Tuesday 12 September – IT SUITS HER, Episode Seven

By
William E. Spear

Volume 2, Issue 07

IT SUITS HER, Episode 07

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Full Transcript –

IT SUITS HER, Episode 07

ORIGINAL DATE: 12 September 2023

(Theme for It Suits Her comes up)

Hello. I am William Spear and the host of The 3:57. This is our series IT SUITS HER.

For the first time since meeting each other, Celia and Maxie were having a civil, rather than caustic, conversation. UNTIL Maxie told Celia he used to be a big star and asked how big she was. When she said, “A size nine” Maxie flew off the handle.

Listen as they struggle to repair, rather than re-aggravate, their moment in Episode Seven of . . . IT SUITS HER.

(Theme for Smart Styles Tailoring Shop fades up and under)

Maxie snapped at her: “When I asked how big you are I wasn’t asking about your clothing size.”

He immediately realized his mistake: “I’m sorry. What I meant was, “What have you accomplished with your life?””

Celia took a deep breath and began: “I’m working this job to continue in college. I got my technical degree in computer science and now I’m going for a bachelor’s in international business.”

She grabbed another gulp of air: “I’ve got pretty good grades and someday I’ll go for my Masters. My goal is to be President of my own global business.”

One more breath: “And my friends call me Ceel . . . short for Celia.”

He congratulated her, “Very impressive, Celia.”

“Please call me Ceel. I insist.”

“Ceel. I wish you nothing but success.”

She accepted the well-wishes graciously: “Thank you.”

Common ground was forming between them and Maxie cautiously stepped onto it.

He asked about the movies she watched with her parents.

Celia gushed they watched tons of them.

Maxie wondered if they ever saw THE CORSAGE? “No” was her response.

“How about A CONTINENTAL AFFAIR or MANNERS, ALWAYS MANNERS?” he asked. “No” and “No said Celia.

“THE TERMINUS?”

Celia brightened like a Christmas tree: “That was their favorite movie.”

Maxie informed her he was in that.

Celia’s disbelief bubbled up: “As what – a bit player or an extra?”

“I was Jonathan Talmadge,” announced Maxie.

Celia was overwhelmed: “You . . .? You were Jonathan Talmadge? In THE TERMINUS?”

“That’s me,” said Maxie.

Celia gushed she and her parents saw it a hundred times. “My Dad,” she continued. “Always said he hoped to be half the gentleman you were.”

It was Maxie’s turn to gush: “I’m sure he’s more of a gentleman than any movie character. I have a few photographs from the picture if your folks would like one autographed.”

Celia stepped away and stood silently.

Maxie stared at the back of her head and, at length, cleared his throat.

She turned and whispered, “They’ve been gone for years.”

(Theme for Smart Styles Tailoring Shop fades up and under)

You’ve just listened to Episode Seven of IT SUITS HER.

Series theme is through the courtesy of Michael Kobrin. Additional music is by Lesfm. Both are at PixaBay.

The Three Fifty-seven is written and produced by William Spear.

Thank you for listening.

(Theme for It Suits Her fades up and out)

THE TABLE is coming on Friday 15 September 2023

THE TABLE has settings for six guests. But who are the guests and will they come? Perhaps, more importantly, can they come?

The story is inspired by the Missing Man Table and Honors ceremony and offers a reminder to reflect upon the men and women who have “served the nation in a special and now unending way.”

Join The 3:57 on Friday 15 September 2023 for . . . THE TABLE.

Tuesday 5 September – IT SUITS HER, Episode Six

By
William E. Spear

Volume 2, Issue 06

IT SUITS HER, Episode 06

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Full Transcript –

IT SUITS HER, Episode 06

ORIGINAL DATE: 5 September 2023

(Theme for It Suits Her comes up)

Hello. I am William Spear and the host of The 3:57. This is our series IT SUITS HER.

Celia Court, “Ceel” to her friends, works as an Assistant Manager in Smart Styles tailoring shop. Maxwell “Maxie” Williams needs his suit from the shop for an appointment.

Each is running away from their past. But from what in particular?

It’s more of Celia versus Maxie and Maxie versus Celia in Episode Six of . . . IT SUITS HER.

(Theme for Smart Styles Tailoring Shop fades up and under)

Maxie’s frustration crescendoed into a primal scream: “Ahhhhhhhh!!”

“I have never ever met a more difficult, more frustrating, more, more . . .” He was at a loss for words.

Celia helped: “More intelligent, more insightful, more skilled . . .”

Maxie narrowed his eyes, stared, and admitted those were not the words he was looking for. “In thirty years of acting,” he continued. “I’ve never met anyone like you.”

