DEADLINE

DEADLINE (Infocom)Here is the solution for solving Infocom's mystery game, Deadline. Allcommands which should be typed in exactly as you see them are in quotes.Directional movements are in brackets. E.g., "OPEN DOOR" and [N,N,E]. RobinHood did an excellent job of explaining the solution, but because of typosor perhaps because of different versions of Deadline, it didn't work on mycopy.So, the corrections are attributable to me, Tamerlane of the Ring. From thefront path of the Robner's estate, go [N] to the front door of the house.Type "OPEN DOOR" and go [N] into the Robners' house. From inside the door,go [N,E] and type "CLIMB STAIRS" twice (or you can just go [U,U]) to get tothe second level of the estate. From there, go [W,W,W,W,N] to the librarywhere you will start the first of a series of Sherlock Holmes-typeactivities. In Deadline, you need to establish the motive and method forthe murder beyond all reasonable doubt before you can arrest the guiltyparty. If you don't have an air-tight case, the jury will acquit thedefendant.It is here in the library where we go about establishing the method bywhich poor Mr. Robner was done in. First off, type "EXAMINE RUG" (or just"LOOK RUG"). You will find some mud spots which is your first clue. Now,"GET THE CUP, PAD, CALENDAR AND PENCIL" and "RUB PENCIL ON PAD" and then"TURN PAGE OF CALENDAR." Aha! Perhaps a clue as to the motive? Let's see ifwe can substantiate the method a little more...that mud on the rug was veryinteresting.Type "OPEN BALCONY DOOR" and go [N] onto the balcony. Check out the railingby typing "EXAMINE RAILING" and you will see some scratches, lendingcredence to the theory that perhaps the murderer climbed up the balconyfrom the ground below where he (or she) got mud on his shoes. Let's have alook below and check for some indication that the murderer was indeed belowthe balcony.To leave the balcony, go [S,S,E,E,E,E,D,D,W,S]. Type "OPEN DOOR" and go [S]back to the front door. Now go [E,E,SE] to the shed where you will see aladder. Type "EXAMINE LADDER." Hmmm! This ladder- and-balcony theory islooking good! Let's see if we can prove the ladder was below the balcony.This will have to wait a while, though, because it's getting late in themorning and we have to do some more checking in the house before thereading of the will takes place. And besides that, we need to talk to Mr.McNabb and he doesn't seem to be in the mood right now.Go back to the house by heading [N,S,N] and head back upstairs with[N,N,E,U,U]. Let's see what else we can find upstairs. Go [S,S] intoDunbar's bathroom. Type "OPEN CABINET" and "EXAMINE LOBLO." Aha, again! Nowwe go back downstairs and see if we can find Mr. McNabb to see if he knowsanything about a ladder under the balcony. Go [N,N,D,D,W,S,S]. Let's take abreak for a while. Type "WAIT UNTIL 11:30." And now for Mr. McNabb. Let'stry the garden path first with [E,NE,E,W].If McNabb is not around, just wait for a while or snoop around the area andhe will soon show up. Deadline is very unpredictable when it comes to thevarious characters moving around the scenario. Once you spot McNabb, go tohim and say "HEY MCNABB" followed by "WHAT IS WRONG." He will tell youabout some holes he found in his garden so, naturally, you say "SHOW ME THEHOLES." He will take off and you "FOLLOW HIM." When he stops, type "EXAMINEHOLES." Eureka! The ladder was here and the depth of the holes provessomebody climbed it up to the balcony! To make sure we cover every angle,type "EXAMINE GROUND" and "DIG AROUND HOLES." Hmmm...wonder what this couldbe about? To find out, type "ANALYZE FRAGMENT FOR LOBLO." Oops, it's laterthan we thought! Back to the house for the reading of the will. Go[N,SW,SE,E] to the house and [N,N,W] into the living room. Now just "WAIT"for the will to be read.After the will is read, you decide to see if you can roust some of thosepresent into giving you some clues as to the guilty party and, perhaps, themotive for the crime. Let's start with George. Type "SHOW GEORGE THECALENDAR." He will get very nervous and start heading out of the room. Type"FOLLOW HIM" until he finally goes to his room. He will keep telling you toleave him alone, but just keep following him until he enters his room.At this point, you decide to see if George knows more then he's telling.You aren't going to get anything from him here, so let's go to the balconyand wait to see if he does anything. Go [W,N,N] to the balcony and type"WAIT 10 MINUTES." Voila! Here he comes! Wait until he goes behind thebookshelf and then type "WAIT 4 MINUTES" to give him time to really get hishands into the cookie jar. When your 4 minutes are up, go [S], "EXAMINEBOOKSHELF," "PRESS BUTTON," and go [E]. Ha! Caught him red-handed!! Type"GET WILL," "LOOK SAFE," "GET PAPERS," and "READ PAPERS."Things are beginning to look up! Let's see if we can substantiate some ofthis stuff. Go back to the living room with [W,S,E,E,E,E,D,D,W,W]. My,isn't this cozy! Type "HEY BAXTER," "WHAT ABOUT FOCUS." You know he's lyingso you "SHOW PAPERS TO BAXTER." Ah, that's better! Now for some cleverpsycho-detective work. Type "SHOW LAB REPORT TO DUNBAR" and "SHOW LABREPORT TO BAXTER." Whip around and "ACCUSE DUNBAR." Hmmm...a tad nervous,isn't she? Perhaps we should go off and wait to see what develops.Go [E] to leave the room and "WAIT FOR DUNBAR." Just as we suspected! Whenshe passes you, type "FOLLOW HER." Once outside the house, she will drop aticket. Type "GET TICKET" and "READ TICKET." WOW! This is getting good!Type "SHOW TICKET TO DUNBAR." You know you've got her on the run now sohead off to the shed to wait and see what develops. Go [E,E,SE] and "WAITFOR BAXTER." When they both show up, "SHOW TICKET TO BAXTER" and "ARRESTBAXTER AND DUNBAR." You didn't believe them for a minute, did you?Due to the dynamic nature of Deadline, there are several ways to end upaccusing Baxter and Dunbar of the murder. There are also more puzzles tosolve, but this is all that is necessary to put together an air-tight caseagainst them.