The Guardian (2001–2004): Season 1, Episode 18 - Mothers of the Disappeared - full transcript

Narrator: PREVIOUSLY
ON THE GUARDIAN...

I AM SENTENCING YOU
TO 1,500 HOURS
OF COMMUNITY SERVICE,

I'M DOING YOU
A FAVOR BECAUSE
I RESPECT YOUR FATHER.

NOW, IF YOU PREFER
TO RETURN TO
JUDGE STANTON,

EXPLORE YOUR
OTHER OPTION,

WHICH I UNDERSTOOD
TO BE JAIL TIME,
THEN YOU MAY.

HI. I'M NICK.
Group: HI, NICK.

ALVIN'S OFFERED TO BE
YOUR NEW SPONSOR, NICK.

Nick: DON'T EXPECT ME
TO CALL YOU
OR ANYTHING.

'CAUSE I DON'T NEED, UH...
I DON'T NEED ANYONE.

YOUNG MR. FALLIN.



JUDGE STANTON.
GOOD MORNING.

YOU LIVE AROUND HERE?

YEAH, JUST AROUND
THE CORNER.

OH. ME, TOO.
NUMBER 27.

WE'RE NEIGHBORS.

HEH HEH! LOOK,
I'VE BEEN MEANING
TO, UH, CALL YOU.

OH, IS THERE
SOMETHING WRONG?

NO, NO, NO, NO. UM,

AS YOU KNOW,
I'VE BEEN APPOINTED
TO THE FEDERAL BENCH.

YES, I HEARD.
CONGRATULATIONS.
THANK YOU.

SO YOUR CASE
IS BEING TAKEN OVER
BY JUDGE HANDLEY.

WHOA! DOWN BOY!
BART, DOWN!

YOU, UH,
DO YOU LIKE DOGS?

NO.



NICHOLAS, WHY DON'T
YOU SEND THE DRY
CLEANING BILL--

NO, NO, NO.
IT'S NO PROBLEM.

UH, NICK...

I'M REALLY GLAD THINGS
ARE GOING WELL FOR YOU.

I'M GLAD FOR YOU
AND YOUR DAD.

YEAH.

COME ON, BOY.

TED, JUST SIT DOWN
HERE FOR A MINUTE, OK?

HEY, LAURIE.
DAMN, YOU LOOK GREAT.

WHAT'S UP?

I HAD TO SPEAK
AT A FUND-RAISING BREAKFAST
AT THE WILLIAM PENN.

I JUST PICKED UP
THIS KID WHO'S IN
FOR A DELINQUENCY HEARING,

AND I'M PRESSED
FOR TIME.

IS IT OK
IF WE INTERVIEW
HIM TOGETHER?

YEAH, NO PROBLEM.
WHY DON'T YOU WAIT
IN MY OFFICE?

OK.

HEY, NICK.

GOOD MORNING.

UH, LISTEN, UH...

I'M GOING
TO THE 12:30
MEETING TODAY.

YOU WANT TO COME?

OH, COME ON, NICK.
IT'S IMPORTANT.

GREAT, GREAT.
WE'LL HAVE LUNCH
AFTERWARDS.

WE'LL TALK
ABOUT THINGS.

DO I HAVE
AN APPOINTMENT
WITH YOU?

THE RECEPTIONIST
TOLD ME TO WAIT
IN HERE.

IT'S A VERY SIMPLE
THING, REALLY.

HOW CAN I HELP YOU,
MISS, UH...

McGREGOR.

8 YEARS AGO,
MY DAUGHTER GRACE WAS
COMING HOME FROM SCHOOL.

SHE GOT OFF
AT HER STOP 100 YARDS
FROM OUR FRONT DOOR,

AND THE BUS DRIVER
CLOSED THE DOOR
AND WAVED GOOD-BYE.

SHE GOT OFF
AT THE STOP,

BUT SHE NEVER
MADE IT HOME.

I LOOKED ALL OVER
THE COUNTRY FOR HER.

I EVEN WENT
TO CANADA ONCE.

I'M VERY SORRY,
MISS McGREGOR.
I JUST--

I JUST--
I DON'T UNDERSTAND
WHY YOU'RE HERE.

A FEW YEARS
BEFORE SHE DISAPPEARED,

GRACIE AND I
WERE IN A CAR ACCIDENT.

A DRUNK DRIVER
RAN A RED LIGHT

AND HIT US.
I WASN'T HURT,

BUT GRACIE BROKE
HER ARM AND HER LEG.

OK.

THE DRIVER'S
INSURANCE COMPANY
SETTLED OUT WITH US

FOR $95,000
IN TRUST FOR GRACE.

RIGHT. SO NOW
YOU WANT THE MONEY?

MY HUSBAND DIED
A FEW YEARS BACK,

AND I'VE BEEN
MAKING ENDS MEET
EVER SINCE THEN,

BUT MY LANDLORD
TOLD ME LAST WEEK

THAT HE WANTS
TO SELL MY HOUSE.

THE ONLY WAY WE CAN STAY
IS IF I BUY IT OUTRIGHT,

AND I CAN'T GET
THE MONEY TO DO THAT.

UN...UNLESS--
UNLESS I...

UNLESS YOU HAVE
YOUR DAUGHTER
DECLARED DEAD.

I DON'T
WANT TO DO THIS,
BUT I CAN'T MOVE.

WHEN GRACE COMES HOME,
I'VE GOT TO BE THERE.

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.

I WAS WATCHING
THIS BASEBALL GAME,
RIGHT,

AND THE ANNOUNCER,

HE STARTED TALKING ABOUT
THE CONFLUENCE OF THESE
3 GREAT RIVERS, YOU KNOW,

AND HOW THE INDIANS,
EVEN THEY KNEW THAT
IT HAD SPECIAL POWERS,

SO I DECIDED I HAD TO
GO OUT AND SEE IT
FOR MYSELF.

WHEN DID
YOU DO THIS?

