- 7/14/2025
Set in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, corporate lawyer Nick Fallin is sentenced to 1500 hours of community service at the local children's services department, due to drug possession.
Starring Simon Baker
Starring Simon Baker
Category
📺
TVTranscript
00:00Previously on The Guardian.
00:02Our philosophy here at Children's Legal Services is quite simple.
00:06We represent the child's wishes.
00:08What'd you do? Something bad?
00:10Got arrested for drugs.
00:11There will be no more conflicts, Mr. Fallon.
00:13Do you understand me?
00:14I can remove you from your position at this clinic at any time.
00:17Look, just because you're my son doesn't mean you're going to get special treatment around here.
00:21Do you understand that?
00:22These cases, I can't just phone them in.
00:23I understand that, but you've got to find a way not to let them pull you under.
00:30It's hot.
00:36My apartment, I forgot to turn on the air conditioning.
00:41Not in late October, right?
00:43And now it's like a sauna.
00:46Yeah.
00:49How about your place?
00:51What about it?
00:53Is it hot?
00:56No, not really.
00:59Sounds...
01:00Sounds nice over there.
01:08Hi.
01:09I was sitting over there by the, uh...
01:12The plant.
01:13The dead one at me.
01:15I saw you sitting over here.
01:20Do I know you?
01:21Not yet.
01:22I'm Dina.
01:23I'm Nick.
01:24What are you doing?
01:25I'm working.
01:26What are you working on?
01:27I'm working on a case.
01:28You're a lawyer.
01:29Do you have any, um, pets to keep you company?
01:31You seem like a, like a dog person.
01:32I mean, I could be wrong about that.
01:33I've never had a dog or a cat.
01:34Really?
01:35I've never had a dog or a cat.
01:36Really?
01:37But isn't that interesting?
01:38How two people can work together and not, and not talk about their, their pets or, or, or, or their lack of pets.
01:48You look lonely.
01:49Do I?
01:50Mm-hmm.
01:51Well, I'm not.
01:52Do you want to go somewhere?
01:53Into you.
01:54That's the idea.
01:55Well...
01:56Yeah.
01:57Yeah.
01:58Yeah.
01:59Yeah.
02:00Yeah.
02:01Yeah.
02:02Yeah.
02:03Yeah.
02:04Yeah.
02:05Yeah.
02:06Yeah.
02:07Yeah.
02:08Yeah.
02:09Yeah.
02:10Yeah.
02:11Yeah.
02:12Yeah.
02:13Yeah.
02:14Yeah.
02:15Yeah.
02:16Yeah.
02:17Yeah.
02:18Yeah.
02:19Okay.
02:20You okay?
02:21You okay?
02:37So, uh, you, you want to make me go somewhere?
02:40I, I've got an early morning tomorrow.
02:43Yeah.
02:44Yeah.
02:45Me too.
02:46Yeah.
02:47Me too.
02:48Hey, there you are.
02:49Hey.
02:50Hey, there you are.
02:51Hey.
02:52How are you?
02:53A couple of kids were abandoned out of state a few years back.
02:57The foster parents that took them in were gonna adopt them both, but the older sister
02:58was problematic.
02:59How long is this gonna take?
03:00Cause I gotta get back to Fallon & Associates by 10.
03:01They're just gonna adopt the younger one.
03:02How old are they?
03:03One's 16, the other's 16.
03:04The other's eight.
03:05Wow.
03:06Hands up.
03:07How old are they?
03:08One's 16.
03:09The other's eight.
03:10And we represent both of them?
03:11Yes.
03:12Wow.
03:13Is that a conflict?
03:14No.
03:15You just need to be sensitive to the older sister who's adjusting.
03:16Well, you're telling me she needs a social worker, not a lawyer.
03:17Associates by ten.
03:18They're just going to adopt the younger one.
03:20How old are they?
03:21One's sixteen, the other's eight.
03:23And we represent both of them?
03:24Yes.
03:25Wow.
03:26Is that a conflict?
03:26No.
03:27You just need to be sensitive to the older sister who's adjusting.
