Additional Characters

Mr. & Mrs. Baldwin: Clients of Bobby and Ellenor. Their 4-year-old son Chad was kidnapped 18 years ago, prime suspect John Pierce was never charged, the Baldwin’s just sued him in order to force him to reveal the whereabouts of the body.

John Pierce: Convicted child molester, and suspect of the Baldwin kidnapping, worked at the park where Chad disappeared.

Henrietta Lightstone: Pierce’s Lawyer.

James Tucker: Believes he may be Chad Baldwin after seeing John Pierce on the television, the man who gave him to his mother.

Allison Tucker: Mother of James, says she got him from Pierce.

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Bobby’s office. Bobby, Ellenor, James and Allison enter

Bobby (to James): What makes you think you’re Chad Baldwin?

James: My mother can probably answer that better than I can, however, I want your assurance she’s not going to get into any trouble.

Bobby: Why would she?

James: …um,… the man that kidnapped Chad Baldwin… the man that you sued…

Bobby: John Pierce

James: He’s the man who gave me to my mother

Allison (explaining): In Broughton, in 1983, it was the same year that the Baldwin’s child disappeared. He wasn’t using the same name then but…

Ellenor (interrupting): Gave you a child? Why didn’t you go to the police?

James: Because he told her I was his son.

Allison: He asked me to watch James for a few days while he went out of town… he never came back.

Ellenor: Excuse me, Chad’s picture was all over the news for weeks, how could you not have known he had been kidnapped?

James: She didn’t. And we’re not here for you to cross-examine her like she’s a criminal.

Allison: I never watched television, didn’t even own one at the time, know that seems hard to believe but… I wasn’t hiding him.

Bobby: You will have to talk to the police.

Allison nods

Ellenor: And probably talk to the District Attorney as well.

Allison: I know, and I know I should have gone to them 18 years ago… whatever I did wrong, I am willing to accept the consequences… now that I realize who he is and what the Baldwin’s have gone through

Bobby: And this is why your coming foreword?

Allison: That. And because James has the right to know his birth parents.

Bobby (to James): Do you even remember John Pierce?

James: No, I don’t even remember being Chad Baldwin…

Bobby: And your really sure you are?

James hands something to Bobby

James: A picture of my mother with John Pierce, she always told me that he was my father… and then I saw the news… and he’s not my father… I’m the boy he kidnapped.

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Opening credits

Bobby and Ellenor with Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin in their home

Mr. Baldwin: Are you sure?

Ellenor: No. We’re not sure. That’s why we need you to take a blood test. We’ve already taken his, and

Mrs. Baldwin (interrupting): He thought pierce was his father?

Ellenor: Until a few days ago, yes

Mr. Baldwin: And the woman said she got him from Pierce?

Bobby (addressing the Baldwin’s): Yes. Richard, Jenny, there was a lot of news coverage on this, occasionally there are people who will try to take advantage of a situation, no matter how tragic

Mr. Baldwin: By pretending to be our son?

Ellenor: We don’t know. You have money, that’s why we want to take the blood test.

Mr. Baldwin: He must think there’s a good chance he’s Chad, or he wouldn’t have come

Ellenor: We’re exploring the possibilities

Mrs. Baldwin: When can I see him?

Bobby: Let us check things out first, if he isn’t Chad we don’t want your disappointment to be any greater than it has to be

Mr. Baldwin: My wife and I are very good at dealing with disappointment, we’ve had years of practice, we don’t need you to decide how much we can take

Bobby: We’ll do the blood test, and go from there.

Mrs. Baldwin Smiles

DYD&F. Bobby, Rebecca, Lindsay, Ellenor and Lucy.

Bobby: (walking through the office talking to Rebecca): Anybody who knows this woman, knew here, knew somebody who knows her, we need to support her testimony otherwise it will be her word against Pierce.

Rebecca: I’m on it (exits)

Bobby (to Lindsay): Lindsay, if you could stay on the lab.

Lindsay: They’ve only had the blood an hour.

Bobby: They can test it in 20 minutes and be 99 percent sure.

Lindsay gets on the phone

Bobby (to Lucy): They still in my office?

Lucy: Waiting.

Bobby: C’mon Ellenor.

Jimmy enters

Jimmy: Bobby or Eugene here?

