#Manila in the Claws of Light

[389]

Thanks @sleepythug for tagging me to share fav first watches of May!

La Chimera, dir. Alice Rohrwacher God's Own Country, dir. Francis Lee The Burning, dir. Tony Maylam Manila in the Claws of Light, dir. Lino Brocka

tagging; @mrsterlingeverything @dorfs @elixir @kristina100000 @symmetryofemptyspace @capacity2 @ax-ky and anyone else I missed get tagged xx <3

You can follow me on Letterboxd!

[sacredwhores]

Lino Brocka - Manila in the Claws of Light (1975)

[wetgeliscasualinterval]

Manila in the Claws of Light (1975) by Lino Brocka

[fnipoli]

[filmpalette]

Maynila, sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag (1975) dir. Lino Brocka

[isobelleposts]

Exploring the Works of Lino Brocka: 'Insiang' Review

by Isobelle Cruz [October 5, 2022]

ABOVE: Hilda Koronel as Insiang[Photo: The Film Foundation]

Today I got another look into Lino Brocka’s world, or what could also be referred to as the real Philippine society that is often glazed over in cinema. After my first encounter with Manila in the Claws of Light, I immediately went ahead and searched for other Brocka films that may serve the same rawness and awareness to lower-class Philippine society.

‘Insiang’ depicts the everyday life of Filipinos in the lower masses of the country around the years of 1976, when this film was first released and was later featured in numerous screening festivals and bagged awards from the Metro Manila Film Festival, one of them being for Best Cinematography—which is all well-deserved. 

Although it is great to showcase a brighter side of the country on screen and is much appreciated, transparency and representation of the world beneath the rich Filipinos of Manila without glossing over its truths can be somewhat refreshing, as wrong as that may sound. This film was temporarily banned during the Marcos regime, because the then-dictator’s wife, Imelda Marcos, frowned upon its showcase of an image of Manila that was opposite to the one they were trying to sell to the world and keep to themselves, which is exactly why this film among others rebelliously produced during that era, is so important and deserve to be revisited.

[Photo: The NY Times]

The film starts off already brutally with shots set in a slaughterhouse where pigs are butchered and killed for products in the market, setting up what the audience would further witness in the piece: undiminished and gruesome representation and shots of the cruel and difficult parts of Philippine society.

INSIANG: Mahal kita, Bebot, kaya lang hindi ko gusto ginagawa mo sa akin sa loob ng sine.

BEBOT: Eh, lalaki ako, Isiang. Mapipigil ko ba ang sarili ko?

ABOVE: A conversation between Insiang and her boyfriend

The objectification of women is one of the main subjects that this film handles, aside from poverty and the sadly normalized manipulation of parents over their children, and of men over women. In today’s time, even with the overly encouraged activism to show truth and give justice to the country’s real struggles and debunking the richness only brought by corruption, producing a film like Brocka’s still brings a ton of risk for criticism, and even more so with another Marcos given power.

ABOVE: Mona Lisa and Hilda Koronel as mother and daughter [Photo: Letterboxd]

Renowned Filipina actress, Mona Lisa, did an unnerving performance as Tonya, the manipulative and controlling mother of Insiang, which helped set up the film’s tension. With these powerful characters surrounding Insiang and giving her barely any choice to live her own life and escape the madness of her world, Brocka makes me think of all the other people—mostly women—that live with the chokehold that our protagonist goes through.

Ngayong nakaganti ka na, siguro maligayang maligaya ka na.

ABOVE: Tonya to her daughter Insiang, after killing Dado

Unlike Manila in the Claws of Light, released only a year before this film, Insiang has more of a still and let-down ending. But nonetheless, Lino Brocka’s seventh production remains an important piece of Philippine cinema that deserves all the recognition and revisiting by the latest generations.

