All language subtitles for Highway to Heaven S05E06 The Source_Subtitles01.ENG

[theme music]

[music playing]

REPORTER (ON RADIO):
And that wraps

up the news for this evening.

Stay tuned for
music till midnight.

We'll be back then
for the midnight news.

What a joke.

What?

The news.

The news is a joke.

You learn about
as much from that

as you do a presidential debate.

I mean, what did we
find out from the news?

We found out there was a train
wreck in France, a plane crash,

people fell off a
sailboat, presumed drowned.

Oh, and a secretary says
she slept with a senator,

followed by some very bad
jokes by the weatherman.

They call that the news.

That's what the
people want, I suppose.

Yeah.

And little kids want
candy all the time,

but you don't give it to 'em.

You do if you're
selling them the candy.

Thank God for newspapers.

Why?

How many people read 'em?

I mean, really read 'em.

How many people read
anything anymore?

Video stores are crowded.

No big, long lines
in the library.

Getting worse all the time.

How do you turn it around?

In the home, when
kids are young, turn

off the set and read to 'em.

Let 'em experience
the wonders of words.

What if the
parents don't read?

Then they have an obligation
to their children to learn.

What do you mean,
go back to school?

Yeah, that's right,
go back to school.

They got classes in the evening.

Turn right up here.

We're going to take the freeway.

Where are we going, anyway?

Back to school.

[music playing]

[chatter]

Doug!

Here you go, partner.

Another outstanding
"Blue Jay Banner."

How could we miss with a
lead article on teenage sex?

Come on, it's in the writing.

If we keep it up, one
day it'll be "McCormick

and Rollins receive Pulitzer."

Why not?

How come your name
always goes first?

Sounds more
rhythmical that way.

That's a matter of opinion.

All right.

How about alphabetical order?

M comes before R.

How about I change
my name to Anderson?

We'll talk about it, OK?

For right now, we
got to meet my dad.

He wants to meet
the journalism sub.

Oh, just what we need, a sub.

No problem.

We'll keep the guy in line.

Gentlemen, welcome.

I'm the principal,
Bill McCormick.

Pleased to meet you.
Jonathan Smith.

- Mr. Smith.
- Mark Gordon.

Mark, how are you?

Please have a seat.

Thank you.

I appreciate very much, both
of you substituting for us

on such short notice.

You come very
highly recommended,

so I know you'll demand
the best from our kids.

Now, Jonathan, in addition
to teaching English,

you'll be serving as advisor
for the school newspaper.

That is an activity
that is near to my heart

because my son, Colin,
is co-managing editor.

Terrific.

I'm looking forward to it.

Good.

And, Mark, we have a full
schedule for you, too.

I understand I'll
be teaching phys ed.

Well, [laughs] you
got half of that right.

The subject you will
be teaching is sex ed.

Uh-- uh--

sex ed.

Well, I really wasn't
planning on that.

I mean, that's really
not my thing, you know.

Oh, come on, Mark.

You've taught sex ed before.

I know that, Jonathan.

You were great at it.

Thank you.

[buzzer ringing]

Excuse me.

Yes?

Oh, good.

Send them in.

Jonathan, there's a couple of
fellows I'd like you to meet.

Hi, Dad.

Hi, son.

Mr. Smith, Mr. Gordon,
this is my son, Colin, and

his co-editor, Doug Rollins.

Pleased to meet both of you.

Mr. Smith, these two
young men have written

top notch articles on
everything from the homeless

to teenage sexuality.

And I don't mind telling
you, that last subject

was not an easy one to
get past the school board.

Yeah.

I can imagine.

Looks like you two have
quite a champion here.

Yeah.

We sure do.

Mr. McCormick, I'm
sorry to interrupt.

MR. MCCORMICK: Well, what is it?

A school bus has
had an accident.

It appears to be serious.

Oh, my dear God.

[siren blaring]

[suspenseful music]

[siren blaring]

Hey.

Are you all right?
- Yeah.

I'm just a little
shaky, that's all.

Can you answer a few
questions for the paper?

Yeah.
All right.

- You're Ellen, right?
- Yes.

