Mother and Child Page #2

on Wednesday.

Hmm.

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.

Hey, 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.

I'm an idiot.

Forgive me.

Please, I'm sorry.

Oh, you really

wear me out.

(SIGHS)

(KNOCK ON DOOR)

Ah. We gave you

one of our better offices.

And what did I do

to deserve it?

Nothing, but we

have high hopes.

As well you should.

Any questions?

Concerns?

No.

Hmm.

Welcome dinner

tomorrow night.

Mistral, 8:
15.

You know it?

Sure.

See you there.

(EXHALES) 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 I said yes.

So, they're paying us

to learn something new,

so that's good.

Mmm-hmm.

There's a new therapist.

He's a man,

oh, he's my age.

He's...

He's a little heavyset.

He's graying, you know?

He's friendly.

Everybody likes him.

Watch yourself, Karen.

Don't set

yourself up for falls.

(LAUGHS)

All right,

now, press up

against my hand.

That's right.

Now let it go.

Very good.

Just like that. Okay?

Amy.

Here you go.

Oh, here comes

Valentino.

Hey.

I feel like we got off

on the wrong foot.

Why do you say that?

Well, you seemed

a little upset

the other day when...

You don't know me

well enough

to know if I was upset.

That was good work,

Karen.

I...

I have some time before

I have to be home.

I'm getting

a cup of coffee.

Do you mind

if I join you?

All right.

You folks ready?

Coffee,

black, please.

Mmm-hmm.

Same for me.

Thank you.

You know what?

I'll have the apple pie, too.

WAITRESS:
Okay.

Can't seem to stay away

from apple pie.

You should

watch your weight.

Yeah, I should.

So, how long have

you been at the clinic?

I... I've been there

six years, six months.

April 11th, 2004

was my first day.

Good memory.

Yeah. I was at

Westside Memorial

for eleven years

before that.

Westside, I hear

that's a good place.

Yeah, well,

I didn't see eye-to-eye

with my supervisor.

She was sloppy

and she needed me

to pick up the slack

for her.

I got tired of it

and I told her so.

And she had me fired.

This is cold.

WAITRESS:
Oh.

So what about you?

I've been down here

like five months now.

I'm from the Bay Area.

Been a therapist

for four years.

Before that I drove

for a car company.

I'm divorced.

I'm a grandfather.

Can you imagine?

And my daughter Melissa,

she's 28, she has twins.

They weren't exactly

planned but

what can you do?

She's happy.

She still lives up there.

What else would you

like to know?

We don't have to

interrogate each other.

This is not a date.

(CHUCKLING)

"Interrogate's"

a harsh word.

You live by yourself?

No.

(LAUGHS)

What's so funny?

No, nothing. I...

I just can't seem to

say the right things

around you,

and I'm trying.

Believe me.

What do you mean?

I just feel like

I keep putting

my foot in my mouth

every time

I talk to you,

and I just

don't know why.

Look, I'm sorry.

Let's forget I said that.

I don't know what

I'm talking about.

I'm not

a difficult person.

No, I don't mean that.

No, you're not

comfortable with me.

No, I am.

My words are

too harsh for you.

No, no, no,

no, no, I...

WINSTON :
Do you know

what you want?

I don't care.

A boy.

Biological parents get

to visit their children

and have a hand

in their upbringing.

Isn't that the case now?

No. No, it's your child.

You call the shots.

It's just without

all that secrecy,

you know?

So, if one day our baby

wants to know

where they come from,

then they have

a right to know.

I hope they don't

change their minds

about all these rules

20 years from now.

You know, they always seem

to change their minds

about things like that.

Who does?

The experts.

(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)

Well, I think Joseph's

gonna be a great dad.

Don't you think?

Yes.

It's all

he's ever wanted.

Hey, Elizabeth.

I didn't realize it was

just the two of us.

Oh, my partners would

put you to sleep

in a minute.

I thought this would

be better.

It's not

what I expected.

I hope you don't think

it's inappropriate.

I just like to know

what everything means,

that's all.

Just the boss

getting acquainted

with his new employee.

Thank you.

Something to drink?

Sparkling water.

WAITER:
Yes, ma'am.

Are you married?

I was.

My wife passed away

five years ago.

What was her name?

Maureen.

What about her

do you miss the most?

We were close.

That's hard to come by.

That's what I miss

most about her.

In fact, my children

say my wife and I

were closer to each other

than we were to them.

I was hoping

they hadn't noticed.

(BOTH LAUGHING)

How old are they?

Maria's 29.

Julian's 30.

You started young.

Mmm, not so young.

So, you're

no spring chicken.

(LAUGHS) No.

No, I'm not.

You're still handsome.

Thank you.

(THUD)

Mom?

Mom?

Mom.

Mom.

(DIALING)

(SIGHS) That young doctor,

he said he'd be back

first thing in the morning

to talk to us.

I don't wanna die here.

You're not gonna die.

You're gonna be fine.

Expect me

to live forever?

Don't start that again.

Even if I could

I wouldn't want to.

Just one disappointment

after another.

(SIGHS)

(MAN CHATTERING OVER PA)

What?

What, Mom?

(SINGING INDISTINCTLY)

(LAUGHING)

(KNOCK AT DOOR)

PAUL :
What keeps you

here so late?

Sneider and Lubezky.

Oh. Not easy clients.

They're downright difficult.

But they'll be

happy with that.

How about you?

Time for beddy-bye?

Yes. Yes it is.

Well, I could

invite you over

for a drink.

Unless you think

that's inappropriate.

We'll take your car.

(ELEVATOR BELL DINGS)

Oh, hi. We were just

talking about you.

Weren't we, Steve?

'Cause I'm getting up

to use the bathroom

seven times a night,

and our rooms

are back-to-back

and I just hope

I'm not waking you.

I haven't

heard a thing.

Oh, good, good.

Well, you'd let us know,

wouldn't you?

Sure.

I'm Paul.

STEVEN :
Oh, hi.

I'm sorry.

This is Steven and...

Tell me

your name again.

Tracy.

Tracy.

This is Paul,

my father.

Oh, it's so nice

to meet you, sir.

Spending the night

in the garage?

Oh, no.

Oh, no.

It's for a birthing class

that starts tonight.

He's my coach.

We'll get out of

your way, then.

Good night.

STEVEN :
Nice meeting you.

Adopted, right?

PAUL :
So, what was

that about, out there?

(CHUCKLING)

She was almost pleased

you were black.

Did you notice?

It was a chance

for her to exercise

her liberal good will.

Now, they'll be doing

the math all night.

Maybe the father's

only half-black

and the mother is white.

They seem like

nice enough people.

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