The House Of The Seven Gables Page #3

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That's the easiest way to

get out of a promise.

Out! .. out ..

Father!

Father!

Hepzibah! Jaffrey!

Clifford!

I don't know what happened ..

Suddenly, he fell ..

We'd better send for Doctor Willett.

It's too late.

Murderer.

Jaffrey .. you don't know

what you're saying.

You can't mean that, Jaffrey.

Don't let grief cloud your reason.

Don't sound like one carved in granite,

Jaffrey .. say you are mistaken.

I see.

The house is ours now.

Yours and mine.

Me out of the way.

You fool!

You can't press such charges. No

jury on earth would convict me.

Murderer!

If killing a money-mad

fool is murder, then yes ..

Don't, don't .. don't!

Murder!

He tried to kill him, I tell you.

Who?

Clifford Pyncheon.

Gentlemen of the jury.

The State has charged Clifford Pyncheon

with the murder of his father.

Both the Prosecution and Defense,

have fully presented their cases.

Before retiring in an attempt

to reach your verdict ..

I wish to remind you that your duty

is to consider only matters of facts.

My instructions will be few.

You are to decide, solely upon

the evidence presented ..

Whether the defendant

committed the crime.

The Defense has sought to prove that

Gerald Pyncheon died as the result of ..

A sudden illness .. a constriction

of the throat, a paralysis.

The Defense alleges this occurred as

the result of a violent verbal quarrel.

That it was brought about by anger.

The Prosecution has offered testimony

by which it hopes to prove ..

Beyond any reasonable doubt,

the guilt of the defendant.

They called upon Dr Willett, for

years, physician to the deceased.

Dr Willett has testified the deceased

exhibited no symptoms of the ailment ..

The Defense alleges to have existed.

The State further offers in evidence

the testimony of The Coroner.

Who confirms that allegation.

That the deceased suffered a severe

blow on the head .. prior to death.

The defendant has admitted being in

the room with his father at the time.

Swearing that no blow was delivered

with the paperweight given in evidence.

On which blood stains were found.

It has been sworn before you as truth ..

That upon one occasion, the defendant

cried aloud in a public square:

"I would rather see you dead .."

"Than chained to the

poverty of your traditions."

Six witnesses have testified under oath.

That attracted by the angered

voice of the defendant ..

They saw the defendant attempt

to take the life of his brother.

They have sworn that they heard him cry:

"If killing a money-mad fool

is murder .. then yes!"

Yes!

He's not charging the jury. He's

convicting you .. look at their faces.

In closing, let me repeat.

It is for you to decide which of the

evidence is in accord with the facts.

The jury will now retire

to reach a verdict.

Your Honor .. there is

no need for us to retire.

Silence! Or the court will be cleared!

Silence!

Have you reached a verdict?

We have, Your Honor.

The defendant will

rise and face the jury.

We the jury, find the defendant

Clifford Pyncheon, guilty as charged.

No, no! He's innocent! You

all know he's innocent.

Silence!

Please, Your Honor.

It is to our everlasting disgrace.

That in these modern times, such

barbaric demonstrations should occur.

The State's behaviour during this trial

has turned into a travesty of justice.

Ignorance and prejudice reminiscent

of 17th century witch-hunting.

Have condemned an innocent man.

We remind Counsel for the Defense ..

That his remarks insolently question

the integrity of this court.

Order!

Clifford Pyncheon .. step forward.

This court has found

you guilty of patricide.

And it therefore becomes my duty ..

To pronounce sentence upon you.

Because of the failure of the State ..

To offer proof beyond the circumstantial

evidence which has convicted you ..

I withhold the death penalty ..

And sentence you to life imprisonment

in the State Penitentiary.

Look at her. Coming to court in a dress

like that. She ought to be ashamed.

Hold your wicked tongue, you

gossiping old .. witch.

I'll see the Governor of the State. I'll

not rest until you're free Clifford.

You look so beautiful in this dress

Hepzibah. I'm glad you wore it today.

I'll always remember you

just as you are now.

The court wishes at this time to

publicly commend Jaffrey Pyncheon.

His love of justice exceeded his natural

impulse to shield one of his own blood.

Mr Pyncheon, I predict that such

virtues will not remain unrewarded.

You will go far in the service

of justice and your country.

One minute, all you.

Your Honor .. I am innocent.

More than any living soul he

knows that I am innocent.

It is because your lie is

so great, so infamous ..

That decent human beings

cannot believe it to be a lie.

You've sacrificed everything that's

decent, everything that's honorable.

You've used the most degenerate

means to gain your ends.

You have the house.

With it .. you have inherited

the Pyncheon tradition.

All the tradition of your ancestors.

You believe in those

traditions, don't you.

You believe in your heritage.

Then may you also inherit Maule's curse.

God has given him blood to drink.

I intend to start the

dismantling in the attic.

First of all, all the flooring

must be torn up.

Then the plaster broken out of the

walls, and the boards removed carefully.

Board by board?

That will be expensive Mr Pyncheon.

It will take time.

I shall be on hand to see that

that time is not wasted.

Of course, if the job

isn't to your liking.

Oh no. I'll start the first

thing in the morning.

Thank you Mr Pyncheon.

My dear cousin, this manner of

departure is not befitting a Pyncheon.

I forbid you to leave

this house in this way.

What will people say, if I permit

you to wander the streets?

Even if such scarlet tendencies

have been fostered in you.

Good morning Mr Barton.

Good morning .. oh hello my dear child.

Father's Will?

Yes.

No, no. Don't go Hepzibah. You are

quite concerned in this little matter.

Well, shall we adjourn to the library?

Come.

I trust you can dissuade my cousin

from any thoughtless action.

To leave now, would be in

the worst possible taste.

I uh .. I might even make her a

small allowance .. temporarily.

I won't let a little thing like

that stand between us.

I seek only one thing

between us .. distance.

It will not be necessary to concern

yourself about Hepzibah, Mr Pyncheon.

Your late father made certain

modest provisions ..

I won't trouble you with

the legal details my dear.

You may examine the Will and

documents at your leisure.

The estate is quite uncomplicated.

Fortunately, the deceased

was heavily insured.

And the benefits there from, will more

than cover all outstanding debts.

You will have about

400 dollars a year, Hepzibah.

That's splendid .. then the

house is free of debt.

I was afraid I might have

to borrow to save it.

That would not have been of your concern

under any circumstances Mr Pyncheon.

About six months ago.

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