Harry's Law (2011–2012): Season 2, Episode 7 - American Girl - full transcript

Okay, we all clear?

Any problems, any emergencies...

All: Nobody call.

Have fun, Harry.

I don't take vacations to have fun,

I take them to shoot birds.

(Elevator bell dings)

Harry.

- Chun something, right?
- Chunhua.

Harry: Wa, right. Wa.

Hi. How you doing?



See ya.

Chunhua?

Adam. Hello.

Hi.

Hi. What... hello.

This is Jun and Yan Chen.

They're from Beijing.

Uh, Adam Branch.

- Hello.
- Nice to meet you.

They're in need of a lawyer.

They were referred to me by
a friend of a friend who...

I thought you might be able to help them.

Okay. What's going on?

Our daughter, Min, she was stolen.



What do you mean, stolen?

She was our second child, which...

some of the local governments

have been stealing children from people

who violate the one-child policy.

They put them in orphanage,

which then sell them for
adoption in foreign countries.

They stole our daughter from us
when she was two.

We've tracked her
to a family here in Ohio.

We'd like you to help us get her back.

Harry's Law 2x07 - American Girl
Original air date November 9, 2011

("American Girl" by Tom Petty playing)

♪ Well, she was an American girl ♪

♪ raised on promises ♪

♪ she couldn't help thinking
that there was ♪

♪ a little more to life ♪

♪ somewhere else ♪

♪ after all, it was a great big world ♪

♪ with lots of places to run to ♪

♪ and if she had to die trying ♪

♪ she had one little promise
she was gonna keep ♪

♪ oh, yeah ♪

(Siren whoops)

Oh, great.

(Garbled radio transmissions)

♪ Make it last all night ♪

♪ make it last all night ♪

♪ she was an American girl. ♪

(Music stops)

(Garbled radio transmissions)

Morning, ma'am.

It was.

License and registration, please, ma'am.

May I ask why you pulled me over?

I was only going 30.

The speed limit is 35.

Ma'am, back at that last mile-marker,

you crossed into
the Langford City limits.

Yes, that's been known
to happen occasionally

when one's destination is Langford.

Well, you're also in violation of

Langford City Ordinance number 302.25.

Okay. You want to tell me what that is?

The "buy American" ordinance.

No foreign automobiles may be owned,

driven or parked in the town of Langford.

Notice was published in all local papers,

plus it's clearly marked on our borders.

No foreign cars?

Is this a joke?

Would you step out of the car,
please, ma'am?

Why?

We'll have to impound your car, ma'am.

Like hell you will.

Step out of the car, ma'am.

Look, Barney,

I happen to be a lawyer, okay?

So if this is some kind of scam
where you think...

I'll need you to step
out of the car, ma'am.

Try to get this.

I'm white, I'm rich, and I'm republican.

That makes it legal for me
to mistake you for a quail.

What do you mean, she
threatened to shoot him?

She said she hinted at it.

- Give me the keys to your car.
- What?

I can't take mine; it's a Porsche.

Let me borrow yours to go pick her up.

Maybe I should go.

Tommy, no.

Just give me your keys.

(Clears throat)

Please.

What complicates this is that
she's been here for four years.

She may have settled into a new life.

The courts will ultimately consider

what's in the best interests
of the child...

She's our daughter.
She was stolen from us.

I understand, but...

The adoptive couples often have no idea.

They think they're legitimately
adopting a child.

And since the girl has
been here four years,

they've been her parents
longer than you have.

Well, that was easy enough.

Mother's on Facebook.

Seems she posted the kid's life story.

How did you get on their Facebook?

You don't want to know.

They seem to be on the up-and-up.

Private adoption, they gave about

30 grand to a reputable agency.

This is Min.

Are you sure?

It's her.

I know her eyes.

Okay, this is what she looked
like when she was first adopted.

(Sobs softly)

That's our baby.

You need to get her back.

You need to get her back.

I did not threaten to shoot the guy.

I simply made a topical
reference to a hunting mishap.

Turns out he reads. Who knew?

I say we pay the thousand bucks
and we get out of here.

They've agreed that if you...

I'm not paying that fine.
It's a ridiculous law, Oliver.

- Don't you want to go hunting?
- I do, but I'm not paying that fine!

