INT DAY

CASSETTE TAPE BACKGROUND NOISE

CLOCK TICKING
OCCASSIONAL SHOOUTING IN THE DISTANCE, VOICES SLIGHTLY ECHOED

JACK 
Okay. This is the 5TH and last tape on Eli’s side of the story. We have covered the entire case, means
and motive, possible suspects, and police incompetence; all that is left is covering the actual event.
What do you remember from the day of Kates death?

ELI
(clear without tape recording sound, thought track)
One week after being put away for a murder I didn't commit, I had my first visitor. My best friend,
Jack, who happened to be a journalist well known for bringing innocent people’s story to light in
controversial court cases. He told me the only chance I had of getting out of this place was to tell my
side of the story without the bias of the court or a need for a fancy lawyer. I believed him, and I
agreed to let him interview me, but after just week of being treated like a murderer, you start to feel
like one. However, by the time week 5 of visits and tape recordings came around, I was used to the
process, I didn’t hold any thoughts back.

TAPE RECORDING SOUND RESUMES

ELI
We had organized dinner at Poppy's house the night of, it was spur of the moment but not unusual.
The four of us were inseparable. Poppy was always hosting these get togethers, maybe because my
small apartment wasn't as suitable for us compared to the house she had inherited when she was a kid.
The dinner was standard for us, lots of wine lots of food and Poppy and I inevitably fighting over
something that seems stupid when we're sober. And of course: you and Kate laughing about how we
fight like juveniles, and how we've been like this forever. When you and Poppy went to get more
drinks, I went to the bathroom, and when I got back Poppy was sat with Kate, looking at me really
weirdly. She looked angry and worried like I had walked in on something bad. That's really all I
remember, 

TAPE RECORDING SOUND STOPS

ELI
(voiceover thought track)
I told the whole truth, nothing but the truth. But in court, Poppy's side to this part of the story sounded
a lot different. The problem with using people’s statements as evidence is that it’s your word against
theirs, and she made me sound more than capable of killing my wife. The thought of what she accused
me of took me back to that moment, in the smartest suit I owned, in a chair, in the court, locked in
place with panic and betrayal.

AURAL SIGNPOST JUDGES GAVEL STRIKES

MURMERING VOICES IN COURT

LAWYER 
So, to reconvene, Poppy, tell us what happened after you went to get more wine. 

POPPY
Well, I went out to the kitchen, and just before Jack joined me to get more drinks I heard Eli’s voice
say
"don't fucking say anything, you know what will happen".
Then Jack came in and asked if I had heard what Eli said, I was worried so went back to Kate and
made Jack get the rest of the drinks. When I got there, Eli was gone. I asked Kate,
"Are you okay? I heard something"
"yeh of course, I’m fine. But I think we should talk later"
I think she was going to tell me that Eli was hurting her or something, they were always so perfect in
front of us, but I can’t imagine what went on behind closed doors, after seeing the fear in her face
when she told me that, I knew someone was hurting her. But I didn't get to hear what she had to tell
me, before she was dead. 

LAWYER
No further questions your honour.

COURT MURMERS AND GASPS

TAPE RECORDING RESUMES

ELI
That day, I wished people knew the love I had for Kate, but in truth I don’t think that’s possible, I
loved Kate for life, it consumed me. I never thought Poppy would have lied about something so huge,
unless (hesitation) she was hiding something.

JACK
Why do you think she had something to hide?

ELI
I think… well… Poppy always wanted what Kate had. She was always uncomfortably competitive
and resentful towards Kate, she seemed like she had it all but god knows she was miserable; rich, but
miserable and we both know your relationship with her wasn’t perfect. Maybe. She was jealous? I
don’t know…

JACK
She was… jealous… she said some horrible things about Kate over the years and honestly it was kind
of worrying.

ELI
She constantly made jokes about taking over Kates life,
“you’re so fucking perfect Kate Jesus sometimes I wish I was you”
“Kate can I just BE you, god everything would be so much easier”
I think it made us all uncomfortable but I thought that’s just how she was you know? Didn’t think
anything of it after a while.

JACK
Do you think she could have killed Kate? Logistically on the night, did she do anything off?

ELI
I mean, Kate was poisoned, and Poppy went to get the drinks… she had the perfect opportunity, the
perfect lawyer, the perfect house

TAPE SOUND CUTS

ELI (thought track)

I was trying my best not to think of one of my closest friends killing my wife, that is almost
unbearable. But thinking I’d be in here for longer than I have lived so far might have been worse, the
never ending, suffocating guilt. Nothing in the world can prepare you for the loss of a loved one, but
most survive. I started to wonder who could survive the loss of themselves, their freedom, their time.

When I was saying these things out loud, I didn’t want to believe she could do it, and I don’t even
think I did… believe it. That particular thought process was quickly confirmed, and I wasn’t prepared.

TAPE SOUND RESUMES