Part 23
| The hearing begins. The air conditioner still was broken, and it's too hot in the courtroom. Prosecutor DA Patterson calls Christy for questioning. |
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| After formal questions he asks Christy to remember the evening of July 17 when she was raped by Ted Capwell. Mason objects, and the judge accepts it. |
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| Patterson goes to his place and eagerly drinks water. Steve concerned and asks if he is all right. DA replies that he is fine, it's heat. |
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| He returns to Christy and asks the leading question about her quarrel with Ted. Mason again objects that he's leading the witness. |
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| After the judge's remarks Patterson finally able to formulate the question correctly. He asks Christy to tell in her own words what's happened between her and Ted that night. |
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| Christy says they had an argument. Ted was very upset because his girlfriend Laken who he could not get along. Patterson asked what she means, and Christy says that Laken was not agreeing to sleep with him. Mason tries to object that she does not know it, but Christy says that Ted told her it. And in addition he'd come to her for sympathy when Laken turn him down. And twice he had passes at her. |
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| Patterson asks her about, and she replied that she was never interested Ted in that way. Only as a friend. And about the bracelet. She says Ted went like totally crazy when he saw in her hands the bracelet which he had given to Laken. And he somehow thought that Christy wants to steal it. She and Ted had an argument and even some struggle, and the bracelet was broken. And Christy took off. She accept that she took the bracelet but only because she wanted to fix it. Christy looks at Steve, and he contently nods. |
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| With DA's leading questions Christy tells that then she went to the sneak bar where worked her friend Jade Perkins. They were going to go to a party but Jade had some problems with her co-worker, and Christy stay to wait her at the bar. And then Ted Capwell came and "did it." Patterson asks what he did, and Christy painfully squeezing that Ted did hit her and then raped. She confirms that the man was raped her is sitting right in the courtroom and point at Ted. Patterson says that he have no further questions. |
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| Mason gets up for the cross-examination. He gives his sympathy for Christy and repeats that she was under oath and must tell the truth. And then he begins the questioning. He asked if isn't it true that Ted Capwell was helpful to you practically from the day you arrived in Santa Barbara. He twice to help her find work - first at the Orient Express and later in his father's home as a babysitter for his young step brother. Christy confirms that this is true. Mason goes on to say that Ted helped her in many other ways. Did he try ever taking advantage of situations? Christy uncertainly says "no", but then adding that Ted repeatedly made passes at her. Mason asks if he touched her or tried to kiss. Christy denies it but says that his words were all clear. Mason asks if she mistook Ted's generosity for something else. Christy says no. She is sure that Ted wanted to sleep with her. Mason turns the questions to Ted's reaction at the bracelet in Christy's hands. That's because he's paranoid on the subject of that or might he have had some legitimate reason to suspect she's being a thief? Christy says that if he's talking about Mrs. Lockridge's accusations, she did not steal these candlesticks. She just was putting its back. |
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| The court room explodes with a noise. Christy adds that Ted was talking to on the phone with Mrs. Lockridge and she's blamed Christy, and then he told her just never mind about it. Mason raises the question of damage to the bracelet. Why do they get some kind of a fight? Why Christy just was not given it back to Ted? Christy stumped. Mason tries to find out why she wanted to fix the bracelet if it's broke by Ted's actions when he tried to actually rip it out of her hands. And then when Ted found her in the bar, why she not give it immediately? Christy mumbles that she just was pretty angry and upset. And all happened too fast. Mason asked if she was calling for help. Christy said that it was pointless: there was no one around. Mason says that people yell for help in the hope that there is someone around. Why she did not think it was worth to trying if she was frightened of Ted might do to her... Christy argues that she was not frightened. She didn't think that Ted really hurt her. Mason says the fact is that Christy had to fight with Ted and scratched his face before he did anything to her. And in Jade Perkins's presence. Pale-faced DA Patterson interrupts the questioning and reminder that Jade already was testified and told everything that she saw. Mason withdraws the question and asks whether Christy scratched Ted's face before the alleged rape took place. |
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| Christy is trying to claim that she does not remember, but Mason press on her, referring to her interview: she said that that night was burned in her memory forever. How such details can slip away? Or actually things were different? Maybe she attacked Ted and he only defended himself and tried to take his bracelet? Christy frightened denies it. Prosecutor Patterson intervenes again. He says that Mason is attacking the witness. Judge rejects his objection. Mason continues. He says that they already heard scientific testimony to the fact that the physical fight of Christy and Ted have could have accounted for the traces of skin and hair and fiber that were found on her body as well as hers that were found on his. But there were other traces on her body. Traces that they haven't been able to account for. Christy shouts that she really was raped. Mason replied that nobody dispute that. The question is by whom. Now if you had a close contact with another person then there would have been evidence of that person on you as well. Mason officially shows the unidentified fibers that were found on Christy's body. He claims it's as the evidence of defense. The judge accepts it. Mason brings the fibers up closer to Christy and asks her to explain how these fibers got on her clothing that night. |
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| At this point the prosecutor Patterson collapses and falls down the floor. The judge announced that the hearing is postponed. Mason angrily looks at Christy. |
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Steve, Theda, Mary and Christy are in the courtroom. Theda says Christy that she did so good but too nervous. But she just need look straight and speak right. She does tell the truth. Steve wants to talk to Christy alone. Theda says that she and Mary will be right outside but Mary says she wants to talk Mason. Steve tries to protest but Mary says that she know that she's doing.
