Burden of Truth (2018) s01e05 Episode Script

1 Previously On "Burden of Truth".
- We're sick.
- Yeah, thanks to your Dad.
This has nothing to do with the mill! Soil samples taken from the field show traces of contaminants including benzene and methyl mercury.
- Does this mean I'm hired? - Yeah.
Meet us at Billy's office, 9AM sharp tomorrow.
[GERRILYN.]
: That kid you were driving around? She's your sister.
Tell me it isn't true.
- Tell you what's not true? - Gerrilyn Spence.
Gerrilyn Spence is a liar! She's crazy.
Crazy like Mom was crazy? [SOFT ACOUSTIC GUITAR STRUMMING.]
- Prom is lame.
- Hey - You're lame.
- What?! Everyone acts like it's such a big deal.
Everyone's stinky and sweaty.
- I mean, it's in a gym! - Well, I can't wait for prom.
I just got a new dress, and I'm - gonna be smokin' hot! - Oh Yeah, well, it can't be too hot.
School dress code applies for prom too.
Principal Weller's gonna be there measuring our dresses? - Oh, God, man.
- What a perv.
Ladies, your cleavage is very distracting around the boys.
But now do behave yourselves tonight, you animals! No, I'm gonna go naked.
- Just completely wearing nothing.
- Dude! I would kill to see the look on Weller's face.
- Oh, hey.
- Hey.
I swiped this from my dad's liquor cabinet.
It's probably full of benzene.
- [LUNA.]
: Molly, Molly.
- I'm kidding.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
Come sit.
That was terrible.
So you guys gonna go to prom together? - Yes.
- No.
Who else are we gonna go with? My mom's head would explode.
I'm pretty sure that she thinks that you - can catch gay, so - Oh, you can.
I caught it from the water fountain by the science lab.
- Oh, yeah? - Just steer clear of that area.
- That's it.
- Noted.
Oh, Molly.
Molly, Molly.
It's OK.
It's fine.
[GROANING.]
I'm so sick of this! I'm so sick of this.
I know.
I know, baby.
All right.
Everybody stand up.
- What? - Yeah, I've got an idea.
Come on.
Everybody stand up.
Come on! - Why? - Circle the fire.
- Amanda, why? - God, just trust me! Hold hands.
Join hands! - Hold hands.
- OK, holding.
It's so cute.
- So romantic.
- Now close your eyes.
- And walk into the fire? - Can you stop? I just I wanna try something.
I, um I found this healing ritual.
- "Healing ritual"? - Yes.
OK.
I mean, it's worth it's worth a shot.
Ahem.
Ahem.
May the shining light within my soul [LAUGHING.]
- Hey.
- I'm sorry.
OK.
Yes.
- Ready? - Yes.
[MOLLY.]
: I'm s I'm sorry.
OK.
OK.
heal me now and make me whole.
May the shining light within my soul [TOGETHER.]
: heal me now and make me whole.
May the shining light within my soul heal me now and make me whole.
[LOUDER.]
: May the shining light within my soul heal me now and make me whole! [CHEERING AND HOLLERING.]
So long, farewell I ain't got the time to fall under your spell When is it ever gonna ring a bell so long, farewell We'll put another dime in the wishing well It worked! [THEME MUSIC.]
[SOFT MUSIC.]
Good morning.
Have a nice day.
[DOOR BELL JINGLING.]
Good morning.
You know it's the weekend, right? Yeah.
You're here too.
You've been here all night? I couldn't sleep.
It is never too early for trial strategy, so we find holes in our case and there are a few.
You need to take better care of yourself.
Warriors never slept before battle.
That's 'cause they didn't have alarm clocks.
Sleep is good.
You need to take time now, before the trial, or you're not gonna make it.
I almost got trampled by a couple of Matheson's guys.
We filed suit, Billy.
We've declared war.
I knew people would be upset about us going after their biggest employer, but They don't want it to be the mill, and they are not going to be rational.
This is only the beginning of the blowback.
