The Guardian (2001–2004): Season 1, Episode 17 - The Divide - full transcript
Nick takes the case of genius schoolboy Matthew Damira, who opposes being adopted by former social worker Suzanne Diamond because she backed down on the promise to adopt his big, handicapped-but-inseparable brother Justin. After losing the first ruling, he challenges the parental waiver signed by their cognitively-challenged mother. Jake learns from his mother that father Ed Straka, whom she suspects of gambling on the tracks again, is in major debt, likely to get their house foreclosed upon. Having failed to bluff loan-shark Mike Fritas or get a pay advance from Burton, Jake resorts to passing on insider stock information, but the SCE finds out. Desperately out of place in addicts group therapy, Nick accepts Alvin as alternative sponsor.
I SOMETIMES
STILL FIND MYSELF
DRIVING LATE AT NIGHT
BACK TO THAT AREA OF TOWN.
I'M IN MY CAR.
YOU KNOW?
AND THE ADRENALINE
STARTS TO PUMP,
AND I'M ON AUTO PILOT.
READY TO TURN
INTO THE PARKING LOT
WHERE I KNOW
I CAN SCORE.
ONLY DIFFERENCE IS,
THESE DAYS,
I DON'T TAKE
THAT FINAL TURN.
I PICK UP MY PHONE
AND CALL MY SPONSOR, TOM.
AND WE MEET FOR COFFEE
OR I COME HERE
AND TELL YOU.
IT'S BEING IN IT
WITH YOU GUYS,
NOT BEING ALONE.
THAT'S WHAT GETS ME
THROUGH IT.
THANKS, HANK.
WE'RE GONNA HEAR
FROM SOMEONE WHO HASN'T
STOOD BEFORE US YET.
SO, REMEMBER HOW IT FELT
THE FIRST TIME YOU
ADDRESSED THE GROUP
AND GIVE HIM YOUR
ATTENTION AND SUPPORT.
NICK.
HI, I'M NICK.
Group: HI, NICK.
HI.
UH, I HAVE TO BE HERE.
EXCUSE ME.
IS THIS PHIL'S
MEETING AT 12:30?
THANKS.
Nick: I GOT BUSTED
WITH 10 GRAMS OF COCAINE
IN MY APARTMENT
ABOUT A YEAR AGO.
IT WAS A PARTY,
SO, UH...
I HAVE TO BE HERE.
AND PHIL JUST THOUGHT
IT WAS TIME THAT I, UH,
STOOD UP AND TALKED
ABOUT IT.
SO...
A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO
I SCORED A COUPLE OF GRAMS
AND I SORT OF BINGED.
BUT I HAVEN'T SINCE.
AND I WON'T AGAIN.
AND...AND...
THANKS. THANKS, PHIL.
I NEED TO SPEAK
TO BARBARA.
Barbara: LEGAL SERVICES
OF PITTSBURGH.
UH, HE'S OUT
OF THE OFFICE.
CAN I TRANSFER YOU
TO HIS VOICE MAIL?
ALL RIGHT.
MAY I HELP YOU?
UM, I CALLED YESTERDAY.
I BELIEVE WE SPOKE.
YOU'RE BARBARA?
YES.
WELL, MY HUSBAND
HAS THIS SUPPLY
AND REPAIR COMPANY
AND HE TOOK OUT A LOAN
FROM THIS GUY--
YOUR HUSBAND OWNS
HIS OWN BUSINESS?
YEAH.
I'M SORRY.
WE ONLY TAKE CASES
FOR PEOPLE WHO CAN'T PAY
FOR LEGAL REPRESENTATION.
OH, WELL, I WOULD
GLADLY PAY FOR
WHATEVER I CAN.
NO, NO.
YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND.
WE DON'T TAKE PAYMENT.
SORRY TO HAVE
TROUBLED YOU.
IT'S NO PROBLEM.
OH, THANKS.
I'M GONNA
LOSE MY HOUSE.
THE ONLY THING
I HAVE IS THAT HOUSE.
UH, MRS., UH...
STRAKA.
UH, MAUREEN STRAKA.
IS--IS YOUR SON'S
NAME JAKE?
YOU KNOW HIM?
MRS. STRAKA,
WHY DON'T YOU--
YEAH. YOU JUST TELL
THOSE BASTARDS
TO HURRY IT,
'CAUSE IT'S WORTH
A QUARTER MILLION. OK?
THOSE KIDS
ARE WAITING FOR YOU.
PICK YOUR CARD.
ARE YOU MR. FALLIN?
YES.
MY NAME
IS MATTHEW DAMIRA.
THIS IS MY BROTHER
JUSTIN.
HI, JUSTIN.
SHAKE HIS HAND,
JUSTIN.
LOUISA ARCHER
IS MY ATTORNEY.
OK, WELL,
YOU SHOULD PROBABLY
BE SPEAKING WITH HER.
JUST GIVE ME A MINUTE.
MY MOTHER HAS
SOME PROBLEMS.
WE HAVEN'T BEEN
LIVING WITH HER
FOR SOME TIME NOW.
WE'VE BEEN WITH
THE FAMILY OF OUR
FORMER SOCIAL WORKER,
A WOMAN NAMED
SUZANNE DIAMOND.
OK.
SHE AND HER HUSBAND.
HE'S A RADIOLOGIST.
THEY SAID
THEY WANTED TO
ADOPT US BOTH.
SO, SOCIAL SERVICES
WENT TO SEE MY MOM
AND HAD HER SIGN THIS.
ADOPTION CONSENT FORM.
RIGHT. IT'S FOR
BOTH OF US.
YEAH.
BUT OUR FOSTER PARENTS,
THE DIAMONDS,
THEY DECIDED, AFTER
MY MOM SIGNED THE FORM,
THEY DECIDED
THEY DIDN'T WANT TO
ADOPT JUSTIN ANYMORE.
THEY ONLY WANT
TO ADOPT ME.
AND LOUISA ARCHER
IS AGREEING WITH THEM.
WELL, UH...
WHAT DO YOU WANT
TO DO, JUSTIN?
UNH!
I--I CAN'T...
I CAN'T...I...
JUSTIN FELL DOWN
THE STAIRS 3 YEARS AGO.
HE'S GOT BRAIN DAMAGE,
WHICH CAUSED
HIS DYSARTHRIA.
HIS--HIS WHAT?
IT'S A MEDICAL CONDITION,
CAUSED BY FRONTAL LOBE
DAMAGE.
IT AFFECTS HIS SPEECH.
ANYWAY, HE NEEDS ME
TO HELP TAKE CARE OF HIM.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE.
THE ADOPTION PROCEEDING
IS TOMORROW,
AND WE NEED YOUR HELP.
Judge:
I AM SENTENCING YOU
TO 1,500 HOURS
OF COMMUNITY SERVICE,
USING YOUR SKILLS
AS A CORPORATE ATTORNEY
TO WORK
AS A CHILD ADVOCATE.
GOOD MORNING.
GOOD MORNING.
[KNOCKS ON DOOR]
MATTHEW AND JUSTIN DAMIRA
CAME TO SEE ME.
TO SEE YOU?
YES, JUST--
THEY JUST LEFT.
I WAS ASSIGNED
THEIR CASE LAST WEEK.
WHY WOULD THEY
COME TO SEE YOU?
MAYBE THEY
DON'T LIKE YOU.
WHAT'S GOING ON
WITH THEM?
THEY'VE BEEN
IN AND OUT OF THE SYSTEM
FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
MATTHEW SEEMS
PRETTY SMART.
SMART? HE HAS 147 IQ.
AND, YOU KNOW WHAT?
YOU REALLY SHOULD HAVE
SENT MATTHEW IN HERE.
WELL, THEY DON'T WANT
TO BE SEPARATED.
I KNOW THAT,
BUT MATTHEW'S POTENTIAL
ADOPTIVE PARENTS
HAVE SECURED
A PLACE FOR HIM
AT THE GARBRECHT SCHOOL
IN CHICAGO.
IT IS THE PREEMINENT SCHOOL
FOR GIFTED CHILDREN
IN THE NATION.
IT'S--IT'S IT.
IT'S A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME
OPPORTUNITY FOR HIM.
MATTHEW SAID SOMETHING
ABOUT HIS FORMER
SOCIAL SERVICES
WORKER ADOPTING HIM.
MMM-HMM.
SUZANNE DIAMOND.
SHE WORKED WITH HIM
FOR ALMOST 6 YEARS.
SOCIAL SERVICES DOESN'T
SEE THAT AS A CONFLICT?
NO. NO, THEY'RE RECOMMENDING
THAT MATTHEW GO
WITH THE DIAMONDS
AND THAT JUSTIN BE PLACED
IN THE GROUP SHELTER.
HEY--
[KNOCK ON DOOR]
LOUISA, CONGRATULATIONS.
I JUST HEARD THE GOOD NEWS.
OH. THANKS.
THANKS, ALVIN.
DID YOU HEAR?
HEAR WHAT?
I'M GETTING MARRIED.
MOM?
HEY, JAKEY.
HI.
HI.
BARBARA.
HEY.
WHAT'S--
WHAT'S GOING ON?
MOM?
YOUR MOTHER CAME OVER
TO LEGAL SERVICES
LOOKING FOR A LAWYER.
I JUST DIDN'T
WANT TO BOTHER YOU.
I'M JUST GONNA
SIT OVER HERE.
SO, ARE YOU AND DAD
GETTING A DIVORCE?
WHAT?
NO, ARE YOU KIDDING?
WHERE WOULD I GO
AT MY AGE?
WHAT'S GOING ON?
WELL, I WAS GOING
THROUGH SOME PAPERWORK,
AND I CAME ACROSS
THIS LETTER FROM THIS GUY
THAT LOANED YOUR FATHER
SOME MONEY,
AND IT LOOKS TO ME
LIKE THEY'RE THREATENING
TO TAKE OUR HOUSE.
I COULD GO FIND
A LAWYER THAT DOES
THIS KIND OF WORK.
MA, I DO THIS KIND OF WORK.
YEAH, I KNOW.
BUT, YOU KNOW,
SOMEONE NOT SO BUSY
OR EXPENSIVE.
MA, PLEASE.
IS HE GAMBLING AGAIN?
HE NEVER STOPPED.
OK, I'M GONNA
TALK TO HIM.
NO! NO, NO.
JAKEY, YOU CAN'T LET HIM
KNOW THAT I DID THIS.
HE'S A VERY PRIVATE MAN.
HE WOULD BE
SO EMBARRASSED
IF HE KNEW THAT YOU
AND YOUR FRIEND
KNEW ABOUT THIS.
I WILL TAKE CARE OF IT.
OK, MOM?
I JUST DON'T WANT
TO LOSE OUR HOUSE.
MA...YOU WON'T.
YOU PROMISE?
BARBARA, THANKS.
JUST COME ON
IN MY OFFICE. OK?
THANKS FOR COMING BY.
JUST PLEASE TAKE A SEAT,
MRS. DIAMOND.
OH, I'M SORRY.
SO, WHEN DID YOU LEAVE
SOCIAL SERVICES?
WHEN MY HUSBAND
ACCEPTED A JOB
AT THE UNIVERSITY
OF CHICAGO.
OH, THAT'S GOOD.
THAT'S GOOD.
AHEM. SO, CAN YOU
EXPLAIN TO ME
HOW YOU ENDED UP
ADOPTING A CHILD
FROM THE FAMILY
WHO YOU ONCE
REPRESENTED?
MATTHEW AND I
BONDED OVER THE YEARS.
HIS MOTHER, MARTHA,
IS SLIGHTLY CHALLENGED.
RETARDED.
YES.
AND WHEN
I FIRST MET HIM,
HE WAS STARVING
FOR STIMULATION.
THIS WAS BEFORE
JUSTIN'S INJURY.
DID YOU BOND
WITH JUSTIN AS WELL?
OH, OF COURSE.
BUT IN A DIFFERENT WAY.
BEFORE HIS INJURY,
JUSTIN WAS A TOUGH KID.
VERY PHYSICAL, ATHLETIC.
UM, WHY AREN'T YOU
ADOPTING JUSTIN AS WELL?
IT DIDN'T WORK OUT WITH
OUR DAUGHTER HANNAH.
JUSTIN'S A SWEET KID,
BUT HE HAS A HARD TIME
EDITING HIMSELF...
CONTROLLING HIMSELF.
HE FOLLOWS HANNAH
AROUND, STARES AT HER,
WALKS IN ON HER
IN THE BATHROOM.
SHE'S VERY UNCOMFORTABLE
WITH HIM.
OK.
THANK YOU, MRS. DIAMOND.
SHE'S CHERRY PICKING
THE SMART KID.
IT'S A LITTLE MORE
COMPLICATED THAN THAT.
YEAH, YOU'RE RIGHT.
SHE'S CHERRY PICKING
THE SMART KID
AND SHE'S DUMPING
THE BRAIN DAMAGED BROTHER.
