All language subtitles for Guilt.By.Association.2002.1080p.WEBRip.x264-RARBG-English

I'm going down with it.

No. No, you can't
airstrike leader.

Max. Brush your teeth.

No, the battle
of Fort Frontier's...

No, no, no... in a minute.

I don't wanna hear it.
Right now. Come on.

- Count of five.
- No, come on.

One, two, three, four...

If you're not up there
by the count of five

there are gonna be some
serious consequences.

...four and a half,
four and three quarters

four and seven eighths,
and five.

Hannah?

Hannah. I'm in my pajamas, Mom.

I can see that darling.
Did you brush your teeth?

I just have one more page left.

I already did. All right! Excellent. Good.

- Now, come and give me a big hug.
- Max, go upstairs.

- No. No. No. No...
- Yes. Yes. Yes.

Come on. Up, up, go.

Come on, Hannah, let's go.

Just one more
paragraph, Mom. Please?

All right.
But it better be a short one.

Hey, are you coming up or not?

I'll be up in a minute.
Get into that bed.

Mom?

- Mom!
- Police! Freeze!

Susan Walker, we have
a warrant for your arrest.

Get down! On your knees.
Get down!

Susan Walker. Mom!

- You have the right to remain silent.
- Mom!

Mom! Anything you say

can and will be used
against you in a court of law.

You have the right to an attorney
before answering any questions.

If you cannot afford one,
one shall be appointed for you.

I haven't done anything. Mom! Let go of me!

Stop it.
What are you doing?

Do you understand these rights

as I have explained them to you?

- Mom!
- Max!

Where are you taking
my children?

Mom!

Come on, you guys, help me here.

Angie. Ya didn't
fall overboard.

I'm so glad
you and Barney could join us.

We had a great time, it was fun.

And Barney loves the water,
too, don't you, baby?

Wanna help me swab
the deck, Angie?

Look at Russell.

He loves this boat.

Hey, going my way, sailor?
Sure.

So, Angie, I bet you didn't know

your sister was such
a natural at the helm, huh?

Oh, yeah, really.

How are doing with those kids?

You run out of little
nautical lessons yet?

Uh, not yet. You gonna
come play with us?

Yeah. In a minute. All right.
Why don't you take this?

So Russell really
loves those kids.

Wrap it up.
Excellent. So down to earth, Sus.

Russell?
Russell is very earthy.

- Russell, what's this?
- You have no idea.

Ooh, hubba hubba!

You know how hard it is to find a guy

who'll take on a widow and two kids?

Impossible.

Crazy luck.

Just crazy luck.

I got to go.
All right.

Yeah, I'll help.
Okay, bye. Bye.

Hey you.Hey.

It's ready. They're just
getting it washed up for you.

I'm so excited,
I couldn't sleep.

Oh, great.

I knew I left this
at your place.

Um, is my watch in here? I don't know.

You didn't look? At your dirty gym clothes?

No, Russell. I gotta
draw the line somewhere.

It's ready. Hi, Susan. Hey, Rog.

Okay, I'm gonna go take
a look. I'll be right back.

So, how's the job?

Pay is low, hours are long,
we're understaffed.

And I love it.

Well, we sure miss you here.

I miss you guys.

This place got me through
nursing school, it really did.

Oh, Susan, this is Olivia,
our new bookkeeper.

Oh.Hi.

Susan used to be our
receptionist extraordinaire.

Oh, right. Hi, Susan.Hi.

I used to work with Russell
at the Bedford dealership.

Ah.

Nice meeting you. You too.

Okay. Ready?

All right.

Thank you, thank you,
thank you, thank you.

You don't have to thank me. Oh, yes, I do.

You don't know
how much I needed this.

Or maybe you do.Here. Come on, get in.

I met Olivia today.

She seemed very nice. Yeah, she's great.

You never mentioned Olivia.

Let me tell you, Olivia
is the best there is...

When it comes to the books.

Oh, the books, is it?

All right, nobody gets
in this car...

This is Russell.

Hey, man. Finish it out here.

Why not? We always do.

Yeah, I got some.

Well, I'm in the neighborhood.

All right, I'll see you soon.

Listen, I have to stop by this
guy's house. My friend Andy.

He owes me some money.

- Let's get in. Come on.
- But Mom said...

All right, all right,
come on. Get in.

Get in. Go ahead.But...

No, it's all right. Come
on. Now, now. Chop chop.

Come on. With the ice cream?

Yes. Yes, with the ice cream.

- Get your seatbelts on.
- You're slipping.

Um, Russell, I really
don't think this is the time.

We're just a couple blocks
away. I'll be two minutes.

Come on. Let's go.

Well, they're off
to slumber land.

Oh, just so you know, I
paid the electric bill today.

I told you, you don't
have to keep doing that.

I want to.

I mean, I'm here all the time.

I'm using up all your
kilowatt hours.

Wait...
Is this...

Is this about Olivia?

Russell...

We're planning a life together.

I am not interested in her.
I never was.

I can't have that kind
of crap around my kids.

Drugs.

That little stop this afternoon,
what was that about?

What? What was that about?

Oh, don't. Don't
do that. I hate that.

We've had this discussion
before, you know.

That time I found that
bag of pot in your pocket.

The guy was in a jam, I gave him
a little something to tide him over.

It's no big deal. Listen, Russell.

Some people drink
a glass of wine to relax,

some people smoke a joint.

I really don't care.

I really don't.

I just can't have it
around my kids.

The wine.

Promise me.

Russell.

I promise.

Come on, I wanna
show you something.

Russell...

Oh, my God, Russell.

This is so unbelievably... Nice?

Perfect.

Perfect.

Why are you showing
me this house?

I think we should make an offer.

Can we afford this?

Yeah, we can afford it.

Oh...

What do you think? I think I'm in love.

With me or the house?

The house is wonderful, too.

Happy?

So, fire place, huh?

And I love this.

I love these windows, it lets
in a lot of light. Great idea.

Look at that. Glass blocks.
That's very...

Anyway, that night we hear
this thud against the cabin.

Yeah, and we thought it was Charlie
Manson's brother coming to butcher us.

