BAY CITY FOREVER

This is a work of fan fiction, written by Rochelle Theresa Brown for entertainment purposes only, and not for profit. All characters not invented by me are the sole property of Procter and Gamble Productions.

This work is under copyright.

BAY CITY FOREVER is rated TV-14 for an occasional mild expletive.



EPISODE 25



This episode begin where the previous episode left off.

SCENE ONE

(As the episode begins, we see a split screen. Left side of screen shows Joe and Sofia in the hospital corridor. Right side is split into nine squares. Each square has the image of a television with Grant on-screen. Grant's speech takes place simultaneously with Joe and Sofia's conversation.)

SOFIA: There's no easy way to tell you this, but it's better you hear it from me than from somebody else.

GRANT: I find it appalling

JOE: Whatever it is, I can handle it.

GRANT: that this man, who claims to be

SOFIA: OK. Do you remember Lenora Martin?

GRANT: such a great family man

JOE: Yeah, I remember her

GRANT: and such a devout Catholic

JOE: I wonder what became of her.

GRANT: had an affair (as Grant speaks, right side of screen dissolves. (Left does not change.)Scene on right side of screen changes to the squad-room of the 2-3. A radio is on. Grant's voice continues throughout. Toni and Adams are among the officers in the squad room.)

ADAMS: I'll bet anything Joe never even knew about that kid.

SOFIA: She had a baby. A boy

JOE: You mean I've got another son somewhere?

GRANT: And he continues to ignore his own son's existence, even though that son is right here in Bay City.

TONI: WHAT?!

ADAMS: WHO?!

SOFIA: Yes, and (hesitates a few seconds) and I know who it is.

JOE: You're sure?

SOFIA: I have documented proof.

GRANT: I'm sure it will come as a shock to you, as it did to me, to learn that Joe Carlino is the father of

(Right side of screen dissolves; we now see only Joe and Sofia)

SOFIA: I'm not sure how you're going to take this news

JOE: What, are you kidding me? Whoever he is, he is my son. My flesh and blood. Our flesh and blood.

SOFIA: Well, I'm not ready to welcome him into the family.

JOE: Why not?

SOFIA: Because (hesitates)because it's Tito Banecek.
FADE OUT



SCENE TWO
(The scene shifts to Rachel's studio. Rachel is putting the finishing touches on the sculpture of the girl on horseback. Carl walks in.)

CARL: That is one of the most beautiful pieces you've ever done.

RACHEL: (very formal tone of voice) Thank you.

CARL: We may have a crisis on our hands.

RACHEL: (covering her sculpture) We already have a crisis... our so-called marriage.

CARL: This has nothing to do with our marriage.

RACHEL: Then what is it?

CARL: I switched on the television, and there was our not-so-beloved mayor making allegations against Joe.

RACHEL: What? He's accusing him of dereliction of duty?

CARL: No. This has to do with Joe's personal life.

RACHEL: Not even Grant could find anything wrong with Joe's personal life.

CARL: Well, even Joe has a past, and it seems he had an affair when he was a teenager.

RACHEL: An affair?

CARL: Grant claims that Joe has a son whom he has never acknowledged.

RACHEL: Oh, come on. We both know Grant would do anything, say anything, to discredit Joe.

CARL: If it is true that Joe fathered a child out of wedlock, which is by no means outside the realm of possibility, I'm sure that he didn't know about it, and that he'll want to find his son.

RACHEL: Of course he will. Everyone knows how Joe feels about family.

CARL: Speaking of family

RACHEL: I know what you want to ask me.

CARL: And?

RACHEL: Let's just wait until Lydia gives you a legal divorce, if, in fact, she does.

CARL: Let us assume that she gives me the divorce. Where do we go from there?

RACHEL: I don't know. Right now I honestly don't know.
FADE OUT



SCENE THREE
(The scene shifts to the squad room at the 2-3. The radio has been turned off. There are some furious cops in the room.)

ADAMS: And that is our mayor. Doesn't he have anything better to do than to bad-mouth Joe?

TONI: (bitterly) Bad-mouthing Joe is one of Grant's hobbies.

JOHNSON: Why can't Grant just let Joe concentrate on his new daughter?

ADAMS: It's bad enough he and Commissioner Walters have Joe under investigation without bringing up something in his personal life. TONI: If you ask me, that's just why Grant is doing this now, while Joe is under investigation. He wants to show him in the most unfavorable light possible.

