Part 140: Episode 5, Day 3, Trial Former: Traipsing Trap
Part 140: Episode 5, Day 3, Trial Former: Traipsing Trap
Wow, we have a lot of evidence. Anyway, there's an interesting vote result. Would it surprise you to learn that either option would work here? But before I present the seemingly obvious contradiction here, let's get the pressing done.
There's one other thing that proves the man was Detective Goodman, sir!
Yes, sir! Solid as stone, sir! If my hand wasn't wrapped in bandages...
Sound: Ween
Ugh, please tell me we're almost done with this guy.
Couldn't he just use his right hand for that...?
Let's hear him out fully.
quote:
Original line: "The witness can't afford to make any more mistakes." New line certainly fits better.
To enter the evidence room, one must use their ID card!
Is that card hanging from your neck one of these ID cards?
I keep it here so I won't ever forget it!
...
Maybe I shouldn't wear it around my neck...Sound: Realization
Well, the remaining time, it's my ID card that gets stuck.
(Maybe I should just leave this one alone...)
At any rate, each police officer has only one ID card.
Yeah and Gumshoe will also testify to losing his card once a month.
Please proceed with your testimony. When an ID card is used, there's a record of it!
Let me see... yes, that would be it. Detective Goodman...Music: Silence
? (What's the matter?)Sound: Realization
A-according to this...
Sound: Drama Pound
Sound: Objection
Oh, right, that.
So it is, Your Honor.
Sound: Gallery
So Gant has once again gotten everyone successfully talking about Edgeworth's shady reputation...
Sound: Gallery
Sound: Gallery
(You've got the wrong color, kid.)Sound: Gallery
Sound: Gavel
Music: Questioning - Allegro
It would seem... the inquiry committee will want to speak with you again today.
For now, let us continue with the cross-examination.
At the time of the crime, the detective had used his card!
Sound: Wipe
Yes, sir! He didn't show me any ID card, sir!Sound: Whack
Don't you think that's odd?Sound: Realization
I mean, if he had his ID card, all he had to do was show it to you.
Even Meekins could probably tell the mystery man wasn't Detective Goodman if he was able to closely look at Goodman's ID and then the man's face. So showing the ID wasn't an option.
...
Sound: Gavel
M-maybe he just panicked?
It's pretty clear we're expected to point out that anyone could have used Goodman's ID, not just Goodman himself.
We know Goodman lost something. What if it was his ID?
Music: Silence
Sound: Desk Slam
Wait one moment, Officer Meekins. I-I'm not good at waiting, sir!Sound: Stab
I found it at the crime scene. That makes sense.
When I say, "crime scene,"
Sound: Realization
I mean the "other" crime scene...
Sound: Objection
Music: Investigation - Core
... Your Honor... I have one more piece of evidence to present.
A... Lost Item Report?
It's only half completed.
As usual when two pieces of evidence are brought up in the post-objection dialogue, either one would have been valid for presenting. The ID card makes more sense with the subsequent lines, since it's brought up first, but the lost item report is more crucial to our alternative theory of the video. An interesting game mechanic would be requiring us to present both pieces of evidence simultaneously, though I suppose it would be too difficult for the player that way.
We can now properly interpret the half-filled out report. Note how Goodman scribbled out part of his ID? Seems like he couldn't remember his ID number, and no longer had his ID card to reference to look it up!
Something important enough to fill out this report.
I can't say for sure... but there is a high probability!
Sound: Drama Pound
That statement is just about the only thing I know for sure right now. At 5:14 PM, the ID was at the evidence room, used to access it by the murderer. At the same time, Goodman was being stabbed and/or discovered in the parking garage, a 30 minute drive away. So I am positive that Goodman did not have his ID at the time. However... someone did bring it back to the parking garage at some point, since that location is where we found the thing in the first place!
Sound: Gallery
Sound: Gavel
Order! Order! So now... what does this all mean?
Sound: Wipe
Sound: Objection
Our timeline is a little more clear now I think. At 4:20 PM, our killer entered the evidence room with Detective Goodman, got the detective to open his locker, and then killed him and staged his locker to be propped open. They then stuffed Goodman into Edgeworth's trunk, while Edgeworth was running an errand in the same evidence room for Gant. After Edgeworth drove away, the killer then went back into the evidence room to stage a video intended to look like Goodman was still alive at the time. But... why? I don't even have a motive on why Goodman would have been murdered, let alone why the elaborate setup to make it look like he got murdered twice.
