-Donna Gurganus. Everyone calls me Gurgs.
-Oh, so nice to meet you. I'm Abby Stone.
I just moved here from upstate.
-Judge Stone. That sounds familiar.
-Maybe you heard of my dad, Harry Stone?
He worked here back in the '90s.
Yeah, I guess anyone who worked with my dad
moved on a long time ago.
-Oat milk latte for Ted. Non-drink for a non-name.
-Dan Fielding, is that you?
-If I have to be, yeah, I guess. Hot tea for Mary.
Oh, you know what? You can make that at home.
I'll get you the recipe.
-You know, the last time I saw you,
I had a client in night court.
-Yeah, I left that place years ago.
Have not looked back.
-I've looked forward to this for so long.
I can't believe I get to work here.
My dad used to tell the most wonderful stories
over the years about... -The people.
I mean, to call the criminals that came through that court
the bottom of the barrel is an insult
to the bottom of the barrel.
More like the stuff that grows underneath the barrel.
Yeah, they all deserve... -A judge who sees them
for more than their crime.
That's what my dad did and that's what I want to do.
I believe anyone is capable of turning things...
-Around, turn the top around and the milk will come out.
Skinny latte for Barry. -That's mine.
-Oh, wait. Are you Barry Grenache?
-Yeah. -Oh, I got something else
for you -- consider yourself served.
-This is all an act --
the whole barista thing, that fake beard?
-Barista, yeah. This is my real face, ass...
-Holy moly! I can't wait to get started.
Oh, no. Arlo forgot his nose ring.
-That wasn't in his nose.
-Dad never mentioned that in his stories.
-Welcome to night court.
-Oh. Can't believe it's you.
Welcome home, Clarence.
My name is Abby Stone. Used to work with my dad.
-You're Harry's daughter.
Uh, come in.
-I hope you don't mind me dropping by.
I found your address in a box of my dad's stuff.
-Yeah, no, uh, no, it's, uh, fine.
It's just, uh -- Sorry, it's been...
well, quite a while since I did any entertaining.
Oh, duck sauce.
-For later.
-I was sorry to hear about your father.
We lost touch over the years,
but he was a great guy.
-You know, he felt the same way about you.
-Hm. [ Chuckles ] -I almost didn't recognize you
with the beard.
In pictures, you always look so put together.
Not that the beard isn't a good look.
It's a great way to cover up a weird neck.
Not that your neck is weird. It's -- Wow, look at that view.
-That is what sold Sara on the place.
-Sara your wife?
-She was.
So, what brings you to town?
-I moved here for a job. I am the new night court judge.
-[ Screams ]
-Anyway, our public defender quit,
and I was wondering if you might be interested.
-In being a public defender?
I-I'm afraid you've confused me with someone else,
someone who likes people.
-I guess this doesn't mean anything to you.
-Pull the rest of the table out of there,
I'll be very impressed.
-It's a souvenir from the night that my dad
almost quit being a judge.
You found him in a pool hall
and helped him go back to the thing that he loved.
You said you admired him.
-Doesn't ring a bell.
-You also called him a pathetic,
whiny, wheezy, jackass twig.
-[ Chuckles ] Oh, that I remember.
Wow, this place hasn't changed.
Right down to the guy fishing dead birds out of the ceiling.
Hey, you know what?
I wanted to ask you something.
Say a lifetime ago you worked with a guy, right?
Had your ups and downs,
but on the whole, like each other, respected, even.
The job ends, you go your separate ways.
Life happens, you live, you love, and you lose
big time.
And so you close off your heart.
Then one day, the child of that almost forgotten guy
comes to you and asks for your help.
Would you take the chance?
Would you open that heart up again,
let feelings in,
knowing that undoubtedly it would hurt again at some point?
-There is a saying in my country --
when men is holding dead bird tell shorter story.
-And that is why I don't open up to people.
But I am not afraid to open a box.
Hey -- Oh!
Harry! -When my dad sat in that chair,
he made every person who walked through those doors
feel like they mattered.
It's just what I want to do.
That's why I went out and got us an awesome public defender.
-Hm. When will they be getting here?
-Oh, God. [ Laughs ]
-Thanks.
Hey, can I get your advice on something, Gurgs?
-I mean, I can tell it's a wig,
but I don't think anyone else can.
-Here's my problem.
I asked Dan to be our public defender,
because based on the stories my dad told me,
I thought he had the potential to be really good at it.
-[ Laughs ]
You were wrong about that.
Your daddy got you good.
-I lost a lot of time with my dad
when I was at my worst.
Ashamed to be around him.
And he always had faith in me.
Said he was, "Keeping that faith safe
until I had it to myself again."
I'm glad I got into recovery in time for him
to see me get better, but
never felt I could make up for that lost time.
It's one of the reasons I took the job here --
to feel connected to him.
So when it's not going well, I mess up,
it's like I'm failing him all over again.
-The Harry I knew -- pfft, you failing him?
That thought would have never even remotely entered his mind.
And just -- also there's folks around here who have
a lot of faith in you.
-Thanks, Dan.
This is our chance to inspire
the next generation of judges and lawyers.
Like when my dad came for a career day,
he did a presentation and mixed in some magic.
He brought the house down,
made the book fair look like total trash.
-Oh, you're from Baton Rouge, huh?
I hear there's a lot of jazz down there.
