Guilty at 17 (2014) Movie Script
[film projector clacking]
- So, he touched you
on top of your clothes,
or underneath?
- On top,
but... he tried to put
his hand under my shirt.
- What happened then?
- Well, I told him to stop,
and then I ran out.
- Where was Traci
at that time?
- Um, she was
just on her way in,
and... and she was
just standing there.
- Goggles are to protect
the eyes, not the hair.
[students laughing]
Fantastic look, though.
Where's your lab partner
today, Lee?
- I don't know.
I haven't seen her this morning.
- [Detective]: What did you see
when you opened the door?
- I saw him touch her.
Between her...
you know,
between her legs.
- Did she say anything?
- No. She just
ran out crying.
- She said nothing?
- No, she said, "Stop."
- What happened then?
- I mean... nothing.
Um... I followed her out
into the hall.
I asked her
what happened in there.
And she said that
he tried to grab her
and that it happened
several times.
I told her she had
to tell someone.
She... said
she didn't want to
'cause she thought
no one would believe her.
- Why did she
think that?
- Maybe... 'cause it's
his word against hers.
I don't know.
- All right. Thank you.
Ma'am,
can I talk to you privately?
- Yes, of course.
- You did the right thing
by telling the truth, sweetie.
- I don't... think
this sort of thing would have
happened at my old school.
- No, this could have
happened anywhere.
I'm just glad
it wasn't you.
Oh, God,
that poor girl.
[knocking]
- Hi.
Gilbert, I'm gonna
need you to step out
into the hallway, please.
- Why? What's going on?
- Just step out,
or they'll come in.
- [boy]: OK, he looks scared.
- [principal]: Everyone, please,
back to your tables.
- Step out, sir.
Take the jacket off.
Gilbert Adkins, you're under
arrest for criminal sexual
contact with a minor.
- What?
- You have the right
to remain silent.
Anything you say will be used
against you in a court of law.
You have the right
to an attorney. If you cannot
afford an attorney,
one will be appointed for you.
If you choose to answer
any questions without
an attorney present...
- [principal]: Please, everyone,
just back to work.
- Thank you so much, Traci.
I really couldn't have
done this without you.
You know, maybe this will
inspire other people
to come forward,
'cause who knows how many girls
he's done this to?
- I should probably
get to class.
[school bell]
- Every day is the same
Nothing's every gonna
come my way
At least as long
as I am here
Maybe I should
just disappear
- What did they ask her?
- [Her side of the story.]
- So, just basically
what she saw?
- Pretty much.
I think it helped
that the detective was a woman.
- Well, good.
I'm glad that's over with.
- [Yeah, me too. We can
talk about it when I get home.]
Oh, hey, will you call me
when you get back from
the cardiologist?
- Uh, yeah, yeah,
I, um...
I had to
reschedule that.
- Don, come on. You told me
you weren't gonna flake out
again on those appointments.
- Tony asked me to pull
a double. I had no choice.
- Well, tell Tony you have
dangerously high blood pressure
and you need
this doctor's appointment.
- Honey, I'm fine.
I'll see him next week.
- It takes a month to get in.
- Then I'll see him
in a month.
Please relax.
Everything's OK.
- Hey, Dad.
- Oh, Traci's here.
- Traci? She left school?
- Yeah, apparently.
Let me, uh, see what's up
and I'll call you back.
- [OK, call me back.]
- Hey, sweetie.
- Hey.
- What are you
doing here?
- Didn't feel
like staying.
- Hey, I can
understand that.
How about an Italian soda?
- Sure.
Cherry?
- Cherry. I'll be right back.
- Every day is the same
- So...
other than creepy teachers,
how's life?
A shrug.
What does that mean,
huh? You love your new school,
everybody's fantastic.
You wish you'd transferred
years ago, right?
- More like, I have
hardly any friends,
no one really
talks to me,
and I still hate myself
for messing up my knee.
- Honey, come on.
What's done is done.
You weren't meant to go to
college on a track scholarship.
- Maybe I wasn't meant
to go to college at all.
- That I completely
disagree with.
- Yeah, but look
at both you and Mom.
Neither of you went
to college and you're
both really successful.
You're a manager,
and Mom owns her own shop.
- Your mom has Aileen.
Aileen went to college,
has a business degree,
and even then they're
struggling.
Believe me,
going to college,
you'll have a leg up.
- I just... I don't even know
what I want to do.
All I wanted was
to compete.
- Like I said,
what's done is done, OK?
The quicker you let go of it,
the quicker you move on to
figure out what you want to do.
- Thanks for bailing
me out, huh?
- Of course.
You gonna tell June?
- Yeah, when she wakes up
in the morning.
It's the middle of the night
there - seven hours ahead.
So, I guess that's it,
then, huh?
Thirty years
building a career.
One lie,
one false accusation,
and it's over.
Scotch, gin, or whiskey?
- Whatever you're having.
- How about all three?
It's been one hell
of a day.
- You can say that again.
Don't be discouraged.
You've won how
many teaching awards?
- That doesn't matter.
Even if I can prove
these girls are lying,
people are still gonna wonder,
"Did he get away with it?"
[Adkins sighs.]
As teachers,
we're screwed.
I mean, you do
the best you can,
you try to help
the kids that need it,
be a good role model.
But one kids wants
to ruin your life, she can.
- Why'd this girl
hate you so much?
- I don't know.
Stupid reasons.
Devon doesn't think
the rules apply to her.
She's always been handed
anything she wants.
You know, I'd
take away her cell phone
or give her a detention.
A couple of weeks ago,
she failed an exam
and complained that I didn't
give them enough time
to prepare.
And I wouldn't be surprised
if she was behind my broken
laptop too.
- Laptop?
- Yeah.
Last week, my laptop
goes missing,
somehow gets smashed into pieces
by the loading dock.
Who did it?
I want to know,
and I want to know right now.
This is not like gluing
an eraser to a chalkboard.
This is wilful destruction
of school property.
Not to mention the fact
that every document I need to
do my job is on that computer.
- Well, you could have
backed it up.
[students chuckling]
- Devon, do you find this funny?
- No, not at all.
- I will find out who did this,
and when I do,
I will go to the police.
Kids play pranks;
I get that,
but this was vindictive.
I wouldn't put it past her.
- What about that other girl,
though, the one that said
she witnessed it?
- Yeah, that one
I can't figure out.
Traci's new. She transferred
here from Monroe
at the start of the year.
She's conscientious.
Average marks,
but you can tell
she's trying hard.
She's certainly not
a troublemaker.
But who knows?
Maybe... maybe
Devon paid her off.
- What does your lawyer say?
- We'll fight,
but so what?
I can't teach.
- If you prove
they made it up,
you could sue Devon
and her father for libel.
Punitive damages -
you'd make out pretty well.
Just trying
to be positive, is all.
- Teaching is my life.
I'm good at it.
I inspire those kids.
- I know you do.
- I mean, I still get letters
from them, years after
they graduate, telling me
what a difference I made.
Now I'm gonna
lose everything,
and have my name
on some sex offenders list.
No.
No way.
That's not the life
I signed up for.
I don't want that. Ever.
- You mean he touched you?
Just now?
[Devon crying]
- I didn't know what to do,
so I just... I told him to stop
and I... I ran out.
- Oh, honey.
[Devon crying]
I'm so sorry.
I think you need
to tell the principal.
- Would you come with me?
- Of course.
- You think you could...
tell her that you saw it?
- But I didn't see it.
- I know, but
no one's gonna believe me
if I don't have anyone
to back me up.
They're gonna think I'm lying.
Please.
- How's the studying going?
- Fine. Thanks for the snacks.
- Sure.
- Hey, Mom?
Can I ask you something?
- Sure.
- What's going to happen
to Mr. Adkins
now that he's been arrested?
- Mmm... Well,
if he pleads guilty
or is convicted, he's probably
gonna go to prison.
- For how long?
- I don't know.
What he did
was a very, very
serious thing.
He's certainly not gonna
ever teach again.
- Never again?
- Well, the schools have
a responsibility
to keep the kids safe.
- I just didn't realize that
he wouldn't ever be able
to teach again.
- Hey, you did the right thing,
OK? Mr. Adkins
made his own choice.
I'm proud of you. Don't feel
guilty for telling the truth.
- I don't...
feel guilty.
- Good.
You did the right thing.
- Thank you.
- Hit those books.
- I am, don't worry.
Thank you.
- Dad.
What are you gonna do?
You can't let her get
away with this.
- I can't make contact
with either of those girls.
There's nothing much I can do;
[just let my lawyer
handle it.]
- This is completely insane.
How are you holding up?
[sigh]
- Ask me that again
after I get some sleep.
- I'm coming home.
- [What? No.]
No, I don't want you to do that.
There's nothing for you
to do here anyway.
- I can be there to support you.
- No.
You need to finish out
that contract down there.
- They can live without me
for a few weeks.
This is a family emergency.
[I'll be on the next
available flight.]
[It probably won't be
until sometime tomorrow.]
- All right.
You're gonna do what you want to
anyway, aren't you?
- Damn right.
[I love you.]
I'll email you
my flight info later,
and I'll see you
in a few days.
- I love you too.
- Get some sleep.
- Ah, I'll try.
[cell phone chime]
- [boy]: Who is it?
- It's Traci.
She wants to talk about...
I don't know.
- Answer her. I don't mind.
- No, I am all about you
right now.
[footsteps]
- Hey, guys.
- Hi, Daddy.
Is that my car?
- Not until I see
those CAT scores.
- I know,
but don't worry.
- Chief, pour me
one of those.
You'd better not distract her
from studying, kiddo.
[He chuckles.]
- Wouldn't dream of it, sir.
I want her to have that car
as much as she does.
- How you doing, honey?
Better?
- Yeah.
- Not bad at all.
Just promise me you won't quit
your job at my office and
become a bartender.
- No way, sir.
And thank you, by the way,
for hooking me up with that.
- You've thanked me a hundred
times already. Just be good
to my little girl so I don't
have to break your legs.
- Daddy, he treats me
like a princess.
- You two don't
stay up too late.
- We won't.
- Good night.
- [mother]: You're up early.
- Yeah, I want to meet up
with Leigh to study.
Any deliveries today?
- No.
Hopefully next week.
You want some coffee?
- No, I'd better get going.
- Bye.
- Bye.
- Love you.
- Love you.
- Hey. You look cute.
Sorry about not being able
to talk last night,
but what's up?
- It's just, the more I think
about it, the more I feel
like it's a way bigger deal
than we realize.
- What do you mean
by "a bigger deal"?
- What if they make us
testify in court?
- Well, they might,
but my dad thinks
he's gonna plea out anyway.
Why are you so worried?
I mean,
if anything,
just say the exact same thing
you said to the cops.
- That's easy for you to say.
You're not the one who lied.
- Traci, what you did
for me was amazing,
and I know you feel bad
about lying, but you shouldn't.
You know,
last night was
the first time in a really
long time that I didn't have
a bad dream about him,
and that's because of you.
You were here for me,
so I'm totally gonna be there
for you too. Whatever you need.
You've got a friend for life.
OK? So no stress.
Especially about Adkins,
all right?
It's better for everyone
that he's gone.
And... you know, the guilt,
it'll pass. I promise.
- I guess.
- All right. And if we have to
go to court, we'll deal
with it together, OK?
- All right.
- I have to go,
but we'll talk later, OK?
- OK.
- See ya.
- [Adkins]: "Thinking of
your lessons all the time.
"Thanks for being
the best teacher ever.
Peter."
Thirty years
building a career. One lie,
one false accusation,
and it's over.
No.
No way.
That's not the life
I signed up for.
I don't want that. Ever.
- Hold my hand,
I am cold
- Sorry, we don't open
till 11.
- Well, I'm not here
to eat.
I was hoping to talk
to Don Scott.
- That would be me.
I'm Don.
What can I do for you?
- I'm Gilbert Adkins,
Traci's
chemistry teacher.
Look, I know
what you're thinking.
I just need to talk to you
for a minute. Please.
I've known Traci
for a few months.
She seems like a good kid.
But the truth is,
she's corroborating
something that never took place.
