Episode 298, scene 2.

     Judge Irwin A. Chester's courtroom.

CC:  All rise.
     [All rise]
CC:  Division 12 of the municipal court of Peyton County now in session.
     Judge Irwin A. Chester presiding.  Be seated.
     [Gavel]
JC:  The people vs Lee Webber.  Ladies and gentlemen, the evidence is not 
     sufficient to establish reasonable cause that the accused, Lee 
     Webber, was the person who committed the felony as stated.  
     Case dismissed. 
     [Gavel twice.] 
LW:  Sandy.
SC:  Wait a minute, Lee.
MR:  [Sarcastically] Congratulations, Lee.  You, too, Steven.
LW:  You said it, doc.  Isn't he great?
SC:  Let's go.
MR:  You ought to be very proud.  Very proud.
LW:  [Offering to shake hands with Fowler]  No hard feelings, counselor.
JF:  I'm afraid hard feelings are the only one's I've got right now.

MP:  You go ahead, Rodney.

MP:  Oh, Betty, before you rush away to put the apple in pig's mouth to 
     celebrate your husband's victory, would you please help me out in 
     the corridor? 
BA:  You owe my husband a lot more than your sarcasm, Mr. Peyton.

LW:  I'm free, man.  Free.  Capital F R E E.  Free.
Ofc. Quiet down, Webber.
LW:  Quiet down?  Aw, come on now, officer, have a heart.  You see.  I've 
     got to leave this place whether I like it or not.  Now, I've got to 
     go back out in that world again and breath fresh air, work for a 
     living, and glug, glug, glug, drink a little beer, run around on my 
     little old motorcycle, and live in the same house with my ever 
     faithful gum-chewing child bride.  Talk about misery and punishment. 

Ofc. Can you get him out of here before he breaks the place up?
     I've got to get back to my desk.
SC:  Sure, go ahead. 

LW:  Steven, come here.  I want you to see the view I'm giving up. 
SC:  Come on Lee.  You've made your point.
LW:  No.  Come here.  I want you to get an idea what it's like.  You 
     might learn something. 

LW:  See, I had a ball, looking out that window and watching people walk 
     by.  Sometimes a dog would come by.  And once I even saw a pregnant 
     cat.  Great stuff.  A real swinging view of a very swinging town. 

SC:  Let's go. 

LW:  Now wait a minute.  I've got to tell you something, Steven.  I think 
     you're great.  When you stand up in that courtroom and say those 
     words and fix your stare on that judge and the people on that 
     witness stand you're just great.  Now, I've got to admit you had me 
     faked out once or twice.  You play a tight game.  Awful tight.  
     There was one time back there when I thought I was going to have to cop 
     a plea for insanity, or mental cruelty, or break out of here, or do 
     something.  That's how much you had me sweating.  But, you sure paid off.  
     Just like a 50 cent slot machine.  Piff.  Bing.  Bing.  Bing.  Three 
     bells, zambaroony, and I'm a millionaire.  You know, you ought to go 
     out for politics, Steven.  I really mean it.  Aw, come on, Mr. Cord,  
     don't be put down by all that stuff Mrs. Cord said up on the stand.  
     Because you had her so mixed up she really didn't know what she was 
     saying. 

SC:  I don't want to hear your expert opinion on Mrs. Cord's testimony.

LW:  Well, what's the matter then?  Why aren't you clicking yur heels.  
     Oh, You're not still putting on that snob act, after all we've been through 
     together, all you've done for me. 

LW:  After all you've done for me, Steven, we're buddies.  You've got to 
     see that.
SC:  Of course.  We're buddies. 
LW:  Great. 
SC:  Let's go, Buddy. 

SC:  Get out of the way. 

     [out in the corridor]

MP:  Congratulations, Mr. Webber.
LW:  You're kidding.
MP:  No, indeed, I mean it.  Congratulations.
LW:  Well, Thank you, sir.
MP:  I want to talk to you, Steven, alone.
LW:  Get him.
     [Lee leaves.]
MP:  I have something to say to you.
SC:  Yes, I imagine you do.  I imagine you're filled to the brim with 
     years of guilt, and regrets, and apologies for the unforgiveable sin 
     you committed against my sister and me.  Well, I'm not interested 
     in hearing your excuses or explanations.
MP:  He's guilty.  Lee Webber is guilty.  Guilty of murdering Ann.
SC:  Well, thank you judge Peyton.  I was very anxious to hear your 
     verdict.  Do you honestly expect me to believe that you suddenly 
     care about Ann, now that she's dead, after you've ignored her 
     existence all those years?
MP:  The hearing is adjourned.  The last gavel has pounded.  Do you think 
     you'll be able to silence her death screams now that you've set her 
     murderer free?  You've mocked her death the moment you became 
     involved in this case.  Because your singular interest was motivated 
     by hate. 
SC:  I must confess to certain feelings of hate.  
MP:  You've always demanded credit for what you've done.  I'm giving it 
     to you.  That's your victory.  You've made it possible for Ann's 
     murderer to go free.  That's your sin.  And you've given me a reason 
     to go on living until I see Lee Webber punished for his crime.  
     Things haven't changed, Steven.  You're still destructive.  Still 
     consumed with hate.  Just as you were when you were a child, the 
     grown-ups follow you around cleaning up the mess you've made. 
     [Peyton leaves.] 
SC:  I must confess to certain feelings of hate.


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