Lucy: Bobby’s in a meeting but Eugene’s in his office.

Eugene’s office, Jimmy enters

Jimmy: Can I talk to you a sec?

Eugene closes his book and sits down

Jimmy: I’ve joined gamblers anonymous; I go to three meetings a week… I’m also going to a regular therapist… so I feel confident that I’ll be OK.

Eugene: Good.

Jimmy:… I’d like to apologize to the firm, I was thinking…

Eugene (interrupting): That can’t happen, the rest of the people here don’t even know Jimmy. Should they know, they become obligated by law to report you.

Jimmy: I guess what I’m saying is, I’m willing to accept it if that’s what anybody chooses to do.

Eugene: but nobody will choose to do it that’s the problem. They’ll keep your secret and be potentially liable for doing so, if you really want to protect them here, do not tell.

Jimmy: OK… are we OK? You and me?

Eugene (standing): do I forgive you? Yes. Am I here to help in any way I can? Maybe. But are we OK, like everything’s back to normal? No. I don’t trust you as much.

Jimmy: well… that’s a pretty big loss.

Eugene: Yes it is, and Jimmy, it’s not just yours… that ever occur to you?

Bobby’s office. Bobby, Ellenor, Allison and James.

Bobby: the thing is the police will want to talk to you.

James: Why do they even have to find out?

Bobby: If you’re really Chad Baldwin it will get out. A kidnapped child comes back after 18 years, this will eventually get out.

Ellenor (to Allison): And you’re going to be considered a suspect. You kept the child. You never contacted the police; you will certainly be considered an accessory.

Allison: I thought he was Piece’s son.

Ellenor: Yes, and assuming that’s true, if you try to be sneaky about this now you will lose all credibility with the police when they come to ask you questions, and they will come.

Allison: So, what are you suggesting we do?

Bobby: Assuming you are Chad Baldwin, I’d like to go to the District Attorneys office, I think we can make a deal (to Allison) I’m hopeful they’ll give you immunity.

Allison: And what would I have to give them?

Bobby: John Pierce. You can put him away.

James: Can you promise she’ll be protected?

Bobby: No

Lucy enters

Lucy: Bobby line two, it’s the lab.

Lucy exits

Bobby picks up the phone

Bobby: Bobby Donnell… send me the report… thank you (hangs up and looks at James) well it seems your Chad Baldwin.

The Baldwin house. Bobby, Ellenor, Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin present

Bobby: The blood test is conclusive, its him, he’s your son.

Mr. Baldwin: My god.

Mrs. Baldwin: We’ve found our son.

They embrace

Mr. Baldwin: When can we see him?

Bobby: He says he’s like to do it at the office

Mrs. Baldwin: I need to sit down I’m shaking.

They all sit

Mr. Baldwin: And this woman is willing to testify against Perice? We can finally put him behind bars?

Bobby: I think she’d like to, but she could change her mind and take the fifth.

Mrs. Baldwin: Why would she do that? She came foreword.

Bobby: James is afraid she may be charged with something.

Mr. Baldwin: James?

Ellenor: That’s his name.

Mr. Baldwin: Here’s what we want. We want our son back and we want the man who kidnapped him punished.

Ellenor: And you’re willing to not punish her?

Bobby: I’d like to go the DA and tell her that the two of you, the victims, are in favor of granting Allison Tucker some kind of immunity. We can get you and your son reunited and put Mr. Pierce back in prison.

Mr. Baldwin: Lets do that.

Helen’s office. Helen and Bobby

Helen: 90 percent of the people who walk into my office promising me a conviction in exchange for immunity are a lot more involved than they admit.

Bobby: And I bet 90 percent of that 90 percent are people who know their about to be picked up. Allison Tucker would have never been prosecuted on anything.

Helen: Your asking me to make a blind bid.

Bobby: The Baldwin’s support it. If the victims of the crime want to give this woman immunity and help you convict the man we both know is responsible, Helen, where’s the down side?

Helen: I need more.

Bobby: I’ll make a proper that she can put John Pierce with Chad Baldwin in 1983; you’ve never had that, add that to the existing circumstantial evidence…

Helen (interrupting): Put them together how? Is she an eyewitness?

