By late July 2011 Seth, Vance, Judith, Bart Jr. and Rihanna were in production.
The film wrapped in early August. At the end of the production, Vance started thinking of how he was going to break the news to Seth about his move to Amsterdam.
After wracking his brain for weeks and coming up empty, Vance decided to call Keri for advice. “I don’t know what to do. I tried to think of a believable excuse, but they all sounded phoney.”
Keri cleared her throat. “Why, Vance? Why? Why do you have to spare his feelings at all?”
“Because we’re friends. You may hate his guts, but I love being around him.”
“Why? All you have to say is, ‘Seth, my family is moving to Amsterdam, so I’m leaving your fat, ugly ass behind.’”
There was a brief pause.
“I’m not saying that, Keri, because I’m not a cold-hearted bitch like you and your family. The last thing Seth needs right now is another shot of bad news. I mean, he’s still not completely over you yet, and that was two years ago.”
They remained silent for a moment.
“Well, I’d like to say thank you, but you did nothing for me, Keri.”
“You should’ve known better, Vance. And we’re talking about Seth. I hate him. Why would I want to help you spare his feelings when even I didn’t do that?”
“What did he ever do to you? The only thing he was ever guilty of was being in love with you.”
Keri was silent for a moment. “It’s a long and complicated story.”
“That’s right. Especially when there isn’t a story to begin with.”
“What does that mean?”
“Just admit it. Your mother hated him, so you allowed her to shove her arm up your ass and work you like a puppet, and to fill your head with false information.”
“You know? If you want to continue our relationship when you move here to Amsterdam, I’d be damn careful how you talk to me.”
“Right, sorry. I have to go. Talk to you later.”
Finally, after another week, Vance invited Seth out for a cup of coffee.
Not much was said between them that day, mostly small talk. Somewhere deep down, Seth knew the coffee was a front for a deeper issue. It was more than two friends having coffee and catching up. It was little things, cues Vance was giving off, like the way he looked at Seth, the way he acted, nervous and edgy. And the way he sounded.
There was a shakiness in Vance’s voice.
“Okay, give. What’s up? What’s on your mind?”
Vance slowly sipped his coffee. “I have a lot on my mind, actually. The only trouble is, I don’t know how you’re going to react to it.”
“Well, the best way to find out is to just tell me.”
Vance still didn’t know what he was going to say. He figured he’d know when it came out of his mouth. “I’m moving.”
“You’re moving? What’s the big—”
“To Amsterdam.”
Feelings he hadn’t felt in a long time came out of remission and stirred. “Amsterdam? Why? Why there?”
Vance could tell Seth was really hurt; he felt guilty yet glad to have finally gotten it off his chest. Vance took another long sip of coffee in hopes a believable story would pop into his head. “Because, because my parents are getting a divorce.”
Seth pondered his words. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
“One day, my father woke up and just decided he didn’t want to be married anymore. My father and brother are moving to Toronto, and my mom and I are moving back to Amsterdam.”
“I’m sorry,” Seth stared at Vance over his coffee mug. Like a castle in the sand, the water took away. Vance vanished from Seth’s life.
On August 19 the film Seth and Vance had worked on with Bart jr. and Rihanna was complete. Seth made a copy for his neighbours and walked it next door.
*
That evening, the Hyssop family gathered around the TV set and watched the film. When it ended, Bart shook his head.
“What is it, honey?” Elisa asked.
“That has to be the worst film I’ve ever seen!” Bart replied.
“What, why? I thought it was good. I especially liked that twist at the end.”
“I don’t like the way our children were represented in it.”
Elisa shook her head in confusion. “How so?”
“One kid was presented as a loud mouth, fat faggot, and the other one was presented as a father-loving hussy. Almost like they were on drugs!”
“Oh, give it up, Bart. It’s only a movie.”
“I’m telling you, Seth purposely represented our kids like that to tell us he knows.”
Elisa chuckled. “You still think Seth is out to get us? Come on, Bart. If that were true, why wouldn’t he just go to the police?”
Bart thought for a moment. “Lack of proof. He needed video evidence and now he has it.”
Elisa exhaled. “Would you stop? You’re imagining things as usual. You’re being paranoid over nothing.”
“He’s getting way too close. I have to put a stop to it.”
