Original subtitles

PREVIOUSLY ON "THE GUARDIAN"...

I GOT US A PLACE TO GO AFTER THE WEDDING.

LEVI MOONEY GOT KILLED LAST NIGHT AT THE CHRISTIAN BOYS ACADEMY.

SOME KID SHOVED ROCKS IN HIS MOUTH.

JAMES, I'M SO SORRY--

WHAT HAPPENS TO SHANNON NOW?

MR. FALLIN, IF YOU WANT TO BE A FOSTER PARENT,

THERE'S A WHOLE PROCEDURE.

HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF THE BERKELEY LEGAL CENTER?

ARE YOU GOING?

WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT DEALING WITH THE KIDS WHO DID THIS,

YOU'RE NOT GONNA.

SHANNON'S FATHER WANTS TO TAKE HER BACK.

I LOVE YOU. DON'T GO. WHAT?

NEXT THING I KNOW, I'M ON THE GROUND

GETTING BEAT BY THESE GUYS WEARING HOODS.

I TOOK A TIRE IRON TO HIS FACE.

DO ME A FAVOR AND LEAVE US THE HELL ALONE.

WHERE ARE YOU GOING?

TO BERKELEY FOR THE INTERVIEW.

LULU, I'M LOSING YOU! DAMN IT!

TALIEK'S THE WRONG GUY.

ROY CANTWELL MADE A COMPLAINT

ALLEGING INAPPROPRIATE SEXUAL BEHAVIOR.

WAIT A MINUTE!I HAVE TO GET RIGHT.

YOU CAN'T TELL THE KID.

I GOT THE JOB.

GIVE HIM SOME MONEY AND SHUT HIM UP.

I TRUSTED SOMEONE WHO SET YOU UP.

TALIEK, PUT THE GUN--

TOO BAD LULU COULDN'T MAKE IT.

YOU KNOW, YOU JUST MISSED A SPOT BACK THERE.

THERE'LL BE ANOTHER ONE.

JUST BACK UP AND TAKE THAT SPOT.

THERE'LL BE ANOTHER ONE, SON.

YOU KNOW, DAD, UH...

YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES MAYBE WE SHOULD TALK.

ABOUT WHAT?

I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T KNOW.

JUST-- I DON'T KNOW.

AH, THERE WE GO.

WHAT THE HELL? DID YOU SEE THAT?

YEAH.

EXCUSE ME. YOU TOOK MY PLACE.

HELLO?

DAD--

YOU TOOK MY PLACE.

DAD, JUST LET IT GO.

DAD.

EXCUSE ME. EXCUSE ME.

YOU TOOK MY PLACE.

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

WELL, I WAS WAITING HERE FOR THIS SPOT--

JUST LET IT GO. IT'S A PARKING SPOT.

SO BACK OFF.

YOU KNOW THAT GUY?

NICHOLAS?

GO HOME. JUST GO HOME.

♪ WELL, THERE IS TROUBLE IN MY MIND ♪

♪ THERE IS DARK

♪ THERE'S DARK AND THERE IS LIGHT ♪

♪ THERE IS NO ORDER

♪ BUT THERE IS CHAOS

♪ AND THERE IS CRIME

♪ THERE IS NO ONE HOME TONIGHT ♪

♪ IN THE EMPIRE OF MY MIND ♪

♪ THERE IS TROUBLE IN MY MIND ♪

♪ ALL THE CHAOS

♪ IN MY MIND

WE ARRESTED TALIEK ALLEN OUTSIDE OF HIS HOUSE

ABOUT 10 MINUTES AGO.

OK.

YEAH, HE TOLD OFFICER SACHS THAT YOU SAW HIM

RUNNING AWAY FROM THE VICINITY AT 7:30.

YEAH, THAT'S-- THAT'S RIGHT.

YOU'RE SURE ABOUT THE TIME?

WELL, YEAH. WE WERE, UH...

SUPPOSED TO GO TO THE SYMPHONY,

AND IT STARTS AT 7:30.

SUPPOSED TO GO?

YEAH, UH...

CHANGED OUR MINDS.

WHAT MADE YOU THINK SOMETHING HAPPENED HERE?

I JUST-- I JUST HAD A FEELING.

BECAUSE YOU KNEW TALIEK WAS GOING TO RETALIATE?

COME ON.

JAMES MOONEY TOOK A TIRE IRON TO THAT KID'S FACE.

WHY COVER IT UP NOW?

YOUR FRIEND'S DEAD.

THERE'S NO NEED TO PROTECT HIM ANYMORE.

COME TAKE A LOOK AT THIS!

SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS.

OH, GOD.

I WENT OVER THERE.

WHERE?

THE PARKING LOT.

TO SEE IF THAT GUY WAS ALL RIGHT.

HE WAS GONE.

THE CAR WAS STILL THERE, BUT HE WAS GONE.

I GOT HIS LICENSE PLATE NUMBER.

WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?

I SAW TALIEK ON THE ELEVATOR THAT NIGHT.

HE SAID HELLO TO ME.

I DON'T-- I JUST DON'T GET IT.

I MEAN, JAMES WAS JUST TRYING TO HELP THAT KID.

WHAT YOU WENT THROUGH, FINDING THE BODIES--

I'M FINE. I'M FINE.

JAMES' SISTER INVITED US OVER TO HER HOUSE FOR COFFEE.

YOU GOING?

I'LL SEE YOU BACK AT THE OFFICE.

SHANNON?

BURTON.

HOW YOU DOING?

GOOD.

I, UH, JUST THOUGHT I'D COME BY

AND SAY HI.

YEAH.