[byneddiedingo]

Bembol Roco in Manila in the Claws of Light (Lino Brocka, 1975) Cast: Bembol Roco, Hilda Koronel, Lou Salvador Jr., Joonee Gamboa, Pio De Castro III, Danilo Posadas, Joe Jardi, Spanky Manikan, Edipolo Erosido, Pancho Pelagio, Lily Gamboa Mendoza, Tommy Yap, Juling Bagabaldo. Screenplay: Clodualdo Del Mundo Jr., based on a novel by Edgardo Reyes. Cinematography: Mike De Leon, Clodualdo Del Mundo Jr. Film editing: Ike Jarlego Jr., Edgardo Jarlego. Music: Max Jocson. The title, Manila in the Claws of Light ("Light" is sometimes translated as "Neon"), is enigmatic. But there's nothing enigmatic about this straightforwardly harrowing look at the working class in the Marcos-era Philippines. The protagonist, Julio (Bembol Roco), has left his village, where he was a fisherman, to search for his girlfriend, Ligaya (Hilda Koronel), who was lured away to Manila with other girls by a woman who called herself "Mrs. Cruz" and promised good factory jobs and schooling. When we first meet Julio, he's scrounging for work at construction sites, having been robbed of the money he brought with him to the city. The other workmen help Julio survive after he collapses from hunger on the first day, and their friendship and solidarity in the face of the bosses who routinely cheat them of their full pay help get him on his feet. In his spare time, he continues his search for Ligaya, having learned that she's been lured into prostitution and is now the mistress of Ah Tek, who runs an import-export business. Julio stakes out Ah Tek's business in Manila's Chinatown, hoping for a glimpse of Ligaya. Meanwhile, he endures unemployment with the help of his friends, and survives a bad period by working in a male brothel. His eventual reunion with Ligaya is brief and tragic. The film provides a fascinating look at the underworld of a city that could stand for almost any other metropolis, and director Lino Brocka keeps it moving with a well-paced alternation between desperation and recovery until the shattering end. The cast is uniformly fine, and the realistic view of the city keeps the story from tilting into melodrama.

[keeptheemptinessaway]

Maynila, sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag, Lino Brocka (1975)

Cinematography: Mike De Leon, Clodualdo Del Mundo Jr. | Philippines

[gamersansblog]

Chapter 1

The change

Summary: How the world changed

Warning: cursing,mention of gore, gore, killing and mention of killing, death

Tags:

******

Kaiju (kaigū, Japanese) Giant Beast

Jaeger (Jā'gar, German) Hunter

"When I was a kid whenever I feel small or lonely I look up the stars." "wondered if there was life up there....turns out I was looking at the wrong direction"

"When Allen life entered our world it was deep beneath the pacific ocean...a fisher of two tectonic plates a portal between dimensions"

Thr deep of the pacific ocean with blue lightning as it flames erupted flames also erupting making a portal of the other world

"The breach.... I was 15 when the first kaiju made land in San Francisco"

A monster bigger then the a bridge roars loudly while destroying a bridge with people in their cars still.

Fighter jets zoom across the bridge and starts shooting shooting the monster called a kaiju.

One the fighter jets crashed at the claws of the kaiju and exploded.

"By the time tanks, jets, and missles took it down 6 days and 35 miles later. 3 cities were destroyed. Tens and thousands of lives were lost"

The blaring of the alarm and loud screams of people while running around trying to find cover.

Workers are walking up a hill where the kaiju destroyed and up to where the kaiju was laying dead

"We morned their death and memorialized the attack and moved on..."

Obama is talking about we will stand united against this threat.

Graves are shown of how many people died during the kaiju attack.

people screaming and running away while a different kaiju rose showing its face. The building being destroyed by the kaiju.

"Then only six months later the second attack hit Manila"

A foot foot of a kaiju beast showed on the news then people using exilators to pick up the remains of the kaiju or the remains of the attack.

"After factor of the kaiju blood creates a toxic phenomenon called kaiju blue" the reporter said ot the screen shows a man sticking out his hend showing the kaiju blood that was dark blue

"Then the third one hit Carbo. Then the fourth then we learned this was not going to stop this was just the beginning"

The boat was slowly drifting somewhere as it carries a skeleton kaiju with guts next to it. People holding hands as they watch the flames and smoke erupt after the kaiju attack.

Flames everywhere as a kaiju screeches.

"We needed a new weapon.....The world came together, pooling its resources and throwing aside old rivalries"

Presidents pooling put their information so they can make a machine to destroy any kaiju that come put of the breach.

Robots melting and working on metal.

The metal that is a chest plate slowly lowers down to connect to the other pieces.

