# ROOMS OF EXPERIENCE - Act 2

An episode of [Table Read](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1673590083), 20 Jan 2026, 57 min.

Audio: https://podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/traffic.omny.fm/d/clips/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/d8b1cc95-e70d-4788-a035-b46401326b84/801eb803-b3d5-48dc-94a4-b46401331f11/audio.mp3?utm_source=Podcast&in_playlist=0ca9c2ee-158a-40ea-aa81-b46401326b8f

Rooms of Experience, Act 2 By Steffany Sommers Starring Patty McCormack as Ada Wells and Dan Lauria as DA Harvey Davis The cracks start to spread. Dana tries to outrun the case. Literally. But every answer leads to worse questions. She digs into Teddy’s past. Talks to doctors. Families. People who trusted institutions and paid for it. What she finds isn’t comforting. Facilities where the vulnerable disappear. Bruises explained away. Medication used as control. Silence treated like consent. Ada’s fear wasn’t paranoia. It was experience. Meanwhile, the pressure builds. Disability rights groups mobilize. The media sharpens its narrative. And DA Harvey Davis makes it clear. This case is about optics, not nuance. “No deal,” he reminds her. Win at all costs. Alexis keeps pushing for mercy. Gina watches Ada waste away. Funeral grief turns into physical collapse. The woman who survived everything may not survive this. Dana stands in the middle. Her career on one side. Her conscience on the other. She starts to see herself in Alexis. In Ada. In the choices women make just to survive systems designed without them. By the end of Act Two, Dana knows. This trial isn’t about guilt. It’s about who she becomes when the whole world is watching. And there’s no clean way out. _______________________________ Starring Academy Award nominee Patty McCormack (The Bad Seed) as Ada Wells with Dan Lauria (The Wonder Years) as DA Harvey Davis Craig Parker (The Lord of the Rings) as Detective Curtis Nicholas Gonzalez (The Good Doctor) as Carter Nora Zehetner (Heroes, Everwood) as Rebecca Alyshia Ochse as Dana Jeffries Candice Coke as Alexis Martinez Eileen Grubba as Gina Gordon Alain Uy as Ethan and narrated by Sarah Elmaleh Table Read is executive produced by Jack Levy, Mark Knell, and Sean Sharma. A Manifest Media production. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

## Transcript

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

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