Quincy M.E. (1976–1983): Season 2, Episode 8 - A Good Smack in the Mouth - full transcript

What's a little guy like you
doing hitchhiking, anyway?

I lost my carfare money.

[tires screeching]

I'd say she's a very lucky
lady, and so is her little boy.

Mr. and Mrs. Harrison are
two of my most considerate

and concerned parents.

You are wrong.

God knows how many times
Joey's arm has been twisted,

his back beaten,
his ribs bruised.

A charge of child abuse
requires more than supposition.

Don't you realize
she's gonna kill him?



You're the only one
that can stop her.

I promise you,

you're never gonna have
to be afraid of another adult.

Gentlemen, you
are about to enter

the fascinating
sphere of police work:

the world of forensic medicine.

I'm going as far as
Sunset Boulevard.

Yeah, me too.

Okay, come on in.

(Melissa) My name's
Melissa Astin. What's yours?

(Joey) Joey.

What's a little guy like you
doing hitchhiking, anyway?

I lost my carfare money.

You know, maybe we ought to
stop and call your mom and dad.



They might be worried.

Oh, they won't worry,
'cause I'll be home soon.

[car tires screeching]

[car crashing]

Four eights.

Four eights?

Get out of here.

Four? Four eights.

Six eights.

Six eights?

Yeah.

I've gotta challenge you.

You challenge six? The guy
said four eights and you challenge?

How long have you been playing?

I got three, how
many you got? One.

That's four. How
many you got? One.

Five. How many you got?

None.

None. How could you say
four eights and have none?

That's why they
call it liar's poker.

Where'd you learn how to play?

I've got a pair of aces.

It's Monahan.

I told you I wasn't here.

I'm not your answering service.

Well, Danny lies for me.

Yeah.

(Monahan) Now, Quincy,

can you tell me how to
get in touch with Astin?

Well, I got his
number at the lab.

He's in Sacramento. Why?

Uh, his wife was in an accident.

Melissa?

Oh, God. Is it bad?

Well, we don't know yet.

She's in, uh, Santa
Monica General.

Oh, one lucky break.

Their kid, looks like
he's gonna be okay.

Kid?

Yeah, well, he was
in the car with her.

Quincy?

Lieutenant, the Astins
don't have any children.

I'll get over to the
hospital right away.

See you guys later.

Bye.

Was it anything serious?

I hope not.

[moaning]

Melissa. Can you
hear me, Melissa?

Sir? Dr. Quincy!

[whispering] Well, what
are you doing here?

Don't 19.“ me. Kama... No' the
pug nose. Kama“, Laura Kama“.

[shushing]

You were hanging
over my shoulder

in the pathology
class I taught last year.

Right. That's me.

She's a good friend of
mine. Is she gonna be okay?

I think so. It will be a while
before she is conscious

it's a pretty bad concussion.

Her reflexes are normal,
no visible fractures.

The pictures look
good, huh? Yeah.

All in all, I'd say she's a very
lucky lady, and so is her little boy.

Did you check him
for identification?

Well, I just assumed
he was her child.

I'd like to see him.

Yeah, this way.

(Quincy) Hi.

What's this? Mouth organ?

That plays terrific.

"Joey."

Joey, I'm Dr. Quincy.

That's your name,
isn't it, Joey?

Wow, that's some
black eye you got there.

What did you do, get
in a fight last week?

That bruise is too old to
have happened in the accident.

Did you see these?

I want to see his x-rays.

Oh, Quincy. Glad I found you.

I had Brill check that runaway.

I think we got our boy.

Harrison. Joseph
Stanley Harrison. Age nine.

Parents are, uh, Martha
and Stuart Harrison.

617 Ascot Court.

Those are your parents, son?

I don't think Joey feels like
talking right now, Lieutenant.

You rest. We'll talk later.

Want to go to a picture show?

Well, what do you see?

Joey could've had
a lot of accidents.