YOU WANT TO SIT?

YEAH, SURE.

THIS IS NOT SO BAD, HUH?

NO.

YOU MAD AT ME?

I'M UPSET. THAT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

HONEY, WHAT YOU DID WAS A VERY SERIOUS THING.

THE POLICE CAME BY MY OFFICE AND...

ACCUSED ME OF DOING SOME TERRIBLE THINGS TO YOU.

I'M SORRY.

HONEY, IF YOU DIDN'T WANT TO STAY WITH ME, WHY DIDN'T YOU--

WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST TELL ME?

I WOULD'VE UNDERSTOOD THAT.

ROY'S COMING TO GET ME PRETTY SOON.

HE'S TAKING ME OUT TO A MOVIE.

WELL, GOOD LUCK TO YOU, SWEETHEART.

I NEVER SAID YOU DID ANYTHING GROSS.

I MEAN...

I WAS KIND OF SCARED

WHEN YOU YELLED AT ME.

MR. FALLIN.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN, SIR.

WELL, YOU HAVE FUN AT THE MOVIES, SWEETHEART, OK?

WE WILL.

SEE YOU LATER.

COULD I-- COULD I TALK TO YOU FOR A SECOND?

SHANNON TOLD ME THAT YOU'RE GONNA TAKE CARE OF HER NOW.

WELL, SIR, I HOPE YOU'RE NOT ANGRY WITH HER

FOR WHAT SHE SAID.

WHAT SHE SAID?

THE WAY I SEE IT, YOU TOLD A 12-YEAR-OLD

TO LIE TO THE POLICE.

WELL, SIR, IT ALL WORKED OUT,

AND I HOPE WE CAN PUT IT BEHIND US NOW.

YEAH.

WELL, SHE COULD BE A GREAT KID, ROY.

DON'T--

DON'T SCREW IT UP.

ROY.

WE'RE GONNA MISS THE PREVIEWS.

WELL, SIR, APPRECIATE YOUR CONCERN.

MR. FALLIN, AS ALWAYS, GOOD SEEING YOU.

YOU WANT SOME HELP?

SURE.

I WAS WONDERING...

YEAH?

WELL, I COULD REALLY USE A HAND AROUND HERE

UNTIL I CAN HIRE REPLACEMENTS FOR LARRY AND JAMES.

I'M SUPPOSED TO START IN BERKELEY IN 2 WEEKS.

OH, I'M SURE JUDITH LIEBERMAN WILL UNDERSTAND.

ALVIN--

JUST FOR ANOTHER MONTH OR SO,

UNTIL I CAN GET REPLACEMENTS IN HERE.

ALVIN, YOU KNOW YOU'RE THE ONE

THAT WANTED ME TO LEAVE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

WILL YOU STAY OR NOT?

HEY.HEY.

JAMES' SISTER ASKED ABOUT HIS RETIREMENT FUND.

TALK TO CAROL IN ACCOUNTING.

I'LL DO IT.

TAKE THAT.

IF YOU WANT TO HELP ME,

YOU COULD PUT SOME OF HIS PERSONAL STUFF IN THIS BOX.

STAN BELANGER.

GUY WHO HAD THIS OFFICE BEFORE JAMES.

STAN, ONE DAY, JUST STOPPED COMING IN.

HE DIDN'T EVEN QUIT.

JUST STOPPED.

SO I CALL A FRIEND AT DUQUESNE LAW SCHOOL,

AND HE SENT JAMES OVER FOR AN INTERVIEW.

JAMES HADN'T EVEN PASSED THE BAR,

AND HE WASN'T VERY LIKABLE.

NO WAY I COULD HIRE HIM.

A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER, RIGHT,

I'M OVER AT THE CRAWFORD GRILL.

STANLEY TURRENTINE IS PLAYING.

THEY'RE MAKING A RECORDING OF IT.

KEYSTONE RECORDS, REMEMBER THEM?

UH, NO.

OH, THEY WERE GOOD.

JAZZ ONLY. PITTSBURGH ARTISTS.

YOU KNOW, JOE NEGRI, ETTA COX, WALT HARPER.

ANYWAY, I LOOK ACROSS THE ROOM AND THERE'S JAMES.

WE START TALKING.

HE TAKES ME OUT TO AN AFTER-HOURS CLUB UP ON THE HILL.

TURNS OUT HE'S A HUGE JAZZ FAN.

I MEAN, KNOWLEDGEABLE.

I HIRED HIM THE NEXT DAY.

WELL, THAT TURRENTINE RECORD

COMES OUT THE FOLLOWING DECEMBER, RIGHT?

JAMES--GET THIS--

JAMES BUYS IT FOR ME FOR CHRISTMAS,

THEN IMMEDIATELY BORROWS IT SO HE CAN TAPE IT.

NEVER GIVES IT BACK.

AND WHAT DO YOU DO, YOU KNOW? IT'S A PRESENT.

YOU DON'T WANT TO SEEM, I DON'T KNOW.

ANYWAY, KEYSTONE GOES BANKRUPT,

TURRENTINE DIES, AND NOW IT IS, LIKE,

THE MOST RARE RECORDING YOU CAN FIND.

THAT BOTHERED ME...

THAT HE NEVER GAVE IT BACK TO ME.

ALWAYS REALLY BOTHERED ME.

THE STEELERS LOOK GOOD THIS YEAR.

ALVIN.

OH, SUZANNE. HOW ARE YOU?

HI.

I KNOW THAT THIS IS A TERRIBLE TIME...

OH, THANK YOU.

BUT THIS IS JOEY SMITH

AND HE NEEDS A LAWYER FOR HIS SHELTER HEARING.

