Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999–…): Season 14, Episode 9 - Dreams Deferred - full transcript

SVU needs the help of an abused, over the hill prostitute to catch one of her Johns who is on a killing spree, but can they also help her get out of the life and save her family?

In the criminal justice system,

sexually based offenses are
considered especially heinous.

In New York City,
the dedicated detectives

who investigate these vicious felonies

are members of an elite squad

known as the Special Victims Unit.

These are their stories.

In the name of the Father, the Son,

and the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Peace be with you.



And with your spirit.

The mass has ended.

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Yeah, Beth?

No, I didn't forget it.

Yeah, well, you can tell your mother...

Nothing.

Tell her I'm on my way.

You're late again, Craig.

Didn't Beth call you?

You know, I don't understand.

Is it too much to ask if you...

Have a good night, Al.



You too, Jeannie.

Be safe out there.

Craig?

What are you doing here?

Where is my mother?

I have been call...

Craig, no!

Hey, hey, hey.

Lookin' good, Jeannie.

Nice.

What's that, rabbit fur?

30 bucks, Century 21.

Sam?

What, no lipstick stains
on my coffee cup?

You must be expecting company.

Mama.

Give me that money.

Give that money!

Yo, shouldn't you be at home, grandmom?

- Jeannie, Jeannie.
- Hey, baby.

Hey, it's you.

I didn't recognize you.

Where's your car?

Get in.

Baby, you all right?

Yeah, fine.

Get in.

I missed you.

Let's have fun.

The shooter, Frank Rasmussen,

is believed to be headed to the Bronx.

We have a task force...

NYPD, State Police, FBI.

Everybody works 12 on, 12 off.

RDOs are cancelled until he's caught.

Agent Cantwell
will bring you up to speed.

Captain.

Rasmussen's a long-haul
bus driver.

He was laid off earlier this year.

Now, approximately five hours ago,

he shot and killed
his mother-in-law, his wife,

and two of her co-workers.

He left the scene
in a stolen car, heading south.

About three hours ago, he fatally shot

this gas station attendant.

How does SVU help?

Before Rasmussen's
cell phone went dead,

he made two calls to Jeannie Kerns,

a prostitute working Hunts Point.

Liv, you remember her?

Should I?

'92, you intervened in a dispute

between her and a john.

When I was on patrol, Captain,

I did that a hundred times.

Yeah, well, turns out
this particular john

is our shooter.

Well, that can't be the same woman.

- That was 20 year ago.
- Yes, it is. It's her.

She's been on the street
since the late '80s.

79 arrests in the last 25 years.

And Rasmussen's cell phone records show

regular calls to her cell
going back 20 years.

Do we know if she's still alive?

No, she's not at home.

She's not answering her phone.

We need SVU to flood
the Hunts Point zone,

track down this hooker.

Looking at ballistics, he's used

three different weapons,

and including a 7.62.

Cell phone records also show

he was in Scranton three days ago,

as was the Great American Gun Show.

So local ATF is handing
his photo out to the vendors.

So you're putting NYPD
in the line of fire?

That's how the FBI's handling this.

You'll have an ESU team

and an FBI SWAT team
on-site.

Okay.

You find her,
you take her into custody,

secure her phone.

You find him,
do not take independent action.

Call for backup.

And I don't need to tell you
to wear your vests.

Against an AK-47?

Wear 'em anyway.
Nobody be a hero.

Remember, time, distance,
and cover are our friends.

You know Jeannie Kerns?

Yeah, I know that old bag.

So you mean she doesn't work for you?

She don't work for nobody.

You seen her tonight?

- I see her every night.
- Look, here's my card.

Look, we're not gonna jam you up.

We just wanna ask you a few questions.

Nobody called the rape police.

Okay, do you know her?

Jeannie's in trouble?

You know where she is?

No. I know she got in a car
and took off.

What time?

Maybe two hours ago.

With this man?

Could be, I mean...

she said a regular called her tonight.

- What'd he do?
- We just need to find Jeannie.

She can take care of herself.
She'll be all right.

There she is.
Jeannie! Jeannie!

