Original subtitles

PREVIOUSLY ON "THE GUARDIAN"...

WE PROVIDE QUALITY LEGAL REPRESENTATION

AND ADVOCACY ASSISTANCE TO CHILDREN

WHO ARE ABUSED, NEGLECTED, OR OTHERWISE AT RISK.

THERE ARE NO SECOND CHANCES HERE.

YOU SCREW UP WITH A KID WHO'S BEEN ABUSED,

AND YOU DON'T GET THAT CHANCE BACK.

IF I HADN'T RUN UP SOME HUGE SCHOOL LOANS,

I'D BE WORKING IN PUBLIC SERVICE.

MY FATHER ALWAYS TOLD ME NOT TO WORRY ABOUT MAKING MONEY,

BUT TO WORRY ABOUT MAKING A DIFFERENCE.

I THINK YOU'RE A SHARK. YOU JUST DON'T KNOW IT YET.

WHAT'S YOUR NAME?LAURIE SOLT.

THIS IS NOT MY WORLD.

I'M NOT SAYING IT'S ANY BETTER,

IT JUST HAS DIFFERENT RULES.

NICK, I JUST WAS EXPLAINING TO MR. SWANN AND HIS ASSOCIATES

THAT WE FEEL THE NEW TAX LAWS

COULD BE MANIPULATED TO BENEFIT SWANNTECH.

SON, DO YOU WANT TO MAKE PARTNER WITH THIS FIRM?

WHY WERE YOU 45 MINUTES LATE?

WHAT'D YOU DO? SOMETHING BAD?

GOT ARRESTED FOR DRUGS.

NICK, YOUR PROBATION OFFICERS ARE WAITING.

GOOD MORNING, MR. FALLIN.

IT'S MANDATORY.

SO, THEY TAKE A BUNCH OF MALE BABOONS, RIGHT?

AND THEY GIVE ONE ALPHA MALE A TON OF TESTOSTERONE.

THEY SHOOT IT INTO HIS AMYGDALA.

HIS WHAT?

HIS AMYGDALA. IT'S PART OF THE BRAIN.

CONTROLS AGGRESSION.

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

AND SO NOT ONLY DOES THIS ONE MALE BABOON

BECOME MORE AGGRESSIVE AND COMBATIVE,

BUT ALL THE OTHER MALE BABOONS' TESTOSTERONE LEVEL

ACTUALLY DECREASES.

NICK. JAKE. HEH.

SO WHAT?

I DON'T KNOW. I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING.

SO HE PUTS THE BASKET DOWN.

HE LOOKS AT THE BARTENDER AND SAYS,

"THAT'S FINE BY ME,

BUT WHICH ONE IS THE CHICKEN?"

FIRST TIME I'VE EVER SEEN YOU LAUGH.

THAT'S THE WORST JOKE I'VE EVER HEARD IN MY LIFE.

FINE, COME ON BACK IN, BUT JUST DON'T START IT.

THAT'S BETTER. BURTON FALLIN?

BURTON FALLIN? YEAH.

IT'S MY DUTY TO SERVE YOU A SUBPOENA.

EXCUSE ME?

IT'S RIGHT HERE IN MY BRIEFCASE.

WHERE ELSE WOULD I KEEP MY BRIEFS?

OH. BRIEFS.

ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

♪ OH, YEAH

♪ GET A PIECE OF THIS

♪ I GIVE YOU LOVE

NICHOLAS, TURN AROUND, SON.

DON'T LOOK OVER HERE. TURN AROUND.

THAT WAS YOU, HERB. THAT WAS YOU.

TOO MUCH TESTOSTERONE IN THE ALPHA MALE

MAKES THE OTHER MALES WEAKER.

RIGHT.

♪ LOOK, DON'T YOU BE

♪ DON'T BE HOLDIN' BACK

♪ I GOT THE GAME...

YOU MEN SURE WILL BE BOYS.

♪ I'VE GOT SOMETHING FOR YOU ♪

WOLFBOY?

FLANNER?

YOU SURE YOU'RE 18?

MAYBE.

MAYBE I'M SURE.

YOUNGER IS NICE.

HOW MUCH?

50.

50 TO START.

AAH.

PUT YOUR HANDS BEHIND YOUR BACK.

WAS IT GOOD FOR YOU?

I AM SENTENCING YOU TO 1,500 HOURS

OF COMMUNITY SERVICE,

USING YOUR SKILLS AS A CORPORATE ATTORNEY

TO WORK AS A CHILD ADVOCATE.

THE WOMAN'S BOYFRIEND CLAIMS THE BOY

DIDN'T UNDERSTAND HIS DUTY

TO TELL THE TRUTH UNDER OATH

AND DIDN'T TAKE THE PROCEEDINGS SERIOUSLY.

MR. FALLIN?

LAURIE SOLT.

GOOD MORNING, LAURIE.

HEY, JAMES.

WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?

I TOOK A VACATION.

NO WONDER THE CITY'S GONE TO HELL.

THERE'S A 16-YEAR-OLD BOY.

OK.

HE'S AT THE POLICE STATION.

HE WAS ARRESTED LAST NIGHT

FOR SOLICITING A MEMBER

OF THE PITTSBURGH POLICE DEPARTMENT.

AND?

AND I TALKED TO ALVIN MASTERSON.

HE WANTS YOU TO HANDLE IT.

LET'S GO.

I'M NICHOLAS FALLIN FROM C.L.S.

HEY, NICK FROM C.L.S.

I'M HERE TO TALK TO THE COPS

ABOUT GETTING YOU OUT.

OH, REALLY?

