Original subtitles

(ominous music)

Downloaded from YTS.MX

(typewriter clacking)

Official YIFY movies site: YTS.MX

(ominous music)

(typewriter clacking)

(typewriter clacking)

(ominous music)

(typewriter clacking)

(ominous music)

(upbeat music)

- [Tom Laresca] The apostle Peter tells us

that the testing of your faith

is more precious than gold.

The Bible is full of these examples.

Abraham was commanded to sacrifice his son, Issac,

Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers

and was a prisoner for 20 years,

but no other story in the Bible

depicts the lesson of how God tests his people

than that Of Job.

Job lost everything, and in losing everything,

he found life.

He found God.

(upbeat music)

(ominous music)

(radio chatters)

- What's going on?

Hunter!

This is not nap time.

It's police time.

- Sorry, Sergeant.

- Come on.

- We've got some visitors.

- I don't know. Let me check.

Hey, last two in that silver sedan.

What are they doing here?

- [Officer] One of our residents' family members.

All clear.

- (scoffs) Look at that.

(radio chattering) You think they bike much?

You know, when I was a kid, I had one bike,

but these guys have two people here and 10 bikes.

Ridiculous.

- They're probably just visiting their family.

- Are you kidding me?

These guys have too much money.

Tire goes flat, they buy a new bike.

(cops chuckle)

I remember when this area had nothing on it.

Now, look at these guys.

Looks like we've been invaded by the North.

South, too. Ramirez.

(radio chattering)

- Tom?

Tom?

Doesn't look like he's here.

- I think he's still waiting on that pie.

- Yeah.

Why don't we have a seat?

- What's that?

- It all has to do with his boss.

Tom, what are you doing?

- Who's that guy?

- The pizza guy.

- Yeah.

- All right.

Well.

All right, guys. I'm gonna go hit the head.

Listen, don't be slackers.

You stay awake.

All right?

You guys gotta at least pretend you're police officers.

- Yes, sir. - Mm-hm.

So have you heard the latest?

- No, tell me.

- So reviews came in.

Sergeant Kalmus frequently deviates

from standard operating procedure.

- Dude's a regular cowboy.

- Oh, no. It gets better.

Police hierarchy believes he should be terminated

from the program.

- Geez, I'm shocked.

- No, there's more.

It goes on to say, quote,

"He is a detriment to the department."

You know they don't even know what to do with him?

- What?

- His communication skills,

they say that he speaks to his coworkers,

and the general public, and his supervisors,

the same way that he speaks

to the obnoxious and annoying drunk drivers.

(chuckles) But the ending,

you're not gonna believe what it says.

- What?

- Coworkers say that he's difficult

and hard to work with. (chuckles)

- Jeez, how many chances are they gonna give this guy?

(Hunter laughs)

(radio chattering) He's coming.

- Any activity?

(radio chattering)

- Dad.

So I'm so happy you guys made it down.

I really wish Mom would've came.

- You know your mom's not fond of flying.

- Is she okay?

- Yeah, they put her on some new meds.

- Sorry I didn't pick you up from the airport.

Work's just been...

Work's crazy.

- So you guys have been together for a while now, huh?

Fraud?

This is the guy that gave you your start.

- Is that why you're here, Dad?!

- No.

I come here and I see your boss Simon all over the table.

There's surveillance, there is fraud documents, police.

What is all this?

- Dad, I just found out that he was a crook.

- No!

He's a good man, and he gave you a great job,

and he pays you an awful lot of money.

You told me last year that you were making $750,000.

Do you know how many years as a fireman

I would've had to work to make that amount of money?

Do the math!

I was making 17K a year!

- Dad!

Dad, he was breaking the law.

And I couldn't let it go.

Wait.

That's why you're here?!

- Tom, sit down!

Tom!

- Have a slice.

I'm gonna cool off.

- Tom!

Tom!

Tom, wait. Listen.

Dad's just worried about you, man.

He got a call about you turning in your boss to the police,

and they said you're being irrational.

- First, it's not the police. It's the SEC.

And irrational? No.

I've been doing this for years,

and I know fraud when I see it.

This? This is theft.

And he's ripping people off.

- But did you really have to turn him in?

- Yes, I did.

(crickets chirping)

(ominous music)

- [Dispatcher] 911. Is this an emergency?

- Yes, this is an emergency.

There's a man in my backyard.

(crickets chirping) (ominous music)

(knocking on door)

- I noticed you downloaded some of my account specs.

The Amen portfolio.

- I believe in God.

The symbol caught my attention,

but you know, you and I,

we're Catholics through and through,

which means we're held to a higher standard,

and this Amen portfolio is sacrilegious, and it's wrong.

You're preying on rich religious people

to invest in a fund solely based on the name.

And on top of it all, it's filled with illegal fees.

- There's nothing illegal with fees, brother.

- Oh, well there is whenever you don't disclose it,

and it's true for SEC guidelines.

- It's a charity. People are gonna pay more.

- Oh, give me a break! (Simon laughs)

You and I, we've done a lot of legitimate charities.

- Yeah. - And raised lots of money

for a lot of good causes,

but this, this is the Simon Green Charity.

- Bottom line, you're just pissed

you didn't think of it first.

(Tom laughs) It's true.

- No, no, no, no, no.

You know what, just change the name.

The amen sounds like it's a religious fund, and it's not.

Just call it something else, okay?

- Hey!

That plaque on the wall? Trader of the year?

I got you that award.

As a matter of fact, I got you your house,

your car, this office.

You should be grateful you still have a job.

