Made in Jersey (2012) s01e07 Episode Script
The Farm
1 It doesn't feel culty.
Nope.
Feels like good old country living.
Yeah, that's exactly what they want you to think.
Just a little farming co-op.
There you go.
Hi.
I'm Martina Garretti.
I'm a lawyer with Stark & Rowan.
Howdy.
We represent the parents of Jessica Barnes.
We'd like to see their daughter.
Sorry, ma'am, sir.
All visitors must be approved in advance.
Her parents did try and call, we tried to call.
You guys ever hear of voicemail? I don't know anything about that, but we can't let you in.
Okay.
Uh, well, then can we speak to your boss, Marcus Wheaton? Ma'am, you're going to have to leave.
You know, I thought you might say that.
Now, you've gone and did it.
When I was six, my mom made homemade ice cream for my sister's birthday.
I wanted a second bowl.
She said, "No.
" I said, "Well, I'm not going to bed until I got some.
" She said, "Fine.
" My whole family went upstairs to bed.
I stayed in the kitchen.
All night.
Oh, it was a Saturday.
I stayed there until lunchtime.
Then, my mom got me a bowl of ice cream.
Ma'am, what are you doing? Whatever I have to do to talk to Jessica Barnes.
I think there was a general store down the road.
I'm gonna go get you some water.
Okay? Sounds good.
All right-- you want sparkling, or still or what? Whatever.
All right.
Good deal.
We could be here a while.
I'm not going to let you just sit here and block our drive Whoa, whoa.
If you touch me, I'll charge you with assault.
If someone brushes past me in their car while they're driving by, I'll have them charged with attempted murder.
Oh! While you're in town, stop by the local newspaper.
Tell them I'm staging a protest like those people that climb into trees.
That should stir some buzz.
Good idea.
One second, please.
Got you.
Copy.
You know, my mother says there's nothing crueler than a naked light bulb.
Can add 20 years to a woman's face.
Hmm.
You, uh wanted to see me? Hi, Jessica.
I'm Martina, this is Riv.
Hi.
How can I help you? Can we, uh, talk? We're here on your parents' behalf.
They're really worried about you.
They don't need to worry.
I'm staying here at Wheaton Farms.
I'm working hard, and it provides everything I need.
Well, I think they'd feel better if they could see you.
Or even just talk to you.
I'm sorry.
Please thank them for their concern.
Okay.
Oh, well, your mom asked me to give this to you.
It's filled with the lavender you two planted in the garden.
She thought maybe you could put it under your pillow.
The fragrance is so strong, I could smell it the whole drive up.
I take it you're Marcus Wheaton.
Are you okay, Jess? Yes, Marcus.
Hi.
I'm Martina Garretti.
This is, uh, Riv Brody.
I hope you can understand, but things like this, they-they tether her to what she's trying to leave behind.
Do you always do her talking for her? Well, her parents sent the two of you.
Why should she have to stand alone? How come this higher consciousness stuff means no family visits, huh? Maybe seeing her folks would do Jessica some good.
Is that what you want? No.
Thank you.
I'm not convinced.
You know, that's not my problem.
She belongs with her family.
This is her family.
She's 18.
She can decide for herself.
Yeah, it's her decision to give you money from her trust fund.
Yes.
She's giving it to me, because I give her the-the same thing I provide all my followers-- freedom from her former life.
Freedom-- being locked behind a fence? These fences aren't to keep my followers in.
They're to keep people like you out.
And our guards our guards don't force anyone to stay here, but they can force you to leave.
Come on.
We've got to get her out of here.
Oh, yeah, we do.
Did she ask about us? No but we were only there a short while before-- Marcus Wheaton stepped in.
Yeah.
So, the last time you saw your daughter was about six weeks ago at rehab, is that about right? Right.
Since she was going to turn 18 while she was in there, we discussed celebrating her birthday when she got out.
And rehab was working until she ran away.
After seeing those pictures of her making those ATM withdrawals, I would have gone to a dark place.
I would have thought she'd been kidnapped.
We feared the worst until we got the tip saying she was upstate at that farm.
Have you made any progress on finding out who made that call? No.
Our investigator is working on it.
I'm sorry to ask, but why was Jessica in rehab? Drugs.
It's my fault.
She has two parents, William.
Jessica got involved with a boy at school.
But when you found out she was using cocaine, you both got her the help she needed.
And now, it's our turn.
Well, that's great, Donovan, but you said Wheaton would take a visitation request more seriously from an attorney, and he didn't.
That was a warning shot.
Marcus Wheaton is a very smart man, and he knows that as long as he doesn't break the law, the police can't touch him, and so far, he hasn't.
Well, if he hasn't broken the law, how are we ever gonna get our daughter back? The law can be an enemy or an ally.
The key is to make it work for us and use it as a weapon.
Like a really big stick to whack bad people over the head.
I want to whack Marcus Wheaton over the head and get your daughter home.
What she said.
Finally Racing through the crowd now Step aside and shine like starlight Turn the key No one's gonna break me There's so much more to see Gonna try to take this town.
Sync and corrected Hey.
How was the cult farm? Charming, yet creepy.
How was your corporate tax hearing? Riveting.
Even Judge Keller looked bored.
No, I think that's just his face.
You know, I went to law school with a girl who always looked surprised, even when she was asleep.
When did you see her sleeping? During corporate tax law.
Morning, counselors.
Hey, Tommy.
Uh, yeah.
Uh, sorry, in a hurry.
I got an arraignment downtown.
Oh, yeah, I'm in a hurry, too.
Okay.
Both in a hurry.
Both in a hurry.
I heard something about you and him.
We went to law school together.
And he got you the job at Stark & Rowan? Objection.
Hearsay.
Hey, no judgment.
Girl's got to do what a girl's got to do.
It's just, ex-boyfriend or not, D.
A.
's kind of the last person I'd want to owe a favor.
Jessica has been withdrawing tens of thousands of dollars in the last month alone.
Having access to that kind of scratch will make the kid a target, no doubt about it.
But if she told you she doesn't want to leave Wheaton Farms or see her parents, that limits us, legally.
In my opinion, her answer was coerced.
Marcus Wheaton has a hold on her.
That much is clear.
Hey, Riv, have you found any prior complaints against him? Any accusations of emotional or physical abuse? No.
It appears to be a working farm.
They sell their food at farmers markets and co-ops.
Yeah, with the advantage of free cult labor.
I do have a lead on the anonymous caller who tipped the Barneses off to Jessica's location.
I'll see what else I can get from him.
She's physically sound and expressed a desire to remain there.
That limits an argument based on the threat of imminent harm.
How are we going to approach this? Hit him where it hurts.
The money.
I read the trust.
I think there's a way.
And Jessica's a troubled young woman under the influence of someone she barely knows.
We need to get her home to her family, and we need to do it now.
Robby, Joseph, Annika.
After dinner.
How does Grandma do that? I think she's psychic.
Mmm! Those cookies smell delicious.
Ah, they smell like half an hour on the treadmill to me.
Oh, here.
Try 15 minutes.
Enjoy it.
How's work, honey? Ugh! I'm trying to help these parents get their daughter out of a cult.
It's hard not getting sucked into their heartache, you know? They may be part of the reason that she ended up there.
Ma.
I'm just saying that these things don't happen in a vacuum.
I mean, you don't see any of my kids joining a cult.
Mm-hmm.
After dinner.
This family is a cult.
Oh.
Oh! Excuse me! Thought I gave you five bucks to wash my car.
Why is it still dirty? Huh? Huh? Come on.
Mmm.
Something else bothering you, honey? No.
There was this misunderstanding at work.
Tommy's been saying that he got me the job at Stark & Rowan.
And I thought we'd put that to bed.
That doesn't sound like Tommy.
Ma.
Are you defending him? No.
I'm just saying, you should talk to him.
