Held Hostage (2009)

[bunniefuu]

I became a runner
when I was young.

I felt the power of myself
only when I was in motion.

My legs pumping hard,
wind in my face.

But I wasn't the kind of runner

who did it
for the thrill of victory.

I never expected a trophy.

I was a different
kind of runner.

Some people say
they're born with nothing.

But that's a lie.

You think hard enough
and you can find something

that belongs to you
and only you,

even if it's running away
of something I got.

I never forget that.

Come on, sweetie,
we're running late.

I'm hurrying.

How many times have I told you

that the sugary cereal
is for weekends only?

-Sorry, Mom.
-All right.

Um, I'm gonna be going out
tonight after work,

so the babysitter
will pick you up from school,

and I promise I won't be late.

You always say that.

And I never am.

You just think I am, jellybean.

You always say that, too.

Come on, hurry up.

Hey.

It's just me.

Dave.
God, you scared me.

Sorry, I didn't...
I didn't mean...

How are you?

You okay?

-Yeah.
-Uncle Dave!

How's my favorite niece?

-Great.
-Yeah?

Well, I've missed you so much.

Have you come to stay with us?

No, Breea,
this is just a quick visit.

I just really needed
one of your hugs.

I talked to Mom last night.

-Breea, go get in the car now.
-Why?

'Cause we're late for school,
all right?

Now say goodbye to your uncle
and go jump in the car.

See ya.

-I thought we had an agreement.
-I know but I just...

Damn it, Dave.

She sounds old, Michelle.

I don't care.

She wants to see you.

Ha.

I don't care.
I don't care.

Why do you keep
doing this to me?

I'm not doing anything.

I just think
you could talk to her.

We're running late.

Is, um...

Is Uncle Dave still sick?

I don't know, honey.

How was your weekend?

Perfect.

Drinks with the girls
Saturday night

and brunch with Peter on Sunday.

Very relaxing.

Here's today's files.

And your 9:00 a.m. are here,
Mr. and Mrs. Clark.

They're new to California.

They said they called a couple
of days ago about a mortgage.

Yes. Thank you, Rose.

Good morning. I'm Michelle.

Chris Clark.
This is my wife, Sandi.

-Hi.
-We spoke on the phone.

Yes, yes.
It's very nice to meet you.

Have a seat.

So here is my card.

If I'm ever not at my desk,
you can reach me on my cell.

So how are you
liking California so far?

What's not to love?

It was snowing in Buffalo
when we left in October.

-Here's my card.
-I mean, I hated leaving family,

but Chris's company offered him
an amazing job,

and we just
couldn't really turn it down.

Well, it is
a very difficult transition.

I moved out here
about 15 years ago.

But once you spend a winter
in Southern California,

you never go back.

Is that your daughter?

Yes, it is.

She's beautiful.

So how can I help you today?

Well, we think
we may have found a house.

And I love it.

And we're hoping for a mortgage.

That's great.

I'll get you an application
for pre-approval,

and we'll get the ball rolling.

So just the one kid
for you and your husband?

Just me, no husband,
and we're fine.

Here. I just need you
to fill this out...

Sorry.

I didn't mean to pry.

Not a problem, Mr. Clark.

Thanks.

And what about her father?

Gone, long gone.

And a girl like you,
all to herself, right?

Guy would have to be crazy.

That's sweet.

Just the facts.

Most men,

when they hear
the word "daughter,"

bolt for the door.

Do they really?

Check.

Most of them.

I'm not looking
for a father or a husband,

if you know what I mean.

Well,

how do you feel about kissing?

I like it.

I'm actually quite good at it.

Is that right?

Yeah, just the facts.

Thank you so much,
and I'll see you on Thursday.

I had a great time tonight,
Michelle.

Me too.

- So I...
- Look, I don't normally...

I mean, would you like
to have a drink?

Yes.

That would be nice.

Okay. Well, I'm gonna go
check on my daughter.

And there's some wine
in the kitchen,

so why don't you
pour us two glasses?

Sure.

Sleep tight, mama is home.

-Mom?
-What is it?

I'm scared of the people
at the window.

There's no one at the window.
It's just the wind.

Come on, go back to sleep.

And...

Bear...

will protect you.

Good night, Mom.

Good night, baby.

First, I'm gonna congratulate
you all in a great month.

We have surpassed
all of our goals.

Our deposits and retention rates

are the third highest
of all the branches.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Who won the passes?

Okay. All right.

This month's employee
of the month

with two all-inclusive passes
to SeaWorld is...

- Walter.
- Yes.

Congratulations.

And congratulations
to all of you.

You're a really great team.
Thank you so much.

Thanks.

You all right?

I have a headache.

Can I get you anything?

No.

I didn't get
much sleep last night.

8:25,
armored truck delivery.

Hello, ladies.

Good morning, Reggie.

Michelle,
you looking lovely as usual.

So, when are we hooking up?

Michelle is looking
for a real man, Reggie.

So what are you saying,
I'm not a real man?

