Original subtitles

[kids clamoring]

‐How long ago? ‐He's been in there 30 minutes.

He rounded up about 40 students and overtook the class.

‐Well, he's done it before, protesting the dissections. ‐I know that, Max.

This is the first time he's ever formed a posse. Watch it.

‐They're militant. ‐Fifth graders?

Wha... They don't listen to authority, Jimmy.

The Frogman's whipped them all up!

[Peter and kids] ♪ Be a frog Be a frog ♪

Excuse me.

♪ Be a frog Be a frog ♪

♪ Man of might Full of fight ♪

♪ Not contrite Looking bright ♪

♪ Be a frog Be a frog ♪

♪ Be a frog Be a frog ♪

[singing continues]

Just another day.

♪ We all shout In protestation ♪

♪ Save the frogs Bail the frogs ♪

♪ Spare the frogs Be a frog Be a frog ♪

♪ Be a frog ♪

‐[Peter] Save the frogs! ‐[kids cheering]

[theme music playing]

[theme music ends]

Now, look, the children were with me.

Those children would cheer anyone who interrupted class.

Well, come on, you saw those kids.

‐They knew every word of the song. ‐[Jimmy] It was thrilling.

[Peter] Look, you don't have to kill frogs to teach biology.

This is my point.

[Max] Mr. Lebeck, you can't keep doing this.

Douglas Wambaugh for the Frogman.

Ah, my little green friend, you're in season.

‐We're not charging him. ‐Oh, that's fine.

I'm not here on a criminal matter.

I'm here to represent you in a civil matter

‐against your son. ‐My son? Milton?

He's in the court right now.

They'll be calling his case any second.

His case? [chuckles]

What... What case?

[Milton] For emancipation.

I've read the law and I'm eligible.

‐How old are you? ‐Thirteen. And I'll be 14 next year.

I don't want to live at home anymore and I shouldn't have to.

Your Honor, I represent the boy's father.

And I wish to be heard at once.

Pay no attention to the outfit.

I was leading a protest, Judge.

The outfit's thematic.

Uh‐huh.

Son, you're seeking emancipation on what grounds?

Look at him.

[Douglas] He has no right to emancipation, Your Honor.

Why are you doing this, young man?

This isn't a stable home.

When I was in juvenile hall, I read law books.

A child has a legal right to control his future,

‐and I want to control mine. ‐[Douglas] That's ridiculous.

The whole point of having kids is so parents can control them.

You have no mother.

Where would you go?

I have two aunts who would take me.

They live in California and I'd have to fly out there,

but they said they'd be happy to take me.

It's just a way to get to Disneyland.

These kids are very tricky, Judge.

All right. Mr. Littleton, I see you sitting back there.

Since you've handled DHA cases before,

I'm assigning you to this one.

‐What? ‐I'll hear evidence this afternoon.

‐No, no, but, Your Honor... ‐He needs a lawyer. 4 o'clock.

Coat and tie.

That's all.

My God!

What happened to your hair?

Shaved it.

It gets hot in that suit.

Look, the Judge, he can't possibly grant that motion, can he?

The boy wants to leave.

And you run around croaking your green suits.

From a legal standpoint, you're a cracker box.

I won't take that from you.

And I don't have to accept it from some Judge, either.

Look, I'm just trying to make you appreciate

the severity of the situation.

The court has held that teenage girls

can get abortions without parental consent.

Oh, what the hell does that have to do with this?

The trend is to cut back on parental rights.

Children today get civil liberties.

And Judge Bone is very big on individual freedom, to begin with.

The bottom line,

if your kid wants out, he can get his way.

[engine stalling]

Why won't it start?

[Zack] Because you don't have a license.

You're not supposed to drive it.

I'm just gonna back it out and pull it to the side.

[engine starts]

There.

You're gonna get in trouble.

Not if you don't tell, runhead.

You want to play street hockey?

I gotta get the car out of the driveway.

Now, move the net to the center.

Better hope a neighbor doesn't see.

I've done it before. Big deal.

[revving]

You're stuck on ice.

[revving]

[grunts]

[screaming]

‐[thuds] ‐[grunts]

[sirens wailing]

‐Zack! ‐He's been hit.

‐Zachary! ‐He's breathing, but he's unconscious.

‐Got a pulse. ‐[Jill] Look out!

