CLOWN COURT - An Absurdist Comedy Short Film

Added: 2026-05-26

[00:00:05]Your honor, members of the jury, my name is Emma Preston. My client, Chester Bell, has been accused of robbery, specifically a sum of 10,000 from the safe in his workplace. The facts are straightforward. There is a lack of sufficient evidence, only an accusation from his boss. My client pleads not guilty.

[00:00:29]All right. Thank you, defense.

[00:00:34]>> The prosecution calls its first witness to the stand.

[00:00:38]>> Objection, your honor.

[00:00:39]>> On what grounds, Miss Preston?

[00:00:40]>> Prosecution disclosed no witnesses in discovery. This is trial by ambush.

[00:00:45]Also, his attire violates the court's dress code.

[00:00:49]>> Mr. Baxter. Yes, your honor. That suit is fabulous. Objection overruled. You may bring in your first witness.

[00:01:25]Do you swear to tell the truth? Nothing but the truth. The whole truth. So help you, chicken.

[00:01:33]>> Proceed defense.

[00:01:35]>> Please state your name for the record.

[00:01:40]State your name for the record.

[00:01:53]Perhaps defense if you spoke his language.

[00:02:07]Your honor, may I approach the bench?

[00:02:08]>> Proceed, defense.

[00:02:13]>> State law makes your actions clear.

[00:02:15]Contempt of court. This charge should be suspended immediately.

[00:02:20]>> What are you doing?

[00:02:22]>> Projecting information.

[00:02:26]>> Oh, this is delicious.

[00:02:28]I'm going to recess.

[00:02:36]I'm doomed, counselor. They're going to lock me up forever. I'll be the laughing stock of Cellblock C.

[00:02:43]>> Relax. I've got a perfect record.

[00:02:45]Everything is under control. Just give me one second.

[00:03:04]Emma, how's the case going?

[00:03:06]>> What the [ __ ] is this place?

[00:03:09]>> I see you're not a big fan of their customs. It's a unique culture.

[00:03:13]>> Culture? This court is a literal circus.

[00:03:16]>> Emma, don't be so rude. You know, America is the most diverse country in the world.

[00:03:21]>> You should learn to be more tolerant.

[00:03:23]>> I don't think you understand the meaning of the word literal.

[00:03:27]I don't think you understand >> what will happen that if you botch this case, you know, the firm prize itself in having a full step of attorney with a perfect records.

[00:03:39]>> Emma, >> you will handle it, >> right?

[00:03:44]>> Yes, of course. Was I have an idea, counselor. The mind.

[00:04:00]It's not that he can't speak, he won't speak. What if we do something to make him speak? He knows something.

[00:04:09]>> No, absolutely not.

[00:04:14]>> Did you do it?

[00:04:15]>> But no. Why would I robot Mr. Jester?

[00:04:20]>> Explain the night to me again from the beginning.

[00:04:24]And that concludes my testimony, your honor.

[00:04:27]>> Very well. Defense, you may begin the cross- examination.

[00:04:36]>> Albby, was it?

[00:04:38]>> Albi Otman Jester.

[00:04:39]>> Remind me when did you find the cash from your safe missing?

[00:04:43]>> Tuesday morning.

[00:04:44]>> Do you check the safe every morning?

[00:04:46]>> Yes. Well, um, of course, every morning before opening.

[00:04:52]H. So on Monday, how much was in the safe?

[00:04:54]>> $10,000.

[00:04:56]>> And Tuesday?

[00:04:57]>> Nothing. Gone like the wind. I mean, $12,000 doesn't just disappear like that. It was stolen.

[00:05:04]>> I'm sorry. 12,000 was it?

[00:05:06]>> Yes. $12,000.

[00:05:08]>> I mean 10 $10,000. stenographer.

[00:05:20]>> He said 12.

[00:05:22]>> Objection. My client merely misspoke.

[00:05:25]>> Objection. He misremembered.

[00:05:28]On the records, it clearly says $12,000 were in the safe on Monday morning. This can only mean >> overruled.

[00:05:36]>> It's been a long day, but >> and we'll pick this up at trial tomorrow. Your honor, this is a clear contradiction.

[00:05:42]>> So, he misremembered the amount. It doesn't change the fact that the money's gone. Besides, it's late and I'm going to catch Shakes show tonight.