Ms. Korn? My name is Connor Bertram.

I'm the attorney
for the town of Langford.

City attorney?

Mm-hmm.

How old are you?

I'm 23.

You're the city attorney?

Yes, sir.

My uncle's the mayor,
so I had connections.

Look, I'm real sorry about all this.

Yeah, well, just give
me my damn car back.

And you can reimburse me for
that half day of hunting I paid.

Oh, I'm afraid we can't
dismiss it, ma'am.

The law is the law.

Listen, kid, do you know
who this is? This is Harry Korn.

I know that, sir, and trust me,

I don't want to be taking her on.

How many trials have you had, son?

Well, nearing it off to the closest zero,

zero.

I just passed the bar in July.

And you really want to
start off with this one?

No. (Chuckles)

The idea terrifies me, truth be told.

Which is why I'm really hoping
you'll pay the fine.

My uncle kind of terrifies me, too.

Well, I won't be paying any fine.

It's a dumb ordinance.

Seems you got a dumb mayor.

Oh, dear.

(Doorbell rings)

Mr. Thomas?

My name is Adam Branch.

This is Cassie Reynolds.

Could we come in for a minute?

She was taken to the orphanage.

From there, she found her way
to several adoption agencies,

the last of which you dealt with.

We were told the parents were dead.

Yeah. They're not.

It's likely that the orphanage

reported the parents as
being deceased, but they're not.

So what's going on?

They hired you?

Girl: Mom! She had the TV for an hour!

You had it for an hour before that.

Only, like, for 20 minutes!
Plus you had it all day yesterday!

You know I watch Action Jackson
every single Monday!

(Girls shouting)

Mr. Thomas: Hey, hey, hey.

We have guests.

And you're both being rude.

This is Mr. Branch

and Ms. Reynolds.

Our daughters Lee and Darlene.

- Hi.
- Hello.

- Hi.
- Nice to meet you.

How much more for Action Jackson?

- Ten minutes.
- No, 20 minutes.

Commercials don't count.

- Yes they do.
- All right, all right,

all right. Look, you let her finish,

then you get to watch for
an hour, and that's enough

television for both of you, okay?

Now if you please excuse us.

You started it.

No, I did not.

Mrs. Thomas: Sorry.
(Shouting)

They're sort of like Irish twins.

They're very close
but sometimes very combative.

Adam: Yeah, my brother
and I were a lot like...

Mr. Branch, I don't mean to be rude.

But why exactly are you here?

Lee's biological parents
have come to the United States.

To reclaim their child.

What?

They want the child back.

You must be...

That's impossible.

What do you mean, they want her back?

Cassie: That's why they've hired us.

We wanted to meet you in person,

given the delicacy of the situation.

We're going to be bringing a motion

in Superior Court tomorrow

on behalf of the biological parents.

Given the sensitivity of this matter,

we didn't want to just send a subpoena.

A motion in court...
to take her away from us?

To return the child
to the biological parents.

Whole thing is like a nightmare.

I can't even sneak off
to shoot a few quail without...

Connor: Ms. Korn?

Connor Bertram. We met yesterday.

Yes, I do remember.

I'm not as old as I look.

Mayor Franklin Chickory.

It's a pleasure, ma'am.

Connor, why don't you go prep,
my good man,

so I can get to know
our worthy adversary.

Yes, sir. We'll see you inside.

Sorry, I don't believe
I caught your name.

Oliver Richard.

A pleasure, sir.

First of all, let me
welcome you both to Langford.

Now, Ms. Korn, I understand
you've graced us before

to fill some of our finer birds
with buckshot, have you?

Um, I don't handle homespun
too well, Mr. Chickory.

I'm only here right now because

you people have inconvenienced
me with this ridiculous law.

Well, I can see that you are
one very feisty woman.

The funny thing is

you remind me of the people
of Langford somewhat.

You know, our original
homesteaders included

a lot of women such as yourself

who took up arms with their husbands

and fought off the Indians.

Of course, the Indians weren't
nearly the threat as, say,

foreign-made automobiles.

Uh, you mind connecting the dots
for me on that one?

Well, in case you haven't noticed,

we're in the midst
of a terrible recession.

We need jobs.

Now, I'd like to ride around in
a Mercedes-Benz as much as you.

