[Music]
excuse me excuse me my name is Nicole
Alpern and I'm fighting storm start I
rivers for custody of our son and I need
a lawyer I used to have one but
apparently my case has become unwinnable
because he's a hero and I'm a nobody
or maybe really because he's rich and
I'm broke down this he's I'm respectable
I'm hard-working and nothing matters
more to me than my son so if one of you
lawyers has the balls to take all his
police thanks for listening
[Music]
oh hello 34c
you wish are you just think my party
press I'm jealous
I left my no home I think half a
starting lineups here from be away team
thinks they might buy you a drink better
than nothing
what makes that is so much better than
us besides the fact they're dating the
pink of her starting lineup
yeah and that Hurst is bird I saw it at
home it's like $7,000
she's with the point guard Johnson and
that six million dollars over three
years
I'm sure his wife has the same bag in
red I get one that's close I mean it's
not exactly Chanel but it's a good read
so VIP section huh champagne tastes
better over there honey everything
tastes better over there
becoming thanks
she used her finger like she was gonna
catch something oh I love this song
[Music]
what do you think
Nicole what are you doing what he's here
away team players get traded like he'll
ever play for the storm
take care now
you see you want my number sure once you
write it down for me
I mean you be back in March right I
don't know maybe you want to hang out or
something
write it down girl you have to explain
it
name no Nicole
[Music]
what did you do to my friend Nicole do
you like I'm a little scared for the
basketball players some dress new cred
basketball players some dress new credcard it's an investment a call right
card it's an investment a call right
you're scaring me now
come on looks like a dancer this bag
in there
a better dancer
[Music]
sorry totally embarrassed and looking
for a hole to crawl into but fine things
you gone for an eight-second violation
you don't think I can get to make bull I
think eight seconds is gonna turn into
24 pretty soon I can take the shot can
you
modeling must have done a lot of
magazine covers by now
oh yeah it's how it's gotta be like five
oh and then there was so roughly none
none how some rages most beautiful girl
in the room not to mention the attitude
sonken we never met before because
you've been on the team about three
weeks girl falls our basketball and
because the home team usually hangs out
in the VIP section with the homegirl
thank you but I don't know their natural
girl-next-door looks
hey hi this is my friend Maya Maya this
is ty rivers hey Maya how you doing good
thanks nice to meet you too oh sorry
remember that guy friend a couple of
weeks ago the hockey player
the one I went home with yeah yeah well
he's here and he's kind of drunk and I
don't want to run into him so can we go
Maya do you see who I'm with I mean I've
got a real chance here some of the guy
sees you you'll be okay right
sure look you're gonna get going okay
thanks
so you want to check out that we got
these sections in the other side of the
world actually I got go my friends
wow you really don't have to do this
how's my pleasure it's really nice
meeting you we're different
Thanks you know what I mean night man
yeah
I can't believe this I thought he was
gonna ask for my number oh you see him
again
whatever our he's probably married which
one of you is Nicole me what is it
he's number sort of it's a ticket
[Applause]
it's not much I just want to see where
you live oh I guess when they say last
notice they really mean it we can deal
with lights later
[Music]
No
yeah
basketball was huge in Arizona even in a
small town like mine it's far back as I
can remember I decided I wanted to be a
player basketball player
player basketball player basketballs played every day worked hard
basketballs played every day worked hard
the only way you can get anywhere in
this life right yeah lucky look good
nothing to do with it
you're lucky you knew what you wanted
I'm still trying to figure that out most
of the girls over at the high school
with or on their second marriage
expecting their third kid which this
beats so little I'll figure it out mmm
my life I mean anyway
[Music]
well I wish you'd brought the new
boyfriend I like to meet him he's kind
of busy your stepmom makes Thanksgiving
dinner and he's kind of busy see for
yourself
number 37 go Vancouver are you kidding
me number 37
yeah Thai rivers we've been dating a
couple months that him yeah what are you
sure know how to pick up yeah dad Ashley
I do Thai smart he's funny and he do a
lot of charitable work I think I read
