(gentle music) (upbeat music) - [Snaps] So, I understand
you want to hear a story. Well, it all
started decades ago. I had just hatched from an
egg in my mother's nest. You see, I was the first to... What? Wrong story? Oh, fine, fine, fine. I'll tell you the story
of Shadow the Pit Bull. It all started several
years ago in this very room. - She's so soft. - Yeah, I have to clean her and brush her a lot
to keep her this way. She likes to play in the mud. Wouldn't be so bad if it
didn't harden under her fur. - Well, does she like baths? - Not really, but she
doesn't fight it either. - Mm. Bella, you're so
cute. Yes, you are. - [Bella] Yes, I am. - Can't you get a dog? - I want one really badly. - Have you asked
your parents again? - Yeah, but they say,
"No," like always. - Keep asking. Maybe if you bug them enough, they'll eventually
let you get one. - Uh, more like
they'll just ground me. - Not like you do much anyways. - Yeah, but that would mean not being able to volunteer
at the pound anymore. - Oh, I didn't think of that. - [Amber's Mom] Samantha!
Your mother's here! - Already? - [Amber's Mom] Samantha! - We heard! One second! - I better go.
Ready to go, Bella? - See you tomorrow at school. - Bye. (television chattering) - Um, Dad? - Wait till a commercial. - But you're not even watching. - Yeah, but I'm listening.
- On an image of perfection. Okay, we need to take a break. Tomorrow's topic is role models. - Ooh, looks like I got time
to get to some ice cream. - Dad. - [Woman] Laughter. It's no secret that
laughter makes you smile. Well, guess what? It also... - What is it? - I know I've asked you this
before, but can we get a puppy? - Amber, we've been over this. - But there's so many
good ones at the pound. - Yes, and you can
see them there. - They all get adopted. - And then new ones come in. Isn't it more fun to
see a ton of puppies rather than just one for a
few months before it grows up? - But I want to
raise one myself, and I'll still love
it when it gets old. Plus, I'll still see
the dogs at the pound. - A dog is a lot
of responsibility. - I know, but I can handle it. - You have to feed
it, potty train it, teach it obedience-
- I know, I know. - Don't raise your voice at- - I'm not! - Yes, you are. (Amber groans) - Well, I don't mean to.
(television chattering) I just don't know why
you won't trust me! - [Amber's Dad] Hey! Somebody
ate all my ice cream! (birds chirping) - [Amber] What'd you get? - [Samantha] B minus. It is so hard to get an A
in Miss Jenkins's class. What'd you get? - C minus. - Ouch. Why? - I have no idea, but I'm staying after to
ask her what I did wrong. - Are you going to the game? - No, they're getting new
puppies at the pound today, so I really want to
be there to meet them. - Are you sure? We're playing the Bears.
It should be an easy win. - I can never really
follow what's going on. - All right. - Miss Jenkins? - Yes, Amber? - [Amber] Why did
I get a C minus? - Your paper was vague, Amber. You can't just say how you feel. You have to be able
to prove your point. I'm looking for
specifics, facts. Can you prove any of this? I'm sorry, but without being
able to cite your sources, your statements just
don't carry any weight. (somber music) - Hey, Amber, how was school? - The usual. - Why don't you ever
tell me anything exciting that happened in school? - Because we sit in chair
desks for seven hours, listening to someone
read from a textbook and draw on marker boards. - I don't know, when
I was in school, there was always at least
something fun that happened. - Yet another reason
why I wish I was older. - No, you do not, because
when you get older, you're actually gonna wish
that you were younger. Trust me. (Dr. Robertson chuckles)
- Mm, I guess. Well, you know what I would
really enjoy right now, is getting to meet some puppies. New ones in? - I'm surprised you
didn't ask me yet. Yeah, go, they're right there. - Great.
(Dr. Robertson chuckles) (Amber chuckles)
- Have fun. (puppies yelping) (puppy barking) - [Amber] Hey, bud. Hey, no. (puppy barks) - [Puppy 1] Hey, she hit me. - [Puppy 2] You hit me first. (puppy barks) (puppies laughing) - You're so cute. I need to give you a name. - [Puppy] Yes. Yes. - Think I'll call you Shadow. - [Shadow] Yes, I am Shadow. - [Puppy 2] I like her. - [Puppy 1] I think
she's called an Amber. - [Shadow] I like this Amber. (Puppy 2 barks) - [Snaps] The puppies
continue to talk amongst themselves
about the girl. She couldn't understand
a word they said, but she knew they liked her. All animals did. She spent her whole
volunteer session playing with the
puppies that day. (birds chirping) (students chattering) - Hey, want to come over later? Bella has started
doing the cutest thing. - Normally, I would love to, but I really want to play
with the new puppies. - Really? You've been
there every day this week. - Yeah, but they won't
be there forever. Oh, and there's this
one, she's so cute. I named her Shadow. - Sounds fun. - Yeah, I want to play
with her as much as I can before she gets adopted. - Okay, text me. (gentle music) (birds chirping) - [Amber] Hi, Dr. Robertson. Is Shadow still here? - Sure is. - I'm surprised nobody's
adopted her yet. - And someone may not adopt her. - That doesn't make sense. - Well, see, some people think
that pit bulls are mean dogs. - But Shadow's so lovable.
