Original subtitles

[theme music]

I can't believe it.

A 12-year-old girl drops out of school because she's pregnant

and her classmates are making fun of her.

I mean, 12-years-old.

What's going on with kids today?

It's just a different world today.

Sex is being thrown at them all the time, movies, television.

Their bodies just get ahead of their minds.

They know what's going on, all right.

I mean, you don't get pregnant from eating candy.

Oh, come on, how much did you know about sex

when you were 11 or 12?

Come on, how much did you know?

Well, things were different when I was a kid.

We didn't talk about sex, let alone see it on television

every time you turned around.

I thought that's what I just said.

Where we going anyway?

To see some of those kids you were just reading about.

They look like babies.

They are babies.

No, I don't mean the babies.

I mean the mothers.

They look like babies.

Hello.

I'm Joyce Blair. - Hi.

I'm Jonathan Smith.

This is Mark Gordon.

Oh, we're not used to having men on the premises.

But now that it looks like the new wing is going to be built,

it's time we get used to a few men around.

You could not have called at a better time, Mr. Smith.

You mentioned on the phone something about clearing brush

and so on.

The whole place is a little rundown.

We've been too busy planning the new wing

and running the day care center to clean up outside.

You run a daycare center?

Yeah, we started a few years ago when the high schools

became very concerned about the horrendous dropout

rate among teenage mothers.

So many of the girls want to keep their babies,

but keeping a baby and going to school,

it's not easy, especially when there's little family support.

So what we do is if a girl wants to stay in high school,

we take care of her baby, and if possible,

even get her transportation to school.

Joyce?

What is it, Sandy?

John is running a little fever.

Does his glands feel swollen to you?

Let me see.

Let me see.

Sandy's one of our mothers who lives here in the home.

She's our prize student.

She's up for a scholarship to college.

Congratulations.

Well, I haven't got anything yet.

But whatever happens, I owe it to Joyce and this place.

If it weren't for them, I wonder where we'd be.

I think he's OK.

Did you give him something for his fever?

Yeah.

Just keep an eye on his fever, and I'll look in on you

later, OK?

Thanks.

OK, come on, let me show you around the place.

All right.

[baby crying]

The worst is right over here.

Honey.

Oh, come here, darling.

Yeah, honey.

Here we go.

Oh.

Andrea?

She won't stop crying.

And I had to do my nails for class tonight.

Do you think this is a good color for me?

Babies need attention.

They're not dolls you put in the corner

when you're finished playing.

I've told you before, Andrea, Pemberton

is not a place for party girls.

It's a place where young mothers learn to be good mothers.

Now take her to the nursery.

She needs to be changed.

You think I was too hard on her, Mr. Gordon?

I mean, they're so young.

She's almost 19 years old.

Compared to the rest of the girls around here,

she's an old woman.

She's restless.

She thinks only about herself.

She acts like a baby.

The difference is she happens to be a mother.

Well, if you'll start clearing along the side of the house

here and work your way to the back.

There's a television newsman coming out to interview me

today about the new wing, and I want

the old place looking good.

And there's some rakes and things in the shed.

The girls started a garden, but they stopped it

last year when it looked as if the place

might be foreclosed on.

Why would anybody want to foreclose on a place like this?

Real estate developer wanted to build condominiums.

If the community hadn't come to the rescue,

half the babies you saw today would

be in foster homes or worse.

Well, I'll let you get started.

OK.

Oh, and good luck with your interview.

Oh, thanks.

I'll need it.

Try not to be nervous.

All right, everybody, quiet.

Let's keep it down.

How many mothers do you have here at Pemberton, Ms. Blair?

With the new wing, we'll be licensed for 25,

and there's a waiting list.

What is it that you and the others

here want to accomplish with these girls?

Well, we make sure that the young women realize

that their baby is a person, a human being

just like themselves, who need to be loved and looked after.

And then we teach them parenting skills to show them how to love

and look after their children.

We also have sex education, so that the young women won't

make the same mistakes again.

