This was only confirmed in Episode 5 but I don't see it addressed in discussions enough now that we know better...so I felt the need to do a write-up for folks so we're all on the same page.
Please let me know if I've missed anything or made any errors.
Everything from this point on discusses major spoilers!
His fingers are described as "hot and stiff with fever." The presence of infection (indicated by febrile tissue and pus) proves that Sam Wayne's body is alive. Corpses don't get fevers to fight infections–this is reserved for the living. Corpses also don't breathe, and we know that his breathing grows more rapid when he's...flustered.
What we know:
Wayne's body is not dead (yet)
how long it will continue to be so is up for debate
it's in really bad shape, yes
it appears to progressively get worse over the course of the week
Visual evidence:
If you compare the in-game sprites, the degradation of the body is confirmed.
Monday:
No Veil, glowing eyes. Shirt is white and the only clothing to appear bloodstained. The hands appear pale and grey. The shirt is tucked neatly into the pants, which are buckled with a belt. The pants are tucked into the boots. Other than the bloody shirt, the rest of the clothing appears clean–not as dusty as other mine employees.
Tuesday:
Veil acquired. It is mostly white, but there is some discoloration above the right eye. The shirt is becoming slightly untucked. Pants untucked from boots, some tears. The shirt has become darker as the blood stains have travelled down to the hem of the shirt, though there's not particularly noticeable staining on the pants yet.
Wednesday:
Veil is now more stained, but there's still a bit of white/light fabric left. Shirt almost completely stained now, almost completely untucked. The stains have moved down to the upper thighs of the pants. Other staining on lower legs appears to be from killing the ditchling. The pants have other discoloration, as though from dirt. Hands appear darker, the fingers are cyanotic.
Thursday:
Reminder: some of the staining here is caused by paint, but the visceral fluids have continued to spread.
Veil has become entirely stained, verging on a light brown color. Shirt has become effectively red-brown with layers of blood and pus. The pants and lower pants are discolored nearly down the knees. The calves are covered in dirt, paint, and ditchling blood. The cyanosis has spread up the hands, which are verging on purple. The jacket, which has been the least effected up until this point, has started to show discoloration–likely paint.
Friday:
As of Friday, there is more staining than not. More orange-y brown. Hand discoloration nearly to the wrist, the tissue appears darker where blood has pooled (along pull of gravity.)
Other notes:
The breathing is also present in the musical tracks associated with "Wayne."
The smell doesn't get commented on until Wednesday, when both the player's internal narrative and other characters start commenting on it. It gets worse as time progresses.
How damaged the face is, is unclear because "Wayne" obscures it whenever possible. But based on in-game art, we can confirm:
The forehead appears damaged.
There's still black curly hair, though the hairline is fairly far back (unsure if normal or due to damage.)
There are no eyebrows and the eyes have become sunken.
glowing golden eyes (due to The Entity)
the face still has a nose
the face still has lips and a jaw
he still has ears
if he gets distracted, the jaw goes slack and he appears to drool blood down his lips/chin
TL;DR The body of Sam Wayne isn't dead.
Okay, so now that that's settled... so what? Why does it matter?
Because it gives us some vital clues to the larger mysteries at play.
What do we know about the week that Wayne disappeared and Pearlanne died?
Not enough and it's driving me mad. So let's look at some clues to try to piece things together.
Timeline:
We know the game takes place during October 2022. Monday is the 24th, as confirmed by Stella's video timestamp in Episode 1. Thus, the final episode will be on Sunday the 30th.
To make it easy to visualize, I've made an annotated calendar.
The above image/annotations are based on the discussions with Isaacs on Tuesday/Wednesday. We can guess that the "week it went down" ranges anywhere from October 9-17th.
Tuesday discussion with Isaacs:
"So you're up in the big house with the boss this week. I just wanted to know if you've seen anything… strange while you've been staying there."
The man's voice is quiet and nervous.
"Like… a mining jacket? Is there anyone up there with you, a man maybe? Last name 'Wayne?'"
Followed by...
"A friend of mine's been missing for over a week now, and nobody around here seems to give two shits about it, because everyone else is too cowardly to ask any questions about the person who saw him last."
OR:
"Oh, thank god. So maybe there's a chance he's alive…"
"He's been missing over a week, and nobody around here seems to give a shit, especially not the person who seen him last. Which happens to be your—"
OR:
"Shit. Look, Sam Wayne is a friend of mine, and he's been missing for over a week now, and I seem to be the only person around here who gives a rat's ass about it."
