All language subtitles for Judgment (1990) BR Eng

Aubert: Now tell me your sins.

Go ahead.
Tell me.

- I was disobedient to my dad,
and I talked back to him,

and I had a fight--
Aubert: Shh.

Slow down.
God can't hear you.

- And I had a fight with my
sister, and I was mean to her,

and I teased her.

- Is that all?

- Yes, Father, that's all.

- Now let me hear
an act of contrition.

- O my God, I am heartily sorry
for having offended thee,

and I detest all my sins
because of thy just punishments,

but--but most of all,
because they offend thee,

my God, who art all-good
and deserving all my love.

I firmly resolve,
with the help of thy g--grace,

to sin no more and to avoid
the near occasions of sin.

Amen.

- I absolve you in the name
of the Father

and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

[light instrumental music]

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

[dog barking]

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

- I got it, Dad!

♪ ♪

- Great.
Good boy.

♪ ♪

- Hey, come on in!

You're gonna be late for church.

♪ ♪

- Okay, let's go.

♪ ♪

- Dad, come back!

- Come on.
Come on.

Come on.

Don't want to be late
for your first Communion.

Come on.

- Dad--be at church.

[laughing]

♪ ♪

Dad, don't break
my bike.

♪ ♪

[giggling]

♪ ♪

all: ♪ Amen ♪

Emmeline: Whoo-hoo!

all: ♪ Amen ♪

Emmeline: [laughs]

all: ♪ Amen ♪

♪ Amen, amen ♪

- Once again now.

all: ♪ Amen ♪

- Whoo-hoo!

all: ♪ Amen ♪

♪ Amen, amen, amen ♪

Aubert: Behold the lamb of God.

Behold him who taketh away
the sins of the world.

Lord, I am not worthy that thou
shouldst enter under my roof.

Say but the word,
and my soul shall be healed.

Lord, I am not worthy that thou
shouldst enter under my roof.

Say but the word,
and my soul shall be healed.

Lord, I am not worthy that thou
shouldst enter under my roof.

Say but the word,
and my soul shall be healed.

[solemn organ music]

♪ ♪

Body of our Lord Jesus Christ

preserve thy soul
unto life everlasting.

Amen.

♪ ♪

Body of our lord Jesus Christ

preserve thy soul
unto life everlasting.

Amen.

♪ ♪

Body of our lord Jesus Christ

preserve thy soul
unto life everlasting.

Amen.

[instrumental music]

♪ ♪

- Oh.

- Now, the way
I see it, Daniel,

the diocese ain't gonna
forget about us,

seeing as how we always done
the right thing by the church.

See what I'm saying?

- I got to tell you, ol' Pete,
your bid's too high,

they don't give a damn

you done the right thing
by the church.

[children laughing, whooping]

- Robbie!

Robbie, come over here.

Oh, you look--
you are all dirt.

Spit.
- [spits]

- More.
[laughs]

Father wants to talk to you.

- I killed two alligators.

- Here, stop it now.

Listen to Father.

- They look like alligators.

- I'm sure they did.

Robbie, I would like
to train you

to be an altar boy.

Would you like that?

- [laughs]
- It's not fair.

- Is it hard, Father?

Hard like math?

- It's harder.
- Oh, Justine, shush.

- No, Robbie, it's--
it's not hard like math,

but, um, you do have
to learn how to walk

and bow and genuflect,

and there are lots of prayers.

- Will God love me more?

- [chuckles]

Well, strictly speaking,
he can't,

but between us,
he will love you more.

- [laughs]

- The way I figure it,
that puts me in line

for the renovation
at the diocese.

Then I can do a proper bid.

Now, the way I figure it--

- Honey, the way I figure,
if you--if--

look, if you bid this
the way you want,

we're gonna lose,
uh, $600.

Maybe $700.

- Where do you get that?
- Look.

Where do I get it?
Well, look.

You--you didn't--
see, you forgot

to add in the excavating.

And...

with the carton,
we have that.

You see?

[keys clacking]

Look.

- Well, I'll make it up

on the diocese job.

- We don't have the diocese job.

We don't have this job.

- Honey, I'll get this job.

- By taking a $600 loss?

- And I'll get the diocese job.

- We have a payment due
on all that.

We've got a payment due
on the house.

[sighs]

I want to do this over.

Come on, and I want
to go with you

when you talk to 'em
about the bid.

Okay?

[door creaks open]

- Hi, Mom.
Hi, Dad.

Sorry I'm late.

- Honey.

Hi.

[car horn beeping]

- I got to help Daniel
fix his generator.

- Oh, hold off on those
numbers, Sabine.

Hon, they're not
quite right yet.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

Aubert: Don't spill it, now,
Joseph.

Prayers on the left.

Robbie, hold up your left hand.

Now what do we do next?

- Take the veil off the chalice,

and then I do
the little pitchers.

- Which are called?

- Trusets.

- Cruets, cruets.

- Joseph, let him learn
at his own speed.

- He's so slow, Father.

- I expect to hear about
that nasty crack

at your next confession.

[game beeping]

Glory be to the Father
and to the Son

and to the Holy Spirit.

- "As it was in the beginning,

"is now, and always will be,

"world without end.

Amen."

- Now put your hands
over the page.

And this time,
do it from memory.

Glory be to the Father
and to the Son

and to the Holy Spirit.

- As it was in the beginning,

will always be

until the end.

Amen.

- [laughs]

- Father?

Are you gonna tell Mom and Dad
that I can't do it?

- Well, is that what you think
I should tell them?

I'll make you a promise, Robbie.

Father will tell them only
what they need to know.

Hmm?

- The problem isn't you.

The Guitry bid is a fair bid.

The problem
is overruns elsewhere.

And I'm sure
I don't have to tell you

that the church
is a nonprofit organization.

- Yes, well...

[chuckles]

But we're not.

- Honey.

- The pity is,

this isn't a very big job,

so there's not much room
for whatever.

There is a much bigger job
coming up.

- You hear that, hon?

- Yes, but, Father, you said

that our bid was fair.

- And I meant that.

- So why don't you
be fair to us?

