Original subtitles

Morning, Burton.

Hey, Peanut.

What?

l said good morning.

You called me Peanut.

Term of endearment, honey.

No, it's not.

lf I can't, you can't.

Oh. I know, I know.

l left my book upstairs.

- Good morning, Lulu. - Yeah.

Do you, uh-- Is that case for, uh, me?

Like it?

What?

New omice.

No.

Oh.

Samantha Gray, 12 years old.

We're trying to establish a standby guardian for her.

Trying?

Yeah--Social Services, someone,

maybe the mom, kind of dropped the ball.

Why do you need a standby guardian?

Her mother's sick. She contracted AIDS through a needle,

so we're trying to transition Samantha to the mother's best friend.

Her name's Angela Evers. It's all in the file.

So, you'll need the mom to fill out the paperwork,

and you'll need Mrs. Evers' signature also.

Where will I find the mother?

- Valleyside Hospice. - Hospice? No.

You've got to get a signature.

- No. - Why not?

l just--

Nick, come on. It's my first day.

That case--do you need to--

No, no, Nick's got it.

So...

Yeah.

How do you want to do this?

l don't know. I just want to try to figure it out, I guess.

I'll just go through the old cases,

weed out the filing cabinets.

Excuse me. I'm looking for Agnes Gray.

Uh, sorry.

Uh, that's her room over there.

Mrs. Gray?

Hi. My name is Nick Fallin.

l have a form here for you to sign.

All right, I'll put the form here,

and I'll tell the nurse.

My business card is on the top of the form.

The hot water.

Mrs. Gray?

Uh, OK. The form's here, and my--

Oh, God.

Are you the nurse?

Well, there is trouble

In my mind

There is dark

There is dark and there is light

There is no order

There is chaos

And there is crime

There is no one

Home tonight

In the empire of my mind

There is trouble in my mind [Alvin] Another whiskey for my friend Danny,

and some more coffee for me, please.

l don't know that the sum of the thing is bigger than its parts,

but it adds up.

l mean, a kid dies.

Some people would say my actions were responsible, right?

But that decision could never have taken into account

the events that followed.

Right? So--

And then, so, other things happen.

Like deaths that are random and violent.

And me hitting some guy.

And, again, I wonder...

about my part in these things.

And another thing-- with Lulu--

the fact that she is how she is.

And now she's my boss?

And I'm supposed to, after all these years,

report to someone like her?

But, then again, I am a lawyer who wants to advocate for children.

And, uh, I still have the opportunity.

But every time I walk into that place--

which, by the way, I created--

and I'm told to take over another woman's omice.

l think I must--

l must say no to this.

Don't you think?

Or am I wrong again?

Or not.

You would like another drink.

You've been very, very quiet.

My solution?

Heh. I think I know your solution.

Go to the track.

Mrs. Aaronson, Mr. Aaronson.

Hi.

Your father told me

that you knew your way around these kind of things.

l am familiar with custody issues.

We want to sue.

Oh. OK.

We spent thousands of dollars at that clinic,

undeM/ent painful procedures,

and they fertilized my wife's egg with the wrong sperm.

Or...my sperm with the wrong egg. Or both.

We've done the research. There have been other cases.

My father said that you wanted to keep the child.

Of course.

But they should pay for their mistake.

Has the clinic contacted you about this?

They denied they did anything wrong.

My wife is up nights,

afraid that someone is going to take her baby away.

Well, by law, if she carried the child

the child is yours.

We can go after the clinic with medical malpractice,

pain and sumering.

But you will have to do some basic tests

to determine paternity or maternity.

See, honey? I told you they can't just do this to us.

l can get my paralegal to get you the forms for the blood work,

and I will work on putting together your complaint.

lt's really nice to see you.

Thanks.

Samantha.

Um...

My name is Nick.

l remember.

When my mom died, you were in the room.

l missed it.

l was supposed to.

l promised her that I'd hold her hand

so she wouldn't be scared.

You didn't hold her hand, did you?

Uh, no, no.

Right, of course. Why would you?

Right.

