Many high-rise buildings, particularly in the USA and Canada, don't have a "Thirteenth Floor".

Well, actually they do, but it's not listed. Often it's a "mechanical" or "service" floor <link>, effectively hidden from the public (unless they use the stairwell for some reason).

Usually, the "hidden" floor can be accessed only by staff. Elevator displays go directly from 12 to 14 when ascending.

This offers the opportunity for a prank, or possibly a psychological test.

The victim is met and greeted in the lobby, and ushered - alone (this is important) into an elevator, destined for a high floor.

As the victim ascends, the lights flicker and the elevator shudders. Suddenly, it jolts to a stop. The floor indicator starts to jump between "12" and "14". The doors open ... but not fully, not enough for the victim to put their head through, but enough to give a clear view of the "floor" outside. Before the victim can react, the doors close again, and the car continues upwards.

But what does the victim see ? Well, set well back from the doors is a curved projection screen, onto which a number of IMAX-grade super high resolution images can be thrown. An obvious choice would be an office scene from "Men In Black" with mixed human and alien staffing. An alternative might be a vast space containing what is clearly an operating Stargate from the series of the same name. A very real-looking dragon, dozing on a huge pile of gold items (which scatter right up to the elevator doors) might be nice.

The point is to note (via CCTV) the reaction of the victim when the elevator resumes movement, and when they exit at their designated floor. Will they say anything ? Will they ask about the "Thirteenth floor" ? Will they jump when an apology is made for the brief power interruption, which "happens all the time, no-one seems to know why ... it's just this building" ?

This could be a useful tool for psychologists, or simply a means of convicing someone that they're losing their mind.
-- 8th of 7, Apr 21 2018

Mechanical floor https://en.wikipedi...ki/Mechanical_floor
Also called a service floor, dark floor or technical floor. [8th of 7, Apr 21 2018]

Rather a lot of cockroaches... http://www.chinadai...105cdcf65198fb.html
Must be a bugger trying to remember their names [not_morrison_rm, Apr 22 2018]

Oddly enough you can't find the 4th floor out in Asia, or house number 4

Speaking of pest control, "Farm breeds 6 billion cockroaches hits headlines" lord knows why...link
-- not_morrison_rm, Apr 22 2018


Upside down would be good.

The "Uncanny Valley" is the place to be - 1960's would work. You can actually have a couple of actors right in the foreground, who turn and look at the elevator, to make it totally convincing.
-- 8th of 7, Apr 22 2018


I would like to see something mind blowing, something that bends the rigidity of the box. A realistic glimpse of a future earth from space or If you knew a lot of about the mark, a wormhole into their past.
-- wjt, Apr 22 2018


How about the following. A camera is placed in the lobby just above the lift doors. Its output is delayed by approximately the length of time needed for the lift to rise to the 13th floor, and then replayed on the screens.

The lift-user will therefore see themselves, a few moments ago, walking towards the lift doors just before they close.
-- MaxwellBuchanan, Apr 22 2018


Ooh, that's a good one. But I was thinking zombies. Office zombies.
-- pertinax, Apr 22 2018


Baked. Just have the doors open at any floor rented to accountants.

// The lift-user will therefore see themselves //

Yes, that'll do it. Quality.
-- 8th of 7, Apr 22 2018


//Office zombies//

So a normal floor at 3:00 pm on Friday?
-- RayfordSteele, Apr 22 2018


When the lift doors open it looks like a normal office, but everyone has the face of John Malkovich.
-- hippo, Apr 23 2018


More fun would be everyone has the face of the person riding. Serious camera software involved, but worth it.
-- RayfordSteele, Apr 23 2018


Nice.

Hmmm ... A group of figures in white HAZMAT suits and full face respirators (all of whom seem to have the same face as the person in the lift) ? That would be technically easier as the mask could be used as the projection surface.

Or maybe they're bending over a recumbent figure on a table ... who has the same face and clothes as the person in the lift ...

David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson could guest-star.

How about a "mission control" scene with rows of consoles manned by staff in military uniforms, and projected onto the huge master screen real-time images of the lift passenger seen from different angles, plus around the sides, stills of them entering the building and the elevator.
-- 8th of 7, Apr 23 2018


Those Imax screens will be expensive.

For a cheaper alternative, you need one of those lifts that has little windows in both the inner and outer doors. Just put displays over each of the inner windows. Best of all, if you very gradually bring the lift to a halt, you can continue scrolling virtual floors past the windows indefinitely. As a bonus, oxygen masks could drop from the ceiling as you pass the 1000th floor.
-- MaxwellBuchanan, Apr 23 2018



random, halfbakery