Accidents? Laura,
who are we kidding?

Look, this bone has
been bruised so much,

it's calcifying. Look at that.

And this fracture, take a good look
at that. How old do you think that is?

Two, maybe three years?

Yes, that's a solid
three years old.

This fracture has
never been treated.

Cartilagenic healing.

Here's the clincher, right here.

Calcification around the shoulder
joints, epiphyseal damage.

Look at this.

He didn't get that
from the Little League.

Well, now?

Trauma.

Trauma.

Trauma?

A battered child.

You are looking at nature's
way of cataloguing abuse.

God only knows how many
times Joey's arm was twisted,

his back beaten,
his ribs bruised.

Well, Doctor,

what do you say?

Dr. Quincy, I sold lingerie 10
hours a day to become an intern.

Now I'd just like to keep
my residency in this hospital.

Wait a minute.

Hold on, Quincy. You
can't expect this young lady

to make such an
assumption of evidence.

Why not? She's a doctor,
a member of the staff.

She knows what she's looking at.

But she's not a lawyer,
and neither are you.

A charge of child abuse
requires more than supposition.

It requires a clear
evidence of abuse.

Otherwise, you're gonna
get nothing but lawsuits.

Please, now, don't talk to
me about lawsuits! Please!

I'm talking about
a brutalized child.

Do you have any idea
how many autopsies

I have performed
on children like that?

I can't even look at
their faces anymore.

I have to have them covered
before I can go to the table.

I don't intend to have
this child wind up like that!

Has the boy claimed
he was beaten?

No, he has not claimed
that he was beaten.

Then, Quincy, let's
face reality, will you?

This young lady
is just an intern.

Now, she can put a hold
on the boy and bring charges.

But the odds are nine in ten

that that boy is going to wind up
with his parents by noon tomorrow.

Odds? I'm talking
about a child's life.

You are talking about odds?

Quincy, don't jump on me.

Now for your information, the
Los Angeles Police Department

is the only police department
in this entire country

that has a child abuse unit.

And no one's worked
harder for it than I have.

Now, that boy
was in an accident.

I have to notify the parents.

All right, I'm sorry.

Look, it takes you 24 hours to
requisition a pencil out of your office.

Give me those hours, maybe
I can come up with the proof.

Quincy.

He's just a kid. One lousy day.

Why do you do this to me?

All right, you've got 24 hours.

But remember,

I have not spoken to either
of you. You understand?

But in 24 hours, we have
a very urgent appointment.

And I expect both
of you not to miss it.

Oh, and for once in your life,

you'd better know what
the hell you're talkin' about.

I guess that makes two of us.

Listen, put him in
Pediatrics or ICU. Hide him.

Just in case there's a slip-up.

Chart name's still Joey Astin?

Yes, keep him Joey Astin.

Anybody questions
you, call my lab.

Sam will swear to it.

I gotta get back to
make a phone call.

[telephone ringing]

Uh, where is the,
uh, house phone?

Oh, uh, thank you.

Hello, this is Dr. Astin.

Uh, you have a call for me?

Yes, thank you.

Quincy?

All right, what's the
problem? Go on, tell me.

Bob, look...

I don't want you... I don't want
you to worry, you understand?

Everything's gonna be
all right. Don't get upset.

Oh brother, it must be serious.

You know, it's the only time
you call me by my first name.

Your wife's been in
an automobile accident.

Oh, my God.

Now, she's all right. I just left
her at the Santa Monica General.

She's out of danger.

She has a concussion,
but there is no fracture.

Her... her reflexes?

They're all normal.

Right,

well, I'll be on the,
uh, first flight back

and, uh, Quincy, uh,
t-thank you for calling.

She gave him a
"D" for penmanship.

He could grow up to be a doctor.

[children chattering]

[bell ringing]

Mrs. Sellers? Yes.

I'm Dr. Quincy. I'm with the
Medical Examiner's office.

