Original subtitles

First,

I thought it was a toaster, but then I noticed the paint was burned on the wall

near the outlet.

Wire in.

Whole place needs circuit breakers. Well, thank goodness for you, Jack. At

you kept it confined.

Show me the fuse box.

Sure.

Jimmy, you want to come in here?

What is it?

I was checking the smoke detectors.

What's all this?

The question is, whose is all this?

What's this doing in the closet of a priest?

What are you doing back here?

This is private.

Father, is this stuff yours?

Would you please go now?

Gary, I want an answer. Do these belong to you?

Fill up a box. What? Do it.

No, you can't take these. This is none of your business.

Absolutely none of your business. Do these shoes belong to you?

Maybe.

Maybe.

All right.

Yes.

They're mine My shoes

These all belong to him? He had enough to fill ten baskets. In Father Barrett's

closet? I don't believe it.

Gorgeous. I didn't ask you in here to browse. I asked you for your opinion.

man has a shoe fetish. Paraphilia. Sexual arousal from inanimate objects.

it's not as uncommon as you think with shoes.

Carmen Miranda, that is elegant.

Is this man dangerous?

Well, usually fetishes stick to the object. But yes, this kind of disorder

progress into more active impulses. Sometimes with people.

Children? May I speak with you?

Both you and Jill.

Alone?

Carter. I have questions. Please. I'm not just a medical examiner. I'm trained

in sexual deviancy. I have the right to questions. Fine.

What a jib.

These are mine.

You have no right to keep these.

Look, Father.

Why do you have these shoes?

That is not your concern.

Whatever I do in the privacy of my home is my own business.

You have no right to withhold my property.

Father Barrett, why did you ask me to stay? This is police business.

Or is it medical?

Look, the fact is, if this becomes public, I'm ruined.

You know that.

So I ask you...

Please?

Father, before you ask me to cover up something, I have to know the extent

of what I'm concealing. Now, could we have an honest, real conversation here,

and then we can go from there? Can we just agree to that?

Yes.

What are you doing with ladies' shoes in your closet?

They bring me pleasure.

A sexual pleasure?

Look, I'm not a threat to anyone.

I have never been anything other than a model citizen, a model priest.

I have never imposed anything on anyone.

Okay, Father.

What are you going to do?

I don't know.

I'd like to discuss this with Jill.

May I?

Take my belongings with me.

I guess so.

Thank you.

What do we do?

I don't know.

If it's something he does in the privacy of his own home, what can we do?

I don't know. He hasn't broken any law.

And, you know, we had no right to take them in the first place.

It's his business.

His business.

He works with children.

He has sex with a ski boot? It's only women's shoes, Howard. And as we said,

there's no evidence that he has ever exposed this proclivity to anybody.

A priest.

Damn.

Damn. What's with the bear?

It's a calming device.

Just like the rocking horse.

For people with Alzheimer's. When they get agitated sometimes... Don't talk

I'm not in the room. I'm in the room.

All right, Howard. Now, listen. We have to focus here. We have an issue.

A lot of children attend that church.

We have to think.

I'm calling a press conference.

Not so fast. As fast as possible.

The people of Rome make up his parish. As Jill says, they send their children

that man.

If he's a pervert, I have a duty to warn my constituency.

He's a paraphiliac, Howard. He's not necessarily a pervert. He must be a

potential threat. Why else would you be here?

And I must be the mayor. Why else would I be here?

Something has to be done.

sick, Kenny.

There's a big difference between being turned on by women in shoes and just the

shoes.

What?

Nothing. I... You know I go crazy for you in the lingerie.

So?

Well, sometimes when you're not here, Rachel, I... Not often, but sometimes...

I've just sort of gotten your lingerie out of the drawer and...

It's not a habit, I'm just saying.

Clothing can make me excited.

Sometimes. There's nothing wrong with that. I mean, sexy underwear, lingerie,

perfume.

It turns a lot of people on.

But a shoe without the woman?

He's a pervert.

He fondles footwear and fiddles with his unit.

