Episode 3: Stasimon
SFX: Ignition. A van engine rumbles. The god radio hisses as someone turns the dial to tune into a station. The opening theme plays, at first distorted before clearing up.
THEME: (sings)
If there’s a stranger all alone
Set her back to walk the stone.
TITLE:
Hearthbound
Episode 3
Stasimon
THEME: (sings)
Will she find her way back home?
SFX: Chickens cluck. A horse blows wetly into Odessa’s ear.
ODESSA: Aaah!
SFX: Odessa falls out of her cot with a thump.
ODESSA: Uh. Good morning.
SFX: The horse blows a raspberry.
ODESSA: Thanks.
SFX: The horse snickers. The barn door creaks open.
URI: Oh, good, you’re up. And you’ve met Thistle. I’m just about to warm up the station if you’d like to join me.
ODESSA: Be right down!
SFX: Odessa climbs down the loft ladder.
ODESSA: How does your horse, uh, get up here?
URI: Thistle? She does that. Here. Take this. My mama’s leek fritters. Full of love and alliums.
ODESSA: (mouth full) It’s good.
URI: Come.
SFX: They walk outside. A rooster crows.
URI: Good morning, Theo!
THEO: Uh huh.
ODESSA: Morning.
SFX: Theo stops in her tracks. She shuffles a little.
THEO: …Morning…
URI: Now, why don’t I ever get a greeting like that?
THEO: Ask me tomorrow.
SFX: Theo hurries away. Uri and Odessa continue walking.
URI: Ah, here we go.
SFX: A key ring jingles. Uri unlocks and opens a door. They walk in and up a flight of stairs.
URI: Watch your step.
SFX: A thunk.
ODESSA: Ow.
URI: And your head.
SFX: Uri clicks on the machines. They whir up into a low, warm hum. Uri clicks on the transmitter.
URI: This is K7TO monitoring. Kilo Seven Tango Oscar monitoring.
SFX: Low static.
ODESSA: Who are you hoping to reach?
URI: Pleasant conversation, travelers, anyone who needs help. Most people are just looking for someone to talk to.
ODESSA: And you play piano for them?
URI: Ah.
SFX: Uri rolls over in his wheelie chair, then walks up to the piano and pats it fondly.
URI: I see you’ve met the second love of my life.
SFX: Uri sits and plays “Melody” from Orfeo ed Eurydice by Christoph Willibald Gluck.
ODESSA: Where did you learn that?
SFX: He stops playing abruptly.
URI: It was a living. Tea?
ODESSA: Here, let me.
SFX: Odessa gets a kettle going.
URI: I play. Maybe there’s no one listening. But maybe there’s someone out there. You never know, right? I mean, we found you after all.
ODESSA: That’s true.
SFX: Odessa pours tea for the both of them and hands a mug to Uri.
URI: Ah, thank you (sips). Why don’t you give it a try?
ODESSA: Me?
URI: That’s right. Don’t worry so much. Hit that and speak clearly into the microphone. Repeat after me. This is K7TO monitoring.
SFX: Transmitter click.
ODESSA: This is K7TO monitoring.
URI: You nailed it!
ODESSA: Now what?
URI: Now we just have to–
TRAVELER: (over the radio) K7TO, K7TO, this is KH3LN, Kilo Hotel Three Lima November, mobile, calling from the Canyonlands, you’re four by four.
URI: Go on. Tell her where you’re calling from.
ODESSA: Uh– we’re calling from the Trinacria Outpost.
URI: On the basin ridge.
ODESSA: On the basin ridge.
TRAVELER: How’s the weather over there?
ODESSA: A bit chilly. I’m still getting used to the altitude. Where are you headed?
TRAVELER: Mm, nowhere special. I’m leaving.
ODESSA: Leaving?
TRAVELER: You stay long enough, folks will always disappoint you. Or get mean.
ODESSA: I’m sorry.