I THOUGHT YOU WERE STOPPING BY FOR TEA.

DON'T BE A SMART-ASS. I'M HERE TO HELP YOU.

NOT TOO PRETTY, HUH?

OH, DEAR. NOW NO ONE WILL ASK ME TO THE DANCE.

WELL, YOU, UH, YOU SOLICITED A COP.

I THINK HE ACTUALLY ENJOYED HITTING ME.

THE POLICE ARE WILLING TO RELEASE YOU

WITHOUT PRESSING CHARGES.

FIRST OFFENSE.

THE PROBLEM IS WHERE TO PLACE YOU,

EVEN JUST FOR THE NIGHT.

YOU'LL HAVE TO AGREE TO GO TO A GROUP SHELTER.

OK.

AND TO NOT RUN AWAY.

I RUN WHEN THEY WANT A PIECE OF ME.

WHO IS IT WANTS A PIECE OF YOU?

EVERYONE WANTS A PIECE OF ME.

AND IN THE SHELTER,

THEY'RE INCONSIDERATE ENOUGH

NOT TO EXPECT TO PAY FOR IT.

IF I TAKE YOUR CASE,

WILL YOU SHOW UP FOR THE COURT DATE?

MAYBE.

THEN I WON'T TAKE THE CASE.

YES, YOU WILL.

NO, I WON'T.

I MET WITH HIM, OK?

I DON'T WANT TO TAKE HIS CASE.

HE'S A GAY TEENAGER

WHOSE FATHER THREW HIM OUT OF THE HOUSE

WHEN HE CAME OUT.

HE'S BEEN IN AND OUT OF GROUP SHELTERS.

HE WAS ABUSED IN A COUPLE OF THEM.

KEPT RUNNING AWAY.

A FEW MONTHS AGO, I FINALLY FOUND A COUPLE

WHO WERE INTERESTED IN BEING HIS FOSTER PARENTS,

BUT THE JUDGE RULED AGAINST THEM.

THE COUPLE YOU FOUND. 2 MEN, RIGHT?

SOCIAL SERVICES AND THE JUVENILE COURT SYSTEM

OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY

ARE NOT EXACTLY JUMPING UP AND DOWN

TO PLACE ANY KID IN A GAY HOUSEHOLD.

YOU AND ALVIN THOUGHT I'D TAKE THE HIT.

WE LIVE HERE.

YOU'RE JUST PASSING THROUGH.

HE'S BEEN DRINKING.

I GOT HELD UP.

HE'S BEEN DRINKING.

THERE'S THIS MAN IN SCRANTON

WHO STOLE AN ENTIRE DINNER SERVICE

OF CHINA TRADE PORCELAIN

FROM THE WINTERTHUR MUSEUM IN DELAWARE

OVER MANY MONTHS

BY SHOVING THE PLATES DOWN THE FRONT OF HIS TROUSERS.

NOW, THERE'S A MAN WHO, I WOULD SAY,

HAD HIS PRIORITIES SCREWED UP, WOULDN'T YOU?

MR. DERWITT, I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

NAH. NEITHER DO I, REALLY.

WHAT ARE YOU DRINKING?

A BEER WOULD BE GREAT.

SODA WATER.

UH, CLARENCE, 2 BEERS FOR THESE GENTLEMEN.

JUST A SODA WATER.

DON'T TELL ME YOU'RE TAKING YOUR PROBATION SERIOUSLY.

MR. DERWITT, TOMORROW YOU'RE ON THE WITNESS STAND.

FOR US TO HAVE A CHANCE,

YOU NEED TO COME OFF AS CREDIBLE.

MR. FALLIN, I OWN ONE OF THE LARGEST COMPANIES IN THIS CITY,

AND I'M BEING SUED BY A MID-LEVEL MANAGER.

WHY SHOULD IT BE MY CREDIBILITY

THAT'S IN QUESTION?

BECAUSE YOU'RE IN A POSITION OF POWER,

AND WITH THESE SEXUAL HARASSMENT SUITS,

THAT COUNTS FOR A LOT.

YOU KNOW, IN ALL SPECIES,

IT'S THE FEMALE

WHO CHOOSES THE SEX PARTNERS.

THE ONLY DIFFERENCE WITH HUMANS

IS WOMEN FOLLOW UP WITH A LAWSUIT.

MR. DERWITT, AT LEAST TILL THE END OF THE TRIAL,

I SUGGEST YOU KEEP THAT PHILOSOPHY TO YOURSELF.

HEY, NICK?

THAT KID, THE RITTER BOY.

YEAH, HE'S A SMART-ASS.

TAKE IT SERIOUSLY.

YEAH, I AM.

NO, YOU'RE NOT.

YOU GOT SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT THE WAY I CONDUCT MY WORK?

LISTEN, I HAD A KID LIKE THIS BEFORE.

HE GOT KICKED OUT OF HIS HOUSE BECAUSE THE WAY HE WAS.

WAS?

HE WAS GAY. HE WAS HUSTLING.

I TRIED TO GET HIM TO STOP,

BUT HE GOT KNIFED BY A GUY

WHO PICKED HIM UP.

DIED ON THE STREETS.

GOOD KID. DIDN'T DESERVE TO GO LIKE THAT.

SO, TAKE IT SERIOUSLY, MAN.

THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING.

THE GAY KID.

THE RITTER BOY?

WHY DIDN'T YOU GIVE THAT CASE TO JAMES?

HE'S GOT A HEAVY LOAD.

OR TAKE IT YOURSELF?

BECAUSE... FOR NOW, I'VE GOT YOU.