Yeah, I don't understand
why you got to be out there

looking for hamburger
when you got a prime rib like me

walking up in here all the time.

-You're married.
-I never said I wasn't married.

I said I was prime rib.

Being married ain't got nothing
to do with being prime rib.

All right, enough, both of you.

This is a bank,
not a high school.

I guess that would explain
all the money then, wouldn't it?

How about you finish
your homework

and I'll let you pick our movie?

You always
let me pick our movie.

That's right, that's because
I'm the best mom in the world.

Hey, no snacking.

So much for being
the best mom in the world.

Smarty pants.

Don't you think
it's a little loud?

I like it like this.

-What? I can't hear you.
-Yes, you can, Mom.

Turn down.

-I can't hear you.
-Breea, I'm serious.

Hello?

Hello?

Mommy! Mommy!

Mom!

Mommy!

Mom!

Mommy!

No. Breea.

No!

- Wait.
- Mommy!

No. No.

- Give me that.
- Mom!

No, please!

Don't hurt her!

Don't hurt her! Don't hurt her!

Please don't hurt her.

Leave her alone.

Shut up or we'll sh**t your kid.

No, don't touch her!

Breea!

Shh!

No, please don't hurt her!

I have money. I have money.

You can take whatever you want.
Please.

Please just... You can take
whatever you want,

but don't, please...

Don't hurt my baby, please.
Don't hurt us.

Shut her up.

No, baby. No, baby! Baby.

Baby, don't bother. Just bite.

-Mom!
-Baby, it's gonna be okay.

Please don't...
don't hurt my baby, please.

Do the kid.

You wanna play rough?
You wanna play rough?

Hey, hey.

Shut the house
and cut the lights.

You...

Shh, shh.

We are inside and secure.
Keep your eyes open.

I'm gonna ask you
a few questions

and see if I can trust you.

If you tell the truth,
you're gonna pass the test.

But if you lie,

I'm gonna hurt your little girl.

Those are your options, A or B.

You got that?

Are you hooked up
to a security system?

You should be.

There's a lot
of crazy people out there.

Shh, shh, shh, shh...

It's okay.

It's okay.

What about your daughter?
Does she have a cell phone?

Careful mommy like you,
kid doesn't have a cellphone?

So...

You'll cooperate?

Because if you don't,

I will go in that room

and I will k*ll
your little girl like that.

Please let me see my daughter.

Let me see her, please. Let me...

Shut up.

You know
what I'm gonna take from you?

No.

Please.

Not in front
of my little girl, please.

Anything I want.

You see, you...

No more power here,
little Miss Bank Manager.

I know everything about you,
Michelle Estey.

What about your boyfriend?

Is he coming over tonight?

No, I...

I don't have a boyfriend.

What did I just say?

What did I say
about lying to me?

Little Breea...

Don't hurt her.

...goes to West Park Elementary.

She's got little pink shoes
and a little pink lunchbox.

And you've got one chance
of keeping her alive!

-Do you follow what I'm saying?
-Yes.

-You do?
-Yes.

Then don't lie to me!

Make me trust you.

Okay.

I will.

I will.

What do you want from us?

I'll tell you what I want.

You are gonna rob
your bank for me.

What do you mean?

Money 1, you read?

What's going on?

Everything's cool.

I thought that you
were gonna keep me posted.

We had a plan.

The plan is that you keep
your eyes open out there.

That is the plan.
Now stop calling me.

Where's my daughter?

Where's Breea?

Breea!

Breea!

Breea.

That's better.

Yeah.

Are you gonna behave?

All right.

I wanna know
how much is in that bank.

A million?

No.

Look, we are a small branch.

We've never had that much money
in the bank ever.

Hey!

How much?

Now!

Somewhere between 350,000
and 400,000.

I've been watching
that bank for two months.

8:25 on the nose, courier,

one guard,
three sometimes, four bags.

So don't even think
about telling me

there's only
400 Gs in that bank!

Believe what you want.

That's how you did it?

You pulled yourself up
from nothing,

you were just tough,

you're tough as nails in there.

I like it.

I told you the truth.

I told you what I know.

Now let me see my daughter.

Where's your manners?

Please.

Bring in the girl.

One wrong move,

and it will be your last.

But I don't have
to tell you that again, do I?

No.

Breea, are you okay?

Baby, it's gonna be okay.
Mama's here.

I'm here.

You'll be okay.

Untie her. Please.

Fast learner.

No, you're
scaring her. No, don't.

Let me untie her, please.

Please,
you have to trust me, right?

Let me do it.

All right, thank you.

It's okay.

Baby! Baby, it's okay.
Your mom is here.

Mom is here, all right?

Mommy.

It's all right.

You're so brave.

You're my brave little girl.

It's gonna be okay.

It's okay.

You're my brave
little jellybean.

Mommy.

I know.

Mommy...

I have to go to the bathroom.

Please.

Come on, baby,
just hold my hand, don't let go.

Go bathroom now baby.

Hurry up.

Looking for something?

