Sammy Lawrence

"On the plus side, I got a new character I think people are going to love."
- Henry Stein

This article may contain unmarked details of spoilers. If you wish not to read without spoiling yourself, play the game, watch the cartoon, or read the book first, depending on the article's topic.

See Sammy (disambiguation) for other related uses.

Samuel Lawrence was an award-winning musician/composer and the director of the Music Department at Joey Drew Studios, known for writing the music for Bendy's show in the studio's heyday.^[1]

In mid-1935, he had grown frustrated with his tight schedule. eventually, it got to the point where his ethics rivaled that of Joey Drew's, such as strictly ordering the Music Department staff to refrain from making loud noises.^[2]

Around 1946, as revealed in the Dreams Come to Life novel, he stole a huge number of ink bottles that were used for the Ink Machine, proceeding to drink them day by day as some kind of addiction and ultimately transformed into a mind-corrupted creature of ink. He later appeared in Bendy and the Ink Machine as one of the major antagonists pursuing Henry Stein in the game.

General Description

Physical Appearance

Although Sammy's human self was not seen in the game, the only known evidence about Sammy's human appearance is he once had a flowing cascade of brown or blonde hair, not remembering which one.^[3]

From the third chapter of Bendy and the Ink Machine, Twisted Alice describes Sammy as once a "very handsome man", meaning that Sammy used to look attractive in appearance. This indicates that she might have known him before.

As described by Buddy, Sammy was a very "pointy" man, even saying that he looked like a bird when he was at his conductor stand.

Personality

Overworked and abrasive but doing everything within his power to maintain his composure, Sammy's main interest is writing music and songs, as he started this career in his young years.^[4]

In tapes, Sammy is shown to be a frustrated songwriter, with what seems to be a blunt and sarcastic disposition. With the addition of the numerous leaking pipes in his department, the ink pumps and all of the constant distractions when writing music for the Bendy cartoons, Sammy is irritated with Joey Drew's project as it keeps setting him back in his work. The only person he has kind words to say about is Susie Campbell, the former voice actress of Alice Angel, that he refers her as a very charming woman, suggesting that he was infatuated with her.^[5]

It can be inferred from the voice recordings that he found it hard to focus on his work when there were distractions present, which was likely the reason he needed a private "sanctuary".

Based on his voice recording from 1935, Sammy had even criticized Joey for his poor planning skills, which caused him to work constantly to compose songs by a quick deadline, referring to this planning as Joey's typical planning. This constant increase in work caused him to slowly go insane at the constant sight of Bendy, who he claimed to have seen in his sleep and would expect himself to go insane after a few months. He claimed Bendy is "always watching", and states how something seems wrong about his smile to him, but couldn't confirm the reason for his suspicion. Although he decides to shake off these observations for the sake of his department and Bendy.

In the Dreams Come to Life novel, he is relatively neutral towards most others (albeit rude and condescending), especially Buddy Lewek, when the former forced the latter to clean an ink spill, which also means that he is also somewhat bossy towards his workers.

In-Game Appearances

Bendy and the Ink Machine

Chapter 2: The Old Song

Sammy has two audio logs, recorded from when he was still human. They can be found in the Music Department hall and hall closet respectively.

According to his first audio log, Sammy complains that he and the other workers have been unable to get out of their department at least three times since the arrival of the Ink Machine because the ink that flows from it kept flooding the stairwell. In order to drain the ink out, Joey installed an ink pump with the switch in Sammy's office, greatly frustrating him with the number of people going in and out all day.

From his second recording, Sammy gives hints on how to open his sanctuary by playing two, three, or four of his favorite instruments. The order in which they are played is changed every playthrough.

The projectionist, Norman Polk, makes note of Sammy's strange behavior of telling the band and the recording staff to wait in the hall in the middle of a recording session.^[6] Norman would hear Sammy turn on the projector and then rush back down to the studio^[7]. Even though the projector would turn off, Sammy would not resurface out for a long time.^[8] This is another hint on how to open Sammy's sanctuary.

Susie Campbell mentions that Sammy once told her that Alice's popularity may rival Bendy's some day in her cassette.^[9] Other than that, Sammy describes Alice's voice as so heavenly and beautiful.^[10]

Wally Franks notes in his audio log that he hopes Sammy does not find out about him losing his keys, once again showing the music director's lack of patience for distractions.

Chapter 3: Rise and Fall

Although Sammy does not appear in Chapter 3 as a voice or a presence, Susie Campbell mentions him in her second audio log found in the "angel path" room. She is horrified at seeing Sammy from the recording booth meeting a new voice actress, Allison Pendle, intended to replace her as the new voice of Alice.^[11]

As Henry enters the elevator after collecting all special gears on Level K, Twisted Alice will mention Sammy, claiming that he once told her she had talent, but that he was a good liar.^[12] She also says that Sammy used to be a handsome man before he was turned into a monster of ink.^[13]

Chapter 5: The Last Reel

Besides his ink form's return, Sammy's name is seen in his to-do list notepaper printed on the bulletin board from Joey's house at the chapter's end, told to write a soundtrack for the "Tombstone Picnic" cartoon, record voice-over of Allison Pendle (with Susie's name crossed out) for Alice Angel, and keeping the Bendy cutouts out of the animation company's recording studio (referencing the witness seen in Chapter 2).