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| Mary approaches Mason. He readily agrees to talk. Mary says that she saw what Mason was trying to do to Christy. He thought once he got her on the stand he could trick her. Well, it didn't work, did it? Because she was telling the truth. |
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| Mason replies that Mary didn't see the same thing he did. Christy was getting pretty shaky there toward the end. If he has been able to keep her there a little bit longer, may be they would have gotten at the truth. Mary is outraged that the prosecutor had a heart attack and Mason upset because it interfered with his cross examination. |
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Mason says he upset because it interfered with them finding out the truth. That's what this trial is about. Not railroading the innocent boy. Well, he'll get another chance at it.
"Yes, another chance to browbeat and frighten Christy," Mary says. She adds that he should be ashamed. |
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| Mason says that he could say the same thing about Christy, but that wouldn't get them anywhere. And if Mary really wants to be useful why doesn't she go comfort Christy, because she is a very frightened little girl right now. But she's would tell her that things will get worse before they get better. They give no quarter in cross-examination. Mason leaves Mary, Ted and Laken come to him. |
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| Ted afraid that Steve can replace Patterson as the prosecutor. Mason doubts. Ted fascinated how Mason defended him. Mason tells the last news to his younger brother: he and the father have patched things, and CC asked him to move back home. Mason hopes that after the end of the trial Ted would return home too. Ted is not sure. Mason says they just got some time and now they have to find the rapist. |
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In the hall of court Steve approached by police officer who hands him the list of buyers of shirts similar to the one that the rapist wore. Steve saw in the list the name of woman who bought this shirt for him. He calls her and invites her on the date. They agree to meet at her's.
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Steve scolds Christy for her behavior on questioning. Christy replies she did the best she could. Steve says that he know that what she was doing and why. She hoped that anyone figure out the truth, anything to be off the hook. But why she think that the truth comes out Ted would be safe? No way. If the truth will be revealed - no matter by the way - Ted's going to die! Christy said that she saw nothing like he's saying.
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Steve says she still can let out, just become she cannot control their emotions. Christy says that he'd better worry of himself. Cruz and Mason can start to track him down anytime. The fiber was found on her body belongs to his shirt. Steve smiles and says that she can not to worry about him. He'll be in safe.
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Mason packing his belongings in Ted's apartment. Upset Gina rush in. She says she saw CC and Sophia together. Alone. And Sophia was rubbing his shoulders and nuzzles him.
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| She bitterly says that CC never come back her now. And it's all Sophia's fault. Mason says he just recently learned how Sofia tried to prevent his parents' reunion. Gina wants to divorce immediately, but Mason does not advise her to do so. She is in a vulnerable position because her recent medical history and CC might get custody of Brandon just right now. Mason consoles Gina. She's glad that he comes back home and asks if he can get Ted out. Mason says that he have to. Anything else is unthinkable. |
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| Mason begins to carries his belongings to the car while talking with Gina. Santana listening to their chatter. She was pleased to think about CC's reaction when he finds out about their relationship. He will not allow Brandon have so terrible mother! |