Bart remained silent, deep in thought, trying to figure out a way to put a stop to Seth getting too close. He looked over at his children, then at the TV, and then back at his children again.
“That’s it! That’s how I’ll nail that idiot!”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“I’ll accuse Seth of child pornography.”
Elisa’s mouth dropped, absolutely stunned at what her husband was suggesting. “You’re not serious, Bart—are you?”
“Goddamned right I am. Now, my plan is super simple. I’ll pose our children in classic pornography poses and then take nude photos of them. Print the photos and collaborate a story with the kids, call the cops—and good-bye, Seth.”
*
On September 9, 2011, two police cruisers pulled up in front of the Zimmer home.
One officer from each car got out and made their way to the home. They knocked and waited patiently.
Mrs. Zimmer opened the door. “Ma’am, good afternoon. Is this the residence of one Seth Zimmer?”
“It is.” Mrs. Zimmer studied the officers for a moment. “What can I do for you?”
One replied, “Well, ma’am, you can take us to Seth; we’re here for him.”
“Whoa, whoa, wait! What do you mean you’re here for Seth? Is there a problem?”
“We have a warrant for his arrest.”
Stunned, she slowly moved back to allow the officers to enter.
“Seth!” she shouted from the bottom of the staircase. “Can you come down here for a minute?”
After a moment, Seth came down the stairs. He looked at the officers and then at his mother. “What’s going on?”
“Are you Seth Zimmer?” asked an officer.
“Yes.”
The officer handed Seth an arrest warrant. “Mr. Zimmer, you’re under arrest. Please place your hands behind your back.”
“What, why? What did I do?”
One of the officers removed his handcuffs from his belt and stood behind Seth. “You are under arrest for child pornography in the first degree.” The officer gently placed Seth in the handcuffs.
“You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.”
Seth was taken to the interrogation room for questioning. He sat at the end of a long metal-top table, a handful of nude photos of the Hyssop children in front of him.
“Mr. Zimmer, please. I’m being quite serious here. Child pornography is an extremely severe offence.”
“You don’t think I already know that? I’m not stupid!”
“I didn’t say you were, Seth. But you will be if you’re not being 100 percent truthful with us.”
Seth took a moment to recompose himself. “Look, I’m sure you hear this all the time from ‘real’ criminals, but I’m being honest. I have never seen these pictures before.”
The officer questioning Seth leaned over the table and studied Seth for a moment. After what felt like an eternity, the officer finally leaned back. “Okay. I don’t know what it is, but I’m compelled to believe you.”
“So does this mean I can go?”
“Yes—back to your holding cell.”
“What! Why?”
The officer cleared his throat. “Because, Seth, a decision has to be made first.”
“What decision?”
The officer pushed his chair out and rose. “Whether or not the Hyssops decide to formally press charges.”
Early the next afternoon, Seth woke to the sound of the door buzzer at the end of the hall. After a few seconds he could hear the door banging open. The sound of footsteps got louder and louder as they got closer to his cell.
“Mr. Zimmer, visitor.”
Seth slowly sat up and turned to see his stern-looking father standing at the bars.
“Would you like to enter the cell, sir?” asked the officer.
Mr. Zimmer took a moment. “No, no I’m fine.”
The officer nodded and exited the cellblock. Mr. Zimmer waited for him to leave before speaking. “How the hell could you have done this, you stupid asshole? You utterly disgust me, you filthy pervert!”
An anger like no other fell over Seth. He got to his feet and gripped the bars of his cell so tightly his fingers turned white. “I didn’t do a goddamned thing, shithead!”
“Yeah right, Seth. That’s what guilty people say.”
“I’m not guilty!”
“I always knew you were up to something—but this? This is just too much.”
“Goddammit, would you listen to me?”
Mr. Zimmer’s face hardened. “Good-bye, Seth.”
The only thing Seth could do was scream and violently shake the bars of the cell. Suddenly the door buzzer beeped and the officer dashed back into the cellblock. Mr. Zimmer fell to his knees. The officer rushed to his aid. “You all right, sir? What’s going on? What happened?”
“It was terrible. Seth came at me between the bars and tried to put his big strong hands around my neck.”
The officer sat Mr. Zimmer down on a bench across from the cell and then turned back to Seth.