SURE.

I TRIED AT THE CHILDREN'S CENTER,

BUT THEY WERE ALL FULL.

OH, WE CAN HANDLE IT. WE'RE FINE HERE.

UH, NICK.

HI. SUZANNE PELL.

NICK FALLIN.

I'M SORRY FOR YOUR--WHAT'S THE CASE?

UM...

JOEY, WILL YOU WAIT HERE A SECOND?

THANKS.

HEY, HOW YOU DOING?

IT'S OK.

JOEY IS 9 YEARS OLD.

HE CAME INTO TOWN LAST WEEK WITH THE CARNIVAL.

LITERALLY?

LITERALLY.

THE KIND THAT MOVES AROUND.

JOEY'S BEEN TRAVELING WITH IT SINCE HE WAS BORN.

HIS MOTHER IS SOME SORT OF SIDESHOW PERFORMER.

SHE DOES A KIND OF REPTILE ACT.

WHY IS HE HERE?

HE WAS PICKED UP FRIDAY NIGHT SLEEPING OUTSIDE OF HIS--

IN HIS FATHER'S BACKYARD,

OR AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT JOEY'S CLAIMING,

THAT HIS REAL FATHER IS A DENTIST IN MT. LEBANON.

YOU DON'T KNOW THAT FOR SURE?

WE'RE TRYING TO TRACK HIM DOWN.

HE'S ON VACATION WITH HIS FAMILY.

WELL, IF THE KID'S A RUNAWAY,

WHY ISN'T HE BACK WITH HIS MOTHER?

JOEY'S CLAIMING THAT THE OWNER OF THE CARNIVAL

IS MOLESTING HIM.

HE SEEMS TO LIKE THE LEGOS.

WHAT ARE YOU MAKING?A DOG HOUSE.

OF COURSE.

DO YOU LIKE DOGS?

NO.

MY NAME IS NICK.

I'LL BE HELPING YOU WHEN WE GO TO COURT.

WHAT AM I GOING TO COURT FOR?

TO FIND YOU A NEW PLACE TO LIVE.

I KNOW MY MOM'S MAD AT ME.

DO YOU WANT TO TELL ME WHY YOU RAN AWAY?

I JUST WANTED TO SEE MY DAD.

DID YOU WANT TO TALK TO HIM?

WHAT DID YOU WANT TO TELL HIM?

THAT I DIDN'T WANT TO DO IT ANYMORE.

DO WHAT?

HELP MR. MEADOWS WITH THE MAIL.

THIS IS WHERE THE CHILDREN SLEEP.

THEY PROMISED TO CLEAN IT UP BY TOMORROW NIGHT.

THIS IS WHERE THEY GO TO SCHOOL.

OVER THERE?

YEAH. IT'S NOT EXETER,

BUT IT'S GOT THE BASICS.

THEY DON'T HAVE A LICENSED TEACHER, THOUGH,

SO I'M RECOMMENDING THEY GET ONE

BEFORE THEY LEAVE THE STATE.

RIGHT THERE'S THE BATHROOMS AND THE SHOWERS.

THERE'S NO HOT WATER AND NO STALLS.

THEY SAID THEY'LL FIX IT UP AS BEST THEY CAN.

IF THEY DON'T?

WHAT CAN WE DO?

THEY'RE LEAVING TOWN IN A FEW DAYS,

AND AFTER THAT, THEY'RE OFF TO GOD KNOWS WHERE.

MISS PELL.

HOW ARE YOU?

NICK, THIS IS GEORGE MEADOWS.

HE OWNS THE CARNIVAL.

PLEASURE TO MEET YOU, NICK.

I'M GLAD THAT YOU AND MISS PELL CAN COME BY

TO HELP STRAIGHTEN OUT THIS MESS.

WE COME TO TOWN OUTSIDERS,

WE LEAVE TOWN OUTSIDERS.

WE HAVE TO LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER.

I SEE.

LIKE I TOLD THE POLICE,

WE ARE, OSTENSIBLY, A BIG FAMILY.

AND I GUESS I'M SUPPOSED TO BE THE FATHER HERE.

AS SUCH, I'M OFTEN CALLED UPON TO PLAY

A PATERNALISTIC ROLE.

PATERNALISTIC?

JOEY, LIKE ALL KIDS HERE,

ARE THE CHILDREN OF CHILDREN,

EMOTIONALLY SPEAKING.

THEY NEED LOVE, GUIDANCE, SOMETIMES DISCIPLINE.

IT'S IN MY BEST INTERESTS TO WATCH OVER THEM.

AFTER ALL, MOST OF THEM WILL STAY

WITH THIS CARNIVAL FOR LIFE.

ARE YOU AWARE THAT JOEY CLAIMS

YOU MOLESTED HIM?

I'M AWARE OF HIS ACCUSATIONS.

DO YOU SPEND MUCH TIME ALONE WITH JOEY?

SURE. HE HELPS ME OUT SOMETIMES.

WITH THE MAIL?

RIGHT.

AND YOU'VE NEVER TOUCHED JOEY?

I'VE BEEN AFFECTIONATE WITH THE BOY, YES.

I'M AFFECTIONATE WITH ALL THE KIDS.

WHERE CAN I FIND JOEY'S MOTHER?

50 CENTS FOR 3 TOSSES! 50 CENTS!

COME ON, YOU CAN DO IT!YEAH!

AND A BOX CAR TO LUG HER!

AND WHEN SHE STARTS TO DANCE,

QUIVERS LIKE A BOWL OF GRANDMA'S JELLY

ON A COLD, FROSTY MORNING!

