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 29



This episode takes place the day after the previous one.


SCENE ONE
(The scene is Josie and Gary's dining room. The radio is on; sound is indistinct. Josie and Gary are seated at the table, facing each other. They each have a plate of bacon and scrambled eggs and a cup of coffee in front of them. There is a plate of buttered toast in the middle of the table. Gary takes a piece of toast and bites into it. Josie just picks at her eggs.)

GARY: What's wrong, Josie? Why aren't you eating?

JOSIE: How can I eat at a time like this? I have to testify against Joe today, and I don't see how I can do that.

GARY: I know, but you really have no choice.

JOSIE: I can refuse to answer.

GARY: Well, what did Joe tell you to do?

JOSIE: He said I should tell the truth, no matter what I am asked.

GARY: Then that's what you have to do.

JOSIE: I know.

(For a few seconds, Josie and Gary are busy eating, and we can hear the radio.)

MALE ANNOUNCER: Sculptress Rachel Cory.

JOSIE: Sculptress? Rachel isn't going to like this.
FADE OUT



SCENE TWO

(The scene shifts to the squad-room of the 2-3. Joe and Toni are standing near the coffeepot, drinking coffee and talking.)

TONI: I'm just glad I wasn't called to testify against you.

JOE: But Cass has asked you to testify in my defense, hasn't he?

TONI: Yes. If he hadn't, I'd offer to do it.

(Adams approaches.)

JOE: I know you would.

ADAMS: (pouring cup of coffee) There isn't an officer here who isn't ready to testify for you.

TONI: That's for sure. Sometimes I can't believe what I did back in '99.

JOE: That's water under the bridge, Toni.

TONI: But it almost ruined your career. And now, you might lose your shield because you protected Josie and me in '97.

JOE: And if I had to do it over again, I'd do the exact same thing.

ADAMS: Rather than let a rapist go free?

JOE: You got it.
FADE OUT



SCENE THREE

(The scene shifts to the Cory-Hutchins home, about ten minutes later.A split-screen shows Rachel on the phone with a male radio announcer.)

RACHEL: I have asked you repeatedly not to refer to me as a sculptress. I am a sculptor. If I had the same job as you, would you call me an "announceress?"

ANNOUNCER: Probably. After all, (speaks in an extremely patronizing tone) you are a woman.

RACHEL: Yes, I am a woman. A woman artist. A sculptor. If you must use labels, please label me by my genre, not by my gender.

ANNOUNCER: Sorry if it offends you, but on my show, I will decide what terminology to use.

RACHEL: And just what would you call a woman doctor, Fred? A doctoress?

ANNOUNCER: Where do you get that "Fred" business?

RACHEL: Oh, sorry. Would you prefer Mister Flintstone?
FADE OUT



SCENE FOUR

(The scene shifts to a hearing room, several hours later. Cass and Joe are seated at a table. Commissioner Walters and the Internal Affairs officers are present, as are several officers from the 2-3. These officers include Josie, Toni, and Adams, who are sitting together. Grant is standing next to a chair in the middle of the room.)

GRANT: This hearing has been convened to determine whether Joe Carlino should be removed as police captain for dereliction of duty.

CASS: (getting to his feet) Objection!

GRANT: Mr. Winthrop, surely you know that you cannot object before the proceedings even begin.

CASS: These proceedings are what I object to. The very idea of charging Joe Carlino with (indicates quote marks with his fingers) "dereliction of duty" is patently ridiculous.

GRANT: Be that as it may, I intend to prove that Captain...no, he is not worthy of the title...that Joe Carlino has on more than one occasion covered up wrongdoing, serious wrongdoing, on the part of officers under his command.

(Camera focuses on Josie, Toni, and Adams)

JOSIE: (aside, to Toni and Adams) Before Grant is through, he's going to make our entire precinct seem corrupt.

ADAMS: "Unworthy to be called "Captain", my foot.

TONI: I can think of someone who is unworthy to be addressed as "Your Honor".

(Camera focuses back on Grant)

GRANT: I'd like to hark back, if I may, to 1997, when... but no, my first witness can describe those events much better than I can. After all, he was the victim. I call Charles, better known as "Chip", Rayburn.
FADE OUT



SCENE FIVE

(The scene shifts, briefly, to the kitchen at CARLINO'S. Paulina is chopping vegetables as if they were Grant and Commissioner Walters.)

PAULINA: (under her breath) My husband could lose his job, and I can't do anything about it. I can't even be there, because nobody not involved with this case may attend the hearing, not even family members. Nice touch, Grant.
FADE OUT



SCENE SIX

(The scene shifts back to the hearing room.

Chip Rayburn is on the chair in the center of the room. Grant is facing him.)

GRANT: Forgive me if I bring up something painful or embarrassing, but isn't it true that you suffer from fear of heights?

CHIP: Yes.

GRANT: And were officers Burrell and Sinclair aware of this at the time in question?

CHIP: Yes, they were.

GRANT: And what did they do to you?

CHIP: They kidnapped me, they took me to my own apartment, and then they... oh, God! They hung me out of a sixth floor window.. even now, I have nightmares about it (covers his face with his hands) I'm sorry... I can't

GRANT: (sympathetic tone of voice) Take all the time you need. I understand that this is difficult for you to talk about, but it is essential that we get your testimony on record, so that what happened to you can never happen again.

