the Tall Man
Dwin, Higgs and the Dodger
Fanatic are standing at the
base of a ladder.
Higgs checks out the ladder,
"This doesn't look safe."
"Don't worry about it. You
will not be going up," says
the Dodger Fanatic as she
Fanatic are standing at the
base of a ladder.
Higgs checks out the ladder,
"This doesn't look safe."
"Don't worry about it. You
will not be going up," says
the Dodger Fanatic as she
checks the time and her GPS
unit. "We should be making
contact any moment now."
Higgs leans against the rock cliff.
unit. "We should be making
contact any moment now."
Higgs leans against the rock cliff.
A VOICE from above, "Will you take a walk with me, Dwin?"
All three look up.
A TALL MAN is standing at the top of the ladder.
He motions for Dwin to come to him.
Higgs butts in, "This ladder is a piece of crap."
Dodger Fanatic holds her hand up to Higgs,
Higgs butts in, "This ladder is a piece of crap."
Dodger Fanatic holds her hand up to Higgs,
"You, stop with all the negatives. Dwin, go.
Don't worry. You will be fine."
Dwin heads up the ladder. Higgs
stands below ready to catch him.
Higgs watches as Dwin reaches the
top and disappears with the man.
"You're sure this guy is okay?"
"Where is your faith, Higgs?"
Dwin and the Tall Man walk out to a
small plateau that looks out over
the sometimes beautiful world.
The Tall Man begins, "The Ordinary Man
is in more trouble than you know, Dwin.
He is not safe in the land of Spoocheee."
"Why?"
"All will be revealed when it is time."
"Can you tell me where Peeps is?"
"He is moving fast."
"But where is he going?"
"September 23rd, 1994 at 23:00:10."
"Dwin is confused, "What?"
"I remember. Do you remember?"
The Tall Man reaches down and takes Dwin's
hand and holds it. Dwin doesn't flinch. The Tall
Man, still holding his hand, kicks a stone.
Together, they watch the stone tumble down
to the cliff below.
He looks at Dwin, "Do you remember?"
Dwin is shaken but nods a quick "yes".
They walk back to the ladder.
The Tall Man waits at the top of the
ladder while Dwin descends.
The Dodger Fanatic starts out of the pass,
Dwin heads up the ladder. Higgs
stands below ready to catch him.
Higgs watches as Dwin reaches the
top and disappears with the man.
"You're sure this guy is okay?"
"Where is your faith, Higgs?"
Dwin and the Tall Man walk out to a
small plateau that looks out over
the sometimes beautiful world.
The Tall Man begins, "The Ordinary Man
is in more trouble than you know, Dwin.
He is not safe in the land of Spoocheee."
"Why?"
"All will be revealed when it is time."
"Can you tell me where Peeps is?"
"He is moving fast."
"But where is he going?"
"September 23rd, 1994 at 23:00:10."
"Dwin is confused, "What?"
"I remember. Do you remember?"
The Tall Man reaches down and takes Dwin's
hand and holds it. Dwin doesn't flinch. The Tall
Man, still holding his hand, kicks a stone.
Together, they watch the stone tumble down
to the cliff below.
He looks at Dwin, "Do you remember?"
Dwin is shaken but nods a quick "yes".
They walk back to the ladder.
The Tall Man waits at the top of the
ladder while Dwin descends.
The Dodger Fanatic starts out of the pass,
"Keep up, it's getting dark fast."
Dwin and Higgs scamper after her.
"Did you get the alphabet?"
"No. He told me where we can
find Peeps."
"Where?"
"September 23rd, 1994 at 23:00:10."
"Back in time? I hope this ARG isn't some
run of the mill time warp sci-fi. I hate that
crap."
Higgs picks up his pace.
Dwin keeps up.
"You're a good boy!" The Tall Man's
"Did you get the alphabet?"
"No. He told me where we can
find Peeps."
"Where?"