SHE'S ALSO
OFFERING MATTHEW
A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME
SITUATION.
WHERE'S YOUR RING?
UM...
IT'S KIND OF BIG,
SO, YOU KNOW,
I USUALLY--
WHERE ARE YOU
GETTING MARRIED?
UH, I--BRIAN'S PARENTS'
COUNTRY CLUB.
OH, REALLY?
THAT'S NICE.
REALLY?
YOU'RE NOT REALLY
INTERESTED IN THIS--
NO, I AM.
NO, YOU'RE NOT.
SO, THE BROTHERS
WANT TO STAY TOGETHER.
NICK, THIS WHOLE THING,
IT'S A SIMPLE
BEST-INTEREST CASE.
FOR WHO?
THE DIAMONDS?
NO, FOR MATTHEW
AND JUSTIN.
I'M GONNA SUPPORT
JUSTIN'S WISHES.
WHY?
WHY? IT ISN'T FAIR.
HEY, MA.
HEY, LOOK
WHO'S HERE.
HI.
[LOUD SMOOCH]
HOW ARE YOU?
WHAT ARE YOU
DOING HERE?
IT'S THE MIDDLE
OF THE WORK DAY.
HI, DAD.
YOU DIDN'T GET FIRED,
DID YOU?
UM, MA,
WOULD YOU EXCUSE
US FOR A SECOND?
OH, SURE.
WHAT IS IT?
MA WAS SO WORRIED
SHE WENT LOOKING
FOR A LAWYER.
THIS IS MY PERSONAL
BUSINESS.
YOU WANT TO TELL ME
WHAT'S GOING ON?
JUST A FEW
COLLECTION PROBLEMS.
SO, WHAT?
SOMEONE'S NOT
PAYING YOU?
IT'S A
MISUNDERSTANDING--
SO, JUST GIVE ME
THE DETAILS.
COME ON, THIS ISN'T
A BIG DEAL.
DAD, LOOK, PEOPLE
WHO LEND MONEY
TO PEOPLE WITH BAD CREDIT
ARE NOT EXACTLY REASONABLE.
I GOT IT
UNDER CONTROL.
SO, YOU GOT THE MONEY
TO PAY THESE GUYS?
WELL, NOT YET.
WHEN ARE YOU
GONNA GET IT?
YOU SOUND
LIKE YOUR MOTHER.
DAD, I'M SERIOUS!
THEY CAN WALK IN HERE
AND TAKE YOUR DAMN HOUSE.
THEN LET THEM
HAVE THE HOUSE.
OK. SO, YOU MAY NOT MIND
LIVING IN
A CRAPPY APARTMENT,
BUT I THINK MOM--
THIS IS NOT YOUR PLACE--
YOU'RE STILL GOING
TO THE TRACK!
WHAT THE HELL, JAKE?
WHAT THE HELL?
DON'T YOU FORGET
WHO PUT YOU
THROUGH SCHOOL.
OH, COME ON--
DON'T YOU FORGET WHO
WORKED A SECOND JOB.
I HAVEN'T MADE A BET
IN OVER 3 YEARS.
OK, DAD...
CAN YOU AT LEAST
TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED?
HOME WAREHOUSE MOVED IN
A FEW MILES AWAY.
TO KEEP UP,
I HAD TO DROP PRICES
AND OFFER
FLEXIBLE CREDIT.
I GOT MORE FLEXIBLE
WITH MY CUSTOMERS
THAN MY SUPPLIERS
GOT WITH ME.
SO, I'M GONNA
TALK TO THE GUYS
WHO LENT YOU THE MONEY...
IF YOU DON'T MIND.
KNOCK YOURSELF OUT.
Burton: HEY.
SORRY.
WELL, WE FINALIZED
THE TERMS OF THE MERGER.
TRI-BEN IS GONNA BUY OFF
THE EPSULAR STOCK
FOR $12 A SHARE.
SO, WHAT DO WE DO NOW?
WELL, DRAFT THE AGREEMENT.
WE SHOULD ANNOUNCE THIS,
UH, WITHIN 48 HOURS.
OK. I'M ON IT.
WELL, NICHOLAS,
YOU SHOULD GET STARTED
ON THE, UH,
THE MERGER PROXY.
AND MAKE IT CLEAR
TO THE STOCKHOLDERS
THAT THIS IS THE BEST
DEAL OUT THERE. OK?
$12 A SHARE.
LAST I HEARD,
IT WAS TRADING AT 4.
WELL, THE S.E.C. IS
REALLY ALL OVER THIS ONE.
THEY'VE CALLED ME
3 TIMES.
UNTIL THEY MAKE
THE TERMS PUBLIC,
YOU SHOULDN'T EVEN TALK
ABOUT THIS TO EACH OTHER.
MRS. DAMIRA?
UM, YES?
HI, MY NAME
IS NICK FALLIN.
I REPRESENT
YOUR SON JUSTIN.
YES?
DID YOU KNOW
THAT JUSTIN AND MATTHEW
WERE BEING SEPARATED?
WHY?
YOU SIGNED A FORM, UH...
A CONSENT
TO ADOPT FORM
A MONTH AGO?
I GUESS.
DO YOU REMEMBER?
YES. UM, YES.
UH, WHY DID YOU SIGN IT?
BECAUSE, UM,
MRS. MONTGOMERY
SAID THAT
SHE FOUND
A REAL GOOD HOME
FOR JUSTIN AND MATTHEW.
WHEN YOU WENT
TO COURT,
DID THE JUDGE
EXPLAIN TO YOU
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN
IF YOU SIGNED
THIS FORM?
YEAH. SHE SAID
MY RIGHTS
WOULD BE OVER.
TERMINATED.
YEAH.
DID YOU HAVE A LAWYER
WHEN YOU WERE IN COURT?
YEAH.
OK.
SO, YOU KNOW THAT
MATTHEW AND JUSTIN
ARE NOT BEING
KEPT TOGETHER?
NO WAY I'D SIGN
A THING. NO WAY.
MY BOYS NEED
TO BE TOGETHER.
THEY CAN'T BE APART.
THEY NEED EACH OTHER.
THEY CAN'T BE APART.
IF YOU WANT
TO FIGHT THIS,
THEN YOU HAVE
TO CALL YOUR LAWYER.
YOU HAVE TO CALL
YOUR LAWYER.
OH, NO. I DON'T LIKE
TO GO TO COURT.
I DON'T--
I DON'T LIKE THAT.
IT'S OK.
OK.
THAT'S NICE.
IT'S SANTA.
YEAH.
IT'S NICE. VERY NICE.
OK.
MR. FRITAS?
I'M FROM FALLIN
AND ASSOCIATES.
I REPRESENT ED STRAKA.
HE ASKED ME TO LOOK
INTO THIS MATTER.
YEAH, WELL, MR. STRAKA
SIGNED A LOAN AGREEMENT
AND CONSENTED
TO THE TERMS.
HE OWES US $62,000.
AND THE ORIGINAL LOAN
WAS FOR $40,000?
WELL, INTEREST COMPOUNDS,
DOES IT NOT?
AT 23%?
[CHUCKLES]
WE EXPECT OUR PAYMENT.
ALL RIGHT, WELL,
WE NEED 3 WEEKS
TO SECURE
ADDITIONAL FINANCING,
SO WE'D LIKE TO EXECUTE--
NO. I WANT MY MONEY.
THE WAY I SEE IT,
MR. FRITAS,
YOUR LOAN DOCUMENTS VIOLATE
ABOUT A DOZEN TRUTH
IN LENDING REGULATIONS.
NO, THEY DON'T.
LOOK, I'VE BEEN
IN THIS BUSINESS
FOR 15 YEARS.
I STARTED OUT AS A LAWYER
REPRESENTING CONSUMER
FINANCE COMPANIES.
PEOPLE COME TO ME
WHEN THE BIG BANKS
WON'T RISK
A DIME ON THEM.
I TAKE THAT RISK.
YOU TAKE ADVANTAGE.
YOU THINK I'M SCUM?
NAH.
TRUTH, I'M JUST
PROVIDING CREDIT
TO PEOPLE WHO CAN'T
GET IT ANYWHERE ELSE.
I'VE WEIGHED
THE TESTIMONY OF
SOCIAL SERVICES,
OF MISS ARCHER,
AND THE DIAMONDS.
MATTHEW, THE DIAMONDS
APPEAR TO BE AN EXCELLENT
HOME FOR YOU.
YOUR HONOR,
THE BROTHERS WANT
TO BE KEPT TOGETHER.
YOUR HONOR, MR. FALLIN
IS REPRESENTING
JUSTIN DAMIRA,
WHO HAS NO STANDING--
HE'S MATTHEW DAMIRA'S
BROTHER.
LEGALLY, THEY'RE NOT
BROTHERS ANYMORE.
THEIR SIBLING RELATIONSHIP
ENDED WHEN THEIR MOTHER
TERMINATED
HER PARENTAL RIGHTS.
Judge: MR. FALLIN,
YOU HAVE NO STANDING HERE.
MATTHEW,
I'VE READ THE REPORTS.
I KNOW YOU DON'T
WANT TO BE SEPARATED
FROM YOUR BROTHER,
BUT I BELIEVE THE FACTS
SUPPORT MISS ARCHER
AND SOCIAL SERVICES'
RECOMMENDATION.
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED
THAT MATTHEW DAMIRA
BE ADOPTED BY DOCTOR
AND MRS. DIAMOND.
[STRIKES GAVEL]
WHAT DID THAT MEAN?
WELL, AT THIS STAGE,
IT MEANS THAT THE DIAMONDS
WILL TAKE MATTHEW
TO CHICAGO.
[SIGHS]
Suzanne: MATTHEW!
Lulu: I'LL GO, I'LL GO.
NO, I'LL DO IT.
JUSTIN, IT DOESN'T
WORK THIS WAY.
WHAT ARE YOU BOYS GONNA DO?
YOU GONNA LIVE IN A PARK?
WE CAN GET
ANOTHER LAWYER
AND APPLY FOR
NEW FOSTER PARENTS.
DAMN YOU!
OK, YOU LISTEN TO ME.
LISTEN, I'M GONNA
STEP OUTSIDE
AND I'M GONNA GET
A BAILIFF IN HERE
TO TAKE YOU OUT. OK?
I'M SORRY.
I'LL FOLLOW YOU
IN MY CAR TO THE SHELTER
TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE OK.
SO?
SO, THEY'RE GONNA
TAKE THE HOUSE.
AND LEGALLY,
IT'LL HOLD UP.
I COULD HAVE GOTTEN
A $50 AN HOUR LAWYER
TO TELL ME THAT.
ALL RIGHT, WELL,
I'M TELLING YOU.
AND THE WAY I SEE IT,
YOU GOT 2 SETS
OF PROBLEMS.
YOU GOT CORPORATE DEBT
AND YOU GOT PERSONAL DEBT.
ANY, ANY OF YOUR CUSTOMERS
OWE YOU ANY MONEY?
SURE. ALL OF THEM.
HOW MUCH?
DAMIANOS OWES ME
ABOUT 10 GRAND.
SMITHSON,
ABOUT 15 GRAND.
HOW LONG ARE
THEY OVERDUE?
MONTHS.
OK, WELL, YOU GOTTA
GET THAT MONEY.
I CAN'T.
THEY'RE OLD FRIENDS.
TELL THAT TO MOM
WHEN THEY'RE TAKING
AWAY HER HOUSE.
YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND
THE FIRST THING ABOUT
HOW WE DO BUSINESS.
IT'S A SMALL
GROUP OF GUYS.
I PUSH TOO HARD,
THEY START TO COMPLAIN.
THEY COMPLAIN,
THEY DON'T COME BACK.
DAD, THEY DON'T PAY YOU,
YOU CLOSE UP SHOP.
IF THEY'RE
SUCH BAD CUSTOMERS,
WHAT THE HELL--
THEY'RE BROKE, JAKE.
WE'RE ALL BROKE,
EXCEPT MILT DALLESANDRO.
HE ACTUALLY
WENT IN WITH THOSE
HOME WAREHOUSE GUYS.
DAD, LOOK.
THE WAY I SEE IT,
YOU NEED TO
SUE THOSE 2 GUYS
FOR THE MONEY.
[CHUCKLES]
JAKE, YOU DON'T GET IT.
THERE'S NOTHING
TO SUE THEM FOR.
IT'D BE LIKE SUING ME.
Justin: UNH! AAH!
LET ME GO!
AAH!
I'M JUSTIN'S LAWYER.
LEAVE HIM ALONE.
CAN YOU GIVE US
A MOMENT?
RRR!
DON'T YOU HIT ME.
OK. I'M GONNA
FIGHT THIS, JUSTIN. OK?
WHAT I NEED YOU TO DO
NOW IS I NEED YOU
TO GO INSIDE
AND BEHAVE THE BEST--
I DON'T WANNA
LIVE IN THIS PLACE!
