The Let's Play Archive

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney

by DKII

Part 157: Episode 5, Final Day, Trial Latter: Forgery

Part 157: Episode 5, Final Day, Trial Latter: Forgery





Of the things we found in Gant's office, the jar seems the most relevant given it identifies the killer, and the most damning considering Gant had it locked up in his safe.

Music: Silence



You claim you had nothing to do with the forgery...




Sound: Realization

Explain yourself.

Several pieces of evidence were found in your office.

Take this jar, for example.


Sound: Light Bulb

A piece of this jar was discovered in your safe.

...

Not only that,




Sound: Desk Slam

was actually found inside your desk!

quote:

The poll had two items getting heavy votes, and since the scene mentions two pieces of evidence, you won't be surprised to learn that we can present either the jar or the list here. Some lines just get switched around for the other one:

Music: Silence



You claim you had nothing to do with the forgery...

but I'm afraid that is a claim you cannot back up.
Sound: Realization

Music: Suspense

Explain yourself.

Several pieces of evidence were found in your office.

Take this list, for example.

That's the list Ema Skye drew her picture on...
Sound: Light Bulb

This was discovered in your desk.

...

Not only that,

but a piece of this jar that was sitting in your office...


Sound: Desk Slam

was found inside your safe!

Both scenes proceed the same from here...


Sound: Light Bulb

You see, Chief Gant.

These articles of evidence uncovered in your office...




Sound: Drama Pound
Sound: Objection

Gant knew we presented both of these things earlier today. Yet he still has had a cocky attitude all day. He must have a plan for dealing with this evidence.

Music: Objection!


Sound: Gallery


Sound: Gavel


Sound: Whack

Ho!

Here's a defense attorney who may even rival Worthy!



Who, me?

Or do you mean...

you?
Sound: Realization


Sound: Stab

Well...



...!
Sound: Light Bulb



Wait, that's his whole strategy? Just say "nuh-uh" and "you must have planted it on me!" Has Gant forged so much evidence in his years that it's all he can see anywhere now? Good thing we had Gumshoe with us at the time then.

Defense attorneys can do so too.

Isn't that right, Wrighto?
Sound: Whack




Sound: Desk Slam



Worthy, my boy.
Sound: Realization

Not even detectives are exempt from the law.



Here we have a prime example of why evidence tampering/forgery is such a serious issue for the legal system. Once the idea of planting evidence becomes feasible, literally every defendant can just make their defense "well the police planted that evidence". It quickly becomes impossible to prosecute anyone.

Wh...
Sound: Light Bulb

WHAAAAT!?
Sound: Stab 2

Music: Silence




Sound: Gavel

Yes, well. In light of the Detective's presence...

Luckily for us, even this judge isn't buying that Gumshoe was in on planting evidence for us.



and their relation to the forgery that took place at the crime scene.

My, my...






Sound: Testimony 2

Music: Questioning - Moderato



For all I know, you could have planted them in my office.
Sound: Whack
Sound: Clapping



If they were found after Darke was convicted, then they're worthless.

There's no reason I'd participate in a forgery.



Music: Silence



So much wrong with that testimony I'm not even sure where to begin.

Hmm...

Mr. Wright.

Yes, Your Honor?

When investigating the crime scene...





Exactly what protocol would have proven that we found the evidence where we said we found it? Even if we videotaped the whole thing, we could have arranged the scene beforehand and then faked out the entire discovery sequence.


Sound: Whack
Sound: Clapping

Ooh...


Sound: Realization

My apologies, Chief, but would you mind waiting
Sound: Light Bulb

until tomorrow for that?

Today is...

well, you know...


Sound: Whack

I know! I know!

That place,

right?

(Huh? What are these guys, telepathic?)

Common exchange of favors, I guess...




Sound: Testimony 2

Music: Questioning - Moderato



(Yet I know he played a part in the forgery.)


Sound: Realization

I wonder if Lana knew what she was getting into, going to Gant for help? And was just that desperate?



Edgeworth reading the thoughts off of Wright's face again.



For all I know, you could have planted them in my office.




Sound: Desk Slam


Sound: Whack

Yes, you do have a point...


Sound: Realization

What!?
Sound: Light Bulb



Phoenix.... as much as I love the image of Phoenix Wright, cow-tipper, now is not the time!

M-Mr. Wright! What are you saying!?
Sound: Whack

Anyway, you can't prove you didn't carry in the evidence, can you?