"September 23rd, 1994 at 23:00:10."
"Back in time? I hope this ARG isn't some
run of the mill time warp sci-fi. I hate that
crap."
Higgs picks up his pace.
Dwin keeps up.
"You're a good boy!" The Tall Man's
voice echoes through the canyon.
Dwin stops and turns around.
The Tall Man is gone.
Dodger Fanatic yells, "Dwin, get moving!"
The three hike out of the canyon.
Dodger Fanatic yells, "Dwin, get moving!"
The three hike out of the canyon.
Her white truck buzzes toward L.A.
They drive back to Los Angeles without
saying a word to each other.The white truck stops next to Higgs'
Prius, which is sitting alone in
the Dodger's parking lot.
Higgs hops out, "Thanks for the ride
and the interesting company, whoever
you are."
Dodger Fanatic grabs Dwin's arm
as he's getting out, "If you ever need
anything, call me." She hands him a
card with a phone number.
Dwin sticks the card in his back pocket,
"Thank you."
The Dodger Fanatic BEEPS, waves and the
white truck drives away.
"That was weird. Huh, Dwin?"
Dwin seems out of it, "Yeah."
"You okay?"
"Yeah."
"Are your parents going to freak about
you getting home so late?"
Dwin stops, "My parents?"
Higgs knocks on the roof of his car,
"Earth to Dwin. It is late to be getting
home from school. You skipped school."
"They'll be fine. I told them I was having
dinner and studying with a friend."
"Good man, covering your ass like that.
Can you post what happened? Because
I've got a ton of work that I blew off
today. Betty and Barney are going to so
dig this."
Dwin nods, "Yeah, I will post."
"That was weird. Huh, Dwin?"
Dwin seems out of it, "Yeah."
"You okay?"
"Yeah."
"Are your parents going to freak about
you getting home so late?"
Dwin stops, "My parents?"
Higgs knocks on the roof of his car,
"Earth to Dwin. It is late to be getting
home from school. You skipped school."
"They'll be fine. I told them I was having
dinner and studying with a friend."
"Good man, covering your ass like that.
Can you post what happened? Because
I've got a ton of work that I blew off
today. Betty and Barney are going to so
dig this."
Dwin nods, "Yeah, I will post."
"These were on the office wall."
Happy looks at the image of the man on
the computer screen, "I didn't even
notice them."
"You couldn't have seen them. They
were on the left wall and you didn't come
the computer screen, "I didn't even
notice them."
"You couldn't have seen them. They
were on the left wall and you didn't come
all the way into the office. Who knows
if they're game related, but we took a few
digitals of them all just in case." Barney
clicks to the next photo.
Happy examines the man's round face,
"They are corporate portraits."
Barney agrees, "Exactly. Our spec is
both these guys are Otis Vice Presidents."
Betty brings another round of drinks,
"That one is my favorite. He screams
fat capitalist, right?"
Happy takes a sip and then, "Who is Otis?"
"Otis Elevators. We think. One of us
can research it and see if it seems in
game or not." Barney opens the next
photo.
"That one is my favorite. He screams
fat capitalist, right?"
Happy takes a sip and then, "Who is Otis?"
"Otis Elevators. We think. One of us
can research it and see if it seems in
game or not." Barney opens the next
photo.
"He seems so in game."
Barney enlarges the image, "I don't know if it's his clothes
or the setting but it is so odd that I can't imagine this man
is from the real world."
Happy squints to read the fine print, "He's the President of Otis."
Betty checks one of the laptops, "Dwin's in chat!" Betty
types and speaks, "Hey, Dwin, how's the reading going?"
Betty reads out loud, "Not much reading going on.
Higgs and I went out to the desert with a guide that
took us to the other world to meet the Tall Man."
"He met Higgs?", ask Barney.
Betty "shhh's" Barney as she types quickly and then reads,
"They hooked up at the Holiday Villa, where Dwin was
reading Paradise Lost to the senior citizens."
