S2E19 Bonus - Quarter Thief

Tomorrow's episode is on pay phones. A technology that was once essential until mobile phones became ubiquitous. There's a lot of history (and nostalgia) that Marc and Renee love to gab about. So tune in tomorrow for the full episode.

But...you can't talk about pay phones without talking about paying. The scene...small town, unfamiliar territory, sun going down. You need to get out of here and your cousin Susan is the only person that is close enough to come get you. But you have one slightly worn quarter and there's only one pay phone in sight. What ensues is an epic battle of wills. You...anger and determination to call Susan. The pay phone...stoic, unyielding, silent. It won't relent and won't let you dial. Then finally it feels like you'll be able to dial and it steals your quarter. There's never been a more rage-inducing moment.

Lyrics below:

[Verse 1]
I've got to call my cousin
She's the only one for miles who'll come
No shop, no soul, no signal
Just this phone and the going-down sun
One quarter left to my name
Last one, warm in my hand
And the dial tone hums like a promise
Like it finally understands
[Refrain]
Quarter in
Quarter out
It will not hold the line
I just need to call my Susan
One more time
[Verse 2]
I try again, my hand is shaking
There's a click, and then a pause
Then a bell that isn't a bell
I think it caught, so I start to dial
Halfway through her number now
Then the quarter drops right through
And the line goes dead somehow
[Refrain]
Quarter in
Quarter out
It will not hold the line
I just need to call my Susan
One more time
[Bridge]
Then it takes it
Lord, it takes it
And it gives me back a hiss
No tone, no Susan, no operator
Just nothing, only this
You're a thief
You're a quarter thief
And I'm screaming at a box
On an empty road
And the sun going down
[Outro]
Then the cloud breaks
And the cars roll back
And the people on the corner stare
At a grown adult in a standoff
With a phone that doesn't care
I, I just wanted to call Susan

Join Renee and Marc as they discuss tech topics with a view on their nostalgic pasts in tech that help them understand today's challenges and tomorrow's potential.

email us at nostalgicnerdspodcast@gmail.com

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:27

Gotta call my cousin. She's the only one for miles who come. No shout, no soul, no signal. Just this phone and a going down sun. One quarter left on my name. Last one warm in my hand, and the dial tone hums like a promise. Like it finally understands. Quarter in, quarter out. It will not hold the line. I just need to call my Susan One more time. There's a click and then a pause. Then a bell that isn't a bell. I think it caught. So I stop the dial halfway through her number now. Then the quarter drops right through. And the line goes dead somehow. Quarter in, quarter out. It will not hold the line. I just need to call my Susan. One more time. Let it take it. Lord it takes it. And it gives me back a hitch. No tone, no Susan, no operator. Just nothing. Only this you're a thief. You're a carter thief. And I'm screaming at a box. On an empty road and the sun going down. And the cloud breaks, and the cars roll back, and the people on the corner stare had a grown adult and a stand off with a phone that doesn't care. I just wanted to call Susan.