by agatha christie -...
TRANSCRIPT
Witness for the ProsecutionWitness for the Prosecution
ByBy AgathaAgatha ChristieChristie
Leonard VoleLeonard Vole
The young man, 27, accused of murderThe young man, 27, accused of murder
Romaine VoleRomaine Vole
His foreign suspicious wife, in her midHis foreign suspicious wife, in her mid--thirtiesthirties
Emily FrenchEmily French
The murdered woman, 56The murdered woman, 56
Janet MackenzieJanet Mackenzie
FrenchFrench’’s long time housekeeper whos long time housekeeper whodislikes Leonard Voledislikes Leonard Vole
Sir Wilfred RobardsSir Wilfred Robards
VoleVole’’s lead defense lawyers lead defense lawyer
Mr. MayhewMr. Mayhew
VoleVole’’s second council, the lawyer who hes second council, the lawyer who heoriginally consulted.originally consulted.
The Mysterious WomanThe Mysterious Woman
The mysterious woman who meets withThe mysterious woman who meets withRobards and Mayhew to deliver letters.Robards and Mayhew to deliver letters.
Additional CharactersAdditional Characters
Dr. Wyatt (medical examiner)Dr. Wyatt (medical examiner)
Mr. Clegg (forensic expert)Mr. Clegg (forensic expert)
SummarySummary
Though charged with the murder ofThough charged with the murder ofMiss Emily French, Leonard VoleMiss Emily French, Leonard Voleswears his innocence. He tells hisswears his innocence. He tells hislawyers that his devoted wife,lawyers that his devoted wife,Romaine, will give him an alibi.Romaine, will give him an alibi.
SummarySummary
Romaine declares that she hatesRomaine declares that she hatesVole and that he is not her legalVole and that he is not her legalhusband.husband.
Vole goes on trial but things are notVole goes on trial but things are notgoing too well. There is no realgoing too well. There is no realdefense and his wife swears underdefense and his wife swears underoath that he is guilty.oath that he is guilty.
SummarySummary
Towards the conclusion of the trial, aTowards the conclusion of the trial, amysterious woman brings letters tomysterious woman brings letters toSir Wilfred Robards that demonstrateSir Wilfred Robards that demonstrateRomaineRomaine’’s intention to incriminates intention to incriminateher husband.her husband.
In court the next day the letters areIn court the next day the letters arepresented and Vole is found notpresented and Vole is found notguilty.guilty.
SummarySummary
Vole is freed. Romaine meetsVole is freed. Romaine meetsRobards, Mayhew, and Leonard afterRobards, Mayhew, and Leonard afterthe trial and reveals how she workedthe trial and reveals how she workedthe lawyers and the jury.the lawyers and the jury.
Vole tells Romaine that he is leavingVole tells Romaine that he is leavingher for a younger woman. She stabsher for a younger woman. She stabshim and he immediately dies.him and he immediately dies.Romaine pronounces him,Romaine pronounces him, ““Guilty.Guilty.””
Act IAct I
Mayhew, a local lawyer, brings LeonardMayhew, a local lawyer, brings LeonardVole to Sir Wilfred, a high level defenseVole to Sir Wilfred, a high level defenselawyer.lawyer.
Act IAct I Leonard gives his side of the story andLeonard gives his side of the story and
as he is finishing up the police come in toas he is finishing up the police come in toarrest him.arrest him.
Act IAct I A few minutes later his wife RomaineA few minutes later his wife Romaine
turns up at the office also to ask how badturns up at the office also to ask how badis the trouble her husband is in?is the trouble her husband is in?
Evidence against VoleEvidence against Vole
Younger man w/older womanYounger man w/older woman
DoesnDoesn’’t bring wife to see Frencht bring wife to see French
Was there alone on the night of theWas there alone on the night of themurdermurder
Has handled FrenchHas handled French’’s financess finances
Only alibi is his wifeOnly alibi is his wife
No moneyNo money
No jobNo job
Allowed French to believe that he wasAllowed French to believe that he wasunhappily marriedunhappily married
French left him almost all of her moneyFrench left him almost all of her money
How does Leonard refuteHow does Leonard refutethis evidence?this evidence?
DoesnDoesn’’t seem to know that French left himt seem to know that French left himher moneyher money
Wife will say he was at home when FrenchWife will say he was at home when Frenchwas killedwas killed
Claims to have a genuine fondness forClaims to have a genuine fondness forFrench because she reminds him of hisFrench because she reminds him of hisAunt BetseyAunt Betsey
Volunteered information to the policeVolunteered information to the police
What do they anticipated as theWhat do they anticipated as theproblem with Mrs. Vole?problem with Mrs. Vole?
She is a foreigner and wonShe is a foreigner and won’’t be trusted byt be trusted bythe jurythe jury
A wife isnA wife isn’’t the best witnesst the best witness——biasbias
SheShe’’ll be too emotionalll be too emotional
What do we learn about RomaineWhat do we learn about Romainewhen we first meet her?when we first meet her?
