text: [Themes: Espionage]
  
  > describe your surroundings
  Green Room (West)
  This narrow alcove is deep within the theater, the thick concrete
  walls blocking out the noise from the stage. A couch with threadbare cushions occupies one side of the room. At a table in the corner, a human sits in front of a machine resembling a typewriter, but with a profusion of wires running out of it and into a large suitcase at its feet. An empty coffee cup is next to it on the table, with a cigarette smoldering in it. A staircase to the southeast leads upward.
  
  The speechwriter sits nearby.
  
  > put write on the writer
  (first taking the write intent from the speechwriter)
  I give the write intent to the speechwriter, who now intends to write notes for the western politician.
  
  The speechwriter scribbles some notes and feeds them into the contraption.
  
  > put aggressive on the writer
  I give the aggressively manner to the speechwriter, who now intends to aggressively write notes encouraging warmongering.
  
  The speechwriter scribbles some notes and confidently feeds them into the contraption.
  
  > Wait
  Time passes.
  
  The speechwriter scribbles some notes and confidently feeds them into the contraption.
  
  > Wait
  Time passes.
  
  The speechwriter scribbles some notes and gingerly feeds them into the contraption.
  
  > wait a while
  Time passes.
  
  The speechwriter scribbles some notes and, frowning, feeds them into the contraption.
  
  > examine the notes
  I don't see the notes here. It was at Green Room (East).
  
  > Go up
  From this viewpoint, the auditorium's stage is smaller and emptier
  than it appeared from the audience. Nevertheless, its heavy blue curtains and and gold-edged insignia give it a certain gravitas. Two scrupulously identical banks of seats have been placed on either side, exactly equidistant from a center podium. The spotlights above are intense, and it's difficult to make out any details in the audience to the south. Passages to the northwest and northeast, concealed behind the folds of the curtain, lead backstage.
  
  The western politician speaks: "This is the time for action. This summit has taken years, if not decades, to arrange. It will all have been worth it if we can take advantage of this unprecedented opportunity. The time for the future is now. Let us strike while the iron is hot and forge a peace together. We cannot wait, or we will
  lose our special moment in history. We must act, decisively and confidently, to secure a peaceful and prosperous future."
  
  The western politician glances down at his podium. "Of course,
  improved relations between our two nations would generate a tremendous peace dividend. How should we use it most effectively?"
  
  The eastern politician and the unaligned politician stand nearby, listening with practiced politeness.
  
  > wait
  Time passes.
  
  The western politician speaks: "Our nations have both entered an unprecedented era of prosperity. Most of our people have never had it so good. As we move forward, let us not forget those of us around the world who are not so fortunate. We have an obligation to use our great wealth to help out other nations and to be good neighbors to our
  fellow man. Forging ties of peace and comity with the other nations around the world will ensure a steady path forward for our two countries to thrive. Our preeminence on the world stage gives us an extraordinary chance to share our resources and our peace with the world and to lead by example."
  
  The western politician glances down at his podium. "But, you may be wondering, how can we ensure that we're acting in our best interests?"
  
  The eastern politician and the unaligned politician stand nearby, listening with practiced politeness.
  
  > wait
  Time passes.
  
  The western politician speaks: "We stand at the precipice of the dawning of a new era. As we climb up to our new prosperity, let us proceed with caution. The road ahead is a new one, and we are the
  first ones to explore it. We will do so together. Let us embark on our mission with caution but not fear, with vision but not illusions, and with prudence but not timidity."
  
  The western politician glances down at his podium. "Let me now outline how we can de-escalate tensions between our two nations."
  
  The eastern politician and the unaligned politician stand nearby, listening with practiced politeness.
  
  > wait for a while
  Time passes.
  
  The western politician speaks: "With this summit, we are moving toward a more peaceful d??tente. Until we get there, however, we must continue to be wary. Let us move beyond the conflicts of the past. Whatever disagreements, we have had, we are in it for the long haul. We will bury you. We can look forward to the day when we beat our swords into plowshares and forge a new, more peaceful future; but until then, we will continue to make swords, and we will continue to point them towards you."
  
