Original subtitles

What's the emergency?

He won't say, but he wants to tell both of us and Kimberly. But he just shows up

unannounced something, though.

Well, Lydia, what a surprise.

Okay, he's here. Tell him.

Don't make me rush into it, okay? This could be a tough conversation, honey.

Are you dying?

Could you at least look a little less hopeful when asking me something like

that? Lydia.

Are you okay?

I'm fine.

My health is fine.

With one exception.

I can't get pregnant.

Do you want to get pregnant?

I've been trying for three years.

And after a zillion fertility experts, I won't bore you with medical diagnoses,

but basically I have this thing called chromosomal deletion.

What are we talking about?

I am talking about the only way I can get pregnant is to find a man with the

unique gene segment to make up for my deficiency.

I can only conceive with one in a hundred thousand men.

And how many have you tried so far?

Lydia, go on.

Anyway.

Obviously, Jimmy, by some stroke of fate, you are one in a hundred thousand.

You've got to be kidding. I know it's a completely outrageous request.

Me? You want Jimmy to father your child?

Yes. And it would be my child.

I would, of course, assume all responsibility, financial and otherwise.

Basically, I just want... You know... I want your sperm.

Well... Well, then, by all means, Jimmy, go on. Give her a quart.

Jill.

You come into my house and you ask my husband to impregnate you?

I know the absurdity of this. I know the potential it has to disrupt this

family. Then why do it?

Because I'm desperate.

Jimmy, it's not as if you have to do anything.

What, you think that's funny?

No. Really. I mean, really. You wouldn't have to do anything. I've already got

the sperm.

Excuse me? When we first got married, there was a mump scare.

You remember? And you had never got them. And since they can make adult men

sterile, we made a little deposit in a sperm bank, just in case.

So really, you don't have to do anything.

Except say it's okay.

You have to think about it?

Jill, I want you both to think about it. And if the answer's no, then the

answer's no, but at least show me the courtesy of considering it.

It wasn't easy for me to come in and ask this.

Wait a minute.

Where are you going?

Upstairs.

I want you to discuss it.

Well, there's nothing really to discuss here. I mean, obviously, we wouldn't

consider this for a second. Not for a second.

I can't believe that she would have the nerve to walk in here and ask to borrow

sperm like a cup of sugar. Can you? No, I can't. Can you, Kimberly?

Well, I guess not.

Kimberly, you can't possibly be entertaining the notion you couldn't be.

There's a thousand reasons not to do it. I guess I just can't shake the one

reason to do it. To bring Lydia joy.

Honey, I am too old to be a father again.

Well, from what she said, she'd assume all the parenting. You wouldn't have to

be the father.

I'm having a lot of trouble with you supporting this. I really am.

I'm not supporting it, really. I'm not.

It's just I'm saying I can see it from her side, too.

It's not going to happen. No way.

Fine. It's your decision.

I think they're ready for you.

And I think I know the answer.

Are you surprised?

No.

I guess I hoped I would be.

So, unanimous decision?

Actually, two to nothing and one abstention.

Well, sensible.

I guess it would have upset Matthew and Zach anyway, so...

I expected it.

Matthew and Zach and me, I think we could have handled it.

But Mom and Dad, that's just something different.

Look, it's not that we are not sympathetic.

It's just that it's a... This would wreak havoc on our family, Lydia.

Jill, you would never hear from me. I...

I promise you, we would not disrupt your... You're my husband's ex -wife.

I'm not going to lie to you. This would be a little tough for me to take.

I know that.

Like I said, I knew all of this before coming to ask. I just... I don't know...

I'm sorry. The answer is no.

What?

Why are you looking like that?

Uh, I'm sorry, but... Uh, the answer is not no.

What? This is just too important, and I do not mean to disrupt you. You can't do

this, Lydia. You can't do it without Jimmy's consent.

Actually, I can.

The sperm is mine. It was property of the marriage, and it goes to me, so... I

can't.

Are you crazy?

Maybe.

Look, you guys, when I came here, I fully expected to go along with whatever

decided, but I just can't.

And Kimberly told me that she and the boys could handle it, so why can't the

of you handle it? Because we can't, Lydia.

Well, that's unfortunate, but... I am going to have a baby.

I'm going to have a baby.