We try to teach them that sex is not

a sport or a game and that the consequences can be very real.

Well, this is primarily a residential neighborhood,

how do you get along with your neighbors?

It wasn't easy for the first year or two.

When Mrs. Pemberton left us the house,

I think some of the neighbors thought that she

was taking revenge on them.

But over the past few years, some

of our largest contributors are from this area.

As the home's director, you're also in charge of fundraising,

aren't you?

Yes, I am.

And you're also in charge of the construction

for the new wing, aren't you?

Yes, along with the board.

Isn't it true, Ms. Blair, that recently you've

been dating a Mr. Clint Wheeler, owner of Wheeler

Construction, the same firm that you

chose to build the new wing?

I could hardly call it dating.

Well, have you or have you not been out with Mr.

Wheeler in the evening?

Yes, to discuss the construction.

Ms. Blair, isn't it true that you were

once arrested for grand theft?

What?

Well, I have here a copy of a police report.

It says that you stole $450 from a social agency

you once worked for.

That was a mistake.

I didn't steal that money.

I borrowed it.

I didn't have time to get a voucher.

Under the circumstances, Ms. Blair,

don't you think it would be better if you stepped

down and let someone else be in charge of fundraising

here at Pemberton?

That would be up to the board of directors.

From the Pemberton Home for Young Mothers,

this is Dan Rivers, channel 11 News.

Charlie, that's it.

Thanks for your time, Ms. Blair.

Well, have you or have you not been out with Mr.

Wheeler in the evening?

Yes, to discuss the construction.

Ms. Blair, isn't it true that you were

once arrested for grand theft?

What?

Well, I have here a copy of a police report.

It says that you stole $450 from a social agency

you once worked for.

She didn't have a chance once I

pulled out that arrest report.

You're terrific, Dan.

Got to always keep the subject off balance and on camera.

Mr. Rivers?

How did you get in here?

It doesn't matter.

Look, Joyce Blair would like to clarify

a couple of her answers.

That's why I came down here, to find out if you could come back

out to the home, or Joyce could come in here to the studio

if you'd like.

Well, I'm sorry, pal, the television news

isn't like a movie.

You only get one take here.

Is that why you're in here dubbing over your questions?

Nobody's perfect.

Shut up, Charlie.

All right, all right, what's the game here?

There's no game.

Joyce Blair spent most of her life helping

the people in her community.

She deserves a chance to defend herself.

Look, all she did was borrow the money to help

a couple of starving families.

She paid it right back, charges were dropped.

This is a news station.

It's not a public relations firm.

Now the lady ran a large charity in this community,

she was arrested for grand theft,

she dated the contractor, and I think the public has

a right to know these facts.

That's why we have the First Amendment in this country.

No, no, the First Amendment guarantees freedom

of the press, not freedom to report gossip

and half truths as facts.

Well, I've been sued before, usually

by lawyers, not gardeners.

The good news is that I have yet to back off a story.

All she is asking is the right to tell her side of it.

Another day can't make any difference, except to the girls

at Pemberton.

I told you, she's had her chance.

The story runs tonight.

Now, please, why don't you get out of here?

[video squeaking]

[baby crying]

Will you be quiet?

Oh, honey.

Who are you seeing tonight?

A friend.

Someone fun, not like this nunnery here.

What about Yolanda?

She'll cry herself to sleep soon enough.

I thought maybe you could watch her for me?

Yeah?

OK.

Thanks.

Hm, not bad for an old lady, huh?

Andrea, what would you do if you didn't have Yolanda?

Well, I wouldn't be hanging with those losers

at night school.

How about you?

What would you do if you didn't have Johnny?

Oh, I'd be going to parties, worrying about what to wear,

fighting with my mom.

It seems so long ago.

I love Johnny so much.

I should be back by 10:00, unless I get lucky.

Be careful.

What difference does it make now?

Kind of late to be going to school, isn't it?

I have a pass.

Just asked.

