Burden of Truth – Family Ties

By: Stacy Miller

At the Millwood courthouse, Joanna (Kristin Kreuk) and Billy (Peter Mooney) are meeting with Ben Matheson (David Lawrence Brown) and his attorney in the judge’s chamber to request Matheson Steel’s files to determine whether they were the ones who disposed of the containers onto the field. The attorney says that they’ve made their disposal policy available. But Joanna thinks that is a ploy, one that she’s used herself: Providing information on something else in order to cover up the real thing that you are trying to hide. The attorney says that if Mr. Crawford and Ms. Hanley want to see Matheson Steel’s files, they can make their request in their statement of claim. The judge asks whether Billy and Joanna have sufficient evidence to file a law suit against Matheson Steel. Billy explains that the barrels were removed by a company contracted by Matheson Steel. Joanna adds that the chemicals found in the barrels are those used in the making of steel, which is how the containers can be linked to Matheson Steel.  Ben insists that as his daughter was one of the girls that is sick, he wouldn’t have risked her health.  The attorney explains that he represents the Matheson family and regrets that Ben’s father Henry couldn’t attend the proceedings, but he requests that the motion be denied. “Sustainable waste management is very costly. I imagine one could save upwards hundreds of thousands of dollars by taking that waste and dumping it oneself. Would you agree Mr. Matheson?” Joanna asks Ben.  The judge denies the request and tells Billy and Joanna that if they want to get to discovery, they’ll need to file suit.

When Ben, Billy and Joanna exit the courthouse, they face an angry crowd of Millwood townspeople outside that accuse Ben Matheson of ruining the town and causing their children to become sick.  Ben’s wife Sharon (Robin Ruel) is among the people and even slaps her husband for causing their daughter Taylor’s (Anwen O’Driscoll) illness.  Ben Matheson insists that he had nothing to do with the toxic waste being dumped on the Millwood High School field. The crowd gets starts to get rough and begins pushing each other. In the meele, Molly (Sara Thompson) gets knocked down and falls to the ground. She tells Billy and Joanna that her brain couldn’t connect face enough to tell her body to move out of the way.  Molly decides to be their named plaintiff. She asks where Luna (Star Slade) is as her girlfriend promised she’d be there.

Meanwhile, Luna is having a fight with her mother Gerrilyn (Jessica Matten) because she (Gerrilyn) doesn’t want her to go to a family gathering. It seems that it is Luna’s grandmother’s birthday and Gerrilyn doesn’t get along with her family.  Gerrilyn also doesn’t like the idea that Luna is working for Joanna. She tries to get her daughter to quit her job. But Luna refuses and says that she will attend the birthday party.

The mayor and Ben Matheson return to the courthouse.  Ben tells Billy and Joanna that he personally, not Matheson Steel, will pay for the cleanup of the field. It’s not an admission of guilt but as this is his town, Ben refuses to let anyone believe he’s responsible. “What is the offer exactly?” Billy asks Ben. The mayor says that Ben will clean the field in exchange for Billy and Joanna to drop the case and move on.

At the diner, Taylor comes to see whether Molly is okay.  Taylor insists that her dad is innocent and asks Molly to tell her uncle to stop spreading lies. Diane (Nicola Correia-Damude) enters to pick up her take-out order of chicken fingers and tells Molly and Taylor “No one else knows what you’re going through.  No matter what you’re in this together.”

Owen (Meegwun Fairbrother) tells Billy that Pat Collins sold the truck that ran Billy and Joanna off the road.  But when Owen and Billy go to the location of where the truck should be, it is gone.

