Original subtitles

PREVIOUSLY ON THE GUARDIAN...

YOU CAN'T DRINK ANYMORE, NICHOLAS.

YOU CAN'T USE DRUGS,

AND YOU CANNOT CONTINUE

TO LIE TO THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE YOU.

REMEMBER HOW I ASKED YOU TO MARRY ME,

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

SO YOU SCREW SUZANNE PELL?

LULU, PLEASE, DON'T GO.

NICK, WHAT DID YOU TAKE?

YOU NEED HELP. YOU GOT TO MAKE SOME CHANGES.

MY FEELING IS WE SHOULD START OUTPATIENT

FOR THE NEXT 30 DAYS.

RIGHT.

NICK.

MORNING, ALVIN.

YOU KNOW WHERE I LIVE?

YEAH. UM, YEAH.

I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU AROUND FOR A WHILE.

WELL, YOU KNOW, LULU,

SHE DOESN'T REALLY WANT ME AROUND THE CLINIC.

CATCH THE BUS?

3 DAYS A WEEK. GOT TO CUT DOWN ON THOSE FOSSIL FUELS.

GOOD FOR YOU.

YEAH, I'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THOSE HYBRID CARS.

MAYBE WHEN THE LEASE RUNS.

WELL, HERE'S MY BUS.

ALVIN, DO YOU HAVE A MINUTE TO TALK?

I'M GOING TO BE LATE, NICK.

I'M WORKING ON MY AMENDS FOR THE PROGRAM.

YOU COMING, ALVIN?

NOT TODAY, CLIFF.

HI, NORAH.

THANKS. THANKS.

THANK YOU.

YOUR NINTH STEP ALREADY, HUH?

I--I'M WORKING ON IT.

THAT'S FAST.

I--I WROTE SOME THINGS DOWN, AND--

IT'S--IT'S PRETTY COLD OUT HERE, NICK.

WELL, I'LL GIVE YOU A RIDE TO WORK,

AND WE CAN DO IT IN THE CAR.

SURE.

LOOK, I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU'VE BEEN SAYING, NICK,

AND OF COURSE I'M HAPPY TO LET BYGONES BE BYGONES, BUT--

WELL, AT 3 WEEKS IN, IT'S ONLY A 30-DAY PROGRAM.

WELL, YOU SEE, IN MY SITUATION,

I WASN'T READY TO MAKE MY AMENDS FOR ALMOST A YEAR.

WELL...

OK, THEN.

RIGHT.

COME IN.

NICK.

HEY.

HEY.

HOW HAVE YOU BEEN?

OK. HOW ARE YOU DOING?

OK.

DID YOU GET MY MESSAGES?

YEAH. I STILL THINK THAT YOU SHOULD CONTINUE

WITH YOUR OUTPATIENT THERAPY BEFORE YOU TAKE CASES.

I WASN'T CALLING ABOUT THAT.

BECAUSE I THINK UNTIL I KNOW

THAT YOU'RE NOT DRINKING OR DOING DRUGS,

IT WOULD BE HIGHLY IRRESPONSIBLE

FOR ME TO LET YOU PRACTICE LAW HERE.

I WASN'T CALLING ABOUT THE CLINIC.

OH.

I WAS CALLING BECAUSE...

I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT WHAT I'VE DONE.

ABOUT THE FACT THAT I'M PREGNANT WITH OUR CHILD,

AND YOU'RE HAVING SEX WITH ANOTHER WOMAN?

MAYBE THIS ISN'T THE BEST TIME.

MAYBE NOT.

MAYBE...ANOTHER TIME.

NICK, IT CRASHED.

WHAT?

THE BUS-- IT CRASHED.

WHAT BUS?

MY BUS-- THE 38-B.

WENT OVER A GUARDRAIL ON ROUTE 51.

THE NEWS IS SAYING THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE DEAD.

I WAS JUST ABOUT TO GET ON IT.

I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ON THAT BUS.

♪ 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

WE'LL STAY AHEAD OF THIS, PAT.

GOOD.

JAKE IS ALREADY COORDINATING WITH YOUR PR FIRM.

THEY'RE SETTING UP A GRIEF COUNSELING PLAN TODAY.

GOOD.

NOW, THERE WILL BE CIVIL SUITS FILED.

AND OUR ANSWER, OF COURSE, WILL BE A BLANKET DENIAL

OF ALL CLAIMS OF LIABILITY.

THE DRIVER'S GIVEN BLOOD AND URINE SAMPLES

TO THE POLICE.

HE'S DOWN AT THE COUNTY HOSPITAL RIGHT NOW

WITH HIS DAUGHTER, BUT HE HAS AGREED

TO SPEAK WITH US LATER TODAY.

I'LL INTERVIEW THE DRIVER.

NO. JAKE'S TAKING CARE OF THAT.

I CAN DO IT.

