Original subtitles

PREVIOUSLY ON "THE GUARDIAN..."

YOU STOLE MY CREDIT CARD, SHANNON?

YOU STONED RIGHT NOW? WHAT, YOU THINK THIS IS FUNNY?

YOU KNOW, IT WOULD BE

VERY HELPFUL TO ME, TO ALL OF US,

IF YOU WOULD STAY ON FOR A FEW MORE WEEKS.

I'M SORRY, BUT I JUST-- I MEAN, I CAN'T.

WHAT HAPPENS TO SHANNON NOW?

IF YOU WANT TO BE A FOSTER PARENT,

THERE'S A WHOLE PROCEDURE.

YOU KNOW, YOU ARE THE ONE THAT WANTED ME

TO LEAVE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

OUR SITUATION HERE HAS CHANGED, LULU.

YOU KNOW, I HAVE A DAD.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU KNOW THIS IS JUST TEMPORARY.

ALVIN, ALVIN, ALVIN!

TAKE IT EASY, MAN.

I'VE BEEN ASKED TO RESIGN MY POSITION HERE,

EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.

I'VE BEEN OFFERED YOUR JOB. I TOOK IT.

SO YOU KNOW THAT THIS MEANS I'LL BE YOUR--

RIGHT. RIGHT. YOU'RE IN CHARGE HERE NOW.

AND YOU CAN HANDLE THAT?

MORNING, BURTON.

HEY, PEANUT.

WHAT?

I SAID GOOD MORNING.

YOU CALLED ME A PEANUT.

HEH HEH HEH. TERM OF ENDEARMENT, HONEY.

NO, IT'S NOT.

IF I CAN'T, YOU CAN'T.

OH. I KNOW, I KNOW.

I LEFT MY BOOK UPSTAIRS.

GOOD MORNING, LULU.

HEY, ALVIN.

DO YOU, UH--IS THAT CASE FOR, UH--ME?

LIKE IT? WHAT?

NEW OFFICE. NO.

OH. SAMANTHA GRAY, 12 YEARS OLD.

WE'RE TRYING TO ESTABLISH A STANDBY GUARDIAN FOR HER.

TRYING?

YEAH. SOCIAL SERVICES, SOMEONE,

MAYBE THE MOM, KIND OF DROPPED THE BALL.

WHY DO YOU NEED A STANDBY GUARDIAN?

THE MOTHER'S SICK. SHE CONTRACTED AIDS THROUGH A NEEDLE,

SO WE'RE TRYING TO TRANSITION SAMANTHA

TO THE MOTHER'S BEST FRIEND. HER NAME'S ANGELA EVERS.

IT'S ALL IN THE FILE.

SO, YOU NEED THE MOM TO FILL OUT THE PAPERWORK,

AND YOU'LL NEED MS. EVERS' SIGNATURE ALSO.

WHERE WILL I FIND THE MOTHER?

VALLEYSIDE HOSPICE.HOSPICE? NO.

YOU GOTTA GET THE SIGNATURE.

NO. WHY NOT?

I JUST--

OH, NICK, COME ON. IT'S MY FIRST DAY.

UH, THAT CASE. YOU NEED TO, UH--

NO, NO, NICK'S GOT IT.

SO...

YEAH?

HOW DO YOU WANT TO DO THIS?

I DON'T KNOW. I JUST WANT TO TRY

TO FIGURE IT OUT, I GUESS.

I'LL JUST GO THROUGH THE OLD CASES,

WEED OUT THE FILING CABINETS.

EXCUSE ME. I'M LOOKING FOR AGNES GRAY.

SORRY.

THAT'S HER ROOM OVER THERE.

MRS. GRAY?

HI. MY NAME IS NICK FALLIN.

I HAVE A FORM HERE FOR YOU TO SIGN.

ALL RIGHT. I'LL PUT THE FORM HERE,

AND I'LL TELL THE NURSE THAT--

MY BUSINESS CARD IS ON THE TOP OF THE FORM.

THE HOT WATER.

MRS. GRAY?

UH, OK. THE FORM'S HERE, AND MY--

OH, GOD.

YOU THE NURSE?

♪ 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

ANOTHER WHISKEY FOR MY FRIEND, DANNY,

AND SOME MORE COFFEE FOR ME, PLEASE.

OH, I DON'T KNOW. THE SUM OF THE THING

IS BIGGER THAN ITS PARTS, BUT...

IT ADDS UP. I MEAN,

A KID DIES. SOME PEOPLE WOULD SAY MY ACTIONS

WERE RESPONSIBLE, RIGHT?

BUT THAT DECISION COULD NEVER TAKE INTO ACCOUNT

THE EVENTS THAT FOLLOWED. RIGHT?

SO, AND THEN, SO OTHER THINGS HAPPEN,

LIKE DEATHS THAT ARE RANDOM AND VIOLENT,

AND ME HITTING SOME GUY.

AND AGAIN, I WONDER

ABOUT MY PART IN THESE THINGS.

AND THE OTHER THING WITH LULU,

THE FACT THAT SHE IS HOW SHE IS,

AND NOW, SHE'S MY BOSS,

AND I'M SUPPOSED TO, AFTER ALL THESE YEARS,

REPORT TO SOMEONE LIKE HER?

BUT THEN AGAIN, I AM A LAWYER WHO WANTS TO

ADVOCATE FOR CHILDREN,

AND I STILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY.

