The Devil Made Me Do It begins in the front yard of a house. A man lays on his back with a bullet wound in his chest. (I have to appologise, My tape missed the first scene. Kristi was nice enough to forward these transcripts to me, but I cant say who said the first several lines. Please let me know if these are not correct)

Lt. Williams - Meet Mr. Ricky Clark. Down twice, felony armed robbery.

Will - He the bad guy in this?

Lt. Williams - That's what I'm thinking. Allan burns, husband and father. Clark was burglarizing the home. When burns confronted him, shots were exchanged, death ensued on the front lawn.

Will - Get him, let him talk to his wife and kids.

Lt. Williams - Standard operating procedure ISO--

Will - Guy protects his family, we don't treat him like a criminal.

Lt. Williams - Man died, chief. We gotta take the shooter into custody pending investigation.

Will - We do it by the book, detective, but the nice version of the book, ok? Looks to me like it all worked out for the best.

Lt. Williams - Not for ricky clark. Too law and order?

We fade out on this scene with the familiar law and order scene transition music. Nice touch. We cut the next scene. Joan is walking to school and a woman is sleepwalking down the street near her.

Woman - You'll make better time if you pump your arms!

Joan - Thanks for the tip.

Woman - Be more physically active. Remember how good you felt when you were building that boat and working out with the cheerleaders? A happy outlook is all about endorphins.

Joan - So, what, you want me to join the track team? 'Cause I'm not playing field hockey, even for god.

God - You're familiar with the upcoming art show?

Joan - Absolutely, 'cause, you know, art's really my thing, next to field hockey.

God - They're gonna need some help moving the exhibits around, you know, brute strength.

Joan - So, what, this is my future, right, unless I pull my grades up?

God - Why are people always trying to discern my deeper meanings? This is the kind of thinking that starts wars. Stop it.

Joan - I always thought you'd be nicer!

The opening credits role and we go to our first commercial break.

We come back from Commercial break in the high school office. Joan is standing at the counter and Helen is busy working around her.

Helen - Can I help you, complete stranger who I happen to know should be in english class in 2 minutes?

Joan - Uh, witty, mom. Who do I talk to about the art show?

Helen - What do you need to know?

Joan - Who I talk to about the art show?

Helen - What kind of talk?

Joan - Mom, do you really want me to miss english or what? I'm gonna volunteer.

Helen - As an artist?

Joan - No, to help move things around.

Helen - Oh. Why?

Joan - For community service points.

Helen - This doesn't qualify.

Joan - Then to just be a good citizen. Cripes, mom, could you please just tell me which has-been failed teacher/artist is organizing the dumb-ass art show?

Helen - Volunteers for the art show are to report to the auditorium at lunch and the has-been failed artist... that would be me.

We go back to the crime scene to work on the cast with Will.

Reporter - Chief Girardi, do you foresee releasing allan burns today?

Will - The matter is still under investigation.

Reporter - Do you see his actions as heroic?

Will - I'm guessing that Mr. Burns will claim justifiable homicide, that he was simply protecting his home and family from a dangerous intruder, but I'm only guessing because I'm not his defence lawyer, I'm a cop, and you talking to me about this is like asking a figure skater about the state of the economy.

The reporters laugh and we leave the scene again.

Next we see Kevin in a music store at the mall. He is browsing the shelves and a store clerk comes to put CDs away. On his way, the store clerk drops some CDs

Clerk - It's cool, bro. Can I help you?

Kevin - Uh, there's this band called red house painters...

Clerk - yeah, we don't really carry anything good, just, you know, million sellers, so...

Kevin leaves the store and the security buzzer goes off.

Kevin - I don't have anything.

Clerk - No sweat. Have a good day.

After that short scene we go to the High School again where Helen and the other volunteers are setting up for the art show.

Helen - I want to intersperse the plastic arts amongst the concrete arts, so this should be moved over there. Could you all just help me? I think if you grab it maybe down here... Joan - Mom, I think grace polk is juggling the ceramics.

Helen - No, no! Art is not for juggling.

