https://open.spotify.com/episode/2EQfF1lAVKiv93ydkhRAQZ?si=8KbQcYEcQICDi...
Episode 76 – “Who Are You When Everything Is Taken Away?”
Josh is thrown into the brutal reality of jail. Samantha is cut off from her world and forced inward. Amanda is left loving someone she can’t reach. Every character is pushed to their breaking point in a different way.
Here’s the link —
https://open.spotify.com/episode/2EQfF1lAVKiv93ydkhRAQZ?si=wHom2hZwQwmR0...
CHRYSALIS – THE FAMILY ADVENTURE(S), Episode 76
FADE IN
INT. THE JAIL CELL – DAY
The INMATES are there in an uncomfortable tranquility.
AN INMATE
(looking at Josh)
So, what’s your deal?
JOSH
(shocked, unsure,
scared)
Hh, me?
INMATE
Yeah, who else? I know ‘rybody else’s deal. Duh.
OTHER INMATE
He means what’re you in for? He don’t know the lingo yet.
JOSH
Oh. I guess hacking.
THIRD INMATE, BIG GUY
Hacking?? Jam!
He LAUGHS a hearty LAUGH, bringing on OTHERS LAUGHING as well as a series of COUGHS.
BIG GUY
Let me get this straight. You went into other people’s bank accounts...corrupted files? And they threw you in here? I thought they had a special jail for people like that.
ANOTHER INMATE
What’s the deal, chump?
JOSH
(scared)
Huh?
SECOND INMATE
He means like, most people get in for armed robbery, murder, rape.
JOSH
I am stealing when I hack. I hacked my dad’s account and stole ten thou-
BIG GUY
You robbed your old man? That ain’t cool.
JOSH
I saved my dad’s life by firing a gun.
SECOND INMATE
So you’re in for murder. Why didn’t you say that?
JOSH
Because, one, no one got hurt, and two, I never got caught.
FOURTH INMATE
(moving in on him
in a menacing way)
I don’t like you. You think you’re a big shot cause you fired a gun. But you didn’t even hit anybody. And I don’t like scrubs that kill their own dad.
(pushes Josh)
What’re you gonna do now, scrub.
BIG GUY
(to Josh)
Hit him. That’s the move now. You don’t fight, he’ll massacre you. Hit him.
Josh is paralyzed . The tension in the room rises as everyone is still anticipating something really violent
FOURTH INMATE
Hey, bro! This is jail! This ain’t no country club. Let me help you out.
He decks a STRONG PUNCH to Josh’s face. Josh raises his arms and hands to protect but too late. Blood and tears are visible. The fourth inmate lands another STRONG BLOW to Josh’s ribcage, WINNDING him.
GUARD (o.s.)
(from another room)
Ey! Don’t let me come in there and stop a fight!
FOURTH INMATE
You’re lucky this time.
Josh is sitting against the wall, a mess, trying to stop the facial bleeding with his hand, in too much pain to stop the tears.
FOURTH INMATE
But he falls asleep. You won't be so lucky then.
The guard enters.
GUARD
Alright, let’s break it up now. Jenkins, don’t make me have to give you detention and hard labor by yourself. Castello, Sticic, come with me.
The guard leads the big guy and Josh out of the cell
INT. CORRIDOR DAY
The three are walking down it, a bruised Josh trying to hold his bleeding face.
CASTELLO )BIG GUY)
We got visitors. Lucky you. Not even twenty-four.
Josh looks at him, his mind on his bruises.
GUARD
I’ll get you a bandaid. I’ll take you to the infirmary after. I guess you’re finding out quickly that whatever you did wasn’t worth it.
CASTELLO
Hacking.
GUARD
Oh boy.
INT. JAIL VISITING AREA DAY
The three men enter. The guard leads them to a couple of seats. Across from Josh is Amanda who smiles. Across from Castello is a younger woman in tight shorts dressed stylish. He and Amanda notice each other and smile at other.
Together alone across a divide:
AMANDA
(reaching her hands
across the divide)
So how’s my jail baby?
Josh holds her hands tightly like they’re an irreplaceable treasure.
AMANDA
You just can’t stay outta trouble, tough guy.
JOSH
Yeah and who gets me in it?
They look at each other, both knowing they’re nursing a painful forced separation.
JOSH
Thanks for coming. I saved your life and now you’re nearly costing me mine. But I can’t imagine life without you.
AMANDA
Me neither. No other man’s ever said such sappy lines but I’m so happy even if it’s cheugy. I’d rather have it like you.
JOSH
I wish you could get me out of there like you got me in. You can see what it’s like just on face.
