Dot – Red
Carnegie – Black
Vernon – Blue

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aw40wBuCtlE

VERNON

Hey, what do you know about that phone booth outside?

I didn’t know there was one until you mentioned it.
Well, I don’t wanna scare you, but there’s something spooky about it. I think I might’ve even heard it ring.

Well, it’s a phone booth. There’s nothing remarkable about it.
That’s where you wrong. This phone is different. It actually rings.

I know in Pre-War times, people used them to communicate.
In Pre-War times, sure, but nobody since. So it makes you wonder…who’s making it ring?

That’s not a phone booth. It’s a toilet. At least, that’s what I just used it for.
You really should do your business out in the woods like everyone else.
But that’s neither here nor there. What I wanna know is, have you ever heard it ring?

You’ve heard the phone ring?
Yeah, about a week ago I was having trouble sleeping.
I figured since I was up, I’d go have a smoke over by the diner, you know, to relax. Only clumsy me, I drop my matches.

What did you do?
Well, it was so dark I couldn’t even see my hands, let alone the matches.
So I got down on my hands and knees and just started petting around the pavement.
I think I was about two seconds from screaming for a light when all of the sudden the streetlamp flickers on.
And that’s when the phone started to ring.

Did you pick it up?
Hell no. Would you?

Yes, but I’m not a coward.
Hey, I’m no coward. But I draw the line at deathclaws, super mutants and ghosts.

Probably not.
Yeah. I don’t blame you.

I’d at least entertain the thought.
I don’t know…you’re messing with forces you don’t understand.

I’ve never used a telephone, so I probably wouldn’t even know how.
Better that way. You wouldn’t try to disarm a mine without knowing how, right? Same rules apply.

Is it possible the phone still works?
There’s no way. I even opened it up and cut all the wires, just in case.
I’d tear the whole thing down if Dot would let me.

What time was it when you heard the phone ring? 
It was probably about two hours after midnight, give or take.  It kept ringing for about a minute before the light went out.

Does the phone ring every night?
I don’t know. To be honest, ever since that night, I’ve been going to sleep way before then.

What time did it ring again?
Like I said, it was two hours after midnight, give or take. Wait…you’re not thinking of picking it up are you?

What brings you out this far anyway?
I’m a maintenance guy. I like fixing things, taking them apart, stuff like that.
I offered to help Dot fix the streetlight, but she said it’d just attract coyotes, or worse.
After what happened the other night, it’s just as well.

Hellos/Goodbyes
Yeah?
Need something repaired?
Back again? What can I do for you?
Don’t pick up that phone. Nothing good can come out of it.
See you around.
All right.

if payphone ringing

(Sleepy) Huh?

Vernon, wake up! The phone’s ringing!
(Sleepy) Nnngh I’ll fix it in the morning….

(if in next scene Vernon is interrupted by player)
This can’t be happening…

Quest 

What was that noise?

Don’t be alarmed, but I think it sounded like a scream.

Oh my god, is someone hurt? Where’s Jessica?

Shit, I’ll go check her camper!

Carnegie, wait!

run to camper, find Jessica dead.

Damn…

Oh my god…

Whatever got to her, it wasn’t human. Her guts are torn out.

What is it? Yao guai?

No, They’re too big to get inside this camper.

It’s the phone! Someone picked up the phone!

What are you talking about? What phone?

It always rings right around this time! Whoever picked it up must have let something out!

Oh Jesus Christ Vernon, not again with this bullshit!

It’s not bullshit! Someone must picked it up!

to player

You! You picked it up, right?

You’re right. I picked it up. Sorry.
Well, it’s too late for apologies now. The important thing is we convince the others not to do the same.

I did no such thing.
Well somebody did! This is right around the time I heard it ring. Someone picked it up, and now Jessica’s dead.

We can’t worry about who did what when some dangerous beast is on the loose.
That’s what I’m trying to tell you! It’s not some random animal!
Whatever came out of that phone killed Jessica, and if we’re not careful, we’ll be next!

Carnegie’s wrong. This is precisely the time for your bullshit.
And that’s why we have to convince him and everyone else to stay the hell away from that phone!

