All language subtitles for Law and order S09E19 - Tabula Rasa

In the criminal justice system

the people are represented
by two separate
yet equally important groups,

the police
who investigate crime

and the district attorneys
who prosecute the offenders.

These are their stories.

Twenty-six layers of kevlar,
it'll stop any bullet
the bad guys got.

But what if you get shot
in the leg or the head?

Leg, he goes down.

Head, nothing
in there to hit.

Please, help me,
somebody!

Hold it,
get some help!

We've got trains
stacked up all the way
to 86th Street.

Yeah, I'm sure
the dead woman's sorry
for the inconvenience.

Well, the transit authority
is proud of its
on-time record, Detective.

It's a source of pride
for all of us,
Mr. O'Connor.

Marian Hollis, 39.

Professor at
New York City University.
Philosophy.

Wanna see before
we roll her out?

Not me. Lennie?

It's all yours, Benito.

What've we got?
Another nut case pushing
people off the platforms?

Don't know yet.
Maybe she fell.

And maybe
I'm Santa Claus.

She came down
the stairs with a man.

Okay. What did
he look like?

Tallish, well-dressed.

Like how tallish?

Like not short.

I've gotta go pick up
my granddaughter.

I'm under a bench
trying to catch some
sleep before I get rousted,

this couple stops
right by my head.

He's telling her
to forget it.

I say, "Hey,
person's sleeping here. "

They move on.

What'd the guy
look like?

Black shoes.

His nose
was longer than that.

Did you hear
anything they said?

He told her
she was wrong.

Wrong about what?

That's all I heard.

I kept going.

I like to board
at the end of
the platform.

Did you see what happened,
how she got killed?

Sorry.

What about the man,
where did he go?

I don't know.

That's him.

Doesn't look like
any of the professors
I know.

Couldn't have been
anyone here.

Everybody liked her.

What about her
personal life?

Parents are dead.
No siblings.

Husband? Boyfriend?

Divorced.
Definitely not
her ex-husband.

Any idea why
she'd be in the subway
in the middle of the day?

No.

Or why she'd be
off-campus?

That time of day, lunch.
Same every day.

A diner near
the 4th Street station.

Awful thing,

Professor Hollis
was a nice woman.

Me and my staff,
we all feel terrible.

Was she at lunch
with this man yesterday?

She was alone.

You know him?
No.

He push her?

She was with him.
Uh, what time
was she here?

Ah.

She left at 12:31.

Time-stamped.

How do you know
that's her receipt?

I wrote her name on it.

Why?

She ran out
without paying.

What? Like she saw
something outside?

I guess.

She went under
the train at 12:43.

Subway station's
a block from here.

Wouldn't take her
13 minutes to get
from there to here.

Thanks for your help.

What side of the street
do you want?

The shady side.

Yeah, this looks
like, um...

This guy.

He's a little old for it.

What do you mean?

Well, the guy's
in his 40s.

He comes in with
a list of freshman
textbooks. NYCU.

I say
we'll pull them for him,
it'll take about half an hour.

He says fine, do you
have a financial section?

I say, yes,
and he goes over there.

Was he here
with this woman?

Oh, man.

This is the lady
that went under
the train, isn't it?

Did he kill her?

I just need to know
if they were together.

Not by me.

She came in maybe
30 seconds after he
went back in the stacks

and she was looking around,
real agitated.

I asked if
I could help her
and she said no

and then she disappeared
back in Biology.

This the only exit?

No, there's another door
down at that end.

You get his name?

He never paid,
so I never got a name.

You think
I can get a list of
the books he wanted?

Is this who
pushed that woman
under the train?

I'd say,
no more subway for me.

I like my crazy
people up top.

That way I know
I have a fighting chance
of getting out.

Did you see this guy
yesterday around
12:00, 12:30?

12:00, 12:30,
I was at lunch.

Well, who was on duty?

Zara.

Is she in now?

No. She's taking
an order.

Sister Godiva, she buys
all her clothes from us.

Who?

You don't keep up
with music, huh?

He stopped
with Bobby Darin.

Who?

Uh, when will
Sister Zara be back?

When Godiva's
done with her.

I got a place to start.

Thank God. Thanks.

