Just Let Go (2015)

[bunniefuu]

♪♪

A box.

That's where I've had
to place him.

The feelings I wasn't
powerful enough to control...

I put them there.
I put him there.

Closed up in the
recesses of my mind.

People say to me all the time,
"I couldn't do what you did."

I tell them,

"I didn't do it."

I couldn't do it.

It began six months ago

on a road we had driven
thousands of times.

Okay, here we go.

Just wait for the signal

and then I'll call you in,
okay? Quiet.

She's gonna hate me for this.

But she's...
She's gonna love me too.

Shh...

Surprise.

- Happy Mother's Day.
- Nooooo...

Come on.
Happy Mother's Day honey.

Mm, thank you.

Oh! I'll get it.

Whoa!
There she goes again. Nope!

- Sorry.
- It's just water.

It'll dry. Don't worry about it.

You know what'll happen when
you take one of those a day.

Well...

- Ta-da!
- Ta-da!

- Like magic.
- Magic!

- Can I eat? We're starving.
- Bring 'em in!

- Come on, guys.
- Happy Mother's Day!

- Happy Mother's Day!
- I love you, Mom.

- Hey, Sam!
- Oh!

- I love you, Mom.
- Sam can do that.

Oh! Oh, I love this.

What's wrong with your floor?
It's all wet.

Mom's getting the
full treatment.

Relax...
Imagine a grassy hillside...

- Hey!
- The sun on your face...

Are you sure you want
another one of these, honey?

This is heaven.

What's your name?
Where are you hurt?

Ribs?

Okay, we're gonna put
this collar on.

- Chris?
- All right.

Okay, we're
gonna grab your shoulder.

We're gonna get you
to the hospital, Chris.

Just stay with me, okay?

How's the driver of
the other car?

Just hang in there, okay?

...what motors are going to
work best at what assembly

before we can answer
that question.

All right, so let's move on
to a different topic,

one I think
you're all very interested in.

That's really more
where Chris' expertise lies.

I'm gonna go ahead and pose
that question to him. Chris?

Chris?

Servo motors or linear motors?

I'm sorry.

I didn't get the question.

Did you only shave
half your face today?

Yeah. I guess I did.

It's a style thing.

Looks good.

You know, uh, Carl,
maybe you should try that.

You might close
a sale sometime.

But seriously, Carl,

have you seen these arrays
at the Cincinnati assembly?

Well, we don't have one there,

but, there's a proprietary

software written by a
guy in Chicago.

So metimes I think
life around me,

this daily grind,

should stop.

Give me time to wake.

But it all just keeps going.

"A year of firsts."

That's what my crisis

intervention counselor told
me it would be.

- Dad, you're late again.
- Hey, Ben... Sam.

Yeah, I got held up at work.
Sorry.

- How was your day?
- Good.

Maybe you should buy me a cell
phone so I know where you are.

Yep. Right after I buy you
a new car.

- Put your seatbelt on.
- I know.

I don't care
what anyone says,

nice guys finish last.

We can't have our senators
playing softball.

I mean, really. Check your

Florence Nightingale act at
the door, all right?

It's called reality.

Dad! Come on! I'm hungry.

Yeah.

Hey, Sam.

Okay. See what we got.

What's this?

Whew. That's uh...

How about...

Huh.

Just order pizza.

Yeah. I'm sick of pizza.

Pff!

♪♪

T his house used to be
filled with noise.

Could never get any work done.

TV. Violin out of tune.

Piano practice.
Microwave beeps. Chasing.

Fights.
Endless giggling.

I'd just hit snooze
and sleep through it all.

Now it's too quiet
to even sleep.

Can you hold it down?

Geez!

Dad.

Hey.
You scared me.

- Can I use the car?
- Where you goin'?

I didn't even know you were
home. Do you want a bite?

Gonna spend the night at
Jason's. I got my phone.

Sure, sure.
Just, uh, be careful. Okay?

Yeah.

...four people.

An accident
many still can't believe.

A bsolute
devastation.

I'm still in shock.

Inside this m*nled car

was Christopher Williams,
his pregnant wife Michelle,

and three of his four children.

- Oh, I'm so sorry to be late.
- Hey, Mom.

God, you guys
must be starving. Hi.

Place is a mess.
What are you doing?

Dad got pizza.

- Again?
- Yeah. Again.

- What are you doing?
- I'm just studying up, I uh...

I was pretty out of it after.

CHURCH LEADER
SURVIVES CRASH

I can't remember exactly
what happened.

You better be careful what
you're saying on television.

- Lawyers are going to hold you
to this. - Yeah, I know, Ma.

What do you mean, you know?

I got the notice.
We go to court in three weeks.

I'm going to testify for you.

Uh, no, Mom. I don't think
that's a good idea.

- Why not?
- I just don't want you to hear

all the details,
you know?

There might be pictures and...

So you're trying to tell me
to stand back, Chris?

- That's not what I'm saying.
- I'm not going to stand back

if that's what you're
trying to tell me.

- That's not what I'm saying.
- Oh, I can't take this!

I-I really, I-I look at this,
and it totally upsets me.

And you gotta remember
one thing for me.

Yours was an accident, Chris.

But his, his was a choice.

So it's from here to there.
Do you understand?

That's how wrong he was!

And that's how he destroyed
everybody's life here.

Eyewitness News.