Happy laughs, "That is hilarious."
Barney agrees, "You gotta love this Puppet Master's
or the setting but it is so odd that I can't imagine this man
is from the real world."
Happy squints to read the fine print, "He's the President of Otis."
Betty checks one of the laptops, "Dwin's in chat!" Betty
types and speaks, "Hey, Dwin, how's the reading going?"
Betty reads out loud, "Not much reading going on.
Higgs and I went out to the desert with a guide that
took us to the other world to meet the Tall Man."
"He met Higgs?", ask Barney.
Betty "shhh's" Barney as she types quickly and then reads,
"They hooked up at the Holiday Villa, where Dwin was
reading Paradise Lost to the senior citizens."
Happy laughs, "That is hilarious."
Barney agrees, "You gotta love this Puppet Master's
sense of humor. Tell Dwin we hooked up with another
Sammeee, making a total of 5 Sammeees now."
Betty stops, "Five plus a lurker. A lurker stepped into
the chat room." Betty types and speaks, "Welcome, lurker."
Barney slides over next to Betty, "Is the lurker responding?"
"Of course not."
Happy raises her hand, "Sorry to sound like an idiot but,
what is a lurker?"
Betty continues to type and Barney explains, "Instead of
coming into our chat room with a name that identifies you,
like Happy, this person has decided not to identify
themselves by using the I.D. lurker."
"But why would they do that?"
Barney shrugs, "Shy or could be a spy for the Puppet Master."
Betty stops typing, "I told Dwin to just ignore the lurker
and proceed with his report."
Barney points to the key board, "Ask him how tall is the
Tall Man?"
Betty stops, "Five plus a lurker. A lurker stepped into
the chat room." Betty types and speaks, "Welcome, lurker."
Barney slides over next to Betty, "Is the lurker responding?"
"Of course not."
Happy raises her hand, "Sorry to sound like an idiot but,
what is a lurker?"
Betty continues to type and Barney explains, "Instead of
coming into our chat room with a name that identifies you,
like Happy, this person has decided not to identify
themselves by using the I.D. lurker."
"But why would they do that?"
Barney shrugs, "Shy or could be a spy for the Puppet Master."
Betty stops typing, "I told Dwin to just ignore the lurker
and proceed with his report."
Barney points to the key board, "Ask him how tall is the
Tall Man?"
Session Start: 23:01:30
[23:01] * Now talking in irc chat #SAMMEEE
[23:01] * Topic is 'how to find an ordinary man'
[23:01] * Set by BETTY AND BARNEY
[23:01] * lurker@397.res.rr.com has joined #SAMMEEE
[23:01] (Betty) he's not talking, dwin.
[23:01] (Dwin) Oh well we tried.
[23:01] (Betty) (betty and dwin turn their backs on the lurker and whisper)
[23:01] (Betty) barney wants to know how tall is the tall man?
[23:02] (Dwin) VERY VERY
[23:02] (Betty) lol! what did the tall man say?
[23:01] * Now talking in irc chat #SAMMEEE
[23:01] * Topic is 'how to find an ordinary man'
[23:01] * Set by BETTY AND BARNEY
[23:01] * lurker@397.res.rr.com has joined #SAMMEEE
[23:01] (Betty) he's not talking, dwin.
[23:01] (Dwin) Oh well we tried.
[23:01] (Betty) (betty and dwin turn their backs on the lurker and whisper)
[23:01] (Betty) barney wants to know how tall is the tall man?
[23:02] (Dwin) VERY VERY
[23:02] (Betty) lol! what did the tall man say?
a computer cocktail - well shaken
"Dwin says the Tall Man said
something like," Betty switches
to a deep Tall Man voice, "The
Ordinary Man is in more trouble
Ordinary Man is in more trouble
than you know and he is not safe
in the land of Spoocheee."
Happy is over Betty's shoulder
Happy is over Betty's shoulder
now too, "Why?"