NO, JAKE'S ON THAT.

WE DO NEED MAINTENANCE RECORDS ON THE BUS

AND THE REGULATION MANUAL FOR YOUR DRIVERS AND--

...TRANSIT BUS CRASH ON ROUTE 51

HAS REACHED 15.

THE DEATH TOLL HAS CLIMBED TO 6.

WELL, LET'S GET TO WORK.

I'LL TALK TO YOU LATER, OK?

YOU KNOW, I CAN TALK TO THE DRIVER.

I THOUGHT MAYBE YOU COULD DROP OVER TO THE TRANSIT AUTHORITY

AND CHECK ON THAT ACCIDENT RECONSTRUCTION WORK.

WELL, I CAN DO THAT ON THE WAY TO THE DRIVER'S HOUSE.

NICHOLAS, THIS CASE COULD COST ALLEGHENY TRANSIT

TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

WHAT THEY NEED FROM US IS CONTINUITY AND CONSISTENCY.

YOU'RE SAYING I CAN'T WORK ON IT?

COME ON IN HERE A MINUTE.

NICHOLAS, YOU GOT A LOT OF IMPORTANT STUFF

GOING ON RIGHT NOW-- FOR YOURSELF--

I GOT TO WORK.

RIGHT.

DAD, I CAN HANDLE WORKING.

RIGHT.

I WILL STOP BY THE TRANSIT AUTHORITY

ON THE WAY TO THE DRIVER'S HOUSE.

ARE YOU SURE?

COME IN.

WHAT IS IT?

I GOT A NEW CLIENT. HE'S 13,

AND HIS FATHER DIED TODAY IN THAT BUS ACCIDENT.

UH-HUH.

HIS NAME IS CONNOR ADAMS.

HE WAS ON THE BUS, TOO.

WAS HE HURT?

HIS WRISTS--HE'S GOT SOME STITCHES, BUT OTHERWISE--

WELL, WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU?

CONNOR AND HIS FATHER LIVED ALONE.

THE MOTHER DIED A FEW YEARS AGO.

THE ONLY RELATIVES IN THE AREA

ARE A COUSIN AND AN UNCLE.

I DID A LITTLE BACKGROUND CHECK, AND IT TURNS OUT--

JUST TELL ME, SUZANNE.

RIGHT.

OK.

UM, CONNOR'S UNCLE PHIL SPENT 7 YEARS IN A STATE PRISON

FOR AGGRAVATED ASSAULT AND RAPE.

HE'S STILL DRINKING HEAVILY, AND HIS APARTMENT--

WHAT ABOUT THE COUSIN?

CONNOR'S WITH HIM NOW.

THE PROBLEM WITH COUSIN DELL

IS THAT HE ALREADY HAS A SEVERE HISTORY

OF NEGLECT WITH HIS OWN KIDS.

OK.

SO, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO IN

AND TAKE CONNOR OUT OF HIS CUSTODY TODAY,

AND I THOUGHT OF YOU.

BECAUSE, WELL, HE JUST NEEDS

SOMEONE REALLY GOOD TO REPRESENT HIM.

IF YOU DON'T MIND WORKING WITH ME.

WELL, LET'S NOT MAKE THIS ABOUT US, SUZANNE.

I'M TAKING THE ENTIRE STAFF OUT TO LUNCH, ON ME.

YOU GUYS WANT TO COME?

UM, NO, THANK YOU, ALVIN.

SUZANNE?

OH, NICE, BUT, NO, THANK YOU.

OK.

SO, I'LL JUST GO AHEAD AND SET UP THAT MEETING.

YEAH.

OK.

SO, CONNOR, I KNOW THIS IS A VERY HARD TIME FOR YOU,

AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING IN AND TALKING TODAY.

HOW MUCH DO WE GET?

UH, UH...

EXCUSE ME?

HOW MUCH DO WE GET?

YEAH. MR. ADAMS--

DELL.

DELL. DELL, WE'RE NOT HERE TO DISCUSS MONEY.

WE'RE HERE TO DISCUSS WHAT HAPPENED ON THE BUS.

YOU REPRESENT THE BUS COMPANY.

RIGHT.

CONNOR SAID THE DRIVER CRASHED THE BUS ON PURPOSE,

SO HOW MUCH DO WE GET?

MR. ADAMS?

NICK FALLIN. NICE TO MEET YOU.

CONNOR, RIGHT?

CONNOR, YOU SAID THE BUS DRIVER CRASHED THE BUS ON PURPOSE?

YEAH.

DID YOU TELL THAT TO THE POLICE?

NO--

CONNOR. IF THEY'RE NOT PAYING,

YOU'RE NOT TALKING.

MR. JENKINS, I'M SORRY TO DISTURB YOU.

YOU WORK FOR THE A.C.T.?

THAT'S RIGHT.

