I'm
Christopher Mason. We are all taught that motherhood is joyous,
sacred, and inviolable. However, as we all know there is an
exception to every rule. Think of Teresa Riggi, Diane Downs, and
Susan Smth. For every Niobe, Hecuba, and Thetis, there is a Medea.
I'm
Candice DeLong. When women become mothers they are expected to make
sacrifices for their children, not of them.
Los
Angeles: The senior officer [sheriff?] continued to be
stubborn and his racism was showing. He demanded to know why the
European-looking attorneys from Vega Associates of Mexico city were
defending “these people”. Adrian told him it was because
“Despite our different countries we are all human beings and we all
have rights.” They were told to wait outside for copies of the
reports.
Reports
undoubtedly authored by himself.
Mexico
City: Alonso told the small meeting that Sofia was out of the
office due to a health problem of her mother's and that they would
need to take care of her cases. Ricardo said he would return the
favor she did him before. He then announced officially that Adrian
and Sofia won the sexual harrassment case and asked for reports on
others. Ricardo replied about Fanny's case, saying that the case was
about the child's rights, as she had regarded Fanny as a mother.
Alonso asked Gustavo to talk about the case in Jalisco.
Marcela
told Sofia that it would be best to maintain a familiar routine in
such cases. Majr disruptions are too disturbing for most patients
with this condition. Camila said she was used to Sofia working all
day; Sofia said she would talk to Alonso about this. Marcela assured
her that her mother was in good hands.
Gustavo
finished by saying that the case was resolved in Josefina's favor.
Juan announced that he and his mother had just moved closer to the
office and that he would soon be inviting people over for a small
housewarming party. Everyone congratulated him. Meeting ajourned.
Carlos
greeted a new client that morning, Daniel Orgín. He was in the
process of divorcing his wife and was looking to have full custody of
his children. Carlos asked why and he said that his wife was
extremely neurotic, yelled all the time, and has hit the children.
One of his children is prepared to testify. In addition, his wife is
in another relationship and he didn't want another man near his
children.
Mothers
are so heavily favored in custody disputes in Mexico that it would
take something extreme to award custody to a father.
Nancy
went back to butter up the smuggler of the security video. While he
was looking to make time with her she was asking him to
investigate Michelle Sagrado. He told her this would be difficult.
She told him she would pay him well, like the last time. He said he
would do what he could.
It
sounds like they have not yet desecrated the patrol car. And where
is Nancy going to get this money from?
Carlos
asked Alan's opinion and that was to proceed fairly quickly with
charges of domestic violence. Carlos pointed out that this would
need proof, more than the testimony of a child. The client told them
that he and his wife fought practically all the time. Alan
recommended secretly recording a video of this with his phone or a
hidden camera. Since mothers typically win custody they needed this
kind of proof to show that a mother was unfit. Sr. Orgín left on
that note.
Los
Angeles: Adrian, Roberto, and Victoria had to tell Carmen and
Erick that this would be a difficult case because the “sheriff”
said the department always stood by its men. Roberto saw this
situation as an abuse of power.
Mexico
City: Daniel went to his soon-to-be-ex to ask her to give him
the children. She tried to close the door in his face. He pointed
out that she didn't love them, she was always yelling at the, and
that she had a new man in her life and no time for the children. She
refused, saying she'd sooner kill them than give them up. He pointed
out that she didn't have the money needed to raise them and she
insisted that this was his responsibility. He told her she
was in this for money and to stop making this impossible and she told
him to get lost. She told him to think about what he wants. At that
he stopped recording, saying that this is what he needed for the
judge. She asked what he was talking about.
Los
Angeles: Victoria explained that the Mexican Consulate would
help Carmen claim her nephew's body so it could be brought back to
Mexico. The Consulate helps Mexicans, but Erick said that few knew
that. That was the first step, after which the case against this
policeman would need to be brought. Erick said that they also needed
to make sure that the money in Ramon's bank account went to his
mother; he was saving for a house. They agreed, one step at a time
with no margin for error.
Mexico
City: Daniel told Rocio that he had what he needed to go to a
judge to get custody of his children. Miguel would testify that she
had hit him and violence is not tolerable. Rocio began to cry and
whine, saying this was not violence. He told her to tell that to a
judge. She said that she could not live without her children. He
left.
Lorena
helped Ricardo organize the files and asked about Sofia. He told her
something vague. She then told him to call on her for any help. As
she left Ricardo looked as though he figured out that she had a crush
on him.
