Courted Page #2

Yes, Your Honor.

Still, we'll proceed with what

we call "a character examination".

We need to know about you,

your background, your life.

I'll start by asking

about your background.

About where you were born.

You won't tell us

where you were born?

I didn't kill Melissa.

You were born in Arleux

on December 21, 1986.

You can perhaps tell us something

about your origins.

What did your parents do?

I didn't kill Melissa.

Fine...

Your father worked

renovating building facades.

He did roofing as well.

On January 6, 1989

he fell off scaffolding

and broke his spinal cord.

You were 3 years old.

Doctors tried to save your father,

but sadly,

he didn't survive.

Your mother was 6 months pregnant.

Do you remember

your sister being born?

I didn't kill Melissa.

All right. You may be seated.

Bailiff,

please show to the stand

Mrs. Elodie Touret.

She has prepared

a character examination.

I don't know...

- You okay?

- Great.

- Lunch soon?

- I'd love it.

It was to get a vocational degree

in tiling and carpeting.

But Martial didn't adapt

to the educational system.

The principal describes,

and I quote:

"incapacity for studies

coupled with a refusal of authority".

After three months,

he left vocational school.

This is fortunate,

because it is just then

that Martial learns

he is allergic to mites,

not ideal for someone

spending his life laying carpets.

After inquiring

at the Bel-Air projects,

give us an impression

of what the neighbors

felt about Mr. Beclin?

His immediate neighbors

and people in other buildings

describe him as nondescript.

He chats, he says hello.

The couple... seems normal.

They seemed to get along.

Fine. Any questions?

Very well. Thank you.

Mr. Martial Beclin, please rise.

Any comments, any details to add?

Anything you'd like to rectify

concerning this report?

I didn't kill Melissa.

By refusing to explain yourself,

you make things harder for yourself.

The opinion the jurors get of you

will be based solely

on what you told the police.

- That's their problem.

- Excuse me?

That's their problem.

Their problem?

I think it's more yours.

You're risking 20 years.

We'll see.

What?

We'll see.

For the last time,

I ask you to tell the court and jury

what really happened

on April 24th, 2013.

I didn't kick Melissa.

If it wasn't you, who was it?

I didn't kick her.

Time for a recess.

We'll resume at 1 pm, after lunch.

I don't care.

Going out, Your Honor?

I have to stop at home.

I meant to ask, Pauline.

What are the jurors doing?

Having lunch.

You know where they eat?

Near City Hall. At "Spey River".

Are you sure?

- I think so.

- Good.

Enjoy lunch.

My doggy!

No, get outside!

- Hello, Thrse.

- Hello, sir.

I just washed the floor.

I'm sorry.

You're not the one who cleans.

We each do our job.

By the way...

can you put some apples

aside for me?

Last time they were rotten.

I'm no apple expert!

Give me some apples.

Normal ones, not bruised.

What do you want?

I picked up the last ones.

You want apples I pick up

or apples I pick?

- What's the difference?

- Picked ones are less ripe.

Do as you please.

I have to see Madam.

I'm counting on you, Thrse.

Hello, Miss.

Who are you?

I'm Laura Blanckaert.

- Laura who?

- Blanckaert.

- What do you do?

- The new home helper.

- Since when?

- The beginning of the month.

I'll finish cleaning...

Michel? You're here.

Good.

Marie-Laure,

I won't kiss you. Flu.

Yeah, you look awful.

Taking anything?

Aspirin, vitamin C... What is it?

- What did you do, dear?

- I fell.

Hurt yourself?

- Fine, then.

- Why did you want to see me?

I saw the lawyer.

Things are speeding up.

How so?

I sign the sales agreement Thursday.

And leave Saint-Omer

by the end of the month.

A mover came this morning

to give an estimate.

I can't bring all the furniture

to Honfleur.

I emailed you

a list of what I'm leaving.

- So tell me what you want.

- This month?

I won't spend another winter here.

Goodbye, sir.

Goodbye, Thrse.

- Who starts?

- By juror number.

- Or last to first.

- I'll go.

So we'll go around the table?

Shall I start?

I'm Yacine Balaoui, 65.

- I'm retired.

- From what?

Is this still your number?

Michel Racine

...and 9 grandchildren.

Where are you from?

Lens-en-Gohelle.

Next to old Mine 11.

Near the slag heaps.

Slag heaps are our Alps.

Yes.

I'm Rmi Kubiack.

I'm 43. Married.

2 children. I'm a landscaper.

Are you from nearby?

Near Le Touquet.

Marles-Les-Mines.

Less fancy but fewer pricks.

For sure.

Can we...

Who, me?

I know because I'm from Auchel.

From the projects.

So I'm Metzer, Marie-Jeanne.

- I'm 49, almost 50.

- It doesn't show.

No use hitting on me.

No way.

I don't live far.

Tatinghem, near Saint-Omer.

I'm out of work.

Unemployed.

2 kids, 3 grandkids.

I know it doesn't show.

Don't like soccer.

Like vinegar on fries.

- What else?

- It's enough.

More than enough.

Just kidding.

You're the class clown...

Just to relax the atmosphere.

Yeah. Very funny.

You go, sweetie.

My name is Nacera Boubziz.

- Your age.

- I'm 25. I'm a home helper.

Home helper.

Supplementary juror 1?

So you won't debilera...

Deliberate.

It's not easy to say.

- Where do you live?

- Frthun.

My cousin too.

I'm driving her. She has no license.

I failed the test.

If you live in Frthun,

I can pick you up.

I'm in Calais. It's on my way.

I can pick you up, drop you off.

There's no...

Her husband wouldn't allow it.

Even for jury duty,

he went to the cops

who told him she had to go.

But it's a nice offer.

I can even stop by

and explain to him...

Really, don't insist.

He's an odd character,

a bit sick in the head.

Why talk about him like that?

Sick in the head.

- Butt out!

- He's just protective.

Don't insult him.

Who do you think you are?

Let's continue...

He's right.

Let's continue...

Old timer!

We don't know each other.

My name is...

Ditte Lorensen-Coteret.

I'm 45.

You look younger.

Divorced, two kids.

A boy and a girl.

I'm an anesthesiologist in Lille...

- Nice job.

- Milady!

Born in Denmark.

Copenhagen.

- How do you know?

- Know-it-all.

I'm a French citizen.

I can read and write.

Thank God, for a doctor.

Yes, it's better.

No police record.

- Nope.

- Like us.

Otherwise she wouldn't be here.

Been in France for long?

20 years already.

Really? No accent.

- That explains it.

- None at all.

- You're... Coralie?

- Coralie Marciano.

Marciano. Italian.

I'd have thought Corsican.

Italian, but it doesn't show anymore.

What else? I'm 29 years old.

I live in Coquelles, near Calais.

I work in a bank.

Can I say which one?

It's up to you.

But I can... For CIC.

- All the same.

- After your money.

What else can I say?

I'm single and I have no children.

Single single or...

- Butt out!

- What?

You're crazy.

She's cute!

She can't be single.

No, I have a boyfriend.

But he's away.

He's a sergeant in the army.

He's in Mali.

They cut off heads there.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes