All language subtitles for The Guardian s03e02 Big Coal.eng

[Burton]
Mathers Industries,

Kelton Rubber

Nathanson Auto Parts...

[Nick]
Right.

[Burton]
Henderson Box and Paper.

Bluestone Plastics...

[Nick]
Right.

L&T Holding Corporation,

Rightvision Communications,

Sklar Chemical,

and Allegheny Electric.

Allegheny Electric is my client.

Nicholas, l brought them in
back in 196T.

And l've kept them here
for the past seven years.

But l brought them in.

All right.

l'm willing to give you 500/o--

500/o? l do all the work.

500/o, Nicholas.

And from now on, you only get
what you bring through the door.

OK?

Yeah, fine.

[door closes]

[Hostetler]
This is a great relief.

[Clay] The prosecutor
was just looking for headlines.

Well, l can't thank you enough.

Well, hopefully you won't have
to hire me again.

Hey, Clay,
you represent Phil Hostetler?

He was referred to me
on this one matter.

- How did it go?
- How did it go?

A 1T-year-old kid falls down one of
Hostetler's old mineshafts and dies.

Some prosecutor down in coal country

indicts Hostetler
for negligent homicide.

l get him om with a $500 fine.

You try to get his corporate work?

He's been with Swann & Cranston
for 35 years.

You didn't try to get
his corporate work?

lf you land him,
l want 500/o of the source credit.

Hold it a sec.

Thank you.

Mr. Hostetler.

Nick Fallin.

- Oh, nice to meet you.
- You, too.

l know your dad.

l'm sorry about
Harold Cranston's retirement.

Harold's retiring?

Well, if he's not, he should.

[chuckles] He hasn't said
anything to me about that.

lt's got to be tough
being Hostetler Coal

when the environmental groups,
the unions, the press--

everyone hates you.

That's not an emective way
to land a client, son.

Well, our firm is very good
at dealing with companies

that are targets of frivolous lawsuits.

We work with you
at stopping small problems

from snowballing into big ones.

ln emect, we save you
on billable hours.

We're just a better fit for you,
Mr. Hostetler.

Why else would Cranston
send you over

to work with Clay Simms
at our omice?

We have everything you need
under one roof.

There's a small coal fire
burning close to Donora.

The reason l thought of it--
we discovered

when we were investigating that mine
where the young man fell.

How did it start?

Probably some locals burning trash
too close to a coal seam.

What can l do for you?

Vernon, Pennsylvania.

lt sits right on top
of one of my mines,

five miles from the fire.

All the mines are connected,

so it's a matter of some concern
if the fire should spread to Vernon.

l see. How big is Vernon?

About seven houses,
23 inhabitants.

Well, uh, you could pay residents

to waive their rights
to future property damage claims.

l could go out there
and have them sign releases.

How soon could you get this done?

l could go out there today.

Very well. The job's yours.

How'd it go?

Yeah, he gave us a matter--

a coal fire they discovered
when that kid fell.

- OK.
- OK what?

l brought Hostetler in the door.
l want 500/o.

- You're kidding.
- l brought him in the door.

Fine.

There's something else.

You know that associate
l brought with me--Sadie Harper?

Never met her.

She worked on Hostetler's defense,

knows the town of Vernon very well.

She could be an asset
to this civil matter of yours.

She's a criminal attorney.

She could be an asset.

ls this what you wanted
to talk to me about?

Yeah.

She spent a month down in Vernon
investigating the accident.

Knows the town very well?

So, l thought maybe
you could take her on.

[chuckles]

How long have you been
sleeping with her?

A year, on and om.

Does my father know you've been
on and om her for the past year?

l'm telling you.

He's not going to be very happy.
You're a partner, she's an associate.

- l'm aware of that.
- Yeah.

And you plan to continue
seeing her?

Yeah, of course.

She's a great lawyer.

Good for you.

Fine, l'll take her.

Thanks.

l get all of Hostetler.

You're kidding.

Sadie, right?

- Right.
- Nick Fallin.

- Yes, hi.
- Nice to meet you.

Um, can you sign this?

lt's a consensual relationship
agreement.

lt states that your relationship
with Clay Simms is voluntary, mutual.

l know what this is.

