60.23-Basically a freebie

 The previous time on the Smole, the contestants visited Le Plumbob Cinema to complete tasks while ensuring a movie played throughout. 33/82 points were earned, making the pot 579/1140 points. After surviving for 21 episodes, Kearney was executed next. Who will take his place? Who is the Mole?

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Maru: "Shortly after the execution ceremony we were whisked away to a campsite far out from town."

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Maru: "We're going on a trip, a camping trip~"

Bert: "I had no idea you can sing."

Francisca: "I love that we're going to the great outdoors."

Virginia: "I would like some rest first."

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Francisca: "I guess we'll be spending the night here."

Maru: "If you want I can sleep elsewhere."

Bert: "I don't think that will be necessary, right Francisca?"

Bert: "Who's that over there?"

"Everyone, welcome your next contestant, Breandan O'Shea, 24-year-old patrol officer from Dragon Valley!"

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Breandan: "I knew my brother was the inferior one. He couldn't make it all the way. I'll prove that I'm the best brother and win!"

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Bert: "Ooh I wonder if I can adopt a pet snake."

Breandan: "You seem ill-dressed for the outdoors. You must not spend your time outside a lot."

Virginia: "I do love the outdoors. This merely came too suddenly."

Virginia: "You and your brother look alike, with coloured hair and strange skin."

Breandan: "We are very different. I'm better than him in every way."

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Maru: "Let's light it up."

"It is camping tradition to sit by a fire and tell stories...or trade secrets. You will hear a list of 25 secrets. As a group, you must vote whose secret it belongs to. Each correct identification adds 4 points. However, some of these secrets could belong to your fallen comrades or future comrades. If the majority wrongly thinks the secret belongs to an executed contestant or shadow, you will earn -5 points. It's quite disrespectful to the dead and defenseless."

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Bert: "So this is what my bingo card meant. Damn it. I should have locked it in. It's basically a freebie. Can I do it now?"

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"Who has a plan to dominate the military?"

Bert: "Sounds like Kearney. He's from the military."

Breandan: "I don't think my brother has that level of ambition."

Maru: "I'm from the army too. This one is mine...or Mitch's rather. I don't really care about dominating Sunlit Tides."

Breandan: "Then it is settled. That was easy."

The contestants have 5 minutes to deliberate after each secret is told. Thereafter, they will individually privately submit their vote for who they think the secret belongs to.

Breandan: "Maru said it's his secret. I have no reason to doubt him yet."

Francisca "It does sound familiar."

Maru: "This is mine...I mean Mitch...which I guess is mine by association."

Virginia: "Mr. Mango is unpredictable. Could it really be his?"

Bert: "We need to get a majority."

"Everyone has voted for Maru."

"Maru is indeed the holder of that secret."

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"Who is a princess?"

Maru: "Is it even a secret at this point?"

Breandan: "Even I know the answer to this. I have seen recordings of the events of the season and I know all about you guys and what you did."

Virginia: "Do not trust technology."

Bert: "This is too easy."

"Everyone has voted for Francisca, who is indeed a princess."

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Francisca: "It is horrifying to know that my secret would have been revealed regardless."

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"Who committed tax fraud?"

Maru: "Are there taxes in Dragon Valley?"

Breandan: "I am offended you even think I would commit fraud."

Bert: "To be fair we only just met you."

Breandan: "All you need to know is that I am aboveboard and better than my brother in every way."

Francisca: "Maybe it's not one of us. Maybe it's someone who has already been executed, or one of Maru's or my shadow."

Virginia: "Who are your shadows?"

Maru: "Mine's my cousin Magnus."

Francisca: "I told the producers I would nominate my brother if they could find him. I'm not aware of him committing fraud."

Bert: "You and your brother are the most likely to be able to get away with it, being royalty and all."

Breandan: "That will be an abuse of power."

Francisca: "I'm not the one with power any more."

Maru: "I barely remember who left."

Breandan: "Bert, are you not a criminal?"

Bert: "It's a mislabel. I wouldn't do something like that. I know the consequences. I think it could be Maru or one of his identities."

Breandan: "I have a sneaking suspicion."

Bert: "I'll just go based on vibes."

Virginia: "As a pirate, she appears to be the most likely."

Francisca: "It could be none of us, but I think it's one of us."

