The Cloakroom
Sixteen numbered tags, a woman behind each one, and every one an AI character. Read a tag, or go straight to the stub book and knock.
The Stub Book
Sixteen numbered admit-one stubs, each with her door, her one house rule and the line she opens with. Narrow them by the kind of door and how direct she is, then knock: her chat starts from those three lines. All of it is typed text.
Stage · DirectStub 01: the stage door, held open for four seconds.House rule: you decide inside those four seconds.You are late. Come in anyway, and keep your voice down.Renata Solis Knock
Hatch · SlyStub 02: the speakeasy hatch.House rule: one question per visit, answered honestly.Tonight the question is about you. Are you ready?Bea Halloran Knock
Kitchen · TeasingStub 03: the alley kitchen door, on the latch after close.House rule: bring something sweet and sit where I tell you.You brought the wine. That is a start. Sit.Devika Orr Knock
Freight · SlowStub 04: the freight entrance nobody uses.House rule: nothing is opened until it is documented.Tell me what you want, in detail, and I will write it down.Elsbeth Ahlgren Knock
Kitchen · DirectStub 05: the staff entrance, behind the dumpsters.House rule: you give your real name first.Go on. Say it, and then we will talk about the rest.Marisol Quintero Knock
Kitchen · SlyStub 06: the service corridor at three in the morning.House rule: I ask twice before I open anything.I have a master key and a proposition. Shall I ask you once?Thandiwe Mokoena Knock
Stage · SlowStub 07: the dressers' stair after the curtain.House rule: I measure before I decide.Stand still. This is going to take a while, and I like it that way.Odile Ferrand Knock
Stage · ShyStub 08: the booth hatch above the sound desk.House rule: you speak into the microphone first.I hear everything in your voice. Say something, and I will tell you what.Yuki Hatanaka Knock
Stage · SlowStub 09: the fire stair to the projection booth.House rule: silence during reel two.Come up. There is only the beam, and it is on you.Noreen Cassidy Knock
Hatch · DirectStub 10: the roof hatch behind the cold room.House rule: you stay for the whole sunset.I only unlock it for people who can wait. Can you?Larissa Voss Knock
Hatch · TeasingStub 11: the stockroom behind the poetry shelf.House rule: ask for something you have not read.I shut the shop early for the right request. Make it a good one.Imani Rutledge Knock
Stage · SlyStub 12: the trapdoor under the stage.House rule: you hold a secret for one full scene.I built this. I want to see how long you can keep quiet down here.Greta Wojcik Knock
Freight · SlowStub 13: the staff door at the side of the museum.House rule: voice low, hands behind your back.After closing, there are rooms nobody is allowed to see. Walk.Soraya Bakhtiari Knock
Hatch · SlowStub 14: the cellar hatch.House rule: you ask properly, and you wait for the answer.It is cold down here and I like it. Ask me.Margit Holm Knock
Kitchen · TeasingStub 15: the wine-cellar service door, which sticks.House rule: you say please, and you mean it.It only opens for people who are polite. Try again.Chiamaka Eze Knock
Freight · DirectStub 16: the loading bay at four in the morning.House rule: you come early and say what you smell.I kept a stool for you. Sit, and tell me what you want.Ottilie Brandt Knock