I guess I'm just not used to it.
Being the bad guy? [SIGHING.]
Did you talk to your dad about Luna? He said it isn't true.
Do you believe him? I I really, um I don't know, but as of right now, it is just an allegation.
I made a preliminary list of names of people we have to depose when we get to discovery.
Obviously, Ben Matheson's name is at the top of the list, but if we wanna nail the parent company, that means officers, directors.
It'll be good to finally get at the truth.
[DOG BARKING.]
- Good morning, Mom.
- Hey.
- I'm making eggs.
- I've gotta get to work, - but thanks.
- Well, I can make them to go.
Uh this water bill's due today.
Can you pay this? Yeah.
I can pay the water bill.
How's the, uh job going? It's good.
I'm learning lots.
It'll look great on my resume.
Hey, Mom do you remember when you were talking about taking your GED? I'm not some dumb dropout.
- I was on the honour roll.
- Yeah, I know.
And I would've been the first in our family - to go to college.
- And then I happened.
Things happen.
Jeez.
Don't go making it all about you.
[SIGHING.]
Well this was just lying around the office.
It's old, but it works.
No one's using it.
Now you can do your GED and we can go to college together.
Yeah.
Don't forget about the water bill.
See you.
[SOFT MUSIC.]
Good morning.
Oatmeal's hot, sweetheart.
Thank you.
Where were you last night? - I was just - Careful.
We don't tell lies in this house.
I was just out with some friends.
It's no big deal.
It is a big deal if we can't trust your word.
Look I know that you've been hurting.
Losing Steve was hard on all of us, especially you, but you can't let that ruin the rest of your life.
We worry about some of your friends, sweetheart.
They're a bad influence on you.
What, are you serious? God instructs parents to teach their children purity.
Now if those girls had been taught correctly, they wouldn't be where they are now.
They're not twitching because they're impure.
Why don't you invite Molly to service this morning? Now, your oatmeal's getting cold.
[TENSE MUSIC.]
Oh, no Mommy there's something there's something wrong.
The mill's parent company showed worldwide revenues last year of over a billion dollars.
If you were Luna, wouldn't you want The girls won't see a cent of this unless we can prove that they knew about the barrels.
She deserves to know.
Not until I have evidence, Billy.
I'm not gonna blow up her life unless I know for sure.
- [DOOR BELL JINGLING.]
- Hey, guys.
Luna, good morning.
Good morning.
Any word from the mill? No, they have 20 days to respond and they'll probably take all of them.
"20 days"?! What's this? Those are financial statements from PNL Steel.
- That's Matheson Steel's - Parent company.
Yeah, I know.
We want a big settlement, we need to make a case against the parent company.
Luna, it's uh, it's Sunday.
Why don't you just take the day off? I'd rather stay and work, if that's all right with you.
So how do we make a case against the parent company? Parents aren't responsible for the transgressions of their subsidiaries unless we can prove that they knew.
- What is it? - It's the church.
Did you get a text from God? We have to get over there right now.
[DOOR BELL JINGLING.]
[PASTOR.]
: Now in this day and age, we must be vigilant.
Our youth are being bombarded by hedonistic influences.
And we must prepare them for battle.
Never has a generation had such a mighty enemy to overcome in its path to purity, and I stand here today to challenge you.
Our community leaders, our schools, our parents, I challenge you to help these sick girls who have been led astray.
Now, we were told that it was poison that made our girls sick.
And I do believe that they were poisoned, but not by Matheson Steel, but by the toxicity of this modern world.
Now, I want you all to think long and hard about this lawsuit, and then focus more on our own decisions, things that are in our control.
For some problems cannot be solved in a courtroom.
Beware of silver tongues and those who would willingly lead us astray.
And remember that the devil comes in many forms.
He actually called you the devil? Yeah.
It was a little bit on the nose.
Well, Millwood isn't really a hotbed of creativity.
You OK? Yeah.
Not the first time I've been compared to Satan, won't be the last.
I expected the town to be pissed but this is pretty extreme.