OR:
"Because I haven't seen Sam Wayne in over a week, and nobody else seems worried about it, least of all the person who probably saw him last, which just so happens to be your—"
OR:
"Sam Wayne's been missing for over a week now, and nobody around here seems to give two shits about it, because everyone else is too cowardly to ask any questions about the person who saw him last."
OR:
"You gotta find out if it was him. Sam Wayne has been missing for over a week and nobody around here seems to give two shits about it."
OR:
"Look, I know I must sound a little nuts. It's just that Sam Wayne has been missing for over a week and I seem to be the only one who gives two shits about it."
OR:
"Maybe it's somebody else… but that still begs the question of where he went. And if anybody has a clue, it's the person who I'm betting saw him last, and that's your—"
OR:
"Because Sam Wayne is a friend of mine, and he's been missing for over a week now, and I seem to be the only person around here who gives two shits about it."
OR:
"Because Sam Wayne went missing over a week ago, and nobody's askin' any questions about it, and I'm willing to bet the last person who saw him alive was your—"
OR:
"Sam Wayne went missing over a week ago and nobody's askin' any questions about it, and I'm willing to bet the last person who saw him alive was your—"
OR:
"I'm sorry to ask such strange questions, but… please, try to understand, Sam Wayne went missing over a week ago and nobody around here seems to give a shit, especially not the person who seen him last. Which happens to be your—"
---
Wednesday discussion with Isaacs:
"Wayne's not missing. I keep running into him.":
"But… why wouldn't he come tell me he's all right?"
"Where is he staying? Why is he hiding from everybody? It just doesn't sound like him."
"'"I'm not sure the man you think is Wayne is really him."
"(Mystical) ''I don't know what he is now, but he doesn't feel human.":
"A day ago I wouldn't have believed you, but I've seen some weird shit since getting off work last night."
"He's all… goopy now. I think there's something wrong with him. Something medical.":
Goopy…? Jesus. I hope he's getting treatment. Maybe that's why he's been distant.
"Did he have a condition of some kind? A medical condition?":
No. He was fit as a fiddle. Built like a brick house, too.
"I don't think he's all right. There's something going on with him. Medically.":
Medically…? Jesus. I hope he's getting treatment. Maybe that's why he's been distant.
"Do you think Tabitha did something to him?":
"Yes. I do. That, or maybe Pearlanne."
"I don't know what it would be, but something happened up at that house."
"The week it went down, everyone was so up-in-arms about Miss Pearlanne's death, almost nobody cared about the fact that some transplant miner had gone missing."
"Did anyone think there might be a connection?":
"What, like… like he had something to do with her death?! No, absolutely not."
"Heard it was natural causes. Died in her sleep. She was old, and a smoker."
"Figured her lungs finally gave up on her."
"If anybody did anything, it was that family doing something to him."
Upon leaving, if player spoke with him about Wayne:
"I appreciate you coming by to talk. I can't say I'm happy with what you've told me, but I'm glad somebody is looking into this."
"Seems like everybody else was perfectly happy to sweep it under the rug."
"It goes without saying that you'd better not go telling anyone we talked."
"And… if you see him, or whoever it is pretending to be him… tell him his buddy is worried about him, all right?"
---
Tabitha's slip up during the Ginseng Baby incident:
Tabitha:
"So, someone accidentally seeing something he shouldn't have seen means he should die then, is that right?"
"Forget about the people who loved him. Let the trespasser die. Because, what...? You wanted a grandkid?!"
"He didn't mean to stumble into all this! He just wound up in the wrong place at the wrong time because he cared too much about his girlfriend."
Julius:
"...Girlfriend?"
Tabitha:
"I meant pumpkin."
---
What can we glean from clues provided to us?
Whatever has been happening to the body, it's been progressing over the course of approximately 2 weeks:
the inciting incident occurred around the same time Pearlanne died.
Wayne is hinted to have been injured by Pearlanne, the wound may have been a mortal one
Tabitha is hinted to have killed Pearlanne in response
Whatever happened, the end result was that the Entity imprisoned by the Scarlets took Sam Wayne's body as a vessel.
This has kept the body alive, but in rough shape
We know that the body is in bad shape because the Entity is being "Rejected." But what is the cause of this rejection?