Introduction to psychology.
Basic chemistry,
basic music theory.

Advanced calculus,
must be an Einstein.

What freshman are
in the calculus class?

Hang on.

Boy, I'd hate for
somebody to trace me
by what I read.

You read, Lennie?

Only three.

I'm guessing
you want their names.

We're hoping one of you
knows this man.

I don't know anybody.

I just got to New York
three days ago.

Really?
Where you from?

Cincinnati.

Oh, my God.
That looks like my dad.

It's my dad, isn't it?

What happened?
Oh, God, he's hurt,
isn't he?

I've never seen this woman.
I don't know anybody
in New York.

This is our
first trip here.

We're enrolling Susan
at New York City University.

Has the woman
accused me
of something?

No, you're safe there.

You were in
Quadrangle Books
around 12:30 yesterday?

Yes, I was picking up
textbooks for Susan.

Why didn't you?
Why didn't I what?

Oh, I see.
I left without
getting the books

because I decided to
get something to eat.

Where'd you eat?

The pretzel stand
by the subway.

So why didn't you
go back for the books?

I was planning to
go back today.

Well, we've got witnesses
who saw this man

with a woman in
the subway station

just before she
went under a train.

Your daughter thinks
it looks like you.

So do we.

The clerk in the bookstore
says it is you,

and that the woman
followed you
into the store.

That's unbelievable.

My dad didn't
do anything.

Okay, so why
don't you come down
and do a lineup?

The witnesses say
it isn't you,

we give you a free
cup of coffee,

worst on the West Side.

Please, Dad,
can't you clear this up?

Yeah, it won't take long.

Are you arresting me?

We're requesting
your cooperation.

Okay, it's a mistake,

in good faith,
I'm sure,

but there are a lot of
people in prison because
of good-faith mistakes.

Give me time
to get a lawyer.

Eleven witnesses,
no positive ID.

Take your time,
Mr. Sandburg.

Third from the left.
That's him.

That's the man you saw
with the woman who
went under the train?

Yes.
Thank you.

That's a positive ID,
Mr. Rothenberg.

That guy was about 90
with glasses as
thick as my thumb.

I want to see
my client.

A barely competent defense
attorney could shred
Sandburg's credibility.

And Rothenberg is right,
you don't even know
the victim was pushed.

He didn't push her,
why does he lie every time
he opens his mouth?

A hunch?
Instinct.

I need more than this
to take to the grand jury.

Where's the connection,
what's the motive?

If we don't arrest him now,
he's on the next plane
back to Cincinnati.

It's not Tibet.

We can extradite him
if there's ever a case.

Is Mr. Fallon free to go?

As long as he stays
in the city.

We'd like you around
while we complete
the investigation.

I'm not planning
on leaving
until next week.

I'm here with my family,
we're enjoying ourselves.

We'll leave
when I want to.

We talked to
Professor Hollis's friends.

Nobody recognized
the picture of Fallon,

and nobody recalled her
ever going to Cincinnati.

What about Fallon?

He's a financial advisor,
money manager,

a member of the Cincinnati
Civic Association,

on the board of directors
at the art museum.

A pillar of
the community.

Cincinnati PD says
he never even got
a speeding ticket.

Well how about
further back
in the past?

Uh, Professor Hollis
went to Brooklyn College,

Fallon's got
a diploma hanging
on his office wall,

a MBA from UCLA.

Fallon's credit card charges
for the last week.

Thanks.

United Airlines,
T- K-T-S,

Museum of
Modern Art bookstore,
Barneys,

Grimaldi's Italian
restaurant.

Grimaldi's in Brooklyn?

You know another one?

Charge was for 12 bucks
and some change.

You can't feed a family
of four mice on that.

So he was by himself.

The guy's never been
to New York before

and he manages to find
the best pizza
in five boroughs.

Right. Check it out.

Yeah, couple of days ago.

I remember him.

All these customers.
You sure?

Came in and he says,
"Hey, Tony. "

I'm figuring
I should know
this guy.

And did you?

Not at first
but I kept looking at him
and then I got it.

He was a regular
in the old days.

He thought he was
God Almighty

and everybody should
agree with him.

How far back
were the old days?

