Speaker 1: After the death of Teddy Wells is initially treated as
Speaker 1: a possible suicide, police discover clues that suggest something more deliberate. Ada,
Speaker 1: his eighty nine year old mother, makes a quiet but
Speaker 1: startling confession she took the life of her adult, nonverbal,
Speaker 1: autistic son, not in a moment of panic, but with intention,
Speaker 1: care and love. Detective Curtis brings her in for questioning.
Speaker 1: Despite her age and fragile appearance, Ada doesn't waiver. She
Speaker 1: admits what she did and insists she was fully aware.
Speaker 1: Alexis Martinez, a sharp and compassionate attorney and former Adya,
Speaker 1: is brought in by Ada's friend and neighbor Gina to
Speaker 1: defend her and quickly moves to suppress the confession. But Ada,
Speaker 1: dignified and unwavering, stuns everyone when she calmly insists, I
Speaker 1: want to have a trial, not to escape punishment, but
Speaker 1: to explain why. At the DA's office, Dana Jeffreys is
Speaker 1: handling the case. She's ambitious and eager to prove herself. Harvey,
Speaker 1: her boss, makes it clear this is a political hot
Speaker 1: button and she's been chosen as the public face because
Speaker 1: she looks good and plays by the rules. It's not
Speaker 1: about justice, It's about optics. Still, Dana accepts the challenge,
Speaker 1: supported behind the scenes by her longtime loving boyfriend Ethan.
Speaker 1: As Dana steps into Ada's reality, her black and white
Speaker 1: worldview begins to blur. The haunting truth of what life
Speaker 1: was like for Ada alone for decades with a nonverbal
Speaker 1: child who is completely dependent on her throws Dana off balance.
Speaker 1: The burden of judgment is now hers to carry, and
Speaker 1: it's heavier than she imagined. It's not just about law now,
Speaker 1: it's about meaning, legacy, and the right to define your
Speaker 1: own story. What looked like a straightforward mercy killing becomes
Speaker 1: something deeper and messier, a public courtroom battle over the
Speaker 1: meaning of caregiving, autonomy, and dignity. Interior Dana's house foyer,
Speaker 1: night closes, the front door behind her, sets down her briefcase.
Speaker 1: The sound of laughter floats in from the living room.
Speaker 1: Interior Dana's living room, continuous. Dana enters to find Ethan
Speaker 1: with two other couples, Izzie and Marshall and Corey and James,
Speaker 1: all in their thirties. They stand in chat, drinks in hand.
Speaker 1: Appetizers and plates adorn the coffee table. Everyone lets out
Speaker 1: of cheer at the side of Dana.
Speaker 2: Wait, hold one second, there's only five of you in
Speaker 2: the room.
Speaker 3: That might be too many people.
Speaker 1: Everyone lets out of cheer at the sight of day
Speaker 1: Ethan walks over to give Dana a kiss.
Speaker 4: There you are.
Speaker 5: I totally forgot. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. I'm late.
Speaker 6: I'm sorry, I'm late.
Speaker 1: They move into the group. Martin hans Dana a glass
Speaker 1: of wine.
Speaker 7: Not to worry, Darling. We all know how hard you
Speaker 7: work the police. The slacker can do is keep us
Speaker 7: entertained in your absence.
Speaker 1: Interior Dana's living room. Later, the three couples sprawl on
Speaker 1: the soface board games on the coffee table, along with
Speaker 1: dirty plates and half empty glasses. They finish a game
Speaker 1: of cards against humanity.
Speaker 5: Okay, final round?
Speaker 3: What gets better with age?
Speaker 8: Oh?
Speaker 4: You mean beside you?
Speaker 9: Oh?
Speaker 4: Nicely played?
Speaker 1: No, I just don't age period. It's true.
Speaker 8: I mean she's been twenty nine for six years now.
Speaker 1: Buzzy gives Marshall a playful backhand. Everyone looks through their cards,
Speaker 1: reads their answers.
Speaker 6: An ice pickle bottom oooh pre teen.
Speaker 4: Jennifer Lawrence.
Speaker 1: Iuzzy gives Marshall a look. What He shrugs.
Speaker 6: Okay, Ethan, what gets better with age.
Speaker 4: Full frontal nudity.
Speaker 2: Oh, I was saving that one.
Speaker 4: Dana finished us off.
Speaker 6: Not funny.
Speaker 5: The only card I.
Speaker 1: Have left yeast Dana and Izzy. The men laugh, the
Speaker 1: laughter dies off.
Speaker 4: I know, not funny, but kind of true.
Speaker 10: Actually, who won?
Speaker 9: Is he?
Speaker 11: Who always wins?
Speaker 6: Ethan?
Speaker 1: Of course? Corey raises his glass to Ethan. Everyone else crying.
Speaker 7: Always the nice ones you have to look out for, Ethan.
Speaker 1: Fan's being hurt oooh me. Dana gathers up the cards.
Speaker 1: The guests finish their drinks, stack plates and glasses, retrieve
Speaker 1: their belongings. Dana stands with Ethan to see their guests out.
Speaker 1: Marshall pat's Ethan on the back.
Speaker 4: Another fantastic evening.
Speaker 8: My brother is.
Speaker 1: He gives Ethan a kiss on the cheek.
Speaker 3: Ethan, you are the best.
Speaker 11: Host YouTube, Dana.
Speaker 10: Ethan, thanks again for the auction items. That training camp
Speaker 10: experience is going to fetch a pretty penny.
Speaker 4: Oh, I'm happy to do it. All I did was
Speaker 4: make a call.
Speaker 10: Well, I appreciate it. We'll see you both there.
Speaker 6: Where was that?
Speaker 4: Oh?
Speaker 2: Remember how the galap for Alzheimer's in honor of Corey's dad.
Speaker 4: It's next weekend.
Speaker 6: That's right. Yeah, of course, sorry it it depends on
Speaker 6: where the trial's at.
Speaker 5: But I I hope so, me too.
Speaker 1: Hugs and goodbyes all around. Ethan waves. He closes the
Speaker 1: door after all the guests make their way out. Interior
Speaker 1: Dana's bedroom night. Dana and Ethan stood up in bed.
Speaker 1: Dana rubs lotion on her legs.
Speaker 4: That was a funny evening.
Speaker 6: Yeah, what, your friends don't really like me. They just
Speaker 6: tolerate me because of you.
Speaker 4: What, babe, why would you say that? Besides, they're your
Speaker 4: friends too.
Speaker 5: H No, not really.
Speaker 6: I gained them by a default, and you knew them
Speaker 6: before you met me. I mean, if you and I
Speaker 6: weren't together, they wouldn't still be my friends. Like nobody
Speaker 6: likes lawyers.
Speaker 1: He grabs her, pulls her on to the bed.
Speaker 4: Well I do.
Speaker 1: He kisses her neck, tries to get her in a
Speaker 1: good mood.
Speaker 2: In fact, let me show you how much I like lawyers,
Speaker 2: this one in particular.
Speaker 1: They kiss more intently. He moves his hand up her thigh.
Speaker 1: She rolls over to get up. It just hold on,
Speaker 1: He tries to keep her in bed. She squirms out
Speaker 1: of his embrace.
Speaker 4: It'll be okay, just this once, just just leave it.
Speaker 6: Oh, I'll be right back.
Speaker 1: She heads to the bathroom.
Speaker 4: You know, it wouldn't be the end of the world.
Speaker 1: He flops back on the bed, groans.
Speaker 4: Oh.
Speaker 11: Exterior Ada's backyard day.
Speaker 1: Ada sits at the patio table, a thick, plastic covered
Speaker 1: book open in front of her. She gazes out at
Speaker 1: the garden, where adult Teddy, a figment of her imagination,
Speaker 1: expertly tends to the plants. He is tall and broad,
Speaker 1: with an innocent open face, soft brown curls dance in
Speaker 1: a light breeze. Teddy turns to her, holds up a
Speaker 1: perfect red ripe tomato.
