All language subtitles for Picket Fences s04e21 To Forgive is Divine

Talk to me.

Two pounds of buckwheat, a pound of the
unbleached, and that's all.

And don't dawdle. We won't be here long.

Kenny, how is she? She's still in with
Dr. Diamond.

Is she the kind that did it? She hasn't
said anything yet. She's pretty shook

up, Jimmy.

Her father and brother brought her in.

They didn't see anything.

Dr. Amish?

Jimmy, I'll be with you in one moment.
She's resting.

She's in shock.

I've given her a mild sedative.

Rape? No, it's definite signs of forced
penetration.

It'll be an hour or so before we get the
results of the pelvic exam.

Battery? He's got a nasty bump in the
head, some contusions, abrasions.

Can I talk to her?

Okay, but let's keep it brief.

Anna.

Anna, this is Sheriff Brock. He needs to
ask you a few questions, okay?

I'm here to help.

I need to know, did you see the man who
did this?

You did?

Okay.

Do you think you could recognize this
person if you saw him again?

Give me a description.

I know who it is.

He works at the hardware store.

I didn't do anything.

Save it, pal.

Come on.

He was at home watching Lytton. Can you
believe that?

I ran his sheet.

Eugene Stultz, 25, two prior arrests for
sexual assault at Green Bay, one

conviction.

Jimmy. Walter, is this your nephew?

Are you sure you're not mistaken?

The victim said it was the young man who
worked in your store.

Gave me an accurate description, Walter.

Can you account for his whereabouts?

Between 7 and 7 .30 this evening?

Jimmy, I knew he'd had some trouble with
the law, but I never thought it was

this kind of thing.

My sister, that husband of hers, it
never was a good situation.

I just thought that he needed a break.

Put him to work with me in the store to
try and help straighten him out.

He's been with me for eight months.

And it hasn't been a problem of any
kind.

Not until this.

Can I see him?

They got it all wrong.

So what happened?

Is it true?

Did you hurt that girl?

I didn't do anything.

What happened?

Where is Hannah? Is she all right? She's
all right, Mother. Come here and sit

down. I want to see her.

Mother, Mother.

Thank you, Doctor.

Doctor,

is it going to be much longer?

Look, I think she's going to be all
right, but I want to keep her overnight

observation.

Hannah's exhausted, Doctor. She needs
rest.

My wife is anxious to take her home.
What is it? Look, I understand, but it's

late. The best thing for Hannah right
now is for her to stay right where she

And you can come by first thing in the
morning and pick her up. Joseph, what is

it? Is there a problem? It's all right,
Mother.

I'm sorry, but I must insist. My wife
has brought some clothes for her to

into. I hear your concern, Mr. Byler.

But I would feel much more comfortable
if she stayed overnight.

Just to make sure she's all right. There
is no reason for you to keep her here.

If there's no medical emergency, we will
take her home.

Please, Doctor.

We're all very tired.

All right.

Just bring her back if there's any
change in her condition.

I can't believe that Walter Mott would
let a rapist live in this town without

telling you about it. I didn't know.

That could have been Kimberly.

Honey, he's just trying to help his
nephew out, that's all.

Is the Amish girl going to be all right?

Yeah, I think she'll be fine.

You know what they call the Amish at
school?

What? Dumb Dutchman. Zach. Hey.

What?

What do we do?

You don't call them that, do you?

No, but they are kind of weird.

I mean, they don't even use electricity.

Well, Zach, the Amish people believe in
simplicity. They think it brings them

closer to God. Hello.

I thought we were close to God.

They're closer.

What?

It's complicated, Zach.

Yeah, be right there.

The Amish.

They're not going to press charges.

We forgive him.

Forgive him?

We pray he can turn his life around.

Obviously, he's a very troubled young
man.

Mr. Byron, he brutally assaulted your
daughter.

I don't need to be reminded, Sheriff.
The guy deserves to be thrown in jail.

Our community does not believe in
vengeance, Deputy.

We condemn the sin, not the sinner.

Is that how you feel?

It is not Hannah's decision.

What do you mean it's not her decision?

She's the one that got raped, Kenny. We
decide things through the Council of

Elders. We will not pursue this matter
through your courts.

I can't believe this is what you want.

The Council has made its decision.

I will abide by it. Maybe you don't
understand.

We need Hannah's testimony to convict
Stoltz without her. He's going to walk

free tomorrow.

We do understand, Sheriff.

Then how can you take this position?

For the same reason we choose to live
apart.

We abide by God's laws, not yours.

Christ teaches us to turn the other
cheek.

This rapist presents a risk to everyone
who lives around here. Don't you feel

some obligation to them? Our obligation
is to God.

