The Guardian (2001–2004): Season 1, Episode 4 - Lolita? - full transcript

Nick wants to handle the case of a factory in trouble, which needs to reorganize or shut down. Father Burton Fallin refuses to accept the client, allegedly because there's no profit in it and risk of face loss, but Nick insists and finds the real reason is a family grudge. Nick is offered a way out of his 1500 hours community sentence, as his 'spoiled' MO hardly squares with the overworked public office. While he considers it, he handles the case of April Evans, who claims to be raped by her cop stepfather Al Sandro, who denies abusing her or her mother, who sides with him. Nick finds out the truth.

Alvin Masterson called.

I haven't heard him work up
since McGirvan had his ass

Handed to him on a plate by Nixon in 72.

So Mr. Fallin,

How do you think your first we acquaint?

You know you strike me is a kind of person,

Who does her homework.

My guesses, before you shut up for your
first day of community service

The children legal services

You probably did a pretty thorough review

State law guardian shelter hearings some placements



You read up on how CLS is run

Its budget, its philosophy for handling

It's an enormous case load

And you don't like fast food approach

To represent these kids

Do you?

Masterson wants you to go away

That'll I go away

1500 hours of picking up trash

From a highway on public park

Seem's like such a waste

I'm not too good to pick up trash

I'm giving you a choice

One time only



You can finish your sentence at
Children Legal Services

Or you can transfer to a community
development desk

And work with low income housing applicants

Think about it for a few days

Can I help you?

I was ... Ah ... I was.. What?

I was raped.

How old you honey?

Fifteen

The doctor is going to examine the condition
vaginal area

Than take any sample of fluids for DNA testing

Police want to talk to you after that

What's that guy doing?

We have to take pictures.

Please don't do that.

If you want to press charges
the police need evidence.

Created by borriss.

I'm sentencing you to 1500 hours
of community service

Using your skills as a corporate attorney

To work as a child advocate

Children's Legal Services

Can you hold, please?

Nick, I need you take a new case

I don't think Masterson wants me to ...

She is fifteen walked into hospital this morning

Said she raped by stepfather.

Evidences?

Brazens vaginaterion, bruises from where
she holds down on the wrist

Where is that fact?

Lasted last night

Then why is she back in her home?

Her mother builds a mound

She is at a Country Hospital Rape Crisis Center

You my lawyer?

Yes.

Thank you. That's nice to know.

You wanna tell me what happen?

He started to come into my bedroom at night

He lay next to me in bed

And touch himself.

Then one night puts his hand, his fingers

He shoved in

He told me not to move and put is

Put it in my mouth

I'm fought him

But he tells me he told my mom

I didn't

I saw what he could do to her

Hit her in a face

So I'm just letting him do it what he wanted

And you stay with your aunt now

Yeah, my mom sister

Why did your mother bail your stepfather out of jail?

Because he'll kill her is she didn't

Why you didn't report this to police early

You don't get it, do you?

What?

My stepdad is a cop.

Conference room, fifteen minutes ago

You are killing me man, You kill me!

John Claton, Nickolas Fallin

Mr. Claton.

What can we do for you?

This conversation is completely confidential?

Claton Steel is 15 million in debt.

Bankruptcy?

Yes.

Ok. You have two options.

You go to chapter 11, reorganize

Or you go to chapter 7, liquidate, cut your loses.

I want to reorganize

It's easy to liquidate.

I want to reorganize.

You have got resources?

Ok.

That's a 25.000 dollar retainer to start

Ah, Mr. Claton

Mr. Claton I can't take that to my father

What is it?

I was just a ... wondering how felt to run
family business into the underground.

Burton Fallin, John Claton

How are you?

Well, quite ah...

Quite a history your family has.

My grandgrandfather was third in command

In Homestead Works under Carnegie and Henry Franky

Helped revolutionize the way Steel was manufactured

Right

So, what can we do for you today?

He want us from the file chapter 11 paper
For his company

Wouldn't ... Didn't your father and your grandfather

Didn't they deal exclusively with the McGirr and Kirk?

Yes.

It's good firm.

So why leaving them now?

I'm felt is was time for a change

Not because your credit due is have
blanket lien on your corporation

Well

We didn't know, McGirr and Kirk approach the bank

With the request to reorganize?

