The Unlawfully Alive

 In a courtroom the clerk rises as the judge enters.

CLERK: All rise. (All in attendance rise and then resume their seats as the judge takes his.)

 JUDGE: Is Miss Megan Thompson present today?

(A woman rises.).

MEG: I am known as just Meg.

JUDGE: Are you represented by anyone?

MEG: Yes

DANIELS: I am representing the defendant..

JUDGE: (Nods to the prosecutor)

PROSECUTOR: I Call Miss Thompson to the stand. (Meg makes her way)

CLERK: You can either affirm or take an oath.

MEG: I’ll take an oath.

CLERK: Take this bible in one hand and hold and read from this sheet with the other.

MEG:  I promise to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. So help me God.

PROSECUTOR: Miss Thompson are you still alive?

MEG: Obviously I’m still alive. Otherwise I wouldn’t be answering this question.

JUDGE: Just answer the questions concisely and without making comments.

MEG: Yes. Sorry.

PROSECUTOR: Miss Thompson can you inform the court of the date and year of your birth?

MEG: The 5^th of September 1914.

PROSECUTOR: So that makes you 98 years old.

MEG: That is correct. I’ll be 99 in a few weeks.

PROSECUTOR: So you were born near the onset of World War One. Do you have any memories of that war?

MEG: Not really. Just a memory of one man in uniform.

PROSECUTOR: Good. (Looking to the judge) I have here a document which I would like to submit as exhibit A. (He hands it to the judge who nods approval.) Miss Thompson can you read the second last paragraph near the bottom for the court? (The judge hands it to Meg.)

MEG: Yes. This is to certify that Megan Thompson is hereby permitted to hold her life until the 5^th day of September 1984. (Meg now looks worried and anxious)

PROSECUTOR: Well. Well. Well. Can you Miss Thompson repeat that date again for the benefit of the court?

MEG (Softly) 5^th of September 1984.

PROSECUTOR: Yes I thought I heard right. Yes the 5^th day of September 1984. Now while you’re on a roll perhaps you can tell us today’s date.

MEG: The 19^th of August 2013.

PROSECUTOR: Well. Well. Well. Isn’t that interesting? You are living an unauthorised life.

DANIELS: Objection your worship. My most learned colleague has not established that my client’s life is unauthorised with just this document.

JUDGE: Overruled!

PROSECUTOR: OK. Miss Thompson while you’re on a roll of providing the court with good answers to the questions posed by the prosecutor perhaps you can provide a very good answer to my third question. Why are you still here? Why are you still alive? DO you have a very good answer? (He looks leased and satisfied with his fingers  on his lapels and out stretched fingers.)

MEG: I only know that I had authority to live. I had no idea there was an expiry date.

PROSECUTOR: Ignorance is no excuse. Even so how can anyone believe your assertions? After all you are not clear even where you were born. You’re worship (looking to the judge) I would like to submit exhibit B. (Judge nods approval.) This Miss Thompson is a birth certificate, your birth certificate Miss Thompson, which I would like you to read to the court for us.

DANIELS: Objection your worship. The circumstances of my client’s birth have no bearing on the case.

The prosecutor and the judge have a brief discussion softly. Daniels is called to the bench.

JUDGE: Over ruled. Miss Thompson you can answer the prosecutor’s questions relating to your birth certificate.

PROSECUTOR: Miss Thompson can you please read what date is listed for your birth. for the benefit of the court .

MEG: The 5^th of September 1914.

PROSECUTOR: Exactly so. Just as you have previously testified. Now for the benefit of the court could you Miss Thompson read the place of your birth. Just the county will do.

MEG: Devon.

PROSECUTOR: Now Miss Thompson I would like you to read an extract from the statement you made to the police. Your worship I would like to submit exhibit C. (Judge nods approval).

DANIELS: I object. The extract is only a selected portion of a much longer interview. It can only prejudice my client out of the wider context.

Judge signals for both Daniels and the prosecutor to approach the bench. A soft discussion is heard.

JUDGE: I will allow it.

PROSECUTOR: Miss Thompson please read the paragraph highlighted.

MEG: I was born in England in 1914 in Dorset and moved out to Australia when I was 9 or 10.

