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Dr. Balis:
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Welcome, Alex. Can I call you Alex?
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Mr. Rozzi:
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Whatever.
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Dr. Balis:
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Any problems finding my office?
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Mr. Rozzi:
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The only problem I have is that I have to come here--I don't want to be here.
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Dr. Balis:
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Do you want to talk about why you are here?
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Mr. Rozzi:
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Doctor, you know why I'm here. It's not like I had much of a choice, did I?
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Dr. Balis:
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I can see that you are not happy about it.
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Mr. Rozzi:
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I'm not. I don't like being told what to do. I can always run off and turn tricks like before.
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Dr. Balis:
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Do you really think you would be better off doing that?
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Mr. Rozzi:
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Maybe. I don't know. It's just that I'm tired of all these people telling me what I got to do with my life and my time. I'm sick of it. Sick of my mom telling me how rotten I am and sick of the courts ordering me to places like this. I'm just...it's just that I hate it, all of this. It's bull.
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Dr. Balis:
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I would be upset about it, too.
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Mr. Rozzi:
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Would you? Do you really understand? I don't think anybody really does, you know. Even my friends don't, I think. My mom doesn't, that's for sure. All she understands is her time, her money, her boyfriends. I mean, what a slut! She's got a different boyfriend every night practically. She may as well have a revolving door instead of a front door. How is it that she can judge me? At least when I do it, I get paid for it. She doesn't even have the brains to get something out of it. And these guys, you know, they all treat her like crap and she just takes it. I don't know.
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Dr. Balis:
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Yes, but prostituting yourself is illegal and dangerous, and it's what got you here in the first place.
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Mr. Rozzi:
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And? It's the only way I know to get some money so I can participate in society. I mean, no one else is going to help me that way, at least not without something in return. You're only here because you are getting paid, but if you weren't, you'd never try to help. I don't even want your help, you're an old dude! What can an old dude do to help me, anyway? Mind if I smoke?
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Dr. Balis:
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I'm sorry. There's no smoking in offices in San Francisco. Alex, I said no. I do mind. Please don't light that up in here Alex.
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Mr. Rozzi:
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Man, you old dudes are like old or something.
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Dr. Balis:
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Alex, I asked you to not light that up, why did you do it? Please put it out now.
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Mr. Rozzi:
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Shit, I didn't think you would mind. I mean, you don't look like you're that old of a dude.
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Dr. Balis:
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Alex! That's my desk! We need to make some ground rules right here and now.
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Mr. Rozzi:
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Here we go. I guess you're going to give it to me now, huh?
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Dr. Balis:
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I'm not here to discipline you, Alex. But I won't allow you to damage my property, okay?
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Mr. Rozzi:
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Okay, okay, I got it. I won't smoke then, all right?
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Dr. Balis:
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That's a start. Thank you, Alex.
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Mr. Rozzi:
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So, how can you help me, Doctor? Can you find me another place to live and a job? I don't think you can do that. Plus, I'm not into this psychiatry crap anyway. I don't want to be here.
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Dr. Balis:
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I understand you don't want to be here. And I'm not a social worker. The job and the place to live are not what we do here. Mostly, I'm here to help you think through some issues in your life.
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Mr. Rozzi:
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Uh huh, right.
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Dr. Balis:
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I can help you, if you let me. Do you want to talk about the prostitution issue and the assault charges?
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Mr. Rozzi:
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Why? You know what I did. So? What about it? I'd do it again, if I had to. It's pretty easy. And those old dudes, you know, the ones that are older than you? Well, they can be rolled with no problem. It's easy for me. Why, this one guy, he fell for the whole line and man, did I make out!
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Dr. Balis:
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What do you mean by rolled?
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Mr. Rozzi:
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That's when you roll 'em to take what you want from them.
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Dr. Balis:
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You mean by force?
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Mr. Rozzi:
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If that's what I have to do, but usually I don't need to. My friend Benny gave me this powder stuff that I put in their drinks and they're out in no time. This one dude that I rolled had a lot of money in his pockets. And I got his CD player and a gold watch. That was the best job I did, but not the weirdest.
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Dr. Balis:
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You've done it this way many times?
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Mr. Rozzi:
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Yes, a couple of times I've done that. Then another time I had to use my knife. See?
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Dr. Balis:
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That's our next rule, Alex. Don't bring weapons into my office.
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Mr. Rozzi:
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Do you have a weapons check or something? I didn't see a gun rack or anything. I mean, how are you going to know if I do or don't?
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Dr. Balis:
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Please, just put it away and don't bring it here again. Alex, carrying a switchblade is against the law. You could end up in juvenile hall again just for that.