I mean, it can't hurt to get his side of the story, right? It wouldn't be a talk.
It would be a fight.
And we did enough fighting when we were together.
Or you can just seethe quietly.
Your choice.
Tommy.
Uh-oh.
That's not your happy face.
Are you saying you got me my job again? 'Cause, A) I thought we've been over this, and B) I'd really like to think you're above gossiping.
I never said anything like that.
Really? Look, the grapevine here rivals my high school cheerleading squad, okay? They're bored lawyers.
Worse, they're bored, jealous lawyers.
They know I got you the job interview at the D.
A.
's Office, and they drew their own conclusions.
It's harmless.
People think I got my job because of you, not on my own merits.
Look, when it's your professional reputation on the line, then you can tell me what's harmless and what's not, all right? Okay.
Don't.
What? I didn't say a thing.
Do not tell me I'm hot when I'm angry, okay? I hate it when you say that.
You're very unattractive when you're angry.
You think this is funny? Okay, look if I ever said anything to cast doubt on your current employment situation, then I'm sorry, but But you raised my stock at Stark & Rowan by getting me an interview at the Manhattan D.
A.
And I owe it all to you? But you need to learn to accept an apology.
Okay, you might be right.
You thinking what I'm thinking? No.
Fielder Building elevator, 2008? You kn, theyowad cameras in there.
Why didn't you tell me? 'Cause you would've stopped.
This is a slow elevator.
Not slow enough.
So, as part of my apology, can I take you to dinner? Lunch? No? Is that a yes? Counselor.
All rise.
Are all parties present for the Barnes Family Trust matter? Barry Gilchrist representing Jessica Barnes, Your Honor.
I have her power of attorney.
Nolan Adams representing Mr.
and Mrs.
Barnes.
Your motion, you're up.
Your Honor, our petition states that Jessica Barnes has forfeited her entitlement to her own trust by misappropriating its funds.
What was the money for? According to the language in the original document, it was intended and designated for post-secondary education.
Oh, it's a college fund.
Exclusively? Until she attains a degree or turns 25, whichever happens first, Your Honor.
Well, what is she doing with the money instead? Sir, she is living on a farming community with no educational infrastructure or accreditation that we can discern.
We have to object to this narrow view of the term "education.
" and enrichment at Wheaton Farms-- horticulture, community service, lectures and readings that she herself describes in this sworn statement.
Your Honor, when my sister wanted to spend a summer following Prince on tour, our parents refused to pay for it, so she sold her car.
Well, that's very interesting, Counselor.
Sort of.
Where you going with this? Well, sir, if you were to ask her, my sister would say that she felt enriched, that it was a great learning experience.
And while she can do a spirited rendition of "Little Red Corvette," I doubt that any of us would consider that an education, except maybe counsel, according to his definition.
This farm, while quaint, does not meet any definition of postsecondary education I've ever heard of.
Control of the fund will revert to William Barnes until Jessica turns 25, or until her father deems her able to manage her money appropriately.
All right.
Mr.
Friendly will take this back to Marcus, and we'll be right behind him with the cash offer.
We're going with you.
Micah, right? Micah Schraft? Who's asking? I'm, uh I'm here about Jessica Barnes.
I was hoping maybe you can, you know, shed some light on that place that she's at.
Sorry.
I got nothing else.
Is that why you wouldn't give William Barnes your name, man? Because that would've been a whole lot easier than having to track you down through her phone records.
I should've called from a pay phone.
Except when's the last time you saw a pay phone that works? Listen, why did you call Jessica's folks saying she was in trouble? I'm worried about her.
I was just trying to help.
Okay, well, then I take it you're a former member then.
You mind if I ask you how you got out, man? Because I've been there.
High gates, guards-- it doesn't seem like the kind of place that people just leave.
Look, I did what I could to help here.
You've got to do the rest on your own.
You're scared of Wheaton, aren't you? I can't help you.
You're not helping me.
You're helping Jessica.
She was a perfect target.
Uh-huh.
Because of her money, right? Oh, he likes that.
No doubt.
Look, I got out, okay? I have a chance.
He's never gonna let Jessica go.
Well I could use your help with that.
Okay, okay.
How about, uh how about the name of someone who will? Sonnets are on me.
Because of Martina's dealings with Marcus, I think it's best if she takes him the offer, and I think we should stay here.
I want to see this Wheaton guy.
Nolan's right.
Look, the most effective way to extract Jessica is to treat this like a business transaction.
There's definitely an "and" in that.
If things get emotional, your presence could complicate the situation.
William, please, listen to them.
Just bring her back.
$200,000? Is that what her parents think she's worth? Even with all this free labor, we both know that your followers' money is what's keeping you afloat, so consider it severance.
Jessica goes home, your bills get paid.
Everybody wins.
I'm not interested in her money.
The withdrawals from her trust fund while she's been with you suggest otherwise.
My followers want to contribute.
They want what's best for our community.
Thank you.
We'll see about that.
This is your thing, isn't it? Banging on doors until they open.
I'll bet you sat in the front row of every class you took in law school.
This isn't about me.
Oh, but it is, actually, Ms.
Garretti.
You've obviously succeeded in your life by taking control, and I admire that, but there is something to be gained by relinquishing it as well.
Giving yourself over to a communal purpose, where everything doesn't have to be a fight.
That's what Jessica has found with us here.
Where is she? We just want to see our daughter.
You want what's best for your daughter, don't you? I understand that, but you need to understand that we're her family now.
We have people who will testify about how you're taking advantage of Jessica.
People? Yeah.
Did Micah Schraft tell you why I kicked him out? He made sexual advances toward Jessica.
A man easily ten years her senior.
He was possessive, predatory, and I was afraid he couldn't control himself, so, out of concern for that young girl's safety, I had him removed from our community.
What a hero.
You'll be hearing from us.
We've lost her, William.
She's not coming back.
So, he didn't take the cash offer.
That's surprising.
We think he's playing the long game.
That's why he didn't take the money.
The trust goes back to Jessica when she turns 25.
So rather than risk losing face in front of his followers, he's willing to wait out the term of the trust.
Unless we get to him another way.
What are you thinking? Sue him for false imprisonment.
No, the statute of false imprisonment states States that only the person who's been imprisoned can bring the claim.
That would be Jessica.
But when I talked to Marcus, he called her a "young girl.
" And then I remembered Maureen Barnes told us that Jessica left rehab before her Which means her legal guardians at the time, her parents, could file a retroactive claim on Jessica's behalf.
Where are we on the testimony against Wheaton Farms? Micah Schraft gave me the name of two other kids on the farm.
I checked with their parents.
They heard stories of abuse but had no proof.
That's not good enough.
I'm also running down the lawyer from the trust trial, Gilchrist, to see if he defended Wheaton against labor disputes or personal injury claims.
How about Wheaton himself? He's clean.
He's too clean.
Are you guessing or do you know something? Eh, you walk around, boss, you're supposed to leave footprints.
This guy's not leaving any, making me think Marcus Wheaton isn't his real name.
So, it's just a hunch.
There's no proof.
Yes.
For now.
We haven't had a discoverable claim.
A false imprisonment lawsuit will allow us to subpoena his financial records to look for fraud.
Unconventional cause of action, but if it were my son, I'd want to exhaust every channel to try and get him back.
Let's do it.
Hey.
The flower show.
I told you I was gonna be in the city.
Oh.
That's right.
I'm sorry.
Did we make plans? No, I I was thinking about our conversation.
About you and Tommy.
Ma.
There is no "me and Tommy.
" Honey I'm worried.
I'm worried that you're not living a balanced life.
I never see you having any fun.
Ma, I have a big case on right now.
Yeah, well, that's the thing.
There's always gonna be a big case in your life.
But we're only on this planet for a short time.
And I want to see my girls happy.