Need some light?

You aren't supposed
to be in here.

I know, baby, I know.

Do your business.

Or were you lying to me?

Answer me!

Do your business.

It's not gonna work.

I can tell you right now,
so you might as well just leave.

And there'll be no questions.

You're smarter than that.
I'm not gonna be in the bank.

Just you.

And you are gonna do
everything that I tell you.

Bones, show her.

What is that?

Dynamite.

This here,

it's a remote detonator.

So if you don't
bring me my money...

-Boom.
-What kind of animals are you?

You're sick!

Just get out of my house
right now!

Maybe I need to shut
that mouth for you?

Yes! Yes!
Go ahead, do it!

Do it! Hit me! Go on! Hit me!

Do it!

Let everyone see a bruise.
Then your plan will work.

Now my daughter needs to sleep.

Get in.

-Take it off.
-Not with you watching.

You're a mess.

Now clean yourself up.

It's too tight, I can't breathe.

Remote detonator.

You know what that means?

Means that I can blow you up
from hundred yards away.

That's a microphone.

And anything that you say,
I'm gonna hear it.

Anything that I don't like,
you're dead.

No second chances.

Put this on
and do it really nice.

Just one of my fingers
on this button, and you're gone.

Do not mess around
when you are in there.

I can hear every word you say,
every move you make.

Do not forget
who is in charge of you.

Where's Breea?

This bag's for the money.

I want you to find a purse
that will fit it.

I'm not doing this without her.
Where is she?

You remember
what I said about trust?

Your daughter trusts you.

And she's waiting
for you to tell her

that everything
is going to be okay.

That is all she wants.

Do not fail her.

Button it.

Baby.

Money 2 to Money 1. Over.

-Hey.
-Go.

It's time.
Delivery is in 45 minutes.

How does it look out there?

Be brave, jellybean.

You be brave.

I promise
I'm coming back for you.

Clear. Everything is in place.

I promise.

All right, we are coming out.

Love you.

Hey, let's go.

I love you so much.

I love you.

Don't touch me!

Be brave. I'm coming back.

I'm coming back.

Delivery
is a Parker at First.

It'll be there in a minute.

Okay, Michelle Estey
Bank Manager, you're up.

You're gonna get out
of this car,

you're gonna go get my money.

Remember, I'm gonna hear
every word that you say.

I understand.

Here it comes.

There's your man Reggie.

Exactly ten minutes at 8:35
you're gonna get a phone call.

It's gonna be
from Raymond Howell.

-Who's he?
-He doesn't exist.

Once you get that call,
you've got exactly one minute

to be walking out
that door with my money.

Anything happens
and you're not back in this car,

it will catch you and
your daughter in the next life.

- It's time.
- Go!

Good morning.

Running a little late
this morning.

Reggie, can we drop
the small talk?

I'm in a hurry today.

Sure. No problems.

Okay.

All right, there you go.

All right.

Thank you, Reggie.

Yeah.
Well, see you tomorrow.

Okay.

What?

Shh.

Shh.

What?

My g...

What?

They have Breea.

Please. You have to help me.

They will hurt her. Please.

Help me.

Please.

No.

What are you d...

Breea.

No one in
or out until I go.

If you don't do this,
they will k*ll Breea.

They will k*ll her.

Promise.

Thank you.

Michelle.

Hey, Michelle.

There is a Raymond Howell
on line three.

He says it's urgent.

Michelle, stop.

You forgot this.

Get in!

Move! Come on! Go, go, go!

Okay, now what?

Shut up and just drive.

You got your money...

Hey, hey,
I give the orders here.

Call the others.
Get that b*mb off Breea.

I did everything you said.
Get it off of her.

We have a problem.

Michelle just left here
with all the cash in the vault.

What?

She told me she was
being forced to do it.

There was a b*mb taped to her.

Are you joking?

She told me not to set off
the alarm, not until...

That makes us accessories.

She said her little girl's life
is in danger.

She said that we can't do
anything about it.

I'm pressing the alarm.

Walter, her little girl.
We can't just...

How do you know
she's telling the truth?

She just robbed the bank.

No.

We wait until she calls.

Turn right and pull over.

What about Breea? You said...

Get out now!

Take me home.

Get out of the car!

Now!

Go.

Down.

Get down. Get on your knees.

Please.
I did everything you said.

-Shut up!
-Please.

As soon as I leave,
you are gonna start counting.

Once you get to 50,
then you can move.

Your car is gonna be parked
over there in the back.

-Please take me home.
-I'm warning you,

Michelle Estey, from now
until the day that you die,

I will be there,
I'm gonna be watching you,

every move you make,
every person that you talk to.

Now count.

One, two,

three,

four,

five, six...

Forty-five,

forty-six,

forty-seven...

She's not gonna call.

We have rules.

We can't go down
with her for this.

Breea?

Breea!

Breea, baby.

Where are you?

Breea.

Breea.

Baby! Baby, where are you?

Breea!

Breea?

Baby, I'm here.

I'm here, baby.

