[Intro — Accordion sway, water against the bank] [Barnacle — Gravelly spoken voice] Blackwater Broadcast, Titans Maw. The crossing’s closed. The warning’s standing. And Captain Brine would like to report— [Brine] My lunch. [Tack] Can we start with the weather? [Fiddle pickup — Stomps enter] [Verse 1 — Barnacle] Brine caught two fish in the morning light, Laid them on driftwood, silver and bright. Turned those Deino jaws back toward the bay— Two little lunches went missing that way. Tack on a branch with a very full grin, Folded those wings as the questions rolled in. Said, “Have you considered a change in the tide?” [Mara — Spoken] The tide climbed a tree? [Tack] It’s remarkably high. [Chorus — Mara leads; crew answers] TWO FISH! AND AN APOLOGY! That’s what you owe, my friend. No seven-page tale of a terrible gale— Just bring two fish back again. HEY-HO, DOWN BY THE WATER, Where the mangrove shadows lean, The wildest thing in Titans Maw Is the excuse we haven’t seen! [Verse 2 — Mara, bright female lead] You gave us the facts when we hauled out that sign, Don’t lose them now that the problem is mine. Tack, I can count what is gone from the wood; I can’t make “borrowed” mean “asked if I could.” [Tack — Sung] All right, I ate them. I didn’t ask. I’ll catch you two back. That’s my task. [Brine — Spoken] Plus a small inconvenience— [Mara] Two. [Brine] Two. And an apology. [Chorus — Mara and crew] TWO FISH! AND AN APOLOGY! That’s what you owe, my friend. No seven-page tale of a terrible gale— Just bring two fish back again. HEY-HO, DOWN BY THE WATER, Where the mangrove shadows lean, The wildest thing in Titans Maw Is the excuse we haven’t seen! [Verse 3 — Barnacle; Tack answers] Out went the Ptera, low over the foam, Past the near-bank reeds, still close to home. First pass: nothing. Second pass: spray. Third pass: a fish got clean away. [Tack] That one was tactical. [Barnacle] It looked like a miss. [Tack] You’ve got much less fun since the business with the sign. [Barnacle] Still missed the fish. [Instrumental — Fast fiddle and accordion exchange] [Stomps drop out, then return with a low drum roll] [Mara — Female lead] Brine watched the ripples and lifted his snout: “Don’t chase the flash. See where they come out.” Tack banked wide, let the wingbeats slow, Skimmed with that beak where the small fish go. One to the driftwood, then back for the pair, Two caught fish and a throat cleared there. [Tack — Quietly spoken] I’m sorry I took your food. [Brine] Thank you. That bit was overdue. [Bridge — Gentle accordion; Mara and Tack] [Mara — Warm female lead] You could have told us you came back hungry. [Tack] I thought you’d laugh if I asked for a share. [Mara] I laughed at the tide climbing up to your hiding place. I wouldn’t have laughed at you needing us there. [Brine — Low sung voice] I don’t owe the bay every fish that I’m catching, But I get to choose what I give away. [Barnacle — Softly sung] He nudged one back with the end of his muzzle. [Brine — Spoken] This one’s yours. Next time, say. [Build — Fiddle rises; full crew enters] [Final Chorus — Mara, strong female lead; crew responses] TWO FISH! AND AN APOLOGY! Both came back to the shore. One given freely, one kept for Brine— No mystery any more. HEY-HO, DOWN BY THE WATER, Let the evening chorus roll! There’s room to ask in Titans Maw— You don’t have to steal your bowl! [Tack — Spoken] I don’t have a bowl. [Mara] Then don’t steal his fish. [Crew — Shouted] WE WERE DOING SO WELL! [Final refrain — Mara and Barnacle] Two fish on the driftwood, An honest word between. A little less explaining And a little more coming clean. [Outro — Accordion fades] [Mara — Spoken] That settles these two fish. The older accounts are still here. [Tack] And the gift? [Mara] A gift. Not a loan. [Barnacle] Blackwater Broadcast. Tonight’s headline: Local reporter finally asks— [Tack] Can somebody else do the weather? [Brine] Yes. [One final stomp]