Yeah.
Everyone's getting out their pitchforks.
There's an expression in Guyana my mom used to say.
"Every bush a man nighttime.
" When you're afraid, things always seem scarier than they actually are.
True enough.
Is everything all right? Is that a trick question? This is me.
[SCHOOL BELL RINGING.]
Good luck at work today.
- Try not to get yourself killed.
- Yeah, you too.
[SOFT MUSIC.]
Uh hey.
Can I borrow a pen? I promise I'll give it back this time.
What the hell's going on here? Sherry said her mom wouldn't let her come to school.
- Said she's gonna catch it.
- Are you kidding? The whole world wants us gone.
Bet you never thought we'd be the zombies in the apocalypse.
Miss Ross? A word.
Look there's no easy way to say this.
- Your outfit.
- What about it? You're violating the dress code in several different ways.
- Is he serious? - I am.
Slightly exposed midriff, skirt that doesn't extend past your fingertips.
- This is ridiculous.
- Miss Evans, there are rules.
You should be enforcing them.
It's like 100 degrees outside.
I just wanted to be comfortable.
I'm not enforcing a dress code.
The rules are very clear.
The rules teach girls their bodies are dangerous.
Hey, I've worn this exact outfit like, 100 times.
And I am just enforcing the rules.
Unless you have a change of clothes in your locker, you'll have to go home.
- I can't believe this.
- Neither can I.
Miss Evans, call her mother and see that she makes her way home safely.
I wasn't trying to cause trouble.
I know you hate what I wear too.
I'm your mom.
Hating what you wear is my God-given right.
Weller's off his rocker.
OK.
You gotta take me home to change.
No.
Screw that.
Screw Weller.
I'm busting you out of this gulag.
We're going shopping.
I mean, it's like, who do they even think they are?! Like they never sinned or anything.
- And what does that even mean?! - They're panicking.
Millwood's been known to do some unreasonable things, even at the best of times.
[LUNA SIGHING.]
Yeah.
Like I need this right now.
It feels like everywhere I go, things are just falling apart.
[SIGHING.]
Seriously, what's wrong with you today? Forget it.
Ahem.
OK.
Feels like I'm just making everybody mad these days.
I think it's my special talent.
You want me to file those? Yeah, that'd be great.
You know, my mom's pretty much always mad at me for being born.
I get it.
She had to drop out of high school when she got preggers.
Maybe that's why she's happy I'm not into boys.
Ahem.
OK.
I can be quiet.
Here are the up-to-date medical records.
[MAN.]
: Get out of town, traitor! [TIRES SCREECHING.]
You OK? I didn't even need a new dress.
I was just gonna wear that green thing I wore to this funeral.
You need a new dress.
It's prom.
We can't even afford this.
Don't worry about it.
I spread it out.
A few bucks on each card.
I don't even wanna go.
Everyone wants to go to prom.
Maybe when you were in high school, but things are different now.
No.
No.
Fashions might change, but kids stay pretty much the same.
I know you wanna go to your prom.
You just wanna go as Molly Ross, star athlete, team captain, not Molly the twitcher? Whatever makes you happy, that's what matters.
You and Luna don't worry what people think.
I don't worry about what people think.
Well, then why didn't you just tell me about you two? Do we have to do this right now? This was actually going really well.
OK, I I know the things they say at your church.
I guess I was just waiting for a sign that you disagreed.
After Molly got sent home, all hell broke loose.
Apparently a parent found a video.
heal me now and make me whole.
May the shining light within my soul heal me now - and make me whole! - [CHEERING AND HOLLERING.]
I'm sorry, I can't watch any more.
This is just grossly inappropriate.
I demand that the school take immediate action.
For what? - Mr.
Crawford.
- They're teenagers.
- It's witchcraft.
- And they're scared.
I think we're done listening to you.
W-we raised Georgia right and then we find this on her phone! Everyone needs to calm down.
You keep saying it's the field.
You know, we don't let Amanda play sports.
Tell me how she got sick.