Medical Examiner?
Is something wrong?

No, I want to talk to you about
your student, Joey Harrison.

Did something happen to him?

Nothing serious.

Oh, thank goodness. Not that
it would surprise me if it had.

Why do you say that?

Well, anyone who knows Joey at all
knows that he is a very clumsy boy.

Hardly a week goes by when
he doesn't bring in a note saying

that he's missed school
because he's fallen

over a wire or tripped
over something.

And he sometimes
hurts himself rather badly.

Well, did you ever
discuss this with Joey?

Well, no.

Why would I want
to embarrass him?

How about his parents?

I make it a point to
meet all my parents.

Did you ever discuss
Joey's clumsiness with them?

What purpose would that serve?

I mean, I never talk to the blind
about sight or the deaf about hearing.

Why not?

That would be tactless.

I'm sure glad you weren't
Helen Keller's teacher.

I mean, how could you help
a blind man to cross the street

or find out what a deaf
person's needs are?

Miss Sellers, would
it surprise you to learn

that Joey's a victim
of child abuse?

And I believe that his
parents are the abusers.

Doctor, I am a teacher,
and some judge of character.

Mr. and Mrs. Harrison are two of my
most considerate and concerned parents.

You are wrong, Doctor.

Am I?

Would it be tactless of me to say
that I think you acted indifferently

only because you didn't
want to get involved?

If you have no
further questions...

Just one.

Could you tell me where the nearest
emergency clinic is in this neighborhood?

Joey Harrison. Been
in for treatment twice.

I knew it. When?

March. About three years ago.

He was Joey Kincaid then.

Kincaid?

Yeah, his mother
was divorced then.

How long she been
married this time?

About a year.

But she brought him in
abused three years ago?

Yeah. Now I remember,
the story sounded fishy then.

Hairline fracture of the radius.

A kid can get that
falling over a stool.

But the bruises, uh-uh.

So you suspect the mother?

Wouldn't be the first time.

Know how many tranquilizers are
prescribed to women in this country?

But you didn't report it.

This is a private clinic.

You can't treat patients while
you're sitting in a courtroom

or filling out social
workers' reports.

Believe me, I've
been through it.

Besides, they only send
the kids home, anyway.

Now, that's not true. Not
anymore. If you can get proof

you can force the parents
to get psychiatric help.

You will need that help,
if you're going after this.

I'll try to help you
nab the child abuser.

Is there anything
you want me to do?

Yes, there is.

Next time, report it.

[sighing]

Did he say anything yet?

No.

He ate his breakfast, but
he's a very sad little man.

I'm gonna try to change that.

Look, Joey,

you don't have
to be afraid of us.

Dr. Quincy just wants to
ask you some questions.

See, we want to help you,

but we want you to help us, too.

I want you to tell me how
you got that black eye.

I know you didn't
get it in the accident.

It was your mother, wasn't it?

I know it's tough
when you're afraid.

That's why you ran away.

You were afraid to bring
your test paper home, right?

You know somethin', I
thought it was a terrific paper.

But I don't write
so well myself.

But then, I don't get
punished for it either.

Yeah, but you're grown-up.

That's right, Joey.

But you're gonna be
grown-up one day, too.

And then you're gonna see
there's no reason to be afraid.

There's no reason now.

I promise you,

you'll never have to be
afraid of another adult again.

Not your teachers,
not your parents.

No one. That's a promise.

Melissa, how's the stunt driver?

Well, she has one
whale of a headache.

Well, she's had you for years.

What is that...

Ah, ah, ah. How's
the little boy?

Joey's doing fine.

He'll be terrific. If I
can get a few answers

from your husband...

Uh, oh, um...
Excuse us. Business.

I hope you're planning on
taking a rest for two weeks.

Her husband would like to
know who's minding the store.

Well, I will be, if
you give me a name.

I need a pediatrician.