WE GOT A FIRE EATER! FREAKS, WONDERS,

AND CURIOSITIES!

THE STRANGE, THE WEIRD, THE ODD, THE BIZARRE,

AND THE UNUSUAL!

YOU'RE GONNA SEE FAT ALICE!

YOU'RE GONNA SEE THE SWORD SWALLOWER!

THE TATTOOED PEOPLE!AW, JEEZ!

GATHER IN, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

WE'RE GOING TO DO IT RIGHT NOW.

I'M GONNA BRING OUT SOME OF THE STRANGE...

WAIT UNTIL SHE TURNS AROUND.

OH, YEAH!

I JUST CAN'T BEAR TO TOUCH THEM.

EXCUSE ME, UM...

MISS SMITH?

NICHOLAS FALLIN.

I'M YOUR SON'S COURT-APPOINTED GUARDIAN.

YOUR SON SAYS GEORGE MEADOWS

WAS MASTURBATING IN FRONT OF HIM.

I WANT MY KID BACK.

DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT YOUR SON IS SAYING?

IF GEORGE MEADOWS

WAS TOUCHING HIMSELF IN FRONT OF MY SON,

I WOULD KILL HIM.

SO THEN YOUR SON IS LYING?

WHERE'S JOEY?

THAT DOESN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO YOU ARE.

THAT DOES NOT ANSWER MY QUESTION.

LIKE I SAID--

LOOK, I KNOW YOU'RE A LAWYER.

I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HELL

YOU HAVE TO DO WITH ANY OF THIS.

THE COURT IS GONNA ASK ME FOR A RECOMMENDATION

ABOUT WHERE JOEY SHOULD LIVE.

MY SON TOOK OFF.

I DON'T KNOW WHY.

MAYBE HE WAS SICK OF WORKING ALL SUMMER,

OR MAYBE 'CAUSE HE WANTED TO SEE HIS DAD,

WHO, BY THE WAY, HE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW.

IT HAPPENS.

THE KIDS AROUND HERE WANT TO SEE

WHAT THE NORMAL WORLD IS LIKE.

SO YOU'RE CONFIDENT THERE'S BEEN NO ABUSE?

I'VE KNOWN GEORGE MEADOWS ALL MY LIFE.

HE'S ALL RIGHT.

PLEASE GIVE ME BACK MY SON.

WE'RE LEAVING AT THE END OF THE WEEK.

GIVE HIM BACK.

YOU'VE SEEN THIS?

WHAT?

IT'S YOUR SON'S STATEMENT.

IT, UH...

IT'S VERY SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED

IN THAT TRAILER.

NICK, ABOUT JAMES, I JUST WANTED TO SAY--

THANK YOU.

A TERRIBLE THING.ANY MESSAGES?

I MET HIM ONCE, JAMES.

HE SEEMED LIKE SUCH A NICE GUY.

ANY MESSAGES?

OH. RIGHT. HERE YOU GO.

THANK YOU.

NICK.

HOW YOU DOING?

YOU NEED ANYTHING?

I'M FINE.

I WAS THINKING ABOUT THAT SHRINK

YOU WERE SEEING.

YOU NEED HIS NUMBER?

NO, I WAS THINKING ABOUT YOU.

WELL, I'M ALL RIGHT.

YOU OK?

YEAH. WHY?

WELL, AFTER WHAT HAPPENED THE OTHER NIGHT, YOU--

YOU WERE KIND OF--

YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT PARTNERS' MEETING THIS AFTERNOON, RIGHT?

YEAH, FINALIZING BONUSES.

4:30.

I'LL BE THERE.

HEY. HEY.

HOW YOU FEELING?

ALL RIGHT.

YEAH. I'M PRETTY UPSET.

I MEAN, I WAS--

I WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE LUNCH WITH JAMES TOMORROW.

HEY, NICK, UM...

LOOK, MAN...

IF YOU WANT TO TALK, YOU KNOW, I'M--

I'M HERE, ALL RIGHT?

YOU KNOW?

THIS IS KIND OF A BAD TIME.

BONUSES?

YEAH, I MADE UP A MEMO OF HOURS, BILLINGS, NEW BUSINESS.

IT WAS BEFORE I HEARD ABOUT JAMES, OF COURSE.

UM, NICK?

THERE'S A MAN NAMED HAROLD WATSON ON THE PHONE.

SOMETHING ABOUT A KID NAMED JOEY SMITH?

I GOT THIS.

YOU NICK FALLIN?

YEP.

HEY, HAROLD WATSON.

WHO THE HELL COULD--

THEY ARRESTED THIS FREAK THAT DID THAT TO JOEY?

WELL, THE POLICE ARE STILL LOOKING INTO IT.

OH, MY GOD.

I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT SON OF A BITCH IS--

I MEAN, JOEY'S ONLY-- WHAT, IS HE 8 YEARS OLD?

9. 9.

YEAH.

I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE THINKING.

HOW COULD I, YOU KNOW, WITH AMY.

I WAS, UH...

I HAD A VERY INTERESTING SUMMER.

10 YEARS AGO, I WAS PARTYING PRETTY HARD.

I MET AMY, AND...

ONE-WEEK THING, RIGHT?

I MEAN, WE'VE ALL BEEN THERE.

WE MAY NEED TO FIND A PLACE FOR JOEY TO LIVE.

RIGHT. I'M SURE.

WOULD YOU CONSIDER HAVING HIM LIVE WITH YOU?

YOU MEAN HERE?YEAH.

WELL, I'LL SPEAK TO MY WIFE AND KIDS.