Did she seem scared?

Samantha, in court...

we need to find you a place to live.

l thought I was going to stay with Angie.

No. Uh...

she was not aware of that plan.

She changed her mind?

No, your mother never asked her.

Oh. Well...

Do you have any other family that could take you?

l don't know.

What about your father?

l don't know him.

Do you know his name?

l don't know him.

[Woman] I'm due in court now. Could you please handle this

and call me at my omice later?

Just wait here a minute.

- Laurie. - Nick.

- What's going on with her father? - What?

Samantha Gray, the blind girl.

l can't find anything out about the father.

That's because his parental rights were terminated.

What happened?

He was a heroin addict. He got high,

there was a car accident about eight years ago--

a head-on collision.

He killed the other driver and caused his daughter's blindness.

So, his rights were terminated.

Where do you want to send her?

The Special Needs Wing of Metropolitan Hospital.

Your Honor, Samantha Gray isn't mentally ill.

There is simply nothing else available

for a 14-year-old girl with Samantha's disability.

- What about the school for the blind? - There are no openings.

What, because it's private?

This is not about money.

l would just like to know that you have exhausted all other options.

We are trying to locate an appropriate foster family

or a special needs group home.

Your Honor Metropolitan Psychiatiic Hospital

is not an appropriate placement for Samantha Gray.

Miss Solt, you are confident there are no alternatives?

Yes, I am, for now.

I'll adjudicate Samantha dependant

and place her in Metropolitan for 30 days.

We'll revisit her placement next month.

[bangs gavel]

What does that mean, ''dependant''?

lt means that you're a ward of the state.

Ward of the state?

Mr. Evans is here from Metropolitan to take Samantha.

Uh, Laurie's going to take care of you now.

- Where am I going? - I'm here, sweetie.

You'll go with Laurie and Mr. Evans.

- This is Mr. Evans. - Who's Mr. Evans?

He's here from Metropolitan.

I'm supposed to go with Angie.

Where are you taking me? l want to go with Angie!

[Laurie] Sweetheart, you can't go with Angie.

Let go of me! No, I want to go with Angie!

Sir? Sir? Excuse me, sir?

That girl--Samantha Gray-- where are they sending her?

What?

l met you yesterday at the hospice. l showed you where Agnes' room was.

Oh, right. Yeah, thank you.

Where are they sending Samantha.

How do you know Samantha Gray?

- I'm just interested. - Who are you?

I'm her dad.

Jim Gray.

She's, uh--

l mean, she's all alone in the world--

Well, I'm sorry, Mr. Gray, but your parental rights have been terminated.

Yes, I know that.

lt's just... I started making preparations when I heard about Agnes--

As long as you understand there's nothing I can do.

Your parental rights have been terminated. I'm sorry.

Just talk to me for a second--

There's nothing I can do.

I've got a nice apartment now, you know?

And I got a good job. I'm working hard.

Can't you just talk to me?

She's my little girl.

Well, I hope you at least send her to someplace nice.

[knock on door]

[knocking]

- Hi. - Hi.

I'm here to see Shannon.

Oh, are you a friend of hers?

Yes, sir. I'm Hank. I'm supposed to help her with some geometry.

Oh.

She didn't say anything about that.

Oh, we just talked about it today. She was at soccer practice.

She's, uh-- She's not feeling well right now.

Oh.

What?

She's got a little problem that makes her feel, uh...

not well.

OK.

- I'll tell her you came by. - Cool.

- Hank, right? - Yeah.

OK.

You're working late?

Yeah.

So, my first day was, uh--

Oh, right. How was it?

Heh.

Heh. I think I'm in over my head.

[Alvin] I'm back from the track.

OK.

I'm going to stay late, go over some of this stuff.

You know, it's amazing-- some of these kids. You forget.

You going to work late, too?

No.

Well, maybe we could, um...

go get something to eat?

I'm kind of hungry.

[elevator dings]

That's mine.

[Nick] How did you get out?

They weren't watching me.

Because I'm blind.