I'm going to vocational school.

I'm going to be the world's fastest court reporter.

Oh, court reporters make good money.

Who watches Yolanda while you're in school?

She mostly sleeps.

There's a counselor there, and I have friends check up on her.

[honking]

Come on, girl, let's go.

We're running out of time.

There's my tutor.

I'll see you later, Mr. Gordon.

Ms. Blair, isn't it true that you were

once arrested for grand theft?

What?

Well, I have here a copy of a police report.

It says that you stole $450 from a social agency

you once worked for.

That was a mistake.

I didn't steal that money.

I borrowed it.

I didn't have time to get a voucher.

Under the circumstances, Ms. Blair,

don't you think it would be better if you step down

and let someone else be in charge of fundraising

here at Pemberton?

That would be up to the board of directors.

From the Pemberton Home for Young Mothers,

this is Dan Rivers, Channel 11 News.

[phone ringing]

Well, here we go.

Hello?

Yes, Mrs. Hiller.

But the charges were dropped.

Yes, I understand, Mrs. Hiller, but--

I'm sorry, too, Mrs. Hiller, but--

That was Mrs. Pemberton's sister.

She's withdrawing her contribution

from the building fund.

[phone ringing]

Hello?

Hello, Clint.

Look, I know that's not why you went out with me.

Look, I know you're married.

What are you yelling at me for?

It's my reputation, too.

[phone ringing]

I think I better take that in my office.

Mrs. Willens, would you tell the staff

there's going to be an emergency board meeting tomorrow?

What's going to happen, Mr. Smith?

Is the home going to close?

I don't know, Sandy.

I just don't know.

How are you doing, Tim?

Do I know you?

No, not really.

My name is Jonathan Smith.

I work out at the Pemberton Home.

Pemberton?

Oh, that's the home for young mothers, right?

That's right.

I like to speak to your dad for a minute, if I could.

I'm sorry, Mr. Smith, my father doesn't like to be

disturbed on the weekends.

Well, this is pretty important, son, you tell him

it can't wait, OK?

What's this?

It's a man from Pemberton.

Pemberton?

Who are you?

This is Jonathan Smith.

Timmy, I told you I had some work to do.

It wasn't the boy's fault. I told him it was urgent.

Oh, you did, huh?

Run along, Timmy.

I said I'd take care of it, Timmy.

Well, now that you've interrupted

me, Mr. Smith, what is it you want that seems so urgent?

I want you to see to it that the Pemberton Home stays open.

What makes you think I can do that, even if I wanted to?

Because you control the mortgage on the property.

Who told you that?

I have sources in very high places.

You do, huh?

Well, if your sources are so good,

you must also know that I've been

trying to develop that piece for the last two years.

And from what I heard on television last night,

I'm finally going to get my chance.

Oh, come on, don't you think there

are some things in this world more one than money?

Name one.

Family.

That's why I make money, Mr. Smith,

to provide for my family, and believe me,

I take very good care of them.

There's a lot of girls in that home who don't have

a family to take care of them.

I'm in the real estate business, Mister,

not the family business.

We're all in the family business, Mr. Brent.

We're getting no place, and I've got work to do.

Since when are you so interested in my affairs?

No answer, huh?

I want you to show Mr. Smith out right now.

There was a girl from our school

who I think went to Pemberton.

Her name is Sandy.

Sandy Clark.

Oh, sure, Sandy, she's doing fine.

She's one of Pemberton's best students.

She always was smart.

And she's got a beautiful baby boy.

His name is Johnny.

Must be growing pretty fast.

Why don't you go out and see for yourself?

I'm sure Sandy would like to see an old friend from school.

I'd like to.

It would be nice to see her and the baby.

Timmy, if you want to go to that ball game,

you get in here right now and finish your homework.

I know she'd love it if you came out to see her.

I'll try.

Maybe next week.

I got to go.

Here you are, Mark.

Thank you.

Are they still in the board meeting?

Yeah, been in there for over an hour.

