fourth trial

[stagemanagers]

[When the investigation finishes, the lights begin to flicker on and off as that low, gentle rumble echoes through the opera house. Again for those investigating the grounds the outdoor lights illuminating the still night flicker to get their attention.

Your intermission is ending. Please return to your trial room.

The court room looks just as it did before: the grand chandelier glittering above your heads, the dusty red velvet seats. In the orchestra pit your circle of wooden podiums are waiting. Angus, Riley and Shilo's podiums are draped in black crepe with their greyscale funerary portraits, just like your friends before them. The ghost light glows softly behind the podiums.

The curtain is closed, waiting to open when a decision has been reached and the execution can commence.

When everyone is in their places, the Phantom's voice echoes loud and clear through the theatre from his place in box 5. He still sounds distracted, just as he was for his other public appearance this week, like there are other things weighing on his mind.]

You must now determine who was responsible for the death of Shilo Wallace. Submit your vote on the podiums when you are certain of your choice.

[Gather your evidence and let's begin.]

Comments

[holyspit]

YES! I don't know what it is yet, but YES! There always is!

[itsfromjapan]

That's your foolishness speaking, then. The Phantom killed a child without hesitation. Why would Jeremy be different?

[holyspit]

Because even if he says he doesn't care, he's still a person and there's still a chance for him to realize this is wrong and change!

[itsfromjapan]

Tell me, Steven, do humans normally get stabbed and act like nothing's wrong?

[holyspit]

Yeah, I know he's probably not human. Neither am I, neither are you. That doesn't mean ANY of us has to be an evil jerk.

[Get out of here with that xenophobic bullshit.]

[itsfromjapan]

But that's the thing, Steven: the fictional Phantom is just a man. Besides, the person on the other end of the phone seemed surprised by the explanation of our circumstances. Doesn't that strike you as odd?

[holyspit]

So the story got it wrong! And yeah, this is all REALLY WEIRD! I've- I know I'm not normal, and this is still all really weird even for me! If you're trying to say something quit trying to sound all smart and mysterious and just say it!

[itsfromjapan]

No. If I give you the answer, that would be saying too much. The phone is on Jeremy's desk, though. Perhaps you should ring up "Chewie" after this.

[37773972]

Saying too much- or too little?

[He rests a hand on Jeremy's podium]

You want to help Jeremy, right? Then help him help Christine. Tell us whatever you know so we can protect her.

[itsfromjapan]

It doesn't work like that, unfortunately. I'm programmed to keep Jeremy safe and the odds aren't good enough to risk saying things that could have unintended consequences.

[37773972]

And holding that information keeps him safe?

[musacal]

[ mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

yeah squidkid has a point there. ]

[37773972]

He won't.

[That faint sound? That's the sound of part of Stephen's belief shattering]

[holyspit]

...he could.

[He does not sound very convinced.]

Anyone can. There's. It's always possible. It has to be.

[37773972]

[So very soft-]

If there ever was a time
If there ever was a chance
To undo the things he's done
And wash the bloodstains from his hands
It has passed and been forgotten
This is the path he's chose to make
'Cause whether or not he's just a man-
Men can bend and men can break.