NOT BECAUSE HIS CHOICE

OF FOSTER PARENTS WAS UNPOPULAR?

WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?

THE LAST THING THIS CLINIC NEEDS

IS TO TAKE A CASE

THAT WILL GENERATE BAD PUBLICITY FOR YOU.

MR. FALLIN, YOU'RE ACTING AWFULLY PRUDISH FOR A MAN

WHO LIKES TO OPERATE OUTSIDE THE SYSTEM.

WHAT HAPPENED LAST TIME

YOU TRIED TO PLACE HIM WITH A GAY COUPLE?

THE JUDGE RULED AGAINST IT.

WHY'S IT GONNA BE ANY DIFFERENT THIS TIME?

THEY'RE GONNA TRY AND RILE YOU,

SO JUST SAY, "YES," "NO,"

OR "I DON'T RECALL."

OK.

IF YOU FEEL LIKE A QUESTION

IS CONFUSING YOU,

ASK THEM TO REPEAT IT.

THIS WILL GIVE YOU TIME

TO THINK OF A SIMPLE ANSWER.

YES. I THINK I CAN DO THAT.

GOOD.

WEAR A BLUE SUIT, CONSERVATIVE TIE.

TREAT THE PLAINTIFF WITH DIGNITY.

DON'T MAKE LIGHT OF THE SITUATION.

EXCUSE ME. I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

I'M SUPPOSED TO TAKE ETHAN TO THE SHELTER,

BUT HIS PAPERWORK ISN'T READY,

AND I'M VERY LATE FOR AN ENGAGEMENT. NO, NO.

I KNOW IT'S TERRIBLY INCONVENIENT FOR YOU, MR. FALLIN,

BUT I CAN'T LEAVE HIM ALONE ON THE STREET.

COME WITH ME.

YOU KNOW HOW TO USE A COMPUTER?

PLEASE.

ALLISON...

SET THIS KID UP WITH A COMPUTER.

I'LL BE RIGHT BACK. WATCH HIM.

NICE GUY.

NICK?

YOU BANGIN' HIM?

OK, WHERE WERE WE?

WE'RE ALL DONE, NICHOLAS.

YES. THANK YOU, BURTON.

YOU BET.

SEE YA TOMORROW.

YEAH. I'LL WALK YOU OUT.

GOOD LUCK.

WHOO.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE EVEN HANDLING THIS ONE.

WELL, HE'S BEEN A CLIENT FOR 20 YEARS.

BUT A HARASSMENT SUIT?

WELL, HE WANTED US TO HANDLE IT.

I THINK WE'RE OUT OF OUR LEAGUE.

THAT'S NONSENSE, NICHOLAS.

THAT'S WHAT WE DO FOR OUR CLIENTS.

I GOT THIS, UH...

FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY.

WELL, NOW... WELL, NOW, SON.

YEAH, IT'S JUST A PEN.

WELL, IT'S...

WELCOME TO STUD PUFFS. WE'VE GOT MALES.

I'M NOT DONE.

ETHAN, GET YOUR STUFF. LET'S GO.

I'M HAVING A CONVERSATION HERE.

YOU'RE SOLICITING.

OH, IS THAT WHAT YOU CALL IT?

NICHOLAS, THIS OFFICER IS HERE TO GET YOUR--

WHO IS THIS?

HE'S FROM C.L.S.

YOU WAIT HERE.

YOU SHOULD'VE SEEN YOUR FACE

WHEN YOUR FATHER WALKED IN.

SO, WHAT DID YOU DO THAT MAKES YOU

GO INTO BATHROOMS WITH STRANGE MEN

AND PISS INTO A CUP?

THAT FOSTER COUPLE THAT WANTED YOU,

DID YOU, UH...

DO YOU LIKE THOSE 2 GUYS?

THEY'RE OK.

THEY SEEM A LITTLE, YOU KNOW, STRICT.

JUST A COUPLE OF OLD QUEERS.

WHY WOULD YOU SAY THAT?

SAY WHAT?

THAT.

OLD QUEERS.

WHAT, ARE YOU AN ACTIVIST?

AREN'T YOU...

I'M WHATEVER I WANT TO BE,

ALL RIGHT?

WHENEVER I WANT TO BE.

WELL, LISTEN, ETHAN, I HAVE TO PLACE YOU SOMEWHERE.

AH, SO YOU ARE MY LAWYER NOW.

I'LL DO YOU A DEAL.

YOU TELL ME WHERE YOU WANT TO LIVE,

AND I'LL SEE IF I CAN HELP YOU.

OK, HOW ABOUT A MANSION IN SEWICKLEY HEIGHTS.

HOW 'BOUT A GROUP HOME IN McKEESPORT?

HOW 'BOUT THE STREETS?

HOW 'BOUT THOSE GUYS?

YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW THEM.

NO, I DON'T.

BUT YOU ASSUME, BECAUSE THEY'RE GAY,

THAT THEY MUST UNDERSTAND ME.

NO, I NEVER SAID THAT.

YOU KNOW WHAT? I DID WANT TO LIVE WITH THEM.

BUT THEN WE WENT INTO THE COURTROOM,

STOOD BEFORE THE JUDGE,

AND HE HUMILIATED US.

MR. MATTHEWS?

ED.

HI, NICK.

COME ON IN.

THIS IS OUR REFUGE--

MINE FROM THE WORLD OF SCREAMING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS,

AND DAVE'S FROM THE WORLD OF SCREAMING QUEENS

AND OTHERS IN NEED OF BOTH IMMEDIATE AND LONG-TERM THERAPY.

SO, WHAT DID ETHAN DO TO PISS YOU OFF?

