"I Have No Further Questions" - The People vs. The Mozza Journalist
/"I HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS"
ACT 1
EXT. LOS ANGLES CRIMINAL COURTS BUILDNG, DOWNTOWN - DAY
Throngs walk into the 20-story building. A man tosses a L.A. Times into a trash can.
CLOSE - THE NEWSPAPER
The headline reads “Trial of Mozza Journalist Missing Deadline Begins”
INT. COURTROOM 112, 9TH FLOOR. ON A PLAQUE READS “JUDGE LANCE ITO”.
Judge Lance Ito is presiding. Deputy District Attorney Marcia Clark approaches the witness stand where Michael Krikorian sits. At the defense table sits Johnnie Cochran. There is no jury as this is a bench trial, aka a trial by judge.
CLARK
Would you state to the courtroom your occupation?
KRIKORIAN
I work at The Corner.
CLARK
Could you be less vague?
COCHRAN
Objection. She’s being combative. Some things don’t change.
ITO
Overruled. The defendant will answer the question.
KRIKORIAN
I work for Nancy Silverton on the corner of Highland and Melrose.
CLARK
What is your position there?
KRIKORIAN
I am a Special Forces Oerator. I have a wide variety of tasks, some of which I cannot talk about.
CLARK
Okay, Mr. Mysterio. But, isn't it true you also work for one Christine Larroucau?
KRIKORIAN
If she needs me, I’m there.
CLARK
And isn’t it true she often needs you to write up the fabled Mozza Employee of the Month Award for, as you call it, “The Corner”?
KRIKORIAN
I’ve helped her, yes.
CLARK
You’re being modest, Mr. Krikorian Isn’t it true you actually write most of them?
Marcia Clark takes out a briefcase and pulls out a several sheets of paper.
CLARK (CONT’D)
I’d like to submit these.
She hands the papers to a clerk.
CLARK (CONT’D)
Submission People’s 1. These are at least seven Employee on the Month awards you have written. To wit, Corina, Luis, Miguel, Cole, Jason...
COCHRAN
Objection. Your honor, where is this going? This man is a Special Forces Operator who happens to be able to write. Is that a crime?
CLARK
May I proceed, your honor?
ITO
Proceed.
CLARK
And in all of these profiles, or whatever you call them, you are always on time. You meet deadline. You're a journalist in your other life. Isn’t that true?
ITO
Miss Clark, get to the point
KRIKORIAN
I’ll answer it. Yes. I’m a deadline journalist.
CLARK
Now I would like to go back a couple months. Isn’t it true on or about February 27, this Miss Larroucau informed you of the next two employees of the month? One being a Jason.
KRIKORIAN
Who?
CLARK.
Jason the Osteria Mozza server.
KRIKORIAN
Oh, yeah. Yes.
CLARK
And she also told you the next employee of the month after Jason.
KRIKORIAN
Yes.
CLARK
Was that unusual for her to tell you two employees of the months at the same time?
KRIKORIAN
Yes.
CLARK
So you had a long time to finish the second one. Why were you, a deadline reporter, late with this month’s Employee of the Month Award? Why did you miss deadline?
KRIKORIAN
I, uh, I wanted to make this special.
CLARK.
Why?
KRIKORIAN
Well, it’s a honor to get this award. People like to be honored at work. It makes them feel good.
CLARK
But, the past winners were honored, too. They must have been special. You were on time for them. Why did you miss this deadline? Who was the winner? Tell us.
COCHRAN
Objection. She’s badgering the defendant.
JUDGE ITO
Overruled. Answer the question.
KRIKORIAN
Well, when I heard who it was, I wanted to make it just a little extra special.
JUDGE ITO
Krikorian, answer the damn question. Who was this month’s employee of the month?
KRIKORIAN
Eva.
END OF ACT ONE
ACT 2
INT. COURTROOM - DAY
Everyone is in place again.
JUDGE ITO
Miss Clark, call your witness.
Marcia Clark addresses the court.
CLARK
The People call Anna Nguyen.
Anna takes the witness stand.
CLARK (CONT’D)
What do you do for a living?
ANNA
I work at the Mozzarella Bar with Nancy Silverton at Osteria Mozza located on The Corner.
CLARK
Ah, the Corner, again. Must be fun.
Marcia Clark takes a CD and approaches the judge.
CLARK (CONT’D)
Your honor the People would like to play this CD.
Krikorian leans over to Cochran.
KRIKORIAN
Sinatra? Coltrane?
JUDGE ITO
Miss Clark you can play the CD.
The courtroom darkens and a large monitor plays a video.
THE VIDEO
Anna is at the South Side of the Mozzarella Bar with Osteria line cook Kirsten Mayell and the defendant.
