Episode 2's Jail Break (Thieves In Time Rewrite)
Let me go over how Jail Break plays out in detail. Here's my rewrite of Episode 2 for reference.
If you'll recall, the end of Blind Date (the previous mission) had Sly, Bentley, and Murray getting themselves arrested by Toothpick while they were attempting to return Carmelita to the present day.
Normally in canon, Tennessee and Carmelita would then team up to break the boys out of jail.
This rewrite, however, has Penelope joining the effort. At this point in the story, Bentley isn't quite ready to stop being overprotective of her yet. Which is why she was left at the hideout to hold down the fort.
This is also why our heroine is faced with a pretty bad no win situation.
Two choices are laid before her: Stay at the hideout (Bentley's orders) or go to the jail personally to save the day (very risky). She might get scolded no matter what she does, for deserting the team (staying behind) or putting herself in danger (going to the jail).
Penelope, seeing this as an opportunity to show Bentley she isn't a helpless damsel, drops her secret research of Le Paradox to pivot in a new direction: Leading a jail break.
Unlike canon (where the boys were held in a singular suspended cage together), Penelope finds that the boys are being held in jail separately. She assigns Carmelita to freeing Sly, Tennessee to freeing Murray, and herself to freeing Bentley.
The first step, of course, is getting there.
In-game, Jail Break is assigned to Penelope. Just like in canon, our three heroes (Penelope, Tennessee, and Carmelita) use a crank boat to get to the prison. The girls use their respective skills (the RC Chopper and shock pistol) to keep the boat safe while Tennessee keeps it moving.
On the way there, Penelope gets the story of why Carmelita isn't very happy with Sly...
Bentley sits in his cell reflecting. Not on how he ended up here (okay, maybe a tiny bit), but on how he'd been treating Penelope during this adventure across time. He wonders how things might have unfolded differently had he been more supportive instead of smothering her...
He's also now regretting that he never gave Penelope any contingency plans in the event things went sideways, like right now. With the boys in jail, and Penelope seemingly still at the clock tower, things seem hopeless...
Just when he decides the time has come to loosen up... he sees her. He's very surprised to see her here, naturally.
Cue her proceeding to pickpocket the key to Bentley's cell and fight off a bunch of guards in her way for stealing her man. Yes, he gets to see all of this.
A very surprised (and thankful) Bentley is freed, but as it turns out, his entire cell block is locking down. Fortunately, our favorite couple finds a terminal to hack into. Unfortunately, Bentley gets swarmed by guards as soon as he gets to work on it.
Bentley has no choice but to let Penelope protect him from the incoming threats... and no choice but to credit her with the entire rescue.
Murray is housed in the same suspended cage from canon all by himself. He's fairly confident that Penelope (or Sis as he always calls her) is coming to help break him and the others out soon.
He ends up being saved not by Sis, but Tennessee.
Murray: "Thanks for busting me out. How's Sis doing? Is she here? Probably back at the hideout like Bentley wanted..."
Tennessee is more than happy to deliver the news that she's been leading this entire jail break, much to the big guy's delight.
Poor Murray is disappointed that nobody can find the van, but Sis does reassure him: They will get it back.
Sly ends up having himself a little chat with Toothpick from his cell. Of course, Sly isn't intimidated in the slightest. When Toothpick arrested the "entire Cooper Gang", he missed somebody, and guess what? They're coming to bust Sly, Bentley, and Murray out of the slammer.
Sly: "I wouldn’t be too sure about that… See, when you arrested the ‘entire Cooper Gang’, you actually ended up missing our secret weapon. They’re still on the loose as we speak. I’d watch my back if I were you."
Sly gives the villain a few hints on who that is...
Sly: "They’re tough as nails, they’re a genius on par with Bentley, and they’ll be here any minute. Might even end up stealing your wallet."
Since Toothpick's in the way and isn't leaving, Carmelita can't move forward with the rescue.
Enter our mission leader, Penelope. She decides to distract Toothpick with a little aerial support...
And yes, she does actually steal Toothpick’s wallet.
Sly: "Huh. Didn't think she'd actually take the wallet."
With Toothpick gone, Carmelita is free to get Sly out of his cell.
Sly: “Carmelita! What a lovely surprise...”
Carmelita: “Save it, Cooper. I’m only here because your mouse friend sent me. She’s… more reliable than you’ve ever been… for a thief.”
Sly: “Look, Carm… I know you’re mad. But can’t we just… call a truce and… save this for after I’m not in the slammer?”
Carmelita: “...Just follow me, Ringtail. Your friends are up ahead. And you can bet we’ll have a chat about your amnesia after we clear out.”
Because the outside of a prison cell isn't the best place to strangle your ex, Carmelita accepts a truce with Sly.
With everyone freed, the party of six makes their escape.
Aftermath (And A Public Apology)
The successful jail break (spearheaded by none other than Penelope) has managed to convince Bentley of something important: Penelope is not a helpless damsel. He's also ready for a public apology before the beginning of the next mission in line: Grand Key Larceny.
We also have the rest of the gang learning about Le Paradox's involvement as this adventure's main antagonist (through Carmelita), but that part's not very important right now. It does, however, leave our heroine privately horrified.
So ends Jail Break. Much better than canon, is it not?
I'm not going to cover every single mission in my rewrite like this. Just some of the big highlights. This is the first one. (Although I have already covered a good chunk of them by now...)
Next time, Bentley finally trashes his leash, and Penelope gets to ride a bull.
