Original subtitles

- Previously on "The Betty Broderick Story"...

- Are you sleeping with her?

- If this is where your head goes

when you don't get your way, that's the real problem.

You should get some professional help for that.

I can't prove that something's not true.

That it doesn't exist.

I am not sleeping with Linda Kolkena.

- What are you doing?

- If I don't take this time,

I'm not going to be any good to anyone.

- He told you he was leaving? - What did he say?

- That he needed space and time.

I'm jealous.

Who couldn't use a break from everything?

- What is this? How long have you been here?

- Since dark.

- Yeah, she said you'd be back eventually.

- Dan's been granted temporary physical custody.

You need to be a good soldier here, Bets.

Otherwise you risk not being able to see them at all.

- Court order signed by a judge.

From now on, you come on the Coral Reef property

with my permission, or you go to jail.

- How am I supposed to see my kids?

- With my permission!

- Everyone whose last name is Broderick is gonna lose.

- Christmas is always such a big production for her.

The red velvet placemats, the candy apples,

the goddamned sequined light bulbs.

[sighs]

She feels most alive in December.

I tried to be nice.

Tried to give her the kids to share it all with.

She slammed the door in my face.

You know, what do you say to that?

- I feel sad for her.

She tried to ruin our holiday, but nothing could ruin it.

- That's right.

- She just doesn't get that yet.

- Mm-hmm. - But she will.

- Hmm.

[Burl Ives' "A Holly Jolly Christmas" playing]

- Oh, my God. Dan, that's amazing.

- Yeah? - So good.

- Mm, how good is it? - I can't tell you.

I have to show you.

[both moaning]

♪

♪ Oh, by golly

♪ Have a holly jolly Christmas this year ♪

- Yeah.

♪

- You don't know that that's happening.

- Yeah, I do.

- Have you talked to the kids?

Did they--did they tell you they've seen Dan

and Linda acting like--

- No, but you expect me to believe those two

are controlling themselves? It's all out in the open now.

They don't care who sees them now.

- I know, but it's a three-bedroom chalet, isn't it?

There has to be some privacy.

- Sure, this bimbo really respects privacy.

- Why didn't you just take the kids skiing yourself?

Didn't Dan say he'd pay for it?

- Yes, he offered to pay for our children's holiday trip

with our money.

And he wanted to dictate the terms to me.

I didn't want him to do that so he just took them

to a condo where he's now sleeping in a bedroom

with his girlfriend even though we're not even divorced.

What am I supposed to say to my sons?

- I know, but just some continuity right now.

Something familiar. For you, too, Betty.

I mean, you all always go skiing at the holidays.

- Exactly.

So if I had taken them on a ski trip like always,

they'd never understand.

- Understand what? - What he's done to us.

[truck door closes]

[dramatic music]

♪

- Just go and pack, okay?

- Dad, what's going on? Why can't we go in there?

- Stay out of here till it's cleaned up.

I don't want anyone to get cut.

Hi.

[sighs]

I guess you were right about the flowers.

If I had to do it over, I still would have sent them.

Just, it felt too heartless

to completely not acknowledge her on Christmas.

- Even though acknowledging her feels like rubbing it in.

- She didn't do all this because of the flowers.

She did it because she's childish and entitled.

Entitled to my attention, definitely to this house.

She probably won't stop acting out completely

when I move to Balboa Park, but it won't be like this.

- You don't know that. - But I do.

She won't feel the same ownership.

She won't feel comfortable just walking in.

She and I saw the other place. She hated it.

Thought it was, uh, a bad house for children.

- Why wasn't it a house for children?

- [grunts]

- Was there broken glass everywhere?

- Come on. No, no, no, no, no.

[sighs] It's gonna be okay.

I'm not saying that this isn't awful.

- You might be a little. - No.

I'm saying that I'm gonna take care of it.

Okay?

- By the way... - Hmm?

- I really would have liked this.

- Oh. - It's a good choice.

- I'll get you ten more, okay?

Would you put it back where it was?

Before we clean up, I wanna get some pictures.

- [laughs] What are you doing?

- I like to be warmed up.

- But we're getting the coffee first.

I get the coffee before the beach

because I take the coffee to the beach in the car.

- Right.

So you drive to get the coffee,

and then you drive from there to the beach?

- What are you having such a hard time with?

I get the coffee and then... - Okay.

I get it, I just-- - I walk with it on the beach.