ANNA
So when is the next Employee of the Month?
KRIKORIAN
Wednesday. It will be turned in by 5 pm.
KIRSTEN
Who is it?
KRIKORIAN
Can’t say yet. Only my editor Chile Rico can announce it.
ANNA
Have you ever missed a deadline for Chile Rico?
KRIKORIAN
Never.
KIRSTEN
Never ever?
KRIKORIAN
Never ever.
The video ends. The Courtroom lights come back on.
CLARK
Do you know the date of the “Wednesday” the defendant refers to was April 4th?
ANNA
Yes. Something like that.
CLARK
Can you tell the courtroom what the date is today?
ANNA
I think it’s April 18th, 19th. Something like that.
CLARK
I have no further questions.
Johnnie Cochran approaches the witness.
COCHRAN
Good afternoon, Miss Anna. You are looking quite lovely today.
CLARK
Objection. He’s flattering the witness to get her on his side.
JUDGE ITO
Overruled. She does look good. Continue, Mister Cochran.
COCHRAN
Thank you, your honor. Now, do you know Eva?
ANNA
I know who she is. I don’t know her well. But, she seems awfully nice.
COCHRAN
And Mr. Krikorian here, does he seem the type to hastily write something on a employee like this?
CLARK
Objection. The point of the trial is did he meet deadline, not if he wrote “Anna Karenina” about this Ava lady.
KRIKORIAN
Eva. Not Ava.
JUDGE ITO
The defendant will remain quiet when he is not on the stand,
KRIKORIAN
I was just righting a wrong..
JUDGE ITO
And any further outbursts and I will have the bailiffs restrain you.
JUDGE ITO (CONT’D)
Continue, Mr. Cochran.
COCHRAN
Have you read the last seven or so Employee of the Month awards written mostly by my client?
ANNA
Yes. I’ve enjoyed them all. Even the people I don’t know.
COCHRAN
I have no further questions.
JUDGE ITO
Miss Clark, your next witness?
CLARK
The People call Christine Larroucau.
Christine takes the stand
CLARK (CONT’D)
What do you do for a living?
CHRISTINE
I am the general manager of Pizzeria Mozza located...
CLARK
Wait. Don't tell me. Located on The Corner?
CHRISTINE That's correct.
CLARK And isn’t it true, among you many duties, you are more or less in charge of the coveted Employee of the Month Award?
CHRISTINE
I don’t decide it, but I am among several who vote.
CLARK
But, you have the task of putting the award together, having it written, editing it, making the presentation and such. Isn’t that true?
CHRISTINE
Yes.
CLARK
And the title of the award is Employee of the Month, correct?
COCHRAN
Objection. Asked and answered. Already established.
JUDGE ITO
Overruled. Answer the question.
CHRISTINE
Yes, it is.
CLARK
Are you aware that the last employee of the so-called “Month”, Jason, was honored around February 9th or thereabouts?
CHRISTINE
I’m not sure the exact date, but something like that.
CLARK
And are you aware that today is April 19?
CHRISTINE
Something like that.
CLARK
So in your Mozza world does that mean the month of March does not exist?
COCHRAN
Objection She is badgering the witness.
JUDGE ITO
Overruled. Miss Larroucau, please answer the question.
CHRISTINE
March was a crazy month at Mozza. Nancy was gone a lot. So was I. March went by in a blur. And let me just say that is not unusual for more than a single month to go by without an Employee of the Month Award given out.
CLARK
Maybe you should rename the award the “Employee of the Every 9 Weeks”. I have no further.
JUDGE ITO
Mister Cochran?
Johnnie approaches the witness.
COCHRAN.
You sure look lovely today, Miss Larroucau.
CLARK.
Jesus Christ. I knew that was coming. Here we go again.
JUDGE ITO
Once again, I concur, Mister Cochran.
CLARK
Like I didn’t know that.
COCHRAN
Now, though your legal and birth name is Christine Larroucau, you are also known by many at The Corner by another name. Isn’t that true?
CHRISTINE.
Yes.
COCHRAN
And that name is Chile Rico, correct?
CHILE RICO
Si. Yes.
COCHRAN
And who gave you that name?
CHILE RICO
Frank. I mean Michael
COCHRAN
And why is that your name, Miss Rico?
CHILE RICO
My father is from Chile, by way of Basque Spain and my mother is from Puerto Rico.
CLARK
Objection. What the hell does this woman’s geographical background have to do with the case? This man is charged with missing deadline, not giving this witness a nickname.
JUDGE ITO
Overruled. Besides, Beside, I like the name Chile Rico. Continue, Mister Cochran.
CLARK
Good thing her father wasn’t from Madagascar and her mother from Uzbekistan.
