As a Multiple Endings page, all spoilers are unmarked as per wiki policy. You Have Been Warned!
"Just how much influence could you have?"
In Not for Broadcast, your job is to broadcast the National Nightly News and to do a good job editing them, making Mr. Boseman happy, providing entertaining content for the people of the Territories, appeasing a totalitarian government. However, one of the game's key mechanics is choice.
That's why, depending on your actions, there are a whopping fourteen different endings to the main story. The ending you get depends on three factors:
- Depending on the status of Jeremy Donaldson and Alan James, one of four versions of Day 2602: The Finale's third segment will play out. These four versions are referred to as Path A, B, C, and D.
- Jeremy will live if you cut to the ads when Jenny tells you to in The Heatwave.
- Alan will live if you help Disrupt's uprising in The Uprising.
- In the middle of the third segment, the player will be given the choice to play or to not play some unknown footage. Depending on that choice, the segment will end differently, making a total of eight different endings to the finale broadcast.
- Finally, the specific epilogue that plays after the last broadcast depends on what occurred during the finale and which faction the player supported more. However, for three outcomes of the finale, public opinion is irrelevant.
| Ending | Public Favor? | Jeremy's Status? | Alan's Status? | Whose Tape? | Tape Played? |
| Inevitable Advancement | ADVANCE | Dead | Dead | Boseman | No |
| All Fall Down | DISRUPT | Dead | Dead | Boseman | No |
| A Brighter Future | Irrelevant | Dead | Dead | Boseman | Yes |
| A Better Jeremy | ADVANCE | Alive | Dead | Jeremy | No |
| Jeremy's Injustice | DISRUPT | Alive | Dead | Jeremy | No |
| A New Leaf | ADVANCE | Alive | Dead | Jeremy | Yes |
| Julia's Judgement | DISRUPT | Alive | Dead | Jeremy | Yes |
| Wacky Fun | Irrelevant | Dead | Alive | Julia | No |
| Chaos Reigns | ADVANCE | Dead | Alive | Julia | Yes |
| Changing Of The Guard | DISRUPT | Dead | Alive | Julia | Yes |
| A Renewed Mandate | ADVANCE | Alive | Alive | Jeremy | No |
| The Middle Ground | Neutral | Alive | Alive | Jeremy | No |
| Under New Management | DISRUPT | Alive | Alive | Jeremy | No |
| An Accord | Irrelevant | Alive | Alive | Jeremy | Yes |
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Path A: Jeremy Donaldson is dead, Alan James is dead
- At the beginning of Segment 2, Boseman is handed some footage that needs his "urgent attention," and he makes comments throughout the segment emphasizing his shock, disgust, and anger at the contents. He urges Alex to play it, saying that "it needs to be broadcast" and "nothing else matters."
- Segment 3 goes on without any surprise guests. During "Couch of Chat," one caller asks when elections will be reinstated, and Julia claims that "the uninformed millions" would just return the old elites to power again, and that the population is happier and safer with their current government. Afterward, the team announces the results of the National Anthem writing competition, and Helen Judge comes on the show to sing the winning entry. Before Helen begins singing, Julia announces that she will be the new host of The Nightly Show, surprising everyone.
- As Julia makes her announcement, Boseman cues up the unknown footage on Screen 3, and warns Alex that Advance won't like it and they'll be in serious trouble, but that even so, it's the right thing to do.
Salisbury Triumphant
Tape Played?: No-bzzt!-
- Boseman voices his disappointment over the tape not being played.
- If he has a good relationship with Alex, he says that "what's done is done" and he hopes that the world can live with the player's decision.
- If he has a poor relationship with Alex, he fires them on the spot.
- Helen Judge sings the National Anthem, starting a Rhythm Segment. Julia, Megan, Not Patrick, and Robyn join in as the song goes on. Megan looks lost in thought the entire time. Afterward, Julia closes out the show with a speech about how the people of the Territories motivate her every day, and how "the Team loves you," "the Team knows what's best for you," and "the Team will never abandon you... until the end of time."
- After the ads roll, Julia tells everyone "see you on Monday," before departing with Helen. Jenny comes into view, and Robyn, Not Patrick, and Megan sit in stunned silence, before wondering what happens now and if they still have jobs. All of them were completely blindsided by Julia taking over the show. Robyn and Not Patrick leave, and Megan worries over the situation, feeling betrayed by both Julia (who she "backed all the way") and Boseman, fearing that she'll be demoted or fired. Jenny tries to comfort her, remarking, "And yet, you persist."
- The song "Grip on the News" plays as the game's credits roll.
01. Inevitable Advancement
Public Opinion: Advance- In "The Julia Salisbury Hour", Julia reminds the people that the bigger the family, the bigger the team. She then addresses that people are worried about the underpopulation crisis, and states that the worst is yet to come, with her encouraging the Territories to be closer than ever. She reveals the "Advance Baby Bonus", where people are paid for successful births. She then states that later, Megan will be reporting with "The Conceivers", a band that embodies family values.