WELL...

LET ME KNOW.

SIR? SIR?

YOUR CAR IS IN MY HUSBAND'S SPOT.

MY HUSBAND HAS M.S. AND HE NEEDS TO PARK

IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE.

YEAH. I'M SORRY.

IT'S A RESERVED SPOT.

I UNDERSTAND. I'LL MOVE IT.

I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT BE HUNGRY.

CAN I COME IN?

SURE.

WHEW. I WAS JUST HELPING ALVIN

CLEAN OUT JAMES' APARTMENT.

RIGHT.

ALVIN'S TEARING THE PLACE UP, I DON'T KNOW.

HE'S LOOKING FOR A JAZZ RECORD OR SOMETHING.

HE SAID YOU WERE GONNA STAY FOR ANOTHER MONTH.

HE DID?

ARE YOU?

YOU KNOW, ALVIN HAD A REALLY GOOD IDEA

TO START UP A FUND

AT DUQUESNE LAW SCHOOL HONORING JAMES.

SO YOU'RE NOT GONNA STAY?

YOU KNOW, I'M SUPPOSED TO START AT BERKELEY OCTOBER 15th, SO...

THIS SMELLS GREAT. YOU WANT TO EAT?

NO. I JUST-- I JUST ATE.

OH, COME ON. I DON'T WANT TO EAT ALONE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO.

NICK, I WAS REALLY KIND OF HOPING

THAT WE COULD BE--FRIENDS?

I GUESS. NO.

WELL, I'M NOT A VERY GOOD FRIEND.

SO YOU JUST WANT TO END IT, THEN?

END WHAT?

COME ON.

I SAID WHAT I SAID, ALL RIGHT?

YEAH, WELL, NICK,

LOVE IS NOT A BUSINESS DEAL.

I MEAN, YOU JUST--

YOU JUST DON'T PULL THE OFFER.

RIGHT.

YOU KNOW I REALLY CARE ABOUT YOU.

I MORE THAN CARE ABOUT YOU.

IT'S JUST THAT--

YOU'RE GONNA MOVE TO CALIFORNIA.

RIGHT.

THEN WE HAVE NOTHING TO TALK ABOUT.

RIGHT.

I'LL LEAVE THE FOOD FOR YOU.

NICK, YOUR FATHER WANTS TO SEE YOU IN HIS OFFICE.

COME IN.

WHAT IS IT?

YEAH, NICK, UH...

THIS IS RALPH TRILLO.

THIS IS MY SON NICHOLAS.

HEY.

WHAT, YOU COULDN'T JUST LET IT GO?

YOU WENT TO HIS HOUSE?

I MEAN, WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING?

NICHOLAS, WE ATTACKED HIM.

NO. YOU GETTING OUT OF YOUR CAR

IS WHAT STARTED THIS WHOLE DAMN THING.

IT WAS A FIGHT, DAD!

YOU KNOW WHAT THIS COULD DO TO ME?

THIS GUY GOES TO THE COPS-- I'M ON PROBATION!

I KNOW THAT. I'M SORRY ABOUT THAT, BUT--

YOU'RE SORRY.

NICHOLAS, I HAD TO FIND OUT IF HE WAS OK OR NOT.

IF THIS GUY GOES TO THE POLICE,

I'M THE ONE LOOKING AT A PROBATION REVOCATION HEARING.

WELL, HE'S NOT GOING TO THE COPS.

HE KNOWS WHO WE ARE NOW,

HE'S BEEN TO OUR OFFICES,

HE KNOWS WE HAVE MONEY.

NO. HE'S NOT GONNA DO ANYTHING.

HE'S GOING STRAIGHT TO SEE A LAWYER RIGHT NOW!

I'LL FIX IT.

HOW?

I'LL HANDLE IT.

THANK YOU.

WELL, I APPRECIATE YOU COMING BY, JOANNE.

OH, NO PROBLEM.

YEAH, NOW, I READ ABOUT YOUR SON.

HE'S GOING TO PENN STATE, RIGHT?

YEAH, HE IS. THAT'S GREAT.

YOU KNOW, THE PROS ARE LIKING THESE COLLEGE PLAYERS

A LOT MORE THESE DAYS.MM-HMM.

ESPECIALLY PITCHERS.

I KNOW. SO, I PULLED THAT FILE ON MR. TRILLO.

DO YOU STILL WANT IT?OH, YEAH. YEAH.

YEAH, I COULD'VE GOTTEN THIS FROM FRANK DeSCALA,

BUT I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE NICE TO CATCH UP WITH YOU A LITTLE BIT.

YOU LOOK GREAT.OH, THANKS. SO DO YOU.

THANKS.

HAIRLINE FRACTURE OF THE SKULL,

MINOR CONCUSSION,

FACIAL LACERATION,

BROKEN RIGHT HAND. HUH.

WELL, NOT SO BAD.

YEAH, THE TREATMENT WAS STANDARD.

WHERE'S THE MALPRACTICE COMING IN?

OH, THEY HAVEN'T EVEN FILED A SUIT YET.

OH, SO WHY DO YOU NEED THIS INFORMATION?

OH, I JUST THOUGHT MAYBE I'D NIP IT IN THE BUD

BEFORE IT GETS, UH...

COULD YOU, UH...

WILL YOU EXCUSE ME JUST A SECOND?

SURE.BE RIGHT BACK.

MR. FALLIN, HOW YOU DOIN'?

I'M DOING FINE.

REMEMBER CHERYL ANN? HI.

UH, THE SECRETARY TOLD ME WHERE YOU WERE.

DID SHE? YEAH.

