Episode 2: Trinacria

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 2
Trinacria

THEME: (sings)
Will she find her way back home?

SFX: Alby idles. The radio frequency crackles.

PAULIE: Who are you?

ODESSA: I’m nobody.

PAULIE: Horseshit. Everybody’s somebody. You got a name at least?

ODESSA: Odessa.

PAULIE: Hey there, Odessa. I’m Paulie. Congratulations, you’re our hundredth caller and you get an all-expense paid trip to Emerald Isle! For TWO.

ODESSA: Uh–

SFX: Odessa scritches Max absentmindedly.

PAULIE: (laughs) Just pulling your leg, kid. This is the frequency of the Trinacria Outpost dispatch. You out there alone?

ODESSA: Yeah, I am.

SFX: Mack whines.

ODESSA: Uh, sort of.

PAULIE: Do you know where you are?

ODESSA: I’m a couple hours into the basin on the old 50.

PAULIE: Oh good, you’re in the neighborhood. Keep on truckin' 'til you hit the creekbed, then follow what’s left of her until you leave her. You’ll see a sign carved with a three-pointed spiral. Turn right down the road and keep going.

ODESSA: I–

PAULIE: You can’t miss us.

ODESSA: Okay. On my way.

SFX: Alby pulls onto a dusty highway, driving along and hitting a couple of potholes along the way. Mack is restless.

ODESSA: You still there, Paulie?

PAULIE: Still here, sweetie.
You been on your own for a while?

ODESSA: Yeah.

PAULIE: Where are you headed?

ODESSA: Home.

PAULIE: Well, how far do you gotta go?

ODESSA: I’m not sure.

PAULIE: Do you remember how to get there?

ODESSA: I think so.

PAULIE: Alright, well, when you get here, we’ll get you settled, and we’ll roll out our maps. Then we’ll show you the fastest route to where you’re going, as long as you don’t mind taking the long way home.

ODESSA: I thought I could just follow the river. Figured it’ll lead back to the sea.

PAULIE: That’s a way. But the river isn’t what it used to be. These days, she’s sometimes more sideshow than waysign. You’ll only get lost following her. End up somewhere that looks familiar enough to be a false start.

ODESSA: I see your sign.

PAULIE: Good. Turn right. Keep on coming.

ODESSA: Ok, Paulie. See you soon.

SFX: The radio hisses, then clicks off. The radio clicks on. Alby rumbles into Trinacria.

ODESSA: Well, Mack, what a pretty picture.

SFX: Max barks in agreement.

ODESSA: They’ve got a barn.

PAULIE: (over the radio) Do you see me? I’m the one waving!

ODESSA: I do!

SFX: Odessa rolls down her window as she drives up to Trinacria.

ODESSA: I’m waving back. Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t realize. You’re–

PAULIE: (in person) Blind? As a salamander. Otis is my eyes, aren’t you Otis?

SFX: A raven croaks.

PAULIE: We consider it only fair since she swallowed the ones I were born with. You can pull in through the gate and park your horse by the stable.

SFX: Alby pulls up on gravel and grinds to a stop. Odessa turns off the engine. Chickens murmur in the distance. Paulie knocks on the van door. Odessa slides it open. Otis caws. Max growls uncertainly.

PAULIE: Hey there, sunshine. Welcome to Trinacria.

ODESSA: Hi.

Can you… give me a second? I’m a little… this is…

PAULIE: Yeah for sure. We can just sit here for a spell.

SFX: Wind chimes plink. Paulie sits on the threshold of the open door. Alby creaks under her weight. Birds sing. Odessa scritches Mack.

PAULIE: Nice axe.

ODESSA: Thanks. You play?

PAULIE: A bit. Though I’m partial to the groan box myself. We’ve got a piano in the radio junction. Sometimes Uri will go in there to give us and whoever’s out there listening a little Debussy. Theo plays a mean harmonica. I’ll introduce you to everyone. They’ll be excited– we haven’t had a visitor in months.

ODESSA: Folks come through often?

