Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Part #85 - Episode 4, Day 1, Investigation: Seismic Shift

Part 85: Episode 4, Day 1, Investigation: Seismic Shift

Part 85: Episode 4, Day 1, Investigation: Seismic Shift

Music: Silence

The detention center has been empty since our initial conversation with Edgeworth, but now that we have Exhibit A he's willing to show his face again.

What's this?

Edgeworth, what about your defense?

...!

(Guess he hasn't found anyone yet.)

Music: Detention Center - Jailer's Elegy

Phoenix already knows that Edgeworth filed for a public defender with Gumshoe, but we actually get the same introduction here whether we stopped to see Gumshoe first or not.

I guess we'll try talking again first.

Can I ask you about the murder?

Wright.

...

Please try to understand.

He doesn't say he doesn't look down on us, that's just not the reason we can't defend him.

I just don't want you anywhere near this case. Understand?

No idea what Edgeworth is trying to protect us from here, but I suppose we'll find out soon enough.

Why did you go to Gourd Lake?

Nor, apparently, would you tell Detective Gumshoe.

^{Sound: Realization}

Ooh, that glare!

Detective Gumshoe was really worried about you!

...

All right let's get to the good stuff.

Just kidding we have more joke dialogue to see first.

Your attorney's badge...?

He's such a sourpuss. You'd think he was on trial for murder or something.

What's that?

Edgeworth just can't even with us right now.

The autopsy report got updated with the victim's name.

...

It's a subtle twist of the eyebrow, but Edgeworth almost looks...concerned? Pained, maybe?

Hmph...

Yeah, killers never think about things like evidence or witnesses I guess.

Edgeworth... Did you shoot him?

...

Music: Silence

I don't think you're the kind to point a gun at anyone, no.

And yet, that prologue...

No, I didn't. It wasn't me.

Nice to get an unequivocal denial at least.

Music: Detention Center - Jailer's Elegy

The article gets the same non-response as the camera, despite Edgeworth claiming he was there to see Gourdy earlier. Anyway, let's finally get to the bottom of the DL-6 Incident. Or at least a little deeper.

He does have quite the glare, doesn't he?

Music: Silence

...

Edgeworth?

It's only been a matter of hours since you last visited.

Music: Detention Center - Jailer's Elegy

I'll admit it, I'm impressed, Wright.

You were always single-minded in your work, though.

I guess? We're like, 2-for-2 on real cases, at least.

About the "DL-6 Incident"...

Right... DL-6.

That is why I refused your offer to defend me.

...Yet another passive-aggressive statement. He's not saying he doesn't think we're not up to the job. Just that he's sorry it sounded that way. I don't think it's even on purpose, it just slips out that way with him. (Great dialogue writing, too!)

I just wanted to keep you away from DL-6.

So... do you still think it would have been better for me to stay away?

I don't know.

But...

Very well.

It's about time! Maybe we'll get a knowledgeable and cooperative client for once!

We have to head back to the conversation screen, which now has just the only topic worth talking about.

Music: Silence

^{Sound: Shock 2}

I'll avoid micro-analyzing that shot for now, but...that guy doesn't look like Edgeworth very much, does he? Looks more like Phoenix, to be honest.

Music: Recollection ~ The DL-6 Incident

Oh, shit! This was, what, 15 years ago? Edgeworth would've been a little kid at the time, maybe nine years old? No wonder he's so screwed up.

...!
^{Sound: Light Bulb}

I suppose it's a self-defense mechanism.

In any case, a suspect was arrested... a man.

The spirit medium they used to talk to my late father said the same thing.

Why are they refusing to name the suspect still? Argh.

And Hammond... is the victim in the Gourd Lake murder?

Correct.

Umm...

What? You mean you're...?

...

It's strange.

"About to end"?
^{Sound: Realization}

The DL-6 Incident happened 15 years ago.

December 28?

Now, that excuse is a great reason to limit our case to just three days. None of this made-up trial-limit crap.

What!?
^{Sound: Whack}

Um, Nick? What does that mean?

Three days from now, DL-6 will be closed.. forever.

There are exceptions for ongoing conspiracies... like committing a second murder to cover up the first. Typically murder doesn't have any statute of limitations associated with it, either.

What happened to the suspect? The one who got off innocent?

I don't know...

If he's still alive, he'd be about 50 years old now.

:science:

Time for some quick research! Our character list has two individuals who qualify. There's the victom, Robert Hammond himself, Age 48. Seems mildly possible. The other character... is Winston Payne, Age 52. Now that'd be a hell of a twist. I thought there'd be no way he'd be prosecuting this episode, but now I kind of want to see him up there while we nail him for murder.

Other random possibilities... the chief of detectives? Any other parent figures we haven't seen.... Phoenix? Do Mia/Maya have a father?

(I guess I can understand why he'd go into hiding...)

(It'd be hard to live a normal life after being a murder suspect in such a big case.)

Umm... so, was your father a lawyer?

He was...

So, you were sort of trying to follow in his footsteps.

...

Our reward for exhausting all topics with Edgeworth and presenting the photo to him (to get his explicit denial of guilt) is an extra scene!

...

Wright.

?

Music: Silence

I know! You want us to defend you!
^{Sound: Light Bulb}

Now doesn't really seem like the time for goofing around, after that story.

Ah, who could have guessed this day would come?

Not me.

quote:

Well that was boring, here's the fun option:

Sorry, Edgey! No way!
^{Sound: Objection}

Wright...
^{Sound: Realization}

Nick...!?
^{Sound: Realization}

...

H-hey, don't look so serious, guys!

I was kidding!
^{Sound: Light Bulb}

Just a little joke!

There was nothing little...
^{Sound: Whack}

...Or joke-like about it!
^{Sound: Damage 2}

(I thought it was funny...)

Nick! Do it over!

Yes, Your Honor.

How could I refuse you, Edgeworth?

Thank you, Wright.

This is my chance to finally pay you back.

Music: Investigation - Core

Pay him back...?
^{Sound: Light Bulb}

Pay me back?

For his help in the last trial? Or...something else?

Never mind... I guess you don't really need to know.

Huh...

^{Sound: Select Jingle}

Finally!

Well, I guess we should...

Music: Silence

The screen starts shaking, really vibrating, consistently. Not as much or as wildly as for a dialogue emphasis screen-shake, but...

^{Sound: Roar}

The shaking intensifies! An earthquake?

It's a big one!
^{Sound: Roar}

Whaaaaa!
^{Sound: Roar}

I-it's calming down...
^{Sound: Roar}

...
^{Sound: Roar}

That sound effect isn't quite right, but it's close enough, just a bit lower-pitched than the real thing. Making me wonder if the game changed it somehow. Anyway, earthquake!

...?

^{Sound: Realization}

...

There.

I guess he doesn't do so well with earthquakes.

(I've heard of running, but curling up in a ball?

Well, I guess we're done.

It's not like Edgeworth can run anywhere. But we're just going to leave him there?

Music: Investigation - Core

Let's go, Nick.

Uh... right.

....Did the game just throw an earthquake at us just so we wouldn't be able to talk to Edgeworth anymore?

Neither Maya, Larry, nor Grossberg have anything to say about the earthquake or Edgeworth's defense request. So we're off to see Gumshoe again.

Music: Dick Gumshoe - Detective Gumshoe, Pal

Gumshoe has nothing new to say, since we already saw his little fit about Lotta Hart earlier. Even the background detective is still studying the same topicl