29

Violet woke up to klaus sitting next to her, reading over his notes in his commonplace book. He was wearing a nice gray suit.

He smiled at her.

Klaus: the trial for Count Olaf Is this morning. Justice Strauss left us nice clothes.

Violet sat up and saw that in the closet there was a pretty purple dress waiting for her. Sunny was sitting at the edge of the bed, in a yellow dress.

Violet: that was nice of her.

Violet got dressed and looked at herself in the mirror.She put her ribbon into her dress pocket. There was a knock on the door.

A Dewey replica stood at the door.

Violet: we... are sorry for your loss.

Frank/Ernest: it's alright Baudelaires. I know it wasn't your intention. Everyone makes mistakes.

Violet thought he was Frank as klaus took sunny's hand and they followed him out into the hallway.

Frank: the high court rule is that we all have to wear a blindfold.

He handed 3 black blindfolds.

Violet: why?

Frank: the expression. Justice is blind.

Klaus: but that shouldn't be taken literally-

Frank: it's high court rules.

×××

Frank helped the Baudelaires to a bench.

They heard Justice Strauss's voice:

"You may take off your blindfolds"

The Baudelaires did as she said and finally got to look around them.

They noticed they were in the lobby, all sitting on benches. There were many people there too, and isabelle was sitting next to them. She smiled at them. Past her, Count Olaf was sitting rather comfortably on a couch. There was no blindfold anywhere near him. The Baudelaires thought that was not fair. Justice Strauss was at the front, at the concierge desk.

Js: everyone, welcome. First to start off, I would like to have all Baudelaires come sit up here.

The Baudelaires noticed three chairs a few feet in front of them.

They say down and tried thier best not to look at Olaf to the left of them.

Js: names? Of course we know them, it's just standard procedure.

Violet: Violet Baudelaire.

Klaus: Klaus Baudelaire.

Sunny: Sunny Baudelaire.

Js: occupation?

Violet: inventor.

Klaus: researcher.

Sunny: chef.

Js: parents?

Violet: Beatrice and Bertrand Baudelaire, for all three of us.

Js: thank you Baudelaires, you may now tell your story. We are all listening.

And so, the Baudelaires told thier story. Of Count Olaf, they left out isabelle, unsure if she wanted anyone to know her and Olaf's relationship. They told them of Jaques Snicket's murder. Arson. Kidnapping.

Js: very well then, you may sit back down on the bench, I call this trial-

Klaus: wait!

Js: yes?

Violet: what are you doing?

Klaus: we need olaf's side of the story.

Violet: your honor, we call Count Olaf to the stand.

The Baudelaires heard gasps from the crown of people as Olaf smiled and stood up.

Olaf: you may clap.

The audience started to clap.

Js: no! No!

The clapping stopped as Olaf sat down in the chair violet had.

The bay stood a few feet away from the man.

Klaus: name?

Olaf: Count Olaf.

Violet: Occupation?

Olaf: performer.

Violet: parents?

Olaf: they're dead, why does it matter?

Klaus: do you swear to tell the truth?

Olaf: I have never told a lie.

Klaus: thats- a lie!

Olaf: is it? I've always been honest with my intentions. But have you?

Violet: this isnt about us..

Olaf stood up. His tall figure eerily towering over them.

Olaf: but you were up here too Baudelaires, did you tell them everything? You've lied. You've stolen. You've relied on treachery to survive, just like everyone else. Because here is the truth no one is willing to tell you, there are no noble people in the world.

Violet: our parents.

Olaf chuckled.

Olaf: I see. Your parents failed to tell you about that night at the opera, and the box of poison darts.

The Baudelaires looked at him confused.

Olaf turned to Justice Strauss.

Olaf: your honor I call Esmé Squalor to the stand.

×××Olaf: name?

Esmé: Esmé Gigi Genevieve Squalor.

Olaf: occupation?

Esmé: single.

"Legally we're still married!"

The Baudelaires recognized the voice of Jerome Squalor.