They didn't think I'd just walk out.

lt's very loud at Metropolitan.

l could hear the kids...

and other people, screaming.

lt was worse than at the hospice.

lt was worse.

So...

l walked till it was quiet.

Well, the judge isn't going to be very happy to know

that you ran away from Metropolitan.

I'm not crazy.

l know.

l don't want to go back.

I'm not crazy.

Appreciate you coming in so promptly, Mr. Fallin.

We're hoping to put this to rest today.

l received a copy of the test results, along with your complaint.

We're--

The tests indicate that my client gave birth to a baby that--

That is genetically related to the woman, the mother

but not to the father.

She undeM/ent in vitro fertilization in your clinic

and gave birth to a child that is half-African-American.

She didn't get pregnant from that procedure.

She got pregnant after.

After?

That's what you'll find when we produce Dr. Braxton's records.

There haven't been any African-American men in this clinic.

Actually, it's interesting, if you care to think about such things.

She must have undergone the procedure,

had a delayed egg release, and then--

You can prove you've never had an African-American client?

Dr. Braxton's clinic doesn't draw sperm from the general public, Mr. Fallin.

Nick, hi.

l had to wait for the nanny to get back, so...sorry.

lt's no problem.

You needed to talk to me?

Yeah. Do you want a drink or something?

Oh, no. I'm not, um-- Not right now.

Jackie, those tests--

it turns out that you are the biological parent.

Oh.

lt doesn't surprise you that you are the mother of the child, does it?

No.

Uh, could I have a vodka rocks, please?

l met with Dr. Braxton and his attorney this morning.

l met with Dr. Braxton and his attorney this morning.

Right.

- Regarding your lawsuit. - Right.

- There is no lawsuit. - Right.

Because you got pregnant after the procedure. So...

before I contacted your husband, l thought that we should talk.

We couldn't just keep this between us?

That would be very dimicult.

Right.

OK.

- Mr. Gray, this is-- - Jim.

We met.

This is Laurie Solt.

Mr. Gray, I'm your-- Samantha's social worker.

Good to know.

- So, where is she? - She's in a shelter.

Shelter?

She's at Metropolitan Psychiatric Facility.

Did something happen to her?

No, she's fine.

There's just no other alternatives.

You know, um, l would've seen her lots and lots.

Once I got out of prison and all that, l was going to see her a lot.

Um...

- but me and the city-- - The city?

l don't come to Pittsburgh anymore. l can't.

- You're here right now. - Yeah.

That's right. I am here.

Mr. Gray, about your request--

why should you be allowed to adopt your daughter?

That's a two-year coin.

I'm clean, you know?

l have been good. I'm clean, you know?

l have a good job, a nice apartment.

l go to church.

l live down in Bedford County, work for the highways,

put in long hours, it tires me out,

l come home, go to bed, that's it.

Church, bible, bed. l have been good.

And when I heard about Agnes-- who I loved very much--

l started to make plans.

Now...

this is what the Social Services lady wrote

when she came out to see my place.

Look, right here.

''Acceptable.''

This is Bedford County.

lt doesn't have anything to do with the potential adoption.

But it's a home study.

l mean, by a professional, just like you.

Mr. Gray, I've been a social worker for 30 years.

ln that time, I've recommended

very few terminations of parental rights.

lt's the legal equivalent of a death sentence.

Do you understand? Termination.

The court clearly thought your daughter would be better om without you.

l understand what you're saying.

Do you understand that I've changed?

Fill out the application.

[sighs]

l was a junkie, you know? Yes, and I was sick.

Yes, but that--

Right, so, you're going to need to hire a lawyer.

l had problems.

But that does not mean I didn't Iove my wife and or my little girl.

And I lived with that, and I have made most of my amends.

And I am here to get my little girl back.

lf you're going to represent yourself,

then I will help you fill out the forms.

Here's my card. OK?

How's Samantha doing?

Well, she seems fine.

You know, I'd watch her at the hospice.

She doesn't even look like a little girl anymore.

So, are you going to tell her about this?

Yes, she's my client.

Well, good luck with that.

You taught English in high school.

