Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Part #55 - Episode 3, Day 2, Investigation: Hostage Situation

Part 55: Episode 3, Day 2, Investigation: Hostage Situation

Part 55: Episode 3, Day 2, Investigation: Hostage Situation

Music: Investigation - Core

We last left off, completely out of ideas. But Mia's here to save the day again! Phoenix is feeling a little frazzled apparently.

Sorry, Phoenix.

Maya's not really in any personal trouble here. She's either really worried about seeing the finale of The Steel Samurai or concerned she won't have a job if we don't win this case.

Right! Oh, wait. I guess that means we're really in trouble.

I'd say so.

The boy, of course.

Music: Silence

Oh yeah. Potential new witness. But he ran off on us and then ran the old bag around in circles. How are we supposed to find him, let alone convince him to talk to us?

What!?
^{Sound: Stab}

But...but no way am I telling you losers!

Music: Investigation - Core

I dunno. He didn't sound like he was going to help us at all.

Either way, we should go back to the studios.

(Thanks, now I'm more worried than I was before...)

I'm sure he'll be a perfectly reliable witness for us. Kids are notoriously easy to get information out of, right?

I'm not sure if I like this Mia-Maya business better or worse, knowing we're probably going to see it in every episode now. Anyway, we've got the same two conversation topics here, but Mia-Maya has somewhat different responses.

So, what's the best thing to do from here?

Straight to the point.

So, do you have any ideas about who might have done this?

(Where have I heard that phrase before?)

(So THAT's where Maya got it from...)

She also has a different response to our badge (and other evidence).

Showing me that isn't going to do any good.

^{Sound: Realization}

(You sure are talking enough!)

This from the ghost who was able to openly object in court and pass a list of names to force Redd White to confess. But whatever.

With Mia here instead of Maya, we also get some different reactions to examining the mundane scenery in this episode.

Have you been watering it properly, Phoenix?

Um, well, Maya has actually...

I think maybe she's giving it too much.

Way to throw Maya under the bus there Phoenix.

(The plant's name is... Charley?)

Speaking of names, maybe Mia can tell us what movie this poster is from?

A poster of an old movie that Mia liked.

Oh, hey!

Mia, what's the name of this movie?

It's, um... What was it, again?

S-sorry, it's right on the tip of my tongue...

^{Sound: Whoops}

We're doomed to never know.

Mia probably already knows everything, but let's show her around everywhere we can anyway.

Music: Silence

Hmm, guess we're not going to get to introduce her to our client.

I guess Mr. Powers is in questioning...

Oh well.

Off to the studio!

Mia, meet the old windbag!

Oldbag is still pulling her trick of ranting without needing us to advance the dialogue, but she can't actually get any words out!

Huff... puff... huff... puff... huff... puff... huff...

W-what's wrong?
^{Sound: Realization}

(She's been chasing that boy this whole time.)

Huff... puff... when... when I ca... catch him... I... huff

(Sounds like she hasn't had any luck catching him.)

(A "hostage"...!?)

Well that's not a disturbing image at all.

Music: Investigation - Core

I'm not sure we should be asking her to speak at all in her condition. But we need more information!

Umm... what happened to the boy?

L-lay him flat! Huff... puff...

^{Sound: Realization}

Actually, I met with the director just now...

(Is she okay!?)

Music: Silence

^{Sound: Realization}

Oh, I get it. We'll have to give her the cardkey to get the "hostage", then use that to get the fanboy to talk to us.

Music: Investigation - Core

What's this about a "hostage"?

...he dropped this, a-and ran! Huff... huff...

H-he'll come back... huff... huff... for this one!

(It's kind of hard to understand her with all that huffing and puffing.)

^{Sound: Light Bulb}

Cody might talk to us if we gave him that!

Way ahead of you!

No!
^{Sound: Whack}

Phoenix. Do you have anything you might trade with her?

Yes, but I'm going to do everything else I can first!

(A trade, hmm...)

(I wonder...?)

Well we know she wants the cardkey, but what else will Oldbag react to here?

...Huff... huff... puff... huff... puff... huff... hooo!

(She's too busy catching her breath to tell me anything!)

Despite that reaction to our badge, there are a couple other things that get a better response.

Huff... it... it was Powers!

(Well, at least she's consistent...)

Ms. Oldbag? I'm borrowing this... just so you know.

Oh... o-okay... huff.

Oldbag has bigger fish to fry than us today.

(She's not as demanding when she's exhausted.)

Before handing over the cardkey, let's finish giving Mia the studio tour.

Music: Silence

Never mind, I think we're about to meet the fanboy again.

^{Sound: Light Bulb}

Quick little bugger.

...

Yeah. His name's "Cody Hackins."

I think he ran into the dressing room.
^{Sound: Realization}

We'll get there, but first I have a duty to show off every changed examine result!

Let's see... cola, candy, chips, gum...

Huh. It's so... normal.

I was expecting some cool theme snacks or something. Popcorn, at least!

S-spaghetti?

Wouldn't just the sauce come out and the noodles all stay stuck inside?

Slamming spaghetti. Right...

Sounds borderline dangerous, even. Let's move on.

The door to the dressing room. It's not locked.

This is where Cody ran...

I don't need your hints and reminders!

That must be the storage room.

That's where they keep all the film equipment.

Yeah, some of these just cut Maya's lines without adding anything new. I'll skip the rest of the ones like that.

Looks like one of those electric-powered bicycles.

I dunno about these. I mean, what's the point?

Where have I heard that line before...?

Enough fun, let's corner Cody.

I suppose if Cody is here, then the director is no longer present. Why was the director in the accused's dressing room, anyway?

