Original subtitles

MATHERS INDUSTRIES, KELTON RUBBER,

NATHANSON AUTO PARTS...

RIGHT.

HENDERSON BOX AND PAPER,

BLUESTONE PLASTICS,

L AND T HOLDING CORPORATION,

RIGHTVISION COMMUNICATIONS,

SKLAR CHEMICAL,

AND ALLEGHENY ELECTRIC.

ALLEGHENY ELECTRIC IS MY CLIENT.

NICHOLAS, I BROUGHT THEM IN BACK IN 1967.

AND I'VE KEPT THEM HERE FOR THE PAST 7 YEARS.

BUT I BROUGHT THEM IN.

ALL RIGHT.

I'M WILLING TO GIVE YOU 50%.

50%? I DO ALL THE WORK.

50%, NICHOLAS, AND FROM NOW ON,

YOU ONLY GET WHAT YOU BRING THROUGH THE DOOR.

OK?

YEAH, FINE.

THIS IS A GREAT RELIEF.

THE PROSECUTOR WAS JUST LOOKING FOR HEADLINES.

WELL, I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH.

WELL, HOPEFULLY, YOU WON'T HAVE TO HIRE ME AGAIN.

HEY, CLAY, YOU REPRESENT PHIL HOSTETLER?

HE WAS REFERRED TO ME ON THIS ONE MATTER.

HOW DID IT GO?

HOW DID IT GO?

17-YEAR-OLD KID FALLS DOWN

ONE OF HOSTETLER'S OLD MINE SHAFTS AND DIES.

SOME PROSECUTOR DOWN IN COAL COUNTRY INDICTS HOSTETLER

FOR NEGLIGENT HOMICIDE.

I GET HIM OFF WITH A $500 FINE.

YOU TRY TO GET HIS CORPORATE WORK?

HE'S BEEN WITH SWANN AND CRANSTON FOR 35 YEARS.

YOU DIDN'T TRY TO GET HIS CORPORATE WORK?

IF YOU LAND HIM, I WANT 50% OF THE SOURCE CREDIT.

HOLD IT.

THANK YOU.

MR. HOSTETLER?

NICK FALLIN.

WELL, NICE TO MEET YOU.

KNOW YOUR DAD.

I'M SORRY ABOUT HAROLD CRANSTON'S RETIREMENT.

HAROLD'S RETIRING?

WELL, IF HE'S NOT, HE SHOULD.

HE HASN'T SAID ANYTHING TO ME ABOUT THAT.

IT'S GOT TO BE TOUGH BEING HOSTETLER COAL,

WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS, THE UNIONS, THE PRESS.

EVERYONE HATES YOU.

THAT'S NOT AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO LAND A CLIENT, SON.

OUR FIRM IS VERY GOOD AT DEALING WITH COMPANIES

THAT ARE TARGETS OF FRIVOLOUS LAWSUITS.

WE WORK WITH YOU AT STOPPING SMALL PROBLEMS

FROM SNOWBALLING INTO BIG ONES.

IN EFFECT, WE SAVE YOU ON BILLABLE HOURS.

WE'RE JUST A BETTER FIT FOR YOU, MR. HOSTETLER.

WHY ELSE WOULD CRANSTON SEND YOU OVER

TO WORK WITH CLAY SIMMS AT OUR OFFICES?

WE HAVE EVERYTHING YOU NEED UNDER THE ONE ROOF.

THERE'S A SMALL COAL FIRE BURNING CLOSE TO DONORA.

REASON I THOUGHT OF IT,

WE DISCOVERED IT WHEN WE WERE INVESTIGATING

THAT MINE WHERE THE YOUNG MAN FELL.

HOW DID IT START?

PROBABLY SOME LOCALS BURNING TRASH TOO CLOSE TO A COAL SEAM.

WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU?

VERNON, PENNSYLVANIA, SITS RIGHT ON TOP OF ONE OF MY MINES,

5 MILES FROM THE FIRE.

ALL THE MINES ARE CONNECTED,

SO IT'S A MATTER OF SOME CONCERN

IF THE FIRES HAVE SPREAD TO VERNON.

I SEE. HOW BIG IS VERNON?

ABOUT 7 HOUSES AND 23 INHABITANTS.

WELL, UH, YOU COULD--

YOU COULD PAY RESIDENTS TO WAIVE THEIR RIGHTS

TO FUTURE PROPERTY DAMAGE CLAIMS.

I COULD GO OUT THERE AND HAVE THEM SIGN RELEASES.

HOW SOON COULD YOU GET THIS DONE?

I COULD GO OUT THERE TODAY.

VERY WELL.

THE JOB IS YOURS.

♪ WELL, THERE IS TROUBLE IN MY MIND ♪

♪ THERE IS DARK

♪ THERE'S DARK, AND THERE IS LIGHT ♪

♪ THERE IS AN 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

HOW'D IT GO?

YEAH, HE GAVE US A MATTER--

COAL FIRE THEY DISCOVERED WHEN THAT KID FELL.

OK.

OK, WHAT?

I BROUGHT HOSTETLER IN THE DOOR.

I WANT 50%.

YOU'RE KIDDING.

I BROUGHT HIM IN THE DOOR.

FINE.

THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE.

YOU KNOW THAT ASSOCIATE I BROUGHT WITH ME, SADIE HARPER?

