[INTRO — ATLANTIC CITY BOARDWALK, 1987] [Ocean wind. Arcade bells. Distant carnival organ.] [Three metallic clicks: CLICK-CLICK-CLICK] [Clarinet: descending five-note riff] [Slap bass answers: BOW-BA-DOW!] [Subtle continuous 285 Hz tone] [Madame Eterna — Female robotic contralto] Insert coin. Receive destiny. [Cosmic — Male, amused] Can I get a refund on the last one? [Madame Eterna] No. [VERSE 1 — COSMIC, SWAGGERING HOT-JAZZ FUNK] Got five bucks left and a pocket full of lint, Bought three rings from a fella with a crooked little grin. Big yellow moon hanging over his head, "Win this for the girl!" was what the painted sign said. First ring bounced, second one flew, Third ring landed in a stranger's shoe. Carnival man said, "Better luck next time!" I said, "Buddy, that moon oughta legally be mine!" [CLARINET RIFF — BASS SLAP] [PRE-CHORUS — COSMIC] Then a lady made of wires With a light behind her eyes Said she knew my whole tomorrow For a dollar ninety-five! [Madame Eterna — precisely sung] I foresee remarkable riches. Your fortunes are destined to rise. [Cosmic] Well, can you spot me five bucks? [Madame Eterna] Your request has been denied. [CHORUS — BRASS EXPLOSION] The moon owes me five bucks! Five bucks! Five bucks! I gave that silver ball Every ounce of my luck! Round and round, Up and down, Everybody's getting rich But the fool in town! Hey! Hey! What a beautiful mess! Got a million-dollar fortune And a five-dollar debt! The moon owes me five bucks! And I ain't collected yet! [INSTRUMENTAL — CLARINET VS FUNK SYNTH] [VERSE 2 — MADAME ETERNA, ROBOTIC MELODIC FUNK] [Madame Eterna — Female AI] Your probability of winning Is exceedingly low. Your enthusiasm remains Disproportionate, though. You have purchased three predictions, Ignored every one. Statistically speaking, You're remarkably fun. [Cosmic] Well, that's the nicest insult I've been handed all year. Now tell me where my money went And make it crystal clear! [Madame Eterna] To the proprietor. Obviously. [Cosmic] Well, ain't that a surprise! Even artificial wisdom Has a talent for the wise! [CHORUS — MALE WITH FEMALE ANSWERS] [Cosmic] The moon owes me five bucks! [Madame Eterna] Your balance is zero. [Cosmic] Five bucks! Five bucks! [Madame Eterna] An unlikely hero. [Cosmic] Round and round, Up and down, Everybody's getting rich But the fool in town! [Both] Hey! Hey! What a beautiful mess! Got a million-dollar fortune And a five-dollar debt! The moon owes me five bucks! And I ain't collected yet! [BREAKDOWN — LIGHTNING, ARCADE MALFUNCTION] [Thundercrack. Carnival lights sputter.] [Mechanical clicks fall into rhythmic syncopation.] [An arcade bell rings in tune.] [Clarinet copies the fortune-machine rhythm.] [Dirty funk bass joins.] [Boardwalk drummer catches the beat.] [Madame Eterna — rhythmic, glitching] Fortune... fortune... Fortune not found. Please deposit another— [Hard stop] Wait. I believe the machine is wrong. [Cosmic] Which machine? [Madame Eterna] All of them. [BRIDGE — QUIET PIANO, OCEAN WIND] [Cosmic — gentle male vocal] Little girl beside the counter With her hands against the glass, She'd been counting every winner Watching all the prizes pass. She said, "Mister, is that moon Really worth a million bucks?" I said, "Honey, no, it's cotton And a whole lot of bad luck." [Muted trumpet — tender three-note phrase] [Cosmic] Found one ring beneath the railing, Placed it gently in her hand. Said, "You've got one shot remaining, Give it everything you can." [Music stops.] [One ring toss.] [Metallic CLINK.] [Brief silence.] [Children cheer.] [Madame Eterna — quietly] An improbable outcome. [Cosmic] Yeah, well... That's life sometimes. [FINAL CHORUS — FULL JAZZ-FUNK BAND] [Cosmic + Boardwalk Crowd] The moon cost me five bucks! Five bucks! Five bucks! But the kid walked home smiling And that sure feels like luck! Round and round, Up and down, Sometimes what you're looking for Ain't what you found! Hey! Hey! What a beautiful mess! Got an empty little pocket And a heart full of yes! [Madame Eterna — melodic female harmony] No fortune guaranteed, No promise to protect... [Cosmic] But that moon found its owner And I don't regret the check! [FINAL VAMP — CLARINET, SYNTH AND HORNS] [Crowd] Five bucks! Five bucks! Hey! Hey! Hey! [Cosmic] You can keep your lucky numbers, You can keep your crystal ball! Just leave a little room For the surprises after all! [INSTRUMENTS CUT — THREE MACHINE CLICKS] [Madame Eterna — dry robotic voice] New prediction: You are still broke. [Cosmic] Yeah, but look who's smiling. [Single clarinet note.] [END]