JUDGE ITO
Miss Clark. Please refrain from those type of comments. Mister Cochran.
COCHRAN.
Now, Miss Rico, you and the defendant, Mr. Krikorian, when you two text, it’s in, like, a special code.
CHILE RICO.
It’s bit complicated. But, it’s a mix of Spanish, English, some slang and, ocassionally, a little French.
CLARK
Objection. Irrelevant. What the hell does that have to do with this case? They could text each other in Swahili and it would not matter to this case.
COCHRAN
Your honor, if I am allowed to continue this line of questioning, it will become obvious as to the relevance of this special language.
JUDGE ITO
Proceed. But, I’m warning you, Mister Cochran. get to the point quickly.
Cochran produces a cell phone.
COCHRAN
Your honor, I’d like to admit this cell phone into the proceedings.
JUDGE ITO
Granted.
COCHRAN
This is the defendant’s phone.
Johnnie takes the phone, pushes some buttons and it is displayed on the monitor for all to see.
On the monitor reads.
MICHAEL -‘LO SIENTO HAVE NOT GOT TU EVA
CHILE - NO ES UN PROBLEMA
CHILE - TIENES ALL LE TIEMPOS
MICHAEL - TU KNOW YO QUERER TO DO THIS UNO RIGHT
The monitor is turned off.
Johnnie Cochran approaches Chile Rico again.
COCHRAN (CONT’D)
Can you translate this?
CHILE RICO
Michael is telling me he’s sorry for not having sent me the latest Employee of the Month Award, which is for Eva,
COCHRAN
And these lines from you, first “No es un problema” followed by a "Tienes all le tiempo“.
CHILE RICO
That it is “not a problem” and to “take all the time”.
COCHRAN
I’m sorry, Miss Rico. Could you repeat that.
CHILE RICO
It’s not a problem, take all the time
COCHRAN
Your honor, I have no further questions.
JUDGE ITO
Miss Clark, your next witness.
CLARK
I think the People have proved without a shadow of a doubt that defendant is guilty as charged of not meeting deadline. The people rest.
END OF ACT 2
ACT 3
The courtroom fills up again after a brief recess.
JUDGE ITO
Mister Cochran. Would you like to call any witnesses?
COCHRAN
Only one witness, your honor.
JUDGE ITO.
Proceed then.
COCHRAN
The defense calls Eva Gallner.
A slight gasp goes through the courtroom gallery.
Eva Gallner walks in the courtroom doors, rather struts in. High heels and, surprisingly, a stunning Marni dress. She walks by a stylish woman in the gallery. The woman grabs Eva’s wrist as she walks by and whispers to her.
WOMAN
Don’t spill any Budweiser on Nancy’s dress.
Eva continues to the witness stand. Johnnie Cochran and Judge Ito look at each other and nod. Marcia Clark rolls her eyes. Eva looks at Michael.
EVA
Hi, Frank.
MICHAEL
Hi, Olive.
CLARK
Jesus Christ! Objection. This is a courtroom of law, not Pizzeria Mozza. We're not on the goddamn Corner!
JUDGE ITO
Miss Clark, relax. Mister Cochran, proceed.
JOHNNIE COCHRAN
Good afternoon, Miss Gallner.
EVA
Hello, Mister Johnnie.
Johnnie Cochran smiles big.
COCHRAN
I have no further questions.
The courtroom gallery is stunned.
JUDGE ITO
What do you mean? You haven’t even asked a single question of this witness. Your only witness.
COCHRAN
Your honor, I don’t need to. Anyone can plainly see that this lady here would require an extra week or so to properly write an Employee of the Month Award. The defense rests.
JUDGE ITO
Your call. Miss Clark. Any cross examination?
MARICA CLARK
Oh, what’s the point? I have no questions.
JUDGE ITO
Sidebar.
Johnnie Cochran, Marcia Clark and Judge Ito confer for about 20 seconds then the two lawyers go back to their tables.
JUDGE ITO (CONT’D)
Since the defendant asked for judge trial, not jury trial, I have quickly reached a verdict.
The tension rises in the courtroom.
JUDGE ITO (CONT’D)
The defendant shall rise.
Krikorian and his lawyer stand up.
JUDGE ITO (CONT’D)
I, the judge, find the defendant, Michael “Frank” Krikorian guilty of the crime of missing deadline.
The courtroom gasps.
JUDGE ITO (CONT’D)
And I hereby sentence you to 10 years on The Corner.
KRIKORIAN
Hmmp. I could do another 10.
Eva does that Kirk Gibson double clutch. Krikorian, Johnnie, the entire gallery, all the witnesses, they all loudly cheer! Even Marcia Clark smiles.
THE END
johnnie cochran dashing to the trial of the century