I'm the district attorney. I can't help you.

There's got to be a law.

She can just kidnap my sperm?

It's considered property. She's not committing a crime.

But you could still represent us. John, you've done civil cases before.

You were involved with the cow pregnancies.

And as a matter of public policy, the same principle is at stake here.

This woman is using technology to force Jimmy into fatherhood.

No, I'm not saying you don't have a case. I'm saying hire a civil lawyer.

I want you.

Why?

Because this case is important to me, and there's no lawyer Henry Bone

more than you.

This does affect public policy.

You've gone on this ring before. Why won't you go in with me?

What are you looking for?

Simply a restraining order.

In joining Lydia Brock from using the sperm to impregnate herself.

Well, I'm not sure I have any jurisdiction over the sperm.

It's in a Milwaukee facility, subject to your state order.

Certainly, keeping with public policy... Don't tell me you started without me.

My feelings are very hurt.

What do you want?

Douglas Wambo representing the ultimate ex -wife, Your Honor.

The frozen vials were part of the estate that went to Mrs. Brock.

The law protects an individual's right not to procreate. The law is not

absolute. It's very muddy.

Maybe it can make another of your horrible rulings, Henry.

To help send John and me back to the Supreme Court.

Shut up.

There we go.

It's official.

I happen to know the law on this, Judge.

I looked it up while trying to save the pregnant cows.

Now you're supposed to balance the competing interests of the parents.

I know what I'm supposed to do, thank you.

Just trying to help.

In grammar school, my nickname then was the Little Helper.

Would you please shut up?

If it will help.

All right.

Mr. Wombau is correct on the legal standard.

In the absence of a written agreement, I must balance the interests of each

potential parent in determining what to do with the sperm.

That means, joy of all joys, we get to have a hearing.

Jimmy, you'll take the stand first.

And then, Mr. Wombau, we'll put your client in the chair.

Three o 'clock this afternoon.

Until then, everybody get out.

The little helper strikes again.

I do not believe this.

I have to testify in a court of law to stop my sperm from having a life of its

own? Yeah, and do not talk about financial hardship.

I actually stripped you of that by assuming responsibility.

Your whole argument lies in emotion.

How can this be happening?

Lydia went to Wamba on her own. I was just there as his assistant.

Then disqualify yourself.

You want me to do that?

Yes.

Okay.

You know, she's my biological mother, and I do happen to love her.

Let's not forget that.

Wait just a second.

Lydia wants Dad, Mr.

Seed, to put in her miss' eggs so she can make a baby?

Yes, and it's probably going to be in the papers, so I wanted you to hear

it from me first.

And you've got to go to court to prevent this? Mm -hmm.

Daddy's with Mr. Littleton right now, preparing his testimony.

What if he loses?

How does he give her Mr.

Seed?

Well, um, she already has Mr. Seed.

She's kept it in a freezer.

How did she get it?

Well, he, um... No, she...

I have

a family.

I have a daughter and I have two sons. How could this not have an enormous

emotional impact?

Even if she assumes full parental responsibility?

If it is my child, it is my child. Nothing to do with laws or contracts.

She's talking about my flesh and blood here. I must have a choice.

Is choice important?

A lot of people are having kids they didn't plan on having.

She's forcing me into fatherhood.

It's an emotional thing, I know.

But suppose that we're okay with Zach, Matthew, and Kimberly.

Would that make a difference?

Maybe I should subpoena them and see what they think. No, I don't care what

think. I have right.

I choose not to father her child.

I choose not to.

It should be as simple as that.

I do not wish to be a father.

He will not be the father.

The father is the person who raises the child, and it will not be him.

But it will be his heritage, Ms. Brock.

Yes, I know that. And I am sympathetic to the fact that this may trouble him.

You're talking about an imposition.

An emotional imposition.

Period. And I am talking about my right to bear a child. And that is far, far

more fundamental.

Part of me agrees with her.

What?

Jimmy, fertility, it goes right to the core of a woman. You have no idea.

That doesn't mean that I... Look, women have the right to get abortions. They

don't have to have children if they don't want.

Why shouldn't men get the same rights?

They should.

I'm not arguing with you on principle. I'm just saying, right or wrong,

If I couldn't have a baby, I'd feel... I don't know, like I wasn't complete.

