THE TRIAL OF BILLY SCOTT by Mazie Beatrice Hall

Mazie Beatrice Hall was born on July 8, 1902. She was a retired school teacher, social historian and civil right activist. She was nicknamed as ‘Amazing Mazie of the Main Lane’. Her one act play “The Trial of Billy Scott” was published in an anthology titled “One Hundred Plays for Children”. It’s an academic Comedy.

The play focus on the trial of the main character Billy Scott who is accused of abusing Vernon J. Verb by using the sentence “We was going to the park”. Throughout the play, testimony for and against Billy is given by those who knew him best. The action of the play takes place in a typical courtroom.

Once Bailiff announces the arrival of the judge, the trial starts. Billy refuses to accept the charge against him. Judge asks the jury to listen to the testimony and come to a judgment without any partiality. Prosecuting Attorney argues that Billy has committed an unpardonable crime by ill-treating the verb, which is an important member of the Good English family. He further adds that Billy is very careless and lawless and if his mistake is not taken care of, others too will follow him. He calls Mrs. Good English to give evidence.

Bailiff asks the witness to swear on Merriam Webster’s Dictionary. Mrs. Good English says that though she has given four kinds of sentence, eight parts of speech and thousand of words, Billy has no regard for English. She even tells that Billy tossed the verb, left the sentence unfinished and is always careless with the pronouns. When Prosecuting attorney asks whether Mrs. Good English heard him do violence, she replies that she think once Billy committed crime. But the judge asks her to give the correct facts and not her thoughts and she was dismissed.

Next the one, who filled the case against Billy, Vernon J. Verb comes. He is hurt in his forehead and he walks with limp. When asked about the bandage, Verb said that Billy has abused him and her never bothered about the tenses and voices and whether the verb agreed with subject or not. Defence Attorney argues that the verb has different moods, tenses, auxiliary verb which will provoke any ordinary man. He further says that verb is unreliable, changeable and irritating and anyone will get easily angry at verb.

Mrs. Noun, the next witness, said well about Billy Scott. She even said that Billy was always courteous and they both were good old friends. According to Mrs. Noun, Billy was a gentleman and Billy was fond with her children too who are Preposition, Conjunction and Interjection. Adjective, the next witness said that Billy never have respect for others feelings. He said that though he has given many words, Billy ignores all the words except “Swell”. Billy use the adjective ‘swell’ in every situation. Adjective further said that he has noted how Billy has treated Mr. Verb.

Adam Adverb said that Billy was always violent and he never used the principle verb properly and he has also failed to use the auxiliary verb. Adam Adverb gave the sentence used by Billy for proof. But Defence attorney argued that Adam Adverb and Mr. Verb are half brother and hence Adverb will always support Verb. He further said that Adverb is very much influenced by Verb and hence Adverb’s evidence should not be considered.

The Prosecuting Attorney and the Defence Attorney put forth their last and final argument. The Prosecuting Attorney said that the mistake committed by Billy will be committed by others too, if his mistake is not taken care of. He further added that Mr. Verb has undergone suffering because of Billy and hence Billy should be punished. Defence Attorney argued that Verb is unreliable and changeable and not only Billy, but anyone will get confused regarding the Verb and hence Billy should not be found guilty.

The Judge gave the power to jury asked the jury to give the judgment without partiality and to see to it that no man is escaped from the punishment. The Foreman conducts a poll with the audience and finally the foreman pronounced Billy as accused. He said that Billy has to do a year of hard work in Junior High School as a punishment for his guiltiness.

------HAPPY LEARNING----