Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999–…): Season 7, Episode 22 - Influence - full transcript

(male announcer)
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.

[thumping]
[man]
Come on.

[woman grunting]

[man]
Come on.

[woman]
Ow.



What the hell
is going on in there?
Oh, jeez!

[man]
Let's get out of here!

Wait!

You all right?

[crying]
Help me! Help me!

Did those boys hurt you?

They raped me!

Help me.

Help.

(Benson)
Jamie...

My name is Olivia.
I'm a police officer.

I'm here to help you.

[sobbing]
Okay.

Take a breath,
calm down.



Nobody is gonna
hurt you anymore.

Okay, Jamie, do you recognize
the boys that did this to you?

Okay, I need you
to tell me their names.

Listen, Jamie,
don't be scared.

I know this is hard, okay?

But I promise you I'm gonna
help you get through this.

What are their names?

Danny and Cameron.

Good. Okay.

Thou hast hit it.

Come sit on me.

Asses are made to bear
and so are you.

Women are made to bear,
and so are you.

Danny Morrison,
Cameron Shaw.

Come with us, please.

Can it wait till
after rehearsal?

We open next week.

Show's over.
Is something wrong?

We heard the reviews
for your last performance.

In the boys' room.

I gave her Valium
to calm her down.

Anything on the exam?

Vaginal trauma,

scratches to the breast
and torso.

And copious fluids.

Consistent with
multiple assailants.

Are the parents here?

Flying back from Prague.

Dad's an executive
with the Philharmonic.

Mom's a cellist.

That's a hell of a thing
to come home to.

I was heading into the bathroom
to change for play practice.

And I saw Danny and Cameron
in the hall.

Okay, did you
know these guys?

During the show, we've
hung out a couple times.

So then what happened?

Just as I was heading
into the bathroom...

I felt someone...

grab me from behind.

It was Danny and Cameron.

First I thought
they were joking around, but...

they wouldn't let go.

And they dragged me
into the boys' bathroom.

We were just

having some fun.

You call that
having fun, huh?

Everyone's doing it.
It's no big deal.

It is to Jamie.

No way.

Hooking up
in school's a rush.

She was into it.

They pushed me into a stall.

They pulled me down.

And they pinned my back
to the floor.

Did you scream for help?

I couldn't breathe.

They were both
on top of me.

I felt like I was drowning.

It's not like
anyone got hurt.

It's just for laughs.

Oh...

Was Jamie laughing while
you and Cameron were raping her?

Jamie said we raped her?

She's in the hospital
right now.

Get out.

Me, Danny, and Jamie,

we're all friends.

You got a funny way
of showing it.

(Jamie)
They pulled up my skirt.

And they...

started taking turns.

I was begging them to stop.

But they wouldn't.

They just kept
laughing, like--

Like it was a game.

We scored five points each.

(Stabler)
What kind of scoring
system is that?

You get one point for oral,

two for intercourse,

three for group.

The more public the hookup,
the more points.

So you're saying
she asked to be raped.

Jamie came to us
for the three-way!

She set the time
and the place.

You gotta believe me.

Janitor said you guys
jammed out of there

like your asses
were on fire.

We didn't wanna get busted.

A couple of kids got nailed
for hooking up in the library.

So we took off.

I figured Jamie
was right behind us.

Well, she stayed
in that stall, Danny.

Half naked, crying.

Now, why would she do that
if this was all fun and games?

I don't know.
Hmm.

But Cameron and I
didn't rape her.

Jamie was with us
because she wanted to be.

Take off your clothes.

Why?
Because you're
wearing evidence.

Put these on.

How's Jamie Hoskins?

Sedated.

The physical exam
supports her story.

You talk to the boys?

The boys say
the same thing.

Sex was Jamie's idea,

she told them when
and where to meet her.

They had time to coordinate
their stories.

Yeah, but, uh,

neither of them knew about
the rape accusation

until we put them
in separate rooms.

Or they
pretended not to.

The trauma's real, Captain.
I don't think she's lying.

Well, somebody is.

Captain, this
is Cameron Shaw's father.

Is my boy under arrest?

Not yet.

We're still investigating.

Well, a Detective Tutuola
said, uh,

a girl accused
Cameron of rape.