Okay, Ma, I've only been at this firm a couple of months, okay? There's a lot of work to do, and I like doing it.
That's wonderful.
I'm not asking you to go hunting for a husband, darling.
Good.
But you could, uh, keep your eyes open.
And your heart open.
For a boyfriend.
Huh? And you've always loved Tommy.
Aw Look at this.
All right, this is uncanny.
You know, your father looked a lot like Tommy when he was younger.
Ma! Seriously! You have to get to work.
I understand.
I love you.
I just want the best for you.
Okay? Okay.
Have fun at the flower show.
I will.
He's very handsome, you know.
Tommy? No, your father.
Oh, my God.
Love you, love you, love you.
Love you, too.
Uh-huh.
Retroactive false imprisonment.
Yes, Your Honor, on behalf of Jessica Barnes, when she was a minor.
Your Honor, this is a Hail Mary pass and not one Ms.
Barnes wants to catch.
We can't know what Jessica wants as long as Mr.
Wheaton has her in seclusion.
We are filing this motion to compel him to grant us access.
Her appearance is obviously critical to this matter, Your Honor.
Jessica Barnes is an adult, exercising her right to live where she pleases.
We'd like to hear that from Jessica herself, Your Honor.
Me, too.
Mr.
Wheaton will produce Jessica Barnes for the purposes of this trial.
How long will it take to transport Ms.
Barnes to this court? 90 minutes, Your Honor, but We'll adjourn till then.
When are you going to give up? That's funny.
I was about to ask you the same thing.
That's-That's a lie.
I never made sexual advances toward her.
S-She was like a kid sister to me.
That's not the story he's telling.
Marcus.
If he said the earth was flat, all his followers would think it's true.
Maybe the best way to take him down, then, is with the actual truth, right? Look, I know you're afraid of the guy, but I need your help proving that he isn't who he says he is.
But I really don't know anything.
No, come on.
Sure you do.
Wheaton's got a story, a patter.
He's leaking truth about himself all the time, right? So let's just start with something easy, you know.
Uh he ever talk about his parents? Oh, sure.
Vivian and Henry.
He worshipped them.
Great farmers.
All the vegetables we planted came straight from Vivian's garden.
That's good.
That's good.
What else? What else? His mom was a singer.
Mm-hmm.
That's why we sang all the time.
Old gospel hymns.
Even this goofy song she sang to him when he was scared, like during tornadoes and other storms.
Tornadoes, huh? Yeah.
You get a lot of those in upstate New York? Well, not when I was there, but he said they had a lot of them when he was a kid.
Is that important? Eh, could be.
You mentioned vegetables and you mentioned singing.
Now, what other things on the farm came from his parents? Jessica, your 18th birthday was on October 10th.
Did you celebrate it at Wheaton Farms? We don't really celebrate birthdays, but I was there on October 10th.
That would not go in my family.
Cupcakes or ice cream are mandatory, no matter how old you are.
How did you end up at the farm? I was at an outing with my rehab clinic, at a farmers' market.
Marcus was there, selling pies made of the cherries that we grow at Wheaton Farms.
We started talking, and I knew I had to leave with him.
When you checked in to the clinic, you signed a contract saying that you would stay there until therapists diagnosed you as in recovery.
Did you receive that diagnosis before you left? No.
So you must be receiving treatment at Wheaton Farms.
Is that right? Are there doctors there? Specialists that we can consult about your progress? Objection, relevance.
This is not a trial about Ms.
Barnes's rehabilitation.
Your Honor, we believe being lured away from a rehab facility while still a minor and subsequently being deprived of the necessary medical treatment goes to false imprisonment.
Overruled.
She can answer.
I didn't need rehab.
I needed to devote my life to the work at Wheaton Farm, lead a simpler life.
I'm sorry, Jessica, I'm going to have to ask you again: are you receiving medical treatment for your addiction issues? No.
Thank you.
Hello, Jessica.
Have you been harmed in any way since you arrived at Wheaton Farms? No.
Do you feel in any way coerced, repressed or restricted? No.
When you joined Wheaton Farms, at age 17, did you do so of your own free will? Yes.
And most importantly, have you taken any drugs, prescription or otherwise, since you started living there? No.
So you're drug-free and happy in a bucolic environment.
Yes.
Thank you.
Nothing further.
Should we redirect? No.
It'll look like we're badgering the witness.
Just let it go.
I never thought I'd live to see the day when our discovery would include a receipt for two tons of cow manure.
These finances don't add up.
Enlighten me.
Okay, if there were at least 30 people working at that farm, If ten of them were giving Marcus as much money as Jessica was, then he has more than enough to cover his expenses with quite a bit left over.
So what's he doing with the rest of the cash? Well, it's not going in his bank account.
It's basically zero.
He's gotta be hiding it somewhere else.
Well, then we need to find it.
See, proving that he's defrauding his followers goes directly to false imprisonment.
Okay, well, I'll see where Riv's at on the search for Marcus's real name.
What kind of person wants to control other people like they're puppets? And how creepy is it that he refers to his followers as his "family"? Yeah, I don't know really know any family that works like that, and my mom, she ran a tight ship.
Ah.
Discipline would've been nice.
My mother gave me a standing ovation for putting my shoes on the right feet.
Well, I mean, I You turned out okay, though, right? You're a success in spite of the fact you were getting praise you didn't earn.
Wow.
It doesn't sound good when you put it that way.
Oh.
Uh, Donovan's on his way in and he looks upset.
Uh, what about? I didn't ask him.
I'm just the early warning system.
Jessica Barnes is missing, and her father has been arrested for kidnapping.
Our civil case just became a criminal one.
This is my client.
Thanks for getting here so quickly.
Kidnapping is a felony, punishable by anywhere from 25 years to life in prison.
She was scared and she wanted to come home.
I could see it.
I'm afraid that wasn't a good solution.
I had no choice.
We can't defend our clients if you don't let us do our job.
Well, now your job is defending me, assuming you're still willing.
Bill, did anybody get hurt? No.
I had a two of my security guys tail their van.
When they stopped for gas, everybody got out except for Jessica.
My guys took the van with her in it.
We might be able to fix this if you tell us where she is.
It's not like I have her chained to a radiator somewhere.
My security team took her to a medical facility so the doctors could make sure that she's okay.
What did she say when you saw her? If she expressed relief or came voluntarily, it would mitigate the kidnapping charge.
She still won't talk to me.
I'm going to check on Martina's progress with bail.
We have a legal obligation to verify Jessica's welfare.
Get him in compliance.
You heard him.
I need an address.
The only way I can make sure she's safe is that if he can't get to her.
So what if I tell you and he follows you? No.
No way.
I can't take that chance.
Do you understand? I missed all of the signs.
She was drifting away from us and I was too selfish to see it.
I can't lose her again.
Bill, I understand, but as your attorney, I am here to tell you that the longer Jessica's whereabouts remain unknown, the worse this looks for you.
I need to know where she is.
You find a way to keep Wheaton away from her, then I'll tell you.
Martina.
Hi, baby sis.
What's up? Hey, Bon, do you, uh, think Tommy looks like Dad when he was younger? What? Oh, it's just something Mom said.
I mean, she's totally losing it, right? It's crazy.
My God, Martina, they're like twins.
They are not like twins.
What? Who knew you had a daddy wound.
That's like the mother of all daddy issues.
Well, thanks so much for your opinion, okay? Can we please just pretend like this phone call never happened? Not a chance.
Bye.
Hey.
Hey.
I know how to defend our kidnapping father.
I like your confidence.
Necessity defense.
The D.
A.
is going to paint our client as a power-crazed one-percenter who seized and detained his daughter against her will.
So we prove William Barnes had no choice but to rescue his daughter.
Distraught father, worried sick about his little girl, takes matters into his own hands, like that movie.
