Original subtitles

How long ago? They've been in there 30 minutes. He rounded up about 40 students

and overtook the class.

Well, he's done it before, testing the dissection.

I know that, ma 'am. This is the first time he's ever formed a posse. Watch it.

They're militant. They won't listen to authority, Jimmy. The frog man's ripped

them all off. Be a frog.

Be a frog.

Be a frog.

Be a frog.

Man of might.

Just another day.

Hail the frog.

Hail the frog. Be a frog. Be a frog. Be a frog.

Now, look, the children were with me. Those children would cheer anyone who

interrupted class.

Oh, come on. I mean, you saw those kids.

They knew every word of the song. It was thrilling.

Look, you don't have to kill frogs to teach biology.

This is my point.

Mr. Lebec, you can't keep doing this.

Douglas Fombo for the frog man.

Ah, my little green friend, you're in season.

We're not charging him. Oh, that's fine. I'm not here in a criminal matter.

I'm here to represent you in a civil matter against your son.

My son?

Milton? He's in the court right now. They'll be calling his case any second.

His case?

What case?

For emancipation.

I've read the law, and I'm eligible.

How old are you?

Thirteen. But I'll be fourteen next year.

I don't want to live at home anymore, and I shouldn't have to.

Your Honor?

I represent the boy's father, and I wish to be heard at once.

Pay no attention to the outfit.

I was leading a protest, Judge. The outfit's thematic.

Uh -huh.

Son, you're seeking emancipation on what grounds?

Look at him.

He has no right to emancipation, Your Honor.

Why are you doing this, young man?

This isn't a stable home.

When I was in juvenile hall, I read law books. A child has a legal right to

control his future, and I want to control mine.

That's ridiculous.

The whole point of having kids is so parents can control them. You have no

mother.

Where would you go?

I have two aunts who would take me. They live in California, and I'd have to fly

out there, but they said they'd be happy to take me. That's just the way to get

to Disneyland.

These kids are very tricky, Judge.

All right.

Mr. Littleton, I see you sitting back there.

Since you've handled DHA cases before, I'm assigning you to this one.

What? I'll hear evidence this afternoon.

No, no, but, Your Honor... He needs a lawyer.

Four o 'clock.

Coat and tie.

That's all.

My God.

What happened to your hair?

Shaved it.

It gets hot in that suit.

Look, the judge, he can't possibly grant that motion, can he? The boy wants to

leave, and you run around croaking in green suits.

From a legal standpoint, you're a cracker box.

I won't take that from you.

And I don't have to accept it from some judge either. Look, I'm just trying to

make you appreciate the severity of this situation.

The court has held that teenage girls can get abortions without parental

consent. Now, what the hell does that have to do with this?

The trend is to cut back on parental rights.

Children today get civil liberties.

And Judge Bone is very big on individual freedom to begin with.

The bottom line, if your kid wants out, he could get his way.

Why won't it start?

Because you don't have a license.

You're not supposed to drive it.

I'm just going to back it out and pull it to the side.

Gonna get in trouble.

Not if you don't tell Runhead. You want to play street hockey? I gotta get the

car out of the driveway.

Now, move the net to the center.

Better hope a neighbor doesn't see.

I've done it before.

Big deal.

Got a pulse.

Look out!

Stay away!

The vitals are good.

Let us take him to the hospital.

What happened?

Matthew was driving the car and he ran in.

I'm going with you.

I'm right here.

We're going to take you to the hospital.

We're going to fix it up. Get him out of here. Let's go.

Then we switch you to a smaller cast.

It's playoffs.

Hey, you'll be back next year, pal.

We're lucky you're alive.

Is it bad?

Well, it's broken in two places, sweetie, but it'll heal. You're going to

great.

How's Matthew?

He okay?

He's got a broken leg, but he's gonna be fine.

How are you?

I didn't mean it.

I was just trying to move the car so we could play.

I didn't mean it.

I know you didn't.

He's gonna be okay.

I'm not saying he's an unfit parent.

I'm just saying, for now, living with him is not right for me.

Well, that's a little strange, Milton. Kids don't usually get to pick their

parent. No, I'm not doing that.

He's my father.

You will always be my father.

But... I want to be normal.