I DIDN'T SAY HE DID ANYTHING.

NO, YOU DIDN'T,

BUT I KNOW ETHAN.

HE SURFED FOR GAY PORN AT MY OFFICE.

HE MADE SURE EVERYONE SAW.

IT'S A CLASSIC ETHAN STORY.

WE'VE HEARD A HUNDRED VARIATIONS.

WHEN ETHAN DOESN'T WANT TO BE SOMEWHERE,

HE GOES STRAIGHT FOR THE HOT BUTTON

TO MAKE THE OTHER PERSON ANGRY.

AND THEN THE OTHER PERSON IS THE ONE WITH THE PROBLEM,

NOT ETHAN.

IT'S READY.

WHAT?

WELL, WE THOUGHT

SINCE YOU WERE COMING OVER,

THAT YOU'D LIKE A LITTLE LUNCH.

I REALLY SHOULD GET GOING.

GIVE US SOME MORE TIME, MR. FALLIN.

STAY FOR LUNCH.

HE DROVE HIS MOTHER CRAZY.

IF ETHAN WANTED TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE,

HE WOULD JUST DIRECT THE CONVERSATION

TO ANY GAY SUBJECT,

OR HE WOULD JUST DO SOMETHING

LIKE WEAR LIPSTICK TO THE DINNER TABLE.

AND, PREDICTABLY, SHE'D GO OFF,

START PRAYING A ROSARY,

TELL HIM HE'S GOING STRAIGHT TO HELL.

AND THE FATHER WOULD THREATEN A FIGHT,

AND ETHAN WOULD BE OUT OF THERE.

YOU KNOW HIM WELL.

WE KNOW THE SITUATION.

YOU THINK YOU CAN HANDLE HIM?

I'M A THERAPIST, EDWARD'S A GUIDANCE COUNSELOR.

ETHAN DOESN'T GET AWAY WITH A LOT WHEN HE'S HERE.

WHY NOT?

'CAUSE WE DON'T CARE.

YES, YOU'RE GAY, NOW GO DO YOUR HOMEWORK.

SURE, WE KNOW YOU'RE GAY,

BUT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO A PARTY

WITHOUT AN ADULT PRESENT.

HE HATES THAT,

BUT I THINK HE KNOWS DEEP DOWN

THAT IT'S GOOD FOR HIM.

WE KNOW OUR CHANCES OF BEING ADOPTIVE PARENTS,

WELL...

HERE IN PITTSBURGH ARE VERY SLIM,

BUT WITH A STRONG RECOMMENDATION

FROM SOMEONE LIKE YOU...

SOMEONE LIKE ME?

IT WOULD HELP.

THE JUDGES, YOU KNOW,

THEY'RE PREJUDICED FROM THE START.

YOU'D BE AMAZED AT THE HOMOPHOBIA OUT THERE.

DID YOU HAVE SEXUAL RELATIONS

WITH SUZANNA CLEMONS?

YES, I DID, BUT IT WAS CONSENSUAL.

HOW DID THE RELATIONSHIP COME ABOUT?

MS. CLEMONS CAME ONTO ME OVER A PERIOD OF MANY MONTHS,

AND THEN AT LAST YEAR'S CHRISTMAS PARTY,

I HAD A LITTLE TOO MUCH TO DRINK,

AND I ASKED MY ASSISTANT TO CALL ME A CAB.

MS. CLEMONS OFFERED TO GIVE ME A RIDE HOME.

ON THE DRIVE, HER HAND WANDERED OVER MY LEG.

ONE THING LED TO ANOTHER,

AND WE HAD SEX THAT NIGHT.

DID YOU COERCE HER

TO CONTINUE THE SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP?

ABSOLUTELY NOT.

HOW LONG DID YOU TWO

CONTINUE TO HAVE SEXUAL RELATIONS?

UNTIL I PASSED HER OVER FOR A PROMOTION

3 MONTHS AGO.

THAT IS WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT.

SO, YOU'RE THE VICTIM HERE, MR. DERWITT.

I AM THE VICTIM OF A FRIVOLOUS LAWSUIT.

LAST YEAR, YOU TOOK 15 EMPLOYEES TO HAWAII, DIDN'T YOU?

YES. IT WAS PART OF AN INCENTIVE PROGRAM.

5 OF THE 7 WOMEN YOU TOOK

WERE SINGLE OR DIVORCED, WEREN'T THEY?

YES.

AND THERE WERE SEVERAL SEXUAL LIAISONS

BETWEEN EMPLOYEES ON THAT TRIP, CORRECT?

WHAT MY EMPLOYEES DO ON THEIR OWN TIME

IS THEIR OWN BUSINESS.

LAST MONTH, YOU TOLD AN EMPLOYEE

BY THE NAME OF JENNIFER MANKO

THAT SHE SHOULD WEAR SHORTER SKIRTS,

DIDN'T YOU?

THAT WAS A BAD JOKE.

SHE'S ON THE SALES FORCE.

SHE ASKED MY OPINION ABOUT INCREASING SALES.

DIDN'T YOU COMPLIMENT A WOMAN BY THE NAME OF JANE PACKARD

ON THE SIZE OF HER BREASTS?

JANE HAD JUST HAD A BREAST JOB,

AND SHE WAS LOOKING FOR COMPLIMENTS.

SHE WANTED YOU TO WHISTLE AT HER FOR 3 MONTHS?

WELL, IT WASN'T 3 MONTHS,

BUT ANY WOMAN WHO INCREASES THE SIZE OF HER BREASTS

WANTS ATTENTION.

JUST LIKE SUZANNA CLEMONS

WANTED YOU TO CONTINUE TO HAVE SEX WITH YOU?