A children's doctor? Yeah.

I thought you said
the boy was okay.

He is, but I need somebody with
real clout. I mean, political muscle.

Well, there's no one
better than Travers.

You know, he's responsible for
building the new children's wing here.

That's Bert Travers, huh? Right.

Thank you. Melissa, I'll see
you later. You take care, okay?

Bye-bye.

Thank you.

Quincy, Qui...

[sighing]

You see what I mean?

Come here.

I'm... I'm afraid you're... you're
out of luck on this one, Quincy.

What do you mean?
You just saw the kid.

Yeah, but the thing is I didn't see any
clear and present evidence of abuse.

Yeah, but with the new law, we
don't have to have present evidence.

Look, there are bruises, there are
x-rays, we got Dr. Griffith's report.

I mean, Joey's history
reads like a map.

But I can't hold him over for a
protective services investigation on that.

I don't believe it. I
mean, what does it take?

Dr. Travers, each year two million
children are beaten up in this country,

two thousand of them
wind up on the slab.

Please don't quote statistics
to me, all right? It's a disease.

Yeah. And it's gonna spread every
time we send a kid back into a bad home.

And when he grows up, there's an
80% chance that he'll beat up his kids,

and his kids will
beat up his kids!

Wait a minute.

Look, Quincy, I refuse to
subject this hospital to a lawsuit.

You're talking
about one patient.

Meanwhile, I got 100 new beds
for 100 children at stake here.

Wait a minute. Back it
up a little. What lawsuit?

A suspicion charge
of child abuse

can only be made
without prejudice.

What prejudice?

Joey Harrison is a runaway.

He was admitted
into the hospital.

He was kept on the
ward under a false identity

when there was full
knowledge of the truth.

Under the law, that
happens to be prejudice.

Look, Quincy, I'm not
the one who hid him here.

I needed the time.

I got news for you.

You and I are both gonna need a lot more
than time unless you contact the police

and get both of Joey's
parents down here.

And I mean right away.

Uh-uh.

[giggling]

There we go. Everything okay?

He's still got my paper.

Who?

Him.

Joey, I'd like to explain...

Where's my mom and dad?

This way, Joey.

(Joey) Daddy.

Joey.

[chuckling]

That's my boy.

You got us worried, son.

Joey, you scared
us half to death.

Don't ever do
anything like that again.

(Mr. Harrison) Now, he's all
right. That's the main thing.

Give your mom a hug and kiss.

Joey, what are we
gonna do about you?

Oh, Mr. and Mrs.
Harrison, this is Dr. Quincy.

Hello. Doctor.

Nice to meet you. May I
talk to you alone, please?

Sure.

Dr. Travers, may
I use your office?

Sure.

Mr. Harrison, we know.

Know what?

That Joey's been
beaten. Often and badly.

If you'll excuse
me, Dr. Quincy...

How long are you gonna
keep running from the truth,

until Joey's killed?

You don't know what
you're talking about.

I know that his
x-rays don't lie.

Look, Mr. Harrison, I
have all the proof I need.

I spoke to his teacher,
I spoke to Dr. Griffith.

Now I know the boy loves
you. I saw the way he ran to you.

How can you let
her do that to him?

I don't let her.

She never hits
him when I'm there.

It always happens
when I'm at work.

At first, I believed her stories

about Joey being
clumsy and falling.

Then, I caught her.

I couldn't believe it. I didn't
recognize her. She was a mad woman.

She's usually
calm and collected.

Then you can't let
her get near him.

Joey's her child.

That doesn't give her
the right to beat him.

She doesn't mean to do it.

She... she only does it when
she's depressed, or drinking.

You should see how
bad she feels afterwards.

I don't believe this. You're trying
to get me to feel sorry for her?

I'm trying to tell you to
mind your own business.

Battered children
are my business,

and the sad part is
business is booming.

And it's people like
you, who turn their back

on the problem, that
are causing the boom.