03:29Well, you're telling me she needs a social worker, not a lawyer.
03:32All I know is she asks for you.
03:41This is Nick Fallon.
03:42He's going to be your attorney.
03:47I am sentencing you to 1,500 hours of community service,
04:09using your skills as a corporate attorney to work as a child advocate.
04:14When I told you I was 25,
04:42you should have asked to see my ID.
04:46You're, uh...
04:47In high school.
04:50Well, we did.
04:51It was against the law.
04:53This isn't a coincidence.
04:55I, uh, I was here a few days ago with my sister.
05:00I saw you sitting in here.
05:02You followed me?
05:03Yeah.
05:04Well, first I asked her on about you.
05:08Heard about your, um, probation and stuff.
05:11Why?
05:11The Hallebs, my foster parents, are separating us.
05:18We're all a family we've got, and they're separating us.
05:23Well, I'm sure they'll let you spend some time with your sister.
05:26You don't understand.
05:27They hate me.
05:30They won't let me.
05:30I used to live with them.
05:31They, they, they kicked me out.
05:33What do you want me to do?
05:36Stop this from happening.
05:37What? I can't.
05:38You could try.
05:39I can't.
05:44Maybe I could.
05:49Maybe I could talk to the police about us.
05:53About what we did last night.
05:56About what you did to me.
05:58Hold her sister.
06:15What about her?
06:16What's the story?
06:17Like I said, the girls were abandoned.
06:19When?
06:20The file doesn't say.
06:21They lived on the street for two years before ending up in a homeless shelter.
06:24Then why split them up?
06:26Tina Jameson is hard to handle.
06:28The foster parents sent her back to Catholic charities four times over the last 12 months.
06:32This only goes back a few years.
06:35Well, that's when we got their case.
06:37So there's no record of her biological parents?
06:39Hey, the agency performed a diligent search.
06:41Published notice in the newspapers from the parents' last known address.
06:44People don't disappear.
06:45Well, these people did.
06:47All they found was a record of sale of a mobile home five years back in the state of Minnesota.
06:51Names?
06:53John and Mary.
06:54Jameson.
06:56Hey, Nick.
06:56Nice.
06:59I picked these up on the way in.
07:00Oh, thanks.
07:01I forgot.
07:02Okay.
07:02Wear this tie and bring the second shirt in case you should sweat through the first.
07:07I don't know why I'm so nervous.
07:09You'll be great.
07:10You've done this for 24 years straight.
07:13You've always gotten the funding.
07:15Yeah, but usually I don't have any competition.
07:18Well, that new clinic doesn't have any track record.
07:21We at the Pittsburgh Children's Project have a lofty mission.
07:29We intend to fight for each child in the Allegheny County Court System to ensure that each and
07:34every case gets the thorough attention of every agency in the city to meet the full range of
07:40services that meet each child's needs.
07:44Every child, one at a time, making their lives better.
07:53Lights, please.
07:54Thank you, Ms. Moore.
07:59Now we'll hear from Mr. Alvin Masterson from Children's Legal Services.
08:04You guys know me.
08:05I've been doing this for 25 years.
08:08And I'll be...
08:09And I'll be doing it for 25 more.
08:13And I know idealism when I see it.
08:16Funding for public interest law firms is precariously low.
08:19Less than 20% of the legal needs of children of low-income Americans are being met.
08:25Publicly funded clinics like mine are really the only way that children...
08:29What is it, Ms. Moore?
08:34President Rabke, I was just wondering what Mr. Masterson's philosophy is.
08:38Is it the child's wishes or the best interest of the child?
08:47Currently, we represent the child's wishes.
08:49Do you think that children are prepared to make such important decisions for themselves?
08:52Huh.
08:53Some are, some are not.
08:56Most states represent best interest.
08:58That's a costlier approach, Ms. Moore, because you have to go out and do the work and find
09:01out what the best interests actually are.
09:03But you can do that, can't you, Mr. Masterson?
09:05We could, but not with the funding levels we have now.
09:07So, what is your philosophy, Mr. Masterson?
09:13My philosophy depends on the size of the county contract.