BUT EVERY TIME I WALK INTO THAT PLACE,

WHICH, BY THE WAY I CREATED,

AND I'M TOLD TO TAKE OVER ANOTHER WOMAN'S OFFICE,

I THINK I MUST...

I MUST SAY NO TO THIS.

DON'T YOU THINK?

OR AM I WRONG, DANNY?

OR NOT?

YOU WOULD LIKE ANOTHER DRINK.

WELL, YOU'VE BEEN VERY, VERY QUIET.

MY SOLUTION?

HEH! I THINK I KNOW YOUR SOLUTION.

GO TO THE TRACK.

MRS. AARONSON. HELLO.

MR. AARONSON. HI.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

YOUR FATHER TOLD ME

THAT YOU KNEW YOUR WAY AROUND

THESE KIND OF THINGS.

I AM FAMILIAR WITH CUSTODY ISSUES.

WE WANT TO SUE.

OK.

WE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS

AT THAT CLINIC,

UNDERWENT PAINFUL PROCEDURES,

AND THEY FERTILIZED MY WIFE'S EGG

WITH THE WRONG SPERM,

OR MY SPERM WITH THE WRONG EGG, OR BOTH.

WE'VE DONE THE RESEARCH.

THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER CASES.

MY FATHER SAID THAT YOU WANTED TO KEEP THE CHILD.

WELL, OF COURSE.

BUT THEY SHOULD PAY FOR THEIR MISTAKE.

HAS THE CLINIC CONTACTED YOU ABOUT THIS?

THEY'VE DENIED THEY DID ANYTHING WRONG.

MY WIFE IS UP NIGHTS

AFRAID THAT SOMEONE'S

GONNA TAKE HER BABY AWAY.

WELL, BY LAW,

IF YOU CARRIED THE CHILD,

THE CHILD IS YOURS.

NOW, WE CAN GO AFTER THE CLINIC

WITH MEDICAL MALPRACTICE,

PAIN AND SUFFERING,

BUT YOU WILL HAVE TO DO SOME BASIC TESTS

TO DETERMINE PATERNITY OR MATERNITY.

SEE, HONEY? I TOLD YOU THEY CAN'T JUST DO THIS TO US.

I CAN GET MY PARALEGAL TO GET YOU THE FORMS

FOR THE BLOODWORK, AND I WILL WORK

ON PUTTING TOGETHER YOUR COMPLAINT.

IT'S REALLY NICE TO SEE YOU.

THANKS.

SAMANTHA.

UM...

MY NAME IS NICK.

I REMEMBER. WHEN MY MOM DIED,

YOU WERE IN THE ROOM.

I MISSED IT.

I WAS SUPPOSED TO--

I PROMISED HER THAT I'D HOLD HER HAND

SO SHE WOULDN'T BE SCARED.

YOU DIDN'T HOLD HER HAND, DID YOU?

UH, NO, NO.

RIGHT. OF COURSE. WHY WOULD YOU?

RIGHT.

DID SHE SEEM SCARED?

SAMANTHA, IN COURT,

WE NEED TO FIND YOU A PLACE TO LIVE.

I THOUGHT I WAS GONNA STAY WITH ANGIE.

NO. UH...

SHE WAS NOT AWARE OF THAT PLAN.

SHE CHANGED HER MIND?

NO. YOUR MOTHER NEVER ASKED HER.

OH. WELL.

DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER FAMILY THAT COULD TAKE YOU?

I DON'T KNOW.

WHAT ABOUT YOUR FATHER?

I DON'T KNOW HIM.

DO YOU KNOW HIS NAME?

I DON'T KNOW HIM.

I'M DUE IN COURT NOW.

COULD YOU PLEASE HANDLE THIS AND CALL ME AT MY OFFICE LATER?

THANKS.JUST WAIT HERE A MINUTE.

LAURIE. NICK.

WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE FATHER?

WHAT? SAMANTHA GRAY, THE BLIND GIRL.

I CAN'T FIND ANYTHING OUT ABOUT THE FATHER.

THAT'S BECAUSE HIS PARENTAL RIGHTS WERE TERMINATED.

WHAT HAPPENED?

HE WAS A HEROIN ADDICT. HE GOT HIGH.

THERE WAS A CAR ACCIDENT ABOUT 8 YEARS AGO.

HEAD-ON COLLISION. HE KILLED THE OTHER DRIVER

AND CAUSED HIS DAUGHTER'S BLINDNESS,

SO HIS RIGHTS WERE TERMINATED.

WHERE DO YOU WANT TO SEND HER?

THE SPECIAL NEEDS WING OF METROPOLITAN HOSPITAL.

YOUR HONOR, SAMANTHA GRAY ISN'T MENTALLY ILL.

THERE IS SIMPLY NOTHING ELSE AVAILABLE

FOR A 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL WITH SAMANTHA'S DISABILITY.

WHAT ABOUT THE SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND?

THERE ARE NO OPENINGS RIGHT NOW.

WHAT, BECAUSE IT'S PRIVATE?

THIS IS NOT ABOUT MONEY, MR. FALLIN.

I WOULD JUST LIKE TO KNOW THAT YOU HAVE

EXHAUSTED ALL OTHER OPTIONS.

WE ARE TRYING TO LOCATE AN APPROPRIATE FOSTER FAMILY

OR A SPECIAL NEEDS GROUP HOME.

