By
William E. Spear

Volume 1, Issue 22

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Full Transcript –

LET ME GO TO HER, PODCAST EPISODE FIVE – What is Done in Youth

ORIGINAL DATE: 30 MAY 2023

(Cold open)

Rosie is missing in the midst of a rainstorm with thunder that is shaking the mansion and lightning that is illuminating the grounds.

All that and more is exploding on The 3:57 by William E. Spear.

(Organ music fades up)

Hello my name is William Spear and this is the conclusion of our series titled LET ME GO TO HER.

It is interpreted from Elizabeth Gaskell’s THE OLD NURSE’S STORY published in 1852.

Furnivall Manor is in an uproar. James is demanding Mrs. Stark tell her story. From the drawing-room Miss Furnivall has emerged looking terrified. And the organ, booming and threatening with its unseen player, adds its own voice.

Now, Episode Five . . . What is Done in Youth.

(Organ music fades up and under)

The thunder rocked the chandelier back and forth and the organ bounced it up and down.

James repeated his demand of Mrs. Stark to “tell her story”. She refused and with no other clues for finding Rosie I told him to continue.

“It all happened when Maude and Grace were in their twenties,” said James. “Their father, Lord Furnivall, loved music and hired an organist for lessons.”

Grace stepped to the organ which was playing under the command of unseen hands. Her fingers caressed the keys without actually touching them.

James continued: “The organist discreetly courted the sisters. Made sweet promises to both. Each tried to capture his attention. But Maude’s charms won the prize.”

Grace spewed poison: “How could he possibly have chosen her?” She slammed on the keys. The organ growled and the thunder roared.

She told more of the story: “My lying sister kept their marriage a secret. Each of us traveled so we went months or years without being in the house together. And when we were, the house was so big we might only see each other for meals.”

The organ tensed like a fist tightening and the thunder echoed its intent.

Grace spoke further: “One evening I saw a servant preparing a tray of food. ‘It’s for Miss Maude,’ the servant said. We had just eaten dinner so she couldn’t be hungry. I went up to her rooms.”

“There was Maude with a child! A girl! Must’ve been four years old. I ran to father and he was enraged. Said she ruined the family’s name. Then he kicked them out of the house in the midst of a terrible storm.”

The organ hit and sustained a note that opened a crack up the wall and across the ceiling to the chandelier.

James raged against her arrogance: “Maude and the girl died in the storm!”

The weather! My Rosie was out there and I had to find her! Music and thunder climaxed again and the door slammed open.

In ran Rosie and she leapt into my arms. We both sobbed and hugged each other. But the concert was not over. Thunder erupted followed by a blinding bolt of lightning. And there – there! – in the doorway were the spirits of young Maude Furnivall and her little girl.

Rosie screamed: “That’s the girl and her mother. They helped me.”

And from the organ appeared the ghastly ghostly shape of an old man. It was Lord Furnivall with silver hair and gleaming eyes. He walked toward mother and child and raised his cane to strike.

Another phantom appeared in the doorway. It was the spirit of young Grace Furnivall smiling contemptuously and approvingly. She encouraged the mother and child to be struck down.

Then a voice spoke but the words did not match the actions: “Oh, father! Father!” It was old Grace Furnivall begging mercy. “Spare the little innocent child!”

The old man’s cane struck its target. An explosion of thunder shook the mansion and the chandelier crashed to the floor.

A bolt of lightning flashed across the doorway and all four figures were gone.

Old Grace sobbed: “What I did in youth cannot be undone in my old age.” Then she collapsed. I grabbed Rosie and we drove all night to get back to my parents’ home.

(Organ music fades up and under)

Over the next few days our lawyer filed a petition for us to have permanent custody of Rosie. Grace died a few weeks later.

My college was delayed for a year while we got used to a fourth in the family.

And Rosie – dear, sweet Rosie – never again saw the little girl that called to her.

(Theme for Let Me Go To Her fades up)

You’ve just listened to the Fifth and Final Episode of LET ME GO TO HER.

Organ and theme music are through the courtesy of DS Technician at PixaBay.

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

Thank you for listening.

(Theme for Let Me Go To Her fades out)

WESJr.

By
William E. Spear

Volume 1, Issue 21

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Full Transcript –

LET ME GO TO HER, PODCAST EPISODE FOUR – Rosie is Missing

ORIGINAL DATE: 23 MAY 2023

(Cold open)

Why was James, one half of the couple who ran Furnivall Manor, so secretive about unveiling the painting? And, why was Dorothy, the other half of the couple, equally adamant about keeping it under wraps?

