The Smole: 60.22-Ha! Hardly

Previously on the Smole, the contestants had to perform various tasks at the cinema while a movie ran concurrently throughout. 53/82 points had been won, but Bert gambled 20 points away, leading to only 33 points added to the pot to make it 572/1140 points. Will the final five become a final four or will it stay as five? And who is the Mole?

Bert: "Now that I think about it, maybe there were clues playing in the main auditorium while we were scrambling around earning points. I should have taken the red ticket and watched the movie throughout."

*
*

Francisca: "I know it's stupid of me to trust in this game, but it still hurts. Fool me twice, shame on me."

Maru: "Princess Vanderburg."

Francisca: "What are you doing here?"

Maru: "Are you afraid of me?"

Francisca: "Stay back. I said stay back!"

Maru: "You haven't truly forgiven me."

Francisca: "Huh?"

Maru: "I thought I would do a test, to see if everyone of you have truly forgiven me and we can go back to the way things were, but clearly that's not the case."

Maru: "I understand. I'll get out of your hair since you're so scared."

Francisca: "Maru, wait! I'm sorry."

Francisca: "I tried to forgive you. I tried to let it go. I really did. I really want to, but somehow, when I see you up close, especially when we're alone..."

Francisca: "I thought I could survive on my own when I ran away from home, but it was still in Hidden Springs. I was naïve. The world out there is so much more dangerous and different from what I expected."

Maru: "So you think I'm dangerous?"

Francisca: "No, that's not what I meant."

Maru: "You're just biased against me now. I get it. It's not the first time anyway."

Francisca: "I'm sorry for breaking your trust. I know how it feels."

Francisca: "Apart from Kearney, you were the only one to be respectful and maintain your distance. You didn't try to get anything out of me even after knowing I'm a princess."

Maru: "But I'm Mitch and Maru at the same time. You never know who it is you're talking to."

Francisca: "I know I'm talking to Maru now."

Francisca: "I know you're trying your best. I promise you I'll try my best to accept you too and understand more about your condition."

Kearney: "Why are you loitering outside Francisca's room, you demoness?"

Virginia: "I am not a demoness."

Kearney: "Are you not? You have the appearance of a woman but the heart of the devil. Francisca trusted you implicitly, and you hurt her to the extent Maru did."

Virginia: "It's simply an exaggeration, you see. A writer's thing."

Kearney: "Why are you here?"

Virginia: "I wish to apol...it's not your business to know."

Kearney: "To apologise? Ha! Hardly. You're finding excuses for yourself."

Kearney: "To think I wanted to teach you how to fight."

Virginia: "I never wished to learn nor be tainted by a man's aggression."

Kearney: "It's not aggression or violence. Sometimes it's about defending yourself and protecting yourself and those you care about."

Virginia: "Those are the reasons you use to justify your violence and militarism, but I know better."

Virginia: "Do you care about her?"

Kearney: "Of course I do! How can you not? She needs protection."

Virginia: "She is just as fine without you. Stop with the sexism."

Virginia: "The more you try to 'protect' and coddle her, the more insecurity and fear you sow. You paint us all as monsters, when in truth, we are no such thing. You see yourself as the hero, casting everyone else as the villain, but the truth is, you are the villain. You are the true tyrant."

Kearney: "I have been the one by her side the whole time ever since Maru nearly attacked her. I have proven it with my actions. What have you done? All you speak are empty words."

Virginia: "It’s never about what anyone says or does. It’s about what we choose to think."

Kearney: "I know my conscience is clear."

Virginia: "As is mine."

Virginia: "Excuse me, boor."

Kearney: "Maybe if you had chosen to be nicer to everyone from the start, and not just when they have use to you, all of this could have been avoided. Like you said, it's about what you choose to think."

Maru: "Oh Bert, you're the only one who doesn't hate me or fear me."

Bert: "I just don't show it."

Bert: "Ew! It's dropping everywhere."

Bert: "Do you ever wonder why they dislike you? It's because of how you carry yourself. You dress and behave like a weirdo, so of course nobody wants to be close to you."

Maru: "What do you suggest I do?"

Bert: "Dress sharper. Behave more gentlemanly. Like me."

Maru: "That's not me dude."

Bert: "I don't think you even know what 'you' is any more. You're a Jekyll and a Hyde."

Maru: "You're right. Is that all I need to do?"

Bert: "Well, there is more, but I'll have to start charging you consultancy fees for that."

Virginia: "Francisca...Ms. Vanderburg. I did not expect you."

Francisca: "I think I left some of my drafts with you."

Virginia: "I haven't had the time to review them all."

Francisca: "You don't have to. I want them back."

Virginia: "I shall take a quick glance at them first."

Francisca: "No."

Virginia: "I much of you in myself. I feel we are quite alike."

Francisca: "I don't think so."

Virginia: "You wish your protagonist a happy ending-with a man she loves rather than a man the world commands her to love. I do too. I dream of a world where women are permitted to love freely, to love who she wishes to without fear or judgement."

Virginia: "I am regretful. I should not have concealed my knowledge of your identity, for it has only led to misunderstanding."

Francisca: "Are you apologising only because you got caught? Or because I'm a princess?"

Francisca: "That is where we're different. I will apologise and own up to my mistakes. I do not discriminate."

Virginia: "If you pause to consider, you’ll find we are more alike than we are different."

Virginia: "Would you care to tell me why you left your home? Is it, perhaps, because your heart has an interest that leads you down a path different from what your family expects?"