Don't you realize
she's gonna kill him?

You're the only one
that can stop her.

What do you want me
to do? File a complaint.

Make Joey a ward of the court

until she gets psychiatric help.

You want me to take
the child away from her

and then tell her she's crazy?

I love her. I gave
the boy my name.

And I'll give him my
protection, my way.

And if you try to use anything

I've said here
today, Dr. Quincy,

I'll deny it.

He's not gonna
do a thing about it.

Not a thing. You believe it?

That poor kid.

I gave him my
word. I promised him.

Look, Doc, if you
just had one witness,

just one eyeball witness,
I could help you out.

Those are the rules.

Rules are for the child
beater, not the child.

Those are the
only rules we have.

All right.

You want a witness?

There's got to be one out there.

And I'm gonna find him. I'm
going to lay him right in your lap.

[sighing]

(Mona Duffy) Are you looking
for someone in particular?

Well, as a matter of fact, I am.

I was wondering if I can get some
information about the Harrison family.

They have a little
boy named Joey.

Oh, sure. Come
inside. I love to talk.

Well, I am really just
looking for information.

[chuckles]

You don't expect me to gossip right
out here on the front steps, do you?

Have a seat.

Thank you.

Honey, you are so tense.

You shouldn't take
things so seriously.

You look like you've
had a, a hard day.

It isn't getting any easier.

Okay. Pour yourself a drink.

Oh, it's a little early for me.

It's never too early.

Cheers.

I'm Dr. Quincy.

A doctor?

Are you treating the Harrisons?

If so, I hope you're
a psychiatrist.

I'm-I'm with the
Coroner's Office.

You're a little early,
but on the right track.

My name is Mona Duffy.

Mrs. Duffy, what could you
tell me about the Harrisons?

You have very attractive eyes.

They look at you where you live,

they see right through
the core of a person.

Thank you. I'm really
concerned with Joey.

Well, I don't blame you.

One of these nights that child's
gonna come right through that wall

and land in my lap.

Then you've heard
him being hurt?

Are you kidding?

I can hear that child's
scream in my sleep.

Would you be willing to
say that before a judge?

(Sean) No, she wouldn't.

This is Sean, my husband.

What're you doing home so early?

That tanker we're
unloading is wallowing in fog.

Who's this?

I'm Dr. Quincy.

Somebody sick?

No, I'm with the
Coroner's Office.

Oh, really? Yeah?

Well, I wanted some
information on the Harrisons.

Oh, the Harrisons
live next door.

They tend to their
business, we tend to ours,

like you should tend to yours.

Now, I haven't seen a
corpse around here today.

Not yet, anyway.

Thanks for the drink.

Anytime.

I don't think so.

And the massage.

(Laura) Dr. Quincy?

Laura, what are you doing here?

I brought you a guest.

Joey.

Hey, you okay?

Come inside. Come
on inside. Sit down.

Sit.

What's this all about?

Joey, why don't you
watch television for a while?

Make yourself comfortable.
I'll be right back, okay?

Let's go up here.

I'm sorry. I mean, maybe I
did the wrong thing but, uh,

he showed up at the hospital,
and he was looking for you.

No, no, it's all right.
Did anybody see him?

No, I don't think so.

When I saw he'd run off again, I
knew that if anybody could help him

straighten out this
situation, it had to be you.

You're taking an awful
chance with your residency.

No, not if I get back in time

and... and you gotta
promise not to squeal.

Scout's honor.

It really doesn't
matter, anyway.

I can just go back to the store
and sell bras and pantyhose.

I'll buy a gross,
if you fill them.

Oh, Doctor.

[both laughing]

Good luck with Joey.

Laura, I think you're
gonna be a terrific doctor.

I hope so. Goodbye.

You're hungry?

Can you cook?

There are better ways than that.

Well, sit down, sit down.
I'm not gonna bite you.

Come on.