Yeah. - I was grateful.

- Oh, yeah? - Yeah, I was.

I built this trading department with my contacts

and by trading well, and legally.

- What, you're gonna hit me, karate man?

Huh?

- Change the name.

- How about you watch your back?

- Or what?

- You heard me.

(ominous music)

(crickets chirping)

- Man, man, man,

why does nobody believe me?!

(Tom sobs)

Why?!

God, why does this keep happening to me?!

(Tom sobs)

- [Disembodied Voice] Go back and ask your dad

and brother for forgiveness.

- What?!

They're supposed to be the ones that forgive me.

Okay.

Okay, okay, okay, okay.

(ominous music)

- [Tom Voiceover] That's weird.

Never seen police here before.

- Stop right there.

- What's going on?

I know our argument got loud.

Wait, wait. Someone called the cops?

- What are you doing here?

- I was going for a run.

- In a black coat and a hoodie?

- Yes. It's freezing outside.

- Get on your hands and knees.

- For what? What did I do?

- Hands and knees now!

- You know me!

Tell him you know me!

I live right there.

(pepper spray hissing) What the...

- [Tom Voiceover] Since I was in New York

the last six months working on my charity

with Leonard Marshall,

an armed burglar had been breaking into estates

in my gated community.

The police were on high alert to capture

and arrest the criminal before he robbed again.

What I did next wasn't smart. - I will shoot you!

- [Tom Voiceover] But those cops made me look like a fool,

so I wanted to make him

look like fool. - Suspect apprehended

and disabled. (Tom chokes)

Go behind the house.

We will take care of it.

Go!

- Stop resisting! - Move!

I got him, get outta the way.

- [Tom Voiceover] Kalmus must have felt like a fool.

Just what I wanted. (Tom chokes)

- Shut up.

- I can't breathe.

- Shut up. I don't care.

- Help!

(Tom screams)

(Tom choking)

- Go call EMS!

- 601, dispatch.

7418 Camp (indistinct).

Man down, in need of ambulance assistance.

(siren blaring)

- Ambulance arriving on scene.

- [Kalmus] You do not let anyone in.

We have an EDP.

- What's that?

- [Kalmus] Emotionally disturbed person.

- Okay.

- Seriously? They're not gonna let us in?

- I don't...

- [Tom Voiceover] Kalmus didn't wanna let them in

because they weren't done torturing me.

- Back up! Back up!

((indistinct))

- Why are you doing this to me?

- 'Cause you were resisting.

- No, I wasn't!

- And then you went for my gun!

- You're trying to kill me.

- Yes.

- At that moment, I knew I was in serious trouble.

- You'll never go for another cop's gun.

- I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

- [Tom Voiceover] Each time I almost caught my breath,

they sprayed my nose and mouth point blank.

I was sprayed at least 10 times, maybe more.

(Tom chokes)

- I can't breathe!

- [Tom Voiceover] I remember taking my last breath

and passing away, like it happened yesterday.

I was scared not knowing what would come after death,

until I passed.

(gentle music)

Immediately, I went from not breathing

to being hit with a cool gust of wind

that instantly inflated my lungs.

It was the most peaceful feeling imaginable.

Dead naturally, exceedingly alive spiritually.

I was breathing again, but not in my physical body.

(siren blares)

(gentle music)

- [Disembodied Voice] Do not fear those who kill the body.

(gentle music)

(sirens blare)

- Who's in charge here?

- [Kalmus] I am.

- And you are?

- Sergeant Kalmus.

- Why the freaking half-hour delay?

- Doing my job.

Try doing yours.

- Anyone on traffic here?

- Patient not responsive.

No heartbeat.

- Starting compressions.

- He has deep lacerations on both wrists.

- What do you think happened?

- Signs look like he was repeatedly

doused with pepper spray, point blank.

- Abuse?

- And torture.

- Press.

(radios chattering)

- Feel for pulse. Feel for heartbeat.

(radio chattering)

- No signs of life.

We need to move him now if he's gonna have a chance.

- Okay. On the count of three.

One, two, three.

- [Tom Voiceover] Kalmus and accomplices finished

inflicting grievous bodily harm

with malicious intent to kill and destroy me.

Five police officers forsaking their oaths and duties

watched unprovoked murder.

No one even attempted to stop Kalmus.

- [Kalmus] On the move.

- [Tom Voiceover] I know I died that night,

and they do too.

I was dead for at least 12 minutes.

And anytime you're dead, it's too long,

unless it's your appointed time.

- Come back, come back.

Up.

(gentle music)

(ominous music)

- Nothing on the EKG.

Flat line. Three minutes.

(Tom screams)

- Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!

(Tom gasps)

- Holy crap!

Scared the heck out of me.

He's back!

- Go lights!

- [Tom Voiceover] I laid in that ambulance

struggling to breath, one shallow,

sporadic breath at a time.

- I just killed you.

- [Tom Voiceover] It's Kalmus!

No air.

He's trying to kill me again,

trying to bury his dirty secret with me.

- Who the hell turned off the oxygen?

- [Tom Voiceover] The Bible says,

"To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord."

I didn't see him, but I heard him.

- We need a room. What room number?

- [Tom Voiceover] First and foremost,

I respect law enforcement.

I appreciate their hard work and dedication

that keeps us safe,

and even though my story may be troubling to a few,

there are always going to be a few bad ones.

But this story isn't about those guys,

it's about how that experience changed my life.

(machine beeping) - Okay, vitals?