I UNDERSTAND,
JUST GIVE ME
A COUPLE OF DAYS.
I HEARD ABOUT
WHAT YOU WERE LIKE
BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.
YOU WERE TOUGH, SMART.
YOU STILL ARE.
I'M GONNA GO
BACK INTO COURT,
I'M GONNA FIGHT YOUR
BROTHER'S ADOPTION. OK?
AAH! RRR!
THERE IS STILL A WAY
YOU 2 CAN BE TOGETHER.
UNH!
OK?
I THINK HE'S FINE.
MY DAD GREW UP
IN AMBRIDGE,
WENT TO VO-TECH
AND LEARNED TO
BECOME A PLUMBER.
WHEN I WAS A KID,
HE OPENED A SUPPLY
AND REPAIR SHOP
IN ALIQUIPPA,
ON THE MAIN DRAG,
AND HE DID OK.
I MEAN, HE KEPT US
IN GROCERIES
AND, UH, HELPED
GET ME THROUGH PITT.
YEAH?
WELL, HE'S BEEN
DOING BUSINESS HIS WAY
FOR THE PAST
35 YEARS, AND, UH...
THAT'S JUST NOT THE WAY
IT WORKS ANYMORE, MAN.
I THINK HE CAN CHANGE.
I MEAN, LOOK, HE HAS TO--
HE HAS TO CHANGE.
BUT, UH...
HE'S, UH...
WELL, HE'S JUST
IN A BIT OVER
HIS HEAD RIGHT NOW.
YEAH.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
I NEED AN ADVANCE
ON MY SALARY.
WHAT KIND OF ADVANCE?
$50,000.
OH.
JAKE, I'VE ALWAYS
MAINTAINED A POLICY
NOT TO ADVANCE OR LOAN
TO MY EMPLOYEES.
WELL, I'M GOOD FOR IT.
I'M SURE YOU ARE,
BUT IF SOMETHING
GOES WRONG
IT GETS, UH...
[CHUCKLES]
A LITTLE COMPLICATED.
YOU DON'T HAVE
TO PAY ME A CENT FOR
THE NEXT 4 MONTHS.
WELL, THE PROBLEM IS,
JAKE,
IF I DO THAT FOR YOU,
THEN, UH,
YOU KNOW, THEY'LL
EXPECT THE SAME, AND...
BURTON,
IT'S MY DAD'S BUSINESS.
WELL, WHY DON'T YOU, UH,
WHY DON'T YOU JUST GO
TO THE P.A. SAVINGS
AND LOAN?
YEAH. NO, I--
I ALREADY DID.
UH, THEY CAN ONLY
GIVE ME 15,000, SO...
JAKE, LOOK, I'M SORRY,
BUT I'M NOT
IN THE LOAN BUSINESS.
THEY ARE.
I'M NOT. OK?
I'M SORRY.
[SOBBING]
MOM, WHAT HAPPENED?
THAT MAN FRITAS
CAME BY, WITH THIS.
HE SAID WE HAVE 30 DAYS
TO MOVE OUT OF OUR HOUSE.
I'M GONNA GET A DRINK.
I CAN'T STAND THAT MAN.
[SOBS]
MA...
WHAT AM I GONNA DO, JAKEY?
WHERE AM I GONNA GO?
WE HAVE NOTHING LEFT.
NO SAVINGS, NOTHING.
YOUR FATHER
GOES TO THE TRACK
ALMOST EVERY DAY.
HE DOESN'T CARE.
MA...
I'M GONNA TAKE
CARE OF YOU. OK?
YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED
TO DO THAT.
I WILL, MA.
IT'S GONNA BE OK.
I JUST WANT
TO KEEP MY HOUSE.
I JUST WANT
TO KEEP MY HOUSE.
AH, LULU. COULD YOU STEP
IN HERE A MINUTE, PLEASE?
NICK HAS APPROACHED ME
ABOUT REPRESENTING
MATTHEW AND JUSTIN
DAMIRA'S WISHES.
HOW?
HE WANTS TO FILE
A MOTION TO VACATE
THE DIAMOND ADOPTION.
SO, YOU'RE TAKING ME
OFF THE CASE?
NO. YOU'LL CONTINUE
AS MATTHEW'S GUARDIAN
AND MAINTAIN
YOUR POSITION
FOR BEST INTERESTS.
NICK JUST WANTS
TO REPRESENT
THEIR WISHES.
NICK'S TRYING
TO MAKE AN END RUN
TO GET THIS
BACK IN COURT.
THEY MADE
BEST EFFORTS TO KEEP
THOSE KIDS TOGETHER.
THEY GAVE MATTHEW
TO THE FIRST PERSON
IN LINE
AND THEY'RE
LETTING JUSTIN
FEND FOR HIMSELF.
NO. ALVIN...
IT'S ONLY FAIR, LULU.
IF MATTHEW WERE 12,
HE'D BE ABLE TO STOP
THIS ADOPTION HIMSELF.
THANK YOU.
WHY ARE YOU
DOING THIS?
BECAUSE IT ISN'T FAIR.
IT FEELS LIKE EVER SINCE
BRIAN CAME TO TOWN--
IT'S NOT
PERSONAL, LULU.
WELL, AT THE INCLINE
THE OTHER NIGHT,
YOU WERE VERY ANGRY--
YOU WERE THE ONE
THAT STORMED OUT
OF THE RESTAURANT.
WELL, YOU WERE BEING
VERY OFFENSIVE.
WAS I?
YOU WERE.
YOU KNOW YOU WERE
TALKING ABOUT ME
FOLLOWING BRIAN AROUND
AND SCREWING UP MY LIFE.
WHY DO YOU
HAVE A PROBLEM WITH
WHAT I DO WITH MY LIFE?
'CAUSE HE WANTS YOU
TO BE A HOUSEWIFE.
MOM...
I MADE THE CALL
TO THAT GUY.
THE BROKER.
YEAH?
AND HE SAID
TO SEND THE MONEY.
SO, I WENT
TO THE MAILBOX PLACE
AND I WIRED IT.
$15,000.
I NO SOONER GOT HOME,
AND HE CALLED.
HE WANTED TO KNOW
IF HE SHOULD
BUY THE STOCK.
AND THEN HE DID
AND THEN THE MONEY
WAS GONE.
YOU KNOW?
IT WAS KIND OF EXCITING.
ALL THAT MONEY.
AND SO,
THEN I--I TURNED ON
YOUR FATHER'S TV
AND, UH,
TO THAT STATION
WHERE THEY HAVE
THE STOCK THINGIES.
YOU KNOW?
AND I LOOK FOR
THE SYMBOL FOR EPSULAR.
IT WAS LIKE MAGIC.
IT WAS LIKE MAGIC,
JAKEY.
$45,000!
WE MADE $45,000 TODAY!
I CAN'T WAIT
TO TELL YOUR FATHER.
I CAN'T WAIT.
HEY, MAN.
YOU WANTED
TO SPEAK WITH ME?
NO, THANKS.
NICK...
I TAKE MY ADDICTION
SERIOUSLY.
I MEAN, I REALIZE IT
IN MYSELF
AND I DEAL
WITH MY ADDICTION
EVERY WAKING MOMENT
OF MY LIFE.
YOU KNOW, PHIL,
YOU DON'T HAVE
TO TELL ME
ABOUT YOURSELF.
IT'S OK.
WHAT ABOUT
YOU, NICK?
WHAT?
DO YOU THINK
YOU HAVE A PROBLEM
OR DO YOU THINK
YOU JUST GOT CAUGHT?
WELL, I'VE BEEN COMING
TO THESE MEETINGS
3 TIMES A WEEK
FOR THE LAST 8 MONTHS.
I HAVEN'T MISSED ONE.
THAT'S THE EASY PART.
I DO MY WORK,
I MEET WITH
MY PROBATION OFFICER--
YOU DIDN'T
ANSWER MY QUESTION.
DO YOU THINK
YOU HAVE A PROBLEM?
I HAVE A PROBLEM
GETTING CAUGHT, PHIL.
YOU STOOD BEFORE US
AND ADMITTED TO
USING AGAIN.
YEAH.
I MEAN,
THINK ABOUT THAT.
THINK ABOUT
HOW LUCKY YOU ARE.
I MEAN, WHAT IF
A RANDOM DRUG TEST
HAD COME UP?
OR WHAT IF SOMETHING
REALLY BAD HAD HAPPENED?
YEAH.
HEY, ALVIN.
YOU KNOW ALVIN,
DON'T YOU, NICK?
Alvin: HEY, NICK.
OH, YEAH.
ALVIN'S OFFERED TO BE
YOUR NEW SPONSOR, NICK.
ONLY IF YOU
WANT ME TO BE.
Barbara, laughing:
YOU SHOULD HAVE
SEEN HIS FACE.
RUSSELL
WAS JUST TERRIFIED.
[BOTH LAUGH]
WHAT'S WRONG?
NOTHING.
I GET IT.
IT'S--IT'S...
YOU KNOW,
WE HAD A GREAT TIME
AT THE CONCERT,
BUT IF YOU DON'T
WANT TO DO THIS--
WAIT. WAIT, WAIT. NO.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT YOU.
ARE YOU SURE?
I PROMISE.
YOU WANT
TO TALK ABOUT IT?
IT'S JUST THIS STUFF
WITH MY MOM AND DAD.
ANYTHING I CAN DO
TO HELP?
NO. I MEAN...
I MEAN,
I TOOK CARE OF IT, SO...
YOU LOANED THEM
THE MONEY.
WELL, IN A WAY.
YEAH. I MEAN...
THEY CAN KEEP
THE HOUSE NOW.
YOU'RE A GREAT SON, JAKE.
THAT'S JUST
THE GREATEST THING
TO BE ABLE TO HAVE.
TO BE SO SUCCESSFUL...
YOU KNOW, BARBARA, UM...
I'M--I'M REALLY
KIND OF BAD COMPANY
TONIGHT.
CAN WE...
CAN WE DO THIS
ANOTHER TIME?
OH. OK.
WELL, YEAH. OK.
OK.
GREAT. I MEAN,
I'LL CALL YOU. OK?
YEAH.
ALL RIGHT?
THANKS.
NO PROBLEM.
[KNOCK ON DOOR]
COME IN.
BURTON, YOU WANTED
TO SEE ME?
SIT DOWN, JAKE.
YOU TOLD YOUR MOTHER
ABOUT EPSULAR?
WHAT--WHAT HAPPENED?
THE S.E.C. CALLED
THIS MORNING.
OH, MY GOD.
BURTON, LOOK.
LET ME JUST TELL YOU
WHAT HAPPENED.
I'M ASSUMING SHE GOT
THE INFORMATION INDIRECTLY.
NO, BURTON. I WAS--
JAKE, DON'T DISABUSE
ME OF MY NOTION.
YOUR MOTHER
GOT THE INFORMATION
BECAUSE
SHE OVERHEARD YOU
ON THE PHONE.
WELL, THAT'S ALL, JAKE.
Martha Damira:
JANET MONTGOMERY
PROMISED ME.
Nick: WHAT DID SHE
PROMISE YOU?
THAT MY BOYS
WOULD BE KEPT TOGETHER.
DID SHE TELL YOU
WHO WAS PLANNING
ON ADOPTING YOUR BOYS?
NO.
WOULD YOU HAVE
TERMINATED YOUR RIGHTS
HAD YOU KNOWN
IT WAS SUZANNE DIAMOND?
NO.
WHY NOT?
MISS DIAMOND WAS NEVER
REAL NICE TO ME.
PLEASE DESCRIBE
TO THE COURT HOW JUSTIN'S
BRAIN DAMAGE OCCURRED.
UM...MY BOYFRIEND
WAS PUNISHING MATTHEW.
UM, JUSTIN GOT IN
THE MIDDLE OF IT
AND RON PUSHED HIM.
THEY WERE BY
THE STAIRS.
MRS. DAMIRA...
IS THIS YOUR SIGNATURE?
UM, YES.
PARAGRAPH 4
OF THIS FORM READS,
"I UNDERSTAND I MAY NOT
REVOKE THIS CONSENT
"ONCE THE COURT
ENTERS A TERMINATION
OR ADOPTION DECREE."
MRS. DAMIRA,
IS THERE ANYTHING
THAT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND
ABOUT THESE WORDS?
IT--IT SAYS I'M--
IT SAYS I CAN'T
GET MY KIDS BACK.
NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.
AHEM.
MARTHA,
DO YOU UNDERSTAND
WHAT THE WORD
DECREE MEANS?
NO.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT
THE WORD REVOKE MEANS?
REVOKE.
DID YOU EVEN READ THIS
BEFORE YOU SIGNED IT?
NO.
WE MAY FILE
CRIMINAL CHARGES.
