The Let's Play Archive

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney

by Mors Rattus

Part 33: Case 3 - Turnabout Samurai - Trial (Day 4) - Part 1

Case 3 - Turnabout Samurai
Trial (Day 4) - Part 1









: Court is now in session for the trial of Mr. Will Powers.
: The prosecution is ready, Your Honor.
: The defense is ready, Your Honor.
: Today will be the final day of this trial. I hope the prosecution and the defense will be able to present decisive evidence.
: Very well, Mr. Edgeworth. Your opening statement.
: In yesterday's session, the defense presented us with a new theory for this case. He claims that the scene of the crime was, in fact, Studio Two. Today, I will call on the people present in the Studio Two trailer that day. From their testimonies, the truth will become clear.
: Hmm... very well!
: (Edgeworth seems a bit on edge today...)





: You may call your first witness, Mr. Edgeworth.
: The prosecution calls Ms. Dee Vasquez to the stand. Ms. Dee Vasquez is a producer who was present in the Studio Two trailer that day.



: Will the witness state her name and occupation?
: ... Dee Vasquez. I am a producer for Global Studios.
: On the day of the murder, you were in the trailer in Studio Two...
: As everyone here knows, yes?
: ...?
: I dislike needless banter. If you must pontificate, do it when I'm not here.
: Mrrph!
: V-very well, Ms. Vasquez. Please give the court your testimony concerning the day of the murder.
: Nick! I know she did it! Make her pay!
: R-right! (If she's guilty, I'll catch her with her pants down... So to speak.)



















: Hmm...
: I have a question about one part of your testimony.
: You were "fatigued" so you had Sal "take" you...?
: The van.
: Hmm?
: There's a van at Studio Two.



: I thought it might be risky to walk, what with that monkey's head toppling over.



: I... I see!
: Very well. Mr. Wright, your cross-examination.
: This is the final battle, Nick! Let's do it!







: By yourself?
: Yes.
: And you didn't stop in at the Employee Area?
: No.
: ...
: Are you always this... terse?
: Yes.
: (Oh dear...)





: Did no one leave during the meeting?
: No one. ...
: ...
: C-come on... let's talk a bit more about that.





: The witness did not come here to engage in idle conversation!



: Stop interrupting the testimony.
: The same could be said to you, Mr. Edgeworth. And please stop banging on your little desk. It hurts my ears.
: Mmph!





: And when exactly was that?
: I've forgotten.
: ...
: ...
: Maybe you could try remembering?
: No.
: The meeting ended at 4:00, and the rehearsal was scheduled for 5:00...
: I would think it was between those times.
: (You "would think"!? C'mon, all you did was state the obvious, Edgeworth!)





: Hold on!
: You had Sal "take" you? What does that mean?
: It means what I just said. I had Sal take me in the Studio Two van.
: (Oh... oh, right.)







: And what were you doing during that time...?
: Don't hit your desk. It irritates me.



: Yeah! Mr. Wright...!
: Oops.
: ... It was a 15 minute break...





: Do you have someone who can verify this?
: Sal.
: N-no... I mean someone else?
: One person is enough.
: (If she committed murder during the break... She wouldn't have had time to eat a t-bone steak! If I had some evidence that proved she didn't eat that steak...)

Loop.

: Well, Nick? Find anything?
: I kind of wish she'd said a little more...
: It's hard. I think she's pretty used to being the boss.
: But I'm sure you'll find some kind of contradiction in what she said... somewhere!

Can you spot it?














: Hah! As I thought!
: ...
: You claim you ate a t-bone steak!



: But I say you did not!
: W-what's this, now, Mr. Wright?



: It's... a plate?
: This plate was on the table in the employee room.
: As you can see, a large bone has been left behind.
: Mr. Wright. Need I remind you it was a T-BONE STEAK!?
: Exactly my point! Remember, if you will... Ms. Vasquez and Mr. Manella ate at a table outside the trailer.



: The plates were bare!





: Ms. Vasquez?



: Tell me, how can a person eat a t-bone steak... and not leave the bone?





: You ate the bone, too!
: Um, Nick... are you sure?
: I mean, I love steak, but even I don't eat the bone!
: Hey, I don't eat it either!
: Mr. Wright! I, too, leave the bone.
: Um, can I try that again?
: I think I know how!