- Temperature 103.4,

pulse 118,

respiratory 28,

blood pressure 148 over 68.

- Thank you. We'll take it from here.

(machine beeping)

What happened to this man?

- He is a suspect in a breaking and entering.

He attacked us.

- Take off his cuffs.

Now.

- I wanna just say for the record,

that man is a violent predator.

He attacked me and he reached for my weapon.

- I understand that, officer,

but right now he is not a threat.

Take them off now.

What was his blood pressure?

- [Nurse] 143 over 30.

- All right, let's check his O2.

You can go now.

Can we get some help in here?

- This doesn't look good.

- Dude, we got this.

We've been through- - Guys. In here.

Sit down.

You too.

I wanna be sure, so we need to review a few things.

We did ask for his identification?

- I think so.

Yes. Yes, we did.

- And he refused, right?

- I don't know. - Well, he did.

Then he attacked me, and he went for my gun.

- I didn't see that.

I just saw him standing there and the gun was on the ground.

- And then that's when you attacked him.

- Yeah.

- I mean, you hit first, right? From behind?

- Yeah.

- So you must have seen him attack me,

or you never would've attacked him.

- He was going for your gun.

- So you did think he was dangerous?

- Of course. - He was going for that gun.

And after he attacked me, he took my gun.

We tried to subdue him.

And that's when you initiated the pepper spray.

- Yeah, I got him once.

No, twice.

- Well, see that doesn't matter.

What matters is that it worked

and we were able to subdue the suspect.

- But he lived there.

- Well, here's the thing.

We didn't know that.

He never identified himself.

He just attacked us.

(ominous music)

(machine beeping)

- Hey!

Why aren't they telling us anything about my son, Tom?

- Well, I can tell you something.

He's lucky he's not dead.

He attacked us.

And you know what I'm thinking?

Must be steroids.

- My son never used steroids.

Why would you say that?

- Did you not just hear me?

He attacked us.

Unless he's just crazy.

And then he started crying for his daddy and his brother.

How pathetic.

- Watch your mouth.

Are you sure it's not something that you did?

- So we had an EDP tonight,

emotionally disturbed person.

You should have seen me.

It was incredible, so, it was-

- Are you Sergeant Kalmus?

- Well, now that all depends.

Who wants to know?

- Your attorney.

Can we talk privately?

- Sure.

- I'll be back.

Why do I need an attorney?

- Shut up.

Have a seat.

I work for the Police Union.

I'm here to make sure that tonight's arrest

doesn't embarrass the department or cost you your job.

Do I have permission to represent you

should you need legal counsel?

- [Kalmus] I guess so.

- At 1:00 A.M. this morning,

when you were told that emergency medical services

would arrive on site,

did you tell Officer J. Hunter they can wait a few?

- Excuse me?

- Did you at any point tonight,

did you instruct officers under your command

to detain medical personnel from treating the suspect?

- Never.

- So if I ask Officer Hunter the same question,

he can verify that medical treatment was not detained?

- He better.

- Okay.

Other than Officer Hunter

and that wack nut security guard, Santiago Diaz,

Was there anyone else around you

when you were told EMS arrived on site

and you said to not let them in?

- No, sir.

You mean that wannabe cop said

that I said to hold medical?

I said no civilians to be let in.

Why would I stop the ambulance?

- Why did you keep handcuffs on the suspect

while you transported him to the hospital?

- Well-

- Was it because that you thought

maybe he was a danger to himself or others?

(ominous music)

- Yeah.

Yeah.

- Fine.

Fine. Thank you.

Why don't you go talk to Officer Hunter and tell him

that I'll be taking his side of the story in a few.

- I will. - Okay.

(ominous music)

((indistinct))

(machine beeping)

- The police cuffed him again?

- Yep. About 10 minutes ago.

- Okay. Let's find out what happened to this man.

- So how's he doing?

- He's stable.

- Good.

I'm mandating the Baker Act.

- There's no need for that.

His injuries were severe enough that we don't have to.

- No, no.

I want this guy, mental health evaluation.

He attacked multiple officers unprovoked.

I need you to sign this.

- Oh, yeah. I'm not signing that.

- (chuckles) Okay.

Well, it's a good thing I'm in charge then.

(machine beeping)

- Okay, let's get an x-ray of his lungs,

and do his wrists too.

- Okay, I'm on it.

(machine beeping)

- Lord, please watch over this man.

Give him the strength to heal

and the determination to recover,

in Jesus' name.

Amen.

- [Tom Voiceover] I spent two days in the ICU

restrained to that bed.

The doctors told me that I shouldn't have survived.

My skin was on fire, I was sweating profusely,

and my lungs completely collapsed,

but God saved me.

- Is this everything?

- Yep.

- All right. You're dismissed.

- Chief, I just want you to know that-

- Please leave.

- It was a good arrest.

- Look, Matt.

Two counties over, a 27 year old male

died from being restrained and pepper sprayed.

I mean, that caused quite the ruckus over there.

I don't want a ruckus in my department.

It's what, we're 50 deaths attributed to pepper spray

over the past five years?

How many times did they pepper spray this guy?

- Our suspect didn't die.

- No, but he came darned close.

And he wasn't on anything.

- Oh, no, no.

We don't know that yet.

Look, this was textbook.

The officers perceived him as a threat.

- Who are you kidding?

He lived across the street.

He could have been going for a walk for all we know.

- It's perception and reality.

Was he just out for a walk? Who knows?

Who cares? He failed to identify himself.

- He doesn't have to identify himself.

I mean, maybe he didn't know that was a police officer.

