It's 6:45 AM EST (the next morning)
Trinket, on her bike, quickly cuts across the
sleepy campus.
Leaping two steps at a time, Trinket rushes up
Leaping two steps at a time, Trinket rushes up
the marble steps to the library. As she reaches
the top, a SECURITY GUARD opens the door for
her, "Early bird catches the worm."
She smiles, "Hope so."
The library is dark and empty.
Trinket, all business, is seated in front of her computer,
scrolls down a page and then stops. She hurriedly types
in a code and then hits the return key.
Trinket stops. A little nervous, she glances around the dark
library. Trinket calms herself and turns back to the computer.
She types in another code and hits the return key -
Trinket stops. A little nervous, she glances around the dark
library. Trinket calms herself and turns back to the computer.
She types in another code and hits the return key -
Chicago: 6:11:00 AM - 11:11:00 GMT
Happy, Betty and Barney, all wearing sunglasses,
pick up their pace as they cross the empty street.
Barney yawns, "What time does Starbucks open?"
Betty stops and gives out an exaggerated sigh to
pick up their pace as they cross the empty street.
Barney yawns, "What time does Starbucks open?"
Betty stops and gives out an exaggerated sigh to
Barney, "You should never drink martinis."
Barney is groggy, "I want coffee and right now
Barney is groggy, "I want coffee and right now
I need to know what time Starbucks opens."
Happy jumps in, "They open at six. That is eleven
minutes ago."
"Thank you, Happy." Barney takes Betty's hand,
"Some of us just get snippy whenever we start a
new job."
Betty pulls her hand away, "I'm not snippy. It's just
Betty pulls her hand away, "I'm not snippy. It's just
that this is, obviously, not a great time to be taking
on a big, complicated project. We are re-doing their
entire website!"
Barney smiles, "Coffee."
The three enter Starbucks.
Barney smiles, "Coffee."
The three enter Starbucks.
Addison nods "good morning"
to the Hotel Doorman as he
walks out onto Broadway.
He walks about a block and stops at his
usual newstand and buys the Times & the
Post. He opens his briefcase and places
the newspapers on top of the manila
envelope.
Addison steps off the curb without
looking - A taxi HONKS - The driver
sticks his head out, "You trying to kill
yourself, bud?"
Addison ignores the taxi driver and
hurries onto Times Square Island
at 44th Street.
Addison ignores the taxi driver and
hurries onto Times Square Island
at 44th Street.
the library is now open
Trinket is banging
away at her
computer.
"Ding-ding."
Trinket does not
look up.
"Ding-ding."
Trinket, still not
looking up, replies,
"Ding-dong, what is it?"
"Not Ding-dong. Ding-ding.
Ding-ding is my hotel bell imitation."
Trinket looks up.
Ted waves, "It's me. Ted. Early shift?"
"I know why I'm here at 7:30.
Why are you here, Ted?"
Ted figets, "Homework-- I mean finals.
I'm slammed. I've got an English Lit. test."
Trinket glances down at her computer
screen.
away at her
computer.
"Ding-ding."
Trinket does not
look up.
"Ding-ding."
Trinket, still not
looking up, replies,
"Ding-dong, what is it?"
"Not Ding-dong. Ding-ding.
Ding-ding is my hotel bell imitation."
Trinket looks up.
Ted waves, "It's me. Ted. Early shift?"
"I know why I'm here at 7:30.
Why are you here, Ted?"
Ted figets, "Homework-- I mean finals.
I'm slammed. I've got an English Lit. test."
Trinket glances down at her computer
screen.
"Thank you, Ted."
Trinket looks up from her computer,
"You're good with computers, aren't
you, Ted?"
Ted can't help but smile, "Some say so."
Trinket scribbles on a note paper. She
gets to her feet, walks over and places the
note on the counter, "I want to trace someone
Ted can't help but smile, "Some say so."
Trinket scribbles on a note paper. She
gets to her feet, walks over and places the
note on the counter, "I want to trace someone
from an IRC chat. Doable?"
"For the C.I.A."
Trinket's impatient, "Can you trace it?"
"Maybe."
"Why 'maybe', Ted?"
"It might help my thought process if I
knew your name." He tags on his best
charming smile.
Trinket leans across the counter and
puts her lips to his ear, "Trinket."
Ted's happy, "Okay, Trinket, what is it
that you want to know about this," he
reads the note, "lurker@397.res.rr.com
"For the C.I.A."
