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Previous/y on The Guardian...

l got us a place to go after the wedding.

[tires screech]

Levi Mooney got killed last night at the Christian Boys' Academy.

Some kid shoved rocks in his mouth.

James, l'm so sorry--

What happens to Shannon now?

Mr. Fallin, if you want to be a foster parent,

there's a whole procedure.

Have you heard of the Berkeley Legal Center?

Are you going?

What you said about dealing with the kids who did this--

you're not going to.

Shannon's father wants to take her back.

- l love you. - What?

Don't go.

Ne_ thing you know, l'm on the ground, getting beat by these guys wearing hoods.

l took a tire iron to his face.

Do me a favor and leave us the hell alone.

- Where are you going? - To Berkeley, for the interview.

l'm losing you! Damn it!

Taliek's the wrong guy.

Roy Cantwell made a complaint,

alleging inappropriate sexual behavior.

Wait a minute!

- l have to get right. - You can't tell the kid.

l got the job.

Give him some money and shut him up.

l trusted someone who set you up.

Taliek, put the gun--

[gunshot, shell casing drops]

[opera singing]

Too bad Lulu couldn't make it.

You just missed a spot back there.

There will be another one.

You could just back up and take that spot.

There will be another one, son.

You know, Dad--

You know, sometimes, maybe-- maybe we should talk.

About what?

l don't know Just--

l don't know.

Ah, there we go.

[tires screech]

What the hell? Did you see that?

Yeah.

Excuse me. You took my place.

- Hello? - Dad.

You took my place.

Dad, just let it go.

Dad.

Excuse me. Excuse me.

You took my place.

[sighs]

What are you talking about?

Well, l was waiting here for this spot--

[Nick] Just let it go. It's a parking spot.

Well, it's gone.

- Hey. - Hey, man.

[opera singing continues]

[grunting]

[Burton] You know that guy?

Nicholas?

Go home. Just go home.

♪ 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 ♪

[camera snaps photo]

[police radio chattering]

We arrested Taliek Allen outside of his house

about ten minutes ago.

OK.

You told Omicer Sachs

that you saw him running away from the vicinity at T:30.

Yeah, that's right.

You're sure about the time?

Well, yeah. We were supposed to go to the symphony,

and it starts at T:30.

Supposed to go?

Yeah, uh...

we changed our minds.

What made you think something happened here?

l just--l just had a feeling.

Because you knew Taliek was going to retaliate?

Come on, James Mooney took a tire iron to that kid's face.

Why cover it up now?

Your friend's dead.

There's no need to protect him anymore.

[Man] Rolsky, come take a look at this.

Sorry for your loss.

Oh, God.

- l went over there. - Where?

The parking lot.

To see if that guy was all right.

He was gone.

The car was still there, but he was gone.

Got his license plate number.

Where have you been?

[priest talking indistinctly]

[sighs]

[Alvin] l saw Taliek on the elevator that night.

He said hello to me.

l don't--

l just don't get it.

James was just trying to help that kid.

What you went through-- find the bodies--

l'm fine, l'm fine.

James and his sister invited us over to her house for comee.

You going?

l'll see you back at the omice.

[Burton] Shannon?

Burton.

How are you doing?

Good.

l just thought l'd...

come by and say hi.

Yeah.

You want to sit?

Yeah, sure.

This is not so bad, huh?

No.

Are you mad at me?

l'm upset.

That's a little dimerent.

What you did was a very serious thing.

The police came by my omice, and...

accused me of doing some terrible things to you.

l'm sorry.

Honey, if you didn't want to stay with me, why didn't you--

why didn't you just tell me you didn't? l would've understood that.

Roy's coming to get me pretty soon.

He's taking me out to a movie.

Well, good luck to you, sweetheart.

[Shannon] l never said you did anything gross.

l mean...

l was kind of scared...

when you yelled at me.

Mr. Fallin.

Good to see you again, sir.

Well...

you have fun at the movies, sweetheart, OK?

We will.

See you later.

Could l talk to you for a second?

Shannon told me that you're going to take care of her now.

Well, sir, l hope you're not angry with her for what she said.

Oh, what she said?

The way l see it, you told a 12-year-old

to lie to the police.

