We Happy Few Prologue is a quest within the game We Happy Few.
We Happy Few Prologue Guide
When we first enter the game, you’ll be doing your job, which is taking the newspaper clippings and either accepting them or blocking them out in the Redactor, depending on what their headers are. If they’re negative, then they’re no good. But if they’re positive, then they’re approved.
Mrs. E. W. Bower Wins Garden Prize
August 9, 1945
Mrs. Ernest Bower of Cumberland Crescent was awarded the 1945 Garden Prize for her themed flower garden, “Friendship.” Mrs. Bower’s design mixes swirls of red, white, and blue flowers, representing the Union Jack, and red, white and black flowers, representing the German Imperial Flag. “I wanted to show the friendship between our two peoples,” said Mrs. Bowers, accepting her award. “Of course no flower is perfectly black, but black dahlias come quite close, and I found hollyhocks and pansies that are such a deep purple they’re almost black. Colonel von Stauffenberg himself helped me get the seeds.”
Second Prize went to Jane Morris of Warminster Road, for her themed garden, “White Christmas,” with flowers of white, red and green. Third Prize went to Beatrice Smythe of Ferry Lane, for her garden, “And Did Those Feet in Ancient Time.”
In the vegetable department, first prize for a Victory Garden went to (continued on page 5)
No Swimming in the River
July 12, 1959
There is no truth to the rumour that toxic chemicals in the river are behind our Minister of Health’s recent ban on swimming or fishing in the Avon.
Minister Joseph Lister explains that the rumours of a chemical spill at the Bristol Alkali plant on Eel Pie Holm are unfounded. The pharmaceutical plant has a perfect safety record and all its equipment is modern and recently inspected. Nor is it true that as some excitable citizens would have it.
Nonetheless, Minister Lister requests that citizens refrain from using the river’s waters until (Continued on page 5)
Hastings Brothers Win Scrap Gathering Prize
June 4, 1947
Percival and Arthur Hastings were the surprise winners of the scrap drive. Arthur told the judges that his brother has a photographic memory. “Percy knew exactly where all the old cars and prams and things were in the Garden District.” Percival himself rarely speaks to strangers, apparently.
The scrap will be melted down to be used to support the war effort against the Soviet Union, which is by all reports going splendidly.
The brothers brought in a record 1654 pounds of scrap steel, winning them a £50 Victory Against Communism Bond. The second prize went to Allen Unwin, who brought in 315 pounds.
You come across one that obviously brings a flashback to a painful memory…
After your slight panic at the memory, you’ve got to choose between two options:
- Remember – the game progresses
- Take Joy – the game ends
Snug as a Bug on a Drug is the achievement you’ll earn if you choose to Take Joy at the start of the game.
After you remember bits and pieces of Percy, there’s an intrusion into your office due to the silence of your long-term walk down memory lane. You’re reminded about a birthday party, but comment that you’ve got a few more pages left to do…when the power cell to your Redactor dies. It’ll need replacing if you’re going to play it off like you need to do more work before you join your coworker’s birthday party.
Take out the empty power cell and on the right side of the room is another working Power Cell. Take it and place it into the slot. Accept or censor the document–whichever one you decide, your coworker will say something about your choice before leaving the room.
Finish up with the last documents–you can take the Power Cell with you.
Employee of the Month is the achievement you’ll earn if you choose these options in the following order for the newspaper clippings: Approve, Censor, Approve.
Gen. Byng Clarifies Registration Procedure
May 7th 1947
Gen. Robert Byng, the municipal liaison to the Occupation Authority, appeared on Parade Street late last night to speak to a crowd of citizens urgently requesting clarification of the new child registration rule. As most Wellingtonians know by now, all children who will be under the age of 13 by July 22 must be registered with the Authority. General Byng clarified that the deadline for registration is next Thursday. He refused to speculate on the rationale for the registration regulation.