ROB, I AM CERTAIN
THAT MAUREEN STRAKA
WAS UNAWARE THERE
WAS A PENDING MERGER.
I'M TALKING ABOUT
HER SON JAKE.
IT WAS A MISTAKE, ROB.
JUST AN INNOCENT MISTAKE.
SHE HEARD HER SON
TALKING ON THE PHONE.
THERE'S NO INTENT THERE.
THIS IS A 63-YEAR-OLD
HOUSEWIFE.
YOU'RE TALKING LIKE
SHE'S PART OF SOME
INSIDER TRADING RING.
CAN YOU PROVE
IT WAS INADVERTENT?
CAN YOU PROVE
IT WASN'T?
LOOK, LET ME...
LET ME SEE IF I CAN
GET THE MONEY BACK.
IF I GO FOR THIS...
I NEED YOUR WORD
THAT JAKE STRAKA
WILL NEVER WORK
ON ANOTHER
MERGER TRANSACTION.
ROB, THAT'S--
THAT'S WHAT WE DO HERE.
YOU'RE BASICALLY
MAKING HIM
USELESS TO ME.
THIS COULD BE
A LOT WORSE FOR YOU
THAN BENCHING
AN ASSOCIATE, BURTON.
A LOT WORSE.
JAKE...
THE S.E.C. IS
EXPECTING A CHECK
FOR A LITTLE BIT MORE
THAN 50,000 BY 5:00 TODAY.
I RECOMMEND THAT YOU
AND YOUR MOTHER
HAND DELIVER IT
AND THEN KISS THEIR ASS
FOR THEIR KINDNESS.
LOOK--
THAT'S--
THAT'S ALL, JAKE.
SOCIAL SERVICES
AND THE DIAMONDS LIVED
UP TO THEIR PROMISES.
FOR 6 MONTHS,
THE DIAMONDS ATTEMPTED
TO INCORPORATE
BOTH BOYS INTO
THEIR FAMILY,
BUT UNFORTUNATELY,
IT DIDN'T WORK.
NOW, WHAT THIS CASE
REALLY BOILS DOWN TO
IS A VERY SIMPLE
LEGAL ISSUE.
CAN A PARENT REVOKE
A VALID ADOPTION DECREE
SIMPLY BECAUSE
SHE'S CHANGED HER MIND,
OR BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T
LIKE THE PROSPECTIVE
ADOPTIVE PARENTS?
IT'S NOT THE WAY
THINGS ARE DONE,
YOUR HONOR.
LET THE
ADOPTION STAND.
MRS. DAMIRA'S CONSENT WAS
NOT KNOWING, VOLUNTARY,
AND DELIBERATE.
IN FACT,
THIS WHOLE ADOPTION
WAS PREMISED ON A FRAUD
PERPETRATED
ON MRS. DAMIRA.
SHE WAS LED TO BELIEVE
THAT HER 2 SONS WOULD
BE KEPT TOGETHER.
FURTHERMORE,
THE BROTHERS WANTED
TO BE KEPT TOGETHER.
NOW, HAD SOCIAL SERVICES
BOTHERED TO LOOK,
THEY MIGHT HAVE FOUND
A FAMILY THAT WAS WILLING
TO ADOPT BOTH BROTHERS,
BUT THEY DIDN'T.
THEY RENEGED
ON THEIR PROMISE
TO MRS. DAMIRA.
THAT ALONE IS GROUNDS
TO VACATE THIS ORDER.
I FIND THAT MARTHA DAMIRA
KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY
RELINQUISHED HER RIGHTS.
BUT I ALSO FIND
THAT SOCIAL SERVICES
MADE REPRESENTATIONS
TO MRS. DAMIRA
THAT HER 2 SONS WOULD
BE KEPT TOGETHER.
MORE EFFORT HAS TO
BE MADE TO HONOR
THOSE REPRESENTATIONS.
I'M VACATING THE ADOPTION.
MATTHEW DAMIRA WILL BE
PLACED IN A GROUP SHELTER
WITH HIS BROTHER
UNTIL A MORE SUITABLE
SITUATION CAN BE FOUND.
YOUR HONOR--YOUR HONOR,
THAT COULD TAKE MONTHS,
AND WHO KNOWS WHAT
THE DAMAGE WILL BE
TO MATTHEW--
I'M NICHOLAS FALLIN.
I JUST RECEIVED A CALL FROM
MY CLIENT JUSTIN DAMIRA.
OK, THANK YOU.
HEY.
HI, MR. FALLIN.
HI.
CAN I...TA-ALK TO YOU?
WHAT IS IT?
MATTHEW...DOESN'T
BEL-LONG HERE.
HE'S...GO-ONNA SAY
HE W-WANTS TO STAY,
BUT HE WAS CR-YING
ALL NIGHT.
Judge Damsen: JUSTIN
SAYS YOU DON'T LIKE
THE GROUP SHELTER.
NO. THE GROUP
SHELTER'S FINE.
I'M NOT THAT INTERESTED
IN OTHER KIDS ANYWAY.
I'M MORE INTERESTED
IN READING BOOKS
OR USING THE INTERNET.
PLUS, JUSTIN AND I
ARE IN THE SAME ROOM.
AND I CAN GO
TO THE MAGNET PROGRAM
FOR MATH.
W-WHY WERE YOU CR-YING?
IT WASN'T BECAUSE
OF THE GROUP SHELTER.
I WAS THINKING
OF SOMETHING ELSE.
M-MATTHEW,
YOU TELL THEM...
THE TRUTH.
YOU...WANNA GO.
IS THAT WHAT
YOU WANT, MATTHEW,
TO GO WITH THE DIAMONDS?
WILL YOU ALL
STEP OUT IN THE HALL
A MOMENT, PLEASE?
MR. FALLIN,
STICK AROUND.
YOU CAN BE
AN ARROGANT ASS,
YOU KNOW?
YOU'VE MANAGED
TO VILIFY 2 VERY
GOOD WOMEN,
HUMILIATE A COLLEAGUE,
AND FOR WHAT?
THIS COULD BE
A PERMANENT SEPARATION
FOR THESE KIDS.
WE'RE NOT TALKING
ABOUT PLACING THEM
IN DIFFERENT HOMES
IN THE SAME CITY
WHERE THEY CAN
SEE EACH OTHER
AND SEE THEIR MOTHER.
THESE BOYS
LOVE EACH OTHER.
THEY LOVE THEIR MOM.
I DIDN'T DO THIS
FOR ANY REASON
OTHER THAN THE FACT
THAT THEY SHOULD NOT
BE TORN APART.
DOES JUSTIN REALLY WANT
HIS BROTHER TO GO
WITH THE DIAMONDS?
YES.
THEN TELL THE BOYS
I'LL REVERSE MY DECISION.
Burton: JAKE.
CAN I SEE YOU
IN MY OFFICE?
BURTON, LISTEN, UM...
I JUST WANNA SAY
THANK YOU FOR
STANDING UP FOR ME.
SIT DOWN, JAKE.
JAKE, I'M AFRAID
WE'RE GONNA HAVE
TO DISCUSS
HOW THIS WHOLE THING
AFFECTS YOUR FUTURE
HERE.
MY--MY--MY FUTURE?
YEAH, I HAD TO
MAKE SOME PROMISES
TO CLEAR THIS UP.
I HAD TO PROMISE GERSH
THAT YOU WOULD NEVER BE
INVOLVED WITH ANY...
PUBLIC SECURITIES.
FOR HOW LONG?
FOREVER.
AT LEAST FOR NOW.
I--I BEEN DOING CORPORATE
FOR 7 YEARS NOW.
WELL, THAT SHOULD HAVE
BEEN LONG ENOUGH
FOR YOU TO DISCOVER
THAT YOU DON'T DISCLOSE
INSIDER INFORMATION.
WELL, UH, TELL ME, BURTON,
I MEAN, IS THERE STILL
A PLACE FOR ME HERE?
I THINK
THAT'S UP TO YOU.
I MEAN, IF YOU CAN
PICK UP ENOUGH WORK
TO JUSTIFY
YOUR OVERHEAD.
ABSOLUTELY.
OK.
OH, JAKE,
THIS, UM...
THIS IS FOR
THE NEXT 6 MONTHS.
THANK YOU.
YEAH.
HI, DAD.
[CHUCKLES]
YOU AND YOUR MOTHER.
NOW YOU KNOW.
WHAT?
HOW IT FEELS TO GAMBLE,
HUH, AND LOSE.
I THINK YOU GAVE HER
QUITE A THRILL, JAKEY.
I THINK SHE SEES ME
IN AN ENTIRELY
NEW LIGHT, YOU KNOW?
I PAID OFF THE LOAN.
THANK YOU.
DON'T THANK ME.
I BOUGHT THE TITLE.
I OWN THE HOUSE NOW.
WHAT ABOUT
MY BUSINESS?
I'M SORRY, DAD.
NO ONE'S GONNA
GIVE YOU THAT MONEY.
NO ONE'S GONNA
TAKE THAT RISK.
I'M GONNA HAVE TO CLOSE
THIS PLACE DOWN?
I'M SORRY, DAD.
LOOK, MAYBE, UH...
MAYBE IT'S BETTER
THIS WAY.
I--I WENT OVER
TO HOME WAREHOUSE, OK?
AND I SPOKE
TO MILT DALLESANDRO.
HE SAID THEY'RE HIRING.
HE SAID THEY NEED HELP
IN THE PLUMBING
DEPARTMENT.
THE PAY IS OK,
AND THE BENEFITS
ARE GOOD.
HOW AM I GONNA
CLOSE THIS PLACE DOWN
AFTER 35 YEARS?
HOW AM I GONNA DO IT?
THESE ARE THE, UH,
THESE ARE THE BANKRUPTCY
PAPERS. UM...
IT'S--IT'S NOT SUCH
A BIG DEAL, BELIEVE ME.
I CAN HELP YOU.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO
MAKE UP YOUR MIND
RIGHT NOW,
BUT YOU REALLY
SHOULD DO THIS
BEFORE YOUR CREDITORS
COME AFTER YOU AGAIN.
ALL RIGHT.
HEY.
HEY.
THANKS FOR MEETING ME.
I'M...SURPRISED
YOU CALLED.
I'M SORRY
ABOUT YESTERDAY.
I WAS IN THE MIDDLE
OF SOME PROBLEMS,
AND I JUST DIDN'T
WANT TO BURDEN YOU.
NO, IT'S OK.
NO, BUT I REALLY
ENJOY SPENDING
TIME WITH YOU,
AND I JUST DIDN'T
MEAN TO BE A JERK.
OH...[LAUGHS]
YOUR PARENTS?
YEAH.
OH, GOD.
MY MOTHER
DRIVES ME NUTS.
SHE WANTS TO GO
TO BINGO AND BUFFET
EVERY SATURDAY NIGHT.
SATURDAY NIGHT
IN MOUNT AIRE.
[BOTH CHUCKLING]
MY MOTHER, UH, COMPETES
IN PIE-BAKING CONTESTS.
OH!
DEMANDS I GO.
HA HA! AND DO YOU?
I HAVEN'T
MISSED ONE YET.
HA HA HA!
YOU WOULDN'T, UM...
WANNA COME PLAY BINGO
THIS SATURDAY NIGHT,
WOULD YA?
HELL, YEAH.
BRING ONE OF
YOUR MOM'S PIES.
I'M GONNA BRING
MY MOM!
PERFECT!
LEAVE THE PIES
AT HOME.
YEAH.
[BOTH LAUGHING]
[KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK]
YES?
ABOUT YOUR, UH, AHEM--
YOUR OFFER, UH...
[DROPS PAPERS ]ON DESK]
YES?
I--I GUESS
IT'D BE OK.
OK.
DON'T EXPECT ME
TO CALL YOU
OR ANYTHING.
OK.
'CAUSE I DON'T--
I DON'T NEED, UH...
I DON'T NEED ANYONE.
FINE, MR. FALLIN.
JUST CALL ME
NICK, WILL YOU?
OK? THAT'S ENOUGH WITH
THE MR. FALLIN THING.
FINE.
NICK.
OK.
YEAH.
GOOD NIGHT.
HEY.
MATTHEW'S HEADED
TO CHICAGO.
YEAH, I HEARD.
SO IT'S, UH,
ALL WORKED OUT
NOW.
YEAH.
OK.
NICK.
ABOUT THIS WEEK...
YEAH?
WE WERE HAVING
A--A PROFESSIONAL
ARGUMENT, RIGHT?
IT WAS A PROFESSIONAL
DISAGREEMENT, AND...
IT DIDN'T HAVE
ANYTHING TO DO WITH--
NO, OF COURSE NOT.
I AM HAPPY FOR YOU.
THANK YOU.
'CAUSE I DON'T KNOW.
IT JUST, UM...
IT DIDN'T
SEEM LIKE YOU TO...
TO DO SOMETHING
SO, UH...
SO WHAT?