DERWITT'S NOT HELPING HIMSELF.

WELL, WE'VE GOT PLENTY OF DIRT

ON THAT CLEMONS WOMAN.

NEXT TIME SHE GETS ON THE STAND,

YOU COUNTERATTACK.

THE WOMEN ON THE JURY LOOK READY TO HANG HIM.

I'M NOT SURE WE CAN OVERCOME THAT.

WE WILL. YOU WILL.

IF I BEAT HER UP ON THE STAND,

IT'LL BE LIKE THE MEN AGAINST THE WOMEN,

AND THERE ARE 8 WOMEN ON THIS JURY.

I DON'T THINK I SHOULD BE FIRST CHAIR

ON THIS ONE.

I THINK WE SHOULD USE AMANDA.

OH, NO. I'M NOT READY.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE READY. WE'LL DO ALL THE WORK.

YOU JUST FOLLOW THE SCRIPT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

I REALLY DON'T KNOW.

WE NEED A REAL FIGHTER HERE.

YOU THINK I CAN DO IT?

I SUGGESTED IT.

ALL RIGHT.

OK.

WEAR A DRESS--MODEST, NOT TOO SEVERE.

I COULD'VE HANDLED IT.I KNOW.

NO, I COULD HAVE HANDLED IT.

YOU DON'T LIKE WHAT HAPPENED,

YOU SHOULD'VE SAID SOMETHING.

COME ON, NICK. I MEAN, PUTTING UP

AN INEXPERIENCED GIRL AS LEAD COUNSEL?

IT'S AN OLD TRICK. THE JURY'S GONNA SEE RIGHT THROUGH IT.

DO YOU THINK THEY'D FIND YOU MORE SYMPATHETIC?

LOOK, MY POINT

IS THAT YOU SHOULD'VE RUN IT BY ME FIRST.

WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU?

NICK FALLIN. I REPRESENT ETHAN RITTER.

WHO?

ETHAN RITTER,

THE KID YOU BEAT UP THE OTHER NIGHT.

YOU MEAN THE KID THAT ATTACKED ME.

YEAH. WELL, YOU DON'T LOOK HURT.

HE CAME AT ME,

I GOT OUT OF THE WAY.

THEN YOU BEAT HIM UP WITH YOUR PARTNER.

LISTEN, A KID LIKE THAT,

HE'S A DANGER OUT THERE.

TO WHO?

TO EVERYBODY, BUT MOSTLY TO HIMSELF.

IS THAT WHY YOU HIT HIM?

I RESTRAINED HIM. HE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL.

OK, I'LL TELL HIM THAT.

YOU SHOULD BE THANKFUL FOR ME BRINGING HIM IN.

HE'S GETTING OFF LUCKY IN MY OPINION.

HE'S VERY LUCKY.

KEEP HIM OUT THERE, HE'S GONNA GET SICK

AND STILL GO OUT ON THE STREETS,

GETTIN' OTHER PEOPLE SICK.

AND IF A KID LIKE THAT

STAYS OUT THERE TOO LONG,

HE'S GONNA END UP DEAD.

ARE WE DONE HERE?

SURE.

ETHAN DIDN'T SHOW UP.

HE'S NOT AT THE SHELTER?

HE RAN AWAY.

WELL, THERE YOU GO.

MR. FALLIN, GIVE HIM A CHANCE.

HE'S OBVIOUSLY BEEN NEGLECTED BY HIS PARENTS,

ESPECIALLY HIS FATHER.

NEGLECTED, NOT ABUSED.

HIS PARENTS DIDN'T EVEN SHOW UP

FOR THE FIRST SHELTER HEARING.

LISTEN, I HAVE OTHER THINGS TO DO WITH MY LIFE

THAN COMMUNITY SERVICE.

I CAN'T WASTE ANY MORE TIME GIVING PEOPLE SECOND CHANCES.

YOU GOT ONE, DIDN'T YOU?

I DID WHAT YOU GUYS ASKED OF ME.

IF HE'S NOT GONNA SHOW UP,

I CAN'T DO ANYTHING ELSE.

OH, NICHOLAS.

CLOSE THAT DOOR.

LOOK WHAT I FOUND AT THE HOUSE LAST NIGHT.

WHAT, WERE YOU IN ABOUT THE FIFTH GRADE?

SECOND.

SECOND?

SECOND GRADE.

OK.

HEH.

SO...HOW'S THE PLACE?

FINE.

GOOD.

AND YOU LIKE THAT CAR, RIGHT?

THAT BMW? BEAMER?

YEAH, IT'S GOOD.

YEAH, GERMAN.

I ALWAYS PREFERRED AMERICAN, BUT...

IT'S JUST A CAR.

YEAH.

NICK, WHY DON'T WE, UM,

WHY DON'T WE HAVE LUNCH SOME TIME?

SURE.

OK, THEN.

OK.

OH, NICK?

UH, THANK--THANK YOU FOR THAT PEN.

THANK YOU.

YEAH.

THERE'S A CALL FOR YOU ON LINE 4--A LAURIE SOLT.

EXCUSE ME.

YEAH.

I GOT A CALL.

SOMEONE SAW ETHAN AT THE EAGLE ON LIBERTY AVENUE.

OK.

I'M NOT COMFORTABLE GOING OVER THERE.

I'LL GO.

BYE.

HIYA, BABY.

NOT HAPPY WITH WHAT YOU'RE FINDING HERE?

HOW 'BOUT A REAL WOMAN?

NOT INTERESTED.

HEY, HOW YOU DOING?

SEE A BOY WALK IN HERE?

