FADE IN: INTERIOR COURTHOUSE. We are in a small room used for prisoner-lawyer interviews. A guard sits at a desk behind STEVE.

Question

KATHY O'BRIEN, STEVE’S lawyer, is petite, red-haired, and freckled. She is all business as she talks to STEVE.

O’BRIEN

Let me make sure you understand what’s going on. Both you and this King character are on trial for felony murder. Felony murder is as serious as it gets. Sandra Petrocelli is the prosecutor, and she’s good. They’re pushing for the death penalty, which is really bad. The jury might think they’re doing you a big favor by giving you life in prison. So you’d better take this trial very, very seriously.

When you’re in court, you sit there and you pay attention. You let the jury know that you think the case is as serious as they do. You don’t turn and wave to any of your friends. It’s all right to acknowledge your mother.

I have to go and talk to the judge. The trial will begin in a few minutes. Is there anything you want to ask me before it starts?

STEVE

You think we’re going to win?

O’BRIEN (seriously)

It probably depends on what you mean by “win.”

—Monster,
Walter Dean Myers

Read this passage. In a paragraph, explain what the reader can tell about Mrs. O’Brien’s feelings toward Steve based on how they speak to each other.

GPT-4o mini · Answer

In the passage, Mrs. O’Brien displays a professional yet caring demeanor towards Steve, indicating that she takes her role as his lawyer seriously while also being aware of the gravity of the situation they face together. Her straightforward explanation of the trial's severity reveals her concern for Steve's understanding of the stakes involved, suggesting that she feels a sense of responsibility for his case. O’Brien's guidance on courtroom behavior reinforces her commitment to providing him with a strategy aimed at achieving the best possible outcome, showing that she is focused on his well-being and future. However, her serious tone, especially in response to Steve's question about winning, hints at a realistic and perhaps slightly grim perspective on their chances, reflecting an underlying urgency and a desire to prepare him for the potential outcomes of the trial. Overall, Mrs. O’Brien’s feelings toward Steve seem to be a blend of professional duty and a caring concern for his fate.