IT WAS, UH...

TUESDAY
OR SATURDAY.

ONCE I WAS HERE,
I WANTED TO GET A VIEW
FOR THE RIVERS

FROM DIFFERENT PARTS
OF THE CITY, YOU KNOW?

SO I TOOK
THE 41-C BUS
ACROSS THE RIVERS.

IT WAS
A BEAUTIFUL RIDE.

BUT THE GLASS, IT--
IT BLOCKED THE WATER.

THAT'S WHY I HAD
TO BREAK THE WINDOW.

IT SAYS HERE THAT
YOU HIT A POLICEMAN.

I DIDN'T WANT
TO GET OFF THE BUS.

THEY'RE USUALLY
NOT SO MEAN.

YOU'VE DONE THIS
BEFORE?

ONLY WHEN
HE TELLS ME TO.

WHO TELLS YOU
TO DO THIS?

MR. WHISPER.

HE'S KIND OF
A SPIRIT GUIDE
THAT I KNOW.

MR. WHISPER?

RIGHT. HE...

HE THOUGHT THAT
THE ENERGY, YOU KNOW,

COMING FROM
THE 3 RIVERS HERE
WOULD BE RELAXING TO ME.

I THINK
HE HAS A POINT.

TED, DO YOU
EVER HEAR VOICES

OF PEOPLE
WHO AREN'T THERE?

THEY ARE THERE.
YOU JUST CAN'T
SEE THEM.

HAVE YOU EVER TALKED
TO A PSYCHIATRIST?

A PSYCHIATRIST?

NO WAY.

SO YOU WERE IN DETENTION
AT THE SCHUMAN CENTER
FOR 9 DAYS?

YES.

AND YOU NEVER TALKED
TO ONE THERE?

NO, UM...

IT'S NOT AN ASYLUM.

IT'S MORE LIKE
A DETENTION HOME.

YEAH, GRACE McGREGOR
WAS MY CASE.

YOU KNOW,
IN MY LINE OF WORK,

IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT
A GUT REACTION,

BECAUSE MOST OF THE TIME
WHEN PEOPLE ARE MISSING,

THEY'RE BACK
IN A DAY OR TWO,

BUT THE MINUTE
THAT LADY WALKED IN,
I KNEW THAT KID WAS GONE.

ANY INVESTIGATION?

WELL, IT'S STILL OPEN,
TECHNICALLY.

WE CHASED DOWN
HUNDREDS OF LEADS.

THE FBI IS
WORKING WITH US,

BUT WE'RE NOT
GONNA FIND HER.

THIS IS THE NIGHTMARE.

MISSING LITTLE GIRL
ON HER WAY HOME
FROM SCHOOL.

SUSPECTS?
EVERYONE.

INCLUDING
MISS McGREGOR?

NO ONE JUST DROPS OFF
THE FACE OF THE EARTH.

YOU DID
INVESTIGATE HER?

YEAH. RESPONSIBLE,

NO INCIDENTS IN THE PAST,
NO PROBLEMS WITH DRUGS.

AT ONE POINT,
BETWEEN US AND THE FEDS,

WE HAD 6 FULL-TIME GUYS
ON THIS.

WE SEARCHED ALL
OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA.

WE ASKED ALL
THE HARD QUESTIONS,
BUT...NOTHING.

NOT A MOMENT OF HOPE
IN THIS ONE.

SHE WANTS TO PUT THIS
BEHIND HER?

YEAH.
OK.

I'LL PUT OUT
ONE LAST NOTICE...

WORLDWIDE...

AND CLOSE IT.

OK.
TELL JANINE--

YOU TELL HER
SHE'S IN MY PRAYERS.

WHY ISN'T HE AT
SOUTHWESTERN PSYCH?

I DON'T THINK
HE'S EVER BEEN EXAMINED.

AND THIS IS
A DELINQUENCY HEARING?

THEY'RE THROWING
THE BOOK AT HIM.

ASSAULT, BATTERY,
AND INTERFERING
WITH A POLICE ACTION.

THEY PROBABLY LOOKED
IN HIS FILE,

SAW ALL
THAT PETTY CRIME,

AND DECIDED
"REPEAT OFFENDER."

OK.

OK,
I'LL REPRESENT HIM.

GOOD.

Alvin: I'M NOT
A PERSON WHO LIKES
TO FACE MY PROBLEMS HEAD ON.

HEH HEH!

I NEVER HAVE BEEN.

YOU KNOW?

SO, UH, ABOUT ME
SPONSORING YOU, I--

I DON'T WANT YOU
TO HESITATE.

CALL DAY OR NIGHT
OR DROP BY.

YOU GOT ALL
MY NUMBERS, RIGHT?
YEAH.

I, UH, I HAD SOME SLIPS
WHEN I STARTED OUT.

HEH! A LOT OF SLIPS.

ALVIN, WE GOT
DRUNK TOGETHER
ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO.

YEAH, WELL...

YEAH. UH,
ALL I'M SAYING IS
YOU CAN TELL ME ANYTHING.

THANKS.
YOU KNOW, I'M GONNA
HAVE TO SKIP LUNCH.

I GOT A LOT OF--
WAIT, I GOT YOU
SOMETHING.

HERE. UH, A BOOK.

OH.

"SANE AND SOBER."

WELL, THANKS,
THANKS.

HEY,
IT'S A GOOD BOOK.

NOW, YOU UNDERSTAND
THAT THERE IS A STATUTE

THAT ALLOWS A JUDGE
TO DECLARE A PERSON DEAD

IF THAT PERSON
HAS BEEN MISSING
FOR MORE THAN 7 YEARS.

NOW, IN ORDER FOR YOU
TO GET THE MONEY,

THE CORPUS OF THE TRUST
MUST BECOME PART
OF GRACE'S ESTATE,

AND THEN IT WILL PASS
UNDER THE RULES
OF INTESTACY TO YOU.

IT'S IN HERE.

WE NEVER EVEN
HAD A FUNERAL.

