Burden of Truth (2018–…): Season 3, Episode 3 - No Fathers and Sons - full transcript
You're sure we're not
just hiding out here?
- Avoiding going back?
- I owe her.
- What's your name, ma'am?
- Marlene Loddington.
Your relationship to these children?
I'm True's biological grandmother,
and I would like to petition
for full custody.
- Everything OK?
- Just my roommate
didn't come home last night.
She's gone dark on me,
and that isn't really like her.
Crystal hooks for that gang.
Maddie hid her involvement from me,
and then they jumped her in
I took her to the hospital.
They started accusing me
as if I could...
ever to my... my own kid.
There were drugs in the house, Joanna.
The presence of drugs further
proves that she isn't using,
and someone is setting her up.
I'm saying the evidence is mounting
against her.
Ms. Chartrand,
you tested positive for cocaine.
No, that's not possible.
For the first time
since we've been together...
You're worried, about the firm
or about the relationship?
If we have any chance of winning this,
we have to be on the same page.
We are.
Then let's do this.
Hello? Hello?
Come in.
Special delivery for Ms.
Unicorn Munchkin!
- Is she here?
- Hello.
Oh, hello! Here's these flowers.
Ooh! Ah! Ah!
It's stuck on my hand! Oh no!
You can keep them.
What?! No, I must deliver.
Oh no.
It's OK.
Where did you get this?
Marlene gave it to her.
I told her to keep mine.
I don't need to be saved.
Too bad nobody could save you
from this new hairdo.
Five-minute warning.
Sorry.
Our client has 15 more minutes.
The custodial guardian
has to end early,
- she has a long drive.
- I don't care.
I'm just the messenger, sorry.
No. 15 minutes doesn't constitute
undue hardship,
therefore it cannot impact
my clients' guaranteed rights.
She doesn't have any rights.
I mean, not technically.
Parents don't have the right
to see their children.
Children have the right
to see their parents.
How can we fix this?
I don't know.
Try to facilitate a smooth transition.
You know, this is really hard
on the kids.
But for next time, how do we ensure
our client gets the full hour?
You... could challenge the guardian.
- Based on proximity?
- Based on fitness, I guess.
But it's basically hopeless,
since the judge already
ruled in her favour.
Alright, last hugs. Time to go home.
Uh, she means Grandma's house.
Are you an idiot?
Why would you say that?
I'm... I'm so sorry.
- I didn't mean to...
- Screw it. I'm not leaving.
Please, don't make me
have you be removed,
by force, in front of your kids.
Kodie...
It's OK. It's OK.
Yeah, come on.
I'm going to fix this.
We get those discovery docs?
- Yeah.
- Shouldn't we be getting on that?
- You should see this first.
- No one notices.
It's OK for a mom to forget
to pack my lunch,
but there was
nothing in the fridge either,
so I couldn't make my own.
She posted it almost two years ago,
some kind of video diary.
- No one did anything about this?
- No.
So much crap on the Internet,
it's a needle in a haystack.
- I'll say more later.
- Maddie, let's go!
We should start ploughing
through those docs.
It's really more of a light shovelling.
On the upside, Marlene isn't perfect,
but on paper, she's a hell
of a lot better than Kodie.
So, she just gets to swoop in
and take someone else's kids?
MFS only has to prove a
probability of harm to act.
"July 21st,"
that's the night Kodie's kids
were apprehended.
Neighbour telephone report...
"two children left alone
for several hours."
"They then wandered
on to his property."
uh, July 15th, same neighbour,
"8:20 p.m. Heard screaming
coming from the house,"
"and this went on until
the mother arrived at 8:45 p.m."
This same guy...
has seven other complaints against her.
This watchdog have a name?
"Anonymous neighbour, male."
We're finding this coward, let's go.
He can see her house
from his front yard.
Classy.
Let's just come back.
Hey, Lucky! What are the odds?
My father.
Hi! Kodie!
Hi, I'm Luna.
So what? You're like
my babysitter for the day?
Uhhh... think of me more
like your chauffeur.
Are you the one who went to jail?
Must be tougher than you look.
Have to be to work for Joanna.
- What does that mean?
- Don't get me wrong,
I love her, but even back
in grade school,
that girl was wicked competitive.
And that's what makes her
a great lawyer.
Hmm. And a tough boss?
No comment.
Uh, the car's over here.
I brought some water
and snacks, VIP service.
More like former junkie
whose lawyer doesn't trust her
to show up clean for her drug test?
Maybe, but VIP sounds better.
Thought you were living in
that trailer park up by Fox Hill.
Nah, I had to move a few months ago
after the city condemned the place.
I tried to reach you.
- You sure you don't want a beer?
- We're good.
Yeah, I'm OK.
- It's 10 a.m.
- I'm retired.
Let's sit down.
So, what will I drink to?
This isn't a social call,
we're here on business.
We're here about the reports you made,
to Millwood Family Services
about Kodie Chartrand.
Who?
We have a file
containing multiple reports
from an anonymous neighbour.
I'm not the only neighbour.
Well, you're the only
anonymous male that can see
directly into her house.
OK, it was me.
But those kids ran roughshod
all over my property.
- And how old is her oldest?
- 12.
Only a Chartrand would leave a
12-year-old to babysit alone all day.
You ever hear of Wendy?
Billy? Shane?
Times were different.
Also, that social-worker
lady seemed worried
that something
would happen to those kids,
so I said I'd keep an eye out.
The social worker,
did she leave you a card?
Was she a young woman?
Closer to my age, but well preserved.
- Is that her?
- Yeah, that's her.
How much did she pay you?
You better leave.
We're not leaving
until we have an affidavit
saying you were paid to
rat out your neighbour.
Mr. Crawford, if you...
"Mr. Crawford"?
Don't patronize me.
An innocent woman
had her children taken away.
Now, just give us your statement
and we can get them back.
I'll talk if she moves.
What, you can't make up your own mind?
I'm gonna go to Kodie's,
see if we missed anything.