Mr. Zimmer coughed. “I’m ready to go now, Officer.”
The officer turned and helped Mr. Zimmer to his feet and slowly headed back to the door. Mr. Zimmer placed his hand behind his back knowing Seth was watching and gave him the finger.
Later that evening, Seth was sitting in the bed with his back against the wall, trying to figure out how he got tangled in this traumatic situation.
The door buzzed, and an officer entered the cellblock. A few moments later the officer opened the door. “Let’s go!”
Seth remained seated.
The officer waited a couple of seconds before repeating himself.
Finally Seth clued in. “Oh, can I go?”
“No, sir, you’re being booked.”
Seth’s face became pale, and he began to tremble. “What?”
“Mr. and Mrs. Hyssop have decided to press charges and settle this in a court of law.”
After the booking, Seth sat in an office of the police station. He was deep in shock. The office clerk entered from the back room and then sat back at her desk.
“Okay, Mr. Zimmer,” The clerk waited a few moments for Seth to acknowledge. “Mr. Zimmer?”
Seth slowly turned to the clerk. “I’m sorry. Did you say something?”
“You are to appear in court one month from today.”
Seth thought for a moment. “Is that it?”
“What do you mean?”
“I get no options, no bail? It’s just straight back to my cell?”
“No, you have bail. It’s set at $5,000.”
“Holy shit! Are you freaking kidding me? Who the hell can afford that?”
The clerk began organizing Seth’s paperwork. “I’m sorry, but that’s what it’s set at. There’s nothing I can do. I guess you could always ask a judge to lower it, but good luck.”
Seth was suddenly hit hard with a deep, overwhelming emotion, and even though he already knew the answer, he asked anyway. “And what happens if one can’t afford the bail?”
The clerk cleared her throat, turned to Seth and lowered the handful of paper. “Well, Mr. Zimmer, if one can’t afford the bail, which is usually the case, one must go to a federal holding cell until his court date.”
Seth was given a bright orange jumpsuit and led down a long hallway of cells. He entered his new home, a dark, drab, cold, lonely cell. The guard lightly shoved Seth inside and gently closed the door. But to poor Seth, the sound was earth shattering.
The guard walked back down the hall. Seth slowly walked over to the bed and took a seat. He exhaled deeply and began to cry.
Over the slow course of a month, crying was the only thing Seth could do. Finally, the court date arrived. Seth was led into the courtroom by an officer.
“All rise for the Honourable Judge Arthur Vines!”
Everyone in the courtroom rose as the judge made his way to the bench.
After the judge got comfortable, he told everyone to be seated. “I will now listen to opening statements.”
The Hyssops’ attorney got to his feet and buttoned his jacket. “Good morning, Your Honour.”
The attorney turned and addressed the jury and the courtroom. “Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Sam Petrillo, and I represent the Hyssop family. We’re here today to give the Hyssop family justice after the crime that was bestowed upon them”—he pointed at Seth—“by Seth Zimmer. A neighbour, a friend, someone the Hyssops trusted. I am of course talking about the nude photos of the Hyssop children, taken by Mr. Zimmer here, the person the Hyssops trusted most,”
Mr. Petrillo turned and looked at Seth dead in his eyes. “Or so they thought.” Mr. Petrillo got eerily quiet for a moment and looked around the room.
“But the statistics show, children are a victim of some kind of sexual crime by someone they know, such as a parent, an uncle or a neighbour.” Mr. Petrillo got quiet again as he scanned the room.
“Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, Mr. and Mrs. Hyssop are hardworking, honest and law-abiding citizens. At the conclusion of this trial, it is my hope in the interests of my clients, that justice prevails, and Mr. Zimmer’s heinous acts are stopped once and for all, thank you.”
As Mr. Petrillo gracefully walked back to his seat, the attorney Seth was appointed took the floor. “Good morning, everyone. My name is Max Durocher, and I represent the defendant, Mr. Seth Zimmer.”
Mr. Durocher turned to the jury. “Before I begin, I would like to thank you all for being here today and for doing your civic duty as jurors. It’s an important role, and my client certainly appreciates it. I know it’s inconvenient in this modern day to have to give up a whole day to be a juror, but rest assured, we’re grateful.”
