|
|
Luke takes a deep breath and pushes
open the door to the interrogation
room. The room is deadly silent
except for the impatient tapping of
Lucky's foot on the floor. He slowly
walks over, taking a seat across
the table from his son. He waits,
aware that the tension in the room is
almost stifling. Lucky continues
to stare intently at the tabletop. Luke
sighs, leaning forward in his chair.
"Fine...... You don't want to talk,
then I will.......... What are you
trying to prove Lucky?... You hate
me, fine... I get that..... but why
are you so hell bent on destroying
yourself?"
He waits again, but the only movement
he can detect from the other side
of the table is the clenching and
unclenching of Lucky's jaw.
"Look... you're in a really dark
place right now...... that much I can
see....... There's people here
who want to help you........ if
you'll let them."
Luke exhales, frustrated. He doesn't
know what else he can say to get
through to him. All he knows is
he can't stop...... He's not going
to sit by and watch his son crash
and burn..... he would die first. He
rallies himself and opens his mouth
to speak.
"I don't need your help."
Luke watches Lucky intensely. At least he's talking.
"Fine, then go to your mother or
Bobbie or... Amy for god's sake! Just
don't bottle it up inside you......
cause you get jostled around
enough, and you'll pop your cork....."
"Oh, I don't know about that.......
I learned about keeping secrets
from the pros."
Luke closes his eyes, stung.
"Okay...... You learned a secret
about me from the past, and it hurt
you.... But Lucky, just because
I did something so unforgivable
doesn't mean you should--"
"NOT EVERYTHING IS ABOUT YOU!"
Luke leans back startled by his
sudden outburst. Lucky stands and walks
across the room. He contemplates
the wall, becoming increasingly aware
of his heavy breathing. Why did
he say that? He closes his eyes
frustrated at his inability to
keep his emotions in check. He wants his
dad off his back, but he's well
aware a comment like that isn't
going to pacify him. Luke watches
cautiously from his seat.
"You're right....... this is about
*you*... not me...... so let's
talk about you..... What's going
on with you?"
He waits anxiously, but there's
no response. He sighs, looking for a
new angle to this.
"Elizabeth called the house last
night..... she sounded kinda
upset...... was worried about you......"
Lucky closes his eyes, swallowing
hard against the nauseated feeling
that has begun swirling in his
stomach. Elizabeth....... the mere
thought of her makes his heart
ache. He told her he would always be
there for her, and here he is,
on his way to Juvy Hall. So much for
being supportive...... He feels
the tears welling behind his eyelids and
wills them not to fall. Luke watches
quietly from his chair. The room is
silent except for Lucky's shaky
breath. He quells the urge to just run
across the room and envelop his
son in a hug.
"Lucky...... come home...... let me post bail, and come home."
Lucky squeezes his eyes tighter.
There is no way in hell he's going to
let himself cry.......
"I..... I can't......"
"Why?........ You have people who
love you and need you....... If this
is because of the tension between
you and me, I promise I'll lay off,
okay?...... We'll do this your
way....... just don't..... don't do
something you'll regret later."
Lucky freezes, the words leaving
him cold. It wasn't that long ago
that he was saying essentially
the same thing to Elizabeth..... Telling
her to think things through clearly,
and thoroughly before
acting........ He bows his head,
acknowledging the fact that he's as
much a hypocrite as his dad......
yet another thing they have in common.
Everything in him is screaming
out to run..... go to Juvy Hall and get
as far away from his father's influence
as he can-- but he knows he
can't. It's not even the loss of
freedom that scares him, it's the
idea of living without Elizabeth......
Lucky sighs, wiping hastily at the
tears that stubbornly refuse to go
away. Luke waits. He's anxious,
but his face displays no emotion
except that of pain for his son.
Slowly, he rises to stand. He's
afraid to make a sudden move......
it's like being trapped with a
caged animal-- he doesn't know
what will set him off.
"Lucky....... let me get you outta here......"
Luke stares at Lucky's back. He's
at the end of his rope-- there's
nothing left he can say or do to
change Lucky's mind. Silence fills
the room, and his heart rate increases
waiting for the answer.....
It's not that he fears his son's
rejection.... sure it hurts, but
what he's really afraid of is the
state of Lucky's future if he says
no. He finds the silence almost
reassuring, and he moves again.
"I'm gonna get you released......"
He watches Lucky prudently, and
after minute, begins to tentatively walk
to the door. He pauses with his
hand on the doorknob, waiting for a sign
of protest, but gets none. He closes
his eyes grateful, and opens the
door, quickly exiting before Lucky
can change his mind.