Don't tell me you don't want one.
So, the affidavit.
I write it up,
you just have to sign it.
You been to see your brother?
Twice a week, religiously.
Good boy.
You know, your sister stops by
from time to time.
She brings me a casserole.
You know, the one with the chips
on top of it.
She doesn't like me
coming out to her place,
says I'm a bad influence.
Hahahaha!
This is the part where you can
disagree with her.
Wish I could there, Hank.
Right. Hank the disgrace,
Hank the... deadbeat.
So, are you shacking up with your boss?
She's not my boss, she's my partner.
She know that?
Hanleys always think they're the boss.
Alright, so, the affidavit.
Yeah, right, about that,
it's gonna have to wait.
Can't wait.
Sorry, Billy boy, but I handicapped
a huge overlay on the first.
Wanna come with me?
You can write up the statement
on the way.
But it's post-time, son. Come on!
Come on.
You make your own luck.
Go on, give 'em a rub.
I'm not rubbing your tickets.
- Used to do it all the time.
- Yeah, when I was 8.
I didn't bring you
to the races when you were 8.
Did I?
Well, you used to bring me
all kinds of crazy luck!
I'm not sure there's much
I can do about Pookievision;
you picked the longest shot
on the board.
He doesn't know that.
I'd always buy you a new toy
whenever you picked me a
winner, remember?
Come on, Lucky.
You rub for old time's sake.
No, that's for you.
Let's go find a quiet place;
we can go over the
details of the affidavit.
Nah, after. The race
is about to go off.
Hey, we need a couple of beers.
Excuse me.
Elm Creek is a public and
private middle school, right?
- Sorry, hi.
- Hi yourself.
You know I can't tell you
where Kodie's kids are.
- It's Kodie you can't tell that to.
- You're her lawyer.
Kodie's been lying to me.
Her kids did have
a relationship with Granny.
- Where did you get this?
- True's room,
secret box of treasures.
Jo, you can't just rifle
through someone's private stuff.
She's 8.
She's still a person.
Not a real person in
the eyes of the law.
You know what I mean.
You really don't get kids, do you?
Marlene has been
impersonating a social worker,
trying to pay off neighbours.
I need to know the truth.
Diane,
I'm not gonna break the law,
I don't want to be disbarred.
OK. Let's see what I can do.
Man, I miss driving.
Sweet tunes, open road,
best feeling in the world.
When do you get your licence back?
Let's work on my kids first.
Yeah, cool. Good to prioritize.
So, what's the first thing you'll do?
- What?
- When you get your kids back?
Squeeze 'em 'til they can't breathe.
And then go to DQ.
Hey, take the next right.
- What?
- Gotta make a quick stop.
I promised Joanna I'd take you
straight to the lab.
It'll take two seconds.
She'll kill me.
She doesn't have to know.
Come on, quick pit stop.
Look, you can either drive me
or I can jump out
of this moving vehicle.
548 days.
That's how long I'm clean.
I am passing this test.
My teacher told me I can't
be late to school anymore.
But if I don't get True
breakfast, nobody will.
Turn it off.
It was dumb of me to post that.
It was a bad time for my mom,
but she's been good for a long time.
I know.
You made that video
almost two years ago now.
Was that after Marlene started
seeing you and your sister?
Is this why they took us away?
Madison, this is not your fault.
We just need to know when Marlene
started showing up at the house.
Did she ask your mom if it was OK
to take you guys out
for True's birthday?
She never asked, she just...
started showing up at school,
giving us stuff.
- Did your mom know about that?
- No.
Marlene made us keep it a secret.
But when she bought us new outfits,
my mom noticed.
But Kodie didn't stop the visits.
- Only after the cheque.
- What cheque?
Did your grandmother send it?
Madison, what was it for?
I don't know, but...
Mom and Granny fought about it a lot.
so I hid it.
You still have it?
Where?
Before I tell you, you need to promise
to do something for me too.
My overnight bag;
when they came for us,
I put all my important stuff in there,
but they took it.
I need you to get it back for
me, please.
Yeah.
I can't tell you how many times
I've heard the same story
past few years.
Children being apprehended?
Some of the kids, I totally get it -
they need to be protected -
but... then there's others.
Like Kodie's.
The laws are overly broad.
And even as a principal,
there's nothing I can do.
Makes me feel so helpless.
Yeah.
But I don't do helpless.
And that's why God made you the lawyer.
My father made me a lawyer.
And you're the best one I know.
If I'm so good,
why haven't I been able to
get Kodie's kids back yet?
Patience, my friend.
Also something I don't do.
Marlene took those kids
without permission;
I need a paper trail.
Cat, hey. I need you to go to
Millwood Child and Family Services
and file an unauthorized access
against Marlene Loddington.
I'm getting another call, sorry.
- Joanna Chang.
- Joanna Chang, Alan Christie.
- Alan?
- Listen, are you free
for supper? I'm in the Peg.
- Actually, I'm in Millwood.
- Millwood?
You haven't had enough of that place?
OK, no worries,
I'll make the trip to you
- with a proposition.
- A proposition?
I don't think tonight's gonna work.
An incredible opportunity, Jo.
But I leave tomorrow first
thing, it's gotta be today.
OK, I'll think about it
and call you back.
What was that about?
Nothing.
I'm kind of curious about
your newfound interest in child safety.
Because after you left
and Mom died, you seemed
pretty fine with the idea
of us raising ourselves.
I had to feed my family, I was working.
The benders... did those work?
And here they come around the outside!
One counted as four.
And down the stretch they come!
It's Tiger Express.
Tiger Express a length behind Sunwaltz.
And here comes Pookievision
flying on the outside.
He's not gonna get there.
Time with this four!
- Come on, get there!
- ...and Sunwaltz.
Sunwaltz as Pookievision continues
to run down on the outside.
- Come on!
- It's Sunwaltz by half a...
Pookievision pushed with every stride!
- Come on, come on! Go, go!
- Come on!
