Union County (2026) Movie Script
1
-I'm trying.
Mm-hmm.
-Your treatment's going well?
-Yes.
-Do you have any concerns
or anything we can do for you?
-I do not.
-All right.
Well, just keep up
the good work, Clint.
I'm really proud of you.
You've really taken to this.
Keep going,
keep doing what you're doing,
and it's only gonna
get better, okay?
-Thank you, sir.
-All right.
-Good job.
-Thanks.
-Cody C.
Hat, Cody.
-Hi -- Hi, Your Honor. Oh.
-Hat. Hat.
-Oh! Oh.
-I-I didn't catch you.
-You can put it there.
That's fine.
-How you doing?
-I'm doing great.
-That's good.
How was your weekend?
-Uh, it was -- it was nice.
I went to my aunt's house
and everything
and had family dinner.
Finally, um -- I don't know --
got back into my dad's side
of the family.
I kind of left there for
a while because of, you know,
living -- living on drugs
and everything,
so I haven't been around them
in a long time.
But they were really excited
to see me.
-They're most people I took
from -- like, not literally.
But, like, when I went
to jail, they'd bond me out
until they found out
I was on drugs.
Then they'd just put money
on my books.
But they fixed my car for me.
They got insurance for me.
'Cause I drove here myself
today.
-[ Gasps ]
Oh, you are driving!
That's awesome!
[ Applause ]
-Yeah.
It felt good.
That's why my hair's
all frizzy, 'cause, you know,
windows down, country roads.
-I got to spend Saturday
and Sunday with my family.
I got to see my kids,
and they were really excited.
So I did, like, a little
treasure hunt for my kids
for them to find
their Easter baskets.
I made them follow the eggs.
[ Laughs ]
My son loved it, though.
It was awesome. So...
-How you doing, Cody?
-Hey. Good. Thanks.
-That's good.
So, today is Cody's first day,
so let's all make sure that we
give him a nice, warm welcome.
[ Applause ]
Cody, you're standing
where a lot of other people
have stood before you.
You're not the first person,
obviously, to be in this spot.
So we welcome you here
and look forward
to working with you.
-So the basic rules
are to abstain from drugs
and alcohol,
attend the court sessions
and appointments,
and to submit to your drug
and alcohol testing,
which you'll call in for
every day.
You follow the rules,
or we'll intervene.
We treat everyone
on a case-by-case basis.
There's no rubric,
but back to jail
is always an option.
And I really don't want that
for you, but sometimes
that's the only option we have
when things go south.
That make sense?
-Yes, sir.
-Okay.
Um, I'm going to give you
a calendar.
Um, and with this calendar,
what you're gonna do
is document your
sober support meetings.
And you need to bring that
to court with you
every single time
you come to court.
This program is
18 months approximately,
and there are three phases
that you'll be
progressing through.
-Okay.
-All right.
So we'll see you tomorrow,
1:00.
-Do I take that?
-Yes. That's yours.
Yeah. You can put that
with your gear.
-All right.
-All right.
[ Birds chirping ]
[ Mid-tempo music playing ]
-Get lost
I get lost in your eyes
when you stare in mine
I get lost in the streets
when I'm drunk at night
Werewolf outside,
but he don't bite
I get lost with the voices
in my mind
But I've been here before
New life shinin' through
a crack in the door, yeah
Yeah, I been here before
Seen it in a dream,
woke up on the floor
So why you hatin' on K?
Same people hatin' gon' be
stuck in their place, oh
Oh, and I'm still stuck
in my ways
Waiting for a bullet
to get stuck in my face
Get away from me
Feel the hate for me
Get away from me
Feel the hate for me
Get away from me
Feel the hate for me
Get away from me
Feel the hate for me
So get lost
Get lost
[ Music continues ]
[ Music stops ]
[ Birds chirping ]
[ Insects chirping ]
[ Liquid dripping ]
[ Bell tolling,
vehicles passing ]
[ Indistinct conversations ]
[ Door opens ]
-All rise.
-You may be seated.
Then let's get started.
It's good to see you, Robert.
-I'm glad to be here.
-How's his book look?
Does he have meetings?
-He's got four online...
-Okay.
-...um, because we know
he doesn't really have
transportation at his mom's.
-Right.
-Well, and, see, Greenville,
their transit,
they've done away with
out of town picking people up.
So that kind of made it
even more hard now.
-Okay. Seems like
that's happening everywhere.
-How's her book look,
Mrs. Deao?
-Twenty-three meetings
and I'm still counting.
-Oh, my goodness.
[ Applause ]
-Twenty-six. Twenty-seven.
Twenty-eight.
And I got another little piece
of paper.
Twenty-nine.
-Um, I think I got--
uh, I got to pay something.
-I think you do still owe
some fines.
-Does he have fines?
-Yes, sir, he does.
I think like 350 or something,
maybe, is left.
-Yeah, I was wondering if I --
Could I just pay it next week?
-That's up to the judge.
-Um, yeah. You can --
You can pay it next week.
You're working now,
so are you able to put in
a little bit
on a weekly basis?
-Yeah. Yeah.
-All right.
Well, let me see at least
you put --
you know, show me some
good-faith effort next week
and have at least something
paid on it by next week, okay?
-Yes, sir.
-All right.
Anything else
that we can do for you?
Any concerns
or anything like that?
-No. No, sir.
-All right.
-Just a fan of that tie.
-[ Chuckles ]Thanks, Jack.
How's your job going?
-It's going really well.
-Uh-huh.
-Um, I'm adapting to it well.
I'm training
on the front-end loader.
-All right.
-Actually, I've trained on it.
I'm running it by myself
and doing great.
-That's exciting.
-Yeah.
It gives me, um --
It really has --
It's helped my self-esteem.
-Right.
Gives you a feeling of, uh...
-I can do anything. [ Laughs ]
-Right! Uh-huh.
Cody Parsons.
Cody, how you doing today?
-Good.
-That's good.
I understand that there is
a bit of a living situation
that you have
that needs to be addressed.
-Mrs. Deao.
-Yes, Your Honor.
As you well know,
the men's shelter
and the homeless shelter
are both full right now.
-Okay.
-He's in his car.
-You know,
that's a little too tenuous
for us to be satisfied with.
So we're gonna be
looking into alternatives.
Hopefully,
something will come open
in one of the shelters here
soon,
and Mrs. Deao
and the treatment team
will talk to you about that,
try to get you
in a more stable
housing situation, okay?
-Yes, sir.
-I also understand
that you have some kinship
with one Jack Parsons.
-Is that correct?
-C.P.!
-Yeah.
That's my brother back there.
-All right.
Well, Jack is --
He's been up and down in here.
He does have a heart of gold,
but, you know,
he's not too far removed
from a positive drug screen.
It's only about a week.
But Mrs. Deao did tell me
that you were raised
as foster brothers.
So I hope that having both
of you in here together
will have a positive impact.
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
[ Both laugh ]
-You j-- You just get out?
-Uh, a couple days ago.
Yeah.
Yeah.
-You look good, man.
-You too.
-Free as a bird now.
Yeah.
Something like that.
[ Mid-tempo rap song plays ]
-We can't hear a word
you saying
We don't know your name,
can't hang with the gang
Crowd jumpin'
when the bass get bangin'
All I need is dope,
so I got to get paid
Never see me on the stage
unless the money is arranged
My hair's 1080,
my teeth 240
My blunts 4K
And my dope,
you couldn't load it
If they ain't calling with a
price, we don't answer that
Tryin' to fuck around,
bitch, we gon' handle that
-Whoa.
-If they ain't calling
With a price,
we don't answer that
[ Machinery humming,
rattling ]
[ Air hissing ]
-Each crate of pallets,
we need a bunch of 26-inchers,
a bunch of 40s, right?
So what I do --
See that block there?
Take this. Come out.
Gets you a 26.
Bring your block to the 26.
Line it up.
You can do 40, but we're gonna
start with 26s, all right?
All right?
Twenty-six.
Bunch of two-by-fours
over here, right?
So grab that.
Come back over here.
Slide your two-by-four
all the way down.
[ Whistles ]
Twenty-six inches.
Get it right each time.
Take your hand.
This side of the blade.
Bunch of good pressure, right?
You got to flick that.
If you don't flick that,
it's not gonna go down.
-[ Saw whirs ]
-Come down.
Simple as that.
Go for it.
Yeah. Pressure.
Bunch of pressure.
[ Saw whirs ]
Fuckin' amazing.
[ Saw whirs ]
Throw your scrap pieces...
in the scrap bin.
You pile up all your
cut pieces here, right?
Pretty sure someone
will come around and grab them
once you've got a bunch
piled up, right?
-Fuck you, man.
-What?
-It's just like a bunch
of this, a bunch of that.
It's a lot of bunches.
-You want a fuckin' job
or not?
-I appreciate it.
-Now, if you need me, don't.
But if you do, I'll be
over there on the forklift.
[ Claps hands ]
Come on, gentlemen.
[ Whistling ]
Sammy!
How are we?
[ Saw whirring ]
[ Indistinct conversation,
mid-tempo hip-hop playing ]
-I will fucking...
