Luke Jones

Section 10 - Backroom of Cash Converters

Backroom of Cash Converters is room.

The description of Backroom of Cash Converters is "[backroom_description]".

To say backroom_description:

If player is carrying Bumper Radio Times Christmas Special:

Say "A cramped back office, there is a single desk at which Bob Cratchit used to sit on a tall stool. Unlike the main shop, it's cold and draughty in here.";

Otherwise:

Say "A cramped back office, there is a single desk at which sits Bob Cratchit on a tall stool. Bob is hunched over an an ancient PC computer working on an Excel spreadsheet. Unlike the main shop, it's cold and draughty in here."

Backroom of Cash Converters is west of Cash Converters.

Instead of smelling Backroom of Cash Converters:

Say "It smells musty and damp."

Bob Cratchit is a person.

Description of Bob Cratchit is "A man his late thirties, with thinning dark hair and a warm smile. He is wearing a heavily worn cord jacket with leather elbow patches, faded blue jeans and an enormous scarf that touches the ground. "

Bob is wearing Bob's scarf.

Description of Bob's scarf is "An enormously long scarf, it is wrapped several times around Bob's neck and is still touching the floor. Looks like it was knitted from many different coloured scraps of wool."

Instead of taking Bob's Scarf:

Say "Bob is wearing it!"

Bob is wearing the jacket.

Description of Jacket is "Bob's brown cord jacket is heavily worn and has scuffed leather elbow patches."

Instead of taking Jacket:

Say "Bob is wearing it!".

Bob is wearing the jeans.

Description of Jeans is "Bob's denim jeans are faded to a very pale blue colour."

Instead of taking Jeans:

Say "Bob is wearing them!"

Instead of talking to Bob:

Say "'Merry Christmas!' says Bob."

The Tall stool is an enterable supporter.

The Tall stool is inside the Backroom of Cash Converters.

The Tall stool is scenery.

Bob is on the tall stool.

Instead of entering tall stool:

If Bob is on tall stool:

Say "Bob is sat on the tall stool!";

Otherwise:

Say "You sit down on Bob's stool. It's nice to have a quick rest, but it's not as comfy as your armchair at home.";

Now player is on tall stool.

a Unpaid computer is an object.

Printed name of unpaid computer is "Computer"

Unpaid computer is inside Backroom of Cash Converters.

Understand "PC" as Unpaid computer.

Description of unpaid computer is "An ancient looking PC with a CRT monitor. It is so old the original white plastic has discoloured to a nicotine yellow colour. On the screen is an open Excel spreadsheet."

Instead of taking Unpaid computer:

Say "It is far too heavy to carry around, and you don't need it."

a Paid computer is an object.

Printed name of paid computer is "Computer".

Understand "PC" as Paid computer.

Paid computer is nowhere.

Description of Paid computer is "An ancient looking PC with a CRT monitor. It is so old the original white plastic has discoloured to a nicotine yellow colour. On the screen is an open Excel spreadsheet."

Instead of taking paid computer:

Say "It is far too heavy to carry around, and you don't need it."

Typing is an action applying to one visible thing.

Understand "type on[any thing]" as typing.

Instead of typing unpaid computer:

Say "Bob says 'Sorry, I can let you do that, Scrooge will fire me!'"

Instead of typing paid computer:

Say "Probably best to leave it alone now Bob has altered the spreadsheet."

Instead of typing something:

Say "You cannot type on it!"

Unpaid spreadsheet is a scenery object.

Unpaid spreadsheet is inside Backroom of Cash Converters.

Printed name of unpaid spreadsheet is "Excel Spreadsheet".

Understand "Excel" as Unpaid spreadsheet.

Description of unpaid spreadsheet is "The spreadsheet is labelled [']pawned items['] . There is a list of names, items pawned, and in the last column [']loan Paid / Unpaid['] , Bob is inputting [']Unpaid['] into most of the rows."

Paid spreadsheet is a scenery object.

Paid spreadsheet is nowhere.

Printed name of paid spreadhseet is "Excel Spreadsheet".

Understand "Excel" as paid spreadsheet.