Yes.

They already did that. Right?

Yes.

Well, I am assuming, ah.. because your walk
across a street that

The bank told them, your company worth more
to them liquidated then reorganized

Yes.

So, McGirr and Kirk just wash the hand of you

They didn't see my count as profitable

Neither do I, Mr. Claton

But, ah.. Good luck to you.

Mr. Fallin, reorganized log filing system

We got barb on the sexual abuse kid

I can use some coffee

Be a dear will you and pour me a cup

Cream or sugar?

Please.

Any of this close cases there over 5 year old
should be put a storage box

You knew I'm from a Mon Valley

I knew some felons
Who work the plant with my dad

I think they from Zenora

Any relation?

Yeah. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins

Oh.. So, one of those felonies

Oh.. You make this some kind of ominous

No. I just don't take you for real person.

Can I help you?

Nickolas Fallin?

Yeah. That's me.

I'm Al Sandrow. April Sandrow's stepfather.

April is a problem

She has always been a problem

She sleeps around a lot. She party's.

Why you tell me this?

You believe her? Come on man.

Well, the evidence suggests...

Evidence? What a hell then you know about evidence?

This little slut is lying.

Little slut

DNA is gone be proving me right

Then why is she accusing you?

A few weeks ago I came early from work
and I caught April on the couch with some guy.

It's an older guy

I'm threatening to arrest him for statutory rape

And he took off

I'm grounded April for a month

You say she's doing this that pay back
for getting grounded?

I don't believe in lies

You just sand April back home when she belongs

Ok, Mr. Fallin?

How is going with the stapdad?

Oh.. He said she's lying.

A lot of these kids grow up around people,
who lying, cheating, some of it pick up
the habits by themselves.

Your mascaras.

Oh.. Days and nights.

May I'm just well sending her to babysitter home

Hey

Could we have had some dinner?

Wanna come?

Don't get your big idea that you hotshot

You aren't getting lucky tonight

Nick.

Jake, Amanda this is Barbara Rodzinsky

Barbara. Nice to meet you

Jake. Jake

Hi .. Amanda .. Yeah

Would you.. You wanna?

Oh.. Thanks

So, uh.. Where are you to meet?

Oh.. Personals. Nick was looking for plus size woman
and I was looking for a khaki sugar daddy.

You think I'm kidding?

No, no..

This is actually our third date

I thought it was time to .. you know..
bring her around, meet with family.

I'm secretary over Children Legal Services.

Oh.. oh.. Right

We just met when Nick started

Right oh.. How are you?

Can I get you a drink?

Cranberries and grapefruit, please.

What was with the face?

Nothing. He is angry because
Nicks title represented Claton family.

Claton Steel?

Yeah. Jake parliament.

Yeah. Everybody used to work there

Omar Claton walked around to Nora
Like he was running for office

Kissing babies, isn't shaking hands,
until he decided off himself with a shotgun.

Regular Richard Corry.

King of a Mon Valley.

Lot a crappy Fiefdom.

Richard Corry.

Yeah. It's a poem by a rich guy, who everybody
thinks real happy, who decide to shoot himself.

Robby Fiefdom

Whatever Richard Corry went downtown
when people on payment smile on him.

He's mockingly groom from total crown
clean favorite an imperialism slim.

So, what are you guys want with a Claton family?

You know.. It's really doesn't matter now

Because Nick's father doesn't want its business

Because?

My grandfather

Nine unions immigrant steel worker

Sixteen dollars shift. A dollar an hour. You know..

I know this story too well.

It's in your family.

No, my father's family.

Call Claton

Tell him we sorted something out.

What everybody dance around here?

We lawyers.

Children Legal Services.

I got to do three petitions hearing with you this morning.

I can do him alone

According to Alvin you can't
I would bet 10, 10.30 and 11.

Why is this locked?

It's your office, man?

Why is this locked?

It's a broom closet.

Where we duly kept a broom?

You late. Where are my keys?

The keys? To my office.

Your office. Yeah I've gotten some place to work.

That for the clinic supplies.

You want me to be in here
you want me to be doing
three hearings a day

Plus all the support works to go with it
I can have a place to work.

Fine. It's all yours.

Mr. Fallin

What are you doing here?