Mr. Durocher cleared his throat. “You all have heard Mr. Petrillo explain his hopes. But what he deliberately failed to mention was the true facts about his hardworking and law-abiding clients, the Hyssops.”
Mr. Durocher scanned the room. “Both Mr. and Mrs. Hyssop have a police record as long as my arm, and on this includes spousal and child abuse; multiple charges of public menacing, including being drunk in public; sexual assault; possession of and growing cannabis…”
“Objection your honour!” Shouted Mr. Petrillo. “This has nothing to do with the case.”
“Granted! Please stick to the facts of this case, Mr. Durocher.”
“I’m truly sorry, your honour.” Mr. Durocher fixed his tie and continued.
“My client works hard for his money. He slaves over a keyboard and stares at a computer screen for hours, just to make a buck. It’s hard work but honest work. They say the camera doesn’t lie, and I intend on proving that, proving my client wasn’t behind the camera that snapped the photos evidence will reveal. In conclusion, ladies and gentlemen, please keep an open mind and listen to all evidence presented before the court before coming to any conclusions. My client is nothing more than an innocent bystander.”
Mr. Durocher scanned the room again. “Thank you.”
After half a day of lack of evidence and harshness toward Seth, Seth was finally called to the stand.
After sitting, Mr. Petrillo slowly approached. “Mr. Zimmer—Seth. Can you please tell everyone what you do for a living?”
“I’m self-employed.”
“What is the name of your business?”
“Digital Studios Media House.”
“And what exactly do you do at Digital Studios Media House?”
Seth stared at Mr. Petrillo for a moment. “Digital scrapbooking, photography and filmmaking.”
A look of intrigue whisked across Mr. Petrillo’s face. “Photography, really? Do you ever have photo shoots?”
“Yes, but only when a client orders one.”
“That’s it? You’re telling me the only time you have photo shoots is when somebody orders one? You never do photography on your own accord?”
“Correct.”
“So you never gather friends, family or neighbours to dress up or undress and take photos?”
Seth was becoming annoyed. “No.”
Mr. Petrillo stared at Seth for a moment. “Interesting, thank you.”
Mr. Petrillo walked back to his seat, and Mr. Durocher approached.
“Seth, can you please tell us how long you’ve known the Hyssop family?”
“I’ve known them since they moved in next door in 2007.” Seth turned and looked at Mr. and Mrs. Hyssop. “Unfortunately.”
“Unfortunately, Seth?”
“Yes, I never liked them. From the first day they moved in I absolutely hated them!”
“Please correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t you use the Hyssop children in your latest film?”
Seth swallowed hard. “That’s correct, but it wasn’t my choice. There were a few factors that made me come to that cataclysmic decision.”
“Such as?”
“Time, patience and some convincing from my friend Vance.”
“Why did your friend have to convince you?”
“Because they were children that were close at hand. Vance figured instead of wasting time putting up casting call notices, just ask the kids next door.”
“Why did you need children in the first place?”
Seth took a deep breath. “Because the one character in the film had two children, and I didn’t feel like doing a complete rewrite.”
“For this film of yours, did you use a digital photography camera or an actual video camera?”
“I used my JVC Everio HD video camera, as I always do when I make a film.”
Mr. Durocher slowly backed up and walked over to the evidence table. He picked up Seth’s video camera and then walked back to Seth.
“Have you ever recorded to a micro SD card before?”
“No, sir. I don’t even own one.”
Mr. Durocher studied the camera for a moment. “Tell me—what’s this silver button behind the zoom do?”
Without even looking at the camera, Seth answered, “That’s the photo button.”
“Photo button? Meaning this video camera is also capable of snapping still photos as well?”
“That is correct. But I never use it. I keep my video camera for film and digital camera for photography.”
Mr. Durocher smiled. “Thank you, Seth.” He looked at the judge and gently nodded.
The judge turned to Seth. “You may step down, Mr. Zimmer; thank you.”
Seth walked back to his seat.
“Your Honour,” Mr. Durocher said, “I would like to call Bart Hyssop Jr. to the stand.”
A nervous Bart Jr. slowly made his way to the stand.
Mr. Durocher turned to the jury and spectators. “Ladies and gentlemen, please focus your attention on the screens. We’re going to put up the photos that my client allegedly took, but please don’t worry. The nudity will be blurred.”
