At about 9pm last night, David Willis, a man who, according to his Twitter bio, is from Dallas, Texas, found himself in a predicament.
As he explained, he was locked in Waterstones in Trafalgar Square.
Well, not quite. Because by 11pm, no one had shown up.
Hi @Waterstones I've been locked inside of your Trafalgar Square bookstore for 2 hours now. Please let me out.
David Willis@DWill_Follow
Hi @Waterstones I've been locked inside of your Trafalgar Square bookstore for 2 hours now. Please let me out.
10:55 PM - 16 Oct 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
And on the Waterstones account, all was silent.
Thanks for the tweets today! We'll be back at 9am tomorrow to answer your queries :) Happy reading!
Waterstones@WaterstonesFollow
Thanks for the tweets today! We'll be back at 9am tomorrow to answer your queries :) Happy reading!
5:30 PM - 16 Oct 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
Meanwhile, Willis's follow-up tweet had received 4,000 retweets. And Twitter was getting concerned.
I need to know more about the #WaterstonesTexan. Rolling updates on his status. Is he alive? Is he reading? Does he have a bookmark?
Oliver Dyson@OliverD22Follow
I need to know more about the #WaterstonesTexan. Rolling updates on his status. Is he alive? Is he reading? Does he have a bookmark?
11:50 PM - 16 Oct 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
Anyone know how long #waterstonestexan has been in there. Or how long air lasts in a closed bookshop?
Dan Hodges@DPJHodgesFollow
Anyone know how long #waterstonestexan has been in there. Or how long air lasts in a closed bookshop?
11:59 PM - 16 Oct 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
It was midnight. People wanted to go to bed, but they couldn't.
Won’t be able to sleep now until we find out how this story ends….. #WaterstonesTexan
J Marshall@basculetellerFollow
Won’t be able to sleep now until we find out how this story ends….. #WaterstonesTexan
11:58 PM - 16 Oct 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
I'm tired and need to go to bed, but I daren't miss the outcome of #waterstonestexan.
Paul Woolgar@limeandonionFollow
I'm tired and need to go to bed, but I daren't miss the outcome of #waterstonestexan.
12:00 AM - 17 Oct 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
Things were getting tense.
Oh God we've reached the nail-biting suspense midpoint of the #waterstonestexan narrative arc. will he overcome? THE WORLD NEEDS TO KNOW.
Krystina Nellis@flyingnellyFollow
Oh God we've reached the nail-biting suspense midpoint of the #waterstonestexan narrative arc. will he overcome? THE WORLD NEEDS TO KNOW.
12:05 AM - 17 Oct 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
People began campaigning.
#FreeDavidWillis
Ben Judah@b_judahFollow
#FreeDavidWillis
12:20 AM - 17 Oct 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
Thousands of people are filling Trafalgar Square holding candles. This story has touched so many people. #waterstonestexan #PrayForDave
Stuart Provan@stuartprovanFollow
Thousands of people are filling Trafalgar Square holding candles. This story has touched so many people. #waterstonestexan #PrayForDave
12:11 AM - 17 Oct 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
And worst of all, Willis's account had fallen silent.
It's like this guy has no idea we're all waiting for an update. If he's rearranging books then all is forgiven. #WaterstonesTexan
James@OvertlyJamesFollow
It's like this guy has no idea we're all waiting for an update. If he's rearranging books then all is forgiven. #WaterstonesTexan
11:54 PM - 16 Oct 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
Some saw potential in the situation.
Desperately rushing to write movie script about #WaterstonesTexan trapped in Waterstones before he's rescued. Hope McConaughey is available.
Leon McCarthy@LeonadeFollow
Desperately rushing to write movie script about #WaterstonesTexan trapped in Waterstones before he's rescued. Hope McConaughey is available.
11:57 PM - 16 Oct 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
Tom Hanks as #WaterstonesTexan #TheMovie Colin Firth as Store Manager Keira Knightly Check-Out girl & Hugh Grant hapless security guard
Mark Gallagher@_markgallagherFollow
Tom Hanks as #WaterstonesTexan #TheMovie Colin Firth as Store Manager Keira Knightly Check-Out girl & Hugh Grant hapless security guard
12:18 AM - 17 Oct 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
I hope the #WaterstonesTexan is repeatedly swiping his Waterstones Card. If he does it 50,000 times he gets a free 'Little Book of Dreams'
Ben Archibald@benarchibaldFollow
I hope the #WaterstonesTexan is repeatedly swiping his Waterstones Card. If he does it 50,000 times he gets a free 'Little Book of Dreams'
12:16 AM - 17 Oct 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
Then the backlash began.
Is there a cafe in that Waterstones? He's probably making himself a snack, nose in a book, happy as a clam.
India Knight@indiaknightFollow
Is there a cafe in that Waterstones? He's probably making himself a snack, nose in a book, happy as a clam.
11:48 PM - 16 Oct 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
I'm feeling jealous... Is that wrong?! x #WaterstonesTexan
mascara for the mind@ZoeMcCarthyFollow
I'm feeling jealous... Is that wrong?! x #WaterstonesTexan
12:03 AM - 17 Oct 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
Still there was nothing.
Imagining that #WaterstonesTexan has made himself a nest/fort using copies of Robinson Crusoe and other such castaway, isolatory literature.
Julie Danskin@thisisdanskinFollow
Imagining that #WaterstonesTexan has made himself a nest/fort using copies of Robinson Crusoe and other such castaway, isolatory literature.
12:16 AM - 17 Oct 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
And then....
We're pleased to announce that @DWill_ is a free man once more. Thanks for your concern and tweets!
We're pleased to announce that @DWill_ is a free man once more. Thanks for your concern and tweets!
12:15 AM - 17 Oct 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
I'm free
Needless to say, Twitter was overjoyed.
Waterstones guy's out. Dazed, wrapped in foil blanket, helicopters overhead, couple of Catherine Cooksons down his Y-fronts
Michael Hogan@michaelhoganFollow
Waterstones guy's out. Dazed, wrapped in foil blanket, helicopters overhead, couple of Catherine Cooksons down his Y-fronts
12:21 AM - 17 Oct 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
HE'S FREE!!!!! #WaterstonesTexan
Paul@PJN74Follow
HE'S FREE!!!!! #WaterstonesTexan
12:16 AM - 17 Oct 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
Although for a moment it looked like it was all going to kick off again.
@DWill_ did you seriously just tweet before you texted me?
Amy Mac@Ames_MacFollow
@DWill_ did you seriously just tweet before you texted me? ????
12:33 AM - 17 Oct 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
(Yes, she's his girlfriend).
Anyway, that's why everyone's tired today.
See you all next year for the anniversary of the #WaterstonesOne
Ewa Woowar@EwaSRFollow
See you all next year for the anniversary of the #WaterstonesOne
12:17 AM - 17 Oct 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
It's a splendid example of why the late-night internet is a strange place to be.
UPDATED: the fate of Texan @DWill_ on Twitter #freethewatersones1 http://t.co/vZWTWKcDES
Twitter Data@TwitterDataFollow
UPDATED: the fate of Texan @DWill_ on Twitter #freethewatersones1
http://t.co/vZWTWKcDES
12:31 AM - 17 Oct 14ReplyRetweetFavorite
And the moral of the story is: Never look at Twitter while you're in bed.
DWillz from Waterstone's now enters the Twitter hall of micro-fame, alongside Fenton the dog and Cat Bin Lady
DWillz from Waterstone's now enters the Twitter hall of micro-fame, alongside Fenton the dog and Cat Bin Lady
12:27 AM - 17 Oct 14ReplyRetweetFavorite