Original subtitles

PREVIOUSLY ON THE GUARDIAN...

THIS KIND OF JOB IS NOT FOR EVERYONE.

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

YOU DON'T GET THAT CHANCE BACK.

THAT GIRL IN MY OFFICE?

LOUISE ARCHER.

WE'RE VERY LUCKY TO HAVE GOTTEN HER.

CAN YOU JUST GET HER OUT OF MY OFFICE?

IT'S HER OFFICE NOW.

WELL, YOU EVER THINK OF LEAVING YOUR EMOTIONS

OUT OF NEGOTIATIONS?

WHY?

BECAUSE IT MAKES YOU LOOK WEAK.

DOESN'T THIS PISS YOU OFF?

YEAH.

BUT I DON'T GIVE THEM THE SATISFACTION.

OH, COMMUNITY SERVICE? YES.

WHEN ARE YOU GONNA GET CONTROL OF THAT?

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

YOUR WORK HAS FALLEN OFF.

I WAS VERY CLOSE TO MY MOTHER.

SHE SAID THIS ONE THING THAT I...

THAT I ALWAYS REMEMBER.

SHE THOUGHT THAT I WOULD GROW UP AND...

AND TREAT WOMEN BETTER THAN MY FATHER DID.

WAS SHE RIGHT?

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

OKAY.

SO, MELINDA...

THE, UH, THE PETITION...

MELINDA?

WHAT?

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

UH, YOUR CASEWORKER WILL TESTIFY ABOUT THE DRUG REHAB PROGRAM

AND THE STATUS OF YOUR TWO BOYS.

YEAH. OKAY.

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

OR YOU CAN HAVE ME DO YOUR SPEAKING FOR YOU.

WHICH WOULD YOU PREFER?

MELINDA!

WHAT DID YOU SAY?

ARE YOU HIGH?

WHAT?

YOU'RE HIGH. I'M NOT.

MELINDA... I'M NOT HIGH.

MELINDA, TOMORROW IS YOUR ONE CHANCE NOW.

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

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

YOUR BABY GIRL... TASSY!

WAS BORN ADDICTED TO CRACK COCAINE.

SHE WAS UNDER FIVE POUNDS.

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

AND THEY PICKED UP THE TAB,

AND IT WAS ALL BECAUSE YOU COULDN'T STOP

SMOKING CRACK DURING YOUR PREGNANCY.

DON'T YOU JUDGE ME, LADY.

YOU KNOW WHAT, I, UH...

WE'RE DONE. I...

I CAN'T DEAL WITH YOU IN THIS STATE.

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

I DON'T USE CRACK NO MORE!

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

AH!

YOU BITCH, I'M GONNA SUE YOU!

GET OFF OF ME!

LET GO! LET GO OF HER!

LET GO! LULU, LULU!

LULU! GET OUT!

WHAT THE HELL'S GOING ON IN HERE?

SHE HIT ME.

WHO?

THE UNREPENTANT CRACK WHORE YOU GAVE ME.

LULU.

ALVIN, SHE CAME IN HERE HIGH ON DRUGS.

WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?

SHE'S YOUR CLIENT!

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

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

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

NO WAY! I WON'T DO IT.

WE'RE SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT OUR CLIENTS,

NOT JUDGE THEM.

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

I AM SENTENCING YOU TO 1500 HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE.

USING YOUR SKILLS AS A CORPORATE ATTORNEY

TO WORK AS A CHILD ADVOCATE.

I GOT TWO BOYS.

RIGHT. DESHAWN AND LAMONT.

HOW OLD ARE THEY?

I HAVE TWO BOYS.

AND YOUR BABY GIRL...

TASSY.

SHE'S FIVE MONTHS.

YOU KNOW, SHE'S SUPPOSED TO HELP ME?

WHO?

THAT LADY LAWYER.

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

WILL YOU BE THERE?

Yeah.

MISS TRALINS?

WHAT?

TAKE THIS.

WHAT DOES SHE WANT?

SHE WANTS HER BABY BACK.

SHE CAN'T EVEN PUT A COHERENT SENTENCE TOGETHER.

WE'RE NOT DRUG COUNSELORS, MISS ARCHER.

BESIDES, HER DRUG TESTS WERE NEGATIVE.

WHAT ABOUT HER OTHER TWO BOYS?

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

HER BABY WAS BORN ADDICTED TO CRACK.

THAT'S WHY IT WAS TAKEN AWAY FROM HER.