And I was hoping you could talk
to her and maybe find out
what's really going on.
And of course
if she does recant,
I'll do everything possible
to make sure there are no
repercussions for her.
- Look, I don't know
what happened between you
and that girl. I wasn't there.
But what I do know is
my daughter doesn't lie,
so if she said she saw it,
she saw it.
- I've worked with kids
for a lot of years,
and sometimes they make
mistakes in judgement.
Now, this Devon,
she's a queen bee.
Every girl in that school wants
to either be her friend
or be her.
- You think Traci lied
because she wants to be
part of Devon's clique?
- I don't know.
That's what I was hoping
you could find out.
I've devoted me entire life
to teaching.
I'm about
to lose everything.
Everything,
for something I didn't do.
And all I'm asking you to do
is just explain to Traci
it's not too late
to tell the truth.
- [man]: Come on,
pick it up, kids!
[whistle blown]
- Forget about yesterday.
Just think
about right now.
Right now.
[whistle blown]
- Hey.
- Hey, honey.
You're doing
beautiful.
- What are you
doing here, Dad?
- I just wanted to have
a little chat about something.
Figured it would
be better
to do it here
than at the house.
- What is it?
- Gilbert Adkins came
to the restaurant today.
- Why?
- He asked me
to talk to you,
and I told him
I would.
He claims he never did
anything inappropriate
with your friend
Devon.
And here's
the deal:
either he did it,
he's desperate
to get out of trouble,
or he didn't do it.
And if he didn't do it,
it's impossible for you
to have seen it.
Trace, you've always
told the truth,
even when it was
the harder path.
And if you didn't
this time,
I figure there's gotta be
a damn good reason why.
You see, though,
in this particular
situation,
the stakes,
they're high.
They're real high.
So, that damn good reason,
whatever it is,
it isn't
damn good enough.
- I get it.
- I know you do.
That's why I'm gonna
ask you this once,
and I'll never
bring it up again.
Did you see him
touch that girl?
- He did it.
I saw him.
- All right.
That's all I wanted to know.
You want a lift back?
- Um... no.
I'm gonna stay here
a little while longer.
- OK. See you
back at the house.
- Hi, this is Gilbert Adkins.
Please leave a message.
- Hey, Dad. I ended up going
ahead and getting into a cab
because I haven't
heard from you.
Can you please call me
when you get this?
Otherwise, I guess I'll, um,
I'll just see you at home.
OK, bye.
- Ugh, I can't wait till we're
done this media project.
Who knew editing footage
could be so tedious?
- I love it. It's so much better
than math and science
and all that boring crap.
- Ah, that's sad.
- Not really.
He's a creep.
- Well, supposedly the girl
he touched was Devon
Cavanor, though.
- Well, how'd you hear that?
- Supposedly she was bragging
about getting him fired
to one of her groupies,
and someone overheard.
Who knows if it's true?
It could have been someone else,
but if it was her, I bet
she made it up.
- Why would you say that?
You know, I've been
in a situation where
people didn't believe me,
and it really sucked.
- Like when?
- It was a long time ago.
But this really mean kid
told the teacher
he saw me steal something,
which I didn't,
but everything thought
I was lying.
As it turns out, he was the one
who was the thief, but
I took the blame.
- That's completely different.
You're trustworthy and honest.
Devon's a complete liar.
- What are you talking about?
- OK, a year ago,
she said her mom lived in Paris
and she was gonna go visit her,
and they were gonna go
to Monte Carlo to go shopping,
blah, blah, blah.
- So, what, her mom
doesn't live there?
- Her mom committed suicide
three years ago,
in some hotel in LA.
- Dad?
He left me a message saying
that he would pick me up
from the airport.
I got it when I landed.
Why would he say that
and then not be here?
- I think Gil is more upset
than he's letting on.
I don't want
to call the police.
If I say he's missing, it's
gonna look like he skipped town.
- OK, so what do we do?
Do we drive around
and look for him?
[cell phone ringing]
- Yes, this is Gary.
Yes, I'm his brother -
well, his half-brother.
Oh, my god.
I'll be there
right away.
- What is it? Where is he?
- They found his car
near Colfax Bridge.
There's a note inside.
- [man]: I'm gonna need
an evidence bag over here.
- [man]: Tape the area off.
- June. The officer said
this note
was on the dash.
The car was unlocked,
the keys were in the ignition.
- "Please forgive me for what
will seem like a drastic act
"to most of you.
I feel as if my life is over.
"I did something I shouldn't
have done, and I apologize
"to those I have hurt.
"Please remember me
for my life in its entirety;
"not just
the mistakes I made.
Gilbert Adkins."
This can't be happening.
- I'm so sorry.
- [announcement]: All seniors,
please report to the
lecture hall.
- [girl]: Give me back my book.
- [principal]: Take your
seats, please.
Thank you for coming
and allowing me to interrupt
whatever you were working on
in your respective classrooms.
I received news
about half an hour ago
that Mr. Adkins,
whom you know had been placed
on administrative leave
earlier this week,
has committed suicide.
[students murmuring]
- [boy]: Suicide?
- Many of you have come to me
with questions and concerns
about what has happened here
in the last few days.
I'm unable to give
any information
about the investigation
surrounding Mr. Adkins' arrest.
I know that many of you were...
you were quite close with him
and you would like answers.
I know nothing about
the details of his death.
The detective I spoke with
on the phone said that the story
is gonna break on tonight's
evening news, and he said
they'd be releasing more
information at that time.
There'll be somebody here
for you to talk to
starting this afternoon
if you would like.
Thank you very much.
That's all.
- Are you OK?
- No, I think
I'm gonna be sick.
[retching and coughing]
- I'll live forever
With a dream I've saved
And it would be so perfect
If I knew you'd stay
My arms are open
Wide to the unknown
If we'll never reach
- I need to talk to you
right now.
[school bell]
- Uh, do you mind
if I catch up with you guys
later? Awesome.
What's up?
- Have you been
bragging to people
that you got him fired?
- Excuse me? What? No.
Of course not.
What? You were there.
The police told us
we weren't allowed to talk
to anybody about it.
Look, we have to
get to class,
so can we talk
about this later?
Just meet me in the park
after seventh,
all right?
OK, you really gotta stop
freaking out like this.
- Are you serious?
- Yeah. This is better
for you anyway.
Now you don't have to
testify or anything.
- You're unbelievable.
- Uh, no,
I'm realistic.
Adkins was
an adult man
capable of making
his own decisions, right?
None of that falls
on you or me.
So, please, stop whining
and feeling guilty,
and move on.
- I don't think I can.
- What is that supposed
to mean exactly?
- I should go to the cops
and tell them I wasn't there
and I didn't see anything.
- Well, you can't do that.
- It doesn't mean
it didn't happen.
It just means I didn't see it.
- Do you understand
the consequences of that?
Because if you tell anyone
that you lied,
they're gonna think
Adkins was innocent.
And if they think that,
then his death suddenly
becomes our fault,
which it obviously isn't.
So it's more important
now than ever for you
to keep our secret.
OK?
We have to make people believe
that he actually did it.
- Did he?
- Of course.
Oh, my god.
Please. I...
I trusted you to believe me.
And I'm never gonna
change my story that he did it.
All right?
He assaulted me.
You have
my word, so please
give me yours.
- I promise.
- Thank you.
It's gonna be OK.
I knew this was a bad idea.
- What are you talking about?
It was your idea.
- What? No, it was
my idea to make up
the sexual harassment story,
yeah, but it was your idea
to steal Adkins' computer.
- Whoa, whoa.
No, it was your idea. You were
the one that wanted me to get
those CAT answers off of it.
I did it for you
so you could get your car.
- Please. You said it yourself.
You want me to have that car
just as badly as I do.
I feel like you're not
taking this seriously. She could
be a really big problem.
- But I am, though.
What do you want me to do
to fix this situation?
And I'll do it.
- I have no idea, Jay,
but if we don't figure it out,
God, we're gonna be
in a lot of trouble.
- I'm sure you can find a way
to keep Traci on your side.
I know you can.
You're amazing.
- [Adkins]: Why did you
do this to me?
[gasp]
This is your fault!
[scream]
[gasp]
- I'm here at Colfax
Bridge, where Gilbert Adkins,
the teacher accused of fondling
a student at Powelton High
reportedly
jumped to his death
late last night.
Adkins had been
on administrative leave
after the student claimed
she was inappropriately touched
by the chemistry teacher.
Authorities will put off
the search for Adkin's body
tonight due to darkness,
but have assembled a dive team
to continue the search...
- Traci, what are you
doing down here?
- Oh, I couldn't sleep.
It's so heavy.
Taking your own life.
- Yeah, it is.
He wasn't a well man.
I don't think we'll
ever understand that.
- I guess.
- Hey, come upstairs, OK?
Get in your own bed.
You'll sleep better.
- OK.
- Come on.
- OK, OK.
- He was gonna proctor
the CAT exam.
[cell phone ringing]
- Hello?
- man: [June Gailey?]
- Yes.
- [We believe we've recovered]
[your father's body.]
- So, where are we
with all that?
- I finished the application
for the bank loan.
- OK, how long
does it take?
- Depends, but I'll ask
to push it through
as quickly as possible.
Cross your fingers.
All right,
what is it?
Talk to me. Is it Don?
[sigh]
- No, it's nothing.
I don't know.
I mean, his father
died from heart disease
when Don was like 12 years old.
You'd think that he would
take this seriously.
- A lot of guys are like that.
If they ignore a problem,
then it doesn't exist.
Look,
I know you love him and you want
what's best for him,
but until he decides
to take control of this himself,
there's nothing you can do.
Stop driving yourself crazy.
- You're probably right.
- Mm-hmm.
- This is from a week ago.
So, what printer did he use
for the suicide note?
- There you go.
- I just don't get it.
Nothing about the note
make sense.
- What do you mean?
- Well, how did he write it?
There's no history of it
on his computer at all.
- Maybe he deleted it.
- No. No, there was stuff
in his trash bin
over a year old.
And when I put paper
in the printer,
it printed stuff that was added
to the queue last week.
There's no way
that he printed it from home.
- That is kinda strange.
What else?
You said there's something weird
about the note itself?
- He mentioned twice
that he was sorry
for his mistake.
What mistake?
When I spoke to him,
he was adamant
that the girls were lying.
- He was like that
with me too.
- What if he didn't
kill himself?
- You mean somebody
could have done that to him?
Killed him
then faked the note?
- The girl that accused him,
Devon, her father is some
rich surgeon, right?
What if he took justice
into his own hands?
He could have
hired someone.
- Well...
anything is possible,
I suppose.
I don't think she showed you
how really depressed he was.
He believed his career was
over and there was no way
he could recover.
I believe he could have decided
to take his own life.
- I just...
I feel like there's something
more to this than we know.
- We always investigate
suspicious deaths as
possible homicides,
but in this case,
it looks very much
like your father chose
to jump off that bridge.
- But...
Well, what about
the weirdness of the note?
And the timing?
He knew that I was
on a flight back from Uganda.
- When people
commit suicide,
they... they don't
act logically.
- All that I'm asking is that
you investigate the possibility
that someone had him killed
because of this scandal
at the school.
I know in my heart
that my father never touched
Devon Cavanor inappropriately.
I just feel like there might be
something more going on.
- Until the autopsy report
comes back,
the investigation is ongoing.
I promise you.
We'll look at every angle.
- Thank you.
That's all that I ask.
- [boy]: So, how long
have you been teaching?
- Ooh, um, a long time,
21 years.
- What's your favourite thing
about it? I mean, what's
kept you going this long?
- Uh, I guess the best thing is
when a student comes back
a decade after they graduate,
and the tell you
how you changed their lives.
The fact
that they remember you,
that they remember what
you taught them, and that
it had a profound effect...
- [Devon]: Traci?
Oh, hey.
What you up to?
- Um, just working
on a project.
My deadline's coming up
really fast.
- Yeah, sounds boring.
Uh, do you want to go for lunch?
'Cause my boyfriend's here
to pick me up.
You can come. My treat.
- That sounds really fun,
but Leigh is gonna kill me
if I don't get this done, so...