Trinket's impatient, "Can you trace it?"
"Maybe."
"Why 'maybe', Ted?"
"It might help my thought process if I
knew your name." He tags on his best
charming smile.
Trinket leans across the counter and
puts her lips to his ear, "Trinket."
Ted's happy, "Okay, Trinket, what is it
that you want to know about this," he
reads the note, "lurker@397.res.rr.com
from the Sammeee IRC chat room?"
"Name, if possible, and or street address."
"I will do my best."
"Thank you, Ted."
"Should I call you --"
Trinket interrupts him, "You can call me
tonight at this number. But don't call until
after 8."
The librarian "Shhh's" them.
Ted apologizes softly, "Sorry, Ma'am."
Trinket writes down her number,
"You're very polite, Ted."
"I try."
She hands the number to him.
He smiles and whispers, "I'll call you tonight,
after eight, or I'll come by here if I find it right
away."
"Thanks, Ted."
He bows, "At your service, Miss Trinket".
Trinket smirks, "Funny. I like funny."
Trinket turns around and heads back to
"Name, if possible, and or street address."
"I will do my best."
"Thank you, Ted."
"Should I call you --"
Trinket interrupts him, "You can call me
tonight at this number. But don't call until
after 8."
The librarian "Shhh's" them.
Ted apologizes softly, "Sorry, Ma'am."
Trinket writes down her number,
"You're very polite, Ted."
"I try."
She hands the number to him.
He smiles and whispers, "I'll call you tonight,
after eight, or I'll come by here if I find it right
away."
"Thanks, Ted."
He bows, "At your service, Miss Trinket".
Trinket smirks, "Funny. I like funny."
Trinket turns around and heads back to
her computer.
one of the 87 Starbucks in Chicago
A BARISTA shouts out, "Double
Tall Latte!"
Happy winces and grabs her drink from
the counter.
Betty pours sugar into her black
coffee and stirs.
Happy takes a corner seat with Betty and Barney.
Betty sips and then, "Let's review. We know our
Ordinary Man, Peeps, is trying to get to someplace
safe. Presumedly on foot. Our clues tell us he will
soon be arriving at or near the All Saints Church in
Chelmsford, Massachusetts. Today, we must get the
key and find out what the key opens. And we, (Betty
does a scary voice) BETTER BE QUICK - DEAD
Tall Latte!"
Happy winces and grabs her drink from
the counter.
Betty pours sugar into her black
coffee and stirs.
Happy takes a corner seat with Betty and Barney.
Betty sips and then, "Let's review. We know our
Ordinary Man, Peeps, is trying to get to someplace
safe. Presumedly on foot. Our clues tell us he will
soon be arriving at or near the All Saints Church in
Chelmsford, Massachusetts. Today, we must get the
key and find out what the key opens. And we, (Betty
does a scary voice) BETTER BE QUICK - DEAD
MEN TELL NO LIES."
Happy and Barney both nod.
Happy and Barney both nod.
And Barney adds, "Actually
he said DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES."
Betty continues,"Whatever. Happy, I want you to work
with Dwin to find out if these "Otis" guys are IG or not."
Happy nods, "I'm sorry but I don't remember what
IG is."
Barney, who is sniffing his coffee, gives her the
definition, "In-Game. IG is 'in-game' and OOG is
'out of game'."
Happy nods again, "Got it. So where should I start?"
Betty leans in and speaks in a hushed tone, "Dig
up whatever you can on the company, check their
history, check out all company websites, and get
a list of subsidiaries."
"Can I find that on my computer?"
Betty pats Happy's hand, "Assign the subsidiaries to
Dwin. Oh, aand don't bring up the Tall Man. I pray
he said DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES."
Betty continues,"Whatever. Happy, I want you to work
with Dwin to find out if these "Otis" guys are IG or not."
Happy nods, "I'm sorry but I don't remember what
IG is."
Barney, who is sniffing his coffee, gives her the
definition, "In-Game. IG is 'in-game' and OOG is
'out of game'."
Happy nods again, "Got it. So where should I start?"
Betty leans in and speaks in a hushed tone, "Dig
up whatever you can on the company, check their
history, check out all company websites, and get
a list of subsidiaries."
"Can I find that on my computer?"
Betty pats Happy's hand, "Assign the subsidiaries to
Dwin. Oh, aand don't bring up the Tall Man. I pray
that little Dwin will let that bizarro daddy fantasy go."