- [laughs] - Elisabeth Broderick?

[tense music]

♪

- Who is that? What is that?

♪

What are those? What's going on?

- This is calendar number three,

Broderick versus Broderick.

Mr. Broderick and his attorney Douglas Layton are present.

Mrs. Broderick is not.

- Was Mrs. Broderick informed of this court date?

- She was. - All right, then.

With Mrs. Broderick's disregard for the court,

I'm ready to rule in her absence.

Any objection? - None, Your Honor.

- Then the divorce is hereby granted.

- I'm divorced.

And he has everything. They gave him everything.

- Who did? - I don't understand.

- Who does? Dan?

- I postponed the hearing. I wasn't even there.

I didn't have a lawyer.

Whatever happened to shit like due process?

This says I can't see my children.

- What? Oh, come on.

That can't be right.

- No visitation for the mother until she undertakes

an appropriate program of psychiatric therapy.

- Betty--

- Women burn their children with cigarettes.

They throw boiling water on their children.

They let their boyfriends touch them,

and they get visitation, but I don't?

- I think maybe we should, um, go inside and--and sit down

and, um, I don't know.

We should get you a glass of water.

[voice fading] I think if we just take a break...

- Dear Elisabeth Anne,

you and I are no longer married.

As is usual in bifurcated divorces,

we now move on to court-ordered mediation.

As we do,

it's up to us to do our best to minimize the trauma

our divorce will have on our kids.

I suggest we begin by refraining

from any derogatory comments

as bad-mouthing and blaming one another is destructive.

- [sniffs]

[line trilling]

- Hi, you've reached the Brodericks.

We're not home right now,

but leave us a message and we'll call you back.

Have a great day. [line beeps]

♪

[phones ringing]

- Good morning, Mr. Broderick. - Morning, Lois.

Oh. [groans]

I know. I'm sorry.

Soon as you can.

- Even just transcribing these, I mean,

the language is really-- but all of it.

I mean, the whole situation...

- [sighs]

Soon as you can.

Every time you call me,

you're violating a court order.

This doesn't seem to matter to you.

Maybe this will.

For every time you leave a message or call

using vulgar or obscene language,

you'll be fined $100 per offensive word.

Each time you set foot across the property line

of 1053 Cypress Avenue, I will withhold $250.

Each time you step across the threshold, $500.

Each time you try to spend time with the boys

without clearing it with me, $1,000.

These fines will be withheld from the support checks

I voluntarily send you every month.

[soft dramatic music]

[sighs]

♪

Believe me, I'm not doing this to bait you.

I just want to deter you from using language

and behavior in your dealings with me which any normal,

civilized person would find extremely objectionable.

- He's calling the shots.

Court said so.

He's in charge and I've got nothing.

He can continue to fine me and nobody's gonna do

anything about it.

But he still can't understand

why I keep calling his answering machine.

- Why do you call it so much?

- What else am I gonna do?

What else do I have?

No kids, no money.

He doesn't give me no life.

Freedom of speech till he has a judge cut my tongue out.

- Oh, Betty, what-- what happened to the, um--

weren't you working at that gallery?

- Yeah, no, I can't. I can't do that right now.

With everything that's going on I just--I couldn't keep up.

- Well, it can't be legal for him to fine you like that,

but until you find a new lawyer to make him stop,

what if you stop? - Right, right.

What if I let him take everything

and tell me what words I can use?

- Have you maybe thought about seeing a therapist?

Just as a safer place to vent.

You can curse as much as you want in front of a therapist.

- Dan will subpoena the records

and use them against me. I can't go to therapy.

That answering machine is my therapy.

My primal scream.

- What about a diary?

That'd be private and free.

- My lawyer told me to keep a diary during my divorce.

It was the best advice he ever gave.

He said bad things grow in the dark.

- Oh, and while we're on the subject

of making life easier for Dan-- - Oh, Betty, come on.

- You know that's not true.

- Remember when he put me in the loony bin?

He just sent me the bill.

- We are not trying to make his life easier.

We wanna help you. - And I wanna smash things.

If you've never smashed anything before,

when you finally do,

feels great.

- Hi, you've reached the Brodericks.

We're not home right now,

but leave us a message and we'll call you back.

Have a great day. [answering machine beeps]

- Asshole, who do you think you're kidding?

Look in the mirror and tell me.

You're like a slug with a fancy tie on.

What am I supposed to do now? I just want what's mine.

