The Camera Shop

[BRENT]
Side 1, Track 2. “The Camera Shop.”

[BRITTAIN (Rose)]
Excuse me?

[GELSEY (Pearl)]
Can I help you?

[BRITTAIN]
I hope so.
I lost my camera.

[GELSEY]
Did someone steal it?

[BRITTAIN]
No. It got smashed.

[GELSEY]
Maybe we can repair it?

[BRITTAIN]
It got smashed and lost. The pieces are lost.

[GELSEY]
I’m sorry.
Here, have some whiskey.

[BRITTAIN]
Thank you.

[GELSEY]
It was a real camera? Not a phone?

[BRITTAIN]
Not a phone. I do not like phones.

[GELSEY]
Me neither.
Well, we’ll get you all set up with a new camera.
But sit first, and drink a bit. You need to take care of yourself.

[BRITTAIN]
Thank you.

(pause)

[GELSEY]
Are you traveling?

[BRITTAIN]
Yes, from Portland.

[GELSEY]
Oh, I’ve been there once. They have that cool library.

[BRITTAIN]
That’s Seattle.

[GELSEY]
Oh.
I get them mixed up.

(pause)

Did you grow up there?

[BRITTAIN]
Yes, when I was a kid.

[GELSEY]
That’s nice. It’s nice to have roots.

[BRITTAIN]
What about you, have you been here long?

[GELSEY]
THIS STORE HAS BEEN IN MY FAMILY FOR FOUR GENERATIONS

[BRITTAIN]
Wow.

[GELSEY]
SEE THAT FIDDLE ON THE WALL?
IT BELONGED TO MY GREAT-GRANDMOTHER
HER NAME WAS ROSE

[BRITTAIN]
Well, that’s my name!

[GELSEY]
It’s a beautiful name.
OLD-FASHIONED, YOU DON’T HEAR IT A LOT ANYMORE

[BRITTAIN]
THE COLOR IS SO LIGHT…WHAT’S IT MADE OF?

[GELSEY]
AN OLD BREASTBONE

[BRITTAIN]
CREEPY

[GELSEY]
IT WAS THE BREASTBONE OF HER SISTER
HER NAME WAS PEARL
I’LL TELL YOU THE STORY:
_________

[GELSEY (Pearl White)]
ROSE AND PEARL LIVED BY THE SEA
GATHERING SALT BY THE MOONLIGHT

[GELSEY & BRITTAIN (Pearl White & Rose Red)]
AND ROSE LOVED A MAN WHO LIVED IN THE TREES
ROSE CRIED TO PEARL, “HOLD ME TIGHT, HOLD ME TIGHT”

[GELSEY]
ROSE WENT TO HIS TREEHOUSE
AND LOOKED AT THE STARS THROUGH HIS TELESCOPE

[GELSEY & BRITTAIN]
SHE WANTED TO HOLD HIS HAND
SO SHE WROTE HIM A POEM
SIGNED IT AND SEALED IT

[GELSEY]
IN A RICE PAPER ENVELOPE

[BRITTAIN]
WITH A LILY FOR A STAMP

[GELSEY]
BUT THE MAN STOLE HER WORK
HE WAS THE EDITOR OF A PRESTIGIOUS ASTRONOMY JOURNAL
HE WROTE DOWN ALL SHE SAW
AND PUBLISHED IT IN HIS NAME
AND ROSE GREW TO HATE HIM
AND THEN PEARL CAUGHT HIS EYE
_________

[BRITTAIN (Rose)]
I’M A LITTLE CONFUSED
AND MORE THAN A LITTLE FRIGHTENED

[GELSEY (Pearl)]
IT’S OK MY DEAR
THIS IS A CIRCULAR STORY
_________

[GELSEY (Pearl White)]
AND SO ROSE RAN INTO THE FOREST
AND ASKED A GREAT BEAR TO MAUL THE ASTRONOMER
AND TO TURN THE CRUEL SISTER INTO A BLACK CROW
AND PUT THE CROW AND THE CORPSE IN A CAVE
UNTIL THE CROW STARTED TO STARVE
AND SHE’D HAVE NO CHOICE
BUT TO PECK OUT THE EYES OF HER LOVER AND EAT THEM
_________

[BRITTAIN (Rose)]
I DON’T BELIEVE ANY OF THIS

[GELSEY (Pearl)]
DON’T YOU REMEMBER?
THE BEAR NAMED HIS PRICE:
_________

[BRENT (Bear)]
ONE POT OF HONEY
ONE PIECE OF STARDUST
ONE SECRET BAPTISM
AND A PHOTO OF A GHOST

[ALL]
ONE POT OF HONEY
ONE PIECE OF STARDUST
ONE SECRET BAPTISM
AND A PHOTO OF A GHOST

[GELSEY]
ROSE STOLE THE HONEY FROM A SOLDIER

[GELSEY & BRITTAIN (Pearl White & Rose Red)]
SHE PRETENDED TO LOVE

[GELSEY]
STOLE THE STARDUST FROM AN ANCIENT

[GELSEY & BRITTAIN]
SHE PRETENDED TO CARE

[GELSEY]
AND FOR THE BAPTISM
SHE STOLE A BABY
FROM ITS MOTHER
A FRIGHTENED TEENAGER IN A MANSION

[GELSEY & BRITTAIN]
AND TOOK THE CHILD INTO THE SEA
AND THE CHILD WAS BLESSED