I'll fuckin' put your ass
on the gravel.
-[ Laughing ]
Shit!
Shit! Aah!
-That's a tap. That's a tap.
That's a tap.
[ Music continues ]
[ Indistinct conversations,
insects chirping ]
-Yo.
Yo.
[ Guitar playing softly ]
-[ Squawks, laughs ]
Everything just comes to you?
You just bring it?
[ Chuckles ]
Hell, yeah.
-What's your name?
-Uh, Cody.
-Cody, I'm Anna.
Nice to meet you.
-Um, you got another one
of those?
-Mm-hmm.
It's full service.
Watch this.
You from around here?
-Uh, born and raised.
-You grow up on a farm
or something?
-No.
I wish.
-[ Laughs ]
I'm from Dayton, but my dad,
he grew up around here.
He actually was friends with
a guy who lost both his arms
in a farming accident.
And then he --
The guy just, like,
learned to do everything
with his feet.
He could, like, read.
He could c--
He could play the guitar.
That's pretty good.
Yeah.
He, um, he even, like --
He got his driver's license
and everything.
You never seen him?
We've seen him --
Sometimes he's going down 70
driving a horse trailer.
He's got both his feet
on the wheel, relaxed.
You just get used to it
after a while, I guess.
[ Chuckles ]
-That's crazy.
-Cool guy.
Who do you know here?
-Um...
You see the guy over there
making out with that girl?
Um, that's my brother.
-[ Laughs ]
-How about you?
-See that girl over there,
the one that's making out
with your brother?
That's my friend Kim.
[ Chuckles ]
-Sorry about that.
-[ Laughs ]
[ Insects chirping,
mid-tempo hip-hop playing ]
[ Engine idling ]
-Yeah.
-See ya.
-Okay.
-See ya.
[ Birds chirping ]
[ Line ringing ]
-Please enter
your digital access code.
[ Line ringing ]
-Your test is scheduled
for today,
April 11th, at 11:35 a.m.
[ Lighter clicks ]
[ Keyboard clicking ]
-Hey. Good morning.
Familiar with these?
-Uh, yeah.
-Bathroom's at the end
of the hall.
It'll be right behind you.
[ Buckle clanking,
zipper opens ]
[ Urinating ]
[ Machinery whirring ]
-Jack.
-Yeah.
Yo!
None of the long ones.
Just the short ones.
-The halves?
-Yeah, the halves.
Pile these up.
Not these.
Fuck.
[ Saw whirring ]
[ Vehicles passing
in distance ]
-Tia. I see Tia there.
Tia, how you doing?
-Hi. I'm doing good.
I started my first day at I.P.
today.
-Awesome.
-Mm-hmm. Good job, girl.
-And, um,
some treatment place, like,
doing some volunteer work
to get my foot in the door
'cause I'm wanting to go back
to school and get my CDCA.
-Mm!
If you keep doing
what you're doing,
we will help you do that,
okay?
-Thank you.
I appreciate that.
-You got to be in compliance,
though.
You have to follow the
program, and if you do that --
We've helped people do that
before.
We'd be happy to help you
do it too.
Let us know if there's
anything else you need, okay?
Jack, come on up.
-Jack.
-Mm.
-Jim says that you failed
a drug screen for alcohol.
Is that right, Jim?
-That's right, Your Honor.
-What happened?
-I-I mean,
it was just a couple beers.
-Right.
-Yeah.
Yeah. I didn't really
feel anything or...
It didn't cause any problems,
so...
-Yet.
-Huh?
-Yet. It hasn't caused
any problems yet.
-Yeah. But if I, um...
I don't see how.
-We have rules for a reason
in this program,
and you have to comply
with them.
Just because there isn't
anything that's happened yet
doesn't mean that you're
in compliance, so...
-Mm-hmm.
-Do you need anything?
Is there anything we can do
to help you?
-No.
-Are you sure?
-Yeah, I'm sure.
-Okay.
Did you bring in payment
for the fines,
like we talked about
last week?
-No.
-Don't have that either.
Why not?
-I-I don't got money for it,
so...
-Right.
If you don't have anything
more to say about that,
Mrs. Deao will schedule
a hearing on the fines.
And you know the drill.
You're dismissed.
[ Door opens, closes ]
Cody Parsons.
How's his book look,
Mrs. Deao?
-Uh, Your Honor, he doesn't
have his book with him today.
-Where's your book, Cody?
-Um, it's in my car.
[ Clears throat ]
-Is your car here?
-Uh, no, sir.
-Do you need anything?
Is there any concerns?
Is there anything
the court can do for you?
-Um, no. I'm -- I'm trying.
I just -- It's...
-When you're in this program,
Cody,
you have to comply
with the rules.
And if you're not,
then the court has to sanction
your behavior.
So what's it gonna be?
[ Saw whirs ]
[ Wood clatters ]
[ Lighter clicks ]
[ Birds chirping,
mid-tempo hip-hop playing ]
[ Music continues ]
[ Insects chirping ]
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
[ Music continues ]
[ Engine idling ]
[ Brakes squeak ]
-[ Softly ]
Oh, shit.
Shit.
Hey, man, we need to brake.
Man, fuck.
Hey.
Hey. Hey. Fuck!
We need to brake, man.
Shit. F--
We need to fucking brake, man!
[ Thud, clattering ]
[ Bell chiming,
insects chirping ]
-[ Exhales deeply,
breathing heavily ]
[ Metal clanks,
buckle clicks ]
[ Exhales deeply ]
Jack?
[ Chiming continues ]
Jack.
[ Insects chirping ]
[ Horn blows in distance ]
[ Dog barking ]
[ Latch clicks ]
[ Exhales deeply ]
-Wake up, Uncle Monkey.
-[ Birds chirping ]
Wake up.
Wake up.
-[ Exhales deeply ]
Hey.
-Do you want to have breakfast
with me?
[ Water running ]
[ Metal clanking ]
-Sorry if I scared you.
[ Water running ]
I just needed a place
to crash.
I said I'm sorry, Kat.
[ Water running ]
[ Knock on door ]
-Okay, let's go get ready.
-What?
-He's in the kitchen.
-Hey, bud.
-No.
-I need you to come with us.
-No. No, no, no! No! No!
-Come on, bud. You're okay.
Come on. You're all right.
-I didn't fucking do anything!
I didn't do anything!
-She's gonna put the cuffs
on you.
-Why are you here?
-She's gonna search you.
Then we're gonna put you in
the car.
-I didn't do anything!
-There you go.
-Fuck you.
I did not do anything.
-The fuck are you here?
-Gonna go to the car.
-Fuck are you here?!
I didn't do anything!
-We're just here to help
you out, man. Let's go.
-Fuck you!
I didn't do anything.
-Kat!
-Come on, bud.
-I didn't do anything.
-[ Breathing heavily, sighs ]
[ Indistinct talking
on radio ]
[ Machine whirring ]
[ Computer chimes,
mouse clicking ]
-[ Shutter clicks ]
-Turn to your left.
-[ Shutter clicks ]
-Turn to your left.
[ Indistinct talking
on television ]
[ Buzzer sounds ]
-How you doing?
-You seen Jack?
-Well, first I want to talk
about you.
Your sister is really
concerned about you.
-Where's Jack?
-The sober living house found
Jack passed out this morning
in the hallway.
This is not
his first violation,
so we're gonna send him to
an intensive treatment center
in Greene County.
They have better tools
to work with Jack.
-So y'all are just gonna
should send him away?
-We're not sending him away.
He's not going to jail
or prison.
He's going to treatment.
He's going to treatment
to get better.
And because he's going
to treatment,
it opens up a room
at the sober house.
-I don't really want
that room.
-Why not?
-'Cause I'm fine in my car.
-You're clearly not fine
in your car.
-Well, you clearly don't know
what you're doing with us.
-I'm so sorry.
I'm so sorry
if you haven't felt supported
or we did something wrong.
You know,
but what I am gonna tell you
is that I'm gonna do
everything I can
for you and for Jack...
to help you guys
get through this.
Let's go get you a
Vivitrol shot this afternoon,
and we can figure it out from
there what the next step is.
I'll wait for you
in the parking lot.
I'll get you booked out.
[ Door opens ]
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
[ Buzzer sounds ]
[ Buzzer sounds ]
[ Birds chirping ]
[ Music continues ]
-You'll just feel
a little cold.
All right.
One, two, three.
All right.
Go ahead rub that in.
[ Buckle clanking ]
[ Music continues ]
-I'll check in with you later.
-Bye.
-Bye.
-How ya doin', buddy?
Welcome.
Come on.
I'll show you around.
Uh, laundry's in the basement.
If you want me to show you,
I can any time you want to.
Man, if you need anything,
my door is always open, okay?
All right.
[ Engine revving,
truck departing ]
-Here we go.
[ Baby babbling ]
-Okay.
Here we go.
[ Mid-tempo music playing ]
[ Vehicle departing ]
Cody.
It's Cody -- Cody, right?
-Uh -- Uh, yeah.
-Anna, from...
-Oh.
-...the other night.
-Oh, yeah.
-Yeah.
Oh. I do --
[ Laughs ]
I do peer support, uh,
over at the women's house.
