The Guardian (2001) s01e12 Episode Script
Causality
Well, uh, Happy Birthday, Alvin.
Thank you, James.
All right.
No, no, no, no, no.
You can't go yet.
I gotta tell you something.
I gotta tell you that I could not do the job I do if it wasn't for you.
Thanks, man.
I mean it.
You're the real deal, man.
Isn't he beautiful? He is absolutely beautiful.
What a punim.
I love ya, man.
I'm not gonna hug you if that's what you're after.
Thank you, James.
Good night.
Thank you for the party, my friend.
Good night.
What a rock.
It's funny, isn't it? Causality-- how one thing can lead to another? Yeah.
It's fate.
No.
I am not a religious man.
All right, then.
Science.
No.
Logic.
No, no.
Just chance, you know? You walk through one door instead of another.
You meet one person instead of another.
What's that, free will? Ha.
No.
Self-determination? Pbbbt! No.
You--you-- life is chaotic when you're walking into it, but it's all order when you look back at it.
No, no.
You're blathering.
It's not chaotic.
You know, you're just talking about causality and fate and it's nonsense.
It's a moment.
You're in a moment now-- you're in a moment-- and you were in a moment before.
You were there in that moment, and now you're here.
It's just a moment, that's what it is.
Oh, man.
It's a moment.
Aw It's almost 2:00.
I got a hearing in the morning.
I gotta go home.
I know.
How you gettin' home? I, uh, I'm gonna take a cab.
What about you? I'm gonna walk.
I gotta sober up.
Come on, bunny-buddy.
Happy Birthday, Alvin.
Thank you very much.
Thank you for coming.
Good night.
You're drunk.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I thought you weren't supposed to drink.
No, uhDrugs.
I'm not allowed to do the drugs.
No one is allowed to use drugs.
That's right.
You know Most--most women-- oh, most women.
Yeah, ok.
Most women, uh-- most women what? I--I don't know.
Um Like my mother-- I was very close to my mother, and she was a very special person.
She was very pretty.
She used to say nice things about me.
She said that I was charming and handsome.
Mm-hmm.
And, um, she said this one thing that I always remembered, so it stuck in my head, is that, uh, I would--she thought that I would grow up and, uh, treat women better than my father did.
She told me that, and Well? So? Anyway Was she right? I don't know.
You want to find out? I gotta go.
You sure? Ok.
You Uh, don't--don't forget your jacket.
I got everything.
Um, so, I will-- I'll see you tomorrow.
Yeah, I'll see you, ok.
Good night.
Come on, pretty lady.
Don't leave yet.
Take a seat.
Yeah, that makes me want you really bad.
Bitch.
Backfire.
Why don't you two ass-clowns go home together? Excuse me? You heard me.
You got a problem? Yeah, your breath.
Oh, yo, yo.
Come on, come on.
You don't wan to do that.
Yeah, I don't want to mess up your suit.
The suit? You think I care about my suit? Calm down, man.
Come on.
I don't give a damn about that.
Screw you.
Why don't you wait and screw your buddy here? Ow.
It's ok.
Come on, man.
I am sentencing you to 1,500 hours of community service using your skills as a corporate attorney to work as a child advocate.
Nicholas.
It's hard to believe.
Yeah.
I still regret Oh, come on, dad.
Not being with you.
I should have been with you that morning she went on.
Sometimes I think if she lived, we would have been Together.
You left her.
We loved each other, son.
You walked out on her.
I'll see you later.
Oh, um, Sheila wants you to call her this afternoon.
Sheila? Yeah.
Oh, Sheila.
This about the cell phone and the car lease? We don't have to talk about this now, ok? It is, isn't it? You brought it up.
Yeah.
Here.
You don't have to give it to me now.
No, no, just take it.
I'll deal with the car lease in the next couple of days.
Just take it.
Kirk and McGee.
I'll transfer you.
Kirk and McGee.
Morning.
I'm Nicholas fallin.
I know.
Your files aren't here yet.
And I'm supposed to meet with bill McGee.
He's not in.
Where's my office? Down the hall, on the left.
Kirk and McGee.
Thank you.
Mr.
armitage, Nicholas fallin.
Yeah.
No, I'm calling regarding the debt offering we wanted to get.
No.
No, I wasn't aware of that decision.
No, I completely understand.
My father's a very good lawyer.
He'll take good care of you.
Ok, all right.
Bye.
Hank.
Nicholas fallin.
Yeah, you ready to get going on that leveraged buyout? Really? Oh, I'm sorry to hear that.
Yeah, ok.
Bye.
James.
Alvin's birthday, Friday night, the incline.
I don't want a party, James.
You don't want a party? Sure you do.
No, I don't.
What are you doing here? You got something for me? You told me you couldn't come back this week because of your new job.
Ah, well, you know, it's a little slow over there at the moment.
I've already assigned today's cases.
Yeah? So it's your birthday? Yeah.
How old are you turning? Well, you look pretty good for a guy who's 51.
I've got work to do, Mr.
fallin.
Yeah.
We've organized a party at a restaurant called the incline on Friday.
I don't want a party! I need some help here! I need some help.
I just found-- I found this baby.
I just found the baby outside.
I was dropping off my recycling and I found her.
Louisa, you shouldn't have brought her here.
You have to take her to the hospital.
Well, what am I supposed to do? I mean, who would dump a baby in the garbage like this? Come on.
I'll drive you.
Now, where'd you find her? The strip mall on the corner.
Dropped off my recycling and she's just laying there outside.
Nick! Hey, how's it going, man? It's going great.
Good to see you.
You remember Arnold and Elliot levi from renco corp.
Yeah, I sure do.
I, um-- Well, I-- congratulations on the-- Nick's at kirk and McGee now, so Um Yeah.
Listen, I'd have you join us, but we're going through some stuff.
I completely understand.
I have to run off to a meeting myself.
Yeah, listen, it's good to see you.
Yeah.
You, too.
All right.
Nice to see you again.
Hey, Nicholas.
I spoke to the car dealership.
They're transferring the lease out of your firm's name, so we're all square.
Ah, Ms.
kurtz, come on in.
Your mother called in social services for an emergency removal of your son Gregory because of neglect and abuse.
She says you hit your son.
Look, my mama doesn't know what she's talking about.
It says here that your boy-- who is how old? Had bruises on his face and arms.
He falls sometimes.
The report says he was malnourished and wearing soiled clothing.
Look--look, I--I try to feed him sometimes, but sometimes he ain't hungry.
Have you seen a doctor about this? There is nothing wrong with Gregory.
No, I know that.
It's you the court will be concerned about.
Oh, Nick! Welcome, welcome.
So, uh, we had a meeting, bill.
I was in Florida golfing.
Friend of mine has a jet.
I didn't plan to stay over, but we had this crazy idea that we'd get up at 4:00 in the morning and play 9 before we traveled back.