"For the sake of the greater good" "To fight monsters, we created monsters of pur own"

A women engineer is working on wiring whole talking to someone...

Half of a metal body is standing while workers work on it including the other one

"The yeager program was born"

A man raises his head wearing a helmet like thing.

Another man is waring a arm that has wires and holds the arm out and squeezes his hand while another hand I the background copies him.

"There were setbacks at first... The neural laid to interface with a yeager proved to much for a single pilot..."

Men are draging a man to a seat and set him down while the man. The man seat looked dazed. Doctors lowered his eye while shining a light showing slight blood in his eye while his nose suddenly started bleeding.

"A two-pilot system was implemented. Left Hemisphere, Right Hemisphere pilot control."

"We started winning. Jeagers stopping Kaijus everywhere. But the jaegers were only good as their pilots."

Soilders where marching while confedie and loud cheer while a Jaeger was being pulled.

A jaeger taking down a kaiju.

"So jaeger pilots turned into Rockstars danger turned into a propaganda. Kaijus into toys."

"We got really good at it... Winning"

"Then.......them it all changed..."

[oldfilmsflicker]

new-to-me #29 - Maynila sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag (Manila in the Claws of Light)

[sacredwhores]

Lino Brocka - Manila in the Claws of Light (1975)

[natalia-lafourcade]

I was tagged by @gael-garcia to post my top 9 first watches of 2023. Thank you so much hehe <333

Charulata dir. Satyajit Ray

When the Tenth Month Comes dir. Dang Nhat Minh

Apur Sansar dir. Satyajit Ray

Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives dir. Apichatpong Weerasethakul

The Wedding Banquet dir. Ang Lee

A City of Sadness dir. Hou Hsiao-hsien

Clear Cut dir. Ryszard Bugajski

Time that Remains dir. Elia Suleiman

Manila In the Claws of Light dir. Lino Brocka

[cinebration]

Come Back To Me (Jack Russell x Reader) [Part 2]

Your Hunters’ Guild boss sends you out on the hunt for the werewolf.

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Epilogue

Tagged: @lucy-sky, @faeoftheapocalypse, @theconsultingdoctor10, @starfirette, @bitchyglitterfox, @thefandomqueenuno, @scarlettsoldier, @russell-ed, @xasement, @stand-with-cap, @marvelenthusiast10, @supermarvelgirl15, @mobiusismyfav, @killeromanoff, @hawkins-2000​

Warnings: mention of blood and gore

Gif Source: stedebonny

“I���m sending you after the thing that took out the Bloodstone hunt,” Jaeger announced.

You shifted in your chair, wincing as pain lanced through your abdomen. Gee, no “How’re you feeling?” today? “I’m not ready to go back into the field.”

“Doctor said you’re ship-shape.”

He most certainly did not. “Are you sure? Because he told me to take it easy.”

“It’s been a month and a half. All you’ve been doing is lying in bed.”

You stared at him, your expression caught between disbelief and disgust. “I’m not fully healed.”

“You don’t need to be.”

“Excuse me?”

Jaeger picked a pile of documents from his desk and dropped them onto your lap. In your mad scramble to keep them from falling, you pulled your slow-healing puncture, gasped aloud as the pain spread through you.

Jaeger returned to his seat behind the desk, unfolding his long legs before him. At six-two, the man virtually towered over most of the people you had ever seen around him. Admittedly, that wasn’t very many, but it was enough to give you the sneaking suspicion he never contracted or worked with anyone taller than him.

Brown eyes gleamed dark from underneath black eyebrows that matched his short hair. In any other context, he would have been handsome, his cheekbones chiseled and his frame lean and muscled, but the steel in his expression made him unpleasant to look at for any length of time.

“The wounds are consistent with a werewolf,” he said, gesturing to the glossy photos you were still marshalling into some order on your lap.

You glanced at the bodies captured in the harsh lighting of a lightbulb flash. Gouges from claws raked across limbs and chests, chunks of meat missing from throats, the gaping holes outlined by ragged teeth edges.

You frowned. “I thought they were hunting something else.”

“They were, but that thing escaped. They were left with a werewolf instead.”