09:19What is it, Mr. Masterson?
09:20What is it, Mr. Masterson?
09:21What is it, Mr. Masterson?
09:22Get me the online files and whatever due diligence you've completed.
09:26Also, run a search on a 16-year-old girl, Dina Jameson, her younger sister, Lisa, and her parents,
09:32John and Mary Jameson.
09:33What am I looking for?
09:34Anything you can find.
09:35We are talking about refunds, Mr. Getz, not war reparations.
09:41It's still $450,000.
09:46Sorry I'm late.
09:49Look, Allegheny Electric has already refunded $17 million.
09:53It will cost us about $300,000 to fine the people the rest of the money is owed to.
10:01If you're not going to distribute the entire amount, we're going to ask the court to turn
10:06over your records.
10:13Well then, we'll see you in court.
10:18Gentlemen.
10:18I'd rather anybody got the money than these guys.
10:27Just help me just bastardize them.
10:35So how was it?
10:39How was what?
10:40Last night with the girl.
10:42Oh, come on.
10:43At least let me live vicariously here.
10:48No record at all for the parents, and I only found records dating back to 1998 for the
10:53girls.
10:53What's it say?
10:54The older girl brought a statutory rape charge against a man in his early 40s.
10:58Did it stick?
10:58Yeah, the guy served 50 days.
11:00What's his name?
11:01Fletcher Sachs.
11:02Fletcher Sachs.
11:03When will this thing go away?
11:05I served my time, my wife left me.
11:08When I moved into a new apartment, signs went up all over the neighborhood saying a registered
11:12sex offender had just moved in.
11:14I'm sorry to hear that, Mr. Sachs.
11:15If you want to talk to me about Dina, you should call my attorney.
11:18You don't understand.
11:19I'm representing Dina in her sister's adoption case.
11:24Well, then you should talk to my partner, not me.
11:27Your partner.
11:28Just...
11:29Wayne, some lawyer's here to talk to you about Dina and Lisa.
11:37Could you just talk to me?
11:38Yes?
11:44Mr. Haller.
11:45Yes.
11:46We met briefly at Children's Legal Services.
11:49I'm Dina's attorney.
11:51Oh, right.
11:53What do you want with Fletcher?
11:53You failed to disclose the fact that your business partner was having a relationship with a minor
11:58under your care?
12:02Look, Mr. Fallon, I understand Dina's upset about this, but you don't know Dina.
12:08And maybe if you did, you'd understand where we're coming from and why we're prepared to
12:11forgive Fletcher.
12:12I spoke with Fletcher Sachs.
12:19You got a habit of doing this.
12:22That was different with Fletcher.
12:23We loved each other.
12:25You loved him so much, you turned him into the police.
12:27The Hallers turned him in, not me.
12:29Why isn't there any record of either you or your sister prior to 1998?
12:35We live with my parents in a mobile home, mainly in state parks.
12:40They sold postcards and T-shirts, crap like that.
12:46They didn't even put us in school.
12:49One day, left us at a rest stop.
12:53Never came back.
12:59I can't force the Hallers to adopt you, and I can't stop this state from terminating your
13:06parents' rights.
13:08Okay, what do I do?
13:10I can try and emancipate you.
13:12How about how I got my sister back?
13:14I have to get a place to live, find a job, prove that you don't rely on anyone else for
13:18support.
13:18You do that, and it'll increase your chances of getting custody of your sister.
13:21Just keep me with my sister and make the Hallers take me.
13:30No jobs, no training schools.
13:33Just get it done.
13:34Do we get the children's contract?
13:50You know, Larry Hickey runs legal aid over in Homestead?
13:53He's retiring next month.
13:55Wimbledon?
13:55So the legal aid funds for indigent adults are still...
13:58You're giving the children's contract to that girl?
13:59Well, I don't know.
14:04Look, the county funding board still has the legal aid contract.
14:07Just take it.
14:08Then we'd be representing adults.
14:10Well, you can still work with children's issues.
14:12But we'd be representing adults.
14:13Why don't you want the legal aid contract?
14:15Because I did that years ago, when I first got into this side of the business.
