Dallas Courthouse Judicial System July 12, 2010

Lawyer Attending Defense: Jeff Michael

Representing Saria Jones

District Attorney: Angie Simora

Representing: District 4

Witnesses: Theresa and Michael Bronardi

Attending Stenographer: Della Mitch

Case Summary: Prosecuting: D.A.

Charges against defense: Theft and Burglary on 2 accounts

Proposed sentence: 2 months in Jail, 1 year Bail.

Residing Judge: Amara Williams

Court Guard: Jimie Walker

Bailiff: Kerrie Summers

Scene 1:

Court Guard: All Rise for the Honorable Judge Williams Residing.

(All around the courthouse people stand.)

(Enter Rear Door: Amara Williams)

A.W: You may be seated.

(All attending sit. There is a rustle of clothing as the attending are seated.)

Bailiff: Case # 798

(Stepping across to center of room from right, handing Judge case file.)

A. W: State the case.

Bailiff: District 4 against Saria Jones on 2 counts of Theft and Burglary.

A.W: Thank you Bailiff. Prosecution, State your case.

(D.A. Stands)

D.A: Prosecution would like to call first witness

A.W: Very well

D.A: Would Theresa Bronardi please take the stand

(Theresa approaches the witness stand. The Bailiff crosses to center of Courtroom to swear in the witness.)

Bailiff: Please raise your right hand and repeat after me.

(Witness raises her right hand)

I solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me God.

Theresa: I solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me God.

D.A: Mrs. Bronardi, Were you at home on the night of January 12, 1996?

T. B: Yes Ma’am.

D.A: Did you see the accused entering the home of a nearby neighbor?

T.B: No.

D.A: Was your neighbor home on that night?

T.B. No Ma’am.

D.A: Where was your neighbor that night?

T.B: She was at her parent’s home in Austin.

D.A: What alerted you to the fact that your neighbor’s home was being invaded?

T.B: I looked out the window and saw lights flashing in the window.

D.A: Did you see the accused leaving the home?

T.B: Yes Ma’am.

D.A: Was she carrying anything when she left?

T.B: Yes

D.A: What was she carrying?

T.B: Well...... (uneasily).........she was carrying a duffel bag

D.A: Thank you. The Prosecution rests, Your Honor.

A.W: Defense? Would you like to Cross Examine the witness?

J. M: Yes, Your Honor.

J.M: Theresa, was there any light on near your neighbor’s home, a streetlamp, for example?

T.B: No, Sir.

J.M: What was the weather like on the night of this invasion?

T.B: It was raining. There was some lightning, and thunder. Cars were driving slowly by. That was why I was at the window. My Husband was out, I was alone, and worried.

J.M: Can you be certain then Ma’am, that what you saw was Saria Jones leaving the home of a nearby neighbor carrying a duffel bag believed to be containing stolen possessions?

T.B: (Looking down at her hands) Not entirely, Sir. But I know I saw a woman leaving Emily’s home. She was the same size, dark in hair color and complexion.

J.M: Thank you.

(J.M. Walks back to his seat.)

D.A: Prosecution rests your Honor.

A.W: Witness, you may step down.

(T.B rises and goes to her seat beside her husband.)

A.W: This court announces a recess. Be back here at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow

morning.

Bailiff: All Rise.

(All in the courtroom rise. Judge Williams leaves the room. One by one people file out of the courtroom. Last remaining, D.A. and Defense attorney.)

(Court Guard leads Saria out of the courtroom. She is constantly under supervision, but is not being arrested.)

J.M: Lunch?

D.A: Is that really such a good Idea Jeff?

(They both turn to leave the courtroom)

J.M: Are you hungry?

D.A. Yes. But.....

J.M: Well, let’s go.

(Silently, they walk through the door to the courtroom and the court guard

Returns to lock it up for the lunch hour.)

Scene 2

Camera goes to Dolly’s Diner

(Camera Approaches D.A. and J.M. eating slowly, while discussing. The scene

begins silently, while they work at their plates. As J.M. stops eating, the

camera picks up

sound.)

J.M: So, how’s your sister?

D.A: She’s doing okay. High school’s a bit of a difference, but she’s doing well

enough.

Her grades are falling, but she’s trying her best to keep up.

J.M: Hey, that’s all that counts isn’t it?

D.A: I guess. I just wish she could fit in a bit better....

J.M: And your parents? How are they?

D.A: Mom and Dad...well, they’re talking about moving again. Not out of town or

anything, they wouldn’t go anywhere without me, and I can’t give up my job now

that I’ve come this far. They were discussing a trailer set out in the woods a

ways. I just think I’d worry about them being out there.

J.M: Yeah, I see what you mean. I can understand that.

(There is a silence. Then J.M Speaks again)

J.M: And you, Angie, How are you?

D.A: I’m going okay. I guess after we received word of Tim’s death, I just wish I could move on. Something’s just keeping me back. I think something went wrong over there. I don’t think it was a freak accident.

