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]

[He waits. Takes a breath.]

...Okay, Billy. I think... I think that's enough.

[tellthestory]

...what? N-no, wait -

[inforapenny]

I know- I know you're scared. But you have to play your role.

[tellthestory]

We all do. You can't do this.

[inforapenny]

[He walks over to the stage and hoists himself up - still staying outside the curtain.]

We're all in this together. Remember your note? If... if you were involved in this, you owe them an explanation.

[tellthestory]

[.....]

Fine. Fine. I didn't mean for any of this to happen.

But it's my fault.

[inforapenny]

...You know where I was last night. What happened?

[tellthestory]

I...was going back to the box office. To get backstage and...investigate. I ran into Natalie. We talked a little, and she got mad at me because I wouldn't tell her who the mole was. And I mean, she was tired, we're all tired...she wasn't going to do anything to me, she was just - she was just yelling!

The crew shot her. Because - because of Rule Five.

[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?

[tellthestory]

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

[dontfeedplants]

[He sighs.]

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

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

[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?

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

[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.

[inforapenny]

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

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

[tellthestory]

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

[dieformymusic]

And they almost got away with it!

Because of you and them, we almost killed someone I--

[Birb clamp shut.]

[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?

[tellthestory]

...pretty much.

[trettende]

Did you two switch again?!

[ He better not have sung his duet with Billy....!! ]

[dontfeedplants]

[Wait...]

Billy? What are you talking about...?

[He doesn't mean...?]

[dechagny]

[Wait-]

Billy?!