The 3:57 by William E. Spear

IT SUITS HER, Episode 19

Release date: 3 December 2023

Start of excerpted transcript:

(Cold opening)

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.

End of excerpted transcript.