Hey, hey. Get back.
Stay back.

We got him.
Southwest corner of Faile.

Suspect is driving a blue minivan.

What the hell?

Step away from the vehicle.

- Let me see your hands.
- Get 'em up!

- Get your hands up!
- Get out of the car.

- Hands up.
- I didn't do anything.

- Now!
- On the ground!

Okay, that's not Rasmussen.

Hands behind your back.

Baby seats.

- Jeannie Kerns?
- Yeah. What...

He was just giving me a ride.

Have you seen him tonight?

Okay. What is all this?

Look, we need you
to come down to the station,

ask you a few questions.

You got the money, honey,
I got the time.

I know you.

- You arrested me before?
- No.

But 20 years ago, a john
was getting rough

with you in the car,
and you wouldn't press charges.

It was the same guy.

If you say so.

I hate it when they hit me
in the teeth...

or the eyes.

Then you get floaters,
that's the worst.

Hey, you don't have
any amaretto, do you?

I'm asking you again.

Did you see this guy tonight?

I don't know.
I have a lot of dates.

It's hard to keep track.

It's not like I know him well.

Craig Rasmussen?

He's called you almost once a week

for the last 25 years.

Okay, so you know everything.

Why are you asking me questions?

And what did he do?

All these cops, it ain't
because he's a john.

Jeannie.

He's a person of interest in a...

I love your necklace.
Where'd you get that?

Hey, your regular?

He's on a killing spree.

What? That's crazy, right?

He shot five people, Jeannie.

- Maybe more.
- What?

Yeah, he lost his job,
started drinkin',

- went down a hole.
- No, no, no. No.

He's a bus driver.
He's still working.

He was laid off nine months ago.

Are you sure?
'Cause I've been

seeing him every Thursday, payday.

Well, maybe he was
keeping up appearances

till he couldn't.

He's a real lousy drunk.

I could smell it on his breath.

He was in a real bad mood tonight.

Is this her?

His wife, yes.

Where is he, Jeannie?

I don't know.

But you did see him tonight?

Yeah.

He picked me up on East Bay Avenue.

But it wasn't his regular car.

It was a Honda.

What color?
What time?

10:00, 10:30.

Silver, I think.

And usually we have the date
in the back of his car,

but he wanted to go to a motel.

Where?

Yankee Motor Inn, off the Cross Bronx.

And what happened there?

Nothing.

We go to get the room.

He comes back.
He tells me he has 20 bucks.

He wants it around the world,
he'll pay me later.

I say, "Honey,
it doesn't work that way.

"20 bucks get you a jack.

And that's just 'cause
we're friends."

So he gets real pissed.

I told you, he was in a mood.

I just walked out.

So you're saying he stayed in the room?

Well, he probably got himself off.

I shoulda kept that 20 bucks.

Well, he hasn't slept since this began.

He could still be up there.

Captain, clerk says
Rasmussen hasn't checked out.

The Honda's still in the parking lot.

We're on it.

So they was only in the room

for, like, five minutes.

Then the hooker comes out

and asks me to call her a cab.

Some other guy offers her a lift
and I fell asleep,

but this is room 206.

Police!
Search warrant!

Fin.

- We got one. Call a bus.
- One leader to central.

Two. Guys, we need a bus
in here now.

Yeah, I've got multiple casualties.

We need a bus sent to our location.

Got three.

Take it easy, man, okay?

Help's on the way.

He bangs on the door

and says we're too loud,
then starts shooting.

Oh, God...

Don't try to talk, man, okay?

Please don't tell my mom.

Gunshot?
You don't call 9-1-1?

I didn't hear no gunshots.

No, I had my headphones on.

I told y'all, I was asleep.

Look, nobody ever said anything.

What you mean is no one here wants

the police to know their business.

Exactly. You know what?

We're gonna need to see
your security footage

from this parking lot,
your office, these hallways...

Couple reported
their car's been stolen.

Make, model, license number?

Did you ask?

Rasmussen left the motel
in a stolen Subaru.

Last seen heading south
toward Hunts Point.

