Part 79: Blackwell Epiphany - Update 10 (Part 1)

Update 10

LAST TIME

Lia Pierro



Satisfied that Rosa had helped Kendra's spirit to move on, Lia violently took her own life. Gilbert actually tweeted about this scene after he first penned it, saying he had written something that people would "either love, or think I'm a monster for writing."



Horribly, on the verge of moving on, Lia was suddenly frozen to the spot...



...and her spirit was gruesomely ripped apart, just as George's was the previous night.



Then, to make things worse, a local police officer happened upon Lia's dead body just as Rosa was standing over it. Shit. What now?

Flashback 1931



Now, it's time for another flashback to 1931! As you might recall, last time we caught up with Madeline and Jocelyn, they had entered Joey's tailor shop and rung the front desk bell.

Sorry for the wait, ladies. My assistance seems to be... out. What can I do for you?

Last time, Jocelyn also noticed a frightening number of bulletholes in the counter. It's most likely that the same gun that fired those bullets was responsible for killing Joey, too.

Are you the owner of this establishment?
My name's on the sign.
Ah. So you are Mallone?
That's me. And you are...?
My name is Madeline.
And your friend?

Jocelyn isn't paying any attention, however



Madeline prompts her.

Jocelyn Contis.
Pleasure to meet you both.



Madeline inspects Joey. She's apparently been a spirit guide for hundreds of years by this stage, so I guess she knows what she's about!



She tries launching with the direct approach.

What? Get outta town.
Now. Can I help you, or what?

I see that went about as well as it ever does for us.

Madeline, does that EVER work?
*sigh* No, it does not.

Hahahaha, that's twice now that Gilbert has lampshaded how useless the direct approach is in these games



Still, there must be something to it, because Madeline keeps at it. This will actually be interesting - to see how a "professional" spirit guide actually does this. Kind of like a master class. Maybe there's a simple trick we've been missing all this time?

Look. You feeling all right?
I am perfectly well.
Nah. You're under pressure. I can tell. I got a bottle of whiskey in the back, if you need a belt.
I do not need a belt. Thank you.

I guess it's not all that easy. Next up, Madeline asks about Danny Marconi.

You mentioned an assistant. Where is he?
Danny? I have no idea where he is. So we're a bit short-staffed, but nothing I can't handle. We'll handle that costume of yours with extra care.

Hahaha, ouch.



Madeline doesn't take kindly to Joey's faux pas But he stumbles on oblivious to it.

That gown of yours. Looks VERY authentic. I don't even think you can get that fabric these days.
*sigh* Have I become antiquated so soon?
No offence meant. I quite like it. The tiara's a nice touch. Brings out your eyes.
... Well. I always thought so.

Hahaha, for such a prim and proper lady, Madeline has a delightfully dorky grin

But you are mistaken. We are not leaving my... costume... here with you. We have other business.

Let's see, what next?



What do you mean?
This shop. It is, shall we say...

As Madeline searches for the right words, Contis butts in.

It looks shot up.
Shot up? Look, I know the cleaning lady hasn't been in this week, but it ain't that bad. Now. Can I help you, or what?

Madeline obviously knows that finding logical inconsistencies is the secret, and keeps on the point.

You should take a closer look at the walls and windows. They are definitely not what they should be.
You sure talk funny, lady. There isn't anything wrong with the windows that I can see.

You know, from what I'm seeing here, we actually do pretty much as well as Madeline does

I will return presently.
Take your time. I'm not going anywhere.
Yes. Well. We will see.



Madeline then decides to confer with Jocelyn. She's still put out about the brick entry, it seems.

What? We needed to get in, didn't we? Well, we're in.
I suppose I cannot argue with the results.
Darn tootin'.

Pleased with her minor victory, Jocelyn finally decides to focus.

So what should we do about that guy?
That... guy, as you put it, needs our help.
Yeah. I get it. The sooner we get rid of him, the sooner we can leave.

That does seem like it would be the best approach to making Jocelyn cooperate. "Do what you need to do quickly and you'll have time for an extra round of drinks."

