Original subtitles

-TRES!

DOS!

UNO!

[UPBEAT LATIN MUSIC]

*

*

-RAUL, HOW ARE WE EVER GOING TO CATCH UP?

THE GAS BILL IS TWO MONTHS PAST DUE.

WE ARE SO FAR BEHIND ON THE MORTGAGE.

-[SCOFFS]

-NO, I-I'M SERIOUS.

I MEAN IT.

DON'T.

I MEAN IT.

THE GROCERY BILL ALONE WAS TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS.

AND YOU KNOW THE TWINS ARE GOING TO NEED BRACES.

BOTH OF THEM.

THEY'RE DEFINITELY GOING TO...

-DANIELLA.

WILL YOU STOP IT?

I'M GOING TO MANAGE.

-I KNOW, I KNOW.

BUT REALLY... -REALISTICALLY,

WE'RE GOING TO GET THROUGH THIS.

OKAY?

YOU GOTTA TRUST ME.

-OKAY.

OKAY.

-LET'S GO, BEAUTIFUL.

THAT'S WHY I MARRIED YOU -OKAY.

-THAT WAS A LONG TIME AGO, RIGHT?

[LAUGHS]

-OKAY, YOU TAKE THAT.

-ALRIGHT, YOU GOT THOSE?

-YEAH.

-I GOT THIS.

YOU GOT IT?

-OKAY. -OKAY.

-HEY, 'SUP BOSS!

-CLOCKING OUT ON TIME!

-[LAUGHS]

-THAT'S A FIRST.

-QUIT BUSTING MY CHOPS, HUH?

WHAT'D I WORK, ONLY LIKE

SIXTY HOURS THIS WEEK? -SIXTY FOUR.

STOCKING AWAY THAT OVERTIME?

-HEY, GOTTA FINANCE THE DREAM.

-OH MAN, GO OUT AND HAVE SOME FUN.

IT'S FRIDAY NIGHT.

-COME ON MAN, I ALWAYS HAVE FUN.

-I DON'T KNOW...

NOT LIKE YOU'VE GOT A WOMAN WAITING ON YOU.

-OOH, OOH, THAT HURTS.

-TRUTH HURTS.

[BOTH LAUGH]

-HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.

-I'LL SEE YOU MONDAY.

-GOT IT.

[UPBEAT MUSIC]

*

-HOLA, RAY. -HOLA, MAMI.

HEY!

-HOLA, RAY!

- HEY, COMO ESTAS RAY?

[SPEAKING SPANISH]

-YOU!

CALL ME.

YOU GOT ME?

ALRIGHT, YOU GOT IT.

-BOO! -HEY!

GET OUTTA HERE!

GO ON, GO!

-YOUR RENT'S LATE.

AGAIN.

-OH COME ON, GILLY.

YOU KNOW I ALWAYS PAY. -YEAH, YOU ALWAYS PAY.

LATE.

-YEAH, WELL AT LEAST I'M CONSISTENT.

-LOOK, I DON'T MAKE THE RULES, BRO.

I JUST ENFORCE THEM.

-THANKS.

[CHUCKLING SOFTLY]

-STEAL, BY REYES!

[LAUGHS] -GIMME THE BALL, VANESSA.

-YOU WANT THE BALL, WANT THE BALL? -DAD, DAD.

I'M GOING TO KILL HER.

-DON'T KILL NO ONE 'TIL WE LEAVE THE HOUSE, OKAY?

VANESSA, GIVE HIM THE BALL PLEASE.

-[SIGHS]

WHAT KIND OF PLAYER LETS A CHEERLEADER STEAL THE BALL.

-WHAT KIND OF PLAYER DON'T?

-DOESN'T!

DANIELLA!

-SHH!

JUST GOT THE LITTLE ONES TO SLEEP.

-OH, GOOD.

-I'M NOT LITTLE!

-ME EITHER!

-YOU ARE TOO!

-I'M THE SAME SIZE AS YOU, ANGELO.

-FOR NOW.

BUT I'M GOING TO BE SO MUCH BIGGER.

-GUESS I'D BETTER BEAT YOU UP WHILE I STILL CAN.

-CAN'T! -CAN!

-DANIELLE, POR FAVOR?

-AH AH!

SHH, SHH.

GUYS, YOU'RE GOING TO WAKE UP THE LITTLE ONES.

-SHE'S A LITTLE ONE!

-OKAY, YOU TWO INTO BED.

AND IF YOU ASK NICELY, VANESSA WILL READ YOU A STORY, OKAY?

[BOTH LAUGH]

-YOU OWE ME BIG TIME!

- HO HO! -GO UPSTAIRS.

-SO TRUE -BYE DAD!

-BYE DAD, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

-MWA!

-THE ONE NIGHT WE WANT TO GO OUT ALONE.

SO MUCH TO ASK OF OUR ELDEST!

-DANIELLA, COME ON. LET'S GO!

COME ON.

-WE CAN LEAVE THEM AND...

-UGH, I KNOW I GOT THIS RIGHT.

UM, IF YOU NEED ANYTHING CALL MY CELL.

-BUT PLEASE, DON'T EAT ANYTHING.

[BOTH LAUGH]

-OKAY. -OKAY.

-LOVE YOU GUYS.

-LOVE YOU.

-LOVE YOU TOO. -BYE.

-AGAIN.

[SHOUTING FROM UPSTAIRS]

[UPBEAT SALSA MUSIC]

*

-YO!

-AHH, PAPI!

[SCREAMS]

-DIDN'T THINK YOU WERE GOING TO MAKE IT, PAPI!

-THE BEST ONE YET!

-ALRIGHT!

[LAUGHING]

-POLLO!

-GOT YOURS RIGHT HERE!

-HEY!

SALUD!

-SALUD!

-OYE, I FORGOT TO MENTION.

-HMM?

-I INVITED CHEEKY.

-CHEEKY! -HEY, CHEEKY!

-HOW ARE YOU?

-HEY!

-HOLA CHEEKY.

-HEY RAY RAY.

I THOUGHT YOU HAD TO BE AN ADULT TO GET IN HERE.

[LAUGHTER]

-HEY, I, I THINK UH, WE SHOULD GET SOME MORE DRINKS.

UH...

BONGO, WHY DON'T YOU DO IT HUH?

-OH, BUT CHIZZY WE GOT DRINKS RIGHT HERE, MAN.

I KNOW WE GOT DRINKS RIGHT HERE.

-OH, OH.

YEAH.

-GOTTA GET THE DRINKS.

[MUMBLING]

-I NEED TO VISIT THE LADIES ROOM, OKAY?

-OOH!

[SPEAKING SPANISH] -ME TOO!

[LAUGHS LIGHTLY]

-SO, HOW YOU BEEN?

-YOU MEAN, SINCE YOU LEFT ME?

-CHEEKY, I DIDN'T LEAVE YOU.

-NO, RAY RAY.

YOU JUST MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO STAY.

-WE BOTH WANTED DIFFERENT THINGS.

-YEAH, I WANTED TO HAVE KIDS AND YOU WANTED TO BE ONE.

-HEY, BABY, WE BOTH HAD FUN, RIGHT?

-YEAH WE DID.

I'M GLAD THAT WAS ENOUGH FOR YOU.

-TELL THE OTHERS I SAID GOODBYE, OKAY?

-H-H-HEY, WAIT.

CHEEKY!

CHEEKY!

[LAUGHING]

[SINGING INDISTINCTLY]

-PROMISE YOU'LL SING TO ME EVERY NIGHT?

-OH, FOREVER.

SUMMER'S ALMOST HERE.

WE'VE GOT ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD.

-SUMMER'S ALMOST HERE AND WE HAVE SIX KIDS AT HOME.

-OH YEAH, I FORGOT ABOUT THOSE KIDS.

[LAUGHS]

I WOULDN'T CHANGE IT FOR ANYTHING.

-TE QUIERO.

-TE QUIERO MAS.

[CAR HORN HONKING]

[SCREECHING TIRES]

[CRASH]

[SIREN WAILING]

-MOMMY AND DADDY!

-QUE PASO, NIÑA?

IS EVERYTHING OKAY?

-THERE'S BEEN AN ACCIDENT.

-WELL, COME ON IN, COME ON IN.

-I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

[SOMBER MUSIC]

*

-I'M SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS, SR. DOMINGUEZ, BUT I NEED

YOU TO BE STRONG RIGHT NOW.

-OKAY.

-RAYMOND DOMINGUEZ, I ELIZABETH WARDEN, DCFS OFFICER

FOR THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND THE COUNTY AND CITY OF NEW

YORK AM LEAVING THE FOLLOWING CHILDREN: VANESSA, MANUEL,

ANGELA, ANGELO, LOLA AND NICO REYES WITH THEIR LEGAL

NEXT-OF-KIN, RAYMOND DOMINGUEZ.

HE SHALL ACT AS RESPONSIBLE AND SOLE GUARDIAN FOR ALL SIX

CHILDREN UNTIL FURTHER ARRANGEMENTS CAN BE MADE WITH

THE COURTS AS TO THEIR PROPER PLACEMENT.

-B-BUT MA'AM, WAIT.

I-I MEAN I CAN'T TAKE CARE OF THE KIDS.

-YOU'RE THEIR ONLY LIVING RELATIVE.

-YEAH, BUT MA'AM I'M NOT GOOD WITH KIDS.

I MEAN, I MEAN LOOK AT THIS PLACE.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THEM!

-WELL, WE'LL TRY TO MAKE OTHER ARRANGEMENTS, BUT IN THE

MEANTIME THEY NEED TO BE WITH FAMILY.

-CAN YOU FIND A FAMILY THAT WILL TAKE ALL OF THEM?

-WELL THE YOUNGER CHILDREN SHOULD BE NO PROBLEM TO PLACE,

BUT FOSTER HOMES ARE RETICENT TO TAKE IN TEENAGERS.

-WELL Y-, I MEAN YOU CAN'T SPLIT THEM UP.

-IF YOU WANT THEM PLACED QUICKLY, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE

TO SPLIT THEM UP.

YOU DO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU WILL BE SOLE GUARDIAN UNTIL

THAT HAPPENS.

-I MEAN, DO I HAVE A CHOICE?

-THERE ARE TWO COPIES.

WE'LL BE STOPPING BY PERIODICALLY TO UH, CHECK.

-ONCE AGAIN, SR. DOMINGUEZ, I AM VERY SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS.

I'LL JUST SHOW MYSELF OUT.

[CRYING]

-I WANT MOMMY.

-DADDY.

ME PAPI!

-DON'T CRY, DON'T CRY.

IT'S GOING TO BE OKAY.

-OKAY?

HOW STUPID COULD YOU BE?

-TIO...

IS MAMI AND PAPI IN HEAVEN?

-SI, LOLA.