YOU HONOR, METROPOLITAN PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL

IS NOT AN APPROPRIATE PLACEMENT

FOR SAMANTHA GRAY.

MS. SOLT, YOU'RE CONFIDENT THERE ARE NO ALTERNATIVES?

YES, I AM, FOR NOW.

I'LL ADJUDICATE SAMANTHA DEPENDENT

AND PLACE HER IN METROPOLITAN FOR 30 DAYS.

WE'LL REVISIT HER PLACEMENT NEXT MONTH.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN, "DEPENDENT"?

IT MEANS THAT YOU'RE A WARD OF THE STATE.

WARD OF THE STATE?

MR. EVANS IS HERE FROM METROPOLITAN

TO TAKE SAMANTHA.

UH, LAURIE'S GONNA TAKE CARE OF YOU NOW.

WHERE AM I GOING?

I'M HERE, SWEETIE.

YOU'LL GO WITH LAURIE AND MR. EVANS.

THIS IS MR. EVANS.

WHO'S MR. EVANS?

HE HERE'S FROM METROPOLITAN.

I'M SUPPOSED TO GO WITH ANGIE.

WHERE ARE YOU TAKING ME? I WANT TO GO WITH ANGIE!

SWEETHEART, YOU CAN'T GO WITH ANGIE.

LET GO OF ME. NO. I WANT TO GO WITH ANGIE!

SHH. SHH.

SIR! SIR, EXCUSE ME! SIR!

THAT GIRL, SAMANTHA GRAY. WHERE ARE THEY SENDING HER?

WHAT?

I MET YOU YESTERDAY AT THE HOSPICE.

I SHOWED YOU WHERE AGNES' ROOM WAS.

OH, RIGHT. YEAH. THANK YOU.

WHERE ARE THEY SENDING SAMANTHA?

HOW DO YOU KNOW SAMANTHA GRAY?

I'M JUST INTERESTED--WHO ARE YOU?

I'M HER DAD.

JIM GRAY.

SHE'S, UH...

I MEAN, SHE'S ALL ALONE IN THE WORLD--

I'M SORRY, MR. GRAY, BUT YOUR PARENTAL RIGHTS

HAVE BEEN TERMINATED.

YES, I KNOW THAT.

IT'S JUST, I STARTED MAKING PREPARATIONS,

YOU KNOW, WHEN I HEARD ABOUT--

WELL, AS LONG AS YOU UNDERSTAND THERE'S NOTHING I CAN DO,

AS YOUR PARENTAL RIGHTS HAVE BEEN TERMINATED.

I'M SORRY.JUST TALK TO ME FOR--

THERE'S NOTHING I CAN DO.

I'VE GOT A NICE APARTMENT NOW, YOU KNOW.

AND I GOT A GOOD JOB. I'M WORKING HARD.

CAN'T YOU JUST TALK TO ME?

SHE'S MY LITTLE GIRL.

WELL, I HOPE YOU'RE AT LEAST SENDING HER SOMEPLACE NICE.

HI.

HI. I'M HERE TO SEE SHANNON.

OH, YOU A FRIEND OF HERS?

YES, SIR. I'M HANK.

I'M SUPPOSED TO HELP HER WITH SOME GEOMETRY.

OH.

WELL, SHE DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THAT.

OH, WE JUST TALKED ABOUT IT TODAY.

SHE WAS AT SOCCER PRACTICE--

WELL, SHE'S-- SHE'S NOT FEELING WELL RIGHT NOW.

OH. WHAT?

SHE'S GOT A LITTLE PROBLEM.

IT MAKES HER FEEL, UH, NOT WELL.

OK.

I'LL TELL HER YOU CAME BY, THOUGH. COOL.

YEAH. HANK, RIGHT?YEAH.

OK. I GOT IT.

YOU'RE WORKING LATE.

YEAH.

SO MY FIRST DAY WAS, UH--

OH, RIGHT, YEAH. HOW WAS IT?

HEH.

UH, HEH HEH! I THINK I'M IN OVER MY HEAD.

I'M BACK FROM THE TRACK.

OK.

I'M GONNA STAY LATE,

GO OVER SOME OF THIS STUFF.

YOU KNOW, IT'S AMAZING.

SOME OF THESE KIDS, YOU FORGET.

YOU GONNA WORK LATE, TOO?

NO.

WELL, MAYBE WE COULD, UM...

GO GET SOMETHING TO EAT.

I'M KIND OF HUNGRY.

THAT'S MINE.

HOW DID YOU GET OUT?

THEY WEREN'T WATCHING ME.

BECAUSE I'M BLIND.

THEY DIDN'T THINK I'D JUST WALK OUT.

IT'S VERY LOUD AT METROPOLITAN.

I COULD HEAR THE KIDS

AND OTHER PEOPLE SCREAMING.

IT WAS WORSE THAN AT THE HOSPICE.

IT WAS WORSE.

SO...I WALKED TILL IT WAS QUIET.

WELL, THE JUDGE ISN'T GONNA BE VERY HAPPY

TO KNOW THAT YOU RAN AWAY FROM METROPOLITAN.

I'M NOT CRAZY.

I KNOW.

I DON'T WANT TO GO BACK.

I'M NOT CRAZY.

APPRECIATE YOU COMING IN SO PROMPTLY, MR. FALLIN.

WE'RE HOPING TO PUT THIS TO REST TODAY.