I'm here.

I'm here.

Okay, it's all right.

-I'm here.
-Mommy.

-Shh!
-Mommy.

Please help me.

-Yes, baby, I will.
-I know, I know.

-Mommy.
-Come on.

Just look at me.

That's it.

On your knees. That's it.

Put your arms up.

Put your arms up, okay?

-Mommy, please.
-Yes, I know.

You're so brave.

-Mom.
-Yeah, it's okay.

That's it.

All right.

It's okay. Shh.

Arms up.

Keep them up.

Arms up.

You're such a brace girl.
You are.

-Okay.
-Mommy.

Okay.

- Mommy.
- Help!

Help, please!

Help us.

Please help.

Please.

Please help us. Please.

Call the police.

Please.

Please, call the police.

Michelle Estey?

Yes.

I'm Detective Ben Summers.

I'm very sorry
about what happened

to you and your daughter.

We're doing everything we can
to find the people who did this.

Are you Breea?

Breea, I need to ask your mom
a couple of questions.

My friend Greg
is gonna take you to his car

for a little while
so you can keep warm, okay?

What?

She'll just be over here
with me, ma'am.

We won't take long.

I don't want you to take her.

I know this is
a very stressful time,

but I need
to get your statement.

She may have seen or heard
something that you didn't.

We don't want anyone
getting things confused.

It's standard procedure,
Miss Estey.

I don't wanna go, Mom.

Look, baby,

we are safe now, okay?

Just go with him.

I'll be right here.

She'll be all right.

Now did you get
a look at any of them?

No.

No, they were wearing masks.

They never took them off?

No.

What else?

We were up all night.

It was horrible.

I think they terrorized
my little girl.

This is the address of the motel
we've set you up

until we are through
with your house.

So you'd be putting us
in protective custody?

I don't see any reason
to do that at this point.

But you haven't got
the man who did this to us.

Until you do,
our lives are in danger.

I'm afraid they won't authorize
a transfer to protective custody

without a risk assessment.

A risk assessment?

We just spent the past 18 hours
being terrorized.

Those animals said
they would k*ll us

if we even talked to you.

Think that's enough
of a risk assessment?

Miss Estey, I've worked cases
like this for over 20 years.

The guys that did this to you
are long gone.

They're not coming back.

It's not what he said
when he had a g*n to my head.

Okay, load her up!

What are they doing to my car?

Well, we're going to have
to impound it for evidence.

How am I gonna drive?

I'll call a rental.

Is there anyone you can call
for help, Michelle?

Her father?

Any family you can call?

All right.

We're gonna need you to bring
Breea down to the station

tomorrow for her statement.

I'll be in touch
with the details.

And if you think
of anything else,

my number is on the other side
of that card.

Fine.

-Excuse me, officer.
-Yes, ma'am.

Are paramedics coming
to check us for shock or trauma?

I don't know, ma'am.

My baby.

All right, get in, jellybean.

Where are we going?

We're gonna go stay
in a motel, okay?

-Excuse me, officer.
-Yeah.

I'm gonna step inside
and grab some stuff.

Could you keep an eye
on my daughter?

No problem.

Thanks.

Mom, no, don't leave me alone.

No, no, no, no.

I don't want you
to go back inside.

I'm gonna go and I'm gonna grab
some of our stuff.

And you're gonna stay here.

Yeah, I'll lock the door.

And you see that police officer?

He's gonna look after you, okay?

I'm gonna lock the door.

Okay?

Please. Please don't.

Excuse me.

Breea?

Baby.

And there was
another drive-by sh**ting

today downtown, and it appears
to be g*ng related.

There are no suspects,

yet the victim
was taken away unconscious,

but is expected to recover fully

and should be able to help
the police with information.

The story of the UniNational Bank robbery

we've been following
has taken a new twist.

We have confirmed the bank's
own manager Michelle Estey...

Hey, you're that person.

Yeah, yeah,
the lady from the bank.

...before nine o'clock
this morning.

Police are questioning
Estey and her daughter,

who claim to have been held hostage prior to the robbery...

Just bring me up.

...she was then
forced to rob her own bank.

Back to you guys in the studio.- Good news...

Here.

Don't you want your change?

Hey.

You haven't done that
since you were a baby.

Can you talk to me?

No?

Why not?

Because
they'll hear me.

Okay.

Hey.

That better?

You hungry?

I have your favorite cereal.

Some yogurt.

I'm not hungry.

My tummy hurts.

Okay, so why don't we get
some fresh PJs,

and wash your face,
and brush your teeth,

and then I'll tell you
a bedtime story, okay?

Okay.

They did.

No.

I'm sorry.

I'm so sorry.

You know what? I have an idea.

But I'm gonna need your help

and I'm gonna need
some help from Bear.

You guys think you can help me?

Yeah?

Okay.

I'm gonna need a lot of that.

Dave,
something horrible has happened.

We need you.

Hey, what are you drawing?

Michelle, it's me.

Hey.

There's my girl.

Come here.