Fifteen,
20 years ago.

That's a long time,
you sure it's him?

He's a little
thinner on top now,
but that's him.

You remember his name?

I never know their names.

They come in,
they go "Hey, Tony,"

I go, "Hey, kid. "

I don't know
their names.

So, 15, 20 years ago,
Mr. Fallon hung out
at Grimaldi's.

The guy was at UCLA.

Long way to come
even for a pie
from Grimaldi's.

Who is this guy?

Yeah, William K.,
as in "kinky".

Yeah.

You're sure?

Okay, thanks.

He got his Ohio
driver's license
in 1985,

he bought his house
in '85.

Oh, and no
William K. Fallon
was ever at UCLA.

What have you got?

Social security number
was issued in '85,

he joined the Ohio
Auto Club in '85,

opened a brokerage
account in '85.

Can't find anything
prior to that.

So what?
He didn't exist
before 1985?

Not as William K. Fallon.

If he's not Fallon,
who the hell is he?

Well, the FBI
says he's not in the
witness protection program,

but they might've had
their fingers crossed.

We could haul him in,
find out who
the hell he is.

Next time I see this guy,
I want ammunition.

My guess is Professor Hollis
knew him before he was Fallon.

It's the only way
it makes sense.

Well, 20 years ago,
they were early 20's.

She went to
Brooklyn college,
find out if he did, too.

We don't know
what name he was using.

Tony, the pizza guy,
says he hasn't
changed much.

Let's go look
at some pictures.

Mmm.
Thanks for the coffee.

Down memory lane
with the hairdos.

Yeah,
half disco, half punk.

You know, I'm starting
to think that this
Fallon-whoever-he-is

did not go
to Brooklyn College.

Okay.

Marian Hollis got
her undergraduate
degree in 1980.

Then did three years
of grad school.

Left with a PhD.

Back then,
the alumni association

was sending her mail
to 32 Ryder Avenue.

What's that,
a sorority, a dorm?

It's a rooming house.

Lady's been renting rooms
to coeds for 30 years.

I certainly do
remember Marian.

Oh, terrible
what happened to her.

Was she close
with anybody
back then?

Uh, one of
the other boarders,
Eleanor Marcus.

Uh, library sciences.

They were like sisters.

They went
everywhere together,
until Eleanor got married.

Marian Hollis
have a boyfriend?

Well, she dated
several young men,

nothing serious,
far as I could tell.

This is a recent photo,
but could you take a look,

see if you recognize him?

No. He doesn't
look familiar.

I'm sorry.
Is he the one who...

We're not sure.

You think if
Marian knew him

that, uh, Eleanor Marcus
would've known him, too?

Oh, absolutely.

I don't suppose you could
tell us where we could
find Eleanor Marcus.

Well, she's
Eleanor Taska now.

I see her every week
when I go to the library

and return a book
and get a new one.

Dr. Taska's
not coming in today.

What's this about?

We're investigating
a death.

You know where
we can find her?

That subway thing, right?

That's where Eleanor is,
that woman's funeral.

Why do you want
to talk to her?

See if she can help us.
They used to
know each other.

They had some kind of
falling out years ago.

I don't think
she can help you.

Church of
the Good Shepherd, right?

Yes.

Would you happen to have
a picture of Dr. Taska
that we could look at?

Dr. Taska?

We're investigating
the death of
Marian Hollis.

We're hoping
you might be able
to help us out.

I hadn't seen her
for some time.

We're looking at a man
who calls himself
William Fallon.

You need to
imagine him younger.

William Fallon, my ass.

This is my son of a bitch
husband, Nick Taska.

Where are my children?

Fifteen years ago,
March, 8th, 1984.

He took them from school
and that's the last
I saw of them.

Where are they?

Dr. Taska,
we need your help.

I want my children.

Look, I'm devastated
about Marian,
but I can't help you.

I don't know
anything about it.

Well, you know
your husband,

would he kill her
just for recognizing him?

He'd do whatever
he had to do to keep her
from disarranging his world.

Disarranging?

The man has
an anxiety attack.

If the pillows
are crooked.

Connection and motive.

I'm willing to answer
whatever questions
you want to ask me,

but, please,
where are my children?