That'll never change
and four people are dead.

T hey will have to decide

whether to charge the 17
year old driver

- That's enough. - as an
adult or a juvenile.

- Three factors will...

- Do you want peanut
butter and jelly?

That's all I've got.
Say yes.

Sure. -

- Turn that thing off.
- ...his history

and how close he is to the age
of 18.

Shh, shh, shh, it's okay.

♪♪

H oudini, the
great escape artist.

When he knew his
mother was dying,

at her bedside,
he made a plan with her.

They agreed that,
when she d*ed,

she would came back from the

other side to prove the
existence of an afterlife.

How?

The decided on a key word.

One secret code word.

If he heard that word from a

psychic, a soothsayer,
or a medium...

...that would be his proof.

It would mean that his mom
was still there, somewhere...

sending him a sign.

It's just water. It'll dry.
Don't worry about it.

Michelle...

Houdini watched.

And waited.

Chris...

We're gonna take care
good care of you.

We're gonna take care of

everything. I don't
want you to worry.

How are his vitals?

Blood pressure is 60/40.

He's tachycardic at 115.

How's your breathing,
Mr. Williams?

Respiration is...

In your chest?
Lower abdomen? Yes. Good.

All right.
Just open your eyes.

Stay with us a little bit.
We'll get you out of this.

Stay with us, Chris.
Stay with us.

He's gonna be
okay. Hang in there.

Thank you.

I'm sorry, son.

I'm-I'm sorry, son.
I'm sorry.

This is a mess.

Couldn't they have cleaned him

up a little better than this,
dammit?

Dad...

Sorry, son.

Oh, Michael...

He wants to see you.

Michael...

They're gone, son.

- No...
- I'm sorry, son.

So sorry. I know.

It'll be all right.

Okay.

Here's what they're gonna argue.

They're going to say he was

under aged and should be
tried as a juvenile.

We're gonna argue that he was

two months away from
his 18th birthday

and should be tried as an adult.

I think the judge
will see our way.

- Okay.
- Oh, another thing.

Don't... uh... don't call it an
accident. Call it a crash.

We don't want to anyway imply
that this was an act of God.

He chose to drink and drive.

There's no accident about it.
Got it?

Um, what kind of sentence
will he get?

30 plus for something like this.

Oh. You know I'm having a...

hard time knowing how to...

how to feel about that.

It doesn't really
matter how you feel.

What mattered is what happened.

The law takes care of the rest.

The law puts the criminal
where he belongs,

in a box
with steel bars.

He drank like an adult.
He gets tried like an adult.

He's going away
for a very long time.

30 years, that's...

You know, he...
he won't have much of a life

- by the time he gets out.
- Chris,

the difference
between juvie and adults

isn't just simply three years
versus 30.

If he's tried as a juvenile, he
gets out at age 21, scot-free.

His record, expunged.
Like this never happened.

Yeah. Yeah.

Chris, with all due respect,

you're not in a mindset
to see this situation clearly,

and, understandably, you're in
a highly emotional state.

I see this stuff all the time.

Yeah.

I'm on your side.

An eye for an eye, right?

Look, the state wants justice.

So do you.

L ife in the
middle of the night,

a blurry divide
between bad dream and reality.

Sometimes,

I think about how easy it would

be justto steer into one of
those barricades.

Those are the thoughts that

come to mindwhen you're
driving at 3:00 AM.

Oh, man.

Anyone out this late must have
something on his mind.

Hmm.

You know, you should clean that
thing. It's pretty nasty.

I just cleaned the bathroom.

- So?
- It's one or the other.

Why?

I don't want to clean the

bathroom and touch
the microwave!

That's a valid point.

You look familiar.

Why are you here at this hour?
You lost?

No, I just like to get
away sometimes.

What, like a vacation?

Yeah. This is my vacation.

Right. You come here
because you're drawn here.

It is a place of healing.

Yeah...

You believe in guardian angles?

Uh...

That's pretty non-committal.
Where's your faith?

I think that's why
you're so alone.

They're bored with you.

You're too solid.
You don't need anyone.

- Yeah. - You should
bust a water pipe,

let something flood out.
Then they'll show up.

This life...

This life is a flash in the pan.

You'll never get to Heaven if
you can't decide these things.

- You know, I thought this
was Heaven. - No!

This? This is hell.

Surprise.

♪♪

Michelle loved searching for
seashells on the beach.

She always collected moments.

Fireworks. Small halves.
Holidays.

Decorations.
Family photos.

- Pretty, huh?
- Yeah.

Make a good mermaid, huh?

She loved fireflies.

It took years
before she saw a real one.

♪♪

Michelle always savored time.

It was the one
thing she wanted.

Now I can't give it to her.

Is that full yet?

Oh. Heh. Yeah.
I'm sorry...

Guess I'm a little distracted.

Glad I stopped you
before it got on your pants.

She told me to go to hell!

And waved her finger
in front of my face!

I grabbed her ear,

and damn near yanked her out of
the room I was so angry.

Pardon my language.

Mrs. Connelly...

There are two ways of
doing things:

Jesus' way...

...and some other way.

What's the other way?

W hen I file
something away in a box,

many of my friends and family
call it repression.

Maybe.

I call it controlled
exposure therapy.

♪♪

When things are quiet...

when I'm alone and in a
safe place...

and I think I can handle it...

I open the box, just a cr*ck,

and let something out.

