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31_days2012-02-03 02:39 am
insaneladybug.livejournal.com) wrote in 31_days2012-02-03 02:39 am
[February 3rd] [Perry Mason] Candles and the Snow, 3
Title: Candles and the Snow, scene 3
Day/Theme: February 3 - O, for a muse of fire!
Series: Perry Mason
Character/Pairing: Hamilton Burger, Mignon Germaine
Rating: G
I feel torn on this one. On the one hand it feels like it should be longer, maybe have another scene after the depicted one. On the other hand, it feels like it should be just what it is.
The time period for this one is the present day.
By Lucky_Ladybug
Hamilton glanced up briefly as the nightly news played a clip from the district attorney-hopeful’s speech earlier that day. The man radiated confidence, but Hamilton would be surprised if he actually felt that way deep down. He was not ahead in the polls.
“Los Angeles is due for a change,” he said, gripping the edges of his podium. “I’m sure we all agree that Hamilton Burger has served us well as our district attorney, but now it’s time for someone else to take the reins.”
Hamilton was up for re-election again. His opponent, Marcus Dynn, was no stranger to politics or even the law; he was a lawyer who had gone up against Perry in civil suits as well as against Hamilton in criminal suits. He had his supporters, but overall Hamilton was leading in the polls. Apparently, many of the people of Los Angeles were not interested in change.
There were those among Dynn’s supporters who whispered that it was strange how Hamilton had managed to keep his office for so long and that there must be some shady politics under the table to explain it. Hamilton’s supporters had responded with indignation that Hamilton was as honest as the day was long and such an accusation was outrageous. Dynn himself had not made any such claims, but he had not apologized for his supporters’ remarks, either.
Mignon was one of Hamilton’s strongest supporters, just as she had been each time since that first year he had campaigned for public office. When the reporters had looked for people to interview, she had sought them out. She would not allow any ill rumors about Hamilton or his office to persist without trying to dispel them.
Hamilton switched off the television and reached for his laptop. He had been typing out a draft of his speech for tomorrow, although it was really a series of notes. He had become adept at public speaking and giving interviews and rarely ever used a full draft anymore. He had to be ready at a moment’s notice and be prepared for whatever questions might be thrown his way. Occasionally he was still stunned, as he sometimes was in court when a case was turned on its head, but for the most part he did well.
That first campaign, so long ago now, had been different. He had been a lot younger, more rash, and not so adept at public speaking. He had had a good deal of trial experience, necessary to even be considered as a candidate for district attorney, but making speeches for a campaign had puzzled him at first. He had sat with a notebook and pencil for hours, pondering on exactly what to say and how to say it.
Mignon had been married for several years by then, to their mutual friend Jack Garson. As a performer, Mignon had kept her maiden name Germaine, but she was happy being Mrs. Garson. Their son Larry had been several years old, and though Hamilton had not been around as much during those years, Larry had loved it whenever Hamilton managed to visit.
Mignon had given Hamilton the push he had needed to unravel his speech. “It isn’t any different from any other speech you’ve given, to me or to a jury,” she said. “Talk about the corruption in the city and how you plan to fight it.”
And, remembering what Mignon had said about his passion on their second meeting, he had done exactly that. His speech had been filled with the fire he was already known for in the courtroom. It had been rough and a bit unpolished, and his opponent had been certain little would come of it. At first that had seemed close to the truth. But perhaps in reality it was just taking the surprised people some time to process it. They had then responded, fired up by his words, and he had won by quite a landslide.
Perry was already an established lawyer by that point. Hamilton had been very aware of him and had been looking forward to taking him on in court. For some time they had been fierce rivals and little more than that. But through the mutual respect they developed for each other, they had slowly but surely become quite close through the years. They were friends now—something Hamilton never would have imagined when he first took office.
It was through their friendship that Mignon had become acquainted with Perry. They had met several times at various gatherings. More recently, Hamilton had recommended him to Mignon when Larry had gotten mixed up with the femme fatale Carina Wileen and needed legal help to keep his job.