‐Look out! ‐Stay away. Stay away.

‐I won't stay away. ‐His vitals are good.

I don't think there's any internal bleeding.

Now, let's take him to the hospital.

No, no. Zachary! Zachary!

What happened? What happened?

Matthew was driving the car and he ran into him.

I'm going with you. Zack, I'm right here.

‐Mommy, it hurts. ‐We're gonna take you to the hospital.

‐You're going to be okay. ‐Mommy, it hurts.

Okay, we're gonna fix it up. Get him out of here.

Let's go. Let's go. Let's go.

‐It was an accident. ‐What did you do? What did you do?

You know, you could have killed him. You could have killed him.

Don't you ever, ever do that again.

[Jimmy] Jill!

[woman on P. A.] Dr. O'Neil to Pediatrics.

How long?

About six weeks, then we switch you to a smaller cast.

I'll miss playoffs.

Hey, you'll be back next year, pal.

We're lucky you're alive.

Is it bad?

Well, it's broken in two places, sweetie.

But it'll heal. You're gonna be great.

How's Matthew?

[woman on P. A.] Dr. Harris to OR 1.

Dr. Harris to OR 1.

Hey.

Is he okay?

He's got a broken leg, but he's gonna be fine.

How are you?

I didn't mean it.

I was just trying to move the car so we could play.

I didn't mean it.

I know you didn't.

He's gonna be okay.

[sobbing]

I'm not saying he's an unfit parent.

I'm just saying, for now,

living with him is not right for me.

Well, that's a little strange, Milton.

Kids don't usually get to pick their parents.

No, no, I'm not doing that.

He's my father.

You will always be my father.

But I want to be normal.

Milton, there's no such thing as normal.

Yeah, that's what I keep trying to tell myself.

But let's face it, we're geeks.

I don't think that's true.

And even if it were,

being a geek doesn't make a parent unfit.

No, no, it makes a kid unfit.

Follow me around for a day, see my life.

And you believe that moving to California's going to make it different?

I don't know.

But in Rome, Wisconsin, I will always be son of Frogman.

Three years ago, I shot a policeman.

To all the kids in this town,

I'm the crazy loon who put on a frog mask

and shot Kenny Lacos.

If I move to California, I might get a fresh start.

I might have a chance.

[Littleton] I, uh...

I have no more questions.

‐Do you love your dad? ‐Yes.

[Douglas] Has he ever mistreated you?

No.

Do you think he's crazy?

Milton?

He's strange.

Every night he comes to my room and he sings that song.

Every night.

I can't go to sleep until he belts out...

♪ Be a frog ♪

He's a good father, isn't he?

He's a good person.

But people laugh at him.

And they're laughing at me.

Matthew.

I'm very sorry that I had to hit you today.

But what you did was very dangerous

and very wrong.

And I think you know that.

Matthew?

Go to hell.

♪ Ma, she wants to marry me ♪

♪ Be my honey bee ♪

♪ Oh, every minute She gets bolder ♪

♪ Now she's resting On my shoulder ♪

♪ Ma, she's kissing me ♪

♪ Oh, Ma She's making eyes at me ♪

♪ Ma, she's always nice to me ♪

♪ Ma, she's... ♪

[switches off music]

Oh, you're back.

Yes, we are. On this planet.

It's okay. When I get depressed I like to sing.

That's... That's all. I was just feeling a little depressed.

Look, I refuse to engage in incriminations.

Mr. Lebeck.

We will have to tailor your testimony

to make you look as sane as possible.

We have to explain the frogs, the funny costumes.

We have to show all this eccentricity,

‐it isn't the real you. ‐[Peter] It is the real me.

Look, I don't understand why I have to appear like everybody else

just to be deemed a fit parent.

Because this is America.

We're a big melting pot.

And if you're different enough, you get melted.

[sighs]

Look, Miss Brock...

Please.

Look, do I strike you as an unfit parent?

Um, I'm not sure.

Well... Well, let me put it this way then.

Suppose... Suppose I were to take care of your brothers for a little while,

I mean, would that... would that worry you?

Yes.

You wanna talk about it?

What is there to talk about?

You're human.

You were terrified. It's okay.

It's not okay, Jimmy.

I hit him. I hit him as hard as I could.