So, anyway,
I peek out the window

and I see this huge brown bear.

I mean, his head, like, yea big.

So I grab Larry. The bear, he
looks at Larry, then he looks at me,

and then he just turns
and lumbers away. That's it.

Yeah, laughing
his ass off, probably.

The hippy was in a bear suit?

No.

It was a real bear.

Where'd you get her?

All right, give me the bread.

She's all there.
This is good stuff.

Yeah, love it.

He ain't kidding.

It was somebody named Shaun
on the phone.

He says you know the number.

Yeah. Okay, thanks.

I don't think this is gonna
work out between us.

Because of a little pot?

Yes, because of a little pot.

I never in my life thought that
would be the reason, but yeah.

As long as
you keep doing that...

Oh, come on...

I don't believe this.

Susan, hey.

I love you.

I love you, too, Russell.

But you have promised me,
and promised me again and again,

and now I just don't
trust you anymore.

And I can't have you
around my kids.

They're all I have, and
probably all I'm ever gonna have.

So, let's not make this any
harder than it already is, okay?

Why don't you just
take a few minutes,

go up and pack your stuff
and leave.

Come on. I'm so mad at you!

Oh, leave it, leave it.
I'll take care of it, just go.

Is Russell coming over tonight?

Uh...

No, not tonight.

Why isn't he?

Let me talk to you both
for a minute.

Uh...

Russell is not gonna
be coming over again.

Why not?

Because we're not gonna be
seeing each other anymore.

Did you have a fight with him?

No, not really...

It's just that sometimes you
can really care for somebody,

and then you get to know them
a little bit better,

and you realize

that he's not the man that you're supposed
to spend the rest of your life with.

- And it stinks.
- Yeah.

I think it stinks.

Susan. Hey.

You look good.

Hi.Hi.

I was in the neighborhood

and thought maybe
we could go for lunch.

Whenever is good for you,
you know, I'm flexible.

I don't think so, Russell.

Look, I told you when you called...

Hey, why are you doing this?

I mean, we've been through so much.

How can you just turn your back on that?

I really think you should go.

What do you want from me? Hmm?

Look, Susan, I miss you so much.

I miss you, too.

I love you, Russell.

That kind of feeling doesn't
go away just overnight.

Well then why the hell
are you doing this?

Because I love my children more.

I really have to get back to work.

Fine, you do that.

Tell Hannah and Max I said hi.

Joanne?

Joanne?

Joanne!

Where are the kids? Are they okay?

A little shaken. They're all right.

Barney's with them.

I'll pick them up and go home.

Well, it's gonna
have to be my place.

Your house is still
crawling with cops.

Well, at least they let me post
bail, they're not giving it to Russell.

He was arrested last night, too.

What are you talking about?

The DA's office, and the FEDs, and
the US Attorney have entered the case.

Listen, I got the name of the
best defense lawyer around.

We have an appointment
with her in half an hour.

So let's go, okay?

Knowing about the drugs is the
same as if you traffic them yourself.

So did you knew
about the drugs or not?

Well, I knew.

I mean, I knew that
Russell smoked pot.

And I knew that he sold some
to friends to get his for free.

And I didn't like it,

but was I gonna call up
the police and turn him in?

No.Well, the United States
Government expects you to.

Back in '86, Congress
put into law something called

mandatory minimum sentencing.

It was a part of
the war on drugs.

What it mean is that if you're
convicted of a drug offense

regardless of how much or
how little you are involved,

you may have to serve a legislatively
mandated number of years in prison.

The judge in each case
has zero discretion,

he has to impose whatever
sentence the legislation requires.

The larger the amount of
drugs, the longer the sentence.

That's all there is to it.

What does that
have to do with me?

In '88, Congress upped
the ante by saying that

any person who knows of,
or in any way helps anyone

who deals drugs, what the
government calls a co-conspirator,

that person faces
the same penalty

as the person who
actually commits the crime.

And it doesn't take very much
to implicate you in a conspiracy.

Wait a minute.
So, what you're saying is

even though I have
never sold drugs,

even if I've never done drugs,

which I haven't,

I can still get that kind of sentence?

Yes, that's right.

And they're not talking
overt plotting or scheming,

it could be as simple as
having the drugs in the house,

taking phone messages from your boyfriend

or your husband's drug associates,
driving him to a connection.

The prosecution is going to say, "She
must have known what was going on."

And that's enough
to secure a conviction.

Oh, God.

Miss Shaw...

What do I need to do?

Under these laws, the only
way a person charged

with a drug offense
can get a sentence reduction

is to help the prosecution build a
case against someone else involved.

Which is just what Russell
and Larry plan to do.

Larry Pearson
is involved in this, too?

It was Mr. Pearson who nurtured
several thousand marijuana plants

in the basement of an
abandoned farm house.

Russell and his friends helped.

I'm afraid Larry
has implicated you.

Why would he implicate me?

As I just explained, to get
less time on his own sentence.

But what could he say about
me? I haven't done anything.

Did the police find
anything at my house?

They don't have to.

All it takes to be charged
in a drug conspiracy

is for one other person to say
that you participated in,

or had knowledge
of, a conspiracy.

Oh, God. This is insane.

It's the war on drugs
and it's all about numbers,

locking up as many
people as possible.

Even innocent bystanders?

Unfortunately, they are the worst hit.

The wives, the girlfriends, mothers.

The less involved you actually are

the less you have to offer the prosecution,

the more likely you are to do serious time.

Miss Walker, under these circumstances

I require a retainer of $10,000.

I don't have that kind of money.

I'm gonna have to mortgage my house.

You won't be able to do that.

The government has seized your house,

your automobile, and your other property.

How can they do that?

Any property connected
to a drug offense

is subject to immediate
seizure, it's the law.

Now, you may wanna speak
to someone else on this,

but I assure you my fees
are in line for this kind of thing.

I spent all the
bonds Dad gave me

on the down payment
for the house.

I spent all of mine
on happy hour.

I can't afford her.

And I don't wanna go to
some public defender

who doesn't know I am
and could care less.

You think maybe
I should call Tully?

