In this interactive adventure, a greenhorn detective must find a missing acrobat and solve the mystery by exploring the circus and questioning everything from tiger trainers to monotone ringmasters to sad clowns.
This solution is by David Welbourn, and is based on Release 2 of the game.
SPOILERS AHEAD. Reading a walkthrough prematurely can sometimes diminish one's enjoyment of an interactive fiction game. Please make an honest effort to play the game before reading this walkthrough.
To show your police badge to someone, you must SAY HELLO to them. Always start a conversation with someone new this way. You'll introduce yourself to everyone in the room, including any animals.
Conversation topics in this game are fussy. Sometimes they require the word THE to be included. There's usually no alternative ways of phrasing a topic; for example, you're always asking about THE ACROBAT but never about LI.
There's no TOPICS command to tell you which topics are available. I had to cheat a bit to find out what sorts of topics were expected.
Object descriptions rarely get updated when their status changes. Billy always appears to be sad even when he's happy, the bicycle is always looked on with distain by Charlene even when the bicycle is nowhere near her, and so on. I assume the author was still new to Inform 7 and didn't know how to create a description that changes.
Time isn't a concern in this game. Dawn never arrives and you can take as long as you like. And while a few characters do change locations in response to events, no characters wander randomly about. These factors make the game much easier than it might otherwise have been.
Carnival Entrance
> x me. i.(nothing. Your badge is not actually implemented.)
> n.
Yellow Tent
> x desk. x Ringmaster.
> say hello to Ringmaster.
> ask him about the acrobat.(He says the missing acrobat is Li, that Jetta was with him, to visit the Green Tent, and to visit the fortune teller.)
> ask him about this morning.
> ask him about Jetta.(She paints faces and cooks.)
> ask him about the green tent.
> s. w.
Midway
> x booth. x photo. take photo.
> n.
Green Tent
> x shiny.(It's broken glass.)
> take shiny.
The green door is miscoded. It should be coded as east of the Green Tent and west of the Acrobat's Office, but as written, it is no barrier to entry. This walkthrough will pretend the door is coded correctly and we will not enter the Acrobat's Office until this door is unlocked.
> open green door.(locked)
> u.
Steel Platform
> x seat. d. w.
Purple Tent
> x Essa. say hello to Essa.
> ask Essa about the acrobat.(She wants Li's jacket; Marvin has it.)
> ask Essa about Jetta.(Those two are like brother and sister.)
> show photo to Essa.(She starts crying.)
> e. n.
Tech Building
The toolbox acts as your player's carry-all in this game.
> x toolbox. open toolbox. x hammer. take toolbox.
> n.
Black Tent
> x Marvin. x tiger. x key. x locker.
> say hello to Marvin.
> ask him about the acrobat.
> ask him about this morning.
> ask him about Li's jacket.(It's in his locker.)
> take key. unlock locker with key.
> open locker. take jacket. drop key.
> x jacket. take all from pocket.
> x plastic key. x reeds.
> put plastic key and reeds in toolbox.
> s. s. w.
Purple Tent
> give jacket to Essa.("Only a great tragedy could change [Li's] path.")
That's not very helpful, Essa.
> e.
Green Tent
> unlock green door with plastic key. e.
Acrobat's Office
> x desk. x nose. x box.(No description for any of them!)
> take nose and box.
> w. n. n. e.
House of Mirrors
> x lady. say hello to lady.
> ask lady about the acrobat.(She thinks Charlene was involved because she's bitter. Then she says to get the flashlight from her purse.)
> ask lady about Charlene.("Wicked")
> ask lady about Essa.(Suggests asking Essa about her history.)
> open purse. take flashlight. x it.
> w. n.
Back of the Coaster
Nothing to see here, yet.
> e.
Board Coaster
> x Annie. say hello to Annie.
> ask Annie about the acrobat.(Granpa liked Li.)
> show photo to Annie.(Of Li and her grandfather.)