JOHNSON: Well, we all know Grant would do anything to ruin Joe's career.

TONI: I'd love to ruin Grant's career.

ADAMS: Josie tried that, remember, when she framed him for arson?

TONI: Yes, I heard about that.

JOHNSON: And you know how Joe feels about that sort of thing. Josie was suspended, and placed under house arrest.

ADAMS: Let's face it. There's nothing we can do about Grant, but I do wish we could stop Commissioner Walters from investigating Joe.

(Josie walks in)

TONI: Hey, Josie.

JOSIE: I just came from the hospital.

ADAMS: So you know what happened?

JOSIE: You mean about the press conference Grant plans to hold?

TONI: Plans to hold, nothing. He's already held it.

JOSIE: (through her teeth) That no good, lousy
FADE OUT



SCENE FOUR
(The scene shifts to the corridor of BCUH. Joe and Sofia are still talking.)

JOE: I'm Tito Banecek's father? That no-good punk is my son?

SOFIA: The tests were conclusive.

JOE: And now His Honor, the mayor, is going to hold a press conference and announce my personal business to everyone?

GRANT: (walking up to Joe and Sofia) Actually, Captain Carlino, I've already held the press conference.

SOFIA: (looking at her watch) You said you were going to hold it in one hour!

GRANT (feigning innocence) Oh, did I? I meant within the hour.

JOE: You bastard!

GRANT: May I remind you that, as the mayor of Bay City, I am your boss?

JOE: That is something I would really like to forget.

SOFIA: I suppose you told everything in your press conference.

GRANT: Not quite. I left Tito's name out of it. After all, the circumstances of his birth are not his fault, so why should his name be dragged through the mud?

SOFIA: Isn't Tito the one who almost killed you?

GRANT: Yes, but I really believe it was an accident. After all, I killed my own brother by accident, and I will miss him until the day I die.

JOE: You know, Grant, all of us who knew and loved Ryan are sick and tired of hearing that garbage from you.

GRANT: Oh, by the way, Captain Carlino, the date for your hearing has been set. Of course, you could spare yourself a great deal of embarrassment by resigning from the force.
FADE OUT



SCENE FIVE: CLOSING SCENE

Several days later

(The scene shifts to the exterior of the Rectory. Joe walks up the steps and rings the bell. Fr. Austin Malone, a tall, red-headed priest in his early forties, opens the door.)
JOE: Thanks for agreeing to see me right away, Father Malone.

FR. MALONE: (leading the way inside) Well, I know you've been having some troubles lately, as well as a great blessing.

JOE: (smiles for one minute) Yes, Angela Rose.

FR. MALONE: Suppose we set the date for that precious child's baptism.

JOE: I'd like that.

FR. MALONE: Let's say this Saturday? Three in the afternoon?

JOE: That would be fine, Father.

FR. MALONE: And now, suppose we sit down and talk about what's troubling you?

JOE: Well, Father, by this time everybody in Bay City knows that I fathered a son out of wedlock.

FR. MALONE: Well, you were young, and you didn't know you had a child.

JOE: That's not what's bothering me, Father. After all, Paulina was pregnant with Dante when we got married.

FR. MALONE: What's troubling you, Joe?

JOE: Awhile ago, Dante told me that he didn't think his friend's father loved him. And he asked me if Daddies weren't supposed to love their kids.

FR. MALONE: And, knowing you as well as I do after living here a year and a half, I'm sure you told him that yes, Daddies should love their kids.

JOE: That's what's bothering me. I feel like a hypocrite.

FR. MALONE: And why is that?

JOE: Because I told Dante that fathers should love their children, and now I have a child I don't love.

FR. MALONE: Well, even though he is your own flesh and blood, Tito Banacek isn't your son in the same way that Dante and Ryan Gabriel are. You had nothing to do with bringing him up.

JOE: It's not just that, Father. Four years ago, Paulina almost went to prison for murder. She was covering for Tito.

FR. MALONE: (surprised) But why?

JOE: Because he fooled her into believing he was her long-lost son. But, as you know, Paulina had a daughter.

FR. MALONE: Remy. Well, you love Remy, don't you?

JOE: Remy is Paulina's, so as far as I'm concerned, she is mine. But Tito.... I know he is my son, and I'm supposed to love him, but not only don't I love him, I hate him! (Joe breaks down.) God help me, I hate him!
FREEZE FRAME
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