What movie? You know, the movie with, uh, Liam Neeson.
Schindler's List.
Never mind.
Okay, so the lesser crime of kidnap was committed to prevent the greater crime behind the walls of the compound.
All we need to do is prove that Marcus Wheaton is a danger.
Is he? I can't find any record of a married couple named Vivian or Henry Wheaton living in New York State in the last 20 years.
So the name Marcus Wheaton and the whole family farm is a lie.
Looks like it.
He was either given the farm or he bought it.
Either way, there will be a title transfer.
You only create a new identity if you need to leave the life you had behind.
If we're going to get William off, we've got to prove it.
Okay, here we go.
What is this? Discovery related to the farm's finances.
Really? Looks like pies to me.
I sent some paralegals to buy some pies from Wheaton Farms and watch the customer flow.
An audit? Due diligence on their revenue and cost structure.
If Marcus's finances don't add up, it's more proof that he's not doing what he says he's doing with the money.
Good idea.
Mm, you guys need anything else? Forks.
I'm supposed to be hearing this case tomorrow, and you come see me with an ultimatum? I'm requesting a no-contact order-- it's not intended to be an ultimatum, Your Honor.
Our client wants to reveal his daughter's location, but he is concerned for her safety.
He believes that Marcus Wheaton has control over Jessica Barnes and may coerce her out of Manhattan Mr.
Wheaton isn't even a party to this suit.
Is this where I stand? I know that it is unconventional, but honestly, it is the best way we know to find Jessica and to move forward with this trial.
Do I look shiny? Not shiny at all, Your Honor.
Distinguished.
All right, all right, in the interest of moving forward, I will grant the no-contact order.
But I'm issuing it for both sides.
This means that Jessica Barnes may not communicate with Marcus Wheaton or her parents for the duration of the trial.
Thank you.
And if it takes more than an hour to turn that girl over, Mr.
Adams, I will not be pleased.
Mmm Say what you want about mind control, but these people can bake a pie.
Did you make any progress with the property records? Yeah.
He bought the farm ten years ago, sweetheart deal.
He got it from an elderly woman who had no heirs.
Okay, did he buy it as Marcus Wheaton? Yes.
Okay, so at some point ten years ago, a man calling himself Marcus Wheaton settled upstate.
What do we know for sure? Well, he knows how to run a farm.
What else? The cult grows things his parents grew.
Okay, I remember tomatoes beans and cherries.
And wherever he grew up, they had tornadoes-- that gets you to the middle of the country.
Okay.
Central U.
S.
Really? Still with the pie? I can't stop eating.
It is delicious.
I don't know what it Sour cherries.
Most pies are made with the sweet variety, because they're easier to find, but your sour cherries-- English Morellos, Balatons-- it's harder to find, but they simply make a better pie.
What? I bake.
English Morellos.
Cherries.
Growing regions.
And this crust leaves something to be desired.
My opinion.
But I'll still eat it.
Riv, could you track down someone who changed their name over 20 years ago? That's pretty far back, but if I knew where I was looking, I'm sure I could dig it up.
Okay, I bet you one piece of cherry pie I know where Marcus Wheaton is from.
Nice work.
Nice.
This is the State of New York v.
William Barnes.
Ms.
Garretti, call your first witness.
The defense calls Marcus Wheaton to the stand.
Mr.
Wheaton, you told the D.
A.
that your van was stolen from a rest stop while Jessica Barnes was still inside.
Is that right? Yes.
Did you get your van back? I only ask because well, I imagine it would be hard for you to replace, given your financial situation.
According to Wheaton Farms' tax returns, you've been operating at a loss for nearly a decade.
Wheaton Farms doesn't believe in profits or wealth.
So, uh, those farmer market booths where you sell your famous cherry pies, that's not for profit? Proceeds pay for farm supplies, maintenance, things like that.
You must have to sell a lot of pies, which you probably do.
I actually tasted one, and it was delicious.
Thank you.
You use, uh, sour cherries, right? Yes.
Objection.
Relevance.
I'm getting there, Your Honor.
We don't have time to exchange recipes, Counselor.
Make it fast.
It's just that sour cherries aren't native to New York.
In fact, I couldn't find a crop insurance agent who would insure sour cherry trees in your area.
That's how hard it is to grow them there.
I-I guess we're just lucky.
Did, uh, you import your trees from somewhere else? Yes, we did.
Where? Michigan.
Traverse Bay, Michigan, to be exact.
It's the cherry capital of the world.
You actually grew up there, didn't you? Objection.
The witness cites his own family background as a foundation for much of his teachings at Wheaton Farms.
I would argue that the veracity of that background seems highly relevant.
I agree.
Can you confirm that though your current legal name is Marcus Wheaton, you were actually born Tyler James Packey of Traverse Bay, Michigan? Yes.
I would like to introduce an article from the Traverse Bay Beacon, 1985, marked as defense exhibit seven.
Objection.
Relevance.
This happened 27 years ago.
Your Honor, for the purpose of this defense, I have to prove that Tyler Packey is a danger to Jessica.
I'm just trying to do that.
I'll allow it.
It's a sad story.
A 17-year-old Tyler Packey set his parents' house on fire while they were asleep.
Apparently, they'd just told him they were getting a divorce.
Your mother survived, but over 40% of her body was covered in burns.
You know, I would run away and change my name, too, after something like that.
Objection.
Sustained.
The funny thing is, Tyler Packey is alive and well.
He bought a $2 million condo last year.
My question is, if he's so wealthy, then how come that farm has to depend on pie sales to cover their overhead? Your Honor, we we are unaware of the evidence counsel is citing.
William Barnes had no choice but to kidnap Jessica.
He had to protect her from this man.
Your Honor, I would ask for the court to dismiss the charges against our client I'm granting your motion.
I anticipate the D.
A.
's Office will be contacting the U.
S.
Attorney regarding Mr.
Packey's alleged tax fraud.
We're adjourned.
Hey.
Look, you don't have to talk to me if you don't want to.
It's fine.
I don't know what more damage you could do.
I'm sorry that it all had to come out like that.
I trusted him.
I believed what Marcus said.
Turns out I didn't even know who he was.
He took advantage of you.
Please don't blame yourself for that.
What is that? An addendum to the trust reinstating your privileges.
The money's yours.
With what strings attached? None.
Look, your parents want you to be able to get the help you need, build a life for yourself.
That money will help you do that.
I don't have to see them? They want to give you your space.
Good luck, Jessica.
How is she? Is she all right? She's a little overwhelmed, but that's to be expected.
Thank you.
Remember, you're not off the hook.
You've still got a million hours of community service to get started on.
Yeah, well, it's better than jail, so thank you.
Well, most things are better than jail, but you're welcome.
I guess this is it.
We're just supposed to leave? Without even seeing her? We don't want to force anything, Maureen.
We have to wait until she's ready to see us.
When will that be? Maybe sooner than you think.
You leave the meter running? We got to get back for a deposition.
You just won a case.
Do you want to stop and smell the garlic fries? Sorry.
Got to go.
Relax.
Okay? You already got the job.
Look, they won't let me forget that I'm still a rookie.
I got a lot to prove.
You're probably billing more hours than any first year in the building.
Look you always had this big dream, and now you're making it.
Nobody's doing it for you, definitely not me.
Ah a Tommy pep talk.
You know, I've missed those.
It's the truth.
Here's to you.
Oh! What?! Oh, I thought you were offering me I was toasting you.
With a French fry? Yeah.
Well, who does that? Me.
Look at me.
I have ketchup on my face? All over your face.
Mm Ah, he's looking for me.
Who? Nolan.
That's a weird name.
You're 30 years old, and people still call you Tommy.
'Cause it's an awesome name.
Yeah, for a five-year-old.
Tell your family I said hi.
Hey, how's your dad doing? He's What? Uh Thank you for lunch, and the apology.