Oh, heading back.
Looking for Jeannie?

Look, she turned him down
because he didn't have cash.

We have three bodies,
no money in their wallets.

He's flush.

Rasmussen's job, it was in the city?

We have port authority covered.

Protection for his supervisor,
co-workers,

- and two ex-wives.
- Any kids?

No, not that we've found.
No friends either.

- Closest friend is his bartender.
- And Jeannie.

He's kept in touch with her
through three marriages.

He's in the middle of a killing spree.

She turns him down.
He lets her go.

And takes his anger out
on the strangers next door.

My team will interrogate,
ascertain if he shared

any confidences...

Or if he told her his destination.

Hold on.
With all due respect,

I think that she would be
more comfortable

if we talked to her.

We talk to sex victims every day.

No, she's not a victim.

She's a prostitute.

- Are you kidding me?
- It's FBI protocol.

You have yours.
We have ours.

Take that attitude in there,

I can promise you,
you're gonna shut her down.

Look, she wants out as it is,
and we can't hold her.

- So arrest her.
- Arrest her?

Well, forget about her cooperation.

Agent Cantwell, my people have
a rapport with her.

They'll get what you need.

Hey. You can't light up
in here.

I can take you for a walk later, okay?

Later? I gotta go.

It's Friday night.
I gotta get to work.

You know how much money I'm losing?

You go back out there
and Craig comes after you,

we can't protect you.

I been taking care of myself
on the street

for 25 years, longer than you
been an altar boy, mijo.

I'm a survivor.
I can handle Craig.

Like you did 20 years ago,

- when he broke your wrist?
- Yeah, I remember that.

We had a fight.
I withdrew the complaint.

Afterward, he cried like a little boy.

Yeah, well, he's not
the Craig you know.

- He snapped.
- I think you got the wrong guy.

Jeannie, after you left the motel room,

he shot three more people.

No.

No!

This is Yvette.

You know her?

Yes, this is Yvette Jimenez.
She was just a baby.

This isn't my fault.
You can't put this on me.

- We're not saying that.
- I...

He can't just owe me.
I can't work that way.

I got rent to pay.
I got bills. I gotta go.

Hey, look,
we think he's looking for you.

He was last seen headed
back to Hunts Point.

You know what,
I had johns come after me

with razor blades, a table leg.

I go to mass every day.
I pray.

Yeah, well,
maybe God protects you, but...

What about Yvette, hmm?

What about your friends
out at Hunts Point?

Hey, man, you trying to guilt me?

No, Jeannie.
You may know something

that will be of help,

something that you think
that is not important, okay?

We're asking you to help us now.

Please.

Well, if I help you,
what do I get out of it?

We will work something out.

Well, I want dinner, right now.

And not some bologna sandwich.

I want a steak.

- We can do that.
- And a baked potato.

Creamed spinach?
How 'bout another cup of coffee?

- Thanks, hon.
- You're welcome, darlin'.

I got you.

Does he always do what you tell him to?

It's not like that, Jeannie.
We're partners.

Yeah. You're the boss.

Creamed spinach.

How 'bout dessert?
Maybe draw her a bath.

Hey, back off.
We're getting somewhere.

- Yeah, well, not fast enough.
- Are you serious?

Nick.

I remember where I've seen you before.

I told you.
It was the assault.

No, no, no.
It was ten years ago.

Port authority, a rapist was
targeting working girls.

My friend Darla,
she got beat up real bad.

She said you were nice.

Let me ask you something, Jeannie.

How long have you been seeing Craig?

Oh, enough of the chit-chat?

Okay, let's see.
I'd just started working.

My boyfriend left me.
I had a baby to feed.

Craig was one of my first dates.

It was the night that the Mets
won the World Series.

- '80...
- '86.

Yeah, those were good times.

Guys were feeling lucky.
They were feeling generous.

So he's been seeing you longer
than any of his wives.

He was different when he was younger.

He was angrier.
It's better now.

Or maybe you can just get used
to anything.

That's what some counselor told me.

- Counselor?
- Court-ordered therapy.

