Quotes in Man of Medan

All that glisters is not gold, often have you heard that told...

This article is about The Dark Pictures Anthology's first installment, Man of Medan .

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!

Man of Medan

Little Hope

House of Ashes

The Devil in Me

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Sub-Pages

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• Man of Medan
• Little Hope
• House of Ashes
• The Devil in Me

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Meetings

First meeting

curator1 — Chinese Market — Theatrical Cut

Sequence	Subtitles	Dev. note/Description
Greeting
welcometorepository	Hello... and welcome... to my repository.	The Curator introduces himself to the Player, and explains the gravity of the situation.
Return in Second playthrough/Shared Story
welcomeback_mp_both	You’re back to try again! Excellent. Everyone likes a trier! I do hope you get the outcomes that you want.	The Curator congratulates the players for returning to the game.
welcomeback_mp_new	One of you is back to try again! Excellent. Everyone likes a trier! I do hope you get the outcomes that you want. For the benefit of the other, let me explain a few things.	The Curator congratulates the returning player, and welcomes the new player.
The Curator's introduction
welcometorepository	I am The Curator. The Curator of Stories. Stories of love and hate... greed and beauty... life... and death. Stories such as this one. I'm here to record the story you choose to tell. You see, this tale is only part-written and the choices you make will complete it... And determine whether the lives of those with whom you are... interfering continue to flourish. Or whether they are... Snuffed out. You see, we each make decisions according to our own moral compass, and we have to live with those decisions, or die by them. But you shouldn't fear death. It is, after all... inevitable. It is the tax one pays for having lived, and it comes, eventually, to everybody. Still... none of us want for it to come too soon, do we?	The Curator introduces himself to the Player, and explains the gravity of the situation.
Singleplayer/Multiplayer choices
yourchoices	As in life, the actions you take matter. The choices you make will affect others.	The Curator addresses the Player directly about their choices.
otherplayerschoices	Sometimes you will be determining the story together, sometimes separately. What one does may not make complete sense to the other, because we all have different... perspectives. But, as in life, the actions you take matter. The choices you make will affect each other.	The Curator addresses both players, if there are two, about their choices.
Briefing about Pictures
finddarkpictures	I'll be keeping a close eye on your progress. It's not my place to interfere... but I might be persuaded to offer the occasional hint. Here's one for free: there are pictures in this world that can show you some... possible futures. If you can find them, and study them, they may just help you to make... better... decisions. ...or, should I say, decisions that result in the outcomes YOU would prefer. That's all for the moment. We'll talk again soon enough, we'll have the opportunity to... account... for the actions that you've taken... or whatever mess you've made.	The Curator tells the player about the dark pictures in the world, and sets them on their way.

curator1 — Chinese Market — Curator's Cut

Sequence	Subtitles	Dev. note/Description
Greeting
welcomeback_sp	Ah. You're back. Interesting. Excuse me a moment. You've heard, I suppose, that there's been an... adjustment? It’s a "one door closes, another opens" sort of thing. Yes, the story's been told. But the truth of that story isn't fixed - far from it. You see, a story can change a great deal when told from a... different perspective. A chance to turn back the clock? Walk in different shoes? Make fresh choices?	The Curator welcomes back a retuning player, encouraging them to play the game through again in a different way.
Reaction to the best ending/fatal choices in last playthrough
welcomeback_sp_donewell	Perhaps take a few risks this time. Raise a little hell!	The Curator tries to provoke the player into behaving more recklessly, if they were careful last time.
welcomeback_sp_donebadly	Maybe things will work out better this time. Maybe.	The Curator encourages the player to try again, in the hopes that they'll do better this time, if they did badly last time.

