The Austen-Kuchinsky's Blended Family Soap Opera

Joe Jr. walks into the kitchen and notices his stepsister Judith.

Joe Jr.:
Well, if it isn't Her Royal Highness. What?!! The Princess is eating with the commoners?

Judith continues eating while reading a book, ignoring him

Joe Jr.:
Oh, Princess Judy refuses to speak. What's the matter, us low-life Kutchinskys too ethnic for you ? Our foreign soil too humble?

Judith, 16, (turning another page and sipping her coffee, says in a cold voice):
Joe, you've become so literate. Tell me, which of your favorite drugs has enriched your vocabulary?

Joe Jr.:
One that could do you some good, your Uptight-ness. On second thought, I don't know if there's any drug that could loosen you up.

Judith (closing her book):
Tell me, Joe, why do you need so much loosening up? Do you hate yourself that much? Not that I don't understand why.

Joe Jr. (getting angry):
No, Princess Freud, it's you I can't stand. From the moment you arrived I knew it was the biggest mistake my father ever made, although your mother certainly upgraded her life. It was a smart move - catching a doctor for a second marriage, considering what her husband - your father - did for a living, or should I say "didn't do."

Judith (angrily):
Leave my mother out of this. You don't deserve a woman like her for a mother...

Joe Jr. (escalating):
Don't you talk about what I deserve! If you knew what we had before, you wouldn't dare show your faces in our home...

Chris Kutchinsky, 14, (enters in very short skirt, heavy make-up, punky hair):
Hey, Judith, you beatin' up on my big brother, again?

Judith:
Who asked you to get involved? Ugh. Didn't anyone ever teach you how to put on make-up? You look like you belong to the Addams Family. (To herself) I curse the day my mother decided to marry into this family of wierdos.

Joe Jr.:
Well, that's one thing, your Highness, that we all agree upon.

Malcolm (Mac) Austen

Malcolm Austen, 8 (enters with yo-yo):
Hey, what's there to eat?

Judith:
God, you're such a pig! Do all English twerps stuff themselves like you? My Dad has to work overtime to feed you Austens!

Judith:
Your dad!? It's my mother who's breaking her back to support this family. She never worked this hard when we were on our own.

Peter (Petie) Kutchinsky

Petie Kutchinsky, 11, (enters):
Is there anything to eat?

Judith:
I would think a computer genius like yourself should surely be able to download dinner from the Net.

Judith:
Get off his case! You wouldn't know a floppy disk from a frying pan!

Petie:
When are Mom and Dad coming home?

Judith:
Don't call my mother "Mom." She's not your mother.

Joseph and Pamela Kutchinsky enter

Pamela (sighs):
Stop it you two - can't you at least make an effort to get on with each other?

Joe Jr.:
Yeah, maybe if you ship Her Royal Highness back to a British dungeon, we'll get a little peace around here. Are all British girls such uptight princesses?

Joseph (quietly):
Joe stop it. I'm sick and tired of this constant fighting. I know you don't like it, but this is the way it is. Just keep your nastiness to yourself. I don't want it in this house.

Joe Jr.:
Oh, so I'm the fall guy. Look man, I didn't ask you to marry that woman. I'm leaving. (Sound of door slamming.)

Judith:
Mum, I'm sorry, but I can't take this anymore. You see what a creep he is. Let me go back home to boarding school or something.

Pamela:
No, that's not the answer. It's like Joseph said, "This is the way it is." It will take time, but you'll get used to it.

Judith:
Never! I won't get used to something that's not my decision.

Petie and Mac (in unison):
What's there to eat?

Scene 2: Pamela Confronts Judith

Read the monologue "How Far Should I Go?"

Joseph:
I can't take it any more. It's like WW III every day. Talk to Judith and tell her to get off of Joe Jr.'s case.

Pamela:
No! You speak to Joe Jr. and tell him to stop bullying Judith. He's the one who's doing the attacking, not her. Do you have any idea how difficult it is for anyone to be around him? He's always so nasty and bitter.

Joseph:
Well, maybe he has a reason. It hasn't been easy for him these past three years. Maybe if you showed him a little TLC...

Pamela:
TLC? Joseph, it's hard to show tender loving care to somebody who treats you like dirt. I've tried to get through to him. He hates me. I'm just not his real mother and he'll never let me forget that.

Joseph (sighing):
Look, all the kids were really close to Maria. And her death hit Joe the hardest. You've got to be patient with him.

Pamela:
Stop making excuses for him and telling me what I've got to do. Your son has got serious problems. Judith tells me he's into drugs, hangs out with a bad crowd...

Joseph (defensively):
Well, maybe Judith is wrong. How does she know what's going on in his life? And anyway, she's got her own axe to grind. Let's face it, Pamela, she'll do anything to get back to England, even if it means ruining our relationship.

Pamela:
Enough!! Enough! Can't you see what we're doing? They've dragged us right into the middle of their battle. We have got to take control or they're going to destroy our marriage.

Joseph:
You're right. (Pause) Maybe starting fresh in a new place wasn't such a great idea after all. If we had stayed in New York, it might have been easier.

Pamela:
You're being naive Joe. We'd be dealing with these problems wherever we were. At least in Connecticut I can breathe.

Joseph:
Maybe you can breathe, but I'm suffocating. The fighting is driving me crazy. I was so down yesterday that I spoke to Bill Powers, the head of Inpatient Psych, about our situation. I don't know if I felt better or worse when he told me what a job it will be to turn us into one family. He said that we had exceeded the danger mark on the Family Stress Inventory.

Pamela:
That's no surprise to me. So where do we go from here?

Joseph:
I already took Bill's suggestion and made an appointment with a psychologist couple called the Sterns. They're top family therapists with a lot of experience with blended families. I don't believe we can do it on our own. If we don't solve this, I'm afraid it's going to kill our marriage.

Pamela (incredulous):
You made an appointment for family therapy without consulting me?

Will Pamela and Joseph Resolve their Conflict?

Pamela:
What?! You set up an appointment with those therapists without consulting me?

Joseph:
Yes I did. I didn't think you'd be angry. I thought you'd be happy that I was taking some action to solve this problem.

Pamela:
Happy? You make a major decision like that without talking to me first and you expect me to be happy? I know you're used to acting on your own, but Joseph, you're married now. And besides, are we going to run to a therapist every time something goes wrong? Why don't we try to just solve our problems? And who are these people? I don't relish telling our problems to strangers.

Joseph:
I don't understand your priorities. Our house is on fire and you're worried about what the fire department will think?

Pamela:
Well, who set the fire? Joe Jr. brings his drugs and his nasty behavior home with him, gets Judith all upset.

Joseph:
Gets Judith upset? Pamela, this may come as a surprise to you, but living with Judith is no piece of cake. I mean, I've tried to be patient.

Pamela:
YOU'VE tried? What do you think it's been like for me, suddenly finding myself with three more children who...one of them does drugs, another is a budding Lolita, okay, Petie is a good kid.

Joseph:
Lolita?! Now it's Chris you don't like?!

Pamela (apologetic):
Okay, I'm sorry for saying that. But Joseph, your kids have got problems and you're not dealing with them! Do you want me to keep these things a secret from you? The drugs? The bad crowd Chris hangs out with? You don't see half of what goes on because you're almost never home and even when you are home you're afraid to tell them what to do!

Joseph:
Pamela, I can't be home any more than I am now ...

Pamela:
We're going around in circles! No one is blaming you for not being home, but the fact is you are not as involved in your children's lives as you should be.

Joseph:
...and as for telling them what to do, maybe my style of raising children is different from yours. I don't think they should be preached to. I think they have to learn from personal example, from talking things out, not just taking orders and lectures from me.

Pamela:
Okay Joseph, sounds great. A wonderful way to raise children. There's only one problem. IT'S NOT WORKING! I never had to preach to my kids either and so far...

Joseph:
Every time the kids fight you defend your daughter and come down hard on Joe Jr. ... It can't be only his fault all the time. All seven of us are going through a difficult transition. How are we going to work this out if we can't all speak honestly about how we feel?

