The Guardian (2001–2004): Season 1, Episode 15 - In Loco Parentis - full transcript

Narrator: PREVIOUSLY
ON THE GUARDIAN...

THIS KIND OF JOB
IS NOT FOR EVERYONE.

YOU SCREW UP WITH A KID
WHO'S BEEN ABUSED,

YOU DON'T GET
THAT CHANCE BACK.

THAT GIRL
IN MY OFFICE?

LOUISE ARCHER.

WE'RE VERY LUCKY
TO HAVE GOTTEN HER.

CAN YOU JUST GET HER
OUT OF MY OFFICE?

IT'S HER OFFICE NOW.

WELL, YOU EVER THINK OF
LEAVING YOUR EMOTIONS

OUT OF NEGOTIATIONS?



WHY?

BECAUSE IT MAKES YOU
LOOK WEAK.

DOESN'T THIS
PISS YOU OFF?

YEAH.

BUT I DON'T GIVE THEM
THE SATISFACTION.

OH, COMMUNITY SERVICE?
YES.

WHEN ARE YOU GONNA
GET CONTROL OF THAT?

I SEE YOU RUNNING
IN AND OUT OF HERE
EVERY DAY.

YOUR WORK
HAS FALLEN OFF.

I WAS VERY CLOSE
TO MY MOTHER.

SHE SAID THIS
ONE THING THAT I...

THAT I ALWAYS
REMEMBER.

SHE THOUGHT THAT I
WOULD GROW UP AND...

AND TREAT WOMEN BETTER
THAN MY FATHER DID.



WAS SHE RIGHT?

I DON'T KNOW.
DO YOU WANNA
FIND OUT?

OKAY.

SO, MELINDA...

THE, UH,
THE PETITION...

MELINDA?

WHAT?

THE PETITION HEARING
IS GONNA BE TOMORROW
IN FRONT OF JUDGE DAMSEN.

UH, YOUR CASEWORKER
WILL TESTIFY ABOUT
THE DRUG REHAB PROGRAM

AND THE STATUS
OF YOUR TWO BOYS.

YEAH. OKAY.

AND THEN YOU'RE GONNA
BE GIVEN THE CHANCE TO SPEAK

OR YOU CAN HAVE ME
DO YOUR SPEAKING FOR YOU.

WHICH WOULD YOU PREFER?

MELINDA!

WHAT DID YOU SAY?

ARE YOU HIGH?

WHAT?

YOU'RE HIGH.
I'M NOT.

MELINDA...
I'M NOT HIGH.

MELINDA, TOMORROW
IS YOUR ONE CHANCE NOW.

IT'S YOUR ONLY CHANCE
TO GET YOUR BABY GIRL BACK.

I AM NOT HIGH,
AND I'D APPRECIATE
YOU NOT SUSPECTING ME.

YOUR BABY GIRL...
TASSY!

WAS BORN ADDICTED
TO CRACK COCAINE.

SHE WAS UNDER FIVE POUNDS.

THE HOSPITAL KEPT
HER ON LIFE-SUPPORT
FOR THREE WEEKS,

AND THEY
PICKED UP THE TAB,

AND IT WAS ALL BECAUSE
YOU COULDN'T STOP

SMOKING CRACK DURING
YOUR PREGNANCY.

DON'T YOU
JUDGE ME, LADY.

YOU KNOW WHAT, I, UH...

WE'RE DONE. I...

I CAN'T DEAL WITH YOU
IN THIS STATE.

YOU DON'T EVEN
KNOW WHAT YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT!

I DON'T USE
CRACK NO MORE!

OH, COME ON.
YOU'RE HIGH RIGHT NOW!

(GASPS)

AH!

YOU BITCH,
I'M GONNA SUE YOU!

GET OFF OF ME!

LET GO!
LET GO OF HER!

LET GO! LULU, LULU!

LULU! GET OUT!

WHAT THE HELL'S
GOING ON IN HERE?

SHE HIT ME.

WHO?

THE UNREPENTANT
CRACK WHORE YOU GAVE ME.

Alvin: LULU.

Lulu: ALVIN, SHE CAME
IN HERE HIGH ON DRUGS.

WHAT DO YOU
WANT FROM ME?

SHE'S YOUR CLIENT!

OH, I'M SUPPOSED TO GO
TO COURT AND ARGUE

THAT SHE'S CLEAN WHEN
SHE'S CLEARLY STONED?

IF IT'S CLEAR TO YOU,
IT WILL BE CLEAR
TO THE COURT.

NO WAY!
I WON'T DO IT.

WE'RE SUPPOSED
TO REPRESENT OUR CLIENTS,

NOT JUDGE THEM.

(SLAMS DOOR)

FINE.
I... I'LL DO IT.

Judge: I AM SENTENCING YOU
TO 1500 HOURS OF COMMUNITY
SERVICE.

USING YOUR SKILLS AS
A CORPORATE ATTORNEY

TO WORK AS A CHILD ADVOCATE.

I GOT TWO BOYS.

RIGHT. DESHAWN
AND LAMONT.

HOW OLD ARE THEY?

I HAVE TWO BOYS.

AND YOUR
BABY GIRL...

TASSY.

SHE'S FIVE MONTHS.

YOU KNOW, SHE'S
SUPPOSED TO HELP ME?

WHO?

THAT LADY LAWYER.

YOU HAVE A CUSTODY
HEARING TOMORROW
MORNING AT 10:00 A.M.

WILL YOU BE THERE?

(WHISPERS)
Yeah.

MISS TRALINS?

WHAT?

TAKE THIS.

WHAT DOES SHE WANT?

SHE WANTS
HER BABY BACK.

SHE CAN'T EVEN
PUT A COHERENT
SENTENCE TOGETHER.

WE'RE NOT DRUG
COUNSELORS,
MISS ARCHER.

BESIDES,
HER DRUG TESTS
WERE NEGATIVE.

WHAT ABOUT HER
OTHER TWO BOYS?

I DON'T UNDERSTAND
WHY THEY'RE STILL
WITH THIS WOMAN.

