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Witness for the Prosecution · 1957 — 第 14 / 27 章 · 2'47" · B2

Leonard Vole Pleads Not Guilty, Explained：to a point

The trial of Leonard Vole opens with a formality that hardly hides the stakes. Myers, for the prosecution, calls the facts "simple and, to a point, not in dispute," then needles the defence: "I trust we are not to be deprived of the learned and stimulating presence of Sir Wilfrid?" Everyone is polite; everyone is measuring everyone.

あらすじ

At the Old Bailey, Leonard Vole is arraigned for the murder of Mrs French and answers "Not guilty." The judge instructs the jury to try the case only on the evidence heard in court. Prosecutor Myers opens for the Crown, notes Sir Wilfrid's absence, and calls Chief Inspector Hearne as his first witness.

CourtroomAccusationsExplainingConfrontingRivalsB2slowbritishClean
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注目の表現

May it please youpleaded not guiltyto a pointincapacitated

00:00 / 02:47
Space 再生 · ← → セリフ移動 · R リピート
いま
  10. ❝ 独白prosecution's opening4 行練習ページ ↗
セリフをタップするとそこから再生

このシーンの表現

to a point

partly, up to a limit

Myers calls the facts simple, then adds to a point, quietly keeping room to argue.

I agree with you, to a point, but the details matter.

このシーンの他の表現

  • May it please you

    formal address to a judge

  • pleaded not guilty

    formally denied the charge

  • incapacitated

    unable to act normally

  • not in dispute

    not contested

  • shut out

    keep out

このシーンのメモ一覧

27 行のセリフに 21 件のメモ

表現 · C1how say you

how do you plead

How say you, Leonard Stephen Vole?
表現 · B2guilty or not guilty

the plea question

Are you guilty or not guilty?
発音guilty or not

Link guilty or not, with or reduced to a soft er.

Are you guilty or not guilty?
表現 · B2plead not guilty

formally denied the charge

The clerk records Vole's formal plea: not guilty to the indictment.

To this indictment he has pleaded not guilty.
表現 · C1it is your charge to do something

you are charged to

And it is your charge to say, having heard the evidence, whether he be guilty or not.
文法 · C1whether he be guilty or not

subjunctive: Whether he be is an old subjunctive form kept in legal wording for whether he is.

And it is your charge to say, having heard the evidence, whether he be guilty or not.
表現 · B2shut something out of your mind

block it from your mind

You must shut out from your minds everything except what will take place in this court.
文法 · B1what will take place

noun clause: The clause what will take place serves as the object of except.

You must shut out from your minds everything except what will take place in this court.
表現 · C1may it please you

formal address to a judge

Myers rises to open for the prosecution and greets the judge with the court's set phrase.

May it please you, my lord. Members of the jury,
発音May it please

The t in May it often drops, and please you links together.

May it please you, my lord. Members of the jury,
スラング · C1my learned friend

my legal colleague — Courtroom address between lawyers, often barbed.

I appear in this case with my learned friend, Mr Barton, for the prosecution.
表現 · B2appear for the defence

represent the defence

And my learned friends Sir Wilfrid Robarts and Mr Brogan-Moore appear for the defence.
表現 · B2be deprived of something

lose the use of

I trust we are not to be deprived of the learned and stimulating presence of Sir Wilfrid?
文法 · B2we are not to be deprived

be to passive: Are not to be deprived states what should not happen, formal and faintly threatening.

I trust we are not to be deprived of the learned and stimulating presence of Sir Wilfrid?
表現 · C1be slightly incapacitated

a little indisposed

He's slightly incapacitated, but will be in his seat presently.
表現 · B2true to a point

partly, up to a limit

Myers calls the facts simple, then adds to a point, quietly keeping room to argue.

The facts in this case are simple and, to a point, not in dispute.
表現 · B2be not in dispute

not contested

Myers notes that part of the case is undisputed before steering the jury toward the accused.

The facts in this case are simple and, to a point, not in dispute.
表現 · B2the case for the prosecution

the prosecution's argument

the case for the prosecution that the blow was dealt by the prisoner, Leonard Vole.
表現 · B2draw up a will

write up a will

and from the medical and laboratory experts, and the evidence of the murdered woman's solicitor, who drew her final will.
表現 · B2call a witness

summon an inspector

I now call Chief Inspector Hearne, Criminal Investigation Department, - New Scotland Yard. - Chief Inspector Hearne.
発音Chief Inspector

Stress Chief and keep the p in Inspector very light.

I now call Chief Inspector Hearne, Criminal Investigation Department, - New Scotland Yard. - Chief Inspector Hearne.

