The Curator/Involvement/Little Hope

*We each have our own demons. They are ours and ours alone...**This article is about The Dark Pictures Anthology's second installment,* ***Little Hope***
***.***
*You're going it alone. Independent. Admirable. Possibly foolish...**The content below contains spoilers from one or more of the games. Read at your own risk!*

**Sub-Pages**

* Man of Medan
* **Little Hope**
* House of Ashes
* The Devil in Me
* Switchback VR

## Meetings

### *First Meeting*

After the intro sequence, the Curator meets the player for the first time. His initial greeting depends on whether or not the player has a save file from *Man of Medan* on their device.

* If the player doesn't have a save file, the Curator will wonder if they’ve already met before and introduce himself and the Repository to them.
* If the player has a save file, the Curator will welcome them again and inform that there’s another story to tell, which is very different to the last one.
* (In Shared Story) The Curator can welcome the first player and introduce himself to the second player if they don't have save files.

Then the Curator comes to the bookshelf near the fireplace, retrieves the "*Little Hope*" book, and after sarcastically remarking on the name, he informs the player the fire was unavoidable and one should "look to the future". Sitting in the chair, the Curator talks about the infinite number of fate's directions one could travel.

* (In Shared Story) The Curator will note that the players' actions are connected and act as if they are one.

He also informs the player about the importance of their choices through the game, culminating in advising them "to thine own self be true".

The Curator begrudgingly states that it is not his job to help the player, but merely to record the story, claiming it's not his place to do so, though he says he's allowed to cite passages from literary works when he feels such would be appropriate. The Curator introduces the pictures, informing the player they can be used to help them in the story. Finally, he bids the player farewell, informing them they have a funeral to attend before remarking that he enjoys "a good funeral".

### *Second Meeting*

The players meets the Curator for the second time after Andrew and Angela encounter Mary. He says things escalated rather quickly. Then he makes a subtle comment about John's decision to take a drink.

* If John didn't take the drink, the Curator will say everything that one does or doesn't do, in one's life will catch up with one eventually. He asks the player about it and tells them to not look at him, because he can't help them.
* If John took the drink, he will say that everything is fine in moderation, interrupt himself, and cite Shakespeare - "Lord, what fools these mortals be".

The Curator speaks broadly about the survivors' situation and their relationships, culminating with the questioning of whether Mary is in trouble or *is* trouble. Then he summarizes the protagonists and comments on the player’s choices thus far.

* If all the protagonists have only default traits so far, the Curator will congratulate the player.
* If a protagonist got a locked trait, he'll say the player will regret their choices later.

After mentioning the stranger's rudeness at the bar and that the protagonists might be in danger, the Curator gets up from the desk and dismisses the player, urging them to find the bus driver.

### *Third Meeting*

The third meeting with the Curator happens after Andrew, Angela, and John are pursued by a creature emerging from the river. Firstly, he will comment on Angela's status.

* If Angela survived, he'll say she was almost lost to a fate worse than death, though he states with a smile that there's nothing wrong with death itself.
* If Angela died, he'll say her death was avoidable and the player must now focus on the future.

The Curator then speaks about the revolver Andrew can find.

* If Andrew took it, the Curator will suggest it could be a lifesaver or vice-versa.
	+ If Andrew doesn't tell Angela about it, he will say that was a good move.
* If Angela went with Andrew and threw the gun in the river, the Curator will bafflingly question the player on why they would throw away such precious things.
* If the revolver wasn't found or Andrew simply didn't take it, he'll say the protagonists need some kind of weapon and the player should explore more thoroughly.

The Curator then mentions that the "boys" have interesting theories regarding their fate, singling out Daniel's theory that they're all dead.

* If Angela went with Taylor and Daniel told them Amy was arrested, she'll talk to Andrew about reincarnation after leaving the police station. The Curator will also comment on it and suggests they're reincarnated souls of their historical counterparts.

He then quotes William Shakespeare’s *Richard III*, alluding to the idea behind said theory, before mentioning that finding the bus driver might be useful in understanding what's truly happening. After claiming the situation might be confusing for the player, the Curator informs them he's been granted permission to give them a single hint.

* If the player accepts, the Curator will quote Shakespeare’s *The Winter's Tale*, alluding to the true source of the horrors seen thus far, but not before claiming to have met the author once, as the Curator claims he does with everyone.
* If the player rejects it or stays silent, he will say, that this move can be brave and independent, but also foolish.
* (In Shared Story) If players say yes/no together, answers will be the same as in the singleplayer.
* (In Shared Story) If players answer yes and no, he will say that one of them probably knows more than the other.

After this, the Curator says the player should get back to the story, no matter how is terrifying it might be.

