Some weeks later, a traffic ticket arrives (I'm not up to speed on Canadian law here: do you get traffic tickets for car accidents?) and Elly is determined to contest it in court, since to pay the ticket means admitting responsibility for the accident. It's OK: she watches Night Court, so will be just fine defending herself. John tries to get her to consider the outcome. Connie congratulates Elly on standing up for women's rights (er?) while Elly considers what to wear and makes a complicated diagram of the accident scene. On some level, however, she is nervous. Even Connie begins to advise her to get some proper legal representation: Elly asks Connie to come with her and Connie's advice is abandoned so
Fortunately, this isn't a trial for attempted rape so the trial is held the very next day. Elly recalls the appearance of the other driver and makes assumptions about him, only for him -- a Mr Pervrett, which makes my spell-checker suggest just what Lynn was going for -- to arrive in court clean-shaven and in a suit. Justice Willis B Sullen (sigh) presides. Elly acts like a fool (at least Connie tries to hide her face in embarrassment) and is told to sit down.
Elly's understanding of the legal system is tested when the prosecutor shows up and she thinks that someone has independently appointed a lawyer for her. Finally she gets her chance to show off her diagram and take the stand, giving such over-the-top testimony that the judge rules it inadmissible. In the funniest strip of this sequence, we see what the judge is really thinking. He rules that, based on the diagram and the admissible testimony, no one was at fault and the case is dismissed. Elly acts like a fool and is again reminded by the judge to temper her behaviour in the courtroom. Connie gushes over Elly and they exit the courthouse to find that Elly has a parking ticket. Presumably she just paid this one and forgot about it.