about that yeah well I know what I read
I know what people say about basketball
plants
Wow dad way to live up to the trailer
park stereo so why don't you tell me
about dating your basketball player then
he taking you out to restaurants you
meet each other's families we're in love
you're in love well then he's got you
right where he wants you Darryl oh sweet
little girl to visit when he wants get
what he wants and it's right back home
to the wife and kids not true I'm
something special - don't be stupid
Nicole guys like ya guys pro athletes
they sleep around
he married we love each other you don't
understand anything
[Music]
[Applause]
ladies are just but years employed real
variable men's Cooper's
I can't believe you got this expectation
thank you
one of the girls gonna make it you're
one of the girls wives are over there
except his wife she stays in Phoenix
lucky for you whatever
I was thinking of trying out with the
charities one I think it'd be such a fun
way to in pregnant
edit three home pregnancy tests all
positive
does he know
I can't tell them they lost eight in a
row Nicole get real I'm 23 I'm pregnant
and he's married I'm pretty up close and
personal is real right now
do you ever miss your little girls yeah
of course I do how old are they again go
why are you asking this
I'm pregnant
[Music]
I thought you were on the pill turns out
the pills got a one percent failure rate
and I'm one of the lucky one percent
there's a way to fail find it
hey maybe this isn't bad news nothing in
my lifes really felt solid before you
know and having a baby
no I just feel like I could be good at
being a mom like he was basketball
don't go comparing an accident something
I've worked my whole life for no we can
be happy
ty this is our baby I know that this
kind of thing happens all the time
you're all trying to trap herself a meal
ticket that's not it you're look at a
man's salary think about how my life can
change you are crazy if you think I'm
leaving my family no ty
you
[Music]
I could see from the start how this was
gonna go what about your basketball star
bet I know what he wants you to do about
him well not anymore it's not he knocked
you up and moved on he might come back
oh come on
Nicole he might and if he doesn't it
doesn't matter I've already decided
you've decided what that this is what
you want for yourself you want to be
another single mom on welfare look
sweetheart now I know it feels thrilling
and all that but being a parent is hard
it is hard hard work all day every day
you nobody's gonna hand you a trophy at
the end of it and say well done you know
having this baby's not gonna bring him
back you don't think I can do it is that
it that is not what I'm saying well do
you I'm doing this for me okay and I'm
gonna be a good mom I'll send you a
postcard with the babies
[Music]
it's like I know forget it let's just
take a break you probably want to get
going huh you should come
Maya look at me I'm not going anywhere
ever again go go it's fine go yeah fun
okay you'll be right yeah I'll be fine
thanks for coming dad
[Music]
one of the cam locks broke I'll pick one
up for you tomorrow
thanks dad
he's still sending you money yeah he
helps out really still won't admit he's
the father
you talk to him he calls every once in a
while see how I'm doing what do you tell
him
at all I'm fine
oh I
I'm scared to death
[Music]
hey it's me
so I'm back home 24 hours later with
this perfect little boy he's got all his
fingers and all his toes and he's anyway
he's healthy and his name's Noah and I
said I'd let you know so now you know
hey it's Nicole
I guess he would have figured that out
you'd hope so
[Music]
Hey
you doing all right yeah yeah good
training camp started that way you're
here I should have believed you
yeah must have been pretty tricky
explaining those DNA results to your
wife I needed to know he was my son
he's four months old hi and you're
showing up now sorry that's all I wanted
to say
doesn't see him
hey how you doing I think it looks like
me yeah I do
Hey
No
it's a good name
he's perfect he's perfect Superboy I'd
like to say that but he's pretty good
isn't he yeah it looks good on you
well there Thanks made a nice home
Thanks what Missy you know no hey I'm
not saying anything I'm just sayin
miss me - no
[Music]
I just wanted curly hair when I was
little yeah we still have all those
black folks trying to kill the king
spend all that money processing it out
hey what's so good about straight hair
it's not the hair so much BAE that's
what it represents is here my goal liner
as might even go blue but as long as
he's got the kink we're all gonna see
black and make the judgments people