I-I got to go.
Bye.
Sync and corrected
Nope.
Feels like good old country living.
Yeah, that's exactly what they want you to think.
Just a little farming co-op.
There you go.
Hi.
I'm Martina Garretti.
I'm a lawyer with Stark & Rowan.
Howdy.
We represent the parents of Jessica Barnes.
We'd like to see their daughter.
Sorry, ma'am, sir.
All visitors must be approved in advance.
Her parents did try and call, we tried to call.
You guys ever hear of voicemail? I don't know anything about that, but we can't let you in.
Okay.
Uh, well, then can we speak to your boss, Marcus Wheaton? Ma'am, you're going to have to leave.
You know, I thought you might say that.
Now, you've gone and did it.
When I was six, my mom made homemade ice cream for my sister's birthday.
I wanted a second bowl.
She said, "No.
" I said, "Well, I'm not going to bed until I got some.
" She said, "Fine.
" My whole family went upstairs to bed.
I stayed in the kitchen.
All night.
Oh, it was a Saturday.
I stayed there until lunchtime.
Then, my mom got me a bowl of ice cream.
Ma'am, what are you doing? Whatever I have to do to talk to Jessica Barnes.
I think there was a general store down the road.
I'm gonna go get you some water.
Okay? Sounds good.
All right-- you want sparkling, or still or what? Whatever.
All right.
Good deal.
We could be here a while.
I'm not going to let you just sit here and block our drive Whoa, whoa.
If you touch me, I'll charge you with assault.
If someone brushes past me in their car while they're driving by, I'll have them charged with attempted murder.
Oh! While you're in town, stop by the local newspaper.
Tell them I'm staging a protest like those people that climb into trees.
That should stir some buzz.
Good idea.
One second, please.
Got you.
Copy.
You know, my mother says there's nothing crueler than a naked light bulb.
Can add 20 years to a woman's face.
Hmm.
You, uh wanted to see me? Hi, Jessica.
I'm Martina, this is Riv.
Hi.
How can I help you? Can we, uh, talk? We're here on your parents' behalf.
They're really worried about you.
They don't need to worry.
I'm staying here at Wheaton Farms.
I'm working hard, and it provides everything I need.
Well, I think they'd feel better if they could see you.
Or even just talk to you.
I'm sorry.
Please thank them for their concern.
Okay.
Oh, well, your mom asked me to give this to you.
It's filled with the lavender you two planted in the garden.
She thought maybe you could put it under your pillow.
The fragrance is so strong, I could smell it the whole drive up.
I take it you're Marcus Wheaton.
Are you okay, Jess? Yes, Marcus.
Hi.
I'm Martina Garretti.
This is, uh, Riv Brody.
I hope you can understand, but things like this, they-they tether her to what she's trying to leave behind.
Do you always do her talking for her? Well, her parents sent the two of you.
Why should she have to stand alone? How come this higher consciousness stuff means no family visits, huh? Maybe seeing her folks would do Jessica some good.
Is that what you want? No.
Thank you.
I'm not convinced.
You know, that's not my problem.
She belongs with her family.
This is her family.
She's 18.
She can decide for herself.
Yeah, it's her decision to give you money from her trust fund.
Yes.
She's giving it to me, because I give her the-the same thing I provide all my followers-- freedom from her former life.
Freedom-- being locked behind a fence? These fences aren't to keep my followers in.
They're to keep people like you out.
And our guards our guards don't force anyone to stay here, but they can force you to leave.
Come on.
We've got to get her out of here.
Oh, yeah, we do.
Did she ask about us? No but we were only there a short while before-- Marcus Wheaton stepped in.
Yeah.
So, the last time you saw your daughter was about six weeks ago at rehab, is that about right? Right.
Since she was going to turn 18 while she was in there, we discussed celebrating her birthday when she got out.
And rehab was working until she ran away.
After seeing those pictures of her making those ATM withdrawals, I would have gone to a dark place.
I would have thought she'd been kidnapped.
We feared the worst until we got the tip saying she was upstate at that farm.
Have you made any progress on finding out who made that call? No.
Our investigator is working on it.
I'm sorry to ask, but why was Jessica in rehab? Drugs.
It's my fault.
She has two parents, William.
Jessica got involved with a boy at school.
But when you found out she was using cocaine, you both got her the help she needed.
And now, it's our turn.
Well, that's great, Donovan, but you said Wheaton would take a visitation request more seriously from an attorney, and he didn't.
That was a warning shot.
Marcus Wheaton is a very smart man, and he knows that as long as he doesn't break the law, the police can't touch him, and so far, he hasn't.
Well, if he hasn't broken the law, how are we ever gonna get our daughter back? The law can be an enemy or an ally.
The key is to make it work for us and use it as a weapon.
Like a really big stick to whack bad people over the head.
I want to whack Marcus Wheaton over the head and get your daughter home.
What she said.
Finally Racing through the crowd now Step aside and shine like starlight Turn the key No one's gonna break me There's so much more to see Gonna try to take this town.
Sync and corrected Hey.
How was the cult farm? Charming, yet creepy.
How was your corporate tax hearing? Riveting.
Even Judge Keller looked bored.
No, I think that's just his face.
You know, I went to law school with a girl who always looked surprised, even when she was asleep.
When did you see her sleeping? During corporate tax law.
Morning, counselors.
Hey, Tommy.
Uh, yeah.
Uh, sorry, in a hurry.
I got an arraignment downtown.
Oh, yeah, I'm in a hurry, too.
Okay.
Both in a hurry.
Both in a hurry.
I heard something about you and him.
We went to law school together.
And he got you the job at Stark & Rowan? Objection.
Hearsay.
Hey, no judgment.
Girl's got to do what a girl's got to do.
It's just, ex-boyfriend or not, D.
A.
's kind of the last person I'd want to owe a favor.
Jessica has been withdrawing tens of thousands of dollars in the last month alone.
Having access to that kind of scratch will make the kid a target, no doubt about it.
But if she told you she doesn't want to leave Wheaton Farms or see her parents, that limits us, legally.
In my opinion, her answer was coerced.
Marcus Wheaton has a hold on her.
That much is clear.
Hey, Riv, have you found any prior complaints against him? Any accusations of emotional or physical abuse? No.
It appears to be a working farm.
They sell their food at farmers markets and co-ops.
Yeah, with the advantage of free cult labor.
I do have a lead on the anonymous caller who tipped the Barneses off to Jessica's location.
I'll see what else I can get from him.
She's physically sound and expressed a desire to remain there.
That limits an argument based on the threat of imminent harm.
How are we going to approach this? Hit him where it hurts.
The money.
I read the trust.
I think there's a way.
And Jessica's a troubled young woman under the influence of someone she barely knows.
We need to get her home to her family, and we need to do it now.
Robby, Joseph, Annika.
After dinner.
How does Grandma do that? I think she's psychic.
Mmm! Those cookies smell delicious.
Ah, they smell like half an hour on the treadmill to me.
Oh, here.
Try 15 minutes.
Enjoy it.
How's work, honey? Ugh! I'm trying to help these parents get their daughter out of a cult.
It's hard not getting sucked into their heartache, you know? They may be part of the reason that she ended up there.
Ma.
I'm just saying that these things don't happen in a vacuum.
I mean, you don't see any of my kids joining a cult.
Mm-hmm.
After dinner.
This family is a cult.
Oh.
Oh! Excuse me! Thought I gave you five bucks to wash my car.
Why is it still dirty? Huh? Huh? Come on.
Mmm.
Something else bothering you, honey? No.
There was this misunderstanding at work.
Tommy's been saying that he got me the job at Stark & Rowan.
And I thought we'd put that to bed.
That doesn't sound like Tommy.
Ma.
Are you defending him? No.
I'm just saying, you should talk to him.
