Ch. 4: Marks on a Cell Door

Special Thank you to the wonderful folk at Spiked Eggs! Spiked Eggs serves up deliciously twisted, darkly comic tales with a foot in both the present and the reimagined past. Picture a world populated by sociopathic reindeer, cold-blooded assassins, scheming sheep, a shifty politician who blusters in and out of episodes, and a spy-drone- snooping Internet web host. Each episode stands alone and can be listened to in any order. In 2024, Spiked Eggs won Best Comedy Podcast at the 2024 Hollywood Series Awards and also earned three silver awards for Best Fiction Podcast, Editing and Sound Design at the Signal Awards in New York City. This particular episode is called “Who’s the Ass? (Part One).” It is a current nominee for Best Comedy/Adventure Podcast in the LA Webfest 2025. Desperate for cash, a miller and his daughter turn to the Internet to pump up the sale price for their tired, old donkey. They instantly become an online sensation, yet trouble awaits them on their way to market. An angry scrum of animal-rights advocates is hot on their heels. A slippery politician, hell-bent to cash in on the hoopla, races to intercept them. And pot-stirring host Katie Klickit whips up a snarling Greek chorus on her drone-spying Internet web series. Meanwhile, the clock is ticking. Can father and daughter cross the river ahead and reach the market in time? Or will it be a bridge too far? Listen to Spiked Eggs on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Audible, or your favorite platform.

In the grand finale, Whiskers spends a night with his fellow townsfolk before facing the music.Cast:Whiskers - Collin OrtonSmokey - Kyra CalawayX - Al GroppiRay "Keys" Peter - Ryan PangracsJoanna Porter - Isabella FayMark Hoggs Jr. - Anthony Harris Jr.Donald Knightley - Bryce EdwardsSpots - Sam SommerClara Brown - Christie SpessardBBAM - Leilani Barrett Directed & Written by Sam SommerExecutive Produced by Topcat LLCProduced by Kyra SwansonEdited by Sam Sommer & Casey O'ConnellMixed by Jake TavillScored by Victor Jones"If Only In My Dreams" - Composed by Bryce Edwards; Bryce Edwards, Isabella Fay, Christie Spessard - Vocals; Victor Jones - Piano; Bryce Edwards - Banjo; Piatt Pund - Violin; Sam Sommer - Guitar; Calvin Kaleel - Bass

After being treated as a joke all his life, Donald lays down the law and makes an arrest. Things do not go well in his favor.Cast:Donald Knightley - Bryce EdwardsMark Hoggs Jr. - Anthony Harris Jr.Whiskers - Collin OrtonX - Al GroppiSmokey - Kyra CalawayBBAM - Leilani Barrett Directed & Written by Sam SommerExecutive Produced by Topcat LLCProduced by Kyra CalawayEdited by Sam Sommer & Casey O'ConnellMixed by Jake TavillScored by Victor Jones

As the water begins to boil, Ray decides to cut ties and make an escape with his love. Jo, however, isn’t able to make such a commitment.Cast:Ray "Keys" Peter - Ryan PangracsJoanna Porter - Isabella FayClara Brown - Christie SpessardX - Al GroppiDonald Knightley - Bryce EdwardsWhiskers - Collin OrtonBBAM - Leilani Barrett Directed & Written by Sam SommerExecutive Produced by Topcat LLCProduced by Kyra CalawayEdited by Sam Sommer & Casey O'ConnellMixed by Jake TavillScored by Victor Jones"Poor Joanna" - Composed by Bryce Edwards; Christie Spessard, Al Groppi - Vocals; Bryce Edwards - Banjo; Piatt Pund - Violin; Sam Sommer - Guitar; Calvin Kaleel - Bass

Whiskers tries his hand at the Black Hart while Keys gets a bad hand when playing with Smokey.Cast:Whiskers - Collin OrtonSmokey - Kyra CalawayRay "Keys" Peter - Ryan PangracsJoanna Porter - Isabella FayMark Hoggs Jr. - Anthony Harris Jr.Donald Knightley - Bryce EdwardsX - Al GroppiBBAM - Leilani Barrett Directed & Written by Sam SommerExecutive Produced by Topcat LLCProduced by Kyra CalawayEdited by Sam Sommer & Casey O'ConnellMixed by Jake TavillScored by Victor Jones"The Escape Song (Donald's Version)" - Composed by Bryce Edwards; Bryce Edwards - Vocals

