L.A. Law (TV Series)

Monkey on My Back Lot (1991)

Susan Dey: Grace Van Owen

Photos 

Quotes 

• Grace Van Owen : I understand you're doing well in drug rehab.

  Sharon Kester : Yeah. I guess. I've been clean 2 years, that's longer than ever before.

  Grace Van Owen : And how about your psychotherapy, is that going okay?

  Sharon Kester : Yeah, sure.

  Grace Van Owen : Well, good. I hear you have a new boyfriend, too.

  Sharon Kester : Yeah, he's a good guy. And he's not into drugs. That's a first for me. Look, Ms. Van Owen, I know what you must think about me, but I'd never hurt my kids if I wasn't using. And I want to get 'em back some day. I know I gotta prove that I'm gonna do right by 'em.

  Grace Van Owen : Well, it's not just hitting your kids, Sharon, it's-- it's also your drug use and your baby, the one you lost.

  Sharon Kester : That was an accident. Wasn't my fault.

  Grace Van Owen : It was your fault, Sharon. The baby was stillborn because of the crack cocaine you used during your pregnancy.

  Sharon Kester : That's what they said but it's not true.

  Grace Van Owen : Then what caused it, Sharon?

  Sharon Kester : I think it was 'cause I was so upset on account of being arrested. It was, you know, stress.

  Grace Van Owen : Sharon, I...

  Sharon Kester : Look, I want this thing taken out of me, Ms. Van Owen. I never should have agreed to it. I want to get married, have more kids. I want to show that judge, I want to show everyone. I want to prove that I am a good mother.

• [Opening the door is Ms. Van Owen] 

  Sharon Kester : Ms. Van Owen.

  Sharon Kester : May I come in?

  Sharon Kester : Yeah. Have you heard anything?

  Grace Van Owen : Yes. The justices just delivered their opinion. We won.

  Sharon Kester : Oh, man. That's great. That means I can get my kids back, right?

  Grace Van Owen : Not neccesarily, no.

  Sharon Kester : Why not? The court said I can have more kids, but means they think I'd be a good mother now.

  Grace Van Owen : The court ruled that your rights were violated by the implant, but they didn't say anything about you being a fit mother.

  Sharon Kester : But I am a fit mother.

  Grace Van Owen : Sharon, until you face the fact that your drug use cost the life of your baby, you're not.

  Sharon Kester : Who in the hell do you think you are? I don't care what you did for me, who in the in the hell are you to think...

  Grace Van Owen : I just wanted to help you.

  Sharon Kester : Oh, get out! Get out of my house!

  Grace Van Owen : Stop this.

  Sharon Kester : I don't want you here! You never gave a damn about me. All you care and Miss Price ever cared about was the case.

  Grace Van Owen : That is not true.

  Sharon Kester : Get out!

  Grace Van Owen : Sharon.

  Sharon Kester : Get out!

  Grace Van Owen : Sharon, I know what you're thinking, that if you stay in rehab, that if you see the shrink, that pretty soon they're gonna give you your kids back, but it's not true. That's not how it works. You have to show that you have changed. You have to show that you understand what you did...

  Sharon Kester : Well, I told you it wasn't my fault!

  Grace Van Owen : It was your fault. The baby died of a heart attack...

  Sharon Kester : Oh, you go to hell! You've never even seen my kids! You don't know 'em! I raised 'em just fine, and I'm gonna raise another one just fine, and I don't need nobody's permission. Now, you got what you wanted. Get the hell out of my house.

  [Sharon heads back to her room and slams the door]