Upload
leslie-jacobs
View
217
Download
1
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Witness for the ProsecutionWitness for the Prosecution
By Agatha Christie By Agatha Christie
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 mid-His foreign suspicious wife, in her mid-thirties thirties
Emily FrenchEmily French
The murdered woman, 56The murdered woman, 56
Janet MackenzieJanet Mackenzie
French’s long time housekeeper who French’s long time housekeeper who dislikes Leonard Voledislikes Leonard Vole
Sir Wilfred RobardsSir Wilfred Robards
Vole’s lead defense lawyerVole’s lead defense lawyer
Mr. MayhewMr. Mayhew
Vole’s second council, the lawyer who he Vole’s second council, the lawyer who he originally consulted.originally consulted.
The Mysterious WomanThe Mysterious Woman
The mysterious woman who meets with The mysterious woman who meets with Robards 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 of Though charged with the murder of Miss Emily French, Leonard Vole Miss Emily French, Leonard Vole swears his innocence. He tells his swears his innocence. He tells his lawyers 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 hates Romaine declares that she hates Vole and that he is not her legal Vole and that he is not her legal husband.husband.
Vole goes on trial but things are not Vole goes on trial but things are not going too well. There is no real going too well. There is no real defense and his wife swears under defense and his wife swears under oath that he is guilty.oath that he is guilty.
SummarySummary
Towards the conclusion of the trial, a Towards the conclusion of the trial, a mysterious woman brings letters to mysterious woman brings letters to Sir Wilfred Robards that demonstrate Sir Wilfred Robards that demonstrate Romaine’s intention to incriminate Romaine’s intention to incriminate her husband.her husband.
In court the next day the letters are In court the next day the letters are presented and Vole is found not presented and Vole is found not guilty. guilty.
SummarySummary
Vole is freed. Romaine meets Vole is freed. Romaine meets Robards, Mayhew, and Leonard after Robards, Mayhew, and Leonard after the trial and reveals how she worked the trial and reveals how she worked the lawyers and the jury.the lawyers and the jury.
Vole tells Romaine that he is leaving Vole tells Romaine that he is leaving her for a younger woman. She stabs her for a younger woman. She stabs him and he immediately dies. him and he immediately dies. Romaine pronounces him, “Guilty.”Romaine pronounces him, “Guilty.”
Act IAct I Mayhew, a local lawyer, brings Leonard Mayhew, a local lawyer, brings Leonard
Vole to Sir Wilfred, a high level defense Vole to Sir Wilfred, a high level defense lawyer.lawyer.
Act IAct I Leonard gives his side of the story and as Leonard gives his side of the story and as
he is finishing up the police come in to he is finishing up the police come in to arrest him.arrest him.
Act IAct I A few minutes later his wife Romaine A few minutes later his wife Romaine
turns up at the office also to ask how bad turns up at the office also to ask how bad is 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 Doesn’t bring wife to see FrenchDoesn’t bring wife to see French Was there alone on the night of the murderWas there alone on the night of the murder Has handled French’s financesHas handled French’s finances Only alibi is his wifeOnly alibi is his wife No moneyNo money No jobNo job Allowed French to believe that he was Allowed French to believe that he was
unhappily marriedunhappily married French left him almost all of her moneyFrench left him almost all of her money
How does Leonard refute How does Leonard refute this evidence?this evidence?
Doesn’t seem to know that French left him Doesn’t seem to know that French left him her moneyher money
Wife will say he was at home when French Wife will say he was at home when French was killedwas killed
Claims to have a genuine fondness for Claims to have a genuine fondness for French because she reminds him of his French because she reminds him of his Aunt Betsey Aunt Betsey
Volunteered information to the policeVolunteered information to the police
What do they anticipated as the What do they anticipated as the problem with Mrs. Vole?problem with Mrs. Vole?
