Original subtitles

[door opens]

‐What's the emergency? ‐She won't say.

She wants to tell both of us and Kimberly.

But she just shows up unannounced, something's up.

Well, Lydia, what a surprise.

Okay, he's here. Tell us.

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?

[Lydia] I'm fine.

My health is fine...

with one exception.

I can't get pregnant.

[scoffs]

Do you want to get pregnant?

[Lydia] I've been trying for three years.

And after a zillion fertility experts...

I won't bore you with medical diagnosis 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 a 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?

‐[sighs] ‐Lydia, go on.

[Lydia] Anyway...

Obviously, Jimmy, by some stroke of fate,

you are one in a hundred thousand,

‐And‐‐ ‐You 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.

[scoffs] 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‐it's‐it's not as if you have to do anything.

What do 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 mumps 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. ‐[sighs]

You have to think about it?

[Lydia] 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.

[theme music playing]

[theme music ends]

‐[Jill] Well... ‐[Jimmy sighs]

[scoffs] There's... 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? ‐[scoffs] No, I can't.

Can you, Kimberly?

Well, I guess not.

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

You couldn't be.

I know, 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...

I'm not.

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

It's not gonna happen. No way.

Fine. It's your decision.

[playing piano]

[stops playing piano]

I think they're waiting for you.

And I think I know the answer.

‐You're surprised? ‐No.

I guess I hoped I would be.

So, unanimous decision?

Actually, two to nothing and one abstention.

Well, it's sensible, I guess...

I guess it would have upset Matthew and Zack anyways, so...

I expected it.

Matthew and Zack... and me.

I think we could've handled it.

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

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

‐It's just‐‐ ‐This would bring havoc on our family, Lydia.

Jill, you would never hear from me.

I promise you. We would not disrupt‐‐

You're my husband's ex‐wife.

I'm, uh, not gonna lie to you, this...

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...

‐Well, I don't‐‐ ‐I'm sorry, the answer is no.

[Jill] What?

Why are you looking like that?

Uh... I'm sorry, but...

Uh... the answer is not no.

‐[sighs] ‐What?

This is just too important.

And I... I do not mean to disrupt‐‐

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.

Are you crazy?

Maybe.

[sighs] Look, you guys, when I came here,

I fully excepted to go along with whatever you decided,

but I just can't.

And Kimberly told me that she and the boys could handle it

so why can't the two 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 cant help you.

[sighs] There's got to be a law.

She can't 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.

I mean, there's no lawyer Henry Bone respects more than you.

This does affect public policy!

You've gotten into this ring before, why won't you go in with me?

What are you looking for?

[Littleton] Simply a restraining order.

Enjoining Lydia Brock from using the sperm to impregnate herself.

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

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

Certainly keeping with public policies‐‐

Don't tell me you started without me.

‐[sighs] ‐My feelings are very hurt.

What do you want?

Douglas Wambaugh representing the ultimate ex‐wife, Your Honor.

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

[Littleton] The law protects an individual's right not to procreate.

‐And my client‐‐ ‐The law is not absolute.

It's very muddy.

Maybe you can make another of your horrible rulings, Henry,

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

‐Shut up. ‐Ah. There we go.

It's official.

I happen to know the law on this, Judge.

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

Now you are supposed to balance

the competing interest 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. ‐[Henry] All right.

Mr. Wambaugh's correct on the legal standard.

In the absence of a written agreement...

I must balance the interest 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. Wambaugh,

we'll put your client in the chair.

Three o'clock this afternoon.

‐Until then‐‐ ‐Everybody, get out.

The Little Helper strikes again.

[Jimmy] 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?

Yes, and do not talk about financial hardship, all right?

She stripped you that by assuming responsibility.

Your whole argument lies in emotion.

[sighs] How can this be happening?

Lydia went to Wambaugh 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's Mr. Seed to put in her Mrs. Eggs

so she can make a baby?

Yes, and it's probably gonna be in the papers.

