Gifted Page #6

- Vermont.

- And you called the police, didn't you?

- Yes.

- Because he kidnapped her?

- Yes.

And where police found young

Mr. Riva and Diane?

I told you, Vermont.

Stowe, Vermont.

Wasn't it?

A resort town.

Stowe Mountain.

He took her skiing.

You see, kidnappers don't usually

take their victims skiing.

But this is what Paul did...

because he and Diane were

in love.

No.

And when they returned,

you pressed kidnapping charges.

you filed the lawsuit against

his parents...

until Paul stopped calling

Diane.

- Didn't you?

- Yes.

And Diane never heard of or

saw Paul Riva again.

Did she?

Not to my knowledge.

And how did she take it?

She was upset for a while.

She lost focus.

She lost focus.

Mrs. Adler, in March of 1999...

Didn't Diane Adler attempt to

take her own life?

This episode was minor.

It was nothing.

I have the hospital

report in my hand.

It was nothing.

Diane was not like

regular people.

She was extrodinary.

And extrodinary people come with

singular issues and needs.

You have no idea of capability

she possesed.

One in a billion.

And you would say: " Fine, let's throw that away,

so the boy who cuts our yard can make sexy concrest.

Well maybe before you make that

decision, you stand in my shoes.

I had responsibilities, which are beyond

the mother-dauther relationship.

The greateest discoveries, which have

proved life on this planet...

have come from minds rarer

than radium.

Without them, we'd still be

crawling in mud.

And for your information,

conselor...

a year after this incident with

this boy...

Diane thanked me for my

intervention.

She realized she'd made a mistake and

she thanked me.

You see, Diane understood. She's been a

contible for a gift she'd been given.

And she didn't shy from it.

And I think, if she were here today,

Mr. Atorney,

she would refute your baseless insinuations, that she

would give up her brilliant future and take her own life

just because her mummy didn't get

her a little red wagon.

No more questions.

Mr. Adler...

Where are you currently

employed?

I repair boats.

Oh, really?

At which marina?

I don't work at the marina.

I freelance.

So, safe to say, no health

insurance.

No.

About a week before your

sister took her life...

what were you doing for

a living then?

I was a teacher.

You're being modest, aren't you?

You were a professor at Boston University...

Isn't that right?

Yes, weel, assistant professor.

And what'd you teach?

Philosophy.

Truth and logic. That sort

of thing.

Your attorney said that the

primary reason...

that you took Mary is because what your

sister would've wanted you to do.

Is that a truth?

Yes.

So Diane chad visited Pinellas

County before?

No.

Indicated she wanted her daughter

rooted and moved here?

No.

No.

So you decided to bring Mary

here, didn't you?

Did Diane had a problem with your

health plan at Boston University?

Not to my knowledge.

Do you think she would want her

dauther to have access to healthcare?

Of course.

So what do you do, when a little

Mary gets sick?

You repair a doctor's boat?

Objection.

Sustained.

Mary has been identified as

a math prodigy.

But her formal math education

under your care...

She's learning at the first grade level,

isn't she?

Yes.

And you turned out the scolarship

at the Oaks...

a school specialized for the education

of gifted children?

Yes.

And Diane, she'd be fine with that?

I couldn't say.

Prody to Mrs. Adler giving her one.

Did Mary have a computer?

She used mine.

Mr. Adler, does Diane's daughter

have her own bedroom?

No.

Does she sleep in a bed that you bought...

- in a secondhand shop?

- Yes.

So, the truth is, Mr. Adler,

that you didn't come down here,

because your sister wanted it to,

and you certantly didn't come here

because it was good for Mary.

No, it was personal.

Diane was a star. You

weren't.

Diane got the attention.

You didn't.

Nobody use. You got angry.

And here comes Mary.

What a great way to get even.

You've uprooted that litlle girl and brought

her here for 1 reason only.

To do harm to your mother.

You blamed her for your sister.

No, I don't.

And Mary to you is just a paawn

in all this.

Diane wanted Mary...

to be a kid.

She wanted her to have a life.

She wanted her to have friends...

and to play...

and to be happy.

You realize the consequences of boredom

for a gifted child, Mr. Adler?

They become resentful and

sullen.

Mary's not an angry kid.

Really?

Did she not attack a child

on the school bus?

A 12 year old tripped a 7 year old and

she came to his defense.

- Did she brake the boy's nose?

- Yes.

On October 16th last year, were you

arrested for assault?

Oh, my God.

You have to answer the question,

Mr. Adler.

A drunk idiot attacked me and I

defended myself.

Did you spend the night in jail?

Yeah.

You are in way over your head here.

You're depriving that girl.

You're gambling with her future...

and now you being presented with

an opportunity...

- to do right by her?

- Does concil have a question for my client?

Take the high road, Mr. Adler...

- before she's rapidly damaged.

- Does concil have a question...

- for my client or not?

- Yes, sir. I do have a question.

Tell us. Is your continued guardianship

really in the best interest

of this litlle girl?

Yes.

Yes, it is.

I have no further questions.

Mr. Jim Emeliot has come up with

a brand new Fred cheer.

Fred personally asked me if I

would tell you it.

Let's hear it.

S- O-C-K-I-T Sock it to me,

Freddy...

Sock it.

Sock it.

Tell R and D, they got a winner.

That's exactly what I said.

S- O-C-K-I-T. Sock it to me,

Freddy.

They wanna cut a deal.

Highsmith called me first thing

this morning.

Why would he do that?

I don't understand.

Just listen. Listen to me, man.

- Mary would be put in fostering situation.

- No.

Come on, Frank.

- It wouldn't be a court-appointed foster family.

- Cullen, I told you no.

- Drop it!

- We can cherry pick...

from the cream of the crop.

Muturally approved.

Just hear me out.

Tampa.

I insisted, and they agreed.

No more than a half an hour

from your front door.

Now, she would attend the Oaks.

It's a great school.

And visiting rights for the grandmother,

but she was gonna get that anyway.

Right. And on her 12th birthday, Frank

she can go back into court...

- No.

- And decide then...

where she wants to live and who.

You supposed to be on my team.

Why are you bringing me this deal?

Other than I'm required to

by a law?

You like this deal?

I love this deal.

They think they're gonna lose.

Yeah.

They do.

You think we're gonna lose.

Yes.

I do, Frank.

I gotta go put my kids to bed.

I'll do whatever you want me to do.

But, if we leave this up to

that judge...

Nick knows, he's a old school,

Frank.

Does he like your mother? No.

Does he like her income?

Does he like her health plan?

Does he like her home?

You better believe it.

I've been in his courtroom.

Rate this script:3.8 / 5 votes