Daddy's lawyer? Yeah.

Give it a shot. Why not?

- Susan, you okay?
- Yeah.

They're gonna be all right.

I told them I would
give them a tour...

Mommy, Mommy! Hey, hey.

See you, guys.

Okay. It's all right.

They put handcuffs on you. I know...

Well, that's their job, they gotta do that.

Come here, come here.
Sit down.

It was all a big mistake,

and Mommy's gonna straighten it all out.

Right, you're gonna straighten it out.

Hush, hush, hush, hush...

Susan Michelle Walker,

you are charged in
counts one and eleven.

Count one,

conspiracy to manufacture and/or possess
with intent to distribute marijuana.

Count 11, engaging in
and profiting from

an ongoing criminal enterprise.

This proceeding will
commence on November 6th,

in the United States District
Court, eastern district of Virginia.

They have virtually
no evidence against you.

No drugs, no drug paraphernalia.

There wasn't anything to find.

We're gonna meet with the prosecutor
right now. He's asked to see us.

Miss Walker, you have
been charged with conspiracy,

do you know what that means?

Every co-conspirator is charged
with the entire scope of the operation.

And in this case that's
over 2,000 plants.

One hundred plants, five years.

Thousand plants, 10 years.

We can do the math,
Mr. Shelton.

I assume you've asked us here
to talk about a plea bargain.

You cooperate, help us,

by telling us names,
dates, details,

and we're willing to
make you a deal.

Five years, over and done with.

How can I cooperate?

How can I confess something
I had nothing to do with?

You're asking her
to do the impossible.

I don't know these people!

Then you're gonna
wish the hell you did.

You think we're screwing up your
cozy little middleclass life, lady?

That's too bad.

What? What's up?

I got fired.

Those creeps, I can't believe
they let you go.

I have worked so hard
to get here.

To be a good nurse is the
only thing I have ever wanted.

You are a good nurse.

- What's up with you, Max?
- Nothing.

Brandon, he called
you a drug dealer.

They were all saying it,
yelling it.

I'm gonna kill him.

Okay.

People are gonna say some
pretty awful things about me.

We know they're not true.

But that's not gonna make it
any easier to take,

and you're gonna have to
be prepared for that.

Okay?

What's gonna happen to you?

I'll tell you.

There's gonna be a trial,

and I'm gonna be able to prove
I didn't do anything wrong,

and then it's all gonna be over.

But I'm not gonna sit here,
and I'm not gonna pretend

like this is gonna be easy
'cause it's not,

but we're gonna get through it.

We're gonna get
through it together.

Okay.Okay.

Did you ever work alone?

I was never there by myself,
there was always a group of us.

Did Susan Walker help out
at the farm house?

No, not at the farm house, no.

She took messages from buyers.

How many transactions
would you say in a month?

One or two? LARRY: At least that,
probably more.

She and Russell invited us
over for a barbecue,

but it was really an opportunity

for the guys to talk business,

'cause Russell and Larry
wanted to buy this other cabin

that they knew about
in the mountains,

start an operation there.

You know, Roger and I went up
to the Spring Pines last summer

with another couple, and
stayed in a cabin like that.

- Hello. Russell!
- Can you take a message?

Messages about transactions,

and she cooked for us
a couple of times.

Russell helped her buy a car
with some of her share.

Hey, Susan. Oh, Susan, this is
Olivia, she's our new bookkeeper.

Hi, Susan.

I used to work with Russell
over at the Bedford dealership.

She brought a delivery to the car
dealership where Russell and I worked.

How did she bring it?

In a gym bag.

Is my watch in here? SUSAN: I don't know.

You didn't look?

Who is this Olivia?

I met her once.
I don't even know her.

These people will say anything
to save their own skins.

Tomorrow, when it's
your turn to get up there,

and you tell what happened
in your own words,

the truth will come through.
The jury will see that.

You said Susan Walker
never saw drugs in her house,

never had dealers there.

No, not that she knew of.

You gave her money on a regular basis.

Yeah, I mean, yes.

With proceeds from marijuana sales?

Will you answer the question?

Look, I... I helped her out with
some expenses around the house,

you know, groceries...

Oh, just so you know, I
paid the electric bill today.

I told you, you don't
have to keep doing that.

I want to. I'm here
all the time.

With proceeds from
marijuana sales, Mr. Davis?

- Yes or no?
- Yes.

But she never knew
where it came from.

And the new car?

Did she know where the money
for that came from?

You look gorgeous in it.

Yes, it came from me.

I helped her with her trade-in,

and I gave her some money
for the rest, okay?

But that's all she knew.

You were taking steps to buy a
house together, were you not?

Oh, my God, Russell.

This is so perfect.

Susan is
a good woman. Thank you.

Listen to me!

Sorry. I'm sorry, Your Honor.

Look, she wasn't involved
with my business.

She was involved with me.

We were gonna get married,
you know.

What led you to this action?

The breaking up
of the relationship.

Because I walked in on them,

and I saw money changing hands.

And I was not going to have
that in my house or in my life.

There are children here,
Russell.

My children.

Did you see him, or speak to
him again, after that evening?

He called once, and he came
by the hospital where I work once.

What was the purpose of
that phone call and that visit?

He wanted to get back together.

And I made it clear
that wasn't gonna happen.

So, you didn't take messages
for transactions?

I took messages on the phone,

simple messages. So
and so called, call him back.

I had no idea this had
anything to do with

drug dealing.

You didn't make deliveries
to his place of work?

Of course I went to his
place of work several times.

And I made one so-called
delivery of a gym bag

to best of my knowledge
full of dirty gym clothes.

Look, the truth is getting
so distorted here.

Russell was my boyfriend,

consequently, his friends came
to my house from time to time.

I took messages for him on
the phone from time to time.

I drove him to
a friend's house once.

But when I realized
he was dealing marijuana,

I broke up with him.

And kept your mouth shut.

I had no idea the extent.

I certainly had no idea of
anything that you call a conspiracy.

Susan Walker fed and sustained
her five co-conspirators,

and allowed them to
manufacture and distribute

2,342 kilos of marijuana,

and then profited
substantially from it.