Speaker 12: I don't know how you do it, Teddy. Every year
Speaker 12: they're better.
Speaker 11: Than the last.
Speaker 1: He beams at her.
Speaker 12: Ada, I'm outside, deer.
Speaker 1: Gina emerges through the sliding door.
Speaker 6: There you are, is someone here.
Speaker 1: I thought I heard you talking. Ada looks at the
Speaker 1: garden again, then back at Gina.
Speaker 12: Shakes her head, just getting some fresh air. Thinking about Teddy.
Speaker 1: Gina gives her a squeeze, sees the book on the table.
Speaker 11: Is this his baby book?
Speaker 1: Yes?
Speaker 11: May I of course?
Speaker 1: Gina sits next to her flips through the book.
Speaker 13: Such a handsome boy.
Speaker 12: Do you think about having children?
Speaker 13: I used to, but I have endometriosis and couldn't get pregnant.
Speaker 13: I think that's why I became a teacher. I get
Speaker 13: thirty new children every year.
Speaker 12: Well, I'm sorry, Ugh. So many expectations around being a woman,
Speaker 12: being a mother.
Speaker 13: Yes, there are. That's why my husband left after only
Speaker 13: a year. He knew I couldn't never give him the
Speaker 13: son he wanted so badly.
Speaker 12: That wasn't your fault.
Speaker 1: I didn't see it that way. Ada puts her hand
Speaker 1: on Gina's. They look through the book together.
Speaker 12: That's the only photo Teddy's father ever took with him.
Speaker 12: He tried to distance himself as much as possible. I
Speaker 12: couldn't give him the son he wanted either.
Speaker 1: Close on a photo of young Ada seated with baby Teddy.
Speaker 1: An unsmiling man stands behind them.
Speaker 12: We were more alone when he was here than after
Speaker 12: he was gone.
Speaker 6: What happened? Unless it's too painful to.
Speaker 12: Talk about, there's nothing that can hurt me anymore.
Speaker 1: Jack.
Speaker 12: My husband blamed me, just like the doctors did. He
Speaker 12: said I'd baby Teddy too much and that he needed
Speaker 12: to start acting like a normal kid or else. I
Speaker 12: was afraid Jack might hurt him, especially after he'd drinking.
Speaker 12: One day, Teddy woke from a nap screaming. He screamed
Speaker 12: for hours. Nothing I tried would make him stop. Jack
Speaker 12: flew into a rage, yelling he couldn't take it anymore
Speaker 12: and that it was Teddy or him. I guess he
Speaker 12: could tell by the look in my eyes what my
Speaker 12: choice was, so he left never came back. I hated
Speaker 12: him for a long time, until I realized I didn't
Speaker 12: have the energy for it anymore. Sometimes I even felt
Speaker 12: sorry for him. I can only imagine what he experienced
Speaker 12: in the war just to come home to another.
Speaker 13: Are you sure you wouldn't rather stay with me?
Speaker 1: Teddy sits beside Ita, puts his head close to hers.
Speaker 12: No, thank you, dear, I'm all right here.
Speaker 13: Okay, I'll check in on you a little later. I've
Speaker 13: got lasagna in the oven for dinner. I'll bring some over.
Speaker 12: Mm. That sounds wonderful.
Speaker 1: Thank you, takes Gina's hand.
Speaker 12: You do such a beautiful job taking care of others.
Speaker 12: There's more than one way of being a mother.
Speaker 1: Gina gives her a hug. Interior office of the District attorney.
Speaker 1: Day Dana enters from the street, walks towards her office
Speaker 1: with a paper takeout bag. Her assistant runs.
Speaker 3: Up, Dana, the Emmy called while you were out sis.
Speaker 3: He's got fifteen minutes for you if you can.
Speaker 1: Get there before one. Dana checks her watch here Enjoy
Speaker 1: hands the bag to her assistant, heads back the way
Speaker 1: she just came. Interior medical Examiner's office. Day Dana sits
Speaker 1: across from the medical examiner flips through the report.
Speaker 6: What exactly is asphyxiation by.
Speaker 2: Helium breathing impure Healium deprized the body of oxygen. If
Speaker 2: the body is unable to take in oxygen, it starts
Speaker 2: to die within minutes.
Speaker 4: Helium speeds up this process.
Speaker 2: When the gas fills the lungs, it creates a diffusion
Speaker 2: gradient that washes.
Speaker 4: Out the oxygen.
Speaker 2: In other words, each time the body breeds in helium,
Speaker 2: more oxygen is sucked out of the system. The body's
Speaker 2: oxygen level can plummet to a hazardous level in a
Speaker 2: matter of seconds.
Speaker 6: Could Teddy Wells have killed himself this way without any assistance?
Speaker 2: It is possible for someone to perform death by asphyxiation
Speaker 2: unassisted but given mister Wells's substantial development disabilities, it's highly
Speaker 2: improbable he would have been able to do this by
Speaker 2: himself or even agree to it.
Speaker 6: So definitely homicide.
Speaker 4: Yes.
Speaker 2: The curious thing is though helium is nearly undetectable in
Speaker 2: toxicology probes, meaning lo more time, talks a lot toxological, toxic, toxicological.
Speaker 5: So definitely homicide.
Speaker 4: Yes.
Speaker 2: The curious thing is though helium is nearly undetectable in
Speaker 2: toxicological probes, meaning meaning if the defendant hadn't left the
Speaker 2: hood and the tubing out, I wouldn't.
Speaker 4: Have checks specifically for helium.
Speaker 2: With those signs of visible trauma on the body and
Speaker 2: no determinable cause of death, I wouldn't have ruled it
Speaker 2: a homicide. She could have walked, so why does she confess?
Speaker 1: Dana breaks the examiner's gaze to look back at the report.
Speaker 1: Interior Police Station, Front Desk Day. Dana approaches the desk.
Speaker 1: Sergeant flashes cir credentials.
Speaker 6: I'm looking for Detective Raymond Curtis. Is he available?
Speaker 1: Interior Robbery Homicide Office Day. Detective Curtis greets Dana.
Speaker 4: Where's Jefferys? How can I help you? Hello?
Speaker 5: Detective.
Speaker 6: I'd like to say, see the interrogation tapes for Ada Wells, please.
Speaker 4: Of course, this way.
Speaker 1: Motions for her to follow. Interior Detective Curtis is cubicle
Speaker 1: day Dana and Detective Curtis stod at his desk, a
Speaker 1: laptop open in front of them.
Speaker 4: You're looking for anything in particular.
Speaker 6: Honestly, I don't know what I'm looking for.
Speaker 1: She watches the screen.
Speaker 12: I didn't want him to suffer.
Speaker 4: Were you trying to make it look like a suicide?
Speaker 1: She presses pause. Faces the detective.
Speaker 6: That Emmy told me he wouldn't object for helium. If
Speaker 6: she hadn't left the equipment out, so it wouldn't have
Speaker 6: been ruled a homicide.
Speaker 5: She could have gotten away with it.
Speaker 8: It didn't appear she was trying to get away with anything, though.
Speaker 8: She didn't try to hide it at all. She gave
Speaker 8: us permission to enter and search the home, the hood,
Speaker 8: the tubing, Everything was in plane view. Her fingerprints were clean,
Speaker 8: no attempt to wipe anything off.
Speaker 5: Would you find her guilty if you were on the jury.
Speaker 4: I'm a police officer.
Speaker 6: Well, that isn't an answer.
Speaker 4: I've known.
Speaker 8: Alexis Martinez Is said a long time. I was close
Speaker 8: with her brother growing up, played ball in school. I
Speaker 8: worked for her when she was in.