MAMI AND PAPI ARE IN HEAVEN.

[CRYING]

[BELL TOLLING]

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

-THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR A MOST BEAUTIFUL SERVICE.

WHEN I MAKE A LITTLE EXTRA MONEY, I'LL MAKE A DONATION.

-DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT, RAYMOND.

IT'S ALREADY BEEN TAKEN CARE OF.

-BY WHO?

-HIM.

-THANK YOU.

-BE STRONG.

-THANK YOU, BOSS.

-HEY, HEY.

-THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

-TAKE ALL THE TIME YOU NEED.

-THANKS.

-ALRIGHT.

-HOW YOU DOING, HUH?

COME ON.

COME ON.

*

SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SET SOME RULES.

-WHAT?

WHAT RULES.

-LIKE KEEPING THE PLACE CLEAN.

-YOU WANT US TO KEEP THINGS CLEAN?

-NO, I-I JUST WANT YOU TO KEEP YOUR THINGS AWAY FROM MY

THINGS.

-TIO, I'M ALMOST 17.

CAN WE JUST GO HOME?

-LOOK, WE DON'T NEED YOU.

-WELL, IT IS WHAT IT IS RIGHT NOW.

FOR NOW, YOU'VE GOT TO STAY HERE.

-I SAY WE JUST GO HOME.

-YOU CAN'T.

-WHAT DO YOU MEAN "WE CAN'T?"

-YOUR PARENTS, THEY'RE...

YOUR PARENTS, THEY WERE HAVING TROUBLE MAKING HOUSE PAYMENTS.

-WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

-THE HOUSE IS IN FORECLOSURE.

-TIO, WHAT'S FORECLOSURE?

-IT MEANS WE DON'T HAVE A HOUSE NO MORE.

-TIO, WHAT DO YOU MEAN "FOR NOW?"

-HE WANTS TO PUT US IN AN ORPHANAGE.

-MANNY...

-THAT'S NOT TRUE.

FOR NOW, IT MEANS THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET THROUGH THIS

TOGETHER.

IT'LL BE A PIECE OF CAKE.

-I LIKE CAKE.

[LAUGHS LIGHTLY]

-[SCOFFS]

[UPBEAT MUSIC]

*

-MMH...

*

*

-AY, DANIELLA...

HOW DID YOU GUYS HAPPEN TO DO IT?

*

[LOCK CLICKS]

- WHAT?

[KNOCKING]

-TIO, THE TOILET'S CLOGGED!

-WHAT?

- THE TWINS TRIED TO FLUSH YOUR BOXER SHORTS.

-AW, AGAIN?

EH, VANESSA, ARE YOU GOING TO BE LONG?

-OH MY GOD, GO AWAY!

-GOOD MORNING, MANNY!

MY MAIN MAN, MANNY!

MORNING, LITTLE ONE.

-I'M NOT LITTLE.

-OKAY.

-ANGELO WOKE ME UP WHEN HE WET THE BED.

[KIDS SCREAMING IN THE BACKGROUND]

-OH, OKAY.

[DOORBELL RINGS] THANKS.

MS. WARDEN!

WHAT A SURPRISE.

UH, COME ON IN.

-A SURPRISE?

SR. DOMINGUEZ, WE'VE HAD THIS HOME VISIT SCHEDULED FOR

FOUR WEEKS.

-I KNOW, BUT A LOT HAS BEEN HAPPENING.

-I CALLED TO REMIND YOU.

-I KNOW, BUT SOMETIMES MY CELL PHONE...

-WE SPOKE, SR. DOMINGUEZ.

-WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL ME RAY RAY?

I'M SORRY ABOUT THE MESS, ALRIGHT?

IT'S...

THE MAID'S YEAR OFF.

[CHUCKLES]

UM, CAN I GET YOU ANYTHING?

LIKE MAYBE COFFEE, TEA, TEQUILA?

[LAUGHS]

-GOOD MORNING!

-HEY, GOOD MORNING, GILLY.

-OH, I DIDN'T KNOW YOU HAD COMPANY.

-GILLY, THIS IS ELIZABETH WARDEN FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF

CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES.

-OH... -WHAT'S THIS?

-OH UH, THAT, UH, THAT'S FOR...

SOMEBODY ELSE.

-IT'S GOT THIS APARTMENT ON IT.

-OH.

HUH.

-IS THAT MANNY RELIEVING HIMSELF ON THE BUILDING?

-WHAT?

HEY!

GOD, COME ON!

-UM...

- TIO, COME HELP ME!

-HOLD ON!

*

[BUBBLING]

-WHERE'S MY SHIRT?

ANGELA!

DID YOU PLAY WITH MY COMIC BOOKS?

-YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO LET ME...

-ALL THE CHILDREN SLEEP IN HERE?

-OH, NO.

NOT NICO.

HE SLEEPS IN A LAUNDRY BASKET.

[NERVOUS LAUGHTER]

-THAT'S CUTE.

-I THINK I'VE SEEN ENOUGH.

-IF YOU EVER DO THAT AGAIN...

-HEY, TELL HIM TO FIX THE TOILET.

I WON'T HAVE TO.

-WELL, WAIT.

MS. WARDEN.

MS. WARDEN!

PLEASE!

PLEASE, MS. WARDEN, I KNOW THIS LOOKS BAD.

-YOU MISSED THREE APPOINTMENTS AT MY OFFICE.

-I WAS WORKING.

-THERE IS NO FOOD IN THE REFRIGERATOR, THE CHILDREN ARE

LIVING IN SQUALOR, YOU'RE OVERDUE ON YOUR RENT.

-I AM DOING THE BEST I CAN.

-WELL THE "BEST YOU CAN" ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH.

-PLEASE GIVE ME ANOTHER CHANCE.

PLEASE.

-OKAY, THIRTY DAYS.

-THANK YOU.

-YOU HAVE THIRTY DAYS TO GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER OR I TAKE

THOSE CHILDREN AND I PUT THEM WHEREVER I THINK IS BEST.

TOGETHER OR APART.

IS THAT CLEAR?

-VERY.

GRACIAS.

WHAT?

-YOU KNOW YOU'RE LIKE A BROTHER TO ME, RIGHT?

-YEAH, OF COURSE.

-THE KIND OF BROTHER WHO NEVER LISTENS.

THE KIND OF BROTHER WHO HAS TO DO EVERYTHING HIS OWN WAY.

THE KIND OF BROTHER YOU NEED TO KNOCK SOME SENSE INTO.

-OH, COME ON, MAN.

WHAT DID I DO?

-RAY RAY, YOU CAN'T DO THIS BY YOURSELF.

YOU NEED SOME HELP!

-I GOT A LOT OF HELP.

I MEAN, LOOKIT.

CHIZZY BROUGHT DONUTS AND PIZZA THIS MORNING.

-YEAH, SURE.

BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS.

-AND BONGO HELPS OUT WITH THE LAUNDRY, LIZETTE AND CARMELA

WITH THE BABYSITTING AND...

-YEAH, YOU PUT 'EM ALL TOGETHER YOU GET ONE WHOLE

BRAIN.

-COME ON, MAN.

THEY'RE GREAT.

-OH YEAH, THEY'RE GREAT FRIENDS.

BUT WHAT DO THEY KNOW ABOUT RAISING KIDS?

NADA.

[KNOCKING AT THE DOOR]

- YOOHOO!

RAY RAY!

WE GOT A SURPRISE FOR YOU!

-TIO, DON'T WE LOOK BEAUTIFUL?

[NERVOUS LAUGHTER]

-YEAH, YEAH!

-CAN I TAKE MY SHOES OFF NOW.

-AY, NO.

-MY FEET HURT!

-NO, NOT YET.

WE HAVE TO TAKE PICTURES!

-THEN WE CAN TAKE THE DRESSES AND THE SHOES BACK TO THE

STORE, OKAY?

OKAY.

COME ON, LET'S GO!

-COME ON!

- WORK IT, DIVA!

WORK!

-OKAY, OKAY.

BUT GILLY, WHERE AM I GOING TO FIND SOMEBODY WHO WANTS

CHILDREN, LOVES CHILDREN, AND WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR A CHILD?

-WELL, PERHAPS THERE'S A CERTAIN TEACHER THAT WE BOTH

KNOW.

-OH NO.

I MEAN, I COULDN'T.

-MM?

-SHE WOULDN'T, I MEAN...

YOU THINK?

-YOU MISSED A SPOT.

[LAUGHING]

AH, WHERE'D THEY GO?

-THANKS, MAN.

COME ON, COME ON.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, COME ON.

NOW REMEMBER, CUTE AND CUDDLY!

-RAY RAY, WHAT?

-CHEEKY.

I COME TO YOU A BEATEN MAN.

-AND WHO DO I THINK FOR BEATING YOU?

-HOLA, CHEEKY.

-HELLO, LOLA.

-HEY, WHAT'S WITH THE BOXES?

YOU GOING SOMEWHERE?

-NOT THAT IT'S ANY OF YOUR BUSINESS...

BUT I WAS OFFERED A JOB IN A PRIVATE SCHOOL.

IN MIAMI.

-MIAMI?

-I LEAVE IN SIX WEEKS.

-OH, CHEEKY.

I NEED YOUR HELP.

DCFS?

THEY GAVE ME A MONTH TO TAKE CARE OF THESE KIDS AND FIX

THINGS UP OR I'M GOING TO LOSE THEM.

-A FEW DAYS.

THAT'S IT.

FOR THEM, RAY RAY.

NOT FOR YOU.

-YEAH, OF COURSE FOR THEM.

-WAS THAT GOOD, TIO?

-THAT WAS PERFECT!

BOTH OF YOU!

[UPBEAT SALSA MUSIC]

-WE GOT IT!

-AH.

-AH.

WOO!

-PUT THAT DOWN. -RIGHT OVER THERE.

-I TELL YOU, IT'S THE BEST LAUNDROMAT IN THE CITY.

PUT THAT ON THE TABLE, AND CHIZZY,

THE WATER GOES OVER THERE.

*

-GOTCHA!

-OH!

-COME ON, HEY, DROP IT!

[INDISTINCT PLAYFUL SHOUTING]

-HEY, TIO!

[CHATTERING]

-COME ON!

[LAUGHING]

-BONGO, STOP IT!

[INDISTINCT CHATTER AND LAUGHTER]

[LAUGHING]

*

-LET'S DO IT.

-YEP.

HEHEH.

[LAUGHING] -SPIN IT, SPIN IT!

-DID I TELL YOU TO OPEN THOSE RIGHT NOW?

-WAIT!

WHERE YOU GOING? -BONGO!

-EXCUSE ME, EXCUSE ME, PLEASE!

*

[SERENE MUSIC]

*

-YOU NEED A HAND?

-NAH, I GOT IT.

