Coraline — 76 of 122

Section of the Trapdoor

The trapdoor is a door. It is scenery. It is locked.

Down from the trapdoor is the Empty Basement.

Up from the trapdoor is the Empty Flat.

The description of the trapdoor is "xxx". [Otherworldly only.]

The other description of the trapdoor is "Set into the floorboards is a large metal ring - it's a trapdoor."

Instead of doing anything with the real trapdoor:

say "Trapdoor? What trapdoor?"

Instead of doing anything with the locked other trapdoor:

say "Trapdoor? What trapdoor?"

After examining the other floorboards for the first time:

now the trapdoor is unlocked.

Instead of searching the other floorboards:

now the trapdoor is unlocked;

say "You have found a trapdoor hidden in the floor."

Before going through the trapdoor:

if the trapdoor is real:

say "What makes you think there is a trapdoor here?" instead;

otherwise:

if the trapdoor is unlocked:

say "Terribly slowly, stiffly, heavily, a hinged square of floor lifts: you go through the trapdoor.";

continue the action;

otherwise:

say "Why would you want to go down here? You haven't paid much attention to the floor yet." instead.