Ellen Kayhill.

Yeah.

We were in the same
biology class last year.

Can you tell us what happened?

It was just so strange.

The bus just went
right off the road.

Honey, are you all right?

I'm OK.

I'm OK.

I'm OK.

Oh, thank goodness.

Was anybody hurt?

One of the kids
has a broken leg.

I think maybe that's
the worst of it.

I heard about the accident
on the radio, and I--

and left the baby with Mom
and I came as fast as I could.

Honey, I'm glad you came.

I'm glad you came.

We were real lucky.

[siren blaring]

Hey, you kids get
away from there.

That's gasoline
coming out of there.

Yeah, yeah.
OK.

All right, well,
thanks a lot, Ellen.

We're gonna talk
to the bus driver.

- OK.
- Thanks.

Bye.

Did you notice my
interviewing technique?

Woodward and Bernstein
would have been proud of us.

Do you realize you mention
those guys every day?

BRETT WILLIAMS: Mr. Nichols?
LARRY NICHOLS: Yeah.

Brett Williams
with Leading News.

Can you tell us what happened?

Well, yeah.

I was-- I was coming
up this curve here,

just like I do every morning.

And-- well, but as soon as I
took my foot off the pedal,

the bus just took
off like a shot.

The pedal just stuck somehow.

I don't know.

And after that, Mr. Nichols?

Well, I jumped on the
brake but it was too late.

We went right over.

Did you hear that?

Yeah.

The bus driver just
said the pedal stuck.

That's what caused the accident.

So?

So if the gas pedal
stuck like that,

maybe the bus company
didn't maintain the bus.

I mean, you hear
about sloppy minutes

all the time, you know,
with airplanes, trains.

Doug, there could
be a big story here.

So where do we start?

Bus yard.

Come on, let's hit it.

OK.

Now, I'm going to tell you kids
exactly what I told the cops.

Those school buses
are kept in A1 shape.

My own kids ride them.

But the driver, Larry Nichols,
said the gas pedal stuck.

Well, if the gas pedal stuck
we're going to find out why.

You said if.

Do you mean maybe
it didn't stick?

Well, it's hard to--

don't you put words in my mouth.

What my colleague
means is, isn't it

in the realm of possibility
that it didn't stick?

Well, why don't we wait till
I finish checking out the bus?

What about Larry Nichols?

Is he a good driver?

Well, Larry's been working
for me for seven years

and I've never had a problem.

Well, maybe you can tell
us what kind of person is.

You know, something
about his character.

His character?

He's a nice guy.

He's a family man.

He's a good worker.

Look, if you want to know
anything else about Larry,

you ask Larry.

Thanks.

[ominous music]

That's Larry.

Excuse me, Larry.

Yeah?

We're doing an
article for the school

paper on the bus accident.

Can we talk to you?

Oh, look you guys, I'm pretty
stressed out about all that.

Another time, OK?

Well, this won't
take very long.

You guys got to know
that reporters have been

coming out of the woodwork.

I'll tell you what.

Why don't you read the article
in "The Daily Register?"

I told everything to them.

Well, we like to
do our own reporting.

Yeah, but I just don't feel
like going over it again.

Does that mean you're
refusing to talk to us?

Hey, you know, I think you're
getting a little pushy here.

And I'm wondering why you
don't want to talk to us.

You know, kid, I don't
like your attitude.

He's hiding something.

Are you sure?

No, but I'm hoping.

Hey, Frieda,
how are you doing?

Oh, Larry, I didn't
expect you back today.

Well, I left my wallet and
stuff in my locker back here.

How are you feeling?

Well, I did a bunch
of interviews, and--

and then I had to
take the blood test.

And then I get back here, and a
couple of kids from the school

paper nail me outside.

You know, Frieda, you
should have heard 'em.

I mean, they talked to
me like I'm some kind

of criminal or something.

I did hear 'em.

They were in here
pushing for a story.

Oh, boy.

Well, I'm going to go change.

Larry, you want to take
the day off tomorrow?

Nah.

Nah.

I'll be fine.

But thanks, anyway.

I appreciate it.

Hello, Etta.

