diff --git a/LANEHANDOVER.md b/LANEHANDOVER.md
index f9d0f74..8cc2405 100644
--- a/LANEHANDOVER.md
+++ b/LANEHANDOVER.md
@@ -1498,3 +1498,36 @@ card aggro +2 + tabMisreturned ✓ · THE POUR screenshot.
   patrons ever share a full name.
 - No cash meter exists on purpose: tips/tab totals are incidents + toasts
   (the report is the moral ledger, per the joint bust).
+
+## SESSION — FABLE-SOLO-14 · 2026-07-21
+
+**Branch:** main (solo, Fable, ultra) · **Gate:** lint ✓ build ✓ test ✓ (718 tests, 45 files)
+**Deployed:** https://monsterrobot.games/not-tonight/ (rsync, curl 200)
+
+### The red carpet (John's ask: "make ppl wait ages")
+QueueManager owns it (pure, 7 new tests); DoorScene renders it.
+- **CARPET button** beside UNHOOK ROPE (rope shrank 192→130px). Sends the
+  patron at the rope to a 3-slot red strip between rope and door (brass posts
+  + velvet drawn in buildStreet; dolls clickable, impatience-sway ramps).
+- **Economy** (`CARPET_TUNING`): 0.02 hype/s per body on display, ADDITIVE to
+  ordinary queue theatre (freeing the rope re-arms the per-wait hype cap — the
+  carpet is a hype engine, that's the point). Patience 30–55s × archetype
+  scale (influencer 1.8 … regular 0.5); past it they STORM (aggro +3, toast,
+  `carpetStorm` incident, drained via `takeStorms()` — no new bus event names,
+  EventMap is frozen contract).
+- **Recall**: click the doll (rope must be free) → `recallFromCarpet` puts
+  them up through the shared `presentUp()` path (extracted from callNext — a
+  recalled patron gets passback checks, Franko tips, tray, the lot).
+- **The entrance**: ADMIT off the carpet pays vibe +2 + hype 0.012/s stood
+  (cap 0.6), `carpetEntrance` incident. Deny pays nothing extra — you made
+  them wait for THAT.
+- Verified in pane: park → rope keeps working → recall(4s) → admit paid 0.048
+  hype + incident ✓ · storm at 25s with toast/incident ✓ · screenshots.
+
+### Notes
+- Kayden never uses the carpet (he doesn't know what it's for). Bodies keep
+  ticking/storming while the player is inside — QueueManager.update runs on.
+- Art audit for the next MODELBEAST batch (placeholder rects live for):
+  `monitor`, `boothLamp`, `dishwasher`, `poolTable`, `wetFloor`, `highTable`,
+  plus new candidates: red-carpet strip + brass bollards (street), the pour
+  glass, the card jar. Recipe in the Phase-3 deploy note.
diff --git a/src/data/strings/door.ts b/src/data/strings/door.ts
index 8676953..9b421ea 100644
--- a/src/data/strings/door.ts
+++ b/src/data/strings/door.ts
@@ -16,6 +16,16 @@ export const DOOR_UI = {
   idTrayEmpty: 'no ID handed over',
   dressCode: "DAZZA'S RULES",
   dressCodeEmpty: 'no rules yet.\nuse ur judgement\n(dont)',
+  carpet: 'CARPET',
+} as const;
+
+/** The red carpet: a velvet holding pen for making the right people wait. */
+export const CARPET_UI = {
+  sent: 'they take position on the carpet like it was always the plan.',
+  full: 'the carpet is at capacity. it is a small carpet.',
+  storm: 'someone on the carpet is done being furniture. they leave, loudly, mid-pose.',
+  entrance: 'an ENTRANCE. the room parts. worth every minute of the wait.',
+  recallBusy: 'finish with the one at the rope first.',
 } as const;
 