HER BABY WAS BORN
ADDICTED TO CRACK.

THAT'S WHY IT WAS
TAKEN AWAY FROM HER.

OTHERWISE, SHE NEVER
HURT HER OTHER CHILDREN.

SOMETIMES
I HATE THIS JOB.

WHAT ARE YOU GONNA
TELL THE COURT?
(DOOR SLAMS)

WELL, THERE'S
NOT BEEN ANY
FINDING OF ABUSE

OR NEGLECT AGAINST
HER. I WOULD, UH...

I WOULD EMPHASIZE
THAT SHE'S BEEN
THROUGH REHAB,

THAT THE DRUG TESTS
WERE NEGATIVE,

AND, HOPEFULLY, THAT
THE BABY'S HEALTHY.

YOU KNOW WHAT,
IF YOU PUT THAT BABY
BACK INTO HER CARE...

WAIT A SEC.

DO YOU THINK WE
SHOULD DROP THE CASE?

WE CAN'T DO THAT,
MR. FALLIN.

SHE'S OUR
RESPONSIBILITY.

Burton: THANK YOU
VERY MUCH.

NICHOLAS.

I'VE GOT A CASE IN
FRONT OF JUDGE MANDERS
THURSDAY AFTERNOON.

I'D LIKE FOR YOU
TO FILL IN FOR ME,
IF YOU CAN.

OKAY.

ALSO, UH...

I NEED A LITTLE FAVOR.

SURE.

I'M GONNA NEED A RIDE
EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING.

CADILLAC IN THE SHOP?

NO. I GOTTA GO IN
FOR A LITTLE SURGERY.

WHAT KIND OF SURGERY?

OH, IT'S SOMETHING
WITH MY DAMN EYES,

BUT, UH, I WILL NEED
A RIDE AFTERWARDS.

OKAY?

YEAH. OH,
YEAH, SURE.

UM, I GOT MY GIRLFRIEND AMY
PREGNANT LAST YEAR,

AND, UM, I TOLD MY PARENTS,

AND, UH, THEY TOTALLY
SUPPORTED ME, YOU KNOW?

THEY WERE THERE FOR ME 100%.

UM, WE TOLD AMY'S PARENTS

AND THEY GOT
PRETTY EMBARRASSED,

SO, BEHIND
EVERYBODY ELSE'S BACK,

THEY TOOK HER
TO THE HOPE HOUSE

SO NO ONE WOULD KNOW,

AND, UM, BY THE TIME
SHE'D GOTTEN BACK,

THEY'D GIVEN OUR BABY, MARY,
AWAY TO ANOTHER COUPLE.

SIGNED AWAY HER RIGHTS.

AND NOW MY BABY GIRL
IS LIVING WITH SOME DOCTOR

AND HIS WIFE IN FOX CHAPEL.

WHAT BRINGS YOU HERE,
MR. WOOLEY?

OH, SEE, THE THING IS
IS THAT EVERYBODY
WAS TELLING ME

I DIDN'T HAVE ANY RIGHTS
OR NOTHIN', YOU KNOW,

'CAUSE I'M 17...
ABOUT MARY.

BUT I GOT TO THINKIN'.
SO I WENT TO THE LIBRARY

AND I LOOKED UP SOME
OF THE RULES AND STUFF.

YOU WANT THIS CHILD?

OH, YES. OF COURSE.

THE ONLY THING IS, IS THAT
NOBODY ASKED MY CONSENT
OR ANYTHING, YOU KNOW?

BEFORE THE OTHER COUPLE
TOOK THE BABY.

NO ONE
CONTACTED YOU?
NO.

YOU DIDN'T SIGN
ANY CONSENT FORMS?

NO.

DID THE ADOPTION AGENCY
EVER CONTACT YOU?

AND YOU DIDN'T CONTACT THEM?

NO. I, UH, DIDN'T WANNA
CAUSE ANY MORE PROBLEMS

THAN THERE
ALREADY WERE, YOU KNOW?

THERE WERE
ALREADY SO MANY...

I DON'T KNOW, MAN.
I GUESS AMY'S FAMILY

REALLY WANTED
TO PLACE MY BABY
WITH THE OTHER FAMILY.

OKAY.

YOU HAVE LEGAL
RIGHTS AS A PARENT.

THE ADOPTION AGENCY
HAD A DUTY TO SEEK
YOUR CONSENT.

THEY SHOULD HAVE
MET WITH YOU
IN PERSON,

AND DISCUSSED
YOUR OPTIONS.

SO, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
DO I GET MARY BACK?

YOU FEEL LIKE
YOU'RE READY TO
HAVE A CHILD, TODD?

OH, ABSOLUTELY.
TOTALLY, MAN.

I JUST, YOU KNOW.

YOU KNOW,
AND I KNOW I'M STILL
YOUNG AND EVERYTHING,

I'M STILL IN SCHOOL,
BUT AS LONG AS I CAN
KEEP A ROOF OVER HER HEAD

AND GIVE HER
CLOTHES AND FOOD,

SHE SHOULD BE WITH ME.

SHE'S MY BABY.

CASE NUMBER D0236.
TRALINS, YOUR HONOR.

WHO REPRESENTS THE BABY?

KATE SHAW, FROM THE
CHILDREN'S PROJECT

REPRESENTING
TASSY TRALINS.

NICHOLAS FALLIN
FROM LEGAL SERVICES
OF PITTSBURGH.

REPRESENTING
MELINDA TRALINS,
THE MOTHER.

WHERE'S YOUR CLIENT,
MR. FALLIN?

SHE'S NOT HERE YET,
YOUR HONOR.

SHE'S GETTING HIGH.

LET'S MOVE ON.

I'M HERE! I'M HERE.

THEN LET US PROCEED.

YOUR RECOMMENDATION,
MISS GREENE?

THE DEPARTMENT'S
RECOMMENDATION

IS THAT THE BABY
SHOULD BE REUNITED
WITH HER MOTHER.

MISS SHAW?

YOUR HONOR,
TASSY TRALINS

SHOULD NOT
BE RETURNED TO
HER MOTHER'S CARE.