I JUST DON'T KNOW WHY THEY MAKE THIS SO COMPLICATED.

-SO YOU'LL HAVE A SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT WHEN IT'S DONE.

-[LAUGHS LIGHTLY]

-YOU KNOW, UM...

I COULDN'T, I COULDN'T HAVE DONE NONE OF THIS WITHOUT YOU.

-FOR THE KIDS, RAY RAY.

-YEAH.

SO...

I SHOULD GO.

I GOT MORE TO PACK.

-YEAH.

SURE.

*

GO AHEAD.

OKAY, IT TAKES SLAT A AND SLAT B...

INTO BAR...

C...

AND...

PUT THROUGH HERE.

HOLD IT...

AND...

THERE.

HEH.

YOU UNDERSTAND ALL THIS STUFF, LITTLE BUDDY?

HUH?

HEY, MANNY...

HEY, MANNY!

HEY, HEY MANNY, WHERE ARE YOU GOING?

-OUT.

-MANNY, I COULD USE SOME HELP!

HEY, HEY HEY!

WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO RIP THE PAPERS WHEN I CAN'T EVEN PUT

THE BED...

DID YOU PUT THAT BED TOGETHER?

HEY...

-AY, NICO, HE WAS SO SCARED.

MANNY'S ANGRY AT EVERYBODY, NICO DOESN'T TALK TO ANYBODY.

ANGELO AND ANGELA, THEY JUST KEEP FIGHTING WITH EACH OTHER,

AND VANESSA, I DON'T EVEN KNOW.

I MEAN, VANESSA IS A COMPLETE MYSTERY.

-YOU LEFT OUT LOLA.

-AH, LOLA.

SHE'S SO SPECIAL.

-HMM.

-YOU TWO GET BACK HERE!

-HE BIT ME!

-WHO?

[BOTH] -BONGO?

-ME?

-'CAUSE YOU HIT ME!

AGH!

-OH! OOH! -HEY, KNOCK IT OFF YOU TWO!

KNOCK IT OFF!

YOU, STOP HITTING!

YOU, STOP BITING.

-OOH!

OW!

-OKAY, OKAY!

NO MORE HITTING, NO MORE BITING.

WE'RE GOING TO LEARN HOW TO USE OUR WORDS.

WHY DID YOU HIT HER?

-SHE CALLED ME A NAME.

-I DID NOT.

IT'S THE TRUTH: YOU WET THE BED.

-OKAY!

HOLD IT.

HOW DOES THAT MAKE YOU FEEL?

-I HATE IT!

-IT EMBARRASSES YOU?

IT HURTS YOUR FEELINGS?

-DO YOU SEE HOW WHAT YOU SAY CAN HURT ANGELO?

-I'M SORRY, ANGELO.

I WON'T DO IT EVER AGAIN.

EVER.

PINKY SWEAR.

-OKAY.

-HEH.

-WOW.

-BONGO!

-TALK TO THEM, RAY RAY.

FROM WHAT I REMEMBER, YOU HAD A PRETTY GOOD RAP.

JUST...

TALK.

[HIP HOP MUSIC PLAYING IN THE BACKGROUND]

*

-NICE.

YOU GOTTA POINT YOUR BELL RINGER.

NICE.

YOU KNOW, MANNY, BACK IN THE DAY I USED TO PLAY A LITTLE

BALL MYSELF, YOU KNOW?

I MAY BE A LITTLE SHORT, I MIGHT BE A LITTLE OUT OF

SHAPE, BUT UH, HOW ABOUT IT?

-YOU WANT TO GO ONE ON ONE WITH ME?

-IF YOU CAN TAKE THE HEAT.

-THAT'S GOOD.

OKAY.

TAKE IT OUT.

COME ON.

NICE.

CHECK IT.

YES!

[LAUGHS]

YOU'RE GETTING SCHOOLED, BOY!

COME ON, MANNY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

MANNY, WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU, MAN?

WHY ARE YOU SO...

-JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!

-YOU KNOW, I WISH I COULD LEAVE YOU ALONE, BUT THE

STATE...

-YEAH, "BUT THE STATE SAYS," RIGHT?

IT WASN'T SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE THIS.

-NO, IT WASN'T SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE THIS, MANNY, BUT IT IS.

IT'S GOING TO BE OKAY. -WHAT'S OKAY ABOUT IT?

MY PARENTS ARE DEAD.

I WANTED...

-YOU WANTED WHAT, MANNY?

MANNY, MANNY, LOOK AT ME, TALK TO ME.

I'M RIGHT HERE.

TALK TO ME.

-I WANTED THEM TO SEE ME PLAY.

I WANTED TO MAKE THEM PROUD.

-MANNY, LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING.

MY SISTER, SHE WAS SO PROUD OF YOU.

I HEARD ABOUT THE FIRST TIME YOU TALKED.

I HEARD ABOUT THE FIRST TIME YOU TOOK A STEP.

YOUR PARENTS WERE BOTH VERY PROUD OF YOU.

DON'T YOU EVER FORGET IT.

-THEY'RE NEVER GOING TO SEE ME STAR.

-BUT YOU AND ME, WE'RE BLOOD.

AND NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE, AND NO MATTER WHERE I AM, I

KNOW BOTH OF THEM ARE GOING TO BE RIGHT HERE WATCHING OVER

BOTH OF US.

-IT'S NOT THE SAME.

-NO IT'S NOT, AND IT'S NOT EVER GOING TO BE THE SAME

AGAIN, MANNY.

AND I DON'T WANT TO BE YOUR PARENT, AND I AM NOT GOING TO

TRY TO BE YOUR PARENT.

MAYBE IF WE TRY...

MAYBE WE COULD BE FRIENDS.

HUH?

DEAL?

DEAL?

GOOD.

[MELANCHOLY MUSIC]

*

-YOU'RE GOING TO SCHOOL AND YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW ITS NAME?

-WHAT'S YOUR SCHOOL'S NAME?

-IT'S CALLED UH, WILSON ELEMENTARY.

-OH YEAH? -LIAR! IT'S PS 41!

-HEY, COME HERE.

COME HERE.

I GOT A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR YOU, OKAY?

NOW I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE A LOT OF NEW FRIENDS AT

THIS SCHOOL.

BUT JUST IN CASE YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE TALKING TO ANYBODY,

ALWAYS TAKE THIS WITH YOU.

PUT IT IN YOUR POCKET.

IT'S GOT YOUR NAME AND WHERE YOU LIVE ON THERE.

NEVER LEAVE HOME WITHOUT IT, OKAY?

KIND OF LIKE, UH...

AN ICEBREAKER, ALRIGHT?

OKAY.

-WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE THE CHILDREN HERE AT PS 188.

IT'S A WONDERFUL SCHOOL, AND WE'LL MAKE SURE THE ADJUSTMENT

FOR THE CHILDREN WILL BE VERY EASY.

-THANK YOU.

THEY'RE EXCITED AS WELL.

-I AM! [LIGHT LAUGHTER]

-ANGELO AND ANGELA, THESE ARE YOUR BUDDIES, ESTEBAN AND

MARIA.

-HEY. -HI.

-WHAT'S UP?

-THEY'RE IN ALL YOUR CLASSES AND THEY'LL HELP GET YOU UP TO

SPEED.

-OKAY, SEYMOUR, UH, NICO IS REGISTERED IN MR. PATRICK'S

FIRST GRADE, AND LOLA IN MS. NORMAN'S THIRD GRADE.

IF YOU'LL ESCORT THEM, PLEASE.

-ALRIGHT KIDS, LET'S GO.

-BYE TIO!

-BYE BYE, HAVE FUN!

-THAT'S OUR TIO.

HE'S AMAZING.

-NOW MRS. BUTZ, UH, ANGELO AND ANGELA ARE BOTH REGISTERED IN

MS. JACKSON'S FIFTH GRADE.

-FINE.

-IS THAT YOUR REAL NAME?

MRS. BUTZ?

-YES.

-AND THE OTHER GUY IS SEYMOUR?

-YES.

-SEYMOUR...

-BUTZ.

[LAUGHING] -SEYMOUR...

-BUTZ! [LAUGHING]

-SEYMOUR...

-BUTZ! [LAUGHING]

-[SIGH]

-YOU REALLY GOT TO SEE IT?

-I DUNNO, WHATEVER MAN.

-YOU THE ONE WAS THERE.

-BUENOS DIAS, SEÑOR.

SEÑORITA.

BIENVENIDOS.

-HOO!

[LAUGHING SLIGHTLY]

-I DON'T WANT THE KID BACK HERE!

[SCOFFS] NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT!

[PHONE CLICKS]

SORRY ABOUT THAT, OKAY...

[PHONE RINGS] -REMIND ME AGAIN?

MY NIECE AND MY NEPHEW, VANESSA AND MANUEL REYES.

-RIGHT, UH, TRANSFERS...

DONE.

JACQUELINE!

-YES, MR. MITCHELL?

-PLEASE WELCOME THESE TWO KIDS, VERONICA...

-VANESSA.

-I'M SORRY, UH, VANESSA AND MANUEL REYES.

-FOLLOW ME.

[PHONE CONTINUES RINGING]

-WHAT?

[BELL RINGS]

-HOLA.

-I SPEAK ENGLISH, YOU KNOW.

-SO DO I.

BUT YOU KNOW, SOME THINGS REQUIRE A ROMANCE LANGUAGE.

-YOU ALWAYS SO SMOOTH?

-ONLY IN THE PRESENCE OF TRUE BEAUTY.

-HEY. -HEY.

-UH, WHO ARE YOU, BRO?

-SORRY, UM, MY NAME'S BRANDON.

-LET'S GO.

-WAIT, WHEN I'M READY.

-UM, I-I DIDN'T GET YOUR NAME.

-MANNY.

-AND UM, YOUR SISTER'S?

-HER NAME IS... -OH, I CAN TALK FOR MYSELF.

VANESSA.

VANESSA REYES.

-EL GUSTO ES MIO, VANESSA REYES.

-YOU'RE ON THE TEAM?

-I PLAY.

-YOU STAR?

-I CAPTAIN.

-OH, ALRIGHT.

ALRIGHT, WELL UH, WE'LL TALK BRO.

I GOTTA GO. -SURE.

ARE WE GONNA TALK?

-MAYBE.

-I WANT TO SIT NEXT TO TIO!

-YOU'RE SUCH A BABY.

-AM NOT!

TIO!

-SHE IS NOT A BABY, ANGELO.

AND CLEARLY SHE HAS EXCELLENT TASTE IN MEN.

-SEE?

-I WANT ICE CREAM.

-NO, WE DON'T HAVE ICE CREAM FOR DINNER.

-WHY NOT?

-BECAUSE, WE...

I DON'T KNOW WHY.

IT'S, IT'S UNHEALTHY.