 /** Shown once, first thirty seconds, then never again. A stranger must be able to play. */
diff --git a/src/scenes/door/DoorScene.ts b/src/scenes/door/DoorScene.ts
index b3887bb..94dd7cf 100644
--- a/src/scenes/door/DoorScene.ts
+++ b/src/scenes/door/DoorScene.ts
@@ -15,11 +15,12 @@ import {
   DOOR_TUTORIAL,
   DOOR_UI,
   BOARD_SHUFFLE_TOASTS,
+  CARPET_UI,
   FRANKO_TIPS,
   PATDOWN_LINES,
   RULE_RETRACTIONS,
 } from '../../data/strings/door';
-import { QueueManager } from './QueueManager';
+import { CARPET_TUNING, QueueManager, entranceBonus } from './QueueManager';
 import { PatronUpView } from './PatronUpView';
 import { IdCardView } from './IdCardView';
 import { PhoneWidget } from './PhoneWidget';
@@ -72,6 +73,7 @@ export class DoorScene extends Phaser.Scene {
   private sobriety!: SobrietyModal;
 
   private queueSprites: QueueSprite[] = [];
+  private carpetSprites: QueueSprite[] = [];
   private trayCard: Phaser.GameObjects.Container | null = null;
   private buttons: Record<string, Button> = {};
   private vibeBar!: MeterBar;
@@ -250,6 +252,17 @@ export class DoorScene extends Phaser.Scene {
       .text(DOOR_X, 184, 'step inside', { fontFamily: MONO, fontSize: '7px', color: '#6a4a5a' })
       .setOrigin(0.5, 0);
 
+    // The red carpet: a strip of somewhere-better between rope and door,
+    // flanked by brass posts. Bodies parked here are rendered by
+    // syncCarpetSprites; the strip is set dressing.
+    this.add.rectangle(420, 232, 124, 12, 0x8a1428).setDepth(2);
+    this.add.rectangle(420, 227, 124, 2, 0xa8283c).setDepth(2);
+    for (const px of [356, 484]) {
+      this.add.rectangle(px, 216, 3, 22, 0xc8a24a).setDepth(2);
+      this.add.rectangle(px, 205, 7, 4, 0xe0c060).setDepth(2);
+    }
+    this.add.rectangle(420, 206, 126, 2, 0x7a2438).setDepth(2); // the velvet itself
+
     this.buildRain();
     this.buildRope();
   }
@@ -344,10 +357,15 @@ export class DoorScene extends Phaser.Scene {
 
     // verdicts
     this.buttons.rope = new Button(this, {
-      x: 442, y: 256, w: 192, h: 24, label: DOOR_UI.rope, size: 9,
+      x: 442, y: 256, w: 130, h: 24, label: DOOR_UI.rope, size: 9,
       fill: 0x5a2030, hover: 0x8a2038,
       onClick: () => this.callNext(),
     });
+    this.buttons.carpet = new Button(this, {
+      x: 576, y: 256, w: 58, h: 24, label: DOOR_UI.carpet, size: 7,
+      fill: 0x6a1424, hover: 0x9a2038,
+      onClick: () => this.callCarpet(),
+    });
     this.buttons.test = new Button(this, {
       x: 442, y: 284, w: 94, h: 22, label: DOOR_UI.test, size: 7,
       onClick: () => this.runSobriety(),
@@ -446,6 +464,12 @@ export class DoorScene extends Phaser.Scene {
       this.showToast(DOOR_UI.ropeEmpty);
       return;
     }
+    this.presentUp(p);
+  }
+
+  /** Everything that happens once SOMEBODY is at the rope — the rope and the
+   * carpet recall share this path, so a recalled patron is a full patron. */
+  private presentUp(p: Patron): void {
     this.testedThisPatron = false;
     this.pattedThisPatron = false;
     // Passback: this exact card already went in tonight. The tell is set HERE —
@@ -476,6 +500,79 @@ export class DoorScene extends Phaser.Scene {
     });
   }
 