- Honey, they got
these overruns.

- Well, I know that,
but they're not our over--

they're not our overruns.

- Jesus, Em.
Emmeline: What?

- I'm sorry, Father.

- Let's have some more tea.

Sister?

[car horn beeping]

- Don't worry.
It'll be just fine.

- Hey.

I did it.

Your daddy did it.

- Whoo!
- Give me a hug.

Give me a kiss.
- [laughs]

- Give me a great big kiss.

Give your mom a kiss too.

Your daddy did it, buddy.

Your daddy did it.
Give me a hug.

Whoo!
Give me a kiss.

Father, I tell you,
that monsignor of yours

is one tough trader,

but I didn't back down a nickel.

Sabine, Justine,
why don't you go in

and get us some beers
and some sodas?

Daddy's gonna make a toast.

What's the matter with you?
I don't see a smile.

Huh?

You been giving the father
a hard time?

- No, no, not at all, Pete.

He's just scared because--

- Because what?

- Because I want to take him on
one of our little camping trips.

That's when we really study.

And I want him to stay overnight
at the rectory on Saturdays,

and he's afraid
you won't let him.

- Well, Father,
I got one question.

Will it help him to be
an altar boy quicker?

- For sure.

- Well, then, that's that.

- Can I take my .22?

Can I?
- Now, that's up to the father.

Here we go.

Have a cold one.
- Thank you, Pete.

- Now hold on.
Hold on.

This here's to me and your mom.

She was with me every minute.

And your sister for all
that nice typing she did.

But most of all to our church

for being so good
to me and mine.

- I--I'd like to get a picture.

- Oh.

[laughs]

- To the church.

- Okay, smile, everybody.

[camera shutter clicks]

[children talking and laughing]

[light music]

♪ ♪

- Robbie, reach for my chin.

Hold it up.

Now pull me to safety.

That's it.
Very good, Robbie.

♪ ♪

[boys laughing and shouting]

boy: Hey, get off me!

Hey, get off me!

[boys shouting]

- [whistles]

Hey!

[camera shutter clicks]

[laughing]

[boys shouting]

Okay, boys, let's settle down.

Now let us pray.

all: Our Father,
who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come,

thy will be done

on Earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day
our daily bread

and forgive us our trespasses.

- Now...

I want you to write down
the name

of anybody you've been bad to

and what you've done to them.

Only you and God will know
what you've written.

Never tell anyone your sins

except for God

and Father,

because Father is here
in God's place.

But never tell anyone else.

These are your sins,

and they are burning away.

[crickets chirping]

Robbie, where's Alex?

- He went--he went in
with Joseph.

- Oh.

Are you okay?

- I never went to bed
in a tent before.

- Well, do you think
you can go to sleep?

- I'll--I'll try.

- You want some help?

- I think so.

- Is there room for two
in there?

- Uh-huh.

Aubert: Here, hold the light.

Justine: I bet
you're setting up that altar

all wrong.

I bet I'd learn it
faster than you.

- You would not.

- I learn faster than you
in school.

- That's school.
You're a girl.

They don't take girls.

- That's not fair.
Why not?

Girls are just as good.

- 'Cause you don't have
a pee-pee.

- I do too.

- You don't have a pee-pee
on the outside.

- Mine's just as good.

Robbie: No, it's not.
- Yes, it is!

- No, it's not!
Justine: Why not?

- 'Cause Father
can't play with yours.

- That's not fair.

I'm not gonna help you anymore,

and I'm not gonna help you
in school, either,

so there.

Help!
Mommy! Daddy!

Robbie:
And Justine made me so mad

when she pulled out--
pulled my altar apart

that I pushed her down
in the stream.

Aubert:
And then what happened, Robbie?

Robbie:
She ran and told Dad,

and he took the strap to me,

but it wasn't my fault.

Aubert: Oh, I understand.

It was wrong for your father
to do that.

[door creaks open]

Robbie?

Robbie: Yes, Father?

- Come on over to my side.
We'll talk.

[ominous music]

♪ ♪

Robbie: Mommy!

Mommy!

There's blood.

I'm bleeding!

Mommy!

Mommy, where are you?

- Robbie, what is it?

Oh, honey.

It's okay.

It is.
It's okay.

You know, it's--
it's something that you ate.

Does it hurt you?

- I don't know.

- Aww.

We'll go to St. Paul's tomorrow.

It's okay, I swear.

Come on.

- Well, we didn't find
anything internal,

so my guess is,
because of the rectal bruising,

he ate something
that he couldn't digest.

Does he ever swallow things

like plum pits
or peach pits or--

- Oh, yes.
Sometimes.

Emmeline:
We've been through all that.

Dr. Morgan: Well, why don't you
check on him tomorrow

and give me a call, okay?

- Okay.
- Hello, Father.

- Hello, Father.
- Is Robbie home?

- Go right on in.
He'll be so pleased to see you.

- Thank you.

[suspenseful music]

- Thanks for coming,
Dr. Morgan.

So nice for you
to come out on a Saturday.

[engine starts]

- [breathing heavily]

♪ ♪

[door opens]

♪ ♪

- Robbie.

♪ ♪

Hi.

I've got something for you.

♪ ♪

Are you okay?

Here.

This is for you.

For Sunday.

You're gonna be
serving Mass with me.

[door opens]

- Well, how nice.

Oh, Father, thank you.

Can you stay for some tea?

- Uh, no, um...

I've got to go.

- Oh.

- God bless you, Robbie.

Bye.

- Bye, Father.

[door slams]

Hey.

Aren't you going to open it?

[cross clatters on table]

- Man.

Easy.

It's nothing but
an itty-bitty cut.

Now, just relax, son.

You're gonna do just great.

- No, I'm not.

- It's getting late, son.
You got to get ready.

- No!

- Listen, son.

I know you're a bit fearful,

but we're all waiting
to be proud of you,

so you start moving now,
you hear?

[indistinct conversation]

Come on.

Come on.

Emmeline: Oh, please.
- Get up.

Emmeline: Oh, Pete.
Oh, please.

Pete, please don't.

Robbie, honey.
Listen.

