Latest / Table Read / ROOMS OF EXPERIENCE - Act 2
Transcript
- 0:03Speaker 1: After the death of Teddy Wells is initially treated as
- 0:05Speaker 1: a possible suicide, police discover clues that suggest something more deliberate. Ada,
- 0:10Speaker 1: his eighty nine year old mother, makes a quiet but
- 0:12Speaker 1: startling confession she took the life of her adult, nonverbal,
- 0:16Speaker 1: autistic son, not in a moment of panic, but with intention,
- 0:20Speaker 1: care and love. Detective Curtis brings her in for questioning.
- 0:26Speaker 1: Despite her age and fragile appearance, Ada doesn't waiver. She
- 0:30Speaker 1: admits what she did and insists she was fully aware.
- 0:34Speaker 1: Alexis Martinez, a sharp and compassionate attorney and former Adya,
- 0:38Speaker 1: is brought in by Ada's friend and neighbor Gina to
- 0:40Speaker 1: defend her and quickly moves to suppress the confession. But Ada,
- 0:45Speaker 1: dignified and unwavering, stuns everyone when she calmly insists, I
- 0:49Speaker 1: want to have a trial, not to escape punishment, but
- 0:53Speaker 1: to explain why. At the DA's office, Dana Jeffreys is
- 0:57Speaker 1: handling the case. She's ambitious and eager to prove herself. Harvey,
- 1:02Speaker 1: her boss, makes it clear this is a political hot
- 1:05Speaker 1: button and she's been chosen as the public face because
- 1:07Speaker 1: she looks good and plays by the rules. It's not
- 1:10Speaker 1: about justice, It's about optics. Still, Dana accepts the challenge,
- 1:16Speaker 1: supported behind the scenes by her longtime loving boyfriend Ethan.
- 1:21Speaker 1: As Dana steps into Ada's reality, her black and white
- 1:24Speaker 1: worldview begins to blur. The haunting truth of what life
- 1:28Speaker 1: was like for Ada alone for decades with a nonverbal
- 1:30Speaker 1: child who is completely dependent on her throws Dana off balance.
- 1:35Speaker 1: The burden of judgment is now hers to carry, and
- 1:37Speaker 1: it's heavier than she imagined. It's not just about law now,
- 1:41Speaker 1: it's about meaning, legacy, and the right to define your
- 1:44Speaker 1: own story. What looked like a straightforward mercy killing becomes
- 1:48Speaker 1: something deeper and messier, a public courtroom battle over the
- 1:51Speaker 1: meaning of caregiving, autonomy, and dignity. Interior Dana's house foyer,
- 1:58Speaker 1: night closes, the front door behind her, sets down her briefcase.
- 2:02Speaker 1: The sound of laughter floats in from the living room.
- 2:06Speaker 1: Interior Dana's living room, continuous. Dana enters to find Ethan
- 2:10Speaker 1: with two other couples, Izzie and Marshall and Corey and James,
- 2:14Speaker 1: all in their thirties. They stand in chat, drinks in hand.
- 2:18Speaker 1: Appetizers and plates adorn the coffee table. Everyone lets out
- 2:21Speaker 1: of cheer at the side of Dana.
- 2:26Speaker 2: Wait, hold one second, there's only five of you in
- 2:28Speaker 2: the room.
- 2:30Speaker 3: That might be too many people.
- 2:35Speaker 1: Everyone lets out of cheer at the sight of day
- 2:37Speaker 1: Ethan walks over to give Dana a kiss.
- 2:39Speaker 4: There you are.
- 2:40Speaker 5: I totally forgot. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. I'm late.
- 2:44Speaker 5: I'm sorry, I'm late.
- 2:46Speaker 1: They move into the group. Martin hans Dana a glass
- 2:48Speaker 1: of wine.
- 2:49Speaker 6: Not to worry, Darling. We all know how hard you
- 2:51Speaker 6: work the police. The slacker can do is keep us
- 2:53Speaker 6: entertained in your absence.
- 2:55Speaker 1: Interior Dana's living room. Later, the three couples sprawl on
- 2:58Speaker 1: the soface board games on the coffee table, along with
- 3:01Speaker 1: dirty plates and half empty glasses. They finish a game
- 3:04Speaker 1: of cards against humanity.
- 3:06Speaker 5: Okay, final round?
- 3:09Speaker 7: What gets better with age?
- 3:11Speaker 8: Oh?
- 3:11Speaker 3: You mean beside you?
- 3:13Speaker 9: Oh?
- 3:13Speaker 4: Nicely played?
- 3:14Speaker 1: No, I just don't age period. It's true.
- 3:16Speaker 8: I mean she's been twenty nine for six years now.
- 3:20Speaker 1: Buzzy gives Marshall a playful backhand. Everyone looks through their cards,
- 3:23Speaker 1: reads their answers an ice pickle bottom oooh pre teen.
- 3:30Speaker 3: Jennifer Lawrence.
- 3:32Speaker 1: Iuzzy gives Marshall a look. What He shrugs.
- 3:35Speaker 7: Okay, Ethan, what gets better with age.
- 3:39Speaker 4: Full frontal nudity.
- 3:41Speaker 2: Oh, I was saving that one.
- 3:45Speaker 4: Dana finished us off.
- 3:47Speaker 5: Not funny. The only card I.
- 3:49Speaker 1: Have left yeast Dana and Izzy. The men laugh, the
- 3:55Speaker 1: laughter dies off.
- 3:56Speaker 4: I know, not funny, but kind of true.
- 4:00Speaker 10: Actually, who won?
- 4:00Speaker 9: Is he?
- 4:01Speaker 1: Who always wins?
- 4:03Speaker 5: Ethan?
- 4:03Speaker 1: Of course? Corey raises his glass to Ethan. Everyone else crying.
- 4:08Speaker 6: Always the nice ones you have to look out for, Ethan.
- 4:10Speaker 1: Fan's being hurt oooh me. Dana gathers up the cards.
- 4:15Speaker 1: The guests finish their drinks, stack plates and glasses, retrieve
- 4:18Speaker 1: their belongings. Dana stands with Ethan to see their guests out.
- 4:22Speaker 1: Marshall pat's Ethan on the back.
- 4:24Speaker 3: Another fantastic evening.
- 4:25Speaker 8: My brother is.
- 4:27Speaker 1: He gives Ethan a kiss on the cheek.
- 4:29Speaker 7: Ethan, you are the best.
- 4:31Speaker 1: Host YouTube, Dana.
- 4:33Speaker 10: Ethan, thanks again for the auction items. That training camp
- 4:36Speaker 10: experience is going to fetch a pretty penny.
- 4:39Speaker 4: Oh, I'm happy to do it. All I did was
- 4:41Speaker 4: make a call.
- 4:42Speaker 10: Well, I appreciate it. We'll see you both there.
- 4:45Speaker 5: Where was that?
- 4:46Speaker 4: Oh?
- 4:46Speaker 2: Remember how the galap for Alzheimer's in honor of Corey's dad.
- 4:50Speaker 4: It's next weekend.
- 4:53Speaker 5: That's right.
- 4:54Speaker 11: Yeah, of course, sorry it it depends on where the
- 4:58Speaker 11: trial's at.
- 4:59Speaker 5: But I I hope so, me too.
- 5:02Speaker 1: Hugs and goodbyes all around. Ethan waves. He closes the
- 5:05Speaker 1: door after all the guests make their way out. Interior
- 5:09Speaker 1: Dana's bedroom night. Dana and Ethan stood up in bed.
- 5:12Speaker 1: Dana rubs lotion on her legs.
- 5:15Speaker 4: That was a funny evening.
- 5:16Speaker 11: Yeah, what, your friends don't really like me. They just
- 5:24Speaker 11: tolerate me because of you.
- 5:26Speaker 4: What, babe, why would you say that? Besides, they're your
- 5:30Speaker 4: friends too.
- 5:31Speaker 5: H No, not really. I gained them by a default,
- 5:34Speaker 5: and you knew them before you met me.
- 5:36Speaker 11: I mean, if you and I weren't together, they wouldn't
- 5:38Speaker 11: still be my friends.
- 5:40Speaker 5: Like nobody likes lawyers.
- 5:42Speaker 1: He grabs her, pulls her on to the bed.
- 5:44Speaker 4: Well I do.
- 5:45Speaker 1: He kisses her neck, tries to get her in a
- 5:47Speaker 1: good mood.
- 5:48Speaker 2: In fact, let me show you how much I like lawyers,
- 5:52Speaker 2: this one in particular.
- 5:53Speaker 1: They kiss more intently. He moves his hand up her thigh.
- 5:56Speaker 1: She rolls over to get up. It just hold on,
- 5:59Speaker 1: He tries to keep her in bed. She squirms out
- 6:01Speaker 1: of his embrace.
- 6:03Speaker 4: It'll be okay, just this once, just just leave it.
- 6:05Speaker 5: Oh, I'll be right back.
- 6:06Speaker 1: She heads to the bathroom.
- 6:08Speaker 4: You know, it wouldn't be the end of the world.
- 6:11Speaker 1: He flops back on the bed, groans.
- 6:12Speaker 4: Oh.
- 6:14Speaker 1: Exterior Ada's backyard day. Ada sits at the patio table,
- 6:18Speaker 1: a thick, plastic covered book open in front of her.