-Oh.
Right.
-I'm another addict they can
talk to when --
when they need somebody
who's been through the program
and everything and...
Yeah.
-That's cool.
-Yeah. It's nuts.
People are crazy.
It's hard sometimes,
but I love it.
Um, what's going on here?
-Uh...I'm moving in here.
They -- They got me a room.
-Oh, nice.
Okay.
You and Jack?
-Uh, not exactly.
-Okay.
-Well, you need a hand
with anything?
-Uh, I-I'm good.
I think I got it.
Thanks, though.
-Well, it's good to see you.
I'll see -- I'll see you
around...neighbor.
-All right. Bye.
-Bye.
[ Knock on door ]
-Hey, Cody.
We're heading out, buddy.
[ Laughing ]
Is that why they released you?
-I'm not saying it's not why.
-It happens, bro.
It happens.
Hey, sweetie.
How you doing?
-I'm doing good!
-Good. You look good.
You look good.
-Great to see you again.
-I know.
[ Indistinct conversations ]
-Uh, my name is Bethany.
I'm an addict.
-Hi, Bethany.
-Hi, Bethany.
-So, in our reading
that we did, it says,
"We begin to identify
our feelings
and verbalize our thoughts
and emotions."
It's so crazy, 'cause
whenever I first got clean,
the only emotions that I knew
were the extremes.
Either it was really happy --
which I was never really
happy -- or I was angry.
It took me a long time to
even be like, "You know what?
This feeling that I'm feeling,
this is, um, hurt,
shame, guilt."
You know what I mean?
It's all them other feelings.
'Cause I would just be
on top of the world
or down in the dirt, you know?
And that was
a beautiful feeling.
'Cause I'd be like,
"Oh, my gosh.
I'm jealous right now.
Oh, my gosh. I have envy."
I don't even know what envy
was until I got into recovery.
You know, there was --
It was a beautiful thing.
And then it said
that as we share,
we see our members laughing
and nodding.
You know what I mean?
'Cause everybody's been
through that.
Everybody sits here --
Our stories might not be
the same,
but they're still similar.
Our feelings are all the same.
I'm sure we've all had
the shame and the guilt
and all them other feelings.
And it's such a good feeling
today to be around everybody
and know I'm not different.
I'm not a bad person.
I let drugs rule my life,
but today I don't have to
allow that anymore.
-Carrie.
Alcoholic, addict.
-Hey, Carrie.
-Hi, Carrie.
-I did drugs and alcohol
for a long time
because I didn't want to feel
life as life is, you know?
Um, today, this program
has taught me
that it's good for me
to feel things,
because I don't know how
to feel like normal people do.
And the tables and
the recovering addicts here
have taught me, like, how
to deal with the happiness,
the sadness, the madness,
the death, the grit, the --
you know, the emotions that I
never, ever wanted to feel.
And, um, I'm grate--
so grateful for these rooms,
because this is my cure.
And so with that,
it's a good day to be clean,
and I'll pass.
-Thank you.
-Thanks, Carrie.
-Um, I'm Cody,
and I'm an addict.
-Hi, Cody.
-Hi, Cody.
-I've been addicted to opiates
since I was 17,
and, uh, I'm part of the
Adult Recovery Court program.
And...that's why I'm here.
Uh, pass.
-Glad you're here.
-Thanks, Cody.
Glad you're here.
[ Rain falling ]
[ Thunder rumbling ]
[ Indistinct conversations,
machinery rattling ]
[ Gun clicking ]
-You mind, uh, giving me
a hand with this thing?
-How much are you
gonna pay me?
-Um...it'd have to be
like an IOU situation.
Just hold on
to the black part.
-There might be sharp bits.
-Okay.
-All right.
-Ow!
-Are you ser-- Oh.
[ Sighs ]
Don't do that.
All right.
[ Grunts ]
Okay. Yeah.
We'll just put it down here.
Thanks.
-Sure.
-Now what?
-[ Exhales deeply ]
I would offer to, like...
...give you driving lessons
or something.
But...
-Or you could just
drive me places.
I always wanted a chauffeur.
-You sure you want the, uh,
guy with the crashed car
to be your chauffeur?
-Well, you know, me,
I always drug-test my drivers.
It's the first thing I do.
I just want to make sure
that we're gonna get...
we're gonna get there
in one piece.
-That's --
That's probably smart.
-Yeah.
-[ Phone chimes ]
[ Ratchet clicking ]
-Yeah.
I got to go.
-All right.
-You going to the graduation?
-Um...
Yeah, I'm...thinking about it.
-Mm-hmm.
Okay.
I'll see you there.
-Bye.
-Bye.
[ Ratchet clicking ]
-Thanks to Adult
Recovery Court,
I have learned that I don't
need drugs to be happy.
True happiness comes
from building a life
that I am proud of,
a life that doesn't revolve
around drugs.
Today, I have a job I am proud
of, working with Bahan Law.
I have my own apartment.
I have reconnected
with my family.
That connection means more to
me than I can put into words.
I want to thank Judge Braig
and the staff
at Adult Recovery Court
for their tough love
and support.
You showed me that I'm capable
of more than I had
ever thought,
and they gave me the push
I needed when I...
when -- sorry --
push I needed when I was ready
to give up.
And to everyone
still in the program,
just let me say
the hardest day in drug court
is still easier than any day
on drugs.
[ Cheers and applause ]
-Is that okay with you?
-I can do that.
-Did I bring enough?
-Look over here.
-Got a little wet.
-Yeah. Just wait a minute.
[ Indistinct conversations,
laughter ]
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
-My husband was like, "Wait.
You're gonna burn
the house down."
I'm like, "You borrowed the
thing, and I told you not to."
-There's a story of a snake
that was sleeping
with their owner
just to size them up
to eat them.
-Oh, my God.
-I heard that story.
-Like, boa constrictors?
Those big, huge one.
-It would not eat 'cause
it was saving room for her.
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
-Take it?
-Yep.
-Easiest thing we've done.
-Yeah. There we g--
-[ Both laughing ]
-Sorry.
[ Music continues ]
-Gonna pop all those too?
-Yeah.
[ Balloon pops,
man gasps loudly ]
-[ Laughter ]
-My job here is done.
-[ Insects chirping ]
-Wow.
[ Indistinct conversation ]
Where do you think
you're gonna go after this?
-Um...
Thought about moving
to Columbus, maybe, after.
Oh.
Me and Jack always
talked about moving there.
Nice to get away.
And a friend of mine
from high school
has, like, a bookstore there,
so I thought maybe I could get
a job there.
Maybe. I don't know.
What about you?
-Well, I'm gonna be there...
in the fall.
Like, part time, at least.
I'm, um...
I'm gonna go back to school.
-Oh.
-Mm.
-What for?
What?
-Nothing.
I just, like...
I'm gonna be a therapist.
-You'll be good at that.
-You think?
-Yeah.
-That's nice.
I've been rethinking it
a little bit lately.
Like, 'cause it's, like...
Like, if everybody here
leaves, then, like...
who's gonna be here
for the people who can't?
[ Bell tolling ]
I don't know
what I'm talking about.
-No.
It -- It makes sense.
Makes a lot of sense.
-Well, you're easy to talk to,
I guess.
Sorry. Sorry. Sorry.
I just -- I-I can't.
I can't right now.
I want to.
[ Chuckles softly ]
I'm just really working on...
...moving towards custody
and stuff and, you know,
like, just with my own shit
going on...
-No. I get it.
-I'm really just trying...
...not to get involved.
-Yeah. Sorry.
I...
-I'm desperate for a job.
I've been applying
for everywhere.
-You've been applying
for a while now.
-Yeah. Um, well,
this last week especially.
And I had two interviews
last week.
I got hired at T.J. Maxx,
but they got to do
a background check first,
and I'm not confident in that
now.
-Right.
-But, um, they said
as long as my background check
comes back good,
I'm good to start working
there whenever they start up
on May 19th.
-All right.
Very good.
Good luck with the --
with everything.
-Have a good day.
-All right.
I'm gonna start
with the folks on video.
Jack, how you doing?
-I'm good.
How are you doing, sir?
-Doing good.
Thanks for asking.
How are they treating you down
there at Christopher House?
-[ Laughs ]
Good. Real good.
It's, uh,
it's going good, man.
It's quiet.
Um, real quiet.
When I first got here I didn't
know what to do with myself,
but, uh, you know,
I'm, uh, fishing --
fishing and stuff and,
you know, taking it easy.
I, um, I'm gonna ask.
You catch that Reds game
last night?
-Oh, I sure did. Yeah.
Uh-huh.
-[ Laughs ]
-Yeah.
-I mean, shit --
um, pardon my -- my language.
Um, dang! I mean,
that was something, huh?
-It was something. Yeah.
All right.
It's good to see you.
Take care, okay, Jack?
-All right. Yep.
-Bye, Jack.
-Bye, now.
-See ya.
[ Nail guns clicking ]
[ Insects chirping ]
-Trevor.
I'm an addict.
-Hey, Trevor.
-Hey, Trevor.
-I actually was married
for a while,
and both me and my wife
went down the wrong paths.