THAT'S ALL I SEE COMING IN HERE.

NO, NO, A TEENAGE BOY.

OH, WELL, THAT WOULD BE ILLEGAL.

THERE'S THIS KID.

WHAT?

THERE'S THIS KID-- MIGHT COME IN HERE.

MIGHT?

HE'S VERY YOUNG, LIKE 16.

HE PROBABLY SAYS HE'S OLDER. HIS NAME'S ETHAN.

YOU ARRANGED TO HOOK UP WITH HIM?

HAVEN'T SEEN YOUR FRIEND,

NOT FOR A FEW NIGHTS. YOU KNOW HIM?

EVERYBODY KNOWS EVERYBODY HERE PRETTY MUCH,

NO MATTER WHO THEY ARE.

THAT GUY OVER THERE,

HE'S SOME KIND OF JUDGE OR SOMETHING.

SMITROVICH?

HE COMES IN HERE ALMOST EVERY NIGHT

AND ALWAYS GOES HOME ALONE.

IF THAT RITTER KID SHOWS UP--

SO, YOU'RE TAKING THE CASE.

WELL, THERE'S NO CASE TO TAKE,

NOT UNLESS HE SHOWS UP.

THEN WHY ARE YOU HERE?

I FOUND A JUDGE

THAT SITS ON THE JUVENILE BENCH.

SO?

A GAY JUDGE.

AND?

MAYBE IF ETHAN TURNS UP AGAIN,

YOU COULD TRY TO--

YOU WANT TO JUDGE-PICK?

COULD BE WORTH A SHOT.

THAT'S TOO RISKY.

WHATEVER.

JUST AN IDEA.

SMITROVICH IS A GOOD CHOICE.

DECENT. LIBERAL.

SMITROVICH IS ON MOTIONS TOMORROW.

SCHEDULE IT.

GOT AN ADDRESS FOR HIS PARENTS?

HI THERE. ARE YOU LOST?

ARE YOU MRS. RITTER?

YES.

I'M NICHOLAS FALLIN. I'M YOUR SON'S ATTORNEY.

WHAT IS IT?

WERE YOU AWARE THERE'S GOING TO BE

A SHELTER HEARING REGARDING ETHAN?

YES.

DO YOU PLAN TO ATTEND?

ETHAN NO LONGER LIVES HERE.

WHY NOT?

IF YOU'D SPENT ANY TIME WITH HIM,

ANY TIME AT ALL,

YOU'D KNOW WHY.

TELL ETHAN THAT HE HAS A PLACE WITH US

HERE IN OUR HOME WHEN HE'S READY.

HE'LL UNDERSTAND.

NICE HOME.

THANK YOU.

WE NEVER HAD SEX AFTER THE CHRISTMAS PARTY.

THAT'S A LIE.

IT WAS ABOUT A MONTH LATER.

HOW DID YOUR SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP

WITH MR. DERWITT DEVELOP?

HE STARTED BY ASKING FOR BACK RUBS

AND FLIRTING A LITTLE.

DID YOU FLIRT BACK?

I WOULD TRY TO LAUGH IT OFF AND CHANGE THE SUBJECT.

AND THEN WHAT HAPPENED?

THEN HE ASKED ME IF I KNEW CHRISTINE BROOKS.

SHE HAD JUST BEEN PROMOTED.

AND WHAT SIGNIFICANCE DID THIS HAVE TO YOU?

THERE WAS THIS BIG RUMOR GOING AROUND THE OFFICE

THAT FRANKLIN AND CHRISTINE WERE HAVING AN AFFAIR.

AND WHERE DID YOUR RELATIONSHIP GO FROM THERE?

HE BOUGHT ME THINGS AND ASKED ME TO WEAR THEM,

WHICH I DID.

WHAT THINGS?

UNDERWEAR.

WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY NO?

I HAVE A 4-YEAR-OLD SON.

THIS MAN HAS A REPUTATION OF FIRING WOMEN

WHO REJECT HIS ADVANCES.

OBJECT.

OBJECTION.

ON WHAT GROUNDS?

SAY, "MORE PREJUDICIAL THAN PROBATIVE."

MORE PREJUDICIAL THAN PROBATIVE, YOUR HONOR.

SUSTAINED.

THE JURY IS TO DISREGARD THE WITNESS' STATEMENT

ABOUT THE DEFENDANT'S REPUTATION.

WHEN DID YOU AND MR. DERWITT

FIRST HAVE INTERCOURSE?

JANUARY 28, THE MONDAY AFTER THE SUPER BOWL.

HOW DID IT HAPPEN?

HE CALLED ME INTO HIS OFFICE AND TOLD ME TO SIT ON HIS LAP.

I'M SORRY?

HE TOLD ME TO SIT ON HIS LAP.

HE THEN STARTED TO, YOU KNOW, PLAY WITH ME,

AND THEN HE RIPPED OFF MY UNDERWEAR,

PULLING THEM DOWN.

HE BENT ME OVER HIS DESK.

WHAT WERE YOU THINKING

WHEN HE WAS DOING THIS TO YOU?

I WASN'T THINKING ANYTHING. I WAS STARING AT THE HULA GIRL.

THE HULA GIRL?

THERE WAS THIS TOY HULA GIRL

WITH A BOBBING HEAD AND A SHIFTING SKIRT

SITTING ON HIS DESK,

AND EVERY TIME HE WOULD...

I WOULD STARE AT IT, AT HER HEAD.

IT BOBBED.

MS. BOWLES?

YOU KNOW, I JUST WANTED TO SAY

I HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND.