Joan - (to the other volunteers) Ok, so how do we move this without skewering our eyeballs?

Volunteer - Hey, did you notice who made this?

Joan - "A.R." Adam rove? Adam made this?

Volunteer - Yeah. By now, you ought to recognize his style, Joan...and mine.

Joan - Maybe if you picked one style, I might.

God - All styles is my style, all right? And I'd rather adam's sculpture not be part of the show.

Joan - Why? Sorry. Reflex action, like barfing. I'm not sure you understand. Of course you understand. You understand everything, but it's difficult for me... you already know it's difficult for me. Ok, listen, I--I don't hate adam. You're asking me to-- to prevent this from going on display. That simple?

God - That simple. Ok? And you're gonna have to find somebody else to help you move this thing.

Joan - Shirker!

End scene and cut to the police station. Will is talking to D.A Fellows.

D.A Fellows - I do not want to lay charges against this man.

Will - I agree.

D.A Fellows - Middle of the night, this hard-working, solid citizen is in bed with the wife, his own wife, with his children asleep down the hallway.

Will - It's the D.A.'S decision whether or not to lay charges. Frankly, I'd be happy if you didn't.

D.A Fellows - He hears glass break downstairs. He fetches his properly licensed and registered weapon from the gun safe and loads it with ammunition he keeps in a separate locked box. He surprises an armed intruder.

Will - Shots are exchanged. The good guy is left standing, the bad guy dies, and choirs of angels sing in joy what do you want from me?

D.A Fellows - I want you to say he's a hero, that this is not a murder case.

Will - He is a hero.

D.A Fellows - I want you to say it to the press. Leave figure skaters out of it. That would not be smart. Leaving out figure skaters?

Will - A police chief should not comment on the relative guilt or innocence of a suspect before the investigation is complete.

D.A Fellows - So complete the investigation, then tell the press he's a hero.

Will - That is my plan.

D.A Fellows - You're not fighting me on this?

Will - No. We're in complete agreement. I find that disconcerting.

This episode is full of short scenes. This one ends and we go back to the high school. Joan approaches Adam in the hall way.

Joan - Adam.

Adam - Cha, jane. Hey. You ever seen anything like this before? Hold that.

Joan - Yeah. I need to talk to you about your entry the art show.

Adam - Where'd you see it?

Joan - I'm helping out as a volunteer.

Adam - No, I meant this.

Joan - Every kid makes necklaces out of those. Listen, have you considered rethinking entering the art show?

Adam - What? I thought I invented this.

Joan - Adam, forget about the soda pop necklace, ok? Art show, art show, art show. Art show, art...

Adam - so, wait, why don't you want me to enter?

Joan - What would be a good reason?

Adam - If my piece blew chunks.

Joan - No. No, no, no, no. It doesn't... it doesn't blow chunks. What I think is, um... they're not ready for you. You're avant-garde, ok? This whole thing is basically very high school

Adam - No! No. Don't go there. I thought you got my work. I thought you liked it.

Joan - I do. I do like it. No. I do like it. That's why, you know... I want to buy it. I want you to withdraw your piece from the art show so that I can buy it.

Adam - Unchallenged?

Joan - Yeah. How much?

Adam - I'll give it to you.

Joan - Great. Great, 'cause I love it. Really, it's avant-garde.

Adam - Well, it's yours. Ok. After the art show.

Joan - What's the big deal?

Adam - Cha, Jane, there's gallery owners and then there's buyers and there's judges and the papers. There's not very many things I have a chance to win and this is one of them, so I'd like that... and so would my dad and... so would my mom... if she were here. So I want to win.

Adam walks away and so does Joan - we cut to commercial.

We return to the show in the art room again. Joan is there trying to think about what to do about the art project. A school Security guard interrupts her.

Security Guard - What do you think you're doing?

Joan - Um, uh, I--I, um...

Security Guard - are you trying to steal this sculpture?

Joan - No, no, no, no. Not--not steal. The artist said I could have it. You know, you'd make my life a lot easier if you just arrested me right now and took me to jail.

Security Guard - You want to lift something that heavy, you need help.

