The Marvelous Lives of The Beach Boys

Chapter Four: This Magic Moment

Disclaimer: None of the events featured are true, nor will they ever be in this lifetime.

The Cass Elliot Show: February 17, 1967

"Holy moly!" Al exclaimed, a grin on his face, "The crowd's packed beyond belief! Mama Cass sure knows how to draw folks in."

"They're here for us, man," Dennis nudged the shorter man on the arm, "And we'll impress, like we always do. Your song ain't bad at all, so we'll reel in the fans this time."

"Thanks," Al responded, a bit taken aback, "I thought it was kinda... crappy compared to yours, but I guess I was wrong."

Al turned to the small monitor, watching Cass Elliot discuss the latest news and events in a segment with her bandmate, Michelle Phillips. He let out a laugh as the two women began to gossip about couples and potential marriages in Hollywood. A backstage employee soon informed the boys they were set to perform in two minutes, which caused the shorter man to inhale deeply in fear.

"Hey, man, you okay?"

Al nodded his head quickly and smiled nervously, "Yep."

Al- I've got butterflies in my stomach and it sure doesn't feel good. I agreed to perform my song first and thought it would be fun, but now I kinda regret it...

(The camera pans over to the other boys.)

Brian smiled warmly, "Good luck."

Carl gave his older brother a thumbs up and waited patiently for his cue. On the stage, Mike and Bruce discussed a few details about the record with Cass, who encouraged the crowd to purchase the EP once it hit shelves.

Brian glanced at his brothers; Dennis bounced up and down, drumsticks in hand, while Carl stood still near the curtain. Al, who sat in a director's chair, twiddled his thumbs in boredom.

"Now, without further ado... ladies and gentlemen, The Beach Boys!"

Carl- Hearing all those screams for us was something magical, like we never lost our touch in the music scene. It was beautiful, really!

Mike stepped up the microphone, looking straight at the audience with pride, "First up, with a golden composition of his own, Mr. Alan Jardine!"

The audience cheered; Al let out a chuckle, saying into his microphone, "Thank you... this one's called All the Way."

The audience beamed, then Al began to sing:

"No one knows what's to come
On the face of the earth when the day is done
You work it on up, all fingers to the bone
Just to light up your old golden throne

The days go on and it never changes
The thrill of it all just goes down the drain
And time doesn't stop, never waits for you
Catch the next train and take it right, all the way

Savor the brand new sense of it all
On the trip of a lifetime, watch or you'll fall
You grasp onto an opportunity
Then it slips out,

The days go on and it never changes
The thrill of it all just goes down the drain
And time doesn't stop, never waits for you
Catch the next train and take it right, all the way

You were told all along that the truth is lost
Digging it out just to get it tossed
Walking the streets with no sense of direction
All to end up with another rejection

Light up a spark when you need it the most
Or waste away working, just to end up a ghost
Practice makes perfect, but the answer is clear
The only outcome is the one you fear