Pamela (quietly):
Okay, let's speak honestly. Your son Joe Jr. is probably bringing drugs into this home. I've got a teenage daughter and a young impressionable son who see that. So think about them, not just about his feelings. And think about your own younger children! Do you want them under Joe Jr.'s negative influence?

Joseph:
Negative! He's a good kid, he's just been through a lot. What do you want me to do, throw him out of the house?

Pamela:
I didn't say that! But we have to work things out!

Joseph:
So that's why I made the appointment with the therapists - so we can finally work it out.

Pamela (starts to cry):
Joseph, I feel like everything's been taken out of my hands. I'm in a new country, with a new job, with a new family, and now, with a new set of problems, and I don't even feel like I have control over my own life. You were so different in Milan. We discussed these problems then, we knew it wouldn't be easy. You said then that you'd be willing to do anything it takes to make this work!

Joseph:
Pamela, that's exactly what I'm trying to do - find a way to make this work! I wasn't trying to take anything out of your hands.

Pamela:
Well, instead of making decisions without consulting me, why don't you begin making it work by talking to Joe? Your son needs help in a big way.

Joseph (tightly):
Okay. I'll postpone the appointment and do it your way first. I'll talk to Joe. But you have to promise to do something about Judith, too. She has got to change her attitude if this is going to work.

Pamela (long pause):
I'll talk to her.

Dr. Tobin's Comments

Dr. Michael Tobin

I don't envy the Austen-Kutchinskys. They've got so much on their plate that it might be wiser for them to look for a miracle worker than a family therapist. Where do you begin? Which problem do you tackle first?

Let's start with Joe Jr. Imagine you had an angry and bitter son like Joe Jr. Would you know how to get through to him? The kid is sinking under his hurt and grief, but hides behind his self-righteous attitude. He's got all the answers - that is except for one: He doesn't have a clue about how to be happy. He desperately needs love and guidance. Will he let anyone touch him? If he does, I suspect his tough exterior will begin to melt and the grief that it was designed to conceal will finally surface.

How would you deal with a daughter like Judith? You marry Joe and she loses her friends, her home and is expected to adjust. What sixteen-year-old faced with a similar situation would say to herself, "I know this is what Mom wants and I want her to be happy?" This is the second time your decisions have turned your daughter's life upside down. First it was the divorce and now it's total readjustment. Can you blame her for being nasty and cold? How does a parent help a child accept a life she doesn't want?

Then we have Chris, a girl who wants love but is looking in all the wrong places.

She dresses to attract boys and then panics at her success. She needs a mom; a big sister would help. Will she allow Pamela or Judith to have a place in her life?

And how can Joe and Pamela possibly help their children when their marriage is so shaky? Can Joe finally put Maria to rest and let Pamela share his life? Was Pamela's anger at Joe's failure to consult her justified? Or, is it symptomatic of some deep fear she has about losing her independence?

Will Pamela and Joe have the patience and determination to learn how to accept and love each other? Milan is not Brookfield. In Milan, they had each other. In Brookfield, they are two distinct families with a total of five kids, two of whom hate each other. With the possible exception of Mac, there's not a whole lot of enthusiasm for this arrangement. If I were Joe or Pamela, I'd have to wonder if it's even worth it.

These are only a few of the many problems facing the Austen-Kutchinskys. The key to solving them lies with Pamela and Joe. Their strength, love and will or lack of it, will determine whether this family will make it. Yet, you have to wonder how they're going to be able to build a marriage while in the midst of so many difficult crises. If they had consulted with me prior to their marriage, I would have attempted to prepare them for the expected problems. I would have wanted them to go into this marriage with their eyes open and with a well thought out strategy on how to take this seemingly insoluble mixture and turn into a blended family.

But it's too late for that.

Now, in the midst of the battle, they create instant strategy: Joe will speak to Joe Jr. and Pamela will talk with Judith. I see it as a positive sign. Despite their conflict over therapy, they were able to agree on a plan of action. I'm not certain what the outcome will be but at least they're confronting the problems. I hope they can find the strength to give the same message to their children: "I know it's difficult for you, but this is our new life and we need each of you to help us to become a family."

Joseph and Joe Jr. Have a Talk

Joseph:
Joe, we need to talk.

Joe Jr. (kind of sulky):
Okay, so talk.

Joseph:
Listen, uh, I'm kind of worried about something.

Joe Jr.:
Yeah?

Joseph:
It's about you.

Joe Jr.:
Yeah? Who you been talkin' to? Has the princess been poisoning your mind?

Joseph:
No, I just want to check out some things I've been hearing.

Joe Jr.:
So, what lies have you been hearing about me?

Joseph:
I'm not so sure it's lies, Joe. You're on drugs, aren't you?

Joe Jr.:
Right, Dad, I've been leavin' my needles all over the house. (He rolls up his sleeves.) See all the marks?

Joseph:
Cut the crap, Joe. You know what I mean. You don't need needles to ruin your life. It's a lot easier than that. Remember Joe, I'm an ER doc and I deal with OD's all the time. (Sigh)

Joe Jr.:
Gee, Dad, I don't remember when I've OD-ed lately. Maybe I was so far gone, I didn't realize it.

Joseph:
Don't be so smart with me. What the hell are you using?

Joe Jr.:
If you're so brilliant, why can't you figure it out? Don't you recognize the signs? Maybe you should go back and read up on the literature.

Joseph:
I have Joe, and you know what? You're a classic case of a dumb kid who thinks he can handle it and can't. I can figure out what you're on. Can you figure out what it's doing to you? Do you care?

Joe Jr.:
What's it to you? It's my life.

Joseph:
You know what? You don't give a damn about your life and you're messing up ours. What right do you have to bring drugs into this house?

Joe Jr.:
It's none of your damn business what I do in my bedroom and you can take this f-ing blended family and shove it.

Walks out and slams the door.

Pamela and Judith Have a Talk

Pamela:
Judith, I want to talk to you.

Judith (looks up from her books):
Yes Mom?

Pamela:
It's about your attitude to Joe Jr.

Judith (impatiently):
Mom, if you're going to tell me to be nice to that slimeball... I just can't take it anymore! It's bad enough living with the mess and the slovenliness he creates, but he's bringing drugs into the house! You know that! Why are you defending him?

Pamela:
I'm not defending him. I even spoke to Joseph about it. But you also have to make an effort to be civil.

Judith:
What for? Civil, to that criminal? Who knows what he does to get them? Where does he get the money? And think about what he could be doing to Petie and Max! Aren't they important? Don't they count?

Pamela:
You know how I feel about it! This is not an argument about whether or not it's good that Joe's doing drugs! His father will handle that! This is about you creating an ugly atmosphere in the home that trickles down to the younger kids! Families that love each other learn to work together and help work out problems!

Judith:
Aha! That's the key! You said it - "families that love each other!" Well, I've got a scoop for you: I DON'T LOVE THEM! I can stomach Petie, I can ignore Chris and the slutty way she acts - at least I don't have any little sisters for her to ruin - but I DON'T LOVE THAT DAMN SON OF JOSEPH'S!

Pamela:
CLEAN UP YOUR LANGUAGE! He's the son of the man I love and married and you better get used to it because all of us are going to have to make it together!

Judith:
Clean up my language? You have a juvenile delinquent bringing that damn poison into this home and you're worrying about my language?

Pamela (voice tight, exasperated):
Judith, talking to you is like talking to a wall! I don't blame Joe for getting so angry -

Judith:
WHAT? Now you're defending him? I don't believe it! Can't you see what's happening? Our family is in danger of being destroyed and all you care about is keeping a good atmosphere around the house, no matter how artificial it is? Mom, wake up! You have your own children to worry about! Who is more important - some other man's rotten kid or your own children?

Pamela:
Judith! Don't talk about them that way! You are all our children now!

Judith:
No way! I'm your daughter and I'm my father's daughter and I have a little brother! That's it! I am not part of this damn stupid "blended" family!

Walks out and slams the door.

Pamela sits down on the edge of the bed and cries.

