The Mayors of Ellis Valley - Year of the Monkey stamps are here!

[sbh565 2]

I agree

[Benedict 3,119]

Answering fanmail

Schulmanator: Fortunately Jean's trip on the ferry was uneventful. Yes, the plot thickens indeed. Some of the threads are going to be coming together in the next few episodes, so stay tuned.

sbh565: Welcome to Ellis Valley, and thanks for your comemnt.

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Episode 4.22: Close encounters of the third kind

Next: Nuts

  Edited March 7, 2011 by Benedict  

[Schulmanator 5,815]

My coherence level is pretty disorganized too... hope they did not focus in on me!

[Benedict 3,119]

Answering fanmail

Schulmanator: Yeah, I hope not, too. But how would we know???

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Episode 4.23: Nuts

At Ellington City Hall, a very worried Edna is walking Jean to Maud's office.

Maud is frantically scribbling notes on anything she can find. "Must write it all down, must write it all down," she mutters to herself as she writes.

"When did this start?" asks Jean.

"Well, she's always written notes to herself, but this is getting crazy," says Edna.

"Edna, how would you like the afternoon off?" says Jean, catching the mayor's assistant off guard. "I was planning on taking Maud to Stratton's Spa, but I think I just need to get her home."

Edna could only dream of an afternoon at the most exclusive spa in town.

"Are you sure you'll be okay with Maud?"

"Of course, we're old friends, and I think if I just get her home away from all the post-its and paperclips I'll be able to calm her down. I'll call you later and we can decide how to proceed, but for now she just needs some rest."

Jean's caring personality and soothing voice of reason give Edna confidence that she did the right thing in calling her. Heaving a sigh of relief, Edna grabs her bag and heads off to the spa. A nice relaxing massage is just what she needs.

Jean waits until Edna has left the office, then picks up the telephone. She efficiently dials a number, and, as she expects, there is only one ring before she gets a response. "I'm in Ellington, and I think I've found a solution to our problem." Jean puts the receiver down without waiting for a reply, and gently starts moving Maud towards the door. "You can leave those notes, dear, Edna will take care of them when she gets back. You and I are going for a nice little ride in the car.

Next: Under cover.

 

[penguin007 27]

Deep corruption going on here??? Go on to the spa while I get up to mischief great plan!!

Will

[Schulmanator 5,815]

I would say that the plot thickens... but it's already thick!

Someone's gonna regret that spa trip!

[Benedict 3,119]

Answering fanmail

penguin007: Corruption and deceit in Ellis Valley? I'm shocked!

Schulmanator: Almost all the characters have regrets in this CJ!

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Episode 4.24: Under cover

Next: Fifth element.

  Edited March 7, 2011 by Benedict  

[Schulmanator 5,815]

Laff-Ra has the all time best insults. I love it!

[Benedict 3,119]

Answering fanmail

Schulmanator: Aal-Faa certainly knows how to put his underlings in their place!

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Episode 4.25: Fifth element

An amateur photographer is positioned to take an arty photgraph of Olympia Bridge in Ellngton.

If he had looked down just then, he would have seen two women driving south. South, the opposite direction from the mayor's house.

Olympia Bridge ends at Memorial Circle. Jean is struggling to do two things at once - navigating through traffic in Ellington, and keeping Maud restrained.

"Take the M1, Jean, it's much quicker!" Maud keeps repeating. If there actually was an M1 in Ellis Valley, Jean would absolutely get right on at the closest exit just to get Jean to shut up. Unfortunately, her journey continues south on Olympic Boulevard. It's a nice day, but Jean has the windows shut and child lock on so that nobody can hear the odd outbursts from her passenger.

Jean experiences a small thought of guilt as they pass Ellington Hospital... although the doctors would take forever to diagnose Maud and then it would be too late. If she could just get Maud to Nereid in time this might turn out well for everyone concerned. 

Just as they arrive at Fountain Circle, the end of Olympia Blvd, Maud starts panicking about having left her notes behind. This isn't going exactly as Jean had planned. To top it all Jean's not quite sure which exit to take - south or southeast off the circle...?

In the meantime, Edna has decided to make a quick stop at home to change out of her work clothes before she heads to the spa. She lives close to Southfield Station, but sometimes gets off at Fountain Circle so she can walk home past the lovely plaza...

Next: The Mission

 quote>

[Schulmanator 5,815]

Danger Will Robinson*! Danger!

*insert Maud or Edna here as the case may be...

[dfnva 34]

Hmmm.... wouldn't it be funny if Maud was the sane one... it keeps getting more interesting.

[Benedict 3,119]

Answering fanmail

Schulmanator: I know, right? I always that Jean was one of the good guys...

dfnva: I'm beginning to wonder if any of the mayors in Ellis Valley is sane...

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Episode 4.26: The Mission

Next: Missing

  Edited March 7, 2011 by Benedict  

[9988 428]

This metro map above is great!

[Schulmanator 5,815]

Danger Will Robinson! Danger! Danger!

[Benedict 3,119]

Answering fanmail

9988: Thanks! Did you know that this CJ started out as a vehicle to showcase my transit maps, then the sims' stories kinda took over...

Schulmanator: I love the glass bubble on top of the robot's head

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Episode 4.27: Missing

We haven't been to Eloff since the end of season 3, when Mayor Benedict Tiles was placed under arrest for faking the death of his own wife to cover up her dementia, then trying to keep her hidden in a room at the top of city hall.

