George answers the ringing telephone in his office. The voice on the line says "You want a story?" George says "Hold it, will you? Who is this?" The voice says "My name is Jerry Huell. I'm a writer and I have a story". George says "Yeah, well, this is George Valentine and I'm not a publisher". Jerry says "Please listen to me. You've got to meet me right away. Captain Charlie's Neptune Palace, the old waterfront district". George says "The captain's who's what?" Jerry says "I live here. It's an old hotel. I'm collecting material. But this particular story, I'm afraid I don't know how it ends. That's why I need you". George says "Sounds to me like it goes around in a circle". Jerry says "I want to be there when it ends. Don't you understand? That's why I'm calling you instead of the police". George says "The Police? What kind of a story is it?" Jerry says "Well, it concerns a mysterious stranger and a seaman who chews tobacco. And mostly, of course, the parrot". George says "The what?" Jerry says "The parrot, a green and orange parrot". George says "A green and orange parrot?. Now look, friend, if you...." Jerry says "Meet me in fifteen minutes at the foot of Tide Street, please. You don't want anyone else to get their hands on this story, do you?" About fifteen minutes later, George and Brooksie meet Mr. Huell. Brooksie asks "Is it always so foggy down here?" Jerry says "Only in the summer". George says "Here's Captain Charlie's Neptune Palace. It's quite an ornate old place, isn't it?" Jerry says "Oh, the rooms are empty now, or most of them, and half of it is locked off, of course. It tips like a one-legged man, there where the piling underneath is sinking. George and Brooksie soon meet the strange inhabitants of the Neptune Palace and learn about what happens to those that become involved with the parrot.