Tropes
- Downer Ending: Jeremy and Alan are both dead, the sterilization plot is never brought to the public's eye, and because the public's favour is leaning towards Advance, Julia is free to continue leading the Territories. The underpopulation crisis is still a threat, with Julia stating that the worst is yet to come and announcing a new program that pays people large quantities of money for successfully birthing children.
- Pyrrhic Victory: Advance may still be running the show but it's clear that the damages are starting to take their toll.
- Villainous Breakdown: A more subdued one, but it's obvious that Julia's struggling to keep up the facade with everything breathing down her neck if the hint of desperation in her voice and nervous mannerisms are an indication.
02. All Fall Down
Public Opinion: Disrupt- In "The Julia Salisbury Hour", Julia announces that rumours of simplifying the Territories into one small nation are true, (former) Territory 4 military continuing to carry out attacks Peace Bearers in Territories 2 and 5. She also states that a small rebel group is trying to reclaim a chunk of Territories 6 and 7, announcing that the consolidation of the community within Territory 1 is put into effect. She then announces that later, she'll do the cha-cha with a chihuahua.
Tropes
- Downer Ending: Jeremy and Alan are both dead, the sterilization plot is never brought to the public's eye, and because the public's favour leaning towards Disrupt, chaos has erupted. Julia announces the plan of consolidation of Territory 1 as a whole, as the former Territories rebel against Advance.
- The Dog Bites Back: A large number of resistances and former Territory military are fighting back against Advance, meaning that despite Alan's death, Disrupt's legacy lives on.
- Villainous Breakdown: More evident here than in Inevitable Advancement, Julia's voice constantly sounds strained, she's on the verge of breaking down, and is trying so hard to keep up the happy facade.
Sterility Exposed
Tape Played?: Yes- Boseman congratulates you on making the right decision, and promises to stand by you in the aftermath.
- In the studio, Helen sings the first line of the Anthem, but the music cuts out. Jenny comes into view and tells everyone that they're not being broadcast, and Alex is putting something else out. The unknown footage is displayed in the studio and the six women watch in stunned, horrified silence.
- The tape displays Julia and her chief scientific officer, Dr. Thomas Wellington, discussing the sterility crisis. There was a scientific experiment involving genetically modifying seeds in order to put contraceptives directly into the food supply. It was meant to be opt-out contraception that would prevent accidental pregnancies. The experiment was supposed to be restricted to Territory 1. However, the crops evolved so quickly that the situation became out of control as the genetically modified material spread across the Territories, becoming embedded in the food chain. They estimate that 70% to 90% of the population will be affected with infertility, and for those that can conceive, most births will be "unviable." Their only chance would be to scorch the land and obtain unaltered seeds and livestock from nations outside the Territories, but they conclude that this is impossible. Julia decides to cover it up, blame the radiation from the nuclear bombs set off during "Liberation Night", and try to convey the positives of a childless life (with how malleable people can be with positivity). In order to prevent the secret from coming out, it is heavily implied that she had everyone who knew about the true cause of the sterility executed via the Transition Centres (minus Dr. Wellington, who she spares because they're "old friends.")
-End Tape-
- Julia desperately tries to cover up what was broadcasted, claiming it was "illegally obtained" and "falsified." The Nightly Show hosts turn against Julia, stating that they had tried having children before. Unable to twist the narrative, Julia denies everything as Megan, Robyn and Not Patrick continue to ask questions relating to the sterility, with Julia refusing to answer these "conspiracy theories". After Julia storms off, Megan starts to apologize to the viewers for what just happened, but then changes course, telling the public that they should be upset and urging them to march to Team HQ for elections and answers. She then apologizes for her role in misleading the public, and proudly declares that you can make tomorrow better.
- After the ads roll, Robyn and Not Patrick think they're all about to be fired, just as Jenny walks in to say that Boseman wants to see everyone. Megan, however, suspects that there's more to the story, considering Boseman is no fan of Advance either. Robyn states that Jeremy would have been proud of them tonight, with Jenny and Megan strongly agreeing.
- The song "There is a Place" plays as the game's credits roll.
03. A Brighter Future
Public Opinion: Irrelevant- Megan, having been reinstated as anchor of the National Nightly News (blue studio), reports that Advance have won the latest election in a landslide victory, with Katie Brightman returning for a third term. Brightman is now an extremely popular politician, who initially ran on a ticket of Universal Basic Income and Free Education, and reinstated the independence of the former Territories. For her third term, she has promised to instigate a four-day working week and make the climate emergency a number one priority, declaring the election win "a triumph for democracy and for us all."
Tropes
- Bittersweet Ending: Yes, Julia is exiled from Advance, her political career in complete ruin, and Katie becomes their new leader, opting to bring the Territories into a brighter future. But Alan and Jeremy are both dead, Liberation Night's toll is still there, and it's going to take a very long time for Advance's damages to be fixed.