So, the meeting UhDo you like your office? Yeah.
We have a terrific group of young attorneys here, and they'll love working with you.
Great, great.
Uh I did want to say on the record that it's important that you keep your past in your past.
Of course, of course.
I understand that.
Good.
Is that--that's what you wanted to talk to me about? Well, we've been thinking a lot, and we've decided that you should stick exclusively with mergers and acquisitions.
Bill, I--I've been doing mostly corporate finance.
Oh, I know, I know, but we would like you to assign your finance clients to Randall kirk.
I don't think they'll like that.
Well, you came in under me.
I do mergers and acquisitions.
Let's not step on Randall's toes.
I didn't come here to do m and a exclusively.
Nick, be a team player for a few months.
Let Randall get comfortable with you.
I'm not going to just hand over my clients to him.
Our clients, Nick.
Now, I don't know how it works in your dad's firm, but here, we share and share alike.
Anything else? Nick.
You working here now? Seems like a fun place to work.
A lot of good people.
- It doesn't matter.
I just--I don't get it.
Just let it go.
How's the baby? She's fine.
She just had her checkup.
Where'd they send her? Mckees rocks hospital.
Ok.
How long till the petition hearing? We're scheduled for Friday morning.
Let me take the case.
You found her, Lulu.
I know.
That's why I want to do it.
This is a real simple case.
Social services will look after her until she gets adopted.
It won't take but a week to find her an adoptive home.
Yeah, how can you be so sure about that? She's white.
Alvin, let me do it.
You think you can be neutral about it? I can do it.
Ok.
It's yours.
You wanted to see me? Oh, Nick, you know Henry Sloan.
Henry.
Nicholas.
Good to see you.
I didn't realize you'd come over.
I was glad to know you were here.
Thank you.
It'll be great to keep working with you.
How's your dad doing with all of this? My dad, uh, he's, uh, well, you know my father.
He's a tough one to figure out.
He's fine.
I think he's fine.
How's your son? Carter's great.
Carter's what brings me here today.
Really? Why? Henry is selling his auto parts company to Carter.
Oh.
Well, how can I help you? I've already drafted the purchase agreement.
Maybe you could take it over, Nick.
It'd be my pleasure.
Give me the particulars.
The purchase price is 30 million.
Fair market is closer to 40.
Penn savings and loan is loaning Carter 10 million, and Henry here is taking back the note for the other 20.
Ok, so basically, you're giving him the company.
He's my son.
There's not much to do here, Nick.
Just make sure it's fine, ok? Sure.
Great.
Be a pleasure.
Good to see you, Nick.
You, too.
Thanks.
Here you go.
Thank you.
Mm-hmm.
It's a simple transaction.
My dad's going to loan me nearly 70% of the purchase price, p.
A.
S & l is picking up the rest.
Have a seat.
Thank you.
So what do you think? Well, I think your dad sounds like a very generous man.
I should sign? Immediately, before he has second thoughts.
Great.
So who's handling this for your dad, bill McGee or Larry hines? Didn't bill McGee call you about this? About what? Nick's representing my dad on this one.
Oh.
WellNot a problem.
Hey.
Cunningham, the guy down the hall, tells me that you split your old man's firm, that you're a partner now.
Well, good for you, man.
Big firm like this, high-profile clientele Impressive.
Congratulations.
Who'd have thought, you know, a couple years ago? Anyway Oh, my God.
You scared me.
I'm sorry.
What are you doing? You always work in the dark? I just The sun went down.
Oh.
What's wrong? You know, the most unbelievable thing.
I found a baby.
Someone actually left a baby in a dumpster.
When? This morning.
It was freezing cold and I was too lazy to get out of bed and bring my recycling to the curb, so I just dropped it off in the bin behind the strip mall, and she was just there.
Someone just left her there.
People.
I don't get it, you know, because she's just perfect.
She's this She's a perfect little thing.
She'll be fine now.
Come on.
She's got nothing.
Her whole life ahead of her and this is the way it begins? That's great.
Hey, how's that new job working out for you? Oh, uh I hate it.
You know Randall kirk offered me a job? Why'd you turn it down? Because he has no soul.
Ok, let's see what we've got here.
Mr.
Masterson? Your honor, my client wants her child back.
Is that it, Mr.
Masterson? Well, the only reason we're here is because my client's mother called in social services to settle a family problem.
Your honor, Ms.
kurtz has been extremely negligent in the care of her son.
We found an unclean house, little food, and insufficient clothing for the winter months.
The child was found with bruises to his head and arms.
What do you suggest, Ms.
solt? We consider Ms.
kurtz unfit to continue caring for her child.
We ask that the boy be temporarily placed with his grandmother.
No, not her.
Is the boy's grandmother here? No! I would never do anything to harm my child.
Never! Quiet, please.
Is the boy's grandmother in the courtroom? Yes.
Y-yes, I am, your honor.
Will you state your name for the court? Ella kurtz.
Your honor, uh, I move for a continuance.
On what grounds, Mr.
Masterson? This is new information.
I, uh, I need to confer with my client.
How much time? Granted.
What was that all about? Didn't you check Ella kurtz out? Of course I did.
She had a petition to terminate her parental rights in march of 1982.
The petition was denied.
Ella kurtz had to go to the liquor store.
She left her 4-year-old daughter Ilana alone in their fifth floor apartment.
The window was open.
The little girl crawled out, fell to her death.
How old was hilary? At the time, 3.
How do you know all this? Because I represented Ella kurtz.
I helped her get custody of those kids less than a month before the accident.
If you're going to risk $20 million of your own money, you should retain some controls over the company until the money is paid back.
Oh, no, no.
He's a good kid.
Well, you're giving him $20 million.
Mr.
Sloan, nobody is that good.
What do you recommend? Well, I would include some negative covenants on the purchase agreement.
That way, you have a leash on Carter until he's paid back every penny.
He's my son.
It's business, Mr.
Sloan.
I mean, you can't give away a $30 million company-- or market value $40 million company-- and not retain some of the controls.
You--you can, but, uh, it would be foolish.
Oh, um, excuse me, miss? Can I help you? I'm Susan mueter.
I think someone here found my baby.
That'd be me.
Can I--I Come with me.
You want to come? Jake, it's Nick.
Yeah.
Uh, you busy? Well, I have, uh, tickets to the penguins game and, uh, I was just wondering if you--you, uh, wanted to join me.
This evening.
No, uh, no, uh, yeah.
I understand.
Ok, another time.
Can you prove that you're her mother? I had her at county hospital.
Maybe they got records or something.
Can you explain what happened to her? Uh-huh.
I had to go to the store, and no one was there to watch her, so I left her in the apartment, and when I got back she was gone.
Someone stole her? Her father.
He didn't want to pay support.
It's our obligation to notify you that your daughter's shelter hearing is gonna take place on Friday morning at 10:00 at the juvenile court section of the allegheny county courthouse.
