Family Sins (1987) - full transcript

Keith... Brian...

FAMILY SINS

You cold, Brian?
Can I get you something to put on?

How about candy?
Hey, you like mango?

See, if you take the mango,
I get the tangerine one underneath...

- Did my mother leave?

Yeah. She, uh, she wanted to stay in
here, but we had no place to put her up.

- How long will I be here?

Just overnight. Tomorrow they're
gonna transfer you to Juvenile Hall.

Brian... Is there anything you'd like to say?

Brian?



Brian? Remember what I said?

Yeah... Get in front of the ball
and keep my body low...

...and your butt down.

Just remember: only a few people are born
athletes. The rest of us have to work at it.

- Like your third
baseman. What's his name?

Buddy?

Alright, now that kid hustles.
He let's 'em know he's there.

And he's always in the starting lineup.

He also bats 300...

That's because he works at it.

Look at your brother. Didn't he have his
share of problems last year with his team?

- Look how he's shaped up.
- Started every game this season, Dad...

- They might not put me in today.
- Of course he will... Why do you say that?

'cause I made two errors last game...



Okay... So you get in
there and you practice...

"Good afternoon, folks, and welcome
to Mary C. Davis Little League Park.

Big game today for both
the Yankees and the Giants.

The Yankees are on top
of the division, but..."

Okay, Yankees, bring it
in here! Hustle it up!

C'mon, team, gather 'round.

Okay, Joe - you're catchin'.
Pankin - first base.

Vaughn - second base. Gill - shortstop.

Buddy - third base. Josh - you're pitchin'.

Jessica - left field. DJ -
center. Armando - right field.

OK, Yankees, c'mon, let's play ball!

Okay, bottom of the first.
Yankees up by a run.

Top of the third. Tie score - two apiece.

The Giants are threatening,
two on, one out.

Top of the fifth. Yankees still up by two, but
the Giants are coming on.

Men on Second and Third, one out.

Okay, Brian...
Go on in for Vaughn.

Brian Williams is in at
second for the Yankees...

replacing Vaughn Simpson.

Hey Brian - move over, he's a full hitter.

More...

Uh-oh, Williams is hurt.

Brian, let's see your foot, now...
Let's see how it's doin'...

Williams is definitely hurt,
Time-Out on the field..

Can you move your leg? Try it, can you?

Brian, you alright?

Not serious, no breaks.
But he better stay off it for awhile.

- Okay, let's try and get him up...
- C'mon, son.

- Put a little weight on it...
- Put your arm around me...

The ball took a bad hop.

Yeah, but you could've caught
it if you would've moved...

in towards the plate, like dad said...

I did, dummy!

No, you didn't - You waited
for the ball to come to you,

then it was too late, because
the guy was already...

- SHUT UP!
- Okay, guys, knock it off.

We stop over at the medical center,
have them take a look at it.

- Hi! - Hi. - How'd it go?
- Okay

- Brian, what happened?

He's okay, honey. I took him to
emergency, it's just a sprain.

Kid ran into him on second base.

Oh, honey, here, let me help you get inside.

Just try to keep the pressure
off if you can. Does it hurt?

I'm gonna make you an ice pack.
You okay?

C'mon, Brian, I'll fix you a
place over here on the couch.

I wanna go up to my room.

C'mon, you'll be much
more comfortable here.

I'll put on the TV, order in some pizzas...

I'm gonna go upstairs.

What was that all about?

I don't know.
He takes everything so hard.

- Does it hurt?
- No...

- Then why were you limping?
- 'cause I was.

- Did it hurt when you fell?
- Keith, will you lay off...

- I was just asking a question...
- Well, stop asking stupid questions.

- Keith, will you leave
these earphones alone?

Brian, think you'll be able
to play next week's game?

I dunno, Keith, will you give me
those, you're gonna break 'em.

Here, hand 'em over. Gimme 'em!

Well, if your foot's not better...
You know...

Okay! You can take your dumb earphones...
Who wants 'em, anyway...

- Hey, Keith? Come on, we
gotta get to work on that car.

'kay, Dad...

No, no, Keith, don't release it.

Keep your foot on the brake,
you're letting air back in the lines.

- Okay?
- Yeah, that's got it.

How about a bacon and
tomato sandwich, honey?

