Little Earthquakes 5
A Serialized Work of Fiction
Little Earthquakes
Installment Five
INT. HOSPITAL — KAS'S ROOM — AFTERNOON — PRESENT
Kas and Dillon are making their way from the doorway to his bed. His walk seems a little steadier now. The left side of his face looks a little less droopy now.
Kas gets into bed and then Dillon pours him a cup of water.
DILLON
I forgot to tell you that Elena is coming by later.
Dillon sits in the visitor chair.
KAS
I hope she's not neglecting Javier and Ray just to see me. I'll be fine.
DILLON
Kas, she's an adult. Let Elena do what she wants. She loves you like a second father.
Kas's eyes well up.
KAS
Well, she's the closest thing to a child of my own. You know how much I wanted to be a father.
DILLON
I know, babe. You gave her more love than some people give to their own children.
KAS
Come here.
Kas kisses Dillon.
KAS
You're one of the best things that ever happened to me.
DILLON
Excuse me—one of?
KAS
Dillon, stop, you know that I adore you.
DILLON
You're lucky that I know the other one of is Elena, otherwise, they'd be fighting words.
Both men chuckle.
DILLON
She knows that you'd do anything for her.
Closeup on Kas.
Match Cut To:
INT. KAS AND DILLON'S KITCHEN — MORNING — OCTOBER 28TH, 2012
Closeup on Kas.
Kas and Dillon are eating breakfast side by side in awkward silence. Kas picks up the remote and turns on the TV.
A local morning news program is running. An animated BREAKING NEWS ticker flashes on screen.
REPORTER
We have breaking news on this Sunday morning. We've just learned that Laye University student Kenneth J. Fox was found dead overnight. Police are launching an investigation and we will have more as details emerge. Our prayers are with his family.
Dillon and Kas turn to face each other.
KAS
Holy shit.
Cut To:
INT. WILLIAM NEGRON & PARTNERS, ATTORNEY'S AT LAW OFFICE — DAY — APRIL 2012
BILL (William Negron — mid 50s) is suited and sitting across from Elena, Adam, and Iris in a small conference room. Two legal aides flank him.
BILL (Markaj Lawyer)
If we allow a criminal case to proceed, the total process can take a few years in the State of Connecticut. There's enough evidence and a corroborating witness as to Elena's state on the night of the assault.
Bill surveys the faces of Elena, Adam, and Iris, looking them squarely in their eyes.
BILL
Aside from dragging on for a few years, the Fox family has the means to run a full-blown smear campaign. They will investigate Elena's life, medical records, and social media to pull anything negative that can be used to discredit her.
Elena looks downcast at hearing this.
BILL
You can win this case but, unfortunately, there's no ideal path to victory. My recommendation would be to file a joint civil suit against Ken Fox and Laye University. With the facts of the case as is, and a police report and rape kit triggering a criminal investigation, it will force Laye University and the Fox family to settle.
Iris, Adam, and Elena exchange darting glances.
IRIS
That bastard is a rapist. He deserves to rot in hell.
BILL
No argument on that. However, you must consider the emotional toll on all of you for a years long legal battle, especially Elena.
ADAM
We'll stand by her and support her the whole way.
BILL
Elena, you are technically my client, so we'll proceed however you want to proceed. If you need more time to think about it, that's fine. We just can't wait weeks or months. By that time, the university's internal investigators will lock down their own findings, and we lose our ability to press our advantage. We need to strike while the physical evidence is fresh.
ELENA
I need to think about all of this. It's a lot.
BILL
I understand, and I'm truly sorry that this happened to you.
Cut To:
INT. ADAM AND IRIS'S HOUSE — AFTERNOON
Elena and Iris are on the couch. Adam is at the door, opening it to reveal Kas has arrived.
Kas quickly gets settled in the living room.
KAS
How did it go with your lawyer?
ADAM
Bill talked us through our options. He thinks we should file a civil suit against Ken Fox and the school.
KAS
Seriously?
IRIS
Seriously.
KAS
But that means that that fucker will get off by just paying his way out.
ADAM
Calm down, Kas.
KAS
Oh, I'm calm. You've seen me not calm.
IRIS
Look, we have to consider what a long grueling investigation and trial will mean for Elena.
Kas looks at his downtrodden niece. There's pain in his eyes. His demeanor softens.
KAS
Sweetie, I'm sorry. How are you holding up?
ELENA
I'm trying to keep it together.
KAS
Remember that you're my dragonslayer.
Elena looks up at her uncle.
Match Cut To:
INT. BACKSTAGE AT MIDDLE SCHOOL AUDITORIUM — AFTERNOON — 2005
Elena (11) looking up at Kas.
ELENA
Uncle Kas, I'm scared. What if I mess up? I really want to win.
KAS
You will do great—do you know why?
ELENA
Why?
KAS
Because you are my little dragonslayer. You're going to slay this Spelling Bee.
Elena smiles.
ELENA
I'm going to slay today.
Match Cut To:
INT. ADAM AND IRIS'S HOUSE — AFTERNOON — 2012
Elena looking at Kas.
ELENA
I'm not sure about this one... years in and out of court. I don't know if I can handle that. I'm barely holding on right now.
ADAM
Zemer, we're all here for you no matter what you decide.
Elena's cell phone buzzes. She opens a text message that reads "OMG! Look at the RiotGirlz post on Tumblr! Isn't Ken the guy that you're dating?"
IRIS
Mija, what's the matter?
ELENA
I don't know. My friend just told me to check the Riot Girlz account.
IRIS
Who are they?
ELENA
It's the school's feminist club on campus. Hold on.
Zoom in on Elena's cell phone screen. A mobile browser displays riotgirlz.tumblr.com. There's a photo of a smiling Ken Fox with bold capital text that states "RAPIST." The bottom right corner of the dashboard post has 2,812 notes (views).
ELENA
Oh my God. Why would they do this? Everyone's going to know that he raped me. Everyone's going to figure out it was me.
Cut To:
EXT. LAYE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS — AFTERNOON — APRIL 2012
Students and faculty milling about on the school grounds.
Ken Fox is walking the green by himself. He notices that other students are staring when he passes by.
Cut To:
INT. UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT LYLE GALLOWAY'S OFFICE
LYLE GALLOWAY (late 50s), OSCAR BOWMAN (late 40s), and SCOTT CALLAHAN (late 40s) sit at a small conference table in the elegant New England office.
OSCAR
Sir, this Tumblr post is viral with the student body and the police have confirmed that a report was filed within the last 48 hours.
LYLE
Is there anything that we can do to contain this?
OSCAR
I've already reached out to General Counsel and our Title IX Coordinator for an emergency meeting today.
SCOTT
I've reached out to campus security and the IT Department to launch an investigation on the Riot Girlz club. We'll find out which one of them posted this.
LYLE
There's nothing we can do about that post now because there's a police report. We'd only be able to shut it down if it were defamation of character.
Lyle stands up, frustrated but trying to maintain his professional composure.
LYLE
Gentlemen, call me right away when the meeting is confirmed with General Counsel.
Oscar and Scott get up, collecting their laptops and exit the office.
As soon as the door is closed, Lyle walks over to his window. He pulls out his cell phone and dials.
LYLE
This is Lyle Galloway. Linus Fox, please.
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT (O.S.)
Mr. Fox is in a meeting right now. Would you like to leave a message?
LYLE
No, miss. I need him on the phone right now, it's an emergency. I don't care if he's meeting with President Obama or the Sultan of Brunei.
Lyle paces by the window.
LINUS (O.S.)
Hello. Lyle, what the hell is going on?
LYLE
There's a new allegation against Ken and it's going viral on Tumblr.
LINUS
Jesus Christ. Why can't that boy keep it in his pants.
LYLE
I don't give a shit about his pants. This could stir up the Jones incident, so, I suggest you find a way to nip this in the bud before the press starts digging.
Cut To:
INT. ADAM AND IRIS'S HOUSE — EVENING — APRIL 2012
Only Adam and Kas are sitting on the couch.
KAS
We have to push through this and get that piece of shit convicted.
Iris walks down on the brothers' conversation.
IRIS
I don't know if she can handle this dragging on for years. I think she might be leaning towards the civil suit.
KAS
No. That fucking dirtbag doesn't get to walk away from this.
ADAM
Kas, we have to do what's right for Elena.
KAS
Justice is what's right.
ADAM
I understand, but my daughter's well-being is more important than anything else right now.
IRIS
I agree. We'll support her choice.
KAS
Wow. You're Albanian and you're Puerto Rican—where the hell is the fight in you? Elena is stronger than you think.
ADAM
Enough, Kas. Elena will decide and that's it.
KAS
I can't listen to this.
Kas gets up to leave.
Fade Out.