You should be there to tell your side of the story.
Ok.
Thanks for, uh For helping my baby.
Hey, Nick.
What do you want, man? I want you to stop coming by the office.
Oh, come on, Nick.
Do you ever think about what you're doing to that guy? Tell me something.
Do you blame me for your problems? No.
Take responsibility for yourself? Yes.
Yeah.
So Cunningham can take care of himself.
Don't come by the office.
You didn't come here to threaten me, did you? There's something you should know about me.
What? I represented your mother.
So? Well, the court wanted to take you and your sister away from her.
I fought for her and won.
So? The courts wanted to place you and your sister into a shelter because of your mother's drinking and neglect.
I stopped them from doing that.
Then your sister Ilana-- you do remember her, don't you? A little.
Do you remember how she died? I remember a window, a policeman, and my mom goin' away.
And you ended up in foster care, right? And I lived a lot of places, and none of them were any different.
The people got angry and took it out on me.
Took it out on you how? I don't know.
What you do to bad kids.
Hit you? That's what you do.
Is that what you do to your son? Hilary I can't represent you properly.
Truth be told, I don't think you or your mother should be given custody of your son.
Tell the court to find you a different attorney.
I won't do you much good.
Hey, you helped my mama to keep me when I was a baby, right? Right.
Then I need you to help me get my baby, too.
We have some amendments.
We had an offer.
You didn't accept the offer.
We can amend.
It's just a lot of negative covenants.
Until you pay back the entirety of the $20 million loan, you can't sell the company, change or alter the nature of the business, enter into new businesses, incur debt, or make investments of over $1 million or increase salaries more than 10%.
So my hands are completely tied.
Well, that's the price of a sweetheart deal.
This impedes my client's ability to run his company effectively.
These controls only exist until the loan is fully repaid.
After that, Carter can do whatever he likes with the company.
No.
The time period is indefinite.
No, it isn't indefinite.
It is only until the loan is fully repaid.
Dad, do you think I should sign this deal? Nick feels it's the prudent thing to do.
Yeah--yeah, but Is it the way you want things? No, wait, wait, wait.
Carter, don't do that.
Look, if this thing falls apart, you're the one that's on the hook.
It--it--it's ok.
Now, son, this is going to be your company.
You're running all the risks, regardless of where the money comes from.
Now, I would not accept those terms.
You don't want the covenants, you can always pay us cash.
Oh, Judas priest, Nicholas.
I think that's it, folks.
What the hell was that all about? It was a bad deal.
A bad deal that our client wants to give to his son? What right do you have to interfere with that? It is my job to make sure our clients don't have any regrets down the road.
A bad deal that falls apart isn't good for our reputation.
Nick, your job is to service the client, not yourself.
I don't think our client's upset with us, bill.
I think he's probably pleased that someone's actually being straight with him instead of taking the path of least resistance.
What are you implying? Nothing, bill.
Not a thing.
Henry.
Back to work.
Alvin.
This is Gregory kurtz, hilary's son.
I'm taking him to the doctor for a checkup.
Hello, Gregory.
Go ahead, sweetie.
Go play with the other kids over there, ok? I've talked to Ella kurtz.
She's turned her life around.
She's become devoutly religious.
We think she's the better alternative.
If you could convince your client to agree to her mother having even temporary custody-- no, I won't.
Because you won't give the grandmother a chance? Haven't given her a chance? I gave her plenty of chances.
What happened 20 years ago-- is enough.
Enough to condemn that woman for the rest of her life? Yes.
This is the case.
What? This was the case that started you representing children.
Yes.
Alvin, we've been in this business for a long time.
We've learned that things aren't always-- We can't have a petition hearing for your baby until we find the baby's father.
The baby's dad won't ever be there.
Why is that? Because he's dead, all right? You happy? Because he's dead.
I mean, how am--how am I supposed to raise it on my own? We can help you.
Yeah? Yeah.
I know what you can do.
I grew up in and out of here.
You people, you You put me into group homes for 3 years.
You have no idea what that's like.
away from home.
I think we have a--a compromise.
Let's hear it.
We will include the negative covenants, but they won't kick in unless Carter defaults on the loan.
In other words, if he makes his payments on time, then Henry has no say in the company.
No.
If and when Carter defaults, it's too late to fix things.
But my client has his name on this deal, and if it craps out, believe me, it'll be much more devastating to him than it will be to his father.
His father created this business.
His father wants to give this business to his son.
Don't you think if there's a demise, he would be more devastated? Nicholas, you're screwing up this entire deal.
You know, dad, this-- for the wrong reason.
This has nothing to do with you and me.
This is just a contract, so don't take it personally.
I'm not.
Oh, come on.
If you were in my position, you would do exactly the same thing.
I would do what my client wanted me to do.
No.
You told me You told me that our clients hire us to inform them, to tell them the truth.
You told me that.
So I told Mr.
Sloan here that the deal that he thought he wanted to make was a bad deal.
So he listened to me and now here we are.
We're negotiating the best possible solution.
Now, if you can't get your mind around that, if you can't get your-- if you can't get your mind on this deal, then fine--fine.
We will let this deal die.
I think Carter and I need to talk Privately.
Cute baby.
Thanks.
Hey, Tony.
Here we go.
Is mommy's little boy hungry? Alrighty, Tony, here we go.
Who's hungry? Hey.
My baby.
Mwah.
Boo.
Come in, gentlemen.
Carter and I have been discussing this.
Great.
Have you reached a conclusion? Yes.
You're all fired.
Let's go, son.
Nicholas, my office.
No, I--I don't work for you anymore.
I'm not asking you as a boss.
I'm asking you as a father.
What the hell is wrong with you? Nothing.
Yeah.
You're not yourself.
What are we talking about? I--I know that you're angry at me for some reason.
I was trying to do a deal in there, that's all.
A little deal.
Yeah.
That's all.
A little business.
Uh-huh.
Business.
Ok.
Ok.
Are we done? Sure.
Nicholas Are you What? Are you using that--that-- what? You think-- you think because I leave the firm, I'm using? Because I have a legal disagreement with you, you think I'm using? Do you understand I might be a little bit concerned when I see you this way? Which way? Oh, that look in your eyes.
The way you speak.
You have no idea what you're talking about.
Ok.
You know what? Never mind.
You know-- never mind! Go on.
All right, miss mueter, now explain to me how this happened.
My baby needed formula, and my friend who was gonna babysit never showed up.
The store is down the hill in the crofton mall, and when I go down there, I forget my food stamps.
When I get back, my baby's gone.
And you didn't contact the police? No, 'cause my boyfriend told me that the baby was fine over at his aunt's house, that she had some formula.
So we go out, and the next morning I find out that he's lying to me.
I hear that he gave the baby to some guy to sell for money.
