all rise

[self_composed]

No plea bargain is struck. The jury is picked, and Lucinda asks a few random ones whether they have accepted bribes and sees who looks nervous: no one, as it turns out, so she strikes people who are too young to have children and one fellow who looks like he hates the entire world for her picks. Paul strikes a grandmotherly type and someone who admits when asked that they don't think much of rich people.

"All rise," comes the command as Judge Roberts walks in.

Comments

[edgeofyourseat]

"Well, I didn't."

[self_composed]

"You are still under oath," Lucinda points out.

But if that doesn't shake anything loose, she moves on. "Assuming you were being entirely candid, would you describe Mr. Hammond, Sr., as having a temper?"

[edgeofyourseat]

"Yes," he says, reluctantly.

[self_composed]

"Have you ever heard him say, or imply, or suggest by way of demeanor, that he intended to strike his son or had done so in the past?" This is intentionally overbroad.

[edgeofyourseat]

"...I don't remember?" he tries.

[self_composed]

"Really," Lucinda says. "So you don't think that would have seemed remarkable to you, if your employer had announced that he was going to commit a violent crime? It could have slipped your mind?"

[edgeofyourseat]

"You didn't say announce, you said suggest by demeanour," he says. "How do I know what a man who's going to hit his son looks like? I've never seen anyone do it!"

[self_composed]

"I also said say and imply," Lucinda says implacably. "I'm not expecting you to be a psychologist. So," she continues, "are you saying that you do not believe that your employer ever struck his son? That seems vanishingly unlikely to you, because most people don't hit their sons and you have never seen evidence otherwise, as you've explained?"

[edgeofyourseat]

"...yes?"

[self_composed]

"You don't sound sure," Lucinda says. "Are you sure? It's all right - as long as you're sincerely sure, it's not perjury to say so."

[edgeofyourseat]

Ohhhhh boy.

"I'm... not sure... anymore," says Theo.

[self_composed]

"No?" Lucinda asks, like she's surprised. "And why is that?"

[edgeofyourseat]

He glances quickly over at Alice, who returns him an utterly flat look.

"...I've never really... thought about it like this... before."

[self_composed]

"Can you elaborate, please?" Lucinda says.

[edgeofyourseat]

This would be so much easier if Theo did not consider himself a person of integrity. But he does.

"...I tried not to think about it at all."

[self_composed]

"Think about what?" Lucinda asks.

[edgeofyourseat]

"Things that are none of my business."

He is aware as he says it how terrible it sounds.

[self_composed]

"Well, now that you're thinking about it, please tell us about any evidence you may have seen regarding the allegations at hand," Lucinda says.

[Is he always this cagey?] Bella asks Alice.

[edgeofyourseat]

[He hates telling anybody anything about anybody else. I'm half sure he used to work for a family a lot shadier than mine.]

"I didn't... notice anything," says Theo, with great difficulty. "Nothing specific. Nothing that stood out."

[self_composed]

"Then why are you so unsure about whether your employer could have been abusing his son? Please, explain," Lucinda says.

[She is being way more patient than I would,] Bella remarks.

[edgeofyourseat]

This is the point at which Theo decides to cut the bullshit just to bring this torture to an end.

"I never noticed anything that made me think, at the time, that my employer could have been abusing his son," he says. "But the general impression I've formed of his personality over the years makes it not that surprising to hear that he could've been."

Alice is careful to only laugh on the inside.

[self_composed]

"Thank you," says Lucinda, rewarding this sudden openness. "No further questions."

Paul declines to question this one. Or maybe he's just hoping to doze a little longer.

[edgeofyourseat]

Mr. Hammond is scowling thunderously; Theo flees back to his seat as soon as he is dismissed.

[self_composed]

Lucinda calls up Mrs. Hammond. Swearing in yada yada.

"Mrs. Hammond - I believe you are still technically Mrs. Hammond? Would you prefer Judith?" Lucinda says solicitously.

[edgeofyourseat]

"Yes I would," she says firmly.