You were watching Entertainment Tonight just yesterday, and they featured a "Where Are They Now?" segment on your life. You had a stiff drink to celebrate. It's hard to pinpoint when you crossed that boundary from "hot" to "not," but you're beginning to accept that it was quite a while ago.
There was a time, though, when your name meant something. You were the star of "That's Crazy Talk!" one of the most popular of the stable of mid-eighties sitcoms about a precocious (yet endearing) child. The show actually debuted as a typical family sitcom. You had an older brother on the show, but he didn't get much camera time once the network peeps figured out the show's true appeal - you. The show then anchored itself on your charm and your collection of catchphrases.
Agents lavished all sorts of gifts on you in the hopes of representing you. Stupid agents sent flowers and fruit baskets. Smarter ones sent cool electronic toys. Hello, you were just a kid! Your parents, who on your fourth birthday decided how best to get a return on their investment, were thrilled that their efforts had finally paid off. Shuttling little Graydon from audition to audition had reaped its reward, and they kept pretty busy counting all that money. It wasn't a picture-perfect childhood, but hey, you were famous! Movies followed, including "Good for Goodness Sake," a Christmas comedy co- starring Chevy Chase that broke the box-office record for the biggest non-holiday November opening weekend. You did the requisite rounds, went on the Tonight Show, and even made a cameo on an episode of Saturday Night Live.
For years, things were going really well, but for some reason, things began to change. Ratings for "That's Crazy Talk!" started sinking. "Good for Goodness Sake 2: You Better Watch Out" failed to rate a blip at the box office. The phone calls and the fan mail faded to a trickle and then stopped. After finding out that your father had squandered most of your earnings to pay off his gambling debts, your lawyers helped you make a successful bid to become an emancipated minor. Still, even without your parents around to mess things up, you were unable to get your career back on track. Trusted confidantes made bad investments for you. Your agent wasn't sending any good auditions your way anymore, so you got a new one. Suddenly, the money ran out, casting directors weren't interested, and you were - well, you were old.
So, where are you now? Right now, you're working as a part-time security guard, but you're still in the biz. In fact, you're on your way up to San Francisco to follow up on some hot tips for acting work. You've heard that the theater scene is ripe for the picking, and it's supposed to be a great springboard for people to get into television and film (or in your case, to get back in). It's all very exciting, and maybe, just maybe, things are starting to look up again.
At the beginning of the game, you'll probably be talking to some of your neighbors, just as you might on a real train ride. In your case, you'll probably be telling them about your glory days as a TV and movie star. Make up some signature catchphrases, and use them in your conversations. When one of the judges announces the explosion, (safely!) fling yourself out of your seat, scream, cry out to the Heavens, or go nuts, as appropriate. Don't go overboard, as pretty much everyone should be dead within a few moments. When you die, just lie still on the ground with your eyes closed until a judge announces the continuation of the game.
When you wake, you'll be devastated. You've missed the first audition requests you've had in ages, and dying now means that people won't remember you. If only you had more of a chance to make an impact on the world. Maybe you can talk with the others to find out what's going on and to help them out. Some of your trusty jokes and catchphrases might be welcomed now.
Tell people about your glorious past. Surely someone remembers you.
Those really young people just rub you the wrong way. They were too young to have seen your show anyway. Though you won't go out of your way to do it, you wouldn't mind seeing Kitty, Nick, Nic, and Caroline fail. You bet they're not as pure and innocent as they might seem.