Home
Explore games
Help
Log in
Playfic is now in read-only mode.
You can still play existing games, but new signups and game editing is disabled.
Read the announcement.
Log in
Username
Password (
Forgot it?
)
Login
405 Wings of the Pigeon
by
ccbrody
Played 3,826 times
View game source
(spoilers!)
Download the
.z8 file
Source Code
"Wings of the Pigeon" Part - Set Up Commenting is an action out of world applying to one topic. Understand "* [text]" as commenting. Carry out commenting: say "Comment noted." Include Plurality by Emily Short. Use no scoring The block giving rule is not listed in the check giving it to rules. Understand "see [something]" as examining. The description of a thing is usually "You give [the noun] a glance. Nice." Include Exit Lister by Eric Eve Part - Setting Chapter - Apartment A thing can be examined or unexamined. A thing is usually unexamined. After examining something: now the noun is examined; continue the action. When play begins, say "You feel a little out of sorts today. Not ill exactly, but discontent. Your girlfriend who is sometimes hot for you and sometimes distant is currently distant. You've got papers to grade. It's that time of afternoon when women, though you are not one, like to squeak in a manicure or go in search of a post-retail therapy glass of white wine. You've not left the apartment since you woke up and you are woefully low on food. Maybe that's your problem. Then again, maybe it's something else." The player is a man called Martin Densher. The description of Martin Densher is "You are an intelligent, introspective man. Not everyone would take time to examine themselves, particularly their mind and their personal moral code, the way you are prone to do. You come across as educated, which you in fact are, having attended the University of Illinois and now taking master's degree classes in English literature in the evenings at Northwestern University. Others have described you as casual, which you aren't necessarily but by which they more likely mean unkempt. You are a longish, leanish, fairish young man. You've got a loose, indifferent air to you, such that it seems at any given moment you'd rather be reading the newspaper in the park, and your hair typically looks like a small dog ruffled about in it before breakfast." The Apartment is a room Chicago is a region The Apartment is in Chicago. The apartment has the description "Your studio apartment is shabbily decorated. A tiny kitchen area extends into the main room. The lone closet is to the north. To the east through your front door is parking lot." The Parking Lot is east of the apartment The Closet is north of the apartment. IKEA furniture is in the apartment. The description is "Pretty standard low-end Swedish. VITTSJO coffee table, KARLSTAD sofa bed, that sort of thing. Nothing worth a closer look." It is fixed in place. VITTSJO coffee table is scenery in the apartment. "Typical IKEA." KARLSTAD sofa bed is scenery in the apartment. "Standard IKEA." A Formica counter is in the apartment. The counter is a supporter. The description is "Formica. Yeah, well, places with granite cost a lot more than an English teacher at a private high school for boys can afford." A tall bookcase is in the apartment. The description is "The bookcase is jammed with dog-eared, highlighted, post-it-noted literature such as The Turn of the Screw by Henry James. You won't need any of these until fall semester, that is if you even still have a job then." The bookcase is fixed in place. The carpet is a backdrop. The carpet is in the apartment. The description of the carpet is "Grubby beige, low pile." The ground is a backdrop. The description is "Carpet needing a vaccuum, or better yet, a deep steam clean." The ground is in the apartment. Understand "down" as ground. The walls are backdrop. "Dingy apartment white. Badly in need of some art to liven the place up." The walls are in the apartment. On the counter is a car key, cell phone, utility bill and a wallet. The car key has the description "You will need to take this if planning on going anywhere swiftly." The cell phone has the description "You have two messages. Might be wise to listen to these." [one from kate; one from school saying no summer school position for you] Understand "answer [cell phone]" or "get [cell phone]" or "listen cell phone" or "read [cell phone]" or "play [cell phone]" or "hear [cell phone]" as listening. Understand "two new messages" or "messages" as cell phone. Instead of listening to cell phone: say "From the [phone] you hear the first message: 'Martin, it's Jim. Listen, I'm sorry but you didn't get the summer school teaching gig. I know you wanted the work but we have too many senior faculty interested this year. Really sorry. See you Monday.' And the second message: 'It's Kate, get up to Lake Forest tonight, okay? My stepmom is actually in a good mood for once. She asked me for the upteenth time what I see in you as we have nothing in common. I said nothing, that's why it works. She said, 'I'd like to talk to him for myself one of these days.' So there's our opening. Get up here. Just to butter her up, I said I'd make my dad's pasta puttensca recipe. She misses that now that he is, well, you know. Just get up here okay. She's willing to talk to you.'" The utility bill has the description "The electric bill for the Martin Densher residence at 4723 N. Heath, Unit 3A, is past due." Instead of taking utility bill: say "No need to take this with you. One look at it reminds you of the state of your finances." The wallet has the description "Fifteen dollars and some change. Whewf, that's not much." Instead of singing when not in Route 94 Area: say "You've a lovely baritone voice, but really, what good is that going to do you here?" Instead of jumping: say "A little fitness would generally be a good idea. You are still in your twenties so that sendentary lifestyle hasn't caught up with you and given you a middle-aged paunch yet, but it will. For now though, you've got other things to obsess about besides exercise." Instead of thinking: say "Sure, sure guy. Take all the time you need... There, enough thinking? Oh, by all means take a little more time to think.. Okay, how about now? Yeah, it's about time to get back to living and not just thinking." Understand "dance" as dancing. Dancing is an action applying to nothing. Instead of dancing: say "You've certainly got some moves, especially for a high school English teacher." Chapter - The Closet The closet is a room with the description "The closet is small and musty smelling. It contains