Well, I'm sure there's an explanation that doesn't include sorcery.
I have thought about this, Mr.
Crawford, and I don't see any alternative.
The girls affected by this illness will be suspended from all school functions until we get an answer.
- The prom is tomorrow.
- We have an answer.
The field was poisoned by barrels dumped there by Matheson Steel.
OK.
You had me going.
But she's getting sicker, and now she's defying me, and she's dancing in the woods, and she's drinking.
This has nothing to do with a couple of barrels in the field.
For the safety of the student body, any student who disobeys the suspension will find themselves expelled.
Don't worry.
We'll get this off their records.
They're gonna get into university.
- They're gonna miss prom.
- They'll get over it.
"They'll get over it"? Half the girls here and most of the boys would choose prom over university.
That can't be our concern right now.
You never went to prom? I had other things I had to do.
Prom is like closure.
Your whole world is high school while you're there, and then your world explodes.
Prom is like your last dance with innocence, or at least it was for me.
Not that you know that at the time.
At the time, it's just a party and making out.
Not going to prom isn't the end of the world, but they don't know that yet.
Fine.
Give me Bailey.
Hey.
The principal isn't our problem.
It's the town.
They're blaming the girls, not the barrels.
Tell Diane to work on the parents.
We need to take back the narrative.
I'll talk to the pastor.
Tell him the devil sends her regards.
Will do.
It's been a while, Billy.
You don't make it to service as often as you used to.
Or as often as I'd like, Pastor.
I've been busy.
- Is Amanda around? - She's out of town.
Visiting family.
Look, I know why you're here.
You don't actually believe that these girls have the devil in them? No, I don't.
But the teachings of faith lie in metaphor.
You know that.
Look, I christened Molly.
- Most of them.
- So reach out.
Pastor, people are taking you very literally.
I don't believe it's the devil, but I do believe these girls are out of control, and their sins have caught up with them.
- Their sins? - Well, if it helps, think that sin is a guilty conscience.
We found toxins in the playing field that are proven to cause neurological disorders.
And there are studies that link guilt and anxiety to psychosomatic disorders.
Guilt can manifest itself in a physical form.
The answer lies in Scripture.
And believe it or not, I am trying to help.
These girls, they have nothing to feel guilty about.
The church can teach us how to live faithfully in a very complex world.
Pastor, what is it that you're not telling me? I think you should come back to us, Billy.
I know you're lost.
Your father's struggles, your brother.
And you're taking all that anger and you're directing it towards Millwood.
- [WOMAN.]
: Amanda, sweetheart, - [AMANDA.]
: Mom! - we need to talk! - Stay out of my room! I think it's time for you to leave.
All right.
[SOFT MUSIC.]
Any luck today, Jack? The best catfishing in the world is in this river, and I can't even get a nibble.
Not my year.
You and a lot of people around here.
My wife and I, we had a deal.
I was gonna work and she was gonna raise Georgia.
She did a good job.
Head of the Parent Council how many years? Too many.
She was always afraid that, uh I was gonna get sick and she'd have to get a job, and then, uh I'm very sorry.
And then I'm on my own, and Georgia's all grown, and boys are calling.
We eat dinner, and she sits and looks at her phone.
Cameras are supposed to point outwards.
This generation seems to have forgotten that.
"If the youth are not initiated," " they will burn down the village" "to feel the warmth of the fire.
" It's not easy for them, either.
Especially now.
She needs your help.
[SIGHING.]
How am I supposed to do that? Just start.
Just talk.
About what? About anything.
[SOFT MUSIC.]
Hey! Hey.
Uh look.
I know that we haven't got to know each other very well, but, um I need to ask you for a favour.
Well If it's for your case, you're gonna have to go through proper channels.
I can't take sides.
No, it's not.
It's, um It's personal.
Shoot.
How quickly can you do a DNA test? Normally, a couple of days, but I'm owed some favours.
- What do you need? - Ahem.
I need to know if the people who chewed the gum are related.
[SOFT MUSIC.]