-LIKE A BURGER AND FRIES, ARE?

-OR ONION RINGS AND GRITS?

-THANKS, YOU TWO.

-WHAT CAN I GET FOR YOU?

-WE'LL HAVE SEVEN CHEESEBURGERS, SIX SHAKES, AND

A CUP OF COFFEE.

-SO TIO, YOU KNOW NICO'S BIRTHDAY'S ON SUNDAY.

-IS IT, LITTLE BUDDY?

HUH?

WELL WE'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING SPECIAL, HUH?

YOU WANT SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY, NICO?

-HE WANTS A NINTENDO DS.

-OH, LIKE A GAME BOY?

-GAME BOY?

-AH, NEVER MIND.

-SHAKES. -OOH, LOOK AT THAT!

HUH?

-THANK YOU. -YOU'RE WELCOME.

-THANK YOU. -THANK YOU.

-ONE CUP OF COFFEE.

-THANK YOU.

[CELL PHONE RINGS]

-HELLO?

MS. WARDEN!

UH, I'M SORRY.

I-I'M SORRY, I COULDN'T HEAR WHAT YOU WERE SAYING.

-SOME GOOD NEWS.

I MAY HAVE FOUND A FAMILY THAT'LL TAKE TWO OF THE

YOUNGEST CHILDREN.

ARE YOU THERE?

-THE, THE TWO YOUNGEST?

-YOU'LL HAVE TO COME IN NEXT WEEK TO FILL OUT THE

PAPERWORK, OKAY?

-YEAH, YEAH YEAH YEAH.

SURE, SURE.

-CONGRATULATIONS, SR. DOMINGUEZ.

-IS EVERYTHING OKAY?

-YEAH, YEAH.

EVERYTHING'S GREAT.

-SO, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT NICO'S BIRTHDAY?

-NICO, YOU LIKE MAGIC?

WE COULD GET A CLOWN.

-WHAT DO WE NEED A CLOWN FOR?

WE'VE ALREADY GOT YOU.

[LAUGHING]

-TIO, CAN WE GET A POOL.

-YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YES.

YEAH, WE'LL GET A POOL.

[BOTH] -YES!

[UPBEAT LATIN MUSIC]

*

-OH, GET... NO!

THAT'S FOR THE PARTY.

-OH.

-I TOLD YOU!

-YEAH BUT...

[ANGELO AND ANGELA] -OH, YEAH, YOU'RE OLDER.

-YEAH!

-FIRST OF ALL, I'M TALLER THAN YOU, SO HA!

-NO YOU'RE NOT! -AND I'M STRONGER THAN YOU!

-I CAN BEAT YOU UP!

-THAT'S WHAT THEY CALL "USING THEIR WORDS."

[LAUGHS]

-OH, GREAT.

THANKS.

-WHERE IS EVERYBODY?

-IN THE BEDROOM.

-SHE COMES TO US FROM FAR AWAY ON A BEAM OF LIGHT FROM

MANY A DAY.

WE ALL LOVE HER AND WE PRAY, BEAM ME UP, SHE'LL NEVER SAY.

ANNIE SUNBEAM, COWGIRL OF THE LIGHT, SHINES ON US AND MAKES

US BRIGHT.

-OKAY, GREAT. THANKS.

-HEY, LOOKS REAL GOOD.

-IT'S GOING TO BE A GOOD PARTY.

-YEAH YEAH, GREAT JOB.

GREAT JOB.

YEAH, [CHUCKLES LIGHTLY]

-I ORDERED THE CAKE.

-GREAT.

-YEAH! [LAUGHS]

-RAY RAY.

GIVE. -WHAT?

-I KNOW YOU.

SOMETHING'S UP.

-I GOT SOME GOOD NEWS.

THEY FOUND A FAMILY THAT CAN TAKE THE KIDS FOR ME.

-IS THAT WHAT YOU REALLY WANT?

-YEAH, CHEEKY.

I'M NOT REALLY THAT GOOD WITH KIDS.

ALRIGHT? AND PLUS,

I CAN'T AFFORD THEM.

-SO IT'S ABOUT THE MONEY.

-YEAH.

NO, I MEAN, COME ON, CHEEKY.

CHEEKY I'VE BEEN SAVING FOR THREE YEARS, ALRIGHT, TO

FOLLOW MY DREAM.

IN SIX WEEKS THESE KIDS HAVE COME IN AND SPENT HALF OF MY

SAVINGS!

IN ORDER FOR ME TO KEEP THEM AND LET THEM LIVE THE WAY THAT

THEY WANT TO LIVE, IT'S GOING TO TAKE A MIRACLE!

-I DON'T BELIEVE THIS.

-WHAT, IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE TEMPORARY ONLY.

-DON'T YOU CARE ABOUT THEM?

-OF COURSE I CARE ABOUT THEM.

ALRIGHT, I JUST DIDN'T SIGN UP FOR THIS.

-NOBODY SIGNS UP!

-LOOK HERE, CHEEKY, THE SOONER THEY COME IN AND GET THESE

KIDS, THE SOONER I GET MY LIFE BACK.

-SAME OLD RAY RAY.

WHY DO I EVEN BOTHER?

-WHAT THESE KIDS NEED, I CAN'T PROVIDE.

-YOU DON'T WANT TO BE TIED DOWN.

IS THAT IT?

-MAYBE THAT IS IT.

MAYBE I JUST DON'T WANT TO BE TIED DOWN.

-DON'T WORRY.

YOU WON'T BE.

NOT WITH THEM.

NOT WITH ME.

-CHEEKY.

CHEEKY!

[GRUNTS]

[MELANCHOLY MUSIC]

*

*

-[WHISPERING] UNO, DOS, TRES...

[GROUP SHOUTING] -FELIZ CUMPLEAÑOS, NICO!

-HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NICO.

GO INTO THE LIVING ROOM, NICO.

IT'S ALL DECORATED FOR YOU.

-YOU LIKE IT?

-NOW TO PLAY SOME GAMES!

-OH, NICO.

[NINTENDO DS DINGS]

-WHOA!

COME HERE, I WANT TO SEE.

-OKAY, YOU GUYS, LOOKIT.

BONGO'S DOWNSTAIRS IN THE LOBBY.

GET YOUR CLOTHES TOGETHER, AND LETS GO DO SOME LAUNDRY BEFORE

THE BIG PARTY!

[KIDS SHRIEKING]

[LAUGHING]

-LET'S GO, COME ON! -LAUNDRY!

[KIDS SCREAMING PARTY]

-HEY!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LITTLE BUDDY.

[UPBEAT MUSIC]

*

-PUT IT RIGHT HERE?

-DON'T TOUCH IT!

*

-THAT'S RIGHT!

-THAT'S RIGHT.

[LAUGHS]

-LOOK WHAT THAT GUY'S DOING!

[LAUGHING]

-YEAH!

-WHAT TIME'S CHEEKY COMING?

-HEY, YO, MAN.

WAY TO GO MAN.

-OH, NO NO, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT, MAN.

SHE AIN'T COMING.

-THERE ISN'T THAT MUCH!

-WANT TO PLAY MARCO POLO?

-NO, LET'S HAVE A CHICKEN FIGHT!

-DUDE, YEAH!

YOU'RE SUCH A BABY!

-I AM NOT!

-AGH!

-SPLASH WAR!

-YOU'RE ON MY TEAM!

-HERE GUYS.

-OKAY!

HOLD ON!

-HOW 'BOUT THE PIÑATA?

-PIÑATA!

[KIDS SCREAMING]

-HEY!

-ALRIGHT!

[ALL CHANTING] -BONGO! BONGO! BONGO! BONGO!

-BONGO! BONGO! BONGO! BONGO!

[CROWD SHRIEKING]

-OH MY GOD!

-WHAT?

[INDISTINCT SHOUTING]

-OKAY, OKAY!

OKAY, OKAY, NOBODY SAW IT!

NOBODY SAW IT!

[KIDS SHRIEKING]

-OH, WHOA!

-I'M GONNA GET SOME CANDY!

-HEY DON'T, DON'T FILL UP ON CANDY!

WE'VE STILL GOT A BEAUTIFUL CAKE, KIDS, ALRIGHT?

-YEAH, I GOT THE FLAME, I'M READY!

-ALRIGHT! -YEAH, LET'S DO IT!

-MANNY, MANNY, YOU GO GET NICO.

I'M GOING TO GO GET THE CAKE. -ALRIGHT.

ALRIGHT!

-OOH, HEY! [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

-GUYS, GUYS!

WHERE'S NICO?

-WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

-HE'S NOT THERE.

-WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE'S NOT THERE?

-WHAT? -HE'S NOT THERE!

[PEOPLE SHOUTING] -NICO? NICO?

-DON'T PANIC, DON'T PANIC.

HOLD THIS, HOLD THIS.

TAKE THIS, LISTEN.

YOU THREE, YOU GUYS, THESE GUYS STAY HERE WITH THE KIDS.

YOU GUYS GO NORTH, YOU GUYS GO CHECK THE APARTMENT.

I'M GOING TO RUN SOUTH!

[INDISTINCT COMMOTION]

-NICO!

NICO!

NICO!

NICO!

NICO!

-HEY!

-NICO!

-HELP ME!

-COME ON, YOU GOTTA GET UP...

-NICO!

NICO!

NICO! NICO, Y...

I'M SORRY.

I'M SO SORRY.

I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY.

I'M LOOKING FOR MY LITTLE BOY.

HE'S GOT THE SAME THING.

[PHONE RINGING] -THAT'S FINE.

YEAH?

YEAH, WHERE DID YOU FIND HIM?

ALRIGHT, I'LL BE RIGHT THERE.

-MIJO!

MIJO!

MIJO!

MIJO!

ARE YOU OKAY?

ARE YOU OKAY?

-YEAH, HE WOULDN'T TALK, BUT HE HANDED US THIS.

-AGH.

-WE FOUND HIM WALKING BY HIMSELF ON BROADWAY NEAR THE

BRIDGE.

-THANK YOU.

WHY, LITTLE BUDDY?

HUH?

LOOK AT ME.

DID I DO SOMETHING?

DID I SAY SOMETHING?

YOU WERE IN THE KITCHEN, WEREN'T YOU?

I DIDN'T MEAN WHAT I SAID.

I'M SO SORRY, NICO.

I LOVE YOU.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

-IN LIGHT OF THIS INCIDENT, SR. DOMINGUEZ, I'M REMOVING

THE CHILDREN FROM YOUR CARE.

I HAVE AUTHORIZATION TO TAKE THE TWO YOUNGEST IMMEDIATELY.

-WELL I'M NOT GOING TO LET THAT HAPPEN.

-WELL, YOU WANTED THEM OUT OF YOUR HAIR.

WE'RE SIMPLY OBLIGING.

