Original subtitles

PREVIOUSLY ON "THE GUARDIAN"...

I'M PREGNANT.

I DON'T WANT TO GET MARRIED JUST BECAUSE I'M PREGNANT.

I KNOW THAT I'M READY TO BE A FATHER.

EVIDENTLY, I'VE GOT A LITTLE BLOCKAGE.

4 OUT OF 5 ARTERIES.

SO YOU NEED SURGERY?

CAN I GET A SHOT OF TEQUILA?

I LIKE SEX AS MUCH AS ANYBODY LIKES SEX.

YOU CAN'T DRINK ANYMORE, NICHOLAS.

YOU CAN'T USE DRUGS.

AND YOU CANNOT CONTINUE TO LIE

TO THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE YOU.

LULU, I ASKED YOU TO MARRY ME,

AND YOU JUST LOOKED AT ME LIKE I WAS INSULTING YOU.

YOU CAN JUST TELL THE COURT

THAT I'M SOME ADDICT, SOME PROBATIONER,

AND YOU CAN TAKE THE CHILD AND YOU CAN JUST GO.

SO YOU SCREW SUZANNE PELL?

NICK.

YOU'RE REALLY GONNA DO THIS?

NICK...

LULU, PLEASE...

DON'T GO.

I'M SORRY.

HEY.

IT'S COLD AS HELL OUT THERE.

IT'S SUPPOSED TO LAST ALL WEEK.

RIGHT.

HAVE YOU EATEN?

I'M FINE.

SAW LULU OUTSIDE.

YEAH.

I'M SORRY ABOUT THAT.

YEAH.

PROBABLY ALL FOR THE BEST.

WHAT?

SHE'S PROBABLY DOING THE RIGHT THING, FOR NOW.

NOW, LISTEN, I, UH...

I'VE BEEN THINKING.

OH, COME ON.

NO, HEY, HEAR ME OUT, SON.

I MADE SOME CALLS, AND I'VE FOUND THIS PLACE,

AND IT'S ANONYMOUS.

YOU CAN DO THAT OUTPATIENT THING--

I CAN'T, DAD. I DON'T NEED TO GO TO SOME REHAB CENTER.

SON, YOU NEED HELP.

YOU'VE GOTTA MAKE SOME CHANGES.

YOU'RE GONNA END UP IN JAIL, OR WORSE.

I'M FINE.

WILL YOU JUST GO OUT THERE TOMORROW WITH ME

AND WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THE PLACE.

TOMORROW? WE HAVE THE RENSTAR MERGER TOMORROW.

I KNOW.

I'VE BEEN WORKING FOR THE LAST 2 WEEKS

ON THAT OPINION LETTER.

SO WE CLOSE THE DEAL, WE GO OUT THERE TOMORROW,

YOU--YOU-- TAKE A LOOK.

WELL...

I REALLY DO WISH YOU'D TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY.

I'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW.

♪ 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

MORNING.

BURTON, HEY.

LISTEN, THE GENTLEMEN FROM RENSTAR COMMUNICATIONS

ARE IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM.

NICK HERE YET?

NO, NOT YET.

WELL, WE CAN'T START WITHOUT HIM.

RIGHT, WELL, I'LL GO TALK TO THEM.

YEAH, DO THAT.

GENTLEMEN, NICE TO SEE YOU.

HOW ARE YOU?

MORNING, LULU.

IS SOMETHING WRONG?

WHAT IS IT, SUZANNE?

THERE'S A WOMAN IN YOUR OFFICE.

HER NAME IS ANITA HENDRICKS.

I DON'T KNOW HER.

SHE'S NICK'S CLIENT.

WHAT IS SHE DOING IN MY OFFICE?

HER 2-YEAR-OLD WAS REMOVED FROM HER CUSTODY

6 MONTHS AGO.

SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO GET HER BACK TODAY.

SUPPOSED TO?

NICK NEVER SHOWED UP IN COURT.

FINE.

GOOD MORNING.

I DID EVERYTHING WAS ASKED OF ME. EVERYTHING.

I'M SOBER, I GOT A JOB, I TOOK THE CLASSES,

MET WITH THE COUNSELORS.

I'M LOUISA ARCHER--

I DID WHAT I WAS SUPPOSED TO DO, YOU HEAR ME?