I hit him with everything that I could.

He almost killed Zack.

What parent wouldn't have snapped?

You.

I make drapes for a living.

You know, custom drapes. I do a wide variety.

I actually supply the Hotel Six chain.

Though I'm told they use them for bedspreads.

Look, try not to digress, Mr. Lebeck.

‐You work out of your home? ‐Yes.

Well, that is to say I do the designing in my home.

The actual manufacturing of the drapes is done in Kuala Lumpur.

It was on a visit to there that I first developed my keen interest in frogs.

‐I'm not interested in your frogs. ‐[Judge] I am.

Are they really all over your house?

They're only in designated areas.

I mean, what's wrong with that?

I mean, people raise cattle. Pigeons.

Some people have tropical fish. I, personally, like frogs.

And that doesn't disqualify me, though, from also raising a son.

Yes, but people who raise pigeons

don't usually dress up as them.

Look, I've already explained. That was part of a political protest.

[chuckling] If I walked into a lumberyard dressed as a spotted owl,

‐would you think that's strange? ‐[Judge] Yes.

That would be strange, Mr. Lebeck.

Loving animals is one thing.

Pretending to be the animal is quite another.

And your objections aside,

it isn't normal to have a house full of amphibians.

Look, I haven't broken any laws,

except for the disorderly conduct.

I'm there for him every day.

I'm a full‐time father, Your Honor.

He's healthy. He's very well‐educated.

And you can tell from his testimony that he feels loved.

I could also tell that he wants out.

He's a teenager, though, Your Honor.

Every teenager wants out at some point.

He's my son. He belongs with me.

You can't deny

that your son has had some social problems.

Two years ago, he shot a police officer.

[Peter] I know that.

And that was very tragic.

But what parent hasn't gone through

some kinda crisis with their kid?

Any time you want me to jump in, Judge.

‐I don't. ‐Look, if I loved cats, or dogs,

or birds, or something like that,

you people wouldn't be looking at me sideways.

But who could love stupid frog?

I mean, that's the center of this whole attack.

I mean, they're green, slimy, ugly little things.

I mean, how could anybody like them unless they're nuts.

You people are frog bigots.

What about the song?

Do you really go into his room every night

and make him sing it?

Your Honor, that song is a ballad about resilience.

It's about courage and character.

Those are legitimate values

for a father to wanna pass along to his son.

You don't need to burst into a song to teach values.

But there's great power in songs.

Your Honor, music resonates from deep inside us.

And if I choose music as a way of communicating

with my child, that's my right.

I mean, no judge has any business intervening.

Uh‐huh, well, since you're so proud of this method,

I'd like a sample.

‐What? ‐The song. I'd like to hear it.

‐Objection. ‐I'm willing to concede that this singing

maybe it isn't as crazy as it sounds.

But I need to hear it before I can decide.

Oh, you don't want to hear it, Judge.

Yes, Mr. Wambaugh, I do.

I'm not afraid. I'll sing it proudly.

[Judge] We'll adjourn till tomorrow.

Then we'll hear "Be a Frog."

That's all.

I will.

I'll sing it proudly.

[clears throat]

When's he coming home?

Tomorrow.

They're just keeping him overnight for observation.

Can I be excused?

[sighs]

Yes.

Me, too?

‐Mm‐hmm. ‐Kimberly.

Are you punishing me?

I just want to go to my room.

‐Jill, don't‐‐ ‐Please don't talk to me.

Please don't talk to me.

I don't want to talk right now.

[playful music playing on tape]

‐[sighs] ‐[switches off tape]

What are you doing?

You nicked the costume, so I thought I'd throw a little movement in.

You know, to keep me from getting stagnant.

What?

You're trying to self‐destruct.

What are you talking about? The Judge asked me to sing...

You baited him to make him ask.

What the hell is wrong with you?

You want everybody to think you're crazy?

‐Listen, I told you not to talk to me‐‐ ‐Well, I don't care!

Damn it!

You can lose your son, you idiot!

All right, all right. I... I know what you're trying to do.

You're so afraid that people are laughing at you, you go for their laughs,

so maybe you can think that they're laughing with you.

Well, they're not, Peter.

They are laughing at you.

And it can cost you your child if you don't smarten up.

Well, should I not sing?

Well, you have to now.

Well, you want me to go low‐key with it?

