Episode 02: The Boy With The Clockwork Heart

A cute and macabre fable about a mechanical boy who befriends a mouse and learns the lessons of friendship, hope and despair.

Upon meeting the mouse, the mechanical boy begins to understand what it means to be alive. But as the living know, life is full of twists and turns. And despite the boy’s metal shell, he’ll soon discover just how delicate a clockwork heart can be.

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Episode Transcript

Alabaster Catz (00:02):
Good evening, I'm Alabaster Catz and it's time
for another tale to tell in thedark.
Welcome to the show. I'm so gladyou decided to invite me into

(00:22):
your home this evening. Mostpeople wouldn't open their doors
after dark. But then again, youaren't most people. And that
brings us to the focus of ourstory tonight, what we should
and shouldn't do. As you know,fables are intended to teach
children about morality. Thatdespite their best intentions,

(00:44):
one bad decision can lead tohorrible consequences. So what
better way to teach them than byplacing adorable animals in
mortal peril? Therefore,tonight, we risk the lives of
the cute and cuddly solely foryour entertainment. So if you
haven't already, grab a drink,dim the lights and cuddle with

(01:05):
your favorite animals stuffy.
The show's about to begin.
Tonight's tale is a fablewritten by yours truly. It's a
story about a mechanical boy wholearns just how delicate his

(01:29):
heart really is. The boy with aclockwork heart, a fable by
Alabaster CatzThere once was a boy with a

(01:53):
clockwork heart. Who sat in afield falling apart. He didn't
know friendship, hope ordespair. For the cogs in his
chest, were all that was there.
Then along came a mouse as whiteas the dawn that hopped on his
leg to sit down upon.

The Mouse (Zavi) (02:11):
Boy made of metal will you be my friend? I
have no one else whose time Ican spend.

Alabaster Catz (02:18):
I know not of friendship, said the boy with a
frown. For I cannot move fromthe spot on the ground. My body
is metal my limbs have all rust.
But stay for a while and chat ifyou must.

The Mouse (Zavi) (02:30):
Thank you dear friend

Alabaster Catz (02:31):
said the mouse with a sigh,

The Mouse (Zavi) (02:33):
perhaps I can find some oil nearby.

Alabaster Catz (02:36):
Then quick as a wink he ran to a barn and
brought back a can to squirt theboy's arm. The boy took the can
and three times he pressed thenstood on his feet and thumped on
his chest. Thank you dear friendfor what you have given for you
were the key to the gates of myprison. For miles they walked

(02:56):
the boy in the mouse andhappened upon an old crooked
house. It's windows were boardedits roof top awry not a whisper
of life save the crow in thesky. The mouse crept across the
cobblestone floor and peeredthrough the cracks that split
through the door.

The Mouse (Zavi) (03:14):
Boy made of metal could this be your home?
Is there someone here waiting,someone you've known?

Alabaster Catz (03:20):
I know not of hope, said the boy with a shrug.
For I cannot recall the touch ofa hug. My arms are hardened and
chilled to the touch. But insideI'm warm when needed is such.

The Mouse (Zavi) (03:32):
Thank you dear friend

Alabaster Catz (03:34):
said the mouse with the yawn.

The Mouse (Zavi) (03:35):
In here I will sleep till evening is gone.

Alabaster Catz (03:40):
And fast as a blink the mouse crawled through
a gap, climbed up to his heartand curled for a nap. The boy
cranked his arm three times withglee and lowered his chin, his
back to a tree. Thank you dearfriend for all that you share.
Without you in my chest onlycogs would be there. In darkness

(04:00):
of night, the boy laid asleepwhile into his ear, a whisper
did creep. He sat up alarmedfrom the sound of a voice and
listened intently as it gave hima choice. It came from a crow as
black as the dusk that wrappedon the frame of his tin metal
husk.

The Crow (Kathryn) (04:20):
Boy made of metal Would you like to fly?
There's nothing to lose shouldyou wish to try.

Alabaster Catz (04:28):
I know not despair, said the boy with
appeal. For I've never haddreams for someone to steal. My
heart holds no wishes it's gearssimply turn yet eager am I for
something to learn.

The Crow (Kathryn) (04:41):
Then climb up this tree.

Alabaster Catz (04:43):
Said the crow with a grin

The Crow (Kathryn) (04:45):
Leap from its branches and soar on the
wind.

Alabaster Catz (04:48):
And so the boy climbed the tallest of ash,
jumped from its branches andfell with a crash. The wicked
bird laughed three times amused.
The boy lay in pieces, the mousehadn't moved. I'm sorry dear
friend, I knew not the cost. Icould have been happy, but now I
am lost.
That concludes our show for theevening. Thank you for joining

(05:28):
us and be sure to leave an openwindow for me to visit you
again. Next time, a man recallshis childhood and the nightmare
that forced him to share histoys. If you'd like your story
to be read on the show, or youjust want to send me a message
from the beyond, you can reachme at alabastercatz.com. Also,

(05:49):
if you liked what you heardtonight, subscribe to the
Alabaster Catz podcast for somemore borrowed time. Once again,
thank you for joining us. I'mAlabaster Catz. And remember,
the best stories are the ones wetell in the dark. Special things
to tonight's voice actors, Zavifor his role as The Mouse and

(06:11):
Kathryn for her role as TheCrow.