ColdCold——seemingly unlovingseemingly unloving
Thinks Leonard, like all men, is a foolThinks Leonard, like all men, is a fool
Leonard helped to get her out of theLeonard helped to get her out of theRussian sector of BerlinRussian sector of Berlin
Really isnReally isn’’t married to Leonardt married to Leonard——waswasand still isand still is——married before andmarried before andLeonard doesnLeonard doesn’’t know.t know.
Suggests that she is tired of beingSuggests that she is tired of beinggratefulgrateful
What can we conclude at the endWhat can we conclude at the endof Act Iof Act I
Leonard is in some serious troubleLeonard is in some serious trouble
Robards, Mayhew and the clerk thinkRobards, Mayhew and the clerk thinkhe is innocenthe is innocent
They are concerned on how theyThey are concerned on how theyshould treat Romaineshould treat Romaine
ACT IIACT IIWho is in the line of witnesses?Who is in the line of witnesses?
Inspector Hearne (police)Inspector Hearne (police)
Dr. Wyatt (medical examiner)Dr. Wyatt (medical examiner)
Mr. Clegg (forensic expert)Mr. Clegg (forensic expert)
Janet Mackenzie (housekeeper)Janet Mackenzie (housekeeper)
Romaine Vole (LeonardRomaine Vole (Leonard’’s wife)s wife)
Leonard Vole (the accused)Leonard Vole (the accused)
Evidence of Inspector HearneEvidence of Inspector Hearne
Window broken on the insideWindow broken on the inside
No fingerprints other than FrenchNo fingerprints other than French’’s,s,MacKenzieMacKenzie’’ss and Voleand Vole’’ss
Nothing stolenNothing stolen——jewelry still onjewelry still onFrenchFrench
Blood on VoleBlood on Vole’’s sleeves sleeve
Chisel marks on the outsideChisel marks on the outside
Refute Inspector HearneRefute Inspector Hearne
Wind blew window in and it brokeWind blew window in and it brokeinsideinside
A thief would wear glovesA thief would wear gloves
Thief probably was spooked byThief probably was spooked byFrenchFrench’’s deaths death
Vole cut himself with a knifeVole cut himself with a knife
Chisel didnChisel didn’’t match one Vole ownedt match one Vole owned
Evidence of Dr. WyattEvidence of Dr. Wyatt
French was hit behind her left earFrench was hit behind her left ear
Died between 9:30Died between 9:30——10:00 pm10:00 pm
No evidence of a struggleNo evidence of a struggle
LeftLeft--handed killer (probable but nothanded killer (probable but notnecessarilynecessarily
Blow could have been delivered byBlow could have been delivered byeither a woman or a maneither a woman or a man
Refute Dr. WyattRefute Dr. Wyatt
LeftLeft--handed killer (probable but nothanded killer (probable but notnecessarily) Leonard is not leftnecessarily) Leonard is not left--handedhanded
Blow could have been delivered byBlow could have been delivered byeither a woman or a maneither a woman or a man
Evidence of JanetEvidence of Janet MacKenzieMacKenzie
Heard VoleHeard Vole’’s voice just after nines voice just after nine
Knew that Vole was aware of the willKnew that Vole was aware of the will
Knew that Vole helped with FrenchKnew that Vole helped with French’’ssfinancesfinances
Said French was buying books aboutSaid French was buying books aboutolder women marrying younger menolder women marrying younger men
Refute JanetRefute Janet MacKenzieMacKenzie
Needs a hearing aidNeeds a hearing aid
Knew that the will originally was inKnew that the will originally was inher favorher favor
Feared that Vole would change herFeared that Vole would change herrelationship with Frenchrelationship with French
Evidence of Romaine VoleEvidence of Romaine Vole
Leonard came in 10:10 pmLeonard came in 10:10 pm
His sleeve had blood on itHis sleeve had blood on it
She said he announcedShe said he announced ””II’’ve killedve killedher.her.””
Leonard told her to lie to the police.Leonard told her to lie to the police.
Refute Romaine VoleRefute Romaine Vole
Romaine used Leonard to get out ofRomaine used Leonard to get out ofGermanyGermany
She has admitted that she is tired ofShe has admitted that she is tired ofbeingbeing ““gratefulgrateful””
The court—Old Bailey
The courtroomThe courtroom
The JudgeThe Judge
Hearne on the standHearne on the stand
Mackenzie on the standMackenzie on the stand
Myers in courtMyers in court
Robards in courtRobards in court
Vole watches RomaineVole watches Romaine’’ssTestimonyTestimony
Papers follow trialPapers follow trial
Mystery woman with lettersMystery woman with letters
Mystery womanMystery woman’’s scars scar
Romaine watches the verdictRomaine watches the verdict
Vole foundVole found ““not guiltynot guilty””
Romaine meets Robards andRomaine meets Robards andexplains her plan.explains her plan.
Romaine surprises RobardsRomaine surprises Robards
Romaine meets Vole after trialRomaine meets Vole after trial
Romaine, Vole, and theRomaine, Vole, and theStrawberry BlondStrawberry Blond
We meet the strawberry blondWe meet the strawberry blond
Romaine stabs VoleRomaine stabs Vole