Joe Rendace's Downfall - Joe's View - Chapter 6

Joe visits his therapist, Dr Elizabeth Eden, and turns his weekly update into a television episode, complete with humor and horror. 

Genre: Thriller

Downfall, a novel by Joe Rendace, details a tense three week period in the marriage of Joe and Allison Vincent, where dying means never having to say you're sorry. 

Www.JoeRendace.com
Check out the novel and screenplay.

Transcript

CHAPTER 6

Friday afternoon

12:20 p.m.

My final right off the main road led to a secluded section of the North Shore where my psychiatrist resided; a private, wooded area that appeared cut off from civilization. Dr. Eden-- Elizabeth-- worked from home. While there was nothing strange about a doctor working from her home, her situation came across as odd. I never saw another soul in her office. She didn’t have a secretary or any other coworkers in the house. To the best of my knowledge, she was not married. She may have had a boyfriend, but there were no material possessions to draw that conclusion. Before I could ponder any further, the door to her office opened.

“Hello. I’m sorry to keep you waiting.”

She didn’t keep me waiting. In fact, I was actually a few minutes early. Yet, she already began to control the situation by letting me feel as if I was in charge of the session. Bravo! In my mind, I applauded her. All her years of training paid off well. She knew I hated coming.

I found my way to my usual therapeutic haven, sitting in the soft powder blue recliner next to the end table. I presumed the chair’s color was intended to sooth the savage beast. While I arched back to a comfortable position, she closed the heavy wooden door that isolated her office from the rest of the house.

“How was the ride over? Not much traffic, I hope.”

The usual mindless chatter lulled me back in the mistrust that plagued me, I decided to take it in another direction.

“Actually, it was pretty bad. I got so pissed in fact, that I turned my car into oncoming traffic.”

Said very nonchalantly, I reached for a peanut in the porcelain swan bowl on the table next to my chair. Elizabeth stopped reaching for her notepad. She was not expecting anything more than my usual canned response in return.

I got right back to my story while chewing the beige nut.

“Oh, don’t worry. Everyone swerved out of my way in time.”

She was upset. Partially shocked due to what I said and a bit aggravated at my callousness, the awkward moment had its due. I watched her lips and waited. With perfect timing, I was able to cut her off just as she was to speak.

“I’m just kidding.” My smile extended from ear to ear. Her only response was to stare. I popped another peanut into my mouth.

“These are fantastic. Are they Planters?”

I intentionally gave her my full attention, as if waiting for a response. The jerk I was displaying was intentional. What I had just done was put the “stupid little joke” behind us and forced her to follow suit. Taking a deep breath, Elizabeth let out a sigh.

“Yes. Planters. Lightly salted.”

I pretended to pay her no mind, frowning at the result of my verbal test. If she didn’t handle my stupid joke too well, how could I tell her that I might be a killer? I knew there was a confidentiality agreement between doctor and patient. But somehow, I didn’t think I could tell her that if she was out of the Planters lightly salted peanuts, I might try to substitute her eyeballs in their place.

She might take that in a bad way.

“So, let’s begin.”

My mind wandered through scattered thoughts as she tried to hand me a business card. Feeling a little indignant, I grabbed it from her fingertips and placed it in my pocket without looking at it.

“Thanks.”

She stared, perplexed by my blunt response.

“Don’t you want to know what the card is for?”

Still upset, I felt like a child who just needed to cause trouble.

“It’s not important.”

With a slow shake of her head, she placed her painted fingernails against the nape of her neck and exhaled. I had to move us forward.

“So, Doc, where do you want to start?”

“Well, let’s talk about high school.”

At the mere mention of the words, my head became consumed with four years of agonizing hell. It took a moment to reflect. Fifteen years ago was a long time.

“Well, I didn’t realize it was an all boys’ school. When I walked through the halls on the first day, I thought all the girls were in gym class.”

Elizabeth laughed aloud. I couldn’t really blame her. It did sound ridiculous.

“I’m sorry, that wasn’t right of me. But it just came across like you were seeking a laugh.”

Maybe I was. Maybe that was the direction I needed.

“So, did you like it? Did you try and leave after that first day?”

Her rapid questions irked me, as I was trying to think a few steps ahead. My answers were quick and emotionless.

“Hmm? Oh, yeah. But my mother wouldn’t sign the transfer papers. I still hate her to this day for that whole catastrophe.”

“Oh, well, ok. Uh, tell me what a typical day was like for you and your friends.”

My eyes lightened. I pieced it all together.

“Okay, I’ll do just that. But let’s have some fun with this. I’ve told you how much time I spent in front of the TV as a kid, right? Personally speaking, my life became so much like a television show, I saw everything as an episode. What I want from you is to analyze my show. Tell me what I mean. Do you think you’re up to the task?”

With a determined grin, she folded her hands on her lap.

“Whenever you’re ready, Director.”

Rising from my chair, I slid toward the light switch. Within arm length of the panel, I turned to Elizabeth.

“We will call this episode, High School Blues.”

She squinted her eyes. “Is this really necessary?”

“No, but it’s showtime.”

SCENE 1: 1986

CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL CAFETERIA. (4) JUNIORS STANDING AT A TABLE.