- OK. Well, Friday
there's a concert in the park.
I can get us front-row seats.
- I actually
already have plans Friday.
Um, but next time,
for sure.
- OK, cool, yeah.
Uh, enjoy your project thing.
- Thanks.
- Bye.
- Bye.
- She coming?
- No, and she doesn't want
to hang out with us
on Friday either.
- Ah... screw her, then.
Let's go eat. I'm starving.
- No, it's a problem.
We can't let her
distance herself.
- So... what do you want
to do about it?
- I don't know yet.
But we really have to
figure something out.
[knocking]
- June.
So sorry
about your father.
- Thank you.
- Uh, please,
sit down.
It's been a while.
You're, uh,
just as beautiful
as always.
That's probably
inappropriate.
You're likely married
or something.
- No.
Eighteen months in Uganda
can be pretty rough
on a relationship.
- Africa.
That's...
that's so you.
Uh, are you heading back
right after the funeral?
- No.
That's why I came
to see you, actually.
Well, um,
one of the reasons.
I am gonna
stick around here
for a while, and I need
a teaching position,
so I was hoping
that you could
pull some strings
and get me in
as a sub.
At Powelton.
- Powelton? Why?
- I don't know.
I'm not sure
if it's closure
or what, but...
whatever it is,
I need it.
- Yeah, but given what happened
with your dad...
- That's why I don't want you
to tell them that we're related.
We've never had
the same last name.
There's no way that they would
know unless you say something.
- Is that such a good idea?
- Nothing seems good
right now,
but...
yeah, it's really
important to me.
- Well, if you're gonna be
around for a while,
maybe I can take you out for
lunch or dinner or something?
- I'd really like that.
- And if you need anything,
I mean anything at all,
you call me, because...
when my mom passed away,
you were the one
that got me through that,
and I'd like to be
that person for you.
- Thank you.
That, um...
that really means a lot.
- OK, um...
I'll talk to you soon.
- Ladies.
How's it going?
- Pretty good.
- Dad, that's
enough food.
- Speak for yourself!
- There's more
where that came from.
- Your dad's
really cool.
- Yeah. He is.
- You now have
16 minutes left
to complete your CAT exam.
[cell phone ringing]
- Good morning.
- I got good news.
I was able to get you in
as an English sub at Powelton.
You start Monday.
- You're amazing.
- I was thinking maybe we could
do an early dinner tonight.
- I would love that.
- [Great.]
Well, I'll swing by your Dad's
after work and pick you up.
- OK. Thank you again.
- Yeah.
Don't give me that look.
You'll like her.
Trust me.
Let's go.
You know, you never actually
told me how you found out
Gil was
your biological father.
- I didn't?
- No.
- But you knew
that he left my mom when she was
pregnant with me, right?
- No.
- I can't believe
we never talked about this.
- Yeah.
- OK, well,
um, my mom
and dad - Gil -
they weren't ever
really together.
Gil got back
from Vietnam,
they met,
and then he got sent back
like a month later.
And they weren't really
into each other enough
to try to make it work
long distance, so...
then when I was 26,
I decided to find him.
- Why did you wait
until you were 26?
'Cause that's when
your mother passed away.
- Yeah.
- My father asks
about you.
Yeah, when he's, uh,
had too much to drink,
he'll say stuff like...
[rough voice]: "Why'd you
let her get away?"
[She laughs.]
- And then you say...
- And then I say,
uh...
Oh, I don't know.
I... I never know
how to answer that.
- Here's your schedule.
Now, you are in room 212.
Your first-period class
is AP English,
and I believe your break is
right before lunch.
- And the roster
of my students is...
- Oh, you'll find that
on your desk.
- Great. Thank you.
- You're welcome.
- Devon Cavanor,
second period.
Now, where's
Traci Scott?
Who knows the answer?
Devon?
- What?
- Did you hear the question?
Why didn't
Julius Caesar
listen to the soothsayer's
warning?
- Because he was inventing
Caesar salad.
[students laughing]
- Phone, please.
- I'm sorry?
- It's against school policy
to bring phones to class.
You can have it back
after school.
Back to Shakespeare.
- I'm looking
for Traci Scott.
Thank you.
Traci?
- Yeah?
- Hi. I'm June Gailey.
I'm subbing for Mrs. Laurie's
English class.
Hi.
- Do you have a minute?
I wanted to talk to
you about something.
- Yeah, yeah, sure.
- So, I hear
that you're a runner.
- Well, not anymore.
Not since I injured
my knee.
- Right. I heard that too.
I'm sorry.
I'm part
of a teachers program
that tries to encourage students
to get more fit and active,
and I'm hoping to start
a running club here at Powelton.
- That sounds pretty cool.
- Well, I need a student
to lead it with me.
And all the girls on the track
team are super busy,
so I was wondering if maybe
you'd help me out.
- I don't know.
I'm working
on getting my grades up.
- Well, how about this?
You help me out
with the running club,
and I will tutor you
in all of this.
[school bell]
Think about it, OK?
We can talk more after school.
- I'll be down at the track.
- Perfect. I'll find you.
- OK.
[camera click]
- I'm here for my phone.
- Can I assume that you'll
leave it in your locker
from now on
when you come to my class?
- You can assume
whatever you want.
Have a good day.
Biatch.
[ringing]
- [man]: Pick it up, girls.
Let's pick it up. Come on.
- Not bad.
- Not good either.
My knee's burning up.
- So, hey, I was thinking
about the running club, and--
- Hold on one sec.
Sorry, my mom called me.
Oh, my god.
- What is it?
- My dad had
a heart attack.
They took him to Saint
Millicent's. I have to go!
- Traci.
Hey, you're on a bike?
- Yeah.
- That hospital's all the way
across town. Why don't you
let me drive you?
- Really?
- Yeah. Yeah, yeah.
Yeah, come on.
- Thank you.
I just don't want him
to die.
- He has a really good chance
of making it.
Most heart attack victims
survive, sweetie.
- He just wanted me to go
to a good college,
and I blew it.
- You mean because of your knee?
- Yeah.
- It wasn't your fault.
Accidents happen.
- It was, though.
I was just screwing around.
I was playing paintball.
My parents didn't want me to go,
and I snuck out anyway.
And I was running,
and I tripped and blew
a ligament in my knee,
and then
it was surgery,
and then rehab,
and then no scholarship.
- I will help you
get your grades up. I promise.
- They made me transfer here
'cause it's a better school,
but I hate it.
Everyone's already in their
little groups of friends.
I don't fit in anywhere.
- You must have
one or two.
- There's Leigh.
She's cool.
But... there was...
another girl
who I thought was my friend,
but...
she may have lied to me
about something.
I don't know
if I can trust her.
- What did she lie
to you about?
- It's... complicated.
There it is.
There's the hospital.
- Mom! Mom!
- Oh, hey.
- How is he?
- I don't know. He collapsed at
the restaurant. They brought him
over here in an ambulance.
I haven't seen him yet.
- Hi, I'm June Gaily.
I'm one of the new subs
at Powel.
I was with Traci
when she got your call,
so I brought her over in my car.
- Thank you so much.
Hey, come on.
Sit with me.
[ringing]
[music playing in headphones]
- Hey, you've reached Jay.
Leave a message.
- Jay.
- Hey, sweetie, why don't you
do some homework or something?
It'll help you
take your mind off things.
- I don't have my books
or anything here with me.
They're all at the school.
- Well, I have to
run back there anyway.
Why don't I go
get them for you?
- I'll write down my locker
combo for you. Thank you.
- It's not
a problem at all.
Jay Allerson.
[sniffling]
Hey. Hey, are you OK?
Come on.
Let's go somewhere
and talk.
I'm sure your dad is
gonna be fine.
- It's not just that.
It's a bunch of other stuff too.
- Like what?
- I can't
talk about it.
- Is it about Mr. Adkins
and Devon Cavanor?
- How do you know
about that?
- I knew Gilbert Adkins
before he died.
Honey, you can
talk to me.
Hey, even if you... even if you
can't tell your parents,
or the police,
you can tell me.
- You know I witnessed it,
what happened between him
and Devon?
It was a lie.
I never saw it.
- Why did you say
you did, then?
- I saw her come
out of his classroom crying.
[Devon crying]
She was so upset.
And I asked her
what was wrong,
and she told me
what happened.
- [June]: She convinced you
to say that you were there?
- She said no one would
believe her if she didn't
have a witness.
I believed her.
- So, you thought you were
doing the right thing
by helping her out.
- I think
she used me, though.
I found out Devon's lied
about stuff in the past.
And...
I don't even know
if Mr. Adkins did what she said.
- Why would she want
to get Mr. Adkins in trouble?
- I don't know.
All I know is,
he killed himself because of it,
and it's my fault.
- Traci, it's gonna be OK.
- No, it's not.
- Yes, it is.
It is if you go
to the police
and tell them the truth.
- I can't.
I can't now.
It's too late.
- It's not too late.
It's not.
Traci, he was my father.
Gilbert Adkins
was my father.
I knew that Devon had lied
about what he did to her,
and so I came here
hoping that you...
would tell me the truth.
- Hey, there you are.
So, he's out of surgery.
He's gonna be fine.
The surgeon says
he's stabilized,
but unfortunately,
we can't see him
until he gets out of the ICU.
- That's really
good news, Mom.
- Hey.
Hey, sweetie, you OK?
- Yeah, I just don't feel
very well.
I'm gonna walk home.
- Hey, you know what? It's OK.
I'll go and I'll drive her.
Traci? Traci, wait.
Hey, hey.
Hey. Please.
Let me drive you.
- I'm sorry.
I didn't know
he was your dad.
- Traci.
Once you tell the truth
and you get out from
under this lie,
everything's gonna
feel a lot better.
- I can't... can't.
- I need to tell you
something.
I don't think
my father killed himself.
I think that there's a chance
that maybe he was murdered.
- Murdered?
By who?
- I don't know,
but there's another person
involved, I think.
Devon's boyfriend.
- Is he a student?
- No. No, he's a little older,
and he has a record.
- June, seriously,
you gotta be careful.
Go to the police.
Let them handle it.
- Yeah, they're investigating,
which seems to be code
for doing nothing.
- Look, I understand that you
don't want people to think
your dad's a creep.
But not at the expense
of getting yourself hurt.
- I'm pretty sure
I can handle this.
- OK, sweetheart,
open your eyes.
Congratulations
on doing
even better on the CATs
than I thought you would.
- Daddy, it's beautiful.
- Oh, my god.
- Right? Do I look good
behind the wheel?
- I think you look better naked.
- Get in.
- I'll drive.
- Yeah, nice try.
Shotgun's
right here.
- [stereo]: Do you even know
the truth behind it all?
I think your loneliness is
what's caused you to fall
Your knees are shaking
Your thoughts gone cold
- Just do it.
- Your strength is breaking
what you've been told
And tell me why
You chose to go this way
Say next time
Just think
before you hesitate
- You are so stupid.
You're stupid!
- Your thoughts gone cold
Your strength is breaking
what you've been told
And tell me why
You chose to go this way
Say next time
Just think
before you hesitate
- See?
Told you everything
would work out.
You passed your test,
you got your car,
and you don't have
some crusty old teacher
out to get you anymore.
- Yeah, thanks to you.
- Yeah.
I thought it was
gonna be hard.
You know, to do that
to someone.
- It wasn't?
- I was thinking about you
the whole time.
About how...
what I was doing
was the ultimate proof
of what I would do for you.
- I'll never forget
what you did for me.
- I'd do it again
in a heartbeat.
- Yeah, I know you would.
[thud!]
- Oh, my god.
What the hell?
- I'm sorry.
I'm so sorry.
- Have you been drinking?
- I'm just really sorry.
I'm just
stupid.
- God, Traci,
what were you thinking?
- I can't... Please...
- My god, you could have
really hurt yourself,
or killed somebody.
- I'm sorry.
I know I shouldn't.
I'll pay for the door.
- It's not about the door,
and you know it.
Do you realize
how lucky you were?
- I'm sorry.
I really am.
- Where were you?
- I was by the island.
Alone.
- What's happened
to you, huh?