SO I'LL SEE YOU
TOMORROW MORNING

AT THE COURTHOUSE
OUTSIDE COURTROOM 201,
9:00.

Judge Stanton:
MR. FALLIN.

DON'T THINK I'VE
JUST BEEN WALKING
MY DOG ALL DAY.

NO, I'M SURE
YOU HAVEN'T.

MY NEW HOURS
ARE BETTER.

SO I SEE.

HEY, HOW ARE THINGS
AT LEGAL SERVICES?

YOU KNOW, I WORKED
FOR .LEGAL AID

I MEAN, IT WAS
THE BEST 3 YEARS
OF MY WORKING LIFE.

I MEAN, I'VE BEEN
ALL OVER THE SYSTEM.

PRIVATE PRACTICE,
NOT FOR PROFIT,

STATE JUDGE,
AND NOW FEDERAL JUDGE.

AND THE BEST PART
OF THE WORK?

IT'S NOT
ABOUT MAKING
THE DECISIONS.

IT'S ABOUT THE PEOPLE
I'VE MET ALONG THE WAY,

THE THINGS
THEY'VE SHOWN ME
ABOUT THIS LIFE.

HEH HEH HEH!
HE LIKES YOU.

[DOG BARKS]
YEAH,
A LITTLE TOO MUCH.

YEAH,
WELL, NICHOLAS,

YOUR FATHER IS ONE
OF THE BEST LAWYERS
I'VE KNOWN,

AND WHEN HE TALKS
TO ME ABOUT YOU,

HE TELLS ME THAT YOU'RE
10 TIMES THE LAWYER
HE'LL EVER BE.

HE DOES?

SO WHAT
DO YOU THINK, NICK?

DO YOU THINK YOU'RE
GONNA BE THAT GOOD?

MISS McGREGOR,
THIS IS NICHOLAS FALLIN.

I UNDERSTAND
THAT YOU MAY HAVE
SECOND THOUGHTS ABOUT THIS,

BUT I CAN'T WAIT HERE
ANY LONGER.

AS SOON AS YOU
GET THIS MESSAGE,
CALL ME BACK.

YOUR HEARING'S
CANCELED.

WHY?
THE POLICE CALLED
JANINE McGREGOR.

HER DAUGHTER GRACE
WAS FOUND ALIVE
IN HOLLAND.

THE DUTCH GOVERNMENT
PUT HER ON A FLIGHT
BACK HOME EARLY THIS MORNING.

OH, MR. FALLIN,
WHAT BRINGS YOU OVER?

WELL, I HAVE
SOME PAPERWORK
OF YOURS TO RETURN.

OH, YES, WELL,
PLEASE COME IN, PLEASE.

I WANT YOU
TO MEET GRACE.

I WAS JUST
MAKING SOME TEA.
WOULD YOU LIKE SOME?

NO, THANK YOU.
SODA?

SURE, PLEASE.

HERE YOU GO.

THANK YOU.

NO, I'M FINE,
THANK YOU.

SHE'S BEEN SLEEPING.

SHE'S SO EXHAUSTED.

I'M SURE.

IN A WAY, I HAVE YOU
TO THANK FOR THIS.

ME?
YES.

IF YOU HADN'T
FILED THE PAPERWORK,

THEN THE POLICE
WOULD NEVER HAVE
SENT OUT THAT NOTICE,

AND IF THAT
HADN'T HAPPENED,

THEN GRACE WOULD NEVER
HAVE COME HOME TO ME.

MISS McGREGOR,
A COUPLE OF THINGS--

YES?

BY LAW, THE FBI
AND THE POLICE

CAN'T INVESTIGATE
THE VERACITY

OF A RETURNED
MISSING PERSON

UNLESS THE PARENT
ORDERS FORENSIC TESTS,

FINGERPRINTS,
BLOOD TESTS--

MR. FALLIN,
I UNDERSTAND
YOUR CONCERN,

BUT THIS IS GRACE.

I'M HER MOTHER.
I KNOW MY DAUGHTER.

WELL, I JUST--
TO MAKE SURE.

AND THERE SHE IS.

GRACE.

MR. FALLIN,
THIS IS GRACE.

GRACE--
OH, I DON'T KNOW
YOUR FIRST NAME.

NICK.

GRACE.

IT'S AMAZING
THAT YOU'RE BACK.

ONE MORE DAY,
AND YOU WOULD'VE MISSED
YOUR OWN DEATH.

I'M GONNA GO GET
SOMETHING TO EAT, MA.

OK, SWEETHEART.

I'M STILL SO TIRED.
YES, GET
SOMETHING TO EAT,

AND THEN GET
SOME MORE SLEEP.

THE BANK WANTS
SOME I.D. BEFORE
WE CAN GET THE MONEY.

THEY WANT AN AFFI...

AFFIDAVIT.
IT'S JUST A STATEMENT
TO VERIFY HER IDENTITY.

CAN YOU HELP ME
WITH THAT?
YEAH, SURE.

THANK YOU.

YOUR HONOR,
SINCE HIS INITIAL
ARREST IN MARCH,

TED POPPER
HAS BEEN EVICTED
FROM 4 GROUP HOMES.

I DON'T SEE WHY
WE SHOULD BE FORCED
TO GAMBLE ON A FIFTH.

HE BELONGS IN LOCKUP.

JUDGE DAMSEN,
TED DOES NOT
NEED PUNISHMENT.

HE NEEDS
PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT.

Prosecutor:
WHICH HE WILL RECEIVE
IN JUVENILE DETENTION.

Alvin: MAY I PUT TED
ON THE STAND?

TED,

COULD YOU TELL US WHY
YOU WALKED OUT OF
YOUR LAST GROUP HOME?

MR. WHISPER
TOLD ME TO, SIR.

CAN YOU TELL US
WHO MR. WHISPER IS?

HE WOULD BE
A WATER SPRITE, SIR.