HAVEN'T MET HER.

SHE WORKED ON HOSTETLER'S DEFENSE,

KNOWS THE TOWN OF VERNON VERY WELL.

SHE COULD BE AN ASSET TO THIS CIVIL MATTER OF YOURS.

SHE'S A CRIMINAL ATTORNEY.

SHE COULD BE AN ASSET.

IS THIS WHAT YOU WANTED TO TALK TO ME ABOUT?

YEAH. SHE SPENT A MONTH DOWN IN VERNON,

INVESTIGATING THE ACCIDENT.

KNOWS THE TOWN VERY WELL?

SO I THOUGHT MAYBE YOU COULD TAKE HER ON.

HOW LONG YOU BEEN SLEEPING WITH HER?

A YEAR, ON AND OFF.

DOES MY FATHER KNOW YOU'VE BEEN ON AND OFF HER

FOR THE PAST YEAR?

I'M TELLING YOU.

HE'S NOT GONNA BE VERY HAPPY.

YOU'RE A PARTNER, SHE'S AN ASSOCIATE.

I'M AWARE OF THAT.

AND YOU PLAN TO CONTINUE SEEING HER?

YEAH, OF COURSE.

SHE'S A GREAT LAWYER.

GOOD FOR YOU.

FINE. I'LL TAKE HER.

THANKS.

I GET ALL OF HOSTETLER.

YOU'RE KIDDIN'.

SADIE, RIGHT?

RIGHT.

NICK FALLIN.

YES. HI.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

UM, CAN YOU SIGN THIS?

IT'S A CONSENSUAL RELATIONSHIP AGREEMENT.

IT STATES THAT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CLAY SIMMS

IS VOLUNTARY, MUTUAL--

I KNOW WHAT THIS IS.

I NEED YOU TO SIGN IT.

I'M NOT SIGNING THIS.

YOU'RE NOT?

ALL THIS RELEASE DOES IS PROTECT YOU.

IT'S A STANDARD FORM, SADIE.

WOULD YOU SIGN THIS?

SURE.

LET'S SAY YOU'RE STILL AN ASSOCIATE

AND A 40-YEAR-OLD FEMALE PARTNER'S BANGING YOU.

YOU KNOW, TAKES YOU OUT TO THE HOUSE ON WEEKENDS,

EXPENSIVE DINNERS, BAD SKIING.

THEN ONE DAY SHE WANTS YOU TO SIGN A FORM--

IN CASE SHE GETS BORED WITH YOU

AND DOESN'T WANT YOU AROUND ANYMORE,

SHE CAN FIRE YOU WITHOUT ANY REPERCUSSIONS.

THINK ABOUT IT.

ARE YOU SAYING I HAVE TO DO THIS?

NO, I'M SAYING YOU SHOULD THINK ABOUT IT.

I'LL GET BACK TO YOU LATER.

SOMETHING ELSE?

I UNDERSTAND YOU'VE BEEN TO VERNON, PENNSYLVANIA.

WE SETTLED THAT CASE, THANK GOD.

WHY ARE WE PARKING HERE?

TRUST ME. IT'S BETTER THIS WAY.

THESE PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO SEE THIS CAR.

IN ORDER FOR THE RELEASES TO BE BINDING,

YOU NEED TO GIVE EACH RESIDENT A DISCLOSURE REPORT,

HAVE THEM READ IT BEFORE THEY SIGN.

RIGHT.

IT JUST SAYS THEIR, UH...

THEIR TOWN IS BUILT ON A COAL MINE

AND THERE'S A CHANCE THAT AT SOME POINT

THAT MINE COULD CATCH ON FIRE.

THERE'S AN OUTSIDE CHANCE THAT THEIR PROPERTY

MIGHT COLLAPSE A BIT.

YOU KNOW, THOSE MINES ARE CUT 500 FEET INTO THE GROUND?

RIGHT.

COLLAPSE A BIT?

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT COAL FIRES?

JUST WHAT I READ BEFORE I LEFT,

THAT THEY'RE HARD TO PUT OUT.

TAKE A BIG SEAM OF COAL,

SAY 40 MILLION TONS?

THAT SETS ON FIRE, YOU'VE GOT THE WORLD'S BIGGEST BARBECUE PIT.

ONLY DIFFERENCE IS YOUR HIBACHI BURNS AT ABOUT 400 DEGREES.

COAL FIRES BURN AT 2,000.

AT THAT TEMPERATURE, IT COULD TAKE 100 YEARS TO BURN ITSELF OUT.

ALL RIGHT, I WANT YOU TO TAKE

THE HARRISONS, THE STRYSINSKIS,

AND THE PENCES.

YOU WANT ME TO WALK INTO THESE PEOPLE'S HOUSES BY MYSELF?

YEAH.

YOU TAKEN A GOOD LOOK AT ME?

YEAH, I, UH,

I NOTICED THAT YOU'RE--

THAT I'M WEARING PRADA.

YEAH, I NOTICED.

ALL RIGHT. WELL, I'LL MEET YOU

BACK HERE IN AN HOUR.

AHEM.

HEY.

HEY YOURSELF.

IS YOUR MOTHER HOME?

MOTHER'S DEAD.

I'M SORRY. SORRY.

THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

SHE DIED WHEN I WAS BORN,

SO I DIDN'T KNOW HER AT ALL.

IS YOUR FATHER HOME?

YOU HANDING OUT WATCHTOWERS?

WHAT?

YOU A JEHOVAH'S WITNESS?

NO.

'CAUSE THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT EVER COME HERE ALL DRESSED UP

ARE THE JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES.

NO. I'M NOT A JEHOVAH'S WITNESS.

COME ON IN.

MY DADDY'S OUT BACK.

DADDY!

SOMEONE'S HERE!

WHY DID THE CHICKEN CROSS THE ROAD?

TO, UH, GET TO THE OTHER SIDE.

RIGHT.

BUT WHY DID THE PIGEON CROSS THE ROAD?

BECAUSE IT WAS NAILED TO THE CHICKEN!

YOU DON'T THINK IT'S FUNNY?

WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM?

WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU?

SO HOSTETLER'S JUST GONNA GIVE ME $20,000?

IF YOU SIGN.

20,000 JUST FOR SIGNING MY NAME.

WELL, THAT'S CRAZY.

IT'S BUSINESS.

WHY WOULD THEY DO THAT?

MR. NYSTROM--

LIKE I SAID, THERE'S A SLIGHT CHANCE

THE GROUND MIGHT DOWNGRADE A BIT OVER TIME.

IT'S ALL IN THESE DISCLOSURE REPORTS.

SWEETHEART, ARE YOU OK?

YEAH.

DID YOU KNOW JUDGE JUDY WAS A LAWYER

BEFORE SHE WAS A JUDGE?

NO.

SHE WAS.

MR. NYSTROM, THIS FORM, THE OFFER--

IT'S ONLY GOOD TODAY.

TODAY?

WE'D LIKE TO GET THIS WRAPPED UP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

DADDY!

DADDY!

I'M SORRY. I HAVE TO--

COULD YOU JUST COME BACK TOMORROW?

HONEY?

DAD.

HONEY, WHAT'S WRONG?

I GOT 2 OF YOUR RELEASES SIGNED.

THE THIRD'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN.

WHY NOT?

GUY'S NAME IS EZRA PENCE.

HE'S THE GRANDFATHER OF THE GUY THAT FELL DOWN THAT MINE.

HE DIDN'T LIKE THE WAY WE HANDLED THE CASE.

WHAT'D YOU DO?

WE ESTABLISHED THAT HIS GRANDSON

WAS DRUNK AND NONE TOO BRIGHT.

WELL, WE HAVE TO COME OUT HERE AGAIN TOMORROW.

WE?

YEAH. LET'S GO.

GOOD MORNING.

MORNING.

MIND SHUTTING THE DOOR?

SURE.

ABOUT THE CONSENSUAL RELATIONSHIP AGREEMENT.

YES. I THOUGHT ABOUT IT.

GOOD.

CLAY, YOU AND I

WILL NO LONGER BE SEEING EACH OTHER SOCIALLY.

SADIE.

NICK, I WILL FINISH OFF THIS CIVIL MATTER,

AND THEN I'LL GO BACK TO CRIMINAL PRACTICE,

WHICH IS WHAT I CAME HERE TO DO.

SO THIS IS NO LONGER NECESSARY.

SADIE, YOU'RE OVERREACTING.

WHENEVER YOU'RE READY, WE CAN GO BACK DOWN TO VERNON

AND FINISH WHAT WE STARTED.

SO I SPOKE TO MY CLIENT.

HE IS WILLING TO INCREASE THE OFFER

TO 22,500.

22,500.

RIGHT.

THAT'S 2,000 AND 5--

500. 500. 500 MORE.

RIGHT.

WELL, I CAN'T TAKE THAT.

DAD.

PETRA, MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS.

MR. NYSTROM, THIS IS THE MOST MY CLIENT CAN OFFER.

NO. SEE, I ALREADY SIGNED

THE ONE YOU LEFT FOR ME LAST NIGHT.

I ALREADY TOOK YOUR FIRST OFFER.

WELL, JUST--JUST SIGN THIS ONE.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THAT ONE?

JUST SIGN THAT ONE.

UH, JUST SIGN THAT ONE.

WELL, THANK YOU, MAN.

HONEY?

DADDY.

IS SHE ALL RIGHT?

IT STARTED LAST NIGHT.

SHE SHOULD SEE A DOCTOR.

WELL, THE CLINIC SHUT DOWN LAST YEAR.

I REPRESENT THE COUNTY HOSPITAL

IN THE CITY.

YOU CAN GO AND TAKE HER

TO SEE DR. AARON WASSERMAN.

I'LL WRITE IT DOWN.

USE MY NAME, OK?

HEY, MAN?

THANK YOU

FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE FOR US.

OH, HONEY.

STOP IT!

HEY!

YOU'RE GONNA THREATEN ME WITH THAT,

YOU BETTER BE PREPARED TO USE IT!

GET OFF MY PROPERTY!

I WILL TURN MY BACK TO YOU WHEN YOU PUT THAT DOWN!

PUT IT DOWN. PUT IT DOWN.

LET'S GO.

DID YOU GET HIM TO SIGN?

THANK YOU.

THANKS.

AHEM.

THANKS FOR COMING.