(There is referring to Iran. Tim was on assignment to protect the ambassador to America in Iranian territories shortly after the Persian Gulf War.)

J.M: (Frowning) Are you saying you think Tim was murdered?

D.A: No, just that the Marines aren’t saying everything. There’s something they are keeping back.

J.M: Well, that’s possible. He was there for his country, I don’t see what they could be hiding, but if it’s something big, they’d do anything to keep it a secret.

D.A: That’s just it. I may never know the truth of Tim’s death, but there’s nothing I can do about it.

J.M: I’m sorry.

D.A: I was considering a changing of careers....I mean, staying a lawyer, but maybe switching to the Judges Advocate General system. It might be fun. I think I would do very well there. What do you think?

J.M: (Sarcastically) Are you serious??

D.A: (Noting but ignoring the sarcasm.) Yes, I’m serious. It’s always been my dream to participate in the important stuff. And maybe that way I can get some clearance and find out what really happened over there.

J.M: (Seriously) Well, good luck.

(Another silence)

J.M: Are you ready?

D.A: Yeah, I guess.

(They stand and walk to the register counter. J.M insists on paying for the meal.)

(Camera moves to J.M and D.A standing in front of Apartment 211 of Dallas Apartments.)

(They look at each other silently. J.M moves in for a kiss, eager to show his true emotions, but Angie turns away. Fitting the key to her apartment door and turning the lock. Leaving J.M anticipating a kiss that might never be.)

D.A: Goodbye Jeff. I’ll see you tomorrow.

J.M: Yeah, (rubbing the back of his neck) see you tomorrow.

Dallas Courthouse Judicial System July 13, 2010

Dallas Courthouse Judicial System

Lawyer Attending Defense: Jeff Michael

Representing Saria Jones

District Attorney: Angie Simora

Representing: District 4

Witnesses: Theresa and Michael Bronardi

Attending Stenographer: Della Mitch

Case Summary: Prosecuting: D.A.

Charges against defense: Theft and Burglary on 2 accounts

Proposed sentence: 2 months in Jail, 1 year Bail.

Residing Judge: Amara Williams

Court Guard: Jimie Walker

Bailiff: Karrie Summers

Scene 3

(Camera Returns again to Courtroom.)

Court Guard: All Rise for the Honorable Judge Williams Residing.

(All in the courtroom stand.)

A.W: You may be seated. Let’s continue with where we left off.

(There is a shuffling through papers as the Bailiff looks through a stack of files for the case 789 case file. She carries it over and hands it to Judge Williams.)

Judge A.W: Are there any other witnesses to be called aside from Theresa

Bronardi?

Bailiff: No Your Honor.

A.W: Very Well. Is there any other evidence that needs to be entered into the case before the verdict may be reached?

Bailiff: No, Your Honor.

A.W: There will be a 5 minute recess while I determine the verdict.

Court Guard: All Rise

(All in the courtroom rise)

(Jeff turns to Saria.)

J.M: Saria, be prepared. The judge is great and all, but you never know how they will interpret evidence and witness accounts.

S.J: I understand.

(The rest of the 5 minutes passes by in silence.)

The door to the Judge’s room opens, and Judge Williams walks through it.

Court Guard: All Rise.

(All in the courtroom rise)

J.W :( Taking her seat) You may be seated.

(All sit.)

J.W: Upon reviewing the evidence presented in this case, I have reached my final verdict. I hereby find Saria Jones Not guilty for the counts of Theft and Burglary. Ms. Jones, you are free to go.

S.J: Thank you Your honor.

Scene 4

(Camera moves to a small gas station, next to a large cinema complex. At a counter inside stands a teenage girl. She is wiping off the countertop, trying to clean up a mess of cola left by an angry customer.

Tanilla Avamera: (Speaking to no one but herself) ooeeewwghhh, I wish people like him would just disappear!

(A customer approaches, another young girl. She smiles a bratty smile, and laughs.)

Customer: So, you’re stuck behind a counter huh? I can just imagine what it must be like for a wild person...like yourself, to be limited to so little a space to work in. (Smiling yet again) I bet you wouldn’t like it much if I decided to steal a little something.. I bet that would cost you your job. (Smirking, the customer walks away.)

T.A: Yeah, get out of here you little brat! God, I hope they got that on tape!

(A smirk is all that comes back in reply.)

T.A: (Turning back to cleaning up her mess. She regrets that she is the odd one out. She knows that she should try going back to school, but she knows that people would only ostracize her more given the chance) I can’t stand this job.

(Noting the time on the clock above the Cigarette shelf, Tanilla locks up the cash register and comes out from behind the counter. It is time to close shop, and she pulls the keys from her pocketbook. Turning the night security camera on, before she shuts out the lights, she walks through the door, flipping the open sign to closed, and making

sure, as she walked out, that no one was still in the shop.)

