Courted Page #7

- It's a subject?

It's gym...

Salsa is gym?

You don't like it?

But dancing with guys in my grade...

They're 17.

Not very advanced.

You don't like them.

Too immature.

That's right.

Just a friend asking where I am.

Sign of the times.

So you're interested

in how trials work?

Not really.

I wanted to see what it was like.

See him and his girlfriend

and especially Mom on stage.

You call it a stage?

What do you call it?

We call it...

It's true, what do we call it?

One side, an audience.

The other:
you in costume,

reciting lines.

When you arrive,

it's like a curtain goes up.

Except we can't clap.

When did you come?

During the recess.

I didn't even see her.

I bet you were hiding.

Whatever.

You just didn't see.

You didn't film the trial!

- No way.

- There's Mom.

- You filmed?

- The classiest.

It's strictly forbidden.

- No Facebook!

- I'm not crazy.

That could annul the trial.

It really is forbidden.

Good photographer!

Yes, sir?

You ordered

the same as yesterday?

So mineral water?

A hot toddy?

- Of course.

- No rum.

Perfect.

You were already here yesterday?

You said you stopped by the hospital.

No mention

of a judge you had drinks with.

I don't have to account to you.

I asked her out

for a drink because...

I was surprised

to have her as a juror.

I had a bad accident years ago

and your mother resuscitated me.

Yes, Mr. Racine spent...

You call him Mr. Racine?

A month in hospital?

7 weeks.

You're close enough for first names.

- Not really.

- No, not really.

You see each other all day

then go out for drinks.

Yes, but in the courthouse...

he's a judge and I'm a juror.

- We don't talk.

- Exactly.

This isn't a courthouse here.

No, but...

before it was the hospital.

In hospital

I was an ordinary patient.

I was called Mr. Racine. Your mother

looked in on me every day.

The cutaneous thigh nerve

was touched.

It was very painful.

We put you on morphine.

Hardcore drug!

I had to relieve the pain so...

She's something.

I'm sorry.

I didn't know she was coming.

- She's lively.

- Overly curious.

Don't give in.

She's like a blood-thirsty shark.

Thank you.

Your daughter is charming.

Bubbly.

You have to be strict.

With her big eyes, you want to give.

Don't!

She's charming.

It comes from her father.

It's the charm of...

Talking about me?

Just kidding.

I was telling your mother...

She has a first name.

It's Ditte.

I was telling Ditte

that beauty exists.

I started drawing up a list

of things that make life worth it.

Things that make life

more beautiful.

For example

there's a poem I like

by Antoine Pol

set to music by Georges Brassens.

About women.

Women Passing Through.

Know it?

It goes...

"I dedicate this poem

to all the women we love,

"during a few secret moments,

to those we barely know

"whom by force of destiny,

we never meet,

"to those we see appear

at their window... "

I'm with my mom and a guy.

Brassens didn't work.

She didn't like it.

She skipped a class only to...

There is something else which...

gives the impression

of perfection in life.

Your face.

Your face leaning over mine.

When I was in the recovery room

in that hospital,

I opened my eyes

and there was your face.

I thought it was like a revelation,

an illumination.

I thought:
this is life.

Most beautiful thing I'd ever seen.

You were on morphine.

That's why I was beautiful.

I still find you beautiful now.

Most beautiful woman alive.

Yet no morphine.

Just a high fever.

Sun high?

I'm showing off, as usual.

Just a mild one.

You know, tomorrow you deliberate.

Friday is a new trial.

You may not be chosen as a juror.

I want you there for the trial.

I need to feel you in the courtroom.

I need to feel

your eyes on me.

I'll need it.

Your Honor.

To the question:

"Is the defendant guilty

of intentional assault

resulting in involuntary

manslaughter?"

the jury has answered: "Not guilty".

Consequently the court declares

the acquittal of Martial Beclin

and orders his immediate release.

I didn't have time to tell you

yesterday after his release,

or I didn't dare,

but I really appreciated

how you led the debates.

It's true.

It was a complicated case.

Long deliberations.

I'm very happy it ended like this.

You're not happy?

Happy? I'm not so ambitious.

Defendants here?

Not yet,

but their lawyers are here.

All rise!

Court is in session.

You may be seated.

Officers, show in the defendants.

Gentlemen,

we will now being randomly

choosing your 6 jurors

as well as supplementary ones.

Mr. Pierre Verstraten.

Ms. Coralie Marciano.

Rejected.

Mrs. Ginette Laudran-Carcot.

Mrs. Nacera Boubziz.

Rejected.

Mr. Franck Lowen.

Mr. Gilbert Gontard.

Those not chosen are free

until Friday,

for the next case.

They may remain in the courtroom

or not.

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury,

please rise.

Each of you upon hearing your name

will raise his hand

and say "I swear".

This is the oath you will be taking.

You solemnly swear

to examine scrupulously

the charges brought

against Mr. Laloui,

Mr. Kamara and Mr. Gelinski,

to pay no heed to hatred, malice,

fear or affection,

to remember

defendants are presumed innocent.

Any doubt must play in their favor.

You will pronounce your verdict

according to your conscience

and conviction,

with the impartiality, integrity

and steadfastness

befitting a free-thinking,

honest person

and keep your deliberations a secret

even after serving on this jury.

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