The answer to those questions and more are coming up on The 3:57 by William E. Spear.

(Theme for Let Me Go To Her comes up)

Hello my name is William Spear and this is our series titled LET ME GO TO HER.

It is interpreted from Elizabeth Gaskell’s THE OLD NURSE’S STORY published in 1852.

Standing in the hallway, the student is spellbound by the painting of the attractive Maude Furnivall, the older sister of Grace. Even the booming weather did not interrupt the gaze. But a voice coming from the drawing-room shatters the moment.

Now, Episode Four . . . Rosie is Missing.

(Theme for Let Me Go To Her fades up and under)

“You were told not to look.”

A flash of lightning lit the hallway and a loud thunderclap shook the mansion.

I spun around and was face-to-face with Mrs. Stark. She seemed a few degrees colder and greyer. “How did you find that painting?” she demanded.

The tone in her voice matched the contemptuous and disdainful stare of Maude Furnivall. Both made the point “You are not good enough to look.”

I explained the paintings were magnificent and my curiosity led me to pull back the covering. She shook her bony fist and said someone must’ve helped me.

Dorothy joined us: “What is the problem, Mrs. Stark?” The older of the two insisted I tell her who helped me. For added measure she called me an undesirable presence.

More lightning flashed and rolling thunder clapped louder. The mansion creaked to its core and the chandelier rattled.

But the student, Mrs. Stark, and Dorothy were not the only ones seeing and hearing the weather. Inside the drawing-room, Rosie was staring out the window. There was the little girl from her parents’ funeral.

Rosie looked back at the now-sleeping Miss Furnivall and turned to her shivering friend. “I am coming to you,” she whispered. She pushed open the glass door and walked into the rain.

Back in the hallway Dorothy had pulled James from the kitchen and demanded an explanation. This time he neither looked down nor mumbled. He steeled himself and with a bass voice that came up from the cellar and insisted the story be told.

Mrs. Stark shrieked for James to leave. Before he moved I told them I was leaving with Rosie. A thunderclap escorted me into the drawing-room.

A moment later I returned panic-stricken. “Rosie is gone,” I announced. “She’s missing.”

James turned on Mrs. Stark and Dorothy intervened: “It wasn’t her fault,” she said.

Thunder exploded, the chandelier shook violently, and the organ joined the chorus.

(Organ music fades up)

You’ve just listened to the Fourth Episode of LET ME GO TO HER.

Organ and theme music are through the courtesy of DS Technician at PixaBay.

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

Thank you for listening.

(Organ music fades up and out)

End of transcript.

By
William E. Spear

Volume 1, Issue 20

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Full Transcript –

LET ME GO TO HER, PODCAST EPISODE THREE – Discoveries

ORIGINAL DATE: 16 MAY 2023

(Cold open)

The student navigated a downpour to get Rosie to her new family. But the crumbling mansion is no one’s idea of “Home Sweet Home.”

Their story is coming up next on The 3:57 by William E. Spear.

(Organ music comes up)

Hello my name is William Spear and this is our series titled LET ME GO TO HER.

It is interpreted from Elizabeth Gaskell’s THE OLD NURSE’S STORY published in 1852.

The student and Rosie entered Furnivall Manor in upstate New Jersey and were assaulted by organ music. But, no one was playing.

Now, Episode Three . . . Discoveries.

(Organ music climbs)

The music continued to climb until a voice called out: “Hello, there. We’ve be expecting you.”

(Organ music quickly fades out)

It was James, one half of the couple who ran the household. I looked around and asked what happened to the music.

“There was no music,” said another voice slicing from the shadows.

Dorothy, the other half, stepped next to her husband and asked, “Was there James?”

He looked down and mumbled “No. Of course not.” I dropped the subject and focused on the portraits hanging in the hallway. Generations of Furnivalls were on display.

Their good looks were exceeded only by their pride and scorn.

Of note, one painting was covered. “Who’s that?” There’s no need to look assured Dorothy as she steered me away.

I called for Rosie but the child did not answer. She was gone. “Rosie! ROSIE!”

James pointed me toward the drawing-room. Sitting on a sofa larger than my car was Rosie.

He spoke: “She’s with Miss Furnivall and Mrs. Stark.”

