Gotham Memoirs: 4-1 Unreturnable Umbrella

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I return to the Gotham Times office, and the sight of a tired and haggard Davis breaks my heart. A man visits and our relationship turns upside down...

Info

• Style: No dress up component
• Required: Vittorio Goodwill Lv. 6
• Rewards: 3,000 , 1 Reader's Coupons, 1 Gift Material, 1 Crafting Material

Dialogue Choices

Bellboy: Good evening, Miss Colvin! Are you alone today? Where's Mr. Davis?

• Stay Silent
  • No change
• Reply Him
  • No change

Transcript

Expand for script.

• Even though the newspaper has stopped running, I still feel like returning to the office.
• I also want to see if Edmund is still at the office. I am worried about him.

• As I make my way up, I see a handful of colleagues packing their belongings.
• There's no one on the third floor where I work. The once busy editorial department is now eerily quiet.
• You: (It was so lively here just a few days ago... Sigh, this is unsettling.)

• You: (I wonder...how Edmund's doing?)

• Despite not knowing if he's around... I still want to take a look at the office.
• I'm about to walk over to the private offices when--
• ???: Are you a staff member of Gotham Times?

• A middle-aged man in a dark coat calls out to me from the entrance.
• He's short, with thin cheeks and a pair of gold wire-frame glasses perched on his aquiline nose.
• You: Yes, I am. Can I help you?

• Stern Man: I am looking for Edmund Davis, publisher of Gotham Times. Is he here?

• He speaks with a grim face and furrowed eyebrows.
• You: (Whatever he wants with Edmund, it can't be anything good.)

• You: Is anything the matter? He's not around right now, but I can pass the message.

• Stern Man: The New York Newspaper Association has issued an important notice to Mr. Davis. I must inform him in person.

• You: But he's really not around. If you won't let me pass the message, you will have made a wasted trip.

• The man hesitates for a moment upon hearing my reply.
• Stern Man: Then please hand this letter to Mr. Davis.

• Mr. Davis,
• The Association has investigated and found that the allegations against Councilman Steven Harris published in the Gotham Times are untrue. The false story has seriously affected Councilman Harris' reputation. To maintain integrity in the newspaper industry, the Association is indefinitely revoking Gotham Times' newspaper permit, and issuing the paper with a fine of US$5,000. Please submit payment to the New York Newspaper Association Headquarters within one week. Thank you for your cooperation.

• You: What? You can't do this!

• Stern Man: This has nothing to do with you.

• You: (Edmund has already closed the office due to public opinion. He can't take another blow.)

• You: (Even if someone has to shoulder the responsibilities, it shouldn't be him.)

• You: It has everything to do with me, not Mr. Davis. I was the one who wrote that news report.

• Stern Man: Are you certain, Miss? Mr. Davis' name is clearly printed on the newspaper.

• Edmund Davis: I'm Edmund Davis. Is something the matter?

• I just saw him last night, but it feels like many days ago. For some reason, his expression feels almost like a stranger's.
• You: Edmund?

• He speaks with the man and pays no heed to me.
• Stern Man: Hello Mr. Davis. I am Charles Benson, supervisor of the New York Newspaper Association.

• Charles Benson: The false news you have written has negatively impacted the New York press industry. In view of this, we will consider revoking your publishing rights permanently.

• You: Sir, as I said earlier, I'm the one who--

• Edmund Davis: You were fired yesterday. What are you doing here?

• You: But Edmund, I was not--

• Edmund Davis: Enough. You have no right to speak here.

• You: (Fired? What is he saying...? When did he fire me?)

• I look at Edmund's dark eyebags and begin to wonder if he is confused from lack of sleep.
• At the thought of this, I can't help but inch closer to him in concern.
• Edmund Davis: Get away from me!

• The moment he pushes me away, I finally understand why Davis feels so strange today.
• There is no sign of his usual gentleness. He has become a totally different person.
• His sudden change in attitude leaves me lost, stunned...and sad.
• You: (What's gotten into Edmund?)

• But now's not the time to think about this... I should deal with the Association Supervisor first.
• You: (I am the reason for that report. I must not let Edmund suffer the consequences alone.)

• You: If I may, mister. I am Elizabeth Colvin, one of the writers behind that news report.

• You: Even though the report was published under Mr. Davis' name, the investigation and write-up were completed by me.

• Edmund Davis: Please don't mind her. Let's talk elsewhere.

• Edmund leads Mr. Benson to his office as he speaks.
• Unexpectedly, he does not follow Edmund, but scrutinises me.
• Charles Benson: If I'm not mistaken... You're involved in that Mafia murder case, aren't you, Miss Colvin?

• You: Yes. And I--

• You: Edmund?!

• I was about to reply Mr. Benson when Edmund suddenly approaches me.
• Edmund Davis: Who do you think you are? This doesn't even concern you!

• You: (He's right, I don't have the right to meddle...)

• But for some reason, his harsh reproach makes tears well up in my eyes.
• You: I was the cause of all that has happened. I can't let you shoulder this alone.

• Edmund Davis: I don't need your help. Whatever you do will only cause more trouble for me.

• You: But the Newspaper Association is punishing you...

