The Meaning of Time

The Meaning of Time
Director(s)	John Ferraro
Producer(s)	Britt Allcroft Nancy Chapelle Rick Siggelkow
Writer(s)	Ellis Weiner
Air date	April 21, 1993
Previous episode	How to Have Good Table Manners
Next episode	How to Apologize

The Meaning of Time is an episode of Schemer Presents!, a home video spin-off of Shining Time Station.

Plot

The scene opens with Schemer entering his room carrying a freshly baked loaf of bread. It smells so good that he wants to taste it, but is interrupted by the telephone ringing. It's Stacy Jones calling to remind him to bring the loaf of bread to the station within the next five minutes to send to her friend on the next train to Dillylick.

Schemer is distracted and ponders making a Schemer Presents lesson about how to eat bread. He gets so carried away by the idea that he takes a big bite out of the loaf, relishing the taste. He returns his attention to today's topic which is "The Meaning of Time". Schemer's way of explaining time is by demonstrating brief pauses and silence in his actions. Schemer then demonstrates how clocks keep track of time by first using an old fashioned time piece, an hourglass. He takes another bite from the loaf as he "watches your past form into little piles of sand."

Schemer then walks over to his dresser to show the viewer what a modern clock looks like; it has a face and hands. Schemer describes its use in the second part of the lesson about how to make a schedule. He explains that a schedule is a "timey" list of things to do, and begins to check off what he's accomplished so far:

1. Get Bread
2. Do Show
3. Check off items
4. Take bread to station

Characters

• Schemer
• Kara Cupper
• Stacy Jones (mentioned)

Trivia

• This short is seen at the ending of the Mr. Conductor's Evil Twin (VHS).
• This is the only Schemer Presents short that does not have the words "How To" in the title.
• The picture of Schemer as a baby on the dresser is the same one used in the Season 3 episode, Schemer Alone.
• Stacy's telephone voice where she is speaking to Schemer is actually sped-up audio from a scene with Stacy and Harry from the Season 1 episode, Promises, Promises.
• Kara and Schemer (except for the latter's tie) are wearing the same clothes seen in the Season 3 episode, Mr. Conductor's Evil Twin. Odds are that this Schemer Presents! segment was taped before or after the episode's taping.