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- "But even if it doesn't work... at some point, you know, we'll be down to a sustainable population."
- — Anton to Victoria.
Dr. Anton Verloc is the Director of Haworth Labs in Wellington Wells, and one of the main antagonists of We Happy Few.
Appearance[]
Dr. Verloc has white hair and brown eyes. He wears a dark brown suit with a black, long-sleeve turtle-neck shirt underneath, and black dress shoes. He also wears pantos glasses.
Unlike most other Wellies, Dr. Verloc does not wear a Happy Face Mask, nor does he take Joy.
Personality[]
An enigmatic character at the heart of Wellington Wells' mysteries, Dr. Verloc shows little concern towards the human costs of his research at Haworth Labs.
With such high power in his hands, he tends to be demanding, cold, and uncaring towards those beneath him, including his loved ones. However, as shown in the We All Fall Down DLC, Verloc has a friendly- almost jovial side towards those above him.
Whether it's because of his excellence in deceiving people, or because they're afraid of losing their job, Anton have managed to get both the Joy Doctors and Bobbies on his side, with only some believing he's not as high and mighty as he makes himself out to be.
Anton has excellent knowledge in chemistry, as he taught Sally Boyle everything he knew before she left him. Whether he truly loved her or not is questionable, though it's suggested he was more abusive than caring.
History[]
Born in 1926, Anton Verloc lived in London until 1940, escaping the Blitz by moving away to live with his uncle. After his uncle's death in 1954, Verloc inherited his house at the age of 28.
Dr. Verloc became the head of research and development on Joy drugs and their effect on the population by getting rid of his superior, Harry Haworth. He conspired with General Byng to remove Haworth and take his place in 1957. Before then, Verloc was the Assistant Deputy for Research on Harry's team. Haworth was reported "gone on holiday."
Sally Boyle had worked for Dr. Verloc as a pharmaceutic assistant, while the two also shared romantic feelings for each other. However, after Sally discovered she was pregnant, she decided to leave Verloc for good. He became bitter and hateful at her departure, seeing her departure as a master plan to become is main competition, claiming she had stolen his notes regarding Joy production. He never got to know about the baby.
In an attempt to synthezise new ingredients for Joy, his team ended up creating spores that mutated mushrooms in the Garden District, beginning the Plague. He also authorized sending waste materials and bad batches of Joy into the rivers, causing mass pollution and a toxic fog that rises from the river.
Events of We Happy Few[]
Act I[]
Arthur goes to the Haworth Laboratory to get cod liver oil for Sally. There, it is revealed that Verloc plans to release the "permanent solution," an even stronger version of Joy that will make the population permanently happy, with the side effect of them becoming mindless drones. Arthur tries to trick the White Bobby into letting him see Verloc, but Verloc figures out that Arthur is a "spy" and tells the Bobby to kill Arthur.
After beating the Bobby, Arthur confronts Verloc with his plans and how it's wrong to lobotomize the population, but Verloc laughs him off and tells Arthur that he can and will implement the permanent solution. Arthur then attempts to throw the permanent solution's latest version at Verloc (who exclaims that it will drive him mad), but Verloc hits a button that paralyses Arthur with electricity. Verloc then hops in a Popper and escapes.
Act II[]
When Gwen gets measles, Sally goes to Verloc to get him to give her cod liver oil, but he is still furious with her and tries to get the constabulary to arrest her. They let her go, however, as Sally is under the protection of General Byng. She then turns to Arthur for help.
Later, after Sally escapes from Byng, a Joy Doctor under Verloc's command has been sent to investigate Sally's home, to investigate "strange noises" heard by her neighbors. He hears Gwen, and realizes that she's keeping a baby in her house. Sally knocks him out and escapes Wellington Wells, with Gwen in tow.
Aftermath[]
Despite having escaped Arthur, it's quite apparent that Verloc's power (along with his safety) is in danger. It is implied in various sights, conversations, and notes that Verloc is losing control over the Joy Doctors, many of whom seem to view him as an incompetent fool.
The Doctors who work in the Wellington Wells Health Institute (located in the Parade District) seem to have completely gone against him. In addition to this, there is a toppled statue of Verloc in the head office of the hospital, replaced by a statue of Doctor Ridgwell, Verloc's statue has been defaced with the words "FUCK VERLOC." Simply put, Verloc is most likely to be "going on holiday" very soon.
We All Fall Down[]
On October 23rd, 1964, the workers at Haworth Labs have started a revolt against Dr. Verloc and blaming him for the recent bad batches of Joy. Demanding that he be removed as administrator and bring back Sally Boyle. Having barricaded himself in his office until the riot has died down.
