03x02 - A Special Love: Part 2
Posted: 06/05/23 18:38
We aren't gonna have any children.
We can't.
What are you talking about?
All my tests came out fine.
It's not you, Scotty, it's me.
I can't have any children.
I'm a Special Olympics coach.
We'd sure like to have you come out
and find out some of the other things
you're good at.
I'm not good at nothing.
I'm dumb.
Hey, I don't think you're dumb.
Then you're dumb.
I don't wanna do nothing.
I can't do nothing.
And you can't make me.
Faster!
Oh, that was terrific.
Hey, I think you're getting faster
than your old man, huh?
Oh, he already is, I guarantee it.
- Your kid's doing great, isn't he?
- Yeah, he sure is.
He stayed in his lane,
he's getting faster all the time.
He's really proud of himself.
We're proud of him too.
All right, get your stuff,
that's all for today.
- What a sweet kid.
- Yeah, I know.
Has he...
Has he been able to say anything?
I mean, have you heard him
say anything at all?
Well, no, not yet, but he's trying
real hard, that's the main thing.
He'll talk one of these days.
One of these days,
a light will go on and he'll say, "Mama."
I want you to take that cap, and I want
you to go down to Special Olympics,
and put that cap on,
and run just as fast as you can.
So fast you'll feel the wind
whip past your ears.
So fast those mean kids
who made fun of you and me
won't even be able to see you.
They'll just see a blur go whizzing by.
But I'll be able to see you.
I'll be up in those stands,
and I'll see you with that cap on,
and it'll be almost like
seeing me run down there.
Can you do that, Todd?
I could do that.
Well, you know, he's such a sweet kid,
and, well, I've been thinking.
There's so many different
kinds of parents
waiting to adopt a healthy newborn,
and a boy like Todd
really needs someone.
Yeah, but we don't need him.
Maybe you do.
Oh, get serious, Jonathan,
and you too, Diane.
His own family gave him up.
The child is Ret*rded.
How would we take care of him?
I wouldn't be any trouble.
I promise.
I can make my bed.
And I wouldn't leave my toys out.
You can even ask
Mrs. Burke at the home.
I can make my bed.
- Todd, it isn't that simple.
- Yes, it is.
It is simple.
If I win the race, he'll know.
He'll see me with his hat,
and then you'll know.
All right, you guys,
your race starts any minute now.
I can't see Scotty, Jonathan.
Don't worry, he's up there.
But I can't--Can't see him.
Hey, come on, you got his hat.
He can see you.
But I need to know he's there.
I gotta see him.
Oh, he'll be there.
He'll be right down there
at the finish line.
He will?
He will.
He will.
This is the first call
for the metre run.
All ages, male and female,
please report to Bullpen number .
That's the metre run,
all ages, male and female,
please report to Bullpen number .
Scotty, the boy needs to see you.
I'm not going down there, Jonathan.
I don't know what you two have cooked
up, but I'm not going down there.
Come on,
we haven't cooked up anything, Scotty.
You're the one that told that kid he was
gonna be running for the both of you.
Scotty, he's worked so hard
for this moment.
Don't rob him of it.
All right, I'll go down there,
but we are not adopting him.
Fine, but you tell him that
after the race.
All right, runners hit the starting line.
- Come on.
- All right, let's go, let's go.
Yeah.
All right.
Take your mark.
Set.
Come on, boys, come on.
Run, run, run.
Todd, don't stop.
You did it.
Good job.
Here's your hat back.
Hey, it's yours.
No, it isn't.
I didn't win.
I wanted to show you
that I could do stuff,
because I wanted you to be my dad.
Hey, what happened to the oath:
"Let me win, but if I cannot win,
let me be brave in the attempt"?
Look, this is one race.
There'll be lots of others.
But I wanted you to see.
I will see them.
You will?
Yeah, I will.
Will you try?
If you're there, I will.
Todd, I don't know
if I'm special enough to be your dad,
but I'm not gonna quit either.
I'm gonna try, just like you.
Would you come home with Diane and
me for a weekend so we could all try?
- Do you mean that?
- Yes, I do.
Todd, one of the problems I have
is that I can't hug you.
But if I could,
I sure would want to right now.
I could do that.
I'm great at hugging.
You sure are, son. You sure are.
The bronze medal
goes to Paul Gardner.
The silver medal
goes to Larry Dexter.
And the gold medal
in the -yard dash
goes to Kyle Davis.
Yay, Kyle!
Mom, I won!
He talked.
Steve, he talked.
He talked.
Oh, baby.
Yeah.
- Hi, you two, come on in.
- Hi.
- How you doing?
- Great, just great.
Can I get you anything?
No, he just finished one of his
famous two-hour breakfasts.
I didn't have dessert.
Oh, poor boy. I think there's
a piece of cake left from last night.
Oh, Todd and Scotty
should be back any minute.
Holy mackerel.
Look at this stuff. Isn't it great?
They've had Todd for what,
six weekends already?
I mean, they turned
this whole place into a school.
Yeah, and I bet they're loving it too.
Here we go.
Boy, this is wonderful.
It's not homemade.
I don't have time to bake anymore.
I don't mean the cake. I'm talking
about what you and Scotty have done.
- All these signs and everything.
- Well, that's Scotty's project.
He's determined to teach Todd
how to read.
And you know how Scotty is
once he sets his mind to something.
Total immersion.
That's the password around here.
So, how are you two
getting along with Todd?
Oh, great. Oh, Jonathan,
I just love him. Well, we both do.
But he's such a sweet boy.
He just loves to be cuddled.
He's so starved for it.
And he really tries very hard.
With you and Scotty teaching him,
I'll bet he'll be reading in no time.
If Scotty has his way he will.
Me, I'm a softy. I'm the cuddler.
- Where are those two anyway?
- They're out on a nature walk.
They go out on these walks,
and Scotty teaches Todd the names of
the flowers and the birds and the trees.
He's learning all that stuff?
Well, some, but mostly
he just likes being with Scotty.
And he loves to look at things,
you know,
small things that you or I
wouldn't even see.
Like a wild flower growing in
somebody's lawn, or a caterpillar.
You know, it's nice moving at his pace,
very slowly.
Seeing all the things that you or I
wouldn't even take time to notice.
- Hi, coach.
- Hey, kiddo.
How was the nature walk?
Oh, it was good.
We seen these bugs
with these long legs.
What do you call that bug?
What's its name?
- I don't know.
- Praying...
Yeah, praying bugs.
And we seen these flowers,
these real fuzzy flowers.
Praying mantis.
Yeah.
And I blew the fuzzy flower,
and all the fuzzy stuff went in the air.
What a neat walk.
- Do I have to go back tomorrow?
- Well, it's Monday, you've got school.