EMOTIONAL.
WELL, I WAS
REPRESENTING MY CLIENT.
BEING PROFESSIONAL.
THAT'S RIGHT.
GOOD, THEN.
'CAUSE, UH...
I--I THINK THAT THAT'S...
I THINK THAT'S
THE BEST WAY
FOR US TO BE.
PROFESSIONAL.
RIGHT.
GOOD NIGHT.
STILL FIND MYSELF
DRIVING LATE AT NIGHT
BACK TO THAT AREA OF TOWN.
I'M IN MY CAR.
YOU KNOW?
AND THE ADRENALINE
STARTS TO PUMP,
AND I'M ON AUTO PILOT.
READY TO TURN
INTO THE PARKING LOT
WHERE I KNOW
I CAN SCORE.
ONLY DIFFERENCE IS,
THESE DAYS,
I DON'T TAKE
THAT FINAL TURN.
I PICK UP MY PHONE
AND CALL MY SPONSOR, TOM.
AND WE MEET FOR COFFEE
OR I COME HERE
AND TELL YOU.
IT'S BEING IN IT
WITH YOU GUYS,
NOT BEING ALONE.
THAT'S WHAT GETS ME
THROUGH IT.
THANKS, HANK.
WE'RE GONNA HEAR
FROM SOMEONE WHO HASN'T
STOOD BEFORE US YET.
SO, REMEMBER HOW IT FELT
THE FIRST TIME YOU
ADDRESSED THE GROUP
AND GIVE HIM YOUR
ATTENTION AND SUPPORT.
NICK.
HI, I'M NICK.
Group: HI, NICK.
HI.
UH, I HAVE TO BE HERE.
EXCUSE ME.
IS THIS PHIL'S
MEETING AT 12:30?
THANKS.
Nick: I GOT BUSTED
WITH 10 GRAMS OF COCAINE
IN MY APARTMENT
ABOUT A YEAR AGO.
IT WAS A PARTY,
SO, UH...
I HAVE TO BE HERE.
AND PHIL JUST THOUGHT
IT WAS TIME THAT I, UH,
STOOD UP AND TALKED
ABOUT IT.
SO...
A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO
I SCORED A COUPLE OF GRAMS
AND I SORT OF BINGED.
BUT I HAVEN'T SINCE.
AND I WON'T AGAIN.
AND...AND...
THANKS. THANKS, PHIL.
I NEED TO SPEAK
TO BARBARA.
Barbara: LEGAL SERVICES
OF PITTSBURGH.
UH, HE'S OUT
OF THE OFFICE.
CAN I TRANSFER YOU
TO HIS VOICE MAIL?
ALL RIGHT.
MAY I HELP YOU?
UM, I CALLED YESTERDAY.
I BELIEVE WE SPOKE.
YOU'RE BARBARA?
YES.
WELL, MY HUSBAND
HAS THIS SUPPLY
AND REPAIR COMPANY
AND HE TOOK OUT A LOAN
FROM THIS GUY--
YOUR HUSBAND OWNS
HIS OWN BUSINESS?
YEAH.
I'M SORRY.
WE ONLY TAKE CASES
FOR PEOPLE WHO CAN'T PAY
FOR LEGAL REPRESENTATION.
OH, WELL, I WOULD
GLADLY PAY FOR
WHATEVER I CAN.
NO, NO.
YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND.
WE DON'T TAKE PAYMENT.
SORRY TO HAVE
TROUBLED YOU.
IT'S NO PROBLEM.
OH, THANKS.
I'M GONNA
LOSE MY HOUSE.
THE ONLY THING
I HAVE IS THAT HOUSE.
UH, MRS., UH...
STRAKA.
UH, MAUREEN STRAKA.
IS--IS YOUR SON'S
NAME JAKE?
YOU KNOW HIM?
MRS. STRAKA,
WHY DON'T YOU--
YEAH. YOU JUST TELL
THOSE BASTARDS
TO HURRY IT,
'CAUSE IT'S WORTH
A QUARTER MILLION. OK?
THOSE KIDS
ARE WAITING FOR YOU.
PICK YOUR CARD.
ARE YOU MR. FALLIN?
YES.
MY NAME
IS MATTHEW DAMIRA.
THIS IS MY BROTHER
JUSTIN.
HI, JUSTIN.
SHAKE HIS HAND,
JUSTIN.
LOUISA ARCHER
IS MY ATTORNEY.
OK, WELL,
YOU SHOULD PROBABLY
BE SPEAKING WITH HER.
JUST GIVE ME A MINUTE.
MY MOTHER HAS
SOME PROBLEMS.
WE HAVEN'T BEEN
LIVING WITH HER
FOR SOME TIME NOW.
WE'VE BEEN WITH
THE FAMILY OF OUR
FORMER SOCIAL WORKER,
A WOMAN NAMED
SUZANNE DIAMOND.
OK.
SHE AND HER HUSBAND.
HE'S A RADIOLOGIST.
THEY SAID
THEY WANTED TO
ADOPT US BOTH.
SO, SOCIAL SERVICES
WENT TO SEE MY MOM
AND HAD HER SIGN THIS.
ADOPTION CONSENT FORM.
RIGHT. IT'S FOR
BOTH OF US.
YEAH.
BUT OUR FOSTER PARENTS,
THE DIAMONDS,
THEY DECIDED, AFTER
MY MOM SIGNED THE FORM,
THEY DECIDED
THEY DIDN'T WANT TO
ADOPT JUSTIN ANYMORE.
THEY ONLY WANT
TO ADOPT ME.
AND LOUISA ARCHER
IS AGREEING WITH THEM.
WELL, UH...
WHAT DO YOU WANT
TO DO, JUSTIN?
UNH!
I--I CAN'T...
I CAN'T...I...
JUSTIN FELL DOWN
THE STAIRS 3 YEARS AGO.
HE'S GOT BRAIN DAMAGE,
WHICH CAUSED
HIS DYSARTHRIA.
HIS--HIS WHAT?
IT'S A MEDICAL CONDITION,
CAUSED BY FRONTAL LOBE
DAMAGE.
IT AFFECTS HIS SPEECH.
ANYWAY, HE NEEDS ME
TO HELP TAKE CARE OF HIM.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE.
THE ADOPTION PROCEEDING
IS TOMORROW,
AND WE NEED YOUR HELP.
Judge:
I AM SENTENCING YOU
TO 1,500 HOURS
OF COMMUNITY SERVICE,
USING YOUR SKILLS
AS A CORPORATE ATTORNEY
TO WORK
AS A CHILD ADVOCATE.
GOOD MORNING.
GOOD MORNING.
[KNOCKS ON DOOR]
MATTHEW AND JUSTIN DAMIRA
CAME TO SEE ME.
TO SEE YOU?
YES, JUST--
THEY JUST LEFT.
I WAS ASSIGNED
THEIR CASE LAST WEEK.
WHY WOULD THEY
COME TO SEE YOU?
MAYBE THEY
DON'T LIKE YOU.
WHAT'S GOING ON
WITH THEM?
THEY'VE BEEN
IN AND OUT OF THE SYSTEM
FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
MATTHEW SEEMS
PRETTY SMART.
SMART? HE HAS 147 IQ.
AND, YOU KNOW WHAT?
YOU REALLY SHOULD HAVE
SENT MATTHEW IN HERE.
WELL, THEY DON'T WANT
TO BE SEPARATED.
I KNOW THAT,
BUT MATTHEW'S POTENTIAL
ADOPTIVE PARENTS
HAVE SECURED
A PLACE FOR HIM
AT THE GARBRECHT SCHOOL
IN CHICAGO.
IT IS THE PREEMINENT SCHOOL
FOR GIFTED CHILDREN
IN THE NATION.
IT'S--IT'S IT.
IT'S A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME
OPPORTUNITY FOR HIM.
MATTHEW SAID SOMETHING
ABOUT HIS FORMER
SOCIAL SERVICES
WORKER ADOPTING HIM.
MMM-HMM.
SUZANNE DIAMOND.
SHE WORKED WITH HIM
FOR ALMOST 6 YEARS.
SOCIAL SERVICES DOESN'T
SEE THAT AS A CONFLICT?
NO. NO, THEY'RE RECOMMENDING
THAT MATTHEW GO
WITH THE DIAMONDS
AND THAT JUSTIN BE PLACED
IN THE GROUP SHELTER.
HEY--
[KNOCK ON DOOR]
LOUISA, CONGRATULATIONS.
I JUST HEARD THE GOOD NEWS.
OH. THANKS.
THANKS, ALVIN.
DID YOU HEAR?
HEAR WHAT?
I'M GETTING MARRIED.
MOM?
HEY, JAKEY.
HI.
HI.
BARBARA.
HEY.
WHAT'S--
WHAT'S GOING ON?
MOM?
YOUR MOTHER CAME OVER
TO LEGAL SERVICES
LOOKING FOR A LAWYER.
I JUST DIDN'T
WANT TO BOTHER YOU.
I'M JUST GONNA
SIT OVER HERE.
SO, ARE YOU AND DAD
GETTING A DIVORCE?
WHAT?
NO, ARE YOU KIDDING?
WHERE WOULD I GO
AT MY AGE?
WHAT'S GOING ON?
WELL, I WAS GOING
THROUGH SOME PAPERWORK,
AND I CAME ACROSS
THIS LETTER FROM THIS GUY
THAT LOANED YOUR FATHER
SOME MONEY,
AND IT LOOKS TO ME
LIKE THEY'RE THREATENING
TO TAKE OUR HOUSE.
I COULD GO FIND
A LAWYER THAT DOES
THIS KIND OF WORK.
MA, I DO THIS KIND OF WORK.
YEAH, I KNOW.
BUT, YOU KNOW,
SOMEONE NOT SO BUSY
OR EXPENSIVE.
MA, PLEASE.
IS HE GAMBLING AGAIN?
HE NEVER STOPPED.
OK, I'M GONNA
TALK TO HIM.
NO! NO, NO.
JAKEY, YOU CAN'T LET HIM
KNOW THAT I DID THIS.
HE'S A VERY PRIVATE MAN.
HE WOULD BE
SO EMBARRASSED
IF HE KNEW THAT YOU
AND YOUR FRIEND
KNEW ABOUT THIS.
I WILL TAKE CARE OF IT.
OK, MOM?
I JUST DON'T WANT
TO LOSE OUR HOUSE.
MA...YOU WON'T.
YOU PROMISE?
BARBARA, THANKS.
JUST COME ON
IN MY OFFICE. OK?
THANKS FOR COMING BY.
JUST PLEASE TAKE A SEAT,
MRS. DIAMOND.
OH, I'M SORRY.
SO, WHEN DID YOU LEAVE
SOCIAL SERVICES?
WHEN MY HUSBAND
ACCEPTED A JOB
AT THE UNIVERSITY
OF CHICAGO.
OH, THAT'S GOOD.
THAT'S GOOD.
AHEM. SO, CAN YOU
EXPLAIN TO ME
HOW YOU ENDED UP
ADOPTING A CHILD
FROM THE FAMILY
WHO YOU ONCE
REPRESENTED?
MATTHEW AND I
BONDED OVER THE YEARS.
HIS MOTHER, MARTHA,
IS SLIGHTLY CHALLENGED.
RETARDED.
YES.
AND WHEN
I FIRST MET HIM,
HE WAS STARVING
FOR STIMULATION.
THIS WAS BEFORE
JUSTIN'S INJURY.
DID YOU BOND
WITH JUSTIN AS WELL?
OH, OF COURSE.
BUT IN A DIFFERENT WAY.
BEFORE HIS INJURY,
JUSTIN WAS A TOUGH KID.
VERY PHYSICAL, ATHLETIC.
UM, WHY AREN'T YOU
ADOPTING JUSTIN AS WELL?
IT DIDN'T WORK OUT WITH
OUR DAUGHTER HANNAH.
JUSTIN'S A SWEET KID,
BUT HE HAS A HARD TIME
EDITING HIMSELF...
CONTROLLING HIMSELF.
HE FOLLOWS HANNAH
AROUND, STARES AT HER,
WALKS IN ON HER
IN THE BATHROOM.
SHE'S VERY UNCOMFORTABLE
WITH HIM.
OK.
THANK YOU, MRS. DIAMOND.
SHE'S CHERRY PICKING
THE SMART KID.
IT'S A LITTLE MORE
COMPLICATED THAN THAT.
YEAH, YOU'RE RIGHT.
SHE'S CHERRY PICKING
THE SMART KID
AND SHE'S DUMPING
THE BRAIN DAMAGED BROTHER.
SHE'S ALSO
OFFERING MATTHEW
A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME
SITUATION.
WHERE'S YOUR RING?
UM...
IT'S KIND OF BIG,
SO, YOU KNOW,
I USUALLY--
WHERE ARE YOU
GETTING MARRIED?
UH, I--BRIAN'S PARENTS'
COUNTRY CLUB.