We all know people
get a little scared

when they do something like this
for the first time,

but don't forget,
Father says you're his best boy.

Come on, you've got nothing
to be worried about.

- I know why he's scared.

It's his pee-pee.

- Justine.

- I bet his pee-pee went inside.

He has to have his pee-pee
on the outside

so Father can play with it.

I bet it went inside,

and that's why he's scared.

- What?
What are you talking about?

- Did you tell her that?

Did you make that up
about Father?

- I don't want to be
an altar boy!

- You shut up!
- I don't--

I don't want to be
an altar boy!

- I said shut up.
Robbie: I hate it!

Emmeline:
What are you talking about?

Robbie, come back.

Pete: Robbie!

♪ ♪

Robbie!

♪ ♪

[both panting]

- Did you make it up, son?

- [panting]

- Did you?

♪ ♪

Emmeline: Did Robbie say how
Father touched him?

Pete: He didn't actually
tell me anything.

- I want him arrested.

I mean it.

- Have him arrested?

- Yeah.
- Are you crazy?

He's a priest.

- Oh, yeah, he's a priest.

He's a priest who hurt my son.

- Wait a minute.
Wait just a minute.

All we know is that maybe--

- Oh, all we know is that maybe

he played with his pee-pee.

- That's right.

- And what was
all the bleeding about?

- Em, the doctor told you that
could've been from anything.

- What is wrong with you?

- Nothing is wrong with me.

I just don't--

[banging at door]

Hey, Daniel.

Maddie, come on in.

Em, honey, why don't you

make a fresh pot of coffee?

- That'd go down real well.

- Sure.

- Sit down.
- Oh, thanks, Pete.

- Bit of a mess in here.

Em only cleans up at the house.

- Switch your shift, Maddie?

I thought you worked mornings.

- Oh, I--I took the day off.

- Wish to hell I could do that.

[chuckles]

Hey, um--
- Well, we were just--

- Go ahead, honey.
- No, no, you go.

It's...

- Uh, Pete, listen.

Did Robbie tell you
about the other altar boys?

Whether Father
did anything to them?

- What?

Joseph?

- What'd he do to him?

- Well, he wouldn't say.

What did Robbie tell you?

- Well, we know that he--

- No, we don't.

[scoffs]

She wants to have him arrested.

- Oh, Em.

Uh, well, we don't know for sure

that he did anything yet.

Why don't we talk to him?

You and me, Pete.

Talk to him till he talks to us.

- Now, you just stop that.

He's our priest.

- Let's go to the bishop.

- The bishop?

- Yes, the bishop.

He's in charge of him, isn't he?

The bishop?

- Em, if we're gonna go
to the bishop,

we got to have
a whole lot more to tell him

than we got to tell him
right now.

I think we got to take this
one step at a time.

Now, what's the rush?

The boys aren't
going back there.

They're safe.

We know where to get him.

First off, I think
we got to get more information

out of the boys,

and then we go to
the monsignor, not the bishop.

I know the monsignor.

We go to the monsignor,
and we ask him.

Emmeline: I don't believe this.

We are talking about Robbie,

and we're talking about Joseph.

- Em, I think
that Pete's got a point.

I mean, what will we
say to them?

- Will you go
to the police with me?

- No.

- Will you go
to the bishop with me?

- Not without more to tell him.

I can't stop you going
by yourself.

- Sure.

"Are you a widow,
Miss Guitry?"

"No."

"Are you separated,
Miss Guitry?"

"No."

"Is your husband traveling?"
"No."

"Is your husband the boy's
real father, Miss Guitry?"

"Yes."

"Well, where is he?"

He wants more information,
Your Excellency!

You don't need the diocese job
that bad.

- Just--let's--here.

I think we ought
to talk about this later, okay?

Uh, Pete's got to go to work.

I got to go to work.

We all got stuff to do.

Come on, honey.
Let's roll out.

Pete.

[door clatters open]

- Hey, what if there are others?

Huh?

God damn.

[weeping]

"Monsignor Beauvais,

"I must inform you
that a terrible act

"has been committed
against my son

"by our parish priest,
Father Aubert.

"I believe that he has
molested my son

"and possibly other altar boys
from our church.

"It is only right
that you remove him

from Saint Simon's
immediately."

- Aubert, Frank.
Anything wrong?

- No, no.

The bishop's considering
Father Aubert

for a diocesan award.

Apparently, he's worked miracles

in--what is it?

Saint Simon?
- Mm-hmm.

- I'm trying to recall his face.

My mind's useless this morning.

You know him, Paul?

- Oh, not really, Monsignor.

Been years
since we've seen each other.

- Hmm.

Seminary, so-so.

Saint Anne's, 1974.

Transferred.
Hmm.

Transferred 1976, 1978.

House of Affirmation.

Is he a drinker?

- Not that I'm aware of,
Monsignor.

- Transferred.

Why are you taking Father away?

Transferred.

That will be all, Father.

- Yes, Monsignor.

[lock clicks]

[tense music]

♪ ♪

- Thanks.

♪ ♪

Good morning, Father.
- Good morning, Monsignor.

♪ ♪

- Oh, good morning, Monsignor.

- Good morning, Frank.

[exhales]

Mmm.

That's better.

Frank, I'm afraid I have
some bad news.

- Bad news, Monsignor?

- The bishop has decided not
to consider you for the award.

Now, let me explain.

The award would be
for work you did

while you were at Saint Simon's.

- Mm-hmm.

- But the bishop feels
it's time for you to move on.

- Move on?
I don't understand.

- Move on--the bishop feels...
- Why would the bishop--

- You're ripe
for a larger parish,

and he feels it'd be awkward

to give you an award
for work you did

at a parish you're leaving.

- Well, I'm very happy
where I am, Monsignor.

- I'm sure you are.
Of course you are, Frank.

And you'll be very happy
where you're going.

- When would this be,
Monsignor?

- Soon.

Quite soon.

After you spend some time
at the House of Affirmation.

The bishop feels that any priest

who's being promoted

should take his post...

renewed.

Refreshed.

Don't you agree?

You'll enjoy
the House of Affirmation, Frank.

