Burden of Truth (2018) s01e06 Episode Script

1 - Previously on Burden of Truth.
- The field was poisoned by Matheson Steel.
They don't want it to be the Mill and they are not going to be rational.
- Have a nice day.
- Losing Steve was hard on all of us, especially you.
I need to know if the people who chewed the gum are related.
She deserves to know.
Not until I have evidence, Billy.
- [DOOR CHIME.]
- Hey, guys.
Your father sent me, Jo, and we're not here to win.
We're here to destroy you.
Dr.
Williams gets here in an hour.
Once he can link the girl's symptoms to the benzene, - we're off to the races.
- You're worried about this frivolous lawsuit charge from CTS? If we lose tomorrow, their next move is to sue me.
I know this isn't what you signed up for: going up against your old law firm.
I should have known that my father wouldn't let me get away so easily.
Billy, is that? [THEME MUSIC.]
Is anything missing? My laptop.
And my trial strategy for the case.
I map it out on a yellow legal pad.
Yeah, looks like boys being boys.
We had a pipe thrown through our window, and we've received death threats.
Still just "boys being boys"? Not much we can do but give you a copy of the report.
Can you think of anyone who might want to do this? CTS.
- Who's that? - My old law firm.
Law firm that breaks the law.
It's indictable.
Yeah, but we'll never catch them.
They're not sloppy like that.
I'll snoop around ask some questions.
Yeah, you'll need to get a locksmith in.
Stewart's pretty good.
Possibly still sober.
Let's all have a good day now.
You really think CTS brought goons to Millwood? Why bother when they can just roll into the Boot and "suggest" that Billy Crawford deserves what he has coming? [SIGHING.]
I never would have thought people here would go for that.
People everywhere go for that.
It's called crappy human nature.
Looks like I'm interrupting something.
I'm afraid to ask what.
Yeah, we had a bit of a break-in.
Ah, sheesh, Joanna, you've only been here 5 minutes.
Oh, what can I say? - Billy Crawford.
- Calvin Williams.
Thank you for coming on such short notice.
Yeah, of course.
Well, let's not waste time.
Where are the girls? Hey, guys.
This is Dr.
Williams.
- Oh, please, call me Cal.
- Great, another doctor.
[WILLIAMS SIGHING.]
You have every right to be frustrated, and I know you're desperate for answers, but before I make a proper diagnosis, I'm gonna need to speak to each of you one on one.
- So, this is therapy? - It's a neuropsychological assessment of your psychogenic movement disorder.
- Yeah, it's what I said.
- [GIRL CHUCKLING.]
OK, I'm ready to start - if that's all right.
- Yes.
Why don't we start with you.
Hmm? Follow me.
When did your symptoms first start? Right after the vaccine clinic.
It was just my hands at first, and then it got worse and worse.
But you hid your symptoms? Why? Full Full-ride soccer scholarship to McGill.
Didn't want to blow that.
Yeah I don't blame you.
Was there anything else going on at school? Molly? This is a safe space.
People were talking a lot.
What were they talking about? - What do you mean? - The kids at school, what was on everyone's mind? Steve died.
Everyone was talking about that, I guess.
- Steve? - Star athlete.
He was warm, cute.
You know, that guy.
I understand.
Must have been hard to lose someone like that.
Everyone was in shock, you know? Because of how.
How? Ummm how what? How did Steve Magnus die? So? - [PHONE RINGING.]
- Well, as I suspected, speaking with the girls has given me the full picture.
Great.
We'll get your affidavit today, and we'll be ready for court tomorrow.
I'm sorry, Joanna, but the full picture doesn't indicate benzene poisoning.
What are you talking about? I believe the girls are suffering - from conversion disorder.
- What's that? It's a psychological reaction to trauma.
Okay, so you saying it's in their heads? He's saying we don't have a case.
You don't.
But we may have a cure.
You were supposed to link the benzene to the girls' symptoms, not come up with a new theory.
This is a clear case of a close-knit community of girls responding lock-step - to a shared trauma.
- I can't believe this.
I'm sorry, Joanna, but it's a textbook psychological response.
- PTSD, mass hysteria - My niece is not hysterical.
In most cases, psychological stress presents as physical symptoms.
We'll get you on the next plane out.
Thank you for taking the time.
I can treat these girls.
It's what I do, I just need a few days.
A lawsuit is only gonna make things more stressful for them.
You're making a big mistake.
We won't be able to find a new medical expert before tomorrow.
We have a great trial strategy so let's just stick to the plan.
We'll just have to make do with the local doctor.
Well, I'll try to rebuild our case notes from memory and whatever's left of our office.
