The Boy in the Plastic Bubble

Honey?

Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Lubitch.

Hi, Doctor.

I've just come from the hospital.

The tests are in, and you're pregnant.

Congratulations.

That's wonderful.

Did you hear that, honey?

Call me if I can be of any help with your decision.

Yeah, I'll do that, Doctor.

Thanks very much.

Johnny?

I know, honey. I know.

I don't want to lose another baby.

Oh...

I couldn't bear it.

I just couldn't.

No way in the world we're going to lose this child.

Look...

First of all, the odds are four to one

against there being any problem at all this time.

Honey, even if the worst happened and this baby is born

with no immunities, this time we're ready.

I mean, immunologists like Dr. Gunther,

they know how to save these children now.

But how can we make a decision like that?

For another human being?

I mean, what if--?

Oh, Johnny, do you think we could live with it?

Oh...

There were never two people in the world

more meant to be parents than you and me.

God knows that.

I want to believe that.

Oh, I want to believe that.

A baby...

We're gonna have a baby.

A baby?

- Mr. Lubitch? - Yes, Doctor?

If you'd like to say something

to your wife before...

Hello, Mrs. Lubitch.

I just wanted to say, um...

I love you.

I love you.

May we have the air conditioning ducts

and the heat vents closed, please?

And no movement while the air settles.

Anybody down there planning on having an itch,

please scratch it now.

Not later, please.

Dr. Gunther, do we have to have all these people here?

May we please clear the theater?

I'm sorry.

Please try to understand. We're private people.

Begin the cesarean.

I just saw him, and he's a beautiful baby.

Johnny, what a beautiful baby he is.

Look at those blue eyes.

Hey, Toddy.

It's your daddy.

I think he knows me.

How were the tests?

Mr. and Mrs. Lubitch,

he was born exactly like your first son.

No immunities whatsoever.

But he's alive.

How long does he have to stay in this?

There's no way to know.

Until we discover a treatment,

until he develops an immune system of his own,

he'll have to remain in his protected environment.

Surely you can give us some kind of prediction.

I mean, are we talking about days or weeks or months?

Years.

Excuse me?

Mr. Lubitch, you may as well have it straight.

We could get lucky, or your son could be here with us

for the remainder of his life.

- May I? - Of course.

Shh.

I'm sorry.

I'm so sorry.

Are you going over there this morning, honey?

- What for? - I didn't hear you.

I said, what for?

Hey, hey, what's the matter?

Oh, I hate seeing that little girl nearby.

I'm always looking at her.

You almost fell out!

Did you almost fall?

Kind of sorry they moved next door.

I want my baby.

Mickey, look.

Suppose we could devise some way of transporting him safely,

and we could get them to go on paying for it.

And manage the million and one other things we'd have to.

The sterilization and the food and the toys and the equipment.

I don't think you realize what we'd be getting ourselves into if we did bring him home.

Do you?

Well...

You stay home and get some rest.

I'll give him a big hug for both of us.

Okay?

Take me high! Oh, higher?

Yeah! You're such a big girl!

Give me a kiss.

Oh, boy!

Wanna play ball?

Wanna play ball?

Get your ball.

We're gonna toss.

You get over here, why don't you?

Okay, look out. Here it comes.

Oh, good! Try it again.

Now you throw it to me.

Good one!

Good man!

Throw it right here.

I don't know whether I'm gonna make a pitcher or a catcher out of you.

Okay, Toddy, throw me a nice, hard one.

There you go. That's a good boy!

Here it comes.

There you go.

Hey, look who's here, Toddy, it's Mommy.

Surprised to see me?

- No. - No?

What about you, short stuff?

Huh? Are you surprised to see Mommy?

- Yeah. - You are?

Oh, I bet I can do something fun to you.

I bet I can tickle you and make you giggle.

Come here, come here.

Do you know how much your Mommy and Daddy love you?

Do you?

Do you really?

Do you know how much Mommy and Daddy love you?

Hm? Do you?

And how much we want you all to ourselves?

I do!

I love you.

I'm going to tickle baby. I want to get him again.

I'm gonna get him again!

You wanna give me another kiss?

Give me a kiss.

Here they come.

Hurry up, set up.

I got a microphone. We rolling?

Pick up the ambulance.

Little Tod Lubitch.

A child who has never felt his parents touch,

except through the walls of his plastic bubble,

and who may not for years to come,

is finally coming home for the first time today.

There's Mrs. Lubitch getting out of the ambulance.

Mr. Lubitch. The doctor.

Please, everybody, we appreciate your interest,

but this is exactly what we're trying to get away from.

Hey, Toddy, did you have a nice ride?

There you go.

Would you back up, everybody, please?

- Mrs. Lubitch, how do you-- - Do you mind backing up just a little bit?

Oh, my, I didn't realize he was so big.

Isn't he adorable?

- Gina, come on back here. - I'll get her.

Will he have to live in that thing very long?

Please, fellas, no pictures.

What is it like, Mrs. Lubitch,

to never touch your son?

I've asked you nicely three times. Now will you just please leave us be?

Mr. Lubitch, won't you come out again and give us--

You take one more step and I'm gonna knock your damn head off.

Now get out of here. Come on, all of you.

Just back up.

I'm a monster!

I'm a monster!

I'm a monster!

My son's not a freak.

Come on. Let's get out of here.

Okay, filters and fans.

They're okay.

All right. Back-up generator?

It's okay.

So your breaker and fuse panels...

That's all right.

Okay. And intercom system.

Right. That's it.

Are you sure we have checked everything?

Well, everything except champagne.

Oh.

Huh?

Well, um...

In that case, I'm just going to tuck him in,

and I'll see you in a minute.

Don't you be long. Okay.

Good night, Toddy.

Come on, darling, it's night-night time.

Come on! That's my darling.

Okay, you have pleasant dreams.

You talk to your teddy bear, okay?