Image of SCP-037 taken by Dr. Miller while being interviewed.
Item #: SCP-037 SCP-L037
Object Class: Safe Neutralized
Special Containment Procedures: SCP-037 is to be contained in a standard low-level containment locker with daily expenditures to the site break room by a security officer to allow for socialization with staff members. The times of these expenditures may vary, but should not be done during shift transfers, hazardous situations, or in otherwise potentially compromising timespans. When being spoken to, SCP-037 should be treated with respect. Any attempts to distress SCP-037 emotionally or physically should be met with detainment from the attending security staff.
Though SCP-037 is inanimate, it should not be treated with recklessness. SCP-037 should be monitored at all times when outside of its containment locker, and any requests or vocalizations of concern by SCP-037 should be responded to within proper procedure. As of Addendum-037-F, SCP-037 is hereby considered neutralized due to the loss of its anomalous abilities, and has since been sent to Site-███ for low-priority monitoring. Redesignated to SCP-L037.
Description: SCP-037 is a small, wooden music box. The design of the music box is primarily Elvis-themed, and it is presumed to have been originally meant to play a song by said musician. However, SCP-037 produces no music when wound. SCP-037 is sentient, and is able to communicate by winding its handle while the lid is open. When unwound, SCP-037 is unable to speak, but can still hear when it is spoken to. When its lid is shut, SCP-037 cannot hear nor speak. After swift testing upon being retrieved, it was discovered that SCP-037 has no sense of sight.
SCP-037 displays intelligence akin to that of the average human. It can learn patterns, and is able to retain and use information given to it. It is highly effective at hearing, capable of identifying specific musical notes with nearly 100% accuracy, and can remember specific voices for months. SCP-037 has a timid, yet curious personality. It has a high-pitched feminine voice, but asserts itself as male. It does not recall ever possessing a name, but many staff interacting with it named it Elvis, after the box's theming. Though discouraged, staff referred to it by this during many of its interviews. Said interviews have since been edited to display more professionalism. As of Addendum-037-F, SCP-037 no longer possesses its anomalous abilities, and has returned to a regular music box hereby designated SCP-L037. When wound, SCP-L037 will play a rendition of "Hound Dog."
Archived Addendum List - SCP-L037
Addendum 037-A
Event: SCP-037 complains of being unable to correct people whilst they are speaking, due to being mute while handle is unwound.
Response: Personnel are informed that they are to continuously wind SCP-037's handle while speaking to it at all times, regardless of the conversation at hand.
Notes: N/A
Addendum 037-B
Event: SCP-037 is mishandled by Dr. ███████, leading to the exterior of SCP-037 being scratched.
Response: Dr. ███████ is reprimanded. SCP-037 reports no sensations whatsoever during the event, and is noticeably surprised when informed it had been damaged. After being reassured the damage would not compromise its ability to think or speak at all, SCP-037 calms down and resumes normal behaviors.
Notes: The researcher responsible for the damage was later demoted and had his access level restricted after an audit of his activities uncovered a trend of mishandling numerous low-priority SCP objects.
Addendum 037-C
Event: SCP-037 begins emitting a noise identified by several bystanders as crying after being asked what it would do if it were to one day be unable to speak anymore.
Response: The intern was reprimanded, and all staff were instructed to keep conversations with SCP-037 lighthearted in nature. SCP-037 experienced severe anxiety for several days after the incident, seeking constant reassurance from staff that it would not be silenced nor abandoned.
Notes: See Interview-037-B for one such instance of the resulting instability caused by this event.
Addendum 037-D
Event: SCP-037's voice is noticeably grainer than usual, and it seems to have difficulty pronouncing longer words. SCP-037 itself does not seem aware of the change.
Response: An internal analysis of SCP-037's components are conducted, but no excessive rust or degradation is found. Additionally, SCP-037's winding mechanism has no visible differences when in operation compared to previous examinations.
Notes: I am unsure as to what may have caused this, in hindsight. It certainly led to Addendum 037-F, but nobody can quite figure out why. It's almost as if whatever gave 037 sentience was breaking down, and we just didn't have the vision, nor tools, to repair it.
Addendum 037-E
Event: SCP-037's ability to speak has degraded in quality to the point where it cannot speak more than a few words every rotation of its internal wheel. The quality of its voice is similarly afflicted.