This man shouldn't be a priest.

Children of Rome, be warned.

I've always admired Gary Barrett.

But leaders of the community here have to adhere to a standard. That was his

charge when he attacked Rachel Harris.

Well, it seems Rachel's shoe is now on the other foot.

And it's his.

John. Gary.

True.

Yes.

We may have to take your parish, Gary.

You have the biggest church in the area. We don't want to lose our foothold. But

I haven't done anything.

Well, you broke your vows of celibacy.

Things are changing. We have to take a harder line.

How many priests are totally celibate, John? I don't like this.

You're my friend. You know I don't like this. But we have a public image problem

with all these cases of child molestation. I haven't molested anyone.

How can you say that? I know that.

The mayor has called you a pervert.

People won't be coming to your church.

If I can keep my parishioners, can I keep my job?

Damn it, John, the church has allowed pedophiles to keep their cloth.

That's a reason for the paranoia, because they failed to act swiftly in

cases. We're not talking about the church. We're talking about you. But you

can't single me out. You can't do that. Gary, do you know what they're saying

about you?

If I can keep my parish, can I keep my job?

What do you mean you're sick?

In the head.

Excuse me?

On the news and in the paper, they say Father Barron is sick.

He does something.

I've done it too.

Not with a shoe.

But sometimes I look at magazines or videos or... Sometimes I just imagine

growth in my head and... Then I, you know... What?

Just spank the monkey.

I beg your pardon?

All the kids do it. We didn't know it was sick.

Well, Matthew, um... Okay.

It's not sick.

Masturbation is normal. It's natural.

Joey Donatelli and Kevin Riley say it's a sin.

No, it's not a sin.

So the Catholics are wrong?

Well, no religion is right or wrong. It's just that different religions have

different beliefs.

Mom, I need an answer.

Because if Joey Donatelli is right, I'm definitely going to hell.

Talk to your father.

But if I need medicine... No, you don't need medicine. You're not sick.

As a doctor, I can promise you that, okay? But talk to your father.

What's wrong?

I keep thinking about what you said last night about the lingerie.

Also how you like to see me in the cheerleader uniform, sometimes the

wig.

What about it?

This is silly, but I suddenly feel like an object now.

Come on, Rachel.

I know.

You know, once in a while I kind of blurt out that I love you.

I keep waiting for you to say it back. You never do.

Well, I'm crazy about you. You know that.

Do you? I mean, I know this is just speculation, but do you think that

in time you could come to love me?

Rachel, what's going on here?

I want to be in a relationship where even if it's a long shot, there's at

a possibility of marriage.

I mean, even if it's remote or... Do you, I mean, do you hold to that

possibility even a little?

Please don't lie to me.

I mean, if it's no, it's no, that's fine.

Please don't protect me, Kenny.

Do you?

not surprised.

I just... But you know what?

Please don't take this as anger, because I'm not angry. I'm not.

But I want to stop.

I love the sex, the comfort.

But I want to stop now.

Okay?

Rachel... Please.

You've always considered us friends, Howard.

Even with your Alzheimer's, you remember my name twice a week.

It moves me.

I, too, am moved by you.

Most of the time, it's in my bowels.

You're a character.

I'm a busy character, so state your business.

Gladly. Yesterday, you had a reaction to my client's hobby, which made you say

some things. Oh, you know, words like pervert, deviant.

These are not friendly words.

Get to it.

You remind me of Judge Bone.

Gary would like to hang on to his parish, but it was made more difficult

little outburst on public access.

What we would like for you to do is to go back to public access, retract what

you said and apologize, and maybe throw in that you admire Gary.

My brain is not completely gone.

Howard, I'm not a pervert. You play with ladies' shoes in closets.

You go camping with altar boys. How dare you? How dare you? Never mind all the

daring. Of course, here's what's going to happen.

Your little diatribe is defamation of character.

We'll sue you personally and take your house.

And since you were speaking as mayor, I'll slap the town as well.

You want to hear me do, Judge Bone?

Get out.