It works miracles on the spirit.

- I'm--I'm sorry, Monsignor?

- The House of Affirmation.

- You want me to go?

- The bishop wants you to go.

Now.

- But I have confession
Saturday.

There's masses Sunday.

There's a confirmation,
two first Communions--

- It's in the bishop's hands,
Frank.

- God bless you, Monsignor.

- Let us hope so.

[sighs]

Emmeline: Are we going to
church tomorrow or not?

- The way I'm feeling right now,

I'd just as soon
burn the place down.

- Fine.

Then that's that.

- Now hold on.

I could change my mind tomorrow.

Emmeline: When?

An hour before church?

No, we can't put it off anymore.

- How come all of a sudden,

I got to make up both our minds?

How come you got nothing
to say to me?

- What do you want me to say?

[exhales sharply]

It's not the same for me.

You know that.

You know that.

It's here,

and it's here.

It's here.

I have been going there

since I was four years old.

Communion, confession,
confirmation,

I met you there.

I feel in love with you there.

I married you there.

They were all baptized there.

[sobs]

I hate it.
I just hate it.

I hate the idea.
I hate it.

I hate it.

I know he is right there.

I know he hurt my son.

I know he's bad.
I know it.

I know it.
I know it.

I know it.

Oh, God help me.

[crying]

I can't desert God...

over a bad priest.

I mean, you do whatever
you have to do.

I can't.

[solemn organ music]

♪ ♪

- Good morning.

I'm Monsignor Beauvais.

The bishop has asked me
to tell you

that Father Aubert

has suddenly taken ill

and will be on
a brief recuperative leave.

[congregation murmuring]

The bishop wants me
to remind you

that the spreading of gossip
is a sin.

Father Vinton.

- In the name of the Father

and of the Son

and of the Holy Spirit.

all: Amen.

- He's gone, for Christ's sake.

What do you want to go
pester the Monsignor for?

- I want to know
if he's coming back.

Come on.

Monsignor.

- Guitry, how are you?

Peter.

And the Broussards.

What can I do for you,
Mrs. Guitry?

- Well, I wanted to ask you,
Monsignor,

um, is Father Aubert
coming back?

- Well, we'll have to see
how he mends.

- So you say,
if he gets better,

he's coming back?

- That's up to the bishop,
Mrs. Guitry.

- Mm.

- Forgive me, Mrs. Guitry.

I have a confirmation
20 miles from here.

[engine starting]

- We'll just go to the bishop.

- Good afternoon, Mrs. Guitry.
- Oh!

- Mrs. Broussard.

And your friends are?

- Mrs. Basile.
- How do you do?

- M--Mrs. Arnaud.

- Hello.

- I thought the bishop
was seeing us.

- The bishop is extremely busy
this afternoon, Mrs. Guitry.

I'm here in his place.

Now, as I understand it,

you want the bishop
to assure you

that Father Aubert will not
be returning to Saint Simon's,

and you advise the bishop
that it would be...

"dangerous"--
I use your word--

to permit Father Aubert
to be around young boys.

Perhaps if you could
explain a bit further.

- He did sinful things
to our boys.

Beauvais: Sinful things?

Like what?

What did your boys tell you?

- They are too scared
to tell us anything.

Beauvais: Then how do you know?

- Because of the way
they behave.

- "Because of the way
they behave."

I'm shocked.

Here you all are,

sensible, intelligent women.

Catholic women who know

that gossip and innuendo
are sins,

and yet you're ready,
without a shred of evidence,

to ruin the career
of your own priest?

- There is evidence.

- Can you just send him
someplace else?

- That's not up to me,
Mrs. Broussard.

It's up to the bishop.

- When can we see him, then?

- Frankly, Mrs. Guitry,
given what you've told me,

I don't think the bishop would
agree to talk with you.

Of course, I will ask.

[instrumental music]

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

Delambre: Frank.

- Paul.

- How are you, Frank?

- Never better.

Never better.

Paul, it's--
it's great to see you.

Oh, what is it?
Five years, huh?

- [laughs]

Closer to eight.

The diocese sent me
to talk to you.

- Oh, my new parish?

- The monsignor thinks--

and--and the bishop thinks

that you better forget
about that...

for now, anyways.

There's been some rumors, Frank.

And there's been a complaint,

like before.

- Oh, is that why they sent you?

- Frank...

would you like me to hear
your confession?

- [scoffs]

[laughing]
My confession.

You?

Tell them to send a priest.

I am not a misfit or a criminal.

I am a priest, and I want
to talk to a priest.

You tell them that.
- Fine.

- You tell them they sent
the wrong man.

- The diocese will be in touch.

- We're not the same.

- Yes, we are, Frank.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

- What's the matter?

Oh, Robbie.

I'm sorry, honey.

It's all right.
It's all right.

- And I'm saying, one thing has
nothing to do with the other.

It's not the first time
he got a few Ds.

- What?

Two Ds, two Fs.

- What's the bishop
supposed to do,

coach him in math?

The bishop's got nothing
to do with it.

- Father has got something
to do with it.

- Father is gone,
for God's sake.

Emmeline: Well, then why don't
they tell us that?

- You just went over there, Em.

- I went over there months ago.

- Well, that proves it.

He's gone.

[sighs]

Honey.

I don't want to fight.

- Oh, no.
You sure don't.

[suspenseful music]

♪ ♪

[clattering]

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

Robbie.

- He's looking for me.

♪ ♪

[crowd murmuring approval]

[applause]

- Oh, Pete,
we're gonna miss him.

- You go on ahead.
Pete: Bishop!

We have to talk to you, Bishop.
- Mr. and Mrs. Guitry, please.

- Where's he going?
- He's after our son.

- Mrs. Guitry, the bishop
is on a very tight schedule.

- We're coming to him for help.
- We need your help.

Beauvais:
Mrs. Guitry, please calm down.

As I've explained
to you before--

- We don't mean him any harm.
He's our bishop.

We're asking him for help.

Beauvais: Given what he knows,
Mr. Guitry,

the bishop doesn't see any way
he can help you.

- Well, then, who the hell can,
God damn it?