WE RECEIVED THE COPY OF THE TEST RESULTS

ALONG WITH YOUR COMPLAINT. WE'RE AWARE--

THE TESTS INDICATE THAT MY CLIENT GAVE BIRTH TO A BABY--

THAT IS GENETICALLY RELATED TO THE WOMAN,

THE MOTHER, BUT NOT TO THE FATHER.

SHE UNDERWENT IN VITRO FERTILIZATION IN YOUR CLINIC

AND GAVE BIRTH TO A CHILD THAT IS HALF AFRICAN-AMERICAN.

SHE DIDN'T GET PREGNANT FROM THAT PROCEDURE.

SHE GOT PREGNANT AFTER.

AFTER?

THAT'S WHAT YOU'LL FIND

WHEN WE PRODUCE DR. BRAXTON'S RECORDS.

THERE HAVEN'T BEEN ANY AFRICAN-AMERICAN MEN IN THIS CLINIC.

ACTUALLY, IT'S INTERESTING,

IF YOU CARE TO THINK ABOUT SUCH THINGS.

SHE MUST HAVE UNDERGONE THE PROCEDURE,

HAD A DELAYED EGG RELEASE, AND THEN--

YOU CAN PROVE YOU'VE NEVER HAD AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN CLIENT?

DR. BRAXTON'S CLINIC DOESN'T DRAW SPERM

FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC, MR. FALLIN.

NICK. HI.

OH, I HAD TO WAIT FOR THE NANNY TO GET BACK.

SO, SORRY.

IT'S NO PROBLEM.

YOU NEEDED TO TALK TO ME?

YEAH. DO YOU WANT A DRINK OR SOMETHING?

OH, NO. I'M NOT, UM--

NOT RIGHT NOW.

ALL RIGHT. JACKIE, THOSE TESTS.

IT TURNS OUT THAT YOU ARE THE BIOLOGICAL PARENT.

OH.

IT DOESN'T SURPRISE YOU THAT YOU ARE THE MOTHER

OF THE CHILD, DOES IT?

NO. UH...

COULD I HAVE A VODKA ROCKS, PLEASE?

I MET WITH DR. BRAXTON AND HIS ATTORNEY THIS MORNING.

RIGHT.

REGARDING YOUR LAWSUIT.

RIGHT.

THERE IS NO LAWSUIT.

RIGHT.

BECAUSE YOU GOT PREGNANT AFTER THE PROCEDURE.

SO...

BEFORE I CONTACTED YOUR HUSBAND,

I THOUGHT THAT WE SHOULD TALK.

WE COULDN'T JUST KEEP THIS BETWEEN US?

THAT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT.

RIGHT.

OK.

MR. GRAY. THIS IS--

JIM. WE MET.

THIS IS LAURIE SOLT.

MR. GRAY, I'M YOUR-- SAMANTHA'S SOCIAL WORKER.

GOOD TO KNOW YOU.

SO WHERE IS SHE?

SHE'S IN A SHELTER.

SHELTER?

SHE'S AT METROPOLITAN PSYCHIATRIC FACILITY.

DID SOMETHING HAPPEN TO HER?

NO, SHE'S FINE.

THERE'S JUST, UH...

NO OTHER ALTERNATIVES.

YOU KNOW, UM...

I WOULD'VE SEEN HER, YOU KNOW, LOTS AND LOTS.

I MEAN, ONCE I GOT OUT OF PRISON AND ALL THAT,

I WAS GONNA SEE HER A LOT.

UM...

BUT ME AND THE CITY--

THE CITY?

I DON'T COME TO PITTSBURGH ANYMORE, I CAN'T.

YOU'RE HERE RIGHT NOW.

YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT. I AM HERE.

MR. GRAY, ABOUT YOUR REQUEST.

WHY SHOULD YOU BE ALLOWED TO ADOPT YOUR DAUGHTER?

IT'S A 2-YEAR COIN.

I'M CLEAN NOW.

I HAVE BEEN GOOD. I'M CLEAN, YOU KNOW?

I HAVE A GOOD JOB, A NICE APARTMENT.

YOU KNOW, I GO TO CHURCH.

I LIVE DOWN IN BEDFORD COUNTY, YOU KNOW.

I WORK FOR THE HIGHWAYS, PUT IN THE LONG HOURS,

TIRES ME OUT, I COME HOME, GO TO BED, THAT'S IT.

CHURCH, BIBLE, BED. I HAVE BEEN GOOD.

AND WHEN I HEARD ABOUT AGNES,

WHO I LOVED VERY MUCH,

I STARTED TO MAKE PLANS.

NOW...

THIS IS WHAT THE SOCIAL SERVICES LADY WROTE

WHEN SHE CAME OUT TO SEE MY PLACE.

LOOK, RIGHT HERE.

ACCEPTABLE.

THIS IS BEDFORD COUNTY.

IT DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH A POTENTIAL ADOPTION.

BUT IT'S A HOME STUDY.

I MEAN, BY A PROFESSIONAL JUST LIKE YOU.

MR. GRAY, I'VE BEEN A SOCIAL WORKER FOR 30 YEARS.

IN THAT TIME, I'VE RECOMMENDED

VERY FEW TERMINATIONS OF PARENTAL RIGHTS.

IT'S THE LEGAL EQUIVALENT OF A DEATH SENTENCE.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND? TERMINATION.

THE COURT CLEARLY THOUGHT

YOUR DAUGHTER WOULD BE BETTER OFF WITHOUT YOU.

