Deaf Anthology: Deaf Anthology #38:"Underground Railroad III"

Illinois State Wrestling Tournament

Sheriff: "We have a warrant for your arrest, would you please come down to the station for questioning."

Rudy: "I have a right to a lawyer and an interpreter."

Sheriff: "Kidnapping a child is a felony, we want to know where Walter is?"

Rudy: "I came all the way to Jacksonville for this, and I have no idea what's the hell you talking about."

Sheriff: "Your sister claims you have kidnapped Walter from the Comer Children's Hospital overnight when he was scheduled to have a CI procedure in the morning, hold (answering phone), you have an alibi, we just got videos that your nephew used the subways alone, and also withdrawn money from an ATM, enough to be on the road months, if not days."

McHenry County, Illinois

Rudy: "What are you doing hiding in my apartment the police were looking all over for you, there is an Amber Alert in effect."

Walter: "Rudy, I don't want a CI."

Rudy: "Here's what I will do I will call a Deaf lawyer to represent you, a priest will come pick you up so you can hide in a Church sanctuary, in the meantime, I will contact my friends to set up an underground railroad of safe houses." (priest pick up Walter and takes him to an undisclosed location)

Old Greenfield, Connecticut

John: "Welcome to our household Walter, this is my wife, Joan, my boys..."

Jason and Jeffrey: "Isn't it cool seeing your picture on milk cartons, you are famous."

Joan: "CNN have just reported that the FBI raided a church in the Cincinnati area, and came up short, but arrested several illegal aliens, and started deportation proceedings against them."

Walter: "My lawyer have just put in a motion for emancipation of a minor, then my uncle may get temporary custody, until the issues are resolved."

Jason and Jeffrey: "Come play with us, we are building a time machine out of legos."

Joan: "CNN is on, Walter's mother being interviewed."

John: "Boys!"

CNN Chicago Affiliate

Mary: "Walter, wherever you are, please come home, we missed you, we love you (siblings in background signing, DON'T), ..."

CNN: "Why you would want to force your child to undergo a CI procedure against his will?"

Mary: "It is my right as a parent make those decisions, I wanted Walter to be normal like us, the Deaf are lepers in our modern society."

CNN: "We now go to McHenry County where Rudy, Walter's uncle lives, Ricky will voice interpret."

Rudy: "We just had a wonderful time last weekend in the Wisconsin northwoods, he just bag his first whitetail, I know he's in good hands within our Deaf community protecting him, using a network of safe houses, our own underground railroad, during the civil war, we free our slaves by providing safe passage from the south, nowadays we must free our Deaf children from the bondage of CI. Walter loves his mother but was rejected at birth, deprived of his birthright, ASL."

CNN: "Here's an update from the courtroom, the federal judge rejected the motion that Walter be emancipated, AgBAD announces a reward of $100,000, ACLU became involved in the case on the mother's side, advocating parental rights, it looks like the odds are against Walter."

Old Greenfield, Connecticut

Walter: "I can't believe my own mother called me a leper." (tears down his cheek)

Joan: "Please answer the door." (doorlight flashes)

John: "Rudy, What a surprise, we didn't..."

Walter: "Uncle Rudy!" (hugs)

Rudy: "Walter, may I introduce you to Steven, this Deaf gentleman, who have the same common interests as you do."

Steven: "Walter, It's nice to see you, I am a friend of your uncle, I met your mother 12 years ago at the Chicago Deaf Club, we had a one night stand, I heard about you in the news, I was unaware that your mother became pregnant, and I had to take a paternity test, I am your father, the court gave me custody of you, finally it's all over."

Walter: "Dad, (crying) I thought you were dead, shot down over Yugoslavia, I love you Dad, thanks for saving me." (hugs)

Revised (3/10/08)