But I wanna stay here another day.
Todd, if Scotty and I could fix it
so you could stay here all the time,
would you like that?
Forever and ever?
Forever and ever.
We want you to be our son, Todd.
We love you.
- And you'll be my mom and dad?
- Yes.
Yes.
Todd, what are you doing?
Wait.
But I don't understand, Mrs. Gettes.
We filled out all of the forms,
we've met all of the criteria
your agency has for adoptive parents,
- because you said so yourself.
- I know that, Mrs. Wilson.
Everything you're saying is true,
but Todd's natural parents
never gave him up for adoption.
But they haven't seen him in years.
I know that.
We approached the Bryants
and apprised them of the situation
and of your desire to adopt Todd.
I didn't think
there would be any problem.
There shouldn't have been.
They don't care what happens to him.
They all but abandoned him.
They didn't abandon him,
they put him in foster care.
And they have paid all his expenses
at the group foster-care home.
But they don't love him,
they have no moral right.
They have a legal right.
Mr. Wilson,
I shouldn't have to tell you that.
You're an attorney,
and they are his parents.
And they have made it very clear that
they will not, under any circumstances,
allow you to adopt their son.
Maybe if we could just meet them,
talk with them,
make them see that we love the boy,
that we'd be good parents.
They saw your file, Mr. Wilson.
It's no reflection on either of you,
but they don't want to meet you.
They were as firm about that
as they were about
not giving Todd up for adoption.
I'm so sorry, but there's
just nothing to do about it.
They are his parents.
No, they're not.
It takes love to be a parent.
We love the boy.
All they've got on their side
is the law.
I'm afraid that's all they need.
But they haven't seen him
since he was three years old, not once.
Isn't there anything
you can do legally, Scotty?
I mean, isn't there something?
I don't know. I'm researching it now.
We could petition the court to appoint
a conservatorship for Todd
with us as conservators,
but the odds are so much against it.
These people have money,
they can fight us and they'd win.
But they don't wanna be his parents.
They're not fit to be his parents.
That's not the way
a court would see it.
They didn't abandon him, they put him
in a fine group foster-care home.
- They've paid all his bills.
- But they've never been there for him.
They haven't--They haven't held him
or laughed with him.
They haven't comforted him
when he's cried.
The law doesn't give
too many points for cuddling.
Then the law stinks.
In the eyes of the law,
they're not unfit parents.
They did exactly what their doctors
advised them to do.
Everything except love him.
You don't know that.
Jonathan, what are you talking about?
They gave up the kid.
If they gave up the boy because they
thought it was the best thing for him,
then it was an act of love.
Whose side are you on, anyway?
Oh, come on, Diane,
it's not a matter of sides, is it?
Fact of the matter is they won't
give the child up for adoption,
and there has to be a reason.
Have you told Todd yet?
- No.
- How could we tell him, Mark?
He's so excited about
finally having a family.
He's already planning
our first Christmas together.
So, what have you told him?
We just said these things take time
and he has to be patient.
I don't believe this is happening.
What kind of people
would prevent their child
from having parents who want him
and who really love him?
- Dr. Bryant?
- Yeah.
I'm Jonathan Smith.
We met in your office
a few months ago?
The Special Olympics.
Oh, yes, of course.
I wondered if I could talk to you
for a few minutes.
- Well, we're just finishing up dinner.
- Oh, I'm sorry.
But I'll wait if it's all right.
It's about your son, Todd.
Well, I think we've already had
this conversation, Mr. Smith.
I mean, I think it's great
that Todd's in the Special Olympics,
but we don't think it's right
to come back into his life
- just to cheer him on in a track meet.
- This is not about Special Olympics.
It's about the couple
that wants to adopt him.
You mean my brother?
Josh, Jennifer, do me a favour,
go to your rooms, please?
But why?
Just do as I say, please.
Look, if you wanna use the car,
go to your rooms, okay?
Thank you.
- What's going on here?
- That's what I'd like to know.
I'm a friend of the Wilsons,
the couple that wants--
I know who they are,
and I know what they want,
and the answer is no.
Dr. Bryant, the Wilsons
are both professional people,
they're fine people.
They make a good living, and they
love Todd, and he loves them.
They'd be wonderful parents for him.
And you think there's something wrong
with the kind of parents we are?
We don't have to talk to him, Lauren.
No, I wanna know
what he thinks of us.
- It doesn't matter--
- It matters to me.
You see,
I don't like people judging me.
I didn't come here to judge you,
Mrs. Bryant.
Oh, "They love him.
They'd make wonderful parents."
Well, if that isn't judging,
I don't know what is.
Do you have a Ret*rded child,
Mr. Smith?
- No, I don't.
- Well, we do.
We can tell you all about the heartache
of watching him with other children
and knowing that there's something
wrong with that beautiful baby.
And not admitting it to yourself
even though all the other babies
are walking and talking.
We can tell you all about the lies
that you tell yourself
and the praying to God
that it just isn't true.
Do you know what it is like
for a mother to give her baby away
to strangers
and to turn her back on him,
and to hear him screaming and yelling?
Do you know what that feels like?
Calm down, Lauren.
No, I want him to know.
Now, the doctors
advised us to do this.
And our minister
counselled us to do this.
I've already explained that
to Mr. Smith.
You don't have to
go through this again.
You know, we went to see him once,
and he cried so hysterically
that I had to- I had--
I had to pry his hands
off of my body.
Do you know what a mother feels like
to do that?
Believe me, I didn't come here
to judge you, Mrs. Bryant.
I know you've done
what you thought was best.
He's in a fine home
and he's done very well there.
But as fine a place as that is,
it isn't the same
as having a mother and father.
The Wilsons are willing to take any
kind of a test you want them to take
to prove what kind of people they are
and what kind of home
they can give to Todd.
No.
No. We are Todd's parents
and we'll decide what's best for him.
And to be blunt, Mr. Smith, which is
evidently the only way to be with you,
this Mr. Wilson you're
talking about is a quadriplegic.
Now, I want you to tell me
what kind of guardian he's going to be
for a boy who is mentally incompetent?
It's completely out of the question.
We've taken everything
into consideration
and we've made our decision.
There's something you haven't
taken into consideration,
and that's how Todd feels
and what he thinks.
It is irrelevant what Todd thinks,
the boy is Ret*rded.
Stop it, both of you.
Just get out of here.
Just get out of our house. And tell
those people to stop bothering us
and to stay away from my son.
I think you'd better leave now,
Mr. Smith.
I'm sorry. I didn't come here
to upset you. I'm sorry.
- There you go, Kyle.
- Thanks.
Let's see some good jumping, Kyle.
Excuse me, I'm looking for
Mr. and Mrs. Scott Wilson.
Oh, yeah, sitting right down there.