No, that's not possible.

I mean, he's
a good kid, he--

We have a victim who claims
that your son

forced himself upon her
in the school bathroom.

Look, I work two jobs

to send him to that school.

He's got a scholarship
to Cornell.

He's the first in our family
to go to college.

This could ruin
Cameron's life.

You can see your son now,
Mr. Shaw.

[Cameron]
Dad.

Let's make damn sure
what happened

before we put these boys
in the system.

(woman)
Danny Morrison and Cameron Shaw
are both smart,

motivated students.

Boys made it sound like
it was some kind of game.

Disturbing, but true.

And we've caught kids
in the auditorium,

even in the cafeteria kitchen.

And it's not just the kids.

Two grade school teachers
in Pennsylvania

were caught having sex in
a classroom

while another teacher
guarded the door.

Yeah, we get reports
every week

that a teacher's
having sex with a student.

It's a different world.

Kids are starting younger,
going further.

The parents have no idea
what's happening.

Our senior film class
made a documentary

called The New Hookup.

It's quite an eye-opener.

When I hook up
with a guy,

we'll do everything.

I can't get into
the whole dating thing, though.

(Benson)
I can't believe they're
admitting to stuff on camera.

Trust me, it's no different
from what I hear

in the halls every day.

There's more.

When I'm with a girl,
we usually just mess around

and then play Xbox.

Yeah...it's a great way

to get a bunch
of people together.

Makes it easy to hook up
three-ways and group

while you're waiting
to play.

(first boy)
It's totally casual.

Why go through
all the drama

of dating and breaking up

when you can just
get off and then hang out?
Yes.

Jamie and her best friend
are up next.

Having sex just
'cause everyone else is?

It's pretty gross.

I think everyone's just
really scared of getting hurt.

They'll hook up
with a complete stranger,

just a casual friend,

instead of someone
they really care about.

But...I think it's worth
waiting for love.

(Benson)
That does not sound

like a girl who's looking
for a three-way

in the boys' room.

What's Jamie's
friend's name?

(teacher)
Lesley Sweeny.

She's probably

working in the school
bookstore.

I really don't wanna
talk about it.

You weren't too shy to talk
on that documentary

your classmates made.

But that was different.
These are my friends.

And I don't wanna get them
into any trouble.

Well, Leslie,
they're already in trouble.

Listen, Jamie says
that she was raped.

Cameron and Danny say that she
wanted to have sex with them.

Now, we just need
to find out the truth.

And Dr. Collins says
Jamie's your best friend.

Now, you wanna help her out,
just tell us what you know.

Yesterday, in homeroom...

Jamie told me she decided
to lose her virginity.

Did she fall in love
with someone?

Yeah.

Was it Danny or Cameron?

No.

It was this other guy

in our class.

Trevor Olsen.

She wanted him to be
her first.

But he wasn't interested?
No.

He totally is.

It's just that he has
this policy.

What policy?

I don't do virgins.

It's nothing personal,
I just don't want

the responsibility of planting
the first flag, you know?

Oh, how noble.

Ah, it's self-preservation.

I hooked up with this girl
freshman year.

She was a virgin.

She thought we were gonna
get married or something.

Never again.

Is that why
you wouldn't, uh...

hook up with
Jamie Hoskins?

Jamie's cool.

Really hot.
I totally wanted to hit that.

But rules are rules.

(Benson)
So is that what
you told Jamie?

Yeah, I said
I was really into her,

but I couldn't
get with her

till she knocked it out
a few times.

What'd she say to that?

She said, "Cool.

See you Saturday night."

So she solicited
two of her classmates

so a third boy
would have sex with her?

It looks that way.

When I was a kid,
girls who had sex

were afraid
of being called sluts.

Now they're auditioning
for the title.

The question is whether
a rape was committed

in that bathroom.

Jamie was looking
to lose her virginity.

But it doesn't mean
she didn't say no

at some point
during the encounter.

Feels like
buyer's remorse to me.

Look, I saw her.
The girl had P.T.S.D.

You can't fake
that kind of trauma.

She got caught
doing it

with two guys
in the john.

That's enough
to traumatize anybody.

So let's bring 'em back in
and re-interview 'em all.

(Fin)
We don't have to.

