Yes, Prime Minister/Day 1

Welcome to the game. Once Hacker's room at the House of Commons has appeared on the screen, you will have to direct the cursor down to the memo on his desk, and activate it to read it; once you've done so, a zoomed-in view of the memo will be displayed on the screen, with the text Don't forget your 9.20 appointment with the Cabinet Secretary. B.W. ("B.W." standing for Bernard Woolley). Once the view has returned to Hacker's room you will have to direct the cursor over to the teletype (whose light is now flashing) and activate it - and once you've done so, a zoomed-in view of the printout will appear:

Yesterday's announcement by the Government that it intends to launch a major Road Safety Campaign has been widely welcomed by the Police Federation...

Once the view has returned to Hacker's room again, you shall have to wait until the clock says 09:20 (or direct the cursor over to it and activate it to fast-forward it to that time), direct the cursor over to the door, and activate it; once you have done so, the text of Where do you wish to go? will appear on the screen with five options below it (the correct choice is 2, but if you choose 3 or 4, the texts of Sir Humphrey or The Home Secretary is extremely busy at the moment. shall appear, and if you choose 5 the text There doesn't seem to be much work for you to do around here at the moment. will also appear):

1) Back to your office 2) Bernard's office 3) Sir Humphrey's office 4) The Home Secretary 5) Party Headquarters

Once you choose 2, a digitised picture of Derek Fowlds (1937-2020) as Bernard Woolley will appear in the screen's top-right corner as the text Bernard: Prime Minister, I believe your Cabinet Secretary is eagerly awaiting you. appears at the bottom of it; the choices will then appear again, and you will have to choose 1 to return to Hacker's room. Once you've directed the cursor down to the clock (which now says 10:00) and activated it to fast-forward it to 10:11, the teletype's light shall flash again, and once you've directed the cursor over to it and activated it, a zoomed-in view of the printout will appear:

Expectation of next week's Honours List has led to speculation that the Government may reward senior police chiefs in an attempt to improve police morale...

Once the view has returned to Hacker's room again, you shall have to wait until the clock says 14:00 (or direct the cursor over to it and activate it to fast-forward it to that time), at which point the grey phone will start flashing; once you have directed that cursor over to it and activated it, the digitised picture of Fowlds as Woolley shall appear in the screen's top-right corner with the text Bernard: Prime Minister, it's the Taoiseach on the line for you. under it. When the arrow appears in the bottom-right corner of the screen you will have to press Space (BBC Micro: Enter) to continue the conversation - and once you have done it, the digitised picture will change to one of Paul Eddington (1927-1995) as Hacker himself, while the text of Thinks: What on earth's the Taoiseach? appears under it along with three options (the right one is 3, but if you pick 1 or 2 the text Good guess, but wrong. will appear):

1) The official title of the Mayor of Jerusalem 2) The Secretary-General of the Yugoslav Communist Party 3) The Irish Prime Minister

Mulcahy: Top o' the day to ye, Mr. Hacker! It's Michael Mulcahy here. I was just wondering if I could send a belated St. Patrick's Day message to all those Irish people living in Britain.

Once you have continued your conversation, the text of Thinks: Belated all right, St. Patrick's Day was two weeks ago! Anyway, shall appear on the screen, with three options below it (there is no right or wrong one in this case, but if you pick 1, the text But what do you get in return? You should ask to be allowed to do a St. George's Day message in Ireland. will appear, and Hacker's response refers to the game being set in the week of 1-5 April 1985):

1) that would be a nice gesture on his part and mine 2) he's up to no good 3) it depends on what he wants to say

Mulcahy: Are ye still there, Mr. Hacker? All I wanted to say was that Britain owes as much to Ireland as Ireland owes to Britain.

Once you have continued your conversation, the text of Thinks: will appear on the screen, with three more options below it (and the correct choice is 1):

1) That's ambiguity worthy of Sir Humphrey 2) That's sure to please Irish people in England 3) That's sure to annoy Northern Ireland's Unionists

Once you have picked 1, the text Yes. There must be some MacApplebys still living in Dublin. will then appear on the screen, followed by Mulcahy: Not that I want to annoy anyone, ye understand, Mr. Hacker., and Thinks: I'm sure he doesn't. It's just that with three options below it (correct one: 3):

1) he wants to say something innocuous to please his supporters at home 2) Irish people in Britain pay tax but don't have a vote, and he feels that brings the two nations closer 3) Irish people in Britain do have a vote, and he wants to justify that to critics