Thanks.
Go, go, go.
Stay in your lane, stay in your lane.
- Go, run!
- Mr. Wilson?
Yeah, that's me.
I'm sorry.
I just get paid
to serve the paper. Here.
What is this?
I'm sorry.
What is it, Diane?
I don't understand all this
legal mumbo jumbo.
Hey, I'm the lawyer, let me see.
- Damn.
- What? What is it?
The Bryants. This is a notice advising
us that they've filed a request
with the court to issue
a temporary restraining order,
to bar us from having any further
contact with their son, Todd.
- Hi, mom.
- Hi, hon.
Is there any mail for me?
You're home from practise
kind of early.
Yeah, the coach
had to go somewhere.
What's this?
Oh, it's just some legal papers.
Nothing for you.
Nothing from Susan,
if that's what you're after.
Are we suing somebody?
Well, If we are,
I don't see what business it is of yours.
This is about Todd, mom.
What is this?
What is this sudden interest
in our legal affairs?
I just asked a question.
I mean, is there a problem with Todd?
Someone is trying to interfere
and your father and I
are being forced to hire a lawyer
to stop them. Good enough?
Does this have to do with that man
who came here about adopting Todd?
That is our business.
Your father's and mine.
Hey, I just asked a question.
Well, you got your answer.
Can he do stuff at all?
Who?
My brother.
Can he walk or talk or do anything?
Or does he just lie there?
What is going on here?
What's going on with you, ma?
I just asked a simple question.
I mean, mom,
it was you who always told us
the reason
we could never visit him
is he wouldn't
recognise us anyway, right?
Your brother is Ret*rded.
He is one of the tragedies of my life.
He is not getting better,
he will never get better.
- He is Ret*rded, okay?
- Okay.
Do you ever go and see him?
Just you and Dad?
That is enough. I will not be
cross-examined in my own house.
Your brother is in one of the
finest facilities in the state.
And he is getting the best of care.
Far better than any cr*pple
could give him.
And far better than if he had to
compete for our love and attention
with two self-centred teenagers
like you and your sister.
- Mom, I didn't mean to upset you--
- Just leave me alone.
Just...
Just go up to your room, drive your
car or whatever it is that you do.
Oh God, just leave me alone.
How's she doing?
She finally cried herself to sleep.
I'll never forget
that little guy's face today
when we told him
we couldn't see him anymore.
I tried to explain it to him,
but I could hear him crying
all the way back to the van.
I wish Mrs. Bryant
could have heard you say that.
Why?
What difference would it make to her?
She told me that's exactly what
happened when she had to leave Todd.
She didn't have to leave Todd.
She did it because she wanted to.
I did it because she forced me to.
So spare me the stories
about what she felt.
Hey, hey, hey, come on.
None of this is helping us figure
a way to beat that restraining order.
This isn't gonna be solved in court.
There's more here than just law.
Maybe so, Jonathan, but right now
the law's the only thing we've got.
So if you can't help,
just stay out of it.
Hey, I'm sorry.
I'm just so damn angry.
It's so unfair.
There's not a thing we can do.
They're the natural parents.
They've got all the rights.
But what about Todd?
Doesn't he have any rights?
Every kid has a right
to sue his parents.
He can sue them to sever his ties
with them. He can become--
- What do they call it?
- Emancipated.
Emancipated.
That's an established point of law,
but we're not just
talking about a minor,
we're talking about a Ret*rded minor.
Well, don't the Ret*rded
have any rights under the law?
Well, sure they do.
But on this one, I don't know.
Well, he has a right to an attorney.
Everybody has a right to an attorney.
Now, they may be able to keep him
from seeing you, Scotty,
but can they keep him
from seeing his own lawyer?
Hi, kiddo.
I don't wanna go practise.
Yeah, I know.
It's because Scotty and Diane
can't come to see you, huh?
They don't want to.
Todd, come on, they explained to you
why they can't come and see you.
They could if they really wanted to.
They could if they really loved me.
Todd, what you're doing right now
is you're being a little boy.
Now, if you want Scotty and Diane
for your family,
you're gonna have to act like
a big boy now.
You're gonna have to try to understand
what's going on.
So you can fight
for what you want and get it.
But I can't do nothing.
How can I do something?
That's what I'm gonna tell you.
You know what a judge is?
- Like on TV?
- Right, like on TV.
He's the guy that sits there
and puts the bad guys in jail.
Well, it's not always a question
of putting a bad guy in jail.
You see, sometimes when people
have a disagreement, they...
Here.
Suppose you and your best friend
both wanted to play with the same toy.
What would you do?
Ask Mrs. Burke.
Right, well a judge is like Mrs. Burke.
See, when grownups have
a disagreement, they go to a judge,
and the judge decides
what's right according to the law.
- What law?
- The rules.
Like...
If you were in a race and you ran out
of your lane, what would happen?
I don't win.
Right. Because those are the rules.
Well, in life there are rules too.
And a judge knows what they are.
But the judge won't let
Scotty and Diane see me.
It's only because
he hasn't heard you yet.
Todd, would you be willing to stand up
in front of a judge
and tell him what you want?
And he'd let me live
with Scotty and Diane?
Maybe. There's a chance.
It won't be easy.
Nothing's easy.
I'll tell a judge.
You take me to a judge, coach.
I wanna tell him.
Now, wait a minute,
you don't just go and see a judge.
You see, you gotta have an attorney.
But I don't have no attorney.
Do you want one?
Sure.
All right, kiddo, you got one now.
Come on.
Hi, kid.
I missed you.
I missed you too.
Mr. Wilson.
I'm sorry, but I've got orders
to call the police if you come here.
Now, there's an injunction against
you seeing Toddy, you know that.
That's where you're wrong,
Mrs. Burke.
There is a temporary restraining order
against Scotty Wilson.
I'm not here as Scotty Wilson.
I'm here as an attorney
seeing my client.
He got himself a lawyer.
His attorney?
Your Honour, this is preposterous.
Mr. Parker, you know,
these proceedings
are being held in my chambers,
so we can be a little less formal.
I'd appreciate
if you'd refrain from the theatrics.
Sorry, Your Honour.
It's all right, son.
Your Honour,
Mr. Wilson is himself
the object of the restraining order.
His client, as he calls him, is a minor
of diminished mental capacities
whose guardians are the ones
who sought the restraining order
to protect him from Mr. Wilson.
So this is absurd.
Mr. Wilson?
Your Honour, I am an attorney licensed
by the bar to practise law in this state.
The minor in question is also
the object of this restraining order,
and has requested me to act on
his behalf in the matter now pending
before this court.
And on his behalf, I'm requesting
the court to set aside ruling
on whether the temporary restraining
order should be made permanent
until Your Honour has had a chance
to consider my client's petitions.