+  // ---- the red carpet ----------------------------------------------------
+
+  /** The patron at the rope takes position between the brass posts. */
+  private callCarpet(): void {
+    const p = this.queue.patronUp;
+    if (!p || this.busy) return;
+    if (this.queue.toCarpet() === null) {
+      this.showToast(CARPET_UI.full);
+      return;
+    }
+    this.idCard.close();
+    this.trayCard?.destroy();
+    this.trayCard = null;
+    this.up.clear();
+    this.setVerdictButtons(false);
+    this.night.sfx?.play('ropeUnhook');
+    this.showToast(CARPET_UI.sent);
+    this.logIncidentDoor('carpet', p.id, 'Sent to the carpet to be seen waiting.');
+  }
+
+  /** Click a carpet doll: wave them up to the rope for the actual ruling. */
+  private recallCarpet(patronId: string): void {
+    if (this.busy) return;
+    if (this.queue.patronUp) {
+      this.showToast(CARPET_UI.recallBusy);
+      return;
+    }
+    const p = this.queue.recallFromCarpet(patronId);
+    if (!p) return;
+    this.presentUp(p);
+  }
+
+  private logIncidentDoor(kind: string, patronId: string | undefined, detail: string): void {
+    this.night.bus.emit('incident:log', { clockMin: this.night.state.clockMin, kind, patronId, detail });
+  }
+
+  /** The carpet is a view of QueueManager, same discipline as the queue line. */
+  private syncCarpetSprites(): void {
+    const slots = this.queue.carpetSnapshot;
+    const same =
+      slots.length === this.carpetSprites.length &&
+      slots.every((s, i) => this.carpetSprites[i]?.patron.id === s.patron.id);
+    if (!same) {
+      for (const s of this.carpetSprites) s.image.destroy();
+      this.carpetSprites = slots.map((slot, i) => {
+        const x = 372 + i * 34;
+        const img = this.add
+          .image(x, QUEUE_FOOT_Y + 6, renderDoll(this, slot.patron, 'queue'))
+          .setOrigin(0.5, 1)
+          .setScale(1.5)
+          .setDepth(205)
+          .setInteractive({ useHandCursor: true });
+        img.on('pointerdown', () => this.recallCarpet(slot.patron.id));
+        img.setData('baseX', x);
+        return { patron: slot.patron, image: img, link: null };
+      });
+    }
+    // Impatience is visible: the sway grows as the patience runs out.
+    for (let i = 0; i < this.carpetSprites.length; i++) {
+      const s = this.carpetSprites[i]!;
+      const slot = slots[i];
+      if (!slot) continue;
+      const fuse = Math.min(1, slot.standMs / slot.patienceMs);
+      s.image.x = s.image.getData('baseX') + Math.sin(this.elapsedMs / (300 - 140 * fuse)) * (1 + fuse * 3);
+    }
+
+    for (const p of this.queue.takeStorms()) {
+      this.showToast(CARPET_UI.storm);
+      this.night.sfx?.play('doorBang');
+      this.logIncidentDoor('carpetStorm', p.id, 'Ran out of patience on the carpet and left, loudly.');
+    }
+  }
+
   /** Nudge the player toward a tab that just became relevant, without switching it. */
   private flashTab(tab: ClipboardTab): void {
     const b = this.tabButtons[tab];
@@ -565,6 +662,14 @@ export class DoorScene extends Phaser.Scene {
     }
     this.applyOutcome(p, verdict, outcome);
     this.applyEncounter(p, verdict);
+    // The entrance dividend: an admit off the carpet pays for every minute
+    // they were made to stand there being looked at.
+    const stoodMs = this.queue.carpetMsFor(p.id);
+    if (verdict === 'admit' && stoodMs > 0) {
+      this.night.bus.emit('meters:delta', { vibe: CARPET_TUNING.entranceVibe, hype: entranceBonus(stoodMs) });
+      this.time.delayedCall(600, () => this.showToast(CARPET_UI.entrance));
+      this.logIncidentDoor('carpetEntrance', p.id, `Admitted after ${Math.round(stoodMs / 1000)}s on the carpet.`);
+    }
     this.queue.resolveUp(verdict === 'deny');
 