Sound good?

Dad's mad at me.

Oh? Why do you say that?

Well, because I made an error today.

I don't think he's angry with you.

You know your father. He just
thinks you guys are special.

He wants only the best for you.

It's Nine o'clock, when are you quitting?

I'm just finishing up now.

- How's Brian? - I just
gave him another ice pack.

He says you're angry with him 'cause
he didn't do well in the game.

It's not that at all, Kate.

Look, I don't care if he
doesn't bat a thousand...

...if he just tried. He
doesn't put himself out there.

Not like Keith.

Why must he be like Keith?
Why must he be like anyone?

Kate, it was a simple ground
ball, and he let it slip right...

through his legs. He gave up.
Just like the other times.

He's a kid, for God's sake!
Aren't you being a little hard on him?

Honey, I don't want Brian
to sell himself short.

That boy's got a lot going for him.

He just doesn't listen...

Sometimes I think he even resents me.

Can't you see that he thinks
you're disappointed in him?

Gordon, you gotta let up on the kid.

- What do you want me to do?
- I want you to go upstairs and talk to him.

And let him know that what happened
today was not a catastrophe.

Hey, big guy.
How's the ankle?

Okay, doesn't hurt.

Looks like the swelling's gone down a bit.
You'll be on your feet in a few days.

Listen, Brian, I want to
talk to you about something.

- Y'know that error you made today,
and I know the pressure was on...

Dad, I just don't think I'm good at baseball.

Now, how can you say that...

You remember a couple of
weeks ago, that line-drive...

you caught - that was sensational.

- But I'm not in the starting lineup?
- That's because you don't work at it.

You gotta work at it, Brian, listen,
no one promised it was gonna be easy...

I lost the game for us today.

C'mon, what the hell is
that? Look at your brother.

You never hear him talk that way.

Look at him now - Top
ranking in his league.

- Dad!
- At least I show an interest, Brian.

My father never gave a damn about me.

But... just maybe I should sit
off the rest of the season...

Y'know, and practice, like you said.

Lemme tell you something...
If you quit at this,

you're gonna quit at everything in life.

No, no, I'm not gonna quit...

You don't realize, these
things stay with you.

When I was your age, boy...

Dad, I...

I'm trying to explain something, Brian!

What is this?

Aren't these the headphones
I gave you for Christmas?

I wanted to see how they work.

I can put 'em back together.

Yeah, sure...

Boo!

Hey, Brian!

- Hey, Brian, cut the act.
- What act? I hurt my leg, dummy...

- Baloney...
- He did too!

You're just trying to make us feel sorry for...

you 'cause you let the ball
go through your legs...

He's a better player than you are.

Oh yeah?
He's so good he lost the game for us.

- So what?
- So cut the act, phony...

Fight! Fight!
Fight!

Break it up!

What's this all about, huh?

He hit me first, he started it...

Is that right?
Huh?

Alright, kids, it's all over...
Go on!

Come on, let's go inside, huh?

You wanna tell me about it?

Come on, kid, let it out,...

Obviously he said
something that upset you.

It doesn't help to bottle it up, you know.

I hurt my ankle, and Gill
said I was faking it...

Well, that's his problem.

You know you did.

I do.

I believe you.

You mean you're not gonna report me?

To who? The FBI?
You don't look that dangerous to me...

Besides, I'm not going to turn
in one of my best students.

Who else can I count on to ask me
challenging questions in class, hmm?

Keep me on my toes?

Yeah?
Speaking...

Why?

Oh come on, that's ridiculous.
It was over...

Alright... Alright!

Principal wants to see you...

Gill reported the fight.

Alright, Keith, here we go.

Bend your knees, bend your knees,
get low, good good good...

- Alright!
- Terrific! Here we go.

- Is that good, Dad?

That's terrific, just remember
to stay in that set position.

Brian, c'mon, it's almost game
time, you're still not in uniform.

- Brian...
- Dad...

I don't wanna play.

What do you mean?

I don't want to be on the team.

Aww, Brian...

What is it? Because that
kid came down on you?

Come on, don't worry about him.

Just go out there and
show 'em you can hustle.

I don't wanna play.

I'm gonna be with you.

Look, you just go out there and
hang in there and play this game,

and we'll talk about it
when you come home, okay?