Ninth and tenth grades.

You have a son.

Anthony, 19. He attends Colgate.

Oh, excellent. Good.

So, how many, uh--

how many years have you been a nanny?

Three years. Um...

l was working with twin boys.

The reference letter is in the folder I gave you.

Oh, OK.

Mr. Fallin, I don't mean to be presumptuous,

but I like to know what the parents' expectations are.

Expectations?

Well, Shannon's your foster child.

You don't know how long you're going to have her.

She's in a new home, a new school.

l just--

I'm just concerned about adding yet another element.

Oh.

Well, I appreciate that, Helena.

But, uh, you're the one I want.

So, just name your price, Iet me know when you can start.

lt's not just about the money.

Well, then come meet Shannon,

and I promise you, you'll love her.

l can promise you that.

Your father is in Pittsburgh.

- My father? - Right.

He came here to see me?

Uh, he wants to try and adopt you.

What's he like?

Well, he seems like he's-- he's trying.

Can I see him?

Samantha, how much do you know about your father.

My mother said that he was a drug addict,

that he made me blind.

Do you understand that his parental rights have been terminated?

No. No one told me that.

That means that legally he isn't your dad anymore.

lt's impossible?

Even if he's changed?

lt's highly unlikely.

Even if I maybe wanted him to be?

You said yourself you don't know him.

Even if you did--

What I mean to say is, there's no reason to believe--

Right, but...

do you think that l could just see him?

You're getting her hopes up for no reason.

No judge is going to overturn a termination.

OK.

Why do you even think this guy is worth our time?

Nick.

Laurie.

Hi.

I'm sorry.

Hi.

Alvin.

- Where have you been? - The track. Why?

You got a case for me?

- Hey, Mr. Fallin. - Hey.

These, uh--

These forms you gave me for the adoption stuff are really confusing.

- Mr. Gray, we just met-- - Jim.

Jim. Jim, we just met with Samantha. She's agreed to meet with you.

Really?

- When? - Tomorrow afternoon.

[laughs] That is-- This is great.

Thank you. Thank you. l mean, this means something, right?

Well, it means that she's agreed to meet with you.

This is great. l don't know what to say.

Could you help me with these?

Not yet. Let's just meet with her and see what happens, OK?

OK, yeah. It's just-- one of them is this essay

about why I want to be her dad. And I am her dad, right?

lt's about explaining myself, I guess.

- I'm sure you'll do fine. - You think?

OK, well...thank you.

Do you want to grab a cup of coffee?

l have to get back to work.

OK, all right. Thank you. And, Mr. Fallin...

do you know where there's a meeting around here?

You know, ''Hi, my name is Jim. I'm a drug addict.''

Um...

l think there may be one on 5th,

at the old Calvary Church.

OK, I appreciate it. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Fallin, thank you.

Big doings at the country club Friday night.

What?

Annual Father-Daughter Dance.

l made reservations...

if you're game.

Heh.

What did you tell Hank?

Who?

Hank, that boy who came over here.

You told him about my period, didn't you?

You said I wasn't feeling good. l was feeling fine.

You know what, honey?

And I should've told you this earlier.

But I think that you need a woman in your life

to talk to, help you with your homework, cook for you, and...

What are you talking about?

I'm talking about a nanny.

- A nanny? - Yes.

And this afternoon l interviewed a young lady,

and I think she's absolutely terrific.

[doorbell rings]

Guess what? I think that's her.

Burton--

Honey, I just want you to meet her, all right?

See if you like her, OK?

[Burton] Thanks for coming.

So, Shannon, say hi to Helena.

This is Shannon.

lt's a pleasure to meet you, Shannon.

Helena was a teacher.

l thought maybe she could help you with some things, and, uh...

- Nicholas, good morning. - Good morning.

Did, uh, you--

Did the two of you have a chance to discuss your situation last night?

That's why we're here.

Mrs. Aaronson, did you--

Not really, just regular talk.

OK, uh--

Well, uh--

l don't like to be in the middle of a person matter.