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Mr. Rozzi:
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Against the law? Oh, I'm shaking!
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Dr. Balis:
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Let's go back to the issue at hand, Alex. How long have you been involved in prostituting yourself?
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Mr. Rozzi:
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Let's see. I'm fifteen now, so I'll guess around two years, give or take.
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Dr. Balis:
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The man you were arrested with was hurt pretty badly, wasn't he?
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Mr. Rozzi:
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I had to do something.
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Dr. Balis:
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Why?
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Mr. Rozzi:
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Well, it was either him or me, Doc.
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Dr. Balis:
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Could you explain what you mean?
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Mr. Rozzi:
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Well, he tried to rob me! Can you believe that? First he wanted me to have sex with him and then he wanted me to do him for free. When I refused to give it up before he showed me the money, I popped him once in the face. And then, he went off on me. I wasn't going to lose this one, so I went off right back on him. Benny told me that when a trick gets crazy, to act just as crazy or more crazy than they are and they'll back off. It works every time. Well, almost every time.
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Dr. Balis:
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And do you consider yourself the winner in this case? After landing in juvenile hall?
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Mr. Rozzi:
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Well, he didn't get anything for free and he got his ass kicked pretty good too, didn't he? I'll bet he won't try to take advantage of someone else next time, you know?
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Dr. Balis:
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Alex, are you aware that he's still hospitalized? He has some permanent nerve damage to his face.
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Mr. Rozzi:
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So? What you want me to do, send him some flowers or something? I mean, he got what he deserved, you know? He tried to get away with something and I stopped him. So maybe he won't do it again. At least he'll think twice about it next time.
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Dr. Balis:
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I imagine you're right about that. But it's possible you may have to face him again sometime. He was pretty severely beaten, Alex.
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Mr. Rozzi:
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Too much information, Doctor. I don't really give a shit what happened to him. I mean, he pissed me off, okay? Are we finished yet?
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Dr. Balis:
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We aren't out of time just yet. Alex, would you like to tell me about the trick you described as weird?
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Mr. Rozzi:
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Doc? Are you some kind of pervert or something? Why do you care about that?
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Dr. Balis:
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You brought it up. I thought perhaps we should talk about that.
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Mr. Rozzi:
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Well, it was kind of funny. At least Benny thought so.
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Dr. Balis:
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You've mentioned him before. Who is Benny?
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Mr. Rozzi:
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He's my best friend. He teaches me stuff.
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Dr. Balis:
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Was he with you on this particular job?
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Mr. Rozzi:
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No, he never goes. But he's my buddy. He'll check up on me, if I'm not back by the time I say I'll be. That's what I mean by buddy--we watch out for each other. But that man--I'll call him Ralph--he's an old fart. A real old fart and a big time pervert. The first time I went to his house, he paid me upfront and then told me to strip off all my clothes. Then, he led me into his kitchen and all along the floor--and I mean from wall to wall--he'd lined with buttered slices of white bread. I'm thinking: "What's he do with this crap all over?" It was so bizarre. And he was like drooling and stuff. I mean, buttered white bread?
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Dr. Balis:
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What was it for?
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Mr. Rozzi:
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Well, he told me to wriggle around on the bread and act as if I was really turned on by it.
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Dr. Balis:
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Did you do it?
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Mr. Rozzi:
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Of course I did! He paid me two hundred bucks. The weird thing was that he didn't touch me at all. He just watched me squirm and wiggle around all over and that's what got him off! Then, he showed me where to shower and, after, sent me away. It was the strangest. Funny what does it for some people.
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Dr. Balis:
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You said it was the first time you went there?
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Mr. Rozzi:
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Yes. I've been back a few times and that's all he ever asks me to do. I've never even touched the guy! But it's cool, because it's good money. Are we done yet? I really need a smoke.
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Dr. Balis:
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Actually, we are just about out of time. I'll contact your social worker and set up your next appointment. Is there anything I can do for you between now and then?
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Mr. Rozzi:
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Just get me out of Juvie and then tell me I don't have to come back. I mean, it's nothing personal and all.
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Dr. Balis:
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Sorry, that I can't do. I'll see you next time, Alex.
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Mr. Rozzi:
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Yeah, later man.
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Dr. Balis:
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Alex! Please next time, do me a favor and wait until you're out of the building before you light up, okay?
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Mr. Rozzi:
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Yeah, yeah, right. But it's kind of late now, isn't it?
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Dr. Balis:
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Alex, please?
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Mr. Rozzi:
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Okay. All right. Sorry, Doc.
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Dr. Balis:
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Thank you, Alex. I'll see you soon.
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###
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Doctor Balis' Notes on this Session
Transcripts of Alex Rozzi's Communications