Neither one of us
could say no.
And we basically fueled
each other
to continue to do drugs
until it got to the point
to where I made a decision
in my life to --
to get better for my kids.
I have three daughters.
I mean, I've been clean
three years now,
and I still feel bad
when I look at my kids
because I think at the time
that I didn't have with them.
But I can say that I got
full custody of my girls.
I've been clean
for three years.
-[ Applause ]
-And they're with me now,
and I coach their T-ball team
and their softball team,
and I absolutely love
my girls to death.
-That's awesome.
-So keep in there, guys.
Keep working hard, okay?
Get yourself
around good people.
-Yes.
-Good people.
Like you said, it's people,
places, and things, for sure.
For sure.
I pass.
-Thanks, Trevor.
-Thanks, Trevor.
-I knew Trevor
when he was a baby.
Me and his mom were, like,
really, really good friends.
So sometimes, like, sitting
here, I'm embarrassed,
because, you know,
I'm the mom.
I have kids his age,
and it's embarrassing for me
at this age to be an addict.
So when I seen him --
And I never really knew
your story, so...
But I know your mom and dad
are very proud of you,
and I see all the pictures
of all your girls.
So congratulations, buddy.
-Thank you.
-You're welcome.
Now I'm here -- I'm almost --
I'll have my six months
next month, so, I mean...
-Nice.
-That's a big deal.
-Keep coming.
Keep coming.
-Working to get my family
back, so with that, I pass.
-Thanks, Shannon.
-Thank you, Shannon.
-Love you.
-I'm Cody, and I'm an addict.
-Hey, Cody.
-Hey, Cody.
-Um...
Well, I guess...
there's something
I've been thinking about.
Um, my mom used to call me
a hurricane.
And, um...
Which I never really
understood what it meant,
and, um...I guess doing this,
I'm, like, starting to see it
a little bit more.
Um...I was the first person
to give my brother heroin.
My brother Jack,
seven years ago.
Um, he's not my real brother.
He's my, uh, foster brother.
But t was never really like
that when we were growing up.
It was never really, like,
different.
And, um...
...he and my sister, like,
were really close for a while.
I guess they just have, uh,
personalities that click,
you know?
And, um, I was kinda...
...really breaking into
her house a lot, you know?
Stealing stuff, and, um...
...I would use her place to go
and shoot up
when I didn't have, like,
anywhere else to go.
She kicked me out a lot.
[ Clears throat ]
Um...
And she found out about
Jack using
when she found us
in her bathroom.
And I guess we were in
pretty bad shape, and, um...
...she called an ambulance.
And, um...
Sorry.
-You're all right.
-It's all right.
-Wasn't until I came around
a little bit later
and saw her looking at Jack
in the hospital bed...
...I kind of realized,
you know, um...
I'd just never really seen her
like that before.
So it made me think,
and, um...
I think just doing this and...
...going to meetings
and talking about it,
it's the first time
I've really, like,
seen it in a different way,
you know?
So...um, yeah, I'm just trying
to work it out.
Um, with that, I pass.
-Thanks, Cody.
-We're glad you're here.
[ Knock on door ]
[ Birds chirping ]
-Hey.
-Hi.
Just wondered if I could
come in and just say hi.
-You want to try to put that
in there?
-I'm gonna put this.
-I like this.
[ Toy rattling, clicks ]
-I connected.
-Hey. You did.
Nice.
You ever tried eating it
without a spoon?
-No.
-You've never seen that?
Check this out.
Ready?
[ Laughs ]
You want to try?
There you go.
[ Laughs ]
One time when I was little,
I got it all over my face.
I looked like Casper
the Friendly Ghost.
-Who is that?
-You don't know who Casper is?
-No.
-You've never seen Casper
the Friendly Ghost?
-No.
Mnh-mnh.
-You never showed her that?
-No.
-Oh.
-All right.
-You'd love it.
-I think it's bedtime,
Miss Harley.
Now that you're all
sugared up.
Perfect time for bed.
Say thank you for all
the burgers and the wood.
You got some good work done.
All right.
-I'll see you soon.
[ Water running ]
[ Footsteps approaching ]
-Found those the other day.
I think it's like his fifth
birthday party or something.
-I think you're right.
Have you heard from him?
-Mm-hmm.
-How's he doing?
-Uh, he's good.
He says he's back on the path
to graduating.
This summer, I think.
Um, he's working at a kitchen
down there.
Seems like he likes it.
He asked about you.
He said he'd tried to call.
-What'd you tell him?
-I didn't know.
-I know you and me, um,
never really, like...
Maybe you didn't want to hear
from me.
But I want to tell you
that I'm sorry.
Been going to a lot
of these meetings and, um...
...seeing it all...
...a lot of the stuff
that happened.
And, um...
Yeah, best I can do
is take, like,
a really close look
at it and...
...make sure you know
that I'm sorry.
-I just don't know
what you want me to say.
-I don't either.
I just wanted to tell you
and make sure you knew.
-I think that there's just...
...a lot that I cannot
understand.
And there's just a lot that
I do not know how to forgive.
[ Insects chirping, vehicles
passing in distance ]
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
[ Music continues ]
[ Music continues ]
-All right.
Let's see.
[ Ratchet clicking ]
[ Dog barking in distance ]
[ Engine starts ]
That's working.
[ Chuckles ]
-[ Laughs ]
-It worked.
[ Urinating ]
[ Toilet flushing ]
-You've been with us now
four months,
and, you know, we're kind of
looking back at the calendar.
Uh, doing well.
Doing your meetings.
You know,
you're a good example
for the new people coming in.
How do you feel about where
you're at in your recovery?
-Um, yeah,
I think pretty good.
-We think so, too.
The judge thinks so.
Matter of fact, he'd like to
promote you to phase two.
-Really?
-Yeah. Absolutely.
So you need to work
on a letter.
Bring it to court on Monday.
-Okay.
Thanks.
[ Down-tempo hip-hop playing ]
[ Indistinct conversations ]
[ Phone buzzing ]
What is it?
-They found him
in the employee restroom
at McKinley's before his shift
was about to start.
It was fentanyl.
An ambulance was called,
and they tried to
resuscitate him there
and again numerous times
on the way to the hospital,
which is where he passed away.
-[ Inhales deeply, sobs ]
-I'm so sorry for your loss.
-Okay.
Thank you.
Thank you.
[ Birds chirping ]
[ Nail gun clicking ]
[ Insects chirping ]
[ Train passing ]
[ Engine stops ]
[ Chimes ringing ]
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
[ Music continues ]
[ Insects chirping ]
[ Line ringing ]
[ Phone ringing ]
-Hello?
-[ Sniffles, exhales deeply ]
-Cody?
[ Insects chirping ]
[ Sobs softly ]
-I'm so sorry.
-Everybody said he was doing
so well.
-He was.
He was.
-I just...
I didn't think it was gonna
end up this way.
-[ Softly ] I know.
You know,
one of the things I've learned
over the years doing this
is that...
it's never really
anyone's fault.
It's not Jack's fault.
It's not my fault.
It's not your fault.
I know that's hard to believe,
but it's true.
Cody, I'm gonna stay
on the phone with you
as long as you need me to.
I'm here.
I'm not going anywhere.
[ Birds chirping ]
-[ Exhales deeply, sniffs ]
[ Engine starts ]
[ Vehicle approaching ]
-[ Exhales deeply ]
Man.
[ Engine stops ]
[ Paper crinkling ]
-[ Clears throat ]
I'm writing this letter
to begin phase two
of Adult Recovery Court.
I'd like to start by thanking
the judge,
Jim, Eric, Mandy, Gary,
Annette, peer support,
and everyone else who has
helped me get to this point.
You really care about us
and our recovery.
You want us to do better
for ourselves
and for the people around us,
and that means a lot.
I'd also like to thank
the other participants
in the program
for setting a good example
for me to follow
and supporting me
when I thought about giving up
or I didn't want to be here.
This is a day...
Sorry.
This is a day
I didn't think I'd get to.
My brother Jack
should be standing up here.
I accept that that's
not possible...
...and that's something
I can't change.
But with the support
of you all,
I have the courage
to keep going
and to change the things
I can.
In phase two, I will work
towards getting my own place
and finding a sponsor.
I will continue to rebuild
my trust
with -- with people
and my family.
I hope I can be a better
brother, a better uncle,
and a better friend
moving forward
and someone
who people can rely on.
This is definitely the hardest
thing I've ever done,
but I'm grateful to be here.
I'm gonna keep working.
Thank you.
-That's great.
-Whoo!
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
-I know you worked
real hard at it, Cody,
and, uh, you've done a
great job here in this phase.
And so the court
is promoting you to phase two.
Congratulations.
-Great job.
Here. We got a little
something for you.
There's your certificate.
-Thanks.
Thank you.
-See you in a few weeks.
-Thank you. Appreciate it.
-Devonte.
[ Music continues ]
-Hey, buddy.
-[ Whispering indistinctly ]
-No, I think you're fine.
-How you doing, Devonte?
-Good.
-That's good.
How was your weekend?
-Um, my weekend was all right.
The kids are...
