All language subtitles for The Guardian - 01x12 - Causality.Unspecified.English.HI.orig.Addic7ed.com

Well, uh,
Happy Birthday, Alvin.

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.

[Both laughing]

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.

[Lulu and Alvin laughing]

Alvin: Oh, man.

It's a moment.

Aw...
It's almost 2:00.

I got a hearing in the morning.
I gotta go home.

Lulu: I know.

Alvin:
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, uh...Drugs.
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.

[Laughing]

Bitch.

[Laughing] 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.

[Car door opens and closes]

Nicholas.

19 years.

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?

[Telephone rings]

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.

[Chatter, telephones ringing]

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.

[Knocks]

Yeah?

So it's your birthday?

Yeah.

How old are you turning?

51.

51.

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!

[Baby crying]

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.

[Music playing, chatter]

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--

[chuckles]

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?

4.
4.

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...

Uh...Do 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.

Lulu: It doesn't matter.
I just--I don't get it.

James: 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?

Bill: 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.

Well...Not a problem.

[Knock on door]

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.

[Snorts]

Congratulations.

Who'd have thought, you know,

a couple years ago?
[Sniffs]

Anyway...

[Clears throat]

[Gasps]

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.

Judge: 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?
72 hours.

Granted.
[Pounds gavel]

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.

4 weeks after that hearing,

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.

[Both chuckle]

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?

Nick: 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.

James: 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?

20 years ago,
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.

Carter:
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.

[Sighs]
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.

Laurie: 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--

Lulu: We can't have a petition
hearing for your baby

until we find
the baby's father.

[Sighs] 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.

3 years. 3 years
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?

[Burton sighs]

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.

[Baby squeals]

[Coos]

Come in, gentlemen.

Carter and I have
been discussing this.

McGee: Great. Have you
reached a conclusion?

Henry: 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.

[Door slams]

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
20 hours a week,

get a part-time job,
and take parenting classes.

Lulu: Your honor,

30 days?
Miss archer--

I mean, this is a woman who
left her baby in a garbage can.

Judge: 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.

[Bangs gavel]

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.

[Knocks]

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.

Judge: 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?

20 years ago, she sat on
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.

[Bangs gavel]

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.

[Music playing, chatter]

Can I get a Tequila.

I'll take another.

James: Hey, you're
gonna have a good time.

Lulu: 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.

[Laughs]

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.

James: Let's put
these tables together.

Hey, Nick.

There's a chair
over here for you.

Yeah.

[Laughter]

Well, uh,
Happy Birthday, Alvin.

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.

Alvin: No. I am
not a religious man.

All right, then.
Science.

Alvin: 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. [Laughs]

Uh, so, are you sure

either of you
don't need a ride?

Alvin: 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!

[Nick moaning]

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.