Synopsis Part 2B

Janey Winger invites Joe to come on her nationally syndicated talk show and tell his side of the story. He agrees and the special edition of the show is moved to a tv studio in Peachpit where it is taped before a mostly local audience. Joe comes on the show, but rather than tell his side, he is made to sit on stage while numerous people from town and from his past confront him one by one. The audience continually boos and screams at Joe. The guests recount various things Joe has done or said throughout his life. Taken out of context, the recollections make Joe look very bad. Many come on and recount the baseless rumours. Some become so incensed that they punch Joe before Security can restrain them.The surveillance tape with the cat remark is shown. Joe is never allowed to tell his side of the story.

Meanwhile, city officials and the local police have been searching the town ordinances for some law that Joe has violated. They find three still on the books:

• 1. It is illegal in Peachpit to advocate the wasting of fruit ( from 1931, when growers who couldn't get a satisfactory price for their peaches were forced to sell so people would not starve.) 2. It is illegal for a man to disguise himself as a woman ( a homophobic law passed in 1919.)  3. It is illegal for a man to use the name of a woman to make a profit (part of an elaborate homosexual prostitution law from 1949.)

Joe is arrested and placed in jail. When the DA sees the tape of the Janey Winger show, he also charges Joe with the cat killings. Two prominent attorneys from New York, S & M Bond (Syd and Marv, cousins) agree to represent Joe free of charge. They know that if they can get Joe off, they will be able to charge practically ANYTHING for their services. When the townspeople learn of the involvement of S&M Bond, they decide to raise money to help pay for a special team of investigators and prosecutors. A rally is planned.