Nightmares of the Juror

by DoctorH

A teleplay, like watching a Murdoch episode. A jury has found a murder suspect not guilty; and now one of the jurors (severely traumatized by what he saw during the trial) comes to Murdoch asking whether the real murderer can be caught and put on trial. Did Murdoch make a mistake that would have sent the wrong man to the gallows? Solution included.

1. ACT 1

"NIGHTMARES OF THE JUROR"

(PRODUCTION NOTES: In this mystery, FLYNN is depicted as having rosacea, a reddish mark on his face. It may be that the reddish mark resembles something familiar, like Hudson's Bay or the head of an elephant, to make it more distinctive. Alternatively, FLYNN may have any rare but not exceptionally uncommon condition around his head other than rosacea, such as a malformed ear or a sizable gap in his front teeth.)

ACT I

(FADE IN. EXTERIOR SHOT OF STATION HOUSE NUMBER 4. CUT TO: INTERIOR OF STATION HOUSE NUMBER 4, MURDOCH'S OFFICE. The door to the office is closed. MURDOCH is reading a report of some kind and is making some notes. CRABTREE approaches the office and knocks. MURDOCH waves to indicate CRABTREE should enter. CRABTREE opens the door but does not enter.)

CRABTREE
Sir, are you available to speak to a Mister Albert Milton, sir?

MURDOCH (does not recognize the name)
What is the nature of Mister Milton's business with me?

CRABTREE
He wouldn't say, sir. All he said was that he wanted to speak to you personally about a matter that you are investigating, but he did not say which matter.

MURDOCH
All right. Show him to my office, would you?

CRABTREE
Yes, sir.

(CRABTREE departs, leaving the office door open. MURDOCH marks his place in the report where he left off. Moments later, CRABTREE returns with MILTON, a modestly dressed man who seems to be in his late thirties. MURDOCH rises. CRABTREE gestures for MILTON to enter the office, and MILTON does so. MURDOCH offers his hand.)

MURDOCH
Mister Milton. I'm Detective William Murdoch.

MILTON
Albert Milton.

(MURDOCH and MILTON shake hands.)

MURDOCH
(to MILTON) Won't you have a seat? (to CRABTREE) Thank you, George. Close the door, would you?

(CRABTREE leaves and closes the door to the office.)

MURDOCH
Now, Mister Milton: I was told you wished to speak to me about a matter that I am investigating?

MILTON
I don't know whether you remember me.

MURDOCH (looking carefully at MILTON)
No. I don't believe I do.

MILTON
Last month. The Robertson trial.

MURDOCH
I remember the trial, and I remember Mister Robertson, and I remember the case against him. (hazarding a guess) Were you a witness at that trial?

MILTON
No, sir. I was on the jury.

MURDOCH
Oh.

MILTON
We all voted "not guilty," sir.

MURDOCH (uncomfortably)
Yes, I know. Mister Robertson was set free.

MILTON
Yes, we voted not guilty because we thought somebody else may have shot—

(MILTON stops. He is visibly shaken. MURDOCH does not know what to make of this. Eventually, MILTON gathers himself enough to continue.)

MILTON
— Shot and killed Mrs. Robertson, the wife. And I just want to know: Have you made any progress toward arresting the man who actually did it?

MURDOCH
We should not be discussing this. I am no longer investigating this case. The case is concluded.

MILTON
Is it? The man Flynn, the man who— who they said did it; can't he be arrested and put on trial?

(MURDOCH sees that MILTON is in serious distress and he does not want to make the situation worse.)

MURDOCH
Mister Milton, we should not be discussing this case.

MILTON (on the verge of breaking down)
Detective, since I served on that jury, I have not had a single good night's sleep. The crime, the things that were done, the monstrous things—

MURDOCH
Yes, monstrous.

MILTON
Those photographs. Those photographs of the wife. What was done to her. The blood! The— the evil! I used to see those photographs in my dreams. But now I see them while I'm awake! I need to know that you are going to catch the man that did those things! I need to know that you going to catch Flynn!

MURDOCH (delicately)
Mister Milton: I believe that those horrible things done to Mrs. Robertson were carried out by her husband, Mister Robertson.

MILTON
No! They said it was Flynn!

MURDOCH (continuing, still delicately)
And I believe that there was no Mister Flynn; that Mister Robertson invented him to blame him for the crime; that Mister Flynn did not really exist.

MILTON
He does exist! I found him! I know I shouldn't have, but I decided to do some detective work of my own, and I found him! You need to arrest him! You need to put him on trial for killing the wife! I think—

(MILTON stops in mid-sentence, still looking like he might have a breakdown. MURDOCH is sympathetic but does not know what to do.)

MURDOCH
Yes?

MILTON
I think— I think the photographs of the wife will haunt me to the end of my days if the guilty man is allowed to go free. I can't—

(MILTON buries his face in his hands, and his body shakes. It is not clear whether MILTON is crying or nervously shaking. CUT TO: CONSTABLES' AREA, where CRABTREE sees MILTON in distress in Murdoch's office, and sees MURDOCH coming around his desk to render aid. CRABTREE goes to the office door and opens it. CUT TO: MURDOCH'S OFFICE. CRABTREE pokes in his head.)

CRABTREE
Sir, do you need any assistance?

MURDOCH
Yes. Would you please see whether Doctor Ogden can come to my office?

CRABTREE
Yes, sir.

(CRABTREE exits.)

MURDOCH (delicately, trying to pacify)
Mister Milton, I am going to ask a doctor to speak with you, to make certain you are all right. (pause) And I will have another look at the Robertson case. I do not guarantee I will make any arrests of put anyone on trial; but if you tell me what you know about Mister Flynn, and where to find him, I will question him.

(MILTON continues to shake, but he nods that he understands. MURDOCH pats MILTON on the shoulder. FADE OUT.)