Part 56: Episode 3, Day 2, Investigation: Gotta Have 'Em All

Part 56: Episode 3, Day 2, Investigation: Gotta Have 'Em All



Last we left off, Cody didn't even want his card back. So we need to find another way to get him to talk.

Music: Silence



After another round of running everywhere to see if anything has changed, we end up back at the trailer in Studio Two.



You know, I'd kind of forgotten about Penny.

Hello. What brings you here?

Oh, well, I had to arrange some stuff.

Umm...

Yes?



You mean like ten years older, a foot taller, and literally busting out of her robe? Nahhh.

Like, is she even the same person as before?

Um, nope! She's the same as always.



I guess that answers the question on if her transformation is more figurative or literal.

Okay... whatever you say...



Not sure how Penny is going to help us, but might as well talk to her.

Have you seen that boy since then?

Nope.

You missed it, though.



Of course, he got away in the end. Boy, was she mad!

Actually, we saw them. How's the old windbag doing?



This conversation is kind of weird; we've already talked to Oldbag and given her the cardkey by this point. Penny doesn't show up until we do that and show the trading card to Cody.

(Some people take their jobs a little too seriously.)



Are all the posters on the wall here of Hammer?

Yes. It's really a terrible loss for the studios.

But... his popularity had been waning recently, right?

That's true.



After WHAT happened?
^{Sound: Realization}

Y-you mean, you don't know about Hammer...?

No, what?

I-I'm sorry.



Oh, no, you're not getting away with throwing that out there and clamming up.



Spill it!

Wait, now you have to tell me. What happened with Hammer?

I-I'm sorry.



(Uh oh. Why do I get the feeling something's being covered up here?)

Penny's just here to stir up trouble apparently.



Listen, Ms. Nichols, we're an attorney, you'd do well to tell us what you know!

Umm...



Someday, this badge will work on someone...



On the one hand, I wouldn't have expected the only thing we have that Penny would react to would be this trading card. On the other hand, it's the only option left for advancing the plot, so it must do something, right?

Do you know anything about this?


^{Sound: Light Bulb}

I collect those, actually.

Fantastic, you wouldn't want to trade this loser card for a better one for no good reason?



...We just happen to have the missing one, don't we. The investigation sequences for this episode had so much potential, but a few scenes just stand out as poorly-executed filler.

A complete set?

Yeah, a set of one of each card.

Huh...

...


^{Sound: Objection}

Music: The Steel Samurai


^{Sound: Whack x 2}

Penny really could've used a different animation/sprite here. The excitement in the text just doesn't match that face.

Uh...



Uh, what exactly are you offering, Penny? I kind of thought this game was kid-appropriate.


^{Sound: Objection}

Oh, well there's the new animation. I can't imagine I'll use a sprite that is showing us trading cards very many times. Let me guess, you happen to have a duplicate super duper plus premium ultra high rarity-rare you'll give us?

T-trade with you?

Yes, trade cards!



Trade me a... huh?

Phoenix it's exactly what you're looking for!


^{Sound: Whack}

Please!!!
^{Sound: Objection}

Quick, before she has an aneurysm!


^{Sound: Whack}



This game came out in 2001. I guess trading cards were still a big thing back then. Are they now? I don't feel like sitting through that conversation again, so I guess we'll just trade.

Okay.



^{Sound: Super Shock}

Then this is for you.


^{Sound: Select Jingle}

Yaa-hoo!
^{Sound: Light Bulb}





Yeah. Yeah, it does.



Penny's gone, the only other person we could show our new card is Mia who doesn't care, so let's just take this thing straight back to Cody.



See this card?


^{Sound: Drama Pound}

That's the last Ultra Rare Premium card I need!
^{Sound: Whack}

What are the odds.


^{Sound: Light Bulb}

(Wow, I've never seen him so... eager.)

R-right! Okay! How about a trade?

You're on!
^{Sound: Light Bulb}



That's, uh, not what we're looking for.

No no no no... not that kind of trade.
^{Sound: Stab}

I don't want cards. I want information.

Huh? You sure? Fine by me!



This better be worth it.

Okay, Phoenix. Let's hear what he has to say.





Our topics are refreshed, so maybe Cody will actually tell us something useful this time.

So... you like the Steel Samurai.

He's so cool!


^{Sound: Pong}

You're judging him by his looks! You have to look at his actions, at his life!

(I'm being lectured on life by a grade schooler...)



Uh... Oh, me? Y-yeah! I, um, love the Steel Samurai.
^{Sound: Light Bulb}

Sheesh, real convincing there Phoenix.



