A small question about Claris's story

This has been confusing me for a while. Did the events seen in Claris's intro actually happened? I mean, did she actually attempted the audition and ran away, or did she just have a nightmare because she was afraid that it would happen that way?
The reason I'm asking this is because, I think it's more likely that these events did happen, but then why could she audition again? I don't think it's fair that she would get another chance.
Also, on the video page on the site, the description of Claris's ending says:
"September the 29th, audition day. Claris wakes up and goes all confident to her slot."
If the audition during the intro actually happened, then the ending should take place on the 30th (or October 3rd if each dream takes place on a different night).
Maybe I'm just missing something obvious.
What do you think?

I think she was dreaming about the upcoming event, and it turned into a nightmare.. that's what I figure with all the kids' intros.

But don't the manuals say that the first audition actually occurred?

As far as i can remember she's already been to the first audition and is going to the final one. Something in the Japanese Claris description explains it... lemme find...

'Claris auditioned for the first general invitation of the headlining musical made for Twin Seeds centennial commemoration celebrations. She had passed a brilliant primary examination. The second audition came that day. Claris was completely spun by the width of the stage and the force of the hot spotlight in which she stood for the first time. Her knees began to wobble, her throat became dry, her voice becoming husky. Infact the spotlight was so bright it had become impossible to see the very judges watching her-- Although she would have to wait until the evening for the audition results poor Claris had already lost all self belief and hope completely. Feeling that she had lost her dream.'

The time frame is totaly wacky if you go by the fact it shows her sleeping in her bed...

Maybe it's all allegory and symbolism- The audition scared Claris. Fear = Random Marens, no actual dreaming, perhaps?

Or perhaps it's like "Pulp Fiction" and doesn't take place in order. Pulp NiGHTS...eek....

"Do you know what they call a Quarter Pounder with Cheese in Nightopia?"

As far as i can remember she's already been to the first audition and is going to the final one. Something in the Japanese Claris description explains it... lemme find...

'Claris auditioned for the first general invitation of the headlining musical made for Twin Seeds centennial commemoration celebrations. She had passed a brilliant primary examination. The second audition came that day. Claris was completely spun by the width of the stage and the force of the hot spotlight in which she stood for the first time. Her knees began to wobble, her throat became dry, her voice becoming husky. Infact the spotlight was so bright it had become impossible to see the very judges watching her-- Although she would have to wait until the evening for the audition results poor Claris had already lost all self belief and hope completely. Feeling that she had lost her dream.'

I guess that confirms that the audition in the intro actually happened, but the problem remains. If the final audition was the second one, that means she attended it twice. If the final audition was a third one, then that would mean she passed the second audition even though "her throat became dry, her voice becoming husky"? That seems strange.

The time frame is totaly wacky if you go by the fact it shows her sleeping in her bed...

Er, I'm not sure what you mean. If you're talking about the intro, I think she's just seeing the events of the day again in her dreams...

Or perhaps it's like "Pulp Fiction" and doesn't take place in order.

What would be the correct order then?

The instruction booklet says that Claris running out on the audition actually happens.

What would be the correct order then?

- Claris singing outside when she sees the audition paper

- The Audition mentioned in the Japanese description/ the usual ending?
- Claris in bed

- Claris's in-game intro (a nightmare)

- the game

- The usual ending?

- The "all a's" ending

- Claris goes dancing with Mia Wallace. *shot*

That's just my guess. Who knows...

The instruction booklet says that Claris running out on the audition actually happens.

Indeed it does, which leads to one reasonable conclusion... don't trust instruction manuals.
How could she have gotten a starring role if she ran away from the audition in real life? Surely they would have given the role to a person who doesn't run away from auditions?
Also the intro movie has folks turning into monster-type-maren-esque dudes? It SEEMS like a dream based on the anxiety of the upcoming audition. It probably would not have made her so anxious if it had already happened in the past, anyway.

But then this is just conjecture and there is no "real" answer.

How could she have gotten a starring role if she ran away from the audition in real life? Surely they would have given the role to a person who doesn't run away from auditions?
Also the intro movie has folks turning into monster-type-maren-esque dudes? It SEEMS like a dream based on the anxiety of the upcoming audition.

It's also possible that she was first dreaming about the audition that had happened, and then it turned into a nightmare.
I'm pretty sure that's at least what happened to Elliot: he actually met the other guys and was humiliated earlier that day, but they didn't actually turned into monsters of course.
So it's possible that the audition happened but Claris didn't run away.

It probably would not have made her so anxious if it had already happened in the past, anyway.

Well, according to the japanese thing quoted above, she had lost all hope after the audition. So it's possible.

It probably would not have made her so anxious if it had already happened in the past, anyway.

Maybe she's anxious about getting the part. The time between auditions and casting is REALLY tense. Everyone is stressing about getting the part they want. That fits into my "Pulp NiGHTS" theory perfectly- in game events take place after the guide (more or less).

"What does Reala Wallace look like?"

I promise, that the last Tarantino joke.

No talking about a sign saying "dead Pian storage" then?

No talking about a sign saying "dead Pian storage" then?

I prosmise. Also I shall say nothing about something being "pretty freakin' TRiPPY." Of course, if my answers (about movie quotes and NiGHTS) frighten you, then you should cease asking scary questions.

Personally, I agree with the theory that it's a nightmare about something that actually happened (Claris' audition and Elliot's defeat).

This could also explain Helen's intro in JoD - a nightmare about something real. (Haven't seen Will's yet... so no clue there.)

Now that you mention it, yes, in Journey of Dream both Will and Helen dream of actual events (well, until people turn into monsters).
I think that's the most likely explanation for all, and that Claris's audition actually happened.