All language subtitles for Bull.2016.S04E13.HDTV.x264-KILLERS

♪ Having my baby... ♪

Hey.

♪ How much you love me... ♪

It's slippery.
Watch your step.

You're good. I got you. I got you.
All right. - Okay, okay.

- Everything's in the bag?
- Yeah. Got it all. Got it all.

- Are you sure?
- Yep.

Oh, my God. Oh, my God.
Oh, my God.

All right, there you go.

We're close.

You're good.

All right.

You're almost there.
I can see the baby's head.

- I can't do this anymore.
- Yes, you can.

- You've got this, babe.
- No, I don't!

- Yes, you do.
- No.

Just listen to the doctor.
We're almost done.

Elisabeth.

Concentrate.

With the next contraction,
I need you to push

with all your might.
You do that,

and then you get
to meet your baby.

- That's what you said the last time.
- Okay.

Here we go.

It's a boy.

What's wrong?
Is something wrong?

Something wrong
with the baby?

No, no.
He's perfectly healthy.

Okay.

Oh, baby.

Miles, you're not,
you're not saying anything.

Why... why aren't you
saying anything?

Uh, he's beautiful.

It's just he's
brown.

What?

Oh, my God, Elisabeth,

he is so adorable.

He is, isn't he?

How's Miles holding up?

Miles is having
a tough time.

I mean, he loves him.

But he's...

It's been difficult
with his family.

The guys at work.

You probably noticed
we didn't put Joseph's picture

on the birth announcement.

We didn't even
talk about it.

I just showed him a card
without a picture, and he went,

"Yeah, that's great."

Sorry.

I brought him
to school,

showed him to
my second graders last week.

What an age.

Yeah, nobody asks questions,
nobody judges.

They just want to know
if he can have candy yet.

- Yes, you.
- Oh.

Yes, you.

Oh, my love.

Thanks so much
for coming.

I know I sort of

fell off the face of the Earth
there for a while.

No, I was thrilled
when you called.

I was thrilled
when you said yes.

But... I have
an ulterior motive.

Okay.

You've probably figured
this out already,

but little Joseph here,

he didn't happen
without some help.

I know you know Miles and I
were trying for years;

finally started doing
the fertility clinic thing.

Lots of almosts, couple
of outright failures, too.

And of course,
one fantastic,

thrilling success.

Unfortunately, in the process
of arriving at that success,

the clinic,
apparently, mistakenly,

used... another patient's sperm.

I-I called because
I remembered

you work at
a law firm now.

Well, actually,
it's a trial science firm.

But there are lawyers
there, right?

Yes. There are lawyers.

Good. 'Cause I need one.

I just want to be clear.

I love my son.

I thank God every
day for my son.

And we are both incredibly
grateful for this gift.

Duly noted.

So...

..what is it you want
to achieve by suing the clinic?

Well, first and foremost,
we want to make sure

this doesn't happen
to anyone else.

I mean... our son
has a stranger's DNA.

We-we really feel like
we're in a blind spot

regarding so many things:
I mean, medical history,

intellectual aptitudes,
social challenges.

We're not
wealthy people.

I work in
construction,

my wife's a second
grade teacher.

All right, for six years,
we poured every cent we had

in trying to
get pregnant.

Took out loans.

We're in debt
up to our eyeballs.

And we did it

all so we
could have a child together.

T-Together.

You know what I mean.

So,

in addition to putting
the clinic on notice

so it cleans up its act

and doesn't make
this kind of mistake again,

you also want to recover
some of the costs

associated
with your treatments,

because, while you are thrilled
to have baby Joseph,

it was not the outcome
you were promised.

Exactly.

I have to warn you

that reproductive negligence
cases can be very tricky.

Juries have a hard time
ruling in the plaintiff's favor

when they've walked away

with a healthy baby.

Well, let's not
get ahead of ourselves.

I don't know that this is
necessarily ever gonna see

the inside of a courtroom.

Let me call the clinic
on your behalf,

see if we can't get
their lawyers over here

and... figure this out
the old-fashioned way:

across a table,
with lots of coffee

and some bathroom breaks.

You keep wanting to look past

the fact that my clients
have clear evidence.

I'm not looking
past anything.

The clinic has already
admitted fault here.

