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THE JURY listens like a gallery of mannequins on display, pale-faced and stupefied.
D.A. (O.S.)
Mr. Dufresne, describe the
confrontation you had with your
wife the night she was murdered.
ANDY DUFRESNE is on the witness stand, hands folded, suit and tie pressed, hair meticulously combed. He speaks in soft, measured tones:
ANDY
It was very bitter. She said she
was glad I knew, that she hated all
the sneaking around. She said she
wanted a divorce in Reno.
D.A.
What was your response?
ANDY
I told her I would not grant one.
D.A.
(refers to his notes)
"I'll see you in Hell before I see
you in Reno." Those were the words
you used, Mr. Dufresne, according
to the testimony of your neighbors.
ANDY
If they say so. I really don't
remember. I was upset.
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D.A.
What happened after you and your
wife argued?
ANDY
She packed a bag and went to stay
with Mr. Quentin.
D.A.
Glenn Quentin. The golf pro at the
Falmouth Hills Country Club. The
man you had recently discovered was
her lover. (Andy nods) Did you
follow her?
ANDY
I went to a few bars first. Later,
I decided to drive to Mr. Quentin's
home and confront them. They
weren't there...so I parked my car
in the turnout...and waited.
D.A.
(With what intention?)
ANDY
I'm not sure. I was confused.
Drunk. I think mostly I wanted to
scare them.
D.A.
You had a gun with you?
ANDY
Yes. I did.
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D.A.
When they arrived, you went up to
the house and murdered them?
CONTINUED: (2)
ANDY
No. I was sobering up. I realized
she wasn't worth it. I decided to
let her have her quickie divorce.
D.A.
Quickie divorce indeed. A .38
caliber divorce, wrapped in a
handtowel to muffle the shots,
isn't that what you mean? And then
you shot her lover!
ANDY
I did not. I got back in the car
and drove home to sleep it off.
Along the way, I stopped and threw
my gun into the Royal River. I feel
I've been very clear on this point.
D.A.
Yes, you have. Where I get hazy,
though, is the part where the
cleaning woman shows up the next
morning and finds your wife and her
lover in bed, riddled with .38
caliber bullets. Does that strike
you as a fantastic coincidence, Mr.
Dufresne, or is it just me?
ANDY
(softly)
Yes. It does.
D.A.
I'm sorry, Mr. Dufresne, I don't
think the jury heard that.
ANDY (CONT'D)
Yes. It does.
D.A.
Does what?
ANDY
Strike me as a fantastic
coincidence.
D.A.
On that, sir, we are in accord...
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CONTINUED: (3)
D.A. (CONT'D)
You claim you threw your gun into
the Royal River before the murders
took place. That's rather
convenient.
ANDY
It's the truth.
D.A.
You recall Lt. Mincher's testimony?
He and his men dragged that river
for three days and nary a gun was
found. So no comparison can be made
between your gun and the bullets
taken from the bloodstained corpses
of the victims. That's also rather
convenient, isn't it, Mr. Dufresne?
ANDY
(faint, bitter smile)
Since I am innocent of this crime,
sir, I find it decidedly
inconvenient the gun was never
found.
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