OH, REALLY?
THAT'S NICE.
REALLY?
YOU'RE NOT REALLY
INTERESTED IN THIS--
NO, I AM.
NO, YOU'RE NOT.
SO, THE BROTHERS
WANT TO STAY TOGETHER.
NICK, THIS WHOLE THING,
IT'S A SIMPLE
BEST-INTEREST CASE.
FOR WHO?
THE DIAMONDS?
NO, FOR MATTHEW
AND JUSTIN.
I'M GONNA SUPPORT
JUSTIN'S WISHES.
WHY?
WHY? IT ISN'T FAIR.
HEY, MA.
HEY, LOOK
WHO'S HERE.
HI.
[LOUD SMOOCH]
HOW ARE YOU?
WHAT ARE YOU
DOING HERE?
IT'S THE MIDDLE
OF THE WORK DAY.
HI, DAD.
YOU DIDN'T GET FIRED,
DID YOU?
UM, MA,
WOULD YOU EXCUSE
US FOR A SECOND?
OH, SURE.
WHAT IS IT?
MA WAS SO WORRIED
SHE WENT LOOKING
FOR A LAWYER.
THIS IS MY PERSONAL
BUSINESS.
YOU WANT TO TELL ME
WHAT'S GOING ON?
JUST A FEW
COLLECTION PROBLEMS.
SO, WHAT?
SOMEONE'S NOT
PAYING YOU?
IT'S A
MISUNDERSTANDING--
SO, JUST GIVE ME
THE DETAILS.
COME ON, THIS ISN'T
A BIG DEAL.
DAD, LOOK, PEOPLE
WHO LEND MONEY
TO PEOPLE WITH BAD CREDIT
ARE NOT EXACTLY REASONABLE.
I GOT IT
UNDER CONTROL.
SO, YOU GOT THE MONEY
TO PAY THESE GUYS?
WELL, NOT YET.
WHEN ARE YOU
GONNA GET IT?
YOU SOUND
LIKE YOUR MOTHER.
DAD, I'M SERIOUS!
THEY CAN WALK IN HERE
AND TAKE YOUR DAMN HOUSE.
THEN LET THEM
HAVE THE HOUSE.
OK. SO, YOU MAY NOT MIND
LIVING IN
A CRAPPY APARTMENT,
BUT I THINK MOM--
THIS IS NOT YOUR PLACE--
YOU'RE STILL GOING
TO THE TRACK!
WHAT THE HELL, JAKE?
WHAT THE HELL?
DON'T YOU FORGET
WHO PUT YOU
THROUGH SCHOOL.
OH, COME ON--
DON'T YOU FORGET WHO
WORKED A SECOND JOB.
I HAVEN'T MADE A BET
IN OVER 3 YEARS.
OK, DAD...
CAN YOU AT LEAST
TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED?
HOME WAREHOUSE MOVED IN
A FEW MILES AWAY.
TO KEEP UP,
I HAD TO DROP PRICES
AND OFFER
FLEXIBLE CREDIT.
I GOT MORE FLEXIBLE
WITH MY CUSTOMERS
THAN MY SUPPLIERS
GOT WITH ME.
SO, I'M GONNA
TALK TO THE GUYS
WHO LENT YOU THE MONEY...
IF YOU DON'T MIND.
KNOCK YOURSELF OUT.
Burton: HEY.
SORRY.
WELL, WE FINALIZED
THE TERMS OF THE MERGER.
TRI-BEN IS GONNA BUY OFF
THE EPSULAR STOCK
FOR $12 A SHARE.
SO, WHAT DO WE DO NOW?
WELL, DRAFT THE AGREEMENT.
WE SHOULD ANNOUNCE THIS,
UH, WITHIN 48 HOURS.
OK. I'M ON IT.
WELL, NICHOLAS,
YOU SHOULD GET STARTED
ON THE, UH,
THE MERGER PROXY.
AND MAKE IT CLEAR
TO THE STOCKHOLDERS
THAT THIS IS THE BEST
DEAL OUT THERE. OK?
$12 A SHARE.
LAST I HEARD,
IT WAS TRADING AT 4.
WELL, THE S.E.C. IS
REALLY ALL OVER THIS ONE.
THEY'VE CALLED ME
3 TIMES.
UNTIL THEY MAKE
THE TERMS PUBLIC,
YOU SHOULDN'T EVEN TALK
ABOUT THIS TO EACH OTHER.
MRS. DAMIRA?
UM, YES?
HI, MY NAME
IS NICK FALLIN.
I REPRESENT
YOUR SON JUSTIN.
YES?
DID YOU KNOW
THAT JUSTIN AND MATTHEW
WERE BEING SEPARATED?
WHY?
YOU SIGNED A FORM, UH...
A CONSENT
TO ADOPT FORM
A MONTH AGO?
I GUESS.
DO YOU REMEMBER?
YES. UM, YES.
UH, WHY DID YOU SIGN IT?
BECAUSE, UM,
MRS. MONTGOMERY
SAID THAT
SHE FOUND
A REAL GOOD HOME
FOR JUSTIN AND MATTHEW.
WHEN YOU WENT
TO COURT,
DID THE JUDGE
EXPLAIN TO YOU
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN
IF YOU SIGNED
THIS FORM?
YEAH. SHE SAID
MY RIGHTS
WOULD BE OVER.
TERMINATED.
YEAH.
DID YOU HAVE A LAWYER
WHEN YOU WERE IN COURT?
YEAH.
OK.
SO, YOU KNOW THAT
MATTHEW AND JUSTIN
ARE NOT BEING
KEPT TOGETHER?
NO WAY I'D SIGN
A THING. NO WAY.
MY BOYS NEED
TO BE TOGETHER.
THEY CAN'T BE APART.
THEY NEED EACH OTHER.
THEY CAN'T BE APART.
IF YOU WANT
TO FIGHT THIS,
THEN YOU HAVE
TO CALL YOUR LAWYER.
YOU HAVE TO CALL
YOUR LAWYER.
OH, NO. I DON'T LIKE
TO GO TO COURT.
I DON'T--
I DON'T LIKE THAT.
IT'S OK.
OK.
THAT'S NICE.
IT'S SANTA.
YEAH.
IT'S NICE. VERY NICE.
OK.
MR. FRITAS?
I'M FROM FALLIN
AND ASSOCIATES.
I REPRESENT ED STRAKA.
HE ASKED ME TO LOOK
INTO THIS MATTER.
YEAH, WELL, MR. STRAKA
SIGNED A LOAN AGREEMENT
AND CONSENTED
TO THE TERMS.
HE OWES US $62,000.
AND THE ORIGINAL LOAN
WAS FOR $40,000?
WELL, INTEREST COMPOUNDS,
DOES IT NOT?
AT 23%?
[CHUCKLES]
WE EXPECT OUR PAYMENT.
ALL RIGHT, WELL,
WE NEED 3 WEEKS
TO SECURE
ADDITIONAL FINANCING,
SO WE'D LIKE TO EXECUTE--
NO. I WANT MY MONEY.
THE WAY I SEE IT,
MR. FRITAS,
YOUR LOAN DOCUMENTS VIOLATE
ABOUT A DOZEN TRUTH
IN LENDING REGULATIONS.
NO, THEY DON'T.
LOOK, I'VE BEEN
IN THIS BUSINESS
FOR 15 YEARS.
I STARTED OUT AS A LAWYER
REPRESENTING CONSUMER
FINANCE COMPANIES.
PEOPLE COME TO ME
WHEN THE BIG BANKS
WON'T RISK
A DIME ON THEM.
I TAKE THAT RISK.
YOU TAKE ADVANTAGE.
YOU THINK I'M SCUM?
NAH.
TRUTH, I'M JUST
PROVIDING CREDIT
TO PEOPLE WHO CAN'T
GET IT ANYWHERE ELSE.
I'VE WEIGHED
THE TESTIMONY OF
SOCIAL SERVICES,
OF MISS ARCHER,
AND THE DIAMONDS.
MATTHEW, THE DIAMONDS
APPEAR TO BE AN EXCELLENT
HOME FOR YOU.
YOUR HONOR,
THE BROTHERS WANT
TO BE KEPT TOGETHER.
YOUR HONOR, MR. FALLIN
IS REPRESENTING
JUSTIN DAMIRA,
WHO HAS NO STANDING--
HE'S MATTHEW DAMIRA'S
BROTHER.
LEGALLY, THEY'RE NOT
BROTHERS ANYMORE.
THEIR SIBLING RELATIONSHIP
ENDED WHEN THEIR MOTHER
TERMINATED
HER PARENTAL RIGHTS.
Judge: MR. FALLIN,
YOU HAVE NO STANDING HERE.
MATTHEW,
I'VE READ THE REPORTS.
I KNOW YOU DON'T
WANT TO BE SEPARATED
FROM YOUR BROTHER,
BUT I BELIEVE THE FACTS
SUPPORT MISS ARCHER
AND SOCIAL SERVICES'
RECOMMENDATION.
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED
THAT MATTHEW DAMIRA
BE ADOPTED BY DOCTOR
AND MRS. DIAMOND.
[STRIKES GAVEL]
WHAT DID THAT MEAN?
WELL, AT THIS STAGE,
IT MEANS THAT THE DIAMONDS
WILL TAKE MATTHEW
TO CHICAGO.
[SIGHS]
Suzanne: MATTHEW!
Lulu: I'LL GO, I'LL GO.
NO, I'LL DO IT.
JUSTIN, IT DOESN'T
WORK THIS WAY.
WHAT ARE YOU BOYS GONNA DO?
YOU GONNA LIVE IN A PARK?
WE CAN GET
ANOTHER LAWYER
AND APPLY FOR
NEW FOSTER PARENTS.
DAMN YOU!
OK, YOU LISTEN TO ME.
LISTEN, I'M GONNA
STEP OUTSIDE
AND I'M GONNA GET
A BAILIFF IN HERE
TO TAKE YOU OUT. OK?
I'M SORRY.
I'LL FOLLOW YOU
IN MY CAR TO THE SHELTER
TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE OK.
SO?
SO, THEY'RE GONNA
TAKE THE HOUSE.
AND LEGALLY,
IT'LL HOLD UP.
I COULD HAVE GOTTEN
A $50 AN HOUR LAWYER
TO TELL ME THAT.
ALL RIGHT, WELL,
I'M TELLING YOU.
AND THE WAY I SEE IT,
YOU GOT 2 SETS
OF PROBLEMS.
YOU GOT CORPORATE DEBT
AND YOU GOT PERSONAL DEBT.
ANY, ANY OF YOUR CUSTOMERS
OWE YOU ANY MONEY?
SURE. ALL OF THEM.
HOW MUCH?
DAMIANOS OWES ME
ABOUT 10 GRAND.
SMITHSON,
ABOUT 15 GRAND.
HOW LONG ARE
THEY OVERDUE?
MONTHS.
OK, WELL, YOU GOTTA
GET THAT MONEY.
I CAN'T.
THEY'RE OLD FRIENDS.
TELL THAT TO MOM
WHEN THEY'RE TAKING
AWAY HER HOUSE.
YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND
THE FIRST THING ABOUT
HOW WE DO BUSINESS.
IT'S A SMALL
GROUP OF GUYS.
I PUSH TOO HARD,
THEY START TO COMPLAIN.
THEY COMPLAIN,
THEY DON'T COME BACK.
DAD, THEY DON'T PAY YOU,
YOU CLOSE UP SHOP.
IF THEY'RE
SUCH BAD CUSTOMERS,
WHAT THE HELL--
THEY'RE BROKE, JAKE.
WE'RE ALL BROKE,
EXCEPT MILT DALLESANDRO.
HE ACTUALLY
WENT IN WITH THOSE
HOME WAREHOUSE GUYS.
DAD, LOOK.
THE WAY I SEE IT,
YOU NEED TO
SUE THOSE 2 GUYS
FOR THE MONEY.
[CHUCKLES]
JAKE, YOU DON'T GET IT.
THERE'S NOTHING
TO SUE THEM FOR.
IT'D BE LIKE SUING ME.
Justin: UNH! AAH!
LET ME GO!
AAH!
I'M JUSTIN'S LAWYER.
LEAVE HIM ALONE.
CAN YOU GIVE US
A MOMENT?
RRR!
DON'T YOU HIT ME.
OK. I'M GONNA
FIGHT THIS, JUSTIN. OK?
WHAT I NEED YOU TO DO
NOW IS I NEED YOU
TO GO INSIDE
AND BEHAVE THE BEST--
I DON'T WANNA
LIVE IN THIS PLACE!
I UNDERSTAND,
JUST GIVE ME
A COUPLE OF DAYS.
I HEARD ABOUT
WHAT YOU WERE LIKE
BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.
YOU WERE TOUGH, SMART.
YOU STILL ARE.
