Part 62: Episode 3, Day 3, Trial: This Changes Everything
Part 62: Episode 3, Day 3, Trial: This Changes Everything
This choice is a tough one. There's only one right answer, and for what I think is the first time, the thread has landed on the wrong one.
We are once again counting on the camera we got this morning, rather than all the new evidence we painstakingly acquired in the last investigation sequence. That last part of the description is key here. Anyway...
Music: Silence
What's that? The camera...?
Yes, I'm aware of that.
He wasn't entirely familiar with its operation. I'm aware of that, too. Ah!Sound: Stab
Because he was looking at his camera!Sound: Drama Pound
Sound: Desk Slam
Music: Objection!
Sound: Objection
quote:
No penalty here, so any incorrect answer (including the album, alas) just puts us into a retry loop the same as picking one of the options other than presenting evidence.
Here's my proof!
Sound: Light Bulb
Um, uh...
Can I... do that again?
Sound: Realization
Hah! Lost your nerve, have you?
Very well... I'll ask you the question again.
And we're back to the earlier prompt yet again.
Sound: Stab 2
Cody's shocked face looks a lot like Maya's, come to think of it. His mouth is open so wide it's somehow broken free of his face!
Two full screenshots in a row of one-word lines, but the sprites here were worth it.
W-what's your problem, pops!
You got a thing for picking on little kids!?Sound: Objection
(Pressing, not picking...)
Good job, Phoenix! Cody was lying, clearly.
and not take a picture!So where's the picture then? Sheesh.
Right! Cody?
And that was because you wanted to take a picture.
Is this camera different from the one he used to take all the finishing shots for his album? He sure knowed how to use the camera well enough to get a good picture every other time.
So, you missed the climax of the fight. Correct?
... ... ...
Sound: Realization
Well, Phoenix.
Have him testify again!Might as well, I still have no idea what is going on with this case.
R-right. (Mia means business!) Your Honor.
"Only this time, actually tell the truth!" Muahaha.
V-very well. Cody?
And about why you didn't take a picture of the fight? Umm...Music: Silence
(Welcome to the real world, kid!)
Sound: Testimony 2
Music: Questioning - Allegro
Sweet we've unlocked Allegro! We're onto something here!
Yeah, you're right, pops.
So I held up my camera to take a picture! But the lens wouldn't open in time, so I missed it.
Music: Silence
I'm not sorry about bringing this kid to tears. He's clearly still hiding something with that last line of testimony.
Hmm...
I'm not sure... But I'd like to proceed with the cross-examination anyway.
Sound: Testimony 2
Music: Questioning - Allegro
There has to be something.
You got it!
Yeah, you're right, pops.
"Pops"...?Sound: Realization
Sound: Whack
G-geezer...?Sound: Realization
I'm "Mr. Edgeworth."Sound: Light Bulb
Nobody asked you!
Sound: Light Bulb
Or you, you nameless clone! Geez I have five lines to press on and you all just wasted that one!
Never mind, Cody saved it, carry on.
Sound: Desk Slam
Sound: Drama Pound
Testify!
Yipes!Sound: Stab
The Steel Samurai had just escaped from the clutches of the villain. So you did see the beginning of the fight? Yeah. Did you notice anything unusual? Umm... well... uh...
Ugh that just implicates Powers again, and his busted ankle.
(Moving... strangely?)Sound: Realization
So I held up my camera to take a picture!By the way, that's not me changing the sprites on my own. The entire cross uses Cody's "crying" sprite, even for lines where he had a different sprite in the original testimony.
Why couldn't you take a picture?
I tried to take a picture, I really tried. But the lens wouldn't open in time, so I missed it. When the lens opened, what did you see?
Th-that's all that happened. Yup. That's all?
(Hmm... I would have, once I got that lens open...)
You know we're here to press hard.
(Nah, he definitely would have taken a picture.)
Cody!Music: Silence
Sound: Realization
You do? I mean, of course you do!
You took a picture!Sound: Objection
... Hey!Sound: Stab 2
(Bullseye...?)
I see through all your lies Cody Hackins. It's one of my powers! W-wow!
Phoenix you're bullying a little kid, dial it back on the self-congratulations.
Y-yeah... Yeah, I took a picture.Music: Questioning - Allegro
quote:
Letting it slide just backs out without getting us the revised line. So basically, not what we want.
Hmm, a new line. Let's press again!
You "erased" them? Y-yeah!
Well... y'know.
(Hmm... he's becoming less and less cooperative.)
Hmm... that's it?
The revised line is clearly where we need to present something. But what? I won't stop to ask for input here; the answer was obvious to me, anyway.
The thread jumped the gun, but it is time to use the album now. This album says it all - Cody never misses a victory scene, so why would he erase the shots he took of the murder?
Music: Silence
Cody! Wh-wh-what!?Sound: Stab
Huh? O-oh... right.Sound: Light Bulb
What was it you told me then?
I got 'em all! I never missed one! A perfect collection!
Cody.
If you did, I find it hard to believe that you would just erase it!Sound: Desk Slam
Music: Objection!
Sound: Objection
Ah!Sound: Stab 2
Mr. Wright...
It's called "Path to Glory."
He claims it's a perfect collection of every battle the Steel Samurai has won! I... I see. Don't you find this very odd, Your Honor?
Sound: Objection
Or he just hadn't had time to print out the picture and put it in the album yet? This whole line of questioning is kind of odd; we're pointing out contradictions but not really getting anywhere, just trying to tease more information out of Cody.
Sound: Gallery
Sound: Gavel
Order! Mr. Wright. Have you an explanation?Sound: Realization
I certainly would expect to see a picture of it in this album... Exactly my point, Your Honor! ... ...
Sound: Stab x 5
What?! Phoenix had an epiphany so strong he got stabbed five times over it!
Phoenix?
And what a truth it is!Sound: Realization
Stop dancing around it and tell me!
Music: Suspense
Did he actually...?
Yes.
Tell them, Phoenix. Tell them what the truth is.
Why was there no picture in the album from the day of the murder?
Holy shit! Shit shit shit! This changes everything! Look at that last option! I've completely overlooked this glaring hole in our theory - what if Hammer was the one who drugged Powers and wore the Steel Samurai costume! And he went to go confront someone from Studio Two, and lost! He knew about Powers's injury to fake it for the camera. We kind of assumed he went straight to Studio One after the run-through, but don't really have any evidence of that, so he could have circled back to the Employee Area. Maybe he was trying to frame Powers for killing what ended up being his killer, or maybe he got lured out there by the killer. But it explains why we saw no blood in the flashbacks where we saw the body, or at the crime scene - it was all in the Steel Samurai costume, which is still missing (and was probably incinerated at Studio Two!). The motive even makes more sense here - Hammer was on the outs with the studio, and probably had a grudge with them.
We still have to crack the Studio Two alibi situation, but for the first time all episode I feel like we're finally putting some pieces together. I'm not an easy person to surprise, but I can't even continue this scene, because I need to go recover from the sheer shock of this revelation. There is some great foreshadowing in the dialogue in this update if you want to go re-read it, though (maybe prior ones, too). See you next year!