But, Mr. Aaronson, there's been a development--

We want to keep our baby.

So, this whole suit thing-- it's so stupid.

What's the development?

Honey, come on, let's go home.

This whole thing is so stupid. l don't even know what we're doing here.

No. What's the development?

l think what Mrs. Aaronson is trying to say

is that she doesn't think this suit makes sense anymore.

Why?

- OK. - What, Jackie?

- I got pregnant. - You got pregnant.

After I went to the clinic.

- After. - With another--

You got pregnant with another man.

- Whose baby is it? - Albert--

Whose baby is it?

I'm sorry. Uh, we no longer have a claim against the clinic, so...

Elaine. Esther. Bob.

l didn't know there was a board meeting today.

You know, it's funny.

Looking at these old cases makes me wonder--

did we make a difference?

I mean, ?an we make a difference?

Are we butterfly wings? Are we the wind?

lt's like the horses.

You try to figure out which one's the best fit for the track,

runs harder, or prettier.

But when you admit that it's chaotic--

Alvin, thank you.

We can talk after the meeting. l can take it from here.

Yeah, you'll, uh--

Give you, what, a half hour or so?

Probably.

Right. Uh, I might be gone by then.

But, uh, maybe not.

Let's just see.

Right. Let's just see.

Now, this essay about why l want to be Samantha's dad.

Um, should I read it to you?

[knock on door]

l think I'm going to head out to the track.

- Mind telling Lulu for me? - OK.

Thanks.

Can I read this to you?

Uh, no, that's fine.

There's this part in it about my sponsor,

if you think that's OK. Um...

Your sponsor?

Yeah, how he said it's OK for me to be in a relationship--

have a relationship, you know?

l mean, you're supposed to wait a little while,

make sure you're ready.

Uh...we should go.

Lulu, Alvin wanted me to tell you he's gone to the track.

Hey, do you have a second?

Yeah. I'll be right there.

l think that Alvin's trying to get me to fire him.

Do it.

[sighs]

- Are you busy with that case? - Yeah.

Well, I heard that woman died when you were there.

l mean, I didn't think about your mother.

That's not important.

- I should've thought about it. - I'm fine.

Well, I'm sorry, Nick, to have to send you there.

Thank you.

Ready?

One, two, three.

One, two, three.

One, two, three.

One--and make a little turn.

And that turns into a box step.

- Hi. - Hey.

No, don't stop. That was excellent, sweetheart.

She's learning the foxtrot as well.

Oh, great, great.

So, you want to--

you want to dance?

- Burton. - No?

I've got to-- My homework, OK?

OK.

That was, um-- That was nice of you.

No problem.

She's a good dancer.

Yes, she is. I'm sorry we made a mess.

Oh, no, don't worry about that.

So, what do you think about Shannon?

Well, l--

l think that she's--

She has good instincts, but she's, um--

she's at least a grade behind, and she can--

she has a way with the truth.

[chuckles]

A way with the truth, right.

Listen, if you're asking me if it's too...

Too late?

lt's never that, Mr. Fallin.

Never. Never that.

So, you want to-- you want to stay?

- Yes. - Good.

Good.

Thank you.

She's, um--

she's really excited about this dance.

A night out with you, a new dress.

She's really excited.

Do you want to call me Dad or Jim?

Dad.

l think Dad's nice.

Yeah.

And you? Um, are you Samantha or Sam?

Samantha.

You've just--you've just grown up so beautifully, you know?

- I have? - Yeah.

You should see me. I'm kind of goofy-looking? Ha ha!

Lucky for you, you look like your mom.

You think Mom was pretty?

Yes, she was. She was really pretty.

Do you mind if l--

What?

Can you lean toward me?

ls that allowed?

Here.

You're not that bad.

[laughs]

l got both my eyes, my nose, my mouth.

[clicks] All my teeth.

Me, too.

Yeah.

Samantha, um, about everything--

You don't have to say anything.

Well, let me--let me--

l did this to you.

And if nothing else comes of this,

at least you can finally hear me say how sorry I am.

I'm--I'm really sorry, honey.

