Argumentum ad baculum;

Charlie came back from an extended lunch of Taco Bell and lemonade refills. He had used the time to reflect upon his progress, and decided to skip to the back of the book and read the ending.

The details of the trial were illuminating. For one thing, there was less than $20 at issue - the only technicality he could have asked for was that it was a capital offense. It was kind of cool where he told an open mic to China that Pilot himself thought HE was the king of the Jews. Other than that, he DEFINITELY needed the Benefit of Counsel. The benefit of the doubt might have helped too, but then presumption of innocence was only as Roman as "I cannot prove a negative." That's probably why they wouldn't rubber stamp his execution. Good execution though - screw-ups were apparently commonplace, and they had to break their legs to get them to die before sundown. The Hollywood documentary on his passions might be instructive; might be some nudity too, he reflected - Gandhi had been a real disappointment in THAT regard.