Path B: Jeremy Donaldson is alive, Alan James is dead
- Throughout the broadcast, Boseman mentions that something very important is happening tonight and that no matter what, you need to keep the show going.
- Before the third segment, the Nightly Show crew (Megan, Jenny, Robyn, and Not Patrick) are clearly planning something, as they manage to get the CCO, Sarah, out of the studio; meanwhile, Julia tells Megan that she's taking over the show as host, surprising her.
- The third segment starts with the Couch of Chat. Jeremy is the second caller - he says he has several questions for the prime minister, then hangs up and appears from backstage, giving Megan a hug and sitting beside her. Jenny returns, having lured away Sarah and locked the studio doors. Jeremy confronts Julia on the millions of deaths she caused by launching the nuclear attack on Liberation Night, and how she fought with Peter Clement in the following weeks. Julia seems to start crying, but Megan notes that there's no tears on her face, and she instantly "recovers" as a Drone of Dread plays and security start pounding on the doors. The trio quickly realizes that they're trapped, with Jeremy clearly terrified of going back to Betterment. Security break in, and as Jeremy surrenders and insists he acted alone, they violently arrest him, slamming him to the ground several times. As he's being taken away, with blood dripping down his face, he begs Alex to play the footage, while Julia threatens to arrest Alex as well if they play it.
Donaldson Foiled
Tape Played?: No-bzzt!-
- Julia gives a speech to the viewers as the show closes, apologizing for anything upsetting that happened and saying that Jeremy "will be given the best of care in what I'm sorry to say will probably be a long and arduous process of Betterment." She announces that she will be the new main host of the Nightly Show, and that her team will take a look at Jeremy's footage, but that "sometimes it's better not to know." She tells the viewers "Have a peaceful night."
- After the ads roll, Julia scolds Megan and Jenny, but doesn't have them arrested because she says that she understands why they pulled that stunt. Megan says that it won't happen again, and she and Jenny look despondently at the ground in silence. Julia says "good, let's get back to work," and the signal cuts out.
- The song "And When You Fall" plays as the credits roll.
04. A Better Jeremy
Public Opinion: Advance- Julia Salisbury, now the host of The Nightly Show, opens the Couch of Chat segment, saying that they'll be discussing cat football, but that first they have a special guest, fresh from Betterment, Jeremy Donaldson. Jeremy enters from behind the curtain, wearing an unusually neat gray suit emblazoned with the Advance logo, with his hair slicked back. He smiles a little too late and a little too brightly, and gives the camera a stiff, exagerrated wave, before walking stiffly over to the couch, nodding to everyone as they greet him, before sitting down across from Megan and Julia. Julia asks how it is being back, and he hesitates slightly before saying "It's SoCo, Julia," then turning to stare at the camera, "Really SoCo." The others laugh, and Megan asks him to give tonight's topic "the old Donaldson spin." He hesitates for a couple seconds, looks at the camera, and says "Our headlines tonight... They think it's all over... It is meow!" The shot cuts to the others all laughing, and then to Jeremy, who stares at the camera silently, not smiling, breathing heavily, before the clip ends.
Tropes
- Beauty Is Bad: Jeremy in the end looks more clean, peppy, and smiling throughout, but we all know that something happened in Betterment.
- Brainwashed / Room 101: A possible interpretation is that Jeremy went through continuous brainwashing to be more accepting of Advance society.
- Conditioned to Accept Horror: Another possible interpretation is that Jeremy went through Betterment without brainwashing, but has to keep up a facade to survive in this new world.
- Downer Ending: Alan is dead, Peter's true death is never revealed to the public, and Jeremy is taken back to Betterment. Although Jeremy does leave Betterment, he leaves a new person. He speaks with Advance slang, and is more open to talking about Cat Football. In the end, while Julia, Robyn, Megan, and Not Patrick laugh at his comment, you can tell that this isn't the Jeremy we know in love.
- Nothing Is Scarier: We do not know what happened in Betterment that lead to Jeremy being "better".
- Stepford Smiler: A possible interpretation as shown when he hesitates slightly. Same with Megan when she sees what they did to him.
05. Jeremy's Injustice
Public Opinion: Disrupt- Julia Salisbury, now the host of The Nightly Show, is on the Couch of Chat, announcing that there's some very sad news tonight: Jeremy Donaldson died in Betterment during his "treatment." Not Patrick says that his death will be investigated, and Megan says that Jeremy will be sorely missed, looking like she's barely holding it together. Immediately, the peppy Nightly Show theme starts playing and Julia abruptly moves on to celebrate the high birth numbers. Robyn and Not Patrick cheerfully play along, as the shot cuts to Megan looking at the ground, on the verge of tears. Robyn says "I'd say there's plenty of things to be cheerful about, wouldn't you Megan?" and she looks at the camera to quietly say "Yes," trying to fake a smile that quickly fades as her lip trembles.
