The Naked Venus Page #4

State your name, please.

Laura Weston.

Miss Weston, how long

have you known Mr. Dixon?

Oh, as long as I can remember.

Objection, Your Honor.

The witness is not specific.

Objection sustained.

Tell the court exactly how far back

your acquaintance with Mr. Dixon dates.

- Since we were children.

- You grew up together, then?

Yes.

And there has been a

feeling of mutual liking?

Decidedly. Bob Dixon was always

considerate, gentle and attentive.

And though we never talked about it, we

both felt, I felt, that we were engaged.

You missed him when he was

away in Korea and France?

Very much.

When his painting, Naked Venus was shown

to the press in New York, I went there.

I liked the painting,

and I was very proud of Bob.

But I was shocked to find the model who

posed for it had been his wife for years.

Objection. Miss Weston is

not a qualified witness.

To testify whether it's shocking to pose

for a work of art in any state of dress.

- Or undress.

- Objection sustained.

The court stenographer will strike

that answer from the record.

Will you please rephrase

your question, Counsel.

Thank you, Your Honor.

You mean you were... surprised?

I was shocked.

When I heard about her background...

Objection! The witness is

introducing hearsay.

I read it in the newspapers.

The witness will confine

herself to answering questions.

You were astonished, were you not Miss

Weston, as you were close to my client?

I certainly was.

A man like Bob lowering

himself for that kind of woman.

Objection. The witness is deliberately

trying to damage my client's reputation.

Objection overruled.

Will counsel for the plaintiff

kindly help this court...

By letting the witness come to

the point she wishes to make.

Exception.

Did you ever meet Mrs. Dixon?

I had no desire. And how

could I? She ran away.

Mrs. Dixon left the house.

Isn't that what you mean to say?

She took off secretly, dragging

Bob's little daughter with her.

Objection. Miss Weston isn't testifying.

She's conducting a smear campaign.

Objection sustained.

This court is not concerned with

your personal opinion, Miss Weston.

That will be all, thank you.

No more questions.

- Do you wish to cross-examine, Counsel?

- Indeed, Your Honor.

- Do you consider yourself attractive?

- Men do.

You know a great many, do you?

I am what is called "very popular".

But of all your gentleman friends,

you liked Robert Dixon best?

We are very fond of each other.

You won't deny you love him?

It's only natural because

you felt you were engaged.

That's right.

You realize don't you that the object of

your affections still is a married man?

He's getting a divorce, isn't he?

Miss Weston. I'll ask the questions.

You just answer them.

I object.

- To what?

- Your line of questioning.

It clearly intends to

embarrass Miss Weston.

I direct you to rephrase

your question, Counsel.

I will, Your Honor.

Miss Weston.

You don't like Mrs. Dixon?

No I don't.

Because Robert Dixon married her?

Because I loathe her type.

Let's be specific, Miss Weston.

What type? What type, Miss Weston?

You never met my client. You admitted

that under direct examination.

- That's right.

- Yet you loathe her?

Her type. What do you mean by that?

- I refuse to answer.

- Your Honor.

The witness is belligerent. I ask you

to make her answer my question.

I direct you to answer the

question asked by Counsel.

She's a gold-digger.

Miss Weston.

I want you to prove what you just said.

And remember you're under oath.

I repeat:
she is a gold-digger.

Europe is full of them. They're tramps.

They'll do anything to get a man.

A nice American boy like Bob.

They even pose in the nude!

Filthy gold-digger.

Liar. I am not.

I will not tolerate

such a demonstration.

I will hold anybody and

everybody in contempt of court...

Who thwarts the

dignity of legal procedure.

Obviously Miss Wingate and Mr. Rutledge.

Things are happening here

which you both did not anticipate.

I will give you a chance to

consult with individual clients.

I'm calling a recess for one hour.

The court is adjourned.

- It's an outrage.

- No mother, it's a farce.

I feel like going over to

Yvonne and apologizing.

- She'd like that.

- Laura, why don't you keep out of this?

- No reason to put her on the stand.

- I'm inclined to agree with you there.

I didn't expect Laura to

be an unfriendly witness.

Now listen, both of you.

From here on, I want this

case handled my way.

Mr. Becker, as the investigator

hired by Mrs. Dixon.

Would you tell this court

in your own words.

What you found out about Yvonne Dixon.

Briefly, she was born in Paris in 1938.

Her father was a decorator. Well known.

Worked for the Comedie Franais

and the Paris Opera House.

Her mother was an American. A dancer.

She made quite a name

for herself in Europe.

She died during the German occupation.

Her daughter Yvonne

was four years old then.

The father was executed by the Germans.

Mr. Becker, what happened to the child?

The girl was taken in by the mother's

old maid, who took good care of her.

- What happened from then on?

- She took up modeling.

Can you tell us about

this more specifically?

I can.

She posed for all kinds of

paintings and magazine photos.

Mostly, in the nude.

I'd say she was... an artist's model.

I object, Your Honor. Hearsay.

Objection sustained.

The court stenographer will

strike that from the record.

Now.

Did Mrs. Dixon...

Also known as Yvonne Duval.

Belong to any particular organization?

She did.

My records show she joined

the Solar Sant that year.

What is the purpose of this movement?

It's the biggest nudist

organization in France.

Now, Mr. Becker

To the best of your knowledge.

Did she actively practice nudism?

Yes she did. My records prove that.

After she married Mr. Dixon...

Did Yvonne Dixon practice nudism?

She still does.

Thank you, Mr. Becker.

Your witness.

Mr. Becker, do you speak French?

I don't.

How did you conduct your investigation?

- My partner in Paris is a Frenchman.

- I see.

Can you tell us why Mrs. Dixon hired you?

I was recommended to her by a

Mr. Weston, a former client of mine.

He's the father of

Laura Weston, is he not?

- Yes.

- Objection.

Mr. Weston acted purely as an

old friend of the Dixon family.

In view of Miss Weston's testimony...

I would say there's a

conspiracy against my client.

Objection sustained.

Mr. Becker.

You testified as to the

parentage of Yvonne Dixon.

We understand her father was

quite prominent as an artist.

You own records show he was

executed by the Germans.

Can you tell us why?

I...

Don't quite recall this detail.

I'll help you remember.

My client's father helped the allies.

He was cited for outstanding courage

beyond duty by the French government.

Posthumously.

You seem to have trouble recalling

certain phases of your investigation.

I don't. I go by my records.

Now, a great deal has been made of the

fact what Mrs. Dixon classes as "nudism".

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