Dr. Taska, the best way
to get your children back

is to help us
put your ex-husband away.

A better way would be
for you people to
arrest the bastard

for kidnapping

and enforce the custody
order the court gave me
15 years ago.

The statute of
limitations on kidnapping
expired years ago.

The custody order didn't.

Where are my children?

I want to know what
Nick's done to them.

Well, Susan's
just enrolled in NYCU
and Alexis is...

Alexis?

There is no Alexis.

My other daughter's
name is Cynthia.

Twelve witnesses
in the subway.

Not one can even say
that she was pushed,

much less that
Mr. Fallon did it.

Professor Hollis saw him
when she was in the diner,

went into the bookstore
looking for him,

caught up with him
somewhere between
there and the subway,

and was seen with him
on the platform.

Lot of inferences
in that sentence.

The cops have already
established motive,
means and opportunity.

Fallon lies like a rug.
Hell, he's not even Fallon.

Blindfolded, I could
convince a jury he killed
Marian Hollis to shut her up.

I'd prefer evidence.

Have you checked out
Dr. Taska's story?

Yeah, bitter divorce.

The kids were the rope
in a tug of war.

Court awarded custody
to the mother,

three months later the husband
took the kids out of school
and disappeared with them.

A lot of room
for reasonable doubt.

Well, we'll find out.

I had Briscoe and Curtis
arrest Mr. Fallon
an hour ago.

Has he been arraigned?

Not yet.

You told the police
you never saw
Marian Hollis that day.

Why'd you lie?

I was afraid
this would happen.

I didn't kill her

and now here I am.

The victim of
a horrible coincidence.

Exactly.

Where'd you run
into each other?

In the bookstore.

You hadn't
seen each other
for 15 years.

What'd you talk about?

Old times.

Nothing about kidnapping,
putting your ex-wife
through hell?

There was no reason
for Marian to mention it.

She knew the kids
were better off with me.

In what way?

Well, Eleanor wasn't
cut out for motherhood.

Her stash of pills
was more important
than the children.

Where did you
and Professor Hollis
part company?

The pretzel stand
by the subway entrance.

We parted amicably.

Clearly, Mr. Fallon
had nothing to do
with the victim's death.

A witness places Mr. Fallon
on the subway platform
with the victim.

Wait till
you see the witness.
Glasses an inch thick.

I've seen the witness,
Mr. Rothenberg.

I've had his
eyesight tested.

When he's wearing
his glasses,

he sees as well
as you do.

How'd you like
being arraigned,
Mr. Fallon?

It gets worse from here.

You can put a stop
to this right now.

We're not discussing a plea.

Your bond's been posted.
You're free to go.

I have enough to
present the case
to the grand jury.

I didn't kill her.

Before you present
to grand jury,

you might want to talk
to our alibi witness.

I didn't want to
have to do this.

My daughter
was with me.

My daughter, Alexis.

Dad and I went
into the bookstore,
Dad talked to the clerk.

Then we looked
at boring textbooks.

Then that lady came in
and talked to Dad.

About what?

Stuff from the old days,
I don't know.

Brooklyn, concerts,
just stuff.

Were you with your father
the whole time he was
with Professor Hollis?

Yes, sir.

My husband likes to keep
the girls in sight.

He's very protective.

Is he planning on going
to class with Susan?

Keep her in sight?

Of course not.

What did the lady
call your father,
what name?

Nick.

Did that confuse you?

Didn't you ask
why she was calling
your father Nick?

Not then,
it wouldn't
have been polite.

Dad told me later
what it was all about.

My mother, all that.

What exactly
did he tell you?

That the lady
had known my mother.

That my mother
wasn't dead after all.

Did you think she was?

It's what he
always told us.

What about you?

Did he tell you
he was a widower?

He always does what
he thinks is best
for the family.

Did you know
he was a fugitive
named Nick Taska?

We have to meet him at
the Palm Court at 4:00.

He wouldn't like us
to be late.

So you're late.

Then what,
he starts rearranging
the teacups?

The clerk in the bookstore
said your father was alone.

I... I went in
a little after my dad.

Alexis, do you know
what perjury means?