a few ochre, brown and olive drab clothes and a mirror." The tan-colored jacket is in the closet. The tan-colored jacket is a wearable thing. The initial appearance of the tan-colored jacket is "On a hanger is a tan-colored jacket. It is one of those items of clothing that always looks a little rumpled." Report wearing tan-colored jacket: say "A wise choice for looking good, as far as it is conceivable, in that earth-tone, non-descript style of yours. You will be ready for late spring weather that is warmish but not warm, coolish but not cool." [why isn't this working?] The mirror is in the closet. The description of mirror is "You are a longish, leanish, fairish young man. You've got a loose, indifferent air to you, such that it seems at any given moment you'd rather be reading the newspaper in the park, and your hair typically looks like a small dog ruffled about in it before breakfast. You are an intelligent, introspective man. Not everyone would take time to examine themselves, particularly their mind and their personal moral code, the way you are prone to do. You come across as educated, which you in fact are, having attended the University of Illinois and now taking master's degree classes in English literature in the evenings at Northwestern University. Others have described you as casual, which you aren't necessarily but by which they more likely mean unkempt." Chapter - The Parking Lot The Parking Lot is a room. The Parking Lot has the description "The small outdoor lot contains the cars belonging to residents of the 1970-style apartment structure to the west. To the east is the road." A blue Honda Civic is in the parking lot. The blue Honda Civic is an enterable openable transparent closed container [get in something about entering car] The blue Honda Civic is a thing with initial appearance "Ahh, good old Bunchie, your temperamental, gun-metal blue Honda Civic. Not a glamorous ride, but good enough for a city car. You hop in. Bunchie's hood is spattered with [dried bird poop]." The dried bird poop is scenery in the parking lot. The description is "Gross. When the weather gets warmer you'll go for a car wash." Check wearing tan-colored jacket: instead say "Good call on the jacket, it's a little nippy." [FIX THIS] Bunchie is scenery in the parking lot. The description is "Bunchie's been a true friend." Chapter - The Road The Road is a room. The road has the description "Vroom! Chicago sidestreets and highways. Plenty of traffic. Plenty of potholes. To the North is suburban Lake Forest. To the south is Downtown and beyond that the South Loop. To the west is the apartment parking lot." The Road is east of the Parking Lot. [ summer school, darn needed the money. never going to afford an engangement ring. ] [how to work sing command in the road and highway region] Highway mile 1 is a room. Highway mile 1 is north of the road. The description is "Something like seven million people live in the Chicago metro area. At least half of whom seem to also be on the roads today." Highway mile 10 is a room. Highway mile 10 is north of Highway mile 1. The description is "Are we there yet?" Highway mile 15 is a room. Highway mile 15 is north of Highway mile 10. The description is "Half way there." Old McDonalds bag is a closed openable container in Highway mile 15. In it is a cold French fry. The description is "On the floor of Bunchie on the passenger side is a crumpled McDonald's bag. You are quite peckish. Why do you always forget to eat? Kate tells you constantly how she wishes she could just forget to eat. Then she tells you it is why you are so wan and thin. You look at yourself in the rearview mirror. She is right. Well, she may be right. Or it is entirely possible she likes you thin and is telling you that you are wan as a way to keep you thin. Hmmm. She did say once she doesn't like a guy with a beer gut." [optional nice fix. how to get player to look at bag. or make bg part of initial description of room] The description of a cold French fry is "It's dead, but it still contains a few carbs." Report eating: say "Actually, nasty." Understand "taste [cold French fry]" or "bite [cold French fry]" or "lick [cold French fry]" or "smell [cold French fry]" as eating. The cold French fry is edible. Highway mile 20 is a room. Highway mile 20 is north of Highway mile 15. The description is "It's only 30 miles between Chicago and Lake Forest, but they are 30 long miles." Highway mile 30 is a room. Highway mile 30 is north of Highway mile 20. [idea: create additional mile markers. erg, even singing can't distract you. what do you want to think about? Kate's parents, why you haven't proposed, your summer and no teaching gig] Route 94 Area is a region. Highway mile 1, Highway mile 10, Highway mile 15, Highway mile 20, and Highway mile 30 are in Route 94 Area. Every turn when in Route 94 Area: say "[one of]You hear an occasional metal-on-metal sound from the engine, but the buggy chugs along.[or]'Tea for two and two for tea, me for you. Me for you and...' You've got plenty of time to sing showtunes with all this traffic.[or]'I want to beee happy but I won't beee happy...'[or]'In short there's simply not, a more congenial spot, for happy ever aftering, than here in'.... Lake Forest has got to be the furthest suburb there is.[or]'Take good care of yourself, you belong to me.'... You really wish the radio worked.[or]'In olden days a glimpse of stocking was looked on as something shocking, now Heaven know, anything goes'... Got to get the radio fixed.[or]'Anything you can do, I can do better. I can do anything better than you...' It had been a tough call at the mechanic's -- fixing the radio or fixing the air conditioning. [or]'Memory. All alone in the moonlight. I can smile at the old days. I was beautiful then. I remember the time I knew what happiness was...' You really, really, really wish the radio worked.