Security camera
in the principal's office

has a clear view
of the bathroom.

TARU's enhancing
the tape.

Well, a video will
tell us who's lying.

(Benson)
Okay, so the janitor said
he entered the bathroom

around 3:30.
Start the tape at 3:15.

Here's the view from
the principal's office.

Zooming in, zooming in.

Focus.

There's Jamie.

I'll go back.

Just waiting around.

Hanging out in front
of the boys' bathroom.

Here come
Danny and Cameron.

You gonna tell me she's
not flirting with them?

That doesn't mean that
she asked to be raped.

She just grabbed his hand.
Hold on.

What do you call that?

Leading them on.

Jamie, you said that you were
heading to the girls' bathroom.

Well, someone told me
it was out of order,

so I went to
the boys' bathroom.

That's not what
you said before.

I was freaked out, okay?
I just got raped.

You were flirting
with Cameron and Danny.

I wasn't flirting.

Danny said something funny.

I laughed.

He's my friend.

At least, I thought
we were friends.

Jamie, you said
they dragged you

into the bathroom.

Now, you could see
clearly from the tape

that you walked in there
on your own.

Look, I asked them to guard me
while I peed, okay?

I don't--
What's the big deal?

The big deal is that
you lied to me.

They raped me!

They forced me
to have sex with them!

Why don't you believe me?

I want to, Jamie.
I really do.

But you're making it
very difficult.

Look, I don't care
what you think, okay?

I know what happened.

You're trying to turn this
around and make it my fault?

Well, screw you, okay?
I didn't do anything wrong!

What's the deal
with this girl?

She seems agitated.

Could she be on drugs?

No, her tox screen
came up

negative at the E.R.

Is this post-traumatic
stress?

I don't think so.
Defensiveness and hostility

are not associated
with P.T.S.D.

Okay, so then what's going on?

She's caught in a lie,

and she's terrified
of the consequences.

Well, we have no proof
that she lied

about the actual
rape itself.

I think we do.

I processed the rape kit.

Danny and Cameron's DNA
match the sample

taken from Jamie Hoskins.

Then I tested the clothes
from all three kids.

The school janitor had just
waxed the bathroom floor

prior to the incident.

Danny and Cameron's shirts
had wax residue on the back.

But Jamie Hoskins'
blouse didn't.

So Jamie said that the boys

pinned her down on her back

and then took turns
on top of her.

That can't be true.

Jamie Hoskins
had to be on top.

She lied.

What are you gonna do?

Well, the physical trauma
and the rape kit evidence

are enough
to go to trial.

Wait a minute, you're
gonna charge Danny and Cameron

when her story's
full of holes?

If Jamie
sticks to her story,

I still have
to prosecute those boys.

(Benson)
Casey, isn't there any way

that we can keep this
out of court?

Yeah.
Get Jamie to recant.

[door opens]

It's cold in here.

Okay, I'll get them
to turn up the heat.

There we go.

Here, put this on.

What do you want now?

I wanted to apologize
for upsetting you before.

Does that mean
you believe me?

It means I believe
that you never meant

for any of this to happen.

Jamie, we talked
to Trevor Olsen.

He doesn't have
anything to do with this.

Oh, I think he does.

Trevor is my friend.

I know that you
like Trevor,

but I gotta tell you,
I think his...

priorities
are really screwed up.

How would you know?

Trust me, any guy
that won't date you

until you
lose your virginity

doesn't deserve somebody
as great as you.

You don't get it.

I get that you're
a smart, beautiful girl

who was waiting
to fall in love.

And then finally,
when you meet the right guy,

he lets you down.

I just wanted him
to like me.

I know.

I mean, when...
everyone is doing it,

and it's all anyone
is ever talking about...sex.

It's a lot of pressure.

And sometimes that pressure

can lead us
to make choices that...

that we wish
we hadn't made.

Jamie, did you ask
Cameron and Danny

to meet you
in the bathroom?

Yes.

And did they force you
to have sex with them?

No.

It was all me.
It was...

It was all my fault.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.

Am I gonna go to jail?

You're gonna go home
tonight and...

I'll talk to the D.A.
in the morning.

I never meant to hurt anyone.

I know.

You sent her home?

That girl tried
to ruin my son's life.