- ♪ If I, I get to know your name ♪

- Good morning, Mr. Broderick.

- Good morning, Lois.

- ♪ Well, if I

♪ Could trace your private number, baby ♪

♪

♪ All I know is that to me

♪ You look like you're lots of fun ♪

- We're not home right now,

but leave us a message and we'll call you back.

Have a great day. [answering machine beeps]

- Stop screwing the whore long enough to return my calls.

I just wanna ask you something.

I've left messages on the machine,

with your maid, with your secretary.

I just wanna ask you something.

You're making me mad. I'll kill you.

- But leave us a message and we'll call you back.

Have a great day. [answering machine beeps]

- You're such a stupid shithead!

You don't even turn the machine off!

And whore, what is your voice doing on it?

It's the Broderick residence. You're not a Broderick.

You're nothing but a whore. [laughs]

Anyway, where are my darling children?

Kids, call me back. [glass shattering]

- Have a great day. [answering machine beeping]

- Your mere existence is a filthy,

shitty statement on human life.

You're just--you're like the scum of the Earth.

People like you aren't new, you know.

They've been around since the beginning of time.

- It gives me the creeps. She sounds so evil.

Especially her laugh.

It's like "The Exorcist."

- ♪ You spin me right round, baby, right round ♪

♪ Like a record, baby, right round, round, round ♪

♪ You spin me right round, baby, right round ♪

♪ Like a record, baby, right round, round, round ♪

♪ I want your love

♪ I want your love

[glass shattering] - I don't wanna see you

or the whore or the slums where you live

or any of your bullshit anymore.

You made my life into a nightmare.

I close my eyes and I see you and the whore

doing all your wonderful things and...

[stammers]

You're gonna be real sorry.

- Dear Elisabeth Anne,

enclosed is an itemized statement

explaining my sanctions for this month.

As you will see, the deductions for the month

exceed your allowance of $9,000.

[soft dramatic music]

Leaving a balance due from you to me

of $1,315.32.

Now, I know your first impulse upon reading this letter

will be a violent one.

I would think twice about that.

If you make any attack on me or my property,

you will never again get a red cent out of me

without a court order.

Sincerely, Daniel T. Broderick, III.

♪

- How will she pay her bills?

- Guess I owe you another $250.

- Get out of here now.

- Or you'll be late for the black stone ball?

Uh-oh!

Better hurry up and go get your shitty cape and top hat

and take the whore to the party I should be going to.

- Just leave. - No.

- I'll call the cops. - Oh, I know you will.

- They'll arrest you, Bets. - You'll have me arrested!

- You'll go to jail this time! - You'll have me sent to jail!

No!

[tense music]

♪

And they did a warrant check on me to see if I had

a criminal history, which obviously I didn't.

- Betty...

- Though I guess now I do.

[exhales sharply]

So then I waited and they brought me

a bologna sandwich that smelled like a foot,

and then they let me go on my own recognizance.

What is so wrong with asking how I'm supposed to live

for a month with no money?

- So what does Dan say you owe him?

- $1,300.

- So he deducted your entire support check plus $1,300?

[dramatic music]

I'm writing you a check. - Oh, no.

- I can do $6,500.

Yes, I am.

[chuckles]

[pen scribbling]

[pensive music]

♪

- Shaking in my bed.

Feels like an earthquake.

Miserable. Miserable.

Miserable, miserable bastard.

You want everything your way.

You have no sense of right, wrong,

true, false, indecent, immoral.

God will pay you back for it.

♪

- August 7th, 1986.

Ronald P. Ollen appointed by the court

to mediate the matter of Broderick versus Broderick.

Also present, Elisabeth Broderick.

Will you be represented by counsel?

- I'm not--

I--I've had some trouble there.

Shouldn't we wait for Dan?

- Uh, Mr. Broderick won't be joining us.

It's customary to meet with both parties separately

to determine whether there is a basis for conflict resolution.

- And what if there isn't?

- Mediation is only as successful

as the parties want it to be.

Did you prepare your statement?

- Oh, I didn't-- - Oh.

- I thought I was going to be reading it aloud

to the room.

- Well, you're welcome to read it aloud into the record.

- Ready?

Let me first say how nervous and overwhelmed I am.

My entire life-- past, present, and future--

is on the table.

Your past, present, and future are right on track.

The children and I have been victimized

by the one person who was supposed to protect us

from harm, not cause it.

When I am assured of financial security,

I will begin to discuss custody.