I NEED TO SPEAK WITH YOU ABOUT THIS ACCIDENT TODAY.

NORAH, WOULD GO INTO THE OTHER ROOM

WITH YOUR GRANDMA, PLEASE?

I ALREADY TOLD THE POLICE EVERYTHING.

RIGHT.

EVEN PISSED IN A CUP, GAVE BLOOD,

BLEW INTO A BREATHALYZER.

ALL CAME BACK FINE THEY SAID.

I HAVE TO RECORD THIS, IF IT'S OK.

THANK YOU.

UH, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND WHERE YOU WORK.

CLIFF JENKINS. I'M A BUS DRIVER FOR THE CITY LINES.

MR. JENKINS, YOU WERE DRIVING THE 38-B BUS

THAT WAS INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT TODAY?

YES.

I INTERVIEWED SOMEONE ELSE THAT WAS ACTUALLY ON THAT BUS,

A BOY THAT WAS SITTING UP AT THE FRONT.

OK.

HE BLAMES YOU FOR THE ACCIDENT.

HE SAID THAT YOU CRASHED THE BUS INTENTIONALLY.

I WOULD NEVER CRASH THE BUS INTENTIONALLY.

OF COURSE NOT. I'M SORRY.

MR. JENKINS, CAN YOU TELL ME

WHAT YOU REMEMBER OF THE CRASH?

YOU WERE DRIVING ON ROUTE 51.

HOW FAST WERE YOU GOING?

UM, 35...

MAYBE 40.

THEN WHAT HAPPENED?

I SAW THE NEXT STOP UP AHEAD.

THE NEXT THING I KNOW, THE BUS WAS SKIDDING.

I MUST'VE DRIVEN OVER A PATCH OF ICE.

YOU DON'T WANT TO HIT THE BRAKES,

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU'LL LOSE CONTROL,

SO I--I JUST TRIED TO STEER THROUGH IT.

SAW, UH, THE GUARDRAIL COMING UP...

AND, UH...

THAT'S WHEN I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES,

BUT, UH...

IT JUST KEPT GOING.

HEY, SUZANNE.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

IT'S A 30-DAY PROGRAM, AND IT HAS 12 STEPS.

ONE OF THE STEPS IS TO MAKE A LIST

OF PEOPLE THAT YOU MAY HAVE EITHER HURT OR MISTREATED

AND THEN MAKE AMENDS.

OK.

YOU'RE--YOU'RE ON THAT LIST.

WHY?

UH--UH, WHEN I HAD THE PROBLEM WITH DRINKING,

I--I SLEPT WITH YOU.

I ENJOYED SLEEPING WITH YOU, NICK.

WELL, I GUESS WHAT I MEAN IS...

IT WAS JUST SEX TO ME.

YOU'RE APOLOGIZING FOR HAVING SEX?

DIDN'T YOU ENJOY HAVING SEX WITH ME?

NO. YEAH, I DID. I JUST--

I'M--I'M APOLOGIZING FOR NOT TAKING IT MORE SERIOUSLY.

OH.

OH. I'M...

I LIKE YOU.

I KNOW. THAT'S--THAT'S WHY I'M APOLOGIZING.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE APOLOGIZING FOR.

I TOLD YOU.

YOU TOLD ME THAT YOU DIDN'T TAKE ME SERIOUSLY,

THAT YOU KIND OF TREATED ME LIKE A WHORE.

BUT YOU DIDN'T TELL ME WHY.

I'M SORRY, BUT I DON'T ACCEPT THAT APOLOGY.

UH...

OH, HEY.

UH, PAT HAGERTY AND THE GUYS FROM A.C.T.

ARE GOING TO BE HERE AT 10:00.

RIGHT.

AND YOU SPOKE TO THE DRIVER, RIGHT?

RIGHT.

HOW'D IT GO?

HIS ACCOUNT SEEMED STRAIGHTFORWARD.

WELL, I MEAN, THERE'S BLACK ICE ON THE ROAD.

AND THAT KID'S STORY HASN'T BEEN CORROBORATED

BY ANY OF THE OTHER WITNESSES.

RIGHT.

RIGHT.

UM...AHEM.

WHAT'S THIS?

AS YOU KNOW, I'M IN A 30-DAY PROGRAM, AND...

RIGHT.

I'M WORKING ON MAKING MY AMENDS

WITH PEOPLE I MAY HAVE HURT ADVERTENTLY OR INADVERTENTLY.

RIGHT.

SO...

UH, SHOULD I READ IT NOW?

OR LATER.

RIGHT.

SO, I REVIEWED CLIFF'S WORK RECORDS,

AND THERE'S NO PRIOR ACCIDENTS--

I MEAN, NOT A SINGLE COMPLAINT AGAINST HIM

IN OVER 10 YEARS OF SERVICE.

