Dressing Room, 2:05 PM
Judy's POV
Judy: Let me go! You pervert!
?: Aww c0m3 0n! I'm sure th3s3 bunny earz will look great on you!
Suddenly I heard the door burst open and Nick just lunges at the guy.
?: WTF!? Who are j00 d00dz!? LMAO!
Nick: You first! Why were you attacking Carrots!?
Maya: Mother! What happened!?
Judy: I was trying to search for something in Mr. Powers's dressing room, when this pervert came in touched my ass!
Nick: What!? Start talking! Or you're going to be under arrest! Who are you!?
Manella: Whatever, l4m3r! How could j00 not know the great Sal Manella!? I make teh L33T SH0WZ! The Steel Samurai? Mine! RTFC! (Read The Film Credits!)
Judy: Y-you're THE director of the Steel Samurai!
Maya: What!? Dad, get off of him! I'm so sorry!
Manella: No, no, quite alright. Really. It's fine. ROFL! ...
Maya: W-what is it?
Manella: You know, on closer inspection… Mmm… Yeah… Hot! Hot! Hot! *slobber* Hey, do j00 do a lot of "cosplay," coz that costume r0x0rz!… *drool*
Maya: Rocksores! Hey you're drooling!
Nick: Mr. Manella, you are threading on VERY thin ice!
Manella: Huh? Mmph! LOL! Buffer overrun! *pant* You've triggered my CR34T1V3 P0W3RZ! Yes… yes, it's coming to me! "Pink Princess"! Sequel to the Steel Samurai… "Pink Princess: Warrior of Little Olde Tokyo!" ROFL… LMAO!
Phoenix: P-"Pink Princess"…?
Maya: Why's it gotta be "Little" Olde Tokyo!? Why can't it have a cool name, like "Neo Olde Tokyo"!?
Phoenix: Maya, we really need to talk about "cool"… Mr. Manella, did you notice anything unusual on the day of the murder?
Manella: Oh, I know who j00 d00dz are. The security lady told j00 about us, eh?
Nick: That's right.
Manella: It was a pretty regular day. We had a run-through for an action scene in the morning. Then a meeting from lunchtime in the Studio Two trailer. Heh. I was so busy I didn't even get a chance to eat lunch! :(
Judy: A t-bone steak, was it?
Manella: Yeah… sux0rz! I hate missing out on food…
Maya: Dad… what does "Sucksores" mean?
Nick: No idea…
Manella: Anyway, I was in a meeting from noon till after 4:00. With the producer, and some bigwigs from the network.
Judy (Thinking): Hammer's death was at 2:30 PM. If he's telling the truth, then the meeting will give him an alibi.
Judy: About the producer who was at the meeting with you…
Manella: Oh, you mean Dee Vasquez? She's a genius. M4d sk1llz, all the way. Scary, though. *sweats* She brought these studios back from the brink of destruction. She's the one who made it possible for me to make the Steel Samurai!
Phoenix: You had a meeting with her on the day of the murder, right?
Manella: Yeah, we were together from noon to 4:00 PM, the whole time.
Nick: Who exactly are these "bigwigs" people keep mentioning?
Manella: Oh, the boss over at the network, and some sponsors. Also a few production guys. They piled into a limousine and got here right around noon. Major tension! *sweats*
Judy: Were all of them with you the entire time?
Manella: Yeah, unfortunately. They're all grey-haired geezers… *scowl*
Judy (Thinking): Sounds like they would all be witnesses.
Nick: Alright, we'll be leaving. Thank you for your time, but I'm warning you Mr. Manella, touch these two women again, and you'll regret it!
Judy (Thinking): Wow. I never seen Nick this pissed before.
Employee Area, 2:15 PM
Judy: I never want to see that creep again!
Nick: Sorry you had to through that.
Judy: Thanks, for saving me, remind me not get you pissed off.
Nick just chuckled and playfully punched my shoulder.
Phoenix: Judy, you've been though a lot. Why don't you and Nick take a break here in the employee area? I think Maya and I can handle this from here.
Nick: Okay. We'll be waiting at the table over there.
Global Studios
Main Gate
Phoenix's POV
Maya: Huh? Where's that old windbag?
Phoenix: Odd of her to leave her post…
Oldbag: (H-hey!)
Maya: Nick! That was her!
Oldbag: (S-stop! Whippersnapper!)
Phoenix: Y-yeah. Sounds like she's chasing after that boy.
Oldbag: Natch!
Maya: Uh oh, she tripped!
Phoenix (Thinking): Maya sure looks happy…
Maya: Hey, hey, Nick. Now's our chance! Let's check out the guard station!
Phoenix: Good idea.
Maya: … Oh! This is it, Nick! The "Trailer Key"!
Phoenix: The key to that trailer in Studio Two!
Maya: We'll be borrowing this, right Nick?
Phoenix: Right! Now, let's go and check out that trailer.