MAN IN SUIT: "The featured collection had already been promoted as one of the major highlights of the event. The sponsors expected a particular presentation and wanted the final award to support the marketing campaign."
OLDER GENTLEMAN: "Did they request that the blue-gown contestant be prevented from winning?"
MAN IN SUIT: "Not directly."
OLDER GENTLEMAN: "Then who did?"
The man looked toward the woman in black.
She immediately shook her head.
WOMAN IN BLACK: "Do not involve me in this."
MAN IN SUIT: "I am not trying to involve anyone. I am explaining the situation."
OLDER GENTLEMAN: "Then continue."
MAN IN SUIT: "The coordination team discussed several possible outcomes. Some people believed that the blue gown could become the most popular design of the evening. There were concerns that this would affect the planned award presentation."
The elderly gentleman frowned.
OLDER GENTLEMAN: "Why would the popularity of a design be a problem?"
MAN IN SUIT: "Because the sponsors had already invested in a different promotional direction."
The elderly gentleman looked toward the audience.
Then he returned his attention to the man.
OLDER GENTLEMAN: "So, instead of allowing the judges to evaluate the work fairly, you decided to protect a marketing arrangement."
The man lowered his eyes.
MAN IN SUIT: "It was not my intention to harm anyone."
OLDER GENTLEMAN: "Intentions do not erase consequences."
He pointed toward the young contestant.
OLDER GENTLEMAN: "Look at her. She came here believing that the competition would be conducted honestly. She spent weeks creating something she believed in. She followed every instruction. And then she was placed in a different category, her supporting material was removed, and her presentation was shortened."
The man remained silent.
OLDER GENTLEMAN: "You may not have intended to destroy her opportunity, but that is precisely what your decisions risked doing."
The young woman in blue looked toward the floor.
Her mother approached and gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
MOTHER: "You have done nothing wrong. Keep your head high."
The young woman nodded.
BLUE-GOWN CONTESTANT: "I know, Mom."
The elderly gentleman noticed their exchange.
He looked toward the audience.
OLDER GENTLEMAN: "I would like everyone to remember that the people standing on this stage are not marketing products. They are artists. Their work should never be reduced to a commercial arrangement."
The audience applauded loudly.
The man in the suit appeared to realize that the situation was becoming impossible to control.
MAN IN SUIT: "I accept that some decisions should have been handled differently. But I want to make clear that I did not personally instruct anyone to give a particular contestant the award."
OLDER GENTLEMAN: "That is something the independent committee will determine."
He turned toward the organizer.
OLDER GENTLEMAN: "Effective immediately, this gentleman will not participate in any further decisions concerning the judging process until the investigation has been completed."
The organizer nodded.
The man in the suit looked shocked.
MAN IN SUIT: "You cannot remove me from my position without a formal review."
OLDER GENTLEMAN: "I am not removing you permanently. I am protecting the integrity of the process while the review takes place."
MAN IN SUIT: "This is a serious decision."
OLDER GENTLEMAN: "So were the decisions made before tonight."
The man stepped backward.
He looked around the ballroom, apparently searching for someone who might support him.
But nobody spoke.
The woman in black slowly sat down.
Her confidence had almost completely disappeared.
The elderly gentleman then turned toward the judges.
OLDER GENTLEMAN: "I believe we need to discuss the future of the judging panel."
The woman in green nodded.
WOMAN IN GREEN: "I agree. Given what has happened, I think every score should be reviewed independently."
OLDER GENTLEMAN: "Would you be willing to participate in a new evaluation?"
WOMAN IN GREEN: "Absolutely."
The elderly gentleman looked toward the woman in black.
OLDER GENTLEMAN: "And you?"
She remained silent.
WOMAN IN BLACK: "I need to consider my position."
OLDER GENTLEMAN: "You are entitled to do so. But until the review is complete, you will not participate in the final scoring."
The woman in black looked at him sharply.
WOMAN IN BLACK: "You are treating me as though I am guilty."
OLDER GENTLEMAN: "I am treating the situation as though it requires independent examination."
WOMAN IN BLACK: "I have spent years working in this industry. I have judged international competitions. I have helped establish standards that many designers follow today."
OLDER GENTLEMAN: "And that experience should have made you understand the importance of fairness."
The woman in black looked away.
For several moments, nobody spoke.
Then the elderly gentleman addressed the two contestants.
OLDER GENTLEMAN: "I want to thank both of you for remaining patient. Your work deserves to be judged properly, and that is what we are going to do."
He turned toward the technical team.
OLDER GENTLEMAN: "Please prepare a new evaluation session. We will appoint independent fashion professionals who have not participated in tonight's administrative decisions."
The organizer immediately began making arrangements.
The audience applauded again.
However, the elderly gentleman was not finished.
He looked toward the middle-aged woman.
OLDER GENTLEMAN: "You mentioned that you kept copies of the original communications. Would you be willing to submit them to the independent committee?"
MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN: "Yes, sir. I have all the records."