Well, sir, it all worked out,

and l hope we can put it behind us now.

Yeah.

Well, she could be a great kid, Roy.

Don't--Don't screw it up.

Roy, we're going to miss the previews.

Well, sir, appreciate your concern, Mr. Fallin.

As always, good seeing you.

You want some help?

Sure.

- l was wondering-- - Yeah?

Well, l could really use a hand around here

until l can hire replacements for Larry and James.

l'm supposed to start with Berkeley in two weeks.

l'm sure Judith Lieberman will understand.

Alvin--

Just for another month or so, until l can get replacements in here.

Alvin, you're the one that wanted me to leave in the first place.

[sighs]

Will you stay or not?

Hey.

James' sister asked about his retirement fund.

Talk to Carol in Accounting.

l'll do it.

- l'll take that. - Yeah.

lf you want to help me,

you could put some of his personal stum in this box.

Stan Belanger--

the guy who had this omice before James.

Stan, one day, just stopped coming in.

He didn't even quit.

Just stopped.

So, l called a friend at Duquesne Law School,

and he sent James over for an interview.

James hadn't even passed the bar,

and he wasn't very likeable.

No way l could hire him.

A couple of weeks later, l'm over at the Cramord Grill.

Stanley Turrentine is playing, they're making a recording of it.

- Keystone Records--remember them? - Uh, yeah.

Oh, they were good.

Jazz only. Pittsburgh artists, you know?

Joe Negri, Etta Cox, Walt Harper.

Anyway, l look across the room, and there's James.

We start talking.

He takes me out to an after-hours club up on the Hill.

Turns out he's a huge jazz fan.

l mean, knowledgeable.

l hired him the ne_ day.

Well, that Turrentine record comes out the following December, right?

James--get this--

James buys it for me for Christmas,

then immediately borrows it so he can tape it.

Never gives it back.

What do you do? You know, it's a present.

You don't want to see-- l don't know--

Anyway, Keystone goes bankrupt, Turrentine dies,

and now it is, like, the most rare recording you can find.

That bothered me--

that he never gave it back to me.

Always really bothered me.

Steelers look good this year.

[Suzanne] Alvin?

Oh, Suzanne, how are you?

Hi. l know that this is a terrible time--

Oh, thank you.

But this is Joey Smith, and he needs a lawyer for a shelter hearing.

Sure.

I l tried at the Children's Center but they were all full.

We can handle it. We're fine here.

Uh, Nick?

- Hi. Suzanna Pell. - Nick Fallin.

- l'm sorry for your-- - What's the case?

Um--

Joey, will you wait here a second?

Thanks.

Hey, how are you doing?

That's OK.

Joey is nine years old.

He came into town last week with the carnival.

- Literally? - Literally.

The kind that moves around.

Joey's been traveling with it since he was born.

Um, his mother is some sort of sideshow pe_ormer.

She does a kind of reptile act.

Why is he here?

He was picked up Friday night

sleeping outside of his father's backyard.

Or at least that's what Joey's claiming,

that his father is a dentist in Mt. Lebanon.

You don't know that for sure?

We're trying to track him down. He's on vacation with his family.

Well, if the kid's a runaway, why isn't he back with his mother?

Joey's claiming that the owner of the carnival

is molesting him.

He seems to like Legos.

- What are you making? - A doghouse.

Of course.

You like dogs?

No.

My name is Nick.

l'll be helping you when we go to court.

What am l going to court for?

To find you a new place to live.

l know my mom is mad at me.

[Nick] Do you want to tell me why you ran away?

l just wanted to see my dad.

Did you want to talk to him?

What did you want to tell him?

That l didn't want to do it anymore.

Do what?

Help Mr. Meadows with the mail.

[carnival music, chatter]

This is where the children sleep.

They promised to clean it up by tomorrow night.

This is where they go to school.

Yeah, it's not Exeter but it's got the basics!.

They don't have a licensed teacher, though,

so l'm recommending they get one before they leave the city.

Right there is the bathrooms and the showers.

There's no hot water in those stalls.

They said they'll fix it up as best they can.

lf they don't?

What can we do? They're leaving town in a few days,

and after that, they're om to God-knows-where.

Miss Pell.