-NO!

LET ME GO! -LET HER GO!

LET HER GO!

[SCREAMING]

-TIO!

-WOULD YOU JUST GO INSIDE THE HOUSE AND SEE WHAT'S GOING?

-LET ME GO!

-WAIT WAIT!

I CAN TAKE CARE OF MY SISTER!

-I'VE CHANGED!

I MEAN, WE'VE ALL CHANGED!

-GET OFF OF ME!

-LISTEN, YOU CAN'T TAKE HER!

YOU CAN'T TAKE HER!

NO!

-PLEASE! -LET ME GO!

-NO, YOU CAN'T TAKE HER!

-THEY NEED TO BE IN HOMES THAT ARE BETTER EQUIPPED.

-NO! -NO!

-NO YOU CAN'T...

-HOMES?

YOU'RE GOING TO SPLIT THEM UP? -NO!

NICO! -I'M AFRAID IT'S OUT OF YOUR HANDS.

-NO, PLEASE.

MRS. WARDEN, PLEASE!

-THERE'S NOTHING I CAN DO.

-YOU ARE WRONG!

I WILL GET THESE KIDS BACK.

YOU WANT TO LISTEN TO ME!

-FILE AN APPEAL TO THE FAMILY COURT.

I SERIOUSLY DOUBT IT'S GOING TO HELP.

-YOU ARE WRONG, MS. WARDEN!

I WILL GET THESE KIDS BACK!

NICO!

HOLD ON!

[CRYING]

-CHEEKY, I LOST THEM.

I LOST NICO AND LOLA.

WARDEN CAME AND SHE TOOK THEM BOTH.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M GOING TO DO.

YOU GOTTA HELP ME!

-WE'LL FIGURE SOMETHING OUT.

-I THINK YOU'VE GOT A GOOD SHOT AT THIS, MR. DOMINGUEZ.

-THANK YOU.

AND YOU CAN CALL ME RAY RAY.

-HOW'S RAYMOND?

-SURE.

-ALRIGHT.

NO GUARANTEES, BUT I'D LIKE TO START WITH A BACKGROUND CHECK

ON YOU, YOUR FINANCES, THOSE OF YOUR LATE SISTER AND

BROTHER-IN-LAW.

-SURE, OKAY.

-ALRIGHT, I'LL NEED A RETAINER OF 5,000 TO BEGIN.

-UH, 5,000 U-UP FRONT?

-I WAS HOPING THAT WE COULD KIND OF WORK ON A CONTINGENCY.

-WELL, BUT THERE ARE NO DAMAGES, RAYMOND, SO IF YOU

WIN, YOU WIN THE CHILDREN.

-OH.

-UNLESS YOU WANT TO GIVE ME 33% OF THE KIDS.

-OH, NO.

I'M SORRY.

I UNDERSTAND.

UM...

I JUST DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY.

-I GET IT.

UM...

IT'S JUST THAT THE LONGER THE KIDS ARE OUT OF YOUR CUSTODY,

THE MORE DIFFICULT IT CAN BECOME.

-I SEE.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

-YOU'RE WELCOME.

-I JUST DON'T HAVE IT.

-WHAT ABOUT THE MONEY YOU WERE SAVING FOR THE DREAM?

-WHAT, MIAMI?

I MEAN, THERE'S SOME OF IT LEFT, BUT I MEAN MOST OF IT

WENT TO SCHOOL AND CLOTHES AND...

FOOD.

DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS.

BUT THE LAWYER SAID IT LOOKS GOOD, RIGHT?

-YEAH, BUT SHE DIDN'T SAY IT WAS A SURE THING.

-RAY RAY, WHAT IN LIFE IS A SURE THING?

DIME.

NADA.

NOTHING.

ZIP.

HAVE FAITH, MAN.

-FAITH.

-YOU READY?

-YEAH.

AS SOON AS I JUST GO WASH MY HANDS IN THE BATHROOM.

-ALRIGHT.

I'LL MEET YOU IN THE TRUCK.

-FAITH...

OH MY GOD.

OH MY GOD.

[WHISTLING IDLY]

-DID EVERYTHING COME OUT OKAY?

[LAUGHS] -YEAH.

JUST GO.

-WAIT, H-HOLD ON, WAIT WAIT, WHAT'S WRONG?

WHAT HAPPENED? -NOTHING, MAN.

JUST GO.

-RAY RAY.

WHAT DO YOU GOT THERE?

-I WENT TO THE BATHROOM TO WASH MY HANDS.

-I FOUND THIS.

-YO, RAY RAY, HOLD ON.

JUST WAIT.

WHAT DID YOU DO?

-NOTHING, MAN.

JUST GO.

-WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO, MAN?

-CHIZZY, JUST GO!

-OVER HERE, OVER HERE, OPEN THIS!

OPEN IT.

TAKE IT OFF!

OKAY, OKAY.

PUT IT BACK ON!

COME ON!

ALRIGHT.

THAT WAY.

-IT DOESN'T MATTER,

JUST LEAVE IT. -ALRIGHT.

HOO. -CHIZZY.

-OH MAN,

THERE'S GOTTA BE OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IN

THERE.

-MM.

MAYBE MORE.

-YEAH.

-RAY RAY, WE GOTTA THINK ABOUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.

SOMEBODY'S LOOKING FOR THAT MONEY.

-YEAH, US!

-NO, NO.

-THIS COULD BE THE ANSWER TO OUR DREAMS, CHIZZY.

-YEAH, BUT I-I...

[PHONE RINGING]

-ANSWER IT. -NO.

-NO, COME ON! -NO!

-COME ON, WOULD YOU PLEASE JUST ANSWER IT, CHIZZY?

-ALRIGHT!

[CLEARS THROAT]

HELLO?

OH, IT'S WILSON!

YEAH, WHAT'S UP BOSS?

YEAH, W-WE'RE ON OUR WAY.

WE JUST MADE A QUICK STOP.

[WHISPERING] -FIVE MINUTES.

-YEAH, YEAH.

YEAH, ABOUT FIVE MINUTES, YEAH.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

BYE.

-GREAT. -YEAH.

YEAH...

-HEY!

[LAUGHING]

-I DIDN'T EXPECT YOU HOME.

IS EVERYTHING OKAY?

-OH YEAH, EVERYTHING IS GREAT, HUH CHIZZY?

-O-OH YEAH, YEAH.

EVERYTHING'S FINE!

IT'S OKAY. I MEAN, UH, WHY?

-HOW'S SCHOOL?

-I LOVE IT!

-YOU LOVE IT?

ARE YOU SURE WE'RE RELATED?

-SCHOOL SUCKS.

-THERE YOU GO, THAT'S MY BLOOD!

[LAUGHING] -THAT'S IT!

-TIO, WHEN ARE LOLA AND NICO COMING BACK HOME?

-SOON, MIJA, I PROMISE, OKAY?

SOON.

-WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE, RAY RAY?

-DOESN'T HE LIVE HERE?

-YEAH.

-YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.

WHAT'S WRONG?

-CHEEKY, YOU TRUST ME, RIGHT?

-WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

CHIZZY.

-CHEEKY, I NEED YOU TO DO ME A FAVOR.

-WHAT'S THAT?

-YOU SEE THAT RADIATOR COVER?

I NEED YOU TO GUARD IT WITH YOUR LIFE.

DON'T LET THE KIDS NEAR IT OR OPEN IT, OKAY?

-OR ANYBODY ELSE.

-YEAH, OKAY.

BUT YOU'RE SCARING ME RAY RAY.

WHAT'S IN THERE?

-IT COULD BE THE ANSWER TO OUR DREAMS.

JUST TRUST ME, CHEEKY.

PLEASE.

TRUST ME.

-SO, I'M GOING TO TRY TO GET THE BENEFITS PASS FOR YOU AND

THE KIDS.

I'M ALSO REQUESTING THAT YOU GET A RAISE.

YOU ALRIGHT?

-HUH?

-DID YOU HEAR ME? -WHAT?

-I'M WORKING ON YOU GETTING A RAISE AND A BENEFITS PASS FOR

THE KIDS!

-THAT'S GREAT.

THANKS.

-IS HE ALRIGHT?

-UH, SURE.

HE JUST DON'T SLEEP NO MORE, BUT OTHER THAN THAT, YOU KNOW.

-OH, GET OUTTA HERE, WILL YOU?

-YOU DON'T HAVE TO TELL ME TWICE.

-GOOD NIGHT!

GET YOU SOME REST, WILL YOU?

-THANKS, WILSON.

-ALRIGHT.

-OKAY, MORE ARC AND AIM TOWARDS THE BACK OF THE RIM.

-WHY THE BACK?

-BECAUSE THAT WAY, IF YOU'RE TIRED, YOU'LL MAKE THE LONG

SHOT.

-IS THAT IT? -PERFECT.

-YOU ALRIGHT?

-UH, I DUNNO.

I-I'M SORRY MANNY, I MEAN, I JUST KEEP THINKING ABOUT

LOLA AND NICO.

-YOU'RE GONNA GET THEM BACK, RIGHT?

-OH, COME ON.

BEFORE YOU KNOW IT.

-DID WE DO SOMETHING WRONG, OR...

-NO, MANNY, YOU DID NOTHING WRONG.

-BUT BE HONEST, IT HAD TO DO WITH US, RIGHT?

-NO, IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU, MANNY.

-I MEAN, THE TRUTH IS, I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT'S RIGHT, WRONG.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT HONESTY IS ANYMORE.

-POP USED TO ALWAYS TELL ME...

HONESTY CAME FROM HONOR.

THAT'S ALL A MAN HAS.

-[CHUCKLES]

THANKS, MANNY.

THANKS.

I THINK I KNOW YOUR SECRET.

I THINK YOU KNOW HOW YOU DID IT, DANIELLA.

BUENOS NOCHES.

-GOOD MORNING!

-HI, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

-MWA!

-THANK YOU FOR HELPING ME OUT.

-NO PROBLEM.

THE LAST TIME I WOKE UP THIS EARLY...

-WAS WHEN THAT KID CAME

BY AND S... -OKAY!

LET'S GO, KIDS, WE DON'T WANT TO BE LATE!

-COME ON!

-ALRIGHT, BYE BYE!

BYE BYE HONEY!

-BYE.

-RIGHT.

-WISH ME LUCK, TIO.

I'M TRYING OUT FOR THE TEAM AFTER SCHOOL.

-HEY, MANNY, THEY WOULD BE LUCKY TO HAVE YOU.

GO GET 'EM.

-HEY TIO, UM, I WAS THINKING ABOUT GETTING A LITTLE PART

TIME JOB AFTER SCHOOL, SO THEN I COULD HELP OUT WITH THE

BILLS AND STUFF AROUND HERE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

-I THINK THAT I HAVE THE PRETTIEST SOBRINA IN THE

ENTIRE WORLD.