(Matt chuckles)

- Come on, Matt.

Look at his hands and his wrists.

His face. His lungs were destroyed.

- Wait, wait, wait.

Seeing is believing.

We believe what we see.

Juries believe what they see.

Here we see a man that was so out of control

that cuffs needed to stay on him to subdue him,

that the hospital ordered an evaluation psych,

that they had him restrained, even in the hospital.

We have to build a narrative so dramatic

that the audience has to believe our side,

because it's the truth.

Perception, reality.

- Have a seat, Mr. Laresca.

- Thank you, Doctor.

- My name is Dr. Sam Shapiro.

How are you feeling today?

- Just fine.

- Today, I'll assess your mental condition

to determine why you attacked all the officers

in a steroid rage.

- I've never taken steroids a day in my life.

- What about Haldol?

Maybe you attacked them

because you stopped taking Haldol.

- Never have.

I've never even had it prescribed.

Where are you getting this garbage?

- Police report.

So what made you attack the officers?

- I didn't attack anyone.

- All the officers are lying?

- Yes.

- You had a fight with your boss.

You were accusing Simon Green of fraud.

- Uh, yeah, because he did it,

and I've already contacted the SEC.

- He's your friend?

- Was my boss.

What does that have to do with-

- Your mental state when you attacked the officers.

- I didn't attack anyone.

They came running down the street,

they ordered me on my hands and knees,

then they handcuffed me, pepper sprayed me,

humiliated and stripped me,

then they pointed a gun at me, and I reacted.

And to top it all off,

I got pepper sprayed at least 10 times

point blank to my face.

- So you did attack them, but you didn't-

- I'm well trained in two disciplines of martial arts.

Don't you think that if I had attacked the officers

that maybe, just maybe, they'd be bruised or hurt?

I'm the victim here.

And there's nothing wrong with my mental state.

I just wanna get outta here.

I don't belong here anyways.

- Fine, but you'll be going straight to jail.

- I'd rather be in jail than here.

What are you writing?

Who are you calling?

(phone rings)

- Thomas Joseph Laresca?

- Yeah?

- You're hereby officially charged with one count

resisting arrest- - No, no, no, no.

- And one count resisting arrest

by force. - Force?

No, no, no, no.

I can't believe this.

They've killed me,

and now they're arresting me?

I'm gonna sue you. I'm gonna sue all of you!

Ow!

Easy.

(ominous music)

(group laughing)

- Okay, okay.

We need to get started,

we need to get started. - Okay, sorry.

- Richard, thank you so much for hosting this today.

Clearly we have a very serious problem on our hands,

and it's only getting scarier.

I mean, what if the children had been present?

- We have strong ethic and moral clauses

in the homeowner's agreement

just for cases like this.

The question is what do you wanna do about it?

- Well, we have to evict him.

We can't have those types of people living here.

- What if he tries to sue us?

- If the charges stick to Mr. Laresca,

we can impose fines, a possible lien on the property,

but a lawsuit would not be in his best interest.

- He should have never been allowed

in here in the first place.

- True.

- He's not like us.

He's new money.

- Yes. - Yeah.

Really.

- You try to kill yourself?

- No.

- I could never cut myself.

Jump off a bridge, a building maybe,

but cutting myself and all that-

- I didn't try to kill myself.

- Okay.

What'd you do?

- Nothing.

- (chuckles) Yeah, we're all innocent here, man.

(inmate chuckles)

- Your kids?

- Simone is five. Raymond's three.

- Oh, cute.

- You got any?

- Nope.

- Their mother put me here.

Child support.

- Well, if you're in here, how are you paying child support?

- That's my point exactly.

I get $1 behind, I get picked up, I lose a job,

and it goes round and round.

- Well, that don't make sense.

- That's okay. The good Lord's got a plan.

- What?

- He's got it all worked out.

- (scoffs) Whatever, man.

- So where you from?

- New York.

- A Yankee, huh?

So what'd you do?

- Like I said, nothing.

Okay.

My boss, I think he might be setting me up.

I caught him doing some crooked stuff,

next thing you know, I get beat up, and I don't know.

- Who beat you up?

- The cops.

(inmate chuckles)

- The cops here don't like Yankees.

(inmate chuckles)

He knows the way I take.

When he tests me, I shall come forth as gold.

- What?

- Job. The Book of Job.

The Bible.

- Is that that story about the guy

who had it all, and God, the Devil,

and they took everything away from him, or-

- Something like that, I guess.

- You believe that stuff?

- I believe there are barriers. Walls.

- Walls?

- Blessings come over here, and not over here, right?

But sometimes someone has a perfect life,

and everything's good,

but sometimes God tests that someone

with trials, problems,

to make sure we're all on the same page.

You know what I mean?

If they succeed, if they overcome, his is the glory.

- But you said gold.

(inmate chuckles)

Whatever.

- Thomas Joseph Laresca.

- Right up here.

Your honor, Mr. Laresca is an upstanding citizen.

No prior convictions, and ties to the community.

- Well, it says he's from New York.

- He is, but he has a home here,

which is where he was attacked by the police.

- This is a bail hearing, not his trial.

Save it.

Mr. Laresca, attacking police officers is a serious offense.

There are a lot of questions here

about your psychological capacity.

Your honor, I- - I'm talking.

I order you to remain in jail

until a psychological evaluation has been performed,

five days from now.

- What?!

This is ridiculous!

- Bailiff.

- What kind of argument did you give?

No, no, this is ridiculous.

Get your hands off of me!