I don't want to hurt you, Howard. But I want to hurt him.

You stand up and pontificate about Rachel Harris.

Holding yourself up as a moral beacon, now it's your turn.

This is not like you, Howard. Get out.

Both of you.

Why is it a sin for Joey Donatelli and not for me?

Well, I don't think the Catholic Church considers it a sin.

They do.

They say you're only supposed to let semen out to make babies.

Nothing else.

I don't think the Catholic Church would understand.

Uh -uh.

Better to plant your seed in the belly of a whore than on the ground.

Even during Earth Week.

I looked it up.

Maybe that's why Father Barrett used the shoe.

So it wouldn't hit the ground.

Talk to your mom.

She said to talk to you.

Okay.

I don't know about all the religious stuff, but... Masturbation is natural.

All boys your age, and men, too, do it.

Run along now.

Do you?

Well, actually, no.

Not ever?

Never.

Douglas Wambo for the priest.

I have here an ex parte motion, Judge, against Howard Butts and the town of

Rome. We're seeking an attachment of real property, a security for our

once we win our lawsuit.

What lawsuit?

Defamation and libel. Howard Busch said on the airwaves that Father Barrett is a

pervert and a threat to public safety without any factual basis other than he

has fun with lady shoes.

What is going on here?

I'm suing you like I said I would.

Check out the bear, Judge. Shut up. Don't I have to be told I'm being

in court? Shouldn't I be warned? You didn't warn Father Barrett before you

on public access. He's a deviant.

He's jealous, Judge, on account of my client being ambidextrous.

Shut up.

Howard, this is an ex parte motion.

You're not entitled to notice. Now, why are you brandishing a stuffed animal?

My doctors advise me to clutch it when I become agitated.

I'm agitated now.

I understand.

Well, here's the deal.

Your statements about Father Barrett do make out a prima facie case for libel.

Did you hear what he does?

I've seen no evidence that he's a threat to the public, which is what you called

him. And the church wants to take away his parish because of what he said.

We want a public retract. You won't get it. Quiet.

Look, Howard, the lawsuit is a valid one.

You could lose.

I'm granting the real estate attachment, which means Father Barrett now has a

lien on your house.

What? You defamed him and Wambaugh.

Your client is a public figure on this, which means you must show malice. And

Howard is not a man of malice.

Usually.

It's a tough case for both of you, so I want you to get in a room and work this

out. If he's done nothing to me, we'll do it.

Now, Father Barrett, I'd like to see you in chambers alone.

You all right?

What do you think?

That's the worst thing that's... I've never been so ashamed.

They're saying you had over a hundred pairs.

Where'd you get them?

Oh, I don't know. Flea markets, catalogs, home shopping network. Does it

What matters is you're my friend.

I've known you for 25 years.

And I like to think, well, that I know you.

This is very unsettling.

Henry, I don't know what's in your closet.

It could be a Playboy magazine or two or a video.

I have no idea.

And I wouldn't expect to know.

It's your closet.

I'm all for privacy, Gary.

And as a judge, I agree yours has been violated.

But as your friend, there's a difference between a Playboy magazine and a pair

of espadrilles.

You have a fetish.

It's a disease.

I'm not a sick pervert, Henry.

You may not be a pervert, but you need help.

Go on in, Mr. Wambaugh.

Where's your lawyer?

This is a settlement meeting.

I'm not settling. I don't need a lawyer.

You heard what Judge Bones said. You could lose.

I don't care.

You're a trustee of this town, Howard. You better care.

If the town of Rome is held liable for your... He's supposed to be a priest.

Priests don't do that.

I won't settle.

This is not like you, Howard.

Normally, you're a very compassionate man. This isn't my Alzheimer's. Stop

saying it's my Alzheimer's. Stop saying that.

I didn't say that.

Maybe you think I did on account of your Alzheimer's, but I didn't say that.

Shut up!

Howard, what is it?

For the past 30 years, you've been coming to my church, and I've never once

heard you yell at anyone.

I've never seen you be unkind.

Yet in the past two days, you've been very unkind.

