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You know me, I'll smile my way through anything!
Smiley, Act 1 of Pitstop in Purgatory
Smiley is a side character in the game Pitstop in Purgatory.
A perpetually smiling trickster, he is one of the shadows that Astrid encounters in Purgatory.
Appearance[]
There's not much to say about his appearance, since he appears as a shadow throughout the game. What can be learned is that he has short hair, wears a coat and is always smiling - hence his name.
Personality[]
Smiley is a trickster who is often looking for ways to take advantage of situations. Overall, he is always playing pranks and seeing things optimistically, but along the routes, he reveals a bit of his more serious side, as he worries about his own situation inside Purgatory. He also appears to develop some compassion for Astrid during the game, giving hints that he may have a crush on her.[1]
In the DLC, his crush is confirmed.[2] It is also where he reveals his caring side, and that although he's always joking, he actually pays a lot of attention to his surroudings (including people).
Before Pitstop in Purgatory[]
There isn't much about his life before arriving in Purgatory. What is known, however, is that he came from a poor family, and needed to steal and trick people in order to survive.
Pitstop in Purgatory[]
Act 1: Skeleton Key[]
When Astrid arrives in Purgatory, the shadow seems "friendly enough", giving her confidence enough to ask for help to find out where her room is. He says she needs a special key to get in, which is hidden behind the dartboard. When she reaches it, she finds a small box with a note. In it there is a riddle whose answer is "Smile".
When she solves the riddle, she obtains a Skeleton Key, and tries to use it on the door leading to the rooms, to no avail. Rahel, seeing the helpless situation Astrid finds herself in, ends up helping out, allowing her to finally get to her room. Later, when returning to the Ouroboros Bar again, Astrid confronts the shadow. He apologizes for the prank and introduces himself as Smiley. Despite the apparently regretful words, he ends the conversation smiling more than before.
Still in Act 1, Locke reveals that Smiley stole something from him, and Astrid decides to get it back. When she confronts him about the theft, Smiley simply says that he found a "shiny thing" (a Coin) on the floor and won't return it because there is no evidence that it belonged to Locke. Distracting him with the Skeleton Key, Astrid manages to take the Coin from him, and he ends up accepting defeat (with a smile).
Act 2: Smile on, you crazy diamond.[]
After taking a long nap, Astrid returns to the Ouroboros Bar and discovers, through a conversation with Smiley, that she has slept for 10 years. She feels a bit bummed because no one warned her, and he shows some compassion for her situation (holding most of his smile away).
When Astrid tries to talk to the Guide about the Weird Shadow and fails, she asks Smiley for help and he says he will help if she gives "his" Coin back. With the help of Ezrebeth and the Wishing Well, Astrid turns a Plate into a Fake Coin and manages to trick Smiley. Believing that she managed to anger Locke, the shadow finally gives Astrid the item that will help her talk to The Guide.
Locke's Route[]
In Locke's route, after being kicked out of his room, Astrid finds Smiley sitting on the uncomfortable bench in the Waiting Hall. Talking to him, she ends up sharing that she wants to help Locke but doesn't know how. The shadow tells her that he's not worth it, and that after spending a century with him, believes he's hopeless. Astrid then reveals that if he helps, Locke will get out of Purgatory, which makes Smiley angry, as he doesn't want Locke to leave before he does. Intrigued, Astrid asks him why there's so much rivalry between them, and he finally explains.
The truth is that they met before arriving in Purgatory, and even then they didn't get along very well. Since then, they've been competing for random items, in a never-ending competition to see who can get most stuff from the other. Then, Smiley says about an extra special item that he's pretty sure Locke wants, but unfortunately he dropped it somewhere inside. Astrid asks if it's for him, and Smiley says he actually wants her to give it to Locke. When asked the reason behind it, he says that the information she gave him made him reconsider some things, and Astrid asks if the sudden change of behavior it's out of the goodness of his heart, to which the shadow doesn't answer.
Further down the route, Locke sees the gun and ends up remembering his entire life again. He reveals his past and that Smiley is, in fact, the man who killed him. When they were alive, Smiley tried to rob him, but ended up shooting Locke in the neck out of nervousness. He tried to run away, but before he could, Locke grabbed the handgun and shot him, killing him while dying. Astrid tells him that he needs to let it go, and Locke asks her to accompany him to something he has to do.
The two go to Waiting Hall again, and there they find Smiley. Locke asks if he's proposing some sort of truce, and Smiley begins to reflect on their rivalry, and how pointless it has become over the years. However, Locke refuses to forgive him after reminiscing about everything that happened. Smiley says that if he keeps this up, they'll keep this grudge match on and on forever. Locke then decides to forgive him, not for the shadow, but for all people who cared about him during his life and death.
And for the first time, Smiley stops smiling. Locke says it feels good to be able to knock the smile off his face, and he says he earned it.
Guide's Route[]
In Guide's route, Astrid needs to provoke intense emotions in her friends through conversations in order to use a special item. Each Purgatory character is represented by an item, and Smiley's is a Green Coin.