aren't gonna discriminate against him
because of his hair
no people are gonna discriminate against
him because he's black relax what
they're gonna see hi exaggerating wish I
was so that's why you shave so close oh
no no no see I'm strictly about the
arrow name are you sure oh I'm a
handsome man you see all out here we'll
just put me over the top
yellow
it's nothing no it's fine no
everything's good here no it's fine yeah
[Music]
okay this is the last message I swear
just give me a call and let me know
what's going on okay I promise I won't
freak out just call me okay
useless message number 12
that's Raisa convinced myself this time
would be different it's not like I was
the first girl for him you know this
goes back to Beverly no that's hard on
you love about me once you know I don't
know is he gonna stop the support
payments will help you out honey as much
as we can thanks money it's just I know
he loves Noah has to be a way we can
work this out you just said he always
goes back to the wife I mean him being
Noah's dad
I think that's the best I can hope for
[Music]
thanks for coming you've asked
appreciate your back with her voice
gotta be she's put up with a lot i don't
you break my heart again you don't even
care is something to be his dad what's
that supposed to mean see him then
support you it's called child support I
yeah I've been thinking about that wants
your custody
like you get him half the time we're
both his parents he needs a mom and
don't mean your wife okay that's what's
fair and of course it's gonna work tight
are you gonna move to Vancouver you and
Bev and the girls custody you taking
care of him right and you're getting
your money it's about Noah
I want sure cuz yeah well I want a pony
look I'm sorry how this all played out
what he's my son that's a fact
why are you doing this now why my lawyer
will be in touch with you or your lawyer
however you want to play this out it's
not a game
legal-aid said you might be able to help
and I know being the mom and the only
one who takes care of knowin all that
counts but theis got a lot of money
don't worry you Nicole money can't
change the law in fact the law entitles
you to at least double the support he's
offered we'll work to set up a support
payment schedule and some procedures for
visitation you mean he gets nowhere
right away he's not getting no but there
will have to be some overnight visit
John's never spent a night away from me
we want to establish that you are being
cooperative while we wait for our court
date it's important to maintain a sense
of fairness this just feels like I'm
giving up already no no no not at all by
granting him visitation we established
precedent for you as the custodial
parent now mr. Rivers will have
overnight visits once every two weeks
for our day visits once a week but we
have to be aboveboard about this Nicole
you can't deny him access
[Music]
hello
he won't come on
miss Alpern I'm Beverly rivers where's
ty Tyrone will bring Noah back in the
morning I assume he knows your address
it could be anyone I'm just gonna hand
my baby over to you I suppose so but as
it turns out I'm the wife I packed some
diapers and bottles in
his favorite bedtime Lucas insight
pocket he's not used to strangers we
won't be strangers though
[Music]
I'm gonna go visit daddy okay sister
remember I told you about your sisters
being hello No
in case you want to see tonight's game
[Applause]
[Music] this request is within the guidelines
your honor it's double the amount my
client agreed to I'm sorry your honor
but I can't support no on that amount
I thought we clarified this last time we
were here Your Honor my client has spent
a year waiting for the joint custody
hearing and only wishes to resolve the
issue of support in advance once again
as you note we are within the guidelines
your honor we would agree to the
difference being put in escrow so I'm
supposed to subsidize your life stuff
treating this baby like your personal
lottery ticket I please still acting
like he's some big basketball hero I
wish they could see him and his lawyer
stall we can't stop our court dates in a
month know how many more times do we
have to come back on every little point
I mean this Esper thing they always get
their way
yes gross nothing will get that money
when we win I have to
how do you think this book
maxi's will be just fine
even covering this story for your paper
but what you don't know is his legal
team keeps stalling and throwing up
roadblocks he figures he could just
outspend me and I'll give up and I take
it that's not gonna happen ever but it's
hard when every news report is about
what a great guy ty is and how much he