- 6:21Speaker 1: She gazes out at the garden, where adult Teddy, a
- 6:23Speaker 1: figment of her imagination, expertly tends to the plants. He
- 6:27Speaker 1: is tall and broad, with an innocent open face, soft
- 6:31Speaker 1: brown curls dance in a light breeze. Teddy turns to her,
- 6:35Speaker 1: holds up a perfect red ripe tomato.
- 6:39Speaker 12: I don't know how you do it, Teddy. Every year
- 6:42Speaker 12: they're better.
- 6:43Speaker 1: Than the last. He beams at her.
- 6:46Speaker 12: Ada, I'm outside, deer.
- 6:50Speaker 1: Gina emerges through the sliding door. There you are, is
- 6:54Speaker 1: someone here. I thought I heard you talking. Ada looks
- 6:58Speaker 1: at the garden again, then back at Gina.
- 7:00Speaker 12: Shakes her head, just getting some fresh air. Thinking about Teddy.
- 7:06Speaker 1: Gina gives her a squeeze, sees the book on the table.
- 7:09Speaker 1: Is this his baby book? Yes? May I of course?
- 7:15Speaker 1: Gina sits next to her flips through the book.
- 7:18Speaker 13: Such a handsome boy.
- 7:21Speaker 12: Do you think about having children?
- 7:28Speaker 13: I used to, but I have endometriosis and couldn't get pregnant.
- 7:34Speaker 13: I think that's why I became a teacher. I get
- 7:36Speaker 13: thirty new children every year.
- 7:39Speaker 12: Well, I'm sorry, Ugh. So many expectations around being a woman,
- 7:46Speaker 12: being a mother.
- 7:48Speaker 13: Yes, there are. That's why my husband left after only
- 7:52Speaker 13: a year. He knew I couldn't never give him the
- 7:55Speaker 13: son he wanted so badly.
- 7:57Speaker 12: That wasn't your fault.
- 8:00Speaker 1: I didn't see it that way. Ada puts her hand
- 8:02Speaker 1: on Gina's. They look through the book together.
- 8:07Speaker 12: That's the only photo Teddy's father ever took with him.
- 8:13Speaker 12: He tried to distance himself as much as possible. I
- 8:18Speaker 12: couldn't give him the son he wanted either.
- 8:22Speaker 1: Close on a photo of young Ada seated with baby Teddy.
- 8:25Speaker 1: An unsmiling man stands behind them.
- 8:28Speaker 12: We were more alone when he was here than after
- 8:30Speaker 12: he was gone.
- 8:34Speaker 5: What happened?
- 8:36Speaker 1: Unless it's too painful to.
- 8:38Speaker 12: Talk about, there's nothing that can hurt me anymore.
- 8:43Speaker 1: Jack.
- 8:43Speaker 12: My husband blamed me, just like the doctors did. He
- 8:48Speaker 12: said I'd baby Teddy too much and that he needed
- 8:51Speaker 12: to start acting like a normal kid or else. I
- 8:56Speaker 12: was afraid Jack might hurt him, especially after he'd drinking.
- 9:02Speaker 12: One day, Teddy woke from a nap screaming. He screamed
- 9:07Speaker 12: for hours. Nothing I tried would make him stop. Jack
- 9:11Speaker 12: flew into a rage, yelling he couldn't take it anymore
- 9:15Speaker 12: and that it was Teddy or him. I guess he
- 9:21Speaker 12: could tell by the look in my eyes what my
- 9:25Speaker 12: choice was, so he left never came back. I hated
- 9:32Speaker 12: him for a long time, until I realized I didn't
- 9:39Speaker 12: have the energy for it anymore. Sometimes I even felt
- 9:43Speaker 12: sorry for him. I can only imagine what he experienced
- 9:48Speaker 12: in the war just to come home to another.
- 9:53Speaker 13: Are you sure you wouldn't rather stay with me?
- 9:56Speaker 1: Teddy sits beside Ita, puts his head close to hers.
- 10:01Speaker 12: No, thank you, dear, I'm all right here.
- 10:06Speaker 13: Okay, I'll check in on you a little later. I've
- 10:11Speaker 13: got lasagna in the oven for dinner. I'll bring some over.
- 10:14Speaker 6: Mm.
- 10:15Speaker 12: That sounds wonderful.
- 10:18Speaker 1: Thank you, takes Gina's hand.
- 10:21Speaker 12: You do such a beautiful job taking care of others.
- 10:25Speaker 12: There's more than one way of being a mother.
- 10:29Speaker 1: Gina gives her a hug. Interior office of the District attorney.
- 10:34Speaker 1: Day Dana enters from the street, walks towards her office
- 10:38Speaker 1: with a paper takeout bag. Her assistant runs.
- 10:40Speaker 7: Up, Dana, the Emmy called while you were out sis.
- 10:44Speaker 7: He's got fifteen minutes for you if you can.
- 10:46Speaker 1: Get there before one. Dana checks her watch here Enjoy
- 10:50Speaker 1: hands the bag to her assistant, heads back the way
- 10:52Speaker 1: she just came. Interior medical Examiner's office. Day Dana sits
- 10:58Speaker 1: across from the medical examiner flips through the report.
- 11:01Speaker 5: What exactly is asphyxiation by.
- 11:04Speaker 2: Helium breathing impure Healium deprized the body of oxygen. If
- 11:08Speaker 2: the body is unable to take in oxygen, it starts
- 11:10Speaker 2: to die within minutes.
- 11:12Speaker 4: Helium speeds up this process.
- 11:14Speaker 2: When the gas fills the lungs, it creates a diffusion
- 11:16Speaker 2: gradient that washes.
- 11:17Speaker 4: Out the oxygen.
- 11:18Speaker 2: In other words, each time the body breeds in helium,
- 11:22Speaker 2: more oxygen is sucked out of the system. The body's
- 11:25Speaker 2: oxygen level can plummet to a hazardous level in a
- 11:27Speaker 2: matter of seconds.
- 11:30Speaker 11: Could Teddy Wells have killed himself this way without any assistance?
- 11:35Speaker 2: It is possible for someone to perform death by asphyxiation
- 11:38Speaker 2: unassisted but given mister Wells's substantial development disabilities, it's highly
- 11:42Speaker 2: improbable he would have been able to do this by
- 11:45Speaker 2: himself or even agree to it.
- 11:48Speaker 5: So definitely homicide.
- 11:50Speaker 3: Yes.
- 11:52Speaker 2: The curious thing is though helium is nearly undetectable in
- 11:56Speaker 2: toxicology probes, meaning lo more time, talks a lot toxological, toxic, toxicological.
- 12:11Speaker 5: So definitely homicide.
- 12:13Speaker 4: Yes.
- 12:14Speaker 2: The curious thing is though helium is nearly undetectable in
- 12:18Speaker 2: toxicological probes, meaning meaning if the defendant hadn't left the
- 12:23Speaker 2: hood and the tubing out, I wouldn't.
- 12:25Speaker 4: Have checks specifically for helium.
- 12:27Speaker 2: With those signs of visible trauma on the body and
- 12:29Speaker 2: no determinable cause of death, I wouldn't have ruled it
- 12:32Speaker 2: a homicide. She could have walked, so why does she confess?
- 12:37Speaker 1: Dana breaks the examiner's gaze to look back at the report.
- 12:41Speaker 1: Interior Police Station, Front Desk Day. Dana approaches the desk.
- 12:45Speaker 1: Sergeant flashes cir credentials.
- 12:47Speaker 5: I'm looking for Detective Raymond Curtis.
- 12:50Speaker 12: Is he available?
- 12:51Speaker 1: Interior Robbery Homicide Office Day. Detective Curtis greets Dana.
- 12:55Speaker 3: Where's Jefferys? How can I help you?
- 12:57Speaker 4: Hello?
- 12:58Speaker 5: Detective.
- 12:59Speaker 11: I'd like to say, see the interrogation tapes for Ada Wells, please.
- 13:02Speaker 3: Of course, this way.
- 13:04Speaker 1: Motions for her to follow. Interior Detective Curtis is cubicle
- 13:08Speaker 1: day Dana and Detective Curtis stod at his desk, a
- 13:12Speaker 1: laptop open in front of them.
- 13:13Speaker 3: You're looking for anything in particular.
- 13:16Speaker 5: Honestly, I don't know what I'm looking for.
- 13:19Speaker 1: She watches the screen.
- 13:20Speaker 12: I didn't want him to suffer.
- 13:22Speaker 3: Were you trying to make it look like a suicide?
- 13:25Speaker 1: She presses pause. Faces the detective.
- 13:27Speaker 11: That Emmy told me he wouldn't object for helium. If
- 13:29Speaker 11: she hadn't left the equipment out, so it wouldn't have
- 13:31Speaker 11: been ruled a homicide.
- 13:33Speaker 5: She could have gotten away with it.
- 13:35Speaker 8: It didn't appear she was trying to get away with anything, though.
- 13:38Speaker 8: She didn't try to hide it at all. She gave
- 13:41Speaker 8: us permission to enter and search the home, the hood,
- 13:44Speaker 8: the tubing, Everything was in plane view. Her fingerprints were clean,
- 13:49Speaker 8: no attempt to wipe anything off.
- 13:52Speaker 5: Would you find her guilty if you were on the jury.
- 13:55Speaker 3: I'm a police officer.
- 13:57Speaker 5: Well, that isn't an answer.
- 14:01Speaker 3: I've known.
