Storyville Page #6

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- Are you familiar with the deceased? | - No, I was not.

Had you ever been in the Happy Dragon | Martial Arts Studio before that night?

I've never seen a happy dragon.

According to the report, no fingerprints | were taken from the murder scene.

Wasn't called for.

Isn't that somewhat irregular | in a murder investigation?

We had a suspect in custody | placed at the scene by witnesses...

who spontaneously confessed to the crime.

Confessed? Did she say, "I killed him"?

She said, "I'm responsible."

Did she say "I killed him" | in so many words?

She didn't say "I killed him" | in so many words.

To say she was responsible | could be interpreted in many ways.

That was my conclusion.

The studio was broken into, | there was blood on the door...

belonging to neither the victim | nor the accused.

Miss Johnson testified she saw a man | leave after the defendant...

yet you felt no need to investigate because | the person arrested said "I'm responsible."

An investigation was initiated.

Nothing conclusive was discovered.

Someone else was up there that night, | weren't they?

I saw no evidence of that.

But you got to realize...

that a crime of this nature | among these people...

is not uncommon.

- Which people would those be? | - The Vietnamese.

I understand you served in Vietnam.

That must be the source | of your cultural expertise.

Marines, wasn't it?

Green Beret.

Who was your commanding officer | in Vietnam?

Objection. Not relevant.

- Mr. Fowler? | - Maybe, maybe not.

Answer the question, please.

Major Hollister.

Major Avner Hollister, | seated in this courtroom today?

You're right.

You got that right.

No further questions.

You may stand down.

Court will recess until 9:00 | tomorrow morning...

at which time | the defense will present its case.

Hell of a job, Cray. Damned impressive.

Now we've pulled up to Hollister | neck and neck.

That little hit you gave him in there | didn't hurt us, either.

I checked their service records. | No mention of atrocities.

Not a hint.

- We won't even have to play that card. | - No, we don't.

You believe that cop?

Tough nut. | In my book, you got the better of him.

That's right, you know him, | don't you? Trevallian?

Never met the man.

- How are you, Clifford? | - Hey, how you doing?

We have a friend in his camp.

You know the security guy, the cop...

Trevallian?

Here's something you all don't get, | you gotta give it up.

Don't be an a**hole. | Somebody's liable to get hurt.

- Are you threatening me? | - No, that's a promise.

You've been up on charges three times. | Going for four?

You know what your problem is? | You don't know who your friends are.

- Nice work. | - You like that?

When you grow up, | I'm gonna get you one of these.

I'm gonna tattoo this | on your ass personally.

- Is that a promise? | - F*** your mama.

- Where were you born, Lee? | - Saigon, Vietnam.

- How long have you lived in this country? | - Sixteen years. I'm an American citizen.

- You lived with your father all this time? | - Yes, my mother was killed in the war.

What did your father do in Saigon?

He was a major | in the South Vietnamese Army.

Your father owned | the Happy Dragon Martial Arts Studio.

- Is that correct? | - Yes.

- You were employed there as an instructor? | - Yes.

Did you father ever use the studio | for any other purpose?

Sometimes.

Would you tell us how.

My father would bring men to the studio.

I'd have sex with them, | and they'd pay my father.

Did you resist this in any way?

- At first. | - What happened when you resisted?

If I refused, he'd beat me.

- When did this start? | - Six years ago.

- And how old were you then? | - 14.

In all the times that your father beat you...

did you ever strike him back | or offer resistance in any way?

No, never. I was afraid of him.

Did you kill your father?

I wanted to.

Many times.

No, I didn't kill my father.

Thank you.

Your witness.

Your father was killed | between 11:00 and 12:30.

Isn't it true you entered the building | where he died...

- and were seen there during that time? | - Yes.

Your father prostituted you.

He beat you brutally | when you refused to cooperate.

- Did he beat you on the night of the murder? | - Yes.

Because you would no longer agree | to prostitute yourself, was that it?

Yes.

Now, you've told us here | that you wanted to kill your father.

Isn't it also true | that you told Detective Trevallian...

that you were responsible | for your father's death?

Yes.

If you didn't kill your father yourself, | in what way were you responsible?

He sold you to strangers | when you were a child...

he brutalized you, he humiliated you.

Isn't it true that on that night...

you simply could not tolerate | his treatment of you any longer?

Isn't it true that after all those years | of violence and abuse...

you raised your hand this one time...

to strike back | against all the pain he caused you?

Answer the question.

- Answer the question. | - May I approach, Your Honor?

- What the hell are you doing? | - I just want to talk to the judge.

What the hell are you doing?

- I'm in the middle of a cross-examination. | - In chambers.

- Somebody want to let me in on the joke? | - I need a recess to bring in a witness.

You don't want your client | exposed to questions...

don't put her on the stand.

I got to move on this right now | or I'll lose this witness.

Son, you better make good.

- This is f***ing outrageous! | - Go to lunch, have a drink.

So I had to take the bus over there...

because my sister, | when she's on her medication...

they don't let her drive no more, | and she's got my car.

So I got my car, and my mama, well...

She's not doing so well, | so I had to stay and see her for a while.

- I'm not boring you, am I? | - No.

I wanted to put her away, | my mama wouldn't hear of it.

If you ask me, | they should've put her away some time ago.

She used to go with this sailor. | He don't even call no more.

I'd like you to meet two friends of mine.

- Hi, how y'all doing? | - Fine, how are you doing?

- I'm okay. | - Good.

I got a few questions I wanna ask you. | Can we go someplace?

I'm afraid I don't have much time.

I just came back to get my things | from Mississippi.

I was telling Theotis | I'm moving to California...

- but I've got a little time, if you like. | - Good.

California. He ought to fit right in there.

Miss, I'll remind you you're still under oath.

- Redirect, Your Honor. | - Proceed.

When you went to the studio that night...

did you see anyone else in the building?

- I saw Mr. Choate, his door was open. | - Was he with anyone?

Yes, he was photographing someone, | a woman with dark hair.

- You see that person in the courtroom now? | - Yes.

- Would you point that person out to me? | - The woman by the aisle in the front row.

- Thank you. | - You may stand down, miss.

Thank you.

The defense calls Mr. Thomas Plunkett | to the stand.

Swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, | and nothing but the truth.

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