I'M GONNA GO
BACK INTO COURT,
I'M GONNA FIGHT YOUR
BROTHER'S ADOPTION. OK?
AAH! RRR!
THERE IS STILL A WAY
YOU 2 CAN BE TOGETHER.
UNH!
OK?
I THINK HE'S FINE.
MY DAD GREW UP
IN AMBRIDGE,
WENT TO VO-TECH
AND LEARNED TO
BECOME A PLUMBER.
WHEN I WAS A KID,
HE OPENED A SUPPLY
AND REPAIR SHOP
IN ALIQUIPPA,
ON THE MAIN DRAG,
AND HE DID OK.
I MEAN, HE KEPT US
IN GROCERIES
AND, UH, HELPED
GET ME THROUGH PITT.
YEAH?
WELL, HE'S BEEN
DOING BUSINESS HIS WAY
FOR THE PAST
35 YEARS, AND, UH...
THAT'S JUST NOT THE WAY
IT WORKS ANYMORE, MAN.
I THINK HE CAN CHANGE.
I MEAN, LOOK, HE HAS TO--
HE HAS TO CHANGE.
BUT, UH...
HE'S, UH...
WELL, HE'S JUST
IN A BIT OVER
HIS HEAD RIGHT NOW.
YEAH.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
I NEED AN ADVANCE
ON MY SALARY.
WHAT KIND OF ADVANCE?
$50,000.
OH.
JAKE, I'VE ALWAYS
MAINTAINED A POLICY
NOT TO ADVANCE OR LOAN
TO MY EMPLOYEES.
WELL, I'M GOOD FOR IT.
I'M SURE YOU ARE,
BUT IF SOMETHING
GOES WRONG
IT GETS, UH...
[CHUCKLES]
A LITTLE COMPLICATED.
YOU DON'T HAVE
TO PAY ME A CENT FOR
THE NEXT 4 MONTHS.
WELL, THE PROBLEM IS,
JAKE,
IF I DO THAT FOR YOU,
THEN, UH,
YOU KNOW, THEY'LL
EXPECT THE SAME, AND...
BURTON,
IT'S MY DAD'S BUSINESS.
WELL, WHY DON'T YOU, UH,
WHY DON'T YOU JUST GO
TO THE P.A. SAVINGS
AND LOAN?
YEAH. NO, I--
I ALREADY DID.
UH, THEY CAN ONLY
GIVE ME 15,000, SO...
JAKE, LOOK, I'M SORRY,
BUT I'M NOT
IN THE LOAN BUSINESS.
THEY ARE.
I'M NOT. OK?
I'M SORRY.
[SOBBING]
MOM, WHAT HAPPENED?
THAT MAN FRITAS
CAME BY, WITH THIS.
HE SAID WE HAVE 30 DAYS
TO MOVE OUT OF OUR HOUSE.
I'M GONNA GET A DRINK.
I CAN'T STAND THAT MAN.
[SOBS]
MA...
WHAT AM I GONNA DO, JAKEY?
WHERE AM I GONNA GO?
WE HAVE NOTHING LEFT.
NO SAVINGS, NOTHING.
YOUR FATHER
GOES TO THE TRACK
ALMOST EVERY DAY.
HE DOESN'T CARE.
MA...
I'M GONNA TAKE
CARE OF YOU. OK?
YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED
TO DO THAT.
I WILL, MA.
IT'S GONNA BE OK.
I JUST WANT
TO KEEP MY HOUSE.
I JUST WANT
TO KEEP MY HOUSE.
AH, LULU. COULD YOU STEP
IN HERE A MINUTE, PLEASE?
NICK HAS APPROACHED ME
ABOUT REPRESENTING
MATTHEW AND JUSTIN
DAMIRA'S WISHES.
HOW?
HE WANTS TO FILE
A MOTION TO VACATE
THE DIAMOND ADOPTION.
SO, YOU'RE TAKING ME
OFF THE CASE?
NO. YOU'LL CONTINUE
AS MATTHEW'S GUARDIAN
AND MAINTAIN
YOUR POSITION
FOR BEST INTERESTS.
NICK JUST WANTS
TO REPRESENT
THEIR WISHES.
NICK'S TRYING
TO MAKE AN END RUN
TO GET THIS
BACK IN COURT.
THEY MADE
BEST EFFORTS TO KEEP
THOSE KIDS TOGETHER.
THEY GAVE MATTHEW
TO THE FIRST PERSON
IN LINE
AND THEY'RE
LETTING JUSTIN
FEND FOR HIMSELF.
NO. ALVIN...
IT'S ONLY FAIR, LULU.
IF MATTHEW WERE 12,
HE'D BE ABLE TO STOP
THIS ADOPTION HIMSELF.
THANK YOU.
WHY ARE YOU
DOING THIS?
BECAUSE IT ISN'T FAIR.
IT FEELS LIKE EVER SINCE
BRIAN CAME TO TOWN--
IT'S NOT
PERSONAL, LULU.
WELL, AT THE INCLINE
THE OTHER NIGHT,
YOU WERE VERY ANGRY--
YOU WERE THE ONE
THAT STORMED OUT
OF THE RESTAURANT.
WELL, YOU WERE BEING
VERY OFFENSIVE.
WAS I?
YOU WERE.
YOU KNOW YOU WERE
TALKING ABOUT ME
FOLLOWING BRIAN AROUND
AND SCREWING UP MY LIFE.
WHY DO YOU
HAVE A PROBLEM WITH
WHAT I DO WITH MY LIFE?
'CAUSE HE WANTS YOU
TO BE A HOUSEWIFE.
MOM...
I MADE THE CALL
TO THAT GUY.
THE BROKER.
YEAH?
AND HE SAID
TO SEND THE MONEY.
SO, I WENT
TO THE MAILBOX PLACE
AND I WIRED IT.
$15,000.
I NO SOONER GOT HOME,
AND HE CALLED.
HE WANTED TO KNOW
IF HE SHOULD
BUY THE STOCK.
AND THEN HE DID
AND THEN THE MONEY
WAS GONE.
YOU KNOW?
IT WAS KIND OF EXCITING.
ALL THAT MONEY.
AND SO,
THEN I--I TURNED ON
YOUR FATHER'S TV
AND, UH,
TO THAT STATION
WHERE THEY HAVE
THE STOCK THINGIES.
YOU KNOW?
AND I LOOK FOR
THE SYMBOL FOR EPSULAR.
IT WAS LIKE MAGIC.
IT WAS LIKE MAGIC,
JAKEY.
$45,000!
WE MADE $45,000 TODAY!
I CAN'T WAIT
TO TELL YOUR FATHER.
I CAN'T WAIT.
HEY, MAN.
YOU WANTED
TO SPEAK WITH ME?
NO, THANKS.
NICK...
I TAKE MY ADDICTION
SERIOUSLY.
I MEAN, I REALIZE IT
IN MYSELF
AND I DEAL
WITH MY ADDICTION
EVERY WAKING MOMENT
OF MY LIFE.
YOU KNOW, PHIL,
YOU DON'T HAVE
TO TELL ME
ABOUT YOURSELF.
IT'S OK.
WHAT ABOUT
YOU, NICK?
WHAT?
DO YOU THINK
YOU HAVE A PROBLEM
OR DO YOU THINK
YOU JUST GOT CAUGHT?
WELL, I'VE BEEN COMING
TO THESE MEETINGS
3 TIMES A WEEK
FOR THE LAST 8 MONTHS.
I HAVEN'T MISSED ONE.
THAT'S THE EASY PART.
I DO MY WORK,
I MEET WITH
MY PROBATION OFFICER--
YOU DIDN'T
ANSWER MY QUESTION.
DO YOU THINK
YOU HAVE A PROBLEM?
I HAVE A PROBLEM
GETTING CAUGHT, PHIL.
YOU STOOD BEFORE US
AND ADMITTED TO
USING AGAIN.
YEAH.
I MEAN,
THINK ABOUT THAT.
THINK ABOUT
HOW LUCKY YOU ARE.
I MEAN, WHAT IF
A RANDOM DRUG TEST
HAD COME UP?
OR WHAT IF SOMETHING
REALLY BAD HAD HAPPENED?
YEAH.
HEY, ALVIN.
YOU KNOW ALVIN,
DON'T YOU, NICK?
Alvin: HEY, NICK.
OH, YEAH.
ALVIN'S OFFERED TO BE
YOUR NEW SPONSOR, NICK.
ONLY IF YOU
WANT ME TO BE.
Barbara, laughing:
YOU SHOULD HAVE
SEEN HIS FACE.
RUSSELL
WAS JUST TERRIFIED.
[BOTH LAUGH]
WHAT'S WRONG?
NOTHING.
I GET IT.
IT'S--IT'S...
YOU KNOW,
WE HAD A GREAT TIME
AT THE CONCERT,
BUT IF YOU DON'T
WANT TO DO THIS--
WAIT. WAIT, WAIT. NO.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT YOU.
ARE YOU SURE?
I PROMISE.
YOU WANT
TO TALK ABOUT IT?
IT'S JUST THIS STUFF
WITH MY MOM AND DAD.
ANYTHING I CAN DO
TO HELP?
NO. I MEAN...
I MEAN,
I TOOK CARE OF IT, SO...
YOU LOANED THEM
THE MONEY.
WELL, IN A WAY.
YEAH. I MEAN...
THEY CAN KEEP
THE HOUSE NOW.
YOU'RE A GREAT SON, JAKE.
THAT'S JUST
THE GREATEST THING
TO BE ABLE TO HAVE.
TO BE SO SUCCESSFUL...
YOU KNOW, BARBARA, UM...
I'M--I'M REALLY
KIND OF BAD COMPANY
TONIGHT.
CAN WE...
CAN WE DO THIS
ANOTHER TIME?
OH. OK.
WELL, YEAH. OK.
OK.
GREAT. I MEAN,
I'LL CALL YOU. OK?
YEAH.
ALL RIGHT?
THANKS.
NO PROBLEM.
[KNOCK ON DOOR]
COME IN.
BURTON, YOU WANTED
TO SEE ME?
SIT DOWN, JAKE.
YOU TOLD YOUR MOTHER
ABOUT EPSULAR?
WHAT--WHAT HAPPENED?
THE S.E.C. CALLED
THIS MORNING.
OH, MY GOD.
BURTON, LOOK.
LET ME JUST TELL YOU
WHAT HAPPENED.
I'M ASSUMING SHE GOT
THE INFORMATION INDIRECTLY.
NO, BURTON. I WAS--
JAKE, DON'T DISABUSE
ME OF MY NOTION.
YOUR MOTHER
GOT THE INFORMATION
BECAUSE
SHE OVERHEARD YOU
ON THE PHONE.
WELL, THAT'S ALL, JAKE.
Martha Damira:
JANET MONTGOMERY
PROMISED ME.
Nick: WHAT DID SHE
PROMISE YOU?
THAT MY BOYS
WOULD BE KEPT TOGETHER.
DID SHE TELL YOU
WHO WAS PLANNING
ON ADOPTING YOUR BOYS?
NO.
WOULD YOU HAVE
TERMINATED YOUR RIGHTS
HAD YOU KNOWN
IT WAS SUZANNE DIAMOND?
NO.
WHY NOT?
MISS DIAMOND WAS NEVER
REAL NICE TO ME.
PLEASE DESCRIBE
TO THE COURT HOW JUSTIN'S
BRAIN DAMAGE OCCURRED.
UM...MY BOYFRIEND
WAS PUNISHING MATTHEW.
UM, JUSTIN GOT IN
THE MIDDLE OF IT
AND RON PUSHED HIM.
THEY WERE BY
THE STAIRS.
MRS. DAMIRA...
IS THIS YOUR SIGNATURE?
UM, YES.
PARAGRAPH 4
OF THIS FORM READS,
"I UNDERSTAND I MAY NOT
REVOKE THIS CONSENT
"ONCE THE COURT
ENTERS A TERMINATION
OR ADOPTION DECREE."
MRS. DAMIRA,
IS THERE ANYTHING
THAT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND
ABOUT THESE WORDS?
IT--IT SAYS I'M--
IT SAYS I CAN'T
GET MY KIDS BACK.
NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.
AHEM.
MARTHA,
DO YOU UNDERSTAND
WHAT THE WORD
DECREE MEANS?
NO.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT
THE WORD REVOKE MEANS?
REVOKE.
DID YOU EVEN READ THIS
BEFORE YOU SIGNED IT?
NO.
WE MAY FILE
CRIMINAL CHARGES.
ROB, I AM CERTAIN
THAT MAUREEN STRAKA
WAS UNAWARE THERE
WAS A PENDING MERGER.
I'M TALKING ABOUT
HER SON JAKE.
IT WAS A MISTAKE, ROB.
JUST AN INNOCENT MISTAKE.
SHE HEARD HER SON
TALKING ON THE PHONE.
THERE'S NO INTENT THERE.
