The Accused (Modern Plays) Read online

  The Accused

  Jeffrey Archer’s latest play, The Accused, is a tense courtroom drama with a difference. The audience will act as the jury, as if they were in the Central Criminal Court at the Old Bailey.

  You will have to decide …

  Did Dr Sherwood murder his wife?

  Was Jennifer Mitchell his mistress?

  Which of his alibis should you believe?

  The choice will keep you on the edge of your seats, and at the end of the trial you will be invited to deliver your verdict of guilty or not guilty. Once you have made that decision, the play will continue - with one of two different endings, depending on your verdict. Only then will you finally discover the truth.

  Jeffrey Archer is one of Britain’s top-selling novelists. He is published in 63 countries and 32 languages, and has international sales passing one hundred and twenty million copies. He is a former Member of Parliament and Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party, and was created a Life Peer in the Queen’s Birthday Honours of 1992. He is also an amateur auctioneer, conducting some 60 charity auctions each year.

  He has written ten novels, several of which have been serialised for television and radio, four sets of short stories, and three plays. His first - Beyond Reasonable Doubt, starring Frank Finlay and Wendy Craig, ran at the Queen’s Theatre, in London’s West End, for over 600 performances. His second play, Exclusive, which ran at the Strand Theatre, starred Paul Scofield, Eileen Atkins and Alec McCowen.

  Jeffrey Archer is now working on his eleventh novel, Serendipity, which will be published in May 2002.

  By the same author

  Novels

  Not a Penny More Not a Penny Less

  Shall We Tell the President?

  Kane and Abel

  The Prodigal Daughter

  First Among Equals

  A Matter of Honour

  As the Crow Flies

  Honour Among Thieves

  The Fourth Estate

  The Eleventh Commandment

  Short stories

  A Quiver Full of Arrows

  A Twist in the Tale

  Twelve Red Herrings

  The Collected Short Stories

  To Cut a Long Story Short

  Plays

  Beyond Reasonable Doubt

  Exclusive

  The Accused

  by

  Jeffrey Archer

  Contents

  Act One

  Scene One

  Scene Two

  Act Two

  Scene One

  Act Three

  Scene One

  Scene Two

  The Accused

  The Accused was presented by Lee Menzies at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket, London, on 5 December 2000, having received its world premiere performance at the Theatre Royal, Windsor, on 26 September 2000.

  The cast was as follows (in order of appearance)

  Jury Baliff

  Edward de Souza

  Anthony Kersley QC

  Michael Feast

  Alison Ashton

  Janet Wantling

  Sir James Barrington QC

  Edward Petherbridge

  Andrew Jarvis

  Dominic Kemp

  Court Usher

  Neil France

  Mr Justice Cartwright

  Tony Britton

  Patrick Sherwood

  Jeffrey Archer

  Guard

  Richard Hodder

  Detective Chief Inspector Payne

  Douglas Fielding

  Albert Webster

  David Weston

  Masood Hussein

  Madhav Sharma

  Professor Alistair Forsyth

  David Collings

  Jennifer Mitchell

  Emma Davies

  Foreman of the Jury

  The voice of Ken

  Livingstone

  Second Guard

  Gary laylor

  All the action takes place in Court Number One at the Old Bailey.

  Time: the present day.

  Director

  Val May

  Designer

  Simon Higlett

  Lighting Designer

  Vince Herbert

  Sound Designer

  Frank Bradley

  Company Stage Manager

  Debbie Cronshaw

  Deputy Stage Manager

  Jane Allen

  Assistant Stage Managers

  Angharad Watson,

  Rebecca Kilgariff,

  Nathalie Hobday

  Act One

  Scene One

  The Jury Room, Central Criminal Court, the Old Bailey. Morning.

  When the audience take their seats, there is no curtain. The stage is dark, but at the front is a door marked JURY ROOM. On the wall is a clock showing 9.45 a.m. When the house lights go down, the door opens and the Jury Bailiff steps through it and addresses the audience.

  Jury Bailiff Good morning Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury. Welcome to the Old Bailey. My name is Gilbert Pierce and I have been appointed your jury bailiff. You have been summoned this day to appear at the Central Criminal Court. The trial you have been selected for is the Crown versus Mr Patrick Sherwood. Mr Sherwood is charged with murder. In a few moments I will take you through to Court Number One. But as I suspect this is the first time you’ve been called on to give jury service, you may well have some questions, and as this is my one hundred and fourteenth murder, I may just have some of the answers.

  Now the judge in this case is Mr Justice Cartwright who considers himself to be the natural successor to Judge Jeffreys and his views on the restoration of the death penalty are well documented. However, you will be relieved to learn that he’s considerate with jurors, but uncompromising when it comes to barristers - especially those who try to take advantage of him. And while I’m on the subject of barristers, both the Crown and the Defence in this case are represented by two of the best - and they both know it.

  Sir James Barrington leads for the Defence, while Mr Anthony Kersley, a former Member of Parliament, appears for the Crown. If you sense any friction between them, don’t be surprised: they loathe each other. It’s no secret that Sir James defeated Mr Kersley by one vote to become Chairman of the Bar Council, and was awarded the knighthood that goes with it. It’s also common knowledge that they haven’t exchanged a civil word since.

  The spotlight falls on Kersley and his junior, Ashton, who are moving towards the courtroom in a corridor of light.

  Ashton I see we’re up against your old sparring partner.

  Kersley Are you referring to Barrington, or His Lordship Mr Justice Cartwright?

  Ashton I thought you and Sir James …

  Kersley Frankly I’ve never cared for either of them, and I can assure you the feeling is mutual. You see, I didn’t go to the right school, old boy.

  The attention moms to Barrington and Jarvis.

  Jarvis Have you appeared before Mr Justice Cartwright before?

  Barrington Many times, and on this occasion we start with a home advantage.

  Jarvis Why’s that?

  Barrington Because he disapproves of Kersley almost as much as I do, so all we have to do is massage the old boy’s ego.

  Jarvis But surely Kersley will do exactly the same thing?

  Barrington Not a chance. He’ll pick a quarrel with Cartwright at the first possible opportunity - he believes in the old adage that a good row with the judge makes up for a weak case.

  Jury Bailiff looks up from his clipboard.

  Jury Bailiff Once Mr Kersley has made his opening statement for the Crown, he will proceed to call his witnesses. At the moment there are five on the list, but I’m not expecting to get through all of them toda