Happy stirs her latte, "What about the key?"
Betty puts her coffee down on the table, "Trinket
says she'll find our lurker and get the key. Honestly,
I don't know how."
"Maybe she's a hacker," adds Barney.
Betty laughs, "Hacker is so 90's, sweetie."
Happy shakes her head, "I loved the 90's but
Happy stirs her latte, "What about the key?"
Betty puts her coffee down on the table, "Trinket
says she'll find our lurker and get the key. Honestly,
I don't know how."
"Maybe she's a hacker," adds Barney.
Betty laughs, "Hacker is so 90's, sweetie."
Happy shakes her head, "I loved the 90's but
I hated the 80's. Hated the hair, the clothes, the
music."
Barney's jaw drops, "You cannot hate New Wave."
Happy laughs, "You were not even born when I was suffering
through my New Wave hair homage to Flock of Seagulls.
I have elementary school class photos featuring me,
dead center, with the infamous Bird-Do."
They all laugh.
Barney leans in close, "Maybe Happy and Dwin should
keep an eye on the chat room? Our lurker may return."
"Good idea, sweetie."
Happy looks nervous, "What do I do if the lurker does
return?"
Betty hands her a card, "Call my cell immediately and we'll
deal with it."
Barney checks the time, "We better bolt. Your bus is in
twenty minutes."
"Good idea, sweetie."
Happy looks nervous, "What do I do if the lurker does
return?"
Betty hands her a card, "Call my cell immediately and we'll
deal with it."
Barney checks the time, "We better bolt. Your bus is in
twenty minutes."
The elevator door opens
and Ann emerges with a
box of Dunkin Donuts.
The receptionist, busy on the phone,
waves for Ann to come hither.
Ann stops at the receptionist's desk and opens
the box of donuts, "Take one before I put them
in the kitchen and the Art Crew, per usual,
devours them."
The receptionist puts her hand over the mouth
piece of her head set and whispers, "Thanks, hon.
And you know who wants you in his office pronto."
Ann rolls her eyes, "Did he say "pronto"?
The receptionist nods, "Fraid so."
"He's an insane roller coaster." Ann sighs.
The receptionist grabs the only bavarian cream,
"Good luck."
Ann exits down the hallway with the box of Dunkin
Donuts.
Ann stops at the receptionist's desk and opens
the box of donuts, "Take one before I put them
in the kitchen and the Art Crew, per usual,
devours them."
The receptionist puts her hand over the mouth
piece of her head set and whispers, "Thanks, hon.
And you know who wants you in his office pronto."
Ann rolls her eyes, "Did he say "pronto"?
The receptionist nods, "Fraid so."
"He's an insane roller coaster." Ann sighs.
The receptionist grabs the only bavarian cream,
"Good luck."
Ann exits down the hallway with the box of Dunkin
Donuts.
the little pink card
The little pink card,
the tarot cards, the
"boo" note, the manila
envelope, and the key are
laid out on Addison's desk.
Ann leans over
the objects and
inspects them.
She turns the little pink card
over and reads, "Ten numbers
Ann leans over
the objects and
inspects them.
She turns the little pink card
over and reads, "Ten numbers
in the sequence." She stops.
Addison looks over her shoulder,
"What is it?"
"It's a phone number. I'm sure it is some
Addison looks over her shoulder,
"What is it?"
"It's a phone number. I'm sure it is some
marketing company. The spazzo marketing
gurus have flipped from being branding spazzos
to being ARG spazzos, practically overnight.
Everybody's got an Alternate Reality Game."
"But it feels so personal. Like they have
designed the game specifically to me."
"That's their job. That's why their clients
pay them money."
Addison's face becomes dead serious, "Okay..
but they also sent a messenger by the other
night, that found me out on the street, and
called me by my name, told me to PROVE
Everybody's got an Alternate Reality Game."
"But it feels so personal. Like they have
designed the game specifically to me."
"That's their job. That's why their clients
pay them money."
Addison's face becomes dead serious, "Okay..
but they also sent a messenger by the other
night, that found me out on the street, and
called me by my name, told me to PROVE
MY WORTH and then disappeared into the
crowds with a singing Nun."
Ann smiles, "A singing Nun?"
"Weird right?"
"Nah. Singing Nuns are everywhere. And the info,"
she shrugs it off, "anyone can know anything
about anyone. Let it ride."