[interposing voices]

What happened?

The board is going to do its best to keep Pemberton.

What about you?

Are you all right?

I'm going to be stepping down as its director.

You can't leave us, Ms. Blair.

I'll still see you, but I can't stay here.

Now if we're going to stand a chance of saving Pemberton,

it can't be with me as its director.

Excuse me.

I saw a friend of yours today.

Tim Brent.

He said he wanted to come out and see you.

Tim says a lot of things.

How's he doing?

Oh, he's doing just fine.

I went out there to talk to his father.

He controls the mortgage on this property.

Mr. Brent controls a lot of things, including Tim.

Tim seems like a nice guy.

I suppose.

Joyce is a good person.

That Rivers shouldn't have done that to her.

He shouldn't be allowed to do things like that

and get away with it. They should have to pay.

So the guy says, I got a great new hearing aid.

He says, what kind is it?

11:30, he says.

Hey, there's my drink.

Well, well, if it isn't the gardener.

I just came down to tell you Joyce

Blair resigned this morning.

I'm glad to hear Pemberton's board shares my opinion

of her qualifications.

Well, the board doesn't, but a lot of the community donors

do now.

Pemberton lost about half of their financial support

after your story ran last night.

Hey, wait a minute, friend.

Dan reported the facts.

He's a reporter.

That's his job.

Oh, come on, he reported a tip from a developer

who wanted the home closed so he could build some condos.

It looks like that developer is going to get his wish now,

and 25 unwed mothers are going to be out on the street.

I thought you told me the tip on the Pemberton lady

was on the level.

It was.

I checked it with the police department myself.

If you check with the police department,

then you also know that all the charges against Joyce

were dropped.

But where there's smoke, there's fire.

You knew the charges were dropped?

Yeah, I knew.

Why wasn't that in the story?

Come on, Harvey, you keep on screaming at me about ratings.

I'm giving your ratings, so don't you

start giving me ethics.

Hey, little mother, what are you doing?

Saving the home.

How are you going to do that?

You'll find out.

Oh, would you look after Johnny for me?

I thought you might like to see this, Dan?

Came in this morning's mail.

Copies have been sent to every station in town.

What's it say, Charlie?

It says the Danny boy here has a young friend

out at the Pemberton Home.

Seems he gave a lecture at her high school

and invited her down to the station for a tour.

Evidently, she was very impressed.

You don't really believe that I'm the father

of this girl's child, do you?

Come on, it's obvious that the director of Pemberton

put her up to this.

You've been known to have your share of pretty young admirers.

Oh, I wouldn't miss that press conference

for all the names in your little black book, Rivers.

You guys aren't really going to go out there, are you?

You'd do the same for us, wouldn't you?

Come on, guys, I mean, this is a phony.

You know it is.

Our job is to inform the people, no matter

how distasteful the story.

See you out there, Dan.

Don't tell me I can't see her.

I said, I'm going to talk to her, I'm going to talk to her.

You're the one behind this.

Behind what?

Don't play games with me.

Now where is that girl Sandy?

- Sandy Clark? - That's right.

That's right.

I invited her down to the station.

Now she's trying to ruin my career.

What are you talking about?

This, and don't tell me you don't know what this is about.

Oh my God.

That's right, it's on all the radio and TV stations.

Now, I demand, I demand to see that girl before her press

conference this afternoon.

Jonathan, I have to talk to Sandy.

Would you please escort Mr. Rivers off the property?

You know, you won't get away with this, Smith.

I'll take a blood test.

I'll prove I'm innocent.

Come on.

Mr. Rivers.

You of all people ought to know how difficult

it is to prove your innocence once the press has

found you guilty.

Jonathan, she's not in a room.

Do you think she's telling the truth?

No, I think she's doing this to hurt Dan Rivers.

Somehow she thinks it's going to save the home.

We have to find her.

We have to stop her from doing this.

I'll look for her.

Why don't you stay here just in case she comes back?