AND MY BABY WAS SUPPOSED TO COME HOME WITH ME THIS VERY DAY.

I'M REALLY SORRY.

AND THE JUDGE LADY SAY I CAN'T GO BACK THERE

UNTIL NEXT WEEK.

OK, HANG ON.

CAN SOMEBODY GET ME, UH, ANITA--ANITA--

HENDRICKS!

ANITA HENDRICKS' FILE, PLEASE?

OK, MISS HENDRICKS, UM, I'M GONNA GO OVER YOUR FILE,

AND THEN I AM GOING TO PERSONALLY OVERSEE YOUR NEXT COURT APPOINTMENT.

I GOTTA WAIT A WHOLE WEEK?

RIGHT.

MISS HENDRICKS.

I AIN'T WAITIN' NO MORE.

I WANT MY BABY BACK TODAY,

AND I AIN'T LEAVIN' TILL I GET HER.

WOULD SOMEONE PLEASE TRACK DOWN NICK FALLIN FOR ME?

NOW.

BURTON, HE'S STILL NOT HERE.

I KNOW. I KNOW THAT.

AND WE CAN'T CLOSE THIS DEAL WITHOUT THAT OPINION LETTER.

NO KIDDING.

AND THEY'RE STARTING TO GET PISSED.

LEAVE A MESSAGE.

NICHOLAS, WE NEED THAT LETTER NOW.

YOU'RE MAKING US LOOK RIDICULOUS.

MAY I HELP YOU?

HI.

HI.

HI.

WHAT'S YOUR NAME?

NICK. NICK FALLIN.

HELLO, NICK FALLIN.

HELLO.

MY FATHER GAVE ME A PAMPHLET.

OK.

IT SAID TO--

I'VE SEEN OUR PAMPHLET.

HE SAID I SHOULD COME HERE.

GOOD.

HE SUGGESTED IT.

GOOD.

DO YOU WANT TO BE HERE?

YES. YEAH, I THINK I DO.

THEN I'LL CALL HER.

WHO?

YOU'LL LOVE ANNE.

EVERYBODY DOES.

DRUG OF CHOICE?

COCAINE.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN USING?

OFF AND ON, 16 YEARS.

HOW MUCH HAVE YOU BEEN USING?

IT VARIES. UH...

SOMETIMES I SNEAK A LINE OR TWO,

SOMETIMES A LITTLE MORE.

ALCOHOL?

YEAH, SOMETIMES, YEAH.

ANYTHING ELSE?

SOMETIMES.

WHAT TYPE OF SUBSTANCE?

SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, DESIGNER DRUGS.

UH, ECSTASY?

HALLUCINOGENS?

UH...

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN TREATMENT BEFORE?

UH, YEAH, UM,

I WENT THROUGH A COURT-ORDERED OUTPATIENT THING.

YOU'RE ON PROBATION?

YEAH.

HOW LONG AGO WAS THAT?

A LITTLE OVER 2 YEARS.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU USED?

THIS MORNING.

YOU'RE HIGH RIGHT NOW?

NO. SEE, THAT'S THE THING.

LAST NIGHT, MY FATHER CAME AROUND

AND BROUGHT THIS PAMPHLET,

AND HE TOLD ME, UH...

WELL, HE TOLD ME THAT I SHOULD STRAIGHTEN MYSELF OUT.

I DON'T FOLLOW.

I WENT OUT INSTEAD AND SAW THIS GUY,

AND HE SOLD ME SOME STUFF.

WHAT DID HE CALL IT?

"BEAUTIFUL BLUE MYSTIC."

AN HALLUCINOGEN.

HOW MUCH DID YOU TAKE?

I DON'T KNOW.

60 MILLIGRAMS.

AND NOTHING HAPPENED?

I THINK IT WAS JUST BAKING SODA.

60 MILLIGRAMS IS A HUGE DOSE, NICK.

BUT I THINK YOU'VE MADE A VERY WISE DECISION COMING HERE,

AND I THINK WE CAN HELP.

METHOD OF PAYMENT?

CAN I USE A CREDIT CARD?

MM-HMM.

I HAVE TO TAKE THAT.

HELLO, DR. JOPLIN.

RIGHT.

RIGHT.

OH.

RIGHT.

RIGHT.

I WILL. I WILL CALL THEM

AND COME IN.

YOU ALL RIGHT?