Speaker 5: Your position, which means what exactly.
Speaker 8: She's good people. She only takes cases she believes in,
Speaker 8: and that's why she didn't last at the DA's office
Speaker 8: in all my years assessing murder suspects. Missus Wells's actions
Speaker 8: indicate she didn't believe she had done anything that needed
Speaker 8: to be covered up. So I'm guessing the defense is
Speaker 8: arguing capacity they are.
Speaker 1: He shrugs, as if to indicate he agrees.
Speaker 5: I think I just struck you from my witness list.
Speaker 1: Gives her a sympathetic luck. Interior Dana's office day. Dana
Speaker 1: takes a bite from a sandwich, studies a brief. Harvey
Speaker 1: breethes in with Alexis. Dana swallows, quickly wipes her mouth,
Speaker 1: stands up.
Speaker 10: Look who I found wandering the holes twice in one week.
Speaker 10: If I didn't know better, I'd say you were trying
Speaker 10: to get your old job back.
Speaker 11: You'll be the first to know, Harvey.
Speaker 10: Well, I'd love to stay in chat, but I've got
Speaker 10: a meeting. Go easy on this one. I don't want
Speaker 10: to lose another pretty face.
Speaker 1: He nods his head at Dana leaves.
Speaker 11: He's a peach that one.
Speaker 1: Dana does not respond, tries to wait her out.
Speaker 6: Then, was there something I could do for you?
Speaker 11: No, I was in the neighborhood and thought i'd drop
Speaker 11: off our witness lists in person.
Speaker 1: Pulls a folder from her briefcase, hands it to Dana.
Speaker 5: Thank you. I plan on reaching out to them.
Speaker 11: I'm counting on it. They're all more than happy to
Speaker 11: speak with you. I think you'll find what they have
Speaker 11: to say very enlightening.
Speaker 1: She makes no move to leave.
Speaker 11: Well, if that's all, that's all, have a nice afternoon, Dana.
Speaker 1: She leaves. Dana perus is the list reaches for the
Speaker 1: phone Interior State Department of Public Health building. A staff
Speaker 1: member leads Dana down a hallway to an office, shows
Speaker 1: her inside missus maccario sixties. Where's an American flag pin
Speaker 1: on her lapel? Stands in greet Stana offers her a seat.
Speaker 6: Thank you for seeing me. I know it can be
Speaker 6: awkward talking to the other side.
Speaker 12: Not at all.
Speaker 9: I've testified on both sides. Facts are facts. What questions
Speaker 9: can I answer for you?
Speaker 6: You've been deputy director for the Center for Health Care Quality.
Speaker 5: For how long?
Speaker 11: Thirty eight years this year be my lassed.
Speaker 5: Congratulations on your retirement.
Speaker 4: Thank you.
Speaker 5: What exactly is the role of the center?
Speaker 9: We play a critical role in the protection of patient
Speaker 9: safety by evaluating health facilities, agencies, and professionals for compliance
Speaker 9: with state laws and regulations in order to license, certify,
Speaker 9: or register them.
Speaker 1: Dana smiles at her tries to winer over.
Speaker 6: You've said that a few times, I guess.
Speaker 9: Indeed. We also investigate complaints compliance with federal laws and regulations,
Speaker 9: oversee the education, training, and criminal clearance of nursing home
Speaker 9: administrator's assistance and home health aids. The abuse cases are
Speaker 9: the hardest part of the job.
Speaker 6: I would imagine how many complaints do you receive?
Speaker 9: On average around six thousand a year. Physical and sexual abuse,
Speaker 9: sometimes patient to patient, inappropriate use of restraints, medical or
Speaker 9: basic needs neglect, patients going without food or lying in
Speaker 9: their own waste for days.
Speaker 6: Well, that's concerning.
Speaker 9: It's criminal. Most of the victims are not physically or
Speaker 9: mentally capable of speak in upper defending themselves, so if
Speaker 9: there aren't any living relatives to monitor their care, the
Speaker 9: abuse can go unchecked for years. With budget cuts year
Speaker 9: after year, it's just not possible for us to reach
Speaker 9: every facility on a regular basis. It's sad to say,
Speaker 9: but the defendant's fears of her son being abused in
Speaker 9: an institutional setting were not unfounded or unreasonable.
Speaker 6: In total, how many patients are there in the state,
Speaker 6: Approximately a little over three hundred, so six thousand out
Speaker 6: of over three hundred thousand. That's that's less than two percent.
Speaker 1: Spoken like a true lawyer.
Speaker 6: I mean, still less than two percent. That makes for
Speaker 6: a pretty small chance of being a victim of abuse,
Speaker 6: wouldn't you say?
Speaker 9: Did you know that less than one percent of our
Speaker 9: nation's military was killed in the Iraq War?
Speaker 1: No, I didn't missus. Mccario turns a framed photo on
Speaker 1: her desk towards Dana. It is a young man in
Speaker 1: military dress. Less than one percent. That's a pretty small number,
Speaker 1: would you say, unless, of course, that number included your child,
Speaker 1: then that's still too many.
Speaker 5: I'm sorry for your loss. Thank you for your time.
Speaker 1: She gathers her belongings, stands to leave exterior office of
Speaker 1: the District Attorney day. Dana exits out onto the street,
Speaker 1: dressed in running clothes, takes off towards the surrounding park
Speaker 1: at a fast pace. Interior Dana's office day. Dana enters,
Speaker 1: flushed from her run, dabs at herself with a towel.
Speaker 1: Harvey sits at her desk. She startles at the side
Speaker 1: of him.
Speaker 10: Sir, apologies, didn't mean to surprise you, just stop by
Speaker 10: to see how the case was developing. Things must be
Speaker 10: going well. You have time to spare.
Speaker 6: It's running. It clears my head, helps me think.
Speaker 10: Well, don't let me impede progress.
Speaker 1: Then he rises moves towards the door.
Speaker 6: Thank you, sir.
Speaker 1: She SLINKs down on the vacated chair, goes through her messages, stops,
Speaker 1: grabs the phone, punches some numbers.
Speaker 6: Mister Unger, this is Dana Jeffries from the district's attorney's office.
Speaker 6: Thank you so much for returning my call. Today, would
Speaker 6: work four o'clock. Yes, the address is in the file.
Speaker 6: Thank you. I'll see Then.
Speaker 1: Dana grabs her gin bag to change clothes and freshen up.
Speaker 1: Interior Dennis Unger's office day. Mister Unger, early sixties, with
Speaker 1: a kind but tired face, rises to greet Dana. They
Speaker 1: shake hands. He indicates for her to say.
Speaker 6: Mister Hunger, I appreciate you. Green to meet with me.
Speaker 6: I won't take too much of your time. I see
Speaker 6: in the notes you have a brother with autism who
Speaker 6: lives in a group home.
Speaker 8: Yes, my twin Leo.
Speaker 5: And how long has he been in the group home?
Speaker 8: This one of four years?
Speaker 6: There have been other placements?
Speaker 8: Oh, yes, well over a dozen, probably closer to twenty.
Speaker 6: Now, I'm sorry, did you say twenty?
Speaker 10: I guess over the past forty years.
Speaker 8: My father passed away when my brother and I were
Speaker 8: only twenty two heart attack. My mother she couldn't handle
Speaker 8: Leo on her on he was too.
Speaker 4: Big, too aggressive.
Speaker 8: She felt incredibly guilty about not keeping him at home,
Speaker 8: but her health was also failing.
Speaker 4: The stress was just too much.
Speaker 5: I'm so sorry.
Speaker 6: Why was your brother moved so often?
Speaker 8: Well, every time we'd visit, there would be a new bruise,
Speaker 8: a missing tooth, sometimes even a cast. The staff would
Speaker 8: always dismiss the injuries is self inflicted and tell us
Speaker 8: they needed to add another medication to the mile long list.