14:23Had a case where I fought for months for a couple to regain custody of their seven-year-old
14:26daughter.
14:28A week later, they found her dead in the attic.
14:30Come on, we've all had cases like that, Al.
14:34I represent kids.
14:39Come on, Wendell.
14:40That girl has no idea what it's really like to do this kind of work.
14:45She just wants to put a happy face on it, figure out happy endings.
14:48Well, believe me, it's not that simple.
14:50You can't be reckless here.
14:54Well, you can always raise your funds privately and compete for the work.
14:58But the children's contract has been awarded to Miss Moore's group.
15:17May I have everyone's attention, please?
15:19Excuse me, attention.
15:25I have just learned that our county contract has not been renewed.
15:30So, your paychecks.
15:32If you deposit them, they will bounce.
15:36So, don't deposit them.
15:39What happened?
15:50This doesn't affect your community service, Mr. Fallon.
15:53It wasn't my concern.
15:56I lost a county contract to another clinic.
15:58Without it, I can't afford to keep these plates open.
16:01How much money do you need?
16:02$300,000.
16:09Were you aware that Mr. Haller's business partner had a sexual relationship with Dina Jameson
16:14and was convicted of statutory rape?
16:16So?
16:17Well, this clearly impacts the Haller's choice to adopt one sister and not the other.
16:21It could.
16:22Well, it absolutely does.
16:23Once the court finds out...
16:24You're not going to attempt to stop this adoption.
16:27They're entrusted with a teenage girl who had a sexual relationship with a 45-year-old man
16:31while in their case.
16:32There's an 8-year-old girl who stands a chance of having a good home.
16:35All at the cost of her sister.
16:36All at the cost of her sister.
16:47Hey.
16:49Hey.
16:50If you're looking for a job...
16:53I'm not.
16:53But if you are, Amanda needs a legal assistant.
16:57Amanda?
16:59That redhead?
17:00Yeah.
17:01You should take it.
17:02We could train you to be a corporate paralegal.
17:06Well, think about it.
17:08All right.
17:12The mission of Children's Legal Services is simple.
17:15We provide quality legal representation for children who are abused, neglected, or otherwise at risk.
17:19We hope to protect these kids from future harm or from doing future harm to others by finding them a safe and permanent home.
17:26Sounds like important work, Mr. Masterson.
17:28Well, we recently lost our county contract.
17:30How much do you need?
17:31Nearly $300,000.
17:33You might want to talk to Bernice Edelstein over at the Mahungahila Fund.
17:46She's usually interested in guys like you.
17:48She does the big annual bachelor auction.
17:51Maybe she can pencil you into that.
17:52Bachelor auction?
17:53You know, local celebrities, professional athletes.
17:56Women vid on them for dinner dates, and the money goes to charity.
18:03Bernice, it's Jane.
18:04I got a wonderful guy for you.
18:07Oh, me?
18:08No.
18:09He's ready to be auctioned.
18:10We have affidavits that say that Allegheny Electric has been fudging claims and sending checks to fictitious addresses.
18:21Sorry.
18:23We can weather this, believe me.
18:26The money's still owed, Mr. Fallon.
18:28By law, your client's company cannot keep it.
18:31So, we can go around and around like this for months, or we can come up with another solution.
18:37C-Pray Doctrine.
18:38Excuse me?
18:42C-Pray Doctrine.
18:44Ask the court to distribute the funds to a charitable organization in Pittsburgh.
18:49Who?
18:50I've been working with Children's Legal Services.
18:56What?
18:59I didn't realize you were raising a liberal, Mr. Fallon.
19:04Good for you.
19:06Nice place.
19:11Isn't it?
19:12Real nice place.
19:15So, uh, what's it like?
19:18What?
19:19Have a seat.
19:20Working here.
19:22It's alright.
19:24You hate it.
19:26Kind of.
19:27You like Nick?
19:29What do you mean?
19:30Working with him.
19:32He's arrogant.
19:34He's rude.
19:34Do you know what happened to him?
19:38I, I know he got arrested for drugs.
