(NOTE: Everything is written to the best of our ability. Audio abnormality at 10:12 in audio file.)
STORYTELLER: Hello, you, and welcome to your Marlo Looky-Loo storybook. I’ll be your Marlo storyteller. You can read along with me in your own book too. When you hear this sound [Doorbell chime plays] it will be time to turn the page.
STORYTELLER: Let’s visit our friends by going to the very first page. [Doorbell chime plays] Brick by Brick, A story by [Vinyl record skips. Record distortion plays. Vinyl record returns to normal tone.]
STORYTELLER: What a beautiful day in Home, isn’t it, neighbor? Just like every day before today and every day after. But what has everyone so busy today? Let’s see here, where is our resident host… Ah, yes! Our very own Wally Darling! Wally, what are you all up to today?
WALLY: Hello, storyteller. Hello, You. [A door can be heard opening and closing five times.] We’re putting on a play today. [A door can be heard opening and closing once.]
STORYTELLER: A play?
SALLY: Not just any play! It’s a frightfully fantastic rendition of a classic! One so grim and ghastly that it is sure to have your pompadour turning white, Walliford!
WALLY: Oh no… But I like how blue it is. [A door can be heard opening and closing once.] Sally, could Home be in the play?
STORYTELLER: To showcase his talents, Home began to sing as sweetly as a house possibly could. [A door can be heard squeaking with no rhythm.]
SALLY: Alas, my dear Homeregard, I have already cast everyone for my show! [A door squeaks once.] In fact, I am delivering my last script to one of my stars as we speak!
[A door can be heard warbling.]
STORYTELLER: Home could only creak sadly.
WALLY: Don’t be sad, Home, maybe you will get to be in the next one.
[Doorbell chime plays]
SALLY: Oh Poppy! Poppy, dear, I’ve got just the play for you!
STORYTELLER: Sally Starlet said as she pranced over to the barn of our favorite bird in all of Home; Poppy Partridge!
POPPY: Favorite? Oh ho ho, dear, you’re flattering me!
SALLY: Oh ho ho, that’s all well and good, but our Storyteller forgot to add that you’re also…
POPPY: [Nervous clucking.]Oh no, don’t say it-
SALLY: That’s right! You’re going to be in my next production! A Sally Starlet reimagining of The Telltale Heart!
POPPY: No, no- Oh Sally! Sally dear, I can’t! You see I-.. The Telltale Heart?! [Fearful squawk.] I couldn’t! I’m- I’m much too busy! I have to… Re-cozy my nest!
SALLY: Mhm. Re-cozy… Your nest?
POPPY: Yes! That’s right! One can’t be too comfortable- [Pause] …Or can you be….
[Doorbell chime plays]
STORYTELLER: Both Sally and Poppy took a gander at her Poppy-prepped nest. With so many pillows, blankets, and a swimming floaty already prepared, it made Sally wonder what else she could need.
POPPY: Uh- Well- You see- I need… A cozy! Yes! A cozy for my… Lamp! I’m so intent on making sure everything in my home is as comfy as I am! I’m much too busy and I’m terribly behind! Go on without me, Sally!
STORYTELLER: Poppy exclaimed.
POPPY: (Poppy recedes into her home) Go on!! Without me!
SALLY: But Poppy!-
STORYTELLER: As Poppy returned to… Cozy-ing up her barn, Sally stood there in silence. What would she do now?! She was speechless! Taken aback! Shocked! Appalled-
SALLY: Tch, tch- Silence, Storyteller! Homeregard, it seems there has been an opening…
STORYTELLER: Home cheered. [A door opens and closes twice. Triumphant fanfare plays.] Wally cheered too.
WALLY: Hoo-Ray! [A door opens and closes once. Smaller triumphant fanfare plays.]
[Doorbell chime plays]
STORYTELLER: [A door opens and closes seven times.] The neighbors set to work on Sally’s next production and gathered the outfits and props needed without their feathered friend. Even though everything was coming together, Poppy was still on Sally’s mind.
BARNABY: On your mind, huh, Sal? Did she chicken out?
SALLY: [Gasps.] Chicken out!? I’ll have you know she was busy cozying up her barn!
BARNABY: A likely story. I can smell an excuse like that from a mile away.
STORYTELLER: Said Barnaby.
SALLY: [Scoffing.] An excuse?! To avoid taking part in one of my fantastic plays?!
FRANK: I hate to agree with him-
BARNABY: A likely story.
STORYTELLER: Barnaby said.
FRANK: -But! He’s right. To be Frank, Poppy is a bit of a…
JULIE: A scaredy bird!
HOWDY: An anxious consumer!
EDDIE: As nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs!
FRANK: …Yes. Yes to all of them.
STORYTELLER: In that moment, it had finally dawned on her. Poppy wasn’t busy… She was too frightened to take part in such a scary play as Sally’s! Sally felt terrible to say the least!
[Doorbell chime plays]
SALLY: Shoo! No need to announce my feelings like that! [Dramatic gasp.] But Poppy! Oh my dear Poppy! I’ve been so ignorant to her needs! I’ve been so-
JULIE: Silly!
