The Let's Play Archive

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney

by DKII

Part 101: Episode 4, Day 3, Trial: Wishy-Washy Testimony

Part 101: Episode 4, Day 3, Trial: Wishy-Washy Testimony



Wh-what are you doing here!?

My sentiments exactly.


Sound: Desk Slam

I... I was...

I was there, in the park, the night of the murder!
Sound: Whack

It was a veritable party in the park on Christmas Eve apparently.



Dammit Larry stop breaking out new sprites on me in your eightieth scene of the game.


Sound: Objection

This sprite, however, is a classic.

Remembered what?

The gunshot!
Sound: Zooma

I heard it too!
Sound: Damage 2


Sound: Gallery

If it seems like I'm not taking Larry seriously, it's because I'm not. Because... he's Larry. See everything in yesterday's investigation sequence for reference.


Sound: Gavel

O-order!




Sound: Fwa-Shing 2

What is the meaning of this!?
Sound: Whack



The game has me agreeing with Karma here. This situation is highly irregular. Still I guess we need something dramatic to turn things around.

One moment, Mr. von Karma.



Yeah, I did! A gunshot! That night!
Sound: Whack

I was sitting here in the audience, listening to the testimony...



Why was Larry even here? Was he planning to jump in the whole time? Just here to support his buddies after chatting about the case yesterday?

A-anyhow, I can't just sit here and let you call Edgey a murderer!

It's... It's just not right!
Sound: Zooma
Sound: Shock 2

I'll testify! Lemme testify!
Sound: Whack


Sound: Gallery

This sequence might make a little more sense if Larry hadn't literally waited for the verdict to be read before jumping in, but I guess it was more dramatic that way.


Sound: Gavel x 3

Order! Order!





I'm not quite sure how to proceed...


Sound: Whack

I almost feel bad for Karma here. Not only is he about to get his verdict yanked out from under him, but he's going to have to question Larry.


Sound: Fwa-Shing 2

The trial is over!

Nick!
Sound: Whack



This game really does a great job making every trial interaction seem like the case is dangling by the slimmest of threads.

(She's right!)

(If only it wasn't Larry...)

(He could make things even worse...)



It doesn't get any worse!

You're right! Okay!


Sound: Desk Slam

Your Honor!



Right here! Right now!
Sound: Drama Pound

A waste of time!



Hmm...

...

...

Music: Silence


Sound: Gavel

Allow me to speak my opinion.



In order to make sure no mistake has been made, every witness should be heard!

Wh-what is this!?


Sound: Gavel



For all that we make fun of the judge for getting led around by the nose by the prosecutors and being generally clueless, he really comes through when it matters for us.


Sound: Gallery

I don't think the crowd has seen anything like this situation before, either.


Sound: Gavel x 3

Mr. von Karma!



Now!

Whaaaat!
Sound: Stab


Sound: Gavel

The court will adjourn for a five minute recess.




Sound: Gavel

That gavel is getting a workout already today.

Court is adjourned!





We have once again paired Defendant Lobby No. 2 with Courtroom No. 3 for this trial day (same as the previous trial day). I will find a pattern here somewhere.

Music: Courtroom Lobby ~ Beginning Overture

Whew...

That was too close.
Sound: Whoops



Hmph.

I've seen worse.

(Yeah right, Edgeworth. You're sweating bullets!)

I just wonder what Larry plans to say in there.



Yes...





Oh right.



Did he find the air tank and then toss it in the bushes by the boat rental shop? Larry you litterbug.

Yeah.

...

Hey, Edgeworth.

...


Sound: Light Bulb

Yeah, a lot of things.

You seem out of it. What's wrong?



He was just declared guilty of murder a minute ago is all.

Hmm?



What's that?

Why are your fingerprints on the murder weapon?

Oh.




Sound: Dump



I couldn't understand what had happened. I couldn't think straight.

Then I saw the pistol lying on the floor of the boat in front of me.





Thank you, Maya, for finally getting a straight answer out of Edgeworth.



I see...

Wright...

Music: Silence

Yeah?



Our chance?
Sound: Realization



Perfect trials...?