- What do you mean?
- I mean
where is my little girl?
Where is the ambitious,
smart young lady
who always made
the right decisions?
- What time are you
going to see Dad?
- I don't know.
Sometime after 10.
I have to open up the shop.
- I'd like to see him
before I go to school.
- I think you should.
I think he would
like that.
- [Traci]: Can I ask you
a weird question?
- Those are
my favourite kind.
- We all make
mistakes, right?
- Some more than others,
but... yeah.
- How do you know
when it's too late
to fix that mistake?
Like, if it's time
to just accept it and move on?
- Any specifics?
- No, just in general.
- Well...
it's never too late
to do the right thing.
You may not be able
to change the outcome,
but... at least you tried
to make things right, huh?
And it's about staying true
to your character,
doing everything you can
to make the situation better.
Does that answer
your question?
- Yeah.
I gotta get to school.
I love you, Dad.
- I love you more.
- Thank you so much.
Come back.
[door chime]
Well?
- We got the loan!
- Yay!
- You're just gonna need
to sign some papers.
- OK.
- So, how's Don doing?
- Pretty good. I'm gonna go over
there in a couple of minutes.
And I thought about what we
talked about the other day,
and I wanted to thank you.
You were right.
No more nagging.
[both laughing]
You're a good friend.
- I need to talk to you
privately.
There's nothing you can say
to change my mind.
I'm just letting you know
as a courtesy.
- How many times
do I have to tell you?
You cannot tell anyone
that you lied!
What do you not get?!
- Yes, I can. Tonight
I'm going to tell
both of my parents,
and then I'm gonna have them
drive me to the police station,
and I'm going to tell them.
You can be a part of that,
or you don't have to.
It's your choice.
- This is way bigger than me.
There are more people
involved in this than you know.
- I don't care.
It's time to end all of this.
You know that new
substitute teacher, Miss Gailey?
Adkins was her father.
Talk about other people
being involved.
No kidding.
- Traci,
I am warning you, OK?
Stay out of this!
- I'm going to the hospital
around seven.
You have until then
to decide.
- Traci, I--
[alarm tone]
- [boy]: It's all good.
- Don't do it, OK?
- Do not stop for your purses
or cell phones.
Walk outside
and away from the building.
[cell phone ringing]
Gary, hi.
- [I just spoke
with the coroner.]
The autopsy reports weren't
finished yet,
but they did send the results
of the toxicology tests.
- I haven't seen them yet.
What were they?
- They said he had a large
amount of some sedative
in his system -
about six times
[the prescribed dosage.]
- Come on, guys.
You would have burned to death
by now. Let's go.
- We really need
to do something.
- Like what?
- I don't know,
but if she tells anyone
that she lied, the entire thing
is just gonna unravel -
first the cheating scam,
and then the sexual misconduct,
and... Oh, God.
Murder? I mean,
I really don't want to spend
the rest of my life in prison.
Do you?
- That's the same day
he died.
- Ugh. I can't believe
how far behind we are on this.
- I'm sorry.
It's all my fault.
But don't worry.
We'll get it done.
- OK, well, if we don't
get it done tonight,
I guess we can
work on it tomorrow.
- I may not...
I may not be here
tomorrow.
- Why not?
- I can't tell you
right now.
I really can't.
But...
a lot of...
stuff is gonna
come out tomorrow.
And you'll be one of the first
to find out.
Don't worry
about it right now.
I'll just work
on the project.
- It was the only pack
of sleeping pills
in that entire house,
and he bought them
less than eight hours
before he supposedly jumped.
If he had access to something
much stronger,
and could take six times
the dosage, why would he go buy
some weak over-the-counter
sedative and take just one?
- You're right. It doesn't make
much sense, but it doesn't
mean that he was murdered.
- No, but it could prove
that he was drugged,
and that's a good start,
especially combined with
Traci's confession.
- When are you going
to the hospital?
- Fifteen minutes.
I, um, wanted
to give her some time
to see her dad first.
- That's generous of you -
something you didn't get
a chance to do.
- We are so close.
I just really hope
that she doesn't back out.
- Innocent, alive,
and young
Holding what the past
has done
Waiting for
the future days
Trapped within
a cloud of haze
- Come on,
you stupid bitch.
That's right.
Good girl.
Come on,
you bitch.
That's it.
- Ah!
[tires screeching]
Ah!
- It's my fault. I...
I should have listened to you.
- No, I understand
why you tuned out.
I was harping on you.
- You shouldn't have
had to say anything
at all.
It's my responsibility
to take care of my health
and do everything necessary
to do so.
- I feel like sometimes you just
didn't realize how much it was
affecting me and Traci.
- You're right.
I didn't look at it
like that, and I...
Everything I do
is for you and Traci.
Everything.
- [man]: Is a doctor available?
- [man]: Yeah.
- [man]: Room three is open.
Coming through!
- I've been given
a second chance.
And I promise,
things are gonna change.
I want to be here
for a long time,
so I'm gonna watch my diet,
get more exercise,
keep all my doctors'
appointments.
You won't have to say
a single word about it.
[He chuckles.]
- I just love you.
I don't want to lose you.
- And I love you.
You couldn't get rid of me
even if you tried.
[The Scotts chuckle.]
- Mr. and Mrs. Scott?
- Yes?
- Your daughter's been
in an accident.
- What?
- Did you get her?
- I hit her. I don't know.
I don't think she's dead.
- What? Well, what do you mean?
Was she moving?
- I don't know, OK? A car was
coming. I couldn't check.
- What are you talking about?
A car? Did someone see you?
- I don't know,
OK? I-I-I don't
think so.
Damn it! I knew
this was a bad idea.
- I need you to go home right
now. I need you to go home.
I'm gonna handle it.
If she's alive, I'll take care
of it, all right? Go home.
- Come with me.
- What are you talking about?
I have to check and see
what happened to her.
Go home right now.
Go.
[cell phone ringing]
- Hello?
- Hi. Miss Gailey.
It's, um, it's
Devon Cavanor.
- Devon?
- [I really need
to talk to you. It's...]
actually really important.
It's about Traci Scott.
- OK. Uh, I'm in my car
right now.
I can... I can
come to your house?
- Uh... no, actually my dad's
gonna be home any second.
I was wondering if we could
meet somewhere private, like,
uh, the high school?
- OK. Uh, in the parking lot
behind the school.
[I'll come right now.]
- OK, great. Thank you so much.
I'll see you soon.
Thank you for meeting me,
Miss Gailey.
- What did you want
to tell me?
- Traci Scott got hit
by a car tonight.
And I know
who did it.
- What? Oh, my god.
Is she OK?
- I don't know.
All I know is
that it was...
it was my boyfriend
who did it,
and...
he threatened to kill me
if I told anyone.
- Why would he do that?
- Because...
he was afraid
she was gonna tell the truth
about Mr. Adkins.
And if she did,
he was gonna be
in a lot of trouble.
He made her and I lie
and make up this story
about him molesting me.
None of that is true.
- Whoa. Um, start
from the beginning.
- God, it all started
with this stupid cheating thing
that was Jay's idea.
He had access
to the CAT answers,
and gave them to me so that
I could get a good grade,
and I knew
that cheating was wrong.
I just... It was the CATs,
and that's
a big deal, you know?
- What does this have
to do with Gilbert Adkins?
- Jay knew that he was
gonna proctor the test
a week early,
and that...
that never happens.
There was a girl
named Brady
that needed to take the test
early because she was
going somewhere.
Mr. Adkins was supposed
to supervise, and when
Jay found that out,
he had me steal his laptop.
And then his friend hacked into
the computer and, you know,
made an answer key.
We smashed it
to hide the evidence.
You know, make it look
like a prank.
But Mr. Adkins was so adamant
on finding out who it was
that... Jay thought that it
would be a good idea
to get him fired
so that people stopped listening
to him about the computer.
- So, you made up
the sexual harassment story
to cover up the fact that
you stole the test
from his laptop?
- Yeah.
- What about his death?
Did Jay have something
to do with that?
I know that he didn't kill
himself. Tell me the truth!
- Yeah.
Yeah, it was Jay.
It was just because
Mr. Adkins went to go
speak to Traci's father,
and he thought she was
on the verge of caving. I...
I'm so sorry. I swear
I did not know until afterwards.
I'm so sorry.
- Now that is
one hell of a story.
You are one hell
of a liar.
- Liar?
This is all the truth.
- Jay, please.
Enough people
have been hurt
over this already.
I'll listen
to anything
that you have to say.
Just...
put the gun down.
- So, this is
how you want to play it?
You want to blame me
for everything?
- You know what you did.
- I know
what I did. I made the mistake
of believing you.
Believing you loved me and
you meant everything you said.
- I have no idea
what you're even talking about.
- Jay, tell me what happened.
Tell me what really happened.
- It's just gonna be lies.
- Shut up!
You want to know?
It was all her idea.
Why would I give a rat's ass
about some test for college?
She's the one that needed
a good grade so Daddy would
buy her a new car.
- It was all you,
and you know it.
- It was my idea to get him
fired, but it was her idea
to kill him.
- I wasn't even there!
- Jay, please
put the gun down.
- I would have done
anything for you.
I told you that
so many times.
You used me.
- Jay.
Jay, listen.
There are cameras
everywhere.
Just put the gun down.
We can call your parents
and you can tell your side
of the story.
Jay.
- What did they say?
It's better to have
lost at love...
than never to have
loved at all.
- Jay, listen, you don't want
to end your life like this.
All that we need to do
is go to the police and--
[gunshot]
- [9-1-1. What's your emerg--]
- I'm-I'm-I'm at Powelton High,
um, near the track.
Uh, a young man just...
just shot himself.
My name is
June Gailey.
- You know
he was lying, right?
He was lying.
- I'm gonna need
the police too, please.
- Looks like I'm losing
my hospital buddy.
- Oh, it's only for two days.
You'll be home soon.
- Don't worry. I'll be here
every night to continue
our little chess war.
I gotta be able
to beat you sooner or later.
- Mm-mmm.
- Knock, knock.
- Hey.
- Hey.
- Hi.
I made these for you.
- Aww.
- I'll take them for her.
Thanks.
- Thank you for coming.
Um, I have
something for you.
Leigh finished cutting it
together for me today.
Um, it's not
another confession,
but it's just something
I made for you.
- Thank you.
- I guess the best
thing is when a student
comes back a decade
after they graduate
and they tell you
how you changed their lives.
The fact that they remember you,
and they remember
what you taught them, and that
it had a profound effect.
Well, that's why I would never
quit this job and do
anything else.
- Just a cold grey pride
- And that's why Gilbert Adkins
should be remembered
for the man that he was:
funny, happy,
a man who loved
science almost as much
as he loved his students.
- A full-on masquerade
- That's a nice tribute
she did.
- I just miss him so much.
- I can feel
your very presence
- I know.
You ready?
We should get going.
[sniffle]
- Yeah.
- Till I was drowning
in the sound of my own fear
So I say goodbye
- Hey, so, what have you decided
about Africa?
Are you heading back
right after the funeral?
- Well, I need to go back
to Kampala to finish out
my contract, but, um,
then I'm pretty sure
I want to come back here.
- For good?
- Yeah, I think so.
- I can feel
your very presence
- I spoke with her father when
I returned everything
from her locker.
She's decided
to plead guilty.
- Good. I hope she gets
the help she needs.
- Thank you so much
for doing this. It, um...
it really means a lot.
- You're welcome.
- So I say goodbye
Like it meant nothing
To me
While I die inside
Like it meant nothing
To me
A full-on masquerade
Wearing stories
that we've made
I can feel your very presence
when you're near
And the closer that we came
The louder
that the wind howled
Till I was drowning
in the sound of my own fear
So I say goodbye
Like it meant nothing
To me
The darkest lie
Like it meant nothing
To me
I want to be smoother
than a stone
That's been worn down
by water
Over eons of rivers
running by
Closed Captioning by SETTE inc.
- I'll live forever
With a dream I've saved
And it would be so perfect
If I knew you'd stay
We share it all
And I know
We'll break the fall
With you
I'm running
Into
The wild
[train horn in the distance]
[train horn in the distance]
- So, he touched you
on top of your clothes,
or underneath?