Blah, blah, blah.
Total waste of time.

Nothing I didn't know already anyway.

Jeannie.

Maybe you didn't have
the right counselor.

I don't know why people
pay for that anyway.

Just come on, guys.
Get a dog.

I know people that you can talk to,

people that aren't gonna judge you.

They won't charge you.

Because you can't keep doing this.

Pick it up.

But I-I don't recognize
this number.

- Answer it, Jeannie.
- Who are you?

Agent Cantwell is from the FBI.

We got a trace on your phone.

- Keep him talking.
- What do I say?

Do not tell him that you've
seen the news,

and do not tell him
you're with the police.

- He ain't stupid.
- And neither are you, Jeannie.

- Detective.
- Go ahead.

Shh. Hello?

Hey, baby.

Hi. Oh, I'm so glad
you called.

Yeah, I know.

I'm sorry too, baby.
I'm sorry about tonight.

W-where are you?
I need to see you.

I want to see you.

No, honey, I didn't turn on the TV.

I been working.

My head's pounding.

I gotta go.

Oh, wait, honey.

You got a headache? No.

Don't go. Talk to me.

I miss you.

Aww. I miss you.

I'll get you.
We'll go for a drive.

Cross-country.

We can drive to Vegas and get married.

We talked about that.

Yeah, we did.
It's kinda hard

to pull that off
when you're already married.

Don't start with that.

Come on, honey.

You know I don't mean it.

The way I see,

we could be there in two days.

I'll get a quickie divorce,
and then we get hitched.

Whatever you want, baby.

Whatever makes you happy.

So, baby, you got a bad headache?

Come on, don't hang up.
Talk to me.

Baby?

- Good.
- Oh, you did great.

Rasmussen's gone.
We missed him.

He shot a security guard
and a night employee.

What?

I thought you had
his workplace under watch.

We did.
Port authority main office.

Yeah, but not the maintenance yard?

I-I did everything
you wanted, okay?

Tell him.
He hung up on me.

Yeah, no one's blaming you, Jeannie.

Look, I gotta get out of here.
It's Saturday.

I gotta take my ma grocery shopping.

Cantwell.

You can stay here, Jeannie.
We can protect you here.

No, I been taking care
of myself my whole life.

Your hands are shaking.

Need a drink? I might be able
to get you something,

all right?

I can get my own.
I have ID.

We can't let her out on the street.

She's a target.
She'll go right back to work.

Good. The Bureau thinks
that's our best hope

in getting Rasmussen.

You're gonna use her as bait?

More like a lure.
We have a tap on her phone.

You'll have her under surveillance.

And if she won't cooperate?

Well, then we threaten to hold
her as a material witness.

She won't make a dime.

You're going to send her
back on the street

to get killed.

Liv, we need her to get Rasmussen.

Now, she's a working girl.
Let's pay her.

I'll call intel,
get her registered as a CI.

We'll get 'em the paperwork later.

- So, am I under arrest?
- Nope.

You're on payroll.

Welcome to NYPD.

200 bucks.
What do I gotta do?

Wear a wire, GPS.

Wear a wire? Where?

That crucifix...
you always wear that?

- Yeah.
- Make you a trade.

You're late!

Come on. I'm sorry, okay?

You... you got something
better to do?

Maybe I had plans.

Well, I'm sorry, ma.
I'm here now.

All right. I don't need
your help, all right?

- Just let me get this.
- Mom, stop, stop.

- Come on.
- Stop.

You can't push the cart with your cane.

She wasn't lying
about taking her mom shopping.

Ma, come on.

- Calm down.
- What's she doing here?

You called me 'cause she stood you up.

Angela. Rebecca!
My sweet grandbaby!

Get away from her.
Secondhand smoke, ma.

I'll put it out.

It's in your clothes, your hair.

- Come on.
- Oh!

I just want to pick her up.
It's been so long.

Ma, please don't touch her.

Jeannie, don't do this.

Not in front of the baby.

Grandma, let's do your shopping.

What? I'm here now.
I can take her.

It's... it's okay.

Just go home.
Look at you.

You look tired.