How could anyone think that? - Because there's owners
that have pit bulls and they teach them
how to be mean, so people just assume
that pit bulls are mean, and they're not. - But that's not
the dog's fault. - No, it's not its
fault, especially Shadow. I mean, she's such
a great puppy. We know that, I know that, but someone that
just looks at Shadow might think she's a mean dog. - Oh. - You know what? Let's keep our fingers crossed and hope that something happens. Take care. Go. (puppies yelping) - Hey, Shadow.
- Yay, the Amber is here. - Ooh, you're so hyper.
- Hi, Amber. - [Puppy 2] Me, me, me. Me, me. - Hi.
- Pet me, pet me, pet me, pet me. Pet me.
- Hello. - Pet me!
- Pet me. - [Puppy 3] No, pet me! - Oh, hello.
- No! (puppy barks)
(Amber laughs) - [Amber] Shadow,
you can be so cute. - [Snaps] The puppies
all loved Amber, but the cage was no home. Of course, I live in a cage, but my cage is in a home
where I am fed, loved, and regularly
annoyed by goldfish. - [Pong] Look at all this ocean. That's a wall? Hmm. Ooh, maybe if I turn around. - [Snaps] Seriously, you
human types are so lucky you cannot hear them. Anyway, the puppies
wanted a home, a place they could run around
more and be in a family. People love puppies, so they
usually went out pretty fast, but nobody wanted a pit bull. - I can't believe
you're the last one. You're so cute. You'll get adopted soon, though. Your eyes are
impossible not to love. (gentle music) I'll be back tomorrow,
though, okay? But you might have
a home by then. Then you won't even remember me. Goodnight, Shadow. I wish I could take you home
with me. I do, I really do. You'll get adopted. You have to. Goodnight, Shadow. - Going to see Shadow again? - Yep. - You are seriously
in love with that dog. - I can't believe no
one else wants her, and it's just because
she's a pit bull. - Shadow is a pit bull? - Yeah. - Amber. - What? - You didn't say
Shadow was a pit bull. - Why does it matter? - It just does. - Oh, no, not you too. - It's a well-known fact
that pit bulls are vicious. That's why all dog
fighters use them. - No, they just get a bad rep because of all the
jerks who own them. They make them fight. - Exactly. - No, not exactly. Dogs take on the
attitudes of their owners. Before pit bulls, everyone
was afraid of Dobermans. - Still, pit bulls bite. - Chihuahuas are more
vicious than pit bulls. - The taco dogs? - Yes, the taco dog. - No way. - Have you ever
seen one in person? - No, but- - Have you ever seen
a pit bull in person? - I keep my distance. - Then you can't say. - I'm just going
off what I hear. - Well, you hear wrong. Look, I don't want to
argue about this anymore. I'm just gonna go to the kennel. - All right, sorry. See you Monday, I guess. - Yeah. - [Puppy] Is this her?
Is this the Amber? - [Shadow] Yeah. This is her. - [Puppy] How come she
won't take you with her? - [Shadow] I don't know.
She's sad when she leaves. She wants to. - [Snaps] Just like before, all the other
puppies were adopted and Amber's daily visits were
spent playing with Shadow, who was again alone
in the puppy pen. (students chattering) - She's still there? - Yeah. She might have been
adopted this morning, though. As much as I love her, I really hope she's not
there when I stop by. She's a good dog and
deserves a good home. - People are probably
afraid of her. - I'm certain that's it. Do you think your parents would let you adopt
her by any chance? - No way, they're
just as afraid of pits as everyone else in town. Also, Bella is quite a handful. - Oh. Well, maybe someone
took her this morning. - I hope so. - [Boy] Hey, Samantha. - No! (gentle music) - Such a sweet puppy. Oh, hi, Dr. Robertson. I'll clean the cages
in a couple minutes. Is anyone considering
Shadow yet? - No, not yet, and unfortunately,
we have a policy here that doesn't allow pit bulls to stay as long
as the other dogs. - Why would you have
a policy like that? - I know, but some people think that pit bulls are more vicious. - But Shadow's not vicious. She's so sweet. - I know, she is. She's such a sweet dog, and that's the reason why
I'm going to the board so we can try to
change the policy. - Well, couldn't we
just not tell them? (Dr. Robertson chuckles) - I wish it was
that easy, Amber, but if we got caught
breaking the rules, then not only would I be fired, but then all the dogs
would, you know... - Well, is there
anything we can do? - You could just really go out and try to get Shadow adopted. But that's about all. - Well, I'll just
have to do that. Hey, and I can start
a social media page and put up fliers and stuff. - That's great. - Cool. Okay. (cellphone ringing) Sam, I need your help. - What are you doing calling? - This is bigger
than just a text. Shadow needs to be
adopted, and quick. Dr. Robertson said that
if she's not adopted in the next week,
they'll put her down. - Put her down where? - Put her to sleep, for good. - That's terrible. - Exactly. We need to get
Shadow adopted and pronto. - How? (upbeat music) - Poster board?
- Check. - Color markers.