- 14:01Speaker 8: Alexis Martinez Is said a long time. I was close
- 14:06Speaker 8: with her brother growing up, played ball in school. I
- 14:10Speaker 8: worked for her when she was in.
- 14:11Speaker 5: Your position, which means what exactly.
- 14:15Speaker 8: She's good people. She only takes cases she believes in,
- 14:19Speaker 8: and that's why she didn't last at the DA's office
- 14:24Speaker 8: in all my years assessing murder suspects. Missus Wells's actions
- 14:28Speaker 8: indicate she didn't believe she had done anything that needed
- 14:31Speaker 8: to be covered up. So I'm guessing the defense is
- 14:35Speaker 8: arguing capacity they are.
- 14:39Speaker 1: He shrugs, as if to indicate he agrees.
- 14:42Speaker 5: I think I just struck you from my witness list.
- 14:45Speaker 1: Gives her a sympathetic luck. Interior Dana's office day. Dana
- 14:50Speaker 1: takes a bite from a sandwich, studies a brief. Harvey
- 14:53Speaker 1: breethes in with Alexis. Dana swallows, quickly wipes her mouth,
- 14:57Speaker 1: stands up.
- 14:58Speaker 10: Look who I found wandering the holes twice in one week.
- 15:03Speaker 10: If I didn't know better, I'd say you were trying
- 15:05Speaker 10: to get your old job back.
- 15:06Speaker 1: You'll be the first to know, Harvey.
- 15:08Speaker 10: Well, I'd love to stay in chat, but I've got
- 15:11Speaker 10: a meeting. Go easy on this one. I don't want
- 15:14Speaker 10: to lose another pretty face.
- 15:16Speaker 1: He nods his head at Dana leaves. He's a peach
- 15:19Speaker 1: that one. Dana does not respond, tries to wait her out.
- 15:23Speaker 5: Then, was there something I could do for you?
- 15:27Speaker 14: No, I was in the neighborhood and thought i'd drop
- 15:29Speaker 14: off our witness lists in person.
- 15:31Speaker 1: Pulls a folder from her briefcase, hands it to Dana.
- 15:34Speaker 5: Thank you. I plan on reaching out to them.
- 15:37Speaker 14: I'm counting on it. They're all more than happy to
- 15:39Speaker 14: speak with you. I think you'll find what they have
- 15:41Speaker 14: to say very enlightening.
- 15:44Speaker 1: She makes no move to leave.
- 15:46Speaker 14: Well, if that's all, that's all, have a nice afternoon, Dana.
- 15:52Speaker 1: She leaves. Dana perus is the list reaches for the
- 15:55Speaker 1: phone Interior State Department of Public Health building. A staff
- 16:01Speaker 1: member leads Dana down a hallway to an office, shows
- 16:04Speaker 1: her inside missus maccario sixties. Where's an American flag pin
- 16:08Speaker 1: on her lapel? Stands in greet Stana offers her a seat.
- 16:12Speaker 11: Thank you for seeing me. I know it can be
- 16:15Speaker 11: awkward talking to the other side.
- 16:17Speaker 12: Not at all.
- 16:18Speaker 9: I've testified on both sides. Facts are facts. What questions
- 16:21Speaker 9: can I answer for you?
- 16:23Speaker 11: You've been deputy director for the Center for Health Care Quality.
- 16:27Speaker 5: For how long?
- 16:28Speaker 15: Thirty eight years this year be my lassed.
- 16:31Speaker 5: Congratulations on your retirement.
- 16:33Speaker 12: Thank you.
- 16:34Speaker 5: What exactly is the role of the center?
- 16:37Speaker 9: We play a critical role in the protection of patient
- 16:39Speaker 9: safety by evaluating health facilities, agencies, and professionals for compliance
- 16:43Speaker 9: with state laws and regulations in order to license, certify,
- 16:46Speaker 9: or register them.
- 16:47Speaker 1: Dana smiles at her tries to winer over.
- 16:50Speaker 5: You've said that a few times, I guess.
- 16:53Speaker 15: Indeed.
- 16:54Speaker 9: We also investigate complaints compliance with federal laws and regulations,
- 16:59Speaker 9: oversee the education, training, and criminal clearance of nursing home
- 17:02Speaker 9: administrator's assistance and home health aids. The abuse cases are
- 17:06Speaker 9: the hardest part of the job.
- 17:08Speaker 5: I would imagine how many complaints do you receive?
- 17:11Speaker 15: On average around six thousand a year.
- 17:14Speaker 9: Physical and sexual abuse, sometimes patient to patient, inappropriate use
- 17:18Speaker 9: of restraints, medical or basic needs neglect, patients going without
- 17:23Speaker 9: food or lying in their own waste for days.
- 17:26Speaker 5: Well, that's concerning.
- 17:28Speaker 15: It's criminal.
- 17:29Speaker 9: Most of the victims are not physically or mentally capable
- 17:31Speaker 9: of speak in upper defending themselves, so if there aren't
- 17:35Speaker 9: any living relatives to monitor their care, the abuse can
- 17:37Speaker 9: go unchecked for years. With budget cuts year after year,
- 17:42Speaker 9: it's just not possible for us to reach every facility
- 17:44Speaker 9: on a regular basis. It's sad to say, but the
- 17:47Speaker 9: defendant's fears of her son being abused in an institutional
- 17:49Speaker 9: setting were not unfounded or unreasonable.
- 17:54Speaker 5: In total, how many patients are there in the state.
- 17:57Speaker 11: Approximately a little over three hundred, so six thousand out
- 18:03Speaker 11: of over three hundred thousand. That's that's less than two percent.
- 18:09Speaker 15: Spoken like a true lawyer.
- 18:10Speaker 5: I mean, still less than two percent.
- 18:12Speaker 11: That makes for a pretty small chance of being a
- 18:15Speaker 11: victim of abuse, wouldn't you say?
- 18:18Speaker 9: Did you know that less than one percent of our
- 18:20Speaker 9: nation's military was killed in the Iraq War?
- 18:24Speaker 1: No, I didn't missus. Mccario turns a framed photo on
- 18:27Speaker 1: her desk towards Dana. It is a young man in
- 18:30Speaker 1: military dress. Less than one percent. That's a pretty small number,
- 18:34Speaker 1: would you say, unless, of course, that number included your child,
- 18:38Speaker 1: then that's still too many.
- 18:41Speaker 5: I'm sorry for your loss. Thank you for your time.
- 18:45Speaker 1: She gathers her belongings, stands to leave exterior office of
- 18:49Speaker 1: the District Attorney day. Dana exits out onto the street,
- 18:53Speaker 1: dressed in running clothes, takes off towards the surrounding park
- 18:55Speaker 1: at a fast pace. Interior Dana's office day. Dana enters,
- 19:01Speaker 1: flushed from her run, dabs at herself with a towel.
- 19:04Speaker 1: Harvey sits at her desk. She startles at the side
- 19:06Speaker 1: of him.
- 19:08Speaker 10: Sir, apologies, didn't mean to surprise you, just stop by
- 19:12Speaker 10: to see how the case was developing. Things must be
- 19:15Speaker 10: going well. You have time to spare.
- 19:18Speaker 5: It's running. It clears my head, helps me think.
- 19:21Speaker 10: Well, don't let me impede progress.
- 19:23Speaker 1: Then he rises moves towards the door.
- 19:27Speaker 5: Thank you, sir.
- 19:29Speaker 1: She SLINKs down on the vacated chair, goes through her messages, stops,
- 19:33Speaker 1: grabs the phone, punches some numbers.
- 19:35Speaker 11: Mister Unger, this is Dana Jeffries from the district's attorney's office.
- 19:40Speaker 11: Thank you so much for returning my call. Today, would
- 19:43Speaker 11: work four o'clock. Yes, the address is in the file.
- 19:47Speaker 5: Thank you. I'll see Then.
- 19:48Speaker 1: Dana grabs her gin bag to change clothes and freshen up.
- 19:52Speaker 1: Interior Dennis Unger's office day. Mister Unger, early sixties, with
- 19:56Speaker 1: a kind but tired face, rises to greet Dana. They
- 20:00Speaker 1: shake hands. He indicates for her to say.
- 20:04Speaker 11: Mister Hunger, I appreciate you. Green to meet with me.
- 20:07Speaker 11: I won't take too much of your time. I see
- 20:10Speaker 11: in the notes you have a brother with autism who
- 20:13Speaker 11: lives in a group home.
- 20:14Speaker 3: Yes, my twin Leo.
- 20:17Speaker 5: And how long has he been in the group home?
- 20:19Speaker 3: This one of four years?
- 20:21Speaker 5: There have been other placements?
- 20:23Speaker 8: Oh, yes, well over a dozen, probably closer to twenty.
- 20:27Speaker 5: Now, I'm sorry, did you say twenty?
- 20:29Speaker 3: I guess over the past forty years. My father passed.
- 20:34Speaker 8: Away when my brother and I were only twenty two
- 20:38Speaker 8: heart attack. My mother she couldn't handle Leo on her
- 20:42Speaker 8: on he was too.
- 20:43Speaker 3: Big, too aggressive.
- 20:46Speaker 8: She felt incredibly guilty about not keeping him at home,
- 20:49Speaker 8: but her health was also failing.
- 20:52Speaker 3: The stress was just too much.
- 20:54Speaker 5: I'm so sorry. Why was your brother moved so often?