THIS IS HARD FOR ME TO DO,

BUT I HAVE TO GO THROUGH WITH IT.

YOU KNOW WHAT THESE GUYS ARE LIKE.

THEY'RE APES, MOST OF THEM.

WE SHOULDN'T BE TALKING.

I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE EAGER,

TO WANT TO PLEASE THOSE MEN SO MUCH

THAT YOU FORGET WHO YOU REALLY ARE.

I DIDN'T COME TO YOUR FIRM

SO THAT YOU COULD HAND ME OFF

TO SOME FIRST-YEAR ASSOCIATE.

YOU CAME TO MY FIRM 'CAUSE YOU WANT TO WIN.

SHE'S OUT OF HER LEAGUE. SHE'S KILLING ME.

WHAT'S KILLING YOU

IS THE FACT THAT YOU SLEPT WITH THE HELP.

YOU'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO THINK ON YOUR FEET.

SOMETIMES YOU OBJECT JUST TO BREAK THEIR RHYTHM.

CAN YOU HANDLE THIS, AMANDA?

SHE'S BEEN FIRST CHAIR FOR ONE DAY.

THE SECOND DAY WILL BE EASIER.

BUT YOU-- YOU GOTTA BE TOUGHER.

BECAUSE I'M A WOMAN.

BECAUSE YOU'RE A LAWYER!

AMANDA...

I CAN'T DO THIS.

YES, YOU CAN.

I BELIEVED HER TESTIMONY. OK?

I BELIEVED HER.

SO DID I.

THE JURY HATES OUR CLIENT.

THEN MAKE THEM HATE THE OTHER SIDE MORE.

ETHAN?

NICK!

OR SHOULD I SAY MYSTERY MAN?

YOU KNEW THAT WAS ME?

AH, A PRETTY RETARDED NAME.

YOU MISSED YOUR FIRST HEARING.

WE RESCHEDULED FOR TOMORROW.

IS THAT WHAT YOU CAME HERE TO TELL ME?

THE HEARING'S AT 10:30 A.M.

COURTHOUSE, ROOM 301.

I'VE DONE WHAT I CAN, ETHAN.

YOU JUST NEED TO SHOW UP.

I'LL BE THERE.

GOOD.

HEY!

HEY, COULD YOU GIVE ME A LIFT?

WHERE?

MAYBE I COULD STAY WITH YOU TONIGHT?

IS THAT IT? IS THAT THE ONLY WAY

YOU KNOW HOW TO RELATE TO MEN?

HOW'S YOUR DAD? HMM?

HAS HE RECOVERED FROM SEEING OUR LITTLE MOMENT TOGETHER?

DON'T.

NICKY, WHAT DO YOU REALLY WANT FROM ME?

WHAT? HUH?

WHAT?

COME WITH ME.

LET'S GO. WHERE ARE WE GOING?

JUST GET IN THE CAR.

HE NEEDS SOMEWHERE TO SPEND THE NIGHT.

AND THEN WE'LL GET HIM TO COURT TOMORROW.

NOW, I WANT TO GET THIS STRAIGHT.

YOU WERE COERCED

INTO HAVING A SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP

WITH MR. DERWITT?

YES.

NOT ONE TIME, BUT MANY TIMES.

YES.

OVER MANY MONTHS.

HE HAS THE POWER, MISS BOWLES.

WERE YOU COACHED TO SAY THAT?

OBJECTION.

SUSTAINED.

HERE IN DEFENDANT'S EXHIBIT "A,"

A PICTURE OF YOU AND MR. DERWITT IN HAWAII.

WERE YOU COERCED INTO GOING THERE?

THIS WAS A COMPANY RETREAT.

YOU GO WHERE YOUR BOSS TELLS YOU TO GO.

IN A COPY OF DEFENDANT'S EXHIBIT "B,"

YOU'RE SITTING ON HIS LAP.

HE PULLED ME THERE.

AND THAT BIG SMILE ON YOUR FACE IS... IS A PUT-ON?

SOMETIMES YOU HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO PLAY ALONG.

SO, "NO" JUST ISN'T IN YOUR VOCABULARY.

YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT THAT EASY WITH YOUR BOSS.

YOU LEFT YOUR PREVIOUS JOB 2 YEARS AGO

BECAUSE YOU BROKE OFF A SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP

WITH YOUR IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR. CORRECT?

OBJECTION, EVIDENCE OF THE VICTIM'S PAST

IS INADMISSIBLE.

OBJECTION SUSTAINED.

WHAT ABOUT COLLEGE?

WE REPEAT OUR EARLIER OBJECTION.

WITHDRAWN. THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME

YOU'VE MADE ALLEGATIONS THAT SOMEONE

SEXUALLY HARASSED YOU?

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

IN COLLEGE, YOU CLAIMED THAT A TEACHING ASSISTANT RAPED YOU.

WE WENT TO A PARTY, AND HE DRUGGED ME.

SO, LIKE NOW, YOU CLAIM TO BE POWERLESS TO SAY NO.

I HAD ONE BEER.

NEXT THING I KNOW, I WAKE UP NAKED IN HIS BED.

I WAS RAPED!

THE YOUNG MAN WAS ACQUITTED, WASN'T HE?

I WENT TO THE AUTHORITIES TOO LATE FOR THEM TO FIND ANYTHING IN MY SYSTEM.

THE JURY DIDN'T BELIEVE YOU.

BUT YOU WANT THIS JURY TO BELIEVE YOU THIS TIME.

I'M LATE. LET'S GO.

JUDGE ELDRIDGE ALREADY RULED ON THIS CASE.

WHY IS IT BEING REOPENED?

