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 32



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

SCENE ONE
(The scene is Cameron and Amanda's dining room. Cameron, Amanda, and Alli are eating bacon, scrambled eggs, and toast.)

CAMERON: I still can't believe Joe handed in his resignation.

AMANDA: It's been a week now, and we still don't know why he did it. He didn't even tell Paulina.

ALLI: I'll bet Josie knows. After all, Joe named her as his... as the new captain, so he probably told her why he was quitting.

CAMERON: (to himself) I wonder

AMANDA: What?

CAMERON: (quickly) Nothing.

AMANDA: Are you sure? I mean, Josie was very quiet when she and Gary were over here last night.

CAMERON: I guess she's still not used to being the captain of the 2-3.

AMANDA: Maybe not.

ALLI: But wasn't she the acting captain a few years ago, when Joe went to Italy?

AMANDA: Yes, but that was different. She knew he was coming back.
FADE OUT



SCENE TWO

(The scene shifts to Josie and Gary's dining room. Josie and Gary are eating waffles. Josie doesn't seem to have much of an appetite.)

GARY: What's wrong?

JOSIE: Everything. Just... everything. I tried to save Joe's career, and I ended up destroying it.

GARY: I have an idea.

JOSIE: Is it the same one you've had for the past week? You think I should come clean to Joe about all this?

GARY: Well, yes, I do.

JOSIE: I want to. Believe me, I want to, but...

GARY: But what?

JOSIE: What if it doesn't do any good? What if Joe is still out of a job, and I end up losing both my job and one of my dearest friends?
FADE OUT



SCENE THREE

(The scene shifts to an undisclosed location. We see the shadow of a woman talking on a cell phone.)
WOMAN: You're right, it's quite a coincidence should both have a relationship with them. (Pause) Actually, I'm not exactly on friendly terms with either one of them. (Pause) Of course you can confide in me. (Pause) You didn't! How naughty of you! How delightfully naughty! (Pause) Well, your secret is safe with me.

(Lighting changes, and we now see that the woman is Iris.)
FADE OUT



SCENE FOUR

(The scene shifts to the squad-room at the 2-3, several hours later. Josie is talking with Toni and Adams. We don't hear their conversation. A female office about the same size as Josie, with light-brown hair approaches, looking upset.)

OFFICER: Josie...I mean Captain Sinclair, could I talk to you?

JOSIE: Of course, Edith. What's wrong?

EDITH: I really messed up.

JOSIE: Let's talk in Joe's...in my...in the office, all right?

EDITH: That would probably be best.

(They go into "Josie's" office. Josie closes the door and the blinds.)

JOSIE: Now, what's this about?

EDITH: I caught a woman robbing the convenience store on 14th Street.

JOSIE: (puzzled) So where is she?

EDITH: I had to let her go.

JOSIE: But why? What happened?

EDITH: (nervously) I was making the arrest, and she made a crack about Joe.

JOSIE: Just what did she say?

EDITH: That it looked awfully fishy for him to be able to choose the new captain when he was resigning under suspicion of wrongdoing.

JOSIE: Did she say anything else?

EDITH: She said that for all anyone knows, his family's restaurant is a front for something shady. That's when I lost control of myself.

JOSIE: Just how badly did you lose control?

EDITH: I slapped her.

JOSIE: You what?

EDITH: I slapped her. And then she threatened to press charges of brutality.

JOSIE: So you had to let her go.

EDITH: Yes, Captain.

JOSIE: Right. As much as I hate this whole situation, I am the captain of this precinct now. And by the way, Edith, I understand why did what you did.

EDITH: You do?

JOSIE: If I had been there, I'd have wanted to knock her clear into Oakdale.

EDITH: Would you actually have done it?

JOSIE: I honestly don't know, but I hope not.(thoughtfully) After all, Joe never decked Grant, and, let's face it, he had plenty of provocation.

EDITH: More than I had.

JOSIE: That's right. Look, Edith, no matter what that woman said about Joe, your actions were wrong, so I'm placing you on suspension for two weeks.

EDITH: That's fair enough.

JOSIE: One more thing, Edith.

EDITH: What?

JOSIE: What happened today isn't the end of the world.

EDITH: Thanks for saying that.

(Josie opens door; Edith walks out. Josie shuts the door,and sits at "her" desk.)

JOSIE: (to herself) Josie Sinclair, you are nothing but a hypocrite, a damned, no-good hypocrite! (resolutely) Well, I won't be a hypocrite or a coward any more. (Picks up phone, presses buttons, then speaks.) Joe? It's Josie. (pause) Look, can you do me a favor? (pause) Can you meet me at the Commissioner's office in fifteen minutes? It's really important.
FADE OUT



SCENE FIVE: CLOSING SCENE
Fifteen minutes later

(The scene shifts to Commissioner Walters' office. Grant is inside with the Commish. There is a desk with a computer and a telephone on it.)

GRANT: I still say you shouldn't have let Carlino name his successor, since he was resigning under suspicion of wrongdoing.

WALTERS: Well, I wanted to give the appearance of being absolutely fair, no, generous, towards him.

GRANT: You may be right, at that.

(There is a knock at the door. Walters opens door. Joe and Josie are standing outside.)

WALTERS: (surprised) Come in.

GRANT: Well, well, if it isn't the ex-captain and his replacement. Ironic, isn't it?

JOE: What?

GRANT: That one of the officers you covered for is now the captain of the 2-3, and you are just a civilian.

JOE: Well, there's an up side to that, Grant.

GRANT: Oh, is there?

JOE: Yeah. I no longer work for you.

WALTERS: Captain Sinclair, will you tell me why the two of you are here?

JOSIE: I'd really rather not discuss it in front of Grant.

JOE: Discuss what in front of Grant?

JOSIE: Then again, I suppose it will become public anyway.

JOE: Josie, what's going on?

JOSIE: You'll understand in a minute. (turns to the Commish) And after I tell you what I have to, I hope you'll reinstate Joe as captain of the 2-3.

JOE: Don't forget, Josie, I wasn't fired. I resigned.

JOSIE: I know you did, and it's all my fault.

JOE: What are you talking about, Josie?

JOSIE: I'm the one who sent those e-mails. (Turns to Walters) I'm the one who was (hesitates) blackmailing you.

JOE: Josie, are you making this up so I'll come back to the 2-3?

JOSIE: No. It's true. God help me, it's true.

JOE: All right, then what did the letters say, and how were they signed?

JOSIE: (trembling voice)The first one I sent said, "Unless you drop the charges against Captain Joe Carlino, there will be a very nasty rumor about you on the Internet. And don't try to trace this e-mail, or you'll be sorry."

JOE: If you're the one who sent that e-mail, what screen name did you use?

JOSIE: Firefly789

JOE: Oh, my God. It was you. Josie, how could you do such a thing?

JOSIE: (beginning to cry) I was desperate. I thought it was the only way to get the charges dropped.

WALTERS: That's why you resigned? Because one of your officers was blackmailing me?

JOE: You knew that was the reason.

WALTERS: No, I had no idea. My computer died weeks ago, and I haven't gotten around to getting a new one.

JOSIE: (shocked) You never got my messages?

WALTERS: No. If I had, I would have told Captain Carlino about them immediately. (Turns to Joe) And if you want your job back, it's yours.

GRANT: May I remind you that he was never officially cleared of the charges against him?

(Josie cries harder.)

JOE: (gently) Josie, come on, stop crying. (Josie continues crying.) Look, Josie, if you don't stop this crying, you'll make yourself sick.

(More tears and sobs from Josie.)

GRANT: (scornfully) Crocodile tears.

JOE: Shut up, Grant. (Joe's voice becomes stern.) And, Josie, you stop crying right now. That's an order.

WALTERS: Did you just say, "That's an order"?

JOE: Yes, I did.

WALTERS: Then I take it you're ready to resume command of the 2-3?

JOE: Yes, I am.

WALTERS: Well then, consider yourself reinstated.

GRANT: Now, wait a minute!

WALTERS: Face it, Grant. We lost.

JOE: (Takes Josie in his arms, speaks soothingly.) There, now. Stop crying. I know you're sorry for what you did.

(Joe strokes Josie's hair. Her sobs diminish until they stop altogether.)

GRANT: (digustedly) And thatis a prime example of Joe Carlino's weakness as a precinct commander. This officer of his has done something absolutely reprehensible, and he just coddles her.

JOE: I'm not coddling Josie. I'm holding her. Discipline can come later.

WALTERS: I'll leave her punishment up to you, Captain Carlino.

JOSIE: I'm ready to accept whatever punishment you feel is right.

JOE: Well, to be perfectly honest, Josie, I'm not sure what I'm going to do, but I will take a few things into consideration.

JOSIE: Like what?

GRANT: What could possibly mitigate her actions?

JOE: (ignores Grant, speaks to Josie)You confessed voluntarily, you are really sorry, and you never actually posted any rumor.

JOSIE: (gasps) Oh, no! I forgot all about that!

JOE: What is it, Josie?

JOSIE: I posted a rumor before the hearing ended!
FREEZE FRAME
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