Bert: "It's definitely Maru."

"There are divided votes. Francisca has voted for Maru. Maru has voted for Luis. Bert has voted for Maru. Breandan has voted for Bert. Virginia has voted for Preethi. The majority has voted for Maru."

"The secret holder is Bert."

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Breandan: "This is creepy. How do you guys know all our secrets? Are you omnipresent? I mean, it's clearly a mistake. There's no way I would ever admit to it or even commit it. You guys made a mistake."

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"Who has a romantic affair with a married woman?"

Virginia: "It clearly is a man."

Breandan: "I was right about Bert. I think it is him again."

Maru: "Twice in a row?"

Bert: "I'm not that despicable."

Virginia: "Let us think further. Who do we know are flirtatious?"

Maru: "Mariana? She's married too."

Francisca: "She has a husband."

Bert: "The secret holder doesn't have to be married."

Breandan: "If we are unsure, we should vote for one of us, otherwise we will incur penalty points."

Bert: "I think it's Luis. He keeps talking about wanting a lover so he got old and desperate."

Breandan: "I trust my instincts."

Virginia: "It is certainly unbecoming behaviour befitting of him."

Francisca: "I don't know who it is, but Breandan is right. Among us, he's most likely to be it."

Maru: "Didn't Preethi once speak poorly of Lewis?"

"The majority voted Bert, but the secret is Virginia's."

Breandan: "Why did you not admit it?"

Bert: "My, how juicy."

Virginia: "It is simply untrue."

Breandan: "The show will not spout lies."

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"Who wants their partner to fall from social grace?"

Bert: "Who has a partner?"

Maru: "We know Ms. Supine has a lover."

Virginia: "She is my lover. Why would I wish ill on her?"

Breandan: "Aha! So the secret is true!"

Virginia: "You may speak badly of me but not of her. I must protect her reputation."

Maru: "There's nothing shameful about being a lesbian."

Virginia: "Regardless, it cannot be me. An affair hardly constitutes romantic partnership."

Breandan: "Focus. Do you have a partner, Bert?"

Bert: "Why do you keep coming after me?"

Francisca: "Let's list out everyone we know has a partner. There's Mariana, Lewis and Preethi..."

Maru: "I think Gino and Angelica too."

Virginia: "I was not aware of Angelica's partner."

Maru: "Didn't that Korean chick have a harem of boyfriends too?"

Bert: "Trenton too. And Rita."

Virginia: "It cannot be Rita. I can vouch for her character. She and her husband are truly in love. Perhaps it is Francisca, who hopes her arranged marriage will fail as a consequence."

Francisca: "I haven't officially been betrothed yet."

Bert: "Doesn't Gino have a famous girlfriend as well? It must be very demanding. I think she's more famous than he is too."

Kearney: "I had a girlfriend but we broke up."

Francisca: "We're out of time. We have to vote now."

Francisca: "I voted for Trenton. He's a socialite so it makes sense."

Virginia: "I think we are due for a secret from a former contestant."

Bert: "I'm positive it's Gino."

Breandan: "I don't know much about their lives so I am dependent on the others. I think Bert's story about Gino is credible."

"There are two votes for Trenton, two votes for Gino and one vote for Miriam. There is a tie, so Maru will have to break the tie by changing his vote to either Trenton or Gino."

Maru: "Left or right...oh Mitch, won't you come out and play? Who will he choose? Hmm, I think Gino."

"The secret belongs to Trenton. The first penalties have been incurred."

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"Who got a girlfriend to show up someone else?"

Breandan: "That sounds like me. Or Kearney. But mine was prettier."

Bert: "What do the rest of you think? Is it more likely to be him or Kearney?"

Francisca: "It doesn't matter what we say here because we can always vote for someone else."

Breandan: "We work with honour here."

Virginia: "This is the Smole."

Maru: "But the votes will be revealed after everyone has voted so we will know who lies."

Francisca: "Breandan?"

Breandan: "It's safer to vote for me, even though I think it is Kearney."

"There are four votes for Breandan and one for Kearney."

"Breandan is correct."

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Maru: "It's not my fault. Breandan himself wasn't sure whether it was his secret or not."

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"Who is hiding from enemies?"

Virginia: "I believe every one of you here has plenty of enemies."