YEAH. I DIDN'T WRITE IN THE LETTER

THAT--AHEM--I TOOK SKLAR CHEMICAL FROM YOU.

I OVERHEARD YOU TALKING ABOUT HOW THEY WERE IN PLAY,

AND I SET UP A MEETING, AND I DIDN'T INVITE YOU.

OH.

DID THE N.T.S.B. CONTACT YOU

ABOUT THEIR INVESTIGATION?

BECAUSE THEY CAN BE A REAL PAIN IN THE ASS.

WAIT. YOU WENT BEHIND MY BACK TO SKLAR CHEMICAL?

YEAH.

HAVE YOU DONE THIS OTHER TIMES AS WELL?

HEY.

THAT BLACK ICE SITUATION'S

GONNA SAVE A.C.T.'s ASS.

YEAH.

WHAT ABOUT THAT DRIVER?

YOU THINK HE'S BEING TRUTHFUL?

YES, I DO.

GOOD.

UM, DAD, I, UH...

I WANT TO GIVE JAKE MY SOURCE CREDIT FOR SKLAR CHEMICAL.

WHAT--WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

UH, AND ALSO MACKENZIE SHIPPING

AND--AND JOHNSON TECHNOLOGY.

ARE YOU OK, SON?

YEAH.

THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT--THAT I'VE DONE THAT, UH...

THAT I'M SORRY FOR.

I LIED TO YOU, AND, UH,

I'VE BEEN UNRELIABLE, AND...

AND I'VE BLAMED YOU FOR SOME THINGS THAT...

THAT YOU PROBABLY DIDN'T DO.

WHAT THE HELL, SON?

JUST READ IT, PLEASE. IT'S--IT'S AN APOLOGY.

WELL, SINCE WE'RE APOLOGIZING,

I'D LIKE TO SAY I'M SORRY.

WHAT FOR?

FOR WHATEVER THE HELL I'VE DONE.

OH.

WELL, PAT HAGERTY'S HERE. WE'D BETTER...

GIVE HIM A BRIEFING.

CONNOR?

HI. I'M LOUISA ARCHER.

I'LL BE YOUR LAWYER. YOU WANT TO COME WITH ME?

HOW'S THE SHELTER?

IT SUCKS.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY I COULDN'T JUST STAY WITH DELL.

OVER HERE.

WELL, YOUR, UH,

YOUR SOCIAL WORKER SUZANNE, SHE--

SHE, UH...

SHE FOUND A--A NICE FOSTER FAMILY FOR YOU

THAT'S IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

SO YOU CAN STAY IN YOUR SCHOOL, AND, UH--

THEY ACTUALLY HAVE ANOTHER FOSTER CHILD.

HIS NAME IS JEREMY. HE'S ABOUT YOUR AGE.

SO?

SO, WE'RE GONNA GO TO COURT NOW,

AND WE'RE GONNA MAKE THE PLACEMENT OFFICIAL.

SEE YOU LATER.

HEY, UH, MY NAME IS NICK.

I KNOW WHO YOU ARE.

YOU'RE SUZANNE'S SON, RIGHT?

YEAH. CAM.

RIGHT. UH, DO YOU KNOW IF YOUR MOM'S HOME?

OH, SHE LEFT FOR WORK EARLY TODAY.

OK.

NO SCHOOL TODAY?

SNOW DAY.

I'LL TELL HER YOU STOPPED BY.

ALL RIGHT.

UH, CAM, UH...

LAST NIGHT WHEN I WAS TALKING TO YOUR MOM, UM--

YOU HURT MY MOM'S FEELINGS PRETTY BAD.

SHE CRIED FOR, LIKE, AN HOUR.

RIGHT.

WELL, IF LAST NIGHT,

I--I DID ANYTHING THAT UPSET YOU,

I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT...

YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT I CAN DO...

OR JUST KNOW THAT I'M SORRY.

OK, MAN.

OK.

YOU KNOW, JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO LIVE WITH THE HEATONS

DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE STILL WON'T HELP YOU.

WE'RE GONNA COME AND VISIT YOU ONCE A MONTH,

AND IF THERE ARE THINGS THAT YOU NEED,

WE'LL HELP YOU GET THEM, OK?

OH, HERE SHE IS.

HI. CONNOR,

THIS IS MR. AND MRS. HEATON.

THIS IS CONNOR.

MISS PELL?

THE HEATONS HAVE BEEN FOSTER PARENTS FOR OVER 5 YEARS.

THEY'VE DONE A REMARKABLY GOOD JOB

WITH THEIR 3 OTHER CHILDREN.

OK. MISS ARCHER?

I THINK IT'S A TERRIFIC PLACEMENT.

CONNOR, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS?

I AIN'T LIVING WITH A NIGGER.

HIS FATHER JUST DIED.

I KNOW THAT.

HE JUST IS HAVING A REALLY HARD TIME,

AND HE WANTS TO BE WITH HIS FAMILY.

