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Don't be silly! One poem per birthday, that's my rule! Ha ha. If I gave you two, think how jealous Butch would be, ha ha.

Beatrice Armstrong (simply Beatrice in the game) is a resident of Vault 101 and a minor character in Fallout 3. She is encountered during Growing Up Fast and later found dead during Trouble on the Homefront, in James' former office in the clinic.

Background[]

An eccentric, airheaded dweller of Vault 101, Beatrice is one of the daughters of Stanley Armstrong, and the only one among them not to have a husband (although she is interested in Edwin Brotch, the Vault's resident teacher). Unlike her sisters, Mary Kendall and Gloria Mack, she has ample free time away from her family, which she spends snooping into the lives of other residents and gossiping to her sisters and her best friend, Pepper Gomez.[Non-game 1] She also dabbles in tarot readings and poetry as hobbies, often writing commemorative poems for special events such as Founder's Day and resident birthdays.[1][2] Despite her friendly demeanor, many of her neighbors find her attitude insufferable and condescending, particularly the Vault's children.[3][4]

During his tenure as overseer, Alphonse Almodovar took an interest in Beatrice, valuing her loyal service to the Vault.[5] It was under his administration, some time after his induction of the outsider James as the Vault's doctor, that Beatrice adopted Steve Armstrong together with her father, caring for the sickly boy throughout the Lone Wanderer's childhood.[Non-game 2] However, while she outwardly remained as chipper as ever, her attitude had largely become a shield by which she detached herself from reality, masking a descent into depression and anxiety. Her poetry, particularly her birthday gift to the Lone Wanderer in 2268, offered a view into her true feelings during this period: she came to view the enclosed Vault like a beehive of concrete and steel, where people are born into "purifying fluorescence," forever laboring until "the sweet sleep of incineration."[6]

By 2277, Beatrice's mental faculties had begun to deteriorate to a significant degree, raising the concerns of Overseer Almodovar. Despite her continued support, he had come to resent her as an "absent-minded, sexually repressed sycophant," and planned to speak to James about coming up with a "long-term pharmaceutical solution" to keep her comfortable (and quiet) until her death.[5] However, before he could act on this, James and his child fled the Vault amid a sudden radroach infestation, which caused widespread damage to the Vault and numerous injuries and fatalities.

In the aftermath, Almodovar's critics, joined by much of the Vault's youth, staged a civil uprising against his leadership, during which Beatrice sprained her left toe. With James missing and his apprentice Jonas Palmer dead, she was forced to seek medical assistance from the Vault's maintenance robot Andy, which had been installed as a temporary medic. Instead of administering proper care, Andy elected to amputate her entire leg, killing Beatrice through shock and blood loss, an outcome the robot attributed to surgical complications.[7]

Interactions with the player character[]

Interactions overview[]

Interactions
FO76 ui icon quest
This character is involved in quests.

Quests[]

  • Growing Up Fast: Beatrice is one of the guests at the Lone Wanderer's birthday party. She will give the Lone Wanderer a poem for their tenth birthday party.
    • If the player does not interact with Beatrice, she will continue to follow the Lone Wanderer throughout the Vault, even onto the reactor level.

Other interactions[]

  • Beatrice is found dead during Trouble on the Homefront. Despite complaining of a sprained toe, Andy amputated her right leg (incorrectly stating that he took off the left one).[7]

Inventory[]

Apparel Weapon Other items On death
Pip-Boy 3000
Vault 101 jumpsuit

Notes[]

Beatrice is the sole fatality resulting from Andy's malpractice, with other patients merely noting his less than ideal capacity as a medical provider.[8]

Appearances[]

Beatrice Armstrong appears only in Fallout 3.

Gallery[]

References[]

  1. Vault 101 cafeteria bulletin-board: "If anyone wants a tarot card reading, you know where to find me. -Beatrice"
  2. The Lone Wanderer: "A poem? You've got to be kidding me."
    Beatrice Armstrong: "No, really, I wrote it just for you! I never just copy one of my old poems... well, there was that one Founder's Day where I couldn't rhyme anything with Overseer... But you deserve nothing less than a brand new poem. You can keep it in your Pip-Boy and read it whenever you want!"
    (Beatrice Armstrong's dialogue)
  3. The Lone Wanderer: "I'm not a girl. And I'm not five. So stop calling me 'dearie.'"
    Beatrice Armstrong: "Of course you're not five! Ha ha ha. You're a big ten-year-old 'man' now, aren't you, with your very own Pip-Boy! And do you know what I did? Just for the occasion -- wrote you a poem! I hope you like it."
    (Beatrice Armstrong's dialogue)
  4. The Lone Wanderer: "Why are you talking to me like I'm five?"
    Beatrice Armstrong: "Oh, you are so funny! Ten years old, of course you are -- why, you have your Pip-Boy and everything! And do you know what I did? Just for the occasion -- wrote you a poem! I hope you like it."
    (Beatrice Armstrong's dialogue)
  5. 5.0 5.1 Vault 101 terminal entries; overseer's terminal, Beatrice
  6. A birthday poem
  7. 7.0 7.1 The Lone Wanderer: "Andy, what happened? All this blood..."
    Andy: "Ah, yes. A rather unfortunate incident. In all the commotion, Miss Beatrice suffered from a rather bad sprain in her left toe. The big one. Obviously, I had no choice but to amputate. The leg. I'm sorry to say the operation was not a success."
    (Andy's dialogue)
  8. The Lone Wanderer: "What happened that night?"
    Amata Almodovar: "The real problems came after you two left. The injured had nobody to turn to, since our doctor had run off, and his assistant had died. Now we've got to rely on that old Mr. Handy for most of our medical needs. And he hasn't exactly got the best bedside manner. Ever had an examination from someone with cold, metal pincers? You don't want to!"
    (Amata Almodovar's dialogue)

Non-game

  1. Fallout 3 Official Game Guide Game of the Year Edition p.61: "Beatrice Armstrong
    Vault 101's resident gossip hound, she has her nose in everyone's business. Of course, like all true gossips, she will vehemently deny that she is ever involved in the affairs of others. She is best friends with Pepper Gomez and is interested in Mister Brotch. She also keeps up the gossip with her married sisters, Mary Kendall and Gloria Mack."
    (Fallout 3 Official Game Guide Game of the Year Edition Wasteland Census)
  2. Fallout 3 Official Game Guide Game of the Year Edition p.98: "Steve Armstrong (deceased)
    The adopted son of Stanley and Beatrice Armstrong, Steve was sick for much of your youth, and you remember him only vaguely, and through conversations with Stanley. Steve is found dead as you investigate the mob-rule over at Vault 101."
    (Fallout 3 Official Game Guide Game of the Year Edition Wasteland Census)
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