Before and After Page #7

Talk.

It's hard to say. Hey, look,

there's just no story here. Sorry.

- What are they talking about?

- I said, no story.

Okay, my turn.

Jacob doesn't know, does he?

Did you at least tell Ben?

Oh, Jesus Christ.

I hope he doesn't have his son's temper,

because I worry about you.

He doesn't have his son's temper.

His son has his.

This weapon, this car jack

that you say killed her, where is it now?

It'll never surface, I promise you.

But I'm never going to say.

Did you ever see it?

Well, then it's hearsay.

Just like this so-called confession.

It's your word against Ben and Jacob's.

- There's still no proof.

- Panos, it was an accident.

Why can't Jacob just tell the truth?

Jacob is my client.

Not you, not your husband. Jacob.

And there's no way I'm gonna put him

on that witness stand

for Marian Raynor to cut to pieces.

I'm gonna defend your son,

even if you don't.

Even if it means hangin' you out to dry.

Me?

Cold, vindictive.

Full of crazy, paranoid fantasies

about your son and his low class lover.

Honey, by the time I'm done with you,

you'll look like Medea.

Panos, if you try to go on hiding this...

If we don't at some point accept

what actually did happen...

What actually happened? What's it

gonna take for you to get this?

They tell their version of the story,

we tell ours.

And these twelve people

decide the truth.

That's not the truth. You're talking

about a contest between ad campaigns.

- I'm talkin' about savin' your son.

- So am I.

It's absolute why I did this, Panos.

Finally, it's just one true thing.

Absolute.

I didn't ask your permission

because I didn't want it.

We can't afford it anymore.

Oh, my dear doctor.

You and your goddamn absolutes.

You'll see what a shallow

little thing your principles are

when your family's blown to hell.

And you won't be able

to take back one single word.

- Jacob! Jacob! Come on, wake up.

- What?

Come and hear

what your mother's done.

She's done it now, boy.

She just couldn't keep her big mouth shut.

Dad, stop. You're hurting me.

- What is it? What's wrong?

- She'll tell you herself.

Tell him. Tell him.

What kind of a life were we going to have?

Hm? What kind of a life, all of us?

I love you and I wanted to save you.

But save you for what?

As what?

Everything he's been for sixteen years,

everything he is.

That wasn't enough

to make him valuable?

- Oh, Ben.

- You never wanted to save him.

You brought him into this life,

but you're not willing to forgive him.

I forgive us all, Ben.

Jake, for God's sake, don't listen to her.

We can't give up now.

Believe me, there's still a chance!

Don't you have any faith in him at all?

Jake, we can still fight this.

You and me together.

You back off. Back off my son.

Your what? If he's your son, then act like it.

Jacob, Jakie, I did this for you.

For both of you.

I only was trying to help you.

You understand that, don't you?

You're asking a lot if you expect your own

son to understand why you betrayed him!

I didn't...

You can't say that!

Goddamn it, just stop it, all right?!

Both of you.

Hey, Mom!

- Mom, wake up! Jacob's gone!

- Hm?

What?

Jacob!

He's gone. He's gone.

Check the kitchen

and the back of the house.

- I already looked.

- Look again.

The Jeep's gone. He's running again

and he'll never stop.

No, he didn't take any clothes or food.

I'm almost sure, Ben.

Maybe he doesn't think he'll need them.

Maybe he's gonna drive

that thing straight into a tree.

Oh, my God.

No, that can't be true.

Ben, Carolyn, I think

you better come with me.

Do they know?

Oh, Jake.

Were you running to some...

No, I came down here to tell 'em the truth.

Everything. Just like I told you.

But you won't believe this.

It turns out that it's not that easy.

Even if you really want to,

it turns out that my statement isn't legal

unless it's signed by my parents.

Dad.

You want this now.

You think you want this but, Jake,

you're still upset from last night.

- You're not thinking clearly.

- Please, I am.

I am.

I am thinking clearly.

And I'll do my best to leave you out of this,

but you might be in some trouble, too.

And I'm sorry.

Is that what you...

Oh God, Jake.

Is that what you think this was ever about?

For one minute?

I don't care what happens to me.

Why do you think I've been doing all this?

Do you think I'm some,

some kind of a selfish bully?

I've always got to have my own way?

Oh, Jake.

Now, do you remember

what you said to me?

You said the worst thing

you can be called is someone

who didn't stand up for his family.

This is my way.

This is how I've got to stand up.

For us. For our family.

They'll probably take it

with just Mom's signature on it.

But I need you to do this.

I need you to do this, please.

I need this for me, please.

I had to be strong.

I had to act certain because

that's what you needed from me.

All of you.

But I can't do this.

I can never put my hand to anything

that would take you away from me.

I love you too much, Jake.

Nothing can ever take me away from you.

Oh, son. My son.

I wish we could go back.

I never knew how much you loved me.

I never knew that.

Jude.

Jake.

Langdale's a good judge.

He's smart, he's fair.

And I think I may have convinced him

that prison time, in this case

would be completely inappropriate.

I think we've got a real shot.

But you sure didn't leave me

much to trade with.

I guess we haven't been

the most helpful clients you've ever had.

Why didn't you quit, Panos?

I told you I'd defend Jacob.

Or maybe I just wanted to see

what you two would do next.

Hear ye, hear ye.

The third district court is now in session.

The Honorable Henry Langdale presiding.

All rise.

Please be seated.

Having reviewed all the evidence

and testimony in the case

of the People versus Jacob Ryan, juvenile,

this court is now prepared

to render judgment.

Martha Taverner's death

in the opinion of this court,

was neither pre-meditated nor

deliberately caused by the defendant.

There was a heated argument, a mutually

reckless struggle, but no criminal intent.

Young man, I'm also mindful

that you've expressed deep remorse.

That you've made

a full and free confession,

and done so at your own insistence,

without stipulating a plea bargain.

Nevertheless, you have a clear culpability.

By running away,

by covering up your involvement

in the death of Martha Taverner,

you cast grave doubts on your own actions.

And you short-circuited the very

protections afforded you under the law.

Jacob Ryan, please rise.

I find you guilty...

of involuntary manslaughter

in the second degree.

I sentence you to be taken

from this place and confined

at the Juvenile Correction Facility

at Framingham

for a period not to exceed five years.

Still think it was worth it?

My father had to serve

almost a year for destroying evidence.

Jacob was released on probation

after two years.

He has to go to counseling, though.

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