Gordon? Your office is calling...

Throw your brother some grounders...

Brian?

You're never gonna play again?

Why aren't you ever gonna play?

- So if the deal falls through...
- It is not gonna fall through...

If this completely safe deal falls through,
they could foreclose and take the house.

Come on, Kate, the bank's not
gonna foreclose, that's idiotic.

You just said they could.

Alright, conceivably they can.
But that's not gonna happen.

Don't you think we should
have discussed this?

That's the way my business
is, Kate, you know that.

There are times when you have to make an
immediate decision, and that's what I did.

You could've called me.
A simple phone call.

I made the best choice I could.
It's important to me you believe that.

I'd believe it better if you hadn't
done the same thing three years ago.

When are you gonna stop
beating me up for that?

3 years ago it was different.
And we didn't get hurt, did we?

No, but we could've, and you know it.

Well then, if you're not gonna talk,
throw me some practice balls.

Leave me alone.

- But dad said that he want...
- I SAID LAY OFF!

I'm gonna tell him!

- I can't believe you didn't consult me.
- Dad!

- Brian hit me.
- He did what?

With the ball.
He hit me in the back.

Brian

Why did you hit your brother?

I'm talking to you.

What is going on with you?

I don't know.

Don't you ever pull a stunt like that
around here again, do you understand?

Look at me!

- Do you?
- Yes.

Dad? Where are you going?

Can I come?

Beep Beep!
Comin' through!

Hey, Brian...

Well, did you ask him?

- Who?
- Your father.

Oh, uh...I forgot.

You forgot? How could you forget?

Look, Brian, you're gonna have to talk to...

him, or I'm gonna have
to ask someone else.

Roger's coming with his father.

- He is?

Yeah, they go camping a lot
so they know all about it..

My dad said that if you and your
dad come, we can take the van.

And we can rent some tents.
Now wouldn't that be neat?

He won't go...

- Why not?
- 'cause he's too busy.

How do you know? Just ask him...

No...

Hi, Brian.

Hey, good-lookin' shirt...
See ya.

Hi. This a visit?

Need help?

How'd you guess?

Come here, gimme a hand
with this, will ya?

Take that side.
I want to get this over to the table.

So, Mr. Johnson let you off, huh?

How'd you know?

- I spoke to him. Wanted to
put a good word in for you.

Thanks.

Don't have to thank me,
I planned to anyway.

How are you and Gill?

You talking, or you still on the outs?

I won't see him, I'm not on
the baseball team anymore.

Oh?
Why not?

Brian...

Anything wrong?

No.

You sure?

You see... I get the feeling
there's something bothering you.

If there is, maybe I can help.

Here, I want you to hold him for a minute.

You know your way around
rabbits, don't you?

What are you gonna do with him
when we're done with him?

I don't know... I haven't figured that out yet.

- You want him?
- Can I?

Only if you intend to keep him.

We take our rabbits very
seriously around here.

- We don't give them out on loan.
- I'll keep him.

Alright, then he's yours.
As long as it's cool with your parents.

- Wow, where'd you get the rabbit?
- Mr. McMahon gave it to me.

Well, what're you gonna do with him?

- I'm gonna take him
home. Mr. McMahon said...

You mean you're gonna keep him?

- Yeah.

Aw, Brian, you can't. Remember
when I wanted a rabbit?

Dad said not in the house - they're dirty.

I'm not gonna keep him in the house,
I'm gonna keep him in the shed..

- Dad hardly ever goes in there...
- You mean you're not gonna ask him?

Oh, Brian, you gotta ask him.

What if he doesn't let me keep him?
My teacher gave him to me...

Brian, you know you can't.

Well, do you want him?
I mean, 'cause he's yours, too.

I mean, he'll belong to the both of us.

- But dad's gonna find out...
- No! Not if you don't tell him!

It's gonna rain, we better get him in.

He's gonna be afraid,
though, alone in the rains...

You think so?

Brian? Brian, where're you going?

Get him, get him!

Careful.

Alright, I got him!

Brian, he went under!

You broke it!

Oh no! It's Dad!

He's home!
What are we gonna do?

Can you believe it?
Those guys didn't even close the window!

Keith? Brian?

Brian? Keith?