You've been mean.

It's getting worse.

I'm becoming upset all the time.

This disease, it only goes in one direction.

I'm so sorry. Don't tell me that you're sorry. I'm sick of people saying they're

sorry. Everybody's so damn sorry.

Why can't somebody do something? Why can't you go into court and get a judge

give me back what I've lost?

Why can't the doctors tell me there's a cure?

Do you know the only thing I have, Gary?

Prayer.

Faith in God. That's my only chance.

Imagine how I feel today.

To see that my vehicle to God, my priest, touches himself holding

women's shoes.

You're supposed to be my hope.

Damn you.

Damn you.

Rachel.

Hi.

I just had some business at City Hall.

A follow -up on a zoning thing.

Uh -huh.

Well, okay.

I miss you.

I miss you, too.

Well, I've got to go. I'm running late.

Yeah.

Me too.

I'll see you around.

Good.

To masturbate and avoid hell, this is not a reason

to become Jewish.

Well, I don't think I'd go to Protestant hell, but they're always changing the

rules, and since there is no Jewish hell, I want to be safe.

Listen, Matthew, I'm not an authority on Christianity.

And this idea of complete celibacy, this did not come from Jesus.

All his disciples were married.

The tradition of celibacy for priests did not come until a thousand years

Well, there's still got to be a reason for the rule.

Fifty million Catholics can't be wrong.

People will tell you all kinds of things.

I remember my grandmother told me that if I looked at naked women, I'd turn

stone.

When I was ten years old, I saw these pictures of a young lady.

She was nude.

And sure enough, I could feel it starting to happen.

I threw down the pictures, and it was over a year before I knew that it was

natural and confined to one area.

The thing to keep in mind is, if everybody who does what you describe is

well, hell may be a big place, but it's not that big.

I'm sure it'll just be another minute or two.

Well, that's okay.

Do you think of me as sick?

What?

No. Do you think Howard Buss should apologize?

Well, what's the difference anyway?

People are going to think what they want to think, no matter what he does.

Well, if you want to keep your church,

I don't think the people need to hear from Howard Bess.

They need to hear from you.

My relationship with Rachel wasn't healthy.

Wigs, cheerleader costumes.

It was fantasy.

Nothing wrong with fantasy.

Trust me, some of my best partners have been in my head.

Yeah?

Me included?

You're okay.

Tell me.

Forget it.

Come on.

We admitted that we both... You know, what's with a few details?

Well, tell me about yours, then.

I asked you first.

You really want to hear this?

Friday night, it's either you or Barbara Walters.

Okay.

Why not?

We're at the station.

We're always at work.

It's late.

And we're totally alone.

We start to talk about what it would be like.

We're kind of curious.

And then we both say that we can't act on any urges because we work together

it could affect our professional relationship.

Wait a second.

This is a conversation.

You're fantasizing over a conversation?

Forget it.

No, I want to hear.

I promise I'll shut up.

Go.

Like I said, we go through this whole thing, or we talk about it,

and we both agree we can't act.

But we both want it.

We both want to...

You know, just... And I get up to leave.

And suddenly you grab my hand.

My left hand.

And you spin me around.

And you tell me to undress.

I just sort of laugh it off.

And I start to walk away again.

But you won't let go of my hand.

It hurts.

You're hurting me.

We're not saying anything.

Our faces are close together and we're just staring at each other like this.

You're mad at me.

I can tell because you have this look.

But I don't push you away.

Instead, I try to pull you in. I try to pull you right through me. It's weird.

take my hand and I put it on the back of your head and it like

Thank you.

Go get them and bring them back.

What's going on?

Father Barrett is evidently planning a little sermon on his shoe collection at

o 'clock mass.

What? Kimberly gave him the idea. People are lining up to get seats.

The boys are out selling T -shirts that Matthew made.

This one says, I get a boot out of Catholicism.

I like this one. Save souls with Father Barrett.

Go get them.

I'm going.

Working Saturdays now?

Always. I sundown after three o 'clock, so I don't get to put in full days.

