The Austen-Kutchinskys

Chris Back at School

If this is your first time here, we suggest you read CAST BIOS.

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 Kutchinsky

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.....

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