HOWDY: No, no, she’s been thoughtless!
EDDIE: Oh wait I know! She’s been downright rude!
SALLY: That’s enough from the peanut gallery! [A soft sigh.] I must do something to rectify my mistake! So that she knows that we are all mindful of her fearful disposition! But… What if she hears the play from her barn? Or worse- What if she sees it?
STORYTELLER: Sally cried.
JULIE: Well- Whenever I’m scared, Sally, I just cover my eyes! Like this! Ah!!
FRANK: What was that?!
JULIE: Sorry- It was dark in there!
FRANK: Of course it was- Well! Maybe Poppy needs someone to build her up to your theatrics so she isn’t so scared, Sally.
BARNABY: Yes… One might even say… Brick-by-Brick…
FRANK: Don’t steal my ideas!
SALLY: You all might be onto something…
JULIE: Yeah we are! Ah!!
STORYTELLER: Julie said before she covered her eyes again and screamed.
FRANK: Julie, stop that.
[Doorbell chime plays]
STORYTELLER: So off they went to prepare their plans to ensure Poppy would be safe and secure inside her cozy little barn! Who knew all it would take were some bricks, a little glue, and the help of the entire neighborhood?
POPPY: Oh yes, that sounds like a pleasant craft!
STORYTELLER: Once gathered together again, the neighbors happily set to work bricking up her windows!
POPPY: Wonderful! Yes, yes quite wonderful- BRICKING?!
STORYTELLER: Yes! See for yourself!
POPPY: What’s all this?! W-What are you doing!?
JULIE: Don’t worry Poppy! We’re just putting down bricks!
STORYTELLER: Julie said.
POPPY: B-Bricks?! For what?!
SALLY: Fret not, Poppy! I have realized the errors of my assumption! Together, we have all come up with this ingenious method of protecting your sensitive self from experiencing anything frightful!
HOWDY: That’s right Poppy! And I provided the Howdy Pillar-Certified Bricks to do just the job! Crumblessness guaranteed!
STORYTELLER: Howdy bragged certifiably.
EDDIE: And that’s my Eddie-Certified glue! Just a little glitter sprinkled in goes a long way!
STORYTELLER: Eddie said mailman-ly.
WALLY: I’m sorry Home couldn’t be here to help, Poppy, but he hopes you will get well soon.
JULIE: [Whispering.]She’s not sick, Wally! She’s scared!
WALLY: Oh! That’s good, it worked very fast.
POPPY: All this fuss for me? I-I can’t say I’m not flattered, but-
SALLY: That’s right! Your beak shan’t shutter in fear any longer! Nor shall you bear witness to my petrifying and very convincing theatrics!
STORYTELLER: Sally exclaimed. The realization hit Poppy just as quickly as it was spoken. If she were behind a wall of bricks, then that meant no ghostly wails or witch cackles could be heard from the stage! She would sit nestled in her home, tucked away safely with her crochet needles and all-seed tea.
POPPY: …You’re right, Sally! Yes, this is a splendid idea! It’s magnificent! Stupendous! Hurry now, the show must go on and I won’t be the reason it’s delayed!
SALLY: Oh of course! Hurry up, peanuts!
BARNABY: [Whispering]She’s callin’ us peanuts.
STORYTELLER: Barnaby mumbled. And hurry they did! The neighbors quickly blocked up the remainder of Poppy’s windows until the very last brick was popped into place. Never had a home looked so safe and cozy!
(NOTE: Audio becomes muffled and is heard beneath other voices. Some can be transcribed and will be placed below.)
STORYTELLER: Everyone rejoiced at their successful job before heading to Wally’s house to finish setting up for the play. Oh, it looks like I’ve talked a bit too much, they’re already in the middle of it all! Here, let’s find a spot to peer in. Is this seat taken?
???: No, please sit with me.
POPPY: [Sighs]…What a relief, I’m not sure I could have done another show. Who knows what she would have had me done that time. All I need is my peace of mind. Oh and my um- Where is my lantern-
[Doorbell chime plays. Scratching on wood.]
POPPY: Ah- There you are, you beauty… Allow me to light you.
POPPY: [Sighs] Everything I need. My sewing needles, my lantern… And my peace of mind…
[Sound of scraping on wood. Breathing can be heard. A knock is heard.]
POPPY: It’s- It’s open. The door’s open.
[There is the sound of something knocking on a wall.]
POPPY: What do you want? [A door bangs.] The door’s open. What do you want?!
[A doorknob can be heard being turned over and over again.]
POPPY: What do you want?! [Sobbing sound.]
[A doorknob can be heard being turned over and over again. It sounds like something is banging on a wall.]
POPPY: Open the door! Open the door! [Poppy screams.] [An echo can be
heard. It sounds like a door is being opened.]
???: [Muffled.] Are you alright?!
POPPY: I couldn’t get out! I- Am I out? Where am I?
???: [Muffled.] You’re out! The door’s open! Why didn’t you open the door?!
POPPY: The door? The door… Yes, the door. I could have left, couldn’t I.
[Record distortion plays. Audio ends.]