OTHERWISE, SHE NEVER HURT HER OTHER CHILDREN.

SOMETIMES I HATE THIS JOB.

WHAT ARE YOU GONNA TELL THE COURT?

WELL, THERE'S NOT BEEN ANY FINDING OF ABUSE

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

I WOULD EMPHASIZE THAT SHE'S BEEN THROUGH REHAB,

THAT THE DRUG TESTS WERE NEGATIVE,

AND, HOPEFULLY, THAT THE BABY'S HEALTHY.

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

WAIT A SEC.

DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD DROP THE CASE?

WE CAN'T DO THAT, MR. FALLIN.

SHE'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NICHOLAS.

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

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

OKAY.

ALSO, UH...

I NEED A LITTLE FAVOR.

SURE.

I'M GONNA NEED A RIDE EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING.

CADILLAC IN THE SHOP?

NO. I GOTTA GO IN FOR A LITTLE SURGERY.

WHAT KIND OF SURGERY?

OH, IT'S SOMETHING WITH MY DAMN EYES,

BUT, UH, I WILL NEED A RIDE AFTERWARDS.

OKAY?

YEAH. OH, YEAH, SURE.

UM, I GOT MY GIRLFRIEND AMY PREGNANT LAST YEAR,

AND, UM, I TOLD MY PARENTS,

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

THEY WERE THERE FOR ME 100%.

UM, WE TOLD AMY'S PARENTS

AND THEY GOT PRETTY EMBARRASSED,

SO, BEHIND EVERYBODY ELSE'S BACK,

THEY TOOK HER TO THE HOPE HOUSE

SO NO ONE WOULD KNOW,

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

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

SIGNED AWAY HER RIGHTS.

AND NOW MY BABY GIRL IS LIVING WITH SOME DOCTOR

AND HIS WIFE IN FOX CHAPEL.

WHAT BRINGS YOU HERE, MR. WOOLEY?

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

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

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

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

AND I LOOKED UP SOME OF THE RULES AND STUFF.

YOU WANT THIS CHILD?

OH, YES. OF COURSE.

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

BEFORE THE OTHER COUPLE TOOK THE BABY.

NO ONE CONTACTED YOU? NO.

YOU DIDN'T SIGN ANY CONSENT FORMS?

NO.

DID THE ADOPTION AGENCY EVER CONTACT YOU?

AND YOU DIDN'T CONTACT THEM?

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

THAN THERE ALREADY WERE, YOU KNOW?

THERE WERE ALREADY SO MANY...

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

REALLY WANTED TO PLACE MY BABY WITH THE OTHER FAMILY.

OKAY.

YOU HAVE LEGAL RIGHTS AS A PARENT.

THE ADOPTION AGENCY HAD A DUTY TO SEEK YOUR CONSENT.

THEY SHOULD HAVE MET WITH YOU IN PERSON,

AND DISCUSSED YOUR OPTIONS.

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

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

OH, ABSOLUTELY. TOTALLY, MAN.

I JUST, YOU KNOW.

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

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

AND GIVE HER CLOTHES AND FOOD,

SHE SHOULD BE WITH ME.

SHE'S MY BABY.

CASE NUMBER D0236. TRALINS, YOUR HONOR.

WHO REPRESENTS THE BABY?

KATE SHAW, FROM THE CHILDREN'S PROJECT

REPRESENTING TASSY TRALINS.

NICHOLAS FALLIN FROM LEGAL SERVICES OF PITTSBURGH.

REPRESENTING MELINDA TRALINS, THE MOTHER.

WHERE'S YOUR CLIENT, MR. FALLIN?

SHE'S NOT HERE YET, YOUR HONOR.

SHE'S GETTING HIGH.

LET'S MOVE ON.

I'M HERE! I'M HERE.

THEN LET US PROCEED.

YOUR RECOMMENDATION, MISS GREENE?

THE DEPARTMENT'S RECOMMENDATION

IS THAT THE BABY SHOULD BE REUNITED WITH HER MOTHER.

MISS SHAW?

YOUR HONOR, TASSY TRALINS

SHOULD NOT BE RETURNED TO HER MOTHER'S CARE.

MISS TRALINS HAS A PROTRACTED HISTORY OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE,

AND AN EQUALLY LONG RECORD OF NONCOMPLIANCE WITH REHABILITATION.

SHE HAS COMPLETED HER REHAB,

AND RECORDS STATE THAT SHE HAS RAISED HER BOYS

WITHOUT INCIDENT, YOUR HONOR.

