Foster Boy (2019) - full transcript
Michael is a high-powered lawyer and Jamal is an angry young man who has been imprisoned after years of abuse in the foster care system. Together they have to overcome their differences to find justice and expose the foster care system.
Counting my days from the cage.
In so many ways
it's all that I've known.
Cell's been my home.
Chaotic environments.
I've been going through violence,
still screaming in silence.
All I wanted was a shelter,
warm bed and a pot to piss in,
and daydream
for better livin'.
Stop!
I hate living
in this nightmare.
? I was born inside A wind parade Crying on the best of days ?
? Almost pushed stop on
The tape inside an Escalade ?
? In those last moments Spilling out into the Interstate ?
? Estimate the lost To the universe Don't escalate ?
? Back to the soil
Back to the flower beds ?
? Back to the Crown Royal Then it's back To the toil,
black ?
? Spinning while These Other motherfuckers Was spilling raps ?
? Ready to die, ready to fly
Why I skipped the track... ?
Randolph, get up.
You've got court.
? ...and slow down
Whatever go down ?
? I'll take it all
New romantic when he puffing ?
? The trees
And stake it all on the work ?
? And if I follow my bliss
For model chicks ?
? They steady loving
The way that I spit ?
? I'll get to live, uhh ?
? I'm alone in the city,
black Fitted cap back ?
? With a pretty young thing
When I'm sitting back ?
? Ice grill 'em on a warm day
Lifetime ?
? Catch me on the block Blowing dice Or I'm flowing nice ?
? When the city lights
Bright in the night time ?
Looked over those notes,
it's pretty open and shut.
Remember,
we have the German case management meeting in the morning.
- We'll be back in time.
- Good.
Nervous flyer?
Yes, Sir, a bit.
Quite an honor.
You need to fly in the corporate jet your first week on the job.
I've been here
eight weeks, Sir.
Excuse me?
Been here two months.
But thank you.
Name's Keisha...
James.
...clear to take off.
Relax, Miss James.
This plan is courtesy
of Cal Air. Our largest client,
39 percent of our billables.
Okay.
Judge, if you grant their motion,
Cal Air will have completely destroyed
a mom-and-pop company
that has been flying families
over Lake Michigan
for 30 years.
- This isn't equitable or fair.
- This isn't about equity, Your Honor.
- Well, I notice you left out the word "fair."
- In this case the law states--
I mean, you have already
decided the case.
I'm sorry, Mr. Counselor,
but the court has no choice
but to follow the law.
Next case,
the State of Illinois versus Jamal Randolph.
Mr. Randolph.
This is the fifth time
I've seen you this year.
I see you more
than I see my grandchildren.
And that is a problem.
This time
it's two OxyContin pills
that you gave to your...
your fellow inmates.
Yeah, my boy was hurting
and he had these shakes.
Mr. Randolph,
you have three weeks remaining
on your present sentence.
I'm gonna tack on an additional week.
Man, this is
some fucking bullshit.
Mr. Randolph,
you're on your way out.
You stay out of trouble.
Mr. Randolph,
re... re... return here.
Return here
back to the podium.
You have another case in here
in this court, a civil case,
that's due up for trial
in two weeks, correct?
- Yeah.
- Mm-Hm.
This case has been bouncing
around this court
- for what, six years now?
- Your Honor,
I'm sorry, I'm Jamal's mother.
We've tried but we haven't
been able to find
anyone to help us.
Mr. Randolph,
do you wish to proceed?
Yeah.
Well, representing yourself
is not a good idea.
Mr. Trainer,
please return to the podium.
Please.
- Uh...
- Please.
Well, I see, Trainer, you have
an impressive record here.
It... uh,
from the looks of it you've managed to turn down every case
in which any court has attempted to
appoint you to represent an indigent client.
Your Honor, if I may?
Ah, ah,
did I ask you to speak,
Counselor?
No, you may not.
According to the docket,
you have never handled
a pro bono case
for this court or any court.
I make donations. I... I write
a lot of checks for charities.
Accepting appointments
to represent a client
who cannot afford a lawyer
is responsibility
that you owe to the bar.
And I have a responsibility to my corporate clients and my firm.
Mr. Randolph, meet your new lawyer,
Michael Trainer.
- Oh, hell, no.
- Your Honor, my practice
is confined
to corporate litigation, not--
Unconfine it.
Next case.
Kanan versus Melissa.
What the fuck just happened?
Jesus, we got three trials next month.
How are we gonna try this case?
We're not.
You're gonna find a conflict.
Can't we just assign someone from the firm to the case?
They have legal aid
for people like him.
People like him?
Don't do that.
You know what I mean.
Okay. Now,
let's not gonna rush this
because I've seen this go terribly wrong.
No, no, my daughter's idiot ex-husband Barry,
cursed him from the start.
At the wedding I'm making
the toast around the table,
Barry comes in hard,
six glasses shatter,
- champagne goes everywhere.
- Oh, no.
So before we raise a glass,
I want to say,
Bellcore will be the first private foster company to go public ever.
Vince, what are
the stock projections?
Three-hundred-percent increase
in year one,
- plus or minus twenty percent.
- Okay, I'll take that
plus or minus. Ms.
Dupree, where are we at with the collateral litigation?
Ten lawsuits in total.
Six should be dismissed by the end of the month.
Three we can settle
for under fifty.
Six and three. That's nine.
Yes, there's a kid in Chicago.
Just got assigned a lawyer, corporate guy.
- Shouldn't be a problem.
- Oh, I see. Okay, come here,
let's make sure
that it's not a problem.
- Yes.
- Okay. Good enough. Now come in gently...
My key still works.
It might be better
if you'd knock.
Of course.
- Where's Benny?
- He's back in his bunk.
- Hey, Benny.
- Yeah?
- Your dad's here.
- Okay.
You don't... don't...
you don't have to do that.
I, uh...
I can't take Benny
for the whole weekend.
- What is it this time?
- I have to go to Chicago.
- Are you two arguing again?
- No.
- How you doing, buddy?
- I'm fine.
Hey, uh,
show your dad your picture.
Oh... that's terrific.
It's you.
He... he drew a picture of you.
I... I tried to get out of it,
but the judge forced me to take
- a pro bono case.
- What's pro bono?
Pro bono.
Well, that's where the judge forces you to do something for free.
- How come?
- You got me.
When somebody
can't afford a lawyer,
the judge tries to be helpful
and appoints an attorney.
What happened to him?
He got hurt and he wants money
from the people
he thinks are responsible.
- Will they give it to him?
- Maybe a little.
Did they only
hurt him a little?
The company doesn't
think that they hurt him at all.
What do you think?
I think he'll be lucky
to get a dime. Come on.
Hey.
- Come on.
- Bye, Mom.
Bye, sweetheart. Have fun.
- I love you.
- Love you, too.
We'll settle this by noon
and be out of here.
All right.
How do you think this kid's gonna present?
Like a thug.
Yeah, that's not gonna help.
Mr. Trainer.
I'm so glad to finally meet you.
I'm... I'm Shaina. Excuse me,
I'm Shaina Randolph, Jamal's mother.
My husband and I googled you and your reputation is impeccable.
Well, Miss Randolph,
you can't believe everything you read on Google.
A liberal invented it.
Excuse me, could you remove
his cuffs please?
Protocol.
- James Randolph?
- Jamal.
Jamal Randolph. Okay.
Today we are going to have a pre-trial.
You know what that is?
That's where we try
to settle this case
and get some money
in your pocket.
You'd like that,
wouldn't you?
Just some bullshit.
The defendant,
Bellcore Family Services
has offered you 40,000 dollars.
I'd like to get that up
to say 70, 75.
- Does that sound good?
- Nope.
All right. Maybe 80.
It ain't about the money,
three-piece.
It's always about the money.
And three-piece suits
went out in the '80s.
- Are you deaf, old man?
- Maybe 90.
Why the fuck do I have
to have you as my lawyer?
You're a real charmer,
you know that?
Judge Taylor
will see you both in chambers.
You work on it.
You know you should count
yourself lucky
to be represented
by Mr. Trainer.
- Oh, yeah?
- Mm-Hm.
Now, how much does he pay
you to kiss that ass?
- Michael Trainer.
- Samuel Collins.
Judge, we have told the plaintiff we'll pay 40,000 if he'll take it.
My client's digging his heels in but I'm still working on it.
So what's your demand?
Offer a hundred.
Let's see what we can do.
I may be able to do 75.
Mr. Collins, do you mind if I have a moment with Mr.
Trainer, please?
Thank you.
Mr. Trainer, well,
the last demand by your client,
before you were appointed,
uh, was, uh, 20 million dollars.
Now hundred thousand dollars,
that seems a little uh... a little shy
- in comparison, wouldn't you say so?
- Yeah,
- 20 million dollars?
- Uh-huh.
It's totally unrealistic.
Did the allegations
that when, uh,
Jamal Randolph
was a ten-year-old child,
Bellcore negligently ignored
his repeated complaints
when a 16-year-old,
who was also in place,
brutally raped and tortured him
for a three-year period.
- Yes, I've read the case.
- Ah.
They're allegations,
as you say.
Well, Bellcore, that's
a private corporation that buys
contracts from the states
for foster care, is that right?
It's a business, a big business.
There's nothing illegal about that.
- Is Bellcore your... your client?
- Excuse me?
Well, you seem to know more about
them than you know about, uh, Jamal.
Your Honor,
this is a respected corporation
versus a kid
that looks like a thug.
Thug.
What does a thug
look like to you?
It doesn't matter what I think,
it's what the jury sees.
It's the whole package,
the attitude, the hair.
Hair?
Why are you selling out
your client?
I sell out nobody.
Who do you think you are?
Sit down.
I'm gonna have you disbarred.
Fine.
I could retire tomorrow.
Go. Then maybe you can get that
money that you did protecting
those corporations then you can
retire to your private golf club
and then you can stand over your putter trying to get the perfect putt
knowing goddamn well that you haven't done anything for anybody
but yourself.
Get out of my chambers.
I'm sure you have someplace else
to go, Mr. Trainer.
What are you looking at?
Remain seated.
All right. Have you gentlemen
reached a settlement?
No settlement.
Okay.
Trial starts Monday morning at 9:00 a.m. Start picking the jury.
Monday? I can't. That
doesn't give me time to prepare.
That's what the last two weeks were about.
Monday, Mr. Trainer.
Your Honor, I need to clean my client up.
I need to get him a haircut.
I handle cases,
I'm not a barber.
I can't put my client in front
of a jury looking like this.
Side room in there if you like.
All rise.
Don't even be thinking about touching my hair, three-piece.
Let me tell you
something, kid.
You want me to try this case,
I guess I have to.
But there's one thing that
I don't do and that is lose.
- I'm not your kid.
- Clearly!
Back up, three-piece!
Keisha, figure this out.
You ain't touching my hair,
girl.
Name's Keisha, not Girl.
Don't be like them.
To win,
you got to play the game,
especially their game.
Come on now,
you don't want to scare these white folk, do you?
Start the car,
get the heat going.
See if you can find
some hotel rooms in this city.
How come you're playing
his game?
- I'm not.
- Please.
You're following the man around,
you're doing his dirty.
You think this game
only belongs to him?
Well, it don't.
Belongs to me just as much.
Besides, I'm playing what I need
to get to where I need to get.
All right, girl...
I mean, Keisha.
All right. All right.
For your opening statement.
Thank you.
Yeah, take these depositions
and give me an outline of my cross exams by tomorrow morning.
We got nothing, you know?
This is a joke.
No, we've got a young man
with no money
who won't accept
an $80,000 settlement.
That's something.
What happened
at chambers today?
Nothing.
Mind if I join you,
Mr. Trainer?
Do I know you?
Pamela Dupree, vice president
of Bellcore Family Services.
We didn't get a chance
to meet in court.
Uh...
You know we looked you up,
Michael.
You're normally on our side
of the fence.
Doing your homework.
I also read that you're a bit
of a wine snob.
C?tes du Rh?ne.
It's your favorite, right?
"C?tes", the "s" is silent.
Must be frustrating being stuck in Chicago away from your family.
Well, I don't have much
of a say in the matter.
Sometimes I find
a glass or two of wine
is more productive
than hours in a courtroom.
Good point.
Thank you.
You know, we're not
so different, you and I.
I worked my way up
through the company,
started as a caseworker,
then manager,
now I'm vice president of claims
and a major shareholder.
Because of who you are and the type of clients you have,
I think we can get this up
to a hundred thousand.
The kid won't settle.
Bellcore took over where the government failed,
Mr. Trainer.
The State had over 20,000 kids
in Child Services.
Now we do it all.
Pretty soon Bellcore Family Services will be in all 50 states.
- Private companies do it better.
- Yeah,
private companies
do some things better.
They make a good fork, a good knife,
a nice glass of red wine.
The trouble is
a child is not a product.
You joining
the Green Party?
I'm sure you'd know if I was.
Jury's not gonna believe
a black drug dealer.