- Come on! Come on!
- Pookievision!
Aaah, Pookievision!
Alright, stay here.
I'll just be a minute.
Get down! Down! DOWN!
Go on!
Just needed a piece of home.
Oh!
I never thought he would have found
enough room to make that move.
It's you, Billy boy!
If you're not here,
Pookievision doesn't win!
I don't think that's how that works.
Now you're gonna tell me
how luck works.
I'm just saying I had nothing
to do with that horse win.
Are you kidding me?!
You had everything to do with it.
Some people are just born lucky,
and you're one of 'em.
I mean, look at the goddess
who's agreed to share your
bed, that's pure luck.
And a head for numbers.
You've got a deadly combination, kid!
You could calculate odds in your head,
before you could read.
I remember your first-grade teacher...
Ms. Romansky.
God, I had the hots for her.
You're a Crawford.
She was so impressed
with my little math prodigy.
I didn't tell her
it was thanks to the ponies.
And that's cold cash.
I got my eye on a
filly in the next race,
- first time on Lazings.
- Oh no, no, no.
Ever hear of "quit while you're ahead"?
It's not my style, Billy boy.
That's why I kept reaching out to you.
You know, university and law school
after you won that big case,
all those sick girls...
You just wanted a taste of the money.
No, I just wanted to talk to you
and congratulate you.
Well, I wasn't ready.
Well, I'm happy you're here now.
Alright, Dad, the affidavit.
Right, right, the papers.
But first, a couple more whisky shots.
So I can get through
all the legal gobbledygook.
- Hey!
- Hey!
- Where are you?
- Uh, the track.
Trains?
Horses. It's a long story.
My dad's about to sign the affidavit.
That's great.
Are you there?
Just give me a second.
I just found proof that Marlene tried
to buy one of her granddaughters.
Hey, did you get her to the drug test?
Sorry. We just got here.
We had to make a stop.
Is that a you we or a Kodie we?
Sorry, I can't really hear you.
I'm appealing Marlene's guardianship.
I got the last slot today.
- What?
- Luna?
I think Joanna just said
we got an appeal for today.
Alright then.
Somebody, find me a cup.
You OK?
Yeah.
Stop! Stop!
OK.
And that's all she wrote
as even-money favourite Candybean
romps across the lines.
you didn't have that one.
Yeah, those tours gave him
a terrible ride.
I suppose my luck ran out.
Yeah. Your luck and my money.
Don't tell me you gave it all back.
Alright, I need you to
sign that affidavit, Hank.
Lend me a couple of bullets first.
The money I gave you from
the Pookievision win,
it's technically still mine.
Stop.
The affidavit is more important.
Wouldn't be here otherwise.
And I'll sign it
if you give me some money!
No. It's called bribing a witness,
I could be disbarred.
- God, she's awful pushy.
Got you in a vice, I get it.
I mean, there's fighting
above your weight class,
and then there's just
different leagues.
A filly like that,
she won't stick around long.
You know that, right?
Hey!
- Come on! Hit me! Come on!
- Throw me under the bus!
Come on, kid!
Hey, you think I'm a loser, huh?
- Come on, come on!
- Come at me!
Yes, come on! Come on!
Get up! Hit me, come on!
Come on, you drunk, hit me!
Come on, man, get up!
Billy?
Hey! You never called.
Sorry, it has been a crazy day,
and I'm due in court soon.
OK. Well then, I'll be quick.
I left the law
and I'm managing a hedge fund.
Emerging markets,
lots of travel, exotic foods.
And we're looking for in-house counsel.
Someone who gets
and inhabits the world,
someone basically exactly like you.
I'm flattered,
but I can't be in-house counsel,
I have my own firm.
Yeah, I know. What's the name?
Crawford Chang.
Why would you
let Crawford put his name first?
It sounded better.
Look, I want you on retainer.
Let me take you for dinner.
You can bring Billy.
Just hear the pitch.
I really need to prepare
for this appeal,
but, I will call you back.
For real this time.
Taylor.
Mr. Mitchell.
I haven't seen you in a long time.
- How have you been?
- Are you following me?
What?!
What are you talking about?
Don't mess around, Taylor, I saw you.
And I don't think
your father would approve,
of you harassing me.
And does your wife approve
of you harassing sex workers, Jeff?
Yeah,
I saw what you did to that girl.
And maybe your wife should know
what kind of a monster
she's married to,
don't you think?
You're in way over your head.
Let go.
- If you go near my wife...
- I said, "Let go."
Come near my family and you're dead.
You're contending
that Marlene Loddington
cultivated a relationship
with the Chartrand children
without their mother's consent?
That is exactly my contention.
The court has settled
the matter of custody.
Ms. Chang can't keep coming back.
Marlene Loddington engaged
in a systematic plan
to undermine
my client's custodial rights.
She was generous. She's a grandmother.
It didn't interfere
with any parental rights.
It was an attempt
at constructive kidnapping.
That's a heavy accusation, Ms. Chang.
Yes, it is, Your Honour.
But I'm not done.
Marlene did all of this in the hopes
of eventually acquiring them.
"Acquiring"?
This is a copy of an uncashed cheque,
made out to Mushkode Chartrand
for $100,000.
Along with an illegal contract,
detailing Mrs. Loddington's offer
to acquire full custody
of True Chartrand.
- She only wanted to buy one of them?
- Only her blood relative.
But at the hearing, she asked
for custody of both of them.
I guess she thought the best
way to get her hands on True,
was to pretend she
wanted Madison as well.
Also, Mrs. Loddington approached
my client's neighbours,
passing herself off as a social worker,
offering money,
in exchange for false
reports against my client.
There are no witness affidavits
to support these accusations.
My partner is in the process
of procuring one right now.
That affidavit will prove
that Mushkode Chartrand's children
would still be with her today
if not for Mrs. Loddington's
duplicitous efforts
to pry her kids away from her.
I agree that according to this evidence
Marlene Loddington is unfit to
be a guardian to these minors.