Celia was intrigued by his thirty years of acting description and asked for his name again.

“Argosy Maxwell Williams” was the response.

Celia spoke of watching a lot of movies growing up. She and her parents saw a million of them but she didn’t remember his name.

Maxie lowered his eyes and voice. He spoke from a time when his name was on everyone’s lips. “I was big,” he said. “Bigger than . . .”

Her cellphone rang twice and she answered it.

“No, I can’t talk now. . . . Maybe later. . . . Goodbye.” She turned her attention to Maxie, “Go ahead, Mr. Williams.”

Maxie continued: “As I was saying, I was bigger than big. I co-starred with the all the giants – Tommie Royster, Gina Broyles, and Pamela Fenster.”

Celia’s mouth gaped open. “You? You worked with Pamela Fenster? She could act her way through a brick wall.”

Maxie smiled: “When the cameras were rolling she was a force. But off set she was a real sweetheart. I worked with her and other legends like Van Hoffman, Tony Marks, and Jackie Squires. I turned down scripts from Olympic Pictures, Statue Films, and Metropolitan Movies. Women used to spread rumors they were dating me. All the papers said, “I was a brilliant comic actor. . . Bigger than big.””

His half-remembering and half-speaking ended. He stopped looking backwards and then continued: “How big are you?”

“Well . . . I’m a size seven,” Celia said.

“Really?”

She admitted: “Okay, a size nine.”

Maxie snapped: “I wasn’t asking about your clothes. I meant, what have you done with your life?”

(Theme for Maxie’s Regret fades up and under)

You’ve just listened to Episode Six of IT SUITS HER.

Series theme is through the courtesy of Michael Kobrin and additional music is by Lesfm. Theme for Maxie’s Regret is by Harumachi Music. All are at PixaBay.

The Three Fifty-seven is written and produced by William Spear.

Thank you for listening.

(Theme for It Suits Her fades up and out)

WES

September 2023 – The Month Ahead – The Business of The 3:57 by William E. Spear

A regular accounting of The 3:57 published on the first Monday of each month.

Monday 4 September 2023

Dear All,

Welcome to another edition of The Month Ahead. It is my hope this finds you well.

As of this publication, five episodes of IT SUITS HER have been released. The two combatants, Maxie Williams and Celia Court, entered the ring with a fierce determination to win.

In this case the ring is Smart Styles tailoring shop where he is trying to pick up his suit for an appointment. Unfortunately for Maxie, he arrived after the shop closed. Unfortunately for Celia, her job is on the line and will likely be fired if she doesn’t close on time.

Each round – or, rather, episode – will continue to bring new details and twists of their pasts and hopes and obstacles for their futures.

As was discussed in last month’s newsletter, single-episode shows were being researched and a list was prepared for consideration. The 3:57 announces the debut of THE TABLE on Friday 15 September to commemorate National POW/MIA Recognition Day.

THE TABLE is adapted from The Missing Man Table ceremony which originated with veterans of, and families and friends of veterans of, the Vietnam War. It has since grown to remember all American prisoners of war and missing in action.

As stated by the National League of POW/MIA Families, The Missing Man Table seeks “to reaffirm the Nation’s commitment to account as fully as possible for American Prisoners-of-War and Missing-in-Action, as well as other US personnel still unaccounted for from the Vietnam War and wars and conflicts further past, thus ending the uncertainty of their families.” To the veterans and families, we offer THE TABLE as support for U.S. POWs and MIA.

Enjoy September and I look forward to talking with all of you next month. And remember, stories are everywhere.

Respectfully,

William E. Spear, Jr.

New Jersey, USA

Tuesday 29 August – IT SUITS HER, Episode Five

By
William E. Spear

Volume 2, Issue 05

IT SUITS HER, Episode 05

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Full Transcript –

IT SUITS HER, Episode 05

ORIGINAL DATE: 29 August 2023

(Theme for It Suits Her comes up)

Hello. Welcome to The 3:57 and our series IT SUITS HER. I am the host William Spear.

In the last episode, Maxie tried lying to get his suit but Celia was having none of that. Round one went to her but he is determined to withstand her verbal onslaught.

The tailoring shop is full of fireworks for Episode Five of . . . IT SUITS HER.

(Theme for Smart Styles Tailoring Shop fades up and under)

Celia continued harshly: “We are closed and you need to leave!”

Maxie picked himself up from being flattened by the 9:02 Celia Express: “Wait just one moment. I am Argosy Williams.”

“Argosy Jones?” asked Celia.

Maxie winced from her getting his last name wrong: “It’s Williams. Argosy Williams and I require my suit – tonight.”