Listen up, Fielding, we need to talk.
-Oh, my God, that's who you are.
I thought I recognized you.
You married Harry?
-Zip it! My daughter doesn't know
we know each other, and I want to keep it that way.
-Wait, so she doesn't know how you and Harry actually --
-Shh!
I'm not getting into this with you.
I just came here to check on my daughter
and make sure you keep your trap shut.
-Hey, listen, I know better than to get mixed up
in whatever this is.
Only family drama I care about is "Succession."
I'm rooting for the old man.
I mean, I don't want everybody else to die
and him just keep getting richer and richer.
-So we have an understanding. -Yes, I understand that
for some reason, you want to keep secrets from your daughter,
which is none of my business.
-Yeah.
Are you gonna show me where the bathroom is or not?
-Follow me. -Honey, that was beautiful.
It was like watching your dad up there.
-I mean, you never actually saw him as a judge.
-About that.
-Bingo! Criminal hugs judge!
Criminal hugs judge!
I win, I win!
-The criminal?
-Hey, not me. Didn't say a word, nope.
-Don't look at me.
I just thought she had the best sex of her life with Dan.
-Why would you think that? I made it perfectly clear
I was just trying to get her in handcuffs.
Oh, yeah, now I hear it.
-Mom, how could you --
Mom?
-All right, now that that's out in the open.
Neil, what the hell are you wearing?
You know, I'm not gonna pretend to understand
why your parents kept this from you.
But then again, there's a lot about Harry I didn't understand.
Like he would keep rabbits up his sleeve for hours
just in case there was a chance of magic.
-Gina Stone for the defense.
You may proceed.
-Okay. First, I just want to say
your father wanted you to know, but he respected
that it was my story to tell.
-Right, so tell it.
-It started with a little poker game at the Jiffy Lube
where my boyfriend worked.
We were riding high on cash and exhaust fumes,
but things got out of control, and I ended up here.
Your dad could have thrown the book at me.
But he saw me
the way I wanted to see myself.
-He had a habit of doing that. -After I served my time, I --
I reached out.
Turns out I was on his mind, too.
He wasn't sure about the whole judge dating the ex-con thing.
But I said, "You're only one 'yes' away
from the rest of your life."
-That was you.
-We wanted a fresh start,
so we got married and moved upstate.
-So no Ferris wheel?
Because I bought you like a thousand Ferris wheel
Christmas ornaments.
-Sorry, I should have told you,
but I was ashamed.
-You know what that's like. When I was struggling,
I did things that I wouldn't want to tell my kids about --
when I have kids, I don't have any secret kids,
but if I did, this would be the time to tell you.
No, I thought I was the only screw-up in the family.
It's nice to know that my perfect mom
is as messed up as I am.
-Oh, I'm a huge mess. There is one other thing.
Abby isn't short for Abigail.
Your real name is Abracadabra Stone.
I'm sorry, that one's on your father.
-Everyone, please be seated.
-One second, Your Honor.
The father of the bride is supposed to be here,
but we can't get in touch with him.
-Oh, well, you can't get married without her dad here.
-Dad? You made it.
-Oh, I couldn't imagine doing this without you.
-Your Honor, we can get started.
-I'm sorry, I just --
I just need a minute.
-If I have been your maid of honor,
this never would have happened.
-Growing up, sometimes my dad would pull me out of school
to visit the city and take me to a museum.
He would pretend to be a tour guide and just make stuff up.
One time we had like 15 people join our tour.
We had to stop, because the FBI thought
we were planning an art heist.
I can't get everything I want.
-Because your father isn't here.
-I think that's the real reason
I haven't wanted to jump back into wedding planning.
He was just so involved in all of it.
He was gonna do magic.
-[ Chuckles ] -This thing where my finger
would keep falling off right before Rand
put a ring on it.
It's gonna be epic.
-Well, you know,
big moments make us really miss those who are gone.
It's inevitable. But you have to live your life,
and it's time you start a life with --
again, Rand? Rand.
I mean, it's almost like a name, but not quite.
-Isn't your real name? Reinhold.
-Uh-huh, okay.
So, you know, stuff.
-But you're right,
that is what my dad would have wanted.
It's just hard to accept that he won't be there for it.
-Actually, I had an idea about that.
-What is this? -Well.
Harry and I, all of us, really,
I mean, we spent so much time downstairs in that courthouse
that we would come up here for a break, fresh air,
and talk down the occasional jumper.
I thought it might be a way to make it feel like your father
was part of your wedding.
I mean, plus, you can't beat
the beautiful view that way. Don't look that way.
Those people need to invest in some curtains.
-It's perfect.
Rand is gonna love it.
I mean, he is terrified of heights,
but it's time we work on that anyway.
I'm not giving up roller coasters for anyone.
-We helped, too. I did the twinkly lights.
-And I brought up a leaf blower
and got rid of the pigeons that are no longer with us.
-Because we realized that we make a great team.
-And that's why we agreed that we'd be your co-maids of honor.
-Oh -- Oh, I already have a maid of honor.
It's my friend, Nicole, from childhood.
She saved me from a well once.
-Can't beat that.
-Okay, you will not agree
with everything I am going to say up there,
but just know that I am doing what is best for my client.
-I trust you.
-That's why I brought you back here.
You're the best lawyer I know.
Best lawyer my dad knew.