How are you?:

Nick, this is George Meadows. He owns the carnival.

Pleasure to meet you, Nick.

l'm glad that you and Miss Pell could come by

to help straighten out this mess.

We come to town outsiders,

we leave town outsiders.

We have to look out for each other.

l see.

Like l told the police, we are ostensibly a big family.

And l guess l'm supposed to be the father here.

As such, l'm often called upon to play a paternalistic role.

Paternalistic?

Joey, like all kids here,

are the children of children, emotionally speaking.

They need love, guidance, sometimes discipline.

lt's in my best interests to watch over them.

After all, most of them will stay with this carnival for life.

Are you aware that Joey claims you molested him?

l'm aware of his accusations.

Do you spend much time alone with Joey?

Sure. He helps me out sometimes.

With the mail?

Right.

And you've never touched Joey?

l've been amectionate with the boy, yes.

l'm amectionate with all the kids.

Where can l find Joey's mother?

[overlapping chatter]

[Man] And when she starts to dance,

she quivers like a bowl of Grandma's jelly

on a cold, frosty morning!

We got a fire-eater!

Freaks, wonders, and curiosities!

The strange, the weird, the odd,

the bizarre and the unusual!

[crowd groaning]

[woman laughs]

[Woman] Oh, boy!

[Woman] Wait till she turns around.

[Man] Oh, yeah.

Excuse me. Um...

Miss Smith?

Nicholas Fallin.

l'm your son's court-appointed guardian.

Your son says George Meadows was masturbating in front of him.

l want my kid back.

Do you know anything about what your son is saying?

lf George Meadows was touching himself in front of my son,

l would kill him.

So, then, your son is lying?

Where's Joey?

That doesn't answer my question.

l don't even know who you are.

That does not answer my question, like l said.

Look, l know you're a lawyer.

l just don't know what the hell you have to do with any of this.

The court is going to ask me for a recommendation

about where Joey should live.

My son took om. l don't know why.

Maybe he was sick of working all summer,

or maybe because he wanted to see his dad,

who, by the way, he doesn't even know.

lt happens.

Kids around here want to see what the normal world is like.

So, you're confident there's been no abuse?

l've known George Meadows all my life.

He's all right.

Please give me back my son. We're leaving at the end of the week.

Give him back.

Have you seen this?

What?

lt's your son's statement. It, uh--

lt's very specific about what happened in that trailer.

[Gretchen] Nick. About James--

- l just wanted to say-- - Thank you.

- Terrible thing. l met him once-- - Any messages?

He seemed like such a nice guy.

- Any messages? - Oh.

Right. Here you go.

Thank you.

[Burton] Nick.

How are you doing?

- Need anything? - l'm fine.

l was thinking about that shrink you were seeing.

You need his number?

No, l was thinking about you.

No, l'm all right.

You OK?

Yeah. Why?

Well, after what happened the other night,

you were kind of--

You know about that partner's meeting this afternoon, right?

Yeah, finalizing bonuses.

4:30.

l'll be there.

- Hey. - Hey.

- How are you feeling? - All right.

Yeah, l've been pretty upset. l mean, l was--

l was supposed to have lunch with James tomorrow.

Hey, Nick, um--

Look, man, if you want to talk, you know...

l'm here. All right?

Guess this is kind of a bad time.

Bonuses?

Uh, yeah. l made up a memo of hours, billings, new business.

l mean, this was before l heard about James, of course.

[Gretchen] Nick?

There's a man named Harold Watson on the phone--

something about a kid named Joey Smith.

- You Nick Fallin? - Yeah.

Hey. Harold Watson.

Who the hell could--

l mean, they arrested this freak that did that to Joey?

The police are still Iooking into it.

Oh, my God. l can't believe it. Son of a bitches.

l mean, Joey's only-- What is he, eight years old?

Nine.

Nine.

[sighs]

l know what you're thinking.

How could l-- you know, with Amy?

l was, uh--

l had a very interesting summer ten years ago.

l was partying pretty hard.

l met Amy, and--

One-week thing, right? l mean, we've all been there.

We may need to find a place for Joey to live.

Oh, right, l'm sure.

Would you consider having him live with you?