Does my stepfather come to see you?

Yeah. We're talking.

He tell you I was a slut?

At what he tells everyone.

Why are you here?

I'm afraid. For my mother.

She can take care of herself.

No, she can't.

I mean. I can get out of here.

I'll be safe.

You'll make me safe.

But my mom

All these things he does to me

He should do to her.

There is nothing that I can do about there

Sometimes I think I just go back there,
live with him, just so .. she doesn't get hurt.

No. You don't go back there, April, Ok?

Ok?

You leave for the courthouse?

No ... ah .. My aunt's boyfriend
he's helping to look after me.

He's waiting for me.

Ok.

Are you Mr. Fallin?

Yes.

I'm Jenny Sandrow. April's mom.

I'm afraid what's gonna happen to her.

Look, April, she hasn't added easily.

Her father left what she was a baby

The man hasn't been in her life

I haven't always maded best choices.

This is a number of a clinic.

I tell you what is a woman's shelter

People are lying.

I would never do something like that, Mr. Fallin.

We'll discuss this in court.

Mr. Fallin, what are your client's wishes?

My client would like to be placed under the care
of her maternal aunt Gale Barehorst.

Where is maternal aunt?

I'm here, your honor.

Are you currently employed?

Yes, sir. I'm waitress ace.

Can you provide care for April until a petition hearing?

Yes, your honor.

The child should be placed under supervision
on the Allegany County Social Services

With permission to be placed in a home
of her maternal aunt Gale Barehorst.

The stepfather is under no contact order.

My daughter should be with me.

You'll have your chance to tell your
side of story on the petition hearing.

She's just wanting a money.

I'm as sure, Mrs. Barehorst

Could find at easy way make an extra three
hundred seven dollars a month, you honor.

You may have one supervise visit a week.

Filed a dependency petition within 24 hours

And schedule a petition hearing
within a next 10 day's.

That's it?

That's it.

Thank you. Thank you so much.

Yeah.

April, why are you doing these?

He's lying to you mama.

He's lying and you didn't even see it.

Please. You let him do this to me

He broke in the house. You let him.

Please, April. I hate you.

I am never coming home. I hate you.

He raped your only daughter and you still
want her to be on the same roof with him?

She's not your daughter.

Maybe she should be.

I want ante the Claton plant.

I think we should represent him.

How you see doing it.

Liquidate.

You know, Claton want to safe a business.

He's wrong. He should take a scorched earth approach.

What about a workers?

They want to see a money.

That's bad business, Nickolas.

Pertains to small.

We wouldn't see a penny about a time the banks got deal rogue

If I can safe the trust this
would be worth million in fees.

Could also eated up some thousant
billable hours for nothing.

It's passed

Hey.

Oh ... I'm late.

I got a few questions for you

About at brief I'm supposed to be filing.
I thought we can grab come lunch.

I give you back some in clinic.

Can I tag along?

Chance in hell.

Thanks.

Nick.

The woman from the rape unit just fax some lab task back from a hospital.

April Sandrow are pregnant

You knew, you are pregnant?

What are you wanting to do?

We're talking about an abortion. I'm catholic.

April, you're raped.

My mother won't never say I was.
She needs to sign a form.

I just have to explain to the court
the circumstances your pregnancy

The judge will grant you judicial bypass
without your mother's consent.

I just want to be left alone now. OK.

I'm good with Gale. See, I'm back in school
and people, you are leaving me alone.

I can take myself from here.

If you have a child now

He will be taken away from you or ...

Let me alone. Alright?

You did your things.
Just let me alone.

Can I help you?

You know this guy?

Hm .. Jo. He works here.

Who are you?

I'm a lawyer. I'm working for Legal Services.

Well. Is not here.

Got the address?

Yo man, this stuff coming yet?

We'll be in Dantist.

Hey, it's me. Wigeon is coming up. You got any?

I'm dying here, man.

Hey Gale, it's April. Can you pick me up
over Townie Pizza at 5? I've missed the bus.

April Sandrow is pregnant.

A-ha ...

And entire place to it has a living boyfriend,
who is dealing

Are you sure?

I'd heard the answering machine tape.

How do you know that he's dealing?

I know.

So

So, I'd placed pregnant teenager
in the dangerous environment.