So I wanted you to hear about it from me first.

‐And you've got to go to court to prevent this? ‐Mmm‐hmm.

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

What if you lose?

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...

[sighs]

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.

[Douglas] It's an emotional thing, I know.

But suppose it was okay with Zack, Matthew and Kimberly,

would that make a difference?

Maybe I should subpoena them and see what they think.

No. I don't care what they think.

I have rights. 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.

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

‐[Douglas] 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.

‐[sighs] ‐Part of me agrees with her.

What?

Jimmy, fertility...

it goes right to the core of a woman, you have no idea.

[sighs]

That doesn't mean that I...

Look, woman 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?

[sighs] I don't appreciate you 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.

[Matthew] Hi, Mom.

Oh, hi. What are you guys doing here?

We came to see if we're gonna get a new half‐brother.

Oh, please, go home.

[Matthew] This affects us.

Mr. Wambaugh says it could screw up ...

the new kid can have a 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 got 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.

Well...

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?

[Henry] You wanna 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 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 lives.

I'm sick of being forced to do it

because of parents and children and spouses

are 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!

[Jimmy sighs]

Can he really do this?

‐He's the judge. ‐Yeah.

[Jill] This is humiliating!

If he thinks anything's gonna come of this, he's too 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.

‐[loud shrieking noise] ‐[Max] 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.

Uh, Jill, could we go in and talk, please?

Kimberly and Lydia, would 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... [sighs]

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 gonna go in the kitchen and see if I can rustle up something for her to choke on.

[dishes clattering]

[Zack] Well, let's get things started.

We got a lot of ground to cover.

If you're finished, you can cover the ground in your room.

You, too, Matthew.

‐We wanna be part of the discussion. ‐I'm sorry but you can't.

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.

It's gonna be a grown‐up discussion here.

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

‐I'll never settle. ‐Go.

‐Go! ‐[Jill] 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. [clears throat]

All right, the judge has ordered us to talk. So... let's talk.

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

[scoffs] 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 100,000‐‐

And since I am 48,

I really don't have the time to sample the number of men you assume I already have.

Look, both of you, if we are gonna get through this...

let's drop the attitude.

Why is your name still Brock?

I beg your pardon?

Your marriage ended 16 years ago.

That's a 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 seem to carry any relevance for you then. Why now?

[Jill] 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 Brock because my daughter's last name is Brock.

If you cared anything about Kimberly, 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 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 your actual birth...

I've never known such complete joy.

And I need to feel it again.

I'm sorry. [sighs]

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 that? 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 steps 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... I'm all for single parenthood.

I'm all for you getting pregnant, Lydia.

But just not by him.

It's him or nothing‐‐

Well, 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? ‐[Jimmy sighs]

‐Tell her. ‐No, you tell her, Jimmy.

Please, go on. Tell her.

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

If that 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 far as to say it's perverse.

[Jill] 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 Zack are only half‐brothers and sometimes I wonder‐‐

Zack 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 9‐year old

sitting at the breakfast table

looking at them with their red hair and looking at you?

Or as a 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. [sighs]

Uh‐‐ 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 talk about what it feels like to be adopted

which is basically what I am.

And you never wanted to talk about it either because

you couldn't face the fact that you gave me up.

Which is what you did.

All right, we're getting a little off the track here.

No, we're not.

I never broached this subject.

I was afraid to get into that.

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...

I prayed that you weren't hurt.

But you were, weren't you?

[sighs] 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 word you said.

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

That doesn't surprise me 'cause 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 Brocks come to with a problem of the '90's

that involves fertility and sperm banks...

you sentenced them to go home and be Ozzie, Harriet and Aunt B.

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 you going? ‐Kevin Quinn's house.

‐You said we could sleep over. ‐Oh, no.

It's a school night. I don't think‐‐

We don't wanna stay here. You think we can sleep listening to this?

‐You been eavesdropping? ‐[Matthew] You think we can 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 she'd die.