After Victoria Byng stops the rioters, she confronts him on this, to which Anton claims that he's close to finding a permanent solution. After realizing Victoria is off her Joy, he plans to have her locked up with Harry Haworth, only to be reasoned by Victoria herself, stating that he cannot lock her "like poor mad Harry." He later reappears at the Dunkerton Waterworks to stop her from cutting off the Joy from the island's water supply.
When Victoria sets up the explosives to blow up Haworth Labs, Verloc orders Doctors and Bobbies to stop her. After setting off the bombs, she runs off leaving Verloc to his cries of dismay as the building starts to fall apart. He could have died in the final explosion but he most likely escaped though the Bobby popper in his office, since he knew that the lab was being blown up. Although that's pure speculation.'
Related Notes[]
- Bad batches of Joy
- Blackberry?
- Chemistry questions
- The Diary of Billy Burgess
- Dr.Haworth
- Draft Letter
- Encrypted Note
- Formula adjustments
- From the Desk of Dr. A. Verloc
- Haworth Laboratory
- Highly Classified
- Johnny Bolton's Plans
- Permanent Solution
- Personalized Care
- REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK
- Request for Persecution
- Resignations
- So-called toxic water
- Test of A-329
- The "O" COURANT - Article 2
- To All Medical Staff
- TOP SECRET
- Worker's Manifesto
- Urgent Joy Request
Main Game[]
Act I[]
"Do NOT turn down the heat on the brominating reaction until you've noticed the temperature curve. I need to determine the explosive threshold temperature -- never mind, just graph the temperature curve and pop it in the pneumatic!"
"Oh, and I want samples of any residue on the explosive debris!"
"The number one priority is to isolate the new isomer sample. It must not get contaminated!"
"There had better be neatly labeled samples of the fog next time I come down there! Just get a one gallon beaker, stick it in the fog, stopper it, tape the stopper, and label it!"
"I asked for a full battery of tests done on the latest isomer, now where is it? Why is it not in the pneumatic? Do any of you want to keep your jobs? I'll have you all replaced by Mrs. Pankhurst's bridge club, they'd do a better job than you people!"
"Unless you've got a magic formula for synthesizing Joy out of bleach, whiskey, and saltpeter, get out!"
"And what do you think you are now? *You* are just the sum of the neuropeptids swirling in your bloodstream."
"You see, the current Downer outbreak is just a mass chemical imbalance. But I believe I can adjust the internal hormonal settings so the people stay happy no matter what."
"They told the Wright Brothers they couldn't fly! But they did!"
Act II[]
"Oh no? I teach you everything I know, you steal my notes -- You steal my business, and you have the nerve to come back here..."
"And then you replace me with Byng?!"
"We were so close-- we were so close to cracking the isometric structure of the new molecule. I suppose you cracked it on your own, after you left, didn't you?"
"I don't care if the General's protecting you! You've gone too far this time!"
We All Fall Down[]
"I can't just think faster, Miss Byng. I work until every thought is rubbish, and then I try to sleep."
"I swear, I am this close to a permanent solution."
"But even if it doesn't work... at some point, you know, we'll be down to a sustainable population."
"After the Mood Booths, the water was obviously the next target. But to have it be you!"
"Miss Byng! What if you're wrong? What if their sense of hope is the only thing keeping them alive?"
"Are you really going to punish us all to save your guilty conscience?"
"Are you going to destroy your father's life's work? Will that finally make him proud of you?"
"I always did wonder if you'd end up a Downer yourself."
"Has it ever occurred to you that the problem all this time might be you?"
We Happy Few[]
Concept Art[]
Other[]
In Game[]
General[]
- He has a Welsh accent.
- Anton is the creator of Sunshine.
- He took credit for the creation of the Strawberry flavor of Joy, despite it being Sally Boyle's idea.
- While Arthur breaks into Anton's office, Anton can briefly be seen inhaling from some small device. Upon closer inspection, it appears to be a rybar asthma inhaler.
- Robert Byng believes that Sally's daughter is Verloc's child, and her silence to the accusation confirms it. Byng also assumes she didn't tell Verloc because he'd do unspeakable things to a baby. Sally also talks to Gwen, stating she hopes she inherit "her father's brain" and "not his heart," likely referring to Verloc's cruel nature.
Other[]
- His character was inspired by Peter Sellers in Dr. Strangelove.
- Anton Verloc's name is a reference to character Adolf Verloc from novel The Secret Agent, an anarchist spy for an unknown country.
- In development versions of the game, his first name was Sebastian.
- In the We All Fall Down DLC, he is referred to on multiple occasions as Tony Verloc, rather than Anton Verloc. Tony is a shortened alternative of Anton.