- On top,
but... he tried to put
his hand under my shirt.
- What happened then?
- Well, I told him to stop,
and then I ran out.
- Where was Traci
at that time?
- Um, she was
just on her way in,
and... and she was
just standing there.
- Goggles are to protect
the eyes, not the hair.
[students laughing]
Fantastic look, though.
Where's your lab partner
today, Lee?
- I don't know.
I haven't seen her this morning.
- [Detective]: What did you see
when you opened the door?
- I saw him touch her.
Between her...
you know,
between her legs.
- Did she say anything?
- No. She just
ran out crying.
- She said nothing?
- No, she said, "Stop."
- What happened then?
- I mean... nothing.
Um... I followed her out
into the hall.
I asked her
what happened in there.
And she said that
he tried to grab her
and that it happened
several times.
I told her she had
to tell someone.
She... said
she didn't want to
'cause she thought
no one would believe her.
- Why did she
think that?
- Maybe... 'cause it's
his word against hers.
I don't know.
- All right. Thank you.
Ma'am,
can I talk to you privately?
- Yes, of course.
- You did the right thing
by telling the truth, sweetie.
- I don't... think
this sort of thing would have
happened at my old school.
- No, this could have
happened anywhere.
I'm just glad
it wasn't you.
Oh, God,
that poor girl.
[knocking]
- Hi.
Gilbert, I'm gonna
need you to step out
into the hallway, please.
- Why? What's going on?
- Just step out,
or they'll come in.
- [boy]: OK, he looks scared.
- [principal]: Everyone, please,
back to your tables.
- Step out, sir.
Take the jacket off.
Gilbert Adkins, you're under
arrest for criminal sexual
contact with a minor.
- What?
- You have the right
to remain silent.
Anything you say will be used
against you in a court of law.
You have the right
to an attorney. If you cannot
afford an attorney,
one will be appointed for you.
If you choose to answer
any questions without
an attorney present...
- [principal]: Please, everyone,
just back to work.
- Thank you so much, Traci.
I really couldn't have
done this without you.
You know, maybe this will
inspire other people
to come forward,
'cause who knows how many girls
he's done this to?
- I should probably
get to class.
[school bell]
- Every day is the same
Nothing's every gonna
come my way
At least as long
as I am here
Maybe I should
just disappear
- What did they ask her?
- [Her side of the story.]
- So, just basically
what she saw?
- Pretty much.
I think it helped
that the detective was a woman.
- Well, good.
I'm glad that's over with.
- [Yeah, me too. We can
talk about it when I get home.]
Oh, hey, will you call me
when you get back from
the cardiologist?
- Uh, yeah, yeah,
I, um...
I had to
reschedule that.
- Don, come on. You told me
you weren't gonna flake out
again on those appointments.
- Tony asked me to pull
a double. I had no choice.
- Well, tell Tony you have
dangerously high blood pressure
and you need
this doctor's appointment.
- Honey, I'm fine.
I'll see him next week.
- It takes a month to get in.
- Then I'll see him
in a month.
Please relax.
Everything's OK.
- Hey, Dad.
- Oh, Traci's here.
- Traci? She left school?
- Yeah, apparently.
Let me, uh, see what's up
and I'll call you back.
- [OK, call me back.]
- Hey, sweetie.
- Hey.
- What are you
doing here?
- Didn't feel
like staying.
- Hey, I can
understand that.
How about an Italian soda?
- Sure.
Cherry?
- Cherry. I'll be right back.
- Every day is the same
- So...
other than creepy teachers,
how's life?
A shrug.
What does that mean,
huh? You love your new school,
everybody's fantastic.
You wish you'd transferred
years ago, right?
- More like, I have
hardly any friends,
no one really
talks to me,
and I still hate myself
for messing up my knee.
- Honey, come on.
What's done is done.
You weren't meant to go to
college on a track scholarship.
- Maybe I wasn't meant
to go to college at all.
- That I completely
disagree with.
- Yeah, but look
at both you and Mom.
Neither of you went
to college and you're
both really successful.
You're a manager,
and Mom owns her own shop.
- Your mom has Aileen.
Aileen went to college,
has a business degree,
and even then they're
struggling.
Believe me,
going to college,
you'll have a leg up.
- I just... I don't even know
what I want to do.
All I wanted was
to compete.
- Like I said,
what's done is done, OK?
The quicker you let go of it,
the quicker you move on to
figure out what you want to do.
- Thanks for bailing
me out, huh?
- Of course.
You gonna tell June?
- Yeah, when she wakes up
in the morning.
It's the middle of the night
there - seven hours ahead.
So, I guess that's it,
then, huh?
Thirty years
building a career.
One lie,
one false accusation,
and it's over.
Scotch, gin, or whiskey?
- Whatever you're having.
- How about all three?
It's been one hell
of a day.
- You can say that again.
Don't be discouraged.
You've won how
many teaching awards?
- That doesn't matter.
Even if I can prove
these girls are lying,
people are still gonna wonder,
"Did he get away with it?"
[Adkins sighs.]
As teachers,
we're screwed.
I mean, you do
the best you can,
you try to help
the kids that need it,
be a good role model.
But one kids wants
to ruin your life, she can.
- Why'd this girl
hate you so much?
- I don't know.
Stupid reasons.
Devon doesn't think
the rules apply to her.
She's always been handed
anything she wants.
You know, I'd
take away her cell phone
or give her a detention.
A couple of weeks ago,
she failed an exam
and complained that I didn't
give them enough time
to prepare.
And I wouldn't be surprised
if she was behind my broken
laptop too.
- Laptop?
- Yeah.
Last week, my laptop
goes missing,
somehow gets smashed into pieces
by the loading dock.
Who did it?
I want to know,
and I want to know right now.
This is not like gluing
an eraser to a chalkboard.
This is wilful destruction
of school property.
Not to mention the fact
that every document I need to
do my job is on that computer.
- Well, you could have
backed it up.
[students chuckling]
- Devon, do you find this funny?
- No, not at all.
- I will find out who did this,
and when I do,
I will go to the police.
Kids play pranks;
I get that,
but this was vindictive.
I wouldn't put it past her.
- What about that other girl,
though, the one that said
she witnessed it?
- Yeah, that one
I can't figure out.
Traci's new. She transferred
here from Monroe
at the start of the year.
She's conscientious.
Average marks,
but you can tell
she's trying hard.
She's certainly not
a troublemaker.
But who knows?
Maybe... maybe
Devon paid her off.
- What does your lawyer say?
- We'll fight,
but so what?
I can't teach.
- If you prove
they made it up,
you could sue Devon
and her father for libel.
Punitive damages -
you'd make out pretty well.
Just trying
to be positive, is all.
- Teaching is my life.
I'm good at it.
I inspire those kids.
- I know you do.
- I mean, I still get letters
from them, years after
they graduate, telling me
what a difference I made.
Now I'm gonna
lose everything,
and have my name
on some sex offenders list.
No.
No way.
That's not the life
I signed up for.
I don't want that. Ever.
- You mean he touched you?
Just now?
[Devon crying]
- I didn't know what to do,
so I just... I told him to stop
and I... I ran out.
- Oh, honey.
[Devon crying]
I'm so sorry.
I think you need
to tell the principal.
- Would you come with me?
- Of course.
- You think you could...
tell her that you saw it?
- But I didn't see it.
- I know, but
no one's gonna believe me
if I don't have anyone
to back me up.
They're gonna think I'm lying.
Please.
- How's the studying going?
- Fine. Thanks for the snacks.
- Sure.
- Hey, Mom?
Can I ask you something?
- Sure.
- What's going to happen
to Mr. Adkins
now that he's been arrested?
- Mmm... Well,
if he pleads guilty
or is convicted, he's probably
gonna go to prison.
- For how long?
- I don't know.
What he did
was a very, very
serious thing.
He's certainly not gonna
ever teach again.
- Never again?
- Well, the schools have
a responsibility
to keep the kids safe.
- I just didn't realize that
he wouldn't ever be able
to teach again.
- Hey, you did the right thing,
OK? Mr. Adkins
made his own choice.
I'm proud of you. Don't feel
guilty for telling the truth.
- I don't...
feel guilty.
- Good.
You did the right thing.
- Thank you.
- Hit those books.
- I am, don't worry.
Thank you.
- Dad.
What are you gonna do?
You can't let her get
away with this.
- I can't make contact
with either of those girls.
There's nothing much I can do;
[just let my lawyer
handle it.]
- This is completely insane.
How are you holding up?
[sigh]
- Ask me that again
after I get some sleep.
- I'm coming home.
- [What? No.]
No, I don't want you to do that.
There's nothing for you
to do here anyway.
- I can be there to support you.
- No.
You need to finish out
that contract down there.
- They can live without me
for a few weeks.
This is a family emergency.
[I'll be on the next
available flight.]
[It probably won't be
until sometime tomorrow.]
- All right.
You're gonna do what you want to
anyway, aren't you?
- Damn right.
[I love you.]
I'll email you
my flight info later,
and I'll see you
in a few days.
- I love you too.
- Get some sleep.
- Ah, I'll try.
[cell phone chime]
- [boy]: Who is it?
- It's Traci.
She wants to talk about...
I don't know.
- Answer her. I don't mind.
- No, I am all about you
right now.
[footsteps]
- Hey, guys.
- Hi, Daddy.
Is that my car?
- Not until I see
those CAT scores.
- I know,
but don't worry.
- Chief, pour me
one of those.
You'd better not distract her
from studying, kiddo.
[He chuckles.]
- Wouldn't dream of it, sir.
I want her to have that car
as much as she does.
- How you doing, honey?
Better?
- Yeah.
- Not bad at all.
Just promise me you won't quit
your job at my office and
become a bartender.
- No way, sir.
And thank you, by the way,
for hooking me up with that.
- You've thanked me a hundred
times already. Just be good
to my little girl so I don't
have to break your legs.
- Daddy, he treats me
like a princess.
- You two don't
stay up too late.
- We won't.
- Good night.
- [mother]: You're up early.
- Yeah, I want to meet up
with Leigh to study.
Any deliveries today?
- No.
Hopefully next week.
You want some coffee?
- No, I'd better get going.
- Bye.
- Bye.
- Love you.
- Love you.
- Hey. You look cute.
Sorry about not being able
to talk last night,
but what's up?
- It's just, the more I think
about it, the more I feel
like it's a way bigger deal
than we realize.
- What do you mean
by "a bigger deal"?
- What if they make us
testify in court?
- Well, they might,
but my dad thinks
he's gonna plea out anyway.
Why are you so worried?
I mean,
if anything,
just say the exact same thing
you said to the cops.
- That's easy for you to say.
You're not the one who lied.
- Traci, what you did
for me was amazing,
and I know you feel bad
about lying, but you shouldn't.
You know,
last night was
the first time in a really
long time that I didn't have
a bad dream about him,
and that's because of you.
You were here for me,
so I'm totally gonna be there
for you too. Whatever you need.
You've got a friend for life.
OK? So no stress.
Especially about Adkins,
all right?
It's better for everyone
that he's gone.
And... you know, the guilt,
it'll pass. I promise.
- I guess.
- All right. And if we have to
go to court, we'll deal
with it together, OK?
- All right.
- I have to go,
but we'll talk later, OK?
- OK.
- See ya.
- [Adkins]: "Thinking of
your lessons all the time.
"Thanks for being
the best teacher ever.
Peter."
Thirty years
building a career. One lie,
one false accusation,
and it's over.
No.
No way.
That's not the life
I signed up for.
I don't want that. Ever.
- Hold my hand,
I am cold
- Sorry, we don't open
till 11.
- Well, I'm not here
to eat.
I was hoping to talk
to Don Scott.
- That would be me.
I'm Don.
What can I do for you?
- I'm Gilbert Adkins,
Traci's
chemistry teacher.
Look, I know
what you're thinking.
I just need to talk to you
for a minute. Please.
I've known Traci
for a few months.
She seems like a good kid.
But the truth is,
she's corroborating
something that never took place.
