The Test story
Vernon Wedge is an attorney who is approached by the father of Benjy Marino. Benjy is accused of stabbing another boy with a knife. Vernon decides to take the case, but his case for the defense seems hopeless until he discovers a special test that can determine if a knife blade ever had blood on it. He tries to conduct the test in court, but the prosecution resists. Even without the test, however, Vernon manages to get Benjy off. Later, Vernon decides to conduct the test in order to determine whether Benjy was really innocent. Before he can conduct the test Benjy's father arrives and cuts himself with the murder weapon. By doing so, he prevents Vernon from ever knowing the truth about the case. Directed by: Boris Sagal. Story by: Henry Slesar.
5 total · 1 choice · 4 major
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| guilt and evidence | choice | This was a story that discussed what amount of evidence is appropriate to condemn someone for murder. |
| father and son | major | Benjy's father was seemingly convinced beyond a doubt of his son's innocence, but showed his doubts in the end by foiling the attorney's plan to test for traces of blood on Benjy's knife blade. |
| legal occupation | major | The story follows the attorney Vernon Wedge as he reluctantly defends an accused murderer in court. |
| murder | major | Benjy stood accused of having stabbed another boy to death. |
| what it is like in a legal proceeding | major | Much of the story took place in a courtroom where Benjy's fate was being decided. |