Like Dandelion Dust Page #2

- Why'd you give me the eggs?

- 'Cause it was the lightest one.

- I gotta pee!

- Okay. Remember to put the toilet seat down.

Put it up first, and then put it down.

I know how to use the toilet, Mommy.

This is Alyson Bower

of the Ohio Department of Child Services.

I'm calling for Mr. and Mrs. -

Your Honor I'd just like to point out..

That this child is in private school...

And he's very well-adjusted.

Whereas, these people, the birth parents,

have no parental experience.

I appreciate it, Mrs. Bower,

but that doesn't change the forgery.

Have a seat.

- Thank you.

- Mrs. Porter?

Who signed these papers?

Well, I assumed my husband did.

- I can explain, Your Honor-

- I wasn't talking to you.

Mrs. Porter.

After Rip was put away...

I decided to adopt out the baby.

And so I took the papers to the prison...

But because Rip and I

weren't on speaking terms...

I gave them to a guard to give to him...

And someone on the inside

must have signed his name.

Let's I find out who did sign those papers,

he's going to the same prison you did.

Yes, sir.

You're going to tell me...

That you didn't know

about the pregnancy or the adoption?

No, sir, not until a couple weeks ago.

And now you want to be a father?

Yes, sir.

Before I was incarcerated,

I was a very different man-

certainly not fit to be

a husband or a father.

And, uh, my alcoholism...

Is a progressive illness...

And healing is lifelong.

And I've spent the last seven years

rehabilitating.

And the one thing

that I've held on to, sir...

Is- is my hope.

My hope for a family...

To repair the damage that I've done...

And my desire to be a father.

She's been in court all day?

What's going on?

Just let me try to talk to her.

Allyson Bower.

Jack Campbell returning your call.

What kind of situation?

Living room, uh, kitchen table.

Got a few fish.

Um- And he's got his own room.

Im doing a bit of work on it.

Uh, we just got some toys today.

- Yeah, we got him a train set.

- Mm-hmm.

Have you given

any thought to schools?

Yes. The public school's

just down the street here...

And it's got a very good

student-teacher ratio.

I actually went there.

It's a good school.

- So you're a local girl.

- Yeah.

All right. What about his diet?

Yeah. Mom?

Ive actually planned out

all of his meals already.

Um, lots of protein and veggies.

Um, no fried. No fried food.

We're cutting that out.

No more fast food.

- Right.

- I've even made a schedule.

Um- Oh.

These are all child safety locks,

by the way.

Yep. Installed them myself.

Well, there's a lot more

to raising a child than toys and locks.

We know.

Look, I can see that

you've worked really hard...

But that doesn't change the fact

that you are ripping this boy away...

From the only life he's ever known.

He's coming from another world.

Do you have any idea

what that's going to do to him?

Have you thought about it?

I don't understand why this is our problem.

They made the mistake.

They should have notarized the signature.

You're right. You wanna sue Ohio D.C.S.?

We'll probably win.

I don't wanna sue, Tom.

This isn't about money.

But we got a problem.

It's Ohio case law.

It's firm.

There were eight forged adoptions,

all invalidated.

And in every case, the child was returned

to the biological parents.

- This judge has no choice.

- You gotta help me, Tom.

Please. There's gotta be somethin'.

Look, Jack. Listen to me.

We won a lot of battles together,

you and me...

But we're not gonna win this one.

So let me tell you

what I would do if it were me.

I would stop wasting my time

talking to lawyers.

Do you follow me?

The interior's good. Yeah.

All right. We got her.

What do you think?

Wow.

I've been thinking a lot about him.

I just, uh-

I'm scared. I want this

to work out so bad, and-

- Honey.

- Huh?

You're gonna be a great father.

- Jack, how are you?

- Thanks for coming. Please, sit down.

You're talking about reversing the ruling

of an Ohio judge. I have no legal authority.

Curtis, you're a congressman.

Call in some favors for me.

Twist some arms. I know how it works.

It's the state judiciary,

and I can't interfere with that.

What if it was your son?

What if it was Max?

Think about that.

Come on, Jack. That's not fair.

There's a woman coming down here

in three days to take Joey.

- Do you understand that?

- Hey, hey, hey. Calm down.

Look, I realize

it's an election year, okay?

- And these aren't popular cases to be associated with.

- What are you talking about?

This has nothing to do with my political career.

Are you kidding me?

Im asking you to put yourself

on the line for once...

To save my son.

Look.

I know you're under a lot of pressure.

I know that.

But I'm sorry. I can't.

Id like to help you, Jack, but, um...

It's a state matter.

My hands are tied.

Im sorry.

Send him to your parents.

That's the first place

they'll look, honey.

Well, if he's not here

when they get here, what-

Then they'll send us to jail.

What good are we then?

We have to send him on the first visit.

Just until I can figure something out.

Let me see these feet.

- Ow!

- Oh!

Hey, you count one, two, three,

all right?

- One-

- Two.

Three.

Oh!

Ouch, Mama.

That was a good one.

It was all-

Crack, crack, crack.

Hey, Joey. Hey, Joe.

I want to telI you something.

You're gonna go on a little trip...

To a place called Ohio.

All right?

Where's Ohio?

It's pretty far,

so you're gonna have to take a plane.

But remember, you love planes, right?

Why do I have to go?

Well...

There's this woman,

and she's really nice.

You don't remember her, but she knew you

when you were a little baby.

And she asked

if you could come for a visit...

And Daddy and I said yes.

Hey, Joey.

Everything's gonna be fine, all right?

You got nothing to be afraid of.

Look at me, buddy. Hey.

You got nothing to be afraid of.

I want you to come with me.

I can't.

Aah!

I wanna stay here with you.

You listen to me.

Your mother and I

will always be with you...

No matter where you go.

You understand that?

Hmm?

Okay.

I love you.

Ms. Bower.

Good morning.

Mr. and Mrs. Campbell, I'm very sorry.

I know this must be difficult.

"Difficult"?

Do they teach you to say that,

Ms. Bower?

There are a couple of things

I need to go over with you.

This has the itinerary

and all of my information in it.

Now, on the first visit...

We're gonna tell Joey

that the Porters are just friends.

The next time, we'll refer to them

as "the other Mommy and Daddy. "

And on the final visit,

he'll be told the truth.

Do you have children, Mrs. Bower?

Yes. Yes, I do.

And I am very sorry.

All right, all right.

What if something happens?

- I'm sorry?

- Ms. Bower.

I know why Rip Porter went to prison.

Mr. Porter's had years of rehabilitation-

and anger management.

Come on.

And the court

has deemed him a fit parent.

Now, I've personally been to their home.

- It's a suitable environment.

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