Betty does Tall Man voice again,
Betty does Tall Man voice again,
"All will be revealed."
Barney rocks back and forth in his
Barney rocks back and forth in his
chair, "I'm scared of the Tall Man!"
Happy nudges Betty, "Where is Peeps?"
"Hold on." Betty types furiously and then reads,
"September 23rd, 1994 at 23:00:10."
Barney scribbles down the numbers.
Happy nudges Betty, "Where is Peeps?"
"Hold on." Betty types furiously and then reads,
"September 23rd, 1994 at 23:00:10."
Barney scribbles down the numbers.
And Betty reads out loud again,
Happy leans over Betty's shoulder, "Why that date?"
Barney types on his laptop, "I'll check the
historical tags."
Betty holds up her hand, "Don't bother.
"Dwin says, it was weird because
the Tall Man only spoke to me and
he kept asking me if I remembered
and he said that he remembered. At
and he said that he remembered. At
one point he took my hand - but not in
a creepy way. He was very nice. I felt
safe with him. Like he would protect
me. I feel like I've known the Tall Man
my entire life."
Happy's near tears, "Who doesn't love this Dwin?
He's absolutely adorable."
Barney yells out, "The numbers do not
my entire life."
Happy's near tears, "Who doesn't love this Dwin?
He's absolutely adorable."
Barney yells out, "The numbers do not
give us a GPS coordinate."
Betty reads and then, "The date he gave
is important in another way."
Happy leans over Betty's shoulder, "Why that date?"
Barney types on his laptop, "I'll check the
historical tags."
Betty holds up her hand, "Don't bother.
Dwin says it is his birth date."
"Who's birthdate?"
"Dwin's." Betty types and speaks, "Just a
wild coincidence?" Betty reads, "Dwin says,
not a coincidence at all."
"Who's birthdate?"
"Dwin's." Betty types and speaks, "Just a
wild coincidence?" Betty reads, "Dwin says,
not a coincidence at all."
Dwin whispers to himself as he types,
"I know this is going to sound crazy but
I believe that the date is not only a part
of our clue but maybe a message to me.
I think the Tall Man is my father."
Dwin takes a deep breath and hits the send
button.
Betty is a little stunned and
shares with the others, "Okay...
Dwin just said that he thinks
the Tall Man is his father."
Happy half laughs, "What?"
Barney rocks back and forth in
Happy half laughs, "What?"
Barney rocks back and forth in
his chair, "Maybe Dwin is a looney
tune. Remember that guy who played
Rookery Tower with us? F'ing nuts."
Betty pushes away from the computer,
"It is pretty bizarre to want the Tall Man
to be your Dad."
Happy's lost, "What's Dwin's background?"
Barney stops rocking, "He said he's a foster kid."
"A foster kid that now lives with what sounds
like very nice and very rich foster parents."
Betty looks back at the computer screen,
"Dwin's going to bed." Betty types and speaks,
"Night, Dwin. We can talk more about the
Tall Man in the morning."
Happy paces back and forth, "1994 means he's
how old? Sorry my brain's a little fuzzy."
"Young. Fourteen. We should ask Higgs
about Dwin's state of mind. He spent all
day with him."
Barney pipes in, "Where is Higgs?"
"Somewhere, but not online."
Barney rocks back and forth again, "So, to review:
We found the rune message, To Locate Peeps
and Higgs and Dwin bring in a date that leads
Betty pushes away from the computer,
"It is pretty bizarre to want the Tall Man
to be your Dad."
Happy's lost, "What's Dwin's background?"
Barney stops rocking, "He said he's a foster kid."
"A foster kid that now lives with what sounds
like very nice and very rich foster parents."
Betty looks back at the computer screen,
"Dwin's going to bed." Betty types and speaks,
"Night, Dwin. We can talk more about the
Tall Man in the morning."
Happy paces back and forth, "1994 means he's
how old? Sorry my brain's a little fuzzy."