It's disingenuous
of her to say that

she did not know
what the end result

of what that drug
trafficking would be.

They put drugs into the hands,
and the bodies,

and the blood streams
of the children of America.

Particularly for a mother,

that should not be
forgiven lightly.

Susan Walker.

Count one,

conspiracy to manufacture and/or possess
with intent to distribute marijuana,

the jury finds you guilty.

Count 11, engaging in
and profiting from

a continuing
criminal enterprise.

The jury finds you guilty.

Susan Walker,

you'll remain free
on your own recognizance

until this matter comes before
this court for sentencing,

on November 16th.

You just sat there
and you did nothing.

Okay, okay, let me just sit
down for a moment, will ya?

Angie... We trusted you.

I know you did.

I'm sorry.

I just didn't realize
what we're up against.

These laws don't make any sense.

It's a little late
to think of that now.

Tell Susan I'll call her.

Can I drive?

Only if you keep going, Susan.
I mean it.

Where am I gonna go?

Mexico, some place, I don't care.

People do it all the time.

Well, that's not any
kind of life for my kids.

I'm so worried about them.
What's gonna happen to them?

Hey...

Whatever goes down, all right,

Max and Hannah will be with me,

they'll be just fine.

Can you?

You've kept my head
above water all these years...

So, shut up.

Shut up.
It's end of discussion.

Will you get to
come home sometimes?

You'll come to visit me.

Okay? Every chance you get.

Mr. Tully says that
wherever they send me,

it's probably gonna
be pretty far away.

But Angie's gonna bring you
whenever she can.

Okay.

Listen to me,

you remember when Daddy died,

and we all said that

we could still feel him
alive in our hearts

as if there was, like,
a little silver cord

that connected all four of us

that could never be broken
no matter what?

Well, you trust that now.

Because no matter
how far away I am,

I will always be
connected to you.

And besides,

it's not gonna be for long.

It can't be.Right. It can't be.

Hey, guys.

Wanna come help
set up the table?

- Yeah.
- Go on, go on.

Go on, help Angie.

Okay, I've made a list of

all the kids that they play with

and their telephone numbers,

and numbers of their parents,
where they work, and

I made a list of the teachers
that they have.

And, also, their doctor's appointments.

She has an appointment
on December 15th... Come on, come on...

...and every
Wednesday at 4:30...

Larry Pearson.

96 months.

Eight years.

68 months.

60 months.

72 months.

168 months.

240 months.

Tully.

20 years.

Judge Markham.

My client does not warrant
20 years in jail.

Mr. Tully, there's absolutely
no doubt in my mind

that these are severe
mandatory sentences.

I wouldn't have
given her 20 years,

but what I feel is just and right has
been taken out of my hands by Congress.

But, Your Honor, I urge you.

The other co-defendants have
cooperated with the prosecutor

and, as a result, have received
some leniency per the statutes.

You client has given
the government nothing.

She had nothing to give.

I'm bound by law.

No!

Mom...

- I'm so sorry.
- Okay, you'll have to come with me. Come on.

Mom! Mom!

Take off your clothes.

Your pants.

Your sweater.

Open your mouth. Turn your head.

Raise your arms.

Bend over, turn around.

Ladies, ladies. Why can't
you keep it down, huh?

Why can't you keep it up?

Cece, that smart mouth
is gonna get you in trouble.

You take my freakin' toothbrush?

Shut up.

Shut up or I'll kill you!

Shirley's having
a seizure again.

It's okay.

She should take her
damn medication

if we're hoping to get
any sleep around here.

Don't wanna get up.

There's no hot water. Call the press.

You know what?

If I ever make it out of here,

I'm gonna write my life story.

That's what I'm gonna do.
I'm gonna write my life story.

Yeah, if you
ever make it out of here.

Walker.

These have to be redone. I didn't do this.
This isn't my work.

Find somebody else.

Okay, I'll do it. I'll do it.

Pay attention
to what you're doing.

When are you gonna
get it right, sweetie?

All right, get back to work.

Bless us, O Lord,
with these thy gifts

which we are about to receive.

Amen.Amen.

And let us dig into this dinner.

- She got a knife!
- Drop it!

Get her out of here!

Sit down!

Get back in line!
Sit down or get in line!

Hi.Hi.

I'm Roxanne.Susan.

You just got in here from
Marianna, didn't you?

I've been shipped all over.

I was actually kind of hoping
they'd transfer me to Danbury.

This is kind of too far for my
husband to bring my kids to see me.

I haven't seen them
in nearly a year.

That's too bad.

I'm seeing mine
the week after next.

Yeah? Yeah.

How many
you have? Two. How many you have?

Well, my Samuel is 10 years old.

And my babies are 18 months.Aw.

Chloe and Clarissa.

I had them in Marianna.

Shackled to the bed.

So, um...

You write a lot of letters.

I saw you in here yesterday too.

These are all about my
request for a new trial.

So, are you writing the judge?

Yeah, I'm writing the judge, I'm
writing my senators, my congressmen.

Could I take a look at
one of your letters?

I just wanna see
how you put things.

Yeah.

Sure, go ahead.

I need to write
one of these myself.

Well, I'm no Johnnie Cochran.
Don't expect too much.

I just wanna get a feel of it.

It's all I need.

0-4-6-1-4-0-6-2.

0-8-5-2-3-9-7-4.

0-1-9-3-7-9-6-3.

0-5-9-3-1-7-5-6.

0-8-0-3-6-2-3-3.
Right about here.

0-7-6-3-7-0-9-3.

0-4-2-9-7-2-5-4.

0-5-9-2-3-2-9-1.

How you doing, baby?

Settling in all right?

Better watch out you don't
end up like, uh, her over there.

Give it a rest, Ramona.

She just got here.

She's not ready for all this
dazzling hospitality yet.

Hey, baby, how you doing?
Don't you "Hey, baby" me.

I'm Susan.Danielle.

It gets easier.

My boyfriend, he asked me to
buy these chemicals that he needed.

I didn't know.

They gave me 24 years.

I wasn't even
part of the conspiracy.

I don't know anything about
manufacturing methamphetamine.