Enough! Whatever we’re dealing with is real, and ignoring some Pre-War junk isn’t going to stop it!

Then where is it? Where’s this vicious, bloodthirsty animal you keep talking about?

I don’t know. Maybe we spooked it. Or maybe it was raiders. We all know Jessica wasn’t part of any choir.

Raiders? Since when do raiders run from anything? 

Will you two stop arguing? Something’s out there, and we need to protect ourselves.

Dot’s right. I’ll start sleeping during the day so I can guard the camp at night. 
The rest of you should arm yourself in case this thing isn’t nocturnal.

And what if the phone rings again?

It won’t.

after scene over

Don’t worry, as long as none of us pick up the phone, we’ll be fine. 

If we can’t remove the booth, I think I’ll ask Dot if I can cut the receiver cord.
That way, it doesn’t matter if it rings, you won’t be able to answer.

I bet if we dug up the pavement, we’d find an Indian burial ground.

1am, she brings Carnegie some coffee

Hey, I brought you some coffee.

Thanks. You should go back to sleep.

Who can sleep after all that’s happened?

I guess you have a point, and I can’t say I’m mad about the company. But you don’t believe this nonsense about the phone, do you?

No, don’t worry, I haven’t lost my mind yet.

Well good, because according to Vernon, it’ll start ringing at any moment.

(They both pause to look at the phone).

Pfffff! (This is a snort/snicker/laugh)

Pffffff! (This is a snort/snicker/laugh)

Go easy on Vernon, his heart’s in the right place.

I’ll try. But I’m not gonna encourage him, not when-

phone starts ringing.

(scared) Vernon was right…it’s ringing!

How…how is that even possible?

See! I told you! I told you it rings!

What is this, some sort of trick?

You think this is some kind of hoax? Jesus Carnegie, Jessica’s dead!

Yeah, and it hasn’t gotten shit to do with that phone! Hell, I’ll prove it!

picks up phone

See! What did I tell you? Nothing.

Carnegie, I…I think I heard something.

What do you mean?

When you picked up the phone, I heard a voice, telling me to go back to the diner.

Oh no…you’ve really done it now. We’re done for. We’re fucking dead!

Calm the fuck down Vernon! Now if someone’s in that diner, then the way I see it, we have him cornered.

to player

Since we’re the only ones with guns, I think you should lead the way, and I’ll cover the rear. What do you think?

Of course. I’ll take the lead.
Thanks. If anyone tries to sneak up on us, I’ve got your back.

Okay, you two get behind our friend here! I’ll cover the rear!

How about you take the lead, and I go home?
Christ, you’re worse than Vernon.
All right, I’m taking the lead, everyone else stay behind me!

It’s best if I cover the rear.
Fine. It’s been a while since my paramilitary days, so I’ll defer to you.

I’m not taking orders from you. From now on I’m listening to Vernon.
That dumbshit coward may have been right about the phone ringing, but he’s no soldier. Right now, I think it’s best if you take charge.

hellos

You have to help us! I don’t want to die!

Oh god oh god oh god….

enter diner, it’s covered in bodies and blood

No…this can’t be real…

We must be in hell…this is literally hell.

Well, wherever we are, we got company!

Combat

Take that!

Die you fucking ghouls!

There’s no end to them!

Agh!

ghouls killed

That looks like the last of them. We better check on the others, make sure they’re okay.

dot and vernon talking in diner

What do you mean, a message?

It was written on the walls…something about the trash…

No…it can’t be….

I’m telling you, it was there! 

I saw it, I swear! You believe me, don’t you?

You didn’t see a goddamn thing!

You can’t be serious! You heard the phone! You saw the diner!

It doesn’t matter what I saw. I want you all to pack your things. We’re leaving.

I understand if you both want to go. But I’m staying. 

Emma, no…

My name’s Dot! Same as on the sign. And I’ve put to much into this place to leave now.

But think about what you’re saying. You can’t stay here, not after all this.

I can and I will. If Vernon’s right about the phone, then all we have to do is not answer it.