Alvin: WHO LIVES
IN YOUR HEAD?

YES, SIR.

THANKS.

NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.

TED, DO YOU KNOW
WHAT A POLICE OFFICER
LOOKS LIKE?

UH...

YES, SIR. HE, UH...

HE WEARS A BROWN
OR A BLUE UNIFORM...

SOMETIMES A SPECIAL HAT,

AND, OF COURSE,
A BADGE AND A GUN.

THAT'S CORRECT.

TED, IS IT RIGHT OR WRONG
TO HIT A POLICE OFFICER?

IT'S WRONG, SIR.

IT'S VERY, VERY WRONG.

NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.
YOUR HONOR,

TED MAY HAVE PROBLEMS,
BUT HE'S ABSOLUTELY
CULPABLE FOR THE ASSAULT.

JUDGE DAMSEN,
THE FACTS SPEAK
FOR THEMSELVES.

WHAT'S YOUR RECOMMENDATION,
COUNSELOR?

HE SHOULD BE IN
A MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY.

AS A REWARD
FOR HITTING A COP?

FOR TESTING.

WE NEED THE PSYCHIATRIC RECORD
TO COMMIT HIM INVOLUNTARILY.

WHY CAN'T
HE BE EXAMINED
IN A DETENTION CENTER?

PLEASE DO
THE EXAMINATION

BEFORE SENDING HIM
THERE, YOUR HONOR.

TED POPPER
SHALL BE PLACED
IN ANOTHER GROUP HOME

UNTIL AN INITIAL
PSYCHIATRIC EXAM
CAN BE ARRANGED.

Detective:
I INTERVIEWED HER.

WHAT'S HER STORY?

SHE WAS KIDNAPPED
AND TAKEN TO EUROPE
OF ALL PLACES,

PART OF
A PEDOPHILE RING.

YOU BELIEVE HER?

SHE GAVE AN INCREDIBLY
DETAILED ACCOUNT

OR HER KIDNAPPING
AND REPEATED RAPE.

LOOK, I WANT TO KNOW
IF YOU BELIEVE HER.

JANINE McGREGOR BELIEVES
SHE'S HER DAUGHTER.

THAT'S ALL
THAT MATTERS HERE.

JANINE McGREGOR
WANTS TO BELIEVE

THAT GRACE
IS STILL ALIVE.

WE ALL AGREE
THAT WE'RE PROBABLY
LOOKING AT FRAUD HERE.

OK.

I MEAN,
IT'S HAPPENED BEFORE.

SOMEONE GETS AHOLD
OF A MISSING PERSON
REPORT

AND IMPERSONATES
THE DISAPPEARED.

CAN'T YOU FORCE THEM
TO GIVE FINGERPRINTS
OF BLOOD TESTS?

LEGALLY, NO,

NOT UNLESS WE THINK
THE GIRL'S GONNA
COMMIT A FUTURE CRIME.

THEN WE CAN GET
A COURT ORDER
FOR THE TESTS.

STEALING $95,000

FROM A DESPERATE MOTHER
ISN'T A FUTURE CRIME?

SHE HASN'T DONE THAT.

NOT YET.

G-GOOD DOG,
GOOD DOG.

WHAT ARE YOU
DOING HERE?
COME ON.

COME ON.

G-GOOD BOY.
GOOD BOY.

JUDGE STANTON,
THIS IS NICHOLAS FALLIN.

I FOUND YOUR DOG BART
ON THE STREET.

I'M GONNA TIE HIM
TO THE FRONT RAIL
OF YOUR HOUSE.

JUST, UM...

UM...YEAH,

CALL ME WHEN
YOU GET THIS MESSAGE
AT MY OFFICE.

OK, NOW YOU STAY THERE.
STAY THERE! STAY THERE.

DAD, I JUST NEED
A COUPLE SIGNATURES.

RICK STANTON WAS...

WALKING HIS DOG
THIS MORNING.
HE HAD A HEART ATTACK.

HE'S IN
CRITICAL CONDITION.

THEY DON'T THINK
HE'S GONNA MAKE IT.

EXCUSE ME.

EXCUSE ME.

[WOOF]

GOOD DOG, GOOD.

OK, WE'RE GONNA GO NOW.

COME ON. COME ON.
COME ON.

COME ON.

GOOD BOY.

LISTEN, NO ONE
COMES IN HERE EVER,

OK, SO YOU
BEHAVE YOURSELF.

DON'T GO
ON THE FURNITURE.
NO FURNITURE.

THAT'S GOOD. UH...

I'M GONNA GET SOMEONE
TO BRING YOU SOME FOOD

AND SOME WATER,

AND WE'LL FIND A PLACE
FOR YOU TO LIVE. OK?

GOOD DOG.

OK.

DON'T GO POTTY.

THE NOTARY
IS ON THE WAY.

ONCE YOU SIGN THIS,

THE BANK WILL ACCEPT GRACE
AS YOUR DAUGHTER
AND FREE THE FUNDS.

THANK YOU.
ARE YOU SURE
YOU WANT TO DO THIS?

I'VE HEARD
WHAT SOME PEOPLE SAY
ABOUT GRACE COMING HOME.

BUT, MR. FALLIN,
EVEN IF IT'S
JUST FOR THE MONEY,

IT GOT HER BACK HERE.

AND YOU'RE CERTAIN
SHE'S YOUR DAUGHTER?

SHE'S MY GRACIE.
SHE IS.

HELLO, SWEETHEART.
DID YOU GET SOME SLEEP?

YEAH, MOM.

I WAS JUST
MAKING SOME TEA.
DO YOU WANT SOME?

SURE. YEAH.

[SIGHS]

SO YOU WERE
IN AMSTERDAM.

THAT MUST
HAVE BEEN TERRIBLE.

WHERE'D YOU LIVE
IN AMSTERDAM?

I LIVED A LOT OF PLACES.

USUALLY THEY HAD ME
LOCKED UP IN HOTEL ROOMS.