Milton, there's no such thing as normal.

Yeah, that's what I keep trying to tell myself, but let's face it, we're geeks.

I don't think that's true.

And even if it were, being a geek doesn't make a parent unfit.

No, it makes a kid unfit.

Follow me around for a day.

See my life.

And you believe that moving to California is going to make it

I don't know.

But in Rome, Wisconsin, I will always be...

Son of frog man.

Two years ago, I shot a policeman.

To all the kids in this town, I'm the crazy loon who put on a frog mask and

Kenny Lakos.

If I move to California, I might get a fresh start.

Might have a chance.

I, uh...

I have no more questions.

Do you love your dad?

Yes. Has he ever mistreated you?

No. Do you think he's crazy?

Milton.

He's strange.

Every night he comes to my room and he sings that song.

Every night.

I can't go to sleep until he belts out, Be a frog!

He's a good father, isn't he?

He's a good person.

People laugh at him.

And they're laughing at me.

sorry that I had to hit you today.

But what you did was very dangerous and very wrong.

And I think you know that.

Matthew.

Every minute she gets bolder Now she's resting on my shoulder Ma, she's kissing

me Oh, Ma, she's making eyes at me Ma, she's always

nice to me Ma, she's... Oh, you're back.

Yes, we are, on this planet.

It's okay, Ma. When I get depressed, I like to sing.

That's all. I was just feeling a little depressed.

Look, I refuse to engage in recriminations.

Mr. Lebec, we will have to tailor your testimony to make you look as sane as

possible. We have to explain the frogs, the funny costumes.

We have to show all this eccentricity. It isn't the real you. It is the real

Look, I don't understand why I have to appear like everybody else just to be

deemed a fit parent.

Because this is America.

We're a big melting pot.

And if you're different enough, you get melted.

Look, Miss Brock, please.

Look, do I strike you as an unfit parent?

Um, I'm not sure.

Well, let me put it this way then. Suppose I were to take care of your

for a little while.

I mean, would that...

Would that worry you?

Yes.

You want to talk about it?

terrified. It's okay.

It's not okay, Jimmy.

I hit him. I hit him as hard as I could. I hit him with everything that I could.

He almost killed Zach.

What parent wouldn't have snapped?

I make drapes

for a living.

You know, custom drapes. I do a wide variety.

I actually supply the, uh, Hotel Six chain.

Though I'm told they use them for bedspreads. Look, try not to digress,

Lebec. You work out of your home?

Yes. Well, that is to say, I do the designing in my home. The actual

of the drapes is done in Kuala Lumpur. It was on the visit to there that I

developed my keen interest in frogs.

I'm not interested in your frogs.

I am.

Are they really all over your house?

They're only in designated areas.

I mean, what's wrong with that?

I mean, people raise cattle, pigeons.

Some people have tropical fish. I personally, I like frogs.

And that doesn't disqualify me, though, from also raising a sign.

Yes, but people who raise pigeons don't usually dress up as them.

Look, I've already explained. That was part of a political protest.

If I walked into a lumberyard dressed as a spotted owl, would you think that's

strange? Yes, that would be strange, Mr. Lebec.

Loving animals is one thing.

Pretending to be the animal is quite another.

And your objections aside, it isn't normal to have a house full of

Look, I've never broken any laws except for the disorderly conduct.

I'm there for him every day. I'm a full -time father, Your Honor. He's healthy.

He's very well educated, and you can tell from his own testimony that he

loved. I could also tell that he wants out. He's a teenager, though, Your

Every teenager wants out at some point.

He's my son. He belongs with me. You can't deny that your son has had some

social problems.

Two years ago, he shot a police officer.

I know that.

And that was very tragic.

But what parent hasn't gone through some kind of crisis with their kid?

Anytime you want me to jump in, Judge, I don't. Look, if I loved cats or dogs or

birds or something like that, you people wouldn't be looking at me sideways.

But who could love stupid frog?

I mean, that's the center of this whole attack.

I mean, they're green, slimy, ugly little things. I mean, how could anybody

them unless they're nuts?

You people are frog bigots.

What about the song?

Do you really go into his room every night and make him sing it? Your Honor,

that song is a ballad about resilience. It's about courage and character.