Speaker 4: He was already taken.
Speaker 8: Their way of controlling him was by keeping him incapacitated.
Speaker 6: It's very unfortunate. I would have thought that that kind
Speaker 6: of mistreatment is isolated or rare, well not.
Speaker 4: From what I've seen.
Speaker 8: Leo has limited functioning as completely nonverbal, and to be honest,
Speaker 8: caring for him is exhausting many of the staff. They
Speaker 8: work long, hard hours and a grossly underpaid.
Speaker 4: It's a recipe for a disaster.
Speaker 8: It's easy to take out your frustrations and someone who
Speaker 8: doesn't have a voice.
Speaker 6: Yeah, but surely now, I mean, with all the safeguards
Speaker 6: and regulations, abuse can't just go unchecked.
Speaker 8: It's always a concern for vulnerable populations. I know it's
Speaker 8: hard to believe if it doesn't directly affect you, But
Speaker 8: you don't think systems fail. Just read the news on
Speaker 8: any given day. It happens all the time. Bad lady,
Speaker 8: the one you're trying to convict, that'll be me in
Speaker 8: a few years, facing the same decision she did. Because
Speaker 8: I'm the only one left to care about what happens
Speaker 8: to my brother.
Speaker 1: He gives her appointed look. Interior Dana's car night. Dana
Speaker 1: parks outside her house, punches a button on her cell,
Speaker 1: close on phone in her hand, reads mom's cell, puts
Speaker 1: the phone to her ear. Sounds of a voicemail greeting
Speaker 1: come through, then a beep. She hesitates, ends the call
Speaker 1: without saying anything. Interior Dana's living room night. Ethan sits
Speaker 1: on the couch watches TV. The front door unlocks. A
Speaker 1: few seconds later. Dana comes in, still in her coat.
Speaker 1: She drops her briefcase on the floor, crawls into Ethan's lap,
Speaker 1: curls in to a ball. He turns off the sound
Speaker 1: on the TV.
Speaker 4: Tough day. She nods, do you want to talk about it?
Speaker 1: She shakes her head, curls up even tighter. He nods
Speaker 1: to himself, loosens her bun, strokes her hair. I'm here,
Speaker 1: She closes her eyes. Interior Ada's kitchen night. Ada and
Speaker 1: Alexis sit at the table, folders stacked on one end.
Speaker 1: Gina clears plates. Ada's looks like it has been barely touched.
Speaker 12: Are you all done?
Speaker 13: Aida?
Speaker 12: Oh yes, dear, it was wonderful. I just can't eat much.
Speaker 1: Alexis reaches over grabs one of the folders. Ada coughs,
Speaker 1: takes a sip of water, smiles at Alexis.
Speaker 12: Down to business. Then what happens next?
Speaker 11: One sturious selection is complete, will likely start trial the
Speaker 11: day or two after. We can go over some of
Speaker 11: your testimony. Now, if you're up to it, of course.
Speaker 1: She continues to call. Jana shakes her head at Alexis,
Speaker 1: out of Ada's sight line. Alexis looks at her watch.
Speaker 11: Oh, I'm so sorry, Ada, I forgot I have another appointment.
Speaker 11: We can talk tomorrow.
Speaker 1: She stands, gathers the folders.
Speaker 12: That would be yeah.
Speaker 1: Ada doesn't finish her sentence. Instead, she cocks her head
Speaker 1: and smiles.
Speaker 12: Oh, that's the new piece.
Speaker 11: What do you mean, Ada?
Speaker 1: Aida stands moves to the living room. Alexis and Gina
Speaker 1: exchange looks.
Speaker 11: Follow her.
Speaker 1: Interior Ada's living room continuous. Teddy plays the piano, a virtuoso.
Speaker 1: Ada takes a seat on the bench next to him,
Speaker 1: closes her eyes to listen. Alexis and Gina enter watch
Speaker 1: her Aida. Ada continues to listen. Teddy finishes. Ada applauds.
Speaker 1: She turns toward the women brightly.
Speaker 12: Ah, such a talent. I often think he could have
Speaker 12: played at Carnegie Hall.
Speaker 1: If only she looks up sees their concerned faces. Her
Speaker 1: animation drains away.
Speaker 12: Well, anyway, thank you for dinner and for the company.
Speaker 1: Gena moves to her, puts a hand on her arm.
Speaker 13: Why don't you relax in your chair? I'll make you
Speaker 13: some tea.
Speaker 6: It'll help you sleep.
Speaker 12: Oh yes, that sounds nice. Thank you.
Speaker 11: I'll let you rest then, good night, Ada, sleep well.
Speaker 1: Ada gives a small tired wave as Gina helps her
Speaker 1: to the chair. Interior Dana's office. Night Dana sits on
Speaker 1: the edge of her desk in the near dark, watches
Speaker 1: the news on a screen on the wall. She looks tired.
Speaker 8: Jury selection concluded today in the case of the South
Speaker 8: Pasadena woman who allegedly suffocated her adult son because he
Speaker 8: had autism. Autism is a neurological condition.
Speaker 1: She lowers the volume as Carter late twenties, highly efficient
Speaker 1: but perpetually anxious enters with a stack of thick files.
Speaker 7: I hear, are the briefs you wanted?
Speaker 12: Thanks?
Speaker 1: She stays focused on the screen. He glances at.
Speaker 7: It looks like we made the news. Are you happy
Speaker 7: with the jury?
Speaker 6: We will see.
Speaker 7: It was surprising how many people in the jury pool
Speaker 7: know someone with a disability, Probably close to fifty percent.
Speaker 7: Wouldn't you say, yeah, something like that. There's a lot
Speaker 7: more disabled people out there than I thought. I guess
Speaker 7: it's the kind of thing you don't really pay attention
Speaker 7: to unless it happens to you.
Speaker 1: She finally looks at him.
Speaker 5: I suppose you're right.
Speaker 7: I guess we're lucky then lucky. Oh so, I just
Speaker 7: mean it's good that we don't. Yeah, I mean, well,
Speaker 7: you know what I mean.
Speaker 1: She remains silent.
Speaker 7: Okay, Well, if there's nothing else, I'll see you in
Speaker 7: the morning.
Speaker 1: He makes a hasty retreat. Interior Dana's bedroom night. Dana
Speaker 1: lies in bed in the dark room, stares up at
Speaker 1: the ceiling. Ethan is sound asleep beside her. She looks
Speaker 1: over at him, eases out of bed. Interior Dana's home
Speaker 1: office night. Dana sits down at her desk, turns on
Speaker 1: her laptop. Her fingers hesitate over the keyboard, then she
Speaker 1: types close on computer screen. As Dana types in Christopher
Speaker 1: Moorland and hits enter, multiple listings and images pop up.
Speaker 1: Dana scans the results for a moment, then slams the
Speaker 1: laptop shut. Interior Dana's house foyer day. Denah stares absently
Speaker 1: at herself in the mirror. Choose a nail. Ethan enters
Speaker 1: with a travel munk of coffee.
Speaker 4: You look great, you got this.
Speaker 1: She takes her hand away from her face, turns to
Speaker 1: Ethan with a one, when when?
Speaker 12: When?
Speaker 1: What is that bell? When?
Speaker 12: Juan one?
Speaker 1: She takes her hand away from her face, turns to
Speaker 1: Ethan with a wan smile.
Speaker 6: Thanks.
Speaker 1: He sets the mug down on the hall table, rubs
Speaker 1: her shoulders.
Speaker 2: Hey, you're not nervous, are you? You never get nervous?
Speaker 4: Not my gal?
Speaker 5: Do you think I did the right thing?
Speaker 4: What do you mean?
