| Hollis Forsythe |
–Hollis Forsythe
Hollis Forsythe is the Second Head of the Psychonauts (formally the "Lesser Head", though she isn't fond of this term), taking over whenever Truman Zanotto is unavailable or unable to take the lead. She is also in charge of managing the organization's budget, and leads the intern program. She teaches the interns to use Mental Connection, her own psychic specialty.
Appearance[]
Hollis has wavy, dark red hair that falls across the left half of her face. She has tan skin and brown eyes. Her lips are brown and her nose is light orange.
In Psychonauts 2, Hollis is always seen wearing white heels with a matching white, angular pinstripe suit. Hollis' shoulders are especially pronounced, making her torso look like an upside-down triangle.
Personality[]
Hollis is a tightly wound, serious person. She is highly responsible, and, possibly because of her history in healthcare, also very mindful of safety. She is very protective of the students in the intern program, to the point of occasionally underestimating their abilities. Despite her responsible personality and her obvious skill at taking the lead—Hollis was able to quickly recover a mission that had nearly gone awry after only briefly assessing the assets available to her—she is also shown to be extremely stressed as the temporary Head of the Psychonauts, and is terribly worried about the organization's looming financial problems.
Hollis has a great deal of respect for authority, being very devoted to her superior Truman and to the regulations of the Psychonauts, but she is also quite aware of when a superior is being unfair. When Dr. Potts, her mentor in medical school, stole her research and passed it off as his own, Hollis took matters in her own hands to try and enforce justice. Neither is Hollis unreasonably attached to the rules. Having made mistakes herself, she knows that people need to be allowed to learn from their mistakes. Even after Razputin messed with her mind, she easily forgives him when he makes it clear that he deeply regrets what he did.
While Hollis is outwardly forthright, honest, and respectful with most people, she is less filtered inside her own mind, bestowing the occasional insulting moniker on those she takes issue with, such as referring to Dr. Potts as "Dr. Putz".
When Razputin makes an unwise Mental Connection in Hollis' Mind, Hollis' personality is temporarily completely altered. In this state, Hollis is dangerously impulsive and selfish, abandoning her colleagues mid-mission to try and solve the financial issues she's worried about by gambling. From her inner monologue in Hollis' Hot Streak, it becomes clear that this version of Hollis believes change is impossible, that feelings are to be hidden, and that getting help from others would make her weak.
Background[]
–Tim Schafer, CEO of DoubleFine Productions
Hollis was once an intern at Our Lady of Restraint Neurological Hospital, where she was the assistant to a Dr. Potts, a well known neurologist. Hollis studied tirelessly, and her work eventually paid off when she developed a revolutionary new technique which she named the "Forsythe Method". However, when she presented it to Potts, the doctor quickly grew annoyed at his own student's success in the eyes of their co-workers. Dr. Potts stole Hollis' research, publishing it as the "Potts method" and becoming famous in the medical field for his life-saving "discovery". To make matters worse, Potts started talking about getting rid of Hollis.
Hollis, being an untrained psychic, began studying the psychic ability of Mental Connection, in the hopes of rewiring Potts' personality to be less selfish and abusive, and maybe to get him to admit his crime. Unfortunately, in tampering with his mind, Dr. Potts was driven to a complete mental breakdown, running through the hospital practically naked and needing to be forcibly restrained.
Unable to fix what she had done, Hollis called in the Psychonauts. The Grand Head of the Psychonauts, Truman Zanotto, arrived and managed to fix the situation. Hollis felt terribly ashamed at what she had done, but Truman saw potential in her and recruited her into the Psychonauts, where she eventually climbed the ranks to second in command. She and Truman would work together on many missions, such as when they fought The Noodler.
Story[]
Psychonauts 2[]
Hollis first appears after Sasha, Oleander, Milla, and Lili return to the Motherlobe with Dr. Loboto, Truman and Razputin. Apparently unaware of why the agents weren't properly answered when they hailed the Motherlobe, she is incredulous to hear about the possibility of a mole in the organization, and is especially shocked to hear that Maligula and her Deluginists might be involved. When she eventually notices Razputin, the boy introduces himself as a new Psychonaut, having been given a badge by Ford Cruller. Hollis sternly tells Raz that Ford does not have the authority to commission new agents, but agrees to allow Raz into the Internship program instead, on Milla and Sasha's recommendation.
When Razputin eventually reports to Hollis to be assigned a mentor for his internship, Hollis assigns him to Nick Johnsmith, the senior clerk at the Mailroom who is well-liked, but notably non-psychic. While trying to follow orders by sorting the mail, however, Raz discovers Nick Johnsmith's brainless body in a package intended for Truman Zanotto. Raz then notices a key to a suite at the Lady Luctopus Casino in his pocket. This, paired with the fact that Agent 33, who was stationed at the casino, has been unresponsive lately, leads the experienced Psychonauts to prepare for a mission to infiltrate the casino and investigate the scene. Hollis instead elects to stay behind to look after the interns, and denies Razputin's pleas to join the mission due to concerns over safety. She orders all interns to her classroom for a risk-free training assignment.