I let out only one
thing at a time.

One memory.
One horror.

One flashback.

One at a time.

Out.

And so I deal with it.

O kay... okay, Anna,
let's go.

- You know how to use the
brakes, right?- Yeah.

Okay, let's go. I got you.

I got you, Anna. Oh!

Whoa! Okay, just show me...
Okay, no, honey, just...

- You have to let her go.
- I know.

I'll make sure she knows
how to use the brakes first.

- She'll be fine! Just let go!
- Honey...

- I can do it!
- Okay. Go ahead.

- She'll be fine!
- Use the brakes, honey.

- I'll be fine!
- Use the brakes!

Whoo-hoo!

Good job, honey.

- Atta girl!
- She can do it.

Come back, Anna!

♪♪

How's he doing?

Well, he's stabilized.

We're watching him really close.

This here helps regulate
the cerebral pressure.

Brain damage?

Let me have the doctor
come talk with you.

Let me know if there's
anything else I can do.

Hey, Sam.

You just get better,
you hear me?

Father...

I can't let go.

Please don't take Sam from me.

I mages most
will likely never forget.

People sh*t, injured, k*lled

when a young man randomly
opened fire at Trolley Square.

Right now our priority

is to get everyone out safely.

- Police arrived within...
- Dad.

I want to go to church.

Within six, the sh**t
was detained...

- I need to see some friends.
- ...and then k*lled.

T his suspect
demonstrated his intent

was to sh**t as many people
as he possibly could.

- You may wanna shave.
- The officers' actions

- c ertainly put a stop to that.
- I n active sh**t situations,

police now demonstrate
what is called...

- Okay, I got it.
- All right.

I'm gonna get Grandma and
Grandpa and pull up the car.

I'll be back.

"God took Adam's rib."

Aah, Ma!

Okay, honey, I know.

Hey, hey, Ma?

Oh, I can take another way
if you want me to...

Can't turn around now, son.

Just... get back up
on the horse, right?

Yeah...

Right, Dad.

Just gotta ride it out.

Michael, help your father in.

I suppose
you're gonna tell me

silence is in order,
Paul, right?

Why did you say
"get back up on your horse"?

- It was insensitive
and unthinking.

- Because we've got
to face the reality.

Oh, stop it.

Stop it!

- I'm going into church now.
- Oh!

This is a tragedy.

- "Get back up on your
horse..."

Then the words

just become more sincere
when you pray.

And it's through that sincerity

that we're able to
make a connection

and a relationship
with our heavenly father.

Would you like to say something?

Thank you.

I don't know how we...

how we got here today.

It's been extremely difficult
to process what has happened.

Normally, I uh...

Standing up here,
I would have some counsel,

some story about Christ.

But...

I can't think of anything today.

I believe my faith will...

will get me through this.

I hope to be with...

Michelle...

...Ben and Anna, again.

No pain, no gain.

- Ever heard that?
- Come on, son.

- Soccer, baseball...?
- I don't care!

- Dad!
- It's okay, son. I'm here.

You have to work through this
if you wanna play again.

- You know, I think we're done.
- I don't care! It hurts!

All right, all right.
I think that's enough for now.

We will take a break.
Let's...

Okay...

There we go.

- You did great, Sam.
- There you go. Good job.

It's okay.

Mr. Williams.

Can I speak to you for a minute?

Sure.

This is gonna take some time.

Yeah, I kn...

This isn't exactly how I...

imagined the healing
process to be.

It's a marathon. You can't
think of it like a sprint.

Yeah, I just...

I mean, are we gonna get
a break here? I mean...

How long
is this gonna take?

This is going to be a year of
firsts for you and Sam.

"Year of firsts."

I mean... could you be
a little more specific?

He is relearning how to eat...

how to walk, everything.

- He is starting over.
- How do you know?

- I'm not...
- You don't know!

"Year of firsts."

Let's go, son.

Hang on there, son.

- Wind is strong today, huh?
- Okay.

Remember what they said.
Walk through it.

Wait till Daddy gets to Sammy.

That's it.

Good, you're meant to walk.
That's it.

Oh!

- Okay, Ma?
- Oh! Jeez!

- Oh, Chris! Oh, no!
- Oh.

Oh!

- It's okay, Ma.
- Should I...? Oh!

- Mom, it's okay.
- Oh, I'm so sorry!

It's okay. It's okay.

Let me take that.

- Hey, Sammy.
- Oh, I'm sorry, Sammy.

Okay, Sammy? Keep going.
Come on, Sammy.

- You get the door? Thanks.
- Yeah.

Sam, let Grandma get past.
Okay, keep going. That's it.

Hey, Sammy.

Hey, Sam?

Sammy?

Sammy, you okay?

Hey, Sam!

Hey, Sammy, don't do this.

Sammy!
Sammy!!

Hey, Dad.

- Sammy, are you okay?
- Yeah.

Under provision one,

we will secede negligent cause

if Mr. Williams
can identify Mr. Wright.

You ever seen Mr. Curtis Wright
before this week?

Uh, just in the
snippets on the news.

They didn't really show
his face, though.

So you didn't see him
at the scene of the accident?

Uh, yes, well, no, I'm sor...
uh... It was dark.

But I saw his, uh, silhouette.

Did you see anyone else
driving that SUV?

No.

So you never really saw Mr.
Wright driving that car.