So I make it up on weekends.

Nice horse.

Has a purpose.

The doctors tell me when I'm upset to hold a bear or do whatever brings me

comfort.

I'd ride that horse with my grandson and... Well, it

helps. You're not afraid of what people might say?

A rocking horse in the mayor's office?

People say it anyhow. I'm an old kook with Alzheimer's. So what?

If this helps me to function as a mayor, then I'll do it.

What goes on behind closed doors is my business.

A pity you couldn't extend the same right to Father Barrett.

What he does is perverted. It's kinky. I heard about your little breakdown

yesterday.

My friend, I'm afraid the inmate is finally running the asylum.

I think you should step down.

Have you seen our budget sheets?

I've cut utilities, transportation expenses.

The volunteer snow removal plan saved us $62 ,000.

You were always a great accountant.

I'm going to be the first mayor in 40 years to lower taxes.

You run around with a teddy bear and you wet your pants.

You went on public access and exposed the town to a lawsuit.

And from what I know about Alzheimer's, the stress of being mayor could make it

worse.

Jill's going to put me on estrogen.

I might grow breasts, but I'll do so with a clear head.

Step down, Howard.

I want to hang on till the special election.

Then I'll step down.

I can do it.

This is important to me, Henry.

To be able to lead our town and contribute.

I want this to be my final legacy.

Watch it on Channel 3.

Full in there?

Completely. Father Barrett is doing for religion what Tanya Harding did for the

Olympics. Now, you and Kenny take the door. I'll take this, please. Thank you.

Make a couple seats in there for Jill.

All right, everybody, just first, please, go back to your cars. Thank you

much. You can come to Bath tomorrow.

Please, leave the area. All right.

Wow, huh?

Yeah, wow.

I guess he thinks this is the best way to get back his parish.

Talk about a pressure sermon.

I tried calling her.

She won't take my call.

I tried calling her, too.

I'm embarrassed.

About her seeing us?

Or about, you know... I don't know.

Maybe both?

Yeah.

Excuse me.

Look,

Max, you and I, it's crazy.

It'll just screw things up at work.

I agree.

I agree we should know better.

We just got a little carried away, that's all.

Mistakes will happen.

We learn.

Yep.

a fetish.

It is a disorder for which I need professional help.

I know that I have disappointed many of you.

If your condemnation of me is the result of my not being totally celibate,

well, I accept that as a priest.

I should be celibate.

Period.

I will do penance and I will seek psychiatric treatment to resolve

my fetish.

I am human.

Like any human, I am weak.

And in my weakness, I turn to my faith.

I turned to the Father, and now, right now, I must

turn to you.

It's odd, really, whether it be Judge Henry Bone or Sheriff Jimmy Brock,

I have complained that Rome has pushed the notion

of tolerance to exaggerated extremes.

It's ironic that I should be here today to appeal to that very sense of

tolerance.

But that's what it comes down to.

The spirit of the Catholic Church and of God calls for compassion

and for never -ending power of forgiveness.

If I've done my job as your priest, You've embraced the premise that we're

blessed with an infinite capacity to

get better.

To become well again.

Okay, well, there's a man at the back, Bishop John Marsh, and he's waiting for

your verdict as to whether I still have a parish.

So we need to give him some kind of indication.

If you still trust me to be your priest...

and to lead you in your commitment to God and to each other,

then I would ask you to rise at this time.

If it is your wish that I give up this parish, please remain seated.

The floor is yours.

He got a standing ovation?

I don't think they clapped, but they all got up.

So he's still the priest, and he gets to keep the shoes.

Well, then I guess that means it's not a sin to milk the lizard.

Don't be so sure.

Mom dodged the question.

Dad said he never did it.

And Mama gave me some story about turning into a rock.

The only thing I know for sure is, if you really need to know about something

very important, don't go to a grown -up.

Especially in this town.

Well, if you can't go to grown -ups, then who?

Big sisters?

Look, masturbation is normal.

Don't expect standing ovations for it.

But it's okay.

Thank God we got her.