Tropes
- Downer Ending: Alan is dead, Peter's true death is never revealed to the public, and Jeremy is taken back to Betterment. Jeremy died while in Betterment and is only given a few seconds of mourning before Julia callously announces the good news of sky-rocketing fertility rates. While Robyn and Not Patrick play along with Julia, Megan is the only one who is truly devastated by Jeremy's death.
- Mood Whiplash: The sombre mood of Jeremy's mourning is switched to the peppy and upbeat Nightly Show theme when Julia announces the high birth rates, making her that much more despicable.
- Nothing Is Scarier: We do not know what happened to Jeremy during his final days in Betterment.
Clement's Fate
Tape Played?: Yes- Julia starts to give her closing speech, apologizing for anything upsetting that happened, but she stops when her camera light goes out. Megan tells her that Alex played the footage, and everyone, including the security, watches it as it's broadcast into the studio. While watching, Julia starts to cry, for real this time, as everyone else watches in horror.
- The tape begins explosively with Peter Clements and Julia Salisbury in the midst of a heated argument, as Peter calls Julia out on the nuclear attacks she had carried out on Liberation Night. It is revealed that Peter did not approve of the attacks at all, and Julia had them carried out without his knowledge: had he known, Peter states that he would've gone on the news and exposed her. With Julia resolute that her actions were justified and necessary for the country's future, Peter tells her that he plans to reveal to the entire world what a "fucking monster" she is and storms out. Once she is alone, Julia calls "Adrien at the services" and, describing Peter as a "liability", requests that Adrien carry out the plan they had discussed in regards to the co-Prime Minister and "Make it quick. I don't want him to suffer." Through this, Julia is exposed as having arranged for Peter Clement's assassination.
- Silence comes through the room with the exception of Julia's heavy breathing, before Megan asks the former if she has anything to say. Julia tries to deny it, but Megan shoots that down, saying that it looks like she ordered the murder of Peter Clement. Jenny, finally having enough of Advance's corruption, quits and allows herself to be arrested. After which, Megan asks a furious Julia if she has any more comments. Julia snaps, firing all of Channel One before then deciding that's not enough and orders them all to be arrested. Megan scoffs in disbelief and says that she's not the criminal, and that Julia should be arrested. Julia screams that she's the Prime Minister, but Megan cuts her off, saying that she's not above the law. Seeing her security detail hesitate, Julia screams at them to do their job. They comply, but Megan taunts Julia, saying that her political career is over and gives the audience the incentive to get Julia out of office and get a better government. In the final 45 seconds, Julia desperately tries to deflect the blame, even blaming the public for wanting something less boring than the news, before capping it off by saying that she will make tomorrow better.
- As the ads roll, Julia can only look around the empty set of the Nightly Show before she sighs in defeat and mutters, "We're out of time..."
- The song "I Hate It When" plays as the credits roll.
06. A New Leaf
Public Opinion: Advance- A different news program, the Daily News Bulletin, opens with the real Patrick Bannon as the anchor. He announces that Julia Sailsbury is standing trial for her crimes on Liberation Night ("conspiracy to commit murder, human rights violations, and war crimes"), and that she faces "life in Betterment" if she is found guilty. Elections are coming up in a few weeks and the New Look Advance party is doing well in the polls, with Katie Brightman as their leader, vowing to restore independence to the Territories and make leadership more accountable.
Tropes
- Bittersweet Ending: Julia ordering Peter's assassination is made public, Julia stands on trial for her crimes on Liberation Night, Jeremy's efforts are rewarded, Patrick Bannon (the real one) is shown alive and well, and Katie Brightman is anticipated to be Advance's new leader. But Alan is dead, Jeremy, Jenny, and Megan head to Betterment and their status isn't evaluated. Although it's likely they've been released since Julia is no longer in charge.
- Unexplained Recovery: More like Unexplained Appearance. Despite bad-mouthing Julia on live TV and being replaced on Day 912, Patrick Bannon appears healthy and well on another news channel no worse for wear.
07. Julia's Judgement
Public Opinion: Disrupt- A different news program, the Daily News Bulletin, opens with the real Patrick Bannon as the anchor. He announces that protesters are gathering as Julia Sailsbury stands trial for her crimes on Liberation Night ("conspiracy commit murder, war crimes, and even genocide"), and that she faces "multiple life sentences" if found guilty. Elections are coming up in a few weeks, and the Disrupt party is doing well in the polls, under the leadership of former Prime Minister Jacob Hamilton-Mann.
Tropes
- Bittersweet Ending: Julia ordering Peter's assassination is made public, Julia stands on trial for her crimes on Liberation Night, Jeremy's efforts are rewarded, Patrick Bannon (the real one) is shown alive and well, and Jacob Hamilton-Mann is anticipated to be the next Prime Minister. But Alan is dead, Jeremy, Jenny, and Megan head to Betterment and their status isn't evaluated (Although it's likely they've been released since Julia is no longer in charge), and considering the type of person Hamilton-Mann is, this adds some bitterness to the ending.
