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."