Sound: Gallery
Sound: Gavel x 3
Order! Order! Order! Does the prosecution have a response?Sound: Whack
...
Cue Phoenix realizing he just proved his client guilty.
...?
Bravo, Mr. Wright.Sound: Realization
B-bravo...?Sound: Light Bulb
At 5:15 PM on the day of the crime,Music: Logic and Trick
There are two grounds to support this.
Second, the victim lost his ID card.
Yes... (What's he up to?)
If the "victim" in this video is a fake... then the murder in the evidence room is also fake!
Sound: Realization
At least, this tape doesn't. I'm more interested in a tape of Goodman accessing the locker earlier in the day, when it was propped open.
Music: Silence
Uh... Th-that is...Sound: Light Bulb
Well, I guess that's right... Is something wrong, Mr. Wright?
This isn't going to end well...Music: Suspense
Well, well... It seems you've finally realized...
Explain yourself, Mr. Edgeworth!Sound: Whack
The defense has already done the explaining for me.
Sound: Realization
at the Police Department at 5:15 on the day of the crime. So...Sound: Light Bulb
Sound: Desk Slam
So the real crime could only take place at one location: the underground parking lot
The evidence is compelling!Music: Silence
Sound: Drama Pound
Sound: Objection
Congratulations, game, you wasted the entire first half of the trial day on a "trap" that anyone with any logical sense could've seen coming miles away. I was hoping this trial segment would lead somewhere else actually productive, but no. Fucking dammit, this episode has no respect for the player's time, it's just interested in padding length to justify a DLC price tag. A much better use of the same narrative I came up with in 20 seconds: Flip the trial gameplay around and have us play as Edgeworth for this trial morning. Wasted opportunity.
Sound: Stab 2
Instead, Phoenix just looks fucking stupid for being blindsided this way.
Music: Suspense
Sound: Gallery
"Can you believe it? The prosecutor made the idiot defense attorney prove his case for him!"
(I knew that testimony was way too shabby.)
Sound: Realization
Sound: Gavel
And where did this person disappear to...? However...
Just so, Your Honor.
Mr. Wright! You have to do something, or else Lana...
Phoenix your participation has just been detrimental today, why don't you sit down.
(I'd better pace myself. If I rush ahead,)
Sound: Light Bulb
That was the slowest-closing trap I've ever seen. I don't think rushing ahead was your problem.
But Mr. Wright! If you don't do anything...Sound: Whack
Sound: Gavel
The surrender flag has been raised.
!quote:
If we choose to object instead, we just skip ahead...
Music: Silence
Sound: Desk Slam
One moment, Your Honor! What now, Mr. Wright?
Of course not.
Sound: Realization
...Almost?
What are you talking about? This cross-examination has proven one thing and one thing only.Sound: Wipe
We get shown the fight between Meekins and the mystery man again.
For some reason the game shows the entire remaining portion of the video.
Music: Investigation - Core
We see the evidence room again, as it was when we investigated it.
The bloody handprint fades in. Was all the blood in the evidence room from Meekins and the mystery man? Or did something else happen in that room?
...
Well at least Phoenix finally stood up for himself.
... Mr. Edgeworth. Yes, Your Honor?
Is the prosecution prepared? I'm sorry, Your Honor...
We have not prepared any other witnesses for this incident.
Sound: Wipe
Yes! And he's even relevant, since he was supposedly in charge of the guard station leading to the evidence room.
Mr. Wright... Do you mean... Your Honor.
Oh? Whom do you have in mind? Someone we have reason to believe knows the truth...
The prosecution requests to hear this person's name before deciding whether or not to comply.Sound: Gavel
Very well, then. Mr. Wright!
What is his or her name?
While I like this mechanic for specifying an individual, it's kind of wasted here when Phoenix already mentioned calling on a certain "Texas ranger."
Why him? (I can't let Edgeworth know everything just yet...)
I am mildly impressed that Phoenix didn't just blurt out "because we found his bloody handprint in there!"
The prosecution agrees to the defense's request.