I mean, it can't hurt to get his side of the story, right? It wouldn't be a talk.
It would be a fight.
And we did enough fighting when we were together.
Or you can just seethe quietly.
Your choice.
Tommy.
Uh-oh.
That's not your happy face.
Are you saying you got me my job again? 'Cause, A) I thought we've been over this, and B) I'd really like to think you're above gossiping.
I never said anything like that.
Really? Look, the grapevine here rivals my high school cheerleading squad, okay? They're bored lawyers.
Worse, they're bored, jealous lawyers.
They know I got you the job interview at the D.
A.
's Office, and they drew their own conclusions.
It's harmless.
People think I got my job because of you, not on my own merits.
Look, when it's your professional reputation on the line, then you can tell me what's harmless and what's not, all right? Okay.
Don't.
What? I didn't say a thing.
Do not tell me I'm hot when I'm angry, okay? I hate it when you say that.
You're very unattractive when you're angry.
You think this is funny? Okay, look if I ever said anything to cast doubt on your current employment situation, then I'm sorry, but But you raised my stock at Stark & Rowan by getting me an interview at the Manhattan D.
A.
And I owe it all to you? But you need to learn to accept an apology.
Okay, you might be right.
You thinking what I'm thinking? No.
Fielder Building elevator, 2008? You kn, theyowad cameras in there.
Why didn't you tell me? 'Cause you would've stopped.
This is a slow elevator.
Not slow enough.
So, as part of my apology, can I take you to dinner? Lunch? No? Is that a yes? Counselor.
All rise.
Are all parties present for the Barnes Family Trust matter? Barry Gilchrist representing Jessica Barnes, Your Honor.
I have her power of attorney.
Nolan Adams representing Mr.
and Mrs.
Barnes.
Your motion, you're up.
Your Honor, our petition states that Jessica Barnes has forfeited her entitlement to her own trust by misappropriating its funds.
What was the money for? According to the language in the original document, it was intended and designated for post-secondary education.
Oh, it's a college fund.
Exclusively? Until she attains a degree or turns 25, whichever happens first, Your Honor.
Well, what is she doing with the money instead? Sir, she is living on a farming community with no educational infrastructure or accreditation that we can discern.
We have to object to this narrow view of the term "education.
" and enrichment at Wheaton Farms-- horticulture, community service, lectures and readings that she herself describes in this sworn statement.
Your Honor, when my sister wanted to spend a summer following Prince on tour, our parents refused to pay for it, so she sold her car.
Well, that's very interesting, Counselor.
Sort of.
Where you going with this? Well, sir, if you were to ask her, my sister would say that she felt enriched, that it was a great learning experience.
And while she can do a spirited rendition of "Little Red Corvette," I doubt that any of us would consider that an education, except maybe counsel, according to his definition.
This farm, while quaint, does not meet any definition of postsecondary education I've ever heard of.
Control of the fund will revert to William Barnes until Jessica turns 25, or until her father deems her able to manage her money appropriately.
All right.
Mr.
Friendly will take this back to Marcus, and we'll be right behind him with the cash offer.
We're going with you.
Micah, right? Micah Schraft? Who's asking? I'm, uh I'm here about Jessica Barnes.
I was hoping maybe you can, you know, shed some light on that place that she's at.
Sorry.
I got nothing else.
Is that why you wouldn't give William Barnes your name, man? Because that would've been a whole lot easier than having to track you down through her phone records.
I should've called from a pay phone.
Except when's the last time you saw a pay phone that works? Listen, why did you call Jessica's folks saying she was in trouble? I'm worried about her.
I was just trying to help.
Okay, well, then I take it you're a former member then.
You mind if I ask you how you got out, man? Because I've been there.
High gates, guards-- it doesn't seem like the kind of place that people just leave.
Look, I did what I could to help here.
You've got to do the rest on your own.
You're scared of Wheaton, aren't you? I can't help you.
You're not helping me.
You're helping Jessica.
She was a perfect target.
Uh-huh.
Because of her money, right? Oh, he likes that.
No doubt.
Look, I got out, okay? I have a chance.
He's never gonna let Jessica go.
Well I could use your help with that.
Okay, okay.
How about, uh how about the name of someone who will? Sonnets are on me.
Because of Martina's dealings with Marcus, I think it's best if she takes him the offer, and I think we should stay here.
I want to see this Wheaton guy.
Nolan's right.
Look, the most effective way to extract Jessica is to treat this like a business transaction.
There's definitely an "and" in that.
If things get emotional, your presence could complicate the situation.
William, please, listen to them.
Just bring her back.
$200,000? Is that what her parents think she's worth? Even with all this free labor, we both know that your followers' money is what's keeping you afloat, so consider it severance.
Jessica goes home, your bills get paid.
Everybody wins.
I'm not interested in her money.
The withdrawals from her trust fund while she's been with you suggest otherwise.
My followers want to contribute.
They want what's best for our community.
Thank you.
We'll see about that.
This is your thing, isn't it? Banging on doors until they open.
I'll bet you sat in the front row of every class you took in law school.
This isn't about me.
Oh, but it is, actually, Ms.
Garretti.
You've obviously succeeded in your life by taking control, and I admire that, but there is something to be gained by relinquishing it as well.
Giving yourself over to a communal purpose, where everything doesn't have to be a fight.
That's what Jessica has found with us here.
Where is she? We just want to see our daughter.
You want what's best for your daughter, don't you? I understand that, but you need to understand that we're her family now.
We have people who will testify about how you're taking advantage of Jessica.
People? Yeah.
Did Micah Schraft tell you why I kicked him out? He made sexual advances toward Jessica.
A man easily ten years her senior.
He was possessive, predatory, and I was afraid he couldn't control himself, so, out of concern for that young girl's safety, I had him removed from our community.
What a hero.
You'll be hearing from us.
We've lost her, William.
She's not coming back.
So, he didn't take the cash offer.
That's surprising.
We think he's playing the long game.
That's why he didn't take the money.
The trust goes back to Jessica when she turns 25.
So rather than risk losing face in front of his followers, he's willing to wait out the term of the trust.
Unless we get to him another way.
What are you thinking? Sue him for false imprisonment.
No, the statute of false imprisonment states States that only the person who's been imprisoned can bring the claim.
That would be Jessica.
But when I talked to Marcus, he called her a "young girl.
" And then I remembered Maureen Barnes told us that Jessica left rehab before her Which means her legal guardians at the time, her parents, could file a retroactive claim on Jessica's behalf.
Where are we on the testimony against Wheaton Farms? Micah Schraft gave me the name of two other kids on the farm.
I checked with their parents.
They heard stories of abuse but had no proof.
That's not good enough.
I'm also running down the lawyer from the trust trial, Gilchrist, to see if he defended Wheaton against labor disputes or personal injury claims.
How about Wheaton himself? He's clean.
He's too clean.
Are you guessing or do you know something? Eh, you walk around, boss, you're supposed to leave footprints.
This guy's not leaving any, making me think Marcus Wheaton isn't his real name.
So, it's just a hunch.
There's no proof.
Yes.
For now.
We haven't had a discoverable claim.
A false imprisonment lawsuit will allow us to subpoena his financial records to look for fraud.
Unconventional cause of action, but if it were my son, I'd want to exhaust every channel to try and get him back.
Let's do it.
Hey.
The flower show.
I told you I was gonna be in the city.
Oh.
That's right.
I'm sorry.
Did we make plans? No, I I was thinking about our conversation.
About you and Tommy.
Ma.
There is no "me and Tommy.
" Honey I'm worried.
I'm worried that you're not living a balanced life.
I never see you having any fun.
Ma, I have a big case on right now.
Yeah, well, that's the thing.
There's always gonna be a big case in your life.
But we're only on this planet for a short time.
And I want to see my girls happy.