Sofia
went to see Alonso. She explained her mother's diagnosis. On the
basis of her mother needing her she resigned. Alonso told her that
he didn't think this was the best solution. He was sure that all she
had done so far would be the right thing. She would need the money
she was earning because this condition is serious, expensive, and
this could go on a long time. He told her she could work from home
whenever she wanted and that she had a great future with them. She
cried, saying that nobody else ever thought of her that way. She
thanked him.
Rocio
sat curled up on the floor. Miguel came downstairs. She asked why
he told his father she hit him. He did not answer. She went over to
him on her knees, asking whether he knew she loved him and his
brother. She called him. Pablo was younger than Miguel, who could
not have been more than nine years old. Pablo asked what was wrong.
Rocio told them that she loved them and could not live without them.
She said she was going to die.
They hugged her and she hugged them
back, crying.
There
was something very creepy about this and the boys knew it.
Daniel
called Alan from his cell to tell him about the recording. Alan was
reviewing the charge sheet during the call. Daniel didn't want to
wait any longer to review it; he asked Alan to deliver it right away.
As soon as he ended the call Miguel called him to ask why he told
his mother what he said. Daniel told him he had to. Miguel said she
was very sad, and crying more than he had ever seen. He asked Daniel
if he could come back and he said he would as soon as he took care of
something. Miguel begged him not to be late. He ended the call.
Rocio was sitting in the bacground holding Pablo and rocking back and
forth.
Miguel
and Lorena worked in the library and were talking about work while
Sofia went to see Ricardo.
She
told him about her attempt at resignation and vented about how
worried and afraid she was for her mother. He told her he would take
care of her cases for a few days and not to worry. She said he
should call if he had any questions. She hugged him. They talked
briefly about their latest case and she left.
Tatiana
called Juan and she angled for an invitation to his new house. She
offered to help him with the decoration.
Alan
arrived at the Orgíns' home just before Daniel, who opened the
door. They walked in to find the two boys on the couch. Rocio was on the floor.
While
Daniel tried to revive them Alan called for an ambulance. It was not
long before Daniel realized that it was useless.
He held the boys on
either side and cried. Alan stood near the door, in shock and
speechless.
Lourdes
went to visit Paula, who commented that she looked radiant. Lourdes
then told her that Alonso had asked her to live with him. Paula was
happy for her but when Lourdes mentioned Alicia she said she wanted
nothing to do with her anymore. She did not feel she needed therapy
for this. Alicia had refused to understand that this had been about
Gilberto's actions.
Carlos
came to Daniel's home. The police arrived immediately behind him.
Alan explained to Quiróz that he is Daniel's lawyer and they arrived
together to find the children. Quiróz told him that they would need
a formal statement. He told Daniel that they would find the person
who did this.
Los
Angeles: Carmen and her lawyers were at the Consulate where they
gave her documents to sign. As she was doing so the representative
told them that abuses like this were nothing new, but most people are
afraid to fight back. He said that the body should be released in two
days and wished them luck.
Mexico
City: Sofia went home and told her mother and the nurse that she
would be working part time so she could be home with her mother in
case of need. She explained that Ricardo would be helping her for a
few days. Camila praised him and seems to think that Sofia is
interested in him.
Los
Angeles: They all knew that the rest of this would not be easy.
Victoria pointed out that this was a human rights violation, an
international problem. Carmen didn't want them to go to any more
trouble but they told her this was about the injustice done to her
nephew. They were going to fight as hard as they needed to.
They
could have given the justice speech, but I'm sure Carmen already knew
it by heart.
Mexico
City: Ricardo and Gustavo had a brief conversation about
investigating Carlos.
Alan
finished giving his statement and Daniel attacked him in the
corridor, blaming him for the death of his children. Carlos had to
break it up. He told Alan to shut up and he would take charge of it
all.
Even
before knowing the exact cause of death, Daniel had to have known
that his wife murdered their children. He should remember the
recording he made on his cell phone. His mistake was telling her
about it. I don't know world statistics, but filicide is said to
happen 500 times a year in the US. Mental illness is believed to be
the most common cause.
That
is profoundly depressing. And tragic. Daniel Orgín – like Jason
of the Argo – is in for much pain. His children died for no good
reason, like Alejandra and Ramón, but his pain is compounded by a
sense of guilt he hasn't yet realized. He will need therapy to deal
with this loss before any of this goes to court. The question is who
will represent Rocio when that time comes. Till next we meet Behind
the Walls of Justice, I'm Christopher Mason.
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