Sorting through the photos, you counted the number of bodies, then turned to the manila folder Jaeger had also given you. A list of names told you what you needed to know.

“There’re two people missing.”

“Elsa Bloodstone,” Jaeger answered. “The Bloodstone manservant confirms that she won the hunt for the Bloodstone prize, but he seems to be hiding something.”

“And the other one?”

“Jack Russell. There isn’t much about him. All we know is that he’s responsible for over a hundred deaths.”

“And he wasn’t among the bodies,” you muttered to yourself, your gaze shifting back to the glossy photos of carnage.

“Man knows when to save his own hide, looks like.”

Against your better judgment, you were intrigued by the problem. How a werewolf had entered the premises was curious, as was the fact the original monster intended for hunting had escaped. You glanced at the date stamped on the back of the photographs, frowned.

“That wasn’t a full moon.”

“What?”

“The massacre happened a few days before the full moon. The werewolf shouldn’t have been there.”

Jaeger shrugged. “Maybe it’s something new, then. Whatever it is, there’s a bounty out for it.”

You jerked your attention back to him. “A bounty? By who?”

“The Hunters’ Guild. It massacred some of our best.” Jaeger shook his head, rose from his seat to lean over the desk. “You won’t be the only one looking for it, but you’ll be the one to bag it.”

His tone brooked no argument.

~~

There was no point speaking to Elsa Bloodstone. The daughter of Ulysses Bloodstone had all but made her position officially known on anything related to her family. That she had been at the hunt at all was a huge surprise, one that itched under your skin with hundreds of questions. Given that the heir had walked away with the Bloodstone itself, it wouldn’t surprise you if it had been some kind of “birthright” thing to show back up after all these years.

Regardless, you had no intention of confronting her. Her thorny personality was well-known and not something you were up to facing in your weakened state.

The next full moon wasn’t for another seven days, so you had time to figure out if you needed to talk to her at all. By then, you hoped, you would have regained some more strength and energy.

You focused your efforts on tracking down Jack Russell instead. The file folder on him had been unusually thin and lacked even a photograph. A free agent, then, not a member of the Guild.

Not that you were one, but you did work for one, so that made your position a bit strange.

Russell wasn’t that hard to find in the end, however. You called up the car service that the Bloodstone family had sent out to retrieve each of the invitees and sussed out the man who had driven the hunter to the mansion. From there, you succeeded in eliciting the address from the man.

Russell had been picked up from outside an apartment complex catering to the middle class. The building lacked a doorman, but it did have an apartment receptionist. The woman behind the desk lifted her head and greeted you with the familiar smile of a customer-service employee.

“How may I help you today?” she asked in faux chipper tones.

You smiled back, feigning hesitancy and an awkward demeanor you hoped spoke volumes. “I’m looking for someone.”

The other woman frowned.

“I’m supposed to be meeting Jack Russell,” you added hastily, your tone chagrined, “but I forgot the apartment number. I’m not even sure I’m in the right building, to be honest. But I can’t call my boss, because he’ll take one out of me, you know?”

The receptionist’s frown turned to sympathy. “What is with bosses?”

“I don’t know. It’s like they drink unhappy juice for breakfast.”

The woman laughed, nodding in agreement. “Become your own boss, honey, believe me. It’s worth it.”

“I don’t doubt it.”

“Mister Russell is in room three-fifteen. He should be home.”

“Thank you so much. Do you like coffee? Or bagels and doughnuts? I should bring back something for your help.”

The woman shook her head, dark hair sweeping in front of her face. “That’s sweet, but I’m okay. Have a nice day!”

“You, too!”

You chose the elevator over the stairs, your abdomen already sore from all the walking and standing. The car rose to the third floor. You stepped onto modest-quality carpet that could use replacing in some spots.

Scanning the doors, you found the right direction and headed for 315. It sat buttressed against the end of the hallway, directly across from the stairwell.

Figures.

Squaring your shoulders and waiting for the twinge of pain in response to pass, you knocked firmly on the apartment door. Light footsteps sounded behind it, drawing near. A lock disengaged, and the door swung open.

“Mister Russell, I…” You froze, the words dying in your throat.

Jack recognized you immediately, his face lighting up with surprise and delight. “You’re alive!”