- Check. - [Amber] And how are your
video skills coming along? - I'm up to 500
subscribers on YouTube. Think a video is in order? - Definitely. We need to spread this
across social media, make sure everybody knows a sweet, lovely, and adorable
puppy's ready to be adopted. - You got it. - [Snaps] So, as you
can probably tell, Amber is going to be busy
for the next few days. She's going to
search far and wide for a family to adopt Shadow. It's no small task,
let me tell you. People only see
Shadow as a pit bull. - Hello, everyone. This is Shadow, a very
lovable pup who needs a home. I have volunteered at the
shelter for quite some time now, and this is definitely
the most adorable puppy I have ever seen. (Amber chuckles) - And cut. We're good to go. - Cool. I have a bit of a
rendezvous first. - A what? - Take this. I'll make sure
it gets up on social media. - Thank you. (birds chirping) - Hey. I know you already have a dog, but we actually have
one up for adoption who's great with other animals. What's one more, right? Yep. Just a puppy. Well, she's a pit bull. No, that's not true. Wait! (Samantha sighs) - Another hang-up? Keep trying. The list Dr. Robertson
gave me are all the people who have adopted or given money, so if they're not
interested in another dog, then you could always ask them if they know anyone
who might be. - Will do. Let's take
a short break, though. I need to walk Bella. Then, after that, we can
start with the phones again and start hanging
up the posters. - Sounds good. (elegant music) - [Miss Jenkins]
Samantha Reynolds. - Miss Jenkins? What are you doing here? - Um, I live here. I don't sleep at the
school, you know, and your animal is on my lawn. - Um, okay. - Please, control
your dog, young lady. - My dog? - You do own that
beast, don't you? - [Bella] Beast? Moi? - We don't own our
dogs, Miss Jenkins. We're their guardians.
- Call yourself whatever you like, just please
keep your dog off my lawn. - Sorry, Miss Jenkins.
It won't happen again. - See to it that it doesn't. I do have friends in
high places, you know, and I don't want to have to call and make a nuisance complaint. - Wow. - [Bella] Wow, she's mean. (mellow music) - How's your new paper for
Miss Jenkins's class coming? - Great, I think it's
gonna be the best paper I've written all year. - You sure Miss Jenkins
will like the topic? She seems like more
of a cat person. - How can you tell a cat person? - They're tall and skinny. (Amber chuckles) - That's how you
tell a cat person? - Sure. That way, they
can reach for cats when they jump up on things. - You have a funny way
of looking at things, but you might be right. Maybe my mom's a cat person. - She's not tall enough. (door closes) (both laughing) - Do not. - What's so funny? - [Amber] Nothing. - Okay girls, let's
head to the zoo. (mellow music) - Adopt the world's
nicest pit bull. Adopt a pit bull. That's it. I'm out of fliers. Can we go see some
of the animals now? I haven't been here
since I was little. - Yeah, sure. (upbeat music) - Congratulations on
getting your papers in on time, everyone. I must say, you
outdid yourselves. Class dismissed. Amber? Is everything okay? You seem down. - How tall are you? - Well, that's an
interesting question, but I'm five foot, seven inches. - Would you say
you're tall or short? - Compared to you, I
consider myself tall, but compared to other teachers
at this school, not so tall. Why do you ask? - No reason. Miss Jenkins? - [Miss Jenkins] Yes? - Would you consider
adopting the best puppy in the whole entire world? - Ah. Shadow the pit bull? - Yeah, the one from my paper. - Amber, I gave you an A plus because your paper was
very well-researched, but pit bulls are
still very dangerous. - But my paper and
all my research proves
that they're not. - Amber, pit bulls are
still very dangerous. Despite all of your research,
I just know they are. - But isn't that vague? You can't just say
they're dangerous. You need to cite your facts. - Enough, Amber. Pit bulls are dangerous,
and I don't want one. Besides, I have three cats. - For the record, Miss
Jenkins, you're tall. - [Snaps] The girls
devoted the whole week to advertising Shadow. They had fliers everywhere
they were allowed to. They called all their friends,
family, family of friends, friends of family, and
family of friends of family, seeing if anyone would be
interested in adopting Shadow. They even went on the
internet and social media, making pages dedicated
to finding Shadow a home. The girls stayed up all night on the phone and
on the internet. - [Pong] How many people
do their phones know? - [Snaps] Shouldn't
you be asleep? - [Pong] I don't
know. Do I sleep? - [Snaps] Yes, you
do, and you like it. - [Pong] Where do I sleep? - [Snaps] There. - [Pong] In the vast ocean? - [Snaps] No. - [Pong] Okay, I'll
find a comfortable spot. Huh. Glass wall? That's odd. Maybe this way. A glass wall? Maybe if I turn around. - Amber, you did it! Because of your posters
and your social media, 13 different animals
got adopted today. You did it! Congratulations. Thank you. - But no one adopted Shadow. - No. There isn't even any interest
in any of the other families. The only one that
wants Shadow is you, and we both know
that's impossible. Unless she's adopted
by tonight, then... There's nothing
more that I can do. I'm gonna go let you and
Shadow say your goodbyes. Okay? (somber piano music) (Amber crying) (door opens) (door closes) - Sweetheart, we're
sorry you're so sad. We wish that there was
something that we could do. - It's not fair. They're just gonna kill her,
like she's not important, like she doesn't have feelings, like she's not the best dog
in the whole entire world. - I know, it sounds unbearable, but sometimes, in
life, we have to accept that difficult things happen. - But I don't want to accept it. Someone could adopt her, Mom.
Why wouldn't anyone do that? - People don't know Shadow
the way that you do. To them, she looks different. - What if you decided
not to adopt me because I looked different? What would have happened to me? - [Snaps] And that
night, the girl's parents discussed the situation. Having been struck
by her last comment, neither of them slept well. (birds chirping) Oh, just when I was starting
to enjoy my morning sleep. Hey! What is that thing? Is that a... Well, I'll be! - [Shadow] Wait, who said that? - [Snaps] Me! I said it. - Who's me?
