The Gingerbread Man Page #3

He stole my car a couple

of times, and then my cat...

He strung up her cat.

Wow. No offence, ma'am,

but he's always appeared

a few beers shy of a six-pack.

Well, we should maybe

ask some questions,

just to help out.

You have any other family?

No. Momma died eight years ago.

Any brothers or sisters?

No.

Any of your father's family

livin'?

Not that I know of.

Does your father have an

attorney to handle his affairs?

No, Daddy hates attorneys.

He had one, but he went nuts

and jumped out a window.

There's one with a conscience.

Well, we're gonna need someone.

We need someone to corroborate

your father's behaviour,

confirm he's been

doing this stuff.

I don't know.

Pete, maybe.

Pete?

Peter Randle, my ex-husband.

Daddy put him in hospital once.

Why's that?

Because he drank out

of Daddy's favourite cup.

We'll need him to testify

as to your father's behaviour

when we get into court.

Well, I don't know.

We're not friends exactly.

He swore he wouldn't piss on me

if I was on fire.

We'll talk to him.

I think you should leave your

house while this is going on.

I don't have my things.

Clyde'll drive you to get them,

then to the Bayshore.

- It's a nice quiet place.

- Who'll pay?

We will. We'll talk

about it later, Lois.

So you get Clyde some addresses,

your father and ex-husband.

Maybe some telephone numbers.

And then I'll fill in Lois,

and she'll be in touch.

No, I thought

you'd handle this?

Lois is just gonna help out.

It'll be OK, I promise.

Clyde, you want to...?

Yep. Yeah, you come on with me.

Get her into Bayshore, OK?

C'mon.

I thought our firm didn't handle

these kinds of cases.

Cases where people need help?

Ask me, it looks like

she can help herself.

A few others too.

What's that mean, Lois?

Nothing.

It's just you don't know her.

There may be...

There's no other reason,

no money.

She wants her father to get

better. It'll take a week.

Before you put him away,

make sure he's nuts...

You don't wanna do this,

we can talk when it's done.

I'll handle it, as long

as you know what you're doing.

Hello?

Hey, Diane.

Rick Magruder for Judge Russo.

Hi, how are you?

I'm good, thank you.

Hold on while I get him for you.

- Roy Russo.

- What's the word?

Rick, you gotta give me

another shot.

I'll give you another shot,

you'll get your swing back.

So what can I do for you?

You mind givin' a subpoena

commitment order a quick glance?

What's the story?

Nothing earth-shattering,

just some... nutty old man.

Talk to you for a second?

Sir! Sir!

Looking for Dixon Doss.

Looking for Dixon Doss!

We're looking

for Dixon Doss. He around?

- No.

- We got a warrant.

Looking for Dixon Doss!

Whoa, slow down!

Hey! You Dixon Doss?

We're looking for Dixon Doss.

Hey, you can't go anywhere.

They gotta talk to you.

Hey, Officer! We got one here!

Anybody else back there?

- Anybody here?

- I'm not Dixon.

Get back there!

Sir? Get that guy!

Dixon Doss?

Hey, hey! What's your name?

Everybody out front!

We're takin' IDs.

Move it out.

Pick it up! Come on!

Let's go, guys, everybody out!

Come on. Pick it up.

You got some ID?

Looking for Dixon Doss!

Dixon Doss!

Aw, c'mon, fellas!

Where are your shoes, buddy?

Officer!

That's him!

His old lady kicked it,

coupla years back.

Left him a few thousand

acres of unimproved land.

There's nothing there, right?

Enough for your

dry cleaning bill.

- You seen my bill?

- Yes, Giorgio.

- Remember you saw the house?

- I saw it.

Land's got some cabins on it,

but no water, no roads.

Nothing adds up.

It ain't even near anything.

Tax rolls say it's...

There... Around $13 an acre.

Speakin' of dollars...

What?

How's she making her retainer?

- Where's the captain, buddy?

- Right up there.

Hey, tough guy.

That one's called Ike.

- He looks like the general.

- No, like Ike and Tina.

Still, looks like

he's been through a war.

- Needs nine lives on this rig.

- Yeah.

If the machinery don't get 'em,

the gearbox usually does.

Grind a 200lb man into

cheeseburger, let alone a cat.

I'm looking for the captain,

Peter Randle?

Yeah, that'd be me.

Oh, sh*t on my hands.

Capitano. Busboy. Receptionist.

You from Port Authority?

No, I'm Rick Magruder.

Attorney for your ex-wife.

B*tch has had her

last dime from me.

It's not about that, Mr Randle.

I'm here in the matter

of her father.

What? Something happen

to that old shoeless fruitcake?

I hope he croaked.

Miss Doss wants him committed.

He's become unstable.

Become?

He never had a stable day

in his life.

He's become dangerous

to himself and his daughter.

I understand

he attacked you once?

Ain't no big deal.

That's not what I heard,

Mr Randle.

He put you in hospital.

He what?

We know that he put

you in a hospital.

I'd like you to testify, to help

establish violent tendencies.

You want me to help Mallory?

That's the general idea, sir.

That'll be a cold day in hell.

I wouldn't piss on her,

if she was on fire.

We're aware of your

urinary problem, sir.

Thing is...

Mr Randle,

I can force you to testify.

You couldn't force me

to do anything,

except throw your sorry ass

off this vessel.

We can talk about that

when you're subpoenaed.

I'll look forward to seeing you

in court, Mr Randle.

All rise!

All rise!

Be seated, please.

My calendar shows this

is a competency hearing.

Are we ready to proceed?

Yes, Your Honour.

Mr Cherry?

Your Honour, I regret

to inform you this late,

but I've been discharged

by Mr Doss.

He wishes

no legal representation.

Is this so?

You understand you're waiving

your right to an attorney?

Yes, sir.

Since this isn't a criminal

matter, I'll let it proceed.

But please stand by, Mr Cherry.

Yes, sir.

- Mr Magruder?

- Yes, Your Honour.

We will prove the respondent

is mentally incompetent,

and call our first witness,

Dr Bernice Sampson.

Disoriented, certainly.

And showing distinct signs

of paranoia as well.

He was utterly uncooperative

and given to violent outbursts.

And your conclusions, Doctor?

Judging from his behaviour

I'd say Mr Doss suffers

from rather acute schizophrenia.

I recommend that he be committed

to hospital for an evaluation.

Unmedicated and untreated,

he is volatile

and possibly dangerous,

- to himself and others.

- Thank you, Doctor.

Any questions, Mr Doss?

Mr Cherry?

You may step down, Doctor.

Next witness, Mr Magruder.

Your Honour,

we call Mr Peter Randle,

who appears today

pursuant to a subpoena.

Noted.

Come forward, sir.

Raise your right hand.

Do you swear the evidence you

give the court is the truth,

the whole truth and nothing but

the truth, so help you God?

- Yeah, OK.

- Have a seat.

Mr Randle, what is

your relation to Mr Doss?

Oh, yeah, I used to be

married to his daughter.

Is she here?

Please point her out.

That skinny girl over there.

Let the record show he indicated

Mr Doss's daughter, Mallory.

Your marriage ended in divorce,

I believe, sir.

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