> s.
horse corral
Note that although you may ride the bicycle to other locations, you have no need to. You may not ride the horse.
> x horse. x bicycle. x Charlene.
> say hello to Charlene. ask her about the acrobat.
> show shiny to her.(She says that was her camera!)
> ask her about Essa.
> ask her about Jezebelle.
> n. e.
Coaster Operator Booth
> x Mr. say hello to Mr.
> show photo to Mr.(That's Li and ol' Charlie.)
> show shiny to Mr.(He says it's a broken photo lens that could've started a fire.)
> s.
Ferris Wheel
> x man. x woman. say hello to Antonio.
> aak him about the acrobat.
> ask her about the acrobat.
> ask him about the trapeze seat.
This once, you must TELL someone about something:
> tell Michelle about the trapeze seat.(She agrees the seat was tampered with, and Li could have landed in the tent folds and removed by someone there.)
> ask her about Annie.(She loves that kid.)
> show toolbox to Antonio.(It's his, but you can keep it.)
> show hammer to him.(It's his, but you can keep it.)
> s.
Blue Tent
> say hello to Efrain.
> ask Efrain about the acrobat.
> ask Meno about acrobat.(You get a riddle.)
> x Efrain. x book. x Meno. x radio.
> show photo to Efrain.(He took that photo.)
> s.
ampatheater
> x Sebastian. say hello to him.
> give reeds to him.(He says Li was trying to encourage Billy to ask out Jetta, and to check Li's office.)
> w.
kitchen
> x woman. say hello to woman.(She's Jetta.)
> ask Jetta about the acrobat.(The trapeze seat swung back into the light without him.)
Note: Showing things to Jetta doesn't work as well as giving things.
> give nose to Jetta.(She says give it to Billy.)
> give box to Jetta.(She says she can't accept that.)
> ask Jetta for turkey.(You get it.)
> ask Jetta for sub.(You get it.)
> ask Jetta for pita.(You get it.)
For the liquids, just take them. Refer to the matzaball soup as either "thermos" or "matzaball soup".
> put all in toolbox.
> take lemonade. take coffee. take thermos.
> e. n. n. n.
Coaster Operator Booth
Mr Debowski enchanges gossip for food.
> give turkey to Mr.(He says Charlene and Li used to date.)
> give sub to Mr.(He says Sebastian loves coffee.)
> give pita to Mr.(He says Michelle and Antonio are married but can't have children.)
> give thermos to Mr.(He tells you Billy loves Jetta.)
You earn BONUS ENDING: Operation Food.
> s. s. s.
ampatheater
> give coffee to Sebastian.(Let him know if you need anything.)
> s.
duck pond
> x duck. x Billy. say hello to Billy.
> ask Billy about the acrobat.
> give nose to Billy.(He's now happy.)
> give box to Billy.(He goes and gives it to Jetta.)
You earn BONUS ENDING: Love Story.
> w.
Old Oak
You must be holding the flashlight directly to find this key:
> take flashlight.
> look under tree.(You find the wrought-iron key.)
> w. n.
Yellow Tent
The Ringmaster has left; if you explore, you'll find him at Midway now.
> unlock upper drawer with wrought-iron key.
> unlock middle drawer with wrought-iron key.
> unlock lower drawer with wrought-iron key.
> put all in toolbox.
> open lower. x teddy bear. take it.
> open middle. take funeral. read it.
Very unfortunately, the game doesn't tell you what the funeral arrangements say. By cheating, I learned that the description of the funeral arrangements should read:
A couple of papers in a black folder are secured together with a paper clip. You glean that Charlie, the old acrobat, died a day or two ago from a freak accident in which the ropes of his trapeze were burned through. His funeral is to be held: tomorrow. The same day that Li planned on leaving the circus and the day the circus would leave town. The papers also explain that Li was named to inherit Charlie's possessions, save for a teddy bear that was to go to Annie. The papers detailed that if Li, for any reason, was not able to collect Charlie's possessions, they would go to the other Circus members.