Or what else are you going to do?

Put her back with the stepdad?

No.

Tell me something.

Who do you think the father this baby is?

Ah ... I don't know.

Alright.

Just call to Social Services and arrange
for emergency evacuation.

Police, Social Servies. Open up!

Police, Social Servies, Mrs Barehorst
we're here for raid.

Right here

What are you doing?

Miss Barehorst, Miss Barehorst ... What is hell going on here?

Get a hell out of my house.

Leave him alone.

What is wrong with you?

Get a hell out of my house

Stop it.

How are you can do this to me?
I love him. He wants to marry me.

How are you can do this to me?

Second mortgage property value in the Alsace report ...

This is it ...

We're can't take the account.

When I spoke with Jake, I thought you
farther firm been around for generations.

No. He is started himself.

I know that now.

I was curious, why have you disliked me so much?

So I had my secretary search on
employment record

You know, your dad used to work
on our fabricating plant?

It was my grandfather.

Your grandfather and your father

Burton Fallin work here from 1953 to 1955.

Seem's your dad had hand in United Steel
worker's attempt unionized the plant.

That was my grandfather.

No. That was your father.

So, what are you, Mr. Fallin?

You guy's acting like a country club sect
but you do business like a liberals?

You always said, don't let your feeling
getting away on business.

Your father would have loved the effect
that they coming to you for help.

Hmm..

Unfortunately, you don't really know
what your grandfather would've loved.

This is..

This is the kind of money that
you'd wanna represent?

Money is money.

It's yours then.

You put in an hour, you take the risk.

We got the go ahead.

What? Your dad changes his mind.

Yeah. What he said to him?

Alas, I still can't get over with this, I mean,
I work for this guy's know he hates me so much.

I'm thinking, that pretty stall argument
to get him to change this ...

You don't have to move on your diligence.

What ... What are you going?

I got meeting at Cross.

Well, come on, Nick, I'm a little help on this.

I got my dad to take a client,
you get to do diligence.

I got handed to you, had me go with
the school's uniform and this head story.

April, you do not want to spend your life with the guy like that.

Don't tell me what I want.

You fifteen.

What's gonna happen to me?

I'm recommending you go back
home to your mother.

You can't see me back there.

April

My mother let him rape me.

She knew was happening
she let him.

April

She could hear me crying,
I know she could.

She might try to fight him off,
she just on the next remover.

I'm sending you home.

Why would anybody listen to me?

It'd happened

It'd happened.

He'd rolled over and ...

He's put his hand

His fingers

He'd shoved them

He'd told me not to move and ...

I mean, I mean, I'd fought with him first

But

After awhile I'd just quit

Let him do what he wanted

Crying every time. That's it.
I never do it again.

You think she's telling the truth?

Then I mean, than if he'll just
come back a few nights later...

I believe she was raped.

But

I've never seen a perpetrator giving fifteen
years old girl such advance warning

Crawling into bed, masturbating next her,
breaking its waist slowly toward touching her

Just isn't a typical behavior
toward the girl April's age.

But you do see such behavior in rape cases?

Yes, but typically a pedophile
supremo a much younger children.

Find out if April Sandrow had any
previous history of sexual abuse.

Hey .. Hey. Come here.

Maybe you used other people do your
work for you over in your daddy's firm

But here we do it ourselves.

Come here

Working here cost you a lot of money, isn't it?

325.000 dollars in billable hours.

You realize, you year salary is much
as our entire operating budget?

Yes, I do.

Well, you'll may want to think about the fact,

The people work here have so much
to do and so little money and time

than you need further think from there might.

Can you borough's check on
girl's name's April Sandrow?

See, if she'd lived in another
county or state?

Hold on I've got something

Marriage record for Al Sandrow
and Jennifer Evans

Looks like she change the name and April is well.

Where.. Where is the close cases?

Here .. Oh ..

Oh, April Evans

Oh, God ... I remember this one.

This court held the initial detention hearing
in this matter in January, 11 1995

After the Battle Park police department receives the report
than James Evans had sexually abused April then 9.

April reported that

Mr. Evans, her new stepfather had
been getting into bed with her

And touching himself and then he's put his fingers
inside of her, enforce his penis into her mouth.

This is exactly the same things
she's made three day's ago.