「Leonard Vole Pleads Not Guilty」を読み解く

What's really going on

On the surface this is pure procedure: pleas, oaths, a list of witnesses. Underneath, the courtroom is already a stage for status. Myers cannot resist a jab at the defence — "I trust we are not to be deprived of the learned and stimulating presence of Sir Wilfrid?" — and the reply is equally smooth: Sir Wilfrid is "slightly incapacitated, but will be in his seat presently." Nobody says what they mean. The prosecution's "simple and, to a point, not in dispute" is a warning as much as a summary: the facts are agreed, so the fight will be over a person. When Vole shouts "That's not true! I didn't do it!" the calm breaks for a second, and then the polite machinery keeps rolling.

Theme

JusticeThe trial opens by promising that only evidence matters, then immediately shows how much depends on performance and presence.
DeceptionThe prosecution's "simple, not in dispute" facts and the defence's polite sparring all keep the real question hidden.

このチャプターで学べること

  • Politeness in court is often a weapon.
  • One short denial can break a room's calm.
  • To a point leaves the argument half open.
  • The jury is told to forget the world outside.

発音のポイント

  • guilty or not — Link guilty or not, with or reduced to a soft er.
  • May it please — The t in May it often drops, and please you links together.
  • Chief Inspector — Stress Chief and keep the p in Inspector very light.
You must shut out from your minds everything except what will take place in this court.

The judge's instruction to the jury: ignore anything heard outside this room and decide only from what is said here.

I trust we are not to be deprived of the learned and stimulating presence of Sir Wilfrid?

Myers's polite way of pointing out that Sir Wilfrid has not appeared — a courtroom jab dressed up as concern.

The facts in this case are simple and, to a point, not in dispute.

Myers concedes the basic story is agreed, hinting that the real contest lies elsewhere.

That's not true! I didn't do it!

Vole's outburst from the dock — a flat denial that interrupts the prosecution's calm opening.

このシーンについての質問

Why is Sir Wilfrid absent when the trial opens?

He is described as "slightly incapacitated" and said to be in the building, expected back in his seat shortly. The defence insists he will appear, while Myers uses the absence to needle them.

Why does Myers say the facts are not in dispute?

He is conceding that the basic story — Vole knew Mrs French and stood to gain from her will — is largely agreed, so the trial will turn on who struck the blow, not on the surrounding facts.

Who is called as the first witness?

Chief Inspector Hearne of Scotland Yard's Criminal Investigation Department, whose police evidence opens the prosecution's case.

What does "May it please you" mean in court?

It is an old formal address from a barrister to the judge, roughly "My lord." Myers uses it as the standard polite opening when he begins the prosecution's case.

情婦 · 全 27 章

すべて見る →
次のチャプター · 第 15 章take someone by surpriseHearne Testifies About the Prints
第 1 章put it in mothballsSir Wilfrid Goes Home第 2 章when her back is turnedSir Wilfrid Hides Cigars in His Cane第 3 章circumstantial evidenceVole Tries to Hire Sir Wilfrid第 4 章in the hands ofLeonard Tells Sir Wilfrid His Story第 5 章not cricketHow Vole Met Mrs French第 6 章a hot potatoLeonard Recounts the Night of the Murder第 7 章with flying coloursInspector Hearne Arrests Leonard第 8 章call it what you likeChristine Vole Meets the Lawyers第 9 章a way with womenChristine and the Green Socks第 10 章worships the ground I walk onChristine Denies She's His Wife第 11 章on the chance thatWilfrid Photographs Vole in Prison第 12 章gave someone ideasLeonard Meets Christine in Hamburg第 13 章clutching at a razor bladeVole Tells How He Married Christine再生中 · 第 14 章to a pointLeonard Vole Pleads Not Guilty第 15 章take someone by surpriseHearne Testifies About the Prints第 16 章account forThe Bloodstained Jacket in Court第 17 章hither and thitherJanet McKenzie Takes the Stand第 18 章a scheming rascalWilfrid Cross-Examines the Housekeeper第 19 章an accomplice toChristine Testifies Against Vole第 20 章a chronic and habitual liarMyers Destroys Christine on the Stand第 21 章shed new light onSir Wilfrid Calls Leonard Vole第 22 章establish an alibiMyers Cross-Examines Leonard Vole第 23 章wild-goose chaseThe Call About the German Wife第 24 章on the slySir Wilfrid Buys the Letters第 25 章a pack of liesSir Wilfrid's Blue Letter Trap第 26 章dispose ofVole Is Found Not Guilty第 27 章call someone namesChristine Reveals Leonard Was Guilty
第 14 / 27 章 · 残り約 49 分