[ Music builds, continues ]
-I'm trying.
Mm-hmm.
-Your treatment's going well?
-Yes.
-Do you have any concerns
or anything we can do for you?
-I do not.
-All right.
Well, just keep up
the good work, Clint.
I'm really proud of you.
You've really taken to this.
Keep going,
keep doing what you're doing,
and it's only gonna
get better, okay?
-Thank you, sir.
-All right.
-Good job.
-Thanks.
-Cody C.
Hat, Cody.
-Hi -- Hi, Your Honor. Oh.
-Hat. Hat.
-Oh! Oh.
-I-I didn't catch you.
-You can put it there.
That's fine.
-How you doing?
-I'm doing great.
-That's good.
How was your weekend?
-Uh, it was -- it was nice.
I went to my aunt's house
and everything
and had family dinner.
Finally, um -- I don't know --
got back into my dad's side
of the family.
I kind of left there for
a while because of, you know,
living -- living on drugs
and everything,
so I haven't been around them
in a long time.
But they were really excited
to see me.
-They're most people I took
from -- like, not literally.
But, like, when I went
to jail, they'd bond me out
until they found out
I was on drugs.
Then they'd just put money
on my books.
But they fixed my car for me.
They got insurance for me.
'Cause I drove here myself
today.
-[ Gasps ]
Oh, you are driving!
That's awesome!
[ Applause ]
-Yeah.
It felt good.
That's why my hair's
all frizzy, 'cause, you know,
windows down, country roads.
-I got to spend Saturday
and Sunday with my family.
I got to see my kids,
and they were really excited.
So I did, like, a little
treasure hunt for my kids
for them to find
their Easter baskets.
I made them follow the eggs.
[ Laughs ]
My son loved it, though.
It was awesome. So...
-How you doing, Cody?
-Hey. Good. Thanks.
-That's good.
So, today is Cody's first day,
so let's all make sure that we
give him a nice, warm welcome.
[ Applause ]
Cody, you're standing
where a lot of other people
have stood before you.
You're not the first person,
obviously, to be in this spot.
So we welcome you here
and look forward
to working with you.
-So the basic rules
are to abstain from drugs
and alcohol,
attend the court sessions
and appointments,
and to submit to your drug
and alcohol testing,
which you'll call in for
every day.
You follow the rules,
or we'll intervene.
We treat everyone
on a case-by-case basis.
There's no rubric,
but back to jail
is always an option.
And I really don't want that
for you, but sometimes
that's the only option we have
when things go south.
That make sense?
-Yes, sir.
-Okay.
Um, I'm going to give you
a calendar.
Um, and with this calendar,
what you're gonna do
is document your
sober support meetings.
And you need to bring that
to court with you
every single time
you come to court.
This program is
18 months approximately,
and there are three phases
that you'll be
progressing through.
-Okay.
-All right.
So we'll see you tomorrow,
1:00.
-Do I take that?
-Yes. That's yours.
Yeah. You can put that
with your gear.
-All right.
-All right.
[ Birds chirping ]
[ Mid-tempo music playing ]
-Get lost
I get lost in your eyes
when you stare in mine
I get lost in the streets
when I'm drunk at night
Werewolf outside,
but he don't bite
I get lost with the voices
in my mind
But I've been here before
New life shinin' through
a crack in the door, yeah
Yeah, I been here before
Seen it in a dream,
woke up on the floor
So why you hatin' on K?
Same people hatin' gon' be
stuck in their place, oh
Oh, and I'm still stuck
in my ways
Waiting for a bullet
to get stuck in my face
Get away from me
Feel the hate for me
Get away from me
Feel the hate for me
Get away from me
Feel the hate for me
Get away from me
Feel the hate for me
So get lost
Get lost
[ Music continues ]
[ Music stops ]
[ Birds chirping ]
[ Insects chirping ]
[ Liquid dripping ]
[ Bell tolling,
vehicles passing ]
[ Indistinct conversations ]
[ Door opens ]
-All rise.
-You may be seated.
Then let's get started.
It's good to see you, Robert.
-I'm glad to be here.
-How's his book look?
Does he have meetings?
-He's got four online...
-Okay.
-...um, because we know
he doesn't really have
transportation at his mom's.
-Right.
-Well, and, see, Greenville,
their transit,
they've done away with
out of town picking people up.
So that kind of made it
even more hard now.
-Okay. Seems like
that's happening everywhere.
-How's her book look,
Mrs. Deao?
-Twenty-three meetings
and I'm still counting.
-Oh, my goodness.
[ Applause ]
-Twenty-six. Twenty-seven.
Twenty-eight.
And I got another little piece
of paper.
Twenty-nine.
-Um, I think I got--
uh, I got to pay something.
-I think you do still owe
some fines.
-Does he have fines?
-Yes, sir, he does.
I think like 350 or something,
maybe, is left.
-Yeah, I was wondering if I --
Could I just pay it next week?
-That's up to the judge.
-Um, yeah. You can --
You can pay it next week.
You're working now,
so are you able to put in
a little bit
on a weekly basis?
-Yeah. Yeah.
-All right.
Well, let me see at least
you put --
you know, show me some
good-faith effort next week
and have at least something
paid on it by next week, okay?
-Yes, sir.
-All right.
Anything else
that we can do for you?
Any concerns
or anything like that?
-No. No, sir.
-All right.
-Just a fan of that tie.
-[ Chuckles ]Thanks, Jack.
How's your job going?
-It's going really well.
-Uh-huh.
-Um, I'm adapting to it well.
I'm training
on the front-end loader.
-All right.
-Actually, I've trained on it.
I'm running it by myself
and doing great.
-That's exciting.
-Yeah.
It gives me, um --
It really has --
It's helped my self-esteem.
-Right.
Gives you a feeling of, uh...
-I can do anything. [ Laughs ]
-Right! Uh-huh.
Cody Parsons.
Cody, how you doing today?
-Good.
-That's good.
I understand that there is
a bit of a living situation
that you have
that needs to be addressed.
-Mrs. Deao.
-Yes, Your Honor.
As you well know,
the men's shelter
and the homeless shelter
are both full right now.
-Okay.
-He's in his car.
-You know,
that's a little too tenuous
for us to be satisfied with.
So we're gonna be
looking into alternatives.
Hopefully,
something will come open
in one of the shelters here
soon,
and Mrs. Deao
and the treatment team
will talk to you about that,
try to get you
in a more stable
housing situation, okay?
-Yes, sir.
-I also understand
that you have some kinship
with one Jack Parsons.
-Is that correct?
-C.P.!
-Yeah.
That's my brother back there.
-All right.
Well, Jack is --
He's been up and down in here.
He does have a heart of gold,
but, you know,
he's not too far removed
from a positive drug screen.
It's only about a week.
But Mrs. Deao did tell me
that you were raised
as foster brothers.
So I hope that having both
of you in here together
will have a positive impact.
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
[ Both laugh ]
-You j-- You just get out?
-Uh, a couple days ago.
Yeah.
Yeah.
-You look good, man.
-You too.
-Free as a bird now.
Yeah.
Something like that.
[ Mid-tempo rap song plays ]
-We can't hear a word
you saying
We don't know your name,
can't hang with the gang
Crowd jumpin'
when the bass get bangin'
All I need is dope,
so I got to get paid
Never see me on the stage
unless the money is arranged
My hair's 1080,
my teeth 240
My blunts 4K
And my dope,
you couldn't load it
If they ain't calling with a
price, we don't answer that
Tryin' to fuck around,
bitch, we gon' handle that
-Whoa.
-If they ain't calling
With a price,
we don't answer that
[ Machinery humming,
rattling ]
[ Air hissing ]
-Each crate of pallets,
we need a bunch of 26-inchers,
a bunch of 40s, right?
So what I do --
See that block there?
Take this. Come out.
Gets you a 26.
Bring your block to the 26.
Line it up.
You can do 40, but we're gonna
start with 26s, all right?
All right?
Twenty-six.
Bunch of two-by-fours
over here, right?
So grab that.
Come back over here.
Slide your two-by-four
all the way down.
[ Whistles ]
Twenty-six inches.
Get it right each time.
Take your hand.
This side of the blade.
Bunch of good pressure, right?
You got to flick that.
If you don't flick that,
it's not gonna go down.
-[ Saw whirs ]
-Come down.
Simple as that.
Go for it.
Yeah. Pressure.
Bunch of pressure.
[ Saw whirs ]
Fuckin' amazing.
[ Saw whirs ]
Throw your scrap pieces...
in the scrap bin.
You pile up all your
cut pieces here, right?
Pretty sure someone
will come around and grab them
once you've got a bunch
piled up, right?
-Fuck you, man.
-What?
-It's just like a bunch
of this, a bunch of that.
It's a lot of bunches.
-You want a fuckin' job
or not?
-I appreciate it.
-Now, if you need me, don't.
But if you do, I'll be
over there on the forklift.
[ Claps hands ]
Come on, gentlemen.
[ Whistling ]
Sammy!
How are we?
[ Saw whirring ]
[ Indistinct conversation,
mid-tempo hip-hop playing ]
-I will fucking...
I'll fuckin' put your ass
on the gravel.
