An Escape To Remember

An interactive fiction by the IF Whispers Team (2006) - the Inform 7 source text

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Section 3 - Theater

Theater is west from the Office and east from the empty lab. "You are in a tiny theater. At the southern end of the room is a complex track[if the projector is not done] with some sculpture on it[end if]. At the northern end of the room are some folding chairs and an industrial strength lamp, mounted on a battered projector, facing south. There are exits to the east and west."

Three folding metal chairs are in the theater.

The battered projector is a device in the Theater. It is scenery. Understand "lamp", "industrial", "strength", "light" and "machine" as the battered projector. The battered projector can be ready, playing, or done. The battered projector is ready. The description of the projector is "The projector looks the worse for wear, but somehow it supports a convex lamp that could be a baby searchlight."

The complex track is a supporter in the Theater. It is scenery.

On the complex track is a group of metal figures. "The track forms a base for some metal sculpture." The group of metal figures is scenery. Understand "figure", "humanoid", "shape", "figures", "shapes", "sculptures" and "sculpture" as a group of metal figures. The description of the group of metal figures is "Three vaguely humanoid shapes, silvery and pancake-thin, [if projector is ready]stand still on[end if][if projector is playing]slide along[end if] the track."

Table of Performance Messages
performance
"A bright beam leaps from the lamp. You pull your head back reflexively, then turn to look at the south wall. The shadows of the sculpture resolve into silhouettes of a father, a young son, and a young daughter. You recognize the figures as the Sultan and his progeny.
[line break] [line break]The shadow children sway back and forth, while the sultan looks down upon them benevolently"
"Two of the metal pieces slide outwards on the track, towards the lamp. The prince and the princess grow up"
"By some alchemy, the largest metal piece wilts. The shadow children's heads turn to their fallen father, then to each other. [line break] [line break]The heirs[apostrophe] outlines start whirring like chainsaws. The princess reaches toward the prince, takes something from him. The prince's body stiffens"
"The prince and princess storm out of the picture. The lamp clicks off"


Instead of switching off the battered projector when the projector is playing:
Say "No effect. The show goes on."

Instead of switching on the battered projector when the battered projector is done:
Say "Show's over."

After switching on battered projector:
change the battered projector to playing;

Performance turn count is a number that varies.
Every turn when battered projector is switched on:
change performance turn count to performance turn count plus one;
if performance turn count <= the number of rows in Table of Performance Messages begin;
if the battered projector is visible begin;
choose row performance turn count in Table of Performance Messages;
say "[performance entry].[line break]";
end if;
end if;
if performance turn count is the number of rows in Table of Performance Messages begin;
change the battered projector to done;
change the battered projector to switched off;
remove the group of metal figures from play;
end if;