PAULIE: They did, once upon a time. But the world’s getting bigger and people are getting smaller. Isn’t that right, Otis?

SFX: Otis flaps her wings and caws.

PAULIE: Most folks we catch on the radio would rather keep to themselves these days. How long have you been on the road?

ODESSA: I’m sorry. I’m sorry. Can you…can you… keep… just keep talking?

PAULIE: Yeah, hey, yeah, it’s okay. Everything’s gonna be alright. Can I give you a hug?

ODESSA: Okay.

SFX: Paulie approaches Odessa and wraps her in a warm, tight hug. She pats Odessa on the back.

PAULIE: There we go. Don’t worry about it, hon, it happens to everybody. Uri’s husband, Hank, makes this lamb curry that’ll put hair on your chest and roots in your feet. All you need is some good food and some good company. Stay as long as you want to. Hit the trail again only when you’re ready. We’ll take care of you ‘til then, you hear? We’ll put a cot in the loft of the barn, so you can have some privacy. The horses won’t bother you none neither.

ODESSA: (muffled) You’ve got horses?

PAULIE: Two of them. Juniper and Thistle. Troublemakers the both of them, though I’m pretty sure Juniper’s the ringleader. If she knocks you over, it’s just her way of saying hello. How’re we doing?

ODESSA: (still muffled) I’m okay. (clearer) You can let go now. I’ll be fine. I’m sorry.

PAULIE: Hey, you’re good. Do you wanna come out and say hi to everyone?

ODESSA: I… yeah, I do. I just…

SFX: Odessa walks over to Alby’s dashboard and turns on the transceiver.

ODESSA: My wife’s on the radio. I mean, I don’t know that she is, but I’ve been trying to reach her, and I don’t want to leave just in case. I know that doesn’t make any sense, I can’t–

PAULIE: Absolutely, of course. Let me have a look.

SFX: Paulie fiddles with the dial. The radio crackles.

PAULIE: You could use a bit of a boost here, I think. Would you mind if I ask Theo to take a look at it? She’s a fiddly sort, and I have a feeling she could do something for you here.

ODESSA: I don’t mind.

PAULIE: Okay, sit tight. I’ll be right back.

SFX: Paulie jumps out of the van, and her footsteps recede. Mack whines.

ODESSA: I’m fine.

SFX: Mack barks.

ODESSA: Yeah, I know. We made it. Somewhere, at least.

SFX: Wind chimes. Chickens.

ODESSA: It’s nice.

SFX: Mack sneezes. Multiple footsteps approach on the gravel.

PAULIE: Hey Odessa, this here’s Theo. Theo, Odessa.

THEO: Hey.

PAULIE: Theo’s a regular old wiremonkey. Between us, I figure we can actually get your radio up and running. Literally.

SFX: Theo jumps into the van. She messes around with the radio.

THEO: Not bad.

SFX: Theo clicks a pen and jots down some notes.

THEO: You’ve got some good pieces. You’ll need a few more, but we’ve got some spare battery packs so that we can get you fully portable. It won’t be light to carry, but you can make it work.

ODESSA: I can’t pay you.

THEO: Then don’t.

SFX: Mack pants.

PAULIE: Let’s leave her to it, and we can get you and your pup settled. How’s that sound?

ODESSA: Okay.

SFX: Odessa, Paulie, and Mack leave the van. Theo pulls out her tools. A drill whirrs. She tinkers.

THEO: Aha!

SFX: The god radio hisses, then clicks off. The radio clicks on. Insects chirp at nightfall. Odessa switches on her souped-up guitar transciever. It hums and crackles. She plucks a few bars of “Lay Me Down a Pallet on Your Floor.” The guitar switches from acoustic to electric.

PAULIE: Whaddaya think?

SFX: The guitar switches from electric to a weird fractal effect.

ODESSA: I don’t know what to say.

THEO: “Thank you” works.

ODESSA: Thank you.

SFX: Odessa switches the guitar off.

