::Meanwhile, backstage, two men are seen arguing quietly as the US Awards are about to commence::

Indy: Come on, why won’t you wear it?

Rennod: Because it’s not <I>me</I>, that’s why! I refuse to be strangled by that collar!

Indy: Come on, you wore those jeans and that jacket all through the International awards. Haven’t you made your statement?

Rennod: It’s ongoing...that statement is, “I’m me.”

Indy: But Rennnnooooddd.....

Rennod: I’m sorry, Indy, but no...

::As they argue, a short, shadowy figure reaches out and plucks a copy of the ceremony program from Indy’s back pocket, then steals away deeper into the hidden recesses of the backstage areas::

Nimnul: Hmmm...let’s see....this is the US awards...there it is...“Outstanding Achievement.” Great! I’ll just...hey, wait a minute...what’s this? The “Lifetime Achievement Award?” An Achievement of a Lifetime? That’s even better! After all, who has achieved more in their lifetime than me? All my inventions, my brilliant schemes? And to think I made <I>vermin</I> famous! Now <I>there’s</I> an achievement! How can they dare to laugh at me when I’ve gotten an award for the all the achievements in my lifetime? They <I>can’t!</I> and they <I>won’t!</I> So that’s exactly what I’ll do!

::With that, a stream of evil, maniacal laughter begins drifting around. A stagehands hears it and shakes his head::

Stagehand: (to himself) I thought they put a stop to all those villains practicing their evil laughs backstage here...

::As the curtain rises to start the second half of the program, the mysterious (or is that annoying?) scaly cloaked figure finds he is going up with it, unnoticed::

Euripides: See, he's already going up in the world!

Voltaire: Pride goeth before a fall, though.

Sewernose: Mom-myyyyyyyyyyyyy!!

::Far below on the stage, the ceremony begins again::