Sophocles Screenwriting Software
www.sophocles.net
"The Sentencing Hearing"
by
Jim Nordgaard
jimn@jriver.com
INT. COURTROOM
Courtroom with DEFENDANT, DEFENSE LAWYER, PROSECUTION, and
BAILIFF.
BAILIFF
The Pig's Eye Inferior Court is now
in session. Judge Pushover presiding.
All rise.
Everyone stands up while the JUDGE ENTERS and sits down.
JUDGE
Be seated.
(looks at papers)
Will the defendant rise.
(pause)
Willie Slickmyer, you have been
tried and convicted of fraud, grand
larceny, and embezzlement on three
counts. I hereby sentence you to 5
years in the state penitentiary and
fine you $150,000. Sentence shall
begin immed-
DEFENSE LAWYER
Objection your honor.
JUDGE
Objection? Wha-?
DEFENSE LAWYER
Your honor, Defense objects to the
sentence.
JUDGE
(looks baffled)
Object? On what grounds?
DEFENSE LAWYER
On the grounds that the defendant
was not consulted on the matter.
JUDGE
(looks uncertain)
Um..I'm not aware of having to
consult with the defendant on
sentencing.
PROSECUTION
You're correct your honor. The
defendant has no right to be
consulted for sentencing.
2.
JUDGE
Right. I knew that. Okay, the
sentence stands.
DEFENSE LAWYER
There is precedence your honor.
JUDGE
Precedence?
DEFENSE LAWYER
Yes your honor. There have been
numerous recent cases of major
corporations being convicted of
breaking the law, but objecting to
their punishment, and instead
opting for a slap on the wrist. My
client merely wishes to exercise
these same privileges.
PROSECUTION
This is outrageous your honor! The
defendant has been found guilty of
serious crimes.
DEFENSE LAWYER
Your honor, my client agrees that
suitable punishment is called for
for the errors in judgment and lack
of management oversight that
resulted in this unfortunate
incident-
PROSECUTION
He backed up to his company's
warehouse and loaded 26 cases of
baby formula destined for
Afghanistan into his van--and even
took the forklift!
DEFENSE LAWYER
-Yet in light of the magnitude of
recent corporate crimes, and their
resultant level of punishment, we
feel the fine for my client of
$150,000 is entire too high.
PROSECUTION
Your honor, the State feels that
$150,000 is quite reasonable
considering it constitutes the same
as the monthly toilet paper
expenditure for one of the
defendant's five yachts.
3.
JUDGE
I see. Does the Defense consider
$100,000 an acceptable fine?
DEFENSE LAWYER
I'm sorry your honor, that is still
to high.
JUDGE
Okay, how about $75,000?
DEFENSE LAWYER
No.
JUDGE
$50,000?
DEFENSE LAWYER
Uh-uh.
JUDGE
$35,000?
DEFENSE LAWYER
Sorry.
JUDGE
$10,000?
DEFENSE LAWYER
Certainly not.
JUDGE
Okay, than what does the defendant
consider reasonable?
DEFENSE LAWYER
An amount equivalent to 50 percent
of the defendant's profits in
turnip futures in the past year,
payable in equal annual installments
over the next 50 years.
PROSECUTION
Objection, your honor! The defense
counsel knows very well that the
defendant divested in his turnips
over 2 years ago, after he
discovered they gave him gas.
DEFENSE LAWYER
In addition, the Defense considers
the prison term entirely too harsh.
4.
PROSECUTION
This is a travesty!
(pounding table)
The State absolutely insists that
the defendant be given a jail term
of some sort.
DEFENSE LAWYER
Defense agrees.
PROSECUTION
You do?
DEFENSE LAWYER
Certainly. The Defense agrees that
some period of confinement is in
order. Defense recommends the
defendant to be exiled for a period
of not less than one year to a
designated offshore correctional
facility.
JUDGE
Offshore correctional facility?
DEFENSE LAWYER
A stateroom on the Royal Caribbean
cruise liner, your honor, expenses
paid for by the State of course.
The defendant shall be confined to
his stateroom for not less than 10
hours per night, except for early
morning swims in the pool. And
let's see..., meals shall be
delivered to the defendant's rooms,
except on occasions when the
defendant is invited to the
captain's table. Oh, yes, the
defendant shall receive no visitors
to his room, unless the defendant
so requests them. And of course,
the defendant shall have frequent
access to his lawyer, which of
could will require a stateroom of
his own...
END
 WaZoo! |
 Talent Pool |
 Past Episodes |
 Ideas |
 Go to home page |
 Breaking News |
 Production Schedule |
 |
This site designed and maintained by Celtic Fringe Web Design