(Sigh) To be honest, I think you’re crazy. But if you’re that determined to stay, then I’m staying too.

But what about the message? It might be a clue.

It could be, but it’d be helpful if you could remember the entire message.
I’m sorry, I was a in a bit of a panic when the ghouls came.

It’s far more likely that you’re insane.
If that were true, then so is everyone in this diner. We all saw the bodies! Someone must’ve seen the writing too!

I’d be skeptical of any clue given to us by a murderer.
But what if this thing is try to tell us something? Shouldn’t we at least try to communicate with it?

It’s a good lead. Glad you kept your wits about you.
Thank you. I’m glad someone is finally listening to me.

It doesn’t matter. Even if it was a clue, there’s no point checking the cage for deathclaws when you can just leave it locked.

Now if you want to leave, you’re welcome to. No one will call you a coward, not after tonight.

I’m not a coward, and I’ve put just as much work into this place as you or Dot. I’m staying too.

Then you take your own advice and don’t answer the phone. Just sleep through it.
Which is what I suggest for all of you. Get some sleep. We’ll talk about it more tomorrow.

hellos

I’m telling you, I saw a message on the wall. Something about the trash….

After this, the others are finally gonna start listening to what I have to say. 

I thought about cutting the cord, but Carnegie says we shouldn’t touch the phone. For once, I agree with him.

The player goes on to discover the reason for the haunting is Dot killed the original store owner. After many conversations with her and Carnegie, the player has the option of leaving them be or avenging the ghost. If the ghost is avenged, the following sequence happens, starting with the phone ringing once more.

You’re not going to answer it, are you?

player answers the phone

First you kill Dot and Carnegie, and now you pick up the phone?
Are you trying to get rid of me too?

Relax. It’s all over now. Dot was the cause of all of this.
Dot? But how? What did she do?

She killed the old woman who used to live here. I think that was her making the calls.
Really? Well you have to know that I had nothing to do with it.
I…I barely knew the woman. And to be honest, I always thought her cooking was lousy.

Nothing you should concern yourself with. But I’m guessing the phone will never ring again.
Well, if it means I get to stay alive, then I’m not going to ask any more questions, I promise you that.

I don’t know. But I didn’t like her attitude. Neither did the caller.
And you killed her for that? 
(nervous) N-Not that I disapprove, I mean, truth be told, I didn’t like her attitude either. Please don’t kill me.

What will you do now?
I don’t know. I could turn the place into a fix-it shop, but I don’t think the Tower people are throwing away nuts and bots.
I guess I’ll just run it as a diner for now. I’m not changing my name to Dot though. 
As far as I’m concerned, that name is cursed.

The thought had crossed my mind.
Why? What did I ever do to you?

I was kidding. Dot was the cause of all this. Carnegie was an unfortunate casualty.
(repeat)

I’m just saying, nobody likes a snitch.
(Scared) I’m not a snitch! Hell, I never liked those two anyway! You believe me, right?

Nothing. But since when do my actions ever make sense.
Oh god, you’re going to kill me, aren’t you?

We’ll see.
Okay, but hear me out. What if I ran the diner in Dot’s place? Cooking’s like fixing stuff, isn’t it?
I mean, you get hungry, right? So you’ll need a place to eat! See, I’m much more useful to you alive.
In fact, I think I’ll get started on something right now. Trust me, it’ll be great!

Post-quest

If Vernon only survivor

Welcome to Vernon’s Chop Shop, what can I get you?

What have you got for sale?
Everything you see here.
My cooking’s not as good as Dot’s but it’s mostly edible.
Take a look.

How’s the diner faring?
I’m getting the hang of it I think. I need to hire someone to take Carnegie’s place though. 
I can’t leave the diner, and I don’t know how to use a gun.

What about the name Dot’s Diner?
I can’t change the sign, but I’ve been calling it Vernon’s Chop Shop instead.
You know, because I chop onions and meat. People might mistake it for a workshop, but that’s fine too.
I can do both.

Can you fix my weapons and armor?
Sure. Let’s have a look.
That’s what I’m here for.