Those are legitimate values for a father to want to pass along to his son.

You don't need to burst into song to teach values. But there's great power in

song.

Your Honor, music resonates from deep inside us.

And if I choose music as a way of communicating with my child, that's my

I mean, no judge has any business intervening.

Uh -huh.

Well, since you're so proud of this method, I'd like a sample.

What? The song. I'd like to hear it.

Objection! I'm willing to concede that this singing, maybe it isn't as crazy as

it sounds, but I need to hear it before I can decide.

Oh, you don't want to hear it, Judge.

Yes, Mr. Wambaugh, I do.

I'm not afraid.

I'll sing it proudly.

We'll adjourn till tomorrow.

Then we'll hear, be a frog.

That's all.

I will.

I'll sing it proudly.

When's he coming home?

Tomorrow. They're just keeping him overnight for observation.

Can I be excused?

Yes.

Thank you.

Are you punishing me?

I just want to go to my room.

Jill, don't... Please don't talk to me. Please don't talk to me. I don't want to

talk right now.

What are you doing?

You nixed the costume, so I thought I'd throw a little movement in, you know, to

keep me from getting stagnant.

What?

You're trying to self -destruct. What are you talking about? The judge asked

to say... You made him to make him ask.

What the hell is wrong with you? You want everybody to think you're crazy?

Listen, I told you not to talk to me. Well, I don't care.

Damn it.

You can lose your son, you idiot.

All right, all right, I...

I know what you're trying to do.

You're so afraid that people are laughing at you, you go for the laugh.

you could think that they're laughing with you. Well, they're not, Peter.

They are laughing at you.

And it could cost you your child if you don't smarten up.

Well, should I not sing?

Well, you have to now.

Well, you want me to go low -key with it? I could go low -key. No, you say

there's power in your song, that the judge has to see what you're talking

You have to sing.

Then sing!

Damn it!

Do you know this country is the only one that considers spanking to be barbaric?

And do you know what country has the worst trouble with teenage violence?

This one.

That seems a little oversimplified.

Look, Jill, how do you want me to play it?

Chastise me? I can give you that.

Or I can give you absolution.

I can be as flexible as a congregationalist.

Do you think this is funny?

I hit my kid.

No.

I don't think it's funny.

I know how parents beat themselves up over this, but according to the Bible,

you're supposed to use a rod.

Do you know how many times in the book of Proverbs alone it endorses beating

your child?

I should sell paddles in the lobby.

My mother hit me.

Only once.

I promised myself I would never hit my kids.

She was terrified.

She snapped because she was afraid, and you know that, Matthew. Okay, got it.

Hey, you also got to know how wrong you were. Even start the car.

I almost killed Zach.

I know I was wrong.

You know how scared I was?

Only Kim came by to check on me, see if I was okay.

Mom just hit me.

Okay.

Mistakes were made.

Let's get by it, okay?

I never authorized the choir.

It's a surprise to me, too, Judge.

Your Honor, this is just for effect. I sing with these people at church.

They're here just, you know, to add a little balance.

Do you object to the choir, Mr. Littleton?

No, no, no.

All right, Mr. Lebec.

Please proceed.

Ring, leg, knee, ping.

Amphibial reaping.

Life seal.

It's in keeping. Be a frog.

Be a frog.

Be a frog.

Be a frog. Be a frog. Be a frog. Be a frog.

Be a frog.

Anything that says prohibit.

Get back up off the ground and be a frog.

Get back up off the ground and be a frog.

Get the dirt.

Grow with your legs.

Get back up off...

You play cool.

Are you... Are you really okay?

Yeah.

Doesn't even hurt anymore.

Doesn't?

But I'm gonna fake a little.

Try to miss some school.

Okay.

Hey, everybody. Sorry I'm late.

Look, I just thought... We have got to be able to figure this thing out. Now,

we just put our heads together... Why would you think that?

Just because people love each other, they can live together?

If that were true, would the divorce rate be so high?

How did he get so smart?

I read to him every night.

Mr. Lebec, I sense that a lot of Milton's problems come from living in

town.

I don't know, maybe if... If you moved. Oh, yeah.

Yes, I would. In a second.

You don't get it.