What petitions?
Mr. Parker, the guy on my side
of the desk asks the questions.
Sorry, Your Honour.
What petitions?
Mark.
The first is my client's opposition
to the request
for a permanent restraining order,
barring my client from seeing
Mr. and Mrs. Scott Wilson.
The second is a petition asking the
court to appoint guardians ad litem,
temporary guardians for my client,
and that those guardians
be Mr. and Mrs. Scott Wilson.
Now, if you're wanting
guardians ad litem,
your client must be entertaining
some litigation of his own.
That's correct, Your Honour.
It is my client's intent to take
whatever steps are necessary
to sever his legal ties from his natural
parents, Richard and Lauren Bryant,
so that he will be free to be adopted
by Mr. and Mrs. Scott Wilson,
who love him.
Your Honour, I must protest.
Yes, well,
I kind of figured you would.
I mean, come on, Mr. Wilson,
who are you trying to kid?
Your Honour,
we are talking about a Ret*rded boy
who could no sooner pronounce
the words in those petitions,
let alone understand
what they meant.
Your Honour, we love the boy
and we wanna make a home for him
and he loves us and he knows
very well what those words mean.
The boy is a mental incompetent.
And this man
is making a mockery of--
Mr. Parker.
I'm gonna decide who is
and who is not competent, not you.
Yes, Your Honour.
Mr. Wilson, I'm going to have to insist
on a competency hearing
for this minor in question to determine
whether he understands the nature
of these proceedings.
If I find that he does,
then I will accept you
as his counsellor,
and I will entertain your motion.
Thank you, Your Honour.
Not so fast, mister.
If I find out
that the young man in question
does not understand
what's going on,
that you in fact
have manipulated him and the law,
and have attempted
to manipulate this court,
I'm gonna hold you in contempt.
And you're gonna have
a lot more to worry about
than just a restraining order.
Now, that clear?
Yes, Your Honour.
All right, I'll have the clerk set aside
the rd of this month,
on the hearing phase,
case of Bryant v. Bryant.
I can't thank you enough
for bringing your team here
- to work out with our athletes.
- I'm delighted you asked.
It'll be a great experience
for our guys.
They'll learn more about track
by teaching it,
and more about life
working with your Special Olympians.
Okay, you guys.
Mr. Smith here has divided
his athletes up into groups of five
and I've done the same to you
so that each one of you
will have one group to work with.
Okay, let's get to it.
Okay.
My name's Josh and I'm gonna
be working with you today, okay?
- Hi, Josh.
- Hi.
When I call up your names I want you
to answer up loud and clear, okay?
All right.
All right, Kyle Davis.
Hi, Josh.
Good. Mary Beth Wilkerson.
- I am here.
- Okay.
To--
Todd Bryant.
Here.
Todd.
Where do you live?
At the group foster-care home
with Mrs. Burke.
Toddy.
I'm Josh Bryant.
I'm your brother.
My-- My brother?
Yeah.
My brother.
My brother.
My brother.
My brother.
You lied to me and to Jennifer.
All these years, all you did was lie.
- Josh, we didn't lie to you.
- Yes, you did.
You said that he wouldn't know us,
that he couldn't do anything.
I mean, he's my brother. Why didn't
you ever take me to visit him?
Josh, because it was too painful for us.
Can't you understand that?
No.
Josh, once he was in the home
and well taken care of,
we had to put him
out of our mind. Josh.
There was nothing we could do
for him then.
And we had to get
our lives back to normal.
Josh, we gave him up because the
doctors, and all the experts told us to.
They said that
he was gonna be better off.
And believe me, he is better off.
He's not a part of our lives now
and we are not part of his.
Well, maybe you're not, but I am.
He's my brother
and I'm gonna visit him again.
Oh, Josh,
I don't think that's a good idea.
- I don't care what you think.
- Now, wait a minute.
Don't smart mouth your mother,
all right?
Now, we'll decide what's best
for this family.
What are you gonna do, Dad?
Get an injunction against me too?
- Josh.
- Let him go.
Richard, maybe we should
think about what we're doing.
Maybe we should
meet with those people.
No. Damn it, Lauren.
These people are responsible
for all of this.
The Wilsons, Smith, all of them.
This family was doing fine.
And so was Todd,
until they started butting into our lives.
Tomorrow, we're gonna go to court
and we're gonna nail this thing shut
once and for all. Okay?
- How are you doing, Todd?
- Okay.
A little nervous?
That's okay.
Toddy, do you know why
we're here today?
Why?
To talk to the judge.
And what's he going to do?
He's gonna say what's good.
He knows what's good,
because he knows the rules.
And do you understand
what your parents want?
They don't want me
to see you and Diane anymore.
- Todd, where do you live?
- You know.
Yeah, but the judge
needs to hear it from you.
At the group home with Mrs. Burke.
Do you like it there?
It's okay.
Are they mean to you?
No. They're okay.
- Where do you wanna live?
- With you and Diane.
Why?
Because I don't have
a mom and dad.
But you do, Todd.
You have a real mom and dad.
But I don't know them.
Do you love your real mom and dad?
I don't know them.
I know Joshy, though. He's my brother.
Todd, is there anything
you wanna tell the judge?
Go ahead then.
Tell him whatever you want.
I gotta go to the bathroom.
I think that's very sensible, son.
You can go to the bathroom.
Would someone please
accompany this young man?
This court will now
take a ten-minute recess.
I think that should be time enough.
- Did I do good?
- You did very good.
I'll take him. Come on.
Judge, I forgot to tell you something.
Well, you can tell me
when you come back, son.
No, I might forget.
Okay, what?
I love Scotty and Diane.
Is that in the rules?
Well, we make allowances for that.
I don't get no allowance.
But it ought to be in the rules.
It's important.
Yes, it is.
Your Honour,
could I see you in your chambers,
please, and the Wilsons?
Dr. Bryant,
this court is now in recess.
But if you have anything to say,
you should really do it
through your attorney.
We don't need an attorney,
Your Honour.
Well, all right then.
Dr. and Mrs. Bryant,
you know, once you've made
this decision, it cannot be reversed.
We know, Your Honour.
And you're both sure about this?
Yes.
Yes.
And I'll tell you why, Your Honour.
Because, it's the first time
since we put him in that home,
that I haven't felt guilty.
I know that he'll be happy now.
And I know he...
He won't be crying
when we leave him this time.
Thank you.
We love him very much.
So do we.
I know.
What's going on?
I just saw the Bryants leave.
It's all over, Mark.
The judge said what was good?
No, Todd, your mom and dad did.
Ready to go home
with your new parents?
- I get to live with you.
- Forever and ever.
Hey, Todd, what about me?
Your attorney has to get paid,
you know.