Why?

I know it's not the feminist thing to say, but that's how I'd feel inside.

You actually think I should let her do it?

I don't know.

But let me ask you something, on principle.

Okay.

You would never...

Donate sperm to help an infertile couple?

You'd never consider that?

That's different.

Why?

You just don't want Lydia to get it.

That's the real issue.

Even if that was true, Max, so what? That's my right. If I don't want a

particular woman inseminated by me, I don't have to have a reason to say no.

I'm just asking, do you really need to say no?

I don't appreciate your representing Lydia.

I wasn't going to, Jill. But then I had no choice.

She gave me a retainer.

I consider you my friend.

Your helping her is a betrayal.

She wants a baby.

I know it makes you insecure.

I understand that.

It's her only chance, Jill, to have a baby. Her only chance.

Hi, Mom.

Oh, hi.

What are you guys doing here?

We came to see if we're going to get a new half -brother. Oh, please, go home.

This affects us.

Mr. Wambaugh says that he'll screw up probate.

The new kid can inherit part of your estate.

He asked.

I was stuck for an answer.

And you know how much I hate dead air.

Though there is no precedent on semen, the courts have carved out the rules.

for frozen embryos.

Basically, if one party chooses not to procreate, that's the end of it.

But the veto power is not absolute.

If no other reasonable alternative exists for the woman to get pregnant,

the presumption goes to her.

The medical evidence here is uncontroverted.

She's basically infertile.

with exception of a rare genetic match, which Jimmy Brock happens to be.

In balancing the competing interests of both potential parents,

the law sides with Lydia Brock getting custody of

Jimmy Brock's heritage.

But you know, I don't always follow the law.

Sometimes my rulings go the other way.

Sometimes, I refuse to make any ruling.

Period.

And that's what I'm going to do here.

What are you talking about, Judge?

You want to know what I'm talking about?

Last week, a 13 -year -old was in here trying to divorce his father.

Before that, we got couples having babies with cows.

Today... A fight over sperm.

That's what I'm talking about.

I don't know what the hell has happened to the American family.

But I know one thing for sure.

Everybody's running to the courts too damn fast to settle domestic situations

which should be resolved in the home.

Did you people even try to work on this?

This is a confidential matter, for God's sake.

You're talking about your fertility.

Your sperm.

This is sacred stuff, damn it.

And this dispute isn't even a day old before you go running to a court for

resolution.

Well, I'm sick of it.

I'm sick of courts legislating family life.

I'm sick of being forced to do it Because parents and children and spouses

too damn lazy to put in the time.

Well, guess what?

Sheriff Brock,

Dr. Brock, Lydia Brock, you are going to put in the time.

I hereby sentence the three of you to house arrest.

We'll use your house, Sheriff.

Your Honor, I'm not sure you can do this.

Oh, but I can.

I'm going to continue this matter without a finding for 24 hours.

In the meantime, I'm ordering you people housebound.

And I'm ordering you to act like a family and work on this.

And trust me, regardless of what the law mandates...

You can safely assume you don't know what the hell I'll do.

What you can assume is that it would be better for you to work this out without

me.

Deputy Stewart, take the prisoners to their jail.

Everybody else, get out.

really do this?

He's the judge.

Yeah.

This is humiliating. If he thinks anything's going to come of this, he's

senile to be a judge.

Well, at least you have an open mind.

That's a good sign.

Oh, I have no intention of being mature about this one, Lydia. A woman comes

into my house wanting my husband's sperm.

I'm not after the congeniality award.

What's for supper? Supper's canceled.

Oh, sorry.

Just a test. This is a two -way. If any of you leave the house, this box will

ring and I'll have to come back.

Jill, could we go in and talk to... Kimberly and Lydia, will you figure

something out for dinner? Thank you.

Now, honey... Maybe we should just let her do what she wants. What? Well, the

law is evidently on her side.

Why put the kids through this? Jimmy!

Jimmy.

Try to appreciate my resolve in this matter.

Your sperm is going nowhere near that woman.

Am I being too subtle?

No. Good.

I'm going to go in the kitchen and see if I can wrestle up something for her to

choke on.

We got a lot of ground to cover. If you're finished, you can cover the

your room. You too, Matthew.