For now I am too enraged by your actions

to accept any responsibility for our children

because I don't know how to raise secure,

happy, healthy children with a sense of right and wrong

when you are living proof that none of my values

are worth a damn.

[tense music]

♪

Did Mr. Broderick prepare a position statement?

Can I hear it?

- Mr. Broderick has opted not to make a position statement

as is his right under the law.

- [scoffs]

[indistinct chatter]

- Hey.

You see who's here? Lou Clapper.

- Oh, that hammer toe.

Every time I hear his voice, my nose starts bleeding.

[all laughing]

- Can I talk to you a minute? - Mm, sure.

[lounge music playing]

♪

- Um... [clears throat]

Betty told me about the fines and sanctions

and the money she owes you now,

and about jail.

Dan, don't you think this is all...

Getting out of hand?

- I think you have a warped perception

of the details of my life, which is understandable.

It's not as understandable why you need to involve yourself

and spread those perceptions as fact.

- Is this thing on? Can anyone hear me?

- Maybe focus more on your own life, Ev,

instead of titillating yourself

and other people with stories about mine.

Excuse us.

- Anybody see him?

[applause]

- You're unbelievable. - I warned you.

- Of the San Diego County Bar Association,

in the year of our Lord 1987,

Daniel T. Broderick, III.

[cheers and applause]

[dramatic music]

♪

- You'll like Hilary. She's your style.

- Thanks, Evelyn.

- But don't say Richard referred you.

You can tell her once she's your lawyer,

but until then,

just maybe don't bring Richard's name into it.

- Oh, yeah, of course. I won't.

Thank you and Richard so much.

- Call her today.

♪

[door opening]

- Betty, I'm Hilary Clark.

That's a gorgeous color on you.

- Thank you.

I wanna ask for maybe a quarter of what he makes per month.

I say maybe because however much I'm guessing,

I'm pretty sure he makes more.

- What do you think a quarter is?

- 28.5.

My expenses are high,

but they're consistent with the living standard

I earned during my marriage to Dan.

The point is fairness, percentages.

Half of everything Dan Broderick has is mine.

I'm not asking for half.

But why should my lifestyle decline

when he wouldn't have his lifestyle without me?

- And what about custody?

- I want that, too. - Okay.

So-- - But not without a settlement.

Not without being able to take care of them

in a way that I had planned.

- I hear what you're saying.

But from a strategic standpoint,

it'll be easier to convince a judge

to grant a settlement if you have custody.

You've got a court mandated psych eval pending anyway

tied to visitation.

Let's get that on our side while I start digging

into Dan's financials.

That sound fair?

Can you stop calling and going to his house?

Can you stay away from the kids?

For the time being.

Can you return my phone calls?

- [laughs softly]

♪

- This is family court calendar number one,

Broderick versus Broderick.

Are we ready to proceed?

- Uh, there is one thing we'd like to bring

to the court's attention, Your Honor.

As the court knows,

there have been numerous orders to show cause

filed on this matter,

one of which prohibits Mrs. Broderick

from harassing Mr. Broderick by phone.

- Yes, I read the file, Mr. Mills.

- At 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday the 5th,

Mrs. Broderick phoned Mr. Broderick's home.

When Mr. Broderick answered the phone,

Mrs. Broderick said, "Oh, dickhead,"

and then hung up.

- Actually, I'm glad you brought this up,

and I'm speaking to you as well, Mr. Broderick.

Going forward,

you will not use this court to litigate minor infractions.

We will proceed in an efficient manner

and I will not tolerate any attempt

to waste my time with garbage.

Are we clear, gentlemen?

- Yes, sir. - Yes, Your Honor.

- Now, Ms. Clark. [clears throat]

You're requesting to move forward immediately

with your client's psych evaluation

with respects to visitation?

- Yes, Your Honor. - Very good.

I'll appoint Dr. Margot Hayes and we can set this matter down

for delivery of her report in, say, three weeks.

Anything else? - Thank you, Your Honor.

- No, sir.

- Get a date from my clerk

and I'll see you all back here then.

[tender music]

- [whispering] The front.

[normal voice] Hi, hi!

Sweetie, close the door.

♪

What's he doing? - He's on a conference call.

- Great.

We'll be done before he even knows you're gone.

Now, is the paper on Andrew Johnson as President

specifically, or on reconstruction?

- Him as President.

- That is what I thought.

♪

Oh, and...