[at random]". Instead of singing when in Route 94 Area: say "You've a lovely baritone voice," The radio is a backdrop in Route 94 area. Understand "fix [radio]" as examining. Instead of examining radio when in Route 94 Area: say "Busted. You would fix it if you could. There's a reason you studied literature not engineering in college." The sky is a backdrop. "A clear and cloudless blue." The sky is in the Route 94 Area. [ fix this -- Understand "look up" as looking sky.] The street is a backdrop. "Potholes and more potholes." Chapter - Driveway Lake Forest is a region. The Driveway is north of highway mile 30. The driveway is a room in Lake Forest. The Driveway has the description "A home that could only be described as a 'McMansion' looms. You hear the sound of birds chirping and distant weed whackers whacking. To the east is the front door and foyer. To the south is the Highway." Instead of going from Driveway to Highway Mile 30 when the player does not carry the SCRAP: say "You feel directionless and wish someone would tell you what to do. Or better, right now you wish you had something concrete, like an address, to head toward. Where is Kate going tonight anyway after she finishes with Vonda?" Chapter - Foyer Foyer is a room in Lake Forest. The Foyer is east of the driveway. The Foyer has the description "[if unvisited]Charming or tacky? Both. Just depends what you think of Louis XVI decor in suburban Chicago new construction. All that gilt and glass, so much satin and plush, so much marble and malachite. [end if] Your eyes hurt; it's a lot to behold. To the north is the living room. To the west is the driveway where Bunchie awaits. [if unvisited] Kate, your lovely girlfriend of two years, greets you in the foyer. She kisses you then whispers, 'I am so glad you are here. You are in luck. By that I mean we are in luck: She's in a good mood for once.'' Kate pushes you toward the living room but you resist. There are some things you'd like to talk to Kate about first. You might 'Ask Kate about SUMMER' or another topic such as her FATHER, your RELATIONSHIP, ENGAGEMENT, her stepmom VONDA...[end if]" [any objects to examine here?] Decor is scenery in Foyer Instead of examining decor: say "Gew gaw, schmew gaw! If it isn't moving, it's gilded." Kate is a woman in the foyer. Understand "girlfriend" as Kate. Saying hello to is an action applying to one visible thing. Understand "greet [something]" or "say hello/hi to [something]" or "talk to [something]" as saying hello to. [Check saying hello to a person when the noun is the current interlocutor: If the noun is the player, say "Talking to yourself is not as exciting as talking to others. Well, maybe it is. But for now, use talking as an opportunity to converse with others." instead; say "You are already talking to [the noun]." instead Report saying hello to someone when the greeting type is explicit: say "You say hello to [the noun]."] Instead of kissing Kate: try saying hello to Kate. After saying hello to Kate: say "'Hi, beautiful' you say. She laughs, 'Well, hello yourself. You're less mercurial than usual today. I like it.'" [After saying goodbye to Kate: say "'Later for sure,' you say. 'Promise you'll rescue me from this?' she says, then winks. " After quizzing Kate about Kate: say "'What's up?' you ask. My stepmother, my father, dinner, engagement [make engagement known], summer, the house' she says"] Chapter - Kate Conversation A person has a table name called conversation. Instead of asking someone about something: let the source be the conversation of the noun; if topic understood is a topic listed in source: if there is a turn stamp entry: say "[The noun] has already told you that [summary entry]."; otherwise: now turn stamp entry is the turn count; say "[reply entry][paragraph break]"; otherwise: say "[The noun] stares at you blankly." Instead of telling someone about something: try asking the noun about it. Definition: a person is other if it is not the player. Understand "recap" or "recall" or "review" as recalling conversations. Recalling conversations is an action applying to nothing. Carry out recalling conversations: repeat with speaker running through other people: let source be the conversation of the speaker; sort source in turn stamp order; say "[The speaker] has so far told you: [line break]"; let index be 0; repeat through source: if there is a turn stamp entry: let index be 1; say " [summary entry][line break]"; if index is 0, say " absolutely nothing[line break]"; say conditional paragraph break. Kate is a woman in the foyer. The conversation of Kate is the Table of Kate's Chatter. Table of Kate's Chatter topic reply summary turn stamp "father" "Kate sighs, 'You mean, why is he in the Stateville Minimum Security Unit? For every white collar crime you can think of -- there you go. He did it all. Everything." "that he did everything. All of it. Everything" -- "Everything" "Yes, everything. You know, everything-everything." "that she's already told you everything she is going to about everything" -- "engagement" "She shrugs, 'How about we see if we can get Vonda on our side first.'" "first things come first" -- "Vonda" "'She's only being a pain because she loves me. Well, yes and she wants me to be secure because my father lost all our money,' Kate says. 'I don't know that I'd call her a vulture the way you do, but, yes, her own future is at stake too." "she's got an agenda" -- "stepmom" "' Vonda? She's only being a pain because she loves me. Well, yes and she wants me to be secure because my father lost all our money,' Kate says. 'I don't know that I'd call her a vulture the way you do, but, yes, her own future is at stake too." "she's got an agenda" -- "stepmom" "' Vonda? She's only being a pain because she loves me. Well, yes and she wants me to be secure because my father lost all our money,' Kate says. 'I don't know that I'd call her a vulture the way you do, but, yes, her own future is at stake too." "she's got an agenda" -- "you" "Kate rolls her eyes, 'You are hopeless, Martin, simply hopeless. But don't worry, that's why you've got me." "you are lucky to have Kate to do your thinking." -- "Martin" "Kate rolls her eyes, 'You are hopeless, Martin, simply hopeless. But don't worry, that's why you've got me" "you are lucky to have Kate to do your thinking" -- "Summer" "Kate looks perplexed for a moment. 'That is a drag that you will not have a teaching job for the summer. You will find something else useful or advantageous to do I am sure. Something will come up.'" "you will find something to do" -- "Kate" "'You know me, I am a trooper'" "she's a trooper" -- "self" "'You know me, I am a trooper'" "she's a trooper" -- "relationship" "A dreamy look crosses Kate's face. 