FIFTH TRIAL

[stagemanagers]

[The sound of the courtroom doors opening is louder and deeper than the stairwell doors were, as if they understand their dramatic importance.

It's time for yet another trial.

Natalie's podium has joined the other somberly-decorated ones in pretty short order. Unfortunately, the other ones are left entirely as they were - no pillows, food, or coffee provided by the Opera staff. You'll just have to try and make this quick. The Balladeer sounds like he'd like to get this over with as well when he speaks up.]

I'm sorry, Heather. I really didn't think... [He sighs.] Okay, go ahead.

Comments

[inforapenny]

[WOW ASSHOLE]

[allicareabout]

Heather. This won't happen again next week, and this is why - it didn't happen this week. Not really.

No one turned on each other despite the motive. No one died as a result of anyone else in this cast's actions.

This was an accident. A tragic one, sure. But it was an accident, and not one that any of us were at fault for.

We're calling a mistrial because none of us killed anyone else. We're already ahead, and we're going to keep it that way.

[sunshineprincess]

[Heather, Anna will come over there if she thinks you need a hug, okay?]

Heather... sometimes hope is all we have to hang onto.

[catliketread]

[THIS IS EXACTLY WHY HE PAID YOU]

[catliketread]

[WELL THIS SURE IS INSANE BUT HERE WE FUCKIN' GO]

I refuse to vote as well! Let us stand united; we will now allow this to get between us! Not after so long!

[shout-out to hans]

[dieformymusic]

Hans.

[He saw that you fucker. Get ready to get a graceful of fuzzy pink whatever the hell this was under his cloak.]

[trettende]

Um, what?

[ Can't a dude drag his hand over his podium? No one will see who he voted for or even if he voted at all. ]

I said I refuse to vote, same as you all. The Management hasn't provided us with a killer we can vote for. Didn't you hear the part where I agreed with Billy Flynn?

[onthebusagain]

Do you really think so? I'm afraid.

[dontfeedplants]

We all are. But even if we are, we have to do what we know is right. We can make it through this if we work together, trust us.

[He actually looks genuinely surprised at himself when he says this. Wow that... is not the kind of thing he ever expected himself saying.]

[allicareabout]

[And that's familiar, too, in its own way - same sort of thing that girl said to him before her trial, wasn't it?]

...Yeah. Yeah, I really think so.

This is going to be the end of it.

[trettende]

[ You tell 'er, Seymour! Hans is totally proud of you. ]

It's just as he said, Heather. If we all work together, we can prove this trial was a farce to begin with.

[dontfeedplants]

[Seymour looks over at Hans' podium once he notices the commotion going on.

And he just gives Hans the driest look imaginable.]

... Seriously Hans?

[They were having a moment and you ruined it.]

MASS PUNISHMENT: CONNECT

[stagemanagers]

Hahaha! Well, since you all respect the rules so much, we will do as you’ve asked and carry them out to the letter! It's punishment time, and you’re all getting front-row seats!

[The stagehand claps his hands once, and the theatre lights go out.

But this time doesn’t go like the others. Every cast member will feel themselves being tugged, then pulled, then dragged bodily if they try to resist, until without any clear sense of the intervening space they are standing on the stage itself, in a loose imitation of the podium circle. The stage lights, when they return, are blinding.

From the wings, the crew is appearing to surround them. One dressed as Natalie is at the head, but the others haven’t bothered with costumes. They’re the same shadowy figures as ever, faces indistinguishable. One holds a straight razor. Another has a pistol. Something like a calliope begins to play as Billy darts onstage. His breathing is sharp, and his face pale and tear-stained. Blood is starting to leak through the fabric of his right shirtsleeve near the shoulder.]

...get them offstage. You’re not punishing anyone.

And you! [He turns on the rest of the cast.] Why would you make a plan like that if you weren’t gonna follow through? You could have helped the whole cast! I was with you, I thought you wanted me to...

[He falls silent, slowly turning to look out towards the house. A bitter smile spreads across his face.]

...no. You knew already, didn’t you? I should’ve known you wouldn’t fall for that. It was a nice try, though, Billy.

[He straightens, shoulders back and chin up, posture no longer imitating Billy Harris.] But what were they supposed to do? It’s rigged! At least voting for me would have been fair, you know it was my fault anyway! Shut up, shut UP - [He reaches up and tears the microphone from his face, the earpiece away from his ear, and flings them both to the ground.] - I don’t CARE if this isn’t the right song, there shouldn’t be a punishment! They did their best! They found the killer! Why - why would you...

[He trails off, pacing from right to left, hands trembling as he runs them through his hair.]