Any thoughts on this lost soul?
Seems nice enough.
Any useful thoughts?

Madeline does a wonderful job of hiding most, but not quite all, of her frustration here

Nah. Let's just get this done.
I believe we should return to our duty, my host.
Yeah. Sure.



Jocelyn then figures she may as well give it a go speaking with Joey.

Miss Contis. What can I help you with?

Unlike Madeline, who clearly approaches every sentence with forethought and method, Jocelyn just decides to go for broke.

So who shot up this place?
Eh?
C'mon. This place looks like the set of a gangster flick.
I... don't know what you mean.

Suddenly, Jocelyn becomes aware of the benefits of Joey's disorientated state.

Er, so... did you see who smashed up your window?
What are you talking about? The window looks fine to me.



Jocelyn takes a look at raindrops rolling down the jagged edges, then turns back to Joey with a big grin.

Right. Course it does. Totally agree with you.

Hahaha Jocelyn gives it one more try.

Are you seriously telling me that this place looks normal?
Listen. Everything here is top-of-the-line. We're even looking into that dry cleaning stuff.
What cleaning?
DRY cleaning. It's... look, never mind. Can I help you with anything or what?

Looks like we'll need something else to crack this one.

Well. See you around.
Sure.



Looks like Jocelyn is warm for Joey's form!

On the wall there is a poster. We looked at it last time, but Madeline and Jocelyn would only comment on it, saying it was an advertisement for a band starring Danny and Linda Marconi.



This time, we can actually look a bit closer.

Huh. Some kinda band. Danny and Linda Marconi...? Never heard of them.



Jocelyn figures this might be a way to get the ball rolling.

Oh. That's Danny's thing. The guy who runs this place with me. Him and his girl, Linda.
They're in a band?
If you can call it that. They play weekends. Sometimes. He wants to make it big, but...
But what?

Suddenly, Joey's demeanour changes.



Hmm. If we didn't already know that Joey's death was related to Danny, this would be a big clue. However, it seems to fly right over Jocelyn's head.

Do Danny and Linda have regular gigs?
I dunno. Why?
I might wanna hear 'em play.
Save your eardrums, lady. That's my advice.



Showing why she's the expert and Jocelyn's just the rookie, Madeline quickly steps in.

This Danny Marconi. He is important to you, is he not?
What makes you think that?
Your... energy. Your aura, if you will. It changes when you speak of him.

Looks like the thing we've noticed about ghosts getting off-side when they start skirting around issues relating to their death is part of Ghost Saving 101.

So, tell us. What is Danny to you?
I have no idea what you're talking about.
Mallone. You know precisely what I am talking about.



Madeline is definitely more forceful about pursuing those issues, though. Not vicious or intimidating or anything like that, but very focused. I guess we saw with Lisa in Deception that the approach of not letting up can work quite quickly.

I...

Joey starts to speak, but Madeline quickly cuts him off. She seems to have this all figured out. She has three choices. She can tell Joey it will help him:

I assure you, you will feel MUCH better once you do.
I'll feel much better once you leave my shop!

She can indicate that Joey himself wants to tell her:

Some part of you, deep inside, wants to unburden itself.
I only want to unburden myself of YOU. Now get out.

Or she can reassure Joey that she will be understanding:

You don't think we will understand? Rest assured, we will.
The only thing I understand is that I want you both GONE.

But it only serves to get Joey angry, and he demands that they leave.



Madeline, however, still carries the air of someone who has Joey exactly where she wants him. She turns back around and faces Joey again.

But I don't believe you want me to. Not really. Well? Do you?
I...



With Joey suddenly confused, Madeline turns her voice gentle and kind.

We are here to help. Nothing more. You are so close, now. So close.



And just like that, Joey suddenly finds himself aware. Huh. That was somewhat more seamless than most of the awakenings we've been a part of. I guess the old girl has learned some tricks after all this time!

Why is everything so confusing?
It does not have to be.

With Joey now "aware", he finally reveals what happened.