BUT I LIVED
ALL OVER EUROPE.

IF YOU NEED TO KNOW.

YOU KNOW, I, UH--

I VISITED THE DOCTOR
THAT TREATED YOU
AFTER YOUR CAR ACCIDENT.

HE HAS A NICE
SET OF X-RAYS.
HE SAID...

THAT YOU
CAN ALWAYS SEE WHERE
A BONE WAS FRACTURED.

EVEN 9 YEARS LATER.

AND WHEN
THE NOTARY GETS HERE,

BEFORE YOU SIGN
THIS DOCUMENT,

HE'S GONNA HAVE
TO FINGERPRINT YOU.

AND THEY'RE GONNA
RUN THOSE FINGERPRINTS--
GET OUT!

MISS McGREGOR--
GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!

MISS McGREGOR,
I'M SORRY--

SHE'S SUFFERED ENOUGH.
GET OUT!

OK.

TED POPPER
JUST GOT KICKED OUT
OF ANOTHER GROUP HOME.

WE HAVE TO
GET OVER TO COURT.

THERE'S AN EMERGENCY
SHELTER HEARING.
WHAT HAPPENED?

HE WAS SITTING
IN THE CORNER OF HIS ROOM
WITH A TOWEL OVER HIS HEAD.

ONE OF THE COUNSELORS
TRIED TO MAKE HIM
TAKE IT OFF.

AND?
HE HIT HIM.
HE BROKE HIS NOSE.

WHAT ABOUT THE MOTHER?

I FINALLY
GOT HOLD OF HER.
AND?

SHE'S COMING IN,
BUT SHE DOESN'T
WANT HER SON BACK.

I'M SORRY, MR. FALLIN,
FOR YELLING. I'M SORRY.

IT'S OK.

I KNOW YOU WERE
JUST BEING CAUTIOUS.

WHAT CAN I
HELP YOU WITH?

UM, IT'S
ABOUT GRACE'S TRUST.

THEY'RE GIVING US
SOME PROBLEMS.

THEY, UH,
THEY DON'T WANT TO
GIVE US THE MONEY.

JUST COME IN HERE.

TAKE A SEAT.
THANK YOU.

THEIR LEGAL OBLIGATION
IS TO GRACE.

BECAUSE SHE'S MISSING,
THEY'RE LEGALLY OBLIGED
TO INVESTIGATE.

BUT I THOUGHT THAT'S WHAT
THE AFFIDAVIT WAS FOR.

NO, THAT'S
JUST YOUR WORD.

AND THAT WOULD BE ENOUGH
IF THE CIRCUMSTANCES
WEREN'T SO SUSPICIOUS.

BUT THIS FORM
SAYS THAT THEY NEED
A HEEL PRINT FOR GRACE.

BUT SHE HAS
THE SAME BIRTHMARK
AND THE SAME SCARS.

WELL, THE BANK
MIGHT BE THINKING

THAT YOU CAN TATTOO
THOSE MARKS ON YOUR BODY.

WHY WOULD SHE DO THAT?

MISS McGREGOR...

YOU...

YOU LISTED ALL
OF THOSE FEATURES ON
HER MISSING PERSONS REPORT.

YOU PUBLISHED
THAT INFORMATION
ALL OVER THE WORLD.

ASK HER FOR THE HEEL PRINT.
IF SHE'S YOUR DAUGHTER...

THEN IT SHOULDN'T
BE A PROBLEM.

BURTON.

HEY, RICK.
HOW ARE YOU FEELING?

OH, MY SON, UH,

WANTED ME TO TELL YOU
THAT HE FOUND YOUR DOG.

AND HE WANTS TO KNOW
WHAT WE SHOULD DO WITH HIM.

FEED HIM TWICE A DAY.

LOTS OF EXERCISE.

[CHUCKLES]

I DON'T THINK
HE MEANT, UH...

I'LL TELL HIM.

I, UM...

I JUST CAME BY,
WANTED TO, UH...

TELL YOU THANK YOU
FOR WHAT YOU DID FOR NICK.

BURTON.

ANYONE ELSE WOULD HAVE
THROWN THE BOOK AT HIM.
I KNOW THAT.

BUT I DON'T KNOW
WHETHER YOU JUST
SAW SOMETHING IN HIM

OR WHETHER
YOU WERE JUST, UM...

TRYING TO DO A FAVOR
FOR A FRIEND, OR--

I DIDN'T DO HIM
ANY FAVORS.

NICK DOESN'T RESPOND
REAL WELL TO...

AUTHORITY.

I DON'T KNOW WHETHER
YOU KNEW THAT OR NOT, BUT...

I DO KNOW THAT IF
YOU'D COME DOWN WITH A...

DIFFERENT SENTENCE...

HE MAY HAVE
FALLEN APART.

BURTON...

YOU'RE A GOOD MAN.

THANKS.

YOU'RE A GREAT LAWYER.

BUT YOU COULD DO MORE.

EXCUSE ME?

YOU COULD DO MORE.

MISS POPPER, WOULD YOU
CONSIDER PUTTING TED
IN A PSYCHIATRIC FACILITY?

HE ISN'T CRAZY.
HE'S DAMAGED.

DAMAGED?

HIS STEPDAD,
WHEN HE WAS A BOY,

DID SOME TERRIBLE
THINGS TO HIM.

HE'S BEEN STRANGE
EVER SINCE.

MISS POPPER,
HE HEARS VOICES.

I KNOW.

BECAUSE OF THAT,
I DON'T THINK
HE SHOULD BE IN A PLACE

WHERE THAT KIND
OF BEHAVIOR'S ALLOWED.

ONCE HE'S
IN A MENTAL HOME,

HE'LL GET USED
TO ACTING LIKE THAT.

AT LEAST ON THE OUTSIDE,
HE KNOWS IT'S NOT RIGHT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK
THEY'RE GONNA DO TO HIM
IN A PSYCHIATRIC FACILITY?