But this is not the time
to be promoting employment

in foreign countries.

We all need to do our share.

Langford does its, I'm doing mine.

Now, what are you doing, Ms. Korn,

besides riding around
in your big ol' Mercedes Benz?

Obviously, this is a very difficult

and delicate situation.

But America and China
are both signatories to

the Hague Inter-Country
Adoption Convention...

Both sides agree this child was abducted?

We have no foundation

to dispute the account given by
the biological parents.

We know this goes on.

But there has been no
suggestion, nor could there be,

that my clients acted
in any unlawful manner

or that they didn't observe
all proper adoption protocol.

Counsel, have you found any evidence

to suggest that the adoptive parents

are guilty of any wrongdoing?

No, Your Honor. On its face,

we will stipulate that this appears to be

a valid and lawful adoption.

And the child has been here
with this couple

- for four years?
- That's correct.

Have you all gotten together
with the child?

Adam: The attorneys have met

briefly with the child, but...

Judge: My question is,

have you all sat down
and tried to work this out?

No, Your Honor.

You just lawyered up
and charged into court?

All right.

Let me tell you how this
is going to go down.

I'll hear from your side, then yours,

but you all need to get this right now.

Those are the biological parents.

You cannot change that.

And you need to get this.

This little girl has been raised by them

since the age of two.

They're a part of her life.

A big part.

Like it or not, you're all in this pot.

One side does not get to erase the other.

You understand me?

The five of you will likely be

in each other's lives forever.

So, before we even begin,
you all need to get in a room.

You understand me?

This isn't chattel here.

We're talking about a child.

The room will be sealed.

We'll see you all back here at 2:00.

Adjourned.

What fun.

Min.

(Speaking Chinese)

She doesn't remember Chinese.

Remember me, Min?

Your father.

Please understand.

She thought that...

she thought that you
were no longer alive.

And she's very glad that you are,

but this has been very overwhelming.

She hasn't quite processed that, uh...

and she goes by the name Lee now.

Lee?

We have missed you so much.

We have, uh...

(Sobbing)

Harry: Look, I generally prefer

to buy American.

I, in fact, own a Cadillac,
but for this trip,

I rented a four-wheel drive
to be taking off-road.

One with surround sound, satellite radio.

Ollie: All right, fine. Can't you just

switch it out for a Ford?
I mean, what's so wrong

with a city ordinance
that says "buy American?"

Is that really a crime?

It sure as hell would be
to our founding fathers.

It's unconstitutional.

- How so?
- Well, let's start

with article one, which says

only the United States Congress
gets to regulate commerce.

There's nothing,
not even in the fine print,

that gives Langford a say.

This law also violates
The First Amendment,

which, in addition to free speech,

protects the consumer's right
to choose what to buy,

be it a doormat, a newspaper

or a luxury German SUV

with leather seats, climate control

and a logo on the hood that obnoxiously

declares its owner to be successful.

Judge: You seem to be, uh, taking this

- a little to heart.
- Well, you know what, Your Honor, I do.

The constitution...
and stop me if you've read it...

is foremost about individual freedom.

Mine, yours, everybody's.

And this philosophy of "buy American"

is based on the premise of collectivism.

(Clears throat) Excuse me?

Do you have an objection, Mr. Bertram?

Oh, well, this is my first trial,

so I'm not exactly sure how it should go,

but isn't it supposed to be like,

he asks the questions
and she answers them?

Or does she get to make up speeches?

The objection is sustained.

Ollie: What else, if anything,

strikes you as illegal
about this ordinance, Ms. Korn?

It's a blatant form of bigotry.

- Bigotry?
- Yes.

By giving special preference

to cars made by Americans?

That's economic protectionism,

which is per se unconstitutional.

You're judging a car not by
the character of its content,

but instead by where it comes from.

What if you had an ordinance that said

only cars made by white people?

Would that fly?

You all should be ashamed of yourselves.

Judge: All right, Ms. Korn, I think you've

made your point.

Mr. Bertram.

Hmm?

Oh. Yeah. Um...

You, uh, mentioned the commerce clause.

Yeah?

Uh, let's see.

Hmm. "United States Congress"

"shall have the right
to regulate commerce"

"with foreign nations among the states."