Bobby: Yes. On several occasions… (explaining)She raised the kid. If you don’t give her immunity you know what will happen, she’ll take the fifth, her son will refuse to testify against her and you will be left with what the blind man saw.

Helen: I’ll give her clean for the day. If I buy her story I’ll give her accessory after the fact.

Bobby: Nice try.

Helen: Accessory. I’ll agree to no time, if I buy her story, if I don’t no deal.

Conference room. Lucy pours James a glass of water

James: Thank you.

Lucy sits

Lucy: You OK?

James: Yeah. It’s just kinda hitting me. My whole life I thought my father was this Pierce man… do you have any pictures of them? The Baldwin’s?

Lucy: I don’t think so.

James: But you’ve met them.

Lucy: Yeah, they seem real nice… and I…they’ve never stopped loving you.

James: What does she look like?… my mother?

Allison enters

Allison: I’m your mother James.

James stands and moves towards her

James (apologizing): I know Mom, I know… I didn’t mean…

Allison: No. I mean, I’m all for you meeting them.

James: I know you raised me. I know who my mother is.

Bobby and Ellenor walk over.

Bobby: We need to go.

Helen’s office. Helen, Bobby, Ellenor, Rob Lowe, Allison and James

Allison: I was working in Broughton as a waitress, one day I was washing my clothes at a Laundromat and this man came in with James who was about four. We started talking and he said that James was his son, and that the Mom had died and that they were living in a camper.

Helen: What year was this?

Allison: This was 1983, early summer. He said his name was Chris Stevenson, but when we saw John Pierce on the television a week ago, well, that was the man who gave me James and we figured things out.

Lowe: Do you recall the name of the Laundromat?

Allison: No but I think it was on Crescent, near the railroad tracks.

Helen: How did you end up with James permanently?

Allison: Well one day this John Pierce said that he had to go away for a few days, and he asked if I could watch James, and I said yes.

Lowe: How long did this Mr. Pierce say he’d be gone?

Allison: Three, four days, but then he, well… he never came back.

Helen: When did it occur to you he might not be coming back at all?

Allison: I don’t know, I suppose a few months later… I though about going to the police, but I knew they would put the boy in a foster home, we had bonded and…um… I just didn’t want him to be put in a home.

Helen (to James): You remember any of this?

James: I remember our place in Springfield, nothing much before that.

Helen and Rob Lowe in another room

Helen: You believe her?

Lowe: I don’t know, its hard to swallow she didn’t have some inkling the kid was kidnapped. Likelihood is she probably didn’t want to know. You checked her out?

Helen: Her employment history and the location of the Laundromat pan out, no criminal record, owns a little second hand shop, wonderful mother and neighbor.

Lowe: Well… even if she knew, she still took the kid out of the hands of a child molester.

Helen: Meaning?

Lowe: She left the situation better than she found it.

Helen: But if she knew he was kidnapped she should have come foreword.

Lowe: Look, our aim game is to get Pierce, she can help us do that.

Helen: Think I should make the deal.

Lowe: She’ll plead to accessory?

Helen: No time served.

Lowe: I think you should make the deal.

Conference room. Bobby, Ellenor, Allison and James

Bobby: Were in, you’ll get your immunity if you testify against Pierce.

James: So she can’t be prosecuted.

Bobby: That’s right, but it means going foreword as soon as tomorrow at the probable cause hearing, then again, of course, at trial.

Allison: OK.

Bobby: But Allison, you have to understand this is going to be an ugly battle. Piece’s attorney will try to shred you, she’ll go from attacking your honestly to suggesting your trying to extort the Baldwin’s for money she could even claim that you’re the real kidnapper. You’re in for a nasty few months.

Allison: OK.

James: So are they going to arrest John Pierce?

Bobby: They’re doing that as we speak.

Lucy enters

Lucy: Bobby, the Baldwin’s are here.

Bobby (to James): Would you like us to leave?

James: No… I mean… um I don’t know… its OK… its OK.

Bobby (to Lucy): Show them in.

Lucy exits

Allison stands. Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin enter. James slowly stands.

Mrs. Baldwin: Chad.

James: Hello.

Mrs. Baldwin and James embrace

Mr. Baldwin: Hello son.

James: Hi… Dad.