Fortunately he works in the Police Department. We shouldn't need longer than 20 minutes to prepare.Fortunately? Where else would the person who oversees the evidence room in the Police Department be working?
quote:
No other option results in anything interesting happening:
Music: Silence
Sound: Realization
Sound: Whack
Sound: Gavel
We can try again as many times as we like; we still haven't faced a penalty today, other than the standard ones for mis-presenting evidence during crosses.
Sound: Gavel
Music: Silence
Very well.
Will the prosecution please prepare the witness during this time? We will, Your Honor. Court is now in recess!
Music: Courtroom Lobby ~ Beginning Overture
...
I get the feeling Lana isn't too happy with our actually making progress on this case.
Huh? What do you mean? You called for Jake Marshall.
Uh... (I haven't figured anything out...)
Lana...
Sound: Whack
If Lana thinks we've figured everything out, she clearly wasn't watching the first 80% of trial this morning.
Ema...Sound: Realization
I don't often get to see Ema's two angry-face sprites in one animation. These two sprites, in order, are:
I...
I don't recall ever asking for his "protection."
How can you be so cold...
...Music: Silence
Sound: Door Opens
Gumshoe with impeccable timing as always.
...Sound: Realization
...Sound: Realization
Sound: Light Bulb
Sound: Whack
Gumshoe fades out...
Wait! Detective Gumshoe! What is it?Sound: Light Bulb
Music: Courtroom Lobby ~ Beginning Overture
And he's back with his sad face.
You've got a lot of nerve, pal! Making a detective run all around while on duty,Sound: Whack
Sound: Whack
I don't remember calling him here.
Sorry, Detective.Sound: Realization
You better be, pal...
Hey...Sound: Light Bulb
Sound: Light Bulb x 3
Sound: Stab 2
I think Gumshoe's having a seizure.
I-I didn't see you there, Chief Prosecutor Skye!Sound: Objection
Music: Dick Gumshoe - Detective Gumshoe, Pal
Lana is scheming, but I'll allow it because we get to hear Gumshoe's awesome music for it.
Sound: Light Bulb x 4
Sound: Stab 2
...I think Gumshoe has a crush on Lana? That's the only explanation I have for that weird reaction.
You mean this, right!?Sound: Objection
My apologies, Detective. Due to my present circumstances,
Now what do you have there?
My name!?
Never in a million years would I have thought it was you who asked me,
"I'll need them by noon." Talk about crazy... The "SL-9 Incident"?Sound: Realization
But Lana! That's...
How oddly helpful of you.
Here. You might do well to read them.
Ms. Skye... was a witness?Sound: Light Bulb
Sound: Select Jingle
Finally! I was thinking we wouldn't get this information until the last investigation sequence.
Maybe not, but we seem to be involved regardless.
Let's dive right in, shall we?
Well we have the name our executed supposed-perpetrator at least. I think we knew the case was a serial murder, though I'm having trouble remembering when exactly we learned what information at this point.
One name stands out on the victim list - could Neil Marshall be related to our favorite cowboy detective?
...Ema, you bitch! You've been holding out on us again!!
Well this page explains why it seems like everyone led this case. Multiple layers of leadership here. Unfortunately this page is the last; no real details or evidence about the murders themselves.
...Music: Silence
Sound: Whack
E-Ema!? But why...
Sound: Realization
What? My name's in there!?Sound: Light Bulb
I don't know... Unless...Sound: Light Bulb
... That's the classification number the police filed it under.
Sound: Realization
Okay, Ema, you're off the hook. I never thought about the case number not really being well-known back then. And the game carefully hid any details of the case from us so that Ema wouldn't recognize it sooner.
Music: Suspense
The... Joe Darke... No... No, Lana!
Sound: Drama Pound
Sound: Door Opens
Dammit now I just feel bad.
Ema, wait! (She ran away...)
Sound: Realization
Sound: Light Bulb
Sorry pal, but I'm outta here!Sound: Whack
Gumshoe you coward, get back here!
(Not to mention Lana and Ema...)
This can't be just a "coincidence."
Time to get back to the trial, Mr. Wright. Best of luck. (I'd better take a good look at this file...)Music: Silence
Halfway done with the second day of trial...
Music: Jingle - It Can't End Here
I'm not sure if that trial segment was just a lot shorter than the marathon with Angel Starr, or if I was rushing through it to get past Meekins and his awful sound effect. Maybe a little of both? At least we know what we're facing next: A confrontation with former Detective Jake Marshall.