What you're doing isn't going to save the home, you know?

It's not going to get Joyce her job back either.

It's going to hurt Dan Rivers, all right,

but is it really worth it just to get revenge?

What I said in those letters is true.

Dan Rivers is the father of my baby

and he deserves to be hurt.

Come on, that's a lie, and you know it.

Come on, Sandy, listen to me.

Think about what that lie is going to do to you,

to your baby, to your parents.

My parents.

When I told my parents I was pregnant,

they worried more about what the neighbors would

think than they did about me.

They want me to have an abortion.

When I told them I wouldn't, they sent me to Pemberton,

and they told people I was away at boarding school.

I can't defend your parents.

They're going to have to do that for themselves.

All I'm saying is that hurt and anger

are no excuse for what you're doing.

When Johnny was born, they didn't even

come to the hospital until the third day, nobody did.

If it weren't for Joyce and the people

here, if Pemberton closed, Mr. Smith,

there's no place for us to go.

But to accuse an innocent man, no matter

how guilty he is of other things,

that just isn't the answer.

What if there is no answer?

Oh, come on, Sandy, you're a good student.

The answers in life are not that much different

from the answers on a test.

You work and you study hard and you learn.

If you cheat and you give up, every test after that

is that much harder.

Please, don't do this.

I appreciate what you're saying, Mr. Smith,

but I'm meeting those reporters at 5 o'clock.

What I make of the county records and your records,

there's a good chance you're not the father.

You see, I told you I wasn't.

But there's a slight chance that you might be.

Yeah, but a slight chance isn't good enough here.

That's the first intelligent thing you've said all day.

Look, Boss, I admit I did offer to drive her home,

but I swear to you, I did not touch her.

Half hour ago, you said you thought she was older.

Well, she was.

I mean, I mean, I--

I thought she was.

Look, I don't know what I think anymore.

What I think is you better get this mess

cleared up by 6 o'clock or you're going to be out of here.

But, wait, I'm innocent.

Dammit, you can't condemn someone who's innocent.

Never stopped you.

Hey, Tim?

Mr. Smith.

They're having a big press conference later

this afternoon at Pemberton.

Sandy's going to name Dan Rivers as the father of her baby.

What?

She thinks is the only way to save the home.

She feels she has no other place to go.

That's crazy.

If you care about her, Tim, you better get over there

before that press conference.

Of course, I care about her.

I always have.

She knows that.

Saying you care about someone is easy, son.

Showing you care takes a little more effort.

I know that.

It's just that my father, if he ever found out.

Hey, don't you think it's a little late

to be worrying about what your father thinks?

You're a father now, too, son.

Hey, Tim, you coming, bud?

I got to go.

I'll see you.

Why do you keep asking me that?

I told you before, I was afraid to tell you.

You damn well should be.

I've given you everything, everything you ever wanted,

and I asked for one thing in return,

that you respect this family.

Dad, I love her.

Well, if you love her so much, why did you get her pregnant?

Look, son, you know what she's trying to do?

She's trying to get you to step forward

and say you're the father.

She's trying to put the squeeze on you.

Besides, how do you know this Dan Rivers

isn't really the father, huh?

You really have people pegged, don't you, Dad?

Well, let me tell you something.

I am the father.

Because neither one of us had been with anyone before.

And, yeah, we made a mistake, and, yeah, I can walk away

from this just like you said.

But you know what?

I'm not going to.

Well, don't you expect any help from me.

You got yourself into this.

You want to know something else?

There's going to be no college this fall.

You're going to be working your butt off

in some little job just to pay the rent

for you, you and your bastard.

You're right.

You better believe it.

You're right, just like you always are, Dad.

Except for one thing.

I'm going to work my butt off for my son,

and no matter what he does with his life, no matter what

mistakes he makes, he's not going to be

afraid to come to his father.

He's not going to be afraid.

He won't be afraid.

He hasn't shown up yet, huh?

No, no sign of him.

How's Sandy doing?