I JUST...

I'M JUST...

PLEASE EXCUSE ME.

SUZANNE.

I'M ATTEMPTING TO FIX NICK'S MISTAKE,

SO THIS AFTERNOON AT 4:00

I NEED YOU TO BRING ANITA'S DAUGHTER TO THE COURTHOUSE.

I CAN'T MAKE IT.

IT'S ALREADY BEEN RESCHEDULED, SO--

YOU DON'T HAVE ANITA HENDRICKS

CAMPED OUT IN YOUR OFFICE, SUZANNE.

RIGHT.

RIGHT, SO JUST CLEAR YOUR SCHEDULE AND BE THERE.

OH, BURTON. UH, LOOK,

THE RENSTAR GUYS WON'T LEAVE

UNTIL WE CLOSE THIS DEAL.

THE DROP-DEAD DATE'S TOMORROW,

SO THEY'RE GONNA CAMP OUT HERE TILL 12:01.

RIGHT.

HENRY MOSS IS KIND OF STARTING TO LOSE IT.

HE'S THREATENING A MALPRACTICE SUIT

IF WE DON'T CLOSE THIS DEAL.

IT FIGURES.

SO, UH, THERE'S ONLY

SO MUCH COFFEE I CAN OFFER THEM.

OK, I'LL, UH,

I'LL GO IN THERE AND STALL 'EM.

GREAT.

OH, LISTEN, JAKE, GO BY NICK'S HOUSE,

SEE WHAT THE HELL HE'S DOING, ALL RIGHT?

GOT IT.

HELLO THERE.

HI.

I'M AFRAID THAT ANNE HAD TO LEAVE.

OH.

SHE TOLD ME THAT YOU WERE CONSIDERING--

YOU KNOW, I THINK I'LL COME BACK AT ANOTHER TIME.

OH.

YEAH, I THINK I'LL DO THAT.

NICK?!

NICK!

WHAT FLOOR?

THE LEGAL CLINIC, PLEASE.

I THINK IT'S CALLED L.S.P.

ANNE?

WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

I'VE GOT CANCER.

I'M SORRY.

MY SON DOESN'T KNOW IT YET.

I'M DYING, AND MY SON...

I'VE GOT TO FIND A PLACE

FOR HIM TO GO.

I WAS DIAGNOSED A YEAR AGO.

I HAD SURGERY, DID CHEMO,

AND WENT INTO REMISSION.

I MEAN, I WAS IN REMISSION.

MY SON, HE LIVES WITH ME.

RIGHT.

HIS DAD IS A WORKAHOLIC PRICK.

OK.

I HAVE FULL CUSTODY.

HIS FATHER GETS ONE WEEKEND A MONTH,

WHICH HE USUALLY BLOWS OFF.

RIGHT.

WHICH IS PROBABLY FOR THE BEST.

HIS FATHER SCARES HIM.

SCARES HIM?

MM. BAD TEMPER. TOUGH ON HIM.

RIGHT.

I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE MY SON WITH MY EX-HUSBAND.

DO YOU HAVE ANY ALTERNATIVES?

YOUR SISTER?MY SISTER SAID SHE'D TAKE HIM.

YEAH. SHE LOVES HIM. SHE'S VERY YOUNG.

HOW YOUNG?

SHE'S 26, BUT SHE'S A GOOD PERSON.

RIGHT.

HAS YOUR EX-HUSBAND EVER ABUSED OR NEGLECTED YOUR SON?

HOW DO YOU MEASURE ABUSE?

I'D LIKE A DO NOT RESUSCITATE ORDER.

A LIVING WILL?

RIGHT. YOU CAN HELP ME WITH THAT?

SURE, SURE.

AM I UPSETTING YOU?

NO.

SORRY. YOU SEEM TO HAVE--

YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH SOMETHING LIKE THIS?

SORRY.

DON'T WORRY ABOUT ME.

I'M A COUNSELOR. THAT'S WHAT I DO.

THIS MORNING WHEN YOU CAME TO SEE ME,

WHAT I DID,

WALKING OUT ON YOU LIKE THAT,

WAS REALLY UNPROFESSIONAL.

IT'S OK.

NO, I PUT MYSELF IN FRONT OF YOU,

AND I'M--I'M SORRY.

NO, THAT'S OK.