Second meeting

curator2 — Dive/Uninvited Guest

Sequence	Subtitles	Dev. note/Description
Reaction to the player's decision about decompressing
chucklingtohimself lookingserious	—	The Curator leans back and laughs quietly to himself. (The Curator chuckles if Julia has bends. If not, he is looking serious)
Cast introduction
gettingtoknowthecast	You're getting to know these intrepid adventurers then? Alex and his little brother Brad, trying to swim with the big fish... both seem out of their depth.	The Curator is discussing the characters the player has been introduced to so far.
Alex and Julia relationship
requitedlove	And Julia... the love of Alex's life... and he the love of hers.	Curator mentions Julia, and how she and Alex love each other. (High relationship)
unrequitedlove	And Julia... the love of Alex's life... if only she felt the same.	The Curator remarks on how Alex and Julia may not be right for each other after all. (Low relationship)
Conrad and Fliss introduction
howaboutconradandliss	What about Conrad? A bold fellow, you might say. Or maybe you'd say arrogant? And then there's Captain Fliss... strong... forthright... stubborn.	The Curator recaps on Conrad and Fliss.
Conrad and Fliss relationship
enamouredwithconrad	Do I detect a spark between her and Conrad?	The Curator comments on their flirting. (High relationship)
unimpressedwithconrad	She appears somewhat... immune... to Conrad's charms... so far, at least.	The Curator comments on Fliss' resistance to Conrad's advances. (Low relationship)
Warning about important decisions
valueddecisions	Let me reassure you. You helped them to make some decisions they'll value later on...	The Curator moves a little closer in his chair.
Good/bad choice about decompressing
doingwell	You're doing well.	The Curator concludes the meeting with on a positive note. (Julia decompressed/refused once)
mayregretlater	...and some I think they may regret.	The Curator suggests the player has made a rash decision. (Julia refused to decompress twice)

Third meeting

curator3 — Storm

Sequence	Subtitles	Dev. note/Description
Reaction to survival of the protagonists
everyonestillalive	Everyone's still alive! Things could have been quite different.	The Curator congratulates the player on keeping everyone alive, hinting that characters could be dead by now.
Reaction to the fatal choices of the protagonists
lookupfrowning	Hmm...	The Curator sighs heavily at the death of Conrad.
firstcasualty	Well... you seem to have already suffered a... casualty. That was a bold move. Not smart... but bold.	The Curator gently reprimands the player for getting Conrad shot.
lostanotheralready	Dear oh dear... you appear to have lost another one already. Some people should take greater care over the decisions that they make.	The Curator reprimands the player for their fatal mistakes. (Curator's words if Conrad is dead and Julia has bends)
The Curator walks to the bookshelves
closeledger	Huh...	The Curator sighs, closes his ledger, and gets up from the desk.
Conrad's survival
conradescaped	You appear to have saved somebody. A bold move that paid off... this time. But does this make the rest of your group more vulnerable? I dare say we'll find out, hmm?	The Curator congratulates the player for getting Conrad to escape, but warns them against reckless behavior in future.
Offer of the first hint
offeradvice	Kind-hearted creature I am, I'd like to offer you some forewarning of what's to come. Tempted?	The Curator offers a hint to the players.
Agreement between the players to take a hint
forewarning_agreedyes	Okay. You're in agreement. Clue it is.	The Curator prepares to inform the players.
First hint
notallgoldclue	Okay then... we will turn to the bard for inspiration. Merchant of Venice. Act 2, Scene 7. The Prince of Morocco pulls a scroll from the eye of a skull and reads... "All that glisters is not gold; often have you heard that told."	The Curator laughs, and reads from the clue from a book.
Agreement between the players to not take a hint
forewarning_agreedyno	You both agree.	Both players agree.
Reaction to refusal/silence in the singleplayer
goitalone	You're going it alone. Independent. Admirable. Possibly foolish. We'll learn soon enough.	The player refuses the hint, and the Curator takes it in his stride.
Reaction to the players' silence/timeout
forewarning_timeout	Someone can't decide. That doesn't bode well.	The Curator comments on the indecision of the players.
Reaction to different answers
forewarning_disagreed	Hmm, one of you says yes, and one of you says no. If you could learn to work together then things might turn out more... beneficially.	The Curator impatiently tells the players to work together, warning of dire consequences if they don't.
The Curator's warning
significantdistress	Anyway, now that you've reached a point of significant... distress... I presume you're eager to get back to your story... but here's a thing... Everything may not be entirely as it seems... probably shouldn't have said that.	The Curator dismisses the player back to the story, telling them that there's more going on than they might realise.

