SCENE 4
In the courthouse chamber. The courthouse is empty apart from the bailiff. Two lawyers and a scribe are sitting.
BAILIFF
All rise for the honourable Jean von Wartburg.
The lawyers stand. JEAN gestures for them to sit.
BAILIFF
The matter of the trial of Herr Victor von Frankenstein.
JEAN
Danke.
(Pause)
I need to know the location of the plaintiff.
He looks at the lawyers. They shrug.
BAILIFF
Your honour, the whole village accused him.
JEAN
What?
BAILIFF
(whispered)
Exactly my reaction.
JEAN
Can you... go outside and check on the racket?
JEAN gestures to the BAILIFF to check the doors. As he does, a riotous mob is heard screaming.
BAILIFF
The whole plaintiff...cohort... is outside...
JEAN
We can't have them in here. Get the defendant.
Exit BAILIFF. JEAN looks through paper on his stand. One intrigues him, but is eventually horrified by it on further examination.
Enter VICTOR. The BAILIFF swears him in.
VICTOR
Keep me in prison, release me, it doesn't matter. He'll find me.
(pause)
He'll find you.
LAWYER
Right... now, you say that you...
VICTOR
I said a lot of stuff. I did a lot of stuff. If you are going to put me away, put me away for the monster. Not the experiment.
LAWYER
Experiment?
VICTOR
With life. With being. With existing. I gave life, through mere electricity. I DID THAT. I am a creator of life, of being... but I am heartless and unforgiving. Like the Roman emperor Caligula... I am worthless.
LAWYER
Well, did you do it? Did you murder Elizabeth?
VICTOR
NO. IT DID.
LAWYER
Herr Frankenstein, please understand that none of us know what it is.
VICTOR
I suppose you don't. Then again, you never will. Not Henri, not Elizabeth... not Adam... can understand the burden of the creation of life.
LAWYER
Ugh. No further questions.
END SCENE.
SCENE 3
In the cells. VICTOR sits, distressed. HENRI enters.
VICTOR
What are you doing here?
HENRI
Look. What you did... well, I'll never forgive you. But...
VICTOR
Henri you blabbering idiot, IT WASN'T ME!
HENRI
(Pause)
I just wanted to tell you it's not too late to say sorry.
(Pause)
END OF PLAY
YOU ARE READING
The trial of Victor Frankenstein
General FictionAfter the catastrophe with the creature, Frankenstein is arrested and put on trial. After his former friend Henri Clerval visits him in a holding cell to give him a letter, Frankenstein opens it to find that it is from the creature. This tale of bro...