- The bird! In the cage, look up! - [Shadow] Hey, a chicken. I love chicken. - Shadow. Shadow, you're here! Shadow, you're
here, you're here! Oh, my gosh! Mom! Dad! Come quick! Mom! Dad! (door opens)
Look guys, it's Shadow! - We couldn't let
something bad happen to the best dog in the
whole entire world. - Thank you so much. You stay right here. I got
to go brush my teeth, okay? I'll be right back. All right. Stay
right there, okay? Be right there, Snaps. - [Shadow] What delicious
shoes you have, Amber. Mm. Hey, it's a chicken. You put out a water bowl and
there's a treat at the bottom. Thanks, Amber. Hi, Mr. Chicken. This is a great place
to mark my territory. - No!
(cage crashes) (toothbrush clatters) - [Shadow] Boy, I'm exhausted.
It sure is fun here, Amber. - [Snaps] It's a
monster, a monster! - Okay. Oh, Snaps. (Amber chuckles) I'm so sorry, bud. Are you okay? - [Snaps] It peed on me! (carpet squishing) It peed on everything! - I told you, a dog
would be a lot of work. - It's okay. I love her. (carpet squishing) - [Shadow] I love
you too, Amber. But you are ruining
that nice smell. - Come here, Shadow. Come here. Good, Shadow. Shadow, look, look, look. Isn't she awesome, Sam? - [Samantha] She's adorable. Let's see if she likes Bella. - Oh. (Amber laughs) Shadow, that's Bella. She's
gonna be our new friend, okay? - I think she likes her. - Me too. - Can't believe your parents
finally let you adopt Shadow. That's so cool. - Yeah. I can't either, but sure enough, there she was at the foot
of my bed this morning. This is the best day of my
entire life, and she's so cute. - She is. Come on, let's play with them. Little Shadow won't have
a chance with the ball if Bella has any say in it. - Well, you look happy today. - I know. My parents got her! - I know, I was here. They got here five
minutes before we opened. - Yeah, it must have been early 'cause I woke up to
her face this morning. - Oh, that must have
been the best feeling. - It was. Hey, I just stopped
by to tell you I'm not gonna be coming
in for a little while. - Yeah, of course. Don't
even worry about it. - Okay, cool.
- Enjoy, have fun. - Thank you. - So happy for you. (elegant music) - Yes, I would like
to report a violation of ordinance 317, the
city's ban on pit bulls. Well, I'm pretty sure we
do have a ban on pit bulls. It went into effect
three years ago. Well, I can't help it that you nor anyone else there
knows what that is. Just look it up. You'll see that I'm right. - [Cat] Why just ban pit bulls? We should ban all dog. (television chattering)
- What is that talking box? - [Pong] That's a television. - [Shadow] Can I chew on it? - [Pong] That would not be safe. - Starting to smell
like fish in here. You want to take Pong upstairs? - Uh, yeah. I don't know why, but sometimes Snaps freaks
out when he looks at Pong. - Maybe he wants to eat him. - I don't think they eat fish. At least I hope not. (upbeat piano music) (doorbell chimes) - There's someone at the door. - Yes.
(doorbell chiming) - Aren't you gonna get it? (television chattering) - [Amber's Mom] Amber, can
you come to the door, please? - [Amber] What's going on? - You tell her. - Who is she? - Pit bulls are
banned in this county. - What? Why? - They bite people. - All dogs bite if
you're mean to them. - Not as much as these dogs. - Pit bulls are kind if
you raise them nicely. - I'm here to take it away. - No way. - You heard her. You
can't have the dog. - Sir, if you don't voluntarily
turn the animal over, I'll arrest you and take
the animal by force. - It is the law. - I'm sorry, sir. - [Amber] What will
you do with her? - Well, that will be
up to Judge Kelly. He will rule on it on Saturday. - I'm not letting you take her. - Isn't there anything
else that we can do? Shadow is harmless.
- The ban has no exceptions. Officer, do your job. (Shadow whimpers)
- Sir, I have to take the dog. - Give him the dog, Amber. - Excuse me. (somber music) I'm sorry, sir. - I'm sorry, Shadow! I'll get you back, I promise! (television chattering) - This town, I swear.
Nobody makes sense. Do you know why this
nonsense happens? - Don't get started. - Because everybody's
so dang pampered! One person too dumb
to manage themselves does something stupid,
so everybody else
has to pay for it. - Now isn't the time for this. - And do you know why these
idiots get away with it? Hm? Because they cry. Cry, cry, cry. Nobody's tough
enough to stand up for basic freedoms anymore. Nobody fights things anymore. Nobody takes action in
this country anymore. Somebody has to stand
up and fight for Shadow. Now I'm going to get some
ice cream and watch the news! (crickets chirping) - That's it. I'll just prove to the judge
that Shadow's not dangerous, and while I'm at it, I'll
get rid of that stupid law. Ban pit bulls? Who would do such a thing? (gentle music) - Poor girl. It's unbearable. - [Amber's Dad] Mm-hm. - I don't know how
she's gonna be able to get out of bed this morning. - Good morning, Mom and Dad. (Amber chuckles) Sorry I don't really
have time for breakfast. I'm just gonna grab
a piece of toast. - Honey, you okay? - [Amber] Yeah,
I'm great. See ya! - She seems in a good mood. - Stock in beef's
going up in Mongolia. Better get it now. (newspaper rustling) (birds chirping) - Pit bulls? Are you crazy? Those dogs are killers. They kill everything,
especially people. - Shh. - No, they're not.