I was with my dad,

but I went to the boutique
next door while he went
into the bookstore.

Why didn't you
just tell us that?

'Cause I wanted
to protect him.

I... I know
he didn't hurt
that lady.

You weren't with him
at all, were you?

I was, too.
I was with him
and the lady.

And we left her
when she went
in the subway.

You've heard
what she has to say.

All we've heard is a story
that doesn't track.

Are we free to go?

This is the spookiest
bunch of people
I've ever met.

That kid is terrified.

And lying
through her teeth.

Whole family's afraid
of inconveniencing Dad.

It's Jonestown
without the Kool-Aid.

Yeah, I remember her,
I watched her good.

Why?

Because she kept
glancing back at me.

So right away I'm thinking
five finger discount.

I'm following her around,
she gets nervous and leaves.

Did you see this woman?

Oh, man, I knew it.

This is that lady
who went under the train.

This is the picture
they used
in the Daily News.

I did see her.
What's her name?

Marian Hollis.

Did you see her
with a girl?

Yeah. Girl ran into her
right outside there.

The woman stopped her.

Marian Hollis
came up to you
outside the store.

What did she say?

Nobody came up to me.

Clerk said she did.

No.

You were walking
with your dad,

you saw a fab gear,

you wanted to go
in there instead of
the boring bookstore.

When you came
out of the shop
Marian Hollis stopped you

and told you
about your mother.

I don't want to
talk to you anymore.

Did she want to
take you to your mother,
maybe call the police?

No.

I... I want my dad.

Is your father mad at you
because you told us
about the clothing store?

Your father
followed Professor Hollis
into the subway, didn't he?

No.

He pushed her
under the train.

No, no, no!

Because she
knew who he was
and what he'd done.

Maybe he didn't
want to hurt her.

Maybe he was just
trying to get away
from her.

Was it an accident?

Stop it, stop it!
You can't talk
about my dad anymore!

That's enough.

Browbeating a child.

You should be ashamed.

Oh, now you're interested
in helping me?

Yes.

What's the quid pro quo?

Your daughter knows
what happened on
that subway platform.

She won't tell us.

So you take my side
with the judge
and then what?

I let you crack her open
like a walnut?

I don't think so.

She's living with
a horrible secret.

She watched her father
commit murder.

She saw what the impact
did to Marian Hollis's body.

Do you want her
to keep that
inside herself?

Your Honor,
you can't give Mr. Fallon's
alibi witness

to a woman who hates him.

She'll poison the child
against him.

I'll poison her?

Excuse me.
Mr. Fallon has had

a decade and a half
to make an impression
on the child.

My ex-wife
wasn't fit then
and isn't fit now

to have
any responsibility
for children.

That's enough,
Mr. Fallon.

Judge,
the D.A.'s office requests

that custody be granted
to Dr. Taska, who's been...

I read all the briefs,
Mr. McCoy.

I'm inclined to
agree with you.

Your Honor,
you can't take
my daughter away

from the only family
she's ever known.

Mr. Fallon took her away
from the only mother
she knew,

and he's a murder suspect.

I grant custody
of the minor child
to Eleanor Taska.

Where's my dad?

Who are you?

I'm your mother,
Cynthia.

No, you're not.

This is my mother.

Susan, tell her.

You can't make Alexis
go with you.

It was
the judge's decision.

It's in her
best interest.

It's not!

It's not.
I want my dad!

You can't stay
with your father,
Alexis.

Because you're gonna
put him in jail for killing
that lady, aren't you?

Well, he didn't kill her.

I did.

She was calling my dad
a bastard,

she wouldn't shut up,
she wouldn't leave,

and I pushed her.

She just kept
after my dad.

She wouldn't shut up
about my mother
and what he'd done to her.

She was grabbing at him
and telling him to wait,

and I shoved her
away from him.

And she fell.

What happened after that?

Dad took my hand
and we left
the subway station.

The witnesses mentioned
a man and a woman,

they didn't say anything
about a young girl.

I wasn't with them,
Dad sent me down first.

He was trying to
get rid of her outside,
but she followed him down.

Okay.

You've met the father?

Yes.

This kid's hinky.

I don't want to
rush into anything.

I have no idea
if she's lying or
telling the truth.