does for the community and no one ever
hears my story do you ever think that
this custody battle is just another game
Tim I hope it's not this is a child's
life we're talking about I know
ty cares about Noah but I'm his mother
I'm the one who's cared for him since
day one when ty never even wanted to see
him your lawyer said that you are asking
for eight thousand seven hundred dollars
a month but seem to have a lot of money
I'm only trying to do what's right for
Noah people can do what they want
[Music]
[Applause]
you're quitting my case you made a hell
of a mess I just wanted people to
understand my point of view it's not
only clients who need to trust their
lawyers I need to trust you and I can't
you're a loose cannon I can pay you more
the money in escrow is nearly $35,000
doesn't get that money if you win
okay so do you think he's the big hero -
huh
I'm sure your sorry your W weeks before
my court day because you're suddenly
worried about losing your not sorry
thanks for everything
[Music]
here you lost your lawyer sympathy call
it's great thanks for stopping by the
talking on reporter wasn't the smartest
idea yeah I found that out and Evan the
girls got real upset when they saw that
story and when Noah grows up he's gonna
see the kind of stuff as the mother said
about his father is not your custody day
okay if you came to gloat figured out
would you this is that that commendation
for mother of the year I'm going for
sole custody you're joking right
I love it I can provide from in ways you
never get you having more money doesn't
give you the right to take him away from
me I have a wife who knows how to be a
mother we know how to be fun and I are
family I'm doing what I think's best I
can't do this tie
[Music]
you haven't either the custodial parents
since he was born well right now most of
the money is in escrow and then
afterwards yeah but I understand it's a
lot of favors the custodial parent so
Nicole okay thanks
you haven't finished this room five
minutes we're behind schedule I want it
[Music]
excuse me excuse me my name is Nicole
Alpern and I'm fighting storm start I
rivers for custody of our son and I need
a lawyer uh I used to have one but
apparently my case has become unwinnable
because he's a hero and I'm a nobody or
maybe really because he's rich and I
broke it so nice he's I'm respectable
hard-working and nothing matters more to
me than my son so if one of you lawyers
has the balls to take on this case I
would really appreciate it and I will
find some way to pay you I'll call the
police
thanks for listening
hey hey excuse me
you gold-digging [ __ ] he wants to rob
model system basketball star beside
guilty it's the same gold-digging [ __ ]
who needs a lawyer right yeah
I've been following your story what's
that well I think what's happening he
was wrong
coincidentally I think what's happening
to me is wrong what's happening to you
no one knows what a great lawyer right
now but they will after this case come
on maybe I should hurt you how about I I
don't charge you pro bono
it means I do it for free done
you can bet they're gonna use the Sports
Group he thinks against you what's your
social life like now I don't have one
seriously whenever I guess I'm gonna
take care of no I'm busy doing something
for the case all right there was a while
after Ty and I after he dumped me that
you know I went out and stopped sleeping
with gars hey slow down you just met her
sometimes
basketball players not exclusively I
know
I hope neither you I don't do it anymore
better not our first fight yeah I'd fire
you except I need the cash you're
working right always good cops a case of
you're working Oh who's being a
full-time mom isn't work well you
full-time mom isn't work well you what I don't write the rules
what I don't write the rules
I just exploit them as ruthlessly as
possible
court proceedings begin tomorrow in the
rivers Alperin custody battle some
commentators see the case as a contest
between the haves and the have-nots but
ty rivers wife Beverly sees it another
way all we want is what's best for Noah
and our strong black family is best able
to do that we can help him when people
start discriminating against him and
trust me they will like she knows
anything what I'm sure she knows
something Noah's mixed race but to most
people he looks black you're gonna have
to deal with that too
I do yeah you do if ignoring the little
looks is dealing with it if ignoring
every time someone says oh what a cute
little baby is he yours is dealing with
it in riverbeds hafsat you're colorblind
and your color deaf oh do you think they
should get him no of course not but
nicole wake up okay I mean racism is his
