Lord Vetinari's Trial
Just for those of you who weren't aware of this yet... (After all, it's been up on discworld and discworld_2006...)
The whole plotting with Mr Briggs was about the Trial. As you may have noticed while looking at the iconographs merrymoll has so generously posted, I am on stage, slightly behind and to the right of his lordship. Some weeks before the Con, Stephen mailed to ask me if I wanted to be the 'official' Drumknott for the trial. Of course I wanted to! Finally a chance to be useful. I carried a box for his lordship, containing all the things a proper tyrant and judge might need during his trial (such as a hammer, an hourglass and a notebook to keep track of people's nasty comments) and Wuffles (who happened to shed hair enormously -- very noticable on black).
I'd actually already started to think of arguments in favour of Lord Vetinari's rule before he asked me XD Talk about anticipatory behaviour...
On stage, I kept note of things. Reference was made to that fact. Stephen hardly believed I'd kept actual and not fake notes until afterwards. He's been sent a copy.
Lord Vetinari’s
Trial
and
Judgement
Opening speeches
Prosecution
He has stifled free speech, encouraged crime and corruption - The city would be much more prosperous and happy without him.
Defence
Ankh-Morpork is the place to be, somehow. Stable rule - no cruel and unusual punishments. Crime is punished - no lack of law. Many Guilds owe their existence to his lordship.
The Watch has got very efficient in recent years. Free press has been allowed to establish. Lord Vetinari has been giving his power away.
Witness for the Prosecution - Terry Pratchett
Relationship with defendant? He’s the creator of his lordship and everything around him and saw it was good.
Partiality and bias? He’s a total bastard, taking control. Insidious character, but the girls like him.
Legality of ascension to power? As legal as anything else in A-M. Killing to get to power is very common practice.
Is Patrician ruling by proxy for missing monarch? He rules with the consent of the mob. If they are unhappy, there are dungeons under the Palace.
Legalisation of crime? He’s simply organised crime, devising a curious system in which the criminals police themselves. He is the boss of organised crime, because of the Guilds’ allegiances to his lordship. Watch out, or he’ll get a white cat and stroke it during meetings.
He allowed the Watch to whither? It would only be true to say the opposite. After its whithering, he allowed it to transform and grow again.
In the case of Lord Vetinari there is no external. If it rains, this is possibly because of something he’s organised.
Tolerance of democratic and legal forces present in Vimes? There is a puppet opposition which coalesce in the mind of Commander Vimes. In many respects, Vimes is the puppet of Lord Vetinari, even though he does not realise it.
Lord Vetinari has the cake, Mr Pratchett actually eats it.
The Watch cannot stop licensed crime. But the Guilds enforce their own laws in a much more punitive way. A hanging only takes 5 minutes, torture can go on for weeks.
Mimes? They’re soundless and a nuisance.
There is no justice, there is only Lord Vetinari.
Defence Interview Concept of chaos in A-M if it wouldn’t be for Lord Vetinari? It would be true to say that during the reigns of the previous Patricians, things were considerably worse than it is now.
Lord Vetinari cares not a jot for the people of A-M and their rights. But he cares for the city.
Lord Vetinari: “Clearly, this man knows nothing about Ankh-Morpork. Please remove him from the stage, Drumknott.”
Mr Pratchett: (while being returned to his seat)“We could have a fat Patrician again, you know!”
Witnesses for the Defence
A member of the Guild of Musicians
Mimes? No one likes mimes, anyway. And the musicians are better off now. Back “in zer old dayz”, you thought you were alone, but then you get to the Conv--- Ankh-Morpork and you know there are legions of others.
A Lady from Cockbill Street
Lord Vetinari pays for an effective Watch, who makes the streets safer. The witnesses’s daughter works at the Palace, and is treated with much respect.
A member of the Guild of Seamstresses
No human rights? Lord Vetinari promotes women’s rights and equal opportunities, also for different species, such as in the Watch.
Prosecution: “I ask for this witness to be removed because of lack of good character.”
Lord Vetinari: “That’s a bit thick, coming from a lawyer.”
Defence: “He’s not even a member of the Guild of Layers.”
Closing Speeches
Defence
Lord Vetinari means stability, dependence, certainty; personal freedom. Being a tyrant, Lord Vetinari could have simply refused the trial, but he’s even here, as Defendant and Judge.
Prosecution
Most condemning words from the Creator: he’s the head of organised crime, only allowing the Watch a fraction of the authority it should have. The Defendant’s interference with the city is completely arbitrarily. He’s not a man we can trust to look after our futures, but only after his own.
Speech of the Judge to the Jury (the audience) There have been many eloquent arguments in favour of my rule, some against it. Wouldn’t many of you say that this would be a better world if Lord Vetinari took over from the normal government and ran the place? Please judge wisely and stand up to vote.
Lord Vetinari is acquitted by an overwhelming majority of votes in favour of his rule.
I have to say, I am extremely proud of all the Clerks who managed to make it to the Con (yoodi was the best Defence Lawyer ever, and our very own vimeslady was witness for the defence) and everyone of you who helped gathering arguments for us.