"Young. Fourteen. We should ask Higgs
about Dwin's state of mind. He spent all
day with him."
Barney pipes in, "Where is Higgs?"
"Somewhere, but not online."
Barney rocks back and forth again, "So, to review:
We found the rune message, To Locate Peeps
and Higgs and Dwin bring in a date that leads
us nowhere." Barney looks up at Happy.
She smiles, "I have no idea what to do with
She smiles, "I have no idea what to do with
a code. It truly means nothing to me. It is
just a row of numbers."
Betty specs, "Maybe Higgs didn't come to chat
because he got a little freaked out by Dwin and
his Dad, the Tall Man."
Barney laughs as he spins around to his laptop
and starts typing.
Betty looks over at him, "What is it?"
"Just a row of numbers and if you... hold on - "
Barney types and smiles, "That could be it."
"What?"
"If you turn September 23rd, 1994 into just numbers,
09/23/94 and then tag on the remaining numbers.
Tada - we have a url." Barney can see Happy's lost,
Betty specs, "Maybe Higgs didn't come to chat
because he got a little freaked out by Dwin and
his Dad, the Tall Man."
Barney laughs as he spins around to his laptop
and starts typing.
Betty looks over at him, "What is it?"
"Just a row of numbers and if you... hold on - "
Barney types and smiles, "That could be it."
"What?"
"If you turn September 23rd, 1994 into just numbers,
09/23/94 and then tag on the remaining numbers.
Tada - we have a url." Barney can see Happy's lost,
"Peeps is in Massachusetts?"
Happy studies the screen.
Barney grins, "Apparently Peeps
is religious. Episcopal to be precise."
Betty starts typing again.
Barney peeks,"What are you doing?"
"I'm sending the link to Higgs and Dwin."
Betty stops, "Fasten your seat belts. Somebody
new is in the chat room." She types and
speaks, "Welcome."
Happy and Barney read over her shoulder.
Betty starts typing again.
Barney peeks,"What are you doing?"
"I'm sending the link to Higgs and Dwin."
Betty stops, "Fasten your seat belts. Somebody
new is in the chat room." She types and
speaks, "Welcome."
Happy and Barney read over her shoulder.
[00:06] * TRINKET has joined #SAMMEEE
[00:06] (Betty) welcome, trinket
[00:07] (Trinket) Hey
[00:07] (Betty) were you previously our lurker?
[00:07] (Trinket) ** Trinket is not a lurker!!!***
[00:07] (Trinket) the lurker is still there
[00:07] (Betty) ah yes he or she is - sorry! welcome, sammeee!
[00:07] (Trinket) Thanks. I posted what I have found on
the forum but I thought I should contact
someone tonight. kinda urgent
[00:06] (Betty) welcome, trinket
[00:07] (Trinket) Hey
[00:07] (Betty) were you previously our lurker?
[00:07] (Trinket) ** Trinket is not a lurker!!!***
[00:07] (Trinket) the lurker is still there
[00:07] (Betty) ah yes he or she is - sorry! welcome, sammeee!
[00:07] (Trinket) Thanks. I posted what I have found on
the forum but I thought I should contact
someone tonight. kinda urgent
Betty takes a sip of her drink
and continues to read out loud,
"A box came today with a DVD
about Peeps, a copy of Alice in
about Peeps, a copy of Alice in
Wonderland and a hand written
message. The message reads:
a tit for three tats for you, Trinket.
And the others should be told,
better be quick, dead men tell
a tit for three tats for you, Trinket.
And the others should be told,
better be quick, dead men tell
no tales
Happy Rogers gasps, "Poor Peeps."
Barney comforts her, "Don't worry. We
Happy Rogers gasps, "Poor Peeps."
Barney comforts her, "Don't worry. We
will save him."
"I just sent Trinket the link we found and
good news, she lives in Massachusetts."