"They also called me last night. Here in the
office. It was really late. They knew I was here."
"What did they say?"
"It was a strange, creepy voice and they
said something about "things are worse than ever -
and being small - and about falling into the sea
of tears." Addison closes his eyes, "And then I
realized it was some quote from Alice in Wonder-
land."
Ann smiles, "A singing Nun?"
"Weird right?"
"Nah. Singing Nuns are everywhere. And the info,"
she shrugs it off, "anyone can know anything
about anyone. Let it ride."
"They also called me last night. Here in the
office. It was really late. They knew I was here."
"What did they say?"
"It was a strange, creepy voice and they
said something about "things are worse than ever -
and being small - and about falling into the sea
of tears." Addison closes his eyes, "And then I
realized it was some quote from Alice in Wonder-
land."
"Why are you closing your eyes?"
Addison quickly opens them, "Thinking."
"First of all, Alice in Wonderland is grossly over
"First of all, Alice in Wonderland is grossly over
used by these game designers."
Addison looks out the window, "The creepy
voice ended by saying, YOU HOLD THE KEY,
ADDISON."
Ann's fascinated, "Wonder why they're picking
Addison looks out the window, "The creepy
voice ended by saying, YOU HOLD THE KEY,
ADDISON."
Ann's fascinated, "Wonder why they're picking
you to hold the key? Did the creepy voice say
anything else?"
Addison shakes his head, "Nothing. The line
went dead."
Ann picks up the key, "Well, you do have the key."
Addison sighs, "But what does it go to?"
"Maybe you should call the number and find out
what the game's all about."
Addison is too quiet.
Ann sighs, "Oh, I get it. You want me to do it
for you."
"I called the number once but when it beeped,
Addison shakes his head, "Nothing. The line
went dead."
Ann picks up the key, "Well, you do have the key."
Addison sighs, "But what does it go to?"
"Maybe you should call the number and find out
what the game's all about."
Addison is too quiet.
Ann sighs, "Oh, I get it. You want me to do it
for you."
"I called the number once but when it beeped,
I hung up the phone. You are much better at this--"
Ann holds up her hand, "Save it. I'll do it, but I'm
only trolling for you. You must play."
"We'll see."
Ann picks up the cards and the key.
Addison relieved, sits down at his desk, "Hey, how
did it go with the police?"
Ann places the game paraphernalia into the manila
envelope, "They're keeping my crazee-hot-VAN GUY pic
but said unless there are some serious prints or DNA
on the picture, they can't do anything. And even
then, he'd have to be registered with some prior
offense to even be in the system."
Ann holds up her hand, "Save it. I'll do it, but I'm
only trolling for you. You must play."
"We'll see."
Ann picks up the cards and the key.
Addison relieved, sits down at his desk, "Hey, how
did it go with the police?"
Ann places the game paraphernalia into the manila
envelope, "They're keeping my crazee-hot-VAN GUY pic
but said unless there are some serious prints or DNA
on the picture, they can't do anything. And even
then, he'd have to be registered with some prior
offense to even be in the system."
"Try the door again."
Barney and Betty are sitting on the gray
carpeting of a very long, very sterile
carpeting of a very long, very sterile
hallway.
Barney sighs, "Try the door again."
Betty kicks her shoe up against the handle,
Barney sighs, "Try the door again."
Betty kicks her shoe up against the handle,
"Ten more minutes under these flourescent
lights and we're out of here or I kill myself!"
Barney watches Betty try to calm herself down,
"I love this side of you."
Betty leans her head on his shoulder, "This was
a big waste of time."
Barney turns her head and kisses her, "Sorry.
I thought this sounded like an easy gig."
Betty kisses him back.., "It isn't your fault,
sweetie."
Barney turns her head and kisses her again.
Almost immediately, things heat up and the
Betty and Barney spontaneous "love session"
becomes quite inappropriate - for any office
hallway.
The door handle turns slowly.
Betty rolls Barney over onto his back, "This is
hot."
Barney giggles, "It's these flourescent lights."
The door slowly opens a crack. SOMEONE peers
Barney watches Betty try to calm herself down,
"I love this side of you."
Betty leans her head on his shoulder, "This was
a big waste of time."
Barney turns her head and kisses her, "Sorry.
I thought this sounded like an easy gig."
Betty kisses him back.., "It isn't your fault,
sweetie."
Barney turns her head and kisses her again.