And I was hoping you could talk
to her and maybe find out
what's really going on.
And of course
if she does recant,
I'll do everything possible
to make sure there are no
repercussions for her.
- Look, I don't know
what happened between you
and that girl. I wasn't there.
But what I do know is
my daughter doesn't lie,
so if she said she saw it,
she saw it.
- I've worked with kids
for a lot of years,
and sometimes they make
mistakes in judgement.
Now, this Devon,
she's a queen bee.
Every girl in that school wants
to either be her friend
or be her.
- You think Traci lied
because she wants to be
part of Devon's clique?
- I don't know.
That's what I was hoping
you could find out.
I've devoted me entire life
to teaching.
I'm about
to lose everything.
Everything,
for something I didn't do.
And all I'm asking you to do
is just explain to Traci
it's not too late
to tell the truth.
- [man]: Come on,
pick it up, kids!
[whistle blown]
- Forget about yesterday.
Just think
about right now.
Right now.
[whistle blown]
- Hey.
- Hey, honey.
You're doing
beautiful.
- What are you
doing here, Dad?
- I just wanted to have
a little chat about something.
Figured it would
be better
to do it here
than at the house.
- What is it?
- Gilbert Adkins came
to the restaurant today.
- Why?
- He asked me
to talk to you,
and I told him
I would.
He claims he never did
anything inappropriate
with your friend
Devon.
And here's
the deal:
either he did it,
he's desperate
to get out of trouble,
or he didn't do it.
And if he didn't do it,
it's impossible for you
to have seen it.
Trace, you've always
told the truth,
even when it was
the harder path.
And if you didn't
this time,
I figure there's gotta be
a damn good reason why.
You see, though,
in this particular
situation,
the stakes,
they're high.
They're real high.
So, that damn good reason,
whatever it is,
it isn't
damn good enough.
- I get it.
- I know you do.
That's why I'm gonna
ask you this once,
and I'll never
bring it up again.
Did you see him
touch that girl?
- He did it.
I saw him.
- All right.
That's all I wanted to know.
You want a lift back?
- Um... no.
I'm gonna stay here
a little while longer.
- OK. See you
back at the house.
- Hi, this is Gilbert Adkins.
Please leave a message.
- Hey, Dad. I ended up going
ahead and getting into a cab
because I haven't
heard from you.
Can you please call me
when you get this?
Otherwise, I guess I'll, um,
I'll just see you at home.
OK, bye.
- Ugh, I can't wait till we're
done this media project.
Who knew editing footage
could be so tedious?
- I love it. It's so much better
than math and science
and all that boring crap.
- Ah, that's sad.
- Not really.
He's a creep.
- Well, supposedly the girl
he touched was Devon
Cavanor, though.
- Well, how'd you hear that?
- Supposedly she was bragging
about getting him fired
to one of her groupies,
and someone overheard.
Who knows if it's true?
It could have been someone else,
but if it was her, I bet
she made it up.
- Why would you say that?
You know, I've been
in a situation where
people didn't believe me,
and it really sucked.
- Like when?
- It was a long time ago.
But this really mean kid
told the teacher
he saw me steal something,
which I didn't,
but everything thought
I was lying.
As it turns out, he was the one
who was the thief, but
I took the blame.
- That's completely different.
You're trustworthy and honest.
Devon's a complete liar.
- What are you talking about?
- OK, a year ago,
she said her mom lived in Paris
and she was gonna go visit her,
and they were gonna go
to Monte Carlo to go shopping,
blah, blah, blah.
- So, what, her mom
doesn't live there?
- Her mom committed suicide
three years ago,
in some hotel in LA.
- Dad?
He left me a message saying
that he would pick me up
from the airport.
I got it when I landed.
Why would he say that
and then not be here?
- I think Gil is more upset
than he's letting on.
I don't want
to call the police.
If I say he's missing, it's
gonna look like he skipped town.
- OK, so what do we do?
Do we drive around
and look for him?
[cell phone ringing]
- Yes, this is Gary.
Yes, I'm his brother -
well, his half-brother.
Oh, my god.
I'll be there
right away.
- What is it? Where is he?
- They found his car
near Colfax Bridge.
There's a note inside.
- [man]: I'm gonna need
an evidence bag over here.
- [man]: Tape the area off.
- June. The officer said
this note
was on the dash.
The car was unlocked,
the keys were in the ignition.
- "Please forgive me for what
will seem like a drastic act
"to most of you.
I feel as if my life is over.
"I did something I shouldn't
have done, and I apologize
"to those I have hurt.
"Please remember me
for my life in its entirety;
"not just
the mistakes I made.
Gilbert Adkins."
This can't be happening.
- I'm so sorry.
- [announcement]: All seniors,
please report to the
lecture hall.
- [girl]: Give me back my book.
- [principal]: Take your
seats, please.
Thank you for coming
and allowing me to interrupt
whatever you were working on
in your respective classrooms.
I received news
about half an hour ago
that Mr. Adkins,
whom you know had been placed
on administrative leave
earlier this week,
has committed suicide.
[students murmuring]
- [boy]: Suicide?
- Many of you have come to me
with questions and concerns
about what has happened here
in the last few days.
I'm unable to give
any information
about the investigation
surrounding Mr. Adkins' arrest.
I know that many of you were...
you were quite close with him
and you would like answers.
I know nothing about
the details of his death.
The detective I spoke with
on the phone said that the story
is gonna break on tonight's
evening news, and he said
they'd be releasing more
information at that time.
There'll be somebody here
for you to talk to
starting this afternoon
if you would like.
Thank you very much.
That's all.
- Are you OK?
- No, I think
I'm gonna be sick.
[retching and coughing]
- I'll live forever
With a dream I've saved
And it would be so perfect
If I knew you'd stay
My arms are open
Wide to the unknown
If we'll never reach
- I need to talk to you
right now.
[school bell]
- Uh, do you mind
if I catch up with you guys
later? Awesome.
What's up?
- Have you been
bragging to people
that you got him fired?
- Excuse me? What? No.
Of course not.
What? You were there.
The police told us
we weren't allowed to talk
to anybody about it.
Look, we have to
get to class,
so can we talk
about this later?
Just meet me in the park
after seventh,
all right?
OK, you really gotta stop
freaking out like this.
- Are you serious?
- Yeah. This is better
for you anyway.
Now you don't have to
testify or anything.
- You're unbelievable.
- Uh, no,
I'm realistic.
Adkins was
an adult man
capable of making
his own decisions, right?
None of that falls
on you or me.
So, please, stop whining
and feeling guilty,
and move on.
- I don't think I can.
- What is that supposed
to mean exactly?
- I should go to the cops
and tell them I wasn't there
and I didn't see anything.
- Well, you can't do that.
- It doesn't mean
it didn't happen.
It just means I didn't see it.
- Do you understand
the consequences of that?
Because if you tell anyone
that you lied,
they're gonna think
Adkins was innocent.
And if they think that,
then his death suddenly
becomes our fault,
which it obviously isn't.
So it's more important
now than ever for you
to keep our secret.
OK?
We have to make people believe
that he actually did it.
- Did he?
- Of course.
Oh, my god.
Please. I...
I trusted you to believe me.
And I'm never gonna
change my story that he did it.
All right?
He assaulted me.
You have
my word, so please
give me yours.
- I promise.
- Thank you.
It's gonna be OK.
I knew this was a bad idea.
- What are you talking about?
It was your idea.
- What? No, it was
my idea to make up
the sexual harassment story,
yeah, but it was your idea
to steal Adkins' computer.
- Whoa, whoa.
No, it was your idea. You were
the one that wanted me to get
those CAT answers off of it.
I did it for you
so you could get your car.
- Please. You said it yourself.
You want me to have that car
just as badly as I do.
I feel like you're not
taking this seriously. She could
be a really big problem.
- But I am, though.
What do you want me to do
to fix this situation?
And I'll do it.
- I have no idea, Jay,
but if we don't figure it out,
God, we're gonna be
in a lot of trouble.
- I'm sure you can find a way
to keep Traci on your side.
I know you can.
You're amazing.
- [Adkins]: Why did you
do this to me?
[gasp]
This is your fault!
[scream]
[gasp]
- I'm here at Colfax
Bridge, where Gilbert Adkins,
the teacher accused of fondling
a student at Powelton High
reportedly
jumped to his death
late last night.
Adkins had been
on administrative leave
after the student claimed
she was inappropriately touched
by the chemistry teacher.
Authorities will put off
the search for Adkin's body
tonight due to darkness,
but have assembled a dive team
to continue the search...
- Traci, what are you
doing down here?
- Oh, I couldn't sleep.
It's so heavy.
Taking your own life.
- Yeah, it is.
He wasn't a well man.
I don't think we'll
ever understand that.
- I guess.
- Hey, come upstairs, OK?
Get in your own bed.
You'll sleep better.
- OK.
- Come on.
- OK, OK.
- He was gonna proctor
the CAT exam.
[cell phone ringing]
- Hello?
- man: [June Gailey?]
- Yes.
- [We believe we've recovered]
[your father's body.]
- So, where are we
with all that?
- I finished the application
for the bank loan.
- OK, how long
does it take?
- Depends, but I'll ask
to push it through
as quickly as possible.
Cross your fingers.
All right,
what is it?
Talk to me. Is it Don?
[sigh]
- No, it's nothing.
I don't know.
I mean, his father
died from heart disease
when Don was like 12 years old.
You'd think that he would
take this seriously.
- A lot of guys are like that.
If they ignore a problem,
then it doesn't exist.
Look,
I know you love him and you want
what's best for him,
but until he decides
to take control of this himself,
there's nothing you can do.
Stop driving yourself crazy.
- You're probably right.
- Mm-hmm.
- This is from a week ago.
So, what printer did he use
for the suicide note?
- There you go.
- I just don't get it.
Nothing about the note
make sense.
- What do you mean?
- Well, how did he write it?
There's no history of it
on his computer at all.
- Maybe he deleted it.
- No. No, there was stuff
in his trash bin
over a year old.
And when I put paper
in the printer,
it printed stuff that was added
to the queue last week.
There's no way
that he printed it from home.
- That is kinda strange.
What else?
You said there's something weird
about the note itself?
- He mentioned twice
that he was sorry
for his mistake.
What mistake?
When I spoke to him,
he was adamant
that the girls were lying.
- He was like that
with me too.
- What if he didn't
kill himself?
- You mean somebody
could have done that to him?
Killed him
then faked the note?
- The girl that accused him,
Devon, her father is some
rich surgeon, right?
What if he took justice
into his own hands?
He could have
hired someone.
- Well...
anything is possible,
I suppose.
I don't think she showed you
how really depressed he was.
He believed his career was
over and there was no way
he could recover.
I believe he could have decided
to take his own life.
- I just...
I feel like there's something
more to this than we know.
- We always investigate
suspicious deaths as
possible homicides,
but in this case,
it looks very much
like your father chose
to jump off that bridge.
- But...
Well, what about
the weirdness of the note?
And the timing?
He knew that I was
on a flight back from Uganda.
- When people
commit suicide,
they... they don't
act logically.
- All that I'm asking is that
you investigate the possibility
that someone had him killed
because of this scandal
at the school.
I know in my heart
that my father never touched
Devon Cavanor inappropriately.
I just feel like there might be
something more going on.
- Until the autopsy report
comes back,
the investigation is ongoing.
I promise you.
We'll look at every angle.
- Thank you.
That's all that I ask.
- [boy]: So, how long
have you been teaching?
- Ooh, um, a long time,
21 years.
- What's your favourite thing
about it? I mean, what's
kept you going this long?
- Uh, I guess the best thing is
when a student comes back
a decade after they graduate,
and the tell you
how you changed their lives.
The fact
that they remember you,
that they remember what
you taught them, and that
it had a profound effect...
- [Devon]: Traci?
Oh, hey.
What you up to?
- Um, just working
on a project.
My deadline's coming up
really fast.
- Yeah, sounds boring.
Uh, do you want to go for lunch?
'Cause my boyfriend's here
to pick me up.
You can come. My treat.
- That sounds really fun,
but Leigh is gonna kill me
if I don't get this done, so...
