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 31



This episode begins the morning after the previous one ended. It is now the second week in July, 2003.



SCENE ONE

(The scene is Cass Winthrop's law office. Cass and Joe are inside.)

CASS: So your mind is made up?

JOE: Yes. This is the only ethical thing for me to do now.

CASS: So when are you going to talk to the Commissioner?

JOE: Right away, but I felt that I owed it to you to talk to you first, after everything you've done for me.

CASS: I appreciate that. I also hate the decision you've made.

JOE: Me too, but it's the only thing I can do, now that I know what's been going on. (Sighs)You know, I never would have believed that one of my officers would resort to blackmail.

CASS: How many e-mails were there?

JOE: Well, I found copies of two of them in "Sent Mail." They were both signed "Firefly789"

CASS: Do you have any idea who Firefly789 is?

JOE: No, I don't, and frankly, I don't want to know. But I do know who it couldn't possibly have been.

CASS: Who?

JOE: Josie. She would never do a thing like that.
FADE OUT



SCENE TWO
(The scene shifts Josie and Gary's house. Josie and Gary are talking.)

JOSIE: It should be over soon, especially after the last e-mail I sent Commissioner Walters.

GARY: I'm still not sure about this.

JOSIE: I know it's not the most ethical thing I've ever done.

GARY: That's for sure.

JOSIE: But if it keeps Joe from losing his shield, it's worth it.
FADE OUT



SCENE THREE
(The scene shifts to the office of Commissioner Walters. Joe is inside with the Commish.)

JOE: I just found out what's going on.

WALTERS: Then you know that you are not in any danger of losing your shield?

JOE: Yes, and I also know why.

WALTERS: How did you find out?

JOE: Does it matter?

WALTERS: I guess not. Listen, do me a favor and don't say anything about this at the hearing.

JOE: There won't be any hearing today. It's over.

WALTERS: What do you mean?

JOE: I can't and I won't hold onto my shield this way. I'm handing in my resignation.

WALTERS: There is no need for you to do that.

JOE: Yes, there is, although I do have one favor to ask you.
FADE OUT



SCENE FOUR

25 minutes later

(The scene shifts to the squad-room of the 2-3. Joe is talking with a group of officers, including Josie, Toni, and Adams. All are stunned by what Joe has just told them.)

ADAMS: You're kidding, right?

JOE: I've never been more serious.

TONI: But why? What made you decide to hand in your resignation?

JOE: I found out something that made it necessary.

JOHNSON: But what could make you quit? You've been fighting so hard to keep your shield.

JOE: It's best that I don't tell you.

ADAMS: But, Joe...

JOE: Trust me on this, okay?

TONI: This isn't right. Who knows what kind of a captain we'll get now?

JOE: Don't worry. I took care of that. Your new captain is someone you know and love.

ADAMS: One of us?

JOE: Absolutely. Effective immediately, the captain of the 2-3 is Josie Sinclair.

JOSIE: (stunned) Me?

JOE: Yes, Josie...I mean Captain Sinclair. (looks at other officers) Now, I don't have the right to give you guys orders any more, but I'd like you to promise me that you will give your new captain all the support she needs. (Walks over to Josie, whispers) Jos, let's go into my...your office. I have some information you may need.

JOSIE: Yes, sir.

JOE: Josie, you'll have to get used to the fact that I'm a civilian now.

JOSIE: It doesn't feel right.

(They go into what is now Josie's office. Joe closes the door and the blinds.)

JOE: Now that you are the captain of the 2-3, there is something you need to know.

JOSIE: What?

JOE: You may get a confession within the next few days, and I want you to be prepared to handle it.

JOSIE: What sort of a confession?(thinking)Please don't let it be what I think it is.

JOE: I found out that somebody has been (hesitates) I can hardly say it, but somebody from this precinct has been sending Commissioner Walters threatening e-mails.

JOSIE: Are... are you sure?

JOE: Yes, I'm sure.

JOSIE: Do you know who it was?

JOE: I have no idea. But I closed the account, so whoever it was can't send any more threatening messages. And when whoever sent those e-mails sees that he or she can't send any more

JOSIE: Wait a minute, Joe. Did you cancel the screen-name and resign to get the one who did it to confess?