She holds his hands tenderly.
JOSH
I know you’re gonna find another boyfriend real quick.
AMANDA
No I’m not. You still think I’m a loose woman like that. Looseness was forced on me. You see that guy you came in with?
Josh looks to his right at Castello, totally focused on his visitor, then back at Amanda.
AMANDA
He was one of them. He was one of the better ones though.
JOSH
You mean one of the guys who forced himself on you?
AMANDA
(smiling with embarrassment)
Yeah, I guess so.
JOSH
You liked it I can tell.
AMANDA
I mean, come on, he’s huge.
JOSH
So he’s better than me, huh?
AMANDA
(caressing his hands)
No, no one’s better than you baby. I mean that. Size isn’t everything. You’ve got a bigger heart.
JOSH
Well a lot of good that’s gonna do me now.
AMANDA
It is gonna do you a lot of good. Those guys don’t know you. But they’ll see the kind of guy you really are and realize you’re the kind of dude they can count on. Right now you’re just a troublemaker pain in the ass to them. But they’ll see. Just be yourself. That dude will protect you.
JOSH
No he won’t. He just watched me get beaten up and did nothing.
AMANDA
(breathing out frustration)
Josh, you gotta get a hold of yourself. You were so heroic when you came for me and put yourself in danger. Now you gotta be heroic for yourself. Listen. They’re jealous of you cause they see you’re in a league way beyond what they’ll ever be. Seeing you on there with them makes them feel the system rubbing it in their face. You gotta just show them you’re a normal dude just like them.
JOSH
(with recognition)
So that’s why they went crazy when I told them I was in for hacking.
AMANDA
Oh yeah, that’s really rubbing it in their face. You shoulda made something up like armed robbery. You can’t tell the truth in a place like this. Oh I feel so bad for you cause you don’t know any of the lingo. You’re probably gonna have to just find out the hard way.
GUARD (o.s.)
Alright, time’s up. Say your goodbyes.
JOSH
(reaching out his
arms to her upper arms)
Don’t let them honey. Pull me back with you.
He reaches his body even further to hug and kiss her but is forcefully pulled back by a GUARD with the other guard backing him up.
AMANDA
I love you. I’ll come back every day. I promise.
She quickly disappears through his backward pull into the prisoners’ corridor.
INT. CORRIDER DAY
The men are walking back, silent. Castello looks at Josh with the trappings of a smile. Josh is again uneasy.
They approach the cell. Josh's uneasiness increases.
The guard unlocks the gate and motions the two prisoners inside.
INT. JAIL CELL DAY
Castello moves into the center, other INMATES naturally move aside for him. Josh, on the other hand, tries to move around INMATES and find an empty spot.
CASTELLO
(announcing to all)
Alright, listen up! ¡Escuchases, ratones!
Hands off the new prisoner! ¡Dejen de tocar el nuevo! ¡Quien lo toca tendra que negociar conmigo!
The PRISONERS look shocked and not wanting to challenge him.
INT. DR. MORFIELD’S OFFICE – DAY
DR. MORFIELD
How are you since the other night?
SAMANTHA
I’m so glad I’m here Because you have no idea.
DR. MORFIELD
Oh. Sounds like something big happened. Did you get raided again?
SAMANTHA
Oh thank God, no. Well...it was part good, part great actually, and part bad, part really bad.
He looks at her with interest.
SAMANTHA
We saw Billie Eilish. And it was right on the heels of the ICE problem and Amanda’s secret exile. She was hiding but then she showed up at school in the afternoon and that was a surprise. She said she had been trying to get work so that would help her stay hidden from ICE. But her boss said to go to school and get her birth certificate so they can’t do nothing to her. And it was like the worst time for us to go to a concert but it was our only chance so we all went and had a good time. Except Josh and Amanda had too much of a good time. Plus Josh was pacing the floor because he knew he could get caught and thrown in jail. So they just started having sex in the middle of the concert—I mean, with their clothes on—but she had like a bikini and you know how it is for guys, they just have to whip it out. I mean everybody was having too much fun to notice but I could see them. And it bothered me. So I separated myself from them and had this really big fantasy connection with Billie. I don’t know if you know anything about her but her lyrics are really personal and about the shit people go through, like all the thoughts people have about life and of course relationships. She sings about her anger, her pain, her desires, her love. I was grabbing up every word and even talking back to her saying I’d catch her if she fell.
DR. MORFIELD
Sorry to interrupt but what happened to Kamala?
SAMANTHA
Ohhh. She wasn’t there. It was really Josh’s idea when he hacked us up the tickets...