Dodge Intrepid was registered
to the security guard

at the bus depot.

Found 20 minutes ago, abandoned.

Nothing in the trunk.

- Took the guns with him.
- He can't get far on foot.

He's not on foot.

He carjacked a gypsy cab.

Got an APB out,
check points everywhere.

It's been 34 years
since my last confession.

Welcome home.

Why are you here today?

I want to be absolved
of my sins in case I die.

I see.

Well, I've sinned a lot.

I've cursed.

And I've used drugs and alcohol.

I've hurt my family.

I've sold my body
to others.

So you've broken the commandments.

Yes.

And you've broken the law.

My own daughter

won't even let me pick up
my granddaughter.

I have lied to my son.

He thinks I'm a good person.

Are you prepared to make right

the things you've done wrong?

I want to try.

I want you to recite 20 Hail Marys,

10 acts of contrition,

and fast for five days
to purify yourself.

Yes. Thank you, Father.

You have the Lord's forgiveness.

He is with you now,
as he has always been.

Can I help you?

You're watching somebody.

I'm NYPD, Father.

Jeannie...

She in danger?

Look, if you see this man,

maybe following Jeannie, right?

Just give me a call.

That's the man from the news.

Yeah.

I'll pray for his soul.

And his victims.

Thank you, Father.

Hey, listen.

If anything happens to me,
there's a bunch of toys here.

They're for my granddaughter, okay?

Thanks, hon.

Hey, look, we heard you about the toys.

If you're worried, Jeannie,
you don't have to go

back out there.

What? It's Saturday night.

I mean, in the old days,
on a Saturday night,

I could've made enough
for the whole week.

You should've seen this place
back in the day.

You should've seen me.
I was fine.

There'd be cars lined up
four deep on East Bay Avenue.

Oof, and there was so much money.

We had some fun.

Fun?

That include getting your teeth cracked

and floaters in your eye?

Oh, and those high-rollers,

there was nothing
that a pair of thigh-highs,

a stretch limo,
and an eight ball couldn't fix.

Now...

Now? Come on, Jeannie.

It was dangerous then.
It's dangerous now.

I had some good times.

You know what ruined this place?

The Internet.
Escort services.

You gotta be low on the hooker ladder

if you're picking up BJs on the street.

Okay.

Pick it up.

It's my son.

This is my son, Johnny.

He's in the army.
Fort Jackson.

I must've done something right.

Can I have a second?

Yeah. Go ahead.

Hey, Johnny.

Hi.

Well, keep your head down.

Honey, I saw your niece Rebecca today.

Oh, she's so beautiful.

They found the gypsy cab
in long-term parking

in LaGuardia.

And Rasmussen?

They're checking surveillance video.

That's him.

Half hour ago.
He's long gone.

Town car he stole
had an E-Z pass.

Shows him going
over the Triborough Bridge.

All right, honey.
Honey, I love you.

Oh, I love you too.

Okay, stay safe.
I'm praying for you.

- Hey.
- Okay, bye.

He was last seen in a black town car.

Now, if he shows, we have you covered.

But whatever you do,
you keep your distance,

and under no circumstances
do you get into that car.

I got it. I got it.

No, honey, I know what to do

if a car pulls over.

Yeah, I guess you do.

Jeannie.

What?

Do me a favor.

Just be careful, okay?

Come on, focus.
You're almost there.

Come on, I don't have all night.

25 years of this?

Give or take.

That's right.

Yeah, that's right, baby.
You did good.

Hey, I like you.
I hope I get to see you again.

- I'm always here.
- See ya, doll.

Hey, you want a date?

Not a chance.

- Hey, baby.
- You working tonight?

I was just thinking about you.

Yeah, I'm working.

I got money now.
You owe me.

Whatever you want.
I'm here.

Did you get that?

That was him.

In a black town car.

All right, well, that's not him.

Hey, you wanna party?

Get in.

Okay, just one second, okay?

- Get in. Now.
- Okay, okay.

It's him.
We got him.

White Nissan Altima,
corner of East Bay and Faile.