What are you two doing up here?

Didn't you notice the
windows downstairs were open?

- What, what's goin' on?
- Nothing.

Nothing?
You call this "nothing"?

Dad, I told Brian...

- Told him what? What
are you talking about?

What's wrong?

- I didn't do it, dad.
- Didn't do what?

What's goin' on?

Where'd you get him, Brian?

- My teacher.
- When?

- WHEN?
- This afternoon.

- Brian kept him in the shed.
- You know about this?

- I didn't want to, Brian made me!
- Oh, yeah? You are lying!

- I am not! - You are too!
- Alright, quiet, quiet!

What did I tell you about
having pets in the house?

Why do you do this?

Nothing I ever say gets through to you.

- Gordon, it's not important,
he'll take it back.

Right.

I want that rabbit out
of here in the morning.

I want you to take him,
put him back in his cage,

I want you to take him back
to your teacher - tomorrow.

- I can't, he'll get mad.
- I don't care what....

This is my home, and as long as you're
living here, you'll do as I say.

- Gordon, it's not a big deal...
- "Please, Dad, I just can't take him back.

I don't wanna hear that.
You're gonna listen to me.

- No.
- Gordon!

Now you get rid of that thing. I want it...

out of here by the time
I get home tomorrow.

Do you understand?

Hi, honey, I'm home.

Dinner in 15 minutes.

- Did your teacher find someone
else to take the rabbit?

No.

Well, did you explain to him
why you couldn't keep it, son?

I didn't give the rabbit to my teacher.

I don't understand.

Brian?
Where's the rabbit?

Behind the tree out back.

BRIAN!

Brian... Your father found the rabbit...
Buried... Did you do that?

Do you realize what you've done?

You told me to rid of it.

I didn't say to kill it!

Spite... That's all it was, spite.

I don't know yet how I'm gonna deal with
you, but right now I want you to...

go to your room and you stay there.
You're not to leave, is that clear?

You'll go to school and that's it.

The rest of the time I want
you to stay put in this house.

GO ON!

Gordon... I'm scared...

I know Brian is a complicated kid, but...

What he did with that rabbit was so terrible!

It was just an incident.

Incident?

Gordon... There is
something very wrong here.

- We need to see someone
who can advise us.

We don't gotta tell the story. It happened.

- It was an incident and we'll handle it.
- How? How will we handle it, Gordon?

I don't know, and you and Brian can't
even talk to each other, for God's sake.

- We'll handle it.
- I don't think we can, Gordon.

Not by ourselves.

"Railway Station"

...well, it's been hours...
He should've been home long before now...

Yes, would you please...
Thank you.

The police are putting it out on the radio.

- Is Brian gonna come back?
- Yes, of course.

What are you doin' outta bed? Hmm?
Come on, back to sleep!

Aww Dad, can't I stay up?

Brian?
Brian...

- Where were you? Are you alright?
- You had us scared to death.

- You have the whole city looking for.
- Where were you?

- At the train station.
- What for?

I was gonna run away.

I don't want to live here anymore.
I don't like it here.

Oh, you wanna go, big shot?

Go ahead, go! Go ahead, pack your bags,
don't know what's stopping you!

You want more money?

You didn't steal enough
from your mother, huh?

Okay, here's some more money.
Go on! Go on! Take it, dammit!

- And I hope you're packed! Come on!
- Stop! Gordon, stop it!

- Come on, big shot.
- Gordon, stop. This is insane...

Well, what's the matter?
I though you wanted to leave?

I don't have any place to go.

It's late, come to bed.

What you did was horrible.
How you could do that to your own son?

- Gordon, I can't take much more of this...
- What the hell am I supposed to do?

- I've tried every way I know how
to reach him. Everything I've...

done has been for him, and what
the hell's he do? fight me.

- My god, when I was his age...
- Well, he's not you

You want him to be you, but he can't.

And you've got to realize
that once and for all,

and just... stop this!

I think tomorrow might
be a good day to take...

you guys out and get
you some summer things.

Hello...

Thanks, honey.

Ummm... Kate, that's delicious.

- What's that?
- This?

Look, I've been under a
lot of pressure lately...

and I thought, since you kids
are out of school now...

Well, anyway, I called and
they said it was a little...

late, but they still had a few
cabins left up at the lake.