THEO: You need to make sure to keep the transceiver batteries charged up. I souped up your van hookup, so if you plug your instrument back into the dash, the radio will get a good boost, but carrying it around like that, you’ll get probably thirty miles of coverage if you’re on a hill.

SFX: Odessa walks up to Theo and hugs her.

ODESSA: Thank you.

THEO: (muffled) You already said that.

SFX: Paulie opens a screen door.

PAULIE: Do you wanna join us for dinner? I can bring you something back if you need a little time, but we’d also love to have you out by the fire.

ODESSA: Yeah. I’m okay. Really. I’ll come.

PAULIE: Alright then!

SFX: Paulie opens up a cabinet.

PAULIE: Let’s get you a blanket. It can get chilly out here at night, even with the pit going. Come on in.

SFX: Odessa walks into the cabin and takes the blankets.

ODESSA: Thanks. I got it.

PAULIE: Alright then.

SFX: Paulie and Odessa walk out. The screen door shuts behind them. They traipse up to a crackling campfire. Stew bubbles in a pot over the coals.

URI: So I’m talking to Cal, but Cal’s not picking up right…

HANK: (grunts)

PAULIE: Friends, this is Odessa here. She’ll be staying with us tonight. Odessa, friends. That there’s Uri–

URI: Hello.

PAULIE: And the big bearded lunk is Hank.

HANK: (grunts, friendly)

PAULIE: And me and Theo round out our little crew.

SFX: Otis protests.

THEO: And Otis.

SFX: Otis agrees.

ODESSA: Hi.

PAULIE: Sit yourself down. Hank, get her fixed up a plate of your mess, will ya?

HANK: (grunts, agreeable)

SFX: Heavy utensils clank. Stew slops onto a plate. Someone pours a drink.

ODESSA: Thanks.

URI: What’s your story?

ODESSA: I don’t have one.

URI: Ah, what do you like to say, Paulie? Horseshit. Everybody has a story.

ODESSA: Mine’s not very interesting.

URI: It never is until you tell it to someone else. And we like to listen, don’t we, Hank?

HANK: (grunts, affirmative)

ODESSA: I don’t know where to start.

PAULIE: How about you start with telling us how you got that instrument of yours? You both look equal levels of beat, I’d say.

SFX: Odessa picks up her guitar.

ODESSA: Ah, well.

SFX: She plays the first bar of “Dream Enough,” sad and slow.

ODESSA: She’s a favor.

URI: In return for what?

ODESSA: Coming back.

URI: Hm. That’s certainly a lot to ask for these days. But we all did in the end, didn’t we, Paulie?

PAULIE: We sure did. Sweetheart, can you give us something jolly on those strings?

SFX: Odessa plucks something jolly on those strings.

ODESSA: How’s that?

PAULIE: What do you think, Hank?

HANK: (grunts, approving)

PAULIE: That’s the ticket.
(sings)
There was a child I once knew
She saw shadows on the wall
Gray and black and sometimes blue
A broken bird’s eye view
They broke her shackles and burned the chains
When they led her out, she cried
Blinded by the ghost lights
But I could feel the flame
Oh I could feel the flame

ALL EXCEPT ODESSA: (sing)
We pay the ferry in salt and iron
We’ve tilted at the wind
What doesn’t kill you makes you weary
Drunk on rosemary, rue, and gin
Oh rosemary, rue, and gin

URI: (sings)
A poet kept a man long ago
Shaped into an ivory mast
Afraid to ever let him go
And lose the love you know
The man said, “You’ve buried me deep underground
Where the river runs slow and cold”
The poet led him up the stairs come dawn
When he turned, I was already gone
Oh I was already gone

ALL EXCEPT ODESSA: (sing)
We pay the ferry in salt and iron
We’ve tilted at the wind
What doesn’t kill you makes you weary
Drunk on rosemary, rue, and gin
Oh rosemary, rue, and gin

THEO: (sings)
She was a girl barely raised
When they issued a rifle and a lie
Spun her around, sent her into the maze
With thirteen other strays
By the second left, we lost the thread
Found the beast upon the stake
All but one chamber was lined with lead
For mine alone was blank
For mine alone was blank

