Ballyhoo Transcript

[Map of 5 rooms that can be reconstructed from the transcript]

Every summer the circus comes to town; and every year, you and all your neighbors line the streets to watch the animals parade from the railroad station to the big field on the hill. Many of the performers in the circus also line the streets - acrobats, magicians, musicians, jugglers, and clowns - to entertain the crowds before the parade. Usually, the sideshows are better than the main event.

By the Grinder

You're awaiting the parade of the circus here on sunny Park Street, which runs north and south. A thick hedge to the east runs parallel to the street. People line the street as far as you can see in both directions. North of here you can see strange objects being tossed into the air sporadically; south of here you can hear "oohs" and "aahs" of a tighter crowd.

In front of you is an unshaven organ-grinder, looking hot, bored, and weary. Strapped to him is a hand organ, a black-and-yellow box with a crank. On top of the organ is a little gray monkey, dressed in a red-and-gold vest and wearing a fez.

>PET THE MONKEY

The monkey jumps onto the organ-grinder's head, out of your reach.

>MONKEY, DANCE

The monkey yawns and ignores you.

>TURN THE CRANK

The organ-grinder steps back away from you. "No performance without a ticket," he grumbles.

>INVENTORY

You are carrying a circus ticket.

>EXAMINE TICKET

You see nothing interesting about the ticket.

>GO NORTH

By the Juggler

You're still awaiting the parade of the circus here on Park Street, which continues north and south. A thick hedge to the east runs parallel to Park Street.

In front of you is a young, dark-haired man juggling a broken plate, a lacrosse ball, a cracked candlepin, and a chopstick.

>APPLAUD

The juggler bows, dropping everything. The candlepin lands squarely on your foot.

>PICK UP THE CANDLEPIN THEN GIVE IT TO THE JUGGLER

candlepin: Taken.

candlepin: "Thanks," says the embarrassed juggler, taking the candlepin. He starts to juggle again but soon drops everything.

>GO SOUTH

By the Grinder

The organ-grinder and his monkey are here.

The monkey is on its knees, arms outstretched, basking in the applause of a small crowd. "That was great," you hear someone say. "The best act on the street." The people disperse, talking appreciatively about the monkey's act.

>GIVE MY TICKET TO THE MONKEY

You give the ticket to the monkey, who sniffs the ticket, lets out a yawn, and tosses it into the air. The ticket sails over the hedge to the east and disappears. "You should've given the ticket to me," says the organ-grinder sadly.

>ORGAN-GRINDER, FIND MY TICKEY

[I don't know the word 'tickey'.]

>OOPS TICKET

"Find it yourself."

>EAST

There's a hedge in the way!

>SOUTH

You can't go in that direction. There are too many people crowded around a performer.

>N

By the Juggler

The juggler is here, dropping things.

>E

There's a hedge in the way!

>GO NORTH

By the Magician

Park Street continues north and south here. A thick hedge to the east runs parallel to Park Street.

A woman wearing a black top hat and a tuxedo is here. She is waving colorful handkerchiefs around, which turn into flowers, and then turn back into handkerchiefs.

>EAST

There's a hedge in the way!

>CLIMB OVER THE HEDGE

Its branches are too little and prickly to climb.

>CRAWL UNDER THE HEDGE

You smell the dirt in your face and feel the thorns on your back as you crawl under the hedge and find yourself...

In the Park, Near Trees

You're in a large, sunny park, nearly empty since most people are awaiting the parade of the circus on Park Street. An apple tree and an elm tree stand nearby.

A large dog comes bounding up to you, tail wagging. It has something in its mouth.

>LOOK AT THE DOG

This is a very large dog, a cross (you'd guess) between a Great Dane and a German shephard. It has your ticket in its mouth.

The dog runs around you playfully.

>TAKE THE TICKET FROM THE DOG

The dog, enjoying the game of tug-of-war, holds onto the ticket tightly.

>EXAMINE THE TREE

(Which tree do you mean, the apple tree or the elm tree?)

>APPLE

The tree already contains good-sized apples, even though apple season is weeks away.

>PICK AN APPLE

apple: Picked.

>SHOW THE APPLE TO THE DOG

The dog isn't interested.

>THROW THE APPLE

The dog briefly considers chasing the apple, which bounces away, then decides not to. It runs around you playfully.

>PICK AN APPLE

apple: Picked

>W

You crawl under the hedge and find yourself...

By the Magician

A woman wearing a black top hat and a tuxedo is here.

>ASK THE MAGICIAN ABOUT THE DOG

The woman ignores you.

>SOUTH.

The juggler is here, juggling.

>WAIT

Time passes...

The juggler drops everything. The lacrosse ball lands squarely on your foot.

>TAKE THE LACROSSE BALL AND THE CHOPSTICK

lacrosse ball: Taken.
chopstick: Taken.

>JUGGLER, TELL ME ABOUT THE DOG

"You mean the big dog in the park? I don't know much about him, other than he's friendly and likes to fetch sticks."

>GIVE THE LACROSSE BALL AND THE APPLE TO THE JUGGLER

lacrosse ball: "Thanks," says the embarrassed juggler, taking the lacrosse ball.

apple: "Hey, thanks! Keep the chopstick!" He starts juggling the apple, the lacrosse ball, the broken plate, and the cracked candlepin.

>I

You are carrying a chopstick.

>CRAWL UNDER THE HEDGE

You crawl under the hedge and find yourself...

In the Park, South of Trees

You're in a large sunny park. North of here, you see an apple tree and an elm tree.

The large dog comes bounding up to you, tail wagging. It has something in its mouth.

>SHOW THE CHOPSTICK TO THE DOG

The dog looks excitedly at the stick, and starts jumping for it.

>THROW THE CHOPSTICK

You heave the chopstick as far as you can. The dog drops the ticket and bounds happily after the stick.

>TAKE THE TICKET

ticket: Taken.

>W

You crawl under the hedge and find youself...

By the Juggler

The juggler is here, juggling.

>SOUTH

By the Grinder

The organ-grinder and his monkey are here.

>GIVE THE TICKET TO THE ORGAN-GRINDER

The organ-grinder smiles broadly as he takes your ticket and punches it. "Thank you, sir," he says pleasantly. He cranks his organ, and despite the tinny sound, the monkey performs a memorable interpretive dance, reminiscent of Gene Kelly in "An American in Paris". Indeed, the best act on the street.