And I thought "what a perfect opportunity
for us to get away," just the four of us.

- Great!
- Okay? - Great.

- Dad? Are those our boats?
- Yeah. Speedboat and skiff.

- Uh. Excuse me... Keith? Unpacking first.
- Oh, sorry, Dad.

- Can you handle this?
- Yeah, I got it...

Brian?

We got unpacking.

Brian, look...

Look, I know we've had
some rough times, but...

Let's put that all behind us, okay?
Let's have a good time.

What do you say?

Come on...

Dad, how far out is that float?

Oh, probably 50 yards...

Bet I can swim it!.

Keith, you're not to swim out
there alone, is that clear?

Dad, that's easy...

Now listen, both of you... I
don't want you taking the boats...

out alone, understood? And I
don't want you swimming alone.

Brian can't swim.

We can change that.

Maybe I can teach Brian to swim.

It's a perfect opportunity... Y'know, if you...

don't learn by the end
of the summer... Huh?

- Do I have to?
- No, you don't...

But it's been what? 4-5 years since...

...What do we call it? It
wasn't an "accident"...

Maybe the "scare"?
'bout time you dealt with it.

- I'm not scared...
- Bull...

Well, what's holding you back?

I'm not pushing you, son, but...

Soon you're gonna be in
high school, then college.

All your friends will know how to swim.

- Brian, I can teach you.
Want me to teach you?

Mind your own business.

- What did I say? What did I say...
- Who cares what you said.

Alright, alright, you guys,
knock it off, knock it off.

C'mon, what do you say?

We could start this afternoon. Nothing big,
just a short lesson, just to break you in.

You remember when Keith started?

God, we couldn't get him to stick his
toe in the water, he was so afraid.

- Dad, I wasn't afraid.
- Sure you were.

And now look at him. 5
minutes in there and...

a team of wild horses couldn't pull him out.

C'mon, what do you say?

Brian?

No.

Keith, help me with this bow line?

Dad, we're going for a ride?

Yes, sure, hop in. Get your life vest on.

- Aww, dad, I don't need it.
- Keith, listen to me, put the life vest on.

Alright, Dad - Let's go!

- Ready?
- Yep!

Hold onto your butt, sailor!

Where are they going?

For a ride.

What didn't you go with them?

Dad didn't want me.

What happened? Did something happen?

He wants to teach me how to swim.

Mom, tell him to stop...

Beautiful here, huh?

Brian says you want to teach him to swim.

I simply asked him if he
wanted to learn to swim.

You don't realize what
you're doing, do you...

- A boy had a near-drowning, he was going
under, if the lifeguard hadn't been there...

But the lifeguard was there. - The worst
thing you could do now is to push him.

Is what I'm asking so unreasonable?

It's for his own good, Kate. If he backs
off now, he'll never face his fears.

He'll learn when he's ready.

You know why he's still afraid
of water? Because of you.

Because you feed his fears

- Oh, now it's my fault...
- You indulge his fears.

You make it seem all right.
Well, that'll smooth...

things now, but down the
road it's gonna hurt him.

Maybe you're right,
maybe I do, I don't know.

I do know that Brian is
feeling very alone right now.

Maybe that's my fault
as much as it is yours.

- But I'm telling you, Gordon,
this pressure on him...

What pressure, what pressure?

...we have got to end this now or else...

What? Or else what?

I'm coming with you, we
need to talk this out.

Mom?

- Where are you going?

We're just going into town to get some
stuff for dinner, we'll be back soon.

Okay. Dad? Get me a surprise.

- Maybe.
- Oh will ya?

- Bye bye, hon!
- Bye!

Wanna play catch?

No.

Mr Lou said he's gonna put me in
the starting lineup next season.

- Wanna ride bikes?
- No.

I bet Dad's gonna get me water skis.

He's gonna teach me to water ski.

But not you, 'cause you can't swim.

- You're not so great.
- Better than you.

I'm not afraid of the water.

Brian? What are you doing?

What does it look like?

You can't take the boat out alone.

Brian, dad said you can't take the
boat out alone. He's gonna get mad.

What's the matter, are you afraid of dad?

No.

- Brian, can I come?
- WATCH IT!

Brian?... How far out are you goin'?