I think it's been
well established

that Mr. Wright
was driving that night.

That's what we're here to
determine, Mr. Williams.

Earlier you stated, after the
accident, that you "woke up".

- Did you fall asleep at
the wheel? - No.

It had been a long week, you
said. Were you exhausted?

I was a little tired,
I suppose...

Is it possible that you had
a seizure that night?

- Absolutely not.
- Ever had a seizure before?

Excuse me, what are you getting
at here? I'm not at fault.

Then just answer
the questions, please.

In the police
report you stated

that your foot was all the way
down on that accelerator.

Immediately after impact,
"revving the engine," you said.

When did you push down
so hard on the accelerator?

Wait, wait, what?

Your foot was jammed down
on the accelerator.

That happened just before the
accident, didn't it?

I suppose it was it was a
result of the

accident... the crash.

Have you ever thought
about su1c1de, Mr. Williams?

- Is that before or accident?
- Really, Mark?

Your client decimated this
man's family. We're done here.

My client has rights too.

You should be ashamed.

- We'll see you in court.
- Thank you.

- Give me the bills.
- What did you do?

What are you doing?

Chris?

What are you doing?

Tidying up.

I guess you think this is funny.

I wish you'd let some lawyers
handle this for you.

This shouldn't have to
cost you any money.

What's wrong with you?

Look at this, all these lawyers.

They sent you letters.

They all want to represent
you in your lawsuit.

- Lawsuit?
- Yes!

- Your civil lawsuit, when you
sue... - When I sue. Mm-hmm.

- Where are you going with
those?

- You know what
these are, Mom?

- You're not going to do this
again. - Ambulance chasers.

I don't think
that's very funny.

- Oh... What are you doing?
- Hey, Sammy.

Who's gonna pay
for these bills, Chris?

- I don't know.
- What's in your mind?

- What's the plan?
- I don't know, Ma!

Oh. I guess you're surprised
about this.

I don't get this whole thing.
Come on, Sammy, let's go to bed.

- It's late.
- What? Come on.

- It's not too late
- Do what Grandma says.

- Come on, up.
- Give me the remote.

- Let's go! Listen to your
father.

- Just listen
to your Grandma

- Come on, come on.
- and get to bed.

His family should pay for what
he did, did you hear me?

And they should be broke
for the rest of their lives,

- not a dime in their pocket.
- I hear you, Ma. I hear you.

All right. Let's go.
Upstairs, come on.

Up, come on.

I'll read you a story...

about how your father makes
jokes about owing $75,000.

Thinks it's funny.

See that?

Only if there was
Olympic silver,

if I wanted to give, you know,
the runner up a good day.

So yeah, that's how it's done.

Oh...

Whoo! Ready for this, Dad?
Ready?

What are you gonna do first,
Ben?

Get the feet. Come on.

- Kay, zoom in on
the feet there.

- Show me
your best trick.

Okay.

You can do better, son.
Show me another trick.

O h, uh, I think it was my
shoes.They're kinda worn out.

And he sinks. Come on.

Oh, well, see, I
thought about that,

but then I don't think the
world's ready for this move yet.

You know, I'm just waiting...

for the right time
to release it.

Okay. You ready for this?

- It's creepy, though.
I won't fall.

- Okay, show us
what you got.

Like an airplane.

Nice, Ben.

Hey, Ben. Ben!

What are you doing here?

Moving in.

Place is so empty now.

Dad?

Dad.

Dad, what do you want?

I... I want you to...

I want you to stop playing
these video games.

Just... turn it off
and get to bed.

You took them from me.

I'm talking to you.

Don't ignore me.

You took them from me!

I'm talking to you!

Don't ignore me!

Hey!

Hang in there, son.

All rise.

People versus Curtis Wright.

The honorable
Judge Dartliff presiding.

You may be seated.

All right.

Is the defense prepared
with its opening statement?

Yes, Your Honor.

The defense proposes that the
defendant, Curtis Wright,

be tried in this case
as a juvenile.

He was 17 at the time the
accident occurred, and thus,

under law, he is entitled to

juvenile status in any
court proceedings.

Those are the facts. The law is
very clear in this matter.

He should be remanded
to a juvenile detention

where he can receive counseling

for the trauma sustained
from the accident.

Admittedly, he may need some
treatment for alcohol disease...

not incarceration.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Is that you in that photo?

That's me.

And there, can you point

yourself out in that photo,
please?

That one's me.

Do you know where these photos
were taken from?

Um, from my cell phone?

Is that Mr. Wright next to you?

- Yes. - Was Mr. Wright
drinking that evening?

He may have had a little.

Define a little.

He had a whole bottle
with him at the store.

It was in his jacket.

A bottle. Of what?

It looked like vodka.

Vodka.

Did you consider
stopping him from driving?

No.

No further questions for this
witness, Your Honor.

Witness is dismissed.

Your Honor, we'd like to
present state's evidence items

regarding photos taken
at the scene of the crash.

Items 200A thru 252A.

All right, present
your evidence.

Thank you.

The first photo you see
is of the Williams vehicle.

You'll notice that the right
side is completely crushed.

The Williams family vehicle was

knocked 40 feet backwards,
up a ramp,

into the support pillars
of an overpass.

Mr. Wright's vehicle,
you'll see there,

was overturned,

48 feet from the
Williams vehicle.

