Original subtitles

Yes, I'm calling from the church. I'd like to confirm. Hey, I've been getting

the runaround for two hours. Can you tell me approximately how much money was

missing? Was it over $1 ,000?

As soon as I got there, I could tell something was fishy. I just had a

about it. Morning.

Morning. Morning.

Coffee smells good for a change.

That's not the coffee. One of the electric typewriters short -circuited

caught on fire.

You know what it was? It was something about the way the foreman looked at me.

Bossy, could you wait till I take my jacket off before you get intense?

Sure, Lou.

This all a mail?

First of all, it's a juicy contract for a new court building in Glenwood, and

they gave it to a firm that gave the highest bid.

Does it usually go to the lowest, or has that changed?

Second, they're building it in some sort of record time. I mean, faster than

anything's been built before.

What's the old record for a courthouse?

Third, they have guards at the building site. I mean, big goons standing around

keeping people away. They don't even have those little windows where people

peek in.

Maybe they're working naked.

Sitting there, Scalo.

Ellen! You're here.

Oh, great, great. How's Nicky?

Wonderful, wonderful.

Okay, I want you to go right out to the house. I left the key for you under the

plant. It's the one on the left.

Actually,

it's the one on the right.

It's on the left when you're leaving.

Yeah, I'll see you at home for lunch.

No, no, no, no. I'll bring something.

Hey, I'm glad you're all here, honey.

Uh -huh.

Okay, bye -bye.

It's Ella, my daughter. The family drove up for a few days from Phoenix.

So what do you say, Lou? Can I do the story?

Rossi, you don't care about my personal life at all, do you?

Okay. How's your daughter? She's fine. So what about the fact that they gave

highest bid and they got the contract?

Substantiation, Rossi. Bring me some solid facts and I'll consider it. You

it. Rossi, if you don't mind, perhaps you can find time to do an assigned

The Pilots Association gave LA International a black star a while back.

Apparently they have as much trouble parking as I do.

See if anything's being done to correct the situation.

L -A -X. Sure.

Which one of your daughters is in town?

Ellen.

The middle one.

He never caused me any trouble.

Did the others?

No. None of my daughters ever caused me any trouble.

I always expected trouble, but I never got any. Why would you expect trouble?

Are you kidding? With three daughters?

Those big hot dogs.

Boy, you kids from Phoenix.

You don't even know a salami.

What's a salami?

Well, it's kind of a big hot dog.

I didn't know what to choose, so I figured what we don't eat will freeze.

I think I can get over how tall you are. Let's see how high I come up. Let's

see.

You see that?

Last time you were just in my belly button.

Do you have any bread, Matt?

Yeah, I got it over here.

Hey, where's Bert?

You didn't come.

No? You drove all that way by yourself?

We drove at night because Mom said it was cooler.

I never slept in the daytime before.

Well, don't get used to it. You'll end up working as a pit boss in Las Vegas.

Mom, can I get dressed?

I don't want to sleep anymore.

Sure, honey.

I put your clothes in the bottom drawer.

Okay, what's wrong?

What do you mean?

Bert not coming with you. What's wrong?

Why do you always jump to the conclusion that something's wrong?

I mean, did it ever enter your mind that Bert didn't come with us because he's

busy? Is that it?

No. We're separating.

What? Do you mean lettuce?

You're serious?

I wouldn't kid you about something like that.

What happened?

Was he fooling around with someone?

No. No, nothing like that.

Then what is it?

Well... We'll talk about it later.

It's all right.

Nicky knows.

You're just separating. I'm not talking about anything permanent.

I don't know.

When I get back to Phoenix, we'll make more definite arrangements.

Pa, I want to talk to you.

I want to bring you up to date on things.

I'm not very hungry. I got a lot of work to do.

Maybe just talk about it tonight.

I'll try to get home as early as I can.

I'm Joe Rossi, Los Angeles Tribune.

Oh, me too.

I'd like to ask you a few questions.

Sure. If you don't mind staying out of the way of the workman. Oh, sure.

I had heard that your firm's bid was higher than the competition's. Could

be correct?

Sure.

So I'm curious. If yours was the highest bid, how come you got the job?

Because if we could do the job fast, we could guarantee a spring completion.

Yes. How is it your company is able to do it so fast?

