Orphan Page #4

I don't understand.

He accidentally stabbed himself.

But the most troubling thing

is the Sullivan house fire.

I checked into it further. It was arson.

They have never found the person

who did it.

JOHN:

What are you suggesting here?

That she had anything to do

with any of this?

It's ridiculous.

ABIGAIL:

That a child could commit such crimes...

...it flies in the face

of everything I believe.

Well, yeah.

[ DOOR OPENS ]

There's a mean lady here.

She's come to take me away.

Will you help me?

We've had

some behavioral problems, but...

Yeah, nothing like that. I mean, right?

- Yes, we have.

JOHN:
Really, hon, think about it.

ABIGAIL:
I've tried to reach the Russian

orphanage where she was raised.

I think we need to know

what we're dealing with.

Well, I'll tell you

what we're dealing with.

KATE:
No, you know what?

- Stop it. Listen.

We're dealing with a 9-year-old girl

who's an orphan, okay?

- We're taking her to Dr. Browning.

- We can take her to Dr. Browning.

[ SIGNING ]

[ SPEAKING ]

Do you want to play?

ABIGAIL:
I'll call you

as soon as I find anything else out.

JOHN:
Right. Take care.

KATE:
Okay. Thank you very much.

Maybe later.

It's going to be fine.

We'll scare her so bad

she'll never come back here.

Here she comes.

Wave your arms and make her stop.

Max, go.

[ YELLS ]

[ GROANING ]

You all right? Max?

Max?

You okay?

[ SCREAMING ]

Stop crying.

Grab a foot

and help me get her off the road.

Now.

[ ABIGAIL GRUNTING ]

Help me hide her.

[ SIGNING ]

That doesn't matter.

They'll send you to jail

just for helping me hide her.

I had to kill her

because she was going to tell on me.

You're not going to tell on me.

Are you?

Don't worry.

You're my little sister.

I won't let anything happen to you.

I love you.

Tell me what you saw.

- What are you doing?

- What did you see?

I saw you and Max in the tree house.

What else?

- What do you mean?

- What else did you see?

I didn't see anything. I swear.

- Did you tell anyone?

- No.

I didn't tell anyone.

Please...

If I find out that you're lying,

I'll cut your hairless little prick off...

...before you even figure out

what it's for.

- Do you understand me?

- Yes.

You pissed yourself.

It was nice talking to you, Alice.

I hope we can be friends.

I'd like that.

- We'll be right out, honey.

- You can come on in.

My initial instinct is that...

...there's not a deeply-rooted problem

in Esther's past.

- So there's nothing wrong with her?

- No.

It's not all good news.

I think what needs to be examined...

...is Esther's relationship

with those around her.

Specifically with you, Kate.

It seems she feels there's been some

real tension between the two of you.

- Okay.

- She's doing her best to please you...

...but you're blocking her attempts

to bond.

That's not true. That's not true at all.

I've done everything.

- Right?

- Just let her finish.

Something's happening

to cause Esther to feel this way.

Perhaps it's your guilt about drinking

or what happened to Max.

Maybe some of your feelings

of inadequacy as a mother...

...are manifesting themselves

in your relationship with Esther.

I don't feel inadequate.

What did she tell you?

She didn't see. She doesn't know.

She's so stupid.

Esther's a very shy, reserved...

...sensitive little girl going through

an extremely difficult time.

[ GRUNTING ]

She's exceptionally bright

and highly articulate.

She just needs a little patience

and understanding.

[ SCREAMS ]

Thanks for your support back there.

That was your idea.

[ CELL PHONE RINGING ]

Kate, wait, wait, wait.

I'm not a psychiatrist,

but a lot of what she said made sense.

Do you wanna get that?

- Hello?

WOMAN:
Hello, is this Mrs. Coleman?

Yes. Who's this?

This is Sister Judith

from St. Mariana's.

I'm sorry to bother you,

but I need to know...

...if Sister Abigail

made it to her appointment with you.

Yes. Why?

She hasn't returned since yesterday...

... and I'm just starting

to get really worried.

MAN:
Charlie 24,

you wanna hold them there?

Hey.

MAN:

Okay, I think we're done.

KATE:
Detective, do you have any leads

or suspects?

MAN:
No, not yet.

- I just don't understand...

...this kind of thing.

Who would do this? It's...

Awful.

You think of anything else,

you give us a call.

KATE:

Yes. Absolutely.

Let's go.

This is what Sister Abigail

was talking about. Look.

"Character-disturbed children."

Look at the symptoms.

"Superficially charming. Difficulty

at making and keeping friends."

I'm not sure this is what she meant.

She could've told Dr. Browning

whatever she wanted to hear. Look.

They "are adroit manipulators...

...oftentimes playing people off

one another to get what they want."

Well, you gonna show this

to Dr. Browning?

I'm not showing her anything.

I'm not seeing her anymore.

- When did you decide that?

- When do you think?

You're gonna discount Dr. Browning?

Why does everyone get the benefit

of the doubt from you except for me?

If you need help with the kids,

we can arrange that.

I don't need help.

I just wanna know more about her.

I wanna know where she came from,

and I wanna know who she is.

What if Sister Abigail was right?

I mean, if someone was in danger,

our own children...

...wouldn't you wanna know?

- Of course I would.

I'll contact the orphanage she came from

in Russia. All right?

I mean, it's a start.

[ CLATTERING ]

- What?

JOHN:
Hey.

Fine.

I was wondering if you'd heard from

anyone at the Sludyanka Shelter.

Sister Abigail had mentioned

that she would...

Oh, you did.

I don't understand. How can they have

no record of her being there?

Yes, please.

Could you just call me as soon as

you know anything, please? Thank you.

JOHN:

Esther, we gotta go.

Esther?

Esther?

You got me.

[ JOHN LAUGHS ]

- What?

- I don't want to go to the dentist.

- Why not?

- I just don't want to go.

- What, are you scared?

- No.

We're gonna reschedule, though.

Tell you what, I'll let you play hooky

if you want to come and draw with me.

All right.

KATE:

Wait, Daniel.

How are you two getting along

with Esther?

Fine, I guess.

KATE:
Yeah?

DANIEL:
Yeah, Mom.

But has she ever made you feel,

I don't know, uncomfortable...

...or has she done anything

that she's not supposed to do?

- No.

- Like, has she ever hurt any of you?

DANIEL:

No.

You sure?

Okay. All right.

ESTHER:

I like it when it's just the two of us.

You don't know how long I've waited

for a daddy just like you.

Mommy too, right?

I don't think

Mommy likes me very much.

Hey.

- That is not true. Mommy loves you.

- It's all right.

It must be hard to love an adopted child

as much as your own.

Sweetheart, you're just as much a part

of this family as Danny and Max. Okay?

Do something nice for Mommy.

Show her how much you love her.

That's a wonderful idea.

I have a special surprise

for you, Mommy.

You do?

I picked these flowers just for you.

- Esther, what did you do? God.

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