Better not go too far,
it's gonna get dark soon.

Brian!

Now what're you gonna do?

Nothing.

- You mean you're just gonna sit here?
- Maybe.

Keith!

Are you gonna stop?!

- Afraid?
- No!

Yes you are!

I don't see you in the water, either.

I can swim, you know that, dummy.

Not to the dock.

I bet you can't swim to the dock.

What's the matter? Afraid?

- No...
- Then let me see you do it.

See? You are afraid.

No, not with the life jacket.
Anyone can swim with...

their life jacket on. Bet
you can't swim without it.

But you stay with me,
okay? In case I get tired.

- Okay?
- Okay...

Brian?

Brian, stop fooling
around. You keeping up?

Aww, Brian, come on!
Brian, I'm gonna tell Dad!

What's the matter? Can't do it?

I can do it!

- Oh, Brian, throw me the life jacket.

What's the matter? You
said you could swim.

I can! But we're too far out.

Throw me the life jacket, Brian!

See? You're just a bunch of talk.

Brian, stop fooling around.

I'm really tired.

- Liar...
- Brian!

Brian, throw me the life jacket!

Brian... Brian...

- Come on, Keith, stop kidding.
- Brian, help!

Brian...

I'll get it!

Brian...

Keith... Brian...

Kate! The boat's gone!

Get the boy inside.

Want me to get you something?

A glass of water, or something?

Look, Brian...

I know that this is a rough time, but...

we have to ask you a few questions.

You see, we've got all this
paperwork we gotta fill...

out, and you're the only
one that can help us.

So I just need for you to
tell us what happened.

Brian?

Stay with the boy, I'll be right back.

We have to take the boy
with us. It's just routine.

But, as a material witness to the accident,
he'll need to be questioned further.

Now?!

Why now?

- He can't answer your questions now.
- We'll go easy, it's standard procedure...

- Why can't you question him here?

I'm sorry, we'll get him out of there as soon
as we can, but we do have to take him in.

One of us should stay here. I'll... I'll go.

Here, please.

Your son has the right to speak
to an attorney, of course,

and have an attorney present
during the questioning.

Why would he want a lawyer? He doesn't
need a lawyer, for God's sake, he's a kid!

Alright, we can get on with this, then.
Wanna come in here, Brian?

I'm sorry, Mrs. Williams,
you'll have to wait here.

You said that Keith was tired and
he, uh, asked for the life jacket.

And you had it in your hand,
and you were about to throw it.

But you held back. Why?

I... I don't know.

Well, how long did you wait
before you threw it to him?

3 minutes? 5 minutes?
What would you say?

- I don't know.

But then, finally, you did, you
threw him the life jacket. Why?

He was yelling. I was scared.

You waited until he was
drowning, and then you...

threw him the life jacket,
but then it was too late?

But did you wait until after he had gone
under, after it was over, is that it?

You realized what you had
done, you were scared...

and you threw the life jacket in the water?

To cover yourself. Is that what happened?

Mrs. Williams...

We're gonna have to keep him here.

What do you mean? Overnight?

He's being booked on
voluntary manslaughter.

What you are talking about?

I'm sorry but I'm afraid that
Brian was involved at...

least in a contributory
way in your son's death.

- Do you realize what you're saying?

There's possible evidence that Brian
withheld the life jacket from him.

- I don't have to listen to
this. Come on, Brian, let's go...

But your son can't be released.

He has to be held in custody
until the detention hearing.

Mrs. Williams, I'm sorry, but your son
is being charged his brother's death.

NO!

- You make this insane
accusation against my son...

and you expect me to stand
here and listen to you?

Your son admitted it.

Hi.

I'm Sarah Brooke. I'm your lawyer.

Brian, I'm sorry they put
you in this awful place,

and I'm going to get you out
of here as soon as I can.

But first... I read the sheriff's
report about what you told him.

And Brian, you said some things
that could be very hurtful.

I want you to promise me that you won't
talk to anyone again about what happened.

Not anyone... without my presence.

Okay?

Now, we have to go over the
statements you made to the Sheriff.

Get things straight.

According to this, you threw the life jacket...

into the water after
your brother went under.

No.

What do you mean - "no"?

No, I threw it in before.

Brian, why did you make this
statement to the sheriff?