I understand how
you must feel, Mr. Shaw.

I doubt it!

They're throwing Cameron
out of school.

He graduates in five weeks.
He could lose his scholarship.

Your son violated Lanchester
Prep's code of conduct

by having sex
on school grounds.

Cameron was never in trouble
a day in his life.

It's that damn girl!
She seduced him!

Nobody forced Cameron
into that bathroom.

That girl made false charges
against my son.

That's a crime.

I want her charged.

I'll decide that after
I review the evidence.

We bent over backwards

to get the facts before
we arrested your son.

Jamie Hoskins deserves
the same consideration.

Fine.

But if she's not arrested,

you'll read about it
in the newspaper.

White girl lies about
being raped by a black boy...

and just walks away.

They'll be all over it.

[door slams]

Well, I guess we know
where he stands.

How about you?

He has a point.

Jamie did file a false
report with the police.

Jamie made a mistake,
but she's paying for it.

I mean, she also got
kicked out of school.

Cameron's dad isn't gonna
go away anytime soon,

and Danny Morrison's lawyer
is on my voicemail.

Those boys
got themselves expelled.

And as for Jamie,
she lied to us.

[cell phone rings]
It was our time
she wasted.

Benson.

Where?

I'm on my way.

Car drove
onto the sidewalk,

straight into
a bunch of pedestrians.

How many are injured?

Nine, one critical.
Driver's over there.

Excuse me.

Jamie?

It's Detective Benson.
Can you tell me what happened?

They're trying to kill me.

They're all
trying to kill me.

Nobody's trying
to kill you.

You're lying to me!

They're all trying
to kill me!
Calm down.

No, no, please, please!
Calm down, Jamie.

You have to help me!
Please! Please!

Ow, ow! God!

(woman)
Detective.

The vehicle's trajectory
indicates

she swerved
to avoid the pedestrians.

So it was an accident.
Not exactly.

There are no skid marks
on the street

or the sidewalk.

She never hit the brakes

and she wasn't
wearing her seatbelt.

She was trying
to kill herself.

Skull fracture here.

Put him in trauma two
and page neuro.

Busy week for Jamie Hoskins.

How's she doing?

Laceration on her forehead,
minor cuts and bruises.

Her victims
weren't so lucky.

Fractured limbs,
two concussions,

a crushed pelvis,

and one 14-year-old girl
with massive internal injuries.

One tire of the car
rolled over her chest.

She died five minutes ago.

Dad's over there.
Mr. Ramirez.

Mr. Ramirez.

I'm Detective Benson.

I'm so sorry
for your loss.

Did they catch the guy
who did this to Elena?

Yes, we have
the driver in custody.

Was he drinking?

The driver
was a teenage girl.

And, uh, no,

we don't believe that
she was intoxicated.

(doctor)
Detective...

We ran a comprehensive
tox screen on Jamie Hoskins.

S.O.P. for
attempted suicides.

Did she have drugs
in her system?

Only valproate and celexa,

which are used to treat
bipolar disorder.

Jamie's bipolar?

The school psychologist
didn't tell me that.

There's a good chance
the school doesn't know.

Jamie's probably being treated
by a private psychiatrist.

Could those medications
have caused the accident?

I doubt it.

Both drugs were present
well below therapeutic levels.

So you're saying that Jamie
hadn't been taking her meds?

Possibly for a week,
maybe longer.

Which likely led to a manic
episode and her suicide attempt.

Could a manic episode lead her
to act out sexually?

Hypersexuality is common

among unmedicated
bipolars.

Jamie's parents have been
out of the country.

Maybe she stopped taking
her meds when they left.

You can ask them.

They got back this morning.

Sitting over there
in the corner.

This just doesn't
make any sense.

I mean, Jamie always
takes her medication,

ever since she was
diagnosed last year.

At the beginning,
we counted her pills

to make sure that she
was on schedule.

But...she's always been
diligent about taking them.

Jamie said that you're
both musicians.

Do you travel often?

We used to, but since
Jamie's diagnosis,

we make sure that one of us
is always at home with her.

This is the first time
that we've both left her.

So how did she seem
before you left?

Any odd behavior
or mood swings?

No, she was
perfectly fine.

