The Austin-Kutchinskys

Joseph and Pamela Talk About the Date Rape of Chris

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Joseph tiptoes into the bedroom. Pamela moves in her sleep. He gently touches her shoulder.

Joseph Kutchinsky

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 Kutchinsky

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.

All Drawings are Martin Holt Originals

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