Mr. Baldwin and James embrace

Mrs. Baldwin: I can’t believe this day is here. (to Allison) Thank you so much for bringing him back.

Allison nods

DYD&F. Lucy, Eugene, Jimmy and Lindsay watching the television

News Reporter: Incredibly, it was the publicity of last week’s civil proceedings that led James Tucker to conclude that he, in fact, is the missing Chad Baldwin. John Pierce was arrested last night without incident, his probable cause hearing is scheduled for 9’O clock.

Eugene: Anything from Rebecca?

Lucy: She’s still in Broughton; she should be back by lunch.

Eugene: I hope she finds somebody to support that woman’s story.

Jimmy: You don’t think the Judge will believe her?

Eugene (not looking at Jimmy): Don’t know.

Courthouse. Probable Cause Hearing.

Helen: So you met this man in a Laundromat and he introduced you to a boy he said was his son James, is that correct?

Allison: Yes.

Helen: And this boy is the young man you now know is the son of Richard and Jenny Baldwin, the son that was kidnapped 18 years ago.

Allison: That’s correct.

Helen: And is that man who introduced you to the boy, that man who said James was his son and asked you to look after him, is that man in the courtroom?

Allison: Yes he is.

Helen: Would you point him out please?

Allison points to John Pierce

Allison: The defendant.

Pierce: She’s lying.

Judge: Mr. Pierce.

Pierce: I never had a kid with me.

Judge: Mr. Pierce.

Helen: And I show you this picture Miss Tucker, can you identify it?

Allison: It’s a picture of me and the defendant taken about 20 years ago, we were at a carnival together.

Helen: This was previously marked and identified, I offer it now into evidence, I have nothing further for the witness your Honor, though I remind the court that all the testimony from last weeks civil proceeding has been entered as recorded testimony evidence.

Helen sits, Henrietta Lightstone (Piece’s Lawyer) stands

Ms Lightstone: Miss Tucker, during the 18 years you were raising Chad Baldwin as your own son, did you ever talk to the police about the father who left his son with you and never returned.

Allison: No.

Ms Lightstone: Did you talk to anyone about it in 18 years?

Allison: No.

Ms Lightstone: You kept the whole thing a secret, is that a fair statement?

Allison: I guess you could say that.

Ms Lightstone: Did you keep it a secret because you knew what you were doing was illegal?

Allison: I know that what I did was wrong, and yes, it was probably illegal, but at the time I really believed that what I was doing was best for James.

Ms Lightstone: You claim Mr. Pierce asked you to watch Chad for a few days and never returned.

Allison: Yes.

Ms Lightstone: Did you ever tell any of your fellow workers at the Golden Cup why you were quitting?

Allison: No.

Ms Lightstone: Did anyone ever see you and Mr. Pierce and Chad together in the weeks he was living in Broughton before he left town?

Allison: I don’t know.

Ms Lightstone: You can’t recall?

Allison: No.

Ms Lightstone: So if I said based on everything you have told me I believed you had kidnapped Chad, you really wouldn’t have any way of disproving that would you?

Allison: I don’t know haw you prove that you didn’t do something.

Ms Lightstone: And if I said I believed you concocted this whole elaborate story in order to frame an convenient dupe, and free yourself from responsibility for the illegal acts you admit you committed.

Helen: Objection.

Judge: Sustained.

Ms Lightstone: Miss Tucker, are you trying to frame Mr. Pierce in order to protect yourself?

Allison: If I wanted to protect myself, I would have stayed living the way I’ve been living for the past 18 years. I did this for my son, because I wanted him to meet his birth parents. Birth parents that I didn’t even know existed until a few weeks ago.

Ms Lightstone: I see. But before you carried out this little act of altruism you made sure you cut a deal with the DA, right? In exchange for this testimony you were promised you wouldn’t serve any time, is that true Miss Tucker?

Allison: Yes. That is correct.

A café. Rebecca speaking with Allison’s sister

Sister: My sister and I don’t really communicate much anymore Miss Washington.

Rebecca: I’m just looking… I need witnesses to substantiate what she’s telling us.

Sister: I don’t really know anything.

Rebecca: Did you know she had a child?

Sister: Yes.

Rebecca: And did she tell you she had gotten the boy from a man?

Sister: Yes, some guy she met in a Laundromat, I heard the whole thing.

