Part 61: Episode 3, Day 3, Trial: Gentle Meltdown
Part 61: Episode 3, Day 3, Trial: Gentle MeltdownIf we're wrong on our evidence too many times, this day of trial gives slightly different failure text again:
That's enough! This court sees no reason to further prolong the trial.
(Uh oh...)
This court finds the defendant, Mr. Will Powers.And guilty! But let's not go down that road...
The group is pretty confident in the answer this time...
This choice is tricky, because the evidence itself isn't directly contradictory, but the statement Cody made while we recorded the evidence in the Court Record sure is!
Music: Silence
Cody, what you just said seems, well, a little strange.
You were quite clear about that.
Sound: Light Bulb
Since we're supposed to be gentle with Cody, I'm going to call that face "gentle meltdown".
Sound: Realization
Music: Objection!
Mr. Wright! A word with you... (Uh oh... was I putting the pressure on too much?)
Sound: Realization
Come on, gramps. Digital cameras were all the rage in the late 90s, until they got mostly replaced by smartphones.
It's kind of a new sort of camera. (How do I explain that!?)
I see. Anyway, Cody...
I have no idea where this sequence is going. Why would he be lying about bringing his camera in the first place?
You did bring it, didn't you?
Umm...
Mr. Wright!
Sound: Whack
Anyway, we must be on the right track if Edgeworth is objecting with no substance behind it.
Sound: Objection
What do you mean "or a prosecuting attorney"!?Exactly what he said, smug nuts.
Well, Cody?
Wh-what!Sound: Whack
Sound: Whack
You got a problem with that!?Sound: Damage 2
Sound: Gallery
The crowd is into it. I like the box they got Cody to stand on. Is he using his backpack as a sheath for that sword?
Sound: Gavel
So, you did have a camera?
W-why would I use it? I... I was too busy watching. Hmm...Music: Silence
Is that really any different from his first testimony? Whatever, at least we get another shot at it.
Sound: Testimony 2
Music: Questioning - Moderato
Shout out to the person who recommended I turn on the (partial) transparency for the dialogue boxes. We wouldn't be able to see Cody's manic snarl here otherwise. Looking back that was user Booky - thanks!
The Steel Samurai, he goes for the bad guy... wham! Then... then the bad guy stopped moving!
Sound: Light Bulb
Music: Silence
More vague testimony from Cody. We know the killing blow was a shot through the chest with the spear, but apparently we'll have to tease it out of him. If he's even describing the real killing and not some preliminary confrontation that took place earlier.
Hmm...
Sound: Light Bulb
Well, that was brief. Mr. Wright, your cross-examination.
Sound: Testimony 2
Music: Questioning - Moderato
I'm going to reverse myself a bit and show the "end of cross" dialogue at the beginning from now on. Narratively I think it makes more sense as a strategy sidebar between the initial testimony and the cross, anyway.
(Something about his account doesn't seem right...)
Phoenix.
Press him on the facts, Phoenix! Find out what he saw!All right, let's do it!
Y-yeah, I had my camera with me.
So, why didn't you use it?Straight to the point...
He's getting to that!Well get to it faster!
Relax and listen.
Umm...
But I was glued to the action! I couldn't take my eyes off it!
Y-yeah, of course!Sound: Whack
You didn't turn away, not even once? N... no! Okay, then tell us exactly what happened.
The Steel Samurai, he goes for the bad guy... wham! So the bad guy attacked him first? Yeah! What sort of person was this "bad guy"?
How was he dressed? ... I kinda don't remember. I was too busy watching the Steel Samurai!
Edgeworth can't handle witnesses that aren't at his level. Which is basically all of them.
Then... then the bad guy stopped moving! Why?
Sound: Light Bulb
Why wasn't the bad guy moving?
And how exactly did he do that?
With a Samurai Kick! And a Samurai Punch!Sound: Pong
Samurai Chop!... Samurai Slap!Sound: Pong
(He's still being vague about this...) What! Don't gimme that look, pops!Sound: Whack
We've got one line of testimony left, I'll wait and come back to this one.
(Yeah...)
(I'll sit back and see how the rest of this goes.)
He's so strong! The Steel Samurai rules! What did you do after the bad guy fell, Cody? ... Um, actually...
So I went straight home.
Well, not much there.
Let's go back and press harder on the previous line.
Cody.Music: Silence
Wh-what!?Sound: Light Bulb
Something's bothering me.
Y-yeah? So what?
Sound: Realization
Counter-objections! Neither of these make any legal sense.
You know as well as I do that he's being vague!
Sound: Desk Slam
Music: Telling the Truth
Sound: Objection
Sound: Stab
My point is this:
Sound: Desk Slam
Sound: Drama Pound
Sound: Gallery
This entire line of questioning seems like a reversal of prior cases. The prosecution can't prove that Cody saw the killing blow, so it might not have been Powers? Usually we would have to bend over backwards to prove not only that Powers didn't do it, but that someone else did do it (and is the only one who could have done it).
Sound: Gavel x 3
Order! Order! Mr. Wright! How could this be?
Sound: Realization
Phoenix!
Think: why didn't Cody see the climax of the fight? I know you! You can figure this out! Mr. Wright, your answer!
The first two options are pretty vague, and there's no way an option for "Show evidence" isn't going to get used. No penalties here, so let's see what the first two say before we try and present something.
Because he couldn't watch it!
Sound: Realization
Just a moment, please...
He did not believe he was witnessing a murder! He was watching the Steel Samurai fight, like on TV.Yeah, that one's a whiff. Also, way to spill the beans you two, Cody can still hear you, you know!
Sound: Desk Slam
Sound: Objection
Umm... huh.Sound: Stab
I have to agree with Mr. Edgeworth.
We have ascertained that this young boy is a great fan of the Steel Samurai...
He missed the climax of the fight...
...Not real confident in that answer, is he?
"Probably"?Sound: Realization
"Something else"?Sound: Realization
Sound: Desk Slam
Mr. Wright, explain yourself!
What do you claim he was looking at?Sound: Whack
O-ooof!Sound: Stab
Mr. Wright!Sound: Whack
Please refrain from making baseless claims! Y-yes... Sorry, Your Honor.
We have ascertained that this young boy is a great fan of the Steel Samurai...
It's pretty clear we have to show some evidence, but what?
Your Honor, I have evidence.Sound: Realization
"Evidence"...?
Yes, Your Honor.
Here's a weird bug - that line doesn't seem like one Phoenix should be speaking. The judge's mouth didn't move, either. Maybe Phoenix is asking himself a rhetorical question so he can answer himself with some sweet evidence.
Speaking of which, what evidence should we present here?