Ella McCay

Hi, I'm the narrator.

I'm here to provide facts about Ella.

But first, let me give you what she would call

"full transparency."

I've worked for her ever since she finished law school,

so I'm not exactly neutral.

I'm nuts about her.

I am.

2008. The middle of the Great Recession.

But, you know, in a way, a better time.

We all still liked each other.

At just 34 four years old,

Ella is the third youngest woman to ever hold her office.

Sounds great, right?

The thing is, we all hide our... our...

Oh, forgive me, "crap"... until it wins or we do.

ESTELLE (VO): With Ella, the crap started at age 16.

Let's go, girls.

ESTELLE (VO): Not to be a downer,

but you're one of the lucky ones if you've never experienced

other people's totally normal, happy families

as a small stab in the heart.

Think we're all going to have to leave soon, Mr. McCay

ESTELLE (VO): Destiny can be a sneaky thing.

My speech.

Your overcoat pocket.

ESTELLE (VO): Our lives can turn on a dime.

Or a single word.

Wait.

Nobody's gonna say anything?

What do you think there is to say, kiddo?

Hey, Case, could you go get me a glass of water, please?

Okay.

Go ahead, Ella, say what you want.

Thank you, Aunt Helen.

I don't want to act as though

you were just retiring today as hospital director,

when really you're being forced to leave because of multiple...

...sexual relationships with women who work there.

That is one legitimate point of view.

What do you mean? Is there another?

Um, could you go put some ice in that, please?

No.

Uh...

Okay. Fair enough. Uh...

You know what? I-I promise

to read you to sleep for the next six weeks.

The books with no pictures

and lots of words that take long to finish.

What if you don't?

Have I ever said I'd do something and not done it ever?

Another view, kiddo,

is that all three women wrote letters of support.

You're married.

Look, part of what they require from us today

is to show up as a family, because of the...

Can you just not...

Oh, I don't know.

Mom?

Don't make us go, please.

I want to go.

No. Well, no, you can't go.

Do you know what a traumatic experience is?

Sure.

Case, don't ever pretend you know something you don't.

'Cause finding out is easy and fun.

And the only way in the world you can not learn something

is to pretend you already know it.

Okay.

"T." Okay. "Trauma:

a psychic injury caused by emotional shock,

the memory of which is repressed and remains unhealed.

An injury to the brain."

That's what could happen to us if we go.

Do you still want to go?

No, thank you.

Okay.

Mr. McCay, we're real late!

I'll never forgive you.

I love you. Call me for anything.

ESTELLE (VO): Six weeks later, the other shoe drops.

You have some options. - Really?

I don't see that I have a choice.

- I don't. Okay.

But I just don't think I can be here when you tell Ella.

Tell me what?

Well, honey, it's, uh...

Your father has a...

a really great business opportunity in... in California.

And your Aunt Helen will visit regularly.

No, Mom, I... I can't.

I'll lose more than a year of credit

on all four of my AP courses.

And that will mess up my college applications,

and I'd lose that internship

that took all those interviews and essays.

And there have been these sort of really...

I guess... I don't know,

hopeful things happening for me lately at school.

Like that sociology paper I-I worked on forever.

I just got it back. And the teacher said that I...

He said that...

It's right here. I can show it to you.

But your Dad wants a fresh start for all of us.

Another fresh start.

Mom?

Can you please try to explain to me...

...why it is you keep going back for more?

I truly want to understand.

I still love him.

Well, then please, God, spare me love.

- She does not mean it, God. - (SIGHS, SNIFFLES)

- Just gimme a second, okay? - Mom.

- He's gonna do that stuff again. - Maybe. Possibly.

Probably. (SIGHS)

Your Aunt Helen says that...

maybe you should, uh, stay with her for a while.

Until your father and I are on firmer...

At least until the end of the school year.

And then you'll be off to college anyway, right?

What?

I can't let you walk into my mistake.

- (ELLA SNIFFLES) - Hey. Hey.

Don't you dare blame yourself for any of this, Mom, okay?

Don't you dare.

Um, Aunt Helen,

are you sure you're okay with my living with you?

Yes. Ridiculously.

- (DOOR OPENS) You still up?

Is Mom crying?

Yeah. - Why?

Because she hurt herself.

I'll stay with you till you fall asleep, okay?

Do I ever love you, kiddo.

Say it back.

Do I ever love you, kiddo.

ESTELLE (VO): This is how it started.

Those three days that changed everything.

I knew it the minute I read it.

And my stomach knew it before I did.

- Good morning, Estelle. - Morning.

This reporter guy isn't going away.

- What did he say today? - Lots of last warnings.

This time he put "I really mean it" in caps.

Ella, you should talk to someone about this.

Just to hear yourself think out loud.

Yeah. Yeah, I know, you're right.

Thank you.

- Morning. Helen's. Good morning, Aunt Helen.

- Ella, hi. - Hi.

I-I was just wondering if I could, uh, come by in a bit.

Sure. Of course. Everything okay?

Uh, yeah, fine. Just, um...

I just need some perspective on something, is all.

Uh... Kind of a long story. I'll tell you when I see you.

- (EXHALES SHARPLY) On my way.

All right, love you.

Love you, too. Bye.

Ma'am, the governor wants to see you.

He's across the street in the phone room.

Okay, thank you.

ESTELLE (VO): Ah, The phone room.

ESTELLE (VO): These noisy rooms exist because elected officials

are not allowed to use

government offices for fundraising.

Good morning.

Sorry to be calling you so early. This is State Senator...

ESTELLE (VO): So their party rents phone rooms,

where they're expected to put in at least seven

solid hours a day asking for money.

You contributed 2,000 dollars in the last cycle.

ESTELLE (VO): And yes...

I'll put you down for five dollars.

- ...that's crazy. - Thank you.

...for 50 dollars. Never been more crucial.

Asking for your continued support.

...35 dollars.

Hi, it's Governor Bill Moore.

ESTELLE (VO): Governor Bill Moore,

known affectionately as Governor Bill.

He and Ella go back a long way.

She was his chief of staff

when he was known affectionately as Mayor Bill.

I'm just calling to thank you for the...

...500-dollar donation.

Yes, ma'am.

- How's, uh... - (CHATTER CONTINUES)

Who's the husband?

...Jerry doing? You still... still okay over there?

Excellent.

And you got those two strapping sons? Do you have...

Daughter? Colleen.

Of course. Who could forget Colleen?

She's gotta be, what, four?

Medical school.

All right, I'm gonna let you go.

Thank you.

Sorry for the mix-up. We are all fools here.

You see what I spare you from?

I keep telling you I'm glad to do it.