ALL EXCEPT ODESSA: (sing)
We pay the ferry in salt and iron
We’ve tilted at the wind
What doesn’t kill you makes you weary
Drunk on rosemary, rue, and gin
Oh rosemary, rue, and gin

ODESSA: (sings)
A shepherd was lost in the woods
Crawled upstream for higher ground
Saw her virtues writ in troubled water
Bridges burnt without a sound
So I look to magpies in the sky
Though they might lead me astray
It’s Homeric where the heart is
It’ll beat for one more day
It’ll beat for one more day

ALL: (sing)
We pay the ferry in salt and iron
We’ve tilted at the wind
What doesn’t kill you makes you weary
Drunk on rosemary, rue, and gin
Oh rosemary, rue, and gin (URI: Pass that gin right there!)
To sharing drinks and honest hymns
Rosemary, rue, and gin

SFX: The barnyard goes wild as the song ends.

PAULIE: That really hits the spot.

SFX: Otis agrees.

PAULIE: I look forward to the day when we get more outta you than metaphors and tergiversation.

ODESSA: I don’t think I’ll stay that long.

PAULIE: Sure you will. Uri, you could use some help in the station, can’t you?

URI: True, cat’s cradle is more fun with two people.

ODESSA: You’ve got such a good thing going here. I’d just ruin it.

PAULIE: Ruin it? Where’d you get such an idea?

THEO: Let it go, Paulie.

PAULIE: Now hold on, I don’t like letting decent folks say such things about themselves.

THEO: She’s tired. Leave her alone.

SFX: Theo flicks open a lighter and lights a cigarette.

PAULIE: You’re right. I’m sorry, dear.

ODESSA: It’s really okay. I’ll stay for tomorrow. Put me wherever you need me. It’s the least I can do.

PAULIE: Sure, hon.

SFX: Wind chimes jangle. The fire crackles pleasantly. After a moment, Odessa rises and walks off slowly towards the barn.

PAULIE: Let me know if you need any extra blankets or pillows or whatnot, alright?

SFX: Odessa enters the barn.

ODESSA: Thanks, Paulie.

SFX: A horse quietly nickers. Mack pants. His collar jingles. Odessa gives him a good scritch.

ODESSA: Hey, buddy. (sighs)

SFX: Mack whines.

THEME: (sings)
If there’s a stranger all alone

CREDITS:
Hearthbound
Episode 2
Trinacria
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
Odessa's Guitar by Pete Lanctot
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! Trinacria sits amid the beautiful ridges and valleys of the Great Basin, which is the traditional land of the Western Shoshone. The Great Basin Indian Archives has an incredible collection of oral history for the many tribes that call the Great Basin home. You can learn more at gbcnv.edu/gbia.

As mentioned in our credits, we recorded a good portion of this show at Multitude in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Amanda Mcgloughlin and Eric Silver have created an awesome space for podcasters, perfect if you are based in New York City and wanna make your own show. Visit their website at multitude.productions.

If you’re looking for another podcast to listen to, check out their show, Spirits, where Amanda and her childhood best friend, Julia, mix a drink and discuss myths and legends from a wide range of places, eras, and cultures. I’ll let Amanda and Julia themselves tell you more!

AMANDA: If you like mythology, folklore, and urban legends, I have a great podcast for you.

JULIA: Spirits is a boozy dive into everything from Ancient Greek mythology to modern stories about the occult.

AMANDA: Where my BFF Julia and I pour a drink and learn a new story from somewhere around the world every week.

JULIA: We look at all these stories from the lens of feminism, queerness, and modern adulthood.

AMANDA: And as big nerds, we also go behind books, movies, and television shows, and the mythologies behind them.

JULIA: Best part is that you can dive in with any of the over 400 episodes we’ve published.

AMANDA: Subscribe to Spirits now in your podcast app or go to spiritspodcast.com.

JO: That’s all for now! And of course, thank you for listening to Hearthbound.