The Melaswen Paradox (Read 329,506 times)

[tghca]

May 21, 2022 7:24:38 GMT -5 André DiMera said:

Thanks for reading and commenting, everyone!

---

Next week…

The trial of Charlie Dale begins.
CHARLIE: I’m not guilty.

Meanwhile the repercussions of Jan’s release are already being felt.
BELLE: This should be interesting.

Plus, could Claire be getting good news?
CLAIRE: How’s it look?

And later this week, someone returns ahead of a high school reunion.
SHAWN-D: Good to see you!

All this and more next week on THE MELASWEN PARADOX!

Charlie pleads not guilty and this goes to trial...not surprising but I can only imagine who Charlie will call to the stand especially since he is representing himself with no representation but I wonder who Belle will call to the stand?

Jan will interact with her victims I mean of course it's Jan...she can't help herself

I wonder what Claire's road to recovery will look like?

I wonder who Shawn runs into?

[André DiMera]

Monday - 5/23

SALEM COURTHOUSE
The next day, it was time for Charlie’s trial. Belle sat at the prosecution desk while Charlie sat across the room. He had armed guards on both sides of him. Joy, Allie, Johnny, Meadow and the Morales family, among other people, sat in the rows of seats behind Belle’s side of the room. The Bailiff walked to the door of the judge’s chambers and opened it.
BAILIFF: All rise, court is now in session. The Honorable Judge Karen Fitzpatrick presiding.
Everyone stood up as Judge Fitzpatrick entered the room.
FITZPATRICK: Please be seated.
They sat down as the bailiff handed the judge a folder.
BAILIFF: Case number 1734, the People of Salem v. Charlie Dale.
FITZPATRICK: Thank you. This is a trial to determine the guilt or innocence of Charlie Dale. Mr. Dale stands accused of five counts of murder, one count of attempted murder, one count of possession of child pornography and one count of distributing child pornography. He is defending himself. The People of Salem are represented by Belle Brady. We will now hear a brief opening statement from both parties. Mrs. Brady, if you would begin, please.
Belle stood up.
BELLE: Thank you, Your Honor.
She walked around her table and stood facing the jury.
BELLE: Meadow Cole. Rayne Gilmore. Lydia Moore. Tara Reynolds. Mandella Morales. I’d like you all to remember those names during this trial. They have three things in common. They were all women, they all, until recently, attended Salem University, and their lives were cut short by Charlie Dale, whom you see sitting in front of you. Throughout this trial, you will hear testimony about the methods Charlie Dale used, as well as testimony from officers who discovered the various crime scenes. The evidence that will be presented to you over the course of this trial will lead you to agreeing that Charlie Dale is guilty. He is guilty of murder, and he is guilty of exploiting the murders he committed for his own pleasure, and the pleasure of others. Please, listen to the evidence, and think hard about everything you see.
Belle returned to her seat.
FITZPATRICK: Defense, your statement, please.
Charlie stood up and smiled.
CHARLIE: Whilst my opposite number is correct that you’ll hear many shocking things during this trial, she is leaving out one important fact: I’m not guilty. Something of which, I’m sure, you’ll agree by the end of all this. I have no doubt that I’ll be painted as a monster. Well, I’m not a monster, I’m a man. Just a man. A man who is not guilty.
Charlie sat down.
FITZPATRICK: Thank you. Mrs. Brady, your first witness, please.

SHAWN-D & BELLE’S HOUSE
Shawn-D was getting ready for work. His phone rang.
SHAWN-D: Officer Brady. Oh hey! Thanks for calling me back so soon. Yeah, that’ll be good. Say, I’ve got a question for you. How long are you planning on staying in town? Okay, that’s perfect, actually. I had this thought, and was gonna ask if you wouldn’t mind spending an extra day or two in town, but since you’re here for the week, that’s even better.

[heroicmuse]

I wonder who Shawn is talking to.

Charlie is going to turn this trial into a circus. I hope Judge Fitzpatrick doesn't let him.

Great chapter André DiMera.

[tghca]

I wonder who Shawn was talking to on the phone

But knowing Charlie I can only imagine how he plans on defending himself in court or how he will try to spin this painting him to be some misunderstood victim...I can only shudder to think or which people he will try to cross examine or try to play mind games with said person

[Kpatch]

Curious who Shawn is talking to.

Belle's opening statement was good. Charlie's was chilling.

[krw627]

Belle appears to be the most competent l lawyer in Salem. I'm mostly concerned about Charlie's cross-examination of the witnesses.

[mae00]

Oh...my...gracious. I CANNOT believe that Jan got away with this. UGH!!!

I'm glad that Claire is rid of Shawna now. I hope her recovery goes quickly and smoothly.

After the Jan fiasco, I'm glad to see a different judge for Charlie's trial. I really hope that the judge reigns him in, that it isn't declared a mistrial because Charlie is incompetent (or appears incompetent) to defend himself after all, and that the jury sees through all of the lies and looks at the facts before them. There is so much proof.

I wonder who Shawn is on the phone with.

