A Japanese nightclub owner named Shinro Hayashi is shot and killed at his hotel. After the initial suspect (a robber) is ruled out, the detectives end up arresting Martha Bowen, who was supposedly auditioning as a singer at one of Hayashi's clubs in Tokyo. But Kincaid discovers Martha worked for Hayashi two years previously. She told local police in Japan that Hayashi withheld her passport and salary. Martha's lawyer, Mildred Kaskel, plans to use Battered Woman Syndrome in her defense.
Martha now says Hayashi beat her, pimped her out to his customers, and threatened to kill her. She claims she killed him because she believed her life was in danger. Olivet thinks Martha is a perfect example of Battered Woman Syndrome - so perfect that McCoy gets a search warrant. Sure enough, he finds that Martha owns many books about abused women. In court, Kaskel calls an expert witness to say that Japan is a highly patriarchal society where women are treated as property. McCoy is concerned that the case will be decided on racial bias. He asks Kincaid to cross-examine Martha.
Martha testifies that she just wanted to talk to Hayashi, but became afraid for her life and doesn't remember what happened next. Kincaid highlights the fact that many of Martha's statements to Olivet were lifted verbatim from published books. The judge agrees to instruct the jury not to take Hayashi's race or nationality into account when considering the evidence. Nevertheless, Martha is acquitted.
Tropes present:
- Domestic Abuse: A variation in that she was his employee, not lover, but Martha's description of his treatment of her is very similar.
- I Have Many Names: Martha, and most of the singers who auditioned for Hayashi, have all used several different stage names.
- Japan Takes Over the World: The DAs worry that anti-Japan sentiments will turn the jury in Bowen's favor.
- Where The White Women At: During a session with Dr. Olivet, Martha complains that Japanese men in particular are obsessed with her (though she's clearly influenced by her negative experience), and an expert witness during the trial essentially confirms that white women are seen as a status symbol in Japan.