Raz arrives late to Hollis' classroom, which is found inside her mind. Having just explained how Mental Connection works, Hollis asks Norma to fill Raz in on the lesson as she heads into a different section of her mind to do some thinking about the organization's financial issues. However, due to the habits he formed as an acrobat, Razputin jumps inside of the thought bubbles without thinking, when he was supposed to connect them from a distance. This allows Raz to reach more connections that would be out of range for most other psychics. Goaded on by his fellow interns, Raz ventures deeper into the hospital section of Hollis' mind to try to convince her to allow the interns on the mission. Though he's not completely sure himself if it's a good idea, Razputin accomplishes his goal by connecting "Risk" and "Money" in Hollis' inner sanctum. This triggers a wild flurry of new connections, forcing Raz to escape back into the real world.
Outside the classroom, Hollis seems to have completely changed her mind: Raz and the interns are allowed to join in on the mission to the Lady Luctopus. However, Hollis, now in the grasp of a potent gambling addiction, soon abandons her post as mission leader to gamble at the casino. Raz tracks Hollis down and ventures into her mind again, finding that it has changed radically compared to its previous state: Hollis' grounded mental hospital has itself become a neon-plastered casino, and her inner sanctum is now inaccessible to anyone but the "high rollers" who have made at least three gazillion dollars. Razputin heads into three sections of the casino-hospital, using Mental Connection in each to return Hollis to a healthier mindset and un-rig each game, obtaining a gazillion dollars from each. Eventually, Raz enters the high rollers' lounge and fights the Lady Luctopus, the manifestation of Hollis' gambling addiction, saving the other interns along the way.
The Luctopus' defeat manages to return Hollis to normal, and Raz comes clean to the inner Hollis, who finally realizes how wrong everything in her mind looks. Hollis is initially furious at how Raz altered her mind and invaded her privacy for personal gain, but relents when he earnestly apologizes and offers to leave the Psychonauts. She admits that she once made the same mistake of trying to forcibly change a person's mind, but was unable to fix it like Raz was. She has Raz promise to learn from the experience and to never do anything like this again.
Returned to normal, Hollis retakes control of the mission, and efficiently leads Sasha and Milla to successfully complete their parts of the mission. Razputin is then allowed to participate, reaching the penthouse Nick Johnsmith had the key to with the help of the other interns. Inside, Raz discovers a hidden Deluginist den holding books on Necromancy, suggesting that there are indeed plans to revive Maligula. Hollis suggests that Nick is clearly the most likely suspect, but recants the idea when his current brainless state is brought up.
Shortly after returning from the mission, Hollis is surprised by the sudden arrival of Raz's family, the Aquatos, at the Motherlobe. She insists that they leave, as the Motherlobe is meant to be top-secret, and is in high alert. She briefly butts heads with Raz's mother, Donatella, but Raz's father resolves the tension.
Hollis remains in the Nerve Center for the rest of the day, and is later seen using Mental Connection to find a security breach in Green Needle Gulch, which she coincidentally accomplishes just as Sasha discerns the identity of the Mole and Milla senses Maligula's return. The three and Oleander venture to the Gulch, where Raz, Ford, and the other members of the Psychic Six had been working together to seal away the Maligula portion of Lucrecia Mux's mind. Hollis is initially outraged to discover Raz and Lili leaving what appeared to be Truman's mind—a serious security violation. Raz attempts to reveal that Truman had actually had his brain swapped out with the mole's. However, Raz is pulled away by Lili before he can fully explain, and Maligula suddenly awakens, trapping Hollis and everybody else present in a violent whirlpool.
After Raz and the interns defeat Maligula for good, Hollis is seen having a meeting with the other Psychonaut agents regarding Lucrecia Mux. Coach Oleander is initially appalled that Lucrecia is allowed to live freely after her actions, but is sternly shut down by Hollis and the other agents, as the Coach had pulled a similarly diabolical stunt recently. Truman (now with his own brain restored in his body), expresses his intention to take a vacation to rest his brain, but Hollis puts her foot down and states that she'll be taking a vacation after having to run the organization in Truman's absence. Hollis rewards the interns for their role in stopping Maligula, and promotes them to Junior Psychonauts.
In the post-game, Hollis can be found outside of the Motherlobe's main entrance, with her suitcases packed for a two-week vacation to the tropics, given to her by Sasha and Milla, as she has been named employee of the year. Hollis mentions that she hopes Truman will remain Grand Head for many more years, to save her the stress. She also tells Raz she's invited the Aquatos to stay at the campgrounds, seeing potential in several members of the family.
Relationships[]
Dr. Potts[]
Dr. Potts is Hollis' former professor from medical school. He stole her work during her time at school, and, fed up with his careless abuse, she tried to rewrite his personality to be kinder using Mental Connection, very unsuccessfully. At least in Hollis' memories, Dr. Potts did not seem to think much of Hollis at all, mostly getting annoyed when her brilliant research seemed to be making her the talk of the hospital.