In her motel room, Joanna tacks the information that she’s gathered to the case on a bulletin board. There’s a knock of the door and Joanna opens it to find Luna holding a box containing ‘Apology Pizza.’ Luna says she’s sorry for not being at the courthouse.  Joanna reminds that if Luna is to work for her, she has to be available for anything relating to the case. Luna tells Joanna about the fight she had with her mom.  Later while Luna is sleeping, Joanna steps outside the room to take a call from her father. David Hanley (Alex Carter) tells her how when the steel mill was losing money, the Mathesons poured everything they had into it.  Joanna thinks that could have caused them to cut corners. David says that the partners are talking about Joanna; he tries to encourage his daughter to return home. When she returns back to the room, Joanna offers to drive Luna to her grandmother’s birthday party. But Luna tells Joanna that she has to stop at home first. When Luna comes home and Gerrilyn learns that Joanna is driving Luna to her party, she angrily tells Luna that of Joanna wants the job so much she can be Luna’s mother.

As they are in the car, Luna and Joanna talk about their fathers. Luna tells Joanna that her father split before “The pee was even dry on the stick” while Joanna talks about David Hanley’s ‘tells;’ things that reveal that he’s lying.

Meanwhile, Molly accuses Taylor of following her when Ms. Matheson ends up where Molly is. The girls talk about (and share a laugh) over the mishaps they’ve had due to their twitches. “Like it or not, we’re in this together,” Taylor says, reminded of Diane’s words.

Luna and Joanna arrive at Luna’s grandmother. Luna introduces Joanna to her cousin and grandmother and both women give Ms. Hanley a less than welcoming response. Joanna goes inside the house to wash her hands. Luna’s grandmother comes inside the house and comments how taken Luna is with Joanna, then asks how Luna came to work for her (Joanna).  Joanna explains that Luna wanted to help her friend Molly. Luna’s grandmother then comments how people in Millwood don’t take to outsiders.

Billy meets with Ben for a drink and assures that he is trying to protect Ben…is it possible that this all happened before Ben’s time?  Ben resents that Billy is insinuating that his (Ben) father had something to do with the barrels. “Something happened here Ben, you can’t just bury your head in the sand,” Billy says.

Joanna is surprised to see her father in Millwood. David Hanley explains that he came because she sounded crazy on the phone. She comments that a male partner is praised with taking the initiative, while a female one is called crazy. David says that as all of this could have happened years ago, the case may be hard to prove, plus Ben Matheson is doing the right thing by offering to clean up.  “So when can I expect you back at the office?” David asks. “There’s a few things I have to clear up first,” Joanna answers.

When Luna returns home, Gerrilyn continues to insist that her daughter stop working for Joanna Hanley, suggesting that Luna work at the mill instead.  Gerrilyn decides that she take care of this herself.

Joanna goes to see Billy and tells him that she’s decided to accept the city’s offer and let Ben Matheson handle the cleanup…she’s dropping the case. But Billy believes they should still pursue it even though it may be hard to win. Their conversation is interrupted by Gerrilyn.  Luna’s mother tells Joanna that she needs to let Luna know that she has to stop working for her. “He can’t get to her through you…too little, too late,” Gerrilyn says. “Who are you taking about?” Joanna asks. “My mom did tell you?” “Tell me what?” Joanna asks. “That kid that you were driving around.  She’s you sister,” Gerrilyn tells Joanna, ordering Ms. Hanley to leave because no one around there wants her in Millwood. After Gerrilyn leaves, Billy asks Joanna whether what Gerrilyn said about Luna being Joanna’s sister could be true.

Joanna finds her father at the diner and confronts him about Gerrilyn’s claim. Joanna realizes that her mother may have been hospitalized because of her husband’s involvement with Gerrilyn, a woman who is Joanna’s age. David insists that Gerrilyn is lying and looking for a quick payday.  Mr. Hanley tells his daughter that he wants Joanna to come home with him. “I can’t…I resign,” Joanna tells her father.

Returning to her motel room, Joanna lies on the bed and cries. Then, she sits up in the bed and after looking at her case bulletin board, puts her hair in a ponytail and gets dressed.

Joanna walks with a powerful stride up to Ben and hands him legal papers. “Ben Matheson, President of Matheson Steel, you’ve been served.”