[The hush after the elder's last line holds for a long moment. Then the room exhales together, and the applause comes warm and full. The MC steps up, quiet.]

The watch is over. The watch will resume. Thank you, old friend — for being the room's memory tonight, and every night.

[The MC looks around the room slowly, at the faces, the glasses, the lamplight.]

You know how this night works. The main card is done, but the Tap isn't done until the Tap says it's done. Every now and then, somebody in this room gets moved — and when they get moved, they come up. No sign-up. No name on the list. Just the feeling, and the walk to the stage.

I've seen two people at the bar getting that look all night. I'm not going to call their names. I'm just going to step back from the mic, and let the room do what the room does.

[The MC steps back, hands in pockets, smiling. A pause. Then, from somewhere in the room, a stool scrapes back — and someone who has been moved all night finally rises. The night opens into its last improvisations.]