They've tightened up

their practices
and added

new security safeguards.

They've sent letters
to all of their clients

informing them
of this incident.

And now they're offering
free DNA testing

to any new parents
who worry

that they may also be
victims of this mishap.

Which is all well and good
for the clinic,

but we're here to try
and help the McConnells.

Of course.

And after much consideration
and conversation,

the clinic would like
to offer the McConnells

their sincerest apology
and a check for $40,000

as reimbursement
for the round of IVF

that didn't
follow protocol.

I'm sorry, but that
number doesn't even begin

to take into account that
this "round of IVF"

that did not follow protocol
resulted in a child

that does not share
Miles McConnell's DNA,

and could be prone to a host
of genetic anomalies

that my clients
are not prepared for,

an outcome for which
they paid over $400,000.

Or we could just go to court.

But let's be honest.

We all know the clinic
doesn't want this to become

an ugly public trial.

Win, lose or draw,

it's gonna irreparably tarnish
their reputation.

And most likely,
kill their business.

Give me a number.

I would say reimbursing
the McConnells

their entire $400,000

and adding another 400,000
for pain and suffering

would be a fair number,
wouldn't you?

I'm not authorized
to go above 400,000.

Well, then, we have a problem,

because I'm not authorized
to accept less than a million.

Wait a second.
You just said 800,000.

Yes. That was
two minutes ago.

And now
I said a million.

And in another two minutes,
I'm gonna say a million five.

Are you sensing
the pattern here?

Let me make a call.

You make a call.

Uh, f-four hundred thousand
would honestly plenty.

That doesn't even get you out
of the financial hole you're in.

B-But it helps. I mean,
we should just take it.

Yeah.

Benny, would you explain
to our clients

how the game is played?

Mm.
You know the only thing better

than a six-figure settlement?

A million dollars.

I... I don't think
my brain can count that high.

Taylor, thank you.

And thank you both.

It's our pleasure.

Oh, any friends of Taylor's
are friends of ours.

Are you Miles?
Miles McConnell?

Yeah, maybe.
Who's asking?

You've been served.

What is it?

Mind if I take a look at it?

It's a paternity petition

from a man named
Roderick Walton.

Okay, what does this mean?

It means he believes

he's your son's
biological father,

and he's suing you
for custody.

*BULL (2016)*
Season 04 Episode 13

*BULL (2016)*
Episode Title: "Child of Mine"

All rise.

In the matter of
Walton v. McConnell,

in light of the recent
paternity test,

there can be no doubt
that Mr. Roderick Walton

is indeed the biological father

of Joseph Patrick McConnell.

Therefore,

Mr. Walton does have
a legal claim to the child.

I have to say
I have never encountered

a situation like this before.

Under the circumstances,

it would be my strenuous
recommendation that both parties

and their counsel
meet with me

in chambers
to discuss

a joint custody resolution.

Your Honor,
just to be clear,

as the only parents
this child has ever known,

the McConnells believe
it is their right and duty

to retain
sole custody.

Your Honor, also in
the interest of clarity,

my clients believe
it is their right

and their duty to demand
full custody as well.

I beg your pardon, but
I gave birth to this baby.

Benny's got this. It's okay.

Your Honor, my client,

Elisabeth McConnell,
carried Joseph for nine months.

They shared a heartbeat.
She birthed him.

She's been nursing him

- since the day he was born.
- Your Honor,

my wife and I wish

we had had all of
those experiences.

The pregnancy,
the birth,

the months of sleepless
unconditional love.

But Samara and I didn't
even know we had a son

until last week.

And I'll be damned if
we're going to be enjoined

from missing any
more of his life.

Your Honor,
if can just finish what...

Mr. and Mrs. Walton,
do you have any other children?

No, Your Honor. No.

Roderick and I have tried
for years to conceive.

We've had 12 rounds
of in-vitro fertilization.

I've suffered miscarriage
after miscarriage.

It was soul crushing.

So when we discovered

that there was a baby
in this world

that is
biologically Roderick's,

we knew that
we had to raise him.

And I need
to ask you this again:

You would not be willing

to entertain
a split custody arrangement?

No offense to
the McConnells,

but they're complete
strangers to us.

This is my son.

And we have no desire to raise
him with complete strangers.