Mr. Wright's injuries...

...were minimal.

Right torso.

Abrasions to the
crown of his head.

And his left arm.

Samuel Williams

survived the impact with

critical injuries to his
head and face.

Photo 222.

You'll see the Williams girl,

Anna, age nine,

autopsied.

And the son, Ben,
age 11,

at the scene.
And autopsied.

Please note the signific...

Please note the significant
damage to his right torso,

evidence of severe trauma.

If you'll go to the next photo,

you'll see the mother,
Michelle Williams, age 34,

autopsied.

Note her right arm.

I'd also like you to note...

This is autopsy filing
February 9th, 2007.

Note 15. I've highlighted it,
I'll read it here.

"The artery was detached
from the heart

due to the force of side impact,

certainly due to speeds in
excess of 80 miles per hour".

The final photos
you'll see there

are of the infant.

Five months.
d*ed instantly...

...in utero.

And autopsied.

Chris.

It's time.

Please state your full name
for the record.

Christopher Darnie Williams.

Would you please tell us what

happened on the night of
February 9th, 2007?

Um, it was, uh...

Heh...

It was like any other night.

We had just, uh, had dinner at
our favorite Mexican restaurant

and we decided
to get some ice cream.

We traveled down a road
we'd done a thousand times.

It's a freeway underpass,

and as we were going under,

Michelle saw...

two headlights coming at us in
our lane at freeway speeds.

I tried to swerve,

but I was... I was too late,
the car was too fast.

And then nothing, uh...

Everything just went white.

When I came to,
my leg was trapped.

My foot was pushed up against
the gas pedal down to the floor

and I thought there might be a
fire, so I pulled my leg away.

And...

And that's when I saw Michelle.

She had a...
she had a cut on her elbow.

And it wasn't bleeding.

And I-I knew from my time...

...as a... as a teenager working
in a hospital, that, ah...

her heart had stopped.

She was gone.

And then I, I heard, uh...

a new sound.

A horrible sound.

First I didn't know what it was.

It wasn't the revving
of the car engine.

I realized it was me.

...Dad?

I immediately knew
that Ben and Anna were gone.

Then I heard Sam...
Sam cry out.

He was behind me, and...

And I knew he was gonna be okay.

Then I saw this...

someone get out of the car
that hit us.

Did it appear as
though he were fleeing?

Yeah, well, I'm not sure.

He just seemed to be...

wandering away from his car.

Can you confirm that this is
the vehicle you saw?

Yes. Yes, it is.

Thank you, Mr. Williams.

Dad. Dad!

- What?
- I'm going to David's house.

- Okay.
- Dad, did you hear him?

Wha... Hey, Michael?

Wait up.

Why don't you... Why don't you
stay here tonight?

Mm?

It's been a long day
for all of us.

Michael.

Why do you care all of a sudden?

What, now you're a Dad again?

- What's that supposed to mean?
- Dad, I'm hungry.

- You're hungry? You just ate.
- I want a meat dish.

You want a meat dish?
Here, just...

Have that.

- Aren't you angry? - Yes, of
course, I'm angry, Michael.

Then why don't you...
why don't you show it?

- Don't you miss them?
- What do you want me to do?

Stop pretending like
everything's gonna be okay.

My life is screwed.
Your life is screwed.

Michael!

Have some respect.
He's your father.

You have to be respectable
to get my respect.

What did you say?

You think this is easy?

Holding this ship together...

...every day?

- It's hell for me.
- Then do something!

Scream at me! Hit me!
Do something!

You're afraid.

Why didn't you fight for Mom?

For Ben and Anna in
the courtroom?

- Why are you holding back?

- It's not my job to
prove him guilty.

- They all know what he's done.

- Stop pretending to
care about him.

He could care less about you.
What about us?

Look, I'm doing the
best that I can.

All of this?

I need some help here, Michael.

I'm not a shrink, Dad.

Sometimes I wish
Mom had been driving.

Hey, Michael!

We're losing him.

No. No, I wasn't aware
he was... absent.

Yes, yes, I'll have a...

I'll have a long talk with him
when he gets home.

Yes, I know, he's always been
a good student.

Well, thank you,
I appreciate you, uh...

I appreciate you
letting me know.

Thank you.
Bye-bye.

Hey. Hi.

I just had a thought
I wanted to share,

cause it looks
like you could use the help...

Sure. Have a seat.

I, um, took care
of these accounts for you.

Oh.
That's, uh...

They were kinda being ignored.

Ah, hmm.

That's very kind of you.
Thank you.

Listen, Chris. I, um...

In a way, I understand
what you're going through.

Couple of years ago,

a man injured my family.

Pretty bad.
Anyway, I... I was a mess.

And...
I didn't know what to do,

so I decided that the, uh,
the best thing for me to do

was to pursue him legally.

Even though it didn't undo
what was done,

it took pressure off
when life got complicated.

I'm telling you,
it does not get easier.

It might sound shallow,
but... the money did help.

So... so what did you get? Did
you get... what, a settlement?

Yeah. I, uh, paid off
my house. Bills.

I work because I
enjoy it so much.

And it keeps me sharp.

Look, Chris, I know
you may be fighting this,

but, did they hire lawyers?

Yes, they did.

From what I hear, this boy's
parents aren't hurting.

Yeah...

- Anyway.
- Yeah, so...

I, uh... You know what?

