Part 12: Rabbi boxing

Just... admiring the view.

Yes, it is nice. Isn't it?



Having a change of heart?



Zelig doesn't seem to mind if we climb back. Hmm, I wonder if we could use that to our advantage.

Climb over the edge
> Stall him
Grab his gun

I...




Aha, he's moved one step closer.

Climb over the edge
> Stall him
Grab his gun

I wonder if we can repeat the trick?

I...

Nothing you can possibly say will change things, Stone.

Nope, doesn't look that way. And what if...

Climb over the edge
Stall him
> Grab his gun



The bullet caught me in the left arm. The pain flared like a supernova.



My, we're bleeding!

Now JUMP!

But wait, we have two arms.

Climb over the edge
Stall him
> Grab his gun



Black dots dotted in front of my vision as I struggled to keep focused.

Your capacity for pain is indeed impressive. I'm almost tempted to watch you bleed where you stand.

But time is short. Now jump, or die.

Climb over the edge
Stall him
> Grab his gun

Um, one more time?




I really hoped to avoid this.

I had solved the case, but at the cost of my life.



As for me, I can't help but wonder...

...what if I could go back and do that again?

A man like that shouldn't be allowed to walk the streets, let alone run a synagogue.

I guess I'll never know.

Game over

Rewind...

Your capacity for pain is indeed impressive. I'm almost tempted to watch you bleed where you stand.

But time is short. Now jump, or die.

> Climb over the edge
Stall him
Grab his gun



What are you waiting for?

Jump
Climb back onto balcony
Stall him
> Grab his gun
Admire the view



Not that leaping to my death WASN'T.

Hmm, there's one last trick left. Let's hope it works.

Jump
Climb back onto balcony
Stall him
Grab his gun
> Admire the view

Just... admiring the view.



And just as Zelig turns to admire the view himself...

Jump
Climb back onto balcony
Stall him
> Grab his gun
Admire the view



Weak from blood loss, I couldn't keep my hold on the gun. It slid out of my fingers like melting butter.

Rabbi Stone climbs back and gets his hands up in a boxing position.



("You BASTARD!", that is.)



What's this? You think you can knock me out like some common street punk?

He was old, and certainly not as strong as me, but those two bullets had taken their toll.

I am Amos ZELIG!



What are YOU, little rabbi?



Welcome to a match of Rabbinical boxing, heavily influenced by Monkey Island's insult swordfighting. The basic idea is to ask Rabbi Zelig a question that he cannot answer with a Rabbinical response and then throw a punch; otherwise he's going to hit us instead. He doesn't hit us every time we choose the wrong question, however, so we do have some room for manoeuvre without the fight degenerating into a pure trial and error.

Let's see what happens if we lose, first.

Who do you think I am?
Is this how a rabbi acts?
Do you think you can win this fight?
> *Throw a punch*



Zelig hits us.

> Who do you think I am?
Is this how a rabbi acts?
Do you think you can win this fight?
*Throw a punch*

Who do you THINK I am?

Those tricks don't work with me, Stone. I've been playing that game since you were knee-high to my tukhes.

(Tukhes is Yiddish for ass, by the way.)



Who do you think I am?
Is this how a rabbi acts?
Do you think you can win this fight?
> *Throw a punch*



Again and again. Until...

Are you ready to die?

Are YOU?



Do you have anything further to say before death, Stone?

Angry response
Accepting response
Silent response
> Rabbinical response

Is there anything TO say?

A rabbi to the end.

Good bye, Stone.



They say a man's life passes before his eyes at times like these.

But all I could see were the high-rises of Manhattan, crowding themselves around me like a concrete womb.

The harsh, unyielding pavement comes ever closer, and I can't help but wonder...



I fought him. I stood up to him. I did the honorable thing. Yet, I failed.

Was this outcome inevitable?

I guess I'll never know.

Game over

Oh well, let's go back in time again.



I've spearheaded the strongest jewish synagogue in Manhattan for over thirty years! Who are YOU, little rabbi?



Why don't you just give up?

Why don't you just die?

How can anyone respect you?
> How can you face God, knowing what you've done?
Is all this worth your soul, Zelig?
*Throw a punch*

How can you face God, knowing what you've done?