- You mean here? - Yeah.

l'll speak to my wife and kids.

Let me know.

[starts engine]

Sir? Sir?

Your car is in my husband's spot.

- My husband has MS. - Oh, l'm sorry.

And he needs to park in front of the house.

lt's a reserved spot.

l understand. l'll move.

[starts engine]

[sighs]

[knock on door]

Thought you might be hungry.

- Can l come in? - Sure.

Whew! l was just helping Alvin.. .

clean out James' apartment.

Right.

Alvin's tearing the place up.

l don't know. He's looking for a jazz record or something.

He says you were going to stay for another month.

- He did? - Are you?

You know, Alvin had a really good idea

to start up a fund at Duquesne Law School

honoring James.

So, you're not going to stay?

You know l'm supposed to start at Berkeley October 15, so...

This smells great. You want to eat?

Uh, no. l just, uh-- l just ate.

Oh, come on. l don't want to eat alone.

You don't have to.

Nick, l was really kind of hoping that we could be--

Friends?

l guess. No, more like--

Well, l'm not a very good friend.

So, you just want to end it, then?

- End what? - Come on.

l said what l said, all right?

Yeah, well, Nick, Iove is not a business deal.

l mean, you just don't pull the omer.

Right.

You know l really care about you.

l more than care about you.

lt's just that--

You're going to move to California.

Right.

Then we have nothing to talk about.

l'll leave the food for you.

Nick, your father wants to see you in his omice.

[knock on door]

- Come in. - What is it?

Uh, Nick, this is Ralph Trillo.

This is my son Nicholas.

Hey.

What, you couldn't just let it go?

You went to his house?

What the hell were you thinking?

Nicholas, we attacked him.

No. You getting out of your car is what started this whole damn thing.

lt was a fight, Dad. You know what this could do to me?

This guy goes to the cops-- l'm on probation.

l know that. l'm sorry about that.

You're sorry.

Nicholas, l had to find out if he was OK or not.

lf this guy goes to the police,

l'm the one looking at a probation revocation hearing.

Well, he's not going to the cops.

He knows who we are now. He's been to our omices.

He knows we have money.

No, he's not going to do anything.

He's going straight to see a lawyer right now!

l'll fix it.

How?

l'll handle it.

Thank you.

Well, l appreciate you coming by, Joanne.

No problem.

l read about your son. He's going to Penn State, right?

- Yeah. - That's great.

The pros are liking these college players a lot more these days,

especially pitchers.

l know.

So, l pulled that file on Mr. Trillo. Do you still want it?

Oh, yeah. Yeah, l could've gotten this from Frank DeScala,

but l thought it would be nice to catch up with you a little bit.

- You look great. - Oh, thanks. So do you.

Thanks.

I ''Hairline fracture of the skull minor concussion,

''facial laceration, broken right hand.''

Well, not so bad.

The treatment was standard.

Where's the malpractice coming in?

They haven't even filed a suit yet.

So, why do you need this information?

Hmm, l just thought maybe l'd nip it in the bud before it gets--

Could you, uh--

Could you excuse me just a second?

- Sure. - l'll be right back.

- Mr. Fallin, how are you doing? - l'm doing fine.

- Remember Cheryl Ann? - Hi.

You secretary told me where you were.

Did she?

Yeah, l told her l was a client.

Oh. What do you want?

Mr. Fallin, l think that l overestimated my capacity.

ls that right?

My business ventures are heating up.

They're going to require my undivided attention.

Your business ventures?

Yeah, l invested in Cheryl Ann's beauty supply business.

Oh.

You couldn't do that here?

Uh, no. We're going to Florida.

So, what do you want from me-- bus fare?

No, no, no, l got my car.

Now, listen-- l haven't told Shannon yet.

And l guess what l'm trying to say here--

and this is hard for me, sir-- is that, uh--

well, l know how Shannon feels about you.

So, l thought that maybe you could keep an eye on her till l get back.

You're not coming back, Roy.

Well, sir, l don't know that for certain.

You go away. You just stay away.

Well, it's my right, Mr. Fallin,

to live my existence any way l choose.

- [Man] Hey, Burton. - Hey.

So, the fish specials are very good.

lf you're a fish person.

l like fish.