- I love you.
- I love you too.
Let's go home, son.
We can't.
What are you talking about?
All my tests came out fine.
It's not you, Scotty, it's me.
I can't have any children.
I'm a Special Olympics coach.
We'd sure like to have you come out
and find out some of the other things
you're good at.
I'm not good at nothing.
I'm dumb.
Hey, I don't think you're dumb.
Then you're dumb.
I don't wanna do nothing.
I can't do nothing.
And you can't make me.
Faster!
Oh, that was terrific.
Hey, I think you're getting faster
than your old man, huh?
Oh, he already is, I guarantee it.
- Your kid's doing great, isn't he?
- Yeah, he sure is.
He stayed in his lane,
he's getting faster all the time.
He's really proud of himself.
We're proud of him too.
All right, get your stuff,
that's all for today.
- What a sweet kid.
- Yeah, I know.
Has he...
Has he been able to say anything?
I mean, have you heard him
say anything at all?
Well, no, not yet, but he's trying
real hard, that's the main thing.
He'll talk one of these days.
One of these days,
a light will go on and he'll say, "Mama."
I want you to take that cap, and I want
you to go down to Special Olympics,
and put that cap on,
and run just as fast as you can.
So fast you'll feel the wind
whip past your ears.
So fast those mean kids
who made fun of you and me
won't even be able to see you.
They'll just see a blur go whizzing by.
But I'll be able to see you.
I'll be up in those stands,
and I'll see you with that cap on,
and it'll be almost like
seeing me run down there.
Can you do that, Todd?
I could do that.
Well, you know, he's such a sweet kid,
and, well, I've been thinking.
There's so many different
kinds of parents
waiting to adopt a healthy newborn,
and a boy like Todd
really needs someone.
Yeah, but we don't need him.
Maybe you do.
Oh, get serious, Jonathan,
and you too, Diane.
His own family gave him up.
The child is Ret*rded.
How would we take care of him?
I wouldn't be any trouble.
I promise.
I can make my bed.
And I wouldn't leave my toys out.
You can even ask
Mrs. Burke at the home.
I can make my bed.
- Todd, it isn't that simple.
- Yes, it is.
It is simple.
If I win the race, he'll know.
He'll see me with his hat,
and then you'll know.
All right, you guys,
your race starts any minute now.
I can't see Scotty, Jonathan.
Don't worry, he's up there.
But I can't--Can't see him.
Hey, come on, you got his hat.
He can see you.
But I need to know he's there.
I gotta see him.
Oh, he'll be there.
He'll be right down there
at the finish line.
He will?
He will.
He will.
This is the first call
for the metre run.
All ages, male and female,
please report to Bullpen number .
That's the metre run,
all ages, male and female,
please report to Bullpen number .
Scotty, the boy needs to see you.
I'm not going down there, Jonathan.
I don't know what you two have cooked
up, but I'm not going down there.
Come on,
we haven't cooked up anything, Scotty.
You're the one that told that kid he was
gonna be running for the both of you.
Scotty, he's worked so hard
for this moment.
Don't rob him of it.
All right, I'll go down there,
but we are not adopting him.
Fine, but you tell him that
after the race.
All right, runners hit the starting line.
- Come on.
- All right, let's go, let's go.
Yeah.
All right.
Take your mark.
Set.
Come on, boys, come on.
Run, run, run.
Todd, don't stop.
You did it.
Good job.
Here's your hat back.
Hey, it's yours.
No, it isn't.
I didn't win.
I wanted to show you
that I could do stuff,
because I wanted you to be my dad.
Hey, what happened to the oath:
"Let me win, but if I cannot win,
let me be brave in the attempt"?
Look, this is one race.
There'll be lots of others.
But I wanted you to see.
I will see them.
You will?
Yeah, I will.
Will you try?
If you're there, I will.
Todd, I don't know
if I'm special enough to be your dad,
but I'm not gonna quit either.
I'm gonna try, just like you.
Would you come home with Diane and
me for a weekend so we could all try?
- Do you mean that?
- Yes, I do.
Todd, one of the problems I have
is that I can't hug you.
But if I could,
I sure would want to right now.
I could do that.
I'm great at hugging.
You sure are, son. You sure are.
The bronze medal
goes to Paul Gardner.
The silver medal
goes to Larry Dexter.
And the gold medal
in the -yard dash
goes to Kyle Davis.
Yay, Kyle!
Mom, I won!
He talked.
Steve, he talked.
He talked.
Oh, baby.
Yeah.
- Hi, you two, come on in.
- Hi.
- How you doing?
- Great, just great.
Can I get you anything?
No, he just finished one of his
famous two-hour breakfasts.
I didn't have dessert.
Oh, poor boy. I think there's
a piece of cake left from last night.
Oh, Todd and Scotty
should be back any minute.
Holy mackerel.
Look at this stuff. Isn't it great?
They've had Todd for what,
six weekends already?
I mean, they turned
this whole place into a school.
Yeah, and I bet they're loving it too.
Here we go.
Boy, this is wonderful.
It's not homemade.
I don't have time to bake anymore.
I don't mean the cake. I'm talking
about what you and Scotty have done.
- All these signs and everything.
- Well, that's Scotty's project.
He's determined to teach Todd
how to read.
And you know how Scotty is
once he sets his mind to something.
Total immersion.
That's the password around here.
So, how are you two
getting along with Todd?
Oh, great. Oh, Jonathan,
I just love him. Well, we both do.
But he's such a sweet boy.
He just loves to be cuddled.
He's so starved for it.
And he really tries very hard.
With you and Scotty teaching him,
I'll bet he'll be reading in no time.
If Scotty has his way he will.
Me, I'm a softy. I'm the cuddler.
- Where are those two anyway?
- They're out on a nature walk.
They go out on these walks,
and Scotty teaches Todd the names of
the flowers and the birds and the trees.
He's learning all that stuff?
Well, some, but mostly
he just likes being with Scotty.
And he loves to look at things,
you know,
small things that you or I
wouldn't even see.
Like a wild flower growing in
somebody's lawn, or a caterpillar.
You know, it's nice moving at his pace,
very slowly.
Seeing all the things that you or I
wouldn't even take time to notice.
- Hi, coach.
- Hey, kiddo.
How was the nature walk?
Oh, it was good.
We seen these bugs
with these long legs.
What do you call that bug?
What's its name?
- I don't know.
- Praying...
Yeah, praying bugs.
And we seen these flowers,
these real fuzzy flowers.
Praying mantis.
Yeah.
And I blew the fuzzy flower,
and all the fuzzy stuff went in the air.
What a neat walk.
- Do I have to go back tomorrow?
- Well, it's Monday, you've got school.
But I wanna stay here another day.
