PCW PLAYERS
The supplied PCW disk is the older serial 200620.
The pants-and-mouse route below also works there: verified
in MAME with 10/10 in 29 turns, without modifying the disk.
That run needed no extra mouse waits; timing can vary.
STROKE CAT works on the PCW, so this workaround is optional.
For the normal scoring route, use the separate file:
Behind Closed Doors 9 PCW walkthrough.txt
Follow one route, not both. With this pants-and-mouse route,
do not also STROKE CAT: the extra point can put you above
10, and the ending requires exactly 10.
IMPORTANT
The cat-petting point is broken in the serial 200716 files,
not in the older PCW serial 200620.
This route uses a separate scoring loophole to replace it:
give the elf your pants, then the mouse. Giving away worn
pants does not prevent movement in the original game.
This is a workaround, not a repair to the game.
OPENING
EXAMINE SLABS, TAKE PANTS, HANG PANTS ON NAIL, TAKE PANTS,
WEAR PANTS, TAKE SPIDER, SOUTH, GIVE PANTS TO ELF
Your score should now be 4. Remain on the Gravel Path.
THE MOUSE
GIVE MOUSE TO ELF
If the game says it cannot see the mouse, enter WAIT, then
try GIVE MOUSE TO ELF again. Repeat those two commands until
the elf releases the pants and takes the mouse. Stop at that
point: your score should now be 5.
The cat moves randomly and can take the mouse away or bring
it back. There is no fixed WAIT count that works for every
playthrough. The tested runs needed between 0 and 12 waits.
Stop waiting or giving things once the exchange works.
TO THE END
WEST, TAKE RAT, EAST, EAST, OPEN BUCKET, OPEN BUCKET, TAKE
NOTE, EXAMINE NOTE, READ NOTE, FOLD NOTE, WEST, DROP NOTE,
SOUTH, EXAMINE BOAT, TAKE BOAT, READ WRITING, SAIL BOAT ON
POND, READ NEWSPAPER, FOLD NEWSPAPER, SAIL BARGE ON POND
OPEN BUCKET is deliberately entered twice. The first time
releases Albie and the bucket closes again. The second time
reveals the note.
FOLD NOTE deliberately shows why the smaller paper is not
suitable. The newspaper is the material used for the barge.
After FOLD NEWSPAPER your score must be exactly 10.
The final command produces the sailing ending and:
The world is at your feet ... Go west young man
Balrog scored 10 out of 10
WARNINGS
Do not sail the barge before reaching exactly 10 points.
Otherwise it sinks.
Avoid the mud. Even EXAMINE MUD kills the player.
The key, locked kitchen door and screwdriver are not needed.
ALTERNATIVE: BUCKET ROUTE
Tested in the newer .z3, .z5 and .z8 serial 200716 files.
PCW COMPATIBILITY
This same bucket loophole also works on the Amstrad PCW.
Its older build (serial 200620) was verified in MAME:
10/10 in 35 turns, using the same commands. No disk edits.
This is a separate route from a fresh game. Do not add it
to the pants-and-mouse route above.
It uses another scoring loophole: Albie awards a point
each time he is released from the bucket. Two extra
releases replace the cat and elf points. No elf gifts,
cat commands or mouse waits are needed. Keep your pants on.
This is a workaround, not a repair or the intended solution.
FULL ALTERNATIVE ROUTE
EXAMINE SLABS, TAKE PANTS, HANG PANTS ON NAIL, TAKE PANTS,
WEAR PANTS, TAKE SPIDER, SOUTH, WEST, TAKE RAT, EAST, EAST,
OPEN BUCKET, OPEN BUCKET, PUT ROACH IN BUCKET, CLOSE BUCKET,
OPEN BUCKET, OPEN BUCKET, PUT ROACH IN BUCKET, CLOSE BUCKET,
OPEN BUCKET, OPEN BUCKET, TAKE NOTE, EXAMINE NOTE,
READ NOTE, FOLD NOTE, WEST, DROP NOTE, SOUTH, EXAMINE BOAT,
TAKE BOAT, READ WRITING, SAIL BOAT ON POND, READ NEWSPAPER,
FOLD NEWSPAPER, SAIL BARGE ON POND
ALTERNATIVE NOTES
The repeated bucket commands are deliberate. Release Albie
three times in total, putting him back between releases.
Your score should be 7 before TAKE NOTE and exactly 10
after FOLD NEWSPAPER. Do not add extra scoring actions.
The route retains the note, boat and newspaper clues.
The screwdriver, key and kitchen door are not needed.