Jamie has seen Dr. Porterman
every week...without fail.

She--she told us
everything was under control.

I'd like to talk to Jamie.

Are you going
to arrest her?

That's for
the D.A. decide.

The only thing I can tell you
is she might be more sympathetic

if I get Jamie's side
of the story.

Why didn't you tell me
you were bipolar?

I didn't want you
to think I was crazy.

You're not crazy, Jamie.
You have an illness.

Just like diabetes
or migraine headaches,

you take medication...
and you get better.

Yeah, but people
treat you differently.

I mean, like my grandma,
I told her,

and now she looks
at me all funny.

And this kid in my class,
he takes pills,

and now everyone
calls him psycho.

Is that why you went off
your medication?

I was feeling fine.

I hadn't had any mood swings
in, like, a year.

Did you ever stop to think
that maybe you were feeling fine

because you were
taking your medication?

I thought I was cured.

Jamie, didn't
your psychiatrist

explain to you that
it's really, really dangerous

to go off your medication?

Yes, but...

Derek says
that's not true.

Derek who?

Derek Lord.

The rock star?
Yeah.

He's amazing.

I have all of his CDs,

and I've been to his concert,
like, five times.

Jamie, hold on.
I'm sorry.

What does Derek Lord
have to do with any of this?

I was getting ready
for school last week,

and he was being
interviewed on TV.

He says you don't need
psychiatric drugs

to make you feel better.

How would he know?

He's really smart.

He even has a book,
Free Yourself.

He says that using
psychiatric drugs

is like putting poison
inside your body.

And you decided to listen
to Derek Lord...

instead of your psychiatrist?

Yeah, I mean...

it's a really great book.

Changed my life.

A lot of my young fans
have been diagnosed

with bogus psychiatric
disorders, Jackie,

and then put on
dangerous drugs.

Some reviewers,
including a number

of doctors and scientists,
have criticized your book

as inaccurate
and misinformed.

(Derek)
Trust me,
I've done the research.

Shrinks use dangerous,
mind-altering chemicals

to control the brains
of innocent people.

Everyone should stop
taking these poisons.

There's lives at stake here.

What makes a rock musician
think he's an expert

on psychiatry?

That's a good question.

If I could, I'd charge
Derek Lord as a co-defendant.

First Amendment says that he's
got a right to his opinion.

This is one hell of a mess.
Look, I screwed up.

Jamie was upset.

I should have never
let her go home.

You had no reason
to hold her,

and you couldn't know she'd
steal your parent's car.

She ran down those people
right after we released her.

Makes us look negligent.

The sooner we charge
this girl, the better.

It's not that simple.

Jamie was having an acute
psychotic episode.

Which she suffered
after choosing

to stop taking
her medication.

We already
have one dead girl.

So who benefits from

destroying
the life of another?

She's got a point, Captain.

What are you suggesting?

Probation with
mandatory counseling.

For vehicular manslaughter?

I'm not gonna throw
the book at this girl

just to satisfy
your bosses downtown.

This wasn't some disturbed
homeless person.

This girl had the best
drugs and treatment available.

Yeah, which her idol
told her to stop taking.

Okay...

This is your call.

You just remember
we got two boys

whose lives were ruined
by her false allegations.

A dead girl
and half a dozen others

injured when Jamie
mowed them down.

Now, you let her walk,

your ass is on the line
right next to mine.

(Warner)
Victim sustained multiple
abrasions and contusions

from being dragged 30 feet.

Internal injuries include
fractures to the ribs and spine,

liver laceration,
and spleenic rupture,

and a skull fracture consistent
with medium velocity

motor vehicle impact.

Hey, what are you doing here?

I needed to see the victim.

Everything you need to know
will be in my report.

God, she's so young.

14...just 2 years younger
than Jamie Hoskins.

Did she suffer?

She was trapped under the car
for more than 20 minutes.

She was conscious
most of the time.

Casey.

I thought if I saw her,
it might make it easier.

Make what easier?

Putting a mentally ill girl
in prison.

So did it help?

Send me that report.

Jamie Hoskins
should be at home

where her parents
can supervise her.

We request
an ROR release.

The People object,
Your Honor.

My client is not
a flight risk,

and her illness requires
specialized treatment

and monitoring.