A couple pills,
I'll keep it out.
Won't keep out
the color of his skin.
- The kid is a mess.
- Kid was a mess before Bellcore got a hold of him.
The kid was four years old before Bellcore got a hold of him.
- Where were the parents?
- Maybe Bellcore never told
the Randolphs about Joey Poule's
violent history.
I'm authorized to go
to 150,000, that's it.
Wow.
You just went to $150,000
and I haven't had a sip
of that red wine.
This is a nuisance case,
Mr. Trainer,
just like the dozen or so you and I have handled over the years.
Take the offer to your client,
then you can go back home to your son, Benjamin,
is that it?
We've completed the jury selection.
Are you ready to proceed?
Your Honor, may I have a minute?
I'll let you have five.
Then I'm calling the jury.
Thank you.
- Bellcore upped the offer to 150,000.
- I already said no.
What? What did you see?
That's her.
- Ms. Dupree!
- That's enough!
You get inside.
Good morning.
Bellcore offered $150,000.
I have a fiduciary
responsibility to tell you that
- that's a lot of money.
- Did they...
ever put a criminal in another home like they did with us?
There have been
other allegations.
- I need to talk to you outside.
- Sure.
What are you seeing there,
Mr. Trainer?
Do you see a young man who has
lost three years of his life?
Do you see his shame?
Or is all you can see
is another opportunity
to be done with this case?
Miss Randolph,
with all due respect--
You're a father, aren't you?
I'm telling you now,
we are not gonna settle.
Shine a light on what they did,
fight for that child
as if he were your own.
Jamal was eight.
It's pretty difficult those first few months.
Never heard so many curse words.
Bill, they are here.
I thought
they were coming tomorrow.
It doesn't look that way.
Just put that stuff.
Mr. And Mrs. Randolph.
I'm Ms. Dupree.
We spoke on the phone.
How are you?
- Hi.
- Hi.
- Hello there, James.
- It's Jamal.
Jamal then.
Did Jamal ever talk
about his past?
It was off limits.
Pamela Dupree placed Joey Poule
in your home, is that correct?
- Yes.
- Did she ever talk to you
about Joey's past,
uh, any violent tendency--
Objection, Your Honor,
we have never established that either Bellcore
or Ms. Dupree would have had
access to that information.
Sustained.
How long after Joey
moved into your home
did you begin to see a difference in Jamal's behavior?
I should have seen it
right away, but I didn't.
Easy, girl, easy.
What you doing?
I wonder what Sasha would look like
with the pitchfork sticking out of her.
I know this
must be difficult but...
can you explain to the jury
the changes that you saw
specifically?
He became angry, distant,
sometimes
he didn't leave his room.
And this was
because of Joey Poule?
Objection, Your Honor,
requires speculation.
- Sustained.
- No further questions.
Thank you for being here,
Mrs. Randolph.
I understand
that it's very difficult.
We'll try to make it
as easy as possible.
How much were you paid
to be a foster mother,
- Mrs. Randolph?
- I don't know.
We have receipts,
$450 per month?
I... I guess.
I didn't count it.
And you took in over 20 children over the years,
is that correct?
- Yes, but--
- Four-fifty per kid,
that comes to over $145,000
you made. Is that right?
We spent it
on the children-clothing, food.
You own a farm, Mrs. Randolph,
you grow food.
- We do.
- In fact, I see that you recorded a surplus
for going on 10 years now.
Bill has a green thumb.
It appears so.
A 10-year surplus, you made
hundreds of thousands
of dollars.
Tell me something,
is this a picture
of a new truck that you
and your family have bought?
Exhibit 25, counselor.
We bought a new truck, yes.
And this one, is this a picture
of your new tractor, 26?
Because the old one broke down.
Of course. Of course.
But this new one
is a lot bigger
than the old tractor, isn't it?
- Covers a lot more ground, plows a lot more land.
- Yes.
Meaning bigger profits
for you and Mr. Randolph.
- When the crops are good.
- I'm sure you'll do fine with Mr. Randolph's green thumb.
- Objection, Your Honor.
- Sustained.
- Stick to a question, Counselor.
- Fair enough, Your Honor.
Question, Mrs. Randolph.
Am I correct here in reading
that you have already applied
to Bellcore
- to host, yet, another foster child?
- Yes, that is true.
In spite of the alleged horrifying experiences with Joey Poule?
Children need help,
Mr. Collins.
Are you helping
the children, Mrs. Randolph?
- Or, are you helping yourself?
- Your Honor.
Don't answer that question,
Mrs. Randolph.
Counselor,
you're pushing your luck.
I have no further questions,
Your Honor.
Jamal. Jamal. Jamal.
Fuck him
and what he said about my mom.
That's his job, he's trying
to get under your skin.
Fuck his job, three-piece.
Mr. Trainer,
call your next witness.
All right.
It's time for you to get up there and tell your story.
What is it?
- I can't.
- You can't? Okay.
- Then I'll go over and accept their offer.
- No.
Those are your options.
Either you accept their offer
or you tell your story.
Plaintiff would like to call
James Randolph to the stand.
State your name
for the record.
Please state your name
for the record.
Say your name.
Um...
James Randolph,
but I... I go by Jamal.
Good. Jamal,
one of your first foster homes
was with Stephanie Myers.
Tell us what happened.
I, um...
Where the fuck
you been, boy?
- What you got to say, boy?
- Nothing.
Get over here.
So you play with yourself
all the time.
What'd I tell you
about playing with yourself?
You want
to grow up to be a faggot?
No.
Little faggot playing
with yourself in front of me.
You disrespected me.
That's what you're doing.
You little nasty
piece of shit.
- You don't remember?
- I... I don't remember.
Okay. Well, uh, let's
move on for the moment. Uh...
after the Myers you moved in
with the Ryan family. Uh...
do you remember
the Ryan family?
You stayed with them
before the Randolphs.
Don't you remember?
You lived with them.
You'll get two
of these a month.
Miss Dupree.
Look at me.
- You look at me.
- Miss Dupree!
Miss Dupree! Please.
Jamal.
Jamal.
Jamal, I asked you a question.
What... what... what, man?
What do you remember
about the Ryans?
- Nothing.
- Jesus Christ.
Excuse me, Counselor.
He said nothing.
Let's move on to the next
line of questions.
Your Honor,
may I have a quick word with my client?
Okay, we'll take a five-minute recess.
You asked why do you
have to have me as your lawyer.
Why do I have to have you
as my client?
Do you ever think of that? Hmm?
No.
Because you're too busy thinking the world owes you something.
I'm the bad guy, right?
I ask you to settle, I'm a sellout.
I wear nice clothes
and I'm a fucking three-piece.
You don't know shit about me.
So let me tell you
a little bit about myself.
I know how to practice law.
That's what I know.
I know how to win cases.
So if you want to win,
you've got to go out there
and you've got to tell those 12 people getting paid $15 a day your story.
If you don't want to win,
then don't talk.
- I'm trying.
- Good,
because your five minutes
are up.
Tell us what happened, Jamal.
Why did you file this lawsuit?
Jamal, why did you file
this lawsuit?
Answer the question,
Mr. Randolph.
- Tell us what happened.
- You little piece of shit.
Why did you file this lawsuit?
What are we even doing here?
- Tell us what happened.
- Leave me the fuck alone!
- All of you! You don't get it, man!
- Order.
- You fucking listen, man.
- Order.
You don't want to get it, right?
So fuck it. Fuck this shit.
- Order in the court.
- Fuck it. I'm out of here. This is some bullshit.
- Get the fuck out of my way.
- Back in the witness stand.
No, I'm not getting back
on the stand.
- Calm down.
- Jamal.
Fuck out of my way...
Hey, Jamal!
Easy.
Get up.
Get him out of here.
I told you, man.
I told you.
Ladies and gentlemen,
yeah, the trial resumes
tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m.
Michael, can I talk to you?
Tell Jeff, he'll fill me in.
No, Sir, I need to talk to you.
I think you should stop talking at Jamal and try listening to him.
Have you been
paying attention at all?
That's all I do is listen.
You want to help me,
tell him to start talking
or we're going to lose
this case.
Jamal left these behind.
I think it'd be good
for you to take a look.
- Why are you here?
- Because I'm your lawyer.
You can withdraw from the case.
I'm not gonna fight you on it.
I don't want to.
I believe you.
I lost my shit
and the jury see me get tased,
so the game...
- is over.
- Now, the good news is
that the jury decides
when it's over
and they haven't decided.
You left these
in the courtroom.
What are they?
They're my verses.
Verses?
Yeah.
About my past.
- Would you read them to me?
- Hell, no.
Ain't gonna happen.
You're tripping.
Read them to me anyway.
Man, you're crazy.
My ex-wife
would agree with you.
- Read them to me.
- No.
You ain't gonna get it.
Read them to me.
No,
you're not gonna get it.
"Counting my...
days from the cage.
In so many ways
it's all that I've known.
Cell's been my home.
Chaotic environments.
I've been growing with violence,
still scream..."
It's stupid.
No, no, it's not stupid.
Yeah. I--
Actually I got it right here.
Michael, I got Reynolds.
He's looking at your notes on the German case.
You got a second?
Tell him we're busy
with this case.
He's on his own.
- I need you to try--
- I'm gonna have to get back to you.
- I can't run it without him.
- I... I don't know what to tell you.
It's Dad.
- Hi.
- Hi.
Benny gets his leg braces
off today, right?
Could I speak to him?
Sure.
- Hello.
- Hey, how you feeling?
Good. How... how's the case
going? Did you win?
Well, not yet,
it's a tough one.
Don't you always win?
Not always, no.
Well, you should win this one.
Well, I'm gonna do my best.
Here's Mom.
Listen, Kim,
you think I could have Ben
- for the Thanksgiving weekend?
- In Chicago?
Yeah, you put him on the plane,
I'll pick him up on the other end.
It'll be nice,
the two of us can hang out.
I don't know.
Well, will you think about it?
Yeah, yeah, I'll think about it.
Hello.
No, it's fine,
I'm... I'm wide awake.
Again, I am very sorry
to bother you, Sir,
but a man left you
an urgent package.
- Did you see who left it?
- No, Sir.
Thanks, Sanjay.
- Where's Jeff?
- I don't know.
I... I checked his room
and nobody answered.
Well, it is 5:30 in the morning.
Somebody dropped off
a dozen Bellcore documents
showing that Joey Poule
had a history of violence.
He molested his own sister
and his niece.
- God knows how many other children.
- Jesus.
I need you to find out
who dropped those off.
Okay.
And, Keisha, thank you. I...
I apologize for not being
more properly dressed.
It's okay, Mr. Trainer.
Hello.
How?
I understand.
Mr. Cohen. My name is Keisha.
I work with the Trainer Firm.
- I would love to talk--
- Sorry, I am very busy.
Did you work with Pamela Dupree?
Uh, I... I have an appointment.
- Uh, I am late.
- Mr. Cohen.
Did you work with Pamela Dupree?
Hi.
Hi. How are you?
How is the trial going?
Uh, it's different.
- How?
- My client's telling the truth.
Oh, wow, that's something
different for you, huh.
Yeah, it's something.
So I... I talked to Benny
about Thanksgiving.
He said yes.
And I want him to go see you.
I think it'll be good
for both of you.
That's great. Tell him
I can't wait to see him.
- We'll go ride horses in the park.
- Horses?
Well, don't worry, they're old nags,
they don't go very fast.
Okay. Just be careful, Michael,
he just got those braces off.
Of course, yeah. Um...
Bye?
Bye.
Yes. No, I'll be overseas.
He wasn't angry.
I know.
Yeah. Open it.
I'll call you back.
We took the trouble
of calculating
how much
you stand to gain if this
- public offering goes through.
- It will go through, Simon.
There's no reason
to think it won't.
Did you know that we are Cal Air's biggest corporate client?
I... I did not.
You should have.
Play harder. We can't lose this.
- Jeff, can you check on that?
- Yeah.
Excuse me. Michael.
What is this?
Some kind of a joke?
I'm afraid not.
Come on.
Tim,
this is Michael Trainer calling.
I just received
some very alarming news.
Could you please call me back?
Hey, hey, Dupree.
You're behind this,
aren't you?
What did you say to Cal Air?
Cal Air makes its own decisions,
Mr. Trainer,
and they decided not to work
with you anymore.
You're a real piece of shit,
you know that?
Be careful, Mr. Trainer.
Cal Air was just the beginning.
Give me the Bellcore file.
- Sir, the file is--
- What Bellcore file?
Your Honor, I'd like to recall
Jamal Randolph to the stand.
You may proceed.
Jamal, I need you
to go back on the stand.
All you have to do is say yes.
I'll do the rest.
Michael, what are you doing?
Jamal, you were
tortured in the Ryan home
and their own file shows that,
isn't that true?
What file?
Objection, Your Honor.
Your own file shows
that they placed Joey Poule
- and Randolph--
- Side bar, please.
Counselor!
...this previous sexual assault.
Counselor!
