The Accused

Barrington God help the poor man.

Jarvis What do you imagine tipped the balance? It must have been a close-run thing.

Barrington We’ll never know, but it can’t have helped that we couldn’t explain why he’d left his bag behind, when he went on insisting that he was with a patient in Westminster.

Jarvis (nods) I know it’s the jury’s responsibility to decide the verdict, not ours, but I’m still not sure if the man is guilty.

Barrington Neither am I. (Watches as Mitchell enters the courtroom and stares at Sherwood.) But I have a feeling that woman is the one person who knows the answer to your question.

Guard approaches the dock, motions Sherwood to follow him. They walk halfway across the stage.

Ashton Well, at least this time you beat the old buzzard.

Kersley Did I? (Stares at Barrington.) I’m not so sure. There’s something about this case that doesn’t ring true.

Ashton In what way?

Kersley Nothing I can prove, but I have a feeling we would discover what really took place on the night on March the twenty-first if we could only overhear …

Sherwood leaves the witness box and begins to walk across the stage.

Guard Wait there. (He goes over to another Guard who completes the paperwork, as Mitchell walks up behind Sherwood.)

Sherwood You know I didn’t kill Elizabeth.

Mitchell Of course I do, but no one is ever going to believe that when you left my flat to go to Westminster and sign that death certificate it was me who went to Arcadia Mansions.

Sherwood How did you get in?

Mitchell Via the fire escape and the kitchen window, and if Webster hadn’t interrupted me I would have managed all six ampoules … ironic when you think about it. If you’d admitted to having an affair, you would have had the perfect alibi, but then, Patrick, I did warn you, you will live to regret this.