the theatre

[productions]

the theatre



You awaken in a darkened theatre.

In front of you is an enormous cinema screen. On it plays everything that's currently happening in the mansion, accompanied by appropriate sound effects and background instrumentals when fitting. The seat you're sitting on is large and plush, and while there's many of them, there's enough room in the theatre for you to fully recline the seat into a comfortable bed if you wish. Under each seat is a sleeping mask and noise-cancelling headphones, in case you'd like to take a break from watching the show.

Follow the stairs up and you'll reach what should be the projection room. There are no projectors in here, however; it is simply a large and well-lit room above the main seating area, and a good place to hang out with your fellow eliminated contestants if shouting at each other across the aisles proves too much to handle.

If you leave the theatre through the door in the back, you'll find yourself in a hall. On one end is a concession stand. It's stocked with standard movie snacks - popcorn, candy and the like - but if you're feeling the urge for something else, you'll be able to find it stocked somewhere in the back. On the other end is a table with thirty wrapped bags and a placard reading 'A star for our stars! Please accept these lovely giftbags as a token of appreciation for your hard work, sponsored by [illegible smudge]'. Each bag has a tag bearing the name of someone in the mansion; you will only be able to open the bag with your name on it. As soon as you open it, any memories that have been taken from you, including those of the other people in the mansion that you may have forgotten, will be returned in their entirety. Within the bag are also objects from your home that you may want for your stay here, though you will find no weapons.

There are no other doors in the hall save for the one leading back into the theatre room. There are also no windows; it is impossible to tell where you are and what is going on in the outside world. Any attempts to break out will fail. So in the meantime, why not sit back and enjoy the show?

Oh, and one more thing. At midnight following each execution, once all those who've died that week have woken up, a video will begin to play on screen.

Comments

[miraculous]

[Bernkastel appreciates this lack of "my friends would never do anything wrong", though she supposes nations wouldn't be prone to that.]

We should also take into consideration that the items returned have been announced in both instances, and the cards updated. It would be foolish to immediately use an item while knowledge of its existence remains fresh.

Of course, guessing at who will be alive long enough to use their items is another problem to solve.

[motheringnation]

[She would be laughing if she knew that thought.]

Yes, that's true.

I was surprised they put it on the cards. It seems like something they'd want to hide.

And we can't give things to people with immunity either...

[She starts writing another list of people. Crossing out the dead and such.]

[miraculous]

Because this is a mystery game. The audience watching needs to be able to solve the crime, which requires that all clues be available to them. Having a mystery solved with "unknown weapon x that was never mentioned or seen in the manor" wouldn't be very satisfying, right? The audience would stop watching, because it's not fair.

[motheringnation]

Oh that's true.

I forgot they want to seem fair.

[miraculous]

The crime always has to be solvable. [She giggles.] I'm sure there were at least a few people sitting on sofas and laying in beds shouting at everyone about what the real answer to last week's mystery was.

[motheringnation]

I wish they'd have been there. Maybe if anyone had heard about the needle and the dirt in the room before Annie confused, it might have been solved.

[miraculous]

Had the wounds been caused by a pitchfork, even if you'd concealed them with a knife, they would have been parallel or have bulges. Ignoring, of course, now much blood tends to splatter--or the stupidity of cleaning dirt off on the windowsill of your own bathroom window.

[motheringnation]

I tried to point out the pitchfork wounds, but everyone was busy discussing how nations were clearly their governments and therefore evil.

[Facepalm sigh.]

At least I don't have to deal with them again. Honestly, how stupid would I have to be to actually kill someone with my pitchfork?

[miraculous]

They were reluctant to select a child without definite evidence, I imagine.

[motheringnation]

[She shakes her head.]

I'm very fond of children and even I know they're not always innocent. And in a place like this....

[miraculous]

All this said, with your death, we know your kind won't have to worry about endangering their people through any murders they may commit.

That may make you all more dangerous, so I suppose there's at least another interesting element to consider.

[motheringnation]

Thank goodness.

[She says that with more then a little relief. It's the reason she's not snapped, and bounced back so well.]

It will make them harder to motivate though.

[miraculous]

If the incentive was something like "we will kill the people most important to you", though, that would be an interesting week.