THIS IS A 63-YEAR-OLD
HOUSEWIFE.
YOU'RE TALKING LIKE
SHE'S PART OF SOME
INSIDER TRADING RING.
CAN YOU PROVE
IT WAS INADVERTENT?
CAN YOU PROVE
IT WASN'T?
LOOK, LET ME...
LET ME SEE IF I CAN
GET THE MONEY BACK.
IF I GO FOR THIS...
I NEED YOUR WORD
THAT JAKE STRAKA
WILL NEVER WORK
ON ANOTHER
MERGER TRANSACTION.
ROB, THAT'S--
THAT'S WHAT WE DO HERE.
YOU'RE BASICALLY
MAKING HIM
USELESS TO ME.
THIS COULD BE
A LOT WORSE FOR YOU
THAN BENCHING
AN ASSOCIATE, BURTON.
A LOT WORSE.
JAKE...
THE S.E.C. IS
EXPECTING A CHECK
FOR A LITTLE BIT MORE
THAN 50,000 BY 5:00 TODAY.
I RECOMMEND THAT YOU
AND YOUR MOTHER
HAND DELIVER IT
AND THEN KISS THEIR ASS
FOR THEIR KINDNESS.
LOOK--
THAT'S--
THAT'S ALL, JAKE.
SOCIAL SERVICES
AND THE DIAMONDS LIVED
UP TO THEIR PROMISES.
FOR 6 MONTHS,
THE DIAMONDS ATTEMPTED
TO INCORPORATE
BOTH BOYS INTO
THEIR FAMILY,
BUT UNFORTUNATELY,
IT DIDN'T WORK.
NOW, WHAT THIS CASE
REALLY BOILS DOWN TO
IS A VERY SIMPLE
LEGAL ISSUE.
CAN A PARENT REVOKE
A VALID ADOPTION DECREE
SIMPLY BECAUSE
SHE'S CHANGED HER MIND,
OR BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T
LIKE THE PROSPECTIVE
ADOPTIVE PARENTS?
IT'S NOT THE WAY
THINGS ARE DONE,
YOUR HONOR.
LET THE
ADOPTION STAND.
MRS. DAMIRA'S CONSENT WAS
NOT KNOWING, VOLUNTARY,
AND DELIBERATE.
IN FACT,
THIS WHOLE ADOPTION
WAS PREMISED ON A FRAUD
PERPETRATED
ON MRS. DAMIRA.
SHE WAS LED TO BELIEVE
THAT HER 2 SONS WOULD
BE KEPT TOGETHER.
FURTHERMORE,
THE BROTHERS WANTED
TO BE KEPT TOGETHER.
NOW, HAD SOCIAL SERVICES
BOTHERED TO LOOK,
THEY MIGHT HAVE FOUND
A FAMILY THAT WAS WILLING
TO ADOPT BOTH BROTHERS,
BUT THEY DIDN'T.
THEY RENEGED
ON THEIR PROMISE
TO MRS. DAMIRA.
THAT ALONE IS GROUNDS
TO VACATE THIS ORDER.
I FIND THAT MARTHA DAMIRA
KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY
RELINQUISHED HER RIGHTS.
BUT I ALSO FIND
THAT SOCIAL SERVICES
MADE REPRESENTATIONS
TO MRS. DAMIRA
THAT HER 2 SONS WOULD
BE KEPT TOGETHER.
MORE EFFORT HAS TO
BE MADE TO HONOR
THOSE REPRESENTATIONS.
I'M VACATING THE ADOPTION.
MATTHEW DAMIRA WILL BE
PLACED IN A GROUP SHELTER
WITH HIS BROTHER
UNTIL A MORE SUITABLE
SITUATION CAN BE FOUND.
YOUR HONOR--YOUR HONOR,
THAT COULD TAKE MONTHS,
AND WHO KNOWS WHAT
THE DAMAGE WILL BE
TO MATTHEW--
I'M NICHOLAS FALLIN.
I JUST RECEIVED A CALL FROM
MY CLIENT JUSTIN DAMIRA.
OK, THANK YOU.
HEY.
HI, MR. FALLIN.
HI.
CAN I...TA-ALK TO YOU?
WHAT IS IT?
MATTHEW...DOESN'T
BEL-LONG HERE.
HE'S...GO-ONNA SAY
HE W-WANTS TO STAY,
BUT HE WAS CR-YING
ALL NIGHT.
Judge Damsen: JUSTIN
SAYS YOU DON'T LIKE
THE GROUP SHELTER.
NO. THE GROUP
SHELTER'S FINE.
I'M NOT THAT INTERESTED
IN OTHER KIDS ANYWAY.
I'M MORE INTERESTED
IN READING BOOKS
OR USING THE INTERNET.
PLUS, JUSTIN AND I
ARE IN THE SAME ROOM.
AND I CAN GO
TO THE MAGNET PROGRAM
FOR MATH.
W-WHY WERE YOU CR-YING?
IT WASN'T BECAUSE
OF THE GROUP SHELTER.
I WAS THINKING
OF SOMETHING ELSE.
M-MATTHEW,
YOU TELL THEM...
THE TRUTH.
YOU...WANNA GO.
IS THAT WHAT
YOU WANT, MATTHEW,
TO GO WITH THE DIAMONDS?
WILL YOU ALL
STEP OUT IN THE HALL
A MOMENT, PLEASE?
MR. FALLIN,
STICK AROUND.
YOU CAN BE
AN ARROGANT ASS,
YOU KNOW?
YOU'VE MANAGED
TO VILIFY 2 VERY
GOOD WOMEN,
HUMILIATE A COLLEAGUE,
AND FOR WHAT?
THIS COULD BE
A PERMANENT SEPARATION
FOR THESE KIDS.
WE'RE NOT TALKING
ABOUT PLACING THEM
IN DIFFERENT HOMES
IN THE SAME CITY
WHERE THEY CAN
SEE EACH OTHER
AND SEE THEIR MOTHER.
THESE BOYS
LOVE EACH OTHER.
THEY LOVE THEIR MOM.
I DIDN'T DO THIS
FOR ANY REASON
OTHER THAN THE FACT
THAT THEY SHOULD NOT
BE TORN APART.
DOES JUSTIN REALLY WANT
HIS BROTHER TO GO
WITH THE DIAMONDS?
YES.
THEN TELL THE BOYS
I'LL REVERSE MY DECISION.
Burton: JAKE.
CAN I SEE YOU
IN MY OFFICE?
BURTON, LISTEN, UM...
I JUST WANNA SAY
THANK YOU FOR
STANDING UP FOR ME.
SIT DOWN, JAKE.
JAKE, I'M AFRAID
WE'RE GONNA HAVE
TO DISCUSS
HOW THIS WHOLE THING
AFFECTS YOUR FUTURE
HERE.
MY--MY--MY FUTURE?
YEAH, I HAD TO
MAKE SOME PROMISES
TO CLEAR THIS UP.
I HAD TO PROMISE GERSH
THAT YOU WOULD NEVER BE
INVOLVED WITH ANY...
PUBLIC SECURITIES.
FOR HOW LONG?
FOREVER.
AT LEAST FOR NOW.
I--I BEEN DOING CORPORATE
FOR 7 YEARS NOW.
WELL, THAT SHOULD HAVE
BEEN LONG ENOUGH
FOR YOU TO DISCOVER
THAT YOU DON'T DISCLOSE
INSIDER INFORMATION.
WELL, UH, TELL ME, BURTON,
I MEAN, IS THERE STILL
A PLACE FOR ME HERE?
I THINK
THAT'S UP TO YOU.
I MEAN, IF YOU CAN
PICK UP ENOUGH WORK
TO JUSTIFY
YOUR OVERHEAD.
ABSOLUTELY.
OK.
OH, JAKE,
THIS, UM...
THIS IS FOR
THE NEXT 6 MONTHS.
THANK YOU.
YEAH.
HI, DAD.
[CHUCKLES]
YOU AND YOUR MOTHER.
NOW YOU KNOW.
WHAT?
HOW IT FEELS TO GAMBLE,
HUH, AND LOSE.
I THINK YOU GAVE HER
QUITE A THRILL, JAKEY.
I THINK SHE SEES ME
IN AN ENTIRELY
NEW LIGHT, YOU KNOW?
I PAID OFF THE LOAN.
THANK YOU.
DON'T THANK ME.
I BOUGHT THE TITLE.
I OWN THE HOUSE NOW.
WHAT ABOUT
MY BUSINESS?
I'M SORRY, DAD.
NO ONE'S GONNA
GIVE YOU THAT MONEY.
NO ONE'S GONNA
TAKE THAT RISK.
I'M GONNA HAVE TO CLOSE
THIS PLACE DOWN?
I'M SORRY, DAD.
LOOK, MAYBE, UH...
MAYBE IT'S BETTER
THIS WAY.
I--I WENT OVER
TO HOME WAREHOUSE, OK?
AND I SPOKE
TO MILT DALLESANDRO.
HE SAID THEY'RE HIRING.
HE SAID THEY NEED HELP
IN THE PLUMBING
DEPARTMENT.
THE PAY IS OK,
AND THE BENEFITS
ARE GOOD.
HOW AM I GONNA
CLOSE THIS PLACE DOWN
AFTER 35 YEARS?
HOW AM I GONNA DO IT?
THESE ARE THE, UH,
THESE ARE THE BANKRUPTCY
PAPERS. UM...
IT'S--IT'S NOT SUCH
A BIG DEAL, BELIEVE ME.
I CAN HELP YOU.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO
MAKE UP YOUR MIND
RIGHT NOW,
BUT YOU REALLY
SHOULD DO THIS
BEFORE YOUR CREDITORS
COME AFTER YOU AGAIN.
ALL RIGHT.
HEY.
HEY.
THANKS FOR MEETING ME.
I'M...SURPRISED
YOU CALLED.
I'M SORRY
ABOUT YESTERDAY.
I WAS IN THE MIDDLE
OF SOME PROBLEMS,
AND I JUST DIDN'T
WANT TO BURDEN YOU.
NO, IT'S OK.
NO, BUT I REALLY
ENJOY SPENDING
TIME WITH YOU,
AND I JUST DIDN'T
MEAN TO BE A JERK.
OH...[LAUGHS]
YOUR PARENTS?
YEAH.
OH, GOD.
MY MOTHER
DRIVES ME NUTS.
SHE WANTS TO GO
TO BINGO AND BUFFET
EVERY SATURDAY NIGHT.
SATURDAY NIGHT
IN MOUNT AIRE.
[BOTH CHUCKLING]
MY MOTHER, UH, COMPETES
IN PIE-BAKING CONTESTS.
OH!
DEMANDS I GO.
HA HA! AND DO YOU?
I HAVEN'T
MISSED ONE YET.
HA HA HA!
YOU WOULDN'T, UM...
WANNA COME PLAY BINGO
THIS SATURDAY NIGHT,
WOULD YA?
HELL, YEAH.
BRING ONE OF
YOUR MOM'S PIES.
I'M GONNA BRING
MY MOM!
PERFECT!
LEAVE THE PIES
AT HOME.
YEAH.
[BOTH LAUGHING]
[KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK]
YES?
ABOUT YOUR, UH, AHEM--
YOUR OFFER, UH...
[DROPS PAPERS ]ON DESK]
YES?
I--I GUESS
IT'D BE OK.
OK.
DON'T EXPECT ME
TO CALL YOU
OR ANYTHING.
OK.
'CAUSE I DON'T--
I DON'T NEED, UH...
I DON'T NEED ANYONE.
FINE, MR. FALLIN.
JUST CALL ME
NICK, WILL YOU?
OK? THAT'S ENOUGH WITH
THE MR. FALLIN THING.
FINE.
NICK.
OK.
YEAH.
GOOD NIGHT.
HEY.
MATTHEW'S HEADED
TO CHICAGO.
YEAH, I HEARD.
SO IT'S, UH,
ALL WORKED OUT
NOW.
YEAH.
OK.
NICK.
ABOUT THIS WEEK...
YEAH?
WE WERE HAVING
A--A PROFESSIONAL
ARGUMENT, RIGHT?
IT WAS A PROFESSIONAL
DISAGREEMENT, AND...
IT DIDN'T HAVE
ANYTHING TO DO WITH--
NO, OF COURSE NOT.
I AM HAPPY FOR YOU.
THANK YOU.
'CAUSE I DON'T KNOW.
IT JUST, UM...
IT DIDN'T
SEEM LIKE YOU TO...
TO DO SOMETHING
SO, UH...
SO WHAT?
EMOTIONAL.
WELL, I WAS
REPRESENTING MY CLIENT.
BEING PROFESSIONAL.
THAT'S RIGHT.
GOOD, THEN.
'CAUSE, UH...
I--I THINK THAT THAT'S...
I THINK THAT'S
THE BEST WAY
FOR US TO BE.
PROFESSIONAL.
RIGHT.
GOOD NIGHT.