Brian?

Thanks, Peggy.

I don't want you talking to the neighbors
anymore. This is our private business.

What are you talking about? Peggy's
my friend, she wants to comfort me.

We just buried our son.

There seems to be sufficient
evidence to move on with...

this case. The court will set
a trial date for August 30.

- The minor will be detained until such...
- Your Honor...

Counsel would like to
move that the minor be...

released into the custody of his parents.

- This is a serious crime, counsel.

We can assure the court the
controls and protections...

will be set up so that he
does not disobey the law.

It has nothing to do with
breaking the law. The boy has...

been accused of contributing
to the death of another boy.

In this case, his brother.

The boy has no history of
previous crimes. And...

he has a protective
environment he can go to.

Court is willing to consider the minor be
released home during this interim period.

But, on the condition that the child
enter into a program of therapy,

and that his family cooperate by
participating in the treatment as well.

If either of these conditions is not met, I'll...

be forced to bring the
boy back and detain him.

- No! I'll be damned if
I'm seeing a psychologist.

Mr Williams, if you don't your son
will be returned to police custody.

Placed in a juvenile hall,
along with some of the most...

violent kids in the county. Is
that what you want for him?

What happens now?

- There'll be a police
investigation into the charges.

What kind of investigation?

- Probably question neighbors,
friends, anyone who's known...

the boy. It's to determine what
kind of relationship they had.

Oh, they're gonna bring the whole
world in on this, aren't they?.

Make it a public exhibition,
put us on display, is that it?

I'm sorry, there's nothing
we can do about that.

...because the judge said I had to come.

Yeah, that's true. But more than that,
I'm gonna try and help you feel better.

How do you feel about being here?

A little scared?

Let me tell you what I think...

You look very unhappy to me.
That's just how it looks, okay?

But if you are feeling unhappy,
maybe I can help it go away.

My brother's dead.

Yeah, I know... and I'm real sorry...
Wanna talk about it?

Why don't you wait out
here for a minute, okay?

Come on inside.

Considering the enormity
of what happened, it's...

gonna be tough to get
your son through this.

He's holding in a
tremendous amount of guilt.

Because he's afraid we'll think
that he wanted to harm his brother.

Because he knows he wanted to harm him.

Why?

That's what we're gonna
try and get out of him.

What's going on, what are you thinking?

I'm... confused.

I thought after a few
weeks I'd feel differently.

But I can't help it - I'm still so
angry with him for what he did.

Sometimes I look at him and I... I hate him.

And he's my son.

Mrs. Williams... What Brian
did came out of jealousy and...

anger, and it went farther
than even he ever imagined..

And right now he is
shouldering all the blame.

But it's not just Brian.

The guilt is a family guilt,
and that's why it's very...

important - we've got to get
your husband in here right now.

- He won't come.

I've got to make a status report in two days.

I'm required by law to inform the
court of your husband's decision.

I can tell you right now,
when the judge reads...

it, he's gonna send your
son to juvenile hall..

Brian and I went to the psychologist today.

There's something I haven't
wanted to face, Gordon.

I was able to with Dr. Hamilton's help.

We knew what was happening,
and we could've stopped it.

And I'll never forgive myself.

Gordon... you have to see him, you have to.

If you don't, Brian could be taken from
this home and put into an isolation cell.

That's where Dr. Hamilton
said they put boys...

that are charged with
voluntary manslaughter.

- And f you don't cooperate, it could
influence the judge's final decision.

They'll never put Brian in prison.

Gordon... Brian told
Hamilton about the rabbit.

That he killed it in a very deliberate act.

The District Attorney and the judge don't
know that yet, but they will find out.

And Hamilton says when they do,
it will destroy Brian's defense.

I've been running this
through my head over and over.

And I think there's only one way to
go that's in Brian's best interest.

We've got to avoid a trial.

- I want to plead him.
- What does that mean?

Plead him to a lesser charge:
involuntary manslaughter.

But if we plead him, they'll put him away.

It'll be nothing compared
to what he might get...

if he's convicted of voluntary manslaughter.

They could ship him off to a
youthful offender facility,

keep him there 'till he's
18 - you wanna risk that?

I don't want Brian facing that judge.

He already hung himself once.