PROSECUTOR: Yes you made a false statement to the police. Can you explain this discrepancy?

MEG: But I wasn’t sure. We moved around a lot wherever my father could find work. We were in Devon, in Dorset, in London, In Cornwall, in Bath and at Crewe. I don’t know. We were everywhere and then the family had an opportunity to settle in Australia. (Meg is now visibly shaking).

PROSECUTOR: Miss Thompson can you turn the page and read the next highlight paragraph.

MEG: We moved to Australia in 1924 or 1925.

PROSECUTOR: I would like to submit exhibit D. (Judge approves). Can you Miss Thompson read from this document?

MEG: Thompson Family – assisted passage, Reg Thompson, father, Rose Thompson, mother, Betty Thompson, daughter 14, Megan Thompson, 13, Chris.__

PROSECUTOR: Stop right there. How old was the said daughter Megan

MEG: 13 it said. I must have got it wrong.

PROSECUTOR:: Oh I think you must have. And the question is how much else have you got wrong. . Now Miss Thompson read the column “Date of travel.”

MEG: 3^rd July 1928.

PROSECUTOR: So it seems you are an unreliable source of information aren’t you? Tell me Miss Thompson is this an act of malice in the form of deceit or is it an act of incompetence on your part?

DANIELS: Objection! The prosecution is trying to stain the character of my client with that question.

JUDGE: Sustained.

PROSECUTOR: Miss Thompson how many children did you have?

MEG: Three. Chris, Mary and Melissa but…

PROSECUTOR: How many?

MEG: Three but...

PROSECUTOR: I would like you to read from this high lighted section of your statement to the police.

MEG: I had two children Chris and Mary. (Meg is now worried and nervous,)

PROSECUTOR: Well. Well. Well. Do we have more lies or do we have more incompetence? Ah?

MEG: That doesn’t mean anything. Melissa died as a baby and I was tired during the interview how can... (Prosecutor did not allow her to finish.)

PROSECUTOR: But you have more form don’t you Miss Thompson?

MEG: What do you mean?

PROSECUTOR: I mean this isn’t the first time you have lived an unauthorised life is it? (He hands the judge another document.) I would like to submit exhibit E. (The judge approves.) Miss Thompson can you read the highlighted section.

MEG: Miss Megan Thompson, conviction of unauthorised birth on the 5^th day of September 1914.

PROSECUTOR: So it seems you’re in the habit of disregarding the permitting process and feel you can just live as and when you feel and just be born whenever you feel like it. Tell me Miss Thompson are you an anarchist?

MEG: What? Of course not. You’re just distorting everything.

PROSECUTOR: Did you make this information known to the police when making your statement?

MEG: (Softly) No:

PROSECUTOR: Again Miss Thompson. A bit louder for the benefit of the court.

MEG: No but you’re distorting everything.

PROSECUTOR: Distorting everything ah? You’re the unreliable one. You’re the one who misleads investigators. You’re the one who is inconsistent. And now we know you hid information from the police investigation into the complaint about your unauthorised extended life your previous conviction of an unauthorised birth.

MEG: But that was all fixed up. I got all the required permits and certificates after that case.

PROSECUTOR: Why did you withhold this information from the police?

MEG: (Sobbing and audibly crying) I just want to live a quiet life. Why should we have this endless paper work, Certificates, permits and licences? I’ve never done any harm to anyone else.

PROSECUTOR: No harm ah. You’ve weaved and dodged proper permitting all your life. You have omitted important information and given much false information. And now you are expressing dangerous anarchist thoughts. What if everybody just decided they could just be born whenever they chose. What if everybody just decided to live or die whenever they liked? What a mess everything would be. There would be no respect for authority at all. What sort of society would you like to see? Just what sort of person are you? DO you have ANY regard for law and order?

MEG: (Crying) I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m not a mean or nasty person. I’ll get the permits right.

DANIELS: Your worship I think it’s possible my client will alter her plea. I would like to call for an adjournment.

JUDGE: I adjourn this case until tomorrow. The court will take a 15 minute break and then we will precede to Wilson verses the State.

CLERK: All rise! (All attendees in court rise as the judge exits the court.)