> open upper. x Li's file. take it.(Strong hint to ask Sebastian about the acrobat's location. Also, a new stage of the game has begun.)
> s. e. e. n.
ampatheater
No "the" this time:
> ask Sebastian about acrobat's location.(He saw something at the back of the coaster.)
For what it's worth, Sebastian also gives you the empty mug back.
> put all in toolbox.
> n. w.
horse corral
This isn't important, but I thought you'd like to know:
> ask Charlene about Efrain.(His real name is Arnold.)
> n.
Board Coaster
> ask Annie about Billy.(So funny.)
> ask her about Antonio.(So helpful.)
> ask her about Michelle.(So cool and nice.)
> give bear to Annie.(She accepts it and runs to the Ferris Wheel.)
You earn BONUS ENDING: A New Family.
> w.
Back of the Coaster
There's now a large crate here.
> x crate. take crate.(heh)
> open crate with hammer.
> open crate.(Li is inside, gagged with a rag.)
> take rag.(Li says, "You get Jezebelle, I'll get the Ringmaster!")
> ask Li about Jezebelle.
> ask Li about the Ringmaster.
> s. e.
House of Mirrors
This is the endgame. The house is dark. Don't bother turning on your flashlight; that will only confuse you because the room hasn't really changed at all, only what was said when you entered.
Also, the game doesn't recognize the verb ARREST?
> take shiny. throw shiny.
You arrest Jezebelle. Li rewards you with acrobatics training. You're also told to go back in time and ask Essa about "lady in the moon" for another gift.
*** You have won ***
> restart
Carnival Entrance
> w. n. w.
Purple Tent
Jezebelle suggested "her history", I assume to stir up trouble.
> ask Essa about her history.(She glares angrily.)
> ask Essa about lady in the moon.
You earn BONUS ENDING: Fortune Teller. The fortune that Essa tells you is randomized.
*** You have won ***
Extras
Bonus Endings
These are optional achievements that you can earn in the game. Most of them do not end the game when you earn them, but do tell you about events that will happen after the events of the game are over.
BONUS ENDING - Love Story
Earn this by giving the clown nose, then the art box to Billy at the duck pond.
Earn this by giving the teddy bear to Annie at the board coaster.
BONUS ENDING -- Fortune Teller
Earn this by asking Essa about lady in the moon. She tells you your fortune, and the game ends with *** You have won ***
Uh, you only learn about "lady in the moon" by winning the game normally. You're expected to restart the game to ask Essa about this secret topic.
Er, about Annie's happy ending: I'm glad she got one, but if Antonio and Michelle were able to adopt her, that suggests Annie was an orphan (Little Orphan Annie?!) and had no mother or father when the game happens. That suggests Charlie was Annie's sole guardian until his death two days ago. And if that's so, why didn't Charlie will his estate to her, to ensure her future? He only left her a teddy bear? Charlie, what the heck were you thinking?
Characters
The Ringmaster is in the yellow tent. He tries to show as little emotion as possible.
Billy, a sad clown, is at the duck pond. You learn he's in love with Jetta but has yet to ask her out.
Jetta is a woman working behind the counter in the kitchen. She also paints faces and was the last person to see Li.
Sebastian is playing with his saxophone in ampatheater. You learn he likes to help people and loves coffee.
Efrain, a muscle-man, is reading and lifting weights in the blue tent. He took the photograph you find. His real name is Arnold.
Meno, a midget-man, is also in blue tent. He offers up a riddle which isn't very helpful.
Antonio, a well-built man, is with Michelle, a pretty woman, at the Ferris Wheel. You later learn they are married but are unable to have children.
Mr Debowski is sleeping and very hungry at the Coaster Operator Booth. He exchanges new gossip for each bit of food you give him.
