The meeting of the war council came to order. The tone was serious and professional. Lt. Corwin was attending for the first time since his promotion, permitted to sit at the small folding table to the side of the main one. Commander Sheridan took the floor and recounted the previous week's progress, both it's victories and shortcomings. Lt. Commander Susan Ivanova, gave a presentation on the current status of the Really Great Machine located on the planet below. (It needed oiling).

Corwin gazed on the professional bearing of those in attendance, dreaming of the day that he might be able to join in and offer his assistance. Suddenly he heard his same called, and snapped to attention.

"Lt. Corwin!"

"Yes sir!" he responded, not expecting his talents and skills to be called into service so quickly.

"Lt. Corwin, my coffee is a bit cool. I could stand a refill?"

"Oh, yes sir" the bright eyed Lt. mumbled dejectedly, "will this ever change" he wondered? "Will I ever cease being little more than animated furniture? Stuffed here or deposited there for mere color accents?"

"What was that Mr. Corwin?"

"Oh, I said, 'I'd be most exceedingly happy to refill your damned coffee!"

"Good, good, now where was I..."

He slowly got up from his little table, and shuffled down the hallway, still hearing the all important discussion now continuing without him. "I guess this is all that's expected from a minor character these days"

Modern Minor Character

(Sung to the tune of Modern Major General)

Corwin :

I am the very model of a modern Minor Character
I blink, I smile, I cry on cue, or sometimes simply sit and stare
I know my Hamlet, Romeo, and other things Shakespearical
But when the camera turns on me, I simply turn invisible

I'm very well acquainted too with matters technological
From movieolas to the keys very chromalogical
From the Best Boys to the gaffers, I will tell you all you need to know
But when directors shout "action!", I'm persona-non-gratatical

Chorus (sung by the rest of the nameless crew from C&C):

But when directors shout "action!" He's persona-non-gratatical

When handed this weeks script, I flip the pages looking for my name
And there on number 84, I find I open a door again
In short, I've spent 12 years at Julliard, the BBC, Live Theater
But I remain the very model of the modern minor character

All :

He's spent 12 years at Julliard, the BBC, Live Theater
But remains the very model of the modern minor character

Corwin :

I am the very model of the modern minor character
Still looking for some letters that are wanting my bold signature
The conventions never call me up with desires autographical
My agent never calls me back, for reasons unsatisfactical.

And then one day I get a line and speak it with authority
And soon the stars all learn my name, and some may even talk to me

Chorus :

And then one day he gets a line and speaks it with authority
And soon the stars all learn your name, and some may even talk to thee

Corwin :

Two months later with my friends, were waiting for the show with glee
We pop the popcorn, pour the drinks and toast my new celebrity
We lean up close to the screen precisely at 12 minutes past
But then I hear those words I feared, "We interrupt this broadcast. . ."

The season finally came to close and my work remains anonymous
Perhaps one day, they'll know my name, at some moment posthumous
But never let it be said that I ever once had shed a tear
But silently remains the very modern minor character

Chorus :

But never let it be said that he ever once had shed a tear
But silently remains the very modern minor character