JOE: No, Josie. I resigned because, if one of my officers can resort to blackmail, then I haven't been doing a good job as captain of this precinct. (sighs) Now, I'm going to give you a little advice.

JOSIE: What?

JOE: Don't tell anybody about the blackmail, unless the culprit decides to come forward. The last thing you need right now is for your officers to be suspicious of each other.

JOSIE: And if someone comes forward, what should I do? (thinks)Who am I kidding? What I should do is tell Joe the truth. But if I do, he'll never trust me again.

JOE: That is something only you can decide, Captain Sinclair.
FADE OUT



SCENE FIVE

(The scene shifts to Grant's office at City Hall one hour later. Grant is talking on the phone)

GRANT: That's right. I will be making a speech in one hour. (pause) No, I can't tell you what's going to be about, but I'll you this much: this is a speech I'm really going to enjoy making. (pause) That's right. In one hour. (pause) Of course you will. (hangs up, rubs his hands together gleefully and triumphantly.) Finally, finally Joe Carlino is out as police captain. And with that hindrance out of my way...
FADE OUT



SCENE SIX
Half an hour later

(The scene shifts to the squad-room at the 2-3. Josie is talking with "her" officers.)
JOSIE: Look, I want Joe back as much as you guys do.

ADAMS: We all want him back, but I think I speak for everyone when I say that, until he does come back

TONI: If he ever comes back.

ADAMS: Okay, so we have to face the fact that Joe might not come back. But I think we'd all rather have Josie as our captain, than whoever Grant or Commissioner Walters would have shoved down our throats.

(Everyone agrees.)

JOSIE: Okay. I appreciate that. Now, as Joe would say, listen up. Now that Joe is no longer a member of the Bay City Police Department, money will probably be tight for him and his family, so I think we should all eat at CARLINO'S as often as possible.

(Grant walks in.)

GRANT: And speaking of Carlino, I will be making a speech in half an hour, and I expect all of you to listen to it.

ADAMS: We don't want to hear anything you have to say, do we, guys?

ALL SPEAKING AT ONCE: No. Uh uh. No way. Nope.
GRANT: Let me re-phrase that. You will have the radio on, and you will listen to my speech.

JOSIE: We don't have to listen if we don't want to.

GRANT: Oh, really? May I remind you, Captain Sinclair, of two things? One: I am your mayor, and therefore your boss. Two: Joe Carlino isn't here to protect you any more.

Clock appears at top right of screen, moves ahead thirty minutes.

JOSIE: (turning on the radio) We may as well hear whatever garbage Grant is going to spout.

ADAMS: As long as we don't have to eat while we're listening.

GRANT'S VOICE: As you undoubtedly know, there has been an investigation to determine whether Police Captain Joe Carlino was guilty of dereliction of duty. Well, the matter came to a conclusion today

TONI: (bitterly, speaking at the same time as Grant:) Boy, Grant is having a field day.

ADAM: It's a good thing I'm not hearing that speech in person. I don't know if I'd be able to keep myself from knocking his teeth out.

GRANT'S VOICE: (heard while Toni and Adams are speaking) when Captain Carlino handed in his resignation. That, to me, establishes his guilt conclusively.

FEMALE VOICE: How so?

GRANT'S VOICE: (patronizingly) It should be obvious to you, my dear. Joe Carlino knew that his corruption was about to be exposed, and so he resigned in order to save himself any further humiliation.

MALE VOICE: Hold it. That doesn't make any sense. Why didn't he resign before the hearing began?

GRANT'S VOICE: Because until I presented my case against him, he was arrogant enough to think he would be cleared.

FADE OUT



SCENE SEVEN: CLOSING SCENE

(The scene shifts to "Josie's" office, one hour later. Josie sitting at the desk, listening to the radio.)

MAN'S VOICE: Today Police Captain Joseph Carlino, who had been facing charges of dereliction of duty, handed in his resignation. The question is, why? What made Joe Carlino, a man with an untarnished reputation, suddenly quit his job? Could it be that he had us fooled for five and a half years? Is Joe Carlino, in fact, corrupt?

JOSIE: (covering her face with her hands) What have I done? Oh, God, what have I done? (lays her head on the desk and sobs.)
FREEZE FRAME
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