Some of the pictures of the trial, taken on my request by dominofalling, can be found HERE.
The whole plotting with Mr Briggs was about the Trial. As you may have noticed while looking at the iconographs merrymoll has so generously posted, I am on stage, slightly behind and to the right of his lordship. Some weeks before the Con, Stephen mailed to ask me if I wanted to be the 'official' Drumknott for the trial. Of course I wanted to! Finally a chance to be useful. I carried a box for his lordship, containing all the things a proper tyrant and judge might need during his trial (such as a hammer, an hourglass and a notebook to keep track of people's nasty comments) and Wuffles (who happened to shed hair enormously -- very noticable on black).
I'd actually already started to think of arguments in favour of Lord Vetinari's rule before he asked me XD Talk about anticipatory behaviour...
On stage, I kept note of things. Reference was made to that fact. Stephen hardly believed I'd kept actual and not fake notes until afterwards. He's been sent a copy.
Lord Vetinari’s
Trial
and
Judgement
Opening speeches
Prosecution
He has stifled free speech, encouraged crime and corruption - The city would be much more prosperous and happy without him.
Defence
Ankh-Morpork is the place to be, somehow. Stable rule - no cruel and unusual punishments. Crime is punished - no lack of law. Many Guilds owe their existence to his lordship.
The Watch has got very efficient in recent years. Free press has been allowed to establish. Lord Vetinari has been giving his power away.
Witness for the Prosecution - Terry Pratchett
Relationship with defendant? He’s the creator of his lordship and everything around him and saw it was good.
Partiality and bias? He’s a total bastard, taking control. Insidious character, but the girls like him.
Legality of ascension to power? As legal as anything else in A-M. Killing to get to power is very common practice.
Is Patrician ruling by proxy for missing monarch? He rules with the consent of the mob. If they are unhappy, there are dungeons under the Palace.
Legalisation of crime? He’s simply organised crime, devising a curious system in which the criminals police themselves. He is the boss of organised crime, because of the Guilds’ allegiances to his lordship. Watch out, or he’ll get a white cat and stroke it during meetings.
He allowed the Watch to whither? It would only be true to say the opposite. After its whithering, he allowed it to transform and grow again.
In the case of Lord Vetinari there is no external. If it rains, this is possibly because of something he’s organised.
Tolerance of democratic and legal forces present in Vimes? There is a puppet opposition which coalesce in the mind of Commander Vimes. In many respects, Vimes is the puppet of Lord Vetinari, even though he does not realise it.
Lord Vetinari has the cake, Mr Pratchett actually eats it.
The Watch cannot stop licensed crime. But the Guilds enforce their own laws in a much more punitive way. A hanging only takes 5 minutes, torture can go on for weeks.
Mimes? They’re soundless and a nuisance.
There is no justice, there is only Lord Vetinari.
Defence Interview Concept of chaos in A-M if it wouldn’t be for Lord Vetinari? It would be true to say that during the reigns of the previous Patricians, things were considerably worse than it is now.
Lord Vetinari cares not a jot for the people of A-M and their rights. But he cares for the city.
Lord Vetinari: “Clearly, this man knows nothing about Ankh-Morpork. Please remove him from the stage, Drumknott.”
Mr Pratchett: (while being returned to his seat)“We could have a fat Patrician again, you know!”
Witnesses for the Defence
A member of the Guild of Musicians
Mimes? No one likes mimes, anyway. And the musicians are better off now. Back “in zer old dayz”, you thought you were alone, but then you get to the Conv--- Ankh-Morpork and you know there are legions of others.
A Lady from Cockbill Street
Lord Vetinari pays for an effective Watch, who makes the streets safer. The witnesses’s daughter works at the Palace, and is treated with much respect.
A member of the Guild of Seamstresses
No human rights? Lord Vetinari promotes women’s rights and equal opportunities, also for different species, such as in the Watch.
Prosecution: “I ask for this witness to be removed because of lack of good character.”
Lord Vetinari: “That’s a bit thick, coming from a lawyer.”
Defence: “He’s not even a member of the Guild of Layers.”
Closing Speeches
Defence
Lord Vetinari means stability, dependence, certainty; personal freedom. Being a tyrant, Lord Vetinari could have simply refused the trial, but he’s even here, as Defendant and Judge.
Prosecution
Most condemning words from the Creator: he’s the head of organised crime, only allowing the Watch a fraction of the authority it should have. The Defendant’s interference with the city is completely arbitrarily. He’s not a man we can trust to look after our futures, but only after his own.
Speech of the Judge to the Jury (the audience) There have been many eloquent arguments in favour of my rule, some against it. Wouldn’t many of you say that this would be a better world if Lord Vetinari took over from the normal government and ran the place? Please judge wisely and stand up to vote.
Lord Vetinari is acquitted by an overwhelming majority of votes in favour of his rule.
I have to say, I am extremely proud of all the Clerks who managed to make it to the Con (yoodi was the best Defence Lawyer ever, and our very own vimeslady was witness for the defence) and everyone of you who helped gathering arguments for us.
Some of the pictures of the trial, taken on my request by dominofalling, can be found HERE.