(The extracts below are taken from the script "Witness for the Prosecution", which is an adaptation of Agatha Christie's story of the same name.)
Characters
Leonard Stephen Vole: a handsome young man of about thirty, who is accused of murdering Mrs Emily French
Christine Vole (Helm): Leonard Vole's wife, a good-looking woman of over thirty, of Austrian origin
Sir Wilfred Robart: Leonard Vole's Counsel for the Defence, one of the finest and most experienced barristers1 in London
Mayherne: Leonard Vole's solicitor1
Myers: Counsel for the Prosecution
Hearne: Chief Inspector of New Scotland Yard2
Carter: Sir Wilfred's office clerk
The Judge (in court)
Court Clerk (in court)
Scene one
(In Sir Wilfred's Office. Mr Mayherne and his client, Leonard Vole, come to Sir Wilfred's office. Mr Mayherne urges Sir Wilfred to take the case of Leonard Vole, who may be arrested any minute on the charge of murdering Mrs Emily French. Mrs Emily French, a wealthy widow, was murdered two days ago. Mrs French left £80,000 to Leonard Vole. Leonard Vole had visited Mrs French earlier in the evening on the night of the murder. It is quite obvious that he is regarded as the principal and logical suspect in the case.
Sir Wilfred hesitates he has not yet recovered from a serious heart attack, with which he has been laid up in hospital for two months. The doctors have forbidden him to take up criminal cases. Miss Plimsoll, a trained nurse, sees to it that he follows the doctors instructions. Therefore Sir Wilfred refuses to take Leonard Vole's case. He starts to go up to his bedroom he has to have an after-lunch nap. Suddenly he sees two cigars in Mr Mayherne's vest pocket. He is tempted he is not allowed to smoke. He returns and invites Mayherne into his study, saying he would like to give him a word of advice.)
Mayherne: It's the case of Mrs Emily French. You've probably seen the reports in the press. She was a middle-aged widow, rather well-off, living with a housekeeper at Hampstead. Mr Vole had been with her earlier in the evening. When the housekeeper returned from her day off, she found her mistress dead, struck on the back of the head and killed.
Sir Wilfred: I see.
Mayherne: Vole seems a harmless chap caught in the web of circumstantial evidence. Perhaps if I were to give you more of the details you might suggest the strongest line of defence.
Sir Wilfred: Probably I'd think better if you gave me one of those cigars.
Mayherne (giving him a cigar): Of course. There are no previous convictions naturally. He's a man of good character3 with an excellent war record.4 You'd like him a lot.
Sir Wilfred: Give me a light, please.
Mayherne: I am sorry I haven't got any matches. Let me get you some. (Starting for the door): Mr Vole may have some matches.
Sir Wilfred: Lord, no. You don't know Miss Plimsoll. This will take all our cunning. (Opening the door, to Leonard Vole): Young man, come here, please. Your solicitor and I feel you may be able to enlighten me on a rather important point.
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(Vole comes in.)
Sir Wilfred: Give me a match
Vole: Sorry, I never carry them.
Sir Wilfred: What? (To Mayherne): You said I'd like him.
Vole: But I do have a lighter.
Sir Wilfred: You are quite right, Mayherne, I do like him. (Returning the lighter): Thank you. Can you imagine Miss Plimsoll's face if she saw me now!
Vole: Then let's make absolutely sure that she doesn't. (He turns the key in the lock.)
Sir Wilfred: Splendid! All the instincts of a skilled criminal.
Vole: (smiling): Thank you, sir.
Sir Wilfred: Sit here. Young man, you may or may not have murdered a middle-aged widow, but you've certainly saved the life of an elderly barrister.
Vole: I haven't murdered anybody. It's absurd! Christine, that's my wife, she thought I might be implicated and that I needed a lawyer. That's why I went to see Mr Mayherne. Now he thinks he needs a lawyer1 and now I have two lawyers. It's rather silly, don't you think?
Mayherne: Vole, I am a solicitor. Sir Wilfred is a barrrister. Only a barrister can actually plead a case in court.
