Ballyhoo Brew.

Sunday Night - Karaoke Night.

Traditionally, Pat Cassidy’s time to shine. This night is no different, as the lights are dimmed and the patrons have packed the area by the stage. The stage is lit up by various multicolor lights as Pat Cassidy takes the stage to a round of cheers. The sling around his broken left arm makes it a bit more difficult than usual, but he is able to maneuver the microphone into place as he sits in the stool.

Pat Cassidy:
I hope you guys don’t mind if we do things a little differently tonight…

Pat clears his throat.

Pat Cassidy:
You guys ever do something that everybody told you was stupid? That even though everyone around you thought it was gonna be your downfall, you knew somewhere deep in your heart that it was something you had to do? 

There’s some murmurs from the crowd and Cassidy nods along. He sighs.

Pat Cassidy:
Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Pat Cassidy… and God help me... I’m into unbalanced chicks.

There’s a little laugh from the crowd as a song kicks into gear. Except there’s no words, but we can recognize the instruments and the melody to “Cecila” by Simon and Garfunkle. Pat clears his throat and gets ready… and while he does begin to sing, we see that he’s tweaked the lyrics a little bit…

Pat Cassidy:
OPHELLLIAA... you're breaking my heart,
You're shaking my confidence daily.
Oh, Ophelia, I'm down on my knees
I'm begging you please to come home!
Opheliaaaaaaaa, you're breaking my heart
You're shaking my confidence daily!
Oh, Ophelia, I'm down on my knees
I'm begging you please to come home,
Come on home!

Cassidy is singing with his heart and soul here, and as the song shifts into the next round of lyrics, he grows more animated with his arms and maybe even a little hip swaying.

Pat Cassidy:
Making love in the afternoon with Ophelia,
Up in my bedroom (Pat points up).
I got up to wash my face,
When I come back to bed,
Someone's taken my place!
Ophellllllllia, you're breaking my heart!
You're shaking my confidence dailyyyyyyy.
Oh, Ophelia, I'm down on my knees!
I'm begging you please to come home -
Come on home!

As Cassidy’s performance continues, there is a murmur from the back of the bar, away from the stage area. It’s because Ophelia Sykes herself has walked into Ballyhoo! Dressed to kill for a night on the town, she slowly makes her way toward the stage. She pauses just as the stage area begins, looking toward the singing Pat Cassidy. She folds her arms and allows herself a small smirk and the faintest bite of her lower lip. On the stage, Cassidy locks eyes with her and he prepares to bring it home. 

Pat Cassidy (standing up from the stool and breaking out into a full-on dance):
Jubilation, she loves me again!
I fall on the floor and die laughing,
Jubilation, she loves me again!
I fall on the floor and die laughing -
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh…

Cassidy “ohs” us away as the song comes to a close. With his free hand, Cassidy reaches next to the stool for his cocktail, raising it in a cheers motion toward Ophelia. Sykes smiles again and begins a slow clap for the performance which causes Cassidy to break out into a smile back. Where does it go from here? We’re going to have to use our imagination cause we’re about to….

Fade out.

More Propaganda | View "Black Out" Pat Cassidy's Biography