Free Monster by Walter Dean Myers

table. She looks up toward the judge and shakes her head.
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    O’BRIEN
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    No questions, Your Honor.
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    CUT TO: PETROCELLI.
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    PETROCELLI
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    Is there any question in your mind that the man you identified from photographs is the same man who sits at this table?
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    HENRY
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    No, there is not.
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    PETROCELLI
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    Thank you. Nothing further.
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    MS of BRIGGS, his ASSOCIATE, and JAMES KING.
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    BRIGGS (to KING)
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    When this guy gets on the stand, I want you to take notes. Just write down any questions you want us to ask him.
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    KING
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    Like what?
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    BRIGGS
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    Don’t worry about it. We just need the jury to know we’re challenging this guy.
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    PETROCELLI
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    Richard “Bobo” Evans, your honor.
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    Camera pans to side of COURTROOM, where a COURT OFFICER opens the door and leans out. He holds the door open until RICHARD “BOBO” EVANS enters. He is a big man, heavy, and ugly. His hair is uncombed, and his orange prison jump-suit is wrinkled.
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    BRIGGS
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    Your honor, could we have a sidebar?
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    BRIGGS, O’BRIEN, PETROCELLI and COURT STENOGRAPHER go to side of JUDGE’s bench, where they speak in whispers.
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    BRIGGS
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    Why is he dressed in a prison uniform? The prosecution is going to try to connect him to my client. With him in prison gear, that prejudices my client.
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    PETROCELLI
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    He refused to put on a suit. We made the offer.
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    BRIGGS
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    It’s still prejudicial.
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    JUDGE
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    To tell you the truth, I don’t think it’s going to make that much of a difference. This guy looks like a basket case and he’s going to act like one. I don’t want to hold the case up while you convince this guy to wear a suit. Let’s get on with the case.
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    BRIGGS
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    I’d like to establish the objection.
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    JUDGE
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    Okay, and I’ll overrule it. Let’s get going.
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    They return to their respective previous positions with PETROCELLI at the podium.
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    PETROCELLI
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    Please state your full name.
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    BOBO
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    Richard Evans.
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    PETROCELLI
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    Mr. Evans, how old are you?
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    BOBO
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    Twenty-two.
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    PETROCELLI
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    And are you sometimes known by another name? A nickname or tag?
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    BOBO
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    They call me Bobo.
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    PETROCELLI
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    Now, Mr. Evans, do you know the people who are seated at these two tables, Mr. Steven Harmon and Mr. James King?
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    BOBO
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    Yeah, I know them.
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    PETROCELLI
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    How long have you known them?
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    BOBO
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    I been knowing King all my life. I just met the other guy before the robbery went down.
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    PETROCELLI
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    Before we go any further, Mr. Evans, I notice that you are wearing a prison uniform. What is your current status?
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    BOBO
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    I’m doing a heavy and a half up at Greenhaven.
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    PETROCELLI
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    Will you explain to the jury what a heavy and a half is?
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    BOBO
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    Seven and a half to 10 years.
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    PETROCELLI
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    And what are you doing the time for?
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    BOBO
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    Selling drugs.
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    PETROCELLI
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    And you’ve been arrested before?
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    BOBO
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    I been arrested for (Hesitates.) …breaking and entering, grand theft auto, and one time for taking a car radio and one time for fighting a guy what died.
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    PETROCELLI
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    So the arrest for fighting a guy that died was manslaughter, is that right?
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    BOBO
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    Yeah. I got three years.
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    PETROCELLI
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    I think the record will show you got 5 to 10 years and served 3. Is that correct?
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    BOBO
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    Whatever.
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    PETROCELLI
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    Mr. Evans, can you tell me what happened on the 22nd of December of last year?
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    BOBO
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    Me and King planned out a getover and we done it.
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    PETROCELLI
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    Can you explain to the jury what this particular “getover” was.
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    BOBO
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    We hit a drugstore.
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    PETROCELLI
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    Can you tell me as