Later? What are you talking about?
Sound: Light Bulb



Yes. If they're found inside my safe,

they would prove his investigation was illegal.
Sound: Whack
Sound: Clapping

I'm not sure that even makes any sense. Maybe someone legally investigating the safe would be smart enough to wear gloves?





Anyway, you can't prove "when" those pieces of evidence were discovered.



What do you mean by that?

This is all purely hypothetical, of course...



Such an act...

wouldn't necessarily constitute forgery.
Sound: Realization

I think this guy would be more persuasive if he wasn't trying to cram multiple arguments into one testimony. "You planted it!" "I found it after the trial was over, so it wasn't forgery!" "I don't have any motive anyway!" He's actually coming off kind of desperate, earlier than I would have expected.




Sound: Desk Slam


Sound: Drama Pound

I'm not through speaking yet, Wrighto.
Sound: Realization





If they were found after Darke was convicted, then they're worthless.





wasn't discovered in the initial investigation?


Sound: Light Bulb

A piece not being found until later would explain why that one piece hadn't been wiped. I still don't get how Neil wrote out Ema's name on the jar, and then the jar broke, though. Maybe Lana saw Ema's name plainly written on it, and then smashed the jar? Then panicked and tried to wipe off the blood afterwards, but couldn't find one of the pieces?


Sound: Whack
Sound: Clapping

Hiding excuplatory evidence for a man on death row isn't a problem then? Or was the sentence (execution) carried out immediately?




Sound: Desk Slam

Oh, and wouldn't that be convenient...

Wright.

!
Sound: Light Bulb



your remarks, however clever they may be,

will only succeed in wasting time.
Sound: Realization

(Tell me something I don't know...)
Sound: Stab

Come now, Wrighto.
Sound: Light Bulb
Sound: Clapping

Think about it.

I like how Edgeworth is serving as the stand-in for Ema here. I bet Ema makes a dramatic comeback before this trial is over, though.



There's no reason I'd participate in a forgery.




Sound: Desk Slam



Because I'm innocent.

...!
Sound: Light Bulb

Remember?

Who was it that murdered Neil?
Sound: Realization

I'm not sure I care for the word "murder" here...



was Ema Skye.

...

Well? Now do you see?



Rearranging the crime scene wouldn't help me out in any way.



Really, Chief Gant?



Oh? I wasn't aware.

What is this "benefit"?

Music: Silence


Sound: Realization

Oh...
Sound: Light Bulb



That in itself is sufficient motive!
Sound: Objection

...


Sound: Whack x 3
Sound: Damage 2

Music: Damon Gant ~ Swimming, Anyone?

Huh?
Sound: Realization

Do you really think I'm that incompetent?

What do you mean?



The resolution of SL-9 merely sped up the inevitable a little.

Is that true, Edgeworth?
Sound: Light Bulb



Gah!
Sound: Damage 2

Be careful when pointing that finger...

or you might wind up being the one pointed at!

So that means...



If you didn't do it for yourself...

then you did it for someone else.
Sound: Realization



Music: Silence

Don't be silly, Worthy. You know me better than that.
Sound: Light Bulb


Sound: Realization

Interesting way to claim to have no motive. But he can still selfishly benefit by helping someone do something illegal, and then blackmailing them about it afterwards.

...

There, it's out in the open now.
Sound: Light Bulb



By all means, please do!

Music: Questioning - Moderato





All that was just one long press, but we get a subtly different statement out of Gant from it. Of course we just press on it again...



"Nothing in it" for you?


Sound: Whack
Sound: Clapping

That girl... Lana's little sister, was it?





You're right...

You don't feel sorry for anyone.


Sound: Light Bulb

You seem to be lax enough on yourself, though.

Ho! Ho! Ho!
Sound: Whack x 3
Sound: Damage 2
Sound: Clapping

Oh, that's a good one, Worthy!

(Hmm... Could there have been something in it for him?)



We figured this one out a long time ago.

True, you might not help out anyone for their sake.

Music: Silence


Sound: Light Bulb

quote:

If we back off instead:

(Bah! I can't think of how it would help him!)
Sound: Stab

Music: Silence

(That means...)

(He wouldn't have helped out anyone.)
Sound: Realization

Relax and take a deep breath, Mr. Wright.

!
Sound: Light Bulb

Try to think "outside the box."

After all, that's what you're good at, isn't it?
Sound: Realization

Think outside the box... (I never thought I'd hear him tell me that...)

(The question isn't "Who would the Chief help"...)

