The Woman In The Hotel

[Floodclaw]

Alright, let's get some discussion going on in this forum.
I recently played through Homecoming again (twice, actually), and each time I was left wondering the significance of the woman in the room with the hole in the door in the Grand Hotel.

What does she mean? Why is she there?
Does anyone have any insights?

[Purramid_Head]

I couldn't figure it out. I suspect she's a ghost? I mean what logically conclusion is there? normal people would not have done what she did. And the whole bribe system sounds like something a spirit would do who has limitations.

The hotel was super hard.

[Eyeshine]

Two people come to mind whenever I try to figure it out. Dahlia, and Mary. Dahlia, only because I was trying to check voice actors for the games somewhere (the internet movie database, possible?), and Dahlia was listed, though I never recalled seeing her. And Mary, because of what she requests in return for the postcards.

"The warm sunlight dancing on the water, the smell of cotton candy in the air, and the sound of wind blowing through the trees." (This isn't a spoiler is it? If it is I'll go back and put the tags on it.)

That being the description, it just brings to mind the visit the I think James and Mary had before the events of the game played out. (I don't remember to clearly... it's been a while since I managed to play Silent Hill 2.)

Other than those two things there, though... I've got nothing. I can't figure out anything other than those to back it. It's not the same room they had in Silent Hill 2, either, I'm pretty sure. That's room 312, right? If I'm right, then the room that the woman is in is 301, checking my guide's map, and the one you need to unlock is 306. It does list her as 'crazy lady' on the map, though, but I doubt it's of any help in figuring her out.

[Karian]

I still think she's his mom, but I can't figure out why. The voice sounds exactly the same. Maybe she's trying to make something clear to him, but I'm not sure why.
She's giving him clues alright, to get something done for her, but she sounds weak, just like his mother did, that is why she reminds me of her. Things not yet done by her he needs to finish.

[God's Condemned]

From what I've heard, it's Carol, from the notes and letters found in the hotel. If you'll notice, hers, Lillian's, and Judge Holloway's voices are done by the same person. At one point I thought it was a Mary reference too, but from what I saw, it's Carol. It's still up for debate, though.

As to why she's alone, I'll put spoiler tags around it just in case.

REVEAL SPOILER

From what I got out of the notes and things, it sounded like Carol cheated on her ailing husband, while they practically lived in the hotel during the renovations and someone told him about it. The news of that betrayal caused him to die, leaving her with a terrible grief and sense of responsibility for his death. Now she is to be alone just as he was while she was out with the younger man.

That's just what I've gathered through my five playthroughs.

[Volessa_x]

This may seem like a silly little theory, but does anybody think it could be Laura from Silent Hill 2?
Maybe she went back there to reminisce about Mary, and well.. stagnated in that hotel. And never left.
What do you guys think?

[God's Condemned]

That could ber a theory. Konami was never really clear as to who that was. It would make sense, though. What level was that room on? Mary and James were in room 312, right?

[Volessa_x]

The woman is in room 301.

[Whitney]

I always thought the woman was Carol from the letters who had a terminally ill husband and was having an affair with Mayor Bartlett?

[God's Condemned]

I think that is right. I kept forgetting that Sam was his first name. Sounds about right. That's the theory on Hell Descent Forums, as well as SH Heaven.

[God's Condemned]

I just remembered something though. Why is she humming a lullaby? As far as the reports go, she has no kids, unless Joey is hers...

[Piece0fSheet666]

The first thing I thought was what Xuchilbara said. But then again, it must be what Whitney and God's Condemned say. I never really looked into her 'cause she's of no significance but it's mysterious nonetheless.

[God's Condemned]

@PieceofSheet666: Love the smiley as an avatar.

She is insignificant, but why is she there? Aside from the key to the hotel room? Why would they want us to get her memories, even if they envolve Sam Bartlett? Any point to this side story about a love affair?

[Piece0fSheet666]

@PieceofSheet666: Love the smiley as an avatar.

I don't think that you need to have children in order to hum a lullaby, no? Then again, it's not just any lullaby. Children are indeed mentioned in her second memory [postcard] ("Days like this make me appreciate what it's like to be young and carefree. Family is the most important thing - and our children are the future"). But, maybe she only dreamed of having children with Bartlett. Maybe, she had gone to the Amusement Park with Joey and Bartlett and had him like her son (and after he was sacrificed she was singing him a lullaby to close his eyes, xD). Also, I guess it would be a 'scandal' to have kids in an 'unofficial' relationship in Silent Hill (Still, Clayton finds out about it but he dies...). Carol was Clayton's wife not mayor Bartlett's, right? The word would get around...

Carol signs as "Carol x". I think there is a chance her last name could be Doyle (after Clayton), 'cause there is an 'oxygen delivery notice for Mr. Doyle by Alchemilla Hospital'. Could he just be a random person? But why be kept in the hotel? Hm, probably to have the nice Atrium to look at and forget about the illness (notice how there are Nurse monsters in the hotel). Maybe she's stuck there 'cause she was to stay at his side 'till his final moments (and maybe even more got stuck there not because she was binded to the place, but because she was pretending). Or maybe she wants her nice memories back and not those of the sickness days. Actually, some "Paul" and "Jim" also knew about it (they saw her creeping from the ball room [to the Atrium probably] and wonder if they should tell Clayton and what the 'old man' [probably another reason Carol was having an affair] would do, if he found out [which he did and would never forgive Carol]).

[She could also have a phychological gap for not being able to have kids with the old man]

Maybe it could be both theories? The pictures you need to find are what Sam did - things that let her get away and also love him. She could now be a spirit that needs to remember or find those things that keep her in the room/earth and move on...

I think that's enough theories.

[God's Condemned]

Wow... Nice theories.

[Piece0fSheet666]

I know, right?

[God's Condemned]

I like the spirit theory. Could be like Joshua. I do think she has connections with Jody.

[SHF]

Basically, the woman is Alex's mind projecting memories from his past. She is just a figment of his imagination.
As to why it's a woman instead of a man, I would say it's because Alex misses his Mom( more so then his dad, who was kinda a dick to him) and that manifests as the Woman In The Hotel.

[Purramid_Head]

Not sure about that, didn't she know things and wanted things not really related to Alex per se?

[SHF]

Here is the scene about the Woman.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byDn2HxLikk
( 3:10-4:25)

My first thought was she is Carol. ( If you read the memos here, Carol had an affair with Sam. Clayton Doyle was her boyfriend that she had the affair on)

Also compare the Woman's voice to Lilians:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Off6P-a9I7s
( 2:21-)

Now my theory is that the Woman In The Hotel is a manifestation of Alex's Mother.
Though it could be as simple as the developers just used the same voice actor for some other reason. Or it could symbolize what I believe is happening.