SHE'S ALSO FULFILLED THE OBLIGATIONS OF HER PROBATION

AND COMPLETED HER DRUG COUNSELING.

MISS TRALINS?

YEAH?

DO YOU FEEL PREPARED TO HAVE YOUR DAUGHTER BACK?

YEAH, I DO.

MISS GREENE?

YOUR HONOR.

WHEN DID YOU LAST VISIT MISS TRALIN'S APARTMENT?

LAST WEEK, YOUR HONOR.

AND WHAT CONDITION DID YOU FIND IT IN?

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

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

YES, YOUR HONOR.

AND COMPLETED HER OUTPATIENT TREATMENT PROGRAM?

UH, JUST LAST WEEK, YOUR HONOR.

AND YOU ARE STANDING BY YOUR RECOMMENDATION, MISS GREENE?

THE DEPARTMENT'S RECOMMENDATION

IS THAT THE BABY SHOULD BE REUNITED WITH HER MOTHER.

YOUR HONOR, THE BABY SHOULD REMAIN

IN THE CUSTODY OF SOCIAL SERVICES.

ALLOW SUPERVISED VISITATION UNTIL WE CAN BE CERTAIN

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

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

THE CHILD WILL, HOWEVER, REMAIN A DEPENDANT,

AND SOCIAL SERVICES WILL HAVE AN ONGOING OBLIGATION

TO MONITOR THE CHILDREN ONCE A MONTH.

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

KEEP OFF THE DRUGS.

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

EXCUSE ME, JUDGE DAMSEN? A QUESTION FOR YOU.

HOW IS IT POSSIBLE THAT A BABY BORN ADDICTED TO CRACK

CAN BE GIVEN BACK TO ITS MOTHER FIVE MONTHS LATER?

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

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

IF A MOTHER PASSES HER DRUG SCREEN

AND TAKEN CARE OF OTHER CHILDREN WITHOUT INCIDENT.

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

THE STANDARD IS HIGH, MISS ARCHER.

IT SHOULD BE DIFFICULT

TO REMOVE A CHILD FROM ITS HOME.

OKAY, WHAT IF THE MOTHER DOES DRUGS AGAIN?

LULU, I THINK THAT'S ENOUGH.

I THINK THAT'S A VALID QUESTION.

WHAT IF THE MOTHER DOES DRUGS AGAIN?

WHEN SOMEONE PROVES THAT,

THE COURT WILL TAKE A STRONGER STANCE.

YOU REMEMBER THAT BABY?

ON OCTOBER 6 OF LAST YEAR,

AMY GARNER SIGNED A DOCUMENT

GRANTING CUSTODY TO YOUR ADOPTION AGENCY,

AND ALLOWING YOU PERMISSION TO SEEK ADOPTIVE PARENTS.

RIGHT.

YOU GAVE THAT BABY TO THIS COUPLE,

DESPITE THE FACT YOU DID NOT HAVE PERMISSION

FROM THE BABY'S FATHER.

NO, WE HAD HIS PERMISSION.

WHAT DID HE SIGN?

WE CONTACTED HIM. HE DIDN'T RESPOND.

THEN SHOW ME PROOF OF SERVICE

AND MAKE THIS CASE GO AWAY.

YOU CUT CORNERS.

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

AND NOW I HAVE A 17-YEAR-OLD BOY

WHO IS PLANNING TO CREATE A WORLD OF PROBLEMS.

THAT BOY NEVER SAID HE WANTED...

I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE BOY.

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

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

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

TO GO IN THERE WITH THE LAW ON MY SIDE,

AND TAKE THAT BABY AWAY.

MR. MASTERSON?YES?

I NEED YOU TO SIGN OFF

ON THESE HOME STUDY REPORTS.

THERE YOU GO.

DORIS, YOU GOT A SECOND?

SURE.

COME HERE.

I'M JUST CURIOUS.

ABOUT?

HOW CAN YOU BE SO CERTAIN THAT MELINDA TRALINS

IS READY TO HAVE HER BABY BACK?

SHE PASSED HER DRUG SCREENS.

SHE WENT TO HER PARENTING CLASSES.

AND WHEN YOU WENT TO HER APARTMENT,

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

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

YOU DIDN'T?NO.

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

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

WELL, WHY NOT?

I SAW A RAT.

OKAY. WELL, UH...

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

I SHOULDN'T HAVE TOLD YOU THAT.