- Thank you, Your Honour.
- However,
without further evidence,
this court must also take into account
the continuing questions
about Ms. Chartrand's fitness.
Above all, the court must put
the safety of the children first.
- No.
- This court orders,
that the minors Madison
and True Chartrand
to be placed in protective care
- in Millwood's foster system.
- Your Honour, please, you can't!
This isn't necessary.
This is my son, and we haven't
seen each other in a while.
We got a bit excited is all.
We can... we can sleep it off at home.
I want my one phone call!
That's only in the movies, Hank.
The cops won't let us leave drunk
or it's on them if something happens.
For a minute there,
you sound like a real lawyer.
I can't believe they took my phone.
We're too bloody reliant
on those things anyway.
Joanna's probably been
trying to reach me.
The statement, right?
We were just about to do that
and then...
My fist got in the way.
- We are Crawford.
- Stop saying that.
Sorry.
I am sorry that the fates
brought us back together, kid.
Look, after your mom
died, you're right,
I didn't know how to come
back from what I'd done.
- Dad.
- Right.
- Easy.
- You're not ready.
Do you think you ever will be?
I don't know.
I didn't mean that girl any harm.
That lady said she was on drugs.
I wonder what people said about us.
So, we lost again.
What's next?
We wait for the results
of your drug test,
bring it to the judge in a few days.
And in the meantime?
Your kids will be rehomed,
and you will maintain
supervised access,
and we gear up for trial.
When do I get to fight
for actual custody?
The courts fast-track
child welfare cases,
so within the year, for sure.
Doesn't take a year to
mess up a kid for life.
I just...
I wish you'd been honest with me,
about Marlene and the payoff
in the first place.
I was in... a real bad spot.
Kodie, if I had known
about that cheque,
I would have destroyed her
on the stand.
You don't get it, do you?
I almost sold my kid.
I thought they'd be better off.
I need...
all of the information in order
to launch our best defence.
They're not giving me my kids back,
and it's killing me.
It's just gonna take
us a little more time.
I don't have more time!
Every second I'm away from them
is a freaking eternity!
This is the speed
at which the legal system works.
Bullshit! The system doesn't work!
OK, the law is imperfect,
but I know how to navigate it,
and I need you to trust me to do that.
You keep saying that,
that I'm supposed to trust
you, but why?
Sorry?
Because this thing happened between us,
like, 20 years ago, and that,
what, that's still supposed
to mean something?
It... does to me.
We're not kids anymore, Joanna.
You think you know me, but you don't.
Kodie...
If it happened all over again,
I wouldn't do what I did.
That's right...
I'd leave you alone this time.
And now I'd like you to do
the same for me.
This is impressive.
It's only been two years?
Yeah. It's pretty exciting.
And in the next two,
we're predicting quadruple growth.
I was thrilled when you called
and told me to make the drive out.
I needed a distraction.
Nothing distracts me
better than numbers.
Same old Jo.
I was hoping Billy would be here.
Yeah, me too.
When are we expecting him?
Your guess is as good as mine.
Last I talked to him,
he was at the horse
races with his father.
Oh.
Everything OK?
Where to start?
Toxic disasters,
kids being taken,
Luna, my father; it's...
- all been...
- Hard?
Human.
- Which is hard, for me.
- Yeah.
You've been through...
a lot, and...
I don't know, maybe it's time to...
make a change... you know.
And you come home.
Sorry if I overstepped.
No. Um...
you didn't.
I would be lying, if I...
Said I didn't think about it.
A road not taken.
Or rather the road abandoned.
Yeah.
I started a boutique law firm
in Winnipeg.
How is business?
We're building momentum.
Yeah, it's hard, you know,
starting from scratch,
especially in a town
where you gotta chase the money.
I'm good at chasing money.
Yeah, you are.
I don't know though,
for me, I just prefer
when it falls right in my lap.
You know,
like this hedge fund...
We're committed to taking
cases that are meaningful to us,
that have a positive social impact.
You... almost said that
like you believe it.
Look, I know
that working for my fund
might not make the world
a better place, but...
it might put you back in touch,
with that part of yourself,
the part that you've been missing.
Think about it.
I need a shower first.
No. Billy, where were you?
- You don't want to know.
- Yes, I do.
I left you with your estranged,
abusive father, and then you ghost me?
- I'm sorry.
- Where have you been?
We got in a fight.
Well, while you were
beating up an old man,
we lost the appeal.
Is that 'cause I didn't get
Hank's statement?
I don't know if it would have
made much of a difference;
I think the judge has it in for us.
Hey.
I'm just glad you're OK.
Was someone over last night?
Yeah.
- Alan.
- Alan?
Like your ex, Alan?
Billy, I only called you
like a hundred times.
- The cops had my phone.
- The cops?!
He runs a hedge fund now,
and he wants me to get
into bed with him.
- Oh.
- He wants us
to get into bed with him.
Oh, that's... slightly better, I guess.
Honestly,
this could be an interesting
financial opportunity for us.
Yeah, to pay for the case
that we shouldn't be doing?
You know, I punched that guy out too.
Kodie's not answering her phone.
How big was this fight you got in?
If we find Madison's bag,
it will be my peace
offering to both of them.
Why is Madison's bag here?
When kids are apprehended,
they're not allowed to
bring any of their stuff.
Foster parents are scared of bed bugs.
So they just can't bring their things?
Apparently not,
they start a whole new life;
they can't even bring
their favourite teddy bear.
Yeah, confiscating these kids' things,
is tantamount to theft.
Are each of these bags
from a kid that was taken?
We're looking
for a pink and black gym bag.
Aaah...
You OK?
No.
Billy, we have to get these kids back.
Yeah.
Are you in this with me?
Yeah... I am.
Ah, it's on.
- Beckbie, hi.
- Joanna, I'm down at Halden Academy.
You guys need to get here now.
Beckbie, what's going on?
Madison and True,
foster family came to pick
them up from afterschool care,
- and they were gone.