Once you have chosen 3, the text Maybe you should ask Bernard to contact the Electoral Reform Society, which might clear up your misunderstanding of the voting system. will appear on the screen, followed by Mulcahy: And now that I think of it, Mr. Hacker, would ye like to pay a visit to Dublin? 'Twould be lovely, bejabbers. and Thinks: with three more options below it (the right one is, again, 3, though technically 2 is also somewhat correct):

1) That sounds rather pleasant, and would help Anglo-Irish relations 2) This Taoiseach fellow is too fond of the blarney 3) That would probably irritate Northern Ireland Unionists

Once you have picked 3, the text of Irritate them? It would infuriate them. Sensible to decline the offer. will appear on the screen, followed by Mulcahy: One final question, Mr. Hacker. Would ye happen to know who's running in the 2.30 at Haydock Park?, and Thinks: with three final (at least, for this conversation) options below it (the right one is once again 3, though technically 1 could also be correct, due to the way it sounds when said aloud):

1) That must be some elaborate MI5 secret message 2) This must be a practical joke - someone pretending to be the Irish Prime Minister 3) Best to be non-committal

Once you've chosen 3, the text Of course. Humour the fellow. One can never be too careful with Anglo-Irish relations. will appear on the screen, followed by Mulcahy: Well, thanks for yer trouble, Mr. Hacker. Cheerio now.; once the view has returned to Hacker's room again (by which point the clock will say 14:30) the intercom will start flashing. Once you've directed the cursor over to the intercom and activated it, the digitised photo of Fowlds as Woolley will appear in the top-right corner as the following text appears at the top of it, along with three more options below it (and this time, the right choice is 1):

Bernard: Testing, testing, one, two, three...Oh, hullo, Prime Minister. Didn't realise you were there. Anyway, it seems that the Defence Secretary was dining last night in Soho and left his Red Box under the table. Can't find it anywhere this morning. Should we 1) get the police on to the job? 2) alert the media to the sensitive nature of the documents and ask them not to handle them? 3) keep cool and hope they turn up?

Once you have picked 1, the text Very well. I'll see what I can do. shall appear on the screen; once the view has returned to Hacker's room again (by which time the clock will say 15:56), you will have to wait until the clock says 16:30 (or direct the cursor over to it and activate it to fast-forward it to that time), at which point the grey phone will start flashing again. Once you have directed that cursor over to it and activated it, the digitised photo of Fowlds as Woolley will appear in the top-right corner of the screen as the text of Bernard: Prime Minister, the Party Chairman is on the line. appears under it, followed by Party Ch.: Sorry to trouble you, Jim, but we did have a meeting arranged for 4.20. Could you come around soon? - and once the view has returned to Hacker's room again (by which time the clock will say 16:31), you will have to direct the cursor up to the door, and activate it, then choose 5 to go to Party Headquarters. Once you have done so the text of Party Ch.: Aha, Jim - good to see you. Late as ever, I see! will appear on the screen, followed with Right. Straight down to the matter of the General Election Visual and Graphic Display Sub-committee. They propose we, and four more options (there is no right or wrong answer, but the text A bit early, don't you think, Jim? Winter elections are always bad news. will appear if you select 1, and the next three choices that Hacker gets while he is thinking, to which the correct answer is 3, will only appear if you do):

1) take out an option on poster sites and hoardings between January and May next year 2) between July and October 3) between late April and early July 4) that we increase levels of Official Government advertising in other areas

Thinks: 1) Only for the politicians: the voter secretly enjoys elections 2) Only for the voters: the politician secretly enjoys elections 3) For both

Once you have picked 3, the text of Party Ch.: Too true. Governments lose them and voters loathe them. will appear, followed by Sorry, Jim, but I believe there is an urgent message for you back at your office. Let's continue this discussion some other time.; you shall now have to choose 1 to return to Hacker's room (by which time the clock will say 16:51, and the yellow phone will be flashing). Once you have directed the cursor down to the yellow phone and activated it, a digitised picture of Sir Nigel Hawthorne (1929-2001) as Sir Humphrey Appleby shall appear in the top-right corner of the screen, as the text of Sir H.: Prime Minister, may I apologise for the inconvenience, but we have a matter of grave national security confronting us. appears below it (every time the arrow appears in the bottom-right corner, you will have to press Space or Enter to continue the conversation):

Hacker: Well, it had better be, that's all I can say! Sir H.: Yes, it is a hacker, Prime Minister. Hacker: Come, come, Humphrey. 1) I'm hardly a matter of national security 2) What on earth are you talking about?