- 20:59Speaker 8: Well, every time we'd visit, there would be a new bruise,
- 21:02Speaker 8: a missing tooth, sometimes even a cast. The staff would
- 21:06Speaker 8: always dismiss the injuries is self inflicted and tell us
- 21:10Speaker 8: they needed to add another medication to the mile long list.
- 21:12Speaker 3: He was already taken.
- 21:14Speaker 8: Their way of controlling him was by keeping him incapacitated.
- 21:19Speaker 5: It's very unfortunate.
- 21:21Speaker 11: I would have thought that that kind of mistreatment is
- 21:24Speaker 11: isolated or rare, well not.
- 21:26Speaker 3: From what I've seen.
- 21:28Speaker 8: Leo has limited functioning as completely nonverbal, and to be honest,
- 21:34Speaker 8: caring for him is exhausting many of the staff. They
- 21:38Speaker 8: work long, hard hours and a grossly underpaid.
- 21:41Speaker 3: It's a recipe for a disaster.
- 21:43Speaker 8: It's easy to take out your frustrations and someone who
- 21:46Speaker 8: doesn't have a voice.
- 21:48Speaker 11: Yeah, but surely now, I mean, with all the safeguards
- 21:50Speaker 11: and regulations, abuse can't just go unchecked.
- 21:55Speaker 8: It's always a concern for vulnerable populations. I know it's
- 21:59Speaker 8: hard to believe if it doesn't directly affect you, But
- 22:01Speaker 8: you don't think systems fail. Just read the news on
- 22:05Speaker 8: any given day. It happens all the time. Bad lady,
- 22:09Speaker 8: the one you're trying to convict, that'll be me in
- 22:14Speaker 8: a few years, facing the same decision she did. Because
- 22:18Speaker 8: I'm the only one left to care about what happens
- 22:21Speaker 8: to my brother.
- 22:23Speaker 1: He gives her appointed look. Interior Dana's car night. Dana
- 22:29Speaker 1: parks outside her house, punches a button on her cell,
- 22:32Speaker 1: close on phone in her hand, reads mom's cell, puts
- 22:36Speaker 1: the phone to her ear. Sounds of a voicemail greeting
- 22:39Speaker 1: come through, then a beep. She hesitates, ends the call
- 22:43Speaker 1: without saying anything. Interior Dana's living room night. Ethan sits
- 22:49Speaker 1: on the couch watches TV. The front door unlocks. A
- 22:53Speaker 1: few seconds later. Dana comes in, still in her coat.
- 22:56Speaker 1: She drops her briefcase on the floor, crawls into Ethan's lap,
- 22:59Speaker 1: curls in to a ball. He turns off the sound
- 23:02Speaker 1: on the TV.
- 23:03Speaker 4: Tough day. She nods, do you want to talk about it?
- 23:08Speaker 1: She shakes her head, curls up even tighter. He nods
- 23:11Speaker 1: to himself, loosens her bun, strokes her hair. I'm here,
- 23:15Speaker 1: She closes her eyes. Interior Ada's kitchen night. Ada and
- 23:22Speaker 1: Alexis sit at the table, folders stacked on one end.
- 23:25Speaker 1: Gina clears plates. Ada's looks like it has been barely touched.
- 23:29Speaker 12: Are you all done? Aida? Oh yes, dear, it was wonderful.
- 23:35Speaker 12: I just can't eat much.
- 23:37Speaker 1: Alexis reaches over grabs one of the folders. Ada coughs,
- 23:40Speaker 1: takes a sip of water, smiles at Alexis.
- 23:45Speaker 12: Down to business. Then what happens next?
- 23:50Speaker 14: One sturious selection is complete, will likely start trial the
- 23:53Speaker 14: day or two after. We can go over some of
- 23:55Speaker 14: your testimony. Now, if you're up to it, of course.
- 23:59Speaker 1: She continues to call. Jana shakes her head at Alexis,
- 24:03Speaker 1: out of Ada's sight line. Alexis looks at her watch.
- 24:06Speaker 14: Oh, I'm so sorry, Ada, I forgot I have another appointment.
- 24:10Speaker 1: We can talk tomorrow. She stands, gathers the folders.
- 24:13Speaker 12: That would be yeah.
- 24:20Speaker 1: Ada doesn't finish her sentence. Instead, she cocks her head
- 24:23Speaker 1: and smiles.
- 24:25Speaker 12: Oh, that's the new piece.
- 24:28Speaker 1: What do you mean, Ada? Aida stands moves to the
- 24:30Speaker 1: living room. Alexis and Gina exchange looks. Follow her. Interior
- 24:35Speaker 1: Ada's living room continuous. Teddy plays the piano, a virtuoso.
- 24:41Speaker 1: Ada takes a seat on the bench next to him,
- 24:43Speaker 1: closes her eyes to listen. Alexis and Gina enter watch
- 24:47Speaker 1: her Aida. Ada continues to listen. Teddy finishes. Ada applauds.
- 24:53Speaker 1: She turns toward the women brightly.
- 24:57Speaker 12: Ah, such a talent. I often think he could have
- 25:01Speaker 12: played at Carnegie Hall.
- 25:03Speaker 1: If only she looks up sees their concerned faces. Her
- 25:08Speaker 1: animation drains away.
- 25:11Speaker 12: Well, anyway, thank you for dinner and for the company.
- 25:18Speaker 1: Gena moves to her, puts a hand on her arm.
- 25:21Speaker 13: Why don't you relax in your chair? I'll make you
- 25:25Speaker 13: some tea.
- 25:26Speaker 5: It'll help you sleep.
- 25:27Speaker 12: Oh yes, that sounds nice. Thank you.
- 25:30Speaker 1: I'll let you rest then, good night, Ada, sleep well.
- 25:35Speaker 1: Ada gives a small tired wave as Gina helps her
- 25:37Speaker 1: to the chair. Interior Dana's office. Night Dana sits on
- 25:43Speaker 1: the edge of her desk in the near dark, watches
- 25:45Speaker 1: the news on a screen on the wall. She looks tired.
- 25:48Speaker 8: Jury selection concluded today in the case of the South
- 25:51Speaker 8: Pasadena woman who allegedly suffocated her adult son because he
- 25:55Speaker 8: had autism.
- 25:56Speaker 3: Autism is a neurological condition.
- 25:58Speaker 1: She lowers the volume as Carter late twenties, highly efficient
- 26:01Speaker 1: but perpetually anxious enters with a stack of thick files.
- 26:05Speaker 6: I hear, are the briefs you wanted?
- 26:07Speaker 12: Thanks?
- 26:07Speaker 1: She stays focused on the screen. He glances at.
- 26:10Speaker 6: It looks like we made the news. Are you happy
- 26:15Speaker 6: with the jury?
- 26:16Speaker 5: We will see.
- 26:18Speaker 6: It was surprising how many people in the jury pool
- 26:20Speaker 6: know someone with a disability, Probably close to fifty percent.
- 26:24Speaker 6: Wouldn't you say, yeah, something like that. There's a lot
- 26:27Speaker 6: more disabled people out there than I thought. I guess
- 26:30Speaker 6: it's the kind of thing you don't really pay attention
- 26:32Speaker 6: to unless it happens to you.
- 26:34Speaker 1: She finally looks at him.
- 26:36Speaker 5: I suppose you're right.
- 26:39Speaker 6: I guess we're lucky then lucky. Oh so, I just
- 26:46Speaker 6: mean it's good that we don't. Yeah, I mean, well,
- 26:50Speaker 6: you know what I mean.
- 26:52Speaker 1: She remains silent.
- 26:53Speaker 6: Okay, Well, if there's nothing else, I'll see you in
- 26:57Speaker 6: the morning.
- 26:57Speaker 1: He makes a hasty retreat. Interior Dana's bedroom night. Dana
- 27:03Speaker 1: lies in bed in the dark room, stares up at
- 27:05Speaker 1: the ceiling. Ethan is sound asleep beside her. She looks
- 27:09Speaker 1: over at him, eases out of bed. Interior Dana's home
- 27:13Speaker 1: office night. Dana sits down at her desk, turns on
- 27:16Speaker 1: her laptop. Her fingers hesitate over the keyboard, then she
- 27:20Speaker 1: types close on computer screen. As Dana types in Christopher
- 27:24Speaker 1: Moorland and hits enter, multiple listings and images pop up.
- 27:29Speaker 1: Dana scans the results for a moment, then slams the
- 27:31Speaker 1: laptop shut. Interior Dana's house foyer day. Denah stares absently
- 27:38Speaker 1: at herself in the mirror. Choose a nail. Ethan enters
- 27:42Speaker 1: with a travel munk of coffee.
- 27:43Speaker 4: You look great, you got this.
- 27:46Speaker 1: She takes her hand away from her face, turns to
- 27:48Speaker 1: Ethan with a one, when when?
- 27:50Speaker 12: When?
- 27:50Speaker 1: What is that bell?
- 27:52Speaker 15: When?
- 27:53Speaker 12: Juan one?
- 27:56Speaker 1: She takes her hand away from her face, turns to
- 27:58Speaker 1: Ethan with a wan smile.
- 28:00Speaker 5: Thanks.
- 28:02Speaker 1: He sets the mug down on the hall table, rubs
- 28:04Speaker 1: her shoulders.
- 28:05Speaker 4: Hey, you're not nervous, are you? You never get nervous?