I KNOW YOU DIDN'T WANT TO,

BUT I REALLY THINK

THAT WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT THINGS,

GET IT ALL OUT IN THE OPEN.

AHEM.

WELL. HEH.

YEAH, YEAH.

RIGHT. BECAUSE BEFORE I LEAVE,

I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE NICE

FOR US TO HAVE SOME KIND OF AN ENDING

OR, YOU KNOW, SOME KIND OF CLOSURE.

CLOSURE.

RIGHT.

NICK.

YEAH?

I'M SORRY THAT I HURT YOU.

I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT.

IT WAS NEVER MY INTENTION.

DO YOU WANT TO COME BACK TO MY PLACE?

WHAT?

YOU HEARD ME.

NICK.

WELL, DO YOU?

MORNING.

LOUISA ARCHER CALLED FOR YOU 3 TIMES.

ALSO, A MAN NAMED PAUL NYSTROM.

SOMETHING ABOUT THE COUNTY HOSPITAL

NOT RELEASING HIS DAUGHTER.

HE SAID YOU'D UNDERSTAND.

THEY WON'T LET ME TAKE HER OUT OF HERE,

AND MY CAR BROKE DOWN IN THE PARKING LOT,

AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO SPEND THE NIGHT IN SOME MOTEL.

JUST WAIT A SECOND.

EXCUSE ME, DR. WASSERMAN.

WHAT'S GOING ON WITH PETRA NYSTROM?

UM, WE DID AN ULTRASOUND.

THE FETUS IS MICROCEPHALIC.

SMALL-HEADED.

PROBABLY BLIND, DEAF.

POSSIBILITY OF MENTAL RETARDATION.

DID YOU TALK TO THEM ABOUT THIS? YEAH.

THIS IS WHY YOU WANT TO KEEP HER IN HERE TONIGHT?

PETRA'S A STRANGE CASE.

FLUID IN HER LUNGS.

LOOKS LIKE PULMONARY EDEMA.

WHAT WOULD CAUSE THAT?

COULD BE A NUMBER OF THINGS.

ENVIRONMENTAL?

IN A GIRL THIS AGE, CHANCES ARE GOOD.

HER FATHER WANTS TO TAKE HER HOME TONIGHT.

IT'S A RISK.

BUT IF HE INSISTS ON TAKING HER HOME,

I CAN'T STOP HIM.

HAVE HIM GET AN A.M.A. FROM THE ADMITTING NURSE.

SIGN IT. BRING HER BACK HERE TOMORROW FOR TESTS.

ALL RIGHT.

OK, YOU HAVE TO SIGN AN "AGAINST MEDICAL ADVICE" RELEASE.

SEE THE ADMITTING NURSE, AND YOU CAN TAKE HER HOME.

OK, I'LL SIGN IT.

UH, MR. FALLIN,

UM, DO YOU KNOW IF THERE'S ANY BUSES

THAT GO FROM PITTSBURGH TO VERNON?

WHAT THE HELL DO YOU WANT?

MR. PENCE, MY NAME IS NICHOLAS FALLIN.

THAT COLORED GIRL TOLD LIES ABOUT MY GRANDSON.

SHE LIED.

MR. PENCE, I'M HERE TO OFFER--

SHE SAID HE WAS DRUNK.

SAID THE ACCIDENT WAS HIS FAULT.

I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THAT SITUATION.

I'M HERE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT YOUR PROPERTY.

THAT BLACKIE WALKS ON MY PROPERTY AGAIN,

I'M GONNA PUT A BULLET IN HER HEAD.

MR. PENCE,

MY ASSOCIATE'S NAME IS SADIE HARPER.

NOW, MR. HOSTETLER

IS WILLING TO NEGOTIATE.

I READ THE PAPERS THAT GIRL LEFT.

HOSTETLER'S A LIAR.

HE'S ALWAYS BEEN A LIAR.

OK, JUST TODAY, I CAN INCREASE THE OFFER TO $30,000.

MY GRANDSON WASN'T A DRUNK.

HE WASN'T.

LIVED WITH ME ALMOST HIS WHOLE LIFE.

HE WAS A GOOD KID.

I'M SURE HE WAS.

53 YEARS I WORKED FOR HOSTETLER COAL.

$30,000 IS AT LEAST 3 TIMES THE VALUE OF THIS PROPERTY.

MR. PENCE--

YOU KNOW HOW MANY MINERS

DIED DOWN THERE OVER THE YEARS?

LIKE GOING TO WAR.

WORKING DOWN THERE IS NO DIFFERENT

THAN GOING TO WAR.

I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

IF YOU RECONSIDER, THAT'S MY CARD.

THANK YOU.

REPORT SAYS THE FIRE

IS BURNING IN HENDERSON HILLS.

YOU TELL PHIL HOSTETLER HE'S FULL OF CRAP.

WHAT'S IT GONNA TAKE, MR. PENCE?

WILL YOU SPEAK UP?!

WHAT IS IT GONNA TAKE?

$40,000.

I CAN DO THAT.

40,000?

SURE.

JUST SIGN HERE.

FIRE'S BURNING RIGHT UNDER YOUR FEET, YOU KNOW?

I CAN SMELL IT.

SMOKE COMES UP.

IT'S EVEN WORSE OVER THERE IN THE CEMETERY.

THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT.

WE'LL PROCESS YOUR CHECK IMMEDIATELY.