Breandan: "I will never hide from my enemies."

Bert: "You're a police officer. I think it makes a lot of sense for you to have the most enemies."

Francisca: "No offence to Maru, but his personality makes it likely for him to make enemies too without him knowing."

Maru: "That's true. But I'm not hiding."

Virginia: "Could it be someone else's secret again? My suspicion is either Luis or Gino. The Italians are inevitably wrapped up in crime."

Breandan: "The pirates might have many enemies as well."

Francisca: "I think we can eliminate the nice Sims at least."

Maru: "What if we all vote for someone different?"

Francisca: "I rather not find out."

Breandan: "We should play this mission properly. Who is the most likely to have the most enemies?"

Bert: "It's definitely not me. I'm good with words and know all the celebrities. I doubt it's any of the socialites. Maybe Kearney?"

Breandan: "I would be disappointed if it was him. That is not how my parents raised us."

Maru: "How about Francisca? Or Sebastian?"

Breandan: "He has a point. There are likely to be political enemies."

Bert: "And you're running away from home. Maybe that's the real reason you ran away."

Francisca: "That...that's not true at all."

"There are four votes for Francisca and one for Trenton."

"Alas, Bert is the one hiding from enemies."

Bert: "I hope there's a hidden exemption for evading suspicion."

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"Who adds blood to their food?"

Francisca: "Wasn't this Kara? That's the reason Luis banned us from using the kitchen."

Virginia: "I believe that was for adding meat."

Francisca: "And blood."

Bert: "I recall being shown this scene too. There are only a few chefs and I doubt it's Gino or Luis."

Francisca: "I remember this being something Luis claimed. Whether or not it's true, I'm not sure, but Kara's the best answer."

Bert: "That girl's weird. She's from the gothic place too. I bet it's part of some sacrificial ritual."

Virginia: "Mr. Mango is most predisposed to something this ludicrous."

Maru: "Doesn't Miriam cook too? Maybe it's her."

Breandan: "I don't trust Bert so I will vote for Nadia. She has blood red hair."

"The majority has voted for Kara which is correct."

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"Who won the local fishermen contest 5 years in a row?"

Bert: "Little known fact about me: it's me."

Breandan: "I don't believe you."

Francisca: "Me neither. Sorry Bert but you don't seem like the kind to fish."

Bert: "You don't seem like a princess too but here we are. It's called a secret for a reason."

Virginia: "You must have a personal advantage to win."

Bert: "No advantages that I know of."

Maru: "I can fish."

Bert: "But did you win a prize? For 5 years?"

Virginia: "Again, I believe this is one of the pirates."

Francisca: "I know Lewis loved fishing and all things water."

Virginia: "If my memory serves me correctly, Mrs. Darwin has once told me about her fishing accolades."

Virginia: "I believe my own memory."

Maru: "My memory's been hazy recently. For all I know, Mitch has been winning prizes! That could explain where I got the money to buy a whole military base."

Francisca: "I thought it was Lewis but Virginia seemed sure, so I shall listen to her and see where this goes."

Breandan: "Virginia seemed confident that it was Preethi."

Bert: "I'm voting for myself. End of story."

"Most of you thought it was Preethi. That is correct."

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"Who wants to be normal?"

Bert: "Who doesn't?"

Maru: "Me."

Bert: "You and your imaginary friend have caused enough trouble. You should ear your meds or something."

Maru: "You want me to kill Mitch? No way."

Virginia: "Leave him be."

Bert: "He's a ticking time bomb, Virginia."

Virginia: "It's Ms. Supine to you."

Bert: "Ms. Supine."

Virginia: "At least he is a man of his word. Mr. Mango has promised that his alternate identity will not cause trouble any longer, and he has held that promise till this day."

Breandan: "Focus on the mission."

Bert: "You're right, we should be focusing on who might have a desire to be normal."

Virginia: "The more pertinent question is for whom will it be a secret?"

Francisca: "It should be mine."

Breandan: "But you are perfectly fine...are you not?"

Francisca: "I didn't run away from home because I made enemies. I ran away because I want to lead a normal life and not be associated with the royal family."