I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT I'VE CHANGED?

FILL OUT THE APPLICATION.

I WAS A JUNKIE, YOU KNOW?

YES, AND I WAS SICK.

RIGHT.

SO YOU'RE GONNA NEED TO HIRE A LAWYER.

I HAD PROBLEMS.

BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN I DIDN'T LOVE MY WIFE

OR MY LITTLE GIRL, AND I LIVE WITH THAT.

AND I HAVE MADE MOST OF MY AMENDS.

AND I AM HERE TO GET MY LITTLE GIRL BACK.

IF YOU'RE GONNA REPRESENT YOURSELF,

THEN I WILL HELP YOU FILL OUT THE FORMS.

HERE'S MY CARD. OK.

HOW'S SAMANTHA DOING?

WELL, SHE SEEMS FINE.

YOU KNOW, I'D WATCH HER AT THE HOSPICE.

I MEAN, SHE DOESN'T EVEN LOOK LIKE A LITTLE GIRL ANYMORE.

SO--SO--

YOU'RE GONNA TELL HER ABOUT THIS?

YEAH, SHE'S MY CLIENT.

WELL, GOOD LUCK WITH THAT.

YOU TAUGHT ENGLISH IN HIGH SCHOOL?

NINTH AND TENTH GRADES.

YOU HAVE A SON?

ANTHONY. 19. HE ATTENDS COLGATE.

OH, EXCELLENT. GOOD.

SO HOW MANY, UH--

HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU BEEN A NANNY?

3 YEARS.

I WAS WORKING WITH TWIN BOYS.

THE REFERENCE LETTER IS IN THE FOLDER I GAVE YOU.

AH. OK.

MR. FALLIN,

I DON'T MEAN TO BE PRESUMPTUOUS,

BUT I LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE PARENT'S EXPECTATIONS ARE.

EXPECTATIONS?

WELL, SHANNON'S YOUR FOSTER CHILD.

YOU DON'T KNOW HOW LONG YOU'RE GONNA HAVE HER.

SHE'S IN A NEW HOME, A NEW SCHOOL.

I JUST-- I'M JUST CONCERNED

ABOUT ADDING YET ANOTHER ELEMENT.

HMM.

WELL, I APPRECIATE THAT, HELENA,

BUT YOU'RE THE ONE I WANT,

SO JUST NAME YOUR PRICE.

LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU CAN START AND--

IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE MONEY.

WELL, THEN COME MEET SHANNON.

I PROMISE YOU, YOU'LL LOVE HER.

I-- I PROMISE YOU THAT.

YOUR FATHER IS IN PITTSBURGH.

MY FATHER?

RIGHT.

HE CAME HERE TO SEE ME?

WELL, HE--

HE WANTS TO TRY AND ADOPT YOU.

WHAT'S HE LIKE?

WELL, HE SEEMS LIKE HE'S-- HE'S TRYING.

CAN I SEE HIM?

SAMANTHA...

HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT YOUR FATHER?

MY MOTHER SAID THAT HE WAS A DRUG ADDICT.

THAT HE MADE ME BLIND.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT HIS PARENTAL RIGHTS

HAVE BEEN TERMINATED?

NO.

NO ONE TOLD ME THAT.

THAT MEANS THAT LEGALLY, HE ISN'T YOUR DAD ANYMORE.

IT'S IMPOSSIBLE?

EVEN IF HE'S CHANGED?

IT'S HIGHLY UNLIKELY.

EVEN IF I...

MAYBE, WANTED HIM TO BE?

YOU SAID YOURSELF YOU DON'T KNOW HIM.

EVEN IF YOU DID--

WHAT I MEAN TO SAY IS THERE'S NO REASON TO BELIEVE--

RIGHT. BUT...

DO YOU THINK THAT I COULD JUST SEE HIM?

YOU'RE GETTING HER HOPES UP FOR NO REASON.

NO JUDGE IS GONNA OVERTURN A TERMINATION.

OK.

WHY DO YOU EVEN THINK THIS GUY'S WORTH OUR TIME?

NICK.

ALVIN.

LAURIE.

HI.

I'M SORRY--

HI.

ALVIN. WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?

THE TRACK. WHY?

YOU GOT A CASE FOR ME?

HEY, MR. FALLIN.HEY.

THESE, UH...

THESE FORMS YOU GAVE ME FOR THE ADOPTION STUFF

ARE REALLY CONFUSING ME.

MR. GRAY--JIM.

JIM, WE JUST MET WITH SAMANTHA.

SHE'S AGREED TO MEET WITH YOU.

REALLY. WHEN?

TOMORROW AFTERNOON.

THIS IS GREAT!

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

I MEAN, THIS MEANS SOMETHING, RIGHT?

WELL, IT MEANS THAT SHE'S AGREED TO MEET WITH YOU.

THIS IS GREAT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY.

COULD YOU HELP ME WITH THESE?

NOT YET. LET'S JUST MEET WITH HER

AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS, OK? YEAH. OK.

IT'S JUST ONE OF THEM'S THIS ESSAY

ABOUT WHY I WANT TO BE HER DAD,

AND I AM HER DAD, RIGHT?

IT'S ABOUT EXPLAINING MYSELF, I GUESS.

I'M SURE YOU'LL DO FINE.

YOU THINK?

OK, WELL, THANK YOU.

DO YOU WANT TO GRAB A CUP OF COFFEE?

I HAVE TO GET BACK TO WORK.

