The O.C.2003

Sandy:
Ryan, Sandy Cohen. The courts appointed me your public defender.

[Ryan's not impressed]

Sandy:
You could do worse. You okay? They treating you alright?

Ryan:
Where's my brother?

Sandy:
Uh, Trey is over 18. Trey stole a car; Trey had a gun in his pants, an ounce of pot in his pocket, a couple of priors. I'm guessing right now, Trey's looking at three to five years. But Trey's not my concern. This is your first time in lockup. I'm assuming you don't plan on coming back. Your grades... are not great. Suspended twice for fighting, truancy three times. Other than that...

[stares in amazement at Ryan]

Sandy:
Your test scores? 98th percentile on your SAT1's. Ryan, 98th percentile, you start going to class. Are you thinking about college?

[Ryan scoffs]

Sandy:
Have you given any thought to your future? Dude, I'm on your side. Come on, help me out here...

Ryan:
-Modern medicine is advancing to the point where the average human life span will be 100. But I read this article which said Social Security is supposed to run out by the year 2025, which means people are going to have to stay at their jobs until they're 80. So I don't want to commit to anything too soon.

[Sandy chuckles]

Sandy:
Look, I can plead this down to a misdemeanor. Petty fine, probation. But know this, "stealing a car cause you're big brother told you to," it's stupid and it's weak and those are two things you can't afford to be anymore.

Ryan:
Two more things.

Sandy:
You wanna change that? Then, you're gonna have to get over the fact that life dealt you a bad hand. I get it, we're cut from the same deck, Ryan. I grew up, no money, bad part of the Bronx, my father was gone, my mother worked all the time... I was pissed off, I was stupid.

Ryan:
Look at you now.

[exchange looks; beat]

Sandy:
Smart kid like you. You gotta have a plan. Some kind of dream.

Ryan:
Yeah... right. Let me tell you something, okay? Where I'm from, having a dream doesn't make you smart. Knowing it won't come true?

[Sandy squints]

Ryan:
That does.