[Kimberly] 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. ‐[Matthew] 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‐‐ That's not what I meant.

‐Right. ‐[Jill] All right, upstairs, to your room now.

‐Go on. No! ‐We're going to Kevin‐‐

Matthew, you're going upstairs to your room.

‐Now. ‐[Jimmy] Go.

And 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!

‐[door closes] ‐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?

And 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, so‐‐

‐You haven't said anything wrong. ‐Lydia, please.

You haven't. And neither have you.

And believe it or not, neither have you.

Except maybe when you called the idea perverse‐‐

And I'll concede, it is arguable.

The only thing said to be regretted

came out of a 10‐year‐old who wished me dead.

[chuckles] Dead.

He... He didn't mean that.

[Lydia] Well, partly he did.

But you wanna know what's really perverse about all this?

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...

it's in the spirit of that desperation

of my wanting to make a family in my home...

that I've come to yours.

[Jimmy] Um, look, Lydia...

if we were to agree...

‐[Jill] Jimmy! ‐Things aren't always black and white, 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.

[Jill sighs]

Why don't you just sleep with her, Jimmy?

You wanna give her your sperm? Give her a fresh batch.

‐That way we can all‐‐ ‐Jill.

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‐‐

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 your 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?

I don't...

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 am the sensible choice.

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... 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,

has brought a lot of my insecurities to the surface.

That's all.

[Jimmy inhales through teeth]

You think I don't have passion for you?

I fell in love in 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 husband and wife for 16 years.

When are you gonna be sure it's gonna last?

‐I don't know ‐[chuckles]

It's gonna last, Jill.

[Jill chuckles, sniffles]

I can't imagine a life...

or love without you.

[knock on door]

[Kimberly] What's going on?

Well, he challenged me to see the inside of a family fight.

I, uh... I thought it was a good idea.

‐[Kimberly chuckles] ‐Anybody been killed?

‐That's not funny. ‐Where are the prisoners?

[sighs] My mother and father are in their bedroom and I'm not sure where Lydia is.

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 that wreck, honey?

Things.

Kim won't love us as much.

Why would you say that?

'Cause then she'll have a real brother. Or sister.

Matthew and I are just halves.

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

That isn't true.

I was talking about genetics, Zack, 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.

[sighs] 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 wanna raise a child, right? That's... 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.

Ah‐huh... 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 prick 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. ‐[Lydia] No, I don't.

I've changed my mind.

‐Why? ‐[Lydia] Reasons.

Two of them are upstairs getting ready for bed.

It, uh... it would be disruptive to them.

Sorry.

So, am I free to go? The case is over.

You're free.

I... Uh‐‐ How do I get this thing off?

Just go by the station, Maxine will take it off for you.

I'll call, let her know you're coming.

Okay.

Well, I'll be going.

Um...

Bye, everyone.

I'll walk 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 know. I did, too, I guess.

Lydia, why do you need to get pregnant?

I'm not sure. I...

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 this house.

And when you go...

so goes my right to barge in to 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.

[sighs] That...

‐That's what this is about? ‐Yeah.

On some level, I do want a baby and I would love to get pregnant

but a part of me still wants‐‐

Yeah. Yeah, I think that's...

that's what's going on here.

I'm sorry.

Kimmy, giving you up, that was partly because I loved you so much.

‐[shudders] ‐I know.

Yeah, well, I guess this is what happens

when you skip therapy to try to get your Christmas shopping done.

Well, Lydia...

do you think it would be okay if...

sometimes I call you mom?

[gasps] Oh, yeah.

Yeah, I think I could handle that.

[sighs]

I do love you.

Yeah, I know that. I thank God for that.

I love you, too. [sobs]

Okay. Well, you better get back or you'll catch a cold and Jill will blame me.

Kimberly...

you take care.

Yeah. You, too.

[engine turning over]

[sighs]

[exhales sharply]

[theme music playing]

[theme music ends]