-[ Laughing ]
Shit!
Shit! Aah!
-That's a tap. That's a tap.
That's a tap.
[ Music continues ]
[ Indistinct conversations,
insects chirping ]
-Yo.
Yo.
[ Guitar playing softly ]
-[ Squawks, laughs ]
Everything just comes to you?
You just bring it?
[ Chuckles ]
Hell, yeah.
-What's your name?
-Uh, Cody.
-Cody, I'm Anna.
Nice to meet you.
-Um, you got another one
of those?
-Mm-hmm.
It's full service.
Watch this.
You from around here?
-Uh, born and raised.
-You grow up on a farm
or something?
-No.
I wish.
-[ Laughs ]
I'm from Dayton, but my dad,
he grew up around here.
He actually was friends with
a guy who lost both his arms
in a farming accident.
And then he --
The guy just, like,
learned to do everything
with his feet.
He could, like, read.
He could c--
He could play the guitar.
That's pretty good.
Yeah.
He, um, he even, like --
He got his driver's license
and everything.
You never seen him?
We've seen him --
Sometimes he's going down 70
driving a horse trailer.
He's got both his feet
on the wheel, relaxed.
You just get used to it
after a while, I guess.
[ Chuckles ]
-That's crazy.
-Cool guy.
Who do you know here?
-Um...
You see the guy over there
making out with that girl?
Um, that's my brother.
-[ Laughs ]
-How about you?
-See that girl over there,
the one that's making out
with your brother?
That's my friend Kim.
[ Chuckles ]
-Sorry about that.
-[ Laughs ]
[ Insects chirping,
mid-tempo hip-hop playing ]
[ Engine idling ]
-Yeah.
-See ya.
-Okay.
-See ya.
[ Birds chirping ]
[ Line ringing ]
-Please enter
your digital access code.
[ Line ringing ]
-Your test is scheduled
for today,
April 11th, at 11:35 a.m.
[ Lighter clicks ]
[ Keyboard clicking ]
-Hey. Good morning.
Familiar with these?
-Uh, yeah.
-Bathroom's at the end
of the hall.
It'll be right behind you.
[ Buckle clanking,
zipper opens ]
[ Urinating ]
[ Machinery whirring ]
-Jack.
-Yeah.
Yo!
None of the long ones.
Just the short ones.
-The halves?
-Yeah, the halves.
Pile these up.
Not these.
Fuck.
[ Saw whirring ]
[ Vehicles passing
in distance ]
-Tia. I see Tia there.
Tia, how you doing?
-Hi. I'm doing good.
I started my first day at I.P.
today.
-Awesome.
-Mm-hmm. Good job, girl.
-And, um,
some treatment place, like,
doing some volunteer work
to get my foot in the door
'cause I'm wanting to go back
to school and get my CDCA.
-Mm!
If you keep doing
what you're doing,
we will help you do that,
okay?
-Thank you.
I appreciate that.
-You got to be in compliance,
though.
You have to follow the
program, and if you do that --
We've helped people do that
before.
We'd be happy to help you
do it too.
Let us know if there's
anything else you need, okay?
Jack, come on up.
-Jack.
-Mm.
-Jim says that you failed
a drug screen for alcohol.
Is that right, Jim?
-That's right, Your Honor.
-What happened?
-I-I mean,
it was just a couple beers.
-Right.
-Yeah.
Yeah. I didn't really
feel anything or...
It didn't cause any problems,
so...
-Yet.
-Huh?
-Yet. It hasn't caused
any problems yet.
-Yeah. But if I, um...
I don't see how.
-We have rules for a reason
in this program,
and you have to comply
with them.
Just because there isn't
anything that's happened yet
doesn't mean that you're
in compliance, so...
-Mm-hmm.
-Do you need anything?
Is there anything we can do
to help you?
-No.
-Are you sure?
-Yeah, I'm sure.
-Okay.
Did you bring in payment
for the fines,
like we talked about
last week?
-No.
-Don't have that either.
Why not?
-I-I don't got money for it,
so...
-Right.
If you don't have anything
more to say about that,
Mrs. Deao will schedule
a hearing on the fines.
And you know the drill.
You're dismissed.
[ Door opens, closes ]
Cody Parsons.
How's his book look,
Mrs. Deao?
-Uh, Your Honor, he doesn't
have his book with him today.
-Where's your book, Cody?
-Um, it's in my car.
[ Clears throat ]
-Is your car here?
-Uh, no, sir.
-Do you need anything?
Is there any concerns?
Is there anything
the court can do for you?
-Um, no. I'm -- I'm trying.
I just -- It's...
-When you're in this program,
Cody,
you have to comply
with the rules.
And if you're not,
then the court has to sanction
your behavior.
So what's it gonna be?
[ Saw whirs ]
[ Wood clatters ]
[ Lighter clicks ]
[ Birds chirping,
mid-tempo hip-hop playing ]
[ Music continues ]
[ Insects chirping ]
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
[ Music continues ]
[ Engine idling ]
[ Brakes squeak ]
-[ Softly ]
Oh, shit.
Shit.
Hey, man, we need to brake.
Man, fuck.
Hey.
Hey. Hey. Fuck!
We need to brake, man.
Shit. F--
We need to fucking brake, man!
[ Thud, clattering ]
[ Bell chiming,
insects chirping ]
-[ Exhales deeply,
breathing heavily ]
[ Metal clanks,
buckle clicks ]
[ Exhales deeply ]
Jack?
[ Chiming continues ]
Jack.
[ Insects chirping ]
[ Horn blows in distance ]
[ Dog barking ]
[ Latch clicks ]
[ Exhales deeply ]
-Wake up, Uncle Monkey.
-[ Birds chirping ]
Wake up.
Wake up.
-[ Exhales deeply ]
Hey.
-Do you want to have breakfast
with me?
[ Water running ]
[ Metal clanking ]
-Sorry if I scared you.
[ Water running ]
I just needed a place
to crash.
I said I'm sorry, Kat.
[ Water running ]
[ Knock on door ]
-Okay, let's go get ready.
-What?
-He's in the kitchen.
-Hey, bud.
-No.
-I need you to come with us.
-No. No, no, no! No! No!
-Come on, bud. You're okay.
Come on. You're all right.
-I didn't fucking do anything!
I didn't do anything!
-She's gonna put the cuffs
on you.
-Why are you here?
-She's gonna search you.
Then we're gonna put you in
the car.
-I didn't do anything!
-There you go.
-Fuck you.
I did not do anything.
-The fuck are you here?
-Gonna go to the car.
-Fuck are you here?!
I didn't do anything!
-We're just here to help
you out, man. Let's go.
-Fuck you!
I didn't do anything.
-Kat!
-Come on, bud.
-I didn't do anything.
-[ Breathing heavily, sighs ]
[ Indistinct talking
on radio ]
[ Machine whirring ]
[ Computer chimes,
mouse clicking ]
-[ Shutter clicks ]
-Turn to your left.
-[ Shutter clicks ]
-Turn to your left.
[ Indistinct talking
on television ]
[ Buzzer sounds ]
-How you doing?
-You seen Jack?
-Well, first I want to talk
about you.
Your sister is really
concerned about you.
-Where's Jack?
-The sober living house found
Jack passed out this morning
in the hallway.
This is not
his first violation,
so we're gonna send him to
an intensive treatment center
in Greene County.
They have better tools
to work with Jack.
-So y'all are just gonna
should send him away?
-We're not sending him away.
He's not going to jail
or prison.
He's going to treatment.
He's going to treatment
to get better.
And because he's going
to treatment,
it opens up a room
at the sober house.
-I don't really want
that room.
-Why not?
-'Cause I'm fine in my car.
-You're clearly not fine
in your car.
-Well, you clearly don't know
what you're doing with us.
-I'm so sorry.
I'm so sorry
if you haven't felt supported
or we did something wrong.
You know,
but what I am gonna tell you
is that I'm gonna do
everything I can
for you and for Jack...
to help you guys
get through this.
Let's go get you a
Vivitrol shot this afternoon,
and we can figure it out from
there what the next step is.
I'll wait for you
in the parking lot.
I'll get you booked out.
[ Door opens ]
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
[ Buzzer sounds ]
[ Buzzer sounds ]
[ Birds chirping ]
[ Music continues ]
-You'll just feel
a little cold.
All right.
One, two, three.
All right.
Go ahead rub that in.
[ Buckle clanking ]
[ Music continues ]
-I'll check in with you later.
-Bye.
-Bye.
-How ya doin', buddy?
Welcome.
Come on.
I'll show you around.
Uh, laundry's in the basement.
If you want me to show you,
I can any time you want to.
Man, if you need anything,
my door is always open, okay?
All right.
[ Engine revving,
truck departing ]
-Here we go.
[ Baby babbling ]
-Okay.
Here we go.
[ Mid-tempo music playing ]
[ Vehicle departing ]
Cody.
It's Cody -- Cody, right?
-Uh -- Uh, yeah.
-Anna, from...
-Oh.
-...the other night.
-Oh, yeah.
-Yeah.
Oh. I do --
[ Laughs ]
I do peer support, uh,
over at the women's house.