You're my lawyer. Please, get this.

I have social problems.

The guidance counselors tell me this. The psychiatrists tell me this.

My classmates, they give me the message, too.

Those problems come from living with him.

Dad, you are an odd person.

And if I am raised by you, I too will grow up to be an odd person.

I do not want this.

I love you. I will love you forever.

But I do not want to be raised in this environment.

Are you really only 13?

He's very smart.

Yeah.

Look, you know that I don't believe in spanking or hitting.

Except when it comes to me.

That's not fair, Matthew. I never before... When I walked out into the

you hit me then, too.

What?

Grove Street.

You weren't even three years old.

You hit me.

Matthew, that time, just like this time, I acted out of fear.

You walked right out into the middle of the street.

And when Zach got hurt, I was so terrified.

Well, I... I lost myself.

But you never lose yourself with anybody else.

You'd never hit Zach.

If he drove that car, you wouldn't beat him. You know it.

I don't know that.

I made a mistake, and you hit me.

Zach went to the bathroom on kids.

On purpose. He pissed on the black students.

Did you hit him?

You love him more than you love me. Why don't we just admit it? What did you

say?

Every time you talk to Grandpa, you talk about Kim.

Then you skip over me with Matthew's fine.

Then go... one about Zach. Zach this, Zach that. I think he's advanced.

Matthew? Oh, he's fine.

Let me tell you about Zach.

You don't think I hear that?

Matthew, I'm just as proud of you. That's a lie.

You go to Zach's trombone recitals.

All his hockey games.

Mind you see the end and give me a ride home.

He plays on Saturdays and your games are on weeknights. What excuse?

You always got him.

If I didn't get in trouble, we'd never see each other.

When's the last time you were in this room other than to tell me I did

wrong?

You used to come up here all the time.

We'd play Parcheesi or Uno.

Now you just come up only when I screw up.

Maybe I should drive the car more often. We could get to know each other.

Matthew, how can you possibly say that to me?

Because I hate you! You got a problem with that? Hit me!

Fever and I ache all over. The thermometer said no fever. School.

The fever's in my leg.

It's infected.

Kim will take you.

She doesn't have to go to school.

Nope. Kim has to go to court. Where's Matthew?

Let's go.

Hey.

Come on.

Let him get through this. Shut up, Jimmy. Just shut up. Can you do that?

I didn't deserve that.

Jimmy.

He thinks that I love him less.

He remembers that I spanked him when he was a baby. He remembers that like it

was yesterday.

He has kept track of hockey game attendance and of phone conversations.

And he's been carrying that around with him for who knows? How long?

That I love him, Les.

Do you know what that's like, to hear that come out of your son?

Have you ever heard that?

No. Well, I have.

And until a child of yours looks you in the face and tells you that he hates

you, don't tell me how to feel, okay? Because you don't know.

What I'm trying to say is that it will pass.

He's just... Stop saying that, Jimmy. It's not going to pass. Don't you see?

They're getting older and they're... I'm losing control of them. They see that.

They see how weak I am.

I'm just guessing. They know that.

I don't know how to be a parent. They know that I don't know how to be a

And that's why I'm losing them. They go to Kimberly, not to me. I'm losing them.

Jill, they're your children.

Oh, Jimmy, do you think that's some kind of guarantee?

Matthew hates me.

He didn't just say that.

I could tell that he... I'm his mother,

for God's sake.

I'm his mother.

When you assigned me to this case, I thought, this is ridiculous.

His father's a little strange, so what?

I mean, kid doesn't want to live home, so he goes to court for freedom?

That's silly. But then we all heard him testify.

Now, Milton LeBeck is an intelligent young man with probably a profound

to assess his future.

He clearly recognizes how he's been ostracized by this community.

He knows the big stigma facing him for having shot Kenny Locos.

Now, wanting a fresh start in a new place, that's not just a reasonable

decision. That may be the only decision for this boy.

Now, whether a better life waits for him in California, we don't know, but it is

a new chance.

And Milton LeBeck's life, well, at some point, his life does belong to him.

He's only 13 years old.

A federal court.

previously held that a 12 -year -old boy did not have to return to Russia with

his parents.

In so doing, they recognized that under certain circumstances, a minor can seize

control of his own destiny.