We have to start again

I'm your lawyer

This is gonna be petition hearing regarding
your custody day after tomorrow

My custody?

You have three choices as I see it.

You can go to a group home
for pregnant teenagers

Or if the court sees fit to charge
you at detention center.

You'd said three choices.

You can still back home.

I know you were raped

Six years ago

I know that your mother made
you drop the charges

April

I was nine years old

Sending an innocent man to prison
not gonna change that

I can't go home. I really wish you would.

It would be a terrible mistake
send you to a group shelter

You still have a chance, a good
chance for a better life

With your mother and your stepfather.

Tell the police what really happened

Tell him that your stepfather
never laid a hand on you

What happen to you

I'm sorry

It's not right

But we can change it.

Will you tell the police a truth?

If I did that

Yes

You'll talk to my mother for me?

Right now

Thank you for helping me.

My husband isn't home. He doesn't like.
Why people up here leave me alone?

This won't take long

Let off your, we haven't vintage store

Why did you leave last husband?

Just didn't work out.

Because he'd raped your daughter?

Mrs. Sandrow

April wants to come home

What a hell is going on here?

We picked April up last night

She's three month pregnant and the father of the
child is dealing drugs from his sister's house.

What?

Why can you just bring her back here?

Until the charges against your husband...

I want her back here now

Shh ... It's OK.

I'll stay in a motel.

No. Yes, you go home,
take care of your kid.

Yeah?

Where is April?

That, what's there?

She isn't here.

Do you know where she is?

She left

When?

I don't know, some guy
came and got her.

Right, Nona. You know, I understand that.

Wow .. I have the file right
here in front of me.

What ... Actually, hold on give me a second.

I'd spoken with a police

April's boyfriend lab store where
he was working, he was taken off.

The police are looking for him but

They think he'd left the state.

Hello

Shall we back?

Enough to hear for placement them through
the delinquency system for breaking the law.

You know

Most this kids just stay in system
for rest theirs lives.

Just the way's goes.

Why do it then?

Because

You never know when you make a difference.

This never often, Mr. Fallin but ah...

Sometimes you do.

You're coming back tomorrow?

Clayton's coming in sue.

Tonight?

Taking clock. We're gonna meeting with
creditor's committee the morning.

You know

We haven't representing him

No ... No ...

No. You're right

The past is a past.

All the guy is spoil ass.

That's no reason not to represent him.

That's ... That's grandfather

There was the tough, arrogant
son of a bitch.

He'd go war over nothing

He'd asked for 50 cents at hour more

Sundays off

My father wants to go into church for this.

Wanted have one meal in weeks
with his family but

No way says Clayton

Huh .. What a bastard.

I'll tell Jake to drop the case.

No, no, no ...

Go ahead. Liquidate it.

Let it just disappear.

Can't be helped anyway.

We'll help him cut the cord.

We have to drop entire cooperation and
focus on protecting your assets

What are we doing?

Well, first we attack the bank,
cancel the lending.

How?

Claim the interfere to management of the company.

We're doing that. You should fly under a flow and
get yourself a driver license and register the vote.

California resident.

Buy yourself the biggest house
you can down there

Because bank can't touch it.

Can a workers come after me?

They can't do anything.

Hm ... Look, instead of protecting your assets

Why to you to not take a real share,
reorganizing a company?

The first thing to do is exchange debt for equity.

How?

Make the employee part owner of the company.

The workers?

The workers.

You OK?

Yeah, I'm OK.

Why do you ask?

I don't no. You just ... seemed

Upturn left ... the plant outside that hill.

You know, if isn't working out
you probably won't get paid.

Ha-ha ... No. I know.

Nickolas. Do you see door over there

It's where your grandfather's work
back down there, the furnace room.

Man was operating 4000 men work here.

Twelve hours shift

Seven days a week

Never got a rise

Never got any thanks

After Clayton fired my dad,
He never worked again.

Black Poll.

See that far over there,
that street

Spent all the day on it, drinking

Died a wicked, pass far advance.

Always felt like my hand on

Hand on to his death.

Well

That can be honored, Nickolas

It's that something.

Howdy

That can be honored.

So, Mr. Fallin

What does kind of being?

I'll stay.

I'll stay with the clinic.

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