  My sharp, if technically nonexistent, ears pick up some faint
  murmuring even through the muffled reception of the wireless contraption.
  
  The western politician glances down at his podium. "Now, let us
  address how we can move with all due haste toward the peace we have envisioned here."
  
  The eastern politician and the unaligned politician stand nearby, listening with practiced politeness.
  
  > Wait
  Time passes.
  
  The western politician speaks: "In preparing for the new challenges that await us in the future, we have to be quick. We can only win the future and forge a new, more secure peace between our nations if we proceed rapidly, using our agreements here to accelerate our efforts not towards arming ourselves for war, but for building trust and establishing peace. We have established a road map that will lead us into the next decades, but the highway of progress we're on has no speed limit. The engine of progress is strong. We will not allow ourselves to quiet that engine because of fear or suspicion."
  
  crowd, who are now leaning back in comfortable boredom. Even the wary politicians on stage next to it relax.
  The western politician glances down at his podium. "But, you may be wondering, how can we ensure that we're acting in our best interests?"
  
  The eastern politician and the unaligned politician stand nearby, listening with practiced politeness.
  
  > Wait
  Time passes.
  
  The western politician speaks: "We stand at the precipice of the dawning of a new era. As we climb up to our new prosperity, let us proceed with caution. The road ahead is a new one, and we are the
  first ones to explore it. We will do so together. Let us embark on our mission with caution but not fear, with vision but not illusions, and with prudence but not timidity."
  
  The western politician glances down at his podium. "But, you may be wondering, how can we ensure that we're acting in our best interests?"
  
  The eastern politician and the unaligned politician stand nearby, listening with practiced politeness.
  
  > wait
  Time passes.
  
  The western politician speaks: "Every nation has the right to manage its own affairs. We must jealously guard our sovereignty and safeguard the rights of our own citizens. What we're proposing here is not an alliance, or a merger, or even a friendship; it's simply a wary d??tente between independent powers. Neither of us is here because of naive goodwill or charity; we are both doing it because of our enlightened self-interest."
  
  The western politician glances down at his podium. "Of course,
  improved relations between our two nations would generate a tremendous peace dividend. How should we use it most effectively?"
  
  The eastern politician and the unaligned politician stand nearby, listening with practiced politeness.
  
  > Wait
  Time passes.
  
  The western politician speaks: "Our nations have both entered an unprecedented era of prosperity. Most of our people have never had it so good. As we move forward, let us not forget those of us around the world who are not so fortunate. We have an obligation to use our great wealth to help out other nations and to be good neighbors to our
  fellow man. Forging ties of peace and comity with the other nations around the world will ensure a steady path forward for our two countries to thrive. Our preeminence on the world stage gives us an extraordinary chance to share our resources and our peace with the world and to lead by example."
  
  The western politician glances down at his podium. "Now, let us
  address how we can move with all due haste toward the peace we have envisioned here."
  
  The eastern politician and the unaligned politician stand nearby, listening with practiced politeness.
  
  > wait for a while
  Time passes.
  
  The western politician speaks: "In preparing for the new challenges that await us in the future, we have to be quick. We can only win the future and forge a new, more secure peace between our nations if we proceed rapidly, using our agreements here to accelerate our efforts not towards arming ourselves for war, but for building trust and establishing peace. We have established a road map that will lead us into the next decades, but the highway of progress we're on has no speed limit. The engine of progress is strong. We will not allow ourselves to quiet that engine because of fear or suspicion."
  
  The western politician glances down at his podium. "This summit is a unique opportunity for our two nations. Let us discuss what we can do with it."
  
  The eastern politician and the unaligned politician stand nearby, listening with practiced politeness.
  
  > get aggressively
  I extract the aggressively manner from the speechwriter.
  
  The speechwriter scribbles some notes and feeds them into the contraption.
  