- 28:08Speaker 4: Not my gal?
- 28:11Speaker 5: Do you think I did the right thing?
- 28:15Speaker 4: What do you mean?
- 28:17Speaker 5: Nothing? Never mind, I'm how many of you late?
- 28:20Speaker 1: Thanks for the coffee, gives him a quick kiss on
- 28:22Speaker 1: the cheek, picks up the mug and her briefcase. Exterior
- 28:26Speaker 1: courthouse day, several dozen people, many in wheelchairs, picket by
- 28:30Speaker 1: the front steps. The protesters chant and carry signs that
- 28:33Speaker 1: read remember Terry Schivo, Compassion and Choices, Voice for the Voiceless,
- 28:37Speaker 1: et cetera. Interior television news studio day. A newscaster is
- 28:42Speaker 1: on air.
- 28:43Speaker 8: Opening arguments are underway today in the trial of Ada Wells,
- 28:47Speaker 8: an eighty nine year old woman who took the life
- 28:49Speaker 8: of her adult son with autism. Disability rights organizations clashed
- 28:54Speaker 8: with pro euthanasia groups as they picketed outside the courthouse,
- 28:58Speaker 8: and emotions were high. Some protesters were very strong in
- 29:03Speaker 8: their views.
- 29:04Speaker 1: Intercott courthouse television news studio.
- 29:06Speaker 10: I'm the father of a very severely autistic child. We
- 29:09Speaker 10: have always gladly taken care of him, and we always will.
- 29:13Speaker 10: There is absolutely no excuse for killing an autistic person,
- 29:17Speaker 10: whatever the circumstances.
- 29:19Speaker 3: There is no excuse period. While others were more undecided.
- 29:24Speaker 13: I think the whole story is heartbreaking, just so sad
- 29:28Speaker 13: for everyone involved caring for someone day in and day
- 29:33Speaker 13: out for that many years. I just hope something good
- 29:36Speaker 13: can come out of it.
- 29:38Speaker 8: Jennifer Carr, an advocate for the Right to Die nonprofit
- 29:41Speaker 8: Choices in Dying, spoke to our reporter outside the courthouse.
- 29:46Speaker 16: We continue to fight for a time when every citizen
- 29:48Speaker 16: of this nation is free to live and die as
- 29:51Speaker 16: they choose, according to their own values. This case does
- 29:55Speaker 16: not exemplify the usual end of life decision for a
- 29:58Speaker 16: terminally ill person, so we can not condone the actions
- 30:01Speaker 16: of the defendant. However, we do recognize that suffering is
- 30:04Speaker 16: not limited merely to the physical body and can affect
- 30:07Speaker 16: one's quality of life as a whole. Now more than ever,
- 30:10Speaker 16: we need support systems for our aging population and for
- 30:13Speaker 16: people with disabilities to avoid repeats of such tragic events
- 30:17Speaker 16: as this.
- 30:18Speaker 8: And Prosecutor Daner Jeffries from the District Attorney's office had
- 30:22Speaker 8: this to say.
- 30:23Speaker 1: Dani strides up the courthouse steps. A reporter follows thrusts
- 30:26Speaker 1: some microphone at.
- 30:27Speaker 11: Her, condoning a crime of this nature is a lethal
- 30:30Speaker 11: danger to the disabled population.
- 30:33Speaker 1: Interior courthouse security checkpoint day, Ada and Gina pass through
- 30:37Speaker 1: the metal detectors head towards the courtroom. Alexis puts her
- 30:40Speaker 1: briefcase on the conveyor belt. Dana pushes through the front door,
- 30:44Speaker 1: walks up behind Alexis places her personal items in a bin.
- 30:48Speaker 1: Alexis glances over her shoulder as she removes her jacket.
- 30:51Speaker 1: We could have avoided all this.
- 30:53Speaker 5: The crowd outside seems to indicate otherwise.
- 30:56Speaker 1: Is that what you're concerned about?
- 30:58Speaker 11: No, No, what I'm concerned about is what kind of
- 31:00Speaker 11: message it sends if we allow people to murder other
- 31:04Speaker 11: people with impunity.
- 31:05Speaker 1: You know full well it wasn't murder.
- 31:08Speaker 11: Call it whatever you want, but either way, he's dead
- 31:10Speaker 11: and if she really wanted what was best for him,
- 31:12Speaker 11: she would have given him up.
- 31:14Speaker 5: That was the right thing to do.
- 31:15Speaker 1: I'm sure that will sound wonderful on the five o'clock
- 31:18Speaker 1: News she steps through the detector. Interior courtroom. Day Ada
- 31:24Speaker 1: sits at the defense table with Alexis, coughs quietly into
- 31:26Speaker 1: a handkerchief. Gina sits in the gallery behind them. Dana
- 31:30Speaker 1: and Carter occupy the prosecutor's table. The judge enters from
- 31:34Speaker 1: her chambers. All rise, Everyone rises. A judge sits, raises
- 31:38Speaker 1: her hand.
- 31:40Speaker 9: Be seated in the matter of the people versus Adelaide Wells.
- 31:46Speaker 15: Is the state ready to proceed?
- 31:48Speaker 1: Yes, your honor, Defense, Yes, your honor.
- 31:51Speaker 9: We will now hear opening statements, beginning with the prosecution.
- 31:55Speaker 1: Dana rises from her chair, smooths her skirt, addresses the jury.
- 32:02Speaker 11: Euthanasia, mercy killing, assisted suicide. These phrases bring to mind
- 32:08Speaker 11: terminally ill patients begging for someone to end their suffering.
- 32:12Speaker 5: Despite what you may have heard or seen in.
- 32:14Speaker 11: The media, this case is not about that victim. Theodore
- 32:19Speaker 11: Wells was not terminally ill, clinically depressed, or tired of living. Yes,
- 32:26Speaker 11: he had autism, but that's not a rare disorder without
- 32:29Speaker 11: treatment options. By some estimates, one out of every fifty
- 32:34Speaker 11: four people in this country have it. Look up autism
- 32:37Speaker 11: on the Internet and you'll find hundreds If not thousands
- 32:40Speaker 11: of resources, support groups, therapies all available to help people
- 32:46Speaker 11: and their families who live with this common disorder.
- 32:49Speaker 5: All the defendant had.
- 32:51Speaker 11: To do was simply pick up the phone and call
- 32:54Speaker 11: one of them.
- 32:56Speaker 5: Help was just a phone call away. Does that sound
- 32:59Speaker 5: like a hopeless situation to you?
- 33:02Speaker 11: Does that sound like a situation so bleak that you
- 33:04Speaker 11: would murder your own child? No matter how well meaning
- 33:10Speaker 11: they try to tell you that the defendant's intentions were.
- 33:13Speaker 11: The fact is she planned and carried out the murder
- 33:17Speaker 11: of her son. The victim's life wasn't worth any less
- 33:21Speaker 11: because he had autism, and his mother had no justifiable
- 33:25Speaker 11: reason for killing him. Murder's murder, no matter what, and
- 33:30Speaker 11: that is what the state will prove.
- 33:33Speaker 5: Thank you.
- 33:34Speaker 1: She takes her seat. Alexa Stans walks to the jury box.
- 33:38Speaker 1: Leans In.
- 33:40Speaker 14: Sixty five years ago, autism was a completely misunderstood disorder,
- 33:46Speaker 14: so much so that it took Ada Well's nearly forty
- 33:48Speaker 14: years to get a diagnosis for her son. For almost
- 33:51Speaker 14: four decades, doctors told Ada that Teddy's condition was her fault,
- 33:56Speaker 14: that she had done this to him because she was
- 33:58Speaker 14: cold and unfeeling a refrigerator mother.
- 34:01Speaker 1: They called her.
- 34:02Speaker 14: Nothing could have been further from the truth. Those doctors,
- 34:07Speaker 14: even her own family and friends, told Ada to put
- 34:09Speaker 14: her only child in an institution and walk away, forget
- 34:13Speaker 14: he'd ever been born.
- 34:15Speaker 1: Can you imagine? But Ada would have none of it.
- 34:19Speaker 14: Instead, she dedicated her entire life to making sure Teddy
- 34:23Speaker 14: knew he was loved and cherished. And she did this
- 34:26Speaker 14: with almost no support. She lost her husband, her friends,
- 34:31Speaker 14: her entire life as she knew it.
- 34:33Speaker 1: Turns to give Aida an empathetic look.
- 34:35Speaker 14: Ada lived confined within the walls of her home, giving
- 34:39Speaker 14: up everything she wanted for herself, sixty five years of
- 34:43Speaker 14: complete selflessness to protect her child.
- 34:48Speaker 1: Sixty five years. She lets that number hang in the
- 34:50Speaker 1: air and returns to the defense table, squeezes Ada's hand well.
- 34:55Speaker 15: The State call its first witness.
- 34:58Speaker 5: The state calls doctor mar In Kressler.
- 35:01Speaker 1: Doctor Kressler steps into the courtroom, takes the witness box.
- 35:05Speaker 1: Dana straightens her notes, approaches the doctor. She glances out
- 35:08Speaker 1: into the gallery sees Ethan, who gives her a nod.
- 35:13Speaker 1: Interior Dana's dining room night. The table is set with
- 35:17Speaker 1: flowers and candles. The lights are dimmed. Soft music plays
- 35:21Speaker 1: the front door unlocks footsteps. As Dana enters, Ethan pops
- 35:25Speaker 1: out from the kitchen to greet her surprise.