She's up in a room with Andrea.

What time is it?

It's about five of.

Why are you doing this?

You know why.

You're crazy, you know that?

I mean, everything's going great for you,

and now you're going to go blow it.

And what for?

How do you know it's going to save the school or Joyce's job?

I don't know, but he's not going to get away with it.

He's hurt a nice person, the only person that

ever really cared about me.

But he's not the father.

They're going to find that out.

How do you know he's not?

Because I know, that's all.

He isn't your type.

Oh, really, what's my type?

I am.

He's beautiful.

He looks just like you.

Oh, I don't think so.

I think he looks more like you.

Oh, come on, look at him.

He's got the same mouth, same beautiful face.

He's a spitting image of you.

Maybe a little.

Maybe a lot.

She's lucky.

He loves her.

Hell, I don't blame him.

She's a good person.

She's real.

She deserves to be happy.

Doesn't everyone?

No, I don't.

Why not?

Because I am who I am.

It's never too late to change.

You got your whole life ahead of you.

So does your baby.

He said he loved me.

He said he didn't think of me as a little girl.

I thought I was so grown up, a man loved me.

Then he found that I was pregnant,

and I just want anybody to love me.

Anybody.

Somebody does love you.

Yeah, who?

God.

God loves you, Andrea.

Jonathan?

Yeah?

Would you tell them I apologize,

that it was all a mistake?

Tell them I'm sorry.

You bet I will.

Thank you.

Andrea, I'm getting married.

I'm so happy for you.

Sandy?

[baby crying]

Sandy?

Fathers.

Hello, Dan.

What the hell are you doing calling a press conference?

I didn't.

Come on, Sandy, what do you mean you didn't?

Sandy?

You don't even know my name.

I'm Andrea.

Do you think I want the world to know you're my baby's father?

She deserves better than you, and so do I.

That means you're not going to say anything?

That depends on you, Dan.

Look, Andrea, I made a mistake.

I know how you feel.

I'll set up a trust fund for the kid.

I mean, I'll take care of him.

Her.

Her.

And don't you worry, I'll take care of her.

I never want you near her.

What do you want?

I want you to go up there and publicly

apologized to Joyce Blair.

I want you to tell them that you knew all along

that she was innocent.

You just did it to score points for yourself.

Andrea, come on, I mean, look, I'm sorry.

I'm sorry it happened, right but--

May I have your attention, please?

Let me have your attention.

The press conference has been canceled.

[interposing voices]

I'm sorry for the inconvenience,

but I can't answer any questions.

Thank you.

[interposing voices]

Go up there now, or I swear I'll

get up there and tell them.

Andrea, give me a break, will you?

You're history, Dan.

OK.

OK.

Will everybody hold it a minute?

I've got something I want to say.

Nobody wants to hear I told you, Danny boy.

That's not what I'm up here to say, Charlie.

I want to apologize to Joyce Blair.

I did an interview on the news with Ms. Blair

where I accused her of wrongdoing.

At the time of the interview, I knew she was innocent.

I did it--

I mean, I did it because I thought it would make

it more sensational interview.

For that, I'm--

I'm deeply sorry.

[applause]

[knocking]

Come in.

Hi.

Hi.

Is she sleep?

No, but at least she's not crying.

Oh, she sure is a cutie.

How come you're not downstairs?

Big celebration going on, you know?

Yeah, I know.

I'm kind of far behind in my work.

I've been goofing off a little, but no more.

You knew it was Dan, didn't you?

Yeah, I knew.

You know, all this time I thought I was nothing.

Like I wasn't good enough for him because he threw me away

like that, and when I talked to him today,

I realized it wasn't me who wasn't good enough.

Oh, I was stupid, and I was wrong, but I was good enough.

I am good enough.

Someday, the right guy will come along,

but until then, I'm going to make

the best mother and best courtroom reporter

you ever saw.

Because you were right.

Somebody does love me.

Somebody very special.

I'll see in court, Mom.

[theme music]

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