You're right... nothing
in here about Langford.

Guess we have to give you that one.

Oh.

Except there is that
necessary and proper clause.

I... I could be wrong,

but didn't the Supreme Court
say that meant government

could pass laws not granted
by the constitution

if they were rationally
related to the common good?

I think the Supreme Court

would be highly suspect of any ordinance

that curtailed an individual's
fundamental right.

Okay, so you have a fundamental
right to a Mercedes-Benz?

I enjoy a fundamental right
as an American consumer

to choose what I buy...
or, in this case, rent.

Okay, uh, so your freedom to choose

to drive a $100,000 SUV takes priority

over a person's right to,
say, uh, get a job or eat.

First of all, I don't really believe

your "buy American" ordinance
would provide jobs.

- That's just a fallacy.
Bertram: - Okay, uh, but...

If you were satisfied that this ordinance

would promote jobs,
you would then be okay with it?

No.

I think it's dangerous when government

can tell us what we can and cannot buy.

But the government does it
all the time, don't they?

The FDA bans all kinds
of products from China.

The government tells me I can't

buy fireworks every Fourth of July.

Those are laws based on safety grounds.

Okay, so it is okay, then,
if the government says

what you can or cannot buy in some cases

so long as it's a good reason...

say, necessary and proper?

It's not that simple.

- Clearly not.
- Don't you get snide with me, you...

Harry.

It's one thing

for a government to limit our freedom

- for safety concerns, but...
Bertram: - But it goes on.

The government limits our freedom

in all kinds of ways,
often on community whims.

The particular law you question today

is one that can get people jobs
or help a family from starving.

Is driving a Mercedes-Benz

really that important to you, Ms. Korn,

that it justifies the suffering
of your neighbors?

Harry: Look, son, I appreciate the fact

that you're sticking up
for your uncle here,

but he's anything
but a patriot in all this.

- Trust me.
- I see.

Uh, it was F.D.R.

who first signed the "buy American" act

to help stave off a depression.

History books called
him an American hero.

Would the history books be wrong, ma'am?

You let him just go on and on and on.

- What was I supposed to do?
- It was like a closing argument.

- You'd already alienated yourself from
the judge. - You just sat on your hands.

- You object to the speech.
- What's going on?

- Oliver here got his ass kicked
by Doogie Howser. - I did not.

- He picked her apart.
- Because you didn't object.

You just sat there

while he compared Mayor Chickory to F.D.R.

Maybe I should just handle...

- No!
- No!

Supposed to be my damn vacation.

At first, for the violators,

they might lock the parents up some.

Then they started tearing down our homes.

This to people who had
more than one child.

Or single mothers. Yes.

Then they started
confiscating our children.

The Chinese government does this?

Local governments.

They would sell them on the black market

or just put them in
orphanage which would do so.

And your child was taken
when she was two years old?

And we have not seen her since.

For four years,

we have searched... and searched

and searched.

It has taken us all this time

to...

Jennifer: She's been a part of our family,

our home, for...

She is our family.

She has a sister.

How does a mother describe...

She's our daughter.

She's our daughter.

Judge: Okay.

Mrs. Thomas, I think I can appreciate

where you're coming from.

Is the child in the building?

I take it you know why we're all here.

Yes, ma'am.

You must feel a little like you got hit

by a pretty big wallop.

You doing okay?

Yes, ma'am.

Judge: I hear you've got

a sister.

How's she doing with all this?

She's scared.

Scared of losing her little sister?

- Yes, ma'am.
- Mmm.

And you're scared?

What are you most scared of?

Having to leave my family.

Judge: Yeah, that sure would scare me.

Seems like you got
a pretty good family, too.

Well, I sure am sorry that we've
had to put you through all this.

Okay, we'll hear
from the experts tomorrow.

Lee doesn't have to be here for that.

Hang in there, honey, okay?

We'll all get through this.

Thank you.

We'll see you tomorrow.

Lawyers hang back, please.

You make sure that your clients
are getting counseling?

What about you?

You got yours in with a family therapist?

You a parent?

No, ma'am.

Either of you?

No, Your Honor.

Wow.

We got two sets of parents
in really good hands.

They got themselves lawyers.

Guess that's all they need.

Nothing going on here

that a little litigation can't fix, right?