Todd, if Scotty and I could fix it
so you could stay here all the time,
would you like that?
Forever and ever?
Forever and ever.
We want you to be our son, Todd.
We love you.
- And you'll be my mom and dad?
- Yes.
Yes.
Todd, what are you doing?
Wait.
But I don't understand, Mrs. Gettes.
We filled out all of the forms,
we've met all of the criteria
your agency has for adoptive parents,
- because you said so yourself.
- I know that, Mrs. Wilson.
Everything you're saying is true,
but Todd's natural parents
never gave him up for adoption.
But they haven't seen him in years.
I know that.
We approached the Bryants
and apprised them of the situation
and of your desire to adopt Todd.
I didn't think
there would be any problem.
There shouldn't have been.
They don't care what happens to him.
They all but abandoned him.
They didn't abandon him,
they put him in foster care.
And they have paid all his expenses
at the group foster-care home.
But they don't love him,
they have no moral right.
They have a legal right.
Mr. Wilson,
I shouldn't have to tell you that.
You're an attorney,
and they are his parents.
And they have made it very clear that
they will not, under any circumstances,
allow you to adopt their son.
Maybe if we could just meet them,
talk with them,
make them see that we love the boy,
that we'd be good parents.
They saw your file, Mr. Wilson.
It's no reflection on either of you,
but they don't want to meet you.
They were as firm about that
as they were about
not giving Todd up for adoption.
I'm so sorry, but there's
just nothing to do about it.
They are his parents.
No, they're not.
It takes love to be a parent.
We love the boy.
All they've got on their side
is the law.
I'm afraid that's all they need.
But they haven't seen him
since he was three years old, not once.
Isn't there anything
you can do legally, Scotty?
I mean, isn't there something?
I don't know. I'm researching it now.
We could petition the court to appoint
a conservatorship for Todd
with us as conservators,
but the odds are so much against it.
These people have money,
they can fight us and they'd win.
But they don't wanna be his parents.
They're not fit to be his parents.
That's not the way
a court would see it.
They didn't abandon him, they put him
in a fine group foster-care home.
- They've paid all his bills.
- But they've never been there for him.
They haven't--They haven't held him
or laughed with him.
They haven't comforted him
when he's cried.
The law doesn't give
too many points for cuddling.
Then the law stinks.
In the eyes of the law,
they're not unfit parents.
They did exactly what their doctors
advised them to do.
Everything except love him.
You don't know that.
Jonathan, what are you talking about?
They gave up the kid.
If they gave up the boy because they
thought it was the best thing for him,
then it was an act of love.
Whose side are you on, anyway?
Oh, come on, Diane,
it's not a matter of sides, is it?
Fact of the matter is they won't
give the child up for adoption,
and there has to be a reason.
Have you told Todd yet?
- No.
- How could we tell him, Mark?
He's so excited about
finally having a family.
He's already planning
our first Christmas together.
So, what have you told him?
We just said these things take time
and he has to be patient.
I don't believe this is happening.
What kind of people
would prevent their child
from having parents who want him
and who really love him?
- Dr. Bryant?
- Yeah.
I'm Jonathan Smith.
We met in your office
a few months ago?
The Special Olympics.
Oh, yes, of course.
I wondered if I could talk to you
for a few minutes.
- Well, we're just finishing up dinner.
- Oh, I'm sorry.
But I'll wait if it's all right.
It's about your son, Todd.
Well, I think we've already had
this conversation, Mr. Smith.
I mean, I think it's great
that Todd's in the Special Olympics,
but we don't think it's right
to come back into his life
- just to cheer him on in a track meet.
- This is not about Special Olympics.
It's about the couple
that wants to adopt him.
You mean my brother?
Josh, Jennifer, do me a favour,
go to your rooms, please?
But why?
Just do as I say, please.
Look, if you wanna use the car,
go to your rooms, okay?
Thank you.
- What's going on here?
- That's what I'd like to know.
I'm a friend of the Wilsons,
the couple that wants--
I know who they are,
and I know what they want,
and the answer is no.
Dr. Bryant, the Wilsons
are both professional people,
they're fine people.
They make a good living, and they
love Todd, and he loves them.
They'd be wonderful parents for him.
And you think there's something wrong
with the kind of parents we are?
We don't have to talk to him, Lauren.
No, I wanna know
what he thinks of us.
- It doesn't matter--
- It matters to me.
You see,
I don't like people judging me.
I didn't come here to judge you,
Mrs. Bryant.
Oh, "They love him.
They'd make wonderful parents."
Well, if that isn't judging,
I don't know what is.
Do you have a Ret*rded child,
Mr. Smith?
- No, I don't.
- Well, we do.
We can tell you all about the heartache
of watching him with other children
and knowing that there's something
wrong with that beautiful baby.
And not admitting it to yourself
even though all the other babies
are walking and talking.
We can tell you all about the lies
that you tell yourself
and the praying to God
that it just isn't true.
Do you know what it is like
for a mother to give her baby away
to strangers
and to turn her back on him,
and to hear him screaming and yelling?
Do you know what that feels like?
Calm down, Lauren.
No, I want him to know.
Now, the doctors
advised us to do this.
And our minister
counselled us to do this.
I've already explained that
to Mr. Smith.
You don't have to
go through this again.
You know, we went to see him once,
and he cried so hysterically
that I had to- I had--
I had to pry his hands
off of my body.
Do you know what a mother feels like
to do that?
Believe me, I didn't come here
to judge you, Mrs. Bryant.
I know you've done
what you thought was best.
He's in a fine home
and he's done very well there.
But as fine a place as that is,
it isn't the same
as having a mother and father.
The Wilsons are willing to take any
kind of a test you want them to take
to prove what kind of people they are
and what kind of home
they can give to Todd.
No.
No. We are Todd's parents
and we'll decide what's best for him.
And to be blunt, Mr. Smith, which is
evidently the only way to be with you,
this Mr. Wilson you're
talking about is a quadriplegic.
Now, I want you to tell me
what kind of guardian he's going to be
for a boy who is mentally incompetent?
It's completely out of the question.
We've taken everything
into consideration
and we've made our decision.
There's something you haven't
taken into consideration,
and that's how Todd feels
and what he thinks.
It is irrelevant what Todd thinks,
the boy is Ret*rded.
Stop it, both of you.
Just get out of here.
Just get out of our house. And tell
those people to stop bothering us
and to stay away from my son.
I think you'd better leave now,
Mr. Smith.
I'm sorry. I didn't come here
to upset you. I'm sorry.
- There you go, Kyle.
- Thanks.
Let's see some good jumping, Kyle.
Excuse me, I'm looking for
Mr. and Mrs. Scott Wilson.
Oh, yeah, sitting right down there.
Thanks.
Go, go, go.