Judge, I have several case notes
to show that Bellcore
knew that Joey Poule had sexually assaulted other children.
I have never seen
these documents.
Can I see that?
Where'd you get this?
Someone dropped them off
at my hotel.
Judge,
this is what discovery is for.
Without any... any foundation
how do we establish
the authenticity of these documents?
How do we know Mr. Trainer
didn't create
these documents himself?
- That's bullshit.
- It's enough.
He has no witness
to lay a foundation.
How do you know?
I'm making a really good guess.
Do you?
- No, not yet.
- You can be damn sure unless you can find the person
who can authenticate
this document,
it's not going in.
Ms. Dupree, you were Jamal Randolph and
Joey Poule's caseworker for four years
and you're telling the jury
that you had no knowledge
that Joey Poule sexually
assaulted Jamal Randolph?
- Objection, Your Honor.
- Sustained.
Counsel, you've asked
the same question
three straight times. Move on.
Apparently, putting your hand on the
Bible and taking the oath means nothing.
What was that you said,
Counselor?
Nothing, Your Honor.
I'd like to show you what's been marked as exhibit number 23.
Objection, Your Honor.
If this document is not already
familiar to the witness,
then there is no foundation
for its introduction.
Take it down.
I'm showing you a copy
of a mental health record
that shows that Joey Poule raped his own sister and cousin.
- Objection, Your Honor.
- Sustained.
Counselor, show that document
to Ms. Dupree and see
if she recognizes it first.
You recognize that document?
Never saw it before, Counselor.
The jury is instructed
to disregard it.
Move on.
Ms. Dupree,
- did you know Joey Poule raped his sister?
- No, I did not.
- Did you know that he raped his cousin?
- I never knew.
Did you know that he beat
and raped Jamal Randolph?
Never knew any of it, Counselor.
Okay, ladies and gentlemen,
it's time for our Thanksgiving break.
And the jury is instructed
not to discuss this case
or to read about it.
All rise.
- She's lying.
- I know she is.
We should take
their last offer.
And why would we do that?
We can't introduce a damn thing.
I know they'd settle this right now.
No, we're playing the game.
There's your answer.
I'm, uh... I'm gonna grab
a flight out.
- What?
- It's, uh... it's Thanksgiving weekend, right?
Right.
But you be back Saturday.
You're not coming back, are you?
When Michael found out about Cal Air,
you weren't surprised.
You knew.
I'm leaving.
I'm starting my own firm.
- With no clients.
- Cal Air is going with him.
Is that true?
Ten years
and this is what it comes to?
You had your day, Michael.
You're making a fool of yourself in that courtroom,
isn't that obvious?
Dupree got to you, didn't she?
That's what they do, Jeff.
No loyalty.
People like Dupree go to Cal Air
and make deals
and people like you accept them.
For 10 years
I watched you get rich off
of companies like Bellcore destroying anyone who got in your way
and now, all of a sudden,
you have a change of heart.
You think defending that kid
makes you some kind of savior?
You should have settled.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Please, leave a message.
Kim, it's Michael. I've called,
left a couple of messages.
I haven't heard back.
I still don't have
Benny's flight information.
Can you please call me?
Mr.
Trainer, I've just received an urgent message from your wife.
That's weird.
Why... why wouldn't she have called my cell?
She said she couldn't get
through to your mobile phone.
She wanted me to let you know that your son's changed his mind.
He won't make it
for Thanksgiving.
Yeah.
Sorry, Sir.
Thanks.
? I lied to mother ?
? Protecting him though
He stuck... ?
- It's good to have you back, son.
- Thanks, pa.
? Snow mounted up
To the kitchen window ?
? Oh, oh, oh ?
? I never told ?
? Oh, oh, oh ?
? I never told ?
? No footprints to follow ?
? To grandmother's stone ?
? And it's all
Covered in the snow... ?
? My head in reverse ?
? Mind controlled ?
? Align wires
In cortical rows ?
? Nano-electrodes
Pulse the thrum ?
? One note to beat my heart
Beat my heart ?
? Like a drum
Battle stations go ?
? Armed and ready to blow ?
? Yes, I know ?
? Yes, I know ?
? Battle stations go ?
? Armed and ready to blow ?
? Bridge's lost control ?
? Armed and ready to blow ?
? Yes, I know ?
? Yes, I know ?
? Yes, I know ?
? Yes, I know ?
? Yes, I know ?
- ? Yes, I know... ?
- Cohen.
? Yes, I know ?
? Yes, I know ?
Hey, Jamal.
Yo.
- What the hell happened to you?
- I was jogging.
Somebody almost ran me over.
Get in.
Unlock the door.
You think it was Bellcore.
Could have been an accident.
I think it was a warning.
Mr. Cohen,
we need to speak to you.
I know you're the one that dropped those documents off at my hotel.
I need you to testify.
You have no idea what
these people are capable of.
Do you remember Jamal?
- Hey, Mr. Cohen.
- I want you to look at this young man's face
and tell him that you
are not going to help him.
I never wanted you to get hurt.
I never wanted
any of them to get hurt.
But we did.
The more placements that fail,
the more money
that Bellcore makes, okay?
Wait, how did they fail?
Let's say that the government
pays 3000 bucks
per foster care placement,
but it doesn't work out.
So then,
Bellcore places the kid again
and they make
another 3000 bucks.
The whole system
is designed to fail.
Mr. Cohen, I need you
to tell this to the jury.
I can't.
Mr. Cohen.
What are you laughing at?
You know, sometimes
this shit is so thick
that the only thing you can do
is laugh, Mr. Trainer.
It's not funny.
We're gonna lose.
No, we're not.
- It's okay.
- No, it's not okay.
No, it is.
You fought for me
and that means something.
It's not okay.
Is there something else
on your mind?
No, nothing.
My son was supposed to fly in from Los Angeles today and he cancelled,
all right?
It's really tough. Sorry.
Yeah. Well, it's my own fault.
I haven't been the best father.
How old is your son?
Ten.
Then you're not done
being a father.
? Your loyalty is priceless ?
? That's how I know
You're right here ?
? Spending your time
And your money ?
? On things that no one
Can take when you're gone ?
? I'm serious
Where you've been ?
? Are you feeling me?
Yeah ?
? This is our turn
I need you ?
? I've been on my own... ?
I watered down the air vent
just in case.
Okay.
Long overdue.
Yep.
? I gotta go outta my way ?
? Do my own thing ?
? I'm sorry that
It turned out this way ?
? Turned out that way Just hit me up When you're back in my life ?
? I gotta go outta my way ?
? Do my own thing ?
? I'm sorry that
It turned out this way... ?
You did that?
Mm-Hm.
? I got a broken soul
Instead of my heart ?
? Got this for you my love
Broken soul ?
? Yeah, you do it sure
I can't control... ?
Mr. Trainer, it's Thanksgiving
and, uh, Thanksgiving is a time
for families to celebrate
and we damn sure
are gonna celebrate today.
? Tonight, ain't nothing
Gonna stop us, yeah ?
? All I need is
All I need is you and you... ?
Is this where it happened?
Yeah.
? Just hit me up ?
? When you're back
In my life... ?
Let it burn.
? I got a broken soul ?
? Instead of my heart ?
We're sorry.
Your call cannot be completed and dialed.
Good evening, Mr. Trainer.
Hope you've had a nice day.
Sanjay, can I use
the house phone?
Yeah, of course, Sir.
- Dial 9.
- Indeed.
Hi, it's Michael. Yeah.
Happy Thanksgiving to you, too.
Uh, listen,
could I speak to Kim?
- Michael.
- Kim.
- Why are you calling on my dad's phone?
- Kim,
is everything all right
with you and Benny?
I've been calling you all day.
What are you talking about?
Benny's with you.
I put him on the plane
this morning like we planned.
Kim, get on a plane
to Chicago right now.
This is Pamela Dupree,
Vice President of Bellcore
Family Service,
please leave a message.
I know you're behind this.
I will destroy you
and your fucking company
if anything happens to my son.
Do you understand me?
? ...crucial
But I ain't even mad man ?
? I'm glad I had the illusion 'Cause I ain't need No struggles ?
? And I ain't need no worries I just need To take this goal ?
? Hold me till I'm 30 Need that green
in my pocket Need that black in my... ?
- Get down, now. Now!
- No, no, no!
Why are you here? Relax.
You're gonna get me killed.
- Turn around.
- Shit!
- All right, all right.
- Hands behind your head,
interlace your fingers.
Why are you here?
Get down on the floor.
- Get down on the floor.
- Hey, man, I didn't do shit.
Hands out in front of you.
Man, I didn't do anything,
all right? I just got out.
- What is happening here?
- Stay where you are,
What are you doing?
It's my phone.
That's not his.
- Get up, get up!
- That is not his.
You set me up.
Why you set me up?
- Jamal.
- Just do what they say.
Son, just do what they say.
712? Okay. Yes, okay. Thank you.
Mr. Trainer the airline did confirm that
your son was on the flight this morning.
- No.
- They phoned you six times,
you didn't answer.
- They jammed my phone.
- Sir, who jammed your phone?
It doesn't matter.
Where is my son?
- He would have been picked up by the police.
- What precinct?
The eighth district station
will be the closest.
10-4 he's on his way to you.
Hands on the bar.
Hands on the bars.
Guard. Guard.
How you doing?
Long time no see.
How long has it been,
ten years or so?
Step back, Joey.
Huh, a decade's a long time.
What you got here?
Put my shit down.
Yeah, well, I'm betting you...
Shit happens.
Right, little bro?
Nah, you need
to step back, Joey.
I'm not a kid anymore.
I just want to say "hi"
to my little brother.
That's all.
You got tall,
but you are still a pussy.
We had a good time, me and you
in that barn, right?
I know you liked it.
You like this, huh, big bro?
I'm gonna fucking
kill you, Joey!
I was a fucking kid.
I was a kid.
Fuck you, you...
Fuck!
What the fuck
are you looking at, huh?
You're lucky.
I'm not lucky.
I'm not lucky.
You're lucky
you showed up when you did.
Children Services
was held up, but your son
was about to be placed
into emergency--
But where is he?
Where's my son?
- Mr. Trainer.
- Dad.
Benny. Oh!
Oh!
Randolph, move back.
You got a visitor.
Put your shoes on.
How did Joey Poule
end up in my cell, huh?
How the fuck should I know?
I think you fucking know.
I don't give a fuck
what you think.
Move back.
Let go of my fucking arm.
They try and run you over again?
They, uh...
they took my son.
Oh, shit! He all right?
Yeah. He's fine.
We've been bringing a knife
to a gunfight.
It's time to even the odds,
straighten this shit out
a little bit.
How much you got in your wallet?
What?
Sit down.
How much?
I don't know, maybe a thousand,
more. I don't know.
Jesus Christ.
Oh, yes.
- Give it to me.
- What are you gonna do with it?
Sometimes we gotta do things
a little different in my world
and you're in my world now.
I came here to bail you out.
I don't want
to get bailed out yet.
I got work to do.
Send Keisha
to bail me out tomorrow.
Mr. Trainer,
you take care of your boy,
all right?
I got this.
Guard!
Don't look so mad, all right?
It don't suit you.
I know I got it right.
You're still awake?
Who are these people?
What are they capable of?
I, honestly, don't know.
Are you safe?
Oh, yeah.
But I don't think it's safe
for you and Benny.
I think you should go back
to Los Angeles.
I need 15 minutes
like we talked about, all right?
Disappear.
? I can't breathe... ?
Have a seat. Have a seat.
Relax, relax.
- Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!
- Chill, just relax.
We're cool for now.
What the fuck is this?
Shut that, D.
Hey, guard.
Would you do something?
Hey, guard! Hey, guard!
How much they paying you, Joey?
? I can't breathe... ?
I don't know what the fuck
you're talking about.
I think you do know
what I'm talking about.
- No.
- I'm not stupid.
No. I don't know
what you are talking about.
- Fuck you!
- Hey, hey, hey, chill, chill,
chill, chill, chill, chill,
chill. It's okay, man. I got it.
? I can't breathe... ?
Have a seat.
Let's try this again.
I need you to tell me names.
I need you to tell me
who got to you.
Tell me what you know
about the pigs
who arrested me
and how I ended up in jail
with you?
Talk, Joey!
- Yo.
- Hey.
Thanks for bailing me out.
Not a problem. You ready?
Uh, there's something
I gotta do.
- What do you mean? We have court.
- I know,
but it's important.
Okay.
Mr. Cohen.
Hey, I'm not going anywhere,
all right?
Come on, man. Open up.
Hi.
Cop gave me 2k. Said he needed
me to be in jail here with you.
I rough you up,
cut you, if I needed to.
- Why?
- I don't know why. I don't know why.
I didn't have
much of a choice, dude.
I mean they got me
on some drummed-up shit.
- I don't know why.
- What happened?
Man, I just told you
what happened.
What happened to you, Joey?
The same shit that always happens to guys like you and me.
That is not my fault.
Your Honor, may I approach?
