A Child of My Own (Un hijo propio)

I always dreamed about being a mom.

I got married when I was 17 and full of hope.

I was pregnant which was partially why we decided to get married.

But I've always loved Arturo.

I've always liked children.

I've always been drawn to them.

And all the kids in my family,

they…

They, mm, have always been very attached to me though.

My family is pretty big.

My family has… well they, all have children, you know?

All my cousins have children.

So I…

So I like the idea of just me being a mom. Yeah, so, um…

It was like, like fulfilling my dream of having a family.

Since I got pregnant and we got married, that was always our plan.

I always, always saw myself as a mom.

Cut. Great. I love it.

Can we try a version that's more fluid?

The text you're going to read is from an interview we have to emulate,

and the character you would have to play

-is Ale, from 15 years ago. - Mm.

-Like a flashback that the actress has… - Yeah.

about the real Ale, okay?

- Casting, 1F, take one. - Mark.

I wanted it so bad, you know?

And… I found myself in all these complicated situations.

So I began to make

some choices

which caused things to start getting even more complicated.

Until there was nowhere to go.

I was in over my head.

A CHILD OF MY OWN

Very good.

That's it.

-One more. -

Great. Uh, can we get closer, please.

Great, perfect. Uh, look at the camera.

Perfect. Smile.

Let's see that joy for Ale and Arturo.

["Unchained Melody" by The Righteous Brothers playing]

ALEJANDRA AND ARTURO

OUR WEDDING

Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!

When I got married, I think the biggest pressure I felt

was to make his family happy.

I was always really accepted by my own family,

so being a part of his family

and not feeling accepted by his mother

made me feel like I had to earn my place to feel accepted.

Forever together, always and forever!

I lost my baby living with my in-laws.

I didn't want to see anyone.

But they came up to my room, and one of Arturo’s aunts asked me…

-Why are you crying? Don't cry. - "Why are you crying?"

-"We've all been there before." -Yes, it's terrible.

His mom said, "It's because you're not careful."

Grandma!

How are you feeling, Ale?

I had to lie there, listening to everything they were saying

until my mom got there.

I’m here, honey.

Why did I miscarry?

- It was my fault. -It was all my fault.

Because I didn't take care of myself. Because I ran, I went to work.

-I blamed myself for everything. -No, it wasn't your fault, relax.

Get some rest, okay?

Hey, so we're gonna have a big yard for a party, huh?

-Cheers! - Cheers.

So the house is really big then? Congrats.

That's super exciting.

-Maybe you'll come over soon. - Can't wait to see it.

The house is very nice, but it's big for them.

-They don't even have children. -Ma.

-Or maybe they'll fill it with dogs? - Mom, stop.

-Lot of dogs here. - All those rooms,

-you've gotta fill 'em with something. You too, Uncle?

We just want you both to be happy there.

It would be so nice to have a few running around there.

I want to meet a great-grandchild of mine.

Well, yeah, Grandma, but I'm only 25.

Well, you had better start soon then, dear.

Otherwise, they'll look like your grandkids instead of your children.

Why don't you adopt?

No, it's not the same, right?

We're gonna have kids of our own.

And Ale has been very busy working at the hospital, it's demanding.

-But we're on it. - Those are priorities.

-Don't wait too long. - Thank you.

-Erik, Another one? - No, thanks.

-Bring me two cold ones, please? -Yeah.

- What happened after that loss? -I got pregnant again soon after, right?

Arturo was always telling me, "Careful, Ale. Don’t do this, don’t do that."

Yeah, we fought the last time about the pregnancy.

I told her she had to be careful, had to rest.

I work all day, I can't be following her around, reminding her.

I even said, "Do it for the baby, if you can't do it for yourself."

but she's stubborn like that.

I mean it.

And well, I lost that pregnancy.

That was my second time having a miscarriage.

After a few years we started to worry, right?

We realized a baby wasn't coming.

Doctor, this is very hard for me, because I want to have a child and I can't.

We don't know what the problem is.

It happened once naturally, so why won't it happen again?

We're not using any protection, so…

I don't know. I think there's something wrong in her body that can't keep it like…

I don't know.

Don't worry.

We're going to see how your uterus is doing after the curettage,

and we're also going to analyze your husband’s semen.

We could even try doing artificial insemination

to help you get pregnant.

That prevents loses, right?

No pregnancy is guaranteed to succeed 100%.

But nature is wise, and it won’t allow an unhealthy baby to reach full term.

You are both very young. You still have time.

Okay, okay, okay, almost there, almost there.

You'll be all right.

Thanks.

When I finally got pregnant the third time, Arturo said,

"Now you have to take care of yourself."

"Now you have to do this, now you have to do that."

"Now you need to stay here. "

"Actually, you have to stop working."

And I was like, "No, what are you talking about? I'm not going to stop working."

And he would say, "You are so stubborn."

-Hi, Ale. -Hi, doctor.

How are you feeling?

Great. I'm not nauseous anymore.

-Is everything ready? -Uh-huh.

Hello. Good morning. Come in.

-Thank you. We'll have coffee now, okay? -Okay.

I showed up at my boss's office crying

and said, "I don't feel well."

Ale, I'm so sorry, but with the bleeding… the baby's gone.

Oh no, not again.

I'm sorry.

How am I going to tell Arturo, doctor?

Try to relax, hm?

Relax and

talk to your husband, discuss your options.

It's going to be very difficult for you to have a pregnancy reach full-term.

I'll let you get dressed.

Afterwards, I sat in the clinic waiting room

with mixed feelings.

I blamed myself, obviously.

Look, can someone please help me? I've been waiting here for hours.

You have to wait your turn.

You can't do anything?

You ask God, "Why me?"

"Why is this happening? Why?"

That’s when I met Mayra.

What's wrong?

I want to be a mom, and I can’t.

I'm going to be a mom, and don't want to.

What?

I just found out.

Mayra tells me…

-I don't want to have it. - …she wanted an abortion.

The dad doesn't want to take responsibility

because he says it's not his.

And I… I can’t have another baby.

But, but you can have it by yourself.

No.

I don't study or work.

I just help my mom with stuff.

You can get a job.

Sell something, I don't know.

No, no, no, working isn't for me.

I do sell some stuff, but no.

No. I can’t have another baby.

I already have a daughter. If I have another baby, my mom will kill me.

She'll kick me out of the house and go crazy.

She wouldn't be able to kick you out.

Yeah, she will.

Oh, man.

I'd rather give it away than get rid of it.

I guess.

Then, she says, "I'd rather give it away than get rid of it."

What?

I wanna give it away.

Are you serious?

Yes.

And at the time, you think it's God,