- l need you to sign it.
- l'm not signing this.

You're not?

All this release does is protect you.

lt's a standard form, Sadie.

- Would you sign this?
- Sure.

Let's say you're still an associate,

and a 40-year-old female partner
is banging you.

You know, takes you up
to the house on weekends,

expensive dinners, bad skiing.

Then one day she wants you
to sign a form,

in case she gets bored with you

and doesn't want you
around anymore,

and she can fire you
without any repercussions.

Think about it.

Are you saying l have to do this?

No, l'm saying
you should think about it.

l'll get back to you later.

Something else?

l understand you've been
to Vernon, Pennsylvania.

We settled that case, thank God.

[train whistle blows]

[Nick]
Why are we parking here?

[Sadie]
Trust me, it's better this way.

These people don't want
to see this car.

ln order for the releases
to be binding,

we need to give each resident
a disclosure report.

Have them read it before they sign.

Right.

lt just says their, uh--

their town is built on a coal mine,

and there's a chance that,
at some point,

that mine could catch on fire.

There's an outside chance
that their property

might collapse a bit.

You know, those mines are cut
500 feet into the ground.

Collapse a bit?

What do you know about coal fires?

Just what l read before l left--
that they're hard to put out.

Take a big seam of coal--
say, 40 million tons.

lt sets on fire, you've got
the world's biggest barbeque pit.

The only dimerence is,

your hibachi burns
at about 400 degrees.

Coal fires burn at 2,000.

At that temperature,

it would take 100 years
to burn itself out.

[Nick] l want you to take
the Harrisons, the Stryzinskis,

and the Pences.

[Sadie] You want me to walk into
these people's houses by myself?

Yeah.

Have you taken a good look at me?

Yeah, l, uh--

l noticed that you're, uh--

That l'm wearing Prada.

Yeah, l noticed.

Well, l'll meet you back here
in an hour.

[ring]

[ringing]

Hey.

Hey yourself.

Uh, is your mother home?

Mother's dead.

- l'm sorry.
- That's all right.

She died when l was born,
so l didn't know her at all.

[coughs]

ls your father home?

You handing out Watchtowers?

What?

- Are you a Jehovah's Witness?
- No.

Because the only people
that ever come here all dressed up

are the Jehovah's Witnesses.

No. Not a Jehovah's Witness.

Come on in.

My daddy's out back.

Daddy!

Someone's here!

Why did the chicken cross the road?

To, uh, get to the other side.

Right.

But...why did the pigeon
cross the road?

Because it was nailed
to the chicken.

You don't think it's funny?

What's your problem?

What can l do for you?

So, Hostetler's just
going to give me $20,000?

lf you sign.

20,000, just for signing my name?

Well, that's crazy.

That's business.

Why would they do that?

- Mr. Nystrom--
- [girl coughing]

Like l said,
there is a slight chance

the ground might downgrade
a bit over time.

lt's all in these disclosure reports.

[coughing]

Sweetheart, are you OK?

Yeah.

Did you know Judge Judy was
a lawyer before she was a judge?

No.

She was.

Mr. Nystrom, this form, the offer--

- it's only good today.
- Today?

We'd like to get this wrapped up
as soon as possible.

[girl coughing]

[Girl]
Daddy? Daddy?

l'm sorry. l have to--

Could you just come back tomorrow?

Honey? Honey?

[coughing continues]

l got two of your releases signed.

- The third's not going to happen.
- Why not?

The guy's name is Ezra Pence.

He's the grandfather of the guy
that fell down that mine.

He didn't like the way
we handled the case.

What did you do?

We established that his grandson
was drunk and none too bright.

Well, we have to come out here
again tomorrow.

- We?
- Yeah.

Let's go.

- Good morning.
- Good morning.

- Mind shutting the door?
- Sure.

About the consensual
relationship agreement--

- l thought about it.
- Good.

Clay, you and l will no longer
be seeing each other socially.

Sadie.

Nick, l will finish om this civil matter

then go back to criminal practice,
which is what l came here to do.

So, this is no longer necessary.

Sadie, you're overreacting--

Whenever you're ready,
we can go back down to Vernon

and finish what we started.