Fourth meeting

curator4 — Revenge

Sequence	Subtitles	Dev. note/Description
Greeting
turnedspiritual	Oh, hello. Things appear to have taken a turn towards the... spiritual. Wouldn't you say?	The Curator notices the player in the room, and greets them, commenting on the last chapter they played.
Counting dead protagonists
onedown	Now you're one down.	The Curator comments on the first death thus far.
lostone	Lost one. I suppose it doesn't really make much difference.	The Curator remarks on the death of Julia, who would have died anyway. (Julia had bends and was killed by Olson)
anotheronedown	Now you're another one down.	The Curator notes how many characters are dying. (Conrad died in Act 1 and someone died in Act 2)
twodown	Now you're two down, when you were doing so well.	Curator notes two deaths in Act 2.
twomoredown	Now you're two more down. Don't you think that's a little... careless?	The Curator jokingly accuses the player of carelessness. (Conrad died in Act 1 and two protagonists died in Act 2)
Naming dead protagonists
pooralex	...and poor Alex. But there are worse ways to go.	The Curator mentions Alex's death. (Olson stabbed Alex with the knife)
pooralex_notpretty	...and poor Alex. That really wasn't pretty, was it?	The Curator mentions Alex's more gruesome death. (Olson smashed Alex's head)
poorjulia	...and poor Julia.	The Curator mentions Julia's death. (Olson stabbed Julia with the knife)
poorjulia_sosad	...and poor Julia. All that youthful promise, snuffed out in a second... Ahem... well, several long, drawn-out, agonising seconds actually.	The Curator comments on Julia's gruesome death. (Olson snapped Julia's neck)
seenbrad	...and has anyone seen Brad?	The Curator asks if anyone has seen Brad. (Brad was stabbed or died in chase)
poorbrad	...and you! You could have chosen differently, avoided his untimely death. You know that... right?	The Curator accuses the player of letting Brad die. (Brad drowned)
seenfliss	...and has anyone seen Fliss?	The Curator asks if anyone has seen Fliss. (Fliss was killed or died in chase)
poorfliss	...and poor Fliss. Was that what you wanted? Or are your bearings a little off?	The Curator accuses the player of negligence regarding Fliss. (Fliss drowned)
poorconrad_reckless	...and what about Conrad? He... or rather, you, should have been a bit less... careless.	The Curator says the player's carelessness lead to Conrad's death. (Conrad died in chase)
poorconrad	...and what about Conrad? Took a step into the unknown, I fear. Too bad.	The Curator mentions Conrad falling to his death. (Conrad jumped off the ledge)
Offer of the second hint
likeahint	Have you figured out what's going on... how to stop it... how to save the lives of your poor, unfortunate 'stowaways'? You will... I hope. Although it seems the ship's previous occupants never managed to. Quite a lot of deaths that night. Let me help you out, give you a little hint.	The Curator asks the player if they've worked out what's happening, and if they'd like a hint.
Agreement between the players to take a hint/not to take a hint
hint_bothagreed	You're agreed.	The players agree.
Second hint
hint_yes	Well then, how can I put this? There may be forces at play here that are more... scientific, and even some that are more... political, you know? Less... supernatural?	The Curator gives the players a hint.
Reaction to the refusal
hint_no	No hint? Perhaps you think you can piece things together from the clues you've found yourself. Good luck with that.	The Curator appears disapproving that neither player wants a hint.
Reaction to the silence/timeout
hint_timeout	Can't make up your mind? A pity... and dangerous.	The Curator berates the player who can't choose.
Reaction to different answers
hint_disagreed	One says 'yes' and one says 'no'. Well here's a hint for people that can't cooperate. It's worth trying to see things through other people's eyes. You get a different perspective on things.	The Curator gives a hint to players who can't cooperate with each other.
The Curator shows his cards
deathcards	Perhaps you've started to realize something? That everything... and everyone... may not be quite what they appear to be. I hope that helps.	The Curator implies that there's more going on than the player knows yet.
End of the scene
avoidmoretragedy	Well, aren't you excited to find out what your poor unfortunates are making of all this? And how you might avoid any more... unnecessary... tragedy? Go on. Back to it. Speak soon.	The Curator urges the player back to the game.