How about Uncle Dave
takes you out for a milkshake?

Strawberry, your favorite?

- Yeah.
- Yeah.

Thank you.

I'm here as long as you need me.

Both of you.

Miss Estey.

We've been questioning
your staff

and a few things have come up.

If you don't mind?

When did you say
you met Chris Clark?

I already told you.

This will go a lot faster if you
just answer the questions.

I know it seems redundant,
but I promise you,

it all leads somewhere.

Now, Chris Clark,
when did you meet him?

I don't know, um...

Monday, the day
before the att*ck.

Is that when you discussed the
plan to rob the bank with him?

There was no discussion.

He told me his plan
when he was at my house.

And you went along
with the plan?

Went along?

Well, you agreed to steal money
from your own bank.

Why did you do that?

I didn't have a choice.

He had my daughter.
We had dynamite attached to us...

Well, you could have pushed
the panic button

and called the police.

You walked in on your own,
you took the money on your own.

You had every opportunity
to call for help.

I had a microphone.

He would have heard
every word I said.

Look, he had Breea.

She had a b*mb attached to her.
There was...

Miss Estey, there were no bombs.

-What?
-The dynamite was fake.

No.

No, no, no, it wasn't fake.

It was heavy.
I felt it and it was...

It was a roll of nickels
inside a painted wooden dowel.

There was no microphone.

No detonator. It was all fake.

It was dark.

I wouldn't even know
what to look for.

Wait, didn't you say they
taped you up in the morning?

It wasn't dark then.

Why are you doing this to me?
Why aren't you helping us?

The only way I can help
is by examining every detail.

Why don't we get a cup of coffee
and go sit in your office

and you can tell me about
who was on the walkie-talkie.

I can't go back there.

The way they were all
watching me, they didn't know

whether to stare or look away.

Yeah, that,
they're probably just in shock.

They think I'm guilty.

Even Rose
couldn't look me in the eye.

God.

What am I gonna do, Dave?

I mean, I can't go to work.

I don't wanna go back home.

You'll make it better.
You always do.

Remember when I was 13?

You know, Dad had taken off
after some fight,

and Mom was a wreck.

Troy was stealing
everything inside,

and I was just...

trying to see
how drunk I could get every day.

You know,
just total chaos at home.

But then you sent me
that Christmas card from LA,

you wrote about parties
and hanging out with rock stars.

There's a lot more
to the story than that.

It's like you threw me
a life saver.

You showed me
there was a way out.

You're strong.
You always have been.

And you're gonna
pull through this for Breea.

I know you will.

I don't understand
why I can't be there with her.

It's better
if the parent isn't there.

We don't want the kids
to feel under any pressure.

I'm her mother.

I'm a therapist.

I work with young victims.

That's why I'm here.

You need to find
the guys that did this to us.

That's what you need
to do and not ask questions.

Her answers
will help us find them.

Hi, Breea.

How about you and I go
and try to find some...

some crafts
and some other fun stuff to do?

Would that'd be okay with you?

Is that okay, baby?

Come on, it'll be fun.

They used a lacquer paint
to make the fake bombs,

the kind of paint you can
pick up at any hardware store.

But it doesn't dry so quick.

So one of them left
a fingerprint behind

when he picked it up.

We ran the print. Got a match.

William Hastings,

aka Raymond Hastings,

aka Christopher Clark.

I told you.

This Chris Clark was convicted

of eight bank robberies
in Southern California.

Sentenced to 15 years
at Lompoc, served five.

Have you found them?

Not yet but we're close.

Thank you.

Still,

there's something
that's just not sitting right.

I mean, here's this guy,

this hardened criminal.

He plots an elaborate
bank robbery with a kidnapping

and dynamite, a remote control,

but before all that,

he walks into the bank,
shows his face,

shakes your hand,

introduces himself,

leaves a business card with you.

You see where I might be having
a little trouble with this?

I mean, you see where it just
gets a little confusing.

Yeah, I mean, it makes no sense.

Now that is the truth.

Doesn't make sense.

You're a branch manager
of one of the largest banks

in Southern California,
but you have

less than a thousand dollars
in savings.

Is that right?

I had difficulty
putting money aside.

I had some bills
I'd to take care of.

Quite a few, I'd say.

Eight grand on one credit card,
nine and change on another.

My ex ran up a lot of debt
before he left me.

Why are you asking this?

Two years ago you filed
for bankruptcy.

Chapter 7, is that right?

Yes, that's correct.

I had trouble making payments.

How does my financial situation
matter to all this?

It matters because you
walked out of the bank

with over 300,000 dollars!

It matters because
your assistant Rose Jones

told me
the day before the robbery

you were tired
and acting unusual.

That's why this matters.

So...

I have to ask you.

Did you have anything to do
with this crime?

What?

You think I'd let those monsters
t*rture my little girl?

What kind of person
do you think I am?

You might wanna get a lawyer.

Hey, Mom.

Look what I made.

Wow.

That's beautiful.

She did very well.