Your Honor,
my client has several notebooks.
I'd like him to be able to use them to refresh his recollection.
I object, Your Honor.
They have never been produced in discovery.
Your Honor,
a witness can use notes to refresh recollections.
- I'll allow it.
- Thank you.
Your Honor, there is one more thing,
my client will need to rap his testimony.
I'm sorry, excuse me.
Did you say "rap"?
- Are you serious, Counselor?
- Uh, well, First Amendment,
right to testify.
If the only way my client
can tell his story
is through rapping
- then you cannot deny him.
- Uh, Your Honor,
he has cited
no case law or precedent.
Your Honor, the Americans
with Disabilities Act, require
court to accommodate a witness if he
or she has difficulty communicating.
No such difficulty has ever been established in this case,
Your Honor.
In the case
of United States versus Durant,
the witness suffered from PTSD
and had a comfort animal, a dog.
Okay, okay,
a notebook is not a dog
and this plaintiff
is not disabled.
Here are a line of cases
where the court allowed
for interpreters or even allowed a
woman to speak while holding her child.
- This is absurd, Your Honor.
- And in the case
of Michaels versus Donnelly,
the court allowed a man
afraid of crowds to face
the wall while testifying.
I'll allow it.
Thank you.
Don't overstep
your balance, Counselor.
Are you ready?
This motherfucker's itching to tase me again, man.
I know it.
You'll be fine.
The plaintiff recalls Jamal Randolph to the stand.
Note my continuing objection.
Your continuing objection noted,
now continue to sit down.
Jamal, you write, don't you?
Yeah.
- Lyrics, poems...
- Verses.
I write verses.
Verses, yes, I'm sorry.
Uh, verses
about what happened to you
and you keep them in those notebooks,
is that correct?
- Yeah.
- Now, I'm going to ask you some questions.
You don't have to look
at anybody.
You don't have to look at the jury.
You don't have to look at me.
Just tell us
what happened. Okay?
"By age eight a cruel fate,
found a meaning and lost it.
Ripped from the comfort
of a family and taken by cops,
the foster boy, a broken toy,
a plaything, now a victim
going through revolving doors
of a foster care system.
No, mama.
Why, mama?
Now, you ain't my real mama,
you my high mama.
All I wanted was a hug
and a hi, mama.
Take your fucking hands
from my thigh, mama.
Flame of a lighter,
Stephanie Myers, cigarette
and Guinness-style crack pipe
hanging from my mouth
spent all-nighters,
watching talk shows all alone
on the couch.
Hide and seek, ain't a game
if I'm screaming ouch!
'Cause if she takes a hit,
then I'm taking hits.
I'm hoping she quits
'cause I can't take this shit."
You want a break?
No, no, no break. I'm cool.
Okay.
Jamal, I'm gonna ask you
about the Ryan family.
Can you tell us about the Ryans?
Yeah.
I ain't never gonna forget
the Ryans.
"I'm afraid
of what I turned into.
Ain't what it's supposed to..."
You pissed the bed again?
"All I see are walls,
no room at all."
- Why do you lie to me?
- Let go of me.
"So, where do I go to?
No one loves a bastard
like the misery
he's prone to.
- Better days..."
- Drink it.
- "And little care..."
- Drink it!
"Misfortune
always finds me there.
No matter where,
it's always near me.
They only want me for a check,
check, can you hear me?
Ryan watched.
I peed the bed.
He flipped the switch.
Kicked my crotch.
Ripped and beat me.
Trick and treat me.
That's who I had to call 'pops'.
Pop goes the lid
off the vinegar jar.
Pop me in the jaw,
now I'm seeing stars.
It's hard.
It's hard.
I'm sorry, Jamal, but...
we need to talk
about the Randolphs.
Can you tell us what happened
at the Randolph home?
Joey Poule...
raped me for three years.
It started when I was ten.
Did you ever tell anyone, Jamal?
- Her.
- Pamela Dupree.
And what did she say to you
when you told her, Jamal?
She said...
that I was lucky to have a home.
Mr. Randolph, I was moved
by the songs that you rapped to us during your direct testimony,
but they were just that.
Am I right?
Songs. I... I'm...
I'm sorry. I'm sorry,
verses.
- They're the truth.
- Okay, okay. So you say.
So, is there anyone else
in the courtroom here today who can verify your truth for us?
Anyone at all?
No one, not Ms. Ryan,
no other foster parents,
not even any kids from the neighborhood,
there's nobody here,
to sing the same tune as you.
Isn't that right?
- It's the truth.
- The truth,
the songs that you wrote down
in these notebooks?
Yeah, I wrote the songs.
Okay, are the songs
that you shared
with us today the only songs
that are inside the books?
- No.
- Well, what other kinds of songs have you written?
Uh, I don't know,
a lot of stuff.
I mean have you ever written
any songs about say, um,
I don't know,
places that you've never been
or, uh, romances
you never actually had
sexual experiences
you wished you had?
- No.
- No, nothing from your imagination?
- No.
- So,
I want you to be careful
here, Mr. Randolph,
you're telling
the court here today
that if we look through
these books,
which we can do,
which we will do,
that we will not find
a single song that you made up.
That everything
inside these notebooks,
there must be what?
Uh, uh, a hundred or more
and that every one of them
is a true factual account
of something
that actually happened to you?
- On some of the songs, yeah, but not... not all of them.
- Fair enough.
Some of them are real
and some of them are made up,
but how can we know
the difference?
I'm... I'm telling you
the difference.
Oh, oh, I see. Okay,
so there is actually no evidence
whatsoever that any of these
so-called rapes even happened
except for what you
wrote down yourself
inside these books
that you've just admitted
are also filled
with things that you sometimes
make up from your imagination?
Yeah.
Thanks for clearing that up.
Mr. Trainer, are you ready
for closing arguments?
Yes, Your Honor.
If it may please the court,
council members of the jury...
Uh, Your Honor,
I'd like to call Daniel Cohen to the stand, if I may?
You got to be kidding me.
- Come on up, Mr. Cohen.
- Your Honor,
this witness
appears on no witness list.
We have no opportunity
to prepare.
Overruled.
Step up, Mr. Cohen.
Do you swear to tell
the truth the whole truth
and nothing but the truth,
so help you God?
I do.
State
your name for the record.
- Daniel Cohen.
- Daniel Cohen,
can you tell the jury
what you do for a living?
A social worker.
How many years
were you a social worker?
- Fifteen.
- Could you tell the jury
what your relationship
is to Ms. Pamela Dupree?
We work together
at Bellcore Family Services.
Mr. Cohen, I'm showing you
what has been marked
as exhibit number 23.
Famous Exhibit 23.
Your Honor, I object.
Give it up, Mr. Collins.
- Do you recognize this document?
- I do.
Mr. Cohen,
what exactly is this?
- It's a... a violent incident form.
- A violent incident form
And what does
the violent incident form show?
It shows that Joey Poule
raped his sister,
put a knife up to another boy
and sexually assaulted
another four-year-old child
while at a residential
treatment facility
just six months
before Pamela Dupree
placed him with the Randolphs.
Mr. Cohen, where is it
that you found this document?
I saw Ms. Dupree
throw it in the garbage...
...and I took it out.
That's true,
isn't it, Mrs. Dupree?
You threw it in the trash
because you knew that Joey Poule
had a history
of sexual violence.
- Isn't that true?
- Objection, Your Honor.
Ms. Dupree
is not on the witness stand.
She's already under oath,
it doesn't matter
what chair she sits in.
Answer the question, Ms. Dupree.
Isn't it true that Bellcore
Family Services paid you bonuses
that you personally
received money
for each child you placed
in a foster home?
Isn't that true, Ms. Dupree?
All right, um,
on the advice of my counsel,
I am going to exercise
my Fifth Amendment right.
Your Honor,
the plaintiff would like to amend the request
and ask for punitive damages.
Your Honor,
the defense asserts
that punitive damages
are not called for in this case.
Mr. Trainer,
your motion is granted.
If it may please
the court, counsel,
members of the jury.
I didn't want this case.
I didn't want this case
because when I looked at Jamal,
I saw a thug,
a freeloader,
a tax on our system.
Sometimes when we meet people,
we don't see them
for who they truly are.
I'm sorry that
I did not see you, Jamal.
Over the course of this trial I've gotten to know Jamal Randolph,
the 19-year-old boy
who sits before you today.
But I ask you to go back
in time now, to see Jamal
as a 10-year-old boy forced to live in 12 different foster homes,
but, eventually,
he found the right home,
the home
of Shaina and Bill Randolph,
who later adopted him.
They also fostered Joey Poule.
Now what Jamal
and the Randolphs didn't know,
what they couldn't know
was that Joey Poule
had a severely violent past,
a history of rape.
The reason Jamal
and the Randolphs didn't know
was because Pamela Dupree
and Bellcore Family Services
tried to destroy those records.
I'm sorry that Bellcore
did this to you, Jamal,
and I can see now why it's difficult for you to trust anyone.
But I'm asking you to...
I'm begging you,
please put your trust
in this jury.
The same way that your mother
gave you hope
by wrapping
her loving arms around you,
this jury will give you hope
by wrapping the American
Constitution around you.
This is your opportunity to give Jamal and kids like him, hope.
Hope that what we do
in this courtroom and courtrooms
like this all across the country
will never let them down again.
I thought you'd be on a flight
back to Los Angeles.
When was the last time
I listened to you?
Good point.
Some hot cocoa for you, bud.
Jury's back.
Have you reached a verdict?
We have, Your Honor.
In the manner of Jamal Randolph
versus Bellcore Family Services,
we the jury,
find the defendants,
guilty of deliberate indifference to the rights of Jamal Randolph
and we assess damages
of thirty-two million,
six hundred
and fifty thousand dollars.
Matter is concluded,
court is adjourned,
jury is dismissed.
Ms. Dupree, Ms. Dupree,
Agent Stockton with the FBI.
We received
some information this morning.
We have some questions for you.
No, uh, I...
Yeah.
How much?
No. We'll wait a month,
it'll die down
then we'll go public.
Yeah.
Hey, Mr. Trainer.
What you said in there...
sometimes when you meet a person you
don't really see them for who they are.
It's true.
Thanks for everything.
Three-piece.
Thug!
Good luck, Mr. Randolph.
? Counting my days From the cages In so many ways ?
? It's all that I've known
Cell's been my home ?
? Chaotic environments
Going through violence ?
? Screaming in silence
I hate living ?
? Living this nightmare
When all I wanted ?
? Was a pot to piss in
Lay my head down at night ?
? Dream of better living
By the age of eight ?
? I faced a life of cruel fate
A foster boy ?
? A broken toy
A play thing, now a victim ?
? Going through revolving
doors Of a foster care system ?
? No, no
No, mama, why, mama? ?
? Now, you ain't my real mama
You my high mama ?
? All I wanted was
A hug and a hi, mama ?
? Take your fucking hands
Away from my thigh, mama ?
? Keep your fucking hands
To yourself ?
? Foster boy, a broken toy ?
? A plaything, plaything
I'm a foster boy ?
? Foster boy, a broken toy ?
? A plaything, plaything
I'm a foster boy ?
? Foster boy ?
? Foster ?
? Boy ?
? I'm a foster... boy ?
? Foster ?
? Boy ?
? I'm a foster... boy ?
? Flame of a lighter
Stephanie Myers ?
? Cigarette and Guinness style
Crack pipe in her mouth ?
? Watching talk shows
On a dirty couch ?
? Hide and seek ain't a game
If I'm screaming ouch ?
? 'Cause if she takes a hit ?
? Then I'm taking hits
I'm hoping she quits ?
? I can't take the shit
I can't take this shit ?
? I can't take this shit
I'm afraid of what ?
? I turned into, into
Things ain't quite like ?
? They're supposed to All I see are walls And no room ?
? No nobody likes a bastard Like the misery He's prone to ?
? Better days with little care Misfortune Always finds me there ?
? No matter where
It's always near me ?
? They only want me
For a check, check ?
? Can you hear me?
I'm a foster boy ?
? A broken toy
A plaything, plaything ?
? I'm a foster boy
Foster boy ?
? Foster boy, a broken toy ?
? A plaything, plaything
I'm a foster boy ?
? Foster boy ?
? Foster ?
? Boy ?
? I'm a foster... boy ?
? Foster ?
? Boy ?
? I'm a foster... boy ?
? Ryan watched
I peed the bed ?
? He flipped the switch
And kicked my crotch ?
? Ripped and beat me
Trick and treat me ?
? That's who
I had to call Pops ?
? Pop goes the lid off
The vinegar jar ?
? Popped me in the jaw
Now I'm seeing stars ?
? A plaything, plaything
I'm a foster boy ?
? Foster ?
? Boy ?
? I'm a foster... boy ?
? Foster ?
? Boy ?
? I'm a foster... boy ?
? Thank God
For the Randolphs ?
? The exception
To the pressure ?
? Raised me with affection ?
? Taught me
many valuable lessons ?