OK. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

HEY, MR. FALLIN,

DO KNOW WHERE THERE'S A MEETING AROUND HERE?

YOU KNOW, "HI, MY NAME'S JIM. I'M A DRUG ADDICT."

UM...UM...

YEAH, I THINK THERE MAY BE ONE ON--

ON FIFTH.

AT THE OLD CAVALRY CHURCH.

OK. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.

MR. FALLIN, THANK YOU.

BIG DOINGS AT THE COUNTRY CLUB FRIDAY NIGHT.

WHAT?

ANNUAL FATHER/DAUGHTER DANCE.

I MADE RESERVATIONS.

IF YOU'RE GAME.

WHAT DID YOU TELL HANK?

WHO?

HANK. THAT BOY WHO CAME OVER HERE.

YOU TOLD HIM ABOUT MY PERIOD, DIDN'T YOU?

YOU SAID I WASN'T FEELING GOOD.

I WAS FEELING FINE.

YOU KNOW WHAT, HONEY,

AND I SHOULD HAVE TOLD YOU THIS EARLIER,

BUT I--I--I THINK THAT YOU NEED A WOMAN IN YOUR LIFE

TO TALK TO AND HELP YOU WITH YOUR HOMEWORK,

COOK FOR YOU AND...

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

I'M TALKING ABOUT A NANNY.

A NANNY?

YES. AND THIS AFTERNOON,

I INTERVIEWED A YOUNG LADY

AND THINK SHE'S ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIC.

GUESS WHAT? I THINK THAT'S HER.

BURTON--

HONEY, I JUST WANT YOU TO MEET HER, ALL RIGHT?

SEE IF YOU LIKE HER, OK?

THANKS FOR COMING.

SO, SHANNON, SAY HI TO HELENA.

THIS IS SHANNON.

IT'S A PLEASURE TO MEET YOU, SHANNON.

HELENA WAS A TEACHER.

THOUGHT MAYBE SHE COULD HELP YOU WITH SOME THINGS.

NICHOLAS, GOOD MORNING.

UH, DID YOU-- DID THE TWO OF YOU

HAVE A CHANCE TO DISCUSS YOUR SITUATION LAST NIGHT?

THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE.

MRS. AARONSON, DID YOU--

NOT REALLY. JUST REGULAR TALK.

OK.

WELL, UH...

I DON'T LIKE TO BE IN THE MIDDLE OF A PERSONAL MATTER.

BUT, MR. AARONSON, THERE'S BEEN A DEVELOPMENT--

WE WANT TO KEEP OUR BABY.

SO THIS WHOLE SUIT THING,

IT'S SO STUPID.

WHAT'S THE DEVELOPMENT?

HONEY, COME ON. LET'S GO HOME.

THIS WHOLE THING IS SO STUPID,

I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE.

NO! WHAT'S THE DEVELOPMENT?

I THINK WHAT MRS. AARONSON IS TRYING TO SAY

IS THAT SHE DOESN'T THINK THE SUIT MAKES SENSE ANYMORE.

WHY?

UH, OK...

WHAT, JACKIE?

I GOT PREGNANT...YOU GOT PREGNANT.

AFTER I WENT TO THE CLINIC.

AFTER--WITH ANOTHER--

YOU GOT PREGNANT WITH ANOTHER MAN.

WHOSE BABY IS IT?ALBERT--

WHOSE BABY IS IT?

I'M SORRY.

WE NO LONGER HAVE A CLAIM AGAINST THE CLINIC, SO...

ELAINE...ESTHER...BOB.

I DIDN'T KNOW THERE WAS A BOARD MEETING TODAY.

YOU KNOW, IT'S FUNNY,

LOOKING AT THESE OLD CASES MAKES ME WONDER

DO WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

I MEAN, CAN WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

ARE WE BUTTERFLY WINGS?

ARE WE THE WIND?

IT'S LIKE THE HORSES-- YOU TRY TO FIGURE OUT

WHICH ONE'S THE BEST FIT FOR THE TRACK.

RUNS HARDER. OR PRETTIER.

BUT WHEN YOU ADMIT THAT IT'S CHAOTIC--

ALVIN, THANK YOU.

WE CAN TALK AFTER THE MEETING.

I CAN TAKE IT FROM HERE.

YEAH, YOU'LL--

YOU'LL BE, WHAT? HALF AN HOUR OR SO?

PROBABLY.

RIGHT.

I MIGHT BE GONE BY THEN.

BUT MAYBE NOT. LET'S JUST SEE.

RIGHT. LET'S JUST SEE.

NOW THIS ESSAY

ABOUT WHY I WANT TO BE SAMANTHA'S DAD.

SHOULD I READ IT TO YOU?

I THINK I'M GONNA HEAD OUT TO THE TRACK.

MIND TELLING LULU FOR ME?

OK.

THANKS.

CAN I READ THIS TO YOU?

NO, IT'S FINE.

IT'S JUST THERE'S THIS PART IN IT ABOUT MY SPONSOR.

IF YOU THINK THAT'S OK.

YOUR SPONSOR?

YEAH, HOW HE SAID IT'S OK FOR ME

TO BE IN A RELATIONSHIP.

HAVE A RELATIONSHIP, YOU KNOW?

I MEAN, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO WAIT A LITTLE WHILE.

MAKE SURE YOU'RE READY.

UH...

WE SHOULD GO.