Since both sides are refusing
to entertain a resolution,

I'm forced to schedule
a custody hearing.

In addition, I'm going to
appoint a guardian ad litem

to investigate both
sets of parents.

That guardian,
Michele Downey,

will then issue a recommendation

regarding what would be in
the best interest of the child.

For now, the McConnells
will retain custody...

..but I'm granting
Mr. Walton

temporary
court-monitored visitation

for one hour a day.

If it please the court,

my client is requesting, uh,
the first visitation be today.

Well, since Ms. Downey
is already on the premises,

I don't see why not.

Why didn't you fight harder
in there?

Visitation in-in
five minutes?

How in God's name can I be
expected to hand my child over

to a s... complete stranger?

He needs to eat soon,

and he just doesn't take
a bottle from anyone.

Can we go back
and appeal it?

In custody cases,
there is no jury.

It's all about the judge.
She has the final say.

She has the only say.

Trust me,

that judge is focusing
on each party's reasonableness

and willingness
to follow court orders.

It would just be
a huge mistake

to use our capital
trying to appeal

the very first thing
the judge made a decision on.

We need to play
the long game here.

And you need to be
as cordial as possible

going into this visitation.

Don't even think

about trying to manipulate your
son into not liking Roderick.

Don't try
and squeeze him too tight

or cue him to be scared
in any way.

The guardian ad litem
is gonna be watching you

very closely,

and you don't want her to think
that you are trying to sway

your child emotionally.

I promise you,
they will hold that against you.

You have my word, you'll have
your baby back in an hour.

It's, uh, it's his feeding time,
so he might be a little fussy.

Hey.
Yeah.

It helps
if you angle it.

Got it. Thank you.

Hey, Joseph.

Hey, it's me. Huh?

It's your daddy. Huh?

God.

Hey.

Hey.

Ms. Downey,

I understand you did
an extensive investigation

into both sets
of parents.

I did, Your Honor.

And what can you tell me?

So the judge
can ask questions?

Any time she wants.
Remember, there's no jury.

She's the whole
ball of wax.

I feel I have a clear sense

of both the McConnells
and the Waltons.

I'll be honest,
this is a difficult situation.

I believe both couples
are good people

and would be
fit parents,

but since both families
are fighting for sole custody,

it falls to me
to make an assessment

based on who's better
for the baby long-term.

And have you come
to a conclusion?

I have.

I have taken lots of factors
into consideration, Your Honor.

Uh, we use a combination of
criteria to make this decision.

The primary three are

the parents'
emotional stability,

the parents' physical ability
to raise the child,

and the parents'
employment history

and financial ability
to care for the child.

With regards to the
first two criteria,

the two families are clearly
both more than up to the task.

That leaves us

with the third criteria.

These are photos of the nursery
the Waltons have set up

in their home in anticipation
of Joseph's arrival.

And here are photos
of the McConnells'

one-bedroom apartment
and the current accommodations

they've set up
for baby Joseph.

As you can see,
at the present time,

parents and child
share a single bedroom.

Uh, in and of itself,
not at all

an unusual
or undesirable arrangement,

particularly
at Joseph's young age.

With regard
to the child's education,

the Walton family has already
secured Joseph a spot

at the prestigious
Hurstview Academy,

while at
the present time,

the McConnells
have not yet explored

educational possibilities
for Joseph

outside the public school
options in their neighborhood.

Again, in and of itself,
not at all an unusual

or unexpected answer
given Joseph's young age.

Are we gonna be
okay here?

- Any questions for the guardian?
- Yes, Your Honor.

Uh, Ms. Downey, I'm curious,

are you familiar with
the studies that have been done

on reactive
attachment disorder?

Uh, studies that were conducted
to determine the effects

on an infant child
when it is ripped

from its primary caregivers
during its first year of life?

Yes. I am very aware
of those studies.

I'm also aware of studies
that demonstrate

that when an infant is placed
in a loving, stable home,

the likelihood
of the child experiencing

reactive attachment disorder
is slim to none.

This woman is not
on our side.

But at the very least,

you would concede that it can be
a stressor on the child,

can it not?

I know that one of the biggest
stressors on a family

and a child is whether or not

the parents
are financially stable.