This is Frieda,
from the bus yard.

Etta, who can I talk
to about a couple

of kids working on
the school paper?

OK, thanks.

[chatter]

[bell ringing]

I'm-- I'm Mr. Gordon!

[chatter]

Well, I guess you could
read that off the board.

Well, I'm going to be
teaching your class

for the next few weeks,
so I imagine we're

going to be talking about sex.

[laughter]

OK.

What do you want to know?

That's very funny.

Uh, well, how far have
you gotten in your book?

We're up to the chapter
on getting pregnant.

Getting pregnant.

[laughs] Well, that
should be easy.

[laughter]

Uh-- uh--

I'll take the role.

I'll-- I'll take the role.

Stephen Addison?

Hey, ready, willing, and able.

[laughter]

Ellen Kayhill.

Ellen Kayhill.

Is she here?

Oh, not here.

David Cutler.

DAVID: I'm here.

Good.

Oh, boy.

[laughter]

Jonathan.

Yeah?

Do you mind if
I walk with you?

Oh, no.
Not at all.

All right.

So how are Colin and Doug
doing with their investigation?

Well, it's a
little early to tell.

I did get a call from Frieda
Wallace at the bus yard,

though.

It seems the boys are
being just a little too

aggressive in their interviews.

I'll talk to 'em about it.

I prefer to use
the word assertive.

And it's a trait I've worked
very hard to instill in Colin.

The boy's doing just fine.

I can understand you being
proud of your son, but--

Oh, I am very proud of him.

That boy has what it takes.

You know that he and Doug were
up for the City Council Youth

Achievement Award this yeah?
- Oh, yeah.

Colin told me.

Good.

I just want to
make sure that you

don't put any kind of damper
on either of those kids.

You know what I mean.

Well, I'll certainly
use my best judgment.

Of course.

Do you realize we've come up
with absolutely nothing, nada?

Partner, we're
just warming up here.

Yeah.

Well, maybe the bus accident
was just that, an accident.

You read about accelerator
pedals sticking all the time.

Douglas, can you
imagine Woodward

and Bernstein giving up?

If you mention those
guys one more time--

Excuse me.

Hi.

Hi.

Can I talk to you
two about something?

COLIN: Sure.

It's about the bus accident.

What about it?

I can only talk to
you if you promise

not to tell anyone who I am.

No problem.

Now, I mean it.

If you use my
name, I'll deny it.

Reporters never
divulge their sources.

You're safe, I promise.

It's about the bus driver.

What about him?

Well, he doesn't pay a lot
of attention when he drives.

He fools around sometimes.

Fools around?

The day of the accident
he was fooling around,

I mean, with me.

He was coming on to me.

What?

He was coming on to me.

Could you explain what
you mean by that exactly?

He was goofing around.

You know, he kept
staring at me and winking

at me in the rear view
mirror, giving me these looks.

And that's when the
bus went off the road.

Did he just come on
to you all of a sudden?

No.

He's done it before.

He's even said things to me.

What kind of things?

I don't want to say.

It's too gross.

And the worst thing about
it is that he's married.

I saw his wife at the accident.

We saw her, too.

Listen, Ellen, how long
is all this been going on?

For a while.

Maybe two months.

And I really--

I don't--

Look.

Maybe we should go
someplace more private.

I think I should go.

But we still want
to talk to you.

I don't know.

Remember, you promised not
to let anyone know who I am.

I mean, I wouldn't want
Larry coming after me

or anything like that.

Don't worry.

You have our word.

OK.

[somber music]

Partner, we've
got our Watergate.

[music playing]

[bell ringing]

So now, with this
girl coming to us,

we have a story a lot
bigger than a bus accident.

All right.
Now, wait a minute.

Wait a minute.
Slow down, Colin.

You're not there yet.

You got a long way to go.

But we've got a witness
who was actually involved.

Come on, Doug.

One anonymous witness
does not make a story.

But what can we do?

She won't go public.

Look, you come up
with some hard facts

then I'll think about printing
something, but not until then.

All right.

You want hard facts,
we'll get you hard facts.

Come on, Doug.

Boy, that Smith ticks me off.