I can go low‐key.

[Douglas] No, you say that there's power in your song

that the Judge has to see what you're talking about.

If you have to sing,

then sing.

Damn it!

Do you know this country is the only one

that considers spanking to be barbaric?

And do you know what country has the worst trouble

with teenage violence? This one.

It seems a little oversimplified.

Look, Jill, how you want me to play it?

Chastise you. I can give you that.

Or I can give you absolution.

I can be as flexible as a Congregationalist.

Do you think this is funny?

I hit my kid.

No, I don't think it's funny.

I know how parents beat themselves up over this.

According to the Bible, you're supposed to use a rod.

Do you know how many times in the book of Proverbs alone,

it endorses beating your child?

I should sell paddles in the lobby.

[sighs]

My mother hit me.

Only once.

I promised myself I would never hit my kids.

She was terrified.

She snapped because she was afraid,

and you know that, Matthew.

Okay. Got it.

‐Hey, you also gotta know how wrong you were... ‐[video game beeping]

...to even start the car.

I almost killed Zack.

I know I was wrong.

You know how scared I was?

Only Kim came by to check on me

to see if I was okay.

Mom just hit me.

Okay.

[sighs]

Mistakes were made.

We all learn. Let's get by it, okay?

[playful music playing]

[Judge] I never authorized a choir.

It's a surprise to me too, Judge.

Your Honor, this is just for effect.

I sing with these people at church.

They're here just, you know, to add a little balance.

Do you object to the choir, Mr. Littleton?

Uh, no. No.

All right, Mr. Lebeck. Please proceed.

♪ Green legs sleeping ♪

♪ Amphibial reaping ♪

♪ Life still ♪

♪ It's in keeping ♪

♪ Be a frog Be a frog ♪

♪ Be a frog Be a frog ♪

♪ Be a frog Be a frog ♪

♪ Be a frog Be a frog ♪

♪ Any princesses prohibits ♪

[sighs]

♪ You just hop And go jump with it ♪

♪ Be a frog ♪

♪ Get back up off the ground And be a frog ♪

♪ Get back up off the ground And be a frog ♪

♪ Hits the dirt Throws his legs ♪

♪ Get back up off the ground And be a frog ♪

♪ You can leap You can swim ♪

♪ In a pond somewhere With him ♪

♪ Be a frog Be a frog ♪

♪ Be a frog ♪

♪ Be a frog Be a frog ♪

♪ Be a ♪

♪ Be a frog ♪

Yeah!

Pretty cool, huh?

I'm sorry.

I know.

Next time you play goalie.

Are you...

Are you really okay?

Yeah. It doesn't even hurt anymore.

It doesn't?

Mm‐mm.

But I'm gonna fake a little.

Try to miss some school.

Okay.

Everybody, sorry I'm late.

Look, I just thought...

[sighs]

We have got to be able to figure this thing out.

Now, if we just put our heads together, I'm sure that we‐‐

Why would you think that?

Just because people love each other, they can live together?

If that were true, would the divorce rate be so high?

How did he get so smart?

I read to him every night.

Mr. Lebeck, I sense that a lot of Milton's problems

come from living in this town.

I don't know. Maybe if you moved...

Oh, yeah. Yes, I would.

‐In a second. I mean‐‐ ‐[Milton] I don't get it.

You're my lawyer. Please, get this.

I have social problems.

The guidance counselors tell me this.

The psychiatrists tell me this.

My classmates, they give me the message too.

Those problems come from living with him.

Dad, you are an odd person.

And if I am raised by you,

I, too, will grow up to be an odd person.

I do not want this.

I love you. I will love you forever.

But I do not want to be raised in this environment.

Are you really only 13?

He's very smart.

Yeah. That's my boy.

[knocking on door]

Look, you know that I don't believe in spanking or hitting.

Except when it comes to me.

That's not fair, Matthew. I never before...

When I walked out into the street...

You hit me then, too.

‐What? ‐Grove Street.

You weren't even three years old.

You hit me.

Well, Matthew,

that time, just like this time, I acted out of fear.

You walked right out in the middle of the street.

And when Zack got hurt, I was so terrified.

Well, I...

I lost myself.

But you never lose yourself with anybody else.

You'd never hit Zack.

If he drove that car, you wouldn't beat him.