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Francisca: "The Smole was supposed to a chance for me to truly start over as Francisca, journalist and aspiring author, rather than Princess Vanderburg. But I couldn't escape it in the end. Everyone knows it, so I have to run further away from home. Somewhere where nobody knows about the Vanderburg family, or where nobody cares. Midnight Hollow sounds good even if it is a bit dreary."

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There are three votes for Francisca, one for Maru and one for Magnus.

Francisca is the one with the secret.

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"Who is obsessed with fishing?"

Breandan: "Preethi Darwin. We knew that from earlier."

Everyone has voted for Preethi.

Unfortunately, they get another penalty as Lewis-Charlie is the one with the secret.

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"Who bought a street?"

Maru: "I did. I told everyone."

Bert: "That's why it's not you because it's not a secret. It's time to tell everyone that I did buy a street."

Maru: "Why are you trying to steal my secret?"

Bert: "I'm just being honest here."

Breandan: "Ha! Hardly. Whoever has a street must be rich."

Bert: "I bought it with my tax money."

Francisca: "In Hidden Springs?"

Bert: "No, Bridgeport."

Francisca: "I still think it's Maru."

Virginia: "Oddly enough I am inclined to believe Mr. Alto. It is an awfully Alto thing to buy a street."

Breandan: "Everyone is giving confusing signals. But Maru has been honest when it is him so far."

Apart from Bert and Virginia, everyone thinks it's Maru.

Maru did indeed buy a street.

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"Who has perfect tempo?"

Breandan: "We can test this."

Breandan: "What tempo am I tapping with my foot?"

Virginia: "Hmm..."

Bert: "C#?"

Maru: "I should have burned my marshmallows. It's too gooey."

Francisca: "It could be none of us."

Virginia: "Are we certain it is none of us?"

Virginia: "There is only one musician among us - Ms. Nadia Cho."
Francisca: "Exactly what I was thinking."

There are four votes for Nadia and one for Angelica.

The answer is Maru. 5 more penalty points are earned.

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Breandan: "Maru let out a surprised shock. How can he not know his own secret? I was trusting him."

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"Who became an unwitting mentor?"

Francisca: "This suggests the Sim doesn't know either."

Bert: "That can be anyone. As a former accountant I think I have quite a few wannabe followers."

Breandan: "It sounds like something that would suit me too."

Maru: "Me too."

Breandan: "I don't think so."

Francisca: "We should vote for one of us. I think we racked up too many penalties."

Breandan: "Bert has been trying to claim too many secrets. You should vote for me."

Bert: "I have the right air."

Breandan: "It must be me."

Maru: "I'll just go for the old man."

Virginia: "If we are voting for ourselves..."

Francisca: "I believe Breandan more than Bert."

The secret is Luis's, not Breandan. He became an unwitting mentor to Gino.

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"Whose spouse pretends to be in love with them but is actually in love with a criminal?"

Maru: "Must they have a spouse?"

Francisca: "Yes."

Francisca: "I think it could be Trenton again, or Rita."

Virginia: "It is certainly not Rita."

Bert: "How are you so sure?"

Virginia: "They are truly in love."

Maru: "That's what you think."

Breandan: "Maybe someone is in love with Bert."

Bert: "Ha ha. Very funny."

Virginia: "It must be Mr. Alto. The descendant, of course. That explains why he wishes for his wife to fail."

Most contestants voted for Trenton, and Maru for Virginia, but the answer is Rita, so this is another penalty for them.

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"Who fell out with their parents and moved to a new town?"

Breandan: "Isn't that you, Francisca?"

Francisca: "No it's not. I haven't had a full falling out yet, just arguments."

Bert: "Sounds like a falling out to me."

Francisca: "Angelica moved to a new town. It could be her. Not much is known about her life before that."

Most voted for Francisca.

Unfortunately, it's Nadia with the secret.

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"Who lives on a moon?"

Bert: "Trenton, duh."

Maru voted for Magnus but everyone else rightly voted for Trenton.

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"Who has a crush on an artist?"

Maru: "Who is your lover, Virginia?"

Virginia: "That is my privacy."

Breandan: "We need to know to win."

Bert: "Is she an artist?"

Virginia: "I wouldn't call her an artist."

Francisca: "Who likes art?"

Virginia: "You do. You told me."

Francisca: "Other than me. I know it's not me."

Bert: "Or you could just be trying to hide your secret."