Come.

Mr. Byler, I can subpoena her.

Force her to comply if necessary or have
her thrown in jail for contempt.

You do what you have to do, Sheriff, and
we will do the same.

You're letting him go?

Without charging him, I can only hold
him 48 hours.

I'm already getting phone calls.

How can the city release a known sex
offender?

No testimony, no case.

She's the only eyewitness.

What about physical evidence?

DNA?

There's no DNA. The rapist evidently
ejaculated outside the woman's body on

father.

Must have cleaned it up. That's Carter's
report.

I can't believe she won't testify.

The Amish don't believe in our court
system.

They're forbidden to file legal suit or
even take the oath.

Yes, but this was one of their own who
was attacked.

If you put Hannah Byler on the stand and
she refuses to testify, there'll be no

choice for the judge other than to throw
her in jail. Now, you wouldn't want

that. Victimizing the victim could have
political fallout. Look, I don't care

about the fallout. We have a
responsibility to the community here.

could try a John Doe hearing.

John Doe? Yes, it's a close session with
the Hannah, the judge, and the DA.

Under these circumstances, she might be
comfortable testifying.

And whatever Hannah says could be
admissible in trial, even if she doesn't

cooperate later in open court.

But we've got to be willing to go all
the way. If she doesn't talk, she goes

jail.

I'll talk to the DA.

I respectfully decline to answer.

Do you understand the question?

Yes, Your Honor.

But you refuse to answer it.

Yes, Your Honor.

Young lady, we've called you here today
because you are the victim of a crime.

Without your testimony, it will be very
difficult for us to prosecute the man

who did this to you.

I urge you to cooperate with this court.

Repeat the question, please.

Miss Byler,

Was Eugene Stoltz the man who raped you
on the night of March 24th?

Miss Spoiler, you are being asked about
a crime of which you have direct

knowledge.

I'm ordering you to answer the question.

Let me remind you that I can put you in
jail if you refuse to answer.

Do you understand?

Yes, sir.

But you still refuse to cooperate.

My religious convictions prevent me from
testifying.

Counselor.

Clearly, she's not going to testify.

No, Your Honor.

Your Honor, the circumstances, I see no
other alternative other than

incarceration for contempt.

Oh.

You don't, do you?

Well, she has defied a court order.

Yeah. Pretty gutsy, wouldn't you say?

Your Honor. I'm going to try a different
approach.

Step back.

But, Your Honor. Step back.

Young lady.

You have direct knowledge, and you were
the direct victim.

But you must understand that the state
also has its own interests to serve.

In six hours, the sheriff will be forced
to release Eugene Stoltz

from custody.

I want you to think about that.

A known criminal will be back on the
streets.

because of your refusal to testify.

Now, while I respect your religious
convictions, I must ask you to respect

welfare of this community of which you
are a part.

I could have you incarcerated until such
time as which you choose to cooperate,

but I'm not going to do that.

Instead, out of regard for both your
suffering

and your courage, I'm asking you to go
home and

reconsider your position.

You're not coming back, are you, Hannah?

Are you just going to forget what Stoltz
did to you?

Not forget.

Forgive. He's not going to change,
Hannah.

Guys like that just keep doing what
they're doing until they get caught.

If you're not going to testify for
yourself, what about the other girls out

there that might be next?

Nobody. Look, you're 18.

You're old enough to make your own
decisions. Why do you let them control

like that?

I mean, you're the one that was raped.

Yes.

Me. I was raped. Why do you care? You
don't even know me. I was at the

when they brought you in.

I held your hand for the first 20
minutes.

I do care.

All you care about is putting that man
in jail.

You look at me right in the eye and you
tell me that you don't want that guy

nailed as bad as I do.

Anna.

Please, leave us alone.

Hey, you're just lucky the guy didn't
punch you out.

They're nonviolent, remember?

Not a social worker, Kenny.

She's 18.

Forget about it. I just don't buy that
Hannah's okay with it.

Kenny, you honestly expected her to go
against the wishes of her people?

What about her wishes?

Community's everything to the Amish. To
defy a decision by the Council of Elders

is unthinkable.

I don't get these people.

Well, it's simple. They believe they're
living the word of God.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall
obtain mercy.

Have virtually no crime. Families stick
together. They live lives of beautiful

simplicity. Yeah. And in the meantime,
the rapist goes free.

Let me ask you something. Why are you so
interested?

It's personal.

She wants to testify, Carter. I know it.

Well, then she must be feeling deeply
conflicted, Kenny. I don't think you're

helping her any.

Amen. No,

thank you.

