Click here to begin a new game of "Richard Burton: Man In Denial"

Created at The Orleans House Gallery, Twickenham.

Game design / story / images by Barney Gutteridge, Charlie Roberts, Jayme Smith, Rhi Bethall, Sean Lowe & Melissa Smith

Supported by Ross Sutherland & Rachel Craddock

Thanks to Miranda Stearn and all the staff at Orleans House Gallery

                            

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CREDITS

Game design / story / images by

Barney Gutteridge

Charlie Roberts

Jayme Smith

Rhi Bethall

Sean Lowe

Melissa Smith

Supported by

Ross Sutherland

Rachel Craddock

Thanks to Miranda Stearn and all the staff at Orleans House Gallery

             

Gone hunting

A few days later, you discover that Speke has died on a hunting accident. He accidentally shot himself whilst climbing over a wall.

Apparently, Speke died before he could arrange a new day to present his findings to the RGS. His claim on the Nile was never properly debated.

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Until...

Sadly, your dance-moves are so crazy-smooth, that your Speke mask falls off.

The room goes silent.

YOU ARE EXPOSED AS THE IMPOSTOR.

The panel ask you to leave. You are disqualified from the debate.

You go home to mope.

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Ch-ch-check this out

"I'll prove I'm Speke," you say. "Everyone knows Speke was an excellent dancer. Check this out!"

You embark on a set of extremely complicated dance moves. You look totally awesome right now.

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The funeral

You arrive at Speke’s funeral.

The two of you had been through a lot together.

The two-faced worm saved your life back in Africa. It’s sad that he’s gone.

Maybe if Speke had actually taken part in the debate, he would have been discredited anyway. At least, that is what you’d like to think.

Perhaps you will never accept that Speke was right.

Perhaps you will spend the rest of your life in denial.

THE END

Credits

Alas Speke

A few days later, you discover that Speke has died on a hunting accident. He accidentally shot himself whilst climbing over a wall.

You wonder whether Speke’s death was deliberate or an accident. How upset was he? Were you responsible for this? If it had been the other way round, would you have been able to live with the shame?

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Hair apparent

You remember that Speke wears a wig. You grab his hair and throw it across the room.

“Ha!” you say. “If you are the real Speke, then why are you wearing a disguise?”

A policeman arrests Speke for causing a disturbance. Speke gets given a Victorian ASBO and sent home.

The panel thank you for uncovering the impostor (ho ho).

The debate is over. Speke has been sucessfully discredited!

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Would the real Speke please stand up?

At that moment, the real Speke arrives.

“That man is an IMPOSTER!” he shouts. “I am the real Speke!”

The panel look confused. It looks like the game might be up.

What do you do?

Pull the real Speke’s hair

Prove you are Speke by doing some of his notorious dance-moves

The great debate

You arrive at the debate early, disguised as Speke.

“I am Speke,” you say, doing your best Speke impression. “I have to confess. I’ve been stupid. I have no evidence that Lake Victoria is the source of the Nile. Burton was right all along. You should probably give him a Founders medal.”

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The funeral

A week later, it is Speke’s funeral.

The two of you had been through a lot together.

The two-faced worm saved your life. And although it’s a relief to know that he will no longer be able to take the credit for your adventure, it's sad that he’s gone. 

What an idiot. Shooting yourself in the chest.

Maybe if Speke had taken part in the debate, he would have been discredited anyway. At least, that is what you’d like to think.

Perhaps you will never accept that Speke was right all along.

Perhaps you will spend the rest of your life in denial.

THE END

Credits

Hunting

You invite Speke on a hunting trip. Despite your differences, it is good to see him again.

You are getting ready to confront Speke about his betrayal. You plan to give him a good punch in the nose.

You are just about to put your plan into action, when Speke climbs over a wall and accidentally shoots himself in the chest.

Oh.

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Home again

You have just arrived home

You have challenged Speke to a debate at RGS in seven days. You can’t believe that conniving snake has betrayed you like this. You will argue that he has no proof that Lake Victoria is the source of the Nile.