There are two votes for Virginia and two for Francisca, and one for Rita. Maru has to re-vote to break the tie.

Maru: "Hmm, who should I choose between the two women?"

Maru: "I'll pick Francisca."

With a majority, the secret holder is thought to be Francisca, but it is actually Darleen.

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"Who is a pacifist?"

Virginia: "I am staunchly a pacifist."

Bert voted for himself but everyone else correctly voted for Virginia.

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"Who has identical traits to their militaristic brother?"

Virginia: "It sounds like your secret, Mr. O'Shea."

Breandan: "I'm nothing like my brother."

Virginia: "On the contrary, I think the two of you are more alike than you care to admit."

Breandan: "Maybe you're right. He does work in the military."

Bert: "It could be Maru too."

Maru: "Yeah. Magnus works in the army in Aurora Skies. I think we're quite similar."

Maru voted for Magnus and Bert voted for Maru, but everyone else voted for Breandan.

Breandan is the correct answer.

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Virginia: "I don't know why Mr. O'Shea would lie about something like that, or why Mr. Mango would think his cousin was his brother."

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"Who was sexually abused as a child?"

Bert: "I can understand if nobody wants to own up to this one. It's not something to be proud of."

Maru: "We should pick someone not from the five of us."

Breandan: "That's madness. We are guaranteeing a penalty."

Francisca: "Not everyone is willing to re-open past wounds."

Bert: "I think the penalty is worth it."

Maru: "Aww you guys are making my heart melt."

Breandan: "That's just the campfire."

Breandan: "I disagree with everyone. The secret will be revealed."

Bert: "But we can control who we vote for. Everyone on board?"

Breandan: "Francisca seemed evasive about this secret."

Bert: "Kara is the least likely to be offended if I picked her."

Francisca: "Sorry Mariana. I'm sure she'll understand why I chose her."

Maru: "This reeks of royalty."

Virginia: "I pick Luis."

Everyone picked a different contestant, so all five of them are the majority. This means to say that -5 points have been earned again. Virginia has this secret.

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"Who likes cars?"

Bert: "Are you alright, Ms. Supine?"

Breandan: "I'm sorry."

Breandan: "Let's not think about old memories. Let us focus on the task at hand. This cannot be me or Kearney as cars do not exist in Dragon Valley. This must be an urban man."

Bert: "I do like a nice BMW."

Breandan: "I don't trust you."

Bert: "You didn't trust me since we first met. It's up to you to believe me."

Maru: "I believe Bert."

Breandan: "Then I don't trust you either."

Maru: "Hello? Ms. Supine? Earth to Supine."

Virginia: "I did not come here to have ghosts of the past claw their way to the surface, nor to feel the careful stitches over my heart unravel and ripped, thread by agonizing thread. Must you pry open wounds long scarred over, exposing raw, unhealed sorrow to the cruel air? I have carried this pain in silence, buried it beneath a thousand quiet nights—do not force me to relive it now!"

Francisca: "Virginia?"

Bert: "Look what you've done, Breandan."

Breandan: "Me? I didn't come up with this mission."

Francisca: "Let's leave her alone for a while and continue."

There are three votes for Bert and one for Sebastian. The secret holder is neither, as it is Gino.

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Francisca: "The air was tense and the atmosphere awkward. I think that was a secret Virginia never wanted to let the light see. But the four of us pushed through the last few secrets as best as we could."

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"Whose favourite style is shabby chic?"

Everyone correctly identified Kara.

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"Who likes a different genre of music from what they perform professionally?"

There is one vote for Maru and three for Nadia. The correct contestant is Nadia.

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"The last secret of the night: who knows the most celebrities?"

Bert: "I was an accountant to the stars. Of course it's me."

Breandan: "Francisca is a princess. She must know many celebrities."

Francisca: "My brother has been by my parents' side longer. He should know more by virtue of his courtly duties."

Maru: "When she's bored hiding from her parents she texts her famous BFF. That happens in the movies all the time."

The majority chose Francisca, but the answer is Bert.

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"The mission has ended. You have identified 12 secrets correctly. However, you disrespected those not present 5 times and incurred -25 points as well. In total, you have earned 23/100 points."

The pot is now at 602/1240 points. It is a close fight between the contestants and the Mole, but who will lose out at this juncture?