There's nothing to this cure, right? Billy, we found toxic barrels in the girls' athletic field.
Amanda never played sports.
That doesn't mean she wasn't on the field.
[SIGHING.]
Don't lose heart on me now, Counselor.
- [BIRDS SINGING.]
- [DOG BARKING.]
Oof! Mom, we're out of eggs again.
And milk.
And everything except for Sriracha.
Well, that's what happens when you sue the place that used to pay me: work dries up and so do the groceries.
Lucky for you I have some savings.
Dun dun nun naaa Scratch tickets? All winners.
17 dollars.
It's gonna last us half a day, Mom.
Great job.
Well, you should have thought about that before you took on the Mill.
Mom, you know, I'm just trying to help Molly.
Yeah.
You don't even care who else you hurt in the process.
Who taught you that? Hmm? Because it sure as hell wasn't me.
[DOOR CHIME.]
Oh! What happened here? Someone broke in.
And did some fab redecorating.
- Sorry.
- Are you moving in? - What's with the bag? - Uh, no, I, um I need a break from my mom.
What are you looking for? There are some backup CT scans that we did in one of these boxes.
- Let me help.
- Thanks.
I ran away once.
I'm 18, it's not running away.
- Hmm - It's not.
I was 10, maybe 11.
My parents were fighting and I got sick of it, so I took off.
My mom found me a couple of hours later holed up in Ms.
Gamache's backyard.
[GUFFAWING.]
Was she pissed? More scared.
She started crying, so I started crying.
And then she made me dumplings and taught me how to use chopsticks for the rest of the day.
I still can't use those.
I always ask for a fork.
Well took me all afternoon to learn.
She was, uh, she was so patient.
Said that chopsticks work best when they're together.
A DNA test, is this what you're looking for? No, that's not it.
Oh! Uhhh, what about this one? Yeah, that's it.
Nice work.
[LUNA SIGHING.]
Where are you going? I gotta find my other chopstick.
You know, you don't have to come if you don't feel like it.
You said it was important for me to be seen in court.
- Sympathy and all that.
- Right, well.
The most important thing is that you take care of yourself.
That's what you're here for.
You're not just my lawyer; you're also my bodyguard.
And my chauffeur.
Will I have to take the stand? No, this hearing is to determine whether we have the grounds to bring a lawsuit.
- And if not? - If not, my father gets to sue us for frivolous charges.
- One thing at a time.
- I'm gonna start by presenting our timeline, then throw the medical expert.
Joanna, I know Judge Anders, let me present.
You don't know CTS like I do.
And they don't know me from Billy Idol.
[MOLLY CHUCKLING.]
They'll know all your moves.
Fine But if you get into trouble, I'm bailing you out.
They're gonna try and get in your head.
Ignore them.
Stay focused on the judge.
Eye on the prize.
Here goes nothing.
All rise.
The Honourable Francine Anders presiding.
The counselors Alan Christie, Ryan Saunders representing Matheson Steel.
Counselors Joanna Hanley and William Crawford representing Molly Ross.
I see you're wearing the same suit you wore on Freehorn v.
Metcalf.
That's right.
It's my lucky suit.
All luck runs out.
Your Honour, we have a last-minute expert to add to defense.
There's no call for experts or witnesses.
Save that for trial.
We motion to strike the claim due to the prosecution's dishonest representation of the facts.
Counselor Crawford, did you submit a false claim? I would never do that, your Honour.
We have evidence to the contrary.
If you're telling the truth, then you have nothing to fear.
Counselor, bring in your expert.
They won't let us take an inch without a fight.
Welcome to the show.
[DOOR OPENING.]
Rangers Pawn Shop was a negative on the Hanley computer.
- Did you find anything? - Thought I told you to drop it.
Uh, no, you said it was a waste of time.
Now, I'm telling you.
Drop it.
Uh, it was the start of senior year.
I was finally supposed to make the varsity volleyball team, but then It's like this burst of lightning up my spine.
I can't do anything to stop it.
This patient is one of four girls from the little town of Cottonhead about two hours from here.
She presented with unexplained tremors, seizures and fainting.
No one knew why.
And how long had she been like this? About two years.
But once I diagnosed her with conversion disorder, we had it under control in a matter of months.
The second I met Molly Ross, I knew we were dealing with the exact same thing.
Your Honour, the doctor barely met with them for 10 minutes before snapping to this conclusion.
Your Honor, he met with them for over an hour after extensive analysis of the medical records.
And where did you get those medical records? From our office? I don't like what you're insinuating, Counselor.
Gentlemen, this is a courtroom, not a bar.
Please behave accordingly.