Tell me, God damn it.

- May God forgive you.

- Bless me, Father,
for I have sinned,

and it has been five days
since my last confession.

- Please tell me your sins.

- At my last confession,

and the one before that,

and a lot before that,

I didn't confess to all my sins.

I didn't confess to my hate.

- Please go on.

- I hate the priest...

but even more,
I hate the monsignor.

I hate the bishop.

How could God forgive them

for what they've done to us?

They've ruined our lives.

They've betrayed us.

priest: Do you believe
the church betrayed you?

- Yes.

priest: Do you want
to leave the church?

- No...

but I think it has
left me, Father.

I hope we can afford
this lawyer.

Pete.

Here.

Davis: Friends, I want to
do right by you,

but the trouble is,

it's your boy's word
against the church.

A case like this,

it would really tilt things
your way,

you weren't alone.

Now, do you happen to know

any of the other parents?

- Of course.

- Well, good.
Good.

Now...

what were you looking for?

- Well, first off, to make sure
he don't come back.

- Mm-hmm.

- And then maybe even get him

out of the church.

- Yes, yes, and some kind
of help for Robbie.

A doctor.
- Good.

- [exhales sharply]

Davis: Now, after I've done
some homework,

we'll talk about damages.

- Damages?

- Money.

For your suffering,

and more especially
for your boy's suffering.

- Is this gonna be
real expensive?

- I lose...

all I charge you
is out-of-pocket money.

I win--
I'll take a little bitty taste

of what I get for you.

Hmm?

Now, you folks go on home

and, uh, take it easy.

Leave everything to me.

Dave Davis is on your side.

And remember:

David did beat Goliath.
Hmm?

- Thank you.

♪ ♪

- [clears throat]

♪ ♪

- What is it?

- Your Excellency, they're here.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

Mr. Hummel: Your Excellency,

as you know, the diocese

is only one of the defendants
in this case.

The insurers, whom we represent,
are the others,

and the insurers believe
there is simply no choice.

Settle,

and settle now.

- In other words,
the insurers credit

these fantastic accusations?

- With nine families?

With nine sons
bringing this action?

Yes.

- The bishop is not
completely convinced

that these families--

devout Catholic families
one and all,

will pursue this to the point
of confronting

their own church.

- So you're not willing
to settle now?

- We feel at this point,

such a step would be--

- Ridiculous.

- Premature.

- Monsignor,
under the diocese's contract

with my company,
in the event

that you reject our advice
in an action against you,

we are not responsible
for defending you.

- Monsignor, I am
more than willing

to accept that responsibility.

- Or for any damages.

In addition, should you choose
to defend this case,

my company
and my colleagues' companies

would be forced to cancel
the diocese's insurance

against certain types
of liability.

- Well, gentlemen,

what do you suggest?

- If you could just
give us a moment, please.

Okay.

Shall we all agree, then,

without acknowledging liability,

that the boys could
begin therapy immediately

and that we should reimburse
for that therapy?

- Up to a negotiated
cutoff date.

- Up to a negotiated
cutoff date,

but these reimbursements
will be made

only in the event
of a settlement.

Now, let's talk
about what we want.

First, to hold harmless
all the defendants.

Second, not to mention
any specific acts

by any of the defendants
in the settlement.

Third, complete secrecy

concerning every element
of the settlement.

Fourth, a pledge not to bring
any future action

against any of the defendants.

Fifth, since all the defendants
are held harmless,

the question of removing
the priest from the church

or disciplining him
or reassigning him

cannot be part
of any settlement.

- It would be proper
to assure them

that their children
are out of harm's way.

- If you indicate
by word or deed

that you have taken any action

or intend to take any action
regarding this priest,

you will have acknowledged
your liability.

- These people are suffering.

- Their settlement
will pay for their suffering.

- The church should
offer them solace.

- If you offer them solace,
you are rejecting our advice

and acknowledging
your liability.

- [clears throat]

- It's like this,
Your Excellency:

offer them solace

or keep your diocese.

- We are not lying.

We are not dissembling.

We are--
- We are buying their silence.

- We are doing exactly
what we do in the confessional.

We are keeping our sins
between ourselves and God.

- Our sins against
innocent children.

- Your Excellency,

nobody weeps more
for these children than I do,

but they will heal.

Their families will heal.

With God's help,
even this priest will heal.

But if we admit this--

if we acknowledge this--

if we parade his sins
before the world,

this diocese will not heal.

It will wither and die,

and if this diocese dies,
a piece of the church dies,

a piece of holy mother church,

a piece of God...

And no child,

no family,

no priest is worth that.

- We're still buying
their silence.

- It's the only way
we can obtain it.

Your Excellency,
I need your permission

to instruct the lawyers
to pursue an immediate

and secret settlement.

[somber string music]

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

- "Prayers on the left.

"The left, Robbie.

"Hold up your left hand, Robbie.

Take the veil off the chalice."

And then I'd do
the little pitchers.

I mean, crusets.

Cruets, cruets.

"There you go, Father.

You're all dressed now."

♪ ♪

- Now, when you're done reading,

you all sign right down there
at the bottom,

and tomorrow morning,
your boys'll get $40,000,

and once a year
for the next four years,

they'll get themselves
another $40,000.

$200,000, my friends, U.S.

- Wait.
No, wait.

There's nothing in here
about Father.

No, there's nothing in here
about what he did.

There's nothing in here
about what they're gonna do.

- Now, Em, there's nothing
to be worried about.

The bishop himself told me.

- No, we want it in here.

Davis: The church figures
that this is

church business, period.

- What about the other families?

- Well, I can't breach
any confidences, Daniel,

but let me just say that I have

seven sets of signatures
on that thing,

and I am now waiting
for the eighth and ninth.

- No, this is what
it's all about--it--

getting rid of him.

- It seems to me that if this
is so important to you,

maybe you'd just better say no.

Withdraw your action.

What the hell?
It's only $200,000.

Oh, now, now, I'm sorry.

Take it easy.

Why don't you folks
go on home and--

and talk it over, hmm?

Now, uh...

keep this in mind.

Your boy's getting treatment.