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

DON'T TELL LAURIE, OKAY?

NO. FINE.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

UH, DORIS DIDN'T SET FOOT

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

WHAT?

SHE SAW A RAT.

IT SAYS TOWER THREE, APARTMENT 421.

WELL, DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHERE WE ARE?

WELL, NOTHING'S MARKED.

ARE YOU SURE THIS IS TOWER 3?

OH, RIGHT HERE. 421.

HELLO? MELINDA?

WHO ARE YOU?

HI, YOU MUST BE LAMONT.

I'M DESHAWN.

OH, SORRY, DESHAWN. HOW YA DOIN'?

WHO ARE YOU?

MY NAME IS LOUISA ARCHER.

I'M ONE OF YOUR MOTHER'S LAWYERS.

SHE AIN'T HERE. SHUT UP, BABY!

DO YOU KNOW WHERE SHE IS?

THE BABY'S HERE?

YEAH.

WELL, WHERE'S YOUR BROTHER?

LOOK, LADY. I'M WATCHING TV.

IF YOU WANT MY MOM, COME BACK LATER.

CAN WE JUST WAIT A FEW MOMENTS?

IF YOU GOTTA.

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

I DON'T KNOW.

HI.

OH, OKAY.

OH. OH. OH. I GOT YA.

LULU?

YEAH?

ALL RIGHT, YOU JUST STAY WITH THE KIDS.

I'M GONNA GO LOOK FOR MELINDA.

OKAY.

OKAY.

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

MELINDA.

MELINDA?

MELINDA? MELINDA, WAKE UP.

WHAT? WAKE UP.

YOU LEFT YOUR BABY IN THE APARTMENT WITH YOUR SON.

GO AWAY.

MELINDA, YOU LEFT YOUR BABY ALONE IN THE APARTMENT.

GO AWAY! SHH!

GO AWAY.

WE WENT TO HER HOME, YESTERDAY.

DID SHE ASK YOU TO?

NO, WE STOPPED BY.

WHY?

BECAUSE DORIS NEVER BOTHERED TO CHECK OUT

THE INSIDE OF THE APARTMENT.

IS THAT TRUE, DORIS?

I SAW A RAT.

A RAT.

MMM-HMM.

WHY ARE YOU TELLING ME THIS?

I'M AFRAID MELINDA'S NEGLECT OF HER CHILD

COULD CAUSE BODILY HARM.

WE HAD TO LEAVE THE KIDS WITH THE NEIGHBORS.

WE'LL GO OUT THERE.

WELL, WE'RE GONNA COME ALONG, TOO,

IN CASE OUR CLIENT NEEDS US.

ALL RIGHT.

THIS HEARING IS TO DETERMINE

WHETHER THE SPANNERS HAVE A RIGHT

TO CONTEST MR. WOOLEY'S PETITION

TO VACATE THE ADOPTION AND TERMINATION DECREES.

REGARDLESS OF ANY MISUNDERSTANDING

THAT MAY HAVE OCCURRED WITH OUR AGENCY,

THE SPANNERS HAVE GAINED IN LOCO PARENTISSTANDING

BY SERVING AS SUBSTITUTE PARENTS FOR MARY,

HOUSING HER, CLOTHING HER,

FEEDING HER, AND LOVING HER.

SUBSTITUTE PARENT STATUS MAY NOT BE GAINED

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

MY CLIENT NEVER GAVE CONSENT TO ANYONE

BEING MARY'S SUBSTITUTE PARENT.

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

BUT THE MOTHER OF THIS CHILD DID.

I WILL AGREE THAT THE SPANNERS

HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN THIS CHILD.

THE STANDARD IS WELL ESTABLISHED, YOUR HONOR.

IT REQUIRES BOTH PARENTS' CONSENT IN AN ADOPTION.

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

NEXT CASE.

SO, DO I GET MARY BACK?

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

UM, WELL, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

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

YOU GET TO TELL YOUR SIDE.

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

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

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

YEAH?

IT'S NO BIG DEAL, RIGHT?

NO.

IS THIS THE FIRST OPERATION YOU'VE HAD?

NO.

WELL, HOW MANY HAVE YOU HAD?

I'VE HAD A FEW.

WHAT, SEVERAL?

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

LIKE GLAUCOMA, OR CATARACTS,

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

YOU'RE NOT AT RISK?

UH-UH. I DON'T THINK SO.

IN FACT, THIS NEW THING IS SUPPOSED TO

MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD.

