2051 — The First Cracks
2051 is the first year in which the simulation reveals measurable decline. The scoring system activates here: 2051-SCORE accumulates points from observations made while recording. The changes are subtle but systematic — layoffs, pollution, the first Church presence, the first BSF raid on the apartment.
The City
Rockvil still functions but is beginning to fray. The City Hall plaza is now “aging” rather than “well-maintained.” The government official in City Hall no longer speaks cheerfully: he “grumpily complains that most of his department has been laid off as city services are cut back. Suddenly he notices the time, looks frightened, and rushes away” (score item 136, 2 points).
Dunbar’s has shifted from “upscale” to “swank” — “an elegant boutique with a wealthy clientele.” The middle class is already narrowing.
The skycar factory operates at “just over half capacity” (score item 109, 1 point). The jail is “very overcrowded and unsanitary” (score item 75, 1 point). Very few newspapers remain in existence (score item 86, 2 points), and the paper that does exist “contains some ominous news” (score item 87, 3 points).
Environmental decline is visible. The river is “polluted” (score item 132, 1 point). “Wastes dumped into river without processing” (score item 104, 3 points). Coal-burners supplement fusion reactors (score item 105, 1 point). The forests visible from the apartment window are “thinner and browner each year” from acidic rain (score item 5, 3 points).
The Church of God’s Word appears for the first time. Pamphlets are distributed (score item 53, 1 point). A skycopter announces a prayer meeting (score item 64, 1 point). The landmark train station is demolished “for Church” construction (score item 52, 2 points).
The death penalty has expanded: it now applies to attempted rape (score item 14, 2 points). The curfew is in effect (score item 116, 2 points). Joybooths are banned (score item 30, 1 point).
Despite these signs, some institutions still resist: the Health Center “bucks the trend to care for the poor” (score item 50, 1 point).
The Simm Family
Mitchell is now “a healthy, sturdy boy of nearly eleven years” (MITCHELL-F in apartment.zil). He has daily routines: waking for school (Mitchell-counter 1), attending school (2), playing an electronic logic game after school (3), doing homework in the evening (4), sleeping (0). He calls Perry “Dad” and is “a little embarrassed, but also smiles” when kissed.
Jill has shifted from honeymoon watercolors to ambitious work: her painting is “in vibrant acrylide colors” depicting “workers in a space factory hovering above machinery… It is Jill’s most mature work to date” (PAINTING-F). She still asks about Perry’s agent, still hopes for the house.
But the domestic peace is shattered by the BSF raid (I-APARTMENT in interrupts.zil). Six officers storm in with rifles and Rad-Detectors. The leader apologizes: “Sorry for the inconvenience. You know how things are. We’re only doing it for your own protection.” Jill sobs in the corner. Mitchell resumes his activities with “the innocent resilience of a child.” The room becomes “very messy after the BSF raid.” Score item 8 awards 3 points. This is the first time the state enters the Simm home — a violation that will repeat and escalate.
The elevator still works. Perry takes it to his floor.
Key Locations
- Parkview Apartments: Elevator functioning; first BSF raid
- Dunbar’s: “Swank,” wealthy clientele, racks of stylish but unaffordable clothes
- City Hall: “Aging” portico; government layoffs
- Skybus terminal: Still operating
- Foodville: Normal operations
- Health Center: Still serving the poor
Available Score Events (2051)
| # | Points | Observation |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 3 | Window view: dying forests |
| 8 | 3 | Apartment BSF raid |
| 14 | 2 | Death penalty for attempted rape |
| 30 | 1 | Joybooths banned |
| 33 | 1 | BSF officers after raid (description) |
| 37 | 1 | Reading the bordello flyer |
| 50 | 1 | Health Center bucks trend to care for poor |
| 52 | 2 | Train station demolished for Church |
| 53 | 1 | Church of God’s Word pamphlet |
| 57 | 1 | Fur and jewelry show at Huang |
| 64 | 1 | Skycopter announcing prayer meeting |
| 75 | 1 | Jail overcrowded and unsanitary |
| 86 | 2 | Very few newspapers exist |
| 87 | 3 | Newspaper contains ominous news |
| 93 | 1 | Film titles sound insipid |
| 102 | 2 | Long lines at soup kitchen |
| 104 | 3 | Wastes dumped into river |
| 105 | 1 | Coal-burners supplement fusion reactors |
| 109 | 1 | Skycar factory at just over half capacity |
| 113 | 1 | Graffiti in Tubecar |
| 116 | 2 | Curfew in effect |
| 125 | 2 | Mugging (increasing likelihood) |
| 129 | 1 | Halley Museum not very crowded |
| 132 | 1 | River is polluted |
| 136 | 2 | Government official: department laid off |
Key Characters Active
- Perry Simm: Writer, still hoping to sell his book
- Jill Simm: Artist at peak of her ambition; devastated by BSF raid
- Mitchell Simm: Schoolboy, age ~11, innocent
- Government Official: Frightened, reports layoffs
- BSF Officers: Conduct first apartment raid
Broader Context
2051 is the year when the Plan’s consequences become visible at the personal level. The layoffs, the pollution, the pamphlets, and the raid all suggest a state that is simultaneously shrinking (cutting services) and expanding (increasing surveillance and punishment). The Church is still marginal but growing. The environment is still recognizable but sickening.
The first BSF raid is particularly significant: it establishes that there is no sanctuary. The state can enter your home at any time, and the justification is always security. The apology from the officer makes it more chilling, not less — it’s the polite face of authoritarianism.
See Also
- 2041 — The baseline year
- 2061 — The tipping point
- rockvil-across-decades — Full comparison
- the-apartment-across-decades — The apartment in 2051
- bsf — The Border Security Force