The Memory Keeper's Daughter

The word "camera," my father once told me...

... came from the Latin word for "room."

"Each person lives in camera," he said...

..."in an isolated room, full of secrets. "

David, something's definitely happening.

Honey, no, that's impossible. First babies are usually late.

Ira. Yeah, it's me.

Her contractions are four minutes apart.

Okay. Okay, we'll see you there.

He said, go to the clinic. It's closer than the hospital.

He's gonna call Nurse Gill too. It's gonna be okay. It's gonna be okay.

You didn't tell me it would hurt this much.

I swear, I didn't know.

- But you're a doctor. - I'm a bone doctor.

- Wait, wait, wait. Stop the car. - What, what?

Just think, when we get back, our lives will never be the same.

- May I help you? - I'll take this.

Your wife will be very happy. When is she due?

- I beg your pardon? - Well, this is a maternity robe.

I'm not married.

What? What are you looking at?

You.

- Where's Ira? - There was an accident.

He's fine. His car went into a ditch. He'll be here as soon as possible.

- Well, this baby won't wait. - Let's get her inside, then.

Let's get you comfortable. Here you go.

One side. Very good, okay?

There you go. Just try and relax.

I'm just gonna take a little look inside.

Everything looks good. I put her at 10 centimeters.

I delivered five babies in medical school.

Each one of them a success.

And this one will be too, doctor.

Okay, Norah, I'm gonna give you some gas. It'll help with the pain.

Here. Breathe in.

- "Phoebe." - What's that?

- If it's a girl. "Paul," if it's a boy. - Yeah.

Did I tell you that? I meant to tell you, I decided.

- Those are good names. - Phoebe and Paul are great names.

Breathe in, breathe in. You're doing fine.

- God, it's coming fast. - You're doing fine too, doctor.

Just relax.

- We're crowning. - Okay, Norah, push.

Push.

God, he's beautiful.

- He's beautiful. - I wanna hold him. I wanna see him.

We'll clean him up first, and then he's all yours.

Doctor?

David? David, is he all right? Is he all right?

- Is everything all right? - He's perfect.

- He's perfect. - Absolutely.

Absolutely perfect.

- What is that? - Yeah, it's okay.

- It's okay. It's just the placenta. - David.

- David. - Oh, God. Nurse.

- Everything's fine. - What's happening?

- Nurse, I need you here right now. - David.

There's another baby. Give her more gas.

Okay, Norah, breathe deep. That's it.

That's good, that's good, it's coming. I can see the head.

- It's coming fast. - Okay, Norah, push. Push.

I'll be right back.

It's a girl.

It's a girl. It's a girl.

Hey.

I'm sorry, doctor.

All right. Clean her up, please. But keep her in the other room.

I don't want my wife to know yet.

- David. - Sleep now, sweetheart.

You were incredible.

You're a beauty.

There's a home outside Louisville. I want you to take her there.

She's a mongoloid. She won't live long.

- Caroline. - But, why?

My sister died when she was 12. It destroyed my mother's life.

I can't do that to Norah.

Here. It's just off the highway, about 60 miles.

I'll call ahead.

I can't thank you enough.

Unfortunately, the blizzard will be continuing throughout the night.

Please stay off the h...

Dr. Henry?

Dr. Henry?

Everyone's gone home. I think you should be going home too.

Hello?

Stop it. Stop it.

Well, don't just stand there. Give me a hand.

Billy, stop it. Stop it.

Hold him down. Now, get me the strap.

Oh, stop it. Calm down, Billy. Hold this down.

- Are you the new nurse? - No, I'm here to...

- Did Dr. Henry call? - Who?

A doctor was supposed to call ahead. He sent me...

We're short-staffed tonight. Hold his legs down.

If anybody called, I didn't hear about it.

Billy, if you don't settle down, you're gonna be in these all day tomorrow.

Do you understand me? What was that name again?

- Dr. Henry. - Okay, wait here. Let me ask Janet.

You better hurry up. We're closed in 10 minutes.

Come on.

Here we go. Come on, little girl. That's it. Good girl.

Good, good girl.

Oh, God. Oh, God.

Oh, God.

Wait, come back.

I have a baby here!

I have a baby here.

- Hi. - Hey.

- Hi. - You were so brave.

Look at him.

Our beautiful boy, our perf...

Perfect Paul.

What? What is it?

We had twins, honey.

One of each.

Twins?

Where is she?

You know I love you, right?

Right?

Oh, God.

I am so sorry.

She died as she was born.

Did you forget something?

I was trying to get to the phone. I'm out of gas.

Out of gas?

Listen, lady, at this time, in this weather, you're also out of luck.

Oh, man.

- How old? - Newborn.

Listen, you gotta come join me in my rig.

I delivered a load of milk. I'm just waiting out the storm.

Lady, I'm considering that baby.

Name's Al.

Al Simpson.

Caroline Gill.

Oh, I bet you have a story.

Where were you two headed?

- Lexington. - Lexington?

Well, if it's only Lexington, I can give you a lift.

I might as well park the rig there as here.

- If it doesn't put you out. - Oh, hell, no. It's...

Oh, pardon my French.

I mean, Lexington is on my way.

Thank you.

He is perfect, isn't he?

I wanna see her.

- Oh, no. - Just for a moment, David. Please.

They took her away.

No.

Morning.

Oh, hi. I hope you...

I hope you don't mind. I made myself at home.

No, it smells good. I'm hungry.

That's great because, you know, I made lots.

- Thanks. - I talked to a friend of mine.

And he's gonna fill your car with gas and then drop it off this afternoon.

Why, that's incredibly kind.

Yeah. It's my infinite pleasure, ma'am.

- Thank you. - There you go.

Well, listen, I've been meaning to say...

...that I'm sorry for whatever happened with your little girl's...

- Well, you know, her father. - Thank you.

I know for a fact how bad men can behave.

I used to behave a little bad myself sometimes.

I doubt that.

Anyway, I gotta... I'm heading back to Pittsburgh.

It's my home between runs, so... You know Pittsburgh?

- No. - Oh, it's a great town.

It's great. You'll...

You should come visit sometime.

Anyway, if you do... Let me... Let me give you my phone number.

You know, just in case you visit...

...or, you know, you just wanna talk sometime.

I'm a pretty good listener.

I know that.

Thank you.

- Lexington East Clinic. - Hi, Ruby, it's Caroline.

I won't be coming in this afternoon. I'm coming down with something.

Don't worry. I'll call in Emma. Hey, did you hear?

Dr. Henry's wife gave birth to a baby boy last night.

And a little girl who died.

- She died? - Yes.

Yes, isn't that awful?

- Hi, Kay. - David, honey, I'm so sorry.

We all just rushed over as soon as we heard.

Thank you.

I just want you to know that we'll all be there on Tuesday.

- What do you mean, "Tuesday"? - We...

We all talked her into it. We think it's the best thing.

- A memorial? - Something small.

Something simple. It'll help us put her to rest.

Norah, I don't think we need a public ceremony to do that.

- She died, there's no shame in that. - No, of course not.

We need to mark her presence here on earth.

Whose idea is this? Your little sewing circle?

Everyone agrees it's the right thing to do.

Kay called the papers and the church. It's been arranged.

Why didn't Kay call me? Why didn't you ask me?

This isn't wrong. You think this is wrong?

- No, Norah... - You touched her.

You held her. At least you held her.