RIGHT. WELL...

OBVIOUSLY, WE CANNOT PLACE CONNOR WITH THE HEATONS.

RIGHT, BUT ALSO, JUDGE DAMSEN,

I MEAN, GIVEN HIS, UH--

HIS WHAT, MISS ARCHER?

HIS MOOD.

UH, KEEPING HIM IN A GROUP SHELTER WITH, UH--

WITH BLACK KIDS?

IT MIGHT NOT WORK OUT SO WELL.

HE'LL REMAIN AT THE ALLEGHENY BOYS HOME.

I WILL ORDER COUNSELING AND THERAPY.

THANK YOU, LADIES.

OK. WELL, I WON'T BE ABLE TO FIND

A GROUP HOME FOR CONNOR WITHOUT MINORITY KIDS.

WELL, I'M SURE YOU'LL DO YOUR BEST.

HEY.

HEY.

I'VE APOLOGIZED TO YOU, LULU.

RIGHT.

I WOULD LIKE FOR THIS TO STOP.

WHAT?

HE NEVER TOLD ME THAT YOU WERE PREGNANT.

YOU KNEW I WAS LIVING WITH HIM.

I DID. SO DID HE.

WELL, I JUST WOULD NEVER DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

I'M NOT LIKE THAT.

LULU, I'M A MOM.

I--I--IF I HAD KNOWN THAT YOU WERE PREGNANT--

YOU KNOW, I DON'T UNDERSTAND YOU.

YOU KNEW THAT WE WERE LIVING TOGETHER.

THE FACT THAT I'M PREGNANT...

WHY DOES THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

IT DOES. I MEAN, I THOUGHT HE LIKED ME.

I THOUGHT I HAD A CHANCE.

HEY, MAN. SHE'S STILL NOT HERE.

OK.

I'LL TELL HER YOU WERE LOOKING FOR HER.

ALL RIGHT.

OH, HEY.

I WAS THINKING ABOUT WHAT YOU SAID EARLIER.

RIGHT.

ABOUT IF THERE WAS ANYTHING YOU COULD DO FOR ME.

YEAH.

IT HAD A PEARL IN IT.

SO?

MY DAD GAVE IT TO HER,

AND VALENTINE'S DAY IS COMING UP,

AND I WANTED TO GIVE IT TO MY MOM,

BUT I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX IT

OR BUY A NEW PEARL, YOU KNOW?

RIGHT.

SO...

YOU SAID IF THERE WAS ANYTHING YOU COULD DO.

AHEM.

HEY. YOU ALONE?

I WAS.

PIZZA'S PROBABLY COLD.

I'LL PUT IT IN THE OVEN.

I HAVE NOT SLEPT FOR 2 DAYS.

CAN'T SLEEP. CANNOT SLEEP.

YOU MAY HAVE SAVED MY LIFE.

THE MORE I THINK ABOUT IT,

YOU WERE LIKE, I DON'T KNOW...

AN ANGEL.

HEY, ALVIN, PLEASE, JUST...

YOU WANT SOME COFFEE?

SURE.

YOU KNOW, I THINK LULU MAY NEED SOME HELP, UH,

UNDERSTANDING YOUR PARTICULARITIES.

FOR INSTANCE, HER FATHER.

I SAW THAT GUY, RIGHT?

HAD ALCOHOLIC WRITTEN ALL OVER HIM.

CLEARLY, SHE GREW UP WATCHING SOMEBODY ENABLE AN ADDICT.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

NO.

SO, THIS KID,

WHOSE DAD DIED IN THE CRASH,

IN COURT TODAY IN FRONT OF JUDGE DAMSEN...

SUZANNE AND LULU BRING IN HIS FOSTER FAMILY.

DAD'S WHITE, MOM'S BLACK.

THIS KID, IN FRONT OF THE COURT,

SAYS THE "N" WORD.

REFUSES TO GO WITH THE FOSTER FAMILY.

HIS WHOLE FAMILY IS LIKE THESE WHITE SUPREMACISTS.

SAD STORY ABOUT THE DAD DYING,

BUT, UH, MAN...

I KNEW THE FATHER, TOO.

FROM THE BUS.

I NEVER SAW THE KID, BUT, UH...

THE DAD USED TO CALL THAT DRIVER NAMES.

ALL THE TIME, UNDER HIS BREATH.

THE DRIVER, CLIFF-- GOOD MAN.

JUST USED TO STARE STRAIGHT AHEAD

AND DRIVE THAT BUS.

HEY. HI.

IS YOUR DADDY HERE?

NO. JUST GRANDMA.

IT'S--IT'S NORAH, RIGHT?

I'M--I'M NICK. I CAME AROUND YESTERDAY.

UM, I HEARD THAT THERE, UH,

MIGHT HAVE BEEN SOMEONE ON THE BUS THAT WASN'T VERY NICE.