Joan - Or maybe you could help me. That's what people say, right? I mean, god, help me? God - I take more of an advisory role in our work together.

Joan - Adam won't pull this thing out of the competition. It's too big for me to steal. I'm out of ideas.

God - Then you're gonna have to think harder.

Joan - Are we like, afraid that Adam won't win and this is gonna break his heart? Or maybe, maybe someone's gonna trip over it and then try to sue the school.

God - I like the way you're beginning to consider the results and ramifications of our work together. Turn the lights off when you leave.

Later that evening at the Girardi house for Dinner. Helen and Luke are in the kitchen and Joan is just coming in.

Joan - Is dad home?

Helen - Hi, honey, nice to see you too. What do you need dad for?

Joan - What's with this new thing I ask you a question and you ask me 20 questions about Luke - I think of it as socratic parenting.

Will - I'm home!

Joan - Daddy! Is it ever ok to break the law?

Will - Somebody kills somebody, it's serious, no matter what the circumstance.

Joan - Who said anything about killing?

Will - What are we talking about?

Helen - I'm not allowed to ask.

Kevin - I'm home. What's to eat?

Will - (to Kevin) Hey, how was work?

Kevin - Let's just say I know a lot more about Ashton Kutchner than I really want to.

Joan and Helen - Kutcher! Hey, what's with that shot you took at figure skaters?

Will - It was an analogy.

Joan - Dad, is it ever ok to do something wrong for a good reason?

Kevin - Are you talking about Allan Burns?

Joan - Who's Allan Burns?

Luke - The guy who shot the robber.

Joan - Is that illegal?

Will - Technically.

Helen - I can't believe you're not allowed to shoot an armed robber breaking into your home.

Will - Well, honey, you're from the south.

Kevin - Come on, dad, if someone was breaking into our house, you'd kill him.

Luke - No, no, dad wouldn't kill him. He'd shoot him in the legs.

Kevin - Uh, he didn't shoot the bank robber in the legs.

Helen - Kevin!

Joan - My father shot a bank robber?

Kevin - twice.

Will - Kevin.

Joan - When was this?

Kevin - When I was 6.

Luke - Wait--wait, did your victim die?

Will - My victim?

Joan - Dad, you killed someone?

Will - I--I didn't mean... it wasn't my victim. He was shooting... can we just drop this?

Joan - Ok, so sometimes it is all right to do something that looks wrong if you have a good reason.

Luke - Dad blew away a bank robber. That's the coolest thing I've ever heard.

Will - No, it's not. It's not cool to take another person's life in any situation. It might be unavoidable, but it's not cool. I'm not proud of it. I see that man's face every day. It's not something I boast about, and it's not something I want my children boasting about.

Helen - All right, can we please have dinner, and find something nice to discuss?

Later after dinner when Joan and Helen are cleaning up.

Joan - Mom, you know a lot about art, right?

Helen - Oh, about as much as the next has-been failed artist.

Joan - All right, I'm sorry, ok? You kind of led me into it.

Kevin - (coming into the room) I gotta go out.

Helen - Why?

Kevin - Because I accidentally stole a CD and given the high moral tone of this family, I'm going to return it.

Helen - How do you accidentally steal something?

Joan - Ooh, you're in for it now, buddy.

Kevin - I didn't notice that it fell between my butt and the chair and since I can't feel my butt...

Helen - fine. Drive carefully.

Joan - Mom, you know Adam's sculpture, the one in the art show?

Helen - "Ascension"?

Joan - What?

Helen - He wanted to call it "the thing made out of stuff," and I talked him into "ascension."

Joan - Is it any good?

Helen - Is that why you volunteered? To show support for your friend? Why didn't you just say so? Was it because you didn't want me prying into your relationship with Adam? Because I know the importance of boundaries.

Joan - Mom, do you really need me for this conversation?

Helen - Adam shows a lot of potential. He's unschooled and he's raw and he hasn't yet figured out where he stands on the nexus between non-objective abstraction and neo-expressionism--

Joan - again, mom, you don't need me for this. So, mom, in simple language, is Adam any good?