[darklordofthesimp]

hahahaha…. hi lordddd….. i missed u within the two hours i’ve been gone…..

i TOLD u, ur taking up my thoughts…. and now i’m building onto teslatoasters submission with Königs Pov of birdy ditchin that mfs ass……..

you know i have to do prices…. ahaha…. haaaa….

GIGGLING THIS ONES GONNA BE SO FUN

switching up formats like my emotional irregularities switch up on me

—

Birdy was sitting by themself, picking at their cuticles and staring at nothingness.

The room around them was quaint. Homely, they would say.

Books lined the shelves in an unorthodox pattern.

Light warm and yellow, Fire dancing in their peripherals.

And a pretty red rug detailed with gold mandalas.

If they had the mind capacity to focus on any detail right now, Birdy would see that almost all the book spines were cracked. Some fraying from repeated use.

They heaved a shaking sigh. The air around them was warm from fire, despite the chill of winter creeping through the thin walls.

Birdy leaned back into the softened leather lounge, reaching for their coffee resting on the small oak table in front of them.

Their hands shook as they drank, nerves at a constant despite knowing there was nothing happening.

Once again, the feeling of liminality creeped back in.

Maybe they had a knack for sensing when something was stirring.

No, nevermind. Then they wouldn’t have stitches holding their jaw in place.

Birdy set their cup back on the napkin-turned-coaster, huffed a breath of phantom pain in their abdomen, and willed themself to calm the fuck down.

Nothing will happen.

At that thought, a door slammed open.

Birdy startled.

So much for that.

“What the fuck is this.”

He threw something on the coffee table.

Price was heaving, borderline panting his breaths. His voice was hoarse and mean, with a hint of terror chipping away at his stern demeanour.

“Didn’t know you were suddenly illiterate. My condolences.”

Maybe if they were sarcastic enough it would stop the guilt clawing at their lungs, tearing the flesh to make way for the blood threatening to choke them alive.

Though it was a bit mean.

Prices face twisted from anger to hurt back to anger in a few slow seconds. Birdy felt sick.

“What..,” He cut himself off. His voice a cracked whine as he cleared his throat. He was your superior. If I don’t allow it, it doesn’t happen.

“I’m not signing this.” His hands gestured violently towards the pink paper slipping out of a cream manila folder. Looking perfectly innocent on the coffee table.

“You don’t need to sign it. It’s not a resignation slip. It’s a notice. I leave on Saturday.”

Birdy sat back with their arms crossed against their chest, hand landing on their heart. Right as a pang shot through it.

Their hand twitched.

Be a cunt, they thought. Be a bastard, or you’ll cry. Be angry, or you’ll break down.

Prices breath caught in his throat, posture straightening enough to make an etiquette professionals eyebrows raise.

Maybe he had the same thought.

“You’re not leaving. I don’t allow it. There will be no transfer whilst I’m your captain.”

The way he spoke to them was that of a scared father.

Neither of them acknowledged it.

Birdy stood, bones creaking in prostest at the sudden strain on their joints.

From his side of the coffee table, Price watches them in earnest. Please, please for the love of god. Please don’t take them away from me.

Birdy couldn’t even look him in the eye. Couldn’t face him head on as they picked up the folder, forcing it into his bubble for him to grab.

His hands shook, just like theirs.

Please don’t do this.

“You have no say.” Birdy shuffled on their feet, uncomfortable, guilty.

The feeling at being on this side of the hurt was making bile rise to their throat. They wanted to shove their finger down their own throat just to get ride of it.

Panic turned fear to

“I have every fucking say. In everything. There is nothing that doesn’t fucking go through me first. You are not fucking leaving.”

His words were rushed as Birdy side stepped the table, heading determinedly for the door. They need to get out.

They needed to breathe.

A hand snatched at birdys wrist, not hard, but firm. It wasn’t to cause harm, but to make them stop, think, stay, please stay.

They whipped their head around to face Price. Mean and unforgiving. Their culpability smothered by their pride to keep face.

“No, you don’t have a damn say.” Wrenching their hand out of his dying grasp they continued, “Shepherd signed. The transfer request was accepted yesterday. I’m going back to the SARS.”

The finality im their voice, posture, in them was heart shattering for him.