“I cannot illuminate the regulation any further because Col. von Stauffenberg has not informed me of its purpose,” state the General. “I imagine and hope that it has something to do with maintaining nutrition for our growing children in this time of scarcity, but the O.A. have not told me so explicitly.” He reminded the crowd that the Occupation has so far been extraordinarily orderly and peaceful, and that citizens’ continued obedience to legal orders of the O.A. is crucial to maintaining goodwill with our visiting (continued on page 15)
Drug Trials A Qualified Success, Says Sir Robert
3 March 1952
The first round of trials of a new anti-melancholic medication have been qualified a success, stated Dr. Alexander Gross, acting head of the Melancholia Studies laboratory at the Royal Victoria Hospital. “The drug reduced melancholic feelings in twenty-eight out of thirty despondent rats over a twenty-day period.”
Despondency can be induced in rats by repeatedly giving them electrical shocks. Despondent rats take up to twice as long to navigate a maze. “After administration of the drug, previously despondent rats regained up to 50% of their navigation speed before administration of the shocks,” stated Dr. Gross.
The drug now has to be tested in human volunteers. Citizens who wish to apply as a potential volunteer (there is already a waiting list) can do so at the Royal Victoria. (continued on page 13)
Once done, you can leave your room and look into the Inter-Network window for some metaphorical insight on not only the tubes, but also you as someone that works here. On the other side of the hall, you can enter Clive Birtwhistle’s room. Some paperwork labeled Business Letter drops on the ground that you can read, titled “A letter from Miss Byng.”
On the right side of the room, just past the lockers is a Scrap of Paper that you can read, titled “Handwritten Letter.”
Sit down in his chair and use the Redactor in order to sabotage Clive’s work if you want to. Or, you know, to just do his job for him since you’re such a nice person and all.
Enjoy the View is the achievement you’ll earn if you choose these options in the following order for the newspapers: Approve, Censor, Censor.
Farm Workers Expected to Return from Germany
October 29, 1946
With the last harvests in and frost painting the valleys of Thuringen, Wellington Wells’ 129 volunteer farm workers are expected to return home within the next two weeks, states Sir Robert Byng. Each highly-paid (and well-fed!) volunteer worker replaces one German soldier heroically fighting Communism on the Eastern Front. Unemployed men of Wellington Wells who are interested in volunteering for work in Germany in the Spring should contact Hauptmann Werner Erhardt at his office at Waterloo House.
Taxi Service Restored — On Three Wheels
June 7, 1952
Wellington Wells once again has taxi service. Bicycle taxi, that is. The enterprising young Nigel Hemmingford is now carrying paying passengers along Parade Street. He is also willing to take up to two customers at a time anywhere in Wellington Wells.
Mr. Hemmingford, 17, built this taxi out of two bicycles, with the assistance of his father, Edmund Hemmingford, known locally as “the wicker man” for his mastery of the art of crafting wicker. The seating of Mr. Hemmingford the Younger’s bicycle rickshaw (as he likes to call it) takes its inspiration, according to Mr. Hemmingford the Elder, from Roman racing chariots. Contrary to what you’ve seen in old movies, these had to be as lightweight as possible, yet sturdy. (Continued on page 14)
Wellington Under Reopens
May 12, 1944
Thanks to the heroic efforts of Col. von Stauffenberg’s efficient mechanics, the Wellington Under will restore limited service. The following stations will be served from one hour after curfew ends to one hour before curfew begins: Waterloo, Minorca, City Hall, Trafalgar, Thermae, Victoria. Tickets are 1s, 6p for the aged. Details are available at the stations during operating hours.
You can take the Power Cell before you leave.
Further down the hall is the room of Prudence Holmes, which you can enter.
Things look pretty bad on the inside. Instead of the letters hanging overhead saying their “welcome back,” the W, E, and L have fallen to the ground, making it say “come back” instead. There is also an old and moldy bread basket sitting on a cart that’s covered with welcome back cards.
There’s a wall with pictured of holiday photographs that’ll spur some dialogue, and you can also do some Redactor work if you place in a working Power Cell.
Bolshevism Against Europe Gala a Smash
August 22, 1945
The new and exciting exposition, “Bolshevism Against Europe,” had its sparkling gala at City Hall last night. Eighty-eight invited luminaries, including the new queen of the Wellington Wells stage, Jane Morris, as well as the members of the Executive Committee, and of course Sir Robert Byng and his eye-catching daughter Victoria, attended the glamorous function.
