THE MATTER WITH THEM
Episode 8, “Lobsters”
SYNOPSIS

Entitled “Lobsters,” the pilot therefore traces a normal day
in an abnormal world where kids have to be restrained by others
before hurting someone. Still, there are ways for the other
incarcerated youths to take advantage of the offender when the
supervising adults, hamstrung by their own - usually denied or
happily indulged - immaturities, are busy with their own
preoccupations. Parents are called and challenged to show more
concern for their son, who is often left at the institution
without much home support.

One of the boys, a foster kid nearly all his life who has
bounced around in the system and benefitted by the good graces of
the groups head of therapy, the Treatment Director, meets his
mother for the first time...or is that who she is? We later
discover that the TD has overstepped and is read the riot act by
the often dismissed family worker who is right to fret about the
outcome, legally as well as personally.

Our most readily identifiable guide for the journey is Peter
Baldwin, a venal but well-intentioned new cottage staff. He must
learn to read body language, demand appropriate behavior, act as
surrogate parent and prison guard while making critical decisions
and performing as a father confessor to emotionally impaired
liars, brutes and ingrates. The whole while he as to endure the
jaded ironies and cryptic advice of staff who know the ropes and
still trust his heart as he navigates the waters that seem slowly
to be inundating him.

He is at least distracted by an older woman to whom he has
become attracted, try as he might to conceal it from the boys and
his fellow staff. Kitty Lynch, the classroom teacher for the Peace
Group, is impreesively accomplished in her role, someone from whom
Baldwin can learn. Besides her strength, she’s easy on the eyes.
Hard as nails and private, she could be interested, but doesn’t
indulge fools easily. He visits with her at home after shift,
painfully awkward as a juvenile admirer. Love may be in the
offing, but Kitty isn’t going to give ground without being sure
what this guy is made of.

Of the many who give Baldwin advice from the perspective of
their years dedicated to helping others, no less in possession of
a piercing wit and wise-guy temperament is Sister Nikos, the most
unerring and distantly morose regarding the human condition and
the hopes of these kids. But the boys trust and respect her. They
are sometimes innocents out of their league and at other moments
psychotic monsters completely in control of their surroundings...
even of the adults.

And something is going on. There is a secret. The staff don’t
know. And sister, like a Yoda, advises Baldwin to teach, watch and
be patient. It will come. She thinks he has the right stuff.
Baldwin isn’t so sure.

At the end of the episode, she may be in danger from one of
the kids, even as the jocular staff, including Baldwin, relax in
the lounge across campus, totally unaware of her predicament. A
nightwatchman discovers a bed in the Peace Group’s dorm empty.
Alone in the chapel as she cleans, Sister Nikos hears something.
The chapel lights go off.

And we will have to wait till next week.

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