[It was possibly the biggest day of my life, and most stressful at that. I can't lose, my reputation will be obliterated before my very eyes. I will look like a fool to my comrades and enemies. I refuse to look like a fool, I refuse to be made out to be a criminal. My friends, I had to use all of my power to remain invincible. And all it cost me was twelve hundred dollars.]

(The scene fades in from black to the center of a street sometime in the night. It's not too late, most of the house lights are still on, but no one is outside. A Lexus is approaching with it's headlights on towards the camera as Danny Starr narrorates.)

[Ah yes. Judge Cordele, the judge in my trial tomorrow. What a wise man; really knows how to do his job, I must say. Putting away the worst criminals on the street, responsible for locking up sixty murderers, robbers, and most wanted arsonists. Another obstacle in my way of being free, yet… for an odd reason; I seem to like being challenged by these obstacles. I could do even more years for what I hired Kevin Conner to do that night.]

(As the Lexus pulls into a wide driveway, the headlights bring light to a garage in front of the vehicle. An arm drifts out of the driver's window, and after a beeping sound is heard, the garage door begins to slowly rise up, opening a passage way to the inside. Once it's fully revealing the open area within, colored black from the night. The Lexus drives in, and the engine shuts off. As Judge Cordele gets out of his car, and shuts the door, the garage door begins to slide down automatically. Cordele is a little confused by this, and thinks he may have bumped the button, so continues his trail to the trunk of his expensive car. As the trunk bulbs light up the trunk, and some of the garage, a startling movement pushes Cordele against the garage shutter. His face is pushed against the door, and his glasses have fell to the ground. As the judge is forced to stay belly first to the metal shutter, he can hardly breath, and his heart is beating faster than ever in his life as a man is seen holding his back still with a gun pressed into the back of Cordele's head.)

Voice from behind: You move… I'll blow your brains all over the garage. Make sure Danny Starr is not guilty tomorrow, and if he gets any sentence… you'll be a dead man. Keep this quiet, and you might live, Cordele.

(The man pulls the gun away from Cordele's head, as he disappears into the darkness. Cordele doesn't move, just slides down to his knees in shock at what just happened.)

[Haha, quite sensational! I think I just secured my standings in the great finale tomorrow. I honestly cannot wait to see that detective's face tomorrow… I cannot wait. It was a long night, not because I was worried, it was because of the mere anticipation, the mere thought of seeing my friends from the past testify against me. Or would it be the contrary? Only two more hours before my trial, as I wait in the green room.]

8:16 AM
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford Jury Court

(The scene fades in from black to see a small room, with dark wooden walls. The sunlight shining from outside the window of the second floor burst through the window shades, and relaying onto the shoulder of Danny Starr as he sits in a black comfortable chair, awaiting to be called for his trial. Joseph Cross is sitting across from him, as they both contemplating wearing their black Armani suits. Danny Starr leans back against the leather backing of his chair, and looks up at Joseph Cross.)

Danny: Joseph, how long?

(Joseph sits up from leaning on his legs, and looks into the serious eyes of Danny Starr.)

Joseph: Should be soon, are you ready?

Danny: Never more ready in my life.

Joseph: I hope you know there are a few surprise witnesses, they haven't told me who they were. They just said past friends or acquaintances of you.

Danny: Who could that be… there are only a few who know about my private life, not that it matters. You see, I made the Judge an offer last night.

(Stunned by Danny's words.)

Joseph: You what? You talked to Judge Cordele?

Danny: I have a feeling you're going to look good today, and the detective is going to look very bad.

Joseph: What did you say? What did you do?

Danny: Me? I didn't do anything, however, I sent Kevin Conner to threaten Judge Cordele last night in his home.

Joseph: Danny, you cannot do this! If he reports that you are fried!

Danny: My friend, I have a feeling Judge Cordele isn't going to report anything to anyone. Let's just see how the trial turns out.

(Danny smirks, as Joseph sighs in worriment as the scene fades to black.)

2 Hours later

(The scene fades in from black to a large courtroom dressed in full wood. Beautiful setting, however, the case is quite messy. While the jury sits in their bench rowed seats, and Danny Starr is sitting next to Joseph Cross on the left side, the detective among others sit on the opposite side jury. A cop in full uniform is standing in front of the witness stand opens his mouth and practically screams to the entire room.)

Cop: Please stand for Judge Henry Fox Cordele.

(Everyone in the courtroom stands to their feet in complete silence, as the same man who was threatened the night before by Kevin Conner, walks out from a door behind the stand. No glasses are on his face, however, just a long, flowing, black robe he is wearing. As he sits down on his large seat behind his large desk, he grabs his mallet in his right hand.)

Judge: You may be seated.

(The jury, and everyone else seats back in their chairs.)

Judge: Danny Starr is being convicted of murder in the second degree. Responsible for having his father John Starr, Tom Reynolds, and Frank Eton murdered.