Celia returned his volley: “I am Celia. Celia Court and I require you to leave – now.”

“I need my suit to audition for a play,” said Maxie

Once again Celia outmaneuvered her opponent: “I need you to exit stage left . . . or else.”

“Or else, what?” was Maxie’s steely response.

Celia declared her intent to call the police.

Maxie’s re-stated intention of not leaving without his suit was met with Celia brandishing her phone like a ninja sword.

Having failed at regrouping, Maxie tried defusing: “Now there’s no need for that, Miss . . . uh-?”

Celia cut him off: “I just told you. I am Celia Court. My friends call me Ceel.”

He interpreted the offered nickname as a thaw in her demeanor: “I am Argosy Maxwell Williams. My friends call me Maxie. Pleased to meet you Ceel.”

He was not rewarded for his efforts.

Only her friends could call her Ceel, she promised, and Maxie was no friend.

Maxie stomped his size eight-and-one half custom-made leather shoes for emphasis: “Young lady, I am Argosy Williams.”

“I’ve still never heard of Argosy Jones,” she said.

He slammed his forehead into the palm of his hand muttering. “Williams, Williams, Williams.”

“Leave, leave, leave,” encouraged Celia.

“But I am Argosy Jones!”

“I thought you said your name was Argosy Williams,” Celia noted with a sly smile.

Maxie realized Celia had reduced his attack into pretzel logic and responded with a primal: “Ahhhhhhhh!!!!”

(Theme for Smart Styles Tailoring Shop fades up and under)

You’ve just listened to Episode Five of IT SUITS HER.

Series theme is through the courtesy of Michael Kobrin. Additional music is by Lesfm. Both are at PixaBay.

The Three Fifty-seven is written and produced by William Spear.

Thank you for listening.

(Theme for It Suits Her fades up and out)

WES

Tuesday 22 August – IT SUITS HER, Episode Four

By
William E. Spear

Volume 2, Issue 04

IT SUITS HER, Episode 04

~~

Full Transcript –

IT SUITS HER, Episode 04

ORIGINAL DATE: 22 August 2023

(Theme for It Suits Her comes up)

Hello and welcome to The 3:57 by William E. Spear. My name is William Spear and this is our series IT SUITS HER.

Last time, Maxie was trying to pick up his suit and arrived moments after the tailoring shop closed. Celia was trying to save her job and demanded he leave at once.

Sit back and enjoy the slugfest of Episode Four in . . . IT SUITS HER.

(Theme for Smart Styles Tailoring Shop fades up and under)

Maxie was pleading his case: “I have an appointment tonight.”

Celia’s judgement was swift and unsympathetic: “The shop is closed.”

Maxie countered with this was the earliest he could get here.

Celia countered his counter with his earliest was exactly two minutes after closing and good night.

Her cell phone rang and she turned away. Maxie mapped out his strategy.

Celia finished her call and turned back but her tormentor was still there.

With his future hanging by a thread, he did the only honorable and mature thing he could imagine. He lied.

Without pause or hesitation, he said he was a close friend of the owner of the establishment.

This appeared to make a difference to her. “Really? You know Mr., uh, . . .?”

“Oh, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. . . . Did I say yes?” asked Maxie.

Celia assured him he did.

“We go back many, many, many, many years,” bragged Maxie.

“Really?” gushed Celia as if she was talking with a movie star.

“In fact,” he said. “I helped him start the business.”

Celia was even more amazed. “You? You helped Mr. Higgins start Fit Rite tailors?”

“Yes,” he assured her. “And “good old Higgie” said Fit Rite would always be open for me.”

“Well, any friend of “good old Higgie” deserves our best.”

Maxie was pleased with these developments and let her know: “I will be sure to speak favorably the next time I see him.”

Celia let loose her trap. “NOT! In the first place, the owner is Jack Clarkson and not “good old Higgie”.”

Maxie fought, but failed, to get in a word. He would have been more successful sprouting wings and flying to his appointment.

Celia’s verbal freight train picked up speed: “In the second place, the shop is named Smart Styles not Fit Rite.”

Maxie conceded defeat and asked about his suit.

Celia closed in to finish off her prey: “And in the third place, we are closed. Good night!”

(Theme for Smart Styles Tailoring Shop fades up and under)

You’ve just listened to Episode Four of IT SUITS HER.

Series theme is through the courtesy of Michael Kobrin. Additional music is by Lesfm. Both are at PixaBay.

The Three Fifty-seven is written and produced by William Spear.

Thank you for listening.

(Theme for It Suits Her fades up and out)

WES