JOE – THE PROTAGONIST

GEISET – THE ANTAGONIST

CORNEL – COMIC RELIEF

JOE

I’m tired.

GEISET

That’s because you two are

the first here every morning.

Not to study, but just to play cards.

So tell me, what does it get you?

CORNEL

A good parking spot?

Geiset gives Cornel a dirty look.

JOE

Study? For what?

GEISET

How about the math test today in 3rd period?

JOE

That’s what 2nd period is for.

The good Doctor cut my show short before I could continue.

“Okay, I have a few comments to make. Well, first let me say that you have a vivid imagination. To come up with all of this on the spot is very interesting. Have you ever considered being a writer?”

“No, I never had an interest in anything like that. I can barely spell my name.”

“Well, let me begin with a question. You mentioned you stood at the table?”

“Correct. Catholic High. Sitting promoted laziness. Laziness gave way to failure.”

“Wow. Ok. Secondly, I sense there was some tension between your group. Was that so?”

Rather than give away anything, I told her to listen closely.

Geiset begins to get flustered. He makes one more attempt to get his point across. Turning to Joe, he points in Cornel’s direction.

GEISET

Look, even your ‘partner–in–slime’ is studying.

Cornel, not paying any attention, starts to chuckle while reading his book.

GEISET

What are you studying that’s so funny?

Cornel raises the book off the table to expose the cover.

GEISET

Mien Kampf?!! Why the hell are you

reading Hitler’s book? What class could

you possibly be reading that for?

Taking a moment for dramatic pause, Cornel answers in a friendly tone.

CORNEL

Intro to Murders and Executions: 101.

My good doctor stopped my roll.

“Hold on. Time out. Stop the cameras! What kind of comedy is this?”

I rummaged through what has left of the peanuts, making one important point.

“Who said this was a comedy?”

The tilt of her head gave me what I needed.

“Consider this one of those new wave, hip television shows. Where everything doesn’t always turn out as you expect it.”

“Ah, so this all has a purpose other than sarcastic banter?”

“But of course. There’s always a madness to my method.”

SCENE 2: LUNCH. CAFETERIA 5TH PERIOD

GEISET

So, how did you do on the math

test? I got a 100, read it and weep.

JOE

102 baby, eat it up!

CORNEL

Ah, another satisfied client. By

the way, with the purchase of

the math answers, you get a

complementary air freshener.

GEISET

Idiots! Did you sell him your

girlfriend also, Cornel?

Cornel suddenly becomes very angry.

Cut short before I was done, I turned to the sound of Elizabeth’s voice.

“Wait, hold on. How are you going from humor to drama in the same sentence? Did you steal his girlfriend?”

“No. Not at all. She needed a way to get even with him when he cheated on her and that just happened to be lying about me.”

“Interesting. And you’re not lying now?”

I put my two fingers up.

“Scout’s honor.”

Our session was just about done.

“So, can you tell me what I was supposed to gain from this script?”

“I have a question to ask you. How many of us do you think graduated?”

I knew she couldn’t answer, but I had my reasons.

“Well, based on the limited information, I’ll guess all of you?”

“No. Six months after senior year started, Edward Geiset’s body was found in the weeds five blocks from school off the Van Wyck parkway. He was brutally beaten to death with the tire iron they found inserted in his rectum.”

My intention was not to have her shudder in horror but that was the result.

“Did they catch the person?”

“Actually, they did. I had the measles and was out sick for two weeks but heard how they found Geiset’s wallet in the locker of one of the football players on our team. Supposedly, Geiset had aggravated a few of the jocks when he refused to do their reports. When the police dragged Buddy Tregner from the locker room, he kicked and cried like a baby. He was put away forever. I heard he still maintains he was set up. I guess some people go to their graves lying and denying.”

“And the rest of the guys? Did they graduate?”

I glanced toward the window. While facing the drapes, I drifted back.

“Everyone else except Cornel. He had so many absences and detentions owed to the school that they had little choice but to release him. Three weeks left until graduation, he was gone. I never heard from him again.”

“Strange. Did that bother you?”

“Cornel was an aberration. A one of a kind personality. While we enjoyed a few laughs together, there was no getting close to him. Everyone and everything was considered an object for his use. There was no telling if he was sincere about anything. He said he knew his girlfriend used me, yet…”

She was about to say something when I intervened.

“Funny thing though. I ran into someone a few years back that graduated with us. I think his name was Jimmy Tompkins, or Tongkins. I don’t exactly remember. I never knew much of him other than making small talk in homeroom. Anyway, to make a long story short, we had gotten on the subject of whatever happened to the old crew and we both mentioned Cornel. Turns out that Jimmy was a cop in Queens and ran across a case involving a car fire. The dental records on the severely burned, unidentifiable corpse belonged to that of Garrett Cornel. I was taken back, but not surprised. Cornel always lived life with reckless abandon and it made perfect sense that he went out in a blaze of glory. So to speak.”

“That’s interesting, to say the least. I must admit, you do tell a captivating tale.”

I rose from my chair and walked toward the door.

“That’s the truth. It all happened just like I said.”

Just before I cleared Elizabeth’s sight, she motioned with her two raised fingers.

“Scout’s honor?”

I popped the last peanut in my mouth.

“How should I know. I was kicked out for lying.”