You wish you’d pulled the trigger back in Africa. That way he could never steal your fame and fortune

You must find a way to discredit him! 

Do you:

Impersonate Speke at the RGS and sabotage his presentation

                                        

Invite Speke on a “hunting trip” and try to intimidate him.

Flash forward

It is now one year later.

As usual, you have taken your time coming back from your adventure. You have been resting up in Ankara, getting your strength back.

Meanwhile, Speke has gone straight back to the Royal Geographical Society. The treacherous delinquent has gone against your wishes. He's convinced the RGS that he found the source of the Nile without you!

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Bon voyage

You don't need Speke. He was probably exaggerating his dancing skills anyway.

You hire some shipmates. You chartered the journey. And off you sail!

After a week at sea, you hit a huge storm. One of your crew (Keith) tells you to turn the sails against the wind.

Turn them against the wind         

Hmm

Nope that guy is definitely dead.

THE END.


Credits

Oh no

OK. Speke is dead. You kind-of got carried away with the whole shooting thing.

It's not your fault. After all, you're sick. You weren't thinking straight!

Oh yeah. You're sick...

Who is going to help you get home now? If you can't find someone to help you, you wont be able to get back to England! You'll be stuck here forever.

Hang on, maybe Speke is still alive!

A hero returns

You are SIR RICHARD BURTON. Explorer. Master of disguises. Master of strange facial hair. No challenge too small. No country too dangerous.

You have just returned from the FORBIDDEN CITY OF MECCA. On the long journey back to Britain you have been SAMPLING MANY DELIGHTS, including the giant Turkey catapults of Constantinople, and the stupidly perilous scorpion baths of Rumelia.

You have finally returned to Britain to convince the ROYAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY to fund your next adventure: a journey into Africa in search of the source of the Nile.

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Speke's return

After twenty weeks, Speke returns to your camp.

“Woo!” says Speke. “Lets drink some wine!”

You are still feeling too sick for wine. You ask him why he wants to celebrate.

“Because I found the source of the Nile! Woo.”

When you hear this, your heart breaks, like a truck stuck half-way up a hill. After all those years of travelling... all those endless hours of I-spy...your journey has reached its end. 

You look at him. He is SO SMUG RIGHT NOW.

"Are you sure it was the source of the Nile?" you say.

"Well, I went most of the way round," says Speke. "It was probably the source. Come on, job done- let's go home."

You are feeling extremely weak, but Speke helps you. You begin the journey back to England.

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Burton's dream

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Let Speke go

Speke bids you farewell and leaves. You hope he falls in a bog.

You are still feeling very sick. That night, you fall into a deep sleep.

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Shoot Speke for being insolent

You turn your gun on Speke. You don't want him to get all the glory. If he goes ahead and finds the source, he'll tell everyone that he found it alone.

You can't let that happen!

Shoot
Change your mind

Tell Speke to wait for you

Speke does not want to wait:

"You can't go on. If you go on, over those mountains, you will most likely die! If I dont go in search of the Nile, then who will? Our journey will have been for nothing!"

Speke turns and goes to leave.

Shoot Speke for being insolent                       

Let Speke go






































































































                                                    

At the lake

You reach a huge lake. For a moment, you think THIS IS IT! But no. You have no proof that this is the source of the Nile. You will need to investigate it further and see where the water flows.

Problem is...you feel sick. Very sick. You've not felt well for days and suddenly you're so weak you can barely walk.

You decide the best thing to do is set up camp here and wait until you're well again.

Speke, however, wants to keep going, with or without you.

Tell Speke to wait for you                                 

Tell Speke to go on                                     

Say Thank You

You are dripping in tribesman saliva. Knowing the customs of the tribe, you know that this is a blessing, not an insult.

The tribesman spits in your face a second time.

"Great! Thanks!"you say.