19:41I know he plea bargained down to a misdemeanor in exchange for community service and probation.
19:46You ever party with him?
19:49No.
19:49But there are stories.
19:52Incredible stories.
19:54Think he's an addict?
19:55I don't know him.
19:56Yeah, but his personality all buttoned up and tense.
19:59Won't smile.
20:00I don't know him.
20:01I just work here.
20:03But you'd like to.
20:06So, do you want the job?
20:12Ah, Mr. Fallon.
20:14I have a class action suit.
20:18Utilities company.
20:19Didn't cut the rates for the indigent.
20:21So?
20:22Nearly half a million left over.
20:24And?
20:24The court can allocate undistributed funds from a class action to another class that might benefit.
20:30CLS could qualify.
20:32I suggested that they listen to your, uh, pitch.
20:39You did?
20:40Yes, I did.
20:41You should come in.
20:42Okay.
20:44Good.
20:49What?
20:52Don't push too hard.
20:54Don't demand it.
20:55Just be humble.
21:00The Howlers are here.
21:02We need to discuss what transpired between Dina and your business partner, Fletcher Sachs.
21:07An unfortunate situation.
21:09You can't blame a teenage girl for what happened.
21:11No, I blame my partner.
21:12Uh, you can tell us what happened.
21:17Well, we didn't know anything about it at all.
21:20One day at dinner, she just blurted it out.
21:22She said, Fletcher and I are having an affair, and I'm taking Lisa.
21:24We're going to live with them.
21:25So we confronted Fletcher and he confessed.
21:29Who filed charges?
21:31We did.
21:32One of the hardest things we've ever had to do.
21:34And yet you remain in business with this man.
21:36He's human.
21:37He slipped.
21:38Dina can be, um...
21:42Let's just say he's not the only one responsible for this happening.
21:47But you decided to punish her for something that he did.
21:51No.
21:52No, we're not adopting her because she's impossible to control.
21:57Besides, she's so protective of her sister that she makes it impossible for us to do our jobs.
22:01How so?
22:02Well, every time we tell Lisa to behave or to follow the rules, Dina tells us to back off.
22:07And she only listens to her sister, so we're losing control of our own household.
22:13Would you mind if I went and spoke to Lisa?
22:15Oh, hi, Lisa.
22:28Hi.
22:30I know you've talked to a lot of people about what you remember of your past.
22:34I guess.
22:37Can you tell me anything about your parents?
22:45You like dolls?
22:48Yeah.
22:50Yeah.
22:52Do you remember anything at all?
22:56We lived in an old school bus.
22:59We parked it under a bridge.
23:02A bus?
23:03Yeah.
23:05Not a mobile home?
23:06No.
23:07A school bus.
23:10A school bus under a bridge?
23:13Yeah.
23:15Okay.
23:31Hi.
23:33Nick, this is Kevin, my boyfriend.
23:36Kevin, this is Nick.
23:37He's my lawyer.
23:38Hey.
23:39Yeah.
23:40So I guess we have some legal stuff to talk about, don't we, Nick?
23:44Yeah.
23:45I left my book bag at my locker room.
23:47I'll be very young.
23:51You two been going out long?
23:54Seven weeks.
23:55She's my first real girlfriend.
24:00How's it going?
24:01Good.
24:02Good.
24:03We, you know, we like go to the Dollar Cinema over in Moon Township.
24:08She likes to bring her sister.
24:10What else?
24:10I don't know.
24:14We like to watch trains down by the Ohio River.
24:18Does she like to bring her sister along when you two watch trains?
24:27Okay, Nick, I'm ready.
24:29Bye, sweetie.
24:30I'll see you tomorrow.
24:30I'll see you tomorrow.
24:37Jealous.
24:38You shouldn't be.
24:39He does not know the tricks that you know.
24:43So is it a mobile home or a school bus?
24:45What are you talking about?
24:47Your sister seems to believe you lived in a school bus under a bridge.
24:50She's too young to know the difference.
24:53She doesn't remember anything.
24:55Your name.
24:57It's not your name.
24:58Yeah, it is.
24:59Who are you?