I'm 19.Okay, okay.

Be careful in here, all right?

Make sure you can trust who you're talking
to before you tell them your life story.

You don't know what they're
gonna use against you

to get their sentence reduced.
It happens in here all the time.

See this woman
coming in here now?

That's Lucy.

She's in for murder.

Across the way, writing, Shirley,
she's in for armed robbery.

That's Greta.
She's blind and diabetic.

She's in for drug conspiracy.

So's Dorothy over there.

A lot of rage in old Dorothy.

It's a real bunch of charmers.

Behind you...

You have a mother and daughter
and a granddaughter.

They got 24, 30 and 19 years respectively
because... Look back at me now.

Because her son
and a couple of his buddies

were dealing drugs
out of her house.

A lot of people are in here for
the same thing you're in here for.

Two minutes. Lights out.

Okay, just listen to me.

Do your job. Stay out
of trouble. You'll be okay.

Don't try to make sense
out of any of this, kiddo.

You're just gonna drive
yourself nuts if you do.

Come on Russell,
help me out here.

How do I tie this?

Mom, Russell taught me
how to tie a clove hitch.

Hey!

Mommy! MAX: Mom!

Come here, you.

Oh, big guy!

Mommy, Mommy, I love you,
I love you, I love you.

And I love you too.

Hannah, this one is even better than
the one that you read me on the phone.

- Really?
- Yes.

You know what you are?
You are a writer.

Yeah, you're the writer.

And what about you, big guy?

- You still like your new teacher?
- She's okay.

Oh, just okay, huh?

Okay, you guys want to go to
the machine and get something?

Yeah.

Get something for your mom
and me too, okay? Thanks.

So how's Max doing in school? It's odd.

He's been acting out a lot. He's
been fighting with his classmates.

And then sometimes he's very
quiet, he's very very sullen. Hi there.

Hey. Hey, big guy.

Listen, what's this
about school? Yeah?

Hmm?

You know you can't do that.

Hey, come here.
Look at me. Eye to eye.

You know you can't
do that, sweetie.

Oh!

Three of spades.
I got it! Yes!

You did it again!

Visiting hours are over. All
inmates, return to your units.

No.A whole day to learn that.

I have to go.
Listen up, listen up.

And you're gonna
come back so soon,

that you're not even gonna
notice that I'm not home, okay?

It's gonna go by really,
really fast. You'll see.

Okay? Bye, Mom.

Goodbye, baby. Bye, Mommy. I miss you.

I want you to be strong,
and be brave,

and be a good boy,
all right? I can't, Mommy, I can't.

No, it's okay. Bye, Sus.

Bye, Mommy.

- Bye, Sus.
- Bye.

See you soon.

Okay, okay, okay.
In plain English.

The judge won't grant me
a new trial, right?

Right?

All right, so we'll
go to another judge.

Okay, so what's our next move?

Janice, please.

This could be something.
This can't be the end of it.

Please.

Don't say that.

It... I...

What's wrong with the system?
How can this happen?

They turned down my
request for a new trial.

What?

Nineteen more years
in this hell hole.Bastards.

They are destroying my life.
They are destroying my family.

And I'm supposed to, what,
resign myself to this?

We are buried alive in this hell
hole and nobody gives a damn.

Because nobody knows.

Well, if nobody knows, and
nobody cares, then what's the point?

Boy, people in this
country better wake up,

because if this can happen to
me, it can happen to anybody.

Oh, God.

You signin' up for this thing the
new chaplain's putting together?

I don't wanna sit around
and talk about my problems.

I don't want anyone
knowing my business.

It's at 11:00,
you get out of work.

Hey, Susan.

All these judges and senators
you keep writing,

they ever write back?

Yeah, some of them do.

I don't see them
sending you any bus ticket.

Well, it's a little matter
of changing the law first.

Oh, you wasting your time.

That ain't gonna happen.

They never gonna
let you out of here.

And there could be more
than $100 worth of stuff.

No, oh, God.

Hey. Somebody took
Susan's commissary card.

They've been buying stuff on it.

Oh, nice, nice.

All right, Ramona, let's go.

I ain't going to that broiler
room with you, Terry.

You know what I'm talking about.

The Commissary Chief says you're
using something that doesn't belong to you.

Using what? An ID card.

Oh.

Search me. Search me.

Come on, Terry, search me!

Get your hands off her! I'll
cut your leg off, you hear me?

Chill out, June, or you're next.

Ladies, it's 11:00.

Whoever signed up for
Miss Robles group, let's go.

You watch your back.

I'm Marguerite Robles,
the new chaplain.

Would anyone like to talk
about anything in particular?

That's what I hope
this group will be,

a place where we can
get stuff of our chests.

Not just about what's going on
in here... That too, of course...

But also what you're having to deal
with with your families on the outside.

Okay then. Um, I've brought

a newsletter some of you
might be interested in, uh...

Some of you may
have already seen it, but...

Oh, well, I'll just put them
right here actually.

Uh, any of you here serving
mandatory minimum sentences?

What do you want
to know that for?

Well, um, because, right after
seminary, I interned at a state prison

and I got to know this group that's working
to reform mandatory sentencing laws.

There are thousands of women
serving harsh sentences like these.

I answered my
boyfriend's telephone.

And I took a message.

I got 15 years.

How was I supposed to know
it was about a drug sale?

I got life because
one of them had a gun.

The other guy
I didn't even know.

I got an enhanced sentence.

They offered me a plea bargain,
10 years, I says, "No, I'm innocent.

"I'm going to trial."

If the government thought that
10 years was enough punishment,

why am I doing life?

Right.

Anybody else here serving a
mandatory minimum sentence?

Six of you.

You have kids?

Oh, Cece's got a bunch of them.

Tell her. Come on.

When I was sentenced, they
were nine, four, two and one.

My boy was 16 when I left.

He's not doing too good.

I...

I haven't seen my babies
in five years.

Each of mine lives with
a different relative.

The youngest
doesn't even remember me.

And my brother who has them,

he won't let there
be any contact.

Susan? It's Susan, right?

Yeah. What about you?