AFTER YOU HELP ME, I'M GOING TO HELP YOU.

OK.

BELIEVE ME,

I AM GOING TO HELP YOU.

ON WEDNESDAY THERE WILL BE A VISITING

GUARDIAN AD LITEM FROM A CLINIC IN MAINE

WHO WANTS TO SHADOW ONE OF THE LAWYERS,

AND I THOUGHT YOU'D BE THE BEST CHOICE.

SURE.

SURE.

ANYTHING ELSE?

YEAH, I, UH, HAVE A LITTLE SITUATION HERE, AS YOU CAN SEE.

I'VE NOTICED.

I AIN'T LEAVIN'.

GREAT.

ALVIN, NICK DROPPED THE BALL,

SO I'M JUST WONDERING IF YOU COULD COVER FOR ME

IN THIS AFTERNOON'S GENERAL MEETING.

OK.

OK, SO I ARRANGED IT

WITH THE GUARDIAN AD LITEM,

AND WE CAN ALL BE THERE AT 4:00.

OK, THEN.

SUZANNE.

YOU KNEW I WAS LIVING WITH HIM.

YEAH.

DID YOU KNOW THAT I WAS PREGNANT?

WHAT?

DID YOU KNOW THAT NICK'S ON PROBATION,

THAT IF HE GETS CAUGHT WITH DRUGS OR DRINKING

THAT HE WILL GO TO JAIL?

NO.

NO. OK, WELL, YOU JUST PLEASE TELL HIM

THE NEXT TIME YOU SEE HIM THAT HE'S DONE ENOUGH HARM,

AND I'M TIRED OF CLEANING UP HIS MESSES.

YOU CAN JUST TELL HIM THAT.

AND YOU TELL HIM TO SHOW UP AT THE COURT AT 4:00

OR I WILL CALL HIS PROBATION OFFICER.

BURTON, HE'S NOT HOME.

OK.

I SPOKE TO HIS SECRETARY AND TO GRETCHEN,

AND NO ONE KNOWS WHERE HE IS.

DAMN. DAMN IT.

JUST PUT 'EM ON THE TABLE.

LOOK, I THINK I CAN PULL TOGETHER

AN OPINION LETTER IN A COUPLE OF HOURS.

THIS IS EVERYTHING FROM THE MERGER--

UH, BY-LAWS, CHARTER, LAWSUITS, EVERYTHING.

SO JUST GIVE ME A COUPLE OF HOURS TO GO THROUGH THIS, OK?

YOU CAN DRAFT AN OPINION LETTER IN A COUPLE HOURS, HUH?

I'M A PRETTY GOOD LAWYER, BURTON.

I THINK I CAN HANDLE IT.

OK.

HERE YOU ARE.

LOOKS GOOD.

YOU CAN EAT.

YOU'RE NOT HUNGRY?

SO, THE LIVING WILL.

RIGHT.

A LIVING WILL SAYS THAT YOU DESIRE

TO DIE A NATURAL DEATH

AND YOU DON'T WANT TO BE KEPT ALIVE

BY MEDICAL TREATMENT OR HEROIC MEASURES.

THAT'S WHAT I WANT.

RIGHT. SO...

THIS BASICALLY STATES THAT YOU ARE OF SOUND MIND

AND THAT YOU ARE VOLUNTARILY MAKING THIS DECLARATION.

OK.

THAT YOU DIRECT THE ATTENDING PHYSICIAN

TO WITHHOLD OR WITHDRAW LIFE SUPPORT.

OK.

THEN THERE ARE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS.

FIRE AWAY.

DO YOU WANT CARDIO-PULMONARY RESUSCITATION?

NO.

DO YOU WANT MECHANICAL RESPIRATION?

NO.

JUST DO THE WHOLE LIST, OK?

TUBE FEEDING, BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS,

SURGERY, DIALYSIS, ANTIBIOTICS.

NO, NO. NO TO ALL THAT.

DO YOU WISH TO DONATE ANY ORGANS?

IF THEY'RE USEFUL.

HEY, MOM.

HI, SWEETHEART.

I HAVE A LOT OF HOMEWORK.

HE'S SO SERIOUS.

NO TV, NOT MANY FRIENDS,

JUST DOES HIS SCHOOLWORK.

OH.

STRAIGHT As.