OKAY.

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

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

I'D APPRECIATE IT IF WE JUST KEEP THIS

BETWEEN THE TWO OF US, ALL RIGHT?

MISS TRALINS?

MISS TRALINS?

HI, MISS GREENE.

HI, MELINDA. THIS IS MY BOSS,

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

I'M FINE.

I'M LAURIE. MAY WE COME IN?

OF COURSE.

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

SOLT.

HOW'S TASSY?

SHE'S SLEEPING IN THE BEDROOM.

MAY I TAKE A LOOK?

WELL, SHE'S A LIGHT SLEEPER.

I'LL JUST PEEK.

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

BUT SHE ONLY FELL ASLEEP A MINUTE AGO.

MAMA, CAN WE GO GET A HAMBURGER?

JUST A MINUTE.

WE'RE HUNGRY.

WELL, GOOD LUCK, MELINDA.

WE'LL SEE YOU SOON.

I'LL CATCH UP.

WE BOTH KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.

YEAH. AND IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN.

MAMA, I'M HUNGRY.

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

GET YOUR BOYS SOME FOOD.

IT WAS DIFFERENT YESTERDAY.

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

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

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

NOW WHERE'S SHE GOING?

SHE'S GONNA SPEND 40 BUCKS.

MELINDA.

MELINDA.

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

MELINDA, JUST OPEN UP.

OPEN THE DOOR!NO!

JUST OPEN IT!

NO!

SHE'S LOCKED HERSELF INSIDE.

MELINDA?

MELINDA? OPEN UP. IT'S DORIS.

I DON'T CARE WHO IT IS!

GET AWAY FROM HERE!

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

MAMA SAYS NOT TO COME IN THERE.

MAMA SAYS SHE'S GOT A GUN.

SHE'S GONNA KILL TASSY AND HERSELF.

THAT'S WHAT MAMA SAYS.

MISS TRALINS.

IT'S NICHOLAS FALLIN, YOUR ATTORNEY.

MISS TRALINS.

MISS TRALINS, CAN YOU HEAR ME?

NO ONE WANTS ANY TROUBLE.

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

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

SO YOU BETTER TAKE YOURSELF

AND ALL THEM GOVERNMENT PEOPLE WITH YOU,

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

HEY, KID. DOES YOUR MOM HAVE A GUN?

YES.

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

THIS IS A HOSTAGE SITUATION...

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

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

IN CONTROL OF THE PREMISES.

NOW, DOES SHE TRUST ANY OF YOU?

UH, I'M HER SOCIAL WORKER.

OKAY, YOU STAY.

IF DORIS STAYS, I STAY, TOO.

ALL RIGHT, THE REST OF YOU

LEAVE A NUMBER WHERE YOU CAN BE CONTACTED,

AND THEN PLEASE, CLEAR THE FLOOR.

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

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

I THOUGHT WE WERE GONNA GO TO McDONALD'S?

WHEREVER YOU WANNA GO, WE'LL GO.

OFFICER? MY NAME'S COREY LEE.

I'M A HOSTAGE NEGOTIATOR.

I'LL BE TAKING OVER FROM HERE. OKAY.

WHO'S THE ONE WITH THE PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP

WITH THE WOMAN IN THERE?

UM... YOUR NAME?

DORIS GREENE.

MISS GREENE. WOULD YOU BE WILLING

TO SPEAK WITH MISS TRALINS ON THE PHONE?

YEAH.

WE JUST WANT HER TALKING.

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

IF IT BECOMES UNCOMFORTABLE,

YOU CAN HAND THESE BACK TO ME.

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

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

IF I THINK YOU'RE GETTING INTO A SITUATION

WHERE THIS COULD ESCALATE,

I'M GOING TO CUT YOU OFF.

MELINDA?

HI, IT'S DORIS GREENE.

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

MELINDA, WE'RE VERY WORRIED ABOUT YOU,

AND WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT TASSY.

YOU CALL THE POLICE?

YES, I DID.

BITCH.

MELINDA, PLEASE DON'T SAY THAT.

WHAT? BITCH?

YES.

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

ARE YOU OK?

OH, YEAH.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT YOU SHOULD SEE

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

AND I'M GONNA CALL OVER TO SOCIAL SERVICES

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

THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.

I GOTTA USE THE BATHROOM.

THAT'S YOURS.

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

I'LL TAKE CARE OF THIS.

SHE YOUR WIFE?

NO.

