Dressed in black that for centuries had been the preferred dress for executioners, Martha Reynolds entered the living room where her husband Ralph and only child Montana (27) waited patiently, each playing a game or puzzle on their smart phone.
"Right phones off," said the majority stockholder of Fluffy Blossom Bathroom Tissues who according to an asset-guessing leading national financial magazine was worth $190 million.
Drinks were served, dark beer for Ralph, low alcohol beer for Montana and sparkling water from France to one of New Jersey's most influential citizens.
"Montana this pre-dinner meeting will, I hope, determine your immediate future to our mutual satisfaction. You went over the top emotional yesterday when I expressed my wish that you dump that long-haired guitar-playing lout Lancelot. Your plea that he was a musician of note was simply a waste of breath."
"Mom I apologise for behaving so rudely to you yesterday."
Martha said, "I thank you for that and that melt-down now belongs to the past."
"I rule as follows, either you renounce that scoundrel or I'll have Lionel and Roy annihilate him."
"No you can't do that mother," Montana said desperately. "That would be murder."
"Oh darling you are so naive. My two minders would simply pursue that diabolical young man in his vehicle aggressively until the simpleton choses to drive beyond his capabilities and fuelled on drugs would drive himself off the road and into oblivion. My guys will ensure privacy to ensure there are no witnesses and are unlikely to admit being ordered to play road raging with your ferret-looking scumbag."
"You bitch, I dislike you interfering with my private life. However in the interest of family peace I hereby renounce my association with Lancelot Edward Truman and promise not to associate with him ever again?"
"That assurance partly convinces me of your intent darling but for absolute closure you must agree to gain internship experience as an attorney working beyond America."
"Very well mother, I agree subject to father agreeing to release me from my contract in order to achieve your wishes."
"That's an excellent attitude Montana," said her father. "Your mother and I are very pleased you're being cooperative about this as the issue had potential to rip us apart."
"Well said Ralph," Martha smiled.
"Montana your father has kindly consented to involve you in a paid law abroad internship under an international agreement convention that will result in you working in Australia on a year-long contract for a law firm in the town of Red Ridge. The significance of this placement is your late maternal grandfather, to whom we all owe so such much, as a young man first began to practice law in that firm in partnership with two other graduates from his class."
"Mother you can't do this; Australia is at the end of the world. This is inhuman and I refused to go."
"Darling if you refused to go you will say goodbye to your monthly allowance of $18,000. You will be on a good salary down there of course; it's all arranged."
"No way am I going anywhere," Montana screamed and threw her beer bottle at her goading mother who stayed absolutely still to ensure the missile missed; it flew by only an inch from her left ear.
* * *
During the last leg of the long flight, the guy sitting next to Montana went to the toilet and his female companion moved over to sit alongside Montana.
"Hi I'm Leslie. I heard you talking to my husband; you sound East Coast American I believe?"
"Yes ma'am, I'm from New Jersey which is..."'
"It borders New York City. Although I'm Australian I did my doctorate in New York and sometimes stayed with one of my roommates at her family home across the North River in Jersey City."
They chatted about Manhattan including their likes and dislikes and near the end of the flight they exchanged cards.
"Omigod Dr Harrington, you are a professor of law at the University of Sydney, How many students does it have?"
"About 52,000. Montana you may call me Alison."
"Wow that many students makes it a big college um university but then Australia is big although most people live on the east coast."
"You are well informed Montana. I spend part of a summer with a girlfriend riding through part of Montana when I was young. Do you like Montana?"
"I've never been east of Kansas City until I flew to LA on the first leg of my journey yesterday."
"Well you are well east of Kansas City now. What do you work at?"
"I'm a year out of law school and am heading for Red Ridge that is south-east of Sydney."
"I've never heard of it."
"It's a small service town and difficult to find on any map I understand. My maternal grandfather began a law firm there last century and I'm to work there on special visa provision made possible under an international law convention because the firm has a vacancy that it has been unable to fill in eight months of trying."
"Well don't get lost out there as Australia is a big place dear."
"I believe it's larger than Texas."
"Yes by 11 times in fact and it's about the same size as Continental USA."
"Omigod, I have much to learn."
* * *
Montana knew that Red Ridge Law was a small firm but was surprised to find the three partners were its only lawyers.
"No one young wants to work out here," Reg Day the managing partner said.
Reg was 59, Bert Saddler was 58 and Wendy Flynn was 51. None was related to an original partner.
Montana was introduced to the support staff of seven at a special morning tea break on her first day at work.
Wendy handed her a brief and said not to worry about appearing in court without being fully qualified under Australian law and licensed to practice.
"I'll work with applications to get you properly accredited when you get back. It's only a drunk and disorderly appearance and I had a chat with Judge Mercer. He approved of your representing the defendant especially when I said you would regard this as your pro bono service."
"Oh he was impressed?"
"He just laughed and said Clancy Stone has a string of convictions and although hiring lawyers, not one of them has managed to secure payment."
Montana couldn't believe such a small Courthouse existed anywhere else except perhaps in a most isolated community in um Montana.
The police prosecutor said Clancy Stephenson Stone, 38, lived by the river in a caravan that had had the wheels stolen which meant the defendant could consider to have a fixed abode. Yesterday evening the defendant became abusive to two young fencing contractors who refused to fight him because Clancy was drunk. One of them called the police and the accused spent the night in jail.
"Stone are you in agreement with the facts relating to the charge?"
"Yes Harry."
Judge Mercer smiled tolerantly and said, "Judge Mercer is quite sufficient thank you."
"The bastards wouldn't give me their names otherwise I could have handed that information to the court, if it pleases your Honour to know that."
"Miss Reynolds, the defendant is yours to question and to make representation for clemency on his behalf."
Montana thought Christ was the maximum sentence for being drunk and disorderly in Australia execution? Surely that was unlikely.