Hello, Dorene, this is Quincy.
Hey, listen, where's Danny?

Still in Baja, I guess. I'm
not his keeper, Quincy.

Well, I wanted to order dinner.

(Dorene) So order.

You know what, Dorene?

You add that little touch of
class that Danny's needed.

I want a couple of
steaks, medium rare,

some French fries
and two salads.

And get it over here
as fast as possible.

Get it over where?

Quincy, this isn't
a fast food service.

Well, Danny always
delivers on special occasions.

Yeah. I've heard about
those special occasions.

You devil.

You ever been on a boat before?

It's terrific, isn't it?

You like boats?

Hmm?

Joey, why'd you
run away this time?

They were hollering
at each other.

That scared you, huh?

When they holler,
when they scream,

is that when you
usually get hit?

I'm not supposed to snitch.

Oh, Joey.

When you tell me something,
you're not snitching.

I mean, that's the
only way I can help you

and your mother.

Yeah, Joey, I know it's
your mother that beats you.

Well, if we're gonna help her,

you're gonna have to
say that in front of a judge.

And that ain't snitchin'.

No, sir. That's helping.

I mean,

if your mother had some
kind of sickness or somethin',

you would take her to a
doctor to get better, right?

Well, she does have
a kind of sickness.

It's called bad temper.

It's a different
kind of sickness.

So we have to take her
to a different kind of doctor,

but we're gonna get her better.

I promise you that.

But you have to trust me, Joey.

Can you do that?

You don't have to talk now.

We'll talk about it later.

You're gonna be all right.

There's longitude
and there's latitude.

I'm gonna explain
it to you, okay?

(Dorene) Quincy?

Yeah?

What's with the candelabra?

Danny always says with you, a
special occasion is really special.

Did you bring the champagne?

Of course, there you go.

I don't believe you.
A regular Cupid.

Listen, uh, where is she?

Getting into something
more comfortable?

Oh, Dorene, I can't kiss
and tell. That wouldn't be nice.

Oh, I would like you to meet
my date for this special occasion.

Joey Harrison, this is Dorene.

Hi.

He's only a kid.

Well, what did you expect?

I'll leave you the tablecloth.

You won't need this.

And certainly not this.

[laughing] Sit down and eat.

[knocking on door]

(Monahan) Quincy.
Quincy, open up.

[knocking on door continues]

Oh, boy.

Oh, boy. Never mind, I
want to have words with you.

Joey.

Quincy, are you
out of your mind?

What are you trying to do?

(Mr. Harrison) Joey,
you down there?

Dad!

What did you do?
Bring Harrison here?

What did you do that for? Oh!

That's the kid's
father, remember?

Quincy, have you gone bananas?

They can rip your
license for this.

You won't be in a
position to help anyone.

Wait a minute. What did I do?

The kid ran away, that's all.

I gave him something to
eat and a place to sleep.

I mean, I was gonna call you.

Yeah, and so is Gabriel one day.

Oh, I was stalling
Harrison half the night

because your cockamamie
phone was off the hook.

That kid was about to open up.

I just needed a
little more time.

I've got an idea. I
want to talk to Harrison.

Come on.

(Mr. Harrison) That's
what it's all about.

Mr. Harrison, I'd like to
explain to you what happened.

You don't have to
explain, Dr. Quincy.

Joey told me how he got here.

Under the circumstances,
there'll be no charges filed.

Why don't you go get
your clothes on, huh?

Okay.

That's very decent
of you, Mr. Harrison.

It sure is.

I'm sorry I came down on
you so heavy the other day.

Oh, that's okay.

I... Well, you just have to understand
I don't want my wife to be hurt.

You don't have to.

Look, I don't want
to bring this to court.

For the kid's sake, I
don't want to do that.

What do you want?

A couple of days.

It's Saturday.

Why don't you take Joey away
to some place, just the two of you?

Go fishing, do
anything you want.