I TOLD HER IT WAS A CLIENT. UH-HUH.

WHAT DO YOU WANT?

MR. FALLIN, I THINK THAT I OVERESTIMATED MY CAPACITIES.

IS THAT RIGHT?MY BUSINESS VENTURES ARE HEATIN' UP,

AND I THINK THEY'RE GONNA REQUIRE MY UNDIVIDED ATTENTION.

YOUR BUSINESS VENTURES?

YEAH. I INVESTED IN CHERYL ANN'S BEAUTY SUPPLY BUSINESS.

OH. OH.

YOU COULDN'T DO THAT HERE?

UH, NO. WE'RE GOIN' TO FLORIDA.

SO, WHAT, UH--

WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME, BUS FARE?

NO, NO, NO. I GOT MY CAR.

NOW, LISTEN, I HAVEN'T TOLD SHANNON YET,

AND I GUESS WHAT I'M TRYIN' TO SAY HERE,

AND THIS IS HARD FOR ME, SIR, IS THAT, UH,--

WELL, I KNOW HOW SHANNON FEELS ABOUT YOU,

SO I THOUGHT MAYBE YOU COULD KEEP AN EYE ON HER TILL I GET BACK.

YOU'RE NOT COMING BACK, ROY.

UH, WELL, SIR, I DON'T KNOW THAT FOR CERTAIN.

YOU GO AWAY, YOU JUST-- YOU STAY AWAY.

UH, IT'S MY RIGHT, MR. FALLIN,

TO LIVE MY EXISTENCE ANY WAY I CHOOSE.

HEY, BURTON. HEY.

SO, THE, UH, FISH SPECIALS ARE VERY GOOD

IF YOU'RE A FISH PERSON.

I LIKE FISH.

WELL, CHEERS, JOANNE. IT'S GOOD TO SEE YA.

YOU, TOO.

YOU WANTED TO SEE ME?

YEAH.

I'M DOWN 3 LAWYERS,

SO UNTIL I CAN HIRE REPLACEMENTS,

I'M GONNA BE LEANING ON YOU TO PICK UP THE SLACK.

I UNDERSTAND. I'LL COME IN WHEN I CAN.

YOU COME IN WHEN I TELL YOU TO.

WELL, THAT'S NOT OUR DEAL.

I'VE BEEN TALKING TO THE DEAN OVER AT DUQUESNE

ABOUT SETTING UP A SCHOLARSHIP FUND.

YEAH, RIGHT. I HEARD, I HEARD.

SO...

ALVIN, BEFORE YOU GET TOO DEEP INTO THIS--

YES?

TALIEK IS GONNA CLAIM THAT JAMES ATTACKED HIM.

THAT'S RIDICULOUS.

HE'S GONNA SAY THAT JAMES BLAMED HIM

FOR WHAT HAPPENED TO HIS NEPHEW,

AND THAT HE BROKE INTO HIS HOUSE AND ATTACKED HIM.

BUT THAT'S A LIE.

NO LAW SCHOOL IS GONNA WANT AN ENDOWMENT

NAMED AFTER SOME GUY THAT TOOK A TIRE IRON

TO A TEENAGE KID'S FACE.

BUT HE DIDN'T DO IT.

MR. FALLIN.

HAROLD WATSON.YEAH, I REMEMBER.

MY WIFE AND I DISCUSSED JOEY.

AND? IT'S A NO.

AHEM. AMY WAS A--

I WAS VERY--YOU TOLD ME.

LOOK, JOEY'S A GOOD KID,

BUT YOU SEE WHAT HE'S BEEN BROUGHT UP AROUND.

MY WIFE...

WELL, SHE JUST DOESN'T FEEL COMFORTABLE

BRINGING HIM INTO A HOUSE WITH NORMAL KIDS.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.

OH, YEAH.

I HAVE A FAMILY.

JOEY BELONGS WITH AMY.

BUT I WILL ABSOLUTELY KEEP UP

WITH MY CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENTS.

GREAT. I'LL LET THEM KNOW THAT.

UM, THANKS.

HEY. HOW YOU DOING?

GOOD.

THANKS FOR COMING OVER.

YEAH, SURE.

WHAT, UH--WHAT'S GOING ON?

ROY HAD SOME GOOD NEWS.

YEAH?

GOT SOME GREAT JOB IN FLORIDA.

SAID HE'S GONNA CALL ME IN A FEW WEEKS ONCE HE'S SET UP.

OH. GOOD.

YEAH. UNTIL THEN,

I GUESS I HAVE TO WAIT.

I MEAN, STAY HERE.

YEAH.

BUT IT'S GOOD NEWS.

YEAH. YEAH, IT IS. IT'S GOOD NEWS.

BURTON.

WHAT, HONEY?

I KIND OF TOLD ROY--

I KIND OF TOLD HIM I MIGHT WANNA STAY WITH YOU

UNTIL HE GETS BACK.

YOU TOLD HIM THAT?

YEAH.

HUH.

WOW.

HONEY, YOU...

WELL,

I SURE LIKE THE IDEA...

BUT, UH...

HONEY, I'VE-- I'VE GOT A...

LOT OF THINGS GOING ON AT THE OFFICE RIGHT NOW,

AND, UM,

I JUST--I DON'T THINK IT'S POSSIBLE RIGHT NOW.

OH.

YOU UNDERSTAND?

YEAH. I GET IT.

REALLY?

YEAH.

I MEAN, I--I CAN COME BY HERE A LOT IF YOU WANT.

I'LL JUST--I'LL CALL ROY AND TELL HIM.

HE'LL PROBABLY JUST COME BACK AND GET ME.