Among several questions and answers, Smiley reveals a little about himself and his old life: his love for freshly baked bread with butter (and his sadness for having stolen some of them), the fact that he didn't smile that much when alive and his hopelessness of getting out of Purgatory. However, the item only truly reacts when Astrid implies that he's hiding something.
Smiley ends up talking about how hard his life was, and how he had to do bad things since childhood in order to survive. He believes it's impossible to redeem himself after everything he's done, considering the sheer amount of mistakes he made and how many people got into trouble because of him.
When the player uses the item during this confession, something strange happens to Smiley: he suddenly seems to forget what he was talking about. He also gets fixated on repeating "Smiling, smiling, always smiling!", ensuring that the item has been used successfully.
If the player doesn't use the item while he's talking, Smiley pretends everything he said was a joke and changes the subject.
When Astrid returns to her room and tells Guide that she spoke to Smiley, she expresses concern at his sudden change in behavior. The Guide asks if he's stopped smiling and she says no, on the contrary; he looks happier than before. Guide then asks what's the problem and she says that the shadow forgot what he was talking about. Then, Guide says that's a relief, and adds: "Green with envy, he led his life pursuing riches at any cost." He doesn't elaborate after that, and Astrid drops the subject.
DLC: I'll Remember You[]
In the game's DLC, Astrid regains all her memories, including her life and all the loops she went through in Purgatory. Taking advantage of the fact that she's only going to become a deity that night, she decides (much to The Guide's dismay) to have a party with all her friends. One of the guests is Smiley.
He doesn't look much different than he used to, despite the events of the Guide route. Maybe a little more insistent with the wedding jokes, but nothing out of the ordinary.
When Astrid interacts with him at the party, he invites her to talk privately at the Ouroboros Bar.
Smiley thanks Astrid for everything she has done - for making each of Purgatory's inhabitants better people. She tries to deny it, but he insists. Despite his playful and seemingly carefree personality, he is pretty perceptive and knows others and has an idea of the complicated situations they found themselves in. For that very reason, he suspects that it is not a mere coincidence that all of them have become better people with her arrival, all of a sudden. He tries to pressure Astrid to find out the truth, and she refuses, afraid of the consequences it might bring.
Realizing he won't get any answers from her, Smiley eventually relents. But he asks if he can at least get a hug, and Astrid agrees.
"I can hug you whenever you want."
After the hug, Smiley makes a surprising and sudden revelation.
Surprised, Astrid admits that she didn't think he had a real name, and asks why he is revealing it at that moment. Smiley, aka Jeremiah, admits that even though he's always making jokes about it, he really does like her. And considering they will follow different paths from now on, he hopes that, in another life, maybe they can meet again and she can give him another chance.
Astrid says she can't promise that, considering the situation she's in, plus the fact that neither of them knows what's on the other side of the tunnel. However, he clings on to the hope that, if there's even the slightest chance, he wants her to know his real name, so she can know it's him the next time they meet. Astrid is a little apprehensive, but ends up giving in to such vulnerability.
Smiley is delighted by that positive response, and reaffirms that he just wants a chance to make things right. He also comments that that person is lucky, and the player can choose to comment on one of three love interests throughout the game (Rahel, Locke, and Volumnius). The choice doesn't affect anything other than different dialogues.
His dialogue when you choose Rahel.
Afterwards, he reveals that only she knows his real name and asks her to keep it a secret. He also thanks her for everything, saying he's never felt better. He knows that whatever she did, it was for them, and that he'll never be able to repay for what she's done. Astrid says that being there, in that moment, is payment enough, and that they are her friends, and not owe her anything. He makes another joke, asking if friends don't end up marrying each other, and she tries to scold him, but then ends up taking it lightly.
At the end of the conversation, Astrid reflects on him.
"Jeremiah the smiling shadow, what can I possibly say about him?
He made my first day in Purgatory difficult, but he redeemed himself eventually, revealing the lovable person behind that mask of trickery.
Living with the guilt of having accidentally killed an innocent man... I can't imagine how hard that must have been for him.
But he carried those feelings day after day, and now he's earned his freedom... I just hope he won't waste it.
We'll meet again Jeremiah... I don't know when or how, but I'm sure we will."
Later, after the party is over, Astrid meets everyone in the Waiting Hall for a final goodbye. Surprisingly, Smiley is not smiling.
He admits that Purgatory got so much more fun after she got there, and he's sad that it's all going to end. Astrid asks him to close his eyes, and without understanding he ends up obeying.
She gives him a kiss on the cheek, telling him he earned it. He teases her to kiss his mouth afterwards and she reprimands him, affectionately calling him moron. He jokes that if only his fans found out that she "insulted" him like that and Astrid cuts him off, saying he doesn't have fans. He asks if that's a roast and she says it would be easier if it was.