[KNOCKING ON WINDOW.]
[WHISPERING.]
: Amanda! Hi.
I'm breaking you out of here.
What are you staring at? Go put your dress on! What are you talking about? Oh, we're, uh, crashing prom.
OK, and what about the suspension? - Uh Weller can kiss my - She can Hey! OK.
Suit up, Parson.
We gotta go.
I weep For the world For the world And where we sleep The tears fall As a crystal of a different salt But we gotta get up for work in the morning We gotta smile, yeah, for the kids Like everything's OK Yeah! It is well It is well Oh, you guys need a picture.
OK.
Are you ready? It is well I thought you guys knew better than to show up here.
- Just leave it, Riley.
OK? - No.
You trying to get us all sick? Or you just want us to join your weird-ass cult? - This is our prom too.
- No, it's not.
Principal Weller is gonna expel your asses.
OK, hold on.
- HEY! Hey! - Hey, OK! Whoa! Luna! Luna! Never thought I'd see you in the back seat.
Some of the best people have been in the back of a cop car.
Viola Desmond Martin Luther King Robbie Robertson.
They didn't punch a girl in the face.
She may press charges.
Here's your lawyer.
[DRIVER'S DOOR CLOSING.]
[SIGHING.]
You're a good kid.
And smart.
[SIGHING.]
I know that sometimes it feels like you're carrying the weight for everyone.
I went through it too.
We do it because we can and because they need us to.
We're a lot alike.
You're a good daughter.
My mom was my hero at one point.
I just wish she was happy.
Yeah.
Maybe it would be better if we never had any heroes.
Yeah.
Maybe.
All right, Joanna.
I need to talk to you.
It shouldn't take long.
You're a good friend.
I talked them out of laying charges.
They knew she had an expensive lawyer.
Yeah.
But it's not looking good for the girls.
- I heard expulsion.
- OK.
I'll talk to them in the morning.
About the other thing? Coming soon.
[SOFT MUSIC.]
Laying all My money down For a gamblin' man It was Molly's idea.
You know, damn the man and all that good stuff.
- Wow.
- Oh! It's so good! [ROMANTIC SLOW MUSIC.]
Outside, you don't know why Tell each other in the middle of the night Sometimes I forget they're still teenagers.
I guess you carry this around long enough, it starts to crush the kid right out of you.
[JOANNA.]
: Where'd they all come from? Well, it turns out not everyone's against them.
[JOANNA.]
: It's only going to get worse for them.
Cases like this aren't easy for anyone, least of all them.
They're gonna try and tear them apart any chance they can get.
Well, at least they'll have tonight.
You look at me as if you know what it's like Yeah.
In the shadow of a streetlight Here it is.
Did you, uh None of my business.
Now I know I can't go back Thank you.
But when I look into your eyes You see something I'm trying to hide Thoughts of you Running through my mind Open door but it doesn't feel right You look at me As if you know what it's like In the shadows of the streetlight - Hey there.
- Hey, Owen.
The kids didn't think they could trust me with the tunes, but clearly I still got it.
I was just bringing an envelope to Joanna.
That's why I'm here.
OK.
And then I saw you over here, so I came over.
Are you gonna ask me to dance? [NERVOUS CHUCKLING.]
So, you're a puncher? Not going to make a habit of it, but she deserved it.
It's probably a good thing we got kicked out of the other one.
- Mm-hmm? - All the good peeps, - none of the haters.
- Yeah.
You did good, Molls.
In the shadows Of the streetlight That's hot.
- Please! - I've got an idea.
Come on.
In the shadows of the streetlight We couldn't do it for real because you guys are old and that would be weird, but you guys should be prom king and queen.
Yeah, we'd be totally screwed without you guys.
All of us.
But don't let it get to your head.
- Shouldn't they dance? - No.
I don't dance.
- Why? It's easy.
- No.
I pass.
Oh, come on! You're not gonna get pregnant! Just sway side to side.
I know how to dance, I just didn't want to.
Come on [GIGGLING.]
