Dawnbreak Boulevard final summary

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Week 1:

Star actor Phillip greets the set; some groupie (Jaina) bends his ear. Jack Mustang of the silent screen demands his coffee, to mixed results. Screenwriter and famed dime novelist H.G. Washburne is displeased with more commercialised bends of the script - there were no car chases in his novel, that’s for sure. Director Samson Kennedy is less than gruntled about having to make these “exciting” script changes make sense. Producer Christina Waverly is totally not panicking, especially not at the bar.

Rose de Witte, ex-actress and current set designer, takes to her task with aplomb, stealing a moment with her childhood friend/ex-crush Phillip to discuss, er, his high-profile engagement to his co-star. Gabriella DeBlanc is having great fun stealing the scene as the titular Phantom Thief, but considerably less fun sparring with Jack Mustang, who knows Gabe’s engagement to Phillip is a publicity stunt (no matter how much she insists he likes the guy). It doesn’t help that the hypotenuse has a crush on her too.

Pina Bianchi pours her heart into her voice work and her boyfriend, noted Shakespearean actor Seifer Ahmady. Vinny Gasket enjoys greeting new arrivals, working in sci-fi, and showing off his newborn daughter. Daiki tends bar down at the Final Cut. If not everybody at the bar, at least Ted knows your name (and is always glad you came), finding himself the keeper of many a secret. Ace does his own stunts.

Yosuke kicks off the traditional investigator check-in; some commentary about dashing fictional detective Dick Firestorm ensues. Gil has mixed feelings about being only human, but soon applies his stageplay expertise to the big screen. Chloe steps up as a go-fer. Sento is displeased with both the local technology and being reduced to special effects for Giant Gerbils from Mars!!! Banjou is less successful at doing his own stunts than Ace.

Week 2:

Phillip is not amused by the script changes, and even less so by the false and malicious rumors swirling around; on the other hand, Christina Waverly attempts to court his star power after seeing him in action. Gabe is furious about the rumors, but does her best acting and charity work despite them. Jack actively encourages the rumors about Gabe in hopes of chasing her off, much to the producer’s chagrin. (Meanwhile, little Sakura Hughes thinks Jack looks like her father.) Armin has trouble keeping up with the script changes. Sampson Kennedy argues with the higher-ups about the audience’s intelligence. H.G. Washburne takes time off with his family for the Thanksgiving parade, and to let his blood pressure recover from all the script changes.

Ted finds himself starstruck by Jack, and organising a strike on behalf of the movie’s creative talent. Pina attempts to nip rumors of her pregnancy in the bud, starting with her boyfriend. Matt needs a rest. An expert in leaps of faith teaches stunt work. Sandra puts in long hours trying to keep up with wardrobe demands.

Sento has had it with these motherfreakin’ gerbils in the goddamn studio. Chloe finds herself pulled into gerbil-wrangling. The War of the Worlds adaptation has acquired an expert on the material, who also invites Investigators to a Victorian Thanksgiving feast in her corner of Liminal Space. Yosuke contacts the folks on the set of a horror movie via psychic bridge.

Week 3:

Jack bides his time. Armin has written a blockbuster, if only he can get someone to read it - and Jack has more interest in that vehicle to stardom than a damn Cadillac. Between side-eyeing the car chase’s hood ornaments, Gabe figures that if one strike can destroy Transcendent Pictures, maybe it should close. Phillip commiserates with his fiancee about the rampant rumors and rising tensions; later, they have a chat about the nature of their engagement. H.G. Washburne won’t give the higher-ups the satisfaction of a strike. Sampson Kennedy finds himself on a date.

When not hosting a rebellion complete with petitions to take to the higher-ups, Ted takes a moment to honor the dead. Matt is trying to prevent the grievances from turning into a strike - or a flat-out mutiny.

Sento deploys spy gerbils. Raidou gets his head out of his own overlay. Claudia keeps an ear to the ground, complete with planning a little old-fashioned espionage. Jaina asks which of the Arcana might have a vested interest in the proceedings. Q’uila panics about accidentally ending up on a date with Naoya’s overlay when she just wanted some information.

Week 4:

H.G. Washburne is hoping to get back to the original script, in Waverly’s absence. Jack takes the loss of the person he could blackmail bargain with badly - and takes it out on Gabe, drawing himself lots of ire in the process. Phillip refuses to give up on production before this film’s done. Donna Morgan is here to untangle the mess Waverly left behind. Rose desperately tries to find out the facts about the shooting incident.

Ted doesn’t know what to make of all this chaos. Matt is also trying to process. Business at the War of the Worlds set continues apace. Some Investigators bust into Waverly’s office to see what evidence she might have left behind. Raidou re-immerses himself in his overlay so Noel can visit his injured friend without undue complications.

Week 5:

Shooting on Phantom Thief and War of the Worlds draws to a close. Jack is in custody; Gabe is out of the hospital.

Pina throws a Christmas party. Ted is still trying to understand last week’s shenanigans, but at least he finally hooks up with his crush. Daiki gets a pleasant surprise in the form of Jesse opting to stick with the bartending business after all. Helena meets a fan.