TRAVELER: Don’t be. Don’t pity the free.
ODESSA: Where will you go now?
TRAVELER: Not sure yet. I hear there are green lands to the west. I’m gonna see them someday.
ODESSA: It’s true. There are.
SFX: The radio crackles.
ODESSA: I hope you find them. If you make it, get to Ithaca. They welcome travelers.
TRAVELER: Hey, that’s good to know. I’ll keep that in mind. (garbled) I’m driving deepwards, so I’m losing you. Thanks for the company, K7TO. KH3LN out.
URI: (chuckles) Hey, not bad, see? You’re a natural.
ODESSA: Thank you.
SFX: The downstairs door swings open. Footsteps come up the stairs.
URI: Theo’s right. You say that too much.
ODESSA: I’m sorry.
URI: That too.
ODESSA: I…
URI: I’m just pulling your leg. What’s that famous saying? “When you’re here, you’re family.”
THEO: Hey. Can I borrow her? Paulie wants us to take the horses out.
URI: Sure. Uh, you okay with that?
ODESSA: Yeah. I’m coming. Thanks Uri.
URI: You know it.
SFX: Odessa and Theo leave the building and walk along the gravel path. Sheep baa in the distance. Chickens, always.
THEO: The gear working out okay?
ODESSA: Yeah, thank– I mean, it’s incredible work. Where did you learn how to do all that stuff?
THEO: I was on the road for a long time.
SFX: Theo opens the barn door. Mack barks in welcome.
THEO: (clicks tongue) Hey, asshole. Look what I got for you.
SFX: Hooves clop toward them. Thistle nickers in welcome and crunches on the apple Theo offers her.
THEO: Here. Catch.
ODESSA: Whoop.
SFX: Odessa catches the apple.
THEO: Just hold out your hand flat, so Juniper doesn’t take off any fingers.
SFX: Juniper nibbles at the apple, then takes a huge cronching bite.
ODESSA: AAH!
THEO: You okay?! Did she get you?!
ODESSA: Kidding.
SFX: Odessa snaps her fingers playfully. It’s finger guns, even though we can’t see it.
ODESSA: Still got five.
THEO: (scoffs) She’s got jokes. Alright, dickhead, mount up.
SFX: Odessa and Theo mount up.
THEO: You good?
ODESSA: Yeah.
SFX: The tack jingles as they ride the horses out of the barn and out of Trinacria proper.
ODESSA: Where are we going?
THEO: We’re taking a roundabout to the quarry. We’ll let the horses drink, and then we’ll come back.
SFX: Scrub jays screech in the distance.
ODESSA: (hums)
THEO: What’s that?
ODESSA: I’m not sure yet. I’m sorry, does it bother you?
THEO: No. It’s nice.
ODESSA: (continues humming)
THEO: We’re turning here. Up through the pass. Where is it you’re going? After here.
ODESSA: West. Home, I hope.
THEO: You hope?
ODESSA: It’s been a long time.
THEO: What’s it like?
ODESSA: Home?
THEO: Yeah.
ODESSA: We’re by the sea. We’ve got horses too. And sheep. Hills you can run off to.
THEO: Sounds nice.
ODESSA: My wife picked the spot. She saw a cranky old quince tree in the middle of a field we were passing through, and she just knew. Someone had taken care of it once. Its gnarled branches were propped up by pretty much an entire labyrinth of crutches.
SFX: A frog chirps.
THEO: We’re here. Let Juniper and Thistle go. They’ll find the spots they like, but they won’t go far.
ODESSA: Okay.
SFX: They dismount.
THEO: (murmurs) Yeah, attagirl, go one.
SFX: The horses nicker softly. Theo pats them on the rump as they walk off.
THEO: There’s some shade over there.
SFX: Odessa and Theo walk over and settle down. Odessa adjusts her guitar. Theo takes out a pack of cigarettes. She puts one in her mouth.
THEO: (muffled) Want one?