Hamilton came back to the present. He had to finish with these notes tonight. And come morning and the speech, Marcus Dynn might get a surprise.
Day/Theme: February 3 - O, for a muse of fire!
Series: Perry Mason
Character/Pairing: Hamilton Burger, Mignon Germaine
Rating: G
I feel torn on this one. On the one hand it feels like it should be longer, maybe have another scene after the depicted one. On the other hand, it feels like it should be just what it is.
The time period for this one is the present day.
Hamilton glanced up briefly as the nightly news played a clip from the district attorney-hopeful’s speech earlier that day. The man radiated confidence, but Hamilton would be surprised if he actually felt that way deep down. He was not ahead in the polls.
“Los Angeles is due for a change,” he said, gripping the edges of his podium. “I’m sure we all agree that Hamilton Burger has served us well as our district attorney, but now it’s time for someone else to take the reins.”
Hamilton was up for re-election again. His opponent, Marcus Dynn, was no stranger to politics or even the law; he was a lawyer who had gone up against Perry in civil suits as well as against Hamilton in criminal suits. He had his supporters, but overall Hamilton was leading in the polls. Apparently, many of the people of Los Angeles were not interested in change.
There were those among Dynn’s supporters who whispered that it was strange how Hamilton had managed to keep his office for so long and that there must be some shady politics under the table to explain it. Hamilton’s supporters had responded with indignation that Hamilton was as honest as the day was long and such an accusation was outrageous. Dynn himself had not made any such claims, but he had not apologized for his supporters’ remarks, either.
Mignon was one of Hamilton’s strongest supporters, just as she had been each time since that first year he had campaigned for public office. When the reporters had looked for people to interview, she had sought them out. She would not allow any ill rumors about Hamilton or his office to persist without trying to dispel them.
Hamilton switched off the television and reached for his laptop. He had been typing out a draft of his speech for tomorrow, although it was really a series of notes. He had become adept at public speaking and giving interviews and rarely ever used a full draft anymore. He had to be ready at a moment’s notice and be prepared for whatever questions might be thrown his way. Occasionally he was still stunned, as he sometimes was in court when a case was turned on its head, but for the most part he did well.
That first campaign, so long ago now, had been different. He had been a lot younger, more rash, and not so adept at public speaking. He had had a good deal of trial experience, necessary to even be considered as a candidate for district attorney, but making speeches for a campaign had puzzled him at first. He had sat with a notebook and pencil for hours, pondering on exactly what to say and how to say it.
Mignon had been married for several years by then, to their mutual friend Jack Garson. As a performer, Mignon had kept her maiden name Germaine, but she was happy being Mrs. Garson. Their son Larry had been several years old, and though Hamilton had not been around as much during those years, Larry had loved it whenever Hamilton managed to visit.
Mignon had given Hamilton the push he had needed to unravel his speech. “It isn’t any different from any other speech you’ve given, to me or to a jury,” she said. “Talk about the corruption in the city and how you plan to fight it.”
And, remembering what Mignon had said about his passion on their second meeting, he had done exactly that. His speech had been filled with the fire he was already known for in the courtroom. It had been rough and a bit unpolished, and his opponent had been certain little would come of it. At first that had seemed close to the truth. But perhaps in reality it was just taking the surprised people some time to process it. They had then responded, fired up by his words, and he had won by quite a landslide.
Perry was already an established lawyer by that point. Hamilton had been very aware of him and had been looking forward to taking him on in court. For some time they had been fierce rivals and little more than that. But through the mutual respect they developed for each other, they had slowly but surely become quite close through the years. They were friends now—something Hamilton never would have imagined when he first took office.
It was through their friendship that Mignon had become acquainted with Perry. They had met several times at various gatherings. More recently, Hamilton had recommended him to Mignon when Larry had gotten mixed up with the femme fatale Carina Wileen and needed legal help to keep his job.
Hamilton came back to the present. He had to finish with these notes tonight. And come morning and the speech, Marcus Dynn might get a surprise.