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

[trettende]

[ Oh. Great. Hans clams up for a second, regaining his composure just as fast. Focus on catching the killer, then you can feel sad about people killing kids. ]

There were two gunshots and two bullets, right? Is it possible the killer shot her once at first, then twice to end her misery?

[trettende]

Well, you'd better have a look, just in case.

[ SWEATS. HE DOESN'T WANT IT TO BE YOU, MAN. ]

Are you sure 100% of that, Seymour?

[dontfeedplants]

I'm positive it wa-

[And then he finally gets a good look at the gun.]

I... um... wh...where did Winslow get that?

[trettende]

According to him, it was in the garden.

[ Hans is looking right at you, man. The evidence is pointing almost too clearly at Seymour. ]

Was that where you put it when you got it?

[ Please say yes, Seymour....... ]

[dontfeedplants]

No, I was hardly in the garden the week I got it.

[Seymour is very visibly starting to freak out at this point.]

[trettende]

Seymour...

[ Hans is trying to help. HE IS TRYING TO HELP, someone call an ambulance. ]

You know this looks bad, right? Did you bury the gun in the garden?

[dontfeedplants]

[If Seymour wasn't freaking out, he would appreciate this development.]

I know it does, but I swear I don't know how that gun got out of my room! I didn't even know the gun still had bullets in it, honest!

[trettende]

But, did you bury the gun, Seymour? It's perfectly possible for the murderer to have framed you.

[ it's okay, Hans is here somehow and he really knows Seymour can kill but not Natalie surely not her. ]

Was the gun loaded when you got it? If it wasn't, then the murderer could have stolen it and loaded it.

[dechagny]

Or...perhaps Natalie might not have been the intended target? Who is to say that the murderer might have been waiting for a stagehand instead, despite the rules? I would find myself desperate after being denied proper rest.

[allicareabout]

[That...wait.]

...Actually, no.

[Right?]

The bullet from the wall had blood on it - it's like Raoul said, the implication is that it passed clean through her.

If that's the case...that leaves the second shot unaccounted for. She only had one injury.

[dontfeedplants]

I didn't, I swear I didn't!

I tried firing it in my room when I got it, but nothing happened!

[aflatouttahell]

[THAT'S GREAT THAT'S FINE Jezebel is just gonna look very intently at the floor over here]

When I saw her yesterday, I'm pretty sure she wasn't sad. So the tears were probably not over something else.

[dechagny]

I believe Winslow should have it, if he found it.

[trettende]

[ OH GOOD... IT'S A FRAME-UP. ]

Did anyone see you do this? Or... was there anyone you told about it before today?

[ He pauses, switching for reassuring. ]

I believe you, Seymour. But we might need more than just your word to prove it.

[inforapenny]

...Right. Sorry, tired.

[Annnnd across Hook's empty podium to his other side.]

Winslow?

[trettende]

So we're... missing a bullet?

[ UM. ]

This is kind of a big deal. Where could the other bullet be?

[dontfeedplants]

You believe me?

[Wow, that's... seriously a lot coming from you, Hans. He rubs the tears from his eyes before he continues.]

No, I was in my room while I was testing it. I don't think I told anyone about the gun before today. Maybe they could have seen it when I got it out of the machine, but that's it.

[Sorry Hans, did you want proof that Seymour didn't do it?]

[trettende]

The stagehands don't let themselves be seen. They'd be interfering with the show, if they did. [ Do you think the Management would let that happen? No way. ]

If your theory is true, I think it's more likely... Jezebel or Seymour were the target.

In which case, one of them is lying about what they know.

[trettende]

[ The next part is whispered, shh. ]

We're friends. I want to believe in you.

[ That is a HUGE DEAL coming from Hans, let's hope no one else hears them because Hans is going to regret saying these things out loud if someone brings it up. Hans sighs. ]

That's not much to go on. Where were you last night, before the murder?

[dieformymusic]

[Winslow slowly hands the gun, before silently going back to his podium.]

[onthebusagain]

[Getting the real side eye here, Seymour. ]

[inforapenny]

Do we, uh. Do we know that the bullet in the wall is the one that went through...

I mean, maybe someone else is injured. That would- that would collaborate with the b-blood in the bathroom...

[dontfeedplants]

[Heather why?!]

[dieformymusic]

[Oh no, he's not letting anyone corner Seymour.]

Seymour can't be the killer.

If he shot her he would have blood on his clothes somewhere correct?

[dontfeedplants]

Your my friend too.

[He feels himself tearing up again. Ugh this trial is just too much already.]

I was in the Media room all night last night. I... I suppose that even without the pillow, I couldn't have heard the gunshot.

[He sighs. Gosh that really isn't a very solid alibi, was it?]

Oh my god, I really don't have much proof that I didn't do it, do I?