Do not shoot.
She's in the car.

Okay, it doesn't have to be this way.

Shut up.
Don't tell me what to do.

Everybody's always telling me the...

Don't shoot!

He's got someone in the car!

Put the gun down!
Hands up!

He's got a civilian in the car!

- Do not shoot!
- I...

I didn't want to do it.

She wouldn't shut up.

I just wanted the both of them...

to stop yelling.

Like you.

You know when to be quiet.

If she just would've shut up...

I never would've done it.

Put the gun down.

Yeah.

Everybody just needs to shut up...

Unh!

Suspect down, move in!

Hey. It's okay.

I got you.

I got you.

I got you.

How are you feeling?

I'm gonna be okay.

I stopped by the diner
to get your coat,

and they told me that you like
French onion soup.

Still don't feel like eating anything.

Jeannie, you can't fast for five days.

Oh, you heard that too?
Great.

You know what?

I'm gonna ask the priest
to pray for Craig.

You know, he really wasn't so bad.

If they hadn't shot him,
I think I could've talked him

into giving himself up.

Yeah, maybe.

We always got along okay.

Not always, Jeannie.

He beat you, remember?

Yeah, that was my fault.
I told you that.

He was in a bad mood.
I should've seen it coming.

You know, I went
to hairdressing school,

the Wilfred Academy.

I know how to keep the chatter
going... keep it upbeat.

They don't want to hear
about your problems,

your bitching.

They get enough of that at home.

I talked to Cantwell.

Wait, is this about my reward money?

Yeah.

Look, here's the thing.
There was no reward posted.

Captain says we might be able
to come up

with an extra few hundred dollars.

Are you...
are you kidding me?

A couple hundred dollars?

I got in the car with him!

I got his brains blown all over me.

Jeannie, what you did was heroic.

The press wants to talk to you.

No.

My son doesn't know
what I do for a living,

and he ain't gonna.

We're sorry about the reward money.

But you know what?
There are other ways

that we can help you.

- Oh, like what?
- Counseling.

Rehab. We can get you
off the street.

What else am I gonna do?

What am I gonna write on my resume?

Whore?

You just said
that you studied hairdressing.

Okay? So maybe we can make
some calls.

I didn't graduate.

Okay, well, so we'll figure
something else out.

But, Jeannie, you just had
a very close call.

You almost died.

Thanks to you.

All right, listen.

You've been out on the street
long enough, all right?

It's time for you to come inside.

You know what, papi?
Oh, I like my job, okay?

I'm my own boss.

I get to make my own hours.

Stop. Enough.

You can't do this forever, Jeannie.

You been doing your job
as long as I have.

What do you got to show for it, huh?

What the hell are you offering me?

Some lousy rehab?
No, thank you.

And you know what?

You can take this back.
I want my real one.

It protects me more.

Congratulations.

Nice work.

My bosses are taking credit
for Rasmussen right now.

At least they're not emailing
shirtless photos.

Okay, but the reason we got Rasmussen

was because of Jeannie.

Yeah, and there's that.

Well, nobody at the FBI likes the angle

that we used a street hooker
to get this guy.

So what?
We just forget about her?

We used her.
Now we throw her away.

How is that different from her johns?

Liv, she's on the street 25 years.

It's too late.

It's tough, but she's made her choices.

We can get her treatment.

PTSD, go at it that way.

She's been working it longer
than we've been on the job.

She's not gonna quit now.

So now we just leave her
out there to die?

We can book her.
Get her off the street.

We heard her on the wire
committing prostitution.

DA's not gonna go for that.

She was working for us at the time.

All right, so we play hard ball.

Search her.
You don't think she's holding?

Get the DA to throw the book...

Unless she agrees to go to rehab.

You said she has family.

Yeah, but her daughter
won't even talk to her.

All right, I'll make the call.
Go pick her up.

Yeah?

What do you want?

We have a warrant for your arrest.

Why? I asked
for my reward money?

This is a buncha crap.
I gotta get to work.

You're not working tonight, Jeannie.

What? Why?
I'm gonna sue you.