We use bigger crews, extra ships, and we work a little harder.

See, I had heard that your firm has a new formula for the cement, something

makes it set faster. We try to improve every phase of the operation.

Yeah. Why is it you put in the mix that does that?

Now, if I told you, every construction company would know about it, wouldn't

they? That's why this is a closed site.

Anything else you want to know? Yeah, yeah. Who approves your mix?

Everybody. The Department of Buildings and Safety, Labor Department, the Union.

You want us to check it with you?

Boy, oh boy.

I never saw a building go up so fast.

It's a pretty interesting process.

We do it in layers.

The scaffold's attached to the new layer of concrete. That hardens. The men pour

out another layer.

The scaffold's attached to that, and so on all the way up.

You got it?

Yeah. Pretty good.

Want to learn more? Join the union.

Wait a second, wait a second. One more question. Yes?

When you make the cement set faster, doesn't it also make it weaker?

Not according to the building inspectors.

Where's your friend?

The guy with the camel. What happened to him?

You mean that guy?

Oh, hey, this is good.

There's a colony of anteaters reported living in Beverly Hills.

Wonder how they can afford it.

Probably just renting.

I don't know if I can stand all of this enthusiasm.

I'm sorry, Donald. I got a lot on my mind.

My daughter and her husband are having some problems.

I'm sorry to hear that.

She and Nick are probably out shopping.

What?

Nobody's home.

So, Dad.

Have you met any nice women lately?

Come on, Ellen. Up front, Nick. He's more interested in his ice cream than he

in your love life.

Why are we talking about this?

I worry about you.

Are you kidding? A single guy in L .A.?

I got my own car, my own pad.

Besides, when did you get old enough to worry about me? I've been worrying about

you since I was six.

You have any trouble finding your way around?

Mm -mm.

Bought a street map.

Tomorrow I'm going to take Nick to Disneyland.

Oh, don't do that. We're looking forward to going with you on Saturday.

Saturday sounds like next year to him.

I bet you'd rather wait and go with me, wouldn't you, Nick?

Your mother's too chicken to take you on Space Mountain, right?

Nick, Grandpa's talking to you.

No, Nick, that's enough ice cream.

I want more. No, you'll get a stomachache. You had enough.

You're mean. I want some more.

Oh, Nick.

No, because you did. I didn't do it. You did it.

Hey, Nick, is there any way to behave?

You did it. Leave me alone.

Ellen, what is this? What's the matter with him?

It's all right.

He's just going through a phase.

It's nothing.

Nothing? Doesn't he listen to you?

He can't.

What do you mean he can't?

I can't hear.

I think he's going deaf.

Lou Grant will continue in a moment here on A &E.

Can you beat that?

He murders his wife, and then he says he's going to sue us because we wrote

about it.

What do you think, Lou? You think that we should do a feature about it?

I'm sorry, Joe. I wasn't paying attention.

Something wrong, Lou?

My grandson.

He's going deaf.

Oh.

Are you sure?

That's why Ellen came to Los Angeles.

She wants to take Nicky to a specialist.

What you need is the best ear, nose, and throat, man.

I got him. We had a terrific doctor when Tommy had a...

An ear infection. Mrs. Pension got us in to see him a year or two ago.

A year or two?

Still in junior high. Must have been five years ago.

A year or two.

I know.

When I look at Ellen, I have to keep reminding myself that she's married and

mother. I don't have to tell her to turn off the TV and do her homework.

How's she handling it?

She seems okay.

Ellen always did keep her feelings to herself.

How are you doing, though?

I don't like to keep my feelings to myself.

I'm a wreck.

Here.

Dr. Lester Wyatt.

Best ENT man in town.

Thanks.

Hello. I'd like an appointment with Dr. Wyatt.

Yes, this would be a new patient, miss.

June. The month?

No, I was making sure that wasn't your name.

You sure that's yours?

Yes, I'm sure he is, but I mean... There are the facts, Luke.

Just a second, Rossi.

Okay, but what do you see where I brought you?

Hello, yes.

You see, this is my daughter's son, and they just came in from Phoenix, and they

won't be here long.

I see.

Well, could you make an exception in this case?

I see.

Thank you.

Facts. You know, it's facts.

There's a lot of people giving you the runaround.

