Norman Polk/novel
- This article refers to the employee from Joey Drew Studios. For other uses, see Norman (disambiguation).
"I got to know Norman Polk, the guy who’d led me upstairs during the
blackout, though he had no interest in getting to know me. He ran the projector,
which I learned happened when they needed to synch up sound with a moving image." |
Norman Polk was an employee at Joey Drew Studios, working as a projectionist. A man who had an uncanny ability to notice trouble, his eventual fate was becoming yet another victim of the studio's strange happenings being later reborn as the Projectionist.
History
Early life
At some point, Norman becomes an employee for Joey Drew Studios, being the projectionist who work for both the Filming Department and the Music Department. During his time in the studio, Norman investigates the strange going-ons within the building, learning many things others don't and spying on various workers.
Last days and death
On 1946, a blackout happens because of the heat. Norman goes to the lobby after the projector goes out, opening a flashlight at Mrs. Miller's desk. He then notices Buddy Lewek standing in the darkness and asks about him, Buddy explains that he was delivering Joey Drew a suit. Upon hearing this, Norman states he's dead before revealing it was a joke, much to Buddy's confusion. He then guides Buddy to Joey's office, only to back out, apparently due to Buddy's lack of knowledge of how to go back.
When the studio gets shut down after being vandalized, Dot and Buddy break in and explore in an attempt to figure out what had happened. However, they are hunted down by the Ink Demon, and after killing a violinist and dragging the body off, Norman suddenly appears in his projector booth and explains that he heard what was happening and came to help. He invites the two to join him and he reveals that he had been watching them sneak around the studio before. Buddy and Dot want answers, which Norman has, so he starts explaining the studio's backstory, beginning with Henry Stein.
Norman explains that Henry left in order to spend more time with his wife, Linda, however Joey takes it personally and begins hiring talented people to replace Henry. He brings up Alice and the original actress, Susie Campbell, which Dot reports she met once, and Norman explains how none of the popularity lasts despite the talent. With the studio failing, Joey gets desperate for media attention and investors, so he builds the Ink Machine with Thomas Connor, who Norman reveals was fired. Norman explains that he only knows that ink goes into the machine and comes out different in some way. He doesn't know what the machine is for, only that the ink changes people, like Sammy, and it moves on its own. Before Norman can say more, Buddy begins freaking out and rushes home to get rid of the ink he stole before it can do any harm to his family.
During Sammy's disappearance, Norman gets kidnapped by him and later is sacrificed to the Ink Demon as he is chocked to death by the living ink. However, no one noticed his absence since despite him watching everyone, no one really saw him. His ink-covered body is later discovered by Dot and Buddy after they went to save Jacob from the same fate.
Legacy
It was implied that Norman, after his death, rebirths as the Projectionist, an ink creature with a projector for a head.
Characteristics
Physical appearance
Norman is described as "a character something from the comics", looking elderly with a lined face and bushy eyebrows.
Personality
Fitting his job as a projectionist, Norman tended to seek out dark places and avoid drawing attention to himself. Because of this role as an outside observer, he was able to notice some of the strange behavior displayed by his colleagues. However, his ability to sneak around undetected led to his eventual downfall, due to the sensitive nature of the information he was mentally exposing himself to.
He also has a dark sense of humor, cracking jokes that some find disturbing; by his remark of Joey Drew being dead, before revealing it was merely a joke.
Behind the scenes
Norman is a major character in the novel Bendy: Dreams Come to Life, and more about him and his backstory was revealed in the later chapters.
Dialogue
- Main article: Norman Polk/novel/dialogue
Gallery
- Main article: Norman Polk/novel/gallery
See also
- The Projectionist/novel, the ink monster based on Norman.