? What a blessing
And I tried to fight it ?
? Couldn't show my heart ?
? Nah, I got to hide it ?
? I'm a foster boy ?
In so many ways
it's all that I've known.
Cell's been my home.
Chaotic environments.
I've been going through violence,
still screaming in silence.
All I wanted was a shelter,
warm bed and a pot to piss in,
and daydream
for better livin'.
Stop!
I hate living
in this nightmare.
? I was born inside A wind parade Crying on the best of days ?
? Almost pushed stop on
The tape inside an Escalade ?
? In those last moments Spilling out into the Interstate ?
? Estimate the lost To the universe Don't escalate ?
? Back to the soil
Back to the flower beds ?
? Back to the Crown Royal Then it's back To the toil,
black ?
? Spinning while These Other motherfuckers Was spilling raps ?
? Ready to die, ready to fly
Why I skipped the track... ?
Randolph, get up.
You've got court.
? ...and slow down
Whatever go down ?
? I'll take it all
New romantic when he puffing ?
? The trees
And stake it all on the work ?
? And if I follow my bliss
For model chicks ?
? They steady loving
The way that I spit ?
? I'll get to live, uhh ?
? I'm alone in the city,
black Fitted cap back ?
? With a pretty young thing
When I'm sitting back ?
? Ice grill 'em on a warm day
Lifetime ?
? Catch me on the block Blowing dice Or I'm flowing nice ?
? When the city lights
Bright in the night time ?
Looked over those notes,
it's pretty open and shut.
Remember,
we have the German case management meeting in the morning.
- We'll be back in time.
- Good.
Nervous flyer?
Yes, Sir, a bit.
Quite an honor.
You need to fly in the corporate jet your first week on the job.
I've been here
eight weeks, Sir.
Excuse me?
Been here two months.
But thank you.
Name's Keisha...
James.
...clear to take off.
Relax, Miss James.
This plan is courtesy
of Cal Air. Our largest client,
39 percent of our billables.
Okay.
Judge, if you grant their motion,
Cal Air will have completely destroyed
a mom-and-pop company
that has been flying families
over Lake Michigan
for 30 years.
- This isn't equitable or fair.
- This isn't about equity, Your Honor.
- Well, I notice you left out the word "fair."
- In this case the law states--
I mean, you have already
decided the case.
I'm sorry, Mr. Counselor,
but the court has no choice
but to follow the law.
Next case,
the State of Illinois versus Jamal Randolph.
Mr. Randolph.
This is the fifth time
I've seen you this year.
I see you more
than I see my grandchildren.
And that is a problem.
This time
it's two OxyContin pills
that you gave to your...
your fellow inmates.
Yeah, my boy was hurting
and he had these shakes.
Mr. Randolph,
you have three weeks remaining
on your present sentence.
I'm gonna tack on an additional week.
Man, this is
some fucking bullshit.
Mr. Randolph,
you're on your way out.
You stay out of trouble.
Mr. Randolph,
re... re... return here.
Return here
back to the podium.
You have another case in here
in this court, a civil case,
that's due up for trial
in two weeks, correct?
- Yeah.
- Mm-Hm.
This case has been bouncing
around this court
- for what, six years now?
- Your Honor,
I'm sorry, I'm Jamal's mother.
We've tried but we haven't
been able to find
anyone to help us.
Mr. Randolph,
do you wish to proceed?
Yeah.
Well, representing yourself
is not a good idea.
Mr. Trainer,
please return to the podium.
Please.
- Uh...
- Please.
Well, I see, Trainer, you have
an impressive record here.
It... uh,
from the looks of it you've managed to turn down every case
in which any court has attempted to
appoint you to represent an indigent client.
Your Honor, if I may?
Ah, ah,
did I ask you to speak,
Counselor?
No, you may not.
According to the docket,
you have never handled
a pro bono case
for this court or any court.
I make donations. I... I write
a lot of checks for charities.
Accepting appointments
to represent a client
who cannot afford a lawyer
is responsibility
that you owe to the bar.
And I have a responsibility to my corporate clients and my firm.
Mr. Randolph, meet your new lawyer,
Michael Trainer.
- Oh, hell, no.
- Your Honor, my practice
is confined
to corporate litigation, not--
Unconfine it.
Next case.
Kanan versus Melissa.
What the fuck just happened?
Jesus, we got three trials next month.
How are we gonna try this case?
We're not.
You're gonna find a conflict.
Can't we just assign someone from the firm to the case?
They have legal aid
for people like him.
People like him?
Don't do that.
You know what I mean.
Okay. Now,
let's not gonna rush this
because I've seen this go terribly wrong.
No, no, my daughter's idiot ex-husband Barry,
cursed him from the start.
At the wedding I'm making
the toast around the table,
Barry comes in hard,
six glasses shatter,
- champagne goes everywhere.
- Oh, no.
So before we raise a glass,
I want to say,
Bellcore will be the first private foster company to go public ever.
Vince, what are
the stock projections?
Three-hundred-percent increase
in year one,
- plus or minus twenty percent.
- Okay, I'll take that
plus or minus. Ms.
Dupree, where are we at with the collateral litigation?
Ten lawsuits in total.
Six should be dismissed by the end of the month.
Three we can settle
for under fifty.
Six and three. That's nine.
Yes, there's a kid in Chicago.
Just got assigned a lawyer, corporate guy.
- Shouldn't be a problem.
- Oh, I see. Okay, come here,
let's make sure
that it's not a problem.
- Yes.
- Okay. Good enough. Now come in gently...
My key still works.
It might be better
if you'd knock.
Of course.
- Where's Benny?
- He's back in his bunk.
- Hey, Benny.
- Yeah?
- Your dad's here.
- Okay.
You don't... don't...
you don't have to do that.
I, uh...
I can't take Benny
for the whole weekend.
- What is it this time?
- I have to go to Chicago.
- Are you two arguing again?
- No.
- How you doing, buddy?
- I'm fine.
Hey, uh,
show your dad your picture.
Oh... that's terrific.
It's you.
He... he drew a picture of you.
I... I tried to get out of it,
but the judge forced me to take
- a pro bono case.
- What's pro bono?
Pro bono.
Well, that's where the judge forces you to do something for free.
- How come?
- You got me.
When somebody
can't afford a lawyer,
the judge tries to be helpful
and appoints an attorney.
What happened to him?
He got hurt and he wants money
from the people
he thinks are responsible.
- Will they give it to him?
- Maybe a little.
Did they only
hurt him a little?
The company doesn't
think that they hurt him at all.
What do you think?
I think he'll be lucky
to get a dime. Come on.
Hey.
- Come on.
- Bye, Mom.
Bye, sweetheart. Have fun.
- I love you.
- Love you, too.
We'll settle this by noon
and be out of here.
All right.
How do you think this kid's gonna present?
Like a thug.
Yeah, that's not gonna help.
Mr. Trainer.
I'm so glad to finally meet you.
I'm... I'm Shaina. Excuse me,
I'm Shaina Randolph, Jamal's mother.
My husband and I googled you and your reputation is impeccable.
Well, Miss Randolph,
you can't believe everything you read on Google.
A liberal invented it.
Excuse me, could you remove
his cuffs please?
Protocol.
- James Randolph?
- Jamal.
Jamal Randolph. Okay.
Today we are going to have a pre-trial.
You know what that is?
That's where we try
to settle this case
and get some money
in your pocket.
You'd like that,
wouldn't you?
Just some bullshit.
The defendant,
Bellcore Family Services
has offered you 40,000 dollars.
I'd like to get that up
to say 70, 75.
- Does that sound good?
- Nope.
All right. Maybe 80.
It ain't about the money,
three-piece.
It's always about the money.
And three-piece suits
went out in the '80s.
- Are you deaf, old man?
- Maybe 90.
Why the fuck do I have
to have you as my lawyer?
You're a real charmer,
you know that?
Judge Taylor
will see you both in chambers.
You work on it.
You know you should count
yourself lucky
to be represented
by Mr. Trainer.
- Oh, yeah?
- Mm-Hm.
Now, how much does he pay
you to kiss that ass?
- Michael Trainer.
- Samuel Collins.
Judge, we have told the plaintiff we'll pay 40,000 if he'll take it.
My client's digging his heels in but I'm still working on it.
So what's your demand?
Offer a hundred.
Let's see what we can do.
I may be able to do 75.
Mr. Collins, do you mind if I have a moment with Mr.
Trainer, please?
Thank you.
Mr. Trainer, well,
the last demand by your client,
before you were appointed,
uh, was, uh, 20 million dollars.
Now hundred thousand dollars,
that seems a little uh... a little shy
- in comparison, wouldn't you say so?
- Yeah,
- 20 million dollars?
- Uh-huh.
It's totally unrealistic.
Did the allegations
that when, uh,
Jamal Randolph
was a ten-year-old child,
Bellcore negligently ignored
his repeated complaints
when a 16-year-old,
who was also in place,
brutally raped and tortured him
for a three-year period.
- Yes, I've read the case.
- Ah.
They're allegations,
as you say.
Well, Bellcore, that's
a private corporation that buys
contracts from the states
for foster care, is that right?
It's a business, a big business.
There's nothing illegal about that.
- Is Bellcore your... your client?
- Excuse me?
Well, you seem to know more about
them than you know about, uh, Jamal.
Your Honor,
this is a respected corporation
versus a kid
that looks like a thug.
Thug.
What does a thug
look like to you?
It doesn't matter what I think,
it's what the jury sees.
It's the whole package,
the attitude, the hair.
Hair?
Why are you selling out
your client?
I sell out nobody.
Who do you think you are?
Sit down.
I'm gonna have you disbarred.
Fine.
I could retire tomorrow.
Go. Then maybe you can get that
money that you did protecting
those corporations then you can
retire to your private golf club
and then you can stand over your putter trying to get the perfect putt
knowing goddamn well that you haven't done anything for anybody
but yourself.
Get out of my chambers.
I'm sure you have someplace else
to go, Mr. Trainer.
What are you looking at?
Remain seated.
All right. Have you gentlemen
reached a settlement?
No settlement.
Okay.
Trial starts Monday morning at 9:00 a.m. Start picking the jury.
Monday? I can't. That
doesn't give me time to prepare.
That's what the last two weeks were about.
Monday, Mr. Trainer.
Your Honor, I need to clean my client up.
I need to get him a haircut.
I handle cases,
I'm not a barber.
I can't put my client in front
of a jury looking like this.
Side room in there if you like.
All rise.
Don't even be thinking about touching my hair, three-piece.
Let me tell you
something, kid.
You want me to try this case,
I guess I have to.
But there's one thing that
I don't do and that is lose.
- I'm not your kid.
- Clearly!
Back up, three-piece!
Keisha, figure this out.
You ain't touching my hair,
girl.
Name's Keisha, not Girl.
Don't be like them.
To win,
you got to play the game,
especially their game.
Come on now,
you don't want to scare these white folk, do you?
Start the car,
get the heat going.
See if you can find
some hotel rooms in this city.
How come you're playing
his game?
- I'm not.
- Please.
You're following the man around,
you're doing his dirty.
You think this game
only belongs to him?
Well, it don't.
Belongs to me just as much.
Besides, I'm playing what I need
to get to where I need to get.
All right, girl...
I mean, Keisha.
All right. All right.
For your opening statement.
Thank you.
Yeah, take these depositions
and give me an outline of my cross exams by tomorrow morning.
We got nothing, you know?
This is a joke.
No, we've got a young man
with no money
who won't accept
an $80,000 settlement.
That's something.
What happened
at chambers today?
Nothing.
Mind if I join you,
Mr. Trainer?
Do I know you?
Pamela Dupree, vice president
of Bellcore Family Services.
We didn't get a chance
to meet in court.
Uh...
You know we looked you up,
Michael.
You're normally on our side
of the fence.
Doing your homework.
I also read that you're a bit
of a wine snob.
C?tes du Rh?ne.
It's your favorite, right?
"C?tes", the "s" is silent.
Must be frustrating being stuck in Chicago away from your family.
Well, I don't have much
of a say in the matter.
Sometimes I find
a glass or two of wine
is more productive
than hours in a courtroom.
Good point.
Thank you.
You know, we're not
so different, you and I.
I worked my way up
through the company,
started as a caseworker,
then manager,
now I'm vice president of claims
and a major shareholder.
Because of who you are and the type of clients you have,
I think we can get this up
to a hundred thousand.
The kid won't settle.
Bellcore took over where the government failed,
Mr. Trainer.
The State had over 20,000 kids
in Child Services.
Now we do it all.
Pretty soon Bellcore Family Services will be in all 50 states.
- Private companies do it better.
- Yeah,
private companies
do some things better.
They make a good fork, a good knife,
a nice glass of red wine.
The trouble is
a child is not a product.
You joining
the Green Party?
I'm sure you'd know if I was.
Jury's not gonna believe
a black drug dealer.
A couple pills,
I'll keep it out.
Won't keep out
the color of his skin.
- The kid is a mess.
- Kid was a mess before Bellcore got a hold of him.