YEAH.

JOEY SMITH'S BIOLOGICAL FATHER WON'T TAKE HIM BACK.

WHO?

JOEY SMITH, THE KID FROM THE CARNIVAL.

YOU SEE THE PAPER?

YOU WERE RIGHT.

ABOUT TALIEK.

HIS LAWYERS ARE SETTING UP AN INSANITY DEFENSE

AND MAKING JAMES OUT TO BE THE BAD GUY.

ALVIN, I NEED YOUR ADVICE ON THIS CASE.

WHAT'S SOCIAL SERVICES SAYING?

WELL, POLICE RAN A BACKGROUND CHECK ON THIS GUY MEADOWS.

IT SEEMS THIS IS NOT THE FIRST COMPLAINT

THAT'S GONE UP AGAINST HIM.

THINK THE MOM WAS AWARE OF THE ABUSE?

SHE JUST WANTS HER KID BACK.

I DON'T THINK SHE'LL ADMIT ANYTHING.

WHAT'S THE KID WANT?

HE WANTS TO BE WITH HIS MOTHER.

WELL, TELL THE MOM TO LEAVE THE CARNIVAL.

SOCIAL SERVICES CAN SUPERVISE THEM FOR A WHILE

SO NO ONE'S AT RISK.

I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

THEN I HAVE TO RECOMMEND YOUR SON REMAIN IN A SHELTER.

WHO THE HELL ARE YOU TO TELL ME?

THIS IS MY SON.

MYSON.

CALL THESE PEOPLE.

THEY WILL HELP YOU FIND A JOB.

I WILL FILL OUT THE GOVERNMENT HOUSING FORMS

AND TAKE THEM TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY FOR YOU.

THE HEARING'S TOMORROW MORNING AT 11 A.M.

I WAS, UH, ON MY WAY TO A SYMPHONY FUNDRAISER

WHERE I'M ON THE BOARD, BY THE WAY.

MY SON WAS WITH ME. HE'S ALSO AN ATTORNEY.

I WAS GETTING READY TO PARK MY CAR

WHEN A MAN RECKLESSLY PULLS IN FRONT OF ME

AND TAKES MY PLACE.

I GOT OUT OF THE CAR,

POLITELY ASKED HIM TO MOVE HIS CAR.

HE IMMEDIATELY GOT HOSTILE,

SHOVES ME, THROWS ME UP AGAINST THE CAR,

HITS ME SO HARD THAT HE BREAKS HIS RIGHT HAND.

I, IN SELF-DEFENSE, THREW A PUNCH, CONNECTED,

THE GUY WENT DOWN, AND I WALKED AWAY.

YOU AND YOUR SON ATTACKED ME.

WELL, THIS IS A COMPLAINT ALLEGING ASSAULT AND BATTERY

OF A 70-YEAR-OLD MAN.

I'LL SERVE YOU WITH THAT TOMORROW MORNING.

I'M ASKING FOR $100,000 IN DAMAGES.

I THINK YOU OUGHT TO KNOW THAT I HAVE THE RESOURCES

TO, UH, DRAG THIS CASE OUT FOR A LONG TIME.

COST YOU A FORTUNE.

COST ME NOTHING.

I AM AWARE OF YOUR INJURIES

AND YOUR EXPENSES, SO, I, UM...

I PREPARED A CHECK

IN THE AMOUNT OF $36,000.

HERE'S A RELEASE FORM FOR YOU TO SIGN.

A RELEASE FORM?

YEAH. THAT STATES THAT THERE WAS A MINOR ALTERATION

BETWEEN YOU AND ME ONLY.

SAYS THAT WE WERE BOTH NEGLIGENT

AND NEITHER PARTY IS WILLING TO ACCEPT BLAME.

WASN'T JUST ME AND YOU.

NO, NO. MY SON WAS NOT INVOLVED.

IF I WANT MORE MONEY?

I'M NOT HERE TO NEGOTIATE.

IF I GO TO THE POLICE?

RALPH, I, UH, WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I'M--

I'M SORRY ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED.

I TRULY BELIEVE IT WOULD BE IN EVERYBODY'S BEST INTERESTS

IF YOU JUST TOOK THAT CHECK.

BY THE WAY, I, UH, TOOK CARE OF OUR LITTLE PROBLEM.

WHAT DID YOU DO?

WELL...

JUST TOOK CARE OF IT.

NICHOLAS, UH, LET ME ASK YOU SOMETHING.

WHAT?

SHANNON'S DAD LEFT TOWN.RIGHT.

SHE HAS NO PLACE TO GO.

NO, DAD, YOU DON'T WANNA GO BACK THERE.

NO, NO, I KNOW WHAT YOU THINK OF HER.

I'M NOT ASKING YOU THAT.

I GUESS WHAT I'M ASKING YOU IS, UH...

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF ME?

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

AS A FATHER.

CAN I GO HOME NOW?

NO.

WHY NOT?

BECAUSE YOU SHOULD STAY AT THE SHELTER

AND LET SOCIAL SERVICES FIND A NEW HOME FOR YOU.

WHAT IF I SAID...

IT DIDN'T HAPPEN?

WHAT IF I SAID MR. MEADOWS NEVER DID ANYTHING TO ME?

I MADE IT UP, OK?

I MADE IT UP.

THESE ARE THE HOUSING FORMS.

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS SIGN THEM.

I WENT TO THE JOB PLACEMENT CENTER.

THAT GUY JUST STARED AT ME.

SAID HE DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING.

THEY'LL FIND YOU A JOB.

I HAVE A JOB IN SHOW BUSINESS.

