| General Fiction posted April 21, 2023 |
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Who will win?
A Hairy Case
by damommy
Characters
Adeline Murphy – Plaintiff
Ervin Paul – Plaintiff’s Attorney
Ralph Murphy – Defendant
Terence Randall – Defendant’s Attorney
Joseph Johnson – Presiding Judge
Jury – Members of FanStory
The scene opens on a courtroom with all the trappings – United States flag to the left of the Judge’s bench; State seal about the bench, and “In God We Trust” above that. The gallery has only a few onlookers, mainly people supporting each side, and a few curious onlookers. To the right is the plaintiff’s table, and to the left is the defendant’s table. The judge has entered the courtroom and has taken his chair.
Judge: Be seated. Having heard the witnesses for each side, I’d like the hear from the plaintiff and the defendant. Counselors, are your clients ready to take the stand?
Both attorneys: Yes, Your Honor.
Judge: Then proceed. Let’s keep this short. I will hear arguments from the wife and then the husband. Mr. Paul, call the plaintiff to the stand.
Paul: We intend to show the stress and humiliation Mrs. Murphy has suffered due to her husband’s hair style. Mrs. Murphy, please take the witness stand.
Ralph (shouting): Yeah, get up there after all your pals lied for you. You think you’re so beautiful. I should sue to make you cut your hair! And all that makeup. Do you put it on with a putty knife?
(Adeline walks quietly to the witness chair.)
Judge bangs his gavel: Counselor, control you client. Mr. Murphy, another outburst and I will hold you in contempt.
(Ralph angrily sits down.)
Adeline (after being sworn in): Well, Your Honor, I’ve stood it as long as I can. I’ve hinted, suggested, pleaded, argued, and finally ignored it as long as I could, but no more. It’s embarrassing to be seen with him and his rat’s nest he calls his hair. People stare at him everywhere we go. I don’t blame them. He looks like a sheepdog that got caught in a wind tunnel. He’s constantly slinging his head around to clear the hair from over his eyes. What he calls his hairstyle sticks out in every direction like a fright wig. Heaven only knows when he last combed it. Or washed it. Your Honor, make him cut it and look like a human.
Paul: Tell us what it’s like when you leave the home together. The reactions of those around you.
Adeline: It’s awful how people look at us. They include me in those looks like I’m to blame. I’ve stopped going anywhere with him. I think he’s lost most of his friends because of his lack of personal hygiene.
Judge: Thank you, Mrs. Murphy. Mr. Randall.
Randall: Thank you, Your Honor. Mr. Murphy feels he’s entitled to decide about his appearance, and he has suffered constant nagging day after day. I call him to the witness box.
Ralph (after being sworn in): Well, I think I have every right to a hairstyle of my choosing. If my nag of a wife doesn’t like it, so what? It’s my hair. I’m a free spirit, and my hair is a symbol of that, and as such, I’m not changing it. If people are staring, it’s because they recognize a person who is not afraid to be himself. If it was left up to her, she’d put a bowl on my head and start cutting.
Judge: I thank you both for your testimony. Readers, as you are the members of the jury, I leave the decision up to you. Mrs. Murphy is charging her husband with public humiliation because of the way he chooses to wear his hair. Mr. Murphy is saying he has a right to wear his hair any way he likes, regardless of how his wife feels. Your job is to find the defendant guilty or not guilty. Please post your decision in your review.
Couples Courthouse Script contest entry
Characters
Adeline Murphy – Plaintiff
Adeline Murphy – Plaintiff
Ervin Paul – Plaintiff’s Attorney
Ralph Murphy – Defendant
Terence Randall – Defendant’s Attorney
Joseph Johnson – Presiding Judge
Jury – Members of FanStory
The scene opens on a courtroom with all the trappings – United States flag to the left of the Judge’s bench; State seal about the bench, and “In God We Trust” above that. The gallery has only a few onlookers, mainly people supporting each side, and a few curious onlookers. To the right is the plaintiff’s table, and to the left is the defendant’s table. The judge has entered the courtroom and has taken his chair.
Judge: Be seated. Having heard the witnesses for each side, I’d like the hear from the plaintiff and the defendant. Counselors, are your clients ready to take the stand?
Both attorneys: Yes, Your Honor.
Judge: Then proceed. Let’s keep this short. I will hear arguments from the wife and then the husband. Mr. Paul, call the plaintiff to the stand.
Paul: We intend to show the stress and humiliation Mrs. Murphy has suffered due to her husband’s hair style. Mrs. Murphy, please take the witness stand.
Ralph (shouting): Yeah, get up there after all your pals lied for you. You think you’re so beautiful. I should sue to make you cut your hair! And all that makeup. Do you put it on with a putty knife?
(Adeline walks quietly to the witness chair.)
Judge bangs his gavel: Counselor, control you client. Mr. Murphy, another outburst and I will hold you in contempt.
(Ralph angrily sits down.)
Adeline (after being sworn in): Well, Your Honor, I’ve stood it as long as I can. I’ve hinted, suggested, pleaded, argued, and finally ignored it as long as I could, but no more. It’s embarrassing to be seen with him and his rat’s nest he calls his hair. People stare at him everywhere we go. I don’t blame them. He looks like a sheepdog that got caught in a wind tunnel. He’s constantly slinging his head around to clear the hair from over his eyes. What he calls his hairstyle sticks out in every direction like a fright wig. Heaven only knows when he last combed it. Or washed it. Your Honor, make him cut it and look like a human.
Paul: Tell us what it’s like when you leave the home together. The reactions of those around you.
Adeline: It’s awful how people look at us. They include me in those looks like I’m to blame. I’ve stopped going anywhere with him. I think he’s lost most of his friends because of his lack of personal hygiene.
Judge: Thank you, Mrs. Murphy. Mr. Randall.
Randall: Thank you, Your Honor. Mr. Murphy feels he’s entitled to decide about his appearance, and he has suffered constant nagging day after day. I call him to the witness box.
Ralph (after being sworn in): Well, I think I have every right to a hairstyle of my choosing. If my nag of a wife doesn’t like it, so what? It’s my hair. I’m a free spirit, and my hair is a symbol of that, and as such, I’m not changing it. If people are staring, it’s because they recognize a person who is not afraid to be himself. If it was left up to her, she’d put a bowl on my head and start cutting.
Judge: I thank you both for your testimony. Readers, as you are the members of the jury, I leave the decision up to you. Mrs. Murphy is charging her husband with public humiliation because of the way he chooses to wear his hair. Mr. Murphy is saying he has a right to wear his hair any way he likes, regardless of how his wife feels. Your job is to find the defendant guilty or not guilty. Please post your decision in your review.
 Recognized |
My first attempt at a script. I hope I did it right.
The Editor kept me from lining it up the way I wanted.
Pays
one point
and 2 member cents. The Editor kept me from lining it up the way I wanted.
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