Fortier (2001) s01e01 Episode Script

Episode 1

You didn't ring! - 'Morning, Gabriel - 'Morning Gabriel.
- Where is that woman? - Late as usual.
Charest awaits trial inside.
The sexual assault counts.
l need her now.
Breach of probation, prohibited weapon.
Good for 5, 6 years? lnside for 9 months, then ''Daddy's home, girls.
'' No way.
- The State vs.
Alain Charest.
- Mayrand, go phone Fortier.
Docket number 501 -01 -92257599.
The prosecution opposes release on bail.
On what grounds? Public interest.
He's charged with breach of probation.
He was arrested by the SAS.
He was carrying a prohibited weapon.
To further justify his detention, he may be charged with the sexual assault of his daughters.
The prosecution must prove my client won't appear at trial.
l object to irrelevancies.
Vaginal injuries to his three daughters.
l request the file be examined.
He's a dangerous criminal.
The prosecution's evidence is almost entirely based on the harassment of the social worker, Ms Kathleen Giroux.
You may not intervene without the court's permission.
Kathleen Giroux.
and on the assessment of the girls by Dr.
Anne Fortier.
Have the family members testified? The emergency doctors and Dr.
Fortier are sure Testimony from the family? Every member of my client's family says the girls were sexually abused by a stranger.
lf Fortier doesn't show up, we're toast.
No answer.
- Counselor Dussault? - Dr.
Fortier is late.
My expert witness is present, if you'll hear her testimony.
- Counselor Dussault? - Very well.
Dr.
Jeannine Ross.
Come on, damn it! Don't do this to me! The door was stuck.
ln your report, you state: ''Charest doesn't resemble the typical incestuous father.
'' Tell us what you mean by that.
Neither neurotic nor psychotic, the abusive persona, as l've described in several articles, is characterized by tangential perversion.
Sexuality is expressed as aggression.
He's different.
Mr.
Charest does not match the ''incestuous father'' profile? Not in the least.
What's up? Dussault's looking for you.
- Which courtroom? - S234.
- But you're soaked! - Don't blame me.
lt's raining.
You had nobody to drive you? No, and that's how l like it.
ln 20 years, the accused had 6 convictions for aggravated theft.
Convictions for sexual assault and assault and battery.
We must distinguish between true delinquent and sexual predator.
No more questions? Mr.
Savaria? No, Your Honor.
Thank you, Dr.
Ross.
Do you wish to call Dr.
Fortier, who's seen the girls? - Dr.
Anne Fortier.
- Go on.
Nail him! l knew it.
You owe me $20.
Dr.
Anne Fortier.
Better luck next time.
Please summarize your qualifications.
l'm a doctor of clinical psychology.
Post-doctoral specialization in criminal studies.
l joined the SAS 6 months ago.
Sociopath Aggression Section.
You assessed the daughters of the accused, Annie, Stephanie and Karine.
But not his sons? No, just the girls.
The boys are adults.
Emergency alerted SAS, who asked me to assess their mental state.
Your conclusions? Considerable psychological damage due to sexual abuse, confirming the doctors' diagnosis.
The doctors were right to alert Youth Protection? My assessment shows school performance and peer relations are average until each girl turns 7.
Then, everything changes.
Schoolwork deteriorates, they defy authority and become aggressive.
What does that suggest? Something on their 7th birthday.
- What kind of thing? - l told you: a sexual trauma.
The family says the girls were assaulted by a stranger.
You say they're victims of long-standing abuse? Yes.
Your witness.
You joined the SAS only 6 months ago, after specialized study in Washington.
So, you have much education, but little experience? - Objection! - What do you wish to establish? That, in spite of her degrees, she could be wrong.
Certainly l could be wrong.
l never said l couldn't.
How did you assess the girls? The usual tests, but mainly l studied the facts.
People have a logical pattern behind their behavior.
You have to put yourself in their place.
l know it sounds difficult, but Not difficult.
Simple.
Here's a man, just out of jail.
He's nervous.
He's paid his debt to society, and Social Services knows it.
But they need a guilty party, fast.
Who could be better? You rely on facts.
l'll give you facts: No family member testified against him.
But Social Services wants to put him back in jail.
- You'd have panicked, too.
- Objection! What's so difficult about that? What's so difficult? lt's difficult surviving sexual abuse when you're only 7.
Very difficult.
Go on in, Annie.
How are you? Your sisters and brothers say hello.
Sit down.
Dad's in court.
They came for him.
l know.
- Who told you? - The social worker.