MISS TRALINS HAS
A PROTRACTED HISTORY
OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE,

AND AN EQUALLY LONG
RECORD OF NONCOMPLIANCE
WITH REHABILITATION.

SHE HAS
COMPLETED HER REHAB,

AND RECORDS STATE
THAT SHE HAS RAISED HER BOYS

WITHOUT INCIDENT, YOUR HONOR.

SHE'S ALSO FULFILLED
THE OBLIGATIONS
OF HER PROBATION

AND COMPLETED HER
DRUG COUNSELING.

MISS TRALINS?

YEAH?

DO YOU FEEL PREPARED
TO HAVE YOUR DAUGHTER BACK?

YEAH, I DO.

MISS GREENE?

YOUR HONOR.

WHEN DID YOU LAST VISIT
MISS TRALIN'S APARTMENT?

LAST WEEK,
YOUR HONOR.

AND WHAT CONDITION
DID YOU FIND IT IN?

IT WAS SUB-STANDARD,
BUT IT WAS CERTAINLY
NOT UNLIVABLE.

AND HAS MISS TRALINS
KEPT UP HER APPOINTMENTS
WITH HER BABY?

YES, YOUR HONOR.

AND COMPLETED HER
OUTPATIENT TREATMENT PROGRAM?

UH, JUST LAST WEEK,
YOUR HONOR.

AND YOU ARE STANDING BY YOUR
RECOMMENDATION, MISS GREENE?

THE DEPARTMENT'S
RECOMMENDATION

IS THAT THE BABY
SHOULD BE REUNITED
WITH HER MOTHER.

YOUR HONOR, THE BABY
SHOULD REMAIN

IN THE CUSTODY
OF SOCIAL SERVICES.

ALLOW SUPERVISED
VISITATION UNTIL
WE CAN BE CERTAIN

THAT SHE'S NOT
GONNA GO BACK
TO HER OLD HABITS.

I WILL RETURN TASSY TRALINS
BACK INTO THE CARE
OF HER MOTHER.

THE CHILD WILL, HOWEVER,
REMAIN A DEPENDANT,

AND SOCIAL SERVICES
WILL HAVE AN ONGOING
OBLIGATION

TO MONITOR THE CHILDREN
ONCE A MONTH.

MISS TRALINS, I'M GIVING
YOU A SECOND CHANCE.

KEEP OFF THE DRUGS.

I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU
IN MY COURTROOM AGAIN.

EXCUSE ME, JUDGE DAMSEN?
A QUESTION FOR YOU.

HOW IS IT POSSIBLE
THAT A BABY BORN
ADDICTED TO CRACK

CAN BE GIVEN BACK
TO ITS MOTHER
FIVE MONTHS LATER?

ARE YOU TRYING
TO TALK TO ME ABOUT
A PENDING CASE, MISS ARCHER?

WELL, NO. I MEAN,
I'M NOT NAMING NAMES.
I'M JUST ASKING.

IF A MOTHER PASSES
HER DRUG SCREEN

AND TAKEN CARE
OF OTHER CHILDREN
WITHOUT INCIDENT.

OKAY, THAT I UNDERSTAND,
BUT STILL...
LULU.

THE STANDARD
IS HIGH,
MISS ARCHER.

IT SHOULD BE
DIFFICULT

TO REMOVE
A CHILD FROM
ITS HOME.

OKAY, WHAT IF
THE MOTHER DOES
DRUGS AGAIN?

LULU, I THINK
THAT'S ENOUGH.

I THINK THAT'S
A VALID QUESTION.

WHAT IF THE MOTHER
DOES DRUGS AGAIN?

WHEN SOMEONE PROVES THAT,

THE COURT WILL TAKE
A STRONGER STANCE.

YOU REMEMBER
THAT BABY?

ON OCTOBER 6
OF LAST YEAR,

AMY GARNER
SIGNED A DOCUMENT

GRANTING CUSTODY
TO YOUR ADOPTION AGENCY,

AND ALLOWING YOU
PERMISSION TO SEEK
ADOPTIVE PARENTS.

RIGHT.

YOU GAVE THAT BABY
TO THIS COUPLE,

DESPITE THE FACT
YOU DID NOT
HAVE PERMISSION

FROM THE BABY'S FATHER.

NO, WE HAD HIS PERMISSION.

WHAT DID HE SIGN?

WE CONTACTED HIM.
HE DIDN'T RESPOND.

THEN SHOW ME
PROOF OF SERVICE

AND MAKE
THIS CASE GO AWAY.

YOU CUT CORNERS.

YOU DIDN'T
TAKE THE BASIC STEPS
IN COVERING AN ADOPTION.

AND NOW I HAVE
A 17-YEAR-OLD BOY

WHO IS
PLANNING TO CREATE
A WORLD OF PROBLEMS.

THAT BOY
NEVER SAID HE WANTED...

I'M NOT TALKING
ABOUT THE BOY.

I'M TALKING ABOUT
THE COUPLE WHO
ADOPTED THIS CHILD,

WHO HAVE BEEN
TAKING CARE OF HER
FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS.

SEE, AND NOW
IT'S MY JOB...

TO GO IN THERE
WITH THE LAW ON MY SIDE,

AND TAKE THAT BABY AWAY.

MR. MASTERSON?
YES?

I NEED YOU TO SIGN OFF

ON THESE
HOME STUDY REPORTS.

THERE YOU GO.

DORIS, YOU GOT A SECOND?

SURE.

COME HERE.

I'M JUST CURIOUS.

ABOUT?

HOW CAN YOU BE SO CERTAIN
THAT MELINDA TRALINS

IS READY
TO HAVE HER BABY BACK?

SHE PASSED
HER DRUG SCREENS.

SHE WENT TO HER
PARENTING CLASSES.

AND WHEN YOU WENT
TO HER APARTMENT,

YOU DIDN'T SEE ANY SIGNS
OF HER USING DRUGS?

WELL, I DIDN'T ACTUALLY
GO INTO HER APARTMENT.

YOU DIDN'T?
NO.