Vole: Oh, I see. Well, I saw in a paper that poor Mrs French had been found dead with her head bashed in. It was also said in the papers that the police were very anxious to interview me since I visited Mrs French that evening. So naturally I went along to the police station.
Sir Wilfred: Did they caution you?
Vole: I don't quite know. They asked me if I'd like to make a statement and said they'd write it down and that it might be used against me in court. Were they cautioning me?
Sir Wilfred: Well, it can't be helped now.
Vole: They were very polite. They seemed quite satisfied.
Mayherne: They seemed satisfied. Mr Vole, you think you made a statement and that's the end of it. Isn't it obvious to you, Mr Vole, that you will be regarded as the principal and logical suspect in this case? I am very much afraid you'll be arrested.
Vole: But I've done nothing. Why should I be arrested?
Mayherne: Relax, Mr Vole. I am putting you in the hands of the finest and most experienced barrister in London.
Sir Wilfred: No, Mayherne, let's get this straight. I may have done something highly unethical. I've taken your cigar. I am not taking your case I can't, it's forbidden. My doctors would never allow it. (To Vole): I am truly sorry, young man. However, if you'd like the case handled by someone of these chambers I recommend Mr Brogan-Moore. (To Mayherne): You know Brogan-Moore?
Mayherne: Yes, I do, a very able man. I second Sir Wilfred's recommendation.
Vole: All right, sir, if you say so.
Scene two
(In Sir Wilfred's study. Leonard Vole is arrested and taken to jail. Brogan-Moore, the barrister Sir Wilfred recommended for the defence counsel and Sir Wilfred are waiting for Mrs Vole. Suddenly she appears in the doorway. Mrs Vole is a good-looking woman, self-possessed and very quiet. So quiet as to make one uneasy. From the very first Sir Wilfred is conscious he is up against something that he does not understand.)
Sir Wilfred (not noticing Mrs Vole, to Brogan-Moore): Oh, about Mrs Vole. Handle her gently, especially in breaking the news of the arrest. Bear in mind she is a foreigner, so be prepared for hysterics and even a fainting spell.5 Better have smelling salts6 ready.
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Christine (standing in the doorway): I don't think that will be necessary. I never faint because I am not sure that I will fall gracefully and I never use smelling salts. I'm Christine Vole.
Sir Wilfred (holding out his hand to her): How do you do. This is Mr Brogan-Moore.
Brogan-Moore: How do you do.
Sir Wilfred: I am Wilfred Robart. My dear Mrs Vole, I'm afraid we have rather bad news for you.
Christine: Don't be afraid, Sir Wilfred, I'm quite disciplined.
Sir Wilfred: There is nothing to be alarmed at.
Christine: Leonard has been arrested and charged with murder. Is that it?
Sir Wilfred: Yes.
Christine: I knew he would be. I told him so.
Brogan-Moore: Mrs Vole, you know that Mrs French left your husband money?
Christine: Yes, a lot of money.
Brogan-Moore: Of course your husband had no previous knowledge of this bequest?7
Christine: Is that what he told you?
Brogan-Moore: Well, surely, Mrs Vole, you're not suggesting anything different?
Christine: Oh, no, no. I do not suggest anything!
Sir Wilfred: Pardon me, Brogan-Moore. Mrs Vole, do you mind if I ask you a question?
Christine: Go right ahead,8 Sir Wilfred.
Sir Wilfred: Mrs Vole, you realize your husband's entire defence rests on his word and yours?
Christine: I realize that.
Sir Wilfred: And that the jury will be quite sceptical of the word of a man accused of murder when supported only by the word of his wife?
Christine: I realize that too.
Sir Wilfred: Mrs Vole, I assume you want to help your husband.
Christine: Of course I want to help Leonard. I want to help Mr Brogan-Moore and I want to help you, Sir Wilfred.
Sir Wilfred: Now, Mrs Vole, this is very important. On the night of the murder your husband came home before nine-thirty. Is that correct?
Christine: Precisely. Isn't that what he wants me to say? (The two lawyers exchange bewildered glances. Her answers puzzle them.)
Brogan-Moore: But isn't it the truth?
Christine: Of course. But when I told it to the police I do not think they believed me. Maybe I didn't say it well. Maybe because of my accent.