I WAS WONDERING IF YOU REMEMBER

IF YOUR DAD WAS HAVING A BAD TIME WITH ANYONE.

MAYBE NOT YESTERDAY,

MAYBE--MAYBE--MAYBE ANOTHER DAY?

THIS MAN, SOME DAYS,

WOULD SAY THINGS TO DADDY.

WHAT KIND OF THINGS?

CALL HIM BAD NAMES.

OK.

DADDY ALWAYS TOLD ME NOT TO LISTEN.

HE SAID THAT KIND OF STUFF

SHOULDN'T BE LISTENED TO.

WELL, THAT'S RIGHT. YOUR DADDY'S RIGHT.

THIS MAN THAT WAS MEAN TO YOUR DADDY,

WAS--WAS HE ON THE BUS WHEN IT CRASHED?

OK. THANKS, NORAH.

HIS SON CALLED ME A NIGGER.

WHEN DID HE DO THAT?

BEFORE WE CRASHED.

DADDY TURNED AROUND.

HE WAS REALLY MAD.

HE TURNED AROUND AND YELLED AT THE KID AND HIS DAD.

AND...THAT'S WHEN IT HAPPENED.

SO, I THINK THAT'S EVERYTHING.

I'LL TALK TO YOU ABOUT IT LATER.

OK. BYE, SWEETIE.

WHAT HAPPENED?

CONNOR'S NOT EXACTLY GETTING ALONG WITH THE OTHER KIDS.

COME ON.

OK, HAVE A SEAT, CONNOR.

YOU WANT TO TELL ME WHAT'S GOING ON?

YOU WANT TO TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED?

CONNOR?

YOU KNOW, I KNOW THIS MUST BE AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TIME FOR YOU.

MY DAD'S FUNERAL IS ON FRIDAY.

THEY GOT ME SHARING A ROOM WITH A BUNCH OF COONS.

CONNOR...

ALL RIGHT. YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT YOU MUST HAVE LOVED YOUR DAD A LOT--

DON'T TALK ABOUT MY FATHER!

NO, I-- JUST DON'T TALK ABOUT HIM!

IF YOU KEEP BELIEVING THE THINGS THAT YOUR FATHER BELIEVED,

AND YOU KEEP ACTING THE WAY THAT YOU ACT,

YOU'RE GONNA LOSE EVERYTHING.

YOU WILL LOSE EVERY OPPORTUNITY THAT COMES YOUR WAY.

NO ONE WILL WANT YOU, CONNOR.

I'M SORRY.

NOBODY WILL.

I UNDERSTAND YOU STOPPED BY THE HOUSE LAST NIGHT.

I UNDERSTAND YOU SPOKE TO NORAH.

WHAT SHE TOLD YOU WAS TRUE.

IT'S TRUE. I WASN'T LOOKING.

UM...SIT DOWN.

HI.

UH, CLIFF, UH,

YOU SAID THE OTHER DAY THAT, UH,

IF YOU HAD HIT THE BRAKES

WHEN YOU WERE GOING OVER THE ICE

THAT YOU STILL WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE BUS.

RIGHT.

YOU SAID THAT YOU WEREN'T EXCEEDING THE SPEED LIMIT.

RIGHT.

AND YOU WEREN'T DRIVING RECKLESSLY?

RIGHT.

WOULD YOU HAVE DONE ANYTHING DIFFERENTLY?

I LOOKED AWAY FROM THE ROAD.

I TURNED TO THE MAN, AND I YELLED AT HIM.

CLIFF, IF--IF YOU BLAME YOURSELF FOR THIS ACCIDENT,

THE BUS COMPANY WILL DISTANCE ITSELF FROM YOU.

THERE MAY BE CRIMINAL CHARGES FILED FOR NEGLIGENT HOMICIDE.

YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANS?

THIS COULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT.

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE YOUR FAULT.

LET'S SAY...

I SAY THINGS DIFFERENT.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR NORAH?

I SAY I DIDN'T LOOK AWAY.

SHE HAS TO SAY THE SAME THING...

RIGHT?

RIGHT?

THIS GUY...

A FEW MONTHS AGO GETS ON THE BUS,

AND HE DON'T HAVE THE FARE.

I TELL HIM, "YOU GOTTA PAY TO RIDE."

HE TELLS ME TO GIVE HIM A BREAK

BECAUSE I'VE SEEN HIM BEFORE.

I TELL HIM I CAN'T DO THAT.

SO HE CALLS ME...

HE CALLS ME A NIGGER,

AND HE GETS OFF THE BUS.

THE NEXT MORNING, HE GETS ON,

AND HE SITS DOWN RIGHT BEHIND ME.

AND HE STARTS WITH THE NAMES.

AND HE KEEPS IT UP, ALL THE WAY FROM CARNEGIE INTO THE CITY.