With a heavy task lingering on the back of his mind, Whiskers spends the night digging a hole with Spots the prospector.Cast:Whiskers - Collin OrtonSpots - Sam SommerX - Al GroppiSmokey - Kyra CalawayMark Hoggs Jr. - Anthony Harris Jr.BBAM - Leilani Barrett Directed by Kyra CalawayWritten by Sam SommerExecutive Produced by Topcat LLCProduced by Kyra CalawayEdited by Sam Sommer & Casey O'ConnellMixed by Jake TavillScored by Victor Jones

The gunslinging team of X, Whiskers, and Smokey begin their big heist when the trio meet their biggest obstacle: musical theatre.Cast:Whiskers - Collin OrtonSmokey - Kyra CalawayX - Al GroppiJoanna Porter - Isabella FayDonald Knightley - Bryce EdwardsRay "Keys" Peter - Ryan PangracsSpots - Sam SommerMark Hoggs Jr. - Anthony Harris Jr.BBAM - Leilani Barrett Directed & Written by Sam SommerExecutive Produced by Topcat LLCProduced by Kyra CalawayEdited by Sam Sommer & Casey O'ConnellMixed by Jake TavillScored by Victor Jones"Ain't That a Shame?" - Composed by Bryce Edwards; Isabella Fay, Bryce Edwards - Vocals; Victor Jones - Piano; Bryce Edwards - Banjo; Piatt Pund - Violin; Sam Sommer - Guitar; Calvin Kaleel - Bass

Whiskers teams up with Keys to break Smokey out of prison. Meanwhile, an anxious Joanna has a drink with Hoggs.Cast:Smokey - Kyra CalawayWhiskers - Collin OrtonRay "Keys" Peter - Ryan PangracsJoanna Porter - Isabella FayMark Hoggs Jr. - Anthony Harris Jr.Spots - Sam SommerX - Al GroppiDonald Knightley - Bryce EdwardsClara Brown - Christie Spessard Directed & Written by Sam SommerExecutive Produced by Topcat LLCProduced by Kyra CalawayEdited by Sam Sommer & Casey O'ConnellMixed by Jake TavillScored by Victor Jones

With auditions going on for a new angel at the Black Hart, bar owner Mark Hoggs Jr. delves into his hatred for sheriff Donald Knightley. Meanwhile, widow Smokey gets new info about her late husband's fate.Cast:Mark Hoggs Jr. - Anthony Harris Jr.Donald Knightley - Bryce EdwardsSmokey - Kyra CalawayJoanna Porter - Isabella FayRay "Keys" Peter - Ryan PangracsWhiskers - Collin OrtonSpots - Sam SommerX - Al GroppiBBAM - Leilani Barrett Directed & Written by Sam SommerExecutive Produced by Topcat LLCProduced by Kyra CalawayEdited by Sam Sommer & Casey O'ConnellMixed by Jake TavillScored by Victor Jones

Pianist Ray Peter yearns for singing starlet Joanna Porter, but she only sees him as thieving Keys. Character actor Clara Brown proposes a temporary change for the angel scene at the Black Hart.Cast:Ray "Keys" Peter - Ryan PangracsJoanna Porter - Isabella FayClara Brown - Christie SpessardMark Hoggs Jr. - Anthony Harris Jr.Spots - Sam SommerSmokey - Kyra CalawayDonald Knightley - Bryce EdwardsX - Al GroppiWhiskers - Collin OrtonBBAM - Leilani Barrett Directed & Written by Sam SommerExecutive Produced by Topcat LLCProduced by Kyra CalawayEdited by Sam Sommer & Casey O'ConnellMixed by Jake TavillScored by Victor Jones"The Escape Song (Clara's Version)" - Composed by Bryce Edwards; Christie Spessard - Vocals; Victor Jones - Piano; Bryce Edwards - Banjo; Piatt Pund - Violin; Sam Sommer - Guitar; Calvin Kaleel - Bass"Lullaby Pt. 1" - Composed by Bryce Edwards; Ryan Pangracs - Vocals; Victor Jones - Piano"Lullaby Pt. 2" - Composed by Bryce Edwards; Kyra Swanson, Al Groppi - Vocals; Bryce Edwards - Banjo; Piatt Pund - Violin; Sam Sommer - Guitar; Calvin Kaleel - Bass