The kid was four years old before Bellcore got a hold of him.
- Where were the parents?
- Maybe Bellcore never told
the Randolphs about Joey Poule's
violent history.
I'm authorized to go
to 150,000, that's it.
Wow.
You just went to $150,000
and I haven't had a sip
of that red wine.
This is a nuisance case,
Mr. Trainer,
just like the dozen or so you and I have handled over the years.
Take the offer to your client,
then you can go back home to your son, Benjamin,
is that it?
We've completed the jury selection.
Are you ready to proceed?
Your Honor, may I have a minute?
I'll let you have five.
Then I'm calling the jury.
Thank you.
- Bellcore upped the offer to 150,000.
- I already said no.
What? What did you see?
That's her.
- Ms. Dupree!
- That's enough!
You get inside.
Good morning.
Bellcore offered $150,000.
I have a fiduciary
responsibility to tell you that
- that's a lot of money.
- Did they...
ever put a criminal in another home like they did with us?
There have been
other allegations.
- I need to talk to you outside.
- Sure.
What are you seeing there,
Mr. Trainer?
Do you see a young man who has
lost three years of his life?
Do you see his shame?
Or is all you can see
is another opportunity
to be done with this case?
Miss Randolph,
with all due respect--
You're a father, aren't you?
I'm telling you now,
we are not gonna settle.
Shine a light on what they did,
fight for that child
as if he were your own.
Jamal was eight.
It's pretty difficult those first few months.
Never heard so many curse words.
Bill, they are here.
I thought
they were coming tomorrow.
It doesn't look that way.
Just put that stuff.
Mr. And Mrs. Randolph.
I'm Ms. Dupree.
We spoke on the phone.
How are you?
- Hi.
- Hi.
- Hello there, James.
- It's Jamal.
Jamal then.
Did Jamal ever talk
about his past?
It was off limits.
Pamela Dupree placed Joey Poule
in your home, is that correct?
- Yes.
- Did she ever talk to you
about Joey's past,
uh, any violent tendency--
Objection, Your Honor,
we have never established that either Bellcore
or Ms. Dupree would have had
access to that information.
Sustained.
How long after Joey
moved into your home
did you begin to see a difference in Jamal's behavior?
I should have seen it
right away, but I didn't.
Easy, girl, easy.
What you doing?
I wonder what Sasha would look like
with the pitchfork sticking out of her.
I know this
must be difficult but...
can you explain to the jury
the changes that you saw
specifically?
He became angry, distant,
sometimes
he didn't leave his room.
And this was
because of Joey Poule?
Objection, Your Honor,
requires speculation.
- Sustained.
- No further questions.
Thank you for being here,
Mrs. Randolph.
I understand
that it's very difficult.
We'll try to make it
as easy as possible.
How much were you paid
to be a foster mother,
- Mrs. Randolph?
- I don't know.
We have receipts,
$450 per month?
I... I guess.
I didn't count it.
And you took in over 20 children over the years,
is that correct?
- Yes, but--
- Four-fifty per kid,
that comes to over $145,000
you made. Is that right?
We spent it
on the children-clothing, food.
You own a farm, Mrs. Randolph,
you grow food.
- We do.
- In fact, I see that you recorded a surplus
for going on 10 years now.
Bill has a green thumb.
It appears so.
A 10-year surplus, you made
hundreds of thousands
of dollars.
Tell me something,
is this a picture
of a new truck that you
and your family have bought?
Exhibit 25, counselor.
We bought a new truck, yes.
And this one, is this a picture
of your new tractor, 26?
Because the old one broke down.
Of course. Of course.
But this new one
is a lot bigger
than the old tractor, isn't it?
- Covers a lot more ground, plows a lot more land.
- Yes.
Meaning bigger profits
for you and Mr. Randolph.
- When the crops are good.
- I'm sure you'll do fine with Mr. Randolph's green thumb.
- Objection, Your Honor.
- Sustained.
- Stick to a question, Counselor.
- Fair enough, Your Honor.
Question, Mrs. Randolph.
Am I correct here in reading
that you have already applied
to Bellcore
- to host, yet, another foster child?
- Yes, that is true.
In spite of the alleged horrifying experiences with Joey Poule?
Children need help,
Mr. Collins.
Are you helping
the children, Mrs. Randolph?
- Or, are you helping yourself?
- Your Honor.
Don't answer that question,
Mrs. Randolph.
Counselor,
you're pushing your luck.
I have no further questions,
Your Honor.
Jamal. Jamal. Jamal.
Fuck him
and what he said about my mom.
That's his job, he's trying
to get under your skin.
Fuck his job, three-piece.
Mr. Trainer,
call your next witness.
All right.
It's time for you to get up there and tell your story.
What is it?
- I can't.
- You can't? Okay.
- Then I'll go over and accept their offer.
- No.
Those are your options.
Either you accept their offer
or you tell your story.
Plaintiff would like to call
James Randolph to the stand.
State your name
for the record.
Please state your name
for the record.
Say your name.
Um...
James Randolph,
but I... I go by Jamal.
Good. Jamal,
one of your first foster homes
was with Stephanie Myers.
Tell us what happened.
I, um...
Where the fuck
you been, boy?
- What you got to say, boy?
- Nothing.
Get over here.
So you play with yourself
all the time.
What'd I tell you
about playing with yourself?
You want
to grow up to be a faggot?
No.
Little faggot playing
with yourself in front of me.
You disrespected me.
That's what you're doing.
You little nasty
piece of shit.
- You don't remember?
- I... I don't remember.
Okay. Well, uh, let's
move on for the moment. Uh...
after the Myers you moved in
with the Ryan family. Uh...
do you remember
the Ryan family?
You stayed with them
before the Randolphs.
Don't you remember?
You lived with them.
You'll get two
of these a month.
Miss Dupree.
Look at me.
- You look at me.
- Miss Dupree!
Miss Dupree! Please.
Jamal.
Jamal.
Jamal, I asked you a question.
What... what... what, man?
What do you remember
about the Ryans?
- Nothing.
- Jesus Christ.
Excuse me, Counselor.
He said nothing.
Let's move on to the next
line of questions.
Your Honor,
may I have a quick word with my client?
Okay, we'll take a five-minute recess.
You asked why do you
have to have me as your lawyer.
Why do I have to have you
as my client?
Do you ever think of that? Hmm?
No.
Because you're too busy thinking the world owes you something.
I'm the bad guy, right?
I ask you to settle, I'm a sellout.
I wear nice clothes
and I'm a fucking three-piece.
You don't know shit about me.
So let me tell you
a little bit about myself.
I know how to practice law.
That's what I know.
I know how to win cases.
So if you want to win,
you've got to go out there
and you've got to tell those 12 people getting paid $15 a day your story.
If you don't want to win,
then don't talk.
- I'm trying.
- Good,
because your five minutes
are up.
Tell us what happened, Jamal.
Why did you file this lawsuit?
Jamal, why did you file
this lawsuit?
Answer the question,
Mr. Randolph.
- Tell us what happened.
- You little piece of shit.
Why did you file this lawsuit?
What are we even doing here?
- Tell us what happened.
- Leave me the fuck alone!
- All of you! You don't get it, man!
- Order.
- You fucking listen, man.
- Order.
You don't want to get it, right?
So fuck it. Fuck this shit.
- Order in the court.
- Fuck it. I'm out of here. This is some bullshit.
- Get the fuck out of my way.
- Back in the witness stand.
No, I'm not getting back
on the stand.
- Calm down.
- Jamal.
Fuck out of my way...
Hey, Jamal!
Easy.
Get up.
Get him out of here.
I told you, man.
I told you.
Ladies and gentlemen,
yeah, the trial resumes
tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m.
Michael, can I talk to you?
Tell Jeff, he'll fill me in.
No, Sir, I need to talk to you.
I think you should stop talking at Jamal and try listening to him.
Have you been
paying attention at all?
That's all I do is listen.
You want to help me,
tell him to start talking
or we're going to lose
this case.
Jamal left these behind.
I think it'd be good
for you to take a look.
- Why are you here?
- Because I'm your lawyer.
You can withdraw from the case.
I'm not gonna fight you on it.
I don't want to.
I believe you.
I lost my shit
and the jury see me get tased,
so the game...
- is over.
- Now, the good news is
that the jury decides
when it's over
and they haven't decided.
You left these
in the courtroom.
What are they?
They're my verses.
Verses?
Yeah.
About my past.
- Would you read them to me?
- Hell, no.
Ain't gonna happen.
You're tripping.
Read them to me anyway.
Man, you're crazy.
My ex-wife
would agree with you.
- Read them to me.
- No.
You ain't gonna get it.
Read them to me.
No,
you're not gonna get it.
"Counting my...
days from the cage.
In so many ways
it's all that I've known.
Cell's been my home.
Chaotic environments.
I've been growing with violence,
still scream..."
It's stupid.
No, no, it's not stupid.
Yeah. I--
Actually I got it right here.
Michael, I got Reynolds.
He's looking at your notes on the German case.
You got a second?
Tell him we're busy
with this case.
He's on his own.
- I need you to try--
- I'm gonna have to get back to you.
- I can't run it without him.
- I... I don't know what to tell you.
It's Dad.
- Hi.
- Hi.
Benny gets his leg braces
off today, right?
Could I speak to him?
Sure.
- Hello.
- Hey, how you feeling?
Good. How... how's the case
going? Did you win?
Well, not yet,
it's a tough one.
Don't you always win?
Not always, no.
Well, you should win this one.
Well, I'm gonna do my best.
Here's Mom.
Listen, Kim,
you think I could have Ben
- for the Thanksgiving weekend?
- In Chicago?
Yeah, you put him on the plane,
I'll pick him up on the other end.
It'll be nice,
the two of us can hang out.
I don't know.
Well, will you think about it?
Yeah, yeah, I'll think about it.
Hello.
No, it's fine,
I'm... I'm wide awake.
Again, I am very sorry
to bother you, Sir,
but a man left you
an urgent package.
- Did you see who left it?
- No, Sir.
Thanks, Sanjay.
- Where's Jeff?
- I don't know.
I... I checked his room
and nobody answered.
Well, it is 5:30 in the morning.
Somebody dropped off
a dozen Bellcore documents
showing that Joey Poule
had a history of violence.
He molested his own sister
and his niece.
- God knows how many other children.
- Jesus.
I need you to find out
who dropped those off.
Okay.
And, Keisha, thank you. I...
I apologize for not being
more properly dressed.
It's okay, Mr. Trainer.
Hello.
How?
I understand.
Mr. Cohen. My name is Keisha.
I work with the Trainer Firm.
- I would love to talk--
- Sorry, I am very busy.
Did you work with Pamela Dupree?
Uh, I... I have an appointment.
- Uh, I am late.
- Mr. Cohen.
Did you work with Pamela Dupree?
Hi.
Hi. How are you?
How is the trial going?
Uh, it's different.
- How?
- My client's telling the truth.
Oh, wow, that's something
different for you, huh.
Yeah, it's something.
So I... I talked to Benny
about Thanksgiving.
He said yes.
And I want him to go see you.
I think it'll be good
for both of you.
That's great. Tell him
I can't wait to see him.
- We'll go ride horses in the park.
- Horses?
Well, don't worry, they're old nags,
they don't go very fast.
Okay. Just be careful, Michael,
he just got those braces off.
Of course, yeah. Um...
Bye?
Bye.
Yes. No, I'll be overseas.
He wasn't angry.
I know.
Yeah. Open it.
I'll call you back.
We took the trouble
of calculating
how much
you stand to gain if this
- public offering goes through.
- It will go through, Simon.
There's no reason
to think it won't.
Did you know that we are Cal Air's biggest corporate client?
I... I did not.
You should have.
Play harder. We can't lose this.
- Jeff, can you check on that?
- Yeah.
Excuse me. Michael.
What is this?
Some kind of a joke?
I'm afraid not.
Come on.
Tim,
this is Michael Trainer calling.
I just received
some very alarming news.
Could you please call me back?
Hey, hey, Dupree.
You're behind this,
aren't you?
What did you say to Cal Air?
Cal Air makes its own decisions,
Mr. Trainer,
and they decided not to work
with you anymore.
You're a real piece of shit,
you know that?
Be careful, Mr. Trainer.
Cal Air was just the beginning.
Give me the Bellcore file.
- Sir, the file is--
- What Bellcore file?
Your Honor, I'd like to recall
Jamal Randolph to the stand.
You may proceed.
Jamal, I need you
to go back on the stand.
All you have to do is say yes.
I'll do the rest.
Michael, what are you doing?
Jamal, you were
tortured in the Ryan home
and their own file shows that,
isn't that true?
What file?
Objection, Your Honor.
Your own file shows
that they placed Joey Poule
- and Randolph--
- Side bar, please.
Counselor!
...this previous sexual assault.
Counselor!
Judge, I have several case notes
to show that Bellcore
knew that Joey Poule had sexually assaulted other children.
I have never seen
these documents.