After a moment two big projection screens were lowered, and the images of Bart Jr. and his sister appeared.
Mr. Durocher approached Bart. “Now, can you please confirm that that is you up on the right screen and your sister on the left?”
Bart looked at the screens for a moment and began to sweat.
“It’s quite alright, son, no need to be nervous. You can’t get in trouble here. Can you please confirm that that is you and your sister, Rihanna’s, photos up on the screens?”
Bart slowly turned and nervously looked at his parents.
Mr. Durocher followed Bart’s line of sight. “Why are you looking at your parents? You’re quite safe here, and you won’t get in trouble for telling the truth.”
Bart’s nervousness suddenly turned to anger. “Yes! Okay? It is!” He hyperventilated for a moment.
“Great, thank you, Bart.”
Bart started to calm down. He looked up at Mr. Durocher. “May I go now?”
Mr. Durocher smiled at Bart. “Of course.”
Bart Jr. started to get up.
“But only after you tell me how my client, Seth Zimmer, forced you and your sister to posing nude for him.”
Bart’s eyes got wide. He froze in fear.
Mr. Durocher put his hands behind his back and paced the floor. After a moment, he approached Bart again. “Come on, son. If my client is as guilty as your family says, then you have absolutely nothing to worry about.”
Mrs. Zimmer exhaled deeply and shook her head.
Mr. Zimmer turned to her. “What is it?”
“There’s something not right about those pictures.”
“Of course there’s something not right about them. It’s photos of naked children.”
“No, besides that.”
Finally, Bart Jr. was released, and Rihanna took the stand.
“Ms. Hyssop—Rihanna. Can you please confirm to the court that that’s your photo on the left screen and your brother Bart’s on the right?”
Rihanna took a moment to look at the photos. “That’s correct. That’s us.”
“Perfect, thank you. Now, can you tell us how my client, Mr. Zimmer, forced you and your brother to pose nude for him? And remember, Ms. Hyssop, you’re under oath.”
Rihanna took a deep breath and quickly glanced over at her parents. “Well, it was the day we finished the principal photography of the film. Bart and I were playing on the trampoline out back when Seth approached the fence. He asked us what we were doing and then asked if we were interested in playing Xbox with him. We followed him back to his house and up to his bedroom. His camera was already out on his bed. Bart picked it up and asked Seth how it worked, and Seth grabbed it from Bart. That’s when …”
Rihanna tried her best to fake cry, and after a few seconds she actually forced a tear. “That’s when he asked us to pose for him.”
Mr. Durocher placed his hand to his face. “So what you’re saying is that Seth just bluntly came out and asked right off the bat if you and your brother would pose nude for him?”
Rihanna took a moment to think. “Uh-huh.”
Mrs. Zimmer said under her breath, “That’s it.”
Distracted, her husband looked over at her again. “What?”
“They’re all claiming that the photos were taken in Seth’s bedroom, but Seth doesn’t have painted walls, nor does he have a single bed.”
Mr. Zimmer got quiet. A look of disappointment struck him.
“After taken a few photos of us with clothes on, Seth reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet and took out $200.” Rihanna took a moment to sob softly.
“And what did my client do with the money?”
“He …” Rihanna took a moment to build up the tension. “He told Bart and me he’d give us each $100 if we’d get pose naked for him.”
The courtroom gasped.
Mrs. Zimmer jumped to her feet. “No!”
All eyes in the room turned to her.
“My son had nothing to do with this!”
Mr. Zimmer quickly reached up and yanked his wife back down. “Shhh! Would you keep your goddamned voice down? Who knows, maybe Seth did do it, but that’s for the court to decide.”
Mrs. Zimmer remained quiet as the hearing continued.
But then she said, “I can’t take any more of this. Seth didn’t do it. Those photos are nothing more than pure and simple lies, and I’m going to say something!”
Mr. Zimmer quickly and angrily turned to his wife. “Like hell you are! You just sit there and keep your big mouth shut!”
Mrs. Zimmer sat in shock. “You think our son is guilty.”
“I’m not saying he is and I’m not saying he isn’t.”
“Then what are you saying?”
Mr. Zimmer thought for a moment. “He’s always walking around with his camera. He could’ve snapped a few risky pics.”