Chris's Predicament

The clock strikes 1 AM.

Pamela (looking up from the computer and shaking her head): One more night Chris is not going to make curfew.

A door slams downstairs. Chris is heard running up the stairs.

Pamela (to herself):
Wow, some impact my lecture must have had on her! I've never heard her speed like that to her room!

But it is more than just speed that is moving Chris. She slams the door to her room, hard, and through the wall Pamela can hear her sobbing. Distressed, she hurries down the hall to the girls' bedroom and collides with Judith, who has also come upstairs.

Pamela (knocking on the door, hard):
Chris, please let me in! What happened?

Chris:
Go away!

Pamela:Chris, please!

read Pamela's monologue
Pamela Kutchinsky

Chris:
I said go away! Get out of here! Leave me alone!

Pamela (pauses):
Chris, talk to me! At least until your dad comes home.

Judith:
Mom, what could be wrong? (Snickers to herself): As if we don't know...

Pamela:
Stop it! Enough of your snide cracks! Don't you see she's in real trouble!

There is loud crying from inside the room. They stand by the door a long time. They hear Chris pacing back and forth as she cries.

Pamela:
Judith, Joseph's at the hospital on an emergency. I'll wait up for him and we'll find out what's wrong. Take a blanket from the linen closet and go ahead and sleep on the couch in the den. I have to help her...

Judith (mumbling to herself, walking to her mother's room):
She needs more help than we can give her...

There is silence in the bedroom Judith shares with Chris, who, it seems, has finally cried herself to sleep.

Pamela tiptoes downstairs and curls up at the end of the living room couch to wait for Joseph. She opens a magazine but just stares at the same page.

Half an hour later the Toyota pulls into the driveway.

Joseph:
Pamela! What are you doing awake at this hour?

Pamela:
Joseph, something happened to Chris tonight. I'm really worried about her.

Joseph:
What are you talking about?!

Pamela:
I don't know, but she ran upstairs, slammed the door, cried hysterically until she fell asleep and won't let anyone in.

They hear Chris' bedroom door open upstairs. She walks softly down the hall and into the bathroom. The shower begins to run. Pamela and Joseph sit tensely and say nothing, waiting.

Chris stays in the shower a long time.

Joseph:
I'm worried. I'm going to find out what this is all about.

He goes upstairs and knocks softly on the bathroom door.

Chris:
Go away!

Joseph:
It's me, Chrissie, Dad.

Chris (sobbing):
Go away!

Joseph stands outside the bathroom door, not sure what to do next. Pamela comes upstairs and stands next to him.

Joseph (softly):
Go to sleep, Pam. I don't know what's going on, but maybe if I'm here alone it will be easier for her to talk.

Pamela goes into their bedroom and lays down, fully clothed. She has a feeling the night is not yet over. Joseph sits down on the top step of the stairway, waiting for Chris to emerge.

She finally comes out wrapped tightly in an old terry cloth robe. Her arms are wrapped tightly about herself. Her head is soaking and her skin is red from so much scrubbing.

She walks straight into her room, not noticing Joseph at the top of the steps. She sits down in a chair, pulls her knees to her chest and starts to cry again. She does not see Joseph, who comes in and puts his hand gently on her shoulder. She jumps almost a mile. She turns away from him, even as he kneels down and tries to put his arms around her. He doesn't know what's wrong but he knows he has to comfort her about something.

Chris cries and cries and still can not bring herself to talk. She draws her arms more tightly around herself. Finally Joseph begins to suspect what is going on. He tries to stay calm, but can already feel the blood rising to his head.

Joseph:
Who did you go out with tonight?

Chris doesn't answer. Now he knows he is on the right track.

Joseph:
Is it someone you've been out with before?

She shakes her head. Her breath is heaving and she seems on the verge of hysteria. Joseph suppresses his need to ask more questions and just holds her close.

Joseph:
It's okay, you're safe now...you're safe now...

After a long time, Chris quiets down. She is physically and emotionally exhausted and just sits there with her head resting on her father's chest, her arms still around herself.

Chris begins to talk...

Chris Tells Her Story

Joseph:
Chris, please tell me what happened.

Chris is silent. She rocks slightly back and forth in her chair.

Joseph:
Chris? Please tell me what happened.

Chris is silent.

Joseph:
Chris, someone did something to you. Tell me what happened.

Chris (in choked whisper):
I can't.

Joseph (tight voice):
A boy did something to you, didn't he? Who was it?

No answer.

Joseph:
Tell me Chris, what did he do?

Chris pulls herself closer together and lowers her head.

Joseph:
Did he hurt you?

Chris (barely audible):
Yes.

Joseph (anger rising in his voice):
Did he rape you?

Chris breathes heavy and begins to cry.

Joseph:
(turns away and mumbles to himself softly, "That bastard..." He approaches Chris and puts his arm around her): Honey, are you hurt?

Chris (sobbing):
Daddy, Daddy it was so horrible...

Joseph (holding her):
It's all right honey, I'm here, I want you to tell me what happened.

Chris (hiding her face):
I can't, I didn't want to, I hate myself. I was so stupid. How could I let him ...

Joseph:
What do you mean? What happened Chris?

Chris:
I can't talk about it.

Joseph (holds her):
Honey, you have to talk about it. Do you want to talk to Pamela?

Chris:
No! Not her! I hate her!

Joseph:
Honey, Pamela's a nurse. She sees things like this all the time. Nothing can shock us. Listen, we should take you to the hospital.

Chris:
No! No!

Joseph:
If you were raped, we'll report it to the police and get him...

Chris (in a whisper):
Nobody will believe me!

Joseph:
I'll believe you. Tell me. I know it's difficult to talk about it, but it's better if you do.

Chris:
I didn't mean for it to happen.

Joseph:
I'm sure you didn't. So what happened.

Chris:
I was upstairs, we were just...and then he....

Joseph:
He what?

Chris:
You know what he did! Why do I have to tell you every disgusting detail.

Chris:
I don't want to talk to you or Pamela or anyone and I'm not going to the hospital!!! Nobody will believe me!

Joseph:
Chris, I'll believe you. Just tell me what happened.

Chris:
Okay you want to know what happened. Here's the story. I went upstairs with this guy and he wanted to do it. That's it. He pushed and I screamed! The music was so loud...nobody heard me... but everybody saw me go up with the guy.

A door slams downstairs. It is 2 AM. Joseph looks in the direction of Chris' open bedroom door and listens as footsteps come loudly upstairs.

Joe Jr. hears Chris crying. He stops in the hallway and comes into her room. He is not steady on his feet.

Joe Jr.:
What's going on here?

There is silence in the room. Joe pulls himself together. He looks at his father, who is looking at him. He is surprised that his father is not coming down hard on him for being so late. He realizes that whatever is going on here is worse than him coming home drunk at 2 AM.

Joe Jr.:
Chrissie, what happened. Did that f-ed up slimeball do something to you?

Joseph:
Do you know something about this?

Chris:
Joe, no!

Joe Jr.:
I was at that party! He was a slimeball from another school. A real creep. Why did you go upstairs with him? What did he do to you?

Chris:
I didn't want to!

Joe Jr. (raises his voice, still shaky and kind of drunk):
Did he hurt you! (shouting) What did he do to you?!?!

Joseph:
Lower your voice!

Joe Jr.:
F- you!!!!

Joe runs downstairs.

Chris (screaming): Joe! Don't do it!!!

A door slams downstairs.

Joseph and Pamela Talk About the Date Rape of Chris

Joseph:
Pam?

Pamela:
Hmm.....

Joseph:
I need to talk to you.

Pamela (sits up):
It's about Chris, isn't it?

Joseph (choked up):
Yeah. I think she was raped.

Pamela:
Oh God no.

Joseph is silent. Pamela puts her hand on his shoulder.

Pamela:
Joe, what are we going to do?

Joseph:
I don't know. She was hysterical. She could hardly talk. She went upstairs with some guy at a party .... She refuses to go to the hospital. She's sleeping now.