That's just it. Everybody's icing me so much down. They're muscling me out of

the way. If they were willing to talk, I wouldn't expect a cover -up.

So what you're saying is the fact that you couldn't get a story proves that

there is a story?

Kind of. But I just have a little more time.

Where's the airport story?

I didn't get a chance to work on that yet. I was working on it. I'm the city

editor. I decide what stories you'll write and when you'll write them.

The airport is your assignment.

Now!

Forget that construction story. You got that?

I got that.

Ordinarily, I wouldn't ask you to do this, but I seem to be running into a

wall with Dr. Wyatt's nurse.

Don't be silly, Mr. Grant.

Julie, will you get me Dr.

Lester Wyatt, please?

Thank you.

I guess I'm asking you to do something that's unfair.

I hate it when people throw their weight around.

Cases such as this one make me glad I have the weight to throw around.

Yes?

Oh, hello. This is Margaret Pynchon speaking.

I'd like to make an appointment to see Dr. Wyatt.

Tomorrow, please.

No, dear, you don't seem to understand.

This is Margaret Pynchon.

P -Y -N -C -H -O -N.

As in Pynchon Clinic at St. Catherine's Hospital.

Hello, Lester.

Well, your charming nurse was just telling me you are much too busy to make

appointment.

What, tomorrow?

Oh, yes, of course. That's your golf day, isn't it?

Well, if you'll be willing to tee off an hour later, we could be at the office

by nine o 'clock.

Oh, that's very nice.

No, no, I'm fine. The appointment isn't for me. It's for, uh... Nicholas Peters.

It's for Nicholas Peters.

Thank you, Lester.

Goodbye.

Hi, Joe.

Hi, Kevin.

Hey, hi, Mr. Marshall. What'll it be?

You serve guys from the Times?

Sure, they pay cash.

I have a tonic on the rocks. Okay.

Put a lime in it.

Right. And a little gin.

And Joe, you didn't tell me you had a girl.

What are you talking about?

You look like you just lost her.

Cute.

How is that I didn't see you at Garber's press conference?

I'm covering something at the airport.

Oh, really?

What happened? Does his pension lose his luggage?

Something like that.

Do you ever have trouble selling a story to your editor?

Sometimes.

But I really want it.

I mean, if you care enough about a story, he'll go along.

As a rule.

Why? I got a story.

I tell you, man, I just know it's important.

And Grant killed it? Killed it. He drove a stake through its heart.

Here you go.

I know how that can hurt.

No. It's not just a matter of hurt feelings.

I mean, this is a story with information. It should get out.

I mean, it's big.

It involves... What is it?

What is it? You know I can't tell you.

Yeah, I know.

Not only is there corruption... But it's clear to anyone who digs a little.

It's potentially dangerous.

I mean, this is a thing where people could get hurt, even killed.

It's just frustrating as hell.

Don't tell me anything you don't want to tell me.

What's the area?

Can't say.

You said people could get hurt.

New construction.

Public or private?

That's all you get.

All right, Nick, listen to what I'm saying.

Same thing.

He's cheating.

Well, I think we have some answers for you.

Nick, would you wait outside, please?

Is it okay if he stays?

Of course. I prefer you wait outside.

has a severe loss of hearing in his right ear and a moderate loss of hearing

his left ear, which is getting progressively worse.

Is there anything we can do?

Yes. Start helping him.

He can't hear, so he thinks he's a bad boy because he can't hear.

What happened?

What's wrong with him? I'm not sure.

It could have been an infection that did permanent damage like a rubella, or it

could be congenital.

It's been going on a number of years now.

We don't always know the reasons why, and we don't always know what to do

it. What about an operation?

There's nothing to operate on. There must be some chance this hearing will

back. Mrs. Peters, I'd be lying to you if I said I felt that that was so.

But what you can do is you can teach him to communicate while he still has some

hearing left.

Your son is intelligent.

He could learn these communication skills without any problem. And there's

good schools in the area. And in Phoenix.

I have a list right here. Thank you, Doctor.

I won't need it.

Let's go, Daddy.

Well, wait a minute. Isn't there anything more you want to know?

No.

Thank you, Doctor.

steaming them in there.

You got some arm.

Just tell me when you're tired, Grandpa.

No, it's okay.

I'm not tired.

You tired?

Yeah.