- Unexplained Recovery: See A New Leaf.
Path C: Jeremy Donaldson is dead, Alan James is alive
- Boseman, thoroughly disillusioned with what Advance has done to Channel One, tells the player he's quitting after tonight. Before Segment 3 starts, his call to Alex is interrupted by what seems to be an angry mob outside his door, and he is never heard from again, presumably killed by Disrupt.
- Alan James hacks into the broadcast several times, saying, among other things, that he no longer fears death, that Jeremy was Disrupt's first martyr, and that The Nightly Show is like the belief juice that he used to rant about when he was just a conspiracy theorist.
- Before Segment 3 starts, Sarah the CCO tells everyone that Disrupt is back, and much better organized this time, "like someone experienced is running things," so she's requested backup. Julia, accustomed to death threats, tells the crew they'll get used to it, alluding to her takeover as host of the show.
- During Segment 3, Julia starts to announce that she'll be the new host of The Nightly Show, but she is interrupted by a loud banging on the studio doors, as Sarah comes back to order everyone to shelter in place. Disrupt soldiers break in, shoot Sarah, and take the entire studio hostage. Alan James reveals himself, and when questioned about his goals, he states "we're not hear to take out a person; we're cancelling the whole fucking show," as he unzips his jacket to reveal an explosive vest. As Alan forces Julia to confess to her crimes (killing the sound technician Colin in the process), she reveals that she has a secret recording of the Disrupt leadership. As the footage is cued up, Alan threatens to kill Jenny if Alex plays the footage, but Jenny urges them to play it, since she's seen how important the tape is, and Alan is going to kill all of them anyway.
Boom!!
Tape Played?: No-bzzt-
- When Alan sees that the footage wasn't played, he congratulates Alex and lets Jenny live, shooting Julia instead, because "she was never going to stop. Just her, and her version of what's best. Forever." Alan says that they need elections and calls out the NNN for making everyone "scared and hopeless," as Jenny and Megan argue with him. A SWAT team breaks into the studio, but they can't do anything as Alan holds his finger down on a trigger for the explosive device, while holding Megan and Jenny at gunpoint. Jenny calls Alan out for not wanting to watch the footage, saying that the Disrupt leaders are using him and that everyone thinks he's a pathetic joke, causing him to shoot her in anger. Afterward, he says, "Don't blame me. I didn't make the choices. I just played the hand I got dealt." He grins at the camera, before releasing the trigger, and the entire set explodes as the camera feeds cut out.
- The song "Bring It All Down" plays as the game's credit roll.
08. Wacky Fun
Public Opinion: Irrelevant- Loud, distorted circus music plays and a bright, poorly animated house door opens to the title card of the children's show "Wacky Fun House of Whacks," hosted by Frankie Fun, an enthusiastic young man with a mohawk and a Hawaiian shirt. Children cheer and colored lights flash as he enters the set and introduces the show. Frankie and the children call for Doofnut, who turns out to be a depressed Geoff Algebra wearing a propeller hat. But before they can do zany fun galore, the "Bonk Alarm" sounds, and Geoff hands Frankie an inflatable hammer. Frankie repeatedly hits Geoff's head with it, while the children in the audience laugh. As the hits continue, the music speeds up and Frankie's laughter sounds more and more insane, while Geoff retains a stone-cold face, presumably despairing at how his life has gone. The end.
Tropes
- Downer Ending: Everyone in Channel One is dead, possibly you included. Disrupt won't have to worry about their true purpose being exposed to the public, and they've assumed control of the airwaves. Now all they want to (probably) do is broadcast mindless programs to ensure the people of the Territories are none the wiser.
- "Everybody Dies" Ending: Alan's suicide bomb goes off without a problem, and Channel One is blasted to smithereens.
- Excited Kids' Show Host: To say Frankie Fun is a hyperactive host would be quite an understatement.
- Gainax Ending: You go from watching a live hostage situation with a bomb vest to a mindless children's show, with no explanation.
- Laughing Mad: When Frankie Fun keeps bonking Doofnut's head with an inflatable hammer, his laughter goes from cheers and whooping to full-blown insane-sounding laughter. Certainly an indicator that he let the 'wacky zany goofs galore' go into his head.
- Meaningful Name: "House of Whacks" being part of the title is very fitting since Frankie can be classified as a full-blown whack, an adjective/synonym for crazy.
- Mood Whiplash: After seeing the horror unfold, you'd probably wouldn't expect the next thing to appear would be a joyful and bopping "Welcome all the boys and girls and everybody else as well!"
- Sadist Show: If the whole "bonk alarm" shtick is any indication, it's a possibility that Doofnut's schadenfreude is a frequent source of the "humour" in the House of Whacks.
- Schrödinger's Gun: Somehow, not playing Julia's tape results in the bombing being successful in this ending, while playing it leads to the "Chaos Reigns" or "Changing Of The Guard" endings where the bombs are sabotaged. The only way this split could make sense is if someone messed with the bomb while everyone was watching the tape in those endings, but all of the cameras show everyone staying still for its whole duration, including one showing Alan and his upper body with the bombs strapped to it, ruling that out.