...how could you do this?
How could I do this...?

Turn around, the blood is on my hands
Think you’re out and then you’re back in it
Should’ve just stayed there...

Brand-new cast and most of them dead now
Make some friends and what does it get you?
Do your job and watch ‘em get shot down
Every story’s just about murder!

[He lets out a bitter, half-hysteric bark of laughter and wheels around, stalking towards the lip of the stage.]

I had such hope.
You gave it to me, friend
You’ve been using me, friend
And if it wasn't for me
then maybe they’d be
Still alive and free!
Well, tell me something, don’t I run this show?
Don't I get a say in this act?
Starting now it's gonna be my show.
This ends now, you’re letting us all out!
You won’t hurt any more of them
They’re my cast, I'm taking them all and -

Everything’s gonna be fine!
Everyone’s gonna be -

BANG

[The shot comes from high up, somewhere out in the darkness, and catches the Balladeer square in the head. Blood and bone fragments spray across the stage and its occupants from the force. He drops before the echoes have even finished bouncing off the rafters. The lights

go

out.

There’s the sound of movement from the side of the stage again, cloth against cloth and faint giggling. The crystal chandeliers tinkling overhead. The sharp sound of tense ropes stretching even farther.

You should all get out of here now.]

[trettende]

[ Hans raises his hands. Like, what's with the third degree here? ]

What, you don't trust me? Really, Seymour?

[ He thought... you guys were friends. He's really hurt right now. ]

We all know this trial is stacked against us. What kind of an idiot would waste their vote like this?

[ But wait. He knows what this is about. He looks between Winslow and Seymour. He can tell something's changed. Not good news for him. ]

What, because Winslow seems to think I'd stab you all in the back, suddenly you believe him?

[pennyless]

[Billy's standing in just the right spot that his face and shirt are splattered in blood.

He stands there in shock, a numb look on his face, even as everyone else has started to run for the door.

If there was a god, there would be a second shot any minute now.]

[onthebusagain]

Is it enough? Do you... really think it'll be okay?

[sunshineprincess]

[There is so much confusion, they're on the stage, so much movement, that song, and then the shot...

Anna takes a shallow breath and hope's she's going in the right direction. Her foot hitting something soft-oh no Balladeer she's so sorry-and reaches out for who she hopes is Billy.]

Billy? Where are you?

[dontfeedplants]

I don't distrust you, Hans, I just...

You wouldn't get punished if only you voted, there really isn't any risk if only you voted "wrong". I guess I wouldn't put it past you to vote.

[That insinuation goes right over Seymour's head.]

I don't just believe anything someone else tells me. I'm not that gullible.

[trettende]

NO!

[ Hans yells before he has time to think better of it. Shit, shit, goddammit, this is everything he was afraid of. Having emotions, having friends, he should have known it would end like this, should have known there was no point. ]

No, goddammit... no.

[ It's a good thing it's dark as Hans flees the courtroom. No one can see him get entirely way too upset. (He's not crying, you're crying.) ]

[sunshineprincess]

We'll make it okay. Like we always do.

[pennyless]

[He jumps when she grabs his sleeve.

Right. Right, he has to... Oh, god, what has he done?]

...Anna?

[sunshineprincess]

We have to go. Now. Please.

[She keeps a hold of his sleeve, trying to lead him-okay that was definitely a hand she stepped on that time sorry Balladeer-to safety.]

[trettende]

You said it yourself, there's nothing to gain in voting.

[ Rudeeeee but dang, good for standing up to yourself, Seymour. ]

I didn't vote.

[ Except he totally did and if everyone had voted maybe THE BALLADEER WOULDN'T BE DEAD ]

[dechagny]

[The shot reverberates through Raoul like a deeply-buried memory. Don't shoot! - the words are on his tongue and yet he does not speak them, the image of the dying Balladeer so striking, it haunts his eyes even when he looks up towards where the shot rang out. Where...it was the management, wasn't it, watching from above, who is it and where-

No, the lights are out, everything's out. People are screaming, running - he is furious. He doesn't care if he's killed for it, he wants to fight for the Balladeer, fight for Valjean and D-ne, Hime and Gabe, Darla and Eliza, Javert and Astarte, Natalie, even - shockingly enough - Hook of all people. But the stage isn'ts safe. Whatever pulled them up here will surely take hold again if they remain, and the chandeliers above are ominous. He has to run. He has to go. All of them do.]

Come on - all of you, out! We cannot stay!

[pennyless]

[He doesn't actively resist, but nor does he move much at first.

Until he hears the tinkling of glass and the creak of ropes overhead. Then he follows her, silently, matching the pace that she sets.]