Speaker 6: Nothing?
Speaker 5: Never mind? I'm how many of you late?
Speaker 1: Thanks for the coffee, gives him a quick kiss on
Speaker 1: the cheek, picks up the mug and her briefcase. Exterior
Speaker 1: courthouse Day, several dozen people, many in wheelchairs, picket by
Speaker 1: the front steps. The protesters chant and carry signs that
Speaker 1: read remember Terry Schivo, Compassion and Choices, Voice for the Voiceless, etc.
Speaker 1: Interior television News Studio Day. A newscaster is on air.
Speaker 8: Opening arguments are underway today in the trial of Ada Wells,
Speaker 8: an eighty nine year old woman who took the life
Speaker 8: of her adult son with autism. Disability rights organizations clashed
Speaker 8: with pro euthanasia groups as they picketed outside the courthouse,
Speaker 8: and emotions were running high. Some protesters were very strong
Speaker 8: in their views.
Speaker 1: Intercott Courthouse Television News studio.
Speaker 10: I'm the father of a very severely autistic child. We
Speaker 10: have always gladly taken care of him, and we always will.
Speaker 10: There is absolutely no excuse for killing an autistic person,
Speaker 10: whatever the circumstances.
Speaker 4: There is no excuse period.
Speaker 8: While others were more undecided.
Speaker 13: I think the whole story is heartbreaking, just so sad
Speaker 13: for everyone involved caring for someone day in and day
Speaker 13: out for that many years. I just hope something good
Speaker 13: can come out of it.
Speaker 8: Jennifer Carr, an advocate for the Right to Die nonprofit
Speaker 8: Choices in Dying, spoke to our reporter outside the courthouse.
Speaker 14: We continue to fight for a time when every citizen
Speaker 14: of this nation is free to live and die as
Speaker 14: they choose, according to their own values. This case does
Speaker 14: not exemplify the usual end of life decision for a
Speaker 14: terminally ill person, so we can condone the actions of
Speaker 14: the defendant. However, we do recognize that suffering is not
Speaker 14: limited merely to the physical body and can affect one's
Speaker 14: quality of life as a whole. Now more than ever,
Speaker 14: we need support systems for our aging population and for
Speaker 14: people with disabilities to avoid repeats of such tragic events as.
Speaker 8: This and prosecutor Daner Jeffries from the District Attorney's office
Speaker 8: had this to say.
Speaker 1: Dana strides up the courthouse steps. A reporter follows thrusts
Speaker 1: a microphone at.
Speaker 6: Her, condoning a crime of this nature is a lethal
Speaker 6: danger to the disabled population.
Speaker 1: Interior courthouse security checkpoint day, Ada and Gina pass through
Speaker 1: the metal detectors head towards the courtroom. Alexis puts her
Speaker 1: briefcase on the conveyor belt. Dana pushes through the front door,
Speaker 1: walks up behind Alexis places her personal items in a bin.
Speaker 1: Alexis glances over her shoulder as she removes her jacket.
Speaker 11: We could have avoided all this.
Speaker 6: The crowd outside seems to indicate otherwise.
Speaker 11: Is that what you're concerned about?
Speaker 6: No, No, what I'm concerned about is what kind of
Speaker 6: message it sends if we allow people to murder other
Speaker 6: people with impunity.
Speaker 11: You know full well it wasn't murder.
Speaker 6: Call it whatever you want, but either way, he's dead
Speaker 6: and if she really wanted what was best for him,
Speaker 6: she would have given him up. That was the right
Speaker 6: thing to do.
Speaker 11: I'm sure that will sound wonderful on the five o'clock news.
Speaker 1: She steps through the detector. Interior courtroom. Day Ada sits
Speaker 1: at the defense table with Alexis, coughs quietly into a handkerchief.
Speaker 1: Gina sits in the gallery behind them. Dana and Carter
Speaker 1: occupy the prosecutor's table. The judge enters from her chambers.
Speaker 1: All rise, Everyone rises.
Speaker 9: A judge sits, raises her hand be seated in the
Speaker 9: matter of the people versus Adelaide Wells.
Speaker 1: Is the state ready to proceed?
Speaker 11: Yes, your honor, Defense, Yes, your honor.
Speaker 9: We will now hear opening statements, beginning with the prosecution.
Speaker 1: Dana rises from her chair, smooths her skirt, addresses the jury.
Speaker 6: Euthanasia, mercy killing, assisted suicide. These phrases bring to mind
Speaker 6: terminally ill patients begging for someone to end their suffering.
Speaker 6: Despite what you may have heard or seen in the media,
Speaker 6: this case is not about that victim. Theodore Wells was
Speaker 6: not terminally ill, clinically depressed, or tired of living. Yes,
Speaker 6: he had autism, but that's not a rare disorder without
Speaker 6: treatment options. By some estimates, one out of every fifty
Speaker 6: four people in this country have it. Look up autism
Speaker 6: on the Internet and you'll find hundreds, if not thousands
Speaker 6: of resources, support groups, therapies all available to help people
Speaker 6: and their families who live with this common disorder. All
Speaker 6: the defendant had to do was simply pick up the
Speaker 6: phone and call one of them.
Speaker 5: Help was just a phone call away.
Speaker 6: Does that sound like a Hope Bliss situation to you?
Speaker 6: Does that sound like a situation so bleak that you
Speaker 6: would murder your own child? No matter how well meaning
Speaker 6: they try to tell you that the defendant's intentions were.
Speaker 6: The fact is she planned and carried out the murder
Speaker 6: of her son. The victim's life wasn't worth any less
Speaker 6: because he had autism and his mother had no justifiable
Speaker 6: reason for killing him. Murder's murder, no matter what, and
Speaker 6: that is what the state will prove. Thank you.
Speaker 1: She takes her seat. Alexi Stans walks to the jury box.
Speaker 1: Leans In.
Speaker 11: Sixty five years ago, autism was a completely misunderstood disorder,
Speaker 11: so much so that it took Ada Well's nearly forty
Speaker 11: years to get a diagnosis for her son. For almost
Speaker 11: four decades, doctors told Ada that Teddy's condition was her fault,
Speaker 11: that she had done this to him because she was
Speaker 11: cold and unfeeling. A refrigerator mother they called her. Nothing
Speaker 11: could have been further from the truth. Those doctors, even
Speaker 11: her own family and friends, told Ada to put her
Speaker 11: only child in an institution and walk away, forget he'd
Speaker 11: ever been born. Can you imagine? But Ada would have
Speaker 11: none of it. Instead, she dedicated her entire life to
Speaker 11: making sure Teddy knew he was loved and cherished. And
Speaker 11: she did this with almost no support. She lost her husband,
Speaker 11: her friends, her entire life as she knew it.
Speaker 1: Turns to give Aida an empathetic look.
Speaker 11: Ada lived confined within the walls of her home, giving
Speaker 11: up everything she wanted for herself, sixty five years of
Speaker 11: complete selflessness to protect her child. Sixty five years.
Speaker 1: She lets that number hang in the air, then returns
Speaker 1: to the defense table, squeezes Ada's hand well.
Speaker 9: The State call its first witness.
Speaker 6: The state calls doctor Martine Kressler.
Speaker 1: Doctor Cressler steps into the courtroom, takes the witness box.
Speaker 1: Dana straightens her notes, approaches the doctor. She glances out
Speaker 1: into the gallery sees Ethan, who gives her a nod.
Speaker 1: Interior Dana's dining room night. The table is set with
Speaker 1: flowers and candles. The lights are dimmed, soft music plays.
Speaker 1: The front door unlocks footsteps. As Dana enters, Ethan pops
Speaker 1: out from the kitchen to greet her surprise.
Speaker 6: Oh what is all of this?
Speaker 7: Oh?