Call me. Anytime.

If you wanna talk.

Uh, yeah. Sure, heh.

Sure.

Lunch is always nice.

Yeah.

- Thank you.
- Mm-hmm.

See you.

♪♪

You're hungry tonight.

I see you, uh... still haven't
cleaned the microwave.

Maybe you sued that boy.

What boy?

This boy.

Yep. Guess you uh...

- found me out, huh?
- I knew you.

Why didn't you say something?
I thought we were friends.

You can talk to me about it. Eh?

It's good to know.
Thanks.

I mean I understand you.

You're a religious guy.

Yeah. Where's God now, huh?

What, you think
He could have prevented it?

I have no idea
what God's doing to me.

Maybe He was asleep
at the wheel.

Could have had a few more days
to really savor things,

to lock in a memory of their
faces before they went.

A few more days. Mm?

Maybe He could have just

changed that one light
from green to red.

Or red to green.

Would have taken hardly
any effort at all.

Created the universe.

Couldn't He change
one light for you?

What about the boy's friends?

Couldn't they stop him
from driving off?

I mean, what if, what if,
what if,

- what if?
- I just wish that...

You can't go there, Mr.
Williams, the "what if" game.

It'll do no good!

If you go there,
you will never come back.

I think I'm already gone.

- Are you sick? Do you have
the flu? - What? No.

- Are you throwing up?
- No.

Do you have the runs?
Headache?

- The cramps?
- No, I'm fine.

- You've had the flu before,
right? - Sure.

But not now. When you're going
through it, it's everything.

It's horrible.
But you don't have the flu.

It's like it never happened.

This thing? It's like the flu.

It will pass from us.

This is nothing like the flu.

So strange, so insane
what people do.

You do what you need to do.

To hell with them,
what they say.

Go, it's late, my friend.

Be with your boys.

I'll clean the microwave.

What is this?

Insurance company
won't pay for the medical.

The medical said
the auto insurance should pay.

I just talked to someone
at the auto insurance

who said they don't pay
for medical.

What is the point for paying
for insurance if not for this?

This is just not right.

You can't let this happen.

Chris, he's an adult.

If you let him get off easy,

you're gonna pay this
entire bill.

And I don't know where you

think you're gonna get
this money, but...

Do you hear me?

What do you want me to do?

I don't... I don't
know what to do.

I am not asking for you
to burn down his house.

I'm just asking you,
and I expect you,

to let justice do
what justice does.

Please.

I'm a preacher, Ma.

I know.

I counsel people
to love their enemies.

Mm.

But I can't do it myself.

Mm.

I want my family back.

We all want them back.

But Curtis still has his loving
family around him, doesn't he?

Think about it.

♪♪

What was that?

Hello?

Dad, are you there?

Yeah, Sam.

I'm here.

Okay.

Okay.

T his is what
we came here for.

I know. But this...T his
is what you wanted, right?

Well, yes! But I want
to enjoy it.

Chris, put the camera down,
please.

Honey...

We're getting some raw,

documentary-style
footage of the trip.

Okay, look,
it just doesn't make any sense

to travel all that distance,
waste all that gas,

when we can get there
so much quicker.

Well...

It doesn't make sense
to go at all, then.

I mean, why go?
We came for the fireflies.

It doesn't make
any sense, honey.

Sometimes life's about doing
things that don't make sense.

Just show me
you can use the brakes, honey!

- Dad.
- What?

Just let go.

Whoo-hoo!
Good job, honey!

♪ And this time

♪ It's slipping me up
by calling out ♪

♪ Rules of this game

♪ I get nothing back here
but pain ♪

♪ I've been swept aside,
put behind ♪

♪ All to learn
like I haven't heard ♪

♪ What hurts to hide

♪ It hurts to hold

♪ And I'm not saying
that I've given up on life ♪

♪ Can't settle down my mind
on what lies ahead ♪

♪ Oh, they say life

♪ It's easiest to wait
whenever called ♪

♪ All of us can think clear
on what we hold ♪

♪ We're movin on

♪ It's moving on

♪♪

♪ Oh, we're movin on...

♪♪

- Hey. - Good to see you,
thanks for coming.

- Thank you. - Before we go
to court tomorrow,

I want you to see something.

This is the defendant's
vehicle. -

You can see from the damage

there the impact that caused
the car to flip.

When a car flips, that means
typically the vehicle

is traveling in excess
of 75 miles an hour.

There was 200 feet between you
and the other vehicle.

And, at that speed,

there was absolutely no way you
could have avoided a collision.

Turn right, left, straight,
brakes...

None of it would have mattered
with that kid's SUV.

- And he walked away.
- They always do.

Their buzz...

It makes them more relaxed at
the time of impact.

- It's ironic.
- It's infuriating, you mean.

Yeah, well.
It's not your fault.

Chris...
We only get one sh*t at this.

♪♪

After Mr. Wright
failed the breathalyzer,

the sheriff certified that he

had a blood alcohol level
of .1 percent.

But this measurement was taken
nearly an hour after the crash,

suggesting that he
may indeed have had

an even higher blood
alcohol level

when he picked up his keys...

and got into his SUV.

The law makes a distinction
between child and adult

because children
do childish things.

But adults are accountable
for their actions.

The question
is whether Mr. Wright

was simply juvenile
in his behavior

or if he should take
responsibility for the damages

and the tremendous and ongoing

pain he inflicted on the
Williams family.

