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

[dontfeedplants]

[Oh dear god the crew is even more cruel than he thought. Poor Natalie...]

But... why shoot her with my gun? Don't they have their own guns?

[trettende]

Seriously!?

[ I mean on hand, he's concerned and on the other hand-- jesus christ. ]

So the blood in the bathroom, that was yours?

[tellthestory]

I don't even think it was yours. I could have been, I guess, but I think they tried to frame you.

[aflatouttahell]

The... the crew?

[Jezebel just... stares. What the hell. This is unfair, and she knows a thing or two about unfair!!]

Then why the hell are we in a trial?

[tellthestory]

...I'm fine. It wasn't that bad, they just winged me.

[tellthestory]

I don't know! Because everything here is terrible?

[dontfeedplants]

[He sighs.]

... I guess it only makes sense that they would try to frame me, huh?

[tellthestory]

...it's not your fault.

[trettende]

Oh, good. You're not hurt then?

[ HAHA is that concern?? What?? No way. ]

So the second bullet... it disappeared because of the crew? Who are we supposed to vote for?

[inforapenny]

Well- that's. That's that, then.

The crew punished her. For breaking a rule that she wasn't even breaking.

[aflatouttahell]

Yeah, I got that memo again today! Right around the time when I figured out I liked a girl and less than twenty-four hours later she was dead!

[Okay. A breath.]

Sorry, just... unless they want us to blame you, I don't understand what we're supposed to do here.

[tellthestory]

........vote for me. Billy Harris. Because we - we never switched back, it's been me back here the whole time, so they won't do anything to you, B...

It never would've happened if it weren't for me.

[tellthestory]

...I tried to save her. It all happened so fast, I...

[aflatouttahell]

It's... you're fine. I'd suspect me too.

[inforapenny]

You didn't do anything! You tried to save her, there- there has to be something...

[dontfeedplants]

That's not what I mean. It's... it's a long story.

But it's not your fault either. It really wasn't.

[inforapenny]

...Come out here. Please.

[There's almost a note of desperation to his voice.]

[tellthestory]

[About that]

[tellthestory]

No. You know how this goes, B. You know what has to happen now.

[allicareabout]

Oh, there's something.

Assuming that's the truth, then technically speaking, no one but the crew member that shot her needs to die.

I made sure to verify in the second trial that intent follows the bullet - whatever their reason for shooting was, the person that pulled the trigger is the one that killed Natalie, regardless of their reason for pulling the trigger in the first place.

Coercion, accident, mistaken identity - none of that matters here. What matters is who pulled the trigger.

[inforapenny]

This isn't like what happened before. This isn't even like the last case. You didn't kill her.

[onthebusagain]

There would be a trial, and we would have to vote for the victim.

He also warned that with the mole, they would try and make it look like a murder.

[tellthestory]

Look at the podiums, though. You can't vote for the crew.

[dontfeedplants]

What if we just not vote? They can't execute someone we never voted for.

[dechagny]

[Rule Five - Cast members may not interfere with or attempt to harm Opera staff - unless given permission.]

So they...had permission to shoot her? Because they thought - they thought she was trying to hurt the Balladeer, but she...was simply yelling at you? Is that right?