- [Tom Voiceover] Each count was up to five years in jail.

I could go to prison for 10 years.

Both felonies could cost me my trading license

and my career on Wall Street.

How could this be happening to me?

- [Guard 1] I'll be back for you.

- You want a book?

- No.

- Come on man, it's the Bible.

- I'm good.

- Okay.

- You're up, Laresca.

Roll J.

- [Guard 2] Rolling J.

- [Guard 1] Step out.

- Thomas Laresca?

- Yeah.

- Hi, I'm Dr. Salwright.

Pleasure to meet you.

- Likewise.

- Are we treating you well here?

- I mean, I guess so.

I mean, three hots and a cot,

if you know what I mean?

- Yeah. Not much more you could ask for, right?

- I wanna go home.

- Well, that's why we're here today.

- Mr. Laresca-

- Tom. Just Tom.

- Okay.

Tom.

As you know, the judge asked me to review your case file,

and I have,

but I'd really like to know a little more about you.

So what do you do for a living?

- I'm a market maker,

and I trade stocks using the firm's capital

for short term gains,

and I've been doing trading on NASDAQ

for roughly the last 10 years or so

since I've gotten out of college.

- That's interesting.

You know, I got in on some Apple stock early. (chuckles)

What are your thoughts?

- My thoughts would be

that they make some pretty good products.

- Hm.

Any good tips on some other stocks?

(Tom chuckles)

- See, I hate giving tips,

because if someone were to lose their money,

I would feel worse than if I lost my own.

- Fair enough.

So Tom, do you know why you're here?

- Supposedly I attacked five officers.

- Well, is that true? Did you?

- Of course not.

I have never been in trouble with the police

a day in my life.

My uncle was a captain with the NYPD,

and my dad was a fireman.

I have nothing but the utmost respect

for our first responders.

And I've never been in trouble on Wall Street.

As God as my witness, I did nothing wrong.

- You know, you don't belong here.

- Finally, someone with some sense.

- I am going to recommend your immediate release.

- Thank you. Thank you so much.

- You're very welcome.

- Can I use your phone?

I've gotta call a taxi.

- Of course.

But only after we finish processing your release.

- Right.

I'm gonna get a guard for you, okay?

Guard?

(upbeat music)

- Dear, Thomas Laresca.

You are hereby terminated, effective immediately.

Like I would like to work for a crook anyways.

(sighs) Okay.

(doorbell rings)

- Tom Laresca?

- Yeah.

- You've been served.

- For what?

((indistinct) music)

Let's see, what could this be?

(Tom chuckles)

You've gotta be-

They're trying to evict me?

Yes, I need to speak with Mr. Rosenberg.

I need an attorney.

What do you mean he's not accepting new clients?

Well tell him I'll pay double his rate,

but I have to have him.

Just tell him, please.

Yeah, I'll hold.

((indistinct) music)

Mr. Rosenberg? Hi.

Yes, my name is Tom Laresca,

and I've been falsely accused of a crime,

and I just need you to question the police,

and you'll see that they have nothing but lies.

Mm-hm.

Great.

And thank you.

- [Tom Voiceover] I was obsessed with proving my innocence.

I spent tens of thousands of dollars on attorneys,

private investigators, police complaint centers,

anyone that I thought would help me.

I avoided everything and everyone.

And just a week after hiring my new lawyer,

I got a call from him.

(telephone rings)

- Tom Leresca.

- [Rosenberg] Hey, so Tom.

Good news is they're gonna drop all the charges.

I'll send over some papers to sign. It's all over.

You can go back to work, life can go on,

maybe even keep the house.

You just need to sign a PTI, it's a pre-trial intervention.

- PTI?

What's a pre-trial intervention?

- [Rosenberg] Well, by signing that,

you agree to attend some anger management classes,

but both felonies will be dropped immediately.

- Wait, what for?

I did nothing wrong.

I'm not gonna sign anything admitting any guilt.

- [Rosenberg] Well, as your attorney,

I suggest you accept this deal.

- Okay, then you're fired.

(Tom sighs)

Well, there goes another one.

Well, as your attorney,

I would advise...

That's why you're fired too.

What are we gonna do? What are we gonna do?

What are we gonna do? (telephone rings)

What?

Hello.

- [Doctor] Mr. Laresca?

This is Dr. Getty at Hope Memorial.

We've been trying to reach you.

- Yeah, I'm sorry.

This is just really not a good time for me.

- Well, we have some test results from when you were here.

I would like to go over them with you.

Could you maybe come by the hospital tomorrow?

- Wait. Test results?

- [Doctor] Yes.

Like I said, we've been trying to reach you.

- Well, what is it?

- [Doctor] I'd prefer if you could come in.

- Like I said, this is really not a good time for me.

So can you please just tell me what it is?

- [Doctor] Mr. Laresca, you have testicular cancer.

(ominous music)

And it's aggressive.

(heart pounding)

Hello?

Hello?

Mr. Laresca?

Are you there?

(heart pounding)

- Defense, man. What's going on?

- He's been like that the whole season.

(patrons chattering)

- Whoa, whoa, whoa.

You don't want to do that here, buddy.

- Hey, he ruined my life!

He- - Tom!

It's Tom, right? - Yeah, yeah.

- Hey, I'm sorry for what happened to you.

- Wait, wait, wait.

You were there?!

- Yeah.

- Then you know. You know the truth!

Kalmus!

Hey! - Hey!

Take it outside!

- Do you know where you are?!

- Yeah, I know exactly where I'm at,

you murderer! - Get him out of here!