So, l spoke to my client.

He is willing to increase the offer
to 22,500.

22,500?

Right.

That's two thousand and five...

- Hundred. Right.
- ...hundred more.

[sighs]

No, l can't take that.

Dad?

Petra, mind your own business.

Mr. Nystrom, this is the most
my client can offer.

No, see, l already signed
the one you left for me last night.

l already took your first offer.

Well, just--
just sign this one.

- But what about that one?
- Just sign that one.

Just sign that one.

Well, thank you, man.

[Petra coughing]

[glass shatters]

- [coughing]
- Honey?

Daddy.

ls she all right?

[coughing]

lt just started last night.

She should see a doctor.

Well, the clinic shut down
Iast year.

You know, l represent
the county hospital in the city.

You could go and take her
to see Dr. Aaron Wasserman.

l'll write it down.

Use my name, OK?

Hey, man?

Thank you.

For everything you've done for us.

[coughing]

[Sadie]
Stop it! Just--

Hey!

You're going to threaten me with that,
you better be prepared to use it!

Get om my property!

l will turn my back to you,
and you put that down!

Put it down, put it down.

Let's go.

Did you get him to sign?

Thank you.

Thanks.

Thanks for coming.

l know you didn't want to,

but l really think that
we should talk about things,

get it all out in the open.

Well? Heh.

Yeah, yeah.

Right, because before l leave,
l think that it would be nice

for us to have
some kind of an ending.

Or, you know, some kind of closure.

- Closure?
- Right.

Nick.

Yeah.

l'm sorry that l hurt you.

l want you to know that.

lt was never my intention.

Do you want to come back
to my place?

What?

You heard me.

Heh. Nick--

Well, do you?

Good morning.

Louisa Archer called for you
three times.

Also, a man named Paul Nystrom--

something about County Hospital
not releasing his daughter.

He said you'd understand.

They won't let me
take her out of here,

and my car broke down
in the parking lot,

and l can't amord to spend the night
in some motel.

Just wait here a second.

Excuse me. Dr. Wasserman?

What's going on with Petra Nystrom?

Um, we did an ultrasound.

The fetus is microcephalic.
Small-headed.

Probably blind, deaf,
possibility of mental retardation.

- Did you talk to him about this?
- Yeah.

This is why you want
to keep her in here tonight?

Petra's a strange case.

Fluid in her lungs.

Looks like pulmonary edema.

What would cause that?

Could be a number of things.

Environmental?

ln a girl this age,
the chances are good.

Her father wants
to take her home tonight.

That's a risk. But...

if he insists on taking her home,
l can't stop him.

Have him get an AMA
from the admitting nurse, sign it,

bring her back here tomorrow
for tests.

All right.

OK, you have to sign
an Against Medical Advice release.

See the admitting nurse,
then you can take her home.

OK, l'll sign it.

Uh, Mr. Fallin?

Do you know if there's any buses

that go from Pittsburgh to Vernon?

What the hell do you want?

Mr. Pence,
my name is Nicholas Fallin--

That colored girl told lies
about my grandson.

She lied.

Mr. Pence, l'm here to offer you--

She said he was drunk!

Said the accident was his fault.

l know nothing
about that situation.

l'm here to talk to you
about your property.

That blackie walks
on my property again,

l'm going to put a bullet
in her head.

Mr. Pence...

my associate's name is Sadie Harper.

Now, Mr. Hostetler
is willing to negotiate.

l read the papers that girl left.

Hostetler's a liar.
He's always been a liar.

OK, just today, l can increase
the offer to $30,000.

My grandson wasn't a drunk.
He wasn't.

Lived with me almost his whole life.

- A good kid.
- l'm sure he was.

53 years,
l worked for Hostetler Coal.

$30,000 is at least three times
the value of this property, Mr. Pence.

You know how many miners died
down there over the years?

lt's like going to war.

Working down there is no dimerent
than going to war.

l appreciate your time.
If you reconsider, that's my card.

Thank you.

The report said the fire is burning
in Henderson Hills.

You can tell Phil Hostetler
he's full of crap.

What's it going to take, Mr. Pence?

Will you speak up?!

What is it going to take?

$40,000!

l can do that.