I'm sure he understands.

Now that Rabbi Zelig hasn't replied with a question, it's a good time to throw a punch.

> *Throw a punch*



> Are there others like you?
Are you ready to die?
Are you happy with this life, Zelig?

Are there others like you?

More than you can possible imagine.

One more punch thrown.

Is this how a rabbi acts?
> Do you think you can win this fight?
Don't you know who I am?
*Throw a punch*

Do you think you can win this fight?

You think you can SHUT UP?



You call yourself a jew?

You call yourself a hero?

How can anyone respect you?
> Is all this worth your soul, Zelig?
You really think God will understand your actions?

Is all this worth your soul, Zelig?

I'm not giving up my soul for anything, Stone.

Is all this worth your life?



Damn.

Are you ready to die?
> Are you happy with this life, Zelig?
How many others are there?
*Throw a punch*

Are you happy with this life, Zelig?

Yes. Are you?

> Is this how a rabbi acts?
Don't you know who I am?
You REALLY think you can win this fight?
*Throw a punch*

Is this how a rabbi acts?



Punching time!



> How can you live with yourself?
Last chance. Do you want to give up?
You REALLY call yourself a Jew?
*Throw a punch*

How can you live with yourself?

With power, respect, and money. I manage quite well.

How can anyone respect you?
You really think God will understand your actions?
You don't fear for your soul, Zelig?
> *Throw a punch*

How can anyone respect you?
> You really think God will understand your actions?
You don't fear for your soul, Zelig?
*Throw a punch*

You really think God will understand your actions?

God knows what is necessary. I'm sure he understands.

Are you ready to die?
How many others are there?
How can you be happy with this life?
> *Throw a punch*



How can you be happy with this life?

Do you see this apartment?



Trust me, I am VERY happy with this life.

Can you say the same?

Don't you know who I am?
> Do you think a rabbi should act this way?
You REALLY think you can win this fight?
*Throw a punch*

Do you think a Rabbi should act this way?

I TOLD you, Stone. This is how the world is. Get used to it.

Last chance. Do you want to give up?
You REALLY call yourself a Jew?
I ask again: How can you live with yourself?
> *Throw a punch*



> How can anyone respect you?
You really think God will understand your actions?
You don't fear for your soul, Zelig?
*Throw a punch*

How can anyone respect you?

Power breeds respect, Stone. But you've never had either, have you?

Don't you know who I am?
Do you think a rabbi should act this way?
> You REALLY think you can win this fight?
*Throw a punch*

You REALLY think you can win this fight?

Do you think you can stop talking long enough to throw a punch?

Not pictured: taking a punch.

> Don't you know who I am?
Do you think a rabbi should act this way?
You REALLY think you can win this fight?
*Throw a punch*

Don't you know who I am?

Don't make me laugh. You think you're special?

Last chance. Do you want to give up?
You REALLY call yourself a Jew?
> I ask again: How can you live with yourself?
*Throw a punch*

I ask again: How can you live with yourself?

I have all the prestige and respect money can buy, Stone! I live quite comfortably!

People really respect you, after all this?
You really think God will understand your actions?
You don't fear for your soul, Zelig.
> *Throw a punch*



Zelig! It's over!

What do you have to say for yourself?



I applaud you. To have come this far, you certainly are resourceful.

Just what are you saying, Zelig?

I do remember Jack Lauder. Very well. He came into my office eight years ago, looking to get married.



Oh, the things he said about you! Imagine my surprise when you showed up in my office.

Yeah, I bet you were shocked all right.

I've done some checking up on you. In all these years, you've never learned to make concessions.

Concessions?

Concessions?!



For thousands of years we've struggled to keep our place on this planet, and you talk of concessions!

As a rabbi, I do everything I can to help.



I can still look at myself in the mirror and call myself a rabbi. What are YOU, Zelig?

Nothing but a common criminal, who consorts with gangsters and assassins?



And you? You're just a tiny, squeaky wheel. Now be a good cog and let me go.

I *know* you don't have the guts to throw me over.



So... do we have the guts or not? Should we throw him over or just knock him out?