We want to be part of the discussion. I'm sorry, but you can't be. Kimberly,

would you please take them upstairs?

Wait a second.

We're all part of this family.

And a family is not a democracy.

When you're 18, you can have a vote.

Go. All right, come on, up to bed. Let's go. Move it.

Got to be a grown -up discussion here.

Kimberly, you can come on back down and get them settled.

I'll never settle.

Go.

Go.

Well, Lydia, would you like to join us in the living room for coffee?

I'd love to. Good. Let's go.

We're out of coffee.

All right. The judge has ordered us to talk, so let's talk.

Why don't we start by opening you up... by opening up with...

By addressing why you feel compelled to have a baby at the age of 50. 48.

Right. I've already given you the reason.

He is one in a hundred thousand, and since I am 48, I really don't have the

to sample the number of men you assume I already have.

Look, both of you, if we are going to get through this, let's drop the

Why is your name still Brock?

I beg your pardon? Your marriage ended six... 16 years ago.

That's 120 dog years, and yet you still use the name Brock.

Gee, Jill, my last name was Brock when you first met Jimmy, and that didn't

to carry any relevance for you then. Why now?

Do you know why you still use the name Brock? So you can be connected to Jimmy.

That's what this baby is all about, keeping him... I keep the name Lydia

because my daughter's last name is Brock. If you cared anything about

you wouldn't be doing this.

All right.

Don't you?

ever accuse me of not loving Kimberly.

If anything, it's...

I

don't

have your life.

I have my life.

And if I want to enrich it with a child, that does not make me a monster, damn

you.

What about adopting?

I've thought about that, but I want... I want to be pregnant.

And I can't explain why it makes a difference.

And I know it's selfish.

The best I've ever felt in my life is when I was carrying you.

And next to your actual birth.

I've never known such a complete joy.

And I need to feel it again.

I'm sorry.

These are strange times, Henry.

How's that?

The traditional family is becoming obsolete.

Infertility is an epidemic.

In this country, one in every six couples are infertile. Did you know

I'll bet you didn't.

And here's a bigger question. Do you care?

Not at the moment. But keep talking.

If you say anything that's interesting, I'll let you know.

Science stepped in with in vitro and now embryo transplants.

The law has to step in to regulate surrogacy contracts.

In the simple days, man met woman.

They got married, raised families.

Those simple days are gone, Henry.

We're living in very strange times.

Maybe I'm just old -fashioned.

I'm not old -fashioned. I'm all for single parenthood. I'm all for you

pregnant, Lydia, but just not by him.

It's him or nothing. Then it's nothing, Lydia.

It's perverse for you to even want a child by him. It's sick.

Why? Why? She's asking me why.

Tell her.

No, you tell her, Jimmy, please. Go on, tell her.

Well, of course it's wrong, but...

That it is my child, that doesn't make it perverse.

You want her to have your baby? Of course not, but I just wouldn't go so

to say it's perverse.

First you say, go ahead, let her do it so that we don't submit the family to

this ordeal, and then you say... I think you're intrigued by the whole thing.

Oh, that's ridiculous.

That's ridiculous.

I'm intrigued.

I'm sorry, but the idea of a full sibling...

That makes me curious.

I mean, Matthew and Zach are only half -brothers, and sometimes I wonder...

and Matthew are your brothers.

By blood, they're not full brothers.

And sometimes I wonder what it would be like... Kimberly, I've never heard you

say anything like this before.

You've never asked.

I mean, can you imagine what it must have been like for me as a nine -year

sitting at the breakfast table, looking at them with their red hair, looking at

you?

Or the five -year -old watching you breastfeed Matthew.

I remember when you guys came home from the hospital with him.

And you would look in the crib and hold each other and say, look, we made a

baby.

Did you ever think maybe that I didn't feel like I belonged?

I've never heard this before.

You've never said anything like this before.

Mom, I was the child. You were the parent.

And really, the truth is, Dad, you never really liked to talk about anything.

And, Mom, you really never wanted to discuss this particular subject.

You didn't even want to acknowledge the existence of Lydia, let alone talk about

her.

I don't think that's true.

It is true.

The idea was that you were my mom, my only mom.

And Dad's past life was erased like it never happened.

I mean, we've never even talked about what it feels like to be adopted, which

basically what I am.