Esmé: single and loving it..

Olaf: parents.

Esmé: none of your business.

Olaf stepped aside and sat next to isabelle.

Olaf: well Baudelaires, don't you have any burning questions. Come on, it'll be fun.

The Baudelaires walked in front of Esmé.

Violet: Esmé, ever since we have met you, you have been obsessed with the stolen Sugarbowl. We wan to know why.

Esmé: you really want to know?Fine. It was one night at the opera and Beatrice was talking about morality, or something.

×××

Beatrice: I think it's wrong, something so valuable shouldn't be in the hands of one person.

Esmé: pleaseee darling you can trust me to keep it safe- I'm rich and beautiful!

Beatrice: listen to me Esmé, there are traitors among VFD who think fire can solve everything in the world, a certain man with-

Olaf looked at the spyglass in his hands and wasn't even paying attention to the opera below him or the conversation his friends were having behind him or even his fiance next to him who was thoroughly enjoying the opera.He turned the dials and noticed a small smoke on the curtain next to him. He looked up. The lights were projecting heat into the spyglass. There was a small fire starting on the curtain. Good thing Kit was too emerged in the story being preformed below them that she didn't notice. He slowly put out the fire with his hand. The heat burning his hand a small amount.

Lemony was two seats away from Kit, he was also interested in the opera. The Snicket's always were.

Esmé: it completes my tea set.

Esmé moved to the seat between Lemony and Kit. Lemony moved to the seat next to Beatrice.

Lemony: there's only one option left.

Beatrice: it's a wicked thing to do.

Lemony: what choice do we have?

He stood up and handed Esmé his spyglass.

Lemony: you wont want to miss this scene, it's the duel.

Esmé took it. Lemony walked outside and him and Beatrice started walking away.

Esmé noticed her sugarbowl was gone. She ran out.

Esmé: thieves!

They turned around.

Esmé threw a dart at Beatrice and missed.

Beatrice: was that a poison dart?!

Esmé: it's the season's innest weapon! One of my admirers smuggled it to me at intermission.

Beatrice took out her own poison dart.

Beatrice: so did one of mine.

Olaf and Kit walked out of the room and stood next to Esmé.

Kit: what is going on out here?

Olaf: oo are we throwing darts? That's way more exciting than the opera!

Beatrice: Esmé this sugarbowl could save lives!

Esmé: its mine!

Kit: we're all friends here!

Esmé: friends don't steal sugarbowls.

Just then Olaf's father walked outside.

"Is everything alr-"

He was hit by a poison dart.He turned to Olaf.

"Olaf!"

And he fell down the stairs.

Olaf looked at Lemony.

Olaf: you..

×××

Lemony and Beatrice were standing in the alleyway. Beatrice held the sugarbowl close.

Lemony: I have to go, i cant stay here.

Beatrice: we need to tell him the truth, I threw the dart- not you.

Lemony: I want to take the blame. Your life is more valuable than mine.

Lemony: I love you Beatrice.

He kissed her and took the sugarbowl out of her hands.

Beatrice: please stay.

Lemony opened the door to a taxi and turned to her.

Lemony: that's not how this story goes.

×××Olaf saw Kit standing in the alleyway crying.He walked up to her and hugged kissed her.

Kit: we can't do this.

Olaf: what do you mean?

She pulled away from him.

Kit: go on with this engagement. We can't be together.

Olaf: why not?

Kit: you hate my brother now!

Olaf: what about-

Kit: you take her. Lemony is my brother. Snicket's take care of thier own.

Olaf: but she is yours!

Kit: she is your child too.

She walked away from him.

Olaf: I'll kiss you one last time. This isnt the end of us.

Kit wasn't listening.

Olaf walked in the other direction, he went inside the building once more and found Esmé standing on a balcony overlooking Beatrice standing in the alleyway crying.

Esmé: Beatrice will pay for this.

Olaf put his spyglass in his coat pocket.

Olaf: no.. she'll burn.