Barney pauses, "How do you know Trinket
"I just sent Trinket the link we found and
good news, she lives in Massachusetts."
Barney pauses, "How do you know Trinket
is a chick?"
"Trinket? Trinket is a chick. I can --
Hold on." Betty reads and then,
"Trinket? Trinket is a chick. I can --
Hold on." Betty reads and then,
"Do we have a key? Betty types,
"A key?"
"Check the source code of the map
for something about a key!"
Barney and Happy check the source.
Happy spots it, "There were doors all round
the hall, but they were all locked;
Alice needs a key."
"Alice needs a key."
"I guess Trinket is our Alice." Betty gets up
from the computer, "But we don't have a key."
Barney adds, "There must be another Sammeee out there."
Betty shrugs, "Or we just haven't found the key yet."
The phone RINGS.
All three jump! Happy screams twice!
Barney looks at Betty, "Do you want to answer it?"
It RINGS again!
Betty pretends to be calm, "They know we're
together. So, they're obviously calling all of us.
So, let's answer it together."
It RINGS again and Betty picks it up. They are
all huddled around the phone.
Betty speaks, "Hello?"
It is not the voice we've heard before.
It is a LITTLE GIRL'S VOICE:
Not a moment should be lost: Oh my ears
and whiskers, how late it's getting!
(whispers)
Get the key! A lurker has your key!
The little girl LAUGHS and the line goes dead.
"Alice in Wonderland really creeps me out."
Betty hangs up the phone.
Barney shakes his hands, "This is
Barney shakes his hands, "This is
getting freaky. And it has only just
begun."
Betty bravely walks back to the computer
and takes her seat.
Happy holds Barney's arm as they position
Happy holds Barney's arm as they position
themselves behind Betty. Happy nervously
laughs, "Alice in Wonderland really creeps
me out."
Barney, "It's also over used. I would say
7 out of 10 games reference it."
And Betty begins to type.
And Betty begins to type.
[00:17] (Betty) come out, come out where ever your are
[00:17] (Trinket) What?
[00:17] (Betty) the lurker has our key. hello there, lurker. lurker?
[00:18] (Trinket) Hand over the key please, lurker
[00:18] (Betty) come out, come out where ever you are NOW please!
[00:18] (Trinket) GIVE US THE KEY!
[00:08] * lurker@397.res.rr.com has signed off #SAMMEEE
[00:08] (Betty) NO! crap! we lost the lurker! and the key!
[00:08] (Trinket) *AND now they know we need that key.
[00:17] (Trinket) What?
[00:17] (Betty) the lurker has our key. hello there, lurker. lurker?
[00:18] (Trinket) Hand over the key please, lurker
[00:18] (Betty) come out, come out where ever you are NOW please!
[00:18] (Trinket) GIVE US THE KEY!
[00:08] * lurker@397.res.rr.com has signed off #SAMMEEE
[00:08] (Betty) NO! crap! we lost the lurker! and the key!
[00:08] (Trinket) *AND now they know we need that key.
Betty pounds the table, "We lost the lurker
and the key!"
Barney sits down on the sofa and holds his
head in his hands.
Happy is still standing, "What do we do now?"
Betty stares at the computer screen, "I don't know."
Barney, still with his head in his hands, "We wait
and we hope that the lurker makes contact."
A nice hotel in Times Square
Addison sits on the mini-sofa and stares
out his hotel room window at the city while
he sings along:
"And he's oh, so fine,
And he's oh, so healthy,
In his body and his mind.
He's a well respected man about town
doing the best things so conservatively.."
The manila envelope, still unopened,
sits on the mini-sofa next to him.
The manila envelope, still unopened,
sits on the mini-sofa next to him.
Addison picks up the envelope, opens it, and
pours a small key into his hand.
pours a small key into his hand.
He whispers to himself, "Cause he's oh so
good and he's oh so fine and he's oh, so healthy
in his body and his mind. He's a well respected
man about town doing the best things so consevatively."