I MEAN, I WENT
OVER THERE.
I SPOKE TO HER

IN THE HALLWAY,
BUT I DIDN'T GO IN.

WELL, WHY NOT?

I SAW A RAT.

OKAY. WELL, UH...

YEAH, I GUESS THAT
WOULD STOP ME FROM
GOING INSIDE, TOO.

I SHOULDN'T HAVE
TOLD YOU THAT.

NO. NO. WE'RE ALL
ON THE SAME TEAM, DORIS.

DON'T TELL LAURIE, OKAY?

NO. FINE.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

UH, DORIS
DIDN'T SET FOOT

IN MELINDA TRALIN'S
APARTMENT WHEN SHE
DID HER HOME VISIT.

WHAT?

SHE SAW A RAT.

IT SAYS TOWER THREE,
APARTMENT 421.

WELL, DO YOU
HAVE ANY IDEA
WHERE WE ARE?

WELL, NOTHING'S MARKED.

ARE YOU SURE
THIS IS TOWER 3?

OH, RIGHT HERE. 421.

(KNOCKS ON DOOR)

HELLO? MELINDA?

WHO ARE YOU?

HI, YOU MUST BE LAMONT.

I'M DESHAWN.

OH, SORRY, DESHAWN.
HOW YA DOIN'?

WHO ARE YOU?

MY NAME IS
LOUISA ARCHER.

I'M ONE OF
YOUR MOTHER'S
LAWYERS.

(BABY CRYING)

SHE AIN'T HERE.
SHUT UP, BABY!

DO YOU KNOW WHERE SHE IS?

THE BABY'S HERE?

YEAH.

WELL, WHERE'S
YOUR BROTHER?

LOOK, LADY.
I'M WATCHING TV.

IF YOU WANT MY MOM,
COME BACK LATER.

CAN WE JUST
WAIT A FEW MOMENTS?

IF YOU GOTTA.

WHEN'S YOUR... WHEN
DID YOUR MOM LEAVE?

I DON'T KNOW.

HI.

OH, OKAY.

OH. OH. OH. I GOT YA.

LULU?

YEAH?

ALL RIGHT, YOU JUST
STAY WITH THE KIDS.

I'M GONNA GO LOOK FOR MELINDA.

OKAY.

OKAY.

EXCUSE ME? EXCUSE ME,
I'M LOOKING FOR MELINDA
TRALINS.

MELINDA.

MELINDA?

MELINDA? MELINDA,
WAKE UP.

WHAT?
WAKE UP.

YOU LEFT YOUR BABY
IN THE APARTMENT
WITH YOUR SON.

GO AWAY.

MELINDA, YOU LEFT
YOUR BABY ALONE
IN THE APARTMENT.

GO AWAY! SHH!

GO AWAY.

Nick: WE WENT TO HER HOME,
YESTERDAY.

DID SHE ASK YOU TO?

NO, WE STOPPED BY.

WHY?

BECAUSE DORIS
NEVER BOTHERED TO CHECK OUT

THE INSIDE OF THE APARTMENT.

IS THAT TRUE, DORIS?

I SAW A RAT.

A RAT.

MMM-HMM.

WHY ARE YOU
TELLING ME THIS?

I'M AFRAID MELINDA'S
NEGLECT OF HER CHILD

COULD CAUSE BODILY HARM.

WE HAD TO LEAVE THE KIDS
WITH THE NEIGHBORS.

WE'LL GO OUT THERE.

WELL, WE'RE GONNA
COME ALONG, TOO,

IN CASE OUR CLIENT NEEDS US.

ALL RIGHT.

Judge: THIS HEARING
IS TO DETERMINE

WHETHER THE SPANNERS
HAVE A RIGHT

TO CONTEST
MR. WOOLEY'S PETITION

TO VACATE THE ADOPTION
AND TERMINATION DECREES.

REGARDLESS OF ANY
MISUNDERSTANDING

THAT MAY HAVE OCCURRED
WITH OUR AGENCY,

THE SPANNERS
HAVE GAINED IN LOCO
PARENTIS STANDING

BY SERVING AS
SUBSTITUTE PARENTS
FOR MARY,

HOUSING HER,
CLOTHING HER,

FEEDING HER,
AND LOVING HER.

SUBSTITUTE PARENT STATUS
MAY NOT BE GAINED

IN DEFIANCE OF
THE BIRTH PARENT'S
NATURAL RIGHT TO HIS CHILD.

MY CLIENT NEVER
GAVE CONSENT TO ANYONE

BEING MARY'S
SUBSTITUTE PARENT.

YOUR CLIENT MAY NOT
HAVE GIVEN HIS CONSENT,
MR. MOONEY,

BUT THE MOTHER
OF THIS CHILD DID.

I WILL AGREE
THAT THE SPANNERS

HAVE A VESTED INTEREST
IN THIS CHILD.

THE STANDARD
IS WELL ESTABLISHED,
YOUR HONOR.

IT REQUIRES BOTH
PARENTS' CONSENT
IN AN ADOPTION.

WE'LL DISCUSS THIS
IN THE HEARING, MR. MOONEY.

NEXT CASE.

SO, DO I
GET MARY BACK?

NOT TODAY. BUT THE COURT
IS TAKING YOUR CLAIM
SERIOUSLY.

UM, WELL, WHAT
DOES THAT MEAN?

IT JUST MEANS THAT
THERE'S GONNA BE
ANOTHER HEARING.

YOU GET
TO TELL YOUR SIDE.

THAT'S GREAT, JAMES, MAN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.

SERIOUSLY, I'M SO PSYCHED.
I CAN'T WAIT TO TELL
MY PARENTS. THANKS.

THIS, UH, SURGERY
YOU'RE HAVING...

YEAH?

IT'S NO BIG DEAL, RIGHT?

NO.

IS THIS THE FIRST
OPERATION YOU'VE HAD?

NO.

WELL, HOW MANY
HAVE YOU HAD?

I'VE HAD A FEW.

WHAT, SEVERAL?

NOW, WHAT IT IS IS SOMETHING
WITH THE OPTIC NERVE,

LIKE GLAUCOMA,
OR CATARACTS,

OR SOMETHING
OF THAT SORT,
BUT, UH...