-Oh.
Right.
-I'm another addict they can
talk to when --
when they need somebody
who's been through the program
and everything and...
Yeah.
-That's cool.
-Yeah. It's nuts.
People are crazy.
It's hard sometimes,
but I love it.
Um, what's going on here?
-Uh...I'm moving in here.
They -- They got me a room.
-Oh, nice.
Okay.
You and Jack?
-Uh, not exactly.
-Okay.
-Well, you need a hand
with anything?
-Uh, I-I'm good.
I think I got it.
Thanks, though.
-Well, it's good to see you.
I'll see -- I'll see you
around...neighbor.
-All right. Bye.
-Bye.
[ Knock on door ]
-Hey, Cody.
We're heading out, buddy.
[ Laughing ]
Is that why they released you?
-I'm not saying it's not why.
-It happens, bro.
It happens.
Hey, sweetie.
How you doing?
-I'm doing good!
-Good. You look good.
You look good.
-Great to see you again.
-I know.
[ Indistinct conversations ]
-Uh, my name is Bethany.
I'm an addict.
-Hi, Bethany.
-Hi, Bethany.
-So, in our reading
that we did, it says,
"We begin to identify
our feelings
and verbalize our thoughts
and emotions."
It's so crazy, 'cause
whenever I first got clean,
the only emotions that I knew
were the extremes.
Either it was really happy --
which I was never really
happy -- or I was angry.
It took me a long time to
even be like, "You know what?
This feeling that I'm feeling,
this is, um, hurt,
shame, guilt."
You know what I mean?
It's all them other feelings.
'Cause I would just be
on top of the world
or down in the dirt, you know?
And that was
a beautiful feeling.
'Cause I'd be like,
"Oh, my gosh.
I'm jealous right now.
Oh, my gosh. I have envy."
I don't even know what envy
was until I got into recovery.
You know, there was --
It was a beautiful thing.
And then it said
that as we share,
we see our members laughing
and nodding.
You know what I mean?
'Cause everybody's been
through that.
Everybody sits here --
Our stories might not be
the same,
but they're still similar.
Our feelings are all the same.
I'm sure we've all had
the shame and the guilt
and all them other feelings.
And it's such a good feeling
today to be around everybody
and know I'm not different.
I'm not a bad person.
I let drugs rule my life,
but today I don't have to
allow that anymore.
-Carrie.
Alcoholic, addict.
-Hey, Carrie.
-Hi, Carrie.
-I did drugs and alcohol
for a long time
because I didn't want to feel
life as life is, you know?
Um, today, this program
has taught me
that it's good for me
to feel things,
because I don't know how
to feel like normal people do.
And the tables and
the recovering addicts here
have taught me, like, how
to deal with the happiness,
the sadness, the madness,
the death, the grit, the --
you know, the emotions that I
never, ever wanted to feel.
And, um, I'm grate--
so grateful for these rooms,
because this is my cure.
And so with that,
it's a good day to be clean,
and I'll pass.
-Thank you.
-Thanks, Carrie.
-Um, I'm Cody,
and I'm an addict.
-Hi, Cody.
-Hi, Cody.
-I've been addicted to opiates
since I was 17,
and, uh, I'm part of the
Adult Recovery Court program.
And...that's why I'm here.
Uh, pass.
-Glad you're here.
-Thanks, Cody.
Glad you're here.
[ Rain falling ]
[ Thunder rumbling ]
[ Indistinct conversations,
machinery rattling ]
[ Gun clicking ]
-You mind, uh, giving me
a hand with this thing?
-How much are you
gonna pay me?
-Um...it'd have to be
like an IOU situation.
Just hold on
to the black part.
-There might be sharp bits.
-Okay.
-All right.
-Ow!
-Are you ser-- Oh.
[ Sighs ]
Don't do that.
All right.
[ Grunts ]
Okay. Yeah.
We'll just put it down here.
Thanks.
-Sure.
-Now what?
-[ Exhales deeply ]
I would offer to, like...
...give you driving lessons
or something.
But...
-Or you could just
drive me places.
I always wanted a chauffeur.
-You sure you want the, uh,
guy with the crashed car
to be your chauffeur?
-Well, you know, me,
I always drug-test my drivers.
It's the first thing I do.
I just want to make sure
that we're gonna get...
we're gonna get there
in one piece.
-That's --
That's probably smart.
-Yeah.
-[ Phone chimes ]
[ Ratchet clicking ]
-Yeah.
I got to go.
-All right.
-You going to the graduation?
-Um...
Yeah, I'm...thinking about it.
-Mm-hmm.
Okay.
I'll see you there.
-Bye.
-Bye.
[ Ratchet clicking ]
-Thanks to Adult
Recovery Court,
I have learned that I don't
need drugs to be happy.
True happiness comes
from building a life
that I am proud of,
a life that doesn't revolve
around drugs.
Today, I have a job I am proud
of, working with Bahan Law.
I have my own apartment.
I have reconnected
with my family.
That connection means more to
me than I can put into words.
I want to thank Judge Braig
and the staff
at Adult Recovery Court
for their tough love
and support.
You showed me that I'm capable
of more than I had
ever thought,
and they gave me the push
I needed when I...
when -- sorry --
push I needed when I was ready
to give up.
And to everyone
still in the program,
just let me say
the hardest day in drug court
is still easier than any day
on drugs.
[ Cheers and applause ]
-Is that okay with you?
-I can do that.
-Did I bring enough?
-Look over here.
-Got a little wet.
-Yeah. Just wait a minute.
[ Indistinct conversations,
laughter ]
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
-My husband was like, "Wait.
You're gonna burn
the house down."
I'm like, "You borrowed the
thing, and I told you not to."
-There's a story of a snake
that was sleeping
with their owner
just to size them up
to eat them.
-Oh, my God.
-I heard that story.
-Like, boa constrictors?
Those big, huge one.
-It would not eat 'cause
it was saving room for her.
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
-Take it?
-Yep.
-Easiest thing we've done.
-Yeah. There we g--
-[ Both laughing ]
-Sorry.
[ Music continues ]
-Gonna pop all those too?
-Yeah.
[ Balloon pops,
man gasps loudly ]
-[ Laughter ]
-My job here is done.
-[ Insects chirping ]
-Wow.
[ Indistinct conversation ]
Where do you think
you're gonna go after this?
-Um...
Thought about moving
to Columbus, maybe, after.
Oh.
Me and Jack always
talked about moving there.
Nice to get away.
And a friend of mine
from high school
has, like, a bookstore there,
so I thought maybe I could get
a job there.
Maybe. I don't know.
What about you?
-Well, I'm gonna be there...
in the fall.
Like, part time, at least.
I'm, um...
I'm gonna go back to school.
-Oh.
-Mm.
-What for?
What?
-Nothing.
I just, like...
I'm gonna be a therapist.
-You'll be good at that.
-You think?
-Yeah.
-That's nice.
I've been rethinking it
a little bit lately.
Like, 'cause it's, like...
Like, if everybody here
leaves, then, like...
who's gonna be here
for the people who can't?
[ Bell tolling ]
I don't know
what I'm talking about.
-No.
It -- It makes sense.
Makes a lot of sense.
-Well, you're easy to talk to,
I guess.
Sorry. Sorry. Sorry.
I just -- I-I can't.
I can't right now.
I want to.
[ Chuckles softly ]
I'm just really working on...
...moving towards custody
and stuff and, you know,
like, just with my own shit
going on...
-No. I get it.
-I'm really just trying...
...not to get involved.
-Yeah. Sorry.
I...
-I'm desperate for a job.
I've been applying
for everywhere.
-You've been applying
for a while now.
-Yeah. Um, well,
this last week especially.
And I had two interviews
last week.
I got hired at T.J. Maxx,
but they got to do
a background check first,
and I'm not confident in that
now.
-Right.
-But, um, they said
as long as my background check
comes back good,
I'm good to start working
there whenever they start up
on May 19th.
-All right.
Very good.
Good luck with the --
with everything.
-Have a good day.
-All right.
I'm gonna start
with the folks on video.
Jack, how you doing?
-I'm good.
How are you doing, sir?
-Doing good.
Thanks for asking.
How are they treating you down
there at Christopher House?
-[ Laughs ]
Good. Real good.
It's, uh,
it's going good, man.
It's quiet.
Um, real quiet.
When I first got here I didn't
know what to do with myself,
but, uh, you know,
I'm, uh, fishing --
fishing and stuff and,
you know, taking it easy.
I, um, I'm gonna ask.
You catch that Reds game
last night?
-Oh, I sure did. Yeah.
Uh-huh.
-[ Laughs ]
-Yeah.
-I mean, shit --
um, pardon my -- my language.
Um, dang! I mean,
that was something, huh?
-It was something. Yeah.
All right.
It's good to see you.
Take care, okay, Jack?
-All right. Yep.
-Bye, Jack.
-Bye, now.
-See ya.
[ Nail guns clicking ]
[ Insects chirping ]
-Trevor.
I'm an addict.
-Hey, Trevor.
-Hey, Trevor.
-I actually was married
for a while,
and both me and my wife
went down the wrong paths.
Neither one of us
could say no.
