Post Pre-Trial Blues

The following takes place directly after: The Pre-Trial

The Master visits Travers in his jail cell.

Travers: Hellooo, Master Devlin.

Master Devlin: That was embarrassing, Travers.

Travers: Yes, well—your observation is noted. It's a kangaroo court!

Master Devlin: You need legal help.

Travers: Nonsense. I'm a lawyer, Master Devlin. I can manage just fine, thank you.

Master Devlin: Travers… I'm about to say something important. Please forgive me, but—You’re not a good lawyer. In fact, I’m not entirely sure you’re a lawyer.

Travers: Oh really? Are you a lawyer? What makes you qualified to judge my lawyering?

Master Devlin: I'm a Master. We're required to have a deep understanding of the law. You can’t win this without help.

Travers: Oh ye of little faith... I have help. With the almighty Ed on my side, all things are possible, Master Devlin. You needn’t worry—I have more than enough faith in my ability to weasel out of this. But I do appreciate the concern.

Master Devlin: After that freakshow today? I wouldn't be so sure. Is that how you normally are in court? Have you ever been in a courtroom?

Travers: Of course I have! My plan should have worked—if someone had bothered to tell me Frakes had become grotesquely fat while I’ve been inside.

Master Devlin: I didn’t know either. It happened fast. It’s probably those chemical burgers Kaz gives him. The man’s clearly an addict.

Travers: Yeah, well, he dropped the ball—big time. His presence alone disgusted the judge, biased him against me. Completely unforeseeable...Though I admit, it was a bit of a setback.

Master Devlin: Did you not hear the judge? The issue was the lack of evidence. Frakes is a bullshitter—he just confirms whatever “facts” he’s paid to. The judge saw straight through it.

Travers: The judge is a clown. Clearly doesn’t know the law! The prosecution has to provide evidence of guilt. They have none. This is a show trial, a witch hunt! When it’s all over, I’m suing for wrongful arrest.

Master Devlin: Wrongful arrest? Travers, come on. You sexually assaulted a WRS agent. You’re guilty. I was there. I saw the whole thing.

Travers: Yeah, well… that’s just, like, your opinion, man. Fact is, they’ve got no proof of tax evasion or anything else. Just the word of a crooked agent. And we already established personal testimony is worthless in that courtroom—unless there’s a double standard…

Master Devlin: Don’t be ridiculous. You’re not going to sleaze your way out of this one. They have you on failing to pay taxes. There's no paper trail, no returns, no fake forms—nothing. Not even an attempt to lie about it.

Travers: Exactly. Like I said... they got NOTHING.

Master Devlin: No, Travers. You paid nothing. You’ve never paid tax or issued tax returns—nothing. The proof is that none of this has happened. They’ll look at the official records—and your own records—and see it wasn’t done. If you were a good lawyer, you’d know this. You are fucked.

Travers: Yes, well, it is very unfortunate that my underqualified wife—who was responsible for all that bookkeeping—lost all those records in that terrible fire. And now, she cannot answer for her mistakes because she’s in a coma. It’s my fault for giving her that job, I admit; she was out of her depth. And that was a bad call… And that fire!? That was just tragic. Terrible timing—and now my beautiful wife is lying in a coma. It has been a very trying time for Travers, Travers, and Shiina. I’m confident the jury will understand—especially when they learn of Ms. Jones’ financial links to the terrorist group, Al Con Queso… not to mention the fact that she molested a 14-year-old boy, who will be making a surprise testimony.

Master Devlin: What in God’s name are you talking about, man?

Travers: I’m telling you this because I trust you, Master Devlin. I think we are in a good place these days. But if the prosecution gets wind of this, I’ll know it was you…

Master Devlin: I won’t say a word regarding your plan. You can try to make up your unsubstantiated claims about Miss Jones, but remember—she isn’t the one on trial here; you are. Those are some very dirty tactics, Travers. I don’t think this will go well for you. In fact, it’s likely that the ADA will object and the judge will rule this “evidence” inadmissible in court, as it bears no relevance to the case. So you might not be able to use it in court.

Travers: If the judge is a reasonable man, he will allow it. It questions the credibility of the witness. The entire assault charge is based on her accusation—without evidence. We just have to show she’s not credible. There’s nothing dirty about exposing a child molester. It’s the right thing to do.

Master Devlin: Again, I was there. I saw you do it. But I’ll abstain from doing anything and I will not be subpoenaed. Also, there’s the arresting officer—the female one. Her testimony will definitely not help your case.

Travers: You didn’t see nothing. You’re just buying into their lies about me.

The Master sighs, pulls out his phone, and—using his Council clearance—accesses a transcript from the Waldoverse Archives. He turns the screen toward Travers.

Waldoverse Archive Transcript:

CJ: You need to calm down, Mr. Travers...

Travers: Shut up! You are out of turn! In fact, you probably aren’t even real... You’re a fraud. A fake! It’s all fake! Fugazi!

Travers gestures toward her chest.

Travers: I bet those aren’t even real...

Travers hops onto the table, scurries across, and without hesitation, rips open CJ’s blouse—revealing her very real breasts.

CJ: 😳😲

Travers: Put that away! It’s devastating to my case.

The Master chuckles, sliding his phone back into his pocket.

Master Devlin: Anyway. I’ve given you my advice—which is to become my Council pupil. That would give you access to our legal team. But I can’t make you. If you change your mind... you know where to find me.

Master Devlin: Good luck, Travers.

Travers: Thank you Master Devlin, but I for one am eager for my trial. A chance to clear my name.

The Master leaves the goblin in his cell.

Season 3 continues in The Trial