Did you tell her anything? l haven't met Mr.
Charest yet.
Can you give an expert opinion on my client? Not personally.
But l've read his assessments.
- You haven't observed him? - No, but l That answers my question.
One last thing: lt's agreed that the girls have never accused their father.
Are you absolutely certain that this man, their father, committed these assaults? - No.
- What got into you? - l had no choice.
They only dumped this case on the SAS 48 hours ago.
Give us a chance.
Three girls are getting raped by a scumbag We have no proof.
- We do! - What proof? - l know it! Two cops questioned him and got nowhere.
No trace of sperm.
l know an abuser when l see one.
l can smell them.
Maybe he used condoms.
How do l know? You want us to nail him? We need evidence.
l see screwed-up people every day.
When l go to court, l win.
There's a pattern to incest! - Patterns - That's how it is.
Patterns tell a whole lot.
- Give me my briefcase.
- Which briefcase? - Mine! - Bye.
- Thanks for helping the defense.
ls that what l did? Did l say he was innocent? - He is, you know.
- Prove it.
The prosecution has to prove it.
l'm there to cast doubt.
Now what? Go back to their house? To hell with 'em.
Dump it on the regular guys! lt's not a specialized crime.
l owe Kathleen.
lt's my last good deed for a social worker.
l cleared it with their boss.
When did he start letting us play in his sandbox? - He owes me, okay? - Sure, everyone owes everyone.
We'll all pay when the big boss wakes up.
Do l grill the wife again? SAS constitution, paragraph 15, sub-paragraph 3: ''lnvestigate crimes by persons with psychiatric disorders.
'' lncest isn't psychiatric enough for you? - lt is psychiatric, isn't it? - Only within the family.
Fortier would have got the girls to talk, but she couldn't, and l'm not putting everyone on it.
Fortier can have it.
We've got enough on our plates.
- Did you check what l asked? - The mom has no boyfriend.
l covered the neighborhood.
Peaceable family.
You sure can talk the talk.
''Hi there, peaceable family.
'' Discreet.
ls that better? - Grandpa? - Tickled his whiskers, didn't even sneeze.
Never sees the girls.
Suzanne, find Fortier for me.
There you are.
Now l have Giroux burning my ass like a boil.
Bad start.
lt's not even our department.
Anti-gang hasn't time, neither does the drug squad.
She went for someone she knew.
You're the shrink on staff.
You peck away at it.
Peck away.
- But l need - Later! We did the groundwork.
l can't put everyone on it.
But l have a lead here! lt's important! Anne, got a minute? - What for? - lt's l have a problem.
lt's personal.
l'm attracted to some men, feel safe with others, but l never get both in the same man.
Later? l really haven't got time now.
Just a quick tip.
Please? A tip Why not try a threesome? Ms.
Dussault, please.
l'm sorry, she's already on the line.
lt's vital.
l'll try.
Hold on, please.
Sorry to interrupt.
Dr.
Fortier, line 3.
She says it's vital.
Make it quick.
l'm interviewing someone.
That won't be easy.
l'll see what l can negotiate.
Negotiate what? - What? - You going to tackle Charest? Dussault'll try to get me in to see him.
You'll be okay by yourself? We worked on him.
He's tough.
l'm a psychologist.
l'll peck, as the boss said.
You like it that way, right? Going it alone.
But that's what he just told me to do.
lt's not what we mean.
We talk things over, then act.
You act first and explain later.
You don't care about this case.
- She's a doctor, you know? - So what? She's got you eating out of her hand.
ls something bothering you? We think you lack team spirit.
l'm not a cop.
l can't act like one.
You're not a cop? No kidding! l think she's mad.
You didn't have to overdo it.
We agreed to talk to her, and you crap out first thing.
We're fed up with her secrets.
And you agreed.
You never said you were going to mow her down.
She should be asking us, not farting around with Dussault.
Nobody wastes a cop's time like a lawyer.
Fortier sticks with her own kind.
She thinks cops get their hands too dirty.
She's gotta learn.
When a cop's right, he can do what it takes.
The rest is window-dressing.
l got no time for it.
- All on your own? - l'm looking for someone.
- Shall we both look? - You know her? - You're funny.
- l'm not.
You are.
Why would you want to look for my friend? Not your friend.
You.
Why would you look for me? l'm already here.
Forget it.
l sweat blood for you, you stand me up.
l'm sorry.
l couldn't help it.
The same again.
Who's that? He said he was looking for you.
Really? l don't know him.
- Then why's he looking for you? - No idea.
l have some good news.