Rebecca: Did you believe her?

Sister: Why wouldn’t I?

Rebecca: Miss Tucker, I’m Allison’s Lawyer, I’m on her side. I’m just trying to collect information.

Sister: You said it like you doubt her.

Rebecca: Mr. Pierce’s Lawyer will doubt her, and she’ll try to tear her up, I need to know what ammo she could possibly dig up.

Eugene’s office. Jimmy enters.

Jimmy: Can I talk to you?

Eugene: I thought we did that.

Jimmy: Well, I’d like to talk again then.

Eugene: Go ahead.

Jimmy: I um… I can’t got it out of my head, about what you said, about shattering trust. And, well… I realized I was betting money, I even knew I was betting the clients money and I suppose I knew I was gambling with the firms reputation, but never really hit me, until you said what you said, was that I was wagering friendship, and.. Ah I guess that means I was willing to, but on that I wasn’t really aware, I never would have knowingly done that. You people here, you’re really the only thing I have that really means anything to me. I’m not comfortable telling people I love them, especially other men, but ah, I do love you Eugene, and to risk… I’m an addict… but if I ever needed the will to lick this, I got it now, cos my friendship with you, well, I hope you know what I’m saying.

Jimmy Exits

Courthouse. Probable Cause Hearing.

Ms Lightstone: They offered nothing new. The 18-year-old memory of an unsubstantiated witness whose credibility is highly suspect. The only thing she could establish is that she once, briefly, knew my client. Even in the court were able to accept her concoction, you would certainly have to recognize, your Honor, that this newly discovered evidence could never satisfy, at trial, the burden of guilt beyond reasonable doubt. Accordingly I ask that my client be released and that the charges be dismissed, this time, with prejudice.

Helen: We already had an eyewitness, Mrs. Baldwin placing John Pierce at the scene of the crime at the exact time of the crime. We found three legos inside Mr. Piece’s apartment; Chad Baldwin was seen playing with legos at the scene. He has convictions for two other child molestations…

Ms Lightstone: I’m sorry those will not come into evidence.

Helen: I think they will they go to pattern.

Ms Lightstone: The prejudicial value alone…

Helen: Civil liberties are less in style than they used to be. I would appreciate getting to finish my statement much like she got to finish hers.

Judge: Go ahead.

Helen: In addition to Mrs. Baldwin placing Mr. Pierce within 50 feet of her son at the time of the disappearance, in addition to an informant who testified that John Pierce admitted to the abduction, we now have the testimony of Allison Tucker who said she got Chad Baldwin from John Pierce. Lets not forget, your Honor, his prior molestation convictions will likely come into evidence as pattern evidence. All of that will be enough to satisfy reasonable doubt. Your Honor, its unquestionable that this matter satisfies the burden of a probable cause hearing.

Judge: I agree. The defendant is bound over. Trial date for the first week of February, and Miss Lightstone, Miss Gamble is correct, there’s an excellent chance the jury will hear about these other molestation convictions, take your client in a corner, tell him he’s got a problem. This court is adjourned.

People in court all clap

Hallway

Mr. Baldwin: I can’t believe we may finally get him.

Helen: Well I’m gonna need you for trial which you heard will be in February.

Mrs. Baldwin: OK.

Rebecca walks up to Bobby, who is exiting the courtroom

Rebecca: Bobby.

Bobby: Hey Bec.

Rebecca: Got a sec?

Bobby: Sure.

Back to Helen and the Baldwin’s at the other end of the hallway

Helen: Listen; before we get carried away, I’d like to try to settle this. Our leverage is good, and with the chance of the other convictions being suppressed, and there is that chance, I’d like to get what we can get now.

Mr. Baldwin: How long?

Helen: If I could get 8 years I’d be thrilled. You OK with that?

Mrs. Baldwin: I guess.

Back to Bobby and Rebecca, Allison and James walk past

Bobby: Allison (she turns around) can I talk to you for a sec?

A room. Bobby, Rebecca, Ellenor and Allison enter

Allison: What’s up?

Bobby (pointing to Bec): This is Rebecca Washington; she’s an attorney with our firm.

Allison (looking at Rebecca): Yeah, I think we’ve met.

Bobby: She’s been looking for witnesses who could perhaps bolster your testimony; today she spoke with your sister.