'Remember when we met? How we both stood up and looked over the tops of our study carrels in the library at the exact same moment? So surprised, but yet not, to see someone else doing the same thing. Our eyes locked and it was cosmic. That's how I feel today and everyday. We are cosmically together, Martin.'" "you two are cosmically a good fit" -- "friends" "Kate says, 'Vonda wants me to spend time with some new people. The nephew of someone she met in Lake Forest and a girl he knows. I'm supposed to go out with them downtown tonight. It would be so much better if you were there too.'" "Vonda is pushing her to make new friends" -- "tonight" "Kate says, 'I'd love to see you tonight. Vonda made some plans for me with a couple of people she somehow learned of. I'm sure it would be fine if you just happened to show up too. A foursome is just much tidier than a threesome.' She winks." "you should crash our gathering if you can, but you'll have to find the address" -- Chapter -- Living Room The living room is a room. The living room is north of the foyer. It has the description "Vonda sits alone in a wilderness of lavender upholstery. She stares a good long while out the window toward her manicured backyard before turning to you. [if unvisited] She speaks, 'I like you, Martin, I do. You're a good guy. And I think you are a good enough guy to see why it's time to let go of Kate. I'd hoped you go your own way, find someone new to date once she graduated from college. I can't say that I really mind if you hang on to your friendship. As long, that is, as you know it won't go anywhere. There's nothing I don't like about you. It's just that you know and I know that teachers don't make a lot of MONEY, and Kate needs more out of life than you can give her. I'll be blunt. I need more. I devoted my life to a man, gave him my best years, loved his daughter like my own and now, well, now I've got to get mercenary about things. To start, I'm setting Kate up with some new FRIENDS. Like I said Martin, I like you. I do. I could see myself falling for someone like you at a different time in my life. I know you'll be the fine young man that you are; I know I can count on you to understand why you are incompatible. You will grasp the SERIOUSNESS of the PLAN I have in mind.' [end if]" Vonda is a woman in the living room. The conversation of Vonda is the Table of Vonda's Chatter. [ add in more description of vonda. are there any items in the room?] Chapter -- Vonda Conversation Understand "stepmom" as Vonda. Understand "mom" as Vonda. Understand "step-mom" as Vonda. Instead of kissing Vonda: try saying hello to Vonda. After saying hello to Vonda: say "'Hi, Vonda' you say. She sizes you up and says, 'Martin, it is always a pleasure.'" Table of Vonda's Chatter topic reply summary turn stamp "Father" "'In an unaffected tone, Vonda says,'Thanks for your concern, Martin. I'm still waiting on the advice of my attorney but it does seem that my husband, Kate's father, may be, how shall we put it, preoccupied for a number of years. I'm not getting any younger and Kate won't stay young forever. I do, though, have a PLAN.'" "she has a plan" a number "Husband" "In an unaffected tone, Vonda says,'Thanks for your concern, Martin. I'm still waiting on the advice of my attorney but it does seem that my husband, Kate's father, may be, how shall we put it, preoccupied for a number of years. I'm not getting any younger and Kate won't stay young forever. I do, though, have a PLAN. '" "she has a plan" -- "Kate" "'My husband had a number of investments. Some he lost. Most he lost. But at least one is in my care, and I have been letting it appreciate a bit. That, as you can guess, is Kate. She is the finest possible creature.'" "she is protecting her investment" -- "Summer" "'How do I know what I'm doing come summer? I don't even know what I'm doing next week. Kate tells me you are going to teach summer school to make a little extra money That's nice." "to each his own" -- "Money" "'Take a look around' says Vonda. 'It takes a lot of money to live this way. Sorry, Martin, but your job is incompatible with our lives.'" "you don't have enough to marry Kate" -- "Friends" "A delicious smile forms at the corners of Vonda's lips. 'I've made a wonderful new bestie here in town and her nephew is a most spectactular young man. He is doing very well for himself. In fact, I arranged for Kate to go out and meet him and a friend of his, a nice girl from a very old Canadian family. Her grandfather had a frozen food empire of some sort. Fish sticks I think. Ah, but what do you care, this is Kate's future not yours.'" "Kate needs some new friends and Vonda will find them for her" -- "Plan" "'My plan,' says Vonda. 'Is to deal with you, to make you understand. Which is exactly what I am doing. Then to acquaint Kate with some new FRIENDS of a more compatible sort.'" "Kate needs new friends. That means not you" -- "Vonda" "'See what I mean? You are a good guy, Martin. That's sweet of you to ask about me. I'm as fine as a woman whose husband is in the pokey and who doesn't know where her next mortgage payment is coming from could be'." "she's strapped" -- "Martin" "'You're alright in my book, Martin. I've got nothing against you personally. But are you compatible with my plan for dear Kate? Uh, no. Definitely not.'" "she wants you to give Kate up" -- "Seriousness" "'Oh, I am serious. Very serious. And I rely on you, out of your deep concern for our stupendous Kate, to take me seriously and to be serious yourself about dropping your hopes for a future with her. Beyond a friendship, that is.'" "she is serious" -- "Joe" "Uh, if you do that, she will know you were snooping. Better to just ask about new FRIENDS for Kate." "you don't want to tip your hand that you were snooping" -- "Marks" "Uh, if you do that, she will know you were snooping. Better to just ask about new FRIENDS for Kate." "you don't want to tip your hand that you were snooping" -- "Joe Marks" "Uh, if you do that, she will know you were snooping. Better to just ask about new FRIENDS for Kate." "you don't want to tip your hand that you were snooping" -- Chapter -- Home Office The Home Office is east of the living room. "You pretended to have to go to the bathroom to escape Vonda for a bit. You really don't have to go, so maybe you'll just hang out here in her office a bit." The desk is in the Home Office. "A large tree gave up it's life to become the intricately carved power desk that dominates the room. It must have been where Kate's father did some of his dealings before he got locked up. Now Vonda seems to use it for her dealings." The desk is a supporter. On the desk is a notepad. The notepad has the description "In what must be Vonda's overly flowery script is a note that says, 'Joe Marks, options trader, $ucce$$ful. Tonight, 7 p.m. cocktails at his place, #22B, the Pelican Residence. Then out for dinner.' Those $s rankle you. Why must Vonda be so crass and vulgar? This address could come in handy. You are going to need this note if you are going to have any chance of catching up with Kate later. The Pelican, that's