GO HAVE A GOOD DAY. -THANK YOU.

-BYE BYE.

WHAT ELSE CAN I DO, DANIELLA?

WE'LL MAKE IT WORK.

-THEY HAD SOME BIG FUNDRAISER.

I GUESS ONE OF THE DONORS GOT A LITTLE, UH, CARELESS.

SEE, WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS WHY IT TOOK YOU 24 HOURS TO

RETURN THE MONEY.

-YOU DON'T? -NO.

-SIR, LIKE I SAID, I'VE BEEN WORKING SINCE I WAS 16 YEARS

OLD.

I'VE NEVER SEEN THIS KIND OF MONEY!

MY SISTER AND HER HUSBAND, THEY DIED RECENTLY, AND I

WOUND UP TAKING IN THEIR SIX KIDS.

AND NOW THE STATE WANTS TO COME IN AND SEPARATE ALL OF

THEM.

I HAVE A COURT CASE THIS FRIDAY THAT I DON'T EVEN HAVE

A LAWYER FOR.

I'M TRYING TO KEEP MY FAMILY TOGETHER.

THIS MONEY RIGHT HERE, IT COULD'VE, IT COULD'VE CHANGED

OUR LIVES.

-SO WHY'D YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND?

-I DIDN'T.

I MADE UP MY MIND.

YOU SEE, I HAVE A FAMILY NOW.

AND MY DECISIONS AND MY CHOICES,

THEY'RE GOING TO AFFECT MY KIDS.

I WAS JUST TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

YOU UNDERSTAND?

-I DO.

YES, I DO.

AND I APPLAUD YOUR HONESTY, MR. DOMINGUEZ.

-ARE THERE GOING TO BE ANY REPERCUSSIONS OF ALL THIS?

-I DON'T SEE WHY.

THE MONEY'S ALL THERE, RIGHT?

-ALL OF IT.

-THERE YOU GO.

-THEN, WE'LL TALK TO THE BENEFIT ORGANIZER, AND I DOUBT

THERE'S GOING TO BE ANY PRESSING OF CHARGES.

-WHO WANTS TO BE KNOWN AS THE GUY WHO LEFT A HUNDRED GS IN

THE MEN'S ROOM, RIGHT?

-HEH, GOOD POINT.

GENTLEMEN.

-MR. DOMINGUEZ.

-YEAH?

-GOOD LUCK.

-THANKS.

-WHAT ABOUT THIS?

-YEAH, CHECK THAT OUT.

[PHONE NUMBER BEING DIALED]

[RINGING]

-METRO.

-HARRY.

HEY, IT'S ME, DETECTIVE EMILY JOHNSON FROM THE 3-5 SQUAD.

-OH, YEAH. HI EMILY.

-YOU'RE STILL WORKING THE CITY DESK, RIGHT?

-YEAH, I'M STILL HERE.

-GREAT.

LISTEN, HAVE I GOT A STORY FOR YOU.

-UH HUH.

[KNOCKING]

OKAY.

-MS. HOROWITZ. -HANG ON ONE SEC.

YES?

-DO YOU REMEMBER ME?

RAYMOND.

RAYMOND DOMINGUEZ.

-YEAH, SIX KIDS, RIGHT?

HI.

-LOOKIT, I GOT THIS IN THE MAIL.

-OKAY, I'M GOING TO CALL YOU BACK.

OKAY.

-I ALSO HAVE $1,122 DOLLARS.

I WOULD'VE HAD MORE, BUT I PUT 50 CENTS IN THE PARKING METER

DOWN STAIRS.

-BENJAMIN WELLING III...

YOU'RE DUE IN COURT FRIDAY.

-YEAH, BUT I HAVE A STEADY JOB.

-THIS FRIDAY!

-AND I'M GOING TO BE GETTING A RAISE, AND I'LL GET YOU ALL OF

YOUR MONEY, BUT YOU CAN'T LET THEM TAKE MY KIDS AWAY FROM

ME!

-YOUR KIDS?

[SIGHS]

TAKE THE MONEY, BUY A SUIT, AND YOU HAVE YOURSELF A

LAWYER, RAYMOND.

-THANK YOU, THANK YOU MS. HOROWITZ.

THANK YOU.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

-HEY!

-OH, THERE HE IS!

-OH! -HEY!

-SO UH, TIO, UM...

I MADE THE TEAM.

-EY!

[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]

-THIS CALLS FOR A CELEBRATION!

-ICE CREAM FOR EVERYBODY!

[CHEERING]

-THAT'S GOOD.

-GOOD JOB, MAN!

-THANK YOU.

-SO I'M REALLY PROUD OF YOU, MAN.

WAY TO GO. -THANKS TIO.

-HOW YOU DOING?

-HEY, HOW YOU DOING?

MY NAME IS BRANDON.

AND WE.. [MUMBLING]

-I KNOW EXACTLY... -HE'S UH, HE'S THE CAPTAIN.

CAPTAIN OF THE TEAM.

-OH, IS THAT SO.

-YES SIR.

-HE UH, HE REALLY HELPED ME OUT.

A LOT.

-OH, I MEAN, COME ON.

HE DIDN'T NEED THAT MUCH HELP.

I MEAN.. [LAUGHING]

-YOU KNOW, HIS MOM OWNS THE SALON AROUND THE CORNER.

-AH. -SHE OFFERED ME A WEEKEND JOB.

UM, IF THAT'S OKAY WITH YOU.

-YEAH, WELL THAT'S THE JOB YOU WANTED TO TAKE ON THE

WEEKENDS.

-PLEASE TIO?

-YEAH.

-THANK YOU.

-DID I HEAR CORRECTLY THAT YOUR MOTHER IS DOLORES?

-YES.

-THAT WOMAN IS A MAGICIAN.

[SPEAKING SPANISH]

[ALL LAUGHING]

-SO UH, YOU ARE THE CAPTAIN OF THE BASKETBALL TEAM?

-OH, AND THE BASEBALL TEAM.

-REALLY? -MHMM.

-HO HO HO, I BET YOUR GRADES SUFFER.

-NOT AT ALL, SIR.

I KEEP A 3.8 AVERAGE MR. DOMINGUEZ.

MY MOM TAKES THAT VERY, VERY SERIOUSLY, AND UM, SO DO I.

-YEAH, HE JUST GOT A SCHOLARSHIP TO UM.

-THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI, HUH?

-MHMM. -WOW.

-THAT'S IMPRESSIVE.

-[LAUGHING]

-SO UH, DO YOU SPEND A LOT OF TIME AT YOUR MOTHER'S SALON?

-WELL, YOU KNOW, MORE SO ON THE WEEKENDS.

JUST, YOU KNOW, JUST...

[MUMBLING]

WOW, OKAY, IT'S GETTING KIND OF LATE, UH,

I'M GOING TO TAKE OFF.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THEY GOT HOME SAFE.

SO UM...

-YEAH. -ALRIGHT MAN,

CONGRATULATIONS, RIGHT...

-I'LL WALK YOU OUT.

-OH, COOL.

ALRIGHT NICE TO MEET YOU GUYS. TAKE IT EASY!

-BYE! -YEAH, YEAH, ALRIGHT, YEAH.

[NERVOUS LAUGHTER]

-GO, GO!

[MOUTHING WORDS]

-GOOD NIGHT, BRANDON!

-HEY, UH...

-I'LL BE RIGHT IN, TIO.

-NOW HE HATES ME.

[LAUGHS]

NO.

[SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]

-YOU KNOW,

I DO NOT KNOW NOTHING ABOUT ANYTHING.

[LAUGHING]

[ROOM MAKING TEASING NOISES]

-STOP IT!

-GOOD NIGHT!

-OKAY EVERYONE.

IT'S TIME FOR BED.

[BOTH] -NOT YET!

-OH, YES YET.

-COME ON!

-GOOD NIGHT, GUYS.

-SAY GOOD NIGHT.

-WE LOVE YOU!

-GOOD NIGHT! -SEE YOU TOMORROW MORNING!

-GOOD NIGHT GUYS, GOOD NIGHT MAMI.

GOOD NIGHT.

GOOD NIGHT, SWEETIE.

-GREAT JOB, MANNY!

-THANK YOU.

-SHE'S SO GOOD WITH THOSE KIDS.

-I KNOW!

-MHM. -MM?

-HEY!

I'M REALLY PROUD OF YOU, MIJO.

-AH, IT'S ALL BECAUSE OF YOU, TIO.

-NO, NO.

IT'S ALL BECAUSE OF YOU MANNY.

-GOOD NIGHT, GUYS. -GOOD NIGHT MANNY.

-GOOD NIGHT, MANNY.

-RAY RAY, KEEP DOING YOUR THING, MAN.

-YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN, YOU KNOW?

I'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW. -GOOD NIGHT, POP.

-GOOD NIGHT!

-LIKE A BROTHER.

[LAUGHING]

-BYE RAY.

[SIGHS]

-THEY'RE ALL IN BED.

-THANK YOU.

EVA...

-EVA?

I WISH I HAD MORE TIME.

FOR THE KIDS, I MEAN.

-SO DO YOU HAVE TO GO?

-I'M OUT OF MY APARTMENT AT THE END OF THE WEEK.

AND THE NEW JOB...

IT'S A FRESH START.

A CHANGE.

GOOD NIGHT, RAYMOND.

-RAY RAY!

-YEP? -RAY RAY, DID YOU SEE?

-DID I SEE WHAT?

-WHAT YOU DID?

-WHAT DO YOU MEAN "DID I SEE WHAT I DID?"

-THIS?

HMM?

-LOOK AT THAT.

[LAUGHS]

LOOK IT SAYS, UH, "A LONG STANDING DREAM OF MOVING HIS

FAMILY TO A BETTER LIFE IN MIAMI WAS WITHIN HIS GRASP,

BUT INSTEAD RAYMOND 'RAY RAY,'" THAT'S YOU, "DOMINGUEZ

DID THE RIGHT THING AND RETURNED THE MONEY."

-HOW DID THEY KNOW THIS?

-RAY RAY!

RAY RAY!

I TOLD YOU, MAN!

MIRACLES CAN HAPPEN!

LOOKIT HERE! -MIRACLE!

-YEAH! -UNBELIEVABLE!

-LISTEN RAY, I THOUGHT A MIRACLE WAS A LAWYER NOT

ACCEPTING MONEY. -OH!

-BUT THIS, MAN, I DON'T BELIEVE IT!

-RAY RAY, YOU'VE GOT TO THINK POSITIVE MAN.

POSITIVE, RAY RAY!

-MHMM. -WOO!

-HEAR THE GOOD?

-WHAT'S GOING ON?

-NOTHING, NOTHING, NOTHING.