(indistinct)

- You killed me! - Get out of my bar!

- Piece of crap.

- [Tom Voiceover] They say every man has his breaking point,

and this was mine.

(Tom screams)

I was never going to find justice.

I was broke, and now I had cancer.

It was time to go home.

(plane engine roars)

- If he would just apologize.

You know, I'll bet he could get those charges dropped.

And I know that it was all this stress

that caused the cancer.

- And what? He spent $120,000 on attorney's fees?

For what?

- Nothing.

He's broke.

He just needs to move on.

Nobody's gonna judge him.

- He's here.

And please don't start this up tonight.

(gentle music) - Everyone.

Did you do this?

- Yeah, I thought it'd be nice

to have everybody together.

- You shouldn't have.

- Oh, goodness.

(gentle music)

- Son.

- Dad.

Well.

- Welcome home. - Hey, Tom.

- Yeah.

How are you?

- Good to see you here.

- Yeah, yeah.

I know.

Hey. How are you?

- He's home, he's home.

- So you left us to go to Florida,

then you tried to have your boss arrested,

and then you got arrested.

(chuckles) Talk about karma.

- Ralph.

- What?

I was just saying that karma's-

- Hey, hey, hey, hey.

- You don't know what you're talking about.

He doesn't know what he's talking about.

- I know what your dad tells me.

Attacking cops in your front yard.

Doing great on wall street.

Now, for being righteous,

losing your license and broke.

- This is the last time that I'm gonna address this.

I did not lose my license.

I just have to get past these charges.

Fake charges.

- Fake or not,

it's gonna be hard to beat the word of five cops.

- I do not care.

I don't care if they bring in

the entire police force after me.

I do not care.

Until the truth is told, I'm not gonna stop,

with or without you.

- I'm sorry.

And I'm sorry about your health,

but a toast to Tom and him getting back on his feet.

- To Tom.

- To Tom.

- I intend to keep it that way.

- What? What did I say?

I was toasting here.

- Why's Uncle Ralph such a-

- Look dude.

We're all just family here,

and we're trying to help you out.

- But you heard what Uncle Ralph said to you.

He said he only goes off of what Dad tells him,

so what's he saying?

- I guess he just wants to know.

- Know what?

What? Doesn't Dad believe me?

- Look, he thinks you,

and I think you just need to let it go.

Take the deal, drop the charges, and move on.

- Okay, I thought you had my back.

- Look, I'm your brother, and I'm with you, man.

But you just have to-

- Have to what?

What, let it go?

Let them win?

No.

No, not this time.

Absolutely not.

I'm gonna keep fighting,

whether you, Mom, Dad, Uncle Ralph,

Auntie, it doesn't matter who.

I'm gonna keep fighting with or without you guys.

Make a decision.

- [Tom Voiceover] To remove the cancer required surgery.

I had never been so scared.

Something about that word, "cancer",

that stops us all in our tracks.

Why was this happening to me?

If God was truly testing me, there had to be a purpose.

Maybe I was just paying for my sins.

Better off here on Earth, anyway.

(heart pounding)

- Tom, I'm Dr. Kendall.

I performed surgery.

During the surgery,

we found out your right testicle was cancerous.

We had to remove it.

I'm sorry.

And the cancer has spread to your stomach and lungs.

I suggest that you get started on chemotherapy immediately.

I'm sorry.

(heart pounding)

(Tom sobs)

(gentle music)

- What strength do I have that I should hope?

And what is my end, that I should prolong my life.

Is my strength the strength of stones,

or is my flesh bronze?

Is my health not within me?

And is success driven from me?

To him who is afflicted,

kindness should be shown by his friend.

- [Tom Voiceover] I was in the hospital

fighting for my life again.

One week of chemo, and the next week I was sick as a dog.

(Tom choking) The good news was that

this kept me from thinking about Florida.

My mind kept thinking back to my friend Erwin in jail

and the book of Job,

and then I found it in Job 33:4.

"The spirit of God has made me,

and the breath of the almighty gives me life."

He gives me life. That was it.

- Honey?

- Yeah.

- Look at this.

- Go tell him the good news.

- Son, can you come down here?

It's from Florida.

The State of Florida vs Thomas J Laresca.

Although there was probable cause for arrest

in charge of the defendant, the state of Florida

has entered a null process in this case

because of the severe health problems of Mr. Thomas Laresca.

- [Tom Voiceover] Was it good news?

No. But I played the part.

I was very disappointed.

All the fighting to have the cops questioned

as to how I wound up in intensive care, all for nothing.

For the next year, I got better.

- It's gonna be okay. - Thank you.

- [Tom Voiceover] I got a job at a small firm

in the city trading, and I was rebuilding.

But Florida never, never left my mind.

(gentle music) (family chattering)

- This looks great.

(family chattering)

- Look at that.

- Just kidding.

I can't afford to catch another case now.

I can't get another case on me.

I'm dealing with too many charges enough as it is.

(family chattering)

(Tom laughs)

(gentle upbeat music) (family chattering)

(insects chirping)

- Looking for something?

- Dad, did you know that Kalmus

had seven different complaints against him?

Excessive force, cruelty.

I know you don't get it,

and I don't expect you to,

but I've been tortured to the point

where I couldn't breathe.

And they almost killed me.

How could I forget that?

- Sometimes you just can't win.

You have to let it go.

- I know you don't believe me, but I swear I was dead.

I need to have them questioned,

so that way people know what death is like.

- Well, you're not dead.

And if you were dead, then God brought you back.