Give me those two days
to work on his mother.

What do you intend to do?

Just talk to her, that's all.

The city has trained social
service workers, psychologists.

There's an organization
called Family Anonymous.

I'd like them to talk to her,
and explain things to her.

Maybe make her
seek help voluntarily.

That's all you want to do?

That's all, I swear.

No court?

No court.

Joey.

(Joey) Coming, Dad.

Hey, listen, pal,

how would you
like to go fishing?

Up in the mountains, just the
two of us. What do you say?

I'd love to, Dad.

You got it.

Oh, Sam, I'm glad I
found you here today.

Where would I be on Saturday?

I love my work. And yours, too.

Yeah, I'm sorry about that.

Listen, you know that
cute little psychologist

you were dating
from Social Services?

Did you say date? You mean,
like, girls and quiet dinners?

It's been so long,
I've forgotten.

And very cute. Look, I need some
information. Do you have her phone number?

Well, I'm happy to see that
we're all industrious this weekend.

Hey, how's Melissa?

Really fine, Quincy. Thank you.

In fact, I took her
home this morning.

Oh, good.

I, uh, just stopped
by to pick up the mail.

Oh, uh, by the way

how's Joey?

Oh, he's gone fishing with his
stepfather for a couple of days.

Now, if I can get Sam's
girlfriend's phone number.

She's a psychologist.

This whole case is a turnaround.

The boy, instead of his
mother, adores his stepfather.

He runs to him all the time,
he hugs him all the time.

W-w-wait a minute.

Runs to him?

Yeah.

Quincy, this is not
department business,

but that seminar in Sacramento,
where they asked me to speak,

well, we discussed
the abuse syndrome.

Now Dr. Burns says
that given a choice

the abused child nearly always
clings to the abusive parent.

Say that again.

That Joey would
display more love

towards the parent
that abuses him.

It's because of fear.

He's afraid of more beating.

Oh, no, no, no.
That's impossible.

See, Harrison's only been
married to her for a year.

Unless...

I have to check something out.

What's the matter, Joey?

Nothing.

Nothing? Oh,
that's not an answer.

You're awfully quiet.

Why don't you scoot over
here and help me steer, huh?

We're gonna have a
good time, you know that?

It's been a while, hasn't it?

Hasn't it?

Yes, sir.

Still love me?

Yes, sir.

That a boy. You
like cherry pop, huh?

I'll bet you Dr. Quincy didn't
have any of that, did he?

No, sir.

You didn't snitch,
did you, Joey?

No, sir, I didn't.

Good boy.

Come on in. Sean's on the
swing shift. Just have one drink.

Mona, I mean it. I don't
have time to play games.

I need information and I need
it fast. It's about Joey Harrison.

Nothing's good
that's fast, honey.

Will you cut it out?

Now that child has evidence of
abuse that goes back three years.

But the Harrisons were
only married one year.

And you want to know if they
were shacking up before that?

Yes.

What's it worth to you, Doctor?

A boy's life.

They were.

How long was
Harrison in the house?

Over three years.

Thank you.

You will come back?

I may not be able to leave.

It's your husband.

Can I get out the back way?

It's always unlocked.

That figures.

Mrs. Harrison?

What is it now,
Dr. Quincy? More insults?

I found out I was
wrong, and I'm sorry.

And I have to talk...

Please, I may be running out
of time. Please don't do that.

[vacuum cleaner whirring]

Mrs. Harrison?

My husband told me
everything you said about me.

Oh, please... I'm sorry.

I don't blame you for the way
you feel. It's not important now.

You gotta tell me
where they are.

They're where you sent
them, Doctor Quincy.

They've gone to the
mountains, fishing.

You let them go off alone?

You know the truth!

I don't want to lose my
husband. I love Stuart.

What about Joey?

Of course I love Joey.

Don't you understand?
I need Stuart.

Look, when Joey's father...
You're not gonna understand.

