Logline:  After his client is murdered, a mental health psychologist for at-risk foster children and gang members battles his own psychological demons when he sets off on a dangerous quest to find an AWOL high profile client.

SYNOPSIS:

Dr. Ward Franklin, 40s, a psychologist, works at Pathways, a mental health agency located at 1600 Slauson, which serves foster youth and gang members in South Central Los Angeles. Its contract renewal time and Pathways is under scrutiny by the County.

Ward meets with his gang member client Darnell Jackson (17), who when about to inform him that he is leaving his gang to join the Marines, he is shot to death by his own gang, right in front of Ward.

Ward’s boss informs him that Pathways must provide therapy to Darnell’s sister Quinsella (11). Because of Charles’ concern that Ward will attempt to rescue her to get over the death of Darnell, he instead assigns Quinsella to Kelvin, an intern. Against the edict of Charles, Ward, a sort of “Dirty Harry” in mental health, decides to personally take on the Quinsella case. When Ward tries to assess her for suicidality, she goes AWOL. At night, Quinsella prowls the dangerous streets of South Central in search of her crack addict mother. Determined, Ward takes to the streets of South Central to find her.

As Ward’s efforts to locate Quinsella are unsuccessful, intern therapist Sharon meets with Billy, an out of control bi-polar client from a nightmare dysfunctional home. A nervous Sharon is in over her head and what complicates matters more is the fact that Billy is now a high-profile case being audited by the County.

While in the streets of South Central, Ward sees a Black Man whom he thinks fits the description of Darnell’s killer. As he tails him, Ward learns that it’s a case of mistaken identity when the Man turns out to be an undercover LAPD detective. As a result, Ward is nearly arrested!

Intern therapist Sharon visits client Billy Peterson who discloses something which rattles both she and Billy parents, Ron and Janet. An agitated Billy grabs a handful of his psych meds and goes AWOL. In a last-ditch hope to find Quinsella, Ward visits her Aunt Wynette, who tells him that she has no idea where she is. However, Ward does not buy her story. Meanwhile he continues to get calls from Sharon, who is concerned Billy is suicidal.

Eventually, Ward finds Quinsella hiding at Wynette’s house. However, Ward fails to convince Wynette to release her back to Child Protective Services’ custody. Ward returns to Pathways with his proverbial tail between his legs. He is greeted by a distraught Sharon, who tells him that she’s resigning. Sharon is appalled when he does not accept her resignation.

Due to Ward’s questionable unethical conduct and defiance of authority, Charles nearly fires him.

Just when he thought all is lost, Charles surprises him with Quinsella, who was dropped off by Wynette. As Ward promises Quinsella that he will help her get placed with her Aunt Wynette, a Child Protective Services’ social worker arrives to place Quinsella in a long-term residential facility.

Quinsella is devastated and tearful. But Ward is resolute – he vows to keep it pushing and never give up in his quest to help the at-risk youth of South Central.