THANK YOU.

BURNING UNDER YOUR FEET.

YOU TELL HIM THAT.

MR. HOSTETLER,

COAL FIRES RELEASE TOXINS, RIGHT?

OUR POSITION

IS THERE'S NO EVIDENCE

LINKING COAL EMISSIONS WITH HEALTH PROBLEMS.

THERE'VE BEEN NO DEFINITIVE STUDIES.

THERE'S A FAMILY. THEY SIGNED A RELEASE.

THE DAUGHTER-- HER UNBORN CHILD IS SICK.

OK.

AND THE GIRL HAS PULMONARY EDEMA.

RIGHT?

WELL, IT'S QUITE AN UNUSUAL CONDITION

FOR A 14-YEAR-OLD.

WELL, SO IS BEING PREGNANT.

YEAH.

THE DOCTOR SAYS THAT HER PROBLEMS

MAY BE ENVIRONMENTAL.

CONVENIENT.

SO YOU DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING?

OH, THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME, MR. FALLIN.

WELL, IF THERE'S A COAL FIRE BURNING UNDERNEATH VERNON--

WE DON'T BELIEVE THE FIRE HAS SPREAD TO THAT AREA.

IF PEOPLE DO GET SICK, THEY COULD TRACE IT BACK TO YOUR CORPORATION.

YES?

WELL, YOU MAY WANT TO CONSIDER INJURY RELEASES.

BUT WE DON'T KNOW IF WE'VE MADE ANYBODY SICK.

WOULD YOU RATHER SPEND A LITTLE BIT NOW

OR A LOT LATER?

MR. NYSTROM.

DOCTORS ARE SAYING THAT PETRA HAS CANCER.

OH, I'M SORRY.

AND THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO ABORT THE BABY

BEFORE THEY CAN TREAT HER

OR SHE COULD DIE.

ANYWAY, I WAS JUST WONDERING IF MAYBE YOU COULD COME DOWN THERE

AND TALK TO YOUR FRIEND.

MR. NYSTROM, COULD WE TAKE THIS IN MY OFFICE?

'CAUSE THEY'RE TRYING TO MOVE HER SOMEWHERE ELSE.

THEY'RE SAYING THEY CAN'T TREAT HER THERE.

IT'S NOT REALLY MY PLACE TO--

BUT YOU KNOW HIM.

WE DID AN M.R.I.

TUMORS HAVE PERFORATED THE LUNG MEMBRANE,

A SIGN OF A VERY AGGRESSIVE CANCER.

WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR HER?

THE TREATMENT SHE NEEDS

IS WAY BEYOND OUR RESOURCES.

BABY?

SHE'LL HAVE TO TERMINATE THE PREGNANCY

IF SHE WANTS TO TREAT THE CANCER.

WHERE ARE YOU GONNA SEND HER?

SHE HAS TO STAY HERE FOR NOW.

LOOK, PETRA'S BEST SHOT

IS ANGIOGENESIS INHIBITOR THERAPY.

IT CUTS OFF BLOOD SUPPLY TO THE TUMORS.

BUT IT'S RELATIVELY NEW,

AND UNFORTUNATELY, MR. NYSTROM'S INSURANCE CARRIER

IS REFUSING TO COVER IT.

WHY?

THEY CLAIM IT'S EXPERIMENTAL.

WE COULD PUT HER THROUGH THE TRADITIONAL TREATMENT--

CHEMO, RADIATION--

BUT FROM MY EXPERIENCE,

I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT WORK ON SOMETHING THIS AGGRESSIVE,

AND I'VE NEVER SEEN IT WORK ON A GIRL THIS AGE.

WHO'S THE INSURANCE CARRIER?

MR. NYSTROM'S STILL COVERED BY HIS OLD HEALTH PLAN

FROM WHEN HE WAS A MINER.

I'LL FAX YOU OVER THE CONTACT INFORMATION.

THANK YOU.

MR. NYSTROM,

YOU NEED TO SIGN SOME CONSENT FORMS

FOR THE ABORTION.

WELL, GOOD THING I SIGNED THAT FORM FOR MY PROPERTY.

AT LEAST I GOT THAT MONEY COMING IN.

RIGHT.

MAYBE I CAN USE THAT TO PAY FOR WHAT SHE NEEDS.

HEY.

HEY.

SO I HEAR YOU'RE TRYING

TO TAKE HOSTETLER AWAY FROM CRANSTON.

YEAH.

WE LAND THOSE GUYS,

WE'LL NEED AN ENVIRONMENTAL LAWYER,

SOMEONE WHO REALLY KNOWS THE ROPES

AROUND THE FEDERAL COURTS.

I KNOW THAT, DAD.

WHAT?

THERE'S THIS GIRL, 14 YEARS OLD.

SHE HAS CANCER.

SHE NEEDS A LOT OF EXPENSIVE TREATMENT.

HER FATHER'S INSURANCE COMPANY DOESN'T WANT TO PAY FOR IT.

SO?

HOSTETLER COAL MAY HAVE MADE HER SICK.

HOW?

TOXINS FROM THE COAL FIRE.

SO HOSTETLER WANTS TO SELL HER OUT CHEAP, HUH?

COURSE.

HER FAMILY GOT A LAWYER YET?

