The Let's Play Archive

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney

by Mors Rattus

Part 34: Case 3 - Turnabout Samurai - Trial (Day 4) - Part 2

Case 3 - Turnabout Samurai
Trial (Day 4) - Part 2









: B-but, that IS the murder weapon!
: Not so fast.



: But, someone fixed the spear.



: She fixed it with duct tape!
: Now tell me, how is it possible...
: for someone to stab a man who is wearing a thick costume with this!? Through the chest!





: O-order! Order!



: Mr. Wright! What are you driving at!? Think about what you're--
: Silence!
: I'm the one testifying here and I will be heard!
: Mmmph...!
: Are you quite sane? Are you even aware of what you're saying? If the Samurai Spear was not the murder weapon, then pray tell what was!?
: How was Hammer killed?





: Of course I can't.
: "O-of course"!?



: Can the antics, Wright!
: I have to agree, Mr. Wright. At least pretend that you think you might know!
: (Urk. Note to self: think before speaking.)
: (Tough crowd...)
: Well, Mr. Wright? Can you tell us what weapon was used to kill Mr. Hammer?



: Would I make a claim like that if I couldn't tell you what the weapon was?
: I'm afraid your confidence can sometimes be unfounded, Mr. Wright...



Can you guess?






















: O-order! Order! If I cannot have order this trial will be suspended!
: Mr. Wright! What is this all about!?
: This photograph is from five years ago. There was an unfortunate accident at Global Studios.



: Not a word of this was leaked to the outside. It was a close-kept secret at the studios.
: What does this have to do with the current case!?
: Mr. Edgeworth...
: You still can't see it?





: Are you saying...!?
: Yes.

















: Mr. Wright! Continue!
: It's 2:30 PM on the day of the murder!



: Then she did it! She pushed Mr. Hammer off the stairs onto the fence!



: Though whether she did it on purpose or by accident, I cannot say.



: I-in other words... th-the victim, Mr. Hammer... He died in the same way that he caused another man to die...





: Precisely. Ironic, isn't it?
: ... Hoh hoh. Very creative, Mr. Wright.
: I could use a man like you on my script writing staff.
: You deny that what I say is true?
: ... Mr. Wright.
: Let's say, for the sake of argument, that Hammer died at the trailer as you say.



: And in the Evil Magistrate's costume, no less. Are you then claiming that I carried the body to Studio One...
: And returned to the trailer, all in the space of a 15 minute break? How could I have disposed of the body?
: ...
: The break in the meeting at the trailer lasted 15 minutes, from 2:30 to 2:45. Could Jack Hammer have been pushed off the stairs to his death... then carried to Studio One and placed inside his costume?
: There wasn't enough time.
: Hmm... indeed.





: You'd be surprised! I bet she could do it!
: When people think their life depends on it, they can do amazing things!
: Mr. Wright, this is not an episode of "That's Incredible."



: If you claim she did everything in 15 minutes...
: (Let me guess: "Show Me Proof!")
: Correct! Show me proof!
: (How am I supposed to do that...?)



: Then I won't have you making unsubstantiated claims!
: (... Wait a second, how does he know what I'm thinking!?)
: Hah!
: I need only look at the cold sweat running down your face to know what you're thinking!
: Mr. Wright. Perhaps you'd like to reconsider your claim?
: Well, Mr. Wright? How could she have dealt with the body?



: 15 minutes is kind of a short amount of time...
: You see? Even I cannot do the impossible. Therefore, Mr. Wright.
: I didn't do it. Agreed?
: Not agreed!
: ?

The other possible correct answer drops us off right here.



: What if she had another way to carry the body,
: other than with her own hands?
: For instance?
: Actually, for that matter, there was no need for her to do the deed in 15 minutes!



: And there was a way for you to carry that body.



: I-interesting! Let's hear it then.
: Mr. Wright?



This shouldn't be hard.
















: Ms. Vasquez. You carried the body to Studio One.











: Recall your testimony...
: There was to be a rehearsal afterwards, so we went to Studio One. I was fatigued, so I had Sal take me. There was a van there, right? I had Sal drive me.
: You used the van to carry the body to Studio One!
: Then, before everyone else got there, you put the body into the Magistrate costume!





: Hold on, Wright!
: Don't forget, it was Sal Manella that drove the van!