You're not eating?

I'm not hungry.

Anna.

You must trust the ruling of the
council.

I know.

You may not feel it yet in your heart,
but in time you will learn the wisdom of

the decision.

This man Stoltz is not of our world.

He is of their world, and they will deal
with him as they see fit.

It is easy to hate, Anna.

We are asked to take a higher road.

I say unto you, love your enemies, lest
them that curse you.

Do good to them that hate you.

And pray for them which spitefully use
you and persecute you.

Be ye therefore perfect, as your Father
which is in heaven is perfect.

I am not perfect, Father.

Hannah!

Hannah, come back! Let her go, Mother.

We must be understanding.

I wouldn't be taking any long trips.

He can still be charged, Walter. All
this means is we can't hold him any

I'll get him counseling, Jimmy.

Okay.

Keep a close eye on him.

Check the closet.

What did he do?

Would you please tell me, what did he
do?

Another restore.

Peggy Patterson, 16. This time there
were witnesses.

Oh, God.

Have any idea where he would have gone?

No.

None.

Since this first happened, I haven't had
him work in the store with me. I mean,

he just sits in front of the TV.

I've been trying to figure out what to
do with him. Do you have any access to a

car, sir?

Nothing I know of. He tries to call you.
You get any ideas, you call us. You got

it?

Absolutely.

Hey. Hey.

How's she doing?

Well, I treated her for contusions and
lacerations. I put five sutures in her

head. She's had a really rough time. Oh,
damn.

Broad daylight like he wants to get
caught.

Maybe he does.

Where's Patterson? Is he okay? He's over
there.

I know, thanks.

We'll get through this.

Dan, how you doing?

How you think I'm doing?

We're doing everything we can to catch
him, Dan, I assure you.

It's a little late, isn't it, Jimmy?

You had him in your custody.

You had him behind bars and you let him
go.

Okay, listen up.

Walter Mott says he's missing a .38
revolver, so we assume Stoltz is armed

dangerous. Now, if you spot him, you
call for backup. No heroes here.

He's on foot, so that should make our
job easier.

Kenny? We've got a 24 -hour stakeout on
Mott's place.

Assignments are posted. Pete, you work
on public transportation.

Check with cabbies, bus drivers. The
rest of you, canvas your patrol areas.

We're talking about motels, taverns,
coffee shops, gas stations.

Any place Stoltz might have gone for
cover. I want him found, you understand?

out there and get him.

Hurry.

Yeah.

Uh, Laurie.

I told you whenever I had some
information, I would give it to you.

I have information for you.

Dan Patterson?

He's suing the Amish.

Although the Sheriff's Department
released Stoltz just last week, our

investigation shows that he had no
choice in the matter.

Rather, we trace direct responsibility
to Hannah Beiler's refusal to testify.

Now, if the Amish had chosen to
cooperate with the Sheriff, Eugene

be behind bars right now, not out
stalking the women of Rome at this very

moment. The Amish have failed in their
civic duty.

Peggy Patterson paid the price.

Therefore, we're seeking monetary
damages in the amount of $300 ,000.

Come in.

Mr. Wombo?

Yes?

You gave me quite a start there.

For a minute I thought the Hasidim were
in town.

It's a joke.

No, no, no. Sit down.

Sit down.

What can I do for you?

We need a lawyer.

Your Honor, I move for immediate
dismissal of all claims. To allege that

young woman is somehow legally
responsible for the rape of Peggy

preposterous. Your Honor, the police
allege that Hannah Byler identified

Stoltz as her assailant.

The court told Miss Byler that her
testimony was essential. Otherwise,

the convicted rapist, would have to be
put back on the street where he was

likely to rape again. And still, she
refused to testify.

The tragic results of her actions were
entirely foreseeable, and the Pattersons

should be able to hold her legally
liable.

Baloney! The plaintiffs have no standing
whatsoever to sue my client.

I don't know what planet Mr. Dell got
his law degree from, but in this

an innocent person has no duty to report
a crime. This court ordered Miss Byler

to testify, Judge.

By refusing to comply, she violated her
legal duty to the people of the state of

Wisconsin. The plaintiffs are...

citizens of this state. They are the
people of Wisconsin.

Hannah Byler's open refusal to testify,
knowing the foreseeable consequences

constitutes negligence for which the
plaintiffs are entitled to money damage.

Because they're Amish, isn't it?

Excuse me? They make easy targets
because they dress funny. Wombo. My

know a little bit about religious
persecution, Judge, and I can recognize

when I see it. You're right. Ah, the
plaintiffs are angry and they're looking

for a scapegoat. Hey!