Your Honour, we removed toxic barrels from the girls' athletic field.
Excuse me.
To be more specific, it was actually the defense's own waste management team that removed the barrels.
The motion to dismiss is unfounded as we believe we believe they lack - sufficient documentation to - Counselor Hanley, do you have something you'd like to share with the class? Your Honour, the defense has not released their response to the prosecution.
Considering the lack of documentation involved, there is no reason to withhold this testimony, unless they are trying to limit our access to a flawed argument.
Despite your bad manners, I agree.
Counselor Crawford, if I give you the weekend to examine the defense's response, - will that work for you? - Yes, Your Honour.
Then, we'll resume Monday morning.
Looks like you're gonna be here for a while.
I hope you brought another suit.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
You're trying to win a lawsuit; - I'm trying to cure these girls.
- Oh, please.
If Molly's symptoms go on untreated, they'll only get worse.
We need to find every paper he's ever written on conversion disorder and find a way to debunk it.
There's a cure? It's just a trial strategy.
It's meant to throw doubt on the prosecution's story.
You're sure there's no truth to it? Hmm, come on.
Doctor.
Are you serious about this cure? - What's the catch? - There's no catch.
This is about your niece's health.
You guys talking about me? What are you doing for dinner? I thought you'd never ask.
Aaah I love this spot.
Sometimes, I talk my kids into coming here "for the best catch of the season.
" You lie to your kids? On a daily basis.
And just because no one's ever caught anything here doesn't mean no one ever will.
Besides, a little disappointment is good for them.
Builds character.
You're sure you have a psychology degree? Oh yeah.
Test me.
Transference, projection, everything pretty much comes back to your mother.
OK.
Then tell me this, Freud: how do I debunk conversion disorder? Debunking a legitimate psychological disorder in one evening? We may need more wine for that.
There's got to be some way to get them off our back.
The human brain is so complex, we're only beginning to understand its potential.
And what happened in Millwood is so rare.
That's why it went undiagnosed for so long.
But it's also very exciting.
Yeah, it's a real treat.
So you're saying it's all in Molly's head? Absolutely.
I'm not faking it.
Conversion disorder affects the brain.
Brain's in the head.
All right, let's pretend that Molly does have this conversion disorder.
What could you actually do to help? I can help you get your power back.
- How? - Well, the brain has incredible influence over the body.
Right now, you're just out of rhythm, that's all.
Right.
Close your eyes.
Is she getting sleepy? I'm gonna need silence for this to work.
Just let me try this, OK? You're alone in a movie theatre.
[SOFT MUSIC.]
It's silent.
You smell burnt butter, spilled soda.
Do you "see" that? The lights are beginning to fade.
Look up at the screen, there's a line down the middle, and you're up there on the screen.
Do you see yourself? You're twitching.
Put yourself on the left side of that line.
Keep yourself there.
Don't worry about the twitching.
Just look at yourself left of that line.
Now focus on the right side of that line.
The emptiness.
Negative space.
Focus there.
See the abyss, the nothingness.
[SOFT, HOPEFUL PIANO MUSIC.]
There must be something I can dig up on Williams.
Everybody has a dirty secret they don't want found.
I thought that's why you quit: to get away from the dirty tricks.
You're right.
I know where all the bodies are buried.
I don't have to get Williams if I can get Alan.
That's not what I meant.
My father is hell bent on making an example of me; I can't fight that kind of ambition with principles.
Maybe but it sounds like mutually assured destruction.
Maybe you're right.
Old habits Yeah.
[SOFT MUSIC PLAYING.]
Are we gonna talk about dinner tonight or? I'm gonna need loads of therapy from growing up here, so I may as well start now.
I just think it's a bad idea to let him into your mind.
He seems super sketch.
[SONG WITH INDISTINCT LYRICS.]
OK, say you're dying of thirst.
[CHUCKLES.]
OK.
Would you follow the Devil to water in the desert? I'm sorry, Reverend, what the hell was that? I'm serious! I think you're still hypnotized.
Shut up.
You know, all those plans we made to go to Montreal together? Mm-hmm? I still wanna be the doctor.
I wanna help other athletes get back on the field, and I could work the Olympics.
That doesn't just go away because I'm sick.
Oh, day drinking, such a delight.
Haha! - Ah? - Uhhh What are you trouble makers up to? - Good night, Owen.
- Thanks for coming.
I can't have Millwood's favourite guidance counselor arrested for a DUI on my watch.
I can think of worse things than being cuffed in your back seat.
[DIANE LAUGHING.]
[FAINT CLATTERING.]
[OMINOUS MUSIC.]