They're great dogs. - Until they eat you for lunch. - Quiet, please, or I'm going
to have to ask you to leave. - This is why my
friend won't date you. - You've been here
for two whole periods. You've missed lunch and recess. You okay? - I'm great. I am a little hungry, though. (bag zipping) - This should hold you
over until the bell. Mom made me peanut
butter and jelly again. There's only so much
peanut butter and jelly a person can have. - Thanks. You're the best. - Shh. - What are you
doing here anyway? - Well, I'm double-checking
my research paper and making sure I can
cite all my facts, and I'm also working
on my oral argument. - You're 12. How can you
make an oral argument? - I haven't figured
that part out yet. - Well, you better get figuring.
You only have three days. - Ladies, shh. (Samantha sighs) (birds chirping) (Dr. Robertson sighs) - [Dr. Robertson]
Amber, I'm so sorry. - [Amber] It's okay. - I had no idea that Hill
Valley had a ban on pit bulls. Nobody did. - Really? That's odd. - I don't know what
to say. I'm sorry. - It's not anyone's fault,
especially Shadow's. I mean, with any luck, we'll
get this ordinance repealed. - Let's hope so. - How's she doing? - She's okay. They have her all locked
up, but want to go see her? - Can we? - [Dr. Robertson] Yeah, go. (gentle music) - Hey, if you want
to see the dog, you have to keep your
hands away from the cage. - She's harmless. - [Officer] Those are
the orders they gave me. - Can't you make an exception? - If she bites, I'll be fired. - But she's my dog.
She won't bite. - You can't pet the
dog, kid. Sorry. - Fine. I'm sorry, Shadow. - [Shadow] I want to play
with you again, Amber. - I wish you could talk, then you could tell all these
people how nice you are. I'll find a way to get you
out, Shadow, I promise. - [Shadow] Amber, let
me out. I want to play. (crickets chirping) - Hey, Doc. Shadow and I are getting
bored in the back. - How is she? - She's okay, I guess. - Poor Amber. She must
be so heartbroken. Oh.
- Yeah. I felt like a criminal myself, taking this little
girl from their home. - I just don't understand
all these rules. - To be honest, neither do I. - Sometimes I wish
animals could talk. I think it would be interesting to hear what they have to say. - [Pong] We can talk. - [Snaps] Humans
can't understand us. - [Pong] Why not? - [Snaps] They lost
that instinct long ago. - [Pong] That's too bad. - [Snaps] I envy them, at times. - [Pong] Why? - [Snaps] I prefer
the company of humans. They have more to talk about. - [Pong] Why? - [Snaps] They have the
whole world around them to explore and talk about. You're limited to your bowl. - [Pong] I'm in an ocean. Hey, what's this glass wall? - Hold on, Snaps is upset. Sorry about that. Guess what. Samantha and I have been
working on our case, right? And we need you to
be our star witness. - I would love to. When is it? - This Saturday. - I can't this Saturday. This Saturday is the weekend
I have to go to the board. Amber, this is our chance
to become a no-kill shelter. I'm so sorry, I can't. - It's okay. We're going to do our best to try and win you
back, all right? - Look, girl, listen, I feel for you, but I can't
keep telling you this. You have to keep your
hands away from that cage. - But she's my dog. - You keep saying
that, but she isn't. She's the city's now. - Can we just play for a little? - Look, kid... Ah, go on. (gentle music) (lock clacks) - Hey, Shadow. Aw, good puppy. Good puppy. Yes. Yes, good puppy. - And so, Your Honor,
it's clear to see that pit bulls are like
any other dog breed, except maybe a little better. - [Snaps] I'd clap, but
the effect would just be that I'd fly against the cage. - [Pong] You can fly? - [Snaps] For heaven's
sake, fish, I'm a bird. - [Pong] You're a bird? - I think I'm ready. - [Snaps] Trust
me, you're ready. (television chattering) - Should we do anything to
prep for court tomorrow? - Amber's smart. Say, who's the TV guest tonight? - The star of that
new zombie movie. - The fat one, or the one
with the thing on his neck? - Neck.
(Amber's Dad chuckles) - This ought to be a good one. (Amber's Dad chuckles) (alarm ringing) (triumphant music) - Today's the big day. - Afternoon, everyone. Oh, thank you, you
don't have to stand, not until we're in
the courtroom anyway. - Sorry about that. (Amber's Dad chuckles) - Well, thank you
guys for stopping by. It's always nice to meet the
people I'll preside over, and, of course, this is a
very unusual circumstance. Young lady, you plan
to plead this case? - Yes, Your Honor. Under state law,
anyone is allowed to plead a civil
case before a judge. The People versus the City of
Hill Valley is a civil case, so I would like to
exercise those rights. (Judge Kelly chuckles) - Amber, I think you and I
are gonna get along just fine. Now, you want your
puppy in the courtroom? - Yes, sir, as
evidentiary evidence. (Judge Kelly laughs) - [Golden Retriever]
Oh, this should be fun. - Both of you litigators? - Oh, Presbyterians. - I'm a homemaker. Although I didn't actually
build the house. We bought it. But I do like to cook. Well, mainly, I microwave. - I prefer it. - Oh, I'm sorry,
sir, you prefer what? - Microwave popcorn. Unless we're watching that
one show about the gators, and then I like to
eat pistachio nuts. - I'm adopted. (Judge Kelly chuckles) - Okay, permission
to bring the dog into the courtroom is granted. - Your Honor. - Look, this old courthouse
is already filled with all kinds of mice. One little dog won't
make a difference. Unless you have a
problem with that. Bill? - No, sir. - Thank you, sir.