She is a foreigner and won’t be trusted by She is a foreigner and won’t be trusted by the jurythe jury
A wife isn’t the best witness—bias A wife isn’t the best witness—bias She’ll be too emotionalShe’ll be too emotional
What do we learn about Romaine What do we learn about Romaine when we first meet her?when we first meet her?
Cold—seemingly unlovingCold—seemingly unloving Thinks Leonard, like all men, is a foolThinks Leonard, like all men, is a fool Leonard helped to get her out of the Leonard helped to get her out of the
Russian sector of BerlinRussian sector of Berlin Really isn’t married to Leonard—was Really isn’t married to Leonard—was
and still is—married before and and still is—married before and Leonard doesn’t know.Leonard doesn’t know.
Suggests that she is tired of being Suggests that she is tired of being grateful grateful
What can we conclude at the end What can we conclude at the end of Act Iof Act I
Leonard is in some serious troubleLeonard is in some serious trouble Robards, Mayhew and the clerk think Robards, Mayhew and the clerk think
he is innocenthe is innocent They are concerned on how they They are concerned on how they
should 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 (Leonard’s wife)Romaine Vole (Leonard’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 French’s, No fingerprints other than French’s,
MacKenzie’s and Vole’sMacKenzie’s and Vole’s Nothing stolen—jewelry still on Nothing stolen—jewelry still on
FrenchFrench Blood on Vole’s sleeve Blood on Vole’s sleeve Chisel marks on the outsideChisel marks on the outside
Refute Inspector HearneRefute Inspector Hearne
Wind blew window in and it broke Wind blew window in and it broke insideinside
A thief would wear glovesA thief would wear gloves Thief probably was spooked by Thief probably was spooked by
French’s deathFrench’s death Vole cut himself with a knife Vole cut himself with a knife Chisel didn’t match one Vole ownedChisel didn’t 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 9:30—10:00 pmDied between 9:30—10:00 pm No evidence of a struggleNo evidence of a struggle Left-handed killer (probable but not Left-handed killer (probable but not
necessarily necessarily Blow could have been delivered by Blow could have been delivered by
either a woman or a maneither a woman or a man
Refute Dr. WyattRefute Dr. Wyatt
Left-handed killer (probable but not Left-handed killer (probable but not necessarily) Leonard is not left-necessarily) Leonard is not left-handedhanded
Blow could have been delivered by Blow could have been delivered by either a woman or a maneither a woman or a man
Evidence of Janet MacKenzieEvidence of Janet MacKenzie
Heard Vole’s voice just after nineHeard Vole’s voice just after nine Knew that Vole was aware of the willKnew that Vole was aware of the will Knew that Vole helped with French’s Knew that Vole helped with French’s
financesfinances Said French was buying books about Said French was buying books about
older women marrying younger menolder women marrying younger men
Refute Janet MacKenzieRefute Janet MacKenzie
Needs a hearing aidNeeds a hearing aid Knew that the will originally was in Knew that the will originally was in
her favorher favor Feared that Vole would change her Feared that Vole would change her
relationship 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 announced ”I’ve killed She said he announced ”I’ve killed
her.”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 of Romaine used Leonard to get out of GermanyGermany
She has admitted that she is tired of She has admitted that she is tired of being “grateful”being “grateful”
The court—Old Bailey
The courtroom The 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 Romaine’s TestimonyVole watches Romaine’s Testimony
Papers follow trialPapers follow trial
Mystery woman with lettersMystery woman with letters
Mystery woman’s scarMystery woman’s scar
Romaine watches the verdictRomaine watches the verdict
Vole found “not guilty”Vole found “not guilty”
Romaine meets Robards and Romaine meets Robards and explains her plan.explains her plan.
Romaine surprises RobardsRomaine surprises Robards
Romaine meets Vole after trialRomaine meets Vole after trial
Romaine, Vole, and the Romaine, Vole, and the Strawberry BlondStrawberry Blond
We meet the strawberry blondWe meet the strawberry blond
Romaine stabs VoleRomaine stabs Vole
Guilty, my Guilty, my Lord!Lord!