THEY WON'T TREAT HIM
LIKE A NORMAL PERSON.

THAT'S THE POINT.

PLUS, THEY'LL KEEP HIM
AS LONG AS THEY WANT.

UNTIL HE'S BETTER.

WELL, THAT
COULD MEAN FOREVER.

I HAVE NO FURTHER
QUESTIONS, YOUR HONOR.

YOUR HONOR, I REQUEST
FOR THE SECOND TIME

THAT MR. POPPER
BE GIVEN A FULL
PSYCHIATRIC EXAMINATION

BEFORE WE MAKE
ANY RECOMMENDATION.

YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER
THE WELL-BEING

OF THE OTHER CHILDREN
IN A GROUP HOME.

SO YOU WANT TO HAND IT OFF
TO THE DELINQUENCY SYSTEM

AND THEY'LL HAND IT OFF
TO CORRECTIONS.

AND AT THE END OF THE DAY,
YOU'LL TAKE THIS KID,

WHO WE ALL KNOW
NEEDS TREATMENT,
AND PUNISH HIM.

YOUR HONOR,
WE HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE

FROM THE AVAILABLE
LAWFUL OPTIONS.

Laurie: IF TED GETS INTO
A DELINQUENCY FACILITY,

IT WILL TAKE
WEEKS OR MONTHS
FOR HIM TO GET OUT.

THEN HE'LL HAVE
TO GO THROUGH A WHOLE
OTHER ROUND OF HEARINGS

BEFORE HE GETS HELP.

YOUR HONOR,

WE SEE HUNDREDS OF KIDS
LIKE THIS EVERY YEAR.

AND WHAT
IS OUR SOLUTION?

PUNISHMENT? DEFINITELY.

TREATMENT?
ONLY IF IT'S CONVENIENT.

WE CANNOT COMMIT TED
WITHOUT A PSYCHIATRIC RECORD
OR PARENTAL CONSENT.

AND HE'S ALREADY
BEEN REJECTED

BY THE MOST RESTRICTIVE
SHELTER SETTING AVAILABLE.

I HAVE NO CHOICE

BUT TO TRANSFER HIM
TO A DETENTION FACILITY
FOR JUVENILE OFFENDERS

AND MAKE THEM AWARE
OF THE SUSPICIONS

THAT MR. POPPER SUFFERS
FROM A MENTAL ILLNESS.

YOU WANT TO SURROUND
A MENTALLY ILL KID

WHO'S PROBABLY
BEEN ABUSED

WITH MOLESTERS
AND DRUG DEALERS?

NO MORE THAN I WANT
TO SUBJECT CHILDREN
IN AN ADOLESCENT SHELTER

TO THE OUTBURSTS
OF A VIOLENCE-PRONE CHILD!

[BANGS GAVEL]

LAURIE, WAIT.

BARRY COHEN
IS THE MOST STUBBORN,

WRONG-HEADED ATTORNEY
IN THE ENTIRE SYSTEM.

IT'S NOT HIS FAULT.
YOU SAW IT.

NO, IT'S A LAW.
IT'S NOT THE LAWYERS.
OH, PLEASE.

NO, IT'S
THE SYSTEM, LAURIE.

A CHILD DOESN'T
COME INTO COURT UNLESS
HE'S COMMITTED A CRIME

OR IF HE'S
IN NEED OF SHELTER.

THERE IS NO PLACE
FOR A CHILD WITH
MENTAL ILLNESS ISSUES.

DO YOU WANT TO DO
SOMETHING ABOUT IT?

ME?
WHAT TIME
DO YOU GET OFF WORK?

6:00.
I'LL MEET YOU
AT YOUR OFFICE.

TONIGHT?
DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING
MORE IMPORTANT TO DO?

ALL RIGHT.
THAT'S IT.

[LAUGHS]

THIS REMINDS ME
OF WHEN YOU
WERE A BABY.

[BOTH LAUGH]

WELL, THE PLACE
LOOKS DIFFERENT.

YES, WE TOOK DOWN
ALL THE PICTURES,
ALL THE CLIPPINGS.

WE TOOK ALL OF
GRACE'S OLD STUFF FROM
WHEN SHE WAS A LITTLE GIRL

AND PUT IT
IN THE CRAWLSPACE.

IT LOOKS GOOD.
THANK YOU.

I, UM,
I HOPE IT WORKS OUT
FOR BOTH OF YOU.

I HOPE IT WORKS OUT.

THANK YOU,
MR. FALLIN.

GOOD LUCK WITH THE TEST.

JUDGE STANTON?

JUDGE?

YOUR DOG'S HERE. BART.

THEY, UH...
THEY LET ME BRING HIM
UP HERE TO SEE YOU.

HEY, BART.

HEY, BOY.
HOW ARE YOU?

Laurie: MARK, I KNOW
IT'S A LITTLE BIT LATE
AND I APOLOGIZE,

BUT I'D REALLY APPRECIATE IT
IF YOU'D CALL THE MAYOR
FOR US ON THIS.

AND MAYBE
TOMORROW YOU CALL DALE
IN THE D.A.'s OFFICE.

WE SPOKE TO HIM EARLIER.
HE WAS VERY RECEPTIVE
TO THE IDEA.

[TELEPHONE RINGS]
YEAH, DALE HAS A COUSIN
WITH ASPERGER'S SYNDROME.

HELLO?

RIGHT. KIDS WHO HAVE
MENTAL ILLNESS ISSUES

ARE TWICE AS LIKELY
TO HAVE DRUG PROBLEMS.

WE'LL HAVE
BRIEFING PACKETS.

HEY, LISTEN,
I'M GONNA FAX YOU--

OK, MARK. YEAH.

AH, THANKS. AND PLEASE COME
TO THE MEETING ON THURSDAY.

THANKS.

AHH.

TIM--

IT'S NEARLY 10:00, LAURIE.
I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD
WAKE ANY MORE PEOPLE UP.

