43
CYNTHIA: Did they get him?
JO: Uh-huh.
CYNTHIA: What happened?
JO: He was convicted. He's in gaol now.
CYNTHIA: Good. I hope they never let him out.
JO: With good behaviour he's eligible for parole next
year.
CYNTHIA: What!? So he can do it again? That's ridiculous!
JO: That's the way it works. He had a smart lawyer.
Everything got twisted around...(pause) That's
why I work so hard, so single-mindedly. I
want to be the best. When I finish high school I'm
gonna study law. I'm gonna study it like no one
has before. I'm gonna be the best. So when scum
like him end up in a court of law I'm gonna wrap
them up in it. I don't care who defends them or how
good they are, I'll be better.
CYNTHIA: (pause, astonished by JO's intensity) I believe
you.
JO: When I got out of hospital I was paranoid that I'd
be pregnant. I'd throw up just at the thought of
it. The doctor assured me I wasn't but I didn't
believe him, I'd get these home pregnancy tests
from different chemists and test myself a couple
of times a week. They were always negative and a
couple of weeks later, I got my period, right on
time.
CYNTHIA: I guess you were lucky. I'm scared to death that
I won't be.
JO: Who was it.
CYNTHIA: Somebody I know.
JO: Have you reported it?
CYNTHIA: I can't.