- No.
Treating it as a possible
parental child abduction.
just hiding out here?
- Avoiding going back?
- I owe her.
- What's your name, ma'am?
- Marlene Loddington.
Your relationship to these children?
I'm True's biological grandmother,
and I would like to petition
for full custody.
- Everything OK?
- Just my roommate
didn't come home last night.
She's gone dark on me,
and that isn't really like her.
Crystal hooks for that gang.
Maddie hid her involvement from me,
and then they jumped her in
I took her to the hospital.
They started accusing me
as if I could...
ever to my... my own kid.
There were drugs in the house, Joanna.
The presence of drugs further
proves that she isn't using,
and someone is setting her up.
I'm saying the evidence is mounting
against her.
Ms. Chartrand,
you tested positive for cocaine.
No, that's not possible.
For the first time
since we've been together...
You're worried, about the firm
or about the relationship?
If we have any chance of winning this,
we have to be on the same page.
We are.
Then let's do this.
Hello? Hello?
Come in.
Special delivery for Ms.
Unicorn Munchkin!
- Is she here?
- Hello.
Oh, hello! Here's these flowers.
Ooh! Ah! Ah!
It's stuck on my hand! Oh no!
You can keep them.
What?! No, I must deliver.
Oh no.
It's OK.
Where did you get this?
Marlene gave it to her.
I told her to keep mine.
I don't need to be saved.
Too bad nobody could save you
from this new hairdo.
Five-minute warning.
Sorry.
Our client has 15 more minutes.
The custodial guardian
has to end early,
- she has a long drive.
- I don't care.
I'm just the messenger, sorry.
No. 15 minutes doesn't constitute
undue hardship,
therefore it cannot impact
my clients' guaranteed rights.
She doesn't have any rights.
I mean, not technically.
Parents don't have the right
to see their children.
Children have the right
to see their parents.
How can we fix this?
I don't know.
Try to facilitate a smooth transition.
You know, this is really hard
on the kids.
But for next time, how do we ensure
our client gets the full hour?
You... could challenge the guardian.
- Based on proximity?
- Based on fitness, I guess.
But it's basically hopeless,
since the judge already
ruled in her favour.
Alright, last hugs. Time to go home.
Uh, she means Grandma's house.
Are you an idiot?
Why would you say that?
I'm... I'm so sorry.
- I didn't mean to...
- Screw it. I'm not leaving.
Please, don't make me
have you be removed,
by force, in front of your kids.
Kodie...
It's OK. It's OK.
Yeah, come on.
I'm going to fix this.
We get those discovery docs?
- Yeah.
- Shouldn't we be getting on that?
- You should see this first.
- No one notices.
It's OK for a mom to forget
to pack my lunch,
but there was
nothing in the fridge either,
so I couldn't make my own.
She posted it almost two years ago,
some kind of video diary.
- No one did anything about this?
- No.
So much crap on the Internet,
it's a needle in a haystack.
- I'll say more later.
- Maddie, let's go!
We should start ploughing
through those docs.
It's really more of a light shovelling.
On the upside, Marlene isn't perfect,
but on paper, she's a hell
of a lot better than Kodie.
So, she just gets to swoop in
and take someone else's kids?
MFS only has to prove a
probability of harm to act.
"July 21st,"
that's the night Kodie's kids
were apprehended.
Neighbour telephone report...
"two children left alone
for several hours."
"They then wandered
on to his property."
uh, July 15th, same neighbour,
"8:20 p.m. Heard screaming
coming from the house,"
"and this went on until
the mother arrived at 8:45 p.m."
This same guy...
has seven other complaints against her.
This watchdog have a name?
"Anonymous neighbour, male."
We're finding this coward, let's go.
He can see her house
from his front yard.
Classy.
Let's just come back.
Hey, Lucky! What are the odds?
My father.
Hi! Kodie!
Hi, I'm Luna.
So what? You're like
my babysitter for the day?
Uhhh... think of me more
like your chauffeur.
Are you the one who went to jail?
Must be tougher than you look.
Have to be to work for Joanna.
- What does that mean?
- Don't get me wrong,
I love her, but even back
in grade school,
that girl was wicked competitive.
And that's what makes her
a great lawyer.
Hmm. And a tough boss?
No comment.
Uh, the car's over here.
I brought some water
and snacks, VIP service.
More like former junkie
whose lawyer doesn't trust her
to show up clean for her drug test?
Maybe, but VIP sounds better.
Thought you were living in
that trailer park up by Fox Hill.
Nah, I had to move a few months ago
after the city condemned the place.
I tried to reach you.
- You sure you don't want a beer?
- We're good.
Yeah, I'm OK.
- It's 10 a.m.
- I'm retired.
Let's sit down.
So, what will I drink to?
This isn't a social call,
we're here on business.
We're here about the reports you made,
to Millwood Family Services
about Kodie Chartrand.
Who?
We have a file
containing multiple reports
from an anonymous neighbour.
I'm not the only neighbour.
Well, you're the only
anonymous male that can see
directly into her house.
OK, it was me.
But those kids ran roughshod
all over my property.
- And how old is her oldest?
- 12.
Only a Chartrand would leave a
12-year-old to babysit alone all day.
You ever hear of Wendy?
Billy? Shane?
Times were different.
Also, that social-worker
lady seemed worried
that something
would happen to those kids,
so I said I'd keep an eye out.
The social worker,
did she leave you a card?
Was she a young woman?
Closer to my age, but well preserved.
- Is that her?
- Yeah, that's her.
How much did she pay you?
You better leave.
We're not leaving
until we have an affidavit
saying you were paid to
rat out your neighbour.
Mr. Crawford, if you...
"Mr. Crawford"?
Don't patronize me.
An innocent woman
had her children taken away.
Now, just give us your statement
and we can get them back.
I'll talk if she moves.
What, you can't make up your own mind?
I'm gonna go to Kodie's,
see if we missed anything.
Don't tell me you don't want one.
