REAGAN, LINCOLN, MADISON, SAM, ADAM, and CHASE meet LORENZO outside the courthouse.
MADISON
You ready Lorenzo?
LORENZO
Ready as I’ll ever be.
REAGAN
Don’t worry. We’re gonna keep you out of prison.
SAM
We’re gonna try our best, at least.
LORENZO
Thanks. Now can somebody help me with my tie?
ADAM rolls his eyes, then ties LORENZO’s tie for him.
LORENZO
Anyways, you know how we decided on not guilty?
CHASE
Yeah, we’ve been over this.
LORENZO
I watched a news report after you left. There’s no way I’m found not guilty.
LINCOLN
Trust us, we’re gonna win this for you.
LORENZO
I think I should plead guilty.
MADISON
Are you serious?! After all this?!
LORENZO
Yes. In fact…I’m gonna plead guilty.
SAM
Lorenzo you can’t do this, you don’t know the consequences!
LORENZO walks into the courtroom. Everyone else follows him. The trial commences and the JUDGE asks LORENZO to state his plea. LORENZO looks at the lawyers and then at the judge.
JUDGE
Sir I need a plea from you so we can get on with this.
LORENZO still doesn’t answer.
JUDGE
If you’re staying silent you gotta at least tell us the plea.
A bystander shouts “GUILTY!” and is quickly escorted away for disturbing the session.
LORENZO
Not guilty.
The lawyers look at one another, both shocked and relieved. The trial continues with LORENZO being framed by his own lawyers as an inept politician who followed every rule he was aware of. They sense they are not winning over the jury and regroup during a recess.
CHASE
They’re not falling for it. They’re seeing a crime as a crime, even if you didn’t know you were committing one.
LORENZO
What are we going to do?
MADISON
Just what we talked about. Use your charm.
LORENZO
My charm. Right.
REAGAN
So what are you gonna do?
LORENZO
Use my charm.
ADAM
Yeah but…how?
LORENZO
To be determined.
SAM
Can we have a little insight to be prepared?
LORENZO
I’ll surprise you. And myself.
LINCOLN
Why do I feel like this isn’t going to end well?
LORENZO
It probably won’t. But I’ll listen to my lawyers and try my best!
The trial resumes. LORENZO is being cross-examined.
LAWYER
Lorenzo, is it not true that you stole $200 million from your constituents?
LORENZO
Pardon?
LAWYER
The facts are clear, through committing campaign finance fraud you directly stole money from your constituents.
LORENZO
I don’t know what you’re saying but if I did have that kind of money, I can assure you I would’ve spent it all on cotton candy and SOKE Bars!
The jury chuckles.
LAWYER
Lorenzo what is your salary on the Indianapolis Primitives?
LORENZO
Way higher than it should be! I think I lose that team money with all the cotton candy I eat.
The jury laughs a little louder.
LAWYER
Is it also not true that you tried to steal this election from your opponent?
LORENZO
I wouldn’t dream of stealing a thing. Not an election and especially not second base, do you guys see how slow I run?!
The jury bursts out into laughter. The LAWYER tries to do damage control by cutting the cross-examination short.
LAWYER
No further questions Your Honor.
LORENZO goes back to sit with his lawyers. Closing statements are read and the jury meets to decide on a vote.
REAGAN
Lorenzo, as corny as those jokes were, I think you might’ve won over some jurors.
LORENZO
Let’s hope.
The group sits there silently for a while, nervously anticipating the outcome.
SAM
You know they’ve kinda been meeting for a while now.
LINCOLN
Think this is gonna be a close one?
MADISON
Absolutely. There may even be some people still undecided now.
CHASE
Here they come.
The jury returns to the courtroom. LORENZO is found Not Guilty. Everyone exits the courtroom.
REAGAN
We actually did it, Lorenzo!
LORENZO
I never had my doubts.
ADAM
Sure you didn’t.
LORENZO
You know, that was kinda fun. I think I want to be a lawyer.
Everyone laughs until they realize LORENZO is serious.
LORENZO
I think this is my calling. See you guys later!
LORENZO walks away.