Ms. Novak.

The People will stipulate
to the defendant's release,

provided she wears
an ankle monitor.

No objection.

We also request

a court order mandating

strict compliance with
the defendant's drug regimen.

(judge)
So ordered.
The defendant is released

in her parents' custody
until trial.

10-minute recess.

How could you let her go?

I understand
you're upset.

But the judge feels
Jamie's not dangerous

as long as she stays
with her parents,

she takes her medication.

This isn't right.

I promise you...

she'll get a fair trial.

Hmm.

Not with that guy
on their side.

(woman)
Why are you here?

(man)
Mr. Lord wants to support
the Hoskins family

as they fight
these unjust causes.

(Lord)
Jamie Hoskins is being framed.

The police and the district
attorney both say she killed...

Derek Lord.

In the flesh.

to take dangerous,
mind-altering chemicals.

They're the ones
with the blood on their hands.

Jamie's a victim.

And if her parents
will allow it,

I'd like to pay
for her defense.

Thank you.

And on behalf of all victims
of psychiatric abuse,

we're gonna win this fight.

[cameras click]

So much for
a quiet little trial.

Derek Lord's presence
in the courtroom

is bound to influence
the jury in Jamie's favor.

Derek Lord
is using this girl

to push his anti-psychiatry
agenda.

Nuts like this
have been around for years.

Maybe there's
a reason for that.

Kid doesn't fit the mold,
so he's got LD,

ADD, HDD, ADHD.

They can give him
powerful drugs like Ritalin,

Concerta, or aderal.

But there is a huge
difference

between over-diagnosis

and telling
legitimately sick patients

to abandon
lifesaving treatments.

I'm just saying,

whatever happened to 'em
having a lousy day?

I agree with that--
it seems like everyone's

a victim of something
these days.

But Jamie Hoskins
is bipolar.

So that girl should walk
because she got bad advice

from some clown with
a microphone and leather pants?

Derek Lord is a role model.
Kids look up to him.

He shouldn't
go on spouting off

about things that
he doesn't understand.

Kids are being bombarded

by thousands of messages
every day

telling them
to buy everything

from zit cream
to potato chips.

They learn to say no.

Yeah, but Jamie isn't
an ordinary kid.

Right. She has
a very serious illness.

But that shouldn't
automatically excuse her

from what she did.

It's easy to judge
mental illness

if you've never had
to deal with it yourself.

(Novak)
I'm willing to make a deal.

Jamie pleads guilty
to involuntary manslaughter,

she serves six months
in a psychiatric facility.

You only wanna settle because
you know she's innocent.

Actually,
I'm trying to spare

everyone involved
further trauma.

Just out of curiosity,

what exactly is your role
here, Mr. Lord?

To make sure you don't
blame the victim.

If you're truly interested

in avoiding further trauma,

why not simply
drop the charges?

I can't do that.

Jamie's actions caused
the death of Elena Ramirez

and severe injury
to six others.

Well, maybe
we should consider--

No way. This is
a matter of principle.

This is a matter
of our daughter's life.

Mr. and Mrs. Hoskins,

as Jamie's parents,
you have the sole power

to negotiate
on her behalf.

This is your decision.

Mom, please,
I trust Derek.

He knows how
to handle this.

(Derek)
Ms. Novak, psychiatry
has damaged countless lives.

Elena Ramirez is just
the latest victim.

I'm not here to debate

the legitimacy
of psychiatric medicine.

But I do think
it's unfair to Jamie

to use her trial as a platform
for your political views.

They're not just my views.

Libertarians,
fundamentalist Christians,

Scientologists.

Even practicing
psychiatrists.

There are caring people that
have been fighting this battle

ever since
German psychiatrists

were convicted of war crimes
at Nuremberg.

I can call on any number
of experts to testify

that psychiatry not only
helps people,

it saves lives.

Psychiatry is a corrupt
instrument of social control.

No offense, Ms. Novak,
but you're a lawyer.

And you're a rock star,
so you'll understand

if I don't defer to your
expertise on the subject.

I'll see you in court.

(Novak)
Dr. Porterman, can you
describe the circumstances

under which Jamie Hoskins
became your patient?

She was in
a hypo-manic state

after months of
debilitating depression.

