By
William E. Spear
Volume 1, Issue 17
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Full Transcript –
THE MESSENGER DINES OUT, PODCAST EPISODE FOUR – The Take Out
ORIGINAL DATE: 25 APRIL 2023
(Footsteps approach and stop)
Hello . . . and welcome to the Three Fifty-seven.
My name is William Spear and we are at Chez Highway in New Jersey for our series titled THE MESSENGER DINES OUT.
Chez Highway is the new name of the diner started by Jim and Francine Dale. The owner is one of their grandkids and is arguing over how the place should be run.
Now, the Fourth, and Final, Episode titled The Take Out.
The new owner did not appreciate the music of Chez Highway being criticized by a pair of strangers: “What do you know about music?”
Frankie answered: “Some of the best music ever made was played here.”
Jimmie enthused: “There was Clive Jones and the Five Tones. And Sarah Hepp and the Hepp Cats.”
(Theme for The New Owner fades up and under)
Then Frankie bragged: “This place rocked.”
The owner chimed in: “Why don’t you take your Five Cats-“
“-It’s the Five Tones and the Hepp Cats,” Frankie corrected.
Jimmie continued: “With Clive Jones and Sarah Hepp . . . respectively.”
The owner was desperate to get out of the conversation: “This is fascinating but I’ve got culinary masterpieces to create for demanding clients.”
Jimmie countered: “Try creating a space for families to get out every now and then. For teenagers to go on first dates and young adults to build lives together.”
Frankie added: “This place celebrated christenings and mourned after funerals. People listened to their favorite teams lose and win and lose again.”
And Frankie went further: “A place where people can laugh and cry and talk for a while is more priceless than your “culinary masterpieces.”
The owner roared: “What do you know about running a business?”
They smiled and Jimmie said: “We started this place back in the fifties.” Frankie nodded: “Your parents met here.”
A doubting light bulb flickered behind the owner’s eyes: “If you are Grandpa Jim and Grandma Francine then which counter stool-“
“-Third from the left,” said Frankie who bounced the verbals to Jimmie for: “And you always spun counterclockwise.” He sent it back to Frankie for: “You were a cute kid. Annoying but cute”
She leaned in and went further: “It really is us.”
Doubt left the grandkid: “A lot has changed.”
Jimmie shrugged, “Thanks for the news flash.”
The grandkid sounded more like just a kid: “What am I going to do?”
Frankie offered: “Get better music” and Jimmie finished with,”Remember the family.”
They faded away faster than a free ice cream sundae and the grandkid spun around looking for help: “Hey, I can’t do this by myself. Come back! Please come back!”
(Theme for The New Owner fades out)
A few days later the Messenger went back and the Chez Highway sign was gone. Inside where signs that read “Under New Management.”
From the kitchen a familiar voice called out: “Hey.”
The Messenger spun around. It was Jim and Francine’s grandkid.
“Saw the signs. Sorry this didn’t work out,” consoled the Messenger.
The grandkid admitted that Chez Highway was a bad idea and the Messenger offered best wishes for whatever was next.
“I’m staying right here. Making it more of a family place,” said the grandkid. “Even got a new name.”
The grandkid pulled up a menu with The Next Dale printed on it.
The Messenger smiled and the grandkid continued: “Our re-opening is this Friday.”
“When I worked here,” remembered the Messenger. “We had the best Friday night dinner in the county.”
The grandkid enthused: “Come back and tell us how we’re doing. On the house.”
“What about paying the bills?” asked the Messenger.
“Re-connecting with the community is the best way to keep the place open,” said the grandkid. “I think that’s how Jim and Francine would’ve done it.”
The Messenger agreed and left. The owner of The Next Dale got ready for the re-opening.
(New theme for The New Owner fades up and under)
You’ve just listened to the Final Episode of THE MESSENGER DINES OUT.
Sound effects are by Georgisound and theme music is through the courtesy of Serge Quadrado and Shiden Beats Music. All are at PixaBay.
The Three Fifty-seven is written and produced by William Spear.
Thank you for listening and . . . oh, baby! . . . get back to the dancing.
(New theme for The New Owner fades out)
The 3:57 by William E. Spear 