You'll be paid back
as soon as you sign.

Father ain't around.

Your friends are going along,

and $200,000 buys
a lot of peace of mind.

All right,
I'll see you all later.

Oh, and another thing.

Nothing to worry about,
but the church is--

is kind of set on paying
everybody at the same time,

sort of "one for all,
all for one" kind of situation.

You take care now.

Emmeline: That lawyer
didn't get us what we wanted.

[sighs]

- He said that the bishop
told him--

- Why won't the bishop tell us?

- Now, Em, you know--

- I--I know.
He's too busy.

And Monsignor is too busy.

Every damn priest in my church

is too busy to give us
a little comfort

for what one of their own
did to our son

and too busy to tell us
whether they're gonna stop him

from doing it again.

They don't care about us.

They just want it over with.

[festive music]

- I want to fight.
I want to fight.

- Girls can't fight.

- Come on, we're all gonna
have another piece of cake.

- Can we have candles?
- We did that.

- And we're gonna do it again.

♪ ♪

- I'm sorry to
bring it up here, Pete,

but we want to take it,

and we're near broke,
and we need that money,

I swear it.

- It's the waiting

and trying to hang tough.

It's hurting my boy.

All the boys.

♪ ♪

- Can we talk about it later?

Tomorrow, maybe?

I ain't stalling you.

- Click, click.

[somber music]

♪ ♪

Click, click.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

man: I can understand
your frustration,

but that's what children do.

They don't talk.
They act.

It's way too soon to expect him

to talk about anything to you.

- He's talking to you,
isn't he?

- Well, actually, no.

In a case like this,
with a child,

you don't want to force him
to relive everything,

so you use another technique

to find out
what exactly happened,

to separate the imaginary
and the embellished

from the truth,

but you've got to do it
at his speed,

so he doesn't feel threatened.

It's not like confession.

- But how come
he's not getting better?

- Maybe you'd better try
a little harder to convince him

that Father's not coming back.

- Well, they won't say
that he isn't.

Why don't they put him
in prison?

- Em, we've been through this--

- But that's where he belongs,

the son of a bitch.

Vinton:
We commend our sister Caroline

to you, O Lord.

Beloved teacher,
servant of your church,

devoted friend
to all who knew her.

May she live on
in your presence.

In your mercy and love,
forgive whatever sins

she may have committed

through human weakness.

We ask this
through Christ, our Lord.

Amen.

Let us pray.

Father, God of all consolation,

in your unending love
and mercy for us,

you turn the darkness of death

into the dawn of new life.

Show compassion to your people
in their sorrow.

Be our refuge and our strength.

- Father.

- To lift us from the darkness
of this grief...

- Father.

- To the peace and light

of your presence.

Listen to our prayers.

Look with love on your...

people.

- You stay right there, Father.

You come near,
I'm bound to hurt you.

♪ ♪

Good-bye, Father.

God help you.

♪ ♪

- God bless you.

♪ ♪

- The DA's office
is supposed to be here.

Third floor.

[typewriter keys clacking]

[phone ringing]

- Sit down, Mr. Guitry.

Pete: I can't.

- Well, then stand still.

You're making me dizzy.

I've been a prosecutor
for nine years,

and in those nine years,

I've taken but one
child molesting case to court,

and I lost that one,

and the defendant
wasn't a priest.

- But there's nine boys.

- I don't see
anybody here but you,

which means there's
just one boy: yours.

Now, tell me something,
Mr. Guitry.

When you first heard it,
did you believe it?

Yeah, well, neither will a jury.

Take this.

Get on with your lives.

[muttering]

Molly.
Ken Loring.

Is Claude there?

Hiya, Claude.

No, I'm not prosecuting
one of your clients, thank God.

I want to send you some people,
name of Guitry.

They got themselves a problem.

I thought maybe you could
help 'em out.

I'll tell 'em.

His name is Claude Fortier,

and he's one s--

well, I'm not gonna
spoil it for ya.

- I push this.

[keys clacking]

Like this,

and then I push this.

- Now, Molly, how many times
I got to tell you?

Don't make the clients
do your work.

[laughs]

You must be Robbie.

I'm Claude Fortier.

- What's a client?

- Well, you're a client.

Clients are what we lawyers
call our customers,

the way a doctor would
call his customers patients.

Yeah, it makes us sound
real unselfish,

like a public servant
or something.

Mr. Guitry.
- Hello.

- Mrs. Guitry.
- Hello.

- Well, come on, client.
Let's go.

[chuckling]

You too.
Come on.

Sit over there, Robbie.

Yeah, up there.

Come on.
Sit down.

So just what is it
you want me to do?

- Help us put him in prison.

- That's what you want?

- Can you do it?

- Oh, yes, I can do it,
Mrs. Guitry.

- How?

- Well, you fire Dave Davis,

and you hire me.

I sue, but I don't settle,

no matter what they offer.

I go to trial.
I win.

I take a transcript
of the trial to the DA.

He goes to trial.
He wins.

Father Aubert goes to prison.

That's how.

- All right.
- Yeah.

- Do it.
- Yeah.

- Hmm.

What about you, Robbie?

You want Father
to go to prison?

You know how you send a man
to prison?

- Dad says I have to tell
a lot of people

what he did to me.

- That's right.

Now, can you do that?

You sure?

You tell your dad yet?

Your mom?

What about this doctor
you've been seeing?

But you want to tell
a whole lot of other people?

Strangers, is that right?

[chuckling]

So...

still want to fire Dave Davis
and hire me?

- Could we have a minute?
- Yeah.

[both speaking quietly]

- Take the settlement.

- We don't want that damn
hush money.

- Now, listen, hush money's
better than no money at all.

- No, it ain't.

We can't.

It's like saying to them,
"Okay, go right ahead.

"Do whatever you want to my son.
Cripple him.

"Destroy him.
Whatever you want.

"I won't say a word.
I won't press charges.

"I won't lie awake at night
listening to him

"locking the doors
and the windows.

"I'll just take your money
and forget all about it.

Just pay me, and my son'll be
innocent all over again."

We can't.

We just can't.

- Okay.