[SCREAMING AND GRUNTING.]
"21E 7AB.
" [PANTING.]
[SIREN.]
Heard you put a BOLO out on a plate.
Yeah.
Hanley got a good look.
So, you got anything? Are you still messing around with this, uh, Hanley break-in? Break-in escalated to an assault.
So we got anything? You know, dispatch said those plates don't exist, so maybe you wrote it down wrong.
We all make mistakes.
Haha! Settlement offer? I saw some kids playing hopscotch on the way here, but all I could think about was how kid Joanna probably spent her time making sure the squares were regulation.
You remember that last case we did with Williams? - Mm-hmm.
- Our case was in shambles until Williams saved us with that flawless story on the stand.
Where did that come from? Was that us? We choose experts who will tell us what we need all the time.
And then those experts take an oath to tell the truth.
We don't get emotionally involved, it clouds your judgment.
You sent people to my office to take my notes.
- I had nothing to do with that.
- To my hotelroom, and you're telling me not to get emotionally involved? [ALAN SIGHING.]
You're the one in the Mill town who's suing the Mill.
I'm gonna prove to the judge that Williams perjured himself on the stand, and that you and I coached him.
That would destroy our careers.
Drop the motion to dismiss, you know my application is solid.
Nah.
There's no way you'd do that.
You love the law too much.
Watch me.
Hey.
Where is she? Gerrilynn.
Hi.
- Luna hasn't been home.
- She's not with me.
I might see her later if you want me to give a message? [GERRILYNN.]
: Your lawsuit is going to turn everyone against her.
This is our home.
[EMOTIONAL MUSIC.]
Luna's trying to do the right thing.
We all are.
And what would you know about doing the right thing? Where were you when she was a baby and we had nothing? She's a Spence.
Not a Hanley.
- Your dad made sure of that.
- My father isn't here.
I'm looking right at him.
Stay away from my daughter.
[DOOR CHIME.]
Is this true? I don't know.
You're the only person who knows.
And my mom, she's lied to me about this my entire life.
Why didn't you just tell me? I was trying to protect you until I knew for sure.
- According to this - Don't! [SIGHING.]
If it's a no, then Luna, then you aren't my little sister.
But either way, there's no happy ending.
- Joanna, please.
- I'm sorry.
[SOBBING.]
Not as sorry as I am.
[DOOR CHIME.]
I can't believe Joanna didn't tell me.
And my mom all these years Lou.
I don't even know how I'm gonna look at her.
I'm so sorry.
[SIGHING.]
I always thought I'd track my dad down, and he'd be a total deadbeat.
Somehow, this is worse.
He's already a dad, just not to me.
He doesn't deserve you.
Yeah.
Seems like a real winner.
I guess I just wanted to figure that out for myself.
I know my dad, but I wish I didn't.
He disappears when I need him and then he shows up again acting like dad of the year when he needs something.
ls this what family is? People who lie to you and leave you? No, no, baby, no.
Someday you'll be surrounded by family who treat you as well as you deserve.
I promise.
Well I'm running out of relatives who don't let me down.
Well, you have me and and you have Rose.
You think I'm better off without him.
I don't know.
I don't know, but from the sounds of it, Joanna probably would be.
I'll handle the depositions.
You're too close to the girls.
The girls are not on trial, this is their case.
They said something to Williams to make him think it was conversion disorder.
We need to get to the bottom of it, fast.
When did the first tremors start, Miss Ross? Um, just after the HPV vaccine clinic.
Is that after Steven Magnus passed away? Steve.
But yeah.
- How did Steve die? - Objection, relevance.
In a deposition, you have to answer the questions.
She's just objecting for the record.
We're gonna wait for a judge to decide what's admissible.
Steve hung himself.
So Steve, someone you were close with, committed suicide, and the tremors started after that, right? Yeah.
That's right.
Mm-hmm.
Your witness.
Dr.
Williams thinks that the twitches are all in your head? Objection, misrepresentation of defense.
He says that conversion disorder can be treated through therapy.
And he says that Steve Magnus killing himself is what started all of this? - Objection, hearsay.
- It's what he told you? - Yes.
- Did you believe him? He showed me how to control my twitching, so You saw toxic barrels get pulled out of the ground at the girls' athletic field, where you play soccer, correct? - Yes.
- So when did you start believing that you aren't sick, that you're delusional? Delusional? It's an involuntary tremor.
This is real to me.
But you believe Williams is right, that this is all in your head? Objection.
Badgering witness.
- Joanna - It's a yes or no question Molly.
Remember you're under oath.
I don't know what I believe.
Did Dr.