AND I JUST LISTENED TO IT.

I TRIED TO IMAGINE THAT HE'S NOT THERE.

JUST DO MY JOB.

THE DAY IT HAPPENED...

SNOW STORM. ALL THE SCHOOLS WERE CLOSED.

I HAD MY DAUGHTER NORAH RIDING WITH ME ON ACCOUNT OF THAT.

THIS MAN GETS ON THE BUS WITH HIS BOY.

THEY SIT DOWN CLOSE TO ME.

I HEAR HIM WHISPERING.

HE STARTED SAYING THINGS TO ME

IN FRONT OF HIS BOY.

IN FRONT OF MY DAUGHTER.

I LOOK AT MY DAUGHTER. SHE'S STARING AT THE FLOOR.

I TRY TO THINK WHETHER TO STOP THE BUS OR NOT.

I THINK, "NO."

SO...

WE DRIVE OVER THE HILL, RIGHT?

AND THAT'S WHEN I HEAR IT.

HIS BOY...

CALLING MY BABY A NIGGER.

CALLING MY BABY THAT WORD.

I TURNED TO THAT MAN AND HIS CHILD,

AND I TELL HIM WHAT I TELL HIM.

AND THE NEXT THING I KNOW,

THE BUS...

THE NEXT THING I KNOW...

YOU SEE...

I TURNED AWAY FROM MY JOB.

I TURNED AWAY.

WELL, THIS IS A PROBLEM.

RIGHT.

YOU SHOULD SUSPEND HIM IMMEDIATELY. MAKE THAT PUBLIC.

IT'S JUST A START TO DISTANCING YOURSELF FROM HIM IN THE PRESS.

OK.

AGREE TO COOPERATE FULLY WITH THE D.A.'s OFFICE

IN CASE THEY DECIDE TO PRESS CHARGES.

RIGHT.

NOW, THIS IS GOING TO COME BACK AT US FOR SURE.

SO, I FOUND A FAMILY THAT WILL CONSIDER TAKING CONNOR.

I TOLD THEM ABOUT HIS MOOD, AS YOU SAID.

AND, UM, THEY SEEMED TO BE UP TO THE TASK.

OK.

SO, I'M SCHEDULING A MEETING FOR TOMORROW MORNING.

I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT WANNA BE THERE.

OK.

UH, ALVIN!

YOU GOT A SECOND?

UH, CO-DEPENDANTS ANONYMOUS.

RIGHT.

RIGHT. AND AL-ANON.

ONE OF 'EM MIGHT BE RIGHT FOR YOU.

IT'S KIND OF OFFENSIVE.

WELL, I DIDN'T MEAN TO OFFEND YOU.

NO, IT IMPLIES THAT I'M THE ONE WHO--

50%.

WHAT?

YOU ARE 50% OF ANY RELATIONSHIP.

WELL, OK. THANK YOU, ALVIN.

VERY MUCH.

JUST THINK ABOUT IT?

THANK YOU. THANKS A LOT.

HEY.

I'M SORRY.

FOR STARTING SOMETHING

THAT I DIDN'T INTEND TO FINISH.

I WITHHELD CERTAIN INFORMATION FROM YOU.

IF I HAD ASKED YOU ABOUT LULU,

WOULD YOU HAVE TOLD ME THE TRUTH?

I DON'T THINK SO.

WELL, MAYBE THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SORRY FOR.

MAYBE.

MAYBE.

DID YOU GET IT?

I FORGIVE YOU, MAN.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

IT'S NOT MY FAULT.

IF THEY DON'T LIKE ME, IT'S NOT MY FAULT.

CONNOR, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO GO WITH MR. JOHNSON NOW.

WELL, I GUESS THEY WEREN'T UP TO THE TASK, HUH? THAT FOSTER COUPLE?

THAT'S AN UNDERSTATEMENT.

HOW MANY TIMES DID HE USE THE WORD "DARKIE" IN THAT INTERVIEW?

UH, I COUNTED 6.

AND THE OTHER WORDS. IT WAS AMAZING.

IT WAS ALMOST-- I DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT WAS LIKE.

YEAH. MAYBE THERE'S A FAMILY OUT THERE FOR HIM.

ONCE HE GETS COUNSELING AND THERAPY.

HE WON'T CHANGE.

NO.

THINGS PROBABLY AREN'T GONNA GO SO WELL FOR HIM.

THAT'S AN UNDERSTATEMENT.

UH, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT YOU HAD A SON.

YEAH. HIS NAME'S CAM.

CAM. HOW OLD IS HE?

HE'S 10.

I DIDN'T KNOW THAT.

YOU SHOULD MEET HIM SOME TIME.

IF I GOTTA GO TO JAIL--

CLIFF, YOU'RE NOT GONNA GO TO JAIL.