ODESSA: I’m good, thanks.
SFX: A lighter clicks on. Theo smokes, letting out a long exhale. A white-breasted nuthatch calls above them. Odessa plucks out on her guitar a sweet, slow version of what she had been humming.
THEO: You say it’s been a long time.
ODESSA: Yeah.
THEO: How do you know it’s still there?
ODESSA: I don’t.
THEO: And you’re still going back?
ODESSA: Of course.
THEO: I couldn’t do it. Your wife…(clears throat) what’s she like?
ODESSA: Once we were shucking corn together, and she took a couple cobs and put them beside her face and said, “Look! I’m all ears!”
THEO: Huh. That’s terrible.
ODESSA: (laughs) I know.
THEO: What if she’s gone? Or if she’s different?
ODESSA: I’ve thought about it. I’d rather know than wonder, I think.
THEO: Hm.
ODESSA: What about you?
THEO: What about me?
ODESSA: You said you couldn’t go back. Why?
THEO: Honestly?
ODESSA: Yeah.
THEO: I’d rather wonder than be disappointed. Not what you wanted to hear, huh?
ODESSA: No. But I get it.
THEO: I think…Have you ever hurt so much that the moment you find something that makes it hurt a little less, you stay? Even if it means giving up any chance of finding something better?
SFX: Odessa stops playing.
ODESSA: Yeah.
THEO: It’s not so bad.
ODESSA: Paulie–
THEO: Saved my life.
ODESSA: She does that, huh?
THEO: It’s not a habit she’s gonna kick anytime soon.
ODESSA: If I don’t leave tonight, I think I never will.
THEO: Yeah.
SFX: Theo stubs out her cigarette, then rises. Odessa, a moment later, follows.
THEO: We should head back. By the way, you shouldn’t have the transceiver on for so long. It’ll wear the wires.
ODESSA: Right.
SFX: She turns off the guitar. Theo whistles. The horses neigh. The god radio hisses, then clicks off. The radio clicks on. Something sizzles in a pan.
ODESSA: What’s that?
HANK: (grunts, noncommittal)
SFX: Hank cooks.
ODESSA: Smells amazing.
So…
Hank…
HANK: (grunts, quizzical)
ODESSA: Uh…
SFX: The screen door creaks open, then clatters shut.
PAULIE: Hey, you two. Hank talking your ear off?
ODESSA: Something like that.
PAULIE: Hoowee, Hank, that do look great.
HANK: (grunts, modest)
ODESSA: Actually, Paulie. I think it’s time for me to head out.
PAULIE: You’re not staying for dinner?
ODESSA: Can’t risk it. Otherwise, the only way I’ll leave is if Uri rolls me out.
PAULIE: (chuckles) That’s for sure. Okay then. I’m sorry I can’t convince you to stay.
ODESSA: Me too.
PAULIE: Come on, dearie. Let me and Otis walk you out at least.
ODESSA: Yeah, okay.
SFX: Otis caws. The screen door opens as they walk out, then it closes behind them. Their boots crush gravel as they walk together.
URI: (from a slight distance) You’re leaving?
ODESSA: (calling out) Yeah.
SFX: Uri jogs up. He gives Odessa a big hug. She hugs back.
URI: I’m sorry to see you go.
ODESSA: (muffled) I’m sorry to leave. It was… (they let go) very lonely. Before.
PAULIE: Well, you know where to find us if you ever get to feeling that way again.
URI: And don’t you hesitate.
ODESSA: I won’t.
URI: There is a thing, though. I was wondering if you could help.
ODESSA: Yeah?
URI: Could you check on a friend of ours? I talked to her a bit today, and, well, she sounded a little off.
ODESSA: Is your friend okay?
URI: I’m not sure. We’ve never actually met. I found her on a frequency a few months ago, and she calls in to talk most days. I think maybe she’s been alone for a long time. She lives in a trailer about a day’s ride west of here on the 50, next to the big ol’ dune. It’s on your way. You can’t miss it.