Pamela (wide awake):
My God! She's already showered! Did you collect her underwear? Joseph, we've got to take her to the hospital! She has to be checked. We have to contact the police. Maybe that boy has something...

Joseph:
I can't! She won't go!

Pamela:
What do you mean, she won't go! You have to make her go with you!

Joseph:
It's not so simple. She thinks no one will believe her. They saw her go upstairs with that guy. Even Joe Jr...Oh my God! I hope he doesn't do something stupid...

Pamela:
Joe Jr.? What does he have to do with this?

Joseph:
He came home in the middle, while we were talking, and he saw her crying. He said he was there, that he saw some guy go upstairs with her.

Pamela:
Oh Joe, I was afraid something like this would happen to Chris...

Joseph (angry):
Why? Are you saying she's to blame?

Pamela:
Joseph, I don't know how to say this... but Chris...she's not exactly the kind of girl that you think she is...she's not so innocent...

Joseph:
What do you mean?

Pamela:
Joseph, just look at the way she dresses, the way she acts around boys...

Joseph:
What do you mean, the way she acts around boys? She's like all of her friends.

Pamela:
Well, no, she's not really. Sometimes it looks like she's practically asking for it...

Joseph (furious):
Asking for what?? To be raped!?!?!?!

Pamela:
I don't mean that.

Joseph:
So what do you mean?

Pamela (quietly):
Listen Joseph, what happened is terrible, and I'm not saying that it's her fault she was raped. All I'm saying is that she's been acting in a way that was asking for trouble, even if she didn't mean it to happen.

Joseph:
I can't believe what you're saying! This is my daughter you're talking about! She's a wonderful girl, just like her mother was. She's not some street kid. She's not a druggie, like Joe...

Pamela (voice tight):
Joseph, I know she's a wonderful girl. But she doesn't always show that face to the world. She shows the face of...well...

Joseph:
Of what? Go ahead, say it.

Pamela:
Of a girl who is ready and willing to have sex.

Joseph:
I can't believe what you're saying! She's only 14 years old.

Pamela (shaking her head):
Look Joseph, I'm sorry I even brought it up. Maybe now's not the time to talk about this. Let's just get her to the hospital and start some action against this creep.

Joseph:
I told you, she won't go! I'm her father! If she doesn't want to go, I won't force her! She's been through enough for one night!!

Pamela (coldly):
Well, you're right. You're the parent, not me. So do what you want. I'm going back to sleep.

Pamela walks angrily into the bathroom, gets into her nightgown in there, comes back out and goes to bed, though she can't sleep. She lies awake, angry and hurt, staring into the darkness. Joe sits up, dressed on his side of the bed, staring into nothing. Silence.

Joe Returns to the Party and Hunts Down the Guilty Party

It is 3 AM.

Joseph and Pamela have fallen into a troubled sleep. Chris is curled in her bed, alone with her nightmares.

Joe, too drunk to drive, has walked back to the scene of the party where he and Chris were earlier that night. He is determined. He mumbles to himself as he strides quickly through the street,

Joe (to himself):
"I'll kill the slimeball who hurt my little sister..."

Even before he arrives he can hear the music blasting more than a block away. Somewhere through the turmoil of his rage he wonders why the neighbors haven't complained yet.

He doesn't bother knocking at the door. Nobody would hear him anyway. He walks in and searches through the smoke for the guy who did it.

He sees him across the room. Joe walks toward him. The other guy doesn't see him coming. Joe shoves him back, hard, against the liquor table. There is a loud crash as bottles explode on the floor and the guy struggles to keep his balance.

Joe (coldly):
That's the last time you'll ever touch my sister."

The guy shouts back at Joe,

Boy:
"You think I'm the first one who got to her?"

He isn't prepared for what comes next. Joe moves quickly. There is a loud, sickening crack as. Joe pulls back his bloody fist and watches as the guy drops to the cold floor. Blinded by rage, Joe drops down next to him and continues to pummel him. The boy loses consciousness.

The kids in the room are too stunned to move. It all happened so quickly. As they stand there, frozen in time, a loud knock is heard at the door. Without waiting for an answer, five policemen roughly push open the door and one of them shouts,

"Nobody move."

The teens part as the policemen make their way toward Joe, who is rooted to his place, staring down at the still body on the floor. One of them crouches down to feel the guy's pulse and says,

"He's alive. Call an ambulance."

Before Joe knows what is happening, he feels another policeman frisking and cuffing him. The cop pulls a little packet filled with white powder out of Joe's hip pocket.

"You're coming with us," he says and drags him out.

Joe at the Police Station

The police officers shove Joe into the car and drive him to the Danbury police station. As soon as they arrive they call the captain at his house.

Police Officer:
Captain Burton, I'm sorry to disturb you sir but I think you should come down to the station.

Captain:
Why? What could be so damn important that it can't wait till morning?

Police Officer:
Sir, we busted that doc's kid. You know the one who saved Lt. Goodman's life. I thought you should handle this.

Captain:
Okay. Get the coffee pot going.

Ten minutes later the captain arrives. He speaks briefly with the arresting officers.

Captain (to Joe Jr.):
It's Joe, right?

Joe Jr.:
Yeah.

Captain:
Well, kid, looks like you're in major league trouble. Possession and assault - serious stuff, Joe. Call your parents and tell them to come right down to the station.

Joe Jr. (sullen):
What for?

Captain:
Don't be smart with me Joe. Your old man's the best thing going for you. He saved my buddy last week. Call him now!

Joe Jr.:
I'm glad he's a big hero to you. Tonight he should have been the one to waste the creep, not me. She's his daughter!

Captain:
Look kid, you have two choices. Call your father or call someone else. Make that three choices. Or we'll have you taken to a cell and you don't have to call anyone.

Joe calls Joseph. He is woken up from a deep sleep.

Joseph (sleepy):
Who is it?

Joe Jr.:
It's me.

Joseph (sits up in bed, suddenly awake):
Where are you?

Joe Jr.:
I'm sitting with your friend, Captain Burton. I just wasted the guy who did it to Chris.

Joseph:
What do you mean?

Joe Jr.:
I messed up his face. But they brought the wrong guy into the police station.

Joseph:
Police station!

Joe Jr.:
Look, they want you to come down here.

Joseph hangs up and gets out of bed, dressing quietly.

Pamela (sleepy):
Joseph, what's the matter? Where are you going?

Joseph:
Joe's in trouble. He called from the police station. He beat up the guy who raped Chris.

Pamela:
Oh God, you were afraid he'd do something... Do you want me to come with you?

Joseph:
No, I'll handle it.

Pamela:
Not without me. He's my son too, now.

Joseph:
Okay. Come along. (Pause) I want you to come along.

Pamela gets dressed. She and Joseph go downstairs quietly and drive to the police station.

Pamela:
How badly hurt do you think the boy is, for them to have taken Joe in?

Joseph:
I don't know.

Pamela sighs but is silent. They pull into the parking lot at the station and take another deep breath before getting out of the car.

Joseph:
Pamela...

Pamela:
Yes?

There is silence in the car. Joseph wants to say something but doesn't know how to start. Pamela puts her hand on his for a moment. They get out of the car and enter the station. They are met by Captain Burton, who gives Joseph a warm hello.

Captain Burton:
Come with me. Joe is waiting with Sergeant Ross.

They go into the captain's office. Joe is sitting in a hard chair, staring out the window into darkness. Joseph walks over and puts his hand on Joe's shoulder.

Joseph:
What happened, Joe?

The sergeant tosses a packet of white powder onto the desk.

Sergeant:
That's what happened.

Captain Burton:
That's all for now, Sergeant Ross. I'll take over from here.

The Sergeant leaves the room and Captain Burton offers chairs to Pamela and Joseph.

Captain Burton:
We have to talk, Dr. Kutchinsky, Mrs. Kutchinsky. Can I get you some coffee?

Joseph:
No. Go ahead.

Captain Burton:
We know all about the punk that Joe almost killed. He's bad news. Joe told one of the men the story in the car on the way to the station. Your daughter is the fourth girl he's raped. None of them would testify. Did you save evidence?

