Tag: FictionPodcast

By
William E. Spear

Volume 2, Issue 21

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Full Transcript –

IT SUITS HER, Episode 21

ORIGINAL DATE: 19 December 2023

(Theme for It Suits Her fades up and under)

Hello. My name is William Spear and I am the host of The 3:57. You are listening to the current series called IT SUITS HER.

Maxie is sitting with his estranged wife, Agnes, in his friend’s restaurant. She asked why he drank so much, ran around, and never came home.

His answer will reveal his deepest fear.

How will Agnes react? Find out in Episode Twenty-one of . . . IT SUITS HER.

(Theme for Nick’s Italian Bistro fades up and under)

Maxie remembered his whirlwind acting career and success at portraying “the nice guy next door.” The interviews, the parties, and the people he met all came flooding back. As did the changes he experienced.

He stared in his glass of tonic water and spoke to the nearly melted ice: “I was afraid that you wouldn’t think I was as good as the characters I played.”

Agnes smiled at his willingness to be human at all times. His years of drinking had not changed that.

She allowed a sliver of her own humanity to enter the conversation: “Tony told me what you did for that girl. Said it was more gentlemanly than anything you did in TERMINUS. Everybody knew what you were before that movie. I’ve always known what kind of man you are.”

“You never said anything.” He watched the last of the ice melt.

Maxie was fortunate to be sitting before Agnes told him of the years she was afraid of not being good enough for him.

He said the tonic had gone to his head and asked her to explain.

They had studied drama together and had gone to the same auditions. “But,” she added. “You became a star and I got stretch marks. You were out with all those actresses and I was-“

“-You were always on my mind,” interrupted Maxie.

Agnes threatened to splash him with his drink. She said not to start or he’d be wearing his tonic.

Nick was walking by and commented: “Is somebody asking that I should be bringing a tonic?”

“No, Nick, just have a towel ready in case Agnes starts throwing my limes.”

Nick let them know Mister Maxie was “making him to laugh. Ha! Ha!”

“Don’t encourage him, Nick,” Agnes said drily while staring at Maxie. “He was probably life of the parties with Gina Broyles and Pamela Fenster.”

Nick smiled and quietly stepped away while Maxie continued: “Gina Broyles, Pamela Fenster, and all the others listened to me talk about you.”

Her hostility flared: “Not only were you a drunk but you were boring.”

Maxie shook his head at another person playing the drunk card. He quickly changed course and added: “I’m not sure which of us is worse.”

“You are,” answered Agnes with enthusiasm.

Maxie talked into the bottom of his empty glass: “You’re probably right.” He paused and resumed: “Look, I, uh, I was wondering . . .”

(Theme for Nick’s Italian Bistro fades up and under)

You’ve just listened to Episode Twenty-one of IT SUITS HER.

Series theme is through the courtesy of Michael Kobrin. Theme for Nick’s Bistro is by AudioCoffee. Both are at PixaBay.

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

Thank you for listening.

Oh, and Maxie . . . what are you doing? You’ve navigated the wrath of Agnes by claiming to be a faithful, although alcoholic, husband.

Don’t get us wrong. Agnes is beautiful. But we don’t believe a couple of drinks with Gina Broyles, Pamela Fenster, or the others would have kept Agnes on our mind. Of course, we weren’t there.

But tell us: What could you possibly be wondering?

(Theme for It Suits Her fades up and out)

WESJr

By
William E. Spear

Volume 2, Issue 20

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Full Transcript –

IT SUITS HER, Episode 20

ORIGINAL DATE: 12 December 2023

(Theme for It Suits Her fades up and under)

Hello. This is The 3:57 and I am your host, William Spear. You are listening to the current series called IT SUITS HER.

Maxie’s “performance of his life” was experienced only by his wife, Agnes, and him. There were no awards. No photographers calling “Over here, Mr. Williams. Over here!”

No interviews on national and international magazines.

Instead, he answered her question about working at Scherzer’s, the high-end department store in Flemington. He told her he couldn’t sell a glass of water to a man in the desert then added he made customers laugh and they usually bought a shirt or tie.

He spoke of working with some of the best people he’d ever known. Funny and creative, like an ensemble. Around them, he had gotten his timing back. They had encouraged him to audition for Tony’s play.

He stared into his tonic and lime hoping to survive his emotions. What he got was the courage to ask Agnes a question.