ODESSA: Yeah, I can do that.
URI: Her name is Cal.
SFX: The van door slides open.
THEO: Hey.
SFX: Mack barks in greeting.
THEOP: So I made some more adjustments to the rust trap. Hope you don’t mind the satellite dish. It’s a donged-up one and a little ugly, but it’ll boost your reception even more.
ODESSA: That’s–
PAULIE: And don’t forget this.
SFX: Paulie hands Odessa a small satchel.
ODESSA: What is it?
PAULIE: Hank packed up some sandwiches for you earlier today. And there’s a piece of honeycomb wrapped up separate.
ODESSA: Paulie–
PAULIE: Don’t say nothing. Just take it, and be well, you hear?
ODESSA: I will.
SFX: Odessa climbs into Alby. The van door closes. She settles down behind the wheel. Mack wines.
ODESSA: I know, bud, I know.
SFX: She scritches Mack around the collar. She turns on the ignition, then backs out of Trinacria. She drives, clattering back out on the road. She flicks her guitar’s transceiver on.
URI: (over the radio) This is K7TO calling for K4LBY. Do you copy?
ODESSA: (laughs) K7TO, this is K4LBY, you’re five by five.
PAULIE: (over the radio) Hank, take us away, will ya?
HANK: (sings over the radio)
Wayfarer wanderer, wherefore you go?
Won’t you hang up your boots where the cottonwood grow
Wayfarer wanderer, where do you run
Following the footsteps of thunder-born sun
ALL TRINACRIA: (sings)
Desire paths are calling your name
SFX: The song fades from the radio into the radio junction itself.
ALL TRINACRIA: (sings)
And the crossroads have stayed somewhat the same
The road goes ever on, and gone are the waysigns again
Wayfarer wanderer, walk with ease
Knowing you may go wherever you please
Wayfarer wanderer, the night is young
She’ll keep you company until your journey’s done
Oh oh oh oh
‘Til your journey
‘Til your journey’s done
HANK: (sings)
So wayfarer wanderer, what do you seek
Will you go down to the valley
Where the outlanders meet
Wayfarer wanderer, the porchlight is on
(fades back over the radio)
For when you arrive at the break of dawn
PAULIE: (over the radio) Safe travels, darling.
ODESSA: Yeah.
SFX: The god radio hisses, then clicks off.
THEME: (sings)
If there’s a stranger all alone
CREDITS:
Hearthbound
Episode 3
Stasimon
Features the voices of
Jo Chiang as Odessa
Amy R. Surratt as Paulie
Leana Gardella as Theo
Othello Pratt Jr. as Uri
Francisco Alvidrez as Hank
Blair Medina Baldwin as Traveler
Odessa’s Guitar by Pete Lanctot
Piano by Ginger Dolden
Hearthbound is created, written, and produced by Jo Chiang
Directed by Jack Towhey Calk
Music directed by Ginger Dolden
Sound design and editing by Levi Sharpe
Additional dialogue editing by Anna Kelly Rodriguez and Amador L. Rodriguez
Music production, additional engineering, and mixing by Pete Lanctot
Production managed by Charlotte Muth and Neaco Fox
Special thanks to Multitude Studio and our illustrator, Anya Boz
Stay in touch with us on hearthboundpod.com
You get home safe now, you hear?
THEME: (sings)
Set her back to walk the stone
You may wonder, but never know
Will she find her way back home?
JO: Hi! Jo here! So if you’ve made it this far, you’ll have heard some highly specific and dramaturgically supported guitar acting and scoring, courtesy of Ginger Dolden and Pete Lanctot. I came to them with a stack of songs written with five chords on a fifty-dollar guitar, and they brought their incredible breadth and depth of music history and genre to tease out textures from these tracks that I thought would never be within my reach. Not to mention, they are the warmest and kindest collaborators anyone could ask for. If you’re interested in more of their work, check them out at peteandginger.com.