- [gasps] Yes!

[laughter]

- Can you tell me how Mr. Broderick

got custody of the children?

- Well, I was living without a support agreement

in a big huge house that he had told me to buy,

and all of a sudden, it was infested with rats.

So I took my children and I dropped them off at Dan's

and left them there, and...

you know what that son of a bitch did?

- No.

- He kept them. - Okay.

- I don't want you to take notes.

- Okay.

Well-- [clears throat]

As an attorney,

Mr. Broderick, uh,

must work, you know,

very difficult hours, so it seems to me

that since you were the primary parent

that we should be able

to work out something reasonable.

Depending on what the children tell me,

I'm sure they can probably come back and live with you

since Mr. Broderick, uh, wasn't awarded custody

as part of an actual contested litigation in court.

♪

- I'm not gonna be a single parent of four kids.

He'll die first.

- [clears throat] Are you threatening him?

- I threaten him all the time.

- Can't sleep. Back pain.

Grinding my teeth. Headaches.

Depressed. Anxiety.

Called Hilary at 1:00 a.m.

Feeling out of control. Still no money.

Do I have ulcers?

Missed Caseys' party, Ireland Fund party,

Milliken party, Armstrong family party.

Girls don't come or call.

Think house has termites. Roof leaking.

Trapped by fear.

Solitary confinement,

the cruelest punishment short of the electric chair.

[tense music]

The court order doesn't say he has to pay by the first

so he just sends it whenever he feels like it.

Sometimes not even by the end of the month,

so then my bills are backed up

and paying them late costs more.

I tried looking for a job in child care

like you suggested and found something.

They were looking for a nanny with teaching experience--

a six-year old and four-year-old twins--

and I almost applied, but then I thought,

"How am I gonna explain why I don't have my own kids?"

I didn't even get to see Ryan on his birthday.

- I'm sorry. This is so hard.

- Thank you.

- But can I give you some good news?

Our request for you to have the boys Easter weekend

was approved. - Really?

- Whatever channels it went through,

whoever had to sign off, they did.

And I know it doesn't help with any

of what you were just saying-- - No, it does.

Really does.

[phone ringing]

Hello? - Mrs. Broderick?

It's Mrs. Walsh, Anthony's homeroom teacher.

- What's the matter? Is everything okay?

- He's feeling pretty sick. He should be at home,

but I haven't been able to track down Mr. Broderick.

I had to bring him to the nurse right after morning assembly.

Usually I can eventually at least reach the housekeeper.

I don't know what's going on today.

- Uh, is it the housekeeper's job to give you a bath,

usually?

- Anthony's just had a lot of colds this winter.

Oh, and incidentally,

we think we finally know who patient zero was.

- For his cold?

- No, the lice. Adair Keller.

Her mother thinks she got it

from the headrest in a movie theater.

- My son had lice?

- I--I didn't know you didn't know.

- Or you didn't think I cared.

- Mrs. Broderick,

I've seen you with your kids.

I could never think you didn't care.

[Clarence Carter's "Soul Deep"]

- Can you walk?

- Can you park first in line?

- Absolutely. I will be first in line.

- Can we plant jelly beans?

- And a carrot cake for the Easter bunny!

- Can you pick us up early? - [laughs]

I will be there before they even bring out

the orange cones, my baby.

I'm already there.

Hey, I love you.

- Love you, too. Bye, Mom.

- ♪ There's a river running soul deep ♪

♪ Deep down inside it's running ♪

[phone ringing] ♪ Soul deep

♪ Too big to hide and it can't be denied ♪

♪ My love is a river running

♪ Soul deep

♪ Soul deep

[tense music]

♪

[tires squealing]

[suspenseful music]

♪

[car horns honking]

- [shouting]

Betty, stop!

Stop, Betty!

[tires squealing]

[car horns honking]

- What are you trying to do? - Why?

- What are you trying to do? Kill us?

- Why? Why are you doing this?

I had them for Easter! - I changed my mind.

- I had them for Easter!

- Your lawyer should have told you.

- I wanna go with her! - Betty!

- You can't right now. We're going home.

[Car horns honking]

[tires squealing]

[somber music]

♪

[eggs rattling]

- Taking it in the chops time after time,

doing nothing in self defense.

You turn your hate inward.

You hurt yourself even more.

Nice girls slit their wrists over the kitchen sink

so they don't make a mess.

How can anyone survive under this kind of assault?