We'll hear from the experts

tomorrow, and then I'll rule.

Get out.

Obviously, the psychological
effects of taking this girl

out of the only home, the only family,

the only country she knows,

would cause long-lasting,
if not irreparable damage.

Woman: Trans-racial adoption
is perilous at best.

In my professional opinion,
they simply do not work.

A psychological syndrome

known as reactive attachment disorder...

Woman: These babies often grow up
to suffer from major depression

and separation anxiety disorders.

She's lived with them since
the age of two, for God's sake.

It would be unconscionable to
simply rip her from her family.

Enormous difficulty developing

any racial, ethnic or cultural identity.

She may look Chinese,
she may have been born there,

- but she is very black-identified.
- They grow up not feeling

- welcomed by any ethnic group.
- And she is from Ohio.

- And they want to be something other
than they are. - It would simply be cruel

- to take her from her mother... - Kids need
to have a biological and ethnic relativity...

How could the court
even be considering this?

- She is six years old.
- ...in order to develop well emotionally.

As tragic as it would be to take
her from the family she knows,

the long-term benefits are in
favor of her returning to China

with her biological parents.

The judge will now hear
from each attorney...

kind of a summation thing...
and then she'll rule.

The experts felt like kind of a wash to me,

so...

There's really no telling.

The law is with you.

Got a second?

Excuse us just one minute.

Listen, Lee... the daughter...

her church choir is performing
this afternoon.

She's invited your clients.

I don't know how you want to play it.

Come see the well-adjusted child
sing in her new life? Come on.

I don't think the intent is to manipulate.

The offer is coming from the child.

But I leave it to you whether you...

I know it's radical,
but these are radical times.

People don't have jobs.

They continue to lose their homes.

Congress won't act, so I did.

I imagine Ms. Korn thinks
your heart's in the right place,

but she feels a little...

Well, she likes that Mercedes-Benz of hers.

Chickory: This country has a
trade deficit in the trillions.

Much of this 'cause our
production has moved overseas.

If we could keep it here, we can
create millions of new jobs,

and just as importantly,

over $60 billion in tax revenues.

We could flip this economy like a flapjack.

All it would take is for people

to buy American-made products

made by American companies.

That's all it would take.

But isn't that a little greedy

or selfish? I mean, this is kind of a

"me first" policy, here, isn't it?

My God, we have to put us first.

We can't be loaning

and investing all around the world

while our own economy
is going down the drainpipe.

That's like a-a drowning man
passing off his life jacket.

- Well...
- And if you want to

talk greed, it's greed
that put us in this hole.

Corporations looking to squeeze
out every last penny of profit

started outsourcing
to make their products cheaper.

Do you have any idea
how many jobs that has cost us?

And when you talk about cars,

there's nearly three million
American workers

dependent on the U.S. auto industry,

directly or indirectly.

Now, I don't care
where you stand politically.

If you're on the left, you can
mourn the loss of union jobs.

If you're on the right,
you can mourn the loss

in shareholder value

and the decline of an industry

that's been emblematic
of American capitalism.

The fact is, the automobile industry

is essential to America.

If I may quote an old slogan:

"They don't need a handout,
they just need a hand."

And the "buy American" ordinance

is Langford's way of
lending them that hand.

(Applause and murmuring)

(Gavel banging)

Just to get a clear
understanding of this policy,

would you apply this principle to, say,

no foreign films

in your local movie houses?

Look, my primary concern
is manufacturing.

It's the loss of manufacturing jobs

- that has brought this country to its knees.
- Okay.

What about an American company

that does its manufacturing overseas,

would you have a problem with that?

Oh, you're damn tootin' I would.

I got a pet peeve with companies

that call themselves "American"

but outsource their jobs overseas.

Like, say, Apple.

All those iPads and iPhones
were made in China.

No more iPhones in Langford?

Look, Apple employs a lot
of people here at home.

So does Toyota.

They manufacture most of their cars here.

In fact, they hire more people
here than Apple.

Here's a good riddle.

A guy gets caught texting
on his China-made iPhone

while driving his American-made Camry.

What does he get ticketed for?

Look, my policy isn't perfect.

No. Some might call it catastrophic.

Suppose it caught on, and every town

started banning foreign products.