UH, LULU, ALVIN WANTED ME TO TELL YOU HE'S GONE TO THE TRACK.

WELL--HEY, DO YOU HAVE A SECOND?

YEAH. I'LL BE RIGHT THERE.

I THINK THAT ALVIN IS TRYING TO GET ME TO FIRE HIM.

DO IT.

NO. ARE YOU, UH, BUSY WITH THAT CASE?

YEAH.WELL, I HEARD THAT WOMAN DIED WHEN YOU WERE THERE.

AND I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT YOUR MOTHER.

THAT'S NOT IMPORTANT.

NO, I SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT IT.NO, I'M FINE.

WELL, I'M SORRY, NICK, TO HAVE TO SEND YOU THERE.

THANK YOU.

READY?

1, 2, 3.

1, 2, 3.

1, 2, 3.

1...YOU MAKE A LITTLE TURN...

AND THAT TURNS INTO A BOX STEP. HI!

HEY.

NO, DON'T STOP. THAT WAS EXCELLENT, SWEETHEART.

SHE'S LEARNING THE FOXTROT AS WELL.

OH, GREAT. GREAT.

SO, YOU WANNA--

YOU WANNA DANCE?

BURTON.

NO?

I'VE GOTTA--

MY HOMEWORK, OK?

OK.

WELL, THAT WAS, UM--

THAT WAS NICE OF YOU.

NO PROBLEM.

SHE'S A GOOD DANCER.

YES, SHE IS. I'M--

I'M SORRY. WE MADE A MESS.

OH, DON'T WORRY ABOUT THAT.

SO, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT SHANNON?

WELL, I--

I THINK THAT SHE'S--

SHE HAS GOOD INSTINCTS,

BUT SHE'S AT LEAST A GRADE BEHIND,

AND SHE--WELL, SHE CAN--

SHE HAS A WAY WITH THE TRUTH.

A WAY WITH THE TRUTH. RIGHT.

LISTEN, IF YOU'RE ASKING ME IF IT'S TOO...

TOO LATE?

NO, IT'S NEVER THAT, MR. FALLIN.

NEVER--NEVER THAT.

SO, YOU WANNA--

YOU WANNA STAY?

YES.

GOOD. GOOD.

THANK YOU.

YOU KNOW, SHE'S, UM--

SHE'S REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS DANCE.

A NIGHT OUT WITH YOU, A NEW DRESS.

SHE'S REALLY EXCITED.

DO YOU WANNA CALL ME DAD OR JIM?

DAD.

I THINK DAD'S NICE.

YEAH.

AND YOU, UM, ARE YOU SAMANTHA OR SAM?

SAMANTHA.

YOU'RE JUST--YOU--

YOU'VE JUST GROWN UP SO BEAUTIFUL, YOU KNOW?

I HAVE? YEAH.

'CAUSE YOU SHOULD SEE ME.

I'M KIND OF GOOFY LOOKIN', YOU KNOW?

LUCKY FOR YOU YOU LOOK LIKE YOUR MOM.

YOU THINK MOM WAS PRETTY?

YES, SHE WAS. SHE WAS REALLY PRETTY.

DO YOU MIND IF I...

WHAT?

CAN YOU LEAN TOWARD ME?

IS THAT ALLOWED?

HERE.

YOU'RE NOT THAT BAD.

I GOT BOTH MY EYES, MY NOSE, YOU KNOW, AND MY MOUTH.

ALL MY TEETH.

ME, TOO.

YEAH.

SAMANTHA, UM,

ABOUT EVERYTHING...

YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY ANYTHING.

WELL, LET ME-- LET ME...

I DID THIS TO YOU. YEAH.

AND IF NOTHING ELSE COMES OF THIS...

YOU KNOW, AT LEAST YOU CAN FINALLY HEAR ME SAY HOW SORRY I AM.

I'M--I'M REALLY SORRY, HONEY.

I'M SORRY.

SHE DOESN'T BELONG THERE.

I MEAN, IT'S FOR RETARDED PEOPLE.

SHE DOESN'T BELONG IN THAT PLACE.

SAMANTHA SIGNED THE CONSENT FORM.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND?YEAH.

ARE YOU READY FOR THE HEARING?

YEAH, ABOUT THAT.

DO YOU THINK I CAN MAKE IT HOME BEFORE THURSDAY NIGHT?

THURSDAY NIGHT?

YEAH, THERE'S THIS MEETING I USUALLY SPEAK AT

BACK HOME IN BEDFORD, AND I JUST DON'T WANNA BE

IN PITTSBURGH ANY LONGER THAN I HAVE TO.

WELL, I DON'T THINK WE CAN GET IT DONE THAT FAST.

MAN, I-- I JUST DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M DOIN'.

WHAT?

I MEAN, YOU SEE HER, YOU KNOW.

SHE'S BEAUTIFUL, AND SHE'S GROWN UP,

AND MY LIFE IS A JOKE.

I JUST--

I DON'T KNOW.

NO, THIS IS HOW I USED TO THINK ABOUT MYSELF, I KNOW.

I CAN DO THIS, RIGHT?

RIGHT.

'CAUSE I'M BETTER NOW, RIGHT?

I CAN DO THIS. I'M HER DADDY.

I CAN DO THIS.

THIS IS WHERE I'M STAYIN'.

NICE PLACE.

NOT REALLY, BUT IT'S CHEAP.

I LIVE 2 HOURS AWAY FROM HERE.

