Dot – Red
Carnegie – Black
Vernon – Blue

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

CARNEGIE

How’s it going?
Need something?
You want something to eat, go talk to Dot. She’ll set you straight.

What brings you to this diner?
I knew Dot back when she was Emma. The name change’s still a little weird at times, but I’ll get used to it.

Do you serve as the guard?
If need be. There’s a few scorpions around here and some raiders to the north, but we’re pretty high up so I can usually spot ’em early.
My main job is shuttling supplies over from Tenpenny Tower.

What can you tell me about the other residents?
Vernon’s bad with a gun, but good with a wrench. If something needs fixing, we ask him.
Jessica, on the other hand, she’s a worthless chem addict. I have no idea why Dot’s so good to her.

 Goodbyes
All right then.
Later.

Scene 1

Hey Emma…

It’s Dot now, remember? You’re gonna confuse the customers if you keep calling me that.

Sorry.  Last time. I swear.

Ha, that’s what you said yesterday, and the day before that. 

Yeah. Knowing me, you might have an easier time changing the sign.

Scene 2

Need anything from the tower?

Whatever they toss, really. No point spending caps on what you can get for free.

But the bins might not have what you need.

Then we’ll change the menu until they do. Stick to the lemons, Carnegie, that’s all I can afford.

Well, what if I bought it out of my own pocket?

Now why would you do that?

No reason. I…better get going.

if payphone ringing

(sleepy) Nnnggh…what is it?

Do you hear the phone ringing?
(sleepy) Huh? A phone? Argh, I’m going back to sleep.

if player interrupts scene

Not now!

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!

run to camper, find Jessica dead.

Damn…

Oh my god…how could this happen?

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?

Every night, it 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’ve picked it up!

to player

You! You picked it up, right?

player admits to picking it up

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 didn’t belong to 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

I’m sorry, but I don’t believe in superstitious nonsense.
Whatever killed Jessica is still out there, and we have to be ready for it.

I agree. Whatever it is, I doubt it’s paranormal.
Glad to hear it. Vernon’s useless with a gun anyway, so it doesn’t matter what he thinks. I just don’t want him making everyone else hysterical.

I don’t know. I heard the phone ring, and I picked it up, just like he said.
It’s a coincidence. You start connecting random dots and you’ll convince yourself your mother was a molerat.
Life’s not that complicated. When something’s coming at you with extreme prejudice, the best thing to do is point and shoot.

Are you sad about what happened to Jessica?
I’m more worried about how Dot’s taking it. Jessica was a chem addict. She was already killing herself.

Do you plan on fighting this thing yourself?
I’m no fool. I’ll take any help I can get. But Vernon and Dot would just get in the way.

What happens if this beast attacks during the day?
I doubt it will. Animals stick to a pattern. They hunt in the day or at night, never both.

Were you always this pragmatic?
Ha, it’s that obvious, huh? Well, I wasn’t always like this, but the wastes have a way of changing you.

How so?
Well, a few years back I was part of this militia.
Most of us were normal guys, but there’s always one who’s a bit of an oddball.
For us, that guy was Freddie. Every patrol he’d show up with holes in his pants and a pair of mismatched socks.
One day I ask him why, and he tells me, “These are my lucky socks. I can’t die if I’m wearing my lucky socks.”
Of course, I couldn’t argue with him. He was alive, so the socks worked. Hell, I even tried it myself.

What happened to him?
Shot in the head by a raider. Freddie got sloppy and let the guy flank him. Not sure why. Maybe it was the socks.

How does that apply to this situation?
Simple. In life, people believe what they want to believe.
Sometimes, it feels like those beliefs make sense. But no amount of luck is going to stop a bullet to the head.
So take it from someone who knows. If you want to survive in the wastes, don’t lose sight of what’s real.

We’ll talk in a bit. First. I need to a get more ammo.

If you want to help, you’re welcome to. Just don’t let Vernon fill your head with nonsense.

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 militia 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!

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 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.

What we saw in the diner was probably some sort of mass hallucination. I wouldn’t concern yourself with it.

Thanks for your help. Without you, we would’ve been overrun.

The ghouls could have come from the Dunwich building to the south. I’ve heard that place is infested.

Thanks so much for staying. You saved me and the diner.

What do you make of Vernon’s message?
(nervous, as she knows message was for her but doesn’t want to reveal that) 
I didn’t see anything, but it was a lot to process. 
Still, Carnegie’s right. This thing, whatever it is, wants to kill us. So why should we listen to anything it has to say?

What if a customer decides to stay the night and picks up the phone?
Carnegie will make sure that doesn’t happen. He’ll shoot somebody in the leg if he has to.

Do you mind if I take a look in your trash bin?
Why would you want to do that? 
Well, it doesn’t matter, I lost the key to that years ago. We burn all our trash now.

Why is the trash bin locked?
To keep molerats and other vermin away. Look, I don’t know what you think you’ll find in there, but it’s private property.
You shouldn’t just go rummaging through other people’s things.

I could never leave this place. The life I had before was ten times worse than what we’re dealing with here.

player finds corpse in dumpster

I figured someone would open that dumpster up sooner or later.
Hmph, truth is, Vernon wasn’t the first person to hear that phone ring. It was me.

Why didn’t you say anything?
Because I knew who it was after. And right or wrong, that’s who I sided with.

When did you first hear it ring?
It was about a year ago. Emma had just taken over the diner and asked me to come help her set up.
It was real late. I’d spent all night patching a hole in my camper when it started to ring.
And without thinking, I walked over and picked it up.

What happened next?
When I first picked it up, it was mostly static. But then I started to hear a voice.
Only it wasn’t coming from the phone.
When I found the body, it was pretty easy to figure out who killed her.

Why not burn or bury the corpse?
I don’t know. It just felt awkward, giving her a proper burial knowing what happened.
And part of me thought if I left it here, one day Emma would trust me enough to tell me the truth.

Who was this woman?
From what I could piece together, she used to live here. Slept on the same mattress Emma uses now. Might’ve even called herself Dot.
But she was also old and stubborn. She couldn’t have had more than five years left.
If she just let Emma use the diner this never would’ve happened.

So what are my choices now?
You can move on. Pretend you never saw it. I’ll guard the phone every night and make sure nobody else gets hurt.
But if you’re going to make trouble, then I’m letting you know right now: I’ll fight you with every last bullet.

hellos depending on decision regarding Dot

Remember what I said. No need to start anything now that things have settled down.

I’m glad you didn’t mention the body to Emma. Even if you can keep a secret, she didn’t need the stress.

You didn’t have to mention the body. But what’s done is done. Hopefully you’re someone we can trust.

Combat if DOt killed

You killed her you fucking bastard!

How could you!

Post-quest

Things have finally started to settle down around here, and we have you to thank.

I was considering proposing to Emma, I mean, Dot. I’m just not sure with Jessica gone, it’s the right time.

What do you need?

Something I can do for you?