YOU'RE NOT AT RISK?

UH-UH. I DON'T THINK SO.

IN FACT, THIS NEW THING
IS SUPPOSED TO

MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE
IN THE WORLD.

OKAY.

TOMORROW MORNING,
9:00 A.M. AT THE EYE CLINIC.

OH, NICHOLAS, LET'S, UH...

I'D APPRECIATE IT
IF WE JUST KEEP THIS

BETWEEN THE TWO OF US,
ALL RIGHT?

MISS TRALINS?

MISS TRALINS?

HI, MISS GREENE.

HI, MELINDA.
THIS IS MY BOSS,

AND WE'RE JUST HERE
TO SEE HOW YOU'RE DOIN'.

I'M FINE.

I'M LAURIE.
MAY WE COME IN?

OF COURSE.

LAMONT, DESHAWN, SAY HELLO
TO MISS GREENE AND MISS...

SOLT.

HOW'S TASSY?

SHE'S SLEEPING
IN THE BEDROOM.

MAY I TAKE
A LOOK?

WELL, SHE'S A LIGHT SLEEPER.

I'LL JUST PEEK.

YOU KNOW, YOU WANT,
YOU CAN WAIT UNTIL
SHE WAKES UP.

BUT SHE ONLY FELL ASLEEP
A MINUTE AGO.

MAMA, CAN WE GO GET
A HAMBURGER?

JUST A MINUTE.

WE'RE HUNGRY.

WELL,
GOOD LUCK, MELINDA.

WE'LL SEE YOU SOON.

I'LL CATCH UP.

WE BOTH KNOW
WHAT HAPPENED.

YEAH. AND IT
WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN.

MAMA,
I'M HUNGRY.

YOU THINK
I GOT MONEY TO GO
TO McDONALD'S, BOY?

GET YOUR BOYS
SOME FOOD.

IT WAS DIFFERENT
YESTERDAY.

I'M NOT SAYING
I DON'T BELIEVE YOU,
MISS ARCHER.

WELL, ARE YOU GONNA
REMOVE THOSE KIDS, OR...

BASED ON WHAT
WE JUST SAW?
NO, I'M NOT.

NOW WHERE'S SHE GOING?

SHE'S GONNA SPEND 40 BUCKS.

MELINDA.

MELINDA.

THEY'RE NOT
TAKIN' MY BABIES
AWAY FROM ME!

MELINDA, JUST OPEN UP.

OPEN THE DOOR!
NO!

JUST OPEN IT!

NO!

SHE'S LOCKED
HERSELF INSIDE.

MELINDA?

MELINDA? OPEN UP.
IT'S DORIS.

I DON'T CARE
WHO IT IS!

GET AWAY
FROM HERE!

DORIS, ALL WE CAN
DO NOW IS CALL
AND GET A COURT ORDER.

(DOOR BEING LOCKED)

MAMA SAYS
NOT TO COME IN THERE.

MAMA SAYS SHE'S GOT A GUN.

SHE'S GONNA KILL TASSY
AND HERSELF.

THAT'S WHAT MAMA SAYS.

MISS TRALINS.

IT'S NICHOLAS FALLIN,
YOUR ATTORNEY.

MISS TRALINS.

MISS TRALINS,
CAN YOU HEAR ME?

NO ONE WANTS ANY TROUBLE.

IF YOU COME OUT,
WE CAN JUST
TALK THIS THROUGH.

YEAH, RIGHT!
YOU THE ONE THAT
GOT ME INTO THIS!

SO YOU BETTER
TAKE YOURSELF

AND ALL THEM
GOVERNMENT PEOPLE
WITH YOU,

OR I'M GETTIN'
MY GUN. I'M NOT
PLAYIN' WITH YOU.

HEY, KID. DOES
YOUR MOM HAVE A GUN?

YES.

ALL RIGHT, EVERYONE.
WE NEED TO CLEAR
THE PREMISES.

THIS IS
A HOSTAGE SITUATION...

IT'S NOT A HOSTAGE,
IT'S HER CHILD.

THERE'S A CHILD,
A WEAPON, AND AN
UNCOOPERATIVE SUBJECT

IN CONTROL
OF THE PREMISES.

NOW, DOES SHE
TRUST ANY OF YOU?

UH, I'M HER SOCIAL WORKER.

OKAY, YOU STAY.

IF DORIS STAYS,
I STAY, TOO.

ALL RIGHT,
THE REST OF YOU

LEAVE A NUMBER
WHERE YOU CAN
BE CONTACTED,

AND THEN PLEASE,
CLEAR THE FLOOR.

OKAY, LET'S GO.
LET'S GO.

WHERE ARE WE GOING?
WE'RE GONNA TAKE YOU
TO OUR OFFICE.

I THOUGHT WE WERE GONNA
GO TO McDONALD'S?

WHEREVER YOU WANNA GO,
WE'LL GO.

OFFICER?
MY NAME'S COREY LEE.

I'M A HOSTAGE
NEGOTIATOR.

I'LL BE TAKING OVER
FROM HERE.
OKAY.

WHO'S THE ONE
WITH THE PERSONAL
RELATIONSHIP

WITH THE WOMAN IN THERE?

UM...
YOUR NAME?

DORIS GREENE.

MISS GREENE.
WOULD YOU BE WILLING

TO SPEAK WITH
MISS TRALINS
ON THE PHONE?

YEAH.

WE JUST
WANT HER TALKING.

KEEP HER THINKING
ABOUT HERSELF,
HER LIFE, HER FAMILY.

IF IT BECOMES
UNCOMFORTABLE,

YOU CAN HAND THESE
BACK TO ME.

DO YOU THINK
YOU CAN DO THIS?
MMM-HMM.

THIS IS A DIRECT LINE.
I'M GONNA BE
LISTENING IN.

IF I THINK YOU'RE
GETTING INTO A SITUATION

WHERE THIS
COULD ESCALATE,

I'M GOING
TO CUT YOU OFF.

(PHONE RINGING)

MELINDA?

