Standing Tall (La Tête haute)

The DA's office received a report on your son.

That's why you're here.

Which son? I have 2. see?

One, and one.

MaIony, 6 years oId. It's cIear which one.

You received a summons. Did you read it?

- I'm here, ain't I? - We read it together.

Go on, fine me. I'm not soIvent.

I'm a juveniIe judge,

I'm not the poIice. You're not in court.

My roIe is to protect chiIdren at risk.

Who said MaIony's at risk?

Your son's missed 2 months of schooI.

Is that correct?

The principaI summoned you 3 times.

You eventuaIIy went to see her,

toId her to stay out of your Iife,

and you Ieft swearing you'd never Iet MaIony go back.

so Madame vatier here went to your house

and you wouIdn't Iet her in.

Here, here...

WouId you pIease Iisten?

Why shut out sociaI workers?

I know their kindl They nose around and don't do no good.

I'm 26, past the age of being bossed around.

Mrs. vatier?

Mrs. Ferrando is wary of sociaI and education services.

It's difficuIt to estabIish a working diaIogue.

We're setting up protective measures.

It's to provide structure.

Like I was a pubIic menacel

You want one Iike that?

Throwing fits over schooI, aIways underfoot?

Busting stuff and whatnot?

The monster Iooks pretty caIm to me.

He's twisted. He's being good on purposel

He knows he's in a judge's office.

That's aII.

Even the baby's father is sick of watching him.

MaIony's father is deceased.

I know. I may be new, but...

The gentIeman is the stepfather.

He IegaIIy adopted him.

MaIony has this gentIeman's name.

The ''gentI'man'' dropped me Iike a hot potato.

He's an asshoIe anyway.

Watch your tongue. The chiIdrenl

No other word for an asshoIe Iike that.

Goddam sonofabitch.

This isn't the IocaI barl

Here, take his stuffl

PIenty for a rotten bratl

You want him?

- sit downl - Keep him, that's okay by me.

Good Iuck He's a Ioad on everybodyl

Take him, I wanna be rid of himl

sit down a minute. sit.

Mrs. Ferrandol

Draw up a TCO.

I hope the ChiIdren's Home has a space.

she'd packed his things.

MaIony?

MaIony, worId championl

GTAl GTAl

Run him downl

That's MaIony.

sTANDING TALL

sit down.

sit down, young man.

sit down, MaIony.

If you won't sit, then Iook at me.

There's nothing on the fIoor.

And take off your cap, pIease.

No.

Why not?

I got cooties.

He picks up Iice where he hangs out.

Do you remember this office?

Do you know who I am?

- The judge. - very weII.

Do you know what you're doing here today?

Why you're in the judge's office?

You don't know?

Do you have a Iicense?

Think that's funny?

Driving without a Iicense is seriousl

He couId've hit someone.

You wouIdn't be Iaughing then.

You're the one who's IiabIe.

If your son injures someone, you'II pay miIIions in damages.

- It's not her fauIt. - I'II hear you Iaterl

If you want to keep custody,

you'd better straighten up fast,

and show a IittIe maturity

in raising your chiIdren.

- she said not to drive. - You're out of turnl

Madam, I'm Iistening.

Okay, I handIe things wrong.

But I Iove my kids.

- I don't beat 'em. - No one said you did.

I've been working with the shrink.

When you go to appointments.

With GIadys too.

We're trying. It takes time.

There's some awareness, but it fades fast.

so I sound the aIarm.

As for any authority or ruIes...

What about reIationships?

Anyone steady in your Iife at the moment?

- What about drugs? - she quit.

Right? You quit?

Nada.

There's progress.

That's a step. Keep it up, Mrs. Ferrando.

You bet.

What about schooI?

He's onIy gone 6 days this faII.

His behavior is unruIy. Damage to materiaI,

insuIts to teachers...

What do you do aII day?

I ask him that aII the timel

He goes out in the morning, comes home at night,

no idea where he's been.

Never know when he'II be home. It stresses me out.

For my private Iife...

Awandering, truant teenager doesn't stress you out?

The discipIinary committee meets Oct. 11 .

We'II wait to see what happens then.

If you're not expeIIed, and I hope not, start making an effort,

Dunkerque has few schooIs, and aIready 2 won't take you.

Mrs. vatier wiII report back to me.

I'm putting you under supervision.

I'm setting up an HsO.

That means

you must meet with the counseIor assigned to you.

When wiII you stop butting into our Iife?

Giving my son to othersl

stop it or you Ieave.

You piss me off, then write I can't care for my kidsl

Let me finish.

I was going to point out, Mrs. Ferrando,

that you must get invoIved.

It won't work without parentaI invoIvement.

For now I'II Ieave it at a warning.

But you have to get back on a reguIar schooI scheduIe

and stay out of troubIe. The next step is a juveniIe home.

The baII is in your court. Understood?

Mr. Ferrando, that you?

Come on, your counseIor's here.

stand there.

Hands against the door.

spread your Iegs.

Nothing dangerous?

Off with that.

Turn around. Let's go.

Go on in.

sit down.

Gimme a smoke.

Gimme a smoke.

I'm here out of respect for Judge BIaque,

but it's our Iast meeting.

The supervisor assigned someone eIse.

I can't make pIans with you.

Your pIan is to stick me in a home with that riffraff.

Gimme a smoke.

You're not riffraff?

shut up, wimpl

Before you see the judge, ask yourseIf...

shut upl You didn't heIp me.

They oughta trash you.

You're worthIess. You and your rotten mugl

Go pIay the horses.

For me to heIp, keep your DJJ meetings.

The weekIy guys make progress.

Quit comparing me to othersl

What d'you do for me?

Thanks to me, you make a bundIe writing crap in my fiIel

I see your dirty tricksl

Think you can just waIk away?

sit downl

Cut it out. CaIm downl

Fuck your wife and kid, asshoIel

I'm gonna beat you to a puIpl

Come on.

Get rid of himl

I can't stand the sight of you, asshoIel

Faggotl

Are you aIright? Not hurt?

That one's a reaI jerk.

I'II get you some water.

OnIy the grandfather is here. WiII you see him?

Put these in your office.

This, too.

I don't know what I'II do.

- Are the tempIates ready? - Yes.

Have him brought in.

You may come in.

- HeIIo, Madam CIerk. - CounseI.

- Your Honor. - CounseI.

I don't beIieve I asked you to sit.