Molly, draft a letter
to Dave Davis.

You know the form.

And fix your face.

We're about to sue God.

[laughing]

[machinery rumbling]

- You want to cut that, Pete?

[machinery rumbling]

[engine switches off]

Me and Father was thinking

that today would be a good day
to talk to ya,

me being your friend

and him being your priest
and all.

Actually, me and Father
and the rest of the families,

you know what I'm saying?

I could use one of them.

I don't get
into anybody's business,

but me and Father

and the rest of the families,

well, we heard you went
and you hired

this commie atheist,

and you put yourself
in his hands.

And I got to say to you, Pete,

and the rest of
the families'll back me up,

and Father'll back me up.

Right, Father?
- Right.

- It's cutting all our throats.

Yours too, Pete.

You're making us all bleed.

- Is that right, Father?

- I'm talking to you, Pete.

- Are you talking to me, Father?

Or are you just here
to hold his hand?

- You're out of line, Pete.

- Father, I'm waiting for you
to back him up.

- The church is...

deeply concerned.

- What about you, Daniel?

Are you "deeply concerned"?

[scoffs]

Yeah, I guess you must be.

You and all the other families.

$200,000 is a lot of money.

- You got no right
to keep our boys

from getting that money.

- I ain't keeping your boys
from getting it, Daniel.

I just ain't taking it for mine.

- You live here!

You ignorant,
mule-ass son of a bitch!

Here!

With me and Maddie

and Grace and Bob
and Lucille and Arthur

and all the rest of us.

And with Father
and with the monsignor

and with the bishop.

What the hell's wrong with you?

You keep doing
what you're doing,

you might as well move
to goddamn Russia.

- [laughs]

You ain't deeply concerned,
Daniel.

You're scared.

You're so scared,
you're pissing down your leg.

I can smell it from here.

- [grunting]

[groans]

[coughs]

[panting]

- You being my friend and all,

tell me something.

How come you and all the other
people that live here

just like I live here--

how come you aren't
backing me up?

[machinery rumbling]

- Oh, afternoon, Dave.

- I got a good mind
to file a formal complaint

with the bar association.

They don't like lawyers

who steal other lawyers' clients
in mid-case.

I don't know what the hell
you promised them, Claude,

but you lied.

I got 'em a fair deal.

- Oh, I know you did.

I did wonder why
they came to me.

- Because they're greedy.

- Ah, that must be it.

I'll see you around, Dave.

- It won't work.

The diocese made a deal,

and they're sticking with it.

- Is that a fact?

Well, I'll see you around, Dave.

- [sighs]

Well, hello there.

- Huh?

That's not him.

- The address.
It's the diocese.

- Oh.

- Five years ago.
- Yeah.

- Charges dropped
by complainant.

- Yeah, who is...

- Jane and...
both: John Doe.

- On behalf of their minor son,

John Doe, Jr.

- Yeah.

The charges were against?

- A young priest named...

both: Father Delambre.

- [laughs]

Well, well, well.

Yeah.

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

- I don't want you to steal
anything, Father,

but I'm sure the monsignor
has a copy machine, right?

♪ ♪

- I want to help.

I know the harm he can do.

I want to help.
Tell me what else I can do.

Just tell me.

- There's nothing else.

- I can't do it.

- Oh, you're wrong, Father.

You could find Father Aubert's
diocese file.

But if you can't, I'll find
John and Jane Doe

and their son John, Jr.,

who is still a minor,

and I'll make you the defendant.

- He can't help himself.

- Neither can I, Father.

[engine rumbling]

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

- Holy shit.

- Yeah.

Holy shit.

[chuckles]

♪ ♪

Gentlemen.
Claude Fortier.

- Mr. Fortier.
Pleasure.

- [chuckles]

- May I introduce Mr. Poujade,

who represents the diocese.

- Hello.

- And Mr. Hummel, who represents

the lead insurer.

- Hello.

- My executive assistant,

Ms. Landry.

Over here, honey.

- Now, we're having tea,

but if you'd prefer coffee

or something stronger,

Father'd be happy to oblige.

- Coffee, please, for two.

Black.

- I, uh...

I thought this was supposed
to be informal.

- Oh, it is.

Otherwise, I'd be taping.

[chuckles]

- [clears throat]

- In your call to the monsignor,
counselor,

you indicated that your clients
were prepared

to file their own action
against the church

and were seeking
drastically more satisfaction

than that negotiated
by Mr. Davis.

Is that correct?

- That's correct.

- You also indicated
to the monsignor

that your clients
were taking this step

because you had come by

certain new
and, in your words,

"appallingly damaging"
information.

- Obviously.
- [clears throat]

- You see, the one thing--
- Excuse me.

Your coffee.

- Father Aubert
has been molesting boys

for ten years now.

You people not only knew it
and did nothing about it.

You kept putting him
where he could molest more boys.

- [stammers]

That defies credibility.

- Yes, it does,

but it's true.

Swear to God.

Isn't that right, Monsignor?

- I instruct you
not to answer that question.

- Uh...

if we assume this information
is true,

which we do not,

what do you propose?

- Give my client $750,000.

Make sure Aubert goes to prison.

- You mean have him arrested?

- Or get him to turn himself in,

plead guilty to whatever
he's charged with.

- If you'll excuse us
for a moment.

Monsignor?

- If you do, there'll be
no trial and no publicity.

If you don't, we'll sue you,

and the DA'll indict him.

He'll have two trials.

Nothing but publicity.

- Uh, we'd like to think
about this.

- Well, I wouldn't.

- Good.

- Come on, Molly.

They don't need us.

Beauvais: We'll be in touch,
Mr. Fortier.

- [laughing]

I'm sure you will.

[laughing]

- Father?

- Oh, Monsignor.

Forgive my hands.

- I envy you.

I always prayed
for a green thumb.

An unanswered prayer.

The bishop would like you
to perform a small service

for the church.

- Of course, Monsignor.

- The bishop would like you
to surrender to Kenneth Loring.

He's in the district attorney's
office.

And plead guilty to any charge

Mr. Loring decides to bring.