Francisca: "I haven't found anyone I love yet, but my parents are pressuring me to marry. I'm still young. I want to travel the world and fulfil my dreams."

Virginia: "As you should rightly pursue."

Virginia: "I learned from Mr. Alto that your family has put up notice in search of you."

Virginia: "At the very least, you still have a family to turn to when the world grows cold—a family that truly loves you."

Francisca: "Sometimes I can't tell if it's love or not."

Virginia: "I deeply empathise with that."

Bert: "Hey Kearney, I heard you're quite the ladies' man."

Kearney: "I am the Sims' man. I am their protector."

Bert: "How brave of you."

Kearney: "I have to be. I can't let anyone see my fear. There are way too many threats. Including you."

Bert: "Come on now. This is common business practice."

Kearney: "This is not a business."

Bert: "Maybe not per se, but it's equally transactional. It's called a coalition for a reason and not a lifelong bond."

Kearney: "Relationships should be taken seriously."

Bert: "Do you even know what show you're on?"

Bert: "Look, I've seen Sims like you before. You pride loyalty over all else. But do you think everyone is loyal back? Just ask yourself how many Sims thank you for your service in the army. Or even here. Did any of the ladies thank you for being by their side? Or did Francisca and the rest think you were annoying?"

Kearney: "Francisca was grateful."

Bert: "And how about Ms. Supine?"

Kearney: "She's an evil to be vanquished. Everyone else here is an evil."

Bert: "Listen to yourself. Do you think you're really the saviour of the world? You don't even realise you're just a side character in your own story."

Kearney: "I do my best to protect and serve."

Bert: "Admirable, admirable. I love how you keep thinking that way."

Bert: "Since you're so keen on serving, how about you serve me? You must have been close to Francisca. What can you tell me about her?"

Kearney: "Nothing for you to know about."

Bert: "Alright, how about Mariana? She's got nothing of value to me so we were true friends."

Bert: "Did she talk to you about a clue of sorts?"

Kearney: "I asked but she didn't tell me because we did not work together."

Bert: "Hm, she's as loyal as you are."

It is time for the quiz. 10 questions about the actions and identity of the Mole. The lowest scorer may be executed.

Q1: Is the Mole male or female?

A: Male

B: Female

Q2: What percentage of the Mole's bingo board is stamped?

A: 56%

B: 60%

C: 80%

Q3: Which square is or was the blank square on the Mole's bingo board?

A: 12

B: 15

C: 18

D: 19

E: 25

Q4: In the previous execution ceremony, was the Mole seated in the front row or the back row?

A: Front

B: Back

Q5: In Mission 11, what ticket did the Mole get from the ticketing machine?

A: Red ticket

B: Blue ticket

C: Yellow ticket

D: Green ticket

Q6: In Mission 11, what task did the Mole do first?

A: Design and print posters

B: Identify movie soundtracks

C: Make food

D: Answer movie trivia

Q7: Did the Mole exchange tickets in Mission 11?

A: Yes

B: No

Q8: How many times did the Mole exchange tickets in Mission 11?

A: 0 times

B: 1 time

C: 2 times or more

Q9: Did the Mole use on the slot machine in Mission 11?

A: Yes

B: No

Q10: Who is the Mole?

A: Francisca Vanderburg

B: Bert Alto

C: Maru Mango

D: Kearney O'Shea

E: Virginia Supine

Virginia: "I had completely forgotten about the existence of the bingo card. Looking back, there are numerous missed opportunities...as well as opportunities I will never seize, such as crying in my sleep, or drenching myself in the rain for 15 minutes."

"Contestants, it's a cold night to be executed. Yet one of you must go once again. Who shall it be?"

"We will begin with the man whose name has yet to be called: Bert Alto."

Francisca: "It was fine enough if Bert didn't want to contribute to the mission and complete the seating arrangement task, but he didn't have to go and take 20 points from the pot like that."

Bert: "Well, well, well. I do know what I'm doing after all."

"Francisca Vanderburg."

Maru: "She was the first to get a ticket. It's strange, considering her behaviour so far."

Francisca: "Phew."

"Maru Mango."

Virginia: "When I urged him to check whether the movie was still playing, he refused. As the sole holder of the red ticket, Mr. Mango bore the crucial responsibility of ensuring our efforts were not in vain."

Maru: "Yeah! I'm kicking butt and surviving even without Mitch's help."

"Kearney O'Shea, Virginia Supine, one of you will be leaving tonight. Who would like to go first?"

Kearney: "I do. I'm not afraid."

"Kearney O'Shea."

Bert: "Kearney wanted to be chaotic because he was bored and didn't want to help Francisca. Instead he ran off filming useless scenes that weren't needed."

"Unfortunately, Kearney O'Shea, you have been executed. Please pack your bags and leave."

Bert: "Kearney was the biggest money earner of the group. With him around you could rest assured that he'll bring something to the pot."

Kearney: "Take that, the Rembrandts! I thought this would be a challenge."

Kearney: "I have fulfilled my purpose on the Smole. I have proven myself worthy and the best contestant of the season by earning the most. Contrarily, the Mole has earned the least. I have no regrets other than not being able to progress further."

Virginia: "Kearney was a leader. His leadership in the previous mission brought clarity and focus, allowing us to earn more for the mission."

Kearney: "Maru, go to the other auditorium and ensure the movie is still playing. If it doesn't, yell immediately for Bert to fix it. We have 30 seconds of grace. Francisca, I recommend you handle the reviews first as that is faster. Ms. Supine, you may help to design more posters. That does not require computers."