A regular accounting of The 3:57 published on the first Monday of each month.
Monday 2 October 2023
Hello, All,
Welcome to The Month Ahead for October 2023. It is my hope this finds you well.
As of this publication, IT SUITS HER continues the stories of Maxie and Celia. During nine previous episodes, and five more are scheduled for this month, they have thrown emotional punches and haymakers that would have solicited applause from Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier.
However, and of note, is the changing nature of their journeys. Both have revealed parts of their histories more painful than the other might cause. But, and to paraphrase Elton John, they are still standing. Stay tuned for more to come.
Our first single-episode show, THE TABLE, debuted on Friday 15 September in commemoration of National POW/MIA Recognition Day.
THE TABLE is a commitment to account for American Prisoners-of-War, Missing-in-Action, and other U.S. personnel still unaccounted for from the Vietnam War and wars and conflicts further past.
To the veterans and their families, we offer THE TABLE as support for U.S. POWs and MIA.
Another single-episode show debuted on Sunday 1 October: CASEY AT THE BAT. Written by Ernest Lawrence Thayer in 1888, the story tells of sports fans’ eternal optimism of their favorite team winning the big game.
The rest of October beckons with the promise of more IT SUITS HER and other surprises.
I look forward to more conversation next month. And remember, stories are everywhere.
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.
A regular accounting of The 3:57 published on the first Monday of each month.
Monday 7 August 2023
Dear All,
Welcome to Season Two of The 3:57 by William E. Spear. The first episode of the new season premiered Tuesday 1 August.
The series is titled IT SUITS HER and tells the stories of Maxie Williams and Celia Court. Maxie is an actor who left his brilliant career in numerous bottles of whiskey. Celia left a miserable home life and is working at an equally miserable job. Both are struggling and desperate to build better futures.
But when their lives collide, will either land in a place that suits them?
IT SUITS HER is the only series scheduled for Season Two. There will be one blog post and one podcast episode each Tuesday for the rest of the year. That’s five months of Maxie and Celia.
Elsewhere, a trailer for IT SUITS HER has been developed. Same for all of the 2023 shows. Plus, The 3:57 will participate in its first promo swap. Wicked exciting.
With all the episodes of IT SUITS HER having been written, attention has turned to, and development efforts made on, shows for 2024. Expect more shows that run for a single month and one show that spans several months. Further details will be released in the coming months.
There may also be single-episode releases. Although there are programming questions to be considered, there are many moments that warrant one episode. More to come on this, too.
Enjoy August and I look forward to talking with all of you next month,
On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress unanimously adopted the Declaration of Independence, announcing the colonies’ separation from Great Britain.
It is also the first Tuesday of a new month. Throughout the year, The 3:57 by William E. Spear has started a new series on the first Tuesdays of January through June. As a reminder, these are the first episodes of stories we’ve started this year:
On this particular Tuesday, The 3:57 announces it is Between Seasons. The program is developing a new series titled IT SUITS HER. The following is a brief description:
“Maxie (Williams) is an actor whose previously brilliant career disappeared with a serious drinking illness; Ceel (Court) ran away from a miserable home life and is working at an equally miserable job. Both are struggling and desperate to build better futures. When their lives collide, will they land in circumstances that suits either of them?”
Show notes for IT SUITS HER
Seven episodes have been written and are working their way to the recording studios for a premiere on 1 August. However, an excerpt of the first episode, as told by Maxie, is below:
Good evening. I’m Maxie Williams. I am on my way an appointment and need to pick up my suit from a tailor in downtown Flemington.
Before I can retrieve my suit from the said tailor I will need to navigate Celia Court. She is easily the most obstinate . . . the most infuriating . . . the most annoying person I have ever met.
It is like looking in a mirror and seeing myself thirty years younger.
That encounter will come later. For now, she is balancing her boyfriend and job by way of her cell phone. If you lean a bit closer you can hear her.
“Hello. . . . I can only talk for a moment. . . . No, I’ll be there later.” Celia whispered into her cel phone: “We don’t close the shop until nine. . . . I can’t, Mr. Clarkson will hear me.”
Mr. Clarkson, the owner of the shop, elsewhere and as far away as possible without being on the street, bellowed: “Miss Court!”
Celia bent closer to her cell phone and whispered lower: “I have to go. Mr. Clarkson might . . .”
“I might what, Miss Court?” Clarkson boomed.
End of excerpt.
That’s all for now. We will look for you in August.
A regular accounting of the The 3:57 published on the first Monday of each month.
Monday 3 July 2023
Re: Midyear Status and Between Seasons (since when do we have seasons?)
Dear All,
Greetings and salutations. It is my hope this finds you well.
The 3:57 by William E. Spear has arrived at the midpoint of 2023 and a reflection upon the first six months seems appropriate. Start with a reminder of the initial objectives: 1) Post each week on the program’s blog and 2) Release a podcast episode on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month.