What did he ask? Find out in Episode Twenty of . . . IT SUITS HER.

(Theme for Nick’s Italian Bistro fades up and under)

He stared into his glass, took a sip of tonic with lime, and asked: “Why are you here?”

Agnes grudgingly offered congratulations on his new role. “I see,” she said. “You’ve been celebrating.”

Maxie admitted he had become a connoisseur of tonic and lime.

Agnes asked: “How long’s it been?”

“Ten years since I saw you.”

Agnes steered the conversation away from her: “Since your last drink?”

Maxie allowed himself to be steered . . .: “Five years, six months, two weeks, one day, two hours and fifty-seven minutes.”

Agnes remembered his humor: “Approximately?”

Maxie affirmed: “Approximately.” The he steered the conversation back onto Agnes: “It’s good to see you.”

Agnes refused the attention and wanted one question. He shook his head “Yes.”

Agnes asked: “Why’d you do all those things?” Maxie stammered: “Well, you see, uh, I, . . .

She went on: “Why run around?” Maxie tried laughing it off by declaring that was two questions.

Agnes was relentless: “And drink so much?” Maxie smiled: “Hold on that’s three.”

Agnes closed in for the metaphorical kill: “And not come home?” Maxie was silent.

He continued quietly and softly, remembering more than telling: “That was the worst, not seeing you. But I was so afraid.”

Agnes didn’t let up: “Of what?”

“I was changing . . . the interviews, the parties, the people hanging around me. Afraid that . . .”

“. . . Go on.”

“And,” he paused and stared in his glass again. The ice was nearly melted. “I was afraid that you wouldn’t think I was as good as the characters I played.”

(Theme for Nick’s Italian Bistro fades up and under)

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

Series theme is through the courtesy of Michael Kobrin. Theme for Nick’s Bistro is by AudioCoffee. Both are at PixaBay.

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

Thank you for listening.

And Maxie . . . Come on! There’s no way you drank and ran around because of how you were changing. You’re making that up about being less than the characters you portrayed.

Aren’t you?

(Theme for It Suits Her fades up and out)

WES

By
William E. Spear

Volume 2, Issue 19

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Full Transcript –

IT SUITS HER, Episode 19

ORIGINAL DATE: 5 December 2023

(Footsteps come on and stop)

(Cold open)

Hello. You are listening to The 3:57. I am the host, William Spear, and this is the current series called IT SUITS HER.

This part of the story has no music, no theme songs, and no segues. It is one person facing a moment ten years in the making.

The protagonist, Argosy Maxwell Williams, is sitting in his friend’s restaurant. Nicknamed Maxie, he once had a career envied by most.

He acted opposite the finest performers of his generation. He worked for legendary directors and turned down scripts from the most powerful studios in the world.

Maxie also drank himself out of his career and lost his family. He’s been sober for five years but hasn’t seen his wife in ten. While in the restaurant, his wife unexpectedly sits at his table.

With no preparation and no rehearsal, this is the performance of his life. Enjoy Episode Nineteen of IT SUITS HER and Maxie . . . it’s all yours.

(Cold throughout)

Thanks, William.

I begged Tony not to leave but it didn’t work. With no alternative, and not wishing to draw attention to myself, I sat.

There was no choice but to talk with Agnes.

She started: “How’ve you been for the last ten years . . . Maxie?”

I answered with phony amazement: “Look at the time.”

Agnes stared at me and I had to answer: “Oh, you know. A little of this and a little of that.”

“Working?” she asked expecting me to say “No”.

My discomfort was growing. I faked a yawn and continued: “It really is kind of late.”

She stared. Defeat thy name is Maxie: “Pretty steady,” I conceded. “Especially the last four years. Even have a retirement account.

The thought of me working steady and having a retirement account made Agnes choke on her tonic with lime. She regained her composure and told me she hadn’t seen my name around town.

“Not on stage or film,” I confessed. “But a couple of jobs that keep me busy.”

She leaned slightly into the conversation: “Tell me.”

I didn’t want to and shook my head “No.”

Sounding more like an interrogator rather than an interested party, she insisted: “Go on.”

“The one I really like is in the Men’s department at Scherzer’s.”

Her previous “shabby chic” comment now caused disbelief: “Scherzer’s?,” she said. “The high-end store at the traffic circle?”

It was my turn to have an advantage. I smiled and shook my head “Yes.”

