Mother and Child

Her birthday is coming up.

She'll be 37.

I spoke to Bill Colden about you.

He says you're one of the best lawyers he's ever worked with.

And I know Bill. Praise doesn't come easy to him.

We had a good relationship. He runs that firm well.

Yes he does.

So, in your estimation, what are your professional strengths?

Well, l don't believe in improvisation.

I prepare my cases rigorously.

I'm on top of clients. I handle them well.

I protect them from themselves.

I prefer to work on a project by myself

but I can work just as well in a team, if necessary.

I work equally well with men or women...

but I prefer to report to a man.

Why's that?

Many women find me threatening.

- Would I be reporting to you? - Yes.

So, we'd have nothing to worry about, then.

Why do you think women find you threatening?

I'm not in the sisterhood. l'm my own person.

I saw from this that you moved to and from this area several times.

I've gone wherever I've had to go to get ahead.

But you always return here.

This part of the world is as good as any.

Well Elizabeth, your resume is very impressive.

It's no secret you'd be a great asset to us.

I would not disappoint you.

If you wouldn't mind...

could you give me some of your personal background?

I was born here in Los Angeles...

and l was given up for adoption on the day of my birth.

My mother was 14 when she had me.

And that's all I know about her.

My adoptive father died when I was 10.

My adoptive mother and I are not close.

My name, Elizabeth Joyce, is one I picked out for myself in junior high.

It's my legal name now. I don't go by any other.

I live alone.

I have since I turned 17.

I've never been married, and l have no plans to marry.

I value my independence above all things.

That way I don't have any expectations to fulfill...

other than my own, which are great enough.

That's all she wrote.

We've been married for four years.

And we've been trying from the beginning.

But we just haven't been able to.

And we've been hoping, you know, against hope, as they say...

but that just isn't going to be.

And we've accepted that.

And we're not bitter.

I mean, l don't think...

Do you think we're bitter about it?

No. No, we're not.

So, we could be good parents, you know.

Joseph is a very tender man. He's affectionate.

And, we could learn to love a baby in a minute,

even if it wasn't ours.

Would we get to name the baby ourselves?

It depends on the circumstances.

Sometimes the biological parents and the adoptive parents agree on a name.

We could agree to agree.

Well, we're ready now, to adopt.

I mean, blood is important...

but it's the time spent together that really matters.

Isn't that right?

- Oh my god. - What? What? What?

Why didn't you shut me up?

It's alright, Lucy,

everyone who goes to her office is nervous, okay?

Gave that whole speech about time spent together. Where the hell did l get that?

- Baby, I have no idea. - Why didn't you open your mouth?

Lucy don't try...

Why didn't you say a word?

Sweetie, she liked you.

- Do you think? - Yes, I think. Just relax.

Okay.

How does that feel?

It feels okay.

Just okay?

It feels good.

Please God, let us find a baby.

I got ya.

Oh.

Good, Louise. Put your arm on the side. There ya go.

This is our general therapy area where we treat patients with chronic pain...

and acute injuries.

- Hi. Janelle. - Hi. Paco.

- Here. - Thanks.

Is that man flirting with you?

Yes he was.

Hi.

Hello.

Say hello to Karen, mija.

Hi.

Your mother had a good day.

She ate really well.

And how long's she been asleep?

For about half an hour. She really needed it.

I can change her into her nightgown before l leave.

I'll do that.

I'm gonna be a little late tomorrow.

It's back to school for this one.

Ah.

I'll see you tomorrow.

These need clipping.

Mom, l'm gonna look for a new person for you.

Sofia never asked me if I minded that she brought the girl over while school was out.

I don't know what I would've said, but she should've asked me.

You cannot fire her.

Hi. We're Steven and Tracy from next door.

We just wanted to come by and say hi and welcome to the building.

Thank you.

We only moved in two months ago, so, you know

we know what it's like not to know anyone.

It's a pretty safe building though, don't you think?

I mean, we think so.

Yes, it's quiet.

Yeah. So you're here all by yourself, right?

Yes, that's right.

Yeah. I told Steven that I thought so. Didn't l?

Yeah. Yeah.

It's mostly single people in the building, you know, no children.

So far.

You know, I was just in the middle of something.

Oh, don't worry. We'll talk again. I'm home most days...

and so just, you know, come by and borrow a cup of sugar or something.

It was nice meeting you.

Lucy, are you there?

Lucy-Lu!

Are you there, or aren't you?

Lucy.

I'm not home.

Okay, call me back. I'll try you back in a little while.

Oh yeah, yeah. Yeah. Oh.

I don't know if this thing is still recording or if l got cut off.

ls this thing still recording? Lucy?

- l'm sorry. I can't. - Don't stop.

- Lucy. Okay, okay. Okay, l'm gone. - l lost it. l lost it.

- Come on, Lucy. - Okay, bye.

I lost it.

I had a new dream a couple of days ago.

I come home and try to get in but my key breaks inside the lock.

I look through the window and l can see you in my bed sleeping.

I go in through the back door

and walk up to you and smell your breath.

It smells of another woman's breast milk, not mine.

And the bed is wet.

You've wet the bed and I start to cry...

because I don't have clean sheets to make it fresh.

Sorry, I didn't mean to stare.

Paco. Karen, right?

Clara told me your name.

Clara?

What else did she say about me?

Nothing else.

She always has time on her hands to be talking to someone.

That's why her work stinks.

So, was it your idea or his?

Oh, please don't, okay? I just need your support on this.

Oh, well see, I was just wondering whose idea it was.

It was my idea. Okay?

Your mother-in-law is gonna blow a gasket...

her prince raising the child of a stranger.

What about you?

Are you gonna love this baby or no?

Well, there is no baby to speak of yet.

What's the next step?

We are meeting a woman on Wednesday.

She is six months pregnant.

And she's just now deciding to give up this baby?

No. Apparently she's already turned down a few couples.

Turned down?

Who's approving who? There's an argument that you'd be doing her a favor.

Nobody's doing anybody a favor.

Okay, everybody stands to win.

You know there is so much positioning for everything nowadays.

Motherhood should be something simpler than that.

I'm sorry, Lucy.

That was a horrible thing to say.

I'm sorry, Lu. l'm an idiot. Forgive me.

Please, l'm sorry.

Oh, you really wear me out.

Ah. We gave you one of our better offices.

And what did l do to deserve it?

Nothing, but we have high hopes.

As well you should.

Any questions? Concerns?

No.

Welcome dinner tomorrow night, Mistral, 8:15. You know it?

Sure.

See you there.

How's work?

It's good.

There's a new training program...

to work with people who are recuperating from chemotherapy.

They asked if any of us wanted to participate, and l said yes.

So, they're paying us to learn something new, so that's good.