At a magistrate’s hearing, the crowd pleads justice after an injured man claims he was beaten; the accused denies it. The complainant warns his friend has an 80-year-old mother and three children and demands a hundred taels compensation. The magistrate asks for witnesses; none appear, so he orders both jailed until they pay. Guards rough up the men while relatives shout pleas—"Let my sister go!"—and a sleepy officer berates the crowd. Someone bursts in shouting "Freeze!" but then admits, "I forgot I'm out of magic," leaving the would-be rescuer powerless as the guards close in and fate remains undecided.