THE OTHER MOMS,

THEY WISH THEIR KID WAS JUST LIKE MINE,

BUT I DON'T KNOW.

I JUST WISH HE'D GET A "C"

AND SMILE ONCE IN A WHILE.

RIGHT.

MY LITTLE MAN.

HI, MISS HENDRICKS. HOW'S YOUR SIT-IN GOING?

DO YOU NEED TO USE THE BATHROOM?

LULU, UH, I DON'T MEAN TO--

HAS ANYBODY ACTUALLY SPOKEN TO NICK TODAY?

NO.

SHOULD WE BE CONCERNED?

NO.

OK.

LOUISA ARCHER.

OK. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, ROSEMARIE, THANK YOU.

THAT WAS YOUR PROBATION OFFICER.

SHE'S GONNA MEET US AT THE COURTHOUSE RIGHT NOW.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP YOUR HAND REALLY RELAXED.

YOU GOTTA BE LIMBER.

PUT THE QUARTER RIGHT AT THE END OF YOUR FINGER...

HEY.

HI, BURTON.

I'M LOOKING FOR NICK.

ME, TOO.

HAVE YOU TRIED CALLING HIM AT HOME?

YEAH, I DID.

I EVEN HAD JAKE GO OVER THERE,

BUT, UH, WELL, HE'S PROBABLY--

I THINK WE BOTH KNOW WHAT HE'S PROBABLY DOING.

HEY, ALVIN.

HI, BURTON.

DO YOU MIND IF I CHECK OUT NICK'S OFFICE?

I'M LOOKING FOR A LEGAL OPINION.

NO, GO RIGHT AHEAD.

THANKS.

AS FOR THE CUSTODY OF YOUR SON...

RIGHT.

IT'S NOT GONNA BE EASY.

OK.

PRESUMPTION IN PENNSYLVANIA

IS FOR THE BIOLOGICAL PARENT.

RIGHT.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

YOUR EX-HUSBAND HAS THE LEGAL RIGHT

TO CONTEST THE PLACEMENT.

BUT THERE'S A WAY.

YES, THERE'S SOMETHING CALLED THE STANDBY GUARDIAN ACT.

YOU'RE REALLY--

YOU'RE SO GOOD AT THIS. YOU'RE REALLY SMART.

THANK YOU.

SO...

THE STANDBY GUARDIAN ACT--

IT ALLOWS A TERMINALLY ILL PARENT

TO COMMENCE A CUSTODY ACTION

THAT ALLEGES THAT THE OTHER PARENT

IS UNABLE TO CARE FOR THEIR CHILD.

OK.

YOU COULD TRY TO DESIGNATE A NEW GUARDIAN.

MY GUESS IS YOU WILL LOSE.

RIGHT.

FROM WHAT YOU'VE TOLD ME OF YOUR SON'S FATHER,

HE'S NOT ABUSIVE OR NEGLECTFUL.

HE'S NOT A GOOD FATHER. HE'S--HE'S NOT LOVING.

LEGALLY, LOVING IS NOT A REQUIREMENT.

RIGHT. RIGHT.

HAVE YOU CONSIDERED

ASKING YOUR SON WHAT HE WANTS TO DO?

OH, HE'S JUST A BOY.

NO.

I NEED TO COME UP WITH A SOLID PLAN FOR HIM.

A SOLID PLAN FOR HIM.

EXACTLY.

YOU NEED TO ASK HIM WHAT HE WANTS TO DO.

HE'S JUST A BOY.

IS THERE A BATHROOM I MIGHT USE?

UPSTAIRS. END OF THE HALL.

UH, JERRY.

ALVIN.

YOU KNOW NICK FALLIN?

SURE. YOU SEEN HIM AROUND TODAY?

NAH.

YEAH. RIGHT.

OH, UH...

IF YOU SEE HIM, WOULD YOU GIVE ME A CALL?

SURE.

THANKS.

ANY WORD YET?

UH, NO.

WELL, I'M GONNA HAVE TO GO IN THERE AND...

TELL THE CLIENTS.

I'M--I'M ALMOST FINISHED.

YOU COULDN'T HAVE ANALYZED THE RISK AND LIABILITIES.

IT'S--IT'S GOOD ENOUGH.

WELL, I CAN'T GO IN--

I MEAN, IF YOU'RE WRONG,

WE GET SUED.

