Legal Justification

IN THE UNITED STATES SPECIAL SUPREME OVER COURT
FOR THE FINAL SATISFACTION OF GLOBAL JURISDICTION

READERSHIP OF THE WORLD, et al.,  :
xxxxxxxxxxxx Plaintiffs xxxxxxxxx :
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx :
vs. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx : CASE NO: ZZ9-PLRL-Z-LPH
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx :
DAN BROWN, et al. his novels, xxx :
particularly ANGELS AND DEMONS, x :
xxxxxxxxxxxx Defendants xxxxxxxxx :

TRAIL TRANSCRIPT : DAY SEVENTY-ONE, MORNING SESSION
X
BEFORE: HONORABLE HOPHGUD TAYSTE xxx
DATE x: December 5th, 2009 xxxxxxxxx
Place : Courtroom No. 2, 9th Floor x
Manila Building xxxx
228 Hazelnut Avenuex
Volcano Headquarters

COUNSEL PRESENT:
x
CLIFF KNOETZ, DVLS ADVC
xx For - Plaintiffs
X
RAY NASGON, ESQ
IGAN CHARLES CLEARLY-NOWTHER, ESQ
WEGHAT D'VUNCK, ESQ
xx For - Defendants

NOU MENON, BBC, ONE xxx
OFFICIAL COURT REPORTER

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[COURT HEARS SOUND OF PAGE TURNING]
x
THE COURT: Mr. Knoetz. Mr. Knoetz? MR. KNOETZ!
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MR. KNOETZ: Argh!
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[COURT HEARS SOUND OF BOOK HITTING FLOOR]
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MR. KNOETZ: Yes, your honor?
x
THE COURT: Not to put too fine a point on it, counsellor, we've been
sat here for over two months now and not a damn thing has happened. We
broke for lunch, then court resumed, at which point you began reading
Angels and Demons again, extremely slowly. That was sixty-six days ago.
x
MR. KNOETZ: Your honor, I can only apologise.
x
THE COURT: I'm not sure that's going to cut it, fella. Are you ready
to continue this case or aren't you?
x
MR. KNOETZ: To be honest, your honor, I've got a bit of a problem. As
I said, Prosecution intends to build this case by pointing to various
aspects of the alleged novels content.
x
THE COURT: Yes, as I recall you mean to start with Characterization. I
think I even allowed you to get away with the British spelling.
x
MR. KNOETZ: That's right, your honor. After our initial review of the
evidence, this seemed the most damning approach. However, it seems...
x
THE COURT: Spit it out, man!
x
MR. KNOETZ: Well... we can't seem to find any.
x
THE COURT: I beg your pardon?
x
MR. KNOETZ: There doesn't appear to be any characterization at all.
x
MR. NASGON: Defense moves for a mistrial!
X
MR. KNOETZ: Objection, objection!
x
THE COURT: Grounds, counsellor?
x
MR. NASGON: Well, he said it in his own words, your honor, didn't he?
You can't convict my client for a crime he didn't commit!
x
THE COURT: Very true, very true.
X
MR. KNOETZ: But "no characterization" - that's a crime in itself!
x
MR. NASGON: Prove it, Knoetz! Back up this, unfounded allegation.
x
MR. KNOETZ: But -
x
MR. NASGON: "Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence".
x
THE COURT: Ooh, zing!
x
MR. KNOETZ: Look, I mean, I mean - the book has characters, we admit
that. So, if there are characters, there should be characterization,
right? You can't have one without the other.
x
MR NASGON: Is that a rule Knoetz? Can't things "just happen", as the
writer wants them to, pulling the so called characters along in their
wake? Have you never seen a Jean-Claude Van Damme film?
x
THE COURT: Sounds like you're in rather dire straits, Mr. Knoetz. If
you can't present anything on this count you're off to a bad start.
x
MR. KNOETZ: Okay, no, listen! "As Langdon sat on his brass Maharishi's
chest and savored the warmth of the chocolate, the bay window caught
his reflection. The image was distorted and pale . . . like a ghost.
An aging ghost, he thought, cruelly reminded that his youthful spirit
was living in a mortal shell." ~ Angels and Demons, page 21.
x
[SILENCE IN COURT]
X
THE COURT: My God. That's... does Brown go on to describe Langdon, now
he has seen himself in the window? Describe him physically, I mean.
x
MR. KNOETZ: He does your honor. Physically, but also his personality,
in the context of his role as swimmer and higher educator. I'm sorry.
x
THE COURT: That's... very disturbing.
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MR. KNOETZ: But my point is, is it characterization? I can't tell.
x
MR. NASGON: No. It's only a reflection. A reflection on a reflection,
if you will, which is to say further evidence of my client's dazzling
skill as a creative writer.
x
MR. KNOETZ: But does it characterize? Or rather, does it attempt to?
x
THE COURT: Well, instict says no. But... if it "describes or portrays
the character of", well, in a technical sense, it does. How awful.
x
MR. KNOETZ: Though it distress the court, I would like to enter this
into the record as Prosecution Evidence #1. And, with this precedent
now set, I'm afraid there is more of the same to come.
x
THE COURT: No-one ever said justice would be easy, gentlemen. We'll
continue on the morrow. Adjourned.
x 
[COURT IS ADJOURNED]
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_______________________
Nou Menon, BBC, ONE xxx
Official Court Reporter

The foregoing certificalation of this tranyscript does not appley to any
reproduction by any means useless under the dialect control hand/or
supervision of the certifycating reporter.