Who does he think he is?

Hey, he's just
trying to do his job.

Well, his job is
being a teacher.

We're the reporters.

We've got a hell
of a story here,

and he won't let us print it.

Not until we get more facts.

That's a lot of bull.

He's messing with my
First Amendment rights.

Well, I'm not giving up.

This story's too big.

We could-- we could
sell it for a TV movie.

Hey, you think so?

I know so.

People love this
sordid kind of stuff.

Why else would they watch
a jerk like Geraldo Rivera?

How you doing, Larry?

Did you guys ever hear about
a man's home being his castle?

Yeah.

Well, this is real important.

Yeah?

What is it?

One of the kids from
the bus has accused

you of causing the accident.

Wait a minute.

You want to run that
by me one more time?

This girl on the bus said your
mind wasn't on your driving.

[laughs] That's ridiculous.

COLIN: She says you
were coming on to her,

and you've also been
saying obscene things

to her for a long time.

What?

This is crazy.

Who is she?

We're not at liberty to say.

Don't give me that bull.

What you're saying
is pretty serious,

and I've got a right to know.

Why don't we just
stick to the issue?

Because, as far as I'm
concerned, there is no issue.

I haven't done anything wrong.

Larry.

Is everything all right?

It's all right, honey.

Now, listen.

If you're not going to
say who is accusing me,

then you've got no right
to say diddly squat.

Now, why don't you
get off my property?

Remember, we gave you a
chance to explain your side.

Hey, I don't know
what that girl said,

but I haven't done anything.

I'm not in the habit of
fooling around with teenagers.

Now, get out of here!

Now!

What's going on, honey?

Nothing.
Nothing.

Nothing's going on.

Come on, Ellen.

We just need a little
more information.

Will you please
stop following me?

This is too important.

Listen.

You told us Larry said
obscene things to you.

Do you know if
anybody else heard it?

No, I don't

Ellen, we don't have
enough to get this guy.

Is there anything you
haven't already told us?

Yeah, like, did
he do anything else?

Look, I don't want to say.

He did, didn't he?

Didn't he?

- Well, he--
- What is it?

Talk to us.

What else did he do?

Are you sure you'll
never mention my name?

You can trust us.

We already told you that.

I don't know if I can say it.

Tell us.

He-- he touched me.

He what?

I don't want to
say anything else.

Ellen, you can't let
him get away with that.

When did he touch you?

The first time I was the last
one on the bus after school.

I hate him.

I hate him!

[music playing]

- Hi, Ernie.
- Hey, Doug.

Colin.

Ernie.

Say, I've been reading your
articles in the school paper.

Jimmy brings them
home all the time.

You two guys are making a
real name for yourselves.

We're trying.

That's why we're here.

We'd like to talk to you.

Me?

You're going to
do a story on me?

Well, maybe someday,
but not right now.

[laughs] Shucks.

Listen.

Do you think you could
give us some information

on Larry Nichols?

You know, the guy who had the
accident with the school bus.

Larry?

I've known him since
he was your age.

Good kid.

Oh.

So, as far as you know, he's
never been in any real trouble.

No.

Well, there was that
one silly mess years

ago, but nothing ever bad.

Silly mess?

Yeah.

Well, Larry was going
to night school,

getting his high school diploma.

Couldn't have been more than 21.

This was long before
he met his wife, now.

Anyway, he kind of
had a crush on Mel

Hudson's daughter, Wendy.

She was a senior
at Jefferson High.

A high school student?

Yeah, that was the problem.

See, Mel was overly protective
of Wendy, her being 17 and all.

Well, Larry took
her out one night

and kept her out too late.

Mel got all out of joint
and called the cops, pressed

charges against Larry
for contributing

to the delinquency of a minor.

Contributing to the
delinquency of a minor?

Yeah.

Well, Mel cooled down eventually
and dropped the charges.

Like I said, it was
all pretty silly.

Well, listen kids,
I got to scoot.

OK.

Thanks, Ernie.

You keep up those
articles, now.

I can't wait to see the
look on Smith's face now.

Well, what did you think?

I'm sorry, Colin.

I can't let you run it.