: Elementary! You were eating a boneless steak!
: ... Mr. Wright, say you are right... What would that prove?
: ...
: Um, right, Your Honor.
: Nick! Remember her testimony?



...hm.

: She said "bone"!
: Correct! I was... testing you!
: Yeah, sure, Nick.
: Sorry... Can I try that one more time?
: ...
: I think I know how!



: You didn't eat any steak during that break! You took your steak and threw it somewhere... like that incinerator!



: ...
: I... I see! Then what was Ms. Vasquez doing during her break?





: She was picking on Mr. Manella!
: Mr. Wright...
: Sometimes this court finds it hard to tell whether you are joking or being serious.
: Oh...?
: I would prefer it if you remained serious!
: Y-yes, Your Honor. I'll do my best.

And this drops us right where the right answer would.





: She was meeting with the Steel Samurai!





: Order!
: A-are you saying...!?
: Yes, Your Honor!



: She ran into the Steel Samurai! And then you did it.



: You killed him with your own hands!







: M-Mr. Wright! I-isn't that a little presumptuous!?





: What kind of stunt are you trying to pull, Wright!?
: Let him claim what he wants...
: You say I did it?
: Yes.
: Fascinating! And here I was worrying that today would be as boring as all the rest.
: ... Very well.
: Let us have a battle of wits, you and I.



: (Any day, Vasquez!)
: Good luck, Nick!



: Let's see... What was that murder weapon again? Oh yes, the "Samurai Spear."
: Yes...?
: I am, as you can see, a woman of petite stature.







:: It's not impossible!



: Well, maybe it's not impossible, but--
: Silence.
: I'm speaking.
: Mmmph!
: The victim was stabbed through the chest from the front, yes? I believe this would indicate that the victim was aware of the killer's presence. Now, the Steel Samurai costume is quite light and mobile.
: Compared to the victim, I am weaker and slower... I couldn't possibly win such a fight! Not to mention, there is proof I did not have the spear!



: Or do you mean to suggest that I could have wrested it away from him?
: Y-yeah! Take that, Wright!



: If you still think she did it, show us proof!
: Umm... er...
: Hey, Nick. Look at the data we have on that Samurai Spear in the Court Record. Isn't there something in there that gets to you...?
: Something odd about the Samurai Spear...? ... Wait!
: Something the matter, Mr. Wright?
: S-sorry, Your Honor. I'd like to take back my previous claim.
: Very well, I won't hold you to your claim.



: (Ugh...)
: What's this? You're taking back your claim?
: Let's backtrack for a moment.
: I want to consider whether the witness could have used the Samurai Spear or not!

And that brings us around to where the other paths might lead.





: I don't know.





: You "don't know"!? What kind of a lawyer are you!?
: Quiet. I'm speaking.
: M-m-mmph!
: You "don't know"!? What kind of a lawyer...
: I don't know whether you could have fought with the Samurai Spear...

And we end up converging on the same point.



: I think you would have a great deal of difficulty using that as a weapon. Pretty much anyone would.
: Hah. You see?
: Yes...

And now, all paths converge.

: However, that has no bearing on this case!
: ... Meaning?
: The Samurai Spear was not the murder weapon!







: What is the meaning of this!? The spear was found lying next to the victim's body!
: I have proof, Your Honor.



Next time: But how?

San Francisco, California, Municipal Code Article 17.1, Section 1302(a)-(c) (2003) posted:

Fortunetelling shall mean the telling of fortunes, forecasting of futures, or reading the past, by means of any occult, psychic power, faculty, force, clairvoyance, cartomancy, psychometry, phrenology, spirits, tea leaves, tarot cards, scrying, coins, sticks, dice, sand, coffee grounds, crystal gazing or other such reading, or through mediumship, seership, prophecy, augury, astrology, palmistry, necromancy, mindreading, telepathy or other craft, art, science, talisman, charm, potion, magnetism, magnetized article or substance, [or] effecting spells, charms, or incantations, or placing, or remocing curses [...] in order, for example, to get or recover property, stop bad luck, give good luck, put bad luck on a person or animal, stop or injure the business or health of a person or shorten a person's life, obstain success in business, enterprise, speculation and games of chance, win the affection of a person, [...] or other such similar activity.