You know it.

I don't know that.

I made a mistake and you hit me.

Zack went to the bathroom on kids, on purpose.

He pissed on the black students.

Did you hit him?

You love him more than you love me.

‐Why don't you just admit it? ‐What did you say?

Every time you talk to Grandpa, you talk about Kim.

Then you skip over me with, "Matthew's fine."

Then go on about Zack. Zack this, Zack that.

"I think he's advanced.

Matthew? Oh, he's fine.

Let me tell you about Zack."

You don't think I hear that?

Matthew, I'm just as proud of you...

That's a lie!

You go to Zack's trombone recitals.

All his hockey games.

Mine you see the end and give me a ride home.

He plays on Saturdays,

‐and your games are on weeknights... ‐Good excuse.

You always got 'em.

If I didn't get in trouble, we'd never see each other.

When's the last time you were in this room

other than to tell me I did something wrong?

You used to come up here all the time.

We played Parcheesi or UNO.

Now you just come up only when I screw up.

Maybe I should drive the car more often.

We could get to know each other.

Matthew, how can you possibly say that to me?

Because I hate you. You got a problem with that? Hit me.

I have a fever and I ache all over.

The thermometer said no fever.

‐School. ‐The fever's in my leg.

‐Mm‐hmm. ‐It's infected.

Kim will take you.

She doesn't have to go to school.

No. Kim has to go to court.

‐Where's Matthew? ‐[footsteps descending]

Let's go.

[Kimberly] Hey!

Come on.

‐Let him get through this. ‐Shut up, Jimmy. Just shut up.

Can you do that?

I didn't deserve that.

Jimmy...

He thinks that I love him less.

He remembers that I spanked him when he was a baby.

He remembers it like it was yesterday.

He has kept track of hockey game attendance.

And of phone conversations.

And he's been carrying that around with him for...

Who knows how long?

That I love him less.

Do you know what's that like? To hear that coming out of your son?

Have you ever hear that?

‐No. ‐Well, I have.

And until a child of yours looks you in the face

and tells you that he hates you,

don't tell me how to feel.

Okay? Because you don't know.

What I'm trying to say is that it will pass. He's just...

Stop saying that, Jimmy.

It's not gonna pass. Don't you see?

They're getting older and they're...

I'm losing control of them. They see that.

They see how weak I am.

I'm... I'm just guessing. They know that.

I don't know how to be a parent.

They know that I don't know how to be a parent.

And that's why I'm losing them.

They go to Kimberly, not to me.

I'm losing them.

Jill, they are your children.

Oh, Jimmy, do you think that's some kinda guarantee?

Matthew hates me.

He didn't just say that.

I could tell that he...

I'm his mother, for God's sake.

I'm his mother.

When you assigned me to this case,

I thought, "This is ridiculous.

His father's a little strange. So what?

I mean, kid doesn't want to live home,

so he goes to court for freedom? That's silly."

But then we all heard him testify.

Now, Milton Lebeck is an intelligent young man

with probably a profound ability to assess his future.

He clearly recognizes how he's been ostracized by this community.

He knows the big stigma facing him for having shot Kenny Lacos.

Now, wanting a fresh start in a new place...

That's not just a reasonable decision.

That may be the only decision for this boy.

Now, whether a better life waits for him in California,

we don't know. But it is a new chance.

And Milton Lebeck's life...

Well, at some point his life does belong to him.

He's only 13 years old.

A federal court previously held

that a 12‐year‐old boy did not have to return to Russia with his parents.

In so doing, they recognized

that under certain circumstances,

a minor can seize control of his own destiny.

And that's what Milton Lebeck is doing here.

Now, whether we want to admit or not, it makes sense.

He's making a reflective decision

to leave a town that has not treated him fairly.

And given the history, it probably won't.

He faces huge social disadvantages here

that he might not face in California.

And here's another reality.

If a teenager, he committed a crime

with the same reflective clearheadedness

as Milton Lebeck has demonstrated here today,

as a District Attorney there is no doubt in my mind

that I would try that teenager as an adult.

And in this case, maybe we should try Milton Lebeck as an adult.

And recognize the maturity of his position.

And also recognize that it is his life.

[sighs]

Um, Your Honor, Mr. Wambaugh asked if I would so the closing.