Perfectly prepared witnesses, perfectly complete evidence.

That's the secret to his success.



Seems like every other defense attorney out there is doing a pretty shit job then.

He has to let someone he hasn't even talked to testify before the court!

And that someone... is Larry!

What are you getting at?



Edgeworth clearly knows Larry well.

That's right, Nick!
Sound: Light Bulb

Music: Courtroom Lobby ~ Beginning Overture



Hey, it was fifteen minutes! Fifteen! (Everything's on Larry now...)

I remain unsure how Larry is going to help us, but I guess stalling is all we have right now. I'm not convinced Larry actually saw or heard anything, so I have to wonder how crossing him will even benefit us. Maybe Karma will slip up and say something he shouldn't? Or maybe Larry did see some key detail that he doesn't even realize is useful information?

Music: Silence





Point of order - after subtracting the five-minute recess, the previous court sequence actually took thirty minutes, not fifteen.


Sound: Gallery


Sound: Gavel

Music: Trial

Court is now back in session.

Witness...



on the night of December 24th.

Right... leave it to me!

(Please, Larry, don't mess this one up!!!)



Larry being our last chance makes this case feel even more hopeless than normal.

...

(von Karma didn't even have time to prep his witness.)



Music: Silence




Sound: Testimony 2

Music: Questioning - Moderato

That night, I was out in a boat on the lake.



So I quietly slipped the boat back in at the rental shop dock.


Sound: Weak Gunshot

I looked out over the lake, but I didn't see a boat.



Music: Silence



It almost feels like Karma should be the one doing the crossing here. But we've got two lines here that contradict the old caretaker already: 1) Larry only heard one gunshot, and 2) At the time of that gunshot, there was no boat on the lake.

Hmm...



In any case, Mr. Wright, you may begin your cross-examination.

Yes, Your Honor...

What's wrong, Nick?



I'm a little scared.

Hmm...



True enough, I suppose.




Sound: Testimony 2

Music: Questioning - Moderato

Well, Nick?

Hmm...



I guess I should just start working on the contradictions.

Sorry...



It would actually be kind of nice to get through the finale without Mia's help, and then she just comes out to help celebrate afterward. Maybe she'll just pop in for the final investigation sequence. Anyway, on with the cross.



That night, I was out in a boat on the lake.



...

Something wrong, Mr. Wright?



Sounds like a proper Larry Butz testimony then.

Ah...

Um, well, okay. First of all, what time was it?



By that time everyone had gone home for the night.



And why were you out on a boat at such a late hour...?



I was looking for something, and I, er, found it.



"Looking for something"...?

Er, yeah.





What the witness was searching for is irrelevant!



That explanation is probably better than the real story. Larry's credibility is low enough as it is.

(That's... surprisingly close to the truth, in a sense.)

This is all irrelevant! Let's get it over with.



So I quietly slipped the boat back in at the rental shop dock.



Around what time was that?

Uh... Well, let's see...



I guess it was around 12:00. Yeah.

You're not sure?


Sound: Whack

I'm not some sort of human sundial, okay!?
Sound: Damage 2

(People use watches these days, Larry...)

Around 12:00 is still pretty vague. Did he hear the first shot at 11:50, and then go home before hearing the second one at 12:15? (Assuming the timestamps on Lotta's photos are even accurate...)



Then, just as I was thinking about going home, I heard this "bang"!



Where did the sound come from?



I looked around, y'know.

Did you look at the lake?

Yeah, I looked.



I looked out over the lake, but I didn't see a boat.




Sound: Desk Slam

Wasn't there a boat on the lake!?


Sound: Gallery


Sound: Gavel

Order! Order!

Well? Mr. Butz!
Sound: Whack

Whoa, whoa.



I mean, it was real foggy that night.



Larry you are the worst. There goes one of our possible contradictions.


Sound: Whoops

Hmph!



So after I heard that single gunshot I went home.




Sound: Weak Gunshot

Yeah.

(Huh.)





Well, it's time for a break, but I won't bother asking for a vote here. Hopefully this choice is as obvious to you as it is to me, but feel free to discuss.