BURTON, WE'RE GONNA GET SUED EITHER WAY.

NO, I DON'T DO BUSINESS LIKE THIS.

BELIEVE ME, BURTON,

I DON'T DO BUSINESS LIKE THIS. I'M JUST TRYING TO COVER--

DID YOU GO INSIDE THE HOUSE?

NO.

JAKE...

LOOK, GO BACK OVER THERE,

AND IF YOU HAVE TO BREAK-- OH, I TELL YOU,

THERE'S A KEY UNDERNEATH THE PLANTER.

GO INSIDE THE HOUSE

AND FIND THE DAMN LETTER.

IT WOULD BE BETTER THIS WAY.

LIKE HELL IT WOULD.

I JUST WANT HIM TO BE AROUND SOMEONE WHO LOVES HIM.

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? LISTEN TO YOURSELF.

YOU WORK ALL THE TIME AND YOU'RE SO ANGRY.

ANNE...

PLEASE. THIS IS WHAT I WANT. HE IS MY CHILD.

I WILL NEVER, NEVER GIVE HIM UP.

NEVER GIVE HIM AWAY. YOU UNDERSTAND THAT?

...DESPERATE?

HE NEEDS ATTENTION AND LOVE, NOT ANGER.

HE'S JUST A LITTLE BOY!

THAT DIDN'T GO VERY WELL.

OH.

HE WON'T AGREE TO IT.

RIGHT.

I STILL WANT TO TAKE THIS TO COURT.

YOU DO?

AT LEAST...

I WANT MY SON TO KNOW AT LEAST

THAT I TRIED TO DO WHAT I FELT WAS BEST.

THIS IS IT.

OH, THANK GOD!

ALL RIGHT.

MY EX-HUSBAND IS A POWERFUL GUY.

OK.

NO. I MEAN HE'S A POWERFUL GUY.

HE'S A LAWYER, AND HE'S VERY TOUGH.

WELL, I CAN HANDLE MYSELF.

HE'LL BRING A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH HIM.

HE'LL ACT KINDLY, BUT HE'LL BE DERISIVE AND CONDESCENDING.

OK.

HE'LL MAKE ME OUT TO BE SOMEONE I'M NOT.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

HE MIGHT BRING UP THE FACT THAT I'VE STRUGGLED WITH...

WITH WHAT? WITH...

PILLS. ALCOHOL.

OH.

HE MIGHT BRING THAT UP.

IT'S IRRELEVANT. THE JUDGE IS ONLY CONCERNED

WITH YOUR SISTER AND EX-HUSBAND.

RIGHT. RIGHT.

ANNE!

I'M SO SORRY. TRAFFIC AND PARKING.

OH. HI, NICK.

AUNT LIZ?

ANNE, LISTEN-- I DON'T THINK I CAN DO THIS.

LIZ.

I LOVE YOUR SON. I REALLY DO,

BUT I DON'T THINK NOW'S THE TIME TO DO THIS.

YOU SAID THAT YOU WOULD.

I DID. BECAUSE I THINK YOUR HUSBAND IS--

I AGREE WITH A LOT OF THE THINGS YOU SAY,

BUT, ANNE,

I THINK YOU'RE DOING THIS TO GET BACK AT HIM,

NOT BECAUSE YOU THINK THIS IS BEST FOR YOUR SON.

I'M SORRY.

OK.

SO...

HE GOES TO LIVE WITH HIS DAD.

RIGHT.

WELL...I BETTER GO GET HIM PACKED.

WHAT?

I WANT HIM TO GO TONIGHT. WHY?

BECAUSE I DON'T WANT HIM TO GO THROUGH THIS WITH ME.

HE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW YET.

RIGHT.

WELL, HE'LL JUST HAVE TO...GO NOW

AND GET USED TO WHERE HE'LL BE.

ANNE, HE-- HE DOESN'T KNOW.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP,

BUT THIS IS THE WAY IT'S GOT TO BE.

WHERE'S MR. FALLIN?

I'M FILLING IN FOR HIM, YOUR HONOR.

ALL RIGHT.

MISS HENDRICKS...

I SEE YOU'VE...

STOPPED ALL CONTACT WITH YOUR FORMER BOYFRIEND,

HAVE COMPLETED YOUR PARENTING CLASSES,

HAVE A JOB. HOME STUDY LOOKS GOOD.

