As soon as they see a shape lowering itself from the ceiling, the Baudelaires lift up the frog lamp. He has a uniform similar to Frank and Ernest with the word “MANAGER” on one of its pockets. Hell, he even looks like Frank and Ernest. Hearing the mention of the Hotel Denouement not having a catalog, he tells them it’s not so and invites them to follow him. While the children are obviously suspicious, he said he knew their dad and used to recite a poem to prove who he was. So recites the blind men and the elephant verse which wins Sunny over as a person she and her siblings can trust. But he’s not Frank. He’s not Ernest. In fact, he’s Dewey Denouement who hides in the shadows and works the clock while collecting information on criminals in his spare time. He tells them about V.F.D. and the schism which occurred when he and his brothers were 4 and how it seems to get worse. He recalls his life story of how Denouement triplets were kidnapped while their house was set on fire, killing their parents in it. He shows the Baudelaires where his massive collection of information has been stored which is in an underwater library within a pond that’s about as massive as the hotel itself. The children ask why they weren’t taken with Dewey answering that Count Olaf sort of did and was very reluctant to hand them over to someone else. Klaus asked why no one told them anything while Dewey states that it’s how the world works and he pointed out to the blind men and elephant story of how bits of info might cause you to make assumptions but not see the big picture. However, Dewey also has a vision that on Thursday everyone from V.F.D. will gather, share what they know, and will be able to identify the volunteers and villains.

Once more, I used a song from 1776 called “Is Anybody There?” which John Adams sings when he’s referring to the rest of Congress not seeing their way on independence after the southern colonies walked out on him defending Jefferson’s clause against the slave trade (which was left out). In this version, I have Dewey descend, introduce himself, and let the Baudelaires know of his vision on what he wants to become of the Thursday meeting.

 

 

“Is Anybody There?” (ASOUE Version)

Sung by Dewey Denouement

Sunny:
The world is quiet here.

Violet:
Look up, someone’s climbing from the ceiling. Get the frog lamp.

Klaus:
Seems like one of the managers. Is it Frank or Ernest?

Dewey:
Our hotel certainly has a catalog
Won’t you all follow me?
I once knew your dad who had me recite a poem
Is anybody there?
Does anybody care?
Does anybody care?”

Sunny:
Trap

Dewey:
“So oft in theologic wars,
The disputants, I ween,
Rail on in utter ignorance
Of what each other mean,
And prate about an Elephant
Not one of them has seen!”

Sunny:
Okay

Dewey:
Does anybody see what I see?
Hello, Baudelaires
No, I’m not Ernest or Frank
I’m actually Dewey
Of course, your minds went blank

I’m behind scenes and wind the clock
We three were four during the schism
V.F.D. took us in, folks were burned
Denouement!

Count Olaf took you
You got away
It’s just the world’s way
Do you know that elephant poem?

Just mere details
Just mere details
You won’t see the bigger picture
Or know it

Is anybody there?
Does anybody care?
Does anybody see what I see?

But on Thursday
We all will gather to share what they know
Name volunteers and villains
And in this big hotel
I have a library
Underwater with evidence to jail our foes

The catalog
It’s as big as this hotel

See the pond
See what it reflects

Is anybody there?
Does anybody care?

Does anybody see what I see?