Wouldn't anyone become violent

after all his incessant bullshit?

- Leave us a message and we'll call you back.

Have a great day. [answering machine beeps]

- Ryan, Anthony.

I'm just gonna call back and call back

until someone turns the ringer on.

[line clicks]

- Don't you even care about your family?

Besides the stupid money?

- I care perfectly about my family.

- Then how come you don't shut your mouth

so we can come over there?

[faint beeping]

- Who's on this phone?

- Me. - No, I just heard something.

- Nobody's on the phone.

- What is that noise?

- What noise?

- People walking around.

- Like, Anthony and Dad and stuff.

- Stuff? You mean the whore's there?

- No!

Why can't you just mind your own business

and not care who he's seeing?

He could be seeing a totally different girl

and it wouldn't matter. - Congratulations.

You've been living with him too long.

You don't have any values.

Right, wrong, truth, lie.

You stay there,

your whole head's gonna go to scrambled eggs.

[scoffs]

Two years, I put up with this shit in my face.

- Look, it's not only Linda's fault.

It's Dad's fault, too, and it's your fault.

- Listen, when he took you guys from me--

- He didn't take us away. You gave us to him.

- And you've been having a great time ever since, right?

- No, we haven't!

We've been having a horrible time!

- Why don't you just stay there?

- You don't want us to, though, Mom.

- [scoffs] - And we wanna be with you.

If you just stop saying bad words,

then everyone would be happier.

I know I will and Anthony will.

- Meanwhile the whore's allowed to be around you.

- You guys are divorced!

Dad can be with anyone he wants to!

- Daddy's divorced. I'm still married.

- Well, he likes somebody else now.

- You're just gonna get madder and madder

and you're the only one who can fix it.

- [laughs] If Dan Broderick wants to settle,

he can do it in an hour. - How?

You want all the kids and all the money

and Linda to go away,

and that leaves Dad with nothing.

- Excuse me? He walked away!

What do I care if he ends up with nothing?

- Oh, okay. What does he care if you do?

All I care about is I wanna come live there

and Anthony wants to, too.

[faint clicking]

- Somebody's on this phone. - No!

- Ryan, you don't understand things.

- You don't either, Mom!

Why can't you just grow up and start acting like a woman?

You want everything your way.

- I haven't had anything my way.

Daddy robbed me of everything I had on Earth.

He ------ your whole life and my whole life.

- You're doing the same thing, Mom!

You've been mad long enough!

- Oh, no, I haven't.

[dramatic music]

♪

- [sighs]

♪

- Wanna go watch some TV?

- Yeah. - Yeah?

You tell Tracy I said it's okay.

♪

[exhales sharply]

♪

- [laughing] - Okay, okay.

You can have that day off but you have to be ready

to go out by seven. - Ready for what?

Where are we going? - Out.

- Out? Where? Just tell me.

- How is it a surprise if I tell you?

But you're gonna like it.

- [laughs] - Hey.

It's a long one, so take your time.

It's important.

- And then on top of the clothes

and the nails and the colds and the lice,

his ears were just filled with wax.

The Count Du Money is so perfect

about his own appearance but he doesn't care

if his own kids walk around filthy and sick

probably because he thinks if anyone sees them that way,

they'll blame me. - Okay.

- You said you only see a parent once,

yet here I am again.

- I did feel that we should have another session.

One that was a little more structured,

and our previous meeting became a chance for you to vent.

- I have a lot to vent. - Which I appreciate.

But I also have certain things that I am supposed

to accomplish in here. - Like what?

- Like if you were to get the children back.

I mean, if that could be worked out for that to happen,

what kind of visitation would you want Mr. Broderick to have?

- No visitation.

And no notes.

- Okay.

[tense music]

♪

- I was a good mother always.

I was always there.

I did everything I was supposed to do.

♪

For years, my parenting abilities

were fine by Dan Broderick.

Now we're in litigation, suddenly, they're not.

- That's why we're here.

- He didn't care if they were eaten by rats.

He didn't care if they saw his whore

with her legs spread in the hallway...

- We-- - Or how many times--

- What's her name?

- Wait, what? Who?

♪

I don't care. I don't care.

I mean, does she care about me? Does she care about my kids?

- Did you discuss any of this with her?

I mean, try telling her anything?

Even--even in anger. - Oh, that's on me to do too?

♪

[scoffs]

Linda.

- Ah.

- Linda.

♪

All right? - Mm-hmm.