As tempted as some players may be to answer 1, the correct choice is 2, and once you have chosen it, the following text will be displayed on the screen:

Sir H.: A computer hacker, Prime Minister. Hacker: So, pray, what or who is this hacker hacking, Humphrey? Sir H.: You, Prime Minister! Hacker: Ah, so the hacker is hacking Hacker, Humphrey! Sir H.: Alliterative, Prime Minister, but hardly illuminating. Someone has managed to penetrate your secretary's electronic mailbox. We have three alternative strategies. 1) Leave a very rude message in your mailbox 2) Call in the police 3) Do nothing

Again, as tempted as some players may be to answer 1, the correct choice is 2, and once you have picked it the following text will appear on the screen:

A solution, Prime Minister, which is superficially attractive, yet may, in all fairness, be a trifle premature at this stage. After all, what can the Police do? Hacker: You tell me, Humphrey. After all, you said it was a matter of grave national importance. Now you say we should do nothing. Sir H.: Exactly, Prime Minister! The ultimate Civil Service motto is Festina Lente - Let us make haste slowly. Thinks: What a waste of prime ministerial time!

Once the view has returned to Hacker's room again (by which time the clock will say 16:52), you will have to wait until the clock says 17:50 (or direct the cursor over to it and activate it to fast-forward it to that time), at which point the intercom will start flashing again; once you have directed the cursor over to it and activated it, the digitised picture of Fowlds as Woolley shall appear in the top-right corner of the screen as the text of Bernard: Prime Minister, would you like to come for our Monday tutorial in my office? appears below it. Once the view has returned to Hacker's room again, you will have to direct the cursor over to the door and activate it then choose 2 to go to Bernard's office again - and once you've done that, the text Bernard: Ah, Prime Minister. Nice to see you. Please sit down. You've come round for a Hackergram tutorial? will appear on the screen, followed up by Hacker: Yes, Bernard., Bernard: All right, let's see if you've got the hang of it. What do you think of the game so far?, and the Hackergram graph seen below:

Once you have moved the cursor to the position on the graph you believe to be accurate and activated it, the following text and Hackergram will appear:

Bernard: Almost, Prime Minister. Just put your cursor a little further to the right/left and you will be correct. Now, how about comparing Sir Humphrey's humour with mine. Assume that the humour increases the further out you go on the scale.

Once you have moved the cursor to the position on the graph you believe to be accurate and activated it, the following text and Hackergram will appear:

Bernard: Thank you indeed, Prime Minister. I'm not sure if Sir Humphrey would be pleased. Now, what do you think of your chances of surviving a week?

Once you have moved the cursor to the position on the graph you believe to be accurate and activated it, the following text and Hackergram will appear:

Bernard: Such lack of confidence, Prime Minister! Just keep your nerve, and take my advice. Finally, do you think that you've got the hang of all these Hackergrams?

Once you have moved that cursor to the position on the graph you believe to be accurate and activated it, the following text shall appear on the screen:

Bernard: What a pedagogue am I.

You shall then have to choose 1 to return to Hacker's room (by which time the clock will say 18:31); you will now have to wait until it says 19:00 (or direct the cursor down to it and activate it to fast-forward it to that time), at which point the day will end and the menu for Day 2 will appear. You can then either press 1 to continue the game, 2 to save your position as described on the previous page (if you have a spare cassette or disk to save it to), 3 to toggle between fast and slow speech, or 4 to start a new game - but you should only do the last one if you do not believe you can survive for a week.

If you direct the cursor up to the suggestion box and activate it on this day, a zoomed-in view of a note that was inside it will also appear on the screen:

Suggestions Information gathering is rarely a problem at No. 10. At its crudest, the PM may simply shout down the corridor, "Has the World At One started yet?". His secretary then looks at his watch, says yes or no, and the PM retreats in embarrassment. A more sensible approach might be to peruse the drawer for the day's events... From "Downing Street Days" by Marcella Forke.

And, if you direct the cursor down to the left or right drawers of Hacker's desk and activate them on this day, the notes inside them will read as follows:

LEFT DRAWER 9.20 WA Meeting with Cabinet Secretary 12.30 Lunch at the Carlton with United Breweries Chairman 4.20 GEVGD Meeting with Party Chairman A lot of your meetings are outside your office this week. We are still awaiting the central heating repair man. I thought you'd prefer a bit of warmth. Bernard

RIGHT DRAWER PM REFERENCE MANUAL RULE 13A Diplomacy is about surviving until the end of the next century, politics is about surviving until the end of the week.