Helen - I think he has the potential to be great.

Joan - Yeah. I gotta go see grace.

Helen - Grace Polk? Tonight?

Next scene begins as Kevin enters the Music store he was in earlier.

Clerk - Thank you for shopping in a store instead of stealing off the internet. Hey! It's red house painter Guy

Kevin - yeah, um, remember when I left earlier today the beeper went off? It was because I accidentally took this Jason Mraz CD, so, sorry.

Clerk - Keep it, man.

Kevin - Keep it?

Clerk - Sure, uh, we write off a certain amount to shoplifting, anyway, so...

Kevin - but I didn't steal it... and it's Jason Mraz.

Clerk - You're an honest guy, so for a reward, keep it.

Kevin - Are you giving it to me because I'm honest or because I'm in a wheelchair?

Clerk - Whatever.

Kevin - Whatever? What if I take this, too? Would you call the cops?

Clerk - Right. I'm gonna call the cops on a guy in a wheelchair.

Kevin - Why not? I'm stealing.

Clerk - 'Cause you got enough problems, ok?

Kevin leaves the store and the alarm goes off. He is honest though and throws the Cds back into the store.

Next to Joan standing outside a house that we find out is Graces. She knocks on the door and a Man answers.

Joan - Mr. Polk?

Rabbi Polonsky - It's Rabbi Polonsky, if you please. How do you do? Um, I assume you're a friend of Grace's?

Joan - Uh, Joan Girardi.

Rabbi Polonsky - Hi, How are you? Well, um, despite our different names, Grace is my daughter. You see, her great-grandparents changed our name to Polk, then I changed it back to Polonsky and to defy her father, which is healthy in moderation, uh, Grace kept Polk. Also, she's not home. Is there a message?

Joan - Oh, well, I just dropped by to ask a favour.

Rabbi Polonsky - Oh? What favour?

Joan - Well, now that I'm thinking about it, I'll just leave a note on her locker.

Rabbi Polonsky - All right, I won't ask. Fine. Good night, Joan Girardi.

Joan - Um, rabbi, can I ask you a religious question?

Rabbi Polonsky - Well, a small one, maybe, all right? 'Cause I'm enjoying my dessert.

Joan - W-would god ever ask a person to do something bad?

Rabbi Polonsky - No. No, and for future reference, evil is a large question.

Joan - So if someone were asking me to do something wrong, they would probably be working for the devil?

Rabbi Polonsky - You see, we don't really believe in "the devil." Why don't you have a seat for a moment, ok? Here. Sit down. Now, if you mean yetzer hara, which is our own inclination towards evil, that comes between us and god, then the answer is maybe. Why? Is somebody asking you to do something wrong?

Joan - I'm not sure.

Rabbi Polonsky - I see, well, yetzer hara just thrives on moral confusion.

Joan - Hmm. What do I do?

Rabbi Polonsky - Confuse the confuser. You act with righteousness and you act with kindness, then you follow yetzer hatov... that's your own good inclination. So, good night?

Joan - Oh, good night. Enjoy your dessert.

Rabbi Polonsky - Thank you.

We end the scene and cut to our next commercial break.

We come back from commercial to the art room. Joan is still puzzled over what to do with Adams art.

Grace - Girardi!

Joan - Hey, thanks for coming. I need your help.

Grace - What the hell made you think you could just drop by my place?!

Joan - You never said I couldn't.

Grace - Well, I figured you had the brains to deduce from my general vibe.

Joan - Oh, yeah, like I deduced that your dad's a rabbi, a really nice rabbi, and that your real last name is Polonsky.

Grace - Don't stop by my house, unless your invited, which will never happen.

Joan - Wait, I need you to help me steal this!

Grace - I'm mad at you! I'm yelling at you! I wouldn't help you do anything! Don't you pick up any signals at all?

Grace leaves the room and the next bit is Joan to God who is not in the room. She is just speaking to the air.

Joan - Excuse me, but I'm out of ideas. But if you expect me to destroy this, that's just evil. Do you do that? Well, do you?!

