YES, PRIME MINISTER - MASTERTRONIC PLUS

Crises will occur, and it will be up to you to resolve them using all the flair
charm and intellect which the British public has come to associate with you.

As ever, you will receive the support, sympathy and respect of two loyal Civil
Servants: Bernard Woolley, your Private Secretary, and Sir Humphrey Appleby,
the Cabinet Secretary. Bernard will often try to provide a diplomatic edge to
your more precipitate decisions - humour him, as he is really trying to help.
As for loyal Humphrey, you will have to judge just where his loyalties lie:
take note of his advice, but remember that Civil Servants are occasionally
economical with the truth.

Your performance as international statesman and national leader will be closely
monitored. Only you can ensure that the week does not end in Parliamentary
chaos and scandal. Don't forget that diplomacy is about surviving until the
next century - politics is about surviving until the end of the week.

PLAYING THE GAME

Your role is to make the most adroit political decisions about the welter of
events that will occur during the week. The game is divided into five separate
days. At the end of each day, load in the next program which contains the
events of the following day. How well you are coping will be reflected by your
standing in the polls, kept in the safe in your office.

You begin each day in the Prime Minister's room in the House of Commons. As you
would expect, it holds some useful facilities that you should acquaint yourself
with. These may be assessed by placing the cursor over the object and pressing
the space bar. If you are using the keyboard the cursor can be pressing the
keys as follows:

Q = Up; A = Down; O = Left; P = Right

You will soon discover that events happen randomly in your office - and they
may well vary every time you play the same day. Many opportunities for success
will be in meetings which take place behind closed doors in other locations at
Westminster.

In conversation, whether at a meeting, on the telephone or via the intercom,
you will have to press the space bar after each person has spoken in order to
cue the next speaker. You will be prompted to do this by an arrow in the bottom
right hand corner of the screen. At the start of each day you will be able to
select fast or slow speech output.

Many decisions will require a choice from a number of options. You may either
type the appropriate number or move the cursor over a required number and press
the space bar. Sometimes you will be presented with a graph (called
Hackergram). This allows you to reply to questions more precisely. When a
Hackergram appears, move the cursor to the most suitable point on the graph to
indicate your response. Then press the space bar.

Once you have begun a meeting or a conversation it would not be considered
politic to break off in the middle. You must wait until the discussion has
ended before returning to your room. Leaving the office can take up precious
time. Don't forget that you may miss important events by being out.

THE CHARACTERS

HACKER, JAMES RT. HON: A surprise, compromise choice for Prime Minister after a
mixed career as the Minister at the Department of Administrative Affairs. In
the past Hacker has not always been noted for its diplomacy, deft wits or
clarity of thought. However, in his new role he appears to be gaining in
authority with every opportunity.

APPLEBY, SIR HUMPREY CKB: As Cabinet Secretary, he is one of the nation's
senior Civil Servants. Urbane, ingenious and dextrous, he can spin phrases like
a master weaver. His advice is always perceptive, but only you can decide if he
cuts his cloth to suit your interests or his own ambition.

WOOLLEY, BERNARD: Private Secretary to the Prime Minister, he bridges the
worlds of the politician and the Civil Servant. A man of immense tact, he is
the self-effacing mediator between Hacker and his Cabinet Secretary.

THE OFFICE

TELEPHONE: This is strictly one-way - various calls will be received from
political figures if your secretary deems them suitable. If a call is received,
the telephone will warble and flash a few minutes.

INTERCOM: This is the internal telephone system. It allows Sir Humphrey and
Bernard to contact you directly.

TELETYPE: The newstapes are a mine of information. Take note of the output as
it may prove vital for some future occasion.

MEMO: Sometimes a memo will appear on your desk (it will be whisked away when
you have read it). Always read anything new as it may be of use.

IDEAS BOX: Always useful to check for hints or comments on an event looming or
something you have omitted to do.

SAFE: Naturally this is sealed. It contains the vital ODEAIC poll information
giving you an up-to-the-minute rating of your performance. Learn from your
mistakes.

DOOR: Your avenue to the outside world. On opening it you will be presented
with various possible destinations. Being in the right location at the right
time will be vital to your success.

CLOCK: This must be watched if you are to be at meetings in time to influence
matters. By activating the cursor when it is placed over the clock, you may
fastforwared to the next important event.

DIARY: Consult this for times of meetings. 