NO, BUT THEY'RE BEGINNING TO TRUST ME.

WELL, I KNOW IT'S TOUGH FOR YOU, SON,

BUT YOU GOT TO GET THEM TO SIGN IT.

THE MONEY HOSTETLER'S OFFERING

ISN'T GONNA BEGIN TO COVER HER MEDICAL FEES.

HOSTETLER RETAINED YOU.

THAT'S RIGHT.

SO YOU'RE GONNA BE ABOVEBOARD

AND JUST EXPLAIN EVERYTHING TO THE FAMILY.

YEAH, OF COURSE.

YOUR JOB IS TO--

I KNOW WHAT MY JOB IS, DAD.

WELL, THEN.

RIGHT.

BIG COAL.

HOW YOU FEELING?

OK, I GUESS.

I'M SORE A LITTLE.

I GOT YOU SOMETHING.

A WATCHTOWER?

UM, WHERE'S YOUR FATHER?

HE WENT TO GET COFFEE.

RIGHT.

YOU KNOW,

SHE WAS DEAD ALREADY.

WHAT?

THE BABY DIED BEFORE THE OPERATION.

OH.

I'M--I'M SORRY.

NO, IT'S OK.

I'LL SEE HER SOON.

I HEARD MY DOCTOR TELL MY DAD

THAT I PROBABLY WOULDN'T LIVE,

SO...

I'LL SEE MY BABY SOON.

NICK.

HEY.

I--I, UH...

I MADE AN APPOINTMENT

WITH THE INSURANCE COMPANY FOR LATER TODAY.

OH.

SO YOU THINK YOU CAN GET THEM

TO PAY FOR PETRA'S CARE?

I'LL TRY.

WELL, THANK YOU, MAN.

UM...

WELL, I'LL SEE YOU LATER.

ENJOY THE READ.

YEAH. HA HA.

HEY.

DID YOU JUST COME DOWN HERE

TO SEE HOW SHE WAS DOING?

YEAH.

YEAH.

YOU GOT A MINUTE?

YEAH.

I HAVE A GUY FROM AMERICAN NORTHEASTERN INSURANCE

IN THE MEETING ROOM.

WHAT?

THERE'S A GUY IN THE MEETING ROOM FROM--

NO, I HEARD WHAT YOU SAID. YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT A CASE?

THAT'S RIGHT.

I CALLED YOU 3 TIMES.

I KNOW, I KNOW.

LISTEN, I NEED YOU TO BE THE ATTORNEY OF RECORD ON THIS CASE.

NICK, WE HAD SEX THE OTHER NIGHT.

YOU DON'T EVEN WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED?

THE COMPANY I REPRESENT

MAY BE INVOLVED IN THIS MATTER,

SO I CAN'T HAVE MY NAME SHOWING UP ON ANYTHING--

NICK, I--

THERE'S A YOUNG GIRL THAT HAS CANCER,

AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY WON'T COVER HER MEDICAL COSTS.

CAN YOU HELP ME OUT WITH THIS OR NOT?

THE GUY'S NAME IS CABE GOODMAN. OK.

HE'S GONNA ARGUE THAT HIS COMPANY IS ONLY REQUIRED

TO COVER STANDARD AND GENERALLY ACCEPTED MEDICAL CARE.

OK.

YOU NEED TO ARGUE BAD FAITH,

THAT THEY REJECT THESE CLAIMS AS A MATTER OF COURSE.

I KNOW WHAT BAD FAITH IS.

THEIR COMPANY REJECTS 78% OF CLAIMS

THAT COST MORE THAN A QUARTER MILLION.

THEY ROUTINELY DENY CARE

FOR PEOPLE LIVING UNDER THE POVERTY LINE.

ALL RIGHT. GOT IT.

HEY.

THANK YOU.

I DON'T CARE HOW MUCH HE'S OFFERING.

IF YOU SIGN THIS SECOND RELEASE, MR. PENCE,

MY CLIENT WOULD HAVE GIVEN YOU $60,000.

GIVEN ME?

THAT'S RIGHT.

I GAVE THE HOSTETLERS

53 YEARS OF MY LIFE.

MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY,

MOST OF THEM DIED FOR THAT MAN

IN THE MINES,

FROM EMPHYSEMA,

TERRIBLE ACCIDENTS.

HOSTETLER KILLED THIS TOWN,

POLLUTED THE RIVER,

DESTROYED THE MOUNTAINS.

NOBODY WANTS TO LIVE HERE ANYMORE,

AND YOU SAY HE'S GIVING ME SOMETHING?

YOU SIGNED THE FIRST RELEASE, MR. PENCE.

AND I'M SORRY I DID.

YOU TELL MR. HOSTETLER

IF HE GIVES ME 10 MINUTES OF HIS TIME

AND AN APOLOGY,

I'LL SIGN THAT SECOND FORM FOR NOTHING.

10 MINUTES OF HIS TIME?

THAT'S WHAT I SAID.

HEY.

HEY.

WELL, THE INSURANCE CARRIER WON'T BUDGE.

CLAIMS IT'S EXPERIMENTAL CARE.

RIGHT.

SO I SET UP AN ARBITRATION.

OK.

I LOOKED IN THE FILE.

NORTHEASTERN ATLANTIC IS THE INSURANCE CARRIER

FOR AMERICAN MINE WORKERS.

