A last-minute plea from the State Department not to proceed was ignored.

Despite last-minute pleas from preservationists, demolition is to start this week on two of the city's oldest buildings.

President Reagan, despite a last-minute plea, could persuade only 27 Republicans to vote against the bill.

Only a last-minute plea by Mr. Henkel changed her mind.

"If this is a last-minute plea for more money, I can tell you that you're way off base," Randall said.

The vote came during a tense public meeting in which some local residents made last-minute pleas to the board and denounced the plan.

You have to put these last-minute pleas in context.

In one case a man was executed despite the last-minute plea of his co-defendant that he was innocent.

Mickey had called Mason a dozen times that day with last-minute pleas to approve one off-the-wall idea after another.

"You were sure I would be making last-minute pleas about now."