The next scene takes us to the police station. Will and Lt. Williams are sitting in a questioning room with Allan Burns and his lawyer, Ms Hamdon.

Will - I appreciate your cooperation.

Ms. Hamdon - My client is willing to cooperate fully because he has nothing to hide.

Allan Burns - What happened is not completely clear in my own mind.

Ms. Hamdon - My client is traumatized by the fact that he used force to end another man's life, and he's traumatized by his incarceration.

Will - Ms. Hamdon, you don't need to use your courtroom voice on me.

Ms. Hamdon - Really? Because I'm a little confused why the chief of police is asking these questions.

Lt. Williams - We'd all prefer that the evidence show that Mr. Burns acted purely in self-defence, but it doesn't.

Allan Burns - Oh, my god.

Ms. Hamdon - Relax, Allan. I've read the forensics report, and nothing in it indicates that you acted in a pernicious manner.

Allan Burns - He shot at me first.

Will - You're certain of that?

Allan Burns - It's the one thing I am certain of. I was coming down the staircase... uh, there was only light from the street lights outside. I saw a shape... I saw the flash from the muzzle when he fired at me, and I fired back. He, uh, he ran... on the lawn... he--he aimed at me again, but I shot first. Pop. Just like that. I thought I missed him, but I didn't. I didn't miss him.

Ms. Hamdon - Mr. Burns protected his wife and his family at great personal risk. He should not be in jail.

Will - Mr. Burns, could you tell me how a man like yourself came to own a gun?

Ms. Hamdon - The weapon was legally purchased, registered--

Will - that's not what I asked. I'd like to know why.

Allan Burns - My wife and i were mugged 2 years ago. I was beaten. Fine. I could take that, but they beat my wife... in front of me... and they said things to her. And she called for help. And there wasn't a damn thing I could do about it. Do you have any idea what that feels like? So I swore that that would never happen again. I bought a gun.

We end this scene and go to the art room again. Its during the art show now.

Mr. Price - It's a fine job, Mrs. Girardi.

Helen - Yeah, it's turning out really well.

Mr. Price - Well, let's see how many kids actually make a sale before we jump to any conclusions.

Helen - The show isn't about sales. It's about display and community. It's about young artists sensing the dynamic between creator and audience.

Adam - (to Joan )Hey, how do I look?

Joan - Like always.

Adam - This is a new hoodie.

Joan - Ok, adam, I think people have seen this enough. Let's take it out of the show. Relax, Jane. It has your name on it.

Priest "Ascension." Hmm. That's very apropos.

Joan - Are you a priest?

Priest - Roman catholic, yes.

Joan - (pulling the priest aside) I have to ask you a question.

Priest - Hey, you're Joan Girardi. Hasn't your mother ever mentioned me to you? We--she invited me here today.

Joan - Oh, that's great. Would god ever ask a person to do something wrong?

Priest - What do you mean by ask?

Joan - Well, want or...require.

Priest - God doesn't ask his children to do evil.

Joan - What about the whole inquisition/torture business?

Priest - Well, you really are a lot like your mother. Uh, I would explain the inquisition as a case of men being duped by the adversary and to believe--

Joan - The Adversary! Ha! Like Satan.

Priest - I realize it sounds melodramatic, but yes.

Joan - S-s-so the devil really exists.

Priest - One of his best tricks is to get people to believe he doesn't exist, or to take on the guise of our lord.

Joan - The devil imitates god?

Priest - In essence.

Joan - Is he any good?

Priest - Very good. In fact, in the book of revelations, it tells us that when the antichrist first appears, even the most godly may be fooled.

Joan - Yeah, like when you first hear Dave Matthews and you think he's good, but...he's not.

Priest - I don't know who that is.

Helen: (to Adam on the other side of the room) You sold it? $500. Adam! That's amazing.

Joan - This is a creepy development.

Helen - Adam made a sale. Ooh, I'm gonna go rub price's nose in this.

Adam - Ok, don't get mad, but um... this old lady just offered me money.

Joan - $500?