Remembering the whole situation makes Astrid cry again, and Smiley worries thinking it was his fault. Astrid starts to explain why the whole situation is so painful, and he cuts her off with a smile. Faced with her confusion, he explains:
That silly logic makes Astrid laugh. Considering his job is done, Smiley takes his leave, saying that she is and always were his number one gal. She says goodbye using his real name, and he cuts her, saying that other people may hear. Then right after he admits that maybe it's not a big deal since it's just a name, but she says it's not just a name, it's his name. And with such beauty his smile goes away again.
She tells him he should work on it and he says he's going to make it his number one priority when he passes the tunnel. And finally, the two bid goodbye.
Other Dialogues[]
During the party, it is possible to enter the Ouroboros Bar and spy on the conversations of various characters. Here are the conversations Smiley participates in.
Locke and Smiley[]
This is one of the most remarkable extra dialogues in the DLC. Smiley starts by trying to ease the tense atmosphere that arises when the two arrive at the bar, but Locke quickly cuts him off and says that since it's their last day in Purgatory, he wants to say a few things. Smiley surprises him by saying that he also has something to say, which makes Locke curious.
Smiley starts to stall, a common thing of his seriousness-averse personality, and Locke cuts him off again and tells him to get to the damn point.
The shadow admits that even though it doesn't seem like it, he always felt guilty about what he did, and that the only way he found to deal with it was to continue being an ass. However, after the recent events, he felt something change inside him and he wanted to do something to make things right. So, he used his contacts and found an information that might be of interest to Locke.
Despite Locke's incredulity, Smiley continues, leaving the topic of contacts aside and focusing on the information he's gathered: Some people who have recently passed through Purgatory said to have worked for 'Moon Enterprises'. As the name sounded familiar, Smiley dug deeper and discovered that the company had been founded by a family of the same name.
Two sisters had started the company after one of them nearly died from a childhood illness that had treatment. Thanks to their poverty, she almost didn't get the treatment she needed, but by a miracle, she survived. So that other people wouldn't have to go through the same thing, she and her sister created the Moon Enterprises, a company dedicated to helping the poor in whatever way possible. And although the founders have already died of old age, their descendants continue to carry the project forward.
Locke associates the events with his own life and realizes that the girls Smiley is talking about are actually his nieces.
Smiley tries to explain that he knows nothing he can do will really fix things, but Locke stops him and tells him not to worry. Although Smiley's mistake is irreparable, he is grateful for the information.
The shadow says he's very happy to hear that, and Locke points to the fact that he isn't smiling, which surprises Smiley a little.
Then, Smiley asks what Locke wanted to say, and he dismisses it.
The two go silent for a while, and Smiley asks him if he wants to drink, which Locke ends up accepting. The shadow jokes by suggesting hard alcohol to him, and before Locke can correct him, Smiley says it's a joke and says that he would never share the good stuff with him anyway. Locke tries to scold him, but the dialogue ends.
Rahel and Smiley[]
Smiley meets Rahel at the Ouroboros Bar and quickly shows a great admiration - to the point of considering her an idol - as she is one of Astrid's closest friends. Rahel finds it strange that he sees her that way, considering he is also a friend of Astrid, and even mentions his name, which he finds incredible.
He tries to extract some of Astrid's secrets, wanting to become as close to her as Rahel, but Rahel refuses to betray her in this way. Smiley apologizes, but soon recovers with a somewhat unusual request.
With her visible irritation at the question, he hastily takes his leave.
Smiley and Ezrebeth[]
In this conversation, Smiley approaches Ezrebeth and comments that people can't see her, which she confirms. He wonders why and Ezrebeth is a little surprised he doesn't know. Smiley admits that The Guide never told him, and asks if she knows anything.
Smiley is amazed that shadows are created and she says that at least she was, since she was a gift from God to The Guide. Again shocked by Ezrebeth's words, Smiley thinks that she must feel very special because of this, which she vehemently denies, as Guide never treated her well. She wonders, however, if Smiley was also a gift, but he very much doubts it, as The Guide always talks as if he and Locke were put there on purpose. And despite that, apparently there are people who can see him clearly, while others don't. This mystery surprises Ezrebeth, making her wonder a little about its meaning, but soon she lets it go.
Considering that in a little while whatever made them shadows won't matter anymore, Ezrebeth decides to invite Smiley to a shadow-to-shadow drinking contest. He points to his own smile, asking if she understands the answer, and she says no, as he is always smiling. Smiley takes the opportunity to say that the last one to reach the liquor bottle loses, as he starts to run, leaving a hurried Ezrebeth behind.
Trivia[]
- He, alongside Ezrebeth and the Weird Shadow, has only one sprite in the entire game.
- When Smiley came to Purgatory he was sad all the time, so he asked The Guide to help him. Then, Guide gave him a book full of bad jokes. [3]
- He is mentioned again in the sequel Poetry in Purgatory as the idol of Lil' Smiles, another shadow. Completing their side story unlocks a portrait of him in the Heirloom Collection[4] and a section in the "Lore" part of the game's pamphlet.
References[]
- ↑ See dialogue in Guide's route.
- ↑ See dialogue in his private conversation in the DLC.
- ↑ See dialogue in Rahel's route.
- ↑ See Heirloom Collection of Poetry.