RIGHT.

YOU'RE REPRESENTING A COAL COMPANY?

WHAT DID YOU DO TO THAT GIRL?

HEY, LULU.

BURTON, HI.

HOW YOU DOING?I'M WELL. THANKS.

YEAH. YOU LOOK BEAUTIFUL.

OH, THANK YOU.

I'D STILL LIKE TO HAVE THAT DINNER WE ALL TALKED ABOUT.

OH, WELL,

THAT WOULD BE NICE.

YEAH.

UM, SO ANYWAY,

WHAT WE WERE JUST DISCUSSING

IS GONNA BE SCHEDULED FOR TOMORROW.

GREAT. THANK YOU.

OK. GOOD TO SEE YOU, BURTON.

GOOD TO SEE YOU. THANKS.

SO THAT NEW GIRL

GOT RELEASES FROM 5 FAMILIES

DOWN IN VERNON.

RIGHT.

SHE SAID YOU'D TAKE CARE OF THE OTHER 2, RIGHT?

THAT'S RIGHT. YEAH.

YOU NEED ANY HELP FINISHING THAT UP?

NO, NO.

WHAT ABOUT THE SICK GIRL'S FAMILY?

IT'S NOT A GOOD TIME.

SHE'S IN THE HOSPITAL BEING TREATED FOR CANCER.

IT'S NOT A GOOD TIME.

GOOD TIME FOR WHOM?

DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S A GOOD TIME, NICHOLAS,

FOR ANYBODY EXCEPT HOSTETLER COAL.

THIS IS AN ADDENDUM TO YOUR PREVIOUS RELEASE.

IT ASKS YOU TO WAIVE ANY PRESENT OR FUTURE CLAIMS

AGAINST HOSTETLER FOR ANY INJURY

THAT YOU OR YOUR FAMILY MAY SUFFER

AS A RESULT OF THEIR MAINTENANCE TO THE MINES.

YOU MEAN, LIKE IF WE GET HURT IF THE MINE COLLAPSES OR SOMETHING?

ANYINJURY RESULTING FROM THE MAINTENANCE OF THEIR MINES.

WELL, WHAT KIND OF INJURY?

INJURY CAN BE DEFINED AS ANYTHING THAT AFFECTS YOUR HEALTH.

SHOULD I GET A LAWYER OR SOMETHIN'?

THAT'S UP TO YOU.

BUT I'M ASKIN' YOU.

I CAN'T ADVISE YOU.

WHY NOT?

WELL, I REPRESENT THE COAL COMPANY.

YOU UNDERSTAND THAT?

WELL, YEAH, BUT YOU'RE HELPIN' US.

THE INSURANCE MATTER IS SEPARATE FROM THESE RELEASES.

BUT YOU THINK THIS IS A GOOD DEAL?

IT'S WHAT THE COMPANY'S OFFERING.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO SIGN IT NOW.

IT'S A BIG DECISION. WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT TOMORROW, ALL RIGHT?

ALL RIGHT.

EZRA PENCE, HE... DOESN'T WANT MONEY.

WHAT DOES HE WANT?

HE WANTS AN APOLOGY.

MR. FALLIN, MY FAMILY HAS OWNED THIS COMPANY FOR 5 GENERATIONS.

NOW, WE'VE EMPLOYED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF WORKERS IN THIS STATE.

I HAVE NOTHING TO APOLOGIZE FOR.

IT IS CHEAPER THAN THE ALTERNATIVE.

I'LL SET SOMETHING UP.

WHAT ABOUT THIS NYSTROM GUY?

UH, HE HASN'T SIGNED YET.

OH. DOES HE HAVE A LAWYER?

I DON'T BELIEVE SO.

WELL, ADVISE ME.

YOU NEED TO PAY REAL MONEY.

BUT YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO COLLECT THOSE MEDICAL RELEASES

SIGNED BY EVERYBODY FOR $20,000.

THE NYSTROM GIRL IS ALREADY SICK.

IF THE FATHER DID DECIDE TO GO AFTER YOU NOW

AND HE GOT AN EXPEDITED TRIAL,

YOU COULD END UP PAYING MILLIONS.

WHAT'S THE NUMBER?

I THINK I COULD GET HIM TO GO FOR 500,000.

I WON'T GO BEYOND 300.

AND YOU DO YOUR VERY BEST TO KEEP IT WELL BELOW THAT.

OF COURSE. ALL RIGHT.

YOU SURE THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO GO?

YES. YOU'RE SURE?

YES.

OK, LET'S DO IT.

SADIE?

WHAT WERE YOU DOING IN THERE?

YOUR FATHER ASKED ME TO TAKE CARE OF THIS.

YOU HAD THE NYSTROMS SIGN?

HE SETTLED ALL CLAIMS FOR 25,000.

NO, NO. NO, NO, NO-- I--I...

I TOLD YOU THAT I WOULD HANDLE THE NYSTROMS.

I WAS JUST DOING WHAT YOUR FATHER ASKED ME TO DO.

THE OTHER GUY SAYS, "WELL, I'LL TELL YA WHAT,

"WHY DON'T YOU TAKE THE SIX OF ONE?

I'LL TAKE THE HALF A DOZEN OF ANOTHER."