Allison: And?

Bobby: She says three years before taking in James; you miscarried, two years before that you miscarried. Six months before taking in James you tried to adopt, you were rejected, a month later you told your sister you thought about just going to a hospital and taking a baby.

Allison: She’s lying.

Bobby: Why would she make up those lies?

Allison: She’s lying.

Bobby: Did you kidnap James Allison?

Allison: No.

Bobby: Did you get lucky? John Pierce, a child molester, just happened to be in the area at the time, he just happened to be a friend, are you the beneficiary of an incredible coincidence?

Allison: No.

Bobby: You also told your sister Mr. Pierce had a juvenile arrest for molestation. Juvenile records are sealed, so how would you know that? We didn’t know that.

Allison: Pierce told me, so what?

Bobby: So what? It means you had reason to know that he’d make a perfect suspect. Did you try to frame him Allison? Snatch a kid where he worked? Planted the legos in his apartment, you had access. Is that what happened Allison?

Allison: If I was involved, Mr. Donnell, why would I ever come foreword now?

Bobby: I don’t think you really did, James did, and you couldn’t stop him.

Allison: You’re mistaken.

Conference room. Bobby, Jimmy, Eugene, Rebecca, Ellenor and Lindsay

Bobby: The question is, what do we do now?

Jimmy: Well if Bec found this out, I gotta believe the police will too.

Rebecca: No, the sisters not talking to the police, she spoke to me because I’m Allison’s Lawyer.

Eugene: Which raises another issue. We’re Allison’s Lawyers, the conflict of interest we spoke of before has reared its ugly head.

Ellenor: Do we tell the Baldwin’s?

Bobby: How do we not?

Eugene: I agree, you have to tell the Baldwin’s and Allison.

Lindsay: Wait a second; Allison could still have criminal exposure on this, for obstruction of justice or perjury.

Eugene: Doesn’t matter. She didn’t reveal the information, her sister did, its not privileged.

Ellenor: But Eugene….

Bobby: I am telling the Baldwin’s

Jimmy: What’s happening with Pierce?

Jail Cell. Pierce and Lawyer with Helen and Rob Lowe

Pierce: No.

Ms Lightstone: John.

Pierce: I didn’t do it. I wont say I did.

Helen: I’d finish listening before declaring your position Mr. Pierce.

Ms Lightstone: Helen.

Helen: This is a one time only offer, you know the evidence we have, the judge indicated he’s gonna admit the molestation convictions.

Pierce: I didn’t do it. I admit I knew the woman, but I never took the kid. She must have and she’s trying to frame me.

Helen: She’s trying to frame you 18 years later, what is this careful planning?

Pierce: I don’t know what’s going on, I was friends with her but I never grabbed that kid.

Helen: You’ve got till noon tomorrow. I’m offering you reckless endangerment for a kidnapping. That is a gift, which I am willing to give you to spare putting those families through a trial.

Lowe: And I hope you turn it down, cos I love to go after guys who go after kids.

Bobby’s office. Bobby and Ellenor with the Baldwin’s

Mrs. Baldwin: She did it?

Bobby: We can’t prove it but we think so.

Mrs. Baldwin: Does James know?

Ellenor: We don’t think so. He seems to believe his mothers version of the events.

Mr. Baldwin: So where does this leave us.

Ellenor: Well…

Bobby: Ethically, we think we should inform the District Attorney. We’re a little trapped because Allison is also our client. Before we do anything we thought we’d get your reaction to it all.

Mr. Baldwin: Why would she come foreword and expose herself if she were the Kidnapper?

Bobby: We believe James insisted on coming foreword and she couldn’t talk him out of it.

Ellenor: As we said we can’t prove any of it. But this is where we are.

Mr. Baldwin: I would like you to not tell the District Attorney.

Ellenor (surprised): OK… why?

Mr. Baldwin: Because if you do, it’s going to turn Chad against you and ultimately us. Like it or not, she controls our relationship with our son.

Ellenor: A man stands to be convicted for a crime he didn’t commit.

Mrs. Baldwin: Well maybe the police will find this new information out on their own.

Ellenor: That doesn’t seem likely, besides, Pierce could enter a plea.