- 35:29Speaker 5: Oh what is all of this?
- 35:32Speaker 9: Oh?
- 35:32Speaker 2: I just thought i'd give the warrior returning from a
- 35:34Speaker 2: battle a much deserve welcome home.
- 35:37Speaker 1: He takes her briefcase, sets it down, gives her a kiss.
- 35:41Speaker 5: I didn't know you were going to be there today.
- 35:43Speaker 4: Yeah, you seem like you maybe needed some support.
- 35:47Speaker 5: No, I'm fine. I was fine, but thank you.
- 35:51Speaker 2: Sit down, relax, Dinner is almost ready. Here, give me
- 35:55Speaker 2: your jacket.
- 35:55Speaker 1: He removes her jacket, steers her towards the table. She sits,
- 35:59Speaker 1: spots the glass of wine in front of her, takes
- 36:01Speaker 1: a long drink. Interior Dana's dining room. Later, Dana and
- 36:06Speaker 1: Ethan are at the table. Plate's pushed aside. Her shirt
- 36:09Speaker 1: is still buttoned up, her hair still pulled back. One
- 36:13Speaker 1: wine bottle on the table is empty. Ethan reaches for
- 36:15Speaker 1: a second bottle, moves to top off Dana's glass. She
- 36:18Speaker 1: puts her hand out to cover it.
- 36:19Speaker 12: Oh, not for me.
- 36:21Speaker 5: I have to be in court early tomorrow.
- 36:23Speaker 1: He gets up, clears the dirty dishes.
- 36:26Speaker 4: Speaking of you feel good about today?
- 36:30Speaker 5: You know I don't like talking about trial in the
- 36:32Speaker 5: middle of it.
- 36:34Speaker 2: I know, I know, but you're usually so fired up
- 36:36Speaker 2: after dad court, like there's an electricity running through your veins.
- 36:40Speaker 4: I know, I kind of like it, truth be told.
- 36:43Speaker 1: He comes up behind her, kisses her neck, unbuttons the
- 36:45Speaker 1: top button of her glass.
- 36:47Speaker 4: I'm not used to seeing you so low key? Is everything?
- 36:51Speaker 11: Okay, it's just a different kind of case, that's all.
- 36:56Speaker 1: He rubs her shoulders.
- 37:00Speaker 11: Anything ever happened to you if you couldn't take care
- 37:02Speaker 11: of yourself, how would you feel?
- 37:05Speaker 4: What do you mean?
- 37:05Speaker 1: Like?
- 37:06Speaker 4: Would I be upset?
- 37:08Speaker 5: Yeah? Yes, I guess that's what I'm asking. Depressed, hope, bless,
- 37:14Speaker 5: like not wanting to live?
- 37:17Speaker 4: Would I still be able to make love to you?
- 37:20Speaker 1: He leans down to nibble on her ear. She shrugs
- 37:22Speaker 1: him off, turns to face him. I'm serious, He searches
- 37:26Speaker 1: her face. You are serious, pulls up a chair next
- 37:30Speaker 1: to hers.
- 37:31Speaker 2: Okay, seriously, life is great. I wouldn't want to die
- 37:37Speaker 2: even if things got tough. I think I could live
- 37:39Speaker 2: with most things. If I was paralyzed or something.
- 37:41Speaker 5: Like that, You wouldn't be depressed?
- 37:44Speaker 4: Well, I'm sure I would have low points, but who doesn't.
- 37:48Speaker 4: Lots of people live with disabilities.
- 37:50Speaker 2: And have very productive, meaningful lives. Remember that piece I
- 37:53Speaker 2: did last year on the Paralympics. Now, those athletes could
- 37:57Speaker 2: do more than most able bodied people would.
- 38:01Speaker 5: What if you were mentally disabled?
- 38:04Speaker 4: I don't know.
- 38:04Speaker 2: I never thought about that before. What level are we
- 38:07Speaker 2: talking about here? I wouldn't want to lie around in
- 38:10Speaker 2: a vegetative state for years and years if that's what
- 38:13Speaker 2: you mean.
- 38:14Speaker 4: That's why I have a DNR order. What is this about?
- 38:17Speaker 3: Anyway?
- 38:18Speaker 11: But at what point do you make that decision to
- 38:21Speaker 11: walk away?
- 38:22Speaker 4: Like?
- 38:22Speaker 5: How long do you try before you just give up?
- 38:27Speaker 4: I'm not sure.
- 38:28Speaker 2: I don't think you can put an absolute on something
- 38:31Speaker 2: like that. Everyone's situation is different. You might think you
- 38:35Speaker 2: know what you do, but you can't really say until
- 38:39Speaker 2: you've been there. I think you're right. One bottle of
- 38:42Speaker 2: wine is enough. Come on, let's go to bed.
- 38:46Speaker 1: He stands, takes her hand. She gently pulls it away.
- 38:49Speaker 1: I'll be there in a bit.
- 38:50Speaker 5: I have some work to finish up.
- 38:53Speaker 4: Always work. Don't be too long. I might pass up
- 38:57Speaker 4: before you have a chance to take advantage of me.
- 39:00Speaker 1: Ends down to kiss her. She looks up at him.
- 39:02Speaker 1: Grabs his hand.
- 39:03Speaker 5: Thank you.
- 39:06Speaker 4: For what.
- 39:08Speaker 5: For putting up with me. You know it's not always easy.
- 39:14Speaker 4: But it's worth it. You're worth it.
- 39:19Speaker 1: He kisses her her hands trail as he exits towards
- 39:22Speaker 1: the bedroom. She finishes the wine in her glass, contemplates
- 39:25Speaker 1: the second bottle, let's out a sigh, and grabs it. Interior,
- 39:31Speaker 1: courtroom day. The judge enters from her chambers. All rise,
- 39:35Speaker 1: The room comes to its feet, waits while the judge
- 39:37Speaker 1: settles herself. There's a sense of expectation in the courtroom.
- 39:42Speaker 4: Be seated.
- 39:44Speaker 9: In the matter of the people of the State of
- 39:46Speaker 9: California versus Adelaide Wells.
- 39:48Speaker 15: Court is now in session. Counselor please proceed.
- 39:52Speaker 1: The defense calls Ada Wells, shuffling and whispering from the gallery.
- 39:57Speaker 1: As Gina helps Ada make her way into the witness box.
- 40:00Speaker 3: Raise your right hand.
- 40:01Speaker 8: Do you swear or for him to tell the truth,
- 40:03Speaker 8: the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
- 40:06Speaker 1: I do, she says, settles herself. Alexis approaches the witness box.
- 40:12Speaker 1: Good morning, Would you please state your full name for
- 40:15Speaker 1: the record?
- 40:17Speaker 12: Adelaide Marie Wells, Miss Wells, please call me Ada, of course, Ada,
- 40:26Speaker 12: Can you tell us about your son, Teddy. Yes, Teddy
- 40:31Speaker 12: was my first and only child. He was born four
- 40:35Speaker 12: weeks early. I always said it was because he knew
- 40:40Speaker 12: I couldn't wait for him to get here. My husband
- 40:44Speaker 12: Jack was stationed in Vietnam at the time, so I
- 40:48Speaker 12: drove myself to the hospital.
- 40:51Speaker 14: That would be scary, having your first baby all alone.
- 40:54Speaker 14: Besides being born premature, were there any other delivery complications?
- 40:59Speaker 12: Yes, I was in labor thirty two hours. Teddy was
- 41:05Speaker 12: a breech berth and it was very difficult. I always
- 41:09Speaker 12: wondered if that might have affected him.
- 41:12Speaker 1: How did Teddy's development progress after that?
- 41:15Speaker 12: He was meeting some of his milestones at first, sitting
- 41:19Speaker 12: up and crawling, But he never babbled, never could. He
- 41:26Speaker 12: rarely smiled. He never seemed to look at you. It
- 41:31Speaker 12: was more like through you. And he was so quiet.
- 41:35Speaker 12: In the beginning. He would get this far away look
- 41:39Speaker 12: on his face, like he was locked away somewhere no
- 41:44Speaker 12: one else could get.
- 41:45Speaker 1: To insert exterior ATI's house flashback. Young Ada holds one
- 41:51Speaker 1: year old Teddy in the front yard, points up at
- 41:53Speaker 1: the sky. Jack Ada's husband sits on the porch, beer
- 41:56Speaker 1: bottles around his feet, look at the pretty bird. Teddy
- 42:03Speaker 1: does not look, makes no sound.
- 42:05Speaker 7: Don't you see it? It's there, Teddy, It's right there. Look.
- 42:10Speaker 1: Jack throws a bottle to the ground, gets up in disgust,
- 42:13Speaker 1: and goes inside, slams the screen door behind him.
- 42:15Speaker 7: Just look, Teddy, please just look at the pretty bird.
- 42:19Speaker 1: Back to scene.
- 42:21Speaker 14: Did anyone else notice or comment on Teddy's behavior?
- 42:24Speaker 12: At first? My family and friends told me how lucky
- 42:28Speaker 12: I was to have such a calm baby, until they.
- 42:32Speaker 1: Tried to hold him.
- 42:33Speaker 12: Teddy would scream and twist away so violently I thought
- 42:39Speaker 12: he would hurt himself if anyone touched him besides me?
