spread a rumour that the balloon will be doing a ride over the city, so that people don’t see them and think that the balloon has gotten loose, making signs to that effect (“Loose Goose In Use, For Enquiries, Ask For Bruce”).
Mr Willaker arrives and Pomp helps Cattie hide, as she fears he will be angry about how she had enlarged his head in the photograph. Mr Willaker is in fact mad about this, showing the group the photo. They all pretend to think the photo is flattering apart from Eloise (“your face is so big!”). Mr Willaker asks about the signs, and the group tries to dissuade him from reporting them. Pomp serves him and Mr Willaker calms down, but still takes the funnel cake without paying.