The Courtroom

JUDGE:
I am here on the orders of the court of Toulouse
and before I hear the accused man's defence
I must state that this charge is a serious crime
for the law never pardons deceit and pretence
PIERRE:
this man is a witch
that day he came
the rain began
I brought the rain, he said
ARNAUD:
but that's a lie
MADAME DE ROLS:
he told us that he was Martin Guerre
ARNAUD:
it's you who did
PIERRE:
this man's a Protestant. My Lord
CATHOLICS:
he must be hanged, my Lord
PROTESTANTS:
listen
my Lord listen
to this outrage
he is innocent
my Lord
CATHOLICS (overlapping with the above):
the man's a Protestant my Lord
he told us he was Martin Guerre
PIERRE & CATHOLICS:
he must be hanged like demons are
JUDGE:
it's I who shall decide his fate!
Call the first witness. State your name.
MATILDE:
Matilde...
JUDGE:
You know the defendant?
MATILDE:
when he was young I know he had a wart
it's on his thumb perhaps he'll show the court
ARNAUD:
Matilde is right, I had a wart my Lord
until some soldier caught my with his sword
BAPTISTE:
My Lord...
he had a mark
beneath his nose
if you look close
the mark still shows
ARNAUD:
and sad to say, the mark still grows...
JEANNE:
Satan's mark!
GALOCHE:
I am the cobbler and unless I'm drunk
he's someone else, my Lord, or else he's shrunk!
ARNAUD:
Lord above!
GUILLAUME:
and if he has I swear to God this proves
ARNAUD:
this proves what?
GUILLAUME:
the devil's work has brought him cloven hooves
ANDRÉ:
when he came back
you would fight to wash his feet
CATHERINE:
as if he was the very son of God
ARNAUD:
my Lord, for once my life seemed so complete
EMILE:
Listen to Guillaume!
GUILLAUME:
Martin Guerre never touched a girl
ARNAUD:
he speaks the truth, I was too you to love
but as you've heard I've wasted no more time...
JUDGE:
Enough!
bring Benoit, I have some questions...
Monsieur, take the stand
now Benoit
you were there that day
in the forest all alone
BENOIT:
I was not
my Louison was with me
JUDGE:
we may call her later on