Well, cheers, Joanne. It's good to see you.

You, too.

- You wanted to see me? - Yeah.

l'm down three lawyers.

So, until l can hire replacements,

l am going to be leaning on you to pick up the slack.

l understand. l'll come in when l can.

You'll come in when l tell you to.

Well, that's not our deal.

l've been talking to the dean over at Duquesne

about setting up a scholarship fund.

Yeah, l heard, l heard.

So--

Alvin, before you get too deep into this--

Yes?

Taliek is going to claim that James attacked him.

That's ridiculous.

He's going to say that James blames him for what happened to his nephew,

and that he broke into his house and attacked him.

But that's a lie.

No law school is going to want an endowment

named after some guy that took a tire iron to a teenage kid's face.

But he didn't do it.

Mr. Fallin?

- Harold Watson. - Yeah, l remember.

My wife and l discussed Joey.

- And? - It's a no.

Amy was--

- l was-- - You told me.

Look, Joey's a good kid,

but you see what he's been brought up around.

My wife--she just doesn't feel comfortable

bringing him into a house with normal kids.

You know what l mean.

Oh. Yeah.

l have a family. Joey belongs with Amy.

But l will absolutely keep up with my child support payments.

Great. l'll let them know that. Thanks.

Hey, how are you doing?

Good.

- Thanks for coming over. - Yeah, sure.

What, uh-- What's going on?

Roy had some good news.

Yeah?

He got some great job in Florida.

He said he's going to call me in a few weeks

once he's set up.

Oh. Good.

Until then...

l guess l have to wait.

l mean, stay here.

Yeah.

But it's good news.

Yeah, it is. It's good news.

Burton?

What, honey?

l kind of told Roy--

l kind of told him that l might want to stay with you...

until he gets back.

You told him that?

Yeah.

Wow.

Honey, you--

Well, l sure like the idea.

But, uh...

Honey, l've got a--

a lot of things going on at the omice right now.

l just--l don't think it's possible right now.

Oh.

Do you understand?

Yeah, l get it.

Really?

Yeah.

l mean, l can come by here-- a lot, if you want.

l'll just-- l'll call Roy and tell him.

He'll probably just come back and get me.

Yeah.

[Nick] Joey Smith's biological father won't take him back.

Who?

Joey Smith-- the kid from the carnival.

You see the paper? You were right.

About Taliek.

His lawyers are setting up an insanity defense

and making James out to be the bad guy.

Alvin, l need your advice on this case.

What's Social Services saying?

Well, the police ran a background check on this guy Meadows.

lt seems this is not the first complaint that's gone up against him.

You think the mom was aware of the abuse?

She just wants her kid back.

l don't think she'll admit anything.

What does the kid want?

He wants to be with his mother.

Well, tell Mom to leave the carnival.

Social Services can supervise them for a while

so no one's at risk.

l'm not going anywhere.

Then l have to recommend your son remain in a shelter.

Who the hell are you to tell me?

This is my son.

My son.

Call these people.

They will help you find a job.

l will fill out the government housing forms

and take them to the Housing Authority for you.

The hearing is tomorrow morning, 1 1 A. M.

l was on my way to a symphony fundraiser--

where l'm on the board, by the way.

My son was with me. He's also an attorney.

l was getting ready to park my car

when a man recklessly pulls in front of me, takes my place.

l got out of the car, politely asked him to move his car.

He immediately got hostile.

Shoves me, throws me up against the car,

hits me so hard that it breaks his right hand.

l, in self defense,

threw a punch, connected, the guy went down,

and l walked away.

You and your son attacked me.

Well, this is a complaint

alleging assault and battery on a TO-year-old man.

l'll serve you with that tomorrow morning.

l'm asking for _100,OOO in damages.

l think you ought to know that l have the resources

to drag this case out for a long time.

Cost you a fortune.

Cost me nothing.

l am aware of your injuries, your expenses, so l, um--

l prepared a check

in the amount of _36,OOO.

A release form for you to sign.

A release form?

Yeah. That states that there was a minor altercation

between you and me only.

lt says that we were both negligent,

and neither party is willing to accept blame.

lt wasn't just me and you.

No, no. My son was not involved.

lf l want more money?