Your mom and I, every night, pray that you just repent.

- You think God is punishing me?

- I don't know.

- The only thing that God is telling me is to forgive.

Trust me, I've heard him.

And I've never been closer to God than I am right now.

And I know that he's telling me to keep searching,

and that's exactly what I'm gonna do.

- For two years, you've been obsessed with this case.

For two years, you haven't worked.

You lost your house.

Now you don't go out.

And even when you're here, you're barely here at all.

Son, it's over.

- It is not over!

And I'm not gonna give up until the truth is told.

- And that's never going to happen.

- What, like, I'm just supposed to forget what happened?

- I've seen these situations.

I mean, it's heated.

There's a lot of adrenaline.

They thought that you were the suspect.

You went for his weapon!

- His weapon?

You don't believe me.

- I do.

- You don't.

- I know how you can get.

- Like what?

- We're a lot alike.

- Like what?

I've never raised my hand to anybody

unless it was to protect myself or someone else.

- Son.

Life hasn't been fair to you,

but you have been given a chance to start over,

and I can't watch you...

Watch you relive this again!

- Don't worry, you won't have to.

I'll find a place next week.

If my own father's gonna betray me,

then what else do I have?

(gentle music)

- [Tom Voiceover] Maybe it's time I read it.

I'll read it every night for a month, see what happens.

That changed my life forever.

- God.

I don't know what to do.

God, please. I forgive.

I forgave.

I'm sorry.

God, please.

Please, Lord Jesus. Please come into my heart.

And I make you my Lord,

and I make you my savior.

No way, God.

Please.

I give you this, and I shall be your servant.

Not me, Lord.

But you.

- [Tom] Betrayal was a harsh word,

but that's what I felt.

I needed people to believe me.

I needed my family and friends to support me.

Why was God doing this to me?

(knocking on door)

- Tom, have you gave thought

on the new First Boston IPO?

- Yeah. Actually, I have the printout right here.

It's overpriced like all the other ones

that Morgan Stanley has brought public.

I mean, and this one's been coming in

at about a hundred points higher

than where they were priced, which is crazy.

So if it's me, I'd probably short as much as possible.

Oh.

Yeah. I stole it.

- Seriously?

- Well, no.

They give it to you for free,

cancer patients at the hospital, so...

- I wondered where you got it.

Do you read it?

- I mean, yeah.

I started to read, and it's helped me out a tad.

I mean, do you read?

- When I was going through my divorce,

that right there gave me hope.

I'm not big on preachers and church,

but after a little bit of study

and a little bit of reading, it worked.

- Yeah.

Really turned you into a gem.

(boss laughs)

- Thanks.

Nice chat.

If you ever need anything, or if you need to talk,

just let me know.

- Thanks.

Hey, Lou?

You wouldn't know of any apartments

that are nearby the office, would you?

- No, but I know a real estate lady.

She's good.

- Even better.

Oh.

I hope you didn't mind.

One of the workers let me in.

I'm looking at some of the renovations here.

- We are working on renovations.

- Uh-huh.

- What's this?

- We did have a little bit of water damage.

- A little bit?

(both laugh)

- Nothing structural.

- Okay.

- Anything that you don't like, we can certainly fix.

- I did have one question for you, though.

- Okay.

- This.

This, uh, "She is more precious than rubies"?

- Yeah, it's Proverbs 31.

My mother used to read that verse to me

when I was a little girl.

She would say "Rubies and my little Catarina are gold."

(Tom chuckles)

- And she was telling the truth.

(both chuckle)

So listen, I'll tell you what,

that's why I called you to have you meet me here.

I've been looking into some real estate

and investment properties.

This looks like a great location.

I'll tell you what. I'll take it.

- Great. Fantastic.

- Do you wanna go back up?

Like, you can show me the apartment.

- That sounds great.

Yeah, if you like the apartment,

then maybe we can do a two for one.

- How about a three for one?

(both laughs)

I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

All right. After you.

- Thank you.

(upbeat music)

- Wow.

- [TV Host] Let's meet the Wallace family.

- So how's work?

- Work?

It's good.

Thank God.

- So your dad tells me you're moving out?

- Yeah. I'm gonna move out.

Why? Do you want my room?

- No.

- You sure Aunt Moore's not gonna kick you out?

- I'm really sorry about your cancer, and,

and everything.

I, uh, I really am.

- Uncle Ralph.

Are you okay?

- Yeah, yeah, it's-

- You sure?

- It's just that, uh,

it's just that I don't like change, you know?

- I can tell.

I've been seeing this sweatshirt a lot.

I mean, a lot a lot.

Is this your way of telling me that you're gonna miss me?

- No, no.

I'm just saying, it's been nice having you

back in the neighborhood.

- Unc, I'm just gonna be right by the bridge.

You know, right down the street.

Speaking of right down the street,

I met a girl today.

Yeah. Yeah.

You'd love her.

She's beautiful.

God, is she beautiful.

- Tom, I'm really happy for you.

I'm glad you've met someone.

- Me too.

Me too.

Well Uncle Ralph, I love you.

- Hey. - Hey.

- So Roger said you might wanna hold off

on those for a while.

- Oh.

I needed that commission.

And he was nice.

He was doing well, good paychecks.

What is it with Wall Street guys and bad credit?

He was so nice, and kind of cute.

- Cute?

- He was different.

- Different, like drama-free different?

That's exactly what you need,

a guy that's drama free.

A clean slate.

- Thanks.

(ladies laugh)

(Catarina sighs)

(telephone rings)

- Hello?

