Chapter 7 - All Reprises
Scene: In the jail visiting room. Miss Eller is visiting Judd Fry who is in the county jail.
Eller: It does not look good for you. The towns people do not like you and want to send you away.
Judd: I did nothing wrong.
Eller: Perhaps not, but justice is a crap shoot. Innocent people get locked up.
Judd: The case is obvious. I did nothing wrong. There are tons of witnesses.
Eller: Have you ever noticed you give people the creeps.
Judd: I do agree. My reputation is not what I want it to be. However, I am trying everything to change that. I will even leave town, if I can get a better offer.
Eller: It is too late. They want to lock you up.
Judd: Why?!
Eller: They think you are mentally ill. The fashionable thing is to lock people like you up.
Judd: I am not mentally ill.
Eller: The town thinks so. The latest fear is that they are afraid of having their guns taken away from them.
Judd: This is Oklahoma. Everybody owns a gun. I own a Colt-45. That is not going to happen.
Eller: Not today. However, the pendulum does swing back and forth unpredictably. What is unthinkable today could and often does happen in the future.
Judd: So, the solution is to lock up people that are not quite making it. Lock them up. Put them out of sight, out mind. That is terrible.
Eller: Yes, it is. However, I think I can help you.
Judd: How is that?
Eller: I am the town shrink. I can put you under my watch.
Judd: What does that mean?
Eller: Well, you will have to put yourself on our registry.
Judd: What is a registry?
Eller: It is similar to a reputation. Except that it is formalized in writing and certified by a qualified profession, legal or otherwise.
Judd: What type of registry is it: mental illness, family killer, loser?
Eller: Does it really matter?
Judd: It's not a blacklist. Is it?
Eller: No, I wouldn't do that to you. This is designed to help you. Otherwise, you will go to jail. Bad things will happen to you in jail. Much worse than what has happened to you in town.
Judd: Maybe I should fight this case in court.
Eller: You will be found guilty. The judge is Andrew Carnes.
Judd: That's Ado Annie's father. She is on the other side of the assault charge. Shouldn't he disqualify himself.
Eller: He wanted to. But somebody planted evidence that he cheated on his wife. I have no idea who it is.
Judd: So, basically, I am screwed.
Eller: I will be looking out for you. I have noticed you have unique talents. I will try to develop them. At the appropriate time of my choosing, you will be free. The alternative is a long jail term.
Judd: I accept the plea bargain. I accept your terms.