Speaker 2: I just thought i'd give the warrior returning from a
Speaker 2: battle a much deserve welcome home.
Speaker 1: He takes her briefcase, sets it down, gives her a kiss.
Speaker 6: I didn't know you were going to be there today.
Speaker 4: Yeah, you seem like you maybe needed some support.
Speaker 6: No, I'm fine. I was fine, but thank you.
Speaker 2: Sit down, relax, Dinner is almost ready. Here, give me
Speaker 2: your jacket.
Speaker 1: He removes her jacket, steers her towards the table. She sits,
Speaker 1: spots the glass of wine in front of her, takes
Speaker 1: a long drink. Interior Dana's dining room. Later, Dana and
Speaker 1: Ethan are at the table, plates pushed aside. Her shirt
Speaker 1: is still buttoned up, her hair still pulled back. One
Speaker 1: wine bottle on the table is empty. Ethan reaches for
Speaker 1: a second bottle, moves to top off Dana's glass. She
Speaker 1: puts her hand out to cover it.
Speaker 5: Oh, not for me.
Speaker 6: I have to be in court early tomorrow.
Speaker 1: He gets up, clears the dirty dishes, speaking of you
Speaker 1: feel good about today?
Speaker 6: You know I don't like talking about trial in the
Speaker 6: middle of it.
Speaker 2: I know, I know, but you're usually so fired up
Speaker 2: after day court, like there's an electricity running through your veins.
Speaker 2: I know, I kind of like it, truth be told.
Speaker 1: He comes up behind her, kisses her neck, unbuttons the
Speaker 1: top button of her glause.
Speaker 4: I'm not used to seeing you so low key? Is everything?
Speaker 6: Okay, It's just a different kind of case, that's all.
Speaker 1: He rubs her shoulders.
Speaker 6: If any that never happened to you, if you couldn't
Speaker 6: take care of yourself, how would you feel?
Speaker 4: What do you mean?
Speaker 8: Like?
Speaker 4: Would I be upset?
Speaker 6: Yeah?
Speaker 5: Yes, I guess that's what I'm asking.
Speaker 6: Depressed? Oh, bless, like not wanting to live?
Speaker 4: Would I still be able to make love to you?
Speaker 1: He leans down to nibble on her ear. She shrugs
Speaker 1: him off, turns to face him. I'm serious, He searches
Speaker 1: her face. You are serious, pulls up a chair next
Speaker 1: to hers.
Speaker 2: Okay, seriously, life is great. I wouldn't want to die
Speaker 2: even if things got tough. I think I could live
Speaker 2: with most things. If I was paralyzed or something like.
Speaker 5: That, You wouldn't be depressed.
Speaker 4: Well, I'm sure I would have low points, but who doesn't.
Speaker 4: Lots of people live with disabilities.
Speaker 2: And have very productive, meaningful lives. Remember that piece I
Speaker 2: did last year on the Paralympics. Now, those athletes could
Speaker 2: do more than most able bodied people would.
Speaker 6: What if you were mentally disabled?
Speaker 4: I don't know.
Speaker 2: I never thought about that before. What level are we
Speaker 2: talking about here? I wouldn't want to lie around in
Speaker 2: a vegetative state for years and years.
Speaker 4: If that's what you mean. That's why I have a
Speaker 4: DNR order. What is this about? Anyway?
Speaker 6: But at what point do you make that decision to
Speaker 6: walk away?
Speaker 12: Like?
Speaker 5: How long do you try before you just give up?
Speaker 4: I'm not sure.
Speaker 2: I don't think you can put an absolute on something
Speaker 2: like that. Everyone's situation is different. You might think you
Speaker 2: know what you do, but you can't really say until
Speaker 2: you've been there. I think you're right. One bottle of
Speaker 2: wine is enough. Come on, let's go to bed.
Speaker 1: He stands, takes her hand. She gently pulls it away.
Speaker 5: I'll be there in a bit.
Speaker 6: I have some work to finish.
Speaker 2: Up, always work. I don't be too long. I might
Speaker 2: pass up before you have a chance to take advantage
Speaker 2: of me.
Speaker 1: Down to kiss her, She looks up at him. Grabs
Speaker 1: his hand.
Speaker 6: Thank you.
Speaker 4: For what.
Speaker 5: For putting up with me? You know it's not always easy.
Speaker 4: What's that? But it's worth it. You're worth it.
Speaker 1: He kisses her. Her hands trail as he exits towards
Speaker 1: the bedroom. She finishes the wine in her glass, contemplates
Speaker 1: the second bottle, let's out a sigh, and grabs it. Interior,
Speaker 1: courtroom day. The judge enters from her chambers. All rise,
Speaker 1: The room comes to its feet, waits while the judge
Speaker 1: settles herself. There's a sense of expectation in the courtroom.
Speaker 1: Be seated.
Speaker 9: In the matter of the people of the State of
Speaker 9: California versus Adelaide Wells. Court is now in session. Counselor
Speaker 9: please proceed.
Speaker 11: The defense calls Ada Wells.
Speaker 1: Shuffling and whispering from the gallery as Gina helps Ada
Speaker 1: make her way into the witness box.
Speaker 4: Please right is your right hand?
Speaker 8: Do you swear or for him to tell the truth,
Speaker 8: the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
Speaker 1: I do, she says, settles herself. Alexis approaches the witness box.
Speaker 11: Good morning, Would you please state your full name for
Speaker 11: the record?
Speaker 12: Adelaide Marie Wells.
Speaker 11: Miss Wells, please.
Speaker 12: Call me Ada of.
Speaker 11: Course, Ada. Can you tell us about your son, Teddy.
Speaker 12: Yes, Teddy was my first and only child. He was
Speaker 12: born four weeks early. I always said it was because
Speaker 12: he knew I couldn't wait for him to get here.
Speaker 12: My husband Jack was stationed in Vietnam at the time,
Speaker 12: so I drove myself to the hospital.
Speaker 11: That would be scary, having your first baby all alone.
Speaker 11: Besides being born premature, were there any other delivery complications?
Speaker 12: Yes, I was in labor thirty two hours. Teddy was
Speaker 12: a breech berth and it was very difficult. I always
Speaker 12: wondered if that might have affected him.
Speaker 11: How did Teddy's development progress after that?
Speaker 12: He was meeting some of his milestones at first, sitting
Speaker 12: up and crawling, but he never babbled, never could. He
Speaker 12: rarely smiled. He never seemed to look at you. It
Speaker 12: was more like through you. And he was so quiet.
Speaker 12: In the beginning. He would get this far away look
Speaker 12: on his face, like he was locked away somewhere no
Speaker 12: one else could get.
Speaker 1: To insert exterior ATI's house flashback. Young Ada holds one
Speaker 1: year old Teddy in the front yard, points up at
Speaker 1: the sky. Jack Ada's husband sits on the porch, beer
Speaker 1: bottles around his feet.
Speaker 3: Look at the pretty bird.
Speaker 11: Teddy does not look, makes no sound.
Speaker 3: Don't you see it? It's there, Teddy, It's right there. Look.
Speaker 1: Jack throws a bottle to the ground, gets up in disgust,
Speaker 1: and goes inside, slams the screen door behind him.
Speaker 3: Just look, Teddy, please just look at the pretty bird.
Speaker 1: Back to scene.
Speaker 11: Did anyone else notice or comment on Teddy's behavior?
Speaker 12: At first? My family and friends told me how lucky
Speaker 12: I was to have such a calm baby, until they
Speaker 12: tried to hold him. Teddy would scream and twist away
Speaker 12: so violently I thought he would hurt himself if anyone
Speaker 12: touched him besides me?
Speaker 11: How is he with his father?
Speaker 12: Jack was overseas the first year of Teddy's life, but
Speaker 12: then he was injured in a trading accident, so he
Speaker 12: was discharged from the service and came home. The pain
Speaker 12: from the accident he would drink to make it go away.
