On the stand, Mike leads Jack in explaining how Graham ‘stalked’ Dina then made himself indispensable to her. His reason? Revenge because Brent Davis abandoned his wife and stepson for Dina. He announced this in front of a room full of people. Scolded by the Judge, Jack’s allowed to continue but again Brenda objects to the word ‘kidnap’ – Dina was released into Graham’s care. Jack shares how they brought Dina back from Florida and she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Graham knew for a year and didn’t tell us. He’s waiting for her to die to inherit her millions. Brenda begins making her case by shutting Jack up with a simple question. Over the years, how close were you and your Mother?
Jack didn’t have as close a relationship with his Mother as he’d liked. He saw her in 2008. And before that? 1996. And before that? 1991. And all these visits were in GC – the Abbott kids never saw their Mother though they did, on occasion, travel to France. No phone calls? Emails etc? Huh, Jack doesn’t sound like the loyal son he claims to be. Brenda brings up the lack of family unity at Jabot, then lists ‘disturbing’ incidents that occurred while Dina was under Jack’s supervision (arson, a stabbing, child abduction) Jack stands to point and shout at the lawyer that Graham shouldn’t be ‘roaming’ the city either. The Judge and Mike both ask Jack to calm down. Jack rants – that man is exploiting my Mother’s disease to get rich and deprive me and my sisters of precious time with our Mother! Dina stands to choke out ‘leave John alone. I failed him and my family – sentence me. I had countless affairs and abandoned by husband and three little babies. I don’t blame them for not forgiving me’. The Judge wants to confer with the lawyers to decide whether they should continue.
We’ve got to go – the hearing might be over, Traci worries. Ashley might have found something – we gotta go – read it in the car, she hands papers to Traci as they run out.
The Judge gives Mike a few more minutes of recess to consult with his client. I hate what this is doing to my Mother, Jack is sad that Dina thinks her kids would never forgive her. Mike thinks Dina’s outburst might show the Judge that Dina’s in no state of mind to make decisions. It seems that Jack’s willing to give up for his Mother’s sake.
As the Judge calls the hearing back to order, Mike stands to answer on whether to proceed when Ashley and Traci race in to give him the paperwork. I need an answer, the Judge bangs her gavel. Yes, Mike’s ready to proceed and he has new evidence he’d like the court to hear.