Mrs. Baldwin: Ellenor, Bobby, my husbands right, we need to have a relationship with this woman.

Bobby: Its possible, if James were to know that Allison was the Kidnapper, he might sever his relationship with her, making it easier for you.

Mr. Baldwin: That might be so, if you could prove it, but you cant. You asked for our thoughts Bobby, as your clients were directing you not to tell the District Attorney about this new information.

Helen’s office. Helen and Lowe with Ms Lightstone

Ms Lightstone: He maintains his innocence.

Helen: Come on Henrietta.

Ms Lightstone: He does, Helen what can I tell ya?

Helen: It’s not about what you tell me it’s about what you say to him. You gotta advise him of his legal chances here. If this goes to trial, he’s dead.

Ms Lightstone: I can’t make him take a deal.

Lowe: Make him see reality.

Ms Lightstone: Well give me something to go back with.

Helen: I gave you eight years for a kidnapping, what do you want me to gift wrap it?

Ms Lightstone: Make it six, Ill get him there.

Helen: I’ll give him 15 in juvie, he’ll love it.

Ms Lightstone: Six, I’ll sell it.

Helen: Seven, sell seven.

DYD&F. Everyone is there.

Bobby: Lucy, notify the Baldwin’s and the Tuckers were going back in before Judge Kenny at eleven, if they want to be there.

Lucy: Do they have to?

Bobby: No, it’s their choice. I’m going. Ellenor.

Ellenor: I’m with you.

Ellenor and Bobby Exit

Jimmy: So this guy’s going back to prison?

Eugene: Seems so.

Eugene exits then re-enters

Eugene: Jimmy, Lunch plans?

Jimmy (surprised): Me? No I’m wide open

Eugene: Want to grab a sandwich, twelve thirty or so?

Jimmy: Great.

Eugene exits

Courthouse hallway. Bobby and Ellenor get of the lift and meet the Baldwin’s

Mrs. Baldwin: Bobby.

Bobby: you’re here?

Mrs. Baldwin: We were close when Lucy called. The case is over?

Bobby: They supposedly have reached a deal. There’s a joint recommendation scheduled before Judge Kenny… Listen, I know we’ve already been through this but I’m going to say it again. If Pierce is doing jail time, he’s serving it, quite possibly for a crime he didn’t commit. Will you really be able to live with that?

Mrs. Baldwin: John Pierce is a two-time child molester, whether or not he actually kidnapped Chad.

Bobby: He served his time for those offences.

Mrs. Baldwin: I’m not going to lose sleep for him. This is my time to make up for 18 lost years with my son.

James and Allison enter

James: Is it really over?

Ellenor: We don’t know. Were told there’s a plea.

Mrs. Baldwin: Allison, could I see you in private, in the witness room?

Bobby: I’ll go with you.

Mrs. Baldwin: No, this is private Bobby.

Bobby: I’m going with you.

­­

Mrs. Baldwin, Allison and Bobby enter a witness room

Mrs. Baldwin: Did you kidnap my son Allison? (Allison says nothing)… I asked you a question and I would appreciate an answer. Did you kidnap my son?

Allison: I raised James, I’m his mother

Mrs. Baldwin (speaking slowly and quietly): Well then as his mother, you’ll understand my rage, as only a mother can. I will get along with you, because I have to. I will welcome you into my home. I will sit across a dinner table from you. I will welcome you into my life to keep James in my life. But with every embrace, please know, I will never, ever, forgive you. And you’ll understand that wont you? Because a mother can understand.

Allison looks uncomfortable

Ellenor enters

Ellenor: Court’s in session.

Courtroom

Judge: Do you understand Mr. Pierce that you are pleading guilty to the charge of Child Endangerment?

Pierce: Yes your Honor.

Judge: And you understand that by pleading guilty, you waive your right to an appeal and will be sentenced to a state prison for a term of not less than seven years? (Pierce says nothing)… Mr. Pierce, I asked you a question.

Pierce (not happy): Yes, your Honor, I understand it all.

Judge: Miss Lightstone, you support and recommend this plea?

Ms Lightstone: I do your Honor

Judge: All right the plea is entered and accepted. Mr. Pierce you are hereby found guilty of the charge of Child Endangerment. Security, take Mr. Pierce into custody. This court is adjourned

The End