Façade (A Jared Leto Fanfiction)

Scene 1: Courthouse Flashforward

INT. THE OLD BAILEY, LONDON – DAY

Twenty-five-year-old VICTORIA ANGELA PAYNE enters Courtroom 1 of THE OLD BAILEY, flanked by two burly female prison officers. Her jet black hair neatly tied in a slick bun, her icy blue eyes contrasting against her pale skin. She exudes an appearance of a woman with power, dressed in an expensive suit and skirt. Her gaze is cold, set forward and her expression deadpan. She walks with feline grace even with her hands bound by handcuffs; the officers guide her to the stand at the centre of the room and wait behind her.

VICTORIA maintains her calm composure with her handcuffed wrists hanging by her waist. THE OLD BAILEY is a historic building, the walls a light brown hue with accents of deep mahogany, crowned by the royal coat of arms. The stands look old but not worn, their wooden features reflecting a melancholic lifetime. The whispers of the JURY, BARRISTERS and CLERKS are interrupted by the request from the BAILIFF to stand as the JUDGE enters.

BAILIFF

Please rise. The Central Criminal Court

is now in session, the Honourable Judge

Fayden presiding.

JUDGE

(To Bailiff)

What is today's case?

BAILIFF

Today's case is Crown versus Victoria

Angela Payne.

The entire court sits down. Beat.

JUDGE

Is the prosecution ready? Is the defence

ready?

BARRISTERS

Yes, your Honour.

The first BARRISTER steps forward. Beat.

CROWN BARRISTER

Your Honour, members of the jury, my name

is Charles Barwell and I am representing

The Crown in this case against Victoria

Angela Payne. I am intending to prove her

guilty of three counts of first degree murder.

You will be presented with evidence and will

hear testimony from my witness, Chief Inspector

Grundy to whom the defendant admitted her

involvement in the crime, leaving you with no

doubt about her guilt.

The small old-aged, overweight man with a white comb over paces up and down in front of the jury, he switches eye contact continuously from one of the members of the Jury to another as he spoke. He turns to a man sitting beside him, a middle aged man with a haggard face. Beat. He sits to attention as his name is mentioned, a military presence about him.