- Yeah. - Okay, good. Now, Amber, you can argue
the case before my court, but being 12 years old
does not exempt you from professionalism
and decorum, okay? So that means you
should conduct yourself as an attorney at all times,
wear the proper attire, and never, ever argue with me
after I've made a decision. Do you think you can do that? - Yes, Your Honor. - [Judge Kelly] Very well. - Any advice you would
give to a young attorney? - Yes, always make sure that
your cellphone is on silent when you're in my courtroom. That goes for you too. - [Attorney Laport] Got it. - [Golden Retriever]
And bring some of those delicious treats. (birds chirping) - Can I? - Can you what? I don't know what
you're talking about. (lock clacks) - Come here, Shadow. Come here, Shadow. Good puppy. I know, you must be scared. I am too. But I got you out once and I'll find a way to
do it again, I promise. You're gonna have to spend a
couple more days here, though. - I want you to drop
out of this case, Frank. - What are you talking about? This is the lightest case to
come across my desk in years. I handle all of the big cases
in this city. This is nothing. - Yeah, and I'm telling
you it's an election year and I don't want
you on this case. - [Golden Retriever] Does
anybody have any treats? - You're my campaign manager. Don't we want the
media attention? - [Golden Retriever] Oh,
bacon is my favorite. - [Campaign Manager]
Sure, the right kind. - [Golden Retriever]
Sausage. I also like sausage. - [Campaign Manager] You
want to be known as the guy who took away a kid's dog? - Maybe I'll reverse the ban. I'll give the kid back her dog
and everybody will love me. - Fine. And a couple years from now, a kid gets attacked
by a pit bull, who do you think
everyone's going to blame? (Judge Kelly sighs) - [Golden Retriever] Any
kind of table scraps. Just give me what you got. - I see your point. - You can't win, Frank. Get off the case. - The people of this city
elected me to do a job. I'm just gonna have to
take the case seriously and let the chips
fall where they may. - [Golden Retriever]
Is there any food in this office, or not? - Did you know that communities across the country have
ordinances that ban pit bulls? They're called breed
specific laws, or BSLs. - BSLs. My BFF is going to take
the courtroom by storm. - Yeah, think so? - No doubt about it, girl. Who
will be your first witness? - Well, I was thinking I'd
start from the very beginning, with the person who
actually suggested the ban. We know her. - Really? Do tell. - Miss Jenkins. - No way. (Amber chuckles)
Our teacher? - Oh, yes way. - She did say she had
friends in high places. - Wait. What? - Remember? We were walking Bella and she said she had
friends in high places. Maybe she has a
friend from the city. - You're a genius. - Thanks. How? - [Golden Retriever] Boy,
these lawyers are getting younger every day. - All rise. Judge Francis Kelly presiding.
Court is now in session. - Good morning, everyone. Please be seated. And let's begin. Representing the City
is William Laport. - Good morning, Your Honor. - And representing the
People is Miss Amber Johnson. - Yes, Your Honor. Representing the
good people and dogs of this city and all others. - Very good. Miss Johnson, do
you have an opening statement? - I do, Your Honor. But before I start, I would
like permission to bring my Pit Bull Terrier puppy
named Shadow into court. Shadow is a Pit Bull Terrier, and the reason this case
is before you today. - Granted. Bring in Shadow, please. (people chattering)
- Aww. - [Golden Retriever] Uh-oh. Look what the cat
drug in, a pit bull. I'm getting out of here. - Your Honor, as you
can probably tell, I am not an attorney. I am a 12-year-old girl
who, up until last week, was a proud owner of a Pit Bull
Terrier puppy named Shadow. - [Shadow] Amber. Amber. - In the short time that
Shadow was in our home, she brought great
joy to our family. She is a very kind, sweet, and gentle dog who
loves us very much. I researched what I should
say in my opening statement and found out it needs to be about the evidence
presented during the trial. "Stick to the facts," it said. So here goes. My argument against
this unfair ban consists of two main facts. Number one: The city disregarded the fundamental
rights of residents by not telling them they were
going to vote on the ban. This is in direct
violation of city rules. And number two: The ban
completely discriminates against an entire breed of dogs. All dogs, including pit bulls, should be judged individually. Three years ago, Hill Valley
banned Pit Bull Terriers. The ban was voted on by city
council after one resident, just one, voiced her
concern to a city official. She did not come
before the board, and the council did not
even allow residents to get their voices heard. Just one day after
the complaint, with no public hearings,
the ban went into effect. As to my second point, you'll find that even
though this ban was enacted, there are no
incidents of dog bites from pit bulls in our city. According to records
kept at City Hall, there have been 30 reported
dog bites in our city over the past 20 years, none
of which are from pit bulls. These are the facts, Your Honor. Thank you. (Samantha applauding) - Thank you, Miss Johnson. Mr. Laport, do you have
an opening statement? - Your Honor, we believe
the facts will show the city's ban on this
predatory species of dog was done with full
accordance of the law. Frankly, Miss
Johnson's statement is
potentially libelous. This ban was voted on
by the entire council to protect the safety and
well-being of local residents. Furthermore, pit bulls
are a dangerous animal, often used for dog fighting. Allowing them in our city
would simply be irresponsible. The breed represents a
clear and present danger to the people and
property of Hill Valley. Ask yourself, would a city with
an anti-vandalism ordinance have to have an