ALL THE WHITE PEOPLE ON TV ARE MARRIED.

NOT ALL OF THEM.

ALL THE OLD PEOPLE.

OKAY, WATCH IT.

YOU THINK SHE'S PRETTY, THOUGH.

WHY DON'T WE TALK ABOUT YOU, DESHAWN?

DO YOU HAVE ANY RELATIVES I CAN CALL?

YOU THINK SHE'S PRETTY. I CAN TELL.

THAT'S WHY YOU CHANGE THE SUBJECT.

DESHAWN, I NEED TO PUT YOU WITH A RELATIVE.

CAN I CALL YOUR FATHER?

NO.

DO YOU KNOW WHERE HE IS?

MAMA SAYS HE'S IN CALIFORNIA.

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

OKAY. UM, WHAT ABOUT GRANDPARENTS?

AUNTS OR UNCLES?

YOU GOT A TV?

DESHAWN, YOU HAVE TO STAY SOMEWHERE TONIGHT.

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

IT'S GONNA BE IN A SHELTER.

I GOT A UNCLE HARPER.

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

MARTINELLA. SHE DOES MY MOM'S HAIR.

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

NOPE.

OKAY.

SO, NO LUCK. I JUST CALLED SOCIAL SERVICES,

AND THEY DON'T HAVE ANY BEDS UNTIL TOMORROW.

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

YEAH. TILL TOMORROW MORNING.

HE THINKS YOU'RE PRETTY.

I'M GONNA GO LOOK FOR SOME BLANKETS.

ARE YOU READY TO TRY IT AGAIN?

MMM-HMM.

WHAT DO YOU WANT?

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

SHE'S OKAY. I TELL YOU THAT ALREADY.

MELINDA, IT WOULD MEAN A LOT TO ME

IF I COULD JUST SAY HI TO TASSY.

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

IT IS OUR JOB TO REPRESENT HER.

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

NO. NO. IT IS OUR JOB.

IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY.

YOU CAN'T WALK INTO THE COURT

AND ANNOUNCE THAT, YOU KNOW,

YOU SUSPECT THAT YOUR CLIENT IS USING DRUGS.

OKAY, YOU KNOW, MAYBE YOU'RE RIGHT.

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

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

BECAUSE I'M HAVING A TOUGH TIME HERE.

YOU KNOW, I ACTUALLY DO WISH

THAT I COULD BE LIKE YOU SOMETIMES.

LIKE ME?

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

THAT'S HOW YOU THINK I AM?

THAT'S HOW I KNOW YOU ARE.

I'VE BEEN AROUND YOU LONG ENOUGH.

YOU'RE TEFLON MAN.

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

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

YOU SORT OF MOVE THROUGH SPACE AND NOTHING TOUCHES YOU.

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

I GET VERY ATTACHED TO THINGS, AND...

AND EVERYTHING BREAKS MY HEART.

I'M ALWAYS PICKING UP STRAY ANIMALS,

AND... AND PEOPLE AND THINGS.

AND YOU SHOULD SEE MY HOUSE.

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

AND I'LL BET THAT YOUR HOUSE IS SPOTLESS.

HMM?

I MEAN, IF YOU EVEN HAVE A HOUSE.

IF YOU EVEN SLEEP.

WHY ARE YOU SO ANGRY WITH ME?

I'M NOT ANGRY.

I HAVE A HOUSE, OKAY?

I HAVE A HOME.

AND I KEEP THINGS.

AND I CARE ABOUT PEOPLE.

WHO?

WHAT HAVE I DONE TO YOU?

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

THEN THAT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.

NO, I'M ACTUALLY VERY INTERESTED.

WHO IS IT THAT YOU CARE ABOUT?

YOU KNOW, I, UH...

YOU DON'T KNOW ME.

YOU DON'T KNOW WHO I AM.

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

WHAT WHY... WHY NOT?

'CAUSE MY LIFE HAS CHANGED.

I HAVE TENDENCIES THAT I NEED TO CONTROL.

YOU STILL HAVEN'T ANSWERED MY QUESTION.

I'M NOT GOING TO.

OKAY.

THESE TWO ARE REALLY SWEET, HUH?

YEAH.

THEIR WHOLE LIFE IS JUST...

WHAT?

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

PROBABLY NOT GONNA FINISH SCHOOL.

YOU DON'T KNOW THAT.

CHANCES AREN'T GREAT.

NO.

BUT TONIGHT, THEY'RE WITH US.

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

THEY DO BELONG TO US.