You be willing to
have her examined
by our psychiatrist?

Kid just keeps saying
she did it, not her dad.

Did she?

My opinion, no.
She's covering for him.

Did he put her
up to it?

More likely
she took it on herself.

Why?

Fear.

She can't imagine a world
where Fallon's not right
there directing traffic.

At 16, shouldn't she be
starting to go her own way?

There is no way
but Dad's way.

Can't prosecute her,
she didn't do it.

Can't prosecute him
with her saying she did.

We could lean on
Fallon some more.

Using what for leverage?

Uh, maybe
his daughter's suffering.

If he cared about that,
he wouldn't have spent
the last 18 years

convincing his children
they don't exist
apart from him.

How did he do that?

Relentlessly.

Jack, we gotta
get this bastard.

On what charge?

You can't indict
Mr. Fallon
for kidnapping.

Statute of limitations
has run.

Second degree, yes.
Kidnap one is an A1
felony, no time limits.

Fallon wasn't asking
for ransom,

the victims didn't die,
what's the basis?

"A person is guilty
of kidnapping
when he abducts another

"with intent to
terrorize him. "

Fallon psychologically
terrorized his daughters
from that day to this.

Says who?

Skoda. Eleanor Taska.

Skoda was spouting theory.

A woman who wasn't there.

Read the transcript
of Skoda's session
with the girl.

Fallon might as well
have held a gun
to his kids heads,

he inflicted the same
level of fear.

Hang him. Execute him.

William Fallon is
entirely responsible
for the circumstances

that led to
Marian Hollis's death.

Is that a no?

No.

Your Honor, this is
a ludicrous interpretation
of the kidnapping statute.

Mr. Fallon should never
have been arrested.

The statute is clear,
and Mr. Fallon
clearly violated it.

You say Mr. Fallon
assumed control
of his children

in order to
terrorize them.

You say he assumed
control over them

to save them
from an unfit mother.

Is that the gist?

Penal law section
135.30...

I'm familiar with
the statute, Counselor.

You have a built-in
affirmative defense.

He did not intend
to terrorize them.

As for you, Mr. McCoy,
this better be worth
the court's time.

March 8th, 1984.

He took them from school
and I never saw them again.

Until a couple
of months ago.

The authorities said
it was custodial
interference,

not serious.

And the private detectives
I hired never found a trace.

People's seven,
Your Honor.

This is the Judge's ruling
awarding you custody
of your children.

Could you read
the highlighted passage?

"Mr. Taska is clearly
more concerned

"about losing control
of his family

"than he is about
the welfare of
his children. "

When you were married
to the defendant,
how did he treat you?

Like a slave.

Everything had to be
done his way.

He instructed me
how his shirts
had to be folded,

how the pantry
had to be arranged.

The right way
to fluff pillows.

What if you didn't
do it the right way?

He instructed me
again and again
until I did it right.

Did he treat the children
the same way?

Yes.

He controlled
their every move,

telling them what to do,
what to think, how to feel.

How did he do that
with very small children?

Told them only bad girls
soiled their diapers.

Only bad girls cried.

From what age?

From birth.

Did he think
they could understand him?

It was a process.

He started early
and just
ground them down.

He never let up.

If Susan was
playing with a toy

and didn't put it back
exactly where he told her,

he would break it
in front of her

and tell her,
"Good girls
always mind Daddy. "

How did Susan react?

After a while,
she didn't make
any more mistakes.

Was she afraid of him?

Of course she was.

It broke my heart.

Did your husband
hit you or the girls?

Did he even threaten you
with violence?

That wasn't his way of...

Yes or no.

No.

February 12th, 1984.

Were you arrested on
a DWl charge?

I wasn't drunk,
I was on medication.

Would that be medication
for chronic depression?

You'd be depressed, too,
if you were married to...

Was your daughter, Susan,

in the car at the time
that you were pulled over?

Yes.

Driving erratically
while under the influence

whether of alcohol
or medication

with a three year old
in the car,

and you want the jury
to believe that your husband

was putting the girls
in jeopardy by making them
pick up their toys?

I...

I have nothing further,
Your Honor.

My dad's pretty strict,
but he's fair, too.