That's when I see the article in the newspaper, and that's when I go over and tell that girl over there that I want my baby back.
Oh, your honor, she's lying.
Susan mueter initially claimed that the father stole the baby, so I confronted her with that, and she made up yet another story, and now she's saying something completely different.
I ain't.
That's what I found out.
I thought that's what happened, then I found out that something else did.
You can't blame me for that.
She left her baby in a dumpster to die.
I didn't.
Regardless, she let it happen.
I'm gonna place the baby with social services for the next 30 days.
Miss mueter, you will be required to visit your child get a part-time job, and take parenting classes.
Your honor, Miss archer-- I mean, this is a woman who left her baby in a garbage can.
- Miss archer.
- If I had gone to another dumpster, that baby would be dead.
Miss archer, you made your case, I've made my decision.
That's great.
Lulu.
Lulu.
I know what you're thinking.
No, you don't.
You're thinking that child should never be returned to that girl.
I don't disagree with the judge's ruling.
So you don't always disagree with second chances, even when the baby was clearly abandoned and left to die? You couldn't disprove that woman's story.
And you couldn't have disproved what Ella kurtz said all those years ago, either.
It was your job to make sure she was treated fairly by the courts.
I didn't have a good feeling about her, Laurie.
You were just part of the system, Alvin.
You're not the judge.
You don't make the rules.
Hell, you could have stayed in private practice.
You'd have been a millionaire by now.
Think that would have made you happy? Probably.
That was a disaster.
Henry Sloan is a very big client.
The partners are upset.
Why, we hired you because you're a hell of a lawyer, because we thought you could keep clients for us.
I am a hell of a lawyer.
Well, you've gotta work on your personality.
Ok.
Mr.
McGee, uh, bill, this is my personality.
Well, then, you've got to change it.
You ok? No.
She lied.
You challenged her every step of the way.
If she wants to take advantage of that, that's her problem.
Well, I didn't do it right.
I could have won.
Won? There is no winning.
You did your job, believe me.
Just move on to the next case.
Move on and don't look back.
But what's gonna happen to the little girl, James? What the hell's gonna happen to her? Miss kurtz Why don't we go in my office? Hilary, I As your lawyer, I should tell you, I, uh I don't think the court's gonna grant you custody.
My mama is gonna get my baby? Or he could go into foster care.
I lived in foster care, and I lived with my mama.
Both were bad.
I don't want my baby in either.
I want my baby with me.
Sheila, hey, it's--it's Nick.
Is--is my dad there? No, you--you tell him it's urgent.
It's urgent.
I know that client that he's with.
It's not that important.
Ok, ok, no.
Forget it.
Forget it.
Miss solt, has social services changed their previous recommendation? No, your honor.
We still feel Gregory kurtz should be placed with his grandmother Ella kurtz.
Mr.
Masterson? My client wants to retain custody of her son.
But nothing's changed? Uh, no, your honor.
Then why did you ask for the continuance, Mr.
Masterson? I wanted to make Ella kurtz's history known to the court and to social services.
Your honor, Ms.
kurtz has no criminal record.
What Mr.
Masterson wants you to know, your honor, is that hilary's sister, my firstborn She died under my care.
He's had this on his conscience for 20 years, and so have I.
He wants you to know that he thinks that I'm an unfit mother because I was an alcoholic who Put her drinkin' ahead of her own daughter's safety.
Mr.
Masterson, this is the reason for the continuance? the witness stand and lied about how she could take care of her children.
I was in an abusive relationship, and I was trying desperately to make things better.
She hid her drinking problem.
Am I the first person ever to have done that? She failed the very children she vowed to protect, your honor.
I failed everyone, Mr.
Masterson.
I wanted to die for so long.
You think there isn't one day that I don't relive and Regret what happened? But God kept me.
God found me and God saw me through.
I managed to stop drinkin'.
I started working for the church, and eventually, over time, things got a lot better.
I know--I know I did a terrible thing And if it's too late for my daughter, maybe it isn't for my grandson.
I'll grant temporary custody to Ella kurtz.
Now, if hilary takes parenting classes and consistently makes her supervised visits with the child, then I'll reconsider her status in 3 months' time.
I'm sorry.
Mr.
Masterson.
I know you don't want to talk to me.
I know you think I'm a horrible person, but you have to trust me.
I will take good care of him.
You said that before.
We don't get too many chances in this life.
I know that.
You'll see, though.
I won't let you down.
You put your faith in God.
I guess I'm gonna have to put my faith in you.
Can I get a Tequila.
I'll take another.
Hey, you're gonna have a good time.
You're gonna have a good time.
Look at all the gifts you have.
I have a big box of cash for you here, too.
Nick, thanks for coming.
Yeah.
Uh, yeah.
Nick wouldn't miss your birthday party, Alvin.
Oh, yeah.
Happy Birthday.
We'll just grab some tables over here.
All right.
Let's put these tables together.
Hey, Nick.
There's a chair over here for you.
Yeah.
Well, uh, Happy Birthday, Alvin.
Thank you, James.
Thank you for the party, my friend.
Thank you.
Good night.
Good night.
Good night, James.
What a rock.
It's funny, isn't it? Causality-- how one thing can lead to another? Yeah.
It's fate.
No.
I am not a religious man.
All right, then.
Science.
- No.
- Logic.
No, no, no.
Just chance, you know? You walk down one road instead of another.
You meet one person instead of another.
Free will.
Self-determination.
When you walk into life, it's all chaotic, but it's all order when you look back at it.
No, no, it's, uh--it's, uh, you're blathering.
It's not chaotic.
It's--it's a moment and you were in the moment before, but that moment's gone, so whatever.
Hey, Alvin? Hello, Burton.
How are you? Happy Birthday.
Thank you very much.
Late night? No, I had a dinner date and went home, and I couldn't sleep.
Oh, I didn't see you inside.
Well, I was in there for a second, and I, uh, I just didn't want to intrude, so Hi.
Hi.
Louisa archer, Burton fallin.
Hi.
How are you? We have met.
As a matter of fact, I offered this young lady a job last month.
He did.
Uh, so, are you sure either of you don't need a ride? No, I'll just stagger home.
I'll stick around to make sure Nick's ok, and Excuse me? You heard me.
You got a problem? Oh, whoa.
Yeah, your breath.
Come on.
Good night.
Good night.
Thanks.
Good to see ya.
You, too.
Unh! Ohh What the hell is going on here?! Get away from him! Get away! You gonna make us, old man, huh? Want some of this? Get outta here, both of you.
Go.
Go on.
Get out.
Get out! Nicholas, it's me.
Oh, dad Dad, I just screwed up.
I know, I know.
I'm a screw-up.
I can help you.
Come on.
I'm a screw-up.
Let me help you.
Get up.
We gotta get outta here before the police come.
Come on.
Come on.
That's it.
There.
Let's go.