Why not?

The stuff Ernie Parsons
told us nails it.

No, it doesn't.

You're jumping to conclusions.

Yeah, but there's
a real pattern here.

Larry Nichols was fooling around
with young girls 15 years ago.

That's right, 15 years ago.

He was 21 years old and he went
out with a girl who was 17.

That's all he did,
was go out with her.

You don't know he did
anything out of line.

The charges were dropped.

Lots of newspapers would
go with what we have.

Oh, you bet they would, son,
but that doesn't make it right.

Yeah.

But if we don't move on
it, somebody will scoop us?

Well, I'm sorry.

You're just going to have to
take your chances with that.

Come on, Jonathan.

Can you get me out of
teaching this sex ed?

Come on, Mark.

There's nothing I
can do about it.

The boss gave you
the assignment.

The least you could do is try.

Give me something easy to
teach, like chemistry or physics

or calculus.

Are you trying to tell me
you know more about calculus

than you do about sex?

That's not what I
said and you know it.

I'd like to see you try
to teach this class.

I mean, some of these
kids, they ask questions

that are not exactly angelic.

I mean, it's embarrassing.

Yeah, well, it's
your job as the teacher

to see to it that the kids
don't get embarrassed.

I'm not talking about the
kids getting embarrassed.

I'm talking about me
getting embarrassed.

[chatter]

Jonathan, look at
these drawings.

You know, when I was a kid,
this is the kind of thing

you hid under your mattress.

Excuse me.

Are you Mr. Gordon?

Yeah, that's me.

What can I do for you?

I'm Ellen Kayhill.

Some of the kids tell
me you've been calling

my name in sex ed class.

Yeah, that's right.

Where have you been?

I just wanted you
to know that you

can take my name off the role.

I dropped out of the class.

Oh, I see.

I wanted to take the class
but my mom didn't like it.

I understand.

Yeah.

Well, see ya.

Seems like a nice kid.

Kind of tense,
though, wasn't she?

Yeah.

Yeah, she sure was.

Doug, we got to
get the story out.

Smith is spoiling everything.

Yeah.

But, unfortunately,
the dictator--

I mean, the teacher
gets the final word.

But we can't just drop it.

Well, I see Woodward and
Bernstein are still working.

You boys want a lift?

I'm on the way home.

No thanks, Dad.

I think we're going to be
here for a little while.

Keep slugging.

Now you've got your
dad using that Woodward

and Bernstein line.

Doug, I know
what I want to do.

I want to print what we
have on Larry Nichols.

Don't tell me, tell Smith.

We tried that.

Now I'm going to print
without Smith's approval.

You've got to be kidding.

I'm not kidding.

My father will back us.

Are you sure?

He stood behind us on the
sexuality article, didn't he?

But that's a completely
different subject.

Come on, Partner.

Let's go for it.

I need some time
to think about this.

If we don't act on it
now, I know we'll be sorry.

Can't you see that?

Doug, we're reporters.

It's our duty.

We have to do this.

I don't know.

I'm going to print it.

You want your name
off the story or on?

On.

[music playing]

Let's get to work, partner.

[music playing]

You had no right
to go behind my back.

Maybe we made an end
run, but we had no choice.

The article is
important to the school.

Oh, come on.

What you printed
was irresponsible.

It's nothing but innuendo.

You didn't even bother
to print the fact

that the charges against
Larry Nichols were dropped.

Very, very convenient.

How about if we print
that in the next issue?

Oh, it's going to be
printed in the next issue

of "The Banner," but
neither one of you

are going to have anything
to do with writing the copy.

You're no longer
managing editors.

You can't do that.

I can't?

Well, let me tell
you something, son.

It's already done.

You two will be lucky if
you cover the school picnic.

I should have never
listened to you.

Relax.

I told you my father
would back us on this.

SECRETARY: You can go in now.

Thank you.

Jonathan, I--

I'm asking you to
reinstate the boys.

I'm sorry.

I can't condone their actions.

Well, I grant you they--

they should have
communicated with you.

Communicated?

They went behind my back.

I know that.

I know that.

They-- they made a mistake.

But I know my son.