Why don't you try me?

Okay.

Look at me. Would you want me?

I'm not pretty anymore.

I was a woman alone
with a child and no money.

For two years, Dr. Quincy,
nobody touched me,

nobody came near me.

Nobody held me, you
know what I mean?

I mean, nobody
even fought with me.

A person has got to be needed.

The boy needs you.

That's not enough. Stuart's
my man, I'm his woman!

It's getting better.

It truly is. It's...
it's gettin' better.

Stuart's so... So
patient with Joey.

I mean, unless he's been drinking
or he's worried or depressed...

Seems to be happening
quite often lately.

Look, we can handle it. If we've got
problems, we can take care of them.

Just leave us alone
so we can work it out!

That's the real problem.
Everybody says they can handle it.

They're ashamed to ask for
help and the abuse continues.

But it won't. I promise,
I promise, I can stop it.

You can't stop it, and
your husband can't.

I'm warning you. Unless he
gets help, he'll end up killing him.

That's ridiculous.
Stuart loves Joey.

That doesn't stop him
from beating Joey, does it?

You say you need your
husband and you love your son.

Well, you're gonna
lose them both

unless you tell me where
they are and I mean right now.

[sighing]

[sighs deeply]

You're telling me that
Stuart could kill Joey.

That's what I'm telling you.

Can a doctor really help Stuart?

There's no other way.

[sighs]

Okay.

They're at Desoto Canyon.

The only campsite is on
the south side of the lake.

Thank you.

[sobbing]

[birds chirping]

Sleepin' on that boat
must've been fun, huh?

I do like being with you, Dad.

You be careful now.
Don't drop that in the fire.

Joey.

You sure you didn't talk
to that doctor about me?

Did you or didn't you?

No.

You were gone all that time and you
never mentioned your daddy once?

Well, I guess I did once.
But just the good stuff.

The good stuff?

I think you're lying, Joey.

I wouldn't tell on you, Dad.

You're supposed
to respect me, son.

I do, Dad.

Now, see that? See what
you did? That's careless.

I'm sorry.

I don't think you do
respect me, Joey.

I do.

Being careless, lying,
running away from home.

That's not respectful.

You know what that makes
me look like? Do you?

Stand still when
I'm talkin' to you!

You deserve to be punished.
You know that, don't you?

I didn't mean... mean
to make you mad.

It's not me, son, it's you.

You're gonna be a man.

Running away from
home. That shames me.

I'll be good. I promise I will.

Promises aren't enough.

You're gonna learn
for your own good.

I'm gonna teach
you once and for all.

Joey, come back here!

Joey!

(Mr. Harrison)
Joey, where are you?

Come back here.

Joey, Joey.

Joey.

Joey!

You all right? He
didn't hurt you, did he?

Let him go. He's
my son, not yours.

What?

I said he's my son, not yours.

What's with the belt?

You want to hurt him, you gotta go
though me. You want to take me on?

I don't want any
trouble with you.

You just want to
hurt the little boy?

How could you hurt him?
How could you hurt him?

Don't hurt Daddy! Don't.

Don't hurt Daddy!

Don't hurt Daddy.

Please don't hurt Daddy.

Come here. Let me
get you all buttoned up.

You're all set.

How come I've got to live there?

Your mother and father have to
go see some doctors for a while.

When they finish, well, you can
go back home. It won't be long.

Why can't I stay with you?

You know, Joey, I... I... I
have to work and everything.

You'll love it here.
It's Mrs. Astin.

She's a nice lady.

The one who picked you up.

They never had kids.

You don't want me?

Oh, Joey...

We're gonna have times. Hey,
we're gonna have great times.

When?

First chance I get.
You know, I just have

some work I've
got to catch up on.

(Melissa) Joey.

No crying.

Go ahead.

Hi.

Come on in, have
a cup of coffee.

Oh, no. I've got a
couple of things to do.