- 42:44Speaker 1: How is he with his father?
- 42:45Speaker 12: Jack was overseas the first year of Teddy's life, but
- 42:49Speaker 12: then he was injured in a trading accident, so he
- 42:53Speaker 12: was discharged from the service and came home. The pain
- 42:58Speaker 12: from the accident he would drink to make it go away.
- 43:05Speaker 12: Things were difficult.
- 43:08Speaker 1: Difficult How insert interior Ada's living room flashback. Jack stumbles
- 43:14Speaker 1: in the front door, clearly drunk. Little Teddy sits on
- 43:17Speaker 1: the floor, small toys lined in a row in front
- 43:19Speaker 1: of him. Jack approaches Teddy, pats him on the head,
- 43:22Speaker 1: then picks up one of the toys.
- 43:24Speaker 10: Hey, why what are you playing that?
- 43:27Speaker 1: Teddy screams repeatedly bangs his ears to those fists. Jack
- 43:31Speaker 1: gets in Teddy's face, yells.
- 43:33Speaker 10: What the hell's wrong with you?
- 43:35Speaker 11: Stop that.
- 43:35Speaker 1: He kicks all of Teddy's toys. Teddy screams louder. Young
- 43:39Speaker 1: Ada rushes in scoops up. Teddy attempts to console him.
- 43:43Speaker 10: He's not my kids, he's freak. You made him a freak.
- 43:47Speaker 1: He takes a swing at Ada, who ducks, Who stumbles
- 43:50Speaker 1: and falls. Ada runs out with Teddy. Back to scene.
- 43:55Speaker 1: Ada coughs, pours herself a glass of water, takes a sip.
- 43:58Speaker 1: Her hand trembles slightly.
- 44:03Speaker 12: Finally, Jack left for good. Our friends eventually stopped coming
- 44:09Speaker 12: to visit, family died or moved away, and then Teddy
- 44:14Speaker 12: started refusing to leave home. When I tried to take
- 44:19Speaker 12: him anywhere, he would bite himself or pull his hair out,
- 44:25Speaker 12: so we just stayed in.
- 44:27Speaker 1: After that, You were so alone, so isolated. How did
- 44:32Speaker 1: you survive? What did you live on?
- 44:35Speaker 12: A few months after Jack left, the police came to
- 44:39Speaker 12: tell me he'd drank himself to death. I started receiving
- 44:45Speaker 12: his benefits along with my father's estate. It was enough
- 44:49Speaker 12: to get by.
- 44:51Speaker 1: What about human contact, someone to talk to, Ada finds
- 44:56Speaker 1: Gina in the gallery, smiles at her.
- 44:58Speaker 12: I was blessed to have a neighbor, Ruth and her
- 45:02Speaker 12: daughter Gina, who looked in us regularly brought us groceries.
- 45:09Speaker 12: We had a doctor who made house calls, and our
- 45:12Speaker 12: pastor father Weeda, also came by until he got sick
- 45:17Speaker 12: and had passed away.
- 45:19Speaker 14: So in sixty five years you had contact with just
- 45:23Speaker 14: four people.
- 45:26Speaker 12: But I had Teddy for every time he was unreasonable,
- 45:30Speaker 12: he was also a joy. He had a real sense
- 45:34Speaker 12: of the earth, love tending the garden. Sometimes he would
- 45:38Speaker 12: lie down on the ground and rub the dirt all
- 45:42Speaker 12: over him. I think it made him feel connected to something.
- 45:47Speaker 12: He taught himself to play the piano. He could listen
- 45:50Speaker 12: to a song on the radio once, then play it
- 45:54Speaker 12: back note for note. It was truly a gift, the
- 45:59Speaker 12: briefest gliss. So what is life might have been like?
- 46:03Speaker 1: If only she coughs again, quite uncontrollably. Alexa steps closer
- 46:08Speaker 1: to her. Ada, Are you all right? Aida nods, still coughing.
- 46:19Speaker 1: Several jury members cast sympathetic glances at her. Dana notices.
- 46:23Speaker 1: The judge looks at Ada with some concern.
- 46:25Speaker 15: I think that's enough for today. Court is adjourned until
- 46:28Speaker 15: nine am Monday morning.
- 46:31Speaker 1: People rise make their way out. Interior Dana's home office.
- 46:35Speaker 1: Night Dana, still in court clothes, writes on a legal
- 46:39Speaker 1: pad at her desk, scribbles furiously, drops her head in
- 46:43Speaker 1: her hands. Ethan comes in, steps behind her, puts his
- 46:47Speaker 1: hands on her shoulders. She startles.
- 46:51Speaker 4: I didn't hear you come in still working. It's almost midnight,
- 46:56Speaker 4: it is.
- 46:57Speaker 1: He pulls up a chair across from her, sits down,
- 46:59Speaker 1: lifts her legs onto his lap.
- 47:01Speaker 4: You haven't even taken your shoes off yet.
- 47:03Speaker 1: He slides off her shoes, massages her feet.
- 47:06Speaker 4: Hey, hey, hey, She tenses, relax.
- 47:10Speaker 1: She leans back in the chair. They're silent for a moment.
- 47:15Speaker 1: Are you all right, data, She sits up, pulls her
- 47:17Speaker 1: feet away.
- 47:19Speaker 5: I'm fine.
- 47:20Speaker 4: Why, Oh, you've been on edge lately.
- 47:23Speaker 1: It's just the case.
- 47:25Speaker 4: Do you want to talk about.
- 47:26Speaker 5: It with a journalist?
- 47:28Speaker 4: No, it's me.
- 47:30Speaker 2: Remember your boyfriend, and I'm a sports writer. That's not
- 47:35Speaker 2: quite the same. You're not sleeping with the enemy. You're right, sorry, Okay,
- 47:41Speaker 2: I have an idea why don't we take a break
- 47:45Speaker 2: and do something fun this weekend.
- 47:48Speaker 5: I don't know, and I have a lot of work
- 47:50Speaker 5: to do, ethan.
- 47:50Speaker 2: Oh, come on, just just for a few hours. It's
- 47:53Speaker 2: my niece's first birthday tomorrow. My sister is having a barbecue.
- 47:57Speaker 2: It'll be fun, and he would do you some good
- 47:59Speaker 2: to get out up for a bit, just clear your head. Besides,
- 48:02Speaker 2: she's my only niece and we've barely even seen her.
- 48:05Speaker 1: She hesitates. He nuzzles up to her.
- 48:07Speaker 2: Oh, come on, come on, come onma, just just for
- 48:09Speaker 2: a little while. We'll have some cold beer, nod on
- 48:13Speaker 2: some ribs.
- 48:14Speaker 1: He leans in, bites her side in a playful manner.
- 48:16Speaker 1: She laughs. He takes her face in his hands, looks
- 48:19Speaker 1: at her with intent.
- 48:23Speaker 4: You know, it's good to hear you laugh.
- 48:25Speaker 1: Okay, okay, he.
- 48:27Speaker 5: Talked me into it for a little while.
- 48:30Speaker 4: I know I'm hard to resist.
- 48:31Speaker 6: I know.
- 48:33Speaker 1: He pretends to chew on her again. She shrieks in
- 48:35Speaker 1: protests stop. Stop. Exterior Rebecca's backyard day tables and chairs
- 48:41Speaker 1: are set up under canopies, balloons, and first birthday party
- 48:44Speaker 1: decorations everywhere. One table is piled high with brightly wrapped presents,
- 48:49Speaker 1: Rebecca thirties, Ethan's sister, hold a baby girl, Sydney, dressed
- 48:53Speaker 1: in a tiara and a frothy pink dress. Talks with
- 48:56Speaker 1: an older couple. Smoke rises from a corner the yard.
- 49:00Speaker 1: Rebecca's husband, Kevin thirties, wears a party hat, flips burgers
- 49:04Speaker 1: and a large barbecue grill. People mill about, chat, drinks
- 49:08Speaker 1: in hand. Kids run in and around the adults with
- 49:11Speaker 1: shrieks of joy. Ethan and Dana enter through the back gate.
- 49:15Speaker 1: He carries a.
- 49:15Speaker 4: Huge present, Where's my little rock star?
- 49:18Speaker 1: Rebecca turns around Ethan. Ethan sets the present on the table.
- 49:22Speaker 1: Rebecca walks over to greet them. Ethan kisses her on
- 49:25Speaker 1: the cheek, takes Sydney from her, kisses the baby all
- 49:28Speaker 1: over as she squeals in delight.
- 49:30Speaker 4: Here she is, Now, what on earth has your mother
- 49:33Speaker 4: dressed you in? Huh? You look like a birthday cake,
- 49:35Speaker 4: not a birthday girl.
- 49:36Speaker 1: He pretends to nibble on Sydney.
- 49:38Speaker 7: Haha, she looks adorable.
- 49:40Speaker 1: She gets Dana a hug.
- 49:42Speaker 7: Dana, I am so happy you could make it. Even
- 49:45Speaker 7: seen you in ages. I know how busy you are,
- 49:48Speaker 7: though we saw you on television.
- 49:50Speaker 1: Such a sad case. Ethan shoots Rebecca look clears his throat.
- 49:54Speaker 7: Ah, Rebecca oops, not supposed to mention work. You're here
- 49:59Speaker 7: to have fun. Let me get you to a drink.
- 50:02Speaker 12: I will be right back.