Speaker 1: Things were difficult, difficult how insert interior Ada's living room flashback.
Speaker 1: Jack stumbles in the front door, clearly drunk. Little Teddy
Speaker 1: sits on the floor, small toys lined in a row
Speaker 1: in front of him. Jack approaches Teddy, pats him on
Speaker 1: the head, then picks up one of the toys.
Speaker 10: Hey, why what are you playing that?
Speaker 1: Teddy screams repeatedly bangs his ears to those fists. Jack
Speaker 1: gets in Teddy's face, yells.
Speaker 10: What the hell's wrong with you? Stop that.
Speaker 1: He kicks all of Teddy's toys. Teddy screams louder. Young
Speaker 1: Ada rushes in scoops up. Teddy attempts to console him.
Speaker 10: He's not my kids, he's freak. You made him a freak.
Speaker 1: He takes a swing at Ada, who ducks, Who stumbles
Speaker 1: and falls. Ada runs out with Teddy. Back to scene.
Speaker 1: Ada coughs, pours herself a glass of water, takes a sip.
Speaker 1: Her hand trembles slightly.
Speaker 12: Finally Jack left for good. Our friends eventually stopped coming
Speaker 12: to visit, family, died or moved away, and then Teddy
Speaker 12: started refusing to leave home. When I tried to take
Speaker 12: him anywhere, he would bite himself or pull his hair out,
Speaker 12: so we just stayed in. After that, You.
Speaker 11: Were so alone, so isolated. How did you survive?
Speaker 12: What did you live on a few months after Jack left,
Speaker 12: the police came to tell me he'd drank himself to death.
Speaker 12: I started receiving his benefits along with my father's estate.
Speaker 12: It was enough to get by.
Speaker 11: What about human contact, someone to talk.
Speaker 1: To, Ada finds Gina in the gallery, smiles at her.
Speaker 12: I was blessed to have a neighbor, Ruth and her
Speaker 12: daughter Gina, who looked in us regularly brought us groceries.
Speaker 12: We had a doctor who made house calls, and our
Speaker 12: pastor father Weeda, also came by until he got sick
Speaker 12: and had passed away.
Speaker 11: So in sixty five years you had contact with just
Speaker 11: four people.
Speaker 12: But I had Teddy For every time he was unreasonable,
Speaker 12: he was also a joy. He had a real sense
Speaker 12: of the earth, love tending the garden. Sometimes he would
Speaker 12: lie down on the ground and rub the dirt all
Speaker 12: over him. I think it made him feel connected to something.
Speaker 12: He taught himself to play the piano. He could listen
Speaker 12: to a song on the radio once, then play it back. Nope,
Speaker 12: for note, it was truly a gift, the briefest glimp
Speaker 12: So what is life might have been like?
Speaker 1: If only she coughs again, quite uncontrollably. Alexa steps closer
Speaker 1: to her.
Speaker 11: Ada, are you all right?
Speaker 1: Aida nods, still coughing. Several jury members cast sympathetic glances
Speaker 1: at her. Dana notices the judge looks at Ada with
Speaker 1: some concern.
Speaker 9: I think that's enough for today. Court is adjourned until
Speaker 9: nine am Monday morning.
Speaker 1: People rise make their way out. Interior Dana's home office. Night. Dana,
Speaker 1: still in court clothes, writes on a legal pad at
Speaker 1: her desk, scribbles furiously, drops her head in her hands.
Speaker 1: Ethan comes in, steps behind her, puts his hands on
Speaker 1: her shoulders. She startles.
Speaker 4: I didn't hear you come in still working. It's almost midnight,
Speaker 4: it is.
Speaker 1: He pulls up a chair across from her, sits down,
Speaker 1: lifts her life onto his lap.
Speaker 4: You haven't even taken your shoes off yet.
Speaker 1: He slides off her shoes, massages her feet.
Speaker 4: Hey, hey, hey, She tenses, relax.
Speaker 1: She leans back in the chair. They're silent for a moment.
Speaker 4: Are you all right, data, She sits.
Speaker 1: Up, pulls her feet away.
Speaker 6: I'm fine.
Speaker 4: Why, Oh, you've been on edge lately.
Speaker 11: It's just the case.
Speaker 4: Do you want to talk about.
Speaker 6: It with a journalist?
Speaker 4: No, it's me.
Speaker 2: Remember your boyfriend, and I'm a sports writer. That's not
Speaker 2: quite the same. You're not sleeping with the enemy. You're right, Sorry, Okay,
Speaker 2: I have an idea. Why don't we take a break
Speaker 2: and do something fun this weekend.
Speaker 5: I don't know, and I have a lot of work
Speaker 5: to do.
Speaker 2: Ethan, Oh, come on, just just for a few hours.
Speaker 2: It's my niece's first birthday tomorrow. My sister is having
Speaker 2: a barbecue. It'll be fun, and he would do you
Speaker 2: some good to get out for a bit, just clear
Speaker 2: your head. Besides, she's my only niece and we've barely
Speaker 2: even seen her.
Speaker 11: She hesitates. He nuzzles up to her.
Speaker 4: Oh, come on, come on, come onma, just just for
Speaker 4: a little while. We'll have some cold beer. No on
Speaker 4: some ribs.
Speaker 1: He leans in, bites her side in a playful manner.
Speaker 1: She laughs. He takes her face in his hands, looks
Speaker 1: at her with intent.
Speaker 4: You know, it's good to hear you laugh.
Speaker 6: Okay, okay, he talked me into it for a little while.
Speaker 4: I know I'm hard to resist. I know.
Speaker 1: He pretends to chew on her again. She shrieks in protest.
Speaker 6: Stop stop.
Speaker 1: Exterior Rebecca's backyard day tables and chairs are set up
Speaker 1: under canopies, balloons, and first birthday party decorations everywhere. One
Speaker 1: table is piled high with brightly wrapped presents. Rebecca thirties,
Speaker 1: Ethan's sister, holds a baby girl, Sydney, dressed in a
Speaker 1: tiara and a frothy pink dress. Talks with an older couple.
Speaker 1: Smoke rises from a corner of the yard. Rebecca's husband,
Speaker 1: Kevin thirties, wears a party hat, flips burgers and a
Speaker 1: large barbecue grill. People mill about, chat, drinks in hand.
Speaker 1: Kids run in and around the adults with shrieks of joy.
Speaker 1: Ethan and Dana enter through the back gate. He carries
Speaker 1: a huge present.
Speaker 4: Where's my little rock Star?
Speaker 1: Rebecca turns around Ethan. Ethan sets the present on the table.
Speaker 1: Rebecca walks over to greet them. Ethan kisses her on
Speaker 1: the cheek, takes Sydney from her, kisses the baby all
Speaker 1: over as she squeals in delight.
Speaker 4: Here she is, Now, what on earth has your mother
Speaker 4: dressed you in? Huh? You look like a birthday cake,
Speaker 4: not a birthday girl.
Speaker 1: He pretends to nibble on Sydney.
Speaker 3: Aha, she looks adorable.
Speaker 1: She gets Dana a hug.
Speaker 15: Dana, I am so happy you could make it, even
Speaker 15: seen you in ages. I know how busy you are,
Speaker 15: though we saw you on television.
Speaker 1: Such a sad case. Ethan shoots, Rebecca look clears his throat.
Speaker 15: Ah, Rebecca oops, not supposed to mention work.
Speaker 3: You're here to have fun. Let me get you to
Speaker 3: a drink.
Speaker 15: I will be right back.
Speaker 1: Ethan continues to play with Sydney catches Dana's eye grins widely.