- Hello? Mr. Laresca?

It's Catarina from Bridgestone Realty.

There's a concern about your application.

- I was afraid you might say something like that.

So listen, a couple of years ago,

I was going through some hard times,

cancer and some other fun things like that,

so anyways, before you say no,

would you like to maybe go out?

I mean, well...

I mean talk.

Have lunch?

- Sure.

The diner on Highland?

- 2:00 PM? - That sounds great.

I'll see you then.

- Great.

(upbeat music)

- Did you just make a lunch date?

Cat?

- It's not really a date.

- You did. Mm-hm, not a date.

(lady chuckles)

(gentle music)

- Wow.

- Yeah, it was the worst two years of my life.

But God, at first I thought that he was abandoning me,

but then I realized that he was only testing me.

How could you really live for him

if you're not being tested?

And how would you know that you have faith

until things go wrong?

- So it was a good thing?

- I met you.

And, look, I'm stronger than I was two years ago.

I won't lay down.

- I'm going to approve the application.

- I wasn't talking about the application.

- Oh.

(Catarina chuckles)

- Look, there's just something about meeting you that,

and I know I don't know you,

but I would certainly love to get to know you more.

- I don't think you should give up.

It was horrible what was done to you.

- That's just the thing, I can't.

I can't give up.

In fact, I relive it most days.

- So what is it that you want from it?

- I want people to know what death is like,

and not to fear death,

but as long as we're going up when we die and not down.

- And that's it?

- No.

More importantly,

I want people to know that there is God,

and unless I can get these officers questioned

and get them to admit to the truth,

that no one

not even my own family's gonna believe me.

- [Tom Voiceover] We sat in the diner all day.

I told her how my family insists

I give up on my pursuit to have the truth told.

(gentle music)

- Incredibly powerful movie.

- Thank you, buddy.

The question they're gonna ask,

the question I'm gonna ask,

out there, people wanna know,

why'd it take 20 years to get this story out there?

- Okay, first of all, it was never meant to be a movie.

I spent years with lawyers trying to question police.

I couldn't get anywhere.

Then I had cancer, and I was depressed after that.

I wrote a book.

I've tried two other times with a movie after that.

I've called thousands of people,

emails, everything I could do,

me and my wife, we tried to do.

- I got a few thousand of those emails by the way.

Thank you. (both laughs)

- And you answered them all.

- It's all good, it's all good.

- Thank you.

- So what exactly were the injuries,

and what did you have to recover from?

- My wrists were destroyed.

I had my handcuffs,

I was cuffed the whole time

while they were pepper spraying me point blank.

And people don't realize how bad pepper spray is.

They admitted on the police report

that they pepper sprayed me four times,

which is enough to kill anybody,

but it was a lot more than that

over the half an hour that they did it while I was in cuffs.

So my lungs were destroyed,

and my wrists-

- Why did they keep pepper spraying you?

- I didn't comply completely.

- Okay.

- Because I was right in front of my house,

and he wanted me on my hands and knees,

and I don't believe in getting on my hands and knees

for anybody but God.

So I tried to talk to 'em,

to let me show them the house,

and then they pepper sprayed me,

they stripped me naked in front of my own house,

and I wasn't very happy.

And he pointed a gun in my chest.

- What was the sense of stripping you naked?

- They were looking for an armed burglar

that had been in our development,

it was an exclusive development,

and apparently I fit the bill.

- And they never caught the guy?

- I don't even know.

I don't know.

- And all these things he kept doing, and redoing,

and you know, just ready to give up,

you came in and sort of just kicked him in the butt

and said "We're gonna do this."

So what made you make that next move?

- I love law, and I love to investigate every detail,

so why did it happen

and why we should actually pursue it.

So I went through the whole entire case,

and I see everything, that we can actually make it together

to practically put justice.

- That was all the information we had to get.

The lawyers didn't even do any work.

- And I get to play one of those

in the movie. - Yeah, thank you.

(both chuckle)

- So here is a guy who is a citizen in the state

making almost a million dollars, and he didn't have justice.

Paying always his taxes and everything else like that.

So it makes me pursue everything that I was doing

and just get it-

- So you lost everything?

- Yeah.

I couldn't think of anything else

for the first two years of...

You know, they offered to drop the charges right away,

but they wanted me to sign that paper

saying I was a little bit guilty, and I refused.

And they tell me, "Listen, this is 10 years in jail.

You'll never trade again. Just sign the papers."

Absolutely not.

I want them questioned, I want the truth.

- 10 Years in jail for what reason?

- Resisting arrest is a felony.

So I was arrested for resisting arrest.

- Okay.

- And resisting arrest with force.

- Well, it's incredible.

I only think that if it happened in today's world,

it'd be a different story.

Hopefully it would be a different story.

- Yeah, if it were to happen in New York

that wouldn't have happened.

There's one other thing that I'd like to say.

- Please do.

- Me and my wife have tried everything,

and this movie hopefully will help,

but if it doesn't,

we're offering a hundred thousand dollars

for them to finally talk.

I want these questions answered.

I want the truth.

- Wow.

- We don't know what else we can do.

It is a true story.

I've taken a lie detector test and passed.

I'll take another one to tell my whole story.

I don't care.

Whatever needs to be done,

I want the truth out there.

- I love it.

- So the challenge is out there.

- The challenge is out there.

All right.

I hope you find the truth.

- We will, eventually. - We will.

- God bless you guys.

- Thank you,

and God bless you for all your help.

(gentle music)