Adam - Yeah. I know, I'm sorry, but I'll make you another one, ok?

Helen - Adam. Adam, bring your check over here. Show him.

End scene and go now to a little arts and crafts shop. Kevin and Luke are shopping. Well, Luke is shopping but Kevin is just looking.

Luke - You know, I'm not certain this magnet is powerful enough for my needs.

Kevin - Mm-hmm. (He puts a little jar of paint in is pocket)

Luke - See, 'cause what I want to do is make a rail gun that lessens the power requirements of the compulsator by increasing the magnetic field using ceramic magnets.

Kevin - Just give me the magnet! (he puts the magnet and another jar of paint in his pocket)

Luke - Oh. Well, Mr. Big bucks has a job and wants to show off. Thanks. What are you-- what are you doing?

Kevin - It's called the wheelchair discount. (Kevin puts only 1 or 2 jars of paint on the counter. We know he has many more in his pockets)

Clerk - Will that be all?

Kevin - Yeah.

Luke - Kev? What?

Kevin - Shut up.

Luke - Give me the magnet.

Kevin - Fine. Be jelly. I'm just trying to help you out here.

Luke - Be that as it may--

Kevin - (to the clerk) you want me to empty out my pockets or anything?

Clerk - No, it's ok.

Kevin - 'Cause sometimes my chair sets off the alarm.

Clerk - Uh, it won't be necessary. $3.87, please. See?

Kevin - (To Luke ) It's like being invisible. Isn't that one of those geek powers you always used to wish for?

Luke - (To the clerk) Is this the strongest magnet you've got?

Clerk - Uh, yeah. $6.49.

Kevin - (to Luke ) That's $6.49 you could have saved. (and he wheels out)

Luke - Keep the change.

Clerk - Out of a 20?

Kevin roles back up to the counter and puts the remaining paint jars on the counter and leaves.

Luke - I'm sorry, um, I'll pay for these.

Clerk - Poor guy, right? I mean, he's got it tough. Poor bastard.

Luke - Ok. See, what you're doing right there, you might as well spit on him. It even makes me want to steal from you. I know you're trying to be a nice guy, here, but still, I'd like to smash your face.

We leave the scene as Luke walks out of the store.

Back on the street where Joan was walking before. The power walking God powers up to her.

Joan - Im having second thoughts about you.

God - It's called a crisis of faith. It's all right. It's not really faith if there's no crisis. Faith is an act of will, not a feeling.

Joan - How do I know you're not the devil? You asked me to do something which I didn't do, and a good thing happened to Adam. Why would god want a good thing not to happen.

God - I understand you're confused, but there are no dilemmas without confusion, there's no free will without dilemmas, and there's no humanity without free will.

Joan - You know, I don't understand what you're saying. It's all just blah, blah, blah.

God - It's not for now. Its for later.

Joan - Are you really god?

God - You know I am.

Joan - You know I don't know you are, and maybe you don't know because aren't really god or maybe I'm crazy and talking to thin air.

God - You're confused because I asked you to do something you thought was wrong.

Joan - I tried talking Adam out of it. I tried buying it. I tried stealing it. What else is there? I mean, you want me to smash it?

God - Do blame me for your failure of imagination. What you have to ask yourself is what are you going to do now? That's what m all about, your next chance to do the right thing. That's how you know I'm who I am. That's how you shall know me from all others. What are you going to do now? Every new decision is another chance to do the right thing. You don't get that from the other side.

Joan - What's wrong with Adam making a little bit of money? I mean, if you took a second to explain it--

God - if I explain it to you, then there's no need for faith. Remember, Joan, it's all about what you do next. Don't be late for school.

But of course Joan is late for school. The next scene is Joan and Helen in the office.

Helen - How can you be late for school? You left home before I did. You didn't stop somewhere and smoke a cigarette?

Joan - Mom!

Mr. Price Mr. Rove, you are making a huge mistake.

Adam - You have to say that.

Mr. Price - You cannot go out into the world without finishing high school.

Adam - I am artist. Yo. What do I care about school for? hey! It's Bastille day, Jane. I'm free man.