He’d failed.

The strength of his resolve was plucked away like feathers. And with the weight of Shepherd holding him down, he couldn’t do anything but watch it happen in front of him.

“No.. no,” His vocal cords cracked. Begging, pleading. “No. You’re my strongest soldier, You’re resilient! And patient and determined and don’t crack under pressure-“ my head did. “-and you’re stubborn.”

He was running out of breath. Just like they were.

“Well congratulations Cap-,”

A beat. “John.”

His stomach fucking sunk.

“You managed to quell my obstinance,”

Birdy gasped a breath. It felt like they were dying. Drowning themselves for the fucking thrill of it.

“Made my mulishness look stupid. Want a gold fucking star? I would give you a scratch and sniff sticker but I usually only give those out to people I like.”

I like you, you’re the one person I can always stand. You’re the closest thing I have to a father, the only person who cared, you’re my person.

“You hate me, don’t you?”

Look me in the eyes as you say it. Let me know there’s nothing I can do.

Birdys eyes closed, they couldn’t do it.

“Yes.”

—

lol!!!!! so funny haha!!!! funny hahah with sad!!!! hahaha (sobsobsob) !!!!!!

i’m having too much fun

\o/

OH MY GOOOOOOOD THIS WAS FUCKING AMAZING MY HEART HURT

He's right though, Birdy can't get anything signed unless it goes through him.

This is fucking nuts I love this I love the way you write and I love how you've captured the relationship price and Birdy have that we'll see more of further down the track.

Thank you so much for taking your time to write these pieces, they're honestly in a league of their own honest to God.

The last few lines broke my heart man

[elfilibusterismo]

hiii this is sort of an embarrassing question but i hope you’ll still entertain it; Do you have any media (books, films, short stories, essays, etc.) which have Tagalog as their base language? I’m trying to up my vocabulary ;’<

not an embarrassing question at all! i'm a little lacking on literature in tagalog and the most that sticks out to me rn is lualhati bautista's dekada 70, but here's a few film recs:

i stand by most films by lino brocka - manila in the claws of light, insiang, bayan ko, fight for us, tubog sa ginto, etc. manila is widely regarded as one of the best filipino films made, big recommend checking it out! i haven't seen some of these but i've heard only good things about them and it's lino brocka, so. yeah

another great filipino director is ishmael bernal. must-sees are the iconic himala and manila by night. mike de leon's kisapmata meanwhile is my favorite filipino film at the moment.

for more recent films, samantha lee's films are a hit or miss for me, but i like billie and emma a lot. lee is openly queer and most of her films center around wlw filipinos. kip oebanda's liway is a great martial law movie and is free to watch on youtube. jerrold tarog also does some good work on heneral luna and goyo: the boy general if you prefer historical films. there's also a lot of free to watch short films on youtube (just type in filipino short film and you'll get a bunch, a lot of them are really high quality); i enjoyed excuse me miss, miss, miss a lot.

EDIT: literature recs in the replies!

[projectcruise]

Chapter 1

“More than meets the eye”

The following morning, the sun remained absent. The grey, cloudy coverings of the sky hadn’t moved an inch. It almost felt as though no time had passed.

Soon enough, a petite coffee colored rabbit girl arrived at The S.S. Iris in full investigator’s attire. She donned a mid-length, tan trench coat, some sturdy, brown lace less boots, and an iconic detective’s hat with a flowery pattern. She was as cute as a button, yet her face told an entirely different tale. She didn’t take any time to stop and admire the view. The cruise ship’s impressive size and extravagant decor were meaningless in her eyes. There was nothing fascinating enough to distract her from the mission at hand. With a steady gaze, the lagomorph hastily made her way towards the steam ship. This detective meant serious business.

Upon entering the terminal, the Captain came out to greet her. He was a particularly well composed gentleman. Penelope watched as he disembarked from the ship. He had a striking appearance. The shark-like being, dressed in a dark blue uniform greatly contrasting his snow-white, wavy hair and light grey fur. He was tall and long with icy blue eyes, sharp claws, and four horns on his head. He extended his arm and gently shook Penelope’s soft small paw.

“Penelope, Correct…?” said the captain.

“Yes sir, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” Replied penelope with her usual professional attitude.