Permit consideration of these accomplishments:
Season One has been concluded. Brew another pot of celebratory coffee for that alone.
Stories ranged from turning 64 (ON A FROSTY MORN) to an allegorical view of Russia invading The Ukraine (DEAD AIR) to a non-verbal janitor in central New Jersey, U.S.A (SEVENTEEN).
For 26 consecutive weeks, a blog post or podcast episode was released every single week.
Of note, in April, May, and June both a blog post and podcast episode were released each week.
Of further note, in June was A FORCE OF POETS. The release schedule included the following:
The program will be Between Seasons in July. Writing, voicing, and producing each story is exhilarating and exhausting and Season One was a blast. Stepping away from the microphone for four weeks is a welcome break.
However, The 3:57 will not be idle. Season Two is in the works and on 1 August the premiere episode of IT SUITS HER will be released. It will feature the characters Maxie Williams and Ceel Court.
Maxie is an actor whose previously brilliant career disappeared with a serious drinking illness; Ceel left a miserable home life and is working at an equally miserable job. Both are struggling and desperate to build better futures. When their lives collide, will they land in circumstances that suits either of them?
Teaser – Zoey Gladden, the dying stranger, is recovering from hypothermia in her hospital room. When she regains consciousness, she tells Chris of their past connection. But the teenager is angered by having any memories of home and changes the direction of the conversation.
Full Transcript –
Remembering, Episode #8: Reconciled
Original Date: 24 June 2020
Hello. This is . . . The Three Fifty-seven.
[The 3:57 Theme plays]
My name is William Spear and I am the Host of The Three Fifty-seven. The current series is titled REMEMBERING.
And this episode, the eighth, is called RECONCILED. Zoey is recovering from hypothermia and telling Chris of their past connection. But the teenager doesn’t want any memories of home.
And now, REMEMBERING.
[Remembering Theme plays]
Eight and one-half-hours after being admitted to an Emergency Room for hypothermia, Zoey Gladden was conscious and explaining how she knew Chris.
“We are both from New Jersey,” she said. “In fact, we went to high school together.”
Chris stood up and backed away. Zoey continued, “We were in the same math class the day you left. I ran away a few weeks after you.”
Chris was uncomfortable talking about home and changed the conversation. “What are you going to do?”
“Get well,” she said. “Get out of here and go somewhere warmer.”
“You could call your parents. I am sure they miss you,” Chris said.
Zoey shrank under the covers. “It was bad there. They don’t want me.”
“You don’t know that,” Chris said. “Call your parents.”
“I can’t do that. We were yelling and arguing all the time,” said Zoey.
Chris pulled the chair close to her bed and handed Zoey the phone. “I’ll be right here.”
Zoey looked at it, then at Chris, back at the phone, back at Chris, then at the phone, again at Chris, back at-
-“Oh, just call them,” Chris said with a smile and a laugh.
Zoey dialed the phone, closed her eyes, and braced for the twin furies:
“Hello, Mom. . . . Yes, it’s me. Is this a good time to talk? . . . I can’t understand you through the crying. . . .
“. . . Wait, you don’t have to – oh, hi, Dad. . . . I’m fine. You? . . . I miss you, too. And I was wondering if you could, you know, do you think, I mean, would you consider, if it’s not a problem, maybe to, uhm, bring me home? . . .”
Zoey’s eyes opened wide and fear grabbed her face. She reached to Chris for support and the teenager leaned forward and held her hand.
Zoey continued: “Why is Mom screaming? Did she drop the casserole pan on her foot again? . . . Oh, screaming for joy. I get it. . . .”
Zoey eased back into bed and closed her eyes in relief. Her reunion faded into the background while Chris simmered with anger. What right did she have to rejoin her parents?
She ran away over some arguments. Made her family sick with worry. Now she was getting another chance. The teenager despised her as she said:
” . . . You can pick me up at Saint Luke’s hospital – I’m fine. Just a little frost bitten. Saint Luke’s near Mount Oliver. . . .
“. . .By the way, an old friend is here. Chris Rowe from high school. . . . Yes, I’ll introduce you. Hey, I need to get some sleep, okay. So long. . . . I love both of you.”
Zoey put down the phone, collected her thoughts, and spoke, “There, I called them. Are you satisfied?” She opened her eyes to say more but stopped.
Chris was gone.
[Remembering Theme plays]
You’ve just listened to Episode Eight of REMEMBERING. The series music, What A Way – The Prelude, is through the courtesy of Semaphore.
The Three Fifty-seven is an anthology of comedy, drama, and supernatural stories. Theme music is Not On The Bus . . .
[The 3:57 Theme plays]
. . . by U. S. Army Blues.
The Three Fifty-seven is Written and Produced by William Spear.
Clay Track Press 