Let's go, son.
We're going home.
We're going home.
Thank you, James.
All right.
No, no, no, no, no.
You can't go yet.
I gotta tell you something.
I gotta tell you that I could not do the job I do if it wasn't for you.
Thanks, man.
I mean it.
You're the real deal, man.
Isn't he beautiful? He is absolutely beautiful.
What a punim.
I love ya, man.
I'm not gonna hug you if that's what you're after.
Thank you, James.
Good night.
Thank you for the party, my friend.
Good night.
What a rock.
It's funny, isn't it? Causality-- how one thing can lead to another? Yeah.
It's fate.
No.
I am not a religious man.
All right, then.
Science.
No.
Logic.
No, no.
Just chance, you know? You walk through one door instead of another.
You meet one person instead of another.
What's that, free will? Ha.
No.
Self-determination? Pbbbt! No.
You--you-- life is chaotic when you're walking into it, but it's all order when you look back at it.
No, no.
You're blathering.
It's not chaotic.
You know, you're just talking about causality and fate and it's nonsense.
It's a moment.
You're in a moment now-- you're in a moment-- and you were in a moment before.
You were there in that moment, and now you're here.
It's just a moment, that's what it is.
Oh, man.
It's a moment.
Aw It's almost 2:00.
I got a hearing in the morning.
I gotta go home.
I know.
How you gettin' home? I, uh, I'm gonna take a cab.
What about you? I'm gonna walk.
I gotta sober up.
Come on, bunny-buddy.
Happy Birthday, Alvin.
Thank you very much.
Thank you for coming.
Good night.
You're drunk.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I thought you weren't supposed to drink.
No, uhDrugs.
I'm not allowed to do the drugs.
No one is allowed to use drugs.
That's right.
You know Most--most women-- oh, most women.
Yeah, ok.
Most women, uh-- most women what? I--I don't know.
Um Like my mother-- I was very close to my mother, and she was a very special person.
She was very pretty.
She used to say nice things about me.
She said that I was charming and handsome.
Mm-hmm.
And, um, she said this one thing that I always remembered, so it stuck in my head, is that, uh, I would--she thought that I would grow up and, uh, treat women better than my father did.
She told me that, and Well? So? Anyway Was she right? I don't know.
You want to find out? I gotta go.
You sure? Ok.
You Uh, don't--don't forget your jacket.
I got everything.
Um, so, I will-- I'll see you tomorrow.
Yeah, I'll see you, ok.
Good night.
Come on, pretty lady.
Don't leave yet.
Take a seat.
Yeah, that makes me want you really bad.
Bitch.
Backfire.
Why don't you two ass-clowns go home together? Excuse me? You heard me.
You got a problem? Yeah, your breath.
Oh, yo, yo.
Come on, come on.
You don't wan to do that.
Yeah, I don't want to mess up your suit.
The suit? You think I care about my suit? Calm down, man.
Come on.
I don't give a damn about that.
Screw you.
Why don't you wait and screw your buddy here? Ow.
It's ok.
Come on, man.
I am sentencing you to 1,500 hours of community service using your skills as a corporate attorney to work as a child advocate.
Nicholas.
It's hard to believe.
Yeah.
I still regret Oh, come on, dad.
Not being with you.
I should have been with you that morning she went on.
Sometimes I think if she lived, we would have been Together.
You left her.
We loved each other, son.
You walked out on her.
I'll see you later.
Oh, um, Sheila wants you to call her this afternoon.
Sheila? Yeah.
Oh, Sheila.
This about the cell phone and the car lease? We don't have to talk about this now, ok? It is, isn't it? You brought it up.
Yeah.
Here.
You don't have to give it to me now.
No, no, just take it.
I'll deal with the car lease in the next couple of days.
Just take it.
Kirk and McGee.
I'll transfer you.
Kirk and McGee.
Morning.
I'm Nicholas fallin.
I know.
Your files aren't here yet.
And I'm supposed to meet with bill McGee.
He's not in.
Where's my office? Down the hall, on the left.
Kirk and McGee.
Thank you.
Mr.
armitage, Nicholas fallin.
Yeah.
No, I'm calling regarding the debt offering we wanted to get.
No.
No, I wasn't aware of that decision.
No, I completely understand.
My father's a very good lawyer.
He'll take good care of you.
Ok, all right.
Bye.
Hank.
Nicholas fallin.
Yeah, you ready to get going on that leveraged buyout? Really? Oh, I'm sorry to hear that.
Yeah, ok.
Bye.
James.
Alvin's birthday, Friday night, the incline.
I don't want a party, James.
You don't want a party? Sure you do.
No, I don't.
What are you doing here? You got something for me? You told me you couldn't come back this week because of your new job.
Ah, well, you know, it's a little slow over there at the moment.
I've already assigned today's cases.
Yeah? So it's your birthday? Yeah.
How old are you turning? Well, you look pretty good for a guy who's 51.
I've got work to do, Mr.
fallin.
Yeah.
We've organized a party at a restaurant called the incline on Friday.
I don't want a party! I need some help here! I need some help.
I just found-- I found this baby.
I just found the baby outside.
I was dropping off my recycling and I found her.
Louisa, you shouldn't have brought her here.
You have to take her to the hospital.
Well, what am I supposed to do? I mean, who would dump a baby in the garbage like this? Come on.
I'll drive you.
Now, where'd you find her? The strip mall on the corner.
Dropped off my recycling and she's just laying there outside.
Nick! Hey, how's it going, man? It's going great.
Good to see you.
You remember Arnold and Elliot levi from renco corp.
Yeah, I sure do.
I, um-- Well, I-- congratulations on the-- Nick's at kirk and McGee now, so Um Yeah.
Listen, I'd have you join us, but we're going through some stuff.
I completely understand.
I have to run off to a meeting myself.
Yeah, listen, it's good to see you.
Yeah.
You, too.
All right.
Nice to see you again.
Hey, Nicholas.
I spoke to the car dealership.
They're transferring the lease out of your firm's name, so we're all square.
Ah, Ms.
kurtz, come on in.
Your mother called in social services for an emergency removal of your son Gregory because of neglect and abuse.
She says you hit your son.
Look, my mama doesn't know what she's talking about.
It says here that your boy-- who is how old? Had bruises on his face and arms.
He falls sometimes.
The report says he was malnourished and wearing soiled clothing.
Look--look, I--I try to feed him sometimes, but sometimes he ain't hungry.
Have you seen a doctor about this? There is nothing wrong with Gregory.
No, I know that.
It's you the court will be concerned about.
Oh, Nick! Welcome, welcome.
So, uh, we had a meeting, bill.
I was in Florida golfing.
Friend of mine has a jet.
I didn't plan to stay over, but we had this crazy idea that we'd get up at 4:00 in the morning and play 9 before we traveled back.
So, the meeting UhDo you like your office? Yeah.