DR. MORFIELD
(cutting off)
Josh hacked the tickets?
SAMANTHA
Yeah, we figured we could save a buck or two and enjoy ourselves more.
DR. MORFIELD
And it didn’t bother you that you were breaking the law?
SAMANTHA
We were kind of talking about it but then just said we were being resourceful. Josh didn’t think Kamala would want to go because we were doing it illegally. He said she wouldn’t be into getting the tickets that way. But I said her fight is with the system and we were defrauding the system. We both thought about that it was wrong but the only wrong we were doing was keeping three people from going who would have paid for a ticket. And I was kind of on the outs with Kamala at that time so I wasn’t that eager for her to come. Amanda was the one who seemed to not care that anything was wrong.
DR. MORFIELD
Interesting the extent of the moral scale between Amanda and Kamala and you two were somewhere in the middle. Tell me more about Kamala and what was going on between you two at that time.
SAMANTHA
We got into a big fight when we got back from the court because she wouldn’t let me spend the night with her. I was so needing her that night, her closeness and affection. But she was so cold, it was late, we better just get to bed so we could function the next day. But I needed a body to hold, someone to let me know everything would be alright, the love I so needed to feel at that moment. Oh don’t let me go on cause then I’ll get mad at her all over again.
DR. MORFIELD
Kamala’s a very personal person. She loves you and needs your love but for her, it has to be in a dosable way, that means a way she can handle. You are a very effusive person. You wear your emotions on your sleeve. Everybody gets to know how you’re feeling and thinking unfiltered. You love caring for people. But people can’t handle all that even though your feelings are pure. Kamala needs to pull back at times to be by herself, not because she doesn’t love you but because that’s her need. Your need is to feel the love of others. But sometimes you just got to give that to yourself. You’ve got to be there for yourself when other people can’t. You love her, right?
SAMANTHA
(nodding, closed-mouthed)
Mm-hmm.
DR. MORFIELD
That’s what love is. Giving your partner a chance to take her own space but it doesn’t mean she loves you less. She was legitimately worried about losing sleep and falling behind in class. It had been a long stressful day for her and she needed that alone time desperately to unwind. What would help you is to be able to take care of yourself by building a core inner fortress so you can get through times like these without falling apart. Like calling on a friend to hang out with.
SAMANTHA
It was late but Josh and Amanda let me crash with them. And don’t worry, they had already done their business. I was kind of waking them up. But the fact that they accommodated me made me really appreciate them more, especially Amanda, who woke her brother up to insist he be there for me. And he was so accommodating.
(breakdown into tears)
I hate him being in jail. I wish I had been more...tougher on him to not go. He’s such a good guy.
She really lets out a good tearful CRY.
DR. MORFIELD
Oh my God, so he did get caught. I understand your feelings. That’s really rough. Your theme today is losing people. Losing Kamala. And now losing your brother. You’re really getting hit by the thing you’re most vulnerable to. And this is why we are going to work on you being the the important person in your life, the person you can always turn to to feel what you get from others. Because it’s really you doing it. It’s really you giving yourself permission to feel better when others make you feel okay about yourself. Because I remember you talked earlier in our sessions about feeling pushed aside, discredited, made to feel unimportant and inconsequential to others. But the problem is you’ve converted this feeling into feeling unimportant and inconsequential to yourself. That’s what we have to change. It’s not going to be easy but you’ve come light years already so this is just the next step. Learning to turn to yourself when there’s no one there for you.
SAMANTHA
That’s just how it is now. My folks put me on lockdown for Josh going to jail. I can’t see anyone. No friends, no phone, just school, homework, bed...
INT. BONNIE’S HOUSE - LATE DAY
Bonnie opens the door and Amanda enters.
AMANDA
(breathing heavily
I don’t know why I’m doing this to myself.
BONNIE
(perplexdd)
What’s going on?
AMANDA
It’s like torture having to see Josh through a window for just five minutes that goes by so quickly. I think we’re trying to hold onto something that will be more torture than moving on.
BONNIE
Then move on.
o0
They just look at each other in which Amanda clearly is not ready for that. Bonnie smiles a knowing smile.
BONNIE
You hungry?
AMANDA
Why? You hungry?
BONNIE
Naah, I’m just...
(leaves it therr)
After a silence?
AMANDA
Do you want me to not talk about Josh?
BONNIE
No, honey, I’m your friend. Talk about whatever you want.
AMANDA
Well, I don’t wanna leave Josh.
BONNIE
That’s obvious. That’s gonna take a lot of strength and courage.
AMANDA
Well I’m sexed out enough for my entire life.