- OK. Well, Friday
there's a concert in the park.
I can get us front-row seats.
- I actually
already have plans Friday.
Um, but next time,
for sure.
- OK, cool, yeah.
Uh, enjoy your project thing.
- Thanks.
- Bye.
- Bye.
- She coming?
- No, and she doesn't want
to hang out with us
on Friday either.
- Ah... screw her, then.
Let's go eat. I'm starving.
- No, it's a problem.
We can't let her
distance herself.
- So... what do you want
to do about it?
- I don't know yet.
But we really have to
figure something out.
[knocking]
- June.
So sorry
about your father.
- Thank you.
- Uh, please,
sit down.
It's been a while.
You're, uh,
just as beautiful
as always.
That's probably
inappropriate.
You're likely married
or something.
- No.
Eighteen months in Uganda
can be pretty rough
on a relationship.
- Africa.
That's...
that's so you.
Uh, are you heading back
right after the funeral?
- No.
That's why I came
to see you, actually.
Well, um,
one of the reasons.
I am gonna
stick around here
for a while, and I need
a teaching position,
so I was hoping
that you could
pull some strings
and get me in
as a sub.
At Powelton.
- Powelton? Why?
- I don't know.
I'm not sure
if it's closure
or what, but...
whatever it is,
I need it.
- Yeah, but given what happened
with your dad...
- That's why I don't want you
to tell them that we're related.
We've never had
the same last name.
There's no way that they would
know unless you say something.
- Is that such a good idea?
- Nothing seems good
right now,
but...
yeah, it's really
important to me.
- Well, if you're gonna be
around for a while,
maybe I can take you out for
lunch or dinner or something?
- I'd really like that.
- And if you need anything,
I mean anything at all,
you call me, because...
when my mom passed away,
you were the one
that got me through that,
and I'd like to be
that person for you.
- Thank you.
That, um...
that really means a lot.
- OK, um...
I'll talk to you soon.
- Ladies.
How's it going?
- Pretty good.
- Dad, that's
enough food.
- Speak for yourself!
- There's more
where that came from.
- Your dad's
really cool.
- Yeah. He is.
- You now have
16 minutes left
to complete your CAT exam.
[cell phone ringing]
- Good morning.
- I got good news.
I was able to get you in
as an English sub at Powelton.
You start Monday.
- You're amazing.
- I was thinking maybe we could
do an early dinner tonight.
- I would love that.
- [Great.]
Well, I'll swing by your Dad's
after work and pick you up.
- OK. Thank you again.
- Yeah.
Don't give me that look.
You'll like her.
Trust me.
Let's go.
You know, you never actually
told me how you found out
Gil was
your biological father.
- I didn't?
- No.
- But you knew
that he left my mom when she was
pregnant with me, right?
- No.
- I can't believe
we never talked about this.
- Yeah.
- OK, well,
um, my mom
and dad - Gil -
they weren't ever
really together.
Gil got back
from Vietnam,
they met,
and then he got sent back
like a month later.
And they weren't really
into each other enough
to try to make it work
long distance, so...
then when I was 26,
I decided to find him.
- Why did you wait
until you were 26?
'Cause that's when
your mother passed away.
- Yeah.
- My father asks
about you.
Yeah, when he's, uh,
had too much to drink,
he'll say stuff like...
[rough voice]: "Why'd you
let her get away?"
[She laughs.]
- And then you say...
- And then I say,
uh...
Oh, I don't know.
I... I never know
how to answer that.
- Here's your schedule.
Now, you are in room 212.
Your first-period class
is AP English,
and I believe your break is
right before lunch.
- And the roster
of my students is...
- Oh, you'll find that
on your desk.
- Great. Thank you.
- You're welcome.
- Devon Cavanor,
second period.
Now, where's
Traci Scott?
Who knows the answer?
Devon?
- What?
- Did you hear the question?
Why didn't
Julius Caesar
listen to the soothsayer's
warning?
- Because he was inventing
Caesar salad.
[students laughing]
- Phone, please.
- I'm sorry?
- It's against school policy
to bring phones to class.
You can have it back
after school.
Back to Shakespeare.
- I'm looking
for Traci Scott.
Thank you.
Traci?
- Yeah?
- Hi. I'm June Gailey.
I'm subbing for Mrs. Laurie's
English class.
Hi.
- Do you have a minute?
I wanted to talk to
you about something.
- Yeah, yeah, sure.
- So, I hear
that you're a runner.
- Well, not anymore.
Not since I injured
my knee.
- Right. I heard that too.
I'm sorry.
I'm part
of a teachers program
that tries to encourage students
to get more fit and active,
and I'm hoping to start
a running club here at Powelton.
- That sounds pretty cool.
- Well, I need a student
to lead it with me.
And all the girls on the track
team are super busy,
so I was wondering if maybe
you'd help me out.
- I don't know.
I'm working
on getting my grades up.
- Well, how about this?
You help me out
with the running club,
and I will tutor you
in all of this.
[school bell]
Think about it, OK?
We can talk more after school.
- I'll be down at the track.
- Perfect. I'll find you.
- OK.
[camera click]
- I'm here for my phone.
- Can I assume that you'll
leave it in your locker
from now on
when you come to my class?
- You can assume
whatever you want.
Have a good day.
Biatch.
[ringing]
- [man]: Pick it up, girls.
Let's pick it up. Come on.
- Not bad.
- Not good either.
My knee's burning up.
- So, hey, I was thinking
about the running club, and--
- Hold on one sec.
Sorry, my mom called me.
Oh, my god.
- What is it?
- My dad had
a heart attack.
They took him to Saint
Millicent's. I have to go!
- Traci.
Hey, you're on a bike?
- Yeah.
- That hospital's all the way
across town. Why don't you
let me drive you?
- Really?
- Yeah. Yeah, yeah.
Yeah, come on.
- Thank you.
I just don't want him
to die.
- He has a really good chance
of making it.
Most heart attack victims
survive, sweetie.
- He just wanted me to go
to a good college,
and I blew it.
- You mean because of your knee?
- Yeah.
- It wasn't your fault.
Accidents happen.
- It was, though.
I was just screwing around.
I was playing paintball.
My parents didn't want me to go,
and I snuck out anyway.
And I was running,
and I tripped and blew
a ligament in my knee,
and then
it was surgery,
and then rehab,
and then no scholarship.
- I will help you
get your grades up. I promise.
- They made me transfer here
'cause it's a better school,
but I hate it.
Everyone's already in their
little groups of friends.
I don't fit in anywhere.
- You must have
one or two.
- There's Leigh.
She's cool.
But... there was...
another girl
who I thought was my friend,
but...
she may have lied to me
about something.
I don't know
if I can trust her.
- What did she lie
to you about?
- It's... complicated.
There it is.
There's the hospital.
- Mom! Mom!
- Oh, hey.
- How is he?
- I don't know. He collapsed at
the restaurant. They brought him
over here in an ambulance.
I haven't seen him yet.
- Hi, I'm June Gaily.
I'm one of the new subs
at Powel.
I was with Traci
when she got your call,
so I brought her over in my car.
- Thank you so much.
Hey, come on.
Sit with me.
[ringing]
[music playing in headphones]
- Hey, you've reached Jay.
Leave a message.
- Jay.
- Hey, sweetie, why don't you
do some homework or something?
It'll help you
take your mind off things.
- I don't have my books
or anything here with me.
They're all at the school.
- Well, I have to
run back there anyway.
Why don't I go
get them for you?
- I'll write down my locker
combo for you. Thank you.
- It's not
a problem at all.
Jay Allerson.
[sniffling]
Hey. Hey, are you OK?
Come on.
Let's go somewhere
and talk.
I'm sure your dad is
gonna be fine.
- It's not just that.
It's a bunch of other stuff too.
- Like what?
- I can't
talk about it.
- Is it about Mr. Adkins
and Devon Cavanor?
- How do you know
about that?
- I knew Gilbert Adkins
before he died.
Honey, you can
talk to me.
Hey, even if you... even if you
can't tell your parents,
or the police,
you can tell me.
- You know I witnessed it,
what happened between him
and Devon?
It was a lie.
I never saw it.
- Why did you say
you did, then?
- I saw her come
out of his classroom crying.
[Devon crying]
She was so upset.
And I asked her
what was wrong,
and she told me
what happened.
- [June]: She convinced you
to say that you were there?
- She said no one would
believe her if she didn't
have a witness.
I believed her.
- So, you thought you were
doing the right thing
by helping her out.
- I think
she used me, though.
I found out Devon's lied
about stuff in the past.
And...
I don't even know
if Mr. Adkins did what she said.
- Why would she want
to get Mr. Adkins in trouble?
- I don't know.
All I know is,
he killed himself because of it,
and it's my fault.
- Traci, it's gonna be OK.
- No, it's not.
- Yes, it is.
It is if you go
to the police
and tell them the truth.
- I can't.
I can't now.
It's too late.
- It's not too late.
It's not.
Traci, he was my father.
Gilbert Adkins
was my father.
I knew that Devon had lied
about what he did to her,
and so I came here
hoping that you...
would tell me the truth.
- Hey, there you are.
So, he's out of surgery.
He's gonna be fine.
The surgeon says
he's stabilized,
but unfortunately,
we can't see him
until he gets out of the ICU.
- That's really
good news, Mom.
- Hey.
Hey, sweetie, you OK?
- Yeah, I just don't feel
very well.
I'm gonna walk home.
- Hey, you know what? It's OK.
I'll go and I'll drive her.
Traci? Traci, wait.
Hey, hey.
Hey. Please.
Let me drive you.
- I'm sorry.
I didn't know
he was your dad.
- Traci.
Once you tell the truth
and you get out from
under this lie,
everything's gonna
feel a lot better.
- I can't... can't.
- I need to tell you
something.
I don't think
my father killed himself.
I think that there's a chance
that maybe he was murdered.
- Murdered?
By who?
- I don't know,
but there's another person
involved, I think.
Devon's boyfriend.
- Is he a student?
- No. No, he's a little older,
and he has a record.
- June, seriously,
you gotta be careful.
Go to the police.
Let them handle it.
- Yeah, they're investigating,
which seems to be code
for doing nothing.
- Look, I understand that you
don't want people to think
your dad's a creep.
But not at the expense
of getting yourself hurt.
- I'm pretty sure
I can handle this.
- OK, sweetheart,
open your eyes.
Congratulations
on doing
even better on the CATs
than I thought you would.
- Daddy, it's beautiful.
- Oh, my god.
- Right? Do I look good
behind the wheel?
- I think you look better naked.
- Get in.
- I'll drive.
- Yeah, nice try.
Shotgun's
right here.
- [stereo]: Do you even know
the truth behind it all?
I think your loneliness is
what's caused you to fall
Your knees are shaking
Your thoughts gone cold
- Just do it.
- Your strength is breaking
what you've been told
And tell me why
You chose to go this way
Say next time
Just think
before you hesitate
- You are so stupid.
You're stupid!
- Your thoughts gone cold
Your strength is breaking
what you've been told
And tell me why
You chose to go this way
Say next time
Just think
before you hesitate
- See?
Told you everything
would work out.
You passed your test,
you got your car,
and you don't have
some crusty old teacher
out to get you anymore.
- Yeah, thanks to you.
- Yeah.
I thought it was
gonna be hard.
You know, to do that
to someone.
- It wasn't?
- I was thinking about you
the whole time.
About how...
what I was doing
was the ultimate proof
of what I would do for you.
- I'll never forget
what you did for me.
- I'd do it again
in a heartbeat.
- Yeah, I know you would.
[thud!]
- Oh, my god.
What the hell?
- I'm sorry.
I'm so sorry.
- Have you been drinking?
- I'm just really sorry.
I'm just
stupid.
- God, Traci,
what were you thinking?
- I can't... Please...
- My god, you could have
really hurt yourself,
or killed somebody.
- I'm sorry.
I know I shouldn't.
I'll pay for the door.
- It's not about the door,
and you know it.
Do you realize
how lucky you were?
- I'm sorry.
I really am.
- Where were you?
- I was by the island.
Alone.
- What's happened
to you, huh?
- What do you mean?