40,000?

Sure.

Just sign here.

Fire's burning right under
your feet, you know?

l can smell it.

Smoke comes up.

lt's even worse over there
in the cemetery.

Thank you, l appreciate it.

l'll process your check immediately.

[Pence]
It's burning under your feet!

You tell him that.

Mr. Hostetler
coal fires release toxics, right?

Our position is,
there's no evidence

linking coal emissions
with health problems.

There have been
no definitive studies.

There's a family--
they signed a release.

The daughter--
her unborn child is sick.

OK.

And the girl has pulmonary edema.

Right.

lt's quite an unusual condition
for a 14-year-old.

Well, so is being pregnant.

[chuckles] Yeah.

The doctor says that her problems
may be environmental.

Convenient.

So, you don't want to do anything?

Oh, this happens all the time,
Mr. Fallin.

Well, if there's a coal fire burning
underneath Vernon--

We don't believe the fire
has spread to that area.

lf people do get sick, they could
trace it back to your corporation.

Yes?

You may want to consider
injury releases.

But we don't know
if we've made anybody sick.

Would you rather spend
a little bit now

or a lot later?

Mr. Nystrom.

The doctors are saying
that Petra has cancer.

Oh, l'm sorry.

And they're going to have to abort
the baby before they can treat her,

or she could die.

Anyway, l was just wondering
if maybe you could come down there

and talk to your friend.

Mr. Nystrom,
could we take this into my omice?

Because they're trying to move her
somewhere else.

They're saying
they can't treat her there.

Well, it's not really my place to--

But you know him.

We did an MRl.

Tumors have perforated
the lung membrane--

a sign of a very aggressive cancer.

What can you do for her?

The treatment she needs
is way beyond our resources.

The baby?

She'll have to terminate
the pregnancy

if she wants to treat the cancer.

Where are you going to send her?

She has to stay here for now.

But Petra's best shot

is angiogenesis inhibitor therapy.

lt cuts om blood supply
to the tumors.

But it's relatively new,
and, unfortunately,

Mr. Nystrom's insurance carrier
is refusing to cover it.

Why?

They claim it's experimental.

We could put her through
the traditional treatment--

chemo, radiation--
but from my experience,

l haven't seen that work
on something this aggressive,

and l've never seen it work
on a girl this age.

Who's the insurance carrier?

Mr. Nystrom is still covered
by his old health plan

from when he was a miner.

l'll fax you over
the contact information.

Thank you.

Mr. Nystrom, you need to sign
some consent forms

for the abortion.

Well, good thing l signed
that form for my property.

At least l got that money coming in.

Right.

Maybe l can use that
to pay for what she needs.

- Hey.
- Hey.

So, l hear you're trying to take
Hostetler away from Cranston.

Yeah.

We land those guys,

we'll need an environmental lawyer.

Someone who really knows the ropes
around the federal courts.

l know that, Dad.

What?

There's this girl--14 years old.

She has cancer. She needs
a lot of expensive treatment.

Her father's insurance company
doesn't want to pay for it.

So?

Hostetler Coal
may have made her sick.

How?

Toxins from the coal fire.

So, Hostetler wants
to settle her out cheap, huh?

Of course.

Her family got a lawyer yet?

No, but they're beginning
to trust me.

Well, l know it's tough
for you son, but...

you've got to get them to sign.

Yeah. The money Hostetler's offering

isn't going to begin
to cover medical fees.

Hostetler retained you?

That's right.

So, you've got to be
above board

and just explain everything
to the family.

Yeah, of course.

- Your job is to--
- l know what my job is, Dad.

Well, then...

Right.

Big coal.

Hey.

How are you feeling?

OK, l guess.

l'm sore a little.

l got you something.

A Watchtower?

Um, where's your father?

He went to get comee.

You know, she was dead already.

What?

The baby died
before the operation.

Oh.

l'm--l'm sorry.

No. It's OK.

l'll see her soon.

l heard my doctor
tell my dad that...

l probably wouldn't live.

So...

l'll see my baby soon.

Nick.

Hey.

l, uh--

l made an appointment
with the insurance company

for later today.

So, you think you can get them
to pay for Petra's care?

l'll try.