And you never wanted to talk about it either because you couldn't face the

that you gave me up.

Which is why you did.

I think we're getting a little off the track here.

No, we're not.

I never broached the subject.

I was afraid to get into... how I could just give you up.

Maybe that's what's going on here. Maybe you're seeking some kind of redemption

for having given up Kimberly.

I didn't even fight for you.

And I was your mother.

Every night when I go to bed, I pray that you weren't hurt.

You were, weren't you?

Yeah.

Clocks can't be turned back, Henry, biological or otherwise.

I think you lost sight of that.

You know something, Doug?

You've been sitting here for almost 90 minutes, and I haven't listened to a

you've said.

In fact, when I look away, I can almost pretend you're not here.

That doesn't surprise me, because you do the same thing when you're on the

bench. You like to pretend that things are how they used to be.

And they're not.

Families are different, and problems are different.

The Brucks come to you with a problem of the 90s that involves fertility and

sperm banks.

You sentence them to go home and be Ozzie, Harriet, and Aunt Bea.

The nuclear family isn't the same, and you don't have a clue. And you do.

I'm willing to admit maybe I don't.

When was the last time we were on the inside of a modern family conflict?

And what do we know about how a family should work?

Hey, hey, where are you going?

Kevin Quinn's house. He said we could sleep over. Oh, no, it's a school night.

don't think that you should... We don't want to stay here.

You think we can sleep listening to this?

You've been eavesdropping.

You think we could stay and not listen?

That's why we gotta go.

And when we come back, we hope you're not here.

We hate you.

Zachary Brock.

Every time she comes, you fight.

I wish you'd die.

Zachary, that's my mother.

Then go live with her.

We heard what you said, too.

You don't think we're your brothers.

I didn't say that.

Yes, you did.

You said you wondered what it'd be like to have a real brother.

We heard you.

Loud and clear.

That's not what I meant.

Right. All right, upstairs to your room now. Go on. We're going to come... No,

Matthew, you're going upstairs to your room now.

Go. When you close those doors, I don't want you listening.

Well, I hope you're happy.

And you, I hope you're very, very happy. Jill, of course I'm not happy.

Can't you get that? I've never raised a child. I just want a family.

I don't care.

I won't have you destroy mine.

Jill, Kimberly, would you excuse us, please?

If you had that child, you think I could just pretend it didn't belong to me? I

don't care about legal responsibilities. I'm talking about moral

responsibilities. How could I possibly have a child and not participate?

It's done.

All the time. Not by me.

It worked for you that way, Lydia, but not for me.

I gave you Kimberly because I knew you could give her the better home.

And the next child.

What if I felt I could provide the better home again?

I'd have to try, Lydia.

The essence of being a parent is giving a child the best life you can.

I've changed, Jimmy.

I could be a good parent now.

I really could.

All right.

We've all said things we regret.

You haven't said anything wrong. You haven't. And neither have you. And

it or not, neither have you.

Except maybe when you call the idea perverse. And I'll concede it is

The only thing said to be regretted came out of a ten -year -old who wished me

dead.

Dead.

He didn't mean that.

Well, partly he did. But you want to know what's really perverse about all

You people here, you're my family.

As ridiculous as that may sound, you're all I've got.

And I can't think of a better argument for my desperation.

Can either of you?

And it's in the spirit of that desperation of my wanting to make a

home.

That I've come to yours.

Look, Lydia, if we were to agree... Jimmy! Things aren't always black and

Jill. Truth is, we haven't even considered her request.

We at least owe her that, to consider it.

Why don't you consider it?

Excuse me?

Why don't you just sleep with her, Jimmy? You want to give her your sperm?

her a fresh batch. That way we can all be happy. How the hell can you consider

it? How can you ask me to consider it? You used to be married to her.

Why does this upset you more than it does me?

It would be my flesh and blood. I'm the one that's gonna... Then don't do it,

Jimmy. That would solve both of our problems. Just say no!

What's going on here?

I mean, I understand all the practical reasons against this, but there's

something else going on here. What is it?

It's unnatural for an ex -wife to come back and ask her spouse... Nobody's

arguing that. It's a preposterous thing she's asking.

There's no dispute there.

But when you know you're right, you don't get loud, and you certainly don't

erratic. Right now, you are both.

What is it?