I breathed relief and approached the odd trio: an orphaned six-year-old and two octogenarians. Rosie chattered away as if they were lifelong pals.

James introduced me. Mrs. Stark was cold and grey. Miss Furnivall, Grace when she was young, was thin and had a face full of fine wrinkles. Traces of ancient beauty mixed with the family’s ever-present pride and scorn.

James excused himself to bring refreshments. With Rosie cheerfully regaling Miss Furnivall, Mrs. Stark, and Dorothy, I volunteered to help.

We passed by the paintings and James pointed out out a striking portrait of a young Grace. Who would have thought Miss Furnivall had been such an out-and-out beauty to see her now?

“True,” said James. “But Miss Furnivall’s older sister, Maude, was even more stunning.” The possibility was beyond imagination.

“Where’s her portrait?” I asked.

James checked in the drawing room and saw Dorothy tending to Miss Furnivall. He made me swear I would never tell her and then tilted his head toward the covered picture as he left for the kitchen.

I uncovered it and there was young Maude Furnivall. To be sure, she beat Miss Grace for beauty and scornful pride. But it would’ve been close.

As I stood marvelling, a familiar voice sliced through me: “You were told not to look.”

(Theme for Let Me Go To Her fades up and under)

You’ve just listened to the Third Episode of LET ME GO TO HER.

Organ and theme music are through the courtesy of DSTechnician at PixaBay.

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

Thank you for listening.

(Theme for Let Me Go To Her fades out)

The end.

By
William E. Spear

Volume 1, Issue 19

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Full Transcript –

LET ME GO TO HER, PODCAST EPISODE TWO – Furnivall Manor

ORIGINAL DATE: 9 MAY 2023

(Cold open)

The student’s college dreams come back from the financial dead and the orphaned Rosie talks to an unseen child.

Right here on The 3:57 by William E. Spear.

(Theme for Let Me Go To Her comes up)

Hello my name is William Spear and this is our series titled LET ME GO TO HER.

It is interpreted from Elizabeth Gaskell’s THE OLD NURSE’S STORY published in 1852.

An attorney has shown up representing the Furnivall family and their intent to adopt the orphan Rosie. But, who is the family and what is their connection?

Now, Episode Two . . . Furnivall Manor.

(Theme for Let Me Go To Her fades under and out)

I called mom and dad and they said they’d be home as quick as possible. The attorney sat down and didn’t say a word.

Rosie walked between us and examined the visitor. Hair color, shoe color, and briefcase color were faded brown, worn out brown, and barely brown.

The little girl walked into another room and spoke words we didn’t fully hear.

When she returned, she mumbled, stared again at the visitor, and resumed her post looking out the window.

Mom and dad arrived with the attorney who helped us with Rosie. The legals gestured to each other and the papers were exchanged.

Rosie wandered between us and back to the window.

Mom and dad’s attorney acknowledged the papers were properly signed and sealed with “Duly Noteds”, “Therefores”, and “Parties of the First and Second Parts”. However, a day’s time to fully review the documents was requested.

The Furnivall attorney reluctantly granted twenty-four hours. A deep bow was offered followed by a quick retreat.

The moment the door closed there was an explosion of voices.

Dad said there was no way he’d let a stranger take Rosie. Mom added Rosie’s parents never even mentioned the name Furnivall.

Their well-intended concerns were undermining my slim hopes of going to college.

Our attorney left with a promise to have answers in the morning. Dinner was a quiet affair and we went to bed.

After midnight I heard a voice and went into the living room. There was Rosie staring out the window saying, “Yes, I know. Soon. Very soon.” When she saw me she went back to bed. I grabbed a blanket and slept in the living room.

In the morning the Furnivall attorney arrived after breakfast and immediately complained of being late for appointments.

Around eleven our attorney arrived with the verdict: The Furnivalls were, indeed, Rosie’s blood relatives and prepared to take her in.

Mom and dad protested but everything was legal. I offered to drive Rosie so they could go back to work. Their attorney sent a notice to the household staff that we would arrive by mid-afternoon.

The journey up the highway began and the weather fought back. Every exit marker added clouds and grey. When the final toll was paid, a downpour pummeled my car. Noah’s ark had nothing on us.

Each road was more narrow and rougher than the one before. From a lane that was ancient when Rip Van Winkle was young, we turned onto the Furnivall estate.

(Bed of organ music)

Their stone and granite manor house was half consumed by the surrounding forest. Through the trees, music rose.