25:03Just the girl you slept with the other night, Mr. Fallon.
25:06I check the records all over the country.
25:09I check the records.
25:09There's nothing, really, nothing.
25:11So if your make-believe parents' rights terminate next week,
25:15you have no chance to stay with your sister.
25:17But if you just help me try and find your real parents,
25:21then we can stop the adoption proceedings long enough
25:24to see if they want to get involved.
25:29My parents' names are John and Margaret Cunningham.
25:32They live in Lincoln, Nebraska.
25:35Okay.
25:38Why didn't you tell me that in the first place?
25:39Because they were sick, okay?
25:43Both of them.
25:45They were drug addicts and drunks.
25:49When Lisa was born, we didn't have a thing.
25:52They just neglected her.
25:55So I took her.
25:59Kept it a secret.
26:02Don't ever believe me.
26:03Because they never abused us, so...
26:08But you know what?
26:09The hell that we talk about, I mean, who knows?
26:13Maybe they can...
26:14They can get better, and we can go back home.
26:18Yeah, well, that's just fine, though.
26:20I finished due diligence for the Arnold case.
26:32You've just got to bring in the contracts.
26:33Great.
26:34I'm going to check on John and Margaret Cunningham of Lincoln, Nebraska.
26:42We have our fundraiser tomorrow.
26:44It's a big deal.
26:45The eligible bachelor auction.
26:47Yes, I know.
26:48You're single, right?
26:50Yes.
26:51I'll make you a deal.
26:53Participate in the auction, and I will give you all the proceeds you generate.
26:57I need $300,000.
26:58Well, Mr. Masterson, for that, you'd have to be some kind of date, now, wouldn't you?
27:07No married couples by those names currently reside in Nebraska.
27:10There's no record at all.
27:12Nothing.
27:12Do you have a second?
27:20Yeah.
27:25I love your stereo.
27:29I checked your story out.
27:30There's no record at the Cunninghams.
27:33If you want me to help you, you've got to tell me the truth.
27:37It is the truth.
27:39Okay, we're done.
27:40You're on your own.
27:42Don't like me, Mr. Fallon.
27:49Because you liked me a lot a few nights ago when we met at a bar late at night.
27:54People saw us there, didn't they?
27:56They saw us leave together.
27:58And I know an awful lot about where you live.
28:02Your apartment, your car, your underwear.
28:06You didn't have a problem with me when you thought I was 25, nut, did you?
28:20Can you get Prince?
28:21Nick, these things take time.
28:22They cost money.
28:23Oh, hey.
28:24You can't just write you a bill for dust in your car for Prince.
28:28You'll do it, right?
28:29You'll do it.
28:31Yeah.
28:32Good.
28:33Here he is, ladies.
28:35Straight from the football field to your table, John Morton.
28:43He gained 1,000 yards last year, so we'll start the bid at $1,000.
28:47$1,000 here.
28:48$1,500.
28:49$2,000.
28:50$2,500.
28:52$3,000 here.
28:55$5,000.
28:56$6,000.
28:57$7,000.
28:58$10,000.
28:59$10,000.
29:01Do I hear another bid?
29:03Going once, going twice.
29:05Sold to Miss Hannaway of Shadyside.
29:09Have fun, Amy.
29:13All right, ladies, we've got plenty more where that came from.
29:17This is Alvin Mas...
29:18Alvin?
29:21Alvin?
29:22Come on, Alvin.
29:23Don't be shy.
29:24It's for a good cause.
29:33Ladies, this is Alvin Masterson.
29:37Now, he's not, um...
29:39He's not young, okay?
29:41I admit that.
29:42But he's got a sweet face, and he works hard for children.
29:46He's here to benefit legal aid.
29:48Children's legal services.
29:50Children's legal services.
29:51Yes, Alvin.
29:52Alvin.
29:54Uh, do I hear a bid?
29:59Anyone?
30:03Anyone?
30:03Anyone?
30:05$100?
30:08$100?
30:09Anyone?
30:12Excuse me?
30:13$1,000!
30:16Do I hear another bid?