Uh, sure, let's go with that.

R-right... (C'mon, think of something!)

I really like his, um, his kind nature. What a guy!

Totally!
^{Sound: Light Bulb}



I don't know about the Steel Samurai, but that statement does seem to describe Will Powers.

Yeah...

So, what else do you like about him?

(Don't tell me I have to keep this act up...)



I can't imagine Will's acting is any good from what we've seen of him, so let's go down to this option first.

W-well... (I've never even seen a full episode of that dumb show.)

A-actually, I'm kind of a fan of Will Powers...



(You're calling ME hard-core?)

So, what else do you like about him?

(Don't tell me I have to keep this act up...)



Back to the prompt again for our last option.

(Got to think of something...)

I like it when he, uh, he vanquishes his foes!


^{Sound: Light Bulb}

The Steel Samurai always wins! Always!

Check this out! It's my fan album!


^{Sound: Pong}

I go to every live performance!

(Those stupid publicity stunts where they beat each other up in public...?)



I got 'em all! I never missed one! A perfect collection!



Wow, that's very impressive. The newest model, isn't it?


^{Sound: Light Bulb}



The Steel Samurai always wins! Always!

Hey, if you want this, you can have it lady.

I'd rather have the camera, but I suppose this will do. He never misses a final blow, right? That include the murder itself?


^{Sound: Realization}

Yeah, I took these with a digital camera.



Well, then I'm happy to accept! Thank you.


^{Sound: Select Jingle}

...Can we look at the photos? No?

(What's with people always giving stuff to Mia? What a life?)

?



Once we've obtained the photo album, we're brought back to the conversation screen for our remaining topic. But first...



For kicks, let's show Cody his own album.

Thanks for this.



No looking at that, okay!

(Believe me, I wasn't going to...)



Mia doesn't care about the photo album any more than anything else we have, and there's no one else we can even talk to right now. So let's move on with the main event.

You were here on the day of the... incident, right?

Music: Silence

Yeah...

Did you see anything unusual?

...

Cody.

!
^{Sound: Light Bulb}



Isn't that the Steel Samurai's motto? "For great justice"?

You have to help us fight for great justice, too.

I... I saw...

I saw everything!

Music: The Steel Samurai





But first we have to actually select the next topic for some reason. This new topic actually only shows up if you've completed both of the first two. The narrative isn't as clean if you do them in the opposite order, but what kind of psycho starts a list from the bottom?

Cody... I need to ask you something very important.

What did you see on the day of the incident?

Music: Silence

...

Music: Logic and Trick



I had to come in through the woods out back so that old lady wouldn't see me.



Wait a minute, so it is possible to traipse through the woods and veer off the path? So much for the producer's alibi...

Then I finally got to the studio.

After that...

What is it, Cody?



Uh-oh.



Wait, how did Hammer get into Studio One then? Was he dragged there? Maybe that's why there was no blood where the body was found?



I went home after that.

Music: Silence

I... I see. It must have been hard for you.



(Umm... right.) Mia?

Yes?


^{Sound: Realization}

Or whoever was in the costume, anyway. Really it's the same thing as this morning, except I guess we've lost the option of someone else sneaking past the camera and committing the murder.

Music: Suspense

True enough.

And the director has an alibi, so it wasn't him.

Indeed.



Does Phoenix always fall into despair right before going to trial? It feels like that's where we're headed again.

...

I have to admit, it's kind of a shock.



...He's totally going on the witness stand, isn't he.

Let's not call him then...

I think that would be wise. Best to leave this one alone.


^{Sound: Thud 4}

You know, I didn't really expect that one to turn on us so quickly.



Of course you did.



And he's under police protection, starting now!

C'mon son.
^{Sound: Light Bulb}

We're really going to trial again with everyone assuming that only our client could have been in that costume, aren't we?


^{Sound: Whack}

No! I ain't going!


^{Sound: Zooma}

And Cody's off to the races again.

Music: Silence

...

That didn't go so well.

We're back to zero leads.



Assuming Gumshoe catches Cody, anyway.

W-what're we going to do, Mia!

Well, hmm...

I... really need to be going.


^{Sound: Realization}

We were way worse off before the second day of trial last episode. At least we have plenty of new evidence this time!

Whoa whoa whoa!
^{Sound: Stab}



Phoenix, can I ask you something?



You told us to believe....so yes?

Of course he is!

...

That's all I wanted to hear.




Great! Thanks, Mia!

See you soon.



Music: Jingle - It Can't End Here



Next time, we'll be at trial again!