So, the affidavit.
I write it up,
you just have to sign it.
You been to see your brother?
Twice a week, religiously.
Good boy.
You know, your sister stops by
from time to time.
She brings me a casserole.
You know, the one with the chips
on top of it.
She doesn't like me
coming out to her place,
says I'm a bad influence.
Hahahaha!
This is the part where you can
disagree with her.
Wish I could there, Hank.
Right. Hank the disgrace,
Hank the... deadbeat.
So, are you shacking up with your boss?
She's not my boss, she's my partner.
She know that?
Hanleys always think they're the boss.
Alright, so, the affidavit.
Yeah, right, about that,
it's gonna have to wait.
Can't wait.
Sorry, Billy boy, but I handicapped
a huge overlay on the first.
Wanna come with me?
You can write up the statement
on the way.
But it's post-time, son. Come on!
Come on.
You make your own luck.
Go on, give 'em a rub.
I'm not rubbing your tickets.
- Used to do it all the time.
- Yeah, when I was 8.
I didn't bring you
to the races when you were 8.
Did I?
Well, you used to bring me
all kinds of crazy luck!
I'm not sure there's much
I can do about Pookievision;
you picked the longest shot
on the board.
He doesn't know that.
I'd always buy you a new toy
whenever you picked me a
winner, remember?
Come on, Lucky.
You rub for old time's sake.
No, that's for you.
Let's go find a quiet place;
we can go over the
details of the affidavit.
Nah, after. The race
is about to go off.
Hey, we need a couple of beers.
Excuse me.
Elm Creek is a public and
private middle school, right?
- Sorry, hi.
- Hi yourself.
You know I can't tell you
where Kodie's kids are.
- It's Kodie you can't tell that to.
- You're her lawyer.
Kodie's been lying to me.
Her kids did have
a relationship with Granny.
- Where did you get this?
- True's room,
secret box of treasures.
Jo, you can't just rifle
through someone's private stuff.
She's 8.
She's still a person.
Not a real person in
the eyes of the law.
You know what I mean.
You really don't get kids, do you?
Marlene has been
impersonating a social worker,
trying to pay off neighbours.
I need to know the truth.
Diane,
I'm not gonna break the law,
I don't want to be disbarred.
OK. Let's see what I can do.
Man, I miss driving.
Sweet tunes, open road,
best feeling in the world.
When do you get your licence back?
Let's work on my kids first.
Yeah, cool. Good to prioritize.
So, what's the first thing you'll do?
- What?
- When you get your kids back?
Squeeze 'em 'til they can't breathe.
And then go to DQ.
Hey, take the next right.
- What?
- Gotta make a quick stop.
I promised Joanna I'd take you
straight to the lab.
It'll take two seconds.
She'll kill me.
She doesn't have to know.
Come on, quick pit stop.
Look, you can either drive me
or I can jump out
of this moving vehicle.
548 days.
That's how long I'm clean.
I am passing this test.
My teacher told me I can't
be late to school anymore.
But if I don't get True
breakfast, nobody will.
Turn it off.
It was dumb of me to post that.
It was a bad time for my mom,
but she's been good for a long time.
I know.
You made that video
almost two years ago now.
Was that after Marlene started
seeing you and your sister?
Is this why they took us away?
Madison, this is not your fault.
We just need to know when Marlene
started showing up at the house.
Did she ask your mom if it was OK
to take you guys out
for True's birthday?
She never asked, she just...
started showing up at school,
giving us stuff.
- Did your mom know about that?
- No.
Marlene made us keep it a secret.
But when she bought us new outfits,
my mom noticed.
But Kodie didn't stop the visits.
- Only after the cheque.
- What cheque?
Did your grandmother send it?
Madison, what was it for?
I don't know, but...
Mom and Granny fought about it a lot.
so I hid it.
You still have it?
Where?
Before I tell you, you need to promise
to do something for me too.
My overnight bag;
when they came for us,
I put all my important stuff in there,
but they took it.
I need you to get it back for
me, please.
Yeah.
I can't tell you how many times
I've heard the same story
past few years.
Children being apprehended?
Some of the kids, I totally get it -
they need to be protected -
but... then there's others.
Like Kodie's.
The laws are overly broad.
And even as a principal,
there's nothing I can do.
Makes me feel so helpless.
Yeah.
But I don't do helpless.
And that's why God made you the lawyer.
My father made me a lawyer.
And you're the best one I know.
If I'm so good,
why haven't I been able to
get Kodie's kids back yet?
Patience, my friend.
Also something I don't do.
Marlene took those kids
without permission;
I need a paper trail.
Cat, hey. I need you to go to
Millwood Child and Family Services
and file an unauthorized access
against Marlene Loddington.
I'm getting another call, sorry.
- Joanna Chang.
- Joanna Chang, Alan Christie.
- Alan?
- Listen, are you free
for supper? I'm in the Peg.
- Actually, I'm in Millwood.
- Millwood?
You haven't had enough of that place?
OK, no worries,
I'll make the trip to you
- with a proposition.
- A proposition?
I don't think tonight's gonna work.
An incredible opportunity, Jo.
But I leave tomorrow first
thing, it's gotta be today.
OK, I'll think about it
and call you back.
What was that about?
Nothing.
I'm kind of curious about
your newfound interest in child safety.
Because after you left
and Mom died, you seemed
pretty fine with the idea
of us raising ourselves.
I had to feed my family, I was working.
The benders... did those work?
And here they come around the outside!
One counted as four.
And down the stretch they come!
It's Tiger Express.
Tiger Express a length behind Sunwaltz.
And here comes Pookievision
flying on the outside.
He's not gonna get there.
Time with this four!
- Come on, get there!
- ...and Sunwaltz.
Sunwaltz as Pookievision continues
to run down on the outside.
- Come on!
- It's Sunwaltz by half a...
Pookievision pushed with every stride!
- Come on, come on! Go, go!
- Come on!
- Come on! Come on!
- Pookievision!
