The Sweet Tide
DramaTense3 audio scenes
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1 chapter • 3 scenes
Summary
On January 15, 1919, riveter Mae Sullivan watches in horror as the molasses tank she warned about bursts open, unleashing a deadly wave through Boston's North End. Racing against a 15-foot wall of syrup moving at 35 mph, she must save trapped workers while confronting the devastating consequences of ignored warnings.
Characters
Joseph Malone
Mae Sullivan
Arthur Jell
Settings
The Molasses Tank
A rusted steel cylinder fifty feet high, groaning with pressure, leaking dark syrup through popping rivets. The air reeks of fermented sweetness masking the stench of industrial neglect.
USIA Supervisor's Office
Wood-paneled room with frosted glass door, filing cabinets lined with pristine records that document everything and prove nothing. The single window overlooks the tank yard.
Story Structure
1
The Complete Journey
Mae's complete arc from diligent documenter to fierce advocate unfolds in a single catastrophic day—her virtue of courage tested through ignored warnings, the devastating flood, and her choice to fight for accountability.
1
The Complete Journey - Complete
On January 15, 1919, Mae's final inspection confirms her worst fears, the tank bursts in catastrophic failure, and she transforms from documenter to rescuer to advocate across one devastating day.
1
Dawn Inspection
Mae and Joseph arrive early to perform a final inspection of The Molasses Tank as the unseasonably warm January morning expands the molasses, confirming Mae's calculations predict imminent catastrophic failure.
2
The Flood
At 12:30 PM the tank explodes with catastrophic force, unleashing 2.3 million gallons of molasses in a 15-foot wave, and Mae must transform from documenter to leader to save trapped workers including Joseph.
- Story ID
- story_vn1HzXW9I3c1_Ukl
- Created
- January 13, 2026
- Art Style
- noir (cinematic)
- Status
- published
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