Pamela:
She showered, but there's her underwear...

Captain Burton:
Will she testify?

Joseph:
I doubt it. She's devastated. I could hardly get her to talk to me about it. She refused to go to the hospital.

Joe Jr.:
So why am I here? That pig should be here!

Captain Burton (harshly):
You know damn well why you're here. What do you think we found on you, a bag of flour? Beating the crap out of a rapist is small fry stuff in comparison. Possession of cocaine is a serious felony.

Joe Jr.:
I didn't have that much. Half the kids at the party had drugs. Why didn't you bust them?

Joseph:
What difference does that make? You practically killed a kid. Coke and booze are turning you into an animal.

Joe Jr.:
Call me what you want Dad but while you were arguing with your new wife I was taking care of business. I did what you didn't have the guts to do.

Joseph:
What the hell's happened to you Joe?

Pamela:
Joe, Joseph, calm down. Let the captain speak. He obviously has something more to say.

Captain Burton:
Yes, I do have more to say. Here's the deal kid. You're going into counseling. You got some serious stuff to work out.

Joe Jr.:
I...

Captain Burton:
Shut up Joe. I'm not interested in your opinion.

He pulls out a card from his top desk drawer and hands it to Joe.

Captain Burton:
This is the name of a psychologist who works with the force. He's a good man, the best. If you want to stay out of jail, I'd better hear that you made an appointment with him this week and that you'll keep it on regular basis.

Joe Jr.:
Until when?

Captain Burton:
Until I say so. That's the deal. Dry out, detox yourself and drop that attitude. I'm giving you a chance - one chance, You're going into counseling, that's the deal. Miss one session and I'm all over your case. Time you get your life together and get the chip off your shoulder. Move on. You've got brains. You're honorable but trying to avenge your sister the way you did was a real stupid thing to do...you're lucky he didn't die.

Joe:
What if I don't like him?

Captain Burton:
I don't care whether you like him or hate him. You're going. He's the best there is. Your father saved a policeman's life last week or I wouldn't even be giving you this chance.

Joe:
What's that got to do with it?

Captain Burton:
You're right it shouldn't. But the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. I'm hoping the shrink can find the good stuff. It's there.

(To Joseph and Pamela) Take him home.

The Next Morning at Home

It is very early the next morning, Sunday. Judith comes down to breakfast. There is nobody around. A car pulls into the drive. Joseph, Pamela and Joe Jr. come in.

Judith:

What's going on?

Joe goes up to his room without answering. Joseph goes into his office, sits down at his desk and puts his head in his hands. Pamela sits down next to Judith in the kitchen.

Pamela:
We were at the police station.

Judith:

What?! What happened now?

Pamela:
Joe went back to the party and beat up within an inch of his life the guy who date raped Chris. When the police arrested him, they found cocaine in his pocket.

Judith (gasping for breath):
Date raped?!? Party? Cocaine? Mum, What the hell is going on here??

Pamela:
Oh my God, you don't even know! Chris came home crying -

Judith:

I was here for that part, remember? You sent me to sleep in the den. I go to sleep with just a slutty stepsister crying into her pillow and I wake up to rape, violence and drugs!!!

Pamela (angry):
Judith, lower your voice! I'm doing all I can to hold this family together! Watch what you say! How dare you talk about Chris like that, after what she's been through...

Judith:

She was probably asking for it, Mum! How do you know what happened? Maybe there's another side to the story -

Joe (appearing in the kitchen, furious):
Oh yeah?! Even the police chief said this guy is a known rapist, only no one will ever testify! And how dare you call my sister a slut! You piece of English snobbery!

Judith:

You are the lowest, most disgusting -

Pamela (shouting):
Stop it! Stop it! Both of you! Joe, why did you come back down?

Joe:
For an aspirin. Is that allowed, or is suffering from a hangover part of my punishment?

Judith:

What kind of sick family is this? How did this happen? I want to go back and live with Dad in London. (She walks out.)

Judith goes to the den to call her father. Pamela collapses on the living room couch. Joe gets a bottle of aspirin out of a cupboard and goes back upstairs. Pamela starts to cry.

Judith:
Dad? Is that you? It's Judith. No, I'm not okay. I hate it here. I want to come back home to London and live with you! I can't stand it anymore. These people are all crazy! Please, how soon can you arrange for me to come?

here is silence in the room as Judith listens to her father.

Judith:
No, I can't calm down. (Listens.) Oh. Sure, well... I understand. What's her name? You're moving to where? That's nowhere near my old school. (Pause.) Yes, I have enough; money isn't the problem...sure, I guess I can give it some more time...talk to you in a few weeks.

Judith listens some more on the phone and then hangs up, her voice shaking as she says, "I love you too, Dad." She puts down her head on the desk and cries.

Pamela and Joseph Talk in Bed After the Storm

Pamela and Joseph have gone to sleep, exhausted, after the long and crisis-filled night. They awake in bed early Sunday afternoon. Joe is sleeping off his hangover. Chris is sleeping to escape the reality of her date rape. Judith and the others have escaped the reality of the family by going to friends. The house is quiet.

Pamela opens her eyes and sees Joseph already awake, lying there quietly and looking out the window. She moves closer to him in bed and lays her head on his chest. He puts his arm around her and strokes her hair.

Pamela:
I can't believe what we've just been through. I feel like everything is falling apart.

Joseph:
It's like we've been dropped into the bottom of hell.

Pamela:
It wasn't supposed to be like this. I think about last year in Paris and I don't understand how we got from that point to this. Remember sitting at that wonderful sidewalk cafe near Pompideau, talking about joining our lives and our families? I was so excited and hopeful. Is there something we're doing wrong, something we should have done differently?

Joseph:
I wish I knew.

He pulls her closer. She begins to softly cry. He wipes away her tears.

Pamela:
Joseph, I love you and I want so badly for this to work. I'm so confused and scared.

Joseph:
So am I, Pam. Look at us. You and I both work in the ER. It's so much easier dealing with someone else's crises. I can always leave the hospital and go home. Now... I just don't understand what happened to Joe and Chris. They had their problems, but never anything like this.

Pamela (hesitant):
Joseph, maybe the problems were already there, and you just didn't see them? Maria was sick for a long time. You were busy with her, with working to hold the family together.

Joseph (after a long pause):
Maybe. I don't know. Maybe things were going on that I was just too busy to see, too busy first with Maria and then with my grief.

Pamela:
They're good kids underneath it all. I'm not a psychologist but I know that both Chris and Joe have been through some heavy emotional trauma. They've lost their mother, they've moved to a new city, they've got a new brother and sister and I know Judith is not easy to get along with...worst of all, another woman has taken their mother's place.

We have to deal with this together. Maybe if we took time off from work and got back to where we once were we could find solutions to these problems. The kids have got to understand that we love each other and that we're going to make this work.

Joseph:
I don't know if it's enough. When I suggested going for family therapy, you resisted. We can't do it without help. I agree that we need time away from the stress of work to reconnect, but we must go for therapy. Things are too far out of control.

Pamela (She's silent for some time):
Joseph, I want so badly for this marriage and this family to work but pouring out my soul to a stranger is not my way. There are some things I just don't want to have to talk about. You and I don't need therapy; we need time together. Isn't it enough that Joe gets counseling? Maybe we should also get Chris into some kind of personal therapy, without the family, to deal with the rape?

Joseph:
I'll talk to the social worker at the hospital tomorrow and see what she recommends. (He is on the verge of angry tears.) How could someone do that to her? Maybe Joe was right. I should have been the one to go back to that party and beat him up, drag him off to the police...

Pamela:
What would that have accomplished? But it's true that we should have gotten her to the hospital, made a police report, gotten evidence...now he'll just roam free till the next innocent girl comes along...It makes me sick, I can't stand the idea of him being free...

Joseph:
She'll never testify.

Pamela:
Maybe she will. Give her a few days, a few weeks.

Joseph:
She'll never be the same again...