- 50:03Speaker 1: Ethan continues to play with Sydney catches Dana's eye, grins widely.
- 50:08Speaker 1: Dana looks around at the partygoers. Her gaze lands on
- 50:11Speaker 1: a family of three, mother, father, and a little girl, Mollie,
- 50:15Speaker 1: just beginning to walk. It is apparent that Mollie has
- 50:18Speaker 1: down syndrome. She takes a few faltering steps, lands on
- 50:22Speaker 1: her bottom. Laughs. Molly's parents cheer her on. Rebecca returns
- 50:26Speaker 1: with drinks, follows Dana's gaze.
- 50:29Speaker 7: Those are our new neighbors. I'll introduce you, is it, Molly?
- 50:32Speaker 1: Just the cutest handsome their drinks?
- 50:34Speaker 7: Here you go my secret Hawaiian punch. Definitely not the
- 50:38Speaker 7: kiddy version.
- 50:40Speaker 5: Cheers.
- 50:40Speaker 1: Now, if Kevin hasn't burned everything, I think we might
- 50:43Speaker 1: be ready to eat. Exterior Rebecca's backyard. Later, guests eat talk.
- 50:50Speaker 1: Dana and Ethan share a table with Rebecca, Kevin, and Sydney.
- 50:53Speaker 1: Mollie and her family at the table across from them.
- 50:56Speaker 1: Dana glances over repeatedly, Kevin.
- 50:59Speaker 4: That wasn't having bad. I think you might need another plate, you.
- 51:02Speaker 10: Know, I feel like he's rubbing his you know what
- 51:04Speaker 10: I mean?
- 51:05Speaker 1: A king who's bringing Kevin?
- 51:11Speaker 10: I'll do go for it.
- 51:12Speaker 1: He's a party party head.
- 51:16Speaker 10: So from Ethan's line, yes.
- 51:19Speaker 4: Yeah, Kevin man, that wasn't half bad. I think you
- 51:23Speaker 4: might need another plate.
- 51:24Speaker 10: I think it might have to join you.
- 51:25Speaker 1: They head for the food table.
- 51:27Speaker 5: Time to get the cake.
- 51:29Speaker 7: Dana, can you hold her.
- 51:30Speaker 1: For a second? Without waiting for a response, she hands
- 51:33Speaker 1: Sydney to Dana. She's visibly uncomfortable, unsure of what to do,
- 51:37Speaker 1: She awkwardly bounces the baby on one knee. Sydney babbles
- 51:40Speaker 1: and claps her hands, which catches the attention of Molly,
- 51:43Speaker 1: who stumbles her way over to them. Mollie reaches Dana
- 51:46Speaker 1: and Sydney stretches out her arms for Dana to pick
- 51:48Speaker 1: her up. Dana looks around, ill at ease. Molly's mother
- 51:52Speaker 1: comes over. Did you come to make friends?
- 51:55Speaker 8: Molly?
- 51:56Speaker 1: She picks Molly up, sets her on Dana's other knee.
- 51:58Speaker 1: Dana stiffens. The two children interact with each other. Adorable.
- 52:02Speaker 1: I have to get a picture she steps away. Mollie
- 52:05Speaker 1: turns her attention to Dana, touches her face and hair.
- 52:08Speaker 1: Dana's eyes are frozen on hers. Molly's mother returns, snaps
- 52:12Speaker 1: a picture with her phone, say happy birthday. Ethan approaches,
- 52:17Speaker 1: smiles at the sight. Rebecca returns scoops up Sydney.
- 52:21Speaker 7: Dana, who knew you had such a way with kids.
- 52:24Speaker 1: Dana gives her a faint smile. Hands Molly back to
- 52:26Speaker 1: her mother.
- 52:27Speaker 5: Excuse me, I need to use the restroom.
- 52:30Speaker 1: She hurries towards the house. Interior Rebecca's House bathroom day.
- 52:35Speaker 1: Dana sits on the side of the bathtub, bent over
- 52:37Speaker 1: her head in her hands. The doorknob rattles. She looks up,
- 52:41Speaker 1: calls out just a moment. She stands, moves to the sink,
- 52:45Speaker 1: finds mouthwash in a paper cup in the medicine cabinet,
- 52:47Speaker 1: prinses out her mouth, sketches her reflection in the mirror.
- 52:50Speaker 1: Her face is ashen. Exterior, Rebecca's House, driveway night. Dana
- 52:57Speaker 1: gets into the passenger seat of their car as Ethan
- 52:59Speaker 1: hugs is during niece goodbye. Rebecca makes Sidney blow kisses this.
- 53:03Speaker 1: The car drives away. Interior Ethan's car moving night. Ethan
- 53:08Speaker 1: drives as Dana looks out the side window.
- 53:10Speaker 4: You've been quiet, you okay, She does not look at him.
- 53:12Speaker 5: There's a little too much secret punch.
- 53:16Speaker 4: Yeah, it packed the wall up. It was great to
- 53:19Speaker 4: see you loose enough for a bit though. You were
- 53:22Speaker 4: so cute with the babies. I think they fell in
- 53:25Speaker 4: love with you.
- 53:26Speaker 1: She stays silent. He glances at her.
- 53:30Speaker 4: I've never really seen you around kids before. What do
- 53:34Speaker 4: you think.
- 53:36Speaker 5: About what.
- 53:39Speaker 4: About having kids? We'd never talked about it.
- 53:43Speaker 1: She sits up right.
- 53:44Speaker 11: Yes, yes, yes we did. When we first got together.
- 53:49Speaker 5: It was one of the reasons we were attracted to
- 53:51Speaker 5: each other.
- 53:53Speaker 11: We were both happy with our lives and our careers
- 53:56Speaker 11: and we didn't want to change that.
- 53:57Speaker 2: Sure, but that was what we wanted then. But that's
- 54:01Speaker 2: that was a few years ago. People can change their minds.
- 54:04Speaker 5: I haven't changed my mind. I'm happy with things just
- 54:07Speaker 5: the way they are.
- 54:08Speaker 4: So you don't ever want to have kids.
- 54:10Speaker 5: And now all of a sudden, you do.
- 54:13Speaker 2: I don't know, Dana, we're just talking. But maybe there's
- 54:17Speaker 2: more to life than working sixteen hour days.
- 54:20Speaker 5: I like my job. I like to work. Yeah, I
- 54:23Speaker 5: know what does that mean?
- 54:25Speaker 1: He pulls into their driveway, shuts off the car interior,
- 54:28Speaker 1: Ethan's car continuous. Ethan turns to look at Dana.
- 54:31Speaker 4: Nothing. It's just.
- 54:34Speaker 2: You're so driven by work and only work. Maybe you
- 54:39Speaker 2: should take some time to discover other interests, do other.
- 54:43Speaker 5: Things, like have a baby.
- 54:47Speaker 4: Well, it'll be fun trying.
- 54:48Speaker 5: Maybe is that what you want to have a baby?
- 54:52Speaker 2: You're so smart and strong and beautiful. Can't you just
- 54:55Speaker 2: imagine what a perfect little baby would make No.
- 54:58Speaker 5: No, I don't want to imagine it. I don't. I
- 55:00Speaker 5: don't want to imagine it at all. Like I can't
- 55:02Speaker 5: have a baby.
- 55:04Speaker 4: What you you mean you can't get pregnant. We use
- 55:09Speaker 4: birth control. So I just thought. I am so sorry.
- 55:14Speaker 4: I didn't know that, Dana.
- 55:15Speaker 1: He moves to comfort her. She pulls away.
- 55:17Speaker 5: I just I can't have a baby. I can't. And
- 55:20Speaker 5: why are you bringing this up now?
- 55:22Speaker 4: I don't know.
- 55:22Speaker 2: I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you.
- 55:25Speaker 2: You just look so beautiful holding those little girls today.
- 55:28Speaker 2: It seems so perfect.
- 55:29Speaker 5: Just stop saying that. Stop it, stop it. I had
- 55:33Speaker 5: I had a baby. Do you understand I had a
- 55:35Speaker 5: baby and she wasn't perfect.
- 55:36Speaker 7: She was perfect, and.
- 55:38Speaker 11: I tried and I couldn't do it like I couldn't
- 55:40Speaker 11: be perfect.
- 55:41Speaker 1: She pushes open the car door, runs inside the house.
- 55:45Speaker 1: Interior Dana's house hallway day. Ethan stops outside the closed
- 55:49Speaker 1: door to Dana's office. He knocks gently, then opens the door.
- 55:53Speaker 1: Interior Dana's home office continuous. Dana stands at the window
- 55:57Speaker 1: with her back to the door. Ethan looks in.
- 56:00Speaker 4: Dana, Can I come in?
- 56:02Speaker 1: She doesn't answer or turn around. It takes one step in.
- 56:07Speaker 2: You've been in here since last night. There's a pretty
- 56:11Speaker 2: big elephant in the room. Can we talk about it?
- 56:13Speaker 1: She shakes her head.
- 56:15Speaker 2: That's why this case has been so tough for you,
- 56:17Speaker 2: isn't it. Why you don't ever talk about your family,
- 56:20Speaker 2: Why you move thousands of miles away while you keep
- 56:22Speaker 2: all your feelings bottled inside.
- 56:25Speaker 3: Your baby.
- 56:27Speaker 1: She shakes her head again, slower this time, and of
- 56:31Speaker 1: Bac too.