Nurse Cherry[]
Nurse Cherry was Hollis' coworker. He attempted to advocate for Hollis' right to her own research, but was often shut down by Dr. Potts.
Truman Zanotto[]
Truman Zanotto is Hollis' boss at the Motherlobe. He recruited her into the Psychonauts upon seeing her talent with Mental Connection. Hollis greatly respects Truman, but does not enjoy being acting Head while Truman is incapacitated, ultimately putting her foot down when he expresses interest in taking time off.
Ford Cruller[]
While Hollis respects Ford as a hero, she doesn't believe he can act as a competent agent any longer due to his shattered mind. She does, however, appreciate his skills as a barber, admitting that no-one "gets" her hair quite like Ford. Ford, from his end, is never shown to have any opinions on Hollis.
Razputin Aquato[]
Razputin is Hollis' student at the Motherlobe. The two are initially at odds due to Hollis' tendency to shut Raz down and prevent him from being involved in official Psychonaut matters. Things come to a head when Raz alters Hollis' mind in hopes of convincing her to allow him and his fellow interns to join in on a mission. In the process however, Raz accidentally gives Hollis an extreme manic gambling addiction. Raz undoes the damage and admits to his wrongdoing, even offering to leave the Psychonauts for it. Hollis forgives Raz, as she had made a similar mistake in the past. Since then, the two have a greater understanding and respect for each other, but agree to not talk about that incident any further, simply because of how embarrassing it all was for Hollis.
Sasha Nein[]
Sasha is a colleague and subordinate under Hollis' authority. Hollis notes that she must cut Sasha's laboratory budget to address the Psychonauts' financial concerns, reminding herself that she already had (with great difficulty) convinced him to stop wearing socks with sandals.
Milla Vodello[]
Milla is a colleague and subordinate under Hollis' authority.
Lizzie Natividad[]
Lizzie is Hollis' student at the Motherlobe.
Norma Natividad[]
Norma is Hollis' student at the Motherlobe. Hollis trusts Norma enough to put her in charge of teaching the other interns while she attends to other business.
Gisu Nerumen[]
Gisu is Hollis' student at the Motherlobe.
Adam Joseph Gette[]
Adam is Hollis' student at the Motherlobe.
Sam Boole[]
Sam is Hollis' student at the Motherlobe.
Morris Martinez[]
Morris is Hollis' student at the Motherlobe.
Donatella Aquato[]
As both women are similarly commanding and prone to getting what they want, Donatella and Hollis do not seem to get along. When the Aquatos arrive to the Motherlobe, Hollis asks the family to leave, due to the base being top-secret. Donatella does not take kindly to it, partly due to her distrust of Psychics and her wish to see her son. Later on, Hollis expresses interest in inviting the Aquatos to stay at the Motherlobe, due to her seeing potential in Donatella's husband and other children as potential psychics (either as Psychonauts, or simply to train them in Psychic safety).
Mind[]
Main article: Hollis' Mind
Hollis' mind is themed around her hospital background. However, once Raz encourages her to take more risks (so he can join Psychonaut missions), Hollis becomes obsessed with gambling. It drenches her mental world in Las Vegas traps and neon lights, transforming it into a bustling casino.
PSI-Powers[]
- Mental Connection: Mental connection is Hollis' specialty psychic power.
- Telekinesis: Hollis uses telekinesis to give Raz his intern nametag.
- Levitation: Hollis can use levitation to float around the Motherlobe.
- Astral Projection: Hollis can astral project into minds using a psycho portal.
- Pyrokinesis: Hollis mentions she is able to burn things.
Etymology[]
"Forsythe" means "man of peace" in Gaelic. "Forsythe" could also be referencing the word "Foresight".
Trivia[]
- In the alpha footage for Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin, cut dialogue confirms she was initially known as Herndon Forsythe. Subsequent dialogue between Sasha and Milla shows them being annoyed with Herndon when he dismisses them and orders them back to the summer camp. Since this dialogue is absent in the final product, it can be believed that Herndon was changed to Hollis sometime during production.
- Razputin's merit badges in the first game were all signed by Ford Cruller, but as the second head, Hollis signs Razputin's Mental Connection certification herself.
- Terryl tells Razputin during the post-game that Hollis is a regular at the Psychoisolation facility. She checks in there to soothe the migraines she occasionally suffers from.
- Hollis mentions near the ending of Psychonauts 2 that she has 17 weeks of vacation days saved up, of which she uses two on a vacation to the tropics after the events of the game.
- On top of almost becoming a neurologist, Hollis mentions that she also has a degree in Mathematics.
- When Razputin makes a Mental Connection between Cilantro and Disgust, she mentions it tasting like soap. This is indicative of her having the Supertaster trait, which has this effect on an individual's perception of the herb.
- It's implied that Hollis might come from a bad family, as when Raz tries to apologize for his she tells him it's alright, as all families are terrible. When Raz then follows up but saying that his is alright, Hollis gets nervous and claims she was just trying to bond with him.