You want to blame somebody, blame Eugene
Stoltz.

Don't take it out on this young woman
because she chooses to follow a religion

much different from yours.

No one here is indicting the Amish way
of life.

Quiet.

I've heard enough from both sides.

And after weighing the argument, I
believe Mr. Dale has an intriguing

Your Honor. Shut up.

As a matter of law, one could argue
there was duty involved, Mr. Wombau.

Accordingly... I'm ruling plaintiffs
have established a cause of action and

this case can go before a jury.

Trial will begin at 9 .30 tomorrow
morning.

What does this mean?

It just means we come back to fight
another day.

That's all.

Don't worry.

We'll wait for you outside, Hannah.

Hannah.

It's all because of me, isn't it?

No.

It's all because of one very sick
individual named Eugene Stoltz.

But I could have stopped him.

If this is God's plan, I have trouble
saying it.

Who says this is God's plan?

Some things just happen.

Jesus says to forgive.

And I have tried to forgive.

no forgiveness in my heart for that man.

He has made me afraid of the dark, of
being alone, of going to sleep.

I have dreams.

Horrible dreams.

But worst of all, I feel ashamed.

I've dishonored my family.

Anna.

Anna.

This wasn't your fault.

The feelings you're having, they're
normal.

My sister was raped a few years ago.

They never found the guy.

She went through everything you're going
through.

And she's doing okay.

Next week, I'm to take my baptismal
vows.

You weren't baptized?

In our faith, we have believers'
baptism.

One must be an adult to make a
declaration of belief.

But now, I'm not sure what I believe.

How can I go through with it when I feel
the way I do?

I don't know much about your faith.

But where I come from, there's no sin in
questioning.

I could lose everything.

We must ask you to refrain from
employing further vindictiveness in

Vindictiveness? You asked the Pattersons
to blame Eugene Stoltz for their

troubles. It is not our desire to pass
judgment.

Gentlemen, you hired me to represent
you.

I'll do everything in my power to win.

No. What no?

There are limits.

We must be true to our beliefs.

You're the outsiders here, Eli.

The jury will identify with the
Pattersons. No.

You must maintain an even temper.

I haven't maintained an even temper
throughout my entire life.

Start.

I asked him to stop.

I begged him to stop.

I told him that I was a virgin.

But...

Take your time.

It hurt.

I closed my eyes.

I don't know how long.

When I opened them he was gone.

After a while I could stand up.

I started walking to the street.

The next thing I knew, I was at the
hospital.

Your witness?

No questions, Your Honor.

And what did the DNA analysis reveal,
Dr. Pike?

The semen recovered from Miss Patterson
matched that of the suspect.

And you were able to obtain a
fingerprint?

Objection! The witness is not competent.

Withdrawn.

Dr. Pike?

Yes, we obtained a print off Miss
Patterson's purse that matched the

Did you tell Hannah Beiler and the
representatives of the Amish community

Eugene Stoltz presented a risk to the
community at large? In so many words,

What else did you tell them?

That I thought they had an obligation to
cooperate.

What did they say to that?

I said the obligation was to God. I
pointed out that Hannah had a legal

responsibility to testify.

And what was their response?

They said to do what I had to do, they
would do what they had to do.

Thank you, Sheriff Brock.

Go with us.

No questions, Your Honor.

Mr. Byler, in addition to being Hannah
Byler's father, you're an Amish elder

with a special knowledge of the church.
Am I right?

Yes, that is correct.

You pay taxes to the city of Rome, do
you not?

Yes.

So you acknowledge some obligation to
the community at large.

Yes, we believe in paying for what we
use.

And you pay federal taxes as well?

Except for Social Security.

Why is that?

We choose to live as we believe God
intends.

And America gives you the freedom to
live the way you choose.

Isn't that correct?

Yes. Our ancestors came here because of
that.

So you're grateful to the United States
and the state of Wisconsin in particular

for providing the freedoms you enjoy?

Very much so, yes.

And yet, when presented the opportunity
to participate in a criminal

investigation, you advise Hanna Beiler
not to testify. Now, why is that?

Our faith forbids us to participate in
most legal matters, except when it

involves infringement of our religious
freedoms.

But what about retribution?

We do not seek retribution.

Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord.

All right, then.

How about justice?

Justice means different things to
different people.

We believe the ways of God are just.

Our faith tells us to pray for the soul
of Eugene Stoltz, that he might find

redemption. Okay.

But what about the rest of us?

You were told that Stoltz might strike
again.

Now, couldn't you have bent your rules
this one time so Hannah could have

testified to keep him incarcerated?

No.

We must trust to God's plan, even when
it is hard to accept.