Life used to be simple. Then Danny had to go follow a pipe dream. He had to make deals with club promoters. Club promoters he couldn't pay. So they showed up here. I told Danny to stay away while I tried to talk some sense into them.
And did you?
...

I'm guessing not.



At least, I think it is. I'm... not so sure anymore.

I guess the mystery of Joey's death is now answered. His business partner got into trouble with debt collectors, and when Joey tried to protect him, they shot Joey instead. A fairly heroic end, I suppose. Madeline lets him finish telling his story, then beckons him to her side.

I understand, you know. You are adrift. You are scared. But there is nothing to be scared of. Come here.

The Void (Alternative)



Madeline summons Jocelyn, who, it seems, hasn't even been listening, and they help move Joey to the void. Madeline's method appears much more organic and direct than Joey's tie. Back in Deception she commented in wonder that Joey had "created a physical projection of his link in the form of his necktie." I suppose this is what using the link is supposed to look like. I can't help but think that Joey would have preferred it this way, since at least he could have touched his hosts with his hands.

In the void, as so many of the ghosts Rosa has saved have done, Joey finds himself becoming reflective.

I don't know why I did it. Danny isn't much, really, but he's a good guy.

You might notice that Jocelyn's void looks identical to Rosa's. It seems that Gilbert either forgot about, or never really intended, the whole "each medium has a unique and ever-evolving void" thing, which is a pity because I liked it that way.



Joey then turns to Jocelyn and asks for her opinion...

I dunno. Sorry.

...but she really isn't interested.

You don't have anything to say? Anything at all?
No. Not really.
... Right.

She actually sounds really cold here.



With Jocelyn offering no advice, Joey asks the obvious question.

Yeah.
Well. Tell your friend thanks. And if you ever see Danny...

He pauses for a moment.

Huh. Forget it. I suppose it doesn't matter.



With Jocelyn silent, Joey floats off into the light and leaves this plane of existence.

Except, hang on a minute. We know that's not what happens. He doesn't move on - in fact, he says he tried to move on once but was pulled back. I guess that must be when he reappeared as Patricia's spirit guide in the 1960s? Somehow, something happens over the next thirty years to pull him back out again. Still, for now, he's on his way. Jocelyn's work here is done.



Rather than head back through the portal, however, Jocelyn just starts to pace. Something is really bugging her. Eventually, a voice rings through the ether.

My host?



When Jocelyn offers no response, Madeline joins her inside the void. Jocelyn is not pleased to see her.

I knew you'd follow me in here.
You can never give me a minute's peace.

Madeline ignores her anger and councils her gently.

You should not stay here too long.
Or what?
I'll die? I get it now. We all thought my uncle was nuts. But he was just... numb. He just stopped caring. About anything.

Sounds like Jocelyn is having a two-month-medium crisis.



Trust me, my host. It is best to push those feelings aside.
Why?
It is what must be done. That is all.

Sick of hearing about duties and what must be done, Jocelyn swivels around angrily.

What does it MATTER?
Listen to me. In time, you will feel differently.
Differently.
Yes. This will all feel... normal.

Madeline's last comment does nothing to appease Jocelyn.

Normal. I don't WANT this to be normal.
Many of your predecessors felt the same. In time... things changed.

Jocelyn is through with this argument, and walks past Madeline.



Jocelyn announces this line very plainly...



...then she turns on her heels, and heads out the portal, which closes in front of Madeline's eyes. This is looking very familiar.

I see...

I guess this must be when Madeline was banished. Perhaps this has something to do with why Joey gets pulled back?

I suppose, after all this time, it was inevitable that one of you deciphered the method.



As darkness starts to envelope her, Madeline's voice takes on a measure of fear and anger.

It will not work! Do you hear me? It will destroy you!



As the scene closes, we hear Madeline calling out to her host in increasingly desperate and furious tones, her final scream seeming to fill the whole Universe. Madeline has been betrayed in the worst possible way.

Now there are some discrepencies here. When we spoke to Madeline in Convergence, she said that she had been with Jocelyn for 30 years, and that her host had loved saving ghosts and doing good. That plainly wasn't the case. Where does the discrepency come from?

(continued next post...)