Aaah, Pookievision!
Alright, stay here.
I'll just be a minute.
Get down! Down! DOWN!
Go on!
Just needed a piece of home.
Oh!
I never thought he would have found
enough room to make that move.
It's you, Billy boy!
If you're not here,
Pookievision doesn't win!
I don't think that's how that works.
Now you're gonna tell me
how luck works.
I'm just saying I had nothing
to do with that horse win.
Are you kidding me?!
You had everything to do with it.
Some people are just born lucky,
and you're one of 'em.
I mean, look at the goddess
who's agreed to share your
bed, that's pure luck.
And a head for numbers.
You've got a deadly combination, kid!
You could calculate odds in your head,
before you could read.
I remember your first-grade teacher...
Ms. Romansky.
God, I had the hots for her.
You're a Crawford.
She was so impressed
with my little math prodigy.
I didn't tell her
it was thanks to the ponies.
And that's cold cash.
I got my eye on a
filly in the next race,
- first time on Lazings.
- Oh no, no, no.
Ever hear of "quit while you're ahead"?
It's not my style, Billy boy.
That's why I kept reaching out to you.
You know, university and law school
after you won that big case,
all those sick girls...
You just wanted a taste of the money.
No, I just wanted to talk to you
and congratulate you.
Well, I wasn't ready.
Well, I'm happy you're here now.
Alright, Dad, the affidavit.
Right, right, the papers.
But first, a couple more whisky shots.
So I can get through
all the legal gobbledygook.
- Hey!
- Hey!
- Where are you?
- Uh, the track.
Trains?
Horses. It's a long story.
My dad's about to sign the affidavit.
That's great.
Are you there?
Just give me a second.
I just found proof that Marlene tried
to buy one of her granddaughters.
Hey, did you get her to the drug test?
Sorry. We just got here.
We had to make a stop.
Is that a you we or a Kodie we?
Sorry, I can't really hear you.
I'm appealing Marlene's guardianship.
I got the last slot today.
- What?
- Luna?
I think Joanna just said
we got an appeal for today.
Alright then.
Somebody, find me a cup.
You OK?
Yeah.
Stop! Stop!
OK.
And that's all she wrote
as even-money favourite Candybean
romps across the lines.
you didn't have that one.
Yeah, those tours gave him
a terrible ride.
I suppose my luck ran out.
Yeah. Your luck and my money.
Don't tell me you gave it all back.
Alright, I need you to
sign that affidavit, Hank.
Lend me a couple of bullets first.
The money I gave you from
the Pookievision win,
it's technically still mine.
Stop.
The affidavit is more important.
Wouldn't be here otherwise.
And I'll sign it
if you give me some money!
No. It's called bribing a witness,
I could be disbarred.
- God, she's awful pushy.
Got you in a vice, I get it.
I mean, there's fighting
above your weight class,
and then there's just
different leagues.
A filly like that,
she won't stick around long.
You know that, right?
Hey!
- Come on! Hit me! Come on!
- Throw me under the bus!
Come on, kid!
Hey, you think I'm a loser, huh?
- Come on, come on!
- Come at me!
Yes, come on! Come on!
Get up! Hit me, come on!
Come on, you drunk, hit me!
Come on, man, get up!
Billy?
Hey! You never called.
Sorry, it has been a crazy day,
and I'm due in court soon.
OK. Well then, I'll be quick.
I left the law
and I'm managing a hedge fund.
Emerging markets,
lots of travel, exotic foods.
And we're looking for in-house counsel.
Someone who gets
and inhabits the world,
someone basically exactly like you.
I'm flattered,
but I can't be in-house counsel,
I have my own firm.
Yeah, I know. What's the name?
Crawford Chang.
Why would you
let Crawford put his name first?
It sounded better.
Look, I want you on retainer.
Let me take you for dinner.
You can bring Billy.
Just hear the pitch.
I really need to prepare
for this appeal,
but, I will call you back.
For real this time.
Taylor.
Mr. Mitchell.
I haven't seen you in a long time.
- How have you been?
- Are you following me?
What?!
What are you talking about?
Don't mess around, Taylor, I saw you.
And I don't think
your father would approve,
of you harassing me.
And does your wife approve
of you harassing sex workers, Jeff?
Yeah,
I saw what you did to that girl.
And maybe your wife should know
what kind of a monster
she's married to,
don't you think?
You're in way over your head.
Let go.
- If you go near my wife...
- I said, "Let go."
Come near my family and you're dead.
You're contending
that Marlene Loddington
cultivated a relationship
with the Chartrand children
without their mother's consent?
That is exactly my contention.
The court has settled
the matter of custody.
Ms. Chang can't keep coming back.
Marlene Loddington engaged
in a systematic plan
to undermine
my client's custodial rights.
She was generous. She's a grandmother.
It didn't interfere
with any parental rights.
It was an attempt
at constructive kidnapping.
That's a heavy accusation, Ms. Chang.
Yes, it is, Your Honour.
But I'm not done.
Marlene did all of this in the hopes
of eventually acquiring them.
"Acquiring"?
This is a copy of an uncashed cheque,
made out to Mushkode Chartrand
for $100,000.
Along with an illegal contract,
detailing Mrs. Loddington's offer
to acquire full custody
of True Chartrand.
- She only wanted to buy one of them?
- Only her blood relative.
But at the hearing, she asked
for custody of both of them.
I guess she thought the best
way to get her hands on True,
was to pretend she
wanted Madison as well.
Also, Mrs. Loddington approached
my client's neighbours,
passing herself off as a social worker,
offering money,
in exchange for false
reports against my client.
There are no witness affidavits
to support these accusations.
My partner is in the process
of procuring one right now.
That affidavit will prove
that Mushkode Chartrand's children
would still be with her today
if not for Mrs. Loddington's
duplicitous efforts
to pry her kids away from her.
I agree that according to this evidence
Marlene Loddington is unfit to
be a guardian to these minors.
- Thank you, Your Honour.