incident of vandalism in order for the ban
to go into effect? Of course not. These are preventative measures to help protect all residents. And the same can be said
for a ban on pit bulls. These animals are
an unpredictable and
predatory species. The ban was needed then
and it's needed now. Thank you. - [Golden Retriever]
That's true. - Thank you, Mr. Laport. Miss Johnson, please
call your first witness. - Your Honor, I'd like to
call Miss Martha Jenkins of Hill Valley Middle School. - Miss Jenkins,
please step forward. - Please raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear to tell
the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the
truth, so help you God? - Yes. Yes, I do. - Have a seat. - Good morning, Miss Jenkins. - Good morning. - Three years ago, you
came to the city offices inquiring about a
ban on pit bulls. Is this correct? - Yes, that's correct. - Why did you want this ban? - Well, I had read
that the City of Denver had started the ban, and I thought it would
be great public policy for Hill Valley as well. - Yes, but that answer is vague. What I'm looking for
are specifics and facts. For example, is there an
experience you personally had with a pit bull that
made you want this ban? - Well, no, but- - There had to be
something, correct? - Pit bulls are mean,
nasty, ferocious dogs. Everyone knows that. They're vicious animals. - [Shadow] But I'm not. - Miss Jenkins, you can't
just say how you feel. Are you able to
prove any of this? I'm sorry, but without
citing your sources, your statements just
carry no weight. - Don't you speak to me
like that, young lady. Objection, Your Honor. - You don't get to
object, Miss Jenkins. - Objection, Your Honor. - Overruled. Miss Jenkins, do
you have any proof to back up your statements? - Well, um, I'm... (Miss Jenkins sighs) I'm assigning you extra homework and taking away
your recess period. - Miss Jenkins,
threatening an attorney in my courtroom is a
very serious offense. Would you like to
rethink your statement? - My apologies. - Very well. We'll let
it slide this time. Miss Johnson, you may continue. - [Shadow] I love fingers. I love you, Amber. - Step away from
the cage, please. - [Amber] Ferocious. - Your Honor, do we really
need these types of antics? Miss Johnson is obviously
trying to undermine the witness instead of question her. - Miss Johnson, do you
have any other questions for Miss Jenkins? - Yes, Your Honor. One more question. Miss Jenkins, who
did you first contact about this potential ban? - I don't see why
that's important. - Miss Jenkins, you will
answer the question. - I contacted William Laport. - You mean, Attorney Laport,
who's arguing the city's case? - [Miss Jenkins] Yes. - [Amber] Had you known
Attorney Laport prior? - Objection, Your Honor. Miss Jenkins's prior
relationship to me or anyone else isn't
relevant to this case. - Overruled. What's going on here, Bill? - Well, you see, Your
Honor, Miss Jenkins and... - Never mind. Never mind. Sit down, Bill. - Yes, sir. (Judge Kelly sighs) - Carry on, Miss Johnson. - Thank you, Your Honor. Miss Jenkins, please
answer the question. Did you know Attorney Laport before asking him to champion
the ban on pit bulls? - Yes. - [Amber] How exactly
did you know him? - Mr. Laport is my fiance. - [Golden Retriever]
Oops, busted. - Thank you, Miss Jenkins. - Your witness, Mr.
Laport. No pun intended. - Miss Jenkins, did our
relationship, in any way, affect the council's
decision to ban pit bulls? - Well, Bill, you did say
you could make it happen. (Attorney Laport chuckles) - Miss Jenkins, let's be clear. I, in no way,
alluded to the fact that I could sway the
council in any way, correct? - You said that
you could get them to do anything you wanted. - No further questions, Your
Honor. Thank you, Miss Jenkins. You may step down. You may step down. - Don't snap at me. (lighthearted music) (gentle music) - [Snaps] The weight of the
world on her tiny shoulders and she remembers
my treat, always. Tomorrow is gonna be the
biggest day in Amber's life. It's the last day of the trial and she gives her
closing argument. Amber has worked real hard,
but she needs a game changer. Let's see what she and Sam are cooking up.
- Just about done. (mischievous music) - [Attorney Laport] Did our
relationship, in anyway, affect the council's
decision to ban pit bulls? - Well, Bill, you did say you could make it happen.
(both laughing) (Attorney Laport chuckles) - Miss Jenkins, let's be clear. I, in no way,
alluded to the fact that I could sway the
council in any way, correct? - You said that
you could get them to do anything you wanted. - Viral gold. Should I upload it? - Go for it. (touchpad clicks) (hands slapping) (people chattering)
(people applauding) - Miss Johnson, Judge
Kelly would like to see you in his office before
we get started today. (serious music) - [Attorney Laport] Did our
relationship, in any way, affect the council's
decision to ban pit bulls? - [Miss Jenkins] Well,
Bill, you did say you could make it happen. (Attorney Laport chuckles) (cellphone clatters) - "Odor in the Court"? - Not funny? - No, not funny at all. Amber, I told you
I expect you to act in a professional
manner, correct? - Yes. - [Judge Kelly] Yes what? - Yes, Your Honor. (Judge Kelly sighs) - Did your friend do this? - Yes, Your Honor. And I knew she was doing it too. I told her it would be okay
to put it on the internet. - Well, it's not okay. Videotaping court proceedings
is strictly prohibited. Your friend needs to take this
off the internet immediately. If she violates the rule again, I will disqualify
you from my court and the ban on pit
bulls will stand. Do you understand? - I do, Your Honor. I'm sorry. - And don't let it happen again. And don't expect
any breaks today. - [Amber] Yes, sir. - Dismissed. - Quite a mess you've
made for yourself, Frank. (gentle music) - [Golden Retriever] Mess?
