The Austen-Kutchinskys

Joe at the Police Station

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

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?

Joseph Kutchinsky, Jr.

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 Kutchinsky

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 Kutchinsky

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.

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.

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