Proposals regarding the rejection:
is it due to damage the body received before becoming a vessel? We see the body recover after getting slashed open by Reese, but it's possible that "damage sustained prior to becoming a host" isn't able to be healed.
is it due to matters concerning consent? Even if Sam Wayne consented in the heat of the moment (due to desperation/dying) it's possible that he may have regrets once the consequences were fully realized. (For example you can compare it to Madoka Magica: Mami reaching out to Kyubey in the immediate aftermath of the car accident vs. how she felt later on dealing with the reality of being a magical girl.)
or is due to Wayne not being of the Scarlet bloodline?
It could also be a combination of the above, we just don't have enough information to go off of yet.
What about the body's degradation, aside from Rejection?
Per "word of god": the body cannot handle being exposed to water, because the skin will slough off. How much of this may have to do with issues regarding showering (and/or drinking tea) and the effects those actions have on the player/residents of Scarlet Hollow is yet to be seen. It might be the case that to body is getting worse because The Entity cannot do basic hygiene due to both physical and mystical limitations.
As of the end of Episode 5, it's pouring rain outside. This could prove troublesome for the Entity's goals to protect the Cousin.
Which leads us to...
The "outfit change"
If the player gets 'Wayne' an "outfit change," The Entity switches to a new vessel: Isaacs. This might solve the issue regarding being exposed to rain in episodes 6-7 (should the rain persist). This can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on the player's goals.
If "outfit change":
The Entity doesn't have to worry about water exposure
The Entity can blend in easier with normal humans
The Entity be able to move more freely or accompany the Cousin places it previously couldn't/wouldn't have
We don't know if the original host will survive whatever that process is. It could be enough of a shock to finally kill Wayne's body, or the body might still be recoverable but is an empty shell…if there's even a body left to recover afterwards. Also depending on how strong the strike is, another miner might accompany Isaacs up to the Estate. That leaves a potential for 2 bodies and 2 cars to be left at the Estate …which would be bad for Tabitha, at the very least.
What we can glean from the vessel change?
There are unknown factors that the swap seems to require. After all, if the Entity could swap vessels willy-nilly, why wouldn't it have dropped the very sickly vessel at the earliest opportunity?
Perhaps the swap must occur at the Estate?
Either way, it seems a certain degree of consent being required from the Entity's hosts. Though how informed that consent is, and the ethical implications are still up in the air).
It is likely Isaacs consented to the process–due to his strong desire to see Sam Wayne combined with his blatant disregard for his own wellbeing. Whether or not this will be enough to prevent rejection is yet to be seen.
Sam Wayne and Isaacs are spoken about in the present tense by the Entity, so it is likely that Sam Wayne and Isaacs are in there, but we don't know for how long this may be the case.
We also know that Andrew wrote the "Mommy I'm still in here too" note, but previous Scarlet hosts (Teddy, Andrew, Alexandra) have only been referred to in the past tense. At the same time, some dialogue implies that some parts of their personality/preferences seem to have permanently rubbed off on the Entity
What is the Entity?
Something that was done dirty by a bad deal with Enoch. Something that has been imprisoned by the Scarlets for decades. Something that requires a vessel. Something that has been piloting Sam Wayne around for 2 weeks. Something that wants to be free.
Current fandom hypotheses regarding what the Entity is:
part of the Devourer that was split into pieces.
associated with the Seal called "The Throne."
Something analogous to the folklore of the "Tailypo"–an unknown creature that entered through a hole, was harmed by a human, and wants its Tail back. In some versions of this theory, The Cousin is the "Tail" that the Entity wants to be reunited with.
an otherworldly, Eldritch being akin to an angel (think biblically accurate angels)
a fungus-like parasite
a Dendrogaster-like creature
something similar to a nervous system that can hijack or merge with other creatures' nervous systems
Some combination of the above, perhaps.
...but any additional theorizing on that topic should be saved for another post.
Thank you for reading this far! Let me know if you have any questions.
ive recently become obsessed with The Manor as an entity in the wkm universe because my boyfriend has characterized him in a way that FASCINATES me. he writes him as more of a trickster spirit than something that is like. outwardly, pointlessly malicious yknow? and i LOVE that. HE'S SUCH A LITTLE SHIT. he doesnt have a physical form TECHNICALLY but ive been drawing him as a shapeshifting shadow of mark for art's sake and i made this doodle page bc i cant get him out of my head. you all have to see him too now
#project hail mary
#lana del rey
#iron lung
#photography