Annie is a sad girl sitting in a roller coaster cart. Her teddy bear is missing a leg.
Charlene is the stunt rider in the horse corral. She's somewhat unpleasant. It's suggested that she's bitter because she and Li were dating, but Li broke it off.
Essa, the fortune teller, is in the purple tent. She seems nice, but her fortune-telling skills seem a bit suspect.
Marvin, the tiger trainer, is in the black tent. He has an aura of menace, but he's actually co-operative.
Jezebelle, the bearded lady, is in the house of mirrors. You learn that she kidnapped Li, but her motivation is less than clear. Nothing suggests she has any romantic interest in Li. Did she really kidnap Li merely to get a share of Charlie's estate?
Li is the missing acrobat. Normally, he's a source of joy to everyone, but tonight, he's gagged and nailed inside a crate.
Animals:
A Mallard duck is swimming in duck pond. Other (unimplemented) ducks are sleeping among the reeds there.
A horse is in the horse corral. You may not ride it.
A tiger is in the black tent. You should leave the tiger alone.
Mentioned:
Charlie is Annie's grandfather and was an acrobat until he died in a freak accident two days ago. A rope burnt through unexpectedly, but you learn that the fire started from Charlene's stolen camera lens. Charlie's funeral arrangements may explain why Jezebelle kidnapped Li: to get her share of Charlie's estate, which she wouldn't get if Li inherited everything.
Your fellow police officers (or usually just the HQ) are obliquely refered to (or just implied) in the prologue, epilogue, and in some of the bonus endings.
Endings
*** YOU HAVE LOST *** The Ringmaster blows up like a balloon under a sumo wrestler. You're back at HQ faster than you can say "The red of your face should be the color of a crayon".
if, after freeing Li from the crate, you throw the shiny (shards of glass) in the House of Mirrors to stop Jezebelle, or
if you ask Essa about lady in the moon.
Inventory
You have an inventory limit of four items, but you can use the toolbox as a carry-all to get around that limit.
Note that when people give you items, your inventory limit isn't checked, and you can have five or more items that way. Explicitly put everything into the toolbox at such times; otherwise, you won't be able to take any new items.
Food and drink
a turkey sandwich. It's in the kitchen. Either ask Jetta for it or just take it.
At the coaster operator booth, give the sandwich to Mr Debowski. He says Charlene and Li used to date.
a salami sub. It's in the kitchen. Either ask Jetta for it or just take it.
At the coaster operator booth, give the sub to Mr Debowski. He says Sebastian loves coffee.
a vegetarian pita. It's in the kitchen. Either ask Jetta for it or just take it.
At the coaster operator booth, give the pita to Mr Debowski. He says Michelle and Antonio are married but can't have children.
a glass of lemonade. It's in the kitchen. Just take it.
Or not, since you don't need it. Drink it or give it away or drop it. The lemonade doesn't matter.
Also, Sebastian will refuse the lemonade. He doesn't like citrus flavors.
a mug of coffee. It's in the kitchen. Just take it.
At the ampatheater, give the coffee to Sebastian. He'll now owe you a favor.
When you next see Sebastian, he'll give the empty mug back to you, but you don't need the mug itself for anything.
After you read Li's quitting file, you'll realize you need to ask Sebastian about acrobat's location.
a thermos of matzaball soup. It's in the kitchen. Just take it.
At the coaster operator booth, give the thermos to Mr Debowski. He tells you Billy loves Jetta.
Keys
a small metal key. It's in the Black Tent.
First, ask Marvin about Li's jacket, and he'll tell you to take it from his locker. He's also letting you take the key at this time, and if you ask him about the locker, he'll explicitly say so.
This key unlocks Marvin's Locker, also in the Black Tent.
It unlocks the green door in the green tent. The green door leads into the Acrobat's Office.
NOTE: Because the green door was miscoded, you don't actually need this key.
a wrought-iron key. Acquire it by looking under the old oak tree while holding the flashlight directly.