And the fact is the McConnells'
financial situation

over the past ten years

has been, well,
uncertain at best.

In fact,
just two months ago,

they were over half
a million dollars in debt.

They had to borrow money
for diapers

and an antibiotic
for the child.

It was only
their recent settlement

with the fertility clinic
that pulled them out

of their dire financial straits.

Be that as it may, Ms. Downey,
I hope you're not poised

to make judgement
based simply on the fact

that one family
has more money than the other.

Mr. Colón, let's not argue over

the guardian's judgment
until she renders one.

And with that in mind,

Ms. Downey,

are you prepared
to make a recommendation?

Honestly, I cannot say

either family is unfit.

But if forced

to make a recommendation
between the two,

I would recommend the Waltons.

It's okay.
We're not done.

It's not over.

Why are you seeking
full custody of your son?

My son is currently
a three-month-old baby.

But in the blink
of an eye,

he'll be a six-year-old boy.

And one day, he'll be
a 16-year-old young black man.

And that
young black man

is going to need someone
who knows how to guide him.

Someone to give him "the talk."

Someone who knows
how to show him

exactly what to do with his
hands when he gets pulled over.

Someone to bring him into the
police station and introduce him

to the local police
so they know his name.

Do the McConnells know
they need to do that?

Do they even know how

to do that?

I doubt it.

Objection.

Your Honor, this is
an unfair and misleading

characterization.

Mr. Walton, I need you

to stick to facts.

Yes, Your Honor.

The reality is

this child is going to have
a piece of his identity

that he wears.

All the time.
There's no hiding it.

And as much
as we'd like to believe

this world is color-blind, we
all know that just isn't true.

What is true is that this world

is a complicated place

for a biracial child,
a biracial teen.

A biracial man.

It's tough
to find your way.

And Joseph is going to need
his biological father

to help him navigate.
He just is.

Do you have anything else

you want to share
with the court?

I would like

the court to know

that I was raised
by a strong, loving father.

As was my father
before me.

And I'll be damned if I am
going to turn my back on my son

and perpetuate the stereotype
of the absentee black father.

I have no further questions
for this witness.

Good morning, Mr. Walton.

Now, yesterday
we heard all about

your impressive success
in the business world,

your considerable
financial resources.

But that must come at a cost,
does it not?

I suppose everything
comes at a cost.

How many hours a week

would you estimate
that you and your wife work?

If I had to put a number on it,
I'd say probably 60 hours.

Each? Yes.

Again, that's
an approximation.

A lot of that work happens at
home on laptops and telephones.

Mm. And do you work
on the weekends?

Sometimes.

Your Honor, I can assure you,
that will change

once we have
custody of our son.

Mm. Will it, though?

Isn't it true

that you've already begun
interviewing nannies?

Night nurses?
Weekend nannies?

Just because my
wife and I work long hours,

that doesn't mean we aren't
going to be hands-on parents.

That's how my parents raised me,
and I was all the better for it.

I learned the value
of a strong work ethic.

The value of a job well done.

Maybe so,

but... it's feeling like

you're preparing
to outsource your parenting,

when this child already has two

wonderful,
loving, hands-on,

full-time parents.

Miles and Elisabeth McConnell.

Two parents who don't understand
the first thing

about raising a black child.

Might I point
out, Mr. Walton,

that white parents
successfully raise black

and biracial children
all the time.

That's your opinion, sir.

I have no further questions,
Your Honor.

What do you think?

Reading a judge isn't the same
as reading a jury,

but, while Mr. Walton
was a compelling witness,

I think he did himself
as much harm as good.

They rested their case.
It's our turn now.

You still want to stick
with the plan?

Call Elisabeth as
our first witness?

No.

I think we need
to remind the judge

that this baby
already has a father.

Those first moments
in the delivery room,

when you realized
you probably didn't

share DNA with your son,

how did you respond?

I was shocked.
I was surprised.

When I was
holding Joseph,

and the way
he was looking at me,

his helplessness...

At that point, I stopped
thinking about DNA,

biology, all that.

I just thought,
"I'm gonna make the best life

"I possibly can for you,

because I'm your father,
and you're my child."

I know it's

a hokey expression,
but I really do believe

God doesn't throw you
more than you can handle.

So you went
about doing that?