Pamela:
Joseph, she's a strong girl inside. We'll help her and somehow she'll get beyond it.

Joseph:
You know she'll never get over it. It will color her relationships with other boys, with men when she's older. I can't stand to think about it...

Pamela:
Then don't. Let's just take it one day at a time. Let's think of the positive. They are all good kids, Joe, Chris, Judith, all of them. They have two strong parents who love each other and who want to make it work. They will get professional help. We'll work it out. It won't be easy but we can do it. I know we can. I love you too much and I love our children too much to let this fail. And when it's all over, we'll be stronger and we'll get through anything.

Joseph:
I love you Pam.

Joseph draws Pamela closer to him...

Chris Back at School

Chris returns to school subdued. She is dressed in loose, unrevealing clothes. Her hair is pulled back in a rubber band at the nape of her neck. She is wearing no make-up. She goes quickly to her locker. While she is taking out her books her best friend, Erin, comes up and begins to talk to her.

Erin:
I heard what happened. That creep! I would like to....

Chris:
Yeah, thanks to my brother, the whole school, the whole town probably knows.

Erin:
Don't blame him! Any brother would have done the same!

Chris:
For what? It can't change anything.

Erin:
What are you going to do?

Chris:
What do you mean, "do"? What should I do?

Erin:
Go to the police, press charges...

Chris:
Are you crazy! That's all I need, a public rape trial. Anyway, no one will believe me. They'll say I was asking for it, that I shouldn't have dressed like I did, that I shouldn't flirt like I do, that I shouldn't have gone upstairs with him...

Erin:
What are you saying!? That it's your fault? That's nuts! Nobody asks to be raped, no matter how they dress! And what business is it of anybody else's? Is that why you're wearing these weird clothes today? You look like you're ready to sign up at St. Theresa's.

Chris:
They'd never take me. I'm a slut...

Erin:
No, you're not! You didn't do anything wrong. You've got to talk to a counselor or psychologist or something. Turn the creep into the police!

Chris:
The police? Never!

Just as Erin and Chris are talking, some of Derek's (the rapist) friends walk by. One of them, Kyle, stops and stares at Chris and then spits out,

Kyle:
Because of you Derek is in the hospital. If you didn't want it, why did you go upstairs with him? What are you stupid? What did you think he would do? You wanted it, admit it.

Chris cringes and looks for somewhere to run to. There is nowhere.

Erin:
Listen, dirtbag, get out of her face. You and your friend are filth. One more word to her and I will make it my personal business to see to it that no girl would ever have a reason to get near you again.

Kyle:
Oh, I'm trembling.

Kyle and his friends walk away.

Erin stares after them like she's ready to take on the whole group.

Chris (crying):
Don't you get it? Everyone is going to say I "asked for it." I hate Joe. The whole thing could have just disappeared.

Erin:
Things like this don't just "disappear" Chris. You've got to do something about this. Joe did the right thing. It's about time someone caught up to Derek Potter. There are three other girls in this town that he's raped in the past year. Everyone knows about it, but none of them would testify.

Chris:
Yeah, so why didn't they? Because they know it won't help and it will just make them look bad! Besides, if you knew that about him, why didn't you warn me?

Erin:
Warn you! I wasn't even at that party! How should I think to warn you about every pig in this town?

Chris:
See! You're blaming me too!

Erin:
I'm not blaming you! I'm just saying I didn't think of it.

Chris:
Tell me the truth, Erin. What do you think about the fact that I went upstairs with him?

Erin:
Chrissie, you made a mistake. Just forget it now.

Chris:
How can I forget it if you're telling me to testify?

Erin:
I mean, don't think that it was your fault! Come on, just do it. I promise you I'll be with you. I'll help you get through this. You'll not only know you're getting back at him, you'll save a lot of other girls from him...

Chris:
Forget it. It's not going to happen.....

Chris Confronts Joe

Chris comes home from school, dejected and wanting to go up to her room and hide. She sees Joe in the kitchen, eating. She turns on him/

Chris:
How could you! How could you do that to me?

Joe (stunned):
How could I do what?

Chris:
How could you let the whole world know about what happened?!

strong>Joe (incredulous):
Whoa there! Are you telling me that you're mad because I wasted the guy?

Chris:
What, you think you were a hero? (Cries) Who asked for it? I don't need a protector! If you weren't so busy trying to save me, nobody would have known about this!

Joe:
Seems to me, Chris, that you didn't do such a hot job of protecting yourself.

Chris:
Neither did you. You were high as a kite that night! And you got caught with the stuff on you!

Joe:
How do you know?

Chris:
Everybody at school knows, just like everybody at school knows that you beat him up because he raped me. Oh, so, great, my big brother protector almost kills a guy and gets busted for drugs. Aren't I lucky that you're looking out for me...

Joe:
Someone has to, Chris. When I saw you looking like you wanted to die, something snapped in me. I didn't care what would happen to me, I just wanted to kill the guy.

Chris:
Don't you understand! I didn't want you to! I just wanted it to all go away! Now my friends are trying to convince me to press charges, to testify...a whole rape trial might come out of this!

Joe:
What if it does! I hope it does! I hope he gets put away forever!

Chris:
Get real, Joe! It will be my word against his! I didn't even go to the hospital or the police station after it happened! How will that look?

Chris breaks down and begins to cry. She sits at the table and sobs. Joe puts his hand on her head.

Joe:
Chrissie, I didn't mean to hurt you. I only wanted to kill the piece of dirt who did that to you. I'll stand by you. You won't go into this alone.

Joe hears a sound and looks toward the door. He see the two little brothers, Petie, 10 (his brother) and Malcolm, 6 (Judith's brother, Joe and Chris' stepbrother) standing there.

Joe (worried):
How long have you two been standing there?

Peter (Petie) Kutchinsky

Petie:
Long enough to understand.

Joe:
Understand what?

Petie:
Come on, Joe, do you think, I'm stupid?

Joe:
Mac, what do you understand?
Malcolm (Mac) Austen

Malcolm:
I don't know. It sounds like something bad happened.

Joe:
Come outside guys. Let's sit on the patio, and let's talk about this.

Chris runs up to her room while Joe takes the little brothers out to the patio.

Joe:
Someone hurt Chris so I beat him up.

Petie doesn't ask for more details. He doesn't know how much Mac understands.

Petie:
What about the cocaine she was talking about?

Joe:
I got caught with a little bit of cocaine. I wasn't going to take it. Someone gave it to me and I didn't get rid of it yet.

Petie doesn't look like he believes him. Little Mac looks confused.

Joe:
Look guys, it's been a rough couple of days. But don't worry. Things are going to be all right.

Joe's First Therapy Session

Joe walks into Dr. Alberts' office. It has flowers on a table in the waiting room and photos of unusual people and places on the wall. There is a soft earth-colored rug. It is warm and inviting. Joe stands aimlessly looking at one of the photos. A man, about 45, dressed in corduroy slacks and a faded beige vest comes out and invites Joe into his office.

Dr Alberts:
Have a seat, Joe. (Pauses while he looks at the police charge sheet.) I suppose you know why you're here?

Joe:
Because I've been told by the Law to come.

Dr Alberts:
From the look of this rap sheet the Law had good reason to send you to me. In fact, they were mighty kind to you. These are some serious offences. I see you almost killed this kid who allegedly raped your sister...

Joe:
What do you mean "allegedly"? You know I wouldn't be talking to you if it was alleged.

Dr Alberts:
...and that you got caught with a bag of coke. Certainly seems to me you've got some stuff to work on. (Pauses) Here's the deal, Joe. You come to sessions and there won't be any charges brought against you.The captain told you that he's going to keep track of whether you come or not. I'll keep him informed about your attendance. Everything else between us is confidential. Right now you're here against your will but I hope real soon you'll realize that you need to work on yourself.

Joe:
Tell me is this going to be like "Good Will Hunting?" You'll be real cool and maybe even tell me about your wife and try to pretend to be real with me and then I'll open up and tell you why I'm such an angry loser. Isn't that the way it works?