Response: SCP-037 is taken apart, despite strong protests from SCP-037 itself. No abnormalities are found. SCP-037 is put back together again, and retains its ability to speak, albeit in the same condition as before.
Notes: This occurred mere days before it stopped working. I wish there was more we could have done.
Addendum 037-F
Event: SCP-037 no longer responds when spoken to, and instead plays music when it is wound as expected from a music box.
Response: SCP-037 is transferred to an observation site, and redesignated to SCP-L037. Should it remain unanomalous for a not yet determined amount of time, it will be incinerated.
Notes: The SCP-037 slot is now available.
Archived Interview List - SCP-L037
Interview 037-A
Interviewer: Dr. █████ Miller
Interviewee SCP-037
Date: 4/23/████
[LOG START]
Dr. Miller: Hello, SCP-037. How are you doing today?
SCP-037: I'm doing as well as I can be, doctor. How about yourself?
Dr. Miller: I suppose I'm alright. Has life here at the foundation been treating you well, then?
SCP-037: Oh, most wonderfully. The people here are as nice as can be. I only wish I could see their faces. It's hard to talk to someone without knowing what they look like, you know.
Dr. Miller: I can imagine. Do you mind answering a few questions for me? We have a lot, and I'm fairly certain you could shed some light on them.
SCP-037: Why certainly, doctor. I can sure try my best!
Dr. Miller: Excellent. Why don't we start with something rather simple. Do you recall the first person you ever spoke to? If so, when?
SCP-037: Well, I suppose I've spoken to a lot of people. But most of the time they seemed to think I was joking around… saying that someone must be pranking them. It was as if they couldn't believe the fact I was talking. Imagine that?
Dr. Miller: You are aware that it's rather unusual for music boxes to speak, correct?
SCP-037: Is it? I assumed you folks were finally just people that didn't want to mess with me.
Dr. Miller: Rest assured, we have no intention of making you feel that way anymore. You're safe with us. However… yes, it is rather quaint. That's why you're here. We're a lot different from you, actually.
SCP-037: You are? How so?
Dr. Miller: We aren't music boxes. Regardless, eh, we're straying from the point. Do you recall how you gained the ability to speak?
SCP-037: Well… do you?
Dr. Miller seems to pause for a few moments before answering.
Dr. Miller: Well, I just learned one day. All humans do. There really wasn't a cause. As a baby, I heard others speak, and I just picked it up.
SCP-037: Fascinating.
Dr. Miller: What is?
SCP-037: You say we're different, but that's exactly how it went for me, too.
[LOG END]
Interview 037-B
Interviewer: Dr. █████ Miller
Interviewee SCP-037
Date: 12/11/████
[LOG START]
Dr. Miller: It's nice to see you, 037. You said you wanted to speak to me?
SCP-037: I did, doctor. I'm extremely troubled.
Dr. Miller: Oh. About what?
SCP-037: I'm sure you recall the conversation me and another… shall we say, undesirable acquaintance had. There was an awful lot of noise after I started crying. I nearly had a panic attack.
Dr. Miller: It's still with you, hm?
SCP-037: Of course it is. What a dreadful thought, not being able to speak with anybody! Could you imagine? Not being able to interact with anyone or see them? There would just be nothing. That sounds hellish.
Dr. Miller: You know, some people assume that is what happens after death. Nothingness.
SCP-037: Why would anybody ever think of that? Wouldn't that remove the purpose of living?
Dr. Miller: Some do think that, and so they believe in an afterlife. Not a lot of people can agree on what that would look like, though. There have even been some wars fought over it.
SCP-037: What do you think, doctor?
Dr. Miller: I'm not sure.
SCP-037: Well… if you aren't sure, then how do you know that anything you're doing is worth it?
Dr. Miller: We're talking right now, aren't we?
SCP-037: We are.
Dr. Miller: Does that mean something to you?
SCP-037: Of course! You were there when I first got here. We talk every day! I look forward to our chats, too!
Dr. Miller: See? You can get meaning from anything. You don't need there to be some grand entity to justify that for you.
SCP-037 remains silent for a few seconds before speaking again.
SCP-037: I guess you're right. I still have a long time with you all.
[LOG END]
Notes: Last joint documented-archived interview with SCP-037. Occurred 3 months prior to Addendum 037-F.