Okay, Ma, I've only been at this firm a couple of months, okay? There's a lot of work to do, and I like doing it.
That's wonderful.
I'm not asking you to go hunting for a husband, darling.
Good.
But you could, uh, keep your eyes open.
And your heart open.
For a boyfriend.
Huh? And you've always loved Tommy.
Aw Look at this.
All right, this is uncanny.
You know, your father looked a lot like Tommy when he was younger.
Ma! Seriously! You have to get to work.
I understand.
I love you.
I just want the best for you.
Okay? Okay.
Have fun at the flower show.
I will.
He's very handsome, you know.
Tommy? No, your father.
Oh, my God.
Love you, love you, love you.
Love you, too.
Uh-huh.
Retroactive false imprisonment.
Yes, Your Honor, on behalf of Jessica Barnes, when she was a minor.
Your Honor, this is a Hail Mary pass and not one Ms.
Barnes wants to catch.
We can't know what Jessica wants as long as Mr.
Wheaton has her in seclusion.
We are filing this motion to compel him to grant us access.
Her appearance is obviously critical to this matter, Your Honor.
Jessica Barnes is an adult, exercising her right to live where she pleases.
We'd like to hear that from Jessica herself, Your Honor.
Me, too.
Mr.
Wheaton will produce Jessica Barnes for the purposes of this trial.
How long will it take to transport Ms.
Barnes to this court? 90 minutes, Your Honor, but We'll adjourn till then.
When are you going to give up? That's funny.
I was about to ask you the same thing.
That's-That's a lie.
I never made sexual advances toward her.
S-She was like a kid sister to me.
That's not the story he's telling.
Marcus.
If he said the earth was flat, all his followers would think it's true.
Maybe the best way to take him down, then, is with the actual truth, right? Look, I know you're afraid of the guy, but I need your help proving that he isn't who he says he is.
But I really don't know anything.
No, come on.
Sure you do.
Wheaton's got a story, a patter.
He's leaking truth about himself all the time, right? So let's just start with something easy, you know.
Uh he ever talk about his parents? Oh, sure.
Vivian and Henry.
He worshipped them.
Great farmers.
All the vegetables we planted came straight from Vivian's garden.
That's good.
That's good.
What else? What else? His mom was a singer.
Mm-hmm.
That's why we sang all the time.
Old gospel hymns.
Even this goofy song she sang to him when he was scared, like during tornadoes and other storms.
Tornadoes, huh? Yeah.
You get a lot of those in upstate New York? Well, not when I was there, but he said they had a lot of them when he was a kid.
Is that important? Eh, could be.
You mentioned vegetables and you mentioned singing.
Now, what other things on the farm came from his parents? Jessica, your 18th birthday was on October 10th.
Did you celebrate it at Wheaton Farms? We don't really celebrate birthdays, but I was there on October 10th.
That would not go in my family.
Cupcakes or ice cream are mandatory, no matter how old you are.
How did you end up at the farm? I was at an outing with my rehab clinic, at a farmers' market.
Marcus was there, selling pies made of the cherries that we grow at Wheaton Farms.
We started talking, and I knew I had to leave with him.
When you checked in to the clinic, you signed a contract saying that you would stay there until therapists diagnosed you as in recovery.
Did you receive that diagnosis before you left? No.
So you must be receiving treatment at Wheaton Farms.
Is that right? Are there doctors there? Specialists that we can consult about your progress? Objection, relevance.
This is not a trial about Ms.
Barnes's rehabilitation.
Your Honor, we believe being lured away from a rehab facility while still a minor and subsequently being deprived of the necessary medical treatment goes to false imprisonment.
Overruled.
She can answer.
I didn't need rehab.
I needed to devote my life to the work at Wheaton Farm, lead a simpler life.
I'm sorry, Jessica, I'm going to have to ask you again: are you receiving medical treatment for your addiction issues? No.
Thank you.
Hello, Jessica.
Have you been harmed in any way since you arrived at Wheaton Farms? No.
Do you feel in any way coerced, repressed or restricted? No.
When you joined Wheaton Farms, at age 17, did you do so of your own free will? Yes.
And most importantly, have you taken any drugs, prescription or otherwise, since you started living there? No.
So you're drug-free and happy in a bucolic environment.
Yes.
Thank you.
Nothing further.
Should we redirect? No.
It'll look like we're badgering the witness.
Just let it go.
I never thought I'd live to see the day when our discovery would include a receipt for two tons of cow manure.
These finances don't add up.
Enlighten me.
Okay, if there were at least 30 people working at that farm, If ten of them were giving Marcus as much money as Jessica was, then he has more than enough to cover his expenses with quite a bit left over.
So what's he doing with the rest of the cash? Well, it's not going in his bank account.
It's basically zero.
He's gotta be hiding it somewhere else.
Well, then we need to find it.
See, proving that he's defrauding his followers goes directly to false imprisonment.
Okay, well, I'll see where Riv's at on the search for Marcus's real name.
What kind of person wants to control other people like they're puppets? And how creepy is it that he refers to his followers as his "family"? Yeah, I don't know really know any family that works like that, and my mom, she ran a tight ship.
Ah.
Discipline would've been nice.
My mother gave me a standing ovation for putting my shoes on the right feet.
Well, I mean, I You turned out okay, though, right? You're a success in spite of the fact you were getting praise you didn't earn.
Wow.
It doesn't sound good when you put it that way.
Oh.
Uh, Donovan's on his way in and he looks upset.
Uh, what about? I didn't ask him.
I'm just the early warning system.
Jessica Barnes is missing, and her father has been arrested for kidnapping.
Our civil case just became a criminal one.
This is my client.
Thanks for getting here so quickly.
Kidnapping is a felony, punishable by anywhere from 25 years to life in prison.
She was scared and she wanted to come home.
I could see it.
I'm afraid that wasn't a good solution.
I had no choice.
We can't defend our clients if you don't let us do our job.
Well, now your job is defending me, assuming you're still willing.
Bill, did anybody get hurt? No.
I had a two of my security guys tail their van.
When they stopped for gas, everybody got out except for Jessica.
My guys took the van with her in it.
We might be able to fix this if you tell us where she is.
It's not like I have her chained to a radiator somewhere.
My security team took her to a medical facility so the doctors could make sure that she's okay.
What did she say when you saw her? If she expressed relief or came voluntarily, it would mitigate the kidnapping charge.
She still won't talk to me.
I'm going to check on Martina's progress with bail.
We have a legal obligation to verify Jessica's welfare.
Get him in compliance.
You heard him.
I need an address.
The only way I can make sure she's safe is that if he can't get to her.
So what if I tell you and he follows you? No.
No way.
I can't take that chance.
Do you understand? I missed all of the signs.
She was drifting away from us and I was too selfish to see it.
I can't lose her again.
Bill, I understand, but as your attorney, I am here to tell you that the longer Jessica's whereabouts remain unknown, the worse this looks for you.
I need to know where she is.
You find a way to keep Wheaton away from her, then I'll tell you.
Martina.
Hi, baby sis.
What's up? Hey, Bon, do you, uh, think Tommy looks like Dad when he was younger? What? Oh, it's just something Mom said.
I mean, she's totally losing it, right? It's crazy.
My God, Martina, they're like twins.
They are not like twins.
What? Who knew you had a daddy wound.
That's like the mother of all daddy issues.
Well, thanks so much for your opinion, okay? Can we please just pretend like this phone call never happened? Not a chance.
Bye.
Hey.
Hey.
I know how to defend our kidnapping father.
I like your confidence.
Necessity defense.
The D.
A.
is going to paint our client as a power-crazed one-percenter who seized and detained his daughter against her will.
So we prove William Barnes had no choice but to rescue his daughter.
Distraught father, worried sick about his little girl, takes matters into his own hands, like that movie.
What movie? You know, the movie with, uh, Liam Neeson.