reality and you're gonna have to deal
with it
it's grandstanding it's irrelevant the
judge is gonna make a decision based on
a point of law Nicole race has nothing
to do with it whoa tiger okay
we only had sex twice but you were at
her apartment more than twice we watched
a few movies together just friendly what
were your impressions of Miss Ellen
she's a nice girl
but she's young and obviously looking
for something in her life for a while
there I guess she thought it was me were
you in love with her I felt sorry for
her acting on that wasn't the smartest
decision but I have learned from my
mistake my family means more to me than
anything and Noah is part of my family
mr. rivers
how many affairs have you had since
you've been married objection
exhibits 14 a and 14 B Your Honor two
affidavits from women who had affairs
with mr. rivers prior to his
relationship with myself affairs is a
prejudicial term your honor
extramarital liaisons adulteries you
can't testify for ty side
I've been subpoena I have to do just
because you saw me leave with some guy
doesn't mean anything happened this
isn't even gonna be about that Yeah
right they want you to testify about
what a great mother I am well Peter says
that the courts don't take sexual
history into consideration you should
put it in a scrapbook for window I gets
older my mom the basketball goofy I'm
sure it's gonna be fine it's not your
name getting dragged through the mud
okay it's whole thing is such a mess no
no no
no don't ever run away from mommy ever
[Music]
it was a big adjustment I was used to
doing what I like when I liked and then
suddenly there was this little person
you know he needs all your lovin
attention some days were are really hard
do you have any support oh yeah yeah my
dad I'm stepmother helped a lot my
friend Maya they just loved Noah as to
you he's everything to me still you
probably get a little lonely at times as
a single mother
sure would you like to meet someone
wouldn't everyone I mean as long as
they're not married
yep that wasn't a day sorry so sometimes
when you go out you hope to meet someone
not really I'm talking about after Noah
was born you're you're still a young
woman your social life doesn't end
because you're a mother yeah I guess so
sometimes when you would go out for the
evening with a friend you would
occasionally meet someone and have
sexual relations a couple times and
where was Noah during those times with
my dad and step one he loves going over
there so they knew you were going out
and they saw nothing wrong with it
No and on the rare occasion when you met
someone would you bring him to your home
no never you do drugs no are you a
drinker I've been drunk twice in my life
I don't like it after a night out where
you've been intimate with a man you are
able to take care of Noah yes that's
what I thought and further questions
your honor
[Music]
Nicole you are missing the point it was
going to come up this way we controlled
it you said they would put my character
on trial not you not my uncle Tai's team
knew about this they were gonna use it
against you do you enjoy having sex with
strange men miss Albert do you always
have an orgasm you know my dad was
sitting right there you should have seen
his face you were honest and vulnerable
and we showed that there's been no
negative repercussions for Noah
I don't think he's ever gonna talk to me
again he'll get over it
you got over the illegitimate baby
didn't it's not funny I know what I'm
doing okay
don't surprise me like that again agreed
[Music]
I get it
don't let the gas buildup not like that
you're supposed to like this from
underneath it's on it worked
what's the matter with you think next
time sorry
I'm sorry dad
you having to hear that in court
when your mom and I split
you wouldn't remember this you were
small
[Music]
I had lady friends friends yeah I was
good-looking once I know people get
lonely
I don't think was about being
I don't think was about being I wanted attention I wanted something
I wanted attention I wanted something
special like I wasn't enough you know
good news is I got all the attention I
could ever want now
he thinks I'm enough that's how I am
[Music]
okay so don't forget ties gonna pick
them up tonight laughing with Daddy okay
fine thanks
Nicole how do you feel about winning I
couldn't be happier the courts
acknowledge that I've always been a good
parent to Noah and now we can finally
start planning our lives a little it's
been a really tough time but that was
worth it mr. Rivers declined to comment
but the court's decision to award Nicole
Alper and sole custody has caused a lot
of peda klein to come in you think mr.