CHIP: (takes a few deep breaths) I'm all right now.

GRANT: Are you sure you are able to continue?

CHIP: Yes, Your Honor.

GRANT: Besides the incident you have already described, did anything else happen?

CHIP: Yes. Officers Burrell and Sinclair took me to the railroad tracks, and threatened to (hesitates, seems upset) they threatened to throw me under a train unless I confessed to rape!

GRANT: (thinks)I told him not to use the word "rape".Did you believe that your life was in danger?

CHIP: Yes, I did.

GRANT: So your confession was made under duress?

CHIP: Yes.

GRANT: And was Joe Carlino aware of what the officers involved did to force this confession?

CHIP: Yes.

GRANT: Thank you. No further questions.

CASS: I have no questions for this witness.

GRANT: In that case, I call Josie Sinclair.

JOSIE: (to Toni and Adams)Root canal work would be fun compared to this.

GRANT: Detective Sinclair, we are waiting.

(Josie gets up, and walks to where Grant is standing.)

Please have a seat, Detective Sinclair.

JOSIE: I want you and everyone in this room to know that I am giving this testimony under protest. (sits in chair) Now, I'd like to swear

GRANT: That won't be necessary This is just a hearing.

JOSIE: Let me finish, Grant. I'd like to swear at you, at Commissioner Walters, and at Internal Affairs for what you are doing.

GRANT: What we are doing, my dear young woman

JOSIE: Don't patronize me!

GRANT: What we are doing is giving Captain Carlino a chance to defend himself. And it would behoove you to show me some respect. After all, I am the mayor.

JOSIE: Unfortunately.

GRANT: Captain Carlino, will you please instruct your officer not to interrupt me?

JOE: Josie is not on duty right now. She is speaking on her own.

GRANT: And here we have a prime example of the insubordination Joe Carlino lets his officers get away with.

CASS: I haven't seen any insubordination here. I mean, Joe hasn't given Josie any orders. (whispers to Joe) Now might be a good time to do just that. Call Josie over here.

JOE: Josie, will you come here a minute?

JOSIE: Yes, sir. (gets up, approaches table where Joe and Cass are seated.) What is it?

JOE: Cass advised me to call you over here.

CASS: Josie, I know how you feel about Grant, and about these proceedings. Believe me, I feel the same way, but this is no time to antagonize His Horror... I mean, His Honor.

JOE: You were right the first time. Now, Josie, I want you to go back, and tell Grant that you aren't going to interrupt him any more.

JOSIE: Yes, Sir. (returns to where Grant is standing)

GRANT: Well, we've wasted quite enough time. Shall we proceed?

JOSIE: I promise not to interrupt you any more.

GRANT: Is that an apology?

JOSIE: (glancing at Joe, who mouths the words "Say yes.") Yes, Your Hor (coughs)Your Honor. (sits down)

GRANT: We have heard Mr. Rayburn's testimony about the events leading to his confession, his forced confession. Was his description accurate?

JOSIE: (mumbles) Yes, it was.

GRANT: Speak up so we can hear you.

JOSIE: Yes.

GRANT: And yet, there is no record of your actions anywhere. No record, and no indication that any disciplinary action was taken by your captain.

JOSIE: Just because

GRANT: You promised not to interrupt, and I haven't finished speaking.

JOSIE: Sorry. I thought you had.
GRANT: I shall overlook it this time. Now, not only is there no record of your actions, but it is on record that you and Officer Burrell were on vacation.... with pay. Is that correct?

JOSIE: Yes, but

GRANT: "Yes" is quite sufficient. So, there is no indication that you were punished in any way for your actions. Not even the words "leave of absence", which could be interpreted as a euphemism for suspension.

JOSIE: There was no record, but

GRANT: There was no record. Precisely.

JOSIE: Please, may I say something? Even though it didn't go on our records, Joe punished us for our actions.

GRANT: That is irrelevant. The issue here isn't whether or not you and Officer Burrell were punished. The issue is whether or not there was a cover-up. Now, answer "yes" or "no"; did Carlino report your actions?

JOSIE: (reluctantly) No, he did not, but that was because

GRANT: So your answer is no, there is no record of your actions, and no indication that you and Officer Burrell were disciplined. No further questions.

CASS: I have some questions for Detective Sinclair. (Walks to middle of room, faces Josie) Now, even though (deliberate emphasis) Captain Carlino did not report your actions, did he give you any indication whatsoever that he approved of them?

JOSIE: Absolutely not.

CASS: What did he do?

JOSIE: He reprimanded us, and he disciplined us.

CASS: In other word, you did not get away with your actions?

JOSIE; No, we did not.

CASS: No further questions.

GRANT: In that case, we are done for today. This hearing will continue tomorrow.
FADE OUT



SCENE SEVEN: CLOSING SCENE
(The scene shifts to the hall outside of the hearing room. Josie, Toni, and Adams are standing together, talking.)

ADAMS: The Commish is still inside, talking to IA.

TONI: I wonder why. The hearing isn't over yet.

JOSIE: I'm going to sneak in and see if I can find anything out.

(Josie slips back into the hearing room. Nobody notices.)

WALTERS: Now remember, this hearing is just a formality. The outcome has already been decided.

IA OFFICERS: (all talking at once) We know. Got it. We'll vote the way you told us to.

(Josie, wide-eyed, slips out of the room.)
FREEZE FRAME
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