(Novak)
You diagnosed her
with bipolar disorder.

(Dr. Porterman)
Yes, yes, she presented

all the classic symptoms.

So I prescribed
a combination of valproate,

a mood stabilizer,

and an antidepressant.

How would you characterize
Jamie's reaction to these drugs?

As soon as the drugs
were properly titrated,

Jamie's symptoms
disappeared.

Now, did Jamie understand
how important it was

to faithfully take
her medication?

Yes, we devoted an entire
session to it.

I showed her the statistics
on relapse,

we talked about how she
would get very sick.

Jamie understood
the risks.

Thank you.

You said that Jamie

understood the risk
of going off her medication.

Did she understand
the risk posed

by the medications
themselves?

Well, if you're referring
to liver function,

Jamie undergoes
periodic blood tests.

Could you describe
how valproate works

to relieve
Jamie's symptoms?

It aids neuronal
transmission by--

And how does it do that?

Well, the exact mechanism
is unknown.

So you prescribed
a powerful psychotropic drug

to a 16-year-old girl

without knowing
how it works?

My job is to diagnose
mental illness

and relieve the symptoms.

Fine.

Could you tell the court

what medical tests
you used

to diagnose Ms. Hoskins'
bipolar illness?

I took
a detailed history.

Observed the symptoms.

We spoke at length
about--

No, what medical tests
did you perform?

Blood analysis, X-ray,

CAT scan?
No such tests
currently exist

to diagnose
bipolar illness.

So to review...

there's no medical test
to diagnose it,

you're not sure how the drugs
you prescribe affect it,

but you're confident
my client has bipolar illness

and that you've got it
under control.

Objection.
Withdrawn.

Last question.

Did Jamie Hoskins have
a history of violent behavior

prior to taking
the psychotropic drugs

you prescribed?

No.

Another victory
for modern psychiatry.

The drugs made me feel like
I was living in slow motion.

I had no energy,
no emotions.

I just didn't feel like me.

I just wanted
to be myself again.

No further questions.

Jamie, why did you
see Dr. Porterman

in the first place?

My parents
were worried about me.

Were you depressed?

I guess, I don't know.

I mean,
I was sleeping a lot.

Messing up in school.

And then what happened?

And then I started
to feel a lot better.

I was getting a ton
of stuff done,

and I hardly
slept at all.

Well, were you worried?

No, I felt great.

I mean, except my parents
and some of my friends

said I was talking
really fast

and--and losing
my temper a lot.

(Novak)
Did these symptoms stop

when you started
taking the drugs

prescribed by
Dr. Porterman?

I guess.

Then why did you stop
taking your medication?

'Cause I wanted to feel
normal again.
Normal?

In the short time you stopped
taking your medication,

you lost your virginity
in the school bathroom,

you falsely accused

two classmates of rape,

and now six people
are in the hospital

and a young girl is dead!

Those things
were not my fault!

Really?

Then who's to blame?

Them!

Your parents?

Yes, they made me go
to Dr. Porterman!

They let him put
that stuff in my body!

My parents
have ruined my life.

I'm really sorry.

I can't even imagine
how difficult

this must be for you.

(mother)
Yeah, it's like we don't
even know her anymore.

(father)
And she's totally infatuated

with this guy, like everything
he says is gospel.

I know, and I think he really
believes he's helping her.

At first,
we were grateful.

I mean,
we could never afford

a lawyer like Mr. Zierko.

But now...

Look, we've been monitoring
Jamie's medication.

Janet!
We have to tell her.

She needs to know.

Know what?

Jamie stopped taking her pills
four days ago.

I've excused the jury because
it's come to my attention

you may not be taking
your medication.

I don't need those pills.
They're poison!

Complying with
your drug regimen

was a condition of your
release, Ms. Hoskins.

If you refuse,

then I am forced to remand you
to the hospital ward

of the juvenile
detention facility where,

if necessary,

your medication will be
administered by force.

Your Honor, the court
can't compel my client

to take her medication.

Section 9.0 of the New York
Mental Hygiene Law

allows the government

to protect mentally ill
individuals who pose a threat

to themselves or others.

Ms. Hoskins,

will you take your medication
as directed?

You can't make me put
that stuff in my body!

