Here is the solution for solving Infocom's mystery game,
Deadline. All commands 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].
Robin Hood did an excellent job of explaining the solution, but
because of typos or perhaps because of different versions of
Deadline, it didn't work on my copy. So, the corrections are
attributable to me, Tamerlane of the Ring.
From the front 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 to the second
level of the estate. From there, go [W,W,W,W,N] to the library
where you will start the first of a series of Sherlock
Holmes-type activities.
In Deadline, you need to establish the motive and method for the
murder beyond all reasonable doubt before you can arrest the
guilty party. If you don't have an air-tight case, the jury
will acquit the defendant. It is here in the library where we
go about establishing the method by which 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 if we can substantiate the method a little more...that
mud on the rug was very interesting. Type "OPEN BALCONY DOOR"
and go [N] onto the balcony. Check out the railing by typing
"EXAMINE RAILING" and you will see some scratches, lending
credence to the theory that perhaps the murderer climbed up the
balcony from the ground below where he (or she) got mud on his
shoes. Let's have a look below and check for some indication
that the murderer was indeed below the balcony.
Part Two
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 a ladder. Type "EXAMINE LADDER." Hmmm!
This ladder- and-balcony theory is looking 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 the
morning and we have to do some more checking in the house before
the reading 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] into Dunbar's bathroom. Type "OPEN CABINET" and "EXAMINE
LOBLO." Aha, again! Now we go back downstairs and see if we
can find Mr. McNabb to see if he knows anything about a ladder
under the balcony. Go [N,N,D,D,W,S,S]. Let's take a break for
a while. Type "WAIT UNTIL 11:30."
And now for Mr. McNabb. Let's try the garden path first with
[E,NE,E,W]. If McNabb is not around, just wait for a while or
snoop around the area and he will soon show up. Deadline is
very unpredictable when it comes to the various characters
moving around the scenario. Once you spot McNabb, go to him and
say "HEY MCNABB" followed by "WHAT IS WRONG." He will tell you
about some holes he found in his garden so, naturally, you say
"SHOW ME THE HOLES." He will take off and you "FOLLOW HIM."
When he stops, type "EXAMINE HOLES." Eureka! The ladder was
here and the depth of the holes proves somebody climbed it up to
the balcony!
To make sure we cover every angle, type "EXAMINE GROUND" and
"DIG AROUND HOLES." Hmmm...wonder what this could be about? To
find out, type "ANALYZE FRAGMENT FOR LOBLO." Oops, it's later
than 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.
Part Three
After the will is read, you decide to see if you can roust some
of those present into giving you some clues as to the guilty
party and, perhaps, the motive for the crime. Let's start with
George. Type "SHOW GEORGE THE CALENDAR." 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 to
leave 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 balcony and 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 the bookshelf
and then type "WAIT 4 MINUTES" to give him time to really get
his hands into the cookie jar.
When your 4 minutes are up, go [S], "EXAMINE BOOKSHELF," "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 of
this 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 lying so you "SHOW PAPERS TO
BAXTER." Ah, that's better! Now for some clever
psycho-detective work. Type "SHOW LAB REPORT TO DUNBAR" and
"SHOW LAB REPORT 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! When she passes you, type "FOLLOW HER." Once
outside the house, she will drop a ticket. 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 so
head off to the shed to wait and see what develops. Go [E,E,SE]
and "WAIT FOR BAXTER." When they both show up, "SHOW TICKET TO
BAXTER" and "ARREST BAXTER AND DUNBAR." You didn't believe them
for a minute, did you?
Due to the dynamic nature of Deadline
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