Can I see that?
Where'd you get this?
Someone dropped them off
at my hotel.
Judge,
this is what discovery is for.
Without any... any foundation
how do we establish
the authenticity of these documents?
How do we know Mr. Trainer
didn't create
these documents himself?
- That's bullshit.
- It's enough.
He has no witness
to lay a foundation.
How do you know?
I'm making a really good guess.
Do you?
- No, not yet.
- You can be damn sure unless you can find the person
who can authenticate
this document,
it's not going in.
Ms. Dupree, you were Jamal Randolph and
Joey Poule's caseworker for four years
and you're telling the jury
that you had no knowledge
that Joey Poule sexually
assaulted Jamal Randolph?
- Objection, Your Honor.
- Sustained.
Counsel, you've asked
the same question
three straight times. Move on.
Apparently, putting your hand on the
Bible and taking the oath means nothing.
What was that you said,
Counselor?
Nothing, Your Honor.
I'd like to show you what's been marked as exhibit number 23.
Objection, Your Honor.
If this document is not already
familiar to the witness,
then there is no foundation
for its introduction.
Take it down.
I'm showing you a copy
of a mental health record
that shows that Joey Poule raped his own sister and cousin.
- Objection, Your Honor.
- Sustained.
Counselor, show that document
to Ms. Dupree and see
if she recognizes it first.
You recognize that document?
Never saw it before, Counselor.
The jury is instructed
to disregard it.
Move on.
Ms. Dupree,
- did you know Joey Poule raped his sister?
- No, I did not.
- Did you know that he raped his cousin?
- I never knew.
Did you know that he beat
and raped Jamal Randolph?
Never knew any of it, Counselor.
Okay, ladies and gentlemen,
it's time for our Thanksgiving break.
And the jury is instructed
not to discuss this case
or to read about it.
All rise.
- She's lying.
- I know she is.
We should take
their last offer.
And why would we do that?
We can't introduce a damn thing.
I know they'd settle this right now.
No, we're playing the game.
There's your answer.
I'm, uh... I'm gonna grab
a flight out.
- What?
- It's, uh... it's Thanksgiving weekend, right?
Right.
But you be back Saturday.
You're not coming back, are you?
When Michael found out about Cal Air,
you weren't surprised.
You knew.
I'm leaving.
I'm starting my own firm.
- With no clients.
- Cal Air is going with him.
Is that true?
Ten years
and this is what it comes to?
You had your day, Michael.
You're making a fool of yourself in that courtroom,
isn't that obvious?
Dupree got to you, didn't she?
That's what they do, Jeff.
No loyalty.
People like Dupree go to Cal Air
and make deals
and people like you accept them.
For 10 years
I watched you get rich off
of companies like Bellcore destroying anyone who got in your way
and now, all of a sudden,
you have a change of heart.
You think defending that kid
makes you some kind of savior?
You should have settled.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Please, leave a message.
Kim, it's Michael. I've called,
left a couple of messages.
I haven't heard back.
I still don't have
Benny's flight information.
Can you please call me?
Mr.
Trainer, I've just received an urgent message from your wife.
That's weird.
Why... why wouldn't she have called my cell?
She said she couldn't get
through to your mobile phone.
She wanted me to let you know that your son's changed his mind.
He won't make it
for Thanksgiving.
Yeah.
Sorry, Sir.
Thanks.
? I lied to mother ?
? Protecting him though
He stuck... ?
- It's good to have you back, son.
- Thanks, pa.
? Snow mounted up
To the kitchen window ?
? Oh, oh, oh ?
? I never told ?
? Oh, oh, oh ?
? I never told ?
? No footprints to follow ?
? To grandmother's stone ?
? And it's all
Covered in the snow... ?
? My head in reverse ?
? Mind controlled ?
? Align wires
In cortical rows ?
? Nano-electrodes
Pulse the thrum ?
? One note to beat my heart
Beat my heart ?
? Like a drum
Battle stations go ?
? Armed and ready to blow ?
? Yes, I know ?
? Yes, I know ?
? Battle stations go ?
? Armed and ready to blow ?
? Bridge's lost control ?
? Armed and ready to blow ?
? Yes, I know ?
? Yes, I know ?
? Yes, I know ?
? Yes, I know ?
? Yes, I know ?
- ? Yes, I know... ?
- Cohen.
? Yes, I know ?
? Yes, I know ?
Hey, Jamal.
Yo.
- What the hell happened to you?
- I was jogging.
Somebody almost ran me over.
Get in.
Unlock the door.
You think it was Bellcore.
Could have been an accident.
I think it was a warning.
Mr. Cohen,
we need to speak to you.
I know you're the one that dropped those documents off at my hotel.
I need you to testify.
You have no idea what
these people are capable of.
Do you remember Jamal?
- Hey, Mr. Cohen.
- I want you to look at this young man's face
and tell him that you
are not going to help him.
I never wanted you to get hurt.
I never wanted
any of them to get hurt.
But we did.
The more placements that fail,
the more money
that Bellcore makes, okay?
Wait, how did they fail?
Let's say that the government
pays 3000 bucks
per foster care placement,
but it doesn't work out.
So then,
Bellcore places the kid again
and they make
another 3000 bucks.
The whole system
is designed to fail.
Mr. Cohen, I need you
to tell this to the jury.
I can't.
Mr. Cohen.
What are you laughing at?
You know, sometimes
this shit is so thick
that the only thing you can do
is laugh, Mr. Trainer.
It's not funny.
We're gonna lose.
No, we're not.
- It's okay.
- No, it's not okay.
No, it is.
You fought for me
and that means something.
It's not okay.
Is there something else
on your mind?
No, nothing.
My son was supposed to fly in from Los Angeles today and he cancelled,
all right?
It's really tough. Sorry.
Yeah. Well, it's my own fault.
I haven't been the best father.
How old is your son?
Ten.
Then you're not done
being a father.
? Your loyalty is priceless ?
? That's how I know
You're right here ?
? Spending your time
And your money ?
? On things that no one
Can take when you're gone ?
? I'm serious
Where you've been ?
? Are you feeling me?
Yeah ?
? This is our turn
I need you ?
? I've been on my own... ?
I watered down the air vent
just in case.
Okay.
Long overdue.
Yep.
? I gotta go outta my way ?
? Do my own thing ?
? I'm sorry that
It turned out this way ?
? Turned out that way Just hit me up When you're back in my life ?
? I gotta go outta my way ?
? Do my own thing ?
? I'm sorry that
It turned out this way... ?
You did that?
Mm-Hm.
? I got a broken soul
Instead of my heart ?
? Got this for you my love
Broken soul ?
? Yeah, you do it sure
I can't control... ?
Mr. Trainer, it's Thanksgiving
and, uh, Thanksgiving is a time
for families to celebrate
and we damn sure
are gonna celebrate today.
? Tonight, ain't nothing
Gonna stop us, yeah ?
? All I need is
All I need is you and you... ?
Is this where it happened?
Yeah.
? Just hit me up ?
? When you're back
In my life... ?
Let it burn.
? I got a broken soul ?
? Instead of my heart ?
We're sorry.
Your call cannot be completed and dialed.
Good evening, Mr. Trainer.
Hope you've had a nice day.
Sanjay, can I use
the house phone?
Yeah, of course, Sir.
- Dial 9.
- Indeed.
Hi, it's Michael. Yeah.
Happy Thanksgiving to you, too.
Uh, listen,
could I speak to Kim?
- Michael.
- Kim.
- Why are you calling on my dad's phone?
- Kim,
is everything all right
with you and Benny?
I've been calling you all day.
What are you talking about?
Benny's with you.
I put him on the plane
this morning like we planned.
Kim, get on a plane
to Chicago right now.
This is Pamela Dupree,
Vice President of Bellcore
Family Service,
please leave a message.
I know you're behind this.
I will destroy you
and your fucking company
if anything happens to my son.
Do you understand me?
? ...crucial
But I ain't even mad man ?
? I'm glad I had the illusion 'Cause I ain't need No struggles ?
? And I ain't need no worries I just need To take this goal ?
? Hold me till I'm 30 Need that green
in my pocket Need that black in my... ?
- Get down, now. Now!
- No, no, no!
Why are you here? Relax.
You're gonna get me killed.
- Turn around.
- Shit!
- All right, all right.
- Hands behind your head,
interlace your fingers.
Why are you here?
Get down on the floor.
- Get down on the floor.
- Hey, man, I didn't do shit.
Hands out in front of you.
Man, I didn't do anything,
all right? I just got out.
- What is happening here?
- Stay where you are,
What are you doing?
It's my phone.
That's not his.
- Get up, get up!
- That is not his.
You set me up.
Why you set me up?
- Jamal.
- Just do what they say.
Son, just do what they say.
712? Okay. Yes, okay. Thank you.
Mr. Trainer the airline did confirm that
your son was on the flight this morning.
- No.
- They phoned you six times,
you didn't answer.
- They jammed my phone.
- Sir, who jammed your phone?
It doesn't matter.
Where is my son?
- He would have been picked up by the police.
- What precinct?
The eighth district station
will be the closest.
10-4 he's on his way to you.
Hands on the bar.
Hands on the bars.
Guard. Guard.
How you doing?
Long time no see.
How long has it been,
ten years or so?
Step back, Joey.
Huh, a decade's a long time.
What you got here?
Put my shit down.
Yeah, well, I'm betting you...
Shit happens.
Right, little bro?
Nah, you need
to step back, Joey.
I'm not a kid anymore.
I just want to say "hi"
to my little brother.
That's all.
You got tall,
but you are still a pussy.
We had a good time, me and you
in that barn, right?
I know you liked it.
You like this, huh, big bro?
I'm gonna fucking
kill you, Joey!
I was a fucking kid.
I was a kid.
Fuck you, you...
Fuck!
What the fuck
are you looking at, huh?
You're lucky.
I'm not lucky.
I'm not lucky.
You're lucky
you showed up when you did.
Children Services
was held up, but your son
was about to be placed
into emergency--
But where is he?
Where's my son?
- Mr. Trainer.
- Dad.
Benny. Oh!
Oh!
Randolph, move back.
You got a visitor.
Put your shoes on.
How did Joey Poule
end up in my cell, huh?
How the fuck should I know?
I think you fucking know.
I don't give a fuck
what you think.
Move back.
Let go of my fucking arm.
They try and run you over again?
They, uh...
they took my son.
Oh, shit! He all right?
Yeah. He's fine.
We've been bringing a knife
to a gunfight.
It's time to even the odds,
straighten this shit out
a little bit.
How much you got in your wallet?
What?
Sit down.
How much?
I don't know, maybe a thousand,
more. I don't know.
Jesus Christ.
Oh, yes.
- Give it to me.
- What are you gonna do with it?
Sometimes we gotta do things
a little different in my world
and you're in my world now.
I came here to bail you out.
I don't want
to get bailed out yet.
I got work to do.
Send Keisha
to bail me out tomorrow.
Mr. Trainer,
you take care of your boy,
all right?
I got this.
Guard!
Don't look so mad, all right?
It don't suit you.
I know I got it right.
You're still awake?
Who are these people?
What are they capable of?
I, honestly, don't know.
Are you safe?
Oh, yeah.
But I don't think it's safe
for you and Benny.
I think you should go back
to Los Angeles.
I need 15 minutes
like we talked about, all right?
Disappear.
? I can't breathe... ?
Have a seat. Have a seat.
Relax, relax.
- Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!
- Chill, just relax.
We're cool for now.
What the fuck is this?
Shut that, D.
Hey, guard.
Would you do something?
Hey, guard! Hey, guard!
How much they paying you, Joey?
? I can't breathe... ?
I don't know what the fuck
you're talking about.
I think you do know
what I'm talking about.
- No.
- I'm not stupid.
No. I don't know
what you are talking about.
- Fuck you!
- Hey, hey, hey, chill, chill,
chill, chill, chill, chill,
chill. It's okay, man. I got it.
? I can't breathe... ?
Have a seat.
Let's try this again.
I need you to tell me names.
I need you to tell me
who got to you.
Tell me what you know
about the pigs
who arrested me
and how I ended up in jail
with you?
Talk, Joey!
- Yo.
- Hey.
Thanks for bailing me out.
Not a problem. You ready?
Uh, there's something
I gotta do.
- What do you mean? We have court.
- I know,
but it's important.
Okay.
Mr. Cohen.
Hey, I'm not going anywhere,
all right?
Come on, man. Open up.
Hi.
Cop gave me 2k. Said he needed
me to be in jail here with you.
I rough you up,
cut you, if I needed to.
- Why?
- I don't know why. I don't know why.
I didn't have
much of a choice, dude.
I mean they got me
on some drummed-up shit.
- I don't know why.
- What happened?
Man, I just told you
what happened.
What happened to you, Joey?
The same shit that always happens to guys like you and me.
That is not my fault.
Your Honor, may I approach?
Your Honor,
my client has several notebooks.
I'd like him to be able to use them to refresh his recollection.
I object, Your Honor.