Especially when it is hard to accept.

Thank you.

Right, okay. Mr. Byler, speaking
hypothetically now, let's say...

that there was a band of armed men
headed toward your community. Now, you'd

expect the sheriff's department to
protect you, wouldn't you?

No. Oh, come on, Mr. Byler. You wouldn't
want the sheriff to ride on out there

and help you out?

Objection. He already answered the
question.

Sustained. All right, let me put it
another way. You wouldn't refuse the

sheriff's help, would you?

In the case which you describe, probably
not. Probably not.

All right, let's take another situation.
Let's say that there's a... A medical

emergency. Let's say that a member of
your community stabs a pitchfork right

through his leg. You wouldn't refuse an
ambulance, would you?

No. No.

In fact, the city of Rome, the state of
Wisconsin, provide many services which

your community enjoys.

Isn't that true?

Yes. And yet, you feel no reciprocal
obligation, do you?

I don't understand the question.

Well, what I mean is, you people are
willing to take, but you don't give

Objection! Mr. Dell!

Withdrawn.

Okay, thank you, man.

Another hot tip from the senior
citizen's neighborhood watch. Lady said

saw Stoltz three minutes ago at 3rd and
Maple.

Yeah, right, like that shut -in who said
Stoltz was hiding in her clothes dryer.

Let's check it out.

Oh, lock those. Sitting around here is
driving me nuts.

Why don't you go visit Mac? I already
did that this morning. Come on, let's

off some of that winter fat.

Fat? What fat?

Ladies and gentlemen, at the heart of
this shoot...

is a profound question. That question
is, can we allow a person or a group,

group, to ignore its legal
responsibility to the larger society of

are a part?

Truth is, the Amish do not care about
your world.

In fact, their religion is based on a
complete rejection of your world.

Hannah Byler was compelled by her elders
to defy the orders of this court.

And her defiance has sent out a powerful
message.

And that message is that it is somehow
justifiable for one community to turn a

blind eye against the needs of another,
even when those needs concern the

physical safety of the citizens of both
communities.

Well, the time has come to say that
there is no justification for such an

isolationism, religious or otherwise.

It's time to say that no belief system
can take precedence over the laws of

state.

Hannah Byler defied the law when she
wouldn't testify and negligently put

Stoltz back on the street where he
brutally raped Peggy Patterson.

The Amish elders could have prevented
this.

They had a choice.

And they chose to do nothing because
they don't want to get involved in your

world.

Now, ladies and gentlemen, you too have
a choice.

Thank you.

At first, you may not have understood
the Amish position in this case.

Even I had trouble understanding how an
innocent young woman could refuse to

testify against her own assailant.

But the explanation is simple.

As simple as the Amish way of life
itself.

You heard Joseph Biles say it.

These people live their faith.

They live it.

And everything in the Amish community is
consistent with that faith.

From not accepting social security to
not testifying in court.

Is such a life easy?

Hardly. Do you think that it was easy
for Joseph Byler

to forgive the man who raped his
daughter?

Do you think that he loves his children
any less than you love yours?

This is faith, ladies and gentlemen.

Faith such as I have rarely encountered.

Rather than condemn it or be afraid of
it, we should seek to learn from it.

I'm telling you, Locos, this is a dead
end. That Noreen Wilson, she calls the

station every couple of days when she
gets lonely.

Yeah, yeah. I remember last year, she
had us come out. There he is. What?

Right there.

Look out, look out.

338, we're pursuing the suspect heading
north on Maple towards Crest.

Request backup.

There he is. Stop the car. Stop the car.

I'm on foot. Yes. I'll go around back to
the alley.

Madam foreperson, has the jury reached a
verdict?

We have, Your Honor.

What say you? In the matter of Patterson
v. Hannah Byler and the Council of

Elders, we, the jury, rule for the
defendants and direct that the plaintiff

nothing.

Members of the jury, this completes your
service.

Thank you.

This matter is adjourned.

God bless.

Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you for coming. Thank
you.

See you at church.

Freeze!

Forgive me.

Let's move along, Steve.

Hannah, Hannah, come on.

Brothers and sisters, we are here to
celebrate the baptism of Hannah Mary

Byler. Let us remember that the vow she
is about to make is not

to the ministers or to the church, but
to God.

Hannah Mary Byler, please kneel if it is
still your desire.

To become a member of the body of
Christ.

In the name of the Father, the Son, and
the Holy Spirit. Amen.

In the name of the Lord and the Church,
we extend to you the hand

of fellowship.

Right up.

to sing thy grace.

Strings of mercy never ceasing call for
songs

of loudest praise.

Teach me, God,