THEY'RE OUR RESPONSIBILITY.

YEAH.

THERE IT IS.

THAT'S IT.

THAT'S WHY YOU DO THIS.

YEAH.

I GUESS.

NO, WAIT. JUST BE QUIET FOR A MINUTE.

NO. REALLY. I WANT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING.

I HAVE A BOYFRIEND. HIS NAME IS BRIAN,

AND, UM, HE WAS MY BEST FRIEND IN COLLEGE

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

I REALLY LOVE HIM.

YOU KNOW, MY PARENTS ARE ALREADY CALLING HIM

THEIR SON-IN-LAW AND ALL THAT.

YEAH.

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

I'M GONNA GET SOME SLEEP.

MARK, THIS IS LEE.

THE SUBJECT HAS BROKEN OFF DIALOGUE

AND IS BRANDISHING A WEAPON.

DO YOU HAVE A CLEAR SIGHT LINE?

ROGER THAT'S AFFIRMATIVE.

OKAY, I WANT YOU READY TO DE-ESCALATE.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

LADIES, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR HELP.

OFFICER STIMPSON, WOULD YOU PLEASE SHOW THEM OUT?

WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO?

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

I'M NOT LEAVING.

MELINDA, PICK UP THE PHONE.

MELINDA, PLEASE PICK UP THE PHONE.

LULU, LULU!

DESHAWN IS MISSING. DESHAWN!

MISS TRALINS!

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

MELINDA, FOR GOD SAKES, PICK UP THE PHONE!

MOMMY, MOMMY! DON'T SHOOT MY MOMMY!

DON'T YOU HURT THAT KID!

YOUR SON IS HERE. LAMONT LOVES YOU,

DESHAWN LOVES YOU, TASSY LOVES YOU.

YOU JUST COME TO THE PHONE!

MELINDA, FOR GOD SAKES!

PLEASE, MELINDA, PLEASE PICK UP THE PHONE!

GET DOWN, GET DOWN, GET DOWN!

AAH! LET ME GO!

LET ME GO!

NO, PLEASE LEAVE US ALONE!

NO! GET OFF OF ME!

LAURIE, WE...

THE BABY'S DEAD.

SHE'S COLD.

DID THEY SHOOT MY MAMA?

NO, OF COURSE NOT.

BUT THAT BABY'S DEAD, RIGHT?

YES.

I DIDN'T KILL THAT BABY,

IF THAT'S WHAT MY MAMA SAYS,

I DIDN'T KILL IT.

WHAT? LAMONT.

LAMONT... DO YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED?

YOU CAN TELL ME, YOU KNOW.

THE BABY WAS CRYING SO LONG

WHEN MY MAMA WAS AWAY.

THE BABY WAS REAL HUNGRY.

WE LOOKED AROUND,

COULDN'T FIND NOTHING TO FEED IT,

SO I GAVE IT A JAW BREAKER.

A JAW BREAKER?

A JAW BREAKER I GOT FROM HALLOWEEN.

I GAVE ONE TO THAT BABY FOR IT TO EAT.

AND YOU PUT IT IN THE BABY'S MOUTH?

THE BABY SUCKED ON IT FOR A LONG TIME,

THEN GOT QUIET.

WHEN MY MAMA COMES HOME, SHE WALKS IN

REAL TIRED, GOES TO CHECK ON THE BABY,

WHEN SHE COMES OUT,

SHE HITS ME IN THE HEAD,

TELLS ME I HURT IT.

THEN SHE GOES OUT AGAIN.

SHE'S SUPPOSED TO FEED IT, NOT ME.

WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN NOW?

SOCIAL SERVICES WILL, UH,

FIND YOU A PLACE TO LIVE FOR A WHILE.

THEY'LL KEEP US TOGETHER, RIGHT?

YEAH. I'LL MAKE SURE.

OH, MY GOD!

OH, MY GOD!

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

I DON'T THINK I CAN DO THIS ANYMORE.

IF I CAN DO THIS, YOU CAN DO THIS.

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

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

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

WE ADOPTED HER SIX MONTHS AGO.

THESE ARE THE FORMS AND DOCUMENTS

THAT PROVE A LEGAL ADOPTION TOOK PLACE

SIX MONTHS AGO.

DID THE BIOLOGICAL FATHER OF YOUR DAUGHTER

EVER PRESENT HIMSELF TO YOU

DURING THE ADOPTION PROCEEDINGS?