Today we're back in Eloff, overlooking the heart of the city, Commerce Square.

Benedict is still the mayor, although he is under house arrest....

Benedict endures the daily trips to Police HQ for questioning....

But he is haunted by images of the room on the top floor of City Hall, and the fact that he still has no idea how his wife escaped from there, or where she is now.

Next: Under cover

[Schulmanator 5,815]

Wow... that's a lengthy house arrest. And still in power. Chief Wiggum must be in charge of the police to allow that to happen.

[SounderBruce 173]

And the plot keeps on thickening...great work, Ben!

[Benedict 3,119]

Answering fanmail

Hi, Schulmanator. It does seem as if not one town in Ellis Valley is run in an orthodox way.

Hi, SComputerGuy890100. Thicker and more twisted than string soup!

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Episode 4.28: Under cover

Next: Sliding doors

[nathanthemayor 1,263]

Wow!nice vanilla CJ!

[tonyr 926]

Nice CJ my friend!

[Benedict 3,119]

Answering fanmail

Nathanthemayor: Thanks, I am still finding all sorts of little things in the vanilla game that I have never noticed before. All the mods and bats are certainly enticing, but I've managed to resist. The thing I most want is diagonal streets - why oh why were they excluded from the base game.

Tonyr: I think this is your first visit to Ellis Valley, and if you've tried one of Ella's Burgers you know you'll be back, in spite of the tendency for them to cause a bit too much urping afterwards.

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Episode 4.29: Sliding doors

Back in Ellington, Jean finally decides to head southeast off Fountain Circle. The way Maud is carrying on, she may have to pull over in a hurry, and dealing with the insane mayor on the side of a busy avenue does not appeal to Jean at all.

Edna, who at the last minute had decided to get off the Underground a stop earlier so she could admire the fountain, jumped off the train at the last second. If she had made up her a mind a few seconds earlier, her bag wouldn't have been caught in the closing doors, and she would have been crossing Fountain Circle at the same time as Jean, hesitant in her decision, drove around a second time.

Even though she doesn't see anything untoward as she walks home, Edna has an awful feeling about the situation. She had been so relieved when Jean, confident and friendly, had taken Maud off her hands, and delighted when Maud offered her the spa pass. But now, as she has time to think, it feels more and more like Jean was trying to get rid of her, and that the spa afternoon is a dirty bribe. Not caring how it looks, Edna's gentle stroll turns into an urgent run for home.

The second she is inside, she call's the mayor's home... and the only reply is the ringing and ringing and ringing of the unanswered telephone.

Defeated, and disgusted with herself, Edna collapses on her sofa, and tries to decide what to do next.

Next: Animal Farm

  Edited April 25, 2011 by Benedict  

[Schulmanator 5,815]

Jean's day is probably going to only get worse..

And, BTW, great work as always on the transit map

[Benedict 3,119]

Answering fanmail

Schulmanator: Thanks, you know I love transit maps!

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Episode 4.30: Animal Farm

Next: Home Alone

[Schulmanator 5,815]

Farmer Jones may be a double agent... beware!

[Benedict 3,119]

Answering fanmail

Schulmanator: Double agents? In Ellis Valley? Hmmm...

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Episode 4.31: Home alone

With no answer on the mayor's private telephone at City Hall, for the third time today, Edna takes the Ellington Underground. It doesn't take long to get from her apartment in Southfield to Government Square.

Edna's worst fears are confirmed when she finds a note from Jean on her desk.

"I hope you enjoyed your spa, dear. I've taken Maud for a few days' break away from all this stress. I'm sure you can handle things while she's away."

Edna slumps into her chair. Now she will have to try and find Maud as well as take care of running the city.

Not for the first time she wishes she had never upset the mayor of her old home town and the mayor of Eloff.

If only she could go back to the past... it feels like the only place that's safe any more.

Next: The emperor's new groove

[Schulmanator 5,815]

She's probably right... the future is not very promising...

[Benedict 3,119]

Answering fanmail

Schulmanator: Although with Ellis Valley you just never know... maybe the future's so bright, you've gotta wear shades.

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Episode 4.32: The emperor's new groove

Next: Season finale - Short circuit

[Schulmanator 5,815]

Eerie!

I wonder what the big finale will be!

[Benedict 3,119]

Answering fanmail

Schulmanator: Wonder no longer...

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Episode 4.33: Short circuit

As Jean drives out of Ellington, Maud finally begins to calm down. Jean isn’t sure if it is the fact that they have left the city behind, or if the approaching nightfall is responsible. Whatever it is, she is grateful.

As the night deepens, Jean drives a subdued Maud on little-travelled roads through Serpentia…

…through Snake Hill…

…down High Pass…

…into Darby…

…past Elk Hill...

…via Forthennia…

…and into Nereid.

It is almost midnight when Jean reaches her destination…

…Chuck’s Calamity Information Center.

Chuck’s Calamity Information Center, which issues the Calamity Report.

Chuck’s Calamity Information Center, where the lights are still on.

Chuck’s Calamity Information Center, where the SCORPIOS are all gathered.

Chuck greets them at the door and helps Jean gently guide Maud down into the basement. Jean and Chuck silently look at the other members.

In a confused voice, Maud asks, “What are we doing here, Jean?”

Jean hesitates, unsure of what to say. Before she can answer, Adam gives the order.

“Plug her in!”

Next: season 4 epilogue

  Edited July 28, 2011 by Benedict  

[Schulmanator 5,815]

It sounds like she is about to be a calamity herself!