And what were the spectators to think about this last-minute note of trouble, particularly since, a minute before, Rachel had told them to get up out of their seats and dance?
On one side were the visitors, four undergraduates at the New School, and their equally young coach poring over documents and comparing last-minute notes.
At times, it seemed like Ferguson had been given last-minute notes on how to punch up the humor, and it was really only when he was singing that he relaxed enough to let his natural talent flow.
Right about now the cast is running lines, walking through that damn fistfight, listening to Kate Powers' last-minute notes, and, three thousand miles west of Sing Sing, I'm weirdly nervous.
I knew this man who canceled at the last minute with doctors' notes would have made a bad boyfriend.
Along with Canada, Italy was included in that group at the last minute, as Paul Ginsborg notes in his book, "Italy and its Discontents: 1980-2001".
There was this guy who's a private detective, Paul, and he always came in at the last minute and slipped a note to Perry Mason in court at the most critical time.
"The amount of inventory and the discounts we offer will get a little bit better toward the last minute," Mr. Ek said, noting that customers are increasingly using smartphones and tablets for late bookings.
"I knew I could be with my customer till the last minute," Mr. Rosenthal said, noting that he did not have to arrive at the airport 45 minutes before his flight's departure and had a quicker drive to the charter plane's field.
In 2009, for instance, CMJ's management board claimed that Ana Marušić had never been elected to her editorial position, and it started a process to replace her until, at the last minute, the official election notes were dug out.
They are easier to prepare, particularly at the last minute, than overhead slides or notes scribbled on index cards.