You had a big day today.

Yeah. I'm sorry, Grandpa.

About what?

I flunked the test.

What makes you think you flunked? I could tell by the look on Mom's face.

You didn't fail.

It isn't the kind of test that you pass or fail.

It's the kind of test that shows how much you can hear.

Oh, good.

Because I've been flunking a lot of tests.

Yeah. Mm -hmm.

I don't do good in school anymore.

I used to.

But third grade... Boy, it sure is hard.

What do you think is wrong?

I guess they don't pay attention enough.

That's what the teacher said.

Nick, it might be harder for you to pay attention than it is for some of the

other kids.

Yeah, I know.

I promise to do better when I get back home.

A &E returns to Lou Brand.

Morning, Lou.

Morning.

I'm really sorry to hear about your grandson.

Yeah, he's a great little kid.

It's tough, I hate to think of all the things he's going to miss.

You know, when I was in college, one of my best friends was dead.

Oh, that's a shame.

That's the way I felt at first, but I got over that very quickly.

I honestly don't think that her life was any less full than mine.

How'd she manage?

She had to work very hard. She compensated.

Went to a special school.

You know, there's one like it near here. I could arrange for you and your

daughter to visit it if you'd like.

Thanks, Billy.

Let me think about it.

Morning, Lou.

Morning.

You feeling okay?

Yeah, I feel fine.

I can tell.

Listen, here's what we've got so far.

Leading off for the day, we have the finals of the Miss Nude Los Angeles

pageant. I had six reporters available. I sent Rosenthal.

Why Rosenthal?

Because he was the highest bidder.

And the mayor is scheduled to reassure us about the Olympics this afternoon.

Can we give that to Rossi?

Yeah, he's finishing up on the airport, Dory. He's doing a real nice job.

He's not happy, but he's doing it.

Sitting desk.

Where are you calling from?

Oh, I'm in Phoenix. I was just calling to see how Ellen and Nick are.

Oh, they're doing okay.

Look, Bert, I don't know what your problem is with Ellen.

Part of our problem, Lou, is what's happening to Nick.

Nick is going deaf.

And I hate it as much as Ellen does, but it is a fact.

And the longer she holds on to the idea that there's a cure for him, well, the

more damage he'll do.

You know, we...

Took Nick to a doctor yesterday.

Big specialist here in L .A. And she's been to every big specialist in Phoenix.

That only leaves 48 more states to try.

Look, Burt, I'm not trying to butt in.

Okay, I am.

I just think you ought to be out here.

Maybe you can work out your problems.

I don't think so.

I'm sorry.

I really am.

Yeah. Uh, so am I.

Okay.

I'm glad you called.

Yeah.

Listen, Lou, I just talked to the school and I've got us a tentative appointment

for tomorrow around lunchtime.

You're really pushing this, aren't you?

No, no. If you like it, we can make it for the day after.

Okay, Billy. Tomorrow will be fine.

You want me to call Ellen and tell her? No, no, no, no. This will just be you

and me.

Has Lou seen this yet? No, I don't think so.

Seen what?

Today's Times, page one.

There's a big shakeup at building and safety in Glenwood. They suspended three

building inspectors.

Let me see that. They got an injunction to stop construction on the new

courthouse.

It's likely a blue one.

Who wrote it?

Kevin Marshall.

Good for him.

But I'm not surprised. You know, if the Trib ever decides to steal anybody from

the Times, he's the guy.

Even Rossi's got good things to say about him. Says he's fair.

Here's the airport story.

proud of our graduates. A lot of them go on to college.

That's great.

They've become accountants, scientists, even have a doctor who's been deaf since

his teens.

He's a terrific role model for the kids.

Okay. Dial.

Good. Put it over there.

What are you going to say?

Okay.

Push that.

There are a couple thousand of these telephones in Los Angeles right now.

wonderful idea.

You type your message and it comes out on the other end of the line.

What color are the rabbit's eyes?

Rabbit, rabbit, I am proud.

He has brown eyes.

And what does the rabbit drink?

Water.

Okay. I couldn't help noticing that you don't seem to teach sign language here.

No, we don't. It's not part of our program. To be perfectly frank, there's

a fundamental split between those who favor lip reading and those who favor

signing.

Loop reading would seem more difficult to me.