YOU HEARD THE TESTIMONY OF DR. AARON WASSERMAN.

HE STATED, UNDER OATH, THAT INHIBITOR THERAPY MIGHT SAVE PETRA'S LIFE--

MIGHTSAVE HER LIFE. HE COULDN'T SAY FOR CERTAIN.

WELL, CERTAINTY OF RESULT IS NOT A STANDARD IN MEDICAL COVERAGE.

THIS IS NOT CARE THAT IS GENERALLY ACCEPTED IN THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY.

THAT IS THE STANDARD SET FORTH IN THE POLICY.

YOUR COMPANY WILL DENY JUST ANY CLAIM IT DEEMS TOO EXPENSIVE.

THE FACT REMAINS THAT THIS TREATMENT IS NOT WIDELY USED--

RIGHT, BECAUSE INSURANCE COMPANIES REFUSE TO COVER IT AS A MATTER OF COURSE.

AS A MATTER OF COURSE, WE REFUSE TO COVER CARE THAT IS EXPERIMENTAL.

YOU ARE RIGHT ABOUT THAT.

HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT WHO YOU COVER?

WHO THE INSURED IS IS IRRELEVANT.

IRRELEVANT.

MY CLIENT IS A YOUNG GIRL THAT'S ABOUT TO DIE FROM CANCER

BECAUSE YOUR COMPANY WANTS TO SAVE SOME MONEY.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S MORE RELEVANT THAN THAT.

I'VE HEARD YOUR ARGUMENTS.

YOU'LL HAVE OUR DECISION IN A FEW HOURS.

DID THAT GIRL'S FAMILY SIGN AWAY HER RIGHT TO SUE FOR DAMAGES?

RIGHT.

THEY SETTLED FOR 25,000.

WELL, YOU KNOW, YOU DID YOUR JOB.

YEAH.

RIGHT.

I, UH-- I'M SORRY IF--

NO. THAT'S FINE, YOU KNOW.

I JUST, YOU KNOW, I JUST THOUGHT THAT MAYBE I COULD, UM,

YOU KNOW, HELP HER.

HEY, HEY.

WHY WON'T YOU TALK TO ME ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED THE OTHER NIGHT?

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO TALK ABOUT?

YOU KNOW, JUST BECAUSE I'M LEAVING

DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE CAN'T HAVE SOME KIND OF A RELATIONSHIP.

HOW?

I STILL HAVE FEELINGS FOR YOU,

AND I KNOW THAT I KIND OF BLEW THE WHOLE THING.

NO, NO. YOU DIDN'T BLOW IT. YOU DIDN'T BLOW IT.

ALL RIGHT, WELL, MAYBE WE CAN TRY IT AGAIN.

ARE YOU STILL GOING AWAY?

YEAH, BUT--

NO. THEN I JUST CAN'T SEE HOW IT WOULD WORK.

HE'S HERE.

ALL RIGHT.

MR. PENCE.

THIS IS BURTON FALLIN, MR. HOSTETLER.

YOU HAVE MY FULL ATTENTION, MR. PENCE.

MY GRANDSON.

HE'S DEAD.

HE'S DEAD.

HELL OF A THING IN THERE, THAT OLD MAN.

HELL OF A THING.

YEP.

YOU GET VILIFIED.

JOB LIKE THIS, PEOPLE CAN FORGET I'M JUST A HUMAN BEING.

PEOPLE CAN FORGET THAT.

SO...

I HAVE A HUGE INVESTIGATION WITH THE STATE REGULATORS.

THEY'RE CLAIMING WE'RE OVERCHARGING A DISTRIBUTOR

WHO DELIVERS IN MINORITY NEIGHBORHOODS.

OF COURSE, THAT'S NOT TRUE, BUT IT'S BAD PRESS,

AND THE CIVIL PENALTIES COULD REALLY STING

IF THEY CAN PROVE IT.

YOU GAME?

SURE.

THE ARBITRATOR RULED AGAINST YOU.

SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

THE INSURANCE COMPANY WON'T PAY FOR PETRA'S CARE,

AND YOU CAN'T APPEAL.

WELL, THE MONEY FROM HOSTETLER WILL BE COMIN' IN SOON.

THERAPY'S GONNA COST A LOT MORE THAN THAT, PAUL.

IS THERE ANYWHERE I COULD GO,

LIKE A BANK OR SOMETHIN'?

I DON'T KNOW.

BUT, WELL, WE CAN STAY HERE, RIGHT?

I MEAN, THE CHEMO MIGHT WORK.

YOU KNOW, THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO CURE HER HERE.

HEY, MAN,

COME ON.

YOU DID YOUR BEST.

WELL, UH...

LEAVIN' ALREADY?

YEAH. I GOTTA-- I GOTTA GET BACK TO WORK.

NICK...

ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED AT THE HOSPITAL--

NO. THAT'S OK. I DID ASK YOU TO HELP ME.

WELL, FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, IT WAS A PLEASURE WORKING WITH YOU.

YOU, TOO.

HOPEFULLY, IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN SOON.

NICK.

NICK.

I, UH...

I HEARD THAT WE OFFICIALLY PICKED UP HOSTETLER.

YEAH.

BIGGEST CLIENT WE'VE EVER HAD.

RIGHT.

CONGRATULATIONS, SON.

GOOD JOB.