They d*ed...

because of conscious and

deliberate decisions
made by Mr. Wright.

Now, Mr. Wright
wanted to be an adult.

He certainly drank
like an adult.

But now he wants to insult
the memories of his victims...

with his request to
be considered,

just one more time,
just for a moment, a child.

Would it that it were that easy.

Do overs don't exist
in the real world.

And they shouldn't exist
in the court of law.

The state strongly recommends

that Mr. Wright stand trial
as an adult.

This was manslaughter.

Just as sure
as if he'd picked up a g*n;

only this time, he got in his
car.

Thank you.

Is the defense ready
with its final statement?

Yes, Your Honor.

One mistake.

He was a juvenile
who made one mistake.

Wrong place, wrong time.

Are we going to take away
his whole life for this?

One accident, one mistake.

He had no prior record.

He was just a kid in high

school who made a
stupid decision.

The fact is,

this young man is a juvenile.

The state may not
like that fact,

but he was 17
when the accident occurred.

He must be tried as a juvenile.

So the law states.

Thank you.

Before I render my decision,

there is one more opinion I

would like to take under
careful consideration.

I would like to ask you a
question, Mr. Williams.

In your opinion,

should the court try Mr. Wright
as a juvenile or an adult?

Mr. Williams?

You do have an opinion on how
Mr. Wright should be tried?

I believe the responsibility
of that decision...

is up to you, Your Honor.

But I will say this.

He's already been given
a life sentence.

We both have.

No matter what you decide.

I just hope...

he can...

honor the memory
of those who d*ed

by making something
of his life.

I don't want retribution,
I just...

I just want what's
best for Curtis.

All rise.

You may be seated.

All right. We've seen and heard
a lot of testimony in this case,

some of it very difficult.

It is the opinion of this court

that the defendant,
Curtis Wright,

shall be tried appropriate to
his age as a juvenile.

His maximum sentence
shall not exceed three years,

or until he turns the age of 21.

This court is now adjourned.

Congratulations, counselor.

Well... you really threw us
under the bus.

Michael?

Where have you been?

I was taking a walk.

At 4:00 in the morning?

It helps me think.

Get your brother.

We're gonna go for a ride.

I used to bring your Mom out

here a lot when we
first married.

I'm sorry, Michael.

I'm having a really...

hard time filling Mom's shoes.

I brought
you here to...

...to tell you
about my accident.

Forget it, Dad.

Every time I hear it...

...I get freaked out.

That's not the accident
that I want to tell you about.

I want to talk to you about

something that happened
30 years ago.

I was about your age.

I was driving home from my...

from my new
job at the hospital

and uh... I heard a thump.

Like, uh, someone threw a rock

or a ball or something
at the side of the car.

And I stopped the car and I

looked out the side
of the window,

and all I could see was this
small boy standing there.

He didn't seem upset or hurt.

He seemed fine.

A neighbor had called
the police and they...

They put me in the back
of the police car.

The police officer, he asked me a million questions.

He wrote down every detail
I could recall, I...

I hadn't been speeding,
I wasn't distracted.

And I was confused,
I said,

"Why are all these people
around my car?"

And he said,

"There's a boy trapped in the
wheel well of your car."

See, the big brother

had chased the little brother
out into the street...

What happened to him?

The little brother.

He d*ed a few days later, Sam.

You k*lled the boy?

I didn't know what to do
or think...

I was just weighed down with...

with guilt and fear.

I took this lady's,
this man's son from them.

And even though I knew
it was an accident,

it still didn't help, I felt...

I was lost for a long time.

His mother, she, uh...

She wrote me this.

"Dear Chris,

I believe that you, Chris,

were chosen to bring about
the physical change in James

that caused him to leave this
world through death.

Because of the physical damage
to our little boy,

it made it easier for us
to let him go.

It was his time.

Believe in God, Chris.
He loves you.

Let this comfort you.

Work for Him.

He has wonderful things
in store for you.

And always remember...

We have forgiven you."

I had no idea, Dad.

I'm sorry, Dad.

Thank you, son.

♪♪

Mom would be happy right now.

All of her men,
together like this.

Hello?

- Is this Mr. Williams?
- Yes?

Mr. Williams,
my name is Mrs. Verdant,

over at the County Juvenile
Detention Center.

Uh... Yes?

I've been assigned to work
with Curtis Wright,

about the accident.

We're doing a form
of empathy therapy with him.

Uh, what's that?

Curtis would like to
talk to you.

We were wondering if you could
come down to the facility

and meet with him on Friday.

Many times, I asked,

"Why me?

Why did this happen to me?"

Then I guess that I came
to the conclusion...

"Why not me?"

Our family was very close.

God knew our family bond
would survive...

...and we'd be together again
in the next life.

I've discovered how the story
of the Prodigal Son

is very like my story.

A teenage boy seemingly threw
his life away.

For what? For nothing,
for some alcohol,

and crashed into my family,
taking them from me.

I was the good son,
the jealous one.

I resented my father for giving
the wayward son the fatted calf.

He survived, he...

he had his family.

He could still write
his own future.

I...

wanted to take
something from him...

Because he took...

...so much from me.

I wanted to take his freedom.

And then I realized...

that wasn't my job.

That was in Christ's hands.

I nearly got in the way...

of a son returning home
to his father...

finding his way home.

