Murphy

**Murphy** is a self-styled vigilante resident of Gallows Creek and the sixth 911 caller. He is voiced by Dario Coates.

## History

Murphy is a stereotypical redneck with an affinity for gator wrestling. Judging by his broad Southern accent and talk about alligators, he is originally from the Southeastern United States (probably either Florida, Mississippi, Arkansas, or Alabama). He moved to the trailer park in Gallows Creek around the birth of his son, Fernando, who was born September 3rd, 1984. Sometime before his son's third birthday, Murphy bought the Master Robbie's Deadly Dojo of Kung-Raa-Tay VHS collection for $24.99, believing the pseudo-Eastern "fighting" techniques taught in them would make him a full-fledged martial artist (and expert lovemaker).

A bit after 1:04 a.m., after Forrest Nash finds and plays Roddy Snatcher's *Final Breath*, Murphy gives KFAM 189.16 - The Scream a call, introducing himself with a simple yet poignant "This is MURPHY!", then declaring that he has called to do two things. First, he wants to say Happy Birthday to his now three-year old son and talks about how fatherhood has made him a better man, with varying response from the radio host. After this, Murphy gets to the main part of his reason for calling, publicly calling out the Whistling Man, who has been attacking people in Gallows Creek throughout the night, and dares him to face his challenge in an one-on-one, hand-to-hand duel at the Gallows Waste Disposal Plant. Murphy touts his newly acquired kung-raa-tay skills, thanking Master Robbie's training tapes, and warns that the Whistling Man has "let loose the junkyard dog", as he signs off with chihuahua-like barking. Peggy voices dismay at Murphy's overconfidence while Forrest asks the rest of the listeners to wish Murphy good luck as he "tries to become out hometown hero".

True to his word, Murphy showed up at the disposal plant, where he confronted the Whistling Man, who proceeded to beat his opponent into submission before carrying his victim inside and locking him inside a dumpster in the facility. Murphy was fortunately left with his phone and flashlight and calls Forrest again to inform him of the latest turn of events, lamenting his lack of foresight while asking for assistance. Just then, he smells smoke and realizes that the Whistling Man had set the building on fire. Peggy immediately phones the town fire department, but finds out from them that someone had snuck in and slashed the tires of their only fire truck. Resorting to a fellow resident as helper, Peggy suggests calling one of her friends who live close to the waste plant and send them to find and rescue Murphy, those being Alex, Katherine, and Jericho. Katherine is the correct answer.

A few minute later, Katherine arrives at the burning plant and calls KFAM to receive directions to Murphy's location. Murphy meanwhile is asked about his surroundings, such as the contents of his dumpster, as well as the smell and sound of the room. The correct answers are the recyling area, at the crushing station, in the garbage from Henderson Disposal. As the padlock is quite flimsy, Katherine is able to get Murphy out of the dumpster and guide him back outside, just as the waste plant collapses in on itself. Murphy is grateful to his savior and promises to raise Fernando like Katherine and Forrest, and also resolves to get his money back from Master Robbie.

If he survived, after Dawn's call, Murphy makes a follow-up call, this time from the safety of his home. Figuring since Forrest saved his life and he would need to be a better role model for Fernando, he would try and help KFAM as much as possible on uncovering the Whistling Man's motives, but because he only moved to Gallows Creek relatively recently, Murphy knows nothing about the Whistling Man legend or the death of George Barrow. He is however very insistent that the Whistling Man he fought at the disposal plant was a man, in spite of the reveal that the person behind the mask was a woman. Before Murphy can enter a speech about gators, he is easily shut down and quickly hangs up to free up the line.

In the interview with the Whistling Man, Marie reveals that after she heard Murphy taunting the Whistling Man, she siced her son Henry on Murphy's challenge out of sheer principle, saying she raised him to never back down from a fight.

## Possible deaths

* If Forrest decides on either Alex or Jericho, the chosen friend will not arrive in time, as Alex has to take the long way around due to street renovations, while Jericho, as Peggy noted, is a very elderly man. Either way, the plant collapses from the flames, ensuring Murphy's death.
* If Forrest gives Katherine wrong directions to Murphy, she will quickly deduce that Murphy isn't there and hastily run out of the burning plant, which collapses just as she escapes.

## Trivia

* Murphy and Martinez are the only possible victims besides Forrest with absolutely no connection to the death of George Barrow, whether through presence, familial status or connection to the coverup, with Murphy being made a target after openly antagonizing the Whistling Man on live radio.
* Saving Murphy yields the Steam achievement "For Fernando!"
* Although it's never elaborated on, Murphy's son was probably named after the ABBA song Fernando.