We have a terrific group of young attorneys here, and they'll love working with you.
Great, great.
Uh I did want to say on the record that it's important that you keep your past in your past.
Of course, of course.
I understand that.
Good.
Is that--that's what you wanted to talk to me about? Well, we've been thinking a lot, and we've decided that you should stick exclusively with mergers and acquisitions.
Bill, I--I've been doing mostly corporate finance.
Oh, I know, I know, but we would like you to assign your finance clients to Randall kirk.
I don't think they'll like that.
Well, you came in under me.
I do mergers and acquisitions.
Let's not step on Randall's toes.
I didn't come here to do m and a exclusively.
Nick, be a team player for a few months.
Let Randall get comfortable with you.
I'm not going to just hand over my clients to him.
Our clients, Nick.
Now, I don't know how it works in your dad's firm, but here, we share and share alike.
Anything else? Nick.
You working here now? Seems like a fun place to work.
A lot of good people.
- It doesn't matter.
I just--I don't get it.
Just let it go.
How's the baby? She's fine.
She just had her checkup.
Where'd they send her? Mckees rocks hospital.
Ok.
How long till the petition hearing? We're scheduled for Friday morning.
Let me take the case.
You found her, Lulu.
I know.
That's why I want to do it.
This is a real simple case.
Social services will look after her until she gets adopted.
It won't take but a week to find her an adoptive home.
Yeah, how can you be so sure about that? She's white.
Alvin, let me do it.
You think you can be neutral about it? I can do it.
Ok.
It's yours.
You wanted to see me? Oh, Nick, you know Henry Sloan.
Henry.
Nicholas.
Good to see you.
I didn't realize you'd come over.
I was glad to know you were here.
Thank you.
It'll be great to keep working with you.
How's your dad doing with all of this? My dad, uh, he's, uh, well, you know my father.
He's a tough one to figure out.
He's fine.
I think he's fine.
How's your son? Carter's great.
Carter's what brings me here today.
Really? Why? Henry is selling his auto parts company to Carter.
Oh.
Well, how can I help you? I've already drafted the purchase agreement.
Maybe you could take it over, Nick.
It'd be my pleasure.
Give me the particulars.
The purchase price is 30 million.
Fair market is closer to 40.
Penn savings and loan is loaning Carter 10 million, and Henry here is taking back the note for the other 20.
Ok, so basically, you're giving him the company.
He's my son.
There's not much to do here, Nick.
Just make sure it's fine, ok? Sure.
Great.
Be a pleasure.
Good to see you, Nick.
You, too.
Thanks.
Here you go.
Thank you.
Mm-hmm.
It's a simple transaction.
My dad's going to loan me nearly 70% of the purchase price, p.
A.
S & l is picking up the rest.
Have a seat.
Thank you.
So what do you think? Well, I think your dad sounds like a very generous man.
I should sign? Immediately, before he has second thoughts.
Great.
So who's handling this for your dad, bill McGee or Larry hines? Didn't bill McGee call you about this? About what? Nick's representing my dad on this one.
Oh.
WellNot a problem.
Hey.
Cunningham, the guy down the hall, tells me that you split your old man's firm, that you're a partner now.
Well, good for you, man.
Big firm like this, high-profile clientele Impressive.
Congratulations.
Who'd have thought, you know, a couple years ago? Anyway Oh, my God.
You scared me.
I'm sorry.
What are you doing? You always work in the dark? I just The sun went down.
Oh.
What's wrong? You know, the most unbelievable thing.
I found a baby.
Someone actually left a baby in a dumpster.
When? This morning.
It was freezing cold and I was too lazy to get out of bed and bring my recycling to the curb, so I just dropped it off in the bin behind the strip mall, and she was just there.
Someone just left her there.
People.
I don't get it, you know, because she's just perfect.
She's this She's a perfect little thing.
She'll be fine now.
Come on.
She's got nothing.
Her whole life ahead of her and this is the way it begins? That's great.
Hey, how's that new job working out for you? Oh, uh I hate it.
You know Randall kirk offered me a job? Why'd you turn it down? Because he has no soul.
Ok, let's see what we've got here.
Mr.
Masterson? Your honor, my client wants her child back.
Is that it, Mr.
Masterson? Well, the only reason we're here is because my client's mother called in social services to settle a family problem.
Your honor, Ms.
kurtz has been extremely negligent in the care of her son.
We found an unclean house, little food, and insufficient clothing for the winter months.
The child was found with bruises to his head and arms.
What do you suggest, Ms.
solt? We consider Ms.
kurtz unfit to continue caring for her child.
We ask that the boy be temporarily placed with his grandmother.
No, not her.
Is the boy's grandmother here? No! I would never do anything to harm my child.
Never! Quiet, please.
Is the boy's grandmother in the courtroom? Yes.
Y-yes, I am, your honor.
Will you state your name for the court? Ella kurtz.
Your honor, uh, I move for a continuance.
On what grounds, Mr.
Masterson? This is new information.
I, uh, I need to confer with my client.
How much time? Granted.
What was that all about? Didn't you check Ella kurtz out? Of course I did.
She had a petition to terminate her parental rights in march of 1982.
The petition was denied.
Ella kurtz had to go to the liquor store.
She left her 4-year-old daughter Ilana alone in their fifth floor apartment.
The window was open.
The little girl crawled out, fell to her death.
How old was hilary? At the time, 3.
How do you know all this? Because I represented Ella kurtz.
I helped her get custody of those kids less than a month before the accident.
If you're going to risk $20 million of your own money, you should retain some controls over the company until the money is paid back.
Oh, no, no.
He's a good kid.
Well, you're giving him $20 million.
Mr.
Sloan, nobody is that good.
What do you recommend? Well, I would include some negative covenants on the purchase agreement.
That way, you have a leash on Carter until he's paid back every penny.
He's my son.
It's business, Mr.
Sloan.
I mean, you can't give away a $30 million company-- or market value $40 million company-- and not retain some of the controls.
You--you can, but, uh, it would be foolish.
Oh, um, excuse me, miss? Can I help you? I'm Susan mueter.
I think someone here found my baby.
That'd be me.
Can I--I Come with me.
You want to come? Jake, it's Nick.
Yeah.
Uh, you busy? Well, I have, uh, tickets to the penguins game and, uh, I was just wondering if you--you, uh, wanted to join me.
This evening.
No, uh, no, uh, yeah.
I understand.
Ok, another time.
Can you prove that you're her mother? I had her at county hospital.
Maybe they got records or something.
Can you explain what happened to her? Uh-huh.
I had to go to the store, and no one was there to watch her, so I left her in the apartment, and when I got back she was gone.
Someone stole her? Her father.
He didn't want to pay support.
It's our obligation to notify you that your daughter's shelter hearing is gonna take place on Friday morning at 10:00 at the juvenile court section of the allegheny county courthouse.