I had to let it go.

Hi, Mom.

Come sit by me.
I have something to say.

Okay. What did I do now?

Chris, I love you
for wanting to forgive.

I really do.
I don't know if I can.

I don't even know if I want to.

It was such a big loss for me.

It's just who I am.

I'm gonna see him.

He asked me to visit him
in juvenile prison and...

I hope I can offer him
some comfort.

Oh! The, uh...
the bills got paid.

- Really? - There's a...
there's a state fund,

fines levied
against criminal offenders.

They... they're gonna cover
the costs.

You were brilliant today.
Brilliant.

Uh, Christopher Williams
to see Curtis Wr-

- Identification below, please.
- Uh, my ID...

Stand here
until the door shuts, please.

All right.

- Mr. Williams.
- Yes.

- I'm Mrs. Verdant.
- Nice to meet you.

Thank you for being here.

I really think that this is
going to help Curtis.

Are you okay?

Yeah.

Curtis, this is Mr. Williams.

You can call me Chris.

Curtis has prepared some
questions to ask you, Chris.

He'd like to try to understand
what you've been going through.

- Sure.
- Okay.

Fire away.

"What was Michelle like?"

"What was Ben like?"

"Anna?"

"Getting any better for you?"

You ask a lot of questions.

Reminds me of my son,
Michael.

"Is there anything that I can do

to make it...
to make it up to you

or to help?"

No.

Not really.

"How did you survive?"

Sometimes...

it seemed like...
there were...

angels helping me.

Guardian angels.

Curtis.

Is there anything else
you'd like to ask Chris?

Why didn't you hate me...

...after everything that I've
done to your family?

How is it that you're able
to forgive me?

It wasn't me, Curtis.

I'm nothing.

You destroyed me.

You destroyed my life.

And I wanted to destroy you...

many times.

Someday, when you have
a wife and children...

you'll really understand
what you took from me.

And now you're living in a
prison of guilt and regret.

But you don't need to.

I don't want you to.

When I saw your car
for the first time...

and I didn't know

who you were or why
this was happening to me...

And just as...

Just as the pain of
my broken ribs

was starting to kick in,

and... the pain of my
crushed life...

my wife, my kids,
sitting dead next to me...

Just as it was all crashing in,
I heard a voice.

And the voice was a command, it
wasn't... it wasn't a suggestion.

And it was a distinct voice,

and I-I could hear it
just over my left shoulder.

And it said...

it said, "Let it go".

Whose voice was it?

I'm not sure.

But it was speaking
to both of us, Curtis.

You need to do
as much as you can...

...to repair
the damage you've done.

Help other people, somehow.

Then pick a date,

and after that date...

You need to let it go.

You need to let it all just go.

Thank you.

Thank you.

♪♪

P eople say to
me all the time,

"I couldn't do what you did."

I tell them, I didn't do it.

I couldn't do it.

He did it.

That's how I escaped the box.

♪♪

Houdini watched for decades,

hoping and searching for
someone to say his
mother's keyword.

If he heard that keyword from a
psychic, a soothsayer, a medium,

this would be his proof.

It would mean his mom is still
there, somewhere...

communicating,
sending him a sign.

I wanna take you...

to see some real fireflies.

Signs.

I don't need a sign.
I know.

♪ Can we ever be ready for

♪ A moment when

♪ Life takes a turn

♪ A turn for the worst

♪ Suddenly

♪ Everything you've ever known

♪ Is gone in a flash

♪ Lost in the past

♪ But I've received the
sweetest grace ♪

♪ In the face of
great mistakes ♪

♪ Who am I to deny

♪ The same

♪ Where do I draw the line

♪ Between your sins and mine

♪ And where does the
hammer fall ♪

♪ In justice for us all

♪ Can anybody in the room

♪ Stand above the truth

♪ Who here is blameless

♪ For the sins of our youth

♪ I'll stand and give
you my hand ♪

♪ Every sinner has a future,
every saint has a past ♪

♪ On the other side
this time ♪

♪ It's mine

♪ What you have done

♪ I've come undone

♪ One look at you,
I see myself ♪

♪ Coming through

♪ The pain in your eyes

♪ The shame makes your cry

♪ But I've received the
sweetest grace ♪

♪ In the face of
great mistakes ♪

♪ Who am I to deny

♪ The same

♪ Where do I draw the line

♪ Between your sins and mine

♪ And where does the
hammer fall ♪

♪ In justice for us all

♪ Can anybody in the room

♪ Stand above the truth

♪ Who here is blameless

♪ For the sins of our youth

♪ I'll stand and give
you my hand ♪

♪ Every sinner has a future,
every saint has a past ♪

♪ Still doesn't make it easy

♪ But it can't always
be this hard ♪

♪ I hope you'll feel
forgiveness ♪

♪ Though it still
hurts my heart ♪

♪ The pain that I hold onto

♪ I found a way to just let go

♪ I found a way to just let go

♪ Where do I draw the line

♪ Between your sins and mine

♪ And where does the
hammer fall ♪

♪ In justice for us all

♪ Can anybody in the room

♪ Stand above the truth

♪ Who here is blameless

♪ For the sins of our youth

♪ I'll stand and give
you my hand ♪

♪ Every sinner has a future,
every saint has a past ♪

♪ Every sinner has a future,
every saint has a past. ♪