Novel Appearances

Dreams Come to Life

Sammy appears in the Dreams Come to Life novel, as the secondary antagonist. He first appears when Buddy Lewek is attempting to make conversation with a violinist when Sammy appears with a supposedly hideous appearance, covered head to toe in ink as the result of an ink spill that he was caught in. Buddy, believing Sammy to be eccentric, questions his mood, to which Sammy belittles Buddy. After Buddy introduces himself, Sammy tells Buddy why he is covered head to toe in ink and drags him to where it happened, and then furiously orders him to clean up the mess. Later on, Buddy overhears a heated argument between Sammy and Thomas Connor, concerning the former's habit of stealing ink bottles.

In the thirteenth chapter, he storms into the Art department in hopes of searching for ink but leaves when Abby Lambert points out that the ink was not kept in their supply closet at all, but in a hidden safe embedded within Lambert's desk. He later appears when Buddy delivers a folder to Sammy in his office, to which he snarkily responds "Fantastic". Later in the novel, during an investigation at the studio, he mysteriously disappears. but when the studio is reopened after a two-day gap, the repercussions of Sammy's apparent disappearance have resulted in the music department being shut down until such time as he returns. Toward the end of the novel, Sammy's insanity becomes apparent.

After Joey Drew's company party, Buddy is startled to learn that his coworkers, Jacob, Richie, Dave, and Dot have been kidnapped. Sensing danger, Buddy returns to the studio to find out what is going on but is suddenly caught off-guard by an insane Sammy Lawrence, who had not disappeared at all but rather had remained in hiding the entire time. As Buddy finds himself restrained and sitting in a chair near where Richie was right in front of him, a completely transformed Sammy Lawrence emerges before them and reveals that the reason he transformed was due to an unhealthy addiction to the ink, from several stolen ink bottles, following a workplace accident in which a drop of ink landed in his mouth.

Despite Buddy's objections, Sammy planned on offering Buddy, Richie, and Dot as sacrifices to an unknown entity. Jacob and Dave had already been taken away before Buddy woke up. When Buddy demanded to know where Jacob was, Sammy dismissed Buddy's questions and proceeded to begin his "Ritual". However, Dot managed to escape to the Projection booth, where she dropped a projector on Sammy's head, knocking him out. He is not seen again for the remainder of the novel, although it is likely he survived, for obvious reasons.

Dialogue

The following information contains spoilers. To view them, click the [show] tag.

Chapter 2: The Old Song "So first Joey installs this Ink Machine over our heads. Then it begins to leak. Three times last month, we couldn't even get out of our department because the ink had flooded the stairwell. Joey's solution? An ink pump to drain it periodically. Now I have this ugly pump switch right in my office. People in and out all day. Thanks, Joey. Just what I needed. More distractions. These stupid cartoon songs don't write themselves, you know." — Sammy's 1st audio log. "Every artistic person needs a sanctuary. Joey Drew has his and I've got mine. To enter, you need only know my favorite song." — Sammy's 2nd audio log (part 1). "Sing my song and my sanctuary will open to you." — Sammy's 2nd audio log (part 2). Combinations "The banjo playfully clucks." — Banjo 1 "The banjo, once again, strums its melody." — Banjo 2 "The bass fiddle sings with deep articulation." — Bass fiddle 1 "The bass fiddle returns and sings aloud." — Bass fiddle 2 "The drum thunders in triumph." — Drum 1 "The drum echos out once more." — Drum 2 "The piano delicately calls." — Piano 1 "The piano returns in graceful harmony." — Piano 2 "The violin shudders with a piercing voice." — Violin 1 "The violin again screams." — Violin 2 "Every time I turn around there’s more work to do. Four cartoons almost complete and all of them need a tune by tomorrow. Typical Joey planning. I’m working so much I’m starting to see Bendy in my sleep. That smile… he’s always watching me. Few more months of this, I wouldn’t be surprised if that grinning demon drove me completely insane. That smile… something’s just wrong with that smile. Can’t put my finger on it. Shake it off, Sammy. Best get back to your songs. Someone has to keep the little devil happy..." — Audio log, dated June 16th, 1935, by Sammy Lawrence.

Trivia

General Facts

• It has been stated by theMeatly that April 18 is Sammy's birthday, the same release date of Bendy and the Ink Machine: Chapter 2.^[14] However, it is unclear if this is a legitimate fact about Sammy or a joke about him being first introduced on that date in said chapter.
• Sammy Lawrence's name could be a reference to Sammy Lerner, known for composing the "I'm Popeye the Sailor Man" song for Popeye cartoons and other pieces of music from Fleischer Studios.
  • His name could also be a reference to Sammy Timberg who is also a music director from Fleischer Studios.
  • Sammy and Jack Fain's names could be references to Sammy Fain and Jack Lawrence, both of whom were composers.

In-Game Facts

Gallery

Sammy's transcript from his another audio log.

Ditto, but with the music puzzle order randomized.

The unused texture of Sammy's name.

Add a photo to this gallery

References