- However,
without further evidence,
this court must also take into account
the continuing questions
about Ms. Chartrand's fitness.
Above all, the court must put
the safety of the children first.
- No.
- This court orders,
that the minors Madison
and True Chartrand
to be placed in protective care
- in Millwood's foster system.
- Your Honour, please, you can't!
This isn't necessary.
This is my son, and we haven't
seen each other in a while.
We got a bit excited is all.
We can... we can sleep it off at home.
I want my one phone call!
That's only in the movies, Hank.
The cops won't let us leave drunk
or it's on them if something happens.
For a minute there,
you sound like a real lawyer.
I can't believe they took my phone.
We're too bloody reliant
on those things anyway.
Joanna's probably been
trying to reach me.
The statement, right?
We were just about to do that
and then...
My fist got in the way.
- We are Crawford.
- Stop saying that.
Sorry.
I am sorry that the fates
brought us back together, kid.
Look, after your mom
died, you're right,
I didn't know how to come
back from what I'd done.
- Dad.
- Right.
- Easy.
- You're not ready.
Do you think you ever will be?
I don't know.
I didn't mean that girl any harm.
That lady said she was on drugs.
I wonder what people said about us.
So, we lost again.
What's next?
We wait for the results
of your drug test,
bring it to the judge in a few days.
And in the meantime?
Your kids will be rehomed,
and you will maintain
supervised access,
and we gear up for trial.
When do I get to fight
for actual custody?
The courts fast-track
child welfare cases,
so within the year, for sure.
Doesn't take a year to
mess up a kid for life.
I just...
I wish you'd been honest with me,
about Marlene and the payoff
in the first place.
I was in... a real bad spot.
Kodie, if I had known
about that cheque,
I would have destroyed her
on the stand.
You don't get it, do you?
I almost sold my kid.
I thought they'd be better off.
I need...
all of the information in order
to launch our best defence.
They're not giving me my kids back,
and it's killing me.
It's just gonna take
us a little more time.
I don't have more time!
Every second I'm away from them
is a freaking eternity!
This is the speed
at which the legal system works.
Bullshit! The system doesn't work!
OK, the law is imperfect,
but I know how to navigate it,
and I need you to trust me to do that.
You keep saying that,
that I'm supposed to trust
you, but why?
Sorry?
Because this thing happened between us,
like, 20 years ago, and that,
what, that's still supposed
to mean something?
It... does to me.
We're not kids anymore, Joanna.
You think you know me, but you don't.
Kodie...
If it happened all over again,
I wouldn't do what I did.
That's right...
I'd leave you alone this time.
And now I'd like you to do
the same for me.
This is impressive.
It's only been two years?
Yeah. It's pretty exciting.
And in the next two,
we're predicting quadruple growth.
I was thrilled when you called
and told me to make the drive out.
I needed a distraction.
Nothing distracts me
better than numbers.
Same old Jo.
I was hoping Billy would be here.
Yeah, me too.
When are we expecting him?
Your guess is as good as mine.
Last I talked to him,
he was at the horse
races with his father.
Oh.
Everything OK?
Where to start?
Toxic disasters,
kids being taken,
Luna, my father; it's...
- all been...
- Hard?
Human.
- Which is hard, for me.
- Yeah.
You've been through...
a lot, and...
I don't know, maybe it's time to...
make a change... you know.
And you come home.
Sorry if I overstepped.
No. Um...
you didn't.
I would be lying, if I...
Said I didn't think about it.
A road not taken.
Or rather the road abandoned.
Yeah.
I started a boutique law firm
in Winnipeg.
How is business?
We're building momentum.
Yeah, it's hard, you know,
starting from scratch,
especially in a town
where you gotta chase the money.
I'm good at chasing money.
Yeah, you are.
I don't know though,
for me, I just prefer
when it falls right in my lap.
You know,
like this hedge fund...
We're committed to taking
cases that are meaningful to us,
that have a positive social impact.
You... almost said that
like you believe it.
Look, I know
that working for my fund
might not make the world
a better place, but...
it might put you back in touch,
with that part of yourself,
the part that you've been missing.
Think about it.
I need a shower first.
No. Billy, where were you?
- You don't want to know.
- Yes, I do.
I left you with your estranged,
abusive father, and then you ghost me?
- I'm sorry.
- Where have you been?
We got in a fight.
Well, while you were
beating up an old man,
we lost the appeal.
Is that 'cause I didn't get
Hank's statement?
I don't know if it would have
made much of a difference;
I think the judge has it in for us.
Hey.
I'm just glad you're OK.
Was someone over last night?
Yeah.
- Alan.
- Alan?
Like your ex, Alan?
Billy, I only called you
like a hundred times.
- The cops had my phone.
- The cops?!
He runs a hedge fund now,
and he wants me to get
into bed with him.
- Oh.
- He wants us
to get into bed with him.
Oh, that's... slightly better, I guess.
Honestly,
this could be an interesting
financial opportunity for us.
Yeah, to pay for the case
that we shouldn't be doing?
You know, I punched that guy out too.
Kodie's not answering her phone.
How big was this fight you got in?
If we find Madison's bag,
it will be my peace
offering to both of them.
Why is Madison's bag here?
When kids are apprehended,
they're not allowed to
bring any of their stuff.
Foster parents are scared of bed bugs.
So they just can't bring their things?
Apparently not,
they start a whole new life;
they can't even bring
their favourite teddy bear.
Yeah, confiscating these kids' things,
is tantamount to theft.
Are each of these bags
from a kid that was taken?
We're looking
for a pink and black gym bag.
Aaah...
You OK?
No.
Billy, we have to get these kids back.
Yeah.
Are you in this with me?
Yeah... I am.
Ah, it's on.
- Beckbie, hi.
- Joanna, I'm down at Halden Academy.
You guys need to get here now.
Beckbie, what's going on?
Madison and True,
foster family came to pick
them up from afterschool care,
- and they were gone.
- No.
Treating it as a possible
parental child abduction.