What if countries like Japan and China

and Germany figure

they'll just stop
importing our goods, then...

or worse, stop investing
in the United States...

this country would flatline;
we'd go into bankruptcy.

You ever thought about that?

Look, the fact
that we've become so dependent

on foreign countries
speaks exactly to my point.

But we are dependent.

And what's more,
the health of our economy

will very much turn on our ability

to open up new markets abroad.

How do we convince the world
to buy our products

when we won't take theirs?

You're a very good lawyer, Ms. Korn,

but it really comes down to this:

if I buy a Ford, I get the car,
and America gets the money.

If I buy a Mercedes,

I get the car,
but Germany gets the money.

- It's that simple.
- No, Mr. Mayor.

It actually isn't that simple.

Trade can be very complex.

What is fairly simple is this, though:

if foreign countries adopt similar policies

and outlaw American goods,
we all go the way of Enron.

But hey...

at least Enron was American, right?

The courts have repeatedly said

that any law motivated
by economic protectionism

is per se unconstitutional.

It's a flat-out violation
of the commerce clause.

As economic theory,

virtually every leading
economist would simply laugh.

And if other countries retaliated

and started banning our stuff,
it'd be lights out.

And for Mayor Chickory to hang
his hat here on patriotism,

that's what makes me the most nauseous.

This isn't what America is.

We're the nation of inclusiveness.

We're capitalism.

We're free market.

This policy is marxism.

Ford makes a great car.

I happen to want a different one.

I shouldn't be able to make that choice

because it doesn't promote the
common good? I mean, really?

That certainly isn't freedom.

There's nothing American
about this policy.

I see traces of the Soviet Union.

I see China. I don't see America.

Free market means best idea wins.

Sure, our economy is in the toilet.

A lot of people don't have jobs.
But that doesn't mean we just

start tossing our principles overboard.

Is that the world you want?

Really?

Mr. Bertram.

Well, I'm gonna be honest.

I don't want a world

without individual liberties,

but nor do I want one without jobs.

The Supreme Court held that
the necessary and proper clause

means government can make laws

that are rationally related
to the common welfare.

That's all we're talking about here.

We got a tire plant here in Langford.

We make tires for American cars.

The more people drive American-made cars,

the better off the folks in Langford are.

That's just a fact.

Ms. Korn talks about
what it means to be American.

Well, that sort of rides on perspective.

People in Arizona and Texas
got immigration problems

folks in Ohio might not fully understand.

In Maine, freedom may go to how
many lobster traps you can set.

In Virginia, liberty is the
right to manufacture cigarettes.

That's why the federal government

recognizes state sovereignty

and allows each one to figure

some things out for themselves.

A city lawyer in Cincinnati
may not understand

a small town's need to promote
American-made tire sales.

I'd imagine some folks here would object

to police arresting kids
just for congregating,

like they do in some of the
Cincinnati gang neighborhoods.

Different towns, different problems.

Best we let the Cincinnati people

figure out what's best for Cincinnati.

And maybe they could
extend the same courtesy

to us folks in Langford.

I don't get it, Harry.

You've blown your whole vacation over this?
A $1,000 fine?

It costs more than $1,000 to
rent a Mercedes, for God's sake.

What's going on?

Just think it's a bad law.

And principles are important.

More important than shooting quail?

You know how I got into shooting quail?

My father and I used to go hunting.

We'd go once or twice a year.

And then one day, on...

on my 12th birthday,

he decided he was going to
take me to a private club.

He had a friend who was a member.

We were both so excited.

You know, got all dressed up
in proper hunting clothes,

and we planned to have lunch...

When we got to the club,

they turned us away.

'Cause we were Jewish.

We were excluded.

Because...

On the drive home, my
father's hands were shaking.

And he just kept saying,

"this isn't what America's supposed to be."

We're becoming less and less
inclusive every day, Tommy.

And it's not what
America's supposed to be.