He agreed with the sheriff that he threw
the life jacket in AFTER Keith went under.

- So you think we stand the
best chance by pleading him?

All things considered - yes.

Maybe it is the best way to go.

The probation officer called today.

The judge will be getting the
status report in the morning.

We still have a chance to keep
Brian out of juvenile hall.

If you start seeing Dr. Hamilton.

Well, what is some shrink gonna
say to me? What the hell...

am I gonna tell him that's
gonna make any difference?

Do it for Bryan.

- dammit, he's your son, too!

His brother's dead. He took
him out in a boat and...

he let him drown. I can't
forgive him for that.

- Then we have no life together.
- What are you talking about?

- If you believe that, there's nowhere
we can go. This marriage is over.

What?

- I can't order you out of the house,
but for Brian's sake I hope you'll leave.

Kate...

If you don't, I will.

- I want you out of here as soon as you
find someplace else, but I want you to go.

Come on... - Don't touch me!

What did I do?

How did I let this happen?

Where did he go?

I don't know.

Is he coming back?

I don't think so.

Dad left because of me.

No... No, Brian, this is something...

that's been coming for a long time.

He wouldn't have left, if Keith was still alive.

Mom, I didn't want him to die.

I know, I know that.

I loved him.

I know you did.

And he's dead and dad's
never coming back.

And it's all my fault.

It's all my fault.

- Take care, now.
- Okay.

Brian? Peggy baked a chocolate cake.

Double Dutch Chocolate, your
favorite. I brought you a big piece.

You awake, honey?

Come on, Brian, you can't sleep...

Brian?

Oh my God...

Brian!

How is he?

He'll make it.

His body's had a terrible shock,
but they say he'll be all right.

He's upstairs.

I don't know what to say to him, Kate.

For starters you can tell him you're
sorry he tried to kill himself.

Why'd he do it?

You're angry with him,
aren't you... even for this.

I don't know what I feel... God...

You feel manipulated, Gordon?

You feel like he's saying: "Here
I've done this terrible thing...

to myself, now I want you to
forgive me and love me for it?"

That's it, that's exactly what he's saying.

Look, I want you to know I don't believe in
any of this - I don't think it solves anything.

- I just want you to know
that from the outset, okay?

Okay.

Look, I know my wife has
talked to you, and Brian...

so you know about this
whole ungodly mess...

And I know you know she wants a divorce.

14 years of marriage...

Never unfaithful, gave
her everything she wanted.

- And this tragedy hits us,
and she wants a divorce.

Do you want a divorce?

No.

I loved Keith.

If you had known him. He was always
pleasing people, trying to fit in.

And Brian?

Brian... always fought
me. I don't know why.

I tried.

When I think about my brother,
I'm not jealous of him any more.

I mean, it's not his fault
dad liked him better.

Nothing I said ever got through to him.

He was always...always in my own world.

We never connected.

God, I feel terrible about that.

I suppose you don't believe that...

How do you now feel
about your father now?

Do you love him?

I want to.

You want him to love you?

Yeah.

You think he does?

Do you think he wants to?

I don't know...

But I want him to.

You know the thing with children
that sometimes we lose sight of?

They're not here to please us.

No matter how they turn out.

Sometimes it's an accident. You
can give them everything you have.

That doesn't make them turn
out the way you want them to.

You see, with Brian, he never
gave you back the thing you...

really wanted. And that can
cause a lot of resentment.

And on top of that, there's Keith's death...

I don't know if I can ever get past that.

Not enough to forgive Brian?

I know he's in a lot of pain...

And I want very much to stop that pain.

I don't know how.

Tell him.

I've been through the reports of the
probation officer and the psychologist.

Now, what happened was a tragic thing. A
crime was committed, and a life was lost.

And that, unfortunately,
cannot be reversed.

But to submit the minor to
any prolonged period...

of detention, would in
fact be another crime.

It would not serve him, or the community.

Therefore, I am sentencing you,
Brian, to 1 year rehabilitative...

period of detention and training
at the state youth authority.

And I'm suspending that order,
placing you on probation.

With the requirement that you
remain in treatment, and I...

see 90-day reports to this
court by your probation officer.

It is so ordered.

Brian...

I'm sorry, son...

And I don't blame you. For anything.

And I love you.