And that's what Milton Lebec is doing here.

Now, whether we want to admit it or not, it makes sense.

He is making a reflective decision to leave a town that has not treated him

fairly. And given the history, it probably won't.

He faces huge social disadvantages here that he might not face in California.

And here's another reality.

If a teenager had committed a crime with the same reflective clear -headedness

as Milton Lebec has demonstrated here today, as a district attorney, there is

doubt in my mind that I would try that teenager as an adult.

And in this case, maybe we should try Milton Lebec as an adult and recognize

maturity of his position.

And also recognize that it is his life.

Your Honor,

Mr. Wambaugh asked if I would do the closing.

Probably because I'm a teenager and, well... You might better manipulate me.

Exactly.

So is it okay if I do the summation? I know it's not regular procedure.

Miss Brock.

This case started with a man in a frog suit. We just had a choir in the jury

box.

Do I seem like a tickler for procedure?

Hmm?

I'll hear you.

Thank you.

I don't doubt...

Milton LeBeck is a smart kid, but he is a kid.

And I won't pretend to know what's best for his life.

He may be better off in California, but I promise you, if there isn't a better

alternative to home for every teenager, every teenager at least thinks so.

I've wanted to leave home many times myself. My brother Matthew is probably

thinking of it as we speak.

But...

The reason kids don't leave home is because you just don't.

We're not raised to think that fleeing your family is an option.

And, Your Honor, do you really want to change that?

Because if you do, if the courts make it easier for teenagers to leave their

parents, more will.

It's that simple.

I agree.

And it's not a door I want to open up, believe me.

But this case isn't about...

selecting the best policy.

It's about Milton Lebec, his best interests.

In this particular situation, he may be better off in California.

There's always someplace better, and there's always something to leave over,

come by my house.

But family is family.

You don't leave family.

Thank you

Principal

called and said you left school and now you're here.

I must be in trouble

I've been thinking a lot about what you said.

And I am guilty about some things.

I do Mother Zack more than I do you.

I go to all of his games. I go to all of his school activities.

The truth is I still feel the need to protect him. He's small.

He's fragile.

I think of you as stronger.

But one thing I'm not guilty of is

loving him more.

Matthew, I love you as deeply as I could ever love any person.

Although it's always been a goal,

I'm not.

I fail.

And one of the things that I think I feel about the most, and maybe Daddy

is keeping this family connected.

Because if you could think for one single second...

But I don't love you with all of my

heart.

I promise you that I'm going to try harder, okay?

Be seated

The

law says that children do not get to choose where they want

to live Unless the parent is unfit the child simply has no say

To be honest, I do have concerns here

The frog suit, the frog singing, the frogs.

It borders on the aberrant.

Milton last year committed a violent crime, so things certainly aren't Norman

Rockwell in that household.

But if you peer inside the walls of any household, you will

rarely find Norman Rockwell.

I can think of no greater institution in this country.

than the family.

And if I hold that teenagers can walk out just because they're not happy, I

weaken that institution.

Well, I won't do that.

If there's abuse or insanity, certainly a court should step in.

But otherwise, a judge has no business coming between parent and child.

Plaintiff's petition denied.

Hold on.

I'm not finished.

I

have

a son.

I haven't seen him in 26 years.

I know he's still alive.

Because now and then I run into people.

Who talked to him?

I, uh... I love him.

And I don't doubt that he loves me.

But... it isn't always enough that you love each other.

You... It isn't always enough.

Milton.

He's your father.

I'm ordering you to be his son.

I'm enjoining you from hiding behind the costume and that stupid song.

Talk to him.

You see, as a judge, I get enforcement

powers that weren't available to me as a parent.

If I've overstepped my judicial authority good

Case closed

everybody

Okay, closing argument.

I suppose you're going to want to skip college, go right on to law school now.

You can represent me.

I want to sue the state.

And the city will want to. For what?

Your broken leg?

Negligence. Pain and suffering.

Emotional distress.

You broke your leg on our driveway. How can you sue the state?

Take on insurance.

Deep pocket.

Felt a lot of court for nuisance charge be an American for me not to sue

You have to follow

suit

Where am I?

Coming on you.

Doctor!

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