Probably because I'm a teenager and, well...

You might better manipulate me?

Exactly.

So, it is okay if I do the summation?

I know it's not regular procedure.

Miss Brock...

[clears throat]

This case started with a man in a frog suit.

We just had a choir in the jury box.

Do I seem like a stickler for procedure?

Hmm? I'll hear you.

Thank you.

I don't doubt Milton Lebeck is a smart kid.

But he is a kid.

And I won't pretend to know what is best for his life.

He may be better off in California. But I promise you,

if there isn't a better alternative to home for every teenager,

every teenager at least thinks so.

I've wanted to leave home many times myself.

My brother, Matthew,

is probably thinking of it as we speak.

But the reasons kids don't leave home

is because you just don't.

We're not raised to think that fleeing your family is an option.

And, Your Honor, do you really want to change that?

Because if you do...

If the courts make it easier for teenagers

to leave their parents, more will.

It's that simple.

I agree. And it's not a door I want to open up, believe me.

But this case isn't about selecting the best policy.

It's about Milton Lebeck.

His best interest.

In this particular situation, he may be better off in California.

There's always someplace better.

And there's always something to leave over.

Come by my house.

But family is family.

You don't leave family.

Thank you.

[sighs]

Principal called and said you left school.

And now you're here.

I must be in trouble.

Matthew.

I've been thinking a lot about what you said.

And I am guilty about some things.

I do mother Zack more than I do you.

I go to all of his games, I go to all of his school activities.

The truth is, I... I still feel the need

to protect him. He's small.

He's fragile.

I think of you as stronger.

But one thing I'm not guilty of.

Is loving him more.

Matthew, I love you

as deeply as I could ever love any person.

[sighs]

I'm not perfect.

Although it's always been a goal.

[sniffling]

I'm not.

I fail.

And one of the things that I think I fail about the most,

and maybe Daddy too,

it's keeping this family connected.

We have to talk more.

Because if you could think for one single second

that I don't love you from all of my heart...

I promise you that I'm gonna try harder, okay?

Okay.

[bailiff] Be seated.

The law says that children

do not get to choose where they wanna live.

Unless the parent is unfit,

the child simply has no say.

To be honest, I do have concerns here.

The frog suit, the frog singing,

the frogs...

It borders on the abhorrent.

Milton, last year, committed a violent crime.

So, things certainly aren't Norman Rockwell in that household.

But if you peer inside the walls of any household,

you'll rarely find Norman Rockwell.

I can think of no greater institution in this country

than the family.

And if I hold that teenagers can walk out,

just because they're not happy,

I weaken that institution.

Well, I won't do that.

If there's abuse or insanity,

certainly, a court should step in.

But otherwise, a judge has no business

coming between parent and child.

Plaintiff's petition denied.

[gavel bangs]

Hold on. I'm not finished.

Um...

I have a son.

I haven't seen him in 26 years.

I know he's still alive.

'Cause now and then I run into people

who talk to him.

I... I love him.

And I don't doubt that he loves me.

But it isn't always enough

that you love each other.

You...

It isn't always enough.

Milton...

He's your father.

I'm ordering you to be his son.

I'm enjoining you

from hiding behind the costume and that stupid song.

Talk to him.

You see,

as a judge,

I get enforcement powers

that weren't available to me as a parent.

If I've overstepped my judicial authority...

Good.

Case closed.

Everybody, go home.

Okay, closing argument.

I suppose you're gonna skip college,

go right into law school now.

You can represent me.

I wanna sue the State and the City of Rome, too.

For what? Your broken leg?

Negligence. Pain and suffering.

Emotional distress.

[laughing] You broke your leg in our driveway.

How... How can you sue the State?

They got insurance.

Deep pockets.

They'll settle out of court for nuisance charge.

It'll be un‐American for me not to sue.

[Kimberly chuckling]

You have to follow suit.

You little crook.

[Zack growling]

‐[Jill] Comin' at you. ‐[Matthew] Come on, come on, come on.

Oh! Nine!

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine.

‐There we go. ‐You're gonna be blockaded inside.

Okay, four. Where am I?

One, two, three, four. Comin' on you.

‐Stuck here. ‐[both chuckling]

‐Ooh. ‐Oh, there you go.

[indistinct conversation]

[theme music playing]

[theme music ends]