     // Highlight AFTER the call, never before. Lighting up the broken rules the
@@ -923,6 +1028,10 @@ export class DoorScene extends Phaser.Scene {
     }
 
     this.syncQueueSprites();
+    this.syncCarpetSprites();
+    this.buttons.carpet?.setEnabled(
+      !this.busy && this.queue.patronUp !== null && this.queue.carpetSnapshot.length < CARPET_TUNING.slots,
+    );
 
     const rope = this.buttons.rope;
     if (rope) {
@@ -981,6 +1090,8 @@ export class DoorScene extends Phaser.Scene {
   }
 
   private teardown(): void {
+    for (const s of this.carpetSprites) s.image.destroy();
+    this.carpetSprites = [];
     for (const off of this.offs) off();
     this.offs = [];
     this.phone?.destroy();
diff --git a/src/scenes/door/QueueManager.ts b/src/scenes/door/QueueManager.ts
index 099f03d..59481a9 100644
--- a/src/scenes/door/QueueManager.ts
+++ b/src/scenes/door/QueueManager.ts
@@ -69,6 +69,43 @@ export const QUEUE_TUNING = {
   encountersPerNight: 3,
 } as const;
 
+// The red carpet (design §2 queue theatre, escalated): a velvet holding pen
+// where you park somebody gorgeous and make them WAIT, visibly, at length.
+// Every body on display sells the room; every body has a limit.
+export const CARPET_TUNING = {
+  /** brass posts only stretch so far */
+  slots: 3,
+  /** hype per real second per body on display */
+  hypePerSecPerBody: 0.02,
+  /** the entrance: admitting off the carpet pays hype scaled by the stand */
+  entranceHypePerSec: 0.012,
+  entranceHypeCap: 0.6,
+  entranceVibe: 2,
+  /** patience in real seconds, before the archetype scale */
+  patienceSecBase: [30, 55] as const,
+  /**
+   * Who tolerates being furniture. Influencers LIVE for it; a regular gives
+   * it thirty seconds and tells the whole suburb.
+   */
+  patienceScale: {
+    influencer: 1.8, financeBro: 1.3, ownersMate: 1.2, fresh18: 1.1,
+    almost18: 1.0, inspector: 1.0, punter: 0.9, quietMessy: 0.7, regular: 0.5,
+  } as Readonly<Record<import('../../data/types').Archetype, number>>,
+  /** storming off the carpet is a scene the whole queue watches */
+  stormAggro: 3,
+} as const;
+
+/** The entrance dividend for `standMs` on the carpet, capped. */
+export function entranceBonus(standMs: number): number {
+  return Math.min(CARPET_TUNING.entranceHypeCap, (standMs / 1000) * CARPET_TUNING.entranceHypePerSec);
+}
+
+export interface CarpetSlot {
+  patron: Patron;
+  standMs: number;
+  patienceMs: number;
+}
+
 export interface QueueSnapshot {
   waiting: Patron[];
   visible: Patron[];
@@ -106,6 +143,13 @@ export class QueueManager {
 
   /** everyone who reached the front tonight, for the summary screen */
   readonly seen: Patron[] = [];
+  /** bodies currently on display between the brass posts */
+  private readonly carpet: CarpetSlot[] = [];
+  /** storm-offs since the scene last asked — drained by takeStorms() */
+  private readonly storms: Patron[] = [];
+  /** patronId -> how long they stood, recorded at recall (the entrance maths) */
+  private readonly carpetStand = new Map<string, number>();
+  private readonly carpetRng: RngStream;
 