Almost immediately, things heat up and the
Betty and Barney spontaneous "love session"
becomes quite inappropriate - for any office
hallway.
The door handle turns slowly.
Betty rolls Barney over onto his back, "This is
hot."
Barney giggles, "It's these flourescent lights."
The door slowly opens a crack. SOMEONE peers
out the crack and quietly watches Betty and Barney
rolling around on the gray carpet.
rolling around on the gray carpet.
The greyhound hits a HUGE bump.
Happy Rogers is so sound asleep,
that when her head bounces from
her right shoulder over to her left,
she doesn't stir.
Her mouth falls open.
Happy's now snoring and drooling and
heading home.
that when her head bounces from
her right shoulder over to her left,
she doesn't stir.
Her mouth falls open.
Happy's now snoring and drooling and
heading home.
"Ewww. That was weird."
Ted walks up to the library's front counter,
"Ding-ding".
Trinket looks up, "No way. That was way too
incredibly fast."
"I agree," Ted signals Trinket to come over to
the counter.
Trinket is up and there.
Ted is hushed, "Listen to this. I was upstairs, on
my computer, hunting through IRC's chat logs,
and some wierd guy, in a blue sweatshirt jacket,
whispers to me from the encyclopedia aisle, "Go
to IRC via Wikpedia's Carlos Ruiz link."
"You are making this up."
"I swear to God, I'm not! So, I do it and I'm in.
Way in. I'm into IRC's site so deep I could pull up
security codes. Anyhoo, I found some extra stuff
"Ding-ding".
Trinket looks up, "No way. That was way too
incredibly fast."
"I agree," Ted signals Trinket to come over to
the counter.
Trinket is up and there.
Ted is hushed, "Listen to this. I was upstairs, on
my computer, hunting through IRC's chat logs,
and some wierd guy, in a blue sweatshirt jacket,
whispers to me from the encyclopedia aisle, "Go
to IRC via Wikpedia's Carlos Ruiz link."
"You are making this up."
"I swear to God, I'm not! So, I do it and I'm in.
Way in. I'm into IRC's site so deep I could pull up
security codes. Anyhoo, I found some extra stuff
only about you and the others in your Sammeee
chat. This is stuff you don't even enter to use IRC.
Everyone's addresses, their last names and birthdays.
Sorry, I just missed yours. Happy Belated." he slides the
IRC notes to Trinket.
Stunned, Trinket looks it over, "This is so amazing.
Our lurker's last name is," she reads, "Parker and
he lives at 303 Central Park West in New York City.
Stunned, Trinket looks it over, "This is so amazing.
Our lurker's last name is," she reads, "Parker and
he lives at 303 Central Park West in New York City.
Any phone number?"
"No phone numbers. And, get this, all this info was
inserted after your chat, and not by this person,
Parker. The info came from somebody at a company
called Otis Elevator. Here's that address. I ran it and
this division of the company is in Luxembourg."
Trinket looks at the addie, "This is crazy."
"I agree. Somebody is spending some cash on this
game. Plus, when I tried to return to check something
"No phone numbers. And, get this, all this info was
inserted after your chat, and not by this person,
Parker. The info came from somebody at a company
called Otis Elevator. Here's that address. I ran it and
this division of the company is in Luxembourg."
Trinket looks at the addie, "This is crazy."
"I agree. Somebody is spending some cash on this
game. Plus, when I tried to return to check something
else, it was all suddenly gone. And the Wikipedia
Carlos Ruiz link was gone as well."
"Run back upstairs and ask that guy what Wikpedia
link will get us into the Otis Company Website."
The both LAUGH.
Ted spots the guy in the blue sweatshirt coming
down the stairs, "Don't look now but that's him."
Trinket looks now.
Trinket watches as the GUY IN THE BLUE
SWEATSHIRT breezes by security's bag check. The
guy's head turns and he looks directly at Trinket.
He winks and exits out the revolving door.
Trinket looks at Ted, "Ewww. That was weird."
"Run back upstairs and ask that guy what Wikpedia
link will get us into the Otis Company Website."
The both LAUGH.
Ted spots the guy in the blue sweatshirt coming
down the stairs, "Don't look now but that's him."
Trinket looks now.
Trinket watches as the GUY IN THE BLUE
SWEATSHIRT breezes by security's bag check. The
guy's head turns and he looks directly at Trinket.
He winks and exits out the revolving door.
Trinket looks at Ted, "Ewww. That was weird."