- I mean
where is my little girl?
Where is the ambitious,
smart young lady
who always made
the right decisions?
- What time are you
going to see Dad?
- I don't know.
Sometime after 10.
I have to open up the shop.
- I'd like to see him
before I go to school.
- I think you should.
I think he would
like that.
- [Traci]: Can I ask you
a weird question?
- Those are
my favourite kind.
- We all make
mistakes, right?
- Some more than others,
but... yeah.
- How do you know
when it's too late
to fix that mistake?
Like, if it's time
to just accept it and move on?
- Any specifics?
- No, just in general.
- Well...
it's never too late
to do the right thing.
You may not be able
to change the outcome,
but... at least you tried
to make things right, huh?
And it's about staying true
to your character,
doing everything you can
to make the situation better.
Does that answer
your question?
- Yeah.
I gotta get to school.
I love you, Dad.
- I love you more.
- Thank you so much.
Come back.
[door chime]
Well?
- We got the loan!
- Yay!
- You're just gonna need
to sign some papers.
- OK.
- So, how's Don doing?
- Pretty good. I'm gonna go over
there in a couple of minutes.
And I thought about what we
talked about the other day,
and I wanted to thank you.
You were right.
No more nagging.
[both laughing]
You're a good friend.
- I need to talk to you
privately.
There's nothing you can say
to change my mind.
I'm just letting you know
as a courtesy.
- How many times
do I have to tell you?
You cannot tell anyone
that you lied!
What do you not get?!
- Yes, I can. Tonight
I'm going to tell
both of my parents,
and then I'm gonna have them
drive me to the police station,
and I'm going to tell them.
You can be a part of that,
or you don't have to.
It's your choice.
- This is way bigger than me.
There are more people
involved in this than you know.
- I don't care.
It's time to end all of this.
You know that new
substitute teacher, Miss Gailey?
Adkins was her father.
Talk about other people
being involved.
No kidding.
- Traci,
I am warning you, OK?
Stay out of this!
- I'm going to the hospital
around seven.
You have until then
to decide.
- Traci, I--
[alarm tone]
- [boy]: It's all good.
- Don't do it, OK?
- Do not stop for your purses
or cell phones.
Walk outside
and away from the building.
[cell phone ringing]
Gary, hi.
- [I just spoke
with the coroner.]
The autopsy reports weren't
finished yet,
but they did send the results
of the toxicology tests.
- I haven't seen them yet.
What were they?
- They said he had a large
amount of some sedative
in his system -
about six times
[the prescribed dosage.]
- Come on, guys.
You would have burned to death
by now. Let's go.
- We really need
to do something.
- Like what?
- I don't know,
but if she tells anyone
that she lied, the entire thing
is just gonna unravel -
first the cheating scam,
and then the sexual misconduct,
and... Oh, God.
Murder? I mean,
I really don't want to spend
the rest of my life in prison.
Do you?
- That's the same day
he died.
- Ugh. I can't believe
how far behind we are on this.
- I'm sorry.
It's all my fault.
But don't worry.
We'll get it done.
- OK, well, if we don't
get it done tonight,
I guess we can
work on it tomorrow.
- I may not...
I may not be here
tomorrow.
- Why not?
- I can't tell you
right now.
I really can't.
But...
a lot of...
stuff is gonna
come out tomorrow.
And you'll be one of the first
to find out.
Don't worry
about it right now.
I'll just work
on the project.
- It was the only pack
of sleeping pills
in that entire house,
and he bought them
less than eight hours
before he supposedly jumped.
If he had access to something
much stronger,
and could take six times
the dosage, why would he go buy
some weak over-the-counter
sedative and take just one?
- You're right. It doesn't make
much sense, but it doesn't
mean that he was murdered.
- No, but it could prove
that he was drugged,
and that's a good start,
especially combined with
Traci's confession.
- When are you going
to the hospital?
- Fifteen minutes.
I, um, wanted
to give her some time
to see her dad first.
- That's generous of you -
something you didn't get
a chance to do.
- We are so close.
I just really hope
that she doesn't back out.
- Innocent, alive,
and young
Holding what the past
has done
Waiting for
the future days
Trapped within
a cloud of haze
- Come on,
you stupid bitch.
That's right.
Good girl.
Come on,
you bitch.
That's it.
- Ah!
[tires screeching]
Ah!
- It's my fault. I...
I should have listened to you.
- No, I understand
why you tuned out.
I was harping on you.
- You shouldn't have
had to say anything
at all.
It's my responsibility
to take care of my health
and do everything necessary
to do so.
- I feel like sometimes you just
didn't realize how much it was
affecting me and Traci.
- You're right.
I didn't look at it
like that, and I...
Everything I do
is for you and Traci.
Everything.
- [man]: Is a doctor available?
- [man]: Yeah.
- [man]: Room three is open.
Coming through!
- I've been given
a second chance.
And I promise,
things are gonna change.
I want to be here
for a long time,
so I'm gonna watch my diet,
get more exercise,
keep all my doctors'
appointments.
You won't have to say
a single word about it.
[He chuckles.]
- I just love you.
I don't want to lose you.
- And I love you.
You couldn't get rid of me
even if you tried.
[The Scotts chuckle.]
- Mr. and Mrs. Scott?
- Yes?
- Your daughter's been
in an accident.
- What?
- Did you get her?
- I hit her. I don't know.
I don't think she's dead.
- What? Well, what do you mean?
Was she moving?
- I don't know, OK? A car was
coming. I couldn't check.
- What are you talking about?
A car? Did someone see you?
- I don't know,
OK? I-I-I don't
think so.
Damn it! I knew
this was a bad idea.
- I need you to go home right
now. I need you to go home.
I'm gonna handle it.
If she's alive, I'll take care
of it, all right? Go home.
- Come with me.
- What are you talking about?
I have to check and see
what happened to her.
Go home right now.
Go.
[cell phone ringing]
- Hello?
- Hi. Miss Gailey.
It's, um, it's
Devon Cavanor.
- Devon?
- [I really need
to talk to you. It's...]
actually really important.
It's about Traci Scott.
- OK. Uh, I'm in my car
right now.
I can... I can
come to your house?
- Uh... no, actually my dad's
gonna be home any second.
I was wondering if we could
meet somewhere private, like,
uh, the high school?
- OK. Uh, in the parking lot
behind the school.
[I'll come right now.]
- OK, great. Thank you so much.
I'll see you soon.
Thank you for meeting me,
Miss Gailey.
- What did you want
to tell me?
- Traci Scott got hit
by a car tonight.
And I know
who did it.
- What? Oh, my god.
Is she OK?
- I don't know.
All I know is
that it was...
it was my boyfriend
who did it,
and...
he threatened to kill me
if I told anyone.
- Why would he do that?
- Because...
he was afraid
she was gonna tell the truth
about Mr. Adkins.
And if she did,
he was gonna be
in a lot of trouble.
He made her and I lie
and make up this story
about him molesting me.
None of that is true.
- Whoa. Um, start
from the beginning.
- God, it all started
with this stupid cheating thing
that was Jay's idea.
He had access
to the CAT answers,
and gave them to me so that
I could get a good grade,
and I knew
that cheating was wrong.
I just... It was the CATs,
and that's
a big deal, you know?
- What does this have
to do with Gilbert Adkins?
- Jay knew that he was
gonna proctor the test
a week early,
and that...
that never happens.
There was a girl
named Brady
that needed to take the test
early because she was
going somewhere.
Mr. Adkins was supposed
to supervise, and when
Jay found that out,
he had me steal his laptop.
And then his friend hacked into
the computer and, you know,
made an answer key.
We smashed it
to hide the evidence.
You know, make it look
like a prank.
But Mr. Adkins was so adamant
on finding out who it was
that... Jay thought that it
would be a good idea
to get him fired
so that people stopped listening
to him about the computer.
- So, you made up
the sexual harassment story
to cover up the fact that
you stole the test
from his laptop?
- Yeah.
- What about his death?
Did Jay have something
to do with that?
I know that he didn't kill
himself. Tell me the truth!
- Yeah.
Yeah, it was Jay.
It was just because
Mr. Adkins went to go
speak to Traci's father,
and he thought she was
on the verge of caving. I...
I'm so sorry. I swear
I did not know until afterwards.
I'm so sorry.
- Now that is
one hell of a story.
You are one hell
of a liar.
- Liar?
This is all the truth.
- Jay, please.
Enough people
have been hurt
over this already.
I'll listen
to anything
that you have to say.
Just...
put the gun down.
- So, this is
how you want to play it?
You want to blame me
for everything?
- You know what you did.
- I know
what I did. I made the mistake
of believing you.
Believing you loved me and
you meant everything you said.
- I have no idea
what you're even talking about.
- Jay, tell me what happened.
Tell me what really happened.
- It's just gonna be lies.
- Shut up!
You want to know?
It was all her idea.
Why would I give a rat's ass
about some test for college?
She's the one that needed
a good grade so Daddy would
buy her a new car.
- It was all you,
and you know it.
- It was my idea to get him
fired, but it was her idea
to kill him.
- I wasn't even there!
- Jay, please
put the gun down.
- I would have done
anything for you.
I told you that
so many times.
You used me.
- Jay.
Jay, listen.
There are cameras
everywhere.
Just put the gun down.
We can call your parents
and you can tell your side
of the story.
Jay.
- What did they say?
It's better to have
lost at love...
than never to have
loved at all.
- Jay, listen, you don't want
to end your life like this.
All that we need to do
is go to the police and--
[gunshot]
- [9-1-1. What's your emerg--]
- I'm-I'm-I'm at Powelton High,
um, near the track.
Uh, a young man just...
just shot himself.
My name is
June Gailey.
- You know
he was lying, right?
He was lying.
- I'm gonna need
the police too, please.
- Looks like I'm losing
my hospital buddy.
- Oh, it's only for two days.
You'll be home soon.
- Don't worry. I'll be here
every night to continue
our little chess war.
I gotta be able
to beat you sooner or later.
- Mm-mmm.
- Knock, knock.
- Hey.
- Hey.
- Hi.
I made these for you.
- Aww.
- I'll take them for her.
Thanks.
- Thank you for coming.
Um, I have
something for you.
Leigh finished cutting it
together for me today.
Um, it's not
another confession,
but it's just something
I made for you.
- Thank you.
- I guess the best
thing is when a student
comes back a decade
after they graduate
and they tell you
how you changed their lives.
The fact that they remember you,
and they remember
what you taught them, and that
it had a profound effect.
Well, that's why I would never
quit this job and do
anything else.
- Just a cold grey pride
- And that's why Gilbert Adkins
should be remembered
for the man that he was:
funny, happy,
a man who loved
science almost as much
as he loved his students.
- A full-on masquerade
- That's a nice tribute
she did.
- I just miss him so much.
- I can feel
your very presence
- I know.
You ready?
We should get going.
[sniffle]
- Yeah.
- Till I was drowning
in the sound of my own fear
So I say goodbye
- Hey, so, what have you decided
about Africa?
Are you heading back
right after the funeral?
- Well, I need to go back
to Kampala to finish out
my contract, but, um,
then I'm pretty sure
I want to come back here.
- For good?
- Yeah, I think so.
- I can feel
your very presence
- I spoke with her father when
I returned everything
from her locker.
She's decided
to plead guilty.
- Good. I hope she gets
the help she needs.
- Thank you so much
for doing this. It, um...
it really means a lot.
- You're welcome.
- So I say goodbye
Like it meant nothing
To me
While I die inside
Like it meant nothing
To me
A full-on masquerade
Wearing stories
that we've made
I can feel your very presence
when you're near
And the closer that we came
The louder
that the wind howled
Till I was drowning
in the sound of my own fear
So I say goodbye
Like it meant nothing
To me
The darkest lie
Like it meant nothing
To me
I want to be smoother
than a stone
That's been worn down
by water
Over eons of rivers
running by
Closed Captioning by SETTE inc.
- I'll live forever
With a dream I've saved
And it would be so perfect
If I knew you'd stay
We share it all
And I know
We'll break the fall
With you
I'm running
Into
The wild
[train horn in the distance]
[train horn in the distance]