[I couldn't help but think about other things as Judge Cordele rambled on constantly. I don't see many people I know in the jury, only person I know is Michael Diamond, who is on my side of the court, most obviously. It seemed like forever, but I finally drifted back to the trial when I heard the attorney show the judge my phone bill.]

(Judge Cordele grabs the papers, and brings his head down to see it. His eyes begin squinting attempting to see the small writing.)

Cop: Judge Cordele, do you need your eyeglasses?

Judge: Yes, but I cannot seem to find them…

(Just then, the voice of Kevin Conner erupts into the sound waves, starling everyone with his loud voice.)

Kevin Conner: Oh shit, man! I think you dropped them last night when I threw you against the door!

(Danny Starr places his right hand over his entire face.)

Danny: You idiot…

(The Judge regains control of the courtroom, and somehow manages to read the documents.)

Judge: Jakob Grimes, please come to the witness stand…

(A silence overtakes the room.)

Judge: Mr. Jakob Grimes, please come to the stand…

(Still absolutely nothing, until Joseph Cross intercepts.)

Joseph Cross: Uhm, Excuse me, your honor. But you see, Jakob Grimes refused to show up today beings he has been declared clinically insane, and even if not, it would go against the rule of Double Jeopardy.

Judge: (Annoyed) Fair enough… Detective Stewart, please take the stand.

(The same detective that arrested Danny the night before rises from the jury, and makes his way towards the stand. The cop in front holds a bible up in the air.)

Cop: Please raise your right hand.

(After doing so, the Detective places his left hand on the bible which is being flattened by the cop.)

Cop: Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth so help you god?

Detective: I do.

(The cop steps back, and the detective climbs to sit behind the smaller desk next to the judge at the witness stand. Joseph Cross approaches him, and begins the trial.)

Joseph: Please state your full name, Detective Stewart.

Detective: Jeffrey Christopher Stewart.

Joseph: Could you please tell myself and the jury exactly what happened on Sunday morning?

Detective: Sure. I was just getting settled into my new office when the phone rang; it was Patricia Starr.

Joseph: What exactly did Mrs. Starr say to you, Detective?

Detective: She said that she believed her son, Daniel Patrick Starr, was involved in the murdering of her husband many years ago, and had the evidence to prove he was involved in the New York City double murder that was announced the night before.

Joseph: I see, so what happened next?

Detective: So, I got some of my men together, and we went to the Starr home to take a look around.

Joseph: Okay, so after this phone call, you decided to immediately take a drive down to their home to search the house. Is that what you're telling me?

Detective: Yes, that's correct.

Joseph: Did you have an arrest warrant?

Detective: No, I did not. It wasn't necessary to ask for one beings we were welcomed into their domain.

Joseph: Okay, so what happened after you got there?

Detective: After we got there, Mrs. Starr lead us to the study, which then showed us a folder with information about Tom Reynolds and Frank Eton, almost their entire life in written documents.

Joseph: Was the folder on top of the desk?

Detective: Excuse me?

Joseph: The folder filled with documents… was it on the top of the desk, or was it in a drawer?

Detective: It was in a drawer.

(An attorney against Danny Starr stands up.)

Attorney: Objection, your honor! This is completely unnecessary or significant to the case.

Judge: Overruled… you'll get your turn, Jenkins… Cross, continue.

Joseph: It was in the drawer. Was the drawer locked?

Detective: No, it was not.

Joseph: Were you aware that the desk did not belong to Mrs. Starr?

Detective: No, I was no informed. She gave me permission to search through.

Joseph: Ah ha! So am I to understand that the desk belongs to Danny Starr, and cannot be searched without consent from the owner, or a search warrant?

(Judge Cordele intercepts.)

Judge: That law only is valid in California, it was rid of Connecticut last year.

(Joseph curses under his breath.)

Joseph: No further questions, your honor.

(Joseph Cross walks back to his table, next to Danny Starr. Danny leans in to whisper to Cross.)

Danny: Real good…

Cross: You're the one who said it was a law!

Danny: You're the lawyer!

(The scene merges with Danny Starr sitting in the witness stand. And the Jenkins questioning him.)

Jenkins: Danny, where was your whereabouts on the night Tom Reynolds and Frank Eton were murdered?

Danny: I was at home, in my hot tub with the stock section of the Hartford Times.

Jenkins: I see, and when did you find out about their deaths?

Danny: I didn't. I was told in the police station after Detective Stewart arrested me for no apparent reason.

Jenkins: Keep in mind, you are under oath, Mr. Starr.

Danny: Keep in mind, go to the next question, Mr. Jenkins.

Jenkins: Mr. Starr, we are aware you are long time best friends with Michael Diamond. Which isn't odd, but we look in the history book and see Michael's parents were murdered almost to this very day thirteen years ago, and his parent's killers are eradicated that very night? It just seems odd to me that a person with an entire folder of documents claims he doesn't have anything to do with their murders.

Danny: It does seem odd, however, I do not.

(The scene switches to Michael Diamond on the stand now. Michael seems nervous, yet still remains masculine as Joseph Cross approaches him.)