-IS EVERYTHING OKAY?

-YEAH, EVERYTHING IS FINE.

IN FACT, WE ARE NOT GOING TO GO TO SCHOOL TODAY.

-YES!

-WE ARE NOT EVEN GOING TO LEAVE THE HOUSE TODAY!

[CHEERING]

-BUT I HAVE MY FIRST PRACTICE.

-OH, AND I WAS GOING TO HANG OUT WITH BRA...

UH, BIOLOGY...

TEACHER.

[GIGGLES]

-WHAT'S THAT?

-AH!

-AH, BUENOS MORNING!

[LAUGHING]

-OH, WAIT, WHOA.

SOMETHING'S GOING ON AND IT HAS TO DO WITH THOSE

NEWSPAPERS.

-YEAH, [SPEAKING SPANISH]

-NO, MANNY, YOU'RE RIGHT.

SOMETHING IS GOING ON AND IT HAS TO DO WITH THIS NEWSPAPER.

AND UH...

WE HAVE TO TALK.

TOGETHER.

AS A FAMILY.

[GIGGLING]

-JUST THE KIDS.

-OH, OH.

-OH, JUST THE KIDS. -OH.

-OKAY, WELL IF YOU NEED US, WE'LL BE OUTSIDE.

-OKAY, OKAY. ALRIGHT. ALRIGHT.

-JUST THE KIDS.

A SILLY HOUSE.

-HEY, CHEEKY.

COULD YOU STAY?

-W-WOW!

AWESOME.

-WERE YOU GOING TO TELL US THAT WE WERE ONLY SUPPOSED TO

BE HERE TEMPORARILY?

-WHAT?

-YEAH, LOOK.

-"THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES HAS BEEN

TRYING TO FIND A HOME FOR SIX ORPHANS?"

THAT'S WHY YOU LET THEM TAKE NICO AND LOLA.

-LET ME EXPLAIN THAT, ALRIGHT?

BECAUSE THAT'S NOT THE WAY IT IS.

-DON'T YOU WANT US?

-I THOUGHT YOU LOVED US.

-OF COURSE I DO.

-IT SAYS THAT YOU ASKED THE STATE TO FIND US HOMES?

-LOOKIT, I'M GOING TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, OKAY?

BECAUSE HONESTY, IT COMES FROM HONOR,

AND THAT'S ALL A MAN HAS.

RIGHT?

LOOK AT YOU GUYS.

I'VE ALWAYS HAD THIS DREAM OF GOING OFF TO MIAMI.

I NEVER WANTED LITTLE PEOPLE OR KIDS OR A FAMILY.

I NEVER WANTED PETS OR LIFE PLANS, AND I DIDN'T WANT TO

EVER BE TIED DOWN.

-SO YOU DON'T WANT US?

-OF COURSE I DO.

I MEAN THE MERE THOUGHT OF LOSING YOU GUYS BREAKS MY

HEART IN TWO.

-BUT YOU JUST SAID THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE KIDS.

-OR PLANTS!

-WELL YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED?

I GREW UP.

I GREW UP BECAUSE OF YOU GUYS.

YOU GUYS...

YOU MAKE ME WANT TO BE A BETTER PERSON THAN I AM.

FOR YOU.

AND YOU MADE ME REALIZE WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

FAMILY.

-BUT THE STATE SAYS THAT...

-I KNOW WHAT THE STATE SAYS.

I GOT A LAWYER, ALRIGHT?

WE ARE GOING TO FIGHT TO GET LOLA AND NICO BACK TOGETHER.

AS A FAMILY.

AND YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT?

FROM NOW ON, IT'S NOT JUST MY DREAM.

IT'S OUR DREAM.

-WHATEVER YOU NEED.

-I'LL BE THERE.

-YOU GOT THAT RIGHT.

-YO TAMBIEN.

[GIGGLES]

-TIO, WHAT HAPPENED TO ALL THE MONEY?

-I RETURNED IT.

-ALL OF IT?

-ALL OF IT.

-GOOD.

WE DON'T NEED MONEY.

-WE GOT EACH OTHER.

[LAUGHING]

[OPTIMISTIC MUSIC]

*

[REPORTERS CHATTERING]

-YOU READY?

-WE'RE READY.

-AMAZING PIECE IN THE PAPER.

*

-NO IT'S OKAY, COME ON, IT'S OKAY.

JUST KEEP AN EYE ON THEM.

-THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE HERE!

-I KNOW, IT'S LIKE IN THE MOVIES.

-ALL RISE!

SUPERIOR COURT OF CHILD SERVICES IN THE STATE OF NEW

YORK, COUNTY OF NEW YORK, IS NOW IN SESSION.

THE HONORABLE JUDGE VEGA PRESIDING.

-THIS IS THE CASE OF THE DCFS VS.

RAYMOND "RAY RAY" DOMINGUEZ FOR THE CUSTODY OF VANESSA,

MANUEL, ANGELO, ANGELA, LOLA AND NICO REYES, HIS NIECES AND

NEPHEWS.

ALL PARTIES ARE PRESENT?

-YES YOUR HONOR. -YES YOUR HONOR.

-BEGIN.

-YOUR HONOR, DUE TO THE UNFORTUNATE ACCIDENT OF THEIR

PARENTS, DANIELLA AND RAUL REYES, THE SIX REYES CHILDREN

WERE PLACED TEMPORARILY IN THE CUSTODY OF THEIR ONLY

RELATIVE, THEIR UNCLE RAY RAY DOMINGUEZ.

ELIZABETH WARDEN FROM DCFS SUBMITTED REPORT THAT CLEARLY

SHOWS SR. DOMINGUEZ DID NOT CREATE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT.

IT IS THE STATE'S CONTENTION THAT LEGAL CUSTODY SHOULD

IMMEDIATELY BE GIVEN TO A QUALIFIED FOSTER HOME.

-MS. HOROWITZ?

-YOUR HONOR, MR. DOMINGUEZ HAS GONE TO GREAT LENGTHS TO PROVE

THAT HE IS MORE THAN EQUIPPED TO BE THE LEGAL GUARDIAN TO

HIS SIX NIECES AND NEPHEWS.

[ANGELO AND ANGELA] -YES!

-WE RESPECTFULLY SUGGEST THAT OUR INTEREST AND THE STATE'S

ARE ONE AND THE SAME.

WE BOTH WANT WHAT'S BEST FOR THE REYES CHILDREN, AND I CAN

STATE MOST EMPHATICALLY THAT MEANS ALLOWING THEM TO STAY

WITH THEIR UNCLE, RAYMOND DOMINGUEZ.

-YOUR FIRST WITNESS.

-THE STATE CALLS WILSON BARCLAY.

-DO YOU SWEAR TO TELL THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH AND

NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH, SO HELP YOU GOD?

-I DO.

-STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.

-WILSON BARCLAY.

-BE SEATED.

-MR. BARCLAY,

HOW LONG HAS MR. DOMINGUEZ WORKED UNDER YOU?

-HE'S BEEN A FINE EMPLOYEE AND HE'S WORKED FOR THE COMPANY

FOR TWENTY-TWO YEARS.

-MM, AND HAS HE EVER GOTTEN INTO ANY TROUBLE?

-NOT ON MY WATCH.

-HM.

ON TUESDAY OF THIS WEEK, DID YOU VISIT THE NEW YORK POLICE

DEPARTMENT?

-YES, I BELIEVE WE DID.

-WHY?

-RAY RAY FOUND SOME MONEY AND HE WANTED TO RETURN IT TO ITS

PROPER OWNER.

-AND DID HE NOT FIND THAT MONEY ON MONDAY.

-I BELIEVE HE DID.

-AND HE KEPT THE MONEY FOR 24 HOURS BEFORE DECIDING WHAT TO

DO WITH IT.

-WELL I GUESS THAT KIND OF MONEY DOESN'T MEAN MUCH FOR A

LAWYER LIKE YOURSELF...

FOR REGULAR FOLKS...

WELL, WHO WOULDN'T KEEP IT FOR A MINUTE?

I MEAN HE HAD TO HAVE TIME TO THINK.

-THAT'S ALL, YOUR HONOR.

-MS. HOROWITZ.

-MR. BARCLAY.

IN 22 YEARS, HAVE YOU EVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH

MR. DOMINGUEZ?

-NO.

-HAS ANYONE EVER FILED ANY COMPLAINTS AGAINST

MR. DOMINGUEZ IN 22 YEARS?

-NOT ONE.

-NOT ONE?

THANK YOU.

-MR. SANCHEZ, HOW DO YOU KNOW MR. DOMINGUEZ?

-UH, HE'S MY FRIEND.

-JUST HIS FRIEND?

-WELL, WE ARE NOT MARRIED, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU MEAN.

[CROWD LAUGHS]

-MR. SANCHEZ,

DO YOU NOT WORK IN THE BUILDING THAT

MR. DOMINGUEZ RESIDES?

-OH YES, UH, THAT TOO, UM...

I AM THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE BUILDING.

-AND DID YOU NOT RECENTLY SERVE MR. DOMINGUEZ WITH A

THREE DAY NOTICE FOR HIS FAILURE TO PAY RENT.

-OH, YEAH, W-WELL, I ALWAYS DO THAT.

I MEAN, SOMETIMES, WELL, RAY RAY NEVER PAYS ON TIME.

UH, B-BUT HE ALWAYS, ALWAYS PAYS.

IT'S NOT LIKE I KNOW HE AIN'T GOING TO PAY THE RENT, HEH.

-NO MORE QUESTIONS, YOUR HONOR.

-MS. HOROWITZ?

-DOES MR. DOMINGUEZ OWE YOU ANY BACK RENT?

-OH, NO.

UM, HE'S NEVER FAILED ME.

I MEAN, RAY RAY'S LIKE A BROTHER I NEVER HAD.

A BROTHER YOU CAN COUNT ON.

A BROTHER WHO MAKES YOU PROUD.

I MEAN, LIKE I SAID, RAY RAY ALWAYS PAYS.

-ALRIGHT.

[WHISPERING] -HEY KIDS!

[LAUGHING]

-AND WHAT DID YOU FIND AT THE SIX-WEEK HOME VISIT?

-I OBSERVED UNSAFE LIVING CONDITIONS, AN UNCLEAN

ENVIRONMENT, AND EVIDENCE OF FINANCIAL INSTABILITY.

-BUT YOU DIDN'T REMOVE THE CHILDREN AT THIS TIME?

-NO, UH, SR. DOMINGUEZ WAS ANXIOUS TO HAVE THE CHILDREN

REMOVED, BUT REQUESTED THAT WE KEEP THEM TOGETHER AS A

FAMILY.

WE AGREED TO, UH, GIVE HIM 30 DAYS TO SHOW US THAT HE COULD

CARE FOR THE CHILDREN UNTIL A MORE SUITABLE HOME ENVIRONMENT

HAD BEEN FOUND.

