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This scene takes place near the end of "The Assassination of Mabel Monterey," a quest from a noir RPG set in 1940s San Francisco. To see the full quest outline, click <a href="https://cmcconnell.neocities.org/samples/quest" target="_blank">here.</a>
The player, known as the Fixer, has accepted a contract to kill Mabel Monterey: a brothel owner who was recently arrested and will soon testify against many of the city's wealthy elite. Monterey is currently being held in protective custody by the US Marshals, and her exact whereabouts are unknown.
The Fixer managed to track down Monterey's lawyer, Eugene J.W. Bell, at his office. Once the Fixer determined Monterey was being held at the Emperor Norton Inn, Bell made a counteroffer: Monterey would pay double the Fixer's contract rate to kill Albert Kelly, the man who hired the Fixer in the first place.
However, Bell then attempted to call the Emperor Norton and warn Monterey about the contract.
>[[The Fixer killed Bell to stop him from making the call.->BellKilled]]
>[[The Fixer let Bell make the call.->BellAlive]]The Fixer made their way to the Emperor Norton Inn, currently under heavy guard by the US Marshals.
> [[The Fixer disguised themselves as staff to infiltrate the hotel.->HotelSneak]]
> [[The Fixer caused a distraction outside the hotel and snuck past the marshals.->HotelDistract]]
> [[The Fixer attacked the marshals and fought their way to Monterey's room.->HotelFight]]LawyerDead: true
LawyerWarned: false
--
{embed passage: 'HotelEntry'}LawyerDead: false
LawyerWarned: true
--
{embed passage: 'HotelEntry'}HotelDistract: false
HotelFight: true
HotelSneak: false
--
{embed passage: 'MontereyIntro'}HotelDistract: false
HotelFight: false
HotelSneak: true
--
{embed passage: 'MontereyIntro'}HotelDistract: true
HotelFight: false
HotelSneak: false
--
{embed passage: 'MontereyIntro'}HereToKill: 0
--
<div class="screenplay">
<p class="scene">Int. Mabel Monterey's Hotel Room</p>
THE FIXER enters the room and encounters MABEL MONTEREY.
<p class="character">Mabel Monterey</p>
<p class="parenthetical">(visibly afraid, but composed)</p>
<p class="dialogue">Oh. Hello. I suppose I shouldn't have expected you to knock.</p>
[if HotelDistract]
<p class="dialogue">The marshals all ran off to sort out some disturbance outside. I assume that was your doing.</p>
[if HotelFight]
<p class="dialogue">I heard gunfire outside. If you're here, I suppose that means the marshals are all dead.</p>
[if HotelSneak]
<p class="dialogue">The marshals are going to be furious you slipped past them. They should’ve kept a closer eye on the hotel staff.</p>
[if LawyerWarned]
<p class="dialogue">Mr. Bell told me he passed along my counteroffer. Have you at least considered it?</p>
[if LawyerDead]
<p class="dialogue">But if you've managed to track me down here, you must have spoken to Mr. Bell. Did he give you my counteroffer?</p>
>[[He did. And then I shot him.->MontereyLawyerDead]]
[continue]
>[[This job is a favor to a friend. I won't betray her.->MontereyFavor]]
>[[I'm still thinking it over.->MontereyThinking]]
>[[I can't be bought off that easily.->MontereyRefuse]]
</div>HereToKill: HereToKill + 2
--
<div class="screenplay">
<p class="character">Mabel Monterey</p>
<p class="parenthetical">(visibly disturbed)</p>
<p class="dialogue">You ... ? Oh, poor Mr. Bell. He didn't deserve that. The man had the morals of a coyote, but he didn’t deserve that.</p>
{embed passage: 'QuestionHub'}
</div>HereToKill: HereToKill + 2
--
<div class="screenplay">
<p class="character">Mabel Monterey</p>
<p class="parenthetical">(disappointed, a little shaken)</p>
<p class="dialogue">Well. I suppose I can respect that. You'd better hope she's just as loyal to you, though.</p>
{embed passage: 'QuestionHub'}
</div>HereToKill: HereToKill + 1
--
<div class="screenplay">
<p class="character">Mabel Monterey</p>
<p class="parenthetical">(nervous, laughing it off)</p>
<p class="dialogue">Well, don't be in any rush to decide. I like being alive, and I'm happy to keep doing it for as long as possible.</p>
{embed passage: 'QuestionHub'}
</div>HereToKill: HereToKill + 2
--
<div class="screenplay">
<p class="character">Mabel Monterey</p>
<p class="parenthetical">(sarcastic, patronizing)</p>
<p class="dialogue">Oh, dear. Did I insult your professional pride as a killer for hire? I'm so sorry.</p>
{embed passage: 'QuestionHub'}
</div>> [[What do you have on Albert Kelly?->MontereyBlackmail]]
> [[Are you really going to testify against your own clients?->MontereyTestify]]
> [[You seem pretty calm for a woman facing her own death.->MontereyCalm]]
> [[Enough talking. Let's settle this.->MontereyChoice]]<div class="screenplay">
<p class="character">Mabel Monterey</p>
<p class="dialogue">I could tell you he's some kind of depraved maniac, but I don't think you'd buy that. Kelly has unusual tastes — mild, really, compared to some of my other clients. But reputation is everything for a man like him.</p>
<p class="dialogue">Albert Kelly is boring. He's also insecure and petty and afraid, and that's why he wants me dead.</p>
{embed passage: 'QuestionHub'}
</div><div class="screenplay">
<p class="character">Mabel Monterey</p>
<p class="dialogue">Oh, of course. I've known for years this could happen. A woman in my position can't be too careful.</p>
<p class="dialogue">Besides, it's not me the feds really want. In this city, there are much bigger fish to fry. And the fish in question turned on me the moment I became a threat. Just like I knew they would.</p>
{embed passage: 'QuestionHub'}
</div><div class="screenplay">
<p class="character">Mabel Monterey</p>
<p class="dialogue">I've known this moment might come since the day my brothel opened its doors.</p>
[if LawyerWarned]
<p class="parenthetical">(wry humor hiding mortal terror)</p>
<p class="dialogue">Besides, Bell did warn me about you. I got all my screaming and crying squared away before you arrived.</p>
[else]
<p class="parenthetical">(rigid composure hiding mortal terror)</p>
<p class="dialogue">If you were hoping I'd scream and cry and beg for my life, I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you.</p>
[continue]
{embed passage: 'QuestionHub'}
</div><div class="screenplay">
<p class="character">Mabel Monterey</p>
<p class="parenthetical">(reminiscing sadly)
<p class="dialogue">You know, I'm not proud of everything I've done in my life. But at least I got to live it on my own terms.</p>
[if HereToKill > 1]
<p class="dialogue">Now if you're going to kill me, I'd appreciate if you got it over with.</p>
[else]
<p class="dialogue">Now, I'd appreciate if you decided whether or not you're going to kill me.</p>
[continue]
> [[(Shoot her.)->MontereyKill]]
> [[(Walk away.)->MontereySpare]]
</div><div class="screenplay">
The Fixer shoots Mabel, and she falls to the ground, dead.
<p class="transition">{restart link, label: 'Replay'}</p>
</div><div class="screenplay">
The Fixer turns and walks out of the room.
<p class="character">Mabel Monterey</p>
<p class="parenthetical">(quiet, relieved, still terrified)</p>
<p class="dialogue">Thank you.</p>
<p class="transition">{restart link, label: 'Replay'}</p>
</div>