one of the swanky apartment buildings downtown. Nice digs Joe must have." Understand "note" as notepad. Understand "note pad" as notepad. The scrap is a thing. The description is "A scrap of old paper that says '7 p.m. Joe Marks, 22B Pelican, downtown'" Instead of taking the notepad: move the scrap to the office; try taking scrap. After taking the scrap: say "You don't really want to take the note. Vonda would notice it gone and suspect you of stealing from her. Instead you fish a SCRAP of paper out of the wastecan and jot down '7 p.m. Joe Marks, 22B Pelican, downtown' on it. You slip the scrap in your pocket. Now you know the name of the ritzy building where this Joe Marks lives." Chapter - Downtown Instead of going from Road to Downtown when the player does not carry the SCRAP: say "You feel directionless and wish someone would tell you what to do. Oh wait, Kate did tell you. She's great that way. She's always got some scheme in mind. Better head north to Lake Forest." Downtown has the description "[if unvisited]It's way too early to crash the cocktails at Joe Marks, but as you are tight on cash and long on time, you decide to circle and circle and circle for parking. Finally you find a free space under the el tracks. You roll down the windows, stretch your legs and put your feet up on the dash. Passersby must think you have nowhere to go, nothing to do and not a care in the world. You doze off. It's now 7:15 p.m. While you were sleeping, Kate must have arrived at Joe Marks['] place. Your stomach gurgles. You try to remember whether you ate something you shouldn't have. [end if] Skyscrapers surround you. Only the trust fund babies live down here. To the south is the South Loop, which has some good restaurants and a club or two. The Pelican Lobby is just to the east." Downtown is a room in Chicago. Downtown is south of the Road. Chapter -- Pelican Lobby Pelican Lobby is a room. "The lobby of the apartment building where Joe Marks lives has sleek terrazzo floors and a doorman. You can't imagine you'll ever live in a building this swank. To the west is outside downtown. Joe's apartment is UP via the elevator, a gorgeous contraption with elaborate metalwork." the elevator is in the Pelican Lobby. The elevator is fixed in place. The description of elevator is "It's a beauty." The Pelican Lobby is east of downtown. If the player is carrying the scrap, drop scrap. [doorman has voice like an old wind instrument] Chapter -- Joe's Place Joe's Place is a room. "[if unvisited]Joe looks confused when he opens the door to you but your socially adept girlfriend Kate quickly introduces you. [end if]Joe's 22nd floor apartment is quite a place. Lots of black leather and expensive finishes. A wetbar even. This is a bachelor's dream. The elevator is down. Out the sliding glass door to the east is a balcony with a spectacular view." Joe's Place is up from the Pelican Lobby. Report going up from Pelican Lobby: say “You imagine Kate would enjoy molesting you -- with your permission, of course -- in this kind of elevator. She'd never outright say so. That's how you know she definitely wants to do such things to you.†A wetbar is in Joe's Place. The wetbar is a supporter. On the wetbar is a bottle of vodka. The bottle of vodka has the description "Ooo, the expensive kind." Instead of drinking vodka: say "That top-shelf vodka goes down smooth. Then packs a punch to an empty stomach." Instead of taking vodka: say "Uh, that's Joe's. So don't take the whole thing. But he's okay with you having a drink." After saying hello to Joe: say "'Thanks for letting me join the group.' Joe says, 'Did I have a choice, sport?'" Joe Marks is a man in Joe's Place. The initial appearance of Joe Marks is "It's difficult to guess Joe's age. Is he young but looks old or is he old but looks young? He's definitely prematurely bald. Bummer of a receeding hairline. As far as you can tell, Kate has little in common with this guy other than both being from Lake Forest. It doesn't take you long to realize Joe is the kind of guy who says things that seem like he is trying to be funny, but he himself never smiles nor laughs. He does, though, seem open to conversation. Some of the topics you want to ask Joe about include KATE, LILY..." [joe says somthing to effect that there is no such thing today in as saying where any one was. every one was everywhere -- nobody was anywhere. Kate wants to know what Lliy's set is. joe tells kate is mother thinks vonda a most extraordinary woman. understand window as view. instead of seeing window, "] Understand "Joe" as Joe Marks. The conversation of Joe is the Table of Joe Marks's Chatter. Instead of examining balcony, say "Joe notices you checking out the view and says, 'Great, isn't it? By all means, step out onto the balcony.'" A shelving unit is in Joe's Place. The shelving unit is a supporter. The description is "Glass and chrome. Possibly original mid-century modern. This didn't come cheap. " [The carpet is a backdrop. The carpet is in Joe's Place. The description of the carpet is "Plush. Like everything about Joe Marks." The ground is a backdrop. The description is "Thick and plush carpet." The ground is in Joe's Place. Understand "down" as ground. The walls are backdrop. "Gorgeous Venetian plaster with art that looks real. No posters here." ] On the shelving unit is a file box. The file box is a closed openable container. In it is mail. The description is "As Joe and Kate are playing 'who do you know in Lake Forest,' you notice the decorative file box on Joe's coffee table and are overcome with curiosity." Report opening: say "You waffle for several minutes. You ponder your own moral character. Then you slip your fingers under the lid, lift it and notice Joe's mail. " Instead of taking box, say "Uh, no. What are you going to do, slip it in your pocket? No. Better to leave it where it is but try to open it discretely while Joe and Kate compare notes on their upbringings." Understand "Joe's mail" as mail. Understand "letters" as mail. Understand "letter" as mail. [Understand "read [Joe's mail]" as examining. ] The description of the mail is "There are two letters from the Securities and Exchange Commission and three from the IRS." Instead of taking mail: say "You really don't want to commit mail fraud. That's a federal offense. Better to leave it here, but eyeball it and let it inform your understanding of Joe's moral fiber. " Instead of opening mail: say "You really don't want to commit mail fraud. That's a federal offense. Better to leave it here, but eyeball it and let it inform your understanding of Joe's moral fiber. " Chapter -- Joe Marks Conversation Table of Joe Marks's Chatter topic reply summary turn stamp "aunt" "Joe says, 'My aunt? She's thrilled about her new friend Vonda, that's for sure.'" "that his mother is glad to know Vonda" -- "Kate" "Joe says, 'She seems great. I mean, she's young, she's cute, she's from Lake Forest. Good breeding, that's important. I don't know anything about her dad, though, do you? Know what he does? Eh, well. Yeah, Kate's cool.'" "he thinks she's great" -- "Lily" "Joe says, 'Aww, she's gorgeous. Like a painting or something. I know her through my friend Bob. He's a doc down at U of C hospitals. Lily is a sweetheart. Magnetic personality. You'll see.'" "everyone thinks she's stupendous, including himself" -- "IRS" "Joe looks alarmed for a moment, then covers with a quizzical expression. 