HI, IT'S
DORIS GREENE.

Melinda: WHY DON'T
YOU PEOPLE GO HOME
AND LEAVE ME ALONE?

MELINDA, WE'RE VERY
WORRIED ABOUT YOU,

AND WE'RE WORRIED
ABOUT TASSY.

YOU CALL THE POLICE?

YES, I DID.

BITCH.

MELINDA, PLEASE
DON'T SAY THAT.

WHAT? BITCH?

YES.

WELL, YOU ARE.
YOU'RE A WHITE BITCH.

(DIAL TONE SOUNDS)

ARE YOU OK?

OH, YEAH.

YOU KNOW, I THINK
THAT YOU SHOULD SEE

IF THERE'S ANY RELATIVES
WE CAN PUT THEM WITH,

AND I'M GONNA CALL OVER
TO SOCIAL SERVICES

AND SEE IF THEY
HAVE ANY BEDS
AT THE SHELTER TONIGHT.

THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.

I GOTTA USE
THE BATHROOM.

THAT'S YOURS.

RIGHT. COME ON, HON.
I'LL TAKE YOU.

I'LL TAKE CARE OF THIS.

SHE YOUR WIFE?

NO.

ALL THE WHITE PEOPLE
ON TV ARE MARRIED.

NOT ALL OF THEM.

ALL THE OLD PEOPLE.

OKAY, WATCH IT.

YOU THINK SHE'S
PRETTY, THOUGH.

WHY DON'T WE TALK
ABOUT YOU, DESHAWN?

DO YOU HAVE ANY RELATIVES
I CAN CALL?

YOU THINK SHE'S PRETTY.
I CAN TELL.

THAT'S WHY
YOU CHANGE THE SUBJECT.

DESHAWN, I NEED
TO PUT YOU WITH A RELATIVE.

CAN I CALL YOUR FATHER?

NO.

DO YOU KNOW WHERE HE IS?

MAMA SAYS
HE'S IN CALIFORNIA.

BUT HE'S REALLY
SOME GUY WHO
PAID HER FOR...

OKAY. UM,
WHAT ABOUT GRANDPARENTS?

AUNTS OR UNCLES?

YOU GOT A TV?

DESHAWN, YOU HAVE TO STAY
SOMEWHERE TONIGHT.

IF YOU DON'T GIVE ME
THE NAME OF A RELATIVE,

IT'S GONNA BE IN A SHELTER.

(SIGHS)
I GOT A UNCLE HARPER.

AND A AUNT, BUT WHO
AIN'T REALLY MY AUNT.

MARTINELLA.
SHE DOES MY MOM'S HAIR.

OKAY. DO YOU KNOW HOW I CAN
GET IN CONTACT WITH THEM?

NOPE.

OKAY.

SO, NO LUCK. I JUST
CALLED SOCIAL SERVICES,

AND THEY DON'T HAVE
ANY BEDS UNTIL TOMORROW.

OH, GREAT. OKAY.
SO, WE GOT 'EM FOR THE NIGHT.

YEAH. TILL
TOMORROW MORNING.

HE THINKS
YOU'RE PRETTY.

I'M GONNA GO
LOOK FOR SOME BLANKETS.

ARE YOU READY
TO TRY IT AGAIN?

MMM-HMM.

(PHONE RINGING)

WHAT DO YOU WANT?

IT'S JUST TASSY.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT SHE'S OKAY.

SHE'S OKAY.
I TELL YOU THAT ALREADY.

MELINDA, IT WOULD
MEAN A LOT TO ME

IF I COULD JUST
SAY HI TO TASSY.

I WOULD LIKE TO JUST
COME IN THERE AND SAY HI.

(HANGS UP PHONE)

IT IS OUR JOB
TO REPRESENT HER.

I KNOW WHAT MY JOB IS,
BUT STILL...

NO. NO. IT IS OUR JOB.

IT IS OUR
RESPONSIBILITY.

YOU CAN'T WALK
INTO THE COURT

AND ANNOUNCE
THAT, YOU KNOW,

YOU SUSPECT
THAT YOUR CLIENT
IS USING DRUGS.

OKAY, YOU KNOW,
MAYBE YOU'RE RIGHT.

BUT MAYBE BECAUSE
YOU DON'T REALLY
WANT TO DO THIS,

YOU'RE ABLE TO
REMOVE YOURSELF AND HAVE
THIS KIND OF OBJECTIVITY,

BECAUSE I'M HAVING
A TOUGH TIME HERE.

YOU KNOW,
I ACTUALLY DO WISH

THAT I COULD
BE LIKE YOU SOMETIMES.

LIKE ME?

YEAH, YOU KNOW.
THEY WAY YOU ARE.
JUST AUTOMATIC.

THAT'S HOW
YOU THINK I AM?

THAT'S HOW
I KNOW YOU ARE.

I'VE BEEN AROUND YOU
LONG ENOUGH.

YOU'RE TEFLON MAN.

SEE? THIS IS EXACTLY
WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

NOW, I JUST INSULTED YOU,
AND YOU JUST SHRUG.

YOU SORT OF MOVE THROUGH SPACE
AND NOTHING TOUCHES YOU.

I CAN'T DO THAT.
I'M JUST NOT THAT WAY.

I GET VERY
ATTACHED TO THINGS, AND...

AND EVERYTHING
BREAKS MY HEART.

I'M ALWAYS PICKING UP
STRAY ANIMALS,

AND... AND PEOPLE
AND THINGS.

AND YOU SHOULD
SEE MY HOUSE.

MY HOUSE IS FILLED
WITH CRAP THAT I'VE HAD
SINCE GRADE SCHOOL.

AND I'LL BET THAT
YOUR HOUSE IS SPOTLESS.

HMM?

I MEAN, IF YOU
EVEN HAVE A HOUSE.

IF YOU EVEN SLEEP.

WHY ARE YOU
SO ANGRY WITH ME?

I'M NOT ANGRY.

I HAVE A HOUSE, OKAY?

I HAVE A HOME.

AND I KEEP THINGS.

AND I CARE ABOUT PEOPLE.

