The Austen-Kutchinskys

JUDITH AND CHRIS TALK

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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 Austen

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 Kutchinsky

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.

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