Tuesday 19 September – IT SUITS HER, Episode Eight

By
William E. Spear

Volume 2, Issue 08

IT SUITS HER, Episode 08

~~

Full Transcript –

IT SUITS HER, Episode 08

ORIGINAL DATE: 19 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.

Once again the common ground between Celia and Maxie is trampled upon. This time, his gesture of good will toward her parents caused Celia to reveal they have been gone for years.

Will their relationship survive another setback?

It’s emotional wounds and bandages galore in Episode Eight of . . . IT SUITS HER.

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

Celia’s whispered revelation about her parents rocked Maxie.

He matched her hushed volume and added sympathy: “I’m sorry for your loss. Please accept my condolences.”

Celia brightened immediately: “They’re still alive but I don’t see them anymore.”

(Theme for Celia’s Sorrow comes up and under)

Maxie’s head was spinning from the rapid change of emotional direction. “What happened?”

“They were always bragging about who they knew or what parties they were going to,” she said. “One night they came home and dropped names in front of my friends for over an hour.”

“That doesn’t sound so bad,” said Maxie.

She plowed on: “Every name that came out of their mouths included who they worked for, salary, the size of their house, where they vacationed, and the type of car they drove. When another hour went by, I called them phonies. My dad laughed at me and said, “If you’ll excuse us . . .””

She was interrupted by Maxie: “If you’ll excuse us, Sarah, I fear you’ve realized what we’ve worked so hard to keep hidden from you.”

Celia’s amazement filled the tailoring shop. “How could you know that? Okay there is one correction: My dad used my name. But . . . ,” she continued. “How did you know?

(Theme for Celia’s Sorrow goes out)

The line between re-telling and re-living his past was blurred. Maxie spoke: “It’s one of the scenes from THE TERMINUS. My character – Jonathan Talmadge – was a nothing married to a nobody. He and his wife dragged their daughter around the world for twenty years convincing everyone they belonged in elite society.”

Celia’s attention was sky-high. It was like she was being told her own life story.

Maxie continued: “One night in Europe – Stockholm, I think – they were heading out to a fancy dress ball and their daughter, Sarah, confronted them. Called them phonies and said she was tired of their stories. Then she . . .”

It was Celia’s turn to interrupt and re-live and re-tell the past: “Then she packed her bags, got on a train, and left. That’s what I did – packed my bags and moved to the city.

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

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

Series theme is through the courtesy of Michael Kobrin and additional music is by Lesfm. Theme for Celia’s Sorrow 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

THE TABLE

By
William E. Spear

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

~~

Full Transcript –

THE TABLE

ORIGINAL DATE: 15 September 2023

(The Marines’ GOD OF OUR FATHERS comes up and goes under)

Hello and welcome to The 3:57. My name is William Spear.

This episode is THE TABLE. It is adapted from The Missing Man Table Ceremony in honor of National POW/MIA Recognition Day.

The commemoration started with congressional and presidential resolutions in 1979 acknowledging the efforts of families of more than 2,500 POWs and MIAs from the Vietnam War.

Subsequent presidents have continued the honor on the third Friday in September as National POW/MIA Recognition Day. Further, former prisoners of war and those still missing in action from all U. S. conflicts are now recognized.

The Defense Department continues efforts to account for POWs and MIAs from World War Two, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the Gulf Wars, and other recent conflicts.

They seek to “Provide the fullest possible accounting for our missing personnel to their families and the nation.”

And now . . . THE TABLE.

(The Marines’ GOD OF OUR FATHERS comes up and goes under)

I – Setting for six
There is a table
Which is set
Wherever people congregate.

From upscale restaurants
To downtown soup kitchens.

From dining rooms
To dining cars
To diners.

Invitations have been sent to six guests
And their comrades of many thousands more.

II – Needing to believe
There is a table
Which is set
With circular proportions.

It signifies our intent
And unending desire,

To know
To understand
And believe,

That our missing guests
Will someday be present.

III – Protect and engage
There is a table
Which is set
Draped with a tablecloth of white.

It symbolizes the purity
And virtue of our guests.

To act
Protect
And engage,

For the service of the country
In a unique and special way.

IV – Bound by faith
There is a table
Which is set
With a vase and single red rose.

The rose, surrounded by barbed thorns,
Is symbolic of each guest.

Loved ones
And friends
Are keeping the faith.

The vase is bound with a red ribbon
Just as we are bound to our guests.

V – Bitter fates and tears
There is a table
Which is set
And laden with lemon and salt.

A slice of lemon drips upon
The bread plate of lives.

Bitter
Are the fates
Kept from the table.

And grains of salt are tears wept by
Absent guests, their families, and friends.

VI – No celebration
There is a table
Which is set
With champagne glasses placed upside down.

It holds no toast
And contains no celebration.

It is hollow,
Empty,
A void.

It will never sparkle
Without the brilliance of our guests.

VII – Empty chairs
(with pace)
There is a table
Which is set
For guests who can not come.

(continue pace)
Upon the table rests a Bible offering strength,
Faith, and a reminder of our country’s roots.

Chairs beckon, but go unheeded, by our absent guests,
They are comrades, loved ones, and friends
Who are with us in spirit if not in actuality.

Each served the nation in a special and now unending way.
All shall be remembered while we ask questions and await answers.

VIII – Pledge to missing guests
(slow build with pace)
We raise our empty glasses
In pledge to America’s
Prisoners of War and Missing in Action.

We shall forever strive
To learn their fates
Because we will never forget them.

Whether Army,
Marine Corps,
Or, Navy.

The Air Force,
Or, the Coast Guard.

They were once Civilians and will always be family and friends.

IX – Never forget
(with emphasis) We must never forget . . .
(as previous) . . . There is a table
Which is set
Wherever people congregate.

(The Marines’ GOD OF OUR FATHERS comes up and goes under)

You have just listened to THE TABLE.

All music is from the United States Marine Band.

The 3:57 is written and produced by William Spear.

Thank you for listening, and . . .

. . . To the POWs and MIAs, “You are not forgotten.”

(The Marines’ BUGLE CALL FOR TAPS comes up and goes under)

Tuesday 12 September – IT SUITS HER, Episode Seven

By
William E. Spear

Volume 2, Issue 07

IT SUITS HER, Episode 07

~~

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

~~

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