[lumiforeverandalways]

Wonder who Belle's witness is

Also curious who Shawn is speaking with

[André DiMera]

Tuesday - 5/24

SALEM COURTHOUSE
Meadow West was on the stand. Belle stood in front of her.
BELLE: Miss West, you were the one who found Meadow Cole’s body, is that correct?
MEADOW: Yes, that is correct.
BELLE: Can you talk us through the evening, particularly how you came upon the scene of the crime?
Meadow took a deep breath.
MEADOW: It was Halloween night. My boyfriend, Johnny DiMera, and I were at a party at Salem University Hospital. Meadow had helped me get my costume together earlier in the evening. It was getting quite late, the party was over, and I still hadn’t seen Meadow. She had told me and Johnny that she’d catch up with us once she finished her costume. Johnny and I went to check on her. When we got to her dorm room, we found the door was left slightly open, so we went inside. The first thing we noticed was that it was eerily quiet. Meadow always had some kind of music or TV or something going in the background, but there was nothing. I called her name a few times but didn’t hear her. So, I walked in further and saw that the bathroom light was on. I went to check it out and…
She sniffled.
MEADOW (voice breaking): I’m sorry.
BELLE: That’s all right, take your time.
Meadow took a small drink of water.
MEADOW: I went inside the bathroom and…and found her lying in the bathtub, bleeding from her wrists.
BELLE: What did you do after that?
MEADOW: I screamed. Johnny came running in and checked for a pulse. When he didn’t feel one, he called the paramedics. He took me out of the bathroom and sat with me until the paramedics came. Then, we had to go down to the station and give statements. That’s everything that happened.
BELLE: Okay. Do you know of any reason why someone would want to hurt Meadow Cole?
Meadow shook her head.
MEADOW: No. Almost everyone liked Meadow.
BELLE: To your knowledge, did Meadow Cole and Charlie Dale have any interactions with each other at all?
CHARLIE: Objection, isn’t that technically a call for speculation?
BELLE: I did say to her knowledge. It’s not speculating if she’s answering a question based on what she knows.
FITZPATRICK: Mrs. Brady is correct. Your objection is overruled, Mr. Dale. You may answer the question, Miss West.
MEADOW: I recall Meadow mentioning Charlie once. She told me that he had asked her out once, and she turned him down.
BELLE: All right, thank you. Nothing more, Your Honor.
Belle sat down.
FITZPATRICK: Defense?
Charlie stood up and strolled over to the stand.
CHARLIE: The loss of your best friend must have hit you hard, Miss West. That must have been so difficult for you. Are you certain that you’re not misremembering certain details?
MEADOW: I am sure, yes.
Charlie nodded.
CHARLIE: Good, just checking. When Mrs. Brady was questioning you moments ago, you said Meadow Cole was bleeding from her wrists, have I got that right?
MEADOW: Yes.
Johnny leaned forward to whisper in Allie’s ear.
JOHNNY (whispering): What does he think he’s doing?
Allie shrugged.
CHARLIE: Is it not possible, probable even, that this was not a murder as claimed, but a suicide?
BELLE: Objection, speculation.
FITZPATRICK: Objection sustained. Please ask a different question or move on, Mr Dale.
CHARLIE: Okay, I’ll rephrase. To your knowledge, was Meadow Cole suicidal?
MEADOW: Not to my knowledge, no.
CHARLIE: But you don’t know for certain?
MEADOW: Meadow and I were best friends, we told each other everything. Even stuff we would never tell anyone else.
CHARLIE: Interesting. What makes you so sure she was murdered?

SALEM UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
Claire sat up on her bed as Addie looked over her chart.
CLAIRE: So…how’s it looking?
ADDIE: Good. Very good, even. According to your latest round of blood tests, the drug has completely left your system. How are you feeling?
CLAIRE: Better. I’m still…having some trouble getting…all my words out, but…it’s getting better.
ADDIE: I can tell. This is good news. If you keep improving at this rate, you’ll be able to go home soon.
CLAIRE: Really?
ADDIE: Yep. You’ll need to keep going to physical therapy for your hands, but you can do that as an outpatient. Have you had any more hallucinations?
Claire shook her head.
CLAIRE: Not since…a day or two ago. I saw that…girl I mentioned before. I think…that might be…the last I’ll see of her.
ADDIE: Let’s hope so. I’ve got to say, I’m very pleased with your progress, Claire. I’ll be back to check on you later.
CLAIRE: Okay, thanks.
Addie left the room. Chase had been waiting outside, and he came in.
CHASE: Hey.
CLAIRE: Hey. How long…were you out there?
CHASE: Just a couple minutes.
CLAIRE: You could have…come in.
CHASE: I know, but I didn’t want to interrupt.
CLAIRE: You wouldn’t have been. It’s…good to see you.
CHASE: You too.
Claire and Chase took each other’s hand.
CLAIRE: I’m…not sure when…but Dr. Horton says…I might be able to…come home soon.
CHASE: That’s fantastic! I’m so glad to hear that!
CLAIRE: Me too.
Claire and Chase kissed.

[lumiforeverandalways]

That must be so hard for Meadow

Charlie is being so horrible

So glad the hallucinations have ceased

Happy to hear Claire will be able to go home soon well maybe

[heroicmuse]

Ugh, Charlie. Defense attorneys usually offer at least a fake show of sympathy for a witness who found a body. And I don't think his claim that Meadow killed herself will fly. How did she slit BOTH wrists?

I'm glad Claire is on the mend.

Great chapter André DiMera.

[tghca]

I knew Charlie would try to twist things around on Meadow especially trying to defend himself but glad the judge saw through it and shut him down at almost every turn

Glad that the judge basically sided with Belle on almost every objection

Next thing you know Charlie will argue bias or he will argue that he was entrapped by Joy

[Kpatch]

Charlie's question about Meadow possibly being suicidal was reasonable considering her wrists were slit. He is coming across as quite sane which all by itself is scary.

[krw627]

Charlie isn't doing a bad job defending himself, but this is only the first witness and I can already feel the desperation in his objections.

[mae00]

Poor Meadow. I hate that she's having to face Charlie. I'm glad that the judge shut him down but I really hope she keeps him on a tight rope and that everyone sees through his charade.