Does he control you?

Every family has rules.

For example, he always
taught my sister and me
to be polite,

whether we felt
like it or not.

I don't think
that's a bad thing.

Did your father terrorize
you and your sister?

No, sir.

Are you afraid of him?
No, sir.

We love him.

In your family,

is there really only
one way to fold a towel?

Chaos in your environment
leads to chaos in your mind.

Did your father
tell you that?

Yes.

Have you ever had
a friend your father
didn't approve of?

No.

Why not?
I just haven't.

Have you ever read a book
or seen a movie
he didn't like?

No.

Have you ever
had any pets?

No, they're messy.

Does your stepmother
entertain her friends
at your father's house?

I... I don't think so.

Does she have any friends,
or does your father
take up all her time?

She takes care
of our family.

Does she ever go
and visit her own family?

Not that I know of.

Where do they live?

Cleveland.

Have you ever met
your stepmother's family?

No.

Have you ever been
to summer camp?

Children who go to camp
have parents who just
want to get rid of them.

Did you go to
slumber parties?

No.

Did your father disapprove?

I didn't like being
away from my dad.

When your father
is displeased with you,

are you afraid?

I don't like to
disappoint him.

Is that because
you know he'll keep
at you and at you

until you understand
his way is the only way,

and his needs
are the only needs,

and you and your sister
only exist for him

as long as
he can control you?

Objection.

Nothing further.

Kid's like a robot.

How'd the jury react?

Seven were stone-faced,
three felt sorry for her,

and two thought
you were being mean.

How could you
do that to Susan?

You don't understand.
Those girls are
his whole life,

and he's theirs.

Where does
that put you?

Mrs. Fallon,

do you really not see
what he's done to his
daughter's and to you?

I couldn't leave them
with Eleanor.

She was a terrible mother.

Could you describe
how you lived after you
took the children?

I turned down several
good jobs so I could
work out of my house.

I didn't want to leave
the girls with a stranger

after what
they'd been through.

I was there for them
every minute of every day.

Now, who took care
of your daughters

when you were dating
your current wife?

Sylvia understood that
we came as a package.

The kids and I.

We rarely went out,
but if we did,
we took the girls with us.

Mr. Fallon,
did you take your daughters
from their mother

in order to
terrorize them?

I took them
in order to save them.

How much time
have your daughters
spent away from you?

Very little.

Why is that?

Well, it's a dangerous
world, Mr. McCoy,
as I'm sure you know.

Do you choose
their friends for them?

I don't let them run
with the wrong crowd.

What happens
when your children
disagree with you?

I can't remember
the last time we've
had a disagreement.

What happens
when your wife
disagrees with you?

She never has.

Four people,
no difference of opinion.

Is that because
they're afraid to
contradict you?

They respect my opinion.

They know from experience
I'm likely to be right.

What they know from experience
is that you don't care
about their opinions,

isn't that right?
Objection.

You don't care
about their feelings,
their concerns, their needs.

That's enough, Mr. McCoy.

I'd like to respond
to that, Your Honor.

My children are
intelligent girls,

who know how to say
"yes, sir" to an adult,

how to organize
their time

and tidy their
living space.

Susan graduated second
in her class,

has a full academic
scholarship to NYCU.

And Alexis brings home
straight A's

and is captain
of her soccer team.

And you have me
on trial for being

a bad father,
Mr. McCoy?

You are on trial
for kidnapping,
Mr. Fallon,

with intent to terrorize.

You harried your daughters
into believing
that their mother

was evil incarnate,
not so that you could
save them from her,

but so that you
could control their
every thought and action.

Have we begun
closing arguments,
Your Honor?

I have nothing further.

Call your next witness,
Mr. Rothenberg.

The defense rests,
Your Honor.

Mr. McCoy?

The People have
a rebuttal witness,
Your Honor.

Sylvia Fallon.

What?

Counsel,
approach the bench.

Mrs. Fallon has been
in the courtroom throughout
the trial, Your Honor.

I didn't know
I'd be calling her.

All right, Mr. McCoy,

just make sure
your questions
don't touch on matters

covered by
spousal privilege.

The People call
Sylvia Fallon.

Raise your right hand.