Joseph Cross: Tell me, Mr. Diamond, what happened that night Tom Reynolds and Frank Eton entered your home.

(Michael Diamond pauses, and looks down. After a small gulp, he looks back up.)

Michael Diamond: My parents were… were…

(Michael Diamond covers his face with his hands, and begins to cry, obviously over acting.)

Joseph: (Remorsefully) Take as long as you need, Mr. Diamond.

Michael: Thank you… they were murdered, Mr. Cross.

Joseph: Yes, and what happened after you realized they had been murdered?

(Another long pause.)

Michael: I remember screaming for them, but with my Dad's last words, he told me to run away from the thieves.

Joseph: So what did you do next?

Michael: I ran… straight into the woods, but they caught me. And as they were going to execute me, the police sirens scared them away.

Joseph: I see, and if they had pulled the trigger, you would not be sitting here today.

Michael: I guess not, Mr. Cross.

Joseph: Are you glad these thieves are dead?

(A pause from Michael, as he is unsure to answer that or not.)

Michael: I love having the knowledge of their deaths.

(The jury gasps, but they understand. The scene merges to Patricia Starr sitting at the stand.)

Jenkins: Mrs. Starr, please inform the court on your history with Danny, your son.

Patricia: When I found notes on what Danny had planned for my husband, I thought he must've been insane. So I had him committed, and never told a soul, it was too embarrassing to the Starr name.

Jenkins: Was it true that John Starr abused you, Danny, and your daughter Cassandra?

Patricia: (Pauses) No, he never touched us like that.

(Danny jumps to his feet.)

Danny: You liar! You cannot lie blatantly under oath!

Judge: ORDER!

(Danny sits back down in his seat, controlling his anger.)

Jenkins: As I was saying, before I was rudely interrupted… What was Danny's mindset when you sent him to the Hartford Asylum?

Patricia: He was insane. After getting out of that horrid place, he came back home, but refused to talk to me. Refused to look at me…

(Patricia starts to break down crying on the stand.)

Judge: Please, get a hold of yourself.

(After a short minute… Patricia gets her control back.)

[The bitch just kept babbling in about false information, fake past, fake history! Every word she said went against the truth, and isn't that what is important in court? Straight to hell is where she will be sent, into the depths of hell; that is where she belongs.]

(The scene merges with that of Kevin Conner at the stand. He has a giant grin on his face.)

Joseph: What are you so happy about?

Kevin: Me?

Joseph: You ARE in fact on the stand, Mr. Conner.

Kevin: Hey bro, call me "K M C"

(Joseph goes along with the request.)

Joseph: Okay, 'K M C' tell me how you are involved in this case.

Kevin: Hey look, I know Danny. This guy is nothing but love! Look at the big lug, he wouldn't hurt a fly. Outside the ring that is… (Mumbles)

Judge: What was that?

Kevin: Hmm? Oh, I just said Danny Starr wouldn't have two men killed! He's not that stupid.

(Danny covers his face with his hand again.)

Kevin: Hey listen, y'all better let this man go, cause he's innocent! And if he did do it, I'm sure the bastards deserved it anyway 'Cause if Danny has someone killed, he makes sure it's for a good reason.

(Danny leans into Joseph Cross)

Danny: (Whispering) Get that idiot off the stand!

(The scene merges with Jason Marah on the stand.)

Jenkins: That you, Mr. Marah for coming out here all the way from Ireland.

Jason: No problem laddy.

(Jenkins holds a document in the air.)

Jenkins: In this very document, Jason Marah signed an agreement to spill the truth about Danny Starr, and the past from experience working with him. Please Jason, what is Danny Starr really like?

Jason: Danny Starr is a…

(Just then, Jason looks into the eyes of Danny Starr to see an intimidating look on his face. He then shortly points to the back of the room, only so Jason Marah can see that Mark Crow is holding a gat inside of his left pocket while he smiles at Jason. Jason then looks back at Danny in fear as Danny begins to smirk.)

Jenkins: Is a what?

Jason: Is a… uh… smart man. Wouldn't hurt anybody for any reason.

(The jury gasps as Jenkins is embarrassed and begins searching through the papers.)

Jenkins: No, that is not what you said! Did Danny ever have anyone killed!?

Jason: I don't know anything about that, Lad. But I do know that you should be bowing down to Danny Starr, cause this is an innocent man. And very powerful.

Jenkins: Do you understand the consequence of your change of heart? You could hit the slammer, it's called purgery.

Jason: I told you, Danny Starr isn't a bad person… he didn't have those men killed. I know that for a fact!

Jenkins: Is jail worth lying under oath, Mr. Marah?

Jason: I'm not lying, those two probably shot each other to frame Danny Starr!

(The judge slams the wooden mallet against a spot on the podium.)

Judge: I declare recess until tomorrow. We will find out the conclusion of this case then. Adjourned!

(The jury begins to empty out of their seats and the court room. The scene fades to black.)