'I can't imagine why you'd ask about that. Is this your weird idea of chit chat? Huh.'" "he can't imagine why you'd ask about that" -- "SEC" "Joe looks alarmed for a moment, then covers with a quizzical expression. 'I can't imagine why you'd ask about that. Is this your weird idea of chit chat? Huh.'" "he can't imagine why you'd ask about that" -- "Vodka" "Joe says, 'It's decent. Help yourself, but actually, I think we are going to leave and meet Lily in just a bit. You know how to get to the South Loop Club? Head downstairs, out of the building and then directly south." "the vodka is decent stuff" -- "South Loop Club" "Joe says, 'Crazy place. Lots of our kind of people. Great music. Every now and then they play somethng retro for the fun of it. You know how to get to the South Loop Club? Head downstairs, out of the building and then directly south.'" "the South Loop Club is fun and you get there by going south of the Pelican" -- "mail" "Joe says, 'You looked at my mail? You are a strange guy, Martin. Stay out of my stuff from now on. Coolio? Good." "you better keep your nose out" -- "Bob" "Joe says, 'He's my buddy, a cool guy. Smart too. Works at U of C with the brainiacs. He's a doctor. Get's the special cases, the complex cases. I don't know how he deals with all that death everyday. Sometimes he tells me about it, and I think, thank God I just deal with numbers not lives.'" "he's a doctor." -- Instead of going from the Balcony to Joe's Place: say "Joe says, 'I got a text from Lily; she says we should inform the Pentagon we need Black Star cover. No, actually, she says she is going to meet us at the South Loop Club. So whenever we are done chatting here and ready to go, let's head over. Martin, I'll take Kate with me. You just head down and outside, then go directly south and we will meet you inside the club.'"; continue the action. Chapter -- Balcony The Balcony is a room. "What a view! A grey pigeon is perched on the railing. It eyes you and oddly doesn't fly away. Because the balcony stretches the length of the apartment, you can see from the balcony into another room. It seems to be a bedroom with a bed and a nightstand. You squint and discern that on the nightstand is a manilla folder labeled 'Patient Record -- Lily Deal.' You can't reach, open or take this folder nor can you get a closer look at it from here, so there's no point in trying. But it does seem strange that Joe would have such a thing. To the west is the interior of Joe's Place." The Balcony is east of Joe's Place. Chapter - South Loop Club South Loop Club is a room in Chicago. "The music is loud and the patrons dressed to the hilt. [if unvisited] A bouncer demands a $15 cover charge, which wipes you out of cash. You were a little miffed that Joe Marks insisted Kate travel here with him, but at least you didn't have to pay her cover charge. It's too bad that summer teaching gig isn't coming through. You really need some money. Vonda already thinks you are poor and she doesn't know the half of it. Kate spies you and waves you over. She introduces you to Lily who she describes as 'the fastest new friend I've ever made.' You think you might ask Lily about a few things to decide for yourself what you think of her.[end if] There are some small tables. There is a bartender at a bar made of alternatingly colored lit panels to the north. To the east is the dance floor. The patron exit is to the south." South Loop Club is south of Downtown. Instead of going from Downtown to South Loop Club when Balcony is unvisited: say "You feel directionless and wish someone would tell you what to do. Oh wait, you were going to go downtown to Joe Marks['] place and meet up with him and Kate, then perhaps go out to a club or something. If Kate were here she'd roll her eyeball and say 'Silly, Martin, you do need guidance don't you.' Better head east to the Pelican Lobby." [ -- work into conversation table. Lily's eyes were mainly engaged with kate, wonderful creature. Lily thinks kate distinguished, interesting and general. People buy Lily drinks all night. "only if you are buying one for my friend, she said indicating Kate. Lily didn't move often, men flocked to her, but when she did, she alighted and reselttled like a graceful bird. end of evening lily invites them all to come up to her house for the memorial day weekend. each say to Martin, isn't she remarkable -- the gals fall for each other. more interested in each other than in all the male attention. lilly is pale, he never thought of kate as tan, but in comparison . you overhear lily asking kate if Martin is her boyfriend. my step mom wants me to date Joe. which one is your boyrfirend? get interrupted or can't hear the rest. maybe joe makes weird comment about watching the two women together and how hot that would be. joe had this habit of saying things tht sounded like he was trying to be funny yet he nevver seemed amused. you think Kate is just as fabulous as Lily. ] [pigeon 2.0 - make martin have wallet or have to go back home and get it to enter club] Lily Deal is a woman in South Loop Club. The conversation of Lily is the Table of Lily Deal's Chatter. [insert physical description of lily, and maybe other characters.] Understand "Lily" as Lily Deal. Table of Lily Deal's Chatter topic reply summary turn stamp "Kate" "Lily says, 'Oh that handsome girl. She is captivating, don't you think? We are going to be, no, we are already, fast friends.'" "she really likes Kate" -- "Lily" "'Me?' says Lily. 