A regular accounting of The 3:57 published on the first Monday of each month.
The Month Ahead – Monday 4 December
Hello, All,
Welcome to The Month Ahead for December 2023. It is my hope the year has been kind to you.
During the month, the final episodes of IT SUITS HER will be released. Maxie and Celia have traveled a long road and it has been a joy telling their story.
Last month we developed NOVEMBER POEMS, PARTS ONE AND TWO. Seven poems were compiled to honor the eleventh month. Writing from John Clare, Emily Dickinson, Rebecca Hey, and Elizabeth Drew Barstow Stoddard was included. Although not recorded, it is realistic to see a release in 2024.
However, the experience of researching poets and poetry was appealing. Expect an episode this month with a focus on December.
The lineup for the first six months of 2024 includes the following: — January – Break. There are no episodes scheduled in January — February – LOVE 20 MINUTES INTO THE FUTURE where The Messenger becomes a digitzed personal assistant, with staff, to save a prestigous client of the firm from a potentially catastrophic delay in releasing a new product — March – SEVENTEEN: A continuation of the story started in 2023; Severin Vincent Tennyson, a sixty-four year-old non-verbal janitor in central New Jersey, U.S.A. and Jennifer Hargrove, his job coach, struggle to understand the flashback he is having — April – ROAD RAGE: An interpretation of Washington Irving’s Legend of Sleepy Hollow — May to June – LATE IN THE GAME: The first eight episodes centered on three players on a struggling minor league baseball team in New Jersey
Also, there is a rumor an old friend will in the area between Christmas and New Year. Stay tuned for updates.
Thanks for stopping by in 2023 and we look forward to sharing more in 2024. As always, please remember there are stories are everywhere.
A regular accounting of The 3:57 published on the first Monday of each month.
Monday 6 November
Hello, All,
Welcome to The Month Ahead for November 2023. It is my hope this finds you well for the rest of the year and beyond. This edition recaps October, maps out November and December, and looks at 2024.
In October, five more episodes of IT SUITS HER were released. Maxie and Celia are in a different place than when their story started and by all accounts there are more changes to come.
Four more episodes will be released in November and the series will conclude with a big showdown in December.
Staying in November, The 3:57 and MADISON ON THE AIR will swap promos in our respective shows. The 3:57 is absolutely pleased to have Madison bring her energy to our program for the entire month.
The program also had two episodes released in Octobber: 1) THE RAVEN – Published in 1845, Edgar Allan Poe’s feathered fiend came tapping and so gently rapping into the podcast and 2) CASEY AT THE BAT – Ernest Lawrence Thayer’s ode to losing sports teams has consoled fans since 1888.
A third stand alone reading, John Donne’s THE APPARITION first published in 1633, was included in Micro’s LATE GREAT HALLOWEEN EDITION.
Looking forward, plans for the first half of 2024 are being finalized. January will be a Season Break with no scheduled episodes. However, after that, the new year starts as follows: January – Season break with no scheduled podcasts February – The Messenger in LOVE, 20 MINUTES INTO THE FUTURE March – Four more episodes of SEVENTEEN April – ROAD RAGE an interpretation of Washington Irving’s Legend of Sleepy Hollow May to June – The first eight episodes of LATE IN THE GAME
That’s it for now. 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 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 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,
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.
Teaser – After driving three hours through freezing rain, Chris and the talking car, an ancient Odyssey, found the dying stranger. Unexpectedly, she knew the teenager. Chris takes her to the Emergency Room where she begins treatment for hypothermia. Once she regains her consciousness, the teenager asks, “How do we know each other?” Her answer shocks Chris.
Full Transcript –
Remembering, Episode #7: The Mount Rushmore of Nobodies
Original Date: 10 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 seventh, is called HOW DO YOU KNOW ME? Chris went with the talking car to search for a dying stranger. But, unexpectedly, she knew the teenager. Chris wants to know how.
And now Episode Seven of REMEMBERING.
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 seventh, is called HOW DO YOU KNOW ME? Chris went with the talking car to search for a dying stranger. But, unexpectedly, she knew the teenager. Chris wants to know how.
And now Episode Seven of REMEMBERING.
[Remembering Theme plays]
The talking automobile had insisted Chris travel to a town three hours away. It was early December and freezing rain fell the entire time.
They arrived as the sun came up.
The car, an ancient Odyssey, said they were looking for a dying young woman named Zoey Gladden.
The car, an ancient Odyssey, said they were looking for a dying young woman named Zoey Gladden.
Chris found her under a bridge. She was begging for help, “Is that you? . . . Let it be you. . . . Please, please, please, let it be you.”
The teenager told her, “Everything will be okay, Zoey”, then eased the blankets under her, and gently got her into the warm car.
“I knew you would find me,” she said. “Thank you, Chris.”
The teenager was shocked. “You know me?”
She was losing consciousness and unable to speak. The teenager spoke again: “Stay with us, Zoey.”
But she passed out.
Chris asked the car, “How does she know me?”
The car ignored the question. Chris got louder: “She knew me. Said my name. How?”
The car got louder; “If you want to find out, we need to leave NOW!”
Chris drove to the Emergency Room where she was rushed inside. The teenager parked the car and went in.
“You got her here just in time,” the doctor said. “Another fifteen minutes and she might not have survived.”
Chris sat in the waiting room while Zoey was treated.
An hour went by and then another. How could she know Chris? They had never met before. And how could the Odyssey know about her?
Two more hours went by and Zoey was still unconscious.
Four hours later and there was no change. And the teenager was no closer to figuring out where they might have met.
Finally, eight-and-one-half hours later, she regained consciousness. The doctor came to Chris: “She’s better and wants to speak with you.”
They went to Zoey’s room and the doctor left them alone.
“Thanks for finding me. I’m sorry for the inconvenience,” she said with a weak smile.
The teenager said ‘Nothing to it’ as if saving people from hypothermia happened every day of the week.
Then she asked: “By the way, who else was in the car with us?”
Chris offered an unconvincing ‘What do you mean?’ but she insisted: “You said, ‘Don’t leave us, Zoey.’ Then I heard another voice. It sounded like you were arguing.”
Chris told her she must have imagined it as she was passing out. She shrugged her shoulders and continued: “You’re probably wondering how I know you.”
Relieved at not having to explain the talking car, the teenager sat next to her and admitted, “The thought had crossed my mind.”
“Let me start with this,” she said. “You’re from New Jersey.”
“You can’t possibly know that. The people in New Jersey don’t even know I’m from New Jersey,” said the teenager.
They both grinned. “I remember your sense of humor, too” she said. “You’re from Hunterdon County.”
“Come on you don’t remember me. I’m a nobody,” said Chris. “You’ve never met me before.”
“Yes we have,” Zoey said as she struggled to sit up in her bed. “In fact, we went to high school together.”
[Remembering Theme plays]
You’ve just listened to Episode Seven 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 