He's sure to be in here somewhere...

Music: The Steel Samurai

^{Sound: Pong}

^{Sound: Light Bulb}

This kid is a slippery ninja.

Dammit! He's getting away!

Come back!

...

^{Sound: Light Bulb}
^{Sound: Realization}
^{Sound: Stab}

A ghost is possessing our assistant and Phoenix is concerned that she can command children. Actually, that's fair.

...

Please?

...

I-I'm Cody.

Nice to meet you.

Mia is much better with children than Maya. Though it's odd that she's introducing herself like this.

^{Sound: Light Bulb}

Whoa, a smile!

And I'm Phoenix Wright!

^{Sound: Light Bulb}

Yeah, Phoenix, read the room, man!

Phoenix, you can take it from here.

(I'm not so sure I'm qualified...)

I'm not ready to talk to this kid yet, let's look around again.

Hmm is Mia snack-obsessed like Maya?

They're all empty.

I'm glad Maya isn't here to see this. She'd be devastated.

O-oh, nothing.

...Did Cody finish off the rest of the snacks?

Mr. Powers's bag.

H-hey, don't look at me! (Tell that to your sister!)

There's an array of cosmetics here.

According to Maya, that wig was used in some old TV show...

^{Sound: Whack}

You're even lamer than I thought!

(Why does everybody but me know about this show!?)
^{Sound: Stab}

Well if Cody is going to interject anyway, I guess we should talk to him.

Goddammit Phoenix stop being so lame.

H-hey, watch that attitude!

Yeah! Don't yell like that I'm only a kid!
^{Sound: Light Bulb}

So, do you know anything about what happened here?

Could you tell me, please?

I don't know nothing!

So here's where we need to retrieve the "hostage" from Oldbag first.

But first...

What's that? Bo-ring!

Well that's the normal "don't care" reaction. We do have a couple other things he'll talk about, though.

Anything related to his hero, of course.

^{Sound: Light Bulb}

Huh? Why's he dragging his foot like that?

Where'd you get this, anyway?

A couple interesting implications here. One, Cody didn't know about Will's injury, of course. Two, whoever he saw wasn't dragging his foot at the time. So it wasn't Will!

I wish I had one, too...

(This kid and Maya would get along great.)

Music: Silence

Okay let's run Mia through the other half of the studio now.

"Welcome"...

Not without an enterprising bellboy to ham it up!

Outside was boring, so we hit up the inside of Studio One real quick. Looking at this place is the real reason I put off giving Oldbag the cardkey; I'm pretty sure we'll lose access to it once that happens.

A perfectly normal stepladder.

I've never actually used one. I don't like heights.

More semi-witty ladder commentary.

A classic director's chair.

Are there multiple directors at this studio maybe?

A panel for reflecting light.

They call it a "reflecting board" or something.

I guess most players wouldn't ever really come here with Mia, so they didn't add her to any of this dialogue. Oh well.

A collection of expensive film equipment.

If we broke one, we'd go bankrupt for sure.

Phoenix I'm pretty sure you're one parking ticket away from bankruptcy as it is. Good thing you don't drive.

A stage backdrop.

This is "Neo Fujiyama," according to Maya.

Well, Studio One was a bust. Let's try Studio Two.

Most of the examine text is boring without Maya. How did we ever get through last episode without her? The flowers here are a little better, though:

Nameless flowers bloom in solitude.

They probably have a proper name...

...

I need a vacation.

You've been on the job for like three months...granted a rather stressful three months.

Last spot to check out!

Two of the posters have new stuff for us; the one on the right doesn't.

"'Samurai Summer' starring Jack Hammer."

This poster looks like it's been hanging here for years.

Maybe we should replace the poster in the office with this one?

Ghost Mia is still in charge of the office. Or the office decorations, anyway.

Another old movie poster. "'The Singing Samurai' starring Jack Hammer."

What the hell do samurai sing about? Chopping off heads?

A s-samurai musical? Is that even a genre!?

Well, I'm impressed. You know your stuff, Mia.

Oh, Maya's the real fan. I just picked a little up.

Mia really is a great big sister. Or was. How do tenses work if the person is dead but is currently hanging around as a ghost? That's not something they teach in grammar school.

Music: Investigation - Core

Okay, let's finally give the old bag what she wants.

Music: Silence

^{Sound: Light Bulb}

That's a card... huff... Studio One?

Right. A cardkey to Studio One.

I'd like to visit... huff... he died... whew.

I was his... his fan.

You don't have your own card, Ms. Oldbag?

Whose turf is it then?

You'll let me borrow... borrow it, then?

I guess I could have teased this earlier and backed out. That'll just have to be second cut material now.

I guess it can't hurt. Here you go, Ms. Oldbag.

quote:

Keeping the cardkey:

Sorry, we have our own investigating to do there.

Huff... huff... puff. Poo.

(Was that last bit a breath, or a pout?)

We have to present the cardkey again to continue, of course.

...
^{Sound: Realization}

Listen to me, sonny.

I don't like having debts to no whippersnappers.

^{Sound: Realization}

What's this...? A Steel Samurai trading card?

That sneaky kid dropped it!

Thank you, I may have a use for this.

(This must be the "hostage" she was talking about.)

^{Sound: Select Jingle}

Right. I'm off.

Later, Oldbag! Maybe that'll make up for knowingly falsely accusing you of murder and getting you questioned by the police!

As you can see, we've now lost access to Studio One. The only other person we could show the trading card to is Mia, and she doesn't care, so let's go straight to Cody with it.

Music: The Steel Samurai