(She climbs onto a bicycle after unlocking the combination lock attached to the chain that goes around the front tire and a small circular chain link, which is tightly screwed into the side of the building.)

Scene 5

Later That Night

(Camera moves to a small living room in the center of a doublewide trailer. Amara Williams sits watching a Touched by an Angel program on television. She is eating potatoes and corn, and it is apparent that she has already eaten some type of juicy meat.)

(The telephone rings and she picks it up. The other line is silent, until there is a click, indicating that someone just decided to hang up. As is a force of habit for someone who is 8 months along into a wearisome pregnancy, she covers her belly with her hand, as if

to protect the unborn child.

Amara picks up the phone, and places it at her ear. Nothing, no dial tone, no beep. At this point, she begins to be frightened.

She hangs the phone back on the stand, as if it might ring, though she knows that it won’t. Alone, as usual, she was terrified. Nothing had frightened her, until she became a judge, and with the career gained the threats that are made from convicts, and their friends and relatives. Slowly, she turns all lights on in the downstairs of the house.

Picking up a glass soda bottle that had been sitting on the counter, with the obvious knowledge that it would do her little good, but possibly allow her a few moments of time with which to avoid an intruder. Then, still frightened but considerably calmer, she goes

into her bedroom. There, she knows, is the cell phone her ex had given her, in case she needed to call.

She wouldn’t be calling him this evening, but the phone could contact the police, or at least the security guard she had told to go out this evening so he could get some relaxation, and she a bit of private time.

She picks up the phone, and dials the number on her guard’s beeper, types in her number and leaves 911 as the signal.

Only a few minutes later she hears a loud bang, as an upstairs window slams shut, and she looks cautiously out the window of her bedroom. There is a shadow running across the front lawn away from the house.

As she stands there, sirens are heard from the approaching police cars. They pull into the driveway, and she turns from the window.

Scene 6

Camera moves to a lawyer’s office, which is tidy. There are awards on the wall behind a mahogany desk, which looks toward the door, and away from a large solid glass window. There are no panes. The window looks out over a small park, and there are children playing their after school games. Among these children is Angie, the center of attention among children, because she enjoys them so much.

Jeff thinks back to the time in high school when they dated. It was so different then. They both had dreams, and neither of them were willing to let the other get in the way. Until the other day in the diner, Angie had barely spoken with him.

(In a flashback: He remembers back to the day when they went on a long picnic, in a small quiet park. He remembers the smell of her long blonde hair, and her dark

captivating blue eyes, those eyes that had looked him in the eye late that

evening, and

told him that they couldn’t keep on like this, like there would be no end to

their love.)

There is a knock on the office door, which brings the man to attention, sitting

at his

desk. He looks up and rolls his eyes...realizing that it is his brother

knocking outside his

door.

J.M: Come in.

(The doorknob turns slowly, as if the person entering were trying to give the effect often given in movies when the nozzle of a gun is pushed slightly through the opening between the door and the frame.)

J.M: Cut it out Timmy. Come on in, what’s up with you?

T.M: How did you know it was me?

J.M: That whole door thing really ruined it for you.

T.M: Oh. I’ll remember that next time I’ve got news for you.

J.M: What’s that?

T.M: Well, you remember that girl you introduced me to a few months ago? At the Farmer’s ball?

J.M: Oh, yeah, what about her?

T.M: We’re engaged.

(Acting with surprise, he stands, shocked, and shakes his brother’s hand, his mouth still gaping open; he utters a few words before sitting again.)

T.M: I want you to be my best man.

J.M: I’d be honored. It would be nothing short of marvelous. Have you told Mom?

T.M: Yes, I just broke the news to her, an hour ago. I had to leave Denise there; Mom wouldn’t let her out of her sight for happiness.

(At this point, Jeff glanced out the window and caught sight of Angie leaving the park.)

J.M: Oh. Hey, Tim, I’m really happy for you, and I hope you can forgive me for running out on you just now, but I’ve got a fish of my own to catch.

(Jeff runs out through the office building and as fast as he can, runs across the park. As he catches up with Angie his rapid breathing prevents him from speaking for a few moments, and they walk in silence.)

Once he has caught his breath, he turns to her. She continues to walk without glancing his way, as if she were contemplating his business there.

J.M: Angie?

A.S: Yeah Jeff?

J.M: What are you doing this afternoon?

A.S. I was going to go home and put my feet up and relax. Why?

J.M: Would you like to go out for dinner with me?

A.S: Is it safe to try this Jeff. I mean, what if a relationship doesn’t work out? I don’t want to wind up heart broke. I don’t think I could take it if we weren’t friends.

J.M. I know Angie, and I respect that, but I think I love you......Oh, God, I sound like a lovesick boy!

A.S: That’s what you are isn’t it??

J.M: Oh, that hurt.

A.S: I’m sorry.