This key unlocks all three drawers in the yellow tent's desk. When you obtain this key, the Ringmaster will conveniently move to the Midway, so he won't see you unlocking and pilfering his desk drawers.
Other items
the polaroid photo. It's at Midway.
The photo's initial appearance (not its description) tells you that it's of a smiling young man and an old man who looks like he's never smiled.
Show the photo to almost everyone in the game. Efrain tells you he took the photo. Annie identifies the men as Li and her grandfather Charlie. Marvin tells you Charlie died recently in a freak trapeze accident. Essa cries when she sees the photo.
Annie explains that Charlie stopped smiling when her grandmother died.
something shiny. It's broken glass in the Green Tent. Weirdly, you're both willing and able to carry a handful of broken glass shards around with you.
In the horse corral, show the shiny to Charlene to learn the glass was part of her camera, which she lost two days ago.
At the coaster operator booth, show the shiny to Mr Debowski to learn that the camera lens generated heat and probably started a fire.
After freeing Lee from the crate, go to the now darkened House of Mirrors and throw the shiny to find and arrest Jezebelle.
You can deduce that the camera lens was very likely responsible for burning the trapeze ropes and causing Charlie's death two days ago. But you never learn who stole Charlene's camera or if Charlie's death was truly accidental or not.
the Clown Nose. It's on Li's desk in the Acrobat's Office.
At the duck pond, give the nose to Billy to make him happy.
the art box. It's on Li's desk in the Acrobat's Office.
At the duck pond, after giving the clown nose to Billy, give the art box to Billy. He'll now give it to Jetta and start dating her.
the toolbox. It's in the Tech Building and contains the hammer.
Use the toolbox as a carry-all for all your inventory.
If you show the toolbox to Antonio, you learn it was his, but he generously lets you keep it.
the hammer. It's in the toolbox.
If you show the hammer to Antonio, you learn it was his, but he generously lets you keep it.
At the back of the coaster, after Sebastian has told you he saw something there, open the crate with the hammer to "unlock" it.
Li's Jacket. It's in Marvin's Locker in the Black Tent. Unlock the locker with the small metal key.
If you asked Essa about the acrobat, she'll tell you that Marvin has Li's jacket and she'll ask you to bring it to her.
In the black tent, ask Marvin about Li's jacket and he'll tell you it's in his locker and that you may take it.
the flashlight. It's in Jezebelle's purse in the House of Mirrors.
First, ask Jezebelle about the acrobat. She'll tell you to take the flashlight from her purse.
Although the flashlight can be turned on and off, it's functionally on all the time.
At the old oak while carrying the flashlight directly, look under the tree to find and acquire the wrought-iron key.
Weirdly, the flashlight is not helpful in the darkened House of Mirrors when you're trying to find and arrest Jezebelle. Having light there at that time is very misleading.
Li's quitting file. It's in the upper drawer of the yellow tent's desk; unlock it with the wrought-iron key.
Read it. This triggers the beginning of the endgame scene, and it's suggested that you ask Sebastian about the acrobat's location. It's unclear why you'd suddenly conclude that he'd now know something he hasn't already told you.
In my humble opinion, Li never quit the circus at all and this document was manufactered by either Jezebelle or the Ringmaster. But the game doesn't make it clear who truly authored this document.
the funeral arrangements. It's in the middle drawer of the yellow tent's desk; unlock it with the wrought-iron key.
Read them. They explain (or would explain if the game didn't have a bug here) how Charlie died two days ago when the trapeze ropes burned through (presumably by Charlene's stolen camera lens). Li would inherit almost everything, unless Li couldn't be found, in which case the other Circus members would inherit Charlie's possessions.
the Teddy Bear. It's in the lower drawer of the yellow tent's desk; unlock it with the wrought-iron key.
At the Board Coaster, give the teddy bear to Annie.