The charge, as I'm sure
you've guessed,

is the sexual abuse of a minor.

- I don't abuse minors.

Who, the boys?
My boys?

- Father.

- I love my boys.

- They are not your boys.

- Oh, yes, they are.

Children belong to people
who love them the most,

and nobody can love them
the way I do,

and if you think
what I do with...

Monsignor, I give them
all my love.

All of God's love.

Can their parents do that?

Hmm?
Can they?

No.

They neglect them.

They beat them.

But if Monsignor wants me
to surrender

to the district attorney

and plead guilty for letting
God's love flow through me,

then I'll do that right now.

I'll do that this minute.

- The bishop wants you
to surrender

to Mr. Loring, Father.

The bishop.

The bishop would like
to avoid a trial,

as I'm sure you would.

- A trial, Monsignor?

Are you going to
have me arrested?

- The families are.

- God bless you, Monsignor.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

- Come on, Robbie.
Get up.

Attaboy.

Yeah.

You want to sit
over there, please?

Now, this is a courtroom,

and this is a witness stand.

Now, Robbie,
you're the chief witness.

You're the most important
person here.

Now, I want you
to get yourself ready.

All right, make a fist.

Come on, make a fist.

Open it.

Again, again.

That's it.

You get all that blood
working in there.

Now take some deep breaths.

That's it.

Come on.
In, out.

In--and sit up straight.

You got a hundred people
out there watching you,

and don't fidget.

The jury'll think you're lying.

Over here's the judge.

Now right here is a big table.

There's six lawyers
sitting here.

The first one's getting up now,

and he's coming over to you.

Are you ready?

Yeah.

Robbie, your lawyer
just helped you tell us

what Father Aubert did to you.

Now I'm gonna help you tell us.

Okay?

What did Father Aubert
do to you?

The court's waiting, Robbie.

- He played with me.

- How?

- With my...

- We didn't hear you.

- With my pee-pee.

- More than once?

- Sure.

- How did he play
with your pee-pee?

- He touched it.

- Face the jury.

You can't tell us
or show us how?

Now, what else did he do?

Robbie: He made me
play with his pee-pee.

- More than once?

- All the--a lot.

- How?

"Now let the record indicate
that the witness made a gesture

"whose meaning is not clear
to the court.

Proceed, counselor."

What else did he do?

- He--he--he put--

he put his pee-pee down there.

- Down where?

- Where you do number two.

- More than once?

- Yes.

- What else did he do?

- He made me kiss it.

- Kiss what?

- His pee-pee.

- More than once?

- Yes.

- What else?

- He took pictures.

- May I remind the court
that no pictures

have been introduced
in evidence,

nor has anyone
besides this witness

testified to the existence
of any pictures.

Robbie, do you know
the difference between lying

and telling the truth?

- Yes.

Fortier: What is lying?

- It's when you
make something up.

Fortier: Did you ever
make anything up?

Don't look here.

Did you ever make anything up?

The jury can't hear you.

- Yes.

Fortier: What did you make up?

- I made up
that I killed the bear

or an alligator.

Sometimes a wolf.

Fortier: What else?

Face front.

Don't look here.

Okay, okay,

okay, okay.

Okay, you can look
at me now, Robbie.

Did you ever make up anything
at school?

- Sometimes, I guess.

About grades.
- Yeah.

What about your sister?

Did you ever make up anything
about her?

- Only when she's mean to me.

- Ah.

Did you ever make up anything

to tell Father at confession?

- Only if I didn't do
anything real bad.

- Yeah.

Now, Robbie,

do you know what your pee-pee
looks like?

Good.

Now I want you to tell us

what Father Aubert's pee-pee
looks like.

- What?

- Tell us.

You played with it.
You kissed it.

You had it down there,
or so you say.

So tell us what Father's pee-pee
looks like.

Tell us.
- God damn it, Fortier.

You can't--
- Tell us!

- [crying]
- You can't, can you?

Because you don't know, do you?

You made it all up.

Like the wolf and the alligator

and your grades
and your confession.

Didn't you make it all up?
- It's true!

It's true!
- Oh, it is?

Oh, then why can't you tell us
what his pee-pee looks like?

Come on.
Tell the truth, Robbie.

You made it all up, didn't you?
Come on!

- [crying]

- It's okay.
Shh.

- He can't do that in court.

- [weeping]

- And there are five more
lawyers just waiting

their chance at him.

- [sobs]

- Baby, shh.

- [weeping]

- It's all right.
It's all right, honey.

It's all right.
It's all right.

[toys clattering]

- Daddy!

[toys crashing]

- [grunting]

- What the hell do you think
you're doing?

Drop it.
Drop it.

Get out of my way, Em.
Let go!

Let go, or I'll
break your damn arm.

Let go!

- [crying]
- Get in here.

Go ahead, cry.

Cry all you want to!
- Pete.

Pete: Cry.
Cry all you want to.

- Pete.
- You--you shut up.

[shouting]
Cry--I'll show you crying.

You're gonna cry so loud,

they're gonna hear you in hell.

Get up!
Get on your goddamn feet.

God damn it.
Get up.

On the sink.
Grab it!

Now take your pants down.
- [crying]

Take your pants down!

You get 'em down!

- [sobbing]

- [crying]
Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.
I'm sorry.

[both crying]

- I'm sorry, Robbie.
- [crying]

- I'm sorry, son.

It's just, everything
looks so bad.

- [sobbing]

I can tell 'em--
- It's not your doing.

And I know it's not
your doing, son.

I'm sorry.
God forgive me.

I'm sorry.
- [sobbing]

[both crying]

- I can tell 'em, Dad.

I can tell 'em all about it.

- I know you can, son.

I know you can,
but it's a bad idea.

- Why, Dad?

I'm not afraid.

- You'll get hurt, son,

and I'm afraid for you.

- Why, Dad?
You're brave.

You're like me.

You're brave.

[both crying]

[sweeping instrumental music]

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

- Put your hand on the Bible.

♪ ♪

Raise your right hand.

♪ ♪

Do you swear to tell the truth,

the whole truth,
and nothing but the truth,

so help you God?

♪ ♪

- I do.