• Edmund Davis: I'm the boss of Gotham Times, not you.

• As I look at Edmund's cold, unsmiling eyes, my heart feels as if it's been thrown deep into the abyss.
• You: Weren't we supposed to be best partners? I can't just let you--

• Edmund Davis: Shut it! We're no longer a team.

• Edmund Davis: Get out of here right now. I don't want to see you.

• With that, Edmund pays me no further attention and heads to his office with Mr. Benson.

• I never thought that Edmund would say such things to me.
• Guilt, sadness, and disbelief... Several emotions overwhelm me.
• I try to think of a reason why Edmund would be so heartless to me, but my mind is a mess and I can't think straight.
• I hear bits of their conversation from across the corridor.
• Charles Benson: What's come over Miss Colvin?

• Edmund Davis: I'll explain to you in a moment...

• Try as I might, I can no longer hold back my tears.
• You: (So this is the decision he has arrive at after thinking all night...)

• You: (That's right, I'm the one who landed him in this mess...)

• You: (He has the right to do this. Whether it's out of anger, or for some other reason...)

• I don't know how I left the office. Before I know it, I find myself roaming the streets.

• You: (Have I...been fired again?)

• You: (Who would have thought it would come to this...)

Met Davis first in 1-4

• I end up near the Sun News offices.
• I've long forgotten the pain of getting retrenched from Sun News.
• But another memory of this street is fresh in my mind.

• ???: Here, cutie. I'll give you a paper.

• You: I don't need it.

• ???: Take it! There's some interesting news in there!

• You: In a newspaper that can't sell? Just leave it in the back of your car with the rest of them.

• You: I've gotta go.

• ???: Maybe I can give you a ride.

• You: No thanks. You don't have room in your car anyway.

• ???: Hahaha... I almost forgot.

• ???: Then, may I have the pleasure of making your acquaintance? I'm Da--

Met Davis for the first time in 1-5

• I stand on the street outside the Gotham Times building in a daze...

• ???: May I assist you, lovely lady?

• You: Nice to meet you. Is this the Gotham Times?

• ???: That's right. I'm Edmund Davis, a reporter here.

• You: I'm Elizabeth Colvin.

• You: I would like to inquire if your paper is hiring reporters.

• Edmund Davis: Of course. New talent is always welcome at the Gotham Times.

• Edmund Davis: I think you'll be joining us soon enough.

• ...Why am I remembering all these?
• I rub my swollen eyes and hurry away from this upsetting place.

• I walk around the streets aimlessly till the sky turns dark.
• I have plenty more important things to be doing. I know I shouldn't be doing this, but...
• ???: Miss Colvin!

• I look up... It's a bellboy from a high-class hotel.
• The hotel looks familiar. Once I make out its name, my heart aches again.
• You: (Waterlife Hotel? What am I doing here...)

• That bellboy at the entrance knows Edmund very well. He already remembers my name even though I've only been here with Edmund a few times.
• Bellboy: Good evening, Miss Colvin! Are you alone today? Where's Mr. Davis?

Stay Silent

• I am unable to reply his question, and can only look at him in silence.
• He studies me for a moment, then a look of realisation dawns on his face.
• Bellboy: Oh! Did the two of you have a fight?

• You: (If only it was just an argument...)

• Bellboy: Relationships aren't always smooth-sailing. I'm sure you'll make up in no time!

• You: No, we were just normal colleagues.

• Bellboy: Heh, alright, if you say so.

• Looking at his grinning face, I don't know what to say.
• But now, all I feel is the ache in my heart.
• You: (Right now...we probably can't even call ourselves friends anymore.)

Reply Him

• I freeze upon hearing him mention Edmund.
• All the emotions I've tried so hard to suppress...are now threatening to burst.
• But right now, I want to hide my pain from others, no matter what.
• I pull myself together and give the bellboy a strained smile.
• You: I'm...I'm just passing by today, so I'm not with him.

• Bellboy: You don't look too good. Are you feeling unwell?

• You: I'm fine... Thank you.

• Bellboy: I have to get back to work, Miss Colvin. You should head home too, it's dangerous to be out here alone at night.

• The bellboy waves me goodbye, then looks up at the sky. He seems to have suddenly thought of something.
• Bellboy: Hang on! I'll go grab something really quickly.

• He dashed into the hotel and returns after a brief moment.
• Bellboy: It might rain soon. You should take this umbrella.

• Bellboy: It's Mr. Davis'. He's forgotten all about it. Please help me return it to him after you're done with it.

• I yearn to take the umbrella from him. But I probably no longer have a chance to pass it to Edmund.
• I feel like crying again. I shake my head at the bellboy in silence, then leave the street to escape from the memories.

• It rains on my way back, just like the bellboy said.
• I walk alone under the pouring rain, but I do not feel cold. Perhaps the ache in my heart has made me numb to everything else...
• Memories of my moments with Edmund come flooding back to me.
• Memories once distant, but now vivid in my mind.
• I never thought that this would happen to us some day.
• You: (We are... no longer partners.)

• You: (I'll have to carry out the rest of the investigations by myself. That's fine.)

• I was all alone before he joined me anyway. I'm just going back to how things were before.
• But why do I feel like I've lost the entire world?