### *Fourth Meeting*

The fourth meeting with the Curator starts after Taylor and Daniel leave the museum. He begins by asking the player whether things are becoming clearer for them.

* If Angela is alive, the Curator will mention the creature pursuing her and hope she's okay.
* If Angela died in the sewers, the Curator will say it was an unpleasant end for poor old Angela, if it was indeed the end.

After that, the Curator can comment on the fate of the doll from the museum.

* If John and Andrew burned the doll, he'll spitefully ask the player if that decision could save them.

Retrieving a letter opener from his desk and walking towards the fireplace, the Curator then comments on the collected weapons.

* If the player found both the revolver and knife, the Curator will say that another instrument of death has been added to the group's collection and it's a good work.
* If the player only found the gun, he'll say nothing.
* If the player didn't find the revolver, but took the knife, he'll say it might prove useful.
* If the player threw away the revolver, but took the knife, he'll advise them to stick to it.
* If the player found nothing, the Curator will say with displeasure that they lost another opportunity to arm the protagonists and they should take more care and be diligent.

The Curator then offers a second hint to the player.

* If the player accepts it, the Curator will explain that everyone has their own "demons" and they are often born from regret.
* If the player rejects it or stays silent, he will unsatisfiyngly suggest, that the player wants to piece things together themselves and remind them that the stakes are much greater than life and death.
* (In Shared Story) If players say yes/no together, answers will be the same as in the singleplayer.
* (In Shared Story) If players answer yes and no, the Curator will irritably decide to give them an advice to cooperate, meanwhile yelling at them in anger.

Before sending the player back to the game, the Curator indirectly asks the player to consider Mary’s fault at the events that are happening by quoting an excerpt from Oscar Wilde’s *A Woman of No Importance* before telling them that "she’s just a child".

### *Fifth Meeting*

The fifth meeting with the Curator takes place after the protagonists reunite in the woods after being ambushed by the creatures. He quotes Buddha, stating that the conquest of oneself is a victory that cannot be taken from you. The Curator questions whether the player has already begun to understand what's truly happening, claiming "*everything and everyone may not be quite what they appear to be*". Simultaneously, he makes this point clearer by removing distinct playing cards from a small poker chest on his desk (representing the surviving protagonists), placing them face down on his desk and then flipping them back to show all cards to be the same, the King of Hearts (which is nicknamed the "suicide king" since he appears to be stabbing himself, and is a hint at Anthony's possible suicide), hinting at the true events taking place in Little Hope.

* If all protagonists are alive, the Curator will congratulate them.
	+ If all protagonists are alive, but one of them got a locked trait, he'll say they've so far avoided damnation and eternal suffering.
* If one protagonist died, he'll name them. It can be Angela, Daniel, or Taylor.
	+ If Andrew killed Angela by mistake, he'll scold the player for being their own worse enemy and for being careless with the revolver.
* If two protagonists died, he'll say two souls were lost.

The Curator briefly asks the player if they have any thoughts on what'll happen next, informing them something "wicked" is soon to come, and sends them once again back into the game.

### *Final Meeting*

The final meeting with the Curator happens right at the end of the game. The Curator closes the "*Little Hope*" book and informs the player it's "game over", though he informs them they can always try again and see if they can get a "different result".

* If all protagonists survived, the Curator will clap and congratulate the player for saving their single charge and helping him find a way through the guilt and horror.
* If one protagonist (except Andrew) or more died, the Curator speaks about the problem with demons, which will haunt one forever if they're not laid to rest.
	+ If one protagonist died, the Curator will say it's impressive and all of the group "almost" survived.
	+ If two or three protagonists died, he'll say it's not a bad effort, some found redemption while some didn't, and that it's all the player's doing.
	+ If four or all protagonists died, he'll say it's not a very happy ending. Or it is, depending on what makes the player happy.

Then the Curator comments on the bus driver.

* If the bus driver survived, he'll say the player finally found him and maybe he can put the past behind him.
* If the bus driver died, he'll say the player found him but lost him again forever.

The Curator then proceeds to leave his repository, bidding the player farewell until they meet again, whether it's in the Arabian Desert or "somewhere else".

* If the player doesn't have *Man of Medan* save files, he'll also add that they can meet in the South Pacific.

Before leaving, the Curator assures the player they'll inevitably meet "at least one more time".

### *Curator's Cut*

After the opening credits, the Curator recognizes the player and welcomes them again. He then quotes William Shakespeare’s *King John*, stating that a tale that's told for a second time carries a few surprises. However, the Curator says such is only true if the tale has been finished, claiming the story the player has started in this mode isn't fixed in the same parameters as before. The Curator then says a story can be very different when told from a different perspective, implying there are new possibilities for the player to explore.

The rest of this interaction, as well as the others throughout the game, play out exactly as they do in the Theatrical Cut.