RAISING THE VIDEO SCREEN

FRONT GARDEN

>w

DOORSTEP

>unlock door with key
The front door is now unlocked.   

>open door
The front door is now open.   

>n

LIVING ROOM (front half)

On the south wall you see the front door, which is currently 
open.  East of the door is a wall switch and a picture window 
currently covered by heavy curtains.  A long shelf runs across 
the south wall under the window.  There is some model railroad 
track mounted on the shelf.   

On the west wall is a large, comfortable-looking sofa.  To the 
right of the sofa is a doorway, which leads west to a hallway.   

The polished dark wood floor is adorned with a fine oriental rug 
in the center of the living room.   

To the east you see a very large video screen.   

The living room continues to the north.   

>x railroad track
Wooden shelving runs along the south wall.  Mounted on the 
shelving is some model railroad track that runs along the entire 
length of the shelving. 

The track enters the front half of living room from the 
southeast corner and continues west along the wall, dropping 
somewhat to pass under the picture window and then dropping to 
floor level to pass in front of the door.  The track is inlaid 
into the floor there.  The track then rises back onto the 
shelving again.  At this point the shelving widens to form a 
platform by the sofa.  Then the track goes west, exiting through 
a tunnel-shaped opening in the west wall.   

>x sofa
The peach-colored sofa has an old-fashioned rounded look: 
ornately-carved wooden legs and a generous abundance of pillows 
and cushions. The fabric is a smooth satin-like material which 
appears to have held up well after years of use.   

>look under cushions
As you search through the cushions and pillows, you see 
something shiny.  It's a pocket watch!  You take the watch.   

>x watch
It's a brass pocket watch on a chain. 

The cover of the watch has an engraving of an old-fashioned 
locomotive.  Puffs of steam are shown rising from the engine 
smokestack.  The watch cover is currently closed.   

There is a stem at the top of the watch.   

>x stem
The stem is a small knob attached to the top of the pocket 
watch.  The stem can be pushed, pulled, or turned.   

>push stem
You push the watch stem and it springs back up again.  The watch 
cover pops open. 

On the face of the watch you see an image of Galileo Galilei.  
Galileo's arms show the time as 12:00.   

>turn stem
You turn the stem clockwise.  Galileo's arms still show the time 
as 12:00.   

Galileo looks like a scientist who has helped to lay one of the 
foundation pillars of physics.  An absolute giant in his field.  
Even so, he appears to have some time on his hands.   

>turn stem
You turn the stem clockwise.  Galileo's arms still show the time 
as 12:00.   

>push stem
You push the watch stem and it springs back up again.  The watch 
beeps.  The watch image changes to Benjamin Franklin.   

Franklin looks quite handsome in his glowing bifocals, which he 
invented himself.   

>turn stem
You turn the stem clockwise.  The video screen slides up into 
the ceiling, revealing two large fish tanks.   

Ben's bifocals stop glowing.