Making the best life
for your son?

I'm sure trying.

He's got colic, you know,

so we're up a
lot of nights.

But no matter
how tired I get,

once he finally finds
his way to sleep,

I stay up a little while
longer and just watch

and smile.

Because he's mine.

I don't know.
It's, uh...

It's the way he looks at me
first thing in the morning.

Yeah, it's...

He knows who I am.

It's got nothing
to do with DNA.

He knows
he can count on me.

He knows I'm Dad.

Nothing further, Your Honor.

He was a good witness,
wasn't he?

So far.

Mr. McConnell,

can you tell the court
where you were last Tuesday

at 4:00 p.m.?

You know where
this is going?

It's nothing.

I had an appointment.

Would you tell the court
what kind of appointment?

A doctor's appointment.

What kind of doctor,
Mr. McConnell?

Objection, Your Honor.

Counselor's badgering
the witness.

Your Honor, there's a point
to this line of questioning,

if the court would just afford
me a little more latitude.

Objection overruled.

The witness will answer
the question.

A therapist.

A behavioral therapist.
A psychologist.

They must have hired a private
detective to follow him.

Are you sure there's
nothing I need to know?

- No. It's all good.
- And may I ask

how long you've been
seeing this therapist?

Almost four years.

And can you
tell the court

what compelled you to
seek the services of a therapist?

Your Honor, counsel is on

a fishing expedition here.

A, we were unaware of any effort
on the plaintiff's part

to request my client's
private psychiatric records;

and, B, seeking the services
of a licensed therapist

is something millions of people,

many of them parents,
do day in and day out.

Counselor,

I need you
to ask a question

that ties
Mr. McConnell's therapy

to the questions
at hand here today,

or change your line
of questioning.

Of course, Your Honor.
I-I understand, Your Honor.

Uh, but I do have
one last question

that might make it apparent

why I'm going
down this road.

Mr. McConnell,
isn't it true that

the therapist
you're working with is one

that specializes in issues
involving anger management

and temper control?

Yes.

Now I'm curious.

Is this an issue for you
in your life?

Your Honor, I sought treatment

when we started trying
to have a baby.

May I ask why?

Growing up, my house
wasn't always...

I don't know... my father
could be great some days.

Sometimes his temper
got the best of him.

And are we talking
about verbal abuse?

Yelling, screaming,
abusive language?

Not just that.

So, physical abuse.

Sometimes, yeah.

Towards you?

Your mother,
your siblings?

Everyone in the house.

So I wanted to talk to someone

so I could be better
for my children.

I didn't want the cycle
to continue.

And did you have a reason
to think that it might?

I guess I-I just didn't want
the cycle to continue.

I'd never been
a father before.

I didn't know
what to expect.

- I wanted to get ahead of it.
- Your Honor,

the fact that Mr. McConnell
was proactive

out of an abundance
of caution means that

he is a thoughtful, careful
and concerned father,

not a dangerous one.

I'm inclined to agree.

- Are we through with this subject?
- Not quite.

Mr. McConnell, have you ever
broken anything in anger?

Sure. I suppose.
Who hasn't?

Have you ever
yelled at a colleague,

- - a neighbor, family member?
- Objection.

Your Honor, counsel has
her fishing pole back out,

in addition to
badgering the witness.

Let's get to the point.

Have you ever been asked
to leave a bar

because you got in a fight?

Mr. McConnell?

Once.

A long time ago,
when I was in college.

Ever punch a hole in a wall?

Your Honor, objection.

What Mr. McConnell did
or did not do in college

has little to do
with his ability to parent.

If we were all judged

- by what we did...
- Overruled, Mr. Colón.

Mr. McConnell,
please answer the question.

Mr. McConnell,
I'm waiting for an answer.

Have you ever punched
a hole in a wall?

I was 16.

I'm a different
person now.

I have worked on myself

so I am not the
father that I had.

I-I have worked on myself so
that this is never an issue.

And are we just supposed

to take your word for that?

There's an infant's well-being
at stake here.

You admit that you grew up
in an abusive household.

You admit you're worried

about continuing
the cycle of abuse.

Shouldn't we be worried, too?

Your Honor,

is this really someone we should
be awarding custody to?

Good morning.

Can I get you
anything?