You should be there to tell your side of the story.
Ok.
Thanks for, uh For helping my baby.
Hey, Nick.
What do you want, man? I want you to stop coming by the office.
Oh, come on, Nick.
Do you ever think about what you're doing to that guy? Tell me something.
Do you blame me for your problems? No.
Take responsibility for yourself? Yes.
Yeah.
So Cunningham can take care of himself.
Don't come by the office.
You didn't come here to threaten me, did you? There's something you should know about me.
What? I represented your mother.
So? Well, the court wanted to take you and your sister away from her.
I fought for her and won.
So? The courts wanted to place you and your sister into a shelter because of your mother's drinking and neglect.
I stopped them from doing that.
Then your sister Ilana-- you do remember her, don't you? A little.
Do you remember how she died? I remember a window, a policeman, and my mom goin' away.
And you ended up in foster care, right? And I lived a lot of places, and none of them were any different.
The people got angry and took it out on me.
Took it out on you how? I don't know.
What you do to bad kids.
Hit you? That's what you do.
Is that what you do to your son? Hilary I can't represent you properly.
Truth be told, I don't think you or your mother should be given custody of your son.
Tell the court to find you a different attorney.
I won't do you much good.
Hey, you helped my mama to keep me when I was a baby, right? Right.
Then I need you to help me get my baby, too.
We have some amendments.
We had an offer.
You didn't accept the offer.
We can amend.
It's just a lot of negative covenants.
Until you pay back the entirety of the $20 million loan, you can't sell the company, change or alter the nature of the business, enter into new businesses, incur debt, or make investments of over $1 million or increase salaries more than 10%.
So my hands are completely tied.
Well, that's the price of a sweetheart deal.
This impedes my client's ability to run his company effectively.
These controls only exist until the loan is fully repaid.
After that, Carter can do whatever he likes with the company.
No.
The time period is indefinite.
No, it isn't indefinite.
It is only until the loan is fully repaid.
Dad, do you think I should sign this deal? Nick feels it's the prudent thing to do.
Yeah--yeah, but Is it the way you want things? No, wait, wait, wait.
Carter, don't do that.
Look, if this thing falls apart, you're the one that's on the hook.
It--it--it's ok.
Now, son, this is going to be your company.
You're running all the risks, regardless of where the money comes from.
Now, I would not accept those terms.
You don't want the covenants, you can always pay us cash.
Oh, Judas priest, Nicholas.
I think that's it, folks.
What the hell was that all about? It was a bad deal.
A bad deal that our client wants to give to his son? What right do you have to interfere with that? It is my job to make sure our clients don't have any regrets down the road.
A bad deal that falls apart isn't good for our reputation.
Nick, your job is to service the client, not yourself.
I don't think our client's upset with us, bill.
I think he's probably pleased that someone's actually being straight with him instead of taking the path of least resistance.
What are you implying? Nothing, bill.
Not a thing.
Henry.
Back to work.
Alvin.
This is Gregory kurtz, hilary's son.
I'm taking him to the doctor for a checkup.
Hello, Gregory.
Go ahead, sweetie.
Go play with the other kids over there, ok? I've talked to Ella kurtz.
She's turned her life around.
She's become devoutly religious.
We think she's the better alternative.
If you could convince your client to agree to her mother having even temporary custody-- no, I won't.
Because you won't give the grandmother a chance? Haven't given her a chance? I gave her plenty of chances.
What happened 20 years ago-- is enough.
Enough to condemn that woman for the rest of her life? Yes.
This is the case.
What? This was the case that started you representing children.
Yes.
Alvin, we've been in this business for a long time.
We've learned that things aren't always-- We can't have a petition hearing for your baby until we find the baby's father.
The baby's dad won't ever be there.
Why is that? Because he's dead, all right? You happy? Because he's dead.
I mean, how am--how am I supposed to raise it on my own? We can help you.
Yeah? Yeah.
I know what you can do.
I grew up in and out of here.
You people, you You put me into group homes for 3 years.
You have no idea what that's like.
away from home.
I think we have a--a compromise.
Let's hear it.
We will include the negative covenants, but they won't kick in unless Carter defaults on the loan.
In other words, if he makes his payments on time, then Henry has no say in the company.
No.
If and when Carter defaults, it's too late to fix things.
But my client has his name on this deal, and if it craps out, believe me, it'll be much more devastating to him than it will be to his father.
His father created this business.
His father wants to give this business to his son.
Don't you think if there's a demise, he would be more devastated? Nicholas, you're screwing up this entire deal.
You know, dad, this-- for the wrong reason.
This has nothing to do with you and me.
This is just a contract, so don't take it personally.
I'm not.
Oh, come on.
If you were in my position, you would do exactly the same thing.
I would do what my client wanted me to do.
No.
You told me You told me that our clients hire us to inform them, to tell them the truth.
You told me that.
So I told Mr.
Sloan here that the deal that he thought he wanted to make was a bad deal.
So he listened to me and now here we are.
We're negotiating the best possible solution.
Now, if you can't get your mind around that, if you can't get your-- if you can't get your mind on this deal, then fine--fine.
We will let this deal die.
I think Carter and I need to talk Privately.
Cute baby.
Thanks.
Hey, Tony.
Here we go.
Is mommy's little boy hungry? Alrighty, Tony, here we go.
Who's hungry? Hey.
My baby.
Mwah.
Boo.
Come in, gentlemen.
Carter and I have been discussing this.
Great.
Have you reached a conclusion? Yes.
You're all fired.
Let's go, son.
Nicholas, my office.
No, I--I don't work for you anymore.
I'm not asking you as a boss.
I'm asking you as a father.
What the hell is wrong with you? Nothing.
Yeah.
You're not yourself.
What are we talking about? I--I know that you're angry at me for some reason.
I was trying to do a deal in there, that's all.
A little deal.
Yeah.
That's all.
A little business.
Uh-huh.
Business.
Ok.
Ok.
Are we done? Sure.
Nicholas Are you What? Are you using that--that-- what? You think-- you think because I leave the firm, I'm using? Because I have a legal disagreement with you, you think I'm using? Do you understand I might be a little bit concerned when I see you this way? Which way? Oh, that look in your eyes.
The way you speak.
You have no idea what you're talking about.
Ok.
You know what? Never mind.
You know-- never mind! Go on.
All right, miss mueter, now explain to me how this happened.
My baby needed formula, and my friend who was gonna babysit never showed up.
The store is down the hill in the crofton mall, and when I go down there, I forget my food stamps.
When I get back, my baby's gone.
And you didn't contact the police? No, 'cause my boyfriend told me that the baby was fine over at his aunt's house, that she had some formula.
So we go out, and the next morning I find out that he's lying to me.
I hear that he gave the baby to some guy to sell for money.
That's when I see the article in the newspaper, and that's when I go over and tell that girl over there that I want my baby back.