Did somebody drop some food? - [Judge Kelly] Miss Johnson, please call your first witness. - Yes, Your Honor. Well, sort of, but not really. I have a prerecorded
testimony from Dr. Robertson, a licensed veterinarian and
also manager of Bark-A-Bout. - Objection, Your Honor. I have no way of
cross-examining this witness. - Sustained. I'm sorry, Miss Johnson, but
I'm not gonna be able to weigh Dr. Robertson's testimony
when I make my decision. Please continue with your case. - Yes, Your Honor. (keyboard clicking) - Hello, Your Honor. I'm sorry that I cannot
make it in court today, but I'd like to tell you, in all my years
working with animals, I've had many experiences
working with pit bulls and they are not nicer or
kinder than any other breed. It all depends on the
way the dog is raised. If a dog's raised with
love and kindness, then the dog has love and
kindness inside of it. In this case, I know that
Amber has so much love and kindness inside of her and, therefore, I say that
Shadow is not a threat in any way to our city. - Again, Your Honor, I object. I'd like to be able to
cross-examine this witness, but I'm stuck with
a computer screen. - I'm sorry, Miss Johnson, but I am not gonna weigh
Dr. Robertson's testimony when I make my decision. Please, continue with your case. - Samantha, could you please
put Exhibit One on the easel? This is a blown up replica of my recently written
research paper entitled, "Why Pit Bulls Are
Misunderstood." As you can see, I got
an A plus on this paper. - Congratulations. - An A plus is very
difficult to achieve in Miss Jenkins's class. Isn't that right, Samantha? - It is. - Your Honor, do we really- - Uh... Please, continue, Miss Johnson. - Samantha, could you please
put Exhibit Two on the easel? As you can see, the ASPCA, that's short for
the American Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals, published a chart that shows
all of the recorded dog bites within the past year along
the left side of the chart. Along the bottom, you
will see the breeds that caused these bites. Among these breeds are
German Shepherd, beagle, Rottweiler, Poodle, Labrador
Retriever, Chihuahua, Bull Terrier, also
known as the pit bull, Cocker Spaniel, and Havanese. As you can see, the Chihuahua
has most reported dog bites, more than the Labrador
Retriever, Poodle, Rottweiler, Bull Terrier, also
known as pit bull, and all of the other breeds. - [Golden Retriever]
Chihuahuas are bad. Stay away from Chihuahuas. - Samantha, could you please put Exhibit Number
Three on the board? This is a quote from the
American Kennel Club. It reads, "Today's
responsible breeders are producing sweet-natured,
family-oriented pit bulls so trustworthy that they've
earned the name as a nanny dog, a child's patient playmate
and steady guardian." - And that's a quote,
you say, from the AKC? - Yes, Your Honor, sir. It is from my paper and direct
from the research I did. And might I remind you, I did get an A plus in
Miss Jenkins's class. - Yeah, that did
not slip my mind, but thank you very
much for reminding me. Please, go on. - Samantha, could you please put Exhibit Number
Four on the easel? This carefully
researched article states that pit bulls
that are mistreated by humans can be taught to bite, but the problem is with the
humans that mistreat them, not with the breed itself. This "Huffington Post" article
is one of my main sources for my paper that led
me to get an A plus. See, what Shadow needs,
just like any other puppy, is good exercise, love,
food, and good training. If you can give this to a puppy, or any dog for that matter,
you'll get a great pet. - [Golden Retriever]
Wow. That was good. - Thank you, Your Honor. - Thank you, Miss Johnson. Mr. Laport, perhaps
you would like to argue against this paper and explain why your fiancee
was wrong to give it an A plus. - Not at this time, Your Honor. - Very wise. Miss Johnson, I
understand that you have one more witness to call. - Yes, Your Honor. - Please, go ahead. - Your Honor, this is
my best exhibit of all. (gentle music) Thank you a thousand times. - You bet. - Hey, baby. Hi. (Amber chuckles) Hello. Oh. I got you. Oh. Your Honor, this is Shadow
the pit bull. Wanna pet her? - Um. Hi. Hello, hello, hello. (lips smooching) Yes, you're very, very cute. (Judge Kelly chuckles) Miss Johnson, Amber, why don't you take
your adorable pet home and raise her well? I declare the ban on
pit bulls to be banned. (gavel banging) (gentle music) - [Snaps] Well, there you
have it, boys and girls. Really, did you have any doubts? With the help of
Amber's defense, the city of Hill Valley now
welcomes all kinds of dogs, tall ones, short ones, fat
and skinny, and pit bulls too. Shadow was able to come
home with Amber that day, and Mrs. Jenkins hasn't assigned a single bit of homework
since the trial. - [Shadow] I love you, Amber. We're gonna be together forever.