THE CHILD RAN AWAY FROM HIS GROUP SHELTER

AND HAS GOTTEN IN TROUBLE WITH THE LAW, YOUR HONOR.

SO I SEE.

WHY ISN'T JUDGE ELDRIDGE HEARING THIS CASE AGAIN?

SHE'S NOT ON MOTIONS TODAY, YOUR HONOR.

THE CHILD'S WISHES ARE STILL TO BE PLACED

UNDER THESE GENTLEMEN'S CARE?

YES. UH, DR. DOWNS AND MR. MATTHEWS

ARE NOT ASKING FOR ANY FOSTER MONEY TO SUPPORT ETHAN.

ARE THEY WILLING TO UNDERTAKE ALL FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR HIM?

YES, YOUR HONOR.

SOUNDS LIKE THEY'RE BEHAVING MORE THAN REASONABLY.

MAY I SPEAK, YOUR HONOR?

WHO ARE YOU?

I'M ETHAN'S MOTHER.

YOU RECEIVED A NOTICE OF THIS HEARING?

YES.

YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE REPRESENTED BY COUNSEL IN THESE PROCEEDINGS.

OH, I'M NOT ASKING FOR ETHAN TO COME HOME.

THEN WHY ARE YOU HERE?

SIMPLY TO ASK THAT HE NOT BE PLACED

WITH THESE 2 MEN.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH THEM, MRS. RITTER?

A HOMOSEXUAL HOME, BY ITS VERY NATURE,

VIOLATES THE FUNDAMENTAL RELIGIOUS BELIEFS

OF THE CATHOLIC FAITH.

YOUR HONOR, MRS. RITTER HAS OPENLY

REFUSED TO RAISE HER OWN SON.

IT IS NOT FOR LACK OF LOVING HIM!

I SIMPLY WANT HIM TO BE SAFE.

HE'S FAR SAFER IN A STABLE HOME THAN IN A GROUP SHELTER,

WHERE HE'S BEEN ABUSED, OR OUT ON THE STREETS.

YOUR HONOR, ETHAN RITTER HAS 2 MORE YEARS

BEFORE BECOMING AN ADULT.

THE QUESTION IS WILL HE STAY ALIVE LONG ENOUGH TO GET THERE?

MY SON SAYS HE'S GAY.

HE MAY BE. OR HE MAY NOT BE. HE IS STILL YOUNG.

BUT THESE 2 GENTLEMEN ARE...GAY.

I SIMPLY DON'T WANT HIM IN THAT ENVIRONMENT.

I'M RELUCTANT TO RULE ON A CASE ALREADY UNDER ANOTHER JUDGE'S AEGIS.

YOUR HONOR--

I WILL NOT REVERSE THE RULING AT THIS TIME.

THE BOY IS REMANDED TO THE ALLEGHENY GROUP SHELTER

UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

I KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.

DO YOU?

AND IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN, MR. FALLIN.

BUT THE LAW IS THE LAW.

NEXT TIME, DON'T TRY AND JUDGE-PICK.

IF THE JUDGE WOULD HAVE RULED IN OUR FAVOR...

YEAH?

YOU WOULD HAVE STAYED WITH THEM?

WELL, YEAH.

THEN WHY DON'T YOU?

HOW?

WELL, IF THE LAW'S NOT ON YOUR SIDE, ETHAN,

MAYBE YOU JUST...

I JUST DON'T LET IT GET IN MY WAY.

I DIDN'T HEAR THAT.

VERDICT'S COMING IN.

MADAM FOREPERSON, HAVE YOU REACHED A VERDICT?

WE HAVE, YOUR HONOR. WHAT SAY YOU?

IN THE MATTER OF SUZANNA CLEMONS vs. FRANKLIN DERWITT,

WE FIND IN FAVOR OF THE PLAINTIFF,

SUZANNA CLEMONS...

AND ORDER DEFENDANT TO PAY COMPENSATORY DAMAGES

IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,000.

MEMBERS OF THE JURY, THIS CONCLUDES YOUR SERVICE.

$5,000?

IT'S A VICTORY.

CONGRATULATIONS.

THANKS.

SMITROVICH RULED AGAINST US.

YEAH?

YOU KNEW HE WOULD.

AND NEXT TIME...

YEAH?

DON'T GIVE ME A CASE BECAUSE YOU THINK

I'LL GO AROUND THE RULES YOU'RE TOO AFRAID TO BREAK.

NO KIDDING? SHE CRIED?

SUZANNA CLEMONS. SHE ACTUALLY CRIED.

MAN, THAT MUST HAVE BEEN BEAUTIFUL.

I'M TELLING YOU, ONCE YOU GET THEM,

THEY ALWAYS CRY.

I HEAR AMANDA WAS GREAT.

YEAH. SHE--SHE JUST--

SHE JUST GREW A PAIR OVERNIGHT.

JUST BAM! LIKE THAT. WHO KNEW IT WAS IN HER?

OH, MAN, I GOTTA SEE THAT.

YEAH, IT WAS GREAT.

NEXT TIME, GIVE ME A HEADS UP.

I WILL. WE SHOULD.

WHAT IS IT?

ETHAN NEVER SHOWED UP AT THE SHELTER.

WE SHOULD HAVE TOLD HIM WE COULD TAKE THE CASE

BEFORE JUDGE ELDRIDGE OR SOME OTHER JUDGE.

WHY DO YOU TRY SO HARD WITH THIS KID?

I HAD A BROTHER.

COME WITH ME.

WELL, WELL.

MR. FALLIN.

I DON'T SEE ANYTHING.

NEITHER DO I.