Oh, your honor, she's lying.
Susan mueter initially claimed that the father stole the baby, so I confronted her with that, and she made up yet another story, and now she's saying something completely different.
I ain't.
That's what I found out.
I thought that's what happened, then I found out that something else did.
You can't blame me for that.
She left her baby in a dumpster to die.
I didn't.
Regardless, she let it happen.
I'm gonna place the baby with social services for the next 30 days.
Miss mueter, you will be required to visit your child get a part-time job, and take parenting classes.
Your honor, Miss archer-- I mean, this is a woman who left her baby in a garbage can.
- Miss archer.
- If I had gone to another dumpster, that baby would be dead.
Miss archer, you made your case, I've made my decision.
That's great.
Lulu.
Lulu.
I know what you're thinking.
No, you don't.
You're thinking that child should never be returned to that girl.
I don't disagree with the judge's ruling.
So you don't always disagree with second chances, even when the baby was clearly abandoned and left to die? You couldn't disprove that woman's story.
And you couldn't have disproved what Ella kurtz said all those years ago, either.
It was your job to make sure she was treated fairly by the courts.
I didn't have a good feeling about her, Laurie.
You were just part of the system, Alvin.
You're not the judge.
You don't make the rules.
Hell, you could have stayed in private practice.
You'd have been a millionaire by now.
Think that would have made you happy? Probably.
That was a disaster.
Henry Sloan is a very big client.
The partners are upset.
Why, we hired you because you're a hell of a lawyer, because we thought you could keep clients for us.
I am a hell of a lawyer.
Well, you've gotta work on your personality.
Ok.
Mr.
McGee, uh, bill, this is my personality.
Well, then, you've got to change it.
You ok? No.
She lied.
You challenged her every step of the way.
If she wants to take advantage of that, that's her problem.
Well, I didn't do it right.
I could have won.
Won? There is no winning.
You did your job, believe me.
Just move on to the next case.
Move on and don't look back.
But what's gonna happen to the little girl, James? What the hell's gonna happen to her? Miss kurtz Why don't we go in my office? Hilary, I As your lawyer, I should tell you, I, uh I don't think the court's gonna grant you custody.
My mama is gonna get my baby? Or he could go into foster care.
I lived in foster care, and I lived with my mama.
Both were bad.
I don't want my baby in either.
I want my baby with me.
Sheila, hey, it's--it's Nick.
Is--is my dad there? No, you--you tell him it's urgent.
It's urgent.
I know that client that he's with.
It's not that important.
Ok, ok, no.
Forget it.
Forget it.
Miss solt, has social services changed their previous recommendation? No, your honor.
We still feel Gregory kurtz should be placed with his grandmother Ella kurtz.
Mr.
Masterson? My client wants to retain custody of her son.
But nothing's changed? Uh, no, your honor.
Then why did you ask for the continuance, Mr.
Masterson? I wanted to make Ella kurtz's history known to the court and to social services.
Your honor, Ms.
kurtz has no criminal record.
What Mr.
Masterson wants you to know, your honor, is that hilary's sister, my firstborn She died under my care.
He's had this on his conscience for 20 years, and so have I.
He wants you to know that he thinks that I'm an unfit mother because I was an alcoholic who Put her drinkin' ahead of her own daughter's safety.
Mr.
Masterson, this is the reason for the continuance? the witness stand and lied about how she could take care of her children.
I was in an abusive relationship, and I was trying desperately to make things better.
She hid her drinking problem.
Am I the first person ever to have done that? She failed the very children she vowed to protect, your honor.
I failed everyone, Mr.
Masterson.
I wanted to die for so long.
You think there isn't one day that I don't relive and Regret what happened? But God kept me.
God found me and God saw me through.
I managed to stop drinkin'.
I started working for the church, and eventually, over time, things got a lot better.
I know--I know I did a terrible thing And if it's too late for my daughter, maybe it isn't for my grandson.
I'll grant temporary custody to Ella kurtz.
Now, if hilary takes parenting classes and consistently makes her supervised visits with the child, then I'll reconsider her status in 3 months' time.
I'm sorry.
Mr.
Masterson.
I know you don't want to talk to me.
I know you think I'm a horrible person, but you have to trust me.
I will take good care of him.
You said that before.
We don't get too many chances in this life.
I know that.
You'll see, though.
I won't let you down.
You put your faith in God.
I guess I'm gonna have to put my faith in you.
Can I get a Tequila.
I'll take another.
Hey, you're gonna have a good time.
You're gonna have a good time.
Look at all the gifts you have.
I have a big box of cash for you here, too.
Nick, thanks for coming.
Yeah.
Uh, yeah.
Nick wouldn't miss your birthday party, Alvin.
Oh, yeah.
Happy Birthday.
We'll just grab some tables over here.
All right.
Let's put these tables together.
Hey, Nick.
There's a chair over here for you.
Yeah.
Well, uh, Happy Birthday, Alvin.
Thank you, James.
Thank you for the party, my friend.
Thank you.
Good night.
Good night.
Good night, James.
What a rock.
It's funny, isn't it? Causality-- how one thing can lead to another? Yeah.
It's fate.
No.
I am not a religious man.
All right, then.
Science.
- No.
- Logic.
No, no, no.
Just chance, you know? You walk down one road instead of another.
You meet one person instead of another.
Free will.
Self-determination.
When you walk into life, it's all chaotic, but it's all order when you look back at it.
No, no, it's, uh--it's, uh, you're blathering.
It's not chaotic.
It's--it's a moment and you were in the moment before, but that moment's gone, so whatever.
Hey, Alvin? Hello, Burton.
How are you? Happy Birthday.
Thank you very much.
Late night? No, I had a dinner date and went home, and I couldn't sleep.
Oh, I didn't see you inside.
Well, I was in there for a second, and I, uh, I just didn't want to intrude, so Hi.
Hi.
Louisa archer, Burton fallin.
Hi.
How are you? We have met.
As a matter of fact, I offered this young lady a job last month.
He did.
Uh, so, are you sure either of you don't need a ride? No, I'll just stagger home.
I'll stick around to make sure Nick's ok, and Excuse me? You heard me.
You got a problem? Oh, whoa.
Yeah, your breath.
Come on.
Good night.
Good night.
Thanks.
Good to see ya.
You, too.
Unh! Ohh What the hell is going on here?! Get away from him! Get away! You gonna make us, old man, huh? Want some of this? Get outta here, both of you.
Go.
Go on.
Get out.
Get out! Nicholas, it's me.
Oh, dad Dad, I just screwed up.
I know, I know.
I'm a screw-up.
I can help you.
Come on.
I'm a screw-up.
Let me help you.
Get up.
We gotta get outta here before the police come.
Come on.
Come on.
That's it.
There.
Let's go.
Let's go, son.
We're going home.
We're going home.