The exhibition is now open to the public. “Bolshevism Against Europe,” mounted by the Wellington Wells Committee for Anti-Communist Action, uncovers the secret history of the Bolshevik movement before it takeover of Russia, the murder of the Tsar, and the creation of the Soviet Union. It traces the hidden connections between the Soviet Union, the British Labour Party, the Roman Catholic Church, and the Freemasons. Finally, it reveals the insidious perfidy of Communist fellow-travelers even now within our own society. Visitors will learn how to be on the alert for Communist conspiracies and propaganda. The exhibition, which is free to the public, will continue through November 15.
Remember to Turn in Your Automotive
August 22, 1945
Colonel von Stauffenberg reminds citizens that all private automotives have been requisitioned by the municipal authorities on behalf of the Imperial German Army, and must be turned in by October 2. Owners are to bring their vehicles, which must contain at least a one-quarter full tank of petrol, to the Train Station. To reduce queues, vehicles with license plates ending in 1 and 2 may be turned in on Monday, 3 and 4 on Tuesday, 5 and 6 on Wednesday, 7 and 8 on Thursdays, and 9 and 0 on Fridays.
A fine of £100 will be levied against the registered owner of any automotive not turned in by that date. The fine for an empty petrol tank is £10. Owners with a current municipal exemption, of course, are not required to participate.
Margaret Worthing Will Open Battle of Flowers
Tuesday, July 2, 1946
Miss Margaret Worthing has been crowned the Junior Field Commander of the 1946 Battle of Flowers, which takes place this Sunday. She will lead the annual Flower Parade accompanied by her father, Jack Worthing, former lead actor of the Will Kemp Traveling Players. She was crowned last night at the Garden Gala by 1945’s Junior Field Commander, Sally Boyle.
Miss Worthing was selected, according to the organizers, because of her spectacular Victory Garden.
“We were all amazed how many different varieties of exotic flowers she’s grown, all while helping feed her family with her vegetables.”
The Battle of Flowers dates back to 1920, when participants in the Flower Parade decided to dismantle their floats and attack each other with blooms. The Battle has become the traditional end to the Flower Parade.
Police Arrest 4 in ‘Breeder’ Riot
6 November 1951
One man, Ranulph Alderly, and three unnamed women were arrested in what the police are calling another ‘Breeder’ riot Sunday night. The victim, Mrs. Anne McCutcheon, appears to be in stable condition, as is her husband, Mr. Cyril McCutcheon. There is no word yet on the condition of her baby, whose birth was not expected for another two months.
The arresting officer, PC John Constable, stated, “It is dangerous for women who are in a family way to strut their condition about. Frankly, it sets people off, when decent folk are doing their level best to forget.”
(Continue on page 33)
I don’t believe doing her work will trigger anything, though.
Interestingly enough, there are full pill bottles of Joy sitting on the desk you can question yourself with.
Out into the hallway is another window you can look into–but whose door you cannot open–of Hopkin Jones. He’s saying to a Bobby (I guess?) that he’s not off his Joy and denies it pretty vehemently before he’s injected with something in a syringe. He then notices you and the Bobby closes the blinds.
At the end of the hall there’s a door labeled Central Processing Unit. Go inside and make your way through the clutter. You won’t be able to find anything in any of the lockers or desks (and the lockers that probably do have items are locked anyway), but there is a Power Cell laying on the ground beside a desk.
Head into the Conference Room–just in time for some Piñata hitting of something that…isn’t quite a Piñata.
Once your coworkers figure out you’re a Debbie Downer, you lock yourself into a filer’s worse filing nightmare.
While there is a ladder that you can climb (you just have to angle yourself toward it in a very specific way), just jump over the cabinets and then crouch below the pipe to exit through the door for a cutscene.
Downer is the achievement you’ll earn as soon as you’re done with the chapter.
Continue with:
We Happy Few Prologue FAQ
What happens if you take your Joy at the start?
You won’t remember Percy and his yells will drift off into the distance. Which defeats the purpose of coming across that article in the first place, don’t you think? You were meant to feel something there. But since you take the Joy, you no longer feel unhappy, and there’s no point in continuing the game.
Therefore: the game ends.
What happens if you send bad news headlines?
Nothing actually happens if you send bad headlines or mark out the good headlines.
