The Accused

Kersley (they start to leave the stage) Well, to start with, why didn’t Mitchell return to hear the verdict?

As they depart the Jury Bailiff walks quickly back on, as Sherwood is leaving.

Jury Bailiff Sir, sir. Can I suggest that you stay put for a few more minutes, as there is rather a large crowd gathering on the pavement outside. And once the corridors have been cleared, we can slip you out the back way.

Sherwood That’s most thoughtful of you, Mr Pierce, but I’m quite happy to leave by the front. I’ve nothing to hide.

Jury Bailiff No, of course you haven’t, Mr Sherwood indeed, if I may say so, sir, I never doubted for a moment that you were innocent. By the way, the woman Mitchell is hanging around in the corridor trying to get back in, but I didn’t…

Sherwood No, that’s fine, I’m only too happy to see her.

Mitchell runs on to the stage and the Jury Bailiff exits.

Mitchell I booked a table for us at the Caprice. No need to hide in Fulham any longer.

Sherwood You were always that confident of the verdict?

Mitchell Of course. Once the jury had seen that scar on your back they were never going to believe that I had slept with you and to quote Mr Kersley, ‘A jury that has doubts will never send a man to gaol for the rest of his life.’

Sherwood You were brilliant in the witness box, in fact, Sir James only got the better of you once.

Mitchell And when was that?

Sherwood When he tricked you into writing your signature on the Usher’s notepad, to show that you’d lied when you claimed you were right-handed.

Mitchell But I am right-handed. I worked out exactly what Sir James was up to and realised that the image of me signing that pad with my left hand would remain fixed in the jury’s minds.

Sherwood Then why didn’t you try on the rubber glove?

Mitchell I did, at the police station, and I just couldn’t get it on, Elizabeth must have had very small hands.

Sherwood You thought of everything.

Mitchell Yes, and if only Webster hadn’t walked in just before I’ finished injecting her we could have been married a year ago.

Sherwood No, I’m afraid not, Jennifer. You see that was something else Mr Kersley was right about… I never intended to marry you in the first place. (He turns to walk away as the lights fade.)

CURTAIN

IF THE AUDIENCE DELIVERS THE VERDICT GUILTY:

Usher Silence in court. Bring up the prisoner.

Sherwood returns to the dock.

Judge Will the foreman please rise. Mr Foreman, have you reached a verdict?

Foreman Yes, we have, My Lord.

Judge Do you find the prisoner at the bar, Patrick Hugh Sherwood, guilty or not guilty of the murder of Elizabeth Sherwood?

Foreman Guilty.

The Judge turns to face the prisoner in the dock.

Judge Patrick Hugh Sherwood, you stand convicted of murder by a jury of your peers. You undoubtedly poisoned your young wife, taking advantage of your special knowledge and training, and in so doing dishonoured your profession. You murdered Elizabeth Sherwood in order to be rid of her and inherit a milion pounds. As the law requires, I sentence you to life imprisonment, with the recommendation that you serve a minimum of seventeen years. You may be curious, Mr Sherwood, to discover why I have recommended this particular sentence. Seventeen years is the period of time that was left on the life insurance policy, the profits of which you had planned to enjoy by spending the rest of your life in the luxury of a penthouse apartment in Chelsea with money to spare. You will instead spend those seventeen years in custody at Her Majesty’s pleasure, and may God have mercy on your soul.

Sherwood’s head drops into his hand. The attention moves to Barrington and Jarvis.