Dr Alberts:
Well, Robin Williams was a good therapist. I see that I'm going to have to be very clever to get through to you. Basically here's the story: you've got to be here, I'm getting paid anyway, so we can sit here, stare at each other and do nothing. Or, since you have to be here anyway, why don't we make it easier for both of us and...

Joe:
So go ahead. Ask me questions. No, here I got the question for you. I know you're dying to ask it. (He speaks very slowly, elongating each word.)

"How did your mother's death affect you?" That's a good shrink question, isn't it?

Before Dr. Alberts can answer, he quickly answers his own question.

Yup, I'll confirm it. I'm all messed up from the death of my mother. I used to be a good kid, a happy kid, she died, everything fell apart. There, you've got it in a nutshell doc. I even read that book by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, Stages of Death and Dying. So now tell me something new and original.

Dr Alberts:
No, you tell me something new and original. The only thing you've shown me so far is that you can do a fair imitation of Will and every other smart ass kid with a chip on his shoulder. So you want to be real. Here's real: You're either going to kill yourself or somebody else. It's a miracle I'm not talking to you in prison. You were high as a kite when you beat him up. And you had enough coke in yourpocket to knock a horse on his rear end.

Joe:
I wasn't high, I was drunk. And what do you care?

Dr Alberts:
At this point, I don't know if I care or not. If I can get through to you, I'll care about you. If I get through to you, you'll be real to me. Right now you're just one more kid with an attitude.

You think what you've shown me so far is original and clever? Forget it. I've seen hundreds of kids like you. Each had his "cool" attitude. With some, I found out that there was a person underneath it. When I did, we both won. So you can remain a tough kid with an attitude and you'll lose and I'll lose but you'll lose a hell of a lot more than me. I'll go home to my wife and kids but you'll lose because you'll be throwing away your life.

So that's it. You want to remain a tough kid with an attitude or you want to get real with me? Get real with me and I'll help you.

Joe doesn't say anything. He just looks at him.

Judith and Joe Have a Chat Outside

Mac finds Judith in the den, aimlessly surfing the channels of daytime TV. He curls up next to her on the couch. She puts her arm around her little brother and draws him close. Mac begins to speak.

Malcolm (Mac) Austen

Mac:
Judith, how come you hate Joe so much?

Judith:
Who says I hate him?

Mac:
You always fight with him and you look so mean when you talk to him. I heard what you said to Mum. You know the drugs and stuff.

Judith:
He's rude and I would never want him for my brother or for a friend....

Mac:
But he's nice to me. And he's nice to his sister. He beat up this really bad guy who hurt her. I don't think you should be so mean to him.

Judith:
Listen Malcolm, don't worry about it. If you want to like him, that's fine. But you should know he's not the big hero you think he is. Never mind, you wouldn't understand.

Mac leaves.

Judith blankly stares at the TV and thinks to herself, "I hate this family. Mum will never leave Joseph and Dad doesn't want me to come to England. Even Mac doesn't understand why I can't stand that disgusting stepbrother..." She goes out into the back yard and sits under a tree. Tears roll down her cheeks. She doesn't see Joe approach.

Joe:
What's your problem?

Judith (quickly drying her tears):
Ugh, it's you.

Joe:
I love you too, princess.

Judith:
Stop calling me princess. I hate it.

Joe:
You want to know why I call you princess?

Judith:
Not rea...

Joe:
Because from the moment you came into this family all you've done is act like you're better than us.

Judith:
I don't have to...

Joe:
What do you know about me, Judith? You're so damn stuck on yourself that you don't have a clue about anyone else. All you do is feel sorry for yourself and blame us for your misery.

Judith:
No, I ...

Joe (bitterly):
I'm terribly sorry, Judith, that my sister got raped and psycho me had to waste the guy. Very dirty stuff for a proper British girl.

Judith:
Shut up, Joe. You think your so smart. Well, I can say the same thing to you that you told me - you don't have a clue about me.

Joe:
Oh Lord, did I hear you right? We actually have something in common? Well, this is cause for celebration.

Judith:
Everything with you is a joke. It's impossible to be real with you.

Joe:
Are you suggesting you want to bear your soul to me? How touching.

Judith:
Forget it. You're such a stupid ass. For a moment there I actually felt some sympathy for you.

Joe:
Keep your pity, Judith. I'm not interested.

Judith:
I didn't mean it that way. (She pauses) The guy was a pig. I guess he deserved it, though it was pretty stupid of you to be the one to get violent and get yourself into trouble.

Joe:
I'm shocked. I think you actually agree with something I did. Of course you would have preferred that I talk to the lad. Perhaps, I should have suggested to him that his behavior was inappropriate. Yes, here it is. This is what I should have said, "Excuse me Derek, but I understand you might have raped my sister. I do believe that was not a proper thing to do. In the future never again act in such a cowardly fashion." Yeah, that would have done it all right. That would have gotten his attention.

Judith:
Forget I ever said anything. It just doesn't pay to be nice to you.

Joe:
Then don't bother. I don't want your brand of niceness. The fine print reads, "You're no good, Joe. Yes, he was a creep but you should have done it my way - the right way."

Judith doesn't answer. She fights off tears and then gets up and leaves without saying anything.

Judith flees to her room, a room she shares with Chris, after her talk in the back yard with Joe. She huddles in the corner on the floor with letters from her friends in England. Tears roll down her cheeks as she reads them.

Chris comes in and sees Judith crying. Judith hurriedly wipes away the tears. Chris doesn't speak to her, but curls up in her big chair, her head down. The scene is two young women looking fairly dejected, each for her own reasons.

Finally, Judith speaks.

Judith:
How are you doing, Chris?

Chris:
How do you think? (No answer from Judith.) Well, pretty lousy, thanks to my big brother, who made sure that the whole town would know about what happened.

Judith:
Maybe what he did wasn't so bad.

Chris:
Yeah, easy for you to say. How would you like walking through the halls at school and hearing people whisper after you, "slut" and "Got any for me"?

Judith:
Listen, I'm really sorry that this happened to you. I know it must be horrible, but at least you know that Joe put him out of commission for a while.

Chris:
This is a scoop - you defending Joe. I thought you hated his guts.

Judith:
I do, but, I mean, I don't...I don't want to hate anybody. What I mean is, it's disgusting to think that someone can do things like that to girls and never get punished for it.

Chris:
Yeah, well, this is one more pig who won't get punished either.

Judith:
But you can do something about that. You can testify against him in court.

Chris:
Yeah, right, I've heard that one before. What does everyone think I am - some kind of Joan of Arc? Why do I have to be the one to get up on the stand? There were lots of girls he's raped. Why do I have to be the brave one?

Judith:
Because you are. Brave, I mean. You're gutsy.

There is a long pause while Chris thinks about it. She looks up at Judith and sees someone different than who she had thought she was.

Chris:
Why would you give me a compliment like that? You never did it before. I thought you thought I was some kind of slut.

Judith:
I never really thought that. I mean, I think you could dress a little less provocatively -

Chris:
Yeah, aren't these clothes weird enough for you?

Judith:
Well, they aren't so bad, but, I mean, there's something in between...what I'm trying to say is, I don't think that clothes always reflect the person inside. But unfortunately, guys think they do. So when you wear something that is very revealing, it might be just because it's fun for you, but they might think you're sending a message that you're...ready for anything.

Chris:
Just what I needed - a lecture on modesty.

Judith:
Chris, I'm not trying to lecture you. I think you've been through something terrible and that you're brave and I think that with the support of the family maybe you can go on the stand and put this scumball away. And I think that what Joe did might have been kind of primitive but at least he was protecting your honor. Not every brother would do that for his sister.

Chris:
(quietly): So what do you think I should do now? (Quiet again.) And when did we all of a sudden become a family that supports each other?

Judith:
Well, maybe we're not a family but that still doesn't mean I can't support you. You know it could have happened to me as well.

Chris:
Right, you're just the type to go up to a room with a strange guy.

Judith:
Chris, I'm not the prissy you think I am.

Chris:
Yeah, but you're not me either.