Final meeting

curator5 — The End

Sequence	Subtitles	Dev. note/Description
The Curator's congratulations
savedthemall	Con-grat-u-lations. All your charges are still breathing, and that's something. I suppose.	The Curator begrudgingly congratulates the player on keeping everyone alive.
Reaction to the player's losses
hummingatune	<humming tune>	The Curator is cheerfully humming to himself as the Player approaches.
Encouragement to try again, if someone is dead
gameover	That's it. Game over. You're done... for now, at least. You could always try again. See if you can't do better next time around.	The Curator addresses the player, telling them the game is over.
Reaction to the player's losses
almostsavedall	Impressive. Almost everyone survived. Almost.	The Curator congratulates the player for almost saving everyone. (One is dead)
somelivedsomedied	Not a bad effort. Some lived, some died... all your fault.	The Curator notes that some lived, some died. (Two are dead)
nohappyending	Not a very happy ending... or maybe it is? Depends what makes you happy, really?	The Curator notes that just because almost everyone is dead, it doesn't mean it's a bad ending. (Three or four are dead)
nosurvivors	Not a sole survivor! You weren't trying to do that, were you?	The Curator laughs hysterically at the player killing everyone, and guesses they did it on purpose.
Reaction to the ending achieved by player
curtainfalls	I suppose when... "the curtain falls", you're either ready for it, or you're not.	The Curator jokes about the falling bulkhead door. (Flooded ending)
thingsgotheated	Things got a little heated at the end there, didn't they?	The Curator references the fiery denouement of the game. (Flooded ending with burning ship)
Talking about reaction of Alex in "Matters of the Heart"
alexkeptcool	Things became a little intense, but Alex kept his nerve. Well done Alex. Well done you!	The Curator congratulates the player on not stabbing anybody as Alex.
Reaction to the loss of the distributor cap
distribcapgone	And the distributor cap? Boom. Unfortunate.	The Curator gently scolds the player for losing the distributor cap or failing to get it back.
Monologue about repercussions
repercussions	It's all about decisions, isn't it? Decisions made in a hurry, in a panic. Made with the heart instead of the head... or vice-versa. Sometimes those decisions take a long time to have repercussions. But there are repercussions. There are always repercussions.	The Curator reminds the player of the weight of their choices, and the repercussions thereof.
Final words
farewellfornow	'Til we meet again... maybe in Little Hope, maybe somewhere else. But be certain, we will meet again. It's... inevitable!	The Curator bids the player farewell, but assures them that they will meet again.

Meaning of hints and advices

• The first hint points at the fact that Manchurian Gold is not a real gold at all. The Curator's additional words "everything may not be entirely as it seems" hint at supernatural events, being hallucinations in reality.
• The second hint points at the fact that Manchurian Gold is a biochemical weapon, used by military. The Curator also uses his cards to show the player that all protagonists see each other as hallucinations and that they should be careful.

Miscellaneous

Trailers

Halloween
You are about to embark on a troublesome journey, a stormy sea. And at times you may find it difficult to know the right thing to do. But you should understand that there is no right and there is no wrong. You see, we each make decisions according to our own moral compass and then we have to live with those decisions or die by them. Lost at sea you must uncover the root of a growing horror in order to escape an abhorrent evil and save the lives of five unfortunate stowaways. Success will depend entirely on the decisions that you make, decisions made in haste, made with the heart instead of the head or vice versa, decisions that may take some time to reveal their repercussions. But there are repercussions. There are always repercussions.
Multiplayer Reveal
In your world of connections some would say that you can never be truly, genuinely, alone. And yes, in your darker moments, when you feel isolated, vulnerable, a helping hand, a reassuring word, the thought that there is someone else out there, someone who shares in your story, can be enough to see one through the most difficult of the situations. But sharing diminishes control and that has consequences. There are always consequences. And should that helping hand become somehow detached, all those reassuring words lost in the dark, then that feeling of isolation becomes amplified, when you realize that even within your connected world you can still find yourself purely and absolutely alone.