Perhaps it is at first, especially for children who get distracted so easily.

Many sounds look alike and they need a clear view of the mouth.

It's a real skill.

But what we like about it is it doesn't separate deaf children from the rest of

the world.

My friend in college that I told you about, she used sign language.

She felt she could be more expressive with it.

That's what a lot of people feel.

We do a lot of plays.

These are kids who were born deaf, and they're talking.

They sure look like they're having a great time.

I'm sorry you had your back to me. I couldn't see what you were saying.

I didn't realize.

That's nice.

City desk, Donovan.

Rosenthal, where are you?

We already ran your story on Miss Nude Los Angeles. I don't think it's worth a

follow -up.

What kind of a scandal?

How on earth do you cheat in a nude beauty contest?

Oh.

And nobody noticed?

So I don't think it's our kind of story, no.

No. Come on in, Rosie.

Here's more on the Olympics.

Councilman Garbage says it'll be the best thing to happen in L .A. since

Bow. Yeah, I know.

It's okay with you. I'm going back to City Hall.

Oh, Rossi.

Yeah? I know the desk has been giving you a rough time lately.

For what it's worth, I think we owe you an apology.

Forget it. Just so you know, I think you've been handling it well. I

it.

Okay. And next year, the Miss Nude Los Angeles story is yours.

I'll remember that.

What's great is the kids seem very bright and really happy.

It's a nice school. I'm not interested in a school.

It's a laughed resort. We haven't reached that point yet. Maybe if you

out there and talked to... Dad, I really appreciate what you're doing. It's

terrific. I just don't think it's the right approach for Nicky.

I'll get it.

Hi, Liv.

Yeah, I decided to come down after all.

I'm real glad you did. Come in, come in. Thanks.

How you doing, pal?

You gonna stay where you stay?

Are you gonna stay?

I'll set another plate.

Well, at least for dinner.

They have a roller coaster there.

The biggest in the world.

It has two loops where you go completely upside down and then you go backwards

on it.

Wow, can I go on it?

Sure.

If you can find someone to go with you.

Look, Ellen, let's wait on that. Let's talk.

Nikki, you can be excused if you'd like.

Okay.

Here, here.

Ellen,

I didn't come all the way from Phoenix just to have dinner.

Lou convinced me it might be a good idea if we tried to thrash things out again.

Oh, now you're both going to gang up on me.

Ellen, it's not a question of taking sides.

We all want the same thing.

No, we don't.

You're willing for Nicky not to be well.

I'm not.

I want my son to be normal. What's wrong with that?

Nothing. But it's just not possible.

Look, we have to begin to accept what's real and go on from there.

Look, the worst thing for Nicky was that year when we both tried to pretend that

there was nothing wrong with him. When he was failing in school, when he wasn't

learning, and we thought he just wasn't trying.

It just kills me, Ellen, to think of Nicky sitting in that classroom,

to hear what the teacher's saying.

You didn't do anything about it then, and you're not going to do anything

it now.

You're not a fighter, Bert. You never were. You just accept things.

Taking shots at me, Ellen, isn't going to help.

I think maybe we should be talking about what we can do now, what our options

are. There's nothing to talk about. I've made an appointment to see a specialist

in San Francisco.

Oh, no, Ellen.

Not another specialist.

Right. and another, and another, and another, until I find one that's willing

help Nick.

The scaffold went down with eight workers on it. Yeah, the structure did

hold.

Hey, who's on the way? Because there's nobody here from the Trib yet but me,

it looks like Channel 6 is going to do a live report.

I got some good shots.

I'll bring them in unless you want me to stick around.

I'm told that six men have been taken to Glenwood Hospital.

Firemen are continuing their search for more bodies. It's not known how many men

were on the scaffold when it fell.

This catastrophe comes on the heels of yesterday's story in the Los Angeles

Times charging collusion between the contractor and Glenwood City Building

Inspector.

I just want to say one thing. I don't want to hear it.

It's my fault.

He begged me to let him do the story.

We should have had it.

It's my fault. Come on, Lou. You had a lot on your mind. I could have done the

same thing.

I mean, Rossi didn't have it nailed.

Besides, who knew the scaffold would fall down?

Uh, excuse me, Charlie.

You guys seen Rossi lately?

Yeah, why?

He hasn't been in for a few days.