DID YOU HEAR
COUNCILWOMAN HISSERICH?

SHE'D ALREADY HEARD.
ALVIN, I THINK
THIS ISSUE IS RIPE.

YOU'VE DONE THIS BEFORE,
HAVEN'T YOU?

YEAH.

I PHONE BANKED
FOR McGOVERN, MONDALE,
AND MICHAEL DUKAKIS.

I CHAIRED
THE PITTSBURGH CAMPAIGN
FOR NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT,

AND I WORKED FOR 2 YEARS
TO RAISE FUNDS

TO PASS THE EQUAL RIGHTS
AMENDMENT.

WE ARE 0 FOR 5.

NO, THE E.R.A.
PASSED IN PENNSYLVANIA.

THAT'S RIGHT.

UH...

WANT TO GRAB
A BITE TO EAT?

I ALREADY ATE.

HAVE A DRINK
WITH YOU, THOUGH.

I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.

YOU DRINK, I'LL EAT.

OK.

[MACHINES BEEPING]

Doctor: GET THAT DOG
OUT OF HERE.

CHARGE THE PADDLES, 200.

[WHIMPERS]

Nurse: CLEAR.
[PADDLES THUMP]

ALL RIGHT
MOVE IT UP TO 260.

CLEAR.
[PADDLES THUMP]

Doctor: 300.

LORI, PUT ONE OF THESE
IN EACH "IN" BOX, PLEASE.

HEY.

HOW ARE YOU?

WELL...

I'M NOT GETTING OFF
TO A REAL GOOD
START TODAY.

YEAH.

PROBABLY THE BEST FRIEND
I EVER HAD.

YEAH.

I WAS LYING AWAKE
THIS MORNING,
THINKING ABOUT, UH...

EVERYTHING.

I, UH...

I COULD
HARDLY BREATHE.

I DON'T THINK I EVER
GAVE A LOT OF THOUGHT TO...
THE CHOICES I MADE.

I'M NOT EVEN REAL SURE
I'VE EVER DONE ANYTHING
WORTH A DAMN.

YOU BUILT THIS PLACE.

NO, THAT'S--

THAT'S JUST A FIRM, NICHOLAS.
THAT'S A BUNCH OF LAWYERS

TRYING TO MAKE A PROFIT.
THAT'S-

NO. YOU HELP PEOPLE.

WELL...

I'VE BEEN WONDERING
ABOUT THAT.

LET ME ASK YOU
SOMETHING, NICK.

DID--HEY, SIT DOWN.

TELL ME THIS:

WHEN YOU DO YOUR WORK
OVER THERE WITH ALVIN...

DON'T YOU FEEL
A LITTLE, UH...
A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY?

HOW? HOW SO?

I'VE BEEN WATCHING YOU.
YOU'RE DIFFERENT.

YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE?
IT'S LIKE YOU PUT...

MORE OF YOUR SOUL
INTO IT.

NOT SO MUCH
OF YOUR MIND,
BUT YOUR SOUL.

I DON'T KNOW.

NO.

I'VE SEEN IT, NICK.

AND I THINK
IT'S BECAUSE YOU--

YOU HAVE A SENSE
THAT YOU'RE...

BEING OF SERVICE.

I REALIZE YOU'RE
BEING FORCED TO DO THAT,
BUT, UH,

I THINK
THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

OF SERVICE.

I'M BEGINNING TO WONDER

IF EVERYBODY OUGHT TO
DO THAT FROM TIME TO TIME
SOMEWHERE IN THEIR LIFE.

MISS McGREGOR, THE RESULTS
FROM THE HEEL TEST.
THEY'RE UNOPENED.

WE TOOK
A LONG WALK TODAY.

I TOLD GRACIE
ALL THE THINGS
I WANTED TO TELL HER.

HOW MUCH I LOVE HER.

WHAT IT WAS LIKE
ALL THOSE YEARS
THAT SHE WAS GONE.

HOW WE USED TO TALK
ABOUT...

WHEN SHE WOULD
GROW UP AND...

GO TO COLLEGE,
BECOME A VETERINARIAN

AND GET MARRIED.

I COULD TELL...

ON THE WAY HOME
I COULD TELL...

THAT GRACIE DIDN'T
REMEMBER ANY OF IT.

OK.

I'LL CALL THE POLICE.

THERE SHE IS.

LET HER GO.

THEY ALREADY HAVE
MENTAL HEALTH COURTS

IN 5 OTHER STATES.
IT'S NOT A NEW IDEA...

JUST A GOOD ONE.

WE ALL KNOW
KIDS WHO FALL
THROUGH THE CRACKS,

KIDS WHO HAVE DIED
WAITING FOR
PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT.

AND WE'RE
JUST SAYING...

FRAME THE PROBLEM.

STUDY THE EXISTING SOLUTIONS
IN OTHER STATES, AND THEN...

FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO IT
HERE IN PITTSBURGH.

WE'VE BEEN DOING
ALL THE TALKING.

ANYBODY HAVE
ANY QUESTIONS?

WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP
MAKE THIS A REALITY?

ALVIN,
THEY BELIEVE IN US.

PEOPLE KEPT ASKING,
"WHEN'S THE FIRST
TASK FORCE MEETING?"

OFFERING TO DO
WHATEVER THEY COULD
TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

I'M CAUTIOUSLY
OPTIMISTIC.

SCREW CAUTIOUS.
BE RECKLESSLY OPTIMISTIC
JUST FOR ONCE.

YEAH?
YEAH.

[TELEPHONE RINGS]

HELLO?

UH, YEAH,
CONGRESSMAN, UH...

UH, SURE,
I HAVE A MOMENT.

UH, OF COURSE I'M SERIOUS
ABOUT THIS. SURE, I AM.

UH, COULD YOU PLEASE
HOLD ON A SECOND,
CONGRESSMAN?

THANK YOU.

SEE YOU TOMORROW.

WHERE YOU GOING?

HOME.