Oh, pretty much the same
as everybody else.

How about you, Dorothy?

You have kids? No.

You're a nice looking woman.

But your face ain't gonna look nothing
like that when Ramona gets out of the hole.

She's a piece of work.
Ignore her.

Mind if I join you, ladies?

Go ahead. Great, thanks.

Oh, I wouldn't eat that
pot pie if I were you.

Right.

I don't know if you picked
up one of these or not.

I did.Great.

Uh, the group's called FAMM,

Families Against
Mandatory Minimums.

If you look on the back, there's
a case summary you fill out.

It asks about your
sentence, the offense,

sympathetic factors,
your family and so on.

Then you write a brief personal
account of what happened.

Excuse me, Chaplain,

staff table's over there.

I'm fine here, thanks.

Yeah.

They use these case summaries to write
profiles on people serving mandatory minimums.

That's how they publicize the unfairness
of these laws, by putting a face on them.

Yeah, I'll fill
one of these out.

I got a story.Great.

You know, you should read some of the
letters that Susan wrote about her case.

Oh, yeah?

The judges
and congressmen, and then...

That's great.
You have to do that.

It's probably a waste of time.

No, hey,

you can't give up.
You've gotta let people know.

I mean, that's what's so great
about FAMM, they can do that.

And for your kids too.

How old are they?

Hannah's 17. She's
a junior in high school.

And Max is 15.

They were 11 and 9
when I came in here.

In some ways, that's what
they still are to me.

Excuse me.

Hey, Angie. You better go home, Jake.

Right.

And I'll see you tomorrow.Yeah.

What was going on here, hmm?

I mean, I know
what was going on,

but I'd like you to tell me.

Well, we've been sleeping
together for the last year. You happy?

Hannah.

Okay, we don't sleep.

Why haven't you told me?

You're not my mother.

I know I'm not your mother.

My mother is in prison
and my father's dead.

No, we need to discuss this.

"We" don't need to do
anything. How come you...

No "how come."

Now, if you're intent
on being sexually active,

you're going to have to
take some responsibility for it.

Please,
advice from the party girl.

That was a long time ago.

I'm responsible for you.

Hello. Hi, what's going on?

Hi. Oh, I just got in from
work, trying to fix dinner.

Oh.

Listen, I was wondering if you and
the kids might be able to come up

and visit me soon.

Oh, Susan,
I'm so booked at work.

Angie, it's been three months.

I gotta see 'em.

Please, I gotta see 'em.

Okay.

I'll try and juggle
the schedule.

I'll see what I can do, okay?

Okay, thanks.

Hey, Susie.

Ramona asked me
to give you a message.

Check this out!

Susan!

Freeze! Get off her!

Let me at her!

Thank you.

Susan.

You okay? SUSAN: Yes.

Roxanne told me what happened.
I'm saying something to the warden.

Marguerite, don't do that.

But you didn't do anything? Please.

Let it go.

If I rat on somebody in here, it's
just gonna make it a hell of a lot worse.

Please.

Okay, Susan.

Look, I'll be back later
with something to eat.

You hang tough.

I'm reassigning you.

Oh, please don't do that.
Maintenance detail.

I've worked so hard to become
Grade One. I've always done a good job.

Now you have a chance
to excel in another area.

June's been relocated
to another facility.

And you will too, if there's another
incident. Do you understand?

Good.

What are you doing?

Double six.

You know that's not
a double six, Greta.

Come on, you're cheating.
No, you're cheating.

Double six. That's better.

Hey, Susan. Hey, Lucy.

Kids gonna be here today? Yeah.

Been so long
since I've seen 'em,

they're probably gonna have
my grandchildren with them.

Good luck out there. Sixteen years.

Gonna be like that
old guy who woke up.

Rip Van Winkle.

Behave yourself. Good luck to you, Lucy.

Yeah, thanks.

Hey, do you believe that?

She murders two husbands
and they let her out early.

Oh, yeah. They gotta make
room for all us drug kingpins

with no chance of parole.

Red queen.
Hey, Roxie.

Guess you're not gonna make
Inmate of the Month this month, huh?

Is there something about
the way I'm mopping the floor

that bothers you, Terry?

As long as you don't start
any fights, I got no problem.

You know, something
just occurred to me.

One day I'm gonna be out of here

and you're a lifer.

Tell your mom
the cat story, Max.

So they had these two
huge fire engines, right?

And all these guys with their gear for
some scrawny little cat stuck up in a tree.

Did they get it?

Barney did.

He goes up there saying,
"I don't see it! I don't see it!"

And out of nowhere, this
stupid cat jumps out at him.

He screamed like a girl.

That's my guy.

Yo, Max.

I'll be back, okay? All right.

So, how's cheerleading?

It's fine.

Angie told me about
the other day,

about walking in
on you and Jake.

It's okay.

I'd like you to be able to
talk to me about this stuff.

Looks like somebody
already beat me to it.

Baby,

when I think about
the time we've lost,

it hurts so much I can't
stand it sometimes.

There's so much I wish
we'd been able to talk about.

Mom. I'm not a slut, okay?

If that's what you're thinking.

That is not what I'm thinking.

I am thinking that you
are my tenderhearted girl.

And I want you to be careful.

Now, listen. This is serious.
Listen to me here.

I see too many women
in this place

who are infected or
whose kids are infected.

Mom, I'm careful, okay?

A lot more careful
than you were.

I'm gonna get
something to drink.

Is she all right?

What's wrong with her?

Look, I know
what you're thinking.

Even if you were there,
she's a 17-year-old girl

and 17-year-olds
put up walls, right?

Come on, remember?

I'm glad Max is spending
more time with Barney.

That's good.
That's good for him.

Is he doing better in school?

Yeah, when he goes.

Police picked him up in the
middle of the day last week,

brought him to the shop.

Angie!

Why didn't you tell me?

'Cause I just didn't.

Angie. What good would it do
for me to tell you?

He is my son.
I'm supposed to know this.

Is there a chance they're
going to flunk him?

Yes. What am I
supposed to do? Oh, God.

You are supposed to be
on top of this stuff.

You are the adult. I know that.