So? Well, Kevin Marshall, you know the guy from the Times?

He told me to give him a bottle of champagne when he came in.

I ordered one special.

I've had it chilling for a few days.

And it's taking up a lot of room in the fridge.

I'll, um, tell him to come and get it.

Oh, thank you, Lou.

Why would Kevin Marshall be buying Rossi champagne? He's the one who got the

great story.

Maybe it's Rossi's birthday.

Is it Rossi's birthday?

No.

Rossi giving a story to a rival paper?

I can't believe it.

But if he did, if Rossi did that,

He's had it.

Lou Grant will continue in a moment here on A &E.

You wanted to see me?

It's fine.

Pretty good.

I feel okay.

Did you read Marshall's story?

Yes.

That's an odd coincidence.

I mean, with all the construction going on around here.

Don't you think it's odd that Marshall picked the one that you wanted to write

about? Not really.

Not really?

Now, Marshall has a very good contact in the DA's office. He got the

confirmation that there was an investigation in the air.

Confirmation?

Confirmation of what?

That there was something going on.

Well, he might have had an idea.

Come on, Rossi. Don't play cat and mouse with me.

Well, I might have said that there was something going on.

You might have said.

Okay, I said I thought there was something going on. Oh.

You just said there was something going on.

And coincidentally, he ends up at Glenwood at the same construction site

spotted. I never said where.

I was afraid of what might happen, of what did happen, that people would be

hurt. You gave a story to a rival newspaper.

Do you realize that?

Of course I realize that. Don't you think it chews me up to see that story

written by Kevin Marshall?

But it was important for that information to get out.

I knew what the risks were.

Did you?

I think I did.

Did you include in those risks that you'd probably lose your job?

Hi, Mrs. Benjamin.

Oh, Mr.

Grant, hello.

You do that?

Give money to bums?

I don't know. Usually I don't. I figure they're just going to drink it.

Oh, I don't either, but that poor fellow used to work for the Tribune.

Oh, that's too bad.

There's a former city editor.

I'm just joking.

Yeah. So tell me, was Dr. Wyatt of help to your grandson?

Uh, yeah, yeah, he was.

Unfortunately, my daughter seems to be the problem now.

Oh, how's that?

Well, Dr. Wyatt confirmed what the other doctors had told Ellen.

She just can't accept the fact that Nick is becoming deaf.

Yes, I can see your problem.

The frustrating thing is, there's a school right here in town, the Glenwood

School. They do wonderful things with kids you can't hear. Yeah, Glenwood's

marvelous. Wasn't Ellen impressed with it? I can't get her to go.

She's resisting this, and I don't know what to do.

Mr. Grant.

Yeah? I've known you... How long?

Over a year?

Mm -hmm.

Now, I've seen you deal with people when they try to resist you. When you have

something you want them to do.

It's hard to believe that a man so inventive in the art of persuasion would

trouble dealing with Ellen.

Yeah, but this is my daughter. I don't want to get too rough with her. I could

lose her.

She's the last person you're going to lose.

In here, Lou.

Hi.

How's Ellen and Nick? The car's gone.

Oh, Ellen took Nicky down to buy him some clothes.

Look, Lou, I've been talking with Ellen, and I've decided to go back to Phoenix.

I'm just fixing myself a sandwich here to eat on the way. I hope you don't

No, of course I don't mind. What are you going for?

Look, my being here isn't doing any good.

I'm not going to change Ellen's mind.

The whole situation's making everybody uptight. Nikki, even you.

So, uh, I think I'll just shove off when I get back.

You've got to stick around.

At least for a day.

Why?

Because ten years ago, halfway through college and with no job prospects, you

came to me and asked me for my daughter's hand.

I know she would have married you anyway.

But at least you showed me the courtesy of letting me say yes or no.

Don't make me look like I did a dumb thing.

Okay, what do you want me to do?

Well, I want you to stick around.

I'm taking Ellen and Nick out to that school today.

When she gets back, I'd like you to be here.

Okay, I'll stay for sure.

Hey, you want half a sandwich? Yeah, yeah.

What is this?

Swami on raisin bread?

I think I know what's wrong with your marriage.

Lou Grant will continue in a moment here on A &E.

I can't believe what I had to go through to get you here.

I don't think I got the stubbornness from Mom's side.