Stay in your lane, stay in your lane.
- Go, run!
- Mr. Wilson?
Yeah, that's me.
I'm sorry.
I just get paid
to serve the paper. Here.
What is this?
I'm sorry.
What is it, Diane?
I don't understand all this
legal mumbo jumbo.
Hey, I'm the lawyer, let me see.
- Damn.
- What? What is it?
The Bryants. This is a notice advising
us that they've filed a request
with the court to issue
a temporary restraining order,
to bar us from having any further
contact with their son, Todd.
- Hi, mom.
- Hi, hon.
Is there any mail for me?
You're home from practise
kind of early.
Yeah, the coach
had to go somewhere.
What's this?
Oh, it's just some legal papers.
Nothing for you.
Nothing from Susan,
if that's what you're after.
Are we suing somebody?
Well, If we are,
I don't see what business it is of yours.
This is about Todd, mom.
What is this?
What is this sudden interest
in our legal affairs?
I just asked a question.
I mean, is there a problem with Todd?
Someone is trying to interfere
and your father and I
are being forced to hire a lawyer
to stop them. Good enough?
Does this have to do with that man
who came here about adopting Todd?
That is our business.
Your father's and mine.
Hey, I just asked a question.
Well, you got your answer.
Can he do stuff at all?
Who?
My brother.
Can he walk or talk or do anything?
Or does he just lie there?
What is going on here?
What's going on with you, ma?
I just asked a simple question.
I mean, mom,
it was you who always told us
the reason
we could never visit him
is he wouldn't
recognise us anyway, right?
Your brother is Ret*rded.
He is one of the tragedies of my life.
He is not getting better,
he will never get better.
- He is Ret*rded, okay?
- Okay.
Do you ever go and see him?
Just you and Dad?
That is enough. I will not be
cross-examined in my own house.
Your brother is in one of the
finest facilities in the state.
And he is getting the best of care.
Far better than any cr*pple
could give him.
And far better than if he had to
compete for our love and attention
with two self-centred teenagers
like you and your sister.
- Mom, I didn't mean to upset you--
- Just leave me alone.
Just...
Just go up to your room, drive your
car or whatever it is that you do.
Oh God, just leave me alone.
How's she doing?
She finally cried herself to sleep.
I'll never forget
that little guy's face today
when we told him
we couldn't see him anymore.
I tried to explain it to him,
but I could hear him crying
all the way back to the van.
I wish Mrs. Bryant
could have heard you say that.
Why?
What difference would it make to her?
She told me that's exactly what
happened when she had to leave Todd.
She didn't have to leave Todd.
She did it because she wanted to.
I did it because she forced me to.
So spare me the stories
about what she felt.
Hey, hey, hey, come on.
None of this is helping us figure
a way to beat that restraining order.
This isn't gonna be solved in court.
There's more here than just law.
Maybe so, Jonathan, but right now
the law's the only thing we've got.
So if you can't help,
just stay out of it.
Hey, I'm sorry.
I'm just so damn angry.
It's so unfair.
There's not a thing we can do.
They're the natural parents.
They've got all the rights.
But what about Todd?
Doesn't he have any rights?
Every kid has a right
to sue his parents.
He can sue them to sever his ties
with them. He can become--
- What do they call it?
- Emancipated.
Emancipated.
That's an established point of law,
but we're not just
talking about a minor,
we're talking about a Ret*rded minor.
Well, don't the Ret*rded
have any rights under the law?
Well, sure they do.
But on this one, I don't know.
Well, he has a right to an attorney.
Everybody has a right to an attorney.
Now, they may be able to keep him
from seeing you, Scotty,
but can they keep him
from seeing his own lawyer?
Hi, kiddo.
I don't wanna go practise.
Yeah, I know.
It's because Scotty and Diane
can't come to see you, huh?
They don't want to.
Todd, come on, they explained to you
why they can't come and see you.
They could if they really wanted to.
They could if they really loved me.
Todd, what you're doing right now
is you're being a little boy.
Now, if you want Scotty and Diane
for your family,
you're gonna have to act like
a big boy now.
You're gonna have to try to understand
what's going on.
So you can fight
for what you want and get it.
But I can't do nothing.
How can I do something?
That's what I'm gonna tell you.
You know what a judge is?
- Like on TV?
- Right, like on TV.
He's the guy that sits there
and puts the bad guys in jail.
Well, it's not always a question
of putting a bad guy in jail.
You see, sometimes when people
have a disagreement, they...
Here.
Suppose you and your best friend
both wanted to play with the same toy.
What would you do?
Ask Mrs. Burke.
Right, well a judge is like Mrs. Burke.
See, when grownups have
a disagreement, they go to a judge,
and the judge decides
what's right according to the law.
- What law?
- The rules.
Like...
If you were in a race and you ran out
of your lane, what would happen?
I don't win.
Right. Because those are the rules.
Well, in life there are rules too.
And a judge knows what they are.
But the judge won't let
Scotty and Diane see me.
It's only because
he hasn't heard you yet.
Todd, would you be willing to stand up
in front of a judge
and tell him what you want?
And he'd let me live
with Scotty and Diane?
Maybe. There's a chance.
It won't be easy.
Nothing's easy.
I'll tell a judge.
You take me to a judge, coach.
I wanna tell him.
Now, wait a minute,
you don't just go and see a judge.
You see, you gotta have an attorney.
But I don't have no attorney.
Do you want one?
Sure.
All right, kiddo, you got one now.
Come on.
Hi, kid.
I missed you.
I missed you too.
Mr. Wilson.
I'm sorry, but I've got orders
to call the police if you come here.
Now, there's an injunction against
you seeing Toddy, you know that.
That's where you're wrong,
Mrs. Burke.
There is a temporary restraining order
against Scotty Wilson.
I'm not here as Scotty Wilson.
I'm here as an attorney
seeing my client.
He got himself a lawyer.
His attorney?
Your Honour, this is preposterous.
Mr. Parker, you know,
these proceedings
are being held in my chambers,
so we can be a little less formal.
I'd appreciate
if you'd refrain from the theatrics.
Sorry, Your Honour.
It's all right, son.
Your Honour,
Mr. Wilson is himself
the object of the restraining order.
His client, as he calls him, is a minor
of diminished mental capacities
whose guardians are the ones
who sought the restraining order
to protect him from Mr. Wilson.
So this is absurd.
Mr. Wilson?
Your Honour, I am an attorney licensed
by the bar to practise law in this state.
The minor in question is also
the object of this restraining order,
and has requested me to act on
his behalf in the matter now pending
before this court.
And on his behalf, I'm requesting
the court to set aside ruling
on whether the temporary restraining
order should be made permanent
until Your Honour has had a chance
to consider my client's petitions.
What petitions?