You are supposed
to be there, Angie. I am there.

Twenty-four hours a day, seven
days a week, for the past six years,

I am there.

When I'm not working
overtime to put food on the table.

I'm doing the best I can.

I know it's not as good
as you would do. All right. All right.

I didn't mean to bite
your head off, I'm sorry.

Shirley, you okay?

What... What?

Danielle! Get somebody
in here quick!

She's taken something. Get
somebody in here right now!

Get out! Move, will you?

Come on, Murphy, let's go.

Can't you see she's not
breathing, you jackass?

You've gotta... Hey, hey, hey, hey!

Susan Walker,
now get out of here! Move it!

Get in here!

Where'd she get this, huh?

Is she gonna make it?

This time.

Poor kid.Yeah.

I'm gonna go in and see her.

Oh, hey, uh...

Don't forget, the coordinator from
FAMM's gonna be here Friday at 3:00.

I already reminded Roxanne.

Hiya.

You know...

Before you and Roxanne got here,

I didn't hang out with anybody.

I just went through the day.

One foot in front of the other.

Just doing my time,
just trying to survive.

Look, I know... I really don't want
to talk about this.

I know what this place
can do to you.

It kills your soul.

That's why everybody in here
is either eating or sleeping

or drugging themselves
into oblivion.

Don't you lose yourself.

I feel...

I feel so alone.

Well, you aren't.

I'm never gonna have
anybody to love

or to love me or
to take care of me.

Or children.

Oh, sweetheart.

Where'd they pick him up?

Behind the strip mall.

He was with some guys I told him I
didn't want him hanging around with.

Is he there? Yeah.

Put him on.

Max.

Yeah?

Max, where did you get the pot?

You there?

Yeah, I'm here.

Where did you get the pot? Some guy had it.

What guy?

Ryan, okay?
You don't know him.

Look, I'm not angry. Okay?

This is not an angry voice
you're hearing.

I'm very worried.

I want you to let me help you.

Help me?
What can you do to help me?

Okay? In there,
you can't do anything.

This is Mark McNamara from
Families Against Mandatory Minimums.

Hi, Susan, how do you do? It's
nice to finally meet you in person.

What's the matter, are you okay?

My son got picked up today
by the police for smoking pot.

I know who's being
punished here.

My kids.

They don't have a father,
he's dead.

And their mother is in prison serving a
20-year sentence for picking up a phone.

And taking a damn message!

My little kid's out
on the street.

And he doesn't stand a chance.

Susan.

I put your profile
on the FAMM website.

What I'd like to do next
is to bring a journalist in

to talk to you
and tell your story.

That's really going
to help your case.

Do it. If you can arrange it.

That's what I want.

I didn't co-operate with the
government for a reduced sentence

because I didn't know anything.

And I thought, if I didn't know
anything and I didn't do anything

then nothing could happen to me.

And then

several of my co-defendants

testified against me to get
their own sentences reduced,

and I was convicted
purely on their testimony.

Where's Russell now?

I don't know. The last I
heard, it was Leavenworth,

but that was a few years ago

and I haven't been
in touch with him

for a long time.

Somewhere inside, I knew.

You did? Yeah.

Somewhere inside.

Where you know all the things
you don't want to know, you know.

Miss Rutman,

I had been a widow
for six years.

I had two little kids to raise.

I was working a couple
of part-time jobs.

I was going to school at night
to get my nursing degree.

I was struggling to make
mortgage payments on a house.

My life was hard.

And then suddenly
Russell appeared.

And it just looked to me like

finally everything
was gonna come together.

I fell in love with him.

And that's where this
whole nightmare began.

The rolling blackouts
continue across California...

The White House announced today

that President Clinton has
commuted the prison sentences

of Dorothy Gaines, Louise
Howes, and Shondra Mills,

the three women
convicted of drug crimes,

but who received much harsher
mandatory minimum sentences

than the men involved
in the cases.

Hey.
I want to get this.

...they had served a
disproportionate amount of time,

according to White House
spokesman Jake Sewert.

They received much more severe sentences
than their husbands and boyfriends.

In a related story,

one man, Alain Arasco,
also was ordered free

after serving time
on a drug conviction.

Mark. This is Susan Walker.

I just... I just heard something
about President Clinton on the news.

What's this about?

Yeah, that's right. Um...

He commuted their sentences.
They're free.

But what does it mean? I mean,
what does it mean for me?

Well, it's still
too soon to tell.

We heard that the President
might commute some others

with mandatory
minimum sentences.

Julie Stewart, who is the
founder of FAMM,

has a meeting in the
Pardon Attorney's office later

to try and find out
some more information.

Susan, as soon as we hear anything,
I promise you, we'll let you know.

Okay.

Hello!

The Pardon Attorney
suggests that we focus

on those people
with the best chances.

You're saying us?

Yeah. Those who've served at
least five years, have no priors

were minimally involved,
have a clean prison record,

and most importantly, admit any
wrongdoing and are remorseful.

So we're getting out?

We're gonna help you
file a petition.

We chose 24 members
with the best chances

and the both of you
were included.

Yes!

Yes! Yes!

Thank you, thank you,
thank you, thank you.

You're welcome.

Yes!

Oh, thank you, thank you.

So what does it say?
Are they gonna represent you?

"An associate
with our firm, Daniel Krull,

"will come to meet
with you on the 26th."

Good for you! That's Friday!

Oh, man, I hope they find
somebody for me soon.

How come you two got in on this?

Probably put out for Terry.

I heard that! It's not just us.

Anybody can file a petition.
Even you, Ramona.

Mark McNamara speaking.

Oh, hi. Good Morning. My
name is Jimmy Carpenter.

Uh, Mr. McNamara,
I'm a lawyer

here in Augusta, Georgia.

Now, I was just reading this article in this
magazine here about mandatory minimums.

And I thought
I have to talk to you.

Thank you, Mr. Carpenter.

Absolutely.

Yes, we'll be in touch.
Thank you.

Okay. Bye-bye.

Julie.

Julie, I just got off the phone
with a lawyer from Georgia.

He read the piece on Susan
Walker and he wants to help us.