Do you solemnly swear
the testimony
you're about to give

will be the truth,
the whole truth,
and nothing but the truth,

so help you God?

I do.

Do you work
outside the home?

I know
it's old-fashioned,

but I believe
if there are children,

the wife should be
home for them.

Children are
a precious gift.

Who handles the discipline,
you or your husband?

He does.

Who takes care
of the finances?

Who deals with the workman,
the electricians,
the plumbers?

Bill.

Over the years,
who took your children
to school?

Mmm, he did.

Who took them shopping
for clothes and toys?

Bill.

What exactly is your function
in the family, Mrs. Fallon?

To fold the towels?

I...

Your husband can't tell you
what to say right now.

How old was Alexis
when you became
her stepmother?

Was she still in diapers?

Yes, she was only two.

Did you ever hear
the defendant tell her

only bad girls
soil their diapers?

You don't understand.

From the outside
it may look strange,

but Bill
just worked miracles
with the girls.

In what way?

Well...

Well, when Susan was four,

she learned to
tie her shoelaces
in one afternoon.

How many children do that?

How was this miracle
accomplished?

She sat there for hours,

tying and retying
the laces

until her little fingers
made it work.

A four year old?

Why?

Did Mr. Fallon tell her

that Daddy wouldn't
love her anymore

if she couldn't
do it right
by sundown?

Both girls were intent
on pleasing their father.

I'll bet they were.

Did the bow have to be
exactly on center?

Did the loops have to be
exactly equal?

Your Honor...

Mr. McCoy,
let's move it along.

Why haven't you
and your husband
ever had children?

We discussed it
and decided against it.

It was a mutual decision?

You really don't want to
have children of your own?

Bill thought two
was enough.

What did you think?

In our family we leave
the important decisions

to the person who
is best equipped
to make them.

I see.

How long has it been
since you saw your parents?

I don't know.

Quite a while.

Bill doesn't like me
to be away.

Do you hear yourself?

Bill thinks,
Bill wants,
Bill needs.

Do you think this man
has ever asked himself once

what you want,
what you need?

There has to be
a final authority,
Mr. McCoy.

Are you saying
that the defendant
had total control

of his family,
Mrs. Fallon?

Did the defendant
constantly tell his children

they were bad,
they were stupid?

Did he continually
terrify them

with a threat
to withhold his love

if they didn't meet
his insane expectations?

Did William Fallon
terrorize his children,

day after day,

year after year,

until they could
no longer tell where he
left off and they began?

Yes.

You stupid cow.

Mr. Fallon.

Your Honor, she can't

do this.

I only married her

so my daughters
would have a mother.

Your client hung himself,
Mr. Rothenberg.

Twenty to life.

Five years off the top?
Not a chance.

Better take it.
The jury will take
20 minutes to convict.

You don't cut me a good deal,
I'll fight Eleanor
tooth and nail for custody.

From a jail cell?

My parents are
standing by to contest
the custody ruling.

They'll drag it
out for years.

What about Alexis,
Mr. Fallon?

Do you give a damn
what happens to her?

What's the worst,
she ends up
in foster care?

That'll only last
for a couple of years.

Then she's an adult.

Maybe you
don't realize it.

You're lucky
you're not facing
a murder charge.

You cut my sentence,
you send me to
a minimum security prison,

I'll back off,
Eleanor can have Cynthia.

Mr. Fallon,

you have withdrawn
your not guilty plea

and entered a plea
of guilty to kidnapping

in the Second Degree,
is that right?

Yes, Your Honor.

In exchange for this plea,
the People have agreed
to an indeterminate sentence

of 10 to 20 years
in a minimum
security facility.

Am I correct, Mr. McCoy?

Yes, with the
stipulated condition.

The defendant agrees
to relinquish
all claim to custody

of the minor child,
Alexis Fallon,
also known as Cynthia Taska.

Yes, Your Honor.

Plea is entered,
prisoner is remanded.

Court is adjourned.

Daddy. Daddy.
No, No, no, no.

Are you happy now,
you bitch?

Those girls won't
ever be okay.

Well, their dad's
about to find out
what it feels like

to have your
every move controlled.

Kind ofjustice,
I guess.