I'LL CALL YOU.

OK.

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

HEY.

COME IN.

SO, YOU, UH...

FIND A HOME
FOR THAT DOG YET?

NO, NOT YET.

BEAUTIFUL DOG.

YEAH.

SO, NICHOLAS...

WHAT WOULD YOU THINK
IF I STEPPED DOWN
FROM THE FIRM?

WHAT?

I'M...

THINKING ABOUT THE BENCH.

YOU WANT TO BE
A JUDGE?

[CHUCKLES]
I DON'T KNOW.

HELL, I'M GETTING TOO OLD
TO HANDLE THIS PACE HERE,
AND--

AND I THINK THERE
ARE A COUPLE OF PEOPLE

WHO COULD STEP UP
AND...TAKE THE BALL.

I THINK YOU'D MAKE
AN EXCELLENT JUDGE.

WELL, MAYBE I'M JUST
THINKING OUT LOUD.

MAYBE I'M JUST...

THINKING OUT LOUD.

[LAUGHS] I'LL
SEE YOU TOMORROW.

Nick: THE FACTS
ARE SIMPLE, YOUR HONOR.

GRACE McGREGOR WAS BORN
JANUARY 16, 1984.

FEBRUARY 9, 1994,

SHE GOT OFF HER BUS
ON WEST END ROAD.

AFTER THAT, SHE WAS NOT
SEEN OR HEARD FROM AGAIN.

BY PENNSYLVANIA LAW,

HER DATE OF DEATH
SHOULD BE FEBRUARY 9, 2001,

7 YEARS AFTER
HER DISAPPEARANCE.

Judge Lowe: I HEREBY
GRANT THE PETITION

AND DECLARE
THE DATE OF DEATH
AS FEBRUARY 9, 2001.

GOD BLESS YOU
AND YOUR FAMILY.

THANK YOU, MR. FALLIN.

NO, I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING.

TED.

TED?

TED.

IT'S LAURIE
AND ALVIN.

WHAT HAPPENED
TO YOU, TED?

SOME KIDS HIT ME.

THEY DIDN'T LIKE
MR. WHISPER.

CAN I GO HOME NOW?

TED...

AS SOON AS WE
CAN ARRANGE IT,

A DOCTOR'S GONNA
COME HERE AND ASK YOU
SOME QUESTIONS.

I DON'T WANT
TO TALK TO A DOCTOR.

LISTEN TO ME, TED.

HE CAN HELP YOU
GET OUT OF HERE.

HE'LL MAKE A REPORT,
AND AS SOON AS THAT--

AFTER THAT,
I CAN GO HOME?

AS SOON AS THAT HAPPENS,
WE CAN GET YOU A FACILITY

WHERE YOU CAN GET
THE HELP YOU NEED.

I DON'T WANT THAT.

I WANT TO GO HOME.

[CRYING]
I WANT TO GO HOME.

I WANT TO GO HOME.

I WANT TO GO HOME.

I WANT TO GO HOME.

I WANT TO GO HOME.

WE ALREADY HAVE
A YELLOW LAB AT HOME.

SHE'S THREE AND A HALF
AND A REALLY GOOD DOG.

WE'VE GOT 3 KIDS,
ALL OF THEM GREAT
WITH ANIMALS,

AND AN ACRE
OF PROPERTY.

WELL, I'M SURE BART
WOULD BE VERY HAPPY
WITH YOU.

HE'S A BEAUTIFUL DOG.

OK, WELL, HIS TAGS
ARE ON HIS COLLAR.

THIS IS HIS LEASH.

BARBARA,
JUDGE STANTON'S SECRETARY,

HAS THE NUMBER
FOR THE VET.

AND THEY HAVE BART'S
PAPERS AND STUFF.

GREAT. GREAT.

HEY. HEY, BART.

HOW YOU DOING?
[LAUGHS]

OK, OK.

ALL RIGHT, YEAH.

ALL RIGHT.

UH, YOU MAY
WANT TO TAKE THIS.

OH, WE'RE SET FOR THAT.

WELL, HE REALLY
LIKES THIS ONE.

WE'VE GOT PLENTY AT HOME.
COME ON, BART. LET'S GO.

BYE, BART.

[KNOCK ON DOOR]
YEAH?

HEY.
FUNERAL'S TOMORROW.

OK.
OK?

DAD. COME IN.

I JUST WANTED
TO SAY, UH...

ABOUT JUDGE STANTON,
UH, HE--

OH, SON.

THANK YOU. I MEAN, REALLY,
THANK YOU FOR THAT.
BUT IT'S, UH...

HE WAS JUST
A GOOD MAN, YOU KNOW?

HE WAS A GOOD FRIEND
TO US, CERTAINLY.

WELL, HAVE YOU MET
THE NEW JUDGE? HANDLEY.

NOT YET.

SUPPOSED TO BE
A REAL TOUGH ASS.

YEAH, I HEARD.

[CHUCKLES]
YEAH. OK.

SO, UH, STANTON
PUT YOUR NAME UP

FOR HIS NOMINATION
TO THE FEDERAL BENCH.

YEAH. HE CALLED
CONGRESSMAN WALTERS
THE DAY HE DIED.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

I DON'T KNOW.

IT'S FEDERAL, SON.
I'M NOT REAL SURE

THEY'RE LOOKING
FOR A GUY LIKE ME.

WELL, I WOULDN'T
SAY THAT.

WELL I'VE TAKEN
A LOT FROM THE LAW.

I'M NOT SO SURE
I PUT A LOT BACK INTO IT.

WELL, THAT'S NOT TRUE.

[CHUCKLES]
YOU'RE MY SON.

YOU HAVE A RIGHT
TO BELIEVE DIFFERENTLY.

[DOG WHIMPERING]

WHAT ARE YOU
DOING HERE?

HE'S GONE, BART.

HE'S GONE.

HE'S NOT COMING BACK.

HE'S NOT--HE'S
NOT COMING BACK.