And we basically fueled
each other
to continue to do drugs
until it got to the point
to where I made a decision
in my life to --
to get better for my kids.
I have three daughters.
I mean, I've been clean
three years now,
and I still feel bad
when I look at my kids
because I think at the time
that I didn't have with them.
But I can say that I got
full custody of my girls.
I've been clean
for three years.
-[ Applause ]
-And they're with me now,
and I coach their T-ball team
and their softball team,
and I absolutely love
my girls to death.
-That's awesome.
-So keep in there, guys.
Keep working hard, okay?
Get yourself
around good people.
-Yes.
-Good people.
Like you said, it's people,
places, and things, for sure.
For sure.
I pass.
-Thanks, Trevor.
-Thanks, Trevor.
-I knew Trevor
when he was a baby.
Me and his mom were, like,
really, really good friends.
So sometimes, like, sitting
here, I'm embarrassed,
because, you know,
I'm the mom.
I have kids his age,
and it's embarrassing for me
at this age to be an addict.
So when I seen him --
And I never really knew
your story, so...
But I know your mom and dad
are very proud of you,
and I see all the pictures
of all your girls.
So congratulations, buddy.
-Thank you.
-You're welcome.
Now I'm here -- I'm almost --
I'll have my six months
next month, so, I mean...
-Nice.
-That's a big deal.
-Keep coming.
Keep coming.
-Working to get my family
back, so with that, I pass.
-Thanks, Shannon.
-Thank you, Shannon.
-Love you.
-I'm Cody, and I'm an addict.
-Hey, Cody.
-Hey, Cody.
-Um...
Well, I guess...
there's something
I've been thinking about.
Um, my mom used to call me
a hurricane.
And, um...
Which I never really
understood what it meant,
and, um...I guess doing this,
I'm, like, starting to see it
a little bit more.
Um...I was the first person
to give my brother heroin.
My brother Jack,
seven years ago.
Um, he's not my real brother.
He's my, uh, foster brother.
But t was never really like
that when we were growing up.
It was never really, like,
different.
And, um...
...he and my sister, like,
were really close for a while.
I guess they just have, uh,
personalities that click,
you know?
And, um, I was kinda...
...really breaking into
her house a lot, you know?
Stealing stuff, and, um...
...I would use her place to go
and shoot up
when I didn't have, like,
anywhere else to go.
She kicked me out a lot.
[ Clears throat ]
Um...
And she found out about
Jack using
when she found us
in her bathroom.
And I guess we were in
pretty bad shape, and, um...
...she called an ambulance.
And, um...
Sorry.
-You're all right.
-It's all right.
-Wasn't until I came around
a little bit later
and saw her looking at Jack
in the hospital bed...
...I kind of realized,
you know, um...
I'd just never really seen her
like that before.
So it made me think,
and, um...
I think just doing this and...
...going to meetings
and talking about it,
it's the first time
I've really, like,
seen it in a different way,
you know?
So...um, yeah, I'm just trying
to work it out.
Um, with that, I pass.
-Thanks, Cody.
-We're glad you're here.
[ Knock on door ]
[ Birds chirping ]
-Hey.
-Hi.
Just wondered if I could
come in and just say hi.
-You want to try to put that
in there?
-I'm gonna put this.
-I like this.
[ Toy rattling, clicks ]
-I connected.
-Hey. You did.
Nice.
You ever tried eating it
without a spoon?
-No.
-You've never seen that?
Check this out.
Ready?
[ Laughs ]
You want to try?
There you go.
[ Laughs ]
One time when I was little,
I got it all over my face.
I looked like Casper
the Friendly Ghost.
-Who is that?
-You don't know who Casper is?
-No.
-You've never seen Casper
the Friendly Ghost?
-No.
Mnh-mnh.
-You never showed her that?
-No.
-Oh.
-All right.
-You'd love it.
-I think it's bedtime,
Miss Harley.
Now that you're all
sugared up.
Perfect time for bed.
Say thank you for all
the burgers and the wood.
You got some good work done.
All right.
-I'll see you soon.
[ Water running ]
[ Footsteps approaching ]
-Found those the other day.
I think it's like his fifth
birthday party or something.
-I think you're right.
Have you heard from him?
-Mm-hmm.
-How's he doing?
-Uh, he's good.
He says he's back on the path
to graduating.
This summer, I think.
Um, he's working at a kitchen
down there.
Seems like he likes it.
He asked about you.
He said he'd tried to call.
-What'd you tell him?
-I didn't know.
-I know you and me, um,
never really, like...
Maybe you didn't want to hear
from me.
But I want to tell you
that I'm sorry.
Been going to a lot
of these meetings and, um...
...seeing it all...
...a lot of the stuff
that happened.
And, um...
Yeah, best I can do
is take, like,
a really close look
at it and...
...make sure you know
that I'm sorry.
-I just don't know
what you want me to say.
-I don't either.
I just wanted to tell you
and make sure you knew.
-I think that there's just...
...a lot that I cannot
understand.
And there's just a lot that
I do not know how to forgive.
[ Insects chirping, vehicles
passing in distance ]
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
[ Music continues ]
[ Music continues ]
-All right.
Let's see.
[ Ratchet clicking ]
[ Dog barking in distance ]
[ Engine starts ]
That's working.
[ Chuckles ]
-[ Laughs ]
-It worked.
[ Urinating ]
[ Toilet flushing ]
-You've been with us now
four months,
and, you know, we're kind of
looking back at the calendar.
Uh, doing well.
Doing your meetings.
You know,
you're a good example
for the new people coming in.
How do you feel about where
you're at in your recovery?
-Um, yeah,
I think pretty good.
-We think so, too.
The judge thinks so.
Matter of fact, he'd like to
promote you to phase two.
-Really?
-Yeah. Absolutely.
So you need to work
on a letter.
Bring it to court on Monday.
-Okay.
Thanks.
[ Down-tempo hip-hop playing ]
[ Indistinct conversations ]
[ Phone buzzing ]
What is it?
-They found him
in the employee restroom
at McKinley's before his shift
was about to start.
It was fentanyl.
An ambulance was called,
and they tried to
resuscitate him there
and again numerous times
on the way to the hospital,
which is where he passed away.
-[ Inhales deeply, sobs ]
-I'm so sorry for your loss.
-Okay.
Thank you.
Thank you.
[ Birds chirping ]
[ Nail gun clicking ]
[ Insects chirping ]
[ Train passing ]
[ Engine stops ]
[ Chimes ringing ]
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
[ Music continues ]
[ Insects chirping ]
[ Line ringing ]
[ Phone ringing ]
-Hello?
-[ Sniffles, exhales deeply ]
-Cody?
[ Insects chirping ]
[ Sobs softly ]
-I'm so sorry.
-Everybody said he was doing
so well.
-He was.
He was.
-I just...
I didn't think it was gonna
end up this way.
-[ Softly ] I know.
You know,
one of the things I've learned
over the years doing this
is that...
it's never really
anyone's fault.
It's not Jack's fault.
It's not my fault.
It's not your fault.
I know that's hard to believe,
but it's true.
Cody, I'm gonna stay
on the phone with you
as long as you need me to.
I'm here.
I'm not going anywhere.
[ Birds chirping ]
-[ Exhales deeply, sniffs ]
[ Engine starts ]
[ Vehicle approaching ]
-[ Exhales deeply ]
Man.
[ Engine stops ]
[ Paper crinkling ]
-[ Clears throat ]
I'm writing this letter
to begin phase two
of Adult Recovery Court.
I'd like to start by thanking
the judge,
Jim, Eric, Mandy, Gary,
Annette, peer support,
and everyone else who has
helped me get to this point.
You really care about us
and our recovery.
You want us to do better
for ourselves
and for the people around us,
and that means a lot.
I'd also like to thank
the other participants
in the program
for setting a good example
for me to follow
and supporting me
when I thought about giving up
or I didn't want to be here.
This is a day...
Sorry.
This is a day
I didn't think I'd get to.
My brother Jack
should be standing up here.
I accept that that's
not possible...
...and that's something
I can't change.
But with the support
of you all,
I have the courage
to keep going
and to change the things
I can.
In phase two, I will work
towards getting my own place
and finding a sponsor.
I will continue to rebuild
my trust
with -- with people
and my family.
I hope I can be a better
brother, a better uncle,
and a better friend
moving forward
and someone
who people can rely on.
This is definitely the hardest
thing I've ever done,
but I'm grateful to be here.
I'm gonna keep working.
Thank you.
-That's great.
-Whoo!
[ Down-tempo music plays ]
-I know you worked
real hard at it, Cody,
and, uh, you've done a
great job here in this phase.
And so the court
is promoting you to phase two.
Congratulations.
-Great job.
Here. We got a little
something for you.
There's your certificate.
-Thanks.
Thank you.
-See you in a few weeks.
-Thank you. Appreciate it.
-Devonte.
[ Music continues ]
-Hey, buddy.
-[ Whispering indistinctly ]
-No, I think you're fine.
-How you doing, Devonte?
-Good.
-That's good.
How was your weekend?
-Um, my weekend was all right.
The kids are...
[ Music builds, continues ]