Hey, Ellen.

Remember when you were a kid, how if I wanted you to go someplace you didn't

want to go or do something you didn't want to do, I could always get my way by

sitting you down, reasoning with you, discussing all the angles, and then in

end, bribing you with an ice cream soda or some candy.

But I was the chubbiest kid in fifth grade.

Your mother never knew. She just thought I had a way with my kids. Dad, I got a

confession to make. What? I never really liked candy that much.

What? You went through so much trouble setting me up, I didn't have the heart

let you down.

And Mother knew.

Glad you could all come. Shall we begin?

Is there someplace where Nicky can wait?

Don't you want him to see the school? No, not yet. I'd rather look at it first

without him.

Anything Mrs. Stevens want to agree to your trouble? No, there's no problem

really. Nicky can wait right here. Mrs. Turner can watch him.

Nicky, we'll be back in half an hour.

Okay, Mom.

This is Mrs. Turner.

Hello, Mrs. Turner.

Shall we go?

Okay. See you in a little while, Nick.

Okay,

sounds good. Thank you.

Why do you have to learn to use the hearing aid?

It's not just like putting on glasses. It takes some training.

I don't think Nick will have any trouble.

Hearing aid. Why don't you just get him a badge that says I'm deaf?

Because a badge wouldn't help him to hear any better.

Angela's case is very similar to Nick's. She lost her hearing at age six. She

came here two years ago to pick up lip reading.

As you can see, she's quite good at it.

Why does she still have to come if she's so good?

When you stop hearing your own voice, there's a natural tendency to become a

little lazy in your speech. The therapist sharpens those skills

combat that.

School.

School. I still... No.

Lip reading is one of the most important skills Nick will need to pick up. How

long does it take?

That's difficult to predict. These children were born deaf. Nick will have

tremendous advantage having already acquired a hearing and verbal skill.

Yeah, he's very lucky.

Come on, Ellen.

What are you doing? Why did you drag me here?

I can't stay here watching those poor children.

Don't you understand? That's not for Nick.

I don't want him to end up like that. I want him to be whole, to be healthy, to

be normal.

I want to tell you something, Ellen.

Every one of those kids in there is whole and healthy and normal. And one

thing. They're happy. A hell of a lot happier than your son is.

to be deaf either.

But he's going to be, Ellen.

And you denying his deafness won't make him hear.

I'm sorry, Mom.

Were you having a good time, Nicky?

Would you like to go back and play some more?

Can I?

Vicki takes his lead from you, honey.

If he thinks you can't accept him the way he is, how can he accept himself?

Bert?

Yeah?

I'm going to tell him tomorrow.

What?

What it means to go deaf.

I don't think Nicky really understands what's been happening to him.

He needs to be told.

Well, when you tell him, you want some help?

Yes.

Thanks.

Where does that leave us?

I don't know.

I don't know if it's just because of Nicky's problem or something that's just

between us, but we're further apart than I ever thought we could be.

I know.

I hate it.

Well, that's a start.

Don't even try, Lou. You can't talk me out of it.

Rossi gave a tip that led to an important story for a rival paper.

There's no excuse for that. None whatever.

He thought there was.

I'm sorry.

A reporter gives away a story, he's out. Rossi knows the rules. We've got to can

him. What he did was wrong.

To us, not to him.

Charlie, when we were young reporters, the other paper was the enemy.

But Rossi and Billy, their generation doesn't feel that way.

They don't have that unquestioning loyalty to institutions that we do.

To them, the main enemy is ignorance.

Their loyalty to this paper, even this country, will always take second place

their sense of right and wrong.

I think there's a hell of a lot to be said for loyalty.

We're giving him a place to do what he wants to do, and I think he owes us

something. Sorry, it was my fault.

I wasn't paying attention.

If I had been, I don't think any of this would have happened.

You want me to fire you?

I want you to give Rossi one more chance.

No.

If you can't do it for him, do it for me.

He'll just save your butt.

The verdict is not guilty.

Will the man who has led a charmed life be able to pick up where he left off?

We'll examine the life of O .J. Simpson on a special biography tonight at 8

Eastern, 9 Pacific.

Only on A &E.

Now, a cop's extramarital affair threatens to tear his marriage apart.

On Police Story, next on A &E.