BONNIE
You and me both.
AMANDA
Really?
You got hammered too? Oh my God.
BONNIE
They really wanna make you feel like it’s a crime to want to be beautiful. Men are such beasts.
AMANDA
I know. And that’s precisely why I want to keep loving Josh even if he’s in jail and I can only see him through a window five minutes a day.
BONNIE
You’re lucky. Some couples don’t get that much quality time. And these are people that live with each other.
AMANDA
Wow. I guess I really am lucky.
BONNIE
So what is it about this guy that you can’t resist?
AMANDA
Everything. I mean you can’t see it just by looking at him. I mean he’s average. Good-looking but average guy typr. What happened is—you mind if I tell you?
(smiles shyly)
It’s a little graphic at first.
BONNIE
Are you kidding? I’m dying for a juicy story.
AMANDA
Before he met me, he was sexting some girl overseas. And then his dad took away his phone. So his online girlfriend got mad because he couldn’t pay her and she posted his picture on a porn site. And, one day when I was hanging out with Bryce in the schoolyard, there it was. Bonnie, it was so huge, I couldn’t believe it. I would never in a million years expect this geeky kid to have a boner like that. But I’m serious. And he was on lockdown at the time. He was already banned from everything, not even school.
BONNIE
What he do that was so bad?
AMANDA
He hacked into his dad’s credit card, his school files. That’s why he’s doing time now.
BONNIE
That sounds like a long time. You ready to hold out that long. How many years did he get?
AMANDA
They haven’t had the trial yet.
BONNIE
They’re gonna have to plea bargain it down. Or you’re gonna end up being an old lady.
AMANDA
Stop.
BONNIE
So tell me about you two, what happened nex
AMANDA
Well, I knew he was on lockdown. I had no idea how I could get to meet him. But I had heard he climbed out the window once. And you know where I live is no picnic. So I went out one night to see if I could get his attention through the window.
BONNIE
Girl, you were smitten.
AMANDA
You should’a seen the picture. I might still have it on my phone.
She checks, clicking several times on her phone.
AMANDA
Naah, it’s not here. So, anyway, I went there. And I must’a been there over an hour. I was calling out quietly but... so I just chilled there. Lit up a joint. That mind of helped me feel the vibe. And then I saw movement. He was at the window peeing, would you believe it?
BONNIE
(cracking up)
I don’t believe you. So you got a front row view. You got to see just what you cane for.
AMANDA
Yeah, he didn’t even know I was there until I called him. Then he got so embarrassed.
They both laugh.
BONNIE
You bad girl.
AMANDA
Yeah, he was so... he even said I made him wet his pants. But it didn’t matter. I soon had them off of him.
BONNIE
So it went really smoothly, huh?
AMANDA
Yeah. No mental games. Just a shared vibe. He was trying to show off how he could hack us up an expensive lifestyle, chilling on the world’s greatest beaches. But somehow that never happened. But that’s alright. He had it where it counts. It wasn’t even that huge. But it was thick. His dad caught us twenty-four hours later in the middle of it.
BONNIE
You mean you went for twenty-four hours?
AMANDA
Naah, but he could go a long time. Not like those assholes I had to fuck for mom’s drugs who were like in and out. I hate those guys so much. That’s why I really liked Josh so much. And still so. He cared. He wanted me for me. He wasn’t looking for a cheap thrills. I didn’t tell him at first about my situation. It wasn’t until the third time I came over that I ran into his sister, Samantha, and we became friends. I told her everything. I was scared to tell Josh. I thought he’d kick me out. But it was the exact opposite. He really cared about me
(tears up a little)
Bonnie gets her a tissue.
AMANDA
No guy had ever cared that much and showed me even more affection and tenderness.
BONNIE
Wow. Sounds like a keeper. You think what drew you to him was that he was in his own tough situation?
AMANDA
Yeah, that’s a good point. Maybe that’s why I love him so much, especially now in jail. He sacrificed for me. I mean, okay, it was for his rizz, his pure lust that we started up. But it was something else about him that kept me coming back. Okay, at first it was his freak. But it’s subtle the way love sneaks up on you. I don’t think either one of us thought that way at first. We both fell into bed long before we fell in love. But now it’s undeniable. And I love it that I’m the object of his desire, even now.
BONNIE
Of course.
AMANDA
Especially now in fact. We been through so much together and this is just the next episode of us.
BONNIE
It’s gonna be a long one. Maybe even longer than the whole book up till now. But I get where you’re coming from. You have what every woman wants. Except maybe the sex part now.