WHO?

WHAT HAVE I DONE TO YOU?

IF... IF YOU'RE UNHAPPY
WITH YOUR CHOICES,

THEN THAT IS
YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.

NO, I'M ACTUALLY
VERY INTERESTED.

WHO IS IT
THAT YOU CARE ABOUT?

YOU KNOW, I, UH...

YOU DON'T KNOW ME.

YOU DON'T KNOW WHO I AM.

I CAN'T SEE THE PEOPLE
AT THE MOMENT...

WHAT WHY... WHY NOT?

'CAUSE MY LIFE
HAS CHANGED.

I HAVE TENDENCIES
THAT I NEED TO CONTROL.

YOU STILL HAVEN'T
ANSWERED MY QUESTION.

I'M NOT GOING TO.

OKAY.

THESE TWO ARE REALLY
SWEET, HUH?

YEAH.

THEIR WHOLE LIFE
IS JUST...

WHAT?

IT SUCKS. THEIR MOTHER SUCKS.
THEY LIVE IN A HELLHOLE.

PROBABLY NOT GONNA
FINISH SCHOOL.

YOU DON'T KNOW THAT.

CHANCES AREN'T GREAT.

NO.

BUT TONIGHT,
THEY'RE WITH US.

I MEAN, IT'S KINDA LIKE
THEY BELONG TO US.

THEY DO BELONG TO US.

THEY'RE OUR
RESPONSIBILITY.

YEAH.

THERE IT IS.

THAT'S IT.

THAT'S WHY
YOU DO THIS.

YEAH.

I GUESS.

NO, WAIT.
JUST BE QUIET FOR A MINUTE.

NO.
REALLY. I WANT TO
TELL YOU SOMETHING.

I HAVE A BOYFRIEND.
HIS NAME IS BRIAN,

AND, UM, HE WAS MY
BEST FRIEND IN COLLEGE

AND WE'VE BEEN DATING
SINCE WE GRADUATED.
HE'S A GREAT GUY.

I REALLY LOVE HIM.

YOU KNOW, MY PARENTS
ARE ALREADY CALLING HIM

THEIR SON-IN-LAW
AND ALL THAT.

YEAH.

BRIAN DOESN'T LOOK AT ME
THE WAY YOU LOOK AT ME.

I'M GONNA
GET SOME SLEEP.

(DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES)

MARK, THIS IS LEE.

THE SUBJECT HAS
BROKEN OFF DIALOGUE

AND IS BRANDISHING
A WEAPON.

DO YOU HAVE A CLEAR
SIGHT LINE?

Mark: ROGER THAT'S
AFFIRMATIVE.

OKAY, I WANT YOU READY
TO DE-ESCALATE.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

LADIES,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR YOUR HELP.

OFFICER STIMPSON,
WOULD YOU PLEASE
SHOW THEM OUT?

WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO?

YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO
LEAVE THE PREMISES,
MA'AM.

I'M NOT LEAVING.

MELINDA, PICK UP
THE PHONE.

MELINDA, PLEASE
PICK UP THE PHONE.

LULU, LULU!

DESHAWN IS
MISSING. DESHAWN!

Laurie: MISS TRALINS!

MELINDA,
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
PICK UP THE PHONE!

MELINDA, FOR GOD SAKES,
PICK UP THE PHONE!

MOMMY, MOMMY! DON'T
SHOOT MY MOMMY!

DON'T YOU HURT
THAT KID!

YOUR SON IS HERE.
LAMONT LOVES YOU,

DESHAWN LOVES YOU,
TASSY LOVES YOU.

YOU JUST COME
TO THE PHONE!

MELINDA,
FOR GOD SAKES!

PLEASE, MELINDA,
PLEASE PICK UP
THE PHONE!

GET DOWN, GET DOWN,
GET DOWN!

Melinda: AAH!
LET ME GO!

LET ME GO!

NO, PLEASE
LEAVE US ALONE!

NO! GET OFF OF ME!

LAURIE, WE...

Laurie:
THE BABY'S DEAD.

SHE'S COLD.

DID THEY SHOOT
MY MAMA?

NO, OF COURSE NOT.

BUT THAT BABY'S
DEAD, RIGHT?

YES.

I DIDN'T KILL
THAT BABY,

IF THAT'S WHAT
MY MAMA SAYS,

I DIDN'T KILL IT.

WHAT?
LAMONT.

LAMONT... DO YOU
KNOW WHAT HAPPENED?

YOU CAN TELL ME,
YOU KNOW.

THE BABY WAS
CRYING SO LONG

WHEN MY MAMA
WAS AWAY.

THE BABY WAS
REAL HUNGRY.

WE LOOKED AROUND,

COULDN'T FIND
NOTHING TO FEED IT,

SO I GAVE IT
A JAW BREAKER.

A JAW BREAKER?

A JAW BREAKER I GOT
FROM HALLOWEEN.

I GAVE ONE TO THAT
BABY FOR IT TO EAT.

AND YOU PUT IT
IN THE BABY'S MOUTH?

THE BABY SUCKED ON
IT FOR A LONG TIME,

THEN GOT QUIET.

WHEN MY MAMA COMES
HOME, SHE WALKS IN

REAL TIRED, GOES TO
CHECK ON THE BABY,

WHEN SHE COMES OUT,

SHE HITS ME
IN THE HEAD,

TELLS ME I HURT IT.

THEN SHE GOES
OUT AGAIN.

SHE'S SUPPOSED TO
FEED IT, NOT ME.

WHAT'S GONNA
HAPPEN NOW?

SOCIAL SERVICES
WILL, UH,

FIND YOU A PLACE
TO LIVE FOR A WHILE.

THEY'LL KEEP US
TOGETHER, RIGHT?

YEAH. I'LL MAKE SURE.

OH, MY GOD!

OH, MY GOD!

NICK, I JUST,
I DON'T... I DON'T...

I DON'T THINK I CAN
DO THIS ANYMORE.

IF I CAN DO THIS,
YOU CAN DO THIS.

YOU HAVE TO DO IT.
YOU HAVE TO DO THIS.

