The setting is Riverside Park in Chagrin Falls, at the annual Blossom Time festival. It's two days before showtime. The park is a sea of mud because heavy rains have pummeled the area in recent days.
More rains threaten.
The place has become frantic with activity. Minutes before, the carnies had been lollygagging around, shooting the breeze and munching snacks. But now it's time to get busy. The boss, Carl Bayer, has just showed up, and he isn't happy. The rides were all supposed to have been set up by now.