[Burton] l'm not here to negotiate.

lf l got to the police?

Ralph, l want you to know that l'm--

l'm sorry about what happened.

And l truly believe it would be in everybody's best interests

if you just took that check.

By the way, l took care of our little problem.

What did you do?

Well, l...

just took care of it.

Nicholas, let me ask you something.

What?

You know, Shannon's dad left town.

Right.

She has no place to go.

No, Dad, you don't want to go back there.

No, no, l know what you're think of her.

l'm not asking you that.

Heh. l guess what l'm asking you is...

what do you think of me?

What do you mean?

As a father?

[Joey] Can l go home now?

- No. - Why not?

Because you should stay at the shelter

and let Social Services find a new home for you.

What if l said... it didn't happen?

What if l said that Mr. Meadows never did anything to me?

l made it up, OK?

l made it up.

These are the housing forms. All you have to do is sign them.

l went to the job placement center. That guy just stared at me,

said he didn't have anything.

We're going to find you a job.

l have a job--in show business. l'm a pe_ormer.

l have a house in Florida where l keep my snakes

and where my son lives.

This is the only thing l can do.

l'm not leaving the carnival.

Then l have to recommend Joey be placed in a shelter.

l can't change the way l look now.

Even if l wanted to, there's no doctor in the world

that's going to change the way l look.

Please! Give me back my son.

This is not up to me.

- If l promise to protect him-- - Protect him?

You haven't been able to protect him so far.

l'll never let it happen again.

You need to talk to the police.

l can't do that. They'll shut us down.

- Talk to the police. - l can't.

l'm sorry. l can't do that.

lt's not like he's touching Joey.

[Judge] Has there been any progress in the criminal investigation?

Uh, not yet, Your Honor.

The child has recanted his allegations against Mr. Meadows.

ln addition, Your Honor, Mr. Meadows had improved the living conditions

and hired a full-time tutor.

Miss Smith wants Joey back, and Joey wants to be with her.

There's absolutely no legal reason to keep them apart.

Mr. Fallin, your recommendation?

Joey Smith should remain in a group home

until the police have concluded their investigation.

l want to go home.

- We're leaving for Ohio today. - Miss Smith.

He wants to come with me.

Miss Smith has done nothing wrong. No abuse, no neglect,

there have been no criminal charges filed against Mr. Meadows.

l want to go home.

l see no reason why Joey shouldn't go back with his mother.

Joey's mother knows he's being abused.

He recanted because he doesn't want the carnival

to leave town without him. But she knows the truth.

No, l know l can be a little rough

and lose my temper sometimes, but...

like l said, if l frightened you that day, l--

l'm very sorry.

lt was Roy. He told me to.

No, don't do that, honey.

Don't blame other people for your actions.

OK.

Well, anyway...

l've been thinking about this.

And, uh...

l'd like for you to come back, if you want to.

Yeah, that's what l was--

But you're going to have to give me your word--

no more lying.

No more going to places without my permission.

No more Roy.

Unless l'm there to supervise.

l promise, Burton. l promise.

OK.

Let's get your stum and...

get out of here.

Why don't we--

Why don't we-- before we go home--

take a movie in and get some dinner?

l'd rather just go back to your house, Burton.

lf that's OK, l'd just rather go back there.

OK. Yeah.

Me, too.

l'll be back after we finish in Cincinnati

and all this will have blown over.

Mr. Fallin will watch out for you,

and l'm going to write you every day,

and l'm going to call you.

So, give me a hug.

Let's go! Roll out!

[Amy] We'll work this out.

OK?

Bye.

[jazz music playing]

[elevator dings]

Nick.

Found my Stanley Turrentine record in James' apartment.

A Post-it was still on it.

''Return to Alvin.''

The dean of Duquesne Law School--

not interested in the scholarship.

lt's a shame.

James was a good man.

This whole damn thing is just a shame.

l can do that.

l'm fine.

l'm fine.

l, uh--

l checked your probation decree.

The terms of your community service are up to my discretion.

My discretion, not yours.

Right.

Just so you know, l'm going to--

l'm going to need you to put some e_ra time in here.

OK.

Just so you know. ♪♪♪ Ripped by FabHawk ♪♪♪