Yes, I can.

Take the defendant
into custody.

What?!
Come on, miss.

No, get your hands off me!
Stop it!

Take it easy.
No! Let me go!

Calm down!

Let me go!

Stop!

[screaming]
No, let me go!

Let's get her out.
Come on.

(Benson)
They treating you okay in here?

Yeah, the nurse took off
the restraints

as soon as the meds
kicked in.

Jamie...

I'm so sorry that it
came out like this.

You did everything
you could to help me.

Everyone did.

I hurt so many people.

I killed that poor girl.

The nurse told me that you
refused to see your parents.

Jamie, I know
that Derek Lord

seems like
some sort of hero.

But your parents are the ones
that really love you.

I know.

I can't believe
I let Derek convince me

that my parents were

trying to hurt me.

It's just
after he told me

what his parents
did to him...

(Novak)
You were called by the defense

as an expert witness.

Did you study psychiatry
in college?

I didn't go to college.

But I read many texts
on the subject

and talked
to hundreds of people.

(Novak)
Is it true that you opposed
psychiatric care in all forms?

I do.

Is it also true
that at the age of 14

you were committed to
the Mayview Psychiatric Hospital

in Rhode Island?

Objection.

Mr. Lord is not
on trial here.

His views on

psychiatry are
part of the record.

The People have a right
to explore their basis.

(judge)
I'll allow it.

I was committed by my parents
against my will.

They forced you
to take drugs,

just like Jamie Hoskins'
parents are forcing her.

That's right.

But it was just drug therapy
that they gave you,

was it, Mr. Lord?

No.

What other treatments
were you given at Mayview?

ECT.

(Novak)
Can you please tell the jury
what that stands for?

(Derek)
Electro Convulsive Therapy.

Also known as electric shock
therapy, isn't that right?

They strap you down
to a special table

that flips over.

So that you don't
choke on your own vomit.

Then they inject you
with a muscle relaxant.

Then they tape electrodes

to your forehead,

and then turn up the juice.

When your toe
starts twitching,

that means you're having
a major convulsion,

which is what they want.

It's what they call
"healing."

Why did they perform
this procedure?

[sighs]

Because...they said I was
psychotic depressive.

And, in fact,

didn't you attempt suicide
three weeks prior

to your parents'
committing you?

It was a mistake.

You took enough pills

to cause permanent
brain damage.

And the cure for that
was for them to pass

huge amounts of electric current
through my brain.

ECT fried my memory.

Huge chunks
of my childhood gone!

It was painful,
dehumanizing torture.

I'll never know how much
damage they did to me.

That sounds like
a terrible ordeal.

Tell me...

after you got out
of the hospital,

did you ever
attempt suicide again?

No.

And now you're a rich,
successful musician

with millions of fans.

Isn't it possible
that psychiatry

didn't ruin your life...

it saved it?

Ladies and gentlemen
of the jury,

have you reached a decision?

(man)
We have, Your Honor.

(judge)
On the first count
of Vehicular Manslaughter

in the Second Degree,
how do you find?

We find the defendant,
Jamie Hoskins,

guilty as charged.

(judge)
Ladies and gentlemen
of the jury,

thank you for your service.

The defendant is remanded
pending sentencing.

Court is adjourned.
[gavel pounds]

[sobs]
Mom.

I'm sorry.

I'm going to recommend

that you be sentenced
as a juvenile.

So there's a good chance
you'll be placed

in a residential
psychiatric facility.

Okay?
Thank you.

Miss Hoskins?

It's okay.

[knocks]

Tough case.

Yeah.

I mean, for you.

I met this guy
in law school.

He was brilliant and funny.

And we got engaged
during our final year.

You look happy.

We were.

So what happened?

Well, Charlie started
acting strange.

He became withdrawn.

Paranoid.

He'd disappear
for days at a time.

What was wrong with him?

Schizophrenia.

It was horrible.

And the worst part was
he refused to be treated.

He wouldn't take
any medication.

I struck it out
for a while,

but in the end,
I couldn't handle it.

I broke off the engagement.

What happened to him?

I don't know.
Last I heard, he was homeless.

Well, you did what
you had to do.

You saved yourself.

Yeah, but nobody saved him.