I'M A PERFORMER.

I HAVE A HOUSE IN FLORIDA WHERE I KEEP MY SNAKES

AND WHERE MY SON LIVES.

THIS IS THE ONLY THING I CAN DO.

I'M NOT LEAVING THE CARNIVAL.

THEN I HAVE TO RECOMMEND JOEY BE PLACED IN A SHELTER.

I CAN'T CHANGE THE WAY I LOOK NOW.

EVEN IF I WANTED TO,

THERE'S NO DOCTOR IN THE WORLD

THAT'S GONNA CHANGE THE WAY I LOOK.

PLEASE! GIVE ME BACK MY SON.

THIS IS NOT UP TO ME.

IF I PROMISE TO PROTECT HIM FROM MR. MEADOWS--

PROTECT HIM?IF I PROMISE.

YOU HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO PROTECT HIM SO FAR.

I'LL NEVER LET IT HAPPEN AGAIN.

YOU NEED TO TALK TO THE POLICE.

I CAN'T DO THAT. THEY'LL SHUT US DOWN.

TALK TO THE POLICE.

I CAN'T. I'M SORRY. I CAN'T DO THAT.

IT'S NOT LIKE HE'S TOUCHING JOEY.

HAS THERE BEEN ANY PROGRESS

IN THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION?

UH, NOT YET, YOUR HONOR.

THE CHILD HAS RECANTED HIS ALLEGATIONS AGAINST MR. MEADOWS.

IN ADDITION, YOUR HONOR,

MR. MEADOWS HAS IMPROVED THE LIVING CONDITIONS

AND HIRED A FULL-TIME TUTOR.

MISS SMITH WANTS JOEY BACK,

AND JOEY WANTS TO BE WITH HER.

THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO LEGAL REASON

TO KEEP THEM APART.

MR. FALLIN, YOUR RECOMMENDATION?

JOEY SMITH SHOULD REMAIN IN A GROUP HOME

UNTIL THE POLICE HAVE CONCLUDED THEIR INVESTIGATION.

I WANNA GO HOME.

WE'RE LEAVING FOR OHIO TODAY.

MISS SMITH--HE WANTS TO COME WITH ME.

MISS SMITH HAS DONE NOTHING WRONG.

NO ABUSE, NO NEGLECT.

THERE HAVE BEEN NO CRIMINAL CHARGES

FILED AGAINST MR. MEADOWS.

I WANNA GO HOME.

I SEE NO REASON WHY JOEY SHOULDN'T GO BACK WITH HIS MOTHER.

JOEY'S MOTHER KNOWS HE'S BEING ABUSED.

HE RECANTED BECAUSE HE DOESN'T WANT THE CARNIVAL

TO LEAVE TOWN WITHOUT HIM,

BUT SHE KNOWS THE TRUTH.

NOW, I KNOW I CAN BE A LITTLE ROUGH AND...

LOSE MY TEMPER SOMETIMES, BUT...

LIKE I SAID, IF I FRIGHTENED YOU THAT DAY, I--

I'M VERY SORRY.

IT WAS ROY. HE TOLD ME TO--

NO, DON'T DO THAT, HONEY.

DON'T BLAME OTHER PEOPLE FOR YOUR ACTIONS.

OK.

WELL, ANYWAY...

I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THIS...

AND, UH...

I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO COME BACK

IF YOU WANT TO.

WELL, YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I WAS--

BUT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO GIVE ME YOUR WORD.

NO MORE LYING.

NO MORE GOING PLACES WITHOUT MY PERMISSION.

NO MORE ROY

UNLESS I'M THERE TO SUPERVISE.

I PROMISE, BURTON. I PROMISE.

OK.

WELL, SO WE'LL GET YOUR STUFF AND...

GET OUT OF HERE.

UH, WHY DON'T WE--

WHY DON'T WE, BEFORE WE GO HOME,

MAYBE TAKE A MOVIE IN,

GET SOME DINNER?

I'D RATHER JUST GO BACK TO YOUR HOUSE, BURTON.

IF THAT'S OK. I'D RATHER JUST GO BACK THERE.

OK.

YEAH. ME, TOO.

I'LL BE BACK AFTER WE FINISH IN CINCINNATI,

AND ALL OF THIS WILL HAVE BLOWN OVER.

MR. FALLIN IS GONNA WATCH OUT FOR YOU,

AND I'M GONNA WRITE YOU EVERY DAY,

AND I'M GONNA CALL YOU.

SO GIVE ME A HUG.

LET'S GO!

ROLL OUT!

WE'LL WORK THIS OUT.

OK?

BYE.

NICK.

FOUND MY STANLEY TURRENTINE RECORD IN JAMES' APARTMENT.

POST-IT NOTE WAS STILL ON IT.

"RETURN TO ALVIN."

THE DEAN AT DUQUESNE LAW SCHOOL?

NOT INTERESTED IN THE SCHOLARSHIP.

IT'S A SHAME.

JAMES WAS A GOOD MAN.

THIS WHOLE DAMN THING IS JUST A SHAME.

LOOK, I COULD DO THAT.

I'M FINE. I'LL DO IT.

NO, I'M--I'M FINE.

I, UH...

I CHECKED YOUR PROBATION DECREE.

THE TERMS OF YOUR COMMUNITY SERVICE ARE UP TO MY DISCRETION.

MY DISCRETION, NOT YOURS.

ALL RIGHT.

JUST SO YOU KNOW, I'M GONNA NEED YOU TO PUT SOME EXTRA TIME IN HERE.

OK.

JUST SO YOU KNOW.