Could I talk with you
for a minute?

How are you doing?

Fine, fine.

Michelle.

Michelle, I'm a doctor,
I'm not a police officer.

I don't know, I don't know.

I mean,
everything is such a mess.

They are just trying
to take Breea away from me.

I just...

I can't...

I can't let her
see me like this.

I have to be strong.

Victims of violent crimes,

domestic abuse, w*r veterans,

they oftentimes bury their pain

because it's too much
to deal with.

It's the mind's way
of protecting us.

These are very normal reactions
to abnormal situations.

But if you don't deal

with these feelings
right away...

You'll continue to relive
the original experience

over and over.

Now, what you and Breea
have gone through

is going to take
some time to heal.

Now I want you call me.

Please. If you feel
that you need some help.

Thank you.

Bob Jason, a buddy of mine,
he's an attorney.

He'll be able to advise us.

Why do I need an attorney?

The... the cops jump up and down

on innocent people
all the time, Michelle.

You need to know your rights.

I'm up to my ears in debt here.

Even if I wanted to,
I couldn't afford one.

I'm sure Bob will let us
work something out.

And I got some money
I can help out with.

No.

No.

I won't let you do that.
I've done nothing wrong.

Hello?

Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah, okay.

Breea, sweetie,
can you put it on Channel 5?

Police have just arrested three men in connection

with last week's robbery
of the UniNational Bank.

Authorities have not released...

Thanks, man.

...the names
of the suspects,

but it is believed

they masterminded
the kidnapping and robbery

which netted
over 360,000 dollars.

Last week
in Southern California,

the branch manager,
Michelle Estey,

was allegedly held hostage
with her daughter

and forced to enter
her own bank and...

-It's over now, Mom?
-I think so, sweetheart.

Miss Estey has been
questioned by the police

and released.

Today's arrest
may lead to further details

in this astonishing...

You'll be okay.

We will be following this case

as it continues to develop.

Now back to local news.

The prosecution team
led by assistant DA James Leland

will take your testimony
and then...

What testimony?

I've already told you
everything like 20 times.

I know, but he'll need
to hear it all himself.

And we're gonna wanna know more

about your relationship
with Chris Clark

in light of a statement we have
from his wife Sandi Clark.

There's nothing more to add
that I haven't already told you.

I'm sorry,
but it's necessary

that you talk to us in person.

St...

I'll get straight to the point.

Were you having an affair
with Chris Clark?

You're joking.

Did you and Chris Clark
plan to rob your own bank?

This is ridiculous.

Did you and Chris Clark
work together in this crime?

No.

In her statement, Sandi Clark
said that she's certain

that you and her husband
were romantically involved.

And you believe her?

Sh...

She's delusional.

She sat in a car
outside of my house

and radioed instructions
while he tortured my child.

Did you see her there?

Did you see her there?

Did you see her there?

Because we have no evidence
of Sandi Clark

being involved
in this crime at all.

How dare you?

How dare you believe her?

She was a partner in this crime.
She's a mother.

She knew exactly
what it was like

inside there,
and she didn't care.

Let's just get back
to the question

of were you and Clark intimate.

Yes or no?

He threw me on the ground,

sat on top of me
and held a g*n to my head.

Is that intimate?

We found these
in Chris Clark's possession.

You don't miss a trick, do you?

Are you enjoying this,
detective?

Is this entertaining to you?

I'm not
in the entertainment business.

That seems
to be more of your field.

Do strippers
make a lot of money?

They do if they're good.

Was stripping
what broke up your marriage?

I quit two years before that,
long before Breea came along.

But everything I did
was perfectly legal, right?

I asked them
to remove those photos

off the website when I left.

They refused.

Now what else
do you want from me?

The truth.

Clark lived in Oceanside,
five minutes away from the bank.

Now don't tell me
that's just a coincidence.

Obviously,
it doesn't matter what I say.

It would if I thought
you were telling me the truth.

You want the truth?

I was a fifteen-year-old runaway

who didn't think anybody
gave a damn about her life.

So, yeah,
I made a few wrong decisions.

But then I grew up.

I moved on.

I went to school.

I worked my tail off
to get a job

so I could give my daughter
a better life

than what my parents gave to me.

Breea doesn't know
about this part of my life.

And I would appreciate it
if it stays that way.

There's something else
you should know.

We recovered 200,000 dollars
of the bank's money

from Clark
and the other suspects,

but there's still
160,000 dollars missing.

Now that kind of money
would go a long way

to paying off your debts.

Now wouldn't it, Michelle?

I'm afraid I'm gonna have
to ask you not to leave town.

We're gonna have
further questions.

Let's talk some more
about your time growing up.

I just need you
to help me sleep.

I hear their voices at night.

I thought we were gonna
talk about that.

From what I'm hearing, you've
been traumatized more than once.

dr*gs, alcohol,
v*olence, neglect.

Just a regular happy family.

Welcome to my life.

What's the best thing
about it, your life?

Breea.

I mean...

I promised...

I promised
I was going to protect her.