Her disbelief doubled and she asked if I was any good?

“I couldn’t sell a glass of water to a man in the desert. But I make customers laugh and they usually buy a shirt or tie. Plus, I work with some of the best people I’ve ever known. They’re funny and creative, like an ensemble. Around them, I got my timing back. They encouraged me to audition for Tony’s play.”

Advantage me. I looked for courage in a sip of tonic with lime, and asked: “Why are you here, Agnes?”

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

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

Thank you for listening.

And, Maxie, I’m wondering the same thing.

Why is Agnes in the restaurant? After ten years, what could have happened? Why did she leave her “leftover tunafish sandwich on rye with potato chips” to see you?

Maxie, there’s a freight train coming. But you’re not the only one on the track.

(Footsteps come up and go off)

WESJr

This episode has no music, no theme songs, and no segues. It is Argosy Maxwell Williams – Maxie – staring down the barrel of the consequences of his actions.

He is sitting in his friend’s restaurant. At one time, he had a career envied by most. But he drank that away. Although sober for five years, he hasn’t seen his wife in ten.

Until she sits at his table.

With no preparation and no rehearsal, he is thrown into the performance of his life.

Coming on Tuesday 5 December 2023.

PS – Good luck, Maxie.

WES

By
William E. Spear

Volume 2, Issue 18

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Full Transcript –

IT SUITS HER, Episode 18

ORIGINAL DATE: 28 November 2023

(Theme for It Suits Her fades up and under)

Hello. You are listening to The 3:57 and I am William E. Spear. This is the current series called IT SUITS HER.

The story is starting in a moment but we have one last appearance from MADISON ON THE AIR. Get us started, Madison.

(Insert Madison on the Air promo)

Thanks, Madison, it was a blast having you and best wishes for all your future shows and episodes and endeavors. And now, back to our show.

While sitting in Nick’s Italian Bistro, Maxie received a surprise: his estranged wife, Agnes, has shown up in the restaurant.

She was invited by Tony, the director of the play Maxie has been cast.

Agnes and Maxie have not seen each other in ten years.

And he promptly speaks as if he is new to the English language.

It’s all verbal miscues and “please don’t leave, Tony” in Episode Eightteen of . . . IT SUITS HER.

(Theme for Nick’s Italian Bistro fades up and under)

“Agnes?” Maxie stumbled over his words. “I, you, uh, it’s only tonic, I promise, but, . . .”

Agnes was torn between laughing or throwing a chair at the tongue-tied Maxie.

He continued his verbal theatrics: “When? You? Here? Dinner having? But how?”

“I get hungry, too,” she said.

He narrowed his eyes and remembered her wicked sense of humor: “Not “how could you go to a restaurant” but “how did you come to this restaurant on this night when I’m sitting here?””

Agnes coolly tilted her head toward Tony: “Blame him. I was perfectly fine with a leftover tunafish sandwich on rye and potato chips.”

Tony, caught between two comic maestros priming for war, played the straight guy: “She was the detail I needed to work out.”

Maxie leaned toward Tony and gently protested: “You know you could’ve warned me. My clothes are a mess.”

Tony brushed aside the clothing concerns and assured him he looked fine.

Nick took the opportunity to add some humor: “I am seeing that you are not lately standing too close to an iron.”

Agnes tossed in a comment that was equal parts comic and caustic: “Kind of a shabby chic. It suits you.”

Maxie – poor, poor, Maxie – was outnumbered.

Tony edged toward the door and said his goodbyes: “As much as this looks like fun, I’ve got to go. Break a leg on Monday, Maxie.”

Agnes asked if she could break his legs now.

Tony insisted she wait until after the play was done but offered, in exchange, a Merry Christmas.

She returned the holiday greetings.

Maxie invited – no, actually he begged – Tony to stay but he didn’t want to impose. “No trouble at all,” called Maxie. “I’ve already got the third chair.” Nothing. One last half-hearted try: “Tony?”

Agnes turned the conversation to her husband: “How’ve you been Maxie . . . for the last ten years?”

(Theme for Nick’s Italian Bistro fades up and under)

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

Series theme is through the courtesy of Michael Kobrin. Theme for Nick’s Bistro is by AudioCoffee. Both are at PixaBay.

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

Thank you for listening. And, Maxie . . . how have you been keeping yourself? We would like to know.

(Theme for It Suits Her fades up and out)

WESJr