YABA5 - clue 15 - solution

Beginner/Regular/Masters
all divisions received the same version of this clue

On the pier that shares its name with Hitchcock's steps, find the place where Violet Beauregarde would probably head (if she needed glasses.)

Hitchcock made a film called The Thirty-Nine Steps, so - Pier 39. Violet Beauregarde was the odious child in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory who loved bubble gum. If she needed glasses, she might confuse "Bubba Gumps" at Pier 39 for "bubble gum." Bubba Gump's is a shrimp restaurant, using the movie "Forrest Gump" as its inspiration.

Outside Bubba Gumps is a sculpture of a bench, with a pair of empty sneakers and a box of chocolates.

 

If the swoosh is red and the ribbon is gold, find the outdoor espresso stand by the Klower building. How much did Security gain?  The swoosh on the shoes (Nikes) is red, and the bow on the box of chocolates is gold, so this is the option to take.

Security was a rescued injured sea lion who was nursed back to health. I forget how much he gained, but it's on the plaque next to the "sea lion dock" on the west side of Pier 39.

If the swoosh is black and the ribbon is silver, find the royal residence of the god of the sea in the Kupper building. On the east wall of his house, near the telescope, you'll find out what is almost obselete today.

If the swoosh is red and the ribbon is silver, find a local boy who made good outside the Pinniped Café in the Kupper Building. What is the matriarch's name?

If the swoosh is black and the ribbon is gold, read all about the fire outside the Park Store in the Jupper Building. What was demolished?

 

 

I wrote a longer version of this clue. Some playtesters liked it, and some preferred the shorter version. Since, for some teams, it was one of the last clues of the day, I opted to go with the shorter clue. But here, for your consideration, is the original longer version. What do you think? - Alexandra

"Now, let's hurry along to the salt water taffy room," said Willy Wonka. "It's an absolutely amazing, delightful place. At 400 square miles, it's our biggest room. But we must walk quickly, it's a long way down this corridor." And off he went, with the children and their parents (and Grandpa Joe) flying along behind him, their shoes making a tremendous noise as they clattered over a faded old wooden walkway.

Charlie tried to pay attention to the names of the rooms as they passed them. He tried to count them too, but they were traveling so quickly he could only make out a couple - one was the chocolate heaven room, he thought. He had counted up to 39 when he was startled by a shriek from Violet Beauregarde, the gum chewing nitwit, who had stopped in front of a large pink sign and was staring up at it. "Mummy!," she cried, we've finally come to the bubble gum room! I want to go in!" and just as her mother was saying "But Violet dear, this isn't...." she disappeared inside. Her mother followed her, glancing back apologetically as she did, saying "Poor darling, I rather think she needs glasses."

They all followed Violet inside, just in time to see her take her gum out of her mouth and stick it behind her ear. but not in time for Willy Wonka to stop her from popping something rubbery and pink into her mouth. A look of ectsasy came over her face as she chewed away. "Why," she said, "this tastes just like the answer to number 10! Oooh, it's so delicious." But then as she kept chewing, a curious thing happened. She began to turn brown, at first just a light milk chocolate color, but then she got darker and darker, more the color of semi-sweet chocolate. Then she began to sprout fur, shiny smooth brown fur, and swell up, getting larger and larger. Charlie said "Grandpa Joe, I sea lions, and tigers and bears, oh my!" and Grandpa Joe replied, "No Charlie, that's a completely different story. That's the Wizard of Oz...." Charlie couldn't hear the rest of what he said because Violet crumbled to the floor and began barking loudly.

Willy Wonka sighed and said "Now there's nothing that I can do. She's going to have to go and live with all the other naughty children who have done this." And he summoned the Oompa Loompas, who came and dragged Violet away, still barking, as her mother wept and wrung her hands.

"As I was saying when I was so rudely interrupted…," said Willy Wonka, his good temper completely restored, "…we're almost at the salt water taffy room. Just follow your noses!" And indeed, they thought they could smell salt water, so they headed west, just about the length of a football field, and there it was - a huge magnificent, sparkling room, all 400 square miles of it. And on a dock down below, barking and flapping and generally making a lot of noise and smelling bad, were about a hundred children (or one supposed they were children) who looked just like Violet. The new Violet, that is. In fact, they thought they could see her down there in the crowd. At least, one of the barking creatures seemed to have a little piece of chewing gum stuck behind its ear.

How much did Security gain?