Joan - Adam, are you quitting school?

Adam - Well, my dad says I can't quit school unless I can pay rent, so I got, like 500 bucks off that one piece.

Joan - You can't live on $500!

Adam - I got, like, 20 more things at home, so I can pay my dad rent and work on my art.

Mr. Price - You're going to end up on the street.

Adam - Dude, I won the art show. I'm hot.

Helen - Listen to me. An education will make you a deeper artist. You're very talented-- Adam - Mrs. Girardi, listen. My stuff comes from the inside, ok? From the heart, not the brain. And school is a brain specialist. (To Mr. Price) You're all about the brain. You've got no heart. (To Joan) Jane, don't worry. We'll still be able to hang out ok?

Adam leaves the office.

Mr. Price - I believe the pertinent phrase is you can't win 'em all. I mean, what are you going to do?

Joan goes to the art room and is troubled. She doesnt want to break Adams heart by smashing his project, but she knows that its not right for him to quit school. She finally gives up and grabs a chair and starts breaking up the art work.

A teacher walks in and tries to stop her. (Stop that! Hey! Stop that! Stop that right now! Go get Mr. Price.) We go to our next commercial break.

The following scene is in Mr. Prices office. They have called Will and he is there with Adam and Helen.

Mr. Price - All right. Here's the situation. Mr. Rove refuses to lodge a complaint, which means there are no grounds to have you arrested. I am suspending you for 3 days for vandalism and brandishing a weapon on school property.

Joan - Excuse me. It was a chair.

Will - Joan.

Mr. Price - The only reason you're not being expelled is that your parents have agreed to get you counselling. Now, I believe you owe Mr. Rove an apology.

Adam - Never mind. As soon as I make another sale, I'm outta here.

Adam leaves the room and Joan tries to catch up to him.

Joan - Adam, please don't be mad at me. Please?

Adam - You know that-- you know that i make these things to remember my mother, ok, because she loved them.

Joan - [Crying] I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Please?

Adam - Listen, we're not friends anymore. We probably never were.

Adam leaves the building and Joan is over come by tears. The scene cuts and we go to the Girardi Living room. Joan is sitting on the couch and Will and Helen walk in. Joan is still crying.

Will - What do we do, ground her?

Helen - I don't know. Have her committed?

Joan - [Sighs deeply] Please stop talking about me like I'm not here.

Helen - Then maybe for a change you could talk to us as though we were here.

Joan - You think I'm happy? Adam hates me. He's never going to talk to me again. Did you see the way people were looking in the hall? They think I'm insane!

Will - What did you think would happen? What possible justification could you have for going berserk?

Helen - She wanted to keep her boyfriend in school.

Joan - What? Mom, no, Adam is not my boyfriend. I didn't want to wreck his sculpture. I left it too late and I couldn't think of another way to keep him from quitting school. I--Adam can't quit school! In case you haven't noticed, he's kind of weird, and if he just sits at home and works on his weirdo art, he's just-- Mr. Price said, "what are you going to do?" So I...

Will - smashed his artwork with a chair?

Joan - What else could I do?

Helen - Oh... say... talk to the buyer. Talk to Adam. Talk to Adam's father. Believe it or not, I have some influence with him, too. Honey, there are lots of other things that you could do before... destroying his best work.

Will - Destruction is not a good option.

Joan - I had a failure of imagination.

Will - Well, that's putting it kindly.

Helen - Will.

Will - Helen, you aren't going to defend what she did, are you?

Helen - We raised Joan to do what she thought was right. She did what she did to help another human being, despite the consequences.

Will - You want me to be proud of her?

Helen - No, it was stupid, but... she is only 16, and her intentions were good. And, um... she had a failure of imagination.

Will - Do we punish her for that or what?

Helen - Go to work.

Will - Hmm.

Will leaves for work and Joan breaks down in tears again as her mother comforts her.

The next scene is at the court house. The same reports are gathered around.

Reporter - Chief Girardi, have there been any developments in the Allan Burns case?

Will - No comment.