30:17Going once, going twice.
30:18Sold!
30:22Stop!
30:22The admission of children's legal services is simple.
30:26We provide quality legal representation for children who are abused, neglected, otherwise at risk.
30:32Yeah, parties.
30:32Yeah, parties.
30:34Parties?
30:35You know, fundraisers, like, uh, well, we could do a dinner dance, or a cruise down the river, or maybe a show at the bedroom.
30:44We don't spend our resources on that sort of thing.
30:46Oh, but you really should.
30:48You'd meet some great people.
30:50If you had a party.
30:53Well...
30:53You, uh, you do like parties, don't you?
30:57I mean, they can raise, uh, so much money, those parties.
31:07Why, uh, why don't we discuss this, at your place?
31:13I gotta get going.
31:27To the clinic.
31:28To work.
31:29I'll send you a check.
31:43You ready for this?
31:45Yeah.
31:50What?
31:50Lose the jacket.
31:52What's wrong with the jacket?
31:55The, uh, the mission of children's legal services is, uh, quite simple, really.
32:00Um, we provide quality legal representation and, uh, advocacy assistance to children who are abused, neglected, or, uh, other...
32:12You've already made your minds up, haven't you?
32:25You're not giving this money to me.
32:31Okay, then.
32:32I, uh...
32:34I thank you for your time.
32:36Yeah?
32:47Prince came back connected to a homeless teenager in the area.
32:50She was arrested?
32:51No.
32:52She was involved in a rape case.
32:53When?
32:54About six years ago.
32:56Six years ago?
32:56She, she was, she was ten.
32:58It's a sick world.
33:00Okay, you got her name?
33:01Avis Donaldson.
33:03Parents' names are Charles and Edwina Donaldson.
33:05About 90 miles north of here.
33:07In the area.
33:14Mr. and Mrs. Donaldson, uh, thank you for taking the time to come down.
33:17Please take a seat.
33:19It's only an hour and a half.
33:20The reason I called you is, uh, I found her daughters.
33:33You found Avis?
33:35Yes.
33:37Where is she?
33:39She's living in a group home in the city.
33:42Oh, good.
33:44I was afraid she might be dead.
33:47No.
33:48Last we heard, she was in Maryland.
33:51Pittsburgh, huh?
33:52So close.
33:55Yeah.
33:56You must have been searching for them for a long time.
33:59For Avis, we usually know where she is.
34:01Really?
34:02She's been going around using different identities.
34:05Getting welfare.
34:06She talks a good game.
34:08She left here when she was 14.
34:10She had some tough times.
34:12Ended up in an institution.
34:14She ran away from there.
34:15All those years lost, you see?
34:17Just lost.
34:19She never went after her.
34:21Tried to bring her back home.
34:24We had a sorry bunch of kids.
34:25None of them turned out so great.
34:28But if you see Avis, tell her I said, God bless her.
34:32And tell her, God bless her daughter, too.
34:35Her daughter.
34:40How old is Avis?
34:41Avis Donaldson.
34:55Avis Donaldson.
35:12Come on, you had to know that was going to come out.
35:20Who's the father of your daughter?
35:24How the hell should I know?
35:26Why did you lie?
35:29I thought I was living on the street.
35:32The state would have just taken her away.
35:36And you just began to make a habit of it.
35:39We lived together in lots of foster homes.
35:44Whenever they'd get close to figuring us out, we'd run.
35:49When we got to Pittsburgh, things got kind of good.
35:53You know, I enrolled in high school.
36:00The people were so nice.
36:04We got placed with the Howlers.
36:05And then that thing happened with his partner.
36:11And the next thing you knew, he just kicked me out, sent me over to Catholic Charities.
36:17I just wanted a chance to do what everybody else did.
36:32Finish high school.
36:34Go to college.
36:36Be a teenager.
36:38I never got to be one, you know.
36:44So I just...
36:47I became one.
36:52I didn't think I would hurt anybody.
36:54You understand that a man went to jail for a statutory rape because of your deception.
37:08He...
37:08He thought I was 15.
37:11Yeah.
37:12You're 28 years old.