My baby.

Look, uh, I know this is
a pretty difficult time.

What are you hearing?

- It's not looking good, is it?
- Okay.

We need to get
a few things straight.

Okay?

Testifying in a court of law,

testifying like
you're gonna do tomorrow...

It's a lot like

riding a bike
on a winding road.

You keep looking back,
you're destined to falter.

We need you

looking forward,

eyes on where we're going
and what we want.

Divorce papers.

Elisabeth,
you filed for divorce?

Y-Yeah, a while ago.

Why wouldn't you tell us
something like this?

Why wouldn't you
tell mesomething like this?

How'd you find out?

It's a matter of public record.

Really? Wow.

I-I mean, it's not like
I went through with it.

I pulled those forms less than
an hour after I filed them.

Miles doesn't even know.

I-I was going through
a crazy time, emotionally.

D-Do you think
the other side knows?

If the other side found out
about your husband

seeing a therapist,

then they definitely
know about this.

We need to talk to Bull
and Benny so that we can

all figure out how we're
gonna get ahead of this.

And before
any of that happens,

you need to tell your husband;
you need to tell Miles.

This is not something
you want him to hear about

for the first time in court.

I've always wanted
to be a mother, and Miles has

always wanted
to be a father.

It's just always been
part of the plan.

That's why we never gave up.

Even after all
the disappointments.

And then suddenly it takes,

and I'm pregnant again.

Two months, three months,
and I'm-I'm still carrying him.

Ultrasounds and
listening to heartbeats,

and I'm-I'm still carrying him.

Seven months,
eight months,

and-and they keep telling me
that he's healthy,

that-that I'm healthy.

And I-I keep waiting
for a pain,

for something to go wrong
in the middle of the night,

but... but it doesn't.

And then

they wheel me into
that delivery room,

and I realize...

I'm about to give birth.

Oh, my God.

And he's perfect.

Better than perfect.

And he's ours.

Mrs. McConnell,

did you file divorce papers
a year ago?

I sure did.

Filed in one
Tuesday afternoon

at 2:00, asked if
I could have them back

so I could rip them up
a little before 3:00.

Sounds a little irrational.

"Little" is kind.

IVF, you know.

I'd been taking hormones on
and off for years at that point.

I-I wasn't myself.

Things had become
tense and stressful at home.

We were going broke
trying to get pregnant.

I actually began to wonder
if maybe Miles

would be better off
with someone else.

Someone who could
give him children.

Thank you.

No further questions,
Your Honor.

These divorce papers...

How long ago
did you say they were filed?

About a year ago,
maybe 13 months now.

You know, it sounds like,
uh, you filed them

just before you found out
you were pregnant.

Yes. It all seemed
to happen at once.

Also sounds like maybe
you withdrew the papers

when you found out
you were pregnant.

No. Like I said, I withdrew them

not even an hour
after I filed them.

Do you remember the date?

I do. I'll bet you do.

Because according
to your medical records,

it was the exact same date
the clinic called

to tell you your test
was positive, you were pregnant.

Yeah... Well, I mean,

yes, but that was
purely coincidence.

I mean, I-I withdrew them first,
same day I filed them,

like I said, and then when
I got home that evening,

the clinic called with the news.

And are you sure
that was the order of events?

Definitely. So it's not as if

you found out you were pregnant

and thought the baby
would save your marriage?

Objection, Your Honor.
Asked and answered.

Objection sustained.
Ask another question,

Ms. Taylor.

Mrs. McConnell, are you sure
you're not fighting

for this baby because
you fear your marriage

won't survive
without him?

I'm fighting for my baby
because I love him,

because Ican't survive
without him.

Thank you for your honesty.

But this hearing
is about the baby's well-being,

not yours.

I have no further
questions,

Your Honor.

Yeah?

Bull, are you awake?
It's Danny.

Um... what's going on?

Okay, well,

you can't ask me
how I got ahold of them,

which means you can't use
what I'm about to tell you

as evidence,
but I was able to get a peek

at the Waltons'
medical records, both his

- and hers.
- Yeah?

And Samara...

Samara had ovarian cancer
last year.

It's in remission now,

but obviously it could
come back at any time.

Bull?

Yeah?

One other thing.

