My Sister's Keeper Page #3

So then what?

- I don't know.

- You want to sedate her?

Get handcuffs, tell her

we're going to get ice cream again?

Because if we do,

every day for the rest of her life...

...she's gonna look at us

like we forced her, like we used her.

- And she'll be right.

- For chrissakes, Brian, I didn't do this.

- Whose side are you on?

- Side. What sides? Are there sides now?

She doesn't want to do it.

GLORIA:

Your 11:
00 appointment is here.

- I don't have an 11:00.

GLORIA:
Wait, you can't go in there.

Get your hands off me.

Mr. Alexander,

I'm Sara Fitzgerald, Anna's mother.

- It's okay, Gloria. - Are you sure?

I don't mind calling security.

CAMPBELL:

No, no. Thank you.

What can I do for you, Mrs. Fitzgerald?

The legal age for emancipation of a minor

is 14 in the state of California.

It's the law, you might want to check it.

Anna's 11, you're three years early.

- I'm aware, she's challenging.

- She can't.

- She's too young to stand.

- I'm filing for her as guardian ad litem.

As what? A family independence agency?

I have 15 years as a volunteer member

of the ACLU...

...in addition to which I have this power

of attorney signed by your daughter.

This will never hold up.

It's not even legal.

Anna doesn't want to do it anymore.

And 11 years old or not, she has rights.

And so long as she wants to move forward,

I am going to help her.

Why? What's your interest?

This isn't a case for you.

- There's no money.

- What's my interest?

Eight hospitalizations in 11 years...

...six catheterizations,

two bone-marrow aspirations...

...two stem-cell purges.

- She was helping her sister.

Not to mention the side effects,

including bleeding, infections, bruising.

Filgrastim shots.

Those are growth hormones, am I correct?

- Something like that.

- Drugs for nausea, opiates for pain...

...Ambien for sleep. Not exactly

the proper medication for a preteen.

Every procedure

had its risks and complications.

Anna understood that,

she was okay with it.

- Really?

- Yeah.

At 5 years old.

Oh, my God, you're good.

You're really good.

You know, I've seen your commercials,

right? I mean, who hasn't?

I always thought you were

some headline-seeking hack...

...but you have real talent.

You almost had me believing

that you cared about Anna.

Funny, I was about to say

the same thing to you.

Mrs. Fitzgerald,

did you ever say to yourself:

"Maybe I'm wrong,

maybe I took it a little too far?"

I'll see you in court.

SARA:

You gotta get up.

You haven't been out of that bed

in two weeks.

KATE:
I'm tired.

- You can do it.

BRIAN:
It's a beautiful day outside.

KATE:
No.

It's sunny. It's gonna be good for you.

KATE:
I'm too sick.

SARA:
You're not too sick.

You're depressed.

I'm not gonna feed you antidepressants...

...they're gonna just make you more numb.

Now, get up.

- No!

BRIAN:
Hey, baby?

- You want to tell me what's really wrong?

- I'm tired. Don't you get that?

- I'm sick, and I'm tired, and I'm ugly.

BRIAN:
Stop it.

KATE:
Don't you dare tell me

that I'm beautiful, because I'm not.

Don't you dare tell me that nobody's

gonna stare at me, because they will.

SARA:
Oh, God.

- I'm a freak.

BRIAN:

Come here.

- Okay, that's it.

BRIAN:
It's okay.

[RAZOR BUZZING]

Mom?

- [MOUTHING] Thanks, Mom.

- [MOUTHING] Mom, Mom.

KATE:

This is it.

I know I'm going to die now.

I suppose I've always known that.

I just never knew when.

And I'm okay with it. Really.

I don't mind my disease killing me.

But it's killing my family too.

While everyone was so worried

about my blood counts...

...they barely even noticed

that Jesse was dyslexic.

Look at this place.

You see all these kids around here?

They got a football team,

this Olympic-style swimming pool.

- Horses.

- They got horses.

Massive playground here.

Look at that Tarzan rope into a lake.

There's kids everywhere.

You're gonna have a great time there.

What?

Come on, you know this is gonna be

like a vacation for you.

I'll try harder.

It's not about that.

Hey, look at me.

You know how sometimes when you

see things, they are a little mixed up?

This place is special because

they have teachers there...

...that will show you

how to straighten it out.

- Okay.

- And I can't do that.

Okay.

You're gonna get so good at math.

- It's gonna be a year, that's it,

all right? - Just till your grades are up.

If you don't like it, you come right home.

- Okay.

- All right.

KATE:

I'm sorry, Jesse.

I'm sorry I took all the attention when

you were the one who needed it the most.

Dad,

I know I took your first love from you.

I only hope that one day,

you get her back.

Mom, you gave up everything for me.

Your work, your marriage,

your entire life...

...just to fight my battles for me

every single day.

I'm sorry you couldn't win.

And to my baby sis,

who was always so very little...

...I'm sorry I let them hurt you.

I'm sorry I didn't take care of you.

It was supposed to be

the other way around.

- Hey.

- Hi.

I got you something.

- Is that me?

- Mm-hm.

I'm not done with it, but...

- De Salvo? I thought she was on leave.

- She was, she's back.

Your Honor, clearly Miss Morangez

is afraid for her life.

At this time, the plaintiff requests

a continuation on the restraining order.

BAILIFF:

Stand, please.

DE SALVO:

Mr. Morangez, by order of this court...

...you are no longer allowed

within 1000 yards...

...of Mrs. Morangez or her residence.

You understand

how far a thousand yards is?

CAMPBELL:
Judge De Salvo

had a very public nervous breakdown...

...after her 12-year-old daughter

was killed by a drunk driver.

She had taken a six-month leave of absence

to deal with her grief...

...and this was the first time

I'd seen her back in court.

DE SALVO:

You're going to jail.

- Okay, next case, please.

MAN:
Thank you, Your Honor.

BAILIFF:

Four-eight-five-seven-two.

I'd like to see counsel in my chambers,

please.

DE SALVO:
Good afternoon.

SARA:
Good afternoon.

What's with the dog?

He's a service dog, Your Honor.

DE SALVO:

Well, please make sure he behaves himself.

- I just had these carpets cleaned.

CAMPBELL:
Yes, ma'am.

Good to see you, Sara.

I wasn't aware you were practicing.

I wasn't planning to, Your Honor,

but the complainant is my daughter.

What's this about, counselor?

Mrs. Fitzgerald's youngest child wishes to

be medically emancipated from her parents.

There's no legal definition

of medical emancipation...

...not in the state of California.

It's one of those New Age terms

that Mr. Alexander has latched onto.

Yes, I'm well aware

of Mr. Alexander's reputation.

He once tried to sue God

in my courtroom.

Did sue, Your Honor.

Jerome Dylan v.

The Diocese of California.

- And I won that one.

- I remember. So?

So Mr. Alexander

wants you to change the law.

An 11-year-old can't be emancipated,

at least not legally.

My client is not seeking

to be emancipated.

She loves her parents

and wants to live at home.

Rate this script:4.5 / 2 votes