I DON'T KNOW WHO'S GONNA LOOK AFTER

MY DAUGHTER AND MY MOTHER.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO IS GET YOURSELF A LAWYER AS SOON AS YOU CAN.

IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD ONE--

RIGHT, I'LL GET ONE OF THOSE PUBLIC DEFENDER MEN.

WELL, ONLY IF CRIMINAL CHARGES ARE FILED.

BUT RIGHT NOW, YOU NEED TO FIND A LAWYER

THAT WILL REPRESENT YOU CIVILLY.

GIVE THAT NUMBER A CALL. ASK FOR LOUISA ARCHER.

SHE'LL HELP GET YOU STARTED.

PROBABLY DON'T STAND MUCH OF A CHANCE WITH A FREE LAWYER

AGAINST GUYS LIKE YOU.

DADDY?

NOT NOW, SWEETHEART.

IT'S SOMETHING WITH GRANDMA.

I THINK SHE NEEDS YOU.

HMM. OK.

CLIFF, GOOD LUCK.

THANKS.

HI.

HI.

IT'S FREEZING OUT HERE.

OH. THANKS.

AHEM. WHAT'S THAT?

JUST OPEN IT.

WHAT IS IT?

IT'S A CERTIFICATE FROM MY PROGRAM.

A CERTIFICATE.

YEAH, I GRADUATED.

OH, I SEE.

IT'S BEEN 30 DAYS.

RIGHT.

WELL, CONGRATULATIONS ON COMPLETING YOUR PROGRAM.

THANK YOU.

LULU, I WAS WONDERING ABOUT US.

WHAT ABOUT US?

IF WE COULD TRY TO JUST--

TRY? RIGHT. TRY.

NO.

LULU.

NO.

JUST TRY.

BECAUSE YOU HAVE YOUR CERTIFICATE?

NOT JUST THAT.

THAT'S JUST A PIECE OF PAPER, NICK.

RIGHT.

AND IT'S ONLY BEEN 30 DAYS.

WHEW. THAT WIND.

IT'S REALLY SOMETHING.

YOU HAVE YOUR CERTIFICATE.

UH, YEAH. YEAH.

CONGRATULATIONS.

MIND IF I SIT?

30 DAYS. THAT'S PROGRESS.

PROGRESS. HA.

IT'S AMAZING WHAT YOU DID.

FINISHING ALL THOSE STEPS IN SO SHORT A TIME.

YOU KNOW, ALVIN, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU--

NICK, I'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS BEFORE.

AND THIS... THIS ACCELERATION THING...

YEAH?

IS CRAP.

CRAP? CRAP.

BECAUSE YOU JUST...

YOU HAVE TO SURRENDER TO THE PROBLEM, NICK.

AT LEAST ADMIT YOU HAVE ONE.

ALVIN, YOU KNOW WHAT?

YEAH?

I DIDN'T SAVE YOUR LIFE.

OK.

SO YOU CAN STOP COMING AROUND HERE.

I'VE...RECOVERED BEFORE, NICK.

THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING.

YEAH.

IT'S SOMETHING YOU DO FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN SPEED UP.

UNLESS YOU WANT THE REST OF YOUR LIFE

TO, UH, I DON'T KNOW,

GO FASTER...

OR JUST GO AWAY.

HEY. YOU READY?

UH, AFTER THE FUNERAL,

THE WOMAN FROM THE SHELTER HERE

IS GONNA TAKE YOU TO YOUR COUSIN'S

FOR THE RECEPTION, OK?

HOW YOU DOING?

I DON'T LIKE IT HERE.

I KNOW.

I'M SORRY, CONNOR.

I JUST WANT TO GO HOME.

I JUST WANT MY DAD.

COME ON.

COME IN.

UH, I'M SORRY. AM I INTERRUPTING SOMETHING?

NOPE. I WAS JUST LEAVING.

I'LL TALK TO YOU LATER.

YOU CALLED THIS MORNING.

YEAH. HAVE A SEAT.

I THINK IT'S OK FOR YOU TO START TAKING CASES AGAIN.

GOOD.

ALL RIGHT. SO, THERE'S A MAN.

HIS NAME IS ALFRED KINGSTON.

HE WAS WRONGFULLY CONVICTED OF RAPE,

AND HE SERVED 10 YEARS OF A 100-YEAR SENTENCE

BEFORE THE D.N.A. TESTS CLEARED HIM OF THE CHARGES.

OK.

HE WANTS CUSTODY OF HIS SON,

BUT THE PROBLEM IS THE WIFE.

SHE'S KIND OF MOVED ON,

AND ALFRED'S JUST WONDERING

HOW HE'S GONNA GET HIS KID BACK.

OK. GOT IT. THANK YOU.

HE'S WAITING FOR YOU OUTSIDE.

MR. KINGSTON? NICK FALLIN.

I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE EXONERATED.

COME WITH ME.