: Of course he wasn't!
: Hah!
: So, without Mr. Manella noticing anything, she put the body in the van... Then managed to put the body into the costume...?



: Are you seriously suggesting that is possible!?
: ...
: Of course I'm not serious.
: Ha... hah!?
: I was kidding. To, er, lighten up the proceedings.
: Li...light...



: Lighten!? Y-you can't lighten up a murder!
: Mr. Wright. The court requests you refrain from making claims in jest.
: Y-yes, Your Honor.

And this leaves us where the correct option starts.



: Of course, Sal Manella has to have been a conspirator! The body had to be placed in the van, and put into the costume. There's no way Ms. Vasquez could have done that alone!



: They had to... because it was covered in Mr. Hammer's blood!





: Well, Ms. Vasquez!
: Shall I continue?
: ...
: No need. You're smarter than you look, Mr. Wright. Hmph.
: I lose. You win. It... was fun.
: (I... win!?)



: Umm...
: So... what happens next?
: ?
: Don't "?" me! Don't you have anything to say!?
: What would you like me to say?
: Huh? "I lost"? Something like that!
: I just said that.



: W-wait, so you mean...
: Dee Vasquez! So, it was you? You killed Jack Hammer!



: Who can say?
: Huh?
: Are you sure I did? Mr. Wright... We just engaged in a battle of wits. And the result of that battle? You proved the possibility that I murdered Hammer.
: R-right!
: But... that is only a possibility. Proof is another thing altogether.
: You lack decisive proof, Mr. Wright.









: Order!
: Mr. Edgeworth, your thoughts?
: Umm... uhh... mmmph. O-of course, it's as the witness says!
: ... Certainly, it does seem very likely she did it... but, uh, there's no proof!
: (...! Edgeworth isn't sure!)
: ... Well? I came here as a witness today. If you've no more questions, I'll be leaving.


(Click here for video, courtesy of Xander77, of the canon path. It's worth watching.)






: Ms. Vasquez! You did it!
: ... That wasn't a question.
: ...
: Um, did you do it?
: No.
: Mr. Wright.
: Y-yes, Your Honor?
: I'm not sure that question helped this court get any closer to a verdict.
: (Urk! What do I do now!?)





: I... I'd like you to testify again!
: Testify... again?
: Know when to give up, Mr. Wright. Think about it. Even if I were to testify again, what's the point? I can only say what I said before. The truth, Mr. Wright. I've already said all there is to say.
: What would happen if I said it again?
: Uh...
: You'd ask the same questions, get the same answers. A waste of time.



And we leave where we'd end up on the next, canonical path.





: ...
: Yes, Mr. Wright?
: I was hoping I'd come up with a question while pounding on my desk. I didn't.
: ... You have my sympathies.

Convergence.

: (Damn... damn! To come so far, only to fail...)





: As it seems there are no further questions...
: I would like to end the cross-examination of the witness, Ms. Vasquez.





: ...
: Yes, Mr. Edgeworth?
: I was hoping to come up with a question while I was objecting, Your Honor... I didn't.
: I see... Very well.





: Your Honor!
: I request that the witness testify again!
: You are the prosecutor, are you not? Why are you badgering me? I'm your witness!
: I... I just want to hear your testimony again.
: Does this make any sense to you, Your Honor?
: I don't see that we have anything to gain by repeating the last several minutes.
: Mr. Edgeworth... I, too, see little point in making Ms. Vasquez repeat herself.
: What exactly did you want her to testify about?
: Mmmph! Well, yes, um... ... Indeed! Verily, I say... Ergo!



: I want to hear about what happened... after they found the body!
: After they found the body...?
: Very well. The witness will testify to the court concerned this matter.
: Hmph.



: Why did Edgeworth...?
: Who knows? He probably realized she did it, too.
: But... but! Wasn't he the one that said he always gets a guilty verdict...?
: After all that...
: (Edgeworth...)

Next time: Testimony...???

Aspen, Colorado, Municipal Code Section 15.04.210 posted:

It shall be unlawful for any person to throw any stone, snowball or other missile, or discharge any bow, blowgun, slingshot, gun, catapult, or other device, upon or at any vehicle, building, or other public or private property, or upon or at any person, or in any public way or place which is public in nature.