- [stammers] Are you all right?

- I'm done.

I'm not coming back here again. You're too good at this.

You're too good at what you do. You're too good of a therapist.

I don't want those kids by myself.

I won't let you talk me into it.

You make me forget that I'm angry at the asshole

and his whore, and if I'm not angry,

I'm not gonna make it.

[door slams]

- The hearing's tomorrow and I need background, Betty,

on all these contempt motions they sent over.

I thought you told me

you wouldn't call Dan or harass him anymore.

- Yeah, right, I'm the only one expected to keep my promises.

I forgot.

- All right, well, speaking of that,

I've been trying not to bring this up,

but I still haven't been paid.

So I have a proposition for you.

I found out that Dan's selling one of the Colorado properties.

- What? - And long story short,

Dan's agreed to send me a check for the full amount of sale.

Let me act as broker,

divide the proceeds between the two of you,

and take my fee from your half.

What do you think? - Dan has agreed?

What does that mean?

Did you talk to Dan?

- I called him first to ask him--

- Why is my lawyer

talking to Dan Broderick without even telling me?

- I did try to explain this to you--

- Oh, God, you're just like all the others, I guess--

wanna get in good with him at my expense!

- You don't have to listen to me, Betty.

That's your right,

but I am not going to work for free.

So you tell me, then. What do we do?

♪

- I understand you will no longer be serving

as council for Mrs. Broderick, Ms. Clark.

- That's correct, Your Honor, at Mrs. Broderick's request.

- The court is grateful for your appearance today.

- Sir, if I could go on the record,

these contempt filings and postponements

by Mr. Mills and Mr. Broderick

serve to deliberately delay trial proceedings,

which will of course dilute Mrs. Broderick's share

of community property either by accruing undue debts

or even hiding assets.

- Excuse me. - Which I find surprising,

after Mr. Mills and Mr. Broderick

have assured me countless times

that Mr. Broderick wishes only

to equally divide the property and get on with his life.

- These are unfounded accusations, Your Honor.

- I want to talk about how,

after I made myself very clear,

I somehow again have a calendar of backed up contempt motions

against your client, Ms. Clark.

Nine different new ones in the system.

Five that Mrs. Broderick needs to answer

in this hearing today,

and that's on top of 24 days worth of suspended sentences

from previous contempt convictions.

- I would argue it is blatantly inflammatory

for Miss Kolkena to record the outgoing message

for the Broderick household,

that it causes Mrs. Broderick to become emotional

and express herself badly. - Oh, stop.

Stop. I am done with this.

[pages turning]

Get the girlfriend off the machine.

Now,

moving on to the children.

Having reviewed and considered

the detailed therapeutic assessment

of Mrs. Broderick's mental health,

I am officially sanctioning matters

to remain as they are. - [exhales]

- Mr. Broderick shall retain sole custody

with visitation to Mrs. Broderick at his discretion.

And Mrs. Broderick?

I'm imposing a 25-day jail sentence.

- Your Honor, I understand your frustration and--

and desire to hold Mrs. Broderick accountable.

I do.

But a sentence of such length will not be rehabilitative.

If--if Mrs. Broderick--if--

if she perhaps apologized to the court...

[tense music]

♪

- Judge Russell, I promise to change my ways.

I do know what you don't want me to do.

♪

I've just been trying to escape this madness.

- 19 days suspended. Six days in jail.

- Your Honor, I respectfully request a stay

for Mrs. Broderick to go home and get her affairs in order.

- Denied.

♪

- [exhales]

Hey, bud.

Jen told me I should come talk to you.

Said you were crying earlier.

Wouldn't tell anybody why.

- Mom.

I mean, if we're never gonna get to be with her,

live with her...

- Ryan-- - We need her.

And she needs us.

- I know. I know it's hard.

♪

You're a kid,

and your mom is like a kid, too.

♪

She doesn't get her way,

she kicks and screams, breaks things.

Okay, okay. Just a little more.

A little--little further. Little further.

Don't move.

Stay right there. - [giggles]

[both chuckling]

- Okay, take the blindfold off.

♪

Will you marry me?

- [softly] Yes.

- She said yes!

[cheers and applause]

♪

She just can't control herself.

She's never been able to. She's always been this way.

[sighs]

She just can't stop.

[door buzzes]

Or she won't.

- Let's go.

- It's not your fault.

It's nobody's fault except hers.

♪

[door slamming]