Disrupt's Purge
Tape Played?: Yes- Jenny tells Alan that Alex played the footage, and everyone in the studio watches it in silence. Jenny and Julia look resigned, while Alan looks horrified, and then furious.
- The footage shows the Disrupt leadership, revealed to be the old world leaders, including Irkistan Foreign Minister Ivan Vodovich, former Prime Minister Jacob Hamilton-Mann, General Jefferson Masters, and Viscount Piers Antony Gaviston-Ridley. They mention that the fires from the "Liberation Night" five years ago are still burning, and that in order to make sure this never happens again, they intend to perform mass killings once they are back in power. They estimate that they will need to systematically kill millions of people: "the intellectuals, the radicals, the free thinkers, anyone who does not understand and accept the natural order of existence" as well as their friends and family. General Masters says that he can easily deal with that by "re-purposing" the Transition Centres. Afterward, they discuss Alan James, claiming that he is a useful as a "colorful" spokesman but that he will have to be eventually killed as well. General Masters suggests sending him on a "doomed mission," likely referring to the very suicide mission taking place in the present.
- Alan says "Bad choice, Alex," and starts to order for Jenny to be killed, but then changes his mind, shooting Julia instead. Just then, security breaks into the studio and orders Disrupt to lower their weapons, saying that "no one else needs to die today." Alan agrees, telling the security leader that he will be boarding a helicopter on the roof in four minutes' time. The security leader refuses, and tells Alan that he's being arrested (or "formally requested for dialogue" where "anything you say can and will be used in efforts towards your betterment.") Alan, holding his finger on the explosive trigger, reacts in disbelief. He screams as he releases the trigger, but nothing happens, and security shoots him to death. The explosive device had somehow been sabotaged. The security leader notices that they're live, and Megan protests as they move to cut the signal, saying "we can't just leave them, we have to say something!" but the security leader states, "I think everyone's seen more than enough." The signal cuts out.
- The song "Being Human" plays as the game's credits roll.
09. Chaos Reigns
Public Opinion: Advance- Megan Wolfe is "broadcasting across the frequencies," likely pirate television with a fuzzy signal. She looks disheveled and anxious, in contrast to her usual glamor and confidence. She describes violent clashes between small factions within the city, a power outage lasting over three weeks, and fuel shortages preventing refugees from departing in ships.
Tropes
- Anarchy Is Chaos: With Julia's death, Advance's government collapses, and Disrupt doesn't have enough popularity to fill the void. Without a government, chaos ensues as small factions fight for power and infrastructure collapses.
- Downer Ending: Even though everyone learns the true nature of Disrupt, preventing them from taking power, the entire country falls into a state of lawless chaos. Many characters are dead and Megan is struggling to stay on the air as public infrastructure fails.
10. Changing of the Guard
Public Opinion: Disrupt- Megan Wolfe appears on an unknown news program, telling the viewers that a State of Emergency has been declared and General Masters has granted himself extraordinary powers, insisting they will only last for six months. Political leaders are under house arrest for unsubstantiated claims of election rigging. Clashes between protesters and troops are taking place in the streets, and Megan urges viewers to stay safe while a curfew is enforced. The broadcast, which has had some interference, suddenly cuts to to the text "You are watching the Military Broadcast Service" shown on a green background, with military fanfare playing.
Tropes
- All for Nothing: Despite the player character risking everything in order to show Disrupt's true nature, Disrupt takes power anyway and likely succeeds in their plan to "sanitise" the population.
- The Bad Guy Wins: The most evil characters in the game are now in charge of the country.
- Downer Ending: Even though everyone learns the true nature of Disrupt, it's not enough to stop one of its leaders, General Masters, from taking power, not by election but by military might. Therefore, Disrupt's plan to perform mass killings will presumably succeed. In addition, many characters are dead and Megan's news broadcast is cut off by a military broadcast, probably for good, ending freedom of the press.
- Emergency Authority: General Masters grants supposedly temporarily emergency powers to himself.
- Fascists' Bed Time: Soldiers enforce a curfew.
- Military Coup: The military, led by General Masters, takes control of the country and institutes martial law while imprisoning civilian political leaders.
Path D: Jeremy Donaldson is alive, Alan James is alive
- Boseman accidentally leaves the intercom on while he talks to himself and gets absolutely hammered. He then despairs at the state of the channel, since it's nothing even close to journalism anymore.
- Alan James hacks into the broadcast several times, mentioning that Disrupt has found some frightening truths about the government that they will be sharing with the public: he says that "there is something wrong with the food" and he implies that Julia might have assassinated Peter Clement. He criticizes the program for abandoning their commitment to truth and turning into bread and circuses.