I'm gonna sue all of you.
NYPD, FBI.

I almost got killed last night.

And we're gonna make sure
that that never happens again.

Come on.

I know you're not eating,

but can I get you something?

No. Three days,
I'll be absolved.

All right.
Why don't you hang on to this?

I just spoke to the DA.

He said, and I quote,
"Are you kidding me?"

They're gonna recommend time served.

No, we found cocaine
in her purse, all right?

Illegal prescription drugs...

He took one look
at her rap sheet and said

there was no upside to pushing
her through the system.

We don't have to tell her that.

Liv, send her down to arraignment.

Captain, it's late.

I mean, can't we just keep her
till morning?

You really think one night's
gonna make a difference?

Maybe.

One night.

Rise and shine, Jeannie.

Screw you.

Look, I know you're not eating,

but why don't you at least take
the coffee?

What is taking so long?

I should've been ROR'd last night.

Paperwork.

Follow me.

Oh, ma!
What the hell?

I'm sorry, Father.

I-I haven't eaten
in two days.

It's all right.

I drank some coffee,
and I had some vodka.

Jeannie.

With a little orange juice, ma.

What are they doing here?

Unless the DA sees that you have people

in your corner who are willing
to help you,

you're going away, Jeannie.

Fine.

Ma, tell 'em you're in my corner.

No. I'm not.

- Excuse me?
- Irene.

Tell your daughter
what we talked about.

I can't do this anymore.

Every night, I pray that you'll
survive out there.

I don't sleep.

Hey.
What is this, huh?

Is this some kind of half-ass
intervention?

Haven't you caused enough trouble?

I want my arraignment!

Jeannie, you're not going
anywhere right now, okay?

No. I won't do it.

She's a drunk.
She's never gonna change.

This is your mother.
She needs you.

I washed my hands of her
a long time ago.

The drugs, the lying.

She's a prostitute, for God's sake.

That was to put food on the table

and a roof over your head.

How old are you?

- 27.
- Ever do the math?

Your mother's first arrest
was 26 years ago.

That's when your father
walked out on you guys,

left her to raise you.

And she did the best she could.

You had a comfortable life growing up.

You went to Catholic school.

Who you think paid for that?

It won't make any difference.

Listen.

Least you could say you tried.

This is her last chance.

I can take care of myself.

I been doing it my whole life.

Yeah? Is that why
all the nurses at the ER

knew you by your first name?

- Hey.
- Jeannie, you've been

hospitalized dozens of times.

- You had two concussions.
- Stop it.

You got your teeth knocked out.

You had three stab wounds, STDs.

Oh, my God.

She doesn't need to hear...

Mom.

What are you doing here?

I want you to get help, mom.

You don't care about me.

Talk to your mother, Angela.

I know I've treated you bad.

I'm sorry.

But we can't go on like this.

We gotta change, ma.

I do. You do.
All of us.

I think it's a little late for that.

No. You can start over
right now, Jeannie.

You've had all the weight
on you your whole life.

I can carry some now.

No, sweetheart.
I'm sorry. You can't.

You got a baby to take care of.

Ma, Rebecca's fine.
Let's worry about you now.

No, let's not worry about me, okay?

I'm a grownup.
Everyone back off already!

I can take care of myself!

Ma.

No. No.
Johnny...

He cannot be here.

- You gotta go, honey!
- I-I know, ma.

- No, you can't be here.
- I know what you do.

I've known for a long time.

What?

Did your sister tell you?

No, ma, I swear.

She didn't.

It was the kids at school.

I said they were all liars.

Then one night, I followed you.

Oh, God.
Oh, God.

It's okay, ma.
Look at me.

You've done for us

your whole life.

You stop now.
It's our turn.

Please, Jeannie, you can do this.

Ma, I want Rebecca
to have a grandmother.

And I need you, mom.

Oh.

Oh.

Oh. Okay.

Okay. I'll try.

Oh.

Okay.

You happy now?

You got a place for me?

I do, Jeannie.
I do.

Are they gonna let me smoke?

You can ask,

but it's not gonna be easy.

Yeah. What is?