'Well I'm nothing special.'" "she's nothing special" -- "IRS" "Lily says 'The what? I'm Canadian.'" "she's Canadian" -- "SEC" "Lily says, 'I don't know what that is.'" "she doesn't know" -- "Joe Marks" "Lily says, 'He's an interesting guy. And I'm so glad that through him I have met two lovely people -- you and Kate.'" "he's interesting" -- "Joe" "Lily says, 'He's an interesting guy. And I'm so glad that through him I have met two lovely people -- you and Kate.'" "he's interesting" -- "South Loop Club" "Lily says, 'What fun!'" "it is fun" -- "Canada" "'O Canada. What is there to say really?' says Lily." "she is from Canada" -- After saying hello to Lily: say "'Hello. So you are visiting from Canada?' Lily says, 'I am. And I'm having the most wonderful time. Meeting people, such friendly people. What a country. I want to run with the kids playing soccer in the park. I want to go to the top of the John Hancock. I want to get out into 'suburbs and see what they are like. All of it. Every last bit." Chapter -- Bar The Bar is a room. "Here's where they sell overpriced drinks, which you can't afford. You overhear a man saying he is buying a drink for the stupendous Canadian blonde and her friend. You think, hey, Kate is stupendous too. To the south is the main area of the South Loop Club." The Bar is north of the South Loop Club. The light-up surface is a supporter in the Bar. The light-up surface has the description "Snazzy" A coaster is on the light-up surface. The coaster has the description "A round coaster made of very heavy pressed paper. It has the South Loop Club logo in the middle." Instead of Drinking when player is in the Bar, say "You've got to pay for those beverages, and you are sore out of cash." Chapter -- Dance Floor The Dance Floor is a room. "As you head to the dance floor Lily squeals, 'Yes, great idea, Martin, let's dance!' Kate shares her enthusiasm and the two rush past you to the floor directly beneath the disco ball. Joe isn't what anyone would call excitable, but he follows the ladies, as do a half a dozen other men. They crowd you out and you find yourself dancing several layers of people away from Kate and Lily. You overhear one of the hangers-on say to another, 'She's incredible. I just want to dance closer to her.' 'Gorgeous,' you hear someone else shout over the music. What, you wonder to yourself, is the big deal about this Canadian? She's a cute enough girl, but you've known hundreds of Lily Deals in your life. The next song comes on -- must be the occasional retro track Joe warned you this DJ likes to throw in. If you listen you might better make out the lyrics. To the west is the main area of the South Loop Club." The Dance Floor is east of the South Loop Club. Music is in the Dance Floor. Music is undescribed. Understand "listen [something]" as listening to. Instead of listening to the music, say "'Take time for your pleasure; And laugh with love; Take the hand of another; And sing for the wings of a dove; Woah woah, for the wings of a dove; Woah woah, for the wings of a dove' Oh, that's good stuff." Instead of listening to the dance floor, say "'Take time for your pleasure; And laugh with love; Take the hand of another; And sing for the wings of a dove; Woah woah, for the wings of a dove; Woah woah, for the wings of a dove' Oh, that's good stuff." Instead of taking music, say "You'll have to buy that. $.99 on iTunes." [Instead of going from South Loop Club to Dance Floor when player does not carry COASTER: say "Maybe check out the bar to the north end of the club first, not that you can buy a drink or anything, but to get a sense of the place."] Instead of going from South Loop Club to Exit when player is not carrying coaster: say "Kate turns to you and says, ' You know, I would love a momento from this place for my scrapbook. Was there anything here you could go back and take for me? Just something small.'" Instead of giving coaster to Kate: say "Kate smiles and says, 'Would you carry it? Thanks.'" Instead of giving coaster to Joe: say "Joe looks confused and says 'Uh, no thanks.'" Chapter - Exit Exit is a room. "Lily says 'Everything this night has been too beautiful. And perhaps everything together will never be so right again. I want all my evenings to be like this. I wish I had something to remember it by. A token, something small I could keep with me always.' Kate looks knowingly at you. You think, oh geez, what is it I am supposed to be doing? Is there anything I've got that would do the trick?" After giving coaster to Lily: say "Lily is delighted and has you all sign your names on the coaster. She says she will carry it in her pockebook always. Then Lily says 'I have an idea. What are you doing for Memorial Day weekend? I've rented a house on the water for the summer in Lake Geneva. You all must come spend the weekend with me. What do you say Kate, you handsome woman? Kate replies 'How wonderful! You are awfully generous to invite us.' 'Joe?' 'Sure, let[']s go.' 'Martin?' If you opt to say 'Yes' to Lake Geneva, then go east with the gang so you can all get cracking on planning your upcoming trip. If you opt to say 'No thanks,' then leave the club by the sidewalk to the west." Instead of going from Exit to Wisconsin when player is carrying coaster: say "What have you got that Lily might like as a keepsake? Just something small." Instead of going from Exit to Say No Thanks when player is carrying coaster: say "What have you got that Lily might like as a keepsake? Just something small." Chapter -- Arrivals [To report arrival of someone from [place - a room] : say " " ] Larrival is a scene. Larrival begins when player is in South Loop Club. When Larrival begins: move Lily Deal to the location of the player. Every turn during Larrival: move Lily Deal to the location of the player; say " " Jarrival is a scene. Jarrival begins when player is in South Loop Club. When Jarrival begins: move Joe Marks to the location of the player. Every turn during Jarrival: move Joe Marks to the location of the player. Karrival is a scene. Karrival begins when player is in Joe's Place. When Karrival begins: move Kate to the location of the player; say " " Every turn during Karrival: move Kate to the location of the player; say " " Exit is south of the South Loop Club. Chapter -- Say No Thanks Say No Thanks is a room. "You're a free agent, Martin. No one can tell you what to do. Well, actually, they often can and do. But not today. You are putting a stake in the ground and refusing to go play with the rich kids and Kate on a quaint lake with a stellar beach house. It's your call and you've made it. So kudos to you. As a result of your actions, it is highly likely that you will mope around all weekend and then all summer by yourself, trying to feel morally superior and convince yourself of something though you are