Male Reporter - Do you personally believe that this man should go to trial?

Will - I don't know. It seems to me that burns is a decent man, but the evidence as to whether or not he had the intent to kill that night is unclear. That's why we have juries.

Reporter - So you believe this case should go to trial.

Will - Yes. I believe the case should go to trial. Excuse me.

Later that evening. Will is entering a resturant with D.A Fellows. He is there to meet the mayor.

D.A Fellows - The mayor would like a word. Excuse us, would you?

Will - Am I in trouble?

D.A Fellows - The point was not to take Allan Burns to trial.

Will - The point is to figure out what really happened that evening.

Mayor - Good speech, chief.

Will - So you support the budget request?

Mayor - Thank you, gabe. The people have spoken. Allan burns is a hero. Gabe has informed you of my wishes in this matter?

Will - Oh, yes, sir. He's very good at that.

Mayor - Then why didn't you behave accordingly?

Will - There's a problem in this town.

Mayor - Enlighten me.

Will - You like to handle everything through back channels. You want to decide this case here or in an office or on the pages of a newspaper instead of in a jury room. You lack faith in the system. Now, either it's because you don't give people credit for being able to deal with complicated matters or it's because confusion works for you.

Mayor - All right, then let me be very clear. At the end of your probation period, your employment will be terminated.

Will - I'm pretty sure the police commission will have something to say about that.

Mayor - Oh, I don't know about that, Girardi. As you say, I don't give a damn about the system. You have about 6 months to find another job.

We end the scene with Will sitting alone. Next scene is in Kevins room. Luke comes in with the paper bag of things he has bought for him.

Luke - [Knocking on the door frame] I brought you the stuff you needed.

Kevin - The stuff you bought for me, you mean? I don't need it. I'm getting rid of all my toys.

Luke - Well, scale models are not toys.

Kevin - It's time for me to grow up.

Luke - I wasn't aware that was something you could just decide.

Kevin - I was the prefect big brother. Come on, admit it. I'm stronger, faster, better-looking.

Luke - Well, not better-looking.

Kevin - It's a reality, kid. Face it. People were nice to you because you were Kevin Girardi's kid brother. Probably kept you from being beat up about 100 times.

Luke - I do seem to attract threats of violence.

Kevin - Last night, the natural order was reversed. You were the Big Brother. You were smarter and stronger and tougher.

Luke - And better-looking?

Kevin - I'm the big brother in this family, in or out of the wheelchair, so get off of my cloud.

Luke - The cloud reference eludes me.

Kevin - Yesterday... that will not happen again.

Luke - Are you apologizing to me? No, no, of course not. Why--why would you? It's an explanation, and that's enough.

Kevin - If you can't get your money back, I'll reimburse you.

Luke - Well, that's ok. Of course. Yes, I can use the money. And you're fully capable.

Kevin - You're going to be proud of me again.

Luke leaves the room and we enter our last scene of The Devil Made Me do It. Helen is sitting alone and Will enters the room.

Will - Why is it so quiet?

Helen - Joan won't come out from beneath her covers till we promise not to send her back to school, Kevin is mad at Luke for something... teenagery, and Luke's coping mechanism is to build-- I don't know-- a spaceship maybe.

Will - Well, if it works, you and I should take it on a spin through the milky way.

Helen - We don't need a spaceship for that. I saw you on the news.

Will - Yeah. I'm afraid I'm not turning out to be a very good chief of police.

Helen - Hmm.

Will - I don't know if I almost did the right thing for the wrong reason today or the wrong thing for the right reason or both or... something in-between. When I shot that bank robber, when I killed him--

Helen - the kids were bound to find that out some day.

Will - It was a righteous shooting, Helen. I mean, I'm sorry I killed a man, I really am, but I don't doubt that it was necessary, that I had no other options. I miss that clarity. Everything in this job is so murky with politics.

Helen - Hey! I love you, and if there's a problem with your job, then the fault does not lie with you. I'm as certain about that as you are about... shooting bad men.

They kiss and begin to dance. We pan back on the show and fade to black on The Devil Made Me Do It