Episode 13: Sam Strand

Sam, it’s Die-Hardman!
The following contains full or partial plot spoilers! Please proceed with caution.

Episode 13: Sam Strand is the 13th of the episodes in Death Stranding.

Objectives[]

[Order No. 69] Go to Her Beach[]

Find Amelie.
Make a decision, and bring this to an end.

Stop the Extinction[]

Story[]

Sam is sent to Amelie's Beach by Fragile. Sam sees Bridget Strand, and is informed the Last Stranding has already begun. Amelie is revealed to have never existed. Bridget's beach is connected to every beach. Expanding the chiral network has been connecting beaches, binding them to Bridget's. Sam is given the choice to separate Bridget's beach, by killing her with Die-Hardman's gun, or to watch the world end in a giant explosion. Sam decides to hug her instead.

Bridget's Stories[]

Bridget reveals that she is The Beach, and is forced to stay there to ensure the 6th extinction happens whenever. Bridget says goodbye and pushes Sam into the water as an explosion occurs on her beach.

Seemingly dead, Sam wakes up on The Beach, finding the doll, Sam's picture with Bridget and Die-Hardman's gun. Bridget travels to Sam, revealing that Sam's dreams were hers. Bridget is her Ha, and Amelie was her Ka. Bridges was founded as her war against the inevitable 6th extinction. BTs crossed over to the world through Bridget's Beach.

Sam attempts to commit suicide with the gun, but finds it is unloaded. Sam begins to hear Bridget sing London Bridge and his friends call out to Sam to save him. Sam follows Bridget. After reaching her she tells Sam that he is always connected. Deadman spawns from the below the sand along with Lou and pulls Sam into the Seam giving him the chance to repatriate.

A New America[]

A month later, Die-Hardman is sworn in as the president of the United Cities of America, revealing his face. Deadman explains to Sam on how he came back. Die-Hardman's revolver lead Sam's friends to a far corner of his beach. Fragile "slingshot" Lou and Deadman to rescue Sam, using a necklace piece made from Bridget's DNA for protection from The Beach.

Deadman reveals that Lou's mother is Lisa Bridges, and hands him the revolver. President Die-Hardman confesses to Sam that he is the one who killed Clifford Unger, how he made it out of love for Bridget, even though he owed him his life, and how he got his moniker of Die-Hardman. He faced death many times but Cliff refused to let him die and always brought him back. He breaks down over guilt for his actions, saying he is beyond forgiveness. Sam tells him he needs to let go of this perspective that he can't die, acting as if he is immortal, in order to unite the people and build a really united America. In shock with his words, Die-Hardman thanks Sam as he walks away.

Sam returns to Lou and Heartman. Lou is dying and being decommissioned. He considers opening the pod, but declines as he would be committing a crime. Sam accepts Lou's fate and takes the pod to take it to the incinerator. Deadman deactivates Sam's cufflink to grant him privacy as long as it is disconnected. Sam hugs Deadman as he leaves with Lou, meeting Fragile on the way out. Fragile Express obtained official approval and becomes the first private company to work for the UCA. Higgs is revealed to be alive. Sam rejects Fragile's offer to work for her, as "everything he touches, he loses."

Walkthrough[]

The player must walk away from the shore, where Sam will take a rest, triggering a cutscene.

Once the cutscene with Bridget is over, Sam is given Die-Hardmans .357 Revolver, and can idle around or shoot Bridget, resulting in the Last Stranding and a game over, or walk over and hug her, advancing the story. The player will need to wait for the credits to roll so the story will progress after every story with Bridget.

Once the credit roll is over, the player must walk over to the direction of Bridget where she is singing. Sam has to repatriate, completing the episode.

Related trophies[]

	Icon	Name	Description	Trophy
		Thank You, Sam	Complete Episode 13: Sam Strand.	Bronze