rivers is a sore loser
thank you be used to it playing for the
storm finding no bear
thank you hey what's wrong
tie is appealing that's making is it but
the the decision I mean he said he's
appealing the decision here I know I get
it he's taking us back to court you
don't seem surprised
he plays to win so on what grounds and
find out but but look the Court of
Appeals is added bad as a co appellant
since that they'll be applying for
custody as a couple over that interview
she gave about being a strong black
family do you think maybe about that it
occurred to me that there's no basis for
the Court of Appeals to overturn this
ruling I'm answering a question look at
you counsel
they can't appeal based on your
parenting race is what's left
I don't understand this appeal case the
child needs his mother you're saying
that because you know Nicole look lots
of kids have no fathers but it doesn't
matter if you've got them but the thing
is the rivers are a couple Nicole is a
single mom the appeal would not have
gone through if the court wasn't
thinking about that that's not what it's
about it's about the thing we're not
supposed to talk about come on color
doesn't matter dude come on how can you
even say that you're smarter than any
managers ever walked in here where's
your promotion well are you saying that
Nicole got her promotion the front desk
because she's white it's different if
you're black always will be
do you think he'd be better with time go
you know I love you but there's things
that family can help him with that you
can't just the way it is
[Music]
they hate me they don't know you they
know what they want to know we know that
the court must determine in the best
interests of the child in this case the
best parents are those who understand
the child's position in society as a
minority parents who understand it
because they have experienced it
themselves
the best interests of the child will be
served by awarding sole custody to this
couple
[Music]
I know you're a good mother
but he needs us anyway you can't
understand
I'm sure you are gonna mother - you're
not his mother the Court of Appeals
can't award custody to Tai rivers just
because his wife happens to be a good
mother Nicole Alfred has been raising
her son on her own for over two years
she's an excellent mother there is no
basis to this appeal the rumors say you
can't help him face racist stereotype
you Nicole what do you say to that well
I don't think that's the issue I mean
where's your experience in dealing with
racial prejudice mr. rivers and his
counsel who continually brought up the
issue of race okay enjoy your stay hello
yes this is Nicole a burn
I'm sorry could you repeat that Nicole
[Music]
okay thanks what what is it hey one by
one where are the rivers trade it to New
Orleans but they're coming from Phoenix
then one of them's gonna be on their way
to Vancouver to pick him up over my dead
body no I like your attitude but what
would work better is a court order to
stay while we figure out what we're
gonna do
you know kids need their mothers okay
don't go fit around me Nicole I'll beat
her there I'm dumb just in Calgary I'm
an hour away there at least three well
if you don't Peter what happens then
they pick up Noah they will take him to
the States Thomas day to get you custody
presents but that suddenly becomes an
international case and cares grind
slowly Nicole Peter just hurry up
Airport
[Music]
Nicole hey it's me again
where are you call me
Hey
I filed the state we need to be in court
tomorrow they're not going something out
maybe I already have how are you
appreciate everything you've done so
much I'm sorry
[Music]
hi okay where you headed
probably best I don't tell you this is
your life honey
it's not some episode of a fugitive okay
if I were old I'd get that reference oh
you're making jokes now
gotta get a last couple in there Cole
don't do this you know it scares me I
mean aside from everything
maybe the rivers are right maybe I'm not
the best mother for him Nicky I make
mistakes all the time and I worry am i
hurting him because of Who I am who I'm
not but you know what so be it
I love him and I want to keep him with
me and I'm selfish enough that I don't
care whether I'm the best mother for him
or not
Oh with the human cannonball just about
not your old grandpa over I have to keep
my eye on you
you've grown up Nicky little man here's
had a lot to do with that now it's not
the time to throw in the towel now is
the time to fight you really think I
deserve to be his mom I don't see
anybody better Wow Congrats dad now
you're in the minority
[Music]
move to a joint custody arrangement of
two week visits on a temporary basis mr.