I know his feelings about
the First Amendment rights.

The First Amendment
rights don't

give them the license
to destroy the life

of an innocent human being.

Now, wait just a minute.

I hardly think you can call
Larry Nichols innocent.

The man has a background
of this kind of thing.

Come on.
What background?

The old police charges
against him were dropped.

Charges are dropped against
guilty people every day.

Besides that, the
girl on the bus

didn't make up a story
out of whole cloth.

The girl on the bus
refuses to come forward.

She is obviously frightened,
so she went to her peers.

Look, Mr. McCormick,
I can see we

are not going to agree on
how to handle this situation.

Well, then you and I will
have to agree to disagree.

I'm sorry, Jonathan.

Those boys will have their
First Amendment rights.

As of now, I am reinstating
them as managing editors.

That is the end of this
discussion, Mr. Smith.

[somber music]

This whole thing
is ridiculous.

My husband did nothing wrong.

She finished her bottle.

Look, we have nothing
more to say about it.

Not another one.

It's endless, honey.

Maybe we should get
an unlisted number.

That "Register" sure did
a number on us, reprinting

that stupid high school story.

I'd give anything to
know who that girl is.

I've been racking
my mind trying

to come up with something.

But I just keep
coming up with zero.

Why would you say
these things about you?

Diana, I already
told you I don't know.

I just don't know.

You're beginning to have
doubts about this, aren't you?

You're beginning to believe
this crap, aren't you?

Honey, look, it's only natural
to question why a young girl

would say what she's saying.

Well, are you asking me if
I'm telling you the truth?

No.

It's not that.

Then what?

Well, are you
telling me everything?

That's great.

That's just great.

Now you're beginning to
sound like all the callers.

Look, we're dealing
with a teenage girl here.

Maybe she misinterpreted
something.

There's nothing
to misinterpret

because nothing happened.

Do you hear me?

Nothing happened!

[doorbell ringing]

Damn it!

That's one more
trying to dig up dirt.

Mr. Nichols?

Yeah.

We're going to have to ask
you to come downtown with us.

It's about the accident and
the allegations in the paper.

Are you kidding me?

Those are just
anonymous charges.

I mean, kids making up a story.

Yes, sir.

But we've had a lot of calls
from concerned parents.

You're going to have
to come with us.

[somber music]

Doug, it's me.

They just let Larry go.

I don't know what
they found out,

but here's what I want to do.

Early tomorrow morning,
when he pulls up to school,

I want to be right on him.

7:30 sharp.

See you.

Larry Nichols was
questioned for over an hour,

but the chief of police
declined to discuss the nature

of those questions with us.

Leading News will bring you an
update on the Nichols situation

as soon as we receive it.

Larry.

Yeah?

I need to talk to you.

Frieda, if this is about
that school paper again--

No.

It's more than the
school paper, Larry.

I don't know how
to tell you this.

I have been getting a lot
of pressure put on me.

And I-- I, um--

I'm going to have to let you go.

What?

You got to understand.

I've been getting a lot
of flack from parents.

I hear they're even starting
a petition against you.

Frieda, look.

I've got a wife.

I've got a baby
that I have to feed.

I know.

I know it, and it kills me.

But, you know, I could
lose the whole school

contract over this.

I swear to you, I
didn't do anything wrong.

I believe you,
Larry, and I'm sorry.

But there's nothing
else I can do.

[somber music]

Where's Larry?

He got fired this morning.

Oh.

[music playing]

Here he comes.

Well, is that something--

Larry Nichols getting canned.

Nichols got fired?

STUDENT: Yep.

He's out of here.
- We did it.

We actually did it.

They axed Larry!

There's our headline
for the next "Banner."

Why wait?

Let's get a special
edition out right now.

We can scoop "The Register."
- You mean now?

The photocopy room
isn't open yet.

You're forgetting, we have
a key to the photocopy room.

That answers that.

Let's go.

Miss, it's time to go.

Oh, jeez, I'm sorry.

I didn't even see
where I was going.

Oh, that's OK.
That's OK.

No, no.

It's my fault. There you go.

Thank you.

I'm sorry, again.