not really sure what. Just so you know, here's what ends up happening and how it all works out: Joe hooks up with and then quickly marries Lily, thus inheriting all her money when she dies on Columbus Day and paying off his debts. Kate's stepmother Vonda ultimately pushes Kate into a loveless marriage with a heavyset, babyfaced heir to a muffler and auto parts fortune. You run into her only once again, on a gray afternoon on the Metra District North Line train. Her flashing black eyes tell you: don't even think about sitting anywhere near me. You are pretty sure she means it." Say No Thanks is west of Exit. Nonstarter is a scene. Nonstarter begins when the player is in Say No Thanks for the first turn. When Nonstarter begins: end the game saying "A pigeon perched on a nearby fire hydrant gives you the hairy eyeball, uh, feathery eyeball, then spreads its wings and flies away. Squawk. [paragraph break] --End of Story--" Chapter -- Wisconsin Bound Wisconsin Bound is a room. "The four of you head to a hipster, all-night diner Joe knows about and plot the trip to Lake Geneva. It is decided that Lily and Kate will head up early, on Tuesday. Joe has commitments until Wednesday, when he will then drive up. You've got to teach the last lessons of 'Tale of Two Cities' and hand out report cards on the last day of school so you won't be able to join them until Friday.[paragraph break]When you arrive at the magnificent lake house Lily has procured, you are excited to get a little cuddle time in with Kate, but she quickly sidelines you saying she doesn't want the others to know you two have that kind of relationship. Then she keeps running off with Joe and leaving you with Lily, who's nice and all, but still. On Saturday, after the girls go into town to do a little shopping, Kate pulls you aside to tell you that Lily has a terminal illness and won't last the year. It comes up between the two of you that you might hit on Lily. [paragraph break]'You want me to seduce a dying girl?' you say. 'And you really think she'll just leave me all her money?' [paragraph break]Kate looks you square in the face, not rolling her eyes for once, and says, 'Yes.' When you press her on why, Kate says, 'Because I know her. I know how she loves.' [paragraph break]You agree to the plan, after making Kate promise her fidelity to you. Joe and Kate return to Chicago on Sunday, and because you don't have any summer classes to teach, you are able to stay in Lake Geneva with Lily for the summer. She grows on you, quite a bit actually. At the end of August, she is rather weak and she dismisses you from the lake house. You do have to get ready for school starting after all, so you return to Chicago. Lily dies on Labor Day. It surprises you, though it doesn't surprise Kate (she is always one step ahead, isn't she), when Lily leaves you a substantial chunk of money in her will. [paragraph break]Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, and for a host of complex reasons, you and Kate break up. Whether you actually do the breaking or she does is debatable, but the net result is that the two of you will never be as you were." Wisconsin Bound is east of Exit. Wrap for Now is a scene. Wrap for Now begins when Player is in Wisconsin Bound for the first turn. When Wrap for Now begins: end the game saying "A dove, perched on a nearby bench sees you with an unblinking eye. It takes flight, stretches out its wings and flies away, covering you. [paragraph break] --End of Story (for now)--" Chapter - The Summer House [not accessible until the crew sets off at invitation] Lake Geneva is a region. The Summer House is in Lake Geneva ["It had been agreed between them that lighted candles at wayside inns, in strange countries, amid mountain scenery, gave the evening meal a peculiar poetry such being the mild adventures, the refinements of impression, that they, as they would have said, went in for." Lily 'gratefully absorbin' an iced coffee. somewhere we need a piece of art lily resembles] [Merton Densher: You want me to seduce a dying girl? And you really think she'll just leave me all her money. Kate Croy: Yes. Merton Densher: Why? Kate Croy: Because I know her. I know how she loves.] [Understand "remember [text]" as remembering. Remembering is an action applying to one topic. Carry out remembering: say "Nothing comes to mind.". Instead of remembering a topic listed in the Table of Recollections: say "[response entry][paragraph break]". Table of Recollections Topic Response "LILY" "Stupendous. put some things in all caps. What else do you want to REMEMBER?." "rowboat" or "boat" "It's not as though you have any sort of light bulb in here to turn on, even if you could power it." "Kate" "Light bulbs, like so much else, are a thing of your past. Or is it your future? Tricky, the way the world loops round on itself." "death "Living backwards has its drawbacks. A tendency to confuse and annoy your friends, being one; the total inability to maintain a stable relationship; and a deep dissatisfaction with most of the bodily processes people enjoy, since they ultimately make you hungrier, colder, or-- no point dwelling on it, really." "joe" or "joe marks" "It's not even exactly *backwards*, now is it? It's more like a series of forwardses stuck back to back. As though someone had taken each track of a CD and put them in the exactly wrong order. You miss that. The music on demand."] [kate asks merton what do you remember most about Lily. Your mind races. You REMEMBER LILY.] [kate says, we will have to hold each other, spiriutally speaking, close] [you say to kate "Do you love me, love me, love me?] [doomed is .... players can be doomed or undoomed. players are usually undoomed say "Kate asks you, 'Were you in love with her? '"; if player consents, now Martin is doomed; otherwise say, "Kate says, 'Well, are you in love with her memory?'"; if player consents, now Martin is doomed; otherwise say "Kate says, 'I know you too well, Martin, you can't pull that on me. You are in love with her memory,'", now Martin is doomed; say paragraph break. ] [say "Kate asks you, 'Were you in love with her? '"; if player consents, say, "Kate says, 'I was afraid, so very afraid ,of that.'"; otherwise say, "Kate says, 'I believe you about that'"' say paragraph break. say "Kate asks, 'Are you now in love with her memory ?'"; if player consents, say, "Kate says, 'We shall never be as we were'"; otherwise say "Kate says, 'I know you too well, Martin, you can't pull that on me. You are in love with her memory. We shall never be as we were'"; say paragraph break. ]