Markuson you need to decide on a course
of action we're exploring options now
m'lady let me get this straight so now
Noah is gonna fly to Arizona every two
weeks that's right we're doing a
proposal in a month mr. Markuson this
case is dragged on long enough
appeals court made the wrong decision
it's gonna be overruled yeah well you
let me know who's gonna do that
we can tie them up in paperwork for a
while but it is a game the Corp won't
support for long it's it can't in here
Peter I don't know who's Gibson right
there's no one who can overrule this the
Supreme Court so let's go to the atom
huh
you're cute no I'm not we're not
quitting now Peter the Supreme Court
almost never hears custody cases but
isn't too keen on the provincial court
saying precedent which is what happened
here on the race issue it might give us
some leverage English please look the
provincial court didn't just give
custody to Ty I mean they set a
precedent for all custody decisions so
now another case can come along and say
my daughter looks more like me than she
does her mother so you should give her
to me
you mean now we're appealing the race
issue in a way more against it than on
it there was this case I just read about
where the Supreme Court ruled against a
white couple who'd adopted some native
kids it's not this case but it's similar
right the court put those kids with some
distant relatives because they share the
same ethnicity it's completely different
you're the birth mother those kids were
dragged away from their parents kicking
and screaming the court is not gonna
turn the whole way to make a statement
on race but they've done it before
so this is our only chance okay so
whatever you need me to to research
filing writing letters you name it you
sure this is the longest of long shots
just tell me where to start
[Music]
he needs to sleep don't tell me what he
needs he developed an ear infection
after the flight not the first time and
we're to blame is that it so you're the
one who just had to take my son for me
so yeah you look like a pretty good
candidate did you ever think we might be
able to offer him war did you ever think
about how you have to explain to him
that you took him away from his mother
his eardrum burst the pain was pretty
bad so the doctor put in a shunt to
relieve the pressure what about his
hearing apparently at this age the
eardrum repairs itself but he won't be
able to fly for 3 or 4 weeks thank God
for buses and trains where is his father
he had to leave earlier than we expected
for Italy assignment the team over there
so Noah's visiting you and his sisters
they love him so do I
I'm sorry this isn't easy
[Music]
look Emily I'm really sorry about ty
we're here now and we're connected
whether we like it or not because of
something I did I'm sorry for any pain I
must have caused you
you didn't do it alone he's a good
father
I know but that doesn't mean I'm gonna
stand by and let Noah go we're just
doing what we think is right
so why
mmm baby I'm right here hi
oh honey you know I'm going New York
I'm not going anywhere missed you so
much
[Music]
hey driver
- The Supremes we're going for Valley
we're gonna be Supreme Court baby
hi welcome to Ottawa I'm Marcia Barclay
I'm your filing agent the Supreme Court
is my bailiwick and I got to tell you
this one has been a blast so far you
would not believe the breath the final
writs were filed yesterday I saw mr.
rivers agent filing while I was there
they have three intervenors coming in
now those are the people testifying on
their behalf right there's the African
Canadian legal council the association
of black social workers and the Jamaican
Canadian Association a lot of us about
this case courtroom is gonna be filled
tomorrow I didn't see all nine of them
none of what just because the Supreme
Court doesn't mean that all nine
justices show up when they do it's
because they're setting a precedent you
got it
[Music]
this offered do you really think you can
bring back full custody
what do you tell Noah when someone uses
racist language with them how do you
prepare him for a world like that you
know it's not just the color of his skin
and that's what I want to teach him
teach him where's your experience I
don't mean direct experience of racism
to be able to talk to Noah the world's
gonna see kid who looks black and that's
how they're gonna treat him Heaney
phlearn we is and where he's from
who better teach him that than me no
comment at this time we will have a
statement after the proceedings thank
you
[Music]
those are his clerks his partners and
those are the lawyers for the
interpreters they will present first
it's very impressive it's scary
don't sweat it it's cool show
all rise
six seven eight nine precedent but for
hell as much as we would like to believe
that we are beyond race that we are no
longer influenced by race it is simply
not true we cannot legislate tolerance
we cannot legislate racial harmony so we
must consider fiercely consider how best
to serve a child whose very existence
will be defined by the color of his skin
no Albert is a mixed-race child but he
is also a child who most closely
resembles his black father his white
mother no matter how loving cannot
foster in him a sense of belonging the
the necessary sense of pride in his
