Little Fires Everywhere

The lawyer costs $30,000.

Mi, if you need that kind of money,

you know the piece you can sell to get it.

- I think you were right. - I... I think she's trying to hire a lawyer.

I'm gonna have to go to court?

- I mean, I don't know. - And fight for my own child?

You're representing the McCulloughs?

Of course I am. They're our best friends.

You do realize they're stealing that baby, right?

I need an abortion.

- Pearl Warren? - That's me.

Come here.

- Elena! Don't do this. - I'll be back in two days.

Apparently Mia Wright had a brother.

- Her brother's name is Warren. - I knew it!

This is her.

There are so many secrets, Mi.

It's those secrets that keep you alone.

You've never met your grandchild?

The baby Mia was carrying in that picture...

it was not hers.

We could still bail, you know.

Go lounge around Borders, read magazines till they throw us out.

We don't even know these kids.

- We know JP. - You do.

- He said bring your friends. - He meant your boobs.

And you know this party is just gonna be full

of a bunch of Lexies in training bras, right?

Well, we're gonna be in high school with all of them.

Can we just try to fit in a little?

Ten more seconds to put your dick away, Dinowitz.

- It's a party. - Why are you dressed for, like, combat?

Your turn, Izzy.

Ooh.

It's the '90s, right?

Do it, do it, do it, do it, do it, do it.

Izzy, wait. We probably shouldn't.

Except we, like, always do.

Not with half the freshman class right outside the door.

No, just with our parents downstairs.

Five more minutes.

- See? - Plenty of time.

Yeah.

Okay.

Get off me.

Ooh.

Wait, I thought you guys were friends.

Not after she just, like, molested me.

It's perfect.

- How was the tree lighting? - Oh, it was beautiful.

Lexie sounded wonderful.

And the Chanticleers harmonies were really coming together.

Oh, Bill, these pictures.

Trip is blinking, and Moody looks like he's making some sort of squirrel face.

Isabelle looks miserable, of course.

The only thing that's working is the tartan.

I think we're gonna have to re-shoot these.

Have you thought about what you're gonna say tomorrow?

That's what I stayed home to work on.

I mean about Mia.

- Bebe is the one suing for custody. - And Mia is bankrolling it.

- Elena. - I'm sorry.

But look what she did to the poor Ryans.

And her parents and her daughter, and-and us.

I mean, she has really taken advantage of our generosity.

Pretending to be poor when she's really sitting on half a million dollars.

Who's sitting on a half a million dollars?

- No one. I'm talking to your father. - Go upstairs.

Mia kidnapped Pearl.

I mean, I don't know why you're trying to act like I've done something wrong.

What's going to New York and abandoning your family

to go play Nancy Drew?

Why am I being punished for, for learning the truth?

Don't get pressured into saying more than you need to.

All we want is for the judge to see that you're a responsible,

upstanding future citizen.

Let me ask a question so that Bebe is-is fully prepared.

There won't be any press at the courtroom, right?

No cameras or... Exactly.

Family court proceedings are closed to the public.

The only people in the room will be at the request of both parties.

- You're the only person on Bebe's side. - She's the only person I need.

Give this to Mia next time you're over there.

- I haven't been over there in weeks. - Give it to your best friend, Pearl.

Okay, forget it.

Why do you have her shirt?

Why were you sleeping there, anyway?

What, are you jealous?

Don't worry about it. Your girlfriend didn't dump you for me.

- Come on, guys. - Hot buns.

Support Bebe Chow.

Would you want to go to Arabica after school?

Um, I, I would, but I have a MAC meeting later.

You know, Minority Achievement... No, I know, I know.

You guys have been meeting a lot lately, huh?

- Yeah. - Come on, guys.

Hot buns. Support Bebe Chow.

Oh, you can keep the bun.

Good idea, though.

All was calm and all was bright at the Shaker Square annual tree lighting,

but this morning, it's anything but.

Last night, this city celebrated the birth of a child.

Today, it considers who raises a child. Jesus Christ, Walt.

You know, you can type this shit, but I can't say it.

Shaker residents remain deeply divided between Ms. Chow and the McCulloughs

with both sides set to square off in court today.

Who deserves custody? Judge Rheinbeck will decide.

There are so many cameras.

Maybe there's another way inside.

- Yeah. - Yeah, let's check.

Can you describe your state of mind leading up to the firehouse?

May Ling cry non-stop all day.

And I just hold her, I don't know what I can do, and...

I just hold her and crying, too.

It was like that for weeks. She won't nurse.

She have to eat or die.

Do you know this term post-partum depression?

No.

Do you remember the policeman

who found you unconscious on the sidewalk that night?

No.

What about the doctors who testified to treating you

in the hospital for a week?

No.

What is the first thing you do remember after the fire station?

May Ling. I woke up.

I ask... I ask, "Where is May Ling?" They told me May Ling was gone.

I don't believe them. I beg them, "Please find her."

Please help me to find her." But...

they said nothing they can do.

They told me I gave up my rights when I leave her there.

So I decided to-to look for her myself.

I looked. I look and look.

Then I find her.

And now I'm here.

And how would you describe yourself today, Ms. Chow?

Stronger, better.

I have good job, warm home.

I have a good, good friend.

And now, all I need is May Ling.

I have everything except May Ling.

No further questions, Your Honor.

Ms. Chow, you earn $2.35 an hour plus tips. Is that correct?

- Yes. - And before the birth, you were also working as a waitress,

but at the Royal Garden in Cleveland. Is that correct?

- Yes. - And how much were you earning there?

The same.

The same as when you abandoned your daughter

because you couldn't afford to take care of her.

Objection, Your Honor. Speculation.

Sustained.

Ms. Chow, do you recognize this photo?

No.

This is Mirabelle's frostbitten hand.

Do you know how long she was left out in the cold by you?

- I, I knocked at the door. - I just let them know she's outside.

And did you wait to make sure that that knock was answered?

I, I was afraid.

I just so afraid they'll find me and send me back to China

and they'll never, never let me see my daughter again.

So which is it, Ms. Chow?

Did you consciously abandon your daughter in order to seek help

or did you suffer from a post-partum break

and have no idea of the consequences of your actions?

Because it can't be both.

You know, for so long, I couldn't figure out why you were doing this.

Why you were helping that poor woman ruin my best friend's life.

- But now I get it. - What do you get, Elena?

By helping her, it makes what you did okay.

What did I do?

What you did to the Ryans.

What?

I know about them.

And I know why you live the life that you do.

I met your parents, actually.

They're really lovely people.

I'm sorry to hear about your brother.

That must have been hard for your mother to lose both of you at the same time.

You know, I'm just making a leap here,

but I'm assuming that Pearl doesn't know any of this.

That this has just been your secret for all these years.

I find it sort of curious that you're a character witness for Bebe.

- And that you're testifying tomorrow. - I am.

I just think about Pearl.

After all she's been through.

Learning about her past, her father.

What you did.

All in a court proceeding?

Are you threatening me?

It's actually more of a question.

Is fighting for someone else's child worth losing your own?

How about you come over later on tonight,

and you know, we could, I don't know,

study some anatomy?

I'm still... you know.

Is it just me, or has it been that time of month

for, like, a month now?

- Trip bailed on me. You going home? - You are like a nerdy carjacker.

- It's all good. - I'm out anyway.

I told Grimace I'd take him to Tower.