- They're so cute.
- They're so cute! I've been in love Honey, you know it's true Whoa, since that day I first laid my eyes on you It's always an uphill battle to sue a parent company, but lower courts are trending toward piercing the corporate vale in environmental cases, - especially class-actions.
- Mmhmm.
Once we gain access to PNL's internal communications, we'll have a sense of what they knew about business in Millwood.
Why don't you try turning it off? This entire town is against us.
We can't waste any time.
Not the entire town.
So what are we supposed to do? Just dance in silence? Oh, please - Won't you stay with me - [GIGGLING.]
'Cause since you gone It's been a misery You ever have a client throw you a coronation before? No.
I think I still prefer a retainer.
You know, you're doing some real good here.
You mean something to these girls.
[BUZZING.]
'Cause I've been so lonely since you gone away I should take this.
It might be the court clerk.
Of course.
Every day is pain - Hello? - [MAN.]
: Is this Joanna Hanley? - Yes.
- Leave Millwood or you're dead.
[TENSE MUSIC.]
[BIRDS CHIRPING.]
[SOFT MUSIC.]
Now that was a prom.
The look on Joanna's face when I put the crown on? - Highlight.
- "Highlight"? You really like her, huh? Yeah, she's pretty cool.
A little weird, but it's awesome, what she's doing.
And I never saw myself as the legal type, but it's fun, you know? "Fun"? Not my thing, but I think you'd make a kickass lawyer.
Nah.
It's not in my blood.
So? You could go to law school.
Gerrilyn would be pumped.
Eh What about our plan? Hmm? - I don't know.
I - Hey.
It's OK.
I just I don't think this is gonna change.
Molls, you're gonna be OK.
I mean this town, and us.
Are you breaking up with No! No, I'm not breaking up with you.
I just I don't think I'm gonna be going anywhere anytime soon.
OK.
I'll be right here until you're ready.
[SIGHING.]
I don't know how much longer we can be us here.
Molly we became us here.
My whole life, I felt like a stranger here.
I've had a foot in both worlds.
Long Grass Millwood.
I never felt like I belonged in either.
And now none of that matters.
I'm not gonna let people judge me anymore.
Maybe this doesn't have to be the worst place in the world.
[SOFT MUSIC.]
[SIGHING.]
[SIGHING.]
[SIGHING.]
[SIGHING.]
Good morning, Principal Weller.
What are you If you don't reverse their expulsion, I'll petition the schoolboard for your removal for professional misconduct.
And I will sue you for slander and for violating their civil rights.
- But in the situation - If you can't perform your duties unbiased by the pressures of this town, then we will find somebody who can.
Furthermore I will have your teaching licence revoked.
And then I will go after your pension.
Don't mess with my girls.
Did you talk to Weller? He'll come to his senses.
The town will take a little bit longer.
We need to win this, Billy.
We need to get these girls everything they need and more.
We have to make whoever did this pay.
We will.
I could've used these girls when I was in high school.
Oh, I'm pretty sure they like you too.
They did make you a crown.
You're a good lawyer, Billy.
You're an even better uncle.
Thanks.
You're not so bad yourself.
You know, underneath all this city-lawyer toughness, you're actually a good person.
Remember that.
[BUZZING.]
[SIGHING.]
[SIGHING.]
I have to go.
- OK.
- I'm sorry.
[SOFT MUSIC.]
What are you doing here? It went so well the last time I surprised you? I'm sorry.
We built a case against Matheson Steel.
We're going after their parent company.
I heard.
I need you to leave this case, Jo.
I need you to leave and come home.
No.
I'm not leaving this case.
These girls need me.
You've been served.
Excuse me?! Matheson Steel and PNL have hired Carver, Thatcher, Stokes as their attorneys.
This is our answer to your lawsuit.
Nothing.
We're gonna give you nothing.
And we're moving to strike with costs and we're gonna sue for bringing frivolous charges.
Your father sent me, Jo.
And we're not here to win.
We're here to destroy you.