The Austen-Kutchinskys

JUDITH AND JOE HAVE A CHAT OUTSIDE

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

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 Austen

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.

Joseph Kutchinsky, Jr.

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.

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