1997 with key/shift problems

[RobE]

Summary: Can't get shift back into Park, couldn't get the key out while it was in park.

Problem:
My friend just bought the '97 through an auction. When he first tried turning the engine over he found out he couldn't get the key out.

Don't ask me why, but he shifted the car down into Drive, then found out he couldn't shift it back. It would go down from D to 2/1, but it wouldn't go back up to N/R/P.

Now before he tried starting it, we towed it out of the lot he was storing it in, and we were able to put the car into drive and back to park no problem, so it only started after the key was put into the ignition.