Monster

Asa puts character witnesses on the stand to support King. The first is Dorothy Moore, his cousin, who testifies that King came to see her the day of the robbery and brought her a lamp. When the prosecutor asks if she still has the lamp, Dorothy admits she does not. The second witness is Mr. Nipping, who has known King since he was a little boy. Nipping testifies that King is left-handed, which may be significant since the gun that killed Nesbitt was fired with a right hand.

The narrative shifts briefly to a lecture about film from Mr. Sawicki. The teacher is reminding his students not to keep their storytelling simple. He says, “When you see a filmmaker getting too fancy, you can bet he’s worried either about his story or about his ability to tell it” (214).

The scene shifts to an anxious Kathy, pacing in a holding cell as Steve sits watching her. She tells Steve he must take the stand. She says she believes the jury wants to hear from Steve, which will give him the opportunity at last to put some distance between himself and King, who is not going to testify. She counsels Steve to avoid appearing to be a tough guy. To prep Steve without telling him exactly what she wants him to say, Kathy employs “the cup game.” She asks him a question and turns the cup up or down depending upon whether she likes the answer.

It is night in Steve’s jail cell. Steve and three other inmates are discussing how the truth doesn’t matter once you have been charged with a crime. The only thing that matters at that point is saying whatever is necessary to get out of jail.

Steve is on the witness stand being questioned by Kathy. He denies being a lookout for the robbery or being in the drugstore on the day of the robbery. The prosecutor spends more time cross-examining Steve than Kathy did soliciting his testimony. Though anxious, Steve answers Sandra’s questions to Kathy’s satisfaction. After his testimony, he returns to the defense table.

Kathy calls Mr. Sawicki as a character witness. He portrays Steve as a responsible, thoughtful, caring person. The prosecutor attempts to prove that Sawicki cannot really know Steve well enough to judge his character, which Sawicki rebuffs, saying, “It is my belief that to make an honest film, one has to be an honest person. I would say that. And I do believe in Steve’s honesty” (237).

The scene shifts briefly to Steve lying on his cot in his cell, still anxious. Momentarily, the scene shifts back to the courtroom where King’s attorney is making his closing arguments. He portrays Bobo as the actual killer who is trying to escape his rightful punishment by blaming King. He also assails the insufficient investigatory work of the police.

After Asa closes, Kathy makes her final argument to the jury. She thanks them for paying attention. She reviews the testimony, emphasizing what she considers the most important elements and showing that there is no direct evidence that Steve participated in the robbery. Using simple logic and developing her remarks around the testimony and the character of each witness, she stresses that there is ample doubt that Steve is guilty.

Last, the prosecutor makes her final arguments. She discounts the remarks of the defense attorneys disparaging her witnesses. She reviews the testimony and argues that there were four people who plotted the robbery and thus all four are equally guilty of the murder of Mr. Nesbitt. The scene shifts to meandering camera shots as the judge gives the jury instructions and dismisses them to reach a verdict.

During the time of deliberation, Steve and King remain in a holding cell together. Steve is frightened. King tries to sound cavalier. A guard informs them that there is a betting pool concerning how long their sentences will be when they are found guilty, and he asks the defendants if they want in on the bet.

Steve has been returned to his cell; the jury still deliberating his guilt. He relates that his anxiety level is near panic. He cannot think or feel about anything but his court case and is already planning his appeal. He writes, “Nothing is real around me except the panic” (271).

The final screenplay scene takes place at the courthouse with a guard telling the defendants that the jury has returned a verdict. Steve stands with Kathy, who tells him they will file an appeal if he is found guilty. As the jury comes in, Steve begins to imagine credits rolling across a screen like at the end of a movie.

The jury foreman reads the verdict that King has been found guilty. He is immediately taken away. Steve watches his mother’s face and sees her relief as the foreman reads the verdict: Steve is not guilty. He turns to embrace Kathy, but she gathers her papers and turns away from him.

The last journal entry comes almost a year after the robbery and five months after Steve’s acquittal. Steve lingers on his persistent habit of self-filming. He makes videos of himself as if trying to determine who he really is and to assure himself that he is not a monster. He says, “I want to look at myself a thousand times for one true image” (281).