[crying] I'm sorry.

She doesn't belong there.

l mean, it's for retarded people. She doesn't belong in that place.

Samantha signed a consent form.

- Do you understand? - Yeah.

Are you ready for the hearing?

About that--do you think I could make it home before Thursday night?

Thursday night?

Yeah, there's this meeting l usually speak at

back home in Bedford,

and I just don't want to be in Pittsburgh any longer than I have to be.

l don't think we can get it done that fast.

Man, I just don't know. l don't know what I'm doing.

What?

l mean, you've seen her, you know? She's beautiful,

and she's grown up, and my life is a joke.

lt's just--

l don't know. I don't--

[sighs]

This is how I used to think about myself, I know.

- I can do this, right? - Right.

Because I'm better now, right?

l can do this. I'm her daddy. l can do this.

This is where I'm staying.

Nice place.

[laughs]

Not really, but it's cheap.

l live two hours away from here-- you know, in Bedford.

- Do you know it? - No.

Bedford's really nice.

lt's quiet, it's peaceful.

Do you want to come up for a while, maybe watch a movie?

No, no.

l, uh-- l can buy you dinner.

There's a nice diner down the street.

Come on.

There's a meeting I go to...

over at the Calvary Church.

- What? - It starts at 8:00.

All right.

Hey.

Oh, Burton, you caught me.

Oh, no, that's all right.

Shannon was upstairs, so I snuck a butt.

Oh, OK.

- You got another one? - Yeah, sure.

Hey, Burton.

Oh, honey, listen...

one of my clients has a problem, so tonight might be a little tricky.

I'm going to be there,

- but just maybe a few minutes late. - Oh.

Now, the good news is Nick is going to be able to drive you over there.

- Nick? - Yeah.

He's going to be your escort until I get there.

You're going to have fun all the way around, OK?

- Yeah. - All righty.

See you soon.

Bye.

You wanted to see me?

Yeah.

Some bad news about Aaronson's wife.

- What happened? - There was an accident.

What did he do to her?

lt seems there was an argument.

She fell down the stairs.

Potentially a blow to the head before she fell.

Potentially?

- I don't have all the facts yet. - Is she all right?

No, she's badly hurt. Her brain.

They already arrested Albert.

l sent Clay and Sadie down there. I'll have to go down there myself.

l promised Shannon

I'd take her to the Father-Daughter Dance at the club tonight.

l have no idea how long I'll be with Albert, so--

Oh, Dad, Dad--

Just drive her over there, and I'll catch up.

- Just drive her there? - Yeah, right.

Samantha's case is up.

All right.

Where is he?

l don't know.

Well...

she's up.

Um...

will you be OK here?

His hotel room is just a block away. I'll be right back.

I'm late.

Your-- Your dad went home.

So, um...

your next hearing is in 28 days.

OK.

And we will get you moved then.

28 days.

That's when we'll move you.

You said that.

Mr. Aaronson.

Hello, Nicholas.

Did you see your dad outside?

Yes, I did.

Mr. Aaronson, uh...

about Sarah--

Sarah?

Your child.

ls there anyone that can take care of her?

She's with a nanny.

Well, legally, the biological father has rights.

He does?

Legally.

But I'm prepared to help you if you--

What?

lf you wish to keep her.

Oh.

No.

Thank you, no.

Have you met the father?

She said they were just friends.

l even gave him a job at one of my stores.

l gave that guy a job.

Oh, Alvin?

I'm on my way to the track.

I'm up $3,000 so far-- an astonishing run.

Alvin, understand that if you choose not to do your job,

then I will have to--

- What? Fire me? - Yes.

I've already been fired, Lulu, trust me.

I'm already dead to this place.

Nick. Whose baby?

This is Sarah Aaronson.

The biological father doesn't want her.

Mother's dead. I've got to go.

Hey. Hey.

Hi.

Yeah, it's OK.

- Call Social Services. - OK.

I'll set up a shelter here.

All right.

l think this is the last one.

So, uh...

You know, uh, if you want...

l can dance with you.

lf you want.

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