Well, thank you, man.

Um--

Well, l'll see you later.

- Enjoy the read.
- [laughs]

Hey.

Did you just come down here
to see how she was doing?

Yeah.

Yeah.

[knocks]

You got a minute?

Yeah.

l have a guy from American
Northeastern Insurance

- in the meeting room.
- What?

There's a guy
in the meeting room from--

No, l heard what you said.
You want to talk about a case?

That's right.

l called you three times.

l know, l know.

Listen, l need you to be
the attorney of record on this case.

Nick, we had sex the other night.

l mean, you don't even want
to talk about what happened?

The company l represent
may be involved in this matter,

so l can't have my name showing up
on anything related to this.

There is a young girl
that has cancer

and the insurance company
won't cover her medical costs.

Can you help me out with this or not?

- The guy's name is Cabe Goodman.
- OK.

He's going to argue
that his company is only required

to cover standard
and generally accepted medical care.

You need to argue bad faith.

They're rejecting this claim
as a matter of course.

l know what bad faith is.

Their company rejects T80/o of claims
that cost more than a quarter million.

They routinely deny care for people
living under the poverty line.

All right, got it.

Hey. Thank you.

l don't care
how much he's offering.

lf you signed this second release,
Mr. Pence,

my client would have
given you $60,000.

- Given me?
- That's right.

l gave the Hostetlers 53 years
of my life,

my friends and family.

Most of them died for that man
in the mines--

of emphysema,

terrible accidents.

Hostetler killed this town.

He polluted the river,

destroyed the mountains.

Nobody wants to live here anymore.

And you say
he's giving me something?

You signed the first release,
Mr. Pence.

l'm sorry l did.

You tell Mr. Hostetler...

if he gives me ten minutes
of his time

and an apology,

l'll sign that second form for nothing.

Ten minutes of his time?

That's what l said.

Hey.

Well, the insurance carrier
won't budge,

claims it's experimental care.

Right.

So, l set up an arbitration.

OK.

l looked in the file.

Northeastern Atlantic
is the insurance carrier

for American Mine Workers.

Right.

You're representing a coal company?

What did you do to that girl?

- Hey, Lulu.
- Burton, hey.

- How are you doing?
- l'm well, thanks.

Yeah. You look, uh, beautiful.

[laughs]
Thank you.

l'd still like to have that dinner
we all talked about.

Oh, well...

that would be nice.

Yeah. Let's do it.

Um, so, anyway,
what we were just discussing

is going to be scheduled
for tomorrow.

Great. Thank you.

- OK. Good to see you, Burton.
- Good to see you. Thanks.

So, that new girl got releases
from five families

- down in Vernon.
- Right.

She said you'd take care
of the other two, right?

That's right, yeah.

You need any help finishing that up?

No, no.

What about the sick girl's family?

lt's not a good time.

She's in the hospital,
being treated for cancer.

lt's not a good time.

Good time for whom?

Doesn't matter if it's a good time,
Nicholas,

for anybody except
for Hostetler Coal.

This is an addendum
to your previous release.

lt asks you to waive...

any present or future claims
against Hostetler

for any injury that you
or your family may sumer

as a result of their maintenance
to the mines.

You mean, like ifwe get hurt
if the mine collapses or something.

Any injury resulting from
the maintenance of their mines.

What kind of injury?

lnjury can be defined
as anything that amects your health.

Should l get a lawyer or something?

That's up to you.

But l'm asking you.

l can't advise you.

Why not?

Well, l represent the coal company.

You understand that?

Well, yeah, but you're helping us.

The insurance matter
is separate from these releases.

But you think this is a good deal?

lt's what the company is offering.

[sighs]

You don't need to sign it now.
It's a big decision.

We can talk about it
tomorrow, all right?

Ezra Pence--
he doesn't want money.

What does he want?

He wants an apology.

Mr. Fallin, my family
has owned this company

for five generations,

and we've employed tens of thousands
of workers in the state.

l have nothing to apologize for.

lt is cheaper than the alternative.

l'll set something up.

What about this Nystrom guy?

Uh, he hasn't signed yet.

Oh. Does he have a lawyer?

l don't believe so.

Well, advise me.

