Pete and Nell go to the pictures (cont.) Scene III

(The third day of the Vole trial. Mr. Myers, the Counsel for the prosecution is calling his surprise witness, Christine Helm. Christine Vole enters the courtroom. Looking straight in front of her she goes to the witness-box.)

Christine: (reading the oath):I swear by Almighty God¹ that evidence I shall give shall be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

Sir Wilfred (addressing the judge):My Lord², I have the most serious objection to this witness. The thing is that she is the wife of the prisoner Leonard Vole!

Myers: My Lord, I call my learned friend's attention to the fact that I summoned not Mrs Vole but Mrs Helm. (To Christine)Are you actually Mr. Vole's wife?

Christine: No, I went through a marriage ceremony with him in Hamburg, but I already had a husband. He is still alive.

Vole: Christine! That's not true! What she says is unbelievable!

Judge: I don't see any reason why this witness should not be qualified to give evidence.

Myers: Mrs. Helm, did Leonard Vole on the night of the murder return home at 25 past 9 as you had stated to the police?

Christine: No, he returned at ten past ten. This is when he returned? He was breathing hard, very excited. He threw off his coat and examined the sleeves. They had blood on them. He said: «I've killed her».

Vole: Christine! Why are you lying?

Judge: I must have silence!

Christine: I cannot go on lying to save him! I said to the police what he wanted me to say because I'm grateful to him. But I cannot come into the court and swear that he was with me. I don't want to be an accomplice to the murder!

Scene IV

(In Sir Wilfred's study. Sir Wilfred thinks that the evidence given by Christine Helm produced a great impression on the jurors. One question is still puzzling him — what made Christine testify against her husband? Suddenly his telephone rings. He hears a woman's voice. The woman offers to sell him Christine's letters to her lover. Sir Wilfried meets the woman, buys the letters and hurries to the Old Bailey. The courtroom of the Old Bailey.)

Judge: Since the defence has called but one witness, the prisoner, it has the right to be heard last.

Sir Wilfried: My Lord, I ask that the case for the Defence be reopened, and that a witness be recalled. I have the new important evidence — the letters of Christine Helm.

(Christine Helm is called and enters the witness-box.),

Judge: Sir Wilfried, will you read the tetter in question so that the jury may hear it.

Sir Wilfried: (reads)«My beloved Max, an extraor­dinary thing has happened. All our difficulties may soon be solved. Leonard is suspected of murdering the old lady I told you about. His only hope of an alibi depends on me alone. What I say is everything for him. If I testify that he was not at home with me at the time of the murder, that he came home with blood on his sleeves, they will take him away forever, and I shall be free, and yours, my beloved... Christine». And now I ask you Christine Helm, did you write this letter?

Christine: (with tears in her eyes)Yes, I did.

Sir Wilfried: (to the judge)Then that, My Lord, is the case for the defence³.