- Before Segment 3, Sarah warns the others that they're expecting some troublemakers but that it's nothing serious. Jenny jokes, "So, nobody freak out when the shooting starts, ok? The show must go on and all that."
- During Segment 3, the hosts attempt to start the Couch of Chat, but none of the callers are coming through. Jenny states that all the lines are down. As Not Patrick stalls for time, four Disrupt members break into the studio - Alan James, two masked men with guns, and one unarmed masked man. Alan tells Jenny to keep the show going and that they won't hurt anyone if they don't have to, though he holds Robyn and Not Patrick at gunpoint. Once the doors are locked and sealed, he gives the unarmed masked man the all clear. The unarmed man unmasks, revealing himself to be Jeremy Donaldson. He and Jenny hug before she leaves to keep the show going. Jeremy then tells Alan to let Robyn and Not Patrick leave, and he complies. Jeremy sits down across from Megan and Julia, telling Alan to stay as well, "for balance."
- Jeremy welcomes back the National Nightly News and begins by questioning Julia about the sterility crisis. He reveals that he analyzed Menu Centre boxes from across the territories and found traces of norethindrone, a type of birth control, and agrobacterium tumefaciens, a bacteria used in genetic modification. Confronted with the evidence, Julia admits that Advance had made what was meant to be opt-out contraception, which went wrong in the testing phase, leading to the sterility crisis. She justifies it by saying that the population was growing at an unsustainable rate and that it would have resulted in wars over fuel, food and water within 50 years, had she not taken action to create a "sustainable future." Megan is outraged, because she tried so many times to have children with her wife. Alan calls for elections to be unsuspended, leading Jeremy to turn to interview him next. As Jenny cues up the unknown footage, he asks Alan who he takes orders from. Alan refuses to say, and Jeremy reveals that he has met with Disrupt's leadership, once when he was a news anchor and again a week prior to now. He has footage that he obtained by wearing a hidden camera during the meeting. Alan begs Alex not to play it, while Julia encourages them to play it and Jeremy says, "it's up to you."
Democracy Restored
Tape Played?: No-bzzt!
- Jeremy is frustrated and calls out Alex for not playing the footage ("We risked our lives to be here tonight. I've just brought down the fucking Prime Minister! All Alex had to do was push a fucking button,") while Julia and Alan talk about how not every story needs to be told and how there are so many different truths that the news can choose to show or not show. While Jeremy talks about the importance of the truth, Alan says that showing the Disrupt leadership's private conversations would be a violation of trust and personal freedom. Julia states that elections will be held in twelve weeks. Megan closes out by saying she hopes that the nation can seek truth and reconciliation rather than hate and revenge as they decide on their new leadership. Jeremy ends the show with Megan's catchphrase, "Let's make tomorrow better."
- After the ads roll, Julia storms out, saying she'll call Boseman. Alan says they're apparently free to go, but Jeremy refuses to come with him. He remarks, "I wouldn't vote for your party, Mr James. Or hers. Who knows, maybe I'll run as an independent." Alan remarks that Jeremy's too honest for politics before leaving. Jeremy thanks Megan for "letting [him] ruin her awful show" and she says she hopes the new talk show format won't be around for long after tonight. They hug, and she tells him to book in advance next time he wants to come on the news before she leaves. After that, Jeremy and Jenny leave to go out to dinner together.
- The song "Take a Little Time" plays as the game's credits roll.
11. A Renewed Mandate
Public Opinion: Advance- Megan appears as anchor of the National Nightly News (blue studio) and reports that since Prime Minister Julia Salisbury's landslide election six months prior, she has used her powerful mandate to deliver on many campaign promises. Advance's "CoT" has been processing a backlog of membership applications to the Territories, and the former nation of Malvalia has just been approved as Territory 34, the second new territory in two months. She starts to report on cultural news ("punk rock bellringers") before the video cuts off.
Tropes
- Ambiguous Ending: It's hard to tell how exactly things are going in this ending. What is the "CoT"? What were Julia's campaign promises? Are nations really lining up to join the Territories or is something else going on?
- Karma Houdini: Despite being exposed on live television for accidentally sterilizing 85% of the population, Julia Salisbury somehow remains head of Advance and wins the election by a landslide.
12. The Middle Ground
Public Opinion: Neutral- Megan appears as anchor of the National Nightly News (blue studio), reporting on the day before the election. Opinion polls predict a record turnout and that no one party will have a majority, likely leading to a Coalition government, which Megan hopes will lead to some much-needed moderation. She says she'll be talking to Political Analyst Lisa Andrews and to Robyn Shorte, reporting live from a polling station. The blue studio title sequence plays, with clips of Megan replacing Jeremy's parts. As the Patrick Bannon clip plays, the video cuts off.
Tropes
- Ambiguous Ending: This ending ends one day before the faithful election. Although considering that neither Advance nor Disrupt will claim the majority, we'll never know what happens beyond this point.