AMANDA
I’ll trade the last fifteen years of my life before Josh for thirty years with him behind bars.
BONNIE
So you don’t think the fact that he can’t cheat while you can has something to do with it.
AMANDA
No because you can tell a man who’s on the level. He’s that into me that I know even if he had the freedom, he would still want me only. Just like I want him only.
BONNIE
Alright, we’ll see. I just hope you’re right. Cause a man locked up that long of course loves you when you come around but once he gets his freedom... Well, that’s a long way off.
AMANDA
No it’s not. He’s gonna get off.
BONNIE
Alright, let me see how Fergo’s doing. You want me to open the cot?
AMANDA
Naah, let me do some studying. Nothing else to do. Samantha had her phone yanked after the concert because they think she’s responsible for Josh getting in jail. If anyone should be blamed, it’s me. I was really pushing him to go more than she was.
BONNIE
(as she exits the room)
You bad girl.
INT. THE HOUSE, LIVING ROOM LATE DAY
Giselle and Samantha, both standing.
GISELLE
This is why you need to be on lockdown now except for school. And Dr. Morfield. That girl’s a bad influence. It’s because of her that Josh is in jail. I wouldn’t mind letting you see Kamala but your father feels differently. He says you need to be grounded from all your friends because it’s keeping you from studying. And I see his point.
SAMANTHA
Alright ma, I get your point.
GISELLE
If only you had just stuck with Kamala and stayed away from that girl.
SAMANTHA
She has a name, mom. Now can I please go study like you want me to?
She heads toward the stairs, her school bag in hand.
INT. THE HOUSE, SAMANTHA’S ROOM – LATE DAY
Samantha is in front of her laptop.
IMAGE – WHATSAPP TEXT being typed (Samantha): How are you doing. How’s Josh? I miss you so much. I forgot I still have this phone, I mean computer that we can text on. What site are you on the most? I will copy this from WhatsApp to Messenger, InstaM, TikTok... Where do you hang out most?
Can you score me like 10 gummies. I’m going crazy. Come in the middle of the night. I love you so much.
NEW WINDOW
IMAGE – WHATSAPP TEXT being typed (Samantha) Hey
What you up to? I forgot I have my computer I can reach you on. I don’t have to sneak...
All of a sudden, the door opens and Joey is there. Samantha quickly closes the window, revealing a blank screen.
JOEY
I just wanted to see how you’re doing. Your ma said you were busy studying. Looks like you’re studying your homework screen. Is this a class in home economics? Or are you studying computer home page graphics.
SAMANTHA
Haha you’re funny, dad. I just like to close my windows while I’m working so I don’t overload the system.
JOEY
Really...? I’ll chucking half, no seventy-percent of what’s stored on your machine will accomplish that very quickly. Let me take a look at it.
SAMANTHA
Oh, I don’t want to trouble you, dad. You should relax. It’ll be too much work.
JOEY
Oh, not at all. You were having so much fun on it. I think I’m entitled to little fun too. Get your ass downstairs. You’ll do your homework in the living room where we can see you. I mean all of you. The part that’s on the screen too.
Samantha gets up reluctantly, closes her laptop and carries it out of the room, Joey behind her.
JOEY
And it’s staying down there overnight.
INT. THE HOUSE, UPSTAIRS HALLWAY – LATE DAY
JOEY
You can think of what your brother’s going through right now and feel really lucky.
INT. JOSH’S JAIL CELL – DUSK
The PRISONERS are sitting around in more or less of an ordered circle, Josh included among them.
JENKINS (FOURTH INMATE)
(handing Josh a rolled cigarette)
Here, Boozy.
JOSH
Well, if my name’s Boozy, shouldn’t I be having a beer?
JENKINS
(laughing)
Oh, you’re a funny one.
JOSH
I’m not a smoker.
JENKINS
(handing him something else)
You’ll change.
JOSH
(taking the candy)
Thanks.
Josh enjoy sucking on the hard candy.
CASTELLO
Your girlfriend bought you some luck here.
JOSH
Yeah, she told me about you. She liked you.
CASTELLO
Sweet girl, la multa.
JOSH
What’s la multa?
CASTELLO
It’s a name we gave her. It means like a traffic fine or penalty. You traffic with us, you gotta pay la multa. She was the multa.
JOSH
You mean for drugs?
Castello nods.
JOSH
I love that girl. So that was what she was talking about and why she doesn’t wanna go home no more. There was a huge shoot-out there with ICE agents. I got her out of there and they never caught her. I ran out of the van when they were shooting each other and got her out.
CASTELLO
You’re alright. For a squeaky.
FADE OUT
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