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

DO YOU KNOW WHO RENDERS FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR MARY?

OBJECTION, YOUR HONOR.

DR. SPANNER'S FINANCIAL RELATIONSHIP

TO MARY HAS NOTHING TO DO

WITH THE LEGAL DETERMINATION OF THIS CASE.

HIS ABILITY TO CARE FOR MARY

IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THIS CASE.

NO, THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS

IS WHETHER TODD HAD ADEQUATE NOTICE,

AND IF HE GAVE HIS CONSENT TO THIS ADOPTION.

SUSTAINED.

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

OBJECTION! YOUR HONOR, RELEVANCE.

OVERRULED.

YOU MAY ANSWER THE QUESTION, DR. SPANNER.

WE SPEND ALL OF OUR TIME WITH HER.

I'VE EVEN CUT BACK ON MY WORK HOURS.

EVERY NIGHT, WE... WE FEED HER,

WE SLEEP CLOSE TO HER,

WE WAKE UP WITH HER,

WE BURP HER AND BATHE HER,

WALK WITH HER.

HOW DO YOU REFER TO MARY

WHEN YOU SPEAK TO HER OR OF HER?

I REFER TO HER AS MY DAUGHTER.

NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.

DR. SPANNER, DID YOU KNOW THAT...

THE CHILD'S FATHER DID NOT GIVE PERMISSION

TO HOPE HOUSE TO GIVE MARY UP FOR ADOPTION?

NO.

IF YOU HAD BEEN AWARE THAT MY CLIENT

DID NOT WANT TO GIVE HIS CHILD UP,

WOULD YOU HAVE CONTINUED

WITH THE ADOPTION PROCEEDINGS?

NO.

NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.

DAMN IT.

EXCUSE ME.

DAD.

YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN SITTING HERE

MORE THAN AN HOUR.

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

I GOT... I GOT HELD UP.

MMM.

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

WELL, SHOULDN'T YOU BE GOING HOME?

NO, JUST TAKE ME TO THE OFFICE.

OKAY.

CAN'T SEE A DAMN THING.

HERE. HOW DID THE PROCEDURE GO?

I DON'T, UM...

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

SO, UH, DID THE OPERATION WORK?

I DON'T KNOW.

WATCH YOUR STEP. NO, I GOT IT.

HERE.

I'M ALL RIGHT.

EVERY TIME I COME OUT HERE,

THEY TELL ME THEY'RE DOING SOMETHING

TO STOP WHATEVER IT IS

HAPPENING TO MY EYES, BUT I...

I CAN'T TELL ANY DIFFERENCE.

JUST WATCH IT.

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

MIND YOUR HEAD, MIND YOUR HEAD.

WHAT THE HELL AM I GONNA DO?

MR. WOOLEY, IF I WERE TO GRANT CUSTODY

OF MARY TO YOU NOW,

I WOULD NOT BE CONVINCED THAT YOU WOULD REMAIN

FAITHFUL TO YOUR DECISION

TO HAVE HER AS YOUR CHILD

SINCE YOU WERE NOT FAITHFUL

TO YOUR ORIGINAL DECISION

TO STEP BACK FROM YOUR PARENTAL DUTIES.

BUT, YOU HONOR...

MARY SPANNER WILL REMAIN IN THE CUSTODY OF THE SPANNERS.

IT WILL BE UP TO THE SPANNERS

TO DECIDE WHAT TYPE OF RELATIONSHIP, IF ANY,

MR. WOOLEY HAS TO THE CHILD.

JUST... JUST GIVE ME A MINUTE.

JUDGE DAMSEN.

MAY I HAVE A WORD?

WHAT IS IT?

UH, WE SPOKE WITH MELINDA TRALINS' BOYS.

THE YOUNGER ONE ADMITTED

TO GIVING THE CHILD

A PIECE OF HARD CANDY

WHEN MELINDA WAS AWAY.

THE CHILD CHOKED TO DEATH?

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

I JUST... WANTED YOU TO KNOW NOW.

WHY?

WELL, I GUESS, UH...

I JUST THOUGHT THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW.

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

I UNDERSTAND.

MELINDA TRALINS MAY NOT HAVE KILLED THAT BABY

WITH HER OWN HANDS,

BUT HER NEGLECT CREATED THE CIRCUMSTANCES,

AND I GAVE HER THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE NEGLECT.

I DID THAT...

AND NOW THAT CHILD IS DEAD.

THAT CHILD IS DEAD.