October Baby

Quiet, please!

Excuse me.

You know, if you haven't learned your lines by now,

probably too late.

Thanks. Real encouraging.

Nice outfit.

So, you nervous? Yes.

- So where are you sitting? - Front row, center balcony, with Alanna.

Oh. I didn't know she was coming.

Yeah. You kidding? We wouldn't miss it.

Got your tickets. Got your tickets.

Got your programs. Programs, five dollars.

Hey. Hey.

Oh, hey, sweetie. Hey. Mmm.

I'm sorry I'm late. I got your text. Yeah?

But I had to do a total knee replacement at 4:00. Took three hours. Can you fix this?

They need to quit treating you like a resident.

I think they think I am a resident. You have the tickets?

- I don't. I thought you did. - Hey, sir and madam.

May I please see your tickets real quick?

Let's check 'em out, make sure these babies are legit.

Oh. Uh-oh. You guys are bronze package. Problem?

Um, minor. I can bump you guys up to platinum package.

It's a small fee, $22.

Basically, it's better A.C. In the building, better seats.

And the proceeds go to a charity, a really cool one. You're Truman.

I'm... My German?

Our daughter's in the play. It starts now. We gotta go.

Yes, I am Truman. She's told us all about you.

All right. Thanks for buying the platinum package!

Excuse me. Hey.

Hey.

How are you? I'm good.

Get a program? No, I didn't.

I'll just look off yours.

So that took a while.

Uh, yeah. I went to see a friend.

How is she?

She's nervous.

Well, I guess I would be too.

Thank you for joining us tonight...

Excuse us. For our production.

A special welcome to our alumni and guests. Good to have you.

We are proud of our spring production...

one of our enduring traditions here at the university.

This year, we are featuring some fresh new faces.

So join me as we welcome to the stage our cast,

as they perform an original play written by yours truly.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

So without further ado, I present to you Annabella.

Whoo-whoo!

- Annabella? - Is that you, Desmond?

Hello, Annabella.

You can dispense with the pleasantries, Desmond.

It's a bit trifle, don't you think?

If you'd just let me explain, I'm confident we would agree.

You need to know that my family has, well, certain standards for me.

Standards which I do not meet?

Admit it, Desmond. Please.

- "I've realized"... - I've...

I've realized that... I have certain standards that you do not meet.

That's not right. It's time I set sail on my own.

It's time I discovered the life I've always dreamed of but thought impossible.

Get it together, Hannah.

I'm leaving, Desmond.

Leaving?

Where, Annabella?

I'm...

I want...

Hannah!

Excuse me.

Hannah?

- - Hannah?

- Hannah! -

Get her inhaler. It's in the brown bag!

- Get her inhaler, now! - We need Hannah's bag!

Hannah. No, no. Hannah. No.

Listen to me. Hannah. Hannah!

Um, Dr. Jacob Lawson. Is he in surgery?

Thanks.

Yeah. But what I'd like to do is maybe a few more tests.

Just to make sure. Sure.

Hi, sweetie.

I was looking for you. They said you'd be here.

What was that about? Does he... Does he know what happened?

Uh...

No, no, no. The full test results won't be in for another couple days.

But your P.E.F. Levels were fine when you stayed here overnight.

So Dr. Stewart thinks it's good for us all to go home.

Is that not what you think?

Yeah. N-No, I do. I agree.

I... I agree with Dr. Stewart.

He's a specialist. We need to do what he says.

All right. Well, I'm gonna go get changed, I guess.

Okay.

If you would just let me explain, I'm confident we would agree.

You need to know that my family...

they, well, have certain standards for me.

Standards which I do not meet?

Admit it, Desmond. Please.

It's time I discovered the life I've always dreamed of but thought impossible.

Predictions?

Is there something you're not telling me, Dad?

I was thinking about asking you the same thing.

Jacob? Hi.

Hey, Grace, Hannah.

Hi.

It's good to see you all again.

Although I wish it was under better circumstances.

So how have you felt this week? Any new symptoms or problems?

No. I feel fine.

Well, I've looked at your E.E.G. And M.R.I.,

and it looks as though we need to reconsider our current management of the epilepsy.

Stress, sleep deprivation and alcohol can increase your risk of seizures.

Since you haven't had a seizure since childhood, I just have to ask...

L-L-Look. I don't do drugs. I don't drink. I don't smoke. I haven't...

If that's what you mean.

Oh. I see.

B.P.D., acute asthma, seizures, multiple hip surgeries...

most when you were too young to remember.

I remember some.

Hannah, I believe that everything you've suffered from...

is related.

Why am I sick?

You were born very prematurely. Twenty-four weeks.

Premature birth or low birth weight...

and a traumatic delivery can be associated with this condition.

I was premature, and that's why I'm sick.

Hannah, we're concerned about you...

because of the physical and emotional symptoms that you're having.

What do you... What do you mean, um, emotional?

Your father e-mailed me this.

"I feel dead inside.

No. Something worse than death.

I am still a child, a child trying to find a place in this world.

I have so many unanswered questions, questions I feel but can't even begin to speak...

because there are no words to express them.

Something is missing.

Why, God, do I feel...

do I feel unwanted?

Why do I feel I have no right to exist?

Why do I spend more time wanting to end my life than live it?"

You... You read my journal?

Hannah, I believe that what you're feeling is normal,

and is even expected.

What is... What is this about?

What? What?

Hannah, we're not your biological parents.

Hang on. That's, uh... That's not how I wanted to tell you.

Why didn't you tell me I was adopted?

Okay. Um...

Hannah, you were born premature because you are the survivor of a failed abortion.

Your physical and I believe your emotional symptoms...

can be traced to this, as they have in other cases.

I-I-I can only speak to your physical symptoms.

But I'm suggesting that you begin treatment for your psychological symptoms as well.

Immediately.

Now, I'm prescribing a new medication to help control your seizures,

and you have to continue to take your current medication.

- Hannah. - Don't...

I have to go.

- Hey. I don't think that's a good idea. - Don't touch me.

Hello?

Hi. Hey. I can't hear you.

I have set your iron on fire.

Can I call you back?

Jason, the iron's on fire. No, it's too...

It's in my hand. It's really loud in here. I'm sorry.

Can I call you back? The iron's on fire.

Sure. That's fine. Whatever.

Call me back.