She was gonna have
a better life than me.

She wasn't gonna have
to be afraid all the time.

It's not fair. This is not fair.

It's not fair. It's not fair.

I have spent every day
trying to be free of my parents.

I have busted my ass to get
Breea a better life than me.

I have done everything I could.

Everything.

Except forgive them.

What?

Anger is a strong chain.

This is stupid.

It can lock you to a... a reality
that may no longer be accurate.

No, it's accurate.
It's accurate, all right?

You don't know them,
but it's accurate.

I actually meant
how you see yourself.

Maybe you're worried that
your daughter won't forgive you.

No.

No.

No, I'm gonna take her
far away from here

and we're gonna be okay.

You make it sound
like you're going to run away.

As far and as fast as we can.

You know, Michelle,

sometimes the thing
that we wanna to run away from

is inside of us.

You can't outrun it.

Watch me.

Michelle, you told me
that you wanted your daughter

to have a different life
than you.

But running is
what you've always done.

You're giving her the same life.

When you find the thing
that scares you the most,

run toward it.

Miss Estey?

I wanted to tell you in person

we've recovered
the rest of the money.

It was in a safe house
linked to Chris Clark.

We see no reason to consider you
a suspect any longer.

So you're disappointed,
detective?

For what it's worth, I'm sorry

if you felt
we treated you harshly.

Well, I'm strong.

You know, every day
I hear victims say

"I just want it to be over."

And I'm not sure
it ever really is.

You are strong.

And I hope
you can use that strength

to move you and Breea on
from this.

I wish you both the best.
I really do.

First, we need
to convict those guys.

There are a lot
of things that I regret.

Michelle...

Do you know how close
I came doing it for money?

This close.

I don't care.

You turned it all around and you
made something of yourself.

You know, last night
I thought about grabbing Breea

and hitting the road

to someplace
where I could give up,

hoping to be someone different
than who I was.

Then it hit me,

I think
that's what happened to Mom.

That maybe she just did
the best she could for us

and maybe

she just had to give up hope
that one day

someone would hear
her prayers for a better life.

I'm not gonna run, Dave,

if it kills me.

Breea is gonna have
a different kind of mom.

You look pretty.

Thank you.

Are you going to work?

No.

Actually, I am going
to the courthouse.

I have to go make sure
that those bad men go to jail

and that they don't hurt
anybody anymore.

I'm proud of you, Mom.

Thank you.

Here, take that with you.

You can keep me close
if you get scared.

Thank you.

Miss Estey,
do you recognize the man

who broke into your home
in the night of November 21st?

Yes.

That... that's him.

Thank you, Miss Estey.
That's all for now.

You did very well.

He was gonna try
to intimidate you,

but you don't let him.

I don't know.

You don't have to testify
till next week,

and because you're our witness,

you can't be in the courtroom
until you do anyway.

So why don't you just go home
and be with your family?

Michelle,

you're gonna be great.

Ladies and gentlemen
of the jury,

within these four walls
you are gonna hear

two very different stories
about one particular incident.

And one of them will be
just that, a story,

the truth twisted
and the facts left out,

a fictional story invented
to cast a prejudicial light,

a false light upon my client.

So, please let me...

Let me be very, very clear here.

There was no kidnapping.

The prosecution's main witness,
the so-called victim,

was never ever
in any danger from my client.

In fact,

this bank manager
orchestrated this entire crime,

was having an affair

with the defendant
Christopher Clark

and is responsible for the theft
of 360,000 dollars.

And those are the facts.

And no pack of lies
brought forth by the prosecution

could change that.

Michelle Estey

is a criminal.

He's lying. They are lies.
This is all lies.

Of course, they are.

Everyone is going to read this.

You just have
to be strong, okay?

Just hang on and fight back.

Of course, it isn't
true, but it's what happens.

How can he do this?

A trial isn't about truth,
it's about gamesmanship.

Gamesmanship.

You gotta be kidding.

This is my life
we're talking about.

Sometimes what happens in court
isn't fair,

but if it follows the law,
it's admissible

and the jury gets to hear it.

The fact is we have such
a strong case

against Chris Clark that their
only recourse is to att*ck you.

That's the game he's playing.

You know what? It stinks.

It's called dirtying the victim.

And it's only gonna
get worse from here.

Great.

I met her at a club.

You and Michelle Estey?

Yeah.

Yeah, she was real flirty.

She kept sh**ting
signals my way.

I'm sorry,
what do you mean by signals?

Well, it was pretty clear
what she wanted

and then we became,

well, you know,
intimate sexually.

And is that when you two
discussed the bank robbery?

Well, that's
when she brought it up.

I mean, the whole thing
was her idea.

She said all we had to do

is just strap
some fake dynamite to her,

and then the people at the bank

would have to do
everything that she said.

Yeah, I thought
it was all talk, though.

And why was that?

Well, 'cause I just didn't
believe that she was serious.

But then she had us over
to her house.

She laid out the whole plan.