Speaker 1: Dana looks around at the partygoers. Her gaze lands on
Speaker 1: a family of three, mother, father, and a little girl, Mollie,
Speaker 1: just beginning to walk. It is apparent that Molly has
Speaker 1: down syndrome. She takes a few faltering steps, lands on
Speaker 1: her bottom.
Speaker 6: Laughs.
Speaker 1: Molly's parents cheer her on. Rebecca returns with drinks, follows
Speaker 1: Dana's gaze.
Speaker 3: Those are our new neighbors. I'll introduce you, is it Molly?
Speaker 1: Just the cutest handsome their drinks?
Speaker 3: Here you go my secret Hawaiian punch. Definitely not the
Speaker 3: kiddy version.
Speaker 6: Cheers.
Speaker 15: Now, if Kevin hasn't burned everything, I think we might
Speaker 15: be ready to eat.
Speaker 1: Exterior Rebecca's backyard. Later, guests eat talk. Dana and Ethan
Speaker 1: share a table with Rebecca, Kevin, and Sydney. Molly and
Speaker 1: her family at the table across from them. Dana glances
Speaker 1: over repeatedly.
Speaker 2: Kevin, that wasn't half bad. I think you might need
Speaker 2: another plate, you.
Speaker 10: Know, I feel like he's rubbing his you know what
Speaker 10: I mean?
Speaker 7: Who's ringing?
Speaker 8: Kevin?
Speaker 6: I'll do go for it.
Speaker 1: He's a party guy, h party yeah.
Speaker 10: So from Ethan's line.
Speaker 4: Yes, yeah, Kevin man, that wasn't half bad. I think
Speaker 4: you might need another plate.
Speaker 10: I think it might have to join you.
Speaker 11: They head for the food table.
Speaker 6: Time to get the cake.
Speaker 3: Dana, can you hold her for a second?
Speaker 1: Without waiting for a response, she hands Sydney to Dana.
Speaker 1: She's visibly uncomfortable, unsure of what to do, She awkwardly
Speaker 1: bounces the baby on one knee. Sydney babbles and claps
Speaker 1: her hands, which catches the attention of Molly, who stumbles
Speaker 1: her way over to them. Mollie reaches Dana and Sydney
Speaker 1: stretches out her arms for Dana to pick her up.
Speaker 1: Dana looks around, ill at ease. Molly's mother comes over.
Speaker 11: Did you come to make friends? Molly?
Speaker 1: She picks Molly up, sets her on Dana's other knee.
Speaker 1: Dana stiffens. The two children interact with each other.
Speaker 11: Adorable I have to get a picture.
Speaker 1: She steps away. Mollie turns her attention to Dana, touches
Speaker 1: her face and hair. Dana's eyes are frozen on hers.
Speaker 1: Molly's mother returns, snaps a picture with her.
Speaker 11: Phone, say happy birthday.
Speaker 1: Ethan approaches, smiles at the sight. Rebecca returns scoops up Sydney.
Speaker 3: Dana, who knew you had such a way with kids.
Speaker 1: Dana gives her a faint smile, hands Molly back to
Speaker 1: her mother.
Speaker 5: Excuse me, I need to use the restaurm.
Speaker 1: She hurries towards the house. Interior Rebecca's house, bathroom day.
Speaker 1: Dana sits on the side of the bathtub, bent over
Speaker 1: her head in her hands. The doorknob rattles. She looks up,
Speaker 1: calls out just a moment. She stands, moves to the sink,
Speaker 1: finds mouth washed in a paper cup in the medicine cabinet,
Speaker 1: grinses out her mouth, sketches her reflection in the mirror.
Speaker 1: Her face is ashen. Exterior, Rebecca's house, driveway night. Dana
Speaker 1: gets into the passenger seat of their car. As Ethan
Speaker 1: hugs his sister and niece goodbye. Rebecca makes Sidney blow
Speaker 1: kisses as the car drives away interior Ethan's car moving night.
Speaker 1: Ethan drives as Dana looks out the side window.
Speaker 4: You've been quiet, you okay?
Speaker 1: She does not look at him.
Speaker 6: There's a little too much secret punch.
Speaker 4: Yeah, it packed the wall up.
Speaker 2: It was great to see you loose enough for a
Speaker 2: bit though. You were so cute with the babies. I
Speaker 2: think they fell in love with you.
Speaker 1: She stays silent. He glances at her.
Speaker 4: I've never really seen you around kids before. What do
Speaker 4: you think.
Speaker 6: About?
Speaker 4: What about having kids? We've never talked about it.
Speaker 1: She sits up right.
Speaker 6: Yes, yes, yes we did. When we first got together.
Speaker 6: It was one of the reasons we were attracted to
Speaker 6: each other.
Speaker 5: We were both happy.
Speaker 6: With our lives and our careers and we didn't want
Speaker 6: to change that.
Speaker 2: Sure, but that was what we wanted then. But that's
Speaker 2: that was a few years ago. People can change their minds.
Speaker 5: I haven't changed my mind.
Speaker 6: I'm happy with things just the way they are.
Speaker 4: So you don't ever want to have kids.
Speaker 6: And now all of a sudden you do.
Speaker 2: I don't know, Dana, we're just talking. But maybe there's
Speaker 2: more to life than working sixteen hour days.
Speaker 5: I like my job, I like to work.
Speaker 4: Yeah, I know, what does that mean?
Speaker 1: He pulls into their driveway, shuts off the car interior
Speaker 1: Ethan's car continuous. Ethan turns to look at Dana.
Speaker 4: Nothing.
Speaker 9: It's just.
Speaker 2: You're so driven by work and only work. Maybe you
Speaker 2: should take some time to discover other interests, do other.
Speaker 5: Things, like have a baby.
Speaker 4: Well, it'll be fun trying.
Speaker 6: Maybe is that what you want?
Speaker 5: To have a baby?
Speaker 2: You're so smart and strong and beautiful. Can't you just
Speaker 2: imagine what a perfect little baby would make No?
Speaker 6: No, I don't want to imagine it. I don't. I
Speaker 6: don't want to imagine it at all. Like I can't
Speaker 6: have a baby.
Speaker 4: What you mean you mean you can't get pregnant. We
Speaker 4: use birth control. So I just thought. I am so sorry.
Speaker 4: I didn't know that, Dana.
Speaker 1: He moves to comfort her. She pulls away.
Speaker 6: I just I can't have a baby. I can't. And
Speaker 6: why are you bringing this up now?
Speaker 4: I don't know.
Speaker 2: I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you.
Speaker 2: You just look so beautiful holding those little girls today.
Speaker 2: It seems so perfect.
Speaker 6: Stop saying that. Stop it, stop it. I had I
Speaker 6: had a baby. Do you understand I had a baby,
Speaker 6: and she wasn't perfect.
Speaker 5: She was perfect, and.
Speaker 6: I tried and I couldn't do it like I couldn't
Speaker 6: be perfect.
Speaker 1: She pushes open the car door, runs inside the house.
Speaker 1: Interior Dana's house hallway day. Ethan stops outside the closed
Speaker 1: door to Dana's office. He knocks gently, then opens the door.
Speaker 1: Interior Dana's home office continuous. Dana stands at the window
Speaker 1: with her back to the door. Ethan looks in.
Speaker 4: Can I come in?
Speaker 1: She doesn't answer or turn around. It takes one step in.
Speaker 2: You've been in here since last night. There's a pretty
Speaker 2: big elephant in the room. Can we talk about it?
Speaker 1: She shakes her head.
Speaker 2: That's why this case has been so tough for you,
Speaker 2: isn't it. Why you don't ever talk about your family,
Speaker 2: Why you move thousands of miles away, why you keep
Speaker 2: all your feelings bottled inside.
Speaker 4: Your baby.
Speaker 1: She shakes her head again, slower this time. End of
Speaker 1: BAC Too