It beckoned – or dared – us to approach. The entrance door was pushed open and there was an organ blaring.

But no one was playing it.

(Organ music fades up and under)

You’ve just listened to the Second Episode of LET ME GO TO HER.

Theme and organ music are through the courtesy of DSTechnician at PixaBay.

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

Thank you for listening.

(Organ music fades out)

By
William E. Spear

Volume 1, Issue 17

~~

Full Transcript –

THE MESSENGER DINES OUT, PODCAST EPISODE FOUR – The Take Out

ORIGINAL DATE: 25 APRIL 2023

(Footsteps approach and stop)

Hello . . . and welcome to the Three Fifty-seven.

My name is William Spear and we are at Chez Highway in New Jersey for our series titled THE MESSENGER DINES OUT.

Chez Highway is the new name of the diner started by Jim and Francine Dale. The owner is one of their grandkids and is arguing over how the place should be run.

Now, the Fourth, and Final, Episode titled The Take Out.

The new owner did not appreciate the music of Chez Highway being criticized by a pair of strangers: “What do you know about music?”

Frankie answered: “Some of the best music ever made was played here.”

Jimmie enthused: “There was Clive Jones and the Five Tones. And Sarah Hepp and the Hepp Cats.”

(Theme for The New Owner fades up and under)

Then Frankie bragged: “This place rocked.”

The owner chimed in: “Why don’t you take your Five Cats-“

“-It’s the Five Tones and the Hepp Cats,” Frankie corrected.

Jimmie continued: “With Clive Jones and Sarah Hepp . . . respectively.”

The owner was desperate to get out of the conversation: “This is fascinating but I’ve got culinary masterpieces to create for demanding clients.”

Jimmie countered: “Try creating a space for families to get out every now and then. For teenagers to go on first dates and young adults to build lives together.”

Frankie added: “This place celebrated christenings and mourned after funerals. People listened to their favorite teams lose and win and lose again.”

And Frankie went further: “A place where people can laugh and cry and talk for a while is more priceless than your “culinary masterpieces.”

The owner roared: “What do you know about running a business?”

They smiled and Jimmie said: “We started this place back in the fifties.” Frankie nodded: “Your parents met here.”

A doubting light bulb flickered behind the owner’s eyes: “If you are Grandpa Jim and Grandma Francine then which counter stool-“

“-Third from the left,” said Frankie who bounced the verbals to Jimmie for: “And you always spun counterclockwise.” He sent it back to Frankie for: “You were a cute kid. Annoying but cute”

She leaned in and went further: “It really is us.”

Doubt left the grandkid: “A lot has changed.”

Jimmie shrugged, “Thanks for the news flash.”

The grandkid sounded more like just a kid: “What am I going to do?”

Frankie offered: “Get better music” and Jimmie finished with,”Remember the family.”

They faded away faster than a free ice cream sundae and the grandkid spun around looking for help: “Hey, I can’t do this by myself. Come back! Please come back!”

(Theme for The New Owner fades out)

A few days later the Messenger went back and the Chez Highway sign was gone. Inside where signs that read “Under New Management.”

From the kitchen a familiar voice called out: “Hey.”

The Messenger spun around. It was Jim and Francine’s grandkid.

“Saw the signs. Sorry this didn’t work out,” consoled the Messenger.

The grandkid admitted that Chez Highway was a bad idea and the Messenger offered best wishes for whatever was next.

“I’m staying right here. Making it more of a family place,” said the grandkid. “Even got a new name.”

The grandkid pulled up a menu with The Next Dale printed on it.

The Messenger smiled and the grandkid continued: “Our re-opening is this Friday.”

“When I worked here,” remembered the Messenger. “We had the best Friday night dinner in the county.”

The grandkid enthused: “Come back and tell us how we’re doing. On the house.”

“What about paying the bills?” asked the Messenger.

“Re-connecting with the community is the best way to keep the place open,” said the grandkid. “I think that’s how Jim and Francine would’ve done it.”

The Messenger agreed and left. The owner of The Next Dale got ready for the re-opening.

(New theme for The New Owner fades up and under)

You’ve just listened to the Final Episode of THE MESSENGER DINES OUT.

Sound effects are by Georgisound and theme music is through the courtesy of Serge Quadrado and Shiden Beats Music. All are at PixaBay.

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

Thank you for listening and . . . oh, baby! . . . get back to the dancing.

(New theme for The New Owner fades out)