Description of paid spreadsheet is "The spreadsheet is labelled [']pawned items[']. There is a list of names, items pawned, and in the last column [']Loan Paid / Unpaid. The last column now has [']Paid['] in every row."

Monitor is a scenery object.

Understand "CRT" and "screen" as monitor.

Monitor is inside Backroom of Cash Converters.

Description of monitor is "An ancient behemoth of a computer monitor."

Instead of asking Bob about "computer":

If Bob is inside Workshop:

Say "Thank goodness I don't have to use that thing ever again!'";

Otherwise:

Say "'It's ridiculous! Yet another terrible aspect of this awful job. I keep telling Mr Scrooge that we need a new one, but he won't listen. No internet access and its running Windows 3.11 for goodness sake! Well mustn't grumble, at least it's not Vista, ha ha!' Bob sighs, 'I hate this job..'"

Instead of asking Bob about "PC":

If Bob is inside Workshop:

Say "Thank goodness I don't have to use that thing ever again!'";

Otherwise:

Instead of asking Bob about "spreadsheet":

If Bob is inside Workshop:

Say "'He He' says Bob. 'Old Scrooge will have a fit when he sees what I've done!'";

Otherwise:

Say "'My last task of Christmas Eve, helping Ebenezer take his pound of flesh from those poor folks. I hate this job.'"

Instead of asking Bob about "Excel":

If Bob is inside Workshop:

Say "'He He' says Bob. 'Old Scrooge will have a fit when he sees what I've done!'";

Otherwise:

Say "'My last task of Christmas Eve, helping Ebenezer take his pound of flesh from those poor folks. I hate this job.'"

Instead of asking Bob about "excel spreadsheet":

If Bob is inside Workshop:

Say "'He He' says Bob. 'Old Scrooge will have a fit when he sees what I've done!'";

Otherwise:

Say "

'My last task of Christmas Eve, helping Ebenezer take his pound of flesh from those poor folks. I hate this job.'"

Instead of asking Bob about "Ebenezer Scrooge":

If Bob is inside Workshop:

Say "'Thank you for releasing me from that miser's clutches!' says Bob. 'He'll never change for good.'";

Otherwise:

Say "Bob looks nervously around but sees that Scrooge is busy in the shop.

'That man stretches even my sunny outlook to breaking point, but a job's a job, I've got a family to support, although I barely can on these wages '

The smile on Bob face wavers for a second.

'He was taught a lesson a few years ago and we thought he had changed for good, but he just falls back into his old ways once the fear dies down.'"

Instead of asking Bob about "Scrooge":

If Bob is inside Workshop:

Say "'Thank you for releasing me from that miser's clutches!' says Bob. 'He'll never change for good.'";

Otherwise:

Say "Bob looks nervously around but sees that Scrooge is busy in the shop.

'That man stretches even my sunny outlook to breaking point, but a job's a job, I've got a family to support, although I barely can on these wages '

The smile on Bob face wavers for a second.

'He was taught a lesson a few years ago and we thought he had changed for good, but he just falls back into his old ways once the fear dies down.'"

Instead of asking Bob about "Ebenezer":

If Bob is inside Workshop:

Say "'Thank you for releasing me from that miser's clutches!' says Bob. 'He'll never change for good.'";

Otherwise:

Say "Bob looks nervously around but sees that Scrooge is busy in the shop.

'That man stretches even my sunny outlook to breaking point, but a job's a job, I've got a family to support, although I barely can on these wages '

The smile on Bob face wavers for a second.

'He was taught a lesson a few years ago and we thought he had changed for good, but he just falls back into his old ways once the fear dies down.'"

Instead of asking Bob about "Christmas":

If Bob is inside workshop:

Say "'This is going to be the best Christmas ever. I love my new job!'";

Otherwise:

Say "'It doesn't feel much like Christmas around here.' says Bob with a sigh."

Instead of asking Bob about "jokes":

If Bob is inside Workshop:

Say "'This is my dream job!, Listen to this one, [']Why does Santa have three gardens?[']......[']Cos he likes to ho, ho, ho!'";

Otherwise:

Say "'I love writing jokes, here's one for you, 'What do reindeers hang on their Christmas Trees?', 'Horn-aments!'"