“Wonderful, You’re right on time. I’ve been awaiting your arrival” the captain said to her in an inviting yet serious tone of voice. It was obvious that he had high expectations for Penelope.

“Punctuality is always my top priority.” She replied. It was true, she always made sure to arrive exactly as scheduled wherever she was needed. Never any sooner nor later. She made sure not to waste any time.

“Very well, let us discuss this inside,” he said as he escorted Penelope to the bridge of the ship. They walked along the gangway into the vessel and passed through the massive lobby decked with large chandeliers hanging from the lifted ceiling. Surprisingly , the ship seemed smaller on the inside than from its exterior. It was a private cruise. While the boat was still an impressive steamship, it was small in comparison to more commercial cruise ships, yet still kept a luxurious appearance. It had vast open spaces and important areas such as a large lobby and banquet style ballroom diner.

Once they arrived, the Captain sat down at his chair in the wheelhouse and turned towards Penelope. The technology was incredibly impressive. Each button and switch performed its own small function. How did anyone manage to learn what it all does? There was so much to take in. The detective was admittedly rather impressed. However, she didn’t let this distract her from the mission at hand.

Near the window sat a manila folder, a couple of sticky notes with various memos or short poems written on them, and a small, framed photograph of a young Captain and his sister. They appeared to be at the beach. The captain wore a smile while his sister was bursting with laughter. The photograph was old and rather faded. Penelope caught the captain staring at the image.

“What was she laughing about?” she asked.

“Well, the truth is, I can’t seem to remember. “I used to recall this day so vividly, I remember we called it the summer of the century. Now, I can’t even tell what my sister was laughing about. First, I lose her, now I have begun to lose her memory...” replied the captain defeatedly.

“Please Sir, don’t feel bad.” replied Penelope. “Perhaps it’s just your mind’s way of coping with everything going on. I can only imagine how difficult this must be for you.” she said, attempting to reassure the captain. It was not uncommon for people to suppress memories of lost loved ones.

“Enough about that.” Said the Captain, turning his focus away from the image.

“As you might already know, I’ve called you here to investigate the murder of my dear sister, Marigold Seashine. It pains me to even speak of it, but, alas, I must...” The captain said while gazing at the window. He looked out towards the horizon where the deep lapis colored sea and grey sky collided. He turned his attention back to Penelope. Slowly, he picked up the manila file folder and handed it to her.

“Here is the file containing the details of the case… it’s important.”

“Yes, of course Sir,” she replied and then paused before following it up with her next statement. “I apologize for your loss… I promise I will do the best I can.”

“Very well. I admire your determined attitude.”

She remained attentive to the captain. It was clear how heavily this event had weighed on him. He was a man of great composure, yet it was easy to see right into his broken soul.

“Well, the first thing I’d like you to do is to meet the suspects and conduct an interview with each one. They should all be located in their cabins on the lower deck. Only Marigold’s Cabin and D3 should be empty,”, He said as he reached towards the pocket on his uniform and pulled out a fancy golden keychain. Each key was engraved with its respective room number in a calligraphic font.

“Here are the keys in case you aren’t able to access a cabin. I instructed the passengers to unlock their doors after hearing a specific knocking pattern but knowing these folks, they can sometimes be difficult…”

He gently handed Penelope the keychain.

“Here is the pattern I came up with since I do believe knocking first is the polite thing to do.”

*double tap* *triple tap* *single tap*

“Thank you, sir, I’ll keep that in mind” replied Penelope, making a mental note of it.

The Captain once again pulled an object out of his pocket. This time, it was a small piece of paper containing the complete layout of The S.S Iris. “Oh, and I almost forgot. Here is a map of the ship. This will make it easier to locate the cabins.” he said as he handed it over to Penelope.

She took a quick look at it and turned her attention back to the captain.

“Once you’ve finished, please return with the keys. I have another important tool that may aid you in this investigation once you’re done with the interviews

“Yes sir,” replied Penelope. This seemed like a simple task for someone with her experience, yet she proceeded with caution.

“Very well. Best of luck detective, I’m counting on you,” he said as the young lady waved farewell and made her way towards the cabins. She knew there’d be more to this case than meets the eye.