Playing House

WEATHER REPORT: Though the skies are now calm and blue, there is over a foot of snow on the ground as far as the eyes can see. Temperatures around 20°F / -7°C during the day.

EVENTS: Our twenty-six housemates have all gone through the same experience - they were picked up on December 30th at their homes, by an escort and limo, taken to the nearest airport, and on board a private plane they were secluded and kept in the dark on all details about location and travel time. Many hours were spent on planes and in identical black cars.

At 5:00 AM on the morning of January 1st, they were awoken, blindfolded, and put into yet another vehicle of some sort. They were taken to The Compound, and lead to what would be their bedroom for the next year. They were given one instruction by their escort. "When you hear the ring, remove the blindfold."

Sounds of the escort leaving, and then for ten minutes, nothing. Finally, a ring - a ringing telephone.

Upon removing the blindfold, they would see that next to the bed is a clock reading 8:00 AM, and a phone much like the ones you would see in a hotel. Upon answering the phone, each hear the same pre-recorded message.

“Welcome to the Compound, your home for the next year. Thank you for participating in this experiment. The room in which you sit shall be yours for the time that you remain here, and adjacent is your private bath. You will find that your belongings are already awaiting you, and everything you need will be provided. You will find they key to your room on the nightstand. Thank you, and have a nice year. You are now free to explore. Please, make yourself at home.”

Treatment for the ten Experiment B participants is identical, although the message they hear upon answering the phone is slightly different.

“Welcome to the Compound, your home for the next year. Thank you for participating in this experiment. The room in which you sit shall be yours for the time that you remain here, and adjacent is your private bath. You will find that your belongings are already waiting for you, and everything you need will be provided. You will find the key to your room on the nightstand.

In your room you will find a computer. On the desktop you will find instructions for accessing the Experiment A feeds. All rooms and cameras are properly labeled, and you may watch as many rooms at a time as you like. Please familiarize yourself with the system, as all instructions will be destroyed at the end of the week when Experiment B merges with the rest of the house.

For the rest of the week, you will be limited to your current floor. The rest of the house will have no idea that there is a fourth floor of the house, as the staircase has been hidden and the floor is soundproofed. Meals and snacks will be sent up through a dumbwaiter in the laundry room until the merge. Meal requests can be made through your computer.

Thank you, and have a nice year. You are now free to explore. Please, make yourself at home.”

Who: Audrey and OPEN to EX B
Where: 4th floor common area
When: Approximately 9:00 am
What: Acclimating

( Thank you, and have a nice year. You are now free to explore. Please, make yourself at home. )

Who: Georgie & Open to anyone
Where: 2nd floor; The library
When: Day 1, morning

( Time to explore )