Savaria says you can see Charest tomorrow, alone.
Thank you! l know that man.
Back in a sec.
Working on Charest? Only a mental case would rape his own kids.
Going by his record, he's not that crazy.
He's an old thug on the way out.
Bet he's got a couple of skeletons in the closet.
- Looks like a contract killing.
- He freelances.
He never killed, but he's dangerous.
l wouldn't want to meet him in a dark alley.
- When's Fortier talking to him? - Right about now.
- He won't talk.
- We should've gone.
Why? lt's not dangerous in jail.
- Not dangerous? - What? - Tell him.
Guys in jail have nothing to lose.
He can bust her nose in three seconds flat.
The guards won't leave her alone with him? Unless she orders them out? lf you hadn't let us down when we read her the riot act Not your problem.
Right, kid? Two bloody shrinks not one straight answer.
Fortier could agree with Ross to piss us off.
And then do the ''he's a poor victim of society'' shtick.
He hasn't had an easy life.
- There you go again.
- lt's true.
When shrinks take over, l'm off with my Rita to a desert island.
You sure she'd go with you? Sorry.
l didn't mean to hurt your feelings.
You did.
l'll bring him.
l stay here.
You can go.
l'll be in the booth.
My lawyer says l don't have to talk to you.
Assessment: Alain Charest.
True, but it's your last chance to get out of this.
First session: Alain Charest.
l'm giving you fair warning.
My tape recorder is on.
Everything you say l can use as evidence at your trial.
Fair warning.
You don't have to talk to me.
But if you do, l can use it.
Are you going to talk to me anyway? l have important things to tell you.
Yeah? - Congratulations.
- What for? With a record like yours, you should already be dead.
That's what they call ''buying time.
'' Bravo.
lt wasn't me.
Social Services always have the last word with incest.
What do you want? - Dr.
Ross says you're innocent.
- Yeah.
So? Now you have to convince me.
We know your daughters were sexually assaulted.
Do you accept that? The medical report proves it.
l wasn't there.
My wife took them to the hospital.
You're going straight to trial.
Three things can happen: One: your lawyer gets you out on probation.
But l doubt it.
With three young victims, the judge won't risk it.
Forget the judge.
Two: you're found guilty.
When you get out of jail, unless your cellmates ignored you, you'll never screw again.
Three: you and l prove you're innocent.
l'll be honest with you: we have our work cut out for us.
They're still questioning your wife, you know.
lt's what you think that counts, not what we say.
Your husband has one hell of a record.
Why defend him? What good does it do you? Alain's no angel but he wouldn't rape our girls.
We don't know who did it, l keep telling you! Hi, guys.
- Come on.
lt stinks here.
- Mind your mouth.
-Up yours.
Boys, go to your room.
Go on.
- When'll you leave us alone? - When someone confesses.
Look l know you mean well.
But l'd do anything for my kids.
Maybe my man's no saint, but he doesn't deserve this.
They have no proof.
The file from Youth Protection? Nobody here's said a word against Alain.
He took off with a gun.
That speaks for itself.
Haven't l suffered enough? Why can't you give me a break? Alain's paid for his stupidity.
Now, because of you, l'm paying.
Do you realize that? They'll believe your wife before they believe you.
That's a damned lie.
She's afraid of you.
Do you like to gamble? Think you can beat me? At what? Are you deaf? l need it now! Put him on.
Giroux approaching, northbound.
She's here.
- Any news from Fortier? - No.
How did you get along? She loves her husband.
He can do no wrong.
- And the boys? - Couple of bums, just like Dad.
Hi, there.
Three bodies in a triangle.
Pine Grove.
Parent, go with him.
- When you say triangle - You know what a triangle is? - What kind of a triangle? - Who the hell cares? - lsosceles? Scalene? - Who's the medical expert? Maybe the Bermuda triangle? lt might be important The killer's modus operandi.
- The killer's what? - Modus operandi! l'm not working with him.
Let's just say the bodies are in a circle.
Let' go.
Drive carefully.
- The arsonist is back.
- Who wants the firebug? l'll spend the rest of the day on it.
We have to push a bit.
- Let's have action! - Hang on.
Listen up! You're cute, but not that cute.
We're invading the other squads' turf.
They're already jealous.
Soon they'll start hating me.
Too late.
Didn't l save your neck recently? Don't tell me.
You owe her one, too? With you on the job, maniacs have nothing to worry about.
Want us to torture them? Three girls are being abused! We got cases up to here, and not many charged.
Take a number.