(Lively piano playing)

♪ This little light of mine ♪

♪ I'm gonna let it shine ♪

♪ this little light of mine ♪

♪ I'm gonna let it shine ♪

♪ this little light of mine ♪

♪ I'm gonna let it shine ♪

♪ let it shine, let it shine,
let it shine ♪

♪ let it shine,
let it shine, let it shine ♪

♪ everywhere I go ♪

♪ I'm gonna let it shine ♪

♪ everywhere I go ♪

♪ I'm gonna let it shine ♪

♪ everywhere I go ♪

♪ I'm gonna let it shine ♪

♪ let it shine, let it shine,
let it shine ♪

♪ this little light of mine ♪

♪ I'm gonna let it shine ♪

♪ this little light of mine ♪

♪ I'm gonna let it shine ♪

♪ this little light of mine ♪

♪ I'm gonna let it shine ♪

♪ let it shine, let it shine ♪

♪ let it shine... ♪

You know what galls me?

It's how the American people
don't want to make

the slightest sacrifice.

Uh-oh, this doesn't sound good.

We just fought two wars.

One, we're still fighting.

It cost trillions of dollars.

The American people don't
want to pay for it.

We don't want to pay
an extra nickel in taxes.

We don't want to give up a single benefit.

You don't even want to sacrifice your right

to drive a luxury Mercedes-Benz
on your vacation.

It leaves me a little ill, truth be told.

We have become

such a selfish, selfish people.

But...

I would have to agree with Ms. Korn,

in that the last thing the American people

should start sacrificing
is their principles.

Our most cherished commodity

is freedom itself.

Banning foreign cars... though I
appreciate where your heart is,

Mr. Mayor, you want to help our

local people feed their families...

it goes against our American grain.

Mine, anyway.

I hereby invalidate

Langford City Ordinance number 302.25,

on the grounds that it violates

the First Amendment, the commerce clause.

Give this woman back her Mercedes-Benz.

We're adjourned.

(Gavel pounds)

Well, well, well.

I should never doubt you, Harry.

Well, I guess the best lawyer won.

It was an honor to go
up against you, Ms. Korn.

Yeah, you can spare me
all the obsequious crap.

Look, should you ever want to
drop all that home-spun hoo-hah

and work for me, we can talk.

You're a hell of a young lawyer.

Wow.

Coming from you?

Yeah, let's leave it at that.

Ollie. Let's blow Langford.

Let's go.

Bailiff: All rise.

Yeah, yeah. Sit, sit. Okay, Mr. Branch.

I'll hear from you if
you've got something to say

that I don't already know.

I can't tell you anything
you don't know, Your Honor.

Obviously, there's no easy

solution here.

Whichever way you decide,
there's going to be

a lot of pain.

And you know that.

But I just...

Imagine if an American
child were abducted,

taken to a different country.

The parents go to that country,

to get their child back, only to hear,

"sorry, the child belongs here now."

That would turn our stomachs.

The very reason we have this
hague treaty is to prevent

this kind of horror.

These people have spent the
last four years of their life,

all their money,

trying...

trying to get their baby back.

They, uh... haven't come all this
way to ask you for some miracle.

Only a little justice.

It's not about them.

Or them.

It's about Lee.

Her best interest.

It cannot be in any child's best interest

to remove her from the
only family she knows.

Her parents, her sister,

her country, which is now America.

My heart goes out to you.

I simply cannot imagine your pain here.

Or the horror that has been the
last four years of your life.

If this were about you,

I'd hand the child over myself.

But it's not.

It's about Lee.

I find life and the law

often come down to what judge you get.

I was adopted by a white family at birth.

Did I grow up white-identified?
I don't know.

Could be.

What I do know...

my adoptive parents were my parents.

They loved me, and I
loved them right back.

And it had nothing to do with genetics.

The notion that anybody could
take me away from them...

But I am also a mother,

and if anybody had abducted my daughter

I would hunt her down
to the ends of the earth,

wherever they took her to,

for as long as it would take.

Two years, four years.

20 years.

I would never stop till
I got my daughter back.

I will be ordering
detailed visitation rights

together with my ruling.

Like I said, you're all in
this together, like it or not.

I am awarding custody

to the Thomases.

(Gasps)

(Sobbing) Mr. and Mrs. Chen,

I am deeply sorry,

but I cannot justify upending
this little girl's world by...

I am so sorry.

(Gasping)

I will be publishing
a more detailed ruling,

together with visitation, later today.

We are adjourned.

(Wails)

(Sobbing quietly)

(Weeping)

(Door opens)

(Door closes)

(Sobbing continues)

(Sobbing)