[00:06:09]All right, YOU WHITEFACED FREAK. WHAT DID YOU DO WITH THE MONEY? Speak or I'll silence you forever.

[00:06:22]>> Counselor, mimes practically live in their paint. It's a second skin to them.

[00:06:27]You burned off his [ __ ] skin.

[00:06:30]>> Look. Okay, I tell you. I tell you.

[00:06:32]Okay. The postman, he gave me 2,000. HE PAID ME TO SAY NOTHING.

[00:06:41]Take it. Okay. Take it. I don't even care anymore.

[00:06:49]He gave me 20,000. He paid me to say nothing.

[00:06:52]>> Full commission. But this, you're innocent.

[00:06:58]What? Aren't you happy?

[00:07:00]>> You still don't get it. You could have video proving my innocence beyond a shadow of a doubt and a jury would still find me guilty.

[00:07:10]>> What? Why?

[00:07:12]>> Because you're just not funny. You don't let loose.

[00:07:17]Damn public attorneys. I knew I should have had an emergency legal fund.

[00:07:21]>> Where's your suit?

[00:07:23]>> It's at home. Why only you let me wear the ruffles in jail?

[00:07:26]>> Give it to me.

[00:07:28]>> You can't even land a pun, let alone do standoff. What's the deal with your >> Listen here, you puffy red-nosed bargain bin Ronald McDonald. You would not be ruining my record. Now give me the damn costume.

[00:07:49]It's apartment 26B.

[00:07:56]Did she have to take all my makeup?

[00:08:02]My nose. My beautiful nose, too.

[00:08:20]>> All right.

[00:08:23]Court is back in session. Proceed, counselor.

[00:08:27]>> Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I ask that you not see a clown today. I ask that you see a person just like my client. And to prove it, I now call Chuckles himself to the stand.

[00:08:43]>> Objection. Overruled. I'm interested.

[00:08:49]Chester Bell, tell me what happened on Monday, May 18th. Tell me everything.

[00:08:56]>> Well, I toil for the Rafrown Clown Town Company. I worked a birthday party, went back to the office, cleaned up, and then I left.

[00:09:05]>> Birthday party?

[00:09:07]How did that go?

[00:09:08]>> Abysmally. The child was a complete [ __ ] >> Objection. This is irrelevant.

[00:09:20]What time did you get back in the office? Did you have access to the safe?

[00:09:23]>> Made it back around 7. I gave the cash directly to Albi. He always puts it in the safe himself. The mime was there and then I left around 8.

[00:09:33]>> Chuckles.

[00:09:35]>> These are your shoes, right?

[00:09:37]>> Don't grease them. They're my Yiky air horses.

[00:09:41]>> Members of the jury, take a listen.

[00:09:47]Do you really think anyone wearing these could go anywhere unnoticed, much less pull a $12,000 heist in 1 hour? And he could have I mean he came back after we all left the office.

[00:10:02]>> How? There was no breaking.

[00:10:04]>> He he has a key.

[00:10:08]>> No, I don't. Besides, the mime already told us.

[00:10:13]You paid me to say nothing. Okay, take it. WE DON'T EVEN CARE ANYMORE.

[00:10:18]>> Is this true, Mr. Dexter?

[00:10:24]>> Fine. Yes, I stole from myself. I framed poor Chuckles. HE'S I THE PLACE IS JUST FALLING APART. I needed the money and he's just a fall guy.

[00:10:41]Order.

[00:10:44]>> Order.

[00:10:45]>> God, I may have said that all day.

[00:10:54]>> Good job, Miss Prisoner.

[00:10:56]See you at the office tomorrow.

[00:10:58]>> Thank you, sir.

[00:10:59]>> Told you she was the best. Next time you want an attention, Mr. Bell, try a circus.

[00:11:14]Thank you again, Miss Preston.

[00:11:16]>> Don't worry about it.

[00:11:18]>> So, how does it feel? Are you still jittery about violating the law and all that?

[00:11:24]>> Nah, this place has its own rules. I may not always like them, but I can't always play on my home court.

[00:11:31]>> Good one. I guess it's a little different playing away at a clown court.

[00:11:36]>> Say that again.

[00:11:42]Heat. Heat.

[00:11:52]Heat. Heat.