Mr. Parker, the guy on my side
of the desk asks the questions.
Sorry, Your Honour.
What petitions?
Mark.
The first is my client's opposition
to the request
for a permanent restraining order,
barring my client from seeing
Mr. and Mrs. Scott Wilson.
The second is a petition asking the
court to appoint guardians ad litem,
temporary guardians for my client,
and that those guardians
be Mr. and Mrs. Scott Wilson.
Now, if you're wanting
guardians ad litem,
your client must be entertaining
some litigation of his own.
That's correct, Your Honour.
It is my client's intent to take
whatever steps are necessary
to sever his legal ties from his natural
parents, Richard and Lauren Bryant,
so that he will be free to be adopted
by Mr. and Mrs. Scott Wilson,
who love him.
Your Honour, I must protest.
Yes, well,
I kind of figured you would.
I mean, come on, Mr. Wilson,
who are you trying to kid?
Your Honour,
we are talking about a Ret*rded boy
who could no sooner pronounce
the words in those petitions,
let alone understand
what they meant.
Your Honour, we love the boy
and we wanna make a home for him
and he loves us and he knows
very well what those words mean.
The boy is a mental incompetent.
And this man
is making a mockery of--
Mr. Parker.
I'm gonna decide who is
and who is not competent, not you.
Yes, Your Honour.
Mr. Wilson, I'm going to have to insist
on a competency hearing
for this minor in question to determine
whether he understands the nature
of these proceedings.
If I find that he does,
then I will accept you
as his counsellor,
and I will entertain your motion.
Thank you, Your Honour.
Not so fast, mister.
If I find out
that the young man in question
does not understand
what's going on,
that you in fact
have manipulated him and the law,
and have attempted
to manipulate this court,
I'm gonna hold you in contempt.
And you're gonna have
a lot more to worry about
than just a restraining order.
Now, that clear?
Yes, Your Honour.
All right, I'll have the clerk set aside
the rd of this month,
on the hearing phase,
case of Bryant v. Bryant.
I can't thank you enough
for bringing your team here
- to work out with our athletes.
- I'm delighted you asked.
It'll be a great experience
for our guys.
They'll learn more about track
by teaching it,
and more about life
working with your Special Olympians.
Okay, you guys.
Mr. Smith here has divided
his athletes up into groups of five
and I've done the same to you
so that each one of you
will have one group to work with.
Okay, let's get to it.
Okay.
My name's Josh and I'm gonna
be working with you today, okay?
- Hi, Josh.
- Hi.
When I call up your names I want you
to answer up loud and clear, okay?
All right.
All right, Kyle Davis.
Hi, Josh.
Good. Mary Beth Wilkerson.
- I am here.
- Okay.
To--
Todd Bryant.
Here.
Todd.
Where do you live?
At the group foster-care home
with Mrs. Burke.
Toddy.
I'm Josh Bryant.
I'm your brother.
My-- My brother?
Yeah.
My brother.
My brother.
My brother.
My brother.
You lied to me and to Jennifer.
All these years, all you did was lie.
- Josh, we didn't lie to you.
- Yes, you did.
You said that he wouldn't know us,
that he couldn't do anything.
I mean, he's my brother. Why didn't
you ever take me to visit him?
Josh, because it was too painful for us.
Can't you understand that?
No.
Josh, once he was in the home
and well taken care of,
we had to put him
out of our mind. Josh.
There was nothing we could do
for him then.
And we had to get
our lives back to normal.
Josh, we gave him up because the
doctors, and all the experts told us to.
They said that
he was gonna be better off.
And believe me, he is better off.
He's not a part of our lives now
and we are not part of his.
Well, maybe you're not, but I am.
He's my brother
and I'm gonna visit him again.
Oh, Josh,
I don't think that's a good idea.
- I don't care what you think.
- Now, wait a minute.
Don't smart mouth your mother,
all right?
Now, we'll decide what's best
for this family.
What are you gonna do, Dad?
Get an injunction against me too?
- Josh.
- Let him go.
Richard, maybe we should
think about what we're doing.
Maybe we should
meet with those people.
No. Damn it, Lauren.
These people are responsible
for all of this.
The Wilsons, Smith, all of them.
This family was doing fine.
And so was Todd,
until they started butting into our lives.
Tomorrow, we're gonna go to court
and we're gonna nail this thing shut
once and for all. Okay?
- How are you doing, Todd?
- Okay.
A little nervous?
That's okay.
Toddy, do you know why
we're here today?
Why?
To talk to the judge.
And what's he going to do?
He's gonna say what's good.
He knows what's good,
because he knows the rules.
And do you understand
what your parents want?
They don't want me
to see you and Diane anymore.
- Todd, where do you live?
- You know.
Yeah, but the judge
needs to hear it from you.
At the group home with Mrs. Burke.
Do you like it there?
It's okay.
Are they mean to you?
No. They're okay.
- Where do you wanna live?
- With you and Diane.
Why?
Because I don't have
a mom and dad.
But you do, Todd.
You have a real mom and dad.
But I don't know them.
Do you love your real mom and dad?
I don't know them.
I know Joshy, though. He's my brother.
Todd, is there anything
you wanna tell the judge?
Go ahead then.
Tell him whatever you want.
I gotta go to the bathroom.
I think that's very sensible, son.
You can go to the bathroom.
Would someone please
accompany this young man?
This court will now
take a ten-minute recess.
I think that should be time enough.
- Did I do good?
- You did very good.
I'll take him. Come on.
Judge, I forgot to tell you something.
Well, you can tell me
when you come back, son.
No, I might forget.
Okay, what?
I love Scotty and Diane.
Is that in the rules?
Well, we make allowances for that.
I don't get no allowance.
But it ought to be in the rules.
It's important.
Yes, it is.
Your Honour,
could I see you in your chambers,
please, and the Wilsons?
Dr. Bryant,
this court is now in recess.
But if you have anything to say,
you should really do it
through your attorney.
We don't need an attorney,
Your Honour.
Well, all right then.
Dr. and Mrs. Bryant,
you know, once you've made
this decision, it cannot be reversed.
We know, Your Honour.
And you're both sure about this?
Yes.
Yes.
And I'll tell you why, Your Honour.
Because, it's the first time
since we put him in that home,
that I haven't felt guilty.
I know that he'll be happy now.
And I know he...
He won't be crying
when we leave him this time.
Thank you.
We love him very much.
So do we.
I know.
What's going on?
I just saw the Bryants leave.
It's all over, Mark.
The judge said what was good?
No, Todd, your mom and dad did.
Ready to go home
with your new parents?
- I get to live with you.
- Forever and ever.
Hey, Todd, what about me?
Your attorney has to get paid,
you know.
- I love you.
- I love you too.
Let's go home, son.