culture in the same way that mr. rivers
and his wife can they have experienced
racism directly and they will be able to
help Noah when he does because he will
in custody decisions the court must
consider first and foremost the best
interests of the child in this case no
al burns best interests are served by
considering who fosters that sense of
belonging that sense of well-being that
every child needs
the rivers are a family they've raised
two daughters together they weathered
marital storms and come through stronger
they are well-to-do upstanding citizens
who also devote a large part of their
time to charitable work all of which
makes them eminently suitable to parent
Noah beyond this however they can offer
something else that Miss Alper simply
cannot a sense of racial pride and
community they can help Noah navigate
the world as a young black man and MS
Alper will never be able to help him do
that on this first day of the trial
I was watching me I've seen it six times
already black kid belongs with black
parents bla bla bla he's biracial his
father's black his mother's white he
looked like I don't know you told me
Evan do you think he's got my dad's eyes
Thank You kid exactly
vodka soda
well the vodka that would be your drink
you know how many cases the Supreme
Court hears each year 85 90 cases a year
out of the 60,000 lawyers in Canada I'm
here
me is he that good Gibson you made some
good points he did some really good
points
when I met ty I was interested in him
because of what he did
I'm because he was famous sports groupie
mentality right if he can't be a star
sleep with one time-honored tradition he
was so clear about what he wanted I mean
he'd worked his whole life for this
dream and he was so focused and
competitive I love that about him so
when I got pregnant I told him that
maybe this baby was my dream the way
basketball was his hey Betty like that
yeah love that an accidental pregnancy
could be anything like what he'd
achieved in his life then who could
blame him and then it turns out it
memory because I've never worked harder
in my life and for the right to be know
his mother
I was the first person who showed me you
have to fight for your dreams yeah a
second
Nicole yeah you're a SAP it sounds like
you got a great day plan no bear I wish
I could be there too I really do well
honey mommy has something to do here
something really important
I'll tell you all about it one day okay
okay well sometimes mommies and daddies
have to go away honey sometimes for a
lot longer than they want to but even
when I'm not with you I'm loving you as
much as I can then I'll never change
okay okay
I miss you no bear call you tonight okay
okay hi
in the best interests of the child that
is how we determine where the child
belongs in the first case we established
that Nicole Alpern is an excellent
mother who the court found to be a
better parent than mr. rivers but an
appeals court decided that racial
identity should be a significant factor
in assigning child custody wanted to
make a political point and added Beverly
rivers to the appeal are you suggesting
there should be no consideration of
racial identity no not at all but
granting an advantage to a parent who
looks the same ignores the reality that
Noah is a mixed-race child he's half
white half black and to suggest that
it's only white people who would respond
negatively is is a fantasy the black
community has a long list of names
it gives mixed-race children the same
way the white community does what would
the court like to hear them perhaps you
could provide us with a list okay I
meant later mr. Markuson
right right okay
the trial court took Noah's mixed-race
heritage into consideration but found
miss out burn to be the best parent the
appeals court didn't take his mixed-race
into consideration instead it said what
you see is what you get which is a kind
of racism in itself Noah will face
racism in his life we all know that but
because of his mother he will know that
he is loved and cherished just as he is
there is no greater defense against any
difficulties than that
from his last visit when you went to not
to very farm that's the one he looks
like he was having the best time he was
[Music]
nodded off about 20 minutes ago how you
doing good to be home
what's Peters say he looked at his own
horn but he did get I hope it's out of
our hands now we won't hear for months
what do the experts say well let it's
important the decision I can take a debt
that the rivers seem like more
responsible parents better able to
provide for no I guess that's true our
somebody else looking at them looking at
me huh it's weird I finally figure out
your life and then you're not in charge
of it anymore
I'm really proud as we are
[Music]
[Applause]
a gold-digger
Hey ambulance chaser I got a fax from
Ottawa
you did it thank you
to me it doesn't have to change things
if you don't want it to I've been
thinking about this a lot and while
we've been fighting and figuring things
out no one's had a different experience
entirely he got to know his dad and you
and his sisters and I know the court
awarded me sole custody but if you
entire okay with it things don't have to
change completely because with all of us
in his life he can do anything don't you
think
[Music]
yeah yeah I do
you