Williams coach you about what to say in the deposition today? - Objection! - What is that supposed to mean? Are you lying so that Dr.
Williams will treat you? This is my life we're talking about.
- All right, let's take a break.
- We're fine.
I insist.
[DOOR CLOSING.]
If you don't have the stomach for this, then go home and get out of my way.
The stomach for what? Harassing victims in cross-examination? I have evidence from my CTS days that could get Alan disbarred and Williams sent back home for a major inquiry of his own.
Isn't that the sort of tidbit you share with your co-counsel? The evidence incriminates you too.
These girls are sick, Williams is lying.
I'm gonna put a stop to this! We're supposed to be a team.
What if it's not a lie? - Billy, we know it's the field.
- Amanda doesn't play sports.
Williams has been successfully treating girls just like this.
I saw him coach Molly to stop twitching.
When? Last night.
At dinner.
[SCOFFING.]
Some team.
Get out of my way.
Joanna.
Steve Magnus was my boyfriend.
We were together since, uh grade ten.
He died months ago, but you only started presenting with symptoms last week.
[SNIGGERING.]
Yeah, well, I guess I was just, uh, in denial.
Everyone cried when we buried him, and then they just went back to their normal lives, but, uh I just couldn't.
You know, he used to wait for me at my locker every payday with a rose.
- That's very sweet.
- Yeah.
Yeah, no, he was just the sweetest person.
And you know after, we'd walk down to Lucy's and we'd grab some fries, and and then walk to the edge of the town and And now even when I walk past my locker, - it's just, it's - It's OK, Amanda, - we don't have to.
- It's just hard to breathe.
And everywhere I go, I see him.
And all I can think about is how much he must have been suffering.
And all I can think about is how much he's suffering now.
I'm not sure I follow.
You know Suicide is a ticket to hell.
And he was such a good person, he was just a good person, and I I tried, but I just I couldn't reach him.
I failed him.
[CRYING.]
I failed him.
All right, that's enough.
Thank you, Amanda.
Dr.
Williams, are you ready? Take a seat.
[ALAN CLEARING HIS THROAT.]
Alright.
State your name for the record, please.
Dr.
Calvin Williams.
When did it occur to you that the girls in Millwood were suffering from conversion disorder? When I met them at the hospital.
It was clear they were suffering a trauma-induced psychosis.
Was it clear when you came to Millwood or did you have your suspicions before? I had my suspicions, but I never make a diagnosis without knowing all the evidence.
Did that evidence include a phone call from CTS last week? Objection.
Dr.
Williams is not on trial.
You're saying that I set you up? When you phoned me and asked me to come here, I only ever had the girls' recovery in mind.
Can you say the same thing? Are you done, Counselor? [SIGHING.]
[CLEARING HER THROAT.]
No further questions.
Excuse me.
Joanna.
Wait.
It's over.
Enjoy your cure.
I'm sorry that got so out of hand.
At least we have Dr.
Williams.
Consolation prize.
Is that what you want? I don't know.
Just knowing what it is, and that it has a name gives me hope.
And I forgot what that feels like.
Let's just go into this with eyes open, OK? I'm not convinced Williams is on our side.
But he came to Millwood to be on our side.
What if he had just left town when you told him to? Right now, his theory is the only thing keeping - the case from moving forward.
- I know, but the case was about getting me help, right? Yeah.
Case closed.
[DOOR CHIME.]
So this is really it.
My father told me there was no case here from day one, but I was too busy trying to prove I wasn't him to hear it.
You're nothing like him.
Clearly.
I lost.
You could have destroyed Alan to win the case yesterday but you didn't.
See you around, Billy.
[DOOR CHIME.]
[PIANO MUSIC.]
Hands and hearts Whispered playings These are the parts And not the answers Planting our dreams To see what grows But building walls around the things we want - It's a nice spot.
- But building walls Molly told me where to find you.
You need some emergency filing or something? - And I love our home - It's not why I'm here.
- We made them flesh and blood - My mom always had to work so hard to keep us afloat.
We never got enough time together.
Two warm souls When I started working for you, I forgot that things weren't perfect.
I finally had a purpose.
- And I love our home - That doesn't have to stop.
You're gonna be a great lawyer.
Oooh oooh oooooh I can't work with you if we're not honest with each other.
Ooh ooh ooooooh Yeah yeah Luna, the case is dead in the water.
- I came to say goodbye.
- And I love our home Cut and run.
The Hanley way.
I guess my mom was right about you.
- If I had strong walls - I guess so.
So be different.
Two warm souls It's too late for me to start over.
- And I love our home - Says who, Joanna? Stay.
And I love our home [THEME MUSIC.]