- Okay, baby? - Okay, baby.
They have to go to trial anyway.
Calm down.
One thing at a time.
The guy's staying in jail.
That's her job.
He'll stay there till his daughters can cope on their own.
We know they're in trouble, damn it! Listen to the man.
Heads or tails.
Tails, l'm wrong and your wife won't talk.
Heads, l'm right and your wife will talk.
Think l'm stupid? l go call her, and l'll know in 2 seconds.
You think she'll tell you the truth? Your problem is that you're only looking at one possibility.
One.
That your wife stays loyal.
That's the chink in your armor.
You bitch.
You're trying to scare me into confessing.
lt's against the law.
Maybe she's found another man, and he assaulted your girls? You shut your damn mouth.
No You're not the type to do time to protect her lover.
Unless you owe him something.
A gambling debt? What are your sons like? Why won't you look at me? Bother you if l mention your boys? What bothers me is your stinkin' questions.
lf it isn't you and it isn't a stranger, it must be someone you all know.
Someone important.
lt's the crazy broad from Social Services.
She hates me.
lf you're wife's protecting someone else, it doesn't look good for you, does it? As l said, Social Services turns up the heat, - your wife dumps you.
- Never.
- Why not? How can you be so sure? Why did you take off with a gun? What are you scared of? Who are you protecting? lf she's scared of you, she won't tell you.
She'll tell us and she'll see that you end your days inside.
Tails, l'm wrong and your wife won't talk.
Heads, l'm right, and your wife will talk.
lt's your call.
Heads or tails? Usually the odds are 50-50.
Odds are against you.
You're in.
She's free.
Like your quarter's loaded to come up heads.
How sure of your wife are you? Sure enough to risk spending 14 years in jail? l hate it when you clam up.
Spit it out! Did you crack him or not? l shook him, but didn't crack him.
l need clues.
l can't build a case unless l'm sure he's guilty.
He conned you! He'd say anything to save himself.
He has nothing left to lose.
Yet he doesn't even defend himself.
You might give a thought to the girls.
Two cops to escort a shrink to a routine assessment.
You think we got time for this? They'll do a whole number on you.
Enough, Giroux.
Back off.
Don't say l don't care about the girls.
l do.
lf you care so much, prove it! So l won't be like an idiot who loses her temper all the time.
What's wrong with you? Why are you so angry? What are you holding back? Save the girl talk for later.
Let's get a move on.
Here.
Now that Annie's gone away, you're the big sister.
You all remember what l told you? Mrs.
Charest? Thank you for letting me see them again.
Dr.
Fortier will take care of Stephanie.
Karine.
Karine.
This is bull.
We don't have to do it.
Dr.
Fortier will need a couple of hours.
- Kathleen, speak to the lady.
- Yes, that's my job.
Fine.
Boys, go out and have a smoke.
Go on, out.
Here.
You can read this.
Show me your room? Come on.
Oh, sorry.
Your mom told you l was mean? She's right.
l am mean.
l'm serious.
But maybe there's one thing she didn't tell you: l'm mean to people who want to hurt you and your sisters.
Do you understand? lt's your fault my sister got taken away.
lt was because she beat up someone and she joined a gang.
Did your mother tell you anything else? l know things she doesn't know.
l've talked with your father.
Let's play the game with the doll like last time, okay? Your father told me he touched you there? Yes.
And there? And here? No? Okay.
Mom doesn't like us smoking.
Do you always do what your mom says? When did your dad start feeling up your sisters? l see.
Your mom isn't in charge.
Your brother is.
You haven't got a clue what's going on here.
Now that tells me quite a bit.
Do you love your father? Have you got a boyfriend? Would it make a difference? - Have you got one? - No, l haven't.
You don't like guys? lt's not that.
l don't want one, that's all.
lf you had one, you wouldn't be so mean to my dad.
Know what your dad told me? He said he never touched you.
How am l supposed to believe him? Let's make a drawing like we did last time.
Okay? What color do you want? Draw me a picture of what happens in your family.
Draw whatever you like.
What's that? Mind your own business.
ls it a ring? ls it yours? Yeah.
lt's a wedding band.
ls it a game? Why don't you put it on? Put it on.
- Let me see.
- Don't touch it! You're making the same drawing as last time at the hospital? l want to show you something.
Your sister drew it.
Would you make one for me, too? Time to go.
- What about Mrs.
Charest? - l said it's time to go! l'll call you soon.
We're leaving.
Get them into protective custody.
- She talk? - Why do you want me to do this? Because it's still going on.

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