As a result of her illness,
she has no eggs,

and it would be impossible
for her to get pregnant, ever.

Ah, Mrs. McConnell.
Mr. McConnell.

Uh, if you would
sit here.

Thank you all for coming.

I received a phone call
last night

about Mrs. Walton's
medical history.

And while she is in fine health
at the moment,

18 months ago,
things were far more dire.

Again,

she has a clean bill
of health today,

but the often fatal disease
she rallied against

often recurs.

Now, I could subpoena
her medical history,

get her doctors on the stand,

get medical professionals
to talk about

the possibility
of this disease recurring,

but I don't want
to do that.

Truth is, even
with all that,

this case could go either way,
and the judge,

whatever decision she makes...

..at least one family
is going to be heartbroken.

So...

I'd like to propose
a different solution.

We know the combination
of Roderick's sperm

and Elisabeth's egg created
a beautiful, healthy baby boy.

Let's just do it again.

You can't be serious.

Oh, yes, I am.

Samara,

your disease left you with
no eggs to fertilize, right?

So if Elisabeth

was to donate
an egg...

Wait, wait, wait, wait.

This is not why we're here.
This is not what we came for.

Hold on.

You want me to donate one
of my eggs to the Waltons?

I'm suggesting a way

that might give everyone
what they want.

But why would I ever agree
to have a child of mine

out in the world without me
being able to raise him or her?

Exactly why we're here.

That's the way we feel
about Joseph.

And what if

you didn't shut each other out
of either child's life?

Each family
raises a child

of their own, and
that child would know

that there were other
people out there

who loved him or her.

Better than a grandparent,

another parent,
and a brother

or sister who, otherwise,
wouldn't be there.

Now, I am not naive.

I know that this is not gonna be
easy, but the upside...

...the upside

is so damn high up there...

...it's almost unimaginable.

Now, look, if this hearing
has proven anything, it's that

none of you are perfect.

But you are all
loving, caring, good people,

and you all want
what's best for Joseph.

So why couldn't
that be the love

of four imperfect people?

And a sibling to go through
the journey of life with?

Your Honor,

before you render a decision,
my client would

very much like
to address the court.

If the Waltons
have no objection?

We do not, Your Honor.

Mrs. McConnell?

Your Honor.

Um, before you render
a decision,

I think we've all collectively

come to a realization.

I-I know I have.

I can finally see
why the Waltons

felt the need
to file for custody.

It's clear to me...
Clear to us...

That they're doing
what they're doing

out of enormous love
for Joseph.

I don't know
how to ask someone...

Order someone
to stop loving a child

who's at least
partially theirs.

I'm not sure I know
where we're going.

What I'm proposing...
Uh, what we're all proposing...

And, uh, really
it's Dr. Bull's idea...

Is that, in-in return

for the Waltons withdrawing
their custody suit,

I'm prepared to donate
one of my eggs

so that Roderick
and Samara

might have a child
of their own.

Wow.

Are you on board with this?

We are, Your Honor.

We think it's
a very kind, generous...

incredible offer.

In addition, we would work out
a visitation agreement,

so Joseph could know
all four of his parents.

And likewise,

should the Waltons have a child
that Elisabeth helped conceive,

we pledge to work out a similar
agreement for that child.

Samara and I
have agreed

to provide child
support as well.

We want Joseph
to always know

we'll be there for him
in any way he needs.

Just to be clear,

does this mean
you're withdrawing

your petition for custody?

Yes, Your Honor.

Counselor,

looks like we've got a
few things to figure out.

We certainly do.

I'll give you a call
in the morning. That'd be terrific.

And, uh, that reminds me,

we need to set up a time
and a place for tomorrow's visitation.

Oh, I don't know,
maybe the four of us

could work out the
details over dinner?

Excuse me?

Would you guys like to join us
and Joseph for some dinner?

We'd love to.

Taylor?

Oh, I don't know.

Seems to me like
a dinner for new friends.

I'll get you next time.

Shall we?

What do you think?

Did we do a good thing?

I hope so.

Did we do the right thing?

I think so.

Did we do the best we could?

Yeah,
we did the best we could.

Now we just have to wait
20 or so years

to find out what Joseph thinks.

Captioned by Media Access
Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org

Sync & corrections by srjanapala