Having been greeted by the tribe, and exchanged pleasantries, the tribe agree to guide you through the mountains. You plan the next part of your journey.

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When you wake up...

...you are tied to a tree. So is Speke. It seems you have seriously offended the chief with your behaviour. Members of the tribe keep looking over at you and making loud tutting noises. THEY'RE NOT EVEN DOING IT SUBTLY. Your feelings are pretty hurt right now.


You plead with the chief to be untied.

After a couple of days, the chief decides you've learnt your lesson.

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Draw your sword

You draw your sword and waggle it in the chiefs face. You'll show him some manners!


Suddenly, you feel a sharp pricking sensation in your neck. What is that, a bee? 


You fall over.

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Spit back

You spit back. This must be the way they greet each other, right? You're pretty good at working out other cultures.

Suddenly, your neck feels a bit achey. Maybe you could do with a lie down?

Uhhhh (falls over)

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The tribe

You give the chief some peace offerings: some bacon, some wine, and one of Speke's wigs.

In return for your generosity, the chief spits the wine back in your face.

What do you do?

Spit back

                                                         

Draw your sword                                     

Say Thank You                                             

Turn the sails against the wind

You are shipwrecked on the isle of Pemba!

If only you'd chosen your crew a bit more carefully. Maybe picked some sailors who actually knew how sails worked.


THE END


Credits

Turn the sails into the wind

The winds rock the boats but you do not capsize. You shout at Keith for giving rubbish sailing advice. What kind of name is Keith for a sailor anyway.

You anchor up and go ashore, where you are met by some tribesmen.

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All aboard

You have hired your shipmates. You and Speke have chartered the journey. You set sail!

After a week at sea, you hit a huge storm. Speke advises you to turn the sails into the wind. Another one of your crew (Keith) tells you to turn the sails against the wind.

What do you do?

Turn the sails into the wind

                                

Turn them against the wind                                   

Let him join

"OK," you tell Speke, "if you think you're up to it, you can join my team."

Speke is overjoyed. He hugs you.

Together, you begin to plan your adventure!

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Don't let him join

Speke is pretty upset. "You’ll regret this!" he says.

Whatever. You're Richard Burton. You don't need his help.

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In the pub

In the pub, you are approached by a young, energetic man, wearing a rather unfashionable toupee.

His says his name is Speke.

“I hear you are chartering an expedition to find the source of the Nile!”

News travels fast around here.

“I think I would be a useful addition to your crew. I'm an excellent sailor, I cook a good curry, and I'm the best dancer I know. I thought I could be in charge of the on-ship entertainment.”

You are not so sure…you’re not used to taking other explorers with you on your travels. 

What do you do?  

Let him join                                   

Don’t let him join                      

...sailing around the east coast of Africa, and cutting inland...

Success! The panel are convinced that this is a new (yet daring) attempt to reach the source of the Nile. They agree to fund the expedition. Aw yeah.

You decide its time to spend some of this well-earned cash in the pub across the road.

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...following the Nile all the way down, through Egypt...

“We’re not funding that!” They say

“It’s too dangerous. Too many waterfalls. People have tried before and failed. You haven’t done the most basic of research”

You leave, as they roar with laughter.

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“What’s your proposed route?”

Do you show them...

Map A, following the Nile all the way down, through Egypt?                       

Map B, sailing around the east coast of Africa, and cutting inland           

A certification from the Iman

You hand over a letter from an Iman. It says "Rick went to Mecca, and anyone who says otherwise is an idiot." 


The panel agree that this is a very impressive document. 

“I wish to travel to Africa, in search of the source of the Nile," you declare. "Will you help me?"

The panel reel in horror: "Everyone who has tried to find the source of the Nile has lost their way, their pants, their legs, and eventually their mind!"


"Not me," you say. "I'm not going to take the same route as those imbeciles."


But what route are you going to take?

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“Methinks this Richard Burton should be given a second chance”

The panel agree that Burton should probably be given another shot.

You leave, remove your disguise, and re-enter the room.

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