Mr. Durocher paced back and forth. “And what did you and your brother do?”
“It was a lot of money, so of course we took it.”
Mrs. Zimmer leapt to her feet again. “Liar! All of this is lies!”
“Order!” shouted the judge as he slammed his gavel. “What’s the meaning of this?”
Mrs. Zimmer swallowed hard. “You see, Your Honour—”
“Who are you?”
“I’m Mrs. Zimmer, Seth’s mother.”
The judge turned to Rihanna. “Ms. Hyssop, I think I’ve heard enough. You may step down.”
Rihanna got up and trotted off. The judge sat silent for a moment.
“Mrs. Zimmer, you may approach the bench.”
Nervous, Mrs. Zimmer made her way up and sat. The judge took a few moments to gather his thoughts. “Mrs. Zimmer, it’s in every good mother to want to protect her children no matter how old they get.”
“I’m sorry, Your Honour, but as hard as it would be to see some compelling evidence and hear some convincing statements, being a humanitarian I would have to favour them. But in all honesty, I’m not seeing or hearing anything compelling or believable.”
The room grew silent.
“Is that so? Well, Mrs. Zimmer, I would love for you to share your thoughts.”
Mrs. Zimmer took a deep breath. “The Hyssops want you to believe that the two photos were taken in my son’s bedroom, correct?”
“That is correct, ma’am.”
“But Seth’s room is all white. Not one bedroom in our house has been painted in the 25 years we’ve lived there. Also, Seth has a queen size bed, not single. So between the blue walls and single bed present in the photos,”
Mrs. Zimmer looked at the Hyssops. “I’m not buying it.”
The room quickly filled with whispers. Mr. and Mrs. Hyssop panicked and scanned the room.
“Thank you, Mrs. Zimmer. Was that all?”
“No, Judge—”
“Objection! Your Honour,” Mr. Petrillo shouted.
“On what grounds?”
“On the grounds of leading the jury.”
The judge slammed his gavel. “Overruled! Please continue, Mrs. Zimmer.”
“You see, my husband is retired, and I’ve been a housewife for 40 years. So from the time we get up in the morning until we go to bed at night, we’re in the living room watching TV. So if the story that Ms. Hyssop is trying to sell us is true, someone would’ve seen Bart and Rihanna in our house that day.”
Mrs. Zimmer placed her right hand over her heart and then raised her left hand. “Truth be told, they never set foot in our home that day, not once. As a matter of fact, in the years we’ve been neighbours, they’ve never been invited into our home.”
The whispering in the room grew more intense. A heavy feeling filled the air.
Mr. Durocher looked around the room for a moment and then got to his feet. “Excuse me, Your Honour!”
The room quickly fell silent again.
“I think it would be in the best interest of this case to have a more thorough examination of all the evidence. Including a search of the Hyssop residence.”
The chatter in the room quickly picked up again. The judge slammed his gavel. “Order! Lets have order!”
He leaned back in his chair. After a couple of minutes, he put his hands together and leaned forward. “Now, in my many years in this profession, I can tell you all with certainty that what I am seeing here today is a classic case of he said, she said.”
The judge looked at the Hyssops. “I’m also distraught over the lack of evidence presented before the court.” He looked around the room.
“Having said that, I find it appropriate to have all the evidence thoroughly re-examined. I’m also approving a thorough search of the Hyssop residence, which includes all computers and hard drives, digital cameras and video cameras and cell phones. We will reconvene in two weeks. And in that time—”
The judge faced the Hyssops again. “The Hyssops are not authorized to return to their home, effective immediately!”
Bart Hyssop rushed to his feet and violently slammed the desk. “What? This is bullshit, Judge! Do your goddamned job!”
The judge slammed his gavel. “Simmer down, Mr. Hyssop! Another outburst like that again and you’ll find yourself in contempt.”
Bart lowered back into his chair. “I’m truly sorry, Your Honour.”
After a few moments Mr. Durocher got to his feet again. “Your Honour, what’s to become of Mr. Zimmer for the following two weeks?”
The judge said, “From everything I’ve gathered today, I don’t think sitting in a jail cell would do Mr. Zimmer any good. I think it would be appropriate to place him under house arrest.”
The judge slammed his gavel twice. “That’ll be all. I’ll see all of you back here in two weeks.”