In these last couple of episodes, Paulie has been a sort of funhouse mirror for Polyphemus. How would the Cyclops' island have gone if the shepherd Polyphemus had honored his duty to xenia, to guest-friendship, to hospitality? Now for another interpretation of Polyphemous, check out Camlann, a post-apocalyptic urban fantasy podcast inspired by folklore and Arthurian legends. It’s written and directed by Ella Watts and produced by Amber Devereux at Tin Can Audio. Now what does the Odyssey have to do with Arthurian legends? Well, guess you’ll have to listen in to find out! To start off, have a teaser.
SFX: A low, warm, trilling dial tone, which rings in sets of two, six times, before stopping abruptly.
RECORDING 1: (feminine, light, English accent, precise) Please hold. Your call is very important to us, and we will get to it as quickly as we can. The Cataclysm is frightening for everyone. Remember, in times like these, we need to stick together more than ever. If you need emergency assistance, please call 999–
SFX: The dial tone returns, ringing three times.
RECORDING 2: (light, masculine, Scottish accent) Your position in the queue is–
RECORDING 3: (androgynous, light, different Scottish accent) Three-hundred and thirty-three.
SFX: A long, continuous droning beep as the phone connects, which then ends abruptly.
PHONE OPERATOR: (feminine, Glaswegian accent) Hello, you’ve reached the Cataclysm Casualties Hotline. Can I take your name and date of birth?
SFX: A very soft static builds in the background.
PERRY: (androgynous, English accent, precise) Peredur Green.
MORGAN: (low, feminine, Welsh accent) Morgan Jones.
GWEN: (light, feminine, Chinese accent) Shújūn Liu.
GWAINE: (low, masculine, broad Scottish accent) Gwaine Turner.
DAI: (light, masculine, light Welsh accent) Just call me Dai.
PHONE OPERATOR: Ok, and who are you calling for today?
DAI: My Mum. Siân Thomas? She was in Aberystwyth.
GWAINE: Matthew and Louise Turner. In Kirkwall on Orkney.
GWEN: My father, Kai Liu.
MORGAN: Ben. Ben Jones.
SFX: A droning builds alongside the static, like a swarm of bees or string instruments being played vibrato.
GWAINE: I saw something on the news about a sea serpent?
MORGAN: He’s fifteen years old.
PERRY: Anna and Sophie Green, in Portsmouth.
GWEN: What’s happening in Kowloon?
PERRY: Listen, is this real? I’ve been seeing news reports about dragons–
PHONE OPERATOR: Let me look that up for you. Where are you calling from today?
PERRY: Bristol.
MORGAN: Bristol.
GWAINE: Bristol.
DAI: Bristol.
GWEN: Leicester.
SFX: Background voices or muffled clanging metal join the droning static, like echoes in a swimming pool, strange and surreal.
PHONE OPERATOR: I’m so sorry, it looks like we haven’t got anyone listed under that name on the database. This means they haven’t been listed as a fatality. Call back tomorrow, and if you haven’t heard anything from us or your loved one in three days, try the online form.
SFX: Synthetic strings fade in, playing a warm, hopeful folk melody.
PHONE OPERATOR: I know this is scary, but it’s ok. We’re going to get through this…
SFX: Silence.
PHONE OPERATOR: …together.
SFX: The music swells, as everything else fades away. The tune shifts from strings into a melodic keyboard-like tune that sounds like fairy lights, warm and hopeful.
VOICEOVER: (light, masculine, Welsh accent) Camlann, a post-apocalyptic audio drama by Ella Watts, inspired by folklore and Arthurian legends. Coming January 2024. Produced by Tin Can Audio.
SFX: An organ-like synth builds the music to a gentle, slow crescendo, before dipping back down. Each instrument falls away, leaving just the strings. The music fades.
JO: That’s all for now! As always, thank you for listening to Hearthbound.