Jimmy, you have nothing in common with that woman.

You don't have any shared interests.

There was no reason for you to marry her. There was none whatsoever.

It was pure passion that brought you two together.

Do you think that I can't see that?

It was pure passion.

What are you getting at? What I'm getting at is that I'm the sensible

I'm the one who would be a good mother, who would provide a stable home.

I don't doubt that you loved me then or that you love me now, but I've always

felt that I... I'm the practical compromise.

But Lydia... Oh, Lydia.

Lydia's the foolish choice. The one made out of passion.

The one made out of lust.

The one that maybe I wish that I...

Your sperm going into her, Jimmy, it's brought a lot of my insecurities to the

surface, that's all.

You think I don't have passion for you?

I fell in love the first five minutes of saying hello to you.

I risked my marriage, losing custody of my daughter because of that passion.

You made me the most crazy I have ever been.

It's only in hindsight that marrying you proved to be the most sensible thing I

have ever, ever done.

We've been a husband and wife for 16 years.

When are you going to be sure it's going to last?

It's going to last, Jill.

I can't imagine life or love

without you.

What's going on?

Well, he challenged me to see the inside of a family fight. I thought it was a

good idea.

Anybody been killed?

That's not funny.

Where are the prisoners?

My mother and father are in their bedroom, and I'm not sure where Lydia

Any progress been made?

Oh, yeah. Big progress.

Do you really want me dead?

Zachary?

If you have a baby with my father...

It'll wreck things.

What will it wreck, honey?

Things.

Kim won't love us as much.

Why would you say that?

Because then she'd have a real brother or sister.

Matthew and I are just halves.

She wouldn't love us as much if she had a real one.

That isn't true.

I was talking about genetics, Zach. That's all.

You two are my real brothers.

And nothing she could do could make me love you less.

We're not your full brothers, genetics -wise.

Well, genes don't matter that much.

See, Lydia gave birth to me, but she's not my mother.

At least she hasn't been since I was two.

And that's what she's looking for here, the chance to be a real full mother for

the first time.

Right?

Right.

What I don't get, though, is why it has to be my father's sperm.

Why do you need to get pregnant, even?

You want to raise a child, right? That's fine.

But giving birth doesn't make you a mother.

You should know that better than anyone.

I don't hear anything.

You say everybody's fighting. How come I don't hear anything? Maybe you're not

listening again. Shut up.

Anybody pregnant?

What are you doing here?

Henry wanted to see how real people live. Boy, did he pick the wrong house.

Will you please shut up? I break up at night.

What's going on?

Do I keep you under house arrest, or did you work it out?

Well, we didn't work anything out.

She still wants his sperm.

No, I don't.

I've changed my mind.

Why?

Reasons.

Two of them are upstairs, getting ready for bed. It, uh... It would be

disruptive to them.

Am I free to go?

The case is over.

You're free.

What do I... How do I get this thing off? Just go by the station. Maxine will

take it out for you. I'll call, let her know you're coming.

Okay.

Well, I'll be going.

Bye,

everyone.

I'll lock you to your car.

Is there anything to eat?

You okay?

Yeah. I'm sorry if that hurt, but my brothers really needed to hear it. I

I did too, I guess.

Lydia, why do you need to get pregnant?

I'm not sure.

Keep a secret?

Always.

You're going to college.

What?

Next fall, you'll leave the house.

What are you talking about?

You're my daughter, but you're becoming an adult.

And you'll leave the house.

And when you go, so goes my right to barge into your father's life.

Can you believe it?

Sixteen years later, and I still can't shake him.

I'm still in love with him.

That's what this is about?

Yeah.

On some level.

I do want a baby, and I would love to get pregnant, but part of me still...

Yeah.

Yeah, I think that's what's going on here.

I'm sorry, Kimmy, giving you up. That was partly because I loved you so much.

I know.

Yeah, well, I guess this is what happens when you skip therapy to try to get

your Christmas shopping done.

Uh, Lydia?

Do you think it would be okay if sometimes I call you mom?

Oh, yeah.

Yeah, I think I could handle that.

I do love you.

Yeah, I know. I thank God for that. I love you, too.

Okay, well, you better get back or you'll catch a cold and Phil will blame

Kimberly.

You take care.

Okay, you too.