  > Go upward
  From this viewpoint, the auditorium's stage is smaller and emptier
  than it appeared from the audience. Nevertheless, its heavy blue curtains and and gold-edged insignia give it a certain gravitas. Two scrupulously identical banks of seats have been placed on either side, exactly equidistant from a center podium. The spotlights above are intense, and it's difficult to make out any details in the audience to the south. Passages to the northwest and northeast, concealed behind the folds of the curtain, lead backstage.
  
  The western politician speaks: "This is the time for action. This summit has taken years, if not decades, to arrange. It will all have been worth it if we can take advantage of this unprecedented opportunity. The time for the future is now. Let us strike while the iron is hot and forge a peace together. We cannot wait, or we will
  lose our special moment in history. We must act, decisively and confidently, to secure a peaceful and prosperous future."
  
  The western politician glances down at his podium. "But, you may be wondering, how can we ensure that we're acting in our best interests?"
  
  The eastern politician and the unaligned politician stand nearby, listening with practiced politeness.
  
  > wait awhile
  Time passes.
  
  The western politician speaks: "With this summit, we are moving
  towards a more peaceful d??tente. Our nations are not so different; one day we may see each other as friends. Until then, we can at least work together to earn each other's trust, establish lines of communication, and build a framework for a thawing of relations in which we can at least work together on our mutually beneficial goals. Let us move beyond the conflicts of the past. Even if we're not there yet, we can at least look forward to the day when we beat our swords into plowshares and plant the seeds of a new, more peaceful future."
  
  The western politician glances down at his podium. "I know many of you may have some concerns about our new policies, but let me assure you that we are giving all the issues due consideration."
  
  The eastern politician and the unaligned politician stand nearby, listening with practiced politeness.
  
  > wait
  Time passes.
  
  The western politician speaks: "We stand at the precipice of the dawning of a new era. As we climb up to our new prosperity, let us proceed with caution. The road ahead is a new one, and we are the
  first ones to explore it. We will do so together. Let us embark on our mission with caution but not fear, with vision but not illusions, and with prudence but not timidity."
  
  The western politician glances down at his podium. "This summit is a unique opportunity for our two nations. Let us discuss what we can do with it."
  
  The eastern politician and the unaligned politician stand nearby, listening with practiced politeness.
  
  > wait
  Time passes.
  
  The western politician speaks: "This is the time for action. This summit has taken years, if not decades, to arrange. It will all have been worth it if we can take advantage of this unprecedented opportunity. The time for the future is now. Let us strike while the iron is hot and forge a peace together. We cannot wait, or we will
  lose our special moment in history. We must act, decisively and confidently, to secure a peaceful and prosperous future."
  
  The western politician glances down at his podium. "Now, let us
  address how we can move with all due haste toward the peace we have envisioned here."
  
  The eastern politician and the unaligned politician stand nearby, listening with practiced politeness.
  
  > Wait
  Time passes.
  
  The western politician speaks: "This is the time for action. This summit has taken years, if not decades, to arrange. It will all have been worth it if we can take advantage of this unprecedented opportunity. The time for the future is now. Let us strike while the iron is hot and forge a peace together. We cannot wait, or we will
  lose our special moment in history. We must act, decisively and confidently, to secure a peaceful and prosperous future."
  
  The western politician glances down at his podium. "Let me now outline how we can de-escalate tensions between our two nations."
  
  The eastern politician and the unaligned politician stand nearby, listening with practiced politeness.
  
  > wait for a while
  Time passes.
  
  The western politician speaks: "With this summit, we are moving
  towards a more peaceful d??tente. Our nations are not so different; one day we may see each other as friends. Until then, we can at least work together to earn each other's trust, establish lines of communication, and build a framework for a thawing of relations in which we can at least work together on our mutually beneficial goals. Let us move beyond the conflicts of the past. Even if we're not there yet, we can at least look forward to the day when we beat our swords into plowshares and plant the seeds of a new, more peaceful future."
  
  The western politician glances down at his podium. "Of course,
  improved relations between our two nations would generate a tremendous peace dividend. How should we use it most effectively?"
  
  The eastern politician and the unaligned politician stand nearby, listening with practiced politeness.