IT'S DIFFERENT FOR ME.
I'M HERE BY CHOICE.

Alicia: DR. SPANNER,
HOW LONG HAS MARY
BEEN WITH YOU?

WE ADOPTED HER
SIX MONTHS AGO.

THESE ARE THE FORMS
AND DOCUMENTS

THAT PROVE A LEGAL
ADOPTION TOOK PLACE

SIX MONTHS AGO.

DID THE BIOLOGICAL
FATHER OF YOUR DAUGHTER

EVER PRESENT
HIMSELF TO YOU

DURING THE ADOPTION
PROCEEDINGS?

NO. IN FACT, WE ONLY
JUST MET THIS WEEK.

DO YOU KNOW WHO
RENDERS FINANCIAL
SUPPORT FOR MARY?

James: OBJECTION,
YOUR HONOR.

DR. SPANNER'S
FINANCIAL
RELATIONSHIP

TO MARY HAS
NOTHING TO DO

WITH THE LEGAL
DETERMINATION
OF THIS CASE.

HIS ABILITY TO CARE
FOR MARY

IS THE MOST IMPORTANT
ASPECT OF THIS CASE.

NO, THE ONLY THING
THAT MATTERS

IS WHETHER TODD HAD
ADEQUATE NOTICE,

AND IF HE GAVE
HIS CONSENT
TO THIS ADOPTION.

SUSTAINED.

DR. SPANNER,
DO YOU SPEND
MUCH TIME WITH MARY?

OBJECTION!
YOUR HONOR, RELEVANCE.

OVERRULED.

YOU MAY ANSWER
THE QUESTION,
DR. SPANNER.

WE SPEND ALL OF
OUR TIME WITH HER.

I'VE EVEN CUT BACK
ON MY WORK HOURS.

EVERY NIGHT,
WE... WE FEED HER,

WE SLEEP CLOSE TO HER,

WE WAKE UP WITH HER,

WE BURP HER
AND BATHE HER,

WALK WITH HER.

HOW DO YOU
REFER TO MARY

WHEN YOU SPEAK
TO HER OR OF HER?

I REFER TO HER
AS MY DAUGHTER.

NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.

DR. SPANNER, DID YOU
KNOW THAT...

THE CHILD'S
FATHER DID NOT
GIVE PERMISSION

TO HOPE HOUSE
TO GIVE MARY UP
FOR ADOPTION?

NO.

IF YOU HAD BEEN AWARE
THAT MY CLIENT

DID NOT WANT TO
GIVE HIS CHILD UP,

WOULD YOU
HAVE CONTINUED

WITH THE ADOPTION
PROCEEDINGS?

NO.

NO FURTHER
QUESTIONS.

DAMN IT.

EXCUSE ME.

DAD.

YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN
SITTING HERE

MORE THAN AN HOUR.

YEAH, I, UH...
THERE WAS A SITUATION.

I GOT... I GOT HELD UP.

MMM.

JUST TAKE ME
BACK TO THE...
TO MY OFFICE.

WELL, SHOULDN'T YOU
BE GOING HOME?

NO, JUST TAKE ME
TO THE OFFICE.

OKAY.

CAN'T SEE
A DAMN THING.

HERE. HOW DID
THE PROCEDURE GO?

(SIGHS)

I DON'T, UM...

I DON'T LIKE
ASKING YOU TO DO
THINGS FOR ME.

SO, UH, DID
THE OPERATION WORK?

I DON'T KNOW.

WATCH YOUR STEP.
NO, I GOT IT.

HERE.

I'M ALL RIGHT.

EVERY TIME
I COME OUT HERE,

THEY TELL ME THEY'RE
DOING SOMETHING

TO STOP
WHATEVER IT IS

HAPPENING
TO MY EYES, BUT I...

I CAN'T TELL
ANY DIFFERENCE.

JUST WATCH IT.

(EXHALES DEEPLY)

WHAT AM I GONNA DO
IF I CAN'T SEE?

MIND YOUR HEAD,
MIND YOUR HEAD.

WHAT THE HELL
AM I GONNA DO?

MR. WOOLEY, IF I WERE
TO GRANT CUSTODY

OF MARY TO YOU NOW,

I WOULD NOT BE CONVINCED
THAT YOU WOULD REMAIN

FAITHFUL
TO YOUR DECISION

TO HAVE HER
AS YOUR CHILD

SINCE YOU WERE
NOT FAITHFUL

TO YOUR
ORIGINAL DECISION

TO STEP BACK
FROM YOUR PARENTAL DUTIES.

BUT, YOU HONOR...

MARY SPANNER WILL REMAIN
IN THE CUSTODY
OF THE SPANNERS.

IT WILL BE UP
TO THE SPANNERS

TO DECIDE WHAT TYPE
OF RELATIONSHIP, IF ANY,

MR. WOOLEY HAS
TO THE CHILD.

JUST... JUST
GIVE ME A MINUTE.

JUDGE DAMSEN.

MAY I HAVE A WORD?

WHAT IS IT?

UH, WE SPOKE
WITH MELINDA
TRALINS' BOYS.

THE YOUNGER ONE
ADMITTED

TO GIVING THE CHILD

A PIECE
OF HARD CANDY

WHEN MELINDA
WAS AWAY.

THE CHILD
CHOKED TO DEATH?

IT'LL BE REVEALED
IN TOMORROW'S
AUTOPSY REPORT.

I JUST... WANTED
YOU TO KNOW NOW.

WHY?

WELL, I GUESS, UH...

I JUST THOUGHT THAT
YOU SHOULD KNOW.

IN EVERY CASE, I HOPE
I MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION.

I UNDERSTAND.

MELINDA TRALINS MAY NOT
HAVE KILLED THAT BABY

WITH HER OWN HANDS,

BUT HER NEGLECT CREATED
THE CIRCUMSTANCES,

AND I GAVE HER
THAT OPPORTUNITY
FOR THE NEGLECT.

I DID THAT...

AND NOW THAT CHILD
IS DEAD.

THAT CHILD IS DEAD.

(DOOR CLOSES)