I mean, she even had us
ransack the place

and she had us rough her up

because she wanted the police
to believe that it happened.

So, you never spied on her?

No, sir.

You never kidnapped her?

No, sir.

You never held her hostage?

Absolutely not.

Come on, he's lying.

Order.

On the night
of the so-called hostage taking,

how much did you have
in your ATM account?

I don't know, I guess, um...

About 714 dollars
and 39 cents, to be exact.

Does that sound about right?

- I guess.
- Yes or no, please?

Yes.

And how much
in your savings account?

Nothing.

Stocks?

Nothing.

Retirement?

Life insurance?

Anything at all to your name?

Objection.
Let her answer the questions.

I'm sorry.

Please, let me rephrase.

On the morning you walked freely
into the UniNational Bank

and opened up the vault
with your private set of keys

and ordered your employee
to help you scoop

360,000 dollars into a bag,

on that morning
you had only some bogus tubes

taped under your clothing

and a convincing story
of a night of terror...

Not a story.

...that you yourself
concocted...

That's a lie.

Because the sum total
of your life's worth...

He made me do it!

...exactly
714 dollars and 39 cents.

-It's a lie!
-That's true or false?

714.39.

Please, just answer
the question, Miss Estey.

True.

I don't think I could do this.

I don't think
I can go back in there.

Michelle,
you're not helping yourself.

If you're hostile
and argumentative,

the jury isn't gonna
be sympathetic to you.

But it's clear
that I'm the victim here.

It's clear to you, to me.

But the defense is presenting
a pretty good story.

You need to get a hold
of your emotions.

Answer clearly, yes or no.

Ex-otic

dancer.

Exotic dancer.

I mean, isn't that just
a fancy name for prost*tute?

- No, sir.
- Come on, Miss Estey.

You're up there dancing naked

in a room full of horny men.

You mean to tell me
you've never had sex for money?

Yes, sir.

Well, the defendant
Christopher Clark

was a client of yours,
was he not?

No, sir.

He wasn't a client of yours,
is that what you're saying?

-Yes, sir.
-I'm sorry I'm confused.

"Yes, sir, he was a client"
or "Yes, sir, he wasn't"?

I never met Mr. Clark
until he walked into the bank.

Is that okay to say that?

The jury will take that as a no.

You close with your daughter,
Miss Estey?

Very.

-She trusts you?
-Yes.

She'll do anything you
ask her to do, wouldn't she?

Yes.

Except clean her room
and make her bed.

We're still working on this.

Miss Estey, isn't it true
you told your daughter

that this whole home invasion
idea of yours was just a game?

What?

Just another trip
on an amusement park ride?

No.

Told her
how much Mommy loved her

and how the two of you were
gonna take this ride together

so that she'd go along

with your insidious plan
to rob the bank?

How can you stand there and lie?

I'm painfully aware
that I'm not perfect,

but I would never ever

deliberately put my daughter
in harm's way.

She's the most gentle,

the most amazing person

that I have ever met.

And I would rather die

than to watch her go through
what she went through.

I hate this waiting.

It's always the most tense
when they're deliberating.

Hopefully they'll have
a verdict soon.

I just wanna move on,
get my life back.

Whichever way this goes,

you need to know
you did your best in there.

Be proud of that.

Thank you.

Yeah?

They are back.

The jury finds Christopher Clark

-guilty of conspiracy...
-Yes!

...to commit
kidnapping for robbery,

guilty of kidnapping for ransom,

guilty of first-degree robbery.

Thank you.

Good job, buddy. Good job.

-How is your ice cream?
-Great.

Breea,

if you will say
anything to those men,

the bad men,

what would you say?

They scare me.

I know, baby.

They'll never
hurt us ever again.

I would tell them...

I hope they get better
in their hearts.

Excuse me.

Your Honor, we all know
that he's been found guilty.

Is what she has to say
really even relevant?

I mean, couldn't we get on
with the sentencing?

It's her right to deliver
a personal statement

about how this crime
has impacted her life

and her child's.

Now, sit down.

Everything I have to say here
today is relevant, Mr. Martinez.

I had thought I wanted to use
this chance today to hurt you,

to find words sharp and brutal
enough to torment you,

like you did to us
that awful night,

words that would haunt you
for the rest of your life.

But my little girl
showed me a different road.

We're all born as innocents
into this world.

None of us has the power
to control the forces

that blow by blow chip and dent

and strip our innocence
away from us.

But we were all born
with the power of choice.

How we fill those cracks
and dents is up to us.

Disappointment can fuel
a life of anger and malice.

And if we sink low enough,
we can become blind

to the pain
we're inflicting on others.

Or we can choose
to take another road,

and no matter
the brutality we meet

or our dark nights of despair,

we can choose to listen
to a different guide.

This is the road to forgiveness.

Where are we, Mom?

It's a surprise.

Hi, Mom.

Hi, Michelle.

This is Breea.
Breea, this is your grandmother.

Hi, Grandma.

Hello, Breea.

Why are we standing outside?

Come on.