They have never been produced in discovery.
Your Honor,
a witness can use notes to refresh recollections.
- I'll allow it.
- Thank you.
Your Honor, there is one more thing,
my client will need to rap his testimony.
I'm sorry, excuse me.
Did you say "rap"?
- Are you serious, Counselor?
- Uh, well, First Amendment,
right to testify.
If the only way my client
can tell his story
is through rapping
- then you cannot deny him.
- Uh, Your Honor,
he has cited
no case law or precedent.
Your Honor, the Americans
with Disabilities Act, require
court to accommodate a witness if he
or she has difficulty communicating.
No such difficulty has ever been established in this case,
Your Honor.
In the case
of United States versus Durant,
the witness suffered from PTSD
and had a comfort animal, a dog.
Okay, okay,
a notebook is not a dog
and this plaintiff
is not disabled.
Here are a line of cases
where the court allowed
for interpreters or even allowed a
woman to speak while holding her child.
- This is absurd, Your Honor.
- And in the case
of Michaels versus Donnelly,
the court allowed a man
afraid of crowds to face
the wall while testifying.
I'll allow it.
Thank you.
Don't overstep
your balance, Counselor.
Are you ready?
This motherfucker's itching to tase me again, man.
I know it.
You'll be fine.
The plaintiff recalls Jamal Randolph to the stand.
Note my continuing objection.
Your continuing objection noted,
now continue to sit down.
Jamal, you write, don't you?
Yeah.
- Lyrics, poems...
- Verses.
I write verses.
Verses, yes, I'm sorry.
Uh, verses
about what happened to you
and you keep them in those notebooks,
is that correct?
- Yeah.
- Now, I'm going to ask you some questions.
You don't have to look
at anybody.
You don't have to look at the jury.
You don't have to look at me.
Just tell us
what happened. Okay?
"By age eight a cruel fate,
found a meaning and lost it.
Ripped from the comfort
of a family and taken by cops,
the foster boy, a broken toy,
a plaything, now a victim
going through revolving doors
of a foster care system.
No, mama.
Why, mama?
Now, you ain't my real mama,
you my high mama.
All I wanted was a hug
and a hi, mama.
Take your fucking hands
from my thigh, mama.
Flame of a lighter,
Stephanie Myers, cigarette
and Guinness-style crack pipe
hanging from my mouth
spent all-nighters,
watching talk shows all alone
on the couch.
Hide and seek, ain't a game
if I'm screaming ouch!
'Cause if she takes a hit,
then I'm taking hits.
I'm hoping she quits
'cause I can't take this shit."
You want a break?
No, no, no break. I'm cool.
Okay.
Jamal, I'm gonna ask you
about the Ryan family.
Can you tell us about the Ryans?
Yeah.
I ain't never gonna forget
the Ryans.
"I'm afraid
of what I turned into.
Ain't what it's supposed to..."
You pissed the bed again?
"All I see are walls,
no room at all."
- Why do you lie to me?
- Let go of me.
"So, where do I go to?
No one loves a bastard
like the misery
he's prone to.
- Better days..."
- Drink it.
- "And little care..."
- Drink it!
"Misfortune
always finds me there.
No matter where,
it's always near me.
They only want me for a check,
check, can you hear me?
Ryan watched.
I peed the bed.
He flipped the switch.
Kicked my crotch.
Ripped and beat me.
Trick and treat me.
That's who I had to call 'pops'.
Pop goes the lid
off the vinegar jar.
Pop me in the jaw,
now I'm seeing stars.
It's hard.
It's hard.
I'm sorry, Jamal, but...
we need to talk
about the Randolphs.
Can you tell us what happened
at the Randolph home?
Joey Poule...
raped me for three years.
It started when I was ten.
Did you ever tell anyone, Jamal?
- Her.
- Pamela Dupree.
And what did she say to you
when you told her, Jamal?
She said...
that I was lucky to have a home.
Mr. Randolph, I was moved
by the songs that you rapped to us during your direct testimony,
but they were just that.
Am I right?
Songs. I... I'm...
I'm sorry. I'm sorry,
verses.
- They're the truth.
- Okay, okay. So you say.
So, is there anyone else
in the courtroom here today who can verify your truth for us?
Anyone at all?
No one, not Ms. Ryan,
no other foster parents,
not even any kids from the neighborhood,
there's nobody here,
to sing the same tune as you.
Isn't that right?
- It's the truth.
- The truth,
the songs that you wrote down
in these notebooks?
Yeah, I wrote the songs.
Okay, are the songs
that you shared
with us today the only songs
that are inside the books?
- No.
- Well, what other kinds of songs have you written?
Uh, I don't know,
a lot of stuff.
I mean have you ever written
any songs about say, um,
I don't know,
places that you've never been
or, uh, romances
you never actually had
sexual experiences
you wished you had?
- No.
- No, nothing from your imagination?
- No.
- So,
I want you to be careful
here, Mr. Randolph,
you're telling
the court here today
that if we look through
these books,
which we can do,
which we will do,
that we will not find
a single song that you made up.
That everything
inside these notebooks,
there must be what?
Uh, uh, a hundred or more
and that every one of them
is a true factual account
of something
that actually happened to you?
- On some of the songs, yeah, but not... not all of them.
- Fair enough.
Some of them are real
and some of them are made up,
but how can we know
the difference?
I'm... I'm telling you
the difference.
Oh, oh, I see. Okay,
so there is actually no evidence
whatsoever that any of these
so-called rapes even happened
except for what you
wrote down yourself
inside these books
that you've just admitted
are also filled
with things that you sometimes
make up from your imagination?
Yeah.
Thanks for clearing that up.
Mr. Trainer, are you ready
for closing arguments?
Yes, Your Honor.
If it may please the court,
council members of the jury...
Uh, Your Honor,
I'd like to call Daniel Cohen to the stand, if I may?
You got to be kidding me.
- Come on up, Mr. Cohen.
- Your Honor,
this witness
appears on no witness list.
We have no opportunity
to prepare.
Overruled.
Step up, Mr. Cohen.
Do you swear to tell
the truth the whole truth
and nothing but the truth,
so help you God?
I do.
State
your name for the record.
- Daniel Cohen.
- Daniel Cohen,
can you tell the jury
what you do for a living?
A social worker.
How many years
were you a social worker?
- Fifteen.
- Could you tell the jury
what your relationship
is to Ms. Pamela Dupree?
We work together
at Bellcore Family Services.
Mr. Cohen, I'm showing you
what has been marked
as exhibit number 23.
Famous Exhibit 23.
Your Honor, I object.
Give it up, Mr. Collins.
- Do you recognize this document?
- I do.
Mr. Cohen,
what exactly is this?
- It's a... a violent incident form.
- A violent incident form
And what does
the violent incident form show?
It shows that Joey Poule
raped his sister,
put a knife up to another boy
and sexually assaulted
another four-year-old child
while at a residential
treatment facility
just six months
before Pamela Dupree
placed him with the Randolphs.
Mr. Cohen, where is it
that you found this document?
I saw Ms. Dupree
throw it in the garbage...
...and I took it out.
That's true,
isn't it, Mrs. Dupree?
You threw it in the trash
because you knew that Joey Poule
had a history
of sexual violence.
- Isn't that true?
- Objection, Your Honor.
Ms. Dupree
is not on the witness stand.
She's already under oath,
it doesn't matter
what chair she sits in.
Answer the question, Ms. Dupree.
Isn't it true that Bellcore
Family Services paid you bonuses
that you personally
received money
for each child you placed
in a foster home?
Isn't that true, Ms. Dupree?
All right, um,
on the advice of my counsel,
I am going to exercise
my Fifth Amendment right.
Your Honor,
the plaintiff would like to amend the request
and ask for punitive damages.
Your Honor,
the defense asserts
that punitive damages
are not called for in this case.
Mr. Trainer,
your motion is granted.
If it may please
the court, counsel,
members of the jury.
I didn't want this case.
I didn't want this case
because when I looked at Jamal,
I saw a thug,
a freeloader,
a tax on our system.
Sometimes when we meet people,
we don't see them
for who they truly are.
I'm sorry that
I did not see you, Jamal.
Over the course of this trial I've gotten to know Jamal Randolph,
the 19-year-old boy
who sits before you today.
But I ask you to go back
in time now, to see Jamal
as a 10-year-old boy forced to live in 12 different foster homes,
but, eventually,
he found the right home,
the home
of Shaina and Bill Randolph,
who later adopted him.
They also fostered Joey Poule.
Now what Jamal
and the Randolphs didn't know,
what they couldn't know
was that Joey Poule
had a severely violent past,
a history of rape.
The reason Jamal
and the Randolphs didn't know
was because Pamela Dupree
and Bellcore Family Services
tried to destroy those records.
I'm sorry that Bellcore
did this to you, Jamal,
and I can see now why it's difficult for you to trust anyone.
But I'm asking you to...
I'm begging you,
please put your trust
in this jury.
The same way that your mother
gave you hope
by wrapping
her loving arms around you,
this jury will give you hope
by wrapping the American
Constitution around you.
This is your opportunity to give Jamal and kids like him, hope.
Hope that what we do
in this courtroom and courtrooms
like this all across the country
will never let them down again.
I thought you'd be on a flight
back to Los Angeles.
When was the last time
I listened to you?
Good point.
Some hot cocoa for you, bud.
Jury's back.
Have you reached a verdict?
We have, Your Honor.
In the manner of Jamal Randolph
versus Bellcore Family Services,
we the jury,
find the defendants,
guilty of deliberate indifference to the rights of Jamal Randolph
and we assess damages
of thirty-two million,
six hundred
and fifty thousand dollars.
Matter is concluded,
court is adjourned,
jury is dismissed.
Ms. Dupree, Ms. Dupree,
Agent Stockton with the FBI.
We received
some information this morning.
We have some questions for you.
No, uh, I...
Yeah.
How much?
No. We'll wait a month,
it'll die down
then we'll go public.
Yeah.
Hey, Mr. Trainer.
What you said in there...
sometimes when you meet a person you
don't really see them for who they are.
It's true.
Thanks for everything.
Three-piece.
Thug!
Good luck, Mr. Randolph.
? Counting my days From the cages In so many ways ?
? It's all that I've known
Cell's been my home ?
? Chaotic environments
Going through violence ?
? Screaming in silence
I hate living ?
? Living this nightmare
When all I wanted ?
? Was a pot to piss in
Lay my head down at night ?
? Dream of better living
By the age of eight ?
? I faced a life of cruel fate
A foster boy ?
? A broken toy
A play thing, now a victim ?
? Going through revolving
doors Of a foster care system ?
? No, no
No, mama, why, mama? ?
? Now, you ain't my real mama
You my high mama ?
? All I wanted was
A hug and a hi, mama ?
? Take your fucking hands
Away from my thigh, mama ?
? Keep your fucking hands
To yourself ?
? Foster boy, a broken toy ?
? A plaything, plaything
I'm a foster boy ?
? Foster boy, a broken toy ?
? A plaything, plaything
I'm a foster boy ?
? Foster boy ?
? Foster ?
? Boy ?
? I'm a foster... boy ?
? Foster ?
? Boy ?
? I'm a foster... boy ?
? Flame of a lighter
Stephanie Myers ?
? Cigarette and Guinness style
Crack pipe in her mouth ?
? Watching talk shows
On a dirty couch ?
? Hide and seek ain't a game
If I'm screaming ouch ?
? 'Cause if she takes a hit ?
? Then I'm taking hits
I'm hoping she quits ?
? I can't take the shit
I can't take this shit ?
? I can't take this shit
I'm afraid of what ?
? I turned into, into
Things ain't quite like ?
? They're supposed to All I see are walls And no room ?
? No nobody likes a bastard Like the misery He's prone to ?
? Better days with little care Misfortune Always finds me there ?
? No matter where
It's always near me ?
? They only want me
For a check, check ?
? Can you hear me?
I'm a foster boy ?
? A broken toy
A plaything, plaything ?
? I'm a foster boy
Foster boy ?
? Foster boy, a broken toy ?
? A plaything, plaything
I'm a foster boy ?
? Foster boy ?
? Foster ?
? Boy ?
? I'm a foster... boy ?
? Foster ?
? Boy ?
? I'm a foster... boy ?
? Ryan watched
I peed the bed ?
? He flipped the switch
And kicked my crotch ?
? Ripped and beat me
Trick and treat me ?
? That's who
I had to call Pops ?
? Pop goes the lid off
The vinegar jar ?
? Popped me in the jaw
Now I'm seeing stars ?
? A plaything, plaything
I'm a foster boy ?
? Foster ?
? Boy ?
? I'm a foster... boy ?
? Foster ?
? Boy ?
? I'm a foster... boy ?
? Thank God
For the Randolphs ?
? The exception
To the pressure ?
? Raised me with affection ?
? Taught me
many valuable lessons ?
? What a blessing
And I tried to fight it ?
? Couldn't show my heart ?
? Nah, I got to hide it ?
? I'm a foster boy ?