Great. Does he want to
start a local chapter?

No, he wants
to represent her pro bono.

It's been a long time since
I've heard anybody this excited.

Excitement's good. Is he with a
big firm that does a lot of pro bono?

No. He's a one-man band.

Now, we need letters of support

from family members,
lawyers, everyone we can.

The Pardon Attorney will study
the petition and official documents

like your pre-sentencing report
and sentencing transcripts.

Now, this is important.

Any mis-statements on this
application can be grounds for rejection.

So be honest and forthcoming.

Accept responsibility.

And do not re-argue your case.

You see, clemency is
forgiveness, not exoneration.

It assumes guilt. Oh, I know.

Why are you doing this?

Because I think
your mom has a case.

Transferring me somewhere else.

Judge Markham.

Jimmy Carpenter.

Did you have a chance to
consider what we talked about

on the phone the other day?

Frankly, I've never written a
letter to the President before,

asking that one of my
sentences be commuted.

I hear that some judges are now
refusing to hear low-level drug cases

prosecuted under the
mandatory minimum laws.

Several senior federal judges
that I know of, personally.

That's why I had to leave.

I hope that does
Mrs. Walker some good.

"Susan Walker was given
a 20-year sentence,

"a much harsher sentence than
any of the other co-conspirators,

"merely because they cooperated
with the government and she didn't."

Man, I never thought you'd
get this out of Judge Markham.

"As you know,
mandatory minimum sentences

"have been severely criticized
by the American Bar Association

"and the US Sentencing
Commission."

"Even the Supreme Court Justice William
H. Rehnquist has called these sentences

"a good example of the law
of unintended consequences."

This is incredible. We may have a problem.

What?

Losing your prison factory job
may count against you.

It can't count against me.

Jimmy, it can't.
That was self-defense.

Nevertheless, it may
diminish your chances.

I mean, you got in a fight,
you went to the hole...

...they took your job
away from you.

Now, according to the
Pardon Attorney's guidelines,

on paper, you're not
the exemplary prisoner.

Wait a minute, wait a minute, the
Pardon Attorney called the warden?

Yeah, because they want to know
more about what happened at the factory.

Oh, God, Mark, I went into all kinds
of detail about that in my statement.

I was doing my job,
I was minding my own business

when she just came out of
nowhere and attacked me.

I know. Susan, I know.

All because her damn friend got
caught stealing my commissary card.

I know. SUSAN: What am I
supposed to do?

Susan.

Please, don't do this
to yourself.

Okay? This could either be good
news, or it could be bad news.

We don't know yet.

So please just hang in there.

And try not to worry.

Come on.
Read me the front page.

They lost. Come on.
Get me out of here.

Did the guy file your petition?

Mine was sent by
registered mail this morning.

Well...

When I get out of here,

I'm gonna lay in a bathtub.

And buy myself some silk sheets.

And get cable.

How does that sound?
That sounds pretty good.

Mmm.

Oh, boy.

Julie?

Julie.

Pardon Attorney's office.

Roxanne.

Roxie.

Roxie.

I didn't make the list. What list?

My lawyer just told me.

The pardons.

Roxie, what are you
talking about?

Did the President
make a decision?

He said there were
two names on the list.

- And neither of them were mine.
- Did they tell you who they were?

This is an emergency count.

All inmates report
to your units immediately.

He said we could do it again.

File another petition.

I don't think I can go
through this all over again.

Come on, ladies. Let's go.
Let's go, let's move it. Come on.

Come on, Roxie, we got to go.

Come on. It's emergency count.
Roxie, come on.

Come on, let's go.

Come on. Let's go.
Everyone in. Come on.

Susan!

Susan, did you hear? Your
sentence is being commuted.

Did you hear what I said?

You're free.
You're going home!

Rox! Roxanne! No, no.
Just let me talk to her...

Keep it moving.
Come on, Roxie, let's go.

Roxie, Rox! Hey, hey, hey, hey.
Walker, Walker.

I just got the official word.

We got to process
you out of here.

Come on. I'm gonna miss you,
you know that?

0-8-5-2-3-9-7-4.

0-1-9-3-7-9-6-3.

0-5-9-3-1-7-5-6.

0-6-9-1-4-5-8-7.

0-5-9-2-3-2-9-1.

0-4-6-1-4-0-6-2.

0-6-9-1-4-5-8-7.

Hi.Hi.

Oh, thank God this
nightmare's over, Sus.

This is all I need.

This is all I need.

Having all of you
here like this.

When Marguerite told me, I
couldn't dare let myself believe it.

You should've
seen the look on her face.

All the way here,
she kept shaking her head.

I couldn't get it in...
Couldn't get it in.

Jimmy, thank you so much.

Now, you did it on your own.

No, no, no.

If you hadn't all been here,
I couldn't ever

have gotten through this.

- We're gonna take off now.
- We'll call you tomorrow.

Okay, okay.

Welcome home. Thank you.

Thank you.

Max?

You okay, kiddo?

Yeah.

You okay, kiddo?

Yeah.

I'm home now.

Now I'm home.

You know, Mark asked me if I
would speak at a seminar for FAMM

next week.

And...

I thought it might be
good if you came along.

I don't think so.

Well...

I think it'd be interesting for
them to hear your point of view.

Interesting? All right. All right.
Wrong word.

Important.

I think it would be important for
them to hear what you went through.

Nobody

really cares what
I've been through.

That's not true.

It's just not sexy enough.

There's no way anyone can know.

Hannah. Can I talk to you?

Hey, your sentence
has been commuted, too.

Just leave me alone, okay?

Hannah.

Don't talk to her that way.

Listen, you two.

The whole time I've
been away in prison,

Angie's put her life on hold.

She's sacrificed six years
of her life for us.

We can never repay her.

Sus.

Treat her with respect.

Look.

It's never gonna be
the way it was before.

The people we were
six years ago, they're gone.

We're never gonna
see them again.

But I would hate to think
that anything as stupid

and as unfair as what
happened to us

could permanently
destroy us as a family.

I will not let it happen.

Don't you. Don't you.

Okay?

Okay.

Okay.