13. Under New Management
Public Opinion: Disrupt- Megan appears as anchor of the National Nightly News (blue studio), reporting that this will be Channel One's last broadcast. Disrupt leadership has allowed them a last farewell, and Megan says, with obvious disdain, that DisruptTV will broadcast its first programming tomorrow, including such offerings as "Benefit Scroungers and the Undeserving Poor" and "One Nation News MAX" where Chett Blaze will be asking "How many guns is enough?" She thanks the viewers one last time, and with her voice shaking slightly, tells them good night, and good luck. A credits sequence starts to play over a freeze frame, before the Disrupt logo appears, followed by the words "DisruptTV: What Freedom Looks Like," with the beginning of "Take a Little Time" playing in the background.
Tropes
- Downer Ending: Disrupt's plans, motivations and funding are never revealed to the public, and as a result of this and their popularity, they win the election. Channel One is shut down, replaced by DisruptTV, a right wing propaganda outlet. Alan James's promise of a free press turns out to be an empty one. The Disrupt leadership's plan to return to the "Natural Order" is presumably successful, and they may even begin their "sanitisation" process as discussed in Path C's footage.
- Network Death: In-universe; Channel One is shut down by the new Disrupt-run government.
Disrupt Unmasked
Tape Played?: Yes- Jenny says Alex played the footage and Jeremy has it broadcast into the studio.
-bzzt!-
- The tape is a button camera recording of Jeremy sitting at a table with Disrupt's leaders: Ivan Vodovich, Foreign Minister of Irkistan; former Prime Minister Jacob Hamilton-Mann, General Jefferson Masters, and Viscount Piers Antony Gaviston-Ridley. As Jeremy questions them, they reveal that their research uncovered the sterilisation plot and they want Jeremy rather than Alan James to reveal it to the public, since Alan is a "rabble-rouser" but Jeremy is "a face they trust." They anticipate civil unrest and riots afterward, followed by the restoration of elections, under Disrupt's control. "Nature abhors a vacuum. You, Mr Donaldson, will create that vacuum. And we shall be there to fill it." Jeremy asks how they plan to do this if Advance took all of their wealth. The leaders reveal connections to illicit drug markets, child sex traffickers, and foreign powers, giving them the funds "to fight and to win." Afterward, they plan to restore the "Natural Order." "Strict order. An end to ungodly acts. Everyone back in their place." They reveal their disdain for Alan James, who they consider part of the "low orders." The clip ends as the leaders toast.
- Alan accuses Jeremy of setting him up, and he and Julia argue briefly, while Megan criticizes them, "Pathetic. Neither of you recognise your own reflection." Jenny reveals that security has been waiting outside, but they're not doing anything because they saw the reveal of the sterilisation plot and many of them wanted children. Jeremy and Megan close out the night together, saying that elections should be held soon, and the public can choose to be equal under Advance "like performing lions," free under Disrupt "to struggle and starve," or they can choose a third option. They encourage the public to stand up, take responsibility, choose something different. They end the show, "Have a transformative night," "And then make tomorrow better."
- After the ads roll, Julia threatens to shut down the channel, while Alan remarks, "We're done. They got us both." Jenny says Julia's security team can escort her out, while she offers to call a taxi for Alan, who wonders where he would even go. Jeremy asks if he's under arrest, and Julia says "I think you know you've made that impossible, Mr Donaldson," before leaving. Alan says "My bosses won't be pleased with you," as he leaves. Jeremy remarks, "Child sex traffickers and wannabe dictators. They're the natural enemies of the reporter." Jeremy, Megan, and Jenny decide to go see Boseman together, and Jeremy jokes that they should burn this set afterward.
- The song "Smart" plays as the game's credits roll.
14. An Accord
Public Opinion: Irrelevant- Jeremy Donaldson and Megan Wolfe appear as co-anchors of the National Nightly News (red studio, used on Day 1 and Day 8). They report that the new Centrist party Accord has just won the election. Advance and Disrupt did not even get ten percent of the vote. The new Prime Minister, Fatima Chowdhury, called Accord's win "proof that the major parties had lost the trust of the nation" and signaled "the end of extremist politics."
Tropes
- Book Ends: In this ending, the game both begins and ends with Jeremy Donaldson (alongside Megan Wolfe, the second time around) reporting in the National Nightly News red studio on the day after a new party comes to power with a shocking election win.
- Earn Your Happy Ending: A lot of the good characters have suffered a lot to get to this point, but it's all worth it in the end.
- Golden Ending: While Liberation Night and the Uprising have their casualties, this ending is the best if you want the main characters to survive the seven years of horror in the Territories. Jeremy and Alan survive, Advance and Disrupt are exposed, a new centrist party paves the way for a better future, and overall, everything ends on a hopeful note.
- In fact, if you really want to add a nice and polished shine, keeping your family alive and making as many celebrities successful and happy by the end can ultimately make the ending much better and rewarding.
- Take a Third Option: The entire point of this ending. Due to Advance and Disrupt's secrets being spilt, the public turns against both of them and vote for a brand new party instead.
