Hey, everybody, it's Aaron. This week, as a way to pay tribute to the great Orson Welles and the radio dramas of the past, the 7 Minutes Stories team went outside our comfort zone a little bit, and we're going to be presenting to you our first original audio drama. Now, I'll be portraying the character of George. Cori Birce is our narrator. And Ken Wendt will be playing Officer Sterling. Please enjoy the next seven minutes titled "The Date."
What you're about to listen to was not intended to be an interrogation, although George feels like it is. Any time a police officer starts asking you questions, it can feel that way. George was pulled over. He was distraught. Now, at the police station, the officer is trying to get an understanding of what happened this evening.
Recording number 3462, this is Officer Sterling.
What is that?
This is a recording device, and we just have it on so that we can get your whole statement. It's going to be all right, George. I promise, we're going to try to figure this out.
No, no, no, it's not going to be okay, because you are responsible for making me late. And also, excuse me, sir, I told you that there was an intruder in my car. But apparently, you don't care.
George, did you tell me this was a date before?
It was a date, it is. The fact of the matter is, I'm so mixed up, it's just extremely important to me. Don't worry about what it is. You don't give a shit, okay? It's not your life. I was supposed to meet with her, and now I missed it.
Okay, I hear you. We hear you. Let's just take a step back, try not to get too worked up. If you can just tell me, who were you going to meet today, George?
Marie.
Okay, Marie. Tell me a little bit about Marie. Tell me about today as best as you can remember.
Okay, fine. Just, can you let me think for a damn second. Just let me think. I met Marie last weekend at a dance, and I don't think either of us wanted to be there. But I saw her, and I knew I had to see her again, so I just asked her out. And I got so lucky she said yes to me, and tonight was supposed to be our first date. And I remember pulling out of the driveway, looking up, I could see the rain clouds forming, but I figured if I drive fast enough, I can get there.
She doesn't live that far. She's right down Route 1 across the bridge, and her neighborhood is the first one on the right after the bridge. But I could barely just get two blocks down the road before it starts pouring, and so I figured I'd be safe and I'll pull into the Myers gas station. I pull in, I go inside just to get a pack of gum, and I pay the attendant. I look outside and I see the rain's letting up a little bit, so I figured, "Let's give it another shot." I go to my car, and I start driving down Route 1.
It's been about, I don't know, it had to be about ten minutes. I don't know what happened, but I come back up on the same Myers gas station again. I don't know if I just took a wrong turn or the weather got me spinning around, but I just pulled in, I took a breath, I just thought about Marie, and I just started driving towards that bridge. And on my way there, again, I'm thinking about what I'm going to say to her. I've never felt this way before, and I didn't want to screw this up. There's just something about her that's so real, so true. Anyways, I stopped daydreaming and it is pouring like a tsunami. The wipers are going back and forth, back and forth. They're not doing anything. I can't see anything.
I'm peering through the windshield and I'm afraid that I'm going to drive off the road and I can't miss this date. I just find the next driveway I can see, and I pull in and I swear to God, it's the same Myers gas station. And now I'm angry and I don't understand why this is happening. Am I going nuts? I run into the gas station just to talk to the attendant, and it's the same guy, and he looks at me like I'm crazy. And he tries to stop me and talk to me, but I don't have time because Marie is going to be wondering where I'm at, and I don't want her to doubt that I want to be with her more than anything in the entire world.
I just run back to my car, and I hit the gas. I don't know how fast, but I hit it as fast as I could go. I figure I could beat the storm. I turn down the next road that I see, a different road this time. I figured I would take a shortcut, and it's raining so damn hard, and I'm going so fast. And that's when I saw your police lights in my rearview. And that's when I saw him, the guy in the back of my car.
All right, just hold on one second. I need to make sure this recording machine is still on.
Okay, look, I know that I was speeding and driving recklessly, but at least now you understand why I really wasn't at fault. I think it's a lot to do with that storm. It was just crazy. I've never experienced anything like that. And so whoever that man was, I don't know if you got a hold of him, if he's in another room. I mean, that's really who's responsible for this. And at this point, I think that I should talk to a lawyer, and I really want to talk to Marie. And what I advise you should do, we should just stop, you should go after who that was. Do you know who was in my car?
Look, George, we don't know who was in your car, but if you could describe him.
I told you. And I don't understand how you don't know who was in my car. He was there. He was there. There was this old man. I don't know how he even fit in there or how he fits into this whole thing, but he was in the rearview mirror. I could see him, and I saw him before you guys pulled me out of the car. And then I saw him when you pulled me out of the car and apparently you didn't see him. And now I'm sitting here soaking wet. Where is he, by the way? Did you arrest him? Did you arrest him? Tell me.
George is telling the truth. His date with Marie was probably the most important date of his life. Actually, I wouldn't exist if they hadn't met. That date with my mother was 60 years ago. My Dad married Marie and had a beautiful life and a family. Two years ago, Mom died. I think that's when Dad started forgetting things.
Now I'm here at the police station. I've been here a lot the past several months. Dad sneaks out of the facility sometimes and I have to pick him up. I try to make him understand that the old man he keeps seeing in his car isn't an intruder. To my Dad, when he looks in that rearview mirror, he sees a stranger. Because in his mind, my father is 20 years old, and on his way to meet my mother, Marie, for their very first date.
Do you have any family we can call to come pick you up?
No, I don't have any family that you can call to come pick me up. I want to talk to Marie. I want to talk to Marie. Can I call her? Please let me talk to Marie. Please let me talk to Marie. I can't be late. I can't be late. I don't want to be late. I don't want to be late. I don't want to be late. I don't want to be late. I don't want to be late. I don't want to be late. I don't want to be late.
Seven Minute Stories is created and performed by Aaron Calafato. Audio production by Ken Wendt. You can connect with Ken or inquire about his audio production services at media216.com. Original artwork by Pete Whitehead. Find out more about Pete's work at petewhitehead.com. Our Creative Consultant is Anthony Vorndran and Lenin Janovac is our production assistant. Special thanks to our partners at Evergreen Podcasts. And lastly, I'm Cory Birce. Make sure and tune in next week for another story.