Brogan-Moore: You are aware of course that when I put you in the witness box, you will be sworn in and you will testify under oath?
Christine: Yes... "Leonard came at 9.26 precisely and did not go out again." "The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth!" (The two barristers are astounded.)
Sir Wilfred: Mrs Vole, do you love your husband?
Christine: Leonard thinks I do.
Sir Wilfred: Well, do you?
Christine:' Am I already under oath?
Sir Wilfred: Mrs Vole, do you know that under British law you cannot be called to give testimony damaging to your husband?
Christine: How very convenient!
Sir Wilfred (indignant at Christine's cynicism): We are dealing with a capital crime! The prosecution will try to hang your husband!
Christine (unemotionally): He is not my husband. (Sir Wilfred and Brogan-Moore are shocked.)
Christine: Leonard and I went through a form of marriage in Hamburg, but I had a husband living at the time somewhere in East Germany.
Sir Wilfred: Did you tell Leonard?
Christine: I did not. It would have been stupid to tell him. He would not have married me and I would have been left behind to starve.
Brogan-Moore: But he did marry you and brought you safely to this country. Don't you think you should be very grateful to him?
Christine: One can get very tired of gratitude.
Sir Wilfred: Your husband loves you very much, does he not?
Christine: Leonard? He worships the ground I walk on.9
Sir Wilfred: And you?
Christine: You want to know too much. Auf Wiedersehen, gentlemen.
Sir Wilfred (bitterly): Thank you for coming, Mrs Vole. Your visit has been most reassuring.
Christine: Do not worry, Sir Wilfred. I will give him an alibi and I shall be very convincing. There will be tears in my eyes when I say: "Leonard came home at nine twenty-six precisely."
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Sir Wilfred: You are a very remarkable woman, Mrs Vole.
Christine: And you are satisfied, I hope. (She goes out.)
Sir Wilfred: I'm damned if I'm satisfied! That woman is up to something,10 but what?
Brogan-Moore: Well, the prosecution will break her down in no time11 when I put her in the witness-box. You know defending this case is going to be quite one-sided. I haven't got much to go on,12 have I? The fact is I've got nothing.
Sir Wilfred: Let me ask you something... Do you believe Leonard Vole is innocent? (Brogan-Moore does not answer.) Do you? (As Brogan-Moore still keeps silent he repeats the question.) Do you?
Brogan-Moore: I'm not sure. I'm sorry, Wilfred. Of course I'll do my best.
Sir Wilfred: It's all right, Brogan-Moore. I'll take it from here.13
(to be continued)
C o mmentary
1. barrister is alawyer who has the right to plead a case in courts of law in Great Britain (, ). To be a barrister a man must be a member of one of the four Inns of Court (law societies which have the exclusive right of admitting persons to the bar) and pass the Bar examination. When a young barrister begins his professional career he must join the 'chambers' (the office) of an established barrister. S olicitor is a member of the legal profession competent to advise clients, instruct and prepare cases for barristers, but not to appear as advocate except in certain lower courts (, , ). In order to become a solicitor a person must spend some time working in the office of an already established firm of solicitors, and successfully pass the examinations of the Law Society. L awyer: one who has studied law and practises law, esp. an attorney or a solicitor ().
2. New Scotland Yard is the name of the London Police headquarters. Scotland Yard is the name of the Criminal Investigation Department of New Scotland Yard.
3. a man of good character: a man of good reputation
4. an excellent war record: excellent conduct during military service (in the war)
5. have a fainting spell: to lose consciousness
6. smelling salts: a mixture with a sharp smell that helps to bring somebody who has fainted back to consciousness
7. bequest: smth. that is left to smb. after one's death
8. Go right ahead, Sir Wilfred (here): "Ask your question, Sir Wilfred."
9. He worships the ground I walk on. "He adores me."
10. That woman is up to something.... "That woman is planning something...."
11. ...the prosecution will break her down in no time: "...the prosecution will make her lose her self-control very quickly."
12. I haven't got much to goon. "I have very little evidence to build the defence upon."
13. I'll take it from here. "I'll take the case over from you."