It's OK.

[music playing]

There.

It's finished.

Bookmark.

You realize who broke this case?

You and me.

Come on.

Let's hit the copy machine.

Reporters at "The Register"
are gonna eat their hearts out.

Hey.

Somebody left their binder here.

Ellen Kayhill.

There's her name.

What am I seeing here?

Oh, listen to this.

Dearest Larry, I love
you with all my heart.

Huh?

Listen to this one.

Larry, you drive me
to school and you

drive me wild with love.

Oh, man.

This is weird.

Larry and Ellen Nichols?

Mrs. Ellen Nichols?

What is going on?

More than we thought.

That's for sure.

ELLEN: Mr. Smith?

DOUG: In here.

I'm looking for Mr. Smith.

He got my binder by mistake.

Is that my binder?

Yes, it is.

Would you give
it to me, please?

Ellen, we read the things
you wrote about Larry.

Let me have it.

Why did you write
that you loved Larry?

You said you hated him.

It's my property.

Give it back.

Ellen.

I don't want to talk about it.

You have to tell
us what's going on.

Otherwise, we can't continue
to protect your identity.

You promised.

We promised because we thought
you were telling the truth.

You better tell us everything.

Now.

I made it up.

What?

I made it all up.

I made up everything.

You mean Larry never
said anything to you?

No.

He never touched you?

No, never.

The bus accident had
nothing to do with you.

No, it didn't.

It was just an accident.

Why did you lie?

I don't know.

I was-- I was just
so mad at him.

For what?

Because I loved him!

I've loved him ever
since the sixth grade.

I used to look at him,
day after day, too afraid

to even talk to him.

And then there was the accident,
and I saw her, his wife,

holding him.

I didn't even know
he was married.

I hated her and I hated him.

I really-- I didn't mean
for it to go this far.

It just kept getting
bigger and bigger.

Please, I'd just
like my binder back.

[somber music]

[laughs] Yes, indeed.

Uh-huh.

I agree, they work very hard.

[laughs] I'll tell them that.

Oh, you bet I'll keep
my fingers crossed.

Uh-huh.

Harold, thank you
very much for calling.

Goodbye.

[knock on door]

Come in.

Come in.

Come on in.

I just got some happy news.

Colin, Doug, because of your
work this year on the paper,

you have made the final
round of the City Council's

Youth Achievement Award.

Not bad, eh, Mr. Smith?

No.

Not bad at all, sir.

Colin, what's wrong?

This will explain.

The girl lied.

That's right, about all of it.

We wrote that retraction
to set everybody straight.

Doug and I are going
to go down to the paper

and give them the whole story.

Yes.

Yes, of course.

You be sure to
give them the name

of your source, whoever she is.

She's the one that created
this mess in the first place.

No, she didn't.

Irresponsible reporting
created this whole mess.

Nothing is going to be gained by
making that girl's name public.

Mr. Smith is right, Dad.

Besides, we made a promise
to protect our source,

and that promise has to be kept.

What that girl needs
now is some help.

I'll try and see
that she gets it.

[music playing]

Ellen.

You're waiting for Colin
and Doug, aren't you?

No.

I was just--

They didn't tell,
and nobody will.

I don't know why I did it.

It was so mean.

I feel so bad about
what I did to Larry.

I'd really like to
apologize to him,

but I'm afraid to face him.

Look, I don't blame
you for being afraid

but you're going
to have to do it.

You owe that to
Larry and his wife.

Would you like Mr.
Gordon and I to drive

you over to Larry's place?

Yeah.

That would be great.

OK.

[music playing]

Well, now that they've
printed this retraction,

you know the bus driver is
going to get his job back.

Are you gonna let Sara
ride on the bus with him?

No way.

I still think he's guilty.

You know what they say.

Where there's
smoke, there's fire.

JONATHAN (VOICEOVER):
Congress shall

make no law respecting an
establishment of religion

or prohibiting the free
exercise thereof, or abridging

the freedom of speech
or of the press,

or the right of the
people peaceably

to assemble and to
petition the government

for a redress of grievances.

Abuse the First Amendment
and you destroy it.

[theme music]