37:14But he thought...
37:15It was in his mind.
37:20Don't...
37:21Don't you see?
37:23It's...
37:24It's in everyone's mind.
37:26It's just...
37:27Like a line.
37:28A number.
37:30If people think I'm really 16, then...
37:34Maybe I really am.
37:37What are you going to do?
37:52What are you going to do?
38:07He raped me.
38:13He raped me.
38:20He had sex with me!
38:22At his apartment!
38:25I drove at his BMW!
38:28He had sex with me two times!
38:32He had sex with me!
38:34He had sex with me!
38:35He had sex with me!
38:36He had sex with me!
38:37He had sex with me!
38:57Did you?
38:58Mr. Fallon, she was a client.
39:08You know the legal ramifications of this?
39:11Yeah.
39:12The clinic could be shut down.
39:15You would be in direct violation of your probation and would spend years in...
39:18It happened before I knew she was a client.
39:21You can prove that?
39:22Yes.
39:26It was late.
39:27You ever have one of those nice when you're just weak?
39:38No, Mr. Fallon.
39:42I assume you can prove she's 28.
39:45Yeah.
39:45So, do you consider working with her a part of your community service?
39:54Yes.
39:54Yes.
39:54Yes.
39:54Yes.
39:55Yes.
39:55Yes.
39:56Yes.
39:57Yes.
39:58Yes.
39:59Yes.
40:00Yes.
40:01Yes.
40:02Yes.
40:03Yes.
40:04Yes.
40:05Yes.
40:06Yes.
40:07Yes.
40:08Yes.
40:09Yes.
40:10Yes.
40:11Yes.
40:12Yes.
40:13Yes.
40:17The DA's office is filing charges.
40:20There may also be a civil suit.
40:23You know, when you get out of jail, and have a job you can take parenting classes and maybe
40:32you can...
40:32Please, Mr. Fallon, please don't tell Lisa.
40:39She always thought, she doesn't even know, I'm her mother.
40:46She's never known.
40:52OK.
40:55When we were together the other night,
41:01you liked me, didn't you?
41:06You liked me.
41:10Yeah.
41:31Uh, you know, I'm sorry, you didn't get the money.
41:43I know.
41:44They decided to build a homeless shelter, I know.
41:46I heard.
41:47What are you going to do?
41:49You're going to take the state grant for legal aid and represent adults?
41:53You're a good lawyer.
41:54You run a fair clinic.
41:56Take the grant they're offering you and do the work you do.
42:00That, uh, that kid last week, a, uh, ten-year-old boy whose mom died in that apartment fire, he found his dad living in Oregon.
42:15And his dad says to me, you don't want the kid back because his new family would be upset.
42:29They'd be upset.
42:35At least we found that kid a foster home close enough so he could stay in his old school.
42:43At least we thought to do that.
42:48Take the legal aid contract, wait and see what happens.
43:03I got the job.
43:04So I heard.
43:07You're going to take it, right?
43:09I'm, uh, still waiting to see what happens here.
43:18Hear those reports you requested for the hearing?
43:24What are you going to tell Lisa?
43:26Well, nothing right now.
43:29Well, we'll wait till she gets a bit older before we let her know the truth.
43:32Can I have everyone's attention, please?
43:38I, uh, I just accepted the state contract.
43:46So, the money's back in the bank.
43:50You can cash your checks.
43:53We will, however, be changing our mission.
43:57Effective immediately.
43:59Children's legal services will become legal services of Pittsburgh.
44:08So, there you have it.
44:19Pleasure.
44:20Bye, Lisa.
44:21Bye.
44:22Bye.
44:23Bye.
44:24Bye.
44:25Bye.
44:26Bye.
44:27Bye.
44:28Bye.
44:29Bye.
44:31Bye.
44:33Bye.
44:34Bye.
44:35Bye.
44:36Bye.
44:37Goodbye.
44:39Bye.
44:40The Children's Legal Service...
44:40..Legal Services of Pittsburgh.
44:42Barbara Ludzinski speaking.
44:43Please hold.
44:45You told?
45:15You told me.
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