YOU KNOW, IN BEDFORD?

DO YOU KNOW IT? NO.

BEDFORD'S REALLY NICE.

IT'S QUIET, IT'S PEACEFUL.

DO--DO YOU WANNA COME UP FOR A WHILE?

MAYBE WATCH A MOVIE?

NO. NO.

I, UH--I CAN BUY YOU DINNER.

THERE'S A NICE DINER DOWN THE STREET.

COME ON.

THERE'S--THERE'S A MEETING I GO TO...

OVER AT THE CALVARY CHURCH.

UH, IT STARTS AT 8:00.

ALL RIGHT.

HEY.

OH, BURTON, YOU CAUGHT ME.

OH, NO, THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

SHANNON WAS UPSTAIRS, SO I SNUCK A BUTT.

OH, I SEE.

WELL, YOU GOT ANOTHER ONE? YEAH, SURE.

HEY, BURTON.

OH, HONEY, LISTEN.

ONE OF MY CLIENTS HAS A PROBLEM,

SO TONIGHT MIGHT BE A LITTLE TRICKY, BUT, UH--

I'M GONNA BE THERE, BUT JUST MAYBE A FEW MINUTES LATE.

OH.

NOW, THE GOOD NEWS IS NICK'S GONNA BE ABLE

TO DRIVE YOU OVER THERE.

NICK? YEAH.

HE'S GONNA BE YOUR ESCORT TILL I GET THERE.

YOU'RE GONNA HAVE FUN ALL THE WAY AROUND, OK?

YEAH. ALL RIGHTY.

SEE YOU SOON.

BYE.

YOU WANTED TO SEE ME?

YEAH.

BAD NEWS ABOUT AARONSON'S WIFE.

WHAT HAPPENED?

THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT.

WHAT DID HE DO TO HER?

IT SEEMS THERE WAS AN ARGUMENT.

SHE FELL DOWN THE STAIRS.

POTENTIALLY A BLOW TO THE HEAD BEFORE SHE FELL.

POTENTIALLY?

I DON'T HAVE ALL THE FACTS YET.

WELL, IS SHE ALL RIGHT?

NO, SHE'S BADLY HURT. IT'S HER BRAIN.

THEY ALREADY ARRESTED ALBERT.

I SENT CLAY AND SADIE DOWN THERE.

I'M GONNA HAVE TO GO DOWN THERE MYSELF.

I PROMISED SHANNON I'D TAKE HER

TO THE FATHER-DAUGHTER DANCE AT THE CLUB TONIGHT.

I HAVE NO IDEA HOW LONG I'LL BE WITH ALBERT,

SO, UH...OH, DAD, DAD--

NO, JUST DRIVE HER OVER THERE,

AND I'LL CATCH UP.

JUST DRIVE HER THERE?

YEAH. RIGHT.

SAMANTHA'S CASE IS UP.

ALL RIGHT.

WHERE IS HE?

I DON'T KNOW.

WELL...

SHE'S UP.

UM...

WILL YOU BE OK HERE?

HIS HOTEL ROOM'S JUST A BLOCK AWAY.

I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

I'M LATE.

YOUR--YOUR DAD WENT HOME.

SO, UM...

YOUR NEXT HEARING IS IN 28 DAYS.

OK.

AND WE WILL--WE WILL GET YOU MOVED THEN.

28 DAYS.

THAT'S WHEN WE'LL MOVE YOU.

YOU SAID THAT.

MR. AARONSON.

HELLO, NICHOLAS.

DID YOU SEE YOUR DAD OUTSIDE?

YES, I DID.

MR. AARONSON, UH,

ABOUT SARAH...

SARAH?

YOUR CHILD.

IS THERE ANYONE THAT CAN TAKE CARE OF HER?

SHE'S WITH HER NANNY.

BUT LEGALLY, THE BIOLOGICAL FATHER HAS RIGHTS.

HE DOES?

LEGALLY.

BUT, UH, I--

I'M PREPARED TO HELP YOU IF--IF YOU...

WHAT?

IF YOU WISH TO KEEP HER.

OH.

NO.

THANK YOU, NO.

HAVE YOU MET THE FATHER?

SHE SAID THEY WERE JUST FRIENDS.

I EVEN GAVE HIM A JOB IN ONE OF MY STORES.

I GAVE THAT GUY A JOB.

OH, ALVIN?

I'M ON MY WAY TO THE TRACK.

I'M UP $3,000 SO FAR,

AN ASTONISHING RUN.

ALVIN, UNDERSTAND, IF YOU CHOOSE NOT TO DO YOUR JOB,

THEN I WILL HAVE TO--WHAT?

FIRE ME?

YES.

I'VE ALREADY BEEN FIRED, LULU, TRUST ME.

I'M ALREADY DEAD TO THIS PLACE.

NICK. WHOSE BABY?

UH, THIS IS SARAH AARONSON.

THE BIOLOGICAL FATHER DOESN'T WANT HER.

HER MOTHER'S DEAD. I--I GOTTA GO.

HEY.

HEY!

HI.

YEAH, IT'S OK.

CALL SOCIAL SERVICES.

OK.

I'LL SET UP A SHELTER HEARING.

RIGHT.

I THINK THIS IS THE LAST ONE.

SO, UH...

YOU KNOW, UH, I-IF YOU WANT, UH...

I--I CAN DANCE WITH YOU.

IF YOU WANT.

COME ON.