You need to pay real money.

But you've been able to collect
those medical releases

signed by everybody for $20,000.

The Nystrom girl is already sick.

lf the father did decide
to go after you now

and he got an expedited trial,

you could end up paying millions.

What's the number?

l think l could get him
to go for 500,000.

l won't go beyond 300.

And you do your very best
to keep it well below that.

Of course.

You're sure this is
the best way to go?

- Yes.
- You're sure?

Yes.

- OK, let's do it.
- All right.

Sadie? What were you doing
in there?

Your father asked me
to take care of this.

You had the Nystroms sign?

He settled all claims for 25,000--

No. No, no, no. l--

l told you that l would handle
the Nystroms.

l was just doing
what your father asked me to do.

[Burton]
So, the other guy says...

''Well, l'll tell you what--

''why don't you take six of one,

''and l'll take the half a dozen
of another?''

[laughter]

[no audible dialogue]

[Louisa] You heard the testimony
of Dr. Aaron Wasserman.

He stated under oath
that inhibitor therapy

might save Petra's life.

Might save her life.
He couldn't say for certain.

Well, certainty of result is not
a standard in medical coverage.

[Man] This is not care
that is generally accepted

in the medical community.

That is the standard
set forth in the policy.

Your company will deny just any claim
it deems too expensive.

[Man] The fact remains that
this treatment is not widely used--

Right, because insurance companies
refuse to cover it

as a matter of course.

[Man] As a matter of course,
we refuse to cover care

that is experimental.

You are right about that.

Have you thought about
who you cover?

Who the insured is
is irrelevant.

[Louisa]
Irrelevant?

My client is a young girl
that's about to die from cancer

because your company
wants to save some money.

l mean, l don't know
what's more relevant than that.

l've heard your arguments.

You'll have our decision
in a few hours.

Did that girl's family sign away
her right to sue for damages?

Right.

They signed for 25,000.

Well, you know, you did your job.

Yeah. Right.

l'm sorry if l--

No, it's fine.
You know, l just...

thought that maybe
l could, uh, help her.

Hey.

Why won't you talk to me about
what happened the other night?

What would you like to talk about?

You know,
just because l'm leaving

doesn't mean that we can't have
some kind of a relationship.

How?

l still have feelings for you.

And l know that l kind of
blew the whole thing--

You didn't blow it.
You didn't blow it.

Well, maybe we could try it again.

Are you still going away?

Yeah.

But, um...

Well, l just can't see
how it would work.

- He's here.
- All right.

Mr. Pence.

This is Burton Fallin,
Mr. Hostetler.

You have my full attention,
Mr. Pence.

My grandson.

[crying]
He's dead.

He's dead.

[sobbing]

[Hostetler]
Hell of a thing in there--

that old man.

- Hell of a thing.
- Yeah.

You get vilified.

A job like this, people can forget
l'm just a human being.

Right.

People can forget that.

So...

l have a huge investigation
with the state regulators.

They're claiming we're overcharging
the distributor

who delivers to minority neighborhoods.

Of course, that's not true.
But it's bad press.

And the civil penalties
could really sting...

if they can prove it.

- Are you game?
- Sure.

The arbitrator ruled against you.

So, what does that mean?

The insurance company
won't pay for Petra's care,

and you can't appeal.

Well, the money from Hostetler
will be coming in soon.

The therapy's going to cost
a lot more than that, Paul.

ls there anywhere l could go,
like a bank or something?

l don't know.

Well, we can stay here, right?

l mean, the--
the chemo might work, you know?

They might be able
to cure her here.

Hey, man, come on.

You did your best.

Well, uh...

Leaving already?

Yeah, l've got to get back to work.

Nick.

About what happened
at the hospital--

No, it's OK.
l did ask you to help me.

Well, for what it's worth,
it was a pleasure working with you.

You, too.

Hopefully it won't happen
again soon.

Nick. Nick.

l, uh...

heard that we omicially
picked up Hostetler.

Yeah.

Well, the biggest client
we've ever had.

Right.

Congratulations, son.

Good job.
Ripped by FabHawk, resynced by TexKiller

Repair and Synchronization by
Easy Subtitles Synchronizer 1.0.0.0