   constructor(
     private readonly bus: EventBus,
@@ -134,6 +178,7 @@ export class QueueManager {
     this.encounterRng = rng.stream('encounters');
     this.castRng = rng.stream('castPick');
     this.passbackRng = rng.stream('passback');
+    this.carpetRng = rng.stream('carpet');
     bus.on('door:verdict', ({ patron, verdict }) => {
       // Twin B arrives a few minutes after A's verdict, WHATEVER it was — he
       // was parking the car either way. A plain patron, no script: his own
@@ -222,6 +267,7 @@ export class QueueManager {
   update(deltaMs: number): void {
     const sec = deltaMs / 1000;
     this.phoneCooldownMs = Math.max(0, this.phoneCooldownMs - deltaMs);
+    this.tickCarpet(deltaMs);
 
     const idle = this.up === null && this.waiting.length > 0;
     if (idle) {
@@ -256,6 +302,69 @@ export class QueueManager {
     }
   }
 
+  /** The carpet ticks whether or not the rope is busy — display doesn't pause. */
+  private tickCarpet(deltaMs: number): void {
+    if (this.carpet.length === 0) return;
+    const sec = deltaMs / 1000;
+    this.bus.emit('meters:delta', { hype: CARPET_TUNING.hypePerSecPerBody * this.carpet.length * sec });
+    for (let i = this.carpet.length - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
+      const slot = this.carpet[i]!;
+      slot.standMs += deltaMs;
+      if (slot.standMs < slot.patienceMs) continue;
+      this.carpet.splice(i, 1);
+      this.storms.push(slot.patron);
+      this.bus.emit('meters:delta', { aggro: CARPET_TUNING.stormAggro });
+    }
+  }
+
+  get carpetSnapshot(): readonly CarpetSlot[] {
+    return this.carpet;
+  }
+
+  /** Storm-offs since last asked. The scene narrates; the meters already paid. */
+  takeStorms(): Patron[] {
+    return this.storms.splice(0, this.storms.length);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * The patron at the rope takes position between the brass posts. Frees the
+   * rope — the theatre is that you keep working while they stand there.
+   */
+  toCarpet(): Patron | null {
+    const p = this.up;
+    if (!p || this.carpet.length >= CARPET_TUNING.slots) return null;
+    this.up = null;
+    this.waitMs = 0;
+    this.hypeEarnedThisWait = 0;
+    const [lo, hi] = CARPET_TUNING.patienceSecBase;
+    const scale = CARPET_TUNING.patienceScale[p.archetype] ?? 1;
+    this.carpet.push({
+      patron: p,
+      standMs: 0,
+      patienceMs: this.carpetRng.int(lo, hi) * scale * 1000,
+    });
+    return p;
+  }
+
+  /** Wave them off the carpet and up to the rope. Only while the rope is free. */
+  recallFromCarpet(patronId: string): Patron | null {
+    if (this.up !== null) return null;
+    const i = this.carpet.findIndex((s) => s.patron.id === patronId);
+    if (i < 0) return null;
+    const slot = this.carpet.splice(i, 1)[0]!;
+    this.carpetStand.set(slot.patron.id, slot.standMs);
+    this.up = slot.patron;
+    this.waitMs = 0;
+    this.hypeEarnedThisWait = 0;
+    this.bus.emit('door:patronUp', { patron: slot.patron });
+    return slot.patron;
+  }
+
+  /** How long this patron stood on the carpet before their recall, in ms. */
+  carpetMsFor(patronId: string): number {
+    return this.carpetStand.get(patronId) ?? 0;
+  }
+
   /** The Rope. Nothing steps up until the player says so. */
   callNext(): Patron | null {
     if (this.up !== null) return null;
diff --git a/tests/queueManager.test.ts b/tests/queueManager.test.ts
index 3d0c419..d8a2027 100644
--- a/tests/queueManager.test.ts
+++ b/tests/queueManager.test.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it } from 'vitest';
 import { EventBus } from '../src/core/EventBus';
 import { SeededRNG } from '../src/core/SeededRNG';
 import { _resetPatronSerial } from '../src/patrons/generator';
-import { QueueManager, QUEUE_TUNING } from '../src/scenes/door/QueueManager';
+import { CARPET_TUNING, QueueManager, QUEUE_TUNING, entranceBonus } from '../src/scenes/door/QueueManager';
 import type { Patron } from '../src/data/types';
 