-BUT YOU DIDN'T GIVE HIM THE ENTIRE 30 DAYS, DID YOU?

-NO.

UH, THE YOUNGEST CHILD, NICO REYES, HIS SIX YEAR-OLD BOY,

WAS FOUND WANDERING ON BROADWAY NEAR THE GEORGE

WASHINGTON BRIDGE.

-THIS IS THE DEEPLY TROUBLED LITTLE BOY, YES?

-WELL, HE HASN'T SPOKEN SINCE THE ACCIDENT A FEW MONTHS AGO.

-SO THIS SIX YEAR OLD CHILD WAS FOUND WANDERING A MAJOR

CITY STREET WITHOUT ANY ADULT SUPERVISION.

SO IN YOUR PROFESSIONAL OPINION, THIS WAS AN UNSAFE

SITUATION?

-WE FEEL THE REMOVAL OF THE CHILDREN FROM SR. DOMINGUEZ'

CARE IS THE BEST FOR ALL OF THEM, BUT ESPECIALLY THE

YOUNGEST ONES.

-NO FURTHER QUESTIONS YOUR HONOR.

-MS. HOROWITZ?

-MR. DOMINGUEZ HAS WORKED HARD TO IMPROVE THE LIVING CONDITIONS

FOR THE CHILDREN.

IF HE WERE IN COMPLIANCE, WOULD FINANCES BE YOUR ONLY

MAJOR CONCERN?

-OF COURSE.

BUT, LOOK, I'VE SEEN HIS RECORDS, AND HE CAN BARELY

FEED HIMSELF, MUCH LESS A...

-YOUR HONOR, I KNOW THIS IS IRREGULAR, BUT WITH THE

COURT'S INDULGENCE, COULD I INVITE SERGEANT TAYLOR INTO

THE COURT ROOM, PLEASE?

-YOU WANT TO GIVE ME A HINT?

-I'D RATHER JUST SHOW YOU.

-YOUR HONOR...

-WELL, YOU'VE PIQUED MY CURIOSITY.

DON'T STOP NOW.

-THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR.

SERGEANT?

-YOUR HONOR, DETECTIVE JOHNSON INFORMED ME THAT THESE BAGS OF

MAIL HAVE BEEN ARRIVING AT HER STATION HOUSE OVER THE LAST

SEVERAL DAYS.

-WHAT IS THIS ABOUT, DETECTIVE?

-YOUR HONOR, THESE ARE LETTERS OF SUPPORT FOR MR. DOMINGUEZ

FROM THROUGHOUT THE METROPOLITAN AREA, FILLED WITH

CASH AND CHECKS, RANGING FROM ONE DOLLAR TO THE THOUSANDS.

[CROWD SHRIEKING]

-ORDER IN THE COURT!

ORDER IN THE COURT!

I WILL CLEAR THIS COURTROOM IF YOU DON'T HOLD IT DOWN!

-WITH THE COURT'S INDULGENCE, M-MAY I READ A FEW?

-I WILL ALLOW IT.

-THANK YOU.

THESE ARE ALL TO RAYMOND DOMINGUEZ, "I READ ABOUT YOUR

PLIGHT IN THE PAPER AND I WANTED TO HELP YOU AS YOU'VE

HELPED THESE CHILDREN.

TAKE THIS MONEY, AND MAY IT HELP YOU BUILD A NEW LIFE."

UH, THIS ONE, "IF I CAN HELP YOU FOLLOW YOUR DREAM, THEN

THIS IS MONEY WELL SPENT."

-I GET THE PICTURE, COUNSELOR.

VERY IMPRESSIVE.

-BUT, YOUR HONOR, IT STILL DOESN'T SPEAK TO THE

ISSUE AT HAND.

-EXCUSE ME, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE STATE'S AGENDA IS, BUT IT

IS CLEAR THAT THESE CHILDREN ARE CARED FOR, LOVED AND

SUPPORTED.

-I STRONGLY OBJECT TO THAT CHARACTERIZATION.

THE STATE'S ONLY OBJECTIVE IS TO TAKE CARE OF THESE

CHILDREN'S WELFARE.

-TERRIFIC!

THEN WHY DON'T WE END THIS CHARADE AND LET THIS FAMILY GO

HOME?

-COUNSEL, SIDEBAR.

NOW.

-I'M SORRY, I APOLOGIZE.

THIS IS A LOVING PARENTAL FIGURE.

HE IS A GOOD MAN, YOUR HONOR.

-RAY RAY DOMINGUEZ HAS SHOWN A COMPLETE DISREGARD FOR THESE

MINORS' WELLBEING.

-THEY LOVE HIM, YOUR HONOR.

-THAT'S NOT THE POINT.

-LET THEM TELL YOU.

-ANY OBJECTION TO CALLING ONE OF THE CHILDREN AS A WITNESS?

-NO, YOUR HONOR.

I'D BE GLAD TO PUT ONE OF THE REYES CHILDREN ON THE STAND.

-ALRIGHT.

LET'S GO.

THANK YOU, MS. WARDEN.

YOU MAY STEP DOWN.

-YOUR HONOR, WE'D LIKE TO CALL NICO REYES TO THE STAND.

-OBJECTION.

-NICO, WHO RAN AWAY FROM THE HOME, YOUR HONOR.

LET'S HEAR FROM HIM.

-I'LL ALLOW IT.

[SOMBER MUSIC]

*

*

-NICO.

I'M JUDGE VEGA.

YOU UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE TO TELL THE TRUTH, RIGHT?

GO AHEAD.

-NICO.

CAN YOU TELL US WHY YOU RAN AWAY FROM YOUR UNCLE'S HOME ON

THE DAY OF YOUR BIRTHDAY?

-CAN YOU ANSWER HIM, NICO?

-JUST NOD YOUR HEAD YES OR NO.

-YOUR HONOR, PLEASE.

-NICO.

CAN YOU TELL US IF YOU'RE HAPPY AT YOUR UNCLE'S

APARTMENT?

-IT'S OKAY, NICO.

NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.

-YOU CAN GO BACK TO YOUR SEAT, NICO.

-YOUR HONOR, THERE IS NO EVIDENCE WHATSOEVER THAT

INDICATES THAT MR. DOMINGUEZ HAS PROVIDED THE HELP THAT

THIS POOR, DAMAGED CHILD SO OBVIOUSLY NEEDS.

-TIO, TIO TIO! -ORDER!

-WE WANT TO LIVE WITH OUR TIO PAPI!

TIO!

-ORDER!

-PLEASE LET US STAY WITH OUR TIO PAPI!

PLEASE!

-YOUR HONOR, THIS DEMONSTRATION IS NOT...

-MR. WELLING,

ONE MORE WORD MR. WELLING AND I WILL HOLD

YOU IN CONTEMPT.

I HEREBY GRANT FULL CUSTODY OF ALL SIX REYES CHILDREN,

VANESSA, MANUEL, ANGELO, ANGELA, LOLA AND NICO, TO

THEIR TIO PAPI RAYMOND DOMINGUEZ, EFFECTIVE

IMMEDIATELY.

[CHEERING]

-ALRIGHT!

[SCREAMING]

-WOW!

-YES!

[APPLAUSE]

[CROWD MURMURING]

-SO, UH...

ARE YOU ALREADY PACKED?

-THEY'VE LEASED MY PLACE.

YOU THINK THERE'S ROOM ON THE COUCH?

-MY COUCH?

-THERE'RE SCHOOLS EVERYWHERE.

-YEAH, BUT MIAMI, I MEAN...

MIAMI'S MY DREAM.

-DREAMS ARE ONLY AS GOOD AS THE PEOPLE YOU SHARE THEM

WITH.

-YOU KNOW, CHEEKY UH, I THINK YOU SHOULD GO.

-REALLY?

-YES.

BECAUSE WE'RE GOING WITH YOU.

-WHAT?

-WE ARE GOING TO MIAMI!

[CHEERING]

-WOULD YOU HAVE REALLY STAYED HERE FOR THE KIDS?

-NO, RAYMOND.

I REALLY WOULD'VE STAYED FOR YOU.

[CHEERING]

[PEACEFUL MUSIC]

*

* LET ME BE THE ONE, OH LET ME BE THE ONE *

* LOVE YOU LIKE YOU NEED AND LOVE YOU 'TIL IT'S RIGHT *

* WHOA WHOA WHOA LET ME BE

* LET ME BE THE ONE (LET ME BE) *

* LET ME IN, I PROMISE I'LL MAKE EVERYTHING ALRIGHT *

* EVERYTHING'S ALRIGHT (EVERYTHING'S ALRIGHT) *

* EVERYTHING'S ALRIGHT

* EVERYTHING'S ALRIGHT, EVERYTHING'S ALRIGHT *

* I AIN'T GOT TOO MANY EXPECTATIONS *

* ANOTHER DREAM I FALL WILL COME TO BE *

* NOW I'M REALLY SURE WHY GOD HAS GIVEN *

* ME THE GIFT I'VE ALWAYS WANTED *

* BABY, YOU'RE MY DESTINY

* YOU, MY BABY FOR ME (IT'S ONLY YOU) *

* THAT MAKES ME FEEL (YOU'RE THE ONE) *

* ME AMIGO SECRETO (MI SECRETO) *

* LET ME BE, LET ME BE THE ONE *

* LET ME IN, I PROMISE I'LL MAKE EVERYTHING ALRIGHT *

* LET ME THE BE THE ONE TO TAKE THE PAIN, YOUR PAIN AWAY *

* LET ME TAKE YOU WHERE YOU'VE NEVER BEEN *

* YOU'VE NEVER BEEN

* LET ME BE THE ONE, OH LET ME BE, OH LET ME BE *

* YOU, LET ME BE SO NEAR YOU, THE ONE THAT MAKES ME FEEL *

* ME AMIGO SECRETO, LET ME BE *

* MY BABY SO NEAR YOU, (LET ME BE THE ONE TO KEEP YOU WARM) *

* THE ONE THAT MAKES ME FEEL (LET ME IN) *

* THE ONLY ONE (BE THE ONE) *

* LET ME BE THE ONE, OH LET ME BE THE ONE *

* LOVE YOU LIKE YOU NEED (BABY LET ME BE) *

* LOVE YOU 'TIL IT'S RIGHT (BABY LET ME BE THE ONE) *

* OH WON'T YOU LET ME BE, LET ME BE THE ONE *

* LET ME IN, I PROMISE I'LL MAKE EVERYTHING ALRIGHT *

* 'CAUSE EVERYTHING'S ALRIGHT (EVERYTHING'S ALRIGHT) *

* EVERYTHING'S ALRIGHT, EVERYTHING'S ALRIGHT *