Play@YSDC

Dunwich Beach - Dunwich, England
Late morning, Unknown Date

Lucius and Brook returned back down the beach to where the TARDIS stood. The old man they had seen earlier with the metal detector had now reached it, and he was talking to Story and Elizabeth.

After explaining how the year it was made was printed on all coins and bills, and that paying with money from the future would be seen as forgery, Brook waves to the others when she sees them up the beach. Looking curiously at the old man, she then smiles at Story as they approach. "Skateboards. DeLorean. Back to the Future. Karate Kid. Pastels and high hair." Looking to the man with the metal detector again, she says as a way of conversation:"Next year it'll be 1986. Time does fly, doesn't it."

"Hello Brook, Lucius," says Elizabeth, as they approach. "This is Zeke Baker. He's been telling us about Dunwich's recent history."

"How do you do, Mr. Baker?" Brook nods to the old man, holding out her hand. "I'm Brook."

"Pleased to meet you, Miss," Zeke said to Brook with a smile. He shook her hand, gripping it loosely. "Yes, it's hard to believe how much everything has changed so quickly. Where does all the time go? I can't imagine what things will be like in the year 2000, but I hope I live long enough to find out."

Turning towards Brook and Lucius. "Mr. Baker here was telling us about how the late Josiah Lake who came back as a war hero loaded with gold. Apparently around the same time he wasn't the only thing that came back. Baker here says that the fish returned as well...what an odd coincidence." Looking back at Mr. Baker. "You said the local museum was ran by who? A lady named Amelia Cressy? Well, sounds like a good person to give us a lesson in the local lore." Smiles.

"Yes, that's right," said Zeke Baker. "Amelia Cressy. You'll like her." He pointed to the west, towards the collection of buildings visible on the left side of a street that led off to the horizon. It formed a T-intersection with another road that went northeast, where it ended at the beach café, and southwest. "The museum is off that way if you're interested. The Ship Inn is right at the corner, and the Dunwich Museum is a few doors past it."

"Ah, thank you so very much for the information Mr. Baker. We truly appreciate you taking the time to chat with us." Smiles and after a moment Story turns his attention to his companions. "Shall we go and chat with Ms. Amelia Cressy over at the museum?"

"Sure. The waitress at the café mentioned the museum as well. Guess there's not much else to do here." Brook looks out at the ocean and the submerged buildings. "Wouldn't it be cool if this was Atlantis?"

Elizabeth smiles at Brook's comment. "Yes, but this is definitely real and that makes it more interesting for me. Museum sounds good to me too. I'd like to see that."

"You're quite welcome," said Zeke. "The museum doesn't open for about another hour, Amelia's a busy lady, and she has a lot to do to get ready for the day. But if you tell her I sent you, maybe she'll make an exception and let you in early. Or you could check into the Ship Inn while you're waiting. It's on the way there, and it's the only place in town to stay."

"Oh checking into the inn sounds like a good idea," says Elizabeth. "Why don't we do that, then make our way to the museum?"

"Okay. We might need to make some financial arrangements, though." Brook checks her money purse again to see if any coins or bills are dated before 1985.

"Mmm good point," says Elizabeth. "I hadn't thought of that. Alternatively even if we can't stay there we could drop in to the inn to make enquiries about the village."

"Quite right Elizabeth...quite right." Smiles.

Brook looked through her change purse. While any notes from 1985 or earlier had long since been removed from circulation by her time, there were still plenty of old coins going around. She was lucky that she had a number of them dated between 1971, when British currency went decimal, and 1985. In all, it amounted to about five pounds. It wouldn't be anywhere near enough to rent a room at the inn, but it would be suitable for meals and small purchases. Prices were a lot lower in the 1980s than they were in 2010, so it would stretch further. She also had another fifteen pounds of coins dated later than 1985, but there was a very good chance that she could pass them without anyone noticing. Aside from coin collectors, few people checked the dates on coins. Notes were another issue, as they were completely redesigned on a regular basis and most shopkeepers and the like did inspect them to ensure they weren't counterfeit. The newer notes would not pass close inspection.

Zeke waved goodbye as Story. Elizabeth, Lucius, and Brook headed off across the beach to St. James's Street. Then he turned and walked off, running his metal detector over the sand.



The travelers soon reached an intersection where three roads converged. Beach Road East headed north towards the Flora Café. St. James's Street stretched out to the west, and the Ship Inn was clearly visible just beyond the intersection, a few cars in the car park beside it. Monastery Hill ran to the south before curving off to the southwest. A triangle of grass was between all three roads.

Story looks up and down the streets. "Shall we head to the inn?" Starts heading in the direction of the Ship Inn.

"Hmm mmm," agrees Elizabeth, following Story.

Brook strides along, mentioning to Story:"I've got a few pounds we can use, but not enough to rent a room, let alone two. But we can sleep in the Tardis, anyway." Springing to the next subject, she muses:"I wonder what those big fish were."

The group soon reached the Ship Inn. A sign hung outside some distance before the front door. The Dunwich Museum was visible a few doors further to the west, past a couple of cottages. The front door of the inn opened to reveal a lobby decorated with nautical themes. A couple of doors at the back led further inside, and a flight of stairs went up. There was a wooden counter with a bell on it, behind which stood a petite young woman with big brown eyes and black hair.