 const NIGHT = new Date('2026-07-18T00:00:00');
@@ -289,3 +289,85 @@ describe('QueueManager — determinism', () => {
     expect(nightFingerprint(1)).not.toEqual(nightFingerprint(2));
   });
 });
+
+describe('the red carpet', () => {
+  const carpetSetup = () => {
+    const s = setup(9);
+    fillTo(s.q, 6);
+    return s;
+  };
+
+  it('toCarpet parks the up patron and frees the rope', () => {
+    const { q } = carpetSetup();
+    const p = q.callNext()!;
+    expect(q.toCarpet()?.id).toBe(p.id);
+    expect(q.patronUp).toBeNull();
+    expect(q.carpetSnapshot.length).toBe(1);
+    expect(q.callNext()).not.toBeNull(); // the rope keeps working
+  });
+
+  it('the brass posts only stretch to CARPET_TUNING.slots', () => {
+    const { q } = carpetSetup();
+    for (let i = 0; i < CARPET_TUNING.slots; i++) {
+      expect(q.callNext()).not.toBeNull();
+      expect(q.toCarpet()).not.toBeNull();
+    }
+    expect(q.callNext()).not.toBeNull();
+    expect(q.toCarpet()).toBeNull(); // full — the fourth stays at the rope
+    expect(q.patronUp).not.toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it('bodies on display pay hype per second, on top of the queue theatre', () => {
+    const { q, total } = carpetSetup();
+    q.callNext();
+    q.toCarpet();
+    // Rope free + line waiting: ordinary queue theatre still flows. The
+    // carpet's dividend is ADDITIVE — that is the whole point of the posts.
+    const before = total('hype');
+    q.update(1000);
+    expect(total('hype') - before).toBeCloseTo(
+      CARPET_TUNING.hypePerSecPerBody + QUEUE_TUNING.hypePerSec,
+      3,
+    );
+  });
+
+  it('patience runs out: a storm-off, aggro, and the slot comes back', () => {
+    const { q, total } = carpetSetup();
+    const p = q.callNext()!;
+    q.toCarpet();
+    const before = total('aggro');
+    // Worst-case patience is base-max × the biggest archetype scale.
+    q.update(CARPET_TUNING.patienceSecBase[1] * 1.8 * 1000 + 1000);
+    expect(q.carpetSnapshot.length).toBe(0);
+    expect(q.takeStorms().map((x) => x.id)).toEqual([p.id]);
+    expect(q.takeStorms()).toEqual([]); // drained means drained
+    expect(total('aggro') - before).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(CARPET_TUNING.stormAggro);
+  });
+
+  it('recall puts them back up and remembers the stand for the entrance', () => {
+    const { q } = carpetSetup();
+    const p = q.callNext()!;
+    q.toCarpet();
+    q.update(3000);
+    expect(q.recallFromCarpet('nobody')).toBeNull();
+    const back = q.recallFromCarpet(p.id);
+    expect(back?.id).toBe(p.id);
+    expect(q.patronUp?.id).toBe(p.id);
+    expect(q.carpetMsFor(p.id)).toBe(3000);
+  });
+
+  it('recall refuses while somebody else is at the rope', () => {
+    const { q } = carpetSetup();
+    const p = q.callNext()!;
+    q.toCarpet();
+    q.callNext();
+    expect(q.recallFromCarpet(p.id)).toBeNull();
+    expect(q.carpetSnapshot.length).toBe(1);
+  });
+
+  it('entranceBonus scales with the stand and caps', () => {
+    expect(entranceBonus(0)).toBe(0);
+    expect(entranceBonus(10_000)).toBeCloseTo(10 * CARPET_TUNING.entranceHypePerSec);
+    expect(entranceBonus(10_000_000)).toBe(CARPET_TUNING.entranceHypeCap);
+  });
+});