(It's "Who would ask the Chief for help?")


Sound: Wipe

Music: Questioning - Moderato

(If someone did that, he'd be sure to find a way to benefit from that person!)


Sound: Gavel

It appears...

the defense has nothing more to say.

Chief, would you please repeat your testimony from the beginning?

...

Sure enough, we go back to the start of the cross from there. A clearer example there of how Edgeworth has taken over as the advice-soundboard for Wright, with Ema not around.

...

Mr. Wright.



as a nice man who likes to lend people a hand.
Sound: Realization

(That's not what I mean...)


Sound: Gavel

Music: Logic and Trick

Very well, then.





This choice isn't hard. Though it's funny that Gant himself is an option here.



Music: Silence


Sound: Light Bulb
Sound: Drama Pound

...

I believe it's quite obvious in light of the circumstances.


Sound: Wipe



quote:

Guessing anyone but Lana here just results in a penalty and some taunting from Gant.



Music: Silence

Wrighto, my boy. The look on your face...

is almost enough to motivate even me to help you out.
Sound: Light Bulb

I hope you understand that's not a compliment.
Sound: Damage 2

Music: Questioning - Moderato

(Chief Gant would have wanted something in return...)

(He must have wanted to be able to blackmail the person he helped!)
Sound: Realization


Sound: Gavel

It appears...

the defense has nothing more to say.

Chief, would you please repeat your testimony from the beginning?

...

Just like the last decision, getting this one wrong sends us back to the start of the cross. We have to re-press and go through all the prompts again to get back to where we were. Would have been nice if saying that Gant was helping himself got some special dialogue here, but no luck.

Music: Suspense


Sound: Realization

And as for Chief Gant...

he would also have a reason to help Lana if she asked him to.


Sound: Desk Slam


Sound: Realization

Self-profit...?
Sound: Light Bulb

What do you mean?

After the SL-9 Incident was resolved...





The person who arranged this job change...

was you, Chief Gant.
Sound: Realization

...

B-but...

how would he profit from all of this?




Sound: Desk Slam

Essentially...


Sound: Objection

Do you mean to tell me... that despite the Chief's formidable appearance,

Music: Silence


Sound: Pong x 2



My favorite part is the dead-silent reaction from the gallery.

Oh, wait.
Sound: Stab 2


Sound: Damage 2

Penalty on the judge for that one?


Sound: Desk Slam

Admit it, Chief!

You assisted Lana Skye in forging evidence!


Sound: Objection

Music: Telling the Truth

Wrighto, my boy. You have quite an imagination.

Let me ask you something.

What?

Do you have any proof of this?

That I "controlled" Lana?


Sound: Realization

Lana...

(She's keeping quiet to protect Ema.)

(There's no way she'd testify against Gant!)





Yeah, finding inside Gant's safe, the evidence that proved that Ema killed Neil Marshall, is just conjecture...

... Unless...


Sound: Realization

"This" incident...?
Sound: Light Bulb

Er... which one would that be?

Of course I'm talking about...


Sound: Wipe



Edgeworth just casually linking Gant to Goodman's murder like he just thought of it on the fly.


Sound: Wipe




Sound: Wipe


Sound: Objection

Music: Silence





I wouldn't want you to get hurt.
Sound: Realization

Just what do you mean?


Sound: Desk Slam

What he means, Your Honor,




Sound: Drama Pound


Sound: Objection

Music: Suspense


Sound: Damage 2


Sound: Gallery


Sound: Gavel x 3



Mr. Wright!
Sound: Whack

You...

You can't be serious!
Sound: Damage 2

Huh?
Sound: Light Bulb

This...


Sound: Whack

To accuse the Chief of Police

of blackmail... and murder!!!?


Sound: Drama Pound


Sound: Gallery

...

Your Honor, I was merely reiterating...





It's too late, Mr. Wright.

!
Sound: Light Bulb


Sound: Desk Slam

There's no turning back for us now.



Hahaha Phoenix just accidentally followed Edgeworth right off the cliff. Okay, are we ready for the real showdown?


Sound: Gavel

Can you prove this, Mr. Wright?



... (Good question...)



Regardless of his rank or title, Chief Gant is just a man.


Sound: Realization



I see.

Alright, then.



Show us this evidence that ties Chief Gant to the murder of Detective Goodman.



Well, thanks for hanging us out to dry, Edgeworth! Still, I guess we at least have an opportunity here, better make the most of it. What do we have that ties Gant to Goodman's murder?