A Frantic Morning and a Thief

It's 6:45 AM. An alarm goes off. Pamela wakes up and begins to rouse the family. She goes downstairs in her robe to grab her first cup of pre-brewed coffee before dealing with the new morning, five children and all they have been through recently.

Joe Kutchinsky, Jr.

Joe Jr. wakes up, stretches, throws on a robe and walks toward the bathroom. He waits patiently, for a change, till Judith comes out, and then goes into the shower.

There is the faint sound of clicking and typing from the computer, indicating that one of the younger boys got up early and is already downstairs.

Judith peeks into her parents' room and sees that Joseph is still asleep, deep under the covers. She tiptoes quietly into their bathroom and starts to put on makeup, borrowing generously from Pamela's make-up kit.

Pamela returns to the room and sits down on the bed. Pamela quietly speaks to Judith through the open bathroom door.

Pamela:
I wanted to speak to you last night but you were so busy on the computer...Why are you up at all hours of the night?

Judith:
I'm talking to my friends in England, Mum. Petie showed me how to get online months ago. I don't know what I would do without my "buddy list." I miss them so much.

Pamela:
Is that what Petie's doing on the computer, too? Talking with friends?

Judith:
I don't know exactly what he's doing. It wouldn't hurt to keep an eye on him. He's on the computer day and night.

Pamela:
Isn't he just using it for schoolwork, and playing games?

Judith:
Don't be so sure. Do you know that you can do anything on the net? You can buy weapons. You can download pornography. You can build a bomb.

Pamela:
Don't be silly, Judith. He's just a child. Petie would never do such a thing.

Judith walks out of the bedroom. In the hallway, she passes an angry looking Chris who is on her way into their parents' room.

Chris:
Someone's been in my stuff again! I had ten dollars in my pack and now it's missing!

Pamela:
It must be a mistake. I don't believe anyone would take your money, Chris.

Chris:
Are you calling me a liar? Don't you think I know how much money I have in my wallet? It was there last night before I went to bed! I bet it's that little angel of yours, Mac!

Pamela:
Don't be absurd! No one is taking your money. Look, you know things have been in an uproar lately. Perhaps you misplaced it. Let's check your room again.

Chris (bitterly):
Why bother? It's not there. Why are you assuming I don't know what I'm doing? Why don't you check your son's wallet?

Chris walks angrily downstairs. Joe Jr. passes Pamela in the upstairs hall, a towel wrapped around him.

Pamela:
You're going to be late, Joe, if you aren't ready to leave soon.

Joe Jr.:
I'll be on time. I'm taking the car.

Joseph (sleepily, from bedroom):
You're not taking the car.

Joe Jr. walks into the master bedroom.

Joe Jr. (surprised and angry):
Why the hell not?

Joseph (who has gotten out of bed and is on the way into his bathroom):
You are not responsible enough to take the car. When I get a clean report from your counselor, then we'll talk car.

Joe Jr.:
I never drive when I'm high! I've been doing time with the shrink!

Joseph:
You're not getting the car.

Joe Jr. stomps out of the room.

Pamela walks down the stairs; sees Petie at the computer.

Pamela:
Petie, it's time to go to school. And when you come home, I'd like you to show me what you do on the computer.

Petie nods imperceptibly and stays on the computer.

Peter (Petie) Kutchinsky

Petie (mumbles under his breath):
Just a minute.

Pamela stands and waits.

Pamela:
What are you doing on there, anyway?

Petie:
I'm getting Lara Croft out of the tomb hall.

Pamela:
Lara what?

Petie:
I can't explain it to you. You don't understand computer stuff.

Pamela:
I understand you've been teaching Judith. Maybe you could teach me.

Petie (slightly annoyed):
She already knows. I just showed her a few tricks.

Pamela:
Well, get ready now. It's getting late and you've got a bus to catch.

Joe Sr. walks down the stairs, knotting his tie.

Pamela:
Joe, we've got to talk about Chris.

Joe Sr.:
I'm late for work. I'll call you on the car phone.

Pamela:
This is important.

Joe Sr:
(opening the front door): Whatever it is, it will have to wait.

Pam Chats With Chris

Pamela enters Chris' room. Chris is bent over on her bed, involved in a favorite hobby she hasn't worked on for a long time -- stringing tiny Native American beads. Pamela puts her hand gently on her head. She pulls quickly away.

Pamela:
You're home early from school today, Chris. Can we talk?

Chris:
I don't want to talk about it.

Pamela:
How do you know what I want to talk about?

Chris:
I know. Everybody wants to talk about one thing.

Pamela:
Look, I know it won't be easy.

Chris:
You don't know anything.

Pamela:
Here's the situation. In a case like this -

Chris:
I am not going to testify. Isn't it bad enough that I got raped, and that the whole world knows, because of Joe?

Pamela:
That isn't what I came in to talk to you about. Just put that out of your mind for now.

Chris:
I can't put it out of my mind.

Pamela:
I didn't come in here to talk about you testifying. There is only one thing you have to think about now and that is your health. I want to get you to a doctor. You have to see a doctor.

Chris:
I don't want anybody touching me. I don't want some trange man -

Pamela:
I have found a female gynecologist. She's very sensitive, a very fine woman, she works with Dad.... I made an appointment for an hour from now -

Chris:
In an hour? And you didn't tell me?

Pamela:
I just got the appointment. It was very hard, but Dad helped me get it.

Chris:
But why didn't you tell me?

Pamela:
I'm telling you now! I just made the appointment. We'll leave in about half an hour, so I wanted to have a few minutes to talk to you first.

Chris:
What are you afraid of - that I have AIDS?

Pamela:
You have no idea what this...guy might have.
Yes, he could have AIDS; yes, he could have another sexually transmitted disease. You have to be checked.

Chris:
And if I have AIDS? Then what?

Pamela:
Then we'll deal with it. But I don't think you have AIDS.

Chris (voice rising):
It's just getting worse. Every time I think it's as bad as can be, it gets worse. Are you also thinking that I might be pregnant?

Pamela:
Calm down, Chris. It's not going to be easy for you, but we have to find out what your medical situation is. This gynecologist is a nice lady, Chris -

Chris:
You don't understand, you've never been through anything like this. You never had anything bad happen to you.

Pamela:
You don't know what's happened to me in my life, okay? Maybe some day we'll talk. There's a lot about me you don't know. And this is not the time or place to go into it, but...trust me on this one. She's dealt with other cases like yours; this is not the first time, and she's...you've got to do it. I know you don't want to do it. I will be there. If you want, your father can meet us at the hospital, if that makes you feel better. We will give you any support that you need. If you want to be alone with her, you can be alone with her.

Chris:
You're not my mother. Don't act so nice to me, like you care about me, want to be with me, take care of me...You came, you took my father away, you make a whole other family that I didn't want...I got raped, I have AIDS, I'm probably dying -

Pamela:
You're not dying, Chris, and what makes you think I don't care about you?

Chris:
You have Judith - Miss Perfect. You have all your kids who are so perfect.

Pamela:
My children are not perfect, and you children are not perfect, and your father and I are not perfect. We're all just human beings like everybody else. And right now, you're a girl who had a horrible, awful experience and we want to help you. And this is the most important thing to do right now. And if you want somebody else to help you, someone to talk to -

Chris:
I don't want to talk to anybody else! It's enough! Fine, fine. I'll go. I will go, but I don't want to talk about it, I don't want to talk to the doctor, you can tell the doctor, I'm just going to be there.

Pamela:
Fine. I will be there, I will talk to the doctor. If she has any specific questions, I'll help you answer them.

Chris:
I don't want you to come. I want my father.

Pamela:
Okay. I'll drive you to the hospital and you'll meet your father there. And if you want me to leave you alone with him, that's also okay.

Chris (barely a whisper):
Okay.

Call of the Wild

Captain Burton and Joe Jr. meet in Dr. Alberts' office. Joe Jr. is sitting in the waiting room, paging through a "People" magazine when Captain Burton strides in.

Captain Burton:
Just the man I'm looking for. Nice to see you. How's it going?