Instead of asking Bob about "joke":

If Bob is inside Workshop:

Say "'This is my dream job!, Listen to this one, [']Why does Santa have three gardens?[']......[']Cos he likes to ho, ho, ho!'";

Otherwise:

Say "'I love writing jokes, here's one for you, 'What do reindeers hang on their Christmas Trees?', 'Horn-aments!'"

Instead of asking Bob about "Tiny Tim":

If Bob is inside Workshop:

Say "'Tim? My beloved son, he's got a much better outlook now I can feed him properly. Thank you.'";

Otherwise:

Say "'Tim? My beloved son, he's not doing too well at the moment, doesn't help that I can't afford to feed him properly.' Bob sniffs and clears his throat.'"

Instead of asking Bob about "Elves":

If Bob is inside Workshop:

Say "'I always wanted to work with elves, and now I am!' says Bob.";

Otherwise:

Say "Bob looks wistful, 'I've always wanted to work with Elves' he says."

Instead of giving poster to Bob:

If Bob is inside Workshop:

Say "'Thanks' says Bob. 'I'll keep that as a momento.'";

Otherwise:

Say "Bob takes the poster from you and reads it,

'By Santa's beard, this is just the job I've been looking for! I used to be a scriptwriter for 'Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps', that level of piss weak humour should stand me in good stead!'

I'm out of here, but first let's settle a few things. Bob types Paid into the first row of third column of the spreadsheet, copies and pastes into the entire column.

'Heh heh heh' chuckles Bob, 'old Scrooge will have a fit, and no way to recover the money!'

'How can I possibly repay you?''

You tell Bob about your shopping list. Bob grins mischievously,

'here take this, Scrooge sent me out to buy it for him, but I told him they had sold out..it's the small victories that keep you going'.

Bob hands you a copy of the Bumper Radio Times Christmas Special.

Bob dashes off to see the Chief Elf, telling Scrooge where he can stick his job, and wishes him and the rest of the people in the shop a 'Very Merry Christmas!' as he leaves.";

Now Bob is in the workshop;

Move Bumper Radio Times Special to player;

Now poster is nowhere;

Now unpaid computer is nowhere;

Now unpaid spreadsheet is nowhere;

Now paid computer is inside Backroom of Cash Converters;

Now paid spreadsheet is inside Backroom of Cash Converters;

Increase quest_count by 1.

Instead of telling Bob about "job":

If player is carrying Bumper Radio Times Special:

Say "

'Thanks for helping me out!' says Bob.'";

Otherwise:

Say "By Santa's beard, that sounds like just the job I've been looking for! I used to be a scriptwriter for 'Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps', that level of piss weak humour should stand me in good stead!'

I'm out of here, but first let's settle a few things. Bob types Paid into the first row of third column of the spreadsheet, copies and pastes into the entire column.

'Heh heh heh' chuckles Bob, 'old Scrooge will have a fit, and no way to recover the money!'

'How can I possibly repay you?'

You tell Bob about your shopping list. Bob grins mischievously,

'here take this, Scrooge sent me out to buy it for him, but I told him they had sold out..it's the small victories that keep you going'.

Bob hands you a copy of the Bumper Radio Times Christmas Special.

Bob dashes off to see the Chief Elf, telling Scrooge where he can stick his job, and wishes him and the rest of the people in the shop a 'Very Merry Christmas!' as he leaves.";

Now Bob is in the workshop;

Move Bumper Radio Times Special to player;

Now unpaid computer is nowhere;

Now unpaid spreadsheet is nowhere;

Now paid computer is inside Backroom of Cash Converters;

Now paid spreadsheet is inside Backroom of Cash Converters;

Increase quest_count by 1.

Instead of asking Bob about "Job":

If player is carrying bumper radio times special:

if busy elves are inside workshop:

Say "

'This job is great!' says Bob. 'Thanks so much for helping me out!'";

Else:

Say "'I'm excited about getting started in this new job, but the elves are still on strike!' says Bob. 'Can't you do something to cheer up the Chief Elf?'";

Else:

Say "

Bob looks around to check no one is listening and says 'I hate this job!'

'Not only is the pay lousy, I spend my days helping Scrooge inflict misery!'

Bob looks wretched."

A Christmas Game (Inform Port) — 11 of 15