THANK YOU.

I DON'T, HOWEVER, SEE A CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION

FOR YOUR DRUG REHABILITATION PROGRAM.

I TOOK IT. I FINISHED IT.

YES, BUT I DON'T SEE PROOF OF THAT.

MISS ARCHER?

UM...

I'M AFRAID, YOUR HONOR--

I GAVE IT TO THAT DAMN LAWYER-- 3 DAYS AGO!

I GAVE IT TO HIM ON FRIDAY!

I'M SORRY, MISS HENDRICKS, BUT I NEED TO SEE A SIGNED FORM BEFORE ME.

JUDGE...

MY BABY GIRL HAS BEEN LIVING IN A CRAPPY HELLHOLE

FOR ALMOST 6 MONTHS.MISS ARCHER--

I JUST WANT TO GET HER HOME TO ME.

MISS ARCHER--

MISS ARCHER, YOUR CLIENT--I CAN'T SLEEP WITHOUT HER--

MISS ARCHER!

BRING ME THE FORM.

YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S LIKE

TO HAVE YOUR BABY TAKEN FROM YOU.

I'M SORRY.

IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE TODAY.

I HAD THE HOUSE ALL DONE UP,

AND MY FRIENDS--

IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE TODAY.

WHAT?

I'M SORRY.

WHAT I DID. I JUST--

IT'S NOT REALLY SOMETHING I CAN MAKE GO AWAY WITH WORDS.

SO...I JUST REALLY FELT SOMETHING FOR HIM.

I FELT A LOT. I--

THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN FOR ME. THAT DOESN'T--

AND I'M SORRY.

I GOT IT.

RIGHT. WHERE'D YOU FIND IT?

IT WAS ON THE COUNTER IN THE KITCHEN.

WAS NICHOLAS THERE?

NO, NO, HE WASN'T, BUT IT ALL LOOKED GOOD, SO--

OK.

WELL, LET'S GET THIS THING DONE.

YEAH.

ALL RIGHT. SORRY FOR THE DELAY.

WHY DON'T YOU TAKE A SEAT...

I DON'T WANT HIM TO REMEMBER ME SICK, WASTING AWAY.

YOU CAN'T JUST KICK HIM OUT.

HE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO FACE THIS.

HE'LL WANT TO.

SO YOU'RE JUST GONNA DRIVE OUT TO THE SCHOOL

AND TELL HIM THAT HE CAN'T BE AROUND YOU ANYMORE?

IT'S FOR THE BEST.

FOR THE BEST?!YES.

ANNE, JUST ASK HIM WHAT HE WANTS.

HE DOESN'T KNOW. HE DOES!

NO, HE DOESN'T!

HE WANTS TO STAY WITH YOU.

HE WANTS TO KNOW THAT HE'S HELPED YOU.

HE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO FACE THIS. HE IS NOT THAT KIND OF CHILD.

HE'S ALREADY SO REMOVED.

IF I LET HIM STAY, IT'LL ONLY MAKE HIM WORSE!

YOU DON'T KNOW THAT.

YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE FOR HIM

TO SUDDENLY WAKE UP IN HIS FATHER'S HOUSE

AND TO NOT SEE YOU AGAIN UNTIL YOU'RE TOO SICK TO OBJECT TO HIS BEING THERE.

HE SHOULD GET USED TO BEING WITH HIS FATHER.

HE HAS THE REST OF HIS LIFE FOR THAT.

HE ONLY HAS A FEW MONTHS LEFT WITH YOU.

ANNE...ANNE, I'M SORRY, OK?

WILL YOU PLEASE LISTEN TO ME?

ANNE, PLEASE.

JUST LET HIM STAY WITH YOU

UNTIL HE'S READY TO GO.

WHY WOULD I DO THAT?

BECAUSE HE'LL CHANGE.

HE'LL END UP...

HE'LL END UP WHAT, NICK?

IT'S FOR HIS OWN GOOD.

DON'T GO.

PLEASE, PLEASE DON'T GO.

I'LL STILL HELP YOU, NICK.

PLEASE...PLEASE DON'T GO.

I'LL HELP YOU LIKE I SAID I WOULD.

NICK...NICK!

DON'T GO.

NICK!

NICK. NICK.

NICK...IT'S OK.

COME UP HERE. COME ON.

NICK...NICK... IT'S ALL RIGHT.

IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL.

NICK, WHAT DID YOU TAKE? NICK! NICK!

WE'RE GONNA GET YOU OUT OF HERE.

WE'LL TAKE CARE OF THIS. COME ON, NICK. COME ON.

COME ON. IT'S ALL RIGHT.

COME ON.

HEY.

HEY.

HOW YOU DOIN'?

BLUE MYSTIC, HUH?

YEAH.

TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING?

SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

WHAT DID THEY DO FOR YOU?

YOU KNOW, THEY JUST-- THEY GAVE ME SOME--

HELD MY HAND. TALKED ME DOWN.

NICE OF THEM NOT TO CALL THE POLICE.

YEAH. WELL, I DO REPRESENT THE HOSPITAL.

RIGHT. FORGOT ABOUT THAT.

AT LEAST I USED TO.

I CALLED YOUR FATHER.

AND I SPOKE TO LULU.

TOLD THEM NOT TO COME DOWN HERE, THAT I'D TAKE YOU HOME.

THANK YOU.

WELL, WE'LL SEE ABOUT THAT.

THAT DRUG YOU TOOK, BLUE MYSTIC.

RIGHT.

WHY?

HUH.

I--I DON'T KNOW.

WHY THAT DRUG?

THIS GUY, HE, UH-- HE TOLD ME...

HE SAID IT WAS INCREDIBLE.

YEAH?

AND IT WAS... INCREDIBLE.

IT WAS... FOR A WHILE.

HALLUCINOGENS.

I REMEMBER.

IT WAS INCREDIBLE.

I'M FINE, ALVIN. THANK YOU.

YOU CAN GO HOME.

YEAH. I KNOW.

IT'S 4:00 IN THE MORNING. I'M PRETTY TIRED.

RIGHT. I'M SURE.

YEAH.

SO, UH, YOU SHOULD...

GO?

RIGHT.

WOULD YOU LIKE SOME TEA?

NO.

YOU?

YEAH. IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND.

HEY.

IT'S COLD AS HELL OUT THERE.

HEY.

HEY.

SO...

WHY DON'T WE SIT DOWN AND, UH,

HAVE A LITTLE TALK?

WHAT DO I DO?

JUST, UH...

GO OVER THERE AND GIVE THEM YOUR NAME.

OK.

ALL RIGHT.

HI, UH--AHEM.

MY NAME'S NICK FALLIN. UH...

I WANTED TO TALK TO SOMEONE.

OK. I'VE GOT ALL YOUR BASIC INFORMATION.

OK.

WE'VE GOT A FEW OPTIONS HERE.

RIGHT.

I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO ADMIT YOU FOR DETOX.

NO.

MY FEELING IS WE SHOULD START

OUTPATIENT FOR THE NEXT 30 DAYS.

RIGHT.

THAT'S 4 HOURS A NIGHT, 5 DAYS A WEEK.

RIGHT.

YOU THINK YOU CAN HANDLE THAT?

MR. FALLIN.

YES.

GOOD.

WE'RE GONNA HELP YOU, MR. FALLIN.

OK.

WE WILL.

GIVE YOU ALL THE HELP YOU NEED.

THANK YOU.

IT'S YOUR TURN, NICK.

IF YOU'RE READY, IT'S YOUR TURN.

NICK. ANITA HENDRICKS

NEEDS YOU TO TAKE HER TO COURT.RIGHT.

AND SHE SAID THAT SHE GAVE YOU HER CERTIFICATE

FOR HER DRUG REHAB.SHE DID. IT'S IN MY OFFICE.

WELL, SHE'S PRETTY ANGRY, SO MAYBE YOU CAN JUST GIVE IT TO ME AND--

NO. SHE'S-- SHE'S MY CLIENT.

I KNOW, BUT MAYBE I-- SHE'S MY CLIENT.

OK, MISS HENDRICKS,

I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE A 12:00 TODAY?

DAMN STRAIGHT.

WELL, IF YOU'LL STEP INTO MY OFFICE,

WE CAN GET THAT FORM READY.

DON'T YOU GOT SOMETHING TO SAY TO ME?

YOU'RE RIGHT, I DO. UM...

I'M SORRY.

WELL?

ALL RIGHT, THEN.