Joe On The Run Part 4
Setting: At a snack bar on the beach
Characters: Mason, Kelly, and Peter
Premise: Joe and Kelly were spotted at the snack bar by one of Mason's policemen.
Cornered, Joe paddled a surf board out to sea to avoid capture. He is now missing and
many are assuming the worse, but not Kelly.
Kelly: It’s all your fault, Mason.
Mason: Kelly, I was just doing my job.
Kelly: You should have told me about the warrant so I could talk to Joe. I’m sure if you’d just gave
him the chance he would have came in voluntarily.
Mason: You don’t get where I am by taking foolish chances.
Kelly: Why don’t try a little compassion?
Mason: The man was being sought on criminal charges, Kelly. Every action I took was well within
my authority.
Kelly: Let me tell you something, Mason, if anything happens to Joe, I’m going to hold you
personally responsible.
Mason: If anything happens to Joe Perkins, he has nobody but himself to blame.
Peter: Look, Kelly, he ran. The police gave him every opportunity to surrender.
Kelly: Joe is not a drug dealer! You both know that!
Mason: Peter’s right, Kelly. Innocent people don’t run.
Kelly: He was scared, Mason. He knows he can’t trust anybody in this town. I beginning to believe
neither can I. Anyway, the only thing I care about right now is Joe’s welfare.
Mason: Believe me, that’s all I care about, as well.
Kelly: So what’s going on? I have a right to know!
Mason: I told you I stationed policemen up and down the beach for ten miles in either direction.
There’s no way he could have paddled that surfboard to shore and not been seen.
Peter: Kelly, there were some big waves last night. I could hear them from my apartment.
Mason: There was a topical storm off Baja.
Kelly: So, what? Maybe he could have swam more than the ten miles.
Mason: No, not in these seas. That’s impossible. My theory is he paddled out further, maybe to an
oilrig. If that’s the case then the Coast Guard will find him.
Peter: It’s going to be better in daylight, too.
Kelly: You have notified the Coast Guard. Oh, that’s something.
Mason: Kelly, you seem to have it in your mind that I don’t want to find Joe. That’s absolutely
wrong. I’m hoping, as is Peter, that Joe is safe and well.
Kelly: Oh, so you can put him back in jail, Mason? You know what? When I was living at home it
was difficult for me to see the real you. But looking at you now, I see what a very pathetic, and very
sad individual you are.
Mason: Well, I’m sorry you feel that way. Not devastated, but sorry.
Peter: Listen, do we know something definite? It’s pointless to discuss this any further.
Kelly: Joe is alive! I know he is! And he’s going to turn up somewhere. And when he does, he going
to be able to explain all these trumped up charges.
Mason: Well, for his sake, I certainly hope so.
Peter: They found the drugs, Kelly.
Kelly: Planted somewhere! Like someone who hates him.
Mason: That could be a lot people.
Kelly: Yeah, present company included.
Mason: Kelly, if that’s an accusation—
Kelly: Look, you've done worse than this. Like last night, Mason, how did you know Joe was here at
this snake bar? I've been wondering about that. Were you having me followed?
Mason: Why didn't I think of that?
Kelly: Well, you were having Sally followed.
Mason: Actually, Kelly, it was pure luck. Soon as I issued the warrant I had men stationed at all of
Joe’s usual hangouts. One of them spotted him here, called me and the rest you know.
Peter: Ten hours is a long time in the ocean, Kelly. Even if he is on the surfboard, It’d be a miracle if
they find him.
Kelly: How many times do I have to tell you, Joe is safe and well!
Peter: How can you be so sure?
Kelly: I just know!
Peter: Look, Kelly, you’re going to have to prepare yourself for the worse.
Kelly: No, I’m not going to listen to this. I’m not going to let any of you tell me anything different.
(Walks away)
Peter: Thanks for not mentioning my involvement.
Mason: Well, I didn’t see the point. Well, you lucky, Peter. For the time being she’ll be directing her
anger at me.
Peter: You don’t mind?
Mason: No, I’m used to it. (Laughs) You, on the other hand, are going to come off quite the good
guy. A role I’m sure you’ll play with your usual aplomb. And who knows? Maybe we’ll find Joe belly-
up out there. Then you’ll have Kelly all to yourself.
Peter: You know? There is a chance he managed to elude the police and get back to shore safely.
Mason: Then the Coast Guard will pick him up.
Peter: You better hope so, Mason, because if they don’t, it’s your fault.
Mason: And if he’s found dead, it could be well deduced that you were responsible. Think about
that, Peter. Think how Kelly will react to that little tidbit.
Kelly: It’s all your fault, Mason.
Mason: Kelly, I was just doing my job.
Kelly: You should have told me about the warrant so I could talk to Joe. I’m sure if you’d just gave
him the chance he would have came in voluntarily.
Mason: You don’t get where I am by taking foolish chances.
Kelly: Why don’t try a little compassion?
Mason: The man was being sought on criminal charges, Kelly. Every action I took was well within
my authority.
Kelly: Let me tell you something, Mason, if anything happens to Joe, I’m going to hold you
personally responsible.
Mason: If anything happens to Joe Perkins, he has nobody but himself to blame.
Peter: Look, Kelly, he ran. The police gave him every opportunity to surrender.
Kelly: Joe is not a drug dealer! You both know that!
Mason: Peter’s right, Kelly. Innocent people don’t run.
Kelly: He was scared, Mason. He knows he can’t trust anybody in this town. I beginning to believe
neither can I. Anyway, the only thing I care about right now is Joe’s welfare.
Mason: Believe me, that’s all I care about, as well.
Kelly: So what’s going on? I have a right to know!
Mason: I told you I stationed policemen up and down the beach for ten miles in either direction.
There’s no way he could have paddled that surfboard to shore and not been seen.
Peter: Kelly, there were some big waves last night. I could hear them from my apartment.
Mason: There was a topical storm off Baja.
Kelly: So, what? Maybe he could have swam more than the ten miles.
Mason: No, not in these seas. That’s impossible. My theory is he paddled out further, maybe to an
oilrig. If that’s the case then the Coast Guard will find him.
Peter: It’s going to be better in daylight, too.
Kelly: You have notified the Coast Guard. Oh, that’s something.
Mason: Kelly, you seem to have it in your mind that I don’t want to find Joe. That’s absolutely
wrong. I’m hoping, as is Peter, that Joe is safe and well.
Kelly: Oh, so you can put him back in jail, Mason? You know what? When I was living at home it
was difficult for me to see the real you. But looking at you now, I see what a very pathetic, and very
sad individual you are.
Mason: Well, I’m sorry you feel that way. Not devastated, but sorry.
Peter: Listen, do we know something definite? It’s pointless to discuss this any further.
Kelly: Joe is alive! I know he is! And he’s going to turn up somewhere. And when he does, he going
to be able to explain all these trumped up charges.
Mason: Well, for his sake, I certainly hope so.
Peter: They found the drugs, Kelly.
Kelly: Planted somewhere! Like someone who hates him.
Mason: That could be a lot people.
Kelly: Yeah, present company included.
Mason: Kelly, if that’s an accusation—
Kelly: Look, you've done worse than this. Like last night, Mason, how did you know Joe was here at
this snack bar? I've been wondering about that. Were you having me followed?
Mason: Why didn't I think of that?
Kelly: Well, you were having Sally followed.
Mason: Actually, Kelly, it was pure luck. Soon as I issued the warrant I had men stationed at all of
Joe’s usual hangouts. One of them spotted him here, called me and the rest you know.
Peter: Ten hours is a long time in the ocean, Kelly. Even if he is on the surfboard, It’d be a miracle if
they find him.
Kelly: How many times do I have to tell you, Joe is safe and well!
Peter: How can you be so sure?
Kelly: I just know!
Peter: Look, Kelly, you’re going to have to prepare yourself for the worse.
Kelly: No, I’m not going to listen to this. I’m not going to let any of you tell me anything different.
(Walks away)
Peter: Thanks for not mentioning my involvement.
Mason: Well, I didn't see the point. Well, you lucky, Peter. For the time being she’ll be directing her
anger at me.
Peter: You don’t mind?
Mason: No, I’m used to it. (Laughs) You, on the other hand, are going to come off quite the good
guy. A role I’m sure you’ll play with your usual aplomb. And who knows? Maybe we’ll find Joe belly-
up out there. Then you’ll have Kelly all to yourself.
Peter: You know? There is a chance he managed to elude the police and get back to shore safely.
Mason: Then the Coast Guard will pick him up.
Peter: You better hope so, Mason, because if they don’t, it’s your fault.
Mason: And if he’s found dead, it could be well deduced that you were responsible. Think about
that, Peter. Think how Kelly will react to that little tidbit.