Schindler's List.
Never mind.
Okay, so the lesser crime of kidnap was committed to prevent the greater crime behind the walls of the compound.
All we need to do is prove that Marcus Wheaton is a danger.
Is he? I can't find any record of a married couple named Vivian or Henry Wheaton living in New York State in the last 20 years.
So the name Marcus Wheaton and the whole family farm is a lie.
Looks like it.
He was either given the farm or he bought it.
Either way, there will be a title transfer.
You only create a new identity if you need to leave the life you had behind.
If we're going to get William off, we've got to prove it.
Okay, here we go.
What is this? Discovery related to the farm's finances.
Really? Looks like pies to me.
I sent some paralegals to buy some pies from Wheaton Farms and watch the customer flow.
An audit? Due diligence on their revenue and cost structure.
If Marcus's finances don't add up, it's more proof that he's not doing what he says he's doing with the money.
Good idea.
Mm, you guys need anything else? Forks.
I'm supposed to be hearing this case tomorrow, and you come see me with an ultimatum? I'm requesting a no-contact order-- it's not intended to be an ultimatum, Your Honor.
Our client wants to reveal his daughter's location, but he is concerned for her safety.
He believes that Marcus Wheaton has control over Jessica Barnes and may coerce her out of Manhattan Mr.
Wheaton isn't even a party to this suit.
Is this where I stand? I know that it is unconventional, but honestly, it is the best way we know to find Jessica and to move forward with this trial.
Do I look shiny? Not shiny at all, Your Honor.
Distinguished.
All right, all right, in the interest of moving forward, I will grant the no-contact order.
But I'm issuing it for both sides.
This means that Jessica Barnes may not communicate with Marcus Wheaton or her parents for the duration of the trial.
Thank you.
And if it takes more than an hour to turn that girl over, Mr.
Adams, I will not be pleased.
Mmm Say what you want about mind control, but these people can bake a pie.
Did you make any progress with the property records? Yeah.
He bought the farm ten years ago, sweetheart deal.
He got it from an elderly woman who had no heirs.
Okay, did he buy it as Marcus Wheaton? Yes.
Okay, so at some point ten years ago, a man calling himself Marcus Wheaton settled upstate.
What do we know for sure? Well, he knows how to run a farm.
What else? The cult grows things his parents grew.
Okay, I remember tomatoes beans and cherries.
And wherever he grew up, they had tornadoes-- that gets you to the middle of the country.
Okay.
Central U.
S.
Really? Still with the pie? I can't stop eating.
It is delicious.
I don't know what it Sour cherries.
Most pies are made with the sweet variety, because they're easier to find, but your sour cherries-- English Morellos, Balatons-- it's harder to find, but they simply make a better pie.
What? I bake.
English Morellos.
Cherries.
Growing regions.
And this crust leaves something to be desired.
My opinion.
But I'll still eat it.
Riv, could you track down someone who changed their name over 20 years ago? That's pretty far back, but if I knew where I was looking, I'm sure I could dig it up.
Okay, I bet you one piece of cherry pie I know where Marcus Wheaton is from.
Nice work.
Nice.
This is the State of New York v.
William Barnes.
Ms.
Garretti, call your first witness.
The defense calls Marcus Wheaton to the stand.
Mr.
Wheaton, you told the D.
A.
that your van was stolen from a rest stop while Jessica Barnes was still inside.
Is that right? Yes.
Did you get your van back? I only ask because well, I imagine it would be hard for you to replace, given your financial situation.
According to Wheaton Farms' tax returns, you've been operating at a loss for nearly a decade.
Wheaton Farms doesn't believe in profits or wealth.
So, uh, those farmer market booths where you sell your famous cherry pies, that's not for profit? Proceeds pay for farm supplies, maintenance, things like that.
You must have to sell a lot of pies, which you probably do.
I actually tasted one, and it was delicious.
Thank you.
You use, uh, sour cherries, right? Yes.
Objection.
Relevance.
I'm getting there, Your Honor.
We don't have time to exchange recipes, Counselor.
Make it fast.
It's just that sour cherries aren't native to New York.
In fact, I couldn't find a crop insurance agent who would insure sour cherry trees in your area.
That's how hard it is to grow them there.
I-I guess we're just lucky.
Did, uh, you import your trees from somewhere else? Yes, we did.
Where? Michigan.
Traverse Bay, Michigan, to be exact.
It's the cherry capital of the world.
You actually grew up there, didn't you? Objection.
The witness cites his own family background as a foundation for much of his teachings at Wheaton Farms.
I would argue that the veracity of that background seems highly relevant.
I agree.
Can you confirm that though your current legal name is Marcus Wheaton, you were actually born Tyler James Packey of Traverse Bay, Michigan? Yes.
I would like to introduce an article from the Traverse Bay Beacon, 1985, marked as defense exhibit seven.
Objection.
Relevance.
This happened 27 years ago.
Your Honor, for the purpose of this defense, I have to prove that Tyler Packey is a danger to Jessica.
I'm just trying to do that.
I'll allow it.
It's a sad story.
A 17-year-old Tyler Packey set his parents' house on fire while they were asleep.
Apparently, they'd just told him they were getting a divorce.
Your mother survived, but over 40% of her body was covered in burns.
You know, I would run away and change my name, too, after something like that.
Objection.
Sustained.
The funny thing is, Tyler Packey is alive and well.
He bought a $2 million condo last year.
My question is, if he's so wealthy, then how come that farm has to depend on pie sales to cover their overhead? Your Honor, we we are unaware of the evidence counsel is citing.
William Barnes had no choice but to kidnap Jessica.
He had to protect her from this man.
Your Honor, I would ask for the court to dismiss the charges against our client I'm granting your motion.
I anticipate the D.
A.
's Office will be contacting the U.
S.
Attorney regarding Mr.
Packey's alleged tax fraud.
We're adjourned.
Hey.
Look, you don't have to talk to me if you don't want to.
It's fine.
I don't know what more damage you could do.
I'm sorry that it all had to come out like that.
I trusted him.
I believed what Marcus said.
Turns out I didn't even know who he was.
He took advantage of you.
Please don't blame yourself for that.
What is that? An addendum to the trust reinstating your privileges.
The money's yours.
With what strings attached? None.
Look, your parents want you to be able to get the help you need, build a life for yourself.
That money will help you do that.
I don't have to see them? They want to give you your space.
Good luck, Jessica.
How is she? Is she all right? She's a little overwhelmed, but that's to be expected.
Thank you.
Remember, you're not off the hook.
You've still got a million hours of community service to get started on.
Yeah, well, it's better than jail, so thank you.
Well, most things are better than jail, but you're welcome.
I guess this is it.
We're just supposed to leave? Without even seeing her? We don't want to force anything, Maureen.
We have to wait until she's ready to see us.
When will that be? Maybe sooner than you think.
You leave the meter running? We got to get back for a deposition.
You just won a case.
Do you want to stop and smell the garlic fries? Sorry.
Got to go.
Relax.
Okay? You already got the job.
Look, they won't let me forget that I'm still a rookie.
I got a lot to prove.
You're probably billing more hours than any first year in the building.
Look you always had this big dream, and now you're making it.
Nobody's doing it for you, definitely not me.
Ah a Tommy pep talk.
You know, I've missed those.
It's the truth.
Here's to you.
Oh! What?! Oh, I thought you were offering me I was toasting you.
With a French fry? Yeah.
Well, who does that? Me.
Look at me.
I have ketchup on my face? All over your face.
Mm Ah, he's looking for me.
Who? Nolan.
That's a weird name.
You're 30 years old, and people still call you Tommy.
'Cause it's an awesome name.
Yeah, for a five-year-old.
Tell your family I said hi.
Hey, how's your dad doing? He's What? Uh Thank you for lunch, and the apology.
I-I got to go.
Bye.
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