Guilty Until Proven Innocent (Final Version)

[The jail cell is dingy and just dark enough that JUDY can't see her hands in front of her face. On the back wall, next to a nearly decomposed cot, is a tiny window encased in bars. Staring through the bars sits JUDY, unsure of whether to be furious or terrified.]

JUDY
[To nobody in particular]

How the HELL did this happen?! I...how...what am I supposed to do now?

[From the far, back corner of the cell comes a voice]

JOSE

Are you talking to me, or yourself? Cuz if you're talking to me...I don't care, and if you're talking to yourself already...that's a bad sign.

JUDY
[startled]

Oh. The man speaks, huh?

JOSE

Lady, don't mess with me. I ain't got no tolerance for people's bull****.

JUDY

What're you in for?

JOSE

Honey, I've done things you couldn't even imagine. I'll spare you the details. What'd you do?

JUDY

Nothing. I didn't do anything. I was just shopping for my mom's birthday present and the cops surrounded me. Next thing I know I'm sitting in this cell with no clue what the hell is going on.

JOSE
[smirking]

Uh huh. That's what they all say.

[Judy remains in the corner, not muttering a word the rest of the night. Meanwhile, JOSE lays snoring on the opposite side of the cell. JUDY tries, but is too terrified to sleep. Bright and early the next morning, JUDY and JOSE got a pleasant wake up call. An officer, rattling the cell bars, yells and instructs JUDY to follow him. While walking down the hallway, JUDY says...]

JUDY

You mind telling me what I'm doing here? I'm pretty anxious to hear your explanation considering I didn't DO anything.

OFFICER

Playing dumb, huh? Interesting strategy. It's not going to work this time. You've been a danger on these streets for far too long and I would love nothing more than to watch you go down.

JUDY
[angrily]

I don't know what you're talking about. You obviously have the wrong person. I'm the least dangerous person you will ever meet!

[They arrive in the interrogation room. A long, steel table with two chairs are the only objects in the room. JUDY sits in one chair.]

OFFICER

I'm sick and tired of punks like you that think you can get away with whatever you want. Here's the plan. I ask, you tell. Got it?

JUDY

I'll tell you what I know.

OFFICER

And what's that?

JUDY
[persistently]

I didn't do anything.

OFFICER
[now yelling]

Smartass, huh? There's no use denying anything, Judy. We have evidence. Cold, hard evidence.

JUDY

How is that possible? You've got the wrong girl, I swear it on my life.

OFFICER
[now furious and screaming]

You're telling me that you didn't rob that bank back in '79? And you didn't steal those cars in '82? ARE YOU TELLING ME that you didn't rob Edward Jones' house in '83 and that you didn't single handedly organize that drug trade through the Mexican border? You can deny it all you want Ms. Roberts, but I got you. I got you red handed. There's no way out.

JUDY
[shaking]

Whoah whoah whoah. Sir, I work at a women's shelter. I teach Sunday school every weekend at St. Vincents Church. I volunteer at a soup kitchen four times a week, and I pick up garbage if I see it on the ground. Does that sound like the makings of a criminal to you? Now...don't I get a phone call?

OFFICER
[officer escorts JUDY to a phone and leaves her to make her phone call. JUDY calls her mother.]

JUDY
[to phone]

Oh thank god, mom. I don't know what to do! I'm in jail. Me of all people.

PEARL
[slurring her words]

heeyyy honey, that's great!

JUDY

Did you hear what I just said? I'M IN JAIL!

PEARL

OooOOOh. Well...that's life.

JUDY
[now angry]

You're drunk again, aren't you? The one time I actually need you and you're drunk. This jerk of an officer thinks I'm some kind of psychotic criminal, I'm losing my mind, and you're DRUNK. Typical. Ya know...I'm really getting sick of this.

PEARL
[in a cheery voice]

Okay honey, see you soon!

JUDY sits in her cell for hours, unsure of what to do.]

OFFICER
[walks in looking confused beyond reason]

You...you have a visitor. She...well, she looks just like you..I don't know what's going on here, but I'm sure as hell going to find out. Come with me.

[JUDY walks into the visitor cell to a mirror image of herself, plus a few wrinkles and inches in height. Instant shock takes over her.]

JUDY

Who..what the...

SARA

Hey little sister....Sounds like you have quite the extensive vocabulary.

JUDY

Little sister? What the hell are you talking about? I don't even know you.

SARA

Yeah...there's a lot of things you don't know. Mom doesn't exactly like to tell the truth.

JUDY

I've never met you before...and you expect me to believe you're my sister?

SARA

What do you want me to do? Take a DNA test? Why else do you think I look just like you?

JUDY

Well then why did mom never tell me about you?

SARA

I told you. Dear old mom isn't what you think she is.

JUDY

Fine. Then tell me.

SARA

Does mom still drink?

JUDY

Well, yeah...

SARA

Ha...so nothings changed. Judy, mom's an alcoholic.

JUDY
[sarcastically]

Really? I hadn't noticed.

SARA

Well then you understand why I left. She was always drunk, Judy. Always. She would leave us at night and go to the bar and wouldn't come home for days. When she finally did she'd be so out of it that she didn't even know who we were. We didn't deserve to live like that, so I left.

JUDY

Great. You got out. What about me? You just left me there? I was two years old and helpless. What was I supposed to do?

SARA

I didn't. I took you with me.

JUDY

Obviously not...

SARA

You wouldn't stop complaining that you were hungry...so I left you outside and ran to get us food. I was only gone for a minute...when I came back you were gone. I looked everywhere, Judy...I couldn't find you.

JUDY

So you just gave up?

SARA

I didn't know what to do...I knew at least one of us had to get out of there and I thought you were gone for good...Believe me, I've regretted it every day of my life.

JUDY

Okay, well...thanks for that. I'll be mad at you later, just get me out of...wait..I didn't even know you existed. I haven't seen you for 18 years and you just show up? How did you know I was here?

SARA

I found out you were alive a couple years ago...I've been following you since. I'm your big sister...it's my job to watch out for you. I didn't see you for a couple days...that's when I figured out they got you.

JUDY

You've been stalking me?

SARA

No, I was looking out for you. Just because I left you doesn't mean I don't love you. You're my sister.

JUDY

Please tell me I'm not in here because of you...

SARA

I'm getting you out. That's why I'm here. I' m so sorry, Judy...

JUDY

But I saw what you did...how could you do those things? You're a criminal for gods sake.

SARA

I ran away when I was 12, Judy...I had no way to survive. I was desperate. You'd be surprised what desperation can do to you...but I don't want your life to become mine just because I'm too selfish to own up to my actions. I'm your big sister. I feel responsible for you. I'm not letting you go down for my stupidity. I love you little sister...now go live the life I never could.

[The officer, who had heard everything, comes out with a look of shock on his face. SARA tells him the truth and watches his face as he realizes that JUDY has been telling the truth all along. Careful to avoid a direct apology, he says...]

OFFICER

Looks like you got lucky...

SARA

[Being hauled away in handcuffs, looks back at JUDY]

You might hate me for what I did, but I'll always be your big sister.

[JUDY gets released from her handcuffs and walks down the stone steps of the jailhouse and flashes an i told you so grin at the officer]

JUDY

Wow. I'm never listening to mom again.