SFX: The engine ignites. The van transceiver crackles to life. A voice garbles on the other side.
ODESSA: Hello? Is someone there?
PAULIE: Are you still there?
ODESSA: Yes! I’m here! I’m right here!
PAULIE: Who are you?
ODESSA: I’m— I’m nobody.
THEME: (sings)
If there’s a stranger all alone
Set her back to walk the stone
ODESSA: Where are you headed?
TRAVELER: Mm, nowhere special. I’m leaving.
ODESSA: Leaving? I’m sorry.
TRAVELER: Don’t be. Don’t pity the free.
NARRATOR: Come along with us on a post-apocalyptic road trip.
CASSANDRA: We start at the very bottom of the cup. An anchor, here. But its chain rises to the center line of the cup and beyond. You have a choice to make.
NARRATOR: Gather your loved ones.
CAL: Your wife.
ODESSA: Penelope.
CAL: Penelope. Pretty name.
ODESSA: I remember the first time I saw her was the first time I saw the sea.
NARRATOR: And stay clear of the shadows.
CAL: Do you think that guy is following you? My dad was like that. Seeing things that weren’t there.
NARRATOR: It’s a long, winding road. You coming our way?
Penelope: Which way do I need to go?
Helen: Take the old highway. Take it to the far sea. That’s where we left her.
SFX: The theme instrumental fades into gentle guitar plucking.
NARRATOR: Hearthbound, a